Oahu Food Tour
It isn’t a complete Hawaiian trip without a taste of some local Hawaiian food, and luckily we were quite prepared! Prior to our departure, we’ve made a list of many restaurants we want to try and also made as many reservations as possible, it is only reasonable to say that our Oahu food experience was a huge plus to the trip itself!
Restaurants in Waikiki Beach
Duke’s Waikiki
This is a well known ocean front restaurant in the center of Waikiki Beach, and it also happens to be on the first floor of our hotel - Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort. We called the restaurant a week before our departure and was told that reservations here have been booked up for the next several months. Luckily they do have a walk-in waitlist that you can sign up and receive a text when your table is ready, and this is exactly what we did.
Though restaurants like this can gain its popularity simply through its location, the food here was actually pretty awesome. The Cajun style fish tacos were some of the best ones we’ve ever had!
Hula Grill Waikiki
Also located in Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Hula Grill is another beach front restaurant on the second floor. We arrived just before their opening time of 7am for breakfast and there was already a short line ahead of us. The 2 entrees we ordered were absolutely fascinating:
The Strawberry Mochi Waffle - yes you’ll taste the mochi in it, a simply twist to the traditional waffle that makes it so much better!
The Seafood Omelet - it sounds so Hawaiian and it tastes even more impressive!
Tommy Bahama Restaurant
The building is a beautiful combination of store, bar, and restaurant. With an advanced reservation, we were seated immediately after our arrival on the rooftop. It’s always a nice addition to have views with any dining experience, especially views of Kalakaua Avenue.
We ordered the Coconut Crusted Crab Cakes and Thai Shrimp & Scallops, both had pleasant tastes that we really enjoyed.
Paia Fish Market Waikiki
It’s not one of those fancy restaurants where you will be served and attended every step of the way, and the ordering line sometimes can be quite long. But in the end food is what matters the most, and you will quickly come to understand why the line is long after food is served.
Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin
Unfortunately we only had time for a take out from this restaurant, but that didn’t affect our opinion that this place has some most amazing tonkatsus we’ve ever had.
Other Restaurants in Honolulu
MW Restaurant
Short drive from Waikiki Beach, we made a reservation at this highly recommended restaurant by many bloggers. The restaurant has an upscale environment but is actually not too crazy on the price. We ordered the Crab Cakes for starter and for entrees, we had Mochi Crusted Kona Kampachi and Dinner Teishoku. We’ve tried many fusion restaurants before, and food here is interpreting fusion on the next level.
KCC Farmers’ Market
Open only on Saturday mornings, we were lucky to catch this weekly event after our morning hike to Diamond Head Crater. It’s a fun place where you get to check out so many different local vendors all at once, grab a bite and have a picnic right onsite.
Food in North Shore
Dole Plantation
If you’re heading north, it’s a no-brainer to stop by at Dole Plantation and order its signature Pineapple Whip. Sounds touristy but after all we are tourists indeed :)
The Sunrise Shack
We also saw this store in Waikiki Beach, but the street side stop in North Shore seemed way more authentic to us. Their Bullet Coffees were so impressive and full of Hawaiian flavors, and they also have some most appealing Acai Bowls we’ve ever seen.
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
It isn’t a complete Hawaiian food tour without trying some local food trucks, and Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck is certainly one of those most sought after stops with thousands of positive reviews. We also ordered some Korean BBQ ribs from a nearby food truck. The savory flavors after all the beach fun are just a huge satisfaction.
East Side Restaurant
Kogi Aina
After exploring the east side of the island, we stopped by for an AYCE hotpot at this local restaurant. And to complete the meal and our Oahu food experience, we finished with a large bowl of rainbow shave ice.
Click HERE to see our amazing journey in Oahu!
Hotel of Our Stay: Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort
Beautiful beach front resort at a central location on Kalakaua Avenue, direct beach access, lots of restaurants and shops nearby, great service and overall wonderful experience.
Or find the best value hotels in Oahu on TripAdvisor HERE!
