Where to Eat - Honolulu, Waikiki and Oahu - page 176

In Ala Moana Plaza, 451 Piikoi St. & 808/596-8108. www.thecateringhotline.com . Main courses $6-$10. AE, DC, DISC,
MC, V. Daily 8am-9pm.
Kaka'ako Kitchen ★★ HAWAIIAN This popular industrial-style, plate-lunch haven in the
trendy Ward Centre is busier than ever, with an expanded concept that includes dinner and
breakfast service. You'll get excellent home-style cooking (it's owned by chef Russell Siu, of
3660 on the Rise) served on Styrofoam plates, in a warehouse ambience, at budget prices. The
menu, which changes every 3 to 4 months, includes a seared ahi sandwich with tobiko (flying-
fish roe) aioli, sandwiches, beef stew, five-spice shoyu chicken, the very popular meatloaf, and
other multi-ethnic entrees. Tip: If they're serving brownies, buy two; their brownies are “da'
best in da' islands.”
At Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd. & 808/596-7488. Breakfast $5.50-$9, lunch and dinner main courses $8-$13.
AE, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 8am-9pm; Fri-Sat 8am-10pm; Sun 8am-5pm.
KuaAina ★ AMERICAN This popular branch of the ultimate sandwich shop (the original
is a North Shore fixture) is in the Ward Centre area (near Starbucks). Phone in your order if
you can. During lunch and dinner hours, people wait patiently in long lines for the famous
sandwiches: the beef burgers with heroic toppings; mahimahi with Ortega chili and cheese
(a legend); grilled eggplant and peppers; roast turkey, tuna, and avocado; roast beef and avo-
cado; and about a dozen other selections on kaiser rolls or multigrain wheat or rye breads.
The sandwiches and fries are excellent, and the outdoor section with tables has grown (thank
goodness)—but there still may be a wait during lunch hour. The takeout business is brisk.
At Ward Village, 1116 Auahi St. & 808/591-9133. Sandwiches and burgers $7-$9. DISC, MC, V. Mon-Sat
10:30am-9pm; Sun 10:30am-8pm.
PandaCuisine ★ DIM SUM/SEAFOOD/CHINESE This is dim sum heaven, not only for the
selection but for the late-night (after 10pm) service, a rare thing for what is a morning and
lunchtime tradition in Hong Kong. Panda's dim sum selection—spinach-scallop, chive, taro,
shrimp dumplings, pork hash, and some 50-plus others—is a real pleaser. (The spinach-scal-
lop and taro puff varieties are a cut above.) The reckless can spring for the live Maine lobster
and Dungeness crab in season, or the king clam and steamed fresh fish, but the steaming bam-
boo carts yielding toothsome surprises are hard to resist. Noodles and sizzling platters make
good accompaniments.
641 Keeaumoku St. & 808/947-1688. Main courses $11-$30, dim sum $3-$5. MC, V. Daily 10:30am-2:30pm; Mon-Sat
5:30pm-1am; Sun 5:30am-10pm.
Shokudo ★ JAPANESE Shokudo means “dining room” in Japanese, and the large, beauti-
fully designed but casual dining room here is the first U.S. restaurant of this popular Japan-
ese chain. It attracts local families and hip 20-somethings more than tourists. The eatery is a
cross between an izakaya (Japanese pub where people eat appetizers and have a beer or two)
and a sushi bar. The place is huge and looks even bigger with its high ceiling, tiered seat-
ing, and central bar, but the food comes on small plates, so bring a crowd to taste several
items. The 60-item menu (complete with vivid color photos and an English translation of the