A night in Kaka'ako is always a fun place to explore, and just be entertained!…read more The Honolulu Night Market at Our Kaka'ako is indeed a fabulous adventure into the biggest street/block party filled to the brim with all things local...food, retail and culture. I've been to so many and each and every one is very unique where you can find either fashion runway stage, live street art, or even a dance night in the barn. I just love the vibe SALT and surrounding Our Kaka'ako brings with the vibrant art we're so blessed to have and this particular night (November 19th) there was actually much more shopping just perfect for the holidays and the party went further down to Ya-ya's. Tonight I was fortunate to have gone after work so I kept it short but found some awesome treats. Some straw toppers to add to my holiday gift giving and some cheesecake cups (OG, Strawberry and Cookie Butter) of course I got one of each to share...ate the Strawberry which of course omg was yummy!! Not too sweet as the Strawberries was just perfect as I tried to get an even scoop of it all in every bite. Walked further down and honestly wasn't in the mood to wait too long for anything found something that would just exactly work for me. Ya-Ya's Chophouse & Seafood and tonight they had two items - Steak Kebabs - Fat Fried Rice with TAB (aka Thick Ass Bacon lol!) I seriously wanted the fried rice but thought that the Steak Kebabs was more sensible for me personally and it came with two kebabs each fully loaded with steak, mushrooms, peppers and onions with a huge scoop of rice! So many options I really was considering including Henna from Henna Happens, Birria Tacos from Dolce Vita, Corn from Corn Onoz Hawaii but though there's always a next time yes!?! I remember pre-pandemic Yelp had a booth here and hoping as things return to normalcy that we'll see it back again one day (hint hint!) Absolutely love this Honolulu Night Market as it offers so many cultural coolness that you can't find anywhere else! Thank you!

There were only about 4-5 food trucks when I visited, and it felt small. Around 6 PM, the area had…read morevery few people. There was some live music, but it seemed more like a quick stop for tourists rather than a real night market. I didn't try any food because the atmosphere wasn't appealing, so I left quickly.

This was an interesting little maze of stalls selling wooden tikis, this, jewelry, aloha shirts and…read moredresses, and whatever other Hawaiian souvenirs and tchatkis you might want. It's a bit of a cross between a flea market and a Chinatown. The prices will get lower and some vendors will wheel and deal if you walk away. I bought a carved coconut tiki mug that started out at $25--my hesitation brought the price down to $15. Dog bandanas went from $15 each this $10 each. You get the picture. If it's fun to look around and bargain, but be aware that we saw similar items at the ABC convenience stores (on every corner--like a circle k but much nicer) for, in some cases, a lower price. Still, is kind of fun to go

I've heard of Duke's marketplace before but this was my first time here. This place is pretty big…read more It has a food court area, grocery store and convenience store all in one. The Sanrio Hawaiian edition collectibles was what attracted me the most. But they are expensive. The prices are different ranges. They had a lot of workers running the cashiers and food. They also had some tables to eat at. There is an alley way next to this place and if you walk deeper in there is a more affordable flea market that has many tents. Some of them can be very direct since they are trying to hustle. I bought a few things like 3 croc charms for $5 and 4 Sanrio Hawaiian plushies for $20. They take cash or card but cash is easier. You can try to bargain as well.

