Here’s your roundup of new spots that opened in Honolulu in September 2026! Highlights include a new restaurant, an addition matcha option, a shave ice shop from Diamond Head Market & Grill (home of the beloved blueberry cream cheese scone), and more locations of Korea’s convenience store chain CU.
Terns
Terns, an evening-only restaurant, has popped up on the terrace of Halekulani Bakery at Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani. Produced by Chef Vikram Garg, the chef behind Umi by Vikram Garg also located inside Halepuna Waikiki, Terns’ menu centers on small plates made for sharing, paired with wines, beers, or rhum cocktails.
Drawing on more than 40 years of living around the world, Chef Garg brings influences from global cuisines to the table. The menu features an international mix of flavors including hummus, avocado salsa, udon Bolognese, and fish & chips, but also features Indian curries from Chef Vikram’s Masala Maya takeout concept. These all pair beautifully with original drinks made with Hawaii-born Kohana Rum.
Terns
Address: 2233 Helumoa Rd, Honolulu, HI
Hours: Wed–Sun 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
https://www.instagram.com/ternshawaii/
Side Street Inn
Side Street Inn, the hugely popular local restaurant formerly on Kapahulu Avenue, has opened on Beach Walk Avenue in Waikiki, in the space formerly occupied by Bill’s and Westman Cafe, right next to Hard Rock Cafe.
Just like at its Kapahulu location, you’ll find fried rice, kalbi, and the especially popular pan-fried pork chops. Because the portions are quite generous, it’s best to go with a group of friends willing to share plates.
Until the restaurant obtains its liquor license, it’s BYOB, with a $10 per person corkage fee.
The Kini Room
The Kini Room is a new restaurant at Ka Lai Waikiki Beach, offering modern Hawaiian cuisine with global influences in a relaxed setting overlooking Waikiki. Designed with a “jewel box” theme, the interior is glamorous yet calming, making it a great choice for a special-occasion dinner.
The menu features refined dishes that showcase premium ingredients, including a luxurious seafood platter and wagyu sushi made with A5 wagyu from Kagoshima Prefecture. Don’t miss the signature dessert, the “Kini Kini Pie,” an ice cream cake made with Kona coffee, ube, and vanilla ice cream.
The Kini Room
Address: 223 Saratoga Rd, Honolulu, HI
Hours: 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; The Kini Room Bar 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Phone: 808-683-7777
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/hnlwiol-ka-lai-waikiki-beach/dining/the-kini-room/
Ten Seconds Waikiki Express
A restaurant specializing in traditional cuisine from China’s Yunnan Province has opened inside the Pineapple County Market food court on Lewers Street in Waikiki. The shop, which also has a Pearlridge location, serves rice noodle dishes made with rice flour noodles.
Waikiki-exclusive menu items include a Mala Spam and Egg Mixed Noodle and a Garlic Chicken Mixed Noodle. The shop focuses mainly on takeout, but a few tables are available inside for those preferring to dine-in.
Ten Seconds Waikiki Express
Address: 342 Lewers St., Honolulu, HI
Hours: 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Phone: 808-349-4898
https://www.instagram.com/tensecondswaikiki/
Gotcha Matcha
Waikiki has a new spot for matcha drinks: Gotcha Matcha. Look for the green truck in the Dukes Lane alley, between ALO and the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.
The menu offers a fun lineup, including a matcha latte, strawberry matcha latte, matcha latte topped with ube cold foam, matcha latte topped with blue haupia cold foam, and lilikoi matcha latte. Lemonade and cold brew are also available.
Hawaii’s matcha craze shows no signs of slowing down. Be sure to try these Hawaii-style drinks you won’t easily find in Japan!
Gotcha Matcha
Address: 5 Dukes Ln, Honolulu, HI
Hours: 8:00 a.m. until sold out
https://www.instagram.com/gotchamatcha.hi/
EbiBento
EbiNomi, the popular shrimp restaurant on Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki, recently opened EbiBento, a grab-and-go kiosk at Duke’s Marketplace, also in Waikiki, in October.
EbiBento serves EbiNomi’s popular dishes in smaller bento-sized portions making it convenient to grab and go. The opening menu features three items, all at an affordable $12: Ebi Kahuku (Kahuku-style garlic shrimp), Ebi Curry, and Hungarian Beef.
It’s perfect for days when you want to take your meal back to the hotel and relax, or grab a bento to enjoy at a park or the beach under the shade of a palm tree.
Ebi Bento
Address: 5 Dukes Ln, Honolulu, HI
Aloha Manapua
Aloha Manapua, with locations in Manoa, Aiea, and Waipahu, has opened on Kapahulu Avenue in Wong Plaza, next to Ono Seafood, known for its poke.
