The Islands are home to an incredible and ever-evolving culinary scene. Exciting restaurants open every year, making it difficult to narrow down the best newcomers. So we asked our readers to vote. Here are the new restaurants that rose to the top of HAWAIʻI Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. READ MORE: A Local Food Writer’s Favorite Hawaiʻi Restaurants in 2025 1. Koast, Maui Chef Chris Cosentino opened Koast in Wailea, Maui, […]
I did a lot of interisland travel this year—at least 10 trips I can remember—all for food. There were several notable restaurant openings, but four stood out. They’re the places I would return to again and again—and in some cases, I already have. One restaurant is tucked in Maui’s ritzy Wailea, which is having a
In 2009 I worked a meat-centric event in Napa called Primal. The outdoor feast featured several fire pits showcasing traditional cooking techniques, such as Argentinian asado with whole lamb cooked on a vertical spit. A small group of Bay Area butchers and chefs, known for their nose-to-tail sensibilities and dedication to supporting local farms, spent
