Honolulu Weekly

New or Noteworthy

American

Maui Mike’s Fire-Roasted Chicken

96 S Kamehameha Hwy., Wahiawa, across from McDonald’s (622-5900, [mauimikes.com]). Mon.-Sat. 11am-8:30pm. Combo deals: $5.49-$6.79. Whole chicken: $9.95. MC, V.

The additive-free birds turn in a rotisserie, the juices dripping into the gas-fueled fire. The result is nicely seasoned supermoist meat that doesn’t need one of the six dipping sauces you can choose from. Sandwiches and sides like fries and baked beans are also on the menu.

Restaurant Epic

1131 Nu’uanu Ave. (587-7877). Mon.-Fri. 11am-2:30pm, 5-10pm, Sat. 11-2:30pm, 5-11pm, Sun. 5-10pm. $5-$25, AmEx, Disc, JCB, MC, V.

A new chef and a new menu means good things for Epic. The Euro-Asian fare is solid and satisfying, from the li hing heirloom tomato salad to the blue cheese-crusted papio.

Soul De Cuba Cafe

1121 Bethel St. (545-CUBA), across from the Hawai’i Theatre. Lunch 11:30am-2pm; dinner 5:30-10pm. Starters: $5-$9. Entrees: $9-$16. AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.

Start with the devil crab appetizers; the crispy outside, the thick, stuffing-soft layer of dumpling and the inner pocket of seasoned lump crab are addictive. The restaurant’s signature entree, the Pollo Soul de Cuba, is a breaded chicken breast smothered in a chunky warm salsa that boasts sweet, meaty chunks of guava and mango, citrusy pineapple, buttery rum and black beans.

Kiawe Grill BBQ & Burgers

1311 N. King St. (841-5577), 2334 S. King St. (955-5500). Mon.-Sat. 10am-9pm, Sun. 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 beef burger with cheese is a standout. Gild your burger with doubly smoky kiawe grilled bacon and a side of steak cut French fries, ample, salty and crisp.

Chinese

Fook Lam Seafood Restaurant

Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 100 N. Beretania St. (523-9168). Daily 8am-3pm and 5-10pm. Dim sum from $1.90. MC, V.

The dim sum cart comes around more often than at the bigger dim sum palaces, and cheap prices mean your stomach can be as big as your eyes. Superior taro gok and shrimp gau, when hot out of the kitchen, are highlights. Augment your plate with a handful of filled look fun rolls and house specialty braised e-mein.

Happy Day Restaurant

3553 Wai’alae Ave. at 11th Ave. (738-8666). Daily 8:30am-10:30pm. Dim sum: $2.30 per plate. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.

Servers greet customers like old friends. The place is great for big family dinners (Peking duck is tops), but it also has good dim sum. The turnip cake can’t be beat. The cooks turn coarse, bland daikon into delicately crusted creamy, savory-sweet squares.

European

Cassis by Chef Mavro

Harbor Court, 66 Queen St. (545-8100) Mon.-Thu. 11am-2:30pm, 5-9:30pm; Fri. 11am-2:30pm, 5-10pm; Sat 5-10pm, under $30, AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V.

A collision of roots–traditional bistro fare infused with the flavors of the islands–takes Chef Mavro’s new creation to the top. From start, to finish, and the spaces between–Cassis is already better than a lot of places in town.

Du Vin

1115 Bethel St. (545-1115). Daily 11am-closing. Food: $4-$16. AmEx, DC, Disc, JCB, MC, V.

Sample vin, vino or wine from the expansive wine list to go with a cloudlike, supple brie baked in puff pastry, oysters Rockefeller or the chalkboard’s daily specials.

Town

3435 Wai’alae Ave. at 9th Ave. (735-5900). Mon.-Thu. 11:30am-3pm, 5:30-9pm; Fri. &Sat. 11:30am-3pm, 5:30-10pm. Dishes: $13-$22. AmEx, MC, V.

Pure, unadulterated flavors punctuate the Mediterranean-leaning dishes made with local ingredients. The only problem is deciding what to order–braised veal cheeks and mussels in a Cinzano-spiked broth sound so alluring. Gnocchi in sage brown butter. with fresh peas are a must order.

Japanese & Okinawan

Banzai Sushi Bar

North Shore Marketplace, 66-246B Kamehameha Hwy., behind Patagonia (637-4404). Tue.-Sun. 5-10pm. Appetizers: $3-$12.50. Sushi & sashimi dinner: $18.75. AmEx, MC, V.

You get standard sushi with a Brazilian twist at Banzai Sushi Bar. Take a seat (on a chair or on a pillow) on the big wood lanai. Tuck into citrusy ceviche, nigiri sushi and maki as crickets and geckos serenade you.

Gazen

2840 Kapi’olani Blvd. across from Market City (737-0230). Daily 5-11:45pm. $2.75-$15.95. Disc, JCB, MC, V.

Innovative izakaya and teppan dishes in a refined setting will satisfy all your omnivorous whims. Notables from the two-page tofu menu include tofu in soy milk broth and tofu mochi ‘agedashi style.’ The innovative cocktail and dessert selections stretch the borders beyond sake and ice cream to include concoctions like sweet potato mochi with Earl Grey Sauce.

Hakkei

1436 Young St., Suite 103 (944-6688). Daily 11:30am-4pm (last order at 3:30pm); 5:30-11pm (last order 10pm). A la carte items: $2.20 & $3.20. AmEx, MC, V.

Oden is the staple here. You choose items from a menu and order by the piece. Items include back-to-the-earth basics like daikon, potato, tofu and konnyaku. Hakkei also offers chicken dumplings, shrimp dumplings and squid dumplings, beef tendon and pureed pumpkin.

Just Opened (too new to review)

Hank’s Haute Dogs

324 Coral St. (532-4265). Mon.-Sat. 10am-4pm.

A hot dog stand with class. Get a classic Chicago style Vienna all-beef hot dog or go haute with a duck and foie gras dog.

Kochi Restaurant and Lounge

1936 S. King St. (941-2835). Sun.-Sat. 5pm-10pm. Lounge open 5pm-2am.

Contemporary island cuisine with a heavy Japanese influence. Indulge in a variety of fresh fish dishes, misoyaki chicken, or an azuki bean sundae. Late night pupu menu also available.

Uncle’s Fish Market & Grill

1133 N Nimitz Hwy. at pier 38 (275-0063). Mon.-Sat. 8:30am-5pm.

Nico’s has a pier mate. Uncle’s serves up classic local and American-style seafood take-out.

Mix Cafe

35. S. Beretania St. (537-1191). Mon.-Fri. 7am-7pm.

A Euro-style cafe that specializes in breakfast, lunch and coffee. Dinner might come, but only after breakfast and lunch are mastered.