Kaimukī Shokudo
I can’t name a favorite Thai, Indian or other curry, so in a group, I’ll always leave the choice to others. Except at Kaimukī Shokudo. The washugyu beef curry, an outlier on the dinnertime izakaya menu, is my go-to on every visit, a glossy luxuriance of tender beef strips that lend their unctuous umami to the sauce. That’s all there is—save for a raft of pickled onions and well-cooked rice, there’s nothing else in the bowl. This curry shares a pedigree with the one famously served at Japan Airlines lounges, I’m told, and it doesn’t surprise me. —Mari Taketa, Frolic editor
1127 11th Ave., Kaimukī, @kaimukishokudo
Kamana Kitchen
On slow weekday mornings, my eyes haze over as I daydream about the lunch platter at Kamana Kitchen on Bishop Street. The curries call out to me. Suddenly, I’m texting a friend for lunch, and I don’t even offer an alternative place to eat because to offer an alternative would be a lie. For who among us could resist the aroma of spiced spinach lifting from a spoonful of palak paneer? Why do we exist, if not to drag a wedge of naan through a buttery red dollop of lamb tikka masala? I just try to grab a coffee afterwards so my boss doesn’t find me underneath my desk in deep and spicy slumber. —Alexander Pang, Frolic
What is there to say about the curries at Kamana Kitchen beyond perfect comfort? The deep flavors tenderly envelop basmati rice, warm naan and my tongue. My number one is the palak paneer with creamy spinach and delightfully chewy cubes of cheese; other favorites include chicken tikka masala, mushroom matar and lamb curry. Medium is my preferred spice level at Kamana, enough for sensation without being distracting. If you work Downtown, don’t sleep on the Bishop Street location’s amazing lunch specials. —Andrea Lee, HONOLULU digital editor…