Happy Wednesday, friends! This post has been a long-time coming, and I sincerely apologize for the delay! Today I am rounding up all of the best places that we ate during our time in Oahu. I want to note that we stayed on Waikiki beach, so most of these places are within walking distance of the main strip. Additionally, this is not a sponsored post, and all opinions are my own. These are not listed in any particular order. Be sure to save this post for your next trip to Hawaii!
First up we have Restaurant 604, conveniently located right next to the Pearl Harbor National Museum. We stopped there before heading over to the museum, not expecting much. However, we were pleasantly surprised with their offerings, and what we ordered was so delicious! We split an order of the Salmon Bombs, Coconut Shrimp, and fish tacos. They were all so fresh and hit the spot!
Musubi Cafe (Waikiki Beach Walk Location)
I was dying to try some authentic Spam Musubi while in Hawaii, and this little spot was located just a few minutes from our hotel. We weren’t very hungry our first night in Oahu (we had a big lunch at Restaurant 604), so we decided to stop here for dinner. We were not disappointed, and in fact, visited them two more times before leaving the island! They have such a selection, and it was all delicious (plus affordable)! These are great for a beach snack or late night snack!
Another great spot to grab lunch or dinner and take to the beach! We stopped here one afternoon for lunch to bring back to the beach with us, and I can confidently say that this was the freshest poke bowl I have ever consumed. It was so delicious! They offer a lot of other “grab and go” items that are in to-go boxes as well, if poke isn’t your style!
One night, Alex and I decided to just get some “takeout” and enjoy dinner on the beach to watch the sunset. I can NEVER say no to a lobster roll, and this one was great from Royal Lobster! They don’t skimp on the lobster, and the chips were delicious. Royal Lobster is more of a takeout restaurant, so it’s great to grab and take to the beach!
Leonard’s is a MUST when visiting Oahu! Plan to go early if you can, the parking lot is small and I can guarantee that there will be a line! Their malasadas are the freshest that we had on the island, and the fillings are divine. We tried four flavors: Haupia (coconut cream), Dobash (chocolate), Macadamia Nut and Guava. My favorite was the Haupia, but they were all delicious!
Roy’s was recommended to us by my brother, and we decided to go as our anniversary dinner (we celebrated a few weeks early). The experience was incredible! The Original Roy’s is about 15 minutes from Waikiki, but he does have a location right on the strip, as well as one on Turtle Bay. We enjoyed a sunset view and the most delicious sushi I have ever tasted! Their Signature Hawaiian martini packs a (delicious) punch, and the service was incredible. If you are looking for an upscale restaurant while on the island, I couldn’t recommend Roy’s more!
Okay, I know that L&L is a chain (there’s a few in California), but if you’re looking for a classic Hawaiian food that’s nothing fancy, this is the spot! We split a plate of their barbecue chicken and beef with some macaroni salad, and it hit the spot! Another great option to pick up for lunch and take to the beach!
We waited about 30 minutes in line (and the line continued to grow as we were waiting), and it was well worth it! These mahi mahi tacos were absolutely out of this world! The fish is so fresh, and the portion sizes are huge. You can choose from a fish plate or tacos, and then select how you want the fish prepared. They make a mean piña colada as well!
Now, I am NOT a shave ice person, but Alex is, so we stopped here for a sweet treat on our last night in Hawaii. Dare I say this was…life changing?! I wanted to go back for seconds! The owners are SO SWEET, it is truly a “mom and pop” shop. They have tons of flavors, including a variety of organic flavors as well. I highly recommend checking them out and supporting local business!
Duke’s is an Oahu staple; known for the “best Mai Tai” on the island. We were fortunate enough that Duke’s was located in our hotel (Outrigger Waikiki Beach), so we would end our evenings with a little night cap. We got the breakfast buffet at Duke’s on our last morning, and it was good, but nothing special. Their drinks are phenomenal, so if you’re looking for somewhere to end the night with the sound of the ocean waves and a good drink, this is it!
I saved the best for last! When I die and go to heaven someday (God willing), I imagine there is an Island Vintage coffee. Okay, that might sound dramatic, but this was hands down the best coffee and best açai bowl I have ever had! If you follow along on Instagram stories, then you know I have been trying to recreate these at home! We ended up stopping here three times because it was just so good, so fresh and hit the spot. We ordered the Island Latte and Haupia Moana açai bowl each time! One tip that I have is ordering ahead; we arrived early on the first day (around 8 am) and the line was already wrapped around the building! The lines are long, but it is so worth it. You can place an order ahead of time to skip the line if you know what you want!
Well, now this post has looking up flights to Hawaii..I miss it so much! Stay tuned for a full recap of our trip, including our itinerary and where we stayed!