2017 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i
Congratulations to the 2017 Hale ‘Aina Award winners announced Sept. 25, 2016.
Looking for the 2018 Hale ‘Aina Award winners? View the full list.
Drumroll, please! It’s time to unveil the new slate of Hawai‘i’s best restaurants, as chosen by the savvy readers of HONOLULU Magazine. An annual tradition for 33 years, the Hale ‘Aina Awards are the state’s most prestigious dining honor, and we congratulate the 2017 winners for operating at the highest levels of quality, and offering Hawai‘i’s most delicious and innovative dishes.
SEE ALSO: 2017 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners Photo Gallery
Whether you’re hungry for the town’s best Korean barbeque, you need a romantic date spot for this Friday, or you’re planning a Neighbor Island holoholo and want to know which restaurants are the absolute must-eats, we got you. Are you a wine drinker, a beer buff or a cocktail connoisseur? You’re in luck. From high-end to hole-in-the-wall, from quick lunch to once-a-year splurge, this list of Hale ‘Aina-winning is your all-year, can’t-miss dining guide.
Each year, our readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands. The top restaurants were announced at a gala reception held Sept. 25, 2016 at the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Ballroom. See our upcoming January 2017 issue for more on the Hale ‘Aina Awards and winners.
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
GOLD – Bread & Butter
SILVER – Mud Hen Water
BRONZE – Fête
FINALIST – Artizen by MW
FINALIST – 40 Carrots
TOP WRITE IN – Avenue’s Bar & Eatery
RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
Andrew Le, The Pig & the Lady
BEST O‘AHU RESTAURANT
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Alan Wong’s
BRONZE – Roy's Waikīkī
FINALIST – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – MW Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Arancino at The Kāhala
BEST MAUI RESTAURANT
GOLD – Merriman's Kapalua
SILVER – Lahaina Grill
BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House
FINALIST – Da Kitchen
FINALIST – The Mill House
TOP WRITE IN – Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST BIG ISLAND RESTAURANT
GOLD – Roy’s Waikoloa
SILVER – Merriman’s Waimea
BRONZE – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill
FINALIST – Moon and Turtle
FINALIST – Holuakoa Gardens and Café
TOP WRITE IN – Pueo’s Osteria
BEST KAUA‘I RESTAURANT
GOLD – Merriman's Fish House Po‘ipū
SILVER – The Beach House Restaurant
BRONZE – Eating House 1849
FINALIST – Tidepools
FINALIST – Bar Acuda
TOP WRITE IN – Red Salt
BEST SERVICE
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Alan Wong’s
BRONZE – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
FINALIST – La Mer
FINALIST – Chef Mavro
TOP WRITE IN – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
GOLD – The Pig & the Lady
SILVER – Mariposa
BRONZE – The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong
FINALIST – Lucky Belly
FINALIST – Stage Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – MW Restaurant
BEST BREAKFAST
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Moena Café
BRONZE – Liliha Bakery
FINALIST – Cinnamon’s
FINALIST – Sweet E’s
TOP WRITE IN – Scratch Kitchen & Bake Shop
BEST BRUNCH
GOLD – Plumeria Beach House
SILVER – Orchids
BRONZE – Hoku’s
FINALIST – Hau Tree Lanai
FINALIST – Longhi’s
TOP WRITE IN – Koko Head Café
BEST BUFFET
GOLD – 100 Sails Restaurant and Bar
SILVER – The Willows Restaurant
BRONZE – Plumeria Beach House
FINALIST – Hakone (no longer open)
FINALIST – The Oceanarium (no longer open)
TOP WRITE IN – Orchids
BEST COCKTAIL
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Pint + Jigger
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Nobu Waikīkī
FINALIST – Livestock Tavern
TOP WRITE IN – Bar Leather Apron
BEST WINE PROGRAM
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Formaggio Wine Bar
BRONZE – Amuse
FINALIST – Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar
FINALIST – The Tchin Tchin! Bar
TOP WRITE IN – 12th Ave Grill
BEST BEER PROGRAM
GOLD – Yard House Waikīkī
SILVER – Pint + Jigger
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – REAL a Gastropub
FINALIST – Waikīkī Brewing Co.
