Martha Cheng
Honolulu hangs onto its meals and tradition fiercely. It’s why decades-old mom-and-pop eating places nonetheless dominate sure neighborhoods and why you see dishes that might have been acquainted to among the islands’ earliest settlers. Whereas the world strikes at its frenetic tempo, town reminds us of who we now have been and who we’re.
In fact, it’s not immune to alter. Over the almost 20 years that I’ve been writing about meals in Honolulu, many beloved establishments have closed, whereas newer eating places have introduced in flavors from locations as numerous as Detroit and Laos. And the post-pandemic years have seen a flurry of restaurant openings, although some are extra centered on flash than substance.
As Hawai‘i heads into hotter, drier, and longer days, now’s the time to get pleasure from eating alfresco, a stunning rarity exterior of Waikīkī; some favourite spots for outside eating embody Olay’s Thai Lao Delicacies and Mud Hen Water. Or seize meals from counter spots like Le’s Banh Mi and Waiahole Poi Manufacturing unit for a seashore picnic. Use this information to be taught extra about these particular spots and to seek out loads of different nice meals — in such a food-obsessed metropolis, there’s at all times good meals close by, if you understand the place to seek out it.
We replace this checklist quarterly to verify it displays the ever-changing Honolulu eating scene.
New to the map in March 2025: Olay’s Thai Lao Delicacies, with Laotian specialties and Thai favorites in a beguiling outside courtyard; and Le’s Banh Mi, a small counter serving good Vietnamese sandwiches.
On this newest refresh, we’ve revamped our write-ups to incorporate much more related data for diners, together with a tough vary of pricing for every vacation spot — starting from $ for fast, cheap meals with dishes largely beneath $10, to $$$$ for locations the place entrees exceed $30.
Martha Cheng is a author and editor primarily based in Honolulu and has been writing about Hawai‘i for nearly 20 years.
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