50 Best American Restaurants near Waimanalo

“When driving on Oahu, I stopped in front of Kailua.Two big cheeseburgers and a drink at the store for $10! I ordered this with emphasis on cost performance. We ate the finished food in the eat-in space next to the counter.The most important cheeseburger was mediocre. I think there would have been some special impressions if the sauce had been solid, but isn't this something like a sauce? The taste is just patty, cheese, and a slightly salty taste. My honest impression was that the second one was a little hard to eat.The atmosphere is Hawaiian loco! That was nice, but honestly it didn't feel clean.“

“I read quite a few reviews of eateries in Chinatown pushing a narrative that this is a scary or unsafe area, please don't let this deter you. Chinatown has some of the best restaurants on the island and Fete is one of them. Everything Ive had at Fete has been extremely fresh and made to perfection. I can't say enough good things about the chef and the friendly attentive staff. Do yourself a favor and make the reservation now, you'll thank me later!Vegetarian options: I had the risotto and fete salad both were incredibly fresh and delicious!“

“We went here for my spouse's birthday dinner. Upon walking in, one hostess was exceptional with a birthday greeting, and we were excited. The live music was amazing, and we had a great table right by it. Cocktails were spectacular and I loved the drink menu... bar staff was was excellent. My spouse got the Chinese-style mahi mahi, and it had incredible flavor! I ordered the rib eye; while cooked well, it was mostly fat unfortunately and I enjoyed the mahi mahi much more. Service was pretty good although I would've appreciated the server just acknowledging my spouse's birthday.“

“I have been here several times over the past year for "high tea." It is always amazing, from the food & service to the beautiful ocean and courtyard views. We celebrated our anniversary with friend from out of state and everything was wonderful. We all chose the Moana Classic Tea with finger sandwiches, sweet offerings, tropical sorbet and tea (we each chose a different flavor). A few of my favorites (this time) were the Ratatouille Tart and the Smoked Salmon Mousse Blini, but I really enjoyed them all.Our friend has a food allergy and our server was very accommodating. He made other suggestions to some of the sandwiches and all of the "exchanges" were fabulous. Each time we have been, the menu has changed, although most of the tea's are the same flavors (only 2 or 3 have changed). The quality of the food is the same (5 stars)I would definitely suggest Moana Surfer Rider - The Veranda at the Beachhouse for all of your special occasions.Parking: The Valet parking is free with validation of "High Tea" service. Otherwise, there is parking across the street at International Market Place garage (I am not sure what the current rates are).“

“My wife and I had dinner on the rooftop here for our honeymoon today. Our hostess (Allie I think?) was extremely personable, friendly, and caring. She took the extra time to talk with us and gave a 10 out of 10 experience. The cocktails, food, and drinks were also excellent. Allie (I think) needs a raise because her caliber of service is extraordinary?“

“Last night’s dinner at Merriman’s was absolutely superb - oysters, lobster pot pie, their signature Mai Tai (best I’ve ever tasted) - then a coffee martini w chocolate purse dessert - I can’t rave enough - live music & excellent service - shout out to John.Thanks to all ~“

“What a place! We ate downstairs…order drinks at one bar and food at another counter. We weren’t expecting much but alas, the bar service was awesome, the staff were friendly and attentive and the food was simply delicious. Photos don’t do it justice but I recommend fish, salad and rice. Not fussed for the fries or potatoes but the rest was great! Think we’ll come back whilst we’re here.“

“Delicious and thoughtful tasting menu with wine pairing. Fresh and flavorful ingredients with friendly and professional service. I am a big man (6'5", 240 lbs.) and I suggested I might still be hungry after the tasting menu, so our server gave us sliders on the house, which filled me right up and were delicious. We highly recommend... Mahalo, MW! :)“

“Just like their breakfast place (Over Easy) a block away in Kailua, the food is so tasty. The husband and wife team (owners) are formally trained chefs. They do a remarkable job on creating specialty dishes, as well as making basic menu items a cut above the norm. Hubby loves their Portuguese sausage and brisket dinner and I love their pulled pork.“

“We ate at Uncle Bo's Pupu bar in Waikiki on the second to last night of our 3 week stay, how I wish we had discovered this place sooner! The food was amazing we ordered 4 dishes off the Pupu menu which came out slowly allowing us to savour each dish, service was super friendly and for once we did not feel rushed to finish our meals and move on, which is how we often felt in the restaurants on the main Waikiki drag! Thanks Uncle Bo's we will definitely be back and will definitely tell our fellow Kiwis about your fab restaurant. Much aroha.“

