Hawaiian Restaurants near Waimanalo, HI

“5 Stars – Delicious Local Comfort Food & A Hidden Gem That Was Worth the Turnaround!

After a long day at the beach, my family was starving and we were lucky to find L&L Hawaiian Barbecue just 10 minutes away. At first, it looked like it might be closed—but then I spotted the OPEN sign glowing, so I turned the car around—and I’m so glad I did!

The food was excellent, full of flavor, and the portions were generous enough to save some for later. We ordered the Seafood Combo and the Rib Combo (I think that’s what it was called), and both were spot-on. Total comfort food after a day in the sun!

The cashier/waitress was incredibly kind and welcoming, making sure we were well taken care of with that warm aloha spirit. It really made the experience even better.

They also serve Loco Moco and breakfast all day, which we’ll definitely be back to try next time.

If you’re in the area and craving some tasty, filling local-style eats, don’t pass this place up—it might just be the highlight of your meal plans!“

“Keneke’s was a good stop for a casual meal. I forgot to take pictures of the food, but everything we ordered was tasty and the portions were really generous. It’s a nice spot with a great view of the mountains, and the prices felt very reasonable. The only downside was that it took forever to get our food, so don’t come if you’re in a rush. Overall, still a solid local place and I’d try it again.“

“Stopped in for some lunch with my wife. Excellent service, excellent food. Great place.“

“Very good food.“

“Everything I have had here is so ono! Love the fresh noodles made with local ingredients can't beat it so worth the wait!!“

“I visited Arden Waikiki and it felt noticeably different from many of the restaurants along Kalākaua Avenue. While Waikiki has plenty of casual dining spots, Arden offers a more refined and modern dining experience that focuses heavily on presentation and thoughtful preparation.

The restaurant has a contemporary interior design that feels clean, elegant, and relaxed at the same time. The lighting and layout create a comfortable atmosphere that works well for a longer dinner experience rather than a quick meal.

The menu emphasizes carefully prepared dishes that highlight high-quality ingredients and balanced flavors. Each plate feels thoughtfully composed, with attention given not only to taste but also to visual presentation. The dishes reflect a modern approach to dining where technique and creativity play an important role.

What stood out to me most was the overall pacing of the meal. The kitchen clearly focuses on delivering courses in a way that allows diners to appreciate each dish rather than rushing through the experience. It creates a more intentional dining atmosphere compared to many of the fast-paced restaurants in Waikiki.

Service during the visit was professional and attentive. Staff were knowledgeable about the menu and maintained a smooth flow throughout the meal.

Overall, Arden Waikiki offers a more elevated dining experience in an area that is often dominated by casual restaurants. If you are looking for a modern restaurant in Waikiki that focuses on quality ingredients, presentation, and attentive service, this is definitely a place worth visiting.“

“ジンジャーのpokeが特に素晴らしかった✨️✨️✨️凄くご飯に合うので丼で食べるのがおすすめです。“

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

“Awesome food and cocktails“

“Make sure you triple check your oder. Today we ate at the Honolulu Bistro for the first time. The guy at the register claims he didn't rung us up for 2 sandwiches. At checking out he did say back our order. The recipe is not detailed either. The amount we paid was definitely for 2 sandwiches. We ended up sharing 1 sandwich and left.“

“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.“

“Their hawaiian plate was so Ono & the portions were big. Highly recommended.“

“Everything on the menu is onolicious and what makes it even better is the ohana that makes you feel right at home. Well worth the drive from the west side. 😋😉 Don’t forget to pick up a tray of butter mochi 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.“

“My first time here after seeing them on tv. So glad the worker tied the bag of my 3 plates tightly and that they use strong plastic containers. I took a sharp turn and my bag flipped to the side. My food shifted a little in the container, but at least it didn’t spill out or leak out of the containers. Love the hamburger steak with crispy onions! Omg, the special parmesan chicken was huge!! This was ono too. Will definitely go back there again. ❤️“

“We enjoyed our first visit so much, we came back just two days later for an encore. Over the two meals, we sampled at least ten dishes. Phenomenol creativity, presentation and flavor, one after the other. I will have a hard time identifying a favorite but let’s go with Yuzu Chicken and Beef Loco Moco. The seafood was just as wonderful. It’s not down at street level, so make sure you find your way up the stairs, and prepare yourself for a distinctive food journey you won’t forget.“

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

“Thank you for delicious food and hospitality from three haole’s! Mahalo!“

“One of my favorite places to eat. Always good service & great food.l“

“Best nachos! Cocktails were nice and very close to the beach“

“You can't go wrong with this place for Hawaiian food. The squid luau was so unique. I never had anything like that in the mainland. It pairs so well with the poi. Add some that chili sauce as well. I was in heaven. The long rice chicken absolutely phenomenal. It's nice and salty and cozy then you can cut the salt with the lomi lomi salmon. This was a comfort meal after a day of hiking. Definitely did not leave hungry.“

“The Food is Phenomenal – Get Here Now!
The food here was absolutely fantastic, but the service is what really sets it apart. You can always judge a place by its staff, and these guys were not only recommending everything I ate but bragging about the rest of the menu. They even let me sample a few things—it’s clear they’re proud of what they’re serving. They mentioned the grand opening is coming up shortly, so do yourself a favor and go eat here before everyone else finds out how awesome it is!“

“Paradise poke is a clean and inviting poke/local foods spot. I would put them up with the top dogs in terms of poke. I didn’t get a chance to taste their plated food but everything sounded amazing. I ordered the 2 choice poke bowl. I got the Hawaiian Alaea style with the Ginger scallion combos with the yuzu cucumbers. The bowl was so refreshing and the fish was amazingly fresh. This won’t be the last time I’ll be visiting.“

“Possibly the best breakfast spot for fresh cheap quick brekky. Remember to get the fried rice with the breakfast combo.