Since our initial blind "meeting", Val Y. has been begging me to meet him for another dining…read moreexperience. (After our last disastrous outing, I can't believe he would want to do this again!) In order to avoid another potentially embarassing situation for him, and to make him look PLAYA COOL, instead of just YELPER COOL, I thought it would be best if I brought along a small posse with me (Traci H., and Theresa S.) to check out the boneless kalbi plate from Grandma G's at the Merchant Street Market. Val must have been nervous because he was sweating when he met the three of us there. So, go read Val Y.'s review of this same experience, and click "COOL" and send him lots of "HOT STUFF" compliments because TODAY is VAL Y's BIRTHDAY (10/26/11!). WHEN/WHERE: 2nd and 4th TUESDAYS 11am-2pm at the corner of Bishop and Merchant Street, in the Davies Pacific courtyard: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/q9KQKUGDr0hyBYNKQQezQA?select=rDAjazQFrThepxLC3hNIng COME EARLY! I got there at 11:10 exactly, and there were no lines. By 11:12 there were 8 people in line at Grandma G's and 6 at Stacey's Lau Lau. (where did they all come from in 2 minutes? We don't know.) DIVIDE AND CONQUER: Similar to Eat the Street, the more the merrier. Traci stood in line at Grandma G's, Theresa stood in line at Stacy's and I walked over to Chef Sean at Soul to get my fried chicken. We were 3 women on a mission. But where did Val go? He bailed on us and was checking out the healthier alternatives at Honolulu Gourmet Foods. Just a tip for you GUYS....when your women are ordering things with names like Kalbi, buttermilk fried chicken, Dynamite chicken and guava chicken, DO NOT ORDER A SALAD! It will make us feel like complete gluttons. BRING $$: Looks like everyone's price point is around $9-$10 so it's not exactly cheap plate lunches, but you get a ton of food! There are more vendors than this, but we ordered: Grandma G's Boneless Kalbi plate $9 (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! This is absolutely fantastic! And the honey mustard dressing is delicious). You know when you see Justin U. standing in line for this, it's gotta be good: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bk0DlrMggqPZgWQ_sVD2aA?select=BflSgv5hXnaKyzyz9nW_Rw Stacy's Lau Lau Co: Dynamite Chicken/Guava Chicken $9 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/_jZl9uu6eialCkZ5UBd72w?select=PDYeg_cOeFkKT8ZA5YOWdg Soul: buttermilk fried chicken $3 each (of course, this one ranks up there on my favorite fried chicken list....He even offers a "smothered chicken" but I showed some restraint, and just got it plain, which is anything but): http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/zznyv4BsJ_GKQuNXJznm3A?select=5YQqpKvcQPmGqom9zykTbw Honolulu Gourmet Foods: Grilled steak SALAD w/mini spicy dynamite ahi bowl combo $10.50: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/q9KQKUGDr0hyBYNKQQezQA?select=Qt7H1QQ1k-Lw1LzN7hYVbQ SEATING: Secret rooftop open patio seating at the Davies Pacific Center. Thanks Traci for the tip! Looks like everyone in downtown already knows about this bi-monthly event, but if you are like me and haven't been to it yet, this is a great one-stop place to try a bunch of different local plate lunches.

Sad to say that they discontinued this event that occured every 2nd and 4th Tuesday, so there's now…read moreless eating places in the downtown business area. :( Hopefully they'll bring it back sometime in the near future.

Awesome!! I grabbed some custard malesadas(?), and some mango sticky rice. Everybody was super…read morenice, and the food I got was amazing!! If you're just wondering around the neighborhood and want some fresh authentic treats, you can't go wrong here!!

Been coming to this farmers market for a few years and have noticed it is getting smaller and…read moresmaller every time. BUT the vendors that show up are excellent! I always get a coconut -- this time of year, there were two options to choose -- small versus large. The large one is from Hawaii and is limited time of year, roughly one month of the year. Delicious! Also, they cut the coconut in half and provide spoons to enjoy the inside meat. Also love the fresh fruit stand with prickly pear fruits, star fruit, mango, and also some homemade items like coconut tapioca pudding, mango with sticky rice, papaya salad. Crafts vendors have beautiful handmade pens, signs, bracelets. I still highly recommend checking out the farmers market -- many unique items and offerings not found in traditional stores around the area!

Kindred's Cookout = Soul Food Done Right…read more If comfort food had a love language, this would be it. Kindred's Cookout is the kind of place that reminds you why Southern food will always have a chokehold on us. I went straight for the Southern fried chicken & shrimp with mac and cheese, and let me tell you--every bite hit. The chicken was perfectly seasoned, juicy on the inside with that crispy, golden crust that actually crunches. The shrimp? Fried just right, not greasy, with bold flavor that stands on its own without needing sauce. But the real star of the show--for me--is the Cajun fried catfish. This is my personal favorite and for good reason. The seasoning is on point: spicy, smoky, and flavorful without overpowering the fish. Crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside--exactly how catfish should be done. You can taste the care and experience in every bite. And the mac and cheese deserves its own moment. Creamy, cheesy, rich, and comforting--no shortcuts here. It's the kind of mac that makes you pause mid-bite and nod in approval. Kindred's Cookout isn't just serving food, it's serving heart, heritage, and serious flavor. If you're craving real Southern comfort with bold Cajun flair, this spot is a must. I'll definitely be back--and I already know what I'm ordering again.

