The Best Places To Eat Outside in West O‘ahu
When one door shuts, the outdoors open. Here are some of our favorite restaurants on O‘ahu for dining alfresco.
Find more outdoor dining options in the August issue of HONOLULU. Look for it in our online store.
photo: courtesy of mina’s fish house
Mina’s Fish House
Editor’s note: This restaurant and the Four Seasons have announced plans to reopen March 11, 2021.
Sometimes you just need a fish sommelier. The experts at Mina’s Fish House at the Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu will make personalized recommendations from chef Michael Mina’s seafood-centric menu as you gaze at the uncluttered ocean view. For the best experience, sit in the open-air lower deck for a spectacular sunset and under-the-stars dining. Start with the popular If Can, Can cocktail, served tongue-in-cheek in a Spam can. Feast on Mina’s signature Hawaiian seafood towers. If you have any appetite left, though we doubt it, indulge in the Kona lobster and coconut bisque, or the catch of the day. –KSB
Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina, 92-1001 Olani St., Kapolei, (808) 679-0079, fourseasons.com, @minasfishhouse
SEE ALSO: Gourmet Getaways: These Two Beachy Restaurants Are Worth the Long Drive
Photo: david croxford
Mad Bene
No scenic vistas here. Mad Bene’s lānai offers views of movie theater crowds and cars filing in and out of Kapolei Commons. But the bustle suits the blend of New York (the chef) and Italian (the cuisine) that plays out boldly on its menu. Mad Bene reduced the number of tables outside and eliminated the couch-laden waiting area there, but it’s still a chic spot to dive into fluffy house-made gnocchi, pastas, Kona kampachi and always surprising local crudites. Who needs a sunset when you can watch the golden hues of a poached egg yolk oozing goodness over a carbonara pizza? The online reservation system does not accept seating requests, so call ahead or arrive after 7 p.m. when the crowds, inside and out, die down. –CY
4450 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, (808) 744-7400, madbene.com, @mad.bene
SEE ALSO: First Look: Mad Bene, a New Italian-American Restaurant in Kapolei
