<![CDATA[                         hiohio.net - Travel Blog]]>Sat, 14 Mar 2026 18:29:57 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Eagles Buffet (at Casino Arizona)- Arizona, USA.]]>Sun, 29 Apr 2018 17:17:14 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/eagles-buffet-at-casino-arizona-arizona-usa
Eagles Buffet (Casino Arizona) USA- Seafood Buffet and AYCE Crab Legs Buffet Comparison Collage photo (Prime rib, snow crab, oysters, crab claws, cocktail shrimp).

This is actually my second visit to the Eagles Buffet in the last month (visits were about 2 weeks apart on different nights).  I got to try out the restaurant during their Seafood Buffet & All-you-can eat Crab Leg nights.  Theres's different item offering depending on which night you decide to visit (outside of these nights as well). 
Seafood Buffet
​(Fridays)
 
[FOOD] - There's a lot more seafood items to choose from (cocktail shrimp, gigantic oysters, mussels, Cajun fried rice, smoked Salmon), along with Prime Rib.  ​
[DESSERTS] - Lots more variety, the entire dessert island was filled.  
[PRICE] - $21.50
[CRAB] - Mainly claws; served cold
​(chilled on ice). 
​​[NOTES] 
  • Our party was seated pretty quickly so we did not experienced a long wait time.  
​​
All-you-can-eat Crab Legs
​(Wednesdays/ Thursdays)

[FOOD] - Carved Turkey and New York Strip Loin. Grilled Pork Chops, Fried Chicken,  Hot Wings, Pizza,  Fried Flounder, Shrimp and Bacon Fried Rice. 
[DESSERTS] - Selection seems to be drastically less overall (less than ~1/2 of the dessert station was filled).  
[PRICE] ​- ​$23.50
[CRAB] - Served hot (boiled).
​[NOTES] 
  • The wait time for this buffet can take awhile.​  For example, we arrived at ~5:30pm and waited about 40 minutes to get seated.  
Eagles Buffet (Casino Arizona) USA- Steamy hot snow crab legs (AYCE Wednesday and Thursday nights).
What a big cauldron of crab legs for AYCE!

​[OVERALL]
  • Aside from the star dishes (Crab/ Seafood/ Prime Rib), I thought their regular food menu was average.   A few dishes were overcooked on both nights. 
  • I was underwhelmed by their dessert spread on the first visit (Seafood Buffet night where they had more variety but found most of my choices to lean on the sour side). ​ For this reason, I didn't take any dessert the 2nd time around.  
  • But I have to say, they make really tasty Buffalo Wings and Creme Brulee though.  
  • Banana Split & Root Beer Float were available on both nights. 
  • Friendly servers and staff, but as the restaurant was packed both times, it's understandable to not expect really fast service. 
  • The actual buffet choices seems a bit limited for both nights. 
  • I only recommend going if you plan to mainly go for the crab or seafood items! 
​​
Eagles Buffet (Casino Arizona)- Desserts.
A few of the desserts from Seafood Night.
Root Beer Float
Root beer float with your choice of ice cream selection.
Eagles Buffet (Casino Arizona) USA Seafood Buffet Dinner regular menu items.
Few items from Seafood night.
Picture
Select items from their regular menu on Crab Leg night.
Eagles Buffet 
@ Casino Arizona
524 North 92nd Street
Scottsdale, Arizona 85256
(480) 850. 7768 

​WED + THURS
AYCE CRAB LEGS:  $23.50
4:30p - 9p [Except holidays]

FRIDAY
SEAFOOD BUFFET:  $21.50
4:30p – 10p

Full Menu, Pricing,
and operational Hours. 

  • Children 4 and under:  Free
  • ​Soft drinks included 
    ​in buffet price.
  • Automatic gratuity added to parties of 6 or more. 
  • ​Please double check with restaurant before going as menu offerings may change at any time. 
  • There might be special menus for certain occasions (Mother's day).  
AYCE Crab Leg Menu
(April 26, 2018)
Eagles Buffet (Casino Arizona) AYCE Crab Legs Wednesday and Thursdays (Dinner menu).
]]><![CDATA[Wandering Horse Seafood Dinner Buffet (Arizona, USA).]]>Sun, 25 Feb 2018 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/wandering-horse-seafood-dinner-buffet-arizona-usa
Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona USA) Friday Night Dinner Buffet (AYCE Seafood Buffet, Crab legs, shrimp, oysters).

All-you-can-eat King Crab Legs for under $40 per person? 

​ Yes, please! 

