stories
stories
HomeMoneyLifestyleNewsSportsEntertainmentTravelScienceLocal

Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Honolulu area by diners

·Stacker

Oksana Mizina // Shutterstock
Oksana Mizina // Shutterstock
Add Stacker as Preferred Source

Breakfast holds a special place in American culture, serving not only as a source of nourishment to start the day but an opportunity to create traditions. It's a daily ritual for more than 290 million Americans and is often regarded as the most important meal of the day, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.

While staples like eggs, bacon, and pancakes are common nationwide, regional preferences showcase America's culinary diversity. In the South, biscuits and gravy are a staple, while the East Coast is known for dishes like eggs Benedict and bagels with lox. The Midwest often favors hearty skillet breakfasts, while the Southwest's spicy breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros reflect the region's Mexican influence.

There are a wide variety of restaurants that serve breakfast today. Traditional diners often feature laminated menus filled with pages of combo meals pairing eggs with a breakfast meat of your choice served alongside hash browns, buttered toast, and endless coffee refills. Then there are modern breakfast spots that embrace innovation, adding global influences and creative twists to traditional dishes. Avocado toast, kimchi fried rice, and churro waffles are some of the more recent popular offerings that reflect how multicultural flavors have become part of contemporary breakfast traditions.

American breakfast culture has evolved significantly over the years. In the mid-20th century, diners and coffee shops dominated the morning meal landscape, catering to workers and families with fast, affordable options. Then, the rise of fast-food chains in the 1960s and 1970s shifted breakfast trends, introducing convenient grab-and-go items like McDonald's Egg McMuffin. By the early 2000s, the brunch boom transformed weekends into social events, with restaurants offering elaborate dishes, bottomless mimosas, craft Bloody Marys, and vibrant atmospheres that encourage extended Saturday and Sunday morning dining experiences.

Today, breakfast culture continues to balance nostalgia with innovation as classic comforts meet modern trends in both casual diners and brunch destinations, ensuring that morning meals remain a meaningful and celebrated part of life.

Curious about where to head near Honolulu for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Honolulu area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of March 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "breakfast & brunch" on Yelp that are open at 7 a.m. and are within a 10-kilometer radius of Honolulu were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 15 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Keep reading to discover new inventive egg-centric dishes or time-honored classics for your next leisurely morning!

You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Honolulu buyers

1 / 30

#30. Papa's Deli

- Rating: 4.3/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3131 North Nimitz Hwy Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 30

#29. Basalt

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1901 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2255 Kuhio Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: New American, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 30

#28. Island Vintage Coffee

- Rating: 4.3/5 (3736 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2301 Kalakaua Ave. Ste C215 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 30

#27. Secret Spot Honolulu

- Rating: 4.3/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2299 Kūhiō Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Bars, Breakfast & Brunch, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 30

#25. Hiking Hawaii Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (950 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1956 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 30

#24. The Veranda at the Beachhouse

- Rating: 4.4/5 (340 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2365 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Acai Bowls
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 30

#23. Musubi Cafe Iyasume Beachwalk

- Rating: 4.4/5 (247 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 227 Lewers St. Unit R127 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Japanese, Hawaiian, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 30

#22. Kono's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1196 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 945 Kapahulu Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp

11 / 30

#20. The Terrace

- Rating: 4.4/5 (223 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 383 Kalaimoku St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: French, Lounges, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 30

#19. Cafe Daisy

- Rating: 4.4/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 700 Bishop St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 30

#18. Guieb Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (447 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 98025 Hekaha St. Bldg 4 Unit 14 Aiea, Hawaii
- Categories: New American, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 30

#17. The Happy Hawaiian Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2239 Waikolu Way Stall 4 Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

16 / 30

#15. Andy's Sandwiches & Smoothies

- Rating: 4.5/5 (774 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2904 East Manoa Road Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 30

#14. Egghead Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (988 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1210 Dillingham Blvd. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Pancakes
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 30

#13. Guieb Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (861 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1311 North King St. Ste FO6 Kapalama Shopping Plaza Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: New American, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 30

#12. Sunny's Local Grind

- Rating: 4.5/5 (205 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 464 Ena Road Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Supper Clubs
- Read more on Yelp

21 / 30

#10. Piko Kitchen + Bar

- Rating: 4.6/5 (235 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2380 Kūhiō Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Specialty Food, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 30

#9. Over Easy

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1578 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 418 Kuulei Road Ste 103 Kailua, Hawaii
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries, Custom Cakes
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 30

#8. Sweet E's Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (3086 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1006 Kapahulu Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 30

#7. Castro's

- Rating: 4.7/5 (397 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2113 Kalakaua Ave. Unit 201 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Latin American, Cuban, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

26 / 30

#5. Café Kalawe

- Rating: 4.7/5 (555 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 45-270 William Henry Road Ste 101 Kaneohe, Hawaii
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, New American
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 30

#4. Munch 'N Brunch Waikiki

- Rating: 4.7/5 (205 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1944 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Tacos, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 30

#3. Taka's Box Lunch

- Rating: 4.7/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 830 Mapunapuna St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 30

#2. Purvé Donut Stop

- Rating: 4.8/5 (400 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4210 Waialae Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Donuts, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

30 / 30

#1. Lei Lei's Bistro

- Rating: 5.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 439 Mokauea St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: Food Trucks, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 293 metros.

You may also like: Best public middle schools in the Honolulu metro area

Trending stories