Hung Won

Best for: Chinese
Location: Kaimuki
Foodgasmic dishes: Steamed fish with ginger, Salt and pepper pork chops 



Cheap, authentic Chinese restaurants will always remind me of New York because Sam and I basically had every other meal at one of the many Chinese restaurants sprinkled throughout the city. We'd usually order one noodle dish each and pass over a few bites across the table, always spending less than $10 and leaving the restaurant content and ready for another 3-mile walk at top New Yorker speed.

steamed fish with soy sauce and ginger

Hung Won, sadly, is not in New York, but on Waialae Avenue. I've been here a few times, all of which were with my dad because he constantly craves Chinese food. Hung Won is another old-fashioned, unassuming restaurant with the requisite fish tank, plastic-covered menus, and water that tastes so clean you know the cups have been recently bleached.



And, just like other hole-in-the-wall restaurants, e.g., Lam's, the food is as authentic as you can get. We usually order the steamed fish, salt and pepper pork chops, and chicken cake noodles. Can't go wrong with these. The steamed fish is soaked in soy sauce and ginger and melts in your mouth. The salt and pepper pork chops are chewy and loaded with flavor from the spices. The cake noodle is baked to a crisp but softened by the sauce and hidden under a pile of cabbage and chicken. The restaurant usually has only about one or two tables occupied, so service is always attentive and grateful for your presence.

steamed fish, salt and pepper pork chops, chicken cake noodle

It always makes me sad when I meet people who don't like Chinese food, because you know they probably grew up in a place in which Chinese food means greasy kung pao chicken, too much broccoli, and stale fortune cookies packed into suspicious takeout boxes. Unlike Thai and Japanese, which have become annoyingly hip in America, Chinese cuisine has remained stigmatized, much like the country itself. This is a shame because Chinese food has always been the best bang for your buck, and if Americans had feasted on char siu and lo mein instead of Wendy's and Applebee's [and accepted the fact that China is going to take over the world], we wouldn't be as obese or impoverished as we are now.

Hau Terrace at the OCC

Best for: View
Location: Outrigger Canoe Club



I have fond memories of the Outrigger Canoe Club. Lauren and I used to come here whenever classes finished early, pick up a couple of mint chip milkshakes from the snack bar, roam around Waikiki, and count how many guys hit on us (don't judge us too harshly - we were in high school. Besides, who could resist Lauren's bright blue eyes?)




When we actually wanted to sit and dine, we'd head over to the Hau Terrace, which offers stunning views of the rest of Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean. This restaurant may provide one of the most direct oceanfront dining experiences on the island. In fact, you shouldn't sit at the tables closest to the water because sometimes waves splash up and can ruin your meal.

The food is your standard American fusion (is that the term?) you'd expect to find at a casual, mid-ranged restaurant in Waikiki: lots of pastas, sandwiches, and random "Hawaiian" dishes. Apart from the view, the only other thing that really stands out is the fact, of course, that it's at the OCC, which means members only. It's refreshing to be in Waikiki and not be surrounded by tourists for once.

The Veranda at the Kahala

Best for: Unwinding
Location: Kahala Hotel

Come to the Veranda to unwind in the stunning lobby of the Kahala Hotel. Don't, however, come to eat. I've been here a couple of times for dessert and have always been slightly disappointed, perhaps because I just expect too much from the Kahala, or perhaps because I forget that people aren't here to have an intensive dining experience; they are here to enjoy the high ceilings, live entertainment, impeccable service, and those famous Italian glass chandeliers.

fancy sugar stick for her latte

In the afternoon, the Veranda offers afternoon tea service, which I haven't tried because I've heard the afternoon tea at Halekulani and the Moana are slightly better. In the evening, the Veranda uses the same drink, pupu, and dessert menu as Plumeria, one of my favorite restaurants, located just downstairs. However, Plumeria is a favorite due to its breakfast buffet and happy hour cocktails. The drinks, pupus, and desserts are not impressive - at Plumeria or the Veranda.

ice cream trio

In conclusion, for those of you who have seen the lobby of the Kahala - perhaps the most beautiful lobby in Hawaii? - you can probably understand why some would venture out here just to relax and take in the ambience; I've done it [and attempted to read War and Peace here a few times]. However, for desserts and drinks, I'd much rather go to Lewers, Nobu, Salt, or the Beachhouse at the Moana.

