Hawai‘i’s culinary scene is at all times rising, and the previous yr has already delivered an thrilling wave of latest eating places. From fashionable takes on native favorites to worldwide flavors with island aptitude provide an escape from the atypical, bringing recent vitality to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Take a look at our picks for the perfect new eating places by island.
Hawai‘i Regional Delicacies (HRC)
Hawai’i is thought for its Hawai’i Regional Delicacies (HRC), a groundbreaking culinary motion that emerged within the early 1990s. Led by a gaggle of twelve visionary cooks who needed to showcase the islands’ distinctive bounty, it was a mix of conventional strategies with international flavors. Drawing from Japanese, Chinese language, Filipino, Portuguese, and native influences, the end result was a brand new model of cooking celebrating Hawai‘i’s various cultural roots and vibrant agriculture. Recent, regionally sourced components like taro, candy potato, mango, ahi, and grass-fed beef take heart stage in dishes which are as ingenious as they’re rooted in place.
As we speak, Hawai‘i’s culinary scene is prospering, pushed by a brand new technology of cooks who proceed to honor HRC rules whereas pushing boundaries. From award-winning nice eating to inventive meals vehicles and farmers market pop-ups, the islands provide one thing for each palate.
Honolulu, particularly, has grow to be a eating vacation spot, with neighborhoods like Kaimukī and Kaka‘ako showcasing daring flavors and sustainable sourcing. Past the plate, Hawai‘i’s meals tradition displays a deep sense of neighborhood, historical past, and aloha — the place sharing a meal is greater than nourishment; it’s a technique to join, protect custom, and have fun the land that sustains all of it.
Whether or not you’re planning a foodie-focused journey otherwise you’re an area seeking to attempt one thing new, right here’s a listing of the highest restaurant openings in Hawai‘i this yr.
Kamana Kitchen (Fb)
Kamana Kitchen (Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island)
A beloved Big Island favourite, Kamana Kitchen expanded in 2024 with a brand new location in Kailua-Kona. Specializing in Northern Indian delicacies, Kamana gives flavorful curries, housemade naan, and creamy lassis in a comfortable setting. This new location brings the identical genuine style of India with a view of the Pacific.
Paris.Hawaii (Waikīkī, O‘ahu)
Again and higher than ever, Paris.Hawaii reopened in a brand new Waikīkī house in 2024, mixing nice French strategies with seasonal native components. Chef Yuya Yamanaka crafts a multi-course tasting menu that tells a narrative by way of flavors, textures, and exquisite plating. For particular events or romantic evenings, this intimate restaurant is difficult to beat. Positioned within the coronary heart of Waikiki, this restaurant is ideal for these seeking to take pleasure in a nice eating expertise close to the well-known Waikiki Seaside.
Girl Elaine (Mānoa, O‘ahu)
Opened in December 2024 at Mānoa Market, Girl Elaine is the newest enterprise from Dusty Grable’s Lovers + Fighters restaurant group. This Mediterranean-inspired eatery gives quite a lot of dishes designed for family-style sharing. The menu options gadgets like ‘ahi crudo with olive tapenade, harissa seafood stew, and pimenton lamb chops served with romesco verde and charred broccolini. Vegetable-forward dishes, akin to sumac cauliflower with ‘ulu hummus and tahini charred cabbage, have additionally acquired reward.
The restaurant’s title and theme are impressed by the character Girl Elaine from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, reflecting a dedication to making a welcoming and playful neighborhood ambiance.
- Deal with: 2756 Woodlawn Dr., Honolulu, HI 96822
- Web site: Yelp
Little Plum (Mānoa, O‘ahu)
Little Plum brings small plates, daring flavors, and a vibrant wine record to the guts of Honolulu. The menu shifts weekly however at all times facilities round recent island components ready with international strategies. Anticipate dishes like miso-glazed eggplant, seared fish collar, and silky yuzu cheesecake. The comfortable bar space is the place patrons can take pleasure in craft cocktails and socialize.
