Kelli Shiroma Braiotta
“Where should I go to eat?” Is a question I get a lot — whether it’s in person or via Instagram, from both friends and acquaintances via social media. I’m excited to share my findings and adventures with our community — not necessarily to tell them where to eat, but to give an accurate representation of what’s available out there. I love covering the new restaurants and new, local businesses popping up. Limited-time offerings (holiday cocktail bars, weekend pop-ups, etc.) are also exciting because sometimes they’re the result of fun collabs between local businesses.
I received my bachelor’s degree from Biola University, as well as my master’s degree in journalism at the University of Southern California. I was the associate editor of Frolic Hawaii from 2017 to 2021 under Honolulu Magazine, and then worked most recently as the dining editor of Crave with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
My goal is for ASD’s dining section to be the premiere guide for the state. I’m excited to cover the food and dining scene, and to help our readers stay updated with all things food-related. It’ll be a fun, fresh start and I’m excited to be able to cover everything.
Latest from Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Thirty Eight Honolulu launches lunch service
The new eatery, which recently opened for dinner at Pier 38, just debuted its new lunch menu. The menu features some of the most popular pūpū from the dinner menu, along with elevated plate lunches like a mix plate, Korean fried chicken, loco moco and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMarch 07, 2026

Where to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2026
Get ready to (sham) rock and roll with green beers, corned beef and these limited-time specials.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMarch 06, 2026

New happy hour at Prince Waikīkī
100 Sails Restaurant & Bar’s new happy hour menu is available daily from 4 to 6 p.m. in the restaurant’s bar and lounge area. Dishes include poke nachos, brisket sliders — a happy hour exclusive — coffee rib-eye steak and barbecue chicken pinsa flatbread. Also new: The eatery’s secret menu, which includes a mouthwatering bone-in beef rib platter.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMarch 05, 2026

Alejandro’s Mexican Food opens in Pauoa
This is the third location for the business, which opened its first store in Kalihi Valley in 2015. Customers can look forward to tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nacho fries and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMarch 04, 2026

Leonard’s Bakery has a new malasada mobile location
The newest malasada mobile location is on Lagoon Drive, near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. It’s open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and customers can get “travel packs” of malasadas right before catching their next flight.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMarch 03, 2026

Budget Bites: Da Crawfish & Crab Shack’s $10 plate lunches
This Kapolei eatery is known for its seafood boils, but offers $9.99 lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMarch 02, 2026

New bento and musubi shop opens in Downtown Honolulu
U-Kitchen Hawaiʻi — whose original location is in Kalihi — is known for its affordable bentos, but the Downtown Honolulu store has several exclusive items, including assorted musubi, chicken katsu bentos and chicken katsu curry.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMarch 02, 2026

‘Sip’ on these aesthetic matcha lattes
Sippin’ Pretty specializes in curated matcha lattes and coffees. The biz pops up at various events across Oʻahu. While the banana bread latte and cream latte are popular choices from its regular menu, the biz also offers monthly specials. March brings St. Patrick’s Day-themed specialties like End of the Rainbow and Charmed & Lucky.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 28, 2026

Pitch Sports Bar launches a new lunch sushi omakase
This Kakaʻako sports bar’s omakase is a hidden gem. Its new lunch offering costs $80 per person, features 12 courses, and is available daily between 12 and 1 p.m.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 27, 2026

This late-night Chinatown spot has a new menu
Bar 35’s new food menu launched in December and now includes tacos and more shareable dishes. Its new chef, Julio Gutierrez, came from now-closed Tlaxcalli — and brought his popular tacos with him.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 27, 2026

This “Shokudo Throwback” menu is available for a limited time
Shokudo is celebrating its 21st anniversary with different specials at its various locations from March 1 to 14. Waikīkī Shokudo will offer 21% off select dishes; Kaimukī Shokudo will feature a “throwback” menu — with favorites from the business’s original Kapiʻolani location — and Poke Stand by Shokudo will offer $10 poke bowls.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 26, 2026

Where to find treats for Girls’ Day 2026
Whether you’re looking for mochi or specialty desserts, we’ve got you covered.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 25, 2026

CU Hawaiʻi opens in Kāhala
The Korean convenience store just opened its second location in Kāhala Korner, the same plaza as Kapa Hale and Olive Tree Café. The store opened in the former Subway space, and while not as big as the brand’s Downtown Honolulu location, it includes some of its most popular features.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 25, 2026

Kanoya Sushi Grill & Bar launches new lunch specials
The Honolulu eatery just started a new menu of lunch specials, which are available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. Customers can choose two- or three-roll lunch sets, entrée lunch combos and even a sashimi option.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 24, 2026

