2023 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i (honolulumagazine.com)

Best O‘ahu Restaurant

GOLD – Merriman’s Honolulu

SILVER – Miro Kaimukī

BRONZE – Restaurant Suntory

FINALIST – Mahina & Sun’s

SEE ALSO: Are These the Most Beautiful Restaurants in Honolulu?

Best Maui Restaurant

GOLD – Lahaina Grill

SILVER – Mama’s Fish House

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen

FINALIST – Merriman’s Kapalua

SEE ALSO: 2019 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Lahaina Grill Wins Gold for Maui’s Best Restaurant

Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant

GOLD – Merriman’s Waimea

SILVER – Moon & Turtle

BRONZE – Hawaiian Style Café Hilo

FINALIST – CanoeHouse

Best Kaua‘i Restaurant

GOLD – ‘Āina Kaua‘i Restaurant

SILVER – Kiawe Roots

BRONZE – Puakea Grill

FINALIST – Rumfire Po‘ipū Beach

Best Service

GOLD – Lahaina Grill

SILVER – Miro Kaimukī

BRONZE – Pai Honolulu

FINALIST – Nature Waikīkī

SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Awards: Pai Honolulu Wins Best New Restaurant, Service and Tasting Menu

Best Breakfast

GOLD – Café Kaila

SILVER – Koko Head Café

BRONZE – Goofy Café & Dine

FINALIST – Over Easy

Best Brunch

GOLD – Café Kaila

SILVER – Koko Head Café

BRONZE – Egghead Café

FINALIST – Over Easy

SEE ALSO: Koko Head Cafe Opens in Tokyo With Brunch All Day

Best Hotel Brunch

GOLD – Halekūlani

SILVER – The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

BRONZE – Deck at Queen Kapi‘olani Hotel

FINALIST — Hau Tree

Best Business Lunch

GOLD – Mariposa

SILVER – Merriman’s

BRONZE – Ruscello

FINALIST – Moku Kitchen

Best Buffet

GOLD – 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar

SILVER – Orchids

BRONZE – Hōkū’s

FINALIST – Plumeria Beach House

Best Cocktail Program

GOLD – Bar Leather Apron

SILVER – Nature Waikīkī

BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen

FINALIST – Miro Kaimukī

SEE ALSO: Foodflash: Bar Leather Apron Wins Hawai‘i’s First National James Beard Award

Best Wine Program

GOLD – Miro Kaimukī

SILVER – Pai Honolulu

BRONZE – Amuse Wine Bar

FINALIST – Island Vintage Wine Bar

Best Brew Pub

GOLD – Maui Brewing Co.

SILVER – Aloha Beer Co.

BRONZE – Hana Koa Brewing Co.

