Mid-Range in Honolulu

Helena's Hawaiian Food ★ 4.8

1240 North School Street, Honolulu, HI 96817

Helena's Hawaiian Food is locals queue for this 1946 kalihi institution but most visitors never venture past chinatown to north school street.

Tip: Tuesday to Friday 10:00-19:30. Pipikaula short ribs are the must-order; the kalua pig is also canonical.

Mud Hen Water Sunday Brunch ★ 4.8

3452 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816

Mud Hen Water in Kaimuki Honolulu serves a Sunday brunch built around Ed Kenney's aina-based cooking, with shakshuka, kalua pork hash and rotating.

Tip: Sunday only. Book a week ahead on OpenTable; the brunch list changes weekly with farms.

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.

Tip: Tuesday to Friday, 10:00-19:30, 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.

Tip: Tuesday to Friday, 10:00-19:30. Cash and card; closed Saturday and Sunday. Arrive by 17:00 for the full board.

Kona Coffee Purveyors ★ 4.7

2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815

Kona Coffee Purveyors in Waikiki Honolulu is the Big Island single-estate Kona roaster that opened a collab cafe with b. patisserie at the International.

Tip: Order a single-estate Kona pour over and the kouign-amann; the roastery sources from small farms each harvest.

Maguro Brothers Hawaii Chinatown ★ 4.7

1120 Maunakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96817

Maguro Brothers Hawaii Chinatown is a two-brother poke counter inside Kekaulike Market; the Tsuchiya brothers source from the Honolulu Fish Auction at dawn.

Tip: Monday to Saturday 09:00-14:00. The Tsuchiya brothers source from the Honolulu Fish Auction at dawn.

Podmore Brunch ★ 4.7

202 Merchant Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

Podmore in Downtown Honolulu pours brunch and cocktails inside the 1902 lava-rock Podmore Building, with Anthony Rush's kitchen serving the city's most.

Tip: Saturday 10:00-15:00 (full menu), Sunday 09:00-14:00 (brunch only). The library room books out first.

Big Island Coffee Roasters ★ 4.6

2201 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815

Big Island Coffee Roasters at Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki Honolulu is the Hilo award-winning craft roaster, with single-origin lots from Puna, Kona.

Tip: Ask for the Hamakua single origin; the Hawaiian Coffee Club ships small-lot finds monthly.

Manoa Chocolate ★ 4.6

333 Uluniu Street, Kailua, HI 96734

Manoa Chocolate in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu has been a bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker since 2010, sourcing single-origin cacao from Hawaiian.

Tip: Tasting flights run hourly. Second location at 227 Lewers in Waikiki runs the same tour schedule.

Lonohana Estate Chocolate ★ 4.6

324 Coral Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

Lonohana Estate Chocolate in Kakaako Honolulu is the tree-to-bar chocolate maker that grows its own cacao on 14 acres of North Shore Oahu and dries the beans.

Tip: Daily tasting flights at the SALT block factory; a 90-minute tour and tasting runs most mornings at 10:00.

Lonohana Estate Chocolate ★ 4.6

324 Coral Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

Tip: Daily 10:00-18:00. The 90-minute factory tour runs at 10:00 most mornings; book ahead.

Koko Head Cafe ★ 4.6

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.

Tip: Dinner Friday to Monday from 17:00. Walk-in queue steady at 09:00 weekends; some reservations open on Resy.

Aloha Beer Co. Kakaako ★ 4.5

700 Queen Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

Aloha Beer Co. in Kakaako Honolulu is the independent local brewery that took over the old Waikiki Brewing space at 700 Queen, with 13 styles on tap.

Tip: Happy hour daily 14:00-18:00; brunch Saturday and Sunday. Trivia Wednesdays at 19:00.

Lanikai Brewing Company ★ 4.5

175 Hamakua Drive, Kailua, HI 96734

Lanikai Brewing Company in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the 2014 organic craft brewery whose Pillbox Porter and Moku Imperial IPA anchor.

Tip: Pillbox Porter pairs with the brick-oven pizza; second location at Volcano on the Big Island opened July 2025.

Off the Hook Poke Market ★ 4.5

2908 East Manoa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822

Off the Hook Poke Market is manoa valley is twenty minutes off the tourist track but uh manoa students fill the counter for the city's best two-scoop bowls.

Tip: Closed Sunday. Order via the website for pickup to skip the lunch queue.

Arvo Brunch ★ 4.5

324 Coral Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

Arvo in SALT Kakaako Honolulu is the Australian cafe brunch spot the Rose family opened, with loaded avocado toast, Nutella toast and smoked salmon toast.

Tip: Order at the counter, take a number and sit; first hour parking free with validation.

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.

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.

Tip: Daily brunch; dinner Friday to Monday from 17:00. Walk-in queue steady at 09:00 weekends.

Musubi Cafe Iyasume ★ 4.4

2427 Kuhio Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815

Musubi Cafe Iyasume on Kuhio in Waikiki Honolulu holds the line for late-night handheld spam musubi until 21:00, the easiest after-drinks fuel.

Tip: Daily 06:30-21:00. Order the teriyaki spam musubi to go before 20:30 to avoid the last-call rush.

Liliha Bakery Original ★ 4.4

515 North Kuakini Street, Honolulu, HI 96817

Liliha Bakery on North Kuakini in Honolulu was the city's late-night diner-with-bakery counter for decades, the chocolate coco puffs and grilled butter rolls.

