5 Restaurants in Hawaii Kai for Foodies

Whether it’s a romantic dinner or a quick bite to go, Hawai‘i Kai is full of delicious and memorable eateries. It’s location is close to the waterfront marina and the ocean making eating in this neighborhood a real treat. 

Hanapaa Market

7192 Kalaniaole Highway, E123A, (808) 762-3117. Image credit: https://www.instagram.com/hanapaa_market/

Located where the old Paina Café used to be, Hanapa’a Market is a take-out poke shop where poke is sold by the weight or in a bowl. There’s also sandwiches, salads, wraps and local sides like edamame, kimchee, boiled peanuts, fresh fruit and pickled onions. The poke bowl comes with a variety of sauces and flavors you can choose from, including Hawaiian, shoyu, spicy mayo, oyster sauce, garlic, kim chee, miso and furikake. The refreshing meal is perfect for a pick-me-up after a hike or surf sesh out on the east side. You can choose ahi, octopus, salmon, shrimp and imitation crab. For folks craving heartier fare, there are Hawaiian style plate lunches including a poke plate, blackened rare ahi, chicken and roasted portabello mushroom. These plate lunches come with a choice of white, brown and sushi rice, and sides of potato salad, greens and dressing. 

Roy’s Hawaii Kai

6600 Kalaniaole Highway, (808) 396-7697

You can never go wrong with eating at Roy’s Hawaii Kai, known to be the original location for the upscale restaurant franchise owned by the famous Chef Roy Yamaguchi. This restaurant – and the other locations around the island – is known for its locally sourced ingredients served in Hawaii Regional Cuisine style. The ambience is perfect for a fancy family dinner or a date night, but casual enough that you can relax and talk story while watching the talented servers and chefs whipping up your food in the open kitchen. With a close-up view of Maunalua Bay, Roy’s ambiance is hard to beat. Try the Hawaii Kai Crab Cakes, Roy’s Classic Misoyaki Butterfish or the Slow Braised Beef Short Rib. And, don’t forget to finish your meal with the popular Roy’s Signature Chocolate Souffle.    

Assaggio

7192 Kalaniaole Hwy. Ste #107, (808) 396-0756. Image credit: https://www.instagram.com/assaggiohi/

Located in Koko Marina Center, Assaggio is an elegant yet comfortable restaurant with several locations around the island serving the delicious Italian fare. It’s perfect for a casual date night, a birthday celebration or a night out with friends. With dishes like alfredo fettucini, cheese ravioli, rigatoni arrabiata and lasagna, the food here is flavorful, filling and memorable. Guests can enjoy complimentary warm bread with butter – it’s a delicious starter to your meal and works perfectly to soak up any sauce leftover on your plate. For dessert, try the mud pie which is a scrumptious dessert with an oreo cookie crust, chocolate ice cream, fudge sauce, whipped cream and a cherry. 

Chopsticks and Rice

333 Keahole Street, Ste #2E10, (808) 460-9898. Image credit: https://chopstick-and-rice.business.site/

One of the newer restaurants in Hawaii Kai, Chopsticks and Rice is perfect if you’re craving authentic Vietnamese food. You can’t go wrong with the pho here, whether it’s served with rare steak, brisket, flank, tendon, tripe or meatballs. The freshly made broth is everything you want from the classic Vietnamese dish: aromatic, rich and complex. The bahn mi with pickled carrots, daikon and tender brisket is another customer favorite. For lighter fare, try the vermicelli cold noodle with lemongrass chicken and spring rolls, or the grilled shrimp and tofu rice plate. 

Liko’s Tap and Table

377 Keahole St. Suite C2, (808) 394-5456. Image credit: https://www.instagram.com/likoshawaii/

You can’t miss brunch at Liko’s Tap and Table, a newly renovated waterfront restaurant in Hawaii Kai that serves a killer brunch menu paired with mimosas and a signature bloody Mary. Liko’s Tap and Table offers more than 30 beer taps, craft cocktails, 14 locally brewed selections and a casual and comfortable atmosphere. On weekends, there’s a popular lobster benedict that’s everything you want for brunch: grilled French baguette, cold-water Atlantic lobster and two perfectly poached eggs in a rich hollandaise sauce. For lunch and dinner, there are heartier dishes like prime rib, pork chop, fresh catch and a variety of shareable plates like wings, tacos, hand-cup French fries and chicharron.