Must-see restaurants in Waikiki

Hy's is so old-school that you expect to find inkwells on the tables. This traditional steakhouse has a timeless old leather and wood interior. But…

This clapboard corner shop has been making the same super-fine shave ice since 1940, and we’d argue that it’s got the formula exactly right. Get yours…

This hole-in-the-wall keeps busy making fresh onigiri (rice balls) stuffed with seaweed, salmon roe and sour plums. Other specialties include salmon-roe…

Waikiki's best beach cafe is just south of the sand at Queen's Beach. Order at the window and grab a shady table close to the water and tuck into island…

Katsu, the deep-fried Japanese cooking method that coats meats like pork and chicken in a perfectly crispy exterior made from panko bread crumbs. This…

Everybody loves this reconstructed Japanese noodle shop, which is so popular there is often a line stretching down the sidewalk. Watch those thick udon…

Avocado toast two cuts above the cliche is but one of the delights at this cafe, which is also a gallery for local artists. Enjoy excellent coffee as…

This plate-lunch legend draws legions of locals and tourists from Waikiki. Wrapped in rainbow-colored neon, it's a throwback to another era. Construction…

If it's 3am and you're famished, skip the temptation for a cold $25 burger from room service (if you have room service) and drop by Waikiki's best all…

Oʻahu’s most elegant Sunday brunch spread covers all the bases, with a made-to-order omelet station; a buffet of poke, sashimi, sushi and salads; and a…

Three generations at Haili’s have been cooking up homegrown Hawaiian fare since 1950. Locals shoehorn themselves into kid-friendly booths and tables, then…

The crowds are proof: people love Pioneer Saloon's Japanese-fusion plate lunches, with dozens of choices from grilled ahi to fried baby octopus to…

Azure is the signature restaurant at the Royal Hawaiian Resort. Seafood fresh from the market is celebrated in the bouillabaisse, and simplicity is the…

At the luxury Halekulani resort, La Mer is rated by traditionalists as Waikiki’s top fine-dining destination. A neoclassical French menu puts the emphasis…

This contemporary incarnation of Roy Yamaguchi’s island-born chain is perfect for a flirty date or just celebrating the good life. The ground-breaking…

For colonial atmosphere that harks back to early-20th-century tourist traditions, enjoy afternoon tea here. It comes complete with finger sandwiches,…

Overlooking the stylish pool at the Surfjack Hotel, this open-air bistro has a well-imagined casual and comfortable menu of classics, such as burgers,…

Why drive all over Oʻahu looking for favorite local foods when you can get many of them right here. Fittingly owned by the iconic Rainbow Drive-In next…

Step inside this fantastic gourmet deli and bakery for take-away roast pork loin and citrus jicama (yam bean) salad, perfect for a beach picnic. Outside…

Why go to Tokyo for perfect pork tonkatsu when you can enjoy the lightly breaded bits of deep-fried pork goodness right here near Waikiki Beach? The…