I've planned vacations entirely around visiting shave ice shops. In 2018, I devoured 68 bowls of shave ice from shops in Japan and Hawaii. I just might be a little obsessed with shave ice. I know, I'm weird. See also: Shave ice…
Under the looming elevated railway that defines this stretch of Kamehameha Highway, a Taiwanese fusion noodle bar called Fooki opened a few weeks ago in the Pearl Kai Shopping Center. An unlikely restaurant in an unlikely part of Oahu, it begs a question: Who's…
Farmers markets are breeding grounds for food innovation and some of Hawaii's most successful restaurants. Frolic's series spotlights some of these ono finds. What: Truffle egg salad, chicken namban and ahi melt sandwiches, antipasto pasta, caprese saladHow much: $4.95 eachWhat…
Honolulu now has a place to drink fresh, locally made sake with homey food pairings.
It's been a while since lemon peel gummy bears have addicted our taste buds, so it's time for a re-check. If you think that just because you’ve tried one lemon peel gummy, you’ve tried them all, you’re wrong. Just ask…
Let's be honest, food courts don't exactly set a high bar for culinary finds. However, if you've spent any time in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore, you know that open-air hawker centers and food markets tend to buck…
Not all lemon peel gummy bears are made the same. We cracked open bags from six different places to find the best of these sweet-sour treats.
A new truck is serving up the iconic malassadas hot and crispy.
Hoping. Praying. Dreaming. Answering the anticipation of Asian food fans and halmonis waiting for America's largest Asian grocery chain to arrive in Hawaii, H Mart opened its doors at 9 a.m. today, May 28, to a socially distanced line that wrapped…
As June 5 nears — the date when Oahu restaurants can finally reopen for dine-in customers — many are in a mad dash to figure out how to comply with new rules for safety and sanitation. Tables must be spaced at least…
A tableside review of crispy stuff from a longtime Moiliili hole-in-the-wall.
Higoto Japanese Eatery opened May 14, at a time when takeout is the only option for restaurants open during the pandemic. Luckily, takeout is exactly what Nobu Kurokawa, former owner of Kona Kai Sushi up the hill on the same…
Enormous chocolate chip cookies bigger than your head. Two pounds of assorted fries with tubs of dipping sauce. Tater tots covered with mac and cheese, sriracha aioli AND Flaming Hot Cheetos. It's clear that all inhibitions are lost when you order delivery…
Thomas Obungen ventures to Mō‘ili‘ili for his first taste of an Indian food icon.
J & S Lumpia Spot opened at the perfect time for those of us craving comfort.
Quick video review of a new Kapahulu izakaya that opened in the middle of a shutdown.
What I found at … is a series that tests and vets intriguing store-bought foodie finds. What: Xiao Mei brown sugar boba ice cream barsWhere: Freezer aisle or near ice cream at Palama Market (note: Teaspresso also sells single bars at…
Here's a look at the brand new Kakaako brewery and its junmai ginjo, nigori and amazake.
We're trying takeout from places we haven't been in two-minute reviews at home.
When dining at a steakhouse, you're normally confronted with three options: big portions, a diverse menu or reasonable prices. As you might have guessed, you can only pick one. At Little Joe's, which opens Friday, Mar. 13, you can have all three and…
The new Mōʻiliʻili spot grand opened above sister restaurant Tori Ton.
Who knew Waikiki needed a fourth food hall? This one, aptly named Waikiki Food Hall, grand opens at Royal Hawaiian Center on Saturday, Mar. 7 at 8 a.m. A mix of eight local and Japanese concepts will serve up everything from garlic shrimp plates and…
New series starts with crispy pork and chicken katsu sandwiches on fluffy Japanese bread.
People's poke preferences are about as diverse as they come. Some love it spicy while others crave it simple and tasting like the sea. Variations in texture range from crunchy to tender, chewy to crispy; each has its own merits. So which poke…
The Frolic team’s favorite spots for comforting vats of deliciousness.
Without much fanfare, Kevin Hanney and his wife Denise Luke opened the doors to Chopchop Rotisserie, their third restaurant, on Monday night. It's not on 12th Avenue. It's not on Koko Head Avenue. It ain't even in Kaimuki — it's on…
I'm a total sucker for boba. I might add them to my milk tea from time to time; I am gung-ho when I see them on a dessert. Imagine my reaction when I came across a towering stack of souffle pancakes…
Foodland is closing out the year on a high note: Foodland Farms Pearl City opened a few weeks ago to nonstop crowds and tomorrow, Dec. 12, their new poke restaurant opens in the hippest corner of Honolulu. Redfish Poke Bar…
A flight from Hawaii to New York is at least nine hours long. But then you have to find a way into the city, settle in, yada-yada, badabing badaboom, by the time you're enjoying a hot slice of pizza you're mad tired.…
Habibi Tasty brings Middle Eastern falafel, shawarma and kebabs back to Kuhio Avenue
Okinawa shares many similarities with Hawaii including weather, gorgeous beaches and an affinity for canned comfort food. One Okinawan delicacy shop that has gained popularity in recent years is Pork Tamago Onigiri or "Potama" as it's affectionately called. A potama is…
I have been a burger fan for as long as I can remember. Ask my parents — no matter where we went, if there was a burger on the menu, that's what I was having. From palm-sized sliders to triple-deckers as big…
From Wai‘anae to Lā‘ie, crispy gau gee ranked by readers.
Deep-fried envelopes of ground pork, crispy gau gee are a hot commodity at every potluck: Show up with a box and a bucket of hot mustard and you'll be the life of the party. Just like our inaugural poll that…
How do the results stack up against Frolic Hawai‘i’s own Top 5?
What I found at … is a series that tests and vets intriguing store-bought foodie finds. What: Kirkland Signature tiramisu bar cakeWhere: Bakery department refrigerated caseCost: $15.99 for a 2.37 lb cake Q: Can Kirkland's giant tiramisu stand up to a restaurant-quality dessert?…
Ahh, meat jun. When Jason Chin and Gregg Hoshida tried 18 meat jun plates to come up with their Top 5 choices, they didn't expect it to generate such heated discussion on Facebook. With 133 comments and a whopping 227 shares,…
If you thought Kakaako's dining scene has cooled off, you'd be wrong. Things are only heating up, with cafes and local and Asian restaurants the latest adds to the scene. Here's a list of spots that have opened recently or…
Note: The pop-up finished its run at the end of 2019. You're wondering if your favorite bento is on the shelf. You're praying they didn't forget the ahi patty and Goteborg musubis. And please, oh please, let there be fried…
