Best Food in Oahu! (The Ultimate Travel Guide)

This is my ultimate guide to everything I ate, drank, and did on Oahu. We stayed in the Honolulu area, but during this trip, we explored all around the island.

I'll first organize the food recommendations by area so it's easier to plan where to eat depending on where you're staying or exploring. Then, I'll go into the different activities you can do around Oahu and highlight each region of the island so you have a better idea of distances and what makes sense to do together.

Whether you're staying in Honolulu or planning to explore the North Shore, Windward Coast, Central Oahu, or other parts of the island, this guide will hopefully help you plan your trip and make the most of your time on Oahu.

Where to Stay in Honolulu

Surfjack Hotel

Every time I visit Honolulu, I always stay at this hotel called Surfjack Hotel. The parking used to be free, but now if you want to park, you have to pay nightly.

What I will say is that they do offer relatively competitive pricing for their parking. It's $40 per day, which isn't cheap, but like I said, parking can be relatively expensive when it comes to hotels in Honolulu.

The hotel itself is pretty decent and has kid friendly hours and plenty of amenities. They have a water machine with filtered water, plenty of ice, and a swimming pool that you can use on site.

It's also conveniently located near a bunch of attractions in the Waikiki area, making it a very walkable location and a great place to stay if you're visiting Honolulu for the first time.

For those reasons, I do recommend staying here. You can book here!

Renting a Car in Oahu

If you're planning to visit Oahu, I definitely recommend considering renting a car, especially if you want to explore different parts of the island.

For this trip, I rented a minivan because I was traveling with a baby and a group of friends. I also rented a car during my previous trip to Oahu, and I found it incredibly helpful for getting around and exploring beyond Honolulu.

One thing that surprised me is that parking around the island can be relatively affordable. For example, I parked at Ala Moana Beach for only $1 per hour, and many businesses and restaurants will also validate parking.

If you're planning to spend most of your trip in Waikiki, you may not need a car every day. But if you want to explore different areas of Oahu, I personally think having a rental car makes the trip much easier.

This is a map of everything we did!

Where to Eat

Morning Catch

Morning Catch is a spot I didn't get to try when I visited Oahu in 2023, but I'm so glad I visited this time because I think it might be my new favorite poke spot on the island.

One thing that sets them apart is the variety of fish they offer. Most poke I've tried around Oahu has primarily focused on ahi tuna, but Morning Catch offers ahi, hamachi, salmon, and more. Their whole concept centers around using sashimi grade fish, and you can also add premium toppings like ikura and uni.

I ordered their trio bowl and honestly just pre ordered and asked them to make what they thought was the perfect poke bowl. They definitely delivered. My bowl included their spicy salmon and limu style hamachi, and everything was incredibly fresh and delicious. I especially loved adding the ikura and uni.

I will say that these smaller bowls can run around $40, which is definitely on the expensive side. I think it's barely enough to share if you're treating it as a snack, but realistically, each person could easily eat their own bowl.

There can also be a long line, and they're located at Oahu Market. I recommend DMing or texting them in advance to place a preorder using the information on their Instagram.

Overall, if you're willing to spend a little more for high quality fish and unique poke combinations, Morning Catch is absolutely worth checking out.

Tamafuji

One of my biggest regrets from my first trip to Honolulu was not being able to eat at TamaFuji. At the time, they were in a really small space, and when I tried walking in, the wait was around 4 hours. They've since remodeled and expanded, but the wait can still be incredibly long.

The good news is that you can get a reservation. I highly recommend following TamaFuji on Instagram because they post their reservation release dates, times, and time zones there. That's exactly how I was able to get my reservation. I set an alarm for 5 a.m. and booked as soon as reservations opened.

As long as you're prepared when reservations are released, it should be relatively manageable to get a table for 2 or a small group. I went with a larger group, so we had to stagger our reservations between 7 and 7:30 because the 7 p.m. slots were already fully booked.

The must orders for me are the oyster katsu, menchi katsu, which is an off menu item, and the tenderloin katsu. I know a lot of people recommend the classic options, but I ordered pretty much everything here, and these were the dishes I enjoyed the most.

If you're visiting with a group, I recommend ordering a variety of different items to share. You can also order their combination plates if you want to try multiple types of katsu.

