What’s the story? Eastern Garden restaurants are characterized by consistency of quality, efficient and friendly service, and authentic Cantonese cuisine.

What’s on the menu? Soups (hot and sour, and chicken cream corn), noodle dishes, Peking duck, mu shu pork and eggplant in Szechwan sauce. Two of their three locations feature buffet lunch and/or dinner.

FYI: 2045 Kalakaua Ave., 951-8886; 3008 Wai‘alae Ave., 737-2828; 98-150 Ka‘onohi, 486-8882. 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. $.

What’s the story? Elena’s has been serving Filipino food for 26 years under owners Elena and Theo Butuyan.

What’s on the menu? Try their signature dish, the fried rice adobo “omelet”: a mountain of rice and pork adobo wrapped in egg, seasoned with garlic, vinegar, and black pepper. In addition, they serve all the expected Filipino specialties.

FYI: 94-300 Farrington Highway.; 671-3279. 5 a.m.-8:45 p.m. daily. No reservations needed. VS, MC, AX, DS. No checks. $.

What’s the story? Michel’s makes you feel special. You won’t find a nicer beachfront view either, so a sunset-timed dinner is best. Expect five-star tuxedo-clad waiters, capably presenting chef Hardy Kintscher’s French food stylings.

What’s on the menu? Fine French-style cuisine, including a fabulous flamed lobster bisque, a memorable heart-of-palm salad, potato-crusted onaga, lamb loin Rossini. For dessert, try the luscious souffles.

FYI: Colony Surf Hotel, 2895 Kalakaua Ave.; 923-6552. Dinner: 5:30-9:30 daily. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. $$$.

What’s the story? Family-owned, 28-seat ‘Ono Hawaiian Foods is always busy, with lines waiting outside until a table becomes available. This wait lends itself to enjoyable conversations and new friendships, with kama‘aina educating newcomers about what to order.

What’s on the menu? Try the laulau, tender and tasty leaf-encased packets of pork and fish. Their combination plates include many of your favorites: kÅlua pig, lomi salmon and pipikaula (dried beef).

FYI: 726 Kapahulu Ave.; 737-2275. 11 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday). No reservations needed. No credit cards. No checks. $.

What’s the story? Open since 1988, Bravo’s niche is serving fresh and inexpensive Italian comfort food. Almost everything is below $10 at lunch, not much higher at dinner, and that packs ’em in seven days a week.

What’s on the menu? Lunch favorites include the Caesar salad with chicken or shrimp, meat or veggie lasagna, spinach and ricotta cheese ravioli with tomato or cream sauce, and the triple-decker Italian sandwich. Recommended dinner choices: fettuccine with chicken and mushrooms, pesto linguine with shrimp and scallops, oven-baked chicken cannelloni, spicy eggplant Siciliana.

FYI: Pearlridge Uptown; 487-5544. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations required for large parties, recommended for others. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $$.

What’s the story? Shogun, a second-time ‘Ilima winner in this category, offers both dining room seating and Izakaya (the word means an affordable Japanese-style pub, but here is the name for a lobster and teppan counter), as well as a sushi bar.

What’s on the menu? Our readers love the value and ease of the Shogun weekday lunchtime buffet. At night, there’s a full a la carte dinner menu, as well as sushi and sashimi bars.

FYI: 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. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. Breakfast and Dinner: $$$, Sunday Brunch & Lunch: $$.

What’s the story? One of several Kim Chee restaurants, not all of which are related, this is a very casual spot on the Kaimuki “restaurant row,” always awash in wonderful aromas.

What’s on the menu? Perhaps the finest chicken katsu anywhere (yes, we know it’s not Korean, but … ). Also enjoyed by readers, fried mandoo dumplings, green onion pancakes, noodle soups and, of course, kal bi and other forms of barbecue made Korean-style. And, whatever you have, you gotta order kim chee, the addictive red hot and spicy “sauerkraut” of Korea.

FYI: 3569 Wai‘alae Ave.; 737-5577. 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. No reservations needed. VS, MC, AX. Checks accepted. $.

What’s the story? Sensual belly dancing is the hot ticket here along with the Greek, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean menu by chef/owner Tarek Guirguis.

What’s on the menu? Try the great hummus, shish kabob, lamb dishes, moussaka, shwarma, and, for dessert, gooey-sweet and nutty baklava or rice pudding. The lunch buffet is popular on weekdays.

FYI: 758 Kapahulu Ave.; 737-2900. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday (closed for lunch on Sunday); Dinner: 5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB; no checks. Lunch: $, Dinner: $$.

What’s the story? This is the happening Mexican-style place where you can watch sports on the bar TV, host a party in one corner of the spacious dining room, or just chow down on Mexican specialties while gazing out at Ala Moana Park.

What’s on the menu? All the usual: nachos, quesadillas, chili wings, tamales, rellenos, enchiladas, fajitas, soups, even seafood dishes and steaks. If you’re feeling indulgent, the Jalisco-style carnitas (slow-roasted pork), as an entree or in quesadillas, is rich and meaty. Also: large selection of tequilas and beers.

FYI: Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana; 591-8307. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. Reservations recommended, Sunday-Thursday; no reservations accepted on Friday & Saturday. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. $$.

What’s the story? Keo Sananikone was among the first here to introduce Thai food to Americans, and to recognize what Americans want and expect in a restaurant (consistency, pleasant surroundings, good value, friendly service). He and his siblings have operated the Keo’s and Mekong Thai restaurants here for two decades.

What’s on the menu? The satay with peanut sauce, spring rolls, and green papaya salad are great ways to begin your Thai repast. Their famous “Evil Jungle” dishes combine various meats and vegetables with coconut milk and curry. The mild-flavored national noodle dish of Thailand, paad Thai, is handled particularly well.

FYI: Ward Centre, 596-0020, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 Friday and Saturday; and 2028 Kuhio Avenue, 951-9355, Breakfast: 7:30-11 a.m., Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Dinner: 5-10:30 p.m. daily. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $.

What’s the story? Hale Vietnam has been attracting fans of this clean-flavored and healthy style of cooking for 14 years. The chef, Wuddthea Than, is Vietnamese and Cambodian and the owner, Mark Fu, is Chinese and Vietnamese.

What’s on the menu? Chicken curry, summer rolls (soft and chewy rice wrappers stuffed with shrimp, romaine lettuce, mint, noodles, and bean sprouts), pepper-salted shrimp, and of course, the national dish of Vietnam, the beef soup called pho.

FYI: 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. $.