The 5 Best New Restaurants of Summer 2018

New restaurants opening their doors on Oahu this summer are truly abundant. The task of narrowing down the best of the bountiful field led our taste buds to a blend of New American, Asian twists and something for your sweet tooth.

1. Gochi Grill

Local-style comfort foods take a contemporary twist at this new downtown hotspot for lunch. Items including Chicken Katsu, fork tender Meatloaf and Corned Pig & Cabbage expertly craft delicious homestyle memories with elevated flavors and ingredients.

Chef and owner John Iha, and Sean Uyehara, take the traditional bento-style box lunch and fill it with delicious, well-balanced portions for the hungry and busy afternoon crowd. Overall the meals resonate very high quality and moderate-sized quantity to rave re-views and many return customers.

Gochi Grill

1111 Bishop Street

Honolulu, HI

(808) 585-8558

2. Merriman’s Honolulu

Celebrated Hawaii Regional Cuisine Chef Peter Merriman has done it again with the launch of another highly anticipated new restaurant. The fresh Kakaako location boasts impeccable seafood paired with Hawaiian-inspired flavors and Asian influences.

Merriman’s commitment to farm-fresh ingredients is apparent in the menu of this new Ward Village concept. At the helm in the kitchen is well known local Chef Jon Matsubara (previously at Alan Wong’s, Stage Restaurant and 40 Carrots) crafting dishes including a Keahole Lobster Pot Pie, fresh Pacific fish and table-side poke.

Merriman’s Honolulu

1108 Auahi Street

Honolulu, HI

(808) 215-0022

3. Restaurant XO

As Hawaii is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities so is the menu at Restaurant XO. Truly inspired by family and community heritage, dishes blended from Filipino, Chinese, French, Thai and American cultures are expertly presented in Kaimuki.

Chef and owner Kenny Lee, and Aleina Chun, bring their elevated culinary experience to the humble beginnings of Waialae Avenue. Adobo Fried Chicken, Ginger Fried Rice and the XO Scallops are all flavor and texture standouts.

Restaurant XO

3434 Waialae Avenue

Honolulu, HI

(808) 732-3838

4. Tim Ho Wan

A Michelin Star doesn’t always equate to fine dining or abrasively expensive menu prices. This remains true for the Hong Kong-based dim sum experts at Tim Ho Wan. Prepared to perfection, these pillowy morsels of steamed pork, seafood and vegetables come bite-sized or in small plates for any palate.

Recently opened at Royal Hawaiian Center, the fresh, made-to-order dim sum chain prepares authentic soft, delicate and perfectly prepared plates at the Waikiki location. They are also showcasing two unique Hawaii-only dishes featuring pineapple to give it a little sweet, yet tart, essence of paradise.

Tim Ho Wan

2233 Kalakaua Avenue

Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 888-6088

5. Purve Donuts

Not really a restaurant, per se, this innovative and dangerously delicious donut and coffee shop is sure to impress. Wildly creative, filled with gourmet ingredients and slath-ered with addictive toppings… Two former bartenders truly know how to make crave worthy decadent donuts.

Briton Zablan and Nick Cornford combine to create Oahu’s most unique, mind-blowing and hand decorated donuts. Along with sips from Kai Coffee, it’s the perfect start to your day or moment to kickstart your sugar rush.

Purvé Donuts

1234 Kona Street

Honolulu, HI

(808) 200-3978

See also:

5 Fresh New Oahu Restaurants to Visit This Spring – 2018

The 5 Best New Restaurants on Oahu to Help You Refuel and Relax this Holiday Season – 2017

The 5 Best New Restaurants in Honolulu this Fall – 2017

The 6 Best New Places to Eat This Summer in Honolulu – 2017

The Best New Restaurants on Oahu to Visit – 2016

Oahu’s Hottest New Restaurants – 2016