The 21 Best Restaurants in Waikīkī, Hawaiʻi

Arden Waikiki Bacon, egg, and avocado Spam musubi at a local chain, Hong Kong-style diner classics in a mall food court, DIY daiquiris at a midcentury hotel bar, Tommy Bahama’s coconut shrimp (yes, really), and more of Waikiki’s best food Despite the fact Waikīkī is home to Oahu’s most famous beach — two miles of white sand where there’s never a bad view of Diamond Head or the sunset over the warm, clear blue water — it’s tempting to leave the area to the tourists. But you’d miss out on some of the best places to eat on the island, which draw plenty of locals for a bite. Even with constant new development, Waikīkī is also the most walkable neighborhood in Honolulu, a city that at times feels aggressively anti-pedestrian. Couple that with the oceanfront location, which provides easy access to the beach and food at all times, and you get a dining destination that’s hard to pass up. Updated, December 2024: Most of the best dining in the area — and Honolulu generally — continues to be Japanese, and you’ll find it at a range of price points, from the takeout counter at Maguro Brothers to Sushi Sho’s $350 omakase. Recent boutique hotels that revive a mid-century era of Waikīkī offer new fun spots to drink and dine, including Heyday, while a revamp of the food court in the basement of Waikiki Shopping Plaza helps diversify the dining scene with newcomers like HK Cafe, a Hong Kong-styled cafe. Martha Cheng is the food editor at Honolulu Magazine, the author of The Poke Cookbook, and a writer for national publications.

The 21 Best Restaurants in Waikīkī, Hawaiʻi
From above, bowls and platters filled with fish roe, toast with a schmear topped with fish roe, dressed green peppers, and more.
Arden Waikiki

Bacon, egg, and avocado Spam musubi at a local chain, Hong Kong-style diner classics in a mall food court, DIY daiquiris at a midcentury hotel bar, Tommy Bahama’s coconut shrimp (yes, really), and more of Waikiki’s best food

Despite the fact Waikīkī is home to Oahu’s most famous beach — two miles of white sand where there’s never a bad view of Diamond Head or the sunset over the warm, clear blue water — it’s tempting to leave the area to the tourists. But you’d miss out on some of the best places to eat on the island, which draw plenty of locals for a bite. Even with constant new development, Waikīkī is also the most walkable neighborhood in Honolulu, a city that at times feels aggressively anti-pedestrian. Couple that with the oceanfront location, which provides easy access to the beach and food at all times, and you get a dining destination that’s hard to pass up.

Updated, December 2024:

Most of the best dining in the area — and Honolulu generally — continues to be Japanese, and you’ll find it at a range of price points, from the takeout counter at Maguro Brothers to Sushi Sho’s $350 omakase. Recent boutique hotels that revive a mid-century era of Waikīkī offer new fun spots to drink and dine, including Heyday, while a revamp of the food court in the basement of Waikiki Shopping Plaza helps diversify the dining scene with newcomers like HK Cafe, a Hong Kong-styled cafe.

Martha Cheng is the food editor at Honolulu Magazine, the author of The Poke Cookbook, and a writer for national publications.