Where to Eat in Waikiki
Overview
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Overview 〰️
Waikiki, Honolulu
One of my favorite things about Waikiki is all of the amazing food it has to offer! We all know that Oahu is a beautiful island with so much to do and explore, but something a lot of people might overlook when visiting is the island’s food scene. There is a lot of good, authentic Japanese food in particular, with some of the best anywhere outside of Japan. Here are 10 of the best places to eat in Waikiki!
Paia Fish Market
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Paia Fish Market 〰️
Seafood Salad (Caesar) with Grilled Mahi Mahi
Close-Up of Grilled Mahi Mahi
Seafood Salad (Garden) with Cajun-Style Mahi Mahi
A restaurant I always find myself going back to is Paia Fish Market. Their original location is in Paia, Maui, but they have since expanded to multiple locations on Maui and Oahu, including this one in Waikiki. It’s a casual spot with reasonable prices and some of the tastiest fish here on the islands. You can choose from various types of fish like mahi mahi, ono, and snapper as well as various preparation styles like grilled, sauteed, and blackened. I always get the seafood salad with grilled mahi mahi and it hits every single time!
Hula Grill
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Hula Grill 〰️
Battered Baja Fish Tacos
Hula Pie
View of Waikiki Beach
Located on the second floor of the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort is Hula Grill. The views of the beach and ocean are incredible and definitely one of the highlights of the restaurant! I had the Baja fish tacos for brunch and they were amazing. Downstairs is a more popular sister restaurant called Duke’s, but both offer very similar food options and I prefer Hula Grill for the view. Be sure to end the meal with their signature Hula Pie, which is macadamia nut ice cream with chocolate cookie crust and hot chocolate fudge!
Monkeypod Kitchen
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Monkeypod Kitchen 〰️
Hamakua Mushroom & Truffle Oil Pizza
Poke Tacos
View of the Ocean
Monkeypod Kitchen is a great place to dine, especially for happy hour. The restaurant is at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, another Outrigger property in Waikiki. They are famous for their mai tai, so be sure to get that! As a mushroom lover, I really enjoyed their Hamakua mushroom and truffle oil pizza. The views of the ocean from the restaurant are also really pretty!
Zigu
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Zigu 〰️
Takoyaki in Hot Broth
Grilled Sweetened Miso Salmon
Exterior of Zigu
Zigu is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in the area and it has a very nice, cozy ambiance. Their menu is varied with different appetizers, sushi, and entrees that blend Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine, while using fresh, local ingredients from the island. Some of my favorite appetizers include the takoyaki (fried octopus balls), tamagoyaki (egg rolled omelet), and mochiko fried chicken. For entrees, I recommend their grilled sweetened miso salmon.
Izakaya Pau Hana Base
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Izakaya Pau Hana Base 〰️
Yakisoba (Pan Fried Noodle)
Chahan (Fried Rice)
Grilled BBQ Squid
For a more casual and authentic hole-in-the-wall spot, I recommend Izakaya Pau Hana Base, which is located right by Zigu. It’s an izakaya, which is a Japanese pub that serves a variety of small dishes and alcohol. I tend to order takeout, but if you want the full experience then definitely dine in! I really liked their yakisoba and I found it to be authentic and reminiscent of what I had in Japan.
Sato Seafood
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Sato Seafood 〰️
Hawaiian Munchies
Spicy Ahi Rolls and Salmon Ikura Roll
Exterior of Sato Seafood
Sato Seafood is my favorite place in Waikiki to get poke. They have multiple signature bowls, including Hawaiian Munchies, which is ahi poke with crispy garlic and tempura bits, spicy mayo, and sweet soy glaze. They also have hand rolls, which I would recommend as well. It’s a very small spot with only a couple of tables outside, so you’ll probably have to order and find somewhere else to enjoy!
Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu
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Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu 〰️
Kurobuta Pork Loin Katsu
Close-Up of Katsu
Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu serves authentic, high-quality Japanese tonkatsu that is very much comparable to what you can find in Japan. I got the Kurobuta Pork Loin Katsu and it was perfectly crispy, juicy, and tender. The set included white rice, shredded cabbage, and miso soup, which were all tasty as well. Be sure to make a reservation well in advance as it is a very popular spot with limited seating!
Marugame Udon
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Marugame Udon 〰️
Kake Udon (Dashi Broth)
Ontama Udon (BK Sauce)
Marugame Udon is definitely one of the most popular restaurants in Waikiki if not the most popular. It’s a causal spot serving tasty udon at very affordable prices. You can choose from a variety of bases like dashi broth, BK sauce, and curry sauce, as well as a variety of tempura like shrimp, calamari, and sweet potato. The line is always incredibly long, so I recommend going in the middle of the day between lunch and dinner if you want to beat the line!
Orchids
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Orchids 〰️
Halekulani Fish Oriental Style
Coconut Cake
View of Diamond Head
If you’re looking for a little more of a lavish and elegant experience, I recommend Orchids at the Halekulani Hotel. The atmosphere is beautiful and serene, especially if you sit outside as you get a good view of Diamond Head. I enjoyed the Halekulani Fish Oriental Style for lunch and finished the meal off with their signature Coconut Cake, which is a must-get for dessert.
Island Vintage Coffee
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Island Vintage Coffee 〰️
Coconut Kona Mocha
Liliko’i Moana Acai Bowl
Exterior of Island Vintage Coffee
Island Vintage Coffee is my favorite place to get coffee and acai bowls! They have a few locations around the island including their original one on the second floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki. I recommend the Island Latte, which has hints of macadamia and coconut, or the Hawaiian Honey Latte, which has hints of honey and cinnamon. I also really enjoy their frozen Kona coffee, especially the Coconut Kona Mocha. For acai bowls, my favorite is the Liliko’i Moana Acai Bowl, which I could honestly eat every single day. There is always a long line in the morning, but you can order online to pick up, which saves a lot of time!