- Deal with: 3611 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816
- Web site: Yelp
Fork and Salad (Wailuku, Maui) Fb
Fork and Salad (Wailuku, Maui)
Targeted on sustainability and recent, quick eating, Fork and Salad lately launched its third Maui location in Wailuku. Their build-your-own salad and bowl idea makes maintaining a healthy diet simple and scrumptious. With many components sourced from Maui farms, it’s an awesome instance of how Hawaii eating places are embracing native agriculture.
Mille Fête (Honolulu, O‘ahu)
Opened in February 2025 in Honolulu’s Chinatown, Mille Fête is a collaboration between James Beard Award-winning chef Robynne Maii of Fête and New York pastry chef Katherine Yang. This contemporary American bakery gives a variety of candy and savory gadgets, together with tall truffles, sandwiches, breads, cookies, pastries, and gelato. Signature choices embrace the Spam bao — a thick-cut Spam with shredded cheddar in a fragile baked bao bun — and the Ludovico curry hen sandwich, that includes native hen and golden raisins tossed in a curry mayo between house-baked kopitiam milk bread.
- Deal with: 1113 Smith St., Honolulu, HI 96817
- Web site: millefete.com
Native Favorites and Hidden Gems
Honolulu is house to a plethora of native favorites and hidden gems which are positive to fulfill any urge for food. From hole-in-the-wall eateries to family-owned eating places, these spots provide a style of genuine Hawaiian delicacies. Some native favorites embrace:
- Helena’s Hawaiian Meals: A family-owned restaurant serving up traditional Hawaiian dishes like laulau and kalua pig. This spot is a beloved establishment, recognized for its hearty, flavorful meals.
- Ono Seafood: A preferred spot for poke bowls and different seafood delicacies. Ono Seafood is a go-to for recent, scrumptious poke that captures the essence of island flavors.
- Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck: A meals truck serving up garlic shrimp and different native favorites. Giovanni’s is a must-visit for anybody seeking to expertise the perfect of Hawaii’s meals truck scene.
- Koko Head Cafe: A brunch spot providing dishes like loco moco and breakfast burritos. With its inventive menu and comfy ambiance, Koko Head Cafe is a favourite amongst locals and guests alike.
- MW Restaurant: A recent American bistro with a concentrate on regionally sourced components. MW Restaurant combines fashionable culinary strategies with the freshest native produce to create unforgettable dishes.
Distinctive Eating Experiences
Honolulu gives a variety of distinctive eating experiences which are positive to make your meal memorable. From dinner cruises to cooking lessons, there’s one thing for each curiosity and funds. Some distinctive eating experiences embrace:
- Dinner Cruises: Get pleasure from a dinner cruise across the island, providing gorgeous views of the shoreline and a menu of native specialties. It’s an ideal technique to mix sightseeing with a scrumptious meal.
- Cooking Lessons: Take a cooking class at an area culinary faculty, the place you’ll be able to study to make conventional Hawaiian dishes like laulau and haupia. These lessons provide a hands-on technique to immerse your self within the local cuisine.
- Farm Visits: Go to a local farm to study sustainable farming practices and revel in a meal made with recent, regionally sourced components. It’s a good way to attach with the supply of your meals and assist native agriculture.
- Conventional Hawaiian Luau: Expertise a standard Hawaiian luau, full with reside music and hula dancing. Get pleasure from a feast of native dishes whereas soaking within the wealthy cultural heritage of Hawaii.
- Meals Truck Festivals: Attend an area meals truck pageant, the place you’ll be able to pattern dishes from quite a lot of distributors and revel in reside music and leisure. These festivals are a enjoyable and informal technique to discover the varied flavors of Honolulu.
With these new additions and distinctive experiences, Honolulu’s culinary scene continues to thrive, providing infinite alternatives for meals lovers to discover and revel in.
