Hawaii · best-of list
The 11 Best Restaurants in Hawaii
All 11 restaurants our route editors picked in Hawaii, across 5 destinations, gathered in one list. Each one is a stop on a route you can open and copy into a trip.
Our curated picks
11 restaurants in Hawaii, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Oahu 4 picks
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck
Oahu · On our Hawaii Paradise route
Graffiti-covered Kahuku truck serving garlic shrimp plates with rice.
Tip: Get the scampi plate; it's buttery and garlicky.
Photo: 前島実 · Google
Helena's Hawaiian Food
Oahu · On our Hawaii Paradise route
James Beard–honored family spot for kalua pig, pipikaula short ribs and lau lau.
Tip: Order the pipikaula ribs and poi; limited hours, check before going.
Photo: Eddie Kim · Google
Leonard's Bakery
Oahu · On our Hawaii Paradise route
Honolulu institution since 1952 frying hot, sugar-rolled Portuguese malasadas.
Tip: Order a mix: original plus a haupia-filled one; line moves fast.
Photo: Arnold Gatilao from Oakland, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0
Matsumoto Shave Ice
Oahu · On our Hawaii Paradise route
Haleiwa shave ice stand open since 1951, a North Shore ritual.
Tip: Add ice cream and azuki beans at the bottom.
Photo: Yoshitake Yamazaki · Google
Big Island 3 picks
Café 100
Big Island · On our Hawaii Paradise route
Hilo diner that has served loco moco since 1946.
Tip: Try the original loco moco; order at the window.
Photo: たっさばみ · Google
Tex Drive In
Big Island · On our Hawaii Paradise route
Roadside drive-in since 1968, famous for hot filled malasadas off Highway 19 on the Hamakua coast.
Tip: Malasadas can sell out late afternoon; try guava or custard filling.
Photo: Bryce McLean · Google
The Rim at Volcano House
Big Island · On our Hawaii Paradise route
Park lodge dining room with windows over Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Tip: Reserve a window table for dinner; Uncle George's Lounge serves drinks.
Photo: Mal · Google
Maui 2 picks
Mama's Fish House
Maui · On our Hawaii Paradise route
Oceanfront Kuau restaurant that names the fisherman who caught your fish.
Tip: Book weeks ahead; a lunch slot is easier to land.
Photo: Mama's Fish House · Google
Paia Fish Market
Maui · On our Hawaii Paradise route
Casual counter for fresh fish plates and tacos in surf-town Paia.
Tip: Get the ono or mahi plate; seating is at shared tables.
Photo: Paia Fish Market Restaurant · Google
Kailua & Lanikai 1 pick
Buzz's Original Steakhouse
Kailua & Lanikai · On our Honolulu New Year's Eve route
Wood-paneled steakhouse across from Kailua Beach since the 1960s, with a salad bar and grilled fish.
Tip: Go for an early dinner straight from the beach and book ahead.
Waikiki 1 pick
Rainbow Drive-In
Waikiki · On our Honolulu New Year's Eve route
Plate-lunch drive-in near Kapiolani Park open since 1961, serving loco moco and mixed plates.
Tip: Eat at the outdoor tables or take it to Kapiolani Park.
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in Hawaii?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 11 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Hawaii has the most restaurants on this list?
Oahu has the most (4 of 11), followed by Big Island (3) and Maui (2).
More lists for Hawaii
Best restaurants nearby
Destinations on this list
- Oahu 4 on this list
- Big Island 3 on this list
- Maui 2 on this list
- Kailua & Lanikai 1 on this list
- Waikiki 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.