We asked, more than 8,000 votes were cast, and now it’s time to unveil the winners of the 2021 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. The top restaurants were announced during a virtual live-reception held June 14, 2021. See our upcoming September 2021 issue for the stories behind the menus and ordering tips from some of our Hale ‘Aina Award honorees. Subscribe now to have our Best Restaurants 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 honor 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
Restaurateur of the Year
Danny Kaaialii and Jonny Vasquez
Encore Saloon, The Daley, Pizza Mamo
SEE ALSO: 2020 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Wade Ueoka of MW Restaurant Win Hawai‘i’s Restaurateurs of the Year
Best New Restaurant
GOLD – Kapa Hale
SILVER – Et Al at Kāhala Market
BRONZE – Istanbul Hawai‘i
FINALIST – Miro Kaimukī
SEE ALSO: Find the Best Wine Deals in Honolulu at Rigo Spanish Italian Restaurant
Best O‘ahu Restaurant
GOLD – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
SILVER – Merriman’s Honolulu
BRONZE – Pai Honolulu
FINALIST – TBD … by Vikram Garg
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Winner: Peter Merriman is Hawai‘i’s Restaurateur of the Year
Best Maui Restaurant
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Merriman’s Kapalua
BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House
FINALIST – Māla Ocean Tavern
SEE ALSO: 2019 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Lahaina Grill Wins Gold for Maui’s Best Restaurant
Best Big Island Restaurant
GOLD – Merriman’s Waimea
SILVER – Roy’s Waikoloa
BRONZE – Don the Beachcomber
FINALIST – Hilo Bay Café
Best Kaua‘i Restaurant
GOLD – The Beach House
SILVER – Restaurant Bar Acuda
BRONZE – Merriman’s Fish House
FINALIST – JO2
Best Service
GOLD – Hy’s Steak House
SILVER – Lahaina Grill
BRONZE – Merriman’s Honolulu
FINALIST – Pai Honolulu
SEE ALSO: 11 Chefs Dish on Their Go-To Orders Around Hawai‘i
Best Breakfast
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Egg Head Café
BRONZE – Sweet E’s Café
FINALIST – Kono’s
Best Brunch
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Māla Ocean Tavern
BRONZE – Kapa Hale
FINALIST — Hōkū’s
SEE ALSO: Travel Around the World (Without Leaving Hawai‘i) For Breakfast at These 7 Restaurants
Best Cocktail
GOLD – Bar Leather Apron
SILVER – Moku Kitchen
BRONZE – Bevy
FINALIST – Merriman’s Honolulu
SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Hawai‘i Drinking Guide: What to Drink to Match Your Mood
Best Wine Program
GOLD – Vino Italian Tapas & Wine Bar
SILVER – Merriman’s Honolulu
BRONZE – Amuse Wine Bar
FINALIST – Island Vintage Wine Bar
Best Beer Program
GOLD – Maui Brewing Co.
SILVER – Aloha Beer Co.
BRONZE – Kona Brewing Co.
FINALIST – Waikīkī Brewing Co.
SEE ALSO: Real Gastropub, Hawai‘i’s First Restaurant to Focus on Craft Beer, Won’t be Reopening
Best Bar Food
GOLD – Side Street Inn
SILVER – Monkey Pod Kitchen Ko Olina
BRONZE – Osoyami Bar & Grill
FINALIST – Pau Hana Bar at Foodland Farms Pearl City
Best Tasting Menu
GOLD – Senia
SILVER – Stage Restaurant
BRONZE – Pai Honolulu
FINALIST – Miro Kaimukī
SEE ALSO: The Best Hawai‘i Restaurants for Celebrating a Special Occasion
Most Romantic
GOLD – 53 By The Sea
SILVER – Michel’s at the Colony Surf
BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House
FINALIST – Hy’s Steak House
Best Outdoor Dining
GOLD – Hau Tree
SILVER – Hideout at the Laylow
BRONZE – Basalt
FINALIST – Kona Brewing Co. Hawaiˊi Kai
SEE ALSO: Out in the Open: The Best Places To Go For Outdoor Dining on O‘ahu Right Now
Best Restaurant That Caters
GOLD – Chef Chai
SILVER – The Pig & The Lady
BRONZE – Side Street Inn
FINALIST – MW Restaurant
Best Vegetarian
GOLD – Tane Vegan Izakaya
SILVER – Moku Roots
BRONZE – Peace Café
FINALIST – Beet Box Café
SEE ALSO: The Best Local Takeout Food for Game Days During Quarantine
Best Gourmet Comfort Food
GOLD – 12th Ave Grill
SILVER – Scratch Kitchen
BRONZE – Feast
FINALIST – Side Street Inn
Best Steak
GOLD – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
SILVER – Hy’s Steak House
BRONZE – Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
FINALIST – The Signature Prime Steak and Seafood
SEE ALSO: The Best Steak Restaurants (and Places to Get a Steak Dinner) on O‘ahu
Best Seafood
GOLD – Mama’s Fish House
SILVER – Nico’s Pier 38
BRONZE – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
FINALIST – Māla Ocean Tavern
SEE ALSO: 3 We Tried: Who Has the Best Seafood Tower on O‘ahu?
