Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Oahu

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Oahu? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Kalapawai Cafe & Deli - Kapolei

4.9

4.9 (675)

$30 and under

Comfort Food

Kapolei

About the restaurant

Kalapawai Cafe & Deli offers residents and visitors to Kapolei a friendly place grab anything from a morning cup of coffee, a delicious deli sandwich or pizza to an award winning full service dinner that includes burgers, locally caught seafood and the freshest salads. We are proud to feature locally sourced ingredients whenever possible on our menu and we focus our wine and beverage program around small, family owned wineries and breweries.

Top review

Rob

Dined on Aug 19, 2024

Always a pleasant experience. Will be back again in the very near future.

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Popular dish

Maui Onion Soup Gratinée

Popular dish

Poke Nachos

Mugen

4.9

4.9 (286)

$50 and over

Global, International

Waikiki

About the restaurant

Mugen is an award-winning fine dining concept that is elevating Hawaii’s status as a destination for culinary travel. Experience global contemporary artistry with a sense of place at Mugen, the Forbes Five-Star rated fine dining restaurant at ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki, where every dish tells a story and every sip is a celebration.
Rising star Executive Chef Colin Sato has redefined the Mugen dinner experience with his new five-course menu, designed in collaboration with Pastry Chef Jamon Harper and in consultation with renowned Chef Alan Wong. Featuring seasonal and local ingredients, diners can choose from myriad options within each course while sipping inventive cocktails or exploring wine from Mugen’s extensive collection, honored with the Wine Spectator "Best Of" Award.
Previously offered exclusively to ESPACIO guests, the reimagined Mugen breakfast experience showcases acclaimed Pastry Chef Harper’s morning indulgences in an elevated, fine dining setting.

Top review

Johnvip

Dined 6 days ago

Hands down one of the most enjoyable, sophisticated, elegant meals I’ve had the pleasure of hosting. Eduardo our server was 100% on it, service was perfectly paced, interaction was perfectly balanced, attention was perfect. The food- sublime, “stop talking, I’m enjoying this”, contemplative, downright delicious. Everyone in our group loved every course, loved every wine pairing, loved every presentation. Truly a world class experience- I look forward to sharing this experience with others!

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Experience

Sunset Champagne & Caviar Experience

Experience

Afternoon Tea

Arden Waikiki

4.8

4.8 (140)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Waikiki

About the restaurant

Nestled in a sanctuary at the foot of Diamond Head in Waikiki, Arden invites you to discover the essence of Contemporary Hawaii Cuisine.

Culinary artisans Makoto Ono and Amanda Cheng welcome you into their world of edible expression where every moment is woven into a cherished memory.

Experience the allure of Arden, where every bite narrates a story and each visit feels like returning home.

Top review

Waltervip

Dined 5 days ago

The li hing tomato was tasty, the Brussels sprouts, eggplants were excellent as well. The pork chops were overcooked and difficult to slice. It felt like I was carving with a butter knife. I’m cheering for the couple preparing the food. The service was excellent and the waiter was knowledgeable and helpful.

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4.8

4.8 (1385)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Kalihi-Palama

About the restaurant

Nami Kaze Hawaii is the story of Chef Jason Peel’s culinary journey. Combining the flavors from his hometown of Kaua‘i, and the decades of experience working for some of Hawai‘i’s top culinary leaders, including Ian Ruso of Michele’s at the Colony Surf and Roy Yamaguchi, Nami Kaze Hawaii is a unique melting pot of culinary creativity. With a farmer-focused approach, guests can expect to embark on a culinary adventure, enjoying creations that reflect Peel’s appreciation for the produce and provisions found throughout the state.

Nami Kaze Hawaii is currently open for brunch and dinner, Wednesday through Sunday. Nami Kaze Hawaii's brunch menu offers a unique take on local Hawaii brunch favorites, while its dinner menu features izayaka-style share plates with plans to debut a sushi omakase-style bar in 2023. For additional information or to make a reservation, visit www.namikaze.com.

Top review

Edgardovip

Dined 4 days ago

Amazing food and cocktails as always. Super friendly and attentive staff. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were great! Highly recommended.

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Popular dish

Crispy Pork Belly

Popular dish

Honey Walnut Shrimp Waffle

Popular dish

Custard French Toast

Nori Bar

4.8

4.8 (17)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Kaka'ako

About the restaurant

At Nori Bar, we make a darn good sushi handroll and are proud to say so. Our handrolls meet at the intersection of the freshest seafood from Hawaii and Tokyo, fluffy Koshihikari rice, and hella crisp nori. This isn’t your grandpa’s traditional sushi restaurant, but that doesn’t mean he won’t like it, too.

We built this restaurant to offer a high-quality sushi experience to a wider audience. So come in, kick back, and roll with us.

Top review

David

Dined on Aug 27, 2024

Very fresh fish with crunchy nori, everything I ordered was delicious. Love the Hamachi collar. I would to see more choices in the future.

