13 Iconic Hawaii Restaurants We’d Do Anything to Taste One More Time (Gone But Never Forgotten)

I've lived on Oahu for over three decades, and I've watched too many of our best restaurants disappear. Some closed their doors quietly. Others went out during the pandemic, breaking our hearts. These weren't just places to eat – they were where families celebrated, where friends met after work, where visitors got their first real taste of Hawaii. Let me take you through thirteen iconic restaurants that we'd give anything to visit one more time.

Wailana Coffee House – Waikiki's 24-Hour Pancake Palace

For forty-eight years, that glowing neon sign on the corner of Ala Moana and Ena never went dark. Wailana Coffee House was THE spot for 2 a.m. pancakes, post-concert hangs, and all-you-can-eat breakfast marathons before it closed in October 2018. The Tom family opened it back in 1949 when that corner was basically swampland, and it became a Waikiki institution.

The last time I sat in one of those worn vinyl booths was around 1 a.m. on a Saturday. My friends and I had just left a concert at the Shell, and we weren't ready for the night to end. We ordered their famous coconut pancakes, a teri burger, and a chocolate milkshake to share. The waitress wore a bright mu'umu'u and knew half the people in the restaurant by name. That's what made Wailana special – it felt like your auntie's kitchen, just open all night.

What Made It Special:

• Never closed: Literally 24/7/365 for nearly five decades
• Throwback menu: Beef liver with onions, S.O.S. (creamed beef on toast), Hawaiian ambrosia
• Affordable comfort: Massive portions at prices that didn't change much over the decades
• Community hub: Where locals, tourists, night shift workers, and insomniacs all mingled

Must-Try Dishes That We'll Never Taste Again:

• All-you-can-eat pancakes – coconut and macadamia nut varieties were legendary
• Corned beef hash with eggs – breakfast perfection
• Belgian waffles with bacon – crispy, fluffy, unforgettable
• Teri burger – local twist on classic American diner fare

What Happened: The Tom family owned both the restaurant and part of the 24-story Wailana condominium building. Renovation costs approached a million dollars, making closure the only realistic option. The last few weeks saw lines snaking down Ala Moana Boulevard with people desperate for one final meal.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed October 2018 | 💰 Budget-friendly ($8-15 per person) | 📍 1860 Ala Moana Blvd | ⏰ Was open 24 hours daily

Alan Wong's – The Restaurant That Defined Hawaii Regional Cuisine

This wasn't just another restaurant – Alan Wong's literally changed how Hawaii thought about local ingredients. Tucked into a small King Street office building with zero ocean views, it earned a James Beard Award within a year of opening in 1995. For twenty-five years, until closing in November 2020, it set the standard every other fine dining establishment chased.

Chef Wong pioneered the “local first, organic whenever possible” philosophy that's now everywhere. He took ingredients our grandparents grew and prepared them with techniques that made food critics across the country pay attention. President Obama ate here during Hawaii visits to Hawaii. That tells you everything.

What Made It Special:

• James Beard Award winner – legitimate national recognition
• Hawaii Regional Cuisine founder – helped create an entire culinary movement
• Farm-to-table before it was trendy – genuine relationships with local farmers and fishermen
• Training ground – countless Hawaii chefs learned under Wong

Must-Try Dishes That Became Legends:

• Ginger-crusted onaga – Wong's signature preparation method
• Da bag – whole fish steamed in ti leaves with unique presentations
• Pork chop with local vegetables – elevated comfort food
• Lilikoi malasadas – a dessert that marries Portuguese and Hawaiian flavors

What Happened: COVID-19 forced the temporary closure in August 2020. By November, Wong announced permanent closure and retirement. The pandemic changed dining patterns, and after twenty-five years of excellence, he was ready to step away. The loss rippled through Hawaii's culinary community like nothing before.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed November 2020 | 💰 Upscale ($50-80+ per person) | 📍 1857 S King St #3 | 🏆 James Beard Award winner

Like Like Drive Inn – Where Time Stood Still for 67 Years

Nothing changed at Like Like Drive Inn. That's what we loved about it. The neon sign, the formica tables, the friendly aunties who'd worked there for forty years – it all stayed exactly the same from the 1960s until closing in April 2020. Sixty-seven years of serving loco moco, wonton min, and late-night comfort to Keeaumoku neighborhood regulars.

