Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
Best Local Food on Oahu
Oahu, the bustling heart of Hawaii, is home to a rich and diverse culinary landscape that reflects the island’s unique blend of cultures. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant streets of Honolulu or venturing to the North Shore, you’ll find everything from renowned local eateries to hidden food trucks serving up iconic Hawaiian dishes.
Oahu's food scene offers something for every palate, from fresh poke bowls and malasadas to farm-to-table dining and bustling farmers’ markets. Let us guide you to the best dining spots across the island, ensuring that your Oahu adventure is as delicious as it is memorable.
Lau lau on Oahu
Being the home of the state capital, Oahu is often the island to find old-school, classic food spots that really epitomize their kind. Young’s Fishmarket is just such a place. Established in 1951, this iconic restaurant now has two Oahu locations: Honolulu and Kapolei. The lau lau here is nothing short of famous, but there’s plenty else to eat too.
The Honolulu location is at 1286 Kalani Street and is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 7 pm, and Saturday 8 am to 4 pm. The Kapolei location is open 7 days a week, 10 am to 9 pm, except for Sunday which is 10 am to 6 pm, at 4480 Kapolei Parkway #600.
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 clearly the focus here, and the menu is proudly extensive. You could, just by attending this one restaurant, traverse the gap from plate lunch novice to seasoned aficionado. There’s plenty more on the menu as well, from breakfast, to sandwiches, to other soulful Hawaiian dishes like loco moco and saimin.
The Rainbow Drive-in has 5 locations in and around the Honolulu area. For hours, locations, and even online ordering, simply check their website here.
Malasadas on Oahu
Right in the heart of Honolulu, at 933 Kapahulu Ave; from 5:30 in the morning until 7 at night, every single day of week; you will find an absolutely iconic malasada experience. Leonard’s Bakery has been stomping on the bliss point for more than half a century and has played no small role in the popularization of malasadas as a signature Hawaiian treat.
Also in Honolulu is the much visited, very much 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 be congregating and conspiring. Most famously this is the home of the Malamode - a malasada that is wrapped around homemade ice cream. You’ll find all kinds of other wild and creative treats here too.
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. Featured on TV multiple times, including being visited by Guy Fieri, this is truly a legendary spot. The poke is delicious, thanks to renowned head chef Reno Henriques.
Fresh Catch has 4 Oahu locations - visit their website for hours and addresses.
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 all the way back in 1951, this family-owned store can be found just off the Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa. They offer all the classic familiar flavors like cherry, grape pina colada, and so on. They offer some surprising original flavors too, like Ramune.
Loco Moco on Oahu
Loco moco is such incredibly serious business in Hawaii that elections are regularly held to determine the reigning champion of loco moco production. Thanks to a Hawaii Magazine’s vote, we now know that popular consensus puts the state’s best loco moco in Honolulu.
The Liliha Bakery is nearly as old as loco moco itself, having first opened its original location at 515 North Kuakini St all the way back in 1950. Today, they have 4 locations - 3 in Honolulu and one that just opened in Waikiki at the International Marketplace.
This establishment is no joke. There are famous influencers and models with fewer Instagram followers and far less erotic content to browse. 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.
For hours and addresses, refer to the different locations on their website.
Additional Oahu
Dining Information
Be sure to also check out our local dining pages for Haupia Pie, the best authentic Poi, Saimin, and Manapua. Additional Oahu dining resources are included below.