One of my dear friend told about me this buffet so of course I had to come and check it out. 
​
Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona) Friday Night Dinner Buffet, All you can eat King Crab legs split in half; Affordable Seafood Buffets AZ, USA.
The crab legs are cooked in a salt bath so when dipped in butter it is such a treat!
​
The best part about the Crab, is that the Legs are already split in half for you,
giving you more time to enjoy rather than trying to pry it open.

Last I checked, the price for King Crab Legs by the pound was more
than the cost for this buffet.  So for $36.95 (adults) for AYCE --
that is a pretty incredible deal even if that is the only thing you end up eating.
(Ok, I'm not suggesting you do exactly that but as an example).  The most recent time
I had King Crab Legs was in Las Vegas at a $95+ pp. buffet, so this is a relative bargain.  

To be honest, I wasn't that blown away by the other food items on offered
on this particular night, but their wide array of desserts did kind of make up for it. 

Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona USA) Friday Night Dinner Buffet (Desserts Collage).
You can certainly satisfy your sweet tooth here.

​I was impressed by their large variety of choices in their dessert bar
(including made-to-order Crepe & Banana Foster stations). 

Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona) Friday Night Dinner Buffet, Dessert Island, Affordable Seafood Buffets AZ, USA)
What a huge dessert spread.
Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona) Friday Night Dinner Buffet (Dessert closeup), Affordable Seafood Buffets AZ, USA.
Tasty desserts. I especially enjoyed their Tiramisu.
​
Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona) Friday Night Dinner Buffet (Gelato Dessert Bar), Affordable Seafood Buffets AZ, USA.
Gelato Bar.


Dinner Menu on my night of visit
(actual items may vary)
​

Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona USA) Friday Night Dinner Buffet Menu 1.
Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona USA) Friday Night Dinner Buffet Menu 2.
Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona USA) Friday Night Dinner Buffet Menu 3.

It turns out, my family had already been here previously but on a non Seafood day.
They vaguely remembered their last visit as that time they felt the selection
was very limited. 

But they enjoyed this visit a lot especially the desserts. 
​Majority of everything we tried from their desserts were really good. 

While the food portion of the buffet isn't that vast, I still think it's a good value for a visit
​(or come just for the Crab).  


​[Wandering Horse Buffet Hours]
​

Wandering Horse Buffet (Talking Stick Resort Arizona USA) Buffet Operation Hours
Wandering Horse Buffet
at Talking Stick Resort 
​
9800 East Talking Stick Way
Scottsdale, Arizona 85256

480. 850.7777

Wandering Horse Buffet
(Official Website)
​
​Soft Drinks are included in the price of the buffet while wine & alcohol is separate.

​
The Seafood Buffet with King Crab Legs here are only offered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Brunch. 
  • Free parking
My ratings
  • Service:  8/10
  • ​Food:  7.5/10  (10/10 for just the King Crab Legs)
  • Value:  9/10
]]><![CDATA[Asian Cafe Express: Tasty and Affordable Chinese in Arizona (Mesa).]]>Sun, 17 Dec 2017 23:25:14 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/asian-cafe-express-tasty-and-affordable-chinese-in-arizona-mesa[Updated]- 2/25/18
Asian Cafe Express Chinese Restaurant Arizona, USA (collage).
Asian Cafe Express takes after the concept of a Chinese tea restaurant (Cha Chaan Teng),
offering authentic yet super affordable and filling portions with a vast menu that's 
perfect for groups or families.   I've been here a few times already and wanted to share my experience. 
I was really impressed by their 300+ menu choices and weekly specials.

If you order Ala Carte, most menu items are around the $6-$8.50 range. 
Entrees include complimentary steamed white or brown rice.

If you're not that hungry, they also carry rice bowls for $4.60 (unreal deal right)?

Though the most amazing deal is their family set dinners that start at $27.
 That includes your choice of a soup or vegetable dish,
along with 3 entree dishes from their big menu. 

Our most favorite dinner set is their Hong Kong Dinner Set (pictured below).

One of their many Dinner Sets available: 
Asian Cafe Express Chinese Restaurant Arizona, USA (Affordable and Good Dinner Set, great for families).
Hong Kong Dinner Set- $42.50.
​
 All sets come with a choice of soup
(family-size; much bigger than in my individual portion shown above). 

The Hong Kong Set Dinner includes:
  • Beef with Egg White Tofu Soup
  • Choy Sum Stir-Fried with Beef
  • Hong Kong Style Sweet & Sour Pork (with or without bone)
  • Ginger & Green Onion Fish Fillet
  • Bitter Melon & Pork Spare Ribs
  • Braised Tofu
​​
Asian Cafe Express Chinese Restaurant Arizona, USA (restaurant interior view).
The atmosphere is very homey and casual while the staff are always so nice and friendly.



