Kahului
Maui Culinary Academy’s fine-dining restaurant connects an ocean view with the opportunity to watch up-and-coming chefs create a four-course locavore meal…
Must-see restaurants in Hawaii
Kohala & Waimea
This midweek market offers goodies including local organic produce, honey, handmade soaps, hot-plate lunches and live paniolo music. Before browsing,…
North Kohala
This little market is the place to come for fresh fruits, cold drinks, and a nice fridge full of ice cream and popsicles. There's a slew of jams, honey,…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
Homemade cotton candy, Kaua‘i coffee, pastries, and nothing but the best Maui-made Roselani Tropics ice cream, served with a smile. If you can’t pick a…
South Kona Coast
Menehune, named for Hawaii's legendary little people, makes some fine coffee and dishes out a great range of burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches and other…
Hanalei
This basic mom-and-pop storefront, tucked in the back of the Ching Young mall, is perfect for filling up on macnut pancakes before you hike the Na Pali…
Kona Coast
Brewing 100% Kona estate-grown coffee and Illy espresso, this cafe with Euro-bistro style also dishes up sweet and savory French crepes, plus satisfying…
Honolulu
Organic and natural foods are the draw at this always-busy grocery store. It has a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly salad bar, a deli for sandwiches, a…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
More than the pasta bowls it’s the baked pizzas, with toppings such as kalua pork, Hawaiian BBQ chicken or spinach with goat’s cheese, that draw diners to…
Waikiki
Regulars crave the taro-banana pancakes at Bogart's, which uses fresh local produce in its full menu of breakfast and lunch items. The avocado-and-spinach…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Across from Pupukea Beach Park, you can pick up everything you need for a beach picnic from the deli or get groceries for DIY meals. This is the only…
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
Don't miss the pho (beef noodle soup) at this strip-mall storefront also serving spring rolls, rice plates, crunchy banh mi sandwiches and bubble tea…
Kihei
Load up on napkins at Local Boys, where they dish up hearty servings of shave ice drenched in a rainbow of sweet syrups. We like it tropical (banana,…
Kihei
Hawaiian-style seafood and meat plate lunches are the tasty specialties at this tropically bright food truck that parks on Alanui Kealiʻi Rd, not far from…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Owned and operated by a legendary local surfer, the North Shore Shrimp Truck is becoming just as legendary. You can get shrimp in three styles – garlic…
Hawaiʻi the Big Island
The pizza is only above-average, however, the gluten-free crust and vegan meatball sandwich are a welcome find in the area. Come here to satisfy your…
Haleʻiwa
It’s all about the food and the atmosphere at Banzai Sushi Bar. It has an appealing mantra: keep it real, keep it raw. Happy hour runs 4pm to 5pm Monday…
Lihuʻe
Hours are limited – often linked to when cruise ships are arriving at the nearby harbor – but Kikuchi's is always worth checking out for delicious ahi…
Haleʻiwa
Locals have been fueling up at this laid-back surf-style diner since the 1980s. A daily menu of fresh preparations focuses on local ingredients and may…
Honolulu
Beautiful home-cooked food is boxed up and ready to go, or you can enjoy it at one of the small tables. Most everything is sourced locally and includes…
Hamakua Coast
A good bet for solid gourmet sandwiches (Applewood smoked bacon BLT on local jalapeño cheese bread, portobello on focaccia with local goat cheese etc)…
Honolulu
Choose your broth from five different styles at this hot pot storefront, then decide what you want to put into it, including meats, seafood and vegetables…
Poʻipu
More popular with tourists than with locals, these specialty hot dogs come with a toasty Hawaiian sweet bread bun, a choice of Polish sausage or veggie…
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
Locals swear by the banana pancakes, hamburger steak, chicken kalbi (grilled Korean-style) and other island faves. The interior is bare-bones and…
ʻIao Valley & Central Maui
Good fix for a Thai-food craving, with tangy papaya salads and fresh local garlic shrimp. Classics such as green, red and massaman curry, plus pad Thai…
Kahului
For the coolest treat in town, queue up at this hole-in-the-wall shop dishing up homemade pineapple sherbet. The guri-guri, as it’s called, is so popular…
Windward Coast
This general store has changed little in the 70 years since it opened (OK, now there are blue M&Ms…). Locally made snacks include boiled peanuts, poke,…
Kihei
Come to these stylish digs for authentic and modern Thai dishes, with seasonal menu changes. The noodles and curries are spiced just right. A new bar…
Hamakua Coast
This smallish supermarket is the biggest between Hilo and Waimea. Find all the essentials, plus a local-style deli with poke (marinated raw fish), takeout…
Wailua
A popular cafe for good coffees and breakfasts that pair feta or vegan sausage with eggs. It also does a tofu scramble and a range of sandwiches. But the…
Lihuʻe
Overlooking Kalapaki Beach, this is one of the most upscale options in town. The food is less than imaginative, focusing on Italian fare and local catches…
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
A large outlet of Oʻahu's favorite chain of natural-food supermarkets. Choose from the hot vegetarian buffet or have a sandwich or smoothie made to order…
Lihuʻe
Hidden in a strip mall, this no-frills Vietnamese noodle shop serves steaming bowls of decent pho (noodle soup). Choose from meat or vegetable toppings,…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Held at the Waialua Sugar Mill, the Waialua Farmers Market has strong support among the North Shore community. Get your fruit and veggies here, plus the…
Kapaʻa & the Eastside
Everything made by this Oaxaca-born chef tastes fresh and authentic, from stuffed burritos and fish-taco plates to freshly made chips, salsa and sauces…
Kailua
Dozens of wines by the glass; convivially large, high dining tables with stools; and hearty dishes (braised lamb, large burgers, myriad pastas) help…
ʻIao Valley & Central Maui
Serving shave ice, fresh-baked cookies and Maui-made ice cream chock-full of macadamia nuts, pineapple and coconut, Hula Cookies & Ice Cream is a good…
Kapaʻa & the Eastside
A Kauaʻi offshoot of their locations on Maui, Coconut's is a dependable and good-value option amid Waipouli's strip-mall ambience. Standouts are the…
Waikiki
City-sponsored farmers market in Kapiʻolani Regional Park that trades in Oʻahu's enormous fresh bounty from mauka (land) to makai (sea). Only a short walk…
Waikiki
Although the 1950s-style black-and-white checkered decor looks a bit out of place by the beach, this fast-growing chain’s hand-formed burgers, milkshakes…
