Honolulu Weekly

Kapahulu Kafe

766 Kapahulu Ave (732-7486), Wed.-Sun. 6pm-midnight, Tue. 8pm-midnight ‘awa only. Appetizers: $2.50-$7.50, salads $6, sandwiches $5, pasta $7.50. AmEx, DC, Diner’s, JCB, MC, V.

Kama’aina-friendly selections like seared ahi lettuce wraps and pastrami pipikaula sandwiches. Share the signature kalua quesadilla, accompanied by a cool guacamole-sour cream dip, or the crisp-bottomed, juicy chicken and veggie potstickers to start. Drink the ‘awa, and set your stresses free.

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.

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.

Kona Brewing Company

Koko Marina Center, 7192 Kala-ni-ana’ole Hwy (394-KONA). Daily 11am-11pm. Appetizers: $3.25-$9.99. Entrees: $8.49-$22.99. DC, Disc, JCB, MC, V.

Along with kalua pig quesadillas and pizzas, you can get lilikoi barbecue ribs, New York pepper steak and linguine Alfredo. All the handcrafted ales and lagers, are worth sampling. Dig the open-air waterfront location.

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.

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. End it with an order of signature mac daddy pancakes: they’re as big as hubcaps.

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.

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.

Nico’s Pier 38 Restaurant

1133 N. Nimitz Hwy. at Pier 38 (540-1377). Mon.-Fri. 6:30am-6pm, Sat 6:30am-2:30pm. Dishes $6.25-$10. AmEx, MC, V.

Nico brings a high-end angle to the lowbrow plate lunch. In addition to breakfast features like sweetbread French toast and lunch faves such as beef stew and fried calamari salad, Nico’s serves furikake-crusted ahi and ginger-garlic cilantro dip with nalo greens.

Ola

57-091 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku (293-0801), 11am-3pm & 5-9pm, Entrees: $16.95-$37.95. AmEx, MC, Disc, V.

In addition to regional standards like grilled ahi and miso butterfish, expect creative twists on Hawaiian favorites like the Kalua Pork and Goat Cheese Nachos. The Steamed Clams with a splendid roasted garlic white wine broth is exceptional. The restaurant gives a valiant nod to the local clientele, using area produce like Kahuku corn.

Ono Pono

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

UH-Manoa’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.

Poke Stop

Waipahu Town Center, 94-050 Farrington Hwy, next to Sizzlers (676-8100). Mon.-Sat. 8am-7pm, Sun 8am-5pm. AmEx, MC, V.

You can pick up poi, bags of dried aku and a bowl of ‘deconstructed sushi’ along with daily specials such as perfectly seared opah in a deliciously salty broth swimming with Portuguese sausage chunks and cabbage.

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 that are an unlikely.

South Shore Grill

3114 Monsarrat Ave (734-0229). Daily 11am-8pm. Sandwiches: $4.25-$5.75. Plates: $5.75-$7.95. Cash only.

Get fresh mahimahi in soft tacos, as an entree with her addictive Asian-style slaw or in a sandwich with chipotle-aioli sauce. The food may be fast, but it’s fresh–and all made from scratch.

12th Avenue Grill

1145C 12th Ave between Wai’alae and Harding aves (732-9469). Mon.-Thu. 5:30-9pm; Fri. & Sat. 5:30-10pm. Appetizers: $5.95-$10.95. Entrees: $7.95-$26.95. AmEx, MC, V.

Serving basic fare done well, like smoked ahi salad nioise, kim chee steak, pan-fried trout in a beurre blanc sauce, and achingly tender smoked duck. The specials are always winners, and where the kitchen shows off its contemporary flair. The restaurant has its own smoker and instantly spells casual neighborhood restaurant with style.

Uncle Bo’s Pupu Bar & Grill

559 Kapahulu Ave (739-2426). Daily 5pm-2am. Pupu $6-$10, Entrees $10-$25. AmEx, Disc, JCB, MC, V

The seafood-heavy page-long pupu menu features strong flavors–sweet chili calamari, dynamite shrimp–to pair with successive rounds of drinks from the pink backlit bar. Don’t miss the Thai style steamer clams in a sweet chili garlic oyster sauce. There’s also a full menu of steaks, seafood, pasta, and pizzas.