Mariposa

Best for: Lunch, View
Location: Neiman Marcus (Ala Moana)
Foodgasmic dish: Popovers

House-Smoked Pork Tenderloin ($24), with Yukon mashed potatoes, brown butter appleshire sauce, & sautéed kale

Honestly, I could come here just for the popovers (their complimentary freshly-baked light, airy bread served with strawberry butter). Also complimentary is a cup of consommé (clear broth). By the time I'm done with the popovers and broth, I could care less about what I order as an entree. However, everything I've had here is delicious.

the famous popovers

Dessert: $7.50, Iced mocha

It gets really crowded during lunch, so either make reservations or be prepared to wait. Trust me, the food and view of Ala Moana Beach Park are worth it. Service could use some work, but I suppose they're doing their best considering the crowd. Also, if you want popovers, make sure to come during lunch or dinner. I once made the mistake of coming right between lunch & dinner and was horrified to discover that they don't serve popovers then!

seared diver scallops, with ricotta gnocchi, english peas, pancetta, leeks, and lobster vinaigrette, $24

Crepes No Ka 'Oi

Best for: Crêpes
Location: Kailua

Get Mushy crêpe, $7.50

Erin was craving pancakes, so we drove all the way to Kailua for a lovely brunch at Boots & Kimo's. Just our luck - it was closed! Desperate to justify the energy it had taken us to venture outside Honolulu, we walked around the block, sure that there had to be more restaurants that catered to the adventurous tourist with the right guide book. We were right. A few doors down was an adorable but crowded restaurant called Crepes No Ka 'Oi. Crêpes are even better than pancakes, so we were were happy to try it.



We sat outside for a while, waiting with mostly Japanese tourists. Finally we were called in and seated at a high table facing a large mirror. It's awkward watching yourself eat, which is why we resorted to spying on other diners during our meal.

They had a guestbook for comments.

I ordered the "Get Mushy" crêpe, which doesn't sound very appetizing, but actually it was delicious and loaded with sauteed mushrooms, melted pepperjack and cheddar, and honey ham. Unlike the soft crêpes I order at Chez Machin in Portland, this buckwheat shell was nice and crispy. Considering Hawaii has no other crêperies that I am aware of, I can easily say that Crepes No Ka'Oi offers the best crêpes on the island. I have absolutely no regrets that Boots & Kimo's was closed.

Menchie's

Best for: Frozen yogurt
Location: Ward

I'm not a huge fan of frozen yogurt because I prefer warm pastries to satisfy my sweet tooth, but the rest of Hawaii has definitely gone through the fro-yo craze. Menchie's is one of about three places I've tried here, and, while I may not be passionate enough about fro-yo to deserve an opinion, I do like this place.

having [too much] fun with the samples

kiwi, mango, and lychee

Menchie's is generous with the samples (unlike at Yogurtland). If I was broke and immoral I'd probably come in and get a bunch of samples before sneaking out. But I would never do that [because frozen yogurt doesn't entice me nearly enough]. Menchie's is self-serve, with about fourteen different flavors and lots of candy, sauces, fruit, and cereal toppings to create your concoction. I can definitely understand why everyone else seems to love fro-yo; it's cheap, customized, and colorful. Well, unless you're like me and only get chocolate toppings, in which case your dish will mostly consist of varying shades of brown.

Cafe Maharani

Best for: Indian
Location: Mo'ili'ili

This is probably the best Indian restaurant in Hawaii. Sadly, that's not saying much, considering we have about 5 of them, and the other four have atrocious names e.g., Cafe Taj Mahal, India Cafe, causing them to lose any credibility they may have had otherwise. Times like these make me miss Portland... or at least Portland's assortment of Indian, Lebanese, and Thai restaurants.