Overall, this was a really delicious meal. The breading was crispy and the katsu was cooked very well. I will say that a couple pieces of the plain katsu were slightly too greasy and not quite as crispy as I would have liked, but overall, the meal was excellent.

I also loved all the sauces they provide on the side, the salad dressing, and all the different components that come together to make the meal feel special. You can choose between different types of miso soup and rice, but I personally recommend getting the plain white miso soup with white rice.

If you're visiting Honolulu and love tonkatsu, TamaFuji is absolutely worth planning ahead for.

Totoya

Totoya is known for their kaisen don, and I think the biggest draw here is that it's very similar to the style of seafood bowls that TsujiHan does in Japan.

They are very popular and always seem to have a line. I believe they only have around 12 seats, so even if you come during an off time on a weekday, you may still have a small wait. They also close in between lunch and dinner service, so definitely keep that in mind before visiting.

The best thing here, in my opinion, is the Tokujo. It's a bowl of negi toro topped with uni, ikura, and other seafood over rice. It also comes with your choice of soup.

If you like ikura, I definitely recommend paying the extra $9.99 to add more. They also charge an additional $1.50 for the soy sauce egg yolk. Personally, I feel like that should already be included, but I will say that it really does make the dish, so I recommend adding it.

I did have a couple of issues with the bowl. The uni wasn't quite the same quality as the uni I had in Japan, and I thought the rice was a little cold and clumpy when I visited. Personally, I would have preferred fresher, warmer rice with a fluffier texture.

That being said, the components are all there and the flavors really work together. Overall, I think this is one of the more delicious kaisen don bowls you can get.

My biggest hesitation is the price. The bowl itself was around $39, and that's before adding the extra ikura and egg yolk. For what is still a relatively small bowl, I personally thought it was a little expensive.

Still, if you're looking for a TsujiHan style kaisen don in Honolulu, Totoya is definitely a spot I would consider trying

Yakitori Ando

Yakitori Ando is arguably one of the hardest reservations to get on the island. You have to call them directly to make a reservation, usually around 5 to 6 months in advance.

The annoying part is that they don't always answer the phone during their actual business hours because they're busy cooking and serving guests. My recommendation is to start calling around 30 minutes before they open. I originally called about 20 minutes before opening and was able to get through.

However, when I needed to modify my reservation, I called another 5 or 6 times over multiple days before I was finally able to get someone on the phone. So just be prepared for that.

The meal is $90 per person and includes multiple courses and side dishes. You'll get a variety of classic yakitori pieces, but they also serve things you might not normally expect from a yakitori omakase, including prawns, bacon wrapped mochi, and other items.

Honestly, the most underwhelming part of the meal for me was the chicken thigh, which I thought was pretty dry. My personal favorites were the tsukune, which is their chicken meatball, the prawn, and the bacon wrapped mochi.

I will say that, overall, I didn't think the yakitori was as delicious as some of the yakitori I've had in Kyoto. However, there is one thing you absolutely need to order here if you're able to.

Their motsunabe is technically an off menu item, although it's something you can request even without seeing it listed anywhere. It's made with beef intestine, and in my opinion, it was arguably the best thing I ate here.

One thing that really surprised me was how long the entire meal took. From start to finish, we were there for around 3 hours, and there were times when it wasn't entirely clear when the next course would come out.

They are also BYOB, and I think the experience is really designed for you to relax, eat, drink, and hang out with your friends for several hours. That can be a little more difficult if you're traveling with a child.

For me, there was thankfully an air conditioned area nearby with a bathroom, and I ended up taking my child there whenever he got fussy during the meal.

Overall, I think Yakitori Ando is a nice experience to have on your itinerary if you can get a reservation, but personally, I wouldn't consider it a must do in Honolulu.

Waiola Shave Ice

Waiola Shave Ice is a very famous shave ice spot located in Honolulu. They are a very small shop and focus on authentic Hawaiian shave ice that is incredibly soft.

Personally, I thought the shave ice combinations here were really good. The order I got was the Works, which came with ice cream, mochi balls, lychee jelly, and condensed milk. For the flavors, I went with mango, POG, and lychee.

I thought the snow was perfectly soft, the flavors were really vibrant, and overall, this was one of the best shave ice I've ever had. At the time, the Works retailed for $8.75.

The Cutlery Steak House

The Cutlery came recommended from one of my friends who is a content creator named Tommy. The things that you want to get here are their prime rib, duck fat fries, buttery corn, and oxtail ragout.