Manapua is similar to Japan’s nikuman (steamed pork bun), but filled with a reddish char siu pork. The menu also includes steamed shrimp dumplings, shumai, and Aloha Manapua’s signature “Bolo Bao,” a sweet bun with a crisp, cookie-like crust and custard filling. Besides the original, manapua flavors include ube, cookies & cream, and strawberry.
Chinese dishes like Black Pepper Beef Tenderloin and Mapo Tofu are also available. A local favorite, most menu items are under $20, with plenty of options to enjoy with friends or family.
Aloha Manapua
Address: 755 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu, HI
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
https://www.alohamanapuaaiea.com/index.html
Diamond Head Shave Ice
Diamond Head Shave Ice has opened in a corner of Diamond Head Market & Grill on Monsarrat Avenue, just a short distance from Waikiki.
The shave ice menu uses house-made fruit sauces and premium ice cream, with some flavors inspired by popular Diamond Head Market & Grill menu items. A standout is the Blueberry Cream Cheese, based on the market’s popular scone flavor, made with blueberry compote and a sweet cream cheese sauce.
The Strawberry Daifuku Shave Ice (pictured) is a uniquely Hawaii flavor. Other options include the Lemon Crunch Shave Ice, Hawaiian Da Kine, and the signature Pikake, featuring an aromatic syrup made from jasmine flowers grown at the shop’s Maunalua farm.
Diamond Head Shave Ice
Address: 3158 Monsarrat Ave, Honolulu, HI
Hours: 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
http://www.diamondheadmarket.com/
Izakaya Lala
A new izakaya, Izakaya Lala, opened on the second floor of Totoya, the seafood bowl restaurant on Piikoi Street in the Ala Moana area.
The specialties are maki-gushi (rolled skewers) and oden. The rolled skewers are pork wrapped around ingredients like tomato, enoki mushrooms, buttered potato, and cheddar cheese, then grilled. The oden is simmered in a bonito and kelp broth, with a rich yet light flavor. The house-made hanpen (fish cake) has an irresistibly fluffy texture. Oden soaked in flavorful broth is surprisingly rare in Hawaii, so it is worth making a trip to enjoy with a good drink.
Izakaya Lala
Address: 1236 Waimanu St., Honolulu, HI
Hours: Tue–Sun 5:30 p.m.–12:00 a.m.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DdksazEOv7E/
Tonkatsu Sakazaki
Tonkatsu Sakazaki, a new Japanese-style tonkatsu restaurant, opened on September 8 near Walmart in the Ala Moana area, in the space formerly occupied by Sushi ii.
It’s operated by Yoshizaki LLC, the company behind the long-running Waikiki favorite Ramen Nakamura. The menu centers on tonkatsu, with set meals, rice bowls, katsu sandwiches, and curry.
If you’re craving authentic tonkatsu in Hawaii, give it a try!
Tonkatsu Sakazaki
Address: 655 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu, HI
Hours: Lunch 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (last order 2:00 p.m.); Dinner 5:00–9:00 p.m. (last order 8:30 p.m.)
https://www.instagram.com/tonkatsusakazaki?igsi=NjBqbDR5ZXZ6NDIy
U Kitchen
U Kitchen, whose original location is in the Kalihi area of Honolulu (home to Lion Coffee, among others), has opened a new shop on Young Street. U Kitchen serves onigiri, bento, rice bowls, and curry, with hearty but affordable bento options as a highlight.
Popular items include the distinctly Hawaii Mochiko Chicken Bento and the Chicken Katsu Curry.
It’s about a 10-minute drive from Waikiki, but well worth the trip when you’re craving the taste of Japan.
U Kitchen
Address: 1513 Young St, Honolulu, HI
Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Phone: 808-200-0287
https://www.instagram.com/u_kitchen_hawaii/
New Shops in Hawaii, September 2026
CU Hawaii
CU, the Korean convenience store chain rapidly expanding in Hawaii, has opened two new locations. The first is inside the Pagoda Hotel in the Ala Moana area, and the second is right near the University of Hawaii, in the space formerly occupied by the restaurant Tsukuneya.
The Pagoda Hotel recently reopened with a fresh, modern look. In addition to CU Hawaii, the popular plate lunch spot Rainbow Drive-In is also planned to open there.
The Manoa location is just a few minutes’ walk from the University of Hawaii, so it’s sure to be busy with students.
Pictured: The Manoa location near the University of Hawaii.
Pagoda Hotel Location
Address: 1525 Rycroft St., Honolulu, HI
Hours: 6:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Manoa Location
Address: 1442 University Ave, Honolulu, HI
Hours: 6:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
https://www.nicetocuhawaii.com/
