Ramen$$chinatown
Lucky Belly in Chinatown Honolulu is Dusty Grable and Jesse Cruz's 2012 ramen and bao shop that helped launch the neighborhood's modern restaurant generation.
Signature: Belly bowl ramen, Pork belly bao, Spicy chicken bao
Order: The Belly Bowl ramen with pork belly, bacon and shoyu egg.
Tip: Kitchen runs to 23:00 Friday and Saturday. The Tchin Tchin Bar across the street is the nightcap.
Modern Hawaiian$$$kaimuki
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.
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.
Poke$kapahulu
Ono Seafood in Kapahulu Honolulu is the family-run poke counter that pulls shoyu ahi, spicy ahi and tako preparations from the refrigerated case.
Signature: Shoyu ahi poke, Spicy ahi poke, Tako poke
Order: Two-scoop shoyu ahi and spicy ahi bowl with rice.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays, 09:00-18:00 otherwise. Take it to Ala Wai Park.
Poke$manoa
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.
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.
Hawaiian$kalihi
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.
Signature: Saimin, BBQ stick, Won ton min
Order: A regular saimin and a BBQ stick on the side.
Tip: Tuesday to Friday 10:00-20:00, Saturday to 15:00. Closed Sunday and Monday. Six-spot parking.
Vietnamese$$$kaimukiTue 17:00-21:30, Wed 11:00-14:00, Wed 17:00-21:30, Thu 11:00-14:00, Thu 17:00-21:30, Fri 11:00-14:00, Fri 17:00-21:30, Sat 11:00-14:00, Sat 17:00-21:30, Sun 11:00-14:00
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.
Signature: Pho French dip, Mama Le's pho, Banh mi sandwiches
Order: Mama Le's pho and the pho French dip with brisket.
Tip: Lunch is pho and banh mi, dinner a chef's-choice tasting. Weekends book two weeks out.