Although the vast majority of ethnic restaurants in Hawai‘i have Asian roots, we’ve got a smattering of just about everything else (no Ethiopian yet, but there’s still time).

From a time when going out pretty much meant Chinese or Japanese food, O‘ahu’s menu has grown to include Boston-style pizza, gnocchi from northern Italy, linguini in clam sauce from southern Italy, Vietnamese phô, pad Thai and Egyptian specialties.

We roamed the landscape to come up with the widest possible range of ethnicities and to assure a choice in price ranges while insisting on consistently good food and attentive service.

Because of the preponderence of Japanese and Chinese restaurants, we had to make some tough choices in these categories. Don’t be upset if your favorite isn’t here: Some of our own favorites didn’t make it on the list!

We’d love to hear from you if you know of a great little ethnic spot that we missed. (See how to contact us in the introductory chapter.)

Assaggio (PC)

The Assaggio chain began, as so many Italian restaurants in Honolulu did, with Southeast Asian-Americans who trained under beloved restaurateur “Cass” Castagnola. The style is strictly from southern Italy, with hearty red sauces and garlicky pasta. The bread’s hot and good, the salads are crisp and you have to try the Sicilian chicken, a signature dish: crispy-skinned chicken roasted with peppers and onions and served with pasta or roasted potatoes on the side. This is comfort food. Four locations: Ala Moana,942-3446; Koko Marina, 396-0756; Mililani, 623-5115; and Kailua, 261-2772. Hours of operation vary, closed major holidays. Italian. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $$.

Aunty’s Puerto Rican Kitchen (CC)

Pasteles (pah-TELL-ays) are the ticket at this family-run operation in Chinatown: a casing of mashed green banana pulp stuffed with a pork filling spiced with oregano, cumin, cilantro and black olives.  They resemble Mexican tamales:  moist, dark, but not spicy, and not quite as cakey or grainy. The Spanish rice here is outstanding.  There are about six tables inside, where you can also have a cheap breakfast starting at 7 a.m. 907 Kekaulike St.; 524-7921. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Puerto Rican cuisine. No reservations needed. No credit cards. No checks. $.

Beau Soleil (CC)

The sunny Mediterranean sparkles in the food and decor of Moumen and Holly El-Hajji’s 36-seat cafe. It’s tough to choose between Parker Ranch blank angus ribeye steak and Colorado rack of lamb; Kaua‘i prawns are also a treat here. ‘Ahi salmon tartare, home-baked bread and chocolate desserts are excellent. Simple, bright flavors predominate. Bring your own bottle of wine or indulge in mint tea and relax in the comfy surroundings. 3184 Wai‘alae Ave.; 732-0967. 6-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Mediterranean. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. $$.

Boston’s North End Pizza Bakery (PC)

Some people are simply fanatical about Boston Pizza, now with five Oahu locations. Is it the no-frills pizzeria ambience, the fast-paced Boston attitude (eat it and beat it), or the delicious and huge slices of pie that comes straight out of the oven? We think it’s the latter. 

Drive carefully when you’re around Boston Pizza Kitchen; it’s always busy with folks scurrying home with their large pepperoni to go. Five locations. Hours vary. Pizza. No reservations needed. No credit cards. Checks accepted. $.

Bravo Restaurant (PC, I)

Inexpensive Italian food, almost everything well below $10 at lunch, not much higher at dinner, is what packs ‘em in at Bravo. This is Italian comfort food where you can choose your favorite shape of pasta (linguine, fettucine, capellini, fusilli, etc.) and match it with the sauce of your choice (meat sauce, marinara, meatballs, bordelaise, pesto, pomodoro, etc.). Gourmet pizza, steak and veal, rotisserie chicken, seafood and other specialties, too. Pearlridge Uptown; 487-5544. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Italian. Reservations required for large parties, recommended for others. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $$.

Cafe Sistina (CC)

It is a subject of much debate: Is Sergio Mitrotti a better chef or a better painter? The charming Italian expatriate has all but run out of wall and ceiling space on which to copy Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes. But he’s not run out of recipes: ravioli stuffed with a savory pumpkin mixture; veal in a rich, brown mushroom sauce; gnocchi with gorgonzola. You'll find the classic pastas but you'll also find interesting Northern-style creations. 1314 S. King St.; 596-0061. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5:30-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday. Northern Italian cuisine. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, JCB. No checks. $$.

Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine (PC)

The Srivongsana family has been serving up the dishes of Thailand for more than 15 years, laced with memories of Laos and Paris where they have also lived. Green curry with chicken, green papaya salad are outstanding and there’s sticky rice to satisfy the appetite and absorb some of the heat. These Thai cooks keep the food authentic. Pleasant surroundings and casual atmosphere make this neighborhood dining spot a gem. 2239 S. King Street; 941-1151. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed for lunch Saturday and Sunday). Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. daily. Thai cuisine. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $.

China House Restaurant (PC) Dim sum, banquet meals, full plates or family-style dishes, China House does it all in its two locations. This is the kind of Cantonese food that most Islanders grew up eating, perfect for large family gatherings. The restaurants bustle at dinnertime most days and at lunch on weekends with groups large and small enjoying favorites from fried won ton to almond chicken. 1349 Kapi‘olani Blvd.; 949-6622. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. -10 p.m. Sunday and Saturday. Also 100 N. Beretania St. 550-8815. Lunch: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Dinner: 5-9 p.m. Chinese cuisine, dim sum. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX. Checks accepted. $.

Compadres Bar & Grill (PC, I) Try the lanai for serious pupu (nachos, quesadillas, chili wings, etc.) and a little liquid refreshment (seven varieties of Mexican cervezas and mucho tequila). Inside and out, the service is swift and friendly and the dishes offer every possible configuration of the Eight Essentials (meat, cheese, tomato, lettuce, tortilla, sour cream, guacamole, salsa). Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd.; 591-8307. 11 a.m.-midnight daily. Mexican. Reservations recommended, Sunday-Thursday; no reservations accepted on Friday and Saturday. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. $$.

Donato’s Ristorante & Carpacceria (CC)

Chef Donato Loperfido is passionate about the southern Italian regional specialties of his homeland, and his 85-seat restaurant and deli have found a niche. Specialties include spaghetti alla cartoccio (a seafood melange presented en papillote), spetazzino alla boscaiola (hearty stew with artichokes served over fontina polenta) and of course, carpaccio of seafood or meat, prepared differently each day. Attentive service, a wide-ranging menu, nightly specials. 4614 Kalauea Ave.; 738-5655. Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:30-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Italian. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $$.

Eastern Garden Chinese Seafood Restaurant (PC, I) Friendly service sets this Chinese restaurant apart, not to mention their adept hand at flavors old and new. We’ve enjoyed their soups (hot & sour and chicken cream corn come to mind), noodle dishes, Peking duck, mushu pork and the eggplant in Szechuan sauce. Many people rave about their hand with seafood. Two of the four locations now feature buffets. Four locations: 2045 Kalakaua Ave., 951-8886; 3008 Wai‘alae Ave., 737-2828; 98-150 Ka‘onohi St., 486-8882; 24-6023 Kamehameha Highway, 235-1628. Hours vary. Chinese. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. $.

Elena’s Home of Finest Filipino Foods (CC, PC, I)

Every once in a while, we get a craving for Elena’s signature pork adobo omelette: chunks of vinegary, garlicky pork fried with rice, encased in a thin egg pancake. It’s a stunning taste combination any time of day. Elena and Theo Butuyan’s lechon is another reason to come here, that crisp layer of pork fat attached to moist pork so mouthwateringly good. For classic Filipino dishes, home-style and casual, it’s worth the drive to Waipahu. 94-300 Farrington Highway; 671-3279. 5 a.m.-8:45 p.m. daily. Filipino cuisine. No reservations needed. VS, MC, AX, DS. No checks. $.

Genki Sushi (PC, I)

Genki Sushi is a prime example of generosity and friendliness.  What makes it fun here is the revolving conveyor belt that transports sushi around the restaurant.  There’s more than enough variety for most of us.  Prices are based on a color-coded plate concept, so a quick glance at the menu will tell you what everything costs (most plates are $1.20-$4), making Genki an enjoyable, fast, and affordable choice. 900 Kapahulu Ave.; 735-8889. Japanese, sushi. No reservations needed. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $.

