Where to eat on Oahu
Oahu is a fun place to try new foods – K-pig, poi or spam sushi anyone? Unlike Anthony Bourdain, we weren’t looking for extreme food adventures on Oahu, just an introduction to Hawaiian cuisine.
On our first day in Oahu, we had dinner at the Yard House Brew pub, located a block off of Waikiki Beach. With 150 beers on tap, this place is great for burgers and beer. I ordered a Shock Top with a Hawaiian burger and wasn’t disappointed by either one. Stop by during their happy hour for the best deal on beers.
A few doors down is Roy’s, which started on Oahu back in 1988 and introduced Hawaiian fusion cuisine to many on the mainland. During our visit to Roy’s the evening temperature was perfect, so we sat outside under a thatch umbrella, surrounded by tiki torches. Roy’s has a prix fixe menu in addition to their normal menu that includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert. We ordered from the prix fixe menu and enjoyed perfectly prepared ahi, short ribs, spring rolls and grilled salmon. The service was exceptional – unobtrusive, but very attentive. For dessert I had the molten chocolate cake and ice cream. Yum!
Oahu is also home to many local eateries unique to the island. Be sure to have plenty of cash on hand, since some local businesses don’t take credit. Here are a few eateries worth visiting:
Shaved ice at Aoki’s (Hale’iwa/North Shore) – you can’t leave the island without trying some shaved ice, and this place has a huge selection of syrups to choose from. We’d stop here on the way back from the beach.
Macky’s Shrimp Truck (North Shore/ Hale’iwa) – picnic tables and wandering roosters provide the ambience to this very casual roadside establishment. We tried the garlic shrimp plate and the coconut shrimp, and the clear favorite was the garlic shrimp with its addictive garlic sauce.
Ninja Sushi (several locations) - fun, fast casual restaurant that serves surprisingly good sushi at an affordable price. California and spicy tuna rolls are very good as well as the bento box. And don’t forget to try the spam sushi!
Puka dogs (Waikiki Beach) - These Hawaiian-style hot dogs of Anthony Bourdain fame come with a large selection of mustards and tropical relishes (mango, coconut, star fruit to name a few). I tried a spicy puka dog with Lilikoi/guava mustard and mango relish – much better than your standard hot dog with mustard and ketchup!
Coffee Gallery – a great coffee hang-out where they roast their own beans. After grabbing a magazine from their little reading library, I sipped a Coconator (latte with coconut & chocolate) and ate a blueberry muffin still warm from the oven. I was in heaven. Very laid back atmosphere with people taking, surfing the net, reading or playing their guitar.
Links: North Shore dining guide
