From among the dozens of new restaurants Frolic covers each year—and the dozens more our team checks out—only a few will emerge at year’s end as the best. These are our individual picks, sent to me in secret with instructions not to discuss choices with anyone else. They are the best not for reasons of price or convenience (though these matter!), but because they do what they do very well, and consistently, in ways that keep us going back not as food writers, but as fans.
Every year brings surprises. In 2022, Nami Kaze nearly swept the secret ballot as the top choice of 6 of our 7 writers. In 2024, for the first time, no one had a clear new favorite. The results this year point to an O‘ahu restaurant scene that’s not only regained some footing despite a difficult year, they highlight innovation, comfort and adventure. Here are our picks for best new restaurant of 2025.
Chao Hawai‘i
With life being so busy these days, Chao’s opening in September completely fell off my radar. Thankfully, Mari Taketa’s review led me to what would become my favorite new restaurant. With a comfy neighborhood atmosphere and a vivacious crew, I felt right at home the first time my wife and I dined here. The dishes are vibrant, leaning into the funk that defines Vietnamese cuisine in all the best ways. Make sure you leave room for dessert, as the coconut flan is the stuff that my food dreams are made of. Firm, flavorful and velvety smooth, it’s a contender for my favorite dish of 2025. —Gregg Hoshida, Frolic…