Pizza

Besides the outlets listed in this section, you can find great, modern-style pizza pies at many other places, such as Don Ho’s, Kona Brewing Co., and Gordon Biersch in the Dinner w/Drinks section and Longhi’s, Arancino, and Bucca De Beppo in the Italian secion, as well as many of the American casual family restaurants.

Da Big Boy’z: So many! Mama’s has the best pizza for me without going new-wave; Antonio’s is also great for a simple, economical pizza; Big Kahuna for a more hearty, thick-crusted version; Z Pizza for a healthier, modern, boutique-style pizza; JJ Dolan's for great pizza in a festive, drink-friendly atmosphere; V-Lounge for the most uber-chic pizza here!

Antonio’s New York Pizzeria. Main store: 4210 Waialae Ave. in Kahala (map shown), 737-3333; and 719 Kamehameha hwy. in Pearl City, 454-1233. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking fronting stores. Prices: $. Map. The two Italian cousins who own this store claim to build pizza, pasta, sandwiches, calzone, and other items the same way and with the same ingredients they used in the Big Apple. Of that I cannot be certain, but the pizza sure is good! The calzone’s are also tasty, but are a bit skimpy on the fillings. The biggest drawback here is the terrible service, at least at the Kahala location. With the owners heavily involved in the local pro wrestling scene (of the Jim McMahon type, that is!), there's a bunch of nostalgia up on the wall, and workers who look like they could jump in the ring, as well!

Pizza Bobs. 66-145 Kamehameha Hwy. at the Haleiwa S.C. in Haleiwa. 637-5095. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. If you are out on the North Shore, this is a great place to eat, drink, and be merry. There are delicious sandwiches, pastas, and of course, pizza, which is made from fresh ingredients and hand-tossed crusts. The burgers are also great, as well as the pesto/cheese bread and Thai spicy chicken wings!

Shrimp/garlic pizza is one of the many new-wave, specialty pizza's found at CPK.

A long-time favorite, Magoo's Pizza is a nostalgic look at old-school pizza, along with great sub sandwiches!

Oh, Mama! One taste and you'll be hooked on the down-to-earth goodness found in Kailua town.

 

Mama’s Island Pizza. Note: Mama's Pizza has now closed and is currently looking for a new location! A Closer Look. 108 Hekili st. in Kailua. 624-6262. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking outside store. Prices: $. Map.  Mama’s is the place to be for a great pizza and a bunch of extra’s. Mama employs a stone-bottomed oven that makes for a crisp, slightly darker crust that has a healthy cornmeal taste and is one of the few places that I actually enjoy the outsides almost as much as the insides. There are also quality chicken wings, garlic bread sticks, sandwiches, salads, and even a chicken wrap. And what’s a good pizza without beer? You can find 16 oz. servings of Bud Light for $2.99 and pitchers for $8.99, with Kona Longboard Lager in the same portions going for $3.99 and $11.99, as well. There are also various bottled beers and a small assortment of wines by the glass, half carafe, or full carafe for decent prices. Down-home goodness any way you look at it from this small shop in Kailua town.

 

Z Pizza.  A Closer Look. 1200 Ala Moana Blvd. at the Ward Center Shops. 596-0066. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in Center lot. Prices: $$. Map.  Z Pizza is a fast-growing franchise operation based out of Laguna Beach, CA.  They hail all manner of healthy, trend-setting, modern-style pizza choices, using an organic tomato sauce, a house-made dough, stone-bottomed ovens for a crispy crust, and ingredients like pili pili oil, mango chutney, basil pesto, pine nuts, crimini and shiitake mushrooms, and gorgonzola and feta cheeses, to name a few.  They are all used to create pizza choices like the Mediterranean, Moroccan, Provence, Santa Fe, Napoli, and more, as well as healthy salads, a couple of pasta varieties, and a few sandwiches.  Order at the counter, but they do bring everything out to your tables.  Great blend of franchise-type consistency and financial backing with a boutique-type, original menu.

 

Healthy, interesting choices abound at Z Pizza, like this Moroccan pizza on a stand.

 

JJ Dolan’s. A Closer Look. 1147 Bethel St. in Downtown Honolulu. 537-4992. 11am-2am daily, except closed Sunday. Parking at Mark’s Garage (across street) or on street. Prices: $$. Map. A very popular Downtown spot serving not only great pizza but sides such as salads, wings, fish ‘n chips, rings, fries, and more. Whole, medium-sized pies like Giacomo (sausage, pepperoni, salami, and olives), Quattro Formaggio (havarti, brie, gouda, and fontina cheeses), margherita, and maple bacon/red potato, among others. All come with a crispy crust that is thin, yet substantive enough to maintain a good mix of toppings. As for single slices, they’re only allowed for the all-time classic – pepperoni and cheese (only $3)! Despite being an Irish pub/sports bar great for a guys-night-out situation, you’ll find a good mix of hip youngsters of both sexes partying the night away, especially the later it gets, as the festive atmosphere is fun, energetic, and very drink-friendly.

