Best Restaurants in Honolulu

Bernini Honolulu is a casual restaurant close to Ala Moana Beach. Its specialty is Italian cooking inspired by French flavors. The owner of this restaurant, Toshihiro Kobayashi, is a talented chef who has studied and trained under a leading French cook. This is obvious when looking at his menu, which features dishes like cappuccino-style onion soup, spaghetti with fresh sea urchin, pizza with spicy salami, and filet mignon served with potato puree and a homemade sauce. The wine collection at Bernini's includes choices from Italy, France, and Germany, and domestic wines from California, Texas, and Oregon. Its dining room has traditional decor with wood-paneled walls, a cement floor, and off-white walls with chair railing. Plants, seashells, and photos add a touch of Honolulu to its interior. Bernini Honolulu offers in-house dining during the lunch and dinner hours daily, except Mondays. Takeout orders are also welcome here. This restaurant started in the Spring of 2011.

Brick Fire Tavern is a stylish pizzeria in the charming Kaimuki neighborhood. Once settled in, diners can enjoy both traditional and modern pizza flavors, such as a shrimp pizza, Nutella calzone (a dessert pizza), fungi pizza, prosciutto pizza, and the classic margarita pizza. Diners can add a salad, a glass of wine, or a bottle of beer to their lunch or dinner at Brick Fire Tavern. This restaurant has a cozy look in a family-friendly environment. Some of its design touches include brick walls, leather benches, wood dining tables, chalkboard art, and a granite-like top on its large bar. Brick Fire Tavern - Kaimuki opened in 2016.

Chef Chai serves traditional Hawaiian food. Some of its most popular items include seafood dishes like ahi tartar, miso Chilean sea bass, and salmon roulade. Side dishes and appetizers like butternut squash soup, goat cheese wontons, and steamed coconut milk brown rice are often added to a meal. Diners can enjoy dinner at Chef Chai Wednesday through Sunday. This restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Along with classic Hawaiian dishes, diners will appreciate its contemporary and mod decor. Its dining room has tall ceilings, brick walls, dramatic lighting, and water bubble panels, stylishly separate dining spaces. Chef Chai Chaowasaree is the owner of this restaurant. His experience includes work as the executive chef for Hawaiian Airlines. A native of Thailand who grew up in the restaurant business, Chai takes pride in getting most of his ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. He has been recognized for his chef skills by media outlets like Bon Appetite, Cooking Light, and Travel and Leisure magazine. This restaurant was established in 1998.

Fête Hawaii offers laid-back dining in Honolulu's Art District. Diners who choose to eat at this neighborhood restaurant will enjoy a relaxing but social dining experience. Its menu features casual dishes such as deviled eggs, fried chicken, burgers, beef tartare, and mushroom cavatelli pasta. A variety of desserts like olive oil cake and rocky road ice cream end the meal on a sweet note. Diners can also order a stylish cocktail like an espresso martini or a glass of wine for the perfect ending. At any time during the day, Chef Robynne Mai'i can be found in the kitchen. This hands-on chef has been featured in Honolulu Magazine and Hawaii Luxury Magazine. When requesting a table, diners can choose to dine upstairs or downstairs. There is also a bar where diners can sit and place a cocktail order or sample one of its many appetizers. The decor at Fête Hawaii features exposed brick walls, an open ceiling, a marble bar top, and wood dining room furniture. Outdoor dining space is also available in front of the restaurant. Fête Hawaii is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday. It first opened in 2016.

Diners can enjoy traditional Japanese food at Han no Daidokoro. This restaurant is conveniently located in the Ward Village Shopping Complex close to numerous retail stores, boutiques, and movie theaters. Its menu includes both casual dishes and delicacies such as beef tongue, grilled sirloin steak, beef sushi, pork short rib, and assorted kimchi. An extensive list of wines from Napa Valley along with sakes and Japanese schochu are available from the bar. Han no Daidokoro is open for dinner from Tuesday through Saturday. Its decor is ultra-contemporary with features such as leather dining booths, industrial lights, a brick wall bar, and bright accent colors, such as mustard yellow. Enjoy a meal in a more intimate setting at a dining room table or the bar while making new friends. Han no Daidokoro is a restaurant of Foodrim, a large restaurant chain. It has been featured in numerous media outlets such as Honolulu Magazine and Conde Nest Traveler. This Honolulu location was established in 2001.

