50 Best Chinese Restaurants in Honolulu

“Lam’s Kitchen – A Traditional Chinese Noodle Shop in the Heart of Honolulu’s Chinatown

Lam’s Kitchen is a small, old-fashioned noodle shop nestled in the bustling Chinatown district of Honolulu. The place seats only about 30 people, so even though we came during a regular lunch hour, my family and I had to wait around 20 minutes to get a table.

I ordered the fish noodle soup – the broth was clear and light, with a clean, subtle flavor. The fish was not fried but cooked directly in the soup, making the meat firm, fresh, and pleasantly mild. It’s a good choice for those who enjoy traditional, light flavors.

My husband and child had the stir-fried beef rice noodles – a more memorable dish. The wide, chewy noodles were stir-fried hot with tender slices of beef, and the dish carried a distinct smoky aroma from the wok – adding a layer of depth and authenticity.

Lam’s Kitchen may not offer groundbreaking cuisine, but it delivers an honest, traditional Chinese dining experience. If you have time while visiting Chinatown, it’s worth trying at least once.“

“I really enjoyed coming to this bar for drinks I had a whiskey sour and it was perfectly balanced. The bartender that served me was very kind and welcoming. Unfortunately I did not eat the food since I had a full meal before although I've heard great things about how good it was. Next time I'm on island I will definitely try the food.“

“Great taste and worth to eat👍👍👍“

“Really good Taiwanese style beef noodle soup- tasted like home to me! Portions are great. We shared the noodle soup plus white rice and tasty Mongolian beef. Servers are so friendly but sometimes the language barrier can cause order mixups, so it's best if you're patient or can speak Mandarin Chinese :) looking forward to trying lots else on their menu!“

“came to this amazing chinese restaurant anticipating the best and it was the best .. i got 2 orders of the spicy beef noodles for take out and it was amazing . i didn’t think i would say this but it is better than ichiran in brooklyn .. the broth is absolutely delicious and soo flavorful it’s very easy on your stomach , and if you eat different ramen places you know what i’m talking about haha .. the noodles held the broth very well the beef was very tinder and cooked to perfection.. inside was very small there was maybe 5 tables to eat at and it was very crowded , not really anywhere to eat so i’m glad we got it to go .. i will most likely go back before this trip is over , if your craving chinese food of any kind come here .. you will not be disappointed“

“self rotating skewers were so delicious and fun to watch. side dishes were amzing too“

“Phenomenal Hotpot Experience! This hotpot restaurant exceeded all expectations—ultra-fresh ingredients, richly flavorful broths, and impeccably attentive service. The variety of meats and vegetables was outstanding, and the house-made dipping sauces elevated every bite. Clean, modern atmosphere with cozy vibes. A must-visit for hotpot lovers!“

“This is my go to for the office! The always hit the spot! Love their options. I always arrive early and the open a little early to accommodate. I love them! Fast, Friendly!“

“I stopped by today to get my breakfast, rice with 2 eggs and 3 spam slices, for $7.50 and upgraded to fried rice for $2 more and it turned out to be a great decision. The fried rice was super tasty and they gave so much. I do recommend this place.“

“My partner and I really enjoyed the food at Mian. The noodles and the dumplings were very flavorful. I did get some flavor fatigue from the strong flavor and the tomato & beef stew broth but if you want an authentic Chinese noodle, give this place go. The beef stew was so soft. The spice level was very much to my liking. Will definitely be bringing my parents here when they visit the island.“

“The quality of your dishes is very high on customer satisfaction!“

“They’re open until 01:30 AM now and thank goodness, because we skipped dinner to go fishing. Their fried chicken is crispy, succulent, and well-seasoned with a nice kick to it. If you’re a fan of the spicy chicken at Jollibee, this is the leveled-up sister. And their mala tang soup…drool worthy. I love spicy soup but they were sold out of spicy beef, so they offered to make their original beef spicy for me. You can adjust the spice level and I asked for mine to be “spicy spicy”, and they didn’t disappoint! There was a nice dose of chili oil and garlicky mala heat, but not so much that it drowned out the flavors. The broth itself has a rich, nutty flavor, reminding me of a wilder version of tan tan ramen. They use saimin noodles and top it with fish balls, meat balls, thinly sliced meat, sliced potatoes, and quail eggs. I didn’t get any pictures this time because I couldn’t resist inhaling my meal, but I’ll be back for sure!“

“This place is underrated! The best Chinese restaurant in Hawaii! The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food, and the service is great. Just be patient when they’re busy. They also serve the biggest dim sum in Hawaii at the best prices. I also like their generous portion of steamed fish. This is my go to Chinese restaurant that I love.“

“Go here!! 8 dollar lunch special with char siu and roast pork, side of rice and gai lan. Food is amazing. Char siu is moist and flavorful.

