Diners' Choice: Neighbourhood gem restaurants in Hawaii

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighbourhood gems in Hawaii? 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 favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Yohei Sushi

4.9

4.9 (63)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Honolulu

About the restaurant

Kazuto Obara came to Hawaii in the 1970s with a dream to open his own authentic Japanese restaurant. Practicing the traditional style of sushi known as Edomae, Chef Obara crafts a special omakase experience from the waters of his birth country (Japan) and his home (Hawaii). With his family roots from Hiroshima, he has served generations of families here in the islands. Book a reservation today

Top review

Christinevip

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

I had a lunch special at $27: tempura and sashimi set. It was good: fish was bouncy and the tempura was crisp. Service is excellent. But Tax and tip made lunch close to $35-37. Im having such a hard time justifying paying this much for lunch. But I do understand prices have truly gone up everywhere. Food/service/rent has gone up…but it’s too expensive for me to eat.

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Experience

Omakase Course - Market Price

Maya’s Tapas and Wine

4.8

4.8 (337)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

North Shore

About the restaurant

We are a Chef owned and operated restaurant striving to give back to our community.
We are true believers in local sustainability and sourcing. With as much beautiful food our land’s provided us, it is essential that we show respect for our bounty by enjoying it and keeping those who care for our crops in business. At Mayas our focus will be Spanish and Mediterranean influenced tapas, with fun regional wines from around the world, craft cocktails, and bottled beers.

If your desired time or party size is not available on open table, please call us after 4pm to speak with our host as seating may be available.

**Please note: Takeout is only available for Lunch from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM &
**Brunch Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM**

Top review

Karen

Dined on Aug 4, 2024

Another wonderful evening at Maya's. Food was delicious and the company was awesome!

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Popular dish

Baked Burrata

Popular dish

Fried Brussel Sprouts

Kalapawai Cafe

4.7

4.7 (320)

$30 and under

Comfort Food

Kailua

About the restaurant

Kalapawai Cafe & Deli offers residents and visitors to Kailua 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

Irish

Dined 2 days ago

The pork chops were great, wish they were always on the menu

Aloha Beer

4.7

4.7 (64)

$30 and under

American

Kaka'ako

About the restaurant

Locally owned local craft brewery with 13 rotating beers on tap. Great for large groups, families, and parties with dogs. Enjoy a delicious selection of beer, cocktails, and local pub food with Happy Hour Daily from 2pm - 6pm. Check our weekly calendar for Boombox Bingo, Trivia, Live Music, and Beer of the Month specials!

Located at 700 Queen Street in Kaka'ako. Parking is available for $5 up the ramp w/ validation from the brewery.

Top review

Roger

Dined on Aug 6, 2024

Pizzas are all good. Beer selection is excellent. Parking in Kakaako always a pain.

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Popular dish

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Maui Thai Bistro

4.6

4.6 (918)

$30 and under

Thai

Kihei

About the restaurant

Brilliantly innovative Thai cooking on the world's favorite island! Chef Prakong brings her artisan's skills to Maui Thai Bistro, a contemporary (and kitsch-free) Thai restaurant in South Maui. Brilliant lunch fare includes exotic tomyum fried rice, kao mun gai (chicken rice w tangy sauce), kiawe-smoked ribeye fried rice, drunken rice noodles, a truly authentic padthai, and much much more. Dinner features Prakong's artisanal homemade curries with a modern island twist, including to-die-for dishes as macnut short ribs panang, seared ahi choochee, pineapple kua curry, and plenty more.

Top review

Scrunch6

Dined on Jul 28, 2024

Delicious and authentic! It’s a go to place that has been consistent.

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Popular dish

Green Curry

Popular dish

Panang Curry with Macadamia Nut

Gyu-Kaku - Honolulu, HI | Waikiki

4.6

4.6 (864)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Waikiki

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Shayna

Dined on Sep 4, 2024

Our waitress was so extremely kind and attentive! Our food was very delicious and the drinks were cheap and strong. I know this is a chain, but it’s probably one of the best meals for value that we had on the island—plus it’s open late!!

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

Mauka Bar and Grill

4.6

4.6 (108)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Waikoloa

About the restaurant

A Gar and Grill during the day and Steakhouse by night. Amazing food prepared by very experienced chefs with live music nightly and beautiful mountain and sunset views.

Top review

Sharonvip

Dined on Aug 29, 2024

We had an enjoyable happy hour, but found there is no longer a happy hour menu. You can order from the lunch menu or order discounted appetizers and drinks. We had a party of six, and it was a pleasant experience. Order everything as early as possible as there is a hard closure of the kitchen before 5pm - the server did not hear our order for chicken wings and when they did not come the kitchen had closed for new orders.

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4.5

4.5 (311)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Kapolei

About the restaurant

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Aug 1, 2024

The food was amazing and our server was excellent he was super helpful and brought us everything we needed. Also explained everything and the different types of meats and sauces! 10/10 would dine again

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

Asahi Grill

4.4

4.4 (64)

$30 and under

Asian

Honolulu

About the restaurant

Asahi Grill keeaumoku has now opened in our new location in Kaimuki! We are located at 3008 Waialae Ave across the street from Goodyear and nearby City Mill. We have ample daytime parking in the Salz parking lot next door just look for our green signs. After 5 pm and all day Sunday all stalls are available to park. We also have two private dining rooms available to reserve seats (Minimum party of six and maximum of ten in each room). We thank all our loyal customers and welcome all our new ones. Aloha

Top review

MichaelL

Dined on May 26, 2024

The oxtail soup was delicious (more peanuts please!) and the staff was very friendly and accommodating.

Piko Kitchen & Bar

4.3

4.3 (89)

$30 and under

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Waikiki

About the restaurant

Piko is a local style hangout where you can sit back, relax and enjoy pau hana. In reference to its meaning, “the center where life begins,” Piko brings to life the food, lifestyle and aloha we know and love in Hawaii. Think shared plates of garlic noodles, mochiko chicken, dynamite fries and bao buns in a place you won’t want to leave.

Top review

Aloha2022

Dined on Jun 7, 2024

Ran across this place as we were walking and decided to give it a try. We sat outside and there was live music near the bar that was really good. There is also a bus stop right in front, so if you’re looking for a little less noise, sit inside. We tried the garlic noodles (just okay, we’re used to the garlic noodles from Thanh Long/Crustacean style, the pork belly baos were really good, our kids had saimin and the cheeseburger and fries, which they both loved. The highlight was definitely the mango soft serve at the end. It’s a huge bowl and all 4 of us shared it and didn’t finish it. We would definitely come back for another meal

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Popular dish

Fried Confit Chicken

Popular dish

AweSsam Tempura Cauliflower

Popular dish

Garlic Noodles

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