Honolulu Weekly

Aki-no-no

2633 S. King St. (947-1001). Tue-Sun 5pm-2am. Small dishes: $2.50-$9.50. Big dishes: $9.50-$25. AmEx, Disc, JCB, MVC, V.

Food wise, Aki-no-no is just another izakaya, but the sweet service from a small army of young women, the warm wood-and-bamboo cocoon of a room and the late-night hours make this spot worth adding to your list.

BC Burrito

3607 Wai’alae Ave. (737-4700). Sun-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm. Burritos starting at $4.99. MC, V.

A flavored tortilla (flour, whole wheat, spinach or tomato chile) is steam- pressed with cheese and filled with your choice of chicken mole, chicken bay leaf, pork, beef, chile verde or veggies. The coolest, or hottest thing about BC Burrito is the huge selection of hot sauces.

BluWater Grill

Hawai’i Kai Shopping Center, 377 Keahole St. (395-6224). Mon-Thu 11am-11pm; Fri, Sat 11am-midnight; Sun 10am-2:30pm. Appetizers: $6.95-$14.95. EntrÈes: $8.95-$29.95. AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V.

Chef William Bruhl’s contemporary American menu runs from warm seafood dip (yup, the same as at his old employer, Ryan’s) to a New York strip steak. Aiming for that elusive sweet spot between (casually) chic haven and family-friendly eatery, BluWater hits the suburban bull’s eye with a TGI Island Bistro. High points: moist wok-fried moi and the al fresco waterside tables. A hotspot for Sunday brunch.

Bombay Indian Restaurant

Discovery Bay Center, 1778 Ala Moana Blvd. (942-3990). Daily 5-10pm; Main dishes: $9.95-$21.95. JCB, MC, V.

Bombay’s tandoor holds the secret to the grilled meats, baked breads and the chef’s special chicken tikka masala, a beguiling combo of salty-sweet tomato sauce, smoky charred chicken and numbing chili heat. The awesome rendition of gulab jamun, deceptively light spherical fried dumplings made from powdered milk and steeped in cardamom-infused honey syrup, will make you re-think Indian desserts.

Imanas

2626 S. King St. (941-2626). Mon-Sat 5-11:30pm. A la carte: $2.50-$12.50. Beef shabu shabu: $18.50. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

Nihon-jin flock to this warmly minimalist room, but lots of people still don’t know about it. Exemplary classic Tokyo-style sushi is as close as you’ll come to Sushi Sasabune in this price range. Order a parade of beautifully composed plates–grilled butterfish, seaweed salad, chilled kabocha pumpkin, shabu shabu salad–to go with sips of sake and shochu.

Kiawe Grill BBQ & Burgers

1311 N. King St. (841-5577), 2334 S. King St. (955-5500). Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sunday 10am-8pm; $2.15-$16.95; AmEx, MC, V.

Skip the B.B.Q. and hone in on the burger column of the menu, where the Kobe style (Wagyu beef) Burger with cheese is a standout. This sandwich is thoughtfully structured: Cheese meltingly adheres bottom bun to hot burger, which is stacked with onion, tomato, iceberg lettuce and held in place by a mayo-slicked top bun. Gild your burger with doubly smoky kiawe grilled bacon and a side of steak cut French fries, ample, salty and crisp.

Mac 24-7

Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel, 2500 Kuhio Ave. (921-5564). Open 24 hours. Large plates $12-$28. AmEx, Disc, DC, JCB, MC, V.

The mod setting of this dressed-up 24-hour bar/diner leaves those in Vinylville far behind. Satisfy wee hour cravings with updated comfort classics gone luxe: lobster pot pie, loco moco with Hamakua mushroom gravy and heirloom tomato soup with grilled white cheddar sandwich. Start your night with a drink from the full bar, or end it with an order of signature Mac Daddy pancakes: As big as hubcaps, they’re enough for four people and the pinnacle of late night gluttony.

Opal Thai Food

Kamehameha Hwy. across from McDonald’s in Hale’iwa. Wed-Sun 10am-6pm. $6.50-$7.95. Cash only.

The Hale’iwa dining scene scores with this Thai lunchwagon that’s big on value without taking shortcuts on taste. Green papaya salad is tossed with an pounded tincture of lime juice, fresh garlic and tomato, pad thai is made not with ketchup but with authentic tamarind paste and the impossibly fresh and supple tofu summer rolls with peanut sauce may be the perfect millennial ambassadors for the portable meal.

Ono Pono

UH, Sustainability Courtyard (no phone). Mon-Fri 7:30am-2pm. Full plate: $6.50. Cash and local check only.

UH’s lunch kiosk uses organic, locally grown ingredients and the price is righteous, too. The menu hinges on the farmers’ bounty; black-bean marinara pasta and miso-mushroom sauce over mashed potatoes are hearty faves. Does it taste good? Ask the fans waiting in line.

Panya Bistro

Ala Moana Center, mauka side (946-6388). Mon-Sat 8am10pm; Sun 8am-10pm. Appetizers $4.50-$9.99. EntrÈes: $7.50-$26. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.

The Ala Moana off-shoot of the ‘Euro-Japanese’ bakery mini-chain is a postmodern tea room with sleek neo-Bauhaus design elements and blue-grey walls. Nibble on Japanese cheesecake or dig into full-fledged meals such as laksa (curry noodle soup) and rack of lamb.

This Is It Bakery & Deli

443 Cooke St. (597-1017), Mon-Fri 6am-4pm, Sat 7am-3pm; This Is It Too, 1001 Bishop St. (526-2280), Mon-Fri 5:30am-2:30pm. Plain bagels: 85 cents each, $9 a dozen. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.

Owner Steve Gelson and his wife Mona have been making bagels in Hawai’i for 25 years. Sandwiches, salads and desserts are also on the menu. When it comes to bagels, well, this is it.

Yanni’s Greek and Mediterranean Cuisine

500 Ala Moana Blvd. (585-8142), Mon-Wed, Sat 5pm-1am, Thu-Fri 11-1am Appetizers: $5.50-$15.50, Prices: $15.50-$25.50, AmEx, MC, V.

Yanni’s does calamari right–curly, bite-sized pieces of extra-tender squid tossed in a tempura-light breading. The supple mezethe’s counterpart is the saganaki–a triangle of pan-fried kefalograviera sheep cheese that is rich, heavy and savory with a squirt of lemon. Add it to the homemade rolls, the trio of dips (tzatziki, melitzanosalata and teramosalata) and you could ask for the check and go home happy.