If you’re ever lucky enough to visit Hawaii, I have to recommend that you make your way over to Waikiki. It’s a top tourist location, popular with big celebrities.
It’s also very close to the tourist attractions in Oahu, and the stunning Diamond Head backdrop.
And it features THE most amazing white sand beaches, including Waikiki beach, where famous Duke Kahanamoku, often described as the father of modern surfing, originally taught himself, before going onto teach a great many others.
While you’re at Waikiki, you will need to eat. And the good news is there are plenty of really good options to choose from.
Waikiki is one of my favorite places (yes, high praise there) and I have been there several times on my travels.
In this article, I will present to you my shortlist of the best places to eat in Waikiki. I’ve tried to include a wide variety of options from casual diners all the way through to high-end bars.
And I’ll be sure to tell you everything you need to know about each of them.
I’m splitting the shortlist into 5 different categories, so it’s easier for you to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Specifically, best fine dining restaurants, best diners with a view, best coffee shops, best budget friendly places for lunch, and best seafood restaurants.
Let’s get straight into it!
(The restaurants aren’t listed in any particular order.)
Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Options: All 3 are available
Dress Code: Casual resort attire for breakfast, lunch, brunch and afternoon tea. Elegant resort attire for dinner. T-shirts, tank tops, beachwear, exercise attire or flip-flops are not permitted.
Parking Facilities: Complimentary valet or self-parking is available.
Why You Should Visit: If you’re looking for a wonderful oceanfront dining experience in a relaxed, idyllic setting, then this is the place for you.
It’s a casually elegant venue, with innovative dishes inspired by Mediterranean cuisine.
The food is nothing short of superb, using the finest, fresh, and locally-sourced ingredients. You can get dishes such as lobster and truffles, and even the pasta is handmade!
There’s a bar for fresh sushi, a station of creative sweets including their ever popular coconut cake, and the best cocktails in the Waikiki.
It was voted “Oahu’s Best Brunch” by Honolulu Magazine, while Hawaii Magazine voted it “Best Romantic Restaurant”.
Adjacent to Orchids is Lewers Lounge, which features live jazz performances every night.
Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Options: All 3 are available
Dress Code: Resort and business casual attire is preferred. Swimsuits, beachwear and cover-ups are not permitted.
Parking Facilities: Complimentary valet parking is provided. Simply pull your car into the resort porte cochère, and bring your valet ticket with you, as validation will be provided at the restaurant.
Why You Should Visit: This world-class restaurant can be found along Waikiki beach within the luxury resort Royal Hawaiian, where diners can sit back and relax under the canopy of Spanish-Moorish architecture.
It’s such a beautiful venue for dining, especially in the evening. And be sure to turn up hungry, because they have the most wonderful 4-course menu. All prepared and presented to the highest standards.
And they take all the hard work out of the wine pairing for the best possible fine dining experience.
Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Options: All 3 are available
Dress Code: Business casual. Guests are not permitted to wear clothing with offensive graphics or language, exposed undergarments, cut-off shorts or tank tops.
Parking Facilities: Valet parking available at the adjacent Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk
Additional Information: Non-smoking, wheelchair access available, takeout available
Why You Should Visit: Ruth’s Chris Steak House is widely considered to be the best steak house restaurant on the Hawaiian Islands.
And in addition to the cooked to perfection steaks that arrive sizzling on a 500 degree plate, they also offer wonderful seafood, as well as New Orleans inspired appetizers. And they have the most amazing signature dishes.
What’s more, these delicious dishes can also be served with a bottle of your choice from an extensive and award-winning wine list.
The restaurant has multiple dining rooms, which make it an excellent place for a private party or date night.
Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Options: All 3 are available
Dress Code: Casual Resort or Beach Attire. Cover-up or shirt and footwear required. Beachwear, exercise attire, or flip-flops are not permitted.
Parking Facilities: Validated valet and self-parking.
Why You Should Visit: A great restaurant for outdoor dining, Earl’s at House Without a Key has a distinctive, elegant ambience with nightly Hawaiian music (5:30pm to 8:30pm), paired with the graceful dancing of former winners of Miss Hawaii.
Earl’s at House Without a Key was a distinct favorite restaurant of famous author Ernest Hemingway, who liked to dine at table 97 during his frequent stays in the area in the 1940s.
The menu emphasizes locally produced ingredients, and freshly baked flatbread. What’s more, the dishes are somewhat health conscious, so you don’t need to concern yourself about the number of calories etc.
As for the food, there are some top-notch seafood and desserts to choose from, including coconut cake, coconut shrimp. Not to mention their signature Hawaiian Mai Tai cocktails.
Earl’s fabulous cocktails by the sea are reminiscent of Hawaii’s golden age of travel.
Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Options: Vegetarian and gluten-free options available
Dress Code: Smart casual
Parking Facilities: Self-guest parking is 3 hours complimentary in the hotel. Valet parking incomes with a flat fee with unlimited hours. And there is also street parking available.
