75 Best Restaurants in Oahu, Hawaii

Well established as a local favorite, this unassuming restaurant is situated in a strip mall near Diamond Head and away from the bustle of Waikiki. It's a great spot to grab a bagel or açai bowl in the morning or to linger over a post-sunset dinner—perhaps enjoying seared scallops with cauliflower puree, a pork chop with braised fennel, or one of the pasta dishes, including the chef’s signature cacio e pepe featuring cheese imported from Italy’s Dolomites region. Interesting cocktails, a full wine list, and tantalizing desserts (the coconut panna cotta is incredibly light and creamy) round out the offerings. The interior is basic, but there's also seating on the patio out front.

Tucked away on the second floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center, this stylish, sleek, and cozy spot has a selection of more than 40 international wines by the glass—all served via a high-tech vending machine that uses prepaid cards. The food menu is limited, but a few favorites include oversize Wagyu burgers, poke bites with nori chips, and cheese and charcuterie plates. The restaurant also offers breakfast, lunch (featuring small plates), and a happy hour (3–6 pm) with discount wines and light bites at the bar.

Putting a playful and creative spin on Hawaii regional cuisine, Kapa Hale has elegantly presented, upscale, fusion cuisine and cocktails by a local-boy chef. Menu items are changed seasonally and sourced locally with fun, wordplay names for different dishes.

Michael Mina, a James Beard Award winner, designed an exceptional line-to-table menu that celebrates the local catch and matches the panoramic views from indoor and lanai oceanfront tables. This might be the only restaurant in Hawaii (or the world) to have an on-site “fish sommelier,” who guides you through the mind-boggling array of cooking techniques, flavorings, and portions—from fillet to whole fish—and helps you choose the best matches for your particular palate. Validate your ticket for free valet parking during your meal.

The "M" and "W" team of husband-and-wife chefs Michelle Karr-Ueko and Wade Ueko combine their collective experience (20 years alongside chef Alan Wong, a side step to the famed French Laundry, and some serious kitchen time at comfort food icon Zippy's) to create a uniquely local menu with a decidedly upscale twist. Michelle's flair for sweets has resulted in a dessert menu as long as the main one, including tropical fruit creamsicle brûlée, an MW candy bar, and the frozen lilikoi (Hawaiian passion fruit) soufflé.

Lyonnaise chef Nico Chaiz's harborside restaurant is steps from the Honolulu Fish Auction, which explains his "line-to-plate" concept—super-fresh fish dishes at a reasonable price. But he lets his French flag fly in dishes like steak frites and bouillabaisse, too. Lunch focuses on local-style plate lunches and serves more of a local workers crowd. Come dinnertime, you'll see a mix of tourists and kamaaina here for beers on tap, cocktails, almost nightly music, and an excellent menu across the board. Although most indoor tables have harbor views, try to get a table on the lanai. If you're staying in a place with a kitchen and need to stock up, note that the fish market also sells prepared foods like poke, soups, and stews. In Kailua, there's a Nico's serving almost the same menu as the original at Pier 38.

Perched along the seawall at historic Gray's Beach, in the luxe Halekulani resort, Orchids is a locus of power breakfasters, ladies who lunch, and those celebrating special occasions at Sunday brunch or dinner. The louvered walls are open to the breezes, sprays of orchids add color, the contemporary international dishes are perfectly prepared, and the wine list is intriguing. Highlights of chef Christian Testa's menu include a prime beef filet appetizer from Harris Ranch, a special lasagnette dish, and an abundance of seafood options. Enjoy sunset cocktails at the adjacent open-air bar, House Without A Key.

Chef Andrew Le's casual noodle house attracts downtown office workers by day and becomes a creative contemporary restaurant at night, pulling in serious chowhounds. Drawing on both his Vietnamese heritage and multicultural island flavors, the talented, playful Le is a wizard with spice and acid, turning out dishes of layered flavor. The restaurant has food stands at farmers' markets, and its sister restaurant, Piggy Smalls, serves a scaled-down but similar menu.

Tiki's is the kind of fun place people come to Waikiki for: a retro–South Pacific spot with a back-of-the-bar faux volcano, open-air lounge with live local music, indoor-outdoor dining, and a fantastic view of the beach across the street. Chef Ronnie Nasuti turns out beautifully composed plates and puts fresh twists on the super-familiar—like spicy "volcano" chicken wings, watermelon and feta salad, or Thai-style shrimp puttanesca. Be sure to try one of the mai tais, which come in a variety of flavors, then settle in and stay a while. There's live music on most nights and an upbeat crowd at the bar. It may look like a place designed for tourists, but it's the locals who come back again and again.

