 Introduction
The Honolulu Advertiser’s ‘Ilima Award is truly the people’s choice: The winning restaurants are those who receive the most votes from Advertiser readers, from fine dining establishments to neighborhood mom-and-pop places. This year, we’re extending the life of the ‘Ilima votes, preparing a guide to “The 100 Best O‘ahu Restaurants,” based on the ‘Ilima ballots and our critics’ recommendations. Look for that new magazine soon.
Each year at ‘Ilima time, we also offer our experts — food editor Joan Clarke and restaurant critic Matthew Gray — a chance to select four dining establishments to receive Critic’s Choice awards. Joan chose two spots that she particularly enjoys visiting, and that don’t always get the notice they deserve: the Contemporary Cafe at the Contemporary Museum and 3660 On the Rise. Matthew selected his favorites from among the restaurants he reviewed in the past year: Tai Pan on the Boulevard for fine dining and Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar for pupu, sushi and karaoke.
Readers nominated their favorites in 33 categories and put a particularly Island-style spin on their choices, opting most often for places that understand local-style tastes, that cater to our seemingly endless appetite for buffets and that treat customers with aloha.
Based on the vote as tabulated by Deloitte & Touche LLP, we selected one winner in each category. To achieve the widest range of honorees, no single restaurant was named a winner more than once.
Representatives of each restaurant will receive their awards Oct. 9 at the annual ‘Ilima Awards gala, a benefit for Diamond Head Theatre, with an awards show written and performed by Diamond Head Theatre artists and a tasting dinner afterward with dancing to Kit Samson’s Sound Advice. (The event is sold out).
In this special section, Advertiser restaurant critic Matthew Gray introduces you to the winners of the fifth annual ‘Ilima Awards.
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