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O'ahu - Where I ate in 808
Where a local boy goes (and avoids) when he visits home
96 Places
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Joe’s 5-star review: Its 5 Hoku (Star) Friday again!!! For my 650th review, I'd like to share a must try if you visit O'ahu. Alan Wong is one of Hawaii's great chefs. He uses a lot of the local ingredients, and takes traditional Hawaiian recipes and puts his own stamp on them. My friend and I ordered the large tasting menu w/ wine pairing ($185/each. For two and half hours we were treated to some of the most creative and delicious foods I have ever experienced. To start off the meal we were given a lilikoi (passion fruit) shot, that was all natural and cold pressed. This tart starter helped to cleanse your palate for all the following dishes. Secondly, we were given the butter tasting from local dairies: Rich and delicious. The real meal began,with the ahi sashimi, local yellowfin and tako w/ okolehao salsa and Ho Farms cucumber tsekemono: Each ingredient was super fresh w/ their own unique flavor and texture. The sake from Alan Wong's own label was a good match. Next was the Maui Company beef tartare w/ capers, anchovy, quail egg and housemade lavosh: The silkiness of the meat, coupled w/ smoothness of the egg, the brininess of the capers and saltiness of the anchovy was sick, and went well w/ the red from Italy: This was my second favorite dish. The last dish of this series was the Hudson Valley foie gras parfait w/ sauternes gelee & pineapple macadamia nut li hing mui chutney. The foie gras was divine and paired well w/ the sweet sauternes from France. My fave dish came next: The butter poached lobster w/ dried scallop mushroom broth & prosciutto = OMFG!!! You dipped the lobster in the broth and voila, a match made in heaven! The broth reminded me of how Rainbow Drive In gives its unique flavor to its gravy - dried shrimp. The Vouvray Domaine Huet from France went extremely well w/ this rich dish. The next to last main dish, the North Shore tilapia jun, was my friend's fave. It was accompanied w/ kim chee risotto & North Shore Farms sea asparagus namul: This dish had a nice kick to it, the sea asparagus was very unique, and the German wine accented all the flavors. The last main dish, the Maui Beef Company Ribsteak w/ foie gras burger, Hamauka Springs tomato coulis, and crimini mushroom sauce was excellent too. The burger stood out from the steak, and paired nicely w/ the pinot noir from CA. The cheese before the dessert was a nice way to relax your tastebuds after they were scintillated by all the previous dishes. Lastly, the lilikoi white chocolate mousse was almost too beautiful to eat. The perfect way to the end the meal w/ lilikoi, just the way the meal began. The service was outstanding!!! Natalie was super nice (and super cute!). All of the servers explained each dish, the ingredients, and the best way to enjoy each dish: 5 Stars. The ambiance was OK. The restaurant is not fancy, and the tables are not too close together. The layout works: 4 Stars. Alan Wong's is a definite must try if you are in Honolulu and want to enjoy the creations of an outstanding chef, with a menu that uses primarily local ingredients. The next time I visit I want to try Da Bag (kalua pig and clams)!!!
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Joe’s 5-star review: I usually save 5 Star places for Fridays, but there were quite a few places worthy of 5 Stars on my recent trip home to O'ahu. The Beach Bar at the Moana Hotel is old skool Hawaiian hotel bar at its finest. The hotel was built in 1901 and is known as "The First Lady of Waikiki": It was the first large hotel built in Hawaii. The hotel also follows the tradition of afternoon tea, which is not seen at many places even on the mainland these days. The Beach Bar serves touristy food, and has a live band on some evenings. However, there is an awesome view of the beach. In addition, there is beautiful, old banyan tree to provide shade. The tree was planted in 1904, is 75 feet tall, and was one of the first to be listed on Hawaii's Rare and Exceptional Tree List. The Beach Bar is a cool place to visit even if you are not staying at the Moana Hotel. I suggest you have a drink, and enjoy the sights and sounds old skool Waikiki, before you hit all the touristy places that abound on Kalakaua Ave!
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Joe’s 5-star review: I wanted to save the best for last during my latest trip to O'ahu. I haven't been to Helena's in a while, so I suggested to my rellies we hit this iconic place after we obtained our rental car. There is a reason Helena's has been in biz for 71 years, and still has people lining up out the door despite only being open from Tue to Fri. It is located on School near Houghtailing in Kalihi. I ordered Menu B ($14.50: Pipikaula short ribs, kalua pig, poi & haupia). First of all, the pipikaula was winnahz. These ribs are made by marinating the meat and drying them before cooking. The marinating & drying intensifies the flavor, and also results in the meat being moist. Likewise, the kalua pig was super moist and flavorful. You could taste the aloha in every bite. Thirdly, the poi was slightly sour, as if it was a day old. I like my poi w/ a little sourness bc it gives it more bite. Lastly, the haupia was a nice way to finish an excellent, savory Hawaiian meal: 5+++++ Stars. Regarding the ambiance, Helena's is a small place, but it works. There is always a line, so make sure you go inside and let someone know. They also have a busy take out line: 5 Stars. Likewise, the staff is super friendly and full of aloha. Just remember its cash only here: 5 Stars. Someone asked me whether I like Helena's or iconic Ono's Hawaiian better. My answer: Both are equally outstanding, although Helena's has better pipikaula, and Ono's has better lau lau. Either way, you will receive an authentic Hawaiian meal at a fair price.
