Top pick1$$Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood Restaurant
ChinatownยทChinese Restaurant
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Chinatown is the undisputed home of Chinese food on Oahu โ a walkable, historic neighborhood packed with noodle houses, dim sum parlors, BBQ counters, and family-run kitchens that have been feeding Honolulu for generations. I pulled together the 8 spots worth knowing, from well-known institutions to hidden gems, so you can eat your way through this neighborhood with confidence.
At the top of the list you'll find standouts like Mei Sum | Chinese Dim Sum, a bustling Chinatown fixture celebrated for its traditional dim sum, and Lam's Kitchen, a compact noodle house known for its down-home atmosphere and hearty pork and beef options. New Char Siu House rounds things out with its Cantonese-style roast meats that keep locals coming back. Any spot on this list that Nate has personally visited carries the NateEatsHawaii badge โ look for it as you browse.
This is a curated guide combining the area's best-rated restaurants with local knowledge. Whether you're hunting for crispy char siu, steaming baskets of dim sum, or a comforting bowl of noodles, Chinatown delivers โ and this list is your starting point.
The ranking
Top pick1$$
2$$
3$Compact Chinese noodle house with a down-home atmosphere, specializing in pork & beef options.
4$Chinese fixture serving up a menu of traditional dim sum in a snug, bustling setting.
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FAQ
Chinatown is home to a strong lineup of Chinese restaurants, with Mei Sum | Chinese Dim Sum and Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood Restaurant standing out as top-rated picks for dim sum lovers, while Lam's Kitchen and New Char Siu House are popular for noodles and Cantonese roast meats respectively.
Most of Chinatown's Chinese spots โ including casual counters like Lam's Kitchen, Mei Mei Chinese Style BBQ, and HK Cafe โ are known for being budget-friendly without skimping on flavor, making the whole neighborhood a great destination for an affordable meal.
This is a curated guide drawing on visitor ratings collected on NateEatsHawaii across the roughly 1,900 Oahu restaurants in the site's catalog, plus Nate's own verified picks โ those are marked with the NateEatsHawaii badge. The list is reviewed regularly to reflect the current dining scene.