382 Best Restaurants in Hawaii, USA

At this large Chinatown institution, the dim sum cart ladies stop at your table and show you their Hong Kong–style fare. If you come for breakfast dim sum, arrive before 9 am, especially on weekends, if you want to hear yourself think. There are also à la carte lunch and dinner menus.

Known for its Asian-influenced surf and turf menu, there's something for everyone here: salads, poultry, steaks and ribs, vegetarian fare, curries, and, of course, a wide selection of seafood, all with an Island flair. The decor may remind you of a Pacific Rim–theme rustic tavern, with its stained-wood interior and numerous paintings and carvings. The patio is enclosed with lush plants, but traffic noise detracts a bit from outdoor dining. 

Whether you spell it malasada or malassada, when you're in Hawaii, you must try these deep-fried, holeless Portuguese doughnuts. Leonard's Bakery is the most famous of all the island establishments making them and was the first island bakery to commercialize their production. Expect to stand in a long line outside the original Kapahulu location to get a signature pink box or bag filled with the piping hot treats. You can also order from one of the red-and-white-stripe Malasadamobiles parked at several shopping centers on Oahu. Leonard's makes breads, cookies, muffins, and other sweets, too, but let's be honest, you're coming here for the malasadas.

Both fun and photo-worthy, this restaurant features classic Peruvian dishes with a Maui influence thanks to the incorporation of fresh, local ingredients. In addition to serving both lunch and dinner, it offers a daily happy hour (actually, three hours from 2 to 5 pm) and live music or DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.

A perfect beach day starts with coffee and an acai bowl or bagel sandwich from Little Fish, a popular snack shack along the main road in Poipu. Spreads are house-made, bakery treats are mom's recipes, and the flavor-packed smoothies will have you back tomorrow for another. Ingredients are locally grown and organic whenever possible. Order online for pickup or watch the world go by from a picnic table.

Livestock Tavern scores big with its seasonal offerings of updated comfort foods and craft cocktails and its cowboy-minimalist decor. Although meat, including some of the best burgers in town, commands the menu, offerings like burrata, creative salads, sandwiches, and fish round out the possibilities. Note the seasonal drink specials with creative names. Weekend brunch is also served.

A range of light fare is served from brunchtime through evening on the covered lanai attached to Living Foods general store at The Shops at Kukuiula. Locally sourced starters, sandwiches, fish preparations, entrée salads, and desserts can be ordered via the café's website, which speeds up table service. Grown-ups will find wines by the glass, draft beers, and clever cocktails, while the keiki will find tried-and-true favorite foods. The coffee counter and bakery opens early; takeout is available.

This is a great spot to stop for coffee and a light bite, including some breakfast items, salads, and sandwiches, before or after your explorations in Chinatown, downtown, and historic Honolulu. The coffee shop roasts its own beans and has a latte art "printer" that leaves detailed designs on your drink. A Local Joe West has also opened in Ewa Beach.

Hidden in the corner of Keauhou Shopping Center adjacent to the movie theater, Los Habaneros serves up fast, decent Mexican food for good prices. Favorites are usually combos, which can be anything from enchilada plates to chiles rellenos. The burritos are a solid pick, stuffed with meat, beans, cheese, and all the fixings. Wash it all down with imported beer from Mexico.

Long an island favorite for tasty, albeit greasy, Mexican grub, this landmark has made a comeback in funky Pahoa in a different space after a fire destroyed the original restaurant in 2017. Tacos are great (go for crispy), especially when stuffed with grilled, seasoned local fish. Chips are warm and salty, the salsa's got some kick, and the beans are thick with lard and topped with melted cheese.

