Have you found some restaurants in Oahu that have great food at moderate prices? Let's say a great food experience where a couple could enjoy a dinner for around$60-$70 per couple? We like Italian and American food.
We would appreciate your response.
Regis and Rita
Hagerstown, Maryland

Great food for 30-35 dollars in Hawaii, I could not find. The prices are considerably higher then stateside. If you want great food in Hawaii, it takes at least 40 dollars and that is having soda not drinks. There is a good buffet at Dukes that has entertainment and atmosphere, but the food is buffet and is not great.
Best overall place I found was Michel's south of Waikiki. Great food and unbeatable atmosphere. Most hotels dont recomend this place and I dont know why. It will cost you 40 with sodas however.

Have to agree with Jeff that great food at reasonable prices are hard to find, but a good meal at reasonable prices can be had. Try the Swiss House for well prepared dinners, around $18-25 (soup, salad & entree). Sunset Grill has a popular porterhouse steak special. OnJins Cafe for reasonable bistro fare and careful choices at Roy's Restaurant could keep you on budget. These places are outside Waikiki but an easy drive. Good luck.

I do not understand the above emails. OAHU HAS AMAZING FOOD!!! I lived on Oahu for three years. Because Hawaii is a major vacation spot for the world many world class chiefs find home their. You can see this just by browsing threw any Gourmet magazine they frequently sight Oahu restaurants many that I will mention now. I see you are from Hagerstown, prices are less compared to where I live New York City so I have always felt blessed with the low prices. Here in New York we have a ROY's and you can still get a great dinning experience for two at about $100. That would include appetiser, maindish, drink and dessert. But this is special food, Roy Yamaguchi is one of the pioneers of Euro-Asian (fused) cuisine. This is going to be a special treat for you. Other heavy hitters in the food world on Oahu are Alan Wongs, Sam Choy and many many many others

. Get a zagat dinning book on Hawaii or visit their website. AND HERE IS A BIGGY. I see that you like Italian and American food , European foods are an east coast specialty. You are pushing towards Asia that is what you want to look for in the cooking. This is an opportunity to taste Asian food better and more authentic that you have ever had. CHEAP KOREAN BARBEQUE is available all over the island and KALBI BEEF BBQ (Korean Barbeque) is a must. Ok I am too excited here.

I would not eat in Waikiki (remember they are pandering on that part of the island to tourist that want what they can get at home)unless I read about the restaurant first. But outside of Waikiki, extraordinary eateries abound. Golden Dragon (china town) has amazing seafood. I would take a walk in China Town and check out the menus. When was the last time you had a green papaya salad (another must, Vietnamese ), A lot of people rave about Nick Fish Market (Waikiki) and Kincades (restaurant row if memory serves)(sp might be off) Cheap Cheap places I like are Hungry Lion (LOCAL HAWAIIAN DINER FOOD), go here for the experience if you can gut it. They bring you a bowl (that looks like a family serving bowl) that has fried rice on the bottom (Vienna sausages, egg, spam mixed in)topped with fried wontons, Chicken Teriyaki, and a third meat dish. It's so good but junkish, junkish the way fried chicken and pizza are. In any event it is real local food. There are also plate lunches that are a great value for lunch and satisfying the way a tasty bbq might be. I would not look for Italian food on Oahu the way I don’t look for Asian food in New York. You will know what I mean when you get there. Would you come to NYC and look for crab cakes. Just making a point hope it does not sound offensive. ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY.

Sarah, perhaps I misread the original post, but I don't think cheap korean bbq, spam & vienna sauasges at the Hungry Lion, or local plate lunches were exactly what they had in mind. Also the Golden Dragon is in the Hilton Hawaiian Village and is one of the more expensive Chinese restaurants on Oahu.

The cheaper restaurants that I mentioned were just local throw ins. I Think I gave several other options. Spam and Vienna sausages does sound gross it is a hold over of WWII when there was rationing and little refrigeration. It looks like you need to be daring to try it but surprisingly it is good. I think it is worth it for someone who really wants to experience the culture. And no it is not dress up dining but will you be doing that each night and lunch.

Ok I flubbed on Golden Dragon confused with SEAFOOD KINGDOM. I remember having a wonderful honey walnut shrimp at SEAFOOD KINGDOM near the Japanese cultural center. I will email a friend living on Oahu make sure I am still giving you the right name. It is popular with local Asians. Get that ZAGATS guide.

I also like Indigo for food and wonderful atmosphere certainly to be cheaper than Golden Dragon. If I were in your shoes I would get the Zagats guide then look up menus online. There are a few websites out there that list several restaurants with there menus. Good Luck

PS I do look for Maryland Crab Cakes in NYC. I know a place that ships them up daily.....Love food.

There are expensive places to eat on Oahu that will certainly run you more than $60-70 per couple - and there are moderately priced places that will cost you less. For Italian food I recommed Autie Pastos - wonderful Italian food, cool/funky atmosphere, very popular with locals. Dinner with all the fixings could easliy be less than $60 for two. It isn't fancy fine dining - but the food is great and it is a fun place to eat. Highly recommend reservations as the restaurant tends to be fairly busy. (There are two locations - both are good.)

Many of the restaurants in the tourist area (Waikiki) tend to be more overpriced, in my opinion, than other restaurants that are just as good (or better) but a little more off the beaten track. We also like Nick's Fishmarket - which I would say could be moderate to expensive, depending on what you order. 3660 On the Rise is also quite popular, must have reservations, and can be moderate to expensive, depending on what you order (considered 'pacific rim' food - so may be more adventerous than what you are used to).

There are also a lot of Waikiki restaurants in the Entertainment book - which give you a 2 for 1 deal if you buy the book. If you are going to be here for a few days it might be worth getting the book if you will use it even once it will pay for itself. (Nick's is one of the restaurants in th e book).

