Honolulu Restaurant Tips by SFHulaGIrl

Cheeseburgers in Paradise: Heavenly Hamburgers Cheeseburgers in Paradise Review

A casual, relatively inexpensive place with live music and big, juicy burgers. Waiters/waitresses even wear grass skirts!

Favorite Dish: I'm partial to the Blue Cheese Burger.

Address: 2500 Kalakaua Avenue; Honolulu, HI

Comparison: about average

Directions: Near Kuhio Beach

Phone: (808) 923-1070

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: American

Duke's Canoe Club: Surfer's Heaven Duke's Review

Yes, it's kind of touristy and it's right in the heart of Waikiki, but the food is decently priced and good, and the atmosphere is FUN, FUN, FUN!! Waiters/waitresses are garbed in Aloha wear, there are pictures of Duke Kahanomoku everywhere, and the bar and several of the outdoor umbrellas are thatched. Service is very friendly. Add to that the fact that there is live Hawaiian music, and it's hard to have a bad time there. My day always goes right when I start with breakfast on the beach and end with relaxing Hawaiian music!

Favorite Dish: Both the breakfast and the lunch buffets are a mere $10.95. Breakfast includes made-to-order omelettes, Eggs Benedict, pancakes & waffles, bacon, sausages (even linguica!), seasonal fruits, cereals, yogurt, & baked muffins & breads. For lunch, you can count on a huge salad bar, grilled mahi mahi, grilled teriyaki chicken, & kalua pork & cabbage. I'm a fiend for their potato salad. For dinner, their fresh fish can be served 5 different ways -- baked "Duke's" style, hibachi-style teriyaki, grilled island style, roasted firecracker, or sauteed Mac nut and herb crusted.

Address: 2335 Kalakaua Avenue; Honolulu, HI

Comparison: about average

Directions: In the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel; Waikiki

Phone: (808) 922-2268

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Tiki's Grill & Bar: Tiki's Grill & Bar

This is a great location -- next to the pool and overlooking Kuhio Beach. Patrons may either sit outdoors or inside. Decor is very retro, but fun. Service is friendly and efficient. This restaurant was voted Hawaii's Best New Restaurant in the 2003-04 Edition of the Honolulu Advertiser.

Favorite Dish: Their vanilla bean banana butter on the Maui onion sweet potato rolls is wonderful. I LOVED the pan fried crab cakes with a Thai sweet chili butter sauce and Asian slaw ($9.95), too!

Address: 2570 Kalakaua Avenue; Honolulu, HI 96815

Comparison: about average

Directions: On the second level of the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, right out by the swimming pool.

Phone: (808) 923-8454

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.tikisgrill.com

Duc's Bistro: Cozy & Live Music, Too!

Located in Chinatown, Duc's Bistro is a cozy little place featuring affordable French bistro cuisine (and seafood), along with live jazz and Hawaiian music.

Address: 1188 Maunakea Street

Comparison: about average

Directions: Chinatown

Phone: (808) 531-6325

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: French

Alan Wong's Restaurant: Incomparable Service & Food

Alan Wong's Restaurant, without a doubt, has both incomparable service and food. The staff is informative, friendly (but not overly), and attentive without being intrusive. The atmosphere, with its open kitchen, is very relaxed. I suggest the panzanella salad with lobster and the lilikoi cheesecake. All of their food is incredibly flavorful and fresh. For dinner, you can get a 5-course prix fixe menu (without wine) for $65.00 or a 7-course prix fixe menu for $85.00

Favorite Dish: Kiawe wood grilled beef tenderloin

Address: 1857 South King Street, 3rd Floor

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Downtown Honolulu

Phone: (808) 949-2526

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Indigo Eurasian Cuisine: An Evening of Fine Food and Romance

Indigo guarantees you an evening of fine food and romance set amidst an exotic decor of Asian lanterns, rattan and bamboo furniture, Indonesian wood panels, and additional outdoor seating in a garden with a trickling fountain. Order the lobster potstickers with chili soy sauce, the grilled shrimp with Thai macadamia nut pesto, the thousand loved crab cakes with chipotle aioli, or the black mustard and pepper crusted ahi steak, and you won't be disappointed! Do, however, pass on the lemon grass chicken brochettes, as they're a tad on the bland side. After dinner, have a drink in the Green Room and Opium Den and Champagne Bar. They feature live music and DJ's. Valet parking in the evening is another plus.

Favorite Dish: Thousand Loved Crab Cakes served with a chipotle aioli

Address: 1121 Nu'uanu Avenue; Honolulu, Hawaii

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Chinatown

Phone: (808) 521-2900

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim