Hip restaurants. Anyone know of any?

[PBatoon]

I'm taking a friend out to dinner on Friday where we "kinda" dress up since we're both from the leeward side (going downtown to a nice dinner is a pretty big thing). Nice longsleeve, dark jeans. her: maybe a summer dress or something idk. But what im looking for is some kinda hip place to go out and eat in the downtown area; Waikiki, Alamoana, downtown downtown. Keep in mind we're both 20 so something a lil age appropriate please :D

I heard there was this new fusion sushi place in waikiki that was supposed to be pretty cool, but idk what its called. Can anyone help me with that?

haha Anyway, if someone can help me out with this much Mahalos and thanks.

[Ron Whitfield]

Compadres (good Mexican food) in Ward Center may be the thing, but get a window table to enjoy the ocean view, or you can stroll thru the complex and nearby Ward Warehouse until you find something similarly appropriate.
Most of these joints are reasonably priced, and Compares is a known 'hip' spot.

[leashlaws]

I'm taking a friend out to dinner on Friday where we "kinda" dress up since we're both from the leeward side (going downtown to a nice dinner is a pretty big thing). Nice longsleeve, dark jeans. her: maybe a summer dress or something idk. But what im looking for is some kinda hip place to go out and eat in the downtown area; Waikiki, Alamoana, downtown downtown. Keep in mind we're both 20 so something a lil age appropriate please :D

I heard there was this new fusion sushi place in waikiki that was supposed to be pretty cool, but idk what its called. Can anyone help me with that?

haha Anyway, if someone can help me out with this much Mahalos and thanks.

It's Doraku Sushi in the Royal Hawaii Shopping Center. I'm not hip just know the name! I think Compadre's stinks but then again, I'm not hip. I've always hated their food, I can say that in 1985 I saw Lisa Bonet there.....;)

[tutusue]

Where's Christa when we need her? :D She'd know every, single, hip spot on the island!

Hmmm...I've never thought of Compadres as particularly hip but I haven't been there is a few years so maybe it's changed.

My younger clients tend to hang out at the newer places along Nuuanu Ave. or Hotel St. Yes...Hotel St. I've been to several client get-togethers at most of those spots but I can't recall the names. Christa would know in a heart beat!

[Ron Whitfield]

OK OK, delete Compadres from the world of possibilities.
I've never actually eaten there, but heard a bunch of fu fu's say blah blah over the years and figuered it to be so. Shoot me.

Hank's on Nuuanu Ave. is quiet, with awright food, to me it's rather 'hip', and the jazz room above will probably be happening on Friday.

[Lei Liko]

Where's Christa when we need her? :D She'd know every, single, hip spot on the island!

Hmmm...I've never thought of Compadres as particularly hip but I haven't been there is a few years so maybe it's changed.

My younger clients tend to hang out at the newer places along Nuuanu Ave. or Hotel St. Yes...Hotel St. I've been to several client get-togethers at most of those spots but I can't recall the names. Christa would know in a heart beat!

Until she gets here, we can settle for Christa's favorite places to go (http://www.supercw.com/blog/?page_id=569)!

[MixedPlateBroker]

Compadres has a great selection of tequilas, hot sauces and Mexican beers. They even have an easy-on-the-eyes feeding frenzy every Taco Tuesday ($1 tacos and $2 maggies). But I wouldn't go so far as to keyword them "hip."

Doraku Sushi has gotten mixed reviews (here (http://www.yelp.com/biz/doraku-sushi-honolulu) and here (http://starbulletin.com/2008/02/24/features/eater.html)) and their decor seems to outpace their food. A better option on a Friday might be Okonomi Cuisine Kai (http://starbulletin.com/2004/08/29/features/eater.html) (flickr set (http://www.flickr.com/photos/champuru/5507944/in/set-82819/)) on Makaloa. They pull off the hat trick by getting high marks in every category. The crowd aesthetic doesn't disappoint, either.:p

[PBatoon]

Dang you guys are awsome! Thanks for the great responses. and thanks for that list! Anyone else got more suggestions?

[AbsolutChaos]

May I suggest Du Vin (http://www.brasserieduvin.com/)or Soul de Cuba (http://www.souldecuba.com/)downtown?

I love to eat at both of those places...and there are plenty nice bars around both of those places for after-dinner drinks, like Bar 35 (http://www.bar35hawaii.com/), Dragon Upstairs (http://www.thedragonupstairs.com/), 39 Hotel (http://www.thirtyninehotel.com/index_flash.html), Indigo (http://indigo-hawaii.com/)...

And that area is where all the trendy hipsters hang out, so everybody will be dressed up for Fri night.

[lavagal]

May I suggest Du Vin (http://www.brasserieduvin.com/)or Soul de Cuba (http://www.souldecuba.com/)downtown?

I love to eat at both of those places...and there are plenty nice bars around both of those places for after-dinner drinks, like Bar 35 (http://www.bar35hawaii.com/), Dragon Upstairs (http://www.thedragonupstairs.com/), 39 Hotel (http://www.thirtyninehotel.com/index_flash.html), Indigo (http://indigo-hawaii.com/)...

