All The Best Food Spots In Oahu

Located in East Honolulu, Koko Head Cafe is a delicious spot for brunch. The menu is filled with unique items, so this is the perfect place to try something new. I got the Breakfast Bibimbap Skillet which is a Korean dish that has bacon, sausage, ham, kimchi, shiitake mushrooms, water spinach, carrots, bean sprouts, and a sunny side up egg all served over rice. I’m hungry just thinking about it! 

Boots and Kimo’s is a local restaurant located in Kailua (about a 25 min drive from Honolulu). This is a must hit, and I would recommend getting takeout to enjoy on the beach! I got the Pakalolo Onolicious Omelette which has bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, ham, and melted American and Swiss cheese. They are also known for their pancakes and plate lunches, so you really can not go wrong! 

If you are an acai bowl enthusiast like me, an hour drive out of Honolulu to the north shore to get the top rated bowls on the island will be well worth it! Haleiwa bowls is a small, outdoor açai stand, so be on the lookout when you are nearby as it is easy to miss. You can not go wrong with their menu, but I would recommend the Local bowl which has an açai puree base, granola, fresh fruit, honey, bee pollen, and coconut flakes. 

The Sunrise Shack is a convenient açai spot located right on Waikiki beach. Beyond bowls, they also have wellness shots, smoothies, coffee, and sandwiches! There is a great happy vibe inside, and this is a perfect spot to get some healthy foods to enjoy on Waikiki beach.

You can’t say you’ve experienced Oahu without trying out a traditional plate lunch, and Shrimp and Steak is the perfect place to do so! If you’re looking for a reasonably priced meal with huge portions, this is your spot. It is located in Waimanalo which is a beach town just a 25 minute drive from Honolulu, so it is a perfect pit stop on the way to visit the beach! I got the Ono with mango salsa, but I would also recommend the ahi and shrimp combo.

Another must try food item is a shrimp plate at a shrimp truck or farm. Fumi’s shrimp is all grown at their own shrimp farm located right next to the restaurant. Fumi’s is located in Kahuku which is on the North Shore. If you do not take the adventure to the North Shore though, you can also find Fumi’s food trucks around the island. I would suggest checking out their website to find where they will be and when! I tried out the garlic shrimp which was out of this world, but you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu.

If you’re looking for a delicious but simple and cheap meal, look no further than Marumake Udon! Located in the heart of Waikiki, Marumake is a simple udon restaurant in which you go through a line and pick out the exact kind of udon and toppings you’d like. You can get a filling meal for as little as $5 here! If you’re looking to go during regular dining times though, be aware that there usually is a line but it does move quickly.

If you’re looking for a classic plate lunch with a unique ambiance, Rainbow Drive-Inn is your place. Rainbow has been operating in Honolulu since 1961, so they are not new to the food business! This spot is so great that they have been featured in food shows, Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum PI. I would recommend the combo plate to try a bit of everything, but again you can’t go wrong with a plate lunch. 

In my last one week trip to Oahu, I, a foodie who never likes to repeat a meal/restaurant, visited Paia three times. Their seafood is simply out of this world and their great atmosphere makes the entire meal memorable. My all time favorite item on their menu is the green salad with grilled Mahi Mahi. Beyond the deliciousness, it is also a great value as the entire salad, fish, and 3 shrimp come at a total of $15. I also do recommend the fresh catch plates and the seafood pasta. If you ever visit Oahu, this restaurant should be at the top of your list!

If you’re looking for a traditional Japanese restaurant, Akasaka is your place. Akasaka is located right by Ala Moana Beach Park in Honolulu. Make sure to make a reservation though because, like most traditional Japanese restaurants, there are only about 20 seats in the entire restaurant. Akasaka offers a wide variety of fresh sushi and seafood, so this is a great place to try out some new seafood! I got the chirashi bowl to try out a variety of fish over rice, but I also tried some fried scallop which was delicious. This is definitely a more expensive restaurant, but you will get a unique and delicious experience.

You can’t go to Hawaii without at least trying out poke. Ono Seafood is one of the best poke spots I have found in the world, so whether you’re trying it out for the first time or you’re a poke connoisseur this is your place. Ono is located in East Honolulu in a small strip mall. I would highly recommend the Hawaiian poke with some avocado on top. This is a great place to pick up lunch and take it to the beach!

Another great spot for some fresh poke is Fresh Catch which is located in Kaimuki. Beyond just poke, they also offer delicious plate lunches. This place is very convenient if you are looking for some takeout to bring to the beach or on the road. I tried the Shoyu Ahi Tuna Poke which I highly recommend.

This is my favorite bakery in the entire world! Liliha offers delicious goods made with local fruits and delicious chocolates. Beyond just their bakery, they also have a restaurant which I would highly recommend for breakfast! This is a convenient stop on the way to and from the airport, so make sure to stop by and fill up with some delicious treats! I would recommend the coco puffs, guava cupcakes, and the filled malasadas.

If you’re looking to try a local treat, you must try out shave ice! If you consider shave ice to be like a typical flavorless snow cone, you are wrong because at least in my experience they are anything but flavorless! Wailoa Shaved Ice is a popular spot with unique shaved ice flavors that will make you love this dessert item. I would recommend anything that has the Lilikoi (passionfruit) flavor, but truly any shave ice is great!

Another delicious shave ice spot is Ice Monster. With only six flavors on their menu, you can’t make the wrong choice about what to get. This shave ice is extremely flavorful as the flavoring is literally frozen in the ice before it is even shaved! This is a great spot for an afternoon treat and escape from the sun on Waikiki Beach.