2018 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i
Congratulations to all the 2018 Hale ‘Aina Award winners announced on Sept. 17, 2017.
We asked, you voted, and now it’s time to unveil the winners of the 2018 Hale ‘Aina Awards!
Now in their 34th year, the Hale ‘Aina Awards are the state’s longest running and most prestigious dining honors. Whether you’re looking for weekend brunch spots, your new favorite cocktail or the best places to indulge your sweet tooth, we got you. This list of Hale ‘Aina-winning restaurants is your all-year, can’t-miss dining guide.
Congratulations to the 2018 winners for operating at the highest levels of quality, and offering Hawai‘i’s most delicious and innovative dishes.
Each year, our readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands, and we have a special award-winner chosen by our staff. The top restaurants were announced at a gala reception held Sept. 17, 2017 in the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Ballroom. See our upcoming January 2018 issue for more on the Hale ‘Aina Awards and winners.
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
GOLD – Moku Kitchen
SILVER – Piggy Smalls
BRONZE – Senia
FINALIST – Eating House 1849 at International Market Place
FINALIST – Mahina & Sun’s
TOP WRITE IN – Yauatcha Waikīkī
RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
Colin Nishida, Side Street Inn
BEST O‘AHU RESTAURANT
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Roy’s Waikīkī
BRONZE – Alan Wong’s
FINALIST – Arancino at The Kāhala
FINALIST – MW Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
BEST MAUI RESTAURANT
GOLD – Mama’s Fish House
SILVER – Lahaina Grill
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – Merriman’s Kapalua
FINALIST – Tin Roof
TOP WRITE IN – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
BEST BIG ISLAND RESTAURANT
GOLD – Merriman’s Waimea
SILVER – Roy’s Waikoloa
BRONZE – Moon and Turtle
FINALIST – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill
FINALIST – Pueo’s Osteria
TOP WRITE IN – The Koa Table
BEST KAUA‘I RESTAURANT
GOLD – The Beach House Restaurant
SILVER – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū
BRONZE – Eating House 1849
FINALIST – Red Salt
FINALIST – Bar Acuda
TOP WRITE IN – Tidepools
BEST SERVICE
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
BRONZE – Alan Wong’s
FINALIST – Hy’s Steakhouse
FINALIST – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
TOP WRITE IN – Merriman’s
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
GOLD – Mariposa
SILVER – The Pig & The Lady
BRONZE – MW Restaurant
FINALIST – Livestock Tavern
FINALIST – Artizen by MW
TOP WRITE IN – Moku Kitchen
BEST BREAKFAST
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Scratch Kitchen & Bake Shop (CLOSED)
BRONZE – Liliha Bakery
FINALIST – Cinnamon’s
FINALIST – Sweet E’s
TOP WRITE IN – Over Easy
BEST BRUNCH
GOLD – Koko Head Café
SILVER – Plumeria Beach House
BRONZE – Hōkū’s
FINALIST – Orchids
FINALIST – Over Easy
TOP WRITE IN – Bread & Butter
BEST BUFFET
GOLD – Plumeria Beach House
SILVER – The Willows Restaurant
BRONZE – Orchids
FINALIST – Gen Korean BBQ House
FINALIST – Kai Market
TOP WRITE IN – Mauna Kea Beach Hotel – Manta
BEST COCKTAIL
GOLD – Bar Leather Apron
SILVER – The Pig & The Lady
BRONZE – Pint + Jigger
FINALIST – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Bevy
TOP WRITE IN – Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST WINE PROGRAM
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar
BRONZE – Amuse Wine Bar
FINALIST – Formaggio Wine Bar
FINALIST – 12th Ave Grill
TOP WRITE IN – Merriman’s
BEST BEER PROGRAM
GOLD – Maui Brewing Co.
SILVER – Monkeypod Kitchen
BRONZE – Yard House Waikīkī
FINALIST – Pint + Jigger
FINALIST – Real a Gastropub
TOP WRITE IN – Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room
BEST BAR FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Home Bar and Grill
BRONZE – Pint + Jigger
FINALIST – Chart House
FINALIST – Aloha Beer Co.
