Conventional plate lunch: ahi poke, lomi lomi salmon, tako poke, kālua pork, poi, lau lau. Photograph by Shutterstock.
This itinerary is for severe cooks and eaters visiting Hawaiʻi to discover the island’s numerous meals tradition. Designed as a self-led culinary tour of Oʻahu, you’ll pattern all the pieces from Hawaiian lau lau to local-style Portuguese bean soup to ʻulu noodles. Deliver your strolling sneakers and an enormous urge for food for per week stuffed with discovery and indulgence.
To make all the pieces match, we advocate ordering simply a few dishes per cease and following our advised days and instances. Needless to say the working hours of all companies listed are topic to vary. Contact every location forward of time to substantiate hours and make reservations. Though we propose strolling when doable, additionally, you will want a rental automobile to journey throughout the island.
A 5-Evening Culinary Tour of Oʻahu
Day 1 – Friday Afternoon Arrival
1:30 p.m. – AC Hotel
Whereas most of Oʻahu’s lodges are in Waikīkī, that’s not the place you’ll be doing most of your consuming. AC Resort is centrally situated and inside strolling distance of a lot of Honolulu’s greatest eating locations and bars. Verify-in is at Three p.m., however you possibly can arrive earlier, drop off your luggage, and stroll to Fête for a late lunch. Your room must be prepared by the point you come.
From $253 per evening
2:30 p.m. – Fête
Begin your journey with a meal at James Beard Award-winning Fête — an area favourite identified for elevated consolation meals, ingenious cocktails and one of many island’s greatest wine lists. With all-day eating, this is a perfect spot for a light-weight meal throughout off-peak hours. It’s additionally probably the greatest instances to attain a coveted seat.
Strive: Hen liver mousse, vitello tonnato, smoked ono membership, house-made rocky street ice cream
Common worth per individual: Lunch $35, Dinner $60
eight p.m. – Faria
You’ve possible by no means had Portuguese meals like this. Faria’s Pasifika local-style method displays the expertise of rising up in a big Portuguese household in Hawaiʻi. Parts are beneficiant, wine is inexpensive, and the hospitality appears like a home-cooked gathering.
Strive: Salt cod and potato fritters, salt and vinegar rooster wings, oxtail caldo verde, pastéis de nata
Common worth per individual: $60
Smoked Ono Membership. Courtesy of Fete Restaurant.
Day 2 – Saturday: Farmers Market, Native Rum and Chocolate
eight a.m. – Kakaʻako Farmers Market
The most important farmers market on the island gives an in depth overview of what’s produced in Hawaiʻi. That is your cease to pattern contemporary tropical fruit, Hawaiʻi-grown espresso, honey and chocolate, hand-pulled noodles, poke, pastries and extra. Go to native farm stands comparable to MAʻO Natural Farms, Kahumana Natural Farm, Ahiki Acres and Lovan Farm to see what’s grown on the island.
Strive: Grok Espresso, Depraved HI Slush, youpo noodles, ʻUlu & Kalo Bakery, Madre Chocolate
11 a.m. – Kō Hana Distillers
Take a drive as much as Kō Hana Distillers to tour the ability and study Hawaiʻi’s agricole-style rum, produced from heirloom sugar cane. Tastings are supplied each 30 minutes from 10:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and excursions run from 10:30 a.m. to Four p.m.
Tastings from $15
Excursions from $35
2 p.m. – Tamashiro Market
One of many first poke outlets on Oʻahu, Tamashiro Market gives greater than 30 varieties of poke utilizing contemporary, native fish — by no means beforehand frozen imports. Search for the enduring pink constructing with the enormous crab on high.
Strive: Aku limu poke, Hawaiian-style uncooked crab poke, nairagi onion poke, tako limu poke
Poke from $29.95 per pound
Three p.m. – Lonohana Chocolate (SALT at Our Kakaʻako)
Cease by the Lonohana Chocolate tasting room for among the best bean-to-bar chocolate produced on Oʻahu. The store is open every day, and if you wish to see the way it’s made, manufacturing facility excursions can be found simply down the road (Wednesday via Saturday). SALT at Our Kakaʻako can be residence to many outlets, eateries and occasional spots price exploring.
