The island of O`ahu has many different places to eat. I will attempt to sort some of my favorite places based on location. The west side of the island is usually referred to the “Ewa” side. I will call the downtown/Ala Moana/Waikiki area Honolulu. The east side is the “Windward” side and the “North Shore” will be the North Shore. These are current as of July 2023 and are listed alphabetically within a region. I am also including asterisks (***) next to places I feel are “can’t miss” if you only have a few days on O`ahu. Before continuing on with this post, please read these other posts about the culture in Hawai`i and a description of the food in Hawai`i .
Food Establishments with Mulitple Locations Around the Island
- 7-Eleven in Hawai`i is definitely not like the 7-Eleven stores on the mainland. While it is not quite on par with the stores in Japan, it is definitely more than a step above the ones on the mainland. The ready-made food section is extensive with manapua, musubi’s and bentos. They have food in warmers as well as refrigerated food which you can heat with the in-store microwave. My kids swear their spam musubi is the best.
- Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is a national company but in Hawai`i they have unique flavors which are fun to try if you run across one on your travels across O`ahu.
- Foodland Farms (aka Foodland) in Pearl City and Ala Moana have affordable poke bowls and a wide selection of ready to eat bentos and prepared foods. Not all Foodlands have a wide food selection. If a store is just labeled as “Foodland” it is likely just a grocery store with a limited selection of prepared food. Look for the Foodland Farms to find stores with a large selection of prepared food.
- Leonard’s Malasadas*** is known for their sugar covered Portuguese Malasadas donut. While their bakery on Kapahulu Avenue near Waikiki is always busy, their “malasadasmobile” can be found in the parking lot at Waikele Shopping Center, Pearl Ridge Shopping Center, Windward Mall, and Hawai`i Kai Shopping Center. While these trucks do not have the full bakery offerings like their bakery on Kapahulu Avenue, they do sell their famous malasadas and worth visiting if you don’t want to fight the crowds at the bakery. I remember being sick at home one day back in 2004 when The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson) was on the Ellen Degeneres show and they both ate Leonard’s Malasadas (even came in the famous pink box) on the show.
- Zippy’s*** is a “local comfort food” kind of place. They are known for their chili (which must be eaten with rice), fried chicken, macaroni salad, and Apple Napple dessert. They are a favorite destination of such celebrities as Bruno Mars and Jason Momoa.
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Ewa (Near Aulani and Ko ‘Olina Resorts)
- `Aiea Bowl’s The Alley Restaurant has the best food you would ever find at a Bowling Alley. They were featured on the Food Network’s “Diner’s Drive-Inn’s and Dives.” Their tasty chicken, furikake ahi, and pumpkin crunch are some of my favorites.
- Forty-Niner Restaurant has yummy breakfast. My personal favorite are the ube waffles. You can order ahead so you don’t have to wait in line.
- Mamaya has a large assortment of bentos for sale. The food quality is great for the price and the mochiko chicken is one of my favorites. Go early for the best selection. They also give you a bottle of water with every purchase.
- Shiro’s Saimin is one of the original places to get Hawaiian-style ramen noodles. The broth is lighter than traditional Japanese ramen. Saimin is unique to Hawai`i and can be found at places such as Zippy’s and even McDonald’s (sadly the company that supplied their saimin went out of business when the owners retired in 2022).
- Tanioka’s Seafoods and Catering*** has some of the best poke on the island (my favorite is the wasabi miso tako) as well as yummy other offerings like mochiko chicken and fish patties.
- Young’s Kalbee in `Aiea is a “mom and pop” hole in the wall restaurant where you won’t find any tourists but a warm and inviting owner who remembers everyone that visits her restaurant and gives generous portions of some of the best Korean BBQ you will ever have.
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Honolulu (Near Downtown and Waikiki)
- Frost City serves Taiwanese-style shave ice. A nice alternative to the Hawaiian-style shave ice.
- Gulick’s Delicatessen is great if you’re not sure what you want to eat or with a group of people with different food preferences. The huge selection has a heavy Asian influence and this a place you won’t find any tourists.
- Highway Inn serves delicious Hawaiian food. They have two locations but the location in Kaka`ako is closer to Waikiki.
- Kaka`ako Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 8-12. You can get lots of fresh produce (including mangoes, papaya, apple bananas, etc) and prepared foods.
- Kokoro-Tei is a place where you can get good quality bentos for an affordable price. It is best to call ahead to order to avoid waiting for your food.
