With hundreds of restaurants in Waikīkī, we’ve carefully curated a solid list of popular picks to make your dinner decisions easy.
There are hundreds of restaurants in Waikīkī, and we’ve dined at most of them! We love eating out in Waikīkī — there’s a buzz in the air, an enormous variety of cuisine and excellent service.
When our guests ask us where’s good for dinner in Waikīkī, we answer with this list of tried-and-true restaurants. We know the atmosphere, menu and food at these places will impress.
In this post, we share our local recommendations for the best dinner in Waikīkī.
Table of Contents
1. Monkeypod Kitchen – Waikiki
Oceanfront dining, farm-to-table flavors and the island’s best Mai Tai.
📍 2169 Kālia Rd #111, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: Daily 3:30-5pm
🎵 Live Music: Daily 12:30pm
🎟️ Reservations: OpenTable or walk-in
Peter Merriman, one of Hawaiʻi’s top chefs, brought Monkeypod Kitchen to Waikīkī in 2023. Located oceanfront inside the OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, this beautifully decorated restaurant specializes in Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine with locally-sourced ingredients. Everything on the menu is delicious, but be sure to start with the Lobster Deviled Eggs!
INSIDE TIP: Save room for a slice of cream pie! Choose from strawberry (our pick), chocolate, banana and coconut flavors. You’ll also want to try their famous mai tai.
2. Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar
Casual Italian dining at its best, with primo Neapolitan pizza and pasta.
📍 150 Kaiʻulani Ave, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: Daily 3-6pm
🎵 Live Music: None
🎟️ Reservations: Yelp or walk-in
For a casual yet chic Italian spot in Waikīkī, Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar is a top pick. Their Neapolitan-style pizzas steal the show, made with homemade sauces, Caputo flour from Naples and baked in a Kiawe wood (Hawaiian mesquite) oven — Margherita, Quatro Formaggi and Shrimp Pesto are our favourites. The antipasti, house-made pasta and boutique wine list are also impressive.
INSIDE TIP: They serve fresh and fruity sangria in white and red varieties.
3. House Without A Key
Effortless oceanfront wining and dining with nightly sunset hula and live music.
📍 2199 Kālia Rd, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: None
🎵 Live Music: Daily from 5-10pm
🎟️ Reservations: OpenTable or walk-in
House Without A Key at the five-star Halekulani hotel pairs sunset hula performances with laidback luxury dining, offering both undercover and under-the-stars seating. The dinner menu features fresh seafood, brick oven pizzas and wellness-focused meals, all served with warm hospitality. Ocean views, live Hawaiian music and a setting rich in timeless beauty create a truly dreamy evening.
4. Momosan Waikiki
Flavor-packed ramen, sake and Japanese bites from an Iron Chef master.
📍 2490 Kalākaua Ave, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: Daily from 2-5pm
🎵 Live Music: None
🎟️ Reservations: Walk-in only
Momosan Waikiki is a ramen and sake bar by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, featuring a beer garden-style outdoor area directly across from Waikīkī Beach. It’s a true treat for your tastebuds! The ramen and sushi are sensational, especially when paired with standout Japanese bites like sticky ribs, pork gyoza and bao buns stuffed with pork belly or soft shell crab.
INSIDE TIP: Draft beer is only $4 (with a purchase of food) during Happy Hour at Momosan Waikiki from 11am-4pm daily. Try the Kirin Ichiban frozen beer!
5. Island Vintage Wine Bar
Seriously tasty food with options for vegan, keto and gluten-free diners.
📍 2301 Kalākaua Ave, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: TBC
🎵 Live Music: None
🎟️ Reservations: OpenTable or walk-in
Tucked inside Royal Hawaiian Center, Island Vintage Wine Bar is an oasis with a garden view and self-serve wine machine. The menu boasts over 70 items, including all-day breakfast, poke bowls, seafood plates, fried rice dishes, burgers, sandwiches and hearty salads — all beautifully presented with thoughtful sides. Vegetarian, vegan, keto and gluten-free options are plentiful.