In a vintage building dating from 1965, Magics offers an exhilarating oceanfront location overlooking the famous Disappearing Sands Beach, also known as Magic Sands. From fried ulu (breadfruit) wedges in umami truffle oil aioli to firecracker fish tacos and mushroom pasta, the eclectic menu features intriguing choices using locally sourced ingredients with contemporary island flair. The same owners operate the Beach Shack right on-site, which has limited hours but serves drinks and local takeout favorites such as Spam musubi (Spam "sushi") and poke bowls. Come for cocktails at sunset: the setting simply does not get better.

The main restaurant at Disney's Aulani resort offers three-course breakfast and dinner menus with a wide variety of locally produced items, as well as familiar dishes from stateside and the rest of the world. You'll find sustainable Hawaiian seafood, Asian selections, familiar grilled meats and vegetables. Arrive early for dinner and have a drink at the adjacent Olelo Room, where the staff are fluent in Hawaiian; you can get a language lesson along with your libation.

Set in an intimate location on the beach, Mama's has been the Maui destination for special occasions for almost four decades. A path of gecko-shape stones leads to an ever-changing fantasyland of Hawaiian kitsch, where savvy servers can explain the various fish types and preparations, and you'd be wise to heed their recommendation; the fish is so fresh that the daily menu lists who caught it that morning.

The best place to grab a snack or picnic supplies is this store, 16 miles east of Kaunakakai. It's the only place on the east end where you can find essentials such as ice and bread, and not-so-essentials such as seafood plate lunches, bentos, burgers, shakes, and refreshing smoothies. It can get hopping at lunch; call ahead to place an order if you can.  

One of the go-to places for airport comers and goers, this popular Italian restaurant also draws a steady crowd of residents, mainly for business lunches. Meatballs, sausages, and sauces are all made in-house, a long list of sandwiches is available all day, and the affordable salads are big enough to share. Substitutions or special requests are not recommended.

Yes, the popovers and the wee cups of bouillon are available at lunch, but in every other regard, the menu at this Neiman Marcus restaurant departs from the classic model, incorporating a clear sense of Pacific place. The breezy, open-air veranda, with a view of Ala Moana Regional Park, the twirling ceiling fans, and the life-size hula-girl murals say "Hawaii." It's still a spot for ladies who lunch, but it also welcomes a more casual crowd.

For a real slice of Haleiwa life, stop at this family-run spot for cool treats that are available in every flavor imaginable. For something different, order a shave ice with house-made adzuki beans—the red beans are boiled until soft, mixed with sugar, and then placed in the cone with the ice on top.

The staff at this little place take pride in learning customers' names and treating you like a "regular." All the coffee favorites are here, from espresso to latte to a good old-fashioned cup of Kona. Homemade pastries are available, and they open at 6 am for the early birds. 

In contrast to the sprawling, noisy halls where dim sum is generally served, Mei Sum is compact, shiny, and bright—it's also favored by locals who work in the area. Be ready to guess and point at the color photos of dim sum favorites or the items on the carts as they come by, or ask fellow diners for suggestions. It's one of the few places that serve dim sum from 9 am all the way to 8 pm.

Located right on the main drag of Kapaa, this café has an exterior that's a bit grimy and noisy, but it's worth a stop to order takeout and walk to the beach instead. The poke salad bowl and ahi nori wrap made of seared tuna, rice, and cucumber with wasabi cream sauce are the best picks here. Other choices include hearty fresh salads, sandwiches, tropical tacos, stir-fry noodles, and satay made from either tofu or chicken.

The Hawaii Regional Cuisine served up at chef Peter Merriman's namesake restaurant is enhanced by a sophisticated setting, live music, and lovely views from a pretty second-floor dining veranda. Start at the bar, where fine wines are offered by the glass, and then continue to the dinner menu, which states the origins of the fish, shrimp, lamb, beef, chicken, and veggies: 90% is locally grown or caught. The chocolate purse is a favorite dessert.

