Top 5 Best Restaurants on Oʻahu
While everyone loves exploring the outdoors when staying on Oʻahu, the food scene is almost as unique as the landscape. Whether you’re looking for traditional Hawaiian dishes or something else, Oʻahu’s culinary scene has food options from across the world. To help you decide where to dine, we compiled a guide to some of the best restaurants on Oʻahu.
The Pig and the Lady
Located in the center of downtown Honolulu, The Pig and the Lady serves up Vietnamese-inspired dishes. Choose from several noodle dishes, grilled meats, or seafood plates from the dinner menu.
Furthermore, you can order several small dishes, including steak tartare and Konbu cured Hawaiian kanpachi, to share with the table, or opt for your own plate. Soup lovers will need an order of duck pho, and anyone with an affinity for noodles should try the Hawaiian shrimp scampi & squid ink farfalle.
Another Vietnamese option, head to the spin-off restaurant Piggy Smalls, only a few minutes from The Pig and the Lady. Here, diners can enjoy chicken, vegan pho, and various banh mi sandwiches.
Helena’s Hawaiian Food
An unassuming eatery, Helena’s Hawaiian Food is home to some of the most authentic Hawaiian food on the island. The a la carte menu offers poke bowls, Kalua pig, traditional laulau, tripe stew, and more.
Also, you can choose from set menus, which include different combinations of proteins like lomi salmon and pipikaula short ribs served over poi. If you’ve never tried Hawaiian food, this restaurant with a James Beard Regional Classic Award is the best place to try.
Fête
This American restaurant combines local and global fare using classic techniques, island flavors, cooking styles from many cultures, and high-quality ingredients. Fête is a farm-to-table restaurant with an open kitchen and a bar that serves all your favorite cocktails and wine.
Also, enjoy Twice-Fried Ludovico Chicken, Beef Bourguignon Pot Pie, and Korean Bayette. Or get a sandwich like the Quinoa Burger or the Chaz Burger.
The staff is friendly and professional, and you can enjoy your dining experience in a charming, quaint building with a vintage feel.
Ono Seafood
This place is excellent for a quick lunch or dinner. Ono Seafood is a down-to-earth family-owned seafood restaurant that offers Premium Poke. Enjoy bowls like Shoyu Ahi, Miso Tako, Wasabi Ahi, and many others. And if you order a bowl, it comes with a free drink.
Additionally, you can get Sashimi by the pound for dinner or parties. If you want to add sides, you can choose from different sides. Try pickled onions, edamame, kimchi cucumber, pickled mango, and many more interesting Hawaiian-style items.
Mud Hen Water
A Hawaiian-style café, Mud Hen Water offers four menus throughout the day. Enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner with various cocktails!
You can try their Akamai Bowl paired with a Mimosa or Green Lemonade for breakfast. Brunch brings Fish Tempura Sandwiches, Sourdough Banana Pancakes, and Smoke Meat Carbonara.
Furthermore, you can choose from Ginger-Pumpkin soup or Roasted Beet Poke on their lunch menu and pair it with a cocktail, wine, or beer. You can order Peanut Tofu or Veal and Pork Meatballs for dinner.
Additionally, their extensive cocktail list includes Shrub a Dub Dub, Keep it Chaimuki, Mr. Vecchio, and several other greats. Or you can order from their wine or beer list with selections like Prosecco or Bordeaux Blanc or a beer like their Farm House Ale.
As you can see, Oʻahu has some exciting restaurants worth trying on any vacation and you may even want to try them all! We wouldn’t blame you since the cuisine here is amazing. If you are planning on going to the Big Island, we also have a great list of some of the best restaurants on the Big Island!