Best Fine Dining in Oahu 2023

Welcome to the best fine dining in Oahu awards show!

I’ve spent the last month eating at some of the finest restaurants on the island, talking to chefs, checking out menus, and enjoying the breathtaking views of Oahu. 

My boyfriend and I are always working, so on vacation, we like to relax and spoil ourselves, especially when it comes to food. And let me tell you, Oahu has some of the best fine dining experiences I’ve ever had.

Look:

We all deserve to treat ourselves and indulge in a luxurious dining experience on vacation. Oahu has some of the best restaurants on the planet, with Michelin-star chefs preparing delicious meals, excellent service, and breathtaking views of the island. 

My goal with this article is to save you time and help you make the best choice for your fine dining experience on Oahu.

After all the meals, conversations with the chefs, and indulging in all the deliciousness, I’ve ranked these restaurants according to the views, ambiance, menus, service, and, of course, value.

These are the best of the best, so you can have a luxurious and unforgettable dining experience on Oahu no matter which one you choose.

Let’s get to the restaurants already!

53 by the Sea – Best Fine Dining Oahu

If you’re searching for a gorgeous view alongside your meal, head straight to 53 By The Sea. Located alongside the Waikiki shoreline, this restaurant offers dazzling ocean views that spread as far as the Diamond Head volcano. 

However, get a reservation beforehand and ask for window seating to enjoy the view to the fullest.

This fantastic restaurant isn’t just pleasing to the eye; they also have excellent food, especially on their seafood menu. Start your meal with foie gras with caramelized pineapple for an appetizer, followed by the Caesar Salad with Parmigiano cheese, packed with rich flavors. 

Their main course includes large plates of seafood and steaks. Try the Surf and Turf or Bouillabaisse for fresh seafood, including lobster tails, shrimp, mussels, and clams. Get the NY Strip and Filet Mignon if you’re craving juicy, well-seasoned steaks.  

They also have a terrific five-course menu for their tenth anniversary that includes everything from appetizers to dessert. We recommend trying it if you want to sample the best from their menu.

We loved the fine dining experience at 53 By The Sea and consider it the best fine dining in Oahu.

• Their dining-in limit is two hours.
• The waitstaff is excellent and attends to you well through the meal.
• They offer bottomless glass mimosas and cocktails. 
• The interior has gorgeous villa-like architecture.

Address: 53 Ahui St, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.

Hoku’s at the Kahala – Best Vegan Fine Dining Oahu

If fine dining equals some fine company for you, then head to Hoku’s at the Kahala Resort, that’s been serving celebrities, world leaders, and royalty for years. Owing to its secluded location, you can expect a quiet meal, best enjoyed with its oceanside views. 

The food at Hoku’s is on par with their audience and includes a terrific prix fixe menu for brunch. 

The meal features Asian-style boxes of seafood. The appetizer comes with an assortment of sashimi and sushi, shrimp cocktail and lobster tail, and ahi poke musubi served with thin Kahala pancakes. The food in this box is plenty for two people and incredibly flavorful. 

The main box features a selection of snow crab legs, lobster tail, Misoyaki butterfish, shrimp tempura, and white rice that tastes fresh and well-seasoned. 

And if you’re not craving seafood, they also provide a carving plate for herb-crusted rib roast that my boyfriend declared ‘perfectly seared.’ 

You can end the meal with delicious desserts chosen by the chef that tie this incredible food together. 

Hoku’s also features a four-course tasting menu with a delicious variety of their best entrees, appetizers, and desserts. This meal is pricier than the prix fixe but well worth it if you’re with a large group or celebrating. 

Hoku’s is a great place for a secluded, tasteful meal and one of the best fine dining in Oahu.

• They have vegetarian and vegan menus for all their meals, so inform your preferences before coming. 
• After your meal, walk to the Resort’s ocean water lagoon and see the dolphins.
• The meals at Hoku’s are reservation only, made by phone or online. 

Address: 5000 Kahala Ave The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.

Orchids at Halekulani

Located inside the Halekulani Hotel, this beautiful restaurant features stunning views of Waikiki beach and artfully placed orchids in every corner (hence the name.) Their fine dining experience is for everyone, as the menu features a mix of Hawaiian, Japanese, and American cuisines. 

Orchids is famous for their brunch, with classics like omelets, waffles, pancakes, and eggs benedict, and a tasty selection of seafood and meat. Expect a carving station with six kinds of roast, including prime rib, turkey, lamb, and suckling pig—a cold food area with salads, cold cuts, cheese, and a honeycomb. And a wide choice of sushi and excellent sashimi. In addition, the servers are efficient, and no station remains empty during the buffet.

However, their dinner is a great option if you’re looking for an intimate meal. Dinner appetizers, mid-course and main courses feature unique and flavorful items like Lobster Bisque, Foie Gras, Risotto ai Funghi, Lasagnette, Tenderloin Filet, and New York Strip. 

No matter which meal you come for, don’t leave without trying their delicious coconut cake, that’s become a favorite among regulars at Orchids. 

We loved Orchids’s elegant atmosphere and consider it one of the best fine dining restaurants in Oahu. 

• Just outside the dining area, they have nightly music and hula dancing.
• Meals served on the outdoor lanai have the best views of the nearby beach.
• They offer an excellent five-course prix fixe tasting menu at $135. 

Address: 2199 Kalia Rd Halekulani, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.

Azure – Best Seafood Fine Dining Oahu

The ground floor of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel is home to Azure, a world-class restaurant on the Waikiki beachfront, under the canopy of the resort’s dramatic Spanish-Moorish architecture. Each table looks at the gorgeous ocean, providing a stunning view. 

Being so close to the water, it only makes sense for their food to feature excellent seafood options. 

