If you’ve tried out every eatery on Fort Street Mall, trying to decide which one to visit again can be a challenge.

Maybe it’s time to expand your horizons and offer your taste buds something new and exciting. After al,l downtown is full of places to eat.

On Bishop Street, right across from HPU's "UB" building, you’ll find three restaurants specializing, respectively, in curry, pasta, and bento.

Komela Curry House will add a little spice to your life--or a lot, it's up to you. They prepare curry to your order and your liking in terms of quantity, ingredients, and degree of spice. Curry dishes include potato-mushroom, cauliflower korma, and broccoli lentils with fish. "Our specials change everyday," said owner Ramesh (last name?). Prices are reasonable, from $3.50 to $5.25 for a mini plate and $4.75 to $6.50 for a regular plate. Hours 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. M-F.

For authentic Italian pasta, try Pogo’s Pasta Express. The lunch menu offers several varieties of pasta with meatballs, chicken, beef, sausage, and a variety of salads. The prices are reasonable, from $3.50 for a mini-plate to $4.75 for a regular plate. "Cold salads such as bean pasta and roasted potato pasta salad are usually ordered by women," says owner Tom Nuygen. He continues, "while the men prefer spaghetti with sausage or meatballs." Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-F.

The Nippon Restaurant mostly serves bento plate and a la carte dishes. There are two sizes of bento (pre-made), and choices include barbecue, mochicho, teri chicken, shrimp tempura, and salmon.

The small bento plate is $3.50 to $3.75. Larger plates include fish entries like miso butterfish, saba, and mahi-mahi are $4.75 to $5. A la carte dishes include two scoops of rice plus a vegetable. One main dish menu item is $3.75, and each additional item is $1. Hours 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-F.

For local style food, try C&G Lunches, located in the Arcade building at 212 Merchant St. Daily specials include regular and teriyaki boneless chicken burgers, hamburger steak, and barbecue hamburger steak just to name a few. Each plate comes with rice and macaroni salad. You could also ask for a combination plate with two entrées. Prices range from $3.45 for mini- plates to $4.60 for regular plates. Hours 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. M-F.

For variety, check out Alakea Delicatessen on the corner of Alakea and South King streets, in the Wolter Building. Its menu lists a variety of rice, noodles, and salads. Entrees include chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, and fish. Price is determined by the number of choices. The menu changes daily. Hours 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-F.

These are just some of the local eateries a short block east of campus. Are you willing to walk the extra distance to satisfy your hunger? If so, bon apetit.