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Non-restaurant foodie fun in Honolulu and Kauai?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:55:32 GMT

Depending how far you want to wander, just take a look at Tamashiro's on North King, about five minutes from Chinatown, for an amazing display of fresh fish (many of them whole) and live seafood, including local island prawns in a tank. They maintain that all of their fish-based poke' is fresh and everything we've had has been delicious. They don't seem to encourage sampling, but you can ask. This is a local standby. You didn't say where you're staying, but sticking with Honolulu and immedia environs, also take a peek at a Don Quijote, a local Asian *Walmart* for lack of a better descriptior. And besides shave ice, the best known local sweet item is malasada, a Portuguese-based doughnut-like concoction that's richer and more flavorful -- best ones in Honolulu are at Leonard's on Kapahulu, some prefer Champion not far away. (Our favorites are at Agnes' Portuguese Bakery in Kailua on Oahu's Windward side.) Search the boards for mentions of something called "crackseed," NOT that stuff, but all sorts of snack items, sweet and savory, including some flavored with li hing mui, a sweet/sour plum powder.

Daytrip to Kauai-Need your best recs

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:49:52 GMT

Hamura's is the best damn place on the island!!! Aloha

"Town" 3435 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:19:46 GMT

P.S. Don't go back

Best Chinese Restaurant in Honolulu Chinatown?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:49:42 GMT

<> Funny you should mention that.....

MAUI--ARE THERE ANY GOOD CHINESE RESTAURANTS?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:35:34 GMT

LET ME KNOW OF ANY GOOD CHINESE RESTAURANTS IN MAUI.

