Oahu] Oahu's Best 10 Restaurants

Oahu, Hawaii's most popular resort island

Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands has always been one of the most popular destinations for international travel.

Oahu is a premier tourist island with excellent natural locations, developed cities, and towns that retain their old-fashioned moods. The scenic beauty of the island makes it a great place to stroll or drive, and the variety of activities makes it one of the best resort destinations in the world, with something to do and see.

One of the main attractions of a trip to Oahu is its diverse and high-level food culture. Among the many restaurants that offer delicious cuisine, we would like to introduce 10 restaurants that we highly recommend!

 

What is Oahu like?

First, let's check out some basic information about Oahu.

The island of Oahu has an area of 1,545 square kilometers, making it one of the largest islands in Japan, larger even than the main island of Okinawa. The population is approximately 980,000, which is about the size of an ordinance-designated city.

Although the island is part of the United States as a country, floating in the Pacific Ocean far from the continental United States, the atmosphere of the island as a whole is more modern and American-oriented.

 

How to get to Oahu

To get to Oahu, you must fly.

There are direct flights to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport from Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka, and New Chitose airports in Japan, so transportation is relatively convenient. It is easy to choose a flight that suits your personal budget and time schedule.

The flight time is approximately 7 hours. On the return trip, it will take extra time due to air currents, and the estimated arrival time is about 9 hours.

Either way, it is a long trip and there is a 19-hour time difference upon arrival, so make sure you are in good shape before you arrive in Oahu.

 

Attractions of Oahu

The charms of Oahu are too numerous to list, but one of the most notable is its mild temperatures. The island is surrounded by warm and pleasant air, with an average annual temperature of 24°C (72°F).

Even in the middle of winter in January, the average high temperature reaches 25°C (77°F) in many years, making it possible to enjoy a mild climate where people can wear short sleeves any time of year. The island is in high demand as a place to escape the cold, and such a climate is one of the fundamental reasons for Oahu's favorable environment.

 

Beautiful beaches and vast wilderness

When the weather is warm, people naturally turn their eyes to the seaside.

As one would expect from a place where people want to enjoy their leisure time in the ocean, Oahu's waters are blue and its beaches are sparkling white, making the island look like a jewel box of beauty. The iconic Hawaiian palm trees can also be seen on the beaches, making Oahu one of the best places in the world to enjoy a vibrant tropical seaside location. The moderately warm waters are abundant with coral and tropical fish and are full of colorful hues.

Oahu is also full of great beauty on land, where you will encounter a wide variety of environments, from mountains and hills with great views to jungles with clusters of tropical plants. Simply visiting the many natural scenic spots in order will provide you with the greatest enjoyment.

 

One of the world's leading resorts

It is no exaggeration to say that all the elements that make up the island of Oahu are suitable for resort tourism, and many people visit the island each year in search of such an environment. In a typical year, more than 10 million people visit Oahu.

Because Oahu continues to welcome such a large number of visitors, the island's tourism industry has naturally reached a high level of sophistication. The area around Waikiki Beach is lined with several luxury resort hotels, and the standard of customer service is one of the highest in the world.

From sightseeing tours and nature activities to museums and theme parks, you are guaranteed to be deeply satisfied with all the services Oahu has to offer.

 

Shopping and restaurants are also recommended

Oahu is also a great place for shopping. With Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki as the main shopping center, there are several large shopping centers clustered around the island.

These include Ala Moana Center, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, North Shore Marketplace, and many others. Each of these facilities is strongly distinctive in terms of product assortment and location, and a visit to each in turn can be enjoyable over a long period of time.

 

Enjoy gourmet food on Oahu!

Oahu has a wide variety of gourmet foods.

The restaurants offer not only familiar local food such as loco moco, garlic shrimp, and malasada, but also a wide variety of rich meals that make the most of locally grown ingredients. With so many restaurants to choose from, you will definitely have a hard time deciding which one to dine at.

Overall, the price range tends to be higher than in Japan, but there are many interesting takeout-style local food and chain restaurants that will satisfy a variety of demands.

 

Recommended Restaurants BEST 10

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, we have selected 10 of the best from among the many stores in the area. All of them are as good as each other, so let's check them out in order!

 

No. 10: Lulu's Waikiki

No. 10 is Lulu's Waikiki, where you can enjoy an excellent meal in an open restaurant setting! The highlight of the menu here is the loco moco, one of the most well-known Hawaiian dishes.

In a casual, easy-going atmosphere, you can enjoy a familiar Japanese dish of hamburger steak and fried egg on a bed of rice.

 

Recommendations

Lulu's Waikiki's catchphrase is "The best loco moco in Hawaii. One bite of Lulu's Waikiki is sure to convince you of this claim.

