The Best Burgers in Hawaii: Honolulu and Beyond (2026)

The best burgers in Hawaii are concentrated in Honolulu, where teriyaki-glazed local classics, drive-ins and smash burger shops share the same few neighborhoods. Start with W&M Bar-B-Q Burger for the old-school teriyaki burger, Honolulu Burger Co. for Hawaii-raised beef and Boarded Up Burgers for a crispy smash burger. On the North Shore, Kua Aina in Haleiwa is the longtime favorite.

This roundup is built from the spots in our Honolulu burger guide, grouped by style, plus one North Shore classic. Several of these are small counters with limited hours, so check before you go.

What makes a Hawaii burger different

Two things set Hawaii's burgers apart. The first is the local teriyaki tradition: char-grilled patties glazed with a sweet, soy-based barbecue sauce, a style that goes back decades in Honolulu. The second is island beef. Several shops build their menus around cattle raised on Oahu or the Big Island, and toppings like grilled pineapple show up more than they do on the mainland.

Most of the city's best burgers sit in three areas: Kapahulu and Kaimuki, just inland from Waikiki; Waikiki itself; and Chinatown, near downtown.

Local classics and drive-ins

• W&M Bar-B-Q Burger: a longtime Kaimuki takeout stand whose barbecue sauce recipe dates to 1940. Order the teriyaki burger or the Royal with everything. Hours are limited and it can sell out.
• Rainbow Drive-In: a Kapahulu counter that has served local comfort food since 1961. Plate lunches and loco moco get the most attention, but the cheeseburgers belong to the same quick, big-portion tradition. There's a second location in Kalihi.
• Teddy's Bigger Burgers: a local chain with a Kapahulu Avenue shop at the edge of Waikiki. Charbroiled, garlic-seasoned patties come in five-, seven- and nine-ounce sizes, and the milkshakes are a big part of the draw.

Browse more in this style on our best classic burgers page.

Island beef

• Honolulu Burger Co.: built around local, grass-fed, hormone-free Hawaii beef. The original shop is on Beretania Street, with a second on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki. The Blue Hawaiʻi adds blue cheese.
• Mahaloha Burger: a counter at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki using beef raised on Oahu's North Shore, with teriyaki and grilled pineapple options. It's the easiest good burger if you're staying in Waikiki.

Curious what grass-fed beef changes? Our guide to the best ground beef for burgers covers fat content and flavor.

Smash burgers

• Boarded Up Burgers: the 2025 relaunch of Chubbies Hawaiʻi, now in a small Kaimuki space on 12th Avenue. Thin, crispy-edged, diner-style burgers come with house onion relish and a tangy sauce. The 1950 is the bigger take on the old Chubbies classic.
• Carl's OG3 Burger Shop: a small Young Street shop known for heavily topped burgers and a bold house sauce. Both tasters ranked it second in KHON2's 2025 Honolulu burger challenge.
• The Daley: a casual Chinatown shop on Nuuanu Avenue whose Daley Burger is a double with crispy griddled patties and caramelized onions.

See more on our best smash burgers page.

A chef-driven burger in Chinatown

Livestock Tavern on Hotel Street is a full sit-down restaurant, and its Tavern Burger leans European, with bacon-onion marmalade and Gruyere. It's a short walk from The Daley, so you can compare a casual Chinatown burger with a more refined one. Book ahead for weekend dinners.

Worth the drive: Kua Aina in Haleiwa

Kua Aina Sandwich is a longtime burger and sandwich shop on Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa, on Oahu's North Shore, and it appears on GAYOT's 2026 list of Hawaii's best burgers. Burgers are cooked to order, with toppings like avocado and pineapple. It pairs naturally with a day at the North Shore beaches, roughly an hour's drive from Honolulu depending on traffic.

How to plan a Honolulu burger crawl

1. Start in Kapahulu. Rainbow Drive-In and Teddy's are both close to Waikiki.
2. Move up to Kaimuki. W&M, Boarded Up Burgers and the second Honolulu Burger Co. are all in the neighborhood. Go early, since W&M can sell out.
3. Spend an afternoon in Chinatown. Lunch at The Daley, then dinner at Livestock Tavern.
4. Save a day for the North Shore. Kua Aina fits into a beach day in Haleiwa.

Make a Hawaii-style burger at home

For a teriyaki burger, brush a simple soy, sugar, garlic and ginger glaze on the patty during the last minutes of grilling so the sugar doesn't burn. Top with grilled pineapple if you like. Our guide to the best burger sauces has more ideas, and the ultimate smash burger recipe gets you close to the Kaimuki smash style. Cook ground beef to 160°F for USDA-recommended doneness.

Know a great burger on Maui, Kauai or the Big Island? Suggest a spot.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Hawaii?

In Honolulu, W&M Bar-B-Q Burger is the classic teriyaki pick, Honolulu Burger Co. leads for local beef and Boarded Up Burgers is the smash burger favorite. On the North Shore, Kua Aina is the go-to.

What is a teriyaki burger in Hawaii?

It's a char-grilled patty glazed with a sweet soy-based barbecue sauce. W&M Bar-B-Q Burger in Kaimuki is one of the best-known places to try one.

Where can I get a good burger in Waikiki?

Mahaloha Burger is in the Royal Hawaiian Center, and Teddy's Bigger Burgers and Rainbow Drive-In are a short trip away in Kapahulu.

What happened to Chubbies in Honolulu?

Chubbies Hawaiʻi relaunched in 2025 as Boarded Up Burgers, in a small Kaimuki space on 12th Avenue.

Do Hawaii burger shops use local beef?

Some do. Honolulu Burger Co. uses Hawaii-raised grass-fed beef, and Mahaloha Burger uses beef from Oahu's North Shore.