If you visit Hawaii, experiencing an authentic American steak at least once is a must!
While tenderness and marbling are often the most important factors for diners in many places, the steak scene in Hawaii places a strong emphasis on the specific cut, dry-aging processes, preparation, and cooking techniques.
Because of this, popular cuts vary by restaurant, and even the same type of meat can have a completely different flavor and profile, offering a wide variety of ways to enjoy it.
In this article, an Aloalo Travel tour guide introduces five popular steak restaurants in Hawaii.
We have carefully selected shops that offer great taste and value so you won’t be disappointed, so please use this as a reference for your Hawaii trip.
Wolfgang’s Steak House
Wolfgang’s Steak House is arguably the most popular restaurant for steak in Hawaii.
This ultra-popular establishment hails from New York, the home of steak, and is constantly featured in the media.
Although it is a high-end restaurant, it has a casual atmosphere where you can feel comfortable entering even with children.
Their dry-aged steaks, which have captivated the palates of numerous celebrities and famous figures, are masterpieces of magnificent size and delicate flavor, overflowing with the natural umami of the meat.
While dinner can be a bit pricey, lunch and happy hour are actually very affordable!
Popular Cuts at Wolfgang’s Steak House
Wolfgang’s commitment lies in dry-aging the highest quality Prime Beef for 28 days using their unique technology.
No matter which part you order, you will enjoy outstanding flavor and tenderness, with concentrated meat juices overflowing the more you chew.
However, there are many names that might be unfamiliar, so some people get confused about the differences between the cuts when ordering.
So, here we will explain Wolfgang’s steak meat by popular cuts!
| Name | Texture | Fat | Bone | Characteristics |
| STEAK (Porterhouse Steak) | Very Tender & Tender | Low & Moderate | Yes | Enjoy both Filet and Sirloin at once |
| TOMAHAWK | Tender | Moderate to Slightly High | Yes | Delicate flavor with juicy, fine fat |
| N.Y. SIRLOIN STEAK | Tender | Moderate | No | Moderate fat with a strong, meaty flavor |
| FILET MIGNON | Very Tender | Low | No | Incredibly soft, top-quality lean meat |
| LAMB CHOP | Very Tender | Very Low | Yes | Elegant lamb flavor, savory and juicy |
| VEAL CHOP | Moderate Elasticity | Very Low | Yes | No gaminess and mild, but with strong umami |
Popular Menu Items at Wolfgang’s Steak House
The charm of Wolfgang’s is that not only the steaks but all menu items are provided with high quality.
Here are some especially recommended items among their many offerings!
Porterhouse Steak
The Porterhouse Steak is widely known as Wolfgang’s overwhelming No. 1 popular menu item.
The steak meat is larger and thicker than you might imagine, making a huge impact!
The Porterhouse Steak is a dream-like steak that is twice as delicious at once, with tender and lean filet on the left side of the T-shaped bone, and juicy sirloin with just the right amount of fat on the right side.
However, even the smallest portion for two people is about 900g, so it has quite a lot of volume!
Even when cold, it becomes like roast beef, so there is no problem at all taking it to go.
Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail
The most popular appetizer is the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail.
You can enjoy some of the largest shrimp in Hawaii with a perfectly firm and crisp texture.
You will surely be satisfied with the size, which is large enough to fill your mouth even when cut!
You might feel that the freshness is completely different from the shrimp you usually eat.
Wolfgang’s Salad
The Wolfgang’s Salad generously includes thick-cut bacon, which is also popular as a standalone item.
The chunky bacon enhances the flavor of the vegetables and other ingredients.
Although it is called a salad, it is full of bacon, shrimp, and calamari, so it feels somewhat like a main dish. Haha.
It is a salad with a luxurious taste that cannot be reproduced at home, so it is worth trying!
Mashed Potatoes & Creamed Spinach
Mashed Potatoes and Creamed Spinach are classic side menus that go perfectly with delicious steak.
Many people who eat steak order these as a set!
The surprisingly smooth mashed potatoes are an excellent match when eaten with meat juices or bread.
The creamed spinach is relatively light, and we recommend eating it alternately with the meat.
The presence of side dishes that further bring out the taste of delicious steak is immense. Haha.
Wolfgang’s Steak House Lunch & Happy Hour
Actually, lunch and happy hour at Wolfgang’s offer incredible value.
You can taste exquisite dishes in a top-notch atmosphere for a price that isn’t much different from a food court plate lunch.
Loco Moco
Loco Moco, a soul food of Hawaii, is especially recommended on the lunch menu.
Since it is a steakhouse, naturally the hamburger patty is also exquisite!
Loco Moco is originally a simple dish, and many shops make it easily using frozen beef patties, but at Wolfgang’s, it can be said to be a gorgeous menu item where you can enjoy plenty of their special handmade beef.
Hamburger
For the same reason, the hamburger is also highly recommended.
It comes with fries and onion rings, and the volume is perfect!
When you add Wolfgang’s special sauce, it rivals the deliciousness of famous burger shops.
