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Shorefyre is one of the newer eateries at the International Market Place, but it’s a familiar local spot. A sister company to the fast-food chain Grylt, Shorefyre started out six years serving local comfort food at another venue in Waikiki, on Koa Avenue. This second location suggests management has found a winning formula, with affordable prices and a relaxed atmosphere.
THE EXPERIENCE
The new Shorefyre is located in the former Baku Waikiki location on the third floor of the Market Place, on the Kalakaua Avenue side. That section of the Market Place was designed around the famous banyan tree, so the space itself is long and curved, shaped somewhat like a huge comma, with the large end opening out to a lanai overlooking Kalakaua Avenue. As one would expect for Waikiki, it’s a casual spot, decorated in bleached, beachy tones.
While Shorefyre has a large bar that faces out to the lanai, it’s also trying to establish itself as a family-oriented place, said executive chef Jose Arias. There’s a small corner set aside as a play area for keiki. Happy hour is served everywhere in the restaurant.
There aren’t any flat screens with screaming sports fans to gather around, so bring some friends for amusement, or be prepared to enjoy live music out on the lanai, which at Shorefyre starts at 4 p.m., a relatively early hour for Waikiki.
Otherwise, you can sit outside and watch the street scene below — the Moana Surfrider’s famous front porch is within view — or catch a glimpse of the ocean, which is visible between towers across the street.
THE FOOD
Shorefyre has a nice selection of food items offered during happy hour only. Most are priced at $10 or less, so it’s a good bargain for those looking for a snack, including familiar pau hana dishes like Coconut Shrimp ($5) and Nachos ($8, with a chicken option for $11 or a steak option at $12).
Shorefyre is especially proud of its “50/50 Loco Moco” combo, featuring 50 percent ground Angus beef and 50 percent bacon mixed together. On the regular menu, it’s offered as a pattie with two eggs, fried rice and gravy for $18.55, but for happy hour it’s part of the Inside Out Loco Moco ($9), a Scotch egg-like concoction in which a boiled egg is wrapped up inside the meat and deep-fried. Caramelized onions and held together with brown gravy, the dish was a pleasant blend of textures and tastes.
Shorefyre also puts a twist on local favorites like Pipikaula ($10), served with house-made chips and salsa. It’s served a bit warm to create a bit of gravy and was very tasty.
Veggie lovers get some choices on Shorefyre’s happy hour menu, with a grilled romaine ($6) dish. It’s simply a half head of local, hydroponically grown romaine lettuce, grilled lightly to create some extra crispy texture, then covered with various toppings that will change according to whatever’s in season and the chef’s taste. Ours had some slivers of cheese, croutons and a blue cheese dressing, making for simple side salad. “Sometimes we’ll have bacon or different dressings,” Arias said.
I also tried the fried Brussel sprouts ($6), which had a buttery flavor with a touch of salt from slices of fried sausage.
THE DRINK
Drinks are very reasonably priced during Shorefyre’s happy hour, with wine and spirits at $6 and beers at an extraordinary $3 to $5.
Two cocktails, a Coconut Mojito and the Hawaii Mai Tai, are offered regularly for $7, but I opted for the Bartenders Choice, which that day was bartender Matthew Howell’s Oceans 12. With Ocean’s Organic Vodka, Curacao, mango, lilikoi and lemonade, it’s a spectacular drink. Looking like wave swirling in foam, it provided a real sock to the head but was plenty tasty on the tongue.
THE VERDICT
With tasty food, good drinks, a great open-air setting and reasonable prices, Shorefyre is a terrific place for a Waikiki happy hour. It starts early, 3:30 p.m daily, and there’s a late happy hour early in the week as well. The large space makes for lots of options — sit up in front towards the entrance for a quiet place to chat or meditate the day away, or join in at the bar for more fun and music.
SHOREFYRE
International Market Place
672-2097, shorefyre.com
Happy hour: 3:30-6:30 p.m. daily, 10:30 p.m-closing Sunday-Wednesday
>> Inside Out Loco Moco (Scotch Egg), $9
>> Fried Brussel sprouts, $6
>> Seared beef tips, $9
>> Beer, $3-$5
>> Coconut Mojito, $7
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