Ethel's Grill - CLOSED

Ethel's Grill is one of the best hole in wall spots I've found. They are known for Okinawan food and the tataki sashimi. I highly recommend a side order of the tataki sashimi and the taco rice. The portions are good for sharing and the prices are reasonable. They give you small salad and miso soup when you order the plates.

They are located in Kalihi on the first level of a residential building; the outside of the shop is painted red. The inside of the restaurant is small and the tables are set up for 4. If you have more than 4 in your group, you should separate or do take out. It doesn't matter what time of day you come because they are always busy and they don't take reservations. They have 4 parking spaces inside the building but if you get lucky you might get street parking. They only accept cash.

232 Kalihi St
Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 847-6467

Tataki Sashimi (side order)

Mochiko Chicken

Taco Rice

100 Sails Restaurant & Bar

100 Sails is located in the Prince Waikiki on level 3. The restaurant offers a buffet for brunch, lunch, and dinner but I enjoy coming for the happy hour at the bar. The happy hour runs daily from 2:30pm - 5:30pm and 8:00pm - 10:00pm. All the food on the savory menu is half off except the ahi poke and prime rib. If you have more than 2 people in your group, it might be best to come before happy hour starts so you can get a seat. It gets busy and they don't take reservations for happy hour. I recommend the KFC (Korean fried cauliflower), salt & vinegar chicken wings, and the uni carbonara for sharing. If you come of the first seating and you stay till 6pm, you'll get a great view of the sunset. They offer complimentary valet parking with validation when you eat here.

For more information about 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar, visit 100sails.com.

Prince Waikiki
100 Holomoana St
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 944-4494

Honeycomb Cheese Tray

Truffle Fries

Salt & Vinegar Chicken Wings

Fried Calamari

Shiitake Mushroom Flatbread

Uni Carbonara

Off The Hook Poke Market

Off The Hook Poke Market offers different flavors of poke that you won't find anywhere else on the island. They are located across Manoa Marketplace in the green building with Starbucks and Andy's Sandwiches. Besides poke, they also have shave ice. I recommend the cold ginger ahi poke because it taste the best. The poke bowls cost between $10 - $12 and they give a generous amount. If you want 2 choices of poke, it's an extra $0.50. The shave ice is $3.75. To get the best poke selection go during lunch instead of dinner because they close at 6pm.

They have tables set up so you can eat inside or sit outside on East Manoa Road. The parking lot is behind the building but some of the spaces are tight. If the lot is full, you can park inside Manoa Marketplace.

2908 E Manoa Rd.
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 800-6865

Mini Poke Bowl w/ Cold Ginger Ahi Poke & Shoyu Ahi Poke

Regular Poke Bowl w/ Hawaiian Style Poke & Spicy Ahi Poke

Honolulu Skewer House

Honolulu Skewer House offers an array of food grilled on a stick Chinese style. If you enjoy spicy food, get their house special spicy seasoning on your skewers. If you prefer mild, go with the house special mild seasoning instead of the shoyu. Most of the skewers are $1.99 each. The large portion items for sharing range between $5 - $10. I enjoyed the mild seasoning and I got full after eating about 6 skewers. I recommend getting the hanging pork belly w/ garlic sauce. It sounds odd but actually taste good and you can keep the sauce for dipping your skewers after. If you need a break between the spiciness, order the scallion pancake. They gave a complimentary dessert, tanghulu, which was fruit dipped in sugar.

I recommend making reservations in advance if you're coming between 5:30pm-8:30pm. They are busy. There are a few parking stalls in front of the restaurant but parking on Makaloa Street would be best. The metered parking is free after 6pm.

1427 Makaloa St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 888-8680

Hanging Pork Belly w/ Garlic Sauce

Pork Wrapped Enoki

Beef

Whole Eggplant

Scallion Pancake

Tanghulu

Hawaiian Chip Company

The Hawaiian Chip Company has a storefront in the Kalihi area. You can order freshly made sweet potato or taro chips and season them with your own seasonings. The seasoning bar offers sweet, savory, and spicy seasonings to put on your chips. The made to order chips in a bag is $6 and the box is $15. The chips taste the best when eaten the same day or the next day. It's better to buy the chips here than the grocery store because every chip is whole; you see the oval shape of the sweet potato or taro slice. You won't have broken pieces unless you smash the bag/box.

Besides chips, they also sell other locally made products like BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and salad dressings. The entrance and parking are hard to find but look for the bright orange painted walls and you'll know you're in the right place.

For more information about Hawaiian Chip Company, visit hawaiianchipcompany.com.

1928 Republican St.
Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 845-9868

Fresh Sweet Potato Chips

Fresh Taro Chips