Honolulu Restaurants

There are thousands of restaurants in Honolulu; more than anywhere else in Hawaii. An incredible variety of cuisines can be sampled in a small area of town, from the traditional Hawaiian delicacies of the islanders to every type of international fare as well as all the favourite fast-food and burger places.

Local cuisine

Hawaiian food is a great mixture of cuisines, with the emphasis on seafood, fish, vegetables, herbs and fruit. Typical Hawaiian specialities include: steak marinated in Korean kim chee sauce and 'ahi tuna in a delicious sea urchin beurre blanc sauce; while other big favourites include rice and macaroni salad, musubi rice cakes and Filipino pork adobo. You will also be able to find regional Hawaiian tastes in Honolulu as well as many other types of food such as hearty American stodge and French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisines.

Where to eat

The Ala Moana and Aloha Tower Marketplace shopping centres are loaded with restaurants and cafés in all categories, with regional cuisine available as well as all types of ethnic and international restaurants. These shopping centres also have a good helping of fast-food joints, while Bishop Square has some great trendy and upmarket venues and Chinatown is awash with noodle stands at all times of the day and night.

Restaurant Row on Punchbowl Street and Ala Moana Boulevard are also great eating areas in downtown Honolulu. If you are on a budget, have a look for plate-lunch places, lunch-wagons, delis and small ethnic eateries.