It’s a culinary block party every day at The Street

Having thoroughly enjoyed my pau hana experience at Michael Mina’s upscale Stripsteak restaurant, I jumped at the chance to cruise his food-truck inspired collection of kitchens, The Street, also in Waikiki’s International Market Place. Eating at The Street isn’t like dining at Stripsteak, obviously, but under the direction of Mina and his partners, it does share pleasures derived from his attention to detail, service and quality. It’s easy and entertaining, and very well suited to a gathering of friends. I’ve “patrolled” The Street multiple times since it opened in May, and happy hour is a good time to do so.

The experience

Don’t call it a food court — OK, I won’t, since chef Mina and his partners prefer to term it a “gourmet gathering place” — but there are similarities. The Street contains a slew of high tables in the middle of a gymnasium-sized space (just shy of 7,000 square feet), with an array of restaurants around the perimeter and two bars protruding into the center. Hamburger haven Maui Onion Burger and its “gnarly eats” are found through an alcove Ewa of the central area.

You have lots of choices, with eight food counters (or nine if you count the brand-new LaMill’s Street Corner Cafe, which serves gourmet coffee and takes orders from the Mindful Greens salad outlet at its site). There’s also a delightful “modern shave ice” outlet, Aloha Ice, operated by MW restaurant partner and chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka — my top choice in a field of contenders.

The design is invigorating and contemporary, with an exposed ceiling, minimalist furniture and a clever lighting scheme that mimics the look of sun through trees, meant to give the feel of eating outside on — you guessed it — the street. In the afternoon and evenings when I’ve visited, a DJ has been ensconced against one wall, playing upbeat, era-spanning pop tracks.

As with the communal food-truck experience, it’s expected that you may share tables while eating and drinking, and maybe make some new friends. On my repeat visits to The Street, people in nearby seats have often leaned over to ask curiously about what foods we were trying.

Note: If you’re driving, the entrance to the parking garage is at the intersection of Kuhio Avenue and Walina Street — not on Kalakaua. With a minimum $10 purchase, validated parking is free for the first hour, $2 an hour for the next three, and $2 for each 20 minutes (the standard rate) after that.

The food

The choices here are extensive, and I still haven’t tried everything, but so far, I’m a booster for the healthy, creative salads at Mindful Greens, California-style fusion poke at Kai Poke and the specialty barbecue at International Smoke.

Oddly enough, I’ve had a mixed reaction to the offerings at Mina’s own Little Lafa, which offers a menu “from the Mediterranean and beyond,” inspired by his Egyptian heritage. His vibrant, tasty Falafel Tots, made with fava beans, is now a favorite, but his Chicken Lafa ($12.99), based on chicken marinated in harissa and served with muhammara (made from red pepper and walnuts), a red-onion labneh (made from yogurt), pickled veggies and tahini lime dressing, felt overchilled and didn’t have the full taste I’d expected from these warm, fulfilling ingredients.

Not sure which outlet might suit you best? I recommend The Street Party pass as a pau hana natural. At $37, it’s a “VIP” punch pass on a lanyard, good for 30 days, that lets you scout all The Street’s counters — including the bars — to mix and match seven selected dishes and/or drinks.

Diners can share one pass; five items with two drinks might be enough to make your pau hana into a meal, or you can splurge on all food items while enjoying a happy hour cocktail.

Each outlet features a single selection that’s available via the pass, which may vary from week to week, and it’s fun to try them. Not sure I would have tried the Baja-Style Marinated Nairagi poke from Kai (regularly $12.99) otherwise — but I did, and loved the embellishments of sweet corn, jicama and shaved radish.

The drink

There are three bars at The Street.

Beer & Be Merry has a range of craft beer. During happy hour, its deals are a pint of Pabst at $2, and Jameson or Espolon Tequila shots for $5.

The Myna Bird Bar is tiki-inspired and features painstakingly assembled craft cocktails served in clever containers, including a mai tai served in a Spam can. The menu is punny and tempting, with drinks like Marooned in Kingston ($12; made with red wine, Appleton Rum, Velvet Falernum and lime) and an oversized Passionfruit Punch ($26), serving two or three, made with Angostura 7 Year Old Rum and passion fruit honey-jasmine tea and and served in a “flaming lime shell.” The happy hour attraction is a whipped, frozen pina colada at $5.

Kai Poke also boasts a full bar for those who want to go for a straightforward mix. Its happy hour attractions are Sake Bombs or a house-made, spiked “Hawaiian Punch,” aka Jungle Juice, for $5.

The verdict

I’m all about good food at a bargain, and The Street’s happy hour combined with a Street Party pass is the way to get at it. The Street’s design and promotions like this give a visit the flavor of a tasty scavenger hunt that’s fun with a group of friends. Worth a visit.