Where to Eat in Oahu: The Best Restaurants and Bars

April 14, 2018 Weston Hennigan

The Hawaiian island of Oahu is a surfer’s paradise, with swelling waves that can reach epic heights. No wonder, then, that it’s the site of one of the world’s premier competitions, the Triple Crown of Surfing. If hanging ten isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy the beautiful beaches – particularly famous Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. Art connoisseurs will appreciate the annual Hale'iwa Arts Festival, a celebration of local crafts, painting, jewelry, sculpture, dance, and music.
Things to do in Oahu

1. Fresh Catch

3109 Waialae Ave, Kaimuki, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96816-1509 Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible Seafood, Fast Food, Hawaiian, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner 735 -7653
Excellent
74%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 205 reviews

Fresh Catch

Reviewed By Andrew1130 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place has a great feeling when entering. There is a decent size menu and lots to look at. The staff is great! The gentleman behind the counter let me sample many kinds of poke which was very nice. My dish consisted of a handful of different poke such as shoyu, ahi, spicy ahi, and garlic. It was all amazing.

2. Waialua Bakery

66-200 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, Oahu, HI 96712-1421 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating American, Healthy, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch SGD 13 +1 808-341-2838
Excellent
74%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 255 reviews

Waialua Bakery

Reviewed By Stefan R

A must stop visit... small bakery with house made bread to create tasty sandwiches and great smoothies. I have been coming here for the past 6 years... family owned, super friendly with great service and consistency. Nothing fancy but a great surf style hangout... always great to visit!

3. Tropical Tribe

1778 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 101, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96815-1605 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Digital Payments, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards Healthy, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Brunch SGD 5 - SGD 14 +1 808-366-8226
Excellent
76%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 164 reviews

Tropical Tribe

Unique on the island of Oahu because of it's 100% Brazilian style Acai Bowl, Tropical Tribe brings you a delightfully pure Acai and Guarana base, topped with freshly cut fruits on crunchy granola.Tropical Tribe import their own high quality ingredients from Brazil to create the Authentic Acai Bowl experience.

Reviewed By benbencor - Gold Coast, Australia

Good Value for money. Every time we visit Hawaii we come here for the Acai bowls. Right next to McDonalds the place is clean. Always order the Acai Bowl with extra banana, granola and honey.

4. Kono's Restaurant

66-250 Kamehameha Hwy, Suite G110, Haleiwa, Oahu, HI 96712-1489 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible American, Hawaiian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch SGD 7 - SGD 20 +1 808-637-9211
Excellent
67%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 507 reviews

Kono's Restaurant

Kono's is a family owned restaurant on the North Shore of Oahu serving breakfast and lunch in a casual atmosphere. Kono's is a gathering place for locals, surfers, and tourists, a genuine North Shore experience. Our Kalua Pork is cooked daily for over 12 hours and is served in a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes.

Reviewed By 808James - Honolulu

Breakfast burritos before a surf session makes everything better. The food is fresh and delicious. Of course, the prices can't be beat for the quality you receive.Thank you so much for your feedback and you business! We hope to see you back soon!

5. Sweet E's Cafe

1006 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96816-1309 Takeout, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible American, Cafe, Hawaiian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch +1 808-737-7771
Excellent
68%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 250 reviews

Sweet E's Cafe

Reviewed By GillianLennox - Glasgow, United Kingdom

This place was recommended to me and what a recommendation it was!! Just up from Safeway on Kapahulu Avenue this is breakfast heaven. So much to choose from at very reasonable prices for Waikiki. I opted for the mega stuffed breakfast burrito. Will definitely return. The walk here from Hilton Hawaiian Village took about 50mins. 2 must stops on the way back are Leonard's bakery and Da Hawaiian Poke Company

6. Haleiwa Bowls

66-081 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, Oahu, HI 96712-1411 Takeout, Wheelchair Accessible, Parking Available Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Brunch +1 808-551-9507
Excellent
73%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 163 reviews

Haleiwa Bowls

Reviewed By J M - Nashville, Tennessee

These are the best Acai bowls. Get with either an organic frozen acai puree, like a sorbet, or an organic blend of acai, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas, like a thick smoothie. Both are awesome and both are topped with organic hemp granola, fresh bananas, raw coconut flakes, and drizzled with honey. You do not need to add any more fruit, but there are tons of choices for toppings. This is a food truck with a few benches. We happened to have our beach chairs in the trunk so just sat in those. Highly recommend. They also offer smoothies, cold brew Kona coffee and Kombucha.

