15 Best Places to Eat on the Island of Oahu (Honolulu vs. North Shore - Updated)

After spending a couple days exploring the island of Oahu, we realized that a lot of local places to eat we're either super spendy or had terrible reviews. So, after a bit of research, we were able to put together a list of our own fines on where to eat - both in Honolulu and along the North Shore. From delicious smoothie bowls to fresh seafood, an even musubi, there really is something for everyone on the island of Oahu.

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Best Places to Eat in Honolulu & Waikiki

1. Duke's Waikiki
If you're in the mood for a beachy vibe, then Dukes Waikiki is the place to go. You can find sunset views on the beach, live music, and lots of tropical drinks. Even with the beach vibe, you can expect more formal dining compared to some of the other places on our list, think fish, steak, and other seafood options. Personally, we would recommend trying their coconut, shrimp or poke tacos.

​2. Gilligan's Beach Shack
Located right on Waikiki Beach, this bright yellow food truck will be hard to miss, and you'll definitely want to try their garlic & coconut shrimp (we got both and it did not disappoint). This is great for a quick on the go meal while you enjoy the beach.

​3. Fête
Next up on our list is Fête, a trendier brunch spot that focuses on serving seasonal dishes packed with local flavor. I recommend stopping here if you're looking for a sit down spot with fresher ingredients.

4. Waikiki Food Hall
Inside the Waikiki food hall you'll find a collection of small food stands, that are great on a budget. Our two personal favorites are Potama - which serves Spam, Egg & Rice rolls called "onigiri" - the best part is they have six different flavors, plus you can get them all in one box if you want to try every single one. Our second favorite is 5 Star Shrimp, they have a super tasty pineapple bowl with garlic shrimp, and I can't recommend it enough.


​5. The Pig & The Lady
This Vietnamese restaurant has a bit of everything. They focus on fresh ingredients and have a delicious pho and spring rolls. If you're looking for something that's a bit more fusion style, we recommend their "Pho French Dip."

​6. Le's Banh Mi
Le's is another Vietnamese restaurant, but we can't say no to Bahn Mi. Their to-go sandwiches are perfect for when you're out exploring and don't really wanna sit down to eat.

7. Maguro Brothers
This little hidden gem is known for their fresh poke bowls, and for being pretty reasonably priced. It's great for if you wanna take it to the beach or back to your hotel, and from what we've read, it's very popular with locals.

8. Musubi Cafe
The last spot on our list of best places to eat in Honolulu and Waikiki is actually a chain restaurant. Musubi Cafe serves just that, all kinds of musubi. Personally, our all time favorite is just the original - plain spam. But, if you're here you might as well try some other varieties also. These are great if you're on the go and not wanting a super heavy meal.

Our Favorite Tours in Oahu : 
- Oahu Shark Dive
- Paradise Cove Luau
- Circle Island Tour

Best Places to Eat on Oahu's North Shore

9. Hale'iwa Bowls
​This is one of my favorite smoothie shacks that we found while in Hawaii. It's perfect if you're looking for something a little healthier or lighter, and it's the cutest little smoothie shack located right next to the local bus stop. We got their Blue Majik Bowl, and I highly recommend it!

​10. The Sunrise Shack
The sunrise shack is another local shack right off the beach (turns out they have two locations), and they're bright yellow exterior is hard to miss. We opted for their fresh papaya bowl (no smoothie) and were not disappointed. It's another great stop if you're looking for a healthy alternative.

​11. North Shore Shrimp Truck 
Located inside a cove of food trucks right off the beach, there's actually multiple shrimp trucks here in the same area. They have picnic tables, free range chickens, and lots of fresh shrimp - we recommend getting their garlic butter option.

12. North Shore Tacos
Located in the same collection of food trucks as the North Shore Shrimp Truck, North Shore Tacos is great for anyone looking for something other than shrimp (although they also have shrimp tacos). We loved their chips and guac!

​​13. Haleiwa Beach House
The Beach House is one of the more upscale options on our list of places to eat on the North Shore, but they've still got great beach views and is a great option for anyone wanting to dine in. They have shrimp as well, but also have fish, steak, and even veggie options for guests that are looking for something other than shrimp. We recommend trying their Kalua Pork Grilled Cheese.

​14. Lei Lei's Bar & Grill
The second sit down restaurant on our list for the North Shore is Lei Lei's. Even though it's a bar and grill, it's great if you're looking for something a little heartier than food trucks. We'd recommend grabbing one of their grilled fishes.
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15. McDonalds
Ok, so this might sound like a weird recommendation, but hear me out - the McDonald's in Hawaii have their own special menu, making it a unique stop. Even though it's far from local, some of their specialty menu items includes a rice and spam platter, as well as fried apple pies and occasionally taro pies. Even though McDonald's might not be at the top of your list, it's definitely a unique stop that we recommend while you're in Hawaii.

Watch our Oahu Adventures here!

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Other Hawaii Blog Posts :
-> Oahu on a Budget (Best Things to Do)
-> 10 Best Things to Do in Maui
-> Best Places to Eat in Maui

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