8 Pūpū For Papa

Check out these dad-worthy appetizers perfect for Father’s Day, June 19.

June 16, 2016

Catherine Toth Fox,

Alan Wong’s Honolulu is serving a hot dog—yes, hot dog!—on its Father’s Day menu on Sunday. It’s topped with a kim chee sauerkraut and pickled onions.

Photo: Courtesy of Alan Wong’s Honolulu

Moms get all the dinners, flowers and boxes of chocolate. So what about Dad? Here are some restaurants serving dad-worthy starters and small plates that will make him wish Father’s Day—which is this Sunday—came around more often.

1. Hot dog and beer, Alan Wong’s Honolulu

Chef Alan Wong is a genius. His Father’s Day menu, available from 5 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, features a hot dog—yes, hot dog!—topped with kim chee sauerkraut, pickled onions and gochujang and served with chef’s favorite drink: beer with miso, gochujang and wasabi on the glass rim. Our mouths are already watering.

1857 S. King St., 949-1939, alanwongs.com

2. Sizzling Canadian bacon, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse

What dad can resist sizzling bacon, extra thick and served by the slice? It’s one of the most gawked-over appetizers here—and there are absolutely no frills, either. The uber-thick, meaty bacon is served on a plate. That’s it. And there’s really no need for anything else.

2301 Kalākaua Ave., 922-3600, wolfgangssteakhouse.net/waikiki

3. Applewood-smoked double-cut bacon, Pint + Jigger

The entire menu at Pint + Jigger seems like it was written for fathers. Whiskey flambéed mushrooms, brandy-and-bacon strawberries, fried pickles served with a Sriracha aioli. Order the popular applewood-smoked, double-cut bacon served with a spicy, fresh corn salsa that’s both salty and sweet. Pair this with an amber ale and Dad’s set.

1936 S. King St., 744-9593, pintandjigger.com

The prime rib poke from Tiki’s Grill & Bar is sure to please any hungry dad.

Photo: Courtesy of Tiki’s Grill & Bar

4. Prime rib poke, Tiki’s Grill & Bar

It’s hard to imagine more manly meal than the combination of prime rib and poke—and Tiki’s Grill & Bar offers it. The prime-rib cubes are flash-seared and tossed with a housemade pipi kaula aioli and served on a bed of locally grown Nalo Farms greens. Add an ice-cold local beer—and Tiki’s has that, too.

2570 Kalākaua Ave., 923-8454, tikisgrill.com

5. Mango barbecue-glazed St. Louis pork ribs, d.k Steakhouse

On Sunday, this Waikīkī steakhouse is offering a slew of Father’s Day specials, including this small plate of St. Louis pork ribs, slathered in a mango-barbecue sauce and served with a super-sweet Kahuku corn ragout and a red jalapeño-edamame relish.

2552 Kalākaua Ave., 931-6280, dksteakhouse.com

6. Kobe sliders, Ryan’s Grill

There are a lot of mouth-watering items on Ryan’s Father’s Day brunch menu, including a piña colada French toast and a kalbi burger. For starters, dads can get the grill’s Kobe sliders. These bite-size burgers feature a flash-seared Kobe-style beef patty smeared with a smoky mustard aioli.

1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 591-9132, ryansgrill.com

7. Filet mignon tartare, Hy’s Steak House

While Hy’s is offering a special brunch menu for Father’s Day, which includes an osso buco-style lamb shank and misoyaki butterfish, it’s the regular dinner menu that’s chockfull of dad-worthy starters: in particular, the filet mignon tartare, a traditional steak tartare with USDA prime filet mignon. (Plus, the complimentary cheese bread is crazy good.)

2440 Kūhiō Ave., 922-5555, hyswaikiki.com

8. Roy’s Dim Sum Style Canoe for Two, Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai

Why get one appetizer when you can get five? Treat Dad to the Dim Sum Style Canoe for Two at Roy’s, which boasts some of the restaurant’s greatest hits. Mini crab cakes, misoyaki butterfish tempura roll, Szechuan pork ribs, shrimp sticks and the popular Chinatown spring roll—enough to share, but why would you?

6600 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, 396-7697, royshawaii.com