Getting Food Wasted in Hawaii

On your mark, get set, nom nom nom!!! Oahu might be a small island, but it’s chalk full of amazing eateries. Here are some of the foods my taste buds had the pleasure to chow down to — Satisfying my ever growing travel food bug.

Marukame Udon

Map, Facebook

Cafeteria-style restaurant. Grab a tray, pick your style of udon, select your tempura, and pay. Although the wait for this can be long, the line moves fast and it is worth the wait.

Note: this place is very affordable, but beware of the tempura selections. You’ll get hypnotized by the fried goodness and without knowing it, you’ll end up paying $30 for your udon.

 

Always getting fresh udons
Always getting fresh udons
Have at it, all kind of tempuras
Have at it, all kind of tempuras
Niku Udon (mince beef) and shrimp tempura
Niku Udon (mince beef) and shrimp tempura
The famous spam musubi
The famous spam musubi

 

Agostino’s Pizza (Map, Facebook)

“A slice a day keeps Linh’s craziness at bay.” This pizza was on point and it was only $6 bucks, I mean what more can a girl ask for?! My mouth is salivating thinking about the crunchy crust, the gooey cheese, the tangy tomato sauce and them big, salty pepperonis that smothered the pizza. AHHH so good. No matter where I am in life, I will always be a pizza girl.

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Pepperoni Plus

 

Helena’s Hawaiian Food (Map, Website)

This place is featured on several food shows, and you know how it’s when a place gets famous and the everything goes down hill from there. The line gets longer while the quality becomes nonexistent to accommodate the new influx of curious and hungry customers.  Well surprisingly…this doesn’t apply here! The food is delectable and the atmosphere still feel very “homey”.  Everything is finger-licking good, but I think my favorite is the Fried Butterfish Collar, it was meaty and oh so juicy.

L: Pipikaula Short Ribs, Fried Butterfish Collar, Kailua Pig, and Lomi Salmon
L: Pipikaula Short Ribs, Fried Butterfish Collar, Kailua Pig, and Lomi Salmon

 

Alan Wong’s Restaurant

Here, we feasted like kings! I picked the “The Tasting of the Classics” prix fixe dinner. I was too busy eating the first two courses and forgot to take the pictures…sorry not sorry :). The food was actually very good and  the Coconut sorbet was the BOMB-digity! Actually, two hours before we came here to eat, we ate at Helena’s. I know…so glutenous…

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Butter Poached Kona Cold Lobster
Butter Poached Kona Cold Lobster
Ginger Crusted Onaga, Long-Tail Red Snapper
Ginger Crusted Onaga, Long-Tail Red Snapper
Twice Cooked Short Rib, Soy Braised and Grilled “KALBI” Style - sorry for it being blurry...
Twice Cooked Short Rib, Soy Braised and Grilled “KALBI” Style – sorry for it being blurry…
Bread and cheese
Bread and cheese plate
The Coconut
The Coconut Sorbet… so good!

 

Uncle Bo’s Pupu Bar and Grill (Map, Facebook)

This was recommended by several locals and, honestly, I was underwhelmed. The Dynamite Shrimp was soggy and bland. Where’s the dynamite? More like a failed fuse. The Six Little Piggies were dressed up roasted pork – the one that hangs in the window of a Chinese restaurant along with the roasted ducks and bbq pork. Bo’s Big Nachos was very greasy and nothing to brag about (I’d rather eat nachos from a movie theater). The S.O.S is a local fish (I think) and, again, it was dry, plain and under seasoned. Not sure if I’ve become a food snob because of Chicago, but Daniel was not pleased with the food either… And Daniel is the kind of person that is happy with a Whopper…so that should say alot…

Dynamite Shrimp
Dynamite Shrimp
Six Little Piggies
Six Little Piggies
Bo's Big Nachos
Bo’s Big Nachos
S.O.S!!! with pan seared shell fish
S.O.S!!! with pan seared shell fish

 

 

See my post — Getting Dessert Wasted in Hawaii — for some sweet encounters.