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Joe’s 5-star review: This is my first review of 11 on a recent quick trip to O'ahu. However, I started with this one because my sistah Nadine, and my new pal Sheryl M arranged a UYE on my behalf: I was overcome with aloha. However, the aloha didn't stop there. I received so many friend requests from other O'ahu Yelpers before I arrived, that I was supah impressed. I ordered the loco moco omelette ($11: 2 egg omelette with hamburger fried rice inside, 3 types of potatoes on the side, and a sunny side egg on top). I also had a medium, fresh squeezed OJ ($4.50). Koa also offers unique items like the Porky Pork benedict, KFC Waffle, and Snooze Button (pohdaghee sausage, bacon, gravy & hollandaise sauce). I had a similar dish at Babystacks in Ninth Island (Vegas), and Koa's blows the latter's away. The portion was so huge for the price, and it was bursting with flavor from the fried rice. I was a lightweight and only finished 3/4 (maybe I shouldn't have had the poke & wings after midnight the night before - LMAO): 5 Stars. Although the ambiance is very casual (you order at the counter, and your food is brought to you), it works for this place. Nadine and her team arrived early and scouted out some tables. We had plenty of room to mingle and play a game to get to know one another better: 5 Stars. Likewise, the service from the Koa team was da kine. The staff was super friendly, and so accommodating for such a large group. We had special requests for extra plates, take out boxes, et al. The staff handled everything quickly, and with a smile: 5 Stars. I met so many new Yelpers, I just want to say a little something about each of them (I hope I didn't miss any): April K & her kane Keoki K: Mahalo for driving all the way from Mililani to Mo'ili'ili in town. They both friended me before the event, let me sit with them during the event, and shared their butter mochi pancakes with me. Russ P & his wahine Jessica P: Mahalo for coming out, and for friending me as well before the event. @ Russ: Go Raaaaaiders!!!!! Jan K: Mahalo for coming all the way from Waianae, even though you're a Patriots fan! lmao Jace T: Glad your Seahawks beat the Pats! hahaha Janice U: Sorry to interrupt your wala'au (talk) so we could wala'au. LOL Daniel: Hope to see you in LA soon Aimee: Mahalo for coming out and so nice to meet you in person Angel H, her kane Anthony H & son Kye: So nice to meet you & your 'ohana in person Casey G: Nice to meet you braddah, and mahalo for coming Teri Y: Mahalo for coming, and it was nice to meet you in person Mel B: Da Gecko! Nice to meet you in person after hearing so much about you Emi H (Community Manager): Mahalo for bringing your keiki so early in the am. I hope to see you on my next visit home. Kenzie: She lives in OC like me, but happened to be in Honolulu for family. Its always nice to see you KK! Jules Y: An den? (pidgin expression for "who cares") After all the hype, Jules didn't show - LOL In all seriousness, O'ahu Yelpers are po'okela (the best of the best). Mahalo nui loa (thanks very much) to Nadine & Sheryl for arranging this get together. I can't wait to move back home and become part of the O'ahu Yelp scene.
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Joe’s 5-star review: Hau'oli po'alima! - Happy Friday! It's 5 Hoku (Star) Friday again. For my 550th review, I wanted to share another institution in Honolulu. I reviewed Rainbows the other day, so the original Leonards up the street on Kapahulu on the way to H-1 is a natural follow up act. In fact, I have hit both places in the same day on many occasions. We ordered 10 original, 2 Li Hing ($1/each), and 2 doubash filled, & 2 haupia filled ($1.35/each). In addition to regular and filled malasadas, Leonards also has cakes, pies, and a host of other baked goods at lower prices compared to Napoleons (attached to Zippys). One phrase sums it up: Brok da mout!!! The malasadas were super fresh, pillowy soft and nice & warm. I started with the Li Hing and followed up w/ a haupia filled. I had not been to Leonards in a while, and I told my cousins to STFU while I enjoyed my out of body experience: 5+++ Stars. They have a bunch of bakery cases for you to walk by after you order and before you pay. There is really no where to sit down, but peeps always seem to find a place to enjoy their hot malasadas. The workers and clientele are always chill: Who wouldn't be? You are about to enjoy one of the most delectable things in the world!!! - Both 5 Stars. This place is a must visit if you are on O'ahu. Leonards has a cult following like Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. They crank out an excellent product, the prices are super reasonable, and the staff is really nice. They have not been in business since 1952, and always have a line out the door from 5:30 am til close, (as late as 11:00 on some days) for no reason!!!
