Marukame Udon Waikiki is a japanese udon restaurant in Waikiki, Honolulu.
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 with tempura sides.
Signature dishes: Kake udon, Niku udon, Tempura
Must order: Niku udon with sweet beef and a kakiage tempura side.
Tip: Queue on Kuhio moves fast; daily 10:00 to 22:00. Average bowl is around $6.
Address: 2310 Kuhio Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
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 by Hawaii Magazine readers.
Signature: Loco moco, Mix plate, Boneless chicken plate
Order: Mix plate with loco moco, BBQ beef and boneless chicken.
Tip: Open 07:00 to 21:00 daily. No inside seating; eat at the parking lot picnic tables.
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 Higa in 1966.
Signature: Zippy's chili, Zip Pac, Saimin
Order: A bowl of Zippy's chili and rice, plus a Zip Pac bento on the way out.
Tip: Open 24 hours, dine-in and drive-through. Napoleon's Bakery counter at front holds apple napples.
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.
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 translation of Waialae.
Signature: Shishito pepper romesco, Sunday brunch, Aina-based small plates
Order: Shishito pepper romesco and whatever fish landed that morning.
Tip: Sunday brunch is the locals' move. Menu changes weekly with farm deliveries.
Ono Seafood in Kapahulu Honolulu is the family-run poke counter that pulls shoyu ahi, spicy ahi and tako preparations from the refrigerated case for grab-and-go two-scoop bowls.
Signature: Shoyu ahi poke, Spicy ahi poke, Tako poke
Order: Two-scoop shoyu ahi and spicy ahi bowl with rice.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays, 09:00 to 18:00 otherwise. Take it to Ala Wai Park.
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 for two-scoop shoyu bowls.
Signature: Spicy ahi poke, Salmon poke, Limu ahi
Order: Two-scoop spicy ahi and limu ahi with rice and furikake.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Order pickup via the website to skip the lunch queue.