At this bright, lively, upscale food court on the third floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center, you can feast on local and Japanese options ranging from massive, juicy burgers to spicy shrimp tacos to exquisite smoothies topped with colorful, edible designs—all emphasizing the use of fresh, local ingredients. Vendors here include Five Star Shrimp, Milk, JTRRD, Meatally Boys, POTAMA (Pork Tamago Onigiri), Honolulu Burger Co., Surfer’s Cafe, and Tap Bar. Best of all, you don’t need to try just one vendor—you can mix and match and enjoy tasty selections from several. There’s plenty of seating, and you can also shop for local art and cool island souvenirs.

Dating from 1922, this historic café surrounded by the verdant Manoa Valley landscape is part of the Hawaii Salvation Army headquarters and has been independently operated by Ross and Stefanie Anderson since late 2018. A short menu of simple, delicious breakfast and lunch items are ordered at the counter and delivered to your chosen table, either inside the cozy, multiroom bungalow or on the covered lanai. The Waioli staff is largely made up of people in recovery from substance abuse who are learning the restaurant and kitchen trade, and a 3% vocational training fee is added to all checks, bringing the former tearoom back to its roots as a kitchen skills program for orphaned girls. There's a cute gift shop and plenty of space to linger in the lushness.

The spacious, airy 100 Sails continues the everything-you-can-imagine buffet tradition (with crab legs and prime rib, of course), along with plenty of à la carte small bites, an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, and a commitment to knock-out presentation. And then there are the views—night after night, the sunsets over the harbor deliver stunning shows of color. For a delicious ending to a perfect day in paradise, accompany those vistas with a signature cocktail and the happy hour platter (cheesy fries, flat breads, taro chips, hummus).

Housed in a McVilla aimed at attracting a Japanese wedding clientele, this restaurant serves contemporary Continental food that focuses primarily on beautifully plated, well-prepared standards—albeit with a million-dollar view of Honolulu. Perched at the water's edge, with famed surf break Point Panic offshore, 53 by the Sea uses its setting to great advantage—the crescent-shape dining room faces the sea, so even if you’re not at a table nestled against the floor-to-ceiling windows, you have a fine view. Besides dinner, drop in for lunch or cocktails and appetizers at the bar while watching the city lights go up as the sun goes down. Sublime.

Step inside this tiny sushi bar, tucked amid the strip clubs behind the Ala Moana Hotel, and you'll swear you're in an out-of-the-way Edo neighborhood. Don't be deterred by its dodgy neighbors or its reputation for inconsistent service—this is where locals come when they want the real deal, and you'll be greeted with a cheerful "Iraishaimase!" (Welcome!) before sitting at a diminutive table or perching at the small sushi bar. Let the chefs here decide, omakase-style, or you can go for a grilled specialty, like scallop butteryaki (grilled in butter).

The menus at Turtle Bay Resort’s signature restaurant—a casual but chic open-air space overlooking Turtle Bay and the Seven Mile Miracle—showcase Hawaiian comfort food with a modern, upscale twist, including braised kalbi short ribs, roast chicken with macadamia nut mole, and Salanova lettuce. About 95% of the fresh produce, from lettuce, tomatoes, and breadfruit to apple bananas and kitchen herbs, comes from the 100-acre organic farm across the road and is grown in partnership with longtime local farmers. 

This legendary indoor-outdoor restaurant has views of Diamond Head and an expansive terrace on the same level as the beach, so you’ll feel the calm, island vibes as soon as you arrive. Although it's open for breakfast and lunch, Azure has a much more sophisticated atmosphere in the evening, when you can choose from a selection of small or large plates featuring local seafood, meat, and produce, or you can try the chef’s multicourse tasting menu. Desserts, such as the Russian honey cake and the Baked Alaska, are delightful. If you want a coveted beachfront table (you do!), be sure to ask when you make your reservation.

Tam and Kimmy Huynh's menu ranges far beyond the usual pho and bun (cold noodle dishes) found at many Vietnamese restaurants. This welcoming, no-frills, hole-in-the-wall spot, which locals swear by, features lamb curry, tapioca dumplings, head-on tamarind shrimp, and other dishes that hail from both North and South Vietnam. People who work in the neighborhood pack in for lunch, so you might want to avoid a midday visit. Reservations are not accepted for groups of fewer than six.

A long-time local favorite, elegant, inviting Baci Bistro is a classic Italian restaurant offering an extensive range of pastas, antipasti, mains, and really excellent desserts. Consider the ravioli del giorno followed by vitello (veal) cooked with a variety of sauces. Top off your meal with a dessert specialty: crème brûlée.

An array of authentic Japanese dishes made with Hawaiian seafood and fresh, seasonal, mostly organic North Shore veggies and fruits attracts locals and visitors alike to this hip yet family-friendly sushi house. The extensive menu includes classic sashimi and tempura, off-the-wall sushi rolls, Wagyu beef, broiled fish entrées, and various vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Loyalists of Roy Yamaguchi's celebrated spots in Hawaii Kai and Waikiki are thrilled to find his North Shore outpost—a rustic, beam-and-concrete-floor pavilion literally on the sand at Turtle Bay. All the favorites are served at this more beach-casual spot, from the miso deep-water black cod to the beef short ribs, along with a more casual lunch menu.