Hale Vietnam Restaurant (CC, PC, I)

Sometimes being comfortable in an ethnic restaurant supersedes the requirement for strict authenticity. Hale Vietnam fills the bill for Vietnamese specialties tweaked a little for American taste buds with good service and a pleasant, white tablecloth atmosphere. That’s not to say that the phô (beef noodle soup), green papaya salad and bun dishes aren’t a model of fresh ingredients and classic flavors at this significant and newcomer-friendly restaurant. 1140 12th Ave.; 735-7581. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Vietnamese cuisine. Reservations required for parties of four or more. VS, MC, AX, DS. No checks. $.

Hee Hing Restaurant (PC) For 35 years, the Lee family has served up more than 300 different Cantonese, Szechuan and Northern Chinese dishes to diners who like the well -prepared food and upscale atmosphere. Order the roast chicken ahead if you’re planning dinner; there’s always smoked tea duck, lychee shrimp, dim sum for lunch and a whole lot more. Private dining rooms for parties are available, too. 449 Kapahulu Ave.; 735-5544. 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. daily. Chinese, dim sum. Reservation required for large parties, recommended for others. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. $.

Helena’s Hawaiian Food (PC)

A classic restaurant that reflects the character of its community: so said the James Beard Foundation this year when it awarded Helena’s the culinary world’s “Oscar” as a regional classic. Helen Chock has been cooking up Hawaiian specialties for more than 50 years, still hanging strips of seasoned beef over the stove to dry for her onolicious version of pipikaula. All your Hawaiian favorite dishes can be found here at this casual spot in Kalihi. 1364 N. King St.; 845-8044. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday (closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday) Local Hawaiian cuisine. No reservations needed. No credit cards. Checks accepted. $.

Keo’s Thai Cuisine (PC, I) A profusion of orchids amidst Southeast Asian and tropical furnishings make these restaurants jewels. A specialty is the facetiously named Evil Jungle Prince — chicken, lemon grass, Thai basil and chili peppers, created and named by owner Keo Sananikone who still greets customers at the door of the Waikiki eatery. Seafood dishes are especially good here, and think curry, the signature of Thai cuisine. A well-conceived wine list for the spicy, boldly flavored dishes . Two locations. Ward Centre, 596-0020, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 2028 Kuhio Ave., 951-9355. Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. -11 a.m. daily. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. Dinner: 5-10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Family-style Thai. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $.

Kim Chee Restaurant No. 2 (PC, I) This popular eatery on Kaimuki’s “restaurant row” along Wai‘alae Avenue is always busy at lunch and dinner time. It’s a casual spot that features classic Korean specialties: fried man doo dumplings, green onion pancakes, noodle soups and barbecued meats marinated in that delicious Korean-style barbecue sauce of soy, garlic, onions, sugar and sesame oil. Do not miss the item for which this restaurant is named, kim chee, red hot and spicy pickled cabbage. 3569 Wai‘alae Avenue; 737-5577. 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Korean cuisine. No reservations needed. VS, MC, AX. Checks accepted. $.

Kyo-ya Restaurant (PC, I)

This is an oasis of fine Japanese cuisine in the middle of Waikiki. Private tatami dining rooms and traditional kaiseki dinners are served by kimono-clad waitresses upstairs; the bamboo garden downstairs is less formal; Hanabi features casual izakaya (tavern-style) dining with yakitori and small dishes. Miso butterfish is a must at Kyo-ya,which has been here for 50 years, a tribute to its authenticity and fine quality. 2057 Kalakaua Avenue; 947-3911. Lunch: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Dinner: 5:30-9:15 p.m. daily. Japanese cuisine. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $$.

Mei Sum Chinese Dim Sum Restaurant (CC)

Mei Sum is a smaller location than most of the sprawling dim sum spots around town, but they do an excellent job of this “from the heart” tea service so rich in a variety of steamed and fried specialties. Try the half moon chiu chow style, a melt-in-your-mouth flaky pastry topped with sesame seeds and encasing a char siu (barbecue pork) filling. The sweet sesame ball, custard tart, Malayan cake, spring roll, and the mochi puff are also great choices. 65 N. Pauahi Street; 531-3268. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Dim sum. Reservations recommended for large parties. VS, MC, DC, JCB. No checks. $.