When you are done turn to your left to papa’s cafe and get the lilikoi and calamansi green tea - delicious.“

“Solid place with large portions and affordable prices! Owner has run this for 29 years!

We got the:
• Fried Fish Balls (6 Pieces)
• Wonton w/ Noodles and extra Fish Balls
• Minute Chicken Cake Noodles
• Beef Fried Fun

The flavors of the beef fried fun were nice and balanced. The minute chicken cake noodles had juicy chicken with great flavor, nice veggies, and crispy cake noodles. The wonton noodles we pretty good wonton soup. Fried fish balls were nice as well!

The space is a little tight, but we were able to sit comfortably for a hole in the wall!

The three of us ate and we still had a lot leftover! Easily could feed 4 people with what we ordered! Look at the box we took home!“

“Simple, shareable, strongly spiced food, reasonably priced but will make you want to drink. Cozy, maybe 10 tables total. Bonus points for being open late but that will mean rowdy tables. Party room next door overwhelms the ambiance with skull-numbing, throbbing bass. Limited parking.“

“Had a wonderful family meal here. The woman working did a great job taking care of the front of the house by herself on a busy Friday with 2 full 12 top tables, a couple of random walk-ins plus lots of take out orders. BYOB and BYOD (dessert) 😊 The order-ahead honey BBQ pork ribs are a MUST! We brought in our own fish and lobster, which they did a fantastic job preparing for us 😋 It's always great dining with a large group at a Chinese restaurant because you get a chance to try lots of dishes. Everything was delicious!“

“The food was amazing and everything we expected after we saw the video on You Tube. The prices and portions are good and filling.“

“TL;DR: This is a hidden gem in Chinatown! Authentic, old fashioned massive portion of Cheung fun for an amazing price! You won't be disappointed if you check it out!

We stumbled on this place while checking out Chinatown in Oahu.
This is not a restaurant, this is a Cheung fun factory, they make the fresh rice rolls wholesale for other restaurants!
We made soup noodles out of their plain noodles (look fun) it was incredibly fresh and delicious. The noodles held their shape, they are made in the very old fashioned Cantonese way!
We really appreciate the attention to authenticity, much better than all of the Chinatowns in other parts of the world that we have visited!
We loved our first visit so much, we returned to buy 2 char siu and 1 ha mi Cheung fun!
They are massive and for the price, it's an insane deal! They're tasty, they're fresh , they have the perfect bouncy texture! They did have small packets of soy sauce to eat with it as well!
It's just like the old fashioned, dim sum restaurant in Asia.
I don't think you can find this anywhere else!
This is a hidden gem, and we hope they will continue to be here for a long time!“

“This little hidden gem is the best! We visited this centrally located spot during our trip to Oahu. It is a mom and pop owned shop with delicious, fresh, and authentic Chinese food. Our favorites were the potstickers were so fresh and crispy (they make them homemade!) and the beef and broccoli.
We went for dinner. The service was also super fast - they were super attentive so great to grab a quick bite for lunch or takeout. It is really clean inside and a very welcome environment.
Highly recommend!!“

“I'm from Hong Kong and the food + atmosphere here was pretty authentic. The waitress spoke fluent Cantonese and Mandarin and there was a TV playing the TVB channel from Hong Kong. They seemed understaffed though and had to turn away some other customers while we were eating.

Iced Hong Kong milk tea was good, not too sweet. I got omelette rice with satay sauce, shrimp and char siu. The satay sauce had lots of peanuts in it and went well with the ingredients. The shrimp tasted better than the char siu but both are good. My husband got chicken with green onions, 2 sunny-side-up eggs and fried rice. Green onions with their scallion oil is always a great combination with chicken and rice. They also had lots of porridge and noodle options on their menu, and after 11am they have baked rice as well, which is difficult to get from other Chinese restaurants.

