The Mac Daddy of Gourmet Comfort Food

In today’s competitive, unforgiving market economy, running a restaurant can sometimes feel like one, big ultimatum: Perform extraordinary well or pack up your knives. Rising to the challenge, MAC 24/7 Bar & Restaurant makes success look easy with its roster of expertly crafted dishes.

Open 24 hours a day, the restaurant is an ideal gathering place for any crowd. “Whether you are here for breakfast, lunch, dinner or to satisfy a 3 a.m. craving, we treat every dish that leaves our kitchen with the utmost care and precision,” says Mark Nelsen, director of restaurants for Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel. “By sourcing the freshest ingredients and making everything from scratch, we have essentially taken what is considered common comfort food and transformed it into truly gourmet dining.”

A breakfast lover’s dream, Mac-Attack ($16) is one of the modern-day diner’s most popular plates with a choice of French toast or pancakes, freestyle eggs, breakfast potatoes, Applewood-smoked bacon and link sausages. “It gives you the best of everything,” says Nelsen.

Rivaling its predecessor’s popularity, Mac-Aloha ($25) also makes for a sumptuous choice, featuring kiawe-grilled Huli Huli chicken, Kalbi short ribs, seared ahi tuna and fried rice topped with wakame garnish. Adds Nelsen, “This is our version of a high-quality local plate.”

Thanks to executive chef James Aptakin’s extensive cooking background, diners will be delighted to find some of their classic favorites transformed with a creative twist.

“I have always loved Latin cuisine, so I love making Mini Ahi Poke Tacos ($12.50), which we serve underneath a cilantro wasabi avocado mousse and island salsa,” says Aptakin. “We have a very close relationship with our local vendors, so our ahi is always top sashimi-grade.”

A sweet follow-up to any meal, the decadently rich Kona Coffee Flan ($7) is always in demand, made from Kona coffee and topped with a medley of spices, including black Hawaiian sea salt.

Just as notable as the food, MAC 24/7 prides itself on personable customer service. “Our staff strives to leave a piece of themselves at the table,” says Nelsen. “When you can create an environment of passionate and happy workers, the food always speaks for itself.”

In addition to its a la carte menu, MAC 24/7 also regularly hosts a Breakfast Buffet ($24) every Saturday and Sunday morning, as well as an All-You-Can-Eat Dinner Buffet ($32.95), which includes prime rib.

Mac 24/7 Bar & Restaurant

Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel
2500 Kuhio Ave., Honolulu
921-5564
Open 24 hours daily
mac247waikiki.com