So much food and so little stomach! Loong report on Honolulu/Oahu

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:28:58 GMT

Spent just over a week on Oahu and wanted to report back, since we on the CA board don't often get reports back from visitors to San Diego... Pa’ina Café Ward Warehouse 1050 Ala Moana Blvd. Got a small limu ahi poke bowl w/ yam, furukake, spicy sauce over white rice. A nice, compact bowl of poke and warm rice, very filling and tasty. I am not a poke expert, but the only things I would change are a spicier sauce and a sprinkling of either soy sauce or sea salt to bring out the flavors. Also got a mango soda which had good mango flavor and wasn’t sugary sweet or overly carbonated. Alan Wong’s My favorite high-end restaurant in Honolulu! I still remember my dinner from a few years back that had mochi-encrusted fish! Ended up coming here twice because our first dinner was so good! First round: We were a party of 6, which allowed for sharing of food. My only mistake was eating too much lunch at Opal Thai lunch truck, so I wasn’t very hungry. Hearts of palm, cucumber, beet salad w/ li hing and ume dressing: The dressing combo was ironic b/c earlier in the day, I was wondering what ume and li hing combined together would taste like. Now I know—very, very good! Meticulously sliced cucumber and hearts of palm with tiny cubes of fresh beets surrounded by a pool of li hing/ume dressing. The dressing is designed to “hit you in the face” because as you continue dipping the veggies in it, the pungency dilutes down. Ahi “poki “ balls— deep fried ahi tuna balls wrapped in julienned wonton skins w/ “pokey” fronds sticking upwards. A little disappointing, given that the ahi was cooked all the way through. I was hoping for more raw ahi. Got to taste: 1. Kim chee crab spring rolls. Absolutely delicious! Lots of flavor in a rice paper wrapper. Dish came w/ butter lettuce leaves, shiso leaf, green onions, kim chee cucumbers that you wrap the rolls in and dip into a spicy sauce. 2. Garlic mashed potatoes—light, smooth mashed potatoes cooked au gratin with a wonderfully pungent layer of melted cheese on top! Could eat a whole bowl of this! 3. Mini moco loco—3 medium sized patties of chopped unagi encrusted with mochi and topped w/ quail egg and gravy. We all commented on how this could be an entrée b/c there was so much on the plate. Excellent flavor and texture. Then again, it’s hard to go wrong w/ mochi! 4. Whole Tomato Salad w/ li hing and ume dressing—liked it so much that I had to go back for a 2nd dinner to get my own dish! 5. Opihi shooter—just tried the spicy tomato water and LOVED it! Also came back to get my own shooter. The only downer was the ume getting stuck at the bottom of the narrow glass, although it made for good entertainment as we all tried to fish it out. 6. Roast duck chowder—very interesting blend of Chinese roast duck and barley with the texture similar to jook. I think it makes a good fall dish. Hearty in a delicate way. Strawberries Romanoff (dessert)—goat cheese panna cotta surrounded by sliced strawberries and sabayon. Great flavors and a light dessert. Would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t so full! Several of us got fish for entrees. Beware—Alan Wong’s portions are generous and the fillets were easily 12 oz apiece! They have a 5 and 7 course tasting menu while looked delicious and I’m sure if we tried it, we’d have to be carried out in a stretcher! 2nd round: Went back for the Whole Tomato Salad in li hing and ume dressing and opihi shooter. Whole Tomato Salad is more food for a single person than you’d expect by looking at it, but I scarfed the whole thing down and had to restrain myself from licking the dressing off the plate! Opihi shooter had a surprising chili kick to it, nice, briny and flavorful. Not too much trouble fishing the ume from the bottom this time. New dishes were the asparagus with pureed asparagus and Chinese pickled mustard greens and ahi sashimi poke stack. Steamed or par-boiled asparagus was neatly crosshatched in 2 layers with 4 spears each topped with a pile of semi-pureed asparagus, pickled mustard greens and deep fried garlic slices, surrounded by hot oil w/ a little bit of soy and more mustard greens. I LOVED this dish, especially how the brininess of the mustard greens and sharpness of the garlic played off the mellowness of the asparagus. Ahi sashimi stack—a 4” diameter x 3” high circle of ahi, guacamole, deep fried noodles accompanied by wasabi dip and tobiko/cucumber “salsa.” Ahi by itself was very good but when you put it together with the rest of the elements on the place, the whole dish exploded in texture and flavor! Only unfortunate thing was that I was getting very full and could not finish it due to a late lunch. I tried and cried “Uncle” about ½ way through. Was too full for a formal dessert, so they were gracious enough to bring me sliced strawberries in the sabayon from the previous night. Of note, I was a solo diner and they treated me as well as with the party of 6. Leonard’s Bakery Another 2 trip place! Got mini pao dolce and malasadas. Tried the sugar, cinnamon, li hing sugar and guava. Li hing sugar was by and far my fave! Nice kick of salty, tangy and sweet surrounding a freshly made, hot and poufy malasada! Had to eat one malasada the next day b/c was too full to eat it fresh. It kept “ok” overnight but the texture was denser and the sugar turned to a thin syrupy coating from the humidity. Pao dolce was interesting. Nice, soft texture and not as sweet as Hawaiian sweet bread. Made a good substitute for a late-night snack. Matsugen 255 Beachwalk Honolulu/Waikiki Beach Another 2 trip place! Small, easy-to-miss Japanese noodle house but oh so good! Thank you to the ‘hounds who pointed us here! Fresh, housemade soba and I think udon, given the texture. I almost made a 3rd trip here (was the backup if I couldn’t get into Alan Wong’s for the 2nd time) it was sooo good! Had cold soba with hot duck soup w/ green onion. Soba had perfect teeth “pull,” wasn’t brittle or dried out and good flavor on its own. Hot duck soup was clear and flavorful, although a little salty if drunk by itself but was perfect w/ the soba. One of the best surprises was their ahi poke! I’ve been looking for this since having it at Soba-Ya in NYC and getting blank stares at all the sushi and Japanese places I’ve been to since. Lightly marinated in soy sauce and I think sugar and/or rice wine until it is softer and has a light brownish glisten to it. Almost falls apart on your chopsticks and melts in your mouth! Sliced tomato salad was fresh and sprinkled w/ white onion slices, sliced shiso leaf and soy sauce. I like the play between the shiso and tomato and will have to remember it for next summer when tomatoes are in season. Cucumber salad came dressed w/ soy sauce and bonito flakes. Was good, although the dressing was a little generous for my taste. 