35th Annual Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i
Congratulations to this year’s Hale ‘Aina Award winners announced on Sept. 30, 2018.
We asked, you voted, and now it’s time to unveil the winners of the 35th Annual Hale ‘Aina Awards!
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 this year’s 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. 30, 2018 in the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Ballroom. See our upcoming December 2018 issue for more on the Hale ‘Aina Awards and winners.
SEE ALSO: Photos from the 35th Annual Hale ‘Aina Awards Presented by First Hawaiian Bank: Awards Ceremony
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
GOLD – Herringbone Waikīkī
SILVER – The Brilliant Ox
BRONZE – Basalt
FINALIST – Morimoto Asia Waikīkī
TOP WRITE IN – Appetito
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Winner: Herringbone Waikīkī is Hawai‘i’s Best New Restaurant
Best New Restaurant-Editor's Choice
EDITOR’S CHOICE – Pai Honolulu
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Awards: Pai Honolulu Wins Best New Restaurant, Service and Tasting Menu
RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
Peter Merriman
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Winner: Peter Merriman is Hawai‘i’s Restaurateur of the Year
BEST O‘AHU RESTAURANT
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Moku Kitchen
BRONZE – Roy’s Waikīkī
FINALIST – Alan Wong's
FINALIST – Senia
TOP WRITE IN – Arancino at The Kāhala
BEST MAUI RESTAURANT
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Mama’s Fish House
BRONZE – Merriman’s Kapalua
FINALIST – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
TOP WRITE IN – Morimoto Maui
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 – Hilo Bay Café
BEST KAUA‘I RESTAURANT
GOLD – The Beach House Restaurant
SILVER – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū
BRONZE – Eating House 1849
FINALIST – Tidepools
FINALIST – Red Salt
TOP WRITE IN – Bar Acuda
BEST SERVICE
GOLD – Hy’s Steakhouse
SILVER – Lahaina Grill
BRONZE – Merriman’s
FINALIST – Alan Wong’s
FINALIST – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
TOP WRITE IN – Pai Honolulu
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
GOLD – Mariposa
SILVER – Moku Kitchen
BRONZE – The Pig & The Lady
FINALIST – MW Restaurant
FINALIST – Fête
TOP WRITE IN – Artizen by MW
BEST BREAKFAST
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Scratch Kitchen & Meatery
BRONZE – Liliha Bakery
FINALIST – Cinnamon’s
FINALIST – Sweet E’s
TOP WRITE IN – Over Easy
BEST BRUNCH
GOLD – Plumeria Beach House
SILVER – Koko Head Café
BRONZE – Orchids
FINALIST – Hōkū’s
FINALIST – Over Easy
TOP WRITE IN – Piggy Smalls
BEST BUFFET
GOLD – Plumeria Beach House
SILVER – The Willows Restaurant
BRONZE – 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar
FINALIST – Orchids
FINALIST – Mauna Kea Beach Hotel – Manta
TOP WRITE IN – Lā Hiki Kitchen
BEST COCKTAIL
GOLD – Monkeypod Kitchen
SILVER – Bar Leather Apron
BRONZE – Pint + Jigger
FINALIST – The Pig & The Lady
FINALIST – Bevy
TOP WRITE IN – SKY Waikīkī
BEST WINE PROGRAM
GOLD – Amuse Wine Bar
SILVER – Lahaina Grill
BRONZE – Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar
FINALIST – Merriman’s
FINALIST – Alan Wong’s
TOP WRITE IN – 12th Ave Grill
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Winner: How to Help Yourself at a Self-Serve Wine Bar
BEST BEER PROGRAM
GOLD – Maui Brewing Co.
SILVER – Yard House Waikīkī
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – Pint + Jigger
FINALIST – Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room
TOP WRITE IN – Square Barrels
SEE ALSO: Drink Local Guide: Where to Get Locally Brewed Craft Beer in Honolulu
BEST BAR FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Monkeypod Kitchen
BRONZE – Café Duck Butt
FINALIST – Pint + Jigger
FINALIST – Aloha Beer Co.
