The Top List of Best Buy Restaurants - Honolulu, HI
Locals know that the best grinds are right next-door or just down the street. by Lottie Tapugu
Ask anyone who has lived in the islands what they miss most about Hawaii and along with the warm weather and the sparkling beaches, they will invariably say "the food!" Hawaii 's local cuisine holds a very special place in the hearts of residents and former residents. It's a melding of culture, ethnicities and styles that all result in something that is so special that there is no way to duplicate it anywhere else. When probing even further you will discover that it's not the cuisine in those fancy hotels or resort restaurants, or even any of the pricier and popular upscale restaurants in the city. It is the many special plate lunch places and the inexpensive dishes from that "hole in the wall" or local secret spot that cannot be found or enjoyed in any way other than by being there. Fortunately there are many wonderful inexpensive places for visitor's and locals alike to create new Hawaii food memories.
I LOVE COUNTY CAFÉ 451 Pi'ikoi Street Honolulu , HI 96814 Telephone: 808-596-8108
Hours: 8am-9pm daily
Located just a few steps from the islands largest shopping complex and just a couple of blocks from the beach, this casual and informal eatery is popular with the hip, young, health conscious and beach crowd. Honolulu 's urban surfers, shoppers and joggers line up at the counter to order fresh grilled fish, stir-fried specialties, smoothies and more. Daily specials includes long list of low-fat, low-carb dishes like blackened mahi-mahi, hoisin roast pork, chicken katsu curry, lasagna, fresh fish with brown rice and vegetables. Free parking is available just outside the door, but finding a space can be challenging especially at lunch and dinner hours.
Estimated cost per person: $10-$12 per person
Holiday Schedule: Closed Christmas Day
ZIPPY'S 91-1669 Fort Weaver Road Ewa Beach , HI 96706 Telephone: 808-689-3500
Hours: 24 hours
With over twenty five locations on the island and open twenty-four hours a day, Zippy's is the gathering spot for early risers, late night clubbers, and families. A long time local favorite, this restaurant offers everything from complete restaurant service, take-out counter, bakery, Japanese items and light snacks. The menu is a mix of different cultures and tastes and is definitely a reflection of local style and culture. The menu offers an endless array of taste delights that those who have since moved off island tend to dream about regularly. Menus selections include their famous chili and rice, hamburger curry, chocolate dobash cake and more.
Estimated cost per person: $4-$12 per person
Holiday Schedule: Open Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Over the years this small, plain and unpretentious, sandwich shop has from a single location to become an island-wide institution. The inexpensive Vietnamese menu varies slightly from location to location, but the standards are high and the food enjoyable. The sandwiches include fresh French style crunchy rolls or huge croissants that can be filled with anything from spicy tuna to pate and ham. The sandwiches are topped off with Japanese radish, carrots and cilantro and wrapped and sliced for easy take out. There are also many favorite plate lunch selections that include lemon grass chicken and garlic chicken. The Vietnamese style soups are also wonderful for those cool island nights. It's a wonderful alternative to fast food.
Estimated cost per person: $7-$10 per person Holiday Schedule: Closed Christmas Day
SUGOI BENTO AND CATERING 1286 Kalani St. #B-106 Honolulu , HI 96817 Telephone: 808- 841-7984
Located in an industrial area on a side street between Dillingham and Nimitz Highway in Palama, this fabulous local spot first opened in 2000 and is on a fast track to becoming one of the island's classic local eateries. Open for breakfast, lunch and more recently dinner, this restaurant offers an imaginative and updated menu that features creative new and tasty choices. Menu selections include hash loco moco, salmon or chicken bento that comes with ume, white or brown rice, teriyaki beef, egg and hot dog, hamburger steak or pork chops with mushrooms plate lunch with two scoops rice, macaroni or tossed green salad.
Estimated cost per person: $6-$10 per person
Holiday Schedule: Closed Christmas Day
LILIHA BAKERY 515 N Kuakini St Honolulu , HI 96817 Telephone: 808-531-1651
Hours Closed between 8pm Sunday and 6am Tuesday
Over 56 years old, this small lunch counter and bakery has withstood the test of time and has found a permanent spot in the hearts and stomachs of Hawaii 's people. The lunch counter with only eighteen seats is small and is almost always busy, but regardless, there is always a seemingly endless line at the door filled with those who wait patiently for their chance at getting their fix of friendly service, fresh Kona coffee, delicious pastries, waffles and more. The bakery and counter ladies are truly amazing at providing each and everyone fast and courteous service no matter how long the lines are or how crowded the place is. Be sure not to forget to stop at the bakery for take out coco puffs, cinnamon twists or Chantilly cake.
