Waianaes Blazin Steaks

Hawaii dining runs from plate lunch to world-class Japanese. Find what you are looking for.

The food scene in Hawaii reflects its cultural makeup more authentically than almost anywhere in the US. Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, and Native Hawaiian influences all show up in the local restaurant landscape in genuine ways, not as approximations of what mainlanders think those cuisines should taste like. The plate lunch, one of Hawaii's most distinctly local food traditions, is a complete meal built on rice, macaroni salad, and a protein that itself reflects the mix of Asian and American influences that shaped local food culture. Neighborhoods matter for dining. Chinatown in Honolulu has some of the most interesting and most affordable food in the state. Kaimuki has a concentration of locally owned restaurants that reflects Oahu's residential dining scene at its best. Kailua has developed a real food culture of its own over the past decade. On Maui, Paia and Kihei have distinct dining identities worth exploring. The restaurants listed here are local Hawaii businesses across all price points and all islands.