20 Must-Try Restaurants in Waikīkī

Cream Pot is proud to claim it was the first to introduce souffle pancakes to both Japan and more recently, the U.S. This brunch haven has been delighting guests with these delightful, fluffy pancakes since 2009. Their unique atmosphere, reminiscent of a whimsical hobbit home fused with a French cottage, adds to the charm. For a savory treat, don’t miss the maguro eggs Benedict, which features raw ahi atop poached eggs and rice, essentially breakfast sushi. Arrive early, as this once-secret spot now attracts long lines thanks to its newfound fame on TikTok.

Located within the Prince Waikiki hotel, this is the only Katsumidori branch outside Japan. While it lacks the model train that serves meals at the Japanese locations, it remains a great spot for reasonably priced sushi that surpasses your typical conveyor belt fare. The most luxurious sushi set, priced under $40, features delights like uni, abalone, and a notably long piece of jumbo eel.

Visiting for the ambiance alone would be worth it. The stunning open-air dining area on the eighth floor of the Ritz-Carlton offers a tranquil view over Waikīkī, but the modern French cuisine and cocktails would shine even in a less inviting setting. Opt for a three- or four-course prix fixe menu, featuring recent highlights like fried frog legs paired with escargot and dry-aged duck à l’orange with berbere spice. This restaurant also serves as the entrance to Sushi Sho, another recommended spot.

In 2016, renowned sushi chef Keiji Nakazawa made the move from Tokyo to open Sushi Sho at the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki Beach. Here, he merges traditional Edomae sushi techniques with both local and imported seafood, including unique offerings like aged wild yellowtail nigiri that challenge the idea that only fresh is best. The omakase, featuring around 30 courses, showcases his inventive flair with dishes such as a miniature version of laulau and a surf-and-turf creation of snail roe, caviar, and uni served on chawanmushi. Although the atmosphere feels formal, with 10 elegant armchairs surrounding a spotlighted sushi bar, the chefs encourage lively conversation. Reservations are essential, so book well in advance. If you can't secure a spot, try their exceptional takeout option: a $40 bara chirashi featuring 20 types of diced seafood and vegetables, including possible uni and abalone, served over sushi rice. Be sure to order ahead.

Brunch destination Castro’s thrives not just on the overflow from its neighbor, Eggs ‘n’ Things, but also on its own remarkable offerings. Waikīkī locals, who usually avoid the tourist crowds, flock here for standout dishes like the Cubano, choripan, and braised brisket sandwiches. Chef-owner Luis Castro's Cuban-inspired menu highlights local ingredients—a rarity for independent restaurants in Waikīkī—utilizing foraged flowers, local pork, and tropical fruit platters that favor fresh farmers market produce over typical imported berries.

Omitting a spot that serves coconut shrimp from this list would be an oversight. One of the finest versions can be found at Tommy Bahama's restaurant, surprisingly enough, which offers a tropical-American menu featuring guava baby back ribs, blackened mahi mahi tacos, and, of course, that classic yet delightful coconut shrimp, fried to golden perfection. Additionally, the rooftop bar and fire pits on the sand create an unbeatable atmosphere.

The Zetton group excels at transforming overlooked corners of Waikīkī into charming, thoughtfully designed spaces. They revitalized one of the few remaining 1930s buildings in the area, uncovering the original wooden beams that had been covered up during its time as a scooter rental and nail salon. On the ground floor, you’ll find Zigu, an izakaya that blends locally sourced ingredients with contemporary Japanese flavors. Upstairs, Nature Waikiki offers a menu with a French influence. The chef’s counter features a tasting menu (with a vegetarian option), while the casual side allows for a la carte selections like heart of palm beignets and Kaua‘i shrimp cooked with absinthe butter. Reservations are essential for the tasting menu.

The Breakers Hotel is one of the last remaining two-story hotels from the 1950s in Waikīkī, retaining its original character with shoji sliding doors and wooden jalousies. By the pool, you'll discover the serene and delightful Wasabi Bistro. Signature dishes include spicy tuna atop crispy rice and papaya seafood motoyaki, featuring shrimp, scallops, and mayo baked in a half papaya. The menu mirrors the relaxed ambiance, showcasing everything from sushi to misoyaki butterfish, all prepared with care.

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin, the only U.S. branch of this Japanese chain, transforms fried pork into a light and sophisticated experience. The menu offers a focused selection — choose between regular or premium kurobuta and thick or thin cuts — with bottomless cabbage salad that will change your perception of this vegetable. Here, cabbage is reimagined as airy shreds rather than a heavy heap. Don’t overlook the minimalist tonkatsu sandwich: served on soft white bread and cut into crustless finger-sandwich shapes, it resembles the chiffon cake of fried meat sandwiches.

