Where to Eat on Oʻahu
It should come as no surprise that the best dining destinations on Oʻahu are outside of the Waikīkī tourist district. This is where you'll find the most locally owned restaurants and places where locals actually eat. Although there are good eats all over the island, including Waikīkī, the following neighborhoods have the highest concentration of good restaurants, casual eateries, coffee shops and bars. The best neighborhood for dining and drinking on Oʻahu is Chinatown — not just for dim sum and Chinese roast pork, but also Thai street food, pastries, pizza, smash burgers and hand-pulled noodles. Here, modern upscale dining converges with hole-in-the-wall spots and food stalls, forming the best range of options in one place. Kaimukī is a close second, with Waiʻalae Avenue acting as the main artery for restaurant, cafe and bar hopping. Kakaʻako has several high-end options in Ward Village worthy of a date night and more casual, affordable spots in and around SALT at Our Kakaʻako. Kailua's dining options are more spread out but include the island's only Portuguese restaurant and one of the best ice cream shops on the island. Haleʻiwa has a thriving food truck scene and a few gems worth the hour drive from town. These neighborhoods only scratch the surface. Oʻahu has some of the best food in the country — get out and explore as much as you can, wherever you are on the island.
SBBest Oʻahu Dining by Neighborhood
Chinatown
Recognized as a National Register of Historic Places site, Chinatown is a treasure trove of open-air markets, bakeries, dim sum shops, noodle shops, butcher shops, food stalls, cafes and restaurants. With more than 100 dining options spanning a wide range of cuisines, you are sure to find something to love. Hotel Street and Maunakea Street have the highest concentration of restaurants, but the whole neighborhood is packed with good food, cocktails, coffee and desserts around every corner. Best for solo travelers, couples or small groups of four or fewer. Large groups will have a hard time finding a table, and families with picky eaters may want to look elsewhere.
Kaimukī
The primarily residential neighborhood of Kaimukī is packed with restaurants up and down its main road, Waiʻalae Avenue. Several good coffee shops and a strong lineup of locally owned restaurants make it one of the island's most reliable dining neighborhoods. You'll find plate lunch, acai bowls, burger joints, farm-to-table, modern Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai and more. Like Chinatown, most restaurants are on the smaller side and may not accommodate large groups. Best for solo travelers, couples and small groups of four or fewer.
Kakaʻako
Over the past decade, Kakaʻako has been transformed by gentrification, bringing luxury condos, trendy shops and high-end restaurants. Its two sides cater to slightly different diners. The area around SALT at Our Kakaʻako is best for younger adults looking to grab coffee, lunch or dinner in between shopping and checking out the neighborhood's famous street murals. You'll also find food trucks and H-Mart — a Korean grocery store with food stalls on the second floor. On the Ward Village side, restaurants can run $100 per person or more, with more affordable options tucked into South Shore Market and nearby side streets. If you're on a tight budget, skip this neighborhood — it's hard to find a meal for less than $20.
Ala Moana/Midtown
This blue-collar-turned-up-and-coming neighborhood offers a taste of old and new. Keʻeaumoku Street — known to locals as "Korea-moku" for its high concentration of Korean-owned businesses — is lined with mom-and-pop spots and a new food hall called Midtown Eats. With a wide variety of cuisines, this neighborhood is perfect for diners looking for something non-touristy, local and affordable. Ala Moana Center has dozens of eateries for the whole family. If you're looking for a high-end dinner, skip this neighborhood.
Kailua
This Windward side beach town has plenty of dining options, though they're more spread out than in Honolulu. I recommend taking a rental car to navigate this neighborhood. Most restaurants are along and around Kailua Road, Kuulei Road and Oneawa Street. You'll find poke, acai bowls, coffee, bentos, ice cream, shave ice and other quick eats in abundance. For a sit-down meal, Goen by Chef Roy Yamaguchi and Gaslamp are the town's high-end options. Faria is the island's only Portuguese restaurant — a genuinely unique Hawaiʻi-Portuguese experience worth planning a trip around.
