That's why, even as the rain poured outside, we found plenty to do on the trip. Here it is -- our food itinerary (not including snacks) from our week on Oahu:
Thursday, March 23
Yummy's Korean BBQ
Dinner: Yummy Korean BBQ (Ala Moana Shopping Center Food Court)
For the first night, we were tired after our 8 hour traveling ordeal, and decided to keep it simple. You can find fast food Korean BBQ all over Hawaii (I also really like Soon's, across the street from Aliamanu Intermediate in the Salt Lake area) -- but almost everyone immediately thinks of Yummy. (Yes, that's the name.) Hungry, both Maria and I got the big plates, which include four vegetable choices and two scoops of rice. I got the BBQ chicken ($7.29), while Maria got the Kal Bi ($7.99). You really can't go wrong.
Friday, March 24
Lunch: Not to get too boring off the bat, but we returned to Ala Moana the next morning to grab some beach supplies, so we simply also picked up a Spam Musubi and some noodles at a tiny Japanese spot.
Drinks at the Moana
Dinner: The rain had stopped, and it was turning into a nice evening, so we strolled to the Sheraton Moana Surfrider hotel -- the oldest hotel still standing in Waikiki -- and ordered drinks and pupus while facing the water. I got the Lava Flow ($8.25) --rum blended with coconut cream, pineapple juice, banana and strawberry puree -- while Maria got it without alcohol ($6.95). We also ordered the chicken quesadilla ($11.50), which wound up being our dinner. Nothing too special about the quesadilla, but I guess that's what makes these hotels profitable.
Saturday, March 25
Lunch: We met friends Dave and Mina (and son Daniel) and Edelyn and Paul (and son Rion, although Paul showed up after we ate) for dim sum at Legend Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown (100 N. Beretania Street next to Sun-Yat Sen statue in the Chinese Cultural Plaza). This is one of, if not the main, spots to get dim sum in Honolulu. The place is packed and noisy and on Saturday morning -- probably not the best spot to try and catch up with a bunch of old friends -- but it's also your typically fun communal eating experiences. (Total for five adults and three kids: $52.83.) Afterward, we walked around Chinatown and saw another friend, Yen, who now owns her own shop in Chinatown.
Keo's Thai Cuisine
Dinner: All those years living in and visiting Honolulu, and I'd never been to Keo's Thai Cuisine in Waikiki. We finally fixed that this trip. Dinner included mahi mahi with ginger and green onion ($13.95), panang curry with shrimp and scallops ($13.95) and eggplant with tofu ($10.95). Stay tuned for the Rate-A-Restaurant, where we'll tell you more about it all.
Sunday, March 26
Leonard's Bakery
Breakfast: Malasadas! Of course, you've gotta get the Portuguese fried donuts from Leonard's Bakery (at 933 Kapahulu). We got regular, cinnamon/sugar, banana cream filled and guava custard filled.
Lunch: Another rainy day, so we drove around my old stomping grounds, including Pearlridge Center mall, where we got food from Bautista's Filipino Kitchen and Patti's Chinese Kitchen, both found in the food court inside Pearlridge Uptown (or, as some of us still think of it, "Phase I").
Dinner: Covered by the wedding of Karen and Joe, at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore. It was raining all around them, but the outdoor event still took place (thanks to the hotel's covered pavilion).
Monday, March 27
Lasagna from Auntie Pasto's
Lunch: We always have to hit Auntie Pasto's for simple yet tasty pasta dishes while in town. For dinner, you may be waiting a while. But at lunch, we got a table immediately. Maria ordered the mostaccioli with mushroom sauce ($7.25), while I got the lasagna, also with mushroom sauce ($7.95). The lunch special came with soup or salad -- and we both ordered the tangy tomato soup.
808 Kapahulu
Dinner: We first drove by 808 Kapahulu, and Maria commented on how it looked like "our kind of restaurant." I realized that a Honolulu publicist had also recommended the place. So we decided to check it out, and meet up with Mina there Tuesday night. Expect a Rate-A-Restaurant entry, so I'll keep it short. The Japanese/Hawaiian fusion restaurant serves things tapas-style. For the table we ordered Ribeye Steak with a Mixed Mushroom Sauce, Seafood Dynamite, Lotus Root Cake with Kahuku Shrimp and Crabmeat, and others.
Tuesday, March 28
Zippy's Breakfast>
Breakfast: Why hasn't Zippy's opened a Los Angeles location yet? We hit the Hawaii chain for early-morning grinds: Portuguese sausage, eggs and rice for me ($5.30) and Spam, eggs and rice for Maria ($5.30).
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck
Lunch: Our best meal of the entire trip! Giovanni's Shrimp Truck may be pricy (around $12 a plate), but it's worth it. The garlic shrimp scampi comes with 12 shrimp and two scoops of rice. Ono!
Dinner: Meeting up with Paul and Edelyn and Baby Rion again, we needed a baby-friendly place. They took us to Big City Diner at the new Ward Entertainment Center complex. Maria got the chili, which was surprisingly good, while I got a ahi tuna sandwich.
Wednesday, March 29
The view from Mariposa
Lunch: The view from Mariposa (inside Neiman Marcus at Ala Moana Shopping Center) is spectactular, even on rainy days. We met up with Mina here one more time during our visit. All three of us ended up getting the ahi/crabcake sandswich special ($16 each).
Fish taco from Diamond Head Cove
Dinner: The fish is fresh at Diamond Head Cove (3045 Monsarrat Ave #5), where the owner frequently catches it himself. We both got the Ahi wrap, which is on the pricy side ($8.75) but rather large. I loved the environment here: It's a little hole-in-the-wall, and when I went to pick the food up, a couple of guys were just sitting around, strumming a guitar while I waited for the food. A nice, mellow spot at night.
Thursday, March 30
Breakfast at McDonald's
Breakfast: Yes, our one trip to McDonald's -- but only for cheap, local-style breakfast. I got the Portuguese sausage, rice and eggs ($3.89); Maria got the Spam, rice and eggs ($3.89).
Lunch: Sure, we've got L&L Drive-Inn on the mainland now (under the name "L&L Hawaiian Barbecue"). But the menu's still different in Hawaii, where I got a garlic ahi mini-plate ($4.95, includes one scoop of rice and macaroni salad), while Maria got the short ribs plate ($5.20).
Of course, that's not everything we ate. Stay tuned for our debate over the best shave ice... and we also go into more detail via Rate-A-Restaurants on a few of the spots listed above.
No comments:
Post a Comment