Ya-ya's Chophouse & Seafood - Honolulu
The vibrantly hued, modern chophouse and cocktail lounge boasts an open kitchen so guests may watch all the action, a lively happy hour every day, and some of the freshest seafood on the island. Ya-ya's is a popular hang for locals, who appreciate the inventiveness with the seafood preparations.
Read MoreIt starts with Ya-ya's appetizer menu, which showcases plenty of seafood offerings, from the crispy crab cakes to the lobster dynamite that's enhanced by chili aioli and panko. A really good deal is the Ocean Tower, which is stacked with all sorts of raw bar goodness, including Maine lobster tail, jumbo Kauai shrimp, oysters, scallops, and seafood ceviche. On the entree side, there's seared Ahi steak, the signature lobster pan roast (whole Maine lobster, crab meat, Manila clams, sea scallops and jumbo Kauai shrimp), salmon, and Alaskan king crab.
If Ya-ya's wants to be known for its contemporary approach to steakhouses, then it's putting its best foot forward with the chops and steak offerings. At the top of the list are the elite, or specialty, cuts. They range from a 40-ounce prime Tomahawk to a five-ounce A-5 Nagasaki cut of wagyu beef.
Those are extravagant, so more conservative steak selections include a 16-ounce prime New York strip, 16-ounce filet mignon, or the prime porterhouse that's 32 ounces and dry aged for 28 days.
There's also prime rib on the menu, however, it's only available on Friday and Saturday. It's "double prime," slow-roasted overnight and is 32 ounces.