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Joe’s 5-star review: A lot of visitors are familiar w/ Leonard's (the Portuguese bakery), but many locals are also familiar with Liliha (Filipino bakery). We stopped by the main outpost on Kuakini & Liliha in Kalihi, after dropping by Helena's Hawaiian Foods. We ordered the signature coco puffs (puffs filled w/ chocolate filling) and Chan ban (banana cupcakes w/ Chantilly frosting). BTW, Liliha's chantilly frosting is egg yolks, evaporated milk, sugar, vanilla extract and chopped mac nuts). It has been a while since I've been to Liliha, but the sweet items contrasted very nicely after eating a meal of savory Hawaiian food. The puffs had a nice crust and the filling was to die for. Likewise, the cupcakes were supah good too. I like banana cakes, so maybe I'm biased. But I was in heaven after the first bite. The Chantilly frosting put the cupcake over the top: Both 5 Stars. This location has a diner counter so you can also enjoy the food. Liliha serves breakfast items like pancakes, but also serves items like hamburger steak plate: 5 Stars. The service from the Filipina ladies behind the counter has a whole lot of aloha, and is super efficient. You take a number, place your order and the ladies are really quick: 5 Stars. I'm going to make sure I visit Liliha every time I return to O'ahu. I always go to Leonard's, but Liliha also deserves cult status and is a must try when you visit O'ahu.
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Joe’s 5-star review: Hau'oli po'alima! - Happy Friday! It's 5 Hoku (Star) Friday again. It's been a while since I have been here, but just like Rainbows and Leonards in Honolulu, I feel like a keiki (kid) again when I come here. Matsumoto's is located in the heart of Hale'iwa Town on Kam Highway on the LH side heading North to Waimea. I ordered the Large Hawaiian w/ ice cream and azuki beans ($4 - Pineapple Coconut Banana). My cousins ordered the Large Matsumoto w/ condensed milk ($3.50 - Lemon Pineapple Coconut), Large Tropical w/ ice cream ($3.50 - Papaya Lilikoi Guava), and Large Cherry Pineapple Strawberry w/ ice cream ($3.50). Matsumoto's has one other combo, and a multitude of other flavors and options to please anybody. The shave ice was just as I remembered: Lani (Heavenly). The ice was pillowy soft, and the mixture of syrup, ice cream and azuki beans was a nice way to cool off on a hot Fri afternoon. My cousins who live here were laughing at me: "Ho brah! You stay on da mainland too long!". Yes, it has been too long, and I plan on coming home more often to enjoy simple pleasures like Matsumoto's: 5+++ Stars. The service was quick, although the line was long. The first person writes your order on the side of the cone and gives you the cones in a basket. You bring them to the cashier and he arranges them for the assemblers: 5 Stars. The ambiance is what a 60+ year old place would look like after locals and tourists alike have walked through its doors: 5 Stars. Some peeps say there is better shave ice on the island (like Kokonuts where Obama used to live in Hawaii Kai). However, I have been to Kokonuts, and I'd make the trek to Hale'iwa vs Hawaii Kai any day of the week.
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Joe’s 5-star review: I don't normally drop 5 Star reviews on Mondays, but Ono's was the first place I ate at during a recent trip home to O'ahu. Ono's serves authentic Hawaiian on Kapahulu in the Kaimuki neighborhood of Honolulu. It is a stones throw from two other iconic places in this neighborhood: Leonard's Bakery and Rainbow Drive In. The two of us ordered the combination platter ($24), that comes with lau lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, pipikaula, poi, and haupia. The food and the menu hasn't changed forever, and for good reason. The lau lau (pork steamed in tea leaves) was massive, and the pork was super moist inside. Secondly, the kalua pig (pork roasted in an imu, an earthen oven), was seasoned to perfection, and the meat was juicy. Thirdly, the lomi salmon (similar to ceviche) had the right mixture of tomato and onion, and contrasted well w/ the salty foods. Fourthly, the pipikaula (jerked beef) added a nice balance to the richness of the pork and salmon. The poi was sooooo good. Ono's also offers day old poi, but I prefer mine fresh because it has a milder taste. Lastly, the haupia (coconut pudding) is a nice way to enjoy a little dessert after all the salty food: All 5 Stars w/ the lau lau being 5+++ Stars. The service was excellent. The food came out super quickly, and the owner pointed me to the combo when I told him my caucasian friend has only had luau food: 5 Stars. Ono's is tiny and probably only seats 20 people so it is best to come early in the am, or after the lunch rush. The place is decorated w/ pics of local celebrities and teams from UH: 5 Stars. Ono's is one of the two best places IMHO for authentic Hawaiian food in Honolulu. A definite must try along "Restaurant Row" on Kapahulu!
