2015 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i
And the winners are...
Congratulations to this year’s winners…
Each year, HONOLULU Magazine readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands. The winning restaurants were announced at a gala reception held Nov. 9, 2014 at the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Ballroom. See our upcoming January 2015 issue for more on the Hale ‘Aina Awards and winners.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
12th Ave Grill
BEST SERVICE
GOLD — Alan Wong’s Restaurant
SILVER — Roy’s Hawa‘i Kai
BRONZE — La Mer
FINALIST — Chef Mavro
FINALIST— Mariposa
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Lahaina Grill
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
GOLD — Mariposa
SILVER — The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong
BRONZE — Lucky Belly
FINALIST — Kan Zaman
FINALIST — Murphy’s Bar & Grill
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Tango Contemporary Café
BEST BREAKFAST
GOLD — Café Kaila
SILVER — Koko Head Café
BRONZE — Liliha Bakery
FINALIST — Bills Sydney
FINALIST — Cinnamon’s
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Moena Café
BEST BRUNCH
GOLD — Prince Court
SILVER — The Oceanarium
BRONZE — Hakone
FINALIST — Pagoda
FINALIST — Kai Market
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Orchids
BEST BUFFET
GOLD — Orchids
SILVER — Duke’s Waikīkī
BRONZE — Prince Court
FINALIST — Kai Market
FINALIST — Plumeria Beach House
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Hoku’s
BEST PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS
GOLD — House Without a Key
SILVER — Helena’s Hawaiian Food
BRONZE — Tiki’s Grill & Bar
FINALIST — Mama’s Fish House
FINALIST — Izakaya Gaku
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Hale‘iwa Joe’s
BEST VEGETARIAN
GOLD — Whole Foods Market
SILVER — Greens and Vines
BRONZE — Down to Earth
FINALIST — Beet Box Café
FINALIST — Peace Café
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Town
BEST GOURMET COMFORT FOOD
GOLD — Side Street Inn
SILVER — 12th Ave Grill
BRONZE — Lucky Belly
FINALIST — Bills Sydney
FINALIST — Town
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Mac 24/7
BEST STEAK
GOLD — Ruth’s Chris Steak House
SILVER — Hy’s Steak House
BRONZE — D.K Steak House
FINALIST — BLT Steak
FINALIST — Morton’s the Steakhouse
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
BEST SEAFOOD
GOLD — Mama’s Fish House
SILVER — Nico’s at Pier 38
BRONZE — Uncle’s Fish Market and Grill
FINALIST — Town
FINALIST — Mitch’s Fish Market and Sushi Bar
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Azure
BEST DESSERT
GOLD — JJ Bistro & French Pastry
SILVER — MW Restaurant
BRONZE — Alan Wong’s
FINALIST — Highway Inn
FINALIST — Stage Restaurant
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Café Laufer
BEST COCKTAIL
GOLD — Pint and Jigger
SILVER — Nobu Waikīkī
BRONZE — 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST — Manifest
FINALIST — Salt Bar and Grill (closed)
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Bevy
BEST WINE PROGRAM
GOLD — Formaggio
SILVER — Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar
BRONZE — Amuse
FINALIST — Chef Mavro
FINALIST — Brasserie Du Vin
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Lahaina Grill
BEST BEER PROGRAM
GOLD — Pint and Jigger
SILVER — Monkeypod Kitchen
BRONZE — Murphy’s Bar & Grill
FINALIST — Brew’d
FINALIST — Real a Gastropub
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Yard House Waikīkī
BEST BAR FOOD
GOLD — Side Street Inn
SILVER — Home Bar and Grill
BRONZE — Roy’s Waikīkī
FINALIST — Real a Gastropub
FINALIST — Salt Bar and Kitchen (closed)
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Tiki’s Grill & Bar
BEST HOLE IN THE WALL
GOLD — Ethel’s Grill
SILVER — V Lounge
BRONZE — Ray’s Café
FINALIST — Palace Saimin
FINALIST — Your Kitchen
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Da Kitchen
BEST TASTING MENU
GOLD — Alan Wong’s
SILVER — Vintage Cave
BRONZE — Chef Mavro
FINALIST — La Mer
FINALIST — Arancino at the Kāhala
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Stage Restaurant