Another Italian restaurant is the Spagehtti Factory in Ward Warehouse. Personally, I think their food is only so-so and I suspect it is a chain - but prices are very moderate and the place is popular so apparently a lot of other people like it.

Finally, quite off the beaten track is Albero's - which is a little italian restaurant in Aiea. If you have a car it will be easy to reach. Dinner for two easily under $60. We go there often and really like it. The restaurant is small, quiet, the food is good, the service friendly, and in my opinion, a good value for what you spend.

I hope this helps - it is possible to have a nice meal on Oahu for less than $60 for two.

Reg, go to www.starbulletin.com and check out Nadine Kam's column, "The Weekly Eater." She's got great reviews for the whole gamut of food.

The entire Kaimuki area (where 3660 On The Rise is located) is full of great eating places. My fave for Italian is C&C Pasta factory--fresh made pasta and you can bring your own wine. (Their gnocchi is silky, not heavy.) Cafe Laufer is also a favorite, with some of the best desserts in town. However, if you don't make reservations, especially on a Friday night, you probably will not get into ANYPLACE in Kaimuki. I'm not kidding, I walked up and down Waialae Avenue one Friday night, just starving because every restaurant was packed to the gills.

Ala Moana Center has a couple of nice restaurants. Alan Wong has a cheaper version of his King St. restaurant there, called The Pineapple Room. You can also eat at sunset at Neiman Marcus.

While in that area, you might as well check out Ward Centre. Scoozee's has nice Italian food, and almost everything on the menu is under $10. They have live music and fabulous martinis. For even more casual fare, walk to the other end of Ward Centre and eat at Kakaako Kitchen (owned by the same guy who owns 3660 on the Rise).

If you want something a little different, try Cafe Monsarrat, which is just outside of Waikiki. It's American and Italian food with a Cuban or Jamaican twist. Don't order entrees--order maybe four starter plates and share it between the two of you. Also, don't order dessert, as that's not their strong point. Hmmm, maybe you'd have to drive over to Cafe Laufer for that!

Do not want to offend other authors but the Spaghetti Factory and Aunti Pastos are family friendly establishments with pizza parlor quality italian. I know to many that are not on the east coast this might be appealing. But Regis remember we have a large Italian immigrant pop here. I think you will be dissappointed. I struggled for 3 years trying to find adequate italian food on Oahu and realised I was barking up the wrong tree. You can't even find and east coast slice of pizza on the island. They have one establishment called boston pizza you should see what they try to pass off as an east coast slice.

Try Ciao Mein in the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. It is a funky combination of Italian and Chinese (it works!!). Not too expensive. Look at their web page.

here

In the heart of Waikiki, The Parc Hotel, across Kalia Road from the top-of-the-line Halekulani, has an ELEGANT buffet restaurant with phenomenal food, "The Parc Cafe". There are different food themes on different nights, e.g. a prime rib night, seafood night, etc. The fare is really of excellent quality and widely varied, the dessert table a sweet-tooth's dream, and considering the reasonable prices, the Parc Cafe is an OUTSTANDING find. The staff is wonderful as well.
We are Hawaii guidebook professionals and have been eating at the Parc Cafe for ten years, and we are never disappointed [and we have never accepted any freebies or special treatment from the Parc Cafe]. We also eat at the famed Bali Room at the Hilton, Orchids at the Halekulani, Roy's in Hawaii Kai, so we understand the quality you are looking for.
In a less elegant atmosphere, "Sam Choy's Breakfast Lunch and Crab" is also outstanding, as Sam is one of Hawaii's star chefs. Located near downtown on Nimitz Hwy., and very convenient for those going to the airport or Pearl Harbor, the food is inventive and VERY tasty, and there's a micro-brewery on site with 4 different kinds of brew for those who love beer as much as we do.
Sam's is a theme-type restauarant, very popular and noisy, with a lively mix of visitors and locals. You won't be disappointed in the food.

Richard more room for us if they don't come, love Oahu!!!!!!!!!

Any more recs?

I agree that for atmosphere and food, Sam Choy's is outstanding. Not fancy...busy, noisy place where locals eat. Another place I enjoyed was Don Ho's Restaurant out at the Aloha Tower.

They are neither American nor Italian but Chiang Mai (Thai) and Cha Cha Cha (Carribean-Mex) were two of my favorite restaurants in Oahu. Chiang Mai was lovely; a very affordable "gourmet" meal. Cha Cha Cha was more casual and with large portions and again wonderful food.

Hi Regis and Rita:

We like Assagio at Ala Moana and Paesano in Manoa for Italian. For American...hmm. Hawaii's the original American fusion locale. A venue that has not been mentioned here is Restaurant Row: there you have Ruth's Chris (upscale steakhouse), Sunset Grill (american) and Sansei Seafood (well, o.k.; local Japanese). And at Ward Center: Ryan's and Brew Moon.

Hey, Kalena!! Welcome back! how was your trip?

Regis and Rita - Don't come to Hawaii.

I mean, don't come to Hawaii if you're looking for a "great food experience" along the line of American and Italian food. There's great food here, but the Italian food here is, at best, just okay. There are Italian restaurants here on Oahu that, when compared to each other, are "great" but that's not really saying much now is it?

American food? Just what exactly is that? Steak and potatoes? Yawn.

Kincaid's Fish, Chop and Steakhouse on Ward Street is very good and has "American Food" for those not brave enough to try anything else. Again, it's very, very good and within the price range you're looking at spending.

Don't know if you've been to Hawaii or not, but you're coming to a state that probably has the highest concentration of Asian and Polynesian restaraunts in the entire United States. What a waste to come all this way for some Italian and "American" food.

Just my opinion...

Steve

p.s. I've lived here almost 10 years.