2nd trip repeated the tomato salad. I resisted getting the poke, although I wish I did. Again, an issue w/ not enough stomach! Had the spicy ahi and avocado salad w/ Korean seaweed. This was tasty, although there was nothing spicy about it unless you put the yellow chili powder or togarishi pepper mix on it. Salad was small diced ahi and avocado in a mayo-based dressing. Wasn’t exactly sure how to eat it w/ the seaweed, so we made little “rolls” of seaweed and salad, which gave a nice mix of crunch to the softer textures. Had the kineko and mountain potato udon (hot) and was immediately transported to heaven by the broth and noodles! I have never had such flavorful broth that was so “transparent” at the same time. Even better was the udon. Instead of the fat, squiggly, densely chewy noodles that I usually see, they were thinner and softer with a gentle “tooth” pull that is softer than pho noodles. Decided to go for dessert and the options were macadamia nut ice cream or warabimochi. This is where I realized that most of the servers have limited English skills b/c they had to get another server who could explain to me what was in the mochi. Due to difficulties w/ explaining what the “dark sauce” was on the picture (“very sweet sauce, Japanese sweet”), he brought out a taste for me to try. I cannot remember the Japanese word for it, but at one of the Japanese eateries at home (Okan), it’s called “black honey.” We immediately ordered it and were very happy again! The most interesting part was the mochi itself. Similar to the udon noodles, the mochi was not the usual dense balls of chewiness but instead a soft, almost gelatinous-like texture that threatened to fall apart on your chopsticks! They were covered in the tan powder that I’ve seen other mochi dusted in (waiter told me the name and I forgot it again) and surrounded by the “black honey.” We repeatedly dipped the mochi in the “honey” for a wonderful mix of soft chewiness and light molasses-like sweetness. It was so good that we ordered another one and promptly scarfed that one down too! My dining companions were the only haulies there and the rest of the guests were all Japanese tourists. My hunch is that it is not necessarily a “local” place because of the prices ($10-18/bowl) and parking. We parked in the bank’s parking structure on Beachwalk (entrance is before Matsugen) and w/ validation, the fee was only $1. I would have loved to compare it to other “local” places but ran out of time and stomach. However, I would definitely NOT miss this place if you’re into soba and udon and will definitely come again when we’re in town. Matsumoto’s Shave Ice Haleiwa I have made it a pilgrimage every time we’re on Oahu to come here and it looks like everyone else has too! Lots of Japanese tourists flocking the store, mixed in with a few locals. Got the small li hing with red bean and ice cream and was extremely happy with it! I LOVED the fact that it wasn’t too sweet or too tart but this nice balance of tanginess that melded nicely with the sweet azuki beans and ice cream. S.O. got the Matsumoto combination of lemon, coconut and pineapple w/ ice cream. It was a little sweeter than mine, but again, not sugary sweet and a good balance of flavors. The ice itself is what makes Matsumoto’s famous—soft and fluffy with none of the iciness or brittleness that can happen sometimes. Also picked up a couple of cute t-shirts while we were there. Opal Thai lunch truck Haleiwa, across from McDonald’s Thanks again to the ‘hounds for this tip! I was afraid we’d be stuck w/ Mickey D’s, Jamieson’s or some sub-par food in North Shore. Opal’s lunch tables were packed with locals and tourists. Had trouble deciding what to get b/c it all looked good. Ended up w/ Drunken Noodles w/ chicken and pad thai w/ tofu and veggies. Drunken Noodles were the best! A generous pile of smoky, garlicky, spicy noodles and veggies straight out of the wok! Couldn’t stop eating it! Pad Thai was good, although in retrospect I think I wanted something either very “clean” (ie: green papaya salad and fresh spring rolls) or garlicky and spicy. It came w/ a generous helping of crushed peanuts on top. Pad Thai was even better with a dousing of dried chili peppers. Unlike Americanized Pad Thai, Opal’s is not overly sweet but has that tangy tamarind flavor mixed with the brininess of nam pla. The owner was very friendly and invited us to call him if we needed more food recommendations. Of note, Giovanni’s shrimp truck is in the same parking lot. One of our friends said their shrimp scampi is the best! ABC Store (at Hilton Hawaiian Village) The ubiquitous ABC Stores are everywhere in Honolulu. I noticed that all the Japanese foods were gone from the shelves every night, indicating that they were fresh on a daily basis. And to my surprise, their musubi are quite tasty and better than the one I got from Shiyokiya. Their musubi became a snack staple. Alternated between the ume and konbu musubi. What set them apart from Shiyokiya’s is the rice. Rice had FLAVOR to it. I could eat the rice by itself all day. Also tried the spicy ahi hand roll once, which was more spice than fish but decent, nevertheless. ABC Store saved me again with a roast beef and Provolone croissant sandwich for the plane trip back home. Mayo and mustard were in packets so the bread would keep. Shiyokiya In Ala Moana Mall Inside this Japanese department store is a bakery (St. Germain’s) and an upstairs food court. Tried several pastries from St. Germain’s and I’d recommend sticking w/ the Japanese ones. The Japanese rolls filled with sweet azuki beans or white beans were all very good. The bread was soft, gently sweet and the beans were a little sweet but not overly so. Also tried a “cream roll,” which had the same kind of bread from the bean rolls but filled w/ vanilla custard. Also quite good. We tried the almond croissant (ok), flaky biscuit (seemed a little stale), pain du chocolate croissant (stale and chocolate was too sweet). Tried 2 mochi from the “Mochicream” stand next to St. Germain’s. I was expecting ice cream mochi, so was surprised to get more traditional mochi filled w/ beans. Two things—they give you frozen mochi that is rock-hard if you don’t let it thaw out. The other problem was that the fillings were waaay too sweet for me. I think I’d spend my $$ elsewhere. Wandered around the upstairs food court. There’s a cafeteria-style section that touted “homemade” cooking and several stations w/ bento boxes, sushi, noodles, cream puffs, etc. I was there close to closing so most of the food was gone. Picked up a box of pickled “stems,” pickled cucumbers, a box of 3 musubi and an apple-filled fish shaped cream puff. The pickles were very good, esp the “stems,” which had a little chili heat. Musubi were very disappointing and ended up not finishing them. The rice lacked any flavor and the salmon one was overly fishy. Cream puff wasn’t very satisfying, probably didn’t help that it had been sitting around for a while. I would go again earlier in the day and try the cafeteria food. Yummy Korean BBQ Ala Moana Mall food court One of my friends recommended another Korean place in the mall, Chodang, but we were on a time schedule. Now I wish we had gone to Chodang. We split kalbi, wakame salad, “spinach” salad, kim chee, cucumber salad and rice. General critcism—the flavors were unbalanced. Kalbi didn’t have enough flavor from the marinade, so what may have been there was overwhelmed by charcoal sear. Kim chee was bland and totally unspicy. Wakame salad was too sweet and not vinegary or savory enough. Cucumber salad was also too sweet and despite a chili redness to them, completely unspicy. “Spinach” salad was actually made from Chinese greens, I think gai choy (the smaller, more tender version of gai lan). Was ok, although the amount of sesame oil was overpowering. Places we missed: Kua Aina (considered getting a sandwich to-go for the plane back home but was afraid it would be too messy), Poke Stop and Phuket Thai. Thanks to all the ‘hounds for the great tips and locals who put up w/ a geographically-challenged tourist driving in circles!

