I have compiled a list of highly recommended gourmet spots in Honolulu that you definitely should know about.
As the most populated area on Oahu, Honolulu is Hawaii’s ultimate gourmet destination!
With everything from famous establishments to hidden-gem comfort foods, you can find a wide variety of culinary genres to choose from.
The spots are introduced in alphabetical order, so feel free to look for places that match what you want to see and do.
→ The Ultimate Guide to Popular Spots in Honolulu, Oahu [Definitive Edition]
- Recommended Gourmet Spots in Honolulu
- Asahi Grill
- Ethel’s Grill
- Off the Hook Poke Market
- Cafe Kaila
- Cafe Maharani
- Kamehameha Bakery
- Guieb Cafe
- Tamashiro Market
- Dew Drop Inn
- Nico’s Pier 38
- Hank’s Haute Dogs
- Pancake & Waffles BLD
- Forty Niner
- Fresh Catch
- The Butcher & Bird
- Black Angus Steakhouse
- Ray’s Cafe
- Legend Seafood Restaurant
- Redfish
- Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop
- How to Get to Honolulu
Recommended Gourmet Spots in Honolulu
This guide mainly covers dining spots in areas like Ward, Downtown, Kalihi, Pearl City, and Kahala.
If a place catches your eye, please use the link to the detailed article provided below each heading.
Asahi Grill
Asahi Grill is a famous restaurant loved by Hawaii locals for its oxtail soup.
Originally starting as a cafe, their oxtail soup became the talk of the town, leading them to open a full restaurant.
With its down-to-earth atmosphere, cheap prices, and generous portions, this hidden gem feels more like a local diner than a formal restaurant!
The signature oxtail soup served at this nostalgic spot is consistently praised as the best in Hawaii.
It is highly recommended for those whose stomachs need a break from sweet or heavy meals!
Ethel’s Grill
Ethel’s Grill is a renowned mochiko chicken spot that is incredibly popular among Hawaii locals.
When in Hawaii, you have to try this fried chicken made with mochiko (sweet rice flour) instead of regular wheat flour!
Although rarely featured in guidebooks, mochiko chicken, which has its roots in Japan, has evolved uniquely in Hawaii and has become a staple local comfort food.
The name’s pronunciation can sometimes be tricky for international visitors, but everyone knows it by its delicious food.
It is tucked away on a quiet street in Kalihi, but you can easily spot it as there is almost always a line of customers waiting in front!
Since it is popular, try aiming for around 10:00 AM or after 1:00 PM, when you can usually get in without much waiting.
→ See more about Ethel’s Grill
Off the Hook Poke Market
Off the Hook Poke Market is a top-rated ahi poke specialty shop among Hawaii locals.
Its fresh ingredients sourced every morning and carefully crafted seasonings draw a continuous stream of visitors!
With one of the co-owners bringing a Japanese touch, the seasonings beautifully blend traditional Asian-inspired flavors with fresh Hawaiian ingredients.
It is so popular that a line forms even before it opens, making it a great place to stop by while sightseeing in Manoa.
By the way, it is located right next to the famous green Starbucks, so be sure to visit both!
→ See more about Off the Hook Poke Market
Cafe Kaila
Cafe Kaila is the spot chosen by Hawaii locals as having the most delicious pancakes.
The tasty homemade dishes crafted by owner Kaila gained popularity through word of mouth.
In particular, the fruit-loaded pancakes are a must-try menu item!
In 2011, it won the Gold Award for Best Breakfast in the prestigious Hale Aina Awards chosen by locals, and has consistently won gold since 2013.
Backed by local approval, this cafe offers a casual and cozy, at-home atmosphere.
Since they do not take reservations, you might wait around an hour, but going during off-peak times on weekdays should mean a shorter wait.
Cafe Maharani
Cafe Maharani is an Indian restaurant where you can enjoy some of the best curry in Hawaii.
It is incredibly popular with locals, often having a line forming before it even opens!
It opens in the evening and has short operating hours. It fills up quickly, so going early is highly recommended.
Being an Indian restaurant, they offer a wide variety of dishes beyond curry, each featuring unique flavor profiles you won’t find elsewhere.
Everything on the menu is absolutely delicious, so feel free to order whatever suits your taste!
→ See more about Cafe Maharani
Kamehameha Bakery
Kamehameha Bakery is a long-established bakery that opened in 1969.
It is famous for its malasadas, a classic Hawaiian treat!
Its popularity exploded with the eye-catching purple malasada called “Poi Glazed,” drawing daily lines of locals eager to buy them.
Believe it or not, they open at 2:00 AM on weekdays, so you have to wake up incredibly early if you want to eat them freshly baked!
