Waikiki is a vibrant neighborhood in Honolulu that is known for its beautiful beaches, shopping, and delicious food. For first-time visitors, navigating the food scene in Waikiki can be overwhelming. In this guide, we will explore the best local cuisine in Waikiki and provide tips for first-time visitors!
Best Local Dishes to Try
To really experience what locals might eat in Waikiki, here are some dishes that you must try:
Poke: A Hawaiian dish made with marinated raw fish and served with rice and vegetables.
Kalua Pig: A traditional Hawaiian dish made with slow-roasted pork that is shredded and served with rice and macaroni salad.
Garlic Shrimp: A popular dish in Hawaii made with shrimp that is cooked in garlic butter and served with rice and salad.
Spam Musubi: A popular snack in Hawaii made with grilled Spam, rice, and nori seaweed.
Favorite Restaurants for First Timers
1. Maguro Brothers
Not that this list is in any special order, but one of my favorite places to eat at when I visit Waikiki is Maguro Brothers. If you’re a fan of sushi, then this is the spot for you. They’re known for their fresh and delicious sushi, sashimi, and poke bowls. They have two locations, and I find myself eating here at least 3x during any trip I take to Oahu. If you don’t go early, be prepared to wait in line because this place can get really busy. I recommend hopping in line before they open and being ready to order as soon as it’s your turn.
Pro tip: Sometimes they do delivery, so make sure to check to see if they’re delivering to avoid the line!
2. Rainbow Drive-in
Rainbow Drive-in is a classic diner known for its plate lunches, burgers and shakes. Serving locals and tourists since 1961, the portions are generous and prices are affordable making it a popular spot among locals. One of the most popular dishes is the mixed plate, which consists of teriyaki beef, fried chicken and mahi-mahi. I recommend getting a few things to share because the entire menu is worth exploring!
3. Marugame Udon
Having several locations in Japan and California, Marukame Udon is a popular restaurant that serves freshly made udon noodles and tempura. The restaurant has a cafeteria-style setup, where you go down the line and choose what you’d like to eat. You can also watch the chefs make the noodles from scratch. This is another restaurant that gathers lines quickly, so make sure you’re prepared to wait. I’ve found lunch time tends to be a bit slower than dinner time if you’re trying to plan on when to go.
Pro tip: If you don’t mind to take the udon and eat it elsewhere, you can order online for pick-up. This option usually doesn’t take more than 10-15 minutes to wait, and you can take it back to your hotel or an outdoor seating area to eat.
4. Duke’s Waikiki
One of my favorite restaurants to go to for a drink and some appetizers is Duke’s Waikiki. It is a beachfront restaurant that serves Hawaiian-inspired dishes. They also have a beach bar where they play live music and the menu is a lot more casual than the restaurant.
Pro tip: The beach bar is walk-ins only (no reservations), so if you’re just looking for a drink near the beach go straight to the bar and find a seat! Otherwise, the restaurant has a more upscale menu and typically the wait can be anywhere from 2~4 hours.
5. Paia Fish Market
Paia Fish Market is a seafood restaurant that serves fresh and delicious fish dishes. The restaurant has a casual and laid-back atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for a quick lunch or dinner. The must-try dish at Paia Fish Market is the fish and chips, which is made with fresh and flaky fish that is battered and fried to perfection.
6. Halekulani Bakery
One of my favorite bakeries in all of Oahu recently re-opened after being closed due to COVID-19 is Halekulani Bakery. Adjacent to the Halepuna Hotel and across the street from the Halekulani Hotel, this bakery has the freshest, flakiest, pastries and breakfast sandwiches you can find on the island. You can also grab an iced latte to go, or dine in and enjoy.
7. Island Vintage Coffee
Island Vintage Coffee has a few locations on the island, but it’s one of the most popular coffee shops on the island. They serve delicious coffee, smoothies, and acai bowls that you will remember even after you leave. The coffee is made from locally sourced beans, and they showcase a lot of the local fruit in their acai bowls. This is another place with a long line, so make sure you plan accordingly. A must try item is their taro bagel with ube cream cheese and haupia cream. I dream about this in my sleep!
Pro tip: If you just want coffee and/or acai bowls, you can order them ahead for pick-up! The other items you’ll have to wait in line for.
8. Kona Coffee Purveyors
Kona Coffee Purveyors is another coffee shop located in the International Marketplace, and they serve delicious coffee made from locally grown Kona beans. Inside the café you can also find a variety of pastries from b.patiserrie, serving James Beard award winning croissants, Kouign-Amann and more. If you’re a coffee lover, definitely think about buying some beans here to take home with you. Keep them for yourself or give them away to another fellow coffee lover!
9. Liliha Bakery
Tucked away on the 3rd floor of the International Marketplace, Liliha Bakery has been serving locals and tourists since 1950. They’re known for their signature coco puffs. They delicious cream puffs filled with chocolate pudding and topped with chantilly cream. You can also find a variety of other pastries, cakes, and bread, and this location serves as a restaurant as well.
10. Island Vintage Shave Ice
Island Vintage Shave Ice sells exactly what you think — shave ice! Every time we stay in Waikiki we have to make sure we get this for dessert after dinner at least 3x. All of the fruit they use are local, and in the middle of all the ice sits a frozen yogurt and it is so good. Our favorite is getting half strawberry, half passionfruit with a drizzle of condensed milk on top. you can’t go wrong!
Waikiki is a food lover’s paradise that offers a diverse range of cuisine. By trying the local dishes and visiting the top restaurants, you can truly experience a taste of what Waikiki, and Oahu, have to offer.
To help plan your trip, check out our other blog posts about Oahu:
