Food & Dining
Hawai‘i Cuisine: Food, Flavors, and Local Favorites
Exploring all your favorite Island dining, from cheap eats to high-end. Craving omakase? We’ve got you covered. Shave ice? Sure thing! Loco moco? Like we’d forget! We’ve got heaping bowls of poke, and acai. You’ll find pau hana deals, foodie cocktails and delicious mocktails. Of course, none of that would be possible without the chefs, bakers, and mixologists you’ll meet here. We also take you to the Hawai‘i farms that fuel our farm-to-table movement.
News
Isolana is the new signature restaurant at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
The restaurant, which opened in August, celebrates coastal Italian cuisine while highlighting locally sourced ingredients. The menu features dishes like hamachi crudo, cacio e pepe, umami crusted ‘ahi and Kurobuta pork chop.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 16, 2026
Frida’s Hawaiʻi is now open in Honolulu
The Mexican restaurant, whose original location is in ‘Ewa Beach, recently opened in Puck’s Alley, close to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The restaurant — open for dine-in and takeout — features an extensive menu; signature dishes include supreme nachos, super burritos and birria tacos.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 15, 2026
Wahiawā Brewed is a new coffee shop with a drive-thru
The business is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday, Oct. 17. Husband-and-wife owners Randy and Rachael Raquino, who grew up in Wahiawā, wanted to open something with their community in mind and support local vendors. The coffee shop is open for walk-in orders; customers can also pre-order online and pick up their beverages at the drive-thru.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 14, 2026
Slice by HB Baking’s mobile pop-up features ice cream pies
The business, which was located in Kilohana Square, closed its shop when its lease ended in June. Slice by HB Baking now does pop-ups with its pink Slice Cream truck in Moanalua Valley. The biz offers ice cream pies and cakes using fresh, homemade ice cream.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 13, 2026
Seven4Two Bakery offers a variety of sourdough pastries
The husband-and-wife owned bakery, located in Pauoa Valley, is usually open for pre-orders online and pick-ups on Saturdays. Customers can choose from sourdough English muffins, breads, croissants, scones and cookies.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 12, 2026
Jamba Hawaiʻi just launched a new food truck
Jamba Hawaiʻi kicked off the soft launch of its new Jamba food truck with its first-ever Free Smoothie Friday on Oct. 9. The truck will be traveling around Oʻahu. Its goal is to host community pop-ups a few times each month and give individuals the chance to enjoy free smoothies.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 09, 2026
Ahonui specializes in real fruit ice cream
The pink food truck, located in Kahului, blends frozen fruit with locally sourced ice cream to create its desserts. Signature swirls include Hana banana — real fruit banana ice cream with dulce de leche sauce and praline pecans — and raspberry blackout. The biz also offers coffee and matcha lattes with housemade sauces.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 09, 2026
Iconic Eats: Highway Inn
Seiichi Toguchi opened Highway Inn’s original location in September 1947 on Farrington Highway. Aloha State Daily caught up with third generation Highway Inn president/owner Monica Toguchi Ryan, who shares more about the business’s early days and some of her favorite memories of her grandfather.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 09, 2026
Black Orchid Lounge in Chinatown has a new happy hour
The new lounge — located in the former space of Obake — celebrated its grand opening in early September. It recently launched a new happy hour menu, complete with caviar frites, mini martinis and oyster shooters. For owner Tuda Sarian, it was important to create a space that was upscale, yet approachable.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 08, 2026
Macho Grill offers sizzling steak skillets
The eatery, located on Piʻikoi Street, specializes in sizzling steak skillets. Choose from popular options like beef steak, pork chop, rib-eye and pork combos and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 07, 2026
Pīkake Cafe offers local-style comfort food in downtown Honolulu
The sister business of Guieb Cafe is located in the cafeteria space of the Prince Kūhiō Federal Building in downtown Honolulu. The cafeteria is open to the public — customers have to go through a security checkpoint — from Mondays to Fridays. Diners can expect some of the most popular dishes from Guieb Café, including ube mascarpone pancakes, pork adobo omelets and hamburger steak.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 07, 2026
This Honolulu eatery has a BOGO 50% off lunchtime pizza deal
Located in Waikīkī, Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar launched a new buy-one-get-one half-off pizza deal during lunch only. Customers must show their server that they’re following the biz on Instagram to take advantage of this promotion.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 06, 2026
Little Pickle is a new specialty hot dog shop in Kailua
Located next to Please Come Again Ice Cream, Little Pickle celebrated its grand opening this past Saturday. The biz specializes in all-beef, pasture-raised hot dogs made with no hormones, nitrates or antibiotics. Choose from a rotating selection of flavors, ranging from the Chicago dog and chili cheese dog to the Japanese-inspired nori dog.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 06, 2026
Stop by and say ‘aloha’ to Aloha State Daily at OnoFest & Fall Expo
Experience new food, shop with emerging brands and participate in family-friendly activities at the OnoFest & Fall Expo, slated for Oct. 17 to 18 at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Plus, we are giving away free tickets to our newsletter subscribers ahead of the event.