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Joe’s 5-star review: Anuenue is the Hawaiian word for Rainbow, and an anuenue brings back good memories. Just like Rainbows brings back memories of being a keiki (kid) when my fam and I would drive from Pearl City to town, stop by here and pick up food and hit Waikiki (the locals side), or Ala Moana Beach. This place is the heiau (temple) of all plate lunch places: They have been offering good grinds, quickly prepared and large portions for not much kala (dollar) since 1961. Not bad for a place that started as a lunch truck. On this visit I refrained from ordering the Daily Special, spaghetti plate w/ hot dog, and ordered the mixed plate: Teri beef, fried chicken, fried mahi mahi, and of course two scoops rice and mac salad that makes it a plate lunch: $7.95. To wash it down, of course I ordered a large "froo" punch. On another visit, I ordered the iconic loco moco,http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=jdzBfvxLgyGGfhpK-CHzNg&userid=o1_sfJ71nrq5QrF00v3Icw . I suggest you order your loco moco: "Gravy all over". They also will put, "Gravy on da rice", on any plate lunch. The food was fantastic. The teri beef was nicely seasoned, the portion of chicken was huge, and the small piece of mahi mahi balanced the dish. The mac salad was excellent and balanced out the rest of the plate. I couldn't finish this plate. The loco moco was also excellent. I love yolk running all over my food, and the seasoning on the burger and gravy makes Rainbows' loco moco really stand out compared to others: 5 Stars. The ambiance is bare bones. There are some tables outside and thats it. You walk up to the counter, pay and the cashier brings you your food: 5 Stars. The service is super fast. We ordered 5 plate lunches and they were ready in 5 minutes or less: 5 Stars. I have seen some reviews of this place at 3 or less (including some yfs), and I see comments like, "I can make better food at home", et al. IMHO, these people have never lived in Hawaii, nor traveled outside of Waikiki much to compare. In essence, I am saying these peeps: They don't know WTF they are talking about!!! Where else can you get very good quality food, with a ton of variety, served super quickly and its not hard on your wallet? This place is frequented by locals and tourists alike. In addition, the place hasn't been in biz for over 50 years, and lines 'em up down the street for no reason!!!
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Joe’s 5-star review: Like I said before, I don't normally drop 5 Star reviews on any other day except Friday. However, on my recent trip to O'ahu, I had numerous 5 Star experiences. My friend and I dropped by here after my cuz told me it was a good locals place w/ reasonably priced food. Another local also told me that the fried pork chops are da kine! The Side Street Inn is located in the Prudential building, diagonally across the street from Zippys Kapahulu. My friend and I started with the ahi poke (market price; It ended up being $15). We also ordered the signature fried pork chops ($22 for three, 10 oz chops, and "Da Works" Fried Rice w\ char siu, kim chee, and lop cheung ($15.50). Da ahi poke brok da mout!!! The ahi was super fresh, the limu was very crunchy, and the remainder of the ingredients combined for an excellent representation of this classic Hawaiian dish. The portion was large for the price: 5 Stars. The pork chops were as advertised: Crunchy on the outside, and moist on the inside. In addition, the quantity was huge for the price. The only thing I would change is to offer sriracha on the side vs ketchup: 5 Stars. Lastly, Da Works Fried Rice was effin sick!!! The dish reminded me of something my parents would throw together w/ koena (leftovers). "Oh we get rice, a little bit kim chee, some char siu, and a couple of lop cheung. BTW, we also get some Birdseye frozen peas and carrots". Throw it all together and voila: You have Da Works Fried Rice. The portion was unreal for the price, and could have easily fed 6 people: 5 Stars. The ambiance is very chill. There is a bar to your left when you walk in, some high tables, and some regular tables in the front and rear dining rooms. The clientele was almost all locals: 5 Stars. The service was excellent. Justin, our waiter was a super nice guy. The food came out quickly, he brought us chili peppa water, and he was very attentive: 5 Stars. I really liked this place!!! It reminded me of how you eat w/ your 'ohana (family): Big plates and multiple dishes at the same meal to enjoy a lot of variety.