FINALIST – Brew’d Craft Pub

Best Bar

GOLD – Bar Leather Apron

SILVER – EP Bar

BRONZE – The Social Honolulu

FINALIST – Pint + Jigger

Best Bar Food

GOLD – Splash Bar

SILVER – The Social Honolulu

BRONZE – Osoyami Bar and Grill

FINALIST – Sidestreet Inn On Da Strip

Best Tasting Menu

GOLD – Miro Kaimukī

SILVER – Nature Waikīkī

BRONZE – Pai Honolulu

FINALIST – Senia

SEE ALSO: Best Bites: Miro Kaimukī is Home to Honolulu’s Best Tasting Menu

Most Romantic

GOLD – Michel’s at the Colony Surf

SILVER – Merriman’s

BRONZE – La Mer

FINALIST – 53 By The Sea

Best Restaurant That Caters

GOLD – Chef Chai

SILVER – Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering

BRONZE – Highway Inn

FINALIST – Side Street Inn

Best Vegetarian

GOLD – Tane Vegan Izakaya

SILVER – Peace Café

BRONZE – Nature Waikīkī

FINALIST – Kapa Hale

SEE ALSO: At Mō‘ili‘ili’s Tane Vegan Izakaya, a Fiery Tale of Suspense

Best Steak

GOLD – Hy’s Steak House

SILVER – Ruth’s Chris Steak House

BRONZE – Stripsteak Waikīkī

FINALIST – The Signature Prime Steak and Seafood

SEE ALSO: $40 Pau Hana for 2: Signature Prime Steak & Seafood

Best Seafood

GOLD – Mama’s Fish House

SILVER – The Seaside

BRONZE – Nico’s Pier 38

FINALIST – Herringbone Waikīkī

Best Dessert

GOLD – MW Restaurant

SILVER – Liliha Bakery

BRONZE – Pai Honolulu

FINALIST – Hy’s Steak House

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 Hot Pot

GOLD – Ichiriki

SILVER – Nabeya Maido

BRONZE – Hot Pot Heaven

FINALIST – Shabuya

SEE ALSO: The Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Hot Pot in Honolulu

Best Dim Sum

GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

SILVER – Tim Ho Wan

BRONZE – Happy Days

FINALIST – Fook Lam Restaurant

SEE ALSO: Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Secrets of Making Dim Sum at Jade Dynasty and Tim Ho Wan

Best Chinese

GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

SILVER – Fook Yuen

BRONZE – Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery

FINALIST – Dew Drop Inn

Best Hawaiian

GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food

SILVER – Highway Inn

BRONZE – Waiāhole Poi Factory

FINALIST – Young’s Fish Market

Best Italian

GOLD – Mad Bene

SILVER – Arancino

BRONZE – Sale Pepe

FINALIST – Assaggio

Best Izakaya

GOLD – Izakaya Torae Torae

SILVER – Nami Kaze

BRONZE – Sushi Izakaya Gaku

FINALIST – Izakaya Nonbei

Best Sushi

GOLD – Yanagi Sushi

SILVER – Sushi Sho

BRONZE – Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar

FINALIST – Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar

Best Japanese Noodles (Ramen, Udon, Soba)

GOLD – Onoya Ramen

SILVER – Noods Ramen Bar

BRONZE – Camado Ramen Tavern

FINALIST – Goma Tei

Best Overall Japanese

GOLD – Zigu

SILVER – Restaurant Suntory

BRONZE – Ginza Sushi

FINALIST – Sushi Izakaya Gaku

Best Thai

GOLD – Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine

SILVER – Maile’s Thai Bistro

BRONZE – Noi Thai Cuisine

FINALIST – Thai Issan Cuisine

SEE ALSO: Hale ‘Aina Award Winner: The Mother-Daughter Duo Behind Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine

Best Mediterranean

GOLD – Istanbul Hawai‘i

SILVER – Olive Tree Café

BRONZE – Shaloha Pita

FINALIST – Greek Marina

SEE ALSO: For Istanbul Hawai‘i’s Chef Ahu, With Great Risk Came Great Reward

Best Indian

GOLD – Café Maharani

SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen

BRONZE – Spice Up House of Indian Cuisine

FINALIST – Kamana Kitchen

Best Korean Barbecue

GOLD – Yakiniku Korea House

SILVER – Gen Korean BBQ House

BRONZE – Million Restaurant

FINALIST – Sura Hawai‘i

SEE ALSO: 2020 Hale ‘Aina Award Winner: The Beginner’s Guide to Korean Barbecue

Best Overall Korean

GOLD – O’Kim’s Korean Kitchen

SILVER – Million Restaurant

BRONZE – Sorabol

FINALIST – Yakiniku Korea House

Best Vietnamese

GOLD – The Pig & The Lady

SILVER – Pho Saigon

BRONZE – Hale Vietnam

FINALIST – Pho One

Best Mexican

GOLD – Taqueria El Ranchero

SILVER – Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant

BRONZE – Frida’s Mexican Beach House (permanently closed)

FINALIST – Alejandro’s Tacos

Best Filipino

GOLD – Elena’s

SILVER – Thelma’s Filipino Restaurant

BRONZE – Max’s Restaurant

FINALIST – Julie’Z Restaurant

Best Outdoor Dining

GOLD – Hau Tree

SILVER – Deck at Queen Kapi‘olani Hotel

BRONZE – Queensbreak

FINALIST – Plumeria Beach House