Tasting menus, Michelin stars and the chefs redefining Honolulu.
Tasting menus, Michelin stars, and the kitchens redefining what fine dining means in Honolulu.
Mugen Waikiki is the Forbes Five-Star 34-seat fine dining room inside ESPACIO Waikiki, in Honolulu, where chef Colin Sato runs a five-course menu designed with Alan Wong.
Order: The full five-course tasting with wine pairing from the Wine Spectator Best Of collection.
Tip: Resort wear required. Valet on the ESPACIO motor lobby is complimentary for diners; book three weeks out.
La Mer at Halekulani is the French fine dining room in Honolulu's Waikiki that has held AAA Five Diamond status since 1990 and a Forbes Five-Star designation under chef Alexandre Trancher.
Order: Eight-course menu degustation; the bouillabaisse course is the signature.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday, dinner only. Jackets required for men; book four weeks out for an ocean window.
Senia in Honolulu Chinatown is chef Anthony Rush's fine dining tasting room of eight to ten courses, drawing on Hawaiian, Japanese and French training; co-founded with Chris Kajioka in 2016 and Rush-led since 2021.
Order: Chef's tasting menu, with the smoked ahi cigars and bone marrow course.
Tip: Sit at the chef's counter for a closer look; book through Tock three weeks ahead for prime time.
53 By The Sea is the oceanfront fine dining room in Kakaako Honolulu, opened in 2012 with a grand staircase, Diamond Head views and a Pacific Rim menu of catches and steaks.
Order: The Hawaiian opah preparation and a steak from the prime board.
Tip: Sunset tables go fast; aim for the second seating. Complimentary valet at the main door.
Merriman's Honolulu is Peter Merriman's first Oahu outpost, opened at Ward Village in 2017 from the chef who co-founded Hawaiian Regional Cuisine in 1991 in Waimea on the Big Island.
Order: The wok-charred ahi and the Hawaiian opihi shooters on the half shell.
Tip: Anaha tower entrance via Auahi Street. Sunset terrace seats book first; ask for an upper level.
Stripsteak Waikiki is Michael Mina's modern American steakhouse in Honolulu's International Market Place, with prime Angus, American wagyu and Japanese A5 by the slice.
Order: The triple-seared Japanese A5 wagyu with yuzu kosho, and the truffle pommes puree side.
Tip: Open-air Grand Lanai seats catch the trade wind. Happy hour 16:00 to 18:00 daily for bar bites.
Sushi Sho Hawaii is chef Keiji Nakazawa's 16-seat edomae omakase counter at The Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, the master sushi chef's first counter outside Tokyo opened in 2016.
Order: The full 30-plus course omakase; the otoro nigiri and aged Maui bonito are signatures.
Tip: Two seatings nightly, no children under 12. Reservations open via phone only; book eight weeks ahead.
MW Restaurant is the Ala Moana Honolulu fine dining room of husband-and-wife chefs Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr-Ueoka, who trained at Alan Wong's before opening MW in 2013.
Order: Mochi-crusted local fish; pastry chef Michelle's caramel miso baby cake to finish.
Tip: Velocity Honolulu second floor, dinner only Tuesday through Sunday. Order the dessert tasting.
Fete Hawaii is chef Robynne Maii's farm-to-table room in Chinatown Honolulu, awarded the 2022 James Beard for Best Chef Northwest and Pacific on first nomination.
Order: The daily pasta and a wedge salad with house bacon to start.
Tip: Book four weeks out; bar seats are walk-in and turn at 17:30. Tuesday through Saturday, dinner only.
Roy's Hawaii Kai is where Roy Yamaguchi launched Hawaiian Regional Cuisine in 1988, still the flagship fine dining room of the chain on the Honolulu side of Maunalua Bay.
Order: Misoyaki butterfish and the warm dark chocolate souffle to finish.
Tip: Off the Menu Tuesdays run a four-course tasting at lower prices. Back room has the marina view.
Editor picks in Honolulu include Mugen Waikiki, La Mer at Halekulani, Senia, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.