- Liliha Bakery has several locations in Honolulu including one at the International Market Place in Waikiki. Their original location is in Kalihi. Their meals are good but they are known for their coco puffs which are pastries filled with chocolate and topped with chantilly frosting. Their cakes are also good like their dobash and chantilly cake.
- Off the Hook poke in Manoa. I am honestly not a big fan of raw fish poke but this is one place that I will eat raw fish poke. The cold ginger ahi and wasabi poke is very good.
- Side Street Inn*** started off as a bar. It was a place that chefs would go to eat after their restaurants closed. This is a place that is definitely worth making a reservation. Their prix fixe menu served family style has all of their classics and something I crave.
- Tsuru Ton Tan is located in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Waikiki and serves enormous bowls of noodles and their lunch specials are very affordable.
- Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha*** Shave Ice has freshly made syrups which taste true to the intended flavor. Shave ice texture is also very nice. Only negative is it can be a bit pricey for shave ice but worth the extra cost in my opinion.
- Waiola Shave Ice has good flavor and a good texture. It is probably the finest shave ice texture you will find and a personal favorite of former President Barack Obama who grew up in the neighborhood.
- Island Vintage Shave Ice is the best shave ice that you will find in Waikiki. The texture of the ice is good and the syrups are not too sweet or artificial tasting.
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Windward
- Adela’s Country Eatery features homemade noodles. Their noodles are made with ingredients such as `ulu (breadfruit), taro, moringa, and Okinawan sweet potatoes. Serving sizes are huge and one plate can easily be shared by 2 people. Their cheesecakes such as mango, guava, etc are also amazing. You can call in your order ahead of time to avoid waiting.
- Chi-Chan’s Okazu-ya tasty Japanese food served in a Hawaiian-style delicatessen. A “mom and pop” operation so best to go early. Not uncommon to have food sold out by 9AM. The old Chi-Chan’s closed in December 2023. It is believed that this will reopen with only pre-made bentos and will no longer be a delicatessen style location. Sadly this location closed for good in March 2024.
- Cinnamon’s Restaurant has great breakfast. My personal favorites are the crab cake eggs benedict and the red velvet pancakes which are not too sweet.
- Fresh Catch great poke.
- K. Bay Bros. great poke.
- Waiahole Poi Factory serves great Hawaiian food. My favorite is their squid luau and Sweet Lady of Waiahole dessert. It can get crowded as more tourists have discovered this place so best to go early to avoid waiting in line. A new location in Windward Mall recently opened and a good alternative place to visit if you don’t want to stand in line at their location in Waiahole.
- Windward Mall Farmer’s Market open 2-6PM on Wednesday and 10-2PM on Sunday. Great place to get local produce like warabi (fern shoots), papaya, mangoes, and dried fish. There is a vendor that sells $5.00 mini Hawaiian food plate lunches which is definitely a great price for the quality and amount of food that you get.
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North Shore
- Aoki’s Shave Ice*** is probably my favorite shave ice place on the island. It is significantly better than their more popular competitor across the street. If you want a place the locals go to, stop by here and not the place across the street. You’ll have a shorter line and a much better shave ice! Follow their instagram to get their hours as it varies throughout the year.
- Kua `Aina Burger and Sandwich Shop is located in Hale`iwa town on the North Shore. My favorite is their mahi sandwich. My dad loved their pastrami. They once had locations throughout the island but this is the only one on `Oahu.
- Pa`ala`a Kai Bakery is known for their “snow puffy” which is a flaky chocolate pastry dusted with powdered sugar. Their mini mart next door serves fried chicken, Hawaiian-style maki sushi and other goodies.
- Ted’s Bakery serves delicious pies which you can buy by the slice if you don’t want to eat a whole pie. They are known for their haupia (coconut) chocolate pie.
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Places Not Worth the Hype
These are based on my personal opinion and you can feel free to disagree.
- Matsumoto’s Shave Ice in Hale`iwa. There are always long lines and honestly the shave ice isn’t that good. Aoki’s which is located right across the street rarely has lines and the shave ice quality and flavor is significantly better. Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha and Waiola are better choices.
- Rainbow Drive-In – Other than their slush float, I have yet to find a food choice on the menu that is good.
- Shimazu Shave Ice – This place is good if you want to have a single massive shave ice that you can share with other people. Other than that, the quality of the ice and flavors are better at the other places noted above.