Very effective and friendly service.

Just overall what is needed for a quick and easy breakfast.“

“Amazing food prepared by amazing people.“

“Good experience. Brunch on Sunday gives you delicious lobster tails and crab. The service was wonderful, the view was amazing, and I would recommend this restaurant 100%👍“

“Best Food , sweet Potato Poke Wed/Friday Da Hawaiian Chili Peppa Wata so good“

“Great service and super friendly with great food! Made daily and great choices. Must try it and you’ll love ❤️ it!“

“Cash only! And drive around the traffic circle all the way and you'll see it, otherwise it's easy to miss. But you'll be glad you found it.

Nome Ono does not have an extensive menu, but if the rest of their lineup was as good as the shrimp fried rice it's worth the trip. They offer four or five versions of fried rice. And they have five or six entrees that they serve with steamed rice. Most choices are $18 as of today. Had I been here on my own I likely would have had one of the shrimp entrees - probably garlic shrimp or possibly coconut shrimp. But I was with my wife and she wanted the shrimp fried rice, so that's what we went with. Easily enough for both of us, with probably seven or eight shrimp and a huge pile of well-seasoned rice with a chopped up fried egg tossed in. We had just arrived on the island and wanted a light lunch and it was perfect.

There are a handful of tables with benches with a cover to keep you out of the direct sun, and there's a beautiful view just off to the side. Definitely worth stopping by if you're anywhere in the neighborhood.“

“Reasonably priced, great service and they put lots of food in the plate lunch!“

“Super friendly staff, everyone there greeted us and were really welcoming. Got a burrito, it was delicious. Total was $15, my husband and I shared and it was great. Was surprised by the negative reviews, we had a great experience and would eat here again!“

“I like local restaurants and L&L is good with reasonable price. Chicken Cutlets is a little bit oily but Loco Moco is very good. Don’t expect super clean tables and chairs.The loco moco here is cheap, the amount is so large that you can't finish it (regular), and it's delicious. During lunch time (starting around 11:30am), there are a lot of locals working in the area, so it gets crowded, so the later hours are often empty.“

“Wonderful experience, Korean Steak entree was amazing and Fresh Fish entree with macadamia nut pesto was delicious. Excellent service and vibe. Highly recommend.“

“This is the first poke spot I’ve ever seen in a Walmart. I always have to grab my poke bowl and tai tea with boba. There food and service is always good. I definitely recommend this place. 😊❤️“

“chicken katsu and all rice“

“If you're ever looking to grab lunch on campus, I recommend checking out L&L at Paradise Palms. The food was mostly what I expected in terms of standard plate lunch, but the mac salad was especially great. The workers were also very friendly!“

“Everyone is helpful and eager to answer your questions any time of the hours. Thanks for Times for being so near to my place I can save gas!“

“Ono poi. Looking for Kulolo.“

“This is a \\\"condensed\\\" or \\\"Express\\\" version of L\\u0026L with a limited menu. Their hours are 6:30am to 1:30pm. They're located in the First Insurance Company building on the corner of Ward Ave. and S. Hotel St.“

“This L&L got a facelift recently, so it looks a lot better than it used to. Overall the food is decent. They have a lot of special menu items that you can’t get at other locations. I got the Fried Garlic Chicken and it was tasty and extremely garlicky. Bring gum and/or mints for after the meal!“

“I was craving an old-fashioned, hand-made, grilled cheeseburger and fries, and my tastebuds were treated with respect. The taste of their cheeseburger brought back memories of family picnics that lasting to the sun set and into the night, with aunty them playing music.These cooks must love their work! They need a bigger restaurant💕“

“A real neighborhood joint whose food is good!“

“Love this L & L location. This is always a must when we are here on vacation. This location is conveniently located in the Safeway parking lot. It is to the right side of the longs drugs store on the corner. The service is always great here and it is always fun to come here. We love the chicken katsu and kalua pork plates. The Mac salad is always a nice treat!“

“Great place for a meal with the option to sit down or take out. Plus they have a great bakery selection. Service is amazing. Make sure to go through the full menu before making your choice as there are several options that all look very appetizing. I stopped in for the limited time Wrecking Crew Plate and it did not disappoint. Chicken, Fish, Sausage, Chili, Rice and Macaroni Salad!!!! This was a feast.“

“I got a to-go order. Nothing short of impressed with the staff and the quality of the food. Very reasonable prices considering other restaurants in the near area. I wish i wasn't on vaction so i could enjoy this place regularly. Aloha!“

“Good food & entertainment“

“Great food and spectacular oceanfront setting! Service was friendly and warm, but a little slow. Recommend!“

“We ate at Hula tonight for the first time and Levin took care of us! He went above and beyond and made the experience for myself, my mom and daughter absolutely wonderful. His suggestions for entrees were on point and his customer service was the best we had since arriving on the island! Thank you so much!“

“Ordered a regular plate of Mochiko Chicken. Mac salad was not great. I've had better in Oahu. Chicken was hot but tad on the dry side. Customer service wasn't the greatest either. The have plenty of parking and seating indoors if you'd like to eat in.“