Thomas Obungen

Honolulu

Associate Editor at Frolic Hawaii

Associate Editor at Honolulu Magazine

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Articles

Baton a Manger Brings Chic Parisian Sandwiches to Kaka‘ako

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Thomas Obungen

Don’t be fooled by these petite-but-rich stick-shaped sandwiches made with buttery choux pastry and French-inspired toppings. Tomorrow I’ll be strolling the cobblestone streets of a medieval French village in search of a crusty baguette, some ham and a block of salty butter to make myself a jambon beurre.
8 Places to Get Really Good Jook

1 month 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.
Wait, There’s Legit Neapolitan Pizza and Other Food Trucks at a YMCA?

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Thomas Obungen

Although I’ve never stayed, I recently found out it’s fun to eat at the YMCA. A pod of food trucks and trailers hawking tacos, Neapolitan pizza, açaí bowls and cannolis now call the driveway at Central YMCA home. On a recent weekend, the wood-burning brick oven at Zucchi Pizza lured me to this four-month old hub. Every evening except Fridays, chef-owner Rodrigo Zucchi opens the sides of his trailer at 5 p.m. to reveal a Stefano Ferrara wood-burning brick oven from Naples.
Reader Poll: Who Makes the Best Garlic Shrimp Plate on O‘ahu?

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Thomas Obungen

Spring is knocking on our door. Soon, we’ll be heading out to soak up the rays, surf and alfresco grub of the North Shore. Ubiquitous as feral chickens, garlic shrimp shacks dot the sides of Kamehameha Highway for miles. Frolic intern Katelyn Pabila recently ranked three of them—now, we’re throwing it open to you.
Where Time Stands Still: Bravo Italian Restaurant

2 months ago | honolulumagazine.com | Thomas Obungen

Iconic for garlic knots since the ’80s, Bravo’s red sauce aesthetic remains unchanged. Everyone talks about Anna Miller’s and her overflowing hotcakes, fresh strawberry pies and babydoll uniforms. While time certainly stands still there, I’m here to root for her neighbor on the ground floor, Bravo Italian Restaurant, a place I’ve dined at my entire life.
Foodflash: Mille Fête Is Finally Opening Next Week in Chinatown

2 months ago | honolulumagazine.com | Thomas Obungen

Hey Chinatown, y’all ready for this? Mille Fête, a collaboration between James Beard Award-winning chef Robynne Maii, her husband Chuck Bussler and New York gourmet dessert caterer Katherine Yang is finally set to open next Thursday, Feb. 20. The star power doesn’t end there: The upscale bakery-café is backed by Gail Simmons of Top Chef fame.
Restaurants We Love

2 months ago | honolulumagazine.com | Mari Taketa |Thomas Obungen |Melissa Chang

The restaurants with a place in our hearts: The Pig & The Lady, Helena’s Hawaiian Food, Lam’s Kitchen, Morning Glass Coffee, Le’s Banh Mi, Pizza Mamo, Southern Love, MW Restaurant, Hawai‘i Dim Sum & Seafood and Kapa Hale. The best restaurants in Honolulu? These places are exceptional in their categories because of consistent flavor and execution, of course. They’re also eateries we think are worth our hard-earned dollars, whether it’s $20 or $200.
43 Amazing Things to Do

2 months ago | honolulumagazine.com | Christine Labrador |Andrea Lee |James Nakamura |Thomas Obungen

Sip Wine at Sunset at the Liljestrand HouseIt’s not every day you can enjoy the sunset with a glass of your favorite vintage while lounging on a balcony of a Tantalus Drive home designed by celebrated midcentury modern architect Vladimir Ossipoff. The Liljestrand Foundation, which aims to preserve the historic 1952 home, offers two-hour private sunset tours of the place. It’s $900 for a group of 10, or $90 each for 10 to 16 people.
Hidden Gem: Tio’s Tamales

Jan 9, 2025 | honolulumagazine.com | Thomas Obungen

Throwback to that time we found a brand new tamale place between a mandoo shop and a Thai bar. Editor’s Note: We published this post in December 2016, just a couple of months after Tio’s Tamales opened on an unlikely stretch of Nu‘uanu Avenue. It’s worth a revisit, and so is the tamale shop. From Thai and Korean takeout spots to Irish pubs at the makai end, you wouldn’t blink at the diversity of eateries that line Nu‘uanu Avenue.
Take a Sip Back in Time with Kalo and Cream

Dec 1, 2024 | honolulumagazine.com | Thomas Obungen

Kalo and Cream’s crack seed-inspired sodas and syrups transport us to small kid time. After John and Bethany Letoto unexpectedly lost their jobs in 2023, they had to think fast about their next move. With experience in food service and specialty coffee, an idea bubbled up—a crack seed cream soda. They envisioned a drink for locals by locals, that would transport kama‘āina to small kid time at first sip.