​​- Bring your own Seafood -

Asian Cafe Express Chinese Restaurant Arizona, USA (Bring your own Seafood; Dungeness Crab).
Dungeness Crab in Ginger & Onion Sauce.

While the restaurant does not offer opulent seafood items on their standard menu,
the very best part is that you can actually bring in your own seafood purchased that day separately. 
If it's under 2 pounds, they will clean and cook it for a fee of $7 each
(+$2 surcharge for additional vegetables, proteins, rice or noodle). 

The possibilities are quite generous with your choice of sauce and preparation style:
  • Stir-fry
  • Deep Fried
  • Steamed
  • Boil​​
Asian Cafe Express Chinese Restaurant Arizona, USA (Bring your own seafood directions and pricing).
Asian Cafe Express Chinese Restaurant Arizona, USA (Salt and Pepper Lobster).
Lobster in Salt & Pepper (with tons of garlic). Delicious!

We picked up our very own Lobster and Dungeness Crab from the nearest Asian supermarket and was in for a feast! 

One thing to note is that they are super generous with garlic in all of their dishes.
So if you are a garlic lover like I am-- its perfect.  Otherwise you might want to ask them to tone it down.

I enjoyed all of their different dishes thoroughly, so much that I just may never need to to cook my own
​ Chinese food ever again because I can just come here.  ;) 

Highly recommended!
Asian Cafe Express Arizona Menu Details.
They also don't use MSG and cook everything with Canola oil. 
Asian Cafe Express
大家樂茶餐廳
1911 West Main Street #3
Mesa, Arizona 85201

(480) 668.5910

HOURS:

Monday- Thursdays & Sundays 
11am- 9pm
Friday-Saturday
11am-9:30pm
                           (with current pricing). ​
  • 15% gratuity for parties of 6+ pp. ​
[NOTE]:  Upon re-visiting several times for dinner, if possible try to visit on an non-peak hour on a weekday.  They were extremely busy on the weekends.  In addition, they were short-staffed which resulted in a long wait for service and food (their kitchen was not able to accommodate all the traffic (dine-in and long lines of take-out and phone-orders).
]]><![CDATA[Authentic Dim Sum in the desert (Arizona, USA).]]>Sun, 22 Oct 2017 23:56:45 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/authentic-dim-sum-in-the-desert-arizona-usa
Phoenix Palace Seafood & BBQ Chinese Restaurant (Chandler, Arizona, USA). Swan shaped cream puff during Dim Sum service.
Cream puff shaped in a Swan.

When one craves for authentic Chinese Dim Sum in the middle of the desert, where to go?
Of course by Lee Lee International Supermarket --- which is 
one of the most popular Asian hangout spots around here. 

Phoenix Palace is a place that my family frequents. 

Service was excellent (though it helps that their servers remember my family). 

Even before we were fully seated, all the ladies with their dim sum carts crowded around us. 
These ladies really know how to up-sell and there's definitely no fear of leaving hungry here.

I fully enjoyed their Chrysanthemum & Pu'er Tea (mixed together);
although you can request other types of tea as well (Tea service is currently $1.95 per person).
​
Congee with thousand-year old (preserved) egg. 
Phoenix Palace Seafood & BBQ Chinese Restaurant (Chandler, Arizona, USA). Dim Sum, Congee Jook with Thousand Year old preserved egg.


​​Custard bun with coconut flake topping. 
Phoenix Palace Seafood & BBQ Chinese Restaurant (Chandler, Arizona, USA). Dim Sum, Custard Bun with Coconut flake topping.


​​Some of the Dim Sum Spread.
Phoenix Palace Seafood & BBQ Chinese Restaurant (Chandler, Arizona, USA). Dim Sum offerings (Shrimp ball, Pork Hash, Tripe, Chicken Feet, Black Bean spareribs, Taro Cake).


​Stir-fry noodles with beansprouts. ​
Phoenix Palace Seafood & BBQ Chinese Restaurant (Chandler, Arizona, USA). Dim Sum, Stir-fried noodles with beansprouts.


​​​A few of their many desserts. 
Phoenix Palace Seafood & BBQ Chinese Restaurant (Chandler, Arizona, USA). Dessert during Dim Sum service.

They carry two types of Egg Tarts (Hong Kong & Portuguese-style).   

Overall I thought Phoenix Palace's food was pretty good all across the board and you get value for your money as each Dim Sum dish ranged from:
​ $2.90, $3.25, $3.85, $5.95.

