Nobu

Best for: Modern Japanese, Drinks, Dessert
Location: Waikiki Parc Hotel
Foodgasmic dish: Dolce mascarpone, Black cod saikyo miso, Wagyu beef & foie gras gyoza, Salmon skin salad

Cocktails are about $14, assorted sushi rolls about $7 each

The first time I came to Nobu was in January. Mizuki and I sat at the bar, ordered like crazy, and had a wonderful time. Two cocktails each, a few appetizers to share, and lots and lots of sushi. If Morimoto Waikiki can be described as "heaven," Nobu can be described as "hell" ... not [necessarily] because Nobu is a place for sinners, but because the decor is dark and red, unlike Morimoto's bright white walls and large windows.

Wagyu Beef and Foie Gras Gyoza ($10): one of my favorites

Crispy Duck Harumaki ($9)

Nobu's salmon skin salad ($17) is amazing, and very rarely do I remember salad. After stuffing ourselves silly, Mizuki and I ordered dessert, and this is when I had the best dessert ever. I am a dessert freak, so when I say "best," you should really be impressed. As many of you know, I don't eat fruit - unless it is in alcoholic form. Mizuki, who very considerately decided to ignore my fruit-phobia, ordered a dessert for me: Dolce Mascarpone (creme de mascarpone, fresh passion fruit puree, almond and olive oil crumble with honey caviar) paired with Dolce Wine. Foodgasm!! Thanks to her, I learned something: if there's any place that will get me to eat fruit, it will be a fancy Japanese restaurant. Figures. Everything was perfect, and the dolce wine just made it even better. Almost a year later, I still fantasize about this dish.

Black cod butter lettuce cups ($8). This was one of my favorite dishes, but maybe that's just because I love all things black cod.

BEST DESSERT EVER ($22): Dolce Mascarpone (creme de mascarpone, fresh passion fruit puree, almond and olive oil crumble with honey caviar) paired with Dolce Wine

The next time I came to Nobu, I brought a group of people for happy hour. Bad idea. This is not like other happy hour places, at which one can share two or three dishes and a cocktail for bargain prices and feel satisfied. Three happy hour dishes at Nobu won't cut it. The four of us left hungry and feeling ripped-off.

Seafood puffs ($9)... nothing special

Spicy tuna with crispy rice ($10). An interesting but okay dish. The tuna wasn't very spicy, and the crispy rice just tasted like tater tots. It was a fun dish to eat though.

The third time I came to Nobu, Jae and I shared four dishes, two glasses of wine, and a dessert. Although this experience was more enjoyable than the last time, I almost cried when I found out that they no longer serve my Dolce Mascarpone dessert. I had come specifically for that! I rancorously ordered the chocolate cremoso and made sure to order the happy hour size to save a few bucks. Another bad decision, because the happy hour size was insanely tiny and lacked some of the ingredients found in the regular portion.

Assorted rolls for $14

Chocolate "cremoso" ($8)

The lesson to be learned is: don't come to Nobu on a budget. If you do, you'll be miserable. In other words, if your budget is less than $60 for yourself, don't bother coming here.

...Unless, of course, you're coming just for dessert. Anthony and I were in the middle of dinner at CPK yesterday (twice in one week! That's what happens when town is closed for eight days) when I demanded dessert. Ideally, not at CPK. I hadn't been to Nobu in over two months, so I figured it was about time to return. It happened to be the week of APEC, so I called Nobu first to make sure the Waikiki Parc Hotel was even open to the public. Fortunately, it was. And even better - valet was still available as well (this is the real reason why I only dine at fancy restaurants in Waikiki).

We sat in the lounge and ordered the Bento Box, a Dolce wine for me, and a gin & tonic for Anthony. The Bento Box consists of a flourless chocolate cake, goma tuile, and a scoop of green tea ice cream. The chocolate cake was amazing - the epitome of a molten cake. Even Anthony, who is not a huge fan of chocolate, couldn't help but appreciate the quality of chocolate used. I will no longer be able to enjoy molten cakes anywhere else. Thanks, Nobu. We learned that goma tuile is a thin, crispy sesame wafer whose texture provided a perfect contrast to the softness of the molten cake. The ice cream was light and refreshing, with just the right amount of green tea flavor. I'll take green tea over vanilla and whipped cream any day!

