2010 ‘Ilima Awards: A Guide to Oahu’s Top Restaurants

ON THE COVER | From left to right, an oyster and Portuguese sausage appetizer, a salmon plate and a porterhouse steak.

Which restaurants are tops? Foodies debate the question endlessly. The answer is, of course, a matter of taste.

A team of Star-Advertiser food experts put their educated tastes to the task of selecting the top restaurants on Oahu and came up with more than 150 options, from “puka in the wall” cheap eats to those offering the most elegant dining experiences.

In choosing Oahu’s Top Restaurants, we were guided by these ideas:

» We liked the restaurant. In previous, anonymous visits, one or more of us was impressed, either by the whole restaurant or by a particular dish or two (when it’s the latter, we’ll point you in the direction of the specialty of the house).

» The restaurant is an ‘Ilima Award winner, chosen by public ballot, or has been one in the recent past. That is, our readers liked it.

» The restaurant is a classic, a nostalgic favorite that just could not be left out if the book is to reflect island style.

» The location, food style, ethnicity or ambience set the restaurant apart; perhaps it’s the only restaurant of its type, or it’s off the beaten path.

» Although the bulk of restaurants are in greater Honolulu, we sought out the best that East, Leeward, Windward and North Shore Oahu had to offer, too.

» All reviews are conducted anonymously and paid for by the Star-Advertiser. None of the establishments in this guide were included or given a favorable review because they advertise in the newspaper or in these pages.

LEGEND
$$$$ Very pricey: entrees mostly more than $30
$$$ Pricey: entrees mostly $17-$29
$$ Moderate: entrees $10-$16
$ Budget-Friendly: entrees mostly less than $10
Note: The restaurant scene changes rapidly, so please call the restaurant for the latest information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
People’s Choice
Critic’s Choice:
» Wanda Adams
» Jason Genegabus
» Nadine Kam
» Elizabeth Kieszkowski
» Joleen Oshiro
» Betty Shimabukuro
Diamond Head Theatre Awards
Star Circle
The Newbies
Chef Profile: Masaharu Morimoto
Top Restaurants
» A to G
» H to M
» N to Z
Best Bakeries
Best of Pau Hana Patrol
Dining Etiquette

‘ILIMA AWARDS CRITICS
Wanda A. Adams
Jason Genegabus
Nadine Kam
Elizabeth Kieszkowski
Joleen Oshiro
Betty Shimabukuro

TODAY EDITOR
Christie Wilson

COVER DESIGN
Joe Guinto

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Sherri Yoshioka
Jenny Delos Santos
Zenaida Serrano

ONLINE
To keep up with the restaurant scene, see Nadine Kam’s “Weekly Eater” in the Wednesday Today section of the Star-Advertiser and the “Quick Bites” column in Friday’s TGIF section, or check the Pulse at www.honolulupulse.com.