My friends are visiting and staying at the Ala Moana Hotel which is right next to the mall. I usually don't go out for breakfast, so I am not sure what are some good places for it. One of them is a vegetarian. She was asking about any Japanese bento breakfasts, but I haven't been able to find a a Japanese restaurant nearby that is open for breakfast. Other breakfast places that serve pancakes, waffles, etc are fine too. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

Not sure if this will help much - I do remember there not being a lot of choices by the mall but there may be some in the mall as they have a pretty decent food court and perhaps some veg. options. Check the mall out online and that may be your best bet. Good luck!

You know, I've lived in Hawaii all my life and have never heard of Japanese breakfast bentos. I wonder what would even be in them?

Here is a link to the Ala Moana restaurant directory:

http://www.alamoanacenter.com/diningdirec.htm

I remember it being pretty dead in the morning. I think there was a Starbucks.

The Ala Moana Hotel (adjacent to the mall) is very nice and has some nice dining options (in the hotel itself). Check out their restaurants for options... We stayed there in 2005 and loved the breakfast buffet (can't remember the name though)...

Thanks for the replies. They have already come and gone. They ate at the Ala Moana Hotel buffet, but thought it was overpriced for what they got. We ended up going to Zippy's which is a fast food place in the mall the next morning which ok. The have a little Japanese food stand in there too which is open in the morning.

My favorite breakfasts in Tokyo were standing elbow to elbow with business men at little Japanese noodle shops. How cool if those had made an appearance in Honolulu -- perhaps not. I thought a steaming bowl of noodles in broth with vegetables made a great breakfast.

Maybe once some of the wicked wahines of Oahu get done with pau hana they can assist?

Wailana Coffee Shop is the closest place. It is on Ala Moana Blvd and I think Ihop just opened next to them. The walk is not that bad.

Have a good time.

"Maybe once some of the wicked wahines of Oahu get done with pau hana they can assist?"

LOL. You know I've traveled to many foreign countries and never spoke the language and I've never had a problem. But going to Hawaii is starting to worry me. Will I be able to understand anyone? I do know that I am totally puzzled by the language of many Hawaii posts here!

Neo P...
With the Wicked Wahines of Oahu...Be worried...be VERY worried.

Just another name for lady, girl, woman etc. I think you know what wicked means.

Now you know how I feel when I went to LA, GA, and TX. I needed a dictionary.

actually it was more the "get done with pau hana" that had me snowed.

And why on earth would >>>moi

MelissaHI taught me alllll about pau hana.
She's evil that way.
http://www.eyeofhawaii.com/Pidgin/pidgin.htm

"pau hana (pow HAH-nah). Another actual Hawaiian phrase. Means after work. Also after work drink. Junior wen bus up his truck. Get too many pau hana"

Ah, sorry I didn't see this post earlier. I hardly come on Fodors anymore because I have such a hard time with the format. Well, IF they return to Oahu and stay in the same hotel, at the other end of Ala Moana they will find I Love Country Cafe. They have cheap breakfasts and are made for all audiences, including vegetarians and low-carb types...I think the owner was into body building at one point.

Had they walked out toward the mountains on Keeaumoku St. or Kaheka St., they would have found a few more places to eat...probably more Korean than Japanese, though.

Next time, refer them to this site for food places:
http://honolulu.metromix.com

And for things happening in the Ala Moana area:
http://urbanmixplate.honadvblogs.com

NeoPatrick, don't worry! we speak lots of standard English here!

p.s. Kal: LUV the pidgin! But I think you learned pau hana on your own...and pretty quick too!! hahaha

Mels...I'm a quick study when it comes to friends, food and brew.