Best Restaurants inWaikiki Hawaii

Iconic beachfront restaurant serving fresh Hawaiian seafood, steaks, and the famous Hula Pie since 1979. Our reference point!

Oceanfront dining featuring fresh Hawaiian seafood, steaks, and island-inspired cocktails with spectacular sunset views.

Pioneer of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine, featuring innovative dishes with local ingredients and Pacific influences.

World-famous jazz club and restaurant featuring live music performances with contemporary American cuisine and craft cocktails.

Tropical-themed casual dining restaurant featuring gourmet burgers, tropical cocktails, and American favorites with island flair in a fun, laid-back atmosphere.

Wai Kai's signature waterfront restaurant and social hub on Oahu's West Side. Locally-sourced, health-forward menu featuring Kalua Pork Nachos, epic burgers, loaded tater tots, and the signature 'Wai Tai' cocktail. Live music Thursday through Sunday. Sweeping views of the Wai Kai Wave and lagoon.

Historic oceanfront restaurant featuring contemporary Hawaiian cuisine with stunning beach views and afternoon tea service.

Beachfront fine dining restaurant featuring contemporary Hawaiian cuisine with fresh local ingredients and ocean views.

Elegant oceanfront dining featuring contemporary Hawaiian cuisine with influences from around the Pacific.

Hawaii's only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant offering exquisite French cuisine with stunning ocean views.

Open-air restaurant perfect for sunset cocktails and light bites while enjoying traditional hula performances.

Modern American seafood restaurant featuring locally caught fish and Pacific Rim influences.

Award-winning sushi bar featuring creative Japanese fusion cuisine with fresh local ingredients and innovative preparations.

Celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto's signature restaurant featuring modern Asian cuisine with creative presentations.

Elegant French cuisine with Hawaiian influences, featuring oceanfront views and sophisticated preparations using local ingredients.

Roy Yamaguchi's flagship restaurant featuring Hawaiian fusion cuisine with European techniques and Asian flavors.

The original Roy's restaurant where Hawaiian Fusion cuisine was born. Chef Roy Yamaguchi's flagship location since 1988.

Historic local noodle factory serving traditional Chinese-Hawaiian comfort food since 1942. Famous for manapua, dim sum, and plate lunches.

Family-friendly location in Waimalu Shopping Center serving traditional Chinese-Hawaiian favorites since 1993.

West Oahu location bringing the same quality manapua and dim sum to the growing Kapolei community.

Famous North Shore shrimp truck that occasionally visits Waikiki area, known for garlic shrimp plates.

Legendary shrimp truck on the North Shore famous for their garlic shrimp. The white truck covered in signatures is an Oahu icon.

Acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown serving modern interpretations of traditional dishes.

Award-winning Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Chinatown. Creative dishes that honor traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

Historic local institution serving traditional Hawaiian food since 1946, James Beard Award winner.

Waterfront restaurant at Honolulu Harbor serving the freshest local fish straight from the boats.

Waterfront seafood restaurant with stunning views of Haleiwa Harbor. Known for fresh fish, steaks, and tropical cocktails.

Romantic restaurant set in a lush tropical garden. Specializes in fresh seafood with stunning mountain views.

World-famous shave ice shop in Haleiwa since 1951. A must-visit North Shore destination with lines around the block.

Local burger chain serving big juicy burgers with fresh ingredients. Perfect for a hearty meal after surfing.

Famous North Shore burger joint since 1975. Known for their mahimahi sandwiches and fresh-cut fries.

World-famous for their Macadamia Nut Pancakes. This local breakfast spot is a Kailua institution with lines out the door.

Popular breakfast spot famous for their Guava Chiffon Pancakes and generous portions. Expect a wait on weekends!

Historic market and cafe near Kailua Beach serving sandwiches, salads, and local favorites since 1932.

Waterfront cafe and general store with views of Kaneohe Bay. Great for breakfast and lunch before kayaking.

Island Vintage Coffee is one of the few places in Waikiki serving coffee that was actually grown in Hawaii — not a blend, not a label, but beans from farms on Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. The difference is real and worth the slight premium. The acai bowls are among the best in the area. The Royal Hawaiian Center location makes it the natural pre-beach stop if you're starting your morning on the Waikiki end of Kalakaua.

Beachside steakhouse across from Kailua Beach Park. Serving quality steaks and seafood since 1962.

Hawaii's first craft distillery producing premium spirits. Tasting room and restaurant with locally-sourced menu.

Local favorite for authentic Chinese-Hawaiian noodle dishes. Family-run restaurant known for handmade noodles and generous portions.

Ala Moana location of the popular noodle house. Same great handmade noodles and Chinese-Hawaiian favorites.

Kapolei branch serving the same beloved noodle dishes. Perfect for West Oahu residents and visitors.

Popular Taiwanese restaurant known for their Boom Boom Chicken and authentic Taiwanese flavors.

Local Japanese restaurant known for fresh sashimi and innovative fusion dishes. A Pearl City favorite since 1981.

Maguro Spot is doing something genuinely unusual in Waikiki — serving premium tuna-focused sushi at prices that don't require a special occasion. The nigiri is clean and properly formed, the fish is sourced seriously, and the no-frills room keeps the overhead low enough to pass savings on. In a neighborhood where $25 sushi rolls are the norm, this place operates on a different philosophy: good fish, honest prices, nothing else. Sit at the counter if you can.

