UES Mayor coming home for da holidays!!

[UES Mayor]

Any must try new places? Upscale or hole in da wall-it's all good. Send me your best recs. Will be there Dec 18th to Jan. 1st. Already doing dinner one night at Hy's (with 40 people) and Orchid's brunch at Halekulani-a yearly thing we do as family.Mahalo and Mele Kalikimaka!!!!

[KaimukiMan]

How was the trip UES-M? Highs and lows?

[UES Mayor]

Hi Kman-trip was great! Food wise I basically stuck to things I have done before. Great dinner one night w family (40 of us) at Hy's steakhoue-always a treat. e also did Halekulani's Sunday brunch-an annual event for us which also was a hit. I did do dinner one night at Orchids and was a bit dissappointed with my potatoes sides which were half raw and my companiion's chicken which was very dry. I did point this out to waitstaff and they graciously compensted well by taking both dinners off the bill! The best meal I had was the tripe stew I inhaled at Ken's house of pancakes in Hilo which I posted elsehere, hoping to get recipe! Other memorable bites were the pig ears from a vendor in Chinatown at a Filipino's lady stand-deeeeelish! One of my stops was at Bejing Chinese at the Royal Hawaiian shopping center which was so so-not outstanding but not bad. I need t find an otstanding Chinese for next visit especially for great local chinese dishes such as cake noodle which Bejing did not have. Btw I did stop at Ono's poke on Kapahulu Ave-da best poke!!! I also ha a delicious dinner at Siam Square one eve-was very crowded and they don't take reservations-just sign in when you arrive. Next visit will be longer so I can try all the other recs I missed! Hauaoli makahki Hou!!

[killersmile]

Da Falafel King restaurant, Nico's, Cafe Julia, Cactus Bistro, Whole Ox Deli, Lucky Belly, Taste (Pig & the Lady popup running now until 12/21), Vintage Cave, Eat The Street: Party of the Year on 12/31.

[KaimukiMan]

great list killer. you left out Salt but other than that you got all the most recent hot spots. Maybe add Kyung's on S. King for poke/fish and/or fresh catch on Waialae.

[killersmile]

I thought salt was already opened the last time he visited, so I didn't list it.

[KaimukiMan]

Possible, bu then Cafe Julia would have been too, unless thats changed owners. Either way you have a great list of the new must-trys. I just need to find someone rich to take me to Vintage Cave (or eat peanut butter sandwiches for a month or two.)

[killersmile]

Actually Salt opened in June 2011, while Cafe Julia opened downtown at the YWCA May 2012 replacing Laniakea Cafe. I agree with you on Vintage Cave. Need a sponsor to eat there, especially after busting my budget eating at Ryugin and Takazawa when I was in Tokyo.

[KaimukiMan]

Thats the problem with not working downtown, I loose the keen edge of awareness. Ala Moana isn't the center of my universe either, especially at this time of year.

[UES Mayor]

Thanks so far!!! BTW need recs for breakfast and lunch on Molokai as well-will only be going there for the day. Have car so can go anywhere.

[KaimukiMan]

its been years, but i still think the best banana pancakes i ever had were at Kanemitsu's Bakery on Molokai. They are also famous for their baked goods, cinnamon rolls, sweet bread, cheese bread. They had some problems with the Dept. of Health earlier this year, but I've heard they have taken care of those issues.

[killersmile]

Kanemitsu Bakery is pretty grungy, I wouldn't eat there. I go to Molokai at least once every year for work, but they had been gradually getting worse. Last time I went I walked in with the intention of buying something, but walked out when I saw the condition of the place. I can certainly see why they had the health violations. Since they took care of the problems however, I would probably still get their bread/pastries if they look good and don't have flies flying around. Pretty much the only place I would go on Molokai is Kualapu'u Cookhouse. If on the east end, then I would stop by Mana'e Goodz & Grindz. Pretty slim pickings on Molokai, so don't expect much. If you go somewhere else, let me know how it is as I could always use somewhere else to eat on Molokai.

[KaimukiMan]

that's so sad to hear killersmile, but your experience is much more recent than mine. so disappointing to hold a memory and find that it's no longer even close to reality.

[roro808]

If you go to Cafe Julia for lunch, make sure you have reservation... Also expect slower service. Always very busy during lunch hour!

[kathryn]

You could try Lucky Belly for me and tell me how it compares to NYC ramen joints! Hmmm, serves steamed pork buns and ramen, and has "lucky" in the name... doesn't sound like a certain NYC restaurant at all, nope.

I'll be in Oahu 1/4-1/8. :)