If you’ve never been to Hawaii, your knowledge of its culinary landscape might reasonably be limited to the humble poke bowl.
But on the other side of the Pacific lies an archipelago of immense fertile landscapes and flourishing coastal ecosystems, offering up bounties of fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood. America’s 50th state, modern-day Hawaii draws from a diversity of cultures, spanning native, colonial and immigratory influences.
Don’t be surprised to see European, American, and east Asian styles fused over one menu. These days you can take your pick from a bunch of fancy fine-diners and on-site resort restaurants, or venture off the beaten track to where the locals feast.
Here are the best restaurants in Hawaii right now.
La Mer
Oahu
Situated right on the oceanfront with panoramic views over the water and Waikiki Beach, is perhaps the stand-out location on this list. The restaurant serves up neoclassic French cuisine, packed with an array of locally-grown produce. Popular dishes include the rouget (red fish) with fennel puree and crustacean Nantua sauce and a Hawaiian vanilla soufflé with key lime, coconut, banana sauce and coca nibs.
One of the more expensive restaurants on the island, La Mer pairs fine-dining, elegant décor and warm ocean breezes for an unrivalled foodie experience. You can also book private dining rooms – “Salon La Mer” and “Salon du Vin” – for extravagant celebrations of up to 24 guests. Open only for evening sittings, arrive early to catch a stunning sunset over the water.
Hy’s Steak House
Oahu
A mere 15-minute stroll from La Mer lies another high-end eatery. Equally luxe, but stylistically distinct, is a white-cloth, gold-chandeliered extravaganza, complete with a book-walled “Library Lounge” and its very own luxury “Black Car Service” to transport you to and from the venue. The main attraction is the USDA prime steak, dry-aged and trimmed onsite and grilled over local fragrant kiawe wood.
Elsewhere on the menu there are meat-heavy mains like the rack of lamb, chicken marsala, and chateaubriand; and sweet treats such as New Orleans-style Bananas Foster. An iconic Honolulu establishment for more than 40 years, Hy’s Steak House is also renowned for its flamboyant table-side preparations, with house salads and flambés whisked up in front of you.
Sushi Sho
Oahu
Another bougie option, is set in the luxury Ritz-Carlton Waikiki Beach resort. One of Hawaii’s most coveted venues, and among the most sought after omakase restaurants in the world, Sushi Sho is a tiny 10-seat sushi counter (with a separate, private six-seat dining room), steered by chef-owner Keiji Nakazawa, one of Japan’s greatest living sushi masters. The menu boasts over 40 kinds of fresh fish and combines modern and traditional styles with ingredients unique to Hawaii.
Full of experimental, one-of-a-kind dishes that you may never experience again, Nakazawa tables his iconic Edomae-style sushi, which promotes the use of cures or aged fish to unleash the boldest umami flavours. The 30+ course meal starts at a whopping $350 USD and with only two seatings per night, reservations are often required at least six months in advance.
Hualalai Grille
Big Island
Overlooking the 18th hole of the Hualalai Golf Course at the Four Seasons Resort, the is a picturesque, glass-walled venue with beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding nature. Known for their grass-fed meat dishes, the restaurant’s signatures include a grilled Kona cold lobster tower, a 16-ounce chateaubriand with slow-roasted Big Island bone marrow, and tempeh with slow-roasted Hirabara baby kale, black (or “forbidden”) rice, cucumber salsa and soy caramel. They also offer a full bar service, with local craft beers, an extensive wine list and loads of tropical cocktails to enjoy in the wall-to-wall sunshine.
The Beach House
Kauai
Another restaurant offering dreamy ocean views, focuses on innovative Pacific Rim cuisine. Menu favourites include poke tacos, furikake-dusted ahi (yellowfish tuna) and filet mignon, with a rotation of different dishes depending on what’s in season and what the local ranchers, fishermen and farmers are producing that week. The prime beach-side location on Kauai’s south shore is perfect to catch the sun going down over the ocean – but make sure you book well in advance for a table during sunset hour.
Sensei By Nobu
Lanai
This big-hitting fine-diner is based at the five-star wellbeing retreat, , A Four Seasons Resort. Part of the resort’s holistic enrichment program, world-famous Japanese restaurant Nobu serves up a nutritious menu to supplement the visitors’ yoga classes and nature hikes. Dishes utilise fresh ingredients from the nearby organic Sensei Farm which uses Tesla solar panels and hydroponic farming methods to minimise water usage and carbon emissions.
If you’re coming for dinner, expect a five-course tasing menu curated by chef de cuisine Yoshimaru Honda, set in the resort’s glass-walled pavilion that features an outdoor terrace overlooking a koi pond.
Margotto Hawaii
Oahu
A branch of Japan’s truffle centric Margotto e Baciare (once voted Tokyo’s best restaurant), is a French-Japanese fusion restaurant situated in the Ala Moana and Kakaako districts of Honolulu. For a lavish dinner with a choice of coursed menus starting from $80 USD, dishes are shaved with your choice of seasonal truffles from around the world – ranging from $15 USD to a jaw-dropping $5,000 USD, with a 20,000-bottle wine collection to peruse at your leisure.
Nami Kaze
Oahu
opened during the pandemic with a brunch service and expanded to a full-blown diner last year. A James Beard Culinary Awards semi-finalist, this modern izakaya and sushi bar is located at Pier 38 in Honolulu, serving up decadent brunches (honey walnut shrimp and waffles, anyone?) and snack-size dinner plates such as lobster chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) and Kona abalone. Like any good izakaya, there’s also a substantial sake menu to accompany your food, including sake on-tap for $10 USD.
Tiffany’s
Maui
A locals’ haunt for nearly two decades, was bought last year by award-winning chef and serial restaurateur Sheldon Simeon and his wife Janice. As regular patrons themselves, the new owners promised not to overhaul this legendary venue in the sleepy town of Wailuku, maintaining a huge menu of Chinese, Japanese and Korean classics (although now reduced from 150 to 50 dishes), while adding few of Simeon’s signature dishes like his Fat Chow Funn noodles. Expect queues and crowds, but a relaxed atmosphere once you’re inside, with dressed-down customers loaded into blue vinyl booths in a dimly lit, no-frills dining room.
Fête
Oahu
One of downtown Honolulu’s best spots for “New American” cuisine, is a farm-to-table restaurant that celebrates seasonality and culinary tradition. Based out of a historic Chinatown building, the venue draws on both Hawaiian and Brooklyn influences, with a relaxed, brasserie feel. Chef Robynne Maii was recently awarded with Hawaii’s first James Beard award for almost two decades, and she combines French, Italian, Korean and Hawaiian influences in her menu and extensive daily specials board.
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Now, read on for the best things to do in Hawaii.
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Image credit: La Mer, Sushi Sho, The Beach House, Margotto Hawaii, Tiffany’s