Champion's Steak & Seafood is the food-court surprise of Waikiki: a counter-service grill tucked into the Paina Lanai dining floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center that turns out genuinely good New York strips, ribeyes and garlic shrimp plates for a fraction of what the white-tablecloth places a block away charge. Orders are fired on a flat-top behind the counter, plated with rice and salad, and handed over in minutes, so it works as well for a quick mid-shopping lunch as it does for a no-fuss dinner before a luau or sunset show. Locals come for the garlic shrimp plate and the fish-and-chips, while visitors gravitate toward the steak combos. Open-air seating overlooks the Royal Grove courtyard with its nightly Hawaiian music, which doubles the appeal at dinner.
"Never in my life did I think I would get such a great tasting steak in a food court. Put high end steakhouse to shame."