Haleʻiwa
Oʻahu's North Shore surf town runs on food trucks. You can find them up and down Kamehameha Highway, Haleʻiwa's main drag, with many specializing in healthier fare made with local ingredients. There are also a few good coffee shops, local markets, acai shops and sit-down restaurants. While you're there, stop by the ʻAina Stand in front of Jack Johnson's Kokūa Learning Farm for smoothies, coffee, pastries, snacks, produce and artisan food products.
Waikīkī
Oʻahu's tourist district is packed with places to eat, and the best of them are rarely inside the big hotels. Venture out and roam around — the best options are food trucks, counters and hole-in-the-wall spots on Kūhiō Avenue and tucked along side streets. For cold treats, Kalākaua Avenue has banana ice cream from Banan, shave ice from Island Vintage Shave Ice and gelato from Gelatissimo — all located in stand-alone huts along the strip.
Best Oʻahu Dining by Cuisine
Best Hawaiian Food: Waiahole Poi Factory and Helena's Hawaiian Food
Waiahole Poi Factory on the Windward side and Helena's Hawaiian Food in Kalihi are gold standards for traditional Hawaiian cuisine on Oʻahu. Helena's has been a James Beard Award winner and a Honolulu institution for decades. Waiahole brings the same reverence for the food in a relaxed, roadside setting. At both, order the lau lau, lūʻau stew and kālua pork — always with a side of poi. No reservations necessary, just walk up and get in line.
Best Plate Lunch: Yama's Fish Market, Kahai Street Kitchen, Alicia's Market and Pioneer Saloon
These four define what a plate lunch is supposed to be: generous portions, two scoops of rice, mac salad and a protein, all at a price that won't break your budget. Yama's is a Honolulu institution with excellent poke too. Kahai Street Kitchen draws a loyal local crowd. Alicia's Market is a no-frills gem that most visitors don’t hear about. Pioneer Saloon's original Monsarrat Avenue location is also a tried-and-true staple with dishes that veer Japanese.
Best Sushi: Sushi Sho and Sushi ii
Sushi Sho is the definitive high-end sushi experience on Oʻahu — an omakase counter where the quality of fish and the precision of the chef set it apart from anything else on the island. Reservations are required and can be hard to get — start reaching out a few months in advance. For something that’s more of a neighborhood spot and less formal, Sushi ii serves French bistro cuisine along pristine slices of sashimi — a winning combination. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are worth a try.
Best Izakaya: Aburiya Ibushi
Aburiya Ibushi on Kapahulu Avenue is my favorite izakaya. This is a neighborhood yakitori spot where you can watch the chef work the grill and order casually as you go. It's the kind of place where regulars buy a round of beers for the kitchen and the kitchen comes out to clink glasses and say kanpai. Order anything here, it's all good.
Best Shave Ice: Waiola Store
For the best shave ice on Oʻahu, go to the original Waiola Store in Mōʻiliʻili. The little blue shop has been drawing lines of locals and visitors since the 1970s, and locals will tell you the texture is the fluffiest on the island.
Best Malasadas: Leonard's Malasadas and Pipeline Bakery
For the classic, no-frills malasada that visitors line up for daily, go to the original Leonard's on Kapahulu Avenue. Eat them outside while they are still hot. For a modern take, Pipeline Bakery in Kaimukī stuffs theirs with ice cream. Both are totally worth it.
Best Poke: Aliʻi Fish Market and Ocean Taste
Aliʻi Fish Market in Moʻiliʻili is my top pick. Close second is Ocean Taste in South Shore Market in Kakaʻako. Both have super fresh fish and offer innovative takes on a classic Hawaiʻi dish. Both are counter service and definitely worth a stop.
Best Oʻahu Dining by Occasion
Best Date Night Restaurants: Giovedi, Fete, Arden, Nature
All four of these are worthy of a special evening out on Oʻahu. Giovedi won Best New Restaurant and Best Restaurant at the Hale ʻĀina Awards in back-to-back years. Fete is a James Beard Award winner with a menu that has earned national attention. Arden and Nature are also award-winning restaurants serving inventive, intimate dining experiences. Reservations at all four are strongly recommended and are often required well in advance.
Best Family-Friendly Restaurants: Monkeypod Kitchen, Moku Kitchen, Boarded Up by Chubbies
These restaurants offer menus that satisfy both adults and kids without feeling like a compromise to either. Monkeypod Kitchen is a consistent crowd-pleaser with something for everyone and a killer cocktail program. Moku Kitchen in Kakaʻako offers a casual, open-air setting with pizza, salads and smash burgers. Boarded Up by Chubbies is like an artisan fast-food restaurant serving delicious burgers, fries and soft serve that you can feel good about eating.
