J-Shop's New Izakaya is a Hidden Gem in a Hidden Gem
Head after hours to this Young Street market for daily specials of tender ‘ahi belly nitsuke, torched dynamite and buttery sashimi.
Hidden gem
Weird name, good grub: Grubus food truck
When I first heard of Grubus, I thought it sounded like some kind of disease. But after eating at this food truck, I’ll be darned. If Grubus is some kind of epidemic, I’ve caught the bug. Grubus — get it?…
Attention, adults: Maui has boozy shave ice
Happy hour. Shave ice. Maui. Don’t these five words just make you smile? If so, you’ll be intrigued by the sweet new deal at Breakwall Shave Ice Co. in Lahaina. From 2 to 6 p.m. daily, Breakwall offers an “adult” shave ice…
Hidden gems: The pastries at Bakery & Table
The minute I step into Bakery & Table for brunch, it’s sensory overload. Jewel-like baked goods, the aroma of fresh bread: I immediately forget about the brunch menu and head straight for the pastries. The vast assortment of pastries is…
Hidden gem: Gramma’s Kitchen on the Big Island
By Karen Iwamoto Special to Frolic Hawaii I only get home to the Big Island at New Year’s, so I had big plans for my annual trip. But the truth is I spent most of my time eating leftovers and…
Hidden gem: The Sugar Hut
Who knew that I would find some of the best macaron ice cream sandwiches of my life in Waianae. My first taste of The Sugar Hut was actually at the Moanalua High School craft fair, where they were selling macarons…
Hidden gem: Cafe Fusion
I had promised babes that I would take her to a cafe for breakfast. Someplace she’s never been before. I like surprises, so on a random weekday morning, I took her to church. Sort of. Cafe Fusion is located inside…
Hidden gem: Sistah Truck
Kimchee fried rice burritos, bibimbap bowls and wagyu mushroom cheeseburgers? Taxpayers of Hawaii, take heart: All this is parked just outside the state Department of Taxation on Punchbowl Street, courtesy of Eunju Jo and Mila Bang. Friends since middle school…
Hidden gem: Tio’s Tamales
From Thai and Korean take-out spots to Irish pubs at the makai end, you wouldn’t blink at the diversity of eateries that line Nuuanu Avenue. That was the case for me – until a new tamale shop caught my eye.…
Hidden gem: Maui’s Poi by the Pound
Hawaiian food can be surprisingly hard to find. On Maui? Even more difficult. But I had a mad craving for squid luau, and it needed to be taken care of, pronto. Enter Poi by the Pound, a hole-in-the-wall that Maui locals rave about.…
Hidden gem: Teishoku
Tucked in a corner of Kam Shopping Center. I haven’t felt this young in a while. That was my first thought the first time I ate at Teishoku, a Japanese restaurant that opened in July at the Kamehameha Shopping Center…
Hidden gem: Makoto Sushi
When it comes to the edible attractions of Aiea Shopping Center, most people go for The Alley at Aiea Bowl or the soft serve at Samurai. But I’m there for Makoto Sushi, a hidden gem directly across from McDonald’s in…
Hidden gem: Guava Smoked
I first visited Guava Smoked when I was craving fried rice. Now, my problem is getting past the fried rice and ordering other menu items, that’s how much I like that fried rice. But Guava Smoked has plenty of other…
Hidden Gem: Rise and Shine Cafe in Mililani
Since my first visit, this unassuming spot in Mililani’s Gateway Center has skyrocketed to the No. 2 spot on my list of go-to breakfast places … right after Scratch Kitchen and Bake Shop. When I was on a Rise…
Hidden gem: Upscale Hawaii Food Truck
Upscale Hawaii’s garlic ribeye plate ($20). Cooked to a perfect medium rare, the 12 tender ounces cut easily with the plastic cutlery that comes with. A while ago my Instagram feed started showing big, juicy steaks, lobster tails and garlic…
Hidden gem: Napili Kai Resort
On my recent trip to Maui for the annual Ag Fest, the Maui Visitor’s Bureau put me up in the Napili Kai Resort out in Kapalua. I didn’t think anything of it until my friend, Maui writer Shannon Wianecki found…
Hidden gem: Ai Love Nalo
If you follow me on Instagram, you have a general idea of my diet. It’s 90 percent burgers and the rest is an overflowing mix plate of noodles, pizza and tacos. So when I get a tip-off about a plant-based…
Hidden gem: Uber Factory
Andy Dalan loves ube so much, he’s created a trail of dishes featuring the purple yam. At Yogurstory he concocted ube pancakes and won the Rice Festival cooking contest with another ube creation. In 2014, instead of making a cake…
Hidden gem: Lam’s Kitchen
Confession: Growing up, I never really liked Chinese food. I’m not sure if it’s because I considered the options on the west side lackluster or because I just didn’t like the flavors, but Chinese was never a go-to meal. So…
Hidden gem: Juicy Brew
The secret’s out. I’m a glutton for vegan food. There, I said it (don’t tell Chuggy Bear). So when a vegan/vegetarian-friendly coffee shop by the name of Juicy Brew started following me on Instagram, I was intrigued. Initially because the…
Something new: Rua Catering pop-up in Wailuku
Chefs Jayse Sato, left, and Grant Oura of Rua Catering. I was excited to try out one of Maui’s newest hidden gems last week, a pop-up by two seasoned chefs on the island scene who have been knocking it out of the…
Hidden gem: Pali Momi Medical Center
Most people think of hospital food — even the items served in the public cafeteria — as bland and unexciting. But what if the hospital has a chef and a fully trained culinary team? I was skeptical when the public…
Hidden gem: Burgers and Things
Usually hidden gems come through people who live or work in an old neighborhood and have known about the place for years. But this one is sort of new, and I had to find out about it through someone visiting Hawaii. Even…
Hidden gem Maui: Tiffany’s Bar & Grill
Venture to Lower Main Street in Wailuku, Maui and you’ll notice industrial businesses, rundown retail spaces for rent and a lot of bars. If I were by myself I’d probably avoid the area altogether. But luckily for me, a Maui…
The home base for the 2022 Hale ‘Aina Restaurateurs of the Year is a hidden paradise that serves up the best Lao and Thai food in Honolulu.