We then shared the ovaltine French toast for dessert, which is a unique product from them and the highlight of the meal. The toast was covered in ovaltine powder (chocolate-like in flavor), and the inside contained hot condensed milk, which mixed well with the powder when you slice the toast open to provide an amazing sweet and sticky flavor. This dish is only for dine-in customers, as takeout would make the bread too soggy. Would definitely recommend.“

“You must try the crab! You will not be disappointed.“

“Aloha; this spot has been around for years but this was my first time enjoying thier establishment with my family. The service was quiet but instant, food was served the quickest I have ever seen in a Chinese spot. The food was perfect, cake noodles were perfect, Mongolian beef tender, Egg Blossom soup was unreal good and Peking duck was perfectly tender and moist. There are only about 32 seats available but most people do take out. It's super old school look made me feel like it was the 80 again enjoying it with family...I loved it. You have to try it. This is how I remember traditional Chinese food.“

“This little “hole-in-the-wall” I’ve been coming to for years, possibly decades, but I haven’t been since new ownership took over. I was hesitant because the previous owners I’ve gotten to know over the years and they put so much effort into their food… I’m happy to report that the food is just as good!I ordered the soup noodles with pork and pickled vegetables and it was like I remembered. The soup base was delicious and the noodles cooked perfectly. I also order the salt & pepper chicken wings for good measure and those were great too!If you have a craving for HK-style cafe food, this is the spot to visit!“

“Never been to that Panda express before yesterday. Was busy cause I went around 5pm but I didn't wait long to be helped. Food was hot and fresh and workers were friendly. They were HUSTLING helping both inside, DT and all the mobile orders/deliverys. The tables were a bit dirty but it was during dinner so I get it.“

“A generous bucket of fresh tofu-fa for just $4, served with a delightful ginger sugar sauce. This place has been a staple for 20 years, though they now only open on weekends. The owner, a kind and welcoming Chinese lady, adds a personal touch to the experience.
Located next to Troy's Enterprise, the local fish market.

Vegetarian options: Tofu-fa“

“Best Pork Hash and Manapua I’ve ever had.“

“I was thirsty on the way back from Izumo Taisha Shrine in Hawaii, so I drank Sparring Lilikoi.
I didn't know about the boba iris when I asked for it, so I felt like I was in charge.
It was about $4 for size S, so it's about half the price of Waikiki.“

“Must try Dim Sum! BEST CHAR SIU BUNS EVER!!! The shu Mai and shrimp and chive dumplings were absolutely incredible as well! All the ingredients taste so fresh and and were perfectly assembled with such AMAZING flavors. I cannot wait to go back! Definitely try the desserts too! I would gain 5lbs a week if I lived closer.“

“Tucked into the heart of Kalihi near Farrington High School, Au's Garden is sure to impress with their inexpensive, warm-cooked Chinese dishes!
My favorites include cake noodles with black bean chicken, crispy gaugee, fried noodles, chow fun, and their steamed vegetables.
Perfect place to host your next party or large family dinner.“

“I absolutely love the dim sum here. As a half-Cantonese kid, their dumplings are more in line with traditional HK flavors than Hawaiian style. So their Siu Mai is more like Siu Mai than pork hash if ya get me;) The half moon and ha gow is delicious and very big. The char siu is another fav from here, really I think everything is good! Service can be surly though! Depends which Aunty you get and how she feels that day! Haha.“

“Food is authentic Hong Kong Style breakfast fare - jook, beef brisket noodles, roast meats, milk tea, toast

Service is exactly what you expect from a dirty hole in the wall greasy spoon type joint, thats why I love it.

Atmosphere - see above description for Sevice.“

“Since mid-1970’s, Mini Garden has been my favorite Chinese Food restaurant. I’ve followed them to different locations from downtown Honolulu to Mapunapuna to this Airport location. Their noodle dishes are prepared in front of of you at the counter since the mid-1970’s! Excellent food, friendly service!“

“A typical looking traditional dim sum place. I ordered some basic dim sums to go and they were fine, but nothing special. Each dim sum is about $6. It took a little longer than expected to get my small order ready, but it wasn’t bad. Servers were very friendly.

Vegetarian options: Some options were available.

Parking: Park in the adjacent building at a dollar per hour with the first 30 minutes free.“

“I like their Hainanese chicken but their pork hash is the best! my friends love the pig ear.“

“Awesome and tasty Vegetarian food, and I'm not vegetarian 😁“

“AMAZING. Great service - even better food!!!! made fresh“

“For me, Chun Wah Kam's baked manapua is the best around. I like my char siu quite sweet and I really enjoy the taste and texture of their buns. Their spicy garlic chicken is really good as well, and all of their noodles, watch out if you have MSG sensitivity you will FEEL it after eating their stuff.

