Local Aloha: Best Local Restaurants on Oahu

Aloha!

Taste your way through Oahu! We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite local places to eat on the island. Hawaii is a melting pot of cultures, offering a lot of family-owned restaurants that are unique to Hawaii. These are a few that we love to visit and support.

Hawaii’s Favorite Kitchens (HFK)

A one-stop shop for all things local: you’ll find food and merch that feature brands like KC Drive Inn, Lin’s Hawaiian Snacks, Rainbow Drive-In, Shimazu Shave Ice, Makai, Poke by Rainbows, and Hawaii Nostalgia Studio. Located adjacent to the Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu.

Highway Inn
Serving the best Hawaiian classics since 1947, the restaurant is best known for its ono Hawaiian plates, fish tacos (mmmm, ube tortilla), and Kama`aina favorites like their Hawaiian Beef Stew Plate and loco moco.

 

Nico’s Pier 38

A delicious casual pier-side dining experience, offering locally sourced seafood and dishes mixing French & Hawaiian styles.

Paia Fish Market
The best reviewed seafood restaurant in Hawaii, Paia Fish Market has a location near the International Market Place. They serve the freshest seafood with amazing portions for lunch/dinner plates. They also support the local fishermen, on whom they depend for their daily fresh catch.

Ono Seafood (Poke)
A hidden gem and low-key spot, this place serves fresh, made-to-order poke bowls as well as sashimi and poke by the pound. Located just five minutes from Waikiki, close to Leonard’s Bakery and Waiola Shave Ice.

Rainbow Drive-In

Looking for a simple Hawaiian eating experience? Stop by and grab one of their famous lunch plates filled with macaroni salad, two scoops of rice, and your choice of protein like SPAM, Mahi Mahi, Loco Moco, and Portuguese sausage. Drooling yet?

Waikiki Food Hall – Located at the Royal Hawaiian Center, just minutes from our hotel, the Waikiki Food Hall is the fourth one in Waikiki and we’re excited to welcome them to the neighborhood. Great for grab-and-go for the beach or a new dining experience with friends + family, this food hall features eight Japanese restaurant concepts based on the “The CATCH of Hawaii.”