My week on Oahu - Mostly Waikiki - Long Post

Have just returned from a week on Oahu, most of it spent in Waikiki, and must agree with one of the previous posters that it is a culinary wasteland. I did my research and visited many of the places recommended by my fellow Chowhounders but with the exception of 2 or 3 great meals most were mediocre to terrible. Alan Wong’s was a shining star – it was simply stunning and I agree with our waiter who said, when told of our culinary misadventures, “You have to get outside Waikiki to find the good places”. Unfortunately we had saved Alan Wong’s for our last night in town. Below are our experiences.

Alan Wong's 1857 S. King Street
Located in an unassuming office building on King Street near McCully, a short 10 minute drive from Waikiki.
It was not only the finest meal we had on Oahu but the finest restaurant we have visited in some time. The menu is exciting and showcases a commitment to local ingredients.
They have a “Special Drink” menu and we chose the Big Bully Martini which is Sky Vodka marinated with Pineapple for 4-5 days. It’s served ice cold with chunks of fresh pineapple replacing the olives and was delightful.
The Seafood Cakes were composed of large pieces of fresh crab, lobster, scallops & shrimp. A salad mixing Hawaiian grown tomatoes, avocado, fresh hearts of palm and roasted beets was served slightly chilled with a stunning li hing mui vinaigrette. Twice cooked beef short ribs were accompanied by three skewered prawns brushed with lemon grass and grilled lightly and were boneless, fork tender and served on a wonderful sweet-spicy sauce. Dessert an individual blueberry pie filled with lemon custard and topped with fresh blueberries & blackberries. Outstanding food.
We finished our meal with a cup of Jasmine Tea Pearls which were served in a tall, clear glass mug allowing us to watch the pearls unfurl as the tea steeped. It was a beautiful presentation. Coffee drinkers will thrill at the coffee menu which offers a selection of vintage Island grown coffees.
Service was impeccable. Unobtrusive, gracious and ever attentive. I also liked the way each server named the dish as it was gently placed in front of us. When we needed help with the winelist we were introduced to Mark who, in addition to being highly knowledgeable about the selections, was fun to talk with about food and wine in general.
Everything was perfect.

China Town.
Wandered through the streets one afternoon enjoying the sights and the hustle and bustle of the community. Stopped at The Maunakea Marketplace Foodcourt located on Hotel Street. Here more than a dozen vendors offer Vietnamese, Korean & Chinese food and you wander from vendor to vendor looking at the freshly prepared dishes and choosing what suits you. We loved the food from Natty’s Vietnamese. We were there close to 3 o’clock when they were closing up shop affording us a very good deal. It cost $6.00 for more than we could eat. They were also very kind and let us sample items. Summer rolls from another vendor were wrapped in the lightest rice noodle roll and served with a dipping sauce that tasted of plums. Perfect. Just outside the foodcourt, across the courtyard, was a smoothies place and we finished with a fresh pineapple smoothie and a fresh mango smoothie that were divine.
I highly recommend a stroll through the streets of china town with a stop here for lunch.

House Without a Key in the Halekulani
The setting is sublime. We sat on the outdoor patio under a quarter moon listening to a trio playing soft Hawaiian music beneath a large tree and had we arrived earlier we would have enjoyed a view of the water. The menu was small offering a choice of only 3 Main Courses. The food was good but still we found ourselves under whelmed. In our opinion the best part was the setting and the entertainment. We wished we had listened to one of our guide books recommending this as a perfect spot for sunset cocktails and appetizers. A large part of the patio, front and center, is set up just for this.

Canoe’s in the Ilekalani
A local recommended Sarrento’s at the top of the “I” but after taking the elevator to the top we were told the restaurant had been taken over for a private party. Tried Canoe’s on the ground floor and had a wonderful experience. Took a table at the edge of the patio under the stars. The house salad was a toss of baby lettuces with candied macadamia nuts, fresh strawberries and gorgonzola. Main course was a Seafood Pasta which had wild mushrooms from the Island, scallops, prawns, octopus & mussels. It was delicious. Our server couldn’t have been nicer. He was attentive, energetic and kind. It’s not as pretty as the House Without A Key but I think the food is better and the menu more imaginative, offering a larger selection.

