Best Large Restaurants Honolulu Near Me

4worldlovers:
Welcome to Big City Diner, where our dedicated team is passionate about delivering EXCEPTIONAL FOOD QUALITY. Led by our Corporate Executive Chef, Dennis Franks, and supported by a group of talented local chefs, cooks, and staff, we consistently assess and enhance our culinary offerings to meet the preferences of both local and international visitors. Your dining experience is our top priority.


12/25/2021…One of the longest, best standing restaurants on island that have been around for YEARS! and every time still yet when we go, they never fail to deliver the best dishes and the best customer service that they can provide along with some of the oldest recipes that have been around for a long time that most locals enjoy to this day. If you’re a tourist looking for one of the best local restaurants, this is one stop you don’t wanna miss.

8/27/2021…Big City Diner is very quintessential of Kaimuki. Priding themselves on two things: good food and great service, this biz is admirable as being a long standing staple in its surrounding community. Authentically true to who they are, this business is resilient and persistent in what they do. Unlike its ever changing neighbors, this biz is quite the opposite of its Instagrammable neighbors. Simple, no frills, and true to their roots.

My family and I have loved coming here for many years–generation after generation, the food and service have remained consistent and delicious. From loco mocos, and burgers to their oh-so delicious brownie sundae and healthy salads, this biz is truly a place for every type of eater. After recently dining-in here it looked and felt just like the last time I dined in (which may have been just over 10 years ago, eek!).

The guava ribs here are delicious. Period. No questions asked, and their kimchee fried rice is another can’t go wrong dish. Honestly, everything on their menu is delish here… My indecisiveness usually gets the best of me and I’m usually stuck string at their menu for a good 5 minutes deciding from my top 5 choices on what I want to order.


It’s Kaimuki so if you’re lucky, you’ll maybe find street parking, if not there’s plenty of paid parking in the back. My favorite part about parking in the back, is walking through the kitchen and being greeted by the entire staff cooking up a storm.

4worldlovers: Maelani, who goes by “Mae” to friends and family, has been part of the BASALT culinary team since its opening in 2017. Her style of cooking is Hawaii Regional Cuisine, and it was her grandfather Mario Cordero, Sr. who inspired her to become a chef. Mae has a long history with BASALT’s former Executive Chef Keith Steel Kong, who was her mentor at Duke’s Waikiki for more than ten years.