Lady Elaine in Manoa Marketplace

Crudo

Already a fan of Little Plum, I was excited to have dinner at its sister restaurant, Lady Elaine. Located in the Manoa Marketplace, Lady Elaine offers a modern take on Mediterranean cuisine. 

The restaurant is spacious with a nice vibe and perfect for large groups. My friend has a gluten allergy so the server took the time to let us know what was gluten free on the menu which we appreciated. We started with the bread and butter and warm olives. For our family style dinner, we shared the crudo, cacio potatoes, heirloom carrots, charred tahini cabbage, turmeric chicken skewers, and the fresh catch. We ended with ricotta fritters and coconut whipped panna cotta.

Heirloom Carrots

Turmeric Chicken Skewers

Fresh Catch

I love that the menu has so many veggie options with the carrots and cabbage being my favorites. The fresh catch was tasty as well, but I really enjoyed the turmeric chicken skewers. We had a really nice dinner and would 100% recommend. They are open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.

Lady Elaine 

2752 Woodlawn Dr.

Honolulu, HI 96822

(808) 888-3030

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Istanbul Hawaii

Istanbul Hawaii does not disappoint! 

Mosaic of Meze Platter

Of course the Meze Platter is always a must.  The platter contained hummus, muhammara, baba ganoush, truffle-honey labne, spanakopita, aegean olives (with pits), fermented purple cabbage, and sourdough pide.  I loved the labneh, muhammara, and hummus most, but everything on the platter was absolutely delish.  I got so full off tasting all the amazing dips that I didn't know if I could even touch my dinner . . .

Jidori Chicken Tenderloin Shish

But I did!  The chicken was so tender and flavorful.  My chicken-averse friend said it was absolutely delicious as well.  

Bedouin's Lamb Shank Tagine

We were incredibly stuffed, but decided to try the Hatay Kunefe at the recommendation of our server. 

Hatay Kunefe

This sweet and savory dish was so addicting.  The gooey cheese combined with the crispy phyllo made for such a pleasant dessert.  

Service was excellent, and we were lucky to see Chef Ahu while we were there.

Istanbul Hawaii does such an amazing job in incorporating local ingredients into Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisine.

Mahalo to Chef Ahu and the entire team for a fantastic meal!

Istanbul Hawaii
1108 Auahi St STE 152

Honolulu, HI 96814

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A Mediterranean Lunch at Sera

Linguine Frutti Di Mare

Sera, formerly known as Mara, is a Mediterranean restaurant located in the
Renaissance hotel on Kapiolani. The restaurant is very pretty with classy, warm vibes
making it perfect for date night or lunch with the girls.

On the menu is a nice selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pastas, and a grilled
plate lunch option where you choose your protein. I opted for the grilled fish sandwich
served with fries, but next time I would like to try their spaghetti and meatball. For
dessert, we shared the frozen yogurt topped with baklava crumble.

Grilled Fish Sandwich with Fries

Arugula Salad with local fish

Yogurt Soft Serve with Baklava Crumble

Sera is open daily from 6:30am to 10pm. Valet parking is complimentary for 3 hours when dining at Sera.

Sera

1390 Kapiolani Boulevard

Honolulu, Hawaii 96814

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Döner Shack - Keeaumoku

 Tried out the new Doner Shack location on Keeaumoku Street (inside Sam Sung Plaza), and it’s definitely more convenient than having to trek into downtown Honolulu. That said, parking here can be a bit of a headache—especially during lunch or dinner rush. We managed to find a spot, but we did get charged $1 even though the window sign said parking is free with validation for up to an hour. Not a huge deal, just a little confusing.

As for the food—thumbs up from me! I got the rice plate with a combo of chicken and lamb, which comes with rice, meat, veggies, and sauces. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. I’d definitely order it again. 

My friend went with the doner wrap (chicken, veggies, and sauce) but found it a bit bland, so maybe the rice plate is the better pick here if you’re looking for more flavor, or you may need to amp up the sauces or add the lamb!

All in all, tasty food and worth a visit—even if the parking situation isn’t the easiest. Looking forward to coming back!

