Hawaii's Best Restaurants in the islands. . 2016

Each year, our readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands. The top restaurants were announced at a gala reception held Sept. 25, 2016 at the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Ballroom. See our upcoming January 2017 issue for more on the Hale ‘Aina Awards and winners.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
GOLD – Bread & Butter

SILVER – Mud Hen Water

BRONZE – Fête

FINALIST – Artizen by MW

FINALIST – 40 Carrots

TOP WRITE IN – Avenue’s Bar & Eatery

RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
Andrew Le, The Pig & the Lady

BEST O‘AHU RESTAURANT
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady

SILVER – Alan Wong’s

BRONZE – Roy’s Waikīkī

FINALIST – 12th Ave Grill

FINALIST – MW Restaurant

TOP WRITE IN – Arancino at The Kāhala

BEST MAUI RESTAURANT
GOLD – Merriman’s Kapalua

SILVER – Lahaina Grill

BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House

FINALIST – Da Kitchen

FINALIST – The Mill House

TOP WRITE IN – Monkeypod Kitchen

BEST BIG ISLAND RESTAURANT
GOLD – Roy’s Waikoloa

SILVER – Merriman’s Waimea

BRONZE – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill

FINALIST – Moon and Turtle

FINALIST – Holuakoa Gardens and Café

TOP WRITE IN – Pueo’s Osteria

BEST KAUA‘I RESTAURANT
GOLD – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū

SILVER – The Beach House Restaurant

BRONZE – Eating House 1849

FINALIST – Tidepools

FINALIST – Bar Acuda

TOP WRITE IN – Red Salt

BEST SERVICE
GOLD – Lahaina Grill

SILVER – Alan Wong’s

BRONZE – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai

FINALIST – La Mer

FINALIST – Chef Mavro

TOP WRITE IN – Ruth’s Chris Steak House

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
GOLD – The Pig & the Lady

SILVER – Mariposa

BRONZE – The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong

FINALIST – Lucky Belly

FINALIST – Stage Restaurant

TOP WRITE IN – MW Restaurant

BEST BREAKFAST
GOLD – Café Kaila

SILVER – Moena Café

BRONZE – Liliha Bakery

FINALIST – Cinnamon’s

FINALIST – Sweet E’s

TOP WRITE IN – Scratch Kitchen & Bake Shop

BEST BRUNCH
GOLD – Plumeria Beach House

SILVER – Orchids

BRONZE – Hoku’s

FINALIST – Hau Tree Lanai

FINALIST – Longhi’s

TOP WRITE IN – Koko Head Café

BEST BUFFET
GOLD – Prince Court

SILVER – The Willows Restaurant

BRONZE – Plumeria Beach House

FINALIST – Hakone

FINALIST – The Oceanarium (no longer open)

TOP WRITE IN – Orchids

BEST COCKTAIL
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady

SILVER – Pint + Jigger

BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill

FINALIST – Nobu Waikīkī

FINALIST – Livestock Tavern

TOP WRITE IN – Bar Leather Apron

BEST WINE PROGRAM
GOLD – Lahaina Grill

SILVER – Formaggio Wine Bar

BRONZE – Amuse

FINALIST – Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar

FINALIST – The Tchin Tchin! Bar

TOP WRITE IN – 12th Ave Grill

BEST BEER PROGRAM
GOLD – Yard House Waikīkī

SILVER – Pint + Jigger

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen

FINALIST – REAL a Gastropub

FINALIST – Waikīkī Brewing Co.

TOP WRITE IN – Brew‘d Craft Pub

BEST BAR FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn

SILVER – Home Bar and Grill

BRONZE – REAL a Gastropub

FINALIST – Tiki’s Grill & Bar

FINALIST – Roy’s Waikīkī

TOP WRITE IN – Pint + Jigger

BEST LIVE MUSIC
GOLD – Duke’s Waikīkī

SILVER – House Without a Key

BRONZE – Nico’s at Pier 38

FINALIST – Tiki’s Grill & Bar

FINALIST – Kani Ka Pila Grille

TOP WRITE IN – Monkeypod Kitchen

BEST TASTING MENU
GOLD – Alan Wong’s

SILVER – MW Restaurant

BRONZE – Chef Mavro

FINALIST – Stage Restaurant

FINALIST – Vintage Cave

TOP WRITE IN – Azure

MOST ROMANTIC
GOLD – Michel’s at the Colony Surf

SILVER – 53 by the Sea

BRONZE – La Mer

FINALIST – House Without a Key

FINALIST – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai

TOP WRITE IN – Hoku’s

BEST RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW
GOLD – Top of Waikīkī

