382 Best Restaurants in Hawaii, USA

Don't let the name fool you; they don't open at sunrise (more like 7:30 am, so come here after you watch the sunrise elsewhere). And it's not just a fruit stand: fill up on bagels, pancakes, smoothies, and coffee drinks in the morning; homemade salads, burritos, panini, and sandwiches for lunch; and tropical-style fresh juices, such as pineapple, carrot, watermelon, and guava, anytime.

Clean and cheery, Molokai Burger offers both drive-through and eat-in options. Often compared to In-n-Out, this is the island's version of fast food, and the tasty burger buns and super crispy fries (including enormous waffle fries as an option) help to elevate this past a typical experience.

This is a popular gathering spot for local families and a good place to pick up food for a picnic. Pizza, sandwiches, burgers, salads, pasta, ribs, and chicken are simply prepared and served without fuss, and kids keep busy at the arcade games and happy with milkshakes or soft serve for dessert. Good, affordable food brings people in and a warm, friendly staff brings them back. 

Momona is the Hawaiian word for "sweet," and this place definitely lives up to its name with the variety of flaky treats that are available every morning. The bakery is especially known for its cinnamon rolls and its medialunas, Argentinean croissants with sweet or savory fillings such as Nutella, dulce de leche, custard, lilikoi (passionfruit), or ham and cheese. In addition to baked goods, you'll also find sandwiches and dishes like avocado toast. The coffee is available with your choice of four types of milk, various sweeteners, and cinnamon or other toppings that perfectly complement the confections.

Monico’s Taqueria is a favorite among locals and visitors, due to its hearty portions and delicious authentic cuisine, including nachos, tortas, flautas, and fajitas. The bright airy dining room is cheerful, and the outdoor patio offers a view of coconut palms waving in the breeze.

The wooden surfboards hanging above the bar and surf videos playing in the background create a decidedly chill vibe at this buzzing restaurant, the creation of Hawaii celebrity-chef Peter Merriman. He offers a menu that highlights local bounty, with such standout dishes as poke tacos, lobster deviled eggs, and wood-fired pizzas.

Local farm-to-table guru Peter Merriman is well-known throughout Hawaii for his inventive and popular restaurants, and this one captures his creativity and locally inspired food mantra perfectly. Hawaiian slack-key guitar music and the gentle buzz of diners kicking back make this a nice stop for a leisurely lunch—that could easily slide into happy hour.

This authentic Indian restaurant offers stunning ocean views and appetizers like papadum chips and samosas served with homemade chutneys. There are 10+ breads—naan and more, including a gluten-free option—that come hot from the tandoori oven, along with mix-and-match curries, lots of vegetarian and vegan selections, kebabs, and biryanis.

This sophisticated, intimate restaurant in a bayfront building offers a classy selection of international fare with the focus on locally sourced meats, produce, and seafood. The menu changes daily (see their Facebook page), but mushroom pappardelle is a highlight, along with seafood chowder, spicy kajiki (marlin) tartare, and crispy whole-fried moi (Pacific threadfin).

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto serves classics and new fusion favorites at his second-floor restaurant—a sleek modern, most neutral-hued space with a lanai (and water views), a gorgeous bar, and a dining room designed for entertaining clients or celebrating with friends. Enjoy some Morimoto specialties, including ishiyaki buri bop (yellowtail seared tableside with pickled daikon, royal fern, and egg yolk) or spicy black pepper steak, as well as dim sum, sushi, and creative specialty rolls. Downstairs at street level is the smaller, more casual Momosan Ramen, which also serves lunch and has a patio and beer garden with a beach vibe.

Excellent, oversize breakfast items and pastries, accompanied by a versatile coffee and tea list, make this mostly open-air spot a good place to stop for breakfast (though they have lunch items like sandwiches) when you've got time for a leisurely meal. Get there early before food items start to sell out, and be ready to wait in a line that's often long and slow-moving. But as a sign behind the counter reminds customers, be kind.

There's been a bakery in this building since 1912, when the previous owner served cookies and treats to the kids of plantation workers. Dean and June Edmoundson took over the spot in 1990 and have been treating visitors and residents to delectable goodies, including guava bear claws, paniolo (cowboy) cookies, homemade preserves, ice cream, and shave ice. There are also basic snacks if you've worked up an appetite visiting Akaka Falls, such as hot dogs and manapua (pork wrapped in a steamed bun). If you're staying in the area, they will deliver. 

The name of this casual, homey restaurant is the English translation of waialae (meaning a gathering spot around a watering hole). Renowned chef Ed Kenney explores modern interpretations of the Hawaiian foods he remembers from his childhood with an ever-changing locavore menu. Besides the dining room, you can sit at the bar or on the lanai. Spread out and talk story with your neighbor. That's what inspired Kenney to open the place, after all.

Food lovers in the know—including the Obamas, who have eaten here—recognize that this exclusive French-Japanese restaurant offers a truly memorable Waikiki dining experience in the luxurious Espacio hotel. The perfectly plated dishes on the multicourse tasting menu change seasonally, and guests here experience sublime service as well. Cocktails and desserts are incredibly delectable, and the world-class wine list will impress any aficionado. Mugen has introduced an upscale breakfast experience with options such as lobster eggs Benedict and ricotta lemon pancakes. This tiny establishment requires advance bookings for dinner (note any dietary restrictions when reserving).

