Windward town across the Pali, twenty minutes from Honolulu. Buzz's Original Steakhouse, Boots and Kimo's pancakes and the Lanikai Brewing taproom share the surf-town strip.
Buzz's Original Steak House in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the surf-shack steakhouse where Barack Obama used to eat the teriyaki sirloin on family Christmas trips.
Signature: Teriyaki sirloin, Salad bar, Garlic shrimp
Order: Teriyaki sirloin off the kiawe-wood grill with a trip through the salad bar.
Tip: Lanikai Beach is a five-minute walk. Lunch is the move; dinner books up two days out.
Buzz's Original Steak House in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the surf-shack steakhouse where Obama family Christmases parked at the teriyaki sirloin and salad bar.
Signature: Teriyaki sirloin, Salad bar, Garlic shrimp
Order: Teriyaki sirloin off the kiawe grill, plus a turn through the salad bar.
Tip: Lanikai Beach is a five-minute walk. Lunch is the move; dinner books two days out.
Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the original home of the banana macadamia nut pancake stack drowned in macadamia nut sauce.
Signature: Banana macadamia nut pancakes, Kalbi short ribs breakfast, Loco moco
Order: Full stack banana mac nut pancakes with the signature macadamia nut sauce.
Tip: Enchanted Lake shopping center, on Keolu Drive. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday; weekend queue starts by 08:00.
Cinnamon's Restaurant in Kailua is the 1985 breakfast spot across the Pali from Honolulu, where red velvet pancakes and guava chiffon pancakes anchor a 30-deep weekend queue.
Signature: Red velvet pancakes, Guava chiffon pancakes, Eggs Benedict
Order: Red velvet pancakes with cream cheese frosting; guava chiffon if the menu has it.
Tip: Walk-in only; queue from 07:30 weekends. Cash and card accepted.