Our Favorite Local LGBTQIA+-Owned Stores and Eateries
Where to shop and dine local during Hawai‘i’s Pride Month.
From the Magazine
A New Generation of Mixologists Is Raising the Bar for Craft Cocktails
Craft cocktails have gone mainstream in Honolulu. Meet some of the mixologists leading the charge.
With New Hawaiian Style Seafood Co., Waikīkī Becomes a Lobster Roll Destination
Feast Mānoa’s Jon Matsubara opens a new lobster roll and seafood spot—a block from Waikīkī’s two lobster roll specialists.
2025 Hale ‘Aina Awards’ Best Buffet Goes to Plumeria Beach House
Seafood and Hawaiian food are a winning combo at the Kāhala Hotel & Resort’s beachside buffet destination.
2025 Hale ‘Aina Awards: Restaurateur of the Year Peter Kim Built a Local Empire of Fast Food, Fine Dining and Coco Puffs
Kim’s motto: Expect the unexpected.
It’s All in the Family at Kim Chee II, Our 2025 Hale ‘Aina Awards’ Old-School Restaurant We Love
That’s how members of the Chun family’s third generation feel about customers at their Kaimukī eatery.
“I Want Them to Dream,” Says President of Izakaya Naru, 2025 Hale ‘Aina Award Winner of Best Izakaya
With the tiny izakaya on King Street winning Hale ‘Aina gold, we talk to president Hiroyuki Akiyama about the eatery’s 15-year history.
Three Standout Drinks From Hale ‘Aina Award-Winning Cocktail Bars
Raise a glass at these cocktail bars recognized by our readers as providing the Best Cocktail Programs.
The Owners of Giovedì, the 2025 Hale ‘Aina Awards’ Best New Restaurant, Are Unapologetically Themselves
The folks at Giovedì spent years working for others before branching out on their own—and now they’re bringing home gold.
The Pig & the Lady: From Farmers Market Pop-Up to the City’s Hottest Restaurant
Revisiting the backstory of this six-time James Beard Award semifinalist a day before the Chinatown restaurant closes to move to a new home.
Best of HONOLULU 2025: Food and Drinks on O‘ahu
Our editors picked 11 top categories plus 21 readers’ choices to establish the best food and drinks on O‘ahu this year.
Finally, a Portuguese Restaurant: Faria Brings Hawai‘i-Style Portuguese Food to O‘ahu
For 40 years, there were none on O‘ahu. Now, there’s Faria, helmed by Hawaiian Portuguese chef Kawehi Haug.
Sun Noodle and Adela’s Country Eatery Have Rolled Out Noodles Made From Locally Grown Ingredients
Sun Noodle’s kalo noodles and Adela’s Country Eatery’s ‘ulu and avocado noodles are paving the way for food independence in Hawai‘i.
Venison Tartare, Haole Koa Capers, Strawberry Guava Pastries: Where and How to Eat Our Invasive Species
Invasive species are bad for Hawai‘i’s ecosystem. The best way to vanquish our enemies? Eat them.
A Former Sushi Chef Sells and Sharpens Knives at Aframes Tokyo in Kalihi
Revisiting that time we found an off-the-beaten-path stall selling top-line handmade knives and everyday knives at City Square’s open market.
Niu Soft Serve’s Hot Kūlolo Sundae Is Its Top Seller (and It’s Vegan)
‘Aiku‘e and Kekahu Napoleon-Ahn opened a coconut-based ice cream shop. They didn’t expect to spend more of their time making kūlolo.
New Latin Foodscape: Guaiqueri’s Venezuelan Empanadas
There are empanadas, and there are Guaiqueri empanadas—made from a family recipe from an island off the coast of Venezuela.
New Latin Foodscape: A Central American Gateway at La Casita
La Casita’s Salvadoran and Honduran (and Mexican) dishes bring tastes of Central America to Waipahu.
New Latin Foodscape: All In, Brazilian-Style, at San Paolo Pizza & Wine
Brazilian, Neapolitan and Portuguese craft pies showcase a higher-end vision of pizza at San Paolo.
New Latin Foodscape: At Peruvian Corner, a Backyard Oasis of Sabor
Miguel Torres cooked at trendy Peruvian Nikkei restaurants around South America. Now he has a place of his own—in a tranquil backyard in Waialua.
New Latin Foodscape: The New Generation at Mercado de la Raza
New owners of the 30-year-old grocery store are turning it into a hub for Latino food entrepreneurs and the community.
6 Questions You’re Too Shy to Ask When Dining Out
When to send food back? What’s a kitchen service fee? We ask restaurateurs for answers about awkward aspects of dining out.
Restaurants We Love: Resonant Stories From the Best Restaurants in Honolulu
Restaurants with superlative food are one thing. Those with a place in our hearts are another. Our writers explore the restaurants they love.
Best Restaurants in Honolulu
HONOLULU Magazine’s picks for the top eateries on O‘ahu by Mari Taketa, Thomas Obungen and Melissa Chang.