Additional Information: Non-smoking, wheelchair access available, happy hour bar in place
Why You Should Visit: DK steak house is best known for their Dry-aged steaks. They dry age their steaks on the premises. This not only tenderizes the meat, but also imparts a sweeter, fuller, and more robust flavor.
These high grade steaks are cooked by double broiler grilling, which ensures the kind of high-temperature cooking that seals in the juices so as to enhance the natural flavor of the beef.
They also offer some excellent side dishes as well, such as their much loved potatoes au gratin.
This restaurant embraces Hawaii’s farmers and the island’s agriculture, striving to use as many locally grown ingredients as possible, with several menu items highlighting such produce.
Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Options: Vegetarian and gluten-free options available
Dress Code: Casual dress
Parking Facilities: There is validated parking available for customers, but there’s limited availability.
Additional Information: Non-smoking, wheelchair access available, takeout available
Why You Should Visit: This venue has so much going for it! They celebrate the local tradition of “kanikapila” (let’s play music!” in Hawaiian), which is named after the legendary Pahinui family, famous for their backyard jam sessions and Hawaiian slack-key guitar.
And alongside them, you get to watch hula dancers as you enjoy your food at the poolside.
It has some great American and British cuisine available, including steak, chicken, salad. And of course, there’s also great Hawaiian food, with coconut shrimp being particularly popular.
It’s a great place to take the family. The venue even features a large screen TV and highchairs.
Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Options: Vegetarian and gluten-free options available
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Parking Facilities: Validated parking available at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort valet or Ohana East self-parking.
Additional Information: Non-smoking, wheelchair access available
Why You Should Visit: The great thing about this venue, besides the outdoor dining and oceanfront view, is that it’s open for such long hours, which means you can rock up for breakfast or brunch, grab a bite to eat there at lunchtime, or alternatively, head there for your evening meal.
The venue has a wonderful ambience, and it’s great for groups and private parties. There is a full bar and Hawaiian entertainment every day from 7 pm to 9 pm, including live Hawaiian music and a hula dancer.
Parking Facilities: Customers are entitled to one hour of complimentary valet parking, and there is also nearby street parking.
Why You Should Visit: This is such a great place to go for a quick bite to eat while you’re out and about.
It’s also a coffee lover’s dream, with their Kona Coffee Purveyors special roast in Espresso, Drip Coffee, and Single Origin blends. Not to mention delectable pastries or French toast to enjoy along with them.
For the health conscious, there’s also açaí bowls, a juice bar, and delicious fruit smoothies
Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Options: Not available when this article was written
Dress Code: Casual-chic
Parking Facilities: There is free self-parking in a private lot, and metered street parking is also available on Kaimuki Ave and Kapahulu Ave.
Why You Should Visit: This is just such a great place for breakfast and brunch, thanks to dishes such as pancakes with fresh fruit, French toast, eggs Benedict, and Hawaiian omelet.
In fact, they have won awards for their breakfasts year after year. But what I loved the most about it was the free refillable coffee!
There’s also excellent service, friendly wait staff, and customers are attended to quickly.
It’s situated about a mile away from Waikiki beach (10 minutes by car), so it’s not quite as crowded as other nearby areas, so it’s a great place to go to get away from the hustle and bustle and just relax and unwind.
Why You Should Visit: This is just such a friendly and joyful place. And it’s award-winning, too, for both best breakfast food and best gourmet comfort food in 2017 by Honolulu Magazine’s Hale ‘Aina award.
All their breakfast food is great, but I particularly recommend the crab cake benedict.
The staff are excellent, warm, welcoming and attentive, in keeping with the warm and inviting ambience.
Why You Should Visit: If you’re vegan, then this is hands-down the best place for you to eat in Waikiki – their vegan food is impeccable, the best the island has to offer.
Their vegan menu features salads, sandwiches, curry, tofu, and much more.
Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free Options: Gluten free options available
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Parking Facilities: Complimentary Self Parking is available at Honua Kai Resort and Spa
Why You Should Visit: What I love about this restaurant (in addition to the food and the spectacular view) is the live entertainment that takes place every day between 3 pm to 5 pm and 6 pm to 8.30 pm.
There are multiple menus: breakfast, lunch, late lunch, dinner, and a pool menu.
It’s a particularly good restaurant for fresh fish, seafood risotto, calamari, and coconut shrimp.
Final Thoughts
What a great choice – something for every budget, every event and every mood. With this list at hand, you’re sure to really enjoy yourselves at every meal during your stay in Waikiki. Bon appétit!
Isn’t the world simply amazing? There are countless places to visit – places that no one has even explored yet… How could you ever just stay in one place?
Hi, my name is Mylene Mace and I have been a travel blogger for almost six years now. I write freelance, for any blog that wants my articles. It takes me all over the world!
