Don't know much about either but heard that Aaron's was a good restaurant and so is Alan Wong's
Which is better.....

Never been to Aaron's. Alan Wongs is amazing. I wouldn't hesitate to dine there.

My vote is Alan Wong's. Apparently I am not alone in my vote:

ALAN WONG'S RESTAURANT
Restaurant of the Year, Gold,
Honolulu Magazine:


http://honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu...=3&si=2#artanc

From a trip report I posted on here:
"Saturday night found us celebrating our anniversary so it was off to Alan Wong’s in HNL.
The restaurant is located in a residential area and would not have been spotted if we didn’t have excellent directions. While it doesn’t have an ocean view, the view from the lanai where we were seated had a lovely view of Manoa Valley before the sun set and had city lights twinkling after sunset.

We had the 8 course chef’s tasting which we both agreed was THE BEST MEAL we have EVER had!! Opihi shooter with raw limpet, soup and sandwich [red and yellow chilled soup and pork, mozzarella and foie gras grilled cheese sandwich { it was the first time I’d ever had foie gras and I was bothered because of the incorrectness behind it}; seared foie gras with cutney; steamed egg flan in an egg shell with truffle oil; Big Island lobster and abalone [both farm raised]; maui beef tenderloin and shrimp crusted moi. This was followed by dessert sampler with sorbet, cookies, cake, and pudding. And an anniversary plate of truffles.

The top of our menus had “Happy Anniversary “and our names printed on it and it was signed by everyone in the restaurant. We were given the menus to take home which was a nice touch."

Deb

Aaron's is good and has a great view, but Alan Wong's would be my choice (if I could only choose 1).

I haven't been to Alan Wong's in Honolulu but have been to the one on the Big Island, and it is FANTASTIC!! No contest! Hands down!

By the way, it is easier to go at lunch -- reservation-wise -- at least on the Big Island.

DebitNM, I'm confused, you mention that Alan Wong's is in a residential area but the restaurant's website says it is on the third floor of Ala Moana shopping center.

TMWeddle - there are two Alan Wong's on Oahu. One in the neighborhood DebitNM mentioned and one at the shopping center. We dined at both and preferred the neighborhood location.

TTess is correct - Alan Wong's has 2 locations. We went to the non-shopping center one. It is called the Pineapple Room; I think it is a bit more casual than Alan Wong's.

The other one is called Alan Wongs Restaurant and is on King Street in the Honolulu semi residential area.

http://www.alanwongs.com/
Deb

Bringing this up - I am wanting to make reservations for our anniversary dinner - seems like Alan Wong's would be a good choice? We will be there the first week in November.

Or La Mer??

In nine years of visits, Alan Wong's in Honolulu was the best meal of any island restaurant. It even rivaled some excellent SF restaurants. They also had a nice wine list and even better, there corkage was reasonable as I remember. You can't go wrong with wong.

Bill

We went to La Mer, and it was fantastic. I haven't been to Alan Wong's, and its possible AW has even better food. But for service and ambiance, La Mer with its view of the ocean and the music floating up from House Without A Key is fantastic.

I wrote about it in my blog, with food pictures, here:
http://4weeks4islands.blogspot.com/2009/09/la-mer.html

wonderful Bill - and China maybe we will just have to do both

House Without a Key is great for lunch. Alan Wong's is the best restaurant that I have been to in Honolulu. It would definitely get my vote. We have eaten at Alan Wongs about 5 times and never been disappointed. We eat at the restaurant in the neighborhood.

My only beef with Alan Wong's is that they no longer have a restaurant on the Big Island. DRAT!! I dream about our meals at AW's.

We have reservations for our anniversary dinner. I am very excited

Where have you decided to go?

oppsss I did not say. :-? Alan Wongs