Budget Bites: Merriman’s Honolulu

A smash burger and fries combo for $10 sounds too good to be true, but that’s one of the best deals you’ll find on the happy hour menu at Merriman’s Honolulu. Happy hour is every day from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

Merriman’s Honolulu began its happy hour in fall 2018, according to Jason Vendrell, beverage director of Merriman’s Hawaii & Handcrafted Restaurants. While happy hour dishes at other eateries might feature smaller portions to match the discounted price, diners will be relieved to know that isn’t the case here.

“Merriman’s Honolulu’s happy hour portions are the same size as our regular menu offerings, ensuring patrons enjoy the same generous servings, rich flavors and full satisfaction, no matter the time of day,” Vendrell says.

Start with farm-to-table cocktail ($9), which are inspired by the restaurant’s bartenders, or the famous Merriman’s Mai Tai ($9). The latter is especially popular because of its honey-lilikoi foam, but it can also be turned into a mocktail.

“For the farm-to-table cocktail, Merriman’s Honolulu celebrates Hawaii’s farmers by featuring locally sourced seasonal fruits, herbs and vegetables like coconut, guava and hibiscus, to name a few,” Vendrell says. “Each week, our talented bar team crafts these cocktails to showcase fresh ingredients that allow guests to savor the dedication of our farm partners. One of our past farm-to-table cocktails is a hibiscus guava margarita with a coconut salt rim.”

Other drink discounts include $2 off all draft beers, house cocktails and wines by the glass.

Now for the food. Parmesan truffle fries ($6) come laden with garlic and strong truffle flavor. They’re not only a deal, but are also deliciously addictive.

If you’re craving something lighter, go for the organic taro hummus ($9) with Pukalani cucumber, cherry tomatoes and Molokai sweet potato chips, or spicy Szechuan green beans ($9) with toasted macadamia nuts.

The fish and chips ($9) are probably one of the best deals on the menu. Mahi is tempura-battered to a golden brown, resulting in a crispy exterior and moist, flaky interior. It’s served with rosemary sea salt fries, malt vinegar aioli and lemon.

On a related note, the fresh fish tacos ($10) are another crowd pleaser. The dish consists of two tacos filled with Moroccan-spiced ahi, avocado, cabbage, onion, cilantro and lime on heirloom corn tortillas.

The smash burger and fries ($10), designed to satisfy those with heartier appetites, is another steal. It’s simple — cheddar cheese, sautéed onions, lettuce, tomato and a special house sauce — but filling.

“We like to think of our happy hour as a ‘best of’ collection, showcasing the dishes that our guests love most,” Vendrell says. “We curated the menu to include a selection of fan favorites, including standouts like the kalua pig quesadilla, fish and chips, smash burger and fries and more. These are the classic dishes that come to mind when our guests think of Merriman’s Honolulu.”

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.