BEST DIM SUM
GOLD — Royal Garden
SILVER — Legend Seafood Restaurant
BRONZE — Mei Sum
FINALIST — Yee Hong
FINALIST — Fook Lam
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Happy Days
BEST OVERALL CHINESE
GOLD — Little Village Noodle Restaurant
SILVER — Happy Days
BRONZE — Jade Dynasty
FINALIST — Hunan Cuisine
FINALIST — Ming’s Chinese Restaurant
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Fook Yuen Seafood Restaurant
BEST HAWAIIAN
GOLD — Highway Inn
SILVER — Ono Hawaiian Food
BRONZE — Helena’s Hawaiian Food
FINALIST — Young’s Fish Market
FINALIST — Yama’s Fish Market
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — 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 VOTE — Sabrina’s
BEST IZAKAYA
GOLD — Izakaya Gaku
SILVER — Tokkuri Tei
BRONZE — Izakaya Nonbei
FINALIST — Izakaya Torae Torae
FINALIST — Imanas Tei
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Izakaya Naru
BEST SUSHI
GOLD — Sushi ii
SILVER — Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
BRONZE — Izakaya Gaku
FINALIST — Sushi Sasabune
FINALIST — Yohei Sushi Restaurant
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
BEST JAPANESE NOODLES (RAMEN, UDON, SOBA)
GOLD — Goma Tei
SILVER — Inaba
BRONZE — Goma Ichi
FINALIST — Kiwami
FINALIST — Yotteko Ya
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Agu Ramen Bistro
BEST OVERALL JAPANESE
GOLD — Nobu Waikīkī
SILVER — Ichiriki
BRONZE — Nanzan Giro Giro
FINALIST — Jinroku
FINALIST — Restaurant Wada
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar
BEST THAI
GOLD — Phuket Thai
SILVER — Bangkok Chef
BRONZE — Champa Thai
FINALIST — Thai Lao
FINALIST — Opal Thai
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Maile’s Thai Bistro
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
GOLD — Olive Tree Café
SILVER — The Fat Greek
BRONZE — Greek Marina
FINALIST — Shaloha
FINALIST — Da Spot
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Kan Zaman
BEST INDIAN
GOLD — Café Maharani
SILVER — Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE — Café Taj Mahal
FINALIST — Chutney
FINALIST — India Café
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Monsoon India
BEST YAKINIKU/KOREAN BBQ
GOLD — 678 Hawai‘i
SILVER — Yakiniku Hiroshi
BRONZE — Shillawon
FINALIST — Budnamujip
FINALIST — Yakiniku Don-Day
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Yakiniku Seoul
BEST OVERALL KOREAN
GOLD — Sorabol
SILVER — Million Restaurant
BRONZE — Choi’s Garden
FINALIST — Kyung’s Seafood
FINALIST — Ah-Lang aka Angry Korean Lady
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Willow Tree
BEST VIETNAMESE
GOLD — The Pig and the Lady
SILVER — Hale Vietnam
BRONZE — Pho One
FINALIST— Pho To Chau
FINALIST — Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Bac Nam
BEST MEXICAN
GOLD — Azteca Mexican Restaurant
SILVER — Cocina
BRONZE — Serg’s Mexican Kitchen
FINALIST — Zaratez
FINALIST — Los Chaparros
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Mexico Restaurant
BEST RESTAURANTS BY ISLAND
BEST MAUI RESTAURANT
GOLD — Lahaina Grill
SILVER — Merriman’s Kapalua
BRONZE — Mama’s Fish House
FINALIST — Ka‘ana Kitchen
FINALIST — Star Noodle
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Mala Ocean Tavern
BEST BIG ISLAND RESTAURANT
GOLD — Merriman’s Waimea
SILVER — Roy’s Waikoloa
BRONZE — Full Moon Café
FINALIST — Holuakoa Gardens & Café
FINALIST — Beach Tree at Four Seasons
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Café Pesto
BEST KAUA‘I RESTAURANT
GOLD — The Beach House Restaurant
SILVER — Merriman’s Fish House Poipu
BRONZE — Roy’s Poipu
FINALIST — Bar Acuda
FINALIST — Josselin’s Tapas Bar and Grill
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — The Feral Pig
BEST O‘AHU RESTAURANT
GOLD — Alan Wong’s
SILVER — Roy's Waikīkī
BRONZE — Le Bistro
FINALIST — MW Restaurant
FINALIST — The Pig and the Lady
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — 12th Ave Grill
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
GOLD — The Pig and the Lady
SILVER — Koko Head Café
BRONZE — MW Restaurant
FINALIST — Bills Sydney
FINALIST — Grondin
TOP WRITE-IN VOTE — Kaimuki Superette
