Hit the Road, Snack
For the Best Restaurants in Honolulu, Drive Along the Water
Oahu's coast is ideal for day-long road trips. Be sure to pull over for a quick swim or a hot malasada.
Photo by Prayitno/Flickr Commons
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17 Comments
Tracy
May 26, 2019
12th Ave Grill in Kaimuki is sooooo good! Definitely missing from this list! Also Opal Thai which used to be in Haleiwa and is now in the Chinatown area.
OldGrayMare
May 26, 2019
Grew up in Honolulu...OK, it was 100 years ago and I haven't been back since 2004, but still.....you forgot a couple of special “must do eats...(1) the Loco Moco at Rainbow Drive-In; everything except the tapioca pudding at Dot’s in Wahiawa; the Chocolate-Haupia pie from Tom’s (any Foodland); the fried Haupia at The Willows; and any saimin at Shiro’s in Aiea. Aloha!!
Auntie D.
May 26, 2019
@OldGrayMare, well, Rainbow's is most ono, Dot's is still there, it's Ted's Bakery now found close to Sunset Beach, The Willows closed down for good, and Shiro's is the best bowl of Saimin, not to be confused with Ramen, EVER!!!
Rebecca K.
May 18, 2019
Flour & Barley in Honolulu has the best gluten free French bread pizza I have ever eaten. Outstanding.
Janice G.
May 17, 2019
I love the atmosphere of Duke's on Waikiki! It's absolutely beautiful when the tiki torches ate lit at night. Food's not bad either.
Kirk H.
May 17, 2019
Between Byodo-In Temple and Kualoa Ranch don't miss the Walahole Poi Factory for some REAL local grindz!
Auntie D.
May 17, 2019
Aloha my Braddahs and Sistahs!
When on Oahu, eat like a local! Stop into any Foodland Supermarket (there are several throughout the Island, along with Foodland Farms) for a Poke Bowl at their Fish Counter. Personally, we get a 1/4 pound of several different types of Poke (not all are raw you know), ask for a side bowl of Rice and take our local-style picnic to the beach.
Now THAT'S ono!
When on Oahu, eat like a local! Stop into any Foodland Supermarket (there are several throughout the Island, along with Foodland Farms) for a Poke Bowl at their Fish Counter. Personally, we get a 1/4 pound of several different types of Poke (not all are raw you know), ask for a side bowl of Rice and take our local-style picnic to the beach.
Now THAT'S ono!
Grace S.
May 16, 2019
You left out SALT at Our Kaka’ako, the newest area with great dining options: locally owned & operated restaurants like FISH Honolulu, Moku Kitchen, Highway Inn, Vein, and Boiling Crab. There’s a number of lunch counters like Hank’s Haute Dog, The Butcher and Bird, Pioneer and local favorite coffee shop Morning Brew. There are unique specialty retail shops too. Bonus - there’s parking!
JasonP
May 16, 2019
As a frequent visitor to the North Shore, I have to praise two places I recently visited:
1. Banyan's Island Grill - phenomenal quality from a food truck! Serving fresh, local fish and fresh, local produce in Waialua - right next to the old sugar mill (in the parking lot of Eric Arakawa Designs). Honestly, it was some of the best grilled fish I have EVER had - fresh and simply seasoned well, not covered up by heavy flavors.
2. Surf and Salsa, Haleiwa. In one of the cool, kitschy pockets of food trucks on the south edge of Haleiwa. Living in Southern California, I know and love great fresh Mexican foods and this little food truck makes killer carnitas! Again, not overloaded with huge flavor garnishes that mask the meat - they let the slow-cooked goodness of that delicious pork seep through!
And, you mentioned malasadas in the lead-in, yet you failed to mention Leonard's - not only the brick and mortar store on Kapahulu Ave, but Malasadamobiles in Hawaii Kai, Pearlridge, and Waipahu. These are absolutely heavenly!!
1. Banyan's Island Grill - phenomenal quality from a food truck! Serving fresh, local fish and fresh, local produce in Waialua - right next to the old sugar mill (in the parking lot of Eric Arakawa Designs). Honestly, it was some of the best grilled fish I have EVER had - fresh and simply seasoned well, not covered up by heavy flavors.
2. Surf and Salsa, Haleiwa. In one of the cool, kitschy pockets of food trucks on the south edge of Haleiwa. Living in Southern California, I know and love great fresh Mexican foods and this little food truck makes killer carnitas! Again, not overloaded with huge flavor garnishes that mask the meat - they let the slow-cooked goodness of that delicious pork seep through!
And, you mentioned malasadas in the lead-in, yet you failed to mention Leonard's - not only the brick and mortar store on Kapahulu Ave, but Malasadamobiles in Hawaii Kai, Pearlridge, and Waipahu. These are absolutely heavenly!!
JasonP
May 16, 2019
Okay, just re-read the article and saw Leonard's was mentioned - my mistake!
But they are extraordinary!!
But they are extraordinary!!
David
May 16, 2019
Always the same places in the reviews. Don’t even need to visit anymore to be able to write reviews like this
JasonP
May 16, 2019
Helena's in Kapahulu is a must-try for everyone on Oahu! James Beard Award winner, traditional Hawaiian cuisine.
If you like fresh fish, Uncle's or Nico's at Pier 38.
If you like fresh fish, Uncle's or Nico's at Pier 38.
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