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Congratulations to this year’s Hale ‘Aina Award winners announced on June 7, 2022.
We asked, more than 8,000 votes were cast, and now it’s time to unveil the winners of the 2022 Hale ‘Aina Awards!
Each year, our readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands and the HONOLULU dining team names the Restaurateur of the Year. The top restaurants were announced during a live reception held June 7, 2022, at the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Hoʻokupu Center. Scroll down for photos from the event. See our upcoming September 2022 issue for the stories behind the restaurants and ordering tips from some of our Hale ‘Aina Award honorees. Subscribe now to have our Best Restaurants issue delivered right to your home.
The Hale ‘Aina Awards are the state’s longest running and most prestigious dining honors, started by HONOLULU Magazine in 1984 to honor the best restaurants in Hawai‘i. Whether you’re looking for weekend brunch spots, your new favorite cocktail or the best places to indulge your sweet tooth, we got you. This list of Hale ‘Aina-winning restaurants is your all-year, can’t-miss dining guide.
Congratulations to this year’s winners for operating at the highest levels of quality, and offering Hawai‘i’s most delicious and innovative dishes.
SEE ALSO: Déjà Food: A Look Back at Past Hale ʻAina Awards and Winners
Restaurateurs of the Year
Olay Somsanith and Macy Khounkeo
Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine
SEE ALSO: 2021 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Danny Kaaialii and Jonny Vasquez of Encore Saloon, The Daley and Pizza Mamo Win Restaurateurs of the Year
Best New Restaurant
GOLD – Nature Waikīkī
SILVER – Bar Maze
BRONZE – Queensbreak
FINALIST – Huihui
SEE ALSO: These Two Bars Deliver Some of Honolulu’s Most Luxurious and Creative Experiences
Best O‘ahu Restaurant
GOLD – Merriman’s Honolulu
SILVER – Mad Bene
BRONZE – Miro Kaimukī
FINALIST – Pai Honolulu
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Winner: Peter Merriman is Hawai‘i’s Restaurateur of the Year
Best Maui Restaurant
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Merriman’s Kapalua
BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House
FINALIST – Monkeypod Kitchen, Kā‘anapali
SEE ALSO: 2019 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Lahaina Grill Wins Gold for Maui’s Best Restaurant
Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant
GOLD – Merriman’s Waimea
SILVER – Kuhio Grille
BRONZE – CanoeHouse
FINALIST – Moon & Turtle
Best Kaua‘i Restaurant
GOLD – The Beach House
SILVER – Hualani’s Restaurant
BRONZE – Tidepools
FINALIST – Bar Acuda
Best Service
GOLD – Lahaina Grill
SILVER – Merriman’s
BRONZE – Pai Honolulu
FINALIST – Miro Kaimukī
SEE ALSO: 35th Hale ‘Aina Awards: Pai Honolulu Wins Best New Restaurant, Service and Tasting Menu
Best Brunch
GOLD – Café Kaila
SILVER – Koko Head Café
BRONZE – Egg Head Café
FINALIST – Over Easy
Best Hotel Brunch
GOLD – Orchids
SILVER – Hōkū’s
BRONZE – Hau Tree
FINALIST — 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar
Best Cocktail Program
GOLD – Bar Leather Apron
SILVER – Nature Waikīkī
BRONZE – Merriman’s
FINALIST – Monkeypod Kitchen
SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Hawai‘i Drinking Guide: What to Drink to Match Your Mood
Best Wine Program
GOLD – Merriman’s
SILVER – Pai Honolulu
BRONZE – Stripsteak Waikīkī
FINALIST – Amuse Wine Bar
Best Brew Pub
GOLD – Waikīkī Brewing Co.
SILVER – Maui Brewing Co.
BRONZE – Hana Koa Brewing Co.
FINALIST – Aloha Beer Co.
SEE ALSO: 2021 Hale ‘Aina Awards: 4 Great Drink Crawls on O‘ahu
Best Bar Food
GOLD – Osoyami Bar & Grill
SILVER – Side Street Inn
BRONZE – Monkeypod Kitchen
FINALIST – Waikīkī Brewing Co.
Best Tasting Menu
GOLD – Miro Kaimukī
SILVER – Pai Honolulu
BRONZE – Merriman’s
FINALIST – Senia
SEE ALSO: 2019 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Senia Wins Gold for Hawai‘i’s Best Tasting Menu and Silver for O‘ahu’s Best Restaurant
Most Romantic
GOLD – Michel’s at the Colony Surf
SILVER – Merriman’s
BRONZE – Mama’s Fish House
FINALIST – 53 By The Sea
Best Restaurant That Caters
GOLD – Chef Chai
SILVER – Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering
BRONZE – The Pig & The Lady
FINALIST – Side Street Inn
Best Vegetarian
GOLD – Tane Vegan Izakaya
SILVER – Moku Roots
BRONZE – Peace Café
FINALIST – Pai Honolulu
SEE ALSO: At Mō‘ili‘ili’s Tane Vegan Izakaya, a Fiery Tale of Suspense
Best Steak
GOLD – Hy’s Steak House
SILVER – Ruth’s Chris Steak House
BRONZE – Stripsteak Waikīkī
FINALIST – The Signature Prime Steak and Seafood
Best Seafood
GOLD – Mama’s Fish House
SILVER – Uncle’s Fish Market & Grill
BRONZE – Nico’s Pier 38
FINALIST – Herringbone Waikīkī
SEE ALSO: 3 We Tried: Who Has the Best Seafood Tower on O‘ahu?
