New or Noteworthy 11-28-07
American
Kenny’s
Kamehameha Shopping Center, 1620 N. School St (841-3733). Sat.-Wed. 6am-10pm; Thu. 6am-11:30pm; Fri. 6am-midnight. $9-$17. MC, V.
Kenny’s is a great old-fashioned diner, where you can sidle into a booth and get your eggs over easy. Salads are mountains, and burgers are big. Those in the know go for the fresh fish of the day program.
Mama’s Island Pizza
108 Hekili St., next to Foodland (931-6280). Sun.-Thu. 11am-9pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am-11pm. Pizzas: 12-incher, $16.99, 16-incher, $22.99. AmEx, Disc, MC, V, no checks.
In a town whose borders are bursting with pho and sushi, pad thai and kal bi, the pizzeria niche is certainly one that could use some filling. And Mama’s does a fine job, with super fresh ingredients and crust that’s not trying to be New York or Chicago. Start your meal with Mama’s chicken wings, packed with flavor but without all the squishy breading.
New Uptown Fountain
522 N. School St. (537-1881) Mon.-Sat. 6:15am-1pm, Sun. 7am-1pm, nothing more than $7.50 on the menu, cash only.
Here is one eatery that is refreshing in its unpretentious identity, slightly more modern than other local cafes and yet knows that the appeal of a home-style meal is timeless. Recommended: loco moco, burgers and saimin.
Young’s Fish Market LD
City Square Shopping Center, 1286 Kalani St. (841-4885) Mon.-Fri. 8am-5:30pm, Sat. 8am-4pm; Plates $6.25-$12.40; MC, V.
Let’s eat, lu’au style. Ample laulau are a perfect balance of lu’au leaves and pork. The Kalua pig, one of the best versions in town, retains traces of imu smoke and pairs perfectly with generous servings of fresh poi. There’s a lineup of other favorites, including chicken long rice and squid luau. An array of unadulterated poke may deflect your sweet tooth from the requisite block of haupia.
Cafe & Deli
Kalapawai Cafe and Deli
750 Kailua Rd. (262-3354) Daily 6:30am-9pm, tapas after 5:30pm, $5-14.95 Amex, MC, V.
It’s a cute, charming and quaint surprise–part country cafe, part saloon-style eatery–that serves up solid picnic basket fare, from Tuscan white bean salad to hot pastrami on rye. Also on the evening menu: local fish with an ethnic flare.
Panya Bistro
Ala Moana Center, mauka side next to the Gap (946-6388). Mon.-Sat. 8am–10pm; Sun. 8am-10pm. Appetizers: $4.50-$9.99. Entrees: $7.50-$26. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.
The Ala Moana off-shoot of the ‘Euro-Japanese’ bakery mini-chain is a postmodern tea room (or coffee house) 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. between Pohukaina and Auahi Sts. (597-1017), Mon.-Fri. 6am-4pm, Sat. 7am-3pm; This Is It Too, 1001 Bishop St and Alakea (526-2280), Mon.-Fri. 5:30am-2:30pm. Plain bagels: 85 cents each, $9 a dozen. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.
Bagels, sandwiches, salads and desserts are also on the menu. When it comes to bagels, well, this is it.
Japanese & Okinawan
Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas
Restaurant Row, 500 Ala Moana Blvd. at South St. (533-4476). Nightly 5:30-9:30pm. Dishes: $6.75-$21.95. AmEx, MC, V.
You can eat tapas style, ordering an assortment of small plates (recommended) or you can go the usual starter-entree-dessert route too. There are no false moves on the menu–kampachi carpaccio, braised veal cheeks, salmon chazuke–it’s all good.
Kyoto Ohsho
Ala Moana Center, Ho’okipa Terrace (949-0040) Mon.-Sat. 11:30am-9pm, Sun. 11:30am-7pm, $20 lunch, $40 dinner, AmEx, MC, V.
Ala Moana’s Japanese all-you-can-eat-buffet on the Ho’okipa Terrace serving traditional selections like miso soup to local favorites like teriyaki salmon. Recommended are the shrimp tempura, shabu shabu and sushi.
Shigezo
808 Kapahulu (737-8081). Mon.-Sat. 5:30-11pm, Chef’s specials: $3-$22. AmEx, Disc. MC, V.
Entrees like tofu kalua cakes wrapped in bacon and perfectly pink rib-eye steak swimming in rich sake butter, make this sushi joint more than just a sushi joint.
Tsukuneya Robata
1442 University Ave. (943-0390). Mon.-Sat. 4:30pm-midnight, Sun 4:30-11pm. Tsukune: $1.50-$2.50, AmEx, Disc , MC, V.
Tsukuneya’s name refers directly to its house specialty: tsukune, a mixture of minced chicken and yam, skewered and grilled over charcoal. The chain’s menu includes a page’s worth of variations on this dish, from a traditional, teriyaki-glazed staple to a spicy wasabi mayonnaise-drizzled variant. Don’t overlook the paitan nabe (a do-it-yourself chicken soup) and tofu offerings like natto and tofu-and-potato croquettes.
Mexican
Mexico Lindo
600 Kailua Rd. (263-0055). Sun.-Thu. 11am-9pm, Fri.-Sat. 11am-10pm. MC, V.
Mexicao Lindo has friendly service, live mariachi and hearty fare that’s far from authentic–perfect for Windwardites who prefer things western with a Pacific twist. The blue crab quesadilla with the signature papaya avocado salsa is perfect.
Mi Casa
3046 Monsarrat Ave. (737-1562). Tue.-Thu. 4-9pm, Fri. & Sat. 9am-10pm, Sun. 9am-9pm. Combo plates: $7.95-$12.95. MC, V. BYOB.
You can get the familiar staples–soft tacos, burritos, enchiladas–along with a few new items, such as mulitas, a type of quesadilla oozing with Monterey Jack and the filling of your choice (picadillo is a good option). The pork carnitas are finished in milk and orange juice, making it super moist and subtly tangy. The thick corn tortillas are handrolled and come fresh off the grill, soft as the wheat-flour version.
Wahoo’s Fish Taco
940 Auahi St. (591-1646), Sun.-Wed. 11am-9pm, Thu.-Sat. 11am-10pm, Combos: $5-$11.75. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.
Wahoo’s comprehensive menu contains more than 20 items, including combos that include heaps of rice and beans, salads (that surprisingly don’t come in a fried tortilla bowl) and, best of all, a decent selection of Mexican beer. The classic burrito with shrimp is the most appealing offering.