SILVER – 53 By the Sea

BRONZE – Tiki’s Grill & Bar

FINALIST – Hau Tree Lanai

FINALIST – Azure

TOP WRITE IN – Mariposa

BEST VEGETARIAN
GOLD – Greens and Vines

SILVER – Nobu Waikīkī

BRONZE – Peace Café

FINALIST – ‘Ai Love Nalo

FINALIST – Water Drop Vegetarian House

TOP WRITE IN – Juicy Brew

BEST GOURMET COMFORT FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn

SILVER – Café Kaila

BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill

FINALIST – Lucky Belly

FINALIST – Mac 24/7

TOP WRITE IN – Kalapawai Café & Deli

BEST STEAK
GOLD – Ruth’s Chris Steak House

SILVER – Hy’s Steak House

BRONZE – Morton’s The Steakhouse

FINALIST – Wolfgang’s Steakhouse

FINALIST – BLT Steakhouse

TOP WRITE IN – The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood

BEST SEAFOOD
GOLD – Nico’s at Pier 38

SILVER – Mama’s Fish House

BRONZE – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū

FINALIST – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar

FINALIST – Chef Chai

TOP WRITE IN – Lahaina Grill

BEST DESSERT
GOLD – MW Restaurant

SILVER – JJ Bistro & French Pastry

BRONZE – The Pig & The Lady

FINALIST – Café Laufer

FINALIST – Nobu Waikīkī

TOP WRITE IN – STAGE Restaurant

BEST FARM-TO-TABLE
GOLD – 12th Ave Grill

SILVER – Town

BRONZE – Azure

FINALIST – ‘Ai Love Nalo

FINALIST – Mission Social Hall & Café

TOP WRITE IN – Mud Hen Water

BEST CHINESE
GOLD – Little Village Noodle House

SILVER – Happy Days

BRONZE – Jade Dynasty

FINALIST – Pah Ke’s Chinese Restaurant

FINALIST – Mei Sum

TOP WRITE IN – Dew Drop Inn

BEST HAWAIIAN
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food

SILVER – Highway Inn

BRONZE – ‘Ono Hawaiian Food

FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market

FINALIST – Haili’s Hawaiian Food

TOP WRITE IN – Yama’s Fish Market

BEST ITALIAN
GOLD – Assaggio Italian Ristorante

SILVER – Arancino at The Kāhala

BRONZE – La Cucina Ristorante

FINALIST – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine

FINALIST – Baci Bistro

TOP WRITE IN – Paesano

BEST IZAKAYA
GOLD – Izakaya Gaku

SILVER – Tokkuri Tei

BRONZE – Izakaya Nonbei

FINALIST – Izakaya Torae Torae

FINALIST – Gazen

TOP WRITE IN – Izakaya Naru

BEST SUSHI
GOLD – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar

SILVER – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar

BRONZE – Sushi Ginza Onodera

FINALIST – Sushi Sasabune

FINALIST – Morio’s Sushi Bistro

TOP WRITE IN – Yanagi Sushi

BEST JAPANESE NOODLES (RAMEN, UDON, SOBA)
GOLD – Goma Tei

SILVER – Agu Ramen Bistro

BRONZE – Lucky Belly

FINALIST – Marukame Udon

FINALIST – Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

TOP WRITE IN – Golden Pork Tonkotsu Ramen Bar

BEST OVERALL JAPANESE
GOLD – Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar

SILVER – Morimoto Waikīkī

BRONZE – Nobu Waikīkī

FINALIST – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar

FINALIST – Nanzan Giro Giro

TOP WRITE IN – Imanas Tei

BEST THAI
GOLD – Phuket Thai

SILVER – Bangkok Chef

BRONZE – Noi Thai

FINALIST – Champa Thai

FINALIST – To Thai For

TOP WRITE IN – Opal Thai

BEST MEDITERRANEAN
GOLD – Olive Tree Café

SILVER – The Fat Greek

BRONZE – Kan Zaman

FINALIST – Da Spot

FINALIST – The Greek Corner

TOP WRITE IN – Greek Marina

BEST INDIAN
GOLD – Café Maharani

SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen

BRONZE – Café Taj Mahal

FINALIST – India Café

FINALIST – Bombay Palace

TOP WRITE IN – Kamana Kitchen

BEST YAKINIKU/KOREAN BBQ
GOLD – 678 Hawai‘i (now Sura Hawai‘i)

SILVER – Yakiniku Seoul

BRONZE – Sikdorak

FINALIST – Shillawon

FINALIST – Hyung Jae Restaurant

TOP WRITE IN – Gyukaku

BEST OVERALL KOREAN
GOLD – Sorabol

SILVER – Kim Chee 2

BRONZE – Million Restaurant

FINALIST – Seoul Garden

FINALIST – Choi’s Garden

TOP WRITE IN – Willow Tree

BEST VIETNAMESE
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady

SILVER – Hale Vietnam

BRONZE – Pho One

FINALIST – Duc’s Bistro

FINALIST – Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine

TOP WRITE IN – Pho to Chau

BEST MEXICAN
GOLD – Búho Cocina y Cantina

SILVER – Azteca Mexican Restaurant

BRONZE – Mexico Restaurant

FINALIST – Serg’s Mexican Kitchen

FINALIST – Cocina (no longer open)

TOP WRITE IN – Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine