Kailua-Kona, HI

restaurants

Broke Da Mouth Grindz & Catering

Chef Robin Ganir and his wife Jean Nguyen are mashing up Filipino and Hawaiian flavors into new sensations. The Garlic Furikake Chicken has outstanding over-the-top crunch and the contrasting sauces make it sing. “You really take the time to do things right,” Guy remarked

Kailua-Kona, HI

restaurants

Original Thai Cuisine LLC

At Original Thai, owner Sa'ing Schueler is serving up a creative mixture of Thai and Chinese cuisine. The SSS Duck is a gorgeous dish that is braised and then fried until crispy and topped with a special spicy sweet and sour sauce. “This is crazy,” said Guy. “I would fly from California to come and have this twice a year.”

Kailua-Kona, HI

restaurants

Kanaka Kava

For a taste of traditional Hawaiian food, head to this spot where chef and owner Zachary Gibson has been serving local favorites for 17 years.

Kailua-Kona, HI

restaurants

Island Lava Java

Take in the breathtaking views of Kailua Bay while dining oceanside at this knockout joint. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Island Lava Java features standout dishes like Guava BBQ Ribs and tropical pizza. The restaurant also offers up 100% Kona Coffee, a variety of fresh juices and incredible craft cocktails.

Kealakekua, HI

restaurants

Rebel Kitchen

Rebel Kitchen brings international soul food to beautiful Kealakekua with a menu that includes a selection of creative burgers, sandwiches, entrees, salads and homemade sauces. While visiting with Triple G, Guy enjoyed the restaurant's Poke Burger and Coconut Curry Ono & Shrimp.

Kailua-Kona, HI

restaurants

Foster's Kitchen

Foster's Kitchen serves up an outstanding culinary experience with fresh flavors, local ingredients and menu items made from scratch. The Stuffed Chicken with Kona Coffee Red-Eye Gravy is an absolute knockout, among a variety of other incredible dishes. During a visit for Triple D, Guy also enjoyed the Citrus Avocado Poke.

Kailua-Kona, HI

restaurants

Umekes Fishmarket Bar and Grill

This Kailua-Kona joint is the spot for fresh flavors and locally-sourced ingredients. Favorites include Lau Lau (tender pork and Hawaiian salt wrapped in taro leaves and steamed for 10 hours) and slow-roasted Kalua pork. The restaurant also features a full bar and outdoor seating for a truly tropical experience.

Kahului, HI

restaurants

Thai Mee Up

Guy heads to Thai Mee Up for Thai-inspired Hawaiian food right by the airport. Their “out-of-bounds” stuffed chicken wing with sweet-and-sour plum sauce is crispy on the outside and bursting with veggies and rice noodles on the inside. Their boneless pork ribs also take Guy to new heights. “On a scale of 1 to 100 that’s a 101,” he says of the immaculate dish. “This is like a freight train to Flavortown.”

Kihei, HI

restaurants

Miso Phat Sushi

This unassuming joint is tucked away in a strip mall, but don't let its no-frills appearance fool you. Inside you'll find bright sushi rolls made from fish so fresh it's pulled straight from owner Shawn Steadman's boat (affectionately named the Shiso Phat). "It's so fresh it's almost jumping into my mouth," Guy said of the TNT, a shrimp tempura roll topped with ahi poke. Another standout is the lilikoi ice cream: a tangy frozen treat made from Hawaiian passion fruit.

Lahaina, HI

restaurants

Star Noodle

Star Noodle boasts an innovative menu of island-inspired Asian fare like hapa ramen (which features fresh noodles cranked out daily on an 80-year-old machine from Japan). Guy raves about the Vietnamese Crepe: a crunchy shell stuffed with a coconut milk-laced mixture of shrimp and pork. It’s served with fresh lettuce leaves to create make-your-own wraps. “This might be in the top 25 most-unique items I’ve ever seen on Triple D,” Guy says.

Kihei, HI

restaurants

Fat Daddy's Smokehouse

Owner Chris Schobel grew up smoking meats in Pennsylvania, so when he moved to Maui in 2013, he decided to revive a struggling barbecue joint. Schobel’s style borrows from both North Carolina and Texas: The ribs are hit with a dry rub, smoked for five hours, then served with a vinegar-laced barbecue sauce that incorporates beef fat for added flavor. A standout side is the cornbread made from a creamed-corn batter.

