Eli and I were superlucky in that for our honeymoon, we got to go stay in a family condo on O’ahu for over a week, visiting family and seeing places where I grew up. And eating like pigs. Since I moved from home, I’ve only been back once before, during Christmas of 2005. My sister Malia (aka DJ Miss Martini) visits at least once a year, so she made sure to arm us with recommendations for place to be sure to hit up. We’re sharing those with you, because they’re too good not to.
1. Diamond Head Grill – this is the place for the best plate lunch. They go “healthy” by offering brown rice and green salad, but don’t be turned off by that. A little pricier, but you are paying for quality, brah! Suggest: teri-beef sandwich or plate, Plantation iced tes – the best EVER, the Chinese Chicken Salad – the one of your dreams; why don’t other places make it like this??? They also have a deli/market that has to-go and boxed stuff and it’s all good. I swear.
2. Shimizu’s Shave Ice: they’re on School Street. And ohmygawd you will die Schatzi when you see all the awesome kine flavors they get! Shave Ice of your motherfucking dreams, dude!
Waimea Bay at sunset
3. Helena’s Hawaiian Kitchen: also on School Street. I highly recommend going at like 10:30 am right before they officially open [11 am]. Cuz then you can actually score parking – very difficult in this area – and they usually let you come inside early and wait. Recommend: Lau Lau, beef watercress [ I've never had this except there -OMG], pipikaula short ribs. Okay everything is “broke da mout” kine ono grinds. This is the real deal Hawaiian food; you can even see the pipikaula drying above the stove in the kitchen.
4. If no can make it to Shimizu’s – which you will regret – you can always go to Waiola Shave Ice for a good shave ice w/o venturing to the North Shore.
5. Don Quixote: this is like a mashup of Uwajimaya meets Holiday Mart meets New Wave on crack. It is awesome! Plan on spending hours in there going through all the asiles of Asian foods and stuff. This is a nice, inexpensive place to grab “deli” stuff on the outskirts of Waikiki. Also a good place to buy stuff to bring back.
6. The poke selection at Whole Foods at Kahala Mall is off the chain for quality and selection. Foodland has really decent poke too and is waaaaay closer to Tutu’s.
7. Duk Kee chinese restaurant in Kaimuki: 1146 12th Ave. The mf-ing bomb for crispy gaugee; chow fun and all the classics. Did I mention they are the mf-ing bomb for crispy gaugee?
8. Sanoya Rahmen: 1785 S King [near Washington Intermediate] – Hole in the wall; awesome noodles and awesomest chicken katsu curry with rice; and the gyoza/potstickers – the bombdiggity. they make ‘em there. And they are open at 3 am.
10. For a really well made cocktail in Waikiki, you really can’t beat Duke’s. The Tropical Itch was sublime and they still serve it with a backscratcher.