Best Happy Hour Spots: Monkeypod Kitchen, Side Street Inn, Signature Prime Steak & Seafood
Monkeypod Kitchen runs one of the most popular happy hours on the island — discounted cocktails and small plates with live music draw early crowds. Side Street Inn is a beloved local institution famous for its late-night energy and oversized portions. The bar scene is lively and friendly, perfect after a long day. Signature Prime Steak & Seafood offers an amazing view and more elevated happy hour for those looking to ease into a nicer evening without the expense of a full dinner.
Best Breakfast Restaurants: Over Easy, Koko Head Cafe and Farmhouse Cafe
Over Easy is a Kailua staple with an expertly-executed breakfast menu that locals return to weekly. Koko Head Cafe in Kaimukī pushes the format further with farm-to-table, globally influenced brunch dishes by celebrity chef Lee Anne Wong. Farmhouse Cafe is a hidden gem with comfort food classics, relaxed atmosphere and friendly chef who loves to come out and chat.
Best Coffee: Drip Studio, Bean About Town, The Curb
Drip Studio and The Curb offer pour over specialty coffee and a wide range of inventive espresso and matcha drinks. Bean About Town roasts its own coffee and also serves espresso drinks and smoothies. All three offer pastries and other light bites. They take coffee seriously without taking themselves too seriously and have loyal neighborhood communities.
Best Cocktail Evening: The Green Lady, Pigeonhole, Bar Leather Apron
These three represent some of the best in Oʻahu's robust craft cocktail scene. The Green Lady is a speakeasy in Waikīkī specializing in absinthe and prohibition-era cocktails. Pigeonhole brings the party to Chinatown with innovative cocktails and bar snacks that satiate the midnight munchies. Bar Leather Apron has won multiple national accolades. It’s a quiet, serious bar where the drinks are the main event and the bartenders are some of the most skilled on the island.
Insider Tips
Know Before You Go
- 1Book reservations earlier than you think you need to. For high-demand restaurants like Fete and The Pig and the Lady, start looking at least a week out — more for weekend tables or large parties. Showing up without a reservation at a restaurant you've been looking forward to, only to find it booked for the night, is an easy problem to avoid. When in doubt, reserve ahead of time.
- 2Don't drive in Honolulu. Parking in Waikīkī, Kaimukī and Chinatown can be difficult. Street meters run $1 to $3 per hour, independently operated lots run $30 to $50 per day and hotel parking in Waikīkī runs $45 to $75 or more per night. Unless you're heading to Kailua or Haleʻiwa from Waikīkī, a rideshare or TheBus is the way to go.
- 3Tipping is not optional. Hawaiʻi is a tipping economy. The people serving you make most of their living from gratuity, and not tipping — or tipping poorly — is a direct hit to someone's livelihood. The standard is 20% for sit-down meals, 15% to 20% for taxis, $1 per drink at a coffee counter, $5 to $20 per person for tour or activity guides depending on tour/activity length and 20% for massage therapists, nail technicians and hair stylists.
- 4Know Hawaiʻi’s alcohol laws. You must be 21 or older to drink in Hawaiʻi. Open containers are prohibited in public and in vehicles. The legal blood alcohol concentration limit for driving is 0.08%. Retail stores generally stop selling alcohol at 11 p.m. Bars and clubs can serve until 2 a.m. Establishments with a cabaret license can serve until 4 a.m. in certain designated zones.
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Sarah Burchard
Editor · Oʻahu
Sarah Burchard has called Oʻahu home since 2017. A Honolulu-based freelance writer and editor, she covers food, culture and travel for publications including Hawaii.com, Hana Hou, FLUX Hawaiʻi, Forbes, Hawaiʻi Magazine and Honolulu Magazine. What keeps her rooted here goes beyond the balance of city life and sunny beaches — it is the people, the values and the culture of aloha that make her stay. Sarah is also a devout yogi and regularly volunteers with ʻāina-based organizations across the island. Read more of her work at sarahburchard.com.
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