2016 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i
Congratulations to the 2016 Hale ‘Aina Award winners!
Editor’s Note: This is the list of last year’s winners. Click here to see this year’s winners.
First Hawaiian Bank Priority Destinations® and Priority RewardsSM credit card holders will earn 3x Priority Miles® or Cash PointsSM per dollar spent at any participating 2016 Hale ‘Aina AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANTS THROUGH 11/30/15.*
Each year, HONOLULU Magazine readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands. The winning restaurants were announced at a gala reception held Sept. 27, 2015 at the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Ballroom. See our upcoming January 2016 issue for more on the Hale ‘Aina Awards and winners.
RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
Hide Sakurai, owner of Shokudo, Búho Cucina Y Cantina and Bread and Butter.
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
GOLD – Livestock Tavern
SILVER – Chai’s Waikīkī
BRONZE – Búho Cocina y Cantina
FINALIST – Mission Social Hall & Café
FINALIST – Sale Pepe
TOP WRITE IN – Eating House 1849
BEST O‘AHU RESTAURANT
GOLD – Alan Wong’s
SILVER – The Pig and the Lady
BRONZE – Roy’s Waikīkī
FINALIST– Le Bistro
FINALIST – MW Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN –12th Ave Grill
BEST MAUI RESTAURANT
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Mama’s Fish House
BRONZE – Merriman’s Kapalua
FINALIST – Ka‘ana Kitchen
FINALIST – Star Noodle
TOP WRITE IN – Da Kitchen
BEST BIG ISLAND RESTAURANT
GOLD – Merriman’s Waimea
SILVER – Roy’s Waikoloa
BRONZE – Moon and Turtle
FINALIST – Holuakoa Gardens & Café
FINALIST – ‘Ulu Ocean Grill and Sushi Lounge
TOP WRITE IN – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill
BEST KAUA‘I RESTAURANT
GOLD – The Beach House Restaurant
SILVER – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū
BRONZE – Roy’s Po‘ipū
FINALIST – Bar Acuda
FINALIST – Josselin’s Tapas Bar and Grill
TOP WRITE IN – The Feral Pig
BEST SERVICE
GOLD – Alan Wong’s
SILVER – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
BRONZE – La Mer
FINALIST – Chef Mavro
FINALIST – Mariposa
TOP WRITE IN – Lahaina Grill
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
GOLD – Mariposa
SILVER – The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong
BRONZE – Lucky Belly
FINALIST – Grondin French-Latin Kitchen
FINALIST – Murphy’s Bar & Grill
TOP WRITE IN – Stage Restaurant
BEST BREAKFAST
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Koko Head Café
BRONZE – Liliha Bakery
FINALIST – Moena Café
FINALIST – Moke’s Bread and Breakfast
TOP WRITE IN – Cinnamon’s
BEST HOTEL BRUNCH BUFFET
GOLD – Orchids
SILVER – Hoku’s
BRONZE – Plumeria Beach House
FINALIST – Kai Market
FINALIST – Kula Grill at Turtle Bay Resort
TOP WRITE IN – Hau Tree Lānai
BEST ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT
GOLD – Prince Court
SILVER – Hakone
BRONZE – Kai Market
FINALIST – Pagoda
FINALIST – Sikdorak
TOP WRITE IN – The Willows Restaurant
BEST COCKTAIL
GOLD – Pint and Jigger
SILVER – 12th Ave Grill
BRONZE – Nobu Waikīkī
FINALIST – Livestock Tavern
FINALIST – Manifest
TOP WRITE IN – Bevy
BEST WINE PROGRAM
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Formaggio Wine Bar
BRONZE – Amuse
FINALIST – Chef Mavro
FINALIST – Livestock Tavern
TOP WRITE IN – BLT Steak
BEST BEER PROGRAM
GOLD – Real a Gastropub
SILVER – Monkeypod Kitchen
BRONZE – Pint and Jigger
FINALIST – Brew’d
FINALIST – Murphy’s Bar & Grill
TOP WRITE IN –Yard House Waikīkī
BEST BAR FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Home Bar and Grill
BRONZE – Roy’s Waikīkī
FINALIST – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Real a Gastropub
TOP WRITE IN – Tiki’s Grill & Bar
BEST HOLE IN THE WALL
GOLD – Ethel’s Grill
SILVER – Your Kitchen
BRONZE – Ray’s Café
FINALIST – Palace Saimin
FINALIST – Yamagen
TOP WRITE IN – Da Kitchen
BEST TASTING MENU
GOLD – Alan Wong’s
SILVER – MW Restaurant
BRONZE – Chef Mavro
FINALIST – La Mer
FINALIST – Vintage Cave
TOP WRITE IN – Stage Restaurant
BEST PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS
GOLD – Mama’s Fish House
SILVER – House Without A Key
BRONZE – Tiki’s Grill & Bar
FINALIST – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
FINALIST – Highway Inn
TOP WRITE IN – Top of Waikīkī
BEST VEGETARIAN
GOLD – Greens and Vines
SILVER – Nobu Waikīkī
BRONZE – Peace Café
FINALIST – Downbeat Diner and Lounge
FINALIST– Beet Box Café
TOP WRITE IN – Govinda’s Vegetarian Buffet
BEST GOURMET COMFORT FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Lucky Belly
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Town
FINALIST – Hakkei
TOP WRITE IN – Mac 24/7
BEST STEAK
GOLD – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
SILVER – Hy’s Steak House
BRONZE – Morton’s The Steakhouse
FINALIST – BLT Steak
FINALIST – d.k. Steak House
