Black Shamrock Tavern

Black Shamrock Tavern is an Irish pub that serves Jersey style pizza. They have the standard pizzas like cheese, pepperoni, o'Maggie (margherita), and a white pie but what I recommend are their specials. The pizza specials are a fusion of Hawaii ingredients and it changes often. I love their pepperoni because it's only $18 but I've also enjoyed any of the specials that have burrata in it. The pizzas come to the table hot and fresh and you get that really nice cheese pull from that first slice. They have a full bar of beverages but also soda for those who don't drink.

They are in Honolulu Chinatown at the corner of Marin Street and Nuuanu Ave. Their exterior is a red brick building and you'll see a sign hanging out in front. The staff and owner are friendly. Even when it's busy, the owner stops by the table to check and make sure everyone is doing okay. That's not something I get at other locally owned food establishments on Oahu so this is excellent service. Their prices are reasonable and it keeps me coming back for both lunch and pau hana/dinner. For parking, there is metered street parking on Nuuanu Ave or the Marin Tower Municipal Parking since they are 1 block away and they rates are cheap. 

For more information about Black Shamrock Tavern, visit blackshamrocktavern.com. 

902 Nuuanu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 777-3000

Pizza Special

Pepperoni Pizza

Basket o' Fries

Jalapeno Poppers

Aroma Italia

Aroma Italia is the go-to place for Italian comfort food. They have 2 locations on Oahu, 1 near Diamond Head and another in Manoa Marketplace. A lot of their ingredients are imported from Italy and their menu consists of pizza and pasta. The pasta is portioned for 1 person and the pizza can be shared between 2 people. Their prices are reasonable if you were to compare them with other Italian places that are also locally owned. My favorite is the linguine meatballs because the meatballs were tender and there's enough sauce. All pastas come with parmesan cheese so if you don't want that, let your server know when you order.

For the Diamond Head location, I recommend going for lunch instead of dinner because it's less crowded. Their space is small and if you sit outside, there's so many cars driving by and people walking past to get to other businesses. The lunch prices are a few bucks cheaper. I've always done a walk in but if you have 3 or more people, I suggest making a reservation 1-2 days in advance. They can move tables around and accommodate a larger group of needed. For parking, you can park on Monsarrat Ave or in the residential areas because the parking lot is always full and the spaces are tight.

For more information about Aroma Italia, visit aromaitaliahawaii.com or check their Instagram @aromaitaliahawaii.

Diamond Head Center
3045 Monsarrat Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 888-2229

Manoa Marketplace
2756 Woodlawn Dr
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 492-1221

Garlic Bread

Linguine Meatballs

Beef Short Rib Tortellacci

Tirimisu

Pizza Dadi - CLOSED

Pizza Dadi is known for their NY style pizza with the thin crust. They have a small menu with about 7 different pizzas, and a few salads and appetizers. It's BYOB. They have some sodas and juices in the fridge. The pizzas are priced between $17-$20. My favorites are the Dadi fries, NYC pizza, and the cheese, onions, & honey pizza which was a special.

They are located inside Ward Centre by Kids City Adventure. This is a casual spot where you order at the entrance and then take a seat anywhere that's open. The cooks will bring the food to your table when it's ready. If you're coming with 4 or more people, it would be best to sit at the counter instead of a table. For parking, I prefer to park at South Shore Market since the spaces are larger than the ones in Ward Centre.

For more information about Pizza Dadi, visit pizzadadi.com. 

1200 Ala Moana Blvd #429
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 744-2221

Dadi Fries

Eggplant Parm Sticks

Pizza of the Week (Cheese, Onions, & Honey)

NYC

Carbonara

'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

Rigo

Rigo offers the flavors of Spain and Italy in one place. They renovated the former Genki Sushi and turned it into a beautiful open concept restaurant with a huge wine display case. From the dining room, you can look into the kitchen and watch the chefs prepare your pasta dishes. My favorites were the ajillo, crostini, and cacio e pepe.

The prices are a bit high and the portions are small but the service and taste of the food was good. They can accommodate big groups but reservations are recommended. They have a small parking lot on the side of the restaurant but if that fills up, there is metered street parking on Kapahulu Ave.

