10 restaurants vital to Honolulu

by Noelle Chun

Updated 30 March 2023

Honolulu is a city of contrasts. Of sand and sea, yes. But the palm-fringed Hawaiian capital is also known for a rich and complex food scene, swirled with Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Filipino flavors, among others. Even when the names of the dishes they serve are recognizable, the city’s best restaurants shine by creating one-of-a-kind renditions.

A James Beard Award-winning chef in downtown Honolulu—the first Native Hawaiian woman to receive that honor—dishes up pristine fish plates and bavettes. Cantonese fare gets the island treatment at a longstanding King Street cafe. Crowds flock to a chic Italian restaurant in Kahala for its signature uni pasta.

New hits and old faithfuls define Honolulu’s eclectic dining scene. Read on for a guide to the 10 restaurants essential to Hawaiʻi’s largest city.

House Without a Key

4.6

4.6 (3581)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Waikiki

About the restaurant

It’s hard to imagine a more quintessentially Waikīkī setting than House without a Key. Located in the historic Halekulani hotel in Waikīkī, the restaurant’s patio is set against a dramatic swoop of sand and sea leading up to majestic Diamond Head. The New American menu is equally iconic with the signature mai tai and cloud-like coconut cake and dishes such as char siu coconut baby back ribs and herb-crusted skirt steak, not to mention. Open-air dining is at the heart of the House Without a Key experience so diners can appreciate the cool Hawaiian tradewinds. Choose between the fully covered main dining room, newly opened Earl’s for a seat in front of the bartender, or the lānai (patio), which brings people closest to the main stage for nightly Hawaiian music and hula dancing. The scenic spot is popular for sunset drinks and pūpūs (small plates), though it’s also open for full-fledged lunch and dinner.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

Absolutely amazing sunset dining experience. Food was delicious, ambiance was lovely, service was outstanding.

Fête

4.8

4.8 (3740)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Honolulu

About the restaurant

In 2022, Hawaiʻi received its first James Beard award in 19 years with Robynne Maii’s Fête. Set in Honolulu’s trendy Chinatown district, Fête combines a Brooklyn-inspired approach (New American techniques, farm-to-table fare) to food with local flavors. The acclaimed menu is focused on sustainable, locally sourced ingredients from community partners. Chef Maii’s signatures include pristine housemade pastas, fish plates, and beautiful bavettes.

Top review

Uilani

Dined 2 days ago

This place is simply amazing. Our waitress was so sweet. She was so knowledgeable about all menu items. We have been meaning to try this place for a while and never got a chance to. I saw their James Beard special on TV and finally got a chance ro try them last week. We just HAD to return again this week. They are just that good. We will keep returning again and again. Their Caesar salad dressing (as our waitress says) is DRINKABLE! SERIOUSLY! That thing is ridiculous!! The Kaua'i shrimp special (we may be a little biased) was so 'ono. The shrimp dish and risotto dish was so flavorful. Everything we ordered was just so mouth watering! Go, go, go, go,go!!! This place is a MUST visit. Worth the parking hassle. Lol. Find it on the street or st the end of the road in the paid parking lot.

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4.8

4.8 (4044)

$31 to $50

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Honolulu

About the restaurant

Peter Merriman (one of the original pioneers of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement) has an impressive restaurant empire that stretches across Oʻahu, the Big Island, Kauaʻi, and Maui, all with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. His Honolulu outpost is located in Oʻahu’s trendy Kakaʻako neighborhood, a sunny spot for the dining room’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Find local classics on the menu, such as macadamia nut-crusted fish, and house specialities including tako (octopus) served escargot-style with toasted slices of baguette and cognac-parsley-garlic butter. To all that, add an acclaimed wine list—Merriman’s was singled out as one of Wine Enthusiast’s best restaurants in 2019—and you’ve got the formula for an evergreen hit.

Top review

Carlos

Dined 4 days ago

The food was outstanding, the music pleasant and relaxing but most of all, the service was outstanding.

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4.8

4.8 (3206)

$50 and over

Seafood

Honolulu

About the restaurant

Husband-and-wife duo Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Wade Ueoka are the forces behind this Honolulu mainstay. The elegant Ala Moana dining room entices diners with its sophisticated local dishes. Go for the five-course tasting menu or the a la carte option that features the MW’s signature mochi-crusted Kona kampachi. Don’t miss pastry chef Karr-Ueoka’s impeccable desserts, including feathery mango shaved ice and decadent chocolate cake.

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Naomi

Dined 4 days ago

It’s been our go-to favorite restaurant whenever we come to Oahu. We started going when they had their original spot behind Ala Moana Center. Thanks again for a wonderful dinner!

Original Roy's, Hawaii Kai

4.8

4.8 (3217)

$50 and over

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Honolulu

About the restaurant

Today, you’ll find Roy’s Hawaiian fusion restaurants sprawled across the mainland in California, Arizona, and Florida. But it all began in this original breezy dining room in Hawaiʻi Kai. As one of the founding members of the Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine movement in the early 1990s, chef Roy Yamaguchi celebrates the melting pot of cultures in Hawaiʻi, mixing Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Filipino flavors, among others. The results include blackened ahi and crispy whole tai snapper, which you can still order today.

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined 4 days ago

Original Roy’s at Hawaii Kai delivers an unforgettable dining experience that perfectly blends culinary excellence with a great sunset view. The food is nothing short of outstanding, showcasing bold flavors and impeccable presentation that highlight the restaurant’s Hawaiian fusion roots. The service was superb—attentive, friendly, and seamless from start to finish, making us feel truly valued. To top it all off, we were treated to a stunning sunset view from the second-floor dining room, which added an extra layer of magic to our evening. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a perfect meal in a beautiful setting. Oh, and by the way, don’t forget to save room for one of the soufflés. We had both the chocolate and the seasonal pumpkin. Both were delicious!

