November brings a wave of exciting new dining options to Honolulu, from a unique Italian-Mediterranean fusion spot in Waikiki to a popular Maui shave ice shop, and even a Michelin-starred yakitori restaurant from New York! Here are the details on the hottest new openings:
- Botanico Waikiki
Located on the first floor of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, Botanico Waikiki is the newest venture from the Zetton Group (known for Aloha Table, Heavenly, and Zigu), which celebrated its grand opening on November 4th.
This restaurant offers dishes that blend Italian cuisine with Mediterranean influences and an island flair. The restaurant is perfect for everything from casual lunches to special dinners.
Lunch and happy hour services started in mid-November. Lunch (11:30 AM – 2:00 PM) features pastas using seasonal ingredients, light and airy Pinsa Romana pizzas, curries, and salads.
Happy hour runs from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (at the bar counter only) and offers draft beer for $6, along with house wine, sangria, and select cocktails for $8. Food items are reasonably priced between $10 and $15, including chicken liver mousse, eggplant and potato gratin, prosciutto and white peach compote, homemade hummus, and half-sized Pinsa Romana – perfect for a light meal in Waikiki!
- Address: 2250 Kalakaua Avenue, #101 Honolulu, HI
- Hours: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM (Lunch: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, Happy Hour: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
- Phone: 808-200-3241
- Website: https://www.botanicowaikiki.com
- Marujuu
A Japanese-style hamburger steak shop, Marujuu, opened in the former Chubbies Burger location in Kaimuki.
Enjoy the sight and sound of sizzling hamburger steaks and spaghetti on a hot iron plate with sauce poured over – just like a hamburg shop in Japan! The hamburger steaks are juicy and full of umami. Both lunch and dinner are currently first-come, first-served, so it’s recommended to get there early to beat the lines.
- Address: 1145C 12th Ave Honolulu, HI
- Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 2:45 PM (L.O. 2:00 PM), 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (L.O. 8:15 PM)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marujuu_hawaii/
- NORI Bar
NORI Bar, which first opened in the Koula Tower in Ward Village, is expanding its operations to a second location on the first floor of the Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach Hotel, where the now shuttered Taiwanese shaved ice shop “Ice Monster” once occupied. The scheduled opening date is February 26, 2025.
The shop by the owner of the popular local spot “Paradise Poke Hawaii,” will offer its signature hand rolls made with fresh seafood at affordable prices ranging from $5 to $7 per roll.
- Address: 2255 Kūhiō Ave., Honolulu, HI
- Website: https://noribarhawaii.com/
- Ululani Shave Ice
Ululani Shave Ice, a popular shave ice shop originating from Maui with locations on Kapahulu Avenue (near Leonard’s Bakery), Waimanalo, and Pearl City, opened a new location at the corner of Kuhio Avenue and Seaside Avenue, where Jamba Juice once was. The syrups poured over the fluffy shave ice incorporate pure cane sugar and are made using the highest quality purees and fruit juices.
- Address: 349 Seaside Ave, Honolulu, HI
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
- Phone: 808-683-6229
- Website: https://www.ululanishawaiianshaveice.com/
- Maruwu Seicha
A new matcha drink shop, Maruwu Seicha, has opened inside the Waikiki Heritage Hotel on Beach Walk in Waikiki. Maruwu Seicha offers drinks and sweets using matcha imported directly from Uji, Kyoto. They also feature popular local drinks like Strawberry Matcha Latte and Ube Matcha Latte.
- Address: 260 Beach Walk, Honolulu HI
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maruwuseichausa?igsh=cTk2dXZncTUydXQ4
- As You Like Waikiki
Another matcha drink shop, As You Like Waikiki, appeared in the Hotel Renew located on the east end of Waikiki! This shop from Brooklyn, New York, recommends matcha drinks, hojicha drinks, and “Kona Cola” made with homemade syrup created by boiling down Kona coffee husks.
You can also enjoy unique “craft musubi” with carefully selected ingredient combinations and seasonings, such as spicy tuna, miso salmon, and bacon & egg.
- Address: 129 Paoakalani Ave, Honolulu, HI
- Hours: 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asyoulikewaikiki?igsh=MWsyaXRmMHJ6Y3htbA%3D%3D
- CHAO
CHAO is a new restaurant that emerged on Nuuanu Avenue just outside of Downtown Honolulu. Offering a blend of traditional home cooking and contemporary Vietnamese cuisine, the restaurant has quickly garnered attention for its classics such as chicken pho made with homemade noodles and long-simmered broth and spring rolls, as well as creative dishes including beef carpaccio, soft shell crab pasta with a beurre monte, and grilled octopus. A wide range of dishes includes scallop, shrimp, and squid ceviche, unctuous Wagyu bone marrow, and a savory oxtail stew. The cocktail menu is also extensive, with some twists on classics. It’s a restaurant worth visiting as you’ll discover a new favorite dish every time.
- Address: 1613 Nuuanu Ave. Honolulu, HI
- Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Phone: 808-888-0166
- Website: https://chaohawaii.com/
- Banh Mi Paradise
A new Vietnamese sandwich shop, Banh Mi Paradise, opened in Samsung Plaza near Ala Moana Center. This shop specializes in banh mi, and their signature banh mi features beef wrapped in betel leaf, a rare but surprisingly delicious selection. The crispy pork banh mi is another engaging option with its crunchy pork skin. Complement the meal with drinks such as pineapple mango and strawberry & blueberry fruit smoothies, and Vietnamese coffee.
- Address: 661 Keeaumoku St Honolulu, HI
- Hours: Wednesday, Friday – Monday: 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM, Thursday: 10:30 AM – 8:30 PM
- Phone: 808-940-4141
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/banhmiparadise/
- Torishin
Torishin, the first yakitori restaurant in New York that earned a Michelin star for seven consecutive years, is planning to open a location in Honolulu on the first floor of Ae’o, a luxury condominium in Ward Village. Overturning the common conception of yakitori as casual food, this omakase-style restaurant serves dishes coursed out like a fine French degustation. The Hawaii location plans to offer a menu incorporating carefully selected Hawaiian ingredients based on the omakase course popular at the New York main store. The anticipated eatery is slated to open in early 2026.
- Address: 1001 Queen St. Honolulu HI
- Website: https://www.torishinny.com/
While Japanese and Vietnamese cuisines are among the prevalent new spots in town, they redefine the traditional Asian experiences most often discovered in Honolulu. Also redefining the commonplace Italian genre is Botanico Waikiki, enabling discerning diners to encounter fresh infusions of flavors and plates. So consider planning on spending any spare cash remaining from the holiday season for well deserved meals.
