KEY2 Pick
Hawaii Regional Cuisine • $$$$
Alan Wong's
A Honolulu institution credited with pioneering Hawaii Regional Cuisine, still serving its signature ginger-crusted onaga.
Best for: Special Occasion
Best restaurants in Hawaii
Counters, dining rooms and neighbourhood favourites, chosen for the way they actually eat — not for how loudly they market.
KEY2 Pick
Hawaiian • $$
Duke's Waikiki
A beachfront Waikiki institution named for Duke Kahanamoku, serving fresh fish steps from the sand.
Best for: Casual Dinner
KEY2 Pick
Seafood • $$$$
Mama's Fish House
Maui's most celebrated fish house, on the North Shore, naming the boat and fisherman behind each catch.
Best for: Special Occasion
KEY2 Pick
Farm-to-Table • $$$
Merriman's Waimea
Chef Peter Merriman's original Big Island restaurant, built around Waimea ranch and farm produce since 1988.
Best for: Date Night
Contemporary American • $$$
53 By the Sea
An oceanfront Honolulu restaurant on a quiet stretch near downtown, known for sunset dining and fresh local fish.
Best for: Date Night
Poke • $
Da Poke Shack
A takeout poke shack in Kailua-Kona regularly cited as the Big Island's best, with lines out the door at lunch.
Best for: Budget Eats
Hawaiian • $$
Duke's Beach House Maui
A Kaanapali oceanfront branch of Duke's, casual surf-and-turf plates with sweeping views of Molokai and Lanai.
Best for: Casual Dinner
Hawaiian • $
Helena's Hawaiian Food
A James Beard Award-winning Kalihi diner serving traditional Hawaiian plates like kalua pig and squid luau.
Best for: Budget Eats
Bakery • $
Leonard's Bakery
The Portuguese malasada bakery that has been drawing lines in Kapahulu since 1952.
Best for: Budget Eats
Farm-to-Table • $$$
Merriman's Kapalua
The Maui outpost of Merriman's, with an oceanfront point deck for sunset drinks and dinner above the cliffs.
Best for: Date Night
Hawaii Regional Cuisine • $$$
Merriman's Poipu
Chef Peter Merriman's Kauai oceanfront room, sourcing from local farms and fishermen for a nightly changing menu.
Best for: Date Night
Japanese-Peruvian • $$$$
Nobu Waikiki
Nobu Matsuhisa's Waikiki outpost inside the Waikiki Parc, serving signature black cod miso and new-style sashimi.
Best for: Special Occasion
Seafood • $$
Paia Fish Market
A no-frills Paia fish counter serving fish tacos and grilled catch to surfers off the North Shore.
Best for: Budget Eats
Hawaiian Fusion • $$$
Roy's Waikiki
Roy Yamaguchi's flagship, credited with helping define Hawaiian fusion cuisine since the late 1980s.
Best for: Date Night
Japanese-Hawaiian Fusion • $$$
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
A Kapalua sushi and seafood spot from chef DK Kodama, known for late-night discounted sushi in Maui.
Best for: Group Dinner
Hawaiian-American • $$
Tiki's Grill & Bar
A tiki-themed Waikiki beachfront restaurant popular for happy hour, live music and Hawaiian plate classics.
Best for: Casual Dinner
Seafood • $$$$
Ulu Ocean Grill
Four Seasons Hualalai's oceanfront grill on the Kona coast, built around whole fresh fish and open-air tables.
Best for: Special Occasion
Questions, answered
What are the best restaurants in Hawaii?+
The KEY2 editors' top picks for restaurants in Hawaii are Alan Wong's, Duke's Waikiki, Mama's Fish House, Merriman's Waimea. Every listing in this guide is individually vetted, with hours, prices and booking links.
Where can I find good-value restaurants in Hawaii?+
For $$-level restaurants in Hawaii, consider Duke's Waikiki, Da Poke Shack, Duke's Beach House Maui, Helena's Hawaiian Food.
What are the best restaurants in Hawaii for a special occasion?+
For a splurge, the KEY2 guide recommends Alan Wong's, Mama's Fish House, Merriman's Waimea, 53 By the Sea. Reserve ahead — the booking link is on each listing.
Do I need to book restaurants in Hawaii in advance?+
The most popular restaurants in Hawaii fill up days or weeks ahead. Every KEY2 listing includes a direct reservation or booking link where one is available.
More Hawaii guides