Dining on Oahu
Oahu eats better than any other island in Hawaii. The state's plate-lunch counters, generational noodle shops, food trucks, and chef-driven kitchens all compete within a 40-minute drive of each other — Honolulu carries the depth, while the North Shore and Windward side carry the character.
This page is the map: poke and malasadas, farm-to-table kitchens, farmers markets, and the spots we'd actually send you to — organized so you can find your next meal fast.
Oahu Local Dining
Lau lau on Oahu
Being the home of the state capital, Oahu is often the island where you can find old-school, classic food spots that epitomize their kind. Young’s Fishmarket is just such a place. Established in 1951, this iconic restaurant has two Oahu locations: Honolulu and Kapolei. The lau lau here is nothing short of famous, but there’s plenty else to eat too.
Explore all our top recommendations for laulau on Oahu →
Mixed Plate on Oahu
One of the most popular places to get a mixed plate here is at Honolulu’s Rainbow Drive-in. Like a few other iconic spots in the state capital, this food spot is surprisingly old - “cookin’” as they say since 1961.
Plate lunch is the focus here, and the menu is proudly extensive. There’s plenty more on the menu, from breakfast, to sandwiches, to other soulful Hawaiian dishes like loco moco and saimin.
Explore all our top recommendations for Mixed Plate on Oahu →
Malasadas on Oahu
Right in the heart of Honolulu, you will find an absolutely iconic malasada experience every day of the week. Leonard’s Bakery has been stomping on the bliss point for over half a century and has played no small role in popularizing malasadas as a signature Hawaiian treat.
Also in Honolulu is the much-visited, very-talked-about bakeshop and creamery known as Pipeline. While Leonard’s may be a classic, this place is where the mad scientists of malasada innovation seem to congregate and conspire. Most famously, this is the home of the Malamode—a malasada wrapped around homemade ice cream. You’ll find all kinds of other wild and creative treats here, too.
Explore all our top recommendations for Malasadas on Oahu →
Poke on Oahu
If you’re visiting the most popular island, you’ve got plenty of great options for poke.
One very special spot is the Maguro Brothers. If you’re a Poke fan, their Instagram will make you drool - and as you’ll see, they also do regular sushi. The two brothers started their original location in Chinatown and have since expanded to a second location in Waikiki.
Hawaii Magazine readers voted this the best poke in the state.
Another great Oahu poke option is Fresh Catch. This legendary spot has been featured on TV multiple times, including being visited by Guy Fieri. Thanks to renowned head chef Reno Henriques, the poke is delicious.
Explore all of our recommendations for Poke on Oahu →
Shave Ice on Oahu
If you find yourself on Oahu’s iconic North Shore, you’d be remiss not to visit one of the state's oldest and most revered shave ice spots: Matsumoto's.
Founded in 1951, this family-owned store is just off the Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa. It offers classic flavors like cherry, grape, pina colada, and so on, as well as some surprising original flavors, like Ramune.
Explore all of our recommendations for Shave Ice on Oahu →
Loco Moco on Oahu
Loco moco is such a severe business in Hawaii that elections are regularly held to determine the reigning champion of loco moco production.
The Liliha Bakery is nearly as old as Loco Moco itself. It opened on Liliha Street in 1950 — the name stuck — and moved to its longtime North Kuakini Street home in 1961. Today it has four locations: three in Honolulu and one in Waikiki at the International Market Place.
Mouthwatering loco moco plates are only the beginning of the immense menu, ranging from poi donuts to custom cakes to all kinds of tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
Explore all of our recommendations for Loco Moco on Oahu →
Additional Oahu
Dining Information
Additional Oahu dining resources are included below.
