2023 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i
Congratulations to this year’s Hale ‘Aina Award winners announced on June 6, 2023.
From left to right: Thomas Obungen, Mari Taketa, Donna Kodama-Yee, Fête Executive Chef Emily Iguchi, Restaurateurs of the Year Robynne Maii and Chuck Bussler as well as Bill Weeshoff of First Hawaiian Bank. Photo: Katrina Valcourt
We asked, more than 15,000 votes were cast, and now it’s time to unveil the winners of the 2023 Hale ‘Aina Awards!
Each year, our readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands, and the HONOLULU dining team names the Restaurateur of the Year and Best New Restaurant. The top restaurants were announced during a live reception held June 6, 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton Residences’ Lau‘ula Park.
See our upcoming September 2023 issue for the stories behind some of the Hale ‘Aina Award honorees. Subscribe now to have our Hale ‘Aina Awards issue delivered right to your home.
The Hale ‘Aina Awards are the state’s longest-running and most prestigious dining honors, started by HONOLULU Magazine in 1984 to elevate the best restaurants in Hawai‘i. Whether you’re looking for weekend brunch spots, your new favorite cocktail or the best places to indulge your sweet tooth, we got you. This list of Hale ‘Aina-winning restaurants is your all-year, can’t-miss dining guide.
Congratulations to this year’s winners for operating at the highest levels of quality and offering Hawai‘i’s most delicious and innovative dishes.
SEE ALSO: Déjà Food: A Look Back at Past Hale ʻAina Awards and Winners
Restaurateurs of the Year
Robynne Maii and Chuck Bussler
From left to right: Donna Kodama-Yee, Thomas Obungen, Mari Taketa, Chef-Owner of Nami Kaze Jason Peel, and Cherie Yuen and Chris Lee of Y. Hata. Photo: Katrina Valcourt
SEE ALSO: The Secret Ingredient to Being Restaurateurs of the Year
Best New Restaurant
Nami Kaze
SEE ALSO: Kampai at the Pier: Nami Kaze Is the Best New Restaurant of 2023
Best O‘ahu Restaurant
GOLD – Merriman’s Honolulu
SILVER – Miro Kaimukī
BRONZE – Restaurant Suntory
FINALIST – Mahina & Sun’s
SEE ALSO: Are These the Most Beautiful Restaurants in Honolulu?
Best Maui Restaurant
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Mama’s Fish House
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – Merriman’s Kapalua
SEE ALSO: 2019 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Lahaina Grill Wins Gold for Maui’s Best Restaurant
Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant
GOLD – Merriman’s Waimea
SILVER – Moon & Turtle
BRONZE – Hawaiian Style Café Hilo
FINALIST – CanoeHouse
Best Kaua‘i Restaurant
GOLD – ‘Āina Kaua‘i Restaurant
SILVER – Kiawe Roots
BRONZE – Puakea Grill
FINALIST – Rumfire Po‘ipū Beach
SEE ALSO: Hale ‘Aina Award Winners 2023: Seven That Slay
Best Service
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Miro Kaimukī
BRONZE – Pai Honolulu
FINALIST – Nature Waikīkī
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Awards: Pai Honolulu Wins Best New Restaurant, Service and Tasting Menu
Best Breakfast
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Koko Head Café
BRONZE – Goofy Café & Dine
FINALIST – Over Easy
Best Brunch
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Koko Head Café
BRONZE – Egghead Café
FINALIST – Over Easy
SEE ALSO: Koko Head Cafe Opens in Tokyo With Brunch All Day
Best Hotel Brunch
GOLD – Halekūlani
SILVER – The Kāhala Hotel & Resort
BRONZE – Deck at Queen Kapi‘olani Hotel
FINALIST — Hau Tree
Best Business Lunch
GOLD – Mariposa
SILVER – Merriman’s
BRONZE – Ruscello
FINALIST – Moku Kitchen
Best Buffet
GOLD – 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar
SILVER – Orchids
BRONZE – Hōkū’s
FINALIST – Plumeria Beach House
Best Cocktail Program
GOLD – Bar Leather Apron
SILVER – Nature Waikīkī
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – Miro Kaimukī
SEE ALSO: Foodflash: Bar Leather Apron Wins Hawai‘i’s First National James Beard Award
Best Wine Program
GOLD – Miro Kaimukī
SILVER – Pai Honolulu
BRONZE – Amuse Wine Bar
FINALIST – Island Vintage Wine Bar
Best Brew Pub
GOLD – Maui Brewing Co.
SILVER – Aloha Beer Co.
BRONZE – Hana Koa Brewing Co.
