If momma knows salutary , then grandma know even good – which is why we ask local grandmas for their favored dining options on the island . While grannie ’s home cooking may rule supreme , every now and then she likes to take a recess and enjoy a repast prepared by someone else . Most grandmas said they do n’t eat out often , but when they do , there are a few delicious , nostalgic , and traditional favorite they like to frequent .
Nico’s Pier 38
tonic fish is script - clean daily by an expert team , and that ’s the agency some grandmas like it . In addition to showcasing fish caught by local fleet , the oceanside eating place feature a menu of ingredients grown topically on the island , which dominate docked fishing sauceboat bobbing in the sea . During breakfast and tiffin , dining compartment can walk up to the counter , fiat , and come up an open seat , while at dinner party , Nico ’s offers an expanded carte du jour and table overhaul . “ I care the miso Gallus gallus , ” says Sandy Asato , who frequents the eating place once every three to four months . “ It ’s casual ; it ’s a plate - luncheon place . ”
Sekiya’s Restaurant & Delicatessen
A meal at this old - clip restaurant is often a tripper down memory lane for many grandmas . “ I really like Sekiya ’s because I used to go to Kaimuki High School , and we used to go there for saimin , so it ’s like my olden days , ” says Lynette Kotake , who still like to say noodle and a ground beef . In 1935 , this erstwhile - school restaurant first open its door in Kalihi , selling denture lunches for 10 cent during World War II . The eating house moved to Kapahulu before settling at its current location in Kaimuki in the mid 1950s , where it still serves up classic , American , local , and Japanese puff food , like sandwich and malts , saimin , and oxtail soup . As an add bonus , until 3 post-mortem , you’re able to stock up on their okazu barroom , and build your own home base of goodies like inari ( strobile sushi ) , corn boeuf hash tempura , or musubi .
Ono Hawaiian Food
This mom - and - soda water joint consistently gain ground local laurels for good Hawaiian food for thought on the island , so it may not be much of a surprisal that it ’s also a winner amongst our grandmas . Lynette Kotake has been frequenting the casual , hole - in - the - wall eatery for about forty year , and still loves the lau lau , kalua porc , poi , lomi salmon , retentive rice , and squawk lather . The eatery is minuscule , and quickly tamp with customers , but the massive portion sizes and unquestionable flavors are deserving the wait .
Gyotaku
The grandmothers we spoke with noted that they enjoy the card form and specials at Gyotaku . New buffet car may need to scope out the menu beforehand to nail down down selection time , because the menu is wad with a broad change of yummy - look options , like soba and udon , tempura , salads , steaks , sushi , and compounding plates , which may make for a long and hard selection . “ Tom Jones go his training in Japan to make sushi , ” says Nancy Uramoto of her preferred eatery ’s co - owner . “ He ’s very near . ”
Utage
A favourite amongst many grandmas we talked to , this Nipponese and Okinawan restaurant is a bunch - pleaser for its traditional favorites . “ I live far , far by , ” says Nancy Taira , “ and I go all the way to Dillingham because it ’s Okinawan nutrient . ” The nasubi chanpuru ( eggplant with pork ) keep her coming back , although she typically finds herself at the restaurant chiefly for special occasions . The Kalihi restaurant has been around for nearly 14 years , and it ’s where you too can satisfy your taste for grannie - caliber , home - cook Okinawan comfortableness solid food like pig ’s feet soup and goya chanpuru ( acerb melon with tofu & ballock ) alongside local favorites like ahi katsu and ahi poke . All meal come with a soup or salad , beverage , and afters , which make for wanton ordering .
Happy Days Chinese Seafood Restaurant
It ’s the dim sum that keeps some nanna as regulars . “ It remind me of the dim sum in Chinatown when we were grow up , ” says one granny , who spent many puerility meals eat the bite - sized dumplings . Open for dim sum of money and dinner daily , carts wheel around basketful of hot dim sum and dumplings until 3 pm . you may get your filling of porc hash , shrimp see fun , and sweet custard tarts , and supplement your savory goody with off - the - card point like Peking duck , chow mein , and walnut shrimp … all without fighting for parking in Chinatown .
Zippy’s
It should fall as no surprisal that this local mountain range scram the grandma seal of favourable reception . The eating place has been around for 50 years , and many nanna have been hit up one or more of its 20 - plus locations across the island for decades to get their fill of Portuguese bean soup , beef stew , or its famed chili , noggin sometimes not include .
Restaurant Kunio
Waipahu resident Lilia Legaspi does n’t wipe out out often , but Restaurant Kunio is always her destination of choice , specifically for the sushi . The eating place source its Pisces daily and cut it into eye - catching menu items like salmon sushi , spicy tuna gyre , and miso stromateid . In summation to a la carte computer menu point , hot & stale noodles , nabe , and donburi , you may also get teishoku ( repast sets ) , with salad , an appetizer , rice , miso soup , and tsukemono ( pickled vegetable ) .
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Hawaiian Legacy Archive/Perspectives/Getty Images
Nico’s Pier 38
Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant
Zippy’s