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Joe’s 5-star review: Its 5 Hoku (Star) Friday again!!! Although the chef trained at the place w/ the same name in Los Angeles, Sushi Sasabune Honolulu is mo bettah!!! At the advice of bradda Dave F. and Nelson Q., my friend and I sat at the sushi bar, and ordered Eastern Style Omakase ($140/each): The only way to enjoy the chef's creativity. We started off with Koshi No Kanbai Tokusen Cold Sake ($60). This sake was perfect for the 13 courses that followed: 1) Abalone from big island w/ liver CA squid stuffed w/ Louisiana blue crab 2) Japanese blue fin belly & back 3) No Carolina Halibut w/ liver & Snapper from Japan w/ fermented intestine 5) Ulua & Hamachi 6) Tasmanian king salmon w/ smoked rainbow trout eggs & Scallop 7) Shrimp fr New Caledonia Geoduck from WA Kushi oysters w/ ponzu and cocktail sauce 8) No Japanese and Spanish Mackerel from So Japan 9) Japanese Ika w fermented cod roe, Japanese snow crab w/ innard & Japanese abalone w/ liver reduction 10) Salmon roe & sea urchin 11) So African rock lobster tail 12) Miso w/ new caledonian shrimp heads 13) Tamago and anago The food brok da mout several times!!! My taste buds were thoroughly tantalized. My faves were both abalone dishes and the oysters: 5 Stars for everything, but 5+++ for my faves. The ambiance is traditional Japanese w/ a U-shaped sushi bar to your right and tables to your left. The server explained each dish as the chef made his creations right in front of us: 5 Stars. The service was stellar! As I mentioned the server was very nice and informative. The whole team got into the act, including maitre d. Our water and sake glasses were being constantly filled. In addition, our plates were removed as soon as we finished each course: 5 Stars. Sushi Sasabune is my favorite sushi restaurant on O'ahu, and my second fave overall after Urasawa. Your kala (dollar) will be well spent here, and your eyes and taste buds will be scintillating afterwards.
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Joe’s 5-star review: For my last review on my recent trip to O'ahu, I wanted to share a cool beach in Hale'iwa, and make a comment about beaches in general in Hawaii. Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach, aka as King's Or Royal's Beach (Ali'i means royalty), is located on Hale'iwa Road within walking distance of Hale'iwa Town. This is a nice quiet beach compared to all the touristy beaches North of Hale'iwa like Waimea, Chuns or Sunset. This beach was also the home of Baywatch Hawaii. The beach has a wonderful view of the Wai'anae mountains to the West (there are two mountain ranges on O'ahu; the other being the larger Ko'olau Range on the Northeast side of the island). There is also a large picnic area, it is a nice walking beach and the the locals are very friendly. One day, I saw a woman swimming, and her dog was swimming next to her. I also saw a guy who looked like Undercover Brother, but I missed snapping his pic as he walked by - LOL! This review goes for many of the beaches in Hawaii with the exception of Waikiki. You can bring your dog on the beach, have a BBQ on the beach, and do almost anything on the beach w/ no hassles from "50". It is a nice reprieve where people can self-police themselves, and locals who don't abide by general common sense will feel the wrath of their fellow locals. After all, the state seal says it all: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono - The Life of the Land will be perpetuated in it's people.
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Joe’s 5-star review: I love Quiksilver prints, and even more so because you can find unique Hawaiian prints at this store in Hale'iwa. I bought a pair of boardshorts and t-shirts both w/ unique prints. I wore the shorts while I was in Hawaii and really liked the feel of the new material. The staff are super friendly and helpful. I like how the boardshorts are arranged by size and easy to find. This shop is a must stop if you are in Hale'iwa. BTW, if you stop in Waimea, guess whose logo is on the lifeguard tower?
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Joe’s 4-star review: We wanted something cold vs shave ice, so my rellie suggested Banan. They offer non-dairy, flavored concoctions made entirely from bananas. It is located in a food truck on Monsarrat & Campbell in Kaimuki. One of my rellies ordered the liliko'i on papaya w/ coconut, strawberries, pineapple & toasted quinoa ($9). I had a bite, and the liliko'i flavor really came out. In addition, the combination of the locally sourced items all went well together w/ the exception of the quinoa. The only downside was the price: 4 Stars. There are tables with some shade set up in the parking lot. It works for this one shot pony food truck: 4 Stars. Likewise, the service was super friendly, and you could tell the product is made with a lot of aloha. I'd come back if I was in the neighborhood, despite the high prices. Most of the clientele are female, and at least it gives you something to look at while your female rellies indulge! LOL
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Joe’s 4-star review: I was craving some poke and I looked at nearby reviews, saw that locals liked it, and said I have to hit this place up on the way from Hale'iwa to Town (Honolulu). Da Pokeman is located on Kam Highway on the RH side heading North before the Zippys. I ordered a half pound each of ahi limu and tako limu poke (limu is seaweed) - $14 w/ tax. They also have aku and a variety of other pokes, including party platters. The poke is very good. All the ingredients were super fresh, especially the limu which had a nice crunch to it. My cousin who lives in Town, and I were comparing notes and we agreed it was a very good poke. Much better compared to Foodland and Safeway that have fresh frozen poke. However, we also both agreed that Da Pokeman is not as good as Poke Stop in Town. Da Pokeman has too much sesame oil for both our palates: 4 Stars. The workers are super nice and made sure I grabbed chopsticks and napkins so we could eat the poke at the beach: 4 Stars. The ambiance is basic hole in the wall w/ no seats: 3 Stars. Da Pokeman is a very good option for the area. However, I think there is better poke on Oahu.
