Hawaii is a melting pot of gastronomic tourism influenced by popular global cuisines, such as Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Portuguese flavors that are respectfully incorporated into Hawaii’s diverse food history. Many of these you’ll find in O’ahu’s Downtown Honolulu.

As the state’s bustling political and business hub and the home to some of the island’s most historic places, it’s no secret why many restaurateurs from the U.S. and abroad have chosen Downtown Honolulu to open their restaurants and bars. Now a decade later, the city is overflowing with choices that can certainly match and even surprise your palate, as locals and tourists are a bit spoiled for choice between juicy produce, fresh fish, and local farm-to-table style eateries. To get you started, here are our top four favorites you might want to consider during your extensive search.

1. Tonkatsu Tamafuji

• Where: 449 Kapahulu Ave
• Price: $$

Classifying Tamafuji as the best tonkatsu restaurant in the city is an understatement. Trying to get a reservation there suffices that it’s definitely worth visiting. Its generational service of mouthwatering tonkatsu brings you a quick trip to Japan. The aged meat, the crisp crust panko breading, the sweet and spicy sauces, and the fresh pickles are taken with utmost quality.

2. daCove Health Bar

• Where: 3045 Monsarrat Ave #5
• Price: $

To complement the sunny and refreshing Hawaiian vibe, daCove Health Bar is a laid-back cafe offering healthy eats like smoothies, salads, wraps, and kava, with live music in the evenings. Its tagline, “Eat Healthy, Live Pono,” infuses diners with a state of harmony lifestyle through dishes made with local-grown and island-caught ingredients.

3. Koko Head Cafe

• Where: 1120 12th Ave
• Price: $$

Another casual yet cozy restaurant worth visiting is Chef Lee Anne Wong and Chef Kevin Hanney’s Koko Head Cafe. It’s a creative, locally-sourced brunch fare with a gourmet twist restaurant that has instantly become a community favorite and a notable mention in local and national print, online, and television platforms. Such classics you ought to order are Cornflake French Toast which has been surprising the palates of even the harshest critics, signature skillets that have grown to be a crowd pleaser, and  Ohayou Eggs which serves as the restaurant’s savory take on Japanese-style baked eggs.

Despite adding summerlike outdoor seating, Koko Head Cafe still often receives a line out the front door. So, we highly recommend reserving your slot/s the soonest by joining its waitlist here. 

4. Scratch Kitchen

• Where: 1170 Auahi Street #175
• Price: $-$$

Scratch Kitchen takes some of the world’s most favorite comfort foods in a spin into distinctive creations aligned to its website mantra: Simple. Rustic. Approachable. True to its restaurant name, everything you know about familiar dishes is reinvented from scratch for a uniquely delicious experience. And the best part is, they’re not too fancy and pricey despite giving guests a restaurant ambiance of an upscale, artsy vibe. 

Scratch Kitchen is a hidden gem in Downtown but often packed with lines outside, so better make sure you secure a spot through its reservation system here. We also recommend either walking (if you’re near the area) or hopping on a cab to get there since the restaurant has limited street parking. 
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