2011 Hale Aina Award Winners
 |
Congratulations to the 2011 Hale Aina Award winners!
Each year, HONOLULU Magazine readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands. Categories include Best New Restaurant, Best Service, Best Value, Best Wine Program, Little Restaurant You Love and many more.
The winning restaurants were announced at a gala reception held November 7 at the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Ballroom. See our upcoming January 2011 issue for more on the Hale Aina Awards.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Roy’s Hawaii Kai
6600 Kalanianaole Highway, 396-7697
Executive Chef: Chris Garnier
Chefs Choice Award
Chai’s Island Bistro — 1 Aloha Tower Market Place, 585-0011; Executive Chef: Chai Chaowasaree
Chef Mavro — 1969 S. King St., 944-4714; Chef de Cuisine: Kevin Chong
Hoku’s — The Kahala Hotel & Resort, 5000 Kahala Ave., 739-8780; Executive Chef: Wayne Hirabayashi
Best Oahu Restaurant
GOLD
Alan Wong’s Honolulu — 1857 S. King St., Third Floor, 949-2526; Chef de Cuisine: Wade Ueoka
SILVER
Le Bistro — 5730 Kalanianaole Highway, 373-7990; Executive Chef: Alan Takasaki
BRONZE
Azure — 2559 Kalakaua Ave., 923-7311; Chef de Cuisine: Jon Matsubara
TOP 5
Ruth’s Chris Steak House — at Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., 599-3860; Executive Chef: Kyle Yonashiro
TOP 5
3660 On The Rise — 3660 Waialae Avenue, 737-1177; Executive Chef: Russel Siu
Best Maui Restaurant
GOLD
Pineapple Grill — 200 Kapalua Drive, Lahaina, Maui, (808) 669-9600; Executive Chef: Ryan Luckey
SILVER
Lahaina Grill — 127 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, Maui, (808) 667-5117; Executive Chef: Arnulfo Gonzalez
BRONZE
Mama’s Fish House — 799 Poho Place, Kuau, Maui, (808) 579-8488; Executive Chef: Perry Bateman
TOP 5
Casanova’s Italian Restaurant — 1188 Makawao Ave., Makawao, Maui, (808) 572-0220; Executive Chef: David Gemberling
TOP 5
Mala Ocean Tavern — 1307 Front St., Lahaina, Maui, (808) 667-9394; Executive Chef: Ben Klein
Best Kauai Restaurant
GOLD
The Beach House Restaurant — 5022 Lawai Road, Koloa, Kauai, (808) 742-1424; Executive Chef: Todd Barrett
SILVER
Mediterranean Gourmet — 5-7132 Kuhio Highway, Haena, Kauai, (808) 826-9875; Executive Chef/Owner: Imad Beydoun
BRONZE
Kauai Grill — St. Regis Princeville Resort, 5520 Ka Haku Road, Princeville, Kauai, (808) 826-9644; Chef de Cuisine: Colin Hazama
TOP 5
Red Salt — 2251 Poipu Road, Koloa, Kauai, (808) 828-8888; Executive Chef: Ronnie Sanchez
TOP 5
Bar Acuda — 5-5161 Kuhio Highway, Hanalei, Kauai, (808) 826-7081; Executive Chef: Christophe Lebiet
Best Big Island Restaurant
GOLD
Merriman’s Waimea — 65-1227 Opelo Road, Kamuela, Hawaii, (808) 885-6822; Executive Chef/Owner: Peter Merriman
SILVER
Kaleo’s Bar & Grill — 15-2662 Pahoa Village Road #8512, Pahoa, Hawaii, (808) 965-5600; Executive Chef: Tammy Ancheta
BRONZE
Huggo’s — 75-5828 Kahakai Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, (808) 329-1493; Executive Chef: Laine Uchida
TOP 5
Brown’s Beach House — The Fairmont Orchid, 1 N. Kaniku Drive, Kohala Coast, Hawaii, (808) 887-7368; Executive Chef: Thepthikone Keosavang
TOP 5
Café Pesto Kawaihae — 61-3665 Highway 270, Kawaihae, Hawaii, (808) 882-1071; Executive Chef: Moki Tavares
Best New Restaurant
GOLD
Soul — 3040 Waialae Ave., 735-7685; Executive Chef/Owner: Sean Priester
SILVER
BLT Steak — 223 Saratoga Road, 683-7440; Executive Chef: Johan Svensson
BRONZE
Side Street Inn on Da Strip — 614 Kapahulu Ave., 739-3939; Executive Chef/Owner: Colin Nishida