Buzz’s Original Steak House
Buzz’s Original Steak House is an excellent restaurant located at Kailua Beach, often ranked as the No. 1 beach in the US.
It is one of Hawaii’s leading popular restaurants, visited by former Presidents Obama and Clinton!
The building, designed to resemble a Polynesian hut, has a Hawaii-style open-air design where the refreshing sea breeze blows through.
Classic American dishes like hamburgers for lunch and steaks for dinner are popular here.
Although it is a famous shop, it doesn’t appear in many guidebooks, so it is highly recommended for those who want to experience a local atmosphere!
Buzz’s Original Steak House Lunch Menu
Lunch (11:00 AM – 3:00 PM) mainly centers on casual items like hamburgers, salads, and wrap sandwiches.
While generally considered standard menu items at any restaurant, the taste of each one here is crafted with care and is exceptional!
Buzz Burger
The Buzz Burger is the most classic item on the lunch menu.
They are particular about their Hawaii-grown beef patty grilled over Kiawe charcoal, and the patty alone is 200g, making it very filling!
It truly feels like a hamburger from a steakhouse, and the taste is simply exceptional.
For the side, you can choose between french fries or soup.
The appearance is simple, but you will rarely find a hamburger this well-balanced and complete.
Scampi Salad
This is a salad topped with plenty of fragrant shrimp grilled over Kiawe charcoal.
The plump shrimp and fresh salad go perfectly with the homemade sour cream dressing!
By the way, while many might imagine langoustines when hearing “scampi,” in the US, scampi often refers to shrimp dishes in general.
In other words, even if “scampi” is on the menu, sometimes it is langoustine and sometimes it is not. Haha.
Although it is a salad, it comes in a big size that can be considered a full meal!
Buzz’s Original Steak House Dinner Menu
Dinner (4:30 PM – 9:00 PM) focuses on main dishes like prime rib, steak, and seafood, served with sides.
Appetizers like poke and grilled artichokes are also popular!
BBQ Beef Ribs
While steak menus are standard, we want to recommend these BBQ Beef Ribs.
The sweet and spicy smoky BBQ sauce generously coating the fragrantly grilled bone-in beef ribs is incredibly delicious!
The price is reasonable, making it a recommended menu item with excellent cost performance and satisfaction.
Calamari Steak
In Hawaii, fried squid is called calamari, and it is a super classic menu item that almost every local eats.
It is coated with fine breadcrumbs like fried squid, but the thick squid is surprisingly tender!
The capers and original sauce drizzled on top match well with the squid, and you will finish it in no time.
This is a unique menu item you can’t find elsewhere, so it is a dish we definitely want you to try.
Souvenirs at Buzz’s Original Steak House
Buzz’s Original Steak House is a casual restaurant with a homey atmosphere, but they actually sell original goods in addition to meals.
The lineup includes puzzles, beach towels, and T-shirts designed by local artists, making them perfect for souvenirs!
It seems that all profits from the sale of their original calendars are donated to the Hawaii Foodbank.
It will be a memento of your trip to Kailua, so please check out the goods as well as the meal.
Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens
Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens is a hideaway restaurant located in lush greenery overlooking the Koolau Mountains.
It is actually the sister store of the very popular Haleiwa Joe’s in Haleiwa on the North Shore!
Locals often visit because it is an open-air restaurant where you can fully enjoy nature.
It has a great reputation for reasonable and voluminous dishes, and everything tastes delicious!
It is a restaurant known to those in the know, so it is worth going at least once!
Recommended Menu at Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens
Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens has two immensely popular menu items!
Both are voluminous, so if you are going with a small group, you might want to be careful about the amount you order. Haha.
Prime Rib
Prime Rib is the most popular meat dish at Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens!
Prime Rib is an American style roast beef, where a large block of beef rib is roasted slowly.
Unlike standard cold roast beef, it is characterized by being served warm and cut thick like a steak!
The overwhelming volume and juicy meatiness are irresistible, making it a truly Hawaiian dish.
Grilled Fish
Since Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens was originally a seafood restaurant, it has a reputation for fish dishes.
The most popular among them is the Grilled Fish!
The mashed potatoes spread underneath and the lobster cream sauce go perfectly together, making it a highly recommended dish.
By the way, you can choose from various seasonings and cooking methods for fish dishes, so you can have it made to your favorite taste.
Important Notes for Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens
Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens has short operating hours, open only for dinner from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Moreover, despite being a very popular restaurant crowded with locals, advance reservations are not possible!
Depending on the time you visit, you might face a long wait, or in the worst case, you might not be able to eat.
So, if you don’t arrive early and enter as soon as it opens, your schedule might be significantly disrupted.
The view is beautiful, so it is safe to visit while it is still light.
Special Weddings at Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens
There are two wedding venues on the premises, allowing for garden weddings amidst the great outdoors.
A wedding surrounded by overwhelming nature will surely be a lifelong memory!
If you have a ceremony in the garden, you can also hold the wedding party at Haleiwa Joe’s.
If you are looking for a wedding venue, why not consider it as one of your options?
By the way, the garden has a quiet and calm atmosphere, so it is also recommended to take a stroll before or after your meal.