New Kamana Kitchen 3 opens in Kailua
The eatery — which has locations in downtown Honolulu and Kapahulu — recently opened in Kailua Shopping Center. The biz prides itself on serving authentic Indian cuisine using traditional recipes. Customer favorites range from butter chicken and mango lassi to tandoori chicken.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 24, 2026

James Beard Foundation collaboration dinner coming to Waikīkī
Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, and Azure Restaurant at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, are featuring dinner menus from a sold-out James Beard Foundation event last month in New York City. These “Modern-Day Lūʻau” experiences will be available in Honolulu for a limited time.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 24, 2026

New Vietnamese cafe opens in Kakaʻako
Rollin’ Rolls Cafe opened recently in the former space of Hibachi Honolulu, next to Mad Pie in Kakaʻako. The biz offers a variety of spring and summer rolls, banh mi sandwiches and Vietnamese coffees.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 23, 2026

Executive Vineyards 2026 is coming this March
The annual fundraising event for the Shidler College of Business Alumni Association will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. Here’s a sneak peek of the restaurant line-up.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 21, 2026

New Korean grocery store open in Honolulu
You Me Mart just soft opened on Ke‘eaumoku Street. The business is located in the same space as French-Korean bakery TOUS les JOURS, in the former Ross space.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 21, 2026

New weekday dinner buffet at Prince Waikīkī
100 Sails Restaurant & Bar just launched a new chef selection dinner buffet, available from 5 to 9 p.m. Mondays to Wednesdays. This buffet costs $62 per adult; instead of action stations like prime rib or sushi handrolls, it features specialty items like roasted beef tri tip, guava barbecue pork ribs, mushroom risotto and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 20, 2026

New seafood restaurant opens at Pier 38
Located in the former space of Nami Kaze Hawaiʻi at Pier 38, Thirty Eight restaurant just opened to the public for dinner. The menu focuses on fresh seafood; customers can enjoy dishes like hamachi crudo, poke crackers, shrimp toast, and a fried whole moi.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 19, 2026

Aloha Beer Co. launched a new menu
The Kakaʻako brewpub’s new menu features a variety of appetizers, seafood dishes, entrees and pizzas that are designed to pair well with the venue’s beverages. Customers can also create their own mixed six-pack of canned beers.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 19, 2026

New dumpling shop in Honolulu
Located on the second floor of Discovery Bay Center, Waikīkī Snack Store recently opened. The shop — which specializes in Northern Chinese cuisine, including handcrafted dumplings and wontons in bone soup — also offers interactive ramen and shave ice stations.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 18, 2026

You can get $1 shave ice this Saturday
Matsumoto Shave Ice is celebrating its 75th anniversary this Saturday, Feb. 21. The community is invited to enjoy a variety of specials, including $1 small shave ice (no toppings included), discounted anniversary T-shirts and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 18, 2026

The Savellano’s Lechon business specializes in crispy pork belly
The biz officially launched in 2023 and offers lechon pork belly plates, along with whole lechon rolls. Its lechon is made using a family recipe, and is known for its ultra-crispy texture and tender meat.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 17, 2026

Celine’s Best launches new potato wand snack
The business, originally known for its waffle dogs, participates in various events across Oʻahu. It just launched new potato wands — shredded potatoes with a cheesy crust — which are available in six topping combinations.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 16, 2026

Viral seafood rice bowl spot is opening in ʻAiea
Totoya Hawaiʻi, known for its negitoro bowls, is opening in ʻAiea Shopping Center on Sunday, Feb. 15. The menu here is the same as the business’s other two locations in the Ala Moana and Kaimukī neighborhoods. Customers can now add “ikura showers” when ordering specific seafood bowls.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 14, 2026

Egghead Café is offering Lunar New Year specials
Starting Feb. 17, the business will be handing out lucky red envelopes to kamaʻāina who spend $25 or more. The envelopes will include coupons with prizes ranging from free entrees to discounts on the customers’ entire meal.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 13, 2026

Buy one, get one free ramen deal at this new shop
The Broth Bar Noodle House is opening Feb. 14 in Kāhala. Its grand opening festivities are Feb. 14 to 16, and customers can take advantage of a BOGO ramen deal during all three days.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 13, 2026

New Casamigos lounge experience in Honolulu
Located on the 37th floor of the Hilton Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa, Casamigos House of Friends is a new lounge that’s open to both, local patrons and hotel guests. Enjoy curated Casamigos tequila cocktails, along with shareable appetizers.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 13, 2026