Best of HONOLULU Family 2020: EAT

Best Burgers

Photo: Courtesy of @teddysburgers

READERS’ PICK

Teddy’s Bigger Burgers

Teddy’s Bigger Burgers is the perfect comfort cuisine for a family dinner or an afternoon movie marathon with the keiki. Currently, it’s offering free delivery courtesy of Bite Squad, which helps everyone in the ‘ohana stay put and safe. Little ones can still enjoy the off-the-grill grilled cheese sammies, crisp corn dogs, mini custom-made sliders and pumped-up fried sides. Tater tots smothered in gooey cheese? That’s a no-brainer. For parents, the lengthy menu has some alternative healthy options including veggie burgers, grilled chicken fillets and salads loaded with super veggies. But, with all that said, beef is where the locally owned eatery shines. Since the first burger was flipped at the original Diamond Head location, Teddy’s has been getting crave reviews for its 100% ground chuck (no fillers or binders) charbroiled patties crowned with fresh lettuce and tomatoes, melty cheese, tangy pickles and a heavy, messy drizzle of the diner’s sweet-sour sauce. Pro tip: Ask for extra sauce to dip your fries—it just might make this your favorite food for a while.—Stacey Makiya

Multiple locations. teddysbb.com

Finalist: Honolulu Burger Co., 1295 S. Beretania St., (808) 626-5202. honoluluburgerco.com

Best Special-Occasion Restaurant Where Kids Can Roam

Photo: Courtesy of Halekūlani Hotel

EDITORS’ PICK

House Without A Key at the Halekūlani

The drive to the Halekūlani in Waikīkī is worth it for the complimentary valet parking, scrumptious homemade potato chips, on-point mai tais and quality kids menu. Here, everyone in the family will feel like they are on vacation. But the place’s best feature is the adjacent lawn where keiki can practice hula to live music, somersault or play tag while parents finish their meals in peace.—Laura Dornbush

2199 Kalia Road, Honolulu, (808) 923-2311. halekulani.com

Best Ice Cream Shop

Photo: Getty Images

READERS’ PICK

Dave’s Hawaiian Ice Cream

There’s just something about our small-kid time favorite lychee sherbet. The Dave splashed across storefronts and on labels of at-home pints is Dave Leong, who opened his first ice cream store in Waiʻanae in 1982. Now, his local flavors including Hawaiian Mud Pie, haupia, lemon custard and kūlolo are churned in Pearl City and are available by the scoop in Dave’s six signature shops on Oʻahu and several restaurants, and by the pint in grocery stores for those family nights in.—Christi Young

Multiple locations. daveshawaiianicecream.com

Finalist: Baskin-Robbins, multiple locations. baskinrobbins.com

Best Way to Work Different Local Plants Into Your Cooking

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

EDITORS’ PICK

CSA Boxes from Kōkua Kalihi Valley’s Roots Café

We’ve all rediscovered ways to get local produce and meat delivered to our doors while spending so much time at home. One of our favorite new finds is the CSʻAi, a monthly box from Kōkua Kalihi Valley’s Roots Café, filled with frozen packs of locally grown kalo, cassava and ʻulu already cleaned, cut and cooked. So, any day, you can quickly defrost it and toss into soups, stews or anything else you want.—CY

$35, check @rootskalihi on Instagram for details on the next box. rootskalihi.com

Best Café Where Keiki Can Be Keiki

Photo: Courtesy of Keiki and the Pineapple

EDITORS’ PICK

Keiki & the Pineapple

Keiki & the Pineapple quietly entered Kakaʻako’s restaurant scene in September 2019 and immediately became the café-play space where families could meet and eat with babies crawling at their feet—with zero judgment. Owner Tiffany Morrissey designed the place with young families in mind, from the indoor and outdoor play areas, to group activities and healthy bites. We love the café’s fancy lattés, Babycinnos (steamed milk) and fruit smoothies. Even the unicorn toast, with sliced fruit and rainbow sprinkles, appeals to parents who end up eating leftovers after their kids run off to play.—Cathy Cruz-George

