During my trip, I had the opportunity to try different kinds of Hawaiian dishes and desserts. Many of these foods are enjoyed by locals and visitors. If you want to know the top 15 best foods I’ve tried on the island of Oahu, then continue reading.

1) Ted’s Bakery

Ted’s Bakery is located near Sunset Beach in North Shore. This little shop is family operated. Their best seller is the Chocolate Haupia Pie, which was the best flavor in my opinion. It has the right amount of sweetness and creaminess. They also have pies such as Macadamia Nut Cream, Lilikoi Cheese, Strawberry Guava, and many more. You can buy the pies as a whole or individual slices. The bakery offers a variety of baked goods such as cream pies, round cakes, and other pastries.

2) Haleiwa Bowls

Haleiwa Bowls is located in a corner near the Anahulu Stream Bridge in North Shore. Keep an eye out for this shack because with the hidden location, it can be easily missed. Haleiwa Bowls is a healthier choice if you want something sweet and refreshing. They sell açaí bowls and smoothies. You can also add additional toppings. My favorite was the Hapa Bowl, which consists of bananas, strawberries, blueberries, organic granola, coconut flakes, and honey. The portion size is pretty big, so if you want to save a few bucks you can share it with others.

3) Marukame Udon

Marukame Udon is located on Kuhio Avenue near the Waikiki Strip. I would recommend going early to beat the long lines that form during lunch and dinner hours. The reasons for the long lines are because 1) it is extremely flavorful and 2) it is cheap! A regular bowl size is about $5-$6 depending on what you order. When you enter the restaurant, you first choose the type of udon. The options include Curry, Bukkake, Niku, Kamaage, Zaru, etc. Then, if you want you can choose a side order of tempura and/or Musubi. The broth is tasty and the noodles have the right amount of chewiness. Worth the hype!

4) Helena’s Hawaiian Food

Helena’s Hawaiian Food is located in Honolulu. If you are looking for traditional Hawaiian food this is the place to go to. The restaurant has a friendly ambiance, where many locals come and eat. Items on their menu include Kalua pork with cabbage, short ribs Pipikaula style, Lomi salmon, fried Butterfish collar, and other options. The short ribs were my favorite because of the juiciness and tenderness of the meat. You can eat these with a side of rice, macaroni salad, or poi.

5) MoDo Hawaii

MoDo Hawaii is located inside the International Marketplace in Honolulu. MoDo stands for Mochi+ Donuts.  If you do not know what mochi is, it is a Japanese rice cake with a chewy texture. The donut flavors include black sesame, earl grey, coconut, cookies & cream, matcha, and many more. Stay up to date with their website and social media account in order to find out the releases of new flavors.

6) Rainbow Drive In

Rainbow Drive In is a popular spot to eat local Hawaiian food in Honolulu. This restaurant has been around for a long time. Rainbow Drive In is my most favorite place to get Hawaiian plate lunch because they give big portions and it is very savory. A few of the items they have are Mahi Mahi, Teriyaki Beef, Shoyu Chicken, and Loco Moco.

7)Leonard’s Bakery

Leonard’s Bakery is located on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu. They also have a food truck located at Waipahu. If you haven’t heard of Malasadas, where have you been? Just kidding. The infamous Malasadas originated from Portugal and have a little hole inside with filling. There are different variations of malasadas. First, you can choose the type of coating such as original, cinnamon sugar, or Li Hing. Then, you can choose the filling. The filling options are custard, dobash (chocolate), haupia (coconut), macadamia nut, and guava.

8)Musubi Cafe

The Musubi Cafe has multiple branches in Honolulu. For those who don’t know what musubi is, it is a small block of rice with other ingredients wrapped in nori. This small cafe offers a variety of musubi. They have musubi with bacon and egg, avocado and egg, and Spam. If you aren’t a fan of musubi, don’t worry there are plenty of other options for you such as miso soup and curry.

9) Mike’s Huli Chicken

Mike’s Huli Chicken is a food truck located in Kahuku. The location of this food truck was farther from our hotel, which was at Honolulu so it took a couple of hours to arrive there. They are popular for their grilled Huli- Huli Chicken, which tasted delicious! It had a smoky, crispy layer of chicken skin. The menu consists of various plates such as Char Siu Chinese BBQ Pork, Huli Chicken Stir Fry, Kalua Pork, Ahi & Shrimp, and many other options with rice, salad, and side of pineapple.

10) Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck is located in North Shore. If you have ever been to Hawaii, you know that Kahuku shrimp is very popular. Kahuku shrimp is shrimp sautéed with chunks of garlic, buttery sauce, and a slice of lemon. These platters are served with a side of plain rice, garlic rice, or macaroni salad. When I visited this food truck, the line was pretty long so make sure you get there early!

That is all for today. On your next trip to Oahu, make sure to visit these spots! Thank you for reading my blog.

See you next time,

Eryka