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Buffets
Please click on the following links to explore the various all-you-can-eat buffets on Oahu, Hawaii:
Page 1: Makino Chaya, Todai's, Hakone, Hanaki, Tsukiji Fish Market, Kat'z Sushi.
Americans have quite the reputation for being overweight, and I suppose that Hawaii is one of those states that contribute greatly to the title. We grow ‘em pretty big out here, and we definitely love our buffets! Though prices are mostly on the high side - $25-$40 per head, there are several buffets that are more economical, only without the more expensive items, such as crab legs, sashimi, good-quality seafood in general, and high-end beef. For a Brazilian-style buffet, check out Tudo De Bom, which is our only Brazilian entrant listed earlier in the Carribean/South American section.
As if regular buffets weren’t enough, there is a once-a-week mega-buffet, one that puts all others to shame. Try thinking palatial buffet halls in the days of Nero and Caligula (without the drunken orgies and bathhouses!) and you can probably imagine what a Sunday Brunch Buffet in the islands is like. The Waikiki locations are usually the most extravagant, with huge, all-you-can-eat spreads featuring prime rib, crab legs, baked salmon, steamed mussels, teriyaki chicken, sushi, poke, salads, breads and buns, fruits galore, and a dizzying array of everything you can ever think of, all tastefully presented in grand form. There are omelet and crepe stations, meat carvers, and dessert tables overflowing with an assortment of cakes, pies, bread puddings, tarts, parfaits, and sometimes even soft-serve ice cream cones with sweet syrups, chopped nuts, and candy sprinkles. They are the perfect occasions to gorge yourself into paralysis.
In brief, some of the better ones are Michel’s, 923-6552, at the Colony Surf Hotel, Orchids, 923-2311, at the Halekulani, Banyan Veranda, 921-4600, at the Westin Moana Surfrider, Prince Court, 944-4494, at the Waikiki Prince, Oceanarium, 921-6111, at the Pacific Beach, and the Surf Room, 931-8383, at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Outside of Waikiki, the Sunday brunch at Hoku’s, 739-8780, at the Kahala Resort and Hotel, is as extensive and memorable as the best Waikiki has to offer, as is the layout at John Dominis, 523-0955, in Kakaako and the funky, new-wave Stage, 237-5429, near the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Most of these locations are also full-fledged Hawaii Regional Cuisine restaurants by night and mentioned in the Hawaii Regional Cuisine section.
Get ready to dish out roughly $30-$45 per adult for any one of them, but are well worth it for people who can appreciate an ultimate feast. Be sure to call in early, as Sunday brunches like the one at Orchids are so popular they are often completely booked up to six months in advance! Of course, you can sometimes sneak in – you know, last-minute cancellations being the way they are.
