I couldn't believe so much time had passed since acclaimed chef, Vikram Garg, left the Halekulani in 2016. We'd see him around town every so often and ask what he had planned next, and he'd always laugh and say, "TBD!"…
I'd been following Ono2Guys on Instagram for a few months and had been meaning to try them since they had such a professional feed that intrigued me. Recently, instagrammer Ray Yamamoto posted a photo from there and tagged me, reminding…
A couple of months ago, Vino chef Keith Endo set out for Rome on vacation, just to relax. His boss, DK Kodama, decided to join him, and they set off on a series of culinary adventures — some spontaneous — that…
As mentioned in yesterday's blog, parking for Waikiki Tea House is in the adjacent lot, where you will see the Punchbowl Coffee truck in back. Upon closer inspection, I found that the truck itself is a destination, too! Punchbowl Coffee…
If you love desserts, you'll want to check out this new spot on Beach Walk next to Henry's Place. Lady M mille crepes, famous around the world, are finally being served in Hawaii. You can find Lady M cakes at…
Most people in Hawaii easily recognize Thai, Vietnamese, and Filipino food, but few — including me — know anything about Laos cuisine. In fact, I'm sure when people try it, they simply lump it in with Vietnamese and Thai food. Laos…
Although the food at MW Restaurant is good, everyone knows their desserts are always spectacular. It's no wonder: Michelle Karr-Ueoka — the "M" in MW — is the first woman from Hawaii to be nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award…
If you're a fan of Moke's Bread & Breakfast in Kailua, but rarely get to go because it's too far away, hang on to your townie card and rejoice. The Kailua breakfast hotspot is opening a second location in Kaimuki,…
An internationally renowned chef serves up ramen at the Kahala this week.
Fancy toast really is a trendy thing, isn't it? Last week I told you about the new Ha'awi Toast & Tea at the Kakaako Market; this week, I'm crunching on more instagrammable toast in Kailua. Let's Toast Cafe is a…
From left: Jodie, Bonnie, and Mark Shishido of Hā'awi Toast & Tea. Four weeks ago, I strolled through the Saturday Kakaako Farm Lover's Market and was surprised to see longtime Alan Wong's Wine Director Mark Shishido working a booth. At…
This cold weather has had everyone looking for the hottest food they can find, so it's good timing for Seoul Tofu House, which just opened in the Laylow Waikiki. Their specialty is soondubu, or Korean soft tofu stew, which is…
Now you can grab a pint from Neale Asato's brick-and-mortar.
Last week, I told you about Hawaiian Chip Company and how owner Jimmy Chan renovated the two lots across the street to make his part of Republican Street in Kalihi a new destination. Well, 'Olena by Chef Ron Simon is…
A lot of you already know about the Hawaiian Chip Company's fresh, made-to-order chips at their Kalihi factory, and I had heard about it, but only recently was able to try it for myself. I'll never eat chips the same way…
If you know, you know: Regulars at the Pearlridge Farm Lover's Market on Saturday mornings have either seen or stood in the hour-long line for Kahiau Jerky's super fresh, super ono poke. It's nuts. But it's worth it. Kahiau Jerky…
My family enjoyed a rich treat this past weekend when we went to Zigu for dinner: The restaurant just launched their Mizutaki-style hotpot on Saturday, and it's only available through February 3. Usually, I wouldn't pay much attention to items…
I recently headed to Mian at 808 Sheridan for a spontaneous lunch, only to find upon arrival that it had closed, and it was the first day of business for a new restaurant. Wait, WHAT? First, what happened to Mian? Don't…
Find the joy in the meaning of noodles at this Chongqing style restaurant
Maybe you overindulged at Thanksgiving. Heck, maybe you overindulge all year round! You don't have to resort to salads every day to be making a healthy choice. I like Vegan Hills in Kaimuki because — although they do offer soups…
There have been a lot of new food and drink venues opening at Salt Kakaako in the last few months, with more coming soon — we almost can't keep up with them! One of the newest is Vein at Kakaako,…
