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Destination: Oahu/Waikiki Article Source: Copyright © 2012 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House Inc. All rights reserved.
Ten minutes from Waikiki, this is the Island version of a Viennese café. Light meals range from grilled sausage with sauerkraut to soups and salads. Try the classic apple tart, linzer torte, Black Forest cake, or chocolate macadamia-nut pastries. The café is open until 10 pm Friday and Saturday for a sweet nightcap. cafelaufer.com. Reservations not accepted. Credit cards accepted.
Virtually unchanged since it opened in 1967, this cozy maze of rooms opposite Kailua Beach Park is filled with the enticing aroma of grilling steaks. It doesn't matter if you're a bit sandy (but bare feet are not allowed). Stop at the salad bar, order up a steak, a burger, teri chicken, or the fresh fish special. If you sit at the bar, expect to make friends. And remember that this place is cash only. Be warned: their mai tai is the strongest you'll find anywhere. www.buzzssteakhouse.com. Reservations essential.
If you're wondering what aloha spirit is all about, check out this family-owned, local-style restaurant in the industrial backwaters of Kailua where brothers Ricky and Jesse Kiakona treat their guests like family. At breakfast, the signature dish is macadamia-nut pancakes; at lunch, pulehu (grilled) ribs. Then again, the pulehu ribs are pretty popular at breakfast, too. Portions are generous. There is a line outside almost any time of day, so budget some time for the wait. Reservations not accepted. No dinner.
Time your drive through East Honolulu to allow for a stop at this relaxed restaurant on Kuapa Pond. The savvy chef-manager team left a popular chain restaurant to found this "American eclectic" eatery, serving wok-seared moi fish, mango and guava ribs, and lots of other interesting small dishes. They're open until 10 pm Sunday through Thursday, and until 11 pm Friday and Saturday. www.bluwatergrill.com. Credit cards accepted.
This many-windowed, multilevel room takes delightful advantage of the restaurant's perch above the beach, facing Diamond Head. The chef creates uncomplicated contemporary cuisine—grilled fish, steaks, and chops accented with East-West fusion flavors. The experienced staff, often called on to serve the VIPs who favor this hotel, extends unruffled and gracious service. Reservations essential. Credit cards accepted. Closed Sun. No lunch.
Baci Bistro is a favorite for intimate dinners and good-value lunches. Join Windward locals for generous portions of Italian classics such as pappardelle del campo (wide pasta noodles with veal, chicken, sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, and mushrooms) or pollo piccata (chicken breast in a lemon, white wine, and caper sauce). You won't leave the table hungry. Service is friendly, and dining is available in their intimate dining room or alfresco on their leafy lanai. bacibistro.com. Credit cards accepted. No lunch weekends.
Tam and Kimmy Huynh's menu is much more extensive than most, ranging far beyond the usual pho (beef noodle soup) and bun (cold noodle dishes). Coconut milk curries, an extraordinary crab noodle soup, and other dishes hail from both North and South Vietnam. The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed, and they'll work with you to make choices. Reservations are not accepted for groups fewer than six. Credit cards accepted.
It's not enough that this restaurant looks out upon the Ko Olina lagoons and the vast Pacific Ocean—the food is wonderful, too. Thanks to renowned local chef Kevin Chong, you can enjoy modern as well as classic menu items made from local ingredients. Even the Kahuku corn chowder tastes great on a warm day; other favorites include the light and colorful goat cheese ravioli, firecracker chicken, and nori-wrapped ahi tuna. Save room for dessert: the Hawaiian Chocolate Cake is an amazing treat. If you're on a budget, skip dinner—breakfast and lunch entrées are half the price (although menu offerings vary). Make your reservations online at the Disney Resorts Web site. disneyparks.disney.go.com. Reservations essential.
Arancino offers fresh seafood, hand-trimmed beef, pastas cooked to order, handmade pizza dough and bread, homemade desserts, and meats and cheeses imported from Italy. Locals as well as tourists come here to enjoy dishes that use only fresh, authentic ingredients. Customer favorites include Pescatore and a pizza with shrimp and Maui onions, which is the owner's favorite pizza. There's a Beachwalk location, too. www.arancino.com. Credit cards accepted. Other location: 255 Beachwalk Ave., Waikiki, Honolulu, HI, 96815, 808/923-5557.
Step inside this tiny sushi bar tucked behind the Ala Moana Hotel, and you'll swear you're in an out-of-the-way Edo neighborhood in some indeterminate time. Don't be deterred by its location between strip clubs or its reputation for inconsistent service. Greeted with a cheerful "Iraishaimase!" (Welcome!), sink down at a diminutive table or perch at the handful of seats at the sushi bar. It's safe to let the sushi chefs here decide (omakase-style) or you can go for the delicious grilled specialties, such as scallop battayaki (grilled in butter). www.akasakahawaii.com. Credit cards accepted.
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