Marugame Udon is the best value meal in Waikiki by a significant margin — handmade udon prepared in an open kitchen you watch from the line, thick and chewy the way udon is supposed to be. Add a piece of tempura from the counter and you're eating a proper meal for under $15. In a neighborhood of $25 plate lunches and $18 breakfast bowls, this place operates like it exists in a different economy. It's a Japanese chain but it doesn't taste like one.

Musubi Cafe IYASUME takes the spam musubi — Hawaii's definitive convenience food — and actually puts thought into it. The teriyaki chicken version is the standout, the onigiri options go well beyond standard fillings, and the early opening hours make it the logical first stop before a beach day. It's a grab-and-go operation: fast, cheap, and genuinely good. Cheaper and more interesting than any hotel breakfast on the same block.

Popular brewpub serving craft beers and pub fare. Great spot for beer lovers with large outdoor seating.

Island-style brunch with creative dishes and local ingredients. Famous for their cornflake French toast.

James Beard Award winner serving authentic Hawaiian food since 1946. The pipikaula short ribs are legendary.

Iconic bakery famous for malasadas (Portuguese donuts) since 1952. The pink building is an Oahu landmark.

Historic 24-hour bakery and diner famous for Coco Puffs. A local institution since 1950.

Historic drive-in serving classic Hawaiian plate lunches since 1961. President Obama's favorite spot!

Iconic local chain serving everything from saimin to chili to plate lunches. Over 20 locations across Oahu.

Established in 2000, Cafe Maharani serves authentic Indian cuisine made with fresh ingredients using traditional mother's recipes. Extensive vegetarian options available.

Downtown Honolulu's favorite Indian restaurant serving flavorful curries, tandoori dishes, and fresh naan. Beer and wine available.

Popular Indian restaurant featuring North and South Indian cuisine with excellent vegetarian and vegan options. Known for authentic flavors and friendly service.

Cozy Indian restaurant offering Himalayan and Nepalese specialties alongside classic Indian favorites. Great for vegetarians and vegans.

Da Bald Guy earns its 4.8-star rating the hard way — with a kalua pork plate that rivals anything on the island and daily specials that regulars check before they even leave the house. This is a Kahuku institution in the truest sense: no frills, no tourist markup, just generous portions of honest Hawaiian comfort food. The plate comes with two scoops rice and mac salad. Arrive before noon or risk the specials being gone.

Adela's is the kind of windward-side spot that survives on repeat business from people who live within five miles. The loco moco is properly built — not the tourist version — and the saimin has the depth that only comes from a kitchen that's been making it the same way for years. Breakfast runs out early for good reason. If you're doing the Kaneohe or Kailua side of the island, this is where the locals eat before the tourists figure it out.

Waiahole Poi Factory is one of the last places on Oahu where you can eat fresh poi made the same day — not the packaged version, but real poi with the slightly sweet, fermented character that disappears within 24 hours of pounding. The plate lunches are built around it: kalua pork, lau lau, lomi salmon. It's a 35-minute drive from Waikiki into the Windward side, and that drive is entirely the point — this is what authentic Hawaiian food looks like away from the tourist corridor.

Hale'iwa Bowls has become the non-negotiable post-surf stop on the North Shore — thick, properly made acai with local granola and fresh tropical fruit, not the watered-down version you find closer to Waikiki. The pitaya bowl is worth trying if you haven't. This is functional food for people who just spent two hours in the water, not an Instagram-first operation. Located right in Hale'iwa town, it fits naturally into any North Shore day.

The Yard House formula — enormous draft beer list, a large and reliable American menu, consistent service — works well in Waikiki because it delivers exactly what it promises. This isn't where you go for a memorable meal; it's where you go with a group of six who can't agree on anything, or when you want a cold beer and something familiar after a long day. The Lewers Street location puts it at the center of the action. Dependable, uncomplicated, and always open.

Lulu's runs from 7am to 2am with open-air ocean views the entire time, which covers more situations than almost anywhere else in Waikiki. The breakfast is solid, the Lava Flow cocktails are the signature and they're strong, and the vibe is relaxed enough that you don't feel rushed out. It's the most reliable option when you're out late and everywhere else has closed. Not a destination for food, but a completely honest bar where the setting does most of the work.

Restaurant 604 sits on the water at Pearl Harbor with direct views of the historic moorings — on a clear day you can see where the Arizona rests. That context gives a meal here a weight that's hard to manufacture. The fresh fish is handled well, the fish tacos are a solid order, and the waterfront setting is genuinely beautiful. Plan it as the lunch stop after visiting the memorial; the combination makes both experiences more meaningful.

Barefoot Beach Cafe is at Queen's Surf Beach — the quieter, more local end of Waikiki where the vibe is genuinely relaxed and the crowd skews resident. The acai bowls are fresh, the sandwiches are simple and good, and eating here with the ocean twenty feet away costs a fraction of what you'd pay at a hotel nearby. It's the kind of place you'd walk past twice before realizing it's exactly what you were looking for.

My Cafe has been feeding West Oahu locals since 2014 with a menu that's equal parts creative and grounded in island culture. The malasada pancakes and pancake flight are signatures, but it's the small details — chilaquiles with Spam, furikake salmon, chorizo gravy on the country fried steak — that show a kitchen thinking about Hawaii specifically, not breakfast in general. Tiny room, cozy atmosphere, and staff that treats regulars like family. Tourists rarely find it. Locals keep coming back.