The gravy sauce, which exquisitely draws out the flavor of the meat juices, is unique to the authentic taste of the meat, and you will enjoy its superb flavor.

In Japan, loco moco has a strong impression of being a casual café meal, but the superb loco moco at Lulu's Waikiki will surely change your image of it into a wonderful treat!

 

Store Information

Lulu's Waikiki is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Hours of operation are Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 to 20:00.

 

Access

Lulu's Waikiki is located on Kuhio Avenue in the heart of Waikiki and is easily accessible from anywhere in Waikiki by any means, including walking or renting a car. It is adjacent to and accessible from Kapahulu Avenue and Nahua Avenue.

 

No. 9: Crackin' Kitchen

Next in ninth place is Crackin' Kitchen, where you can enjoy a full meal of seafood caught in Oahu's neighboring waters!

The unique feature of Crackin' Kitchen is that you can eat shrimp, crab, and other delicacies with your hands, which are dipped in a sauce that is rich in flavor and spiciness. Although the visuals may be a little startling at first, you will enjoy a meal that is full of flavor and fun!

 

Recommendations

The main attraction of Crackin' Kitchen is that you can choose from three different sauces to toss with your seafood.

Red, a combination of Hawaiian chili peppers and Cajun sauce; Black, a blend of Hawaiian cacao, black pepper and black sesame; and White, based on onion and lemon butter.

Each sauce has its own unique charm, and each has an exquisite flavor that lingers in the mouth. Put on a pair of plastic gloves and peel the shells of the seafood while enjoying the plump flesh, and you are sure to smile!

 

Store Information

Crackin' Kitchen is not closed on regular holidays. It is open from 12:00 to 23:00.

 

Access

This restaurant is also located in the center of Waikiki, at the corner of Kuhio and Seaside Avenues. Crackin' Kitchen is on the first floor of the Marine Surf hotel and is also accessible on foot from within Waikiki.

 

No. 8: Ruth's Chris

If you have gone to the trouble of traveling abroad, many of you may want to eat meat with gusto. For those who do, we recommend No. 8, Ruth's Chris!

This extremely popular steak restaurant has been introduced in the Japanese media and is highly known as a celebrity restaurant.

 

Recommendations

The meat served at Ruth's Chris is prime beef, the highest quality of American beef. The main attraction of the restaurant is that it uses aged meat that has been carefully laid down and grilled to perfection to give you the finest meat.

As a high-end steak restaurant frequented by celebrities, the prices are reasonable, but it is nice to know that there is no dress code. You can enjoy a wonderful meal in a relaxed atmosphere.

 

Store Information

The hours of operation at Ruth's Chris are subdivided by day of the week.

Sundays from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

 

Access

Loose Chris is also located in the heart of Waikiki, in the Waikiki Beach Walk, a shopping center close to Waikiki Beach.

It is located on Lewers Street, one turn from the main street, Kalakaua Street, so it is also within walking distance from Waikiki.

 

No. 7: Howe Tree

The seventh place we will feature is Hau Tree, which is known for having the best eggs benedict!

This restaurant was formerly known as Hau Tree Lanai, and since that time has earned a reputation as a great eggs benedict restaurant. In 2021, renowned chef Chris Cascioca joined forces with the new Hau Tree restaurant, which underwent a major renovation and upgrade.

 

Recommendations

Hau Tree's Eggs Benedict is a style of English muffin, ham, and poached eggs served with baked potatoes and a dollop of Béarnaise sauce. Béarnaise sauce is an aromatic sauce unique to French cuisine, based on butter, egg yolks, and vinegar, and flavored with estragon, shallots, and selfeuille.

The taste of it combined with the melt-in-your-mouth poached eggs will make you feel very rich and luxurious. The location facing Kaynama Beach is also beautiful and offers the best dining experience!

 

Store Information

Howtree is not closed on regular holidays. It is open from 10:00 to 20:30.

 

Access

Hau Tree is located on the first floor of the Kaimana Beach Hotel, east of Waikiki Beach. If you are traveling by rental car, follow the beach from Waikiki Beach to the east. There are no complicated places to get lost and you can easily reach the hotel.

If you choose to travel by bus, you can take bus numbers 19, 20, or 22 to the Kainama Beach Hotel.

 

No. 6: Noi Thai Cuisine

For No. 6, we would like to change things up a bit and introduce Noi Thai Cuisine, where you can enjoy Thai cuisine.

Thai food in Hawaii? You may wonder why Thai food in Hawaii? The ethnic flavors that distinguish Thai cuisine from Hawaiian and American cuisine will sharpen your senses and make you taste the delicacies!

