Hawaii Food Review
Well friends…this blog is 20 days overdue! Yes I went to Hawaii with my best friend (first vacation since COVID), had a fabulous time (which I’ll put in all the juicy details here), then got hit hard with COVID the day I got back home. So forgive me if I haven’t been able to review all the wonderful food places, beaches and hikes til now. In fact, this post will just be dedicated to food!
Where do I even start? Well, this is so interesting writing about restaurants when I spent the last 20 days with no sense of taste or smell. Good thing I am an avid taker of food photos!
One of the keys to making the most out of a “touristy” area, is to pick a place to stay that is centralized with lots of food options and still walking distance to the beach! We couldn’t have landed at a better place, the Hyatt Centric Waikiki. I’ll be writing a separate review just on the hotel.
First off, there is a Starbucks connected to the first floor of the hotel so that’s a win win right there! Then right around the corner is a market called Duke’s Lane Market on Kuhio. You can get Malasadas, freshly cooked quick bites, baked goods, and delicious Boba’s!
Charcoal Pancakes
Our cute hotel front desk girl (again I’ll review the hotel experience in a different post) is a self-proclaimed foodie and I’ll tell you, her recommendations were all on point! If you walk further into Duke’s Lane Market there is an open air wonderful restaurant called Basalt! My first meal there was something unique called “Charcoal Pancakes”. Yep, baked with real volcanic charcoal native to the area. Talk about a wonderful earthy flavor, just barely sweet from the strawberry syrup and whipped charcoal cream. The best part…they sell the mix at Duke’s Lane Market, so I brought some home! Other favorites from this restaurant (because we had to go back again, of course) are the Miso baked Cod and the Parisienne Gnocchi appetizer. I have never had gnocchi so light and full of flavor!
Miso baked Cod and the Parisienne Gnocchi
Another recommendation in the Royal Hawaiian Center (a short block away from the hotel) on Kalakaua is the Island Vintage Wine Bar. There is a Coffee Shop right next door also named Island Vintage, they are part of the same company. We were surprised to be able to get in both times we went. Typically, you need a reservation but if you get there early (around 5/5:30pm) for dinner they seem to be able to accommodate. This is another “must go to”. Our first time there we ordered the Panko Crusted Ahi and the Vegetarian Curry bowl with Tofu and Fried Taro. Both were a 10 out of 10 in my book! The second time we went for dinner, I ordered the Garlic Shrimp and my mouth was watering with every flavorful bite! (see what I mean…I take lots of food pics!)
Vegetarian Curry bowl with Tofu
Garlic Shrimp
Another place that deserves honorable mention (again right across the street from our hotel) is called Heavenly. It has a very small menu but more interesting choices. My recommendations, the Pho soup and the Acai Bowl.
Pho Soup and Acai Bowl
We didn’t even get to go to half of the places recommended to us, but the few that we did go to were worth going back to 2, even 3 times! I’m sure you’d all agree that the best part of traveling is the food experience, and Waikiki did not disappoint! Till next time, Leah~
