


Although Leonard's Bakery in Kapahulu is popular, ask any local and they can tell you their favorite bakeries on Oahu to find these fresh and tasty treats. Treat your sweet tooth to a hot malasada (a Portuguese doughnut). You'll find fine shave ice shops throughout Oahu but the most famous include Matsumoto's Shave Ice on the North Shore, Waiola's Shave Ice in Kapahulu and Island Snow in Kailua Town near Kailua Beach. These finely shaved snow cones are served with colorful flavors on the top with a choice of ice cream or azuki beans on the bottom. No matter what island you're on, grab a shave ice to cool off. Some Hawaii Regional Cuisine chefs like Alan Wong have even created fine dining twists on this favorite. This hearty, blue-collar bowl can be found at plate lunch places and restaurants throughout Oahu. “Pupu” is the Hawaiian term for appetizer, and every local restaurant from Waikiki to the North Shore offers a wide range of creative pupu platters to dine on, from poke dishes (seasoned cubes of raw fish) to sushi.įor big appetites, try a “loco moco,” which is a hamburger steak and egg over rice, covered in gravy. But throughout Oahu, from mom and pop shops to local chains, you won't have to look far to find the perfect plate lunch. In Kapahulu, the Rainbow Drive-In, Ono Hawaiian Foods and Zippy's (Oahu's 24-hour mainstay) offer local favorite plates. Wherever you go, you'll discover the ethnic diversity of Hawaii in these distinct local dishes:Ĭonsisting of two scoops of rice, macaroni salad and everything from kalua pork, Korean barbecue, chicken katsu, beef teriyaki or mahimahi, the plate lunch is a staple of local food. The neighborhood of Kapahulu, for example, is a perfect place to eat where the locals eat and it's just five minutes from the east end of Waikiki. And Oahu offers a variety of comfort foods and farm to table restaurants in a variety of off-the-beaten path locations, from Honolulu to Haleiwa on the North Shore. Hawaii Regional Cuisine inventively blends Oahu's freshest flavors with the cuisine of the world. And Oahu offers a variety of comfort foods in a variety of off-the-beaten path locations.Īt Farmers' Markets on Oahu you can buy local fish, meat, and produce and sample Oahu-style cooking, from gourmet plate lunches to Hawaii Regional Cuisine.įollow the farm to table process from farmer's markets and farm tours to the fine Hawaii Regional Cuisine restaurants of Oahu. For a list of restaurants right in the heart of the action, go to Waikiki dining or click on Honolulu Dining for everything from quaint cafes to city chic.

Make your reservations at these Honolulu restaurants or at hot spots throughout Oahu and get a taste of this unique culinary fusion of Hawaii's ethnic influences. These local legends take the freshest, locally grown produce and ingredients to create flavorful dishes for visitors and locals alike. Alan Wong ( Alan Wong's Restaurant ), Roy Yamaguchi ( Roy's Waikiki ), George Mavrothalassitis ( Chef Mavro Restaurant ) and Phillippe Padovani (Elua) were some of the founding chefs of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement. Oahu is home to arguably some of the best chefs in the world. On Oahu you can eat like a local in small neighborhoods like Kapahulu or Haleiwa or dine in high style at some of Hawaii's finest restaurants in Waikiki and beyond. The metropolitan center of Hawaii, Oahu has a variety of excellent restaurants to choose from.
