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.
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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
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