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Joe’s 4-star review: Genius Lounge is located on the third floor of this building located on Lewers near Kuhio. The first two floors are a clothing store. I believe Genius has good Japanese small plates, but we did not come for the food. The service was really good. The bartender acknowledged us right away, poured stiff drinks and was just a nice guy: 4 Stars. The ambiance is kinda cool. There are a couple of tables as you come up the stairs, a few tables inside, and a nice bar and tables on the back patio. The bar has a nice cold selection of sake, Dom Perrignon, and Waialua sodas w/ real cane sugar. The clientele are primarily JFOBs, and old skool r&b plays in the background: 4 Stars. I want to return to Genius on my next trip back home to O'ahu. I look forward to try the food the next time. Who knows, maybe one of the JFOB chicks will ask for English lessons! - LMAO!!!
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Joe’s 4-star review: I came to celebrate my Anake and Anakala' s (Auntie and Uncle's) Anniversary. In fact, the foregoing was one of the main reasons for my recent trip to O'ahu. Jamesons is located across the beach on Kam Highway, North of the bridge by Hale'iwa Harbor. This is primarily a seafood restaurant and some of the local fish served includes opakapaka, mahi mahi and ulua. They also have turf like NY, filet and lamb. I opted for the seafood combo ($32.95) - Grilled ahi, shrimp (3), and scallops (2). You can have three types of rice on the side, a baked potato or garlic linguini. Your dish also includes steamed broccoli and carrots. The food was OK. The ahi was a good sized portion, but was served a bit cooler vs what I prefer. The shrimp & scallops were nothing special. The same goes for the white rice and veggies. Overall, the food was decent, but overpriced: 3 Stars. The ambiance was extremely touristy: Generic faux bamboo chairs, flowery motif and a dolphin fountain out front. However, the view of the harbor is very nice and its worth it to come to the bar and order apps, if you are not going to have dinner: 3 Stars on decor, 5 Stars on view. The service was excellent. Our waiter was helpful w/ the menu & specials, really attentive and accommodated our special requests. We also received a complimentary slice of ice cream pie: oreo cookie w/ vanilla ice cream, covered in hot chocolate and mac nuts and whipped cream all over: $10.95. My cousins at my table dug into too quickly for me to take a pic, but the dessert was excellent: 5 Stars. I would definitely come back to Jamesons, but probably not for a full meal. There is better seafood in town for the price. However, the view is excellent and the service is outstanding!
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Joe’s 4-star review: Its been a while since I've been to Kokonuts, but it has the distinction of being where Obama visited in the past. Its located in the Koko Marina Shopping Center in Hawai'i Kai. My rellies ordered a half/half li hing mui & liliko'i and a rainbow ($4.50/each). I had a bite of each one and they were both very good. The shave ice is super light, and the flavors are intense. The only downsides was the portions seemed smaller vs Matsumoto's, and the condensed milk became too absorbed in the shave ice: 4 Stars. Kokonuts is a small store, so you eat outside. Nonetheless, everyone is cool and orders are filled quickly: Both 4 Stars. Call me old skool, but I prefer Matsumoto's vs Kokonuts. There's something about that massive cone in your hand when you are on the North Shore that competitors can't beat.
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Joe’s 4-star review: We dropped by Marukame bc we were tired of paying high prices for mediocre food (Pig & The Lady, Pineapple Room and Kona Brewing). Marukame is on Kuhio & Nohonani across from the newly remodeled International Marketplace in Waikiki. We ordered a small udon w/ egg ($7.50), a large niku udon ($8.75: w/ beef) and tempura ($1.75 for shrimp, or less for other items). First of all, the udon is excellent. The noodles are made fresh on premise, and you can see them prepare your food right before your eyes. In addition, the portions are big for the price. Its no wonder there is a line out the door during operating hours: 5 Stars. On the other hand, the tempura is just OK. It is made in advance so it is sitting out for general population to touch the tongs. My tempura was not that warm: 3 Stars. Regarding the ambiance, Marukame is a small place, but it seems to pack a lot of peeps: 4 Stars. The service is quick, but you are supposed to bus your own tray. The latter is not something I want to do in a crowded place w/ narrow aisles: 3 Stars. During this trip to O'ahu, the moderately priced places (Marukame, Helena's, Rainbows & Zippy's), were all better vs the high end places. It just goes to show you that you don't have to spend a lot to eat well on O'ahu.
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Joe’s 4-star review: Dis hole in da wall, is really a "hole in a wall". Me's is located in the side of the Pacific Grove Hotel on Uluniu near Kuhio in Waikiki. If you are walking on the wrong side of the street, this place is easy to miss. However, Me's has food as good as fancier Korean places, that is easy on your kala (dollar). The menu is expansive w/ standards like kalbi, bi bim bap, and man doo kooksoo. However, Me's also offers eggs w/ spam, portuguese sausage or corned beef hash. My friend ordered #36: Kalbi & chicken katsu ($12), and I ordered the BBQ chicken side order ($8 - no rice or side dishes). The kalbi was void of any fat you find at a lot of places. The katsu was not overcooked and the katsu sauce is so special people ask for extra, and Me's charges 25 cents. Full plates come w/ four sides and my friend chose cucumber, bean sprouts, mac salad and broccoli. All of the veggies were fresh and crunchy: 4 Stars. The BBQ chicken was nicely marinated, moist and tender. The portion was very large and I was stuffed afterwards. The service was quick and efficient. The ambiance is a few tables outside. The only downsides are cash only and it is closed on Sunday: 4 Stars. Me's is a hidden gem just a couple blocks up from the ultra-touristy Kalakaua Ave. However, locals will line up around the corner to enjoy some hearty K food.
