50 Best American Restaurants in Honolulu

“A wonderful experience at Maze in Honolulu, largely thanks to the exceptionally warm service, strong flavor and sauce work, and consistently good dishes from beginning to dessert.

What sticks in our mind were the oyster (meaty oyster that didn't feel powdery as some larger ones do, balanced but not overwhlemed by the sauce on top), the basil jook that came with the scallop dish (so well developed), the Washugyu and daikon broth that came with the main.

Also want to compliment the pacing of the meal as we never felt like we were waiting for a long time for any of the dishes. Pretty much perfectly well paced for preferences.

Overall, adding in everything into the experience would not hesitate to come back here again.“

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

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

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

“We had two fantastic meals here during our time in Hawaii! Looking forward to coming again!“

“Icon scene on Waikiki Beach! Top notch 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!“

“Delicious food ,great people“

“My daughter asked to come here every morning for our trip. Chris and the day crew were very welcoming and exceptional. 💯our favorite spot!“

“Senia delivers an exceptional dining experience, with attentive, polished service and an intimate ambiance—especially with the option to sit at the chef’s counter and watch the kitchen at work.

The ahi cigar and triple-smoked salmon were highlights. The interplay of textures, aromas, and contrasting flavor notes throughout the meal was thoughtful and beautifully executed. There is a clear sense of creativity and technical precision behind the food.

One minor refinement: some dishes leave guests to construct their own bites. A more controlled composition could better showcase the chef’s intended balance of flavors and textures. Overall, an inventive, refined, and memorable experience deserving of five stars.“

“Old review from 2024 -> Best burger I’ve ever had in my entire life. I’m not just trying to hype up this place just because they’re a local business. Seriously the burgers are out of this world. I’ve been to so many burger trucks/restaurants in the island/ Continental USA/ Other countries. And no one has ever made me such a delicious burger. 10/10. These burgers are worth every penny.

Edited : 8/3/26. I stopped by for ur reopening with ur new truck. I’ll miss seeing the small rainbow 🌈 truck since I live close by but I’m really happy for the success of this family business. Now with a bigger truck, you can do much more :). I always recommend this place to family/friends and visitors. Congrats from a silent supporter. I enjoyed the burger and fries yet once again.

— Don’t forget to tip“

“The BEST on OAHU! Wish we had this in LA!“

“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.“

“Great food and great service!“

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

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

“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“

“👍 Delicious meals. Nice and attentive service.“

“Used to be a pool hall bar back in the day called Amy's Place. What an interior transformation! Cool to have a vintage tavern in the throngs of Honolulu! We went for Sunday Brunch...the menu is extensive. We are picky eaters. It is rare we had so many items we liked on the menu. We had the lamb sandwich and the crab cake benedict. Both were delicious. So were the roasted potatoes and French fries! We love to eat and have tried nearly every restaurant in the Chinatown/downtown neighborhood. There are few we return to. We will be back and soon. Last but certainly not least the service was wonderful. Sophia has a lovely demeanor and met all our needs.“

“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.“

“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“

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

“We loved both the food and the wine and the service. The place is gorgeous too. We had a wonderful time.“

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

“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.“

“South Shore Grill has been part of my routine for close to 20 years. It’s a family‑run business with a lot of heart, and I’ve watched the owners’ kids grow up working behind the counter. The food is consistently good, the prices are fair, and there’s a great variety to choose from. It’s an easy stop before the beach or park, or the perfect place to refuel after a day in the surf. My go‑to is always the fish burrito. The cajun seasoning and macnut pesto are always on point. Truly one of those local spots that feels like part of the community.“

“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! :)“

“Absolutely our best meal in Hawaii. The right choice to celebrate a special occasion. Our experience was so wonderful, food, wine, atmosphere all made for the best evening. Our server, Julian was absolutely top notch, extremely friendly, attentive, and was just so happy to engage ensuring the celebration was more than we expected. Kudos he deserves it. Highly recommend this place. Will definitely be back.“

“There are meals you enjoy, and then there are meals that quietly redefine what simple food can be. Pagaikiki’s Kitchen, tucked beside the NEX, delivers exactly that.