Black Angus Steak House
Black Angus Steak House is a restaurant where you can eat authentic steak reasonably in Hawaii.
It is a famous steak chain from the US mainland, but there is only one location in Hawaii, in Pearl City.
The biggest feature is the excellent cost performance, allowing you to eat for about one-third the price compared to steak shops in Waikiki!
Therefore, it is very popular, especially among locals, and if you go without a reservation, you will often be made to wait for more than an hour.
Although it is a bit far from Waikiki, it offers an American steak atmosphere that looks like it came out of a Western movie, so it is recommended for sightseeing as well!
Popular Menu Items at Black Angus Steak House
Black Angus Steak House has a full lineup of meat dishes.
You can add lobster and other items according to your preference, and you can freely choose the size!
Prime Rib
While not always seen in other countries, the most popular steak in Hawaii is Prime Rib!
Some people might feel hesitant because it looks like raw meat, but contrary to its appearance, it is exquisite.
It is softer and juicier than you imagine, and once you eat it, you won’t be able to stop.
However, this meat gets tough when it cools down, so we recommend eating it all at once while it’s hot.
Ribeye Steak
The Ribeye Steak is definitely a crowd favorite.
It is a hearty meal with a strong flavor, just as you would imagine an American steak to be!
Even those who usually don’t eat much should be able to gobble up this large size.
Honestly, the taste is comparable to high-end steak restaurants.
Homemade Bread
The homemade bread provided for free allows for unlimited refills!
It is fluffy, sweet, and has a unique deliciousness that makes you eat too much of it!
If you eat too much, you won’t be able to eat the main dish because the steaks are big and the side menus are voluminous. Haha.
Please order carefully while calculating your appetite at Black Angus Steak House.
How to Order at a Steakhouse
Black Angus Steak House offers an authentic local experience, so here is a quick guide on how to order if you are visiting for the first time!
About Meat Cooking Temperatures
First, you will be asked about how you want your meat cooked.
When asked “How do you want it cooked?”, choose your preferred temperature from the following six options.
- Blue Rare
- Rare
- Medium Rare
- Medium
- Medium Well
- Well Done
Generally, Medium Rare or Medium is a safe bet!
About Side Orders
Next, you will be asked about side orders.
At Black Angus Steak House, you can choose two side menus.
- Garden Salad (The volume is incredible)
- Coleslaw
- Clam Chowder (Recommended)
- Steak Soup
- Onion Rings
- French Fries (No. 1 popularity)
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Home-style Mashed Potatoes (Popular with locals)
- Classic Baked Potato
- Loaded Baked Potato (Voluminous potato topped with cheese, butter, & bacon)
- Au Gratin Potatoes
- Fresh Green Beans with Bacon (Popular with locals)
- Fresh Broccoli with Garlic Butter
- White Rice
Generally, many people order fries or baked potatoes, but you can choose whatever sides you like!
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Ruth’s Chris Steak House is a restaurant where you can eat top-class, exquisite steak in Hawaii.
It is a shop whose name almost always comes up when the topic of delicious steak is discussed!
Since there is a location in Waikiki, access is good, and it is bustling with many tourists every day.
With outstanding recognition, it has been selected as No. 1 in the Hawaii popularity ranking for the Best Steak category for over 30 consecutive years!
The shop’s signature menu items, such as the Tomahawk Ribeye and Porterhouse Steak, are flavorful masterpieces that are hard to find elsewhere.
Popular Menu Items at Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Ruth’s Chris’s commitment lies in using only the highest quality Prime Beef, which accounts for only 2% of American beef.
These exquisite steaks, rich in umami components, are broiled in an oven at approximately 1800°F!
While all menu items can be said to be popular, here we introduce recommended items you definitely want to eat if you visit.
Famous Tomahawk Ribeye
The Tomahawk Ribeye has an impactful appearance and a massive volume of about 1kg!
Since the amount is a bit much, it is usually for two people, but you might want to try devouring it alone. Haha.
It is an exquisite steak that fulfills the dream of wildly biting into bone-in meat.
Overwhelmingly Popular No. 1 Porterhouse Steak
The Porterhouse Steak is the signature menu item of Ruth’s Chris!
Most people order this dream-like combination where you can enjoy both filet and sirloin.
You can heartily eat a thick steak that you won’t see in other shops.
With surprisingly tender filet and juicy sirloin with unstoppable meat flavor, you can understand why it is so popular.
There is plenty of meat attached around the bone, so please eat it thoroughly without leaving any behind!
Ruth’s Chris Steak House Honolulu Location is Popular
Ruth’s Chris has two locations on Oahu, in Waikiki and Honolulu, but there are many reviews stating that the Honolulu location is actually more delicious.
Honestly, both are delicious, but perhaps it’s because the Honolulu location has the calmer atmosphere of a high-end restaurant.
Certainly, having more locals gives the impression that you have come to a nicer place. Haha.
Both the Waikiki store and the Honolulu store are in accessible locations, so please choose the one you prefer, whether it’s the convenient Waikiki store or the atmospheric Honolulu store.