Where to Eat - Honolulu, Waikiki and Oahu - page 184

noted artist John Young. The staff is unbelievably friendly, service is top-notch, and most en-
trees are only $9 to $10.
909 Isenberg St. & 808/941-6641. www.maplegardenhawaii.com . Plates $9-$30, buffet $12 lunch, $16 dinner. AE, MC,
V. Daily 11am-2pm and 5:30-9:30pm.
Spices SOUTHEAST ASIAN Located in a small building near the university, this tiny Asi-
an bistro specializes in delicious traditional dishes from Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Burma
(now known as Myanmar), re-created with local Hawaii ingredients. True to the restaurant's
name, the smell of pungent spices greets you as you enter the restaurant. Walls are painted in
saffron orange, mustard yellow, and green basil trim. A tantalizing cornucopia of Southeast
Asian specialties (with plenty of vegetarian dishes) range from curries (green, yellow, Malay-
sian, and Laotian) to noodles (pad Thai) to soups. But the best is the homemade ice cream
with such unusual flavors as durian, pandanus, or chili/lemongrass. Limited parking (about
eight spots) behind the restaurant.
2671 S. King St. (at University Ave.) & 808/949-2679. www.spiceshawaii.com . Curries $14-$18, rice and noodle dishes
$12-$15. MC, V. Tues-Fri 11:30am-2pm and 5:30-9:30pm; Sat 5:30-9:30pm; Sun 5-9pm. Limited parking (about 8
stalls) behind the restaurant.
SushiKing JAPANESE This is a top value for lovers of Japanese food. Brusque service can't
deter the throngs that arrive for the excellent lunch specials. It's tricky to find, located in a
small minimall (look for University Flower Shop). Don't pass up the jumbo platters that come
with soup; pickles; a California roll; and your choice of chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, shrimp
and vegetable tempura, or calamari and vegetable tempura, all at arrestingly low prices. Other
combination lunches offer generous choices that include sashimi, tempura, butterfish, fried
oysters, and noodles served hot and cold. Early-bird specials are offered daily from 5:30 to
7pm.
2700 S. King St. & 808/947-2836. Reservations recommended, especially for groups of 5 or more on weekends. Lunch
$10-$17, dinner main courses $16-$25. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am-2pm, and 5:30pm-2am.
Willows HAWAIIAN The food is more than adequate, but the ambience is the headliner here:
There just aren't many places left in Hawaii with this kind of tropical setting. Shoes click on
hardwood floors in rooms surrounded by lush foliage and fountains fed by the area's natural
springs. The dining rooms are open-air, with private umbrella-topped tables scattered about.
And though Willows will never fully regain the charm and nostalgia of its early kamaaina
(old-time) days (despite the meticulous restoration), some of its Hawaiian dishes—like laulau
(meat or fish steamed in taro or ti leaves), lomilomi salmon (“massaged” salmon, marinated
with tomatoes, onion, and salt), and poke—are quite good. Everything is served buffet-style.
817 Hausten St. & 808/952-9200. www.willowshawaii.com . Reservations recommended. Lunch buffet $20 Mon-Fri, $25
Sat, $35 Sun; dinner buffet $35 daily. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11am-2pm and 5:30-9pm; Sat-Sun 10am-2:30pm
and 5-9pm. No neighborhood parking; valet parking $3, self-parking $3.
INEXPENSIVE
Andy'sSandwiches&Smoothies HEALTH FOOD It started as a health-food restaurant, ex-
panded into a juice bar, and today is a neighborhood fixture for fresh-baked bread, healthy