For more information about Rigo, visit www.rigohawaii.com.

885 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 735-9760

Garlic Parmesan Bread, Ajillo

Crostini

Cacio E Pepe

Funghi Pizza

Basque Cheesecake

Brick Fire Tavern

Brick Fire Tavern is known for their Neapolitan style pizza and brick oven. The pizza crust is thin and the edges blister giving it a nice crunch. For lunch you can get a mini pizza and side salad for under $15. During happy hour, the mini pizzas are about $8. My favorites are the funghi pizza and Sal's carbonara. The pizzas are really good but the service is slow. Sometimes they get really busy and they tend to forget you but just be patient and wave them over when you need something. I recommend coming for the lunch special or happy hour because the pizzas are pricey.

It is best to walk here or get dropped off since there aren't too many parking options. Nuuanu Ave or Bethel Street are the closest for street parking but getting a space is tough. The nearest parking lot is inside the Chinatown Gateway Plaza on Bethel Street.

For more information about Brick Fire Tavern, visit brickfiretavern.com.

Relocated to:
3447 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 379-2430

Prosciutto e Pineapple

The Pig & The Fig

Sal's Carbonara

Prosciutto e Rucola

Pistachio Cheesecake

Moku Kitchen

Moku Kitchen is in SALT at Kaka'ako. Their menu offers American food with Hawaiian fusion. The ingredients in a lot of their dishes are sourced locally. There are some similarities in the menu with Monkeypod Kitchen (owned by the same chef). The dishes that I enjoyed at Monkeypod Kitchen, I also enjoyed here. The kalua pork pizza and duck tacos were good but the jalapenos were a bit too much for me. I noticed a lot of the dishes here have jalapenos or something spicy in it. 

This is a very laid back place that you would come with your friends to hang out. The interior of the restaurant is big and it's spacious. They have a bar inside and outdoor seating.  The happy hour is from 3pm-5:30pm; the pizzas are $9, most of the drinks are $2 off, and select appetizers are 50% off. For regular dining, their prices are still reasonable. If you're driving, park in the SALT parking lot because the rate is cheaper. Don't park in front of Moku Kitchen, that small lot has a 1-hour limit. If you're coming on a weekday, walk-ins are fine but if you're coming on the weekend, I recommend making a reservation a few days in advance. Kaka'aako is becoming a popular neighborhood with all the new condos popping up.

For more information about Moku Kitchen, visit mokukitchen.com.

660 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 591-6658

Duck Tacos

Garlic Truffle Oil Fries

Roasted Squash Ravioli

Kalua Pork Pizza

Vegetable Roasted Plate

Bakery & Table - CLOSED

The Bakery & Table is a combination of a restaurant, cafe, and bakery. The restaurant is on the 2nd level. They have tables indoors which overlooks the cafe and bakery area and there is a large patio which contains the seafood bar. I sat indoors which was better because it was raining the night I dined in. The lighting inside is a little dim but it's very spacious. I recommend coming with a group so you can try a bunch of items on the menu. Their portions are good for sharing. My favorite items were the rustica flatbread and carbonara. If you save room for dessert, you should try the cinnamon bread pudding. The staff will pour creme anglaise over a chocolate dome at your table and you can watch it melt and reveal the bread pudding. There aren't any restaurants on Oahu doing that cool trick yet so you definitely want to check it out.

The cafe is on the first level and it allows for a more casual dining experience during the lunch hour. The bakery is also on the first level and they offer a variety of freshly baked sweet and savory pastries. You can pick up and go or sit on one of the tables to enjoy your pastries. The cafe and bakery section closes around 5pm so be sure to go early for the best selection of pastries.

If you go for dinner, they only offer valet parking. You enter the lot on Piikoi Street. You can't access the building by car from South King Street because Piikoi is a one-way street. If you get lucky, you might be able to find street parking along Piikoi. I also recommend making a reservation before coming.

For more information about Bakery & Table, visit bakeryandtable.com.