Tastings: Free
Factory tour and tasting: $56
eight p.m. – Nami Kaze
Positioned steps from the Honolulu Fish Market, Nami Kaze gives a considerate mixture of contemporary fish dishes and native vegetable-forward creations that spotlight Hawaiʻi’s substances. Led by native chef and culinary teacher Jason Peel, the menu is artistic, exact and distinctly island-grown.
Strive: ʻUlu tots, assorted sushi rolls, sashimi and nigiri, quick ribs, Lukii Lemon
Common worth per individual: $60
Kō Hana Tasting. Courtesy of Kō Hana Distillers.
Day 3 – Sunday: Brunch and Exploring Waikīkī
10 a.m. – Mud Hen Water
Chef Ed Kenney has been a serious affect on Hawaiʻi’s meals tradition since opening his first restaurant, City, in 2005. That establishment had a 16-year run earlier than making manner for its sister restaurant throughout the road — Mud Hen Water — which now serves a contemporary tackle Hawaiian delicacies. Kenney and his crew are deeply dedicated to supporting native agriculture and creating dishes (and drinks) that supply a real sense of place.
Strive: Bali banana pancakes, contemporary fish and lūʻau, pohole, crispy ʻulu
Common worth per individual: $50
Midday – Waikīkī
Spend the afternoon exploring Waikīkī. Cease by House of Mana Up for regionally made, edible souvenirs. For a espresso or smoothie break, head to Bean About Town — a comfy spot to relaxation and recharge.
2 p.m. – Monkeypod Waikīkī
Get pleasure from a late lunch with an ocean view at Monkeypod Kitchen, situated contained in the Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Seashore Resort. Proprietor Peter Merriman is likely one of the founding cooks of Hawaiʻi Regional Delicacies — a farm-to-table motion launched in 1991 by 12 native cooks. The menu displays a mix of immigrant culinary traditions with native Hawaiian substances.
Strive: Poke tacos, contemporary island fish sandwich with garlic fries, macadamia nut-crusted fish, pie!
Common worth per individual: $52
eight p.m. – Giovedi
Giovedi brings ingenious Italian-Asian fusion to life in a hip, energetic setting — assume home music, hip-hop, amaro cocktails and heat, attentive service. The menu is designed to be shared family-style, so order just a little of all the pieces and cross it round.
Strive: Prosciutto San Daniele, nairagi crudo, foie gras torchon, gnocchi mapobolognese, char siu pork
Common worth per individual: $75–$90
Prosciutto San Danielle at Giovedi. Photograph by Courtney Mau.
Day 4 – Monday: Journey to the North Shore and Windward Aspect
eight a.m. – Sunrise Shack (Shark’s Cove/North Shore location)
Begin your day at Dawn Shack’s authentic location — a roadside espresso and smoothie bowl stand close to Shark’s Cove, typically surrounded by chickens and surfers heading out for daybreak patrol. The intense, beachy shack serves energizing, health-forward meals and drinks designed to gasoline your day.
Strive: Bullet espresso, smoothie bowl, papaya bowl
Common worth per individual: $15
11 a.m. – Waiahole Poi Factory
Your culinary tour of Oʻahu wouldn’t be full with out attempting conventional Hawaiian meals. Positioned on Oʻahu’s windward facet, this 100-year-old poi manufacturing facility has been serving Hawaiian plate lunches meals since 2009. It’s beloved for its signature dessert, Candy Woman of Waiahole — a heat kulolo (poi and coconut pudding) topped with creamy haupia (coconut) ice cream.
Strive: Laulau, kalua pig, hōʻio salad, poi, Candy Woman of Waiahole
Plate lunches from $16
1 p.m. – Kualoa Ranch Market & Aunty Pat’s Cafe
Kualoa Ranch is a 4,000-acre working cattle ranch, oyster and shrimp farm, and cultural reserve — additionally well-known because the filming location for “Jurassic Park.” The on-site market and café serve meals grown and raised on the property, together with taro and seafood.
Strive: Recent Kualoa oysters, banana-kalo bread pudding
Three p.m. – Adela’s Country Eatery
This native gem makes noodles utilizing Hawaiʻi-grown substances comparable to ʻulu (breadfruit), kalo (taro), malunggay (moringa) and ʻuala (purple candy potato). Adela’s is dedicated to constructing a sustainable native meals system, and the menu is each artistic and deeply rooted in place.
