WE'RE CRAVING: BAR FOOD

AKU BONE LOUNGE

If you spend even five minutes at Aku Bone, you'll quickly discover what the place is all about — pupu. Here, you'll find that kind of terrific, only-in-Hawai'i menu of grinds that instantly waters the mouths of anyone born local. Miso salmon and butterfish? Got it. Sauteed prawns and rack of lamb? Yup. Laulau, poi, chop steak and Alaskan king crab? Yes to all four. Just bring an appetite and your singing voice — they've got karaoke, too.

Aku Bone Lounge, 1201 Kona St., 589-2020

J.J. DOLAN'S PIZZA PUB

J.J. Dolan's slogan is "An Irish pub with New York pizza from two guys in Chinatown," and that's pretty much what you'll find here. Co-owners Jay Niebuhr and Danny Dolan are Irish pub veterans — Niebuhr made a name for himself as Murphy's New York pizza guy and Dolan managed O'Toole's before opening a place of his own. Accented with sleek modern touches, this pub-slash-pizza place found its niche with the perfect combination: beer and pizza.

J.J. Dolan's Pizza Pub, 1147 Bethel St., 537-4992

KINCAID'S FISH, CHOP & STEAK HOUSE

Kincaid's has one of the best happy hours in town. It runs from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays with half-price pupu and drinks. The macadamia-crusted brie en croute is to die for.

Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steal House, Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd., 591-2005

RYAN'S GRILL

We love Ryan's for its killer cocktails and onolicious pupu. The menu is tweaked just often enough to keep things surprising. But customer favorites like seared 'ahi and the artichoke dip are always there.

Ryan's Grill, Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 591-9132

SIDE STREET INN

Side Street Inn has some of the best, down-home food in the Islands. The fried rice and pork chops are a must, but you won't complain about the katsu, spinach salad and Portuguese-style clams, either.

Side Street Inn, 1225 Hopaka St., 591-0253

FOOD NEWS

Adam Richman, the man in the Travel Channel's popular series "Man v. Food" about eating more than humanly possible, will be taking on Mac 24-7's (Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel, lobby level, 2500 Kuhio Ave., 921-5564) gigantic pancakes. Richman will be eating the hubcap-sized cakes between 4:30 and 8 p.m. Monday for an episode of the show. The public is invited to attend the live taping, and cheer on Richman as he attempts to polish off an order of four of the restaurant's signature Hawaiian Mac Daddy pancakes. BTW: An order can easily feed four people. Reservations are required to get in on the taping: 921-5505.

The beloved Green Door Cafe, specializing in Singaporean and Nonya cuisine, is now open — again — for business. Chef-owner Betty Pang's original Green Door was a four table hole-in-the-wall on Bethel Street in Chinatown. She moved to a large space in Kahala for awhile before deciding that Chinatown is where the cafe is most at home. She recently reopened for lunch service at 1110 Nu'uanu Ave. (533-0606).

The Halekulani hotel (923-2311) is offering three days of "Independence dining" over the Fourth of July weekend. Enjoy classic American cocktails from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. July 3 at Lewers Lounge; a kiawe grill cook-out from 5:30 to 8 p.m. July 4 at House Without a Key and Sunday brunch July 5 at Orchids.

THE NEW NONBEI

With a new owner at the helm, Nonbei has been jazzed up a little and become more local-friendly. The old Japanese-only menu boards are still there, only now, the daily specials are translated into English. As for the menu itself, old favorites are there, except no oden. New stuff: a rafute shoyu-simmered pork, crab salad, desserts like kinako mochi and something called Strawberry Dream, and of course, sushi. The new owners kept the old low-backed bar chairs — we always liked the heavy woodenness of the place. Nonbei's decor is homey: like a Japanese farmhouse in the snow country. It's cozy and totally enveloping.
— Mari Taketa

IZAKAYA NONBEI

3108 Olu St. 734-5573

Hours: 5 -10:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Mondays, closed Tuesdays

SMALL BITES

A PERFECT MEDLEY OF RED, WHITE & BLUE

Even if you're not a salad person, you'll become one after tasting MAC 24-7's Big Island vine-ripened tomato salad ($9), with raw and fried Maui onions, blue cheese and a red wine vinaigrette. It's a "starter" salad, but it's big enough to be an entree or for a group to share as a first course. At a dinner attended by a TGIF staffer, this was the dish everyone raved about and reached for.