Stage Restaurant & Amuse Wine Bar

4.6

4.6 (1659)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Asian

Honolulu

About the restaurant

At Stage Restaurant in the Honolulu Design Center we're excited to offer a world inspired, local comfort enthused menu utilizing locally grown products with a focus on Chef inspired local favorites. Our hope is to give our guests a familiar yet modern culinary experience.

Just outside of Stage is our Amuse Wine Bar where we feature an 'Amuse Bites' menu of some familiar favorites from Stage in a casual atmosphere.

After a period of closure due to Covid-19, we are excited to re-open in both Stage Restaurant and Amuse Wine Bar beginning Friday, June 5, 2020.
We will post our new dinner and amuse bites menus to our website nightly and look forward to serving you!

Top review

Peilinh

Dined 5 days ago

The decor is amazing! Truly feels like you are dining within an art exhibit in itself. The service was attentive and friendly. The food, however, was the most lacking.

Olili

4.6

4.6 (170)

$31 to $50

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Waikiki

About the restaurant

Located inside Waikiki Market, ʻOlili serves contemporary cuisine rooted in the traditions of Hawaii. Our food and drinks are inspired by the culturally diverse tastes we know and love.

Top review

WILLIAMvip

Dined 4 days ago

Olili is fantastic, a hidden gem on Kuhio Avenue tucked behind a food market on the second floor across from the International Marketplace. It has a finite number of entrees (like 8 or 9), but they're diversified and in 3 visits we've tried almost all of them. From garlic shrimp with forbidden rice to chili crab noodles to a great burger, Olili is hard to beat for sheer food value, plus the service is fantastic (especially if Bryan is on duty). The only suggestion we have is to put a sign out front so it's easier to find. This is fast becoming our go-to-place to take newcomers to Hawaii.

UMI by Vikram Garg

4.6

4.6 (237)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Waikiki

About the restaurant

UMI by Vikram Garg’s Breakfast menu features contemporary signature dishes from around the world. Garg’s seafood-centric Dinner menu offers both a la carte and seasonal tasting menus celebrating the abundance of the sea. For more information visit www.umibyvikramgarg.com and follow the making of UMI at @umi_vikramgarg. Attire: Smart Casual.
Corkage: $40/Bottle, Limit one bottle per reservation.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Aug 18, 2024

Very pleased with our dinner. Near faultless cooking, wonderful flavours, peaceful ambience. Pricey of course, but worth it.

Yours Truly

4.6

4.6 (41)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Welcome to the must visit cocktail bar in the Downtown and Chinatown neighborhoods serving locals and travelers alike. Yours Truly features a menu of adventurous craft cocktails, beer, & wine poured in a dramatic, stylish space with a lively vibe and always welcoming atmosphere. The staff is knowledgeable, attentive, and never pretentious. Immerse yourself in an environment of rich velvet green fabrics, plush leather seating, and vintage post boxes, all reimagined to become Honolulu's best bar. Hidden within Yours Truly, for the #IYKYK crowd, are some special surprises. The Yours Truly experience comes to life with guest artist performances, comedy nights, sketch culture doodle pads, temporary tattoos, karaoke, and an interactive A.I. photo booth, all affording guests an evening of truly unique and memorable wonderment in tribute to the Hawaiiana exotica era. Enjoy an evening of laughter, drinks, entertainment, and intrigue at Yours Truly cocktail bar.

Top review

Kimberly

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

Grab your friends and go!! This little Speakeasy hidden behind a wall of vintage mail boxes leads you into a small room where you are immersed into a tiki paradise. Make reservations and bring friends. It holds about 16 people. Such a well executed concept of traveling to an exotic locale and postcards guide you to order one of several specialty tiki cocktails. They were so tasty! Can't wait to go back!

Pai Honolulu

4.4

4.4 (538)

$50 and over

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Honolulu

About the restaurant

In 2017, Chef Kevin J. Lee opened highly-anticipated and award winning PAI Honolulu after a four-year search for a restaurant space to offer guests a warm and welcoming experience. His cuisine highlights flavors and ingredients from Hawaii and brings it together with global techniques to present a fun and unique experience. His passion for his craft is evident in his commitment to curate as many of the ingredients that he uses in his menus in-house which has won the restaurant many awards including Hawaii's Best Restaurant, Best Chef's Tasting Menu, and more.

*Pescatarian, Vegetarian and GF options availabe
**We are happy to accommodate dietary preferences and allergies with a 48 hour notice.

Top review

Heidivip

Dined on Aug 18, 2024

Pai is our favorite upscale restaurant in Hawaii. We have been twice, each for a special occasion, and have had the chef's tasting menu with wine pairings both times. The food is beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. The wine is paired perfectly to elevate each dish. I cannot emphasize enough how delightful this experience is. You will not be disappointed.

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