Their most famous meal is a four-course menu starting with an amuse-bouche. Then, the meal progresses with an asparagus salad with ricotta and pickled green strawberries, followed by freshly poached scallops in lemon. For the main course, there’s an excellent Wagyu strip loin served with truffled cream corn and braised leeks. Finally, the dessert is a Russian honey cake that perfectly rounded out the meal.

Another great thing about Azure is its inclusive meal plan, so there are vegetarian and vegan options on each course meal. In addition, you can include a wine pairing with your four-course meal for a complete fine dining experience.

Azure has delicious food, gorgeous views, and a comfortable atmosphere, making it the best fine dining in Oahu. 

• The head chef Shingo Katsura checks up on you during the meal. 
• Their service is impeccable, and the waitstaff is very friendly. 
• The four-course meal costs around $130 per guest, with $55 for the wine pairing.

Address: 2259 Kalakaua Ave The Royal Hawaiian, Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahu, HI. 

Bali Oceanfront – Best Italian Fine Dining Oahu

If you’re searching for fine dining without putting a dent in your wallet, visit Bali Oceanfront, which offers one of the finest oceanside dining experiences in Oahu. Here you can enjoy dishes crafted with fresh Island ingredients in an open-air dining room, offering stunning views of Waikiki Beach. 

Located in the Hilton Hawaiian Village, it’s one of the many high-end restaurants in the locality but serves quality cuisine at a much lower price. 

Their menu is a mix of American, Italian, and Hawaiian, with flavorsome entrees that are perfect for families with children or picky eaters. 

Although everything on the menu is excellent, you can’t miss their Sauteed Island Catch with couscous and fresh veggies, Seared Ahi with Truffle Risotto, and a variety of steaks. Pair your meal with a Caesar Salad and Soft Mascarpone Polenta for a delicious meal to remember. 

My boyfriend and I are fans of their menu and often eat here with family and friends. You’ll love their gorgeous seating and tasty food. 

• They have dairy-free and gluten-free options on the menu. 
• It’s an island favorite spot to enjoy the sunset and fireworks. 
• Prices are $70-100 for dinner for two people.

Address: 2005 Kalia Road Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.

Roy’s Waikiki – Best Japanese Fine Dining Oahu

Famous Oahu Chef and in-house celebrity Roy Yamaguchi serves the best Japanese-fusion cuisine in an established fine dining restaurant. With comfy indoor and scenic outdoor lanai seating, you’re in for an epic meal with a view.

The menu at Roy’s deserves to be eaten in full, so go for their prix fixe three-course menu, which starts with Schezuan Back Ribs, crispy Spring Rolls, and delicious sauces. This is followed by tender braised short ribs, Macadamia Crusted Fresh Catch, creamy pasta, and veggies, which are bursting with flavor and filling. The meal winds up with a decadent Yuzu Lime Cheesecake.

You should also try their famous Misoyaki Butterfish with sweet ginger wasabi butter, that’s delicious on its own, or paired with two other island fishes in their Classic Trio seafood entree. 

If you have room for dessert, end the meal with their Pineapple Upside Down Cake and Chocolate Souffle, which are crowd favorites. 

Roy’s offers an excellent meal and impeccable views, making them the best Japanese fine dining in Oahu. 

• They have a selection of house drinks to pair with your meal. 
• After dinner, stroll on the nearby beach that’s mostly empty at night.
• The servers are excellent and very attentive to your dietary restrictions. 

Address: 226 Lewers St, Honolulu, Oahu, HI.

Hy’s Steakhouse – Best Steakhouse Fine Dining Oahu

Fine dining should only include the best food, and Hy’s prepares the best steak in Oahu. Served in a classic old-school dining atmosphere with low lighting, formal attire, and table-side cooking, Hy’s is a perfect spot for date night with delicious steaks.

We like to start with their French Onion Soup that’s deliciously creamy, followed by a table-side serving of their Warm Spinach or Caesar Salads. You’ll be mesmerized by the server preparing the salad that tastes as fresh as it looks. 

Their steaks are smoked in Hawaiian Kiawe wood, giving them an intense flavor, and dry-aged before being trimmed by house chefs. Try the Beef Wellington, Filet Mignon Garlic Steak, NY Prime Ribs, or the 16 oz. Delmonico, all cooked to perfection and bursting with well-seasoned flavors. 

They also have excellent seafood and vegetarian entrees if you’re not into red meat. 

Don’t leave without trying the famous table-side Bananas Foster and Chocolate lover’s flambe that servers prepare with a lot of blow-torch flourishes. 

You can’t go wrong with the USDA Prime Beef Steaks at Hy’s, making them the best steakhouse for fine dining in Oahu. 

• The restaurant is hidden in a car park but opens into a beautiful, secluded dining area.
• The service is amazing at Hy’s despite the dinnertime crowds. 
• Your meal comes to nearly $120 per person. 

Address: 2440 Kuhio Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, HI. 

Wrap Up: The Best Fine Dining Oahu

If you’ve made it this far in the article, you know the fine dining scene in Oahu is diverse and well-established. What’s even more impressive is that it all developed only in the last decade and is now considered one of the best places in the world for a luxurious meal. 

With chefs flocking from Japan, New York, Italy, L.A., and even locally from Hawaii, the meals are bound to be delicious, and the dining experiences are out of this world.

Just remember three things; dress up, reserve early, and prepare to spend some $!

Looking for the best fine dining in Oahu? Head to 53 By The Sea for delicious food and gorgeous views.

Want to try the best seafood fine dining? Don’t miss Azure for their variety of fresh island catch entrees. 

Need a steakhouse for a celebration? Try Hy’s Steakhouse for excellent ones. 

You can’t go wrong with the wonderful fine dining in Oahu!

Last Updated on March 13, 2023 by Brigitte