Our Favorite Places to Dine
Hawaii is a melting pot of cultures and food. Below is a list of our favorite places to go to satisfy our taste buds. It has become a tradition to enjoy the food at these locations every time we visit the islands. In particular, the island of Oahu. We hope you have a chance to enjoy the delicacies at the establishments below.
Can you tell, we love to eat while on vacation here. Hahahaha.
Welcome to Shiro's Saimin Haven
Shiro’s Saimin Haven & Family Restaurant of Aiea, Hawaii serves delicious saimin noodle dishes and American cuisine entrees. The secret in our noodles is that they are made fresh daily – never frozen, dehydrated, or imported. Try our Hawaiian-inspired dishes or stop in for breakfast. You’re sure to find the perfect dish that will hit the spot.
We love the saimin (noodle dishes) here. The ole standby of won ton mien never disappoints and the additional sides is a nice addition. Sides may include anything from kimchee to Filipino adobo.
Giovanni's started operating out of a converted 1953 bread truck without much more than a few recipes for great shrimp and an entrepreneurial spirit. We drove our beloved truck around the North Shore stopping along the side of the road for a couple hours at each stop to share what we thought was some pretty special food- turns out, we were the only shrimp truck around. Locals took notice and word began to spread about the delicious shrimp…
We know of 2 locations on the North Shore. One in Haleiwa and as you travel East, one in Kahuku near the shrimp farms. We love the Shrimp Scampi here. The garlic is off the charts so bring some breath mints.
An important distinction…. The term is Shave Ice NOT Shaved Ice. Must be a Hawaii thing. LOL
Today, on a warm sunny day, the store produces over 1,000 shave ice. Everyday, locals and different people from around the world come in for a cool treat.
Please take a relaxing drive to the small historic town of Haleiwa and visit us soon!
If you are looking for shave ice in Honolulu, this would be a great place to treat yourself. Many different flavors to enjoy!
From a Yelp review:
“The shave ice texture and consistency is very soft at Waiola and is very cheap for the amount you get! It only got the small cup ($3) and barely finished it. I got the Obama's Rainbow flavor, which comes with Lime, Passion Fruit, and Cherry. It was a good flavor combo but next time I'd probably try some other flavors.
There was no line when we went in the morning around 10/11 which is a positive of this location since it's not the original spot.
I do think the shave ice here is slightly softer than Matsumoto's and overall this is definitely worth a stop!”
This place is know for their pies. In particular, the chocolate haupia cream pile. This place has ranked in Hawaii’s Best 6 years in a row. Definitely worth a try on the North Shore.
For a bit more upscale dining, Roy’s is a favorite. We like the location in Ko ‘Olina in the middle of the Ko ‘Olina Golf Course. However, feel free to try the other locations as we have heard that they are wonderful as well.
“INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SEATING OFFERED. SEATING PREFERENCES ARE REQUESTS, NOT GUARANTEED, BUT REST ASSURED WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ACCOMMODATE AS MANY REQUESTS AS POSSIBLE.”
Serving traditional, local Hawaiian food since 1946 this family-owned business has impacted locals and tourist alike around the world. Come dine with us and experience the spirit of aloha with our ohana!
The pastries here are quite delicious! Decisions…. decisions…. Gotta go back and try another. Hahahaha
Liliha Bakery is a full-service bakery and diner that has built a loyal following since opening its doors in 1950. Since day one, Liliha’s commitment to baking fresh cakes and pastries with local ingredients has been of utmost priority. Experienced bakers who have been with the bakery for up to 40 years, honor the same time baking methods-- making sure that all baked goods are made from scratch.
Liliha Bakery began expansion in 2014, opening its second location on Nimitz Highway, and it's the third and fourth location in the Ala Moana Shopping Center Macy's (March 2019) and the International Market Place in Waikiki (November 2021).