938 Piikoi St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 592-7777

1/2 Dozen Oysters

Rustica Flatbread

Braised Boneless Shortribs

B&T Seafood Cream Pasta

Mentaiko Pasta

Carbonara

Bernini Honolulu

If you are willing to spend a little more for good Italian food, Bernini Honolulu is a great spot to dine at. The inside of the restaurant is big but on the night I went, 3/4 of the restaurant was reserved for a private party. Even though it was busy, the staff was still attentive. Our water glasses were always filled and the timing of the dishes were perfect. We had a few minutes to rest and chat before the next dish came out. The food was always hot. The lighting is dim and the noise level can get loud but the taste of the food makes up for the negatives. I recommend getting their linguine, half chicken, and the pizzas (sorry, didn't get a photo). Their pizzas are thin and crispy.

The restaurant is located near Nordstrom. It is on the street you use to enter Ala Moana Center with a ramp that leads you to level 2 and level 3 of the parking lot. There are 8 parking spaces in front of the restaurant. Their parking lot can get tight if large cars are parked in it. It must be best to find a spot on the street. The street parking is free after 6pm. I also recommend making reservation in advanced. The dress code is business casual or dressy if you want to blend in with the other diners.

For more information about Bernini Honolulu, visit www.berninihonolulu.com.

1218 Waimanu St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 591-8400

Antipasto
(burrata, prosciutto, grilled eggplant w/ consomme gelee)

King Crab Linguine

Half Chicken "Al Forno"

Bernini Style Tiramisu

Mixed Berry Tart w/ Creme Fraiche

Formaggio Wine Bar - CLOSED

Formaggio Wine Bar is located inside the Market City Shopping Center on the same side as Ben Franklin. If you enter the shopping center from Kaimuki Ave you will have an easier time finding the restaurant. Formaggio is open daily for dinner only. The happy hour for food is from 5:30pm - 7pm and 10pm - 11pm. If you love wine, this place is for you because they have a huge selection to choose from. They also have delicious food that come in large portions. I highly recommend the Fonduta as an appetizer. The inside of the restaurant is really dark but it's spacious. On certain nights, they have live music in the back of the restaurant. If you come with 2 or more people during the peak dinner time, reservations are recommended.

Market City Shopping Center
2919 Kapiolani Blvd #10
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 739-7719

Formaggio Fonduta

Smoked Salmon Carpaccio

Margherita Pizza

Caroline's Chocolate Addiction

Doughlicious Pizza - CLOSED

Doughlicious Pizza is located inside the Samsung Plaza across from Walmart. The shop is towards the back of the plaza. On the inside, they have 2 tables with a few bar stools for customers to sit and dine in. I recommend eating the pizza there when it's fresh and hot. The crust is thin and they are generous with the pizza toppings. The sandwiches are also very good. It would be a good idea to go with 3-4 people so you can share the items. I went on a week night and all the food came out in about 20 minutes. While I was eating, the owner ran in and out to deliver pizzas. There's another person in the back that does all the baking.

The parking is free with validation. When you enter the plaza you will automatically be given a ticket by the parking attendant. If you get lucky, you can parking right in front of the shop. The parking stalls are small so you might want to leave the SUV at home. They accept credit cards.

For more information about Doughlicious Pizza, visit www.oahufreshpizza.com.

655 Keeaumoku St
Ste 110A
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 295-4024

Buttery Garlic Bread topped w/ Cheese & Marinara

Doughlicious Classic Combo

JJ Dolan's

If you're looking for a good pizza, this is were you need to be. The guys here spin the perfect thin crust pies (they call them pies not pizzas) and they load it up with toppings. It's a bar and they're located between Chinatown and downtown. Most of the time their TVs are set to sports channel so if you need to catch a game after work, you know where to go. I highly recommend getting some wings along with your pie.

This place is kid friendly during the weekends for lunch but it could get noisy sometimes. They don't validate parking so stick to street parking. If there is none, the Chinatown Municipal Garage with the entrance on S. Beretania is probably cheaper than Mark's Garage.

For more information about JJ Dolan's, please visit http://www.jjdolans.com.

1147 Bethel St
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 537-4992

Chicken Wings

Deli Meat Special & White Pie

Spinach Garlic & Deli Meat Special

Giacomo & Margherita