Restaurant Scams in Honolulu

Waikiki Restaurant Hidden Cover Charge

Several tourist-facing restaurants along Kalakaua Avenue and in the Waikiki Beach Walk area add undisclosed cover charges, live music surcharges, and mandatory gratuity to bills in amounts not mentioned on posted menus. The charges appear only at payment, typically framed as "resort fee," "entertainment levy," or automatic 22–25% service charge. Some venues near the Beachwalk and Royal Hawaiian Center are repeat offenders.