Prince Court

Best for: Japanese dinner buffet
Location: Hawaii Prince Hotel

I'm not usually a fan of Japanese buffets (I think Japanese is too delicate a cuisine that mass-producing a few dishes for people to touch seems almost blasphemous), but most of the food at Prince Court is relatively high quality, and service, which is usually compromised at buffets, is surprisingly good.

Located at the Hawaii Prince Hotel with stunning views of the harbor, this restaurant is noted for its dinner buffets. Apparently my family comes here often enough because our waiter recognized my parents and brother immediately (and was probably very confused by me) - must be one of the many traditions my family started while I was away in Portland. If you come early like we did, you can catch the sunset, which is breathtaking, no matter how many times I see it. Dinner is $43/person, which is a bargain considering the location. 

This is obviously my dad's plate

The buffet consists of over seven stations - sashimi/poke, customized saimin, sushi, seafood (crab, shrimp, and clams...but no mussels), miso and curry, noodles, and desserts, just to name a few. I would have been completely satisfied with the sashimi/poke station. The sushi station is small, but there is a sushi chef ready to make you made-to-order handrolls. The nori they use for the handrolls is perfect - crispy, just the way I like it. The steamed crab is okay; I still prefer the Chinese preparation.

my bowl of clams

hand roll - love their nori!

In conclusion, I'm still not a huge fan of Japanese buffets, but when I must go to one, the Prince Court is probably one of the best in town.