50 Best American Restaurants in Honolulu

“Outside table for one at lunch time. Korean barbecue chicken sandwich. Excellent, delicious and messie to eat. I would order again.“

“Icon scene on Waikiki Beach! Top notch service. 🌺“

“Great atmosphere, really good food, outstanding staff!“

“My wife and I were invited by friends to a special fundraiser dinner at Bar Maze, and we really enjoyed the evening. The ambiance was warm and stylish, and the service throughout the night was genuinely thoughtful.

The menu offered a lot of food, with each dish bringing something fun to the table. The snacks were a great start—the smoked salmon dip disappeared quickly, the anago with smoked egg yolk was rich and addictive, and the chicken skin with chimichurri had that “I could snack on these all night” energy. The choke garlic balls with caviar and ranch were a surprising combo that worked far better than expected.

The ahi course was bright and refreshing, and the scallop with “Hawaii XO” and puffed rice was both comforting and elegant. The cheeseburger course was just pure fun, and Ethel’s grill taco rice had a nostalgic, homey vibe. “Textures of a crack seed shop” was playful and full of little surprises, and the chestnut tiramisu was a cozy, satisfying finish.

The spirit behind the event made the night even more meaningful, and we were grateful to be part of it. Bar Maze is easy to recommend, and we look forward to visiting again.“

“Great food and wonderful service!“

“We were fortunate to grab seats at the bar before a show at the Blaisdell. Beautiful atmosphere, very attentive server/bartender (Kalei), amazing food options and lovely hand mixed cocktails. We were pleasantly surprised and will return!“

“The staff are very friendly. Our waitress Dede was excellent. The sunset view is breathtaking. If you are in Waikiki stop by this bar and grill you will not be disappointed.“

“I came here on 2 seperate occasions and I have a mixed rating for it.

I would say the food is excellent. Very very good stuff.... but the wait time is atrocious.

I had an aloha smash burger, a loco Dog, and a chicken sandwich on the 2 trips. The food was fresh, great tasting and the fries were outta this world tasty.

Now onto the issues. I work in the food industry and have ran pretty much every cuisine under the sun. I have done so for 15 years and I think the wait times are ridiculous. Both times I went there I literally had to wait 50 minutes one night and an hour and 10 minutes the next night for food.

I would have just gotten a refund and went somewhere else if other places were open because while the food is absolutely top notch, the wait times make it not worth it and there wasnt many people ahead of us either of those times. 7 customers first night, 9 customers the longer night.

I understand they are working out of a small area with limited resources but it seems as though they have outgrown their space. 50-70 minutes for a burger, fries, and hot dogs is ridiculous any way you slice it.

Those guys are working hard and they're ingredients are fresh but from one chef to the next, you need to expand to a new area to allow yourself to grow. Working off of a small flat top and a table top plug in deep fryer will not being able to keep up with the demand and im hoping for the sake of your restaurant, it doesn't tarnish your reputation because as I said above..The food is phenomenal and these guys can cook up a mean dinner.

Only issue is they are holding themselves back from moving to the next level with the small space and crazy wait times.

When you can only do one ticket at a time because of limited space, the current work model isnt going to work out long term. I dont mind a wait for good food but I have to admit, this was the longest wait time Ive ever experienced for food in any setting.

I hope you guys live long and prosper because you know how to cook some great food. Take the risk and jump into a bigger space, I have faith you will be successful.

Only hesitation I have in returning again in the future is placing an order at 9pm but not being able to eat until after 10pm even if the food is phenomenal.“

“So welcoming ❤️ simple dinner or a drink at night next to the beach, priceless“

“Delicious food ,great people“

“Super nettes freundliches aufmerksames Personal Thank you Danielle T ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Das Frühstück war sehr lecker Die Preise voll in Ordnung Sterne ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Weiterzuempfehlen LG Dörte“

“Great food and wonderful service!“

“Brunch was very good as we had the Prime Rib dip sandwich. Service was friendly but, with only one server and one cook- it was slow service. The biggest issue with the ambiance is that they need to have better upkeep. Bathrooms were pretty filthy and disgusting- they need to be refurbished. I think it could be a great neighborhood restaurant with a spruce up and more help.“