Estimated cost per person: $6-$10 per person
Holiday Schedule: Open Christmas Day
LEGEND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 100 N. Beretania St. Honolulu , HI 96817 Telephone: 808-532-1868
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-2pm and 5:30-9pm
Although this restaurant is open early in the morning and into the evening, it is the lunch hour that attracts many locals and the occasional tourist to this popular Chinatown restaurant. The lines form early as many will gather into this simple restaurant to have courteous and simply clad waitresses offer flavorful and tempting selections of sweet and savory dim-sum from steam heated hand pushed carts. Eat as much or as little as you like and don't be shy to ask questions. Also included is a pot of hot Jasmine tea and a bottomless glass of fresh island water. Parking is available in various nearby lots on in meter stalls on the street.
One of several on the island, this simple and casual eatery is located in a modest shopping center just minutes from downtown Honolulu . Almost always busy, but especially so when island temperatures dip into the upper 70's and lower 80's thin blooded island residents come in droves to "warm up" with a bowl of island noodle soup called saimin. Shiro's has more than sixty varieties of saimin. All come with Shiro's uniquely rich broth, fresh island made noodles and with additional trimmings that include tempura, char siu pork, wun tun dumplings, spam and more. You can order by the number or order by the personality, because it's said that you're not truly one of Hawaii 's famous until Shiro's names a bowl after you.
Estimated cost per person: $6- $10 per person
Holiday Schedule: Open Christmas Day, Closed New Year's Day
KENNY'S COFFEE HOUSE & RESTAURANT 1620 N School St Honolulu , Hawaii 96817 Telephone: (808) 841-0931
Located in the Kamehameha Shopping Center in Kalihi, this spacious casual restaurant offers free parking, a flavorful menu, reasonable prices and has been popular with area locals for more than a generation. The restaurant has large panoramic windows with views of the parking lot and the nearby busy intersection and lots of comfortable booth seating along with a long counter. The menu features lots of local favorites like Chinese chicken salad, Hamburger plates, complete dinner specials and a variety of local soups and specials.. Sunday breakfast is especially busy here and the menu features a wonderful selection of waffles and pancakes.
Estimated cost per person: $10- $15 per person
Holiday Schedule: Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day
NICO'S AT PIER 38 1133 N. Nimitz Highway Honolulu , HI 96817 Telephone: 808-540-1377
This is one of those places where you would never find unless you go with someone who knows. Small and casual, this eatery is located just off Nimitz Highway on the first floor of Pacific Ocean Producers. For those in the know, this is also it just a stones throw from the United Fishing Agency facility that auctions off the fresh fish catch to restaurants across the world. The chef and owner Nicolas "Nico" Chaize has been on the local dining scene for years. His style is Hawaiian style French with an accent on freshest of fish from the nearby auction house and his menus are inventive and flavorful creations that change daily. Highly recommended.
Estimated cost per person: $8-$10 per person
Holiday Schedule: Closed Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
L & L DRIVE INN 91-1401 Ft. Weaver Rd , Ste A-107 Ewa Beach , HI 96706 Telephone: 808-685-2888
One of over 40 outlets on the island, this is the place that everyone thinks of when they think of fast food Hawaiian style. Recently expended to the outer islands and the mainland via franchising, L & L seems to be bringing the lowly Hawaiian plate lunch to the world. The food is flavorful, inexpensive and like Starbuck's there seems to be one on every corner. All dishes are served in the traditional plate lunch fashion, on paper plates, or takeout containers with entrees that are accompanied with the required two scoops rice and macaroni salad. Menu selections include chicken katsu, teriyaki beef plate, Hawaiian plate with laulau and kalua pork, barbeque beef short ribs, loco moco, mahi-mahi and garlic shrimp plate.
Estimated cost per person: $6- $9 per person
Holiday Schedule: Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day
The Top List of Best Buy Restaurants - Honolulu, HI