“This was such a good find for my husband and I that we came twice while on our week long vacation and would have came more if we didn’t care about trying new places. It’s one of the hole in the wall restaurants that you always remember! We both really enjoyed the fish tacos. It feels like eating a comforting home cooked meal. Definitely recommend!“

“If you are a fan of this type of dining (Omakase),this was easily the best restaurant experience we have had in Hawaii... and tops of all time. Service was excellent - Justin and the entire team made every course of the 5 special. The food was paired with a different cocktail for each course and it was perfect. Each course was a culinary adventure. Even though it's an intimate environment and you are close to the kitchen, the team works quietly and so seamlessly it's like a work of art. The entire production was flawless. While expensive, it was easily one of best experiencee we have ever had which made it a great value. Completely and highly recommended.“

“We had an absolutely amazing experience! I ordered the vegan 4 course and my friend had the Chef's 10 course. First of all, it's difficult to find a vegan course menu from a fine dinning restaurant, the taste was outstanding! From the, beet salad, curried chow fun noodles, chickpea Madras over rice and finally the mango tapioca..every dish was perfection! My friend enjoyed every dish as well she said everything was absolutely delightful. She especially had high praises for the Samoan crab shumai, duck confit katsu bao, squid luau agnolotti and the condensed, flavorful, out of this world 90 day dry age beef.The strawberry panna cotta was to die for! First unsure if she could finish a 10 course meal but she finished everything happily! We had the most delightful first class dinner, thank you PAI Honolulu. You are one of the BEST Restaurant in town!“

“I got the mahi mahi plate, blackened and it was INCREDIBLE! The restaurant was clean, service was fast and friendly. Loved having the malt vinegar with my fries.The coleslaw paired so well with the fish. The selection of dipping sauces (ketchup, tartar sauce, and magic sauce) were the perfect finishing touches.“

“Delightful dinner at Kala Hale! Every dish and every different item on each dish had distinct and complementary flavors and textures. Ahi special was excellent; holu lei salad crisp and tasty; desserts just right. Don’t miss the vanilla ice cream — often overlooked on menus but not here. And goes well with banana pudding. Friendly service, staff gave helpful information and smiles all around.“

“A must-visit famous restaurant that ranks as the latest in Hawaiian gourmet food.Each dish is infused with ingenuity and a variety of tastes, and I hear that its reputation has only increased since it opened in 2016.If you remember the names of chefs Anthony Rush and Chris Kajioka, something good will come of it.It is located in downtown, about 25 minutes from Waikiki, taking into account traffic congestion.As a leading Hawaiian gourmet restaurant on Oahu that continues to evolve over the years, this is a restaurant that you should definitely make a reservation for when you come to Oahu.“

“Always a creative menu accompanied by attentive service. We sat outside on what turned out to be a windy Friday night. More annoying was the Mariachi band playing loudly at the taco place across the street (drowned out the pleasant music at Merriman's). We'll eat inside next time. My wife's Makai special (Kauai lobster) was superb. My peppercorn steak frite was almost impossible to cut. Sharper knives are needed! Be sure to have the anchovies with the Ceasar salad--a great experience.“

“Our group of 4 from Big Islandreally enjoyed this local food place ..breakfast was speedy and delicious and very fair prices..3 of included lup cheong rice with our orders .. for me, the smaller side order with an egg was ample food..nice friendly staff and decent clean bathrooms.We would return again if we were ever in the area ..good Aloha in this establishmentParking: Parking out front but only 10 spaces maybe more options elsewhere??“

“Closed out our vacation with a great chef's menu dinner at The Beach house. We arrived a few minutes early from our reservation and they sat us right away in the best table on the patio. Our wait staff was great, and the views were spectacular. Food was even better than expected and bigger portions than most Chef's Menus I've had in the past.“

“The entire meal was BOMBBB the rice was the perfect texture, corn was… well you can’t really go wrong with corn lol, even the extra salad was good but the beef was the star of the meal. It was super tasty and the texture was to dieee for. Would’ve got another one but they’re closed for the night.“

“Went to try their Easter special lamb chops and was not disappointed! Absolutely knocked it out of park! Perhaps best lamb chops I have ever had. Sauce was rich and amazing, chops tender and cooked to perfection. Hopefully they will have more often than Easter! Service was wonderful as well. We sat outside but could still enjoy the live music.Parking: Parking was free with validationHyatt Centric garage“

“Chicken nachos are so good!!!! It's delicious. Be sure to order it. The spicy jambalaya pasta is also delicious. You can choose between rice and pasta, but I chose the linguini pasta.There is usually quite a wait on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, so you have to give your local cell phone number to the staff at the door and wait. This is a place you must come to at least once. You can see Korean newlyweds drinking beer from huge beer glasses everywhere.“