Bento Box, $13

I ordered the Dolce wine because I remembered that it had been paired with my Favorite Dessert Ever (the dolce mascarpone) back in January. The wine still tasted like honey goodness, but it definitely paired better with the mascarpone. Oh well. Some things in life will just have to remain perfect memories.

Dolce wine, $18

 

A few days ago, Michael and I tried Nobu's new lunch menu, which is available until mid-January. This was my first time sitting in the actual restaurant; for some reason, I had always opted to dine in the lounge before this day. As I had been warned, the restaurant is somewhat underwhelming, especially after being accustomed to the hanging white coral and sleek glass tables at Morimoto.

I ordered the lunch bento box, which came with assorted sashimi (salmon, tuna, and hamachi), black cod saikyo miso, rock shrimp tempura, and miso soup and rice. Oh my goodness, no wonder black cod miso is Nobu's signature dish. I've had some pretty good black cod, but none have been as tasty or melt-in-your-mouth as this one. Eating Nobu's black cod is an experience almost as life-altering as eating his Dolce mascarpone. Almost. I still haven't fully recovered from the loss of that dessert.

lunch bento box ($30)

Michael ordered the squid pasta, which led our waiter to immediately warn him was that it was not a real pasta. Fine with Michael; we're at a Japanese restaurant, not Italian. I'm guessing the dish is called "squid pasta" because the squid looks like little pasta maruzelle, scooped over some rice. Michael was satisfied.

squid pasta ($24)

So, the real question: has Nobu's lunch menu defeated Morimoto's? My lunch bento box did taste better than the lunch box I usually order at Morimoto's (although, presentation was somewhat lacking), and the service was better. However, the decor at Morimoto's can't be beat, and I should [and will gladly] return to Nobu for lunch at least once more and try something else besides the black cod before I make such an inevitably contentious claim.

KiMO BEAN

Best for: Coffee
Location: Waikiki



KiMO BEAN is another one of those fancy coffeeshop chains found throughout Waikiki, like Island Vintage and Honolulu Coffee. I've noticed that the best coffee in Hawaii can usually be found in touristy areas because only tourists seem to be willing to spend $4 for high quality Kona coffee. I'd like to think it's because locals just make similarly good coffee at home.

 

The first time I came to KiMO BEAN, Alec and I lucked out and found the last open table. The coffeeshop was packed, as usual, which is why I had avoided KiMO BEAN until that day. The interior is bright yellow and, unlike Honolulu Coffee and Island Vintage, doesn't go all out on a Hawaiian theme. Instead, the decor is very minimalist, which is a nice change.



The most recent time I came was right before work, and I had about half an hour to start the book about North Korea that my dad gave me for Christmas (how typical). I ordered a mocha freeze and sat outside. Drinking coffee outside on a busy street is one of my favorite pasttimes, much like hotel hopping and lounging on the beach at night. The mocha was strong, which was exciting, since I've been accustomed to watered-down sugary frappuccino drinks from Starbucks for the past few months. I may not have gotten through the first chapter of my North Korea book, but I was finally awake and energized for a long day at work.

Kozo Sushi

Best for: Cheap sushi
Location: Kapahulu, Kahala, etc.

15-piece lunch box ($6)

Why go to McDonald's when you can have sushi? Kozo Sushi is basically a fast food chain - it's fast, it's everywhere, and it's cheap. The sushi isn't very good quality, but why would one expect it to be when Nobu and Kin Chan charge over three times as much?

Anthony and I went to the Kozo on Kapahulu and spent a total of $11 for a 15-piece lunch box, 2 orders of nigiri, and a hand roll. Beat that! One thing I've learned after years of various qualities of sushi is that you can't go wrong with hand rolls at cheap sushi places. My spicy ahi hand roll was definitely the best one that day, filled with lots of flavor.

Kirin

Best for: Dim Sum
Location: University
Foodgasmic dish: Baked char siu bun, Beef look fun roll



Kirin has always been one of my favorite dim sum restaurants. Why it's named after a mediocre Japanese beer still confuses me, but-- trust me -- the food here is much better than its name suggests.



The restaurant is a comfortable size, with a few rooms that can be shut for private parties, and lots of intricately-carved Chinese doors. Unlike my other favorite dim sum restaurant, Jade, which is definitely going for a sleeker, more modern feel, Kirin is traditional, from its dishes to its chairs. That's probably why I need both restaurants in my life.

