Fresh spots just landed on Oahu, from a brand-new beachfront café in Waikiki to flavor-forward skewers in Kapahulu. Here’s your guide to everything new that happened in May!
May 2026 brought some seriously exciting additions to Oahu’s food scene. Whether you’re staying right in Waikiki or exploring local neighborhoods like Kapahulu and Kaka’ako, there’s something new and delicious waiting. Here’s everything you need to know before your next meal out.
🏄 Goofy Cafe & Dine — Waikiki Beach (Grand Opening: May 29, 2026)
One of Honolulu’s most beloved brunch spots just opened a stunning second location but this one is right across from Waikiki Beach!
Goofy Cafe & Dine – Waikiki Beach opened its doors on May 29th at the Twin Fin Hotel, bringing its laid-back “Surf More, Work Less” spirit to the heart of Waikiki. The space is designed to feel like a surfer’s beach house garage, with warm wood, open-air vibes, and just the right amount of cool.
The menu runs all day, starting with breakfast favorites like Loco Moco, Eggs Benedict, and Açaí Bowls.
During lunchtime and well into the evening, the focus shifts to Surf & Turf dishes featuring steak and fresh seafood. This is a place to consider for a perfect sunset dinner. Happy hour in between? Yes, that too.
And don’t miss the hot dog stand just off the hotel lobby, which is a fun grab-and-go option. Original merchandise like T-shirts and caps are also available.
📍 Goofy Cafe & Dine – Waikiki Beach 2570 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 (The Twin Fin Hotel, 1st Floor) Hours: Daily 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Phone: (808) 200-4574
🫐 Oakberry Açaí — Now Open in Waikiki
If you love açaí, this one’s for you. Oakberry Açaí, a Brazilian-born franchise with locations around the world, opened its second Oahu location in Waikiki. Right on the first floor of the Park Shore Hotel, it is across the street from the Honolulu Zoo.
What makes Oakberry stand out? Everything is healthy and delicious, packed with antioxidants and made without cholesterol, trans fats, artificial colorings, or high-fructose corn syrup. The menu features açaí bowls, açaí smoothies, açaí protein bars, and a unique açaí-lilikoi kombucha.
📍 Oakberry Açaí 2586 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 (Park Shore Hotel, 1st Floor) Hours: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM Daily 🌐 oakberry.com
🥞 Denny’s — Coming Soon to Waikiki
Another Denny’s is making its way to Waikiki, taking over the former Tony Roma’s space on Kalākaua Avenue. So now, the popular diner chain bookends both sides of Waikiki. If you’re visiting from the mainland, you already know the deal: classic American pancakes, hearty burgers, loaded sandwiches, chicken wings, and all the comfort food you could want.
A heads-up for Japanese visitors: the American Denny’s is completely different from the Japanese version, so expect big portions and a very American-centric menu.
An exact opening date hasn’t been confirmed yet, so stay tuned!
📍 Denny’s (Coming Soon) 1972 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 🌐 dennys.com
🌿 Thai Vientiane Restaurant — Thai & Lao Flavors in Kapahulu
Just down the street from Rainbow Drive-In on Kapahulu Avenue, a brand-new restaurant has taken over the former House of Wong space. Thai Vientiane Restaurant serves traditional Thai and Laotian cuisine in a spacious, family-friendly setting that’s great for groups and kids alike.
The menu has plenty of crowd-pleasers from Pad Thai to curries and Lao-style sausage. But the dish you absolutely can’t skip is the Thai-style Loco Moco which places a garlic basil stir-fry served over rice and topped with a fried egg. It’s a fun local twist that feels to fit in nicely in Hawaii.
📍 Thai Vientiane Restaurant 477 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 Hours: Daily 10:30 AM – 9:30 PM Phone: (808) 734-6878 🌐 thaivientianehawaii.com
🥩 Mikiya Kapahulu — All-You-Can-Eat Wagyu Shabu-Shabu
Serious food lovers, this is important information. Mikiya, the restaurant hugely popular for its premium all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu on Kapiolani Boulevard, just opened a second location inside the Kapahulu Shopping Center next to Safeway.
The star of the menu is Japanese A5 Wagyu (brisket and chuck ribeye), alongside Australian Wagyu and American Wagyu. Beyond the incredible beef, the all-you-can-eat spread includes seafood, Wagyu curry, vegetables, and soft-serve ice cream. It’s an indulgent, fun dinner the whole family will love.
📍 Mikiya Kapahulu 830 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816 (Kapahulu Shopping Center) Hours: Daily 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM Phone: (808) 200-5656 🌐 mikiyashabu.com
🍢 Dahan Skewer — Bold Chinese-Mongolian Skewers in Kapahulu
If you’re craving something bold and spicy, Dahan Skewer is exactly what you need. Located on Kapahulu Avenue (in the former Honu’s Kalbi & Sushi space), this restaurant serves Chinese-Mongolian style skewers loaded with cumin, chili powder, and aromatic spices.