  We ended up with a total of 17 plates ordered (with lots of left overs for
​3 adults and 2 children)​ which came out to $62 after tax & before tips. 
(I didn't feature all the dishes just in case you thought I had trouble counting). ;)

I was quite impressed by their extensive variety of menu items
and recommend a visit. 
​


​Phoenix Palace 

Dim Sum & Seafood
(By Lee Lee International Supermarket)

2075 North Dobson Road
Chandler, Arizona 85224

(480) 855-4047

Open daily: 10a-10p 
Dim Sum Service: 10a-3p

​
Phoenix Palace Seafood & BBQ Chinese Restaurant (Chandler, Arizona, USA). Restaurant Exterior.
]]><![CDATA[Red Rock Buffet in Arizona (Fort McDowell Casino).]]>Wed, 11 Oct 2017 16:52:30 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/red-rock-buffet-in-arizona-fort-mcdowell-casino
Last Updated: 11/3/2018

*According to restaurant staff, this all-you-can-eat Lobster buffet
will end in November 2018*.   

As of October 2018- you have to visit a kiosk (swipe your player's card, and print out a voucher to get the $5 discount before paying for your meal vs. just showing your player's card at the cash register) :



​[NOTE]- Prices shown originally are from September 28, 2017.
​
Previously updated: 11/22/2017
Fort McDowell Casino Arizona (Maine Lobster and Prime Rib All-you-can-eat Buffet) Red Rock Buffet.
*$31.95 without player's card.* You might as one pick one up even if you don't intend to gamble, just need to show your ID card.

Unlimited Fresh Maine Lobster and Prime Rib without sacrificing price?
​
That’s unheard of on Oahu (or at any other buffet I’ve been to before anywhere).
So imagine my surprise when I found exactly this at Arizona for under $30 too. ​

I found out about the Red Rock Buffet inside the Fort McDowell Casino from my family
as this is a spot they come often for several years. 

The Fresh Maine Lobster & Prime Rib Dinner Buffet takes place every Thursday & Friday.
By signing up for a free Player's Card, you can save a few dollars on your meal-- making the feast only $26.95 for adults (kids under 5 years old eat free). 
​This includes soft-drinks while wines are $3 per glass.

​Just look at that JUICY lobster meat. 
So fresh you can taste the sweetness!
​
Fort McDowell Casino Arizona (Maine Lobster and Prime Rib All-you-can-eat Buffet) Red Rock Buffet. Juicy Lobster meat closeup.

​I really enjoyed this visit so much that the week immediately after,
​returned to try our their
Crab Leg Wednesday buffet to do a comparison.

Fort McDowell Casino Arizona, USA (All-you-can-eat Buffet) Red Rock Buffet. Unlimited Snow Crab Leg Wednesday Dinner.
$22.95 for All-you-can-eat Crab Leg Wednesdays with Player's Club Card.
​[TIP]​- While the buffet starts dinner service at 3 PM, the best time to go seems to be right before dinner rush as they replenish and bring out the Crab Legs very frequently.   We found the first initial Crab Leg batch were a bit over-frozen and mushy but later batches were much improved.  Though from my family's past visits, previous Crab Leg dinners they've had here (including one last month) was always wonderful (so they were slightly disappointed this visit) but this seems like a rare occurrence.  
​

**Update (11.22.2017)**
  I revisited for Crab Leg night for my birthday in November
and quality was very good, consistent and better than the initial visit. 
They even gave me a free mini birthday cake (pictured above).  Although not fancy, it was a very thoughtful touch.  Service was excellent too.  One of the female staff was so so kind to wipe the baby chair for my niece and the guy server we had was super nice and attentive.

Stuffing your face for under $23 with unlimited Crab Legs, that is still an incredible deal!  The best thing (for now) is that there is no time limit, so you can hit up the Casino in-between and come back for dessert later (assuming someone in your party stays inside). 

Even if you happen to lose money in the Casino, you'll still feel like you came out
a winner after visiting the buffet. 
​
Fort McDowell Casino Arizona (All-you-can-eat Buffet) Red Rock Buffet. Beef Burgundy and Mash Potato.

​I really loved their Beef Bourguignon that I made sure to eat it again on the second visit.
The meat was super fork tender with a delicious gravy. 

I found that aside from the main items Lobster with Prime Rib VS. Crab Legs with Top Round,
the other entrees and sides to choose from seems almost the same for both Lobster or Crab night. 
​
Fort McDowell Casino Arizona (All-you-can-eat Buffet) Red Rock Buffet. Thursday and Friday Prime Rib and Lobster Dinner.

What I really liked about the Red Rock Buffet is that the seafood & meat station is manned by the staff
and replenished very quickly (meaning the food is fresh and not sitting for long).​
​

​Bread Pudding, Brownie, and Fruit Cobbler.
Fort McDowell Casino Arizona (All-you-can-eat Buffet) Red Rock Buffet. Bread Pudding, Brownie, Fruit Cobbler.

