O’ahu Dining in the Time of COVID – 2021

Posted on   July 4,2021   By John and Linda Compisi

O’ahu, and Hawaii in general, have evolved their dining scene upward in the past 30 years. When we began traveling there it was difficult to find fine dining outside of a couple formal, white table cloth, French style restaurants located almost exclusively on O’ahu. Since then, and particularly in the past 15 years, a whole squad of creative and fun chefs have opened a series of restaurants around the islands. Some began on the neighboring islands and moved to O’ahu and in some cases it was the other way around. There are many establishments offering poke, Hawaiian Plate, Saimin and Mac & Cheese. They are not described here. Bottomline: the islands have come into their own with excellent choices for fine dining and casual modern cuisine on all the major islands!

In October 2019 we had posted and update of our favorite places to dine on Oahu. We returned to the island in June 2021, after some of the COVID restrictions had been lifted. We were pleased to find a few new places (for us) to share. We also returned to a few old favorites, which we will discuss in this update. Unfortunately, we also found many of our favorites either temporarily or permanently closed, mostly as a result of the financial devastation bought on by the lack of tourism subsequent to the State’s Covid restrictions. More on getting to Hawaii later.

For this update we will describe our experiences at Old Favorites and some New Experiences. We’ll also update our readers on the status of some favorites that were closed during our two-week visit. Be aware, you should make your dining reservations 3-4 weeks in advance if you want to enjoy the restaurants identified below. They are swamped with visitors and are experiencing shortages in the kitchen as well as on the wait and floor staff sides.

New Experiences:

Michel’s – Although its history goes as far back at WWII, it has been located at the Colony Surf Hotel since 1962, on the Diamond Head side of Kapi‘olani Park. It has an elegant interior with, perhaps, the most spectacular setting in Waikiki, right on the Pacific Ocean. Service was very attentive with several dishes prepared tableside. The wine list was not overwhelming and quite customer friendly. The combination new world French cuisine with local ingredients and themes was very enjoyable.

After cocktails, Linda enjoyed the Lobster Bisque á la Michel’s which was flambéed tableside. Quite impressive in this beautiful setting. I enjoyed the Helix Escargots Bourgogne.  Deliciously flavored and accompanied by crostini.

Four our mains, I ordered the John Dory Almondine, pan sautéed with lemon and caper vin blanc, orzo pasta, spinach and grilled asparagus. Linda ordered the New York Café de Paris Steak. Both mains were properly prepared and filling. We took some leftovers home.

Merriman’s – We had previously enjoyed ‘Monkeypod by Merriman’ in Maui a few years ago but we had never been to a Merriman/s Restaurant. Located in the Anaha complex at Ward Village in Honolulu, Merriman’s Honolulu opened in June 2018. Peter Merriman is one of the original 12 founding chefs of Hawaii regional cuisine.

All of his restaurants cater to those looking for a mix of local farm-to-table dining options in an upscale fashion. He has had successful restaurants since 1988 starting with his first on the Big Island. Merriman’s Honolulu is no exception. Hip, with a youthful vibe, this experience is worth repeating. An interesting menu item we did not try was the homemade sauerkraut and potato pierogis. Sounded fascinating. We will enjoy it next time!

Our choices included Peter’s Original Caesar’s Salad with Fried Green Tomato Croutons and the Bag O’ Biscuits to share. I favored the Double Cut Porkchop with Broccoli and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Linda craved two appetizers rather than an entrée. She chose the Hawaii Shrimp Truck (garlic shrimp is an island favorite) and the Szechuan Green Beans. It was all delicious. Cody Merriman happened to be on site and came by to chat and welcome us. He was very down to earth and local in his persona, much as we would suspect Peter is.

Chef Chai – Chef Chai Chaowasaree (“Chef Chai”), owner and chef of Chef Chai is a leader in the second generation of Regional Hawaiian Cuisine Chefs. Chef Chai is a native of Thailand, where his family was in the restaurant business. He is known for fusing fresh Hawaii ingredients with the exotic flavors of Asia. He has created a culinary style that reflects the cultural diversity of Oahu and the Hawaiian Islands. He operated out of Aloha Tower for many years before opening his newest restaurant at Pacifica Honolulu near Ward’s Village at 1009 Kapiolani Blvd, an area alive with the pulse and best of new Honolulu.

The restaurant is more like a repurposed retail store front location, but that in no way affects the style and beauty of Chef’s preparations and presentations. This food is visually stunning as if painted by an artist! We began with a Chef provided amuse bouche and then jumped right into two shared appetizers, the Sautéed Escargot & Prawns with Chili Garlic Cream & Fresh Shiitake Mushroom and the Seafood Tortellini with Lobster Sauce, Sautéed Corn and Edamame. Eyepopping as well as palate pleasing.

