Since opening in December 2016, Senia has become a favorite among locals and visitors and an essential Hawai‘i destination; Eater’s national restaurant critic even described it as the state’s “most thrilling new restaurant” in a recent review. Take your pick between the casual dining room, the chef’s counter, and the sleeper hit lunch prix fixe. Its standout dishes — like chefs Anthony Rush and Chris Kajioka’s beloved charred cabbage Caesar, delicate poke crackers, and a beautiful genmaicha ice cream sandwich with matcha and honey from Eater Young Gun Mimi Mendoza — have catapulted the restaurant onto the national stage.

Dining experiences at the upscale PAI Honolulu take three forms: Small plates at the bar/lounge, a prix fixe menu in the dining room, and a chef’s tasting at the counter. Locals are rooting for chef Kevin Lee (formerly of Prima), whose early hits include the age dashi XO turnip cake, truffled egg chawanmushi, and black tea deviled eggs.

The Honolulu location of Yakitori Hachibei is the chain’s 11th location and first in America (the other 10 are in Asia). This is the fancier yakitori spot on this list, with a big-city vibe and emphasis on cooking with local poultry and eggs. The best seats are around the counter, and must-orders include the tare bara (pork belly dipped in a sweet soy sauce), sunazuri (chicken gizzards), and the sukiyaki skewer (beef wrapped around enoki mushrooms, raw egg yolk to dip). Don’t forget the housemade goma (sesame seed) pudding for dessert.

The original Chinatown location of Scratch closed earlier this fall, but the team is up and running in its new location in Ward neighborhood. The space is bigger and brighter, but the menu is as satisfying as ever, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner on offer. Come with a big appetite: Dishes lean toward the rich and hearty, from the “milk ’n cereal” pancakes in the morning to crispy chicken confit in the evening.

Locals rejoiced when Teruya’s — one of the vendors in the former, and dearly missed, Shirokiya food court — opened on Pensacola Street. Andagi (Okinawan doughnuts) are the draw, and scoring one fresh from the fryer will make your day. Crisp, hot, and with just enough heft and fluff, these are some of the best in town. While there, don’t forget to grab some fried sweet-potato mochi and a pre-packed bento for lunch. (Regulars also swear by the made-to-order sukiyaki donburi).

The Street is SF-based chef Michael Mina’s second Hawai‘i venture, a bustling food hall consisting of 13 individual concepts. Popular outlets include Little Lafa, Mina’s homage to childhood favorites, and Maui Onion Burger, where the must-order is the namesake signature with a double-wide patty and local Maui onions done three ways, all on a Hawaiian sweet-potato roll. For dessert, stop at Aloha Ice for shave ice from acclaimed MW Restaurant co-owner and pastry chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka, and finish with a cocktail at the Myna Bird tiki bar.

[Disclosure: Kathy YL Chan was a consultant on the opening of this project. She is no longer involved at the Street.]

[Update: This restaurant closed in 2018.]
Elegant dim sum is the name of the game at Yauatcha Waikiki (the first iteration of this dim sum tea house in America). Dinner here is as much a visual feast as it is an edible one, with eye-catching dishes like roasted duck pumpkin puff, crispy prawn dumplings, and jasmine tea-smoked pork ribs. Stop by between 3 and 5 p.m. on weekend afternoons for Yauatcha’s take on afternoon tea.

Two yakitori spots opened in Honolulu this year, one more budget-friendly and the other a notch fancier. Tori Ton is the former. Situated at the entrance of Old Stadium Mall, it’s cozy, warm, and low-key. Keep an eye out for the smoky bacon-wrapped skewers (especially the one wrapped around rice and served with a raw egg yolk for dipping) and the variety of kamameshi (rice cooked in iron pots). Order the kamameshi right away, as they take 20 to 30 minutes.

[Update: This restaurant closed in 2018.]

Reservations are a must at this new (and tiny) Kaimuki location of Kan Zaman, where locals head to satisfy Moroccan and Lebanese cravings. Go-to favorites include the baba ghanoush, lamb tagine, beef shawarma couscous, and badinjan mahchi (stuffed eggplant). Moroccan mint tea is a must, and bonus: The restaurant is BYOB.