Restaurants in Honolulu

As host to so many visitors from out of town and out of the country, Honolulu has an amazing assortment of outstanding restaurants.  Honolulu restaurant cuisines are international, with a special emphasis on Hawaiian, Asian, and American food.  Waikiki, with the greatest number of hotel rooms, is also the part of Honolulu with the greatest concentration of restaurants.

In keeping with the tropical atmosphere, almost all Honolulu dining is relatively casual.  Dress codes are mostly non-existent, beyond requiring footwear and more than a swim suit.  However, there are plenty of outdoor, beachside eateries where the footwear is optional and you can just dine in a swim suit, at least for breakfast or lunch.  Things are a bit less casual in downtown Honolulu, but a well attired gentleman may just wear slacks and a Hawaiian shirt.

Surrounded by the sea, Honolulu is especially proud of its fresh fish, much of it quite local.  Some of the varieties of fish are now found in other places, but where do you think Mahi-Mahi first came from?  Well, it does come from other warm ocean areas, besides the Hawaiian Islands, but the name is pure Hawaiian. Mahi-Mahi is one of the most popular local fishes, and is found in most Honolulu restaurants serving seafood.   Opah, Ono, Snapper, Grouper and various types of Tuna are also quite local and very popular on Honolulu seafood menus.

Asian restaurants span all of the major Asian cuisines, with an emphasis on Japanese and Chines food.  Thai, Vietnamese and Philippine restaurants are also well represented in Honolulu.

Major restaurant chains are easy to find in Honolulu, but there are very many independent restaurants that are unique to Honolulu.

Wherever you go for breakfast, be sure to have fresh pineapple.  Being so close to the fields (either on Oahu or on the other islands), Honolulu pineapples are picked ripe and fresh.  You will have a difficult time finding fresh pineapples like these anywhere on the mainland.