Oahu - Hawaii with Kids - page 104

Local Chains & Familiar Names
Todai, 1910 Ala Moana Blvd. ( & 808/947-1000 ), a string of Japanese
seafood buffet restaurants with locations ranging from Dallas to Port-
land to Beverly Center, is packing 'em in at the gateway to Waikiki with
bountiful tables of sushi (40 kinds), hot seafood entrees (tempura, cala-
mari, fresh fish, gyoza, king crab legs, teppanyaki), and delectable
desserts. There's not much ambience, but no one cares; the food is ter-
rific, the selection impressive, and the operation as smooth as the green
tea cheesecake.
Ala Moana Center's third floor is a mecca for dining and schmooz-
ing. Here you'll find the family-friendly Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
( & 808/949-4867 ) and California Pizza Kitchen ( & 808/941-7715 ), which
also maintains branches in Kahala Mall, 4211 Waialae Ave. ( & 808/737-
9446 ); and at Pearlridge, 98-1005 Moanalua Rd. ( & 808/487-7741 ).
L&L Drive-Inn remains a plate-lunch bonanza islandwide, with 45
locations in Hawaii (36 on Oahu alone). Local island families flock to
Zippy's Restaurants (at last count 21 of them on Oahu; www.zippys.
com), the maestro of quick meals, with a surprisingly good selection of
fresh seafood, saimin, chili, and local fare, plus the wholesome new
low-fat, vegetarian “Shintani Cuisine,” sold in selected branches and
deli counters.
It's hard to spend more than $7 for the French and Vietnamese spe-
cials at the Ba-le Sandwich Shops: pho, croissants as good as the
espresso, and wonderful taro/tapioca desserts. Among Ba-le's 20 loca-
tions are those at Ala Moana Center ( & 808/944-4752 ) and at 333
Ward Ave. ( & 808/591-0935 ). A Ba-le location at Manoa Marketplace,
2855 E. Manoa Rd. ( & 808/988-1407 ), serves a terrific selection of Thai
dishes in an enlarged dining area, making it as much a restaurant as a
place for takeout food. For smoothies, head to Jamba Juice, with 11
locations at last count, from Kahala Mall to Ward Village, Kapahulu,
Pearlridge, Kailua, the DFS Galleria on Kalakaua Avenue, the Royal
Hawaiian Shopping Center, the Aiea Shopping Center, the Ewa Town
Center, the Financial Plaza, and the Waikiki Trade Center ( & 808/926-
4944 ). The ubiquitous Boston's North End Pizza Bakery chain claims an
enthusiastic following with its reasonable prices and generous top-
pings. Boston's can be found in Kaimuki, Kailua, Kaneohe, Pearlridge,
and Makakilo.
For Italian food, the American chain Buca di Beppo ( & 808/591-0880 )
is in the Ward Entertainment Center, 1030 Auahi St. Heaping plates of
Italian food, enough to feed a very hungry family, make this place quite
popular, along with the reasonable prices. Reservations are a must.
In Waikiki, the local Hard Rock Cafe is at 1837 Kapiolani Blvd.
( & 808/955-7383 ), while at the Ala Moana end of Waikiki, Outback
Steakhouse, 1765 Ala Moana Blvd. ( & 808/951-6274 ), serves great
steaks and is always full. In downtown's Restaurant Row, beef eaters
can also chow down at Ruth's Chris Steak House, 500 Ala Moana Blvd.
( & 808/599-3860 ).