2019 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i
Congratulations to this year’s Hale ‘Aina Award winners announced on June 9, 2019.
Click here to vote for your favorite Hawai‘i restaurants in the 2020 Hale ‘Aina Awards!
Paul Kosasa of ABC Stores Hawai‘i (left) accepted the Gold Hale ‘Aina Award for Best New Restaurant – Readers’ Choice on behalf of Lineage. Ed Kenney of Mahina & Sun’s, Mud Hen Water and Town won Restaurateur of the Year.
Photo: Gregory Yamamoto
We asked, more than 8,000 votes were cast, and now it’s time to unveil the winners of the 2019 Hale ‘Aina Awards!
Each year, our readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands, and we have two special award-winners chosen by our staff. The top restaurants were announced at a gala reception held June 9, 2019 at the Kāhala Hotel & Resort. See our upcoming September 2019 issue for the stories behind the menus, ordering tips from some of our Hale ‘Aina Award honorees. Subscribe now to have our Best Restaurants issue delivered right to your home.
The Hale ‘Aina Awards are the state’s longest running and most prestigious dining honors, started by HONOLULU Magazine in 1984 to honor the best restaurants in Hawai‘i. 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 this year’s winners for operating at the highest levels of quality, and offering Hawai‘i’s most delicious and innovative dishes.
Restaurateur of the Year
Ed Kenney
Kaimukī Superette, Mahina & Sun’s, Mud Hen Water, Town
Best New Restaurant – Editor’s Choice
Rangoon Burmese Kitchen
SEE ALSO: First Look: Rangoon Burmese Kitchen
Best New Restaurant – Reader’s Choice
GOLD – Lineage
SILVER – Merriman’s Honolulu
BRONZE – Vein at Kaka‘ako
FINALIST – Zigu
SEE ALSO: Zigu: A Hidden Japanese Izakaya Emphasizes Local Ingredients
Best O‘ahu Restaurant
GOLD – Merriman’s Honolulu
SILVER – Senia
BRONZE – The Pig & The Lady
FINALIST – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
Best Maui Restaurant
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Merriman’s Kapalua
BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House
FINALIST – Lineage
SEE ALSO: Sheldon Simeon’s Lineage on Maui Wins Gold for Hawai‘i’s Best New Restaurant
Best Big Island Restaurant
GOLD – Merriman’s Waimea
SILVER – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill
BRONZE – Moon and Turtle
FINALIST – Roy’s Waikoloa
Best Kaua‘i Restaurant
GOLD – The Beach House
SILVER – Tidepools
BRONZE – Red Salt
FINALIST – Restaurant Bar Acuda
Best Service
GOLD – Chef Mavro
SILVER – Alan Wong’s
BRONZE – Hy’s Steak House
FINALIST – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
SEE ALSO: Chef Mavro Celebrates 20 Years of Promoting Local Food
Best Business Lunch
GOLD – Mariposa
SILVER – Moku Kitchen
BRONZE – Square Barrels
FINALIST – Fête
Best Breakfast
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Koko Head Café
BRONZE – Over Easy
FINALIST – Basalt
SEE ALSO: 2019 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Breakfast Restaurants in Hawai‘i
Best Brunch
GOLD – Herringbone Waikīkī
SILVER – Koko Head Café
BRONZE – Orchids
FINALIST – Plumeria Beach House
Best Buffet
GOLD – 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar
SILVER – Hōkū’s
BRONZE – Lā Hiki Kitchen
FINALIST – Orchids
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Winner: Herringbone Waikīkī is Hawai‘i’s Best New Restaurant
Best Cocktail
GOLD – Bar Leather Apron
SILVER – Bevy
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – 12th Ave Grill
Best Wine Program
GOLD – Vino
SILVER – Merriman’s Honolulu
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar
Best Beer Program
GOLD – Square Barrels
SILVER – Maui Brewing Co.