My uncles used to take me there after Little League games in the '80s. I'd get the teri beef plate and feel so grown up sitting at those tables. Fast forward twenty years, and I'm still going – now at 4 a.m. on weekends when nothing else is open. The same aunties were there, just older. One of them remembered my uncle and asked how he was doing. That's the kind of place Like Like was.

What Made It Special:

• Generational employees: Staff who'd been there 40-50 years created a family atmosphere
• Time capsule: Everything from décor to menu stayed unchanged for decades
• Late-night haven: Open when nothing else was, feeding night shift workers and insomniacs
• Neighborhood institution: Everyone in the area had Like Like stories spanning generations

Must-Try Dishes We're Still Craving:

• Loco moco – ground beef patty, rice, gravy, fried egg perfection
• Wonton min – local-style noodle soup with handmade wontons
• Lemon chiffon pie – a legendary dessert that people drove across town for
• Teri beef plate – simple but executed flawlessly

What Happened: COVID-19 was the final blow, but they were already struggling. Owner Julie Tateyama inherited the business from her grandparents and fought to keep it going. The neighborhood was changing – luxury condos replacing everything familiar. Financial strain from closing the dining room made continuing impossible.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed April 2020 | 💰 Budget-friendly ($7-12 per person) | 📍 745 Keeaumoku St | ⏰ Was open late nights

Char Hung Sut – Chinatown's Hidden Manapua Treasure

You had to know where to look. The tiny entrance on North Pauahi Street was easy to miss unless you spotted the weekend lines of locals patiently waiting. Char Hung Sut opened in 1945 and spent seventy-five years steaming the best manapua, pork hash, and half moon in Chinatown. Everything happened right in front of you – the dough rolling, the steaming, the packing into those iconic white boxes tied with red ribbon.

I'd bring those white boxes to family gatherings, and everyone knew immediately what they were. Faces lit up. The pork hash was rich and savory in a way that nothing else could compare to. You could watch them make everything fresh, the steam billowing from massive bamboo steamers. It felt intimate, like being invited into someone's kitchen to see magic happen.

What Made It Special:

• 75-year legacy: Three generations perfecting traditional recipes
• Authentic preparation: Traditional methods unchanged since 1945
• Open kitchen: Watching the process was half the experience
• Manapua men connection: Vendors bought here to sell around neighborhoods – that's legendary status

Must-Try Items Gone Forever:

• Pork hash – the signature item everyone raved about
• Char siu manapua – sweet barbecue pork in fluffy steamed buns
• Half-moon – half-circle shaped pastry with sweet or savory fillings
• Pork gau gee – handmade dumplings that sold out quickly

What Happened: Late 2020 brought permanent closure. A combination of factors – retirement plans, COVID reducing customers, and their freezers breaking with food spoiling created the perfect storm. Some locals mention that financial troubles within the family contributed. Chinatown's culinary landscape lost an irreplaceable treasure.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed late 2020 | 💰 Very affordable ($3-8 per box) | 📍 64 N Pauahi St | 🥟 Legendary manapua source

12th Avenue Grill – Kaimuki's Pacific Rim Treasure

Almost two decades of Pacific Rim cuisine came to an end in January 2022. 12th Avenue Grill transformed into a DeliCafe format during COVID, adding outdoor seating and changing to casual fare. But ultimately, survival proved impossible. The final dinner service happened on January 16, 2022.

