With the start of the new year, everyone’s looking to save money and get the most bang for their buck. This series will show you where you can save while still savoring a good meal.
Downtown Honolulu’s Smith & Kings is known for its casual pub-like atmosphere, along with its popular, boozy weekend brunch. But did you know its happy hour is available daily from 3 to 6 p.m.? That is, every day except Tuesdays, when the eatery is closed.
The eatery has had a happy hour since it opened in 2015, according to business owner Samantha Moore. It used to be from 4 to 6 p.m., but the hours have been extended.
“We’ve actually kept the same prices over the years; they’re pre-Covid-19 prices,” she says.
The menu is small but mighty. Start with libations like lychee refreshers, Moscow mules, old fashioneds and cucumber collins — all of which cost $6 to $8 each. The lychee refresher is a mix of white rum and housemade lychee punch, while the Moscow mule has vodka, ginger beer and lime.
“We always have one draft beer that’s super cheap on special, a good amount of cocktails, and an Old Fashioned,” Moore says. “The lychee refresher is the most popular; that drink has been here since day one of opening. It’s the only cocktail (on our menu) that’s been here since day one of opening.”
The food menu has enough to fill you up. Sliders include a cheeseburger ($12) with grass-fed Big Island beef, aged Vermont cheddar, housemade dill pickles, Cajun house sauce and butter lettuce, and honey ghost chicken ($12) with a choice of buffalo hot sauce or honey ghost pepper sauce. RIP to the Cubano sliders, which were taken off the menu about six months ago.
“It was finally time for them to come off; we had a choice of too many sliders,” Moore says. “It was sad to see that one go; we had a lot of backlash for a couple months after letting it go. Hopefully we’ll bring it back soon, once we have a bigger menu again.”
The chicken wings ($12) should not be overlooked. The 1-pound portion features dry or tossed wings with a choice of buffalo hot, barbecue, honey mustard, honey ghost ranch or blue cheese. Buffalo hot is the most popular option, but honey mustard and barbecue are also customer favorites.
“The wings are something we can’t let go of on the happy hour menu,” Moore says. “We changed those once and brought in breaded wings. The dry rub wings had to come back by popular demand; they will always be a staple here.”
The poutine ($9) is another crowd favorite, thanks to its comfort food appeal.
“The poutine and honey ghost chicken sliders are our top sellers,” Moore says. “Poutine with bacon is my favorite.”
Want something lighter to stick with those New Year’s resolutions? The strawberry and walnut salad ($9) features a hefty portion of mixed greens, strawberries, honey roasted walnuts, goat cheese and vinaigrette.
Speaking of the New Year — you can look forward to changes to the eatery’s menus in 2025, especially with its 10-year anniversary coming up in March.
“It’s been a while, but now that things are back to pre-COVID, it feels like we can expand even more — more beers, more cocktails, or even just a change in some of them,” Moore says.
CONTACT
Smith & Kings
69 N. King St., Honolulu
Thesmithandkings.com
Instagram: @smithandkings
Happy hour: Daily from 3-6 p.m. (closed Tuesdays)
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
