13 Dishes Every Traveler to Oʻahu Should Try

Oʻahu is home to some of the most well-known restaurants in Hawaiʻi. From beloved bakeries to plate-lunch spots, these places have been influential in shaping the culinary culture throughout the Islands.

From malasadas to manapua, you’ll want to try these 13 iconic dishes on Oʻahu.

1. A mega meat plate from Rainbow Drive-In

Rainbow Drive-In has been the go-to spot for affordable plate lunches since 1961. Generations of Oʻahu residents have grown up stopping by the family-run restaurant on Kapahulu Avenue for a hearty loco moco or a plate heavy with shoyu chicken, and even visitors become regulars when they’re in town. Although you can’t go wrong with any dish at Rainbow Drive-In, one of the most popular items on the menu is the Mix Plate. Be sure to come hungry because it’s loaded with barbecue beef, boneless chicken and mahimahi. But that’s not all: The plate also comes with rice and mac salad.

Multiple locations, rainbowdrivein.com

READ MORE: How to Make Rainbow Drive-In Shoyu Chicken

2. Top–ranked poke bowl from ʻOno Seafood

Just down the road from Rainbow Drive-In on Kapahulu Avenue is another dining institution (there’s actually a few). ʻOno Seafood is a no-frills poke spot that’s also been around for decades. The mom and pop shop is known for consistently offering delicious poke bowls made with ultrafresh fish and just the right ratio of rice. At ʻOno Seafood you can choose between eight kinds of poke and a variety of toppings including furikake and pickled ginger.

747 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu

READ MORE: We Ate at the Top Poke Spot on Oʻahu, According to Yelp

3. Pillowy manapua from 7-Eleven

Manapua is Hawaiʻi’s spin on Chinese bao. These pillowy white buns are stuffed with mouthwatering fillings like char siu pork, lup cheong, teriyaki or curry chicken. For more eclectic fillings, you can stop by speciality manapua shops, and many local Chinese restaurants serve the meat-filled buns. But you can also score this fluffy, hand-held snack at 7-Eleven.

Multiple locations, 7elevenhawaii.com

READ MORE: The Search for the Mysterious and Beloved Manapua Man

4. A bowl of homemade noodles from Shige’s Saimin Stand

If you’re driving through the quiet town of Wahiawā on your way to the island’s North Shore, you’ll want to stop for saimin at Shige’s Saimin Stand. The family-run shop makes its own noodles every morning. Unique to Hawaiʻi, saimin dates back to the Islands’ plantation era. The noodles are slightly chewier than other Asian noodles and served in a hot dashi broth, usually made from shrimp, mushroom, ginger and konbu (dried kelp). Bowls of saimin are garnished with thin slices of kamaboko (fish cake), chopped green onion and sometimes slivers of Spam or char siu pork. It’s arguably one of Hawaiʻi’s most popular comfort dishes.

70 Kūkui St., Wahiawā

READ MORE: Noodle Star: Shige’s Saimin Stand on Oʻahu

5. Deep-fried, sugar-dusted malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery

We all owe a big mahalo to Leonard Rego, the founder of Leonard’s Bakery. He’s a major reason the malasada is so popular throughout Hawaiʻi. The sugar-dusted doughnutlike treat is a sweet symbol of the unique blend of cultures in Hawaiʻi. Portuguese plantation laborers from the Madeira and Azores islands arrived here in 1878, bringing traditions and culinary customs with them, including the malasada. Fast forward to 1952, Leonard Rego opened Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue, offering the Portuguese fried pastry. Now, the malasada is one of the Islands’ most well-known treats and Leonard’s one of its most popular bakeries. Fried to perfection, Leonard’s malasadas are golden and crispy with a soft, fluffy interior. Of course, the pastries are dusted with a healthy coat of sugar, too. Like Rainbow Drive-In, the bakeshop’s most popular location is on Kapahulu Avenue, but you can also grab one (or a dozen) at its food trucks around the island.

Multiple locations, leonardshawaii.com/home

READ MORE: So, What’s the Big Deal with Malasadas?

6. Chocolate-filled puff pastries from Liliha Bakery

Liliha Bakery is a decades-old institution famous for its Coco Puffs—a sweet treat you’ll also want to try. These light, flaky pastries are filled with a gooey chocolate pudding and topped with a buttery Chantilly frosting. It’ll be hard to eat just one, trust us.

