The Best Waikiki Restaurant for Every Meal

During your Hawaii vacation, you’re bound to enjoy plenty of delicious food and drink, but where should you go with a Waikiki restaurant around nearly every corner?

From the best breakfast, brunch, and lunch spots to celebratory dinners, there’s an ideal Waikiki restaurant waiting. 

In this guide, we’ll reveal some of the best dining and drinking venues in every category to ensure a mouthwatering experience!

Rise & Shine: Best Waikiki Restaurant Breakfast Spots to Begin Your Day

1. Liliha Bakery

As employees of FIRST CABIN INTERNATIONAL HAWAII, located in the Waikiki Business Plaza, we’re lucky to have Liliha Bakery just down the street in the International Market Place.

When it comes to a Waikiki restaurant for your morning meal, it’s a favorite among visitors and locals alike with friendly service and classic Hawaiian dishes like Loco Moco, along with standard American fare, such as Denver omelets.

If you’ve indulged in a few too many Mai Tais, Blue Hawaiis, or anything else, you can even soothe that hangover with some decadent chicken and waffles at this restaurant.

MUST-TRY

The Mac Nut Waffle & Chicken Karaage (a mac nut waffle topped with chicken karaage, and dusted with powdered sugar).

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 2330 Kalākaua Avenue, Suite 326, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 7 am to 10 pm daily
• Breakfast served all day
•  lilihabakery.com

2. Hula Grill

Another great restaurant for breakfast just steps from FIRST CABIN INTERNATIONAL HAWAII is Hula Grill. 

Located in the upper lobby of the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort right along the Waikiki beachfront, if you can grab a table at the front, you’ll enjoy a spectacular view and a delicious breakfast.

A highly popular Waikiki restaurant, it offers everything from healthy Acai Bowls to the indulgent Peanut Butter & Bacon French Toast, and authentic Hawaiian fare.

Note that breakfast is served Monday through Friday, while brunch is available on weekends at this restaurant.

MUST-TRY

Crab Cake & Spinach Benedict (featuring crab, spinach, herb aioli, edamame, corn, and a jade pesto hollandaise.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 2335 Kalākaua Avenue, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 7 am to 10 pm, daily
• Breakfast served 7 am to 11 am Monday through Friday
• https://www.hulagrillwaikiki.com/

3. Hawaii Aroma Caffe

The Hawaii Aroma Cafe is located at the Beachcomber Waikiki, offering a trendy, Insta-worthy setting with a retro-chic vibe and a wide range of enticing breakfast dishes. 

The focus at this Waikiki restaurant is on locally sourced ingredients, with the menu featuring everything from four different acai bowls and gluten-free French toast to a variety of waffles, including truffle, salted caramel, and Guava options.

If you’re looking for some of the best specialty coffees a Waikiki restaurant has to offer, Hawaii Aroma Caffe is the place to go, taking its roast seriously with an array of options created by skilled baristas.

MUST-TRY

The acai bowls are the perennial favorite – we love the Tropics Bowl with granola, kiwi, pineapple, papaya, strawberries, shaved coconut, almonds, bee pollen & honey.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 2300 Kalākaua Avenue, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 6 am to 8 pm
• Breakfast served: all day
• https://www.hawaiianaromacaffe.com/

If your trip to Hawaii includes a weekend stay, you’ll want to enjoy one of the neighborhood’s best brunches at a Waikiki restaurant, just like the locals do!

Weekend Vibes: Best Waikiki Restaurant for Brunch Like You Live Here

1. Hula Grill

Yes, we’ve already mentioned this top Waikiki restaurant, but the Hula Grill has a separate menu for brunch, and it’s one of the best you’ll find in Honolulu and beyond. 

Sip mimosas while enjoying the awe-inspiring Waikiki Beach view, frequent live music, and delicious eats that include everything from the Strawberry Mochi Waffle with Maui-grown strawberries and seafood omelets to poke tacos and Loco Moco.

