Eating our way around O’ahu

Eating our way around Oahu

To those who know us, this is nothing new. Enjoying and experiencing food when we travel is one of the biggest components of our trip.  As such, much planning usually goes into it to ensure that we don’t miss the key places we want to visit. It’s also about gathering culinary intelligence and inspiration from what we see and eat to enable us to come back home and cook it (or a version of it). So, without further ado, here’s my summary of eating our way around O’ahu.

• Beach Bar under the Banyan Tree – Moana Surfrider.  A stunning view across the ocean towards Diamond Head, and a gorgeous location under the enormous Banyan Tree.

Beach Bar under the Banyan Tree

•  Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian (Pink Palace).  Another stunning location – aren’t they all !

We had our first Mai Tai at this bar

•  Keoni’s  – 2375 Kuhio Ave Honolulu

A great variety of thai food at this restaurant

• Mai Tai Bar (another one !) at the Ala Moana Shopping Centre

Sliders

Flatbread pizza

• Legends Sports Bar – 411 Nahua St Honolulu

Owned by John and with barman Mike, this is a great local hangout, where you can mix easily with the locals and have happy hour all day long.

At the bar at Legends

With Mike our barman

• Udon Marakame  – 2310 Kuhio Ave Honolulu.  Awesome udon noodles served here.  Don’t worry about the long lines, the service is efficient.

Beef Udon

Curry Udon

• Odoriko  – 2400 Koa Ave Honolulu.  Good Japanese in central Waikiki.

Teriyaki chicken

Chicken with yuzo sauce

Enjoying our japanese

• Mike’s Huli Chicken Truck – 47-525 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe

Huli chicken plate lunch

• Rumfire – Sheraton Waikiki.  Fantastic location and a great club at night.  Shame about the service.  Worst in Waikiki.

Curry banh mi sandwich – roasted chicken, siracha aioli, lemon grass curry, baguette and crunchy thai tacos
 – wok fried angus beef, basil, oyster sauce, grated egg

• Yardhouse – 226 Lewers St Honolulu.  Extensive menu and over 132 beers and ciders on tap.

Lunch at the Yardhouse – club sandwich (huge!) and onion tower (huge!)

Roast beef sandwich with swiss cheese, jus, horseradish cream, brioche and fries

Huge range of beer and cider on tap

• Kapiolani Community College Farmers Market

Kalua pork roll

Kalua pork roll

Other places we ate at in O’ahu

Read about them here.

• House Without a Key
• Il Lupino Trattoria and Wine Bar
• Siam Square
• Buho Cantina
• Duke’s Canoe Club Waikiki
• Lucky Belly
• Cholos Mexican
• Leonard’s Bakery

Along the way there was plenty of adhoc sampling, and plenty of fresh fruit eaten in our own condo each day.  The island of O’ahu put on an amazing food experience for us and I think we did everything we could to do it justice.  Thanks O’ahu!

We stayed at a condo in Waikiki, but there are also an abundance of great hotels to stay in also.

Need to remember where you saw these great places to eat?   Pin this to your boards.

Kerri McConnel

A former business executive, Kerri McConnel, left the corporate world to pursue a different lifestyle, establishing the successful travel website, Beer and Croissants.
 Kerri now travels regularly with her husband, Stirling, where eating great food, drinking quality beer and wine, and cooking international foods are integral to their adventures.

She is also a firm believer that everyone can travel.  To help provide inspiration, she creates comprehensive guides and articles that are written in a down to earth, authentic manner.