I came with four others and was amazed that we were immediately able to find a table. The infamous wait is the sole reason I hadn't tried Maharani before. As an "exotic" restaurant, Maharani has an obligation to Hawaii to be impeccably decorated in order to fulfill our stereotypes of a culture about which we know much too little. Thus, the restaurant is beautiful. Warm red tones, art covering the walls, gorgeous silk curtains, themed metal cups, and yes - just as I expected, a TV playing nonstop Bollywood.

The food is served family style, so we shared 3 orders of naan (2 plains and 1 basil), saffron rice, and a bunch of lamb, chicken, and seafood dishes. Everything tasted good, but none of the dishes were very memorable. Or maybe that's because I was tipsy by the end of the meal, thanks to all the wine Matt, Mizuki, and Darin brought (it's BYOB). Not sure how much each dish cost, but our total bill was about $90, which was much lower than what I expected. No wonder everyone loves this place.

I should probably come back (actually, I definitely will, now that I know that it is possible to find a table on a Thursday night without a 2-hour wait) to write a better review. Besides, I'm still mad at myself for not finishing the meal with a masala chai -- how was I able to leave an Indian restaurant without ordering all my usuals? I'm sure it's the best in Hawaii.

Barnes & Noble Café

Best for: justifying a seat in the bookstore
Location: Ala Moana, Kahala Mall

honey roasted turkey pesto wrap, sea salt chips, pepperoni pizza, double chip frappuccino

I know it's a bit superfluous to write a review for the Barnes & Nobles café, but did you know that the secret to finishing one of those turkey wraps and/or frozen mini pizzas that tasted amazing for the first ten bites but eventually made you feel sick from all the grease is to add crushed potato chips to them? It's all about texture.

I know. Mindblowing.

town has reopened!!

[I don't normally do this, but, since town is my favorite restaurant in Hawaii, and I can barely control my excitement, I think this post is warranted...]

After nine days of closure due to "renovations" and APEC (by the way, did anyone follow Ed's twitter and see the beautiful dishes he served Michelle Obama last week? I am thoroughly jealous), town has reopened, much to my relief. The restaurant has undergone minor changes; half of its walls are now covered in horizontal strips of wood, and the bright orange bench seating has been repainted a chic coat of dark grey. I don't know my woods, but the color of it goes perfectly with the chairs and concrete floors. Plus, wood absorbs sound, which is much appreciated when the boisterous dinner crowd arrives. The only change that I'm not happy with is the new location of the bathroom - from down the hallway to up a flight of stairs. I'm hoping this upstairs bathroom is just temporary. I will never complain about that creepy hallway again.

pancetta, polenta, watercress, and organic egg ($8)

Now that town is back in business, I can resume my pathetically-paced process of working on grad school apps (although, I may have to blame my decision not to apply to NYU's urban planning masters program on these nine town-less days). Wish me luck.

Read my full review of town here: http://selfindulgence0.blogspot.com/2011/11/town.html

Yard House

Best for: Happy Hour, Beer, American food
Location: Waikiki

making chicken lettuce wraps

I didn't think I would ever step foot in Yard House. I don't remember exactly who instilled such an unflattering picture of Yard House into my mind so early on, but the image of a trashy, crew cut military-infested bar deterred me from ever coming, and instead convinced me to remain on the opposite side of Lewers Street and go to two of my favorites, Nobu and Lewers Lounge.