Multiple locations, lilihabakery.com

7. Delectable chocolate haupia pie from Ted’s Bakery

Haupia is a mainstay in Hawaiʻi. Made with coconut milk, the sweet and gelatinous treat is often dessert at lūʻau and Hawaiian restaurants.

And when you combine haupia with rich chocolate and a fresh-baked pie crust, you have a dessert that is so unbelievably good. Ted’s Bakery in Haleʻiwa is renowned for its chocolate haupia cream pie. Here, the flaky homemade crust is filled with a dark chocolate custard and silky haupia. It’s then topped with a mountain of whipped cream.

59-024 Kamehameha Highway, Haleʻiwa, tedsbakery.com

READ MORE: How to Make Hawaiʻi Chocolate Haupia Pie

8. Melt-in-your-mouth shave ice from Kaimana Shave Ice

Kaimana Shave Ice is a hidden gem in Haleʻiwa serving some of the finest shave ice on Oʻahu. The family-run business is just down the road from established shave ice spots Matsumoto Shave Ice and Aoki’s Shave Ice. But this shop holds its own thanks to its homemade natural syrups. Made with real fruit, the syrups are packed with flavors that aren’t overly sweet. When they’re doused over a bowl of ultrafine shaved ice, the result is a treat that just melts in your mouth. Pro tip: Order ice cream for your base—it’s homemade, too.

66-519 Kamehameha Highway, Haleʻiwa

READ MORE: You Need to Try this Shave Ice on Oʻahu’s North Shore

9. Refreshing açaí bowl from Sunrise Shack

The Sunrise Shack sets the bar high for picturesque açaí bowls that are packed with good-for-you ingredients and topped with fresh fruit. The place is known for its bright yellow shack across the street from Sunset Beach, but the local company now has six locations across the island.

Multiple locations, sunriseshackhawaii.com

READ MORE: Next-Level Açaí and Smoothie Bowls You Need to Try on Oʻahu

10. A plate of Hawaiian food and hand-pounded poi from Waiāhole Poi Factory

Just past Kāneʻohe on Oʻahu’s Windward Side, you can find Waiāhole Poi Factory, a family-run eatery serving authentic Hawaiian food. Located in a former poi factory, the restaurant is committed to honoring the structure’s history and sharing Hawaiian culture through food. The building was constructed in 1905 and operated as a poi factory until 1971. Since 2009, Waiāhole Poi Factory has been a go-to spot for Hawaiian favorites like laulau, lomi salmon, kālua pig, haupia and of course, poi. Made from kalo (taro), which is closely tied to the Hawaiian creation myth, poi is a staple Hawaiian food and integral to Hawaiian culture. Every Wednesday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. you can watch poi-pounding demonstrations, too.

48-140 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe, waiaholepoifactory.com

11. Crispy ʻahi katsu from Ken’s Fresh Fish

Ken’s Fresh Fish is a bit of a hidden gem in Lāʻie, but it’s worth searching for. The shop offers poke, sashimi, dried fish and daily lunch specials. But the must-try dish is the mouthwatering ʻahi katsu. Served on a bed of rice, the fish is deep-fried to perfection and then drizzled with a combination of tonkatsu sauce and wasabi aioli.

55-730 Kamehameha Highway, Lāʻie

12. Uber-garlicky shrimp from Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

If you’re visiting the North Shore, you’ll see that Kamehameha Highway is dotted with shrimp trucks and restaurants. It’s a trend that started with Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck back in the ‘90s. From a converted 1953 bread truck, Giovanni’s started serving plates of hot shrimp to beachgoers. Today, the shrimp scampi is a must-try. The plate includes a dozen shrimp marinated in olive oil, garlic and lemon. They’re served with two scoops of rice drizzled in a garlic lemon butter and topped with caramelized chunks of garlic that just melt in your mouth. You can make a pit stop at Giovanni’s on the North Shore, either in Kahuku or Haleʻiwa. In Kakaʻako, you’ll find Giovanni’s at the H Mart, on the second floor.

Multiple locations, giovannisshrimptruck.com

13. Specialty mochi from Fujiya Hawaiʻi

Fujiya Hawaiʻi has been a local fixture since 1953. It recently changed ownership and moved to a new location, but the confection shop continues to offer the same soft, pillowy mochi that everyone loves. In 2023, it was nominated for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery. Here, you can find traditional flavors like azuki red bean or more creative options like mochi stuffed with peanut butter or fresh strawberries.

930 Hauʻoli St., Honolulu, fujiyahawaii.com