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DONER SHACK - KEEAUMOKU

661 KEEAUMOKU STREET

808-840-0079

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Brunch at Istanbul Hawaii

If you’re looking for an unforgettable brunch experience in Honolulu, look no further than Istanbul Restaurant. A group of us visited for a girls-only brunch, and we were absolutely blown away by the flavors, atmosphere, and impeccable service.

We enjoyed items from the brunch menu, lunch menu, and all-day dessert menu, and I can confidently say that everyone was in heaven. The flavors were vibrant, and each dish seemed to be crafted with so much care. A few members of our group were first-timers to Istanbul Restaurant, and they were truly blown away by how bold and rich the dishes were.

The staff was incredibly friendly, making our brunch feel even more special. They were attentive without being overbearing, and their enthusiasm for the menu was contagious.

We can't wait to return!

Meze Platter

72-Hour fermented sourdough pide

Simit & Eggs

Spanakopita Benedict

Iskender Doner

Turkish Kahve with a Delight

Antep Baklava

 

ISTANBUL HAWAII

1108 Auahi Street 

808-772-4440

Free parking in the building, or in any of the surrounding Ward Village Parking Lots

Closed Mondays and Tuesday

Reservations are highly recommended (book on Open Table)

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Istanbul Hawaii

 Istanbul Hawaii has quickly become of one of my current favorite places for dining in. Not only do they have outdoor seating, but their service is always fabulous and so is their food.

I tried the Meze Platter for the first time, and I would definitely recommend this as a starter! This really could be a meal in and of itself, but don't do it, otherwise you'll miss out on the pita wraps and plates.

The three of us each ordered different menu items, all of which were very flavorful and filling.

organic chicken tenderloin pita wrap

doner pita wrap

lamb tenderloin (2 SHISH)

Although we were extremely full from the platter and our entrees, we (well, it was mostly ME) just had to order the baklava.  

Can you count the layers? There are 40 layers of filo in there!

I love everything about Istanbul Hawaii - the food, ambiance, parking (there are spaces directly behind the restaurant - enter off of Queen Street), and the service.  Reservations are highly recommended. Take-out is available!

Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

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Istanbul Hawaii
1108 Auahi Street
(808) 772-4440

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Visit DC: Zaytinya

I was talking to Ashley Nagaoka about upcoming trips during an event a few months ago, and mentioned I was going to DC for the first time.  I was excited to find out she worked there for several years and would be willing to give me a list of some must-eats.

At the top of her list was Zaytinya.  This Jose Andres and ThinkFoodGroup restaurant serves up Mediterranean small plates, which allowed our family to try a variety of foods!

Complimentary Pita Bread

Shish Taouk

Pork Belly Souvlaki

Soujouk Pide

Blue Catfish Skordalia

Spanakopita

Falafel

Hommus

Greek Fries

Everything was fab - even the complimentary, never-ending baskets of pita (which one of my sons could not stop eating).

The Soujouk Pide was topped with spicy soujouk sausage, kasar cheese, and a 65-degree egg.

The Blue Catfish Skordalia was one of my faves.  The ouzo batter was light and tasty!

The Shish Taouk consisted of grilled chicken, sumac, onions, garlic, toum, and grilled tomatoes.  The chicken was seaoned perfectly!

The Pork Belly Souvlaki was another of my faves.  The pork belly was served with a jalapeno z'houg sauce.

Of course we just had to order our typical Mediterranean faves, like Spanakopita, Falafel, and Hommus.  The Greek Fries were pretty addicting.

I loved the food and the service at Zaytinya.

Thank you, Ashley, for the recommendation!

Zaytinya
701 9th St NW

Washington, DC 20001
(202) 638-0800

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Mary's Mediterranean Kitchen

Located in Moanalua 99 is Mary's Mediterranean Kitchen, where they serve authentic Mediterranean and Armenian-based dishes. 

I opted for the Chicken Suvlaki.

Everything on the plate was delish - from the rice, to the chicken, to the hummus!

The chicken was tender and aromatic.

Service was very friendly, and I wouldn't hesitate to return!

Mary's Mediterranean Kitchen
1151 Mapunapuna St #8

Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 839-7777

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