And that area is where all the trendy hipsters hang out, so everybody will be dressed up for Fri night.

Hear, hear! I second Miss Vodka's suggestions. You might also want to try Chao Chaosorie's at Aloha Tower Marketplace? I'm sure I spelled that wrong!

[tutusue]

pssssst...pbatoon and lady friend are both under 21. ;) Oh, gawd, I'm sounding like a mother!

[MixedPlateBroker]

LOL. I wondered if anyone else would catch that. Du Vin, Bar 35, Next Door, Indigo, etc. aren't much fun if you aren't of legal age.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Dave & Busters?

[Walkoff Balk]

Not exactly hips, but HOOTERS have dam fine wings.

[PBatoon]

yeah...unfortunately we're under 21. shucks cause those sound like really great places to go out and have a nice dinner

[PBatoon]

hows the prices to those places? haha keep in mind too we're jobless college students

[TATTRAT]

STAGE (http://www.stagerestauranthawaii.com/), at the design center on Pi'ikoi(sp?)and kapiolani

[AbsolutChaos]

Well, ok...so you won't be able to drink, but you can still eat at Soul de Cuba. Wouldn't necessarily suggest Du Vin under your circumstances.

Sorry! Didn't know.


May I suggest Du Vin (http://www.brasserieduvin.com/)or Soul de Cuba (http://www.souldecuba.com/)downtown?

I love to eat at both of those places...and there are plenty nice bars around both of those places for after-dinner drinks, like Bar 35 (http://www.bar35hawaii.com/), Dragon Upstairs (http://www.thedragonupstairs.com/), 39 Hotel (http://www.thirtyninehotel.com/index_flash.html), Indigo (http://indigo-hawaii.com/)...

And that area is where all the trendy hipsters hang out, so everybody will be dressed up for Fri night.

[Ron Whitfield]

Chucky Cheese

[localmoco]

Restaurant Epic is very hip. I ate there a couple months ago on a First Friday and the hipness was off the meter. It's in Chinatown on Nuuanu near all the hip bars and clubs. The food was actually pretty good for a trendy place.

[Lei Liko]

STAGE (http://www.stagerestauranthawaii.com/), at the design center on Pi'ikoi(sp?)and kapiolani

It's hip and trendy, but also very pricey for the alright food. Desserts are fab, though!

[Ms_Aloha_Nui]

Definitely Soul de Cuba...Stage Restaurant is also good but a little pricey......

[kani-lehua]

Not exactly hips, but HOOTERS have dam fine wings.

are you referring to the food or the women? :p

father-in-law used to call mother-in-law, "my little pidgeon."

[Kijimuna]

Depends on what you would consider "hip."
My friends and I eat out often, and try to hit the newest spots in town. We still end up going back to Panya @ Ala Moana Center (the decor is nice and the food is good/affordable).

A*Un @ McCully Shopping Center, 1st floor has all sorts of ala carte menu items (Japanese bar style food) and the price range for the dishes is $3 - $12. My friends and I get full after sharing about 3 or 4 dishes there. It's a low-lit place, tiny, but has a cool vibe to it. For dessert we go next door to Coffee or Tea for lilikoi cheesecake or bubble tea.

12th Ave Grill in Kaimuki is another favorite, but the dishes start at $13 or so. Cafe Laufer is another place I go back to often. Especially if my friends and I want awesome desserts and good coffee.

You might want to try MAC 24-7 in Waikiki. Home of giant pancake creations and Sumo size ramen. It's trendy, and open 24 hrs. If you can snag a seat on the garden side it's much better than the bar side. I'm hooked on their tomato soup with grilled white cheddar sandwich, or the reuben (which comes with a panko-crusted, deep fried pickle spear!).

My all-time favorite place right now is out of the way for me, but very much worth the trip. Kalapawai Cafe (http://www.kalapawaimarket.com/section/cafe/) in Kailua town. I'm slightly biased because my friend is the head chef there, but once I tasted the food, I was addicted. Really, really good food, fresh, and affordable. I had the pork chop on my birthday and I was in heaven. I also had a good cheese platter (cheese selection varies daily - I lucked out with Guinness Irish Cheddar and 3 other cheeses), the goat cheese bruschetta, and housemade hummus/artichoke spreads.

[PBatoon]

Hey guys thanks for all the input. My friend and I went to eat at Doraku Sushi. That place is great! The ambiance is nice especially as a two person party and the food pricing is NOT as expensive as I thought would be, its actually pretty reasonably priced (considering we're from kapolei). They put us next to this glass wall overlooking Kalakaua Ave which was pretty fun since its all heights and you get to look at all the street performers.

There was this guy in all orange and black doing crazy A-1 basketball tricks. Damn did that add to our entertainment.

Anyway, I'll try keep this thread up for any other people looking for fun and intereseting places to eat. Thanks a lot.