Leading The Way In Fusion Fare

No matter what time of day it is, you always can count on Mac 24/7 Bar and Restaurant to satisfy your food cravings. Conveniently open 24 hours a day, seven days a week (hence its name), the modern Waikiki diner serves gourmet comfort food, including many local favorites and dishes prepared with fresh, local ingredients.

Among its most popular items are Fried Chicken and Waffles, Sumo Saimin, Mac-Aloha (consisting of huli huli-style grilled chicken, kalbi short ribs, seared ahi tuna, fried rice and wakame garnish) and, of course, its famous Mac-Daddy Pancakes.

“Our most popular new item is Hawaiian Moonfish Tacos,” adds Mark Nelsen, director of food and beverage. “We sell out of that all the time, and then the Barbecue Kalua Pork Nachos (which was added to the menu late last year) are super popular as well.”

Guests also can enjoy live music nightly from 6 to 9 p.m. in the lobby bar, featuring a weekly line-up of top local artists, including Tavana, Johnny Helm, Jason Laeha, Izik, Sunway and Tahiti Rey.

While MAC 24/7 is known for its tasty fare, there also are some popular light-bite options, such as Kale and Roasted Beet Salad ($14), featuring truffled gold and red beets, Hauula tomato, pineapple, macadamia nuts, Naked Cow goat cheese and balsamic Maui onion dressing.

Award-winning executive chef James Aptakin also regularly updates the menu. The newest dish is Barbecue Kalua Pork Nachos ($16), which is available during happy hour at a discounted price of $12. It’s the first and only dish to be part of the restaurant’s discounted happy hour offerings of specially priced draft beer, wells liquor, Hawaiian classics, Kendall Jackson wine selections and more. Happy hour runs daily from 2 to 5 p.m. and from midnight to 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.

The large, heaping bowl of nachos has tri-color tortilla chips, double-layered poblano beer cheese, barbecue kalua pork, tomato, jalapeno, black olive, avocado and sour cream; and is perfect for sharing.

Also, be sure to save room for dessert, as you’ll want to try Waialua Chocolate Coffee Flan ($7) made with Hawaiian black sea salt and homemade caramel drizzle. Previously on the menu as Kona Coffee Flan, Aptakin mixed in locally grown Waialua chocolate for a nice touch of richness and added flavor.

Mac 24/7 Bar And Restaurant

Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel,
2500 Kuhio Ave., Waikiki
921-5564
Open 24 hours daily; Happy hour: Sunday-Thursday 2-5 p.m., midnight-3 a.m.;
mac247waikiki.com