Best of HONOLULU Family 2014: Eat
Best Food Truck (or cart, in this case) the Whole Family Will Love
EDITORS’ PICK
» Happy Day
Ordering alone is entertaining at dim-sum restaurants. Wide-eyed kids watch as cart workers lift the lids off steaming baskets to reveal delicious dumplings, char siu bao, noodles and more. Happy Day has all the usual dishes, with two advantages over many small shops in Chinatown: It’s roomy interior means little waiting for a table and all takeout orders before 11:30 a.m. receive a 15 percent discount. 3553 Waialae Ave., 738-8666.
Best Neighborhood for a Sweet Stroll
EDITORS’ PICK
» 12th Avenue, Kaimuki
With the newly opened Via Gelato, 12th Avenue in Kaimuki has become the sweetest street on the Island. The cafe-style ice cream parlor is literally just a hop, skip and jump away from Otto’s Cheesecake and Sconees Bakery. All locally owned and operated, these heavenly shops offer unique Island flavors including green-tea haupia gelato, Big Island lilikoi-honey cheesecake and three-berry scones—a full swoon experience for the whole family. 12th Avenue, Kaimuki.
Best Burgers
READERS' PICK » Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
Sink your teeth into one of Teddy’s Bigger Burgers’ juicy specialty burgers topped with the works, including its tangy secret sauce and a side of must-have garlic fries, and you’ll be hooked. The carnivore in you won’t be disappointed! You know you’re destined for a delicious mess when your meal is accompanied by a wet nap. Ten locations: Kapolei, Hawaii Kai, Kailua, Waikiki, University, Aiea, Wahiawa, Kapiolani, Kaneohe, Ewa Beach.
Best Healthy Kid’s Meals with 23 Options
EDITORS’ PICK
» Aloha Salads’ Keiki Farmer Meal
Kids will have a great time picking their topping for warm pita bread, including organic peanut butter, Nutella and banana, turkey and cheese, and more. Then they can pick from a range of fruit, such as mandarin oranges and lychee; a vegetable, such as broccoli, corn or edamame; bottled water or fruit punch and an organic lollipop. Next to the food, the best part is the price, just $5.95. You had us at Nutella. Four locations: Bishop St., Kahala Mall, Kailua Shopping Center, Kapolei Commons Shopping Center, alohasalads.com.
Best Snack Too Cute to Eat
EDITORS' PICK » Watanabe Bakery
Adorable animal pastries at Watanabe Bakery are definitely a snack for the young and young at heart. Made from its famous pillowy-soft, sweet house bread, crafted into adorable turtle, monkey, bear and rabbit shapes, the breads are filled with yummy surprises, including azuki bean, creamy custard, apple filling and chocolate cream. The bakery also offers a Honolulu Zoo pack that comes with an assortment of the cute critters, perfect for a wild adventure with the family. 2065 S. Beretania St., Moiliili, 946-1074.
Best Kids’ Menu
READERS' PICK » California Pizza Kitchen
When you find yourself sneaking bites of your kid’s curly mac ‘n’ cheese, between bites of your “adult” dish, you know the food is good! Kids also love the fusilli with meat sauce, BBQ chicken and Hawaiian pizzas. Even healthier options, such as grilled chicken breast with baby broccoli or the CPK salad are big hits with the young crowd. Seven locations: Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center Downtown, Kahala Mall, Kailua, Waikiki, Moanalua, Honolulu International Airport.
Best Local Food or Beverage Brand
READERS' PICK » Zippy’s Hawaii’s go-to locale for anytime ono grinds. 23 island-wide locations, zippys.com.
Best Sweet Treat
READERS' PICK » Menchies
Whether you’re sun kissed from the beach or pleasantly cooled from catching a flick, it’s always a refreshing treat to head to Menchies for some mouthwatering frozen yogurt. The vast variety of types (nonfat, lowfat, sorbet, no sugar added and low carb), unique flavors (cinnayumm bun, tiki tiki taro, pop-arazzi popcorn, toasty marshmallow, to name a few) and delicious topping options (gummy bears, nuts, chocolate fudge and mochi balls), make stops at Menchies an indulgent and not so guilty treat. Three locations: Ward Center, Kapolei and Mililani, menchies.com.
Best Place to Get a Birthday Cake
READERS' PICK » Liliha Bakery
Home of the infamous coco puff, Liliha Bakery also whips out impressive, oven-fresh, custom-designed celebration cakes—chantilly, dobash, haupia cakes decorated in a variety of popular themes and designs. 515 N. Kuakini St., Kalihi. lilihabakeryhawaii.com, 531-1651.
EAT: Rest of the Best
Best Shave Ice
READERS' PICK » Waiola Shave Ice Two locations: McCully and Kapahulu.
Best Pizza
READERS' PICK » Pizza Hut
24 island-wide locations, 643-1111, pizzahuthawaii.com.
Best Breakfast Restaurant
READERS' PICK » Koa Pancake House Seven locations: Wahiawa, Aiea, Waipahu, Kapolei, Moanalua, Hawaii Kai, Kaimuki, koapancakehouse.com.
Best “Kids Eat Free”
READERS' PICK » Gyotaku (kids free on Tuesdays) Four locations: Pearl City, King St., Niu Valley, Aikahi Park, gyotakuhawaii.com.
Best Family-Friendly Takeout Item
READERS' PICK » Zippy’s Chicken and Chili Bucket 23 island-wide locations, zippys.com.
