Side Street Inn Ala Moana is a local hawaiian restaurant in Ala Moana, Honolulu.
Editorially verified May 31, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Pan-fried pork chops, Kim chee fried rice, Spicy fried chicken
Must order: Pan-fried pork chops with kim chee fried rice; share among four.
Tip: Open Mon to Fri from 16:00, weekends from 12:00, until 20:30. Bring four people minimum; portions are family-size.
Address: 1225 Hopaka Street, Honolulu, HI 96814
Marukame Udon Waikiki in Honolulu is the theatre-kitchen Sanuki udon counter on Kuhio Avenue where you watch handcut noodles boiled to order and finished.
Signature: Kake udon, Niku udon, Tempura
Order: Niku udon with sweet beef and a kakiage tempura side.
Tip: Queue on Kuhio moves fast; daily 10:00-22:00. Average bowl is around $6.
Rainbow Drive-In on Kanaina Avenue in Kapahulu Honolulu has slung plate lunches since 1961, founded by Seiju and Ayako Ifuku and voted top loco moco.
Signature: Loco moco, Mix plate, Boneless chicken plate
Order: Mix plate with loco moco, BBQ beef and boneless chicken.
Tip: Open 07:00-21:00 daily. No inside seating; eat at the parking lot picnic tables.
Zippy's Kapahulu in Honolulu is the 24-hour diner of the local Higa-family chain that sells over 110 tons of chili per month, founded by Francis and Charles.
Signature: Zippy's chili, Zip Pac, Saimin
Order: A bowl of Zippy's chili and rice, plus a Zip Pac bento on the way out.
Tip: Open 24 hours, dine-in and drive-through. Napoleon's Bakery counter at front holds apple napples.
Lucky Belly in Chinatown Honolulu is Dusty Grable and Jesse Cruz's 2012 ramen and bao shop that helped launch the neighborhood's modern restaurant generation.
Signature: Belly bowl ramen, Pork belly bao, Spicy chicken bao
Order: The Belly Bowl ramen with pork belly, bacon and shoyu egg.
Tip: Kitchen runs to 23:00 Friday and Saturday. The Tchin Tchin Bar across the street is the nightcap.
Mud Hen Water is Ed Kenney's Kaimuki Honolulu room of contemporary Hawaiian aina-based plates, a 2025 James Beard semifinalist named for the English.
Signature: Shishito pepper romesco, Sunday brunch, Aina-based small plates
Order: Shishito pepper romesco and whatever fish landed that morning.
Tip: Sunday brunch is the locals' move. Menu changes weekly with farm deliveries.
Ono Seafood in Kapahulu Honolulu is the family-run poke counter that pulls shoyu ahi, spicy ahi and tako preparations from the refrigerated case.
Signature: Shoyu ahi poke, Spicy ahi poke, Tako poke
Order: Two-scoop shoyu ahi and spicy ahi bowl with rice.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays, 09:00-18:00 otherwise. Take it to Ala Wai Park.