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Joe’s 4-star review: Shige Saimin is located in Wahiawa on Kam Highway and Kukui. It is a hole in the wall located in the rear of a strip mall. The menu is very basic (see pic), and inexpensive. I ordered the large saimin (6.95), and I split a cheeseburger ($2.35), They also have wun tun mein (Hawaiian spelling), up to a triple cheeseburger and loco moco. The saimin was very good and the price is dirt cheap. The noodles are handmade here, and the broth has good flavor. The only downside is there was not much char siu, spam or kamaboko. In addition, I would have preferred the spam be fried to a crisp beforehand vs just steamed via the broth: 4 Stars. The burger was OK. Based on the reviews, I was expecting something special: 3 Stars. The ambiance is hole in the wall kinda place. There are maybe 10 tables, and a few seats at the counter. There are no paper menus: 3 Stars. The service was very good. Our waitress was super nice, the food came out quickly, and we had a take out order that was handled very well w/ the broth separate from the noodles: 4 Stars. A lot of mainlanders rave about this place, but there is better, or as good saimin on Oahu. In addition, the saimin at Hamuras on Kauai is better. But if you are on the way to the North Shore, this is a solid place to stop by for very good saimin, that is easy on your kala (dollar).
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Joe’s 4-star review: I dropped by Uncle Bo's w/ my cuz to celebrate his bday after hitting Imua Lounge (a local bar w/ a band on Fri night). UB's is on Kapahulu just north of Waikiki. I had a junk dinner at the Pig & The Lady, so I was in need of some pupus (appetizers) after midnight. We ordered ahi poke ($11.95) and Korean wings ($11.95 for 8). First of all, the poke was aurite. I have had better, and I have had worse, but poke & beer go well together: 3 Stars. Secondarily, the wings were also just OK. I was expecting them to be more crispy, or have more heat, but they had neither. Nonetheless, they did the trick while drinking beer: 3 Stars. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in. After nearly tripping on a half dozen homeless people sleeping outside, I walked in and its more like a lounge vs a bar. There is neon lighting, and the menus are illuminated. In addition, the music bumping in the background was current: 5 Stars. Likewise, our waitress (I forgot her name), was super nice and on top of it. She kept our drink orders coming and she was very attentive: 5 Stars. I'd definitely come back to this primarily locals place before I hit a touristy spot in town. Although the food was just OK to me, I really like the ambiance and the aloha in the service.
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Joe’s 4-star review: Zippy's Kapahulu is the closest location of this iconic 24-hour chain to Waikiki. I took my friend on a backstreet tour of Waikiki earlier (places that aren't on Yelp - LOL!), and told him we have to end the tour at Zippys. We took a taxi here at 3 am, and afterwards we made the 10 min walk to our hotel on Kuhio & Uluniu. We both ordered the large saimin ($7) and orange bang ($3). IMO, there is nothing like hot noodles after a night of drinking and debauchery. The saltiness of the broth contrasted well with the sweetness of the orange bang: 4 Stars. The ambiance is typical Zippy's, but unlike some other locations they don't offer waiter/waitress service: 3 Stars. The service was fast and efficient like at all Zippy's: 4 Stars. Funny Story: There was hardly anyone here when we arrived, but Five-O was present. He was alone so we acknowledged him with a nod, and sat in the back of the restaurant. However, a few minutes after our food arrived, several soles (pronounced "solely" = Samoans) came in making big noise. One of them was singing the lines to a YG hip hop song where the clean lines are "My Hitters", vs the actual lines which are derogatory. The first group paid respect to Five-0 and shook his hand. Unfortunately, one of their friends comes in afterwards and starts yelling at Five-0. Five-0 told them to GTFO or he was going to arrest them. No sooner than he said that, five more Five-0 cars arrive blocking the driveways. The loudmouth quickly shutup, and the soles made their way out. The moral to this story is that when you go on a backstreet tour of Waikiki w/ JP, you will eat good food (Sushi Sasabune), you will meet some wahines (Errrywhere), there might be a fight (outside of RumFire), for certain there will be debauchery (I can't snitch - hehehe), and someone might get arrested (Zippy's) - LMFAO!!!!!