7. The Elephant Truck

59-432 Kamehameha Hwy, Pupukea, Oahu, HI 96712-9624 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available Fast Food, Asian, Thai, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner +1 808-638-1854
Excellent
75%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 168 reviews

The Elephant Truck

Reviewed By Clifford W - Jamestown, North Dakota, United States

The Elephant Shack looked like it had just transferred from a truck and was getting used to it. Bathrooms were not up and running but public ones were close. I had shrimp and asked for no hot spices and was pleased with the heat and flavor of my choice.

8. Dat Cajun Guy

66-197 Kamehameha Hwy, Ste C, Haleiwa, Oahu, HI 96712 Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Free Off-Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Digital Payments, Accepts Credit Cards Cajun & Creole, Seafood Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch SGD 3 - SGD 25 +1 808-861-5567
Excellent
74%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 208 reviews

Dat Cajun Guy

Reviewed By brothertapdc - New York City, New York

Best food truck in Oahu on Hawaii! Drove all the way from Honolulu to eat here! Had the BBQ Shrimp and Jambalaya with the sweet tea. The staff were AMAZING and provided great recommendations. The food was perfectly cooked and authentically cajun. You MUST eat here!

9. Ono Seafood

747 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96816-1158 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available Seafood, Fast Food, Hawaiian, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner +1 808-732-4806
Excellent
69%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 674 reviews

Ono Seafood

Reviewed By nmercer75 - Buffalo, New York

Ahi poke bowl with brown rice was truly delicious. The lines out the door prove this is the place to eat! In an area that does not look very safe, but everything is fine. Plenty of locals and tourists around. Very limited parking and no seating inside. There are only 2 picnic tables outside so many people take their food to go. Everything is reasonably priced. We were able to sit at one of the picnic tables and enjoy our lunch. It was outrageously fresh and delicious! HIGHLY recommend.

10. La Mer - L'Aperitif

2199 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96815-1936 Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Validated Parking, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover French, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options, Vegan Options Dinner SGD 52 - SGD 328 +1 808-923-2311
Excellent
76%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 548 reviews

La Mer - L'Aperitif

Award-winning restaurant featuring exquisite Neoclassic French cuisine, oceanfront views. Hawaii’s longest-running AAA Five Diamond restaurant, since 1990, and the only restaurant in Hawaii to be awarded a Five-Star designation by Forbes Travel Guide. Recognized as the finest restaurant in Honolulu, La Mer captures the elegance and romance of Halekulani. Its internationally acclaimed menu features local, tropical ingredients in dishes inspired by flavors from France. Elegant evening attire for women. Dinner jackets or dress shirts, dress slacks and shoes for gentlemen. Reservations recommended. Open daily from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. As an elegant fine dining restaurant, La Mer restricts patrons to adults and children 8 years or older.

Reviewed By planetraincar - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

You would never expect to find L'Aperitif in Honolulu, let alone Hawaii. It is, without a doubt, the most elegant establishment in the touristy Waikiki strip.

Unfortunately, my colleagues and I weren't aware of the dress code. Our local Honolulu-based colleague didn't tell us. The general manager made an exception and allowed us to sit in the bar area.

The atmosphere is elegant, though I confess that requiring jackets seems a bit much for Waikiki. I have no problem requiring gentlemen to wear collared shirts, trousers and shoes, but not many tourists bring a blazer or sport jacket with them to Hawaii.

Still, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. The service was excellent.

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