Lewers Lounge

Best for: Dessert
Location: Halekulani

I can no longer leave Waikiki without ending the night with dessert at Lewers Lounge. This place is magical. I always take out-of-town guests here because it epitomizes Hawaii (oddly enough, without a view of the beach) - well, at least a certain part of Hawaii. I usually sit outside, at a setting that makes this space so special.

Halekulani is one of only two 4-star hotels on Oahu. That's pretty pathetic, considering how many hotels we have here, but that's besides the point. Since this restaurant is part of Halekulani, you know everything will be impeccable. The hotel is a white, elegant, low-rising complex with open halls that allow the soft island breezes to brush by. Sitting at one of the six tables at night, in the heart of Waikiki yet miles away from the hustle and bustle, staring into the clear sky... no wonder this is my favorite place in Waikiki.

When you arrive, you are greeted with cashews and pecans. Service here is top-notch, and by now the waitresses recognize me, as I am always finding excuses to dine here. I always order the Chocolate All the Way, which is a trio of chocolate cheesecake, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate brownie. It's not the most innovative, but it always tastes delicious, and you can't ask for a better setting. Each dessert is about $9. Their dessert cocktails are pretty good too, but I think I prefer the ones at Kahala.

Hata Restaurant

Best for: Japanese
Location: McCully
Foodgasmic dish: Sashimi

Tsukemono (Japanese pickles), grated tofu, and tea

The best restaurants really are the ones with no website, inconvenient parking lots, and dirty walls. Hata is one of those unassuming restaurants that you always pass by driving down King Street. I hope you can parallel park. Otherwise, come with someone who can, just as I did. After spending small fortunes on meals at Nobu and Morimoto, Hata is a nice change and reminder that amazing Japanese food is easy to find in a place like Hawaii. Lucky me - Japanese happens to be my favorite cuisine (in case you haven't noticed).

For about $14, I had the sashimi and teriyaki beef combo meal. This meal comes with miso soup, three dishes of pickled vegetables, a salad, and lots of rice. The sashimi was perfect - soft, buttery, melts in your mouth. The teriyaki beef was tasty, cooked just right, and had the ideal amount of teriyaki sauce poured on it (I hate it when local restaurants drench meat in sauce, just like most Americans drown their pasta in tomato sauce - gross!)

Panya Bistro

Best for: Happy Hour, Japanese pastries
Location: Ala Moana

Japanese cheesecake and a mango-tini

I can't stand eating in shopping mall food courts (unless I'm in Singapore), so Panya Bistro is my default place when I get hungry for a snack. The atmosphere is chic, their Japanese pastry selection is large, and the food is a good deal.

On Sundays and Mondays they have all-day happy hours, which is kind of ridiculous. $5 cocktails and $5 appetizers. The cocktails are okay; the happy hour cocktails at Plumeria and Hiroshi are much better. Stay away from the martinis - they're basically sugary slush. The mojitos aren't too bad, but pretty weak.

strawberry lemondrop martini

$5 lychee mojito

As for appetizers, I usually order the gyoza, which, again, is only okay. The best food at Panya has to be the desserts. Their Japanese cheesecake reminds me that Asians do, in fact, make everything better. They also have a huge selection of bread pastries at the front. 
 

Japanese cheesecake with cream

Mai Tai Bar

Best for: Cocktails, View of Waikiki
Location: Waikiki

I love the Mai Tai Bar. I don't mean the trashy one on the top floor of Ala Moana. I'm talking about the one literally steps away from Waikiki Beach, located at the Royal Hawaiian. Apparently the Mai Tai Bar is where the first mai tai cocktail originated. If you're ever going to have a mai tai, this is definitely where to get it - the cocktail comes with every accessory (paper umbrella, fresh fruit, etc). I usually get The Last Cocktail, which is composed of gin, asian pear puree, lemon juice, rosemary infusion, sparkling wine, and clove.

view from our table

This is where I take all my guests for delicious cocktails and stunning views of Diamond Head and the tourist-infested beach. While the bar is always crowded, I always somehow find a table closest to the water. Come for the drinks (and view), not the food. Service is good, not great, especially considering it's part of one of Oahu's nicest hotels. Cocktails are about $11-14, typical for beachfront Waikiki.

The Last Cocktail ($14): The Last Cocktail, which is composed of gin, asian pear puree, lemon juice, rosemary infusion, sparkling wine, and clove