Aloha!
Today was mostly a work day, but I did get some time to goof off in Honolulu and do some of the things that made me not mind dragging my ass across the Pacific to be here. This pretty much boils down to three things...
#1 PUKA DOG!! Originating on Kauai, Puka Dog eventually opened up a shop in Waikiki (UPDATE: Puka Dog is now Hula Dog in Oahu, still Puka Dog in Kauai. UPDATE 2: Hula Dog in Waikiki was CLOSED when they tore down the International Marketplace! SUCKS!! Check Hula Dog's website for their locations). I can say without reservation that this is my favorite meal in all of Oahu. Just like Chicago, which has a hot dog to call their own, Puka Dog is a hot dog done Hawaiian-style, and they are amazing...
Don't let the line scare you... Puka Dog is worth the wait!
They are also very different and uniquely Hawaiian in oh so many ways...
The way you order is kind of "Soup-Naziesque" but they don't treat you too badly if you goof it up. But it's pretty hard to goof up if you follow the steps on their menu board. For example, I order like this: "I'll take a Veggie, Hot, Mango, Lilikoi on White, please!" But, no matter how you order, you're getting an amazing meal that's unlike anything else on earth... in a very good way...
Left is a dog in the hole. Right is down a few bites so you can see all the condiment goodness within!
#2 KISSES!! Everybody loves Hershey's Kisses. Those little foil-wrapped pieces of deliciousness are truly a treat to behold. And then Hershey's took it to The Next Level and introduced Kisses with almonds, caramel, and peanut butter in the middle (among other things). BUT... only here in Hawaii can you get Hershey Kisses with Macadamias in the middle! They are everything you'd dream they'd be. And at $5 a bag, they'd better be...
#3 NEW HARD ROCK!! As anybody who follows this blog already knows, I am incredibly disappointed with the "new-style" Hard Rock Cafe properties. Instead of the old-school method of cramming every available surface with awesome Rock-n-Roll memorabilia, they instead put a few meager pieces in glass cases and scatter them on a few walls. So when they moved Honolulu's Hard Rock from the old location to the new one in Waikiki, I was horrified at the idea of it being a shitty "new-style" cafe. And it is. Kind of. Because while there isn't a tremendous amount of memorabilia, it is more than usual. And they DO have this awesome ribbon of guitars running up the wall and across the ceiling of this beautiful, beautiful restaurant...
Approaching the all-new dual-level Hard Rock Cafe at Waikiki!
Pretty sweet, eh? And, on that note, I am about ready to pass out, so I'm off to a night of (hopefully) sweet slumber.
BUT, BEFORE I FORGET...
I ran across proof positive that President Obama was BORN AMERICAN, BABY! Because if it's in a children's book, it must be true, right?
Good night!
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Someday I will get to see Hawaii…
Man that hot dog looks amazing. I’m not a mustard person, but I’d definitely try the relishes.
SO JEALOUS! But glad you got some downtime. 🙂
That book oughta shut up the birthers! Well, except they can’t read…
Oh man! Those photos of the hot dogs makes me want to be bad and order one even though I’m not supposed to eat gluten! AMAZING!!!
Oh man, now I want a Puka Dog! That looks delicious! I’ve never been to Hawaii, but someday I hope to get there.
That’s quite a hot dog. I’d try a veggie dog with a fruit relish and one of their fancy mustards. Don’t care for garlic or mayo, so I’d skip that.
In case you didn’t know….I thought you might like this link for getting some of your Puka Dog supplies.
Seriously? The President is from Hawaii? Are you buying into that crap? He is from KENYA!
How have I never had a Puka Dog? I do miss Lucy’s in Kailua, and, of course, Matsumoto’s!
LOVE the hall of guitars! I really like to visit Hawaii. Can’t for the life of me understand why you don’t hire me as a 6ft5 moveable flash holder that can talk too ;-D
I’ve never heard of this thing! Must. Try. Soon.
Next time I venture ti Oahu, I’m going ti try a Puka Dog. And those macadamia nut Kisses are very good.
At some point we will have to have a hot dog taste-off. I’ve been reading up for a trip to Iceland in September, and have learned:
1. Icelanders are utterly addicted to hot dogs, and they swear the best are from Baejarins Beztu, a van situated near the harbor that’s been patronized by Bill Clinton! Use the vital sentence “Eina med ollu” (one with everything) to get one with mustard, tomato sauce, remoulade and crunchy onions.
[-Lonely Planet]
and
2. Icelanders are well aware that their pylsur (hot dogs) are among the best on the planet, and they consume them in enormous quantities — usually ein med ollu, or “one with everything” … as you dispense mayo, ketchup, and a tangy remoulade with finely chopped pickle from enormous squeezy tubes, Toppings also include raw and crispy onions. However, the key ingredient is the hot dog itself: the addition of lamb to the usual pork and beef mellows and deepens the taste experience. …
Britain’s Guardian newspaper, voting (Baejarins Bestu) the best hot dog stand in Europe, credited the remoulade sauce, but locals believe it’s the secret cooking fluid (most think beer is involved).
[-Frommer’s]
As a vegetarian, I wasn’t able to try Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur when I was in Iceland… though I did stop by to take a look. So, from my perspective, Puka Dog is the clear winner when it comes to a hot dog showdown!