The food at Hana Koa Brewing Co. is meant to be shared. Some of its small plates include spiced pickles, chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, pork belly sliders, and spicy lettuce wraps. Enjoy these eats with popular beers and ales or a trendy cocktail such as its Chee Hoo Chongers IPA and Tickle Me Pink (a punch-like drink). Inside, diners will enjoy a wide-open space with tall ceilings, skylights, concrete floors, and separate spaces for eating include an upstairs dining room and a bar. Brewing company t-shirts, mugs, and other souvenirs are sold in its gift shop. A lot of the interest behind this brewing company is because of the love story which inspired its conception. This restaurant was established in 2019 and 10% of all proceeds from the sale of their beer goes to breast cancer research.

Hawaii Yacht Club is a stylish place where people gather for food and fellowship. Here, sailors can take a break from their voyage to enjoy a refreshing drink or to grab a bite to eat. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees such as egg omelets, pizza, mushroom steak, baked orange roughy, mussels, and burgers with fries. From the bar, diners can get a glass of wine, a bottle of beer, or a seltzer (a mixed drink with beer and tea or beer with fruit juice). The Hawaii Yacht Club provides breathtaking views of the water and palm trees from its spacious outside deck. Its interior design and decor include floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the view, wicker furniture, and cozy seating, and to celebrate its passion for travel, international flags hang from the center of the dining room ceiling. This historic club opened its doors in 1901.

Enjoy a variety of sushi and sashimi dishes at Hihimanu Sushi. Its menu also includes Japanese dishes and delicacies such as caviar, ramen noodles, quail eggs, and oyster shooters. Its entire menu was developed with local ingredients in mind. Hihimanu Sushi offers a lounge-style vibe with cozy couches and wooden tables for service. All of its dishes are creatively plated with special touches like concrete slab plates, ramen spoons, edible flowers, and oyster shells for decorations. Keeping with its Japanese theme, diners can add a cup of sake or shochu to any meal. Hihimanu Sushi is open for a late lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Friday, and for dinner only on Saturday. The owner of Hihimanu Sushi, chef Howard, hopes to give diners the chance to try different food choices through his omakase (chef's choice) inspired menu. This restaurant was established in 2016.

Hy's Steak House is a 10-minute drive from Honolulu. Its menu includes a combination of seafood and beef dishes. For an appetizer, diners can choose French onion soup and king crab cakes. Next, one can choose an entree such as its oysters on the half shell, garlic steak, or rack of lamb served with vegetables and a baked potato or rice. A wide selection of regular and sparkling wines along with sweet treats like chocolate flambe are tasty meal add-ons. Hy's Steak House has vintage decor with cherry wood paneling, red leather dining booths, chandelier lighting, decorative bookshelves, floral carpet, and tables covered in white linens. This restaurant opened in 1976.

Ichifuji is a Japanese restaurant in downtown Honolulu, which opened in 2020. It offers a complete dining experience starting with its Japanese-inspired décor, which includes wood-paneled walls, an open kitchen, and curtains with Japanese lettering. All around the dining room, there are stylish accents like wicker baskets, oriental china, and decorative folding fans displayed on the walls. Its specialty is a hot pot or otoshi nabe dining, which means all of the food is prepared tableside in a seasoned broth. Some ingredients can be added to the broth to make a savory dish, including pork, cabbage, lobster, mushrooms, and snapper. Diners can also choose a premium course meal or can create their own with dishes like beef tongue served with edamame in soy sauce or pickled onions. Each meal can be made complete with a barley rice porridge dessert. Ichifuji is open for dinner, Thursday through Sunday.

Islander Sake Brewery produces premium sake using a traditional sake recipe. Its tasting room provides a chic place for connoisseurs and first-time drinkers to enjoy and sample some of its creations. The tasting experience allows for sampling three labels of sake. There is also a dinner package including the chef's choice of sake paired with island fish. Islander Sake Brewery offers a relaxed and fun environment for diners to hang out in. The brewery has been featured in Honolulu Magazine and KITV Honolulu. Along with dining, brewery tours are available upon request. This Islander Sake Brewery tasting room is located in Honolulu's Kakaako district and was established in 2020.

