Happy Hour Specials for the Townies

Most restaurants don’t advertise they have happy hour and I normally find out about them from the hostess or waiter when I show up for an early dinner. Here are some of my favorite spots in town with delicious pupus and reasonably priced drinks.

If you like having an early dinner, Stripsteak is the best. During happy hour, they have the double double burger and the sunset supper which consists of a 12oz NY strip steak. Both items are a decent portion and will fill you up.

If you just want to snack on a few appetizers, they offer meaty and seafood items ranging from $4 – $18. I recommend the hand roll sushi for $4 each. For drinks, they offer a few beers and some cocktails that range from $4 – $8. For Waikiki, their prices are reasonable. The negative is parking because only the first hour is free with validation at the International Marketplace. Happy hour is only available at the bar.

Stripsteak Waikiki
International Market Place, Level 3
2330 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
Ph: 808-800-3094
Website

Happy hour from 4-6pm daily

It’s oyster hour! For those who love oysters, you definitely need to come here for their “two buck shuck.” The oysters are $2 each; the waiter will let you know what varieties they have that day. Beside oysters they also offer some of their signature appetizers like the buffalo octopus and Hamachi crudo. The food prices range from $6 – $15. There are some select cocktails for $8, wine for $6 and beer for $5. Oyster hour is available at the bar and lounge.

Herringbone Waikiki
International Market Place, Level 3
2330 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
Website

Oyster hour from 4–6pm & 9pm-close daily

If you’re looking for a casual happy hour vibe, Basalt is great. Basalt is inside Duke’s Lane Market and the space is open. They have outdoor seating and live music in the evening, but happy hour is only available at the bar. The happy hour food menu prices range from $2 – $9. Most of the appetizers on the dinner menu are on the happy hour menu.

The cheese platter, adobe chicken wings & crackers, and the pork belly buns on their signature charcoal bun are recommended. If you want items that are more filling, they have burgers and flatbread pizzas. For drinks, they offer beers on tap, bottled beers and some cocktails that range from $3 – $7. Since the space is open, the noise level does get loud closer to dinner time. What makes this place even better is that they offer parking validation at the Hyatt Centric Waikiki; self-park, up to 4 hours for free.

Basalt
Dukes Lane Market & Eatery
2255 Kuhio Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
www.basaltwaikiki.com

Happy hour from 3-5pm daily

MW has the largest happy hour food menu and most of the items are $5 each. Some of the appetizers are big enough for sharing. They have healthy items like salad but also the heavy items like the kalua pig potato gratin, salmon and butterfish skin chips, ahi poke mandoo and pork meatballs. Everything on their happy hour drink menu is $5. The drinks consist of beers, cocktails and mocktails. During the week, happy hour is available in the dining room from 2-5pm and on weekends it is only available at the bar from 4-5pm.

MW Restaurant
1538 Kapiolani Blvd #107
Honolulu, HI 96814
www.mwrestaurant.com

Happy hour from 2-5pm Monday – Friday, 4-5pm Saturday & Sunday

If you work in downtown Honolulu, going to a happy hour after work is the best way to wait out traffic. The happy hour food menu prices range from $4 – $9. They make the best poutine here. I can’t quite see what’s in the poutine because the bar is dark but it’s deep fried, crispy, salty and delicious. For drinks, they have a $4 Aloha blonde draft and a few cocktails that are $7 – $8.

Hey taco lovers, they have a Taco Thursday here. Every Thursday from 2-10pm, they offer mini tacos on a flour tortilla for $3 each. You can choose from fried fish, carnitas pork, grilled chicken or pork belly as your protein. Happy hour is open seating so if you see a table, just grab it and hang out.

Smith & Kings
69 N King Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
www.smithandkings.website

Happy hour from 2-6pm daily