Oldest Chinatown in the United States, settled by Chinese workers in the 1860s. Now the city's restaurant-row of the moment, with Senia, The Tchin Tchin Bar and Maunakea Marketplace.
Senia in Honolulu Chinatown is the modern Hawaiian tasting room that Anthony Rush and Chris Kajioka opened in 2016, now Rush-led since 2021 with stages at Per Se, Aubergine and Vintage Cave in his pedigree.
Signature: Smoked ahi cigars, Roasted bone marrow, Kona kanpachi
Order: Smoked ahi cigars and the roasted bone marrow with three salts.
Tip: Tasting menu runs eight to ten courses, around $135 to $160 per person before drinks. Book three weeks out via Tock.
Maguro Brothers Hawaii in Chinatown Honolulu is the Kekaulike Market poke counter that brothers Junichiro and Ryojiro Tsuchiya stock from the Honolulu Fish Auction at dawn.
Signature: Shoyu onion ahi poke, Garlic marlin, Ahi belly
Order: Shoyu onion ahi over rice, plus the grilled garlic marlin if the case has it.
Tip: Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 14:00 only; sells out by 13:00 most days. Closed Sunday.
Lucky Belly is the Chinatown Honolulu ramen and bao shop Dusty Grable and Jesse Cruz opened in 2012, the room that ushered in the neighborhood's modern restaurant generation.
Signature: Belly bowl ramen, Pork belly bao, Spicy chicken bao
Order: The Belly Bowl ramen and the pork belly bao.
Tip: Kitchen runs to 23:00 Friday and Saturday. Across the street is The Tchin Tchin Bar, run by the same team for a nightcap.
Fete Hawaii in Chinatown Honolulu is chef Robynne Maii's James Beard winning room of seasonal new American plates, awarded Best Chef Northwest and Pacific in 2022.
Signature: Pasta of the day, Local fish entree, Wedge salad
Order: The pasta of the day and whatever local fish entree is running.
Tip: Reservations open four weeks out. Bar seats walk-in only and turn over fast at 17:30.
Lucky Belly in Chinatown Honolulu is Dusty Grable and Jesse Cruz's 2012 ramen and bao shop that helped launch the neighborhood's modern restaurant generation along North Hotel Street.
Signature: Belly bowl ramen, Pork belly bao, Spicy chicken bao
Order: The Belly Bowl ramen with pork belly, bacon and shoyu egg.
Tip: Kitchen runs to 23:00 Friday and Saturday. The Tchin Tchin Bar across the street is the nightcap.
The Tchin Tchin Bar rooftop in Chinatown Honolulu is the plant-walled terrace above Lucky Belly with hanging lanterns, wines by the glass, and the city's hippest non-Waikiki sunset bar.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday 17:00 to 22:00. Closed Sunday and Monday; terrace seats first-come.
Skull and Crown Trading Co. on Hotel Street in Chinatown Honolulu is the modern tiki bar with fresh-juice cocktails, a deeper rum list and the Resy-only weekend reservations.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday 17:00 to 23:00. Closed Sunday and Monday; book ahead on Resy for weekends.
The Manifest in Chinatown Honolulu is the dual cafe-and-cocktail bar with the state's largest whiskey selection, with live music and arts programming late nights since 2009 on North Hotel Street.
Tip: Tuesday 10:00 to 22:00, Wednesday and Thursday to midnight, Friday and Saturday to 02:00.