If an out-of-towner asked me for restaurant recommendations now, I think I would struggle to provide good answers. That wasn’t always the case–or at least I would feel more confident in my ability to provide recommendations. I think two things have changed for me in the last ten years or so–1) many of the restaurants I really liked have closed, and 2) I really haven’t tried many new restaurants. Having said that, I’ve been mostly unimpressed or even disappointed by the ones I have tried–so much so that I tend to think the Hawai’i food scene has significantly declined. Do you guys agree with that or not?
In any event, this brings me to the point of the post–namely, in our lifetime, what time period did we have the most quality restaurants? I’m interested in hearing your answers, but here’s mine. For me, I would say the late 90s and early 2000s featured the best, or at least my favorite, restaurants. Here’s a list, off the top of my head:
- 12th Avenue Grill
- Brent’s
- Le Bistro
- Town
- Chef Mavro
- Padovanni’s
- Palomino’s
- Alan Wong’s
- Kincaid’s (more for the ambiance)
- Cafe Laufer (more for the desserts and coffee)
- HK’s
- Kaka’ako Kitchen
- Quintero’s
- Cafe Sistina
- Mediterraneo
- Scozee’s
- Char Hung Sut
- Mocha Java
- Bob’s Big Boy (solid alternative to Zippy’s)
- KC Drive Inn (for the shakes)
- Pyramids (for the buffet)
- McCully Chop Suey (for late night Chinese food)
The food scene has definitely changed a lot. The old school places like plate lunch, manapua shops, and local Japanese and Chinese places to name a few are rarer. They are being replaced by poke shops, “quality” burger places, and matcha, acai shops. There are also much more “Japanese” places, like tonkatsu, burger, steak, ramen, breakfast, musubi etc. I will also say there weren’t as many Thai and Vietnamese places before. But outside of poke, I agree the restaurants I mentioned may not be good out-of-towner recommendations depending on where the out-of-towner is coming from. If that out-of-towner is coming from a place with little good Asian places, Hawaii could still offer a lot.
From your list I only really miss Brent’s, HK’s, and Char Hung Sut.
The thought that these places are replacing the ones you mentioned never occurred to me, but you could be right. Did you really mean “replace” or were you simply saying that there are more of these places now?
And what are some of the quality burger places (putting aside Kua Aina, Teddy’s, since they’ve been around for a long time) you had in mind? The Counter, Honolulu Burger Company, Five Guys? What am I missing?
This sounds right. But I’m also sure there are way more Japanese-from-Japan type of restaurants. The ramen scene is way better now than the early 2000s. More sushi as well. Overall, the Japanese food scene seems better now than 20-30 years ago.
However, I feel like the Italian scene is worse.
By the way, are there a lot of restaurants you like now? If so, what are some of your favorites?
Yeah “replace” not as in take the same spot as or even in the same vicinity of, but just being a popular type of restaurant to open. Burger places have exploded just this year. I think there is a place called OG3 which is on Young St between Keeaumoku and Piikoi. There is a Japanese burger shop in Mid-Town Eats. There is also the Daley and Chubbies. I didn’t try any of these places. We go to Teddy’s or Mahaloha. Oh wait, we did go to the Dragon Burger which is in Mid-Town Eats. It’s good, but it’s expensive.
I agree Italian isn’t as good. I really like La Cucina, but you said it isn’t as good. I went to La Ciccia by UH, and I thought it was okay at best. It might be Japanese Italian, but it’s definitely not like Pietro’s. Also, Rigo and Arancino are Japanese type Italian or owned by Japanese. I like Taormina in Waikiki, but haven’t been in over ten years. I’m not sure if they are run by Japanese as well. I think my favorite used to Baci Bistro in Kailua, but haven’t been there in 15 years maybe.
Man, as far as restaurants we go, hmmm. I think if my son is not with us, we go to pho a lot or maybe Bangkok Chef. These are places my son doesn’t care for. If he is with us, it could be Kotetsu Chaya, known for their karaage or Le’s Banh Mi in 808 Sheridan.
The popularity or success of the Cheesecake Factory has also brought in ton of chain restaurants we never really had a lot of before. Chick-Fil-A, Olive Garden, Raising Canes, and Sonic all are pretty recent additions.
I took you to mean the second definition. If plate lunch places were a Hawai’i thing in the 80s and 90s, then poke, burger places, etc. is the thing now.
I think poke places fits, but I wasn’t sure about the other types of restaurants you mentioned.
If burger places are more of the thing now, that is a bit surprising. One reason that good burger places couldn’t supplant plate lunch places was the value. The consumers of Kua Aina, for example, were likely a niche market compared to plate lunch consumers. The former was likely too expensive, given what you got for the price–at least to most locals.
One possibility is that the plate lunch prices have increased significantly and have closed the gap in value. But I would think plate lunches would have to be quite a bit more than burgers (and fries), otherwise plate lunches would likely have more value.
Another possibility is that more locals are “foodies” now–that is, consumers willing to pay more for quality and less concerned with value.
I’ve never heard of OG3, but I’ll put it on my list of places to try. I’m not a fan of the Daley and Chubbies–basically, I’m not a fan of smash burgers. Is Dragon Burger also a smashed burger? (There’s also a burger place where Greek Corner used to be.)
I’m wary of going to restaurants in Waikiki. That, and I’m not as interested in trying Japanese-Italian places. Have you tried that pasta place in McCully Shopping Center? It’s a Japanese run Italian place.
I haven’t been to Baci Bistro in ages, but the last time I went I thought they went downhill.
Would you recommend these places? Where do you guys go for pho?