I like the Pork Hash but it can be a little flavorless, def a pork hash not siu mai kine. Generally the staff here are really surly and don't seem to care about making customers happy, you seem to be bothering them just by being there. One time this older lady literally just stared at me and gave inaudible grunts when I ordered, it actually made me laugh how disgusted she seemed to be that I was a customer that day. Idk why they hire these sour people, sometimes there are some young girls that work there who are nice but generally you will get pretty curt service.“

“Best Roasted Duck in all the islands. Take out to neighbor islands too.“

“I went to Duk Kee for lunch with a coworker on a busy Thursday. We didn't realize it when we decided to order in person.

I had the sea bass with choy sum and a side of rice. My coworker ordered the lunch special. I liked my meal and was able to split it into two lunches. My coworker enjoyed his lunch special.

All in all, I had no issues with my food, my order, or the service. The price was a little costly. The restaurant's interior looked like every other local Chinese restaurant, and nothing special stood out.“

“A very pleasant surprise here. Don’t let its name fool you as it serves a wide variety of authentic Chinese dishes, mostly of Cantonese variety, but also some Shanghainese and Szechuan dishes. We had the ginger/onion chicken (similar to Hainan chicken) and beef with bitter melon. Both were very tasty and sizes were quite large. We will try its noodles on our next visit. The proprietor who also served as the cook was very friendly and efficient. A definitely worth future visits.

Vegetarian options: Like any legitimate Chinese restaurant, one can order different stir fried fresh vegetables.

Parking: There are a few spaces directly in front of the restaurant and there’s a sign that says more parking in the back

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“THE BEST CHINESE KOREAN FOOD! We are from NYC and tried almost all Chinese Korean food in NyC. This is by far the best! We tried jajangmeyon, jjamppong, tangsuyuk and shrimp ccampoongki. We came here a few times in 2022, 2023 and 2025. It hasn’t changed at all-still so delicious! The staffs are professional and friendly! Can’t wait to come back!“

“So I have been going here for years because I love Don Quijote nut this is the first time I have written a review. So I have lived in San Francisco and these guys are definetly the real thing. They have great duck and Char Siu as well as roast pork. I usually get the baked manapua and the pork hash. The baked manapua has a nice soft bun and the filling is great fresh with lots of meat. And the pork hash is great because it has chunks of water chestnut and other delicious veggies mixed in with the pork hash. The service has always been fast and friendly and the decor is well traditional Chinese restaurant .“

“I had their minute chicken cake noodle. Probably the best iteration of the dish I’ve had in Hawaii: delicious sauce, tender chicken, and superb quality noodles. However, the prices of their menu seem to change based on the cashier of the day. Kinda sketch.“

“This place is SOOO good! Every dumpling we had was a 10 out of 10! We had 3 kinds of pan fried dumpling; shrimp/egg/chive, veggie w zucchini/pepper, and pork/napa cabbge, and a beef & onion bao. We loved it all!
It's delicious food, great price, easy free parking, and nice people. We'll be back SOON!“

“The food was fresh and delicious. Service friendly and helpful. You’ll feel like you’ve arrived at that hidden gem where the locals eat authentic Asian food. Hong Kong style noodles were delicious, as was the tofu and eggplant. Vegetarian potstickers were not listed on the expansive menu, but when the server realized we were vegetarian she made the recommendation. Great place!“

“Best Won Ton Pi & Hong Kong Style noodles....great chewy texture. I vacuum seal, freeze and bring back to Japan all the time. Hard to find this kind of wrapper in Japan...they mostly have gyoza wrappers here which is not good for Cantonese Won Ton....it over cooks quick and your left with a soggy blob of Won ton. The cashier/?owner? is All business so you better have your ducks in a row!“

“Nicest lady works there and the food is good. I've tried the cold ginger chicken, soup, beef broccoli, crispy gau gee mein, fried rice, chicken jook, etc. All were good. Service is fast and the prices are on par with other Chinese restaurants. The area is nice and there's lots of free parking. The restaurant is clean and cool and it's one of my favorites.“

“We had only a few hours to kill in Honolulu and decided to wander around the arts/Chinatown district. Someone in a shop nearby recommended this place. It's pretty awesome! A little low rent of a room but the food and prices are excellent :-). Great Shrimp Look Fan!“

“... best honey walnut shrimp I've ever had in my life and this was ordering from ubereats so I can only imagine how amazing it is in person. Shrimp were huge and the batter had a great crunch to it, sauce was PERFECT, walnuts were PERFECT. Wow Wow! My mind is blown! I will definitely be coming back over and over for it! Drool worthy!“