25 cuisines represented in our Honolulu guide. Click through to the entry to see editor picks, what to order and how to book. Want a wider lens? All cuisines in this country or global cuisines index.
25 cuisines, most places first
Hawaiian25 restaurantsNative and local Hawaiian food in Honolulu ranges from old-line poi shops to chef-led reinterpretations of the canon.
Cafe14 restaurantsCoffee culture in Honolulu pulls from the Kona estates of the Big Island and a growing roaster scene closer to home.
Brunch13 restaurants
Bakery12 restaurantsHonolulu's bakeries carry the city's immigrant layers, from Portuguese sweets to Japanese-influenced treats and island chocolate.
Cocktail bar11 restaurantsHonolulu's cocktail scene swings between hotel classics and a craft revival downtown.
Street food10 restaurantsHonolulu's street food lives at the truck and the walk-up window, much of it strung along the North Shore and country highways.
Poke9 restaurantsPoke is Honolulu's signature snack, cubed raw fish seasoned with shoyu, sesame and limu, sold by the pound from counters all over town.
Wine bar7 restaurantsHonolulu's wine bars cluster where the city's dining has densified, from Chinatown to the Kakaako and Ala Moana edges.
Brewery6 restaurants
Japanese5 restaurantsJapanese cooking is woven deep into Honolulu's everyday eating, a legacy of more than a century of immigration.
American diner4 restaurantsThe local diner in Honolulu is a hybrid of mainland coffee shop and island plate lunch, open long hours and built around familiar comfort plates.
French fine dining2 restaurantsClassic French cooking in Honolulu is a rarefied, hotel-bound affair rather than a bistro tradition.
Japanese sushi2 restaurantsHonolulu's sushi runs from neighborhood counters to strict edomae rooms, fed by the island's access to Pacific fish.
New American2 restaurantsNew American cooking in Honolulu treats the islands as larder, building seasonal menus from local fish, farms and ranches.
Ramen2 restaurantsRamen in Honolulu reflects the city's tight Japanese ties, with bowls ranging from classic tonkotsu to local riffs.
Seafood2 restaurantsWith the Pacific on every side, seafood is fundamental to how Honolulu eats, from poke counters to sit-down grills.
Steakhouse2 restaurantsThe steakhouse in Honolulu is as much a local institution as a chophouse import, often set away from the tourist core.
Vietnamese2 restaurantsVietnamese cooking found a strong foothold in Honolulu, where pho and fresh herbs slot neatly into the local palate.
American BBQ1 restaurantHonolulu's plate lunch tradition leans hard on the drive-in counter, where grilled meats and gravy meet two scoops of rice.
Asian fusion1 restaurantHonolulu sits at a Pacific crossroads, and its fusion kitchens draw on Japanese, Korean and Hawaiian flavors at once.
Japanese izakaya1 restaurantThe izakaya, a Japanese drinking den built around small plates, has a natural home in Honolulu's large Japanese community.
Modern European1 restaurantEuropean technique surfaces in Honolulu mostly through chefs who marry it to island produce rather than through traditional rooms.
Pacific1 restaurantHawaii Regional and Pacific Rim cuisine put the islands on the culinary map, blending local catch and produce with Asian and European technique.
Pizzeria1 restaurantPizza is a smaller thread in Honolulu's food fabric, often found inside bars rather than dedicated parlors.
Portuguese1 restaurantPortuguese settlers left a lasting mark on Honolulu's table, most famously through the malasada, a sugared fried dough.
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