Need restaurant help in Hawaii (the state)

[Disney-Kim]

We will be staying in Honolulu next month and need some restaurant suggestions. This is our 3rd trip there and we have had bad luck the last couple of times with good food.
The only food we don't really like is Chinese, but love Japanese Teppanyaki
the only exception was Duke's. We will be eating there again.
it was our favorite.

We like chicken, steaks, shrimp, normal stuff. We are not gourmet eaters but not fast food either. We like to enjoy nice sit down dinners.

thanks !!!!!!!

 

[DonnaS]

Duke's is the only place I can think of in Honolulu. We haven't been to Oahu in over 10 years, but we eat at the Dukes on Kauai every visit.

 

[beachbunny]

Restaurants similar to Duke's (but a little more upscale) are the Plumeria Cafe at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental and Orchids at the Halekulani. Both have lanai dining along the beach and great food!

Have you tried pacific rim cuisine? It's sort of like the stuff they serve at the California Grill. I'd suggest Roy's, Sam Choy's (he's got a formal restaurant and a casual brewpub), 3660 on the Rise, and my favorite, Alan Wong's.

 

[DonnaS]

I've been to Roy's on other islands and they are very good.

 

[LuvTigger]

Disney-Kim,

I live on Oahu. I haven't eaten everywhere, but might be able to give a few suggestions.

I also like Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch, and Crab (this is the brew-pub that Beachbunny mentioned). HUGE portions, and great if you like surf and turf. Prepared simple.

These are on the pricey side, but very good, especially for steaks:
* Aaron's, this is on top of the Ala Moana Hotel and has a BEAUTIFUL view.
* Hy's Steakhouse, in Waikiki. Some people consider these the best steaks.
* Nick's Fishmarket, also in Waikiki. Expensive, but oh so good!!
All of the above all have live music too.

I went to the Top of Waikiki once, also a nice view, and not as expensive as I thought it would be for Waikiki.

Meritage, in Restaurant Row, is slightly gourmet, but at an excellent price. We went there for my b-day last November and I thought the entree prices were excellent for what we got.

If you want a good burger, Kua'Aina (two locations: Ward Centre, or in Haleiwa on the North Shore), is very popular and tasty.
The Shack in Hawaii Kai and Kailua also offer excellent burgers. My new favorite burger place is Eddie's on Waialae Avenue (fairly close to Waikiki), and they have this frozen custard that's out of this world!

Brew Moon in Ward Centre is also very good, and reasonably priced.

For an inexpensive but good meal, Kakaako Kitchen in Ward Centre. It's a counter service place with sit-down food. Pretty much all entrees are under $10.

For buffet, the Willows. (Shameless plug for a friend who owns the place.) Really though, it's a BEAUTIFUL setting, and the food quality and selection are very good. Dinner runs about $25, I think lunch is about $15. They usually have prime rib, a roast pig, Hawaiian food, various salads and seafood, curry, and other local items.

Get your hands on any kind of tourist magazine you see when you get here. I've heard that there are some pretty good dining coupons in them.

I could go on and on, I am such a foodie! Let me know if you know what areas of the island you'll be in, and if you're looking for more sit-down, casual, both, etc. and I can probably offer more suggestions. Feel free to PM me!