Golden River Restaurant

If you want some cheap eats, this is one spot you will want to visit. They are located in Chinatown on the corner of N King and River Street. A lot of people don't know about this place because To Chau is next door and that's where everyone goes for pho. They serve pho here too and it's pretty decent but I prefer the house special egg noodles which is a combination of all the toppings and a giant won ton chip over the top. That item is a must try for first timers.

The inside of the restaurant is small so I don't recommend dining with a big group. Most of the tables are set up to seat 2 and 4. I want to warn you that the restaurant is a bit run down but the food is clean and it taste really good. I've dined here a few times and I've always enjoyed it. The restaurant does get chaotic during the lunch hour but just tell the staff how many people you have and they will take care of you. You don't need to speak the native language for them to give you special treatment, the English language is good here. Unlike most Asian place in the area who don't accept credit cards, they do. As for parking, there is street parking or you can park in the municipal lot on the next block.

198 N King St
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 531-1185

House Special Egg Noodle in Soup

Banh Cuon (Rice Noodle Rolls)

The Whole Ox - CLOSED

If you're a fan of gourmet sandwiches, you will like this place. They offer a variety of sandwiches made with the freshest local ingredients. With the help of some friends, I managed to try almost everything on the menu. Most of us paid about $20 for a sandwich, a side, and a drink. Everyone's favorite sandwich was the Italian Combo. That sandwich had a generous amount of meat and it wasn't too salty. The Burger had the best presentation but the beef didn't have enough taste. The Philly Cheese Steak was too salty. The Roast Beef sandwich, Fried Chicken sandwich, and Ox Potatoes were okay. The beet salad was good and it's worth ordering with a sandwich. I also recommend adding on a plantation ice tea, it's very refreshing.

They have tables on the inside and outside which are shaded. You are also welcome to bring your pets here since this place is pet friendly. There is a parking lot next to the restaurant but if that gets full, you can park on the street. You might want to avoid coming here on the days they have the Kakaako Night Market because Keawe Street gets blocked off and this place gets very busy.

For more information about The Whole Ox, visit www.wholeoxhawaii.com.

327 Keawe St
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 699-6328

The Burger

Roast Beef

Philly Cheese Steak

Italian Combo

Fried Chicken

Beet Salad

Ox Potatoes

Kit n Kitchen - CLOSED

Kit n Kitchen is located near Moiliili and the University area. They are known for their Asian Italian fusion. I received a lot of mixed reviews from friends about this place but it's been on my list of places to try for a long time so I figure I check it out. I came around 1pm and the restaurant was half full. The service was good and the food came out quick. The one thing that really bugged me was that the photos of the dishes in the menu did not match what came to the table. The taste of the food was also very bland. The chef may have forgot to add salt in 2 of the dishes. The only dish I enjoyed was the lamb roll and that's no longer listed in the menu but if you ask for it, they will make it for you. The portions are good for sharing and the prices are reasonable. I think I came on a day where the chef was in a bad mood or maybe because it was way past lunch and the kitchen staff wanted to go on break before dinner so they rushed to make my food and it ended up not tasting good. I'm willing to give them a second chance and maybe try dinner or the late night kung-fu noodle.

They share the same building as Bubbies but they're on the opposite side. The parking lot is a bit tight and spaces are limited since there are other restaurants. If you come during the dinner hours, I'd recommend parking on Coyne Street instead. 

For more information about Kit n Kitchen, visit www.kitnkitchen.com.

1010 University Ave
Ste B
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 942-7622

Exotic Sandy Wings

Spinach Lamb Roll

Grilled Beef Chimichurri

Azure Restaurant

Azure is located in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel which is in the heart of Waikiki. The restaurant is partially on Waikiki Beach. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. If you want a beach front dining experience, you can reserve one of their cabanas in advance.

This restaurant is known for having fresh fish. You can still eat if you don't like fish because they have other seafood and meats on the menu. They offer a tasting menu for $75 (wine not included) if you can't decide on what you want to eat. The items on the menu are quite expensive so if you do plan to dine here, make sure it's for a special occasion. You should also dress nice. As for parking, you can do self park at the Sheraton Waikiki parking structure or pull up in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and do valet. The restaurant will validate your ticket for both options.

For more information about Azure, visit www.azurewaikiki.com.

Royal Hawaiian Hotel
2259 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 923-7311

Lavosh w/ Clam Dip (complimentary)

Alaskan King Crab Chowder

Onaga w/ White Wine, Fresh Herbs & Caper-Butter Lemon Sauce

Grilled Colorado Lamb Chop

Azure Sashimi (tasting menu 1st course)

Ocean Cappuccino (tasting menu 2nd course)

Kona Lobster Tail Risotto (tasting menu 3rd course)

Butter Poached Fillet of Beef (tasting menu 4th course)

Kula Strawberries & Fior Di Latte (tasting menu dessert)

Waialua Flourless Chocolate Cake

Fook Lam Seafood Restaurant

They're located in Culture Plaza by the river. I came here for a late lunch on the weekend and I was surprise they still had a decent selection of dim sum in the carts. Their signature item is the xiao long bao. They don't make it until you order it and it takes about 20 minutes. The xiao long bao was good and I recommend trying it. As for their other dim sum, it's pretty much the same stuff as the other dim sum restaurants in Culture Plaza.

The interior was very spacious so you don't have to worry about your chair getting hit by the hot dim sum carts. If you come around 11am on the weekends, you'll probably end up having to wait for a table. The staff doesn't speak very good English so it helps if you bring someone who can speak Cantonese. If you parking in the Culture Plaza parking structure, they will give you validation.

100 N Beretania St
Ste 110
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 523-9168

 Shanghai Soup Dumpling (xiao long bao)

Wife Cake (lou po beng)

Salted Egg Custard Steamed Bun (lau sa bao)

Red Bean Sesame Ball (jin dui)

Custard Tart (dan tat)