​Other Desserts (cakes, pies, tapioca, etc.). 
​There's also a self-service soft serve station.
​
Fort McDowell Casino Arizona (All-you-can-eat Buffet) Red Rock Buffet. Desserts table (Pies, cakes, cookie, cupcakes).

​While the food selection at this buffet has less variety and initially looks smaller than say a Las Vegas Buffet,
majority of the items were solidly good.
​
For the price, it's worth it just to visit for the unlimited Seafood & Meat station.

Service from all of their staff was also very friendly on both visits
​ (the manager made time to go around every table to say hello as well).

Highly recommended!
​I've since visited Red Rock Buffet a handful of times for both Lobster & Snow Crab buffet nights.
Still a winner in my book (April 2018). 

Fort McDowell Casino Arizona (All-you-can-eat Prime Rib Buffet) Red Rock Buffet (Thursday and Fridays).
Prime Rib. Very soft meat!
Fort McDowell Casino Arizona USA (All-you-can-eat Red Rock Buffet Dinner Collage).

      Red Rock Buffet
At Fort McDowell Casino
​10424 North Fort McDowell Road
​Fort McDowell, AZ 85264

​Tons of free parking. 
​​
  • Wines by-the-glass:  $3. 
Fort McDowell Resort & Casino Sign.


​            Wednesday Crab Leg Special


​Thursday & Friday 
Lobster & Prime Rib Special

​Have you visited the Red Rock Buffet and if so, what were your thoughts?? 

]]><![CDATA[Breakfast with a view: Shorebird Waikiki (Oahu).]]>Wed, 23 Aug 2017 21:34:28 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/breakfast-with-a-view-shorebird-waikiki-oahu
View of Diamond Head from Shorebird Restaurant & Bar at Outrigger Waikiki Reef Hotel.
Shore Bird has been around since 1979 
and is best known for their "grill-your-own-dinner" concept by the beach.
So you get to enjoy all the fun of grilling while they take care of all the prep and clean-up for you.

Over the past years, many famous celebrities has stopped by for a visit. 
​
Shorebird Waikiki Restaurant and Beach Bar Oahu Hawaii (Restaurant Entrance).

Sadly the owners have decided to retire the restaurant at the end of next month
 when their lease is up (September 2017).

Which means you still have time to visit until then. 

PictureShorebird Waikiki Restaurant and Beach Bar Oahu (Interior view) Plantation style.
Casual & plantation-style decor inside the restaurant is very relaxing.

You definitely can't beat the atmosphere.  
​
Once you step foot inside, you feel like you've been transported back in time
along with their captivating views (which I say is probably one of the very best on the island). 

Shorebird Waikiki Restaurant and Beach Bar Oahu (Magnificent beach view from inside restaurant).

The ocean water washes almost all the way up by the restaurant.

You really can't get closer to the beach than this. 
​
We opted for their breakfast buffet to see how it compares with the buffet at Duke's Waikiki 
since they are both located inside Outrigger Hotels (but completely different locations). 

Shorebird Waikiki Restaurant and Beach Bar Oahu (breakfast buffet plate with coffee and passion orange guava juice).
Portuguese sausage is the standard norm for breakfast buffets on Oahu. Though they all taste similarly good regardless of where you go.
Shorebird Waikiki Restaurant and Beach Bar Oahu (breakfast buffet) Mahi Mahi fish, portuguese sausage, coconut bread, melon.
Mahi Mahi Fish on fried rice. The fish was very tender while the Coconut bread was tasty too. On the other hand, the fried rice was a bit underwhelming and under-seasoned.
Shorebird Waikiki Restaurant and Beach Bar Oahu (breakfast buffet) French toast, bacon, eggs, scone.
Fluffy scramble eggs, good french toast and pastries plus unlimited bacon, yes please!

Their buffet breakfast is no frills but you can eat as much as you want to get your money's worth.

Aside from the carving station, ​everything (including drinks such as hot chocolate, juices, tea, and water)
is self-served after you are shown to your table.  

For $16.95 per person (before tax), it's cheaper than ordering
a Continental breakfast plate from room service.

[Full disclosure]- The restaurant gave us 50% off one of our meals once they realized we were locals.

Reality sets in as it feels like another historic part of Oahu will soon be gone. 

Shorebird Waikiki Restaurant and Beach Bar Oahu (Wood Icon Drink Dispensers).
Even their drink dispensers are charming.