Waikiki - "Easy Going" New Year's Eve

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:41:08 GMT

I am in Waikiki every New Years and must say it is a great place for revelers especially families. For a bit more upscale dining try the Top of Waikiki which usually has two seatings that eve. I am sure Azure at the Royal Hawaiian will have something as well and food there is great in a beachside setting. All the other places on Beachwalk would be fun as well-a little more modest in price such as Yardman, Roys etc. Being in that vicinity would be an easy walk to the beach later to watch the fireworks and greet the New Year. Unlike times Sq in NYC it doesnt get crazy to the point of being dangerous and perfect venue for a night out with family and freinds.

oysters in oahu

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:30:25 GMT

I would go to Don Quixote (market) and buy them from the fresh fish case. They are on the half shell from New Zealand and already "popped" so you don't need to shuck them, just lift off the top shell. They will be the best oysters you can have on Oahu. Approx $12- doz instead of 30- a doz in a good restaurant. aloha

Grocery Stores in Kihei/Wailea area - any recommendations?

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:22:32 GMT

Can anyone recommend the best grocery store in this area?

Dining Recommendations in Kaimuki (Honolulu)

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:29:05 GMT

Decided to follow up and call and spoke with the Gen. Mgr. who encouraged me to email my less than stellar dining experience details - I am glad to say that there was a response inviting us back to dine again on the house. This says a lot about the establishment.