6. Tommy Bahama
A buzzing restaurant and rooftop bar known for its good food and hospitality.
📍 298 Beach Walk, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: Daily 2-5pm
🎵 Live Music: Daily 5-8pm
🎟️ Reservations: OpenTable or walk-in
Tommy Bahama’s tri-level space captures the island life with tropical-inspired decor, food and drinks. It’s a retail store, restaurant and rooftop bar all-in-one. Savor Hawaiʻi-influenced dishes like the Kona Coffee Crusted Ribeye or Macadamia Nut Crusted Fresh Catch. Start with the Scallop Sliders and be sure to save room for one of their decadent desserts.
7. Duke’s Waikiki
The heart of Waikīkī Beach dining, serving Hawaiʻi-inspired American classics.
📍 2335 Kalākaua Ave #116, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: None
🎵 Live Music: Daily from 4-6pm & 7pm-12am
🎟️ Reservations: OpenTable or walk-in
Duke’s Waikiki captures the heart of Hawaiʻi with ocean views, American food with a tropical twist and sweet cocktails. An ode to surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, this beachy tiki-themed spot feels like the spirit of Waikīkī itself. Come for a memorable steak and seafood dinner and don’t leave without trying the Hula Pie. Once you visit, you’ll find yourself drawn back every trip.
8. Hula Grill Waikiki
Locally-sourced dishes served in a space styled like a 1930s Hawaiʻi home.
📍 2335 Kalākaua Ave #201, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: None
🎵 Live Music: Daily from 12 Noon-2pm
🎟️ Reservations: OpenTable or walk-in
Hula Grill Waikiki, located above Duke’s inside the OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beach Resort, celebrates Hawaiʻi with locally-inspired cuisine and live lunchtime music. Sharing the same owners as Duke’s, it offers equally stunning beachfront views. The menu showcases fresh ingredients from local Hawaiʻi farms, delivering a true taste of the islands in a plantation-era-inspired setting.
INSIDE TIP: They also feature Hula Pie on the menu — definitely worth indulging!
9. The Cheesecake Factory
18+ pages of menu choices, big portions and 25 years of Waikīkī dining tradition.
📍 2301 Kalākaua Ave, Waikīkī
🕒 Open: Daily for Lunch & Dinner
🍹 Happy Hour: Mon-Fri from 4-6pm *bar only
🎵 Live Music: None
🎟️ Reservations: Walk-in only
A staple on Kālakaua Avenue for over 20 years, The Cheesecake Factory is a classic Waikīkī dining experience. Known for its warm hospitality, this popular U.S. chain serves up more than 250 dishes and 40 cheesecakes and desserts, all in super-sized portions at moderate prices. Don’t miss the Chicken Piccata — this main course is a giant plate of deliciousness.
INSIDE TIP: Skip the wait at Waikīkī’s Cheesecake Factory by grabbing a seat at the bar or tables nearby. Even in the bar area, you can order off the full menu. Most Waikīkī bar areas operate on a first come, first served basis, known as open seating (no reservations are required).
In summary, with countless dining options in Waikīkī, you can rest assured — our curated list showcases some of the very best dinner spots in the area.
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A light jacket or cardigan is recommended
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Visitor FAQs
While not always required, reservations are highly recommended — especially at popular restaurants that fill up fast. Booking ahead is ideal for a romantic sunset dinner or a special occasion. Use the OpenTable app (Apple/Google) to easily secure, modify, or cancel reservations at most Oʻahu eateries.
The best dinner time in Waikīkī depends on your ideal experience. For a sunset view, book a table around 6 to 7pm (check Waikīkī sunset times here). Prefer a quieter atmosphere? Dining between 8 and 9pm offers a more relaxed setting. If you’re after budget-friendly bites and drinks, Waikīkī’s early-evening and late-night Happy Hours are a great option.
Monkeypod Kitchen’s open-air oceanfront setting is perfect for watching the sun dip below the horizon. For beachfront dining with sunset views, Duke’s Waikiki and Hula Grill Waikiki are top picks just steps from the sand. For more options, see our Cocktails with a View: Waikīkī Beach Bars.
