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Satiating cravings with great comfort food

A La Carte

September 22, 2019

Story By: Don Robbins | Photos by: ANTHONY CONSILLIO

Key Lime Pie ($8)

Since 1987, Murphy’s Bar & Grill on Merchant Street has been satisfying customers with a terrific taste of Ireland right here in Honolulu.

Located in a picturesque brick building built in the late 1800s, Murphy’s serves as an iconic destination at the edge of Chinatown on the corner of Merchant and Nuuanu.

The eatery owned by Don Murphy serves up delicious hearty food in an inviting environment.

“We also have around five or six weekly specials that change every week. I would consider us a comfort food, steaks and fresh fish, neighborhood, family restaurant,” Murphy explains. “We have an active bar scene with special drinks, 16 beers on tap and shuffleboard.”

Open Face Turkey Sandwich ($14.50)

Murphy’s Bar & Grill also hosts a huge, popular annual St. Patrick’s Day party with 10,000 participants converging from all over to enjoy the festivities.

“A portion of the day’s sales goes to local charities. We sell over 3,000 pounds of corned beef that week, 3,000 oysters, and some 4,000 meals,” Murphy shares. “We are very involved with several local charities and the University of Hawaii.”

The restaurant is open Monday through Friday for lunch and seven nights a week for dinner.

Steak Salad ($23.50)

One of the sweetly satisfying signature items available at Murphy’s is the Key Lime Pie ($8), made by Murphy’s wife and partner, Marion. It features a nice thick filling that Marion creates at home. In addition, every Friday is Pie Day at Murphy’s, where Marion makes up to six different pies for that day: Lemon Meringue, Blueberry, Mixed Berry, Banana, Apple, Rhubarb/Strawberry and Key Lime.

A top seller on the menu at Murphy’s is the Open Face Turkey Sandwich ($14.50). It consists of freshly baked sliced turkey on bread served with mashed potatoes and vegetables, covered with gravy and served with fresh cranberry sauce. This dish has been featured on Food Network’s TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Murphy adds.

Another meaty option is the restaurant’s best-selling burger, known as the Blarney Burger ($13.75).

Murphy explains that it’s crafted with the eatery’s 7-ounce burger topped with “Blarney cheese” — white Irish cheddar imported from Ireland, infused with Porter. This flavorful burger gets served with a nice side of fries.

Something else at Murphy’s that diners can sink their teeth into is the Steak Salad ($23.50). It features Waipoli greens tossed in house oil and vinegar dressing, which are topped with blueberries, strawberries, walnuts, grapes, Gorgonzola cheese, and marinated prime top sirloin — cooked to order.

Honolulu, HI 96801

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