Specifically, I recommend getting the Nakamura cut prime rib. The duck fat fries here were delicious, and we really loved the oxtail ragout as well.

Keep in mind that the dishes here are very large and shareable, so make sure to come with a group and expect to come hungry.

You can make a reservation here

Rys Poke

Rys Poké has expanded from the original food truck I visited, and I recently got to check out their brick and mortar location. I can tell you that the poke here is still just as good as I remembered it.

The whole idea is that they cut their poke to order, which gives the fish a really fresh taste and texture. Personally, I recommend trying their Lao Style.

I would say the Honolulu location is just as good as the original food truck, and if you're looking for delicious tuna poke, then Rys Poké is definitely worth checking out.

Asatos Flavor Lab

Asatos Flavor Lab is a James Beard nominated spot. The whole concept is that it's a flavor lab, and they offer these reservation only experiences that can be pretty difficult to get. They only have four seats, and surprisingly, they're located inside a clothing store, which definitely caught me off guard.

The experience is $58 per person, and you get an assortment of different Li Hing style candies, a Haribo jelly gummy, a kakigori, as well as your own custom soda. This is reservation only, and they usually have two time slots a day, so make sure to check OpenTable for more details.

The kakigori was delicious and probably one of the best I've ever had. I also really loved the Haribo jelly. The assortment of Li Hing gummies could be a lot for some people, and I personally don't drink a lot of soda, so I wasn't a huge fan of that part.

At $58 per person, it is definitely on the steeper side, but I think the experience itself was really fun and personally worth it.

Sadies BBQ Inn

Arguably one of the best spots I had on Oahu was actually this place called Sadie's Barbecue Inn. This was another Tommy Eats recommendation, and I'm so happy I went here.

I actually drove out to Pearl City, which is their original location, because I heard that it was better, and I recommend you do the same.

What I recommend getting here is the King Galbi, which is this really thick cut of galbi. I also really enjoyed their Korean fried chicken, their miyeok, and honestly, pretty much everything here was really, really good.

I will say that their pajeon was a bit on the thicker side, but this meal hit so hard. I highly recommend trying it out because I thought everything here was really, really delicious and easily one of the best Korean spots I've ever tried in Hawaii.

Big Wave Shrimp Truck

If you're visiting the North Shore, then you have to stop by Big Wave Shrimp Truck. I've tried garlic shrimp at a bunch of different places around the island, including Giovanni's, and honestly, I wasn't a huge fan.

But Big Wave Shrimp Truck was actually really, really good. The shrimp were incredibly garlicky, the skins were perfectly fried and crispy, and the rice was also really well cooked.

Personally, I recommend just ordering the plain garlic shrimp. I also tried the spicy one, but I thought it was a bit too salty for my personal taste.

Definitely give this place a try if you're in the North Shore area.

Liliha Bakery

Loco Moco

@lilihabakery Go to the OG location and try their Loco Moco and coco puffs. The loco moco here was delicious! The meat was tender and the gravy was savory. I recommend trying their buttery rolls with Jam too. We got the coco puff togo and they were delish.

Pig and the Lady

Pig and the Lady is arguably one of the most popular spots in Honolulu when it comes to nicer restaurants. The thing that you have to try here is surprisingly their pho. I thought their pho was really solid.

I will say that the later time I visited Honolulu, I noticed that the pho wasn't as good as I remembered it being. Instead, I ordered their bánh mì, and the bánh mì was really delicious. We also tried their take on lomo saltado, which was really good. The banh mi is only at lunch time by the way.

Reservations can be a bit difficult to get, and you can make them through OpenTable. I will say that this is definitely on the pricier end when it comes to Vietnamese food, but I still think it's worth checking out if you're looking for a nicer Vietnamese meal in Honolulu.

Leonards Bakery

@leonardsbakeryhawaii for Masaladas. I recommend the Vanilla, macadamia nut or chocolate one. The line wasn't too long and they had multiple locations. I wouldn't say best malasadas I've ever had but it's worth a stop if you're nearby.

Helenas

@helenashawaiianfoood for traditional Hawaiian eats like poi and lau lau. Their signature dishes are Pipikaula Style short ribs and Lomi salmon. I recommend their Lau Lau too! It closes early so go here for lunch or early dinner.