What Made It Special:

• Pacific Rim expertise: Blending Asian and Western techniques beautifully
• Special occasion spot: Not too expensive, but definitely celebratory
• Kaimuki institution: Part of the neighborhood's restaurant renaissance
• Adaptation attempts: Tried outdoor dining and menu changes to survive

Must-Try Dishes Before the Change:

• Fresh fish preparations – Pacific Rim style with local catches
• Lobster sandwiches – added during DeliCafe transformation
• Triple chocolate candy cane cookies – creative desserts
• Fusion appetizers – showcasing the chef's creativity

What Happened: The pandemic forced reinvention as DeliCafe with sandwiches and casual fare. Despite adding outdoor seating in the former parking lot and changing the concept, financial pressures won. Kaimuki lost another beloved institution in its restaurant row.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed January 2022 | 💰 Mid-range originally ($30-50 per person) | 📍 1120 12th Ave | 🍽️ Pacific Rim cuisine

Yamagen – The $6 Lunch That Tasted Like $60

Only $6 to $7 for lunch plates. In 2020. How was that even possible? Yamagen in Moiliili served yaki udon, soba, katsu curry don, and their famous combination don for prices that seemed impossible. Owner Satoshi ran the place for thirty years, working eighteen-hour days. He rose at 5 a.m. to prep everything fresh.

What Made It Special:

• Impossibly affordable: $6-7 lunches when everywhere else charged $15+
• University favorite: Students loved the quality-to-price ratio
• Everything fresh daily: Despite low prices, quality never suffered
• Dedication: One man working eighteen-hour days for thirty years

Must-Try Dishes At Unbeatable Prices:

• Combination don – fried chicken and vegetable tempura staying crispy
• Katsu curry don – comfort food done right
• Yaki udon – pan-fried noodles with perfect char
• Soba plates – authentic Japanese buckwheat noodles

What Happened: Satoshi's body told him after thirty years and eighteen-hour days, it was time to retire. He closed on February 29, 2020. Locals say he picked the perfect timing – COVID hit about a week later. Finding authentic, affordable Japanese comfort food this good is basically impossible now.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed February 2020 | 💰 Ultra budget ($6-7 per person) | 📍 2210 S King St | 🍜 Authentic Japanese comfort

Shirokiya Japan Village Walk – 56 Vendors Under One Roof

This wasn't a restaurant – it was an entire Japanese food universe. Fifty-six different stalls, an indoor beer garden with live performers, and everything from ramen to sushi to desserts at Ala Moana Center. Families spent hours grazing from vendor to vendor, trying different things.

What Made It Special:

• Unmatched variety: 56 stalls meant something for everyone
• Entertainment included: Beer garden featured Asian performers
• Authentic vendors: Many brought traditional Japanese specialties
• Social atmosphere: Not just eating, but experiencing Japanese food culture

Must-Try Items From Various Vendors:

• Multiple ramen styles – different regional preparations
• Fresh sushi and sashimi – various quality levels and prices
• Japanese desserts – mochi, taiyaki, soft serve combinations
• Okonomiyaki and takoyaki – hard-to-find Japanese street food

What Happened: COVID closed restaurants statewide in March 2020. Then it became an ugly legal battle. Ala Moana sued for $8 million in back rent. Shirokiya countersued for $110 million. The mall changed the locks and ended the lease. The space sat abandoned with lights on for months.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed March 2020 | 💰 Variable ($10-30 per person) | 📍 Ala Moana Center | 🍜 Japanese food court

Columbia Inn – The Power Broker's Pau Hana Spot

“You would always find a friend here”. Columbia Inn on Kapiolani Boulevard was THE spot for pau hana drinks for thirty-seven years before closing in 2001. Politicians, business folks, working people – everyone mingled at the bar. The walls were covered with framed photos showing decades of Hawaii's history.

