Oahu/Honolulu cheat sheet (rev Dec 2025 – Special Edition For the Hawaii Bowl)

Sushi:

• Izakaya Gaku – a bit expensive, but probably the best izakaya on Oahu
• Katsu Midori – at the Waikiki Prince Hotel – probably a good balance of good a la carte sushi at the bar for the price
• Mitch’s Fish Market – by the airport, super fresh, not elegant but great cuts and relatively cheap compared to higher end sushi places for the quality
• Omakase

• Sasabune is probably the go to omakase – great experience close to $200 per though
• Sushi Sho – probably the most elegant, high end sushi experience on the island, highest priced
• Sushi Murayama – reasonably priced, probably in between Sasabune and Sho in terms of style  

Japanese:

• Nami Kaze – it is next to Nico’s Pier 38 near downtown, a newer Japanese bento place that is very stylish and hip. Lots of dining space. [Might be closing its doors soon]
• Inaba – is a very good soba place in town
• Wagaya is a good ramen place, they have good tsukemen dipping ramen as well as basically the rest of their ramen menu. Chef is from Japan really good.
• Tonkatsu restaurants– some really good ones from Hokkaido – Ginza Barin (right in Waikiki) and Tamafuji (you have to get reservations)

Hawaiian

• Helena’s it’s in a sketchier neighborhood in Kalihi, but’s not bad compared to the worse parts of LA or SF lol
• Highway Inn (one in Kakaako is closer to Waikiki than Helena’s and nicer)
• Waiahole Poi Factory – best lau lau I’ve had; far from Waikiki (on the way to the Polynesian Cultural Center) but worth it; new location at Windward Mall
• Young’s Fish Market is OK when I am in the area

Korean – I mean you didn’t go to Hawaii to have Korean food did you? But if you are craving it:

• Kyung’s Seafood in town on King Street – hole in the wall good pocha place lots of good appetizers, great poke, seafood pahjun, meat jun (see what that is below)
• Young’s Kalbee in Aiea it’s closer to airport – has great meat jun – that is like pahjun but instead egg batter with strips of bulgogi – this was created in Hawaii lol  
• Sura (near Ala Moana Hotel) and Gen BBQ (Ala Moana Mall and Pearlridge Mall) are AYCE Korean

Poke:

• Paradise Poke on Nuuanu
• Off the Hook Poke in Manoa (lines)
• Markets – Foodland. Times, Safeway, etc. They are all pretty good but Foodland Farms poke selection is hard to beat.
• Ry’s Poke on North Shore

Good local

• Side Street Inn – the one on Kapahulu is close to Waikiki and has a lot of great hearty local style fusion food. The pork chops are amazing; their kimchi fried rice is bomb. Some swear by their garlic chicken.
• Sugoi – some of the best takeout tonkatsu – good quality
• Arancino – has some good Italian/Japanese fusion like their uni pasta (Waikiki and Kahala Hotel)
• Zippy’s (local Denny’s kinda expensive but comfort food), Rainbow Drive-In – you know about those
• Nico’s Pier 38 is a very casual outdoor place with very fresh fish plates (they get their fish onsite at the fish auction) for a reasonable price – lots of parking too off Nimitz Highway
• Kyung’s Seafood—local Korean fusion – poke, seafood pahjun, Korean chicken, beer, etc. Dive bar type setting food is pretty fing amazing.

Desserts, pizza, brew pubs:

Of course you have the staples like Leonard’s Malasadas, Liliha Bakery (there is one in Waikiki now) for coco puffs, and mac nut pancakes (Mac 24/7 or Eggs and Things)

The pizza scene in Honolulu has actually gotten better with better Neapolitan style pizzas: Pizza Dadi, J Dolan’s and Brick Oven are some good ones. There is this Italian chef that opened up a cheese shop that also specializes in Italian sandwiches Bucconcino – basically it’s an Italian deli and it’s a pretty trendy place in Kakaako.

There are some good Irish brew pubs and they are all in downtown – Black Shamrock, Murphy’s (an institution and sadly we saw that Cal v. AZ hail mary there), J Dolan’s up the street by Hawaii Theatre and Ferguson’s (just a flat out bar no food).

In Kakaako there are so many good brew pubs too – Waikiki Brewing Co., Honolulu Beerworks, Aloha Beer Co., Hana Koa Brewing. There is a Maui Brewing Co. in Waikiki – it’s a restaurant bar.  Also Pint + Jigger is a great pub now located inside the Ala Moana Hotel.

For steaks, Stripsteak in the international marketplace is good, as well as Hy’s Steakhouse and Wolfgang (the former chef Wolfgang who passed away is from Peter Lugar’s), along with Ruth’s Chris – all in Waikiki. Little Joe’s on Nimitz Hwy is good and prices are reasonable. Their more fancier place is Signature Steakhouse on the top floor of the Ala Moana Hotel.

Outdoor:

Best Beaches:

Besides being in Waikiki, I’d say Windward side of Oahu has the best beaches – especially Lanikai (parking is kind of hard so research it), Kailua and Waimanalo Beach (it is in a local neighborhood with homesteads around so be mindful of the residents there). Also there is Laniakea Beach close to Haleiwa Town on the North Shore, but this is the turtle beach. The green sea turtles (honu) do some feeding on seaweed and sunbathing around 10-11ish each day. The parking on the highway can be very packed. Also be mindful of the honu and not get too close, as they are very protected and tourists have gotten a lot of shade for messing with them.  

Trails:

Diamond Head, Makapuu Lighthouse trail (paved road), Koko Crater Stairs – if you want the challenge of going up 1,000 feet in .7 miles, can combine with Hanauma Bay if you have reservations), Manoa Falls, Lanikai Pillboxes by Kailua

Adventures:

Kualoa Ranch (zip lines, tours of Jurassic Park, LOST, ATV tours etc.)

North shore has some zip lines as well

Some good local dive bar places for “pupus”, drinks (mostly domestics) and karaoke the food is actually freaking ono  

Chez Kenzo – good food good happy hour (pau hana) deals

Anyplace Lounge

8Fat8 – their fried chicken is simply amazig

Shinso Tei – tiny dive bar with some good grindz!

Have fun and Roll On You Bears!