Search Results for: mari taketa
Melissa & Mari — our new food critiquing duo
This past Tuesday, Mari Taketa and Melissa Chang did what they typically do together — eat. This time, the occasion was opening night at Morimoto Waikiki, the new restaurant by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto.Their assignment was to review the restaurant…
Best Restaurants in Honolulu
HONOLULU Magazine’s picks for the top eateries on O‘ahu by Mari Taketa, Thomas Obungen and Melissa Chang.
Side Street Inn Just Opened in the Old Westman Café/Bills Waikīkī Spot
With the full Side Street Inn menu, a 10% kama‘āina discount and validated parking.
Dishes That Define O‘ahu
From chichi dango to lau lau stew to char siu croissants, our food reflects our stories.
2026 Hale ‘Aina Awards: Chao Restaurant Group Wins Restaurateur of the Year
Behind the unconventional rise of Chao Restaurant Group, helmed by Chancelor Kim and Dong Dang.
2026 Hale ‘Aina Awards: Best New Restaurant Chao Hawai‘i Is Playfully Viet-Inspired
Chao’s roots are traditional, though its approach is a different story. Get the scoop on some of the restaurant’s popular dishes.
2026 Hale ‘Aina Awards: Da Seafood Cartel Is Recognized as the Seafood Specialist
Da Seafood Cartel, winner of Best Mexican and Best Seafood, brings vibrant coastal flavors to a converted gas station.
2026 Hale ‘Aina Awards: Anna Miller’s Is a ’70s-Era Time Stamp
Not much has changed in 53 years at Anna Miller’s—exactly why we love it and name it this year’s Old-School Restaurant We Love.
Goodbye to Ward Centre and Kilohana Square
We lament the generations-old buildings, the latest closures in an unending cycle.
Recently Shuttered Tchin Tchin Bar Is Reopening—This Time With Cigars
A new owner is breathing new life into Chinatown’s pioneering rooftop bar.
Where They Are Now: 90-Plus Lahaina Restaurants, Bars, Snack Shops & Food Trucks
More than a third have reopened or are working to reopen, mostly along the Kihei-Lahaina-Ka‘anapali stretch.
Kama‘āina Deals: Restaurants and Eateries
40-plus places where it pays to show your Hawai‘i ID—just remember to ask before the check comes.
HONOLULU Magazine Wins 10 Local Journalism Awards for 2025
Revisit the stories that garnered us first, second and third place prizes from the Society of Professional Journalists Hawai‘i Chapter.
50-Plus New Restaurants Have Opened on O‘ahu This Year
Last week, we published a running list of 50-plus restaurants that have closed so far this year. Here’s the flip side.
Your 2026 Guide to O‘ahu Bon Dance Food: Part 2
Where to find takoyaki, pastele stew, root beer floats, homemade baked goods and more while you dance under the summer skies.
Mahalo and Aloha to O‘ahu Restaurants, Bars, Cafés and Eateries That Closed This Year
They closed for different reasons, but the closures are increasing. Here’s our running list.
7 Notable Restaurants in Hawai‘i
These spots opened in a landscape altered by the pandemic—and remind us of the joy of dining out, whether it’s a jovial omakase counter or regional Peruvian food served from a truck.
Hawai‘i’s Historic Homes
They reveal our past and offer a richer understanding of who we are. We look at three neighborhoods full of these gems.
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.
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.
“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.
We Tried It and You Can Too
22 fun and exciting things to do that we personally recommend.