MUST-TRY

The Seafood Omelet, featuring lobster, crab, shrimp, fresh herbs, spinach, jack cheese, lemon hollandaise, herb aioli, and a mixed green salad.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 2335 Kalākaua Avenue, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 7 am to 10 pm, daily
• Brunch served on weekends, 7 am to 3 pm
• https://www.hulagrillwaikiki.com/

2. Brunch Spot Waikiki

The Brunch Spot Waikiki is an outstanding restaurant known for its organic eats with delicious brunch options, whether you’re looking for some healthy, classic Hawaiian, or ultra-decadent.

The Ahi Poke Salad and the Green Machine Salad are sure to please those who want something tasty but healthy, but you can also get the Island Breakfast that comes complete with Hawaii’s famous spam. There are sweet and savory waffles, omelets, and favorites like the Pineapple Shrimp with sauteed shrimp in a sweet and tangy pineapple glaze with yuzu sauce.

MUST-TRY

If you haven’t had the typical Hawaiian breakfast, order the Island Breakfast, which not only includes grilled spam but two eggs any style, bacon, Portuguese sausage, house-made potatoes, and toast.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 2480 Kūhiō Avenue, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 7 am to noon, daily
• Brunch-only eatery, available during restaurant hours
• https://www.brunchspotwaikiki.com/

When you’ve got those midday cravings, you’ll find the perfect Waikiki restaurant for lunch too.

Midday Cravings: Best Waikiki Restaurant Lunch Spots

1. Marugame Udon

Marugame Udon is a casual Japanese eatery just a couple of blocks from Waikiki Beach, and only about a 5-minute walk from us here at FIRST CABIN INTERNATIONAL.

This Waikiki restaurant is particularly renowned for its made-to-order udon bowls, with the nearly always long lines revealing just how popular it is.

Definitely worth the wait, it not only offers mouthwatering flavors but affordability for those seeking something more budget-friendly in Waikiki.

In addition to hand-crafted udon bowls, Marugame offers made-to-order tempura, with a theater kitchen allowing you to watch as it’s all prepared.

MUST-TRY

The Nikutama Udon, combining udon noodles with sweet beef and a perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 2310 Kūhiō Avenue, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 10 am to 10 pm, daily
• All items served throughout opening hours
• https://marugame.thanx.com/marugameudon

2. Lulu’s Waikiki

Located at the Park Shore Hotel Waikiki, Lulu’s Waikiki restaurant offers a breezy open-air setting above Waikiki Beach with a stunning ocean view and sustainable, island-inspired cuisine. 

Enjoy everything from burgers, tacos, and island plates to the Ahi Poke Bowl and an excellent vegan dish – the Veggie Delight featuring roasted baby carrots, cauliflower, pan-roasted heirloom tomatoes, broccoli, and mushrooms in a housemade chimichurri sauce.

MUST-TRY

The Lulu Moco, a twist on the traditional Hawaiian Loco Moco with Wagyu beef, eggs, and Kalua pork drenched in a rich house-made gravy, topped with grilled onions, and garnished with fresh green and white onions, all on a fluffy bed of white rice.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 2586 Kalākaua Avenue, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 7 am to midnight, Tuesday to Sunday; 7 am to 2 am on Monday
• Lunch served from 11 am to 3 pm
• https://www.luluswaikiki.com/

Looking for that perfect date-night Waikiki restaurant? Read on!

Date Night Perfection: Best Waikiki Dinner Restaurants for Special Evenings

1. La Mer

Nestled at oceanside in the Halekulani Hotel, La Mer is an elegant restaurant with a romantic ambiance and stunning views of the glorious Waikiki sunset, the beach, the azure waves, and Diamond Head.

Worthy of a celebratory dinner, it’s the longest, consecutively ranked AAA Five-Diamond Restaurant, enjoying the honor for over 30 years.

Enjoy Neoclassic French fare prepared with locally sourced Hawaiian ingredients, from the eight-course dégustation menu or the four-course amuse-bouche.