The skewer menu covers all the bases including beef, pork, lamb, chicken, venison, plus seafood and veggie sides. But the dish that keeps people coming back is the Spare Rib Noodles because of the fall-off-the-bone braised ribs piled on top of noodles in a rich, savory broth. Come hungry and leave satisfied.
📍 Dahan Skewer 755 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816 Hours: Sun–Thu 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM / Fri–Sat 11:00 AM – 11:30 PM Phone: (808) 369-7337 🌐 dahanskewer.com
🍗 L&L Hawaiian Barbecue — Now at Ala Moana Center
Hawaii’s iconic plate lunch chain L&L Hawaiian Barbecue opened a new location inside the Makai Market Food Court at Ala Moana Center. It’s the perfect quick stop before or after shopping. Grab a plate of BBQ Mix, Chicken Katsu, Loco Moco, Kalbi, or Garlic Shrimp and enjoy a true taste of local Hawaii.
📍 L&L Hawaiian Barbecue – Ala Moana Center 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814 (Makai Market Food Court, 1st Floor) Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Daily 🌐 hawaiianbarbecue.com
🥟 Waikiki Snack Store / Waikiki Dumplings — Coming to Discovery Bay
Tucked inside the Discovery Bay Shopping Center building between Waikiki and Ala Moana, Waikiki Snack Store (soon to be renamed Waikiki Dumplings) is a new Chinese restaurant that specializes in dumplings and other Northern Chinese snack-style dishes.
The concept is to offer simple, satisfying bites…the kind of food beloved across northern China as everyday comfort food. There’s also a DIY shave ice bar for dessert, which sounds like a match made in heaven for Hawaii. The name change to “Waikiki Dumplings” is coming soon, so keep an eye out for the updated signage!
📍 Waikiki Snack Store / Waikiki Dumplings 1778 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815 Hours: Wed–Mon 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Closed Tuesdays) 📸 Instagram: @waikiki.snack.store
🥟 Nikuman-ya — Steamed Buns & More, Near Ala Moana
After 13 years of delighting customers in Los Angeles, Nikuman-ya finally made its Hawaii debut! The new spot is inside the 808 Center, just steps from the Walmart near Ala Moana.
The menu goes well beyond the namesake steamed pork buns (nikuman), so expect Chinese-style noodle soup, Taiwan ramen, gyoza, and karaage. Note: the restaurant is currently in soft-open mode, so not all menu items are available yet. It is already worth a visit now, but will be even better once they’re fully operational!
📍 Nikuman-ya 808 Sheridan St, Honolulu, HI 96814 (808 Center) Hours: Please confirm directly with the restaurant 🌐 nikumanya.com
☕ Blanc Nook Cafe — A Stylish New Café in Kaka’ako
A fresh and charming new addition to the Ward/Kaka’ako neighborhood has arrived! Blanc Nook Cafe on Waimanu Street is part café, part apparel boutique. It’s the kind of cozy space where good coffee and good style just seem to go hand-in-hand.
Currently in soft open mode, the café offers Americano, lattes, and a standout Strawberry Milk made with a house-made strawberry jam. Fresh pastries are also available to pair with your drink. Whether you’re shopping or just need a quiet break from the beach, this is a lovely little spot to know about.
📍 Blanc Nook Cafe 1232 Waimanu St, Honolulu, HI 96814 Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Closed Sun & Wed) 📸 Instagram: @blanc.nook.cafe
🐱 Hawaii Cat Cafe — Now in Waikiki Beach Walk! >> Tap to a Good deal!
Cat lovers, this one’s for you. Hawaii Cat Café, a beloved institution in Kapahulu, opened a second location on the second floor of Waikiki Beach Walk. This isn’t your average café; it’s a cozy cat lounge where you can hang out with adorable rescue cats while enjoying a complimentary drink included with your Cat Lounge admission.
All the cats at Hawaii Cat Cafe are available for adoption. Visiting alone won’t turn you into a cat parent (probably), but it does support the rescue mission. Honestly, spending an hour with kittens sounds like a pretty great way to spend an afternoon in Waikiki.
📍 Hawaii Cat Cafe – Waikiki Beach Walk 226 Lewers St, Honolulu, HI 96815 (2nd Floor, Waikiki Beach Walk) Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Daily Phone: (808) 200-2574 🌐 hawaiicatcafe.org
Stay tuned to HonoluluCoupon.com for more updates as new spots open across Oahu!
*Hours are subject to change. We recommend confirming directly with each restaurant before visiting.
