The Best Burger Restaurants in Waikiki

While visiting Waikiki, you won’t want to miss the chance to try authentic Hawaiian fare like Lau Lau (fish or pork wrapped in taro leaves) and Kalua Pig (slow-cooked pork), but sometimes a good burger is in order.

When searching for the very best restaurants for burgers in Waikiki, you’ll find plenty of offerings, some of which are made with locally sourced ingredients and premium quality grass-fed beef.

While it’s easy to make a solid burger, making one that stands out from the rest is an incredibly challenging task.

Living and working here in Waikiki at FIRST CABIN INTERNATIONAL HAWAII, we’re fortunate in that we have the opportunity to get out and try them whenever the craving hits.

To help you find the best burger restaurants in Waikiki when you’re in the mood, we’ve put together this guide based on our tried-and-true favorites.

Best Restaurants for Burgers in Waikiki

Betty’s Burgers

Lucky for us, Betty’s Burgers, one of the most popular burger joints in Waikiki, is just around the corner from FIRST CABIN INTERNATIONAL HAWAII.

Renowned for its smash burgers, they’re cooked in the classic smashed burger style which means the patties are smashed on a hot grill which results in a crispy, flavorful crust.

The Betty’s Deluxe with Cheese is a popular choice as the typical American cheeseburger with a pickle, tomato, and onion but if you’re looking for something different, try the Shroom & Guac Burger.

Highly raved about it features guac, mushrooms, tomato, and onions.

Don’t miss the thick-cut, well-seasoned steak fries. Dipped in a vanilla shake, you’ll be craving them for months to come.

Mahaloha Burger

Located in the Royal Hawaiian Center food court, at Mahaloha Burger all burgers are cooked made-to-order, ensuring the juiciest, freshest burger.

They’re made using high-quality grass-fed beef from Hawaii that’s never frozen and always home-grown, with no preservatives, growth hormones, or antibiotics.

Plus, everything else, including the veggies, is locally grown and fresh cut too.

Our favorites here include the Loco Moco which makes it possible to enjoy a burger with an authentic Hawaiian twist.

It’s topped with beef gravy, crispy onions, fried eggs, and its “special Happy” sauce.

Sorry, we can’t tell you what’s in it as it’s a secret recipe, but we can say that it is amazing!

Aloha Smashburger

Located in the Courtyard Marriott Waikiki Beach, Aloha Smash Burgers offers a varied menu but it’s particularly beloved for its Aloha Smash Burger with two homemade patties, Monterey jack and American cheese, tomato, lettuce, Japanese mayo, and a homemade “secret” sauce.

Those in the mood for BBQ can get the Western Smash BBQ Burger which adds bacon and includes BBQ sauce instead.

No matter which burger (or dog) you order, fries come with it.

HI Burger

Often referred to as a must-try by burger lovers, HI Burger is one of the most highly rated burger restaurants in Waikiki with all of its burgers juicy and flavorful.

Plus, the patties are huge!

Hidden away in a mini foodcourt a bit west and north of the center of the district, don’t be fooled by its hole-in-the-wall appearance.

The burgers are made to order right on-site.

While it’s hard to go wrong here some of the favorites include the unique Basil Pesto Burger and the Pineapple Burger.

Those seeking gluten-free burgers can enjoy them lettuce-wrapped without the bun.

Teddy’s Bigger Burgers

Teddy’s Bigger Burgers offers all handmade burgers, and as the name suggests, they’re big!

The single is a whopping third of a pound and if you order the triple, you’ll get a full pound of beef.

But it’s not just about size, they’re juicy and grilled to perfection.

You’ll have an array of options here, with the most popular being the Kaneohe Burger with avocado, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and garlic seasoning.

Spice lovers will want to order the Volcano Burger with spicy Kileuea Fire BBQ Sauce, jalapenos, and pepper jack cheese.

As they are so juicy, big, and tender, be sure to grab lots of napkins, you’ll need them!

And, if your stomach can handle it, grab yourself one of the shakes too.

Full disclosure – we sometimes head here just for a shake with many different selections like the Orange Dreamsicle, yum!

Conclusion

While there are some chain burger restaurants around like McDonald’s and a few Five Guys locations on Oahu, if you’re craving a specific chain burger like In-n-Out or White Castle, you won’t find them in Waikiki or anywhere else in Hawaii.

Instead, discover a new craving at one of our favorite restaurants for burgers in Waikiki, you might just find yourself planning a return trip to enjoy it again.

We’d love to know what you think after you’ve tried a burger at any of the restaurants we’ve listed, or if you’ve discovered your own that we haven’t managed to try yet!