Traditional plate lunch: ahi poke, lomi lomi salmon, tako poke, kālua pork, poi, lau lau. Photo by Shutterstock.
This itinerary is for serious cooks and eaters visiting Hawaiʻi to explore the island’s diverse food culture. Designed as a self-led culinary tour of Oʻahu, you’ll sample everything from Hawaiian lau lau to local-style Portuguese bean soup to ʻulu noodles. Bring your walking shoes and a huge appetite for a week full of discovery and indulgence.
To make everything fit, we recommend ordering just a couple of dishes per stop and following our suggested days and times. Keep in mind that the operating hours of all businesses listed are subject to change. Contact each location ahead of time to confirm hours and make reservations. Although we suggest walking when possible, you will also need a rental car to travel across the island.
A 5-Night Culinary Tour of Oʻahu
Day 1 – Friday Afternoon Arrival
1:30 p.m. – AC Hotel
While most of Oʻahu’s hotels are in Waikīkī, that’s not where you’ll be doing most of your eating. AC Hotel is centrally located and within walking distance of many of Honolulu’s best dining destinations and bars. Check-in is at 3 p.m., but you can arrive earlier, drop off your bags, and walk to Fête for a late lunch. Your room should be ready by the time you return.
From $253 per night
2:30 p.m. – Fête
Start your trip with a meal at James Beard Award-winning Fête — a local favorite known for elevated comfort food, inventive cocktails and one of the island’s best wine lists. With all-day dining, this is an ideal spot for a light meal during off-peak hours. It’s also one of the best times to score a coveted seat.
Try: Chicken liver mousse, vitello tonnato, smoked ono club, house-made rocky road ice cream
Average price per person: Lunch $35, Dinner $60
8 p.m. – Faria
You’ve likely never had Portuguese food like this. Faria’s Pasifika local-style approach reflects the experience of growing up in a large Portuguese family in Hawaiʻi. Portions are generous, wine is affordable, and the hospitality feels like a home-cooked gathering.
Try: Salt cod and potato fritters, salt and vinegar chicken wings, oxtail caldo verde, pastéis de nata
Average price per person: $60
Smoked Ono Club. Courtesy of Fete Restaurant.
Day 2 – Saturday: Farmers Market, Local Rum and Chocolate
8 a.m. – Kakaʻako Farmers Market
The largest farmers market on the island offers an extensive overview of what’s produced in Hawaiʻi. This is your stop to sample fresh tropical fruit, Hawaiʻi-grown coffee, honey and chocolate, hand-pulled noodles, poke, pastries and more. Visit local farm stands such as MAʻO Organic Farms, Kahumana Organic Farm, Ahiki Acres and Lovan Farm to see what’s grown on the island.
Try: Grok Coffee, Wicked HI Slush, youpo noodles, ʻUlu & Kalo Bakery, Madre Chocolate
11 a.m. – Kō Hana Distillers
Take a drive up to Kō Hana Distillers to tour the facility and learn about Hawaiʻi’s agricole-style rum, made from heirloom sugar cane. Tastings are offered every 30 minutes from 10:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and tours run from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tastings from $15
Tours from $35
2 p.m. – Tamashiro Market
One of the first poke shops on Oʻahu, Tamashiro Market offers more than 30 types of poke using fresh, local fish — never previously frozen imports. Look for the iconic pink building with the giant crab on top.
Try: Aku limu poke, Hawaiian-style raw crab poke, nairagi onion poke, tako limu poke
Poke from $29.95 per pound
3 p.m. – Lonohana Chocolate (SALT at Our Kakaʻako)
Stop by the Lonohana Chocolate tasting room for some of the finest bean-to-bar chocolate produced on Oʻahu. The shop is open daily, and if you want to see how it’s made, factory tours are available just down the street (Wednesday through Saturday). SALT at Our Kakaʻako is also home to many shops, eateries and coffee spots worth exploring.
