Hawai‘i’s Best New Restaurants of 2023

Opened in 2023, these are the new places Frolic writers eat at and recommend the most.

December 26, 2023

Mari Taketa,

In one way or another, Frolic writers covered more than 50 new restaurants, takeout counters, pop-up series and food carts this year. Our top picks for this annual poll were submitted in secret, individually and without discussion among colleagues. They were eclectic—compared to 2022, when Nami Kaze swept nearly all the votes, six restaurants split this year’s voting. These are our favorites: the places we consider the best new restaurants in Hawai‘i.

El Cielo

slices of grilled Octopus with green chimichurri

Photo: Melissa Chang

El Cielo is the restaurant I don’t get to often enough, but wish I could. Its best dishes may be its simplest—minimalist presentations that deliver maximum flavor and comfort. Iberico ham sliced off the hoof, grilled octopus, buñuelo fritters of butterfish with aioli, squid ink paella with langoustine are more compelling to me than luxe offerings of uni and crab pasta and washugyu steak. People might treat El Cielo as a special occasion destination. I found a friend waiting with a glass of wine and a plate of fries topped with Serrano ham and a fried egg. Of course, I thought, and dug in. —Mari Taketa, dining editor, HONOLULU and Frolic

Open nightly from 5 p.m. to midnight, 346 Lewers St., (808) 772-4533, @elcielo_hawaii

HK Café

diners at tables in Hong Kong style cafe

Photo: Thomas Obungen

I come frequently for the laksa or wonton noodle soup, and if I’m there for breakfast, the steamed pork and egg cheung fun. And I can never resist the fantastically strong milk tea, which will keep me up all night if I drink it after 11 a.m. But I do it anyway. —Martha Cheng, Frolic

Since opening earlier this year, HK Café has repeatedly proven itself as my favorite new restaurant of 2023. It fills the cha chaan teng void in Chinatown with a menu that could rival cafés in Hong Kong. I’m still hooked on the soy sauce stir-fried noodles but have developed strong cravings for the gingery congee and golden-brown chicken wings. Add in a milk tea brewed so strong it’ll keep you going for 72 hours, and you’ll get a taste of why I like HK so much. It’s one of those restaurants that delivers humble, honest food with heart and passion. —Thomas Obungen, associate editor, HONOLULU and Frolic

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m., 1113 Maunakea St., (808) 200-5757, @hkcafehawaii

Kaimukī Shokudo

Kaimuki shokudo Credit Thomas Obungen Interior

Photo: Thomas Obungen

The bite that ignited my love for Kaimukī Shokudo was a simple kakiage. It was airy, crisp and clearly fried by a deft hand. The delicate batter gives way to sweet onion, carrot, burdock root and sea asparagus (!), an unexpected addition that gives the tasty little nest a whole new dimension. A sprinkle of powdered salt and a dip in the umami-rich sauce, and you’re smiling. For lunch, I love the cold soba (the chew just hits different) with a generous portion of broiled saba, whichever sushi roll feels right and some tempura. For dinner, we get it all: catch of the day sashimi, yukari fries, Sumida Farm watercress salad, mentaiko cheese spring rolls, washyugu beef curry, maitake tempura—I could keep going. Oh, and the not-too-sweet house-made sodas always hit the spot. —Maria Burke, Frolic

I agonized over this for a long time, but ultimately I chose Kaimukī Shokudo as my favorite new restaurant of 2023. Not only is the food great, the prices are actually pretty good for these challenging times, and there always seems to be something for everyone. I love the versatility in their menu—the food appeals to many people, from young hipsters all the way up to seasoned citizens. And everyone that I’ve referred to Kaimukī Shokudo has become a repeat customer. On top of the food, the service is quick and friendly, the parking is plentiful and it’s easy to find. —Melissa Chang, Frolic

cocktail in highball glass topped with lemon slice

Photo: Katrina Valcourt

One of the perks of working here is getting to read restaurant reviews before they’re published, giving me a leg up on snagging reservations to some of the best places on the island before most people know how good they are. So while editing Mari Taketa’s writeup of Kaimukī Shokudo in late August, I knew I’d only have a month before the October issue hit newsstands and spilled the beans. The only photo I managed to take was of my Shokudo Smoked Hojicha Fashioned because once I started putting things in my mouth, there was no stopping. Hamachi carpaccio, mentai mochi cheese spring rolls, zaru soba and the kamameshi with saba were all exactly what I wanted and more. Two of us demolished everything with no leftovers, though I wish I’d saved room for honey toast. —Katrina Valcourt, executive editor, HONOLULU

Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sunday to Thursday from 5 p.m. to 12 midnight, Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., 1127 11^th Ave., kaimukishokudo.com, @kaimukishokudo

SEE ALSO: A Shokudo for Grownups

Nori Bar

Photo: Robbie Dingeman

Going to Nori Bar feels like a small-kine food adventure. The restaurant specializes in hand roll sushi, the fish is fresh and some of it local and the place seats just 16. We tried hamachi, spicy scallop, salmon, blue crab, unagi, scallop with yuzu ($5–7 for most hand rolls) as well as hamachi carpaccio ($10) for a satisfying late lunch that came out to about $65 for two with tip. The “hella crisp” nori is a main attraction, along with fluffy Koshihikari rice, so it’s best to order only one or two rolls at a time to not lose that crisp. With high ceilings and a clean design, the gleaming new place in the concrete canyon side streets of Kaka‘ako near Whole Foods reminds me of exploring Tokyo. The system of scanning the QR code and ordering and paying on your phone makes Nori Bar an ideal quick stop when I’ve got an appointment nearby. —Robbie Dingeman, Frolic

1000 Auahi St. Suite 130, (808) 379-1144, noribarhawaii.com, @noribar_hi

Tenkatori Hilo

Photo: Gregg Hoshida

I’ve fallen in love with this little Hilo eatery that opened in late August. Tenkatori’s pitch-perfect karaage transports my palate to Japan; the cozy interior does the same visually. I always feel comfortable at the counter munching on the specials of the day and conversing with other regulars at this family-owned and -operated spot. This is a truly welcome lunch stop when I’m on island for regular work visits. —Gregg Hoshida, Frolic

Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 811 Laukapu St. #1, Hilo, (808) 990-5051, @tenkatori_hilo

Tonkatsu Sangi

Photo: Mahina Chong

I missed Menchanko-Tei when it closed last year, and not only because the food was bomb. It was where my boyfriend and I had one of our first dates, and every time we went back, the katsu was always on point. We followed the restaurant’s journey to find a new home, and when at last Tonkatsu Sangi opened, I was delighted to find the food even better than I remembered. The tonkatsu is plump and crispy, but the real winner is the nanban chicken—supremely juicy. Can’t wait to go back and try the ramen too. Plus, the folks running the restaurant are so sweet. —Andrea Lee, digital editor, HONOLULU

Open Monday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 900 Fort Street Mall Ste. 170, tonkatsusangi.com, @tonkatsu_sangi