Oahu/Maui Eats

[beelzebabette]

I remember DDD mentioning manapua buns yesterday. Can I get some recommendations for restaurants on Oahu & Maui? All I remember from several years back was the shrimp shacks up north.

[MarkGrace]

Manapua...mmm. I may need to run down to Uwajimaya and get some later.

If you end up in Kaneohe (not sure why you would, though), Masa & Joyce is bangin. That's the first place I go when I get to the mother island. Their lomi salmon is ridiculous and their poke with maui onions is the best. It's more a deli than restaurant, but so delicious.

On town side, if you go to Sam Choy's on Friday they have a really good Hawaiian special. The place is kind of cheesy, but the Hawaiian food is pretty good. If I remember right, the plate comes with kalua pig, lau lau, lomi salmon, poi, rice and haupia.

There's also this dumpy place in town that my granny always takes me to for local food that is really good. Great squid luau. I wanna say it's called Ono Hawaiian Foods, but I could be wrong. I just called my grandma to find out the name, but she didn't answer. If I talk to her later I'll try and find out.

Alan Wong is arguably Hawaii's biggest chef. He's a James Beard winner and has is pretty high profile nationally. He and Sam Choy are kind of the godfathers of modern Hawaiian cuisine. He has two places on Oahu: http://www.alanwongs.com/

[Jeff Lebowski]

I remember DDD mentioning manapua buns yesterday. Can I get some recommendations for restaurants on Oahu & Maui? All I remember from several years back was the shrimp shacks up north.

When on Maui, save your money and stop in at Mama's Fish House.

http://www.mamasfishhouse.com/

Expensive as hell, but the food and atmosphere are fabulous. Make sure you try the seared beef polynesian appetizer.

We went there over Christmas and William Shatner was at the adjacent table with his posse.

[Katy Lied]

I wanna say it's called Ono Hawaiian Foods, but I could be wrong. I just called my grandma to find out the name, but she didn't answer. If I talk to her later I'll try and find out.

It is Ono Hawaiian Food. On Kapahulu. Get your food to go, and then take it to the beach just down the street and eat it at Queen's.

MarkGrace has given you the high end stuff, I'll do the low brow eateries in a minute.

Oh, I also love Keos. For the Evil Jungle Prince.

[MarkGrace]

Ok BBB, I just got off the phone with my grandma. I had to endure a 20 political rant from my grandma just to get the name of the restaurant, but I'd do it again for you! Anyway, Ono Hawaiian Foods is one of the places the family goes, but the place I was thinking of is actually Young's Fish Market over in town. My mom goes there all the time to get lau lau's.

Koa Pancake House in Kaneohe is good for breakfast, and I'm pretty sure they have a handful of other locations. Their coconut syrup is a winner.

In other news, Hannity sucks, Rove is the devil, the Republicans can't figure out Obama because he has the Aloha spirit and grandma is never watching Fox news again.

[beelzebabette]

If you end up in Kaneohe (not sure why you would, though), Masa & Joyce is bangin. That's the first place I go when I get to the mother island. Their lomi salmon is ridiculous and their poke with maui onions is the best. It's more a deli than restaurant, but so delicious.

A friend I'll be visiting lives in Kaneohe so I'll be over there at least one day. I'll check it out. Thanks for enduring the rants. I owe you one.

MarkGrace has given you the high end stuff, I'll do the low brow eateries in a minute.

I'm all for good food wherever it comes from.

[MarkGrace]

I don't know why I keep talking about places in Kaneohe, because I see no reason why you'd end up there, but if you do, you HAVE to go get an eclair at deluxe pasty shop. Good lord those are so damn good and I haven't had one in years. A bit different from the French version, but also the best eclair I've ever tasted.

[MarkGrace]

A friend I'll be visiting lives in Kaneohe so I'll be over there at least one day.

Sweet! My typing wasn't in vein.

[Jeff Lebowski]

you HAVE to go get an eclair at deluxe pasty shop.

A pasty made from eclairs? That does sound good.

[MarkGrace]

A pasty made from eclairs? That does sound good.

I swear I read that about ten times trying to figure out what you were saying. It took me a while to notice that it said pasty and not pastry.

[TripletDaddy]

Manapua...mmm. I may need to run down to Uwajimaya and get some later.

If you end up in Kaneohe (not sure why you would, though), Masa & Joyce is bangin. That's the first place I go when I get to the mother island. Their lomi salmon is ridiculous and their poke with maui onions is the best. It's more a deli than restaurant, but so delicious.

On town side, if you go to Sam Choy's on Friday they have a really good Hawaiian special. The place is kind of cheesy, but the Hawaiian food is pretty good. If I remember right, the plate comes with kalua pig, lau lau, lomi salmon, poi, rice and haupia.

There's also this dumpy place in town that my granny always takes me to for local food that is really good. Great squid luau. I wanna say it's called Ono Hawaiian Foods, but I could be wrong. I just called my grandma to find out the name, but she didn't answer. If I talk to her later I'll try and find out.