Best Little Neighborhood Restaurant
GOLD
Kalapawai Café & Deli — 750 Kailua Road, 262-3354; Executive Chef: John Memering
SILVER
Good to Grill — 888 Kapahulu Ave., Suite 170, 734-7345; Executive Chef: Isaiah Cantotay
BRONZE
TOWN — 3435 Waialae Ave., 735-5900; Chef de Cuisine: Dave Caldiero
Best Service
GOLD
Roy’s Hawaii Kai — 6600 Kalanianaole Highway, 396-7697; Executive Chef: Chris Garnier
SILVER
Alan Wong’s Honolulu — 1857 S. King St., Third Floor, 949-2526; Chef de Cuisine: Wade Ueoka
BRONZE
Lahaina Grill — 127 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, Maui, (808) 667-5117; Executive Chef: Arnulfo Gonzalez
Best Lunch
GOLD
Mariposa — 1450 Alamoana Blvd., 951-3420; Chef de Cuisine: Marc Anthony Freiberg
SILVER
The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong — 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Macy's, Third Floor, 945-6573; Executive Chef: Lance Kosaka
BRONZE
Tango Contemporary Café — 1288 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 120, 593-7288; Executive Chef/Owner: Göran Streng
Best Wine Program
GOLD
Formaggio Wine Bar — 2919 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 120, 593-7288; Sommelier: Beau Kennedy
SILVER
Vino Italian Tapas — 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 6D-1, 524-8466; Master Sommelier: Chuck Furuya
BRONZE
Chef Mavro — 1969 S. King St., 944-4714; Sommelier: Todd Ashline
Best Value
GOLD
Roy’s Hawaii Kai — 6600 Kalanianaole Highway, 396-7697; Executive Chef: Chris Garnier
SILVER
The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong — 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Macy's, Third Floor, 945-6573; Executive Chef: Lance Kosaka
BRONZE
Top of Waikiki — 2270 Kalakaua Ave., 923-3877; Executive Chef: John Neff
Best Pupu
GOLD
Side Street Inn — 1225 Hopaka St., 591-0253; Executive Chef/Owner: Colin Nishida
SILVER
Ryan’s Grill — 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 591-9132; Executive Chef: Ken McKenzie
BRONZE
Uncle Bo’s — 559 Kapahulu Ave., 735-8310; Owner: Hosuk Lee
Best Place to Take Visitors
GOLD
Roy’s Hawaii Kai — 6600 Kalanianaole Highway, 396-7697; Executive Chef: Chris Garnier
SILVER
Top of Waikiki — 2270 Kalakaua Ave., 923-3877; Executive Chef: John Neff
BRONZE
Chai’s Island Bistro — 1 Aloha Tower Market Place, 585-0011; Executive Chef: Chai Chaowasaree
Best Hotel Restaurant
GOLD
Orchids at the Halekulani — 2199 Kalia Road, 923-2311; Executive Chef: Vikram Garg
SILVER
Hoku’s at the Kahala Hotel & Resort — 5000 Kahala Ave., 739-8780; Executive Chef: Wayne Hirabayashi
BRONZE
Prince Court at the Hawaii Prince Hotel — 100 Holomoana St., 944-4494; Executive Chef: Kirby Wong
Restaurant That is Worth the Trip
GOLD
Ola at Turtle Bay — 57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, 293-0801; Executive Chef: Fred DeAngelo
SILVER
Mama’s Fish House — 799 Poho Place, Kuau, Maui, (808) 579-8488; Executive Chef: Perry Bateman
BRONZE
Haleiwa Joe’s at Haiku Gardens — 46-336 Haiku Road, Kaneohe, 247-0605; Executive Chef: Matthew Small
Best Restaurant for Date Night
GOLD
Michel’s at the Colony Surf — 2895 Kalakaua Ave., 923-6552, Executive Chef: Eberhard "Hardy" Kintscher
SILVER
Top of Waikiki — 2270 Kalakaua Ave., 923-3877; Executive Chef: John Neff
BRONZE
La Mer — 2199 Kalia Road, 923-2311; Chef de Cuisine: Vikram Garg
Best Restaurant For a Big Group
GOLD
Buca di Beppo — 1030 Auahi St., 591-0880; Executive Chef: Kent Eckfeldt
SILVER
Tiki’s Grill and Bar — 2570 Kalakaua Ave., 923-8454; Executive Chef: Ronnie Nasuti
