Side Street Inn

This noisy, smoky, dark, sports tavern-restaurant-karaoke palace-late-night-hangout near Ala Moana Center serves big pupu plates, really good grinds like katsu and barbecued baby back ribs in lilikoi sauce, and charbroiled steaks, blackened ahi, pesto-crusted ahi, fresh steamed manila clams (tender in a wine-garlic broth), shrimp scampi, delicious pork chops, and big portions of other family-style dishes that have gained a loyal following.

Locals claim that the Side Street Inn is where the chefs go to eat when they get off work. The restaurant's low-key interior, with cafeteria-style, laminate-topped tables, will not appeal to those seeking a refined dining experience. But the throngs of people who crowd these tables confirm that the food here is exceptionally good. Menu favorites include the teriyaki rib eye, pan-fried island pork chops, and Chinese-style crispy chicken. The Side Street Inn is, true to its name, tucked away on a quiet side street, a few blocks northwest of the Ala Moana Shopping Center. The restaurant can be difficult to find, so first-time guests should either bring a detailed map or arrive in a taxi.