It’s always exciting to get to taste all the local dishes and flavors while on vacation, but dining on the island of Oahu is certainly a culinary experience like no other. Whether you’re a seafood fanatic who’s eager to dig into a fresh catch of the day or can’t wait to indulge in some elegantly crafted desserts, there’s a dish that’s sure to cater to your taste​ buds. Best of all, Oahu is filled with just about any type of restaurant you can imagine. From world-class dining served right next to the beach to hole-in-the-wall diners whipping up classic meals bursting with Hawaiian flavor, here is your go-to dining guide to abide by during your stay at an Oahu vacation rental:
Breakfast
No matter what exciting activities you have planned for an exhilarating day on Oahu, you’ll need a hearty breakfast to kick things off right. If you’re staying in Honolulu and looking to go all out in the morning, you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to big meals and taste. For starters, there’s Duke’s Canoe Club, known for its daily breakfast buffet. This is a great spot for soaking in all the gorgeous Waikiki beach scenery, while indulging in buffet entrees ranging from made-to-order omelettes to banana pancakes to a full-on fruit and veggie spread. Another coveted Honolulu breakfast spot that’s sure to fill you up is Cafe Kaila, famous for its cinnamon french toast open-faced omelets, loaded with Hawaiian specialties such as Portuguese sausage, roasted eggplant and zucchini, and countless other ingredients.
Who says you can’t eat sweets for breakfast? Another staple that has multiple locations throughout the island is Koa Pancake House, which is home to the famous strawberry cheesecake pancake, topped with your choice of maple, caramel or orange-marmalade syrup. If you find yourself in a hurry and just want something portable, yet delicious, the Liliha Bakery in Honolulu is definitely worth checking out. Since 1950, this landmark breakfast joint has been serving homemade Hawaiian cooking at its finest, with essential dishes such as Hawaiian malasadas, pineapple doughnuts and more.
Lunch
Lunch is one of those meals that really depends on what kind of day you have planned for you and your travel party. If you’ve got some time on your hands and are looking for a hearty lunch, those staying in Honolulu should grab a bite to eat at The Pineapple Room, one of the three famous Along Wong restaurants in the area. The lunch menu at The Pineapple Room features plenty of favorites with a tropical island twist, like the Pineapple Room Burger, made of grass-fed beef, bacon, avocado salsa on an onion bun or the Kiawe Grilled Kalbi Short Ribs, which has homemade kimchi served on fried rice and topped with kabayaki sauce. Another great sit-down lunch restaurant in Honolulu is Mariposa, which is a finer dining setting that overlooks the ocean. Reserve a spot on the patio, and prepare yourself to feast on appetizing entrees, such as the applewood king salmon salad or its famous ahi tuna melt sandwich, complete with fontina cheese and topped with caper aioli.
If you have places to go and want to try some more portable, yet authentic Hawaiian lunch options, Oahu has plenty of amazingly delicious and affordable meals on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu. This strip is filled with fast and quick meals, ranging from traditional Hawaiian plate lunches to scrumptious sandwich shops. There’s always the famous Rainbow Drive-In, home of some of the most tasty and renowned plate lunches on the island. It has even been said by President Obama to be one of his favorite stops in all of Hawaii. Be sure to load up on a mix plate of barbecue beef, boneless chicken and mahi, or get some curry stew to go.
“Experience the culinary creations of chef George Mavrothalassitis at Chef Mavro.”
Dinner
Now we’ve finally arrived at what many would say is the most precious meal of the day while exploring Oahu. Dinner is the chance to sit back, relax, soak in your surroundings and indulge in some of the finest foods on the island. If you’re willing to splurge a little on some incredible Oahu dining, take your pick. Many will tell you that you can’t get more Hawaiian than watching a beautiful island sunset at Roy’s Waikiki, located right on the Waikiki Beach Walk. This is where you can mix and match anything from the freshest sushi rolls to generous seafood entrees to tantalizing dishes like the slow-braised honey mustard grilled beef short ribs.
If you really want to fulfill yourself with the full-on Hawaiian culinary experience, then head on over to Chef Mavro in Honolulu. This is where famous chef George Mavrothalassitis crafts one incredible combination of edibles after another. This establishment serves four-course meals, which can typically go something like this: an appetizer of zucchini blossom tempura, a plate of roasted keahole lobster served with kahuku sweet corn and shiso fritter charred poppy seed asparagus, provence-style roasted niman ranch lamb loin and some big-island goat-cheese mousse to finish everything off. Any of these Oahu staples will be sure to provide you with the ultimate Hawaiian culinary experience!