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Popular dish

Bacon Orange Fried Brussels Sprouts

Popular dish

Macadamia Nut Crusted Hawaiian Fish

Popular dish

Blackened Island Ahi

Mud Hen Water

4.6

4.6 (1360)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Honolulu

About the restaurant

Mud Hen Water is lauded chef Ed Kenny’s love song to Hawaiian food. The decades-long restaurateur (who earned local cred via Honolulu magazine’s Haleʻaina awards) remains steadfast in his commitment to a farm-to-table philosophy and adds modern twists to traditional dishes. Kenny’s riffs on familiar Island favorites include Molokaʻi venison lau lau and preserved akule (a local shallow-water ocean fish). During the day, the sun-drenched dining room and breezy outdoor lānai—ideal for a leisurely pancake brunch—make for one of the prettiest perches in town.

Top review

Anna

Dined 7 days ago

AMAZING. Do not sleep on this place. It’s a MUST.

La Mer at Halekulani

4.9

4.9 (2224)

$50 and over

French

Waikiki

About the restaurant

La Mer belongs to a vanguard of high-end places that define fine dining in the Islands. Today, it is Hawaiʻi’s only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes 5 Star restaurant. Classic French food graces tables with shimmering seaside views at sunset. Expect an elaborate symphony of kampachi tartare, filet de canard roti, souffles, and a cavalcade of cheeses as you listen to the gentle roar of the ocean. Opt for the full tasting menu experience—complete with caviar supplements and wine pairings—or choose your own way on the equally celebrated a la carte menu.

Top review

Catherine

Dined on 13 Nov 2024

Probably the best meal I have ever had. Food was incredible and the service was first class. It’s a beautiful restaurant too. Very special.

Sushi Sasabune Hawaii

4.9

4.9 (989)

$50 and over

Sushi

Honolulu

About the restaurant

“Trust us!” claims a sign at Sushi Sasabune. With no menus, no set prices, and no soy sauce on the tables, the restaurant’s sign foreshadows what’s to come. Diners are encouraged to sit back and enjoy the ride with chef Seiji Kumagawa as their unflinching guide. Kumagawa creates a customized omakase course for each guest, typically spanning 13 to 15 courses, with a focus on nigiri using local fish. Though it’s set against bustling King Street, Sushi Sasabune is a cozy retreat in Honolulu. Seats are limited, so be sure to reserve well in advance.

Top review

GroverH

Dined 7 days ago

Best sushi on island! Delicious! Always a wonderful experience.

Arancino at The Kahala

4.8

4.8 (1307)

$50 and over

Italian

Honolulu

About the restaurant

Since owner Ichiro Inamura opened its original Waikīkī location in 1998, Arancino has won hearts as a crowd favorite, most recently earning OpenTable’s Dinerʻs Choice Award (in addition to other distinctions including Honolulu magazine’s Hale’aina Award for best Italian food). Japanese-owned Italian restaurants are part of a well-loved dining genre in Hawaiʻi, and Arancinoʻs Kahala location is one of the Island’s most elegant examples of it. The menu is equal parts comforting and playful with dishes such as a signature uni pasta with white wine and tomato cream sauce and cacio e pepe presented tableside in a flaming pecorino wheel. Though Arancino’s Honolulu location came first, the restaurant has since expanded to Osaka and Kyoto in Japan—a testament to its popularity.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 13 Nov 2024

My husband I, fortunately, saw on the news that it was Honolulu Restaurant Week where they showed the carbonara. We booked right away to celebrate our 15th anniversary. The prix fixe menu was definitely one of the best we’ve had. Started with the caviar, that was so amazing. Each course that came after just got better and better. Lobster bisque was exquisite, caprese salad was so fresh and delicious. The lobster pasta would be my favorite, if I had to choose…but everything was just so good. My husband got the carbonara and he loved the richness of it. then comes the short rib that was so flavorful and tender. We had 2 desserts, the frangipane and the special anniversary dessert that was a beautiful cake encased in sugar dome. The flavors are just so wonderful in the palate. We also had the wine pairing that enhanced the whole dining experience. Most definitely though, Ken took care of us, and made it a very memorable night. The entire staff was very friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back next time we visit Honolulu and will recommend this place to everyone we know.

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Tagliatelle ai Frutti di Mare

Yakitori Hachibei - Chinatown Hawaii

4.8

4.8 (727)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Honolulu

About the restaurant

An open-fire charcoal grill provides the dramatic centerpiece for Yakitori Hachibei. The restaurant’s hearth uses traditional Japanese techniques to dole out yakitori—succulent morsels of chicken, pork, beef, and vegetables grilled on wooden sticks. Find typical skewers such as chicken breast, quail eggs, and tsukune (minced chicken with chives and onions), alongside Hachibei specialties including foie gras and beef sukiyaki. Ending a meal with a bowl of paitan ramen is practically mandatory. In addition to the spectacular Japanese fare, Hachibei’s softly lit interiors and exposed brick walls make it one of most sought-after dinner spots in town.

Top review

Jazminevip

Dined on 12 Nov 2024

Visited during restaurant week Nov 2024 and got the $50 pre-fixe omakase menu with some additional skewers. The omakase menu is normally $80 so it was such a great value (the restaurant week menu had slightly less items). We sat at the counter and it was great to be able to see the chefs at work! Loved the smoky smell in the air and the overall ambiance of the restaurant. Favorites of the night were the sukiyaki skewers, beef tongue skewers and the salmon, ikura, uni don. This was our third or fourth time back to this restaurant, but it had been about 3-4 years since our last visit. We had a great date night and will definitely be back!