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – Off the Wall
SEE ALSO: First Look: Off the Wall Emerges as Ward Village’s Newest Happy Hour Hot Spot
Best Bar Food
GOLD – Square Barrels
SILVER – Side Street Inn
BRONZE – Pint + Jigger
FINALIST – Bevy
Best Tasting Menu
GOLD – Senia
SILVER – Pai Honolulu
BRONZE – Arancino at The Kāhala
FINALIST – Stage Restaurant
SEE ALSO: Pai Honolulu Wins Best New Restaurant, Service and Tasting Menu
Most Romantic
GOLD – 53 By The Sea
SILVER – Michel’s at the Colony Surf
BRONZE – La Mer
FINALIST – Noe
Best Restaurant That Caters
GOLD – Chef Chai
SILVER – 12th Ave Grill
BRONZE – The Pig & The Lady
FINALIST – The Nook Neighborhood Bistro
Best Vegetarian
GOLD – Peace Café
SILVER – Vegan Hills
BRONZE – ‘Ai Love Nalo
FINALIST – Juicy Brew
SEE ALSO: The 12 Best Vegetarian and Vegan Dishes on O‘ahu Right Now
Best Gourmet Comfort Food
GOLD – 12th Ave Grill
SILVER – Side Street Inn
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – Square Barrels
Best Steak
GOLD – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
SILVER – Hy’s Steak House
BRONZE – Stripsteak
FINALIST – Morton’s The Steakhouse
Best Seafood
GOLD – Mama’s Fish House
SILVER – Herringbone Waikīkī
BRONZE – The Beach House
FINALIST – Azure
Best Dessert
GOLD – MW Restaurant
SILVER – Moku Kitchen
BRONZE – Stage Restaurant
FINALIST – Liliha Bakery
Best Farm-to-Table
GOLD – Town
SILVER – Merriman’s Waimea
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Mud Hen Water
Best Hot Pot
GOLD – Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot
SILVER – Ichiriki
BRONZE – Sweet Home Café
FINALIST – Asuka Nabe + Shabu Shabu
SEE ALSO: The Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Hot Pot in Honolulu
Best Chinese
GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
SILVER – Little Village Noodle House
BRONZE – Tim Ho Wan
FINALIST – Chengdu Taste
SEE ALSO: How to Eat Xiao Long Bao and Other Tips for Enjoying Soup Dumplings in Honolulu
Best Hawaiian
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
SILVER – Highway Inn
BRONZE – Aloha Mixed Plate
FINALIST – Waiāhole Poi Factory
Best Italian
GOLD – Arancino at The Kāhala
SILVER – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine
BRONZE – La Cucina Ristorante Italiano
FINALIST – Noe
Best Izakaya
GOLD – Izakaya Torae Torae
SILVER – Sushi Izakaya Gaku
BRONZE – Izakaya Nonbei
FINALIST – Izakaya Naru
Best Sushi
GOLD – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
SILVER – Sushi ii
BRONZE – Yanagi Sushi
FINALIST – Sushi Sho
Best Japanese Noodles (Ramen, Udon, Soba)
GOLD – Goma Tei
SILVER – Wagaya
BRONZE – I-naba
FINALIST – Golden Pork Ton-kotsu Ramen Bar
Best Overall Japanese
GOLD – Gyotaku
SILVER – Yanagi Sushi
BRONZE – Tokkuri Tei
FINALIST – Nobu Honolulu
Best Thai
GOLD – Noi Thai
SILVER – Phuket Thai
BRONZE – Bangkok Chef
FINALIST – Opal Thai
Best Mediterranean
GOLD – Olive Tree Café
SILVER – Da Spot
BRONZE – Shaloha Pita
FINALIST – Greek Marina
Best Indian
GOLD – Café Maharani
SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE – Kamana Kitchen
FINALIST – Café Taj Mahal
Best Yakiniku/Korean BBQ
GOLD – Gen Korean BBQ House
SILVER – Sura Hawai‘i
BRONZE – Yakiniku Korea House
FINALIST – Yakiniku Seoul
Best Overall Korean
GOLD – Sorabol
SILVER – Million Restaurant
BRONZE – Budnamujip
FINALIST – Kim Chee 2
Best Vietnamese
GOLD – The Pig &The Lady
SILVER – Hale Vietnam
BRONZE – Pho One Vietnamese
FINALIST – Pho Saigon
Best Mexican
GOLD – Mexico Restaurant
SILVER – Azteca Mexican Restaurant
BRONZE – Búho Cocina y Cantina
FINALIST – Barrio Café
