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Honolulu and Oahu Restaurant and Dining Guide

The Chart House (above) and Harbor Pub are a great 1-2 Hawaiian food punch.

We mentioned it in our overall guide to Hawaiian cuisine, but it's worth a mention here, too. The plate lunch is as big a part of life in Honolulu as surfing and avoiding overly-strenuous work. It is served mainly out of mobile roadside carts throughout the city and consists of beef or pork, Hawaiian noodles, two scoops of rice and sometimes macaroni salad. For around $5, it's one of Hawaii's best food values. It's also delicious.

It's so popular here that its served as a drive-thru, the L&L Drive-in. There are locations all over the island, including one just inland of Duke's on Kuho Ave., just Ewa of the International Marketplace (this is a walk-in place, with tables or food to-go, called L&L Hawaiian Barbeque). There's also the Rainbow Drive-in.

Another inexpensive lunch option is Auntie Pasta's (Beritiana and Pensacola). It has great Italian food for $6-10. There's no parking, though.

While we're on the budget items, Magoo's is a local pizza place that's as much of attraction for the cheap beer as it is the food. Young locals go here to eat, drink and be merry.

The best food deal in Honolulu is, without question, Happy Hour at the Chart House. It features large appetizers at Chart House quality for $5-7. Served in the bar area, it overlooks sunset at the Gilligan's Island harbor. There's always a slight breeze blowing, a mellow musician and drinks also at Happy Hour prices ($3 for a pint of local lager).

It's just above the Harbor Pub, which has arguably the island's best pizza. Beers are just $1.25 from 4-7 and the cocktails are a strong pour.

The Shack is a wooden, well, shack, that serves fantastic burgers and cold beer right on the water in Kailua on Ohau's windward side. It's far from the tourist areas and has sister locations in Los Angeles. and Tuesdays are "Shack attack" days, meaning all burgers are $1 cheaper.

A couple of finer restaurant choices are Roy's in Hawaii Kai (just past Maunalua Bay) for Euro/American fare. There are 25 nightly specials and an extensive wine list. Sam Choy's on the edge of downtown is one of the best spots for authentic Hawaii food.

Gordon Biersch is a small national micobrewery chain, but the food is terrific. Located in Aloha Towers, it's a popular eating/gathering spot, making it an ideal place to drink, socialize and nourish.

Sansei is a rock 'n roll sushi place in the Marriott (sushi is half-off every night after 10 p.m.). It gets a good bar crowd, too. Angelo Pietro's is another restaurant/bar that's more of a bar than a restaurant on Sunday nights. Same deal with the Brew Moon, a microbrewery in the Ward Center. But don't miss the Asian/French fusion at Angelo Pietro's, one of the locals' favorite dining spots.

One the fine dining side, Michel's in the Colony Surf Hotel is one of Honolulu's best restaurants. It's French and expensive and men need a jacket (they will provide one for those who packed only, say, Aloha shirts). Ask for "Antie Eva" for the royal treatment. This traditional dining spot has been a tradition since opening in 1962.

For all-night munchies within stumbling distance of the bars is the Wailana Coffee House across the street from the Hilton). It's an upscale coffee house open 24 hours. We can't vouch for the quality of the food, but late at night, it's often a place's location that matters more than its taste. Bar trivia: Wilt Chamberlain used to live above the Wailana when he was in Honolulu. He could be found playing handball on the courts by the beach almost daily.

Next stop on the Hawaii Party Bus: The Islands

Honolulu Restaurants Resource Guide