The signature restaurant of Peter Merriman, one of the pioneers of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, is the home of the original wok-charred ahi: it's seared on the outside, leaving sashimi on the inside. Although lunch prices are reasonable, dinner is "resort pricey," so prepare to splurge; there's also a reasonable prix fixe option. They are a great choice for brunch—try the classic eggs Benedict or the herb-grilled eggplant sandwich. The interior is plain and boxy, but that's not what shines here. Many locals choose it for special occasions. The extensive wine list is impressive and includes many selections poured by the glass. 

At this restaurant where fine dining comes without the fussiness, the cordial, well-trained servers present your "Bag O' Biscuits" or smoking oysters on the half shelf with equal aplomb and know all the details of each menu item. The large Hawaiian-French bistro has floor-to-ceiling windows and native wood accents throughout, and chef-owner Peter Merriman focuses on farm-to-table food, using Oahu-sourced ingredients as much as possible. In addition to other branches of this restaurant on neighbor Islands, Merriman operates the more casual Monkeypod Kitchen in Kapolei and Waikiki, plus Moku Kitchen in Kakaako.

Hawaii is not usually known for good Mexican food, but this tiny, cash-only café on the ground floor of a vintage building is definitely one of the exceptions. Quality ingredients and a decent menu are on tap at this friendly establishment decorated with charming touches of Mexico. Service can be hit or miss. 

This romantic restaurant on Waikiki's tranquil Gold Coast features beachside sunset views and traditional French fare. It opened in 1962, and the surroundings reflect this, with lots of wood and stone, bow-tied servers preparing the restaurant's "famous" lobster bisque and steak tartare table-side, and a charm that's beloved by old-time locals but sometimes lost on younger diners. Among the French classics (garlicky escargots, mustard-crusted rack of lamb) are local twists, such as yellowfin ahi tartare with tobiko (fish roe) and Hawaiian salt or steamed mahi mahi. Brunch is served the first Sunday of every month. For a premium table with a jaw-dropping view, reserve weeks in advance.

Organic non-GMO flour is transformed into breads and pastries available at the bakery or at farmers' markets and health-food stores around the island. Hot panini, tartines (open-faced sandwiches), pizza, and deli favorites use island-grown produce and make for a satisfying quick breakfast or lunch, for here or to go. Don't forget dessert.

Off the beaten path even for residents, this microscopic sushi bar is an adjunct of a wholesale seafood market and has a sort of cult following. The fish, air-freighted from around the world, is ultra-fresh, well-cut (into huge pieces—to the regret of those who follow the one-bite rule), and prepared for the serious sushi lover. You can spend as much or as little as you like—from $6 veggie sushi to the $135 omakase (a series of small courses) menu.  Rest assured, it's unlikely you'll run into anyone from your hotel here, and locals will be mightily impressed you ventured so far. (Barack Obama has been know to drop by when he's in town.) The final seating is at 7:45, so plan (and make reservations) accordingly.

The garlic chicken may haunt your dreams, so it's worth the trek to a downscale neighborhood to find this unprepossessing takeout joint. Line up, order the plate lunch with rice and salad, and sink your teeth into the profoundly garlicky masterpiece drizzled with a sweet glaze. Obsessed locals line up at dawn to get takeout for lunch.  To avoid the wait, call in your order ahead of time.

Just like an authentic Japanese izakaya (bar/restaurant), this hip little place serves yakatori (skewered chicken) grilled on a binchotan (grill) that the restaurant owners imported from Japan. Ramen is served with a variety of broths—regular shoyu, spicy, and vegetarian. Their nouko base enhances every serving with creamy undertones. They get busy so reservations are essential; make them online. 

In the hip SALT complex, Moku appeals to both foodies and families with authentic farm-to-table cuisine and a laid-back, urban setting. It's one of legendary chef Peter Merriman's restaurants (he's one of the founding chefs of Hawaii regional cuisine) and focuses on upcountry farm fare cooked in the on-site rotisserie; pizzas, salads, and sandwiches; and craft cocktails. Happy hour and evening music can sometimes get really loud, so if you want to chat, ask to be seated away from the entertainment.