There has by no means been a greater time to eat in Honolulu. “In the previous couple of years, Honolulu’s eating scene has been altering quickly,” says Honolulu-based author and editor Martha Cheng. “A singular meals panorama has emerged as cooks are combining a mindfulness in direction of Hawai‘i’s historical past and tradition with trendy international influences. And maybe due to its location, smack in the course of the Pacific Ocean, Honolulu is concurrently fiercely protecting, the place diners are as loyal as ever to decades-old establishments, but additionally open and weak to the guests and immigrants shaping new culinary locations.”
From stellar sushi and complicated afternoon tea companies to poke by the pound and neon-colored shave ice, Honolulu eating runs the gamut from high-end fare on the metropolis’s soft resorts to grab-and-go from roadside shacks. Lots of the metropolis’s key institutions fan out alongside King Avenue, which Curbed hails as one of many streets that outline America.
For those who’re wanting just for what’s new and scorching, head over to the Honolulu Heatmap. Wish to brush shoulders with cooks at business haunts? Honolulu’s received lots. Searching for the town’s finest low cost eats? There’s a information for that, too. Wish to know the best way to cram in as many of those eating places — and extra — into sooner or later? We may help. And lastly, desire a full information to consuming your method via the Hawai‘ian islands? Look no additional. Right here now, in geographic order, the eating places that outline Honolulu’s restaurant scene.
1. Ethel’s Grill
Ethel’s Grill has been serving truck drivers, politicians, cooks, and vacationers from a gap within the wall close to the docks because the 1960s. The family-run restaurant (it’s named for matriarch Ryoko Ishii, who glided by Ethel as a result of folks couldn’t pronounce “Ryoko”) serves local-style consolation meals that displays the household’s Japanese-Okinawan-Mexican-local heritage. The seared ahi sashimi topped with soy-marinated garlic chips is a longtime traditional, and the Okinawa-inspired taco rice, composed of layers of rice, floor beef, lettuce, and shredded cheese topped with a fried taco shell, is a well-liked latest addition to the menu. [$]
2. Mitsu-Ken
There’s all the time a superb cause to cease by Mitsu-Ken: killer bento bins to go. Dad and mom decide these up for his or her children’ faculty lunches, teams of associates take them to the seashore, they usually’re excellent for an on-the-go meal. Individuals additionally head to this takeout-only gap within the wall after they have critical garlic hen cravings. The hen is chopped into two-bite chunks, battered, fried till crisp, after which coated in a garlic-shoyu-sugar glaze. There are a lot of choices on the menu, however make issues simple and order the Mini Bento (which isn’t so mini). It comes with garlic hen, rolled egg omelet, and scorching canine all served over a base of furikake rice. [$]
3. Helena’s Hawaiian Meals
For those who’re solely going to at least one spot for conventional Hawaiian meals, make it Helena’s. Open since 1946, Helena’s gained a James Beard America’s Classics award in 2000, and locals have been lining up since day one. First-timers ought to order the Set Menu D: this comes with kalua pig, lomi salmon, pipikaula (air-dried, juicy quick ribs, fast fried for a little bit of a crunch), and squid lū‘au (a savory dish of squid and younger taro leaves coconut in coconut milk) and poi (pounded taro, eaten as a major starch) or rice. And if the wait is just too lengthy, Helena’s additionally does an excellent takeout service — there’s nothing like laulau and rice within the consolation of your individual residence or resort room. [$$]
4. The Pig and the Girl
If there’s one place that defines the Honolulu restaurant scene, it’s Pig and the Girl. It’s a must-visit spot, whether or not you’re a longtime native or first-time customer to Hawaiʻi. That is the place you go to have a good time, to have lunch with a pal, to deliver dad and mom out for an evening on the town, or for a solo dinner on the bar. It’s all the time busy and a bit noisy, however the power is nice and the meals is one among a sort. The menu adjustments regularly, however don’t neglect the classics: Laotian fried hen, P&L pho, hen fats rice, pho French dip, and the mushy serve (flavors change weekly). [$$-$$$$]
5. Senia
Senia was one of the vital buzzed-about openings in Honolulu historical past. The 50-seat restaurant from Per Se alums Chris Kajioka and Anthony Rush delivers two experiences in a single 50-seat house: a la carte trendy American small plates, pastas, and large-format platters, like glazed pork stomach with beet “char siu,” in the principle eating room, and an expensive $185-per-person tasting menu (suppose caviar, truffles, and foie gras) on the 12-seat chef’s counter. Eater nationwide critic Invoice Addison calls it a “watershed restaurant,” and writes, “For those who love meals, if you wish to perceive Honolulu eating at simply this second in its evolution, it’s best to unquestionably e book at desk at Senia.” [$$$$]
6. Maguro Brothers
Maguro Brothers is hidden deep inside Chinatown’s Kekaulike Market. At this little spot, it’s all about sashimi platters, donburi (get the king salmon sashimi with uni over rice), and poke by the bowl or pound. The fish high quality is superb and domestically sourced for essentially the most half, however what makes Maguro Brothers stand out is the excellent knife work. That donburi and poke may be served in a styrofoam field, however you gained’t discover such fantastically lower fish casually offered to-go wherever else. [$$]
7. Bar Leather-based Apron
Honolulu’s Bar Leather-based Apron is a tiny, six-seat bar (there are a couple of desk seats, however the bar is finest) hidden within the mezzanine ground of a downtown monetary constructing. It’s darkish and seductive, one of many few critical cocktail spots in Hawaiʻi. The BLA Previous Common made with fancy Wasanbon sugar has grow to be an instantaneous traditional, whereas the E Ho’o Pau Mai Tai, completed with kiawe wooden smoke, is unforgettable. [$$-$$$]
8. Lam’s Kitchen LLC
It’s all in regards to the chow enjoyable and youtiao (fried savory crullers) at Lam’s in Chinatown. The restaurant makes each objects in-house and folks drive throughout the island to get their repair. Pair the crisp (and super-light) youtiao with a steaming bowl of pork and century-egg jook. The chow enjoyable shines finest within the beef-choy sum stir fry, and in addition bathed in a tendon noodle soup entree. Professional tip: The chow enjoyable can be on the market by the pound for takeout. [$-$$]
9. Fête Hawaii
Described as “equal elements Hawaiʻi and Brooklyn,” Fête might be as fancy or informal as you want. Owned by Hawai‘i-born Robynne Maii and her husband, Chuck Bussler, each of whom labored in NYC, the restaurant includes a snug bar with nice cocktails and an easy-to-love menu that works as nicely for a weekday work lunch because it does for a decadent celebration dinner. Additional-memorable objects embody the Chaz burger and twice-fried hen. Undoubtedly get house-made rocky street ice cream (with macadamia nuts) for dessert.[$$$]
10. Rangoon Burmese Kitchen
Khun Sai opened Rangoon, his second Burmese restaurant in Honolulu, and it grew to become the largest sleeper hit of 2018. It’s even higher than his first restaurant, a bit extra refined in taste and atmosphere, although nonetheless with casual-dining costs. The salads right here alone are value coming for, particularly in such a salad-sad city as Honolulu. In fact, there’s a Burmese tea leaf salad, however simply as thrilling are the rainbow salad and mango salad — layers of textures and flavors, with excessive notes of crunch and brightness. Different standouts on the in depth menu embody the crisp tofu filled with salad (salad once more!), complete fish wrapped in banana leaf, and pumpkin pork stew. [$$]
