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
Fusion Cafe has a limited-time burger and beer deal
The cafe — located next to Dada Spa and Salon in Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra — is offering a $20 burger and beer deal during happy hour, which is daily from 3 to 5 p.m.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 26, 2026
BirdyGo! offers fried chicken sandwiches in Downtown Honolulu
The new concept from the Bar Leather Apron and MĀZE is located downstairs from Bar Leather Apron in Topa Financial Center. The business is in its soft opening and features fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, seasoned fries and cauliflower nuggets.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 26, 2026
Haveli Da Tandoor food truck serves authentic North Indian flavors
The food truck features Punjabi cuisine, including tandoori chicken, wagyu beef samosas and tandoori lamb lollipops. Customers can find the truck at events across Oʻahu, including Ono Grindz & Makeke at Wai Kai, What the Truck?! and at the Village Night Market.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 25, 2026
UBAE opens second location in Pearlridge Center
The business — which stands for “ube before anything else” — just opened in ‘Aiea. Its Pearlridge Center store has several exclusive treats, including ube slushies and ubaegato, or soft serve topped with a shot of hot espresso.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 25, 2026
New from Maui Gold Pineapple Co.: Maui Pineapple Farm
The new brand launched this week, offering value-added products made from Maui Gold pineapples.
Stephanie SalmonsJune 24, 2026
Hau Tree launches a refreshed brunch menu
Executive chef Chaz Wilmore and chef de cuisine Denecio Urias recently revamped The Kaimana Beach Hotel restaurant’s brunch menu. Diners can look forward to dishes like shakshuka and naan, an updated avocado toast, fish sandwich and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 24, 2026
Ocean House by Roy Yamaguchi is now open on Kauaʻi
The new eatery, which celebrated its grand opening on June 22, is located at Outrigger Kauaʻi Beach Resort & Spa in Līhu‘e. The restaurant is currently open for breakfast and dinner and features a locally sourced menu that highlights Kauaʻi’s farms and fishing communities.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 24, 2026
Haleiwa Joe’s wins 2026 Kauaʻi Poke Fest
The sixth annual Kauaʻi Poke Fest took place on June 20 at Koloa Landing Resort. Poke entries from more than 20 competing teams were judged by a panel of celebrity chefs. The event featured poke tastings, live hula, and a poke demonstration by chefs Sam Choy and Emeril Lagasse.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 24, 2026
Festivals, a hui hou to Kam Bowl, and cinema: What to do on O’ahu this weekend
Ready to make plans for the weekend? Aloha State Daily can help. From saying a hui hou to Kam Bowl Restaurant, which closes Sunday, to checking out the Pacific Rim Festival or Hawai’i Beer Fest, there are lots of events happening on O’ahu this weekend. Looking to stay cool inside? Sign up for the Hawai’i State Public Library’s Summer Reading Challenge.
Katie HellandJune 23, 2026
Red Lobster closes Waikīkī location
The restaurant permanently closed on June 21, a company spokesperson confirmed.
Stephanie SalmonsJune 23, 2026
Brug Bakery is celebrating its 13th anniversary with $3 pastries
The Japanese-style bakery’s popular annual pastry sale is back on Friday, July 3, at all six Brug locations. All pastries will be $3 each on a first-come, first-served basis; limit 12 pastries per customer. Six winners will also win a $130 Brug gift card.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 23, 2026
Supreme Dumplings is now open in Ala Moana Center
The business, which originated in Washington, specializes in handmade xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. Dumplings are folded by hand and are steamed fresh to order; customers can choose from fillings like pork, wagyu beef, truffle and chicken and more. Customers can currently make reservations via Yelp.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 23, 2026
A hui hou, Kalihi's Kam Bowl Restaurant
The Kalihi-based restaurant is closing this Sunday, June 28, at 3 p.m. It’s reopening on July 1 at 10:30 a.m. under new management and a new name — Aliʻi Diner. Kam Bowl Pearl City is set to open in mid-July at Times Square Shopping Center.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 22, 2026
Hala Tree Café is opening in Waikīkī
The business closed its original Kaʻaʻawa store and is soft opening today in Waikīkī. It’s known for serving 100% Kona coffee, and this new location also features an in-house bakery. Hala Tree Café’s grand opening will be on July 1.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 19, 2026
Taormina Sicilian Cuisine launches its summer happy hour
The eatery, known for its authentic Sicilian cuisine, is launching its limited-time summer happy hour on June 19. Happy hour is from 4 to 5:30 p.m. daily, and features discounted drinks and pūpū — including 50% off the restaurant’s popular truffle carbonara.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 18, 2026
Aloha State Daily joins 94.7 KUMU on new segment, 'Local Flavor Fridays'
Start your Friday off by listening to 94.7 KUMU’s newest segment, "Local Flavor Fridays," featuring ASD’s Food & Dining reporter Kelli Shiroma Braiotta.
Kady PascualJune 18, 2026
Kamaʻāina can enjoy a 20% dining discount at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort
To kick off the summer, The Kāhala Hotel & Resort is offering a 20% kamaʻāina discount at Plumeria Beach House and Seaside Grill. The discount can be applied to Plumeria Beach House’s a la carte and buffet menus.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 18, 2026
Linaka’s Catering offers twisted potatoes
The biz is known for its Puerto Rican and Hawaiian food, but the vendor started selling twisted potatoes — or spiral-shaped potatoes — earlier this year. So far, the business’s Ovah Load potato — topped with a secret sauce, sour cream, cheese and bacon bits — has been the most popular one.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 18, 2026
Mercado de la Raza opens second location in Waipahu
This Latin American market is celebrating the grand opening of its second store this Saturday, June 20, in Waipio’s Koa Ridge. The block party will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This second location is bigger than the business’s original store on South Beretania Street.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 17, 2026
Chef Chai is featuring a prime rib special
The Kakaʻako eatery’s prime rib special ran from June 10 to 14, and it was so popular that it’s extended. Customers can take advantage of the four-course meal — which features prime rib as the entrée — from June 17 to 19. A prime rib carving station will also be added to the restaurant’s all-you-can-eat Father’s Day weekend buffet (June 20 and 21).
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 17, 2026
Kouign Amann Day is coming June 20
Kona Coffee Purveyors and b. Patisserie are offering boba-inspired Kouign Amann flavors on this day only from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The specialty flavors include ube cream, black sesame coffee, brown sugar milk tea, peach oolong and more. Preorders are available.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 16, 2026
A staple in the Lahaina community: Māla Ocean Tavern
The restaurant, located on Front Street, officially reopened in February 2024 after closing due to the August 2023 Lahaina fire. Māla Ocean Tavern was the first restaurant to reopen on Front Street following the fires, and continues to serve as a popular spot for brunch and dinner in West Maui.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 16, 2026
James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards happening today
Neale Asato, owner of Asato Family Shop, is the only finalist from Hawai‘i.
Stephanie SalmonsJune 15, 2026
Poke business K. Bay Bros. now has a food truck
K Bay Bros On the Go started about two weeks ago. The business is popping up around Oʻahu; its schedule for the week will be posted on Instagram.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaJune 15, 2026