Oahu restaurants
 

We'd love some recommendations. Price is not the no. 1 criteria, but having to dress up is (we don't, especially on vacation in Hawaii).

For lunch, we really love funky local places, sandwich/salads type places (ex. we really like both the food and ambiance at Paia Fish Market, but would be very unlikely to spend lunchtime at Mama's). We've never eaten at a shrimp truck, but we definitely will this time.

For dinner, we love to eat outdoors (the only place in the world I like to eat outdoors!), like Duke's Canoe Club or Keoke's or Hula Grill (but wouldn't mind better food!).

If you like Korean food, try Sorobal (Sorobol?). No tourist there except me and Marteen when MelissaHi, lcuy, mari808, kuranosuke and Sarah hosted us for a GTG way back in 2007.

There's a shrimp truck parked right in Waikiki on Kuhio which is excellent.

Arancino's italian cafe on BeachWalk is a favorite of mine.

These are my favorite non-fancy local places:

Bogart's at 3045 Monsarrat for breakfast and lunch. Soup, salads, sandwiches. Service is "relaxed" (= Slowgart's), but the food is worth the wait.

Also in the same center is Diamond Head Cover Health Bar, and I love their acai bowls.

The burgers at Burgers on the Edge in the Safeway center on Kapahulu are good.

The Fat Greek at 3040 Waialae is good.

And at the very top of my list (apart from the malasadas at Leonard's) is just about all the food at the Saturday farmer's market at Kapiolani Community College (across from the Diamond Head parking lot). The tomato and pesto pizza is the best, and the fried green tomatoes are also yummy. It is open from 7:30 to 11 AM, and they sell out of the good stuff fast.

Wow, thanks - keep 'em coming!

We have our eleventh trip to Oahu coming up in a few weeks. Over the years, we have dined at many of the pricey tourist spots, but we have also fallen love with many places the locals go.

Here are our favorites:

Dukes (Waikiki) - Fun place; great food and atmosphere
La Mariana Sailing Club - last original tiki bar in Honolulu; good prices and above average food.
Asia Manoa - we think it's the best Chinese food in the world.
Ted's Bakery (North Shore) - great dinner plates, sandwiches, and desserts.
Shrimp Trucks - they are all good, but we think Giovanni's is the best.
John Dominis - pricey but terrific food and great views from the dining room.
Matteo's (Waikiki) - terrific Italian food.
Jameson's By the Sea (Haleiwa) - Great seafood
Breakers (Haleiwa) - more casual than Jameson, but good
Kalbee (Aiea) - excellent Korean and Asian food
Leonard's (Waikiki) - malasadas
Shorebird (Waikiki)
The Willows - Buffet restaurant that is very popular with the locals; average food but their curries and fried haupia are fabulous
Any L&L Hawaiian Barbecue - great plate meals
Big Kahuna (near airport) good sandwiches and pizza

New choices we are planning to try this trip:

Arancino's - heard many good things about it.
Uncle's Fishmarket
Ono Hawaiian Cheese Steak (Waikiki)
Puka Dog (Waikiki)
House Without a Key
Ono Hawaiian Food

Well, we won't go hungry :-) !

Nico's is great for lunch. It is our on pier 39. find Home Depot/ Best Buy and head towards the water. it is right next to the fish boats.

Another vote to try Ono Hawaiian Food

I think we're going to have to eat a lot of "mini-meals"!