Honolulu eats at the meeting point of Pacific and Asian kitchens, plantation pidgin and a tasting menu in Waikiki. The plate lunch was born here in the cane fields, two scoops rice and macaroni salad anchoring chicken katsu, kalbi or kalua pig. Helena's Hawaiian Food on North School Street has fried butterfish collar and pipikaula short ribs since 1946, while Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu has slung loco moco since 1961. Poke counters at Ono Seafood, Maguro Brothers and the Foodland deli sell ahi by the pound. Roy Yamaguchi launched Hawaiian Regional Cuisine in 1991 with eleven other chefs, and the lineage runs through Senia in Chinatown, Mugen in Waikiki and La Mer at the Halekulani. Leonard's Bakery has fried the islands' canonical malasada since 1952, Liliha Bakery sells coco puffs by the dozen and Kona Coffee Purveyors pulls single-estate shots from the Big Island.

Where to eat in Honolulu

All 23 restaurants

  1. Senia

    Order Smoked ahi cigars and the roasted bone marrow with three salts.

  2. Mugen Waikiki

    Order The five-course tasting with the local-fish course and Hawaiian beef.

  3. 53 By The Sea

    Order The grand staircase prix fixe with the local-catch course.

  4. La Mer at Halekulani

    Order The eight-course menu degustation with the bouillabaisse course.

  5. Roy's Hawaii Kai

    Order The misoyaki butterfish and the dark chocolate souffle to finish.

  6. The Pig and The Lady

    Order Mama Le's pho and the pho French dip with brisket.

Fine dining

Book food experiences in Honolulu

See all 1752 food experiences in Honolulu

Food festivals coming up in Honolulu

All Honolulu food festivals

Going to Honolulu Restaurant Week? Hotels for 7-15 Nov, from USD 171 a night.

Hotels for these dates

Where to stay in Honolulu

All Honolulu hotels
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Getting there and around Honolulu

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Signature dishes in Honolulu

All 12 dishes
More dishes

Where to eat by neighborhood

All neighbourhoods
  • Waikiki3 places Fine diningHotel barsSpam musubi
  • Chinatown4 places Tasting menusCocktail barsDim sum
  • Kakaako2 places BreweriesFarmers marketCoffee
  • Kapahulu3 places Plate lunchShave iceMalasadas
  • Kaimuki3 places BistrosModern HawaiianVietnamese
  • Ala Moana4 places Mall food hallsOmakasePoke counters

Food experience in Haleiwa and North Shore

Bee Farm Ecotour and Honey Tasting in Waialua, North Shore Oahu

★ 5.0 (83)1.7 hfrom USD 135

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Also in Honolulu: tickets for the sights

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Map of Honolulu

Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Honolulu, pinned. Click a pin for the page.

Trip planner

Plan your Honolulu trip

Pick your dates: we line up the festivals on, what is in season, where to eat on the days you are in town, and experiences you can book for those dates.

In Honolulu now? See what is open near you, and ask our AI

Everything in Honolulu

Plan your eating trip

Browse Honolulu

When to come hungry in Honolulu

Peak food season
March to May for the KCC Farmers Market in full Ali'i tomato and Ka'u mango swing. October to November for the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, when chefs island-hop across Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.
Local dining hours
Lunch 11:00-14:00, peak at noon for plate lunches. Dinner 17:30-21:30, with last seatings tight on Sundays and Mondays. Many local kitchens close early Sunday evening. KCC Farmers Market runs Saturdays 07:30-11:00.
Tipping
Tipping at full-service rooms runs 18 to 22 percent on the pre-tax total. Plate lunch counters and shave ice stands now show iPad prompts; locals tip a dollar or two at the counter. Resort restaurants automatically add 20 percent service for parties of six or more.

Honolulu food, FAQ

What food is Honolulu known for?

Honolulu's signature dishes include Poke, Plate lunch, Kalua pig, Malasada, Spam musubi. See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Honolulu?

TableJourney editors map Honolulu by district. Waikiki, Chinatown, Kakaako, Kapahulu are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Honolulu?

Editor picks in Honolulu include Mugen Waikiki, La Mer at Halekulani, Senia, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Honolulu?

TableJourney covers 4 editor-picked food tours in Honolulu, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Honolulu have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Honolulu dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free, halal, kosher venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.