Island Vintage Shave Ice

I spoke to locals from Oahu and although located in a touristy area, @islandvintageshaveice makes phenomenal shave Ice! We got the heavenly lilikoi with extra mochi and it's ranked one of the best things I've ever eaten. The syrups are all made from real fruit and not too sweet, the sweet frozen yoghurt is divine and we love their soft mochi, We went twice during our short stay. The line moves really fast.

Yummy Huli Huli Chicken

If you visit the west side of Oahu, there's a plethora of Huli Huli Stalls at the side of the road. We stopped by Yummy huli huli near Kualoa ranch and it was delicious! Seriously the roasted rotisserie chicken was to die for and we got a fresh pineapple juice. I highly recommend going to this spot.

Waiahole Poi Factory

An easy stop on your way from Kualoa Ranch to Waikiki, @waiaholepoifactory is a must! I recommend the sweet lady icecream with a poi cake.

Musubi Cafe IYASUME

If you're a fan of musubi, this is definitely one of the most popular spots for musubi in Honolulu. They have an assortment of different options, and they actually do sell out relatively quickly.

If you go in the morning, there are usually tons of options to choose from, and they also have multiple locations around Honolulu. So if you check their locations, you'll probably be able to find one near you.

Personally, I really liked the combination that comes with avocado and shrimp tempura on top of the Spam musubi, but I also really enjoyed the one that came with plum.

Non Food Activities in Oahu

This is for non food activities around the Island I recommend!

Oahu Marketplace

Oahu Marketplace is another must visit when you visit Oahu. It's a really neat area in the Chinatown part of Oahu, and it's home to Morning Catch as well as some of the best fruit smoothies I've had.

Just make sure to bring cash because a lot of the vendors here only accept cash. It's also a really neat place to walk around, and they have a farmers market and other things to check out.

Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon

If you're traveling with a baby, I also recommend checking out the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. It's kid friendly, located at the Hilton, and completely free.

There are some fish in the lagoon, but keep in mind that this is natural water. It's essentially a man made lagoon that is very shallow, which makes it perfect for small children.

Manoa Falls Trail

A very easy hike to check out is the Manoa Falls Trail. You do have to pay for parking, which was around $7 when I visited.

The trail was a bit muddy, but it wasn't an unbearable hike. It's about a 60 minute drive from Waikiki, and even though it was super hot on the day we went, the trail itself was really nice, shaded, and much cooler.

It takes about 1 to 2 hours round trip and is pretty easy overall, although there is some uphill hiking. Make sure to wear proper shoes because it can get slippery from the mud.

Kaka'ako Farmers Market

Another cool stop that is more food focused is the Kaka'ako Farmers Market, which takes place on Saturdays from 8 AM to 12 PM.

There are lots of food vendors selling different types of food, but it is definitely on the expensive side and can be pretty difficult in the heat. Expect to spend a decent amount of money here.

Personally, I really liked the ham rolls from Sato Seafood and the Sugah Pappi Farms fruit bowl, which came with pretty much every fruit you can think of.

The most popular item here is probably the smash burger, but keep in mind that there can be a very, very long line for it.

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail

Tide Pools

The next thing I want to talk about is the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail. This is a relatively difficult uphill hike that takes about 1 to 2 hours.

There is also a secret hike that takes you down to tide pools, but I want to emphasize that this part is relatively dangerous. It is unmarked, very downhill, and there is some climbing involved.

You need proper shoes and proper clothing, and definitely bring plenty of water because it can get extremely hot and you can easily become dehydrated.

The tide pool views below are absolutely beautiful, but keep in mind that while the lighthouse portion is a paved trail, getting down to the tide pools can take about an hour alone.

If you're traveling with a baby, I think it's still a good hike to do if you just want to stick to the lighthouse portion.

Pali Lookout

Another neat stop is the Pali Lookout, which is really just a quick stop. You can drive up, get out, and look out at this huge valley. The views are really beautiful.

Keep in mind that this part of Oahu is more central and tends to be very rainy, so definitely be prepared for rain.

Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

Next is the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden. This is a completely free activity and it's essentially a drive through botanical garden, which makes it a great option if the weather isn't ideal.

It's completely free to enter, and you technically can make multiple stops along the way to explore different areas of the garden. We personally just drove through, but there are lots of things to see if you want to spend more time here.

Even if you just want to do a quick drive through, I still think it's worth a visit.