Aside from iconic pastries and local dishes, celebration is a big part of the Liliha mission. Custom-designed cakes are offered at the original Kuakini location, using airbrushing techniques for cake decorations. At Liliha Bakery, the smell of fresh chantilly permeates throughout the store, counter seating provides customers with a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of famous local dishes, and customers are offered a selection of 150 baked goods.
Some things never change… and at Liliha Bakery,
that’s a good thing!
The Marie Calendars of Oahu! Very popular spot for breakfast and can be crowded but the food is delicious and good quantity. Norma and I went for the counter for quick seating. Little noisier and busy but we got to enjoy our food in a timely manner. Waiting for a table or boot can be hit or miss.
Anna Miller’s in Aiea serves old-fashioned diner dishes and local fare, including eggs Florentine, club sandwiches and chicken pot pie. Breakfast is served 24 hours, too.
As a tradition, once we land in Oahu, our first stop is at Zippy’s. This place serves the typical breakfast and lunch with a local twist. We usually go for their noodles and the loco moco (or chili moco depending on our mood). They have their signature Zip Packs which contain combination of goodies like fried chicken, spam, and rice. It’s a great way to unwind after an over seas flight. One of Fred’s aunties used to work at Zippy’s back in the day.
Going back to the bakery, the napoleans and haupia cake are a must!
OUR STORY
Ask anyone in Hawaii about Zippy’s Restaurants and you will hear real stories about cherished weekly dinners with grandparents, post-surf-session munchies satiated, romances won and lost at the restaurant, and the iconic Zippy’s food that helped them to celebrate it all.
Zippy’s grew from simple beginnings in 1966, when brothers Francis and Charles Higa started their first restaurant on King Street in Honolulu. Through their hard work and vision, Zippy’s has become a Hawaii institution, with 24 locations on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, and — coming soon — Las Vegas!
Zippy's McCully in the 1960's
OUR FOOD
For more than 50 years, Zippy’s has been the go-to place in Hawaii for hearty, local comfort food. Grab a couple of Zip Pac® bentos and head for the beach! Slurp down a steaming, satisfying bowl of Zip Min®. Dig into a tangy plate of Korean Fried Chicken. And don’t forget to take home a barrel of our famous chili. You’ll find all of them and much more on our menu, day and night — plus plenty of daily specials that broke da mouth! All served up in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere by folks you know and trust.
It’s the simple pleasures in life! Maladas is best fresh and we love it with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa!
Malasadas
A malasada is a Portugese doughnut without a hole. We fry generously-sized balls of dough until it’s golden brown on the outside and light & fluffy on the inside.
We started making malasadas as part of the Portugese tradition for Shrove Tuesday back in 1953. Now, we make them continuously everyday. We are Hawaii’s original malasada™ bakery.
All of our malasadas are made with our special dough using the finest ingredients. ʻOno as we say in Hawaii.
In June 1882 the British sailing ship ‘Monarch' brought Arsenio and Amelia DoRego from San Miguel Island, Portugal to Maui, Hawai'i under contract to work the sugar cane fields. Some 33 years later, their grandson Leonard was born. In 1946 Leonard and his wife Margaret moved to Honolulu with their daughter Diane, age 8. Leonard worked at Snowflake Bakery until he founded Leonard's Bakery℠ in 1952.
Leonard and Margaret were no strangers to hard work, both coming from very large families. The bakery prospered. Not long after opening, Leonard's mother suggested making malasadas for Shrove Tuesday – a Portuguese tradition. Although thinking it may be too ethnic, Leonard's bakers complied. Malasadas were a huge hit. And, the appetite for malasadas in Hawaii was born.
Jackie’s Diner
Right next door to Shiro’s Saimin Haven is Jackie’s Diner. It’s a no frills, hole in the wall diner that serves great Hawaiian food and a Puerto Rican delicacy called pasteles. What are pasteles made of? Pasteles are made with pork and adobo stuffing encased in a green plantain masa and wrapped in banana leaves. Although time-consuming and labor-intensive, these pasteles are worth the effort.
