WAIKIKI. Spare and stylish, this airy restaurant presents diners with top-notch Japanese cuisine in the traditional manner. Talented chefs prepare exquisite sushi, as beautiful as it is delicious, and cooked dishes include yakitori, tempura, and more. The well-attended lunch buffet is a perennial draw, and the sushi buffet (Friday and Saturday evenings) is a favorite with hotel guests and locals as well. Kaiseki meals, consisting of a number of small, elegant, seasonal dishes, are an upscale alternative to standard fare.

DOWNTOWN. Patrons of this popular place are constantly delighted by fair prices and fantastic food. Gourmet but accessible, the cuisine has a certain Hawaiian flair, thanks to Asian seasonings and the abundance of fresh fish and vegetables. In fact, it's a bit difficult to characterize the food ­ just know that it's good! Savory breakfasts start the day off perfectly, and plate lunches are a frequent request for lunch and dinner. And just so you don't worry: Desserts are available, and the bread pudding is absolute magic!

WAIKIKI. It's dinner and entertainment rolled into one at this Japanese hot spot. Vivacious chefs chop, slice, and sauté steak, chicken, shellfish, and vegetables right before your eyes in an exuberant display of teppanyaki cooking. It's just the place to visit if you're in the mood for an evening of sociability and fun. If you need a sushi fix along the way, don't despair ­ they'll set you up with an assortment of your favorite rolls. The superb bar begins serving drinks at 5pm, including sake and Japanese beer.

WAIKIKI. Long-lived and expensive, this top-of-the-line establishment is among the best you'll find for Japanese cuisine. A beautiful interior echoes the enchanting food, which includes everything from sushi and sashimi to tempura dishes, yakitori, and kaiseki meals. Tatami rooms are available upstairs if you're with a group or crave a little privacy, and the restaurant is especially accommodating of expense accounts and special occasions. Incomparable.

ALA MOANA. Adorned with vibrant colors and suspended umbrellas, this esteemed restaurant specializes in Japanese cuisine, colored with European traditions and fresh island ingredients. Innovation, in fact, is L'Uraku's hallmark. You may find pan-seared moi, pan-roasted pork chop with crunchy shrimp, or miso-yaki butterfish, a house classic. Clear, precise flavors - layered for depth - bring in repeat customers, and the place's charm converts everyone who attends. Of course, the well-priced, weekend lunch doesn't hurt either.