Award winning Hawaii restaurants 2017

[alohamom]

Aloha folks!

So many people ask for suggestions for really great places to eat in Hawaii. @ehrawn posted in a sushi thread a link for the 2017 Hale 'Aina award winning restaurants but I thought more of you might be interested in seeing the list. I dont know how controlled the voting is but there are lots of great restaurants here, some on other islands but lots on Oahu. There are some that I disagree with like Ruths Chris being the best steak but I am not a fan of their places

Many of these are worth checking out on Yelp or their won websites to get a better feel for them and to see if they might be something you are looking for.


Thanks again so much to ehrawn for providing the link

http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Hon...Award-Winners-The-Best-Restaurants-in-Hawaii/

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
GOLD – Bread & Butter
SILVER – Mud Hen Water
BRONZE – Fête
FINALIST – Artizen by MW
FINALIST – 40 Carrots
TOP WRITE IN – Avenue’s Bar & Eatery

RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
Andrew Le, The Pig & the Lady

BEST O‘AHU RESTAURANT
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Alan Wong’s
BRONZE – Roy's Waikīkī
FINALIST – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – MW Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Arancino at The Kāhala

BEST MAUI RESTAURANT
GOLD – Merriman's Kapalua
SILVER – Lahaina Grill
BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House
FINALIST – Da Kitchen
FINALIST – The Mill House
TOP WRITE IN – Monkeypod Kitchen

BEST BIG ISLAND RESTAURANT
GOLD – Roy’s Waikoloa
SILVER – Merriman’s Waimea
BRONZE – Kaleo’s Bar & Grill
FINALIST – Moon and Turtle
FINALIST – Holuakoa Gardens and Café
TOP WRITE IN – Pueo’s Osteria

BEST KAUA‘I RESTAURANT
GOLD – Merriman's Fish House Po‘ipū
SILVER – The Beach House Restaurant
BRONZE – Eating House 1849
FINALIST – Tidepools
FINALIST – Bar Acuda
TOP WRITE IN – Red Salt

BEST SERVICE
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Alan Wong’s
BRONZE – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
FINALIST – La Mer
FINALIST – Chef Mavro
TOP WRITE IN – Ruth’s Chris Steak House

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
GOLD – The Pig & the Lady
SILVER – Mariposa
BRONZE – The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong
FINALIST – Lucky Belly
FINALIST – Stage Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – MW Restaurant

BEST BREAKFAST
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Moena Café
BRONZE – Liliha Bakery
FINALIST – Cinnamon’s
FINALIST – Sweet E’s
TOP WRITE IN – Scratch Kitchen & Bake Shop

BEST BRUNCH
GOLD – Plumeria Beach House
SILVER – Orchids
BRONZE – Hoku’s
FINALIST – Hau Tree Lanai
FINALIST – Longhi’s
TOP WRITE IN – Koko Head Café

BEST BUFFET
GOLD – Prince Court
SILVER – The Willows Restaurant
BRONZE – Plumeria Beach House
FINALIST – Hakone
FINALIST – The Oceanarium (no longer open)
TOP WRITE IN – Orchids

BEST COCKTAIL
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Pint + Jigger
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Nobu Waikīkī
FINALIST – Livestock Tavern
TOP WRITE IN – Bar Leather Apron

BEST WINE PROGRAM
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Formaggio Wine Bar
BRONZE – Amuse
FINALIST – Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar
FINALIST – The Tchin Tchin! Bar
TOP WRITE IN – 12th Ave Grill

BEST BEER PROGRAM
GOLD – Yard House Waikīkī
SILVER – Pint + Jigger
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – REAL a Gastropub
FINALIST – Waikīkī Brewing Co.
TOP WRITE IN – Brew‘d Craft Pub

BEST BAR FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Home Bar and Grill
BRONZE – REAL a Gastropub
FINALIST – Tiki’s Grill & Bar
FINALIST – Roy’s Waikīkī
TOP WRITE IN – Pint + Jigger

BEST LIVE MUSIC
GOLD – Duke's Waikīkī
SILVER – House Without a Key
BRONZE – Nico’s at Pier 38
FINALIST – Tiki’s Grill & Bar
FINALIST – Kani Ka Pila Grille
TOP WRITE IN – Monkeypod Kitchen

BEST TASTING MENU
GOLD – Alan Wong’s
SILVER – MW Restaurant
BRONZE – Chef Mavro
FINALIST – Stage Restaurant
FINALIST – Vintage Cave
TOP WRITE IN – Azure

MOST ROMANTIC
GOLD – Michel’s at the Colony Surf
SILVER – 53 by the Sea
BRONZE – La Mer
FINALIST – House Without a Key
FINALIST – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
TOP WRITE IN – Hoku’s

BEST RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW
GOLD – Top of Waikīkī
SILVER – 53 By the Sea
BRONZE – Tiki’s Grill & Bar
FINALIST – Hau Tree Lanai
FINALIST – Azure
TOP WRITE IN – Mariposa

BEST VEGETARIAN
GOLD – Greens and Vines
SILVER – Nobu Waikīkī
BRONZE – Peace Café
FINALIST – ‘Ai Love Nalo
FINALIST – Water Drop Vegetarian House
TOP WRITE IN – Juicy Brew