Best Dessert
GOLD – MW Restaurant
SILVER – Roy’s
BRONZE – Pai Honolulu
FINALIST – Liliha Bakery
SEE ALSO: 2020 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Wade Ueoka of MW Restaurant Win Hawai‘i’s Restaurateurs of the Year
Best Hot Pot
GOLD – Ichiriki
SILVER – Nabeya Maido
BRONZE – Hot Pot Heaven
FINALIST – Shabuya
SEE ALSO: The Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Hot Pot in Honolulu
Best Dim Sum
GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
SILVER – Yung Kee Kee Dim Sum
BRONZE – Tim Ho Wan
FINALIST – Legend Seafood Restaurant
Best Chinese
GOLD – Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
SILVER – Little Village Noodle House
BRONZE – Happy Days
FINALIST – Fook Lam Restaurant
SEE ALSO: How to Eat Xiao Long Bao and Other Tips for Enjoying Soup Dumplings in Honolulu
Best Hawaiian
GOLD – Helena’s Hawaiian Food
SILVER – Highway Inn
BRONZE – Young’s Fish Market
FINALIST – Waiāhole Poi Factory
Best Italian
GOLD – Arancino at The Kāhala
SILVER – Mad Bene
BRONZE – Assaggio
FINALIST – Sale Pepe
Best Izakaya
GOLD – Izakaya Torae Torae
SILVER – Izakaya Naru
BRONZE – Izakaya Nonbei
FINALIST – Sushi Izakaya Gaku
Best Sushi
GOLD – Yanagi Sushi
SILVER – Sushi Sho
BRONZE – Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo
FINALIST – Mitch’s Sushi
Best Japanese Noodles (Ramen, Udon, Soba)
GOLD – Noods Ramen Bar
SILVER – Goma Tei
BRONZE – I-naba
FINALIST – Star Noodle
Best Overall Japanese
GOLD –Ginza Sushi
SILVER – Gyotaku
BRONZE – Restaurant Suntory
FINALIST – I-naba
Best Thai
GOLD – Maile’s Thai Bistro
SILVER – Noi Thai Cuisine
BRONZE – Olay’s Thai-Lao Cuisine
FINALIST – Bangkok Chef
Best Mediterranean
GOLD – Istanbul Hawai‘i
SILVER – Olive Tree Café
BRONZE – Shaloha Pita
FINALIST – Yamas Mediterranean Cuisine
Best Indian
GOLD – Café Maharani
SILVER – Himalayan Kitchen
BRONZE – Kamana Kitchen
FINALIST – Spice Up House of Indian Cuisine
Best Korean Barbecue
GOLD – Gen Korean BBQ House
SILVER – Million Restaurant
BRONZE – Yakiniku Korea House
FINALIST – Sikdorak
SEE ALSO: 2020 Hale ‘Aina Award Winner: The Beginner’s Guide to Korean Barbecue
Best Overall Korean
GOLD – O’Kim’s Korean Kitchen
SILVER – Sorabol
BRONZE – Choi’s Garden
FINALIST – Million Restaurant
Best Vietnamese
GOLD – The Pig & The Lady
SILVER – Hale Vietnam
BRONZE – Pho Saigon
FINALIST – Pho One
Best Mexican
GOLD – Taqueria El Ranchero
SILVER – Serg’s Mexican Kitchen
BRONZE – Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant
FINALIST – Alejandro’s Tacos
Best Filipino
GOLD – Elena’s
SILVER – Max’s Restaurant
BRONZE – Julie’Z Restaurant
FINALIST – Thelma’s Filipino Restaurant
Best Outdoor Dining
GOLD – Merriman’s
SILVER – Hau Tree
BRONZE – Queensbreak
FINALIST – Plumeria Beach House
SEE ALSO: 2021 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: Hau Tree Restaurant at the Kaimana Beach Hotel Wins Gold for Best Outdoor Dining in Hawai‘i
Best Takeout: Affordable
GOLD – Kūhiō Grille
SILVER – Zippy’s
BRONZE – ‘Ili‘ili Cash & Carry
FINALIST – L & L Hawaiian Barbecue
SEE ALSO: Plant-Based Spam Musubi: Try ‘Um Before You Knock ‘Um
Best Takeout: High End
GOLD – Merriman’s
SILVER – MW Restaurant
BRONZE – Roy’s
FINALIST – Pai Honolulu
