WAIKIKI DINING
 

Aloha! My wife and I will be visiting Honolulu in late February. Does anyone have any recommendations for dining in Honolulu???

My favorite meal in all my trips to the islands was Alan Wong's downtown restaurant. Excellent food, good wine list.
There is no view here, it's the food that is center stage. Many good restaurants in the area.

Hy's steak house is a classic.

Hau Tree Lanai at the New Otani has an incredible setting on the beach (go at sunset).

Keo's for Thai food.

Shorebird, Outrigger Reef hotel, for their breakfast buffet.

Far from "fine dining" but there are lots of choices at budget prices at the various food courts... Ala Moana mall, Royal Hawaiian shopping center, International Marketplace all have good ones.

Also any of many nice restaurants that line the beach at Waikiki have great atmosphere and partial open air settings overlooking the beach/ocean. Make a reservation somewhere for time of sunset. Ocean House at Outrigger Reef something more quiet, or Duke's for a lively atmosphere, are a couple of the possibilities.

Suze,

I've been researching for an upcoming first visit to Waikiki (and then on to Maui, where I have been before). I know about Sam's Kitchen, but what else would you recommend at the International Market? Also, we will arrive in the evening on the first day and I wondered how late the food places stay open there. Recommendations for anything great in Ala Moana would also be appreciated.

Although I'm asking about budget places, I also have a reservation for one dinner at Alan Wong's and plan to eat at Roy's when we get to Maui, where we'll probably do more upscale eating.

Thanks for your help! Linda

Dukes is fun for the location and the attitude...

Linda~
At International Marketplace I especially like the Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood Co. booth. On Tues & Sun evenings there was a free music performance at the stage there (steel drum duo). I've been there as late as 9:00-9:30 and everyone was still serving. Not sure when they close. On Thursdays there are extra booths and a tiny farmers market, where I got a incredibly cheap & wonderful pork dinner from a Ma & Pa kind of stand that is not usually there (serving homemade food, kept hot on steam tables). Also a couple excellent Honolulu bakeries were represented.

At Ala Moana I liked Lahaina Chicken, but that's the only one I've tried since it's a bit more out-of-the way from where I stay.

My other favorite cheap-eats from my trip in Nov '09 is ME BBQ at Royal Grove hotel (just in off Kuhio). I had breakfast there most every day (~$5) and tried dinner once (~$9). It's a funky hole-in-the-wall with a few tables on the patio, but very good fresh food, and nice people.

You can click on my name. I posted my restaurant "reviews" from my trip when I first got back.

There is a stand whose name I don't know on the back side of the International Market Place (aka IMP) alongside the alley that sells good, fresh sandwiches and smoothies. It is a more healthy type of food that some of the shops in there sell. There used to be a Dole Whip stand, but it wasn't there last summer.

Great advice. Thanks to all of you. Starting to pack our bags today!

carolyn or anyone~~ If you think of/know the name please post it. I'd love some alternatives for something like that (healthy sandwiches and smoothies). Sounds perfect to take to the beach! I spent a LOT of time at IMP and don't recall seeing that stand along the alley.

There are only a couple places that are not in the food court at IMP.

Hank's Haute Dogs & Java Flow

http://www.internationalmarketplacew...com/merchants/

There are also a few others nearby.

Fatty's is on the backside of IMP on the backside of Miramar Hotel. But that's a Chinese place. Quite good I might add.

http://www.miramarwaikiki.com/amenities.shtml

Ohana Waikiki East may also have a restaurant on the backside that would be in the alley.

KiMOBEAN Coffee Company - It says located in the lobby, but it may have an entrance from the backside.

http://www.ohanahotels.com/hotels-re...st/restaurants

I don't think Ohana East butts up to the IMP like my last reply indicates.

Suze, the sandwich shop is in the food court along the alley side. I'm sorry, but I have no idea what the name is, although I have eaten there on my last two visits. I think you will be able to find it--seems like it might be the last food shop at the back away from the beach. (Is that mauka?)

in kahuku-worth the 1 hour drive from honolulu-romy's shrimp shack. steamed prawns, fried whole fish (what's this fish called?) and the garlic butter shrimp are all very good. then for dessert, pineapple cheesecake from ted's bakery in sunset beach. if you're coming from haleiwa, ted's comes first so you might want to take your dessert to go to enjoy after your romy's meal. im salivating just thinking about it.

This link also includes restaurants in the food court:

http://www.internationalmarketplacew...com/merchants/

You might also try Waikiki Beachwalk for some upscale fare. Roy's Restaurant is there...which makes it convenient if you don't want to drive all the way out to Hawaii Kai.
Sam's Kitchen:
http://tinyurl.com/mmxsams

Don't forget to try shave ice!
http://tinyurl.com/mmxshaveice

As for shrimp trucks:
http://tinyurl.com/mmxshrimp

You can also find more on my blog at
http://tinyurl.com/umplate

Have a great time!

You can also try the Royal Hawaiian Center...they have a good foodcourt and The Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs, Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Doraku Sushi, etc http://www.royalhawaiiancenter.com/d...ning-directory

Back from Hawaii, I just posted a Trip Report that reviews all of our Waikiki dining. Here's the link:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...t-180054-2.cfm