FINALIST – Brew’d Craft Pub
Best Bar
GOLD – Bar Leather Apron
SILVER – EP Bar
BRONZE – The Social Honolulu
FINALIST – Pint + Jigger
Best Bar Food
GOLD – Splash Bar
SILVER – The Social Honolulu
BRONZE – Osoyami Bar and Grill
FINALIST – Sidestreet Inn On Da Strip
Best Tasting Menu
GOLD – Miro Kaimukī
SILVER – Nature Waikīkī
BRONZE – Pai Honolulu
FINALIST – Senia
SEE ALSO: Best Bites: Miro Kaimukī is Home to Honolulu’s Best Tasting Menu
Most Romantic
GOLD – Michel’s at the Colony Surf
SILVER – Merriman’s
BRONZE – La Mer
FINALIST – 53 By The Sea
Best Restaurant That Caters
GOLD – Chef Chai
SILVER – Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering
BRONZE – Highway Inn
FINALIST – Side Street Inn
Best Vegetarian
GOLD – Tane Vegan Izakaya
SILVER – Peace Café
BRONZE – Nature Waikīkī
FINALIST – Kapa Hale
SEE ALSO: At Mō‘ili‘ili’s Tane Vegan Izakaya, a Fiery Tale of Suspense
Best Steak
GOLD – Hy’s Steak House
SILVER – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
BRONZE – Stripsteak Waikīkī
FINALIST – The Signature Prime Steak and Seafood
SEE ALSO: $40 Pau Hana for 2: Signature Prime Steak & Seafood
Best Seafood
GOLD – Mama’s Fish House
SILVER – The Seaside
BRONZE – Nico’s Pier 38
FINALIST – Herringbone Waikīkī
Best Dessert
GOLD – MW Restaurant
SILVER – Liliha Bakery
BRONZE – Pai Honolulu
FINALIST – Hy’s Steak House
Best Hot Pot
GOLD – Ichiriki
SILVER – Nabeya Maido
BRONZE – Hot Pot Heaven
FINALIST – Shabuya
SEE ALSO: The Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Hot Pot in Honolulu
Best Dim Sum
GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
SILVER – Tim Ho Wan
BRONZE – Happy Days
FINALIST – Fook Lam Restaurant
SEE ALSO: Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Secrets of Making Dim Sum at Jade Dynasty and Tim Ho Wan
Best Chinese
GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
SILVER – Fook Yuen
BRONZE – Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery
FINALIST – Dew Drop Inn
Best Hawaiian
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
SILVER – Highway Inn
BRONZE – Waiāhole Poi Factory
FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market
Best Italian
GOLD – Mad Bene
SILVER – Arancino
BRONZE – Sale Pepe
FINALIST – Assaggio
Best Izakaya
GOLD – Izakaya Torae Torae
SILVER – Nami Kaze
BRONZE – Sushi Izakaya Gaku
FINALIST – Izakaya Nonbei
Best Sushi
GOLD – Yanagi Sushi
SILVER – Sushi Sho
BRONZE – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
FINALIST – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
Best Japanese Noodles (Ramen, Udon, Soba)
GOLD – Onoya Ramen
SILVER – Noods Ramen Bar
BRONZE – Camado Ramen Tavern
FINALIST – Goma Tei
Best Overall Japanese
GOLD – Zigu
SILVER – Restaurant Suntory
BRONZE – Ginza Sushi
FINALIST – Sushi Izakaya Gaku
Best Thai
GOLD – Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine
SILVER – Maile’s Thai Bistro
BRONZE – Noi Thai Cuisine
FINALIST – Thai Issan Cuisine
SEE ALSO: Hale ‘Aina Award Winner: The Mother-Daughter Duo Behind Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine
Best Mediterranean
GOLD – Istanbul Hawai‘i
SILVER – Olive Tree Café
BRONZE – Shaloha Pita
FINALIST – Greek Marina
SEE ALSO: For Istanbul Hawai‘i’s Chef Ahu, With Great Risk Came Great Reward
Best Indian
GOLD – Café Maharani
SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE – Spice Up House of Indian Cuisine
FINALIST – Kamana Kitchen
Best Korean Barbecue
GOLD – Yakiniku Korea House
SILVER – Gen Korean BBQ House
BRONZE – Million Restaurant
FINALIST – Sura Hawai‘i
SEE ALSO: 2020 Hale ‘Aina Award Winner: The Beginner’s Guide to Korean Barbecue
Best Overall Korean
GOLD – O’Kim’s Korean Kitchen
SILVER – Million Restaurant
BRONZE – Sorabol
FINALIST – Yakiniku Korea House
Best Vietnamese
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Pho Saigon
BRONZE – Hale Vietnam
FINALIST – Pho One
Best Mexican
GOLD – Taqueria El Ranchero
SILVER – Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant
BRONZE – Frida’s Mexican Beach House (permanently closed)
FINALIST – Alejandro’s Tacos
Best Filipino
GOLD – Elena’s
SILVER – Thelma’s Filipino Restaurant
BRONZE – Max’s Restaurant
FINALIST – Julie’Z Restaurant
Best Outdoor Dining
GOLD – Hau Tree
SILVER – Deck at Queen Kapi‘olani Hotel
BRONZE – Queensbreak
FINALIST – Plumeria Beach House
