Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
food, with detailed descriptions of each dish) includes appetizers, tofu, salad, fish and meat,
rice, soup, sushi, sashimi, nabe, ishiyaki, noodles, and desserts. Here are our picks: deep-fried
battered tofu ($7.50); tuna sashimi salad ($14); garlic scallop seared on a hot plate ($13); and
the honey toast dessert ($7.50), a sumo-size serving of soft, toasted bread drizzled with honey
and topped with vanilla ice cream. The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable, but service suf-
fers during the busy dinner hours.
At the Ala Moana Pacific Center, 1585 Kapiolani Blvd. (at Kaheka St.).
&
808/941-3701.
www.shokudojapanese.com
.
Entrees $12-$25; sushi $7-$15. MC, V. Sun-Thurs 11:30am-midnight; Fri-Sat 11:30am-1am.
Side Street Inn
★
HAWAIIAN After their own fancy kitchens have closed, some of
Honolulu's top chefs head to this off-the-beaten-track neighborhood bar with TVs on the walls
and a back room with dartboard and neon beer signs—very camp. Down a small side street
near Ala Moana Center—noted more for its seedy bars than for pesto-crusted ahi and gourmet
Nalo greens—Side Street Inn is a pleasant surprise. The grinds (that's local slang for “eats”)
are fabulous, with no pretensions and a spirited local feel. The barbecued baby back ribs in
lilikoi (yellow passion fruit) sauce are tender, flavorful, and a steal at $17. Our faves are the
blackened ahi, pesto-crusted ahi, shrimp scampi, escargots, and tender fresh-steamed Manila
clams in a wine-garlic broth. By the end of the meal, you'll be planning your return. A second
location, called Side Street Inn on Da Strip, is located at 614 Kapahulu Ave. (
808/739-3939);
daily 3pm-midnight.
1225 Hopaka St.
&
808/591-0253.
www.sidestreetinn.com
.
Reservations recommended for groups of 4 or more. Main
courses $10-$27. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 2pm-midnight (bar 2pm-2am).
Aloha Tower Marketplace
Chai'sIslandBistro
PACIFIC RIM We give Chai's high marks for food but have less enthusiasm
for its service and ambience, especially at dinner time, when the overamped music can detract
from the dining experience (the nightly entertainment, usually live music, can be excruciat-
ingly loud). Also, the dinner entree prices have risen significantly. But the food is generally
high quality and creative. The 200-seat restaurant has high ceilings, a good location (though
not on the waterfront), indoor and outdoor seating, and a discreetly placed open kitchen. Our
favorite item on the menu is an appetizer that could be an entree: The sampler for two ap-
pears on a boat-size platter—a feast of gravlax salmon roulade; macadamia-nut-crusted tiger
prawns; and Alaskan king crab cakes. Fusion dishes include steamed, fresh, Asian-style moi,
and an ample selection of vegetarian dishes.
Tip:
Before you go, print the “$25 of” coupon
from their website, which is good for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings.
At the Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Dr.
&
808/585-0011.
www.chaisislandbistro.com
.
Reservations recom-
mended. Main courses $13-$35 lunch, $28-$48 dinner. AE, DC, MC, V. Tues-Fri 11am-9pm; Sat-Mon 4-9pm.
Don Ho's Island Grill
HAWAIIAN This shrine to Don Ho, who passed away in 2007, mixes a
number of nostalgic interior elements: koa paneling, a thatched roof, split-bamboo ceilings,
old pictures of Ho with celebrities, faux palm trees, and open sides looking out onto the har-
bor. It's kitschy and charming, down to the vinyl pareu-printed tablecloths and the flowers
