October 2022: Our Top 3 Most Viewed Posts About O‘ahu’s Food Scene
How a musubi roundup, a humble diner and an unlikely date-night destination ended up on our homepage.
No. 3: Ultimate Guide to O‘ahu’s 11 Best Musubi Shops
Photo: Thomas Obungen
Published Oct. 27, 2022
Personalities and passion drive our posts, so when Assistant Editor Thomas Obungen suggested a musubi roundup, we knew the info would be expert-level. Musubi is a favorite snack in Hawai‘i, available at gas stations, convenience stores, supermarkets and, of course, musubi shops—and it’s one of Thomas’ passions. Realizing that everyone has their favorite varieties, he eschewed a ranking and instead focused on hard facts like how many types a shop makes, and what style. But the one element that was impossible for him not to rate was the rice. Find out which shop’s grains stand out from the rest.
No. 2: Old-School Diners We Love: Harry’s Café in Kaka‘ako
Photo: Eric Baranda
Published Oct. 10, 2022
Editorial Director Diane Seo brought me the idea of a feature about O‘ahu’s old-school diners. But it was similar to a HONOLULU Magazine roundup about Hawai‘i’s oldest restaurants, so I reshaped the idea into a photo-driven series and took it to longtime contributor Eric Baranda. Though he started as a nightlife photographer with Frolic’s predecessor, Nonstop Honolulu, Eric’s soul gravitates toward the humble and quirky, qualities that help define our favorite old-school diners. He loved the idea. And when I asked him to start with a revisit to Harry’s Cafe, I had no idea Eric was a frequent customer who used to live across the street. His tribute kicked off our ongoing series.
SEE ALSO: Old-School Diners We Love: Shiro’s Saimin Haven
No. 1: Date Night Dinner Downtown at Prime Roast Café
Photo courtesy of Gregg Hoshida
Published Oct. 11, 2022
Gregg Hoshida loves prime rib. And he lives Downtown. So when it was time to check out this unusual dinner option inside the Arcade Building at Merchant and Alakea, whose hole-in-the-wall eateries empty out with the rest of Downtown after each workday, Gregg was first choice. In fact, having reviewed Prime Roast Café’s lunchtime prime rib plate months earlier, he was itching to go. Gregg and his wife loved the setup of bistro tables in the deserted corridor. For them, the quiet and privacy made for an intimate setting perfect for a long-delayed date night. Good luck scoring a weekend reservation, though. Gregg reports that since his story ran, he can’t get a table. He still gets takeout.
SEE ALSO: Worth the Splurge: This $24 Prime Rib Plate in Downtown Honolulu