Hiking up Diamond Head State Park!

We made a reservation online for 5 per person and paid for parking too for 10 dollars. It's a 1-2 hr hike round trip hike near Honolulu. It's moderately hard hike but totally doable with plenty of water. It's mainly uphill and you get neat views at the top! There are some dark tunnels if you're not a fan of that. Wear sunscreen too. Here is where you can reserve.

Visit Waimea Falls

Costs 25 for an adult. It's a beautiful garden hike to a swimmable waterfall located in North Shore. The waterfall isn't swimmable depending on rain or dry seasons. It's pretty hot and humid so dress cool and expect at least 1-2 hours here. You can buy tickets here, with a student discount if you bring an ID.

Sharks Cove Snorkeling

Great shallow calm waters that are great for snorkeling! Apparently in Winter time it's dangerous though. The water isn't too deep so it's a good spot for kids. There's lots of fish but not too many coral unfortunately. We parked at the Foodland across the street. Wear your reef safe sunscreen! (NORTH SHORE)

Seeing wild Honu at Laniakea Beach

Great spot for snorkeling but expect more turbulent water and less fish. Lots of Sea turtles. Remember that it's against the law to touch the turtles and they recommend 6-10 ft from the turtles. There's free street parking.

Trying Dole Whip at Dole Plantation Farm

Quick easy stop on your way back to Waikiki. There's a food truck outside if you don't want to wait inside. I wanted the famous dole whip in a pineapple but it was enough for 5 people. Instead we got the Soft serve!

Visit Hanuama Bay

Hanauma Bay is arguably one of the most beautiful beach formations i've ever seen. They are a state park and the recent decline of the wildlife and reef in the Bay has led to more regulations. They are only open Wednesday- Sunday and have a reservation system to get in. Timed entry and you can only book certain days in advance. I'll link the website here. We personally just did a snorkel adventure tour to drive us there and pick up from our hotel. I recommend going for the earliest drop off time. Although they limit visitors, it gets crowded fast and honestly the wildlife starts to thin out as it gets crowded. Here is the website on reserving a visit to Hanauma. It's a mandatory video you have to watch to enter. Here is the snorkel Tour we did, It was a convenient and I hear finding parking at the bay and buying tickets are a nightmare so I'm happy we booked a tour, you have to bring cash to pay for the actual ticket to enter- 25 per person! There is food concessions on site and a small shuttle that takes you from the top to the Bay. The snorkel tour was 5-6 hours long so I recommend bringing some snacks!

Visit Lulumahu Falls!

Probably one of the most confusing yet fun hikes i've ever done. This hike is private property and a 1-2 hr hike. Follow the pink tape. You need a pass online for 2.5 dollars per person, you can purchase here, Our hotel printed it out for us, one for your car and one for you to carry. I recommend taking a left out of the bamboo forest then a right at the fork in the road. It's a really muddy trail but there's a beautiful waterfall waiting for you at the end that you can stand under! It's very easy to get lost. Don't leave any valuables in the car here. Bring bug spray, dress on loose comfy clothes as it's hot and humid. Bring lots of water.

Lanikai Beach

One of the most beautiful beaches, near Lulumahu Falls. There is free neighborhood parking for the beach. Nearby in the lanikai pill box hike but it was too late for us to go and parking was a pain to get there. This is hands down the most beautiful beach i've ever seen.

Go on a tour at Kualoa Ranch

This is a must for all visitors of Oahu, @kualoaranch ! We did the jurassic Adventure tour for about 125 per person. Here is their website. Beautiful ranch where many movies were filmed including King Kong, Jurassic Park, and more! You can also book the movie tour which is much cheaper. There's also Bike tours and ATV tours but I loved our tour guide Sunshine! I would bring some water with you on this tour as it's 1-2 hours.

Visit Valley of the 3 Temples

It costs 5 dollars to enter. I would visit the ByodoIn temple! it’s beautiful and looks serene. You can pay extra to feed the koi. There was even a black swan on site.

Buy souvenirs at Costco for cheap.

Not exaggerating but Costco has the best prices for souvenirs. You can get a box of 12 full sized boxes of hawaiian chocolate for only 30 bucks when it's usually 15 a box. There's also hawaiian shirts

Final notes? Be respectful and kind. Remember that lots of tour guides make money from tip so make sure to tip well! Don't litter please!