What Made It Special:

• Political central: Where deals got made over drinks
• Living history: Walls covered with decades of Hawaii photos
• Third place: Not work, not home, but the spot everyone gathered
• Unpretentious: Cobwebs on the ceiling, worn booths, nobody cared

What Made Regulars Keep Coming Back:

• Consistent atmosphere – felt the same for decades
• Central location – easy for the business crowd to stop by
• Welcoming staff – treated regulars like family
• Affordable drinks – not pricing out working folks

What Happened: The original location closed in 2001 after being sold to Servco Pacific Inc. One regular had been stopping there since 1962 – forty years. The Kaimuki location closed abruptly in 2007 after failed landlord negotiations. Both closures left communities asking where people gather now.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed 2001 (original), 2007 (Kaimuki) | 💰 Affordable | 📍 Kapiolani Blvd/Kaimuki | 🍺 Local bar/restaurant

Mocha Java – Ward Center's 35-Year Coffee Shop

Mocha Java closed so quietly you'd miss it – just a sign on the window inviting patrons to write memories in a jar. Thirty-five years in Ward Center ended August 31, 2020. No announcement, no fanfare. Just a handwritten goodbye.

What Made It Special:

• Customization central: Would modify any dish to accommodate requests
• Community hub: Second home to loyal customers
• Dog and bike friendly: Relaxed atmosphere, welcoming everyone
• Extensive menu: Breakfast and lunch options for every dietary need

Must-Try Menu Items:

• Spinach-mushroom-cheese omelet – most popular breakfast item
• Greek chicken salad – lunch favorite
• Acai bowls – fresh and customizable
• Freshly squeezed juices – the owner's addition that became a hit

What Happened: Sales plateaued over the last couple of years. New development in Kaka'ako didn't bring the expected customers. Owner Luzia Maia's lease was expiring, making it a good exit time. The silver lining? MJ Café at Windward Mall remains open with similar offerings.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed August 2020 | 💰 Mid-range ($10-15 per person) | 📍 Ward Center | ☕ Coffee shop/casual dining

DK Steakhouse and Sansei Waikiki – The Labor Day Shock

Labor Day weekend 2025 brought shocking news – both D.K. Steakhouse and Sansei Waikiki at Waikiki Beach Marriott closed permanently. Staff received almost no warning before losing their jobs. These were upscale D.K. Restaurants locations with dedicated followings.

What Made Them Special:

• Upscale quality: Not cheap eats, legitimate fine dining
• Sansei's fusion: Asian-fusion and sushi with creative preparations
• DK Steakhouse's reputation: Part of a respected local restaurant group
• Waikiki locations: Prime tourist and local accessibility

Signature Items:

• Sansei's creative sushi rolls – fusion combinations
• Fresh fish preparations – both restaurants emphasized quality seafood
• DK's steaks – premium cuts properly prepared
• Innovative desserts – memorable endings to meals

What Happened: Sudden closure over Labor Day weekend 2025 with minimal staff notice. The abruptness made it worse – skilled workers suddenly scrambling for new jobs. Only Sansei Kapalua remains open from the chain. Recent closures show how fragile even successful-seeming restaurants have become.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed September 2025 | 💰 Upscale ($40-80+ per person) | 📍 Waikiki Beach Marriott | 🥩 Fine dining

Fleetwood's on Front Street – Lost to Lahaina Wildfires

August 2023 brought unspeakable tragedy. Lahaina wildfires destroyed thousands of structures, killed scores of people, and wiped out the historic town. Among countless losses was Fleetwood's on Front Street, Mick Fleetwood's restaurant. But this transcends one restaurant – it's about cultural heritage, community, and lives forever changed.