Many people buy one or two dozen for house parties or as gifts, so they sometimes sell up to 5,000 pieces in a single day.
They often sell out by noon, so it is highly recommended to visit early!
→ See more about Kamehameha Bakery
Guieb Cafe
Guieb Cafe is an exquisite hidden gem restaurant in Hawaii rarely found in guidebooks.
Located in the more affordable Kalihi district, it is massively popular among locals for being cheap, delicious, and offering hearty portions.
From sweet treats to savory meals, every item on the menu offers fantastic value for money!
Its operating hours are somewhat short, from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, so be sure to visit for breakfast or lunch.
Kalihi might have a reputation for being a bit rough, but it simply has a stronger local vibe, making it a great area to check out for fantastic deals.
Tamashiro Market
Tamashiro Market is a long-standing supermarket where you can find the freshest seafood in Hawaii.
Their commitment to freshness is unmatched, even flying in live lobsters and crabs all the way from the US mainland!
For their daily fish supply, they utilize unique routes only a long-established store would have—buying not just from the wholesale market at the harbor, but directly from local fishermen.
Whether you want a simple plate lunch or various cooking ingredients, everything here boasts a level of freshness that is hard to find elsewhere in Hawaii.
It is a bit out of the way, but easily recognizable by its pink building and large crab sign, so it is definitely worth the trip.
→ See more about Tamashiro Market
Dew Drop Inn
Dew Drop Inn is a cheap, delicious, and hidden-gem Chinese and Hong Kong restaurant in Hawaii.
It used to be a best-kept secret, but thanks to word of mouth, it has become so popular that you often cannot get in without a reservation!
The menu has photos, so you won’t accidentally order the wrong thing, but with over 100 items available, deciding what to order is always a fun struggle!
The chef, originally from Taiwan, is a renowned culinary master who has even cooked for the President of Taiwan, guaranteeing outstanding flavor in every dish!
With zero bad choices on the menu, it is highly recommended for dinner in Hawaii.
Nico’s Pier 38
Nico’s Pier 38 is a restaurant where you can enjoy fresh seafood sourced directly from Hawaii’s harbor.
You can savor the day’s freshest catch in a restaurant filled with a true Hawaiian vibe!
The menu is full of affordable, delicious, and generously portioned dishes, but they also offer an even better value happy hour.
Since they purchase their seafood directly from the pier every morning, the fact that the menu changes depending on the catch is part of its popularity.
By the way, the nearby Honolulu Fish Auction is famous for being the only tuna auction in the United States!
Since they also serve fantastic meat dishes and pastas, it has become one of Hawaii’s premier lunch spots.
→ See more about Nico’s Pier 38
Hank’s Haute Dogs
Hank’s Haute Dogs is the most famous hot dog spot in Hawaii.
While there are plenty of famous burger joints, this is undoubtedly the first name that comes to mind for hot dogs!
While people often associate America with burgers and hot dogs, it is actually quite rare to find a truly standout hot dog establishment.
Located in SALT at Our Kakaako, it is great because you can easily enjoy your meal at the outdoor tables.
If you want to try a delicious hot dog, be sure to stop by while strolling through SALT.
→ See more about Hank’s Haute Dogs
Pancake & Waffles BLD
Pancake & Waffles BLD is a hidden-gem restaurant where you can get a cheap and delicious lunch.
With little information available in guidebooks or on the internet, it is highly recommended for those looking to hunt down local Hawaiian comfort food!
Its biggest feature is the surprisingly low prices combined with massive portions.
It clearly has all the right traits to be a local favorite!
Though not widely famous, it offers a large menu with many Hawaiian-style dishes, so definitely give it a try.
→ See more about Pancake & Waffles BLD
Forty Niner
Forty Niner is a diner that has been loved by Hawaii locals since shortly after the war in 1947.
It gained wider recognition and became popular among international visitors after being featured on a well-known Japanese TV show highlighting charming, unpretentious local eateries.
It even earned a top three-star rating on that show, cementing its reputation for excellent flavor!
Originally a breakfast spot serving standard diner fare popular with locals, many people now visit specifically for their pancakes and French toast!
It didn’t just become famous because of TV—it has long had a menu full of popular items, making it highly recommended for anyone who loves hidden-gem comfort foods.
Fresh Catch
Fresh Catch is an outstanding ahi poke shop recognizable by its octopus sign.
It is a hidden spot with few tourists, making it incredibly popular among Hawaii locals!
You can look through the showcase at over 15 types of fresh poke always available, buy exactly the amount you want, and create your own poke bowl.
Since they are also a plate lunch shop offering meat dishes, it is a safe bet even if you visit with a large group of people with varying tastes.
