Guide to Rice Fest 2015
Rice Fest 2015 marks the sixth annual festival celebrating Hawaii’s beloved food staple. Join other rice lovers in the Office Depot parking lot at Ward Village on Saturday from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. There will be tons of food…
Author: Grant Shindo
Something new: Franky Fresh
Franky Fresh is the culmination of Darien Provenza’s love for burgers, his dad, the 80s and hip-hop. The new burger shop near the top of Waialae Avenue features five burgers made from Big Island beef, four sandwiches on toasted French…
HFWF: 5 cheesy questions with Kent Torrey
For this year’s Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, which gets underway Saturday and runs through Sept. 13, Kent Torrey of the Cheese Shop in Carmel, Calif., will be bringing more than a thousand pounds of cheese to the Sept. 12…
Something new: Cafe.gg for gamers
When I started getting into PC games in middle school, my game of choice was Starcraft. This was a real time strategy (RTS) game pitting the human Terran, futuristic Protoss and hive-mind Zerg against each other in an intergalactic tug…
Hidden gem: Sadie’s BBQ Inn
Korean food is my go-to after a long day at work. There’s something comforting about a hot and spicy kim chee chigae or fatty marinated kalbi with veggies and heaping scoops of rice. I found Sadie’s when a friend recommended…
Did this: All About Sweets
Hundreds of hungry sweet tooths gathered for the first ever All About Sweets at Kakaako Agora this past weekend. The draw? The best cupcakes, popsicles, drinks and chocolates from a slew of local vendors. The line wrapped around the block…
Chicago eats: Grace
The best meal of my life was at Alinea, one of two restaurants in Chicago with three Michelin stars. It was a bucket list item that I’d planned for years. What happened next was perhaps inevitable: When Grace, a fast-rising…
Tickets going fast for Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival
If you’re interested in attending this year’s Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival, it’s time to set your plans. Ticket sales have been brisk for the fifth annual celebration, which runs from Aug. 29 to Sept. 13, with a few events…
Chicago eats: In search of the world’s best hot dogs
Last September Kyle Duke, one of my best friends from Chicago, sent me this photo with the caption, “9:00 a.m.”This block brought back many fond memories of the best hot dogs I’ve ever eaten.I knew exactly where he was and…
Something new: Magnolia Ice Cream & Treats
Magnolia, the self-proclaimed “halo-halo place” known for its wealth of Filipino ice cream flavors, grand-opened their very first scoop shop last week in Waipahu’s Seafood City. With almost two dozen flavors available, Magnolia serves up exotic flavors like buko pandan…
Something new: Ed Kenney’s Mud Hen Water
Ed Kenney’s Mud Hen Water opened this week, the locavore chef’s third restaurant in Kaimuki. It’s next to Kaimuki Superette, his casual lunch spot where orders are served on cafeteria-style trays, and across the street from Town restaurant. “The name…
Hidden gem: Honolulu Kitchen
Summer has officially started, the kids are out of school, traffic is better and it’s the time of the year for potlucks, bbqs and parties. We pulled up to Honolulu Kitchen in Waipahu near Tanioka’s on Farrington Highway after hearing…
Coming soon: Chris Kajioka’s Senia
It’s been nearly a year since Chris Kajioka’s departure from Vintage Cave, the $10 million restaurant where tasting menus started at $195. He did a little traveling courtesy of a James Beard scholarship and helped his Michelin-starred friend and mentor…
Something new: Breadbox Hawaii
There’s a new from-scratch bakery in Manoa Marketplace celebrating their grand opening this week. Breadbox Hawaii is a Japanese-style bakery selling full and half loaves, cookies, chocolate truffles, doughnuts and more. House shokupan (Japanese soft white bread) and wheat loaves…
Crazy for ramen
Ramen is one of the hottest food trends to emerge in the last few years. That’s true especially here in Honolulu, where new ramen shops that have popped up in recent months include Golden Pork Tonkotsu, Man Ichi, Kamitoku, Wagaya…