Tip: Daily 06:00-16:00 now; the historic 24-hour service ended post-pandemic. Coco puffs sell out by 10:00 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.

Tip: Free parking with validation, ninety minutes. Lunch wait shortens after 13:00.

Side Street Inn Ala Moana ★ 4.3

ala-moana · 1225 Hopaka Street, Honolulu, HI 96814

Side Street Inn Ala Moana is the 1992 Hopaka Street original in Honolulu from the late Colin Nishida, the off-duty chef pupu room behind Ala Moana Center.

Tip: Group-friendly portions; come with at least four. Mon to Fri from 16:00, weekends from 12:00, until 20:30.

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.

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.

Tip: Free parking with validation, ninety minutes in the SALT lot. Lunch wait shortens after 13:00.

Side Street Inn Ala Moana ★ 4.3

ala-moana · 1225 Hopaka Street, Honolulu, HI 96814

Side Street Inn Ala Moana is the original 1992 Hopaka Street bar in Honolulu from the late Colin Nishida, the off-duty chef hangout known for pan-fried pork.

Tip: Open Mon to Fri from 16:00, weekends from 12:00, until 20:30. 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.

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.

Tip: Enchanted Lake shopping center, on Keolu Drive. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday; weekend queue starts by 08:00.

Honolulu Coffee Company ★ 4.3

100 Holomoana Street, Honolulu, HI 96815

Honolulu Coffee Company was founded in 1992 as a farm-to-cup Kona coffee roaster in Honolulu, with a 50-acre estate in the Captain Cook region and cafes.

Tip: The Kona estate pour over is the flagship; subscriptions ship monthly. The Prince Waikiki cafe opens earliest.

Morning Brew Hawaii ★ 4.3

600 Kailua Road, Kailua, HI 96734

Morning Brew Hawaii in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu roasts its 100% Hawaiian blend and signature beans in-house weekly, with a second cafe.

Tip: The signature Hawaiian blend espresso is the move; second location at 685 Auahi in Kakaako serves the same coffee.

Honolulu Beerworks Kalihi ★ 4.3

1632 Hart Street, Honolulu, HI 96817

Honolulu Beerworks in Kalihi Honolulu reopened a larger taproom at 1632 Hart Street in early 2025 after relocating from Cooke Street, sharing the building.

Tip: Geoff and Charmayne Seideman's neighborhood craft brewery; the imperial stout barrel-aged releases sell out fast.

The Manifest ★ 4.3

32 North Hotel Street, Honolulu, HI 96817

The Manifest in Chinatown Honolulu is the dual cafe-and-bar that keeps a toast bar and full sandwich menu running until 02:00 Friday and Saturday.

Tip: Friday and Saturday until 02:00. Order whiskey flights with the toast bar; kitchen runs to last call.

Ono Seafood ★ 4.3

747 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816

Ono Seafood in Honolulu: Tourists go to Foodland for poke; locals come to this Kapahulu storefront for the sashimi-grade shoyu ahi at half the price.

Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. No inside seating; sells out by 16:00 weekends.

Sweet E's Cafe ★ 4.3

1006 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816

Sweet E's Cafe in Kapahulu Honolulu is the casual breakfast room named for Ethel Mathews, serving stuffed French toast, crab cake Benedict and an all-day.

Tip: Daily 07:00-14:00. The stuffed blueberry cream cheese French toast is the canonical order.

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.

Tip: Walk-in only; queue from 07:30 weekends. Cash and card accepted.

Waikiki Brewing Company ★ 4.2

1945 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815

Waikiki Brewing Company on Kalakaua Avenue in Honolulu is the local craft brewery brewing IPAs and lagers in the heart of Waikiki, with a second taproom.

Tip: Open lanai seating on Kalakaua; the Black Strap Molasses Porter and Hana Hou Hefe are the local picks.

Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar and Grill ★ 4.2

559 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815

Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar and Grill on Kapahulu in Honolulu is the late-shift Kapahulu pupu room from chef Bo Pathammavong, the crispy crab cakes and dynamite.

Tip: Tue to Sun 16:00-22:00. Closed Monday. Bar runs longer than the kitchen; order pupus before 21:30.

Palace Saimin ★ 4.2

1256 North King Street, Honolulu, HI 96817

Palace Saimin is tourists rarely make it past chinatown to kalihi for this 1946 saimin counter, but locals have eaten here for three generations.

Tip: Tuesday to Friday only. The custom-order Sun Noodles thicker than the city standard; broth is the secret shrimp-pork dashi.

Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen ★ 4.2

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.

Tip: Full stack with macadamia nut sauce is the move. Enchanted Lake shopping center; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bar 35 ★ 4.1

35 North Hotel Street, Honolulu, HI 96817

Bar 35 on North Hotel Street in Chinatown Honolulu is the wood-fired pizza and 200-beer late bar, the city's deepest after-midnight option on First Friday.

Tip: Thursday and Friday 16:00-02:00, Saturday 18:00-02:00. Closed Sun to Wed. Order pizza before 01:00; the kitchen tightens late.

Mud Hen Water ★ 4.1

3452 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816

Mud Hen Water in Honolulu: Hidden up Waialae in Kaimuki, Ed Kenney's aina-based room cooks with farms tourists never see and rotates the menu weekly.

Tip: Sunday brunch is the locals' move. The shishito pepper romesco runs as a small plate most weeks.