Hiring Unreliable Employees Bad Customer Service Lack of Accounting Skills Not Paying Required Taxes State and Federal Government Red Tape Not Watching their Cash Flow Too High of Payroll Poor Food Quality Not Advertising Owners Run Out of Money There have been hundreds of restaurants and bars come and go in the 45 years I have been living in Hawaii. I’m going to list some of the more famous ones and a few not so famous ones where I have had a meal or two and a few drinks. I’m pretty sure that my readers have been to some of these restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. I hope this list will bring back some good memories. If I have missed any obvious ones, please let me know. Legend: No Asterisks One Asterisk Two Asterisks Three Asterisks Four Asterisks Five Asterisks Never been to the restaurant, nightclub or bar Have been to the place only one or two times Have been a few times (less than 10) Have been there many times (10 to 19) Have been many-many times (20 to 39) Have been to the bar more times than I can count (40+) URL References: LIST OF RESTAURANTS, NIGHTCLUBS, AND BARS
** the Reef Tower Hotel on Lewers Street. John Dominis 43 Ahui St, Honolulu, HI near the Kaka’ako Water Front Park One of Honolulu's best Italian restaurants closed on 1 Dec 2010 after 31 years. Built over a saltwater pond featuring hammerhead sharks, stingrays, and reef fish. Jolly Roger ** One on Dillingham Blvd. and one at Waialae Ave. Featured signature sandwiches Teri-King and the memorable bacon double cheeseburger. Jumbo’s Drive-In **** Mapunapuna (near Servco Toyota and Fort Shafter) I went to often to get my breakfast - usually on my way to work John Dominis Kenny's Restaurant K Kalihi Bowling Alley Kam Bowling Alley *** North King Street Across the road form Kam Shopping Center Two of the many bowling alleys to close on the island of Oahu. The Kalihi Bowling Alley had a large bar area that I used to visit. It is now a Nissan car dealership. Kapiolani Coffee Shop * Next to Aloha Motors, where the Convention Center is now Featured Ox Tail Soup, Pig Feet Soup, and Fried Rice. Kapono’s Tower Marketplace Waterfront restaurant/Bar with live music - club founded by Henry Kapono Ka’aihue. Keone’s Lewers Street, Waikiki Jimmy Borges personal after-hours club. Kelly’s Coffee Shop and Bronco Bar ***** Nimitz Hwy, Airport Area 24 hour diner, pastry shop, and country and western bar. There are not a lot of cowboy bars in Hawaii. Yes, I spent a lot of time at the Bronco Bar.
The Queen’s Surf Restaurant and Barefoot Bar * Across from Kapiolani Park at Waikiki Beach This place is famous with the older generation that visited Waikiki – Including me! But it came to a sad end when it was condemned and torn down by Frank Fasi and the city in 1971 to open up that part of the beach to the public. R Red Baron’s Pizza *** Kamehameha Shopping center Great pizza! Our Shafter office used to go there for lunch regularly. Masa Genka was our boss then and he loved the Anchovy Pizza with beer. Many times we never made it back to work. Club Red Rose * 1646 Kona St – Ala Moana Area Stripper Club known for lewd, immoral and unlawful conduct from the ladies that worked there. The Round House ** Anna Miller’s adjacent to Pearlridge Center, Aiea Popular Restaurant and Tiki Bar. Sam Choy’s Club (in the 1940s) S Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch & Crab ** Nimitz Hwy (next to Zippy’s and across the road from City Mill) Hawaii regional cuisine; opened in 1997, closed in 2013 along with the neighboring Aloha Beer Company Sam Snead’s Tavern **** Navy-Marine Golf Club House – 2nd Floor Good place to eat and get a few drinks after golfing. I liked the bartender Elle who always treated me good. The Sandbox *** Sand Island Access Rd. Hawaii’s home of country western music; Eddie Kamae played there; original Sons of Hawaii played their first pro gig there. I went there several times – They also had pool tables. Senor Frog’s Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center Mexican restaurant & cantina bar; after hours nightclub. The Shack Waikiki * First floor of the Waikiki Trade Center Sports Bar featuring burgers and Hawaiian themed decor; live local music & dance club during late night hours. Shakey’s Pizza Parlor All locations statewide: Keeauomoku St, Kaneohe, Shakey’s decor was that of a large open warehouse with a rustic, dark-lit look; seating were long communal wooden park
W Waianae Drive Inn Farrington Hwy. (Just past Waianae Mall, next to the Adventist Church) Da’ best Hamburger Curry Stew, Laulau & Mac Salad in town. Waikiki Tavern Ewa end of Kuhio beach Food downstairs, and a booze place upstairs. The Warrior Lounge * Hale Koa Hotel, Waikiki This casual quiet indoor lounge was an excellent place for our military and guests to have a drink and relax. Waterfront Café * Aloha Tower Marketplace Bar and restaurant by day and a nightclub by night - Previously was Sloppy Joe’s & Fat Tuesdays. Wiki Wiki Drive Inn * Corner of Harding and King Street A good to go eat before the first segment of H1 Freeway was built from Waialae Ave. in Kaimuki to Ward Street near downtown. Wisteria ** King St, Moi’ili’ili Very popular place for local and Japanese cuisine – The site is currently a 7-Eleven. Wo Fat Corner of Hotel and Maunakea Street, Chinatown, Honolulu The 123-year-old Wo Fat was Hawaii’s oldest and most famous Chinese restaurant when it closed in 2005 – Site is currently an open market. Woolworth Coffee Shop * Was located in both the Ala Moana Center & Kahala Mall One of many shopping center restaurants to close in recent years. World Café * Restaurant Row, Kaka’ako In 1997 they to the Nimitz Business Plaza in a large back area warehouse. They survived for a while, then closed to become Volcano Night Club. They then closed as well. Restaurant “Death” Row's Dearly Departed: The following Restaurants have failed: Baci, Black Orchid, Blue Zebra, Boomerang's, Carnaval Las Palmas, Jose's Restaurante Mexicana Y Cantina, Kengo's Seafood, Manzo's Trattoria, Meritage Restaurant, Ocean Club, Phillip Paolo's Italian Restaurant, Rose City Diner, Studebaker's, Sunset Grill, World Cafe, and Yanni's. The only successful restaurants are Ruth’s Chris, Hiroshi and Vino. Wisteria Restaurant Wo Fat Chinese Restaurant Y Yacht Harbor Tower Restaurant Near Ala Moana Beach Park Had great food & service with Bob Nelson on piano.
The Yum Yum Tree * All three locations: Ward Center, Kahala Mall & Kailua Family restaurant that was part of the Jolly Roger chain that closed down. Z The Zebra Room **** Kalakaua Ave., between Young & Beretania This bar was just around the corner from I lived in the early 1970s. It opened at 6AM and we used to meet there before going golfing for a couple of early morning cold ones.