The Best Things We Ate in Hawai‘i in 2023
From butter rolls to ‘ulu to a bite of sushi: highlights of a year of eating.
Frolic’s Picks
Hawai‘i’s Best New Restaurants of 2023
Opened in 2023, these are the new places Frolic writers eat at and recommend the most.
These 4 Hearty Snacks Cost $5 or Less
Christmas may be burning a hole in your pocket, but these affordable snacks won’t.
19 Foodie Gifts the Frolic Team Is Giving This Christmas
Sweet, savory, boozy, non-boozy and so much in between.
Battle of Two Manapua: Sing Cheong Yuan and Royal Kitchen
Can Battle Manapua ever be won? In this classic, Melissa Chang and Frolic reader Chad Yamamoto go head to head with their favorite baked manapua.
The Pig & The Lady’s Staff Petitioned to Keep This Dish on the Menu
Two standouts from the past summer menu have become permanent lunchtime dishes.
Good-Time Dim Sum at Kapi‘olani Seafood Restaurant 醉開心海鲜餐廳
A Hong Kong-born dad gives a thumbs up to a restaurant with a stylish take on dim sum.
Thumbs Up for Spice Up House of Indian Cuisine
Flavors at this two-year-old Northern Indian and Nepali hole-in-the-wall are bright, bold and balanced.
At JP’s Pizza on Kaua‘i, an 18-Year-Old Pizzaiolo With a Passion for Craft
Kaumakani is a blip on the map—and it’s where Xavier Machado’s Brooklyn-style pies are winning praise from New York City expats and chefs.
Rice Blossoms Brings Korean Desserts With a Modern Twist
Find these handmade artisan rice cakes, fruit jellies and sesame cookies at monthly pop-ups around O‘ahu.
El Cielo Is an Oasis of Spanish Tapas in Waikīkī
Find pintxos, tapas, paellas and other modern Spanish fare in a newish spot on Lewers Street.
Reader Poll: Who Makes the Best Roast Duck on O‘ahu?
Now that Nam Fong has closed, we’re throwing this question out to our readers.
Hawai‘i’s Senior Yakitori Master Has Opened His Own Restaurant
Not much has changed at Yakitori Ando since this post originally appeared in 2018—only now the wait for a reservation is about two months.
Farewell to Nam Fong 南方燒臘 After 35 Years in Chinatown
The classic Hong Kong-style roast meats shop is closed Tuesday for its weekly day off. It closes for good on Sunday, Sept. 24.
Get Sum at Hawai‘i Dim Sum and Seafood Restaurant 聚賢酒樓
The new Chinatown restaurant serves up classic, comforting dim sum.
When You Go to Maui (But Not West Maui), These Restaurants Are Waiting
Fourteen of our favorite places across the Valley Isle.
Best Loco Mocos in Hawaiʻi: Our Top 5
Our new and updated 2023 ranking: Who makes the best loco mocos in Hawai‘i?
Old-School Diners We Love: Times Coffee Shop in Kailua
On the Windward side, generations have grown up on Times’ fried rice, hamburger steak and banana pancakes.
Pier 38 Fish Market Lures Us with Fresh-Off-the-Boat Seafood
Fillets, sashimi, amaebi, poke kits: Much of it is landed that day by Hawai‘i’s largest seafood distributor.
Near Kapa‘a Quarry, a Hidden Gem Café at Tradition Coffee Roasters
A retired firefighter’s locally roasted coffee beans are now sold around O‘ahu.
Beefy Sandwiches and Grilled Meats Rule at Maui’s Fuego Argentinian Steakhouse
Plus, the golf course and West Maui Mountain views are gorgeous.
Find Asian Snacks Galore at 1-2buy in Kaka‘ako
Spicy shrimp Lay’s potato chips, instant curry rice cups, salted milk tea and more fill this Asian warehouse store on Cooke Street.
I Finally Tried Palace Saimin—and Feel Like I Cheated on Jane’s Fountain
After a long search, he finally found his perfect bowl at Jane’s Fountain. Then he heard Palace Saimin might be better.
Don’t Sleep on the Oxtail or Curried Goat at Jr’s Jamaican Jerk
Find succulent braised meats, jerk chicken, escovitch fish and more in Wahiawā by Shige’s Saimin Stand.