Smashburgers with soul. This spot brings that backyard cookout energy with flavor to match. Super…read morejuicy patties, buttery buns, and the fries are seasoned to perfection. Chill vibes, quick service, and you can taste the love in every bite.

"Deceptively simple... deceptively delicious"…read more Ok, I'll be the first to admit- you really cannot live on burgers and fries, it's not gonna do your body good. BUT- when you do want to feed that burger hunger, The Munchie Machine is a worthy consideration. From what I have read, they are located in Mapunapuna by CPB for the lunch crowd and they later go to Ahuimanu side for the late afternoon/after school/work crowd. They sell basically two things: burgers (and variations of burgers) and fries. The prices are reasonable, the food ono. No complaints here. (See my pics for descriptions) I have heard on Fridays they offer other stuff too like Saimin. You can ask them about that when you call in your order. When I have to make a run to Hardware Hawaii or Fisher Hawaii I will sometimes try to time so I can get my burger fix from Munchies. Give them a try when in the area- you won't be disappointed.

Today at a food truck event at City Hall I ordered 2 Shaggy Jrs. I gotta say it's the pictures of…read moreyour menu board that sold me - they all looked so 'ono. After ordering - 15 seconds later my name was called. Yes, I thought wow that was super quick! I grabbed the 2 containers and headed back to the office. This was going to be our snack on the way home. When I got back to the office this is what I found. The burgers were $15.00 each and both were extremely papaʻa. We took a bite from the first burger (it tasted how it looked) then opened the second box and it looked worse. How shameful to serve this kind of food that should have been thrown out and not sold. You need to do better, aūe! One star was generous because zero stars was not an option.

Okay, I've only been here technically once, but I have to say:…read more The first time I went here and got Thai food. The pumpkin curry bowl with sticky rice and the pork skewers are AMAZING. The second time, my boyfriend got produce from vendors bring home ingredients to make pico de gallo, and it was so fresh that a quart and a half disappeared in two days. BUT the main reason I'm writing this is for the gentleman that makes one of the TOP THREE pastas I've had IN HAWAII. First is probably Uni pasta (or something else pasta) from Arancino Kahala. Second is La Cucina. Third, but coming up very close is this random never would have suspected it farmer's market pasta. Carbonara and Amatriciana. Just get those. It's gonna take 30 minutes, even if you get there early. It's one guy making pasta from scratch, fresh, with noodles and sauces that he made from scratch. Just put your order in, go buy your veggies and bread, wander around to look at booths, then come back. My boyfriend hates waiting in line but he said he would wait an hour for this. We left some of it out and ate it five hours later and it was STILL delicious, even all cold. Even the best restaurant stuff you save isn't THIS good later on. I don't like that I spilled this secret spot, but I really hope he opens his own restaurant one day, if he wants to. I would eat his pasta and bread every day and enjoy every pound that I put on!

Attn: No Honolulu Farmer's Market next Wednesday July 22, Honolulu Farmers Market at the Blaisdell…read moreCenter moved over to Kapiolani Blvd side, the former location was on the grassy area in front of the concert hall. I just recently found this out when I visited the Farmer's Market few months ago, I panicked because I thought the are no longer having the market. If I was lived or work close by I would look forward to Wednesdays, the Honolulu Farmer's Market happens once a week from 4-7pm. Free parking , I try to make a stop here if I need veggies, fruits for the midweek. It is out of the way for me come from east side and coming from long work day, I am already exhausted. This Farmer's Market is smaller compared to the one at Kapiolani Community College on Saturdays, less than 20 vendors. Noticed some vendors from the KCC FM, a quick stop to 2 booths for Thai Banana, butter lettuce and chayote fruit. Got what I needed, quick walk to the end to see browse the other vendors. Although the food and drink booth looked great, one day I will make it a Honolulu Farmer's Market night where we go for our walk here, grab goods, enjoy and then walk back home! For this visit, I am happy with my produce, can't wait to prep my salads and cook a dish with the chayote. Love farm fresh veggies!!

