Izakaya Pau Hana Base

13 Hidden Restaurants in Waikiki, Honolulu | Eater

"Tokyo meets the tropics at Pau Hana Base. Follow paper lanterns down a seafoam alleyway to find this izakaya reminiscent of those in Tokyo’s yokochos. A specials menu is pinned to wooden beer caddies plunked down in front of guests, advertising morsels like soft, simmered beef tendon; chewy, almost candied ray; and squid served from beak to forehead (likely the only time you’ll see “forehead” on a menu). The regular menu offers more familiar items, from ramen to tonkatsu, as well as imo mochi (potato-based cakes, crisp on the outside and chewy inside), a must for mochi lovers. Approach the “Russian” takoyaki with caution — one ball in each order is loaded with a spicy surprise — but you’ll forgive the servers for any trickery when they hand you a tiny cup of sugar to spin your own cotton candy on your way out. [$$]" - Martha Cheng