Kady PascualOctober 06, 2026
Yours Truly to launch a limited-time Halloween speakeasy
The downtown Honolulu’s “Dead Letter Office” Halloween speakeasy will run starting this week from Oct. 8 to 31. The speakeasy features specialty Halloween cocktails and themed dishes for the first time.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 06, 2026
Budget Bites: $9.99 tonkatsu plates at Don Quijote Pearl City
The Pearl City store’s first $9.99 plate will feature tonkatsu, according to delicatessen department manager Kota Kawahara. Starting this week, the plate lunch special will be available at this location from 3 p.m. until sold out, every Thursday in October.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 05, 2026
The Pinehopple Room is a new upstairs lounge in Kakaʻako
Located upstairs from Aloha Beer Co. on Queen Street, The Pinehopple Room — previously home to the HI Brau Room speakeasy — recently opened to the public. The upscale lounge features a vintage Hawaiʻi-inspired aesthetic, along with classic Hawaiʻi cocktails with a modern twist.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 03, 2026
This Michelin-recognized ramen restaurant is now open for lunch
Mensho, which opened in Kapolei in May, started lunch service last month. The lunch menu is more limited compared to the eatery’s dinner menu, but features a variety of the restaurant’s bestsellers.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 02, 2026
CU Hawaiʻi opens new store by UH Mānoa
The new store — on the corner of University Avenue and Dole Street — is the brand’s fifth location in Hawaiʻi. The University store is CU Hawaiʻi’s second-largest location; to celebrate its opening, customers can look forward to free onigiri, sandwiches and product giveaways from Oct. 1 to 7.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 01, 2026
Oʻahu has a new ‘Coffee Girl’
The cafe with roots in Hilo — known for its coffee, matcha and aesthetic decor — just opened its first Honolulu location on Keʻeaumoku Street at Azure Ala Moana. Its grand opening is this Saturday at 8 a.m.; customers can look forward to specialty lattes like chocolate haupia pie, banana bread and white chocolate strawberry.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 01, 2026
Maui Frozen features affordable, chilled treats
The business, which specializes in Maui slush and pineapple scoop ice, originated as a food truck in 2024 and recently opened its first storefront in Kīhei. According to Maui Frozen owner Jason Kashtan, all desserts do not feature any dyes, flavorings or extracts, or high fructose corn syrup, and are kept at a $4.75 price point to serve the community.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 01, 2026
Nori Bar has a new 'rollmakase' experience for a limited time
The hand roll restaurant’s twist on omakase includes sashimi, nigiri, hand rolls and a choice of dessert. The $85 curated menu is only available at Nori Bar’s Waikīkī location for a limited time.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 30, 2026
Walk, feast, and party: What to do on Oʻahu this weekend
From the Hawaiʻi Walk & Roll to Cure ALS to First Friday celebrations and Hawaiʻi Children & Youth Day, there are lots of events happening on Oʻahu this weekend.
Katie HellandSeptember 30, 2026
This biz showcases authentic paella
Santi's Paella, which officially opened last year, is known for its paella, which is always cooked fresh on-site. Customers can find Santi’s Paella at farmers markets and events across Oʻahu.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 29, 2026