My 10 Favorite Places to Eat on Oahu
#1-Tempura from Yanagi Sushi
My mom is a tempura connoisseur and she told me that this was hands down the best place to get tempura on the island. She was right. We also shared a delicious bowl of udon noodles so I can vouch for that. Their sushi is obviously not to be missed but as I'm pregnant I sadly had to pass this time around.
#2- Acai bowls from Haleiwa Bowls
These acai bowls here are not to be missed! You can get classic mixes or add in your own choices to make it extra delicious. Most importantly, they're made with ice cream-like textured acai which is my personal favorite because it means it won't turn into a soupy mess!
#3- Plate Lunch and Chocolate Haupia pie from Ted's Bakery
Another North Shore favorite, I still dream about ways of shipping myself chocolate haupia pie. I usually try to just buy it by the slice so I can control myself. Buying the entire pie always leads to trouble...
#4- Malasadas from Leonard's Bakery
Do yourself a favor and go to Leonards to get some hot malasadas. For those who don't know, malasadas are warm balls of fried dough rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Like a doughnut but chewier and 10x better. Try the chocolate dobash version to mix up the classic :)
#5- Papaya boats from the Sunrise Shack
Located right next to Sunset Beach on the North Shore, this little shack serves up some delicious goods. My favorite was the papaya boat and the fresh pressed green juice. Just make sure to get there early because when they say 'sunrise' shack they mean it--it closes early at around 2pm!
#6-Spicy tuna from Pupukea Grill
My father-in-law who grew up on the North Shore introduced me to this food truck. It's right near Sharks Cove and offers some classic local grindz. My favorite (when not pregnant) is the spicy tuna. This time around, it was a burger which was just as delicious but less local haha!
#7-North Shore shrimp trucks
Pretty much any truck you go to is sure to offer some delicious shrimp--I always order them scampi style (tossed in garlic butter) with a scoop of rice on the side. You can find all the fan favorites near Kahuku--this time we tried out the famous Giovanni's and their shrimp scampi was pretty amazing.
#8-Saimin from Zippy's
If you want to feel like a teenager coming home from a long night of partying and looking for the perfect midnight snack, make sure to pick yourself some classic saimin from Zippy's. Yummy, cozy, and perfect for a cooler night. *Pro-tip: if you're going to do take out, ask for the broth separate so the noodles stay just right!
#9-Mochi doughnuts from Modo
Located in the Mitsuwa marketplace near Waikiki, these chewy, mochi filled doughnuts are a hidden gem that you'll be psyched you found.
#10-Pho from the Pig and the Lady
My aunty swears by this place and we ran into their stand at a farmer's market (they also have a regular restaurant). They always have a line and always deliver on delicious pho. We went during the winter so it was the perfect meal for a cool evening.
Honorable mentions:
Shave ice from Matsumotos
This is arguably the most famous shave ice on the island. Although I don't love how much tourist hype it gets, if you're visiting Oahu, you've just got to bit the bullet, stand in line, and get yo-self some shave ice. My favorite flavors are lychee, li-hing mui, and lilikoi. I can't do the azuki beans...long story but if you can, go for it!
RICE.
This is not the name of a restaurant. It's literally just telling you to go eat rice. It must be something in the water but Hawaii sure knows how to do rice well. You can pretty much guarantee no matter where you go, you'll get the best rice of your life.
The Bee and Tea
This delicious drink place, located in Kailua is housed among some of the cutest shops around. Shop and sip on their bubble teas and bubble lemonades! Get one in a lightbulb cup for some extra fun!