“Great food and great service!“

“Food is fresh healthy & onolicious👍🏻👍🏻 The brisket musubi & brisket Katsu bomb👍🏻👍🏻“

“we have eaten there twice once for dinner the chicken and rice in pineapple so delicious and for breakfast a ham egg and cheese croissant the were big portions would highly recommend“

“We just had our daughter grad paina there, choke parking the food was onolicious the set was already made just gotta bring ur sounds, ur decorations and if anything phot set ups we still had plenty space and performance as well. Mahalo, Da Salas Ohana“

“Food is absolutely delicious!... Anyday, any special“

“Great atmosphere! Staff was wonderful! Recommend you give it a try!“

“美味しくいただけました。日本語メニューがなく無難なものを選ばざるを得なかったことが残念でした。 世界中から来店あると思うので、コストがかからないサービスは改善の余地があると思います。“

“Vandaag geweest met een vriendin We werden geholpen door bas Wat een aanwinst En het brood carpaccio ...heerlijk“

“Wonderful experience! From the friendly staff to the great tasting food I highly recommend this place!! Must try the jalapeño & bacon fried rice and all pancakes. (Had seconds of it) Olani St location.“

“Great place. I stop in most days. Very friendly employees that remember you. When I have large orders for work, they get it done pretty fast too! :)“

“After spending what we thought would be commonplace, a lot of $$$ at downtown restaurants, we were pleasantly surprised at E Ohi's prices, which for the food, which was very good BTW, was a delight.
SPAM, if you have not tried it for breakfast, you're missing a palatable staple of the island.“

“The food, service and value is REALLY good!“

“Great wine pairing dinners!!!!! And always a fabulous sunset. What more could you want these days?“

“Came here today and never knew there was good huli huli chicken just a 5 min drive from me! The aunties were very nice. Aunty at the register took the time to tell us what kine ribs they use and how the huli huli chicken plate differs from the chicken pieces.
We got the huli huli chicken plate and the meat was soft and juicy, good spice. Def coming here more often 👏“

“We can only say positive things from the time we were greeted at the door until walking out smiling and fulfilled beyond our expectations. We have been lucky to eat at some very nice restaurants in the past...and we have been chasing that feeling of “first times” ever OH THAT'S GREAT since. Fine dining so often feels so similar and uninspired at a lofty price and hard to get reservation...but our experience at Senia was exquisite, both in presentation and in flavor. We feel spoiled! Thank you Chef and staff! AMAZING“

“Cozy atmosphere and welcoming vibe. The food is top notch and the service is amazing. A must stop if you like enjoy eating ono food with local flair.“

“best breakfast sandwiches and French toast I ever had! Ono af“

“I and a couple of other retirees discovered Pur Sina when they opened and have been weekly customers ever since. Their small kitchen limits the menu choices, but what they offer is tasty and reasonably priced. The pleasant customer-oriented staff has made it serve as a home away from home for us, and we have always felt welcomed. If/when they leave, they will be sorely missed.“

“The space is really good. The food was really good in my taste. I wish they had some toddler type foods but then again you're paying by event. They usually accommodate to the party. The people are friendly to work with. I love that Samoan lady who helped us ??“

“Great coffee hash brown you have to pay extra not good“

“Ruby Tuesday in the Moanaloa shopping center is fantastic. A lot of military members and their families eat there. They are responsive to large groups who gather to eat as well as have short meetings during their time there. And, use of their robots to carry the meals to the table saves the wait staff's backs!“

“My husband was in search of some good fish in Waikiki. We stumbled upon this place and decided to give it a try. I’m not a seafood person so I got the chicken pasta and he tried snapper for the first time. Both of us were blown away by how tasty everything was. The portions were huge too! Out of all the places we had been to during our trip, this place is at the top. Even as a non fish eater, I loved it! There can be a wait, but it is well worth it. Try it, you’ll love it.“

“The best High Tea we've had, including The Fairmont in a few key cities. Excellent!!“

“Great food and great service!“

“We were actually impressed for a museum restaurant. Prices were about what you'd pay at a regular fast casual restaurant and the flavour was pretty good. My main complaint is the food wasn't very hot at all (actually the pork was basically cold), but it was tastier than I expected for museum food. If you're at Pearl Harbor for a day, this is a pretty reasonable lunch stop.