Nice Menu, Dirty Walls

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:14:48 GMT

Food was good, all kinds to choose, my 2nd visit there in a couple of years, thought I'd check it out again, I wasn't impressed the first time, this place does offers extensive items, most good, BUT the place is tired, dirty walls, can't be helped by new photos of celebrities, mixed crowd, locals, mainlanders. can get loud, not a large place, parking is either valet or street

Maui/Kauai cheap-but-good eats & can't-misses for 2-week honeymoon!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:00:01 GMT

aloha.. I'm sure they were delicous but for $18 bucks, for 6 pieces, just wasn't going to do it.. the wait staff from Stevenson's Library sent to my room this huge basket of Hawaiian goodies along with champagne that was big $$ and in retrospect, I should of broke down and spent that $18 on sushi...great people that work there!

Oahu - Hale'iwa shrimp truck

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:51:48 GMT

Hey, I know your post is from quite some time ago, but i'd love the recipe if you get this! cchrone2@gmail.com Thanks!

pickled green mango--Honolulu or Oahu??

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:50:51 GMT

thanks to both of you! I think I'll give both places a try, even thought it's out of season.

Where can I buy Azeka's ribs on Maui?

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:18:41 GMT

Try this, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/522330

Cane and Taro on Maui

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:19:56 GMT

Has anyone tried the new Cane and Taro on Maui? We're meeting our cousins there for lunch next Tuesday and wondered what dishes they do best.

Heading to Maui - Reports to Follow

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:32:58 GMT

Aloha Bill.. Wishing you a great trip of eating and drinking and look forward to your report! I like the Plantation House at Kapalua for breakfast for the wonderful ahi benedict with the wasabi hollandaise..probably one of the best deals in town with no wait and killer ocean views.. Mahalo

Best of Anchorage, Alaska

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:52:18 GMT

10th and M Seafoods. http://www.10thandmseafoods.com/

Anchorage - can I find fish packed to take home?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:52:29 GMT

New Sagaya is a great place. We'd ordered & paid for a few pounds of frozen crablegs a week before we'd be leaving Alaska, as we were going to Nome & Seward & weren't going to be back in Anchorage with much time to stand in line (please don't mis-read that. The lines are short but we didn't know that in advance). When we picked up our order the guy looked at what we'd paid a week earlier, said it was on sale today, & promptly wrapped up more for us so we essentially paid the lower sales price. Amazing. & the crablegs were too. Cheers!

Honolulu/Oahu--udon and/or soba joint?

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:19:24 GMT

yeah, definitely the "goma dare" @ Matsugen in Waikiki. They validate parking for dinner, but not lunch. Don't go if you have a buckwheat allergy...they grind the flour in the dining room. http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Oct/12/en/hawaii710120303.html

Japanese Favorites on Oahu

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:22:41 GMT

TOKKURI-TEI .....in Kapahulu! Yes to this place, one of my favorites, variety and freshness!

best steaks in Oahu

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:58:47 GMT

Like you, I hear great things about Hy's. The others are really "adult McDonalds" in my book. Even on the Mainland, I only dine there, when a host insists. Even if the wine list is handed to me, I have yet to really enjoy either. Besides, I have about 3 of each in Metro Phoenix, and avoid them here. Why would I go to either in Hawai`i? Hunt

The Pineapple Room

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:40:31 GMT

I was out of town but they just had a benefit that was also to show off the newly redone decor service was never a problem in my case. I do like the food. I am thankful they've redone the menu covers it was so icky touching them and holding them to read ;-(

Hilo Vacation help

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:22:13 GMT

Mahalo for the Hilo report! All too often, folk miss Hilo completely, and I am glad to see people seeking it out, and also someone to write about it. Pahoa Town is not to be missed, but I doubt that the places that I dined at are still there - same for much of the dining scene in Hilo. Again, a mahalo nui, Hunt

Waialee, HI

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:18:05 GMT

Hi,We're going to a wedding in Haleiwa...staying a few miles away in Waialua...seeking restaurants and groceries as we will have a full kitchen and like to cook. Any suggestions appreciated! Is the Turtle Bay Resort a good breakfast option?