Junichiro and Ryojiro Tsuchiya, who previously sourced fish from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market, run this small takeout counter in Waikīkī exclusively during the evenings. Their specialty features fresh, raw tuna, hamachi, and salmon served as poke or sashimi over rice, all at unbeatable prices.

Though the line at Marugame Udon can be daunting, it moves swiftly as bowls are served with fast-food efficiency. Opened in 2011, this location marked the Japanese chain’s debut in the U.S., paving the way for more California branches. Each bowl is straightforward: freshly made noodles cooked to order, offered in a range of hot and cold selections. All dishes are under $10, making it a fantastic choice for budget-friendly dining in Waikīkī.

This cafe offers a delightful selection of matcha-flavored shave ice, beverages, floats, and soft serve. However, the star of the menu is the Maiko Special: a lavish parfait featuring mochi balls, azuki beans, chestnuts, matcha chiffon cake, and crunchy cornflakes, all drizzled with Japanese brown sugar syrup and crowned with matcha soft serve.

At the Waikīkī location of this renowned Hong Kong dim sum chain, you'll find all the traditional favorites: the famous baked barbecue pork buns with a sweet, cookie-like crust, plump har gow filled with juicy shrimp, and delicately pan-fried noodles. Exclusive to Waikīkī, there are often specials like steamed Kona abalone or garlic shrimp. Everything is made fresh to order, so don't expect carts here.

With three decades in the coffee industry, including founding and later selling the Honolulu Coffee Co. chain, Raymond Suiter established Kona Coffee Purveyors to spotlight Kona-grown beans. At this Waikīkī café, you can savor the brand's single-estate Kona and other Hawaiian coffees, paired with delectable treats from San Francisco’s B. Patisserie. If you visit for coffee, you might find it hard to resist the pastries and desserts, such as a strawberry guava kouign amann or a black sesame tart.

For a refined udon experience, visit TsuruTonTan, a renowned Japanese chain located in the Royal Hawaiian Center. Here, you’ll find enormous bowls filled with fresh, chewy udon in rich, thick sesame tan tan soup or served cold with toppings like ikura or uni. The menu also includes sashimi, sushi, and rice bowls adorned with fresh fish.

Restaurant Suntory, a creation of the renowned Japanese whisky and spirits brand, stands out as one of Honolulu's finest and most sophisticated Japanese dining spots. It features three distinct experiences: teppanyaki, sushi omakase, and washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine), so be sure to indicate your preference when reserving. The washoku menu is the most extensive, with options for a la carte sashimi, tempura, and small dishes, as well as set menus like kamameshi (iron pot rice) steamed at your table or shabu shabu. The $42 kaiseki-style lunch sets are a fantastic value, but reservations are required as only 18 are available each day. And don’t forget to explore the drink menu, since it’s Suntory!

Located in a kiosk next to the Royal Hawaiian Center, Island Vintage is renowned for serving some of the finest shave ice on the island, with servers generously pouring real fruit syrups over each cup. Just a short distance away, their second-floor wine bar offers the same dedication to detail, featuring tasting pours from 40 different bottles, perfectly paired with exquisite poke and steamed Hawai‘i Island clams. You can also grab a bite from the adjacent Island Vintage café, which serves acai bowls topped with liliko‘i and seasonal fresh lychee.

At Musubi Cafe Iyasume, a compact space is packed with flavor, especially in their musubi. Fresh rice envelops fillings like fried chicken or salmon with roe, and the menu boasts numerous Spam musubi options. Enjoy it simply, enhanced with shiso, or loaded with avocado, bacon, and egg—essentially a breakfast sandwich in musubi form. Transform a snack into a meal with two musubi and a miso soup for only $6. They have two Waikīkī locations: one inside the Aqua Pacific Monarch Hotel, where musubi is made to order, and a grab-and-go option on Seaside.

Nestled behind the Alohilani Resort, this quaint ice cream stand offers unique flavors such as yuzu creamsicle, honey furikake, and hojicha. Indulge in the crack seed sundae, inspired by the beloved salty, sweet, savory, and sour preserved fruits that excite locals. It features scoops of sweet cream and strawberry ice cream, topped with dried plum pieces, rice crackers, and a sprinkle of tangy li hing powder.

Yoshitsune stands out as one of the few remaining traditional, independent Japanese Mytouries in Waikīkī, nestled within the Park Shore Hotel. Regular patrons often indulge in the two-tier chirashi, a visually stunning dish, and the kamameshi, where iron pots of rice are gently cooked with seafood such as crab, abalone, or seasonal matsutake mushrooms.