“Mamma Mia.... Request for TIA!!!!! Probably one of the best servers will come across... the host working yesterday was super chill too. Her food knowledge was A1 and she specials spiel was very natural! I love when a server can give me a spiel on a dish and it not feel redundant or "scripted." On that note though, I would have totally got the burger of the week if I could tolerate spice... All i heard was jalapenos... I really wanted to try the seafood linguini arrabbiata pasta. However, it does comes with a spicy marinara sauce(for those that don't know what arrabbiata is). Thankfully Tia had suggested to do it with "white sauce" (roasted garlic cream). And that my friend, is why... I say she made an amazing recommendation because I will be back for that pasta! Small things I would like to mention... i wish they had noted which items were a bit spicy... maybe with a . The Bruschetta was a bit spicy for me, but the topping mix was amazing... i believe it was the peppers on top of the crostinis... On another hand, the FUJI APPLE flatbread is the way to GO! If you are looking for something sweet and savory... it WEEERRRKS! The fig jam brings a nice little sweet wander in your mind with the tart of apple and saltiness of the prosciutto... and the bite of the apple with a nice salty finish! Every bite is different honestly!!! I love the balsamic glaze too!!! (Honestly, anything with a balsamic glaze is chef's kiss). Oh yeah and it had a nite bite because of the arugula! As mentioned, my pasta was cooked to perfection. It is not easy to get all the components to be as perfect as it was. The seafood, individually and together, was perfectly cooked and not over done. It was very abundant with the fish, shrimp, and the mussels. Like I said, I want thing again when I come back. I also tried some of my friend's pua'a taco that was tasty and filling! Lastly, i love the location, by the marina! I love the open air experience! The vibe is very laid back and just a nice spot to be. We were in the corner and could see everything. And this is how I imagined celebrating my friend's birthday! I would also like to mention... they do free beer (least that's what i was told... don't hate me if they don't do it anymore) for your birthday... of course you have to be "of age"! Anywhos, thank you sooo much Kona Brewing and Tia for making this one of my best lunch experiences!“

“A friend who live in Honolulu recommended us to this restaurant, so we decided to give it a try. The prime rib is so tender , they even helped us to cut it to smaller pieces so we could share. We also had Beets & frisee. The portion of scallop mushroom risotto was very generous, and the taste was very flavourful. Sunchoke & Brussels was another nice dish. The service was attentive. At the end, we couldn’t finish the food, so we had to pack to go.It was a nice dinner!“

“We went early to enjoy happy hour prior to dinner. We had a delightful cocktail and Poke snack at the bar. The cocktails were well crafted and tasty and the Poke was exceptional. We seated for dinner and had a shared meal. We had a fois gras mouse appetizer that was truly exceptional. We ordered the evenings special of a Tonkatsued pork chop and a couple of sides. The pork was well fried but a bit under seasoned. It came with a small side of pineapple mustard the helped the flavor and made the dish much more than just acceptable. Service was prompt and warm. All in all a very enjoyable ecvening“

“Really great experience the first time we came so we had to had to come back again for drinks and food. Somehow the second time was even better largely due to the gracious and hospitable bartender Eddie who made us feel very welcomed. Definitely will be coming back next time we’re in Hawaii! Highly highly recommended!“

“Amazing food and service. Their happy hour menu can not be beat. Zach our server was on top it. Making great recommendations for our food and for spot around town to try. Make sure to get the Ube Colada. Not exaggerating, the best tropical drink I've ever had. We will definitely make a few more stop before leaving town.“

“Great experience! The food was great and they had several options for the kiddos if your kids are picky. Drinks were fantastic and our server, Kendall, was really good. She had great recommendations from the menu and was really attentive, despite have 2 other large tables, aside from ours.“

“My partner and I come to the islands at least twice a year and one of those times is for our anniversary. I've been dying to try out Azure ever since I first heard of it many years ago, and on this trip, we finally made a reservation and tried it out for our anniversary dinner. Azure's vibes are immaculate. We were seated right on the beach with the most beautiful sunset and view of diamond head. The tasting menu was more limited than I'd like (only one appetizer course and only 3 choices per dish) but the food was overall really good. I am normally vegan but always give in and eat fish when I visit Hawaii, however, it was so refreshing to see an up-scale restaurant have fully vegan items on the menu so they immediately got points for that, and of course I had to try the vegan items! The beet salad appetizer was just okay -- the beets themselves were fantastic but the whipped goat cheese just didn't go with this dish and there was far too much of the cheese and not enough of the beets. For my second course, I had the heart of palm which looked beautiful but sadly didn't have much flavor at all. Now, the seared tofu was the absolute star of the night. That was one of the best vegan entrees I've ever had. The curry underneath the tofu was so good! I could have eaten just that dish and been happy for the evening. My partner had the striploin and short rib and thoroughly enjoyed it as well (but had the same opinions about the beet salad and his poached scallops). The desserts were good -- not phenomenal but overall a satisfactory ending to a satisfactory meal. Oh, and the bread service was good! The lavash crisps with what tasted like zaatar seasoning were delicious. The service seemed nowhere to be found most of the time, but because of the quality of the food combined with the ambiance, we came to the conclusion that Azure deserves much of the praise it gets!“