​
Shore Bird Restaurant & Bar
​
Outrigger Waikiki Reef Hotel
2169 Kalia Road
Honolulu, HI 96815

808.922. 2887

Breakfast Buffet: 7am-11am
Lunch Buffet: Noon-3pm
Lanai Menu: 11am-4pm
Dinner: 4pm-10pm
​​
​
Outrigger Reef Waikiki Hotel and Resort Oahu (Main Valet Entrance).
Outrigger Waikiki Reef Hotel & Resort.
]]><![CDATA[Lunch again at Harbor Restaurant Pier 38 (Oahu, Hawaii).]]>Mon, 21 Aug 2017 02:01:42 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/lunch-again-at-harbor-restaurant-pier-38-oahu-hawaii
Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38 Honolulu (by Nicos). Fresh Ahi Tuna Melt Sandwich. Delicious and fresh seafood in relax atmosphere.
Brasa Grilled Ahi Tuna Melt with Waffle fries (and Maui onion dip; not shown)- $20.
With the frequency of me writing about Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38, one might conclude
I am sponsored by the restaurant-- I am NOT  (though if you are reading this Harbor 38, I don't mind). ;)

​ I just really like their food. 

This is my 4th visit to this restaurant this year.  
​
Here are some photos of what we ate and I've included the most recent version of their menus at the end.

There's really nothing much I need to add other than their food & service
has been consistently good every single time.

Though I did notice they really give you generous pour of wines and now you can 
even bring in your own wines (with no corkage fee)-- as long as it's not already on their wine list. 

Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38 Honolulu (by Nicos). Fresh Ahi Tuna Melt Sandwich (cross section close-up).
Close-up of the Ahi Tuna Melt.

The Ahi Tuna was cooked perfectly and melts in your mouth. 

Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38 Honolulu (Hawaii). Fresh and affordable seafood by the pier.
Brasa Grilled Ahi Tuna Melt, Brasa Grilled Scampi ($24 + $3 addition for Squid Pasta upgrade), and Special of the day (Open face Crab Sandwich)- $18.
Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38 Honolulu (Hawaii)- Daily Special (Open face Snow Crab Sandwich melt with spinach and swiss cheese).
Open face Crab Sandwich Special.

​I think you really can't go wrong with their daily specials.

This time I opted for their Open-face Crab Sandwich.  
There was tomatoes, red onions, shallots, spinach, artichokes, and Snow Crab.  
So it tastes like you are eating a lighter version of spinach artichoke dip with crab.

 The bread was nicely toasted and crunchy on the bottom while 
the melted Swiss cheese and the aioli sauce gave it a good finishing touch.

Delicious! 

Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38 Honolulu (Hawaii)- Dessert, Skillet Chocolate and Marshmallow Smores.
Skillet S'mores- $12.
Of course a visit here is incomplete without eating their desserts.

​Their Skillet S'mores was another winner. 

You bet I'll return again...soon! 


​Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38
Current Lunch & Happy Hour Menus (as of 8.20.2017)

I'm including the most recent (updated) Lunch & Happy Hour menus here
​ as I've noticed they changed their menus a few times from my previous visits. 

For more information, ​please see my other review posts about Harbor Restaurant 38 :
​
Picture
​
​​
]]><![CDATA[Summer Specials at Nomu (Waikiki Yokocho)- Oahu]]>Thu, 17 Aug 2017 23:23:18 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/summer-specials-at-nomu-waikiki-yokocho-oahu
Waikiki Yokocho Summer Festival Special Poster ($1.99 draft beer) and restaurant sets.

If you haven't checked out Waikiki Yokocho yet you should.  
​
They are running a summer festival special ($1.99 draft beer) 
along with special food sets from several of the restaurants until the end of August 2017.

Waikiki Yokocho Official website.
​
Happy Summer! 
​
Waikiki Yokocho Food Alley Summer Festival 2017 (Nomu lounge ad).
]]><![CDATA[Breakfast Buffet at Duke's Waikiki (Honolulu, Hawaii).]]>Sun, 13 Aug 2017 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/breakfast-buffet-at-dukes-waikiki-honolulu-hawaii
Affordable breakfast buffet at Duke's Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii (Oahu). Under $20 to get your fill!
 I think nothing says you are in Hawaii more than sipping on a drink 
while looking out to the Pacific Ocean under grass huts.

Ok, there's no grass huts here but at Duke's Waikiki, that's probably the closest you will get to that imagery.

To top it off, a breakfast buffet is a great way to jump start your day, especially when it cost less than $20. 

Was it worth it you ask? 
Duke's Waikiki is named after the famed Hawaiian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku -- a 5-time Olympic title holder.

Located at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort , it offers beach-front views and partial open-air seating. 
​
Duke's Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii (neon signage).

You don't have to worry about getting lost as there's a huge neon sign
by the entrance of the hotel pointing you in the right direction.
​
Duke's Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii (View of Diamond head from inside the restaurant).
View from our table. (Your's might vary). Diamond head is behind the lifeguard shack.

Before seating, you can choose from the buffet menu or order from their Ala Carte or Bar Menu. 

