Eric Baranda

Frolic Contributor

Eric joined the team before Frolic was Frolic—as a nightlife photographer covering the club, bar and concert scene for predecessor Nonstop Honolulu. A big geek and even bigger nerd, Eric spends his free time playing games, reading comics, watching anime and taking part in online culture.

Articles

Harry Potter cocktails to charm the adults at Comic Con Honolulu

Today, Comic Con Honolulu 2019 kicks off a three-day family-friendly celebration of comics, costumes, fantasy, sci-fi and all things nerdom at the Hawaii Convention Center. As a lifelong fan of comic books and geek culture, anime and comic cons hold a special place…

Finally! Hawaii’s getting a Filipino Food Week

After moving to Hawaii during my freshman year of high school, I learned that Filipinos were viewed in different ways. Some saw us as unfashionable FOBs that dressed in loud colors. Others saw us as potential troublemakers with an affinity…

What I found at Target: Frozen poke meal kit

What I found at ... is a series that tests and vets intriguing store-bought food finds. It’s the mainland and global parallel to KaSnack attack!, our series reviewing made-in-Hawaii snacks.   What: Authentic Hawaiian Poke, Shoyu Ahi Mix & Serve…

Legit flavors at the cutest poke shop in Manoa

It's worth a drive into Manoa for a new poke shop with shave ice in an old-time Hawaii storefront. Off the Hook grand-opened this past weekend in between Starbucks and Andy's Sandwiches on East Manoa Road across from Manoa Marketplace.…

Is this poke? Poke Bar at Waikiki Beach Walk

The mainland poke craze has morphed Hawaii's iconic dish into a DIY salad bar creation — that's now boomeranged back to the islands. Mainland poke chains have opened on Oahu with customizable choices that go well beyond shoyu ahi and…

Ramen alert: Gomaichi’s bowls live on at Menchanko-Tei

It's the end of an era, as longtime ramen shop Gomaichi closed its doors for good at the beginning of 2018. A high-rise condominium is scheduled to be built on their location. In addition, the shopowners' son had graduated high…

Brilliant! New gastropub opens at Ala Moana

Brilliant Ox, a new gastropub, soft-opened last week in the former Pearl Ultra Lounge space at Ala Moana Center. Here's your sneak peek at dishes by chef Brian Gremillion, formerly of Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop in New York City. Brilliant…

Do you know this cocktail speakeasy?

In the heart of Kakaako, on top of a brewpub, is a speakeasy only open on Thursday to Saturday. It's not at street level, it's a little higher up: The Hi Brau Room. The Hi Brau Room 700 Queen St.…

Before you shop, fuel up at Ala Moana’s Christmas Bar pop-up

The Christmas Bar is a new pop-up at Ala Moana Center serving festive and holiday-themed drinks – the most popular being a sweet, cream soda-based Hogwarts Butterbeer, finished with a marshmallow fluff foam. They don't have food, however, you're welcome…

Purple alert: There’s a new ube bakeshop in town

This new spot in Kalihi's all about the brilliant purple yam. Ube Before Anything Else, aka Ubae Hawaii, is in the City Square Shopping Center on Dillingham Boulevard. Ubae Hawaii 1284 Kalani St. 439-3224 Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 9…

Droolworthy: Steak & Fish Company scallops

Do you ever not expect much from a place, so you get yourself ready for the worst? That’s what we did. Expect the worst from Steak & Fish Company, because it was a tiny place we’d never heard of, in…

Your guide to Comic Con Honolulu 2017

Someone told me recently that I was their best source for the latest news on the nerd stuff they like. That caught me by surprise, so thanks for the encouragement! Why was I surprised? Lately I’ve been feeling my attention…

Our Top 5: Ramen in Hawai‘i

  I owe my addiction to ramen to Yotteko-Ya. The small shop at McCully Shopping Center was my initiation into the world of true ramen, and it left me hungry to try more. But as I tried bowl after bowl at…

Sayonara, Yotteko-Ya

The last bowl. Savoring every drop of the steaming paitan broth. Memorizing the creamy texture on my tongue. Chewing slowly the tender, juicy kakuni meat. Enjoying this meal to its fullest, because it will be my last. Goodbye, Yotteko-ya. The…

Our Top 5: Old-school comfort cheeseburgers

If you haven’t already filed your federal taxes, today’s the deadline. We at Frolic Hawaii would like to do our part to ease the pain. We’ve rounded up our favorite old-school cheeseburgers at local diners, drive-ins and yes, dives —…