Mushroom Steak in Side: What to Expect at Hawaii Restaurant

The Mushroom Steak at Hawaii Restaurant & Bar in Side old town is a 200 gr steak served with vegetables and potatoes, from the Steaks & Internationals section of the menu. Meat is cooked over wood fire and charcoal, and you choose your doneness. Hawaii has been serving in Side since 2000 and is open daily 10:00–02:00.

What the menu says

The menu keeps it short: Mushroom steak, 200 gr, served with vegetables and potatoes. That is the whole official description, and we would rather give you that than a story. As the name suggests, the dish is built around mushrooms. A classic mushroom steak is usually a grilled steak finished with a mushroom sauce, often creamy, poured over or served alongside. Ask your server how Hawaii prepares it tonight, including which sauce base the kitchen uses and whether it can come on the side.

At 200 gr, it sits in the same weight class as most of the steaks on the list, so it is a full plate for one without being a challenge. If you want a much bigger piece of meat, the T-bone is 450 gr; we compare the two styles in T-bone vs fillet steak.

How it is cooked

All meat and chicken at Hawaii is cooked over wood fire and charcoal. On a steak that matters: the open heat gives the outside a browned, slightly smoky crust while the middle stays as pink or as cooked as you asked for. A mushroom sauce then adds a soft, savoury, earthy layer on top of that char, which is why mushroom and grilled beef are such an old pairing.

All meat and chicken is halal-slaughtered. Pork is only served on request and prepared separately, so it does not come near your steak unless you order it.

Choosing your doneness

Your server will ask how you want it cooked. A quick rule of thumb for a sauced steak:

• Medium rare keeps the most juice and contrasts nicely with a rich sauce.
• Medium is the safe middle: pink centre, firmer bite, still juicy.
• Well done is no problem to ask for; the sauce helps keep each mouthful moist.

If you are unsure what each level actually looks like on the plate, our guide to steak cooking levels walks through rare to well done in plain terms.

Mushroom steak vs the other sauced steaks

Hawaii lists several 200 gr steaks that are told apart mainly by their topping or sauce. Picking between them is really picking a flavour profile:

• Mushroom steak: earthy and mellow, the gentlest of the sauced options for most people.
• Pepper steak: a classic pepper-sauce style with more bite and warmth.
• Gorgonzola steak: built around the blue cheese named in the title, so rich and tangy.
• Onion steak: sweeter and savoury, for onion lovers.
• Beef Béarnaise and Tournedos Béarnaise: the buttery, herby béarnaise family.

For a side-by-side of how these sauces are generally made and how they taste, read steak sauces explained. Exact recipes at Hawaii are the kitchen's own, so ask your server if you have a dislike or an allergy.

Who the mushroom steak suits

It is a good first steak of the holiday when you want something comforting rather than fiery. It also works well for guests who find a plain grilled steak a little dry, because the sauce does the work. If someone at your table does not eat mushrooms, the plain Beef steak or the Fillet steak on the same menu page are the straightforward alternatives. Children can order the Beefsteak from the kids' menu, which comes with chips, rice and an optional sauce.

What to drink with it

Hawaii is a restaurant and a bar, so you have options. Earthy mushroom flavours usually sit well with a medium-bodied red wine or a cold beer. If you are not drinking alcohol, the bar makes alcohol-free drinks too. Arriving between 19:00 and 20:00 puts you in the daily Happy Hour, which is a relaxed way to start a steak dinner.

Practical details

• Where: Side old town.
• Hours: daily 10:00–02:00.
• Getting there: free round-trip pickup from selected hotels; a paid two-way transfer from farther areas.
• Prices: always current on the live menu.
• Booking: reserve a table online or message WhatsApp +90 533 930 12 83.

Takeaway is available, with delivery nearby, if you would rather eat at your hotel.