daph24ne

Aloha!! We are a couple in our late 20s/early 30s and are leaving for a trip to Honolulu in the next two weeks. We'll be staying at the Hale Koa hotel on Waikiki and are looking for some restaurant advice. We will be renting a car. While we will be going out and touring the island somewhat, we're also planning on just kicking back near our hotel quite a bit of the time. We're most interested in restaurants that fit the category of "budget to moderately-priced" range for most of our meals, although we certainly might spring for 1 nice dinner while we're there. Does anyone have any recommendations for the Waikiki area? I'm particularly interested in local cuisine.

lcuy

If you'd like to try Hawaiian food in a very local setting, I'd recommend Ono's Hawaiian Food. It's the real thing and very good. Ask your server for help in ordering; they're very friendly. It is on Kapahulu Ave...go to the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, and where the park starts turn left on Kapahulu. Ono's is up about4 or five blocks on the left...across from bank of Hawaii. Expect to wait outside a while if you come at prime dining times.

maryanntex

http://hawaiirama.com/2006/12/hawaii-bars-uncle-bos
Uncle Bo's is really good, in the Waikiki/Diamond Head area, and not too expensive. Definitely fancier than Ono's, though, and a favorite of locals your age.

MelissaHI

Here's a previous thread on this (by a person who was staying at the Hale Koa):

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34843724

DebitNM

For the 1 nice dinner -- Alan Wong's Pineapple Room if you can swing it.

http://www.alanwongs.com/pineroom/pine_room.html

We ate at his other restaurant and it was simply the best meal we ever had!

Debi

Martrese

Aloha! My parents travel to Oahu every few years and I've been there several times myself. (I got married on Kaua`i three years ago.) We ALWAYS plan on a nice meal at the Hau Tree Lanai in the New Otani Hotel at the eastern end of Waikiki near Diamond Head. Whenever I go, I get a gift certificate to give my parents for their next anniversary. It's on the beach with gorgeous sunset views. The food and service are excellent and the romance quotient can't be beat. We highly recommend it www.kaimana.com/dining/hautreelanai.html

dusty56438

Lots of info:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34812564

For restaurants:

www.alternative-hawaii.com

www.honoluluadvertiser.com

www.driveguidemagazines.com

Lots of Zippy's & L&L Drive Ins
Kaneke's in Waimanalo

Buy a copy of 'Oahu Revealed'. They have a good restaurant review section & lots of other info.

daph24ne

Thanks for all of the good ideas! We appreciate all of your help.

MerryTravel

One place pretty close to your hotel that I can recommend is Ezogiku. It's up on Kalakaua. Very good, very filling bowls of ramen and sides of gyoza for good prices. Another good place is Diamond Head Market & Grill on Monsarrat, down between Kapiolani Park and the entrance to Diamond Head. Lots of good plate lunch options.

suze

This is very near you. Several evenings we had cocktails at sunset at Barefoot Bar (Hale Koa) then walked over to... "World Famous North Shore Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood"
between Launiu & Kaiolu on Kuhio
open 10am to 10 pm. It's a catering truck like you see at beach spots, parked in a lot right in the middle of Waikiki. Menu ranges from $5.95 for a hamburger to $10-13.95 for entrees like shrimp, crab, combos, ahi, seafood salads, etc. The food is fantastic, fresh, delicious, generous portions.

You could eat it on picnic tables provided if you don't mind the noise of the generator(!), or even better get it to-go and walk down to Fort de Russey park picnic area along the beach, right nearby, and back towards your hotel.

Another place I like alot is Arancino - it's casual but really nice Italian food. Located on Beach Walk across from the Hawaiiana and Breakers hotels. Get there early because later they'll be a line up outside. Dinner for two with drinks was ~$60.

suze

Other resources for good food pretty cheap:

Food Pantry grocery store and St. Germaine bakery near to each other on Kuhio. A bit of a hike from your hotel, but good to know about.

ABC Stores on nearly every block have ready-made items reasonably priced... sandwiches, salads, noodles, sushi, large assortment of small size beverages, chips, cookies, fruit. That's what we had for lunch most days, took it down to the beach.

Postal

Actually the Hale Koa has a couple of good restaurants - don't miss breakfast on the lanai overlooking the beautiful grounds and beach - and you're also within walking distance of Ala Moana Mall which has a good food court if you just want something quick.

If you love seafood and want to splurge on a great (but expensive) meal, I highly recommend John Dominis Restaurant between Waikiki and Honolulu, just past Fisherman's Wharf but on a small street to the left. Wonderful food and waterfront views. (Although the view was more than we bargained for when the entire crew of a sailboat mooned the restaurant one afternoon!)

Ronda

We enjoyed the Hula Grill which is not far from the Hale Koa and has a lovely view (above Duke's). They have a Happy Hour at 5 p.m. (loved the Mango Margarita).

We really enjoyed hearing the group Olomana at the Hilton Hawaiian which is right next door to the Hale Koa. A very inexpensive activity. For the price of a drink (I ordered mineral water) you can hear lovely Hawaiian music in an intimate setting. Usually have a Hula dancer as well. Paradise Lounge in the Rainbow Tower, Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. Olomana's website seems to be out of order right now (www.olomanamusic.com) but if you google them, you can probably find someone selling their CD so you can listen to a couple of songs.

Legend Seafood has good Chinese food and although on a map it looks kind of far from the Hale Koa, it is within walking distance.

For a very romantic dinner, reserve a table at Hau Tree Lanai in the Hotel New Otani at Sunset. It is expensive but we enjoyed it. Have fun!

curiousgeo

Duke's is always a good choice in Waikiki for moderately priced food and drinks overlooking the beach. Teddy's Burgers across from Kuhio Beach and the Honolulu Zoo serves great burgers and fries. Liliha Bakery for counter service diner fare, a locals place for mahimahi plates, breakfast platters and pancakes (a bit of a trek from Waikiki but you will have a car). Definitely go to Ono's if you want to try Hawaiian food.

Legend serves good dim sum at lunch, but it is a long walk from the Hale Koa Hotel to Chinatown, better to drive unless you want to be really hungry when you arrive.

MelissaHI

Legend has two locations, one in Chinatown and one in the Waikiki Trade Center:

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/sp...staurant?id=16

curiousgeo

Legend is in Waikiki too! How is it? Jeez, I better get out more.

MelissaHI

I've never eaten at the one in Waikiki, just walked past it. I hear it's comparable to the other one.

Don't forget to shop and dine at www.alohatower.com !!!!

suze

Postal, Can non-guests eat at the Hale Koa restaurants you mention? I thought it was only the Barefoot Bar on the beach that was open to the public.

karameli

Since you mentioned you're on a budget, you may want to spend $20-30 and pick up a copy of the Entertainment Book (www.entertainment.com) for Hawaii. It has lots of buy-one-get-one coupons for Honolulu restaurants, not to mention admission to tours, excursions, etc.

We brought the book along on our recent trip to Hawaii (thanks to a tip from some Fodorites) and it was such a good idea. One of our favorite restaurants, Nick's Fishmarket, had a coupon in last year's book.

Outside of Honolulu, I'd recommend Boots & Kimo's in Kailua, and Haleiwa Joe's in Haleiwa on the North Shore.

golpher

I've eaten at Duke's 3 times and really like their location and food.