We were sat at a corner at the edge of the restaurant (right by the public beach access as there were
hotel guests walking in and out behind our table).  

The view was lovely but if you prefer a more private area, you might want to request to sit somewhere else.
 Despite our table location (behind a pillar too), our server was very nice
and made sure to check up on us several times.  
​
The restaurant inside is quite large and busy all-year-round for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. ​
Although the actual buffet room was a bit small (located on the opposite side of the restaurant) with 4 areas.

The room can be a bit confusing during peak hours, as lines form in all direction
and you are not entirely sure which line leads to what. 

Duke's Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii (Breakfast Buffet fresh fruits) Watermelon, Papaya, Grapefruit).
​A few of their fresh fruits assortment.

​There was a good selection of fresh fruits.
 The watermelon was sweeter than any we've tried buying on our own.  
We especially enjoyed their made-to-order omelet station.  The chef was really nice and welcoming too.


​You can pick your choice from their Omelet Specials. ​
​
Affordable breakfast buffet in Waikiki with Made to order omelet station (Duke's Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii).
Duke's Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii (Breakfast Buffet Omelet station selections).

 I would recommend Duke's if you are already in Waikiki and want a reasonably priced breakfast buffet.  It is touristy and a bustling spot, but a fun experience.  While there's limited items on the buffet menu, we found Duke's to be one of the better buffets on Oahu.  
​On a prior visit at the restaurant for lunch, the wait time for a table was extremely long.  
So if you plan to come for a visit, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to fully take advantage of the food selection and view. 

At $18, it's substantially less than the breakfast buffet at Turtle Bay (and tastier too).  
When you come here, leave your notions of what a buffet should be (because comparing it to buffets in big cities would be unfair).  Instead enjoy the food, atmosphere, and the Aloha Spirit.  For under $20 dollars in Waikiki, its a pretty awesome value as you can leave with your tummy fully satisfied, and money still in your pocket.  
​​
Duke's Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii (Breakfast Buffet plate with potatoes, eggs, bacon, french toast, fried rice, Chicken sausage, eggs Benedict, Portuguese sausage).

We especially enjoyed their potatoes, fresh fruits, and omelets
(I mean, where else are you going to find an Omelet with Kalua Pork?).
There's also Portuguese & Chicken sausage along with French Toast available
to your heart's content. 
​
Duke's Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii (dining room).
One of the many dining areas at Duke's.
  ​​
​There's also a gift shop selling Tiki cups to T-shirts near the entrance.

Duke's Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii (Gift shop stand).

[NOTES]
  • Their Duke's Signature Mimosa (Lilikoi Juice with Sparkling wine) is only $5 each (a bargain, but don't get too excited, there's not much alcohol in it).​​
  • The lunch buffet starts at 11:30 am, so they will close the breakfast buffet to set up at 11:00 am if you show up late for breakfast.  
  • Since part of the restaurant seating is outdoors (we were seated next to the beach with sand and plants), you may see ants on the table though that will be the case anywhere outdoors you go on the Island. ​
  • Duke's Waikiki is a very busy restaurant, so I would suggest making a reservation online instead of walking in. 
  • Please don't confuse the location of Duke's with Outrigger Reef Waikiki
    ​(same hotel chain, but entirely different Outrigger location).
​​


​Duke's Waikiki

at the Outrigger Waikiki
​Beach Resort
2335 Kalakaua Avenue
Suite #116
​Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
808.922.2268

​Breakfast Buffet: 
7:00 am-10:30 am Everyday

Lunch Buffet:
11:30 am-3:00 pm Everyday
]]><![CDATA[Canton Seafood Restaurant Dinner Review (Honolulu, HI).]]>Mon, 07 Aug 2017 21:53:32 GMThttp://www.hiohio.net/travel-blog/canton-seafood-restaurant-dinner-review-honolulu-hi
Canton Seafood Restaurant Honolulu Hawaii (signage and fresh lobster).

We’ve passed by this restaurant numerous times for many years now and didn’t really give it a second thought.  From the exterior, it appears quite plain.  Advertisements covering their windows showed exceptionally low prices for Chicken and Lobster.  We were a bit hesitant as it’s situated right next to a gentlemen’s club... but am glad we finally gave the restaurant a try.

Canton Seafood Restaurant Honolulu Hawaii (restaurant interior).
The inside is actually quite airy and spacious with transom windows on both sides.
Though their parking lot is quite small (I counted about ~9 stalls), so plan to arrive early.
​
The restaurant seemed a bit understaffed (2 servers for the entire place which seats about ~ 120 people), 
but they were very nice and friendly.  They made sure to check on us several times even as the dinner crowds started to fill the restaurant.  

The menu looked really good so it was hard to decide what to order.  

