AMERICAN/AMERICAN REGIONAL
The Willows 
With its dining pavilions set over a tranquil koi pond, this venerable (though renovated) restaurant (and wedding chapel!) holds a special place in the heart of Hawaii. It's all about the American-Island buffet ($29.95 for dinner). (Sadly Jay Matsukawa's haute cuisine experiment J at The Willows closed, but he still oversees the buffet, improving the quality.) The trademark whole roasted suckling pig, salt-crusted prime rib, and lamb chops mix with Hawaiian food (laulau, kalua pig, lomilomi salmon), misoyaki butterfish and kal bi. And don't forget the kamaaina-style yellow curry with all those condiments to sprinkle on top. 'Ono loa.
901 Hausten St. 952-9200. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5:30-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-9 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Reservations recommended. Valet parking. DC, DS, JCB, MC, VS. No checks. $$$.
Web site: www.willowshawaii.com
With its dining pavilions set over a tranquil koi pond, this venerable (though renovated) restaurant (and wedding chapel!) holds a special place in the heart of Hawaii. It's all about the American-Island buffet ($29.95 for dinner). (Sadly Jay Matsukawa's haute cuisine experiment J at The Willows closed, but he still oversees the buffet, improving the quality.) The trademark whole roasted suckling pig, salt-crusted prime rib, and lamb chops mix with Hawaiian food (laulau, kalua pig, lomilomi salmon), misoyaki butterfish and kal bi. And don't forget the kamaaina-style yellow curry with all those condiments to sprinkle on top. 'Ono loa.
901 Hausten St. 952-9200. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5:30-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-9 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Reservations recommended. Valet parking. DC, DS, JCB, MC, VS. No checks. $$$.
Web site: www.willowshawaii.com
| CARD LEGEND: | PRICE LEGEND: | ICON LEGEND: |
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VS: Visa MC: Mastercard AX: American Express DC: Diners Club DS: Discover Card JCB: JCB Card |
$: Budget-friendly; entrées mostly less than $10 $$: Moderate; entrées $10-$16 $$$: Pricey; entrées mostly more than $17 $$$$: Very Pricey; entrées mostly more than $30 Checks: Local checks and travelers’ checks only |
 Past 'Ilima Award winner "Cheap eats" restaurant "Local classic" eatery
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