One of the buzziest openings in 2024 was the new restaurant and bar Izakaya 855-ALOHA in the heart of Waikīkī. Located in the recently reimagined Romer House Waikīkī, the moody and chic eatery features izakaya-style (Japanese “tapas”) cuisine with a local twist for a family-style dining experience that embraces Hawai‘i’s diverse cultural history.

Izakaya 855-ALOHA is named in tribute to the iconic bright blue payphones that used to be found on the streets of Hawai‘i, inviting everyone to dial 1-855-ALOHA-00. The restaurant features phone-themed décor, including artwork by Waikīkī-based illustrator Matías Solario and photographer Joe Rovegno. The menu is designed to resemble the side panels of a payphone, adding a fun and playful element to the dining experience. However, the food, led by Executive Chef Daniel No, truly keeps customers coming back. Chef No uses locally sourced ingredients and flavors to create a fresh interpretation of the izakaya-inspired culinary tradition, serving delightful small plates that pack big flavors.

“With my own background as someone who was born in Argentina but with Korean parents, I am able to appreciate the harmony of diverse cultures and cuisine, which played a key role in shaping the menu,” explains Chef No. “The experience is about connection: friends sharing plates of karaage chicken, strangers toasting with sake over the communal tables, and locals and visitors  finding common ground over flavors that celebrate Japanese and American roots with Hawaiian soul.”

In the oceanside lobby, the garden-like restaurant serves dinner nightly, allowing guests to enjoy small dishes best shared family style. Start the party with the snack selection, including the Aloha Spoon featuring Ikura, quail egg, uni, ponzu and shiso, or Ahi Tuna Tataki with shiso vinaigrette and puffed pearl rice. Follow up with the raw bar selections of sashimi, such as the Tamari Salmon Poke or the  Yellowtail “Hanabi” Sashimi served with avocado and jalapeño ponzu. The miso Caesar salad with crispy garlic is not to be missed, nor is the Mahi Katsu—panko-fried mahi-mahi served with mentaiko tartar sauce. Meat lovers will delight in the classic Japanese fried Chicken Kara-age, served with house-made teriyaki sauce and karashi mustard, or the braised and seared pork belly served with caramelized onions and a sweet soy-sesame glaze poured tableside on a sizzling tray. Follow dinner with a sweet and savory treat like the popular (yet traditional) Chocolate Namelaka with tahini caramel and kura goma crumble.

The eatery’s ethos is connection, inviting guests to gather and stay late. Izakaya 855-ALOHA plays on the sense of Old Hawai‘i nostalgia in the groovy midcentury modern dining area and bar, allowing guests to flow from dinner to late-night happy hour for drinks and bites at the bar and lounge. As one of the only late-light social spots in Waikīkī, Izakaya 855-ALOHA is the perfect place to come for a pau hana drink or pop in later after a night on the town in Waikīkī. The chic bar area is helmed by energetic bartenders mixing up Hawai‘i-inspired beverages that are more inventive and classier than your typical tropical tiki drink. Order one of their signature phone-themed cocktails, like the “Call Me Maybe,” a lilikoi and coconut vodka concoction, or the “Who You Gonna Call?” featuring Suntory Tori whisky, yuzu curaçao, sesame honey and salted coconut-macadamia nut foam. A fun way to say “Kanpai!” is with Shaké Bombs, where a shot of Bushido or Awayuki Strawberry sake is dropped into pints of Sapporo or Kona Luau beer. 

Izakaya 855-ALOHA is located a short walk from the shore in the Romer House Waikīkī, a midcentury modern building in the heart of Waikīkī. The hotel recently underwent a renovation aimed at embracing the neighborhood’s history and urban charm in a way that feels sleek and sexy. O‘ahu’s only adults-only hotel is an upscale hideaway that boasts a residential-like lobby with curated art by local artists, a spacious backyard pool club amid urban Honolulu and an activities program consisting of local, authentic experiences. Guests can call the Aloha Line, a dedicated phone number available 24/7 that offers tips to the neighborhood. Rooms feel like the perfect Waikīkī apartment, sleek and modern with a private lanai and an urban-beach aesthetic. After enjoying all that Waikīkī offers, Izakaya 855-ALOHA hosts live entertainment on Thursday through Saturday nights, like local DJs and tarot card readings.

Whether for date night or late night, pau hana or dinner with friends, Izakaya 855-ALOHA is the ideal stop for flavorful bites, memorable cocktails and some good, old-fashioned connection. 

Izakaya 855-ALOHA; Romer House, 415 Nāhua St, Honolulu; (808) 795-8013; 855aloha.com; open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; three hours of complimentary validated parking at Romer House.