Poke Stop-Hamachi

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:09:01 GMT

Poke Stop is excellent. I had them cater my birthday party and they did the most amazing job. The food was great and chef Elmer and his crew couldn't have been more flexible in what they did, we even had "action stations." Their eggplant fries are really good as well. Oh, you'll be seeing much more of them as Guy Fieri filmed for "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives" there this past Monday.

my Hilo list, please critique

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:28:36 GMT

I live in Hilo and I am a food writer who has lived in Chicago and San Francisco. Our food scene is not quite up to the standards of either of those cities, but there are some good places. In general I advise people to get a vacation rental and go to the farmer's markets, making at least some of your meals with our fantastic local produce, fresh caught Ahi and grass fed beef. Kuhio Grille or their sister restaurant, Encore are the place to go for Lau Lau. I agree with the Punalu'u Bake Shop, even their hot dog buns are the bomb! Great Malasadas are available at the Hilo Farmer's Market on Wed. and Saturday. You are right on about the shave ice @ Itsu's and Kawate Seed Shop. There is also a good one next to the Hilo Farmer's Market. I would nix a few places on your list though and remember that Pahoa actually has some good restaurants too. In Pahoa: One of my favorite restaurants on the whole island is Kaleo's ! Paolos Bistro is good Fresh pasta, Ning's Thai and Sukithai are both decent Thai restaurants. STAY away from Luquins even if you are craving a margarita. Black Rock has good burgers and even better Bloody Mary's. We like to eat lunch in the bar and chat with the owner who also moved here from Chicago. Forget Maui Tacos, it is in the mall... not worth doing Ocean Sushi has good sushi, but the atmosphere lacks and it is dirty, not what I want for a sushi restaurant. Foodland makes excellent Poke and there is a stand on the highway near the Hilo Airport called Poke your way, that makes custom Poke for you while you wait. Nings? Never been there, and I thought I had been to every Thai restaurant in Hilo! Sombats is not my favorite either. My personal favorite is across from the East Hawaiian Cultural Center, New Chang Mai is the best. Also hard to find, but ever so delicious is the Garden Snack Club. All fresh, local produce used to make Thai Inspired dishes. Huge portions, BYOB and slow service. Hilo Bay Cafe is awesome. REALLY Great food, good service and a very yucky location. It is in the Walmart Shopping center. Expect to pay $$$, but worth every bite. Ken'sPancake House is an icon. It is decent food available 24/7. BIG portions. The same owners have a great steak house called Ponds Hilo on the ice pond. Nice views of the water and really excellent service. Kind of pricey, but very good. Cafe Pesto downtown is great food, mostly local and fresh and a bit pricey. Good lunch spot by the farmer's market. Craving good Cali Mexican food or a margarita? I really like Ruben's next to the Hilo Farmer's Market. Miwa is not one of my favorites. Instead I suggest Miyo's and reserve a window table. You will be over looking the Hilo Lagoon... lovely. Prices are quite fair and this is a place that mostly only people who live here know about. Great Japanese food, but this is not a sushi restaurant. Tsunami is no longer in business. What's Shakin' is a great place for a fresh local smoothie (not cheap, but wonderful) and it is on the scenic drive double score! Merriman's is awesome. Another one of my favorite island restaurants. Not open for lunch on weekends though. Same goes for another Waimea favorite, Daniel Thiebaut. Both are a little on the high end price and foodwise. Both are dedicated to serving local produce, fish and meats. Have a great trip and you can contact me through my blog, myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com if you have any questions.

Billings - New place in old Mamacita's location?

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:38:43 GMT

Anyone know the name of the new place that opened in this location? Would like to try it and don't know anything at all about it, incuding name. cin cin

Evaluate my Boise itinerary

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:02:01 GMT

They are considering Sugarhouse, downtown, or near the University of Utah. All I know for sure is that it's going to be in salt lake proper, not sandy or draper or taylorsville or what have you. They still have a long way to go. Ownership drive just kicked off: http://www.wasatchcoop.com/.

Vegetarian in Hawaii (Oahu, Big Island, Maui)

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:52:41 GMT

wow, sorry to hear that. town usually gets very good reviews in here, and I have always had good experiences there. i do have to admit that the service is a bit more relaxed than it might be, but usually more on the slow than inattentive side.