TOP WRITE IN – Monkeypod Kitchen
BEST LIVE MUSIC
GOLD – Blue Note Hawai‘i
SILVER – Monkeypod Kitchen
BRONZE – Duke’s Waikīkī
FINALIST – House Without A Key
FINALIST – Nico’s at Pier 38
TOP WRITE IN – Fleetwood’s on Front Street
BEST TASTING MENU
GOLD – Alan Wong’s
SILVER – Senia
BRONZE – MW Restaurant
FINALIST – Chef Mavro
FINALIST – Azure
TOP WRITE IN – Arancino at The Kāhala
MOST ROMANTIC
GOLD – 53 By the Sea
SILVER – Top of Waikīkī
BRONZE – Michel’s at the Colony Surf
FINALIST – La Mer
FINALIST – Hōkū’s
TOP WRITE IN – Merriman’s
BEST RESTAURANT THAT CATERS
GOLD – Nico’s at Pier 38
SILVER – Chef Chai
BRONZE – Poke Stop
FINALIST – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Highway Inn
TOP WRITE IN – The Pig & The Lady
BEST VEGETARIAN
GOLD – Nobu Waikīkī
SILVER – ‘Ai Love Nalo
BRONZE – Peace Café
FINALIST – Ethiopian Love
FINALIST – Juicy Brew
TOP WRITE IN – Choice Health Bar
BEST GOURMET COMFORT FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Café Kaila
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Kalapawai Café & Deli
FINALIST – Tiki’s Grill & Bar
TOP WRITE IN – M.A.C. 24/7
BEST STEAK
GOLD – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
SILVER – Hy’s Steak House
BRONZE – Morton’s The Steakhouse
FINALIST – Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
FINALIST – Stripsteak Waikīkī
TOP WRITE IN – d.k Steak House
BEST SEAFOOD
GOLD – Mama’s Fish House
SILVER – Nico’s at Pier 38
BRONZE – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū
FINALIST – Lahaina Grill
FINALIST – Roy’s Beach House
TOP WRITE IN – Uncle’s Fish Market & Grill
BEST DESSERT
GOLD – MW Restaurant
SILVER – JJ Bistro & French Pastry
BRONZE – Stage Restaurant
FINALIST – Moku Kitchen
FINALIST – Café Laufer
TOP WRITE IN – Lahaina Grill
BEST FARM-TO-TABLE
GOLD – Alan Wong’s
SILVER – Town
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Mud Hen Water
FINALIST – Mahina & Sun’s
TOP WRITE IN – Merriman’s
BEST CHINESE
GOLD – Little Village Noodle House
SILVER – Jade Dynasty
BRONZE – Yauatcha Waikīkī
FINALIST – Happy Days
FINALIST – Dew Drop Inn
TOP WRITE IN – Legend Seafood Restaurant
BEST HAWAIIAN
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
SILVER – Highway Inn
BRONZE – Young’s Fish Market
FINALIST – Yama’s Fish Market
FINALIST – Haili’s Hawaiian Food
TOP WRITE IN – Da Kitchen
BEST ITALIAN
GOLD – Arancino at The Kāhala
SILVER – Assaggio Ristorante Italiano
BRONZE – La Cucina Ristorante Italiano
FINALIST – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine
FINALIST – Paesano
TOP WRITE IN – Sabrina’s Restaurant
BEST IZAKAYA
GOLD – Izakaya Gaku
SILVER – Tokkuri Tei
BRONZE – Izakaya Nonbei
FINALIST – Izakaya Torae Torae
FINALIST – Izakaya Naru
TOP WRITE IN – Imanas Tei
BEST SUSHI
GOLD – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
SILVER – Yanagi Sushi
BRONZE – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
FINALIST – Sushi Ginza Onodera
FINALIST – Sushi Murayama
TOP WRITE IN – Sushi ii
BEST JAPANESE NOODLES (RAMEN, UDON, SOBA)
GOLD – Agu Ramen Bistro
SILVER – Goma Tei
BRONZE – Lucky Belly
FINALIST – Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
FINALIST – Golden Pork Tonkotsu Ramen Bar
TOP WRITE IN – I-naba
BEST OVERALL JAPANESE
GOLD – Nobu Waikīkī
SILVER – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
BRONZE – Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar
FINALIST – Imanas Tei
FINALIST – Nanzan Giro Giro
TOP WRITE IN – I-naba
BEST THAI
GOLD – Phuket Thai
SILVER – Bangkok Chef
BRONZE – Noi Thai
FINALIST – Opal Thai
FINALIST – Champa Thai
TOP WRITE IN – Maile’s Thai Bistro
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
GOLD – Olive Tree Café
SILVER – The Fat Greek
BRONZE – Kan Zaman
FINALIST – Greek Marina
FINALIST – Da Spot
TOP WRITE IN – Yamas Mediterranean Cuisine
BEST INDIAN
GOLD – Café Maharani
SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE – Café Taj Mahal
FINALIST – India Café
FINALIST – Bombay Palace
TOP WRITE IN – Monsoon India
BEST YAKINIKU/KOREAN BBQ
GOLD – Gyu-kaku
SILVER – Yakiniku Seoul
BRONZE – Sikdorak
FINALIST – Sura Hawai‘i
FINALIST – Hyung Jae Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Gen Korean BBQ
BEST OVERALL KOREAN
GOLD – Sorabol
SILVER – Million Restaurant
BRONZE – Kim Chee 2
FINALIST – Choi’s Garden
FINALIST – So Gong Dong
TOP WRITE IN – Budnamujip
BEST VIETNAMESE
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Pho One
BRONZE – Hale Vietnam
FINALIST – Duc’s Bistro
FINALIST – Pho To-Chau
TOP WRITE IN – Bac Nam
BEST MEXICAN
GOLD – Búho Cocina y Cantina
SILVER – Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine
BRONZE – Mexico Restaurant
FINALIST – Serg’s Mexican Kitchen Waimānalo
FINALIST – Azteca Mexican Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant
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