OAHU'S BEST GRINDS
The following is a "mixed plate" of Oahu's best eateries/restaurantes. ... Way back in 1997, I compiled this from the Hawaii forum on Compuserve when John Spry asked: "Where are the best places to eat?". After 61k of favorite grind-outs, I created this page. Enjoy! Burp# --DizzyDeane
WAIKIKI
(a) Kobe's - The Japanese flashing knife fire show at your table with good food. $20+
(b) Chart House - Meat & fresh isle fish. This the original Chart House & still locally owned, $15+
(c) Duke's - American + a dash of local stuffs. On the beach in Waikiki. Same owner as Kimo's on Maui.
(d) Hy's - Meat, potatoes & great seafood in a classy place. $20+
(e) Eggs 'n Things - Breakfast around the clock. And worth the wait. -- ChuckSmith
(f) Keo's - World famous Thai food. Look for me on Keo's wall of fame [NOT!]. $20+
KAPAHULU AVE & MARKET CITY area
(a) Sam Choy'sDiamond Head - Not your normal chinese restaurant. Local food done elegante' by one-ton of Hawaii's best cooks. SamC says: Never trust a skinny chef. $40+
(b) Ono Hawaiian - Hole in the wall with the most humongeous laulau & Hawn grinds .$8+
(c) La Bamba - Neighborhood real mexican. $8
(d) The Pyramids - Excellent middle eastern restaurant with great decor. Parking is the pits.
(d) Gina's - Excellent Korean takeout in Market City (Kapiolani & S King). $6
(f) Bea's - Near Gina's, voted best local plate lunch. Good grinds.
(g) Sekiya - Real, local kine japanese food. Only the sashimi is raw.$10+
(h) Grace's Diner - Local style plate lunches. $5+. Near Gina's & Bea's.
(i) Genki Sushi - Priced by the color of the plate. Real sushi at reasonable prices.
ALA MOANA SHOPPING CENTER (aka Makai Market) & area
(a) Patti's Chinese Kitchen - The quintissential chinese fast food. Massive grinds. $5+
(b) Joni's - Filipino takeout. More uptown than Elena's but good. $5
(c) Poi Bowl - It ain't Ono Hawaiian but it ain't bad.
(d) I Love Country Cafe - On Piikoi next to Blockbusters. --SophiaChang
(e) Cho Mark (Kapiolani Blvd; 2 doors Diamond Head of Club Femme Nu) Korean restaurant, a hole in wall looking but has great kalbi; where all the Korean taxi drivers hang out. I figured if Koreans eat
there the food must be authentic. Warning: Their kimchees are HOT!!! --EddieKoga
DOWNTOWN (Aloha Tower,Restaurant Row, Ward Warehouse & Ward Centre)
(a) Kincaid's - Yuppie fare (fish, meat & pasta) but good. $8+
(b) Old Spaghetti Factory - Pazghetti for cheap. Kids luv it. And so duz I. $5+
(c) Ryan's - Power lunches & yuppie's pau hana, after work party place.
(d) Hooters - I like ... uhh... the french fries. [rofl]
(e) John Dominis - Unbelievable view, food & ambiance. Xpen$$ive. Next to the HNL garbage dump. But a must do if only for the real sharks, manta rays & aquarium.
(f) Kua Aina
IN OTHER 'HOODS ON OAHU:
(a) Viet Diem - Vietnamese food. Better at lunch. $7
(b) Zippy's - AlohaLand's McDonald's. Middle class local style plate lunches. Excellent chili. Locations in many neighborhoods on Oahu. $5+
(c) Golden Eagle - Neighborhood chinese food. Hot, tasty & good. $6
(d) Yummies - Korean takeout variant of local plate lunch. $6
(e) Suehiro - same as Sekiya, but maybe $7+
(f) Auntie Pasto's - Neighborhood Italian restorante on Kapahulu & Pensacola St. Good for lunch
(g) Elena's - Neighborhood filipino food in WHY-PAH-WHO. $7+
(h) Buzz's Steakhouse - Nice view of Pearl Harbor. Charthouse like. $9+
(i) 3660 on the Rise - Yuppie, expensive Kaimuki neighborhood place. $
(j) Swiss Inn - Popular swiss/german/european eatery in Niu Valley Shopping Center.--MelMasuda
(k) Boulevard Saimin - Great saimin on Dillingham Blvd in Kapalama. Where the locals slurp their saimin.
(l) Palace Saimin - Kalihi's hole in da wall saimin place. Hard to find. And biz hours vary.
(m) Joni's in Kalihi - Where PizzaHut used to be. Excellent uptown Filipino food.
(n) Chiang Mai - Thai food for the 'hood. Great grinds, good prices. --JoyCorrea
(o) Dew Drop Inn - Small, excellent northern Chinese food across from Auntie Pasto's. --FredWong
(p) Yanagi Sushi - Sushi restaurant frequented by int'l and local celebrities; $$$ ($50 at counter); advanced reservation recommended for counter seating --EddieKoga
(q) Hakata - A different japanese ramen place nestled betwit Piikoi & Pensacola on S.King St.-- MelMasuda
(r) Kat's Sushi - An all you can eat for a flat price sushi place. Counter service. Handmade. On S King near Kapiolani & S King.
(s) Alan Wong's - Not a chinese restaurant. Like Sam Choy's Very expensive. On S King just west of McCully.
(t) India Madras Bazaar - Down home, locals' Indian food place. $7.
GLOSSARY FOR LURKERS:
Plate Lunch = Meat or Fish or Chicken Entree+2 scoops rice + macaroni or potato salad.
Mixed Plate = All PlateLunch stuffs above. Usually the house special and most expensive thing on the menu.
Saimin = Sigh-Min. A bowl'o noodles plus a little protein (SPAM or luncheon meat). Local stuffs. And great in the wee hours of the morning.
Pacific Rim= Buzz words for fresh island fish, veggies & meat prepared by Hawaii's best chefs.
ADDITIONAL LEADS:
(a) May I suggest a great book that I just purchased at Border's for $1.98? It's called "Adventures in Cheap Eating: Hawaii" It's like a guide to cheap restaurants in Hawaii. -- SophiaChang
(b) Local TV cooking shows: Hari's Kitchen, Sam Choy Cooks,