10 restaurants vital to Honolulu

por Noelle Chun

Última actualización: 30 de marzo de 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 (3595)

De $31 a $50

Americana contemporánea

Waikiki

Acerca del restaurante

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.

Reseña destacada

OLGA

Comieron en 1 nov 2024

Hermoso lugar para vivir un ambiente tranquilo y relajado al frente del mar con vistas a Diamond Head.

Fête

4.8

4.8 (3799)

De $31 a $50

Americana contemporánea

Honolulu

Acerca del restaurante

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.

Reseña destacada

OpenTable Diner

Comieron en 25 jul 2024

La comida estuvo deliciosa. Excelente servicio Y el lugar es muy agradable

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4.8

4.8 (4130)

De $31 a $50

Cocina regional hawaiana

Honolulu

Acerca del restaurante

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.

Reseña destacada

Julieta

Comieron en 3 sep 2024

Muy buen alimento no tanto la infraestructura pero bueno

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4.8

4.8 (3230)

más de $50

Pescados y Mariscos

Honolulu

Acerca del restaurante

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.

Reseña destacada

OpenTable Diner

Comieron en 7 jul 2021

Excelente! El servicio, la comida , más de lo que esperaba

Original Roy's, Hawaii Kai

4.8

4.8 (3244)

más de $50

Cocina regional hawaiana

Honolulu

Acerca del restaurante

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.

Reseña destacada

OpenTable Diner

Comieron en 2 ene 2023

Excelente servicio y la comida exquisita, especialmente el Butterfish.

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4.7

4.7 (1369)

Hasta $30

Americana contemporánea

Honolulu

Acerca del restaurante

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.

Reseña destacada

DeedVIP

Comieron en 27 feb 2022

Perfect………….

La Mer at Halekulani

4.8

4.8 (2229)

más de $50

Francesa

Waikiki

Acerca del restaurante

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.

Reseña destacada

JacquelineRVIP

Comieron en 4 dic 2019

Cumpleaños muy agusto!!!

Sushi Sasabune Hawaii

4.8

4.8 (992)

más de $50

Sushi

Honolulu

Acerca del restaurante

“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.

Reseña destacada

Greco

Comieron en 5 may 2024

Excelente degustación de chef no sirvieron diferentes tipos en base a la captura de ese día...

Arancino at The Kahala

4.7

4.7 (1321)

más de $50

Italiana

Honolulu

Acerca del restaurante

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.

Reseña destacada

luaufeet77VIP

Comieron en 9 dic 2017

Uni pasta!

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Tagliatelle ai Frutti di Mare

Yakitori Hachibei - Chinatown Hawaii

4.6

4.6 (734)

De $31 a $50

Japonesa

Honolulu

Acerca del restaurante

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.