The best places to eat in Oahu reflect Hawaii's diverse population. Food lovers can discover everything from Portuguese donuts at Leonard's in Honolulu to fresh shrimp on the North Shore. Hawaiian food has evolved for over 800 years. The Polynesians, the first to settle the Hawaiian islands, brought their traditional cuisine.
Europeans and Americans arrived in the late 18th century, followed by Asian immigrants from Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, you can follow your curiosity and go in any direction. For Kel and I, that direction was oh-so-sweet. Following is my list of the best places to eat in Oahu. It's intended to help you start your journey of discovery.
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Where To Go in Honolulu
Leonard's Bakery
Our trip to Oahu began where all good trips begin -- in an early-morning line at a local bakery. We weren't alone. Leonard's Bakery is a Honolulu institution, having opened its doors in 1952.
Their specialty is malasadas or Portuguese doughnuts. The doughnuts contain yeast, flour, eggs, milk, butter, sugar, and salt. They are deep-fried in oil and topped with sugar. What's not to love?
To improve upon the original, Leonard's made filled malasadas, or malasada puffs, as they call them. My favorite was the dobash malasada with a chocolate filling. Additional flavors include custard, coconut, macadamia nut, and guava. 933 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu
b.patisserie @ Kona Coffee Purveyors
Every morning, Kona Coffee Purveyors in Waikiki Beach has a line out the door, and it's not just for the local island coffee. The store also stocks freshly made pastries from b.patisserie, a James Beard Award-winning bakery in San Francisco.
It just so happened Kona Coffee was across the street from our hotel; we went to this fantastic place three times during our week on the island. The chocolate banana almond croissant was my favorite—pure indulgence. And the Pain Suisse, a croissant filled with pastry cream cheese and chocolate chips, cemented why this is one of the best places to eat in Oahu. Kuhio Avenue Mall Entrance - International Marketplace, 2330 Kalakaua Ave #160, Honolulu
Helena's Hawaiian Food
Head to Helena's Hawaiian Food in downtown Honolulu for a traditional Hawaiian feast at one of Oahu's best restaurants. This humble eatery, opened in 1946 by Helen Chock, is popular with locals and tourists.
She cooked typical Hawaiian dishes there for decades, passing away in 2007 at the age of 89. Her dedication to serving others reminds me of Leah Chase in New Orleans. Both women won James Beard Awards for their work. Today's menu features classic Hawaiian fare, with most dishes under $8 each.
Our $30 lunch for two included:
- Short ribs Pipikaula-style
- Kalua pig
- Laulau (pork and fish wrapped and cooked in taro leaves)
- Poi (a staple pudding-like dish made from cooked taro root)
- White rice
- Coconut water
The short ribs may be their signature dish, but I enjoyed the Kalua pig the most. It was my first time trying laulau; I was not too fond of the taste of the taro leaves, so I avoided them in favor of the meaty filling. The poi was new to me, and it must be an acquired taste because I didn't like its sourness. Seventy-five years after it opened, The New York Times included Helena's Hawaiian Food in its list of 2021's most exciting restaurants. 1240 N School St, Honolulu
Duke's Waikiki
Duke's Waikiki by the beach serves colossal slices of Hula Pie, their signature dessert. Should you book a table at Duke's to try this pie? Yes, yes, you should. A mountain of macadamia nut ice cream is covered with hot chocolate fudge and fresh-crushed nuts. Aside from some whipped cream, nothing is light about this pie.
Served on custom plates, with women hula dancing, it is all the more worthy of a place on your Instagram feed. I recommend a table on the patio of this Oahu restaurant. From there, you can enjoy the lush foliage surrounding the pool and glimpse the Pacific Ocean. 2335 Kalakaua Ave #116, Honolulu
Mud Hen Water
What's in a name? In the case of Mud Hen Water, a literal translation of the avenue on which it was opened ("Waialae" means "water mud hen") and an endangered Hawaiian bird. In 2017, not long after Oahu native and restauranteur Ed Kenney opened Mud Hen Water, it was mentioned as one of Eater's essential restaurants in America.
You'll find a mashup of shareable plates reflecting Hawaiian cuisine's diverse influences. I can vouch for the chicken long rice croquettes on a bed of Japanese curry and beet poke with avocado, pickled limu, and smoked macadamia nuts. I tried lau lau again, this time with Molokai venison, pork, and a sour poi vinaigrette. But it's just not for me.
