January 2025 started off with some notable openings and relocations. Among them are the debut of restaurant group Zetton Inc.’s new Mexican concept, the opening of an iconic New York steak house, and the relocation of Paris.Hawaii from Waikiki to the Kaka’ako area.
Aloha Amigo
The newest opening from restaurant group Zetton, Inc., Aloha Amigo brings a new perspective to Mexican cuisine with its “Resort Hi-Mex” concept in the Courtyard Waikiki Beach on Kuhio Avenue.
“Hi” represents both Hawaii and the sense of being high-spirited, adding to the “Mex” or Mexican component. It is at this island Mexican concept restaurant, where the Mariachi band member meets the hula dance. Friendly staff members greet diners in a restaurant featuring wall art and an open-air lanai immediately outside. The team hopes through the fusion of cuisines, they are able to forge happiness, excitement, and fun.
The menu is broken down into cold appetizers and hot appetizers, with a robust selection of tacos, quesadillas, and burritos.
Among the more eye-catching presentations are the sizzling iron plates of skirt steak and seafood, ribeye steak with Mexican seasonings, and skirt steak “Ranchero style” with tequila fire, and the soulful molcajete, a sizzling stone pot brimming with shrimp, scallops, chicken, steak, and mozzarella cheese swimming in a spicy house-made tomato-based sauce. Served with tortillas, Mexican rice, and refried beans, this is certainly one of the most Instagrammable dishes to try.
Another standout item is the “Margarita Tree,” a display featuring custom-designed tequila bottles filled with four flavors of margaritas: mango, strawberry, guava, and kiwi. This is one eye-catching tree that everyone seems to want to cling on to.
Aloha Amigo
Address: 400 Royal Hawaiian Ave, Honolulu, HI
Hours: 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Last Order), Closes at Midnight
Phone: 808-200-3954
Website
Empire Steak House
Located on the sky floor of the Ilikai Hotel, Empire Steak House sits on the 30th floor once occupied by the seafood restaurant Pesca Waikiki. Founded in 2010 by the Sinanaj Brothers—Jack, Jeff, and Russ—who worked for over 25 years at the iconic New York steakhouse Peter Luger, the Manhattan-originated restaurant now has five locations, with three in New York, one in Japan as of 2017, and the inaugural steakhouse in Hawaii.
Empire Steak House serves USDA Prime Black Angus beef, dry-aged for 21 to 30 days to enhance its flavor. The signature Porterhouse Steak ($99.95 per person) offers both filet mignon and New York tenderloin in one hearty serving.
Besides other cuts of beef, the menu features a variety of thoughtfully crafted dishes, from salads and appetizers to pasta and desserts. Whether for lunch and dinner, the culinary experience is unparalleled.
One of the restaurant’s most alluring draws is its breathtaking panoramic view. Guests may enjoy panoramic sights of the ocean, the Hilton Lagoon, and the azure Hawaiian sky. For a special treat, reserve a window seat—especially on Friday nights, when you can enjoy Hilton’s fireworks show from the best vantage point in town.
Empire Steak House
Address: 1777 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI (Ilikai Hotel 30th Floor)
Hours: Lunch 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Dinner: Sun-Thu 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Fri-Sat 3:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Phone: 808-781-8888
Website
Paris.Hawaii (Relocated)
Paris.Hawaii, formerly located in Waikiki, reopened at SALT at Our Kaka’ako. The new 18-seat restaurant features a chef’s counter looking into the open kitchen, along with a few tables. The elegant interior design, high-quality cuisine, and artistic presentation make this one of the most anticipated openings in 2025.
Source: ParisHawaii Instagram
Paris.Hawaii offers contemporary French cuisine infused with locally-sourced ingredients from Hawaii. The restaurant spotlights a $120 per person tasting menu, available at two seating times, 5:30 and 8:00 p.m. Every dish conceived by Chef Yuya Yamanaka and his experienced team is crafted with precision, incorporating carefully selected proteins, herbs, spices, and fruits to forge a dining experience that will please the most discerning diners. An evening at Paris.Hawaii is not just about relishing a fine-dining meal; it’s an immersive culinary experience to stimulates all the senses.
Paris Hawaii
Address: 324 Coral Street, Honolulu, HI
Phone: 808-212-9282
Hours: Monday, Thursday–Sunday, 5:00 PM & 8:00 PM (Two Seating Times)
HIROMI-YA
HIROMI-YA is a new Japanese-style yakiniku restaurant that recently opened in Kapahulu. The restaurant focuses on premium Japanese wagyu, carefully selected and imported from Japan. Prices start from about $20 a plate.
The restaurant sources A4-grade or higher Miyazaki and Kagoshima wagyu, ensuring top-tier quality. Adding to its popular cuts such as kalbi and harami, more coveted finds such as ichibo, kainomi, and misuji will also be available in the near future.
One must-try dish is the HIROMI-YA Original Horumon Nabe, a hot pot packed with plump horumon (offal), cabbage, and tofu. The dish features a homemade spicy Korean “Tategi” sauce, and for the perfect finishing touch, diners can add cheese to the remaining broth to create a rich, flavorful risotto.
HIROMI-YA is also BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle), making it a budget-friendly option for those seeking high-quality Japanese barbecue at reasonable prices.
HIROMI-YA
Address: 758 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI
Hours: Mon-Thu 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Fri-Sat 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Closed: Tuesday
Phone: 808-628-1530
Aloha Hotdog & Banh Mi
Located in the lower level of Waikiki Shopping Plaza, Aloha Hotdog & Banh Mi offers a sumptuous selection of hotdogs and banh mi sandwiches.
The signature banh mi features crispy baguettes packed with flavorful meats, pickled vegetables, and homemade sauces. Options include local favorites like a kalua pork and meatball banh mi, alongside traditional Vietnamese choices like chicken floss and char siu sandwiches.
The hotdogs come in four varieties, with two of the notable ones including the Classic Hotdog and BBQ Hotdog. Plush buns and juicy sausages characterize these satisfying hotdogs, which make for the perfect meal for those on the go. Wash it all down with a Vietnamese coffee or refreshing lemonade, which make for perfect complements that temper the bold flavors.
Conveniently located in the heart of Waikiki, Aloha Hotdog & Banh Mi is an ideal stop for a quick, flavorful bite between your shopping sprees.
ALOHA HOTDOG & BANH MI
Address: 2250 Kalakaua Ave Unit LL105, Honolulu, HI
Hours: 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Phone: 808-343-3501
Website
These five new locations offer a wonderful diversity of flavors and price points, so if you are always seeking someplace new to discover, any one of these will have you sharing rave reviews with your friends, as a bona fide expert.
