Hawaii holidays wouldn’t be complete without visiting these five restaurants. Hawaii might be better known for its beaches and surfing, but how could a place so fabulously lush, so close to the bounty of the ocean, be without top ranked cuisine?
• Morio’s Sushi Bistro. This small, not terribly pricey sushi bar on South King Street in Oahu gets raves for the freshest sushi and sashimi. They just don’t serve sushi, but vegetable tempura, fried flounder and fried rice balls. Reservations made considerably ahead are a must, since the place has only fourteen seats and is wildly popular. The traveler should bring their own bottle of sake and make sure they share it with the chef!
• Wailuku, on Maui, is surrounded by such beauty, including the Iao Valley State Park, that a tourist might not want to sit down even for a minute to eat. But before that hiking or snorkeling excursion, they should try A Saigon Cafe on Main Street, which specializes in Korean and Vietnamese fare. Among the favorites are the duck soup, the clams and the clay pot dishes of fish and chicken.
• Wahiawa is almost in the center of Oahu and if the traveler’s had their fill of sushi and traditional Hawaiian fare and long for something continental, there’s Maui Mike’s Fire Roasted Chicken, a barbecue joint on Kamehameha Highway. They not only sell traditional “American food,” but they’re down right cheap, casual and good for the whole family. People come a long way for the rotisserie roasted chicken. It’s not only fall-off-the-bone tender, but is served with a number of sauces.
• A few miles north of Honolulu is Dean’s Drive-In in Kaneohe, on Kamehameha Highway. It’s an old fashioned drive-in but the resemblance to the usual fast food places end there. Favorites are the tender teri beef steaks and ahi cakes. There’s even a teri cheeseburger.
• Island Taco on Waimea on the island of Hawaii serves Mexican food. and to read the reviews they get it right. But it’s Mexican food with a distinctly Hawaiian twist. Imagine mahi mahi tacos! More, the tacos are huge and at around $6 or $7 a little expensive. But the place is casual and good for kids and groups of friends. There’s even outdoor seating and take-out.
These are some must-visit restaurants to make anyone’s Hawaii holidays complete.