Kirin Restaurant

Honolulu $$ *****
Kirin is on the same level as Mandalay, which is possibly the best compliment I can give to a Chinese restaurant. They are great for different reasons. I prefer the dishes and location of Mandalay, but the atmosphere and décor of Kirin is much nicer. Kirin gives free valet parking, which I consider a huge plus since I absolutely hate parking. You walk through a cheesy Chinese archway and enter a beautifully decorated interior, with deep wood tones separating smaller private rooms from the larger dining area, ornate chairs, and splashes of pale green.
For the most part, their dim sum is nonpareil. However, there are one or two dishes that are better at other dim sum restaurants, such as Hee Hing or Mandalay. For example, their seaweed roll is a bit too heavy. Other than that, I've been completely satisfied with Kirin.
Kirin Restaurant (Mo'ili'ili)
2518 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96826

Malay Satay Hut

Portland $$ *****
This place is so good we went twice in one day. Yes, we're that crazy. My friend took my family and here for lunch to get some authentic Malaysian food. She ordered dishes that she usually eats in SWe got to try some very interesting dishes, such as Bak Kut Teh (a delicious beef soup), Buddish Yam Pot (a pot made of fried yam holding various goodies like shrimp and vegetables), and Kang Kung Belachan (ong choi cooked in peppers and shrimp sauce). For dessert, we shared two dishes: one consisted of shaved ice, coconut milk, sugar, and jellies; the other one consisted of cooked black rice and coconut milk. Both amazing.
Two hours later we returned with another family. This time, we came for dim sum. That's right - this place specializes in both Malaysian food AND dim sum. How cool is that? More unbelievable is that the dim sum was just as good as their Malaysian food. We got what we usually order when we eat dim sum: (I know I'm going to be spelling a lot of these incorrectly; I apologize in advance) shu mai, ha gau, scallop and beef look fun roll, gin doi, taro, and seaweed roll.
The restaurant is nicely decorated with light wood walls and pictures of Southeast Asia. My only complaint is that it's located in SE 82nd and, since I'm a wuss, I don't particularly like going there. Definitely come when you have a car and/or it's still early. However, once you're here, you can go right next door to Fubonn, a massive Asian marketplace. When my parents come back to visit me next year, I know we'll be back because we instantly fell in love with this place. Both times.
Malay Satay Hut (82nd)
2850 SE 82nd Ave
Portland, OR 97266

The Mandalay

Honolulu $$ *****How often do you eat dim sum with cloth napkins? For me, not often, which is why I love Mandalay. This is a fairly new restaurant in downtown Honolulu. The dim sum is great, and so are the regular meals if you come for dinner. Clean, elegant setting that is a nice change from the typical Chinatown restaurants. Plus, the seats are some of the comfiest chairs I have ever sat in.

The Mandalay (downtown)
1055 Alakea Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Daily 10:30 am-10pm
Dim sum served 10:30 am-5 pm