When Anthony suggested we head over to Yard House last week, I did my best to mask the initial repulsion I felt and agreed to go since his friend works there, and I always have a good time with Anthony regardless of location.

pepperoni and mushroom pizza

Most people come for the huge selection of beers on tap. The only beer I'm really passionate about is lambic (if you're one of my Reedie friends, you probably remember just how passionate I am about my pêche lambic), so places like Yard House are somewhat of a waste on me. However, I tried a pint of white ale and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Alright, Yard House, anything else you'd like to teach me about myself? 

a half-consumed serving of buffalo wings

 Anthony and I shared three dishes:

1. Chicken lettuce wraps: stir-fried chicken, smoked tofu, pine nuts and green onions served with three dipping sauces and lettuce for wrapping. This was one of the more interesting [and fun to eat] dishes on the menu. I'm still trying to get over the fact that the Vietnamese are not the only people who wrap things in lettuce. However, you know what I'm going to say next: the Vietnamese obviously do it best.
2. Buffalo wings. These wings were just spicy enough. There's not much you can hate about buffalo wings. And it's pretty much the only thing that I will gladly eat with ranch dressing.
3. Pepperoni and crimini mushroom pizza. According to Anthony, even bad pizza is good. I'd agree but I've definitely had inedible pizza. In St. Louis, if I recall correctly. Fortunately, the pizza at Yard House is much better, with a nice thin crust that's perfect for folding the slice like a proper New York wannabe.

We came during happy hour, so everything was half off; otherwise, each dish would be about $12. For that price, I still would rather go to one of the many Japanese restaurants located on basically every block in Waikiki, but that's just my unabashedly Asian-centric taste talking. However, Yard House definitely confirmed a fact about myself that, deep down, I always knew: sometimes I am too judgmental for my own good. Maybe I should stop judging all the tourists from the Mainland who dine here and accept the fact that Yard House offers standard but satisfying American food, generous portions (we had food coma after sharing only three appetizers), and lots and lots of good beer. What's so wrong about that?

Bubbie's

Best for: Ice cream
Location: Puck's Alley, Hawaii Kai

  
Do I really have to explain why mochi ice cream makes the world a better place?

Max's

Best for: Filipino
Location: Iwilei
Foodgasmic dish: Crispy pata

Crispy pata: deep-fried pig knuckles

My random cravings for lumpia and lechon are undeniable proof that the 3/4 of Filipino in me refuses to be silenced after constantly being nourished by all the non-Filipino food (mostly Japanese, Chinese, and that disdainful term "Asian fusion") I eat due to circumstance.

At home, my mom cooks adobo and tinola about every other month, but for all other dishes we need to dine out. There are only two Filipino restaurants we like, both of which are far from home: the first one is A's Bistro in Ewa. Yes, Ewa. We seriously drive all the way to Ewa for fried pork and pancit. It's a Filipino thing. The second one is somewhat closer, near where I used to dance ballet by Dole Cannery. It's a chain from Manila called Max's and is famous for its fried chicken. Why anyone would decide to order fried chicken here is beyond me. The chicken is good, but my family happens to go to Filipino restaurants for distinctly Filipino food.

Pancit bihon: rice noodles

Max's certainly feels like a chain, with that unmistakable institutional feel due to paper place mats and nondescript utensils. The atmosphere is always upbeat (it's Filipino, after all), with a party usually occupying the private room, which always means singing and loud laughter. By the way, I don't know why it's always so cold in here, but it seems counterintuitive to blast the air conditioner; fewer people will order the halo-halo for dessert. Unless you are my mother. She'd order halo halo during a blizzard if it's available to her.

Everything I've had here is fantastic and satisfies my every Filipino craving. Last time I was here with my family we ordered:

1. Pancit bihon: rice noodles with vegetables, chicken, pork, and egg. The silky rice noodles were drenched in flavor from all the meat. A squeeze of lemon added just enough citrus that intensified the sweetness from the sauce.
2. Miso sinigang with sea bass: tamarind-based sour soup with lettuce, onion, tomato, and green chili. I'm usually not a fan of sour soup (what kind of Filipino am I??), but I absolutely love the addition of miso to sinigang.
3. Crispy pata: deep fried pig knuckles served with a soy-vinegar dip and tomatoes. Melt-in-your-mouth fat and crispy skin - need I say more?
4. And, of course, garlic rice

Miso sinigang with sea bass

I look forward to the next time my family becomes nostalgic for our trips to the Philippines. Max's can't compare to my grandmother's cooking, but it's not a bad substitute when located 5,000+ miles away from the motherland.