2024 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i

The rest of our readers’ picks:

 

Best New Restaurant

GOLD – Cino

SILVER – Straits Honolulu

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen Waikīkī

FINALIST – El Cielo

 

Best O‘ahu Restaurant

GOLD – Miro Kaimukī

SILVER – Monkeypod Kitchen Waikīkī

BRONZE – Hau Tree

FINALIST – Fête

 

Best Maui Restaurant

GOLD – Monkeypod Kitchen Wailea

SILVER – Mama’s Fish House

BRONZE – Merriman’s Kapalua

FINALIST – Tiffany’s Maui

 

Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant

GOLD – Merriman’s Waimea

SILVER – Moon & Turtle

BRONZE – CanoeHouse

FINALIST – Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill

 

Best Kaua‘i Restaurant

GOLD – ‘Āina Kaua‘i Restaurant

SILVER – Rumfire Po‘ipū Beach

BRONZE – The Beach House

FINALIST – Red Salt

 

Best Service

GOLD – Mariposa

SILVER – Miro Kaimukī

BRONZE – Café Kaila

FINALIST – Over Easy

 

Best Breakfast

GOLD – Café Kaila

SILVER – Over Easy

BRONZE – Egghead Café

FINALIST – Koko Head Café

 

Best Brunch

GOLD – Café Kaila

SILVER – Istanbul Hawai‘i

BRONZE – Over Easy

FINALIST – Egghead Café

 

Best Hotel Brunch

GOLD – Orchids at Halekūlani

SILVER – Hoku’s at The Kāhala

BRONZE – 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar

FINALIST – Hau Tree

 

Best Business Lunch

GOLD – Mariposa

SILVER – Merriman’s Honolulu

BRONZE – Istanbul Hawai‘i

FINALIST – Fête

 

Best Buffet

GOLD – 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar

SILVER – Orchids at Halekūlani

BRONZE – Plumeria Beach House at The Kāhala

FINALIST – Hoku’s at The Kāhala

 

Best Cocktail Program

GOLD – Miro Kaimukī

SILVER– Bar Leather Apron

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen Waikīkī

FINALIST – Mud Hen Water

 

---

SEE ALSO: Foodflash: Bar Leather Apron Wins Hawai‘i’s First National James Beard Award

---

 

Best Wine Program

GOLD – Miro Kaimukī

SILVER – Pai Honolulu

BRONZE – StripSteak

FINALIST – Mugen

 

Best Brew Pub

GOLD – Hana Koa Brewing Co.

SILVER – Aloha Beer Co.

BRONZE – Maui Brewing Co.

FINALIST – Beer Lab Hawai‘i

 

Best Bar

GOLD – Bar Leather Apron

SILVER – EP Bar

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen Waikīkī

FINALIST – Pint + Jigger

 

Best Bar Food

GOLD – Splash Bar

SILVER – Side Street Inn

BRONZE – Osoyami Bar and Grill

FINALIST – Pint + Jigger

 

Best Tasting Menu

GOLD – Miro Kaimukī

SILVER – Pai Honolulu

BRONZE – Nature Waikīkī

FINALIST – Bar Maze

 

---

SEE ALSO: Best Bites: Miro Kaimukī is Home to Honolulu’s Best Tasting Menu

---

 

Most Romantic

GOLD – Michel’s at the Colony Surf

SILVER – La Mer at Halekūlani

BRONZE – 53 By The Sea

FINALIST – Istanbul Hawai‘i

 

Best Restaurant That Caters

GOLD – Chef Chai

SILVER – Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering

BRONZE – Mud Hen Water

FINALIST – Side Street Inn

 

Best Vegetarian

GOLD – Tane Vegan Izakaya

SILVER – Peace Café

BRONZE – Pai Honolulu

FINALIST – Nature Waikīkī

 

---

SEE ALSO: At Mō‘ili‘ili’s Tane Vegan Izakaya, a Fiery Tale of Suspense

---

 

Best Steak

GOLD – Hy’s Steak House

SILVER – Ruth’s Chris Steak House

BRONZE – The Signature Prime Steak and Seafood

FINALIST – StripSteak

 

---

SEE ALSO: $40 Pau Hana for 2: Signature Prime Steak & Seafood

---

 

Best Seafood

GOLD – Nami Kaze

SILVER – Herringbone Waikīkī

BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House

FINALIST – The Seaside (permanently closed)