Alan Wong is arguably Hawaii's biggest chef. He's a James Beard winner and has is pretty high profile nationally. He and Sam Choy are kind of the godfathers of modern Hawaiian cuisine. He has two places on Oahu: http://www.alanwongs.com/

I can't begin to count how many moco locos I have eaten at Sam Choys.

In Mililani Town, there is this great steak wednesdays BBQ in the parking lot of the Foodland....it is not the BBQ that Foodland does (which is also good), but this other local family that sells there. You can spend about $10 and eat at both and be very very pleased.

[Katy Lied]

I remember DDD mentioning manapua buns yesterday. Can I get some recommendations for restaurants on Oahu & Maui? All I remember from several years back was the shrimp shacks up north.

Okay, I've had a chance to think about it.

One other high end place we forgot earlier: Breakfast buffet at the Orchid Restaurant in the Halekulani. Expensive as all get out, but right on the shores of Waikiki next to the water. Eating there feels like you've gone back in time to the Hawaii of the 1950s, with Pan Am clipper ships and hawaiian girls with leis waiting to greet you as you disembark from your voyage. Make your reservation at least a month in advance, or before you leave Utah.

Now for the Dives:

Side Street Inn: in the Korean Bar district, sort of next to Ala Moana center. It looks kind dangerous, but it is perfectly safe. This place doesnt get hopping until at least 10 pm, and it stays open until 2 or 3 am. This is where Alan Wong and Sam Choy come and hang out after they close down their restaurants.

Young's Market, on Young Street, near King and Varsity (UH): MarkGrace already talked about this place. Probably the best Hawaiian food downtown.

Royal Kitchen, in China Town, right next to the statue of Sun Yat Sen. Very very good manapua, about 12 different fillings, from pork hash to char siu to kalua pork. Pick a number, stand in line, and copy all the old chinese folks when you order. You will be the only haole there.

Gulicks, on King Street. This is a good okazuya and they have very good cone sushi. Lebowski has the authentic name for cone sushi, the Hawaii term for it.

Right next to Gulicks is Jimbos or Jinbos. They specialize in udon. They make the noodles by hand.

In Pearl City, behind Pearl Ridge is Buzz's Steak House. They have a great salad bar, good for a change from local fare. You want to go there right before sunset so you can watch the sky change color over Pearl Harbor.

Going toward the North Shore, Dong Yang in Wahiawa (next to Schofield Barracks) is a Korean BBQ place, and they have the best meat jun.

In Haleiwa, Kua Aina Sandwich is right across the street from BK's Surf Shop on the main road. Very good sandwiches. There is also a Kua Aina in Ward Warehouse in town, but the one in the country is better. Plus, you can stop by BK's and say hi to Leslie, his wife.

Right before you get to Sunset Beach, stop by Ted's Bakery. They have chocolate haupia cakes and a pretty good assortment of pastries, and you can sit and listen to all the surf gossip.

This will get you to the end of the North Shore. Absolutely no reason to go any further. Certainly not to Kaneohe.

[YardTime]

I remember DDD mentioning manapua buns yesterday. Can I get some recommendations for restaurants on Oahu & Maui? All I remember from several years back was the shrimp shacks up north.

I love manapua! yum!! Maybe I'll have to make some.

[MarkGrace]

My day yesterday...

Breakfast: eclairs and long johns from Deluxe Pastry shop

Lunch: mochiko chicken, sushi, and boiled peanuts (best you can find) from the Waikane store on our way out to the North Shore.

Swimming at Turtle Bay

Pipeline to watch some seriously sick waves

Hang out at Waimea

Cruise to Matsumoto's for shave ice (and let's be frank, there's about a dozen places better than this on the island, but I guess you go for the experience)

Straight from there to get the coconut-macadamia ice cream at Scoop of Paradise in Haleiwa (now, if any treat in in that area is worth your time, this is it...possibly my favorite ice cream on the planet. I've never tried another flavor, but the coco-mac is just ridiculous)

Giovanni's shrimp scampi for dinner

Stop at Ted's bakery to get a chocolate haupia pie to eat at home

Damn, I'm going to need a diet when I get home.

[Surfah]

My day yesterday...

Breakfast: eclairs and long johns from Deluxe Pastry shop

Lunch: mochiko chicken, sushi, and boiled peanuts (best you can find) from the Waikane store on our way out to the North Shore.

Swimming at Turtle Bay

Pipeline to watch some seriously sick waves

Hang out at Waimea

Cruise to Matsumoto's for shave ice (and let's be frank, there's about a dozen places better than this on the island, but I guess you go for the experience)

Straight from there to get the coconut-macadamia ice cream at Scoop of Paradise in Haleiwa (now, if any treat in in that area is worth your time, this is it...possibly my favorite ice cream on the planet. I've never tried another flavor, but the coco-mac is just ridiculous)

Giovanni's shrimp scampi for dinner

Stop at Ted's bakery to get a chocolate haupia pie to eat at home

Damn, I'm going to need a diet when I get home.

My family is planning to go back next summer since both sides of my dad's family are planning reunions. We'll be going to the Big Island, but I am already planning on where to eat. Your post made me salivate. I can't wait for some Tex's malasadas....