We were about to order the Salt & Pepper Shrimp, but our server kindly pointed out we had ordered the Lobster in that style already.  Which was a good thing because we had ordered too much food at this point-- which was apparent when we asked him if this was enough food-- He shockingly responded “you can finish all of this?” 

We started the meal off with the Wor Won Ton Soup- $9.99​
Canton Seafood Restaurant Honolulu Hawaii (Wor Won Ton Soup).
It has a chicken-base broth that was delicately light with about 7 pieces of Won Ton (made with pork & shrimp).  Beside the Won Tons, the bowl was filled with strips of thin pork, generous Won Bok (chinese cabbage), bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, broccoli, shrimp, char siu, and a little bit of carrots.

For $10, it was quite filling and a nice starter to the meal.


Next arrived the Sizzling Tenderloin with Black Pepper- $14.99
Canton Seafood Restaurant Honolulu Hawaii (Sizzling pepper beef tenderloin platter on hot plate).
The beef came bubbling in the sauce on a hot plate.  Super soft meat, quite tasty with garlic, with a little bit of red pepper (though it was not spicy at all).  If we had to find a flaw, we would have preferred it to be loaded with more onions, as it would have further enhanced the flavors. 


The star attraction that brought us here was the
Lobster Special ($14.99 with purchase of one regular entree).
​
Canton Seafood Restaurant Honolulu Hawaii (Oahu), Dine-in fresh and affordable lobster.
The lobster is only $14.99 as a Dine-In Special with purchase of an entree. We ordered several entrees so we were able to get 2 lobsters.
We ordered the Lobster in 2 ways: Ginger & Onion (with a gravy), as well as Salt & Pepper (with plentiful of garlic and green onions; dry stir-fried).  There was no shell cracker, but it was not necessary as the chef pre-cracks the lobsters so it was very easy to eat.  It was messy to devour (but oh so delicious) and could have benefited from a finger bowl or wet wipes.  The meat was sweet, extremely soft and juicy.  You could really tell how fresh it was (believe me, I’ve cooked my share of frozen lobster and this was no frozen lobster).  ​

Next, my fiance wanted to try the Foo Kin Fried Rice- $12.99.
Canton Seafood Restaurant Honolulu, Hawaii (Fookin Fujian Fried Rice).

There’s no description on the menu, but their version includes
​ Shiitake Mushrooms, Choy Sum stems, Eggs, Shrimp, diced Chicken, tiny Scallops, and a gravy.

It tastes similar to Yang Chow Fried Rice but with a thicker gravy on top
(which reminds us of the sauce for cake noodles).

It’s so “fook-ing” good (sorry, couldn’t help myself).  *wink wink*  

One of our favorite dishes to order when we go out is Mabo Tofu-$9.99.
Canton Seafood Restaurant Honolulu Hawaii (Mabo Tofu).
The tofu was soft, while the sauce was just right and not overpowering.  You do need a starch to soak it up and even though our fried rice already had a gravy, the combination of fried rice and Mabo Tofu was delicious.  

We ended the meal with a refreshing Almond Tofu float- $1.75.
(The other dessert choice was a hot Red Bean Soup). 
Canton Seafood Restaurant Honolulu Hawaii (Almond float dessert).
Overall, we found Canton Seafood Restaurant to be a hidden gem among the Chinese restaurants on Oahu.  We often think that you need to venture into Chinatown to find authentic Chinese cooking, but Hawaii has such a diverse and rich culture that you will find authentic dishes all over the island.

 The food was very flavorful without the seasoning being overly salty like  other restaurants.  We are already thinking about when we will return to try their other dishes. 

One of the biggest surprises for us was their reasonable prices
and the variety of dishes available.  


Set & Catering Menus


If you are looking to hold an event or gathering, they have Set Menus for groups of 4-6 from $59.95-79.95.

For groups of 10, their 9-10 course meals range from $198 to $398.  It is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.  Maybe we need to throw a party now so we have an excuse to order catering from here too!
*Click Menu images for full-size view.*


​Canton Chinese Seafood Restaurant
​923 Keeaumoku Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814

808.955.3388​
  • 10a-10p Daily
  • ​Free Parking (adjacent lot)
  • Lunch & Late Night Specials
  • Set Menus for groups of 4,6, and 10.
  • Order Online for Take-out or Dine-In (Menu)
    • ​[Note]: The $14.99 Lobster Special only applies for Dine-in  only. 
  • Online Reservations
  • Restaurant can accomodate up to ~ 120 guests
​​
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Have you tried out Canton Seafood Restaurant and what did you think about it?

Feel free to name your favorite dishes below! 

Other Oahu Chinese restaurant recommendations (my reviews) : ​
​​
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