Guy Fieri has steered the red Camaro all over the Aloha State, tracking down spots where a killer rum cocktail pairs perfectly with food that goes way beyond standard pupus. Each of the restaurants below appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and captures at least a little of that breezy, bamboo-trimmed tiki spirit—whether through a full-blown thatch roof or simply a lineup of lava flows and mai tais behind the bar. Consider this your cheat sheet to island watering holes that shake up tropical drinks and dish out seriously memorable plates.

1. Nico’s Pier 38 — Honolulu, Oʻahu

Set right on the commercial fishing docks, Nico’s Pier 38 feels equal parts fish market, neighborhood bar, and laid-back tiki lounge. The open-air dining room faces the harbor, while inside you’ll find a long counter mixing mai tais and other rum classics that taste even better once the sun starts to sink. When Diners, Drive Ins and Dives rolled in, Guy zeroed in on how chef Nico Chaize elevates local catch with French-inspired technique—proof that you can savor refined seafood in a place where flip-flops are the unofficial dress code.

2. Side Street Inn — Honolulu, Oʻahu

This late-night institution looks like a sports bar at first glance, but dig a little deeper and you’ll spot carved tiki masks, vintage surf posters, and bartenders who know their way around a zombie. Local chefs treat Side Street Inn as an after-shift clubhouse, thanks to a menu that takes island comfort fare to chef-approved heights. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives captured the raucous energy—big platters meant for sharing, cold beers sliding down the bar, and a soundtrack of laughter that starts well before happy hour.

3. Uahi Island Grill — Kailua, Oʻahu

Kailua’s Uahi Island Grill melds modern Hawaiian cooking with a laid-back, surf-shack vibe: think reclaimed-wood walls, lush potted palms, and island beats drifting from the speakers. The bar shakes up ginger-lilikoʻi mojitos and house mai tais that slide effortlessly alongside thoughtfully sourced plates. On Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, Guy highlighted how the kitchen layers flavor with house-made sauces and farm-fresh produce, showing that “grill” in the name doesn’t mean you’re stuck with basic bar food.

4. Da Poke Shack — Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi Island

Yes, the name screams raw fish, but this tiny Kona fave also functions as a breezy tiki nook, complete with bamboo trim and a rotating slate of island cocktails. The kitchen treats seafood with reverence, turning the day’s catch into both classic poke and fully cooked dishes that appeal to guests who prefer their fish hot off the grill. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives praised the spot’s focus on ultra-fresh product, underscoring how a casual counter can still serve food worthy of a white-tablecloth kitchen.

5. Cholo’s Homestyle Mexican — Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu

Cholo’s may channel a colorful Baja cantina, yet the palapa roof, rattan barstools, and roster of rum-based drinks lend plenty of tiki attitude. Surfers rinse the salt off and settle in for generous plates that riff on Mexican classics with island produce—homemade salsas laced with tropical fruit, for instance. Diners, Drive Ins and Dives celebrated the spot’s from-scratch ethos, proving that North Shore chill and nuanced cooking can happily occupy the same plate.

6. South Shore Grill — Honolulu, Oʻahu

Just a block from Diamond Head’s wave-spray, South Shore Grill feels like the kind of surf bungalow where tiki culture was born: casual counter service up front, reggae on the speakers, and longboards lining the walls. The kitchen riffs on beach-day classics, swapping in local fish and house-made sauces that crank the flavor without masking the freshness. When Diners, Drive Ins and Dives stopped by, Guy called out the way the crew balances big taste with the light, breezy feel you want after a day in the lineup.