Ono's Hawaiian Food 726 Kapahulu Avenue located on Kapahulu
(take the No. 13 bus in the direction of Diamond Head)
Arrived early (5:30) to a short 10 minute wait. By the time we left there was a crowd waiting and this on a Tuesday although it being a small place the turnover is quick. Ordered the combination plate which had both Kalua Pig and Laulau because we couldn’t decide. Easily enough for 2 and priced at $14.50 quite reasonable. Loved the waitress who asked if it was our first time and when we said “yes” she explained the menu, made suggestions and once we had ordered said “Ok, I’m gonna show you how to eat.”
We are glad we ventured off the beaten path to try authentic Hawaiian food but must admit it’s not our favorite cuisine and would have a hard time recommending people seek this out.

St. Germain Bakery on Kuhio
Very disappointing. The dizzying array of baked goods looks impressive but the quality is lacking. The pastry doesn’t have the nice crisp flake it should. Took a sandwich to the beach and although I had ordered Ham & Swiss on rye it came on baguette which had the same chewy day old quality the pastries had. The swiss cheese was some type of processed cheese food which I thought was mayonnaise at first because it was so soft and gooey.

Ruffage on Kuhio.
Much preferred the sandwich from Ruffage, just a block or two further along Kuhio. The place doesn’t look like much from the outside (or inside) but the lady behind the counter is sweet and helpful quickly pointing out the top sellers. Had the Tuna & Avocado on wheat bread and especially liked the sweet crunch of the crisp celery in the tuna salad. It was quick and convenient to hop off the bus, grab the sandwich and hop back on the bus for a trip to the beach.

Shrimp Trucks
Romy's 56-781 Kamehameha Highway
I’m another one who does not understand the hype behind these shrimp trucks. Stopped at Romy’s on a drive around the Island. The place was hopping, not with locals but with tourists like us who came because they read about it. Ordered the garlic prawns which were sautéed with wonderfully aromatic garlic but I have to say the prawns were no better than elsewhere. And at $11.00 a plate for 5 prawns and rice a bit pricey to eat out of styrofoam at a picnic table under a tarp. A family of 7 ordered behind us and I nearly cringed when their total came to almost $100.00 with food and drinks. That’s expensive. The lady at the counter was a delight asking if it was our first time and telling us about the menu choices. I let go and enjoyed the wonderful experience of being in Hawaii but I wouldn’t encourage anyone to make a trip here for the shrimp.

Shave Ice
Stopped at Aoki’s because by the time we got to town Matsumoto’s was closed. This being my first time trying shave ice I took the chowhound recommendations and ordered it with adzuki beans. The shave ice at $2.00 was a real treat but the beans??? It was like eating black beans with dessert. I didn’t enjoy the addition. Is it an acquired taste? My recommendation is to enjoy the shave ice without the beans.

Keo’s on Kuhio. Thai Food.
Avoid this place. The Summer Rolls were the worst I have ever had. The chicken inside had been boiled until it was as dry as the Sahara and tasted like biting into cardboard. The rice paper was thick and gooey. The Thai Fried rice was another disappointment as it had the same chicken as the summer rolls. At the waiters suggestion we ordered Mahi Mahi sautéed with ginger and onions which was decent. I do not understand why this place is recommended in guide books, by hotels and so heavily trafficked by the public. I thought it was awful.

Matteo’s Italian Restaurant 364 Seaside just off Kuhio at the Kuhio Marine Surf Hotel. Undoubtedly our worst meal in Waikiki. The Caesar Salad is made tableside by the server who had such a heavy hand with the garlic that I was burping it up a day later. The Veal Picatta was simply tired and such a poor rendition of picatta that the chef should be embarrassed to serve it. The sauce had no hint of fresh lemon or butter but rather an unnatural yellow hue and a slight gelatinous texture and I would bet it was prepared from a mix. Simply awful. Our waiter looked like a tired clown with his wiry, unkempt hair and his rumpled, ill fitting tuxedo, reinforced by his continual delivery of tired one liners that fell flat. The only good part was the rolls which arrived hot and crisp crusted as if just baked. It is a dimly lit, tired, old restaurant serving tired old style Italian. Avoid this place at all costs.

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