Kahului, HI

restaurants

Da Kitchen

Crowds line up for Hawaiian classics at this can’t-miss joint by the Maui airport. One flavor-packed favorite is the Notorious B.I.G. Moco, a spin on the Hawaiian comfort-food staple known as loco moco. A gravy-slicked hamburger patty comes perched on a mound of fried rice and topped with housemade chili, shredded cheese, Portuguese sausage, bacon, mushrooms and onions. A fried egg adds to the richness.

Kihei, HI

restaurants

Outrigger Pizza Co

Chef-owner Kevin Laut has been slinging wood-fired pizzas from a custom trailer he built himself since 2009. The dough he uses for his thin-crust pizzas is made daily, by hand, on the cart. His signature creation, the Lilikoi pie, was inspired by the flavors of Hawaii. This beauty comes loaded with yellow passion fruit glaze, sweet peppers, mozzarella cheese and pulled pork.

Honolulu, HI

restaurants

Nico's PIER 38 Fish Market

French-born owner Nico Chaize came to Hawaii as a foreigner, but Hawaii soon became his home. Guy found him at the Honolulu fish auction at 5:30 in the morning, hand-selecting opah fish for the day's special. And although his fish is gourmet, he serves it takeout style without the gourmet price.

Honolulu, HI

restaurants

Fresh Catch Kaimuki

Restaurant owner, chef and octopus wrangler Reno Henriques uses only the freshest seafood to make over 30 types of poke, a traditional raw fish Hawaiian salad. Guy adored the ahi poke with limu seaweed. Feeling adventurous? Try the spicy smoked octopus topped with tobiko, an island favorite.

Honolulu, HI

restaurants

Rainbow Drive-In

Eating at Rainbow Drive-In has been a Hawaiian tradition for over 50 years, with locals and tourists lining up for the legendary mixed and Loco Moco plates. Guy's Loco Moco included a hamburger patty, fried egg, rice and "are-you-kidding-me?" gravy. As Guy says, this is fast food Hawaiian-style.

Aiea, HI

restaurants

The Alley Restaurant at Aiea Bowl

It may be located within a bowling alley, but The Alley Restaurant is cooking up some of the best dishes on the island. Take the Oxtail Soup, for example, which is simmered with Chinese spices, ginger, mushrooms and peanuts. Guy also recommends the Grilled Coca Cola-Marinated Turkey Sandwich.

Kahuku, HI

restaurants

Mike's Kiawe Broiled Huli Huli Chicken

Mike’s Huli Huli Chicken slow-roasts their chicken on the wood-fire rotisserie, which results in juicy meat that is also as crispy as you can get without frying it, Guy says. He couldn’t leave without also getting a taste of the char siu pork, which is red Chinese pork with a sweet, smoky taste.

Waipahu, HI

restaurants

Elena's Restaurant

Elena’s is serving up Filipino cuisine with a Hawaiian twist. Guy can’t get enough of the Lechon Special, which is chopped crispy pork tossed with tomatoes and onions. Another must-try is the fried pork, which is made out of boneless pork butt and served with a side of pickled ong choy.

Kailua, HI

restaurants

Uahi Island Grill

Uahi Island Grill is a self-proclaimed contemporary Hawaiian restaurant. Guy loves the fresh grilled fish in a spicy Thai red curry served with green papaya salad. If you’re more in the mood for meat, try the slow-poached Mandarin duck confit with an anise-orange glaze, which Guy declares “spot-on.”

Kaneohe, HI

restaurants

Deans Drive Inn

Dean’s Drive Inn is the epitome of casual gourmet. The laid-back atmosphere, coupled with the delicious food, puts this joint on Guy’s radar. Local favorites include the ginger soy ono (a popular Hawaiian white fish), the ahi cakes topped with Greek chili aioli sauce and the broiled teriyaki beef.

Kailua, HI

restaurants

Boots & Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen

Boots & Kimo’s offers a menu full of authentic Hawaiian food. Guy digs the Mochiko chicken, which is made from boneless chicken thighs that are marinated, fried and then served with macaroni potato salad and rice. He also raves about the Hawaiian-style kalbi ribs, which are both spicy and sweet.

Honolulu, HI

restaurants

Jawaiian Irie Jerk Restaurant

At this restaurant Chef Caswell Simmonds is serving up Jamaican fare with an "aloha" attitude. Guy described eating the savory jerk wings as a "party in his mouth." The Jamaican goat curry, a classic Caribbean recipe and a local favorite, Guy called "off the hoof."

