If you ask the locals for their recommendation for a good, casual seafood restaurant, they’ll either say Nico’s or Uncle’s Fish Market. Both are located on Pier 38 along Nimitz Highway. Actually, just a few feet away from each other. Torn between the two, we headed to Uncle’s Fish Market & Grill with a couple friends from the island for an early dinner.
The menu features a vast selection of fresh fish from ahi, opah or mahi mahi, supplied by parent company Fresh Island Fish. We recommend the Poke Tower which layers fresh ahi poke with guacamole and ahi tartare topped with masago and thin strips of nori served with tortilla chips.
Uncle’s Original Poke Tower
The Calamari Salad was not what I expected. Served on a bed of mixed greens with tomatoes and kaiware sprouts is a big piece of deep-fried calamari steak.
Center-cut Calamari Steak
Jay ordered the Big Uncle’s Fish & Chips Combo. Served in a bamboo steamer is fried seafood galore – fresh fish, jumbo shrimp and calamari steak. I decided to go on the lighter side and tried the Garlic Ahi off their signature menu. The dish features Ahi steak sautéed medium with a blended sauce of compound butter, bonito veloute and chili soy. It is topped with garlic, green chilis, and capers. This was my favorite dish out of the four we tried.
Garlic Ahi
Portions at Uncle’s are generous, so come hungry. Food is good. Kid-friendly, and not as busy as Nico’s (across the street). We’ll try their competitor the next time we’re in town just to see who reigns supreme.
Uncle’s Fish Market & Grill
Waterfront at Pier 38
1135 N. Nimitz Highway
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 275-0063
Open daily from 10am to 9pm.
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