Where to Eat in Chinatown
Chinatown is, of course, where you can find great dim sum, noodles and roast pork amongst market vendors selling everything from tropical fruit to dried mushrooms. But Chinatown is also home to some of the best modern restaurants and bars on Oʻahu. With its brick buildings, street art and live music venues, it's a neighborhood that merges new and old with traditional and innovative. It's where you buy mooncakes on one corner and craft cocktails on the next. Although restaurants here accommodate children, Chinatown is more fun for adults. Especially adults who like to try new flavors and get outside of their comfort zone.
For Chinatown bakeries, markets and specialty food shops, check out our Complete Guide to Chinatown. This guide is for sit-down restaurants and eateries only.
Best Chinatown Dining by Cuisine
Chinese
Legend Seafood Restaurant — Best for large groups. Skip if you don't like sharing food. This is a traditional Chinese dim sum restaurant with large tables and food that arrives by pushcart.
Lam's Kitchen — Best for visitors seeking out a local hole-in-the-wall. Skip if you are celebrating a special occasion or are looking for the most popular restaurants. Lam's is nothing fancy, just solid food in a no-frills joint serving mostly locals.
Fook Lam — Best for visitors looking for a classic dim sum experience. Locals say it’s one of the best in Chinatown.
Thai
Sing Sing Thai Street Food — Best for visitors wanting to try new things. Great for couples or groups of four to six people. Bangkok-style street food served family-style. Chef introduces new dishes every three months.
Olay's Thai Lao Cuisine — Best for ambiance and traditional Thai and Lao dishes that can all be prepared vegetarian. Charming outdoor courtyard turns any lunch or dinner into a playful experience.
Asian Fusion
Giovedi — Best for food lovers or a sexy night out. I'd skip it if you are with small children. The food here is for a more sophisticated palate, and the chef does not make modifications to dishes. The menu is a mix of modern Asian-Italian with Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. The cocktails are crushable and creative. Great for groups of four to six people as portions for most dishes are large.
Lucky Belly — Best for ramen lovers. Skip if you have a large party — it's easier to get a table if you are solo or with only one other person. Order the Beast Bowl Ramen and dumplings.
O'Kim's — Best for adventurous diners who like creative twists on classics — in this case, Korean classics. Cozy outdoor courtyard creates a nice ambiance.
New American
Fete — Best for couples or small groups looking for a lively night out or boozy lunch. I'd skip this one if you are with small children — you are going to want to enjoy it with adults. Classic comfort food, craft cocktails and the best wine list in town.
Livestock Tavern — Best for East or West Coast diners missing the taste of home. One of the OGs on the block, Livestock has been serving classics like chopped salads, burgers and steaks in Chinatown since 2014.
Pizza
Pizza Mamo — Best for a younger crowd. This hip bar-meets-pizzeria spins Brooklyn and Detroit-style pizzas made with four-day fermented dough to mop up shots of Fernet Branca and margarita slushies.
Black Shamrock — Best for visitors looking for a good neighborhood bar. Come in to watch your sports team on the tube, drink a few cold beers and enjoy the owner's legendary Jersey-style pizzas that change up daily. Heads up: Pizza is served Tuesday through Saturday only. Closed Sundays.
J. Dolan's — Another local favorite neighborhood bar and pizza joint. This one's been serving Chinatown since 2008. New York-style pies — you can order by the slice. Everything you love about a good dive bar, just a little bit classier.
Burmese
Rangoon Burmese Kitchen — For visitors who want something casual, yet exciting to eat. Leave the picky eaters back in Waikīkī, because Burmese food is all about spices and a full range of flavor. My go-tos are the Rangoon tea leaf salad, palatha and the coconut curry lamb.
Best Chinatown Dining by Occasion
Breakfast
HK Cafe — Best for old-school diner ambiance. Skip if you are looking for typical Chinese-American cuisine. Come for the Hong Kong milk tea, peanut-butter French toast, Ovaltine French toast and seafood laksa.
On a Budget
Youpo Noodles — Best for diners who love spice. If you can't handle spicy food, there is nothing here for you. Hand-pulled biang biang mian (noodles) and appetizers from Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province in China. Dishes range from $9-$19.
