Destination Guide: Oahu

Bali Steak & Seafood

2005 Kalia Rd, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-941-2254

Description: WAIKIKI. Excellent cuisine, coupled with spectacular views, guarantees satisfaction at this superb establishment. The open-air ambience delivers oceanside appeal, and various courses mix in French and Asian influences. Signature dishes include opakapaka with kaffir lime sauce and macadamia-crusted rack of lamb, but anything the kitchen produces is sure to be sublime. Sunset dinners are optimal, and the wonderful wine list and attentive service add highlights to an evening's repast.
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Bubba Gump Shrimp Company

1450 Ala Moana Boulevard, Ala Moana Shopping Center, Honolulu, HI 96814 808-949-4867

Description: ALA MOANA. With a nod to the movie Forrest Gump, this fun place serves up casual American fare, much of it seafood. The menu makes constant reference to Forrest and his friends; shrimp dishes include such favorites as Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp and Lt. Dan's Drunken Shrimp. There's also a rib eye, baby back ribs, salmon, mahi mahi, crab legs, and a veggie plate, not to mention a variety of sandwiches and salads. Plus, you'll find a good selection of cocktails and smoothies, fruity and refreshing in quite different ways!
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Chart House

1765 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-941-6669

Description: WAIKIKI. Founded by surfer Joey Cabell in 1969, this restaurant remains the only independently-owned Chart House in the chain. It's also a perennial favorite with islanders, thanks to beautiful harbor views and great steaks and fish. Service is attentive, and prices aren't as steep as at many upscale places. The bar also makes a fun hangout. It offers dinner entrees and appetizers until late, along with well-mixed drinks. You'll even find live music each night just to put you in the appropriate mood for sociability and relaxation.
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d.k Steak House

2552 Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-931-6280

Description: WAIKIKI. Cozy wooden booths line the dining room at this local favorite ­ perfect for a romantic dinner. Subdued lighting, elegant table settings, and understated, graceful decor set the scene for a fantastic meal. Portions are large and satisfying, so you might want to forgo the appetizer and head straight for a luscious, dry-aged, prime cut of beef. Filet mignon, New York strip, steak au poivre, and the house specialty ­ a 22 oz. bone-in rib-eye ­ are all tender and flavorful. A decent selection of seafood, including Caribbean lobster tail, adds depth to the menu.
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Haleiwa Joe's

66-0011 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712 808-637-8005

Description: NORTH SHORE. Take in the North Shore's relaxed lifestyle at this fantastic eatery. Kick back on the lanai, take in the incredible island scenery, and revel in the moment. While you do, make sure to sample terrific seafood and steak entrees. Prime rib is always popular, and coconut shrimp maintain a faithful following as well. You'll also find grilled fish, fresh soups and salads, and tempting desserts. In the bar, a wonderful selection of appetizers makes for great nibbling.
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Jameson's by the Sea

62-540 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712 808-637-6272

Description: HALEIWA. A North Shore mainstay, Jameson's ably accommodates visitors and local folks with its array of seafood dishes and its waterside location. Downstairs, a casual ambience prevails, thanks to the restaurant's lunchtime fare and comfortable deck. The specialty here is sandwiches, salads, and soups. Upstairs, dinner is served in fancier digs. Steaks and other dishes are available, but you'd do well to indulge in fresh seafood, whether it be sauteed mahi mahi, poached opakapaka, or shrimp prepared a number of ways.
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John Dominis

43 Ahui St, Honolulu, HI 96813 808-523-0955

Description: ALA MOANA. An island mainstay, this pricey restaurant goes out of its way to choose the best seafood each day for its guests. Once they've marveled at the stream that wends its way about the restaurant, stocked with live creatures, patrons browse the menu for the day's delicacies. King crab, lobster, clams, oysters, and prawns represent the shellfish contingent, and a rainbow of local fish guarantees that you'll be tempted as well. The cioppino is a constant favorite, and brunch comes highly recommended by gourmands. Great service.
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Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steak House

1050 Ala Moana Blvd, Ward Centre, Honolulu, HI 96814 808-591-2005

Description: DOWNTOWN. A convenient location and terrific service would recommend this restaurant even if it didn't serve great food (which it does!). Professionals and groups count Kincaid's as an ideal place to enjoy a meal, whether they opt for steaks or seafood. Fresh island fish comes in just-caught from market and is expertly prepared and dressed with savory sauces and crusts. Meats are also impeccable, whether you choose rock salt-roasted prime rib, a center-cut NY strip, or mesquite-grilled rack of lamb. The bar makes a fun hangout if you have to wait for a table.
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Legend Seafood

100 N Beretania St, Honolulu, HI 96817 808-532-1868

Description: CHINATOWN. One of the area's favorite Chinese venues, Legend does a brisk business throughout the day. Lunch pulls in the dim sum crowd, who flag down attended carts of delicacies in order to sample stuffed wontons, calamari, and tender little dumplings. Dinner puts the focus on seafood, and hungry patrons come to feast on shellfish, quick-seared and tossed with fresh vegetables, and whole fish, served tender and steaming. A host of other dishes is also available, certain to please, no matter your taste.
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Nick's Fishmarket

2070 Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki Gateway Hotel, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-955-6333

Description: WAIKIKI. With decades of experience under its belt, this popular establishment knows how to treat its guests. With an apparent ease that belies the food's quality, the kitchen turns out a wealth of incredible dishes, from sesame-crusted swordfish to steamed lobster and grilled mahi mahi. You can also indulge in beluga caviar, fresh clams, lamb, veal, chicken, and steak. Experienced servers stand poised to provide details about particular dishes or to recommend appropriate vintages. The dessert list is worth considering, especially the vanbanna pie, a decadent treat mixing vanilla and bananas. In the evenings, you'll find dancing and live music.
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Orchids

2199 Kalia Rd, Halekulani Hotel, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-923-2311

Description: WAIKIKI. Boasting lovely views of Diamond Head and an abundance of signature flowers, this celebrated restaurant does everything right. Breakfast each day is an event, whether you opt for a Continental, American, or Japanese morning meal. Sunday brunch, however, is an absolute extravaganza known the island over. Its legion of stations features breakfast favorites and adds in pastries, fruit, hot entrees, soups, salads, fresh fish, and desserts aplenty. Live music adds another layer of sensation, and the entire affair is not-to-be-missed.
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Prince Court Restaurant

100 Holomoana St, Hawaii Prince Hotel, Honolulu, HI 96815-1436 808-944-4494

Description: WAIKIKI. Although a wall of windows affords panoramic views of Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, diners are hard-pressed to pull their gaze from the Prince Court's fabulous buffets. Known for lavish spreads, the restaurant lays out an abundance of food in spectacular displays, and diners return again and again for the experience. Delicious menus feature everything from roast pig to grilled salmon, sashimi, dim sum, lamb chops, and prime rib. Depending on the night, you'll find buffets offering up seafood, Asian cuisine, Mediterranean fare, and more. Make sure you indulge in at least one of the extravaganzas.
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Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch & Crab

580 N Nimitz Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96817 808-545-7979

Description: IWILEI. Housed in a former warehouse, complete with a grounded cabin cruiser, this fun family restaurant has a reputation for large portions and terrific local cuisine. Seafood can be found throughout the menu, in crab claws, Maine lobster, paella, shrimp, steamed shellfish, and Dungeness crab. Sam's fried version of poke (raw seafood salad) is a must-try as well. Additional options include chicken, ribs, and steak. House microbrews can also be had; enjoy one while you wait for a table at the popular place. Open all day.
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Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar

2552 Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-931-6286

Description: WAIKIKI. Traditional Japanese entrees and some of the freshest sushi around are on offer at this resort mainstay. Let superb ocean views soothe you as you indulge in dishes like Asian shrimp cakes and Japanese calamari salad. Inventive sushi rolls include the Sansei Special, a combination of spicy crab, cilantro, fresh cucumber, avocado, and sweet Thai chili sauce. Menu samplers are a great way to span the culinary offerings in a single evening and are available in a wide price range.
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Seafood Village

2424 Kalakaua Ave, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-971-1818

Description: WAIKIKI. Set on the Hyatt's ground floor, this terrific restaurant is an easy destination for seafood with an Asian twist. Practically everything found in the sea is treated to Chinese spices and preparation, resulting in scrumptious steamed fish, Maine lobster, prawns, abalone, and crab. Flavors are well-balanced, and the quality of the cuisine is consistently top-notch, as regulars are sure to communicate. At lunch, dim sum is a treat, and you'll want to sample as many of the savory tidbits as they care to offer.
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Tanaka of Tokyo

1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Ala Moana Center, Hookipa Terrace, Honolulu, HI 96814 808-945-3443

Description: ALA MOANA. Vivacious chefs gesticulate wildly and sling food from spatula to grill in the dining room drama that is Tanaka of Tokyo. Still, folks can't seem to get enough of the spectacle ­ or of the array of yummy foods. Salmon, steak, shrimp, lobster, and chicken please most everyone, and entrees come with accompanying dishes too. Bring the kids, come with a group, and cheer good-naturedly at the experience that not only results in dinner but provides a show as well.
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The Colony

2424 Kalakaua Ave, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-921-6090

Description: WAIKIKI. This welcoming restaurant offers a delicious double whammy of steaks and seafood. People inclined towards red meat will love the filet mignon or award-winning rib-eye grilled over kiawe wood, which has a smoky, mesquite-like flavor. Seafood fans are treated to bouillabaisse (a dish for two), twin lobster tails, and prawn casserole. Sides make the most of the local bounty, including Maui onions. The perfect end to your meal can be found in either a slice of famed 16-layer chocolate cake or in a cup of espresso.
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Todai

1910 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-947-1000

Description: WAIKIKI. Seafood lovers swoon with delight at this unbelievable extravaganza, a buffet that extends 180 feet and is absolutely loaded with amazing dishes. Dozens of sushi options begin the feast and are joined by hot and cold entrees boasting shellfish, crab legs, local fish, and lobster. Other dishes include tempura, teppanyaki, and sukiyaki options, along with beef, chicken, and ribs. If that's not enough to please, you'll also find an array of salads, fruits, and desserts. Just remember to pace yourself!
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Twist at Hanohano

2255 Kalakaua Ave, Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, HI 96815 808-922-4422

Description: WAIKIKI. From high on the 30th floor, diners are privy to outstanding views of Diamond Head and Oahu. This lofty vantage point makes even more special the flavorful cuisine you'll find at Twist. Seafood appears throughout the menu, in appetizers (tiger prawns, ahi tartare) and in main courses (opakapaka, mahimahi). Other options include lobster, veal, and chicken. Service is impeccably professional, and nice touches like tableside caesar salad preparation and live music heighten the entire dining experience.
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Won Kee Seafood

100 N Beretania St, Honolulu, HI 96817 808-524-6877

Description: CHINATOWN. Although seafood comprises only a portion of this Chinese establishment's menu, it frequently draws raves for its excellent preparation and first-rate ingredients. Appetizers turn towards the exotic with abalone and sharkfin soup, cold jellyfish, or clam sashimi. Main courses include deep-fried spicy squid, sauteed scallops, sweet-and-sour crispy seabass fillet, and steamed oysters. Additional dishes are built around beef, pork, tofu, noodles, chicken, and vegetables; combination plates are available as well.
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