Honolulu
This legendary burger spot has stood the test of time since Wilfred and May Kawamura (W & M) kicked it off in 1940 with their own secret sauce. These days…
Must-see restaurants in Oʻahu
Kailua
Get your fresh and flavorful plate-lunch fix: furikake-crusted grilled tofu, red seafood curry, kalua pork with kale, garlic ahi (yellowfin tuna) and…
Honolulu
Get to this beloved bakery well before noon or the long display cases will contain more air than bread. Get here by 2pm and all you might find will be the…
Windward Coast
A fire-engine-red hut with tables under an awning a tad north of town. Eat overlooking the aquaculture farm where your giant prawns are raised. Steamed…
Honolulu
One of several good restaurants in the McCully Shopping Center, you'll recognize Thai Lao from the statues out front. Inside, the place is bright with…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Have a large family in tow? The lively atmosphere, cheery red-checkered tablecloths and large variety of made-from-scratch Italian food such as pizza and…
Haleʻiwa
Coffee-lovers rejoice over the house-roast beans and brews here at the back of the North Shore Marketplace. Be sure to poke your nose in for some…
Waikiki
In a town full of pan-Asian restaurants, this one brings you food from the furthest corner. You want your Thai meal spicy? You won’t have to work too hard…
Sophie’s Gourmet Hawaiian Pizzeria
Oʻahu
Create the pizza of your dreams from the myriad options at this hip pizza place, whose ingredients are sourced from top local produce. Some of the more…
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
Creates pizzas with both familiar and island flavors, such as Poke Pizza with spicy ahi (yellowfin tuna) and lomilomi (chopped tomato and red onions) on a…
Honolulu
Handmade soba noodles (with soba flour imported directly from Japan), sushi and lighter-than-air tempura are superb at this long-term Japanese favorite…
Honolulu
Lots of Nepali and Indian favorites on offer in this popular upstairs place with seating both inside and outside on the balcony. Naan and breads are…
Honolulu
Vegan home cooking is the theme at this mellow kitchen, where daily dishes get handwritten on the chalkboard. Pick an avocado or cilantro hummus sandwich…
Oʻahu
The legend that is Leonard's on Kapahulu Ave in Waikiki now has a popular food-truck outpost at the Koko Marina Shopping Center. Join the lines to get…
Scoop of Paradise Ice Cream Factory
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Choose from exquisite homemade ice cream (in more than 50 flavors!), coffees, cakes and smoothies in the blue warehouse next to Paʻalaʻa Kai Bakery. After…
Kailua
Look for the red-and-white banner written in kanji outside this brightly lit noodle shop. The menu of ramen styles ranges from Sapporo south to Hakata,…
Kailua
Super-casual poke place renowned for the freshness of its seafood. Watch the chefs hard at work. The choices change daily; enjoy them to go or at one of…
Haleʻiwa
So much more than produce; here stacks of vendors sell artisan crafts, souvenirs and organic, seasonal edibles. At the time of writing the market was…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Healthy and super-delicious acai bowls, pitaya bowls and smoothies, served up just across from Sunset Beach beside the gas station. Buy your refreshing…
Honolulu
Shave ice is good but sometimes you want the indulgence of rich, creamy ice cream. This cute little shop makes everything on site. The flavor lineup…
Honolulu
Where else can you go to satisfy that crazy craving for dim sum in the afternoon or evening (though it may not be as fresh as it is in the morning)? This…
Haleʻiwa
Food-truck Mexican in Haleʻiwa that gets a big thumbs-up from locals. It's good for dinner as it stays open later than most other food trucks, has parking…
Kailua
Home-style Italian cooking is on offer here, where the owner knows most patrons by name. Don’t miss the white-chocolate and mascarpone cheesecake. The…
Windward Coast
Fast-food restaurants, shops and services cluster in this mini mall, about a half mile north of the Polynesian Cultural Center. Foodland supermarket has a…
Windward Coast
Serving from a window in one of the old sugar-mill buildings near the center of town, this place specializes in burgers such as the Paniolo (Hawaiian…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
This friendly, cozy Mexican cocina (kitchen), tucked away on an unassuming side street, serves authentic eats in generous portions amid bright and…
Windward Coast
This is the restaurant base in Hauʻula for North Shore Tacos – it also has a food truck in Pupukea. Nothing fancy, but tasty Baja-style Mexican with award…
Honolulu
Don't expect $4 doughnuts with toppings such as marzipan acai at this splendid little old-school doughnut bakery. Among the dozens of classic flavors is…
Waikiki
A fine alternative to overhyped bakeries, Nanding's has a great range of excellent baked goods and no lines. Their Spanish rolls are light, fluffy and…
Windward Coast
Tamura's is Hauʻula's main supermarket and sells something that can't be bought up the road in Mormon-influenced Laʻie: alcohol! It's also open on Sunday…
Haleʻiwa
Excellent Thai options here at the northern end of the main street range from soups, noodles and curries to fried rice. It serves good-size dishes and…
Windward Coast
At the Kualoa Ranch visitor center, this cafeteria lays out a filling midday buffet with staples such as kalua pork. Banana pancakes for breakfast and…
Windward Coast
You don't usually find buns baked from scratch at a Hawaiian barbecue joint, but here a local family does it right, dishing up smoked brisket and ribs,…
Windward Coast
Eclectic comfort food keeps the regulars happy and entices newcomers at this popular cafe, now at the Waimanalo Center. Pizza, sandwiches, acai bowls and…
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
Expect good-sized portions of Korean standards such as marinated galbi (short ribs) and beef barbecue. The barbecue chicken, pork and beef draw fans from…
Honolulu
Organic and natural foods are the draw at this always-busy grocery store. It has a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly salad bar, a deli for sandwiches, a…
Waikiki
Regulars crave the taro-banana pancakes at Bogart's, which uses fresh local produce in its full menu of breakfast and lunch items. The avocado-and-spinach…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Across from Pupukea Beach Park, you can pick up everything you need for a beach picnic from the deli or get groceries for DIY meals. This is the only…
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
Don't miss the pho (beef noodle soup) at this strip-mall storefront also serving spring rolls, rice plates, crunchy banh mi sandwiches and bubble tea…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Owned and operated by a legendary local surfer, the North Shore Shrimp Truck is becoming just as legendary. You can get shrimp in three styles – garlic…
