Waikiki isn't just shave ice and poke — it's quietly home to some seriously good burgers. I pulled together 17 qualifying spots and curated this guide to highlight the ones genuinely worth your time, from market pop-ups to beachside cafes.
The ranking
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The list leads with spots carrying the NateEatsHawaii badge — our editors' hand-picked, verified recommendations — followed by Waikiki's best-rated burger joints as scored by real visitors on the site. Highlights include Banzai Burger, serving made-to-order burgers with a Hawaiian twist inside the Kuhio Avenue Food Hall, and JOJA Hawaii at the Waikiki Makers Market, known as Hawaii's original truffle smashburger (available every Monday 3:30–8 PM). Barefoot Beach Cafe at Queen's Surf Beach rounds things out with an only-in-Hawaii vibe: open-air dining, live music, and a weekend beach BBQ.
Wherever the NateEatsHawaii badge appears on the page, that's a spot our editors personally recommend. Use this guide to eat well and skip the guesswork on your next Waikiki outing.
FAQ
Banzai Burger and JOJA Hawaii at the Waikiki Makers Market are among the most talked-about options — the former for its Hawaiian-twist made-to-order burgers, the latter for its truffle smashburger. Look for the NateEatsHawaii badge on the page for our editors' personally verified picks.
Several spots on this list, including food-hall and food-truck options like Banzai Burger and JOJA Hawaii, tend to offer more wallet-friendly pricing compared to sit-down restaurants. Checking each listing on NateEatsHawaii will give you the most up-to-date price range info.
This is a curated BEST guide — our editors' verified picks appear first, followed by Waikiki's highest-rated burger spots based on real visitor ratings collected on NateEatsHawaii. The list is reviewed regularly to reflect new openings and updated ratings across the site's ~1,900 Oahu restaurants.
Burgers
Waikiki
The experiences I actually send visitors on.
Editor's Pick Free cancellationWaikiki sunset sail
After happy hour, get on the water. A sunset cocktail sail off Waikiki is the move — drinks aboard, Diamond Head glowing behind you.
Free cancellationOahu luau night
The eating doesn't stop at dinner — a real luau is the one Waikiki night out worth booking ahead. Kalua pig, fire knife, the whole thing.
Editor's Pick Free cancellationDiamond Head + breakfast
Earn the breakfast plate: hike Diamond Head first, then eat. Shuttle + reservation ticket included, so the morning's sorted before you refuel in Waikiki.
Free cancellationHonolulu tasting walk
If you like eating your way through a neighborhood, this off-the-beaten-path Honolulu tasting walk hits spots you'd never find solo. Come hungry.
Editor's Pick Free cancellationCircle the island
Best single day on Oahu if you've got wheels-envy: turtles, the North Shore shrimp trucks, the lookouts — all in one guided loop.
