2025 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i

The rest of our readers’ picks:

 

Best New Restaurant

GOLD – Giovedì

SILVER – Leila

BRONZE – Coco Deck Lahaina

FINALIST – Little Plum

 

Best O‘ahu Restaurant

GOLD – Miro Kaimukī

SILVER – Arancino

BRONZE – Kapa Hale

FINALIST – Et Al

 

Best Maui Restaurant

GOLD – Mama’s Fish House

SILVER – Monkeypod Kitchen Kā‘anapali

BRONZE – Mala Ocean Tavern

FINALIST – Merriman’s Kapalua

 

Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant

GOLD – Miller & Lux Hualālai

SILVER – Merriman’s Waimea

BRONZE – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill

FINALIST – Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery

 

Best Kaua‘i Restaurant

GOLD – The Beach House

SILVER – ‘Āina Kaua‘i Restaurant

BRONZE – Rumfire Po‘ipū Beach

FINALIST – Hukilau Lānai

 

Best Service

GOLD – Arden Waikīkī

SILVER – Café Kaila

BRONZE – Pai Honolulu

FINALIST – Miro Kaimukī

 

Best Breakfast

GOLD – Café Kaila

SILVER – Tangö Contemporary Café

BRONZE – Egghead Café

FINALIST – Koko Head Café

 

Best Brunch

GOLD – Café Kaila

SILVER – Nami Kaze

BRONZE – Tangö Contemporary Café

FINALIST – Orchids at Halekūlani

 

Best Hotel Brunch

GOLD – Orchids at Halekūlani

SILVER – Hau Tree

BRONZE – Hoku’s at The Kāhala

FINALIST – Plumeria Beach House at The Kāhala

 

Best Business Lunch

GOLD – Mariposa

SILVER – Tangö Contemporary Café

BRONZE – Merriman’s Honolulu

FINALIST – Istanbul Hawai‘i

 

Best Buffet

GOLD – Plumeria Beach House at The Kāhala

SILVER – Orchids at Halekūlani

BRONZE – 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar

FINALIST – The Buffet at Hyatt

 

Best Cocktail Program

GOLD – Bar Leather Apron

SILVER– Arden Waikīkī

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

FINALIST – Miro Kaimukī

 

Best Wine Program

GOLD – Pai Honolulu

SILVER – Arancino

BRONZE – Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar

FINALIST – Miro Kaimukī

 

Best Brew Pub

GOLD – Aloha Beer Co.

SILVER – Hana Koa Brewing Co.

BRONZE – Maui Brewing Co.

FINALIST – Beer Lab Hawai‘i

 

Best Bar

GOLD – Bar Leather Apron

SILVER – Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

BRONZE – Talk Kaimukī

FINALIST – EP Bar

 

Best Bar Food

GOLD – Splash Bar

SILVER – Side Street Inn

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

FINALIST – TR Fire Grill

 

Best Tasting Menu

GOLD – Bar Maze

SILVER – Miro Kaimukī

BRONZE – La Mer at Halekūlani

FINALIST – XO Restaurant

 

Most Romantic

GOLD – 53 By The Sea

SILVER – Hau Tree

BRONZE – La Mer at Halekūlani

FINALIST – Michel’s at the Colony Surf

 

Best Restaurant That Caters

GOLD – Chef Chai

SILVER – Egghead Café

BRONZE – Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering

FINALIST – Café O’Lei

 

Best Vegetarian

GOLD – Tane Vegan Izakaya

SILVER – Nature Waikīkī

BRONZE – Peace Café

FINALIST – Pai Honolulu

 

Best Steak

GOLD – Hy’s Steak House

SILVER – Ruth’s Chris Steak House

BRONZE – Miller & Lux Hualālai

FINALIST – Wolfgang’s Steakhouse

 

Best Seafood

GOLD – Herringbone Waikīkī

SILVER – Nico’s Pier 38

BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House

FINALIST – ‘Ono Seafood

 

Best Dessert

GOLD – MW Restaurant

SILVER – ‘Olili

BRONZE – Arden Waikīkī

FINALIST – Tiny Pyramid

 

Best Hot Pot

GOLD – Shabuya

SILVER – Ichiriki

BRONZE – Aunty’s Hotpot House

FINALIST – Chong Qing Hot Pot

 

Best Dim Sum

GOLD – Tim Ho Wan

SILVER – Happy Days

BRONZE – Fook Lam Restaurant

FINALIST – Mei Sum Dim Sum

 

Best Chinese

GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

SILVER – Tim Ho Wan

BRONZE – Happy Days

FINALIST – Kin Wah Chop Suey

 

Best Hawaiian

GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food

SILVER – Highway Inn

BRONZE – Waiāhole Poi Factory

FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market

 

Best Italian

GOLD – Arancino

SILVER – Cino

BRONZE – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine

FINALIST – Rigo Spanish Italian

 

Best Izakaya

GOLD – Izakaya Naru

SILVER – Izakaya Tenkichi

BRONZE – Zigu

FINALIST – Izakaya Nonbei

 

Best Sushi

GOLD – Yanagi Sushi

SILVER – Yohei Sushi

BRONZE – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar

FINALIST – Restaurant I-naba

 

Best Ramen

GOLD – Onoya Ramen

SILVER – Goma Tei

BRONZE – Tanaka Ramen

FINALIST – Wagaya

 

Best Overall Japanese

GOLD – Zigu

SILVER – Yohei Sushi

BRONZE – Yanagi Sushi

FINALIST – Rinka

 

Best Thai

GOLD – Noi Thai Cuisine

SILVER – Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine

BRONZE – Siam Garden Café

FINALIST – Thai Issan Cuisine

 

Best Mediterranean

GOLD – Istanbul Hawai‘i

SILVER – Leila

BRONZE – Olive Tree Café

FINALIST – Lady Elaine

 

Best Indian

GOLD – Café Maharani

SILVER – Tadka Indian Cuisine

BRONZE – Spice Up House of Indian Cuisine

FINALIST – New Kamana Kitchen

 

Best Korean Barbecue

GOLD – Gen Korean BBQ House

SILVER – Hangang Korean Grill House

BRONZE – Korea Garden

FINALIST – Kim Chee II

 

Best Overall Korean

GOLD – Hangang Korean Grill House

SILVER – O’Kim’s Korean Kitchen

BRONZE – Million Restaurant

FINALIST – Kim Chee II

 

Best Vietnamese

GOLD – The Pig & The Lady

SILVER – Mama Phở

BRONZE – Hale Vietnam

FINALIST – Saigon Noodle House

 

Best Mexican

GOLD – La Birria

SILVER – Da Seafood Cartel

BRONZE – Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant

FINALIST – Taqueria el Azul (permanently closed)

 

Best Filipino

GOLD – Elena’s

SILVER – Max’s Restaurant

BRONZE – Thelma’s Filipino Restaurant

FINALIST – Tess Kitchen

 

Best Outdoor Dining

GOLD – Hau Tree

SILVER – Istanbul Hawai‘i

BRONZE – 53 By The Sea

FINALIST – Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

 

Best Local Chain

GOLD – Zippy’s

SILVER – L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

FINALIST – Liliha Bakery