Dinner concluded on a positive note. We were delighted by the gluten-free chocolate-kiawe bean brownie with black sesame gelato and mac nut toffee. Kiawe is a species of mesquite tree introduced to the Hawaiian islands in 1828. 3452 Waialae Ave, Honolulu
Related: Hawaiian-French Fusion
Kulu Kulu Honolulu
Speaking of desserts, I want to mention one more sweet spot in Honolulu before we head to the North Shore. Kel and I were walking through the Royal Hawaiian Center, a modern indoor/outdoor mall in Waikiki, when I spotted Kulu Kulu, a Japanese cake shop.
It's been ten years since my all-too-brief trip to Japan; however, one thing I haven't forgotten is how creative the Japanese get with their cakes. Kulu Kulu is cute overload; we each picked a few pastries to bring back to the hotel. When I ordered the white owl with white chocolate mousse cake and orange cream filling, I thought of my friend Jodi's affinity for owls.
The bear puffs, filled with chocolate custard cream, were much to my liking, while the Japanese-style souffle cheesecake left me wanting more. When it comes to cheesecake, I prefer Basque or New York Style. Signature pastries include the strawberry roll cake and diamond puff. Royal Hawaiian Center - 2nd floor B1b, Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu
The North Shore
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck
I first became aware of the shrimp trucks on Oahu when food blogger Mark Wiens wrote about them for my adventure travel blog years ago. On the day Kel and I rented a car and drove around the island, I suggested we get lunch at Giovanni's shrimp truck, which opened in 1993 and is the oldest.
Mark had warned there would be a long line during the lunch rush. Judging by what we saw at other popular spots like Leonard's and Helena's, there is probably a long line all the time. Patience is handy when going to the best places to eat in Oahu.
Kel ordered the signature shrimp scampi (garlic shrimp), while I went basic with lemon and butter. Both were served with two scoops of white rice. I immediately began stripping the shells from the shrimp, dipping them in the butter, and devouring them. I made quick work of a dozen. The third option is a hot and spicy shrimp plate. They all cost the same, $15. Other shrimp trucks dot the North Shore, which offers the best food remains debatable. 56-505 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku and 66-472 Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa
Matsumoto Shave Ice
Following a late afternoon swim under Waimea Falls, we made our penultimate stop on the drive around Oahu at Matsumoto Shave Ice. A Hawaiian-born couple of Japanese ancestry opened Matsumoto, which has been serving shave ice since 1951.
I'd read President Obama was a fan, often enjoying it while vacationing with his family there. Of course, we had to wait in line. We'd joined a few minutes before they cut it off, and the wait was about 15 minutes.
Ordering is straightforward.
- Pick your size (small or large).
- Choose your extras (condensed milk, mochi, ice cream, and Azuki beans).
- Choose your flavors (up to three out of 36), or order one of four combos.
The flavors on the menu are color-coded, so you can consider aesthetics when ordering. Lastly, follow your shave ice as it's being made. The ice machine is neat; it grinds up the ice and shoots it out like snow. Then, the syrups are generously poured on top.
I got the tropical combo with lilikoi (passion fruit), guava, and papaya. These syrups weren't the most colorful, but I liked the flavors. I'm a huge fan of mochi ice cream, so I got mochi on the side. It was bland, and I wouldn't order it again. Like the shrimp trucks, there are plenty of shave ice shops on Oahu. Another of Obama's favorite places is Island Snow on the eastern shore. 66-111 Kamehameha Highway #605, Haleiwa
Dole Plantation
When I was 13, my family took a two-week vacation to Hawaii, including the island of Oahu. I specifically remember visiting the Dole Plantation and seeing inside the factory where big machines removed pineapple cores in preparation for canning. We sampled fresh pineapple, which would become the bar by which I'd judge all other pineapples.
Well, a lot has changed in the last 30 years. The Dole Plantation has moved beyond basic tours and developed a park to celebrate the pineapple. We were after a soft-serve Dole Whip dessert, which was worth waiting in line for. A regular cone or cup costs $6.95, and a cup with fresh fruit costs $7.95.
The dessert shop is inside the gift shop, which we had to wait in line to enter. There's a lovely patio for savoring your treat and a garden with pineapples growing.
As much as we experienced in a week, we barely scratched the surface of what Oahu has to offer. I hope this list of the best places to eat in Oahu helps you prioritize where to go on your vacation.