Honolulu, HI

restaurants

Opal Thai

Chef Opel is a Bangkok native and is cooking up classic Thai favorites as well as creating some new ones. Guy could not keep his hands off of the glazed garlic chicken wings topped with fried basil. The larb with pork and veggies in a lettuce wrap and the pad thai noodles also impressed Guy.

Honolulu, HI

restaurants

Highway Inn Kaka'ako

This third-generation Hawaiian restaurant has been making traditional island plates since 1947. The iconic Lau Lau pork dish consists of pork wrapped in taro leaves. The beef Pipikaula most impressed Guy on his trip; it's marinated, hung to dry and then grilled and sliced right on the flat top.

Honolulu, HI

restaurants

Hank's Haute Dogs

Don't be fooled by its Hawaiian address, because Hank's Haute Dogs has an unheard-of dedication to bringing authentic Chicago-style hot dogs to the mainland. Just ask Guy, who visited on DDD. Along with a genuine Chicago Vienna dog, Hank's special Lobster Sausage is unique and "the dog you want."

Kapolei, HI

restaurants

Germaine's Luau

On a special Hawaiian Triple D, Guy headed to Germaine's Luau in search of the quintessential luau experience. For more than 30 years, Germaine's has crafted the traditional party, complete with roasted pig cooked in an "imu" underground pit and an all-you-can eat buffet of tasty Hawaiian dishes.

Honolulu, HI

bar

Murphy's Bar & Grill

Located in downtown Honolulu, Murphy's Bar and Grill doesn't serve traditional island cuisine. As Guy learned on DDD, Murphy's brings the luck of the Irish to locals. The "shovel fest" begins with open-faced turkey sandwiches, homemade shepherd's pie and the best pint of Guinness on the island.

Mililani, HI

restaurants

Poke Stop

Those unfamiliar with the traditional Hawaiian poke dish can look to Guy for advice. The first time he savored Chef Elmer Guzman's chopped salmon fish poke, he called it mega gangster fresh. But the real surprise was from the mainland fish called oi’o mashed into a "killer seafood gazpacho."

Haleiwa, HI

restaurants

Big Wave Shrimp

At this mobile restaurant the shrimp is always fresh and the customers are always happy. Guy loved the crunchy coconut shrimp, while locals couldn't get enough of the spicy and lemon pepper shrimp. In addition to shrimp, the truck sells delicious Korean BBQ short ribs.

Waimanalo, HI

restaurants

Sweet Home Waimanalo

Committed to a healthy lifestyle, owner Joanne Kapololu uses only fresh local ingredients. Originally Guy was skeptical about the tofu burger, but he ended up loving its "outrageous" flavor. The pulled-pork with bok choy slaw, Okinawan sweet potatoes and corn bread also impressed Guy.

Kihei, HI

bar

Three's Bar & Grill

Three friends run this fusion restaurant in Hawaii that serves up legit ramen and killer Asian beer can chicken. Guy loved the fragrant broth of the ramen paired with the kimchi mushrooms and chicken soy sauce. “This isn’t your everyday Sunday chicken,” Guy mused over the orange-hoisin glazed bird served with wok-fried brussels sprouts with bacon.

Lahaina, HI

restaurants

Fleetwood's on Front St.

Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac serves up rock and roll next to his favorite recipes including a dish inspired by his mom’s best chicken recipe. Bitty’s herb-roasted chicken is marinated, sous vide and then seared to achieve a harmonic conversion of super crispy skin and mouth-watering tenderness. Bourbon-glazed pork belly and Sammy Hagar’s favorite, Beef Wellington, also steal the show. “It looks high end but it eats comfort,” Guy said of the spot-on dishes.

Lahaina, HI

restaurants

Down the Hatch

Three guys from Georgia brought down-home cooking with a slice of paradise to Down the Hatch in Maui. They started out serving shave ice drenched in their special fruit syrups and later expanded to a neighborhood joint with killer sandwiches. Their best-selling dish is the lobster and crab grilled cheese served on Hawaiian sweet bread and doused in lemon beurre blanc.

Kahului, HI

cafe

Brigit & Bernard's Garden Cafe

Brigit & Bernard's Garden Café is a German gem in the middle of paradise. Swiss-born Chef and Owner Bernard Weber is dishing out impressive apple strudel and to-die-for beef roulade with house-made spaetzle that keeps the locals coming back for more.