Best Dessert
GOLD – MW Restaurant
SILVER – Tiny Pyramid
BRONZE – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
FINALIST – Stage Restaurant
Best Farm-to-Table
GOLD – Merriman’s Honolulu
SILVER – Mud Hen Water
BRONZE – Kapa Hale
FINALIST –Lineage
SEE ALSO: New Daily Happy Hour at Merriman’s Honolulu Offers Deep-Fried Shrimp, Poke, Taro Hummus and Signature Cocktails
Best Hot Pot
GOLD – Ichiriki
SILVER – Asuka Nabe + Shabu Shabu
BRONZE – Hot Pot Heaven
FINALIST – Nabeya Maido
SEE ALSO: The Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Hot Pot in Honolulu
Best Chinese
GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
SILVER – Little Village Noodle House
BRONZE – Duk Kee Chinese Restaurant
FINALIST – Happy Days
SEE ALSO: How to Eat Xiao Long Bao and Other Tips for Enjoying Soup Dumplings in Honolulu
Best Hawaiian
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
SILVER – Highway Inn
BRONZE – Young’s Fish Market
FINALIST – Waiāhole Poi Factory
Best Italian
GOLD – Arancino at The Kāhala
SILVER – La Cucina Ristorante Italiano
BRONZE – Taormina Sicilian Cuisine
FINALIST – Assaggio
Best Izakaya
GOLD – Sushi Izakaya Gaku
SILVER – Izakaya Nonbei
BRONZE – Imanas Tei
FINALIST – Izakaya Naru
Best Sushi
GOLD – Yanagi Sushi
SILVER – Sanset Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar
BRONZE – Mitch’s Sushi
FINALIST – Sushi ii
Best Japanese Noodles (Ramen, Udon, Soba)
GOLD – Noods Ramen Bar
SILVER – Star Noodle
BRONZE – Golden Pork Ton-kotsu Ramen Bar
FINALIST – I-naba
Best Overall Japanese
GOLD – Gyotaku
SILVER – Yanagi Sushi
BRONZE – I-naba
FINALIST – Rinka
Best Thai
GOLD – Noi Thai Cuisine
SILVER – Maile’s Thai Bistro
BRONZE – Bangkok Chef
FINALIST – Phuket Thai
Best Mediterranean
GOLD – Istanbul Hawai‘i
SILVER – Olive Tree Café
BRONZE – Shaloha Pita
FINALIST – Greek Marina
Best Indian
GOLD – Café Maharani
SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE – Kamana Kitchen
FINALIST – Bombay Palace
Best Yakiniku/Korean BBQ
GOLD – Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
SILVER – Gen Korean BBQ House
BRONZE – Yakiniku Seoul
FINALIST – Sura Hawai‘i
SEE ALSO: 2020 Hale ‘Aina Award Winner: The Beginner’s Guide to Korean Barbecue
Best Overall Korean
GOLD – Million Restaurant
SILVER – O’Kims Korean Kitchen
BRONZE – Kim Chee Restaurant No. 2
FINALIST – Sorabol
Best Vietnamese
GOLD – The Pig &The Lady
SILVER – Pho Saigon
BRONZE – Hale Vietnam
FINALIST – Saigon’s Restaurant
Best Mexican
GOLD – Alejandro’s Tacos
SILVER – Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant
BRONZE – Mexico Lindo
FINALIST – Tacqueria el Gallo Rosa
Best Filipino
GOLD – Elena’s
SILVER – Thelma’s Filipino Restaurant
BRONZE – Julie’Z Restaurant
FINALIST – Shay’s Filipino Café
Best Takeout—Affordable
GOLD – Zippy’s
SILVER – Pioneer Saloon
BRONZE – Redfish
FINALIST – La Tour Café
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Best Takeout—High End
GOLD – MW Restaurant
SILVER – M by Chef Mavro
BRONZE – Roy’s Hawai‘i Kai
FINALIST – Rigo