 

Recommendations

Many people may not be familiar with Thai cuisine, but the diverse menu group is sure to have a dish to suit any palate. Many of the dishes are made with seafood, which makes them a perfect match for Hawaii's seafood-rich environment.

Former President Barack Obama is famous for having dined here, and you can enjoy first-class cuisine. The prices are high, but you are guaranteed to enjoy a more than reasonable gastronomic experience!

 

Store Information

Noi Thai Cuisine is not closed on regular holidays. Business hours are 11:00-22:00.

 

Access

Noi Thai Cuisine also has a store in the heart of Waikiki, located in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center on Kalakaua Avenue.

It can be visited by any means of transportation, but it is a spot with many shopping centers and stores anyway, so it is recommended to visit after touring the area on foot.

 

No. 5: Beach House at the Moana

No. 5 Beach House at the Moana is the main dining room of the Moana Surfrider, one of Oahu's oldest hotels.

The Moana Surfrider restaurant changes its name depending on the time of day, but Beach House at the Moana is the name for dinner time. As the hotel's dining room, you can enjoy a luxurious and sumptuous menu befitting a resort destination.

 

Recommendations

The dishes served here are mainly steak and seafood feasts.

The restaurant has been one of Oahu's most prestigious hotels for many years, and you will be able to enjoy a wonderful dinner that will even give you a sense of dignity.

The hotel is located in the area along Waikiki Beach, and the restaurant has a spectacular view of the ocean, so dining here is sure to end your day in the best possible way. Note that the dress code requires a jacket or collared shirt, long pants and shoes for men, and a resort dress for women.

 

Store Information

The Beach House at the Moana, a restaurant associated with the hotel, is not closed on regular holidays. It is open for lunch under the name The Veranda, and switches to Beach House at the Moana only at dinner time.

The hours of operation are from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

 

Access

Beach House at the Moana is also located on Kalakaua Avenue and is similar to Noi Thai Cuisine in terms of access.

 

No. 4: Wolfgang's Steakhouse

The fourth most popular steak restaurant in the world, Wolfgang's Steakhouse, was ranked No. 4!

Wolfgang's is the first restaurant in Japan to use aged meat in its steaks, a technique that has become popular in recent years and has brought out the best in the meat. Wolfgang's is the first restaurant in Japan to use this method of aging meat, which has become popular in recent years, and its excellent technique brings out the best in the meat.

 

Recommendations

When it comes to steak, Wolfgang's is the place to go.

Many foodies around the world swear by Wolfgang's steaks, including entertainers, celebrities, and the most famous celebrities of the day.

In addition to steaks, the restaurant offers seafood, a variety of sides, and top-quality alcoholic beverages, making for a dazzling gastronomic experience. There is no dress code and groups are welcome to share dishes, so don't be intimidated by the fact that it is a well-known restaurant.

 

Store Information

Wolfgang's Steakhouse is open year round.

Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 to 22:30, and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 23:30.

 

Access

Wolfgang's Steakhouse is located in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, also on Kalakaua Avenue. For access, please refer to the Kalakaua Avenue restaurant above.

 

3rd : Giovanni

Third place went to Giovanni's, a very famous restaurant located in Haleiwa on the northern North Shore, away from Waikiki!

The town of Haleiwa is known as a famous spot for so-called B-grade food. The best place to eat here is garlic shrimp, a famous local delicacy.

You can enjoy the fresh shrimp from nearby Kahuku, deliciously cooked and reasonably priced in a B-class gourmet style.

 

Recommendations

Garlic shrimp is now widely available throughout Oahu, but the original source of garlic shrimp can be traced back to Giovanni's.

They serve their dishes in a kitchen car-like restaurant called a shrimp truck, and their signature dish, shrimp scampi, has a delicious butter and garlic flavor. The shrimp are cooked to a golden brown and served with rice, and the sauce is a perfect match!

Haleiwa is a seaside town with a great location, so why not visit at lunchtime during your North Shore excursion?

 

Store Information

Giovanni is open all year round. Hours of operation are 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.

 

Access

When accessing Haleiwa in the northern part of the island by rent-a-car, the H1 freeway, H2, and Kamehameha Highway are recommended routes.

If you take a bus, you can easily get to Haleiwa by taking the 52 bus from Ala Moana Center. The store is marked by a McDonald's on Kamehameha Highway. Giovanni's is located in the opposite lane.

 

2nd : Mariposa

In second place is Mariposa, a restaurant at Ala Moana Center, one of Oahu's most iconic shopping centers, and at its core, the upscale Neiman Marcus department store!