TOP WRITE IN – Home Bar and Grill
BEST LIVE MUSIC
GOLD – Blue Note Hawai‘i
SILVER – Fleetwood's on Front Street
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – Duke’s Waikīkī
FINALIST – House Without A Key
TOP WRITE IN – Basalt
BEST TASTING MENU
GOLD – Alan Wong’s
SILVER – Arancino at The Kāhala
BRONZE – Senia
FINALIST – Chef Mavro
FINALIST – Pai Honolulu
TOP WRITE IN – Stage Restaurant
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Winner: Chef Mavro Celebrates 20 Years of Promoting Local Food
MOST ROMANTIC
GOLD – Merriman’s
SILVER – Hōkū’s
BRONZE – Michel’s at the Colony Surf
FINALIST – La Mer
FINALIST – Top of Waikīkī
TOP WRITE IN – Lahaina Grill
BEST RESTAURANT THAT CATERS
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Chef Chai
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – MW Restaurant
FINALIST – Highway Inn
TOP WRITE IN – Tanioka’s
BEST VEGETARIAN
GOLD – ‘Ai Love Nalo
SILVER – Choice Health Bar
BRONZE – Ethiopian Love
FINALIST – Juicy Brew
FINALIST – Peace Café
TOP WRITE IN – Vegan Hills
SEE ALSO: The 12 Best Vegetarian and Vegan Dishes on O‘ahu Right Now
BEST GOURMET COMFORT FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Café Kaila
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Livestock Tavern
FINALIST – Smith & Kings
TOP WRITE IN – Moku Kitchen
BEST STEAK
GOLD – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
SILVER – Hy’s Steak House
BRONZE – Morton’s The Steakhouse
FINALIST – Stripsteak Waikīkī
FINALIST – d.k. Steak House
TOP WRITE IN – The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood
BEST SEAFOOD
GOLD – Mama’s Fish House
SILVER – Nico’s at Pier 38
BRONZE – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū
FINALIST – Uncle’s Fish Market & Grill
FINALIST – Herringbone Waikīkī
TOP WRITE IN – Roy’s Beach House
BEST DESSERT
GOLD – MW Restaurant
SILVER – Lahaina Grill
BRONZE – Chef Mavro
FINALIST – Moku Kitchen
FINALIST – Stage Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Piggy Smalls
BEST FARM-TO-TABLE
GOLD – Merriman’s
SILVER – Eating House 1849
BRONZE – Alan Wong’s
FINALIST – Town
FINALIST – 12th Ave Grill
TOP WRITE IN – Mud Hen Water
BEST HOT POT
GOLD – Ichiriki
SILVER – Sweet Home Café
BRONZE – Hot Pot Heaven
FINALIST – Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot
FINALIST – Asuka Nabe + Shabu Shabu
TOP WRITE IN – Nabeya Maido
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Winner: The Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Hot Pot in Honolulu
BEST CHINESE
GOLD – Little Village Noodle House
SILVER – Jade Dynasty
BRONZE – Yum Cha Hawai‘i
FINALIST – Legend Seafood Restaurant
FINALIST – Dew Drop Inn
TOP WRITE IN – Happy Days
BEST HAWAIIAN
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
SILVER – Highway Inn
BRONZE – Da Kitchen
FINALIST – Yama’s Fish Market
FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market
TOP WRITE IN – Waiāhole Poi Factory
BEST ITALIAN
GOLD – Arancino at The Kāhala
SILVER – La Cucina Ristorante Italiano
BRONZE – Assaggio Ristorante Italiano
FINALIST – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine
FINALIST – Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar
TOP WRITE IN – Pueo’s Osteria
BEST IZAKAYA
GOLD – Izakaya Gaku
SILVER – Izakaya Torae Torae
BRONZE – Izakaya Nonbei
FINALIST – Tokkuri Tei
FINALIST – Imanas Tei
TOP WRITE IN – Izakaya Naru
BEST SUSHI
GOLD – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
SILVER – Yanagi Sushi
BRONZE – Sushi ii
FINALIST – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
FINALIST – Sushi Murayama
TOP WRITE IN – Doraku Sushi
BEST JAPANESE NOODLES (RAMEN, UDON, SOBA)
GOLD – Agu Ramen Bistro
SILVER – Goma Tei
BRONZE – Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
FINALIST – Lucky Belly
FINALIST – I-naba
TOP WRITE IN – Wagaya
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 – Morimoto Asia Waikīkī
BEST THAI
GOLD – Phuket Thai
SILVER – Maile’s Thai Bistro
BRONZE – Bangkok Chef
FINALIST – Opal Thai
FINALIST – Noi Thai
TOP WRITE IN – Siam Garden Café
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
GOLD – Olive Tree Café
SILVER – Da Spot
BRONZE – Kan Zaman
FINALIST – Greek Marina
FINALIST – Shaloha Pita
TOP WRITE IN – Pita Paradise
BEST INDIAN
GOLD – Café Maharani
SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE – Café Taj Mahal
FINALIST – Bombay Palace
FINALIST – India Café
TOP WRITE IN – Kamana Kitchen
BEST YAKINIKU/KOREAN BBQ
GOLD – Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
SILVER – Gen Korean BBQ
BRONZE – Sikdorak
FINALIST – Yakiniku Seoul
FINALIST – Sura Hawai‘i
TOP WRITE IN – Yakiniku Korea House
BEST OVERALL KOREAN
GOLD – Kim Chee 2
SILVER – Sorabol
BRONZE – Million Restaurant
FINALIST – Choi’s Garden
FINALIST – Budnamujip
TOP WRITE IN – Yakiniku Seoul
BEST VIETNAMESE
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Hale Vietnam
BRONZE – Pho One
FINALIST – Duc’s Bistro
FINALIST – Bac Nam
TOP WRITE IN – Pho Saigon
BEST MEXICAN
GOLD – Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant
SILVER – Búho Cocina y Cantina
BRONZE – Mexico Restaurant
FINALIST – Barrio Café
FINALIST – Encore Saloon
TOP WRITE IN – Azteca Mexican Restaurant
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