12 mid-range rooms in Honolulu, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good rooms in Honolulu — no surprise on the bill, real cooking. All Honolulu food.
Helena's Hawaiian Food ★ 4.7
kalihi · 1240 North School Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
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 Katsuyoshi.
Tip: Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 to 19:30, cash and card. Closed Saturday and Sunday; arrive by 17:00 for the full board.
Helena's Hawaiian Food ★ 4.7
kalihi · 1240 North School Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
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 Katsuyoshi.
Tip: Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 to 19:30. Cash and card; closed Saturday and Sunday. Arrive by 17:00 for the full board.
Koko Head Cafe ★ 4.4
kaimuki · 1120 12th Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816
Koko Head Cafe in Kaimuki Honolulu is chef Lee Anne Wong's Top-Chef-alum brunch room where the cornflake French toast and breakfast bibimbap have anchored Kaimuki since 2014.
Tip: Daily brunch, dinner Friday to Monday from 17:00. Walk-in queue is steady at 09:00 weekends.
Koko Head Cafe ★ 4.4
kaimuki · 1120 12th Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816
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 since 2014.
Tip: Daily brunch; dinner Friday to Monday from 17:00. Walk-in queue steady at 09:00 weekends.
Highway Inn Kakaako ★ 4.3
kakaako · 680 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96813
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 the SALT block of Kakaako.
Tip: Free parking with validation, ninety minutes. Lunch wait shortens after 13:00.
Side Street Inn on Kapahulu ★ 4.3
kapahulu · 614 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
Side Street Inn on Kapahulu Avenue is the late-night pupu room in Honolulu, the 2010 second outpost of the late Colin Nishida's 1992 Kakaako original, with the same pan-fried pork chops and kim chee fried rice that fed generations of off-shift chefs.
Tip: Group-friendly portions; come with at least four. Kitchen runs late, with last orders at 22:00.
Lucky Belly ★ 4.3
chinatown · 50 North Hotel Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
Lucky Belly is the Chinatown Honolulu ramen and bao shop Dusty Grable and Jesse Cruz opened in 2012, the room that ushered in the neighborhood's modern restaurant generation.
Tip: Kitchen runs to 23:00 Friday and Saturday. Across the street is The Tchin Tchin Bar, run by the same team for a nightcap.
Highway Inn Kakaako ★ 4.3
kakaako · 680 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96813
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 the SALT block of Kakaako.
Tip: Free parking with validation, ninety minutes in the SALT lot. Lunch wait shortens after 13:00.
Side Street Inn on Kapahulu ★ 4.3
kapahulu · 614 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
Side Street Inn on Kapahulu in Honolulu is the second outpost of the late Colin Nishida's 1992 Kakaako bar, opened on Kapahulu Avenue in 2010 with the same pan-fried pork chops and kim chee fried rice the original built its off-duty chef following on.
Tip: Kitchen runs late, last orders 22:00. Bring four people minimum; portions are family-size.
Lucky Belly ★ 4.3
chinatown · 50 North Hotel Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
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.
Tip: Kitchen runs to 23:00 Friday and Saturday. The Tchin Tchin Bar across the street is the nightcap.
Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen ★ 4.3
kailua · 1020 Keolu Drive, Kailua, HI 96734
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 in macadamia nut sauce.
Tip: Enchanted Lake shopping center, on Keolu Drive. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday; weekend queue starts by 08:00.
Cinnamon's Restaurant ★ 4.2
kailua · 315 Uluniu Street, Kailua, HI 96734
Cinnamon's Restaurant in Kailua is the 1985 breakfast spot across the Pali from Honolulu, where red velvet pancakes and guava chiffon pancakes anchor a 30-deep weekend queue.
Tip: Walk-in only; queue from 07:30 weekends. Cash and card accepted.