We followed with the Wok Seared Jumbo Black Tiger Prawns with Roasted Garlic Chili Sauce for Linda and I ordered the Grilled Fresh Kabayaki New Zealand King Salmon and Pineapple Relish. Each was outstanding in presentation and flavor. Again, we took left overs with us but found the entire experience delightful and delicious. The thirty-minute walk back to our hotel was welcome and necessary.

Pig and the Lady – This spot in Chinatown is a very hot ticket and was on our list. We even had a reservation to enjoy this Vietnamese inspired restaurant but changed our plans at the last minute. Creator, owner and chef, Chef Le (pronounced LAY) is the mastermind behind the innovative restaurant. We’ll have to save it for next time but it comes highly recommended. They have a sister restaurant in the Ward Village named Piggy Smalls which is equally in demand.

Old Favorites:

Roy’s Waikiki – Returning to Roy’s Hawaiian in Waikiki is like going to an old friend’s home for dinner. We’ve long enjoyed the exquisite fusion flavors created by Roy and his talented Executive Chefs, like Executive Chef Jason Ichiki at the Waikiki Roy’s. Must admit, we dined there twice this trip as we usually do.

We enjoyed another great evening thanks to General Manager Diva and her entire team! The Crispy Zucchini On Bao Bun was scrumptious. We ordered the BBQ Korean Short Ribs, the Atlantic Salmon as well as the Kauai Prawns and Lump Crab Ravioli! Yikes!! So good.

We finished with Roy’s traditional Chocolate Souffle (takes 20 minutes so order early). The food remains imaginative and delicious while the service is friendly and very attentive. A perennial favorite!

Duke’s Waikiki – It is really hard to beat this iconic establishment in Waikiki. This is a very popular option known for its beachfront location, surf ‘n’ turf, tiki vibe & umbrella drinks. Located at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Duke’s provides an atmosphere that is truly island style encompassing surfing, the spirit of Hawaii, and live music on the beach. We always make at least one dinner at Duke’s. Although they have a full dinner menu, the barefoot bar and the sand bar offer the true beach scene we enjoy.

We always have a local beer or a cocktail (or two) along with the casual fare we enjoy so much, like the Korean Steak Street Tacos, Beer Battered Fish and Chips or a Pulled Pork Sandwich. Once we actually tried Kimo’s Original Hula Pie with chocolate cookie crust, macadamia nut ice cream and hot fudge topped with whipped cream. Ouch!!

Yardhouse – Sometimes we like to go casual and the Yardhouse offers a welcome touch of the mainland. Located on Lewers on the edge of the main shopping area of Waikiki, this place was jammed with a 2-4 hour wait every night we were there. A typical sports bar in many ways with giant televisions 360 degrees around and perhaps the largest selection of beers on tap, they do an admirable job with their food offerings. We like to sit at the bar and exchange pleasantries with the bar staff and often enjoy Grilled Korean BBQ Beef, a Chicken Caesar Salad, Fish and Chips or other casual fare.

Steak Shack – The Steak Shack is fast and convenient and a hidden gem. It is located on the beach behind the Waikiki Shore Hotel. Be prepared for Styrofoam and plasticware but the prices are reasonable, the food is very tasty and the location allows for viewing Diamond Head and amazing sunsets.

The Menu is very simple with either Steak, Chicken or a combo. You can vary the portion size of the protein from 6 oz to 14 oz and the prices range from $9.50 to $18.50. Each plate comes with 2 scoops of rice and organic greens. A variety of drinks are also available. The staff is very friendly. This is the place for good quality, fast food with an amazing view!!

Temporarily Closed:

Due to COVID, several of our regulars were closed but, assuming they open back up as restrictions are lifted and tourism returns fully, they remain on our list and we recommend them for your dining pleasure.

Sansei Waikiki – Temp Closed

House Without a Key at the Halekulani – Temp Closed

Mariposa at Neiman Marcus Ala Moana Center – Temp Closed

Beach House by Roy at Turtle Bay Resort – Reopens in July 20221Temp Closed

Permanently Closed: Unfortunately, COVID restrictions, rent payments and the subsequent loss of revenue, allegedly caused the permanent closure of Alan Wong’s restaurant on South King Street after more than 20 years. Everyone in the industry thinks he will reopen after the dust settles. Stay tuned.

All in all, we had a wonderful 15 days on O’ahu and are looking forward to our next visit. Aloha!!