10 Best Restaurants in Oahu

Duke's Waikiki is a laidback restaurant overlooking the famous Waikiki Beach, with Diamond Head as the backdrop. Named after Hawaiian surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, the restaurant highlights the best of locally grown ingredients and Hawaii-inspired dishes.

The most popular eats include the Cajun fish tacos, fish and chips, and the mango BBQ baby back ribs. But you can't go wrong with the fresh island ahi poke or Kimo's original hula pie. The best time to arrive is just before sunset. Order a freshly made Mai Tai, sit back, and take in the gorgeous scenery.

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman is a farm-to-table restaurant in Ko Olina on Hawaii’s west coast. If you’re looking for a place to sip on culinary cocktails and tuck into homemade food prepared with locally sourced ingredients (all while having fun), then this is it. The menu here is extensive. Choose from wood-fired pizzas, fresh fish and chips, creative salads, burgers or makai.

Love music? Monkeypod Kitchen hosts live entertainment 3 times daily, every day of the week. Happy hour is from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm with half-price appetisers and discounted cocktails.

Haleiwa Joe’s has been serving Hawaiian specialities since 1998 and is a favourite among locals and visitors. Located on Hawaii’s North Shore overlooking Small Boat Harbor, you can enjoy stellar views while savouring fresh seafood, steaks, and locally grown produce. The menu includes crunchy coconut shrimp, ginger peanut chicken salad, and aged hand-cut New York steak.

Portions are hearty, so save room if you want to try their burnt caramel macadamia and paradise pie. The restaurant often has happy hours, so phone beforehand to find out.

Helena’s Hawaiian Food is an unassuming restaurant tucked away in a humble Honolulu neighbourhood. It’s one of the best restaurants in Oahu that serves traditional Hawaiian food prepared the way that Hawaiian food should taste.

If you can’t decide what to order, Helena’s “Menu D” comes with a little bit of everything. You’ll get to try an authentic kalua pig, Lomi-Lomi salmon, appetising pipikaula (dried beef) short ribs, and luau squid. This is a cash-only place, so be prepared. And while dishes may take a while to be served, they are definitely worth the wait.

Hy’s Steak House at the Waikiki Park Heights Hotel has been a preferred special-occasion dining spot for locals and travellers since 1976. While the refined ambience and dark wood-and-leather decor are appealing, patrons come here for just 1 thing: USDA Prime, dry-aged steaks cooked over native Hawaiian Kiawe wood.

The T-bone, prime rib, or Kiawe-broiled New York strip are excellent choices. But the veal chops, rack of lamb, chicken marsala, and lobster tails are also great main courses. Reservations are essential. And leave your beachwear at home – this is a rather fancy place.

Waiahole Poi Factory is a great lunch spot after a morning exploring the white-sand beaches of East Oahu. The Hawaiian food joint is laidback and prepares simple yet 'ono (delicious) traditional dishes. The restaurant is famous for serving the hard-to-find poi, which is pounded taro root. Taro is a root vegetable and a staple food on the island.

Other dishes you should try are the kalua pig, squid, beef laulau, Lomi-Lomi salmon, and chicken long rice. Dishes come in large or small sizes. While you are there, pick up a couple of local souvenirs from the onsite craft shop. Items include traditional Hawaiian arts and crafts and musical instruments.

Uncle Bo's Haleiwa in the heart of Haleiwa is an outpost of Uncle Bo's flagship restaurant in Honolulu. The menu offers an array of Asian and Hawaiian cuisine, including its signature kalua-pig fried rice, pupu (assorted meats), and fish dishes.

After a day of sightseeing on the North Shore, the handcrafted cocktails are the perfect accompaniment to your Hawaiian meal. Besides the delicious food and drinks, Uncle Bo's prides itself on its Aloha hospitality, so customer service here is top-notch. If you're driving, there is plenty of parking at the Haleiwa Town Center shopping mall.

Roy's in Hawaii Kai in East Honolulu is a fine-dining waterfront classic on Oahu offering stunning views. The restaurant is owned by Roy Yamaguchi, an internationally known chef who brought Hawaiian fusion cuisine to the world 25 years ago.

Begin your culinary experience with some sushi or Roy's dim sum-style canoe of shrimp sticks, mini crab cakes, miso salmon tempura roll, Szechuan pork ribs, and chicken spring rolls. The fresh local fish or grass-fed beef makes for the perfect gluten-free meal. Reservations are recommended.

Senia is a buzzing eatery in Honolulu's Chinatown that has garnered rave reviews and several awards since it opened in 2016. As dishes depend on the availability of seasonal ingredients, the creative modern Hawaiian menu is constantly changing. Therefore, no 2 visits to Senia is ever the same.

The restaurant's ambience is sophisticated yet relaxed. Prices are affordable, but if you want to splurge on a unique culinary experience, book a seat at the coveted chef's table. You'll get to watch the talented chefs' creativity in action as they prepare modern, elevated Hawaiian and New American dishes.

The Surfing Pig is a multi-award-winning restaurant in Honolulu that attracts foodies to its traditional dishes and laidback vibe. Delights to try out here include the 12-hour slow-roasted pork, baby back ribs, truffle fries, and their signature cocktails. Happy hour is from Monday to Friday between 4 pm and 6 pm. If you aren’t sure what to order, just tell the bartender what your favourite flavours are, and they’ll create the drink just for you.

There are several seating areas to choose from, including the bar, mezzanine, outdoor patio, private dining room and first-floor counters.