Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
d.k Steakhouse
★
STEAKHOUSE Attention carnivores: This steakhouse opened in 2004 to
rave reviews, giving the national steakhouse chains and the top local steakhouses a run for
their money. Locally known chef D. K. Kodama (of Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar;
and Vino Italian Tapas & Wine Bar) and Hawaii's top sommelier Chuck Furuya have created
the ultimate steakhouse for the 21st century at very reasonable prices (especially for Waikiki).
Purists will love the prime grade and dry-aged (in-house for 10 days) New York strip and filet
mignon, served unadorned or topped with either three-peppercorn sauce au poivre, blue crab
and béarnaise sauce, shiitake mushroom demiglace, or D. K.'s own sesame seed-miso sauce.
The ultimate treat is the 22-ounce, bone-in rib eye (dry-aged for 15 days): Every bite has a
melt-in-your-mouth richness that steak fans will remember forever. We recommend booking a
table outside on the lanai and coming early to watch the sun set over Waikiki Beach. The decor
is romantic, with dim lighting, intimate wooden booths, and tiny bar lights. Steak alternatives
include a fresh catch, lamb chops, and broiled herbed chicken.
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, 2552 Kalakaua Ave., 3rd floor.
&
808/931-6280.
www.dksteakhouse.com
. Reservations
recommended. Main courses $18-$65. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 5:30-10pm.
Duke's Waikiki
★
STEAKHOUSE/SEAFOOD Hip, busy, and on the ocean—this is what
dining in Waikiki should be. There's hardly a time when the open-air dining room isn't filled
with good Hawaiian music. Duke's is popular among singles, but don't dismiss it as a pickup
bar—its ambience is stellar. Named after fabled surfer Duke Kahanamoku, the casual, upbeat
hotspot buzzes with diners and Hawaiian-music lovers throughout the day. The lunch and
BarefootBar
menus include pizza, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and appetizers such as mac-
nut and crab wontons and the ever-popular grilled chicken quesadillas. Dinner fare is steak
and seafood, with decent marks for the fresh catch, prepared in your choice of five styles. Live
entertainment is featured nightly from 4pm to midnight, with no cover. Be prepared to fight
the crowds if you come at sunset.
In the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, 2335 Kalakaua Ave.
&
808/922-2268.
www.hulapie.com
. Reservations recom-
mended for dinner. Main courses $19-$32, breakfast buffet $15. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 7am-midnight.
HauTreeLanai
★
PACIFIC RIM Informal and delightful, this Honolulu institution scores high-
er on ambience than on food. The outdoor setting and earnest menu make it a popular inform-
al dining spot; an ancient hau tree provides shade and charm for diners. A diverse parade of
beachgoers at Sans Souci Beach (called “Dig Me Beach” for its eye-candy sunbathers) round
out the scenery. Breakfast here is a must: Choices include salmon Florentine, served with a
fresh-baked scone; poi pancakes; Belgian waffles; eggs Benedict; and the Hawaiian platter of
miniature poi pancakes, eggs, and a medley of island sausages. Lunchtime offerings include
an assortment of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and fresh-fish and pasta specialties. Dinner se-
lections are more ambitious and less reliable: fresh opah (moonfish), red snapper, opakapaka,
ahi, lamb, beef, pork, and chef's specials, in preparations ranging from grilled to stuffed and
over-the-top rich.
At the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, 2863 Kalakaua Ave.
&
808/921-7066.
www.kaimana.com/dining.htm
.
Reserva-
tions recommended. Breakfast $10-$16, lunch $12-$17, dinner $25-$39. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 7-10:45am,
11:45am-2pm, and 5:30-9pm; Sun 7-10:45am and 5:30-9pm. Late lunch in the open-air bar daily 2-4pm.