TOP WRITE IN – Brew‘d Craft Pub
BEST BAR FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Home Bar and Grill
BRONZE – REAL a Gastropub
FINALIST – Tiki’s Grill & Bar
FINALIST – Roy’s Waikīkī
TOP WRITE IN – Pint + Jigger
BEST LIVE MUSIC
GOLD – Duke's Waikīkī
SILVER – House Without a Key
BRONZE – Nico’s at Pier 38
FINALIST – Tiki’s Grill & Bar
FINALIST – Kani Ka Pila Grille
TOP WRITE IN – Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST TASTING MENU
GOLD – Alan Wong’s
SILVER – MW Restaurant
BRONZE – Chef Mavro
FINALIST – Stage Restaurant
FINALIST – Vintage Cave
TOP WRITE IN – Azure
MOST ROMANTIC
GOLD – Michel’s at the Colony Surf
SILVER – 53 by the Sea
BRONZE – La Mer
FINALIST – House Without a Key
FINALIST – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
TOP WRITE IN – Hoku’s
BEST RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW
GOLD – Top of Waikīkī
SILVER – 53 By the Sea
BRONZE – Tiki’s Grill & Bar
FINALIST – Hau Tree Lanai
FINALIST – Azure
TOP WRITE IN – Mariposa
BEST VEGETARIAN
GOLD – Greens and Vines
SILVER – Nobu Waikīkī
BRONZE – Peace Café
FINALIST – ‘Ai Love Nalo
FINALIST – Water Drop Vegetarian House
TOP WRITE IN – Juicy Brew
BEST GOURMET COMFORT FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Café Kaila
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Lucky Belly
FINALIST – Mac 24/7
TOP WRITE IN – Kalapawai Café & Deli
BEST STEAK
GOLD – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
SILVER – Hy’s Steak House
BRONZE – Morton’s The Steakhouse
FINALIST – Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
FINALIST – BLT Steakhouse
TOP WRITE IN – The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood
BEST SEAFOOD
GOLD – Nico’s at Pier 38
SILVER – Mama’s Fish House
BRONZE – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū
FINALIST – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
FINALIST – Chef Chai
TOP WRITE IN – Lahaina Grill
BEST DESSERT
GOLD – MW Restaurant
SILVER – JJ Bistro & French Pastry
BRONZE – The Pig & The Lady
FINALIST – Café Laufer
FINALIST – Nobu Waikīkī
TOP WRITE IN – STAGE Restaurant
BEST FARM-TO-TABLE
GOLD – 12th Ave Grill
SILVER – Town
BRONZE – Azure
FINALIST – ‘Ai Love Nalo
FINALIST – Mission Social Hall & Café
TOP WRITE IN – Mud Hen Water
BEST CHINESE
GOLD – Little Village Noodle House
SILVER – Happy Days
BRONZE – Jade Dynasty
FINALIST – Pah Ke’s Chinese Restaurant
FINALIST – Mei Sum
TOP WRITE IN – Dew Drop Inn
BEST HAWAIIAN
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
SILVER – Highway Inn
BRONZE – ‘Ono Hawaiian Food
FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market
FINALIST – Haili’s Hawaiian Food
TOP WRITE IN – Yama’s Fish Market
BEST ITALIAN
GOLD – Assaggio Italian Ristorante
SILVER – Arancino at The Kāhala
BRONZE – La Cucina Ristorante
FINALIST – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine
FINALIST – Baci Bistro
TOP WRITE IN – Paesano
BEST IZAKAYA
GOLD – Izakaya Gaku
SILVER – Tokkuri Tei
BRONZE – Izakaya Nonbei
FINALIST – Izakaya Torae Torae
FINALIST – Gazen
TOP WRITE IN – Izakaya Naru
BEST SUSHI
GOLD – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
SILVER – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
BRONZE – Sushi Ginza Onodera
FINALIST – Sushi Sasabune
FINALIST – Morio’s Sushi Bistro
TOP WRITE IN – Yanagi Sushi
BEST JAPANESE NOODLES (RAMEN, UDON, SOBA)
GOLD – Goma Tei
SILVER – Agu Ramen Bistro
BRONZE – Lucky Belly
FINALIST – Marukame Udon
FINALIST – Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
TOP WRITE IN – Golden Pork Tonkotsu Ramen Bar
BEST OVERALL JAPANESE
GOLD – Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar
SILVER – Morimoto Waikīkī
BRONZE – Nobu Waikīkī
FINALIST – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
FINALIST – Nanzan Giro Giro
TOP WRITE IN – Imanas Tei
BEST THAI
GOLD – Phuket Thai
SILVER – Bangkok Chef
BRONZE – Noi Thai
FINALIST – Champa Thai
FINALIST – To Thai For
TOP WRITE IN – Opal Thai
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
GOLD – Olive Tree Café
SILVER – The Fat Greek
BRONZE – Kan Zaman
FINALIST – Da Spot
FINALIST – The Greek Corner
TOP WRITE IN – Greek Marina
BEST INDIAN
GOLD – Café Maharani
SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE – Café Taj Mahal
FINALIST – India Café
FINALIST – Bombay Palace
TOP WRITE IN – Kamana Kitchen
BEST YAKINIKU/KOREAN BBQ
GOLD – 678 Hawai‘i (now Sura Hawai‘i)
SILVER – Yakiniku Seoul
BRONZE – Sikdorak
FINALIST – Shillawon
FINALIST – Hyung Jae Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Gyukaku
BEST OVERALL KOREAN
GOLD – Sorabol
SILVER – Kim Chee 2
BRONZE – Million Restaurant
FINALIST – Seoul Garden
FINALIST – Choi’s Garden
TOP WRITE IN – Willow Tree
BEST VIETNAMESE
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Hale Vietnam
BRONZE – Pho One
FINALIST – Duc’s Bistro
FINALIST – Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine
TOP WRITE IN – Pho to Chau
BEST MEXICAN
GOLD – Búho Cocina y Cantina
SILVER – Azteca Mexican Restaurant
BRONZE – Mexico Restaurant
FINALIST – Serg’s Mexican Kitchen
FINALIST – Cocina (no longer open)
TOP WRITE IN – Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine
