Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HulaGrillWaikiki
★★
HAWAII REGIONAL This is the best place for breakfast in Waikiki:
Not only does it have a terrific view of all of Waikiki (clear to Diamond Head), but the food
is fabulous and a great value. Breakfast is a generous selection of pancakes (banana, mac-nut,
pineapple, even coconut) and eggs (from crab cake eggs Benedict to a ham, bacon, and Por-
tuguese sausage omelet with cheddar). Then come back for a romantic dinner—the restaurant
is decorated in a 1930s Hawaii waterfront home theme, with such touches as an ohia log bar,
hula doll collection, slate flooring, and lauhala pine-soffited ceilings. Signature dinner entrees
at the beachside bistro include Hawaiian ceviche, fire-grilled ono (wahoo), oven-roasted ses-
ame opah, and a nightly collection of specials.
In the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, 2335 Kalakaua Ave.
&
808/923-HULA
[923-4852].
www.hulagrillwaikiki.com
. Re-
servations recommended for dinner. Breakfast $6-$14, main courses $17-$33. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 6:30-10:45am,
4:30-6pm (happy hour with light menu), and 4:45-10pm.
Keo's in Waikiki
★
THAI Fresh spices, spirited dishes, and a familiar crop of Thai delights:
Keo's has a splashy tropical ambience and a menu that both islanders and visitors love. Owner
Keo Sananikone grows his own herbs, fruits, and vegetables without pesticides on his North
Shore farm. Satay shrimp; basil-infused eggplant with tofu; “evil jungle prince” (shrimp,
chicken, or vegetables in a basil-coconut-chili sauce); Thai garlic shrimp with mushrooms; pad
Thai noodles; and the ever-delectable panang, green, and yellow curries are among his abid-
ing delights.
2028 Kuhio Ave.
&
808/951-9355.
www.keosthaicuisine.com
. Reservations recommended. Main courses $15-$20, prix
fixe $30-$45. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 4-10:30pm
SanseiSeafoodRestaurant&SushiBar
★★
SUSHI/PACIFIC RIM Perpetual award-winner D.
K. Kodama, who built Kapalua's Sansei into one of Maui's most popular eateries, has become
a local legend with his exuberant brand of sushi and fusion cooking. Although some of the
flavors (sweet Thai chili sauce with cilantro, for example) may be too fussy for sushi purists,
choices abound on the extensive menu, including the award-winning trademark Asian rock
shrimp cake; the Sansei Special sushi roll (crab, cilantro, cucumber, and avocado with a sweet
chili sauce); seared foie gras nigiri sushi (duck liver lightly seared over sushi rice, accompan-
ied by caramelized onion and ripe mango); and the wonderful mango crab salad hand roll
(with mango, blue crab, greens, and peanuts all wrapped in soybean paper with a sweet Thai
chili vinaigrette). More traditional selections range from very fresh yellowtail sushi to Japan-
ese miso eggplant.
At the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, 2552 Kalakaua Ave., 3rd floor.
&
808/931-6286.
www.sanseihawaii.com
.
Re-
servations recommended. Sushi $6-$20, main courses $16-$40. AE, DISC, MC, V. Sat-Wed 5:30-10pm; Thurs-Fri
5:30pm-1am.
SinghaThaiCuisine
THAI The Royal Thai dancers arch their graceful fingers nightly in classic-
al Thai dance on the small center stage, but you may be too busy tucking into your blackened
ahi summer rolls to notice. That use of local organic ingredients, and the imaginative com-
bination dinners, are among the special touches of this Thai-Hawaiian fusion restaurant. The
complete combo dinners, which serve two to five, cover many tastes and are an ideal way for
the uninitiated to sample the elements of Hawaii regional and Thai cuisine that have had an