Tastings: Free
Factory tour and tasting: $56
8 p.m. – Nami Kaze
Located steps from the Honolulu Fish Market, Nami Kaze offers a thoughtful mix of fresh fish dishes and local vegetable-forward creations that highlight Hawaiʻi’s ingredients. Led by local chef and culinary instructor Jason Peel, the menu is creative, precise and distinctly island-grown.
Try: ʻUlu tots, assorted sushi rolls, sashimi and nigiri, short ribs, Lukii Lemon
Average price per person: $60
Kō Hana Tasting. Courtesy of Kō Hana Distillers.
Day 3 – Sunday: Brunch and Exploring Waikīkī
10 a.m. – Mud Hen Water
Chef Ed Kenney has been a major influence on Hawaiʻi’s food culture since opening his first restaurant, Town, in 2005. That institution had a 16-year run before making way for its sister restaurant across the street — Mud Hen Water — which now serves a modern take on Hawaiian cuisine. Kenney and his team are deeply committed to supporting local agriculture and creating dishes (and drinks) that offer a true sense of place.
Try: Bali banana pancakes, fresh fish and lūʻau, pohole, crispy ʻulu
Average price per person: $50
Noon – Waikīkī
Spend the afternoon exploring Waikīkī. Stop by House of Mana Up for locally made, edible souvenirs. For a coffee or smoothie break, head to Bean About Town — a cozy spot to rest and recharge.
2 p.m. – Monkeypod Waikīkī
Enjoy a late lunch with an ocean view at Monkeypod Kitchen, located inside the Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort. Owner Peter Merriman is one of the founding chefs of Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine — a farm-to-table movement launched in 1991 by 12 local chefs. The menu reflects a blend of immigrant culinary traditions with local Hawaiian ingredients.
Try: Poke tacos, fresh island fish sandwich with garlic fries, macadamia nut-crusted fish, pie!
Average price per person: $52
8 p.m. – Giovedi
Giovedi brings inventive Italian-Asian fusion to life in a hip, energetic setting — think house music, hip-hop, amaro cocktails and warm, attentive service. The menu is designed to be shared family-style, so order a little of everything and pass it around. *Full disclaimer: The reason I can vouch for Giovedi’s exceptional food is because I work there as a server part-time.
Try: Prosciutto San Daniele, nairagi crudo, foie gras torchon, gnocchi mapobolognese, char siu pork
Average price per person: $75–$90
Prosciutto San Danielle at Giovedi. Photo by Courtney Mau.
Day 4 – Monday: Trip to the North Shore and Windward Side
8 a.m. – Sunrise Shack (Shark’s Cove/North Shore location)
Start your day at Sunrise Shack’s original location — a roadside coffee and smoothie bowl stand near Shark’s Cove, often surrounded by chickens and surfers heading out for dawn patrol. The bright, beachy shack serves energizing, health-forward food and drinks designed to fuel your day.
Try: Bullet coffee, smoothie bowl, papaya bowl
Average price per person: $15
11 a.m. – Waiahole Poi Factory
Your culinary tour of Oʻahu would not be complete without trying traditional Hawaiian food. Located on Oʻahu’s windward side, this 100-year-old poi factory has been serving Hawaiian plate lunches food since 2009. It’s beloved for its signature dessert, Sweet Lady of Waiahole — a warm kulolo (poi and coconut pudding) topped with creamy haupia (coconut) ice cream.
Try: Laulau, kalua pig, hōʻio salad, poi, Sweet Lady of Waiahole
Plate lunches from $16
1 p.m. – Kualoa Ranch Market & Aunty Pat’s Cafe
Kualoa Ranch is a 4,000-acre working cattle ranch, oyster and shrimp farm, and cultural reserve — also famous as the filming location for “Jurassic Park.” The on-site market and café serve food grown and raised on the property, including taro and seafood.
Try: Fresh Kualoa oysters, banana-kalo bread pudding
3 p.m. – Adela’s Country Eatery
This local gem makes noodles using Hawaiʻi-grown ingredients such as ʻulu (breadfruit), kalo (taro), malunggay (moringa) and ʻuala (purple sweet potato). Adela’s is committed to building a sustainable local food system, and the menu is both creative and deeply rooted in place.