The prices are affordable and the portions are large, so you can easily visit for either lunch or dinner!
The Butcher & Bird
The Butcher & Bird is a butcher shop serving in-the-know comfort food.
With fresh meat sourced from local Hawaiian ranches and exquisite burgers and hot dogs crafted by a chef-owner with top-tier restaurant experience, you are guaranteed to be hooked!
Just like a local deli offering delicious hot snacks, this spot feels exactly like the Hawaiian version of that comforting concept.
A hot dog featured on a popular international travel show became their signature item, gaining immense popularity under its special nickname.
Located inside SALT at Our Kakaako, a complex full of trendy shops, it is highly accessible and strongly recommended!
→ See more about The Butcher & Bird
Black Angus Steakhouse
Black Angus Steakhouse is a restaurant where you can enjoy an authentic steak in Hawaii at a reasonable price.
While it is a famous steakhouse chain on the US mainland, there is only one location in Hawaii, situated in Pearl City.
Its greatest feature is its exceptional value, allowing you to eat for about a third of the price compared to steakhouses in Waikiki!
As a result, it is incredibly popular, especially among locals, and if you go without a reservation, you can often expect to wait over an hour.
It is a bit far from Waikiki, but with its classic American steakhouse vibe that feels straight out of a Western movie, it is a great spot to visit while sightseeing.
→ See more about Black Angus Steakhouse
Ray’s Cafe
Ray’s Cafe is a comfort food spot where you can eat exquisite prime rib at a bargain price.
While prime rib is a staple at Hawaiian steakhouses, Ray’s Cafe is where you can get it for the absolute lowest price.
The interior is not the fanciest, and it is located in Kalihi, a neighborhood known for being a bit rough around the edges.
However, it is precisely because of this setting that they can offer such cheap, hearty, and delicious meals!
Incidentally, this spot was also featured on a popular travel show known for highlighting “grungy but delicious” eateries, so be sure to check it out.
Legend Seafood Restaurant
Legend Seafood Restaurant is the most popular dim sum spot in Hawaii.
Dim sum doesn’t just mean drinking tea; it refers to eating small dishes like dumplings and spring rolls while enjoying Chinese tea.
Right in the heart of Chinatown, the true home of dim sum, Legend Seafood Restaurant is the most highly recommended spot.
It is a restaurant where you can eat your fill of delicious food cheaply, freely choosing only the items you want.
The area is filled not only with Chinese food but also Southeast Asian cuisine, herbal medicine shops, lei shops, and other unique stores, making it a great place to wander and explore.
→ See more about Legend Seafood Restaurant
Redfish
Redfish is a restaurant and bar where you can enjoy a wide variety of delicious poke.
If you want to eat poke, Hawaii’s quintessential gourmet food, this spot should be at the top of your list!
There is a local supermarket called Foodland that consistently takes first place in Hawaii’s poke popularity rankings, and Redfish is the one and only poke bar created by that very Foodland!
In Hawaii, you are no longer limited to buying poke from supermarket showcases or plate lunch shops; you can now fully enjoy it in restaurants and bars as well!
If you want to relax in Hawaii and enjoy poke alongside other menu items, definitely pay a visit.
Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop
Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop is a stylish, hidden-gem cafe and restaurant in Manoa.
It was originally known as the Waioli Tea Room, an establishment loved by locals from 1922 all the way until 2014.
As a highly valuable structure that is over 100 years old, the building has been designated as a historic landmark by the State of Hawaii.
Quietly nestled in a lush green forest, the fresh air is incredibly refreshing, making it massively popular.
Weekend brunches in particular are always bustling with locals!
If you are looking to spend a relaxing, holiday-like time, you should definitely stop by.
→ See more about Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop
How to Get to Honolulu
Honolulu is an easily accessible area, located about 15 to 30 minutes from Waikiki.
For transportation, we recommend a “Tour” if you prioritize safety, comfort, and efficiency; “TheBus” for cost-effectiveness; “Rental Car or Turo” for maximum freedom; and “Biki or Waikiki Trolley” if sightseeing is your main goal.
Since Honolulu covers a very wide area, depending on the location, “Biki” and “Waikiki Trolley” might be outside their service range.
Recommended Transportation in Honolulu
TheBus Complete Guide [The Cheapest Way to Travel Across Hawaii]
Biki Complete Guide [Bikeshare to Explore Waikiki and Honolulu Freely]
Waikiki Trolley Complete Guide [Sightseeing Bus to Efficiently Visit Popular Spots]
Taxi & Uber Complete Guide [Ride-Hailing Services for Easy Travel in Hawaii]