Oahu Eats

We went to the island of Oahu while we were staying in Hawaii. Whenever we travel, I have a great time but after a week it's time to go home. Oahu was really different. The food, the people and the beaches made me feel as though it was home. The quality of the food EVERYWHERE was amazing, fresh and tasty. Here are places we ate with our friend Roger who was traveling with us and the many suggestions of friends that have visited and my friends who live there.

Wailana Coffee House
1860 Ala Moana Blvd Lbby
Honolulu, HI 96815

We ate at Wailana twice during our stay in Oahu. It's the equivalent of an IHOP or Denny's but they also have Hawaiian style breakfast.

Boots and Kimo's
151 Hekili street suite 150
Kailua, HI 96734

My friend Simon who lives in Kailua took my friends and I to this wonderful breakfast place. They are famous for their macadamia nut sauce. I got the pancakes with the mac sauce and I was in heaven! The other food is delicious too but honestly you should get the pancakes with the fluffy mac nut sauce. It's a small place and is very busy so you'll be waiting but I promise it's worth it!

See the pancakes with the mac nut sauce? Drools!

Ono's Hawaiian Food
726 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816

I'll let the food do the talking:

They say the coconut jelly is a laxative type, so don't eat too many of these. (even though they are delicious!)

We ate here for lunch and Ono himself came out, he was SO nice and helpful. The food is so delicious that you'll never want to go to a luau. It's authentic Hawaiian food that you will absolutely fall in love with and such variety! We ate a lot and we ate well. Go try it and let me know what you think.

Rainbow Drive In
3308 Kanaina Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815

You'll notice that most places don't really have a dress code because everyone is always surfing, swimming or hanging at the beach. Rainbow Drive In is literally a place you drive, park, order your food and eat outside or take away. It's cheap, delicious and they have a lot of food. Check out their menu.


Hawaii is known for their Loco Moco. Which is a meat patty on rice with brown gravy. Tasty. You can also order it from Rainbow Drive In.

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck
Burroughs Rd & Kamehameha Hwy
Kahuku, HI 96731

Giovanni's is very delicious, they are famous for their shrimp scampi with garlic sauce on rice. Do not get anything else there. They have a spicy scampi but it's unbearable, it's so hot that you're not only sweating from the heat outside but how spicy the shrimp is. I personally think the shrimp tastes better when it's actually super busy cuz you know the shrimp hasn't been sitting there and over cooked. The second time we went, we thought we were clever by going while it's not busy. Mistake, the sauce wasn't good and the shrimp didn't taste that great. Go during lunch time, around noon when it's packed.

Kapiolani Community College Farmers Market
4303 Diamond Head Road
Honolulu, HI 96805

You should go to the Farmer's Market after you do a sunrise hike on Diamond Head. Be sure to get there early as they are sold out of a lot of the popular things to eat. Things you should try: Abalone, natural ginger ale, fried green tomatoes and the beignet.

Ethel's Grill
232 Kalihi Street
Honolulu, HI 96819

Oh My Goodness. Ethel's is a locals joint, my friend who lives in Honolulu took us there and it was my favorite meal EVER. Order everything. You will not regret it. They are closed at random times so be sure to call them and make sure they are open. Check out the food:

Authentic Japanese

And here is the business card:

My friend Winnie who took us to Ethel's also took us here for authentic Japanese. This also seems to be a locals only type place since it was away from the touristy areas. Everything here tastes delicious. We all ordered different things. I personally had the Karaage and it was delicious. If I lived in Hawaii, I would never make that from scratch ever again since it's BETTER than what I can make!

We were very happy.

More Hawaii posts to come!