Oceanarium Restaurant
While the Oceanarium has great selection in its buffet and some genuinely unique desserts, its food quality is average. The ambiance makes up for it, however--especially if you're traveling with kids. The restaurant is built around a two-story-high aquarium that features a diver hand-feeding the fish while you're feeding yourself. Oceanarium offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner buffets; the best is the brunch, when the wide assortment of sushi and sashimi is still very fresh and the chefs can make your omelets and waffles to order. This is a great precursor to a snorkeling expedition.
2490 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815-3240
www.pacificbeachhotel.com
(808) 922-1233
Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar
The Shore Bird is interesting: it's a combination buffet salad bar and steak place, but you choose and grill your own meat, chowing down on the buffet while your tasty steak or kabob is sizzling to your desired rareness. This restaurant is located on the ocean-side ground floor of the Beachcomber Reef hotel, next door to the Fort DeRussy park. Between the great food and the $3 mai-tais (during Happy Hour), there is no better place to enjoy the sunset over Waikiki. Look in the local free guidebooks like "This Week in Oahu" for a 50%-off-second-entree coupon.
2169 Kalia Rd # 118
Honolulu, HI 96815-1989
shorebirdwaikiki.com
(808) 922-3416
Makino Chaya
Located at Aloha Tower on the other end of Honolulu from Waikiki, Makino Chaya is a Japanese buffet featuring teppanyaki with wagyu beef, excellent lobster and a wonderful assortment of sushi. Go easy on anything covered in sauce, as much of it is heavy on Hawaii's favorite condiment, mayonnaise. Otherwise, this is a great place to go for all-you-can-eat seafood. Aloha Tower is really tight on parking, so taking a taxi or public transportation is a good idea if you're staying in the Waikiki area; the Hilo Hattie free trolley stops here as well. This is a great place to go when you're visiting Chinatown, as Aloha Tower is about a block away.
1 Aloha Tower Dr # 205
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-4830
(808) 585-6360
