Helena's Hawaiian Food
Order Pipikaula short ribs, butterfish collar and a side of poi.
Helena's Hawaiian Food on North School Street has served traditional Hawaiian plates in Kalihi Honolulu since 1946, now run by the founder's grandson Craig.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Honolulu actually eats.
Where to eat well, no fuss
16 places
Highway Inn Kakaako
Order The kalua pork combo with laulau, lomi salmon and a side of poi.
Highway Inn Kakaako is the 2013 Honolulu outpost of the Toguchi family's 1947 Waipahu original, serving the same kalua pork, laulau and combo plates inside.
Side Street Inn Ala Moana
- ★ 4.3
- Local Hawaiian
- $$
- Ala Moana
Order Pan-fried pork chops with kim chee fried rice; share among four.
Side Street Inn Ala Moana is the original 1992 Hopaka Street bar in Honolulu from the late Colin Nishida, the off-duty chef hangout known for pan-fried pork.
Hawaiian tours and tastings in Honolulu
3 of the casual dining on this list serve hawaiian.
Marukame Udon Waikiki
- ★ 4.2
- Japanese Udon
- $
- Waikiki
Order Niku udon with sweet beef and a kakiage tempura side.
Marukame Udon Waikiki in Honolulu is the theatre-kitchen Sanuki udon counter on Kuhio Avenue where you watch handcut noodles boiled to order and finished.
Rainbow Drive-In
- ★ 4.5
- Plate Lunch
- $
- Kapahulu
Order Mix plate with loco moco, BBQ beef and boneless chicken.
Rainbow Drive-In on Kanaina Avenue in Kapahulu Honolulu has slung plate lunches since 1961, founded by Seiju and Ayako Ifuku and voted top loco moco.
Zippy's Kapahulu
- ★ 3.8
- American diner
- $
- Kapahulu
Order A bowl of Zippy's chili and rice, plus a Zip Pac bento on the way out.
Zippy's Kapahulu in Honolulu is the 24-hour diner of the local Higa-family chain that sells over 110 tons of chili per month, founded by Francis and Charles.
Lucky Belly
Order The Belly Bowl ramen with pork belly, bacon and shoyu egg.
Lucky Belly in Chinatown Honolulu is Dusty Grable and Jesse Cruz's 2012 ramen and bao shop that helped launch the neighborhood's modern restaurant generation.
Mud Hen Water
- ★ 4.4
- Modern Hawaiian
- $$$
- Kaimuki
Order Shishito pepper romesco and whatever fish landed that morning.
Mud Hen Water is Ed Kenney's Kaimuki Honolulu room of contemporary Hawaiian aina-based plates, a 2025 James Beard semifinalist named for the English.
Ono Seafood
Order Two-scoop shoyu ahi and spicy ahi bowl with rice.
Ono Seafood in Kapahulu Honolulu is the family-run poke counter that pulls shoyu ahi, spicy ahi and tako preparations from the refrigerated case.
Off the Hook Poke Market
Order Two-scoop spicy ahi and limu ahi with rice and furikake.
Off the Hook Poke Market in Manoa Honolulu is the takeout-only poke counter at the foot of Manoa Valley that draws University of Hawaii students.
Where to stay in Honolulu
A sample of Honolulu hotels from our booking partner, who list 473 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Ala Moana Hotel by LSI Resorts
With a stay at Ala Moana Hotel by LSI Resorts in Honolulu (Ala Moana), you'll be within a 10-minute walk of...
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Polynesian Beach Club Hostel
With a stay at Polynesian Beach Club Hostel in Honolulu (Waikiki), you'll be within a 5-minute walk of Sans...
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Pacific Monarch Hotel
Located in Honolulu (Waikiki), Pacific Monarch Hotel is a 3-minute walk from Waikiki Beach and 9 minutes by...
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Castle Waikiki Grand Hotel
A stay at Castle Waikiki Grand Hotel places you in the heart of Honolulu, steps from Sans Souci Beach and 3...
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Compare for next weekend: Holidu in Honolulu from USD 171/night · Expedia in Honolulu
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Palace Saimin
Order A regular saimin and a BBQ stick on the side.
Palace Saimin in Kalihi Honolulu is one of the state's oldest saimin shops, opened by Kame Ige in 1946 and still serving the shrimp-and-pork-dashi broth.
The Pig and The Lady
- ★ 4.6
- Vietnamese
- $$$
- Kaimuki
Order Mama Le's pho and the pho French dip with brisket.
The Pig and The Lady in Kaimuki Honolulu is chef Andrew Le's modern Vietnamese room, relocated from Chinatown to the Civil Beat Plaza on Waialae in late 2025.
Buzz's Original Steak House
- ★ 4.2
- Steakhouse
- $$$
- Kailua
Order Teriyaki sirloin off the kiawe grill, plus a turn through the salad bar.
Buzz's Original Steak House in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the surf-shack steakhouse where Obama family Christmases parked at the teriyaki.
Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen
Order Full stack banana mac nut pancakes with the signature macadamia nut sauce.
Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the original home of the banana macadamia nut pancake stack drowned.
Cinnamon's Restaurant
Order Red velvet pancakes with cream cheese frosting; guava chiffon if the menu has it.
Cinnamon's Restaurant in Kailua is the 1985 breakfast spot across the Pali from Honolulu, where red velvet pancakes and guava chiffon pancakes anchor.
Koko Head Cafe
Order Cornflake French toast and the breakfast bibimbap with kimchee bacon.
Koko Head Cafe in Kaimuki Honolulu is chef Lee Anne Wong's brunch room where the cornflake French toast and breakfast bibimbap have anchored 12th Avenue.
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