The Daley — Solid smash burgers ($10 to $15), fries ($6) and gooey chocolate-chip cookies ($4.75). Beer, cocktails and shots available.
Maguro Brothers — High-quality poke bowls from $14 to $20.
Bars with Food
Murphy's Bar & Grill — You're not coming here for happy-hour deals — you're coming for classic pau hana ambiance, professional bartenders and the best Irish grub in town. Murphy's is an institution in Chinatown. Check in with the host and ask them if there is room in the bar.
Skull & Crown Trading Co. — For tiki-bar lovers. Skip if you're a vodka-soda kinda gal or guy. Come for the over-the-top tiki drinks — the kind that will have you looking around the room for a fire extinguisher — and consider sticking around for dinner. Not everyone realizes this super-cool tiki bar has pretty damn good food too. I'm a fan of the ube tres leches cake.
Pigeonhole — For the cool kids who dig restaurant and bar hopping. Skip it if you aren't looking for fun. Inventive craft cocktails and snacky dishes, like Taiwanese scallion pancakes, curly fries and Korean fried chicken wings. The soap dispenser in the bathroom will tell you everything you need to know about these guys.
Pewa by Pono Potions — For visitors looking to lounge in a hip, welcoming atmosphere. Open all day: coffee in the morning, weekend brunch, weekday lunch, happy-hour specials and pūpū and cocktails in the evening.
Birthday/Anniversary
Fete — One of the things that's great about Fete is that you can come for a sandwich and be out the door for $20, or you can go all out with champagne, appetizers, local seafood, dessert and after-dinner drinks. It's pretty easy to please everyone with all the options and price points at Fete — always at the highest quality.
Giovedi — Enjoy dinner outside under the lights. A bottle of wine, foie gras, pastas and steak perhaps? Don't forget tiramisu and a chilled amaro for dessert. Giovedi is the type of place you can dress up for and not feel out of place with the generally casual local style.
Not sure where to start? Book a food tour.
Practical Tips
- Fete books out almost daily. Reservations at least a week in advance are highly recommended.
- Many restaurants in Chinatown are closed on Sundays or on another day of the week. Check hours before heading over.
- Tipping 20% is standard in Hawaiʻi. Many restaurants add automatic gratuity for parties of six or more.
- With the exception of Pigeonhole and J. Dolan's, most restaurants in Chinatown stop serving food by 9:30 p.m.
- Bars stop serving alcohol at 1:45 a.m.
- Markets and small mom-and-pop spots prefer cash.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular restaurant in Chinatown?
Fete is the most popular restaurant in Chinatown. Chef and owner Robynne Maiʻi is a James Beard Award winning chef and a champion of small farms and local ingredients produced on Oʻahu. Book reservations at least a week in advance.
Is it safe to go to Chinatown?
Yes. Like any city, you’ll likely come across some unsavory individuals on the street, but don’t be deterred. There is a police station in the center of Chinatown and police are always around. Stick to the restaurants and shops we recommend and you’ll be fine.
How far in advance do I need to book reservations for Fete?
About a week in advance should be plenty. During the holidays, book two weeks out to be safe.
Where do locals actually eat on O’ahu?
Locals eat everywhere except Waikīkī, unless they live or work there. Some of the most popular neighborhoods for dining are Chinatown, Kaimukī and Kakaʻako.
Best place for cheap eats in Chinatown?
Maunakea Marketplace, The Daley, Lamʻs Kitchen, Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery, Youpo Noodles and Vietnamese restaurants for pho.
Best breakfast in Chinatown?
Dim sum at Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery and HK Cafe.
Best Chinese restaurant in Chinatown?
Fook Lam for dim sum.
Best cocktails in Chintown?
Bar Leather Apron, Pigeonhole, Fete and Giovedi all have excellent craft cocktail menus.
Editor · Oʻahu
Sarah Burchard has called Oʻahu home since 2017. com, Hana Hou, FLUX Hawaiʻi, Forbes, Hawaiʻi Magazine and Honolulu Magazine.
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