TOP WRITE IN – Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
BEST SEAFOOD
GOLD – Mama’s Fish House
SILVER – Nico’s at Pier 38
BRONZE – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
FINALIST – Azure
FINALIST – Uncle’s Fish Market and Grille
TOP WRITE IN – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū
BEST DESSERT
GOLD – JJ Bistro & French Pastry
SILVER – MW Restaurant
BRONZE – The Pig and the Lady
FINALIST – Alan Wong’s
FINALIST – Stage Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Café Laufer
BEST DIM SUM
GOLD – Legend Seafood Restaurant
SILVER – Royal Garden
BRONZE – Mei Sum
FINALIST – Fook Lam
FINALIST – Jade Dynasty
TOP WRITE IN – Happy Days
BEST OVERALL CHINESE
GOLD – Little Village Noodle House
SILVER – Happy Days
BRONZE – Jade Dynasty
FINALIST – Ming’s Chinese Restaurant
FINALIST – Moon Garden Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Pah Ke’s Chinese Restaurant
BEST HAWAIIAN
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
SILVER – ‘Ono Hawaiian Food
BRONZE – Highway Inn
FINALIST – Yama’s Fish Market
FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market
TOP WRITE IN – Haili’s Hawaiian Food
BEST ITALIAN
GOLD – Assaggio Italian Ristorante
SILVER – La Cucina Ristorante
BRONZE – Arancino at The Kāhala
FINALIST – Bernini
FINALIST – Café Sistina
TOP WRITE IN – Sabrina’s
BEST IZAKAYA
GOLD – Izakaya Gaku
SILVER – Tokkuri Tei
BRONZE – Izakaya Nonbei
FINALIST – Gazen
FINALIST – Imanas Tei
TOP WRITE IN – Izakaya Torae Torae
BEST SUSHI
GOLD – Sushi Sasabune
SILVER – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
BRONZE – Sushi ii
FINALIST – Izakaya Gaku
FINALIST – Yohei Sushi Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
BEST JAPANESE NOODLES (RAMEN, UDON, SOBA)
GOLD – Goma Tei
SILVER – Marukame Udon
BRONZE – Inaba
FINALIST – Goma Ichi
FINALIST – Yotteko Ya
TOP WRITE IN – Agu Ramen Bistro
BEST OVERALL JAPANESE
GOLD – Nobu Waikīkī
SILVER – Morimoto Waikīkī
BRONZE – Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar
FINALIST – Nanzan Giro Giro
FINALIST – Restaurant Wada
TOP WRITE IN – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
BEST THAI
GOLD – Phuket Thai
SILVER – Bangkok Chef
BRONZE – Champa Thai
FINALIST – Opal Thai
FINALIST – Thai Lao
TOP WRITE IN – To Thai For
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
GOLD – Olive Tree Café
SILVER – The Fat Greek
BRONZE – Kan Zaman
FINALIST – Greek Marina
FINALIST – Shaloha
TOP WRITE IN – The Greek Corner
BEST INDIAN
GOLD – Café Maharani
SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE – Café Taj Mahal
FINALIST – India Café
FINALIST – Masala
TOP WRITE IN – Monsoon India
BEST HOT POT
GOLD – Ichiriki
SILVER – Sweet Home Café
BRONZE – Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot
FINALIST – Asuka Nabe + Shabu Shabu
FINALIST – Imanas Tei
TOP WRITE IN – Hot Pot Heaven
BEST YAKINIKU/KOREAN BBQ
GOLD – 678 Hawai‘i
SILVER – Yakiniku Hiroshi
BRONZE – Shillawon
FINALIST – Budnamujip
FINALIST – Yakiniku Don-Day
TOP WRITE IN – Yakiniku Seoul
BEST OVERALL KOREAN
GOLD – Sorabol
SILVER – Choi’s Garden
BRONZE – Million Restaurant
FINALIST – Ah-Lang aka Angry Korean Lady
FINALIST – Kyung’s Seafood
TOP WRITE IN – Kim Chee 2
BEST VIETNAMESE
GOLD – The Pig and the Lady
SILVER – Hale Vietnam
BRONZE – Pho One
FINALIST – Bac Nam
FINALIST – Pho To-Chau
TOP WRITE IN – Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine
BEST MEXICAN
GOLD – Azteca Mexican Restaurant
SILVER – Cocina
BRONZE – Serg’s Mexican Kitchen
FINALIST – Los Chaparros
FINALIST – Zaratez
TOP WRITE IN – Mexico Restaurant
1. Receive three Priority Miles per $1 spent on all net dining purchases with your personal Priority Destinations credit card from September 1, 2015 through November 30, 2015. All other net purchases will earn the amount as described in the applicable. Priority Destinations Program Agreement. Qualifying merchants must classify their merchant location for credit card purchases as dining. Please allow 30-45 days after purchase to receive bonus Priority Miles. Priority Miles have no cash value except as described in the applicable Priority Destinations Program Agreement. First Hawaiian Bank reserves the right to cancel or change the Program at any time without prior notice. 2. Offer good for enrolled Priority Rewards Personal Credit Cards only. Enroll your Priority Rewards Credit Card at www.fhbrewards.com by 10/31/15 and receive three CashPoints per $1 spent on all net grocery and dining purchases (excluding Fast Food) made during the remainder of the promotional period (through 11/30/15). All other net purchases will earn the amount as described in the applicable Priority Rewards Program Agreement. Please allow 30-45 days after enrolling to begin earning bonus CashPoints. Qualifying merchants must classify their merchant location for credit cards purchases as grocery or dining. Transactions classified as Fast Food are not eligible for bonus CashPoints.