I ordered the chicken with rice, and from the very first bite it was obvious that this kitchen understands one of the hardest things in cooking: perfection through simplicity.

The chicken is nothing short of extraordinary. Every piece is cooked with remarkable precision, arriving at that elusive point where the exterior develops just enough color and character while the inside remains unbelievably tender and succulent. Each bite is impossibly juicy, as though every ounce of moisture has been carefully preserved. The seasoning doesn’t overpower it enhances, allowing the natural flavor of the chicken to take center stage. It’s balanced, deliberate, and executed with the kind of consistency that only comes from genuine craftsmanship.

This isn’t chicken that’s merely “good.” It’s chicken prepared at its absolute peak where texture, flavor, and technique come together so seamlessly that you stop thinking about the cooking process altogether and simply enjoy the experience. It is, quite honestly, a work of art.

And then there’s the rice.

Too often it’s treated as an afterthought, but here it deserves its own applause. Perfectly cooked, light, fragrant, and incredibly satisfying, it captures every drop of flavor from the chicken while remaining exceptional in its own right. Together, they create a meal that proves extraordinary food doesn’t need complexity it needs care.

What makes Pagaikiki’s Kitchen memorable is its honesty. There are no unnecessary flourishes or distractions, just outstanding food prepared with respect for the ingredients and an obvious commitment to getting every detail right.

Some meals fill your stomach. Others stay with you long after you’ve left.

Pagaikiki’s Kitchen belongs firmly in the latter category. I’ll be thinking about that perfectly cooked chicken and that unforgettable rice for a long time.“

“Hawaiian seafood restaurant“

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

“Fabulous food and service!!!“

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

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

“We just came back to the US after a long trip to Europe and Asia so we decided to go back to Yardhouse for their happy hour. We ordered our usual poke nachos with Tomato bisque. We dunk our nachos on the bisque and it’s the best ever snack! I also ordered their chicken wrap, also good the chicken was well seasoned and tender. We ate at the bar area outside. The inside looked a little dark and dated not really very inviting for eating. But our food is great and our server is very friendly!“

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

“Definitely the Hawaiian Eggs Benedict with toast, the fried ice cream. the tarot pina colada, etc... you will not be disappointed with anything you order. Also, don't get me started with the service. Plz ask for Jessica. That girl deserves a raise or a promotion.“

“One of the better Hard Rock Cafes I've eaten at. Our party ordered a burger and a couple fajitas. Food was served quickly and was very tasty. Prices were reasonable by Waikīkī standards, felt we got good value. Decor was engaging, particularly the wave of guitars sculpture. Would eat here again.“

“Great food and service Felix is the best. Best food ive had in Hawaii and the portions are huge“

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

“Stopped by after picking up a friend at the airport. Great Happy Hour Specials. We got the smash burger and fries. Tasted very good. The well drinks on Special were also tasty and not watered out. Definitely make another stop next time. Happy Hour is 3 pm to 5 pm for now.“

“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.“

“We made a quick stop here for breakfast. It is an order at the counter style restaurant. Our food. Ame out so fast! I had the Spinsch, mushroom and cheese omelet. They were out of hash browns and I was bummed until I tried the home fries. YUM! They were so good that it made me forget I wanted hash browns. The omelet was light and fluffy, but so big I was unable to finish it and the potatoes. So odd. Because I usually eat everything. It was very good and I will put this in my top breakfast place list for sure! Nothing fancy. Just good home cooking. Thanks, Koa Pancake House for a great start to my day!
Side note: I loved the representation of all military branches displayed by the flags hanging from the ceiling. 🥰“

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

“We enjoyed the amazing food and aesthetic here! 10/10 recommend.“

“everything was delicious and very friendly staff!“

“Great atmosphere great food“

“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 ??“

“The service and the food was excellent. we loved the outdoor seating. we will definitely be back before we leave the island. I highly recommend it. We had the breakfast and my wife was already talking about going back for dinner“