2026 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i

The rest of our readers’ picks:

 

Best New Restaurant

GOLD – Chao Hawai‘i

SILVER – Botanico Waikīkī

BRONZE – Earls Waikīkī

FINALIST – ROKC Hawai‘i

 

Best O‘ahu Restaurant

GOLD – Giovedì

SILVER – Arancino at The Kāhala

BRONZE – Kapa Hale

FINALIST – Yohei Sushi

 

Best Maui Restaurant

GOLD – Mala Ocean Tavern

SILVER – Mama’s Fish House

BRONZE – Merriman’s Kapalua

FINALIST – Monkeypod Kitchen Kā‘anapali

 

Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant

GOLD – Merriman’s Waimea

SILVER – Moon and Turtle

BRONZE – Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery

FINALIST – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill

 

Best Kaua‘i Restaurant

GOLD – ‘Āina Kaua‘i Restaurant

SILVER – The Beach House

BRONZE – Merriman’s Kaua‘i

FINALIST – RumFire Po‘ipū Beach

 

Best Breakfast

GOLD – Café Kaila

SILVER – Over Easy

BRONZE – Eggs ’n Things

FINALIST – Tangö Contemporary Café

 

Best Brunch

GOLD – Café Kaila

SILVER – Tangö Contemporary Café

BRONZE – Over Easy

FINALIST – Egghead Café

 

Best Hotel Brunch

GOLD – Plumeria Beach House

SILVER – Orchids

BRONZE – Hau Tree

FINALIST – 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar

 

Best Buffet

GOLD – Plumeria Beach House

SILVER – Orchids

BRONZE – 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar

FINALIST – Duke’s Waikīkī

 

Best Business Lunch

GOLD – Merriman’s

SILVER – Kapa Hale

BRONZE – Fête

FINALIST – House Without A Key

 

Best Late-Night Eats

GOLD – Khan Skewer Restaurant

SILVER – Zigu

BRONZE – Earls Waikīkī

FINALIST – Yanagi Sushi

 

Best Cocktail Program

GOLD – Splash Bar

SILVER– Bar Leather Apron

BRONZE – Arden Waikīkī

FINALIST – ROKC Hawai‘i

 

Best Wine Program

GOLD – Arancino at The Kāhala

SILVER – Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar

BRONZE – Pai Honolulu

FINALIST – Arden Waikīkī

 

Best Brew Pub

GOLD – Aloha Beer Co.

SILVER – Maui Brewing Co.

BRONZE – Hana Koa Brewing Co.

FINALIST – Beer Lab HI

 

Best Bar

GOLD (tie) – Peppermint Café & Pool Bar and ROKC Hawai‘i

BRONZE – EP Bar

FINALIST – The Butcher Bar

 

Best Bar Food

GOLD – Splash Bar

SILVER – Fire Grill Waikīkī

BRONZE – Side Street Inn

FINALIST – The Butcher Bar

 

Best Service

GOLD – Arden Waikīkī

SILVER – Café Kaila

BRONZE – Pai Honolulu

FINALIST – Kapa Hale

 

Best Ambiance

GOLD – Arden Waikīkī

SILVER – House Without A Key

BRONZE – Earls Waikīkī

FINALIST – Yohei Sushi

 

Most Romantic

GOLD – 53 By The Sea

SILVER – La Mer

BRONZE (tie) – Hau Tree and Michel’s at the Colony Surf

 

Best Dessert

GOLD – MW Restaurant

SILVER – Pai Honolulu

BRONZE – Arden Waikīkī

FINALIST – Arancino at The Kāhala

 

Best Seafood

GOLD – Azure Restaurant

SILVER – Nico’s Pier 38

BRONZE – 53 By The Sea

FINALIST – Da Seafood Cartel

 

Best Steak

GOLD – Hy’s Steak House

SILVER – Aloha Steak House 

BRONZE – The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood

FINALIST – Ruth’s Chris Steak House

 

Best Vegetarian

GOLD – Peace Café

SILVER – Tane Vegan Izakaya

BRONZE – Pai Honolulu

FINALIST – Nature Waikīkī

 

Best Hot Pot

GOLD (tie) – Chong Qing Hot Pot and Shabuya

BRONZE – Ichiriki

FINALIST – Hot Pot Heaven

 

Best Dim Sum

GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

SILVER – Tim Ho Wan

BRONZE – Happy Days

FINALIST – Kapi‘olani Seafood Restaurant

 

Best Izakaya

GOLD – Izakaya Harumi

SILVER – Zigu

BRONZE – Izakaya Naru

FINALIST – Tane Vegan Izakaya

 

Best Korean Barbecue

GOLD – Hangang Korean Grill House

SILVER – Onkee Korean Grill House

BRONZE – Yakiniku Korea House

FINALIST – Gen Korean BBQ House

 

Best Tonkatsu

GOLD – Tonkatsu Tamafuji

SILVER – Ginza Bairin

BRONZE – Nana Ai Katsu

FINALIST – Koromo Katsu & Curry Bistro

 

Best Ramen

GOLD – Onoya Ramen

SILVER – Goma Tei

BRONZE – ROKC Hawai‘i

FINALIST – Tanaka Ramen

 

Best Sushi

GOLD – Yohei Sushi

SILVER – Sushi Ii

BRONZE – Yanagi Sushi

FINALIST – Zigu

 

Best Chinese

GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

SILVER – Tim Ho Wan

BRONZE – Happy Days

FINALIST – Golden Duck

 

Best Filipino

GOLD – Thelma’s Filipino Restaurant

SILVER – Elena’s

BRONZE – Max’s Restaurant

FINALIST – Minasa

 

Best Hawaiian

GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food

SILVER – Highway Inn

BRONZE – Waiāhole Poi Factory

FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market

 

Best Indian

GOLD – Tadka Indian Cuisine

SILVER – Spice Up, House of Indian Cuisine

BRONZE – Café Maharani

FINALIST – New Kamana Kitchen

 

Best Italian

GOLD – Arancino

SILVER – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine

BRONZE – La Cucina Ristorante Italiano

FINALIST – Rigo Spanish Italian

 

Best Mediterranean

GOLD – Istanbul Hawai‘i

SILVER – Olive Tree Café

BRONZE – Lady Elaine

FINALIST – Botanico Waikīkī

 

Best Mexican

GOLD – Da Seafood Cartel

SILVER (tie) – Aloha Amigo and La Birria

FINALIST – Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant

 

Best Overall Japanese

GOLD – Yohei Sushi

SILVER – Zigu

BRONZE – Restaurant I-naba

FINALIST – Yanagi Sushi

 

Best Overall Korean

GOLD – Hangang Korean Grill House

SILVER – Korea Garden

BRONZE – Onkee Korean Grill House

FINALIST – O’Kim’s Korean Kitchen

 

Best Thai

GOLD – Thai Issan Cuisine

SILVER – Noi Thai Cuisine

BRONZE – Siam Square

FINALIST – Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine

 

Best Vietnamese

GOLD – Chao Hawai‘i

SILVER – Pho Vietnam

BRONZE – The Pig & The Lady

FINALIST – Hale Vietnam

 

Best Restaurant That Caters

GOLD – Easy ’Que

SILVER – Chef Chai

BRONZE – Egghead Café

FINALIST – Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering

 

Best Local Chain

GOLD – Merriman’s

SILVER – Zippy’s

BRONZE – Liliha Bakery

FINALIST – L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

 

Best Outdoor Dining

GOLD – Hau Tree

SILVER – Buzz’s Original Steak House

BRONZE – House Without A Key

FINALIST – Deck