Located on the edge between the financial district and Chinatown, Honolulu's go-to Irish bar serves Guinness on tap and an Irish-American menu of pubby favorites such as spicy chicken wings, jalapeño poppers, fish 'n' chips, corned beef and cabbage, and grilled New York steak—without that Waikiki price tag. But probably the most popular menu item is the Blarney Burger, gooey with Guinness-infused cheddar cheese. The list of daily specials is worth hearing, and while the comfort food is its trademark, the specialty salads are noteworthy and inventive. And pie day, every Friday, brings in rabid fans looking for their favorite slice. The restaurant has been featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network. The dining room's booths attract business big wigs, journalists, and staff from the nearby Kumu Kahua Theatre. Meanwhile, the young and restless play darts and shuffleboard in the bar. It takes over the block for Saint Patrick's Day, and it's the go-to spot for after work pau hana (after work) gatherings and a quick bite before a show at the Kumu Kahua Theatre.

Don't be fooled by the casual warehouse setting, as this family-owned and -operated restaurant is one of the best places for Thai food on Maui. Dishes here are made using fresh ingredients, homemade sauces, and imported specialty items, and your food comes out quickly and hot through a self-service window in the open-air dining area.

The signature restaurant of the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas has casual open-air seating that perfectly complements an island-style menu sure to please a wide range of diners. Grilled rib eye is served with bacon-and-sour cream mashed potatoes, while the chicken—smoked kalua style—is accompanied by Molokai sweet potatoes. Lunch options include a plate lunch. The food is well executed and service is friendly. 

A local favorite, this lunchroom-style café has picnic tables in the landscaped front yard where you can watch the town drive by, plus a few more tables in the no-frills interior. The menu includes local favorites like kimchi fried rice, as well as massive plate lunches and daily specials.

This roadside Thai food truck fronts the 40-acre Maui Nui Farm, owned by Nui and Kit, so you can stop to grab a bite and then tour the beautiful farm. Although the menu changes with the seasons, everything is delicious, and the curry and pad Thai are perennial favorites.

This off-the-beaten-path izakaya-style Japanese eatery is worth the trek to sleepy Haiku. The eclectic menu includes everything from specialty French fries and fusion sushi rolls to sashimi and some of the best tempura around—all based on what's fresh from local farmers and fishermen. Nuka is the Japanese word for rice bran, and the restaurant mills its own rice and creates pickles from the byproduct of the milling process.

The seasonal, handcrafted plates and the chef's table concept at this intimate, 14-table restaurant have helped fine dining get a foothold in Paia. There are just two prix-fixe seatings a night, and dishes are always memorable thanks to the use of high-end ingredients like caviar, A5 Wagyu beef, and foie gras.

An airy terrace—sunny or shaded thanks to retractable awnings—with tropical decor and potted plants is an inviting place to enjoy Hulopoe Bay views at this breakfast and dinner (resort guests only) restaurant named for the island's 140 square miles. In the evening, dishes featuring prime cuts of beef and fresh local fish are all on the menu.

Named after a seasonal local fish, Opakapaka is the only oceanside restaurant on Kauai's North Shore and is a great place to stop for a meal or a quick bite on the way to or from Haena State Park and Kee Beach. The longtime community gathering hub serves local fish and seafood, burgers, steaks (try the rib eye), and pasta; add shrimp to your salads and fried rice sides.

Michelin star–restaurant chef Kevin Lee and his general manager wife, Justine, are at the helm of the innovative, upscale Pai (short for hoopai, meaning "to encourage" in Hawaiian). The tantalizing and surprising fusion cuisine is served in a modern, arched dining room and patio tucked into the atrium of the Harbor Court condo building. You can expect friendly service as you choose from either the chef's seasonal tasting menu or several prix fixe menus, including a children's four-course meal. For the tasting option, try to snag a seat at the counter to pick chef Lee's meticulous culinary brain.

A stop at this popular coffee spot, tucked just behind the main buildings on Hana Highway, is a great way to start or end the day. Grab a coffee or tea along with avocado toast or banana bread for breakfast or lunch, or come during happy hour (2 to 5 pm) for a reasonably priced, island-fresh cocktail followed by live music (four nights a week) or trivia (Wednesday night).

Fresh gelato made with locally sourced ingredients is the big draw here (try Surfing Goat Dairy's Lilikoi Quark flavor and thank us later). You'll also find jams, jellies, and dressings from Jeff Gomes, coffees from Maui Coffee Roasters, and picnic lunches from Hana Lunch Co.

Across the street from the Kona Inn Shopping Village, in Kailua Village, this upstairs cantina is a nice perch for enjoying nachos and margaritas (try the hibiscus margarita) on a lazy afternoon, or for watching the passersby on Alii Drive. Try the molcajete—a type of bowl—loaded with marinated chicken, steak, and shrimp and a sauce crafted of chiles and topped with jack cheese. Or just order the chips, salsa, and ceviche, which might hit the spot at the end of a long day of sightseeing. At 5 pm, the banyan tree nearby fills with hundreds of chirping mynah birds, a veritable happy hour in bird land.

Simple food and hearty portions are the draw at this casual family-owned restaurant offering ranch-style cuisine. Choose from steak or fish sandwiches, taco or chicken salads, burgers, grilled fish, and plates piled high with chicken, steak, or ribs, along with house-made chili and salad. Though they specialize in BBQ meats, vegetarians will find some options. The rustic decor is cozy and casual, with plastic chairs and ranch memorabilia. Nightly live music adds to the fun.

Simply unbeatable proximity to the ocean is part of the draw of this lively restaurant in the heart of town: you just can't get any closer to the water without getting wet—and sometimes you do! It's popular to come here for sunset for drinks and appetizers such as the poke stack or the avocado fries. Otherwise, stick with a burger or sandwich, as the mains can get pricey. Order online for pickup and delivery. Beloved local musicians Lopaka Roots or LT Smooth play nightly. 

Kauai's largest natural-foods market, now in much larger digs fronting the highway in the same shopping center, offers a cold grab-and-go menu of deli and green salads, wraps, soups for reheating, smoothies, and sometimes fresh sashimi.