Ethel's Grill

One of Honolulu's greatest hole-in-the-wall restaurants, Ethel's serves Japanese diner fare with an Okinawan bent and an overlay of Hawaii. This bustling, cash-only place has 24 seats and six parking spots, and all are usually full when Ethel's is open. Ponder photos of sumo wrestlers on the walls while you tuck into garlic ahi, mochiko (batter-fried) chicken and miso soup.