BRONZE
Just Taco’s Mexican Grill & Cantina — 92-1046 Olani St., Kapolei, 677-7782; Executive Chef: Gonzalo Granillo
Best Breakfast
GOLD
Café Kaila — 2919 Kapiolani Blvd., 732-3330; Executive Chef/Owner: Chrissie Castillo
SILVER
Cinnamon’s — 315 Uluniu St., Kailua, 261-8724; Executive Chef: Norman "Puna" Nam
BRONZE
Boots & Kimo’s — 151 Hekili St., Kailua, 263-7929; Owner: Rick Kiakona
Best Restaurant for a Healthy Meal
GOLD
TOWN — 3435 Waialae Ave., 735-5900; Chef de Cuisine: Dave Caldiero
SILVER
Hale Macrobiotic — Original location closed Oct. 2010, New King Street location opening Spring 2010, 944-1555; Executive Chef: Moco Kubota
BRONZE
Umeke Market — 4400 Kalanianaole Highway, 739-2990; Executive Chef/Owner: Michelle Yamaguchi
Best Gourmet Comfort Food
GOLD
12th Ave Grill — 1145 12th Ave., 732-9469; Executive Chef/Owner: Kevin Hanney
SILVER
TOWN — 3435 Waialae Ave., 735-5900; Chef de Cuisine: Dave Caldiero
BRONZE
Kalapawai Café & Deli — 750 Kailua Road, 262-3354; Executive Chef: John Memering
Best Steak
GOLD
Ruth’s Chris Steak House — 500 Ala Moana Blvd., 599-3860; Executive Chef: Kyle Yonashiro
SILVER
Hy’s Steakhouse — 2440 Kuhio Ave., 922-5555; Executive Chef: Zack Inouye
BRONZE
Morton’s the Steakhouse — 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2001, 949-1300; Executive Chef: Andy Degamo
Best Seafood
GOLD
Nico’s at Pier 38 — 1133 N. Nimitz Highway, 540-1377; Executive Chef: Nicolas "Nico" Chaize
SILVER
Mama’s Fish House — 799 Poho Place, Kuau, Maui, (808) 579-8488; Executive Chef: Perry Bateman
BRONZE
Uncle’s Fish Market and Grill — 1135 N. Nimitz Highway, 275-0063; Executive Chef: Geoffrey Arakawa
Best Dessert
GOLD
Roy’s Hawaii Kai — 6600 Kalanianaole Highway, 396-7697; Executive Chef: Chris Garnier
SILVER
Cheesecake Factory — 2301 Kalakaua Ave., 924-5001; Executive Chef: Steve Hessenflow
BRONZE
JJ Bistro & French Pastry — 3447 Waialae Ave., 739-0993; Executive Chef/Owner: J.J. Luangkhot
Best Chinese
GOLD
Little Village Noodle House — 1113 Smith St., 545-3008; Executive Chef: Kenneth Chan
SILVER
Fook Yuen Seafood Restaurant — 1960 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 200, 973-0168; Executive Chef: Bill Leung
BRONZE
Happy Days — 3553 Waialae Avenue, 738-8666
Best Hawaiian
GOLD
Ono Hawaiian Food — 726 Kapahulu Ave., 737-2275; Executive Chef: Vivian Lee
SILVER
Highway Inn — 94-226 Leoku St., 677-4345; Executive Chef: Gary Toguchi
BRONZE
Helena’s Hawaiian Food —1240 N. School St., 845-8044; Owner/Chef: Craig Katsuyoshi
Best Italian
GOLD
Assaggio — 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 1259, 942-3446; Executive Chef: Thomas Ky
SILVER
Auntie Pasto’s — 1099 S. Beretania St., 523-8855; Owner: Ed Wary
BRONZE
Café Sistina — 1314 S. King St., 596-0061; Executive Chef/Owner: Sergio Mitrotti
Best Japanese
GOLD
Tanaka of Tokyo — 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., 945-3443; Executive Chef: Brandon Naval
SILVER
Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant — 1824 S. King St., 949-4584; Executive Chef: Willy Okimoto
BRONZE
Yanagi Sushi — 762 Kapiolani Blvd., 597-1525; Owner/Chef: Haruo Nakayama
Best Thai
GOLD
Phuket Thai — 1960 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 109, 942-8194; Executive Chef: Naret Sihavong
SILVER
Bangkok Chef — 1627 Nuuanu Ave., 585-8839; Owner: Patrick Chang
BRONZE
Chiang Mai — 2239 S. King St., 941-1151; Executive Chef: Vincent Hu
For full coverage on this year's Hale Aina Awards, look for our upcoming January 2011 issue.
