If you’re like most tourists to Oahu that choose to stay in Waikiki Beach, you probably are also wondering where to find the best restaurants in Waikiki. Good news – look no further! After staying there several times and writing this Oahu travel guide, I have come up with a list of the best restaurants in Waikiki (in my opinion), including healthy food and cheap eats.
Duke’s Waikiki
Duke’s Waikiki is a neighborhood staple that attracts both tourists and locals. Reasonable (for Hawaii) prices and incredible beach views make Duke’s Waikiki a must-visit if you’re staying in Waikiki.
Duke’s is split into two areas: a more expensive restaurant and a bar/patio area. If you want to dine within a few feet of the sand or can’t be bothered to make a reservation, you should head down to the bar and patio area, where you can stand around with drinks and small plates until an actual table becomes available.
If dining at one of the top restaurants in Waikiki is more up your alley, you can head to Duke’s restaurant side, which has heavier meals including seafood and meat dishes. This seems to be a more popular option for families, while the younger crowd, couples and groups of friends head to the bar area. To be clear, the bar area also allows under-21s, and we went there with an infant.
I recommend Duke’s if you’re looking for a place to grab a light dinner or grab a few drinks and watch the sunset. Be prepared to wait in line or stand around with drinks waiting for your table, but also realize that waiting is part of the experience and you’ll probably meet some interesting people along the way.
Island Vintage Coffee
While the name makes this place sound like a coffee shop, it also has an extensive menu filled with a wide-range of healthy food including acai bowls, salads, sandwiches and more. That being said, they also have great coffee and on-the-go dishes. We actually ate at Island Vintage Coffee several times, as it is a chain restaurant that can be found all over Oahu.
I also think they have one of the best acai bowls in Oahu, which is saying something (we are slightly- okay majorly- acai obsessed). That, combined with their healthy food options, made this one of our favorite restaurants. It is also very close to Waikiki Beach, making it a good option if you are at the beach and don’t want to go far for food.
We went to Island Vintage Coffee on our stay-in-Honolulu beach day, when taking a rare break from checking out the best Oahu hikes. That being said, we did see other restaurant locations while traveling around the island.
Buho Cocina and Cantina
This Mexican restaurant in Waikiki has a nice view of the Honolulu skyline, since it is located on the roof of a shopping center. To be completely honest, we thought the food was good but not great, but it was healthier and lighter than a lot of other places in Waikiki, which is why it makes this list. The atmosphere is also very nice, with a fire pit for friends to gather around, lots of music and good cocktails.
In terms of what to order, they have really great chips and guacamole (for all you avocado lovers). They also have a good selection of vegetarian meals and lighter fare that includes meat, ranging from burritos and tacos to different kinds of salads.
The Edge of Waikiki
The Edge of Waikiki is located inside the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, and it is actually considered a bar. However, they also have quite a few food options and an unbeatable ocean view, which is especially great if you go to watch the sunset. We actually fell in love with The Edge of Waikiki and ended up going back 3 (or 4?) different times during our last stay.
They have a lot of drink options, and in terms of food you can find burgers, sandwiches, salads and power bowls on the menu. We tried several different burgers, as well as the steamed vegetable bowl, which was amazing. We also found the food and drinks to be very reasonably priced, especially for this area.
Every time we were there, there was a live band playing, which added a lot to the overall atmosphere. There is a lot of competition for the tables next to the water, so you may have to start at another one and move closer to the view when someone leaves. However, there are great ocean views from literally anywhere in the restaurant, so even if you don’t grab the prime real-estate, you’re still in for a fabulous view. Be sure to add The Edge of Waikiki to your list of most photographable places in Oahu.
Beachhouse at the Moana
Another restaurant that is technically a bar, Beachhouse at the Moana is located at the Moana Surfrider Hotel and offers great beach views and a laid-back atmosphere. While we found this restaurant to be more expensive than other comparable places like Duke’s or The Edge, the incredible view and laid-back beach vibes still make Beachhouse a great addition to this list.
In terms of food, you can find a wider variety at Beachhouse, including sushi, burgers, sandwiches and more. They also have some interesting food combinations, like poke nachos.
There are also great cocktails and an option to order a cocktail inside a whole pineapple, which is ridiculously expensive but looks really cool.
While there are obviously dozens (if not hundreds) more restaurants in Waikiki, these made our list because they were some of the only options for cheap places to eat in Waikiki that also included a great view and good food. In our mind, those three things made these places the best restaurants in Waikiki.
While I can’t personally recommend the following places since we didn’t eat there, a few others that we had on our list are:
Have you eaten at any of these places? If so, did you like them? Comment and let me know!
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