Straits Honolulu Delivers a Tasty Southeast Asian Vibe
Good food, good cocktails and a great vibe—just don’t expect authentic Singapore.
Melissa Chang
Articles
Chinee Like Me: Making Gau
Yes, Chinee: A local Chinese-American says her popo’s old-fashioned gau was the best, but this recipe comes close.
Mochi Crepes and Kanazawa Curry Have Popped Up in Waikīkī
Gluten-free crepes and umami-packed curry made with wagyu drippings broth are deep inside a grocery store.
Farmers Market Finds: Lebanese Flatbreads and Desserts at Saj Beirut
A taste of Beirut in Kaka‘ako and Kailua.
Battle of Two Manapua: Sing Cheong Yuan and Royal Kitchen
Can Battle Manapua ever be won? In this classic, Melissa Chang and Frolic reader Chad Yamamoto go head to head with their favorite baked manapua.
Mō‘ili‘ili’s New Ali‘i Fish Market Levels Up the Poke Bowl Game
Robin Abad, a veteran of high-end kitchens, serves up local comfort food with an upscale twist.
Miro Kaimukī Just Brought Back a Luxe Sunday Brunch
The $45 prix fixe of three courses is a rare upscale brunch in Honolulu.
El Cielo Is an Oasis of Spanish Tapas in Waikīkī
Find pintxos, tapas, paellas and other modern Spanish fare in a newish spot on Lewers Street.
Tali’s Bagels Brings a Taste of New York to Honolulu
These New York style bagels and bialys leave us verklempt.
Biscuits and Gravy and Po Boys: We Love Southern Love in Kaka‘ako
Real home-style cooking comes to the heart of Kaka‘ako.
Talk Kaimukī’s Nighttime Pizzas and Sandos Are Addictive
Decadent toppings and fillings now feature on the Thursday-to-Saturday bar bites menu.
At The Kāhala’s Veranda, a New Lounge Menu With Hawai‘i Ingredients
Two dozen dishes, including braised tako ‘escargots’ with herb butter and limu.
Yi Xin Brings Bold Flavors of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong
It’s a different culinary melting pot at this Market City eatery.
Umi Is Vikram Garg’s Fine-Dining Tribute to the Ocean
Garg is back across the street from the Halekulani, this time with his own seafood-focused restaurant.
Roll With It: Asato Family Sherbet Truck Hits the Road
O’ahu’s only sherbet truck parks in Waikīkī during the week and roams the island on weekends.
Maui’s Ululani Shave Ice to Open First O‘ahu Location in Kapahulu
The new outlet opens Jan. 20 and the next is coming to Waimānalo.
Where to Eat on Your First Visit to O‘ahu
Raise your hand if you’ve been asked this question. This classic is a personal guide to everything from crack seed to loco moco.
J-Shop’s New Izakaya is a Hidden Gem in a Hidden Gem
Head after hours to this Young Street market for daily specials of tender ‘ahi belly nitsuke, torched dynamite and buttery sashimi.
Find Modern Luxe Sushi at Kapahulu’s New Omakase by Aung
At $130, it’s on par with other locally owned sushi omakase—with caviar and truffles to boot.
We Tried Margotto, Kaka‘ako’s New Truffle-Centric Restaurant
Choose your menu, choose your truffle quantity and let the shaving begin.
Istanbul Adds Mediterranean Brunch Fare to Weekends in Kaka‘ako
Find kadayif pancakes with date syrup, cilbir poached eggs, shakshuka and more at this indoor-outdoor eatery.
These Floral Cupcakes Are Worth the Drive to Wahiawā
Pua Cake Studio’s gorgeous cakes and cupcakes are as delicious as they look.
Two-Minute Takeout: Golden Duck’s Jai for Chinese New Year 2022
Why is this vegetarian dish a must for Year of the Tiger feasts? And what do the different ingredients symbolize? Find out here.
New Windward Café Has Singaporean Flair and Weekend Laksa
More than coffee and French pastries, Café Kopi has laksa that Southeast Asian expats are calling legit.
Chinatown’s Mandalay Is Now in Kaimukī and It’s Delicious
A new chef is dishing up killer char siu and lobster e-mein.
Where to Eat If It’s Not Your First Time to O‘ahu
So you’ve tried plate lunch, loco moco and shave ice. That was just the beginning—there’s so much more to Hawai‘i’s food scene.
Chef Chai Brings Hawaiian Food to Waikīkī
From pipikaula to chicken long rice, Kalo puts Hawaiian food—and some of Chai's signature dishes—within reach of visitors.
Garibaldi’s Offshoot Little G Cafe is Slinging Pizzas at 808 Center
Don’t go expecting Garibaldi’s signature thick-crust pizzas. These are thin-crust pies inspired by the Big Apple.
Mama Kim’s Fresh Sushi and Poke Bowls Spice Up Kāheka
Slimy neba neba, garlicky torched scallops and poke with freshly prepared kim chee bring life to this corner of King Street.
Find Ceviche and Brigadeiros on the New Menu at Off The Wall in Kaka‘ako
A new chef has expanded the Latin-focused menu with new and heartier fare.
New chef, new menu at Off The Wall
Many people know Off The Wall Craft Beer & Wine for its innovative self-service tap walls, offering more than a dozen rotating beers, three ciders and ales, and selected wines and kombucha. Just in time for restaurants reopening for dine-in,…
Aloha oe, Ed Morita
Ed Morita prepping a dish. This and his headshot are by Darryl Watanabe. One of our original bloggers, pastry chef Ed Morita, passed away early today. If you've been around Hawaii's food scene and/or social media scene a while, you've probably at…
These Vegan, Gluten-Free Cookies from Maui Are Every Snacker’s Dream
A Maui entrepreneur’s pandemic pivot turns a sweet hobby into a success.
Guieb Café’s Entire Menu, From Prime Rib to Crab Legs, is Available for Takeout
Sometimes the best discoveries are the most random ones.
Taste Flavors from Turkey at the New Istanbul Restaurant in Kaka‘ako
You’ll find plenty of vegetarian options as well as a housemade baklava.
Heiho House to bring gastropub-style izakaya to Kaimuki
It takes a lot of guts to open a new concept restaurant in Hawaii, and in a pandemic, to boot. But sometime in August, restaurateurs Thomas Ray and Hideo Simon plan to open Heiho House, a gastropub-style izakaya with a creative approach to…
Try Upscale Sushi in ‘Ohana Hale Marketplace at @Sushi
Atsushi Kumagai’s sushi bar is open for takeout and dining in at lunchtime.
Guieb Cafe brings awesome cheap eats to Kalihi
Sometimes the best discoveries are the most random ones. I'd been scrolling through Facebook and saw my classmate, Wina Silva, on a breakfast date with her boyfriend, raving about the food at a newish restaurant called Guieb Cafe. My other classmates…
Chris Kajioka’s stylish Miro opens in Kaimuki
Cafe Miro had been a staple in Kaimuki for 25 years under the helm of owner-chef Shigeru Kobayashi, with solid French-style cuisine and prices that were affordable enough to make it a regular spot for neighborhood diners. We wondered what the…
Sweet Creams just launched a lemon peel gummy bear ice pop
If you thought your favorite crack seed flavors peaked with the lemon peel gummy bear craze, they're about to level up for summer. Sweet Creams — the guys who introduced Hawaii to roll-up ice cream — are crafting new ice…