Hidden gem: Surfin’ Salsa
Longtime reader @Russkar shared his secret spot for his favorite enchiladas and chimichangas — all the way on the edge of Mililani. His descriptions convinced me to make the trek from downtown for a Mexican lunch — twice in one…
Something new: Up Roll Cafe
A sign promising sushi and coffee caught my eye one day in Kakaako. I don’t usually think of sushi and coffee together. I was curious, so I walked in. Up Roll Cafe, which celebrated its grand opening earlier this month,…
Something new: Taps and Apps
With 36 craft beers on tap and a food menu by Du Vin’s former executive chef, Hawaii’s newest brewpub opened over the weekend in Mililani Mauka. You’ll find a rotating selection of solid brews like Goose Island Matilda, Ballast Pt.…
VIP Calabash & Cooks ticket giveaway
We got our hands on two VIP tickets for Saturday’s Calabash & Cooks to give away to one lucky winner. To enter, just fill out the form below to sign up for our Frolic Hawaii newsletter. Even if you’re already…
This Saturday: Good eats at Calabash & Cooks
Calabash & Cooks, a benefit for the Malama Learning Center, returns to Kapolei High School this Saturday. As a resident of Waipio I appreciate this rare grazing event on my side of the island, even more so because this second…
What we liked about Courtyard Brunch
I was invited to the very first installment of a monthly brunch series at Ward Village’s IBM building Sunday, which is how I got to spend the morning eating, sipping and shopping. This month’s theme showcased women chefs and farmers.…
Did this: Empty Bowl 2015
Thousands gathered in Our Kaka‘ako on Saturday for the annual Empty Bowl Hawaii, which benefits Hawaii Meals on Wheels. Potters across Hawaii have been working for the past two years to create 5,000 soup bowls for this year’s event. More…
Coming Saturday: Empty Bowl Hawaii
One of my favorite events is back this year. Empty Bowl, a benefit for Hawaii Meals on Wheels, happens this Saturday in Kakaako. It’s a poignant reminder that there are always empty bowls that need filling. Empty Bowl started in…
Something new redux: Ethiopian Love Restaurant
Last year we discovered an Ethiopian restaurant that popped up inside a ramen shop on Kapahulu Avenue. One day it disappeared and no one knew where it went. Until now.See those rolls on the edges of the plate? This is…
Hidden gem: Mr. Donut’s & Bakery
A few weeks ago fellow Frolicker Eric Baranda shared a hidden gem in downtown Honolulu with cheap donuts the size of your face. That’s how I found myself inside Mr. Donut’s & Bakery at 9 p.m. last week, dreading the…
Cocktail videos: Top mixologists shake up Something New with Ocean Vodka
What happens when you give two of this town’s top mixologists Maui’s own organic Ocean Vodka and Deep Island Hawaiian Rum? Livestock Tavern’s Alicia Yamachika and the Pig & the Lady’s Nick Gray took the spirits and ran in totally…
Hawaii Foodbank Great Chefs Fight Hunger 2015
The Hawaii Foodbank held its annual Great Chefs Fight Hunger fundraiser Saturday night at its Mapunapuna warehouse, bringing together hundreds of supporters to enjoy delicious bites prepared by Hawaii’s top restaurants. HASR Bistro prepared a roasted bone marrow with braised…
Top of Waikiki shakes up bar program
I’ve never been keen on dining and drinking in Waikiki for its never-ending traffic and tough parking, but with a revamped menu by chef Lance Kosaka, and a new director of mixology, Jennifer Ackrill, on board, the Top of Waikiki…
Something new: Lanikai Brewing Company
Coming in April: Kailua’s first brewery. And true to the windward side’s laid-back nature, Lanikai Brewing Company was started by a group of home brewers-turned-friends. Back in 2002, some of Lanikai’s founders were individually making five-gallon batches of beer. As…
Miss Bishop Street Cafe? No worries: Mamaya is open
The owners of Bishop Street Cafe have retired — bittersweet news for those who loved the hybrid Japanese-Italian eatery known for its cheap prices and quick service. Just like the Bishop Street Cafe of old, expect a line.Taking its place…
Win two tickets to our Something New event!
Want to come to our Something New event, set for Wednesday, March 25, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the M Nightclub at Restaurant Row? We’re giving away a pair of tickets (worth $150) to our inaugural event, featuring a dream team…
Something new: Square Barrels
A burger and beer joint quietly opened in the former Che Pasta space in downtown’s Bishop Square last week. Square Barrels plans an April 11 grand opening with a small, approachable menu of burgers, salads, pasta dishes and appetizers. Why…
Hidden gem: Aloha Edibles
I’ve always been a big snacker – chips, cookies and candy are my vice. So when Diane introduced me to Aloha Edibles’ bacon jerky last year, I had to find out where I could find those beautifully crispy strips, and…
Something new: eight50 at Leeward Bowl
A new craft bar is opening its doors today inside Leeward Bowl at the Pearl City Shopping Center. It has a dozen craft brews on draft, nearly 100 bottles of highly curated beers from around the world, and whisky lovers…
Hukilau Honolulu’s Big Mondays
Hukilau Honolulu, located under Executive Center downtown, has started a new “Big Mondays” beer tasting program, which includes pupu and big screens for Monday night sports. Every week from 5 to 8 p.m., for just $25 you can get a…
Who’s coming: Eat the Street France: Chocolate
Eat the Street closes out the month of amour with a stop in France to celebrate its most decadent sweet. So here’s a fair warning for chocoholics: Bring extra napkins! When: Friday, Feb. 27 from 4 to 9 p.m.Where: 555…
Sneak peek: Rijo at Harbor Court
A new contemporary Japanese restaurant has soft-opened in the former Palomino space on the third floor of Harbor Court. Slated for grand opening this February 23, Rijo serves lunch and dinner seven days a week overlooking Honolulu Harbor. With 250…
Something new: Yakiniku Yoshi
A5 Japanese wagyu marbling See that marbling? That is the prized A5 Miyazaki wagyu beef that we found at Yakiniku Yoshi, newly opened on Young Street. A5 wagyu is the highest grade of Japanese beef, from carefully raised cattle who…
Chocolate truffles 101
My mom, a sweet and shy person in public, is actually a rabid foodie who follows my daily eating adventures on Instagram. So when I post a pic of something especially good — like MW Restaurant’s chocolate cake — she’s…
Our Top 5: Super Bowl snacks
Fried chicken, chili, cold chow mein: I’ve had enough to last me a lifetime. For this Sunday’s Super Bowl, I replayed the most outstanding potluck dishes in my history of eating and came up with this dream spread. It hits…
Who’s coming: Eat the Street Chinese New Year
Eat the Street is ringing in 2015 with new monthly themes and specialty food items. This month, the Kakaako street food fest celebrates the coming of Chinese New Year with every imaginable noodle dish served out of food stalls and…
Hidden gem: Poke on da Run
Massive poke bowls? Hearty plate lunches? I love both, and I especially love my poke. When a friend told me about a hidden gem down the street from the Pearl City police station, I had to check out Poke on…
Something new: Aloha Tofu Town
Until recently, I never really thought the words “tofu” and “plate lunch” belonged in the same sentence. They seem like opposite ends of the spectrum: One is healthy and the other, not so much. Then I heard Aloha Tofu had…
Where real Thais eat Thai food
When it comes to Thai food, we know flavorful pad Thai noodles, crispy fried spring rolls and green curry. And that’s about it. But when we see pages of menu items with names like pad gar pao, por pia and…
Hidden gem: Ka’ili Cafe
Three days a week, Ka’ili Cafe pops up in a Kakaako surf store, serving auction fresh fish in poke bowls. It launched last fall, but because of its somewhat discreet location — across the street from the UFC Gym on…
Something new: Banan
Photos of a new food truck called Banan started scrolling through my Instagram feed this week, leading me to check out the refreshing treats that are stirring up social media buzz. Located on Monsarrat Avenue, adjacent to the Coffee Bean…
Something new: Yakiniku Futago
The quiet corner of Kapahulu and Kaimuki avenues has a history of being home to Korean yakiniku restaurants, including Yakiniku Toraji, and more recently, Heijouen. In its latest incarnation, it’s once again gone this route with the launch of Yakiniku…
Chuggy Bear’s Best Bites of 2014
It was the year of ramen burgers, cronuts, soft poached eggs and Guy Fieri. Looking back at all the great dishes I’ve eaten in 2014, it was difficult to compile a complete list of the very best bites. But here…
Our Top 5: Loco moco
One of my all-time favorite foods is a classic loco moco. A juicy beef patty, fried egg and rich gravy over steaming white rice is a winning combination when I want a big, tasty meal. Over the years, I’ve tried…
Something new: Hawaiian Pie Company
Flour, butter and water run through Hawaiian Pie Company owner Joel Hori’s bloodline. He’s a third-generation baker tracing his proud lineage back to Kohala’s Holy’s Bakery on Hawaii Island. His grandfather, Yoshio Hori, opened a bakery bearing his last name…