Early Breakfast in Honolulu?

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:34:18 GMT

hmm, coconut-pineapple pancakes sound REALLY good! Do they have mango or guava pancakes?

Shave Ice on Maui

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:26:19 GMT

best shave ice in maui is surfing bean shave ice in south kihei road (kihei market place) next to the 76 gas

Hawaii Great find on Oahu (Pearl City) -- IchiBen

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:18:11 GMT

IchiBen, tucked in a little strip mall in Pearl City, was fantastic in every way. We saw the sign and peaked in -- we thought it was counter service because of the location and it looked small but No. They have full sit-down service. Our waitress was great -- patient and attentive, answering questions and making superb recommendations. She suggested the Kalbi main dish, and it was a generous serving of incredibly flavorful beef. It was open flamed grilled, a great cut -- very tender. Chicken was very good as well. If you can't make up your mind, they have a combo plate. Side dishes made the delicious meal complete --especially the wonderful slightly sweet tasting "pickled" veggies. We also ordered IchiRice to share -- huge portion and flavorful and "fresh." Tons of food -- fantastic quality and inexpensive. To top off the fabulous food experience - we had the delightful pleasure of meeting one of the owners, Francis. Nice guy. Check it out ..... off of Kam Highway (99) on Ka'ahumanu St

Butcher in Honolulu

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:17:33 GMT

Have seen North Shore cattle company at local farmers' markets, including Kailua, but they aren't the only local source. A rancher on Molokai offers package deals, but only contact I knowf is through Slow Food Oahu.

Maui restaurant suggestions for a local

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:35:51 GMT

Where, on Maui, are you staying? Though smaller than the Island of Hawai`i (Big Island), there can be some major drives, all things considered. Last Dec., I did a trip review, basically of the West Maui area, but there were exceptions. Reviews: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/598400 Hope something helps you. Aloha, Hunt

legends on a saturday night

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:03:25 GMT

no, i didn't want to chance it. ended up going to little village.

Christmas In Kauai

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:17:17 GMT

Yes all Merriman's are owned by Peter Merriman Almost all major restaurants are open both Christmas Eve and Christmas day (Keoki's, PGs, Beach House...etc etc). This is the high season for hotels, so tourist focused restaurants would be foolish to close.

Seeking Burger Nirvanas along US Highway 2

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:23:56 GMT

Thanks, I'll try and check that out. Who doesn't like sloppy joes?

Favorite Restaurants in Anchorage, Alaska

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:00:28 GMT

What kind of food does Sahara's have? my Mom and sister have raved about Middle Way cafe, I will have to check it out. Have you tried Doriolas? I think you would love it ... their quiche is heavenly. And everything else is amazing as well. The homemade sandwiches, the salads with the homemade dressing. The delicious homemade soups. So delicious!!!

Which do you think is a better Sushi Buffet in Honolulu?

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:44:42 GMT

If you have a place for your guests to gather I would recommend Grant Kawasaki's company cater your party. I had him bring a sushi bar to my place and it was the bomb. Everyone is still asking when I am going to do it again. It cost the same or less than the buffets and Grant has true sushi grade fish ... broke da mouth !! Here are links to Grant's web sites, you can also catch him on TV. Tell him pat sent you and maybe he will make you his softshell crab on a croissant with nalo greens and wasabi vinagarette ... now I'm hungry http://www.hawaiiangrowncatering.com/ http://www.hawaiiangrowntv.com/

Post Funeral Gathering in Honolulu

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:05:01 GMT

Loving memories of your Dad, rest in peace

2nd time request!! best peking duck and cake noodle on Oahu?????

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:30:31 GMT

Since UES Mayor will likely be coming back in Dec: Peking Duck @ Royal Garden in Ala Moana Hotel was good, as for Cake Noodle, that would be Happy Days in Kaimuki, always fresh and good. My daughter & I have to have Roast Duck Noodle Soup there, consistently good.

Quality interesting food in West Maui at moderate prices?

