WE'RE CRAVING: HOT DOGS

Hank's Haute Dogs

If it's a classic Chicago-style dog that tops your list of must-have fast food, there's only one name you need to know. Hank's Haute Dogs serves up the dragged-through-the-garden classic, alarm-green relish and all, the way it was meant to be: with Vienna all-beef franks and soft poppy-seed buns. Hank also turns up the taste on not-so-classic versions of the hot dog, with innovations like lobster, andouille, gator, duck and foie gras dogs. One of our guiltiest pleasures: the "Fat Boy" dog, a BLT-inspired masterpiece — a bacon-wrapped dog deep fried and dressed in mayo, lettuce and diced tomatoes.

Hank's Haute Dogs, two locations: 324 Coral St., 532-4265; International Market Place, 2330 Kalakaua Ave., 924-9933

Puka Dog

With bun innovation on its side, Puka Dog takes the classic to a whole new place. The all-in-one sausage and bun meal — it's essentially a hot dog-stuffed loaf of bread — ensures the perfect bite every time. Add your choice of ketchup, mayo or signature sauces that include a spicy garlic aioli, liliko'i and guava mustards and a long list of tropical fruit salsas. All talk of fancy condiments aside, it's the dog — a skinless 8-inch Polish sausage — that really shines.

Puka Dog, Waikiki Town Center, 2301 Kuhio Ave., 924-7887

Costco

The no-frills kosher Polish sausage satisfies a frank craving, while easing our recession-muddled minds. For a buck and a half, get a thick and juicy baton of pure rotisserie-cooked beef. Now that's good eating.

Ka Lei Marketplace

One of the few places to get nostalgic over a KC Drive-Inn waffle dog, Ka Lei Marketplace serves up the old-time fave between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. A hot dog in a bun is great. A hot dog encased in a just-sweet-enough waffle batter and then toasted until the waffle is hot and crisp is even better.

Ka Lei Marketplace, 3585 Wai'alae Ave., 737-7665

The Shack

The Shack makes its dogs two ways: topping-heavy or simply naked. And those aren't bad options at all. Get a Portuguese sausage or a Louisiana Hot Link smothered in chili, cheese, onions and mustard, or try a quarter-pound Nathan's hot dog straight up, on a bun, condiments optional.

The Shack, four locations: Waikiki Trade Center, 2255 Kuhio Ave., 921-2255; Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, 377 Keahole St., No. C2, 396-1919; Kailua, 1051 Keolu Drive, 261-1191; Mililani, 95-221 Kipapa Drive, 627-1561

WOLFGANG'S HOUSE

Wolfgang's Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener is open for business at the Royal Hawaiian Center. The restaurant is Zwiener's first Honolulu outpost, and his fourth steakhouse.

Zwiener cut his teeth in the steakhouse biz at New York's legendary Peter Luger Steakhouse, where he worked as head waiter for more than 40 years.

The years of Luger loyalty paid off with his own brand of steakhouse that expands on the no-frills Peter Luger style with a longer menu that includes exclusive side dishes like the German potatoes.

And with the only dry-aging house in Honolulu, Zwiener's steak — the porterhouse is the specialty — is tender and thick with robust beefy flavor. The restaurant also just began serving lunch and brunch.

SMALL BITES

YOGURT MAMA

Joining the ranks of Yogurtland, Menchie's and other DIY frozen yogurt hot spots, Yogurt Mama in Kailua (43 Oneawa St., 263-3368) opened last month to big, happy crowds.

With its rotating list of flavors (everything from mouth-puckering plain to ice-cream imposter cookies and cream) and its two topping bars (everything from granola to mini mochi balls to sugary sprinkles), there are no rules at this Mama's house.

If you like tart blueberry yogurt with a swirl of sweet vanilla yogurt topped with Fruit Loops, Cap'n Crunch and coconut mochi, you're welcome to it.

FOOD NEWS

Hale, a new organic, vegan and macrobiotic restaurant, opened at 1427 Makaloa St. Right now it's just a lunch spot, serving healthful bentos. Get meatless treats like teriyaki tempeh, kabocha fried rice, ginger seitan and the restaurant's signature bento. For the not-so-vegan (but still macrobiotically inclined), there's also salmon and saba "mackerel" on the menu. Open at 11:30 a.m. daily until the bentos run out. 944-1555.

If you are in Las Vegas and find yourself craving Filipino food, O'ahu's Elena's Home of Finest Filipino Food, is now on the ninth island. Owners Elena and Theo Butuyan moved to Las Vegas some years ago ostensibly to retire, but now they operate a restaurant bigger than their original in Waipahu. It's at 2534 E. Desert Inn Road; 702-791-7912; elenasrestaurant.com.

David Paul Johnson will be back in April with a new Lahaina restaurant to be called David Paul's Island Grill in an ocean-view space on Front Street, featuring fine dining in a "Tropical chic/Island cool" atmosphere and a wide-ranging wine-by-the-glass program. The actual opening date is yet to be set as Johnson and his chef and design crews hustle to complete planning and construction. Johnson made his name around the corner on Lahainaluna Road at what was then David Paul's Lahaina Grill.

Buffalo Wild Wings will open its first Island outlet at Discovery Bay in Waikiki, offering spicy, blue cheese-dipped chicken wings that originated in a Buffalo bar. Thomas Metzger has rights to develop Little Caesars and Buffalo Wings restaurants throughout the Islands. HIs third Little Caesars opened in Waimanalo recently and a fourth is being developed for 'Ewa Beach.