Restaurants in Honolulu: Key Takeaways
- Honolulu has approximately 1,033 restaurants distributed among various popular neighborhoods.
- Full-service restaurants lead the market with about 500 venues in the city.
- Japanese and Seafood cuisine dominate with nearly 390 and over 220 restaurants respectively.
Honolulu features a vibrant dining scene with 1,033 restaurants. This article provides a detailed breakdown by area, category, and cuisine, while explaining why exact figures may vary.
Explore how restaurants are spread across neighborhoods like Waikiki and Downtown, and see the distribution of key dining types and popular cuisines.
If you’re interested in the broader landscape beyond Honolulu, check out the latest U.S. restaurant industry statistics for 2025 to see how this city compares nationwide.
Restaurants in Honolulu: Key Takeaways- Breakdown of Restaurants in Honolulu by Area
- Breakdown of Restaurants in Honolulu by Category
- Breakdown of Restaurants in Honolulu by Cuisine
- Official Honolulu Records and Registered Restaurant Businesses
- Restaurants in Honolulu Listed on Google and Other Online Platforms
- Why Restaurant Counts in Honolulu Vary and Conclusion
Breakdown of Restaurants in Honolulu by Area
Below is a detailed snapshot of how many restaurants each major Honolulu area contains.
| Area | Number of Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Downtown | 200 |
| Waikiki | 300 |
| Kaimuki | 150 |
| Kapahulu | 100 |
| Manoa | 150 |
| Kailua | 83 |
Waikiki stands out as the most restaurant-dense area with around 300 venues, drawing locals and tourists alike. Downtown is another key food district, with about 200 establishments.
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Kaimuki and Manoa both hold sizeable scenes, each with approximately 150 restaurants, while Kapahulu and Kailua have smaller but notable concentrations.
Breakdown of Restaurants in Honolulu by Category
This table illustrates how various restaurant types contribute to Honolulu’s dining landscape.
| Category | Approximate Count |
|---|---|
| Full-Service Restaurants | 500 |
| Fast Food and Quick-Service Restaurants | 300 |
| Cafes and Coffee Shops | 150 |
| Bars and Pubs | 83 |
Full-service restaurants constitute the largest segment with around 500 outlets, offering traditional sit-down dining experiences. Fast food and quick-service venues follow closely with roughly 300 locations.
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Cafes and coffee shops provide popular casual options at about 150 spots, complemented by numerous bars and pubs enhancing Honolulu’s nightlife with 83 known venues.
Breakdown of Restaurants in Honolulu by Cuisine
Honolulu's cuisine spectrum is broad; here's the distribution by food type.
| Cuisine | Approximate Number |
|---|---|
| Japanese | 389 |
| Seafood | 227 |
| Barbecue | 210 |
| Burgers | 195 |
| Korean | 165 |
| Chinese | 163 |
| Mexican | 156 |
| Pizza | 145 |
| New American | 104 |
| Vietnamese | 101 |
| Italian | 74 |
| Thai | 73 |
| Mediterranean | 19 |
| Indian | 17 |
| Greek | 9 |
| Cuban | 1 |
Japanese cuisine leads Honolulu's offerings with a strong presence of about 389 restaurants, reflecting local tastes and cultural influences. Seafood is also highly prominent, with approximately 227 establishments specializing in fresh ocean fare.
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Popular choices like barbecue and burgers count for nearly 210 and 195 restaurants, while Korean and Chinese options enrich the diverse culinary palette. Mexican and pizza venues number in the mid-hundreds, adding further variety.
Official Honolulu Records and Registered Restaurant Businesses
The City of Honolulu keeps official records through health department databases and business licenses, ensuring restaurants meet safety and regulatory requirements.
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These registrations provide a reliable count of legally operating restaurants and food establishments recognized by local authorities within city limits.
Restaurants in Honolulu Listed on Google and Other Online Platforms
Online platforms such as Google Maps showcase restaurants that are currently active and publicly listed, which can differ from official registrations.
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These platforms often capture newly opened, temporarily closed, or even some unregistered venues when they are visible to consumers, resulting in different restaurant totals.
Why Restaurant Counts in Honolulu Vary and Conclusion
Variations in Honolulu's restaurant counts arise from differences in data collection methods, definitions, and timing of updates across sources.
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In conclusion, Honolulu's dining scene is a dynamic and evolving industry boasting over 1,000 restaurants that reflect a rich mix of cultures, tastes, and dining experiences.
