AV Restaurant

AV Restaurant offers a 14-course vegan tasting menu. When you enter the restaurant, you can pick your plate and your chopsticks rest before getting seated. The presentation for all the dishes were amazing. I'm not vegan but there were some dishes I'd want to eat again like the truffle xiao long bao, beet tartare tartlet, and flowerpot pie. The tasting menu is priced at $140 per person and dinner service is 1.5 - 2 hours long.

They are located in Kaimuki between Harding Ave and Waialae Ave. For parking, there are a few parking spaces in front of the restaurant but if that fills up, you can park in the Kaimuki municipal parking lot. They are only open for dinner and reservations are required. I recommend making reservations online 2 weeks in advance. You will also need to provide your credit card information when you reserve. They will check your vaccine card and ID upon entering.

For more information about AV Restaurant, visit xorghawaii.com/av-restaurant.

1135 11th Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 888-3528

Crystal Crostini

Beet Tartare Tartlet

Grilled Cauliflower

Shrimp & Potato Cannoli

Grilled Kalo

Dan Dan Tortellini

Celery Gazpacho Sorbet

Truffle Xiao Long Bao

Grilled Thai Eggplant Nigiri

Flowerpot Pie

Portabello Sando

Cauliflower & Cheese Waffledog (supplement)

Melon Sphere

Hibiscus & Pu-erh Sorbet, Homemade Yogurt

Mac Nut & Chocolate Chip Cookie w/ Anglaise

'ili'ili Cash and Carry

'ili'ili Cash & Carry started out as a place that served pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. In the last year, they've added wines, gourmet foods and snacks imported from Italy so it's now a store. You can buy pizza by the slice or order whole pizzas. My favorites are the garlic balls and the veggie pizza. Their garlic balls are very garlicky, but they don't burn so you can keep eating them. I also get the crispy pepperoni add on which makes it taste better. I personally have not been a fan of veggie pizza until I tried it here. I like it because they don't put bell peppers on top. I prefer the Neapolitan style pizza over the Sicilian style pizza because I like thin crust and the crispy edges. The pizza slices are $4 each and they have 4-6 options to choose from.

They are in Moili'ili next to Mini Garden; they took over the space that used to be Watanabe Bakery. There is ample parking available in the lot after you past the shop. If you are ordering whole pizzas, I recommend doing a phone order or using the Toast app in advance to reduce your wait time in the shop. They do not have any tables or seats; this is a grab and go place. 

2065 S Beretania St
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 367-0606

Choke Garlic Balls w/ Pepperoni

Veggie Pizza

Sicilian Pepperoni Pizza

Haawi Toast & Tea

Hā'awi Toast & Tea is at the Kaka'ako Farmers Market every Saturday from 8AM - 12PM. They are known for their delicious toast topped with fresh seasonal fruit, vegetables, or local favorites like kalua pork. My favorite is the mango toast and I highly recommend this. The mango toast used to be a seasonal item, but they have a vendor that can provide them with fresh local mango year-round so it stayed on the menu. The toasts are priced between $6-$7. I suggest getting two toasts per person but if you plan on trying other items at the farmers market, one toast per person is good. They also have an iced green tea that's good and strong.  

They are located on the side closest to the Kaka'ako Waterfront Park. Like all vendors, they are takeout only, but you can find a grass area to sit and eat or eat while you're walking. They accept cash or card, and you can tap to pay. For parking, you can park for free in the lot across from Ohana Hale Marketplace or find parking along Ahui Street or Ilalo Street. If you do park on the street, please read the signs to make sure you are not illegally parked.

Kaka'ako Farmers Market
919 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814

Mango Toast

Avocado Toast

Kalua Pork Toast

ELEVEN

ELEVEN is a cocktail bar located inside of Foodland Farms at Ala Moana Center. They offer a large selection of liquor, with some specialty cocktails and a few items on their food menu. I recommend the popcorn with sage and the prosciutto asparagus toast.

The entrance to ELEVEN is towards the back of the store. You will see some wood panel walls and behind that is ELEVEN. The interior space is nice and it feels very comfortable to hang out in. This would be a great place to come with your co-workers or friends after work.

Foodland Farms Ala Moana
1450 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814

Popcorn w/ Sage

Prosciutto Asparagus

Ahi Tartare

Sake Cured Salmon

Lacinato Kale

Sweet Symphony

Cosmpolita (mocktail)

Pandanimal

 

 

Yung Yee Kee Dim Sum

Yung Yee Kee serves dim sum all day. If you want dim sum for dinner, this is where you should be. They are known for their steamed salted egg custard buns which has filling that oozes out. I highly recommend ordering this and you will want to eat it while it is still hot. My other favorites where the shrimp dumplings, pan fried seafood bean curd rolls, and the custard tart with flaky crust. The dine in experience is better than takeout because of the food temperature. The steamed items taste the best when they are still steaming. When I did takeout, all the items were cold by the time I got home.

The inside of the restaurant is well lit and clean. They have photos of the food on the menu so this is helpful if you don't want to read the English or Chinese. You mark off the items on the sheet of paper and just sit back and wait for the food; no dim sum carts here. Their dim sum is pricey, starting at $5 per steamer. The atmosphere is good and the staff were alert. I made reservations 48 hours in advanced and went on a weekday for an early dinner to avoid the crowds. They are located next to the Ala Moana Building. The entrance faces Kapiolani Blvd. They have free parking available in the back of the building by Sweet Creams and Manichi Ramen, you can drive in from Kapiolani Blvd or Kona St.

1411 Kapiolani Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 955-7478

Steamed Salted Egg Custard Bun

Shanghai Pork Dumplings

Shrimp Dumplings

Pan Fried Seafood Bean Curd Rolls

Look Funn w/ Beef

Mochi Puffs w/ Pork

Custard Tart

Sesame Ball w/ Red Bean