Serving delicious Puerto Rican and Hawaiian food with passion and a smile is a top priority at Jackie's Diner in Aiea, HI. No one on the island combines authentic dishes with top-notch service and excellent prices quite like them. Open for lunch and dinner every day, they serve kau kau, including a variety of Hawaiian food and Puerto Rican staples, as well as other local foods, like loco moco, chicken katsu, and tripe stew plate. Menu favorites on their Hawaiian Plate include lau lau, kalua pork, chicken long rice, Hawaiian BBQ, lomi salmon, rice, and poi, along with srumptious haupia for dessert. Jackie's Diner also has mouth-watering traditional foods, like hamburgers, chicken wings, and grilled cheese. By using only the best ingredients and trying new things, the menu at Jackie's Diner stays fresh and progressive. You'll find local staples that are always on the menu, but they love to indulge in brand new Puerto Rican and Hawaiian food creations to tempt your taste buds. Exceptional food is made even better when it's presented with outstanding service. At Jackie's Diner, you will always be greeted by friendly, smiling staff members who truly enjoy what they do. Patrons of all ages and families of all sizes have come to expect a superior dining experience, and they never leave disappointed. You can rest assured knowing they won't cut corners, and they'll treat you like family every time you visit...
Food at a bowling alley? This place is no joke. More than just a bowling alley, The restaurant here is awesome. No frills diner type place with the sounds of crashing bowling pins, the food is great here and is filling and satisfying. Popular with the locals. The oxtail soup is one of the signature dishes here but the list goes on!
FEATURED ITEMS ON GUY FIERI’S “DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DIVES” SHOW and Man Finds Food on Food Network.
Our famous oxtail soup. Special attention to slow simmering makes our oxtail simple the best. Garnished with peanuts, shiitake mushrooms, and baby bok choy. Serviced with rice, Mom’s ponzu dipping sauce, ginger, and parsley. Available add-on: Ramen noodles.
If you’re hungry and craving ono local-style food then stop by one of Hawaii’s best kept secrets: The Alley Restaurant!
An award-winning establishment (open seven days a week 😉 ), the Alley has some of the island’s best in fried noodles, delicious chicken dishes and killer pizzas! Alongside the Alley is their amazing bakery that makes delectable cakes, brownies, and other sweet treats.
Whether you’re dining-in or taking out, you will always leave the Alley Restaurant feeling truly satisfied
If you are craving Filipino food, Elena’s in Waipahu is worth a visit (from what we hear, we haven’t been there…. yet!). Many of our friends and relatives have been there and say very nice things of the place. So color us curious…. :-)
Food Network’s Triple D Features Elena’s Lechon Special
Serving Hawai’i for over 40 years
Remember 1974?? That was the year of the oil embargo and the gasoline lines, when George Ariyoshi became the first Japanese-American Governor and Richard Nixon resigned his Presidency. During this time, history was also being made in a small kitchen with a counter and six stools in the old Nabarette Café in Waipahu where Elena and Theo Butuyan founded Elena’s Restaurant.
The Butuyan Family immigrated from Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Philippines in 1969 to the island of Oahu. The sugar plantation town of Waipahu, Hawaii is where Elena’s Restaurant opened its doors for business. Elena and Theo expanded Elena’s Restaurant to 3 lunch trucks, where it received additional accolades at food truck rallies and many local events.
As the originator of many popular Filipino dishes such as the Popular Pork Adobo Fried Rice Omelette™ and Sari-Sari, Elena’s continues to create new dishes today inspired by their original family recipes and local homestyle cooking. Over the past 40 years, Elena’s has established itself as the home of the finest Filipino foods in Hawaii.
Yogurstory
There are two dishes that we wholeheartedly recommend. Ube pancakes and the prime rib loco moco. Its really close to Ala Monana shopping mall.