Service was also pretty friendly and the atmosphere was nice since it wasn't too crowded.“

“Fantastic 100pet cent swim bar staff amazing service fantastic 🍹.“

“We couldn’t dine outside because it was being used for a group booking, but really enjoyed a cozy table for two inside - great temperature! Shared the steak and eggs plate - wonderful, and delicious coffee (both hot and iced!). Service was exceptional. And, thank you, Walt, for directing us upstairs! We’ll be back on our next trip!“

“Long time since I visited this place… I missed their Mix Plate with salads! It was a bit after lunch time, so I didn’t wait for long to be served. My mixed plate was chicken katsu and mochiko chicken. My friend got beef cutlet and roast pork Mixed Plate. Both is us thoroughly enjoyed our lunch plate! Asian salad was just right flavor with sesame oil and fried wanton. A little extra was chow fun under the meat. And the price was really reasonable here!! ($15 each). Parking lot is just next to the restaurant, very convenient. It was really satisfied day for me.“

“Good food and staff Great service“

“OMG. Best.Tacos.Ever. Hadn't read reviews, just stopped while walking through the neighborhood. We're not foodies, not overly impressed by fancy plating or odd combos, but loved the great food and super-size portions at this small funky family-run restaurant just outside of Waikiki. The fish and kal-bi tacos were rich with flavor, the surprise of tuna in the mac salad was creamy and delicious, and the crunchy sweet coleslaw brought all the flavors together. Broke da mout', for realz!“

“The taste of the food was so amazing and the service was outstanding. The price for what we ordered was so so so low! I could not believe it when I received the check! Hawaiian pancakes are a must!“

“First time ever to enjoy a Hard Rock Cafe and it was Great! Our server was polite, attentive and fun. The environment was energized and fun. The food was delicious and the cocktails even better! We enjoyed a wonderful band. The whole experience was super!“

“Amazing dinner and friendly staff from bar to dining room! Our must every time we visit Oahu!“

“Hawaiian seafood restaurant“

“We celebrated a big anniversary at Pai and WOW - they made it extra special. We did the four course menu with wine pairings. The service was top notch. The food was inspired, creative, delicious, and locally sourced. Though the portions of each dish looked small, it was more than enough food and so delicious you wanted to eat every bite! The wine pairings were spot on, absolutely perfect with our chosen courses. The space has such a lovely vibe - clean and modern, but comfortable and well appointed. There really isn't another dining experience quite like this on the island. Justine and Kevin have created such a beautiful place with incredible food and service. Pai is definitely a must-try restaurant. We will definitely be back.“

“Visited Kona Brewing Company for a beer tasting using my Go City Oahu pass. One pass included a flight of four small beers, supposedly valued at $15 — maybe! I asked the waitress to surprise me with the selection, which was a fun touch. I ordered the fresh fish sandwich, and my friend got a salad. The fish sandwich was more like a fish burger, but it was tasty either way. Just a heads-up: adding a side will cost you an extra $2 to $4.“

“I stopped in at Yard House and ordered the small chicken salad along with a side of sweet potato fries. The “small” salad was actually quite generous in size — fresh, well-prepared, and flavorful enough to feel like a full meal on its own. It had a good balance of ingredients, with the chicken cooked just right and served in a way that felt both hearty and light.

The sweet potato fries were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, and they came with a maple syrup dip. That was a first for me, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise — the sweetness of the syrup paired nicely with the savory fries and gave them a unique flavor profile compared to the usual ketchup or aioli.

Service was another highlight. The staff was friendly, attentive without being overbearing, and seemed genuinely welcoming, which made the overall experience more enjoyable.

The atmosphere was lively but still comfortable enough for conversation, with the upbeat energy you’d expect from Yard House. It feels like a great spot whether you’re there for a casual bite, watching a game, or meeting with friends.

Overall Impression:
Good food, unique touches like the maple syrup dip, and excellent service make Yard House a solid choice. I’d definitely come back to try more menu items.“