Celebrity Contact

Howdy -

This handy concise suggestion-riddled email was just solicited and quickly received from the author of the fantastic and thorough Oahu-food blog The Tasty Island. Though I've referenced it before - I strongly encourage all to check it out - make use of the drop-down menu by style on the left - check the Okazuya category for local deli grindz. The links below were added by me - I may reprint out correspondence if it continues. The request was for a top recommended list of his top rated (4-5 spam musubi) places.

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Aloha Mark,

Assuming you folks will be staying in Waikiki, let's start there. For finer dining ($30-$50/person) I've had excellent 4-5-SPAM Musubi experiences (even exceeded that at one) at The Ocean House (this one is right on Waikiki's beach front), Roy's Waikiki and Sansei. You can search and find those reviews on my blog. For casual dining, good times as well as sipping on a cold beer, wine or Tropical Itch, you can't skip the Waikiki experience without an afternoon sunset at Duke's at the Outrigger on Waikiki Beach. Go between 4 and 6 on the weekends for live (free) Hawaiian contemporary music. If you're a sports fan, you can have the sports bar-meets-tiki bar experience at The Shack Waikiki. I'm their webmaster, but I recommend their not because of that, but because of the ambiance, good burgers (along with just about everything else on their menu) and abundance of big screen tv's, not to mention eye candy, FWIW, all at very reasonable prices for Waikiki. Much cheaper than the other places I mentioned.

Don't forget to grab a shave ice at Waiola Shave ice on Kapahulu avenue, which is within walking distance from Waikiki. There, you can also get a few other "where the locals go" favorites. Such as a "Zip Pac" or "Loco Moco" from Zippy's, and also fantastic Poke from Ono Hawaiian Seafood. You'll find all those places reviewed on my blog.

To complete your "where the locals go to grind", look up the category "okazuya" on my blog, then try and make it to one of those places. St. Louis Delicatessen would be a good one to consider, since it's also not far or difficult to find from Waikiki. Whichever one has a selection of entrees which look most appealing to you folks. Some things may seem strange by sound or appearance, but like any other cuisine, you can't knock it until you try it. Okazuya is good stuff!

As you might expect by our geographic location, Hawaii has a major asian presence as far as dining options, whether it be Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Thai or Vietnamese cuisine. Oh, speaking of Vietnamese, for off-the-beaten path hole-in-the-wall gem, DO stop by Bac Nam. The food is stellar, and the prices are even more incredible. It's a small place, so try and arrive early for lunch or dinner, lest you wait in line out the door.

There's a food court in the Waikiki International Market Place, where you'll find a place called Bautista's Filipino Kitchen. Excellent, truly authentic Filipino dishes.

For authentic Hawaiian food, you can check out Haili's Hawaiian Food in Ward Farmer's Market. Next door to them, there's a place called The Poke Bowl, where they serve poke of your choice over a bowl of rice. That's good stuff too! They're just take-out joints, yet that'd be a good opportunity go to nearby Ala Moana Beach and sit by the beach to get your grind on. I haven't blogged them yet, but I've heard good things about them. There's also Ono Hawaiian Food on Kapahulu, another place I have yet to blog.

Is there any particular ethnic cuisine you're most interested in? Or style (barbecue, yakiniku, buffet, etc.)?

Mahalo for the compliments on my blog and thanks for the readership!

Pomai

--- On Wed, 12/17/08,

Howdy -

I'm a fan of your fantastic food blog the tasty island. As I've been slowly preparing for a family holiday trip to Oahu (my wife and I have been to Kauai for 10 days and loved it) I've really enjoyed reading your blog. The quantity of high res pictures and clever running dialog make it better than most TV!

I love the break-down by cuisine - but I'm writing to ask if there is a highly reccomended list - a place where I could see all your 5 spam musibi / Broke Da’ Mout’! rated joints listed... or if you can recommend any holiday specific events - we'll be there from the 23rd to the 30th...

Happy Holidays - and thanks for a great blog!

Mark