Enjoy Turkish food in Honolulu at Istanbul Hawaii. This restaurant offers casual, family-friendly dining both indoors and outdoors. Its dishes incorporate traditional flavors with the use of fresh, local ingredients. Some of its most popular dishes include hummus and fresh pita bread, Mercimek (or red lentil) soup, warm mezes, ottoman musakka, a Mediterranean salad, and Turkish tahini chocolate custard for dessert. It opens for lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Saturday. The owners of Istanbul Hawaii are a mother and daughter team who have close ties to Turkey. This restaurant has been featured in media outlets such as Hawaii News Now and KHON, Channel 2. Istanbul Hawaii restaurant was established in the summer of 2020.

Koko Head Cafe is especially known around Honolulu for its brunch service. Its menu includes a combination of breakfast and lunch dishes popular in Japan and around the Hawaiian islands. Some menu choices include volcano eggs, breakfast congee, the Elvis (a sandwich with peanut butter and bananas), and fried jidori chicken. Here, diners can enjoy casual dining with leather bench seating, hardwood floors, and pendant lighting. This restaurant is the creation of Chef Lee Anne Wong who was a contestant on Bravo's reality show, Top Chef. It was established in 2014 and is open Wednesday through Sunday from morning to late afternoon. Takeout orders are also welcome.

Kona Brewing is a hotspot for beer drinkers in Oahu, which is approximately 20 minutes east of Waikiki. Its menu features bar-type foods such as pizza, nachos, fish tacos, and a variety of burgers. All of its dishes are the creation of executive chef, Robert Oset. Of course, diners will have a wide selection of Kona beers on tap. However, stylish cocktails are also served. From its bar, diners can watch sporting events, making this a popular place to gather on game nights. This restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. Kona Brewing has more than one tasting restaurant or pub. The Oahu pub opened its doors in 2003.

La Vie serves modern French cooking inside the Ritz-Carlton. Its posh ambiance makes this a popular place for special occasions, such as wedding proposals and anniversary celebrations. Its large windows offer unobstructed views of the bay and Hawaii's picturesque sunset. A stylish and romantic menu enhances the dining experience at La Vie. Some menu choices include lobster remoulade, beef tartare, dry-aged yellowtail, and black truffle gnocchi. For dessert, satisfy a sweet tooth with their truffled cheese tarte or lychee mousse. If desired, its knowledgeable wait staff can help diners to pair a bottle of wine with their meal. This restaurant has received lots of media attention, and it was featured in Honolulu Magazine and Hawaii Luxury Magazine. La Vie is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. La Vie was established in Honolulu in 2019.

M by Jeremy Shigekane is a modern bistro serving French meals in downtown Honolulu, which was established in 2020. Its interior has a romantic flair with lots of flowers, booth seating, white tablecloths with runners, and pink decorative accents. Along with dining in, this restaurant has a take-out menu. Some of its most popular dishes include foie gras, Wagyu beef, truffle poached eggs, and braised short rib. This restaurant is open for dinner, Wednesday through Saturday.

Merriman's Honolulu is housed in the Ward Village Shopping Mall not far from Ala Moana Beach. It has a spacious dining room with plenty of room for large groups. The decor of the interior has a casual feel with a Hawaiian flair. Its benches are covered in a floral pattern, there is chandelier lighting and a pattern-tiled floor. To keep diners cool on hot days, there are wicker ceiling fans throughout. Merriman's also has a large patio where diners can eat. Its menu centers around seafood and fresh produce. Some dishes on the menu include jalapeno corn chowder, hapa poka, steamed clams, and fish with chips. It also hosts a happy hour and live music. Merriman's is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. It was established in 1988.

Original Roy's is the place to go for traditional Hawaiian cooking. Its menu has something for everyone, from raw fish to beef dishes like steak and short ribs, and fresh-caught fish prepared on the grill. Along with dining indoors, this restaurant has a beautiful patio where diners can sit and watch the sunset. Tiki torches and string lights give it more of a romantic ambiance, making this an ideal place to take a date. Roy's is in the Hawaii Kai Shopping Mall off I-72. It is open daily for dinner. Original Roy's is part of a restaurant chain started in 1988.

