Lucky Belly is a ramen restaurant in Chinatown, Honolulu.
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.
Signature dishes: Belly bowl ramen, Pork belly bao, Spicy chicken bao
Must order: The Belly Bowl ramen and the pork belly bao.
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.
Address: 50 North Hotel Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
Fete Hawaii in Chinatown Honolulu is chef Robynne Maii's James Beard winning room of seasonal new American plates, awarded Best Chef Northwest and Pacific in 2022.
Signature: Pasta of the day, Local fish entree, Wedge salad
Order: The pasta of the day and whatever local fish entree is running.
Tip: Reservations open four weeks out. Bar seats walk-in only and turn over fast at 17:30.
Senia in Honolulu Chinatown is the modern Hawaiian tasting room that Anthony Rush and Chris Kajioka opened in 2016, now Rush-led since 2021 with stages at Per Se, Aubergine and Vintage Cave in his pedigree.
Signature: Smoked ahi cigars, Roasted bone marrow, Kona kanpachi
Order: Smoked ahi cigars and the roasted bone marrow with three salts.
Tip: Tasting menu runs eight to ten courses, around $135 to $160 per person before drinks. Book three weeks out via Tock.
Buzz's Original Steak House in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the surf-shack steakhouse where Barack Obama used to eat the teriyaki sirloin on family Christmas trips.
Signature: Teriyaki sirloin, Salad bar, Garlic shrimp
Order: Teriyaki sirloin off the kiawe-wood grill with a trip through the salad bar.
Tip: Lanikai Beach is a five-minute walk. Lunch is the move; dinner books up two days out.
MW Restaurant in Ala Moana Honolulu is chefs Wade and Michelle Karr-Ueoka's modern Hawaiian room of mochi-crusted fish and oxtail soup dumplings, opened after years at Alan Wong's.
Signature: Mochi-crusted local fish, Oxtail soup dumplings, Kona kanpachi
Order: Mochi-crusted local fish and the oxtail soup dumplings to start.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Sunday, dinner only. Pastry chef Michelle's desserts merit a separate course; book the dessert tasting.
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.
Signature: Cornflake-crusted French toast, Breakfast bibimbap, Hangtown fry
Order: Cornflake-crusted French toast and the breakfast bibimbap with kimchee bacon.
Tip: Daily brunch, dinner Friday to Monday from 17:00. Walk-in queue is steady at 09:00 weekends.
Fete Hawaii in Chinatown Honolulu is chef Robynne Maii's James Beard winning room of seasonal new American plates, awarded Best Chef Northwest and Pacific in 2022.
Signature: Pasta of the day, Local fish entree, Wedge salad
Order: The pasta of the day and whatever local fish entree is running.
Tip: Reservations open four weeks out. Bar seats walk-in only and turn over fast at 17:30.
Senia in Honolulu Chinatown is the modern Hawaiian tasting room that Anthony Rush and Chris Kajioka opened in 2016, now Rush-led since 2021 with stages at Per Se, Aubergine and Vintage Cave in his pedigree.
Signature: Smoked ahi cigars, Roasted bone marrow, Kona kanpachi
Order: Smoked ahi cigars and the roasted bone marrow with three salts.
Tip: Tasting menu runs eight to ten courses, around $135 to $160 per person before drinks. Book three weeks out via Tock.
Mugen Waikiki is the Forbes Five-Star room inside ESPACIO with a 34-seat dining room, designed in consultation with Alan Wong, anchoring fine dining in Honolulu.
Signature: Five-course tasting, Kona kanpachi, Local fish course
Order: The five-course tasting with the local-fish course and Hawaiian beef.
Tip: Reservations open 30 days out. Resort wear is the dress code; valet at the ESPACIO motor lobby is free for diners.