I came across their IG account earlier this year and really wanted to try their skewers. I was just…read morewaiting for the right time to order, but luckily, they opened a new location on School Street, close to my place! I've been here five times since they opened, and I've tried their skewers, grilled fish, inasal, liempo, and miki. Everything tastes so good! Hopefully, I can get their kwek-kwek and fishballs on my next visit!

Food was amazing and staff was super friendly. It reminds me of the food back home in the…read morePhilippines . Highly recommend to any locals or tourists!

Kualoa coconut man is a small coconut stand on the side of the street. There is no big sign so it's…read moreeasy to miss if you aren't paying attention. It's located on the front yard of a property and has parking available for a few cars. They accept both cash and venmo payments. The coconuts were reasonably priced and had plenty of fresh coconut water. Once you finish the coconut water, they'll cut it open for you so you can enjoy the coconut meat. There are lots of chickens, roosters and geese on the property and they aren't aggressive. It was fun to feed them while we were there.

Really hard to miss and there's no sign, but the lady working here was extremely rude. My parents…read morehave gone here before with a guy running the stand with whom was super kind and fully opened a great coconut for them. From the beginning of our interaction, my dad just asked to make sure if they had coconuts as a joke and she was not pleased. The lady here also decided to choose like the worst coconut for us as if it was on purpose. Not sure how you run a coconut stand and can't tell what coconut is good??Ours was so hard and not enjoyable. She also didn't even fully open it and it's not like there was anyone else waiting -- it was just us and our family. I'd recommend to just keep driving on the highway and get your coconut fix elsewhere. The service here just wasn't great.

ATMOSPHERE: Sam dropped my order off to me when I wanted it. Nothing funky/strange about these…read morepeople! They are down to earth... see SERVICE below. FOOD: They pop on site at public events and if you need to special order, you'll need to call them beforehand to try and put in an order as close to a popping day as possible. As indicated on their website, popcorn sales is based on availability. I first discovered them at a craft fair--I devoured the entire bag of li-hing-covered kettle corn. This is the BEST Kettle Corn I have tasted. They maintain a good balance of sweet and salty AND the best part is that they don't overcoat the popcorn in sugars. I try not to go for any chocolate/caramel covered ones... or those that are just drenched in candy coats. If you want a more balanced and delicious tasting kettle corn without the coats overdone, Kettle Corn Hawaii is THE place to go. Packaging is very clean and neat and you get enough bang for your buck: Large bag (4 quarts) is $6, small bag (1quart) is $3. I special ordered about 15 Small bags so that I could give them out as graduation treats for UH Manoa graduates. I was worried the small bag wouldn't look plentiful enough but holy moly it can feed two hungry people. (My mom and I finished one small bag while walking back to our car from the graduation.) Small bag for $3 is a deal, people. You can also request the colors that you want to color your popcorn with. All of the flavors are the standard sugar coat flavor--no fruity/food flavors. I love that... the fruit/food flavored colors turn me off. Thank God all the colors taste the same. :) SERVICE: EXCELLENT. Gave Sam tip too for driving my order to my workplace. We both had busy schedules and he maintained excellent communication the whole day. We kept in touch for the entire week of my order. He double checked my order and made sure that it would be prepared and delivered to me in the best and most convenient way possible. He offered cheaper options as well and if he could make it easier for my treat packaging. These guys are on it and I would love to give them business again for the next graduation season. Thank you, Sam! Service with a smile! It's what everyone business is lacking nowadays... your service made my week!

I was lucky enough to come across Kettle Corn Hawaii while at a UH volleyball game. It's always a…read moretreat to indulge in such sweet and salty goodness. I tried the li hing flavor that they make now and it was DELICIOUS! So much so that I bought another bag to take home. I paid $7 for the small bag which is packed to the gills and is totally worth it. The owner, Sam, is Mr. Aloha and provided amazing customer service. If y'all happen to be lucky enough to come across Kettle Corn Hawaii definitely check them out! Aloha