BEST GOURMET COMFORT FOOD
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Café Kaila
BRONZE – 12th Ave Grill
FINALIST – Lucky Belly
FINALIST – Mac 24/7
TOP WRITE IN – Kalapawai Café & Deli

BEST STEAK
GOLD – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
SILVER – Hy’s Steak House
BRONZE – Morton’s The Steakhouse
FINALIST – Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
FINALIST – BLT Steakhouse
TOP WRITE IN – The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood

BEST SEAFOOD
GOLD – Nico’s at Pier 38
SILVER – Mama’s Fish House
BRONZE – Merriman’s Fish House Po‘ipū
FINALIST – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
FINALIST – Chef Chai
TOP WRITE IN – Lahaina Grill

BEST DESSERT
GOLD – MW Restaurant
SILVER – JJ Bistro & French Pastry
BRONZE – The Pig & The Lady
FINALIST – Café Laufer
FINALIST – Nobu Waikīkī
TOP WRITE IN – STAGE Restaurant

BEST FARM-TO-TABLE
GOLD – 12th Ave Grill
SILVER – Town
BRONZE – Azure
FINALIST – ‘Ai Love Nalo
FINALIST – Mission Social Hall & Café
TOP WRITE IN – Mud Hen Water

BEST CHINESE
GOLD – Little Village Noodle House
SILVER – Happy Days
BRONZE – Jade Dynasty
FINALIST – Pah Ke’s Chinese Restaurant
FINALIST – Mei Sum
TOP WRITE IN – Dew Drop Inn

BEST HAWAIIAN
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
SILVER – Highway Inn
BRONZE – ‘Ono Hawaiian Food
FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market
FINALIST – Haili’s Hawaiian Food
TOP WRITE IN – Yama’s Fish Market

BEST ITALIAN
GOLD – Assaggio Italian Ristorante
SILVER – Arancino at The Kāhala
BRONZE – La Cucina Ristorante
FINALIST – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine
FINALIST – Baci Bistro
TOP WRITE IN – Paesano

BEST IZAKAYA
GOLD – Izakaya Gaku
SILVER – Tokkuri Tei
BRONZE – Izakaya Nonbei
FINALIST – Izakaya Torae Torae
FINALIST – Gazen
TOP WRITE IN – Izakaya Naru

BEST SUSHI
GOLD – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
SILVER – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar
BRONZE – Sushi Ginza Onodera
FINALIST – Sushi Sasabune
FINALIST – Morio’s Sushi Bistro
TOP WRITE IN – Yanagi Sushi

BEST JAPANESE NOODLES (RAMEN, UDON, SOBA)
GOLD – Goma Tei
SILVER – Agu Ramen Bistro
BRONZE – Lucky Belly
FINALIST – Marukame Udon
FINALIST – Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
TOP WRITE IN – Golden Pork Tonkotsu Ramen Bar

BEST OVERALL JAPANESE
GOLD – Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar
SILVER – Morimoto Waikīkī
BRONZE – Nobu Waikīkī
FINALIST – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
FINALIST – Nanzan Giro Giro
TOP WRITE IN – Imanas Tei

BEST THAI
GOLD – Phuket Thai
SILVER – Bangkok Chef
BRONZE – Noi Thai
FINALIST – Champa Thai
FINALIST – To Thai For
TOP WRITE IN – Opal Thai

BEST MEDITERRANEAN
GOLD – Olive Tree Café
SILVER – The Fat Greek
BRONZE – Kan Zaman
FINALIST – Da Spot
FINALIST – The Greek Corner
TOP WRITE IN – Greek Marina

BEST INDIAN
GOLD – Café Maharani
SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE – Café Taj Mahal
FINALIST – India Café
FINALIST – Bombay Palace
TOP WRITE IN – Kamana Kitchen

BEST YAKINIKU/KOREAN BBQ
GOLD – 678 Hawai‘i (now Sura Hawai‘i)
SILVER – Yakiniku Seoul
BRONZE – Sikdorak
FINALIST – Shillawon
FINALIST – Hyung Jae Restaurant
TOP WRITE IN – Gyukaku

BEST OVERALL KOREAN
GOLD – Sorabol
SILVER – Kim Chee 2
BRONZE – Million Restaurant
FINALIST – Seoul Garden
FINALIST – Choi’s Garden
TOP WRITE IN – Willow Tree

BEST VIETNAMESE
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Hale Vietnam
BRONZE – Pho One
FINALIST – Duc’s Bistro
FINALIST – Saigon Vietnamese Cuisine
TOP WRITE IN – Pho to Chau

BEST MEXICAN
GOLD – Búho Cocina y Cantina
SILVER – Azteca Mexican Restaurant
BRONZE – Mexico Restaurant
FINALIST – Serg’s Mexican Kitchen
FINALIST – Cocina (no longer open)
TOP WRITE IN – Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine

 

[ehrawn]

echoing what @alohamom said, this isn't THE definitive list, universally agreed upon by food critics, locals and tourists alike (she doesn't like Ruth's Chris, and I avoid Roy's). The right way to think about it is as a starting point- if you know nothing about restaurants in Hawaii (esp on Oahu) and you don't want to gamble with your time, pick one of these restaurants and more than likely you will enjoy it.