17 Neighborhood Restaurants In Hawaii With Food So Good You'll Be Back For Seconds
By Megan Shute|Published September 03, 2016
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
There is little better in this world than enjoying a meal from your favorite neighborhood restaurant – and nowhere is this more true than the Hawaiian Islands. With millions of tourists visiting the islands every year, it is certainly nice to have your favorite go-to restaurants available to get away from the crowds. And while this isn’t a comprehensive list of local favorites, here are 17 of the greatest neighborhood eateries across Hawaii – from Honolulu to Lanai City.
The restaurant at the Manago Hotel is not only Hawaii's oldest restaurant in continuous use, but is also famous for their pork chops, as well as a menu featuring a variety of fresh fish, sandwiches, and some ono Hawaiian side dishes.
Full of reclaimed wood and brick walls, this hip Honolulu ramen joint is a local favorite. The eatery even features a window for late-night takeout orders.
Though called a general store, this establishment is actually a critically-acclaimed restaurant that serves up seafood and eclectic American food with Asian overtones. The pineapple plantation setting and quaint country ambiance make this a must-visit destination in Makawao.
This casual breakfast joint is open 24/7, making it the perfect place for a late night - or early morning - stack of macadamia nut pancakes, as well as variety of egg dishes, burgers, and stews.
Located in the heart of Honolulu, famed chef Alan Wong shows off his expertly-crafted Asian-fusion cuisine with a Hawaiian flare at this upscale third-floor restaurant. While this isn't necessarily what one thinks off when prompted with the term "neighborhood restaurant," this is the city's go-to for fancy events.
This festive beachside eatery may be located at the Kauai Marriot, but it serves up some mean island drinks, as well as American and Hawaiian favorites.
Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch, Island Lava Java Restaurant focuses on fresh, local and organic food with 100 percent Kona coffee and their own bakery on site. Plus, the views off the Big Island’s Kona coast are pretty stellar.
One of the state’s oldest Hawaiian restaurants, Helena’s Hawaiian Food is well-known for using secret family recipes. Be sure to order "Menu D," a tasting menu that comes with kalua pork, lomi salmon, dried beef short ribs, and luau squid. Don’t forget about the haupia dessert!
This seafood joint serves up Hawaiian fish tacos, sandwiches, pastas and plate lunches at affordable prices in a laid-back, family friendly atmosphere with great service and even better seafood.
If you’re in the mood for home cooked Hawaiian and American food, look no further than this quaint diner located in Waimea that serves up some scrumptious breakfast and lunch options. From massive pancakes and kalua pork hash to lighter or vegetarian options, there is something for everyone at this charming café.