Hilo
There's no need to dress up at this very casual restaurant geared for locals. Favorites on the lengthy, meat-heavy menu include the slow-roasted prime rib…
Must-see restaurants in Hawaii
Honolulu
If the neighborhood's superb Asian fare just doesn't appeal, this sociable Irish pub offers excellent NYC-style pizza. The crust is thin and the topping…
Kailua-Kona
Metal Mike, who seriously looks like he spent time as a roadie, runs this rock 'n' roll pretzel stand on a narrow alley by a parking lot just above Aliʻi…
South Kohala
The island of Hawaiʻi is famous for its beef and its ocean bounty; Mai wants to get it recognized for its bacon. And so the house-made coffee-cured bacon…
Kapaʻa & the Eastside
If you’re a fan of In-N-Out and Dairy Queen, you’ll go nuts over this drive-in. Try the ‘old fashioned’ (cheddar, onions and sprouts) or the ‘local girl’ …
Kapaʻa
A classic diner with big breakfasts, meaty burgers and larger plate lunches built around teriyaki chicken and Portuguese-style pork mains. Grab a cute…
South Kona Coast
This roadside business dishes out fish and chips made with locally caught seafood species such as ono and mahimahi. It's decent enough, and pretty filling…
Happy Days Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Honolulu
Locals consider Happy Days to be one of the top casual Chinese restaurants in the city (and possibly the least adorned). The vast menu boats all the…
Kihei
–The shrimp tacos as this bustling taco truck are little pockets of heaven. Dee-lish. And yes, you might have to wait if there's a crowd but remember this…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
This little yellow take-out window adjoining Sueoka’s grocery store, is the smart place to order that picnic lunch, be it teriyaki burgers, fish‘n‘chips…
Lihuʻe
Swing by this grocery store, which sells to-go salads, sandwiches, plate lunches and sushi. It has a smoothie bar and a poke (cubed raw fish mixed with…
Hawaiʻi the Big Island
The dishes served in this tiny and cute restaurant with world-class views are made-to-order with fresh ingredients, some of which are grown in the organic…
Princeville
Despite Nanea’s attractive resort location facing the Westin’s pool, its fusion-style cuisine is not quite special enough to merit going far out of your…
Oʻahu
It may be slightly indelicately named, but if you're into Hawaiian-style plate lunches then the Oʻahu mini chain Fatboy's ticks all the boxes. The garlic…
South Kohala
A pair of friendly brothers run this Hapuna Beach concession stand, which sells enormous fish tacos, burgers and other variations of food that all go down…
South Kona Coast
This clean, cozy cafe has a back porch for sitting, watching geckos and sipping strong Kona coffee while dining on salads, sandwiches, bagels, scrambles,…
Kailua
This Thai-Vietnamese joint will soothe your soul with its earth-toned decor, avocado-colored bar and tropical-flower prints on the wall. The pho …
Poʻipu & the South Shore
At this straightforward, small-town produce market – one of the countywide Sunshine Markets – no shopping is allowed before the whistle blows. It had…
Hawaiʻi the Big Island
By the post office and an auto-parts store, this community grocery store sells hot food and sandwiches and a decent variety of goods and fresh produce,…
Waipahu
Tucked into a sleepy corner of a nondescript strip mall you'll find this storefront offering more than 20 kinds of poke – the sweet onion ahi and furikake…
Hanalei
There’s always a line at this shave-ice stand, where you choose up to four of 30 flavors of sweet syrupy goodness – the menu includes coconut, liliko‘i …
Honolulu
It feels strangely like you’re eating out in someone’s garage, but who cares when the Thai curries, noodle dishes and savory salads taste exactly like…
Kapaʻa
A fast-food, Chinese greasy spoon, one of three locations, specializing in affordable plate lunches featuring oxtail soup or pan-fried mahi mahi. It also…
Kailua-Kona
Quinn's, while lacking a waterfront location (did you see the name of the place?), serves up some of the better fish and chips in Kailua-Kona. The…
Lihuʻe
The austere brown-shuttered building might give you pause, but inside this retro diner teems with locals filling up on good, ol’-fashioned eats. The main…
Hilo
The Koji loco moco – with two homemade hamburger patties, teriyaki sauce and gravy, over-easy egg, Portuguese sausage, macaroni salad and kimchi – is the…
Hilo
Whether you're seeking locally inspired pastries, gourmet focaccia panini or a wedding cake made to order, this bakery-cafe is sure to please. We dare you…
Kihei
You'll be greeted by staff when you enter this cozy and homespun cafe in the Island Surf Building. Listen to locals chitchat as you dig into healthy…
Hanalei
While the menu covers most bases competently, from burgers to pasta and ribs to fresh fish, and there’s a decent dinner-only sushi bar, the mountain views…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Craving shrimp? Whether sautéed scampi-style, coconut- or beer-battered, in taco form or ground up into a ‘shrimp burger,' crustaceans are what this…
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
Serves typical plate lunches of mochiko (batter-fried) chicken, BBQ short ribs, teriyaki beef, pork katsu (deep-fried cutlets) and much more. All can be…
Moloka'i
Offering a healthy start to the day is this simple food truck near the Kualapuʻu Cookhouse, serving hearty bowls of acai with banana, blueberry,…
Waikiki
This 1980s time-warped bar and dance club rakes in a penny-pinching breakfast crowd with huge omelets, loco moco and fluffy banana muffins. At night, a…
Hilo
Come here for healthy Thai classics made with local produce, fresh chef-grown herbs and lots of veg options. The restaurant interior is pleasant enough,…
South Kona Coast
Barbecued ribs, pork and chicken are slowly cooked in the barrel smoker parked by Mile 106. Chow down at picnic tables out back, or for DIY surf-and-turf…
Princeville
A Thai and Chinese takeout joint offering Thai-curry mahimahi, honey-orange, steamed bok choy with tofu, and all the curries, noodles and Chinese stir…
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Fresh and hearty sandwiches, salads and grab-and-go wraps are served out of a small kitchen fronted by picnic tables serenaded by nonstop contemporary…
Kailua-Kona
Healthy, wholesome acai bowls bursting with tropical fruity goodness, granola, nuts, shredded coconut and even cacao nibs, along with fresh juice…
Hanalei
For supply runs or immediate snacks, Hanalei’s only supermarket offers good produce at decent prices, along with an enticing selection of fresh fish and …
Waikiki
This pint-sized, bare-bones health-food store whips up taro burgers, veggie burritos, deli sandwiches with fresh avocado, and real-fruit smoothies. Gluten…