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:49:36 GMT

I agree with you, great cook local food at the Kapulua General Store. I will do my shopping next week at Foodland, thank you for the tip. Mahalo

Dining in Waikiki

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:07:58 GMT

beach front and moderately priced are for all intents and purposes mutually exclusive. if you really want to be 'on the beach' your best bets are Dukes and The Hau Tree Lanai. They are among the more reasonable for beachfront. The Halekulani is wonderful, but you are going to be paying some pretty hefty prices. Tiki's is across the street from the water, and it has some good views of the beach if you are along the rail, but it is not beachfront.

Sandpoint ID for lunch

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:46:00 GMT

I'd not call it low rather offbeat ambiance at Di Luna's. I love Italian so keep trying Ivano's but it just misses a little for me. I did get a great lasagna there once but can't seem to get a second serving. They aren't open for lunch on weekends though are they? Lunch bar is closed I know. Oops, relooking at OP, looks as though they may have already gone last weekend so this may all be moot anyway.

2 great dinners in Missoula...

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:10:41 GMT

only had 2 nights this trip next time Scottys table is on our list. thanks

Dining On Maui [Very Long]

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:26:20 GMT

We are heading over on Oct 30 - Nov 06. We are splitting our time between the Ritz at Kapalua and actually The Inn at Mama's. Unfortunately for us, the Banyan Tree is closed for a redo, so we're dining off property at Kapalua. Right now, our plans are: Merriman's Mala Lahaina Grill David Paul's Island Grill I`O Mama's Bev Gannon's The only ones, where we've never dined are the new David Paul's and I`O. Since we happened to share wine, and dine next to Chef McDonald of I`Om I wanted to give it a try. As for the sommelier, we so often turn them loose, with a few comments. As we both love chef's tastings, we also enjoy the accompanying sommelier's parirings. A good sommelier knows the cellar, and has tasted the fare out of the kitche, probably that afternoon. Who should know better. Oh, I might add a few personal preferences for a red with Island fish, etc., but I respect them and rely on their knowledge. I might know opakapaka, but what I'll not know is what the chef is doing with it that night. Besides, a sommelier should be privey to many wines, and wineries that I have never heard of. I seldom go with any "usual suspects," and almost never choose something that is represented in my 5K btl. cellar - unless I am hosting a dinner and know that I MUST go with a known, and safe choice. Otherwise - give me something that I have never had, or would never have thought of with X. Now, I do travel with a blazer, even to the Tropics and Hawai`i, but with the exception of La Mer on O`ahu, I cannot think of a restaurant, where one would feel left out, without one. I'm usually the only guy with the aloha shirt and the blazer almost anywhere, including Chef Mavro's and Alan Wong's. It's just my "thing." Heck, I wear one almost every dining out occassion in AZ, even in the Summer. I'll try to get some timely reviews up, upon our return. We have several events immediately after we return, but within a week, there should be reviews of everything. Hunt

Hawaii - 3 island 2 adults & a kid who loves food!

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:09:37 GMT

You'll get lots of restaurant suggestions so I'm going to suggest some outing for your Chowpup. There is a very touristy spot, Maui Tropical Plantation, that your child will probably love. You ride a tram through an arc shaped farm and see all of the most common crops grown on Hawaii. Your tour guide will open a coconut and give a cute little lecture about how they grow and how they are used. Then you'll see coffee, pineapple, avocado, guava, apple bananas, papaya, and tons of flowers growing. There are more crops than I've listed and you will be able to see vanilla orchids that they hand pollinate. We took the ride first then walked the loop to go back and really look at the crops. They even grow durian there. I think your child will love it. Oh and they have a really ugly restaurant that serves delicious pineapples filled with shrimp salad or fruit. There is also a coffee plantation on Maui that is fun to visit, it's called Maui Grown Coffee -t hey have a little retail shop and if you stop there, they will tell you how to get up to the fields. On the way from Waimea to Lahaini you will pass a roadside fruit stand. The folks who operate it seem pretty odd but they sell some amazing pineapples and star fruit. Don't hesitate to stop.

Fairbanks - great dinner, oysters?

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:18:47 GMT

Going to Alaska for the first time, and will have 2 nights in Fairbanks. Are there any must-try spots? One high end and one on the casual side? Also, any oyster bars of note or places to get good local oysters? Thanks!

Local luau on Big Island or Oahu?

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:37:04 GMT

Now, this is an excellent suggestion from Bill....and the money will be well spent.