Honolulu Restaurants

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Honolulu has a diverse eating scene. Influences from Asia are prevalent, but locally grown ingredients and fresh caught seafood make their way onto most of the islands' menus, no matter what style of cooking the chef practices. In fact, everyone eats well in Hawaii. Tourists must choose whether they want to indulge in the kind of staged luau that most resorts specialize in or to embark on a gastronomical tour of the state's most unique eateries.

These are the best places to eat well in Hawaii:

Budget

Sushi Company (1111 McCully Street) is an authentic sushi restaurant that doesn't have a pricy menu. Most of the ingredients are local and the dishes are solid in the taste and quality departments. With a full meal's worth of fresh fish costing about $10, this is easily one of the best values on the islands.

Mekong Thai (1726 S King St) boasts both an affordable menu and a welcoming atmosphere. The special thing about this typical Thai restaurant is the use of fresh local seafood in the fish dishes. But there are so many choices on the menu that it would be possible to go for nearly a year without eating the same thing twice.

Value

Ono Hawaiian Foods (726 Kapahulu Ave) is widely regarded as the place with the most authentic Hawaiian food on the Oahu. Aside for the ubiquitous side dish of poi, there are various meat and seafood offerings that you won't be able to find in restaurants frequented by tourists.

Chiba Ken (468 Ena Rd) is an intimate Japanese restaurant with quality sushi and a full and diverse menu of Japanese classics. Great care and attention from the kitchen staff makes this restaurant one of the best values in the city. The prices are quite reasonable considering the quality.

Splurge

Alan Wong's Restaurant (1857 South King St) is consistently ranked among (or above) Hawaii's finest restaurants. The Asian/Pacific dishes are original and inspired. The menu prices and need for reservations (sometimes days in advance) are part of the experience as well, but food-lovers will find the prices and inconveniences well worth it.

La Mer (2199 Kalia Rd - Halekulani Hotel) is a classy, upscale restaurant. But to call it merely a French restaurant would be an understatement. The menu of classic dishes from Southern France relies heavily on fresh local ingredients. There is a dress code, but this is one of the best places for that one "splurge" meal that you budgeted into your vacation.