Strive: ʻUlu noodles with portobello mushrooms, malunggay noodles with lechon
Common worth per individual: $30
eight p.m. – Side Street Inn
An Oʻahu establishment, Aspect Road Inn is understood for its giant, family-style platters of Hawaiʻi native consolation meals. It’s informal, vigorous, and ideal for sharing.
Strive: Pan-fried pork chops, kalbi ribs, poke
Common worth per individual: $35
Kualoa Ranch on Oʻahu. Photograph from Shutterstock.
Day 5 – Tuesday: In City
9 a.m. – Koko Head Cafe
Co-owned by superstar chef Lee Anne Wong, Koko Head Café gives all-day brunch that’s common with each locals and guests. The parts are beneficiant, and plenty of substances are regionally sourced.
Strive: Cornflake French toast, lūʻau and eggs, tropical contemporary fruit, one of the best hash brown ever
Common worth per individual: $35
1 p.m. – Guava Smoked
This no-frills eatery makes a speciality of smoked meats and plate lunches, utilizing invasive guava wooden within the smoking course of for a singular taste.
Strive: Smoked rooster, smoked pork Smoked
Combined Plate: $19.58+tax
Or – Mama Woo’s Korean BBQ
A takeout-only Korean plate lunch spot in Mōʻiliʻili with a various choice, together with local-style meat jun, mochiko rooster and hamachi collar.
Strive: Kalbi plate, bulgogi plate, all of the banchan
Plate Lunch from $22.03
2:30 p.m. – Waiola Shave Ice
Waiola is an Oʻahu establishment identified for its ultra-fine, fluffy shave ice. The in depth listing of syrups and toppings makes for countless taste mixtures.
Strive: Small dimension with coconut and lilikoʻi
Common worth per individual: $4
eight p.m. – The Pig and The Lady
Chef Andrew Le’s ingenious fashionable Vietnamese restaurant is a must-visit. “The Pig” refers to Le himself, and “The Woman” is his mother — whose pho helped encourage the restaurant’s cult following. Count on daring flavors, artistic dishes and certainly one of Honolulu’s most acclaimed eating experiences.
Strive: Burmese tea salad, Le fried rooster wings, pho, mushy serve ice cream
Common worth per individual: $75
Monkeypod Mai Tai and Poke Tacos. Photograph courtesy of Monkeypod Kitchen.
Day 6 – Wednesday: Chinatown Crawl + Ultimate Day Culinary Tour of Oʻahu
eight a.m. – Drip Studio
A mom-and-pop café specializing in high-quality, ethically sourced specialty espresso. Drip Studio is a superb place to decelerate and luxuriate in expertly crafted drinks earlier than a day of exploring Chinatown.
Strive: Pour-over espresso, Chilly Customary, Japanese-style iced pour-over, strawberry matcha
Espresso from $6
11 a.m. – Take a look at of AC Resort
Verify-out time is 11 a.m., however the lodge can maintain your luggage till you’re prepared to move to the airport.
11:30 a.m. – Chinatown Crawl
End your culinary tour of Oʻahu strolling via Honolulu’s Chinatown. Go to bustling produce, meat and fish markets, browse for last-minute souvenirs and snacks, and wrap up your culinary tour with two ultimate stops:
Sing Sing Thai Street Food
A Bangkok-style eatery that includes regional Thai dishes with a rotating menu that adjustments each three months. It’s BYOB, so be happy to convey your favourite beverage.
Strive: Issan beef tongue, Panang of beef cheek, betel leaf wraps (ʻahi or salmon)
Common worth per individual: $30
Youpo Noodles
This hole-in-the-wall spot is beloved for its hand-pulled biang biang noodles from Shaanxi, China. Parts are beneficiant, and the flavors are daring and spicy — a terrific ultimate chew earlier than you go.
Strive: Cumin lamb biang biang noodles, lamb spareribs, rooster wings
Noodles from $17
Chinatown, Honolulu. Courtesy of Shutterstock. Photograph by Theodore Trimmer.
