This is Part II of a three-part series. If you haven’t read Part I, check out the Q&A about our trip to Hawaii here. I hope you enjoy this post about Waikiki restaurants!
The most popular questions I received about our trip to Hawaii were food related so this blog post is about my favorite Waikiki restaurants. You may have to venture out of the Waikiki area for a couple restaurants, but not too far. Even if you aren’t traveling to Hawaii, but are curious about the food…keep reading!
Shorty’s Island Cafe
Shorty’s Island Cafe was our favorite Waikiki restaurant! You will see garlic shrimp on many menus and hear about some popular places to get it, but Shorty’s was by far the best! We had the spicy garlic shrimp which comes covered in a sauce on top of a bed of rice. While we were waiting on the food, the garlic aroma filled the air and made me even hungrier. My nose knew it was going to be good and my taste buds were not disappointed! The shrimp was succulent and the creamy, garlic sauce was perfection. The sauce was so good I could have eaten it like it was soup.
We had a nice chat with the owner and she even went out of her way to give us a free sample of her ribs which were also delicious! We connected on social media afterwards and she told me that she will cook for me when she visits Georgia and I am hoping this happens for real!
Kono’s
Another favorite Waikiki restaurant is Kono’s. The kalua pig nachos were outstanding! Not going to lie…I was skeptical so I didn’t order them, but Mike did. I ended up eating part of his nachos and my sliders lol. Kalua pig is the Hawaiian style 12-hour roasted pork typically pulled apart into small pieces. So if you see kalua pig (pork) on the menu anywhere just think of juicy, flavorful, pulled pork. Also worth mentioning, the Oreo milkshake was pretty good too…they are not stingy with the Oreos!
Waiola Shave Ice
Snow cones don’t have anything on Hawaiian shave ice! Do not add the “d” because it is indeed called shave ice. I don’t know what kind of ice sorcery they have going on, but it is the softest ice I have ever had. I got the Obama rainbow simply because it looked pretty and he is still my president! Pictured below you will see me enjoying the shave ice with a local named Arnold (born and raised in Hawaii). He says that Waiola has the best shave ice on the island and I think he’s right!
Leonard’s Bakery
You simply cannot make a list about Waikiki restaurants and not mention Leonard’s Bakery! If you follow me on Instagram then you have already heard about this place, but if you don’t you’re missing out! Don’t worry because you can follow me here. Now back to what I was saying… the bakery has been around since 1952 and business is still booming! There were lines outside the building several times when we drove past it. Finally, we stopped one morning when there wasn’t a line and got a chance to see what the hype was about. We tried the original and cinnamon Malasadas. It was love at first bite. Even Mike who doesn’t like donuts, enjoyed them and wanted more.
Tita’s Food Truck
Now this one doesn’t qualify as a Waikiki restaurant, but if you plan to rent a car then you can totally check it out if you go to the Polynesian Cultural Center since it is located on the property. Get the spicy garlic shrimp and ask for extra sauce (it comes with a side of white rice). I also tried the garlic fries, but you can skip it…they were just regular frozen fries with garlic thrown on top.
M.A.C. 24/7 Restaurant and Bar
If you are looking for a Hawaiian twist on mainland breakfast then go to M.A.C. 24/7 Restaurant and Bar. The pancakes were delicious and we washed them down with a Blue Hawaii! As it states in the title, it is open 24/7 which is clutch when you need a midnight snack.
Diamond Head Dole Whip/Pineapple Smoothie
First, let me mention that hiking Diamond Head is a must! More on that in the next part of this series when I discuss excursions. The only thing I could think about the entire hike was getting a pineapple smoothie afterwards. To my surprise, they only accept cash and we only had a debit card on us. I was so disappointed, but Henry blessed me with a smoothie anyway! The pineapple smoothie was just what I needed after a long hike. They also sell the famous “Dole Whip” (pineapple soft serve ice cream) at the food truck. So if you go and Henry is there, please tip him well!
Duke’s Waikiki
This is a very popular Waikiki restaurant and that’s why it made the list. It is right on the beach so you can catch a beautiful sunset during an early dinner. The fish was super fresh and seasoned well.
Maui Brewing Company
Disclaimer: The food here is NOT good! However, go for the happy hour. Lots of cheap drinks and beer so if you love beer then it’s a must go!
Helena’s Hawaiian Food
The beef ribs were so good with the Hawaiian pink salt. I am not sure if that’s how I was supposed to eat it, but they told me to dip something in the salt and I think they meant the beef. Be better than me and pay attention if you go. I was just so ready to eat. The beef ribs could have been a little more tender, but they were still tasty.
That’s it for Part II of this series. Check out Part I where I answered questions about our trip to Hawaii. Join the list to be the first to know when Part III is released because you do no want to miss the many excursions that Hawaii has to offer!