Mekong Thai Restaurant II (CC)

The downscale but no less tasteful and exotic cousin to the Keo’s restaurants is a Honolulu favorite. The pad Thai fried noodles with shrimp, chicken, chewy tofu and spring onions is extraordinary here.  Don’t miss it. The green papaya salad and the satay beef or chicken are super, too. There’s a wide selection of soups, rice dishes, noodles, curries, seafood and vegetarian dishes to choose from. 1726 S. King Street; 941-6184. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner: 5-9:30 p.m. daily. Thai with a modern flair, curries, vegetarian dishes. Reservations recommended for weekends and for large parties. VS, MC, AX, DC, JCB. No checks. $.

Ninnikuya, the Garlic Restaurant (CC)

Garlic lovers, take heed!  Everything at Ninnikuya has garlic in it, on it, or beside it at this restaurant, even the vanilla ice cream at dessert.  This charming converted home, set back from the street, is cozy and relaxed whether you dine inside or out on the lanai. Try the baked eggplant appetizer stuffed with sweet and spicy garlic, the “hot stone” steak, and the rack of lamb. The Chinese shrimp is triumphant too. 3196 Wai‘alae Ave.; 924-2298. Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday. Eurasian cuisine with a touch of garlic. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, DC, JCB. Checks accepted. $$.

‘Ono Hawaiian Foods (CC, PC, I)

Order the kalua pig plate for lomi salmon (chilled tomato-salmon salad), long rice (bean thread chicken stew), kalua pig (roast pork), poi, pipikaula (beef jerky) and haupia (coconut pudding), served up on a plastic tray at an affordable price. Old-fashioned poke (raw seafood salad), na‘au (pig intestine) and salt meat lu‘au (stew with taro leaves) are on the menu here, too. Founder Sueko Oh Young’s family live up to their namesake in keeping food ‘ono (delicious) but inexpensive so every night can be lu‘au night. 726 Kapahulu Ave.; 737-2275. 11 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Hawaiian cuisine. No reservations needed. No credit cards. No checks. $.

Phô To Chau (CC)

The line starts at mid-morning for steaming bowls of phô, the northern Vietnamese beef noodle soup that is now a classic in the Islands, too. The To family serves a few hundred bowls each day with paper-thin slices of raw meat, tendon or meat balls accompanied by fresh bean sprouts, basil and sauces. Few places match the well-flavored broth and consistency found here and the soup’s all consumed by mid-afternoon. 1007 River St.; 533-4549. 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily. Vietnamese pho. No reservations needed (but there’s often a line outside.) No credit cards or checks. $

Pineland Chinese Restaurant (CC)

Pineland sits on upper Ke‘eaumoku like a lonely Buddha, waiting to share its joy and magic.  Go for the kung pao chicken, garlic shrimp, black bean beef, spicy eggplant and the stir-fried choi sum. Pineland is one of the best, but perhaps least known Chinese restaurants in Honolulu. Large portions and teeny prices make this a must-visit. 1236 Ke‘eaumoku St.; 955-2918. 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Chinese. No reservations needed. No credit cards. Checks accepted. $.

The Pyramids (PC, I)

Intriguing decor sets the stage for unraveling the food mysteries of the Middle East. Tarek Guirguis’s five-year-old eatery specializes in rack of lamb, marinated for three days and charbroiled to perfection. There are also hummus with pita, baba ganoush, moussaka and other Middle Eastern favorites. A lunch buffet allows you to eat your fill of several dishes — usually a couple of daily specials. Belly dancers entertain each night. 758 Kapahulu Ave.; 737-2900. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Mediterranean with Egyptian and Greek influence. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB; no checks. Lunch: $, Dinner: $$.

Restaurant Kariyushi (CC)

The simple but distinctive flavors of Okinawa come alive in this 30-seat restaurant run by Steve Yamada. Goya chanpuru, a stir fry of tuna, tofu, bitter melon and bonito flakes is noteworthy; rafute, soy- glazed pork, is a must, as is the purple sweet potato mashed with ginger for dessert. We like this spot for its authenticity to the unique foodways of a culture that’s so much a part of the Islands. 1436 Young St.; 942-1137. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Dinner, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Okinawan. Reservations recommended. VS, MC. No checks. $.

Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant (CC)

At Royal Garden, you can have dim sum and then some if you’re still hungry. The variety and quality of dim sum specialties in this “fancy” Chinese restaurant is overwhelming: mochi rice ball, Shanghai dumplings and other interesting offerings are paraded around the large room in carts. Of course, there are lots of other entree dishes on the menu, reasonably priced for the white tablecloth ambience. Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive; 942-7788. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. daily. Cantonese Chinese. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. $.

Shogun (PC, I)

Pacific Beach Hotel scores again with Shogun. There’s dining room seating, Izakaya (pub-style food), a lobster and teppan counter, and a sushi bar. If you ever wondered what the top of the huge Oceanarium aquarium looked like, check out this topside view along the window at Shogun. The breakfast and lunch buffets are popular here, as are the various nightly specials such as all-you-can-eat sukiyaki. The Zashiki Room offers after-dinner karaoke. Pacific Beach Hotel, 2490 Kalakaua Ave.; 921-6113. Breakfast: 5:30-10 a.m. Lunch: 11.a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. daily. Japanese. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. Breakfast & Dinner: $$$, Sunday Brunch & Lunch: $$.

Singha Thai Cuisine (PC)

The Chaowasaree family restaurant is a tribute to Thailand, where furnishings, flowers, music, dancers, a traditional spirit house and noteworthy food create an exotic and memorable dining experience. But there’s a contemporary twist here, too, with Pacific Rim specialties such as blackened ‘ahi summer roll and Asian style osso bucco served alongside traditional Thai curries and pad Thai noodles. An upscalish dining venue that’s delectable. 1910 Ala Moana Blvd.; 941-2898. Dinner: 4-11 p.m. daily. Thai/Pacific Rim cuisine. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $$.

Sorabol Restaurant (CC, PC)

Cook your own pul kogi and kal-bi (marinated beef slices and short ribs) at this beehive of a restaurant where Korean nationals and local folks convene for tasty Korean fare. Steamed spicy butter fish, soothing chicken and ginseng soup and sikke, the sweet dessert soup, are popular here, all accompanied by lots of rice, kim chee (spicy pickled cabbage) and namul (seasoned vegetable dishes). A lively casual spot that briefly transports you to Seoul. 805 Ke‘eaumoku St.; 947-3113. 24 hours daily; Korean. Reservations required for large parties, otherwise recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, JCB. No checks. $$.

Sushi Sasabune (CC)

Sushi like no other is what you’ll experience. Seiji Kamagawa offers the freshest morsels of seafood and explanations: He’ll tell you where they were last swimming. Precision cutting, attention to the rice (it’s warm) and sauces that complement add up to a sushi experience that is extraordinary and unique. No California rolls here; trust the chef for first-rate sushi at first-rate pricing. 1419 S. King St.; 947-3800. Lunch: noon-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Sushi. Reservations recommended for large parties. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $$.

Wasabi Bistro (CC)

Delicate flavors and a quiet simplicity are the hallmarks here. You can make an entire meal from the “kobachi” (small tastes) part of the menu. The seafood sunomono, soft-shell crab, and avocado tempura are exceptional. Papaya seafood motoyaki drapes a mayo glaze over mixed seafood. The baked scallop special combines cross-cut slices of scallop, red and green sweet bell peppers and mushrooms atop what they call “dynamite rice.” 1006 Kapahulu Ave., 735-2800. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. daily. Japanese. VS, MC, AX, DC, JCB. No checks. $$.

Yanagi Sushi (CC)

Fresh fish, generous portions and attention to the art of sushi making make this a favorite spot. We like their salmon skin salad and the fact that there’s virtually anything you want to eat in the spectrum of Japanese cuisine and a few Korean items, too. The bright surroundings and photo gallery of customers add to the buzz of this bistro-like spot that’s open into the wee hours of the night. 762 Kapi‘olani Blvd.; 597-1525. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. Dinner: 5:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Saturday, 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday. Japanese. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. Lunch: $; Dinner: $$.