Keiki & the Pineapple, 909 Kapiʻolani Blvd., (808) 369-7025. keikiandthepineapple.com

Best Local Saltwater Taffy

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

2019 HONOLULU Magazine EDITORS’ PICK

Diamond Head Taffy

Diamond Head Taffy’s li hing flavor is a must try, as are the 12 other tropical concoctions the company sells, including lychee, guava, liliko‘i and coconut. “You’re normally not used to sour saltwater taffy,” says owner Keli‘i Manrique. “It’s an egg white and evaporated milk mixture, so it’s a lot softer and creamier than other taffy.” We recommend trying the Surfer Gift Box. At $15 online, it’s a tad expensive, but it comes with all 13 tropical flavors to share (or not) with your fellow saltwater taffy enthusiasts.—Jayna Omaye

diamondheadtaffy.com

Best Locally Made Packaged Granola

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

2019 HONOLULU Magazine EDITORS’ PICK

Anahola Granola

For more than 30 years, Anahola Granola has dominated the local granola scene. It started out in 1986 with single mom Becky Burns selling small batches on Kaua‘i. Now her granola is available at hotels, restaurants and grocery stores statewide. “We make 3 to 4 tons of granola each week and sold 500,000 bags of granola and granola bars last year,” Burns says. We love the original, a flavor-packed combination of whole-grain rolled oats and local honey, sunflower seeds, walnuts, sesame seeds, coconut and vanilla, which remains crunchy even when mixed with yogurt or milk. You can also find tropical (macadamia nuts, pineapple, papaya), trail mix (pumpkin seeds, raisins, almonds, banana chips, dried fruit) and mango ginger flavors.—Katrina Valcourt

anaholagranola.com

Best New Way to Eat Poi

Photo: David Croxford

2019 HONOLULU Magazine EDITORS’ PICK

‘Ai Love Nalo

At ‘Ai Love Nalo, the Poi-fect Parfait gives the yogurt parfait a local twist by layering poi on top of a rainbow of fresh local fruit—papaya, banana, pineapple, ʻuala and avocado (no imported berries here!)—and topping it with granola, cacao coconut flakes and honey. It converts poi skeptics and delights poi lovers. We call it poi polloi—poi for the masses.—Martha Cheng

41-1025 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Waimānalo, (808) 888-9102. ailovenalo.com

THE REST OF THE BEST

READERS’ PICKS

Best Kids Eat Free Deal

WINNER: Gyotaku. Multiple locations. gyotakuhawaii.com

Finalist: Big City Diner. Multiple locations. bigcitydinerhawaii.com

Best Family-Style Caterer

WINNER: Tanioka’s Seafood & Catering. 94-903 Farrington Highway, Waipahu, (808) 671-3779. taniokas.com

Finalist: Zippy’s. Multiple locations. zippys.com

Best Bakery for Keiki Treats

WINNER: Liliha Bakery. Multiple locations. lilihabakery.com

Finalist: Brug Bakery Hawaiʻi. Multiple locations. brugbakery.com

Best Place for Potluck Pickups

WINNER: Zippy’s. Multiple locations. zippys.com

Finalist: L&L Drive-Inn. Multiple locations. hawaiianbarbecue.com

Best Item to Sell for a Fundraiser

WINNER: Zippy’s chili. Multiple locations. zippys.com

Finalist: Cookie Corner Cookies. Multiple locations. cookiecorner.com

Best Spot For a Parents’ Night Out

WINNER: The Street by Michael Mina. International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave., Suite 156, (808) 896-2545. michaelmina.net/restaurants/the-street/

Finalist: Roy’s. Multiple locations. royyamaguchi.com

Photo: David Croxford

Best Breakfast Restaurant

WINNER: Cinnamon’s Restaurant. 315 Uluniu St., Kailua, (808) 261-8724; The ʻIlikai, 1777 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 180, (808) 670-1915. cinnamons808.com

Finalist: Koa Pancake House. Multiple locations. koapancakehouse.com