“Our overall experience here was wonderful. From the greeter who sat us, to check out. Also, Gemma was great! So sweet and attentive. All of the staff made our dining experience wonderful here. The food was prepared well. The eggs were done perfectly. And the meal itself was priced right for a touristy area.“

“There’s nothing about this place that doesn’t impress me. My favorite burger and fries on island. The service is always fantastic and the prices are very reasonable. Almost everything is made in house. Great quality.Vegetarian options: House made veggie patty“

“Always a great place to break bread with people we know and love. Love the staff and food at both locations. Still our #1 place to eat on Oahu since we stumbled on it 18 years ago! We've even scheduled an extra long layover passing through to get from the airport and back for dinner.“

“Off the beaten trail of Waikiki Beach, found parking and got a table easily. Our hostess and servers were so friendly to us and our baby. Pancakes were incredible. Recommend the fried riceKid-friendliness: They made turtle shaped pancakes with our baby girl's name written in chocolate sauce!“

“We have been to the Mariposa may times since they opened and have consistently had wonderful service, a beautiful ambience and amazing food. I take friends, relatives, students, and visitors there. The food is excellent infusing local flavors and ingridients. The service is perfect. This past visit we were fortunate to have the exceptional service of Joseph. He was great in explaining the menu and daily specials. We appreciated his knowledge, patience, and checking in on us throughout the meal. He had a warm and welcoming personality. The service is always top notch and Joseph went that extra mile. Thank you all!“

“We got a reservation here. It's inside the outrigger. They have a nice courtyard area which gets pretty busy. I had a Mai Tai and the Hulu Chicken. It wasn't the best huli chicken that I have had for sure. Not a bad place though.“

“This is the best burger place!!! The very first bite you take is delightful, greasy heaven! I had the Aloha burger, and my friend had the Western BBQ burger. The service was super fast (within minutes) and they were really friendly and answered every question we had with a smile! We both enjoyed every bite~ Highly recommend stopping by if you find yourself near Lewers st in Waikiki. It's a food truck with a few tables outside to eat.“

“Stopped by after a concert at Blaisdell. We used to be regulars and it's been a while since I've been there...it's lost that old local sports bar feel. I guess maybe b/c it looks cleaner than before? Not sure what it is but no matter cuz the food was different but good. Enter from the Kapiolani side now, instead of the parking lot. Got there right before the concert crowd hit so got a table. Ordered drinks of course, and then pork chop lechon, ribeye, fried rice...and maybe a salad? I don't totally remember. Everything yummy. I guess I think I'd rather have the lechon not pork choppy, but was still good. Probably need to go back again...maybe with the work gang since it's close.“

“Mai Tai bar wow what a view, you walk in through the halls of the hotel and then you find this Mai Tai bar down where the beach is, the view is mesmerizing, you hear the waves hitting, the breeze and the sound of the trees swaying, there's this peacefulness when you sit down and you take in the incredible scenery it captivates me. My sister and her kids and my daughter and I stayed at the Royal Hawaiian, so when we arrived we were all starving and her kids and my daughter and everyone was hangry lol! I walked down with the kids to get us a seat, as you can imagine it was super busy but the line actually went pretty quickly. We sat down and the ambiance and the pink lights everywhere and just the atmosphere with the reggae music and hearing my favorite Jboog song Let me love you, just was such a Hawaiian vibe and made me feel at peace even though there was quite a lot of stress to deal with. The last time I visited my home in Honolulu we stayed at the Royal Hawaiian. But I don't remember this restaurant. I ordered the lobster roll which was fantabulous if I must say so myself lol, so buttery and the bread they put it on was delicious. I had to order a Mai Tai of course, it was delicious yes lol! My sister ordered the Mahi Mahi, we also had the parmesan fries those were delicious, the kids had the tenders with fries. Those were good, the batter on the tenders were so crispy and the chicken was juicy, the fries were a bit salty but crispy I liked them a lot and they are pretty generous with the portions. My lobster roll which was amazing, came with these healthy chips I think you can but at sprouts but I really enjoyed them a lot! The service was great once they got to us since it was so busy. The girl that helped us gosh I forgot her name but she was a wonder server, remembered our order and got our food and drinks quickly it was a pleasant experience. We actually came here a few times for the tenders and fries, I also really enjoyed their drinks I didn't drink a lot of alcohol though which is fine cause I don't drink a lot, but their Mai Tai was pretty strong and delicious. I would recommend coming here it's beautiful the view and the food is delicious and the service is awesome they have live music sometimes too! I love the color pink it was so beautiful the little pink lamps they put on the tables it just looks so tropical. I give it 5 stars for delicious food, amazing service, incredible view and for the beautiful ambience! Have a beautiful day :) Aloha“

