Melissa Chang

3 weeks ago | honolulumagazine.com | Melissa Chang

Affordably luxuriant Toriyama layers wagyu onto bowls of spicy garlic, miso, yuzu kosho and other ramen in Kapolei. West O‘ahu finally has a luxurious wagyu ramen—in the supermarket ambience of the new Don Don Donki in Kapolei. Named for the brand of wagyu beef flown in from Gunma Prefecture in Japan, Toriyama offers several broths topped with corn, scallions and thin slices of wagyu.

2 months ago | honolulumagazine.com | Melissa Chang

Chris Kajioka’s nostalgic cocktail lounge on Pi‘ikoi is worth a visit, if you can find it. People somehow knew about 430 Pkwy’s opening without any fanfare, and even more incredibly, they were able to find the place without signs or directions. The staff swears the new cocktail lounge is not supposed to be a speakeasy, and they didn’t deliberately try to be hard to find, but it’s quite a feat to get there on your first try.

2 months ago | honolulumagazine.com | Diane Seo |Melissa Chang |Andrea Lee |Thomas Obungen

Your don’t need to be under the weather—or chilled by the weather—to savor a good bowl of jook, especially with the countless options in Honolulu. From simmering Chinese congee with pork and century-old egg, to a Vietnamese version brimming with beef, herbs and a fried egg, rice porridge sheds its bland reputation with bold options. Here are eight of our faves. Aloha Manapua This is our hidden gem of jook.

2 months ago | honolulumagazine.com | Melissa Chang

The chef-owner of Fond Maui is 1) getting raves for his tasting menus, 2) competing on “Chopped” and 3) trying to rebuild after the Lahaina fire. If you know, you know: Maui diners have been fans of chef Jojo Vasquez for more than two decades. Many of his dishes are distinctly Filipino, a nod to his roots, but infused with contemporary flair. His talents have made him a contender on Food Network shows including Iron Chef America and Beat Bobby Flay.

Mar 1, 2025 | honolulumagazine.com | Melissa Chang

In high school, my then-boyfriend, from ‘Aiea, drove us to Mililani for a “country” adventure. At a restaurant filled with locals, he mused, “These people think I’m a townie. That means they think you’re a super high-class townie.”I never gave much thought to what areas of Honolulu are actually “town.” I was born and raised in upper Liliha, went to McKinley High School, and worked most of my career in the area spanning Downtown to Ala Moana. I’m a lifelong, bona fide townie.