Nico's Pier 38
7.3Friend Score / 10#3 of 20 Restaurants in Honolulu
Known forFurikake AhiFried Ahi BellyGrilled Ahi SandwichPier 38 Double Fish Burger
A harborside fish house next to the Honolulu fish auction, serving auction-fresh ahi and the island's benchmark furikake-crusted catch — plate-lunch casual by day, full restaurant and bar by night. Open Monday-Saturday 6:30am-9pm, Sunday from 10am, with an attached fish market for poke. Worth the drive from Waikiki for lunch on the water.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Sat 06:30–21:00 Sun–Sun 10:00–21:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | TheBus routes 19, 20, and 42 along Nimitz Hwy; about 25-35 minutes from Waikiki, with free on-site parking |
| Time needed | 1-1.5 hours |
| Best time to go | Weekday lunch before noon, or breakfast if you want it quiet |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
7.3/10- Value8.5
- iconic6.5
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level6.5
- Authenticity8.5
- Accessibility7.5
Frequently asked questions
- Can I visit the actual fish auction at Pier 38?
- The auction itself is a pre-dawn commercial operation and public access has varied over the years — don't count on wandering in. The reliable way to experience it is on your plate at Nico's, or by browsing the fish market's counter.
- What should I order at Nico's Pier 38?
- The furikake pan-seared ahi is the dish that made the place — get it as a plate lunch at the counter for the best price. The fried poke and the daily fresh-catch specials are the other locals' picks.
- Is there parking at Nico's Pier 38?
- Yes, a big free lot — a genuine luxury in Honolulu. That makes it an easy stop between the airport and Waikiki, or paired with a Chinatown morning ten minutes away.
- How much does Nico's cost?
- Lunch plates mostly run in the mid-teens to low $20s; dinner mains climb higher. The fish market's poke bowls are the budget play. For auction-grade fish, it's fair.
- Is Nico's worth it compared to poke shops in town?
- Different jobs: Ono Seafood and Maguro Brothers win for pure takeout poke, but Nico's is where you sit by the working harbor with a beer, a hot furikake ahi plate, and space for a group. As a lunch destination, yes, it's worth it.
- Is Nico's a sit-down restaurant or a plate-lunch counter?
- Both. Daytime works counter-style with casual covered seating by the harbor; evenings shift to table service with a bar and live music some nights. Same fish either way — lunch is the better value.
- Why is the fish so fresh at Nico's?
- It sits at Pier 38, literally next door to the Honolulu fish auction where Oahu's commercial boats land their catch. Nico's buys off the auction daily, so what you're eating was often swimming a day or two ago.
- What are Nico's Pier 38's hours?
- Monday-Saturday 6:30am to 9pm (breakfast until 10am), Sunday 10am to 9pm. The adjacent Nico's Fish Market keeps shorter hours, closing at 5pm most days — go earlier if poke to-go is the mission.
Nearby in Ask Honolulu
- SeniaRestaurant0.64 km · 8 min walk
- Black Shamrock TavernBar0.64 km · 8 min walk
- Murphy's Bar & GrillBar0.64 km · 8 min walk
- Skull & Crown Trading Co.Bar0.75 km · 9 min walk
- Maunakea MarketplaceMarket0.78 km · 10 min walk
Where to stay near Nico's Pier 38
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