“4.0 is too low a rating.I went a few days ago and ate kimchi stew, japchae, and ribs, and it was all so delicious. Today, I ate soft tofu stew and stir-fried pork again, and it was so delicious that I am writing a review for the third time in my life.The owner and employees are also very nice~“

“You better arrive about 5:45am to get your name on the list! It's packed the entire time it's open. We were number one today only because we are staying in the waikiki circle hotel where it's located. Service is very good. Food fresh. Hot and plentiful. I had ahi and eggs which was locally caught. and look at the view while we ate. Amazing right on waikiki beach. Back again 2024!!! Loving this place.“

“We had the shredded chicken with rice and the bacon melt sandwich with cajun fries. The chicken was so juicy and tender. We ordered online on our way back to Waikiki from the North Shore. It was ready when we got there to pick it up and stayed warm until we got back to the hotel. The teriyaki, bbq, and ranch sauces are all really good.“

“Service could not have been nicer from the valet, hostess, servers, and managers. The tasting menu was great. The larger main courses were just enough to leave full. Nice mix of fish, venison, pasta, and vegetables. Highly recommend the patio seating for Friday night fireworks.“

“This place feels like being at a party. Great food and hospitality! They made me and my wife feel so special. Try the shrimp bruschetta and the Hawaiian bacon with corn salsa. And have a Sous Vide Old Fasioned. If you're staying at the Ala Moana Hotel, it is a must visit.“

“For this week only 1+1 has Jai on the menu for the new year. It comes with 2 scoops of rice and is piping hot. Soo ono and healthy. It's a sweeter teriyaki-like version and I'm glad I tried it. For a healthy and prosperous new year better get here soon.“

“Great food. A little on the pricey side but everything is more expensive now. Think of this place as the Whole Foods of plate lunches. Loco moco was delicious and the steak risotto was ono and they gave a lot of risotto. The fresh catch - Mahi was moist and flavorful. Service is ok - friendly but had to repeat the order a couple of times on the phone. Wish they had online ordering, plus they don't include what sides are available on the website. Limited parking and sitting area on the park benches. Basically a take out place. Highly recommended that you call in your order as there is usually a wait time.“

“We went to Hula Grill Waikiki for lunch. Due to the shorter wait compared to the adjacent restaurant. It doesn’t mean the food’s not good because I think it’s one of the better meals we’ve had in Oahu. Our food was very delicious. We would definitely go back here in a second. Hopefully, you stop by here if you’re in the area.“

“The most amazing crab cakes. Coming from New England I thought our seafood was good, but the recipe for your crab cakes is delicious. The cakes are slightly crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside, they also weren’t over powering with a fishy taste.We also tried the Korean style fried chicken which was also delicious, crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside.I’m glad we found this restaurant & we will definitely be back!“

“I have been to many fine dining restaurants in Europe and the US and the New Years dinner I had with my husband at AV was absolutely our favorite! I understand the critical points in the other reviews, the seating options could definitely be optimized a bit to allow more privacy, yet, there is really nothing critical i could say about the staff. They were very attentive and made our dinner possible even though there was a mistake with our reservation. The food was an absolute highlight, every dish was full of flavor and delicious. Also the surprise dish is a very creative and much appreciated idea. From all the dining out experiences I had in Hawaii, this is the one that left a lasting impression.“

“This is on the second floor of the Honolulu design center, which is a large furniture store. You can access the restaurant by parking in their garage and take the escalator or elevator up. Not only is the food delicious and the cocktails perfect. The atmosphere has a nice setting as it’s got designer furniture, there was also live music with an entertainer playing and singing at the piano. If you’re looking for a fun evening out or special occasion, this is a great place to come.“

“I came here twice during my vacation.Both times I was really well received, special mention for Laryssa: friendly, attentive, smiling and charming. If only other waitresses could take an example from her!The food is good, good value for money and the music is cool!“