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Joe’s 4-star review: I have been to this Zippys on Nimitz and Pacific, not far from the airport a gazillion times. Most of the the visits have been after picking up rellies at the airport. I would ask them if they are hungry, and if they don't know what they want to eat Zippys always worked: I never heard any gripes afterwards. However, the most frequent reason I have been to this location is after a late night in town. This Zippys is 10 miles from Waikiki and was on the way home to Pearl City where I used to live. On my most recent visit after a late night in town, I ordered the regular size Hawaiian stew ($10.95), a side of mac salad ($2.65), and a large Orange Bang ($3.25). The stew came with two scoops rice and canned corn on the side. The stew was excellent. It was a large sized portion and was chocked full of good stuff: 5 Stars. It was a good way to end the night. The mac salad was very good. It was nice and creamy. However, the price was kinda high: 3.5 Stars. The ambiance is typical of a large Zippys. There is a sit down side, a casual side, and a Napoleons Bakery: 3 Stars. The service was below par. We went to the sit down side and we told our waitress there were 5 of us. She tried to put us in a booth for four. When we moved to a larger booth, she didn't bring the other menus. Mina our waitress only brings four waters and four place settings. Mina is FOB Flip so we joked, "I said pibe not pour!": 2.5 Stars - LOL! Despite the ratings on the latter area, you can't go wrong w/ most Zippys on the islands. The Nimitz location is the one to stop by and get your Zip Pac, Surf Pac or limited edition Kokua Pak ($8.08 and 50 cents goes to the Blood Bank), unless you "like" eat airline food. Having the Napoleon's Bakery adjacent is an added plus, because if you have a last minute event you want to celebrate, there are plenty of cakes and pies to choose from that they'll cut in half for you too!!!.
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Joe’s 4-star review: I haven't been here in ages, but my local cousins dragged me here so I said WTH. Not much has changed: Overpriced, water-downed drinks, its dark & dingy, and girls pretend to like you so you will drop your kala (dollar) on them, and buy more drinks. (Hmmm, sounds like the ratchets I meet on the mainland - LOL!). There are worse places to go in Town, but I like it here because Femme Nu is where da local boys go. I love to hear them scream at the girls on stage: Hana Hou!!! (Encore; Do It Again). Funny story: My older cousin was all buss up (drunk), and he jokingly asked a dancer if she was so-and-so's little sister. She asked him, "Wen you grad brah?", "Where you grad from?". After he responded, she said, "Ho, you grad da same year, and from da same high school as my Mom!". "You remember her?". Her response wiped the smile right off my cousin's face. The whole night we were teasing my cousin, "Eh brah, da dancer look an awful lot like you". "You sure you and da Mom never do da kine back in the day?". His response: "Ufa kefe!" (no translation necessary) - LMFAO!!!
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Joe’s 4-star review: When I hit Ala Moana shopping center, Hawaiian Island Creations is always one of my must stops for unique t-shirt and boardshort prints. I love how you walk in the store, hang a left and the wall of t-shirt prints are right there. On my most recent trip to Hawaii, I found a very cool print. It was actually my second choice: They did not have my size in my first choice. In fact, they only had two shirts period in that particular print. I have always had a good eye for unique and cool prints. The workers are always super friendly and helpful here. A must stop if you are a surfer, or even if you are a poser - LOL!
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Joe’s 4-star review: This is the Waikiki area beach where a lot of the locals go, to avoid the overcrowded main portion of Waikiki. Kuhio Beach is located at the foot of Kapahulu where it meets Kalakaua. You have great views of the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Hotels. In addition, Duke Kahanamoku's statue is also close by. The water is cleaner and it is a lot more relaxing here compared to other parts of Waikiki. You are less likely to have your items stolen here as well. If you don't have to be in the main part of Waikiki, check this little gem out the next time you are on O'ahu.
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Joe’s 4-star review: For my first surf shop review on my recent visit to the islands, I wanted to share a pretty cool place in the North Shore. Surf n Sea is the oldest surf shop in Hale'iwa (original location opened in 1921), and the store looks that way. They do a lot of equipment rentals, but like all surf shops I go into I am looking for unique t-shirt and boardshort prints. Unfortunately, I only found one T-shirt print I liked. In addition, I had a hard time looking for boardshorts because they are not arranged by size. I gave up. However, the ambiance is very cool, and they give you a nice bag. They have surfboards hanging from the ceiling, including one ridden by the late Eddie Aikau. The workers are really nice too. Stop by here for the nostalgia factor. They also have their own brand of boardshort that is only available in their shop.
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Joe’s 4-star review: Town & Country (T&C) brings back warm memories of the inauspicious beginnings of this brand. I remember going to the original shack in Pearl City and buying boardshorts and t-shirts before surfwear became so commercialized. The name stems from Pearl City being in the center of the island: You go south to Town (Honolulu), and you go over the mountains and you are in the Country (Hale'iwa). On this latest visit I bought a t-shirt w/ their original logo. I was even more stoked when I found out buy two, get 1/2 off the second one. It worked out to $15/shirt which I thought was a good deal. T&C is a must stop for me when I come home. I love the unique prints you can only get in Hawaii.
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