Try: ʻUlu noodles with portobello mushrooms, malunggay noodles with lechon
Average price per person: $30
8 p.m. – Side Street Inn
An Oʻahu institution, Side Street Inn is known for its large, family-style platters of Hawaiʻi local comfort food. It’s casual, lively, and perfect for sharing.
Try: Pan-fried pork chops, kalbi ribs, poke
Average price per person: $35
Kualoa Ranch on Oʻahu. Photo from Shutterstock.
Day 5 – Tuesday: In Town
9 a.m. – Koko Head Cafe
Co-owned by celebrity chef Lee Anne Wong, Koko Head Café offers all-day brunch that’s popular with both locals and visitors. The portions are generous, and many ingredients are locally sourced.
Try: Cornflake French toast, lūʻau and eggs, tropical fresh fruit, the best hash brown ever
Average price per person: $35
1 p.m. – Guava Smoked
This no-frills eatery specializes in smoked meats and plate lunches, using invasive guava wood in the smoking process for a unique flavor.
Try: Smoked chicken, smoked pork Smoked
Mixed Plate: $19.58+tax
Or – Mama Woo’s Korean BBQ
A takeout-only Korean plate lunch spot in Mōʻiliʻili with a diverse selection, including local-style meat jun, mochiko chicken and hamachi collar.
Try: Kalbi plate, bulgogi plate, all the banchan
Plate Lunch from $22.03
2:30 p.m. – Waiola Shave Ice
Waiola is an Oʻahu institution known for its ultra-fine, fluffy shave ice. The extensive list of syrups and toppings makes for endless flavor combinations.
Try: Small size with coconut and lilikoʻi
Average price per person: $4
8 p.m. – The Pig and The Lady
Chef Andrew Le’s inventive modern Vietnamese restaurant is a must-visit. “The Pig” refers to Le himself, and “The Lady” is his mom — whose pho helped inspire the restaurant’s cult following. Expect bold flavors, creative dishes and one of Honolulu’s most acclaimed dining experiences.
Try: Burmese tea salad, Le fried chicken wings, pho, soft serve ice cream
Average price per person: $75
Monkeypod Kitchen Mai Tai and Poke Tacos. Photo by Steve Czerniak.
Day 6 – Wednesday: Chinatown Crawl + Final Day Culinary Tour of Oʻahu
8 a.m. – Drip Studio
A mom-and-pop café specializing in high-quality, ethically sourced specialty coffee. Drip Studio is a great place to slow down and enjoy expertly crafted drinks before a day of exploring Chinatown.
Try: Pour-over coffee, Cold Fashioned, Japanese-style iced pour-over, strawberry matcha
Coffee from $6
11 a.m. – Check out of AC Hotel
Check-out time is 11 a.m., but the hotel can hold your bags until you’re ready to head to the airport.
11:30 a.m. – Chinatown Crawl
Finish your culinary tour of Oʻahu walking through Honolulu’s Chinatown. Visit bustling produce, meat and fish markets, browse for last-minute souvenirs and snacks, and wrap up your culinary tour with two final stops:
Sing Sing Thai Street Food
A Bangkok-style eatery featuring regional Thai dishes with a rotating menu that changes every three months. It’s BYOB, so feel free to bring your favorite beverage.
Try: Issan beef tongue, Panang of beef cheek, betel leaf wraps (ʻahi or salmon)
Average price per person: $30
Youpo Noodles
This hole-in-the-wall spot is beloved for its hand-pulled biang biang noodles from Shaanxi, China. Portions are generous, and the flavors are bold and spicy — a great final bite before you go.
Try: Cumin lamb biang biang noodles, lamb spareribs, chicken wings
Noodles from $17
Chinatown, Honolulu. Courtesy of Shutterstock. Photo by Theodore Trimmer.
