168 Best Restaurants in Hawaii, USA

Its modest exterior and interior belie the fantastic South Kona experience Teshima's brings; it has been a kamaaina (local) favorite since 1929 for a reason. Locals gather at this small landmark restaurant whenever they're in the mood for fresh sashimi, puffy shrimp tempura, or hekka (beef and vegetables cooked in an iron pot). Try teishoku (tray) No. 3, featuring sashimi, tempura, sukiyaki beef, rice, miso soup, and sunomono (cucumber salad). The restaurant has been family owned and operated by five generations of Teshimas, and if you come in more than a couple times, they will start calling you by name. 

Everything is cooked to order at this low-key oceanfront restaurant with an excellent selection of Thai food at decent prices. The menu brims with choices, including five curries, a green-papaya salad, and deep-fried fish. A popular platter combining spring rolls, satay, beef salad, and tom yum (lemongrass soup) is great for sharing. You might even see a green flash at sunset as you sip a creamy piña colada or Thai iced tea while taking in the beautiful view of Kailua Bay. This best-kept secret might have one of the top five ocean views in town. There's also a happy hour from 5 to 6 pm.

This casual eatery with tables inside and outdoors serves authentic Thai dishes in a tiny, unassuming spot in the Sugar Mill complex, next to Seven Brothers. It also operates a food truck nearby and is a good bet when the food trucks have closed for the day.

Not surprisingly, tacos take center stage here (though there are tamales and salad bowls). The tacos are made from quality ingredients, many of which are organic and locally sourced, and you can mix and match; the fish tacos, as well as those filled with kalua pig, surf and turf, or fire-roasted vegetables, are popular choices. The corn tortillas are house-made, and so are the tamales and slow-cooked meats. Tacos are very large and are served à la carte. This joint is mostly for takeout, with a tiny dining room and a few outside tables facing the parking lot.

Former resort chef TK Keosavang serves inventive Asian fusion cuisine with the emphasis on noodles. Generous portions are beautifully plated, like the crispy pork belly sauté with Chinese greens and garlic sauce, and noodle soups and abundant salads don't disappoint. The savory seafood yentafo soup is a good bet, as is the lilikoi chicken.

Local-style Japanese food is the hallmark of this eatery, where, at lunch, you might rub elbows with both bankers and construction workers, and, at dinner, three generations might be celebrating tutu's (grandma's) birthday at the next table. Enjoy the freshest sashimi, feather-light crispy shrimp and vegetable tempura, or local-style bentos and plate lunches.

A tiny café with a huge local following, Trilogy serves artisanal coffee, tea, chai, and various specialty drinks, plus an array of sweet and savory treats, from avocado toast with macadamia pesto and za'atar seasoning to cakes and cookies.

Located in the Crossroads shopping complex in Kailua-Kona, this excellent burger joint may look like a chain, but it's an independent, locally owned and operated eatery that serves 100% organic, grass-fed Big Island beef. Be sure to order a side of seasoned Big Daddy fries served with homemade aioli dipping sauce. The menu lists a couple nonmeat options, too. Top it off with local beers or house-made lemonade or green tea.

Combining classic Mexican food with chile-based sauces and creations from the chef's home state of New Mexico, Verde's menu includes tostadas, enchiladas, and tacos filled with fresh fish, slow-cooked chicken, or local grass-fed beef. The garlic-shrimp tacos and stacked enchilada with a choice of chicken, pork adovada (New Mexican red chile stew), or Kauai beef filling, smothered in red or green chile sauce, are favorites. The food runs hot and spicy. Beer on tap and the house margarita are the only alcoholic offerings. Save room for the fried sopaipillas served with Kauai honey. The modern decor is sparse but comfortable and casual, with natural lighting and seating at tables or the bar. Located in Hokulei Village in Lihue, Verde offers delivery services and online ordering for the Lihue area.

Verna's is tried-and-true among locals, who come for the juicy house-made burgers and filling plate lunches; and the price is right with a burger combo that includes fries and a drink. If you're hungry for more, try the traditional Hawaiian plate with either laulau, beef stew, chicken long rice, or lomi lomi salmon (salted salmon "salsa" made with tomatoes and onions). Whatever you choose, you won't leave hungry. Outdoor seating is available.

Tucked away at the Kona Country Club at the far end of Alii Drive, this hideaway is the place to go for happy hour, appetizers, and ocean breezes. Oh, and did we mention the view? It has a large, open-deck lanai, a kamaaina (old-time) vibe, and decidedly nonfancy decor. While the mains are a bit overpriced, it's a great place to relax, order an appetizer, and maybe talk story with local residents, or perhaps discuss the day's best golf shots.

At this little eatery that brings a whole new meaning to gourmet hamburgers, locally raised, grass-fed, hormone-free beef is ground fresh, hand-shaped daily on-site, and grilled to perfection right before your eyes. Top your burger (be it ahi, veal, Kahua Ranch Wagyu beef, Hamakua mushroom, or Waipio taro) with everything from local avocados, baby greens, and chipotle goat cheese to tomato marmalade.

Right next to the Waimea General Store, this is a good stop for a steaming latte and a warm pastry, a cup of hot soup, or a freshly made salad. The small lanai offers enjoyable views of Waimea's compact, rolling hills dappled with rain, fog, sunlight, and, often, rainbows.

Longtime local favorite Waiola Shave Ice, known for its super-soft and powdery shave ice (or snow cone) and wide variety of flavors, became nationally known through regular appearances on the reboot of the Hawaii Five-0 TV show. It's a fast-moving line, so know your order when you get to the window. Customize your cone with add-ons, such as ice cream, sweetened condensed milk, mochi, and adzuki beans (sweet red beans). The original location on Waiola Street in the McCully neighborhood has even more of an old-school feel.

A cute vintage shack, painted a cheery yellow, is home to the best smoothies and shakes on the Hamakua Coast. Order at the counter and take away, or sit awhile under the canopy while you indulge in a Mango Tango, Lava Java, Bananarama, or any of about 15 selections of creative smoothies; you can pair it with tasty turkey, fish, or chicken roll-ups and other wraps. Although the focus is on vegetarian fare, there's something for everyone here, including a kids' menu and the Beyond Burger, a veggie burger impossible to distinguish from the real thing. What's Shakin' is in Pepeekeo, south of Honomu Town.

Wong's family-run, family-style restaurant has been serving up hearty portions of local favorites for decades. Specials change, but plate lunches are always available to go, complete with rice and mac salad (which Hawaii practically considers a "vegetable"). Save room for light lilikoi chiffon pie or desserts made with coconut and purple sweet potato. 

The menu at this little crêperie includes Illy espresso, teas, excellent sweet and savory crêpes, sandwiches, soups, salads, and rich desserts like lemon cheesecake and chocolate mousse, all made fresh daily. The small venue has a relaxed, urban-café vibe. It's a nice place to hang for a bit if you're waiting for a movie at the theater next door or feel like taking a break from paradise to sip a decent espresso and view the latest local art installations on display.