PAI owner/chef Kevin Lee. PAI Honolulu won Editor's Choice for Best New Restaurant at Honolulu Magazine's Hale Aina Awards last weekend, a well-deserved accolade for a spot that is still, after a year, a bit of a hidden gem in downtown.…
Editor's note: This spot has closed. If you've been to the Farm Lover's markets at Haleiwa, Pearlridge or Kailua, you'll usually see a line for the Amaebi booth. It's kind of hard to resist when you can see Patrick Malone cooking…
Whether you're familiar with "Top Chef" alum Sheldon Simeon's food or not, you're in for a treat when he opens his latest restaurant, Lineage, on October 15. It's going into the Shops at Wailea next to the Island Gourmet Market,…
I have to admit, I didn't try Basalt for most of its first year in business. There were a lot of kinks being worked out, plus they were bringing new ideas to life for breakfast, lunch, dinner AND happy hour.…
Regulars at the Farm Lover's markets in Kakaako and Kailua (and previously, Pearlridge) love getting their Mexican food fix from Santa Cruz Taco Company, but that's only on the weekends. Now, you can get authentic Mexican food every day, since Julio…
Danielle Shemesh, owner of Drink Gazoz. I recently went to the Saturday Kakaako Farm Lover's Market on Ward, next to Ross, when this beautiful, colorful soda caught my eye. It wasn't just that I was withering in the summer heat; this…
Pioneer Saloon has been a solid plate lunch spot on Monsarrat Avenue for a good nine years, offering hearty, tasty and affordable meals with familiar flavors for both tourists and locals. When it first opened, its "Japan meets Hawaii" approach…
Summer is all about enjoying outdoor grilling and barbecuing, so the Grand Wailea created an event that would completely elevate that family picnic. Imagine sipping Buffalo Trace while talking story with celebrity chefs Sam Jones and Justin Brunson as they hand…
I'm going to guess that most readers will initially see this blog post and shrug, as I did, when I first heard about Yamada Chikara opening. And that's okay. Like many things in Japanese culture, the restaurant and the owner/chef…
If you've been a regular at the Farm Lover's Saturday market at Pearlridge, as I am, you're familiar with the Ali'i Coffee Company booth that kept us caffeinated for the last couple of years. Will Gold and James Webb started roasting…
After a lot of fanfare over opening with chef Chris Kajioka and then a period with chef Jonathan Mizukami, the original Vintage Cave seemed to go dark once Shirokiya and the Vintage Cave Cafe got built on the Ewa side of…
When I was little, my mom would take me to the neighborhood butcher in Chun Hoon Market every week as she picked out cuts of meat for dinner. We were such regulars there that I called the butcher Uncle Burt.…
Downtown office workers are eagerly anticipating the opening of Gochi Grill in the Remington College building on June 4. Yes, there are plate lunches and bentos everywhere, but this one promises to be a little different. Not many people know…
Most people think of Stage as a place to go for a full dinner, but you can actually go there just for dessert. Pastry chef Cainan Sabey always coming up with new things to push the envelope on creativity, or presentations…
It's been a year since Michael Mina launched his food hall concept, The Street, in International Marketplace, and he's looking to launch some new food stations in the next two months to meet the demands and tastes of the customers. …
I'm headed to one of the big events in Kaanapali this weekend, "Turf Meets Surf," a culinary exchange program that has Maui chefs Tom Muromoto of Kā’anapali Beach Hotel and Lyndon Honda of Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa collaborating with Canadian guest chefs Lino…
There's a couple of fresh new faces on Waialae Avenue opening a new restaurant in ... well, an old space. The old Hung Won on Waialae Avenue closed after two decades and turned into a Thai restaurant last year. The…
The Michelin-starred Hong Kong dim sum eatery’s latest outpost opens at Royal Hawaiian Center.
Been there, done that: You can't afford to enjoy Singapore like a Crazy Rich Asian but you don't want to just eat at hawker stalls or at touristy restaurants that everyone else has already posted on their grams. Where will you go…