 

---

SEE ALSO: Kampai at the Pier: Nami Kaze Is the Best New Restaurant of 2023

---

 

Best Dessert

GOLD – MW Restaurant

SILVER – Kapa Hale

BRONZE – Pai Honolulu

FINALIST – Miro Kaimukī

 

---

SEE ALSO: 2020 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Wade Ueoka of MW Restaurant Win Hawai‘i’s Restaurateurs of the Year

---

 

Best Hot Pot

GOLD – Shabuya

SILVER – Ichiriki

BRONZE – Nabeya Maido

FINALIST – Aunty’s Hotpot House

 

---

SEE ALSO: The Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Hot Pot in Honolulu

---

 

Best Dim Sum

GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

SILVER – Happy Days

BRONZE – Fook Lam Restaurant

FINALIST – Yung Yee Kee Dim Sum

 

---

SEE ALSO: Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Secrets of Making Dim Sum at Jade Dynasty and Tim Ho Wan

---

 

Best Chinese

GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

SILVER – Happy Days

BRONZE – Dew Drop Inn

FINALIST – Golden Duck

 

Best Hawaiian

GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food

SILVER – Highway Inn

BRONZE – Waiāhole Poi Factory

FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market

 

Best Italian

GOLD – Arancino

SILVER – La Cucina

BRONZE – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine

FINALIST – Rigo Spanish Italian

 

Best Izakaya

GOLD – Zigu

SILVER – Izakaya Nonbei

BRONZE – Izakaya Naru

FINALIST – Waikīkī Shokudo

 

Best Sushi

GOLD – Yanagi Sushi

SILVER – Sushi Sho

BRONZE – Restaurant I-naba

FINALIST – Sushi Ii

 

Best Ramen

GOLD – Jinya Ramen Bar

SILVER – Onoya Ramen

BRONZE – Noods Ramen Bar

FINALIST – Wagaya

 

Best Overall Japanese

GOLD – Zigu

SILVER – Restaurant I-naba

BRONZE – Yanagi Sushi

FINALIST – Restaurant Suntory

 

Best Thai

GOLD – Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine

SILVER – Noi Thai Cuisine

BRONZE – Maile’s Thai Bistro

FINALIST – To Thai For

 

---

SEE ALSO: Hale ‘Aina Award Winner: The Mother-Daughter Duo Behind Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine

---

 

Best Mediterranean

GOLD – Istanbul Hawai‘i

SILVER – Mara Restaurant & Bar

BRONZE – Olive Tree Café

FINALIST – Vein at Kaka‘ako

 

---

SEE ALSO: For Istanbul Hawai‘i’s Chef Ahu, With Great Risk Came Great Reward

---

 

Best Indian

GOLD – Café Maharani

SILVER – Spice Up House of Indian Cuisine

BRONZE – Tadka Indian Cuisine

FINALIST – Kamana Kitchen

 

Best Korean Barbecue

GOLD – Million Restaurant

SILVER – Gen Korean BBQ House

BRONZE – Hangang Korean Grill House

FINALIST – Yakiniku Seoul

 

Best Overall Korean

GOLD – O’Kim’s Korean Kitchen

SILVER – Million Restaurant

BRONZE – Hangang Korean Grill House

FINALIST – Kim Chee II

 

Best Vietnamese

GOLD – The Pig & The Lady

SILVER – Hale Vietnam

BRONZE – Pho Saigon

FINALIST – Pho Que Huong

 

Best Mexican

GOLD – Da Seafood Cartel

SILVER – Mexico Restaurant

BRONZE – Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant

FINALIST – Mekiko Cantina

 

Best Filipino

GOLD – Elena’s

SILVER – Thelma’s Filipino Restaurant

BRONZE – Max’s Restaurant

FINALIST – Julie’Z Restaurant

 

Best Outdoor Dining

GOLD – Hau Tree

SILVER – House Without A Key

BRONZE – Plumeria Beach House at The Kāhala

FINALIST – Deck at Queen Kapi‘olani Hotel

 

---

SEE ALSO: 2021 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Hau Tree Restaurant at the Kaimana Beach Hotel Wins Gold for Best Outdoor Dining in Hawai‘i

---

 

Best Local Chain

GOLD – Zippy’s

SILVER – Liliha Bakery

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen

FINALIST – Big City Diner