Must-see restaurants in Hawaii
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
The whole community comes out to this weekly market to buy farm-fresh produce, flowers, local crafts and limited food (coffee, pastries, breakfast…
Honolulu
A relatively recent addition to the up-and-coming Kakaʻako neighborhood, Arvo has won over hearts and stomachs with its Australian-inspired menu ('arvo'…
Kailua
This is one of the only options to dine near the gorgeous beach, and even then you can hear the surf way more than you can see it. Buzz's has been here…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
This log-cabin restaurant overlooks a large meadow that’s stalked by marauding wild roosters. The one dining option in the park – and there’s nothing else…
Lanaʻi
This classic yellow plantation house with simple interior design on Dole Park serves burgers and local grinds (food). Choose blackened ono (white-fleshed…
Kihei
With an easy indoor-outdoor flow, hospitable service and a short but satisfying menu of steaks and seafood dishes, this venture from the folks behind the…
Honolulu
This shiny late-night diner with lipstick-red booths posts a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly menu of salads, sandwiches, grilled burgers and heaping island…
ʻIao Valley & Central Maui
This unassuming neighborhood shop is half mini-mart, selling snacks, candy and shave ice, and half poke takeout joint, run by a fifth generation fisherman…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Shige's may not look like much from the outside, but locals swear that these are the best saimin noodles around. Inspired by Chinese chow mein, Japanese…
Honolulu
Always packed, this Vietnamese institution holds fast to its hard-earned reputation for serving top-notch pho (Vietnamese noodle soup). With beef, broth…
North Kohala
Pleasantly low-key, this owner-run cafe can be mixed with the service – sometimes it feels warm and friendly, sometimes you feel like you've interrupted…
Poʻipu
Part sports bar, part restaurant, this local institution across from Po‘ipu Beach Park claims to have served up a million mai tais, along with endless…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Specializing in boba (also known as bubble tea, recognized by its mix-in of chewy tapioca balls or fruit jelly), Coffee or Tea? also offers milk tea ($3…
Waikiki
Come early to the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort to score a table overhanging Kahaloa & Ulukou Beaches and watch the sun set as slack key guitars play…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Yes, it’s touristy, but this Western-style saloon dishes up plantation lunches in authentic kaukau (food) tins full of shrimp and vegetable tempura,…
Honolulu
Underground at downtown’s only high-rise hotel, this sports bar and grill serves an aloha-shirt-wearing business crowd. Huge salads, sandwiches and…
North Kohala
There's a lot of focus on organic, healthy, gluten-free, name-your-food-trend dining in the Hawi and Kapaʻau area. Not at CSC – this place is all about…
Kahului
With tenants like Paniolo Grill and World Plate, this multi-stall food court isn’t your average campus fare. Run by students from Maui College’s acclaimed…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Tortillas at this island fusion taquería are stuffed with wasabi-coated or Cajun-dusted seared ahi, fresh cabbage and rice, and they’ll do the same trick…
Honolulu
Let your preconceptions about mall food courts fly out the window at these Asian-fusion-flavored indoor food stalls. Dig into Yummy Korean BBQ, Donburi…
Hilo
Hilo is a pretty chill spot, but Lucy's divides opinion. People either like the no-frills atmosphere and minimal service, or they find the laid-back…
Hilo
Hankering for Chipotle? Hilo's version of that semi-DIY menu is found here. In a bowl, wrap or tacos, pick your rice, veggies, protein, salsa and toppings…
Kona Coast
Sam Choy is one of the pioneers of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, an island-grown version of Pacific Rim fusion. At this casual eatery with dynamite sunset…
Honolulu
No-frills Sorabol feeds lunching Korean ladies by day and bleary-eyed clubbers before dawn. Detractors often sniff that its reputation is undeserved, but…
Princeville
A little deli window in one corner of the Princeville Center, with a few dedicated tables out on the deck. It does an ‘Italian Job’ sub with salami,…
Hana & East Maui
The wall of ukuleles is perfect for an Instagram photo at this revamped restaurant, one of a handful of dinner options in Hana. Enjoy the ocean view from…
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
This roadhouse joint is nearly always jumping. Burgers aren't gourmet by any stretch but indeed decent while the stick-to-your-ribs menu of seafood and…
Hanalei
A breezy, open-sided sports bar that’s a popular all-day hangout. The Hawaiian-themed pub grub includes fish tacos, poke pupus (snacks), huli-huli chicken…
North Kohala
This local-favorite family restaurant serves generous, groaning portions of Hawaiian and American comfort food: burgers, sandwiches and plate lunches,…
West Maui
Interior design: wow! Golf course view: wow! Food....solidly okay. With all the hoopla about this addition to the Kapalua dining scene, we were ready to…
Kona Coast
There aren't a ton of pizza places in Keauhou, which is a shame, as it's been scientifically proven that pizza is the most important food group in the…
Honolulu
At this humble storefront facing the River St Pedestrian Mall, join the queue for the famous manapua (steamed or baked buns) with tantalizing sweet and…
Hilo
Hidden in a mall, Miwa is a low-key standby for Japanese cuisine and sushi. Sadly, the food is hit or miss (and rather pricey), so stick to the reliably…
Honolulu
For those on a budget, this 'student dining buffet' is a bonanza at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa. On the 1st floor of one of the circular student…
North Kohala
Hawi folks and West Coast transplants (to be fair, there's a lot of overlap between those categories) love this little Mexican place, which is basically a…