What Made It Special:

• Mick Fleetwood's passion project: Fleetwood Mac drummer's genuine love for Lahaina
• Oceanfront location: Prime Front Street real estate with views
• Music connection: Live performances and rock and roll atmosphere
• Community involvement: Fleetwood was invested in Lahaina beyond business

The Atmosphere:

• Rooftop dining – sunset views over the ocean
• Live music regularly – honoring Fleetwood's musical legacy
• Memorabilia displays – Fleetwood Mac history throughout
• Aloha spirit – genuine warmth from staff and owner

What Happened: August 2023 wildfires consumed Lahaina, including Front Street. Fleetwood posted: “Fleetwood's on front Street has been lost, and while we are heartbroken, our main priority is the safety of our dear staff and team members”. He immediately flew back with emergency supplies to help employees who'd lost homes. The loss of Lahaina transcends restaurant nostalgia – it's about centuries of history erased.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Destroyed August 2023 | 💰 Mid-upscale ($30-60 per person) | 📍 Front Street, Lahaina | 🎸 Music-themed oceanfront

Buzz's Wharf – Maalaea Harbor's 47-Year Institution

Forty-seven years overlooking Maalaea Harbor before closing in 2014. Buzz's Wharf served American, Hawaiian, and Tahitian food at 1540 Upper Maalaea Road. Many tables had views of boats in the harbor, the ocean, and Haleakala volcano in the distance.

What Made It Special:

• Harbor location: Right where fishing boats came in, snorkel tours departed
• Longevity: 47 years means doing something right
• Ocean connection: Felt tied to Maui's maritime culture
• Family-friendly: Welcomed multiple generations

The Experience:

• Fresh fish – proximity to the harbor meant quality seafood
• Hawaiian and Tahitian dishes – Pacific Island cuisine variety
• Volcano views – Haleakala visible from dining room
• Boat watching – harbor activity entertainment included

What Happened: Closed in 2014 after forty-seven years. Tourism on Maui changed dramatically over those decades. Rising costs, competition from newer spots, and changing visitor patterns all contributed. What worked for nearly five decades eventually couldn't sustain anymore.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed 2014 | 💰 Mid-range ($20-40 per person) | 📍 1540 Upper Maalaea Rd, Maui | 🌊 Harbor views

Hard Rock Cafe Lahaina – The Last Pin Collection Stop

December 2016 marked the end of Maui's only Hard Rock Cafe. Located at 900 Front Street in the Outlets shopping mall, it had the usual rock memorabilia plus surfing displays. Hard Rock Cafes are everywhere, so why does this one matter? Because it was OUR Hard Rock.

What Made It Special:

• Local gathering spot: Where island kids celebrated graduations
• Tourist connector: Familiar brand helping visitors feel comfortable
• Pin collecting: Part of the global Hard Rock pin trading community
• Front Street Energy: Contributed to Lahaina's vibrant atmosphere

What You'd Find:

• Rock memorabilia – guitars, outfits, gold records on walls
• Surfing displays – Maui-specific additions to standard decor
• Classic burgers – consistent quality across locations
• Live music sometimes – continuing Hard Rock's musical mission

What Happened: Closed in December 2016 after years on Front Street. Then the 2023 wildfires destroyed much of what remained of old Lahaina. Front Street was such a scene – galleries, shops, restaurants packed together oceanside. The energy during sunset was incredible, everyone gathered to watch. Hard Rock was part of that ecosystem. The town we knew is gone.

At-a-Glance: 💔 Closed December 2016 | 💰 Mid-range ($15-30 per person) | 📍 900 Front St, Lahaina | 🎸 Rock-themed chain

These fifteen restaurants represent more than just places to eat. They were training grounds for young chefs, gathering spots where communities formed, and part of our identity as Hawaii residents. Most closed between 2020-2022 when COVID-19 devastated our restaurant scene. Even establishments that survived fifty, sixty, or seventy years couldn't weather the pandemic's financial strain.

Helena's Hawaiian Food thankfully still operates on North School Street, representing what we're trying to preserve – traditional methods, family recipes, affordable prices, zero pretense. But the timeline shows our vulnerability. Development pressure, rising rents, million-dollar renovation requirements, and changing customer behavior create impossible conditions for family restaurants.

The memories stay with us. We keep them alive by supporting remaining local spots, choosing authentic establishments over chains, and understanding every meal could potentially be the last. These fifteen restaurants took pieces of Hawaii's culinary soul with them, but we honor their memory by continuing to support what remains. 🌺