I don't know what else to say about a near-flawless dim sum experience every time, so I'll let the pictures do the talking:

Siu mai and har gow

Steamed beef won tons

Singapore rice noodle

Baked char siu buns with a flaky egg custard

Beef look fun roll

Brasserie du Vin

Best for: French
Location: Chinatown

Moules Frites ($9)

The first time I came to Brasserie du Vin was a few years ago for lunch on a Saturday with Lauren, Vania, and Kate. It was a magical experience. I had discovered the restaurant a few weeks before and decided that it was the perfect location for our girls' lunch out.

waiting for her food

We were led through the dark interior to the bright open courtyard that transported us to the countryside, filled with soft colors and hanging plants. Since it was the weekend, we had the courtyard all to ourselves. I ordered the gorgonzola and prosciutto crostini, which is still one of my favorite dishes here.

a romantic table for lovers

After that experience, I was eager to return. I've been here at least four more times, some better than others. Most of the times have been dinner during First Fridays, which is always a hectic time to come. I usually order the flatiron steak, which is grilled and cut into thin slices and roasted with garlic and a port wine demi-glace, and served with fresh greens and pommes frites.

french onion soup

My most recent time was a couple of weeks ago with Anthony. We had lucked out and arrived during their happy hour, so I ordered the Moules Frites (steamed live Penn Cove mussels, white wine, garlic and herbs, topped with pommes frites) for only $9, and the house red. Anthony had the grilled island fish, served with preserved lemon-dill creme, haricots verts and yellow wax beans, drizzled with a white balsamic vinaigrette, for only $9.50, and the house whtie. For dessert, we shared the carrot cake because I didn't want to wait 20 minutes for the chocolate soufflé. I'm so glad we made that decision because it may have been the best carrot cake either of us has had. The frosting was a generous portion of cream cheese, and the edges were covered with orange-colored shavings of something that we still can't make out but loved anyway.

Grilled island fish, served with preserved lemon-dill creme, haricots verts and yellow wax beans, drizzled with a white balsamic vinaigrette ($9.50)

Best carrot cake I've ever had

I have still never been to France (and still have no desire to go), so I don't claim to be an expert on its cuisine. However, everything I've had here is delicious, and Du Vin must be one of the best deals for French food you can get in Hawaii. Sure, you can spend a fortune at La Mer and Michel's, or you can get a satisfying, straightforward meal here. Happy hour and weekend lunches are definitely my favorite times to come because you can experience Du Vin at its best, by taking full advantage of its adorable courtyard and comforting French food.

Island Vintage

Best for: Coffee
Location: Waikiki, Ala Moana
Foodgasmic dish: Kona drip, Lava chocolate

Living in Portland for four years has spoiled me, thanks to First Cup, Albina Press, Ristretto Roasters, Barista, and, of course, Stumptown - the five coffeeshops that got me through senior thesis. I didn't always like coffee. Although I had been raised by parents dependent upon it, I remained merely an avid appreciator of the smell and sound, but not the taste, of all things coffee. I always knew to wake up when my mom turned on the coffee grinder, and I still look forward to nights during which my dad brings out the espresso machine from the dining room cabinet. 

It wasn't until my junior year at Reed that I started to like the taste of coffee. Actually, I didn't just like it, I needed it. My walk across campus to the library was incomplete without first stopping by the student-run campus coffeeshop, the Paradox, to pick up an 8-oz drip, and even my weekend excursions into town always included a trip to one of the many coffeeshops around Portland.




Of course, real coffee aficionados, e.g. my dad, will claim that I don't really like coffee, since I always add cream and sugar. It's a legitimate criticism, just like I judge those who eat milk chocolate. However, this was before I tried the coffee at Island Vintage.

You can bring home a bag of Kona coffee. Or honey. Or sugar. Or jam. Or tea.

I had been to Island Vintage many times, but I usually indulged in a lava chocolate drink or some other gluttonous iced beverage. Then, one day, I joined my parents for a snack at the Island Vintage in Ala Moana. My dad convinced me to order a plain 100% Kona coffee instead of my usual. So far, it was the best coffee I've ever had. Why did it take me this long to understand why people love Kona coffee?? No wonder Long's charges fifteen bucks for this stuff. The coffee was smooth and rich; cream and sugar would have tainted it.



The Island Vintage in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is my favorite one to go to, especially since I now work nearby. They have a small assortment of baked goods - try their chocolate croissants, but go to Honolulu Coffee for a more interesting selection of pastries (including macarons!!!).