 

JJ Dolan's is a Downtown hotspot, featuring pizza and sides in a festive, drink-friendly environment.

 

V-Lounge. 1344 Kona St. across from Ala Moana S.C. 953-007. 5pm-11pm nightly, except no pizza on Sunday. Parking in self-pay lot just Diamond Head of entrance; valet only after 10pm. Prices: $$. Map. Perhaps the most uber-chic pizza on the island, V-Lounge mixes the best of traditional and modern techniques and ingredients. Chef Alejandro “Aker” Briceno is a formally trained Chef with much experience as a pastry Chef (perfect for pizza dough, ey?) in top-flight restaurants all over the world, including Nobu Las Vegas and Nobu Waikiki. The only item served here is a kiawe wood-fired, super-thin-crust pizza, and only four different pies are offered. You can also build your own, but probably not from trusted toppings you normally see. No pizza chain stuff here, only such uppity fare as prosciutto, pancetta, coppa piccante, arugula, white anchovies, arugula, and house-made mozzarella. An absolute must-try is their Prima pizza, with pancetta di San Daniele, local sweet onion, Hamakua Ali’I oyster mushrooms, thyme, parsley, mozzarella, and a very interesting last two ingredients – raw egg and truffle oil! The atmosphere is local pub/sports bar all the way, with $3 bottled Grolsch or Coors light and all beer choices under $5.

 

Round Table. 3 locations in Waikiki at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Ohana East Hotel, and the Sheraton, call 944-1199 for any three spots. Also at 1020 Keolu dr. at the Keolu S.C. in Kailua (map shown), 261-4644. Prices: $$. Simple, good tasting pizza at three locations in Waikiki and also one in Kailua. Map.

Chuck E. Cheese. 2 locations: 820 Hind dr. on Kalanianaole Hwy. at the Aina Haina S.C. (map shown), 373-2151; and 850 Kamehameha Hwy. at the Pearl City S.C. in Pearl City, 455-1448. Parking in center lots. Prices: $$. Map. You’ll have to drag the kids kicking and screaming out of this place every time you visit! There are video games, air hockey tables, carousels, mobile airplanes, and a giant automated rat with an entire life-sized ensemble of Disney-like characters playing high-octane music! The pizza is decent, but a little bit expensive, even though you get free tokens for games included. Sandwiches are cheaper and more filling. Fun place even without the kids!

Waldo’s Great Flying Pizza. 95-221 Kipapa Dr. at the Mililani S.C. in Mililani. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Friday till 1:30am. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. Flying pizza? No, not the pizza, just the theme! A wooden propeller and black-and-white pictures of the wright brothers and other flying memorabilia occupy the walls of this dimly-lit, old-school pizza joint that idolizes the Howard Hughes era. There is also an outdoor space with dartboards and several television screens for sports bar fans. The pizza is simple and old-school, and they also carry sandwiches, pastas, salads, and some appetizers like buffalo wings and fries.

 

The only thing you'll find to eat at King's Pub is pizza, with no menu, only a few toppings, but a simple goodness that you'll enjoy.

 

King’s Pub. A Closer Look. 444 Niu St. at the Monarch Hotel in Waikiki. 945-3444. Dinner nightly. Parking on street or in Hotel lot. Prices: $$. Map.  This little-known, very casual spot is actually a small counter located inside of King’s Pub, the representative bar of the Monarch Hotel.  Don’t come expecting sides of Buffalo wings, cheesy breads, or even fries, as the only item they serve here is pizza, either whole or by the slice.  Furthermore, there’s only a handful of different toppings to choose from – pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and olives – that’s about it!  But hey, if it’s pizza you want, this place is not likely to disappoint, as these pies come with a simple goodness, a crispy outer crust, and an herb-topped cheese that’ll go well with a cold, frosty one from the bar.  A bit of a raunchy look and feel to the place, but don’t let that bother you, as there are dart boards, a pool table, and flat screen televisions to keep you company.  Say hello to Doreen, your waaay-friendly, very outgoing hostess of pizza who will almost surely make you blush-red with her fun, provocative teasing.

 

Back to American Foods main page

Back to Aku Eats Home