At this elegant, indoor-outdoor restaurant in Waikiki's oldest hotel, try for a table on the veranda, which overlooks the courtyard and a majestic banyan tree. Although it's open all day—and even serves afternoon tea—the Beachhouse is an especially delightful spot for a sunset dinner, when menu options range from crab cakes and paella to pork chops and steaks. The bar mixes up craft cocktails, and there’s a massive wine list as well. If you would rather just sip a drink and have a small bite, grab a seat at the more casual Beach Bar in the center of the courtyard.

This outlet of the popular retro diner chain—with four locations, including one at Windward Mall in neighboring Kaneohe—is across the street from a small bird sanctuary and has outdoor lanai seating and a bar. It's a hot spot for breakfast and Sunday football; popular dinner items include grilled steak with onions and mushrooms, baby back ribs, meatloaf, and salads. Kids and families love this spot.

Virtually unchanged since opening in 1967, this neighborhood institution opposite Kailua Beach Park is filled with the aroma of grilling steaks and plumeria blooms. It doesn't matter if you're a bit sandy and beach bedraggled (though bare feet are a no-no, as are tank tops after 4:30 pm)—just find a spot in the cozy maze of rooms; stop at the salad bar; and order a steak, a burger, teriyaki chicken, or the fresh fish special. Leave room for desserts. Get a table on the lanai if you can, especially at lunch when the menu is a bit less expensive; the view alone makes it worth the visit. If you sit at the bar, expect to make friends. Be warned: the mai tais here are the strongest you'll find anywhere; if you order the "B.F.R.D." don't expect to drive home.

Long beloved for its northern Thai classics, such as spicy curries and stir-fries and sticky rice in woven-grass baskets, made using family recipes, Chiang Mai is a short cab ride from Waikiki. Some dishes, like the signature barbecue Cornish game hen with lemongrass and spices, show how acculturation can create interesting pairings. The simple space is decorated with Thai fabrics and artworks.

There are only a couple of North Shore institutions that are considered gathering places—Foodland (the great grocery store) is one, and Cholo's is the other. Festively done up with Mexican tchotchkes, it serves decent rice-and-beans plates of Mexican standards (steak fajitas, burritos, enchiladas) at affordable prices.

Known for uncommon variations on common breakfast themes, this neighborhood favorite is tucked into a hard-to-find Kailua office park (call for directions). Local-style lunch plates are good, but the main attraction is breakfast, when you don't want to miss the guava chiffon and red velvet pancakes or the signature cinnamon macadamia-nut rolls. (The Waikiki location in the Ilikai Hotel serves dinner, too.) Be prepared to wait. The place is always packed for breakfast, particularly on weekends.

A humble, family-run restaurant in a tiny roadside shack, Coquito’s serves an eclectic array of traditional Puerto Rican and Latin American dishes, from arroz con gandules (rice with peas) and shrimp mofongo to pastel borricúa (ground green-banana masa stuffed with pork), Colombian empanadas, and Argentinian flank steak with chimichurri sauce. Order takeout for a picnic at a beach park, or dine in the small outdoor patio (no alcohol sold here, so you need to BYOB).

Escape the tourist traps and rub elbows with locals at this small, busy breakfast–brunch café, with outdoor porch seating and ocean views (come early or order takeout, as it closes early afternoon). Island favorites dominate the menu, including corned beef hash loco moco and lilikoi (passionfruit) pancakes for breakfast and garlic shrimp with mushrooms, fish tacos, and kalbi ribs for lunch.

Just five minutes from Waikiki's hotels is chef Kelvin Ro's one-stop food shop—indispensable if you have accommodations with a kitchen or want a quick grab-and-go meal. Join surfers, beachgoers, and Diamond Head hikers at the takeout window to order gourmet sandwiches and plates, such as hand-shaped burgers, portobello mushroom sandwiches, Korean kalbi ribs, and grilled ahi with wasabi-ginger sauce, rice, and salad. Selections include sandwiches, bento boxes, and salads. Don't miss the bakery: locals love this place for the giant scones and desserts like lemon crunch cake. You can also pick up wine, beer, and soft drinks.

From entrepreneur Kevin Aoki, son of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki, comes this low-lit, bells-and-whistles, sushi-roll chain (with two additional locations in Hawaii and another in Miami) featuring indoor-outdoor seating, as well as happy hours and a late-night bar scene that keeps the place packed. Newer dishes, such as the sake bomb or stuffed jalepeño rolls, are offered alongside favorites like the tuna tataki or the Emperor Roll, a seafood extravaganza of tuna, crab, shrimp, and scallop crusted in panko and flash-fried. And there is tempura everything—from lobster to brownies. The Waikiki location, upstairs in the Royal Hawaiian Center, caters to visitors, and locals favor the Kakaako location on Kapiolani Boulevard, near the Ala Moana Center.