Restaurant review: Chogajib

This was my last night of my vacation.  My cousin decided to take me to a new Korean restaurant that he had noticed. Chogajib Korean Restaurant is a modest place in a small strip mall in the Ala Moana neighborhood, near Wal-Mart. We started with a selection of complimentary appetizers. This included cabbage kimchi (top…

Takeout review: Harbor Pub & Pizza

After a long busy day, I returned to hotel to relax and veg out on the couch watching television.  When dinner time rolled around, I still didn’t have the inclination to go out to out into the hot night, so I decided to pick some place close by.  I chose the Harbor Pub & Pizza,…

Restaurant review: Wailana Coffee House

I woke up with a craving for a heavy breakfast and headed for the Wailana Coffee House.  It’s a family run 24 hour coffee-house in Waikiki, just a hop, skip and a jump from the hotel.  I’d walked past the restaurant many many times in past visits and decided it was time to give it…

Street food review: Waiola Shave Ice

With Hawaii’s year round warm weather, staying cool is part of daily life.  The local specialty is “shave ice”.  This is an evolved version of our community fair “shaved ice”.   “Shaved ice” tends to be course ground ice in a paper cup, drizzled with flavored syrup.  Hawaii “shave ice” is a very fine ice…

Street food review: Hula Dog

Hula Dog is a local  of hot dog chain that serves hot dogs with a distinct Hawaiian flavors. They start by slipping a (unsplit) roll over a searing hot steel tube, toasting the bun from the inside out. Once toasted, they remove the roll, and partially fill the tube with two flavored sauces, then  they insert a…

Restaurant review: Coco Ichibanya Curry House

Dining alone on this occasion, I wanted something spicy.  There was a small Japanese Curry place on the McCully shopping plaza that I had spotted on previous visits and decided to give it a try. Curry House Coco Ichibanya is a Japanese chain of curry houses with locations throughout Asia, as well as the United…

Restaurant review: The Alley Restaurant Bar & Grill

This one is a bit of a curious experience. When I think of bowling alley and food, I’m thinking greasy spoon diner fare. Sandwiches, soup, burger & fries.  The Alley at Aiea Bowl has that, and so much more. This is a bowling alley.  And it looks and sounds like it.  There’s the frequent smash…

Restaurant review: Side Street Inn (Kapahulu St)

During a return trip to Honolulu, I had to revisit The Side Street Inn.  Side Street is a local institution.  It’s basically a pub, with good food.  They emphasize fresh ingredients, big portions (for sharing) and a dedication to island flavors. Just to clarify, island flavors are favored local flavors that reflect Hawaii’s cultural influences…