Mariposa is one of the most well-known restaurants on Oahu, and some gourmands go out of their way to visit the island for the purpose of coming here. The prices are quite expensive for a restaurant in Neiman Marcus, but the fact that it is open for lunch and reasonably priced compared to the evening hours is not to be overlooked.

 

Recommendations

Although it is an upscale restaurant, it is nice to know that the menu also includes friendly dishes such as loco moco and hamburgers at lunch time.

It is one of Oahu's most famous restaurants, and many of the ingredients used at Mariposa are primarily from Hawaii. If you are going to travel and enjoy the local food, you want to eat local.

Mariposa is an ideal place to enjoy a meal while sightseeing.

 

Store Information

Business hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with shorter hours on Sundays only from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

Access

Mariposa is located in Ala Moana Center, a shopping center west of Waikiki Beach.

If you are renting a car, just follow the road along Waikiki Beach to the west. If you are taking a bus, there are several routes: 8, 19, 20, 23, 24, 42, and Route E. No matter which route you take, you will have no problem getting there.

 

No. 1: Azua Restaurant

The winner of the prestigious top prize among countless restaurants is Azure Restaurant, one of Oahu's most famous restaurants!

Everything about Azua Restaurant's cuisine is sparklingly beautiful, from the meats to the fish, the vegetables to the sweets. The chefs' superior skills bring out the best in their ingredients, and you will be treated to some of the finest gastronomy on Oahu.

Recommendations

It is honestly difficult to narrow down which one to recommend because every menu item at Azzurri Restaurant is delicious.

Therefore, we recommend the tasting course, which, if you ask for it, will provide you with an appetizer, soup, fish, meat, and dessert, all carefully selected by the chef, in that order. The seafood platter is also very popular because it is extremely beautiful and generous.

The menu changes daily depending on the seafood that arrives at the market, but no matter what the seafood, it is beautifully presented and the sparkling colors are like a work of art. With a first-class selection of alcoholic beverages, there is no better place to enjoy a rich dinner.

Why not visit at least once to add to your Oahu memories?

 

Store Information

Azua Restaurant is not closed on regular holidays. It is open from 17:30 to 21:00.

 

Access

Azua Restaurant is located on the first floor of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, close to Waikiki Beach.

It is located on Kalakaua Avenue, so please refer to the Kalakaua Avenue stores above for access information.

 

Oahu is also a great place to experience activities

You have seen our ranking of Oahu restaurants from No. 10 to No. 1.

The locations and price ranges were all different, but no matter where you choose to dine, make sure you come with an empty stomach. Hunger is the best spice, and since you are dining on Oahu, I highly recommend that you go there in the best condition.

How about trying an activity as a way to fill up your stomach?

Oahu offers a wide variety of activities that take advantage of its beautiful beaches and other natural scenery.

 

Three recommended tours

Therefore, we have picked up three recommended tours for you to enjoy various activities.

We encourage you to take a tour of the area, as it offers a great location along with fun activities.

 

Sandbar Snorkeling &
Sea Turtle Watch Cruise

This tour will take you to the "Phantom Island" or Sandbar, one of the most beautiful of Oahu's many scenic spots.

The Sandbar is a small island entirely composed of white sand, which only appears during low tide. Its rarity and unrealistic beauty are so great that people go out of their way to join tours and visit here.

The tour is very much a tour of enjoyment, with snorkeling at such a sandbar, followed by a cruise to enjoy an encounter with sea turtles!

 

Horseback Riding Experience A walk on the North Shore seaside

One of the most popular land-based activities on Oahu is horseback riding.

Many people may not know this because they do not have the opportunity to ride horses in Japan, but a horse's back is characterized by a higher vantage point than you might imagine. Enjoy riding a horse while looking out over the natural landscape from a high vantage point and feeling the breath of the lovely horse, and you will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of Oahu as much as possible.

Of course, staff members will be right by your side, so anyone can easily take on the challenge with peace of mind.

 

Hawaii Parasailing

If the above two activities are for enjoying Oahu's ocean and land, why not try the next one, which is to experience the view from the sky?

Parasailing is an activity in which you are towed by a motorcycle through the water and propelled by a parachute-like device into the sky. The maximum altitude is 150 meters, and the view of Oahu from that height is truly spectacular!

Oahu is blessed with not only beautiful beaches and ocean, but also mountains, jungles, and other diverse terrain, so you can see very interesting scenery when you look down from above!

 

summary

I have introduced one of the major attractions of Oahu: its restaurants.

In addition to the restaurants we have mentioned, there are many other famous restaurants and popular hole-in-the-wall places to eat. Oahu's rich culinary environment is sure to satisfy your appetite.

When you visit Oahu, please enjoy dining at a variety of restaurants!