Diners can enjoy an array of dishes at Pai Honolulu. At Pai Honolulu, there is seating at the counter and private tables. Its decor is sleek and ultra-contemporary. Open Wednesday through Sunday, some dishes served at this elegant restaurant include beef tartare, BBQ briskets, spiced pork belly, and salmon. Side dishes, appetizers, and desserts such as chilled corn soup, candy cane beets, shrimp chips, and green apple sorbet are also menu favorites. Diners can also select a complimentary wine or a sophisticated cocktail to go with their meal. Pai Honolulu is in the downtown business district close to Hawaii Pacific University. This restaurant was established in 2017.

Quiora Restaurant specializes in Italian cooking. This is an ideal place to eat day or night. From its dining room, diners can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and the city skyline. Its sophisticated decor has an off-white color palette with warm wood accents. A spacious patio provides a place for diners to eat outdoors. Its menu provides choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some of its most popular dishes include avocado toast, French toast, a meatball sub, spaghetti carbonara, wood-grilled fish, and lemon poppyseed panna cotta. There is also an extensive list of wines and specialty cocktails, like its Hibiscus Pisco Sour, to add to a meal. It is in the Ritz Carlton on Waikiki Beach, about three miles from Honolulu, and opened in the Fall of 2019.

Redfish Poke Bar opens every day at 11 am. This is the place for locals and tourists to go for poke bowls. Diners can create a poke bowl to fit their taste by selecting its ingredients. First, they will choose the base of the bowl which is either white rice, brown rice, or greens. Next, the poke (or raw meat) such as salmon, ahi, or spicy scallops are chosen. Finally, other items like pickled ginger, green onion, or sesame seeds are added. Redfish Poke Bar is conveniently located in downtown Honolulu. It has cool and hip decor and offers casual dining for those on the go. This restaurant also offers both takeout and delivery. It was established in 2019.

Sushi Sasabune is a Japanese restaurant in downtown Honolulu. This restaurant opens for lunch and then reopens for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Its menu features a variety of sushi and seafood dishes, including lobster tails, stuffed squid, caviar, and baked oysters. Its contemporary decor includes black furniture with red chair covers and decorative accents. A floral painted room divider makes for a more intimate and private space for diners. Diners who want to chat can sit at the bar where the chefs and other guests are often ready to talk. This restaurant is chef-owned by Seiji Kumagawa. It was opened in 1997.

Tanaka of Tokyo Central is located in the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, which is close to many designer boutiques and retail shops. Its menu specializes in Japanese cooking and features dishes prepared on the grill. Some of its most popular dishes include its lobster tail, ribeye steak, scallops, and teriyaki chicken. When eating at Tanaka, the meats and veggies are cut and prepared in front of the diner, turning the meal into an experience. This restaurant is open daily for dinner. Tanaka of Tokyo is owned by Richard Tanka and was established in 1978.

Enjoy fine dining at the Breakers Hotel. Wasabi Bistro, located in the hotel, serves traditional Japanese appetizers and stylish cocktails. This is an indoor bistro and a poolside bar with an elegant vibe. Its menu features numerous sushi recipes, edamame, eggplant miso, tofu salad, and favorites like French fries. Eat indoors and enjoy its contemporary decor which includes wicker ceiling accents, white leather benches and black chairs for seating, an open kitchen, and plenty of seats on its outdoor patio. While lounging at the pool, diners can sip on a refreshing soft drink, a bottle of beer, a glass of wine, or cold sake. Wasabi Bistro is open at dinnertime from 5 pm - 9 pm, Monday through Saturday. This restaurant first opened in 2011.

Yakitori Hachibei is close to Hawaii Pacific University in downtown Honolulu. Specializing in Japanese cooking, its menu focuses on seafood. Some of its most popular dishes include ahi poke, ramen noodles, dumplings, edamame, and their signature French fries. Diners can eat here for either lunch or dinner. Once indoors, its interior has many features, like large paper lanterns and an open kitchen, taking its diners to Japan. Both indoor and outdoor dining is available at this downtown restaurant. Yakitori Hachibei was featured in Honolulu Magazine in 2017. It’s part of a restaurant chain which first opened in 1983, and this Honolulu restaurant is the first in the United States.