MUST-TRY

The Poached Kona Lobster with Vegetable Rosette and Lobster Matelote is the standout dish, although each one is a masterpiece.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 2199 Kalia Road, Waikiki,
• Hours: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday to Saturday (dinner only)
• Closed Sunday and Monday
• https://www.halekulani.com/dining/la-mer/

2. Mugen

Mugen is a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Waikiki restaurant at ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki, serving contemporary French-Japanese fare, headed by Hawaiian native Chef Colin Sato.

Enjoy a luxurious experience with the menu featuring tasting sets, including Toriyama A5 wagyu and Maine Lobster, along with a la carte options, all of which can be paired with a well-curated wine list.

MUST-TRY

The multi-course menus change with the season; however, one of the most raved about dishes is the duck with huckleberry jus, a must-try if available, followed by the Mililani chocolate for dessert.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 2452 Kalākaua Ave, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
• Dinner Hours: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday to Saturday
• Open for breakfast daily, 7 am to 10 am; lunch on Saturday only, 1 pm to 3 pm
• mugenwaikiki.com

3. 53 By The Sea

Known as a “celebration for the senses,” 53 By The Sea offers oceanfront dining on island-inspired seafood and high-quality meats with sweeping views of the Waikiki coast, the surf, and iconic Diamond Head from floor-to-ceiling windows.

Often named the most romantic Waikiki restaurant, its eclectic menu features everything from fresh seafood to Filet Mignon.

The creative cocktails are a highlight too, particularly the Mac Nut Mai Tai, with Bacardi coconut rum and housemade macadamia nut-infused orange curaçao.

MUST-TRY

Seafood Cartoccio featuring locally caught fish, Manila clams, black mussels, and black tiger prawns, with local vegetables, grilled lemon, herb butter, and ‘Ulu
Limu.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 53 Ahui St, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
• Closed on Monday and Tuesday
• https://www.53bythesea.com/

If you’re seeking a local gem you probably won’t find in any Waikiki restaurant guidebook, we’ve got you covered for that too.

Hidden Local Gems: Best Waikiki Restaurants Not in the Guidebooks

1. Rainbow Drive-In

A locals’ favorite, Rainbow Drive-In is a classic venue for a plate lunch with generous portions at affordable prices.

While the Loco Moco is a solid favorite at this casual Waikiki restaurant (featuring two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, and two hamburger patties smothered in gravy, topped with eggs, the Boneless Chicken Plate with Asian undertones is popular too.

But the must-try isn’t either one of those items.

MUST-TRY

The Mix Plate is the top-seller by far, with boneless chicken, teriyaki beef, and breaded mahi mahi – you can request chili to be added to the mix as well.

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 3308 Kanaina Ave, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 7 am to 9 pm, daily
• https://rainbowdrivein.com/

2. Helena’s Hawaiian Food

Helena’s Hawaiian Food is located in the Kalihi neighborhood, but it’s just a short drive from Waikiki, and well worth mentioning as it’s outside of the high-traffic tourist areas and popular among the locals, although not typically found in any of the major guidebooks.

This restaurant has been around since 1946, and it’s one of the best for friendly service and sampling authentic Hawaiian fare with everything from plate lunches to Laulau and Kalua Pig.

MUST-TRY

The Kalua Pig, a long-time favorite with shredded pork cooked in an underground oven (imu).

RESTAURANT NEED TO KNOW

• 1240 N School St, Kalihi, Honolulu, HI
• Hours: 10 am to 7:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday
• Closed Saturday to Monday
• https://www.helenashawaiianfood.com/

Summary

With so many delicious offerings in Waikiki, as locals working and living here, we like to give insider tips to visitors, including our guests at FIRST CABIN INTERNATIONAL HAWAII.

For the best experience, eat like a local by focusing on popular Hawaiian dishes such as poke, plate lunches, and Kalua pig, a staple at family celebrations filled with the Aloha spirit.

While you can’t go wrong with any Waikiki restaurant we’ve mentioned, be sure to explore the food trucks and pick up items at the grocery stores, ideal for affordable picnics.

By following our advice, you’ll be treating your taste buds to some of the best eats Waikiki has to offer!