THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Sam Choy's Diamond Head Restaurant

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Sam Choy's Diamond Head Restaurant Restaurant Review:

This is Sam Choy’s flagship restaurant, a bright and crowded upstairs space that never seems to lack for patrons. Choy’s motto is, Never trust a skinny chef, and his portions reflect that. There are Aloha Tapas---a Choyism for appetizers---like six kinds of poke, four kinds of oysters, seared ahi and escargot on toast points. We never order appetizers here, though, because entrées come with soup and salad, and the entrées alone are more than we can eat. (Splitting is discouraged.) The grilled Asian lamb chops on star anise reduction are bigger than most racks of lamb and come with vegetable mash and cheese sticks. Although Choy’s seafood is wonderful, especially his seafood laulau steamed in ti leaves, we heartily recommend his Asian osso buco, meaty veal shanks, served with a wonderful array of fresh vegetables from the wok and Asian noodles redolent with sesame oil. If you make it through your entrée, you can try dessert. Crème brûlée with tropical fruit marmalade, andagi (Okinawan doughnuts) filled with chocolate mochi and served with vanilla ice cream. Choy’s food is as engaging as the man himself---and it’s always a taste of the real Hawaii, as the local residents eating here will attest. Be forewarned: Nobody gets out of Sam Choy’s Diamond Head hungry.