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Destination: Oahu/Waikiki Article Source: Copyright © 2012 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House Inc. All rights reserved.
Guests are greeted on the front porch at this re-creation of a 1900s plantation home. Tables and booths are spaced for views. The menu puts forth the bounty of the Pacific with such dishes as crusted opah, coconut lobster skewers, and seared peppered scallops. For beef lovers, there's the slow-roasted prime rib. If you're an early riser, you can also enjoy their daily breakfast or Sunday brunch offerings. www.oceanhousewaikiki.com. Credit cards accepted. No lunch.
Famed chef Nobu Matsuhisa is the master of innovative Japanese cuisine, and his Hawaiian outpost is definitely a Waikiki hot spot. Fish is the obvious centerpiece, with entrees such as Tasmanian ocean trout with crispy spinach and yuzu soy, seafood harumaki with caviar and Maui onion salsa, and even Nobu's version of fish-and-chips. Cold dishes include tuna tataki (seared raw fish slices) with ponzu, yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, and whitefish sashimi with dried miso. The warm decor and sexy lighting means there isn't a bad seat in the house. www.noburestaurants.com. Credit cards accepted.
Lyon-born chef Nico Chaiz opened Nico's in 2004 in a small, takeout-style restaurant with limited seating just a few steps from the city's fish auction. The concept—and Nico's fresh, original dishes at reasonable prices—has been such a success that it has recently moved into a larger, cooler, more stylish space at the same pier. The restaurant's chief clientele is still rough-hewn dock workers and fishermen, but you'll also see a hip, young crowd here for the beers on tap and signature cocktails. You can still get upscale plate lunches (and dinners) such as seaweed-crusted tuna steaks, garlic shrimp, and poke, as well as soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas. A new fish market at Nico's is open from 6:30 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday, and from 10 to 4 on Sunday. nicospier38.com. Reservations not accepted. Credit cards accepted.
This small sushi bar is a favorite of locals, offering amazingly fresh sashimi and interesting cooked dishes at reasonable prices. But more important, it's BYOB here, so you can bond with the gregarious owner-chef, Morio, by sharing what you're drinking. If you're able to get a reservation here, then count yourself lucky; most seats at the bar require a month's notice, but you may be able to get table seating. For a special treat, order the omakase (chef's choice) at the time of reservation. They offer two seatings: at 6 pm and 8:30 pm. Reservations essential. Closed Sun. No lunch.
Located in the heart of the financial district, Murphy's boasts an All-American menu of award-winning burgers and steaks without that Waikiki price tag. The restaurant has been featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network as a place that specializes in comfort food for the weary traveler. The Blarney Burger with Guinness-infused cheddar cheese is a must. murphyshawaii.com. Credit cards accepted.
Iron Chef Morimoto of Food Network fame is a big part of the dining scene in Honolulu. The menu is made up primarily of sushi and cooked seafood, with a couple of expensive cuts of steak thrown in as well as a wide selection of appetizers, all heavily weighted toward seafood. If you're adventurous, try the omakase (chef's choice) menu, which changes daily. Try the tofu, which is made fresh right at your table. You can choose to sit at the sushi bar, the regular bar, or at a table, but try to get a seat outside, as the room gets pretty noisy. This has become a popular spot for brunch, as well, with a view overlooking the yacht harbor. morimotowaikiki.com. Credit cards accepted.
This microscopic sushi bar (15 seats) is an adjunct of a wholesale seafood market operated by gregarious South African expatriate Douglas Mitchell, who oversees the sushi chefs and keeps customers chatting. The fish, air-freighted from around the world, is ultrafresh, well cut, and nicely presented. You can spend as much or as little as you like—$40 for a half-dozen pieces of prime bluefin tuna belly, or just a few dollars for pickled plum sushi. www.mitchsushi.com. Reservations essential. Credit cards accepted.
With its wide-open windows so close to the water that you literally feel the soft mist at high tide, this is arguably the most romantic spot in Waikiki for a sunset dinner for two. Venerable Michel's is synonymous with fine dining in the minds of Oahuans who have been coming here for more than 40 years. The menu is très, très French with both classic choices (escargot, foie gras) and contemporary items (Hardy's Hawaiian Bouillabaisse—named after the chef who created a Hawaiian twist on a French classic). There's dinner nightly and Sunday brunch. michelshawaii.com. Reservations essential. Credit cards accepted. No lunch.
In contrast to the sprawling and noisy halls in which dim sum is generally served, Mei Sum is compact and shiny bright. It's open daily, one of the few places that serves dim sum from 7:45 am all the way to 9 pm. Be ready to guess and point at the color photos of dim sum favorites as not much English is spoken, but the delicate buns and tasty bits are exceptionally well prepared and worth the charades. Other menu items and specials are also served.
Yes, the popovers and the wee little cups of bouillon are there at lunch, but in every other regard, this Neiman Marcus restaurant menu departs from the classic model, incorporating a clear sense of Pacific place. The veranda, open to the breezes and view of Ala Moana Park, twirling ceiling fans, and life-size hula-girl murals say Hawaii. The popovers at lunch come with a strawberty-butter spread; the kurobuta porkchop is inspired, and local fish are featured nightly in luxuriant specials. Make sure to leave room for the warm lilikoi pudding cake for dessert. www.neimanmarcushawaii.com/restaurant.aspx. Reservations essential. Credit cards accepted.
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