Food & Dining
News
Kale’s Hale is offering $10 bentos for the next three months
The Kalihi-based restaurant — known for its all-you-can-eat Hawaiian fusion yakiniku experience — recently started offering $10 bentos starting at 10 a.m., according to chef/owner Kale Afong. Sometimes, the restaurant opens from 7 a.m. to start selling bentos. The $10 deal will be available for the next three months.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 14, 2026
Chinatown 808's Mid-Autumn Festival returns
Also known as the Moon Festival, Chinatown 808’s Annual Mid-Autumn Festival includes a parade, lantern-making contest, and more than 30 food or craft vendors, plus activities for keiki and live entertainment. The festival is an opportunity to celebrate the moon and exchange wishes for good fortune.
Katie HellandSeptember 12, 2026
New Japanese sake pub opens in Honolulu
Pub Maniwa Kakuuchi opened within Up Roll Café Kakaʻako at the end of July. The eatery is featuring a discounted sake discovery set until its grand opening, with the goal of making sake tasting approachable and enjoyable to diners. The food menu features izakaya-style small plates, ranging from sashimi and creamy shrimp gratin to truffle dashi omelet.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 11, 2026
Terns is a new open-air dining space in Honolulu
Terns, located on the terrace of Halekūlani Bakery, recently opened to the public. Named after the seabirds found in Honolulu, Terns offers diners globally inspired shared plates and rum-based cocktails in a casual, outdoor setting.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 11, 2026
West Oʻahu’s first matcha and coffee festival is coming this weekend
Whisk & Brew: Matcha + Coffee Fest is this Sunday, Sept. 13, at Wai Kai. This new event features a variety of matcha and coffee businesses, along with other food vendors and food trucks.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 10, 2026
Roy’s Hawaiʻi Kai just launched Sunday brunch
The Hawaiʻi Kai restaurant has offered brunch for holidays and special occasions, but brunch is now weekly from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feast on dishes like souffle pancakes, crab cake eggs Benedict, meatloaf loco moco and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 10, 2026
Pho N Grindz is opening in Kailua
The eatery — in the former spot of Hot Pot Heaven Kailua, but under the same owners — is opening today. Instead of hot pot, the restaurant now features authentic Vietnamese cuisine and plate lunch staples. As part of its grand opening special, the biz is offering 20% off for one week.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 10, 2026
Tonkatsu Sakazaki is now open in Honolulu
The tonkatsu eatery just opened in Sam Sung Plaza. Customers can take advantage of a grand opening special — discounted $9.99 pork loin cutlet rice bowls (regular price $19) — for about three weeks. The restaurant specializes in tonkatsu, ranging from pork tenderloin to chicken katsu.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 09, 2026
Dim sum restaurant relocates to Kapolei Commons
West Emperor, which opened in Embassy Suites Kapolei last December, relocated to Kapolei Commons and opened in the former space of La Tour Café. The eatery still offers dim sum and wagyu specialties — including wagyu manapua and wagyu chow funn — but has expanded its menu to feature Chinese-Japanese fusion and catering.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 09, 2026
Seguin Family Farms is recovering after flash flooding
The farm experienced flooding for the third time this year, according to farmer Jordan Seguin. The family-owned farm — located in Waiāhole — is known for its banana and ti-leaf crops. The farm experienced flooding and devastation following the Kona Lows, Hurricane Lala and, now, Hurricane Lowell. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Seguin Family Farms recover; Seguin says updates will be posted on social media.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 08, 2026
‘Chill’ out with this keiki-owned business
Chillex Pops — owned by 17-year-old Alexus Dickens — specializes in matcha, coffee and ice candy. Dickens founded the company when she was 14 years old; now, the biz pops up at What the Truck?! in Waikele and at various events across Oʻahu. Chillex Pops is one of the featured businesses at Whisk & Brew: Coffee + Matcha Fest, coming up on Sept. 13 at Wai Kai.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 08, 2026
Dang Cha by Couture is a hidden Vietnamese café in Pearl City
The café — located on the second floor of Stuart Plaza — is known for its Vietnamese iced coffees, matcha and banh mi sandwiches.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 07, 2026
HI Cravings Co-Op opens in Kapolei
The acai bowl businesss’s new space is a co-op, designed to help support other small businesses, according to HI Cravings founder Jess Kamanaʻo. Customers can look forward to HI Cravings’ signature acai bowls, along with specialty options like the stuffed strawberry bowl.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 04, 2026
Don Quijote Kāheka is featuring $9.99 chicken katsu plates this month
The brand’s Kāheka store is offering $9.99 mega-sized chicken katsu plates every Friday in September. The deal will be available starting at 3 p.m. until sold out. A limited number of plates will be made each Friday; limit is three plates per customer.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 04, 2026
Save the date for Megabon 2026
The fourth annual Megabon — created by JCI Honolulu and Hawaiʻi Todaiji — is set for Sept. 12 at Leeward Community College. Here’s what you can look forward to during this year’s festival.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 03, 2026
La Tour Cafe launches egg sandos for a limited time
The cafe’s egg sandos are a collaboration with Eggs Hawaiʻi. La Tour Cafe’s Kakaʻako location is launching the egg sando and truffle egg sando on Saturday, Sept. 5. The filling is made with local eggs between slices of La Tour Bakehouse’s shokupan bread.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 03, 2026
Doraku Sushi is now open at Hilton Hawaiian Village
The sushi spot opened last month in Hilton Hawaiian Village. This is its second Waikīkī location; the restaurant is still located in Royal Hawaiian Center, but is moving from the third floor to the first floor.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 02, 2026
This sourdough micro-bakery is on the ‘rise’
Blossom & Rhyze, a Wahiawā-based micro-bakery, stemmed from owner Christine Acohido’s love of sourdough. The business is known for its sourdough loaves, sourdough cookies and specialty coffees, which include kūlolo crunch latte.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 02, 2026
Aliʻi Coffee Co. opens on Monsarrat Avenue
The coffee biz — which recently moved its Ward Centre store to Ala Moana Center — opened another location on Monsarrat Avenue. This location has a slightly different food menu — compared to the business’s other stores — and brought back dishes like the roast beef sandwich, brie and balsamic toast, and prosciutto pear flatbread.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 01, 2026
Diner en Blanc is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Edition
The popular outdoor garden party returns Saturday, Sept. 12 at a brand-new, secret location. This year, the event’s curated meals will be catered by Memoirs Hawaiʻi.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 01, 2026
Budget Bites: $9.99 plates at Marukai
This plate lunch special is available every Wednesday in September, starting from 3 p.m. Hamburger steak is the featured plate for September; each plate includes a 10-ounce hamburger patty, rice, veggies and a brown gravy/Japanese demi-glace sauce.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 01, 2026
2026 Okinawan FEASTival is coming Sept. 7 to 21
Celebrate Okinawan-owned restaurants and businesses by enjoying specials from Sept. 7 to 21. This year, individuals can look forward to Oki-dog chimichangas, Okinawan sweet potato croquettes, pandan andagi and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 01, 2026
7-Eleven Hawaiʻi launches new, Japanese-style egg salad sandwiches
The new sandwich — featuring a creamy egg salad filling between locally baked Shokupan bread — is available at 7-Eleven Hawaiʻi stores starting Sept. 1.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 31, 2026
44th annual Okinawan Festival is coming in September
This year’s festival features a modified format, due to renovations at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. There will be no bon dance or early admission, but new this year is Prince Waikīkī’s House of Sakura pop-up that will include Okinawan-inspired dishes.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 28, 2026