We will be spending 10 nights (5 Oahu, 5 Maui) in Hawaii this April. We are trying to figure out how much to budget for meals. We don't need fancy food for breakfast or lunch, but a nice dinner about half the nights would be nice. Realistically what should we paln to spend per day? Also, should we get some groceries especially breakfast type stuff? As always, your advice will be greatly appreciated!!

do a search "cheap eats Oahu" it is a great posts. Also remember diners are a mainland thing. On Hawaii you will find similar places with food that is laced with an Asian flavor, for example teriburgers, lemon chicken, Kalbi BBQ. Ok some of it is not laced but actually Asian food. Top picks of inexpensive Hawaiian Ono's on Kapahulu. Mid price chinese and wonderful is Seafood Kingdom.

When you say Diner food are you looking for inexpensive or mainland American fare.

Also in terms of price where are you coming from? IMHO high end restaurants on any of the islands are usually a bargain by NYC standards so I usually frequent at least one. Roy's, Alan Wong's, Kincaids (k's not so highend in terms of being innovative but excellent American Seafood and steaks)

You really need to say "I want to spend $5/$10/$15 or whatever per person for breakfast", $5/$10/$15/whatever per peson for lunch, etc. to give us an idea. What is a real inexpensive meal for one person is not for another. I've seen people on the Europe forum talking about $250 lunches for two, so you never know what "reasonably priced" means to other people. If you are talking about real budget, i.e. Denny's for example they have them in the islands too, likewise Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, etc. Prices will be a little bit more then mainland. If you are getting a condo doing breakfast in is really handy but in a hotel it is not so practical really. Also, the more expensive the hotel you stay in the more expensive the food will be. You will find lots of inexpensive places in Waikiki never fear (fast food type places as well as "coffee shops"). On Maui try Cheeseburger in Paradise (it's right on the water too). There are many places in Lahaina (Maui) that do early bird dinners for several dollars less then later in the evening. There are coupon books at the airports and on all the street corners, grab a couple and see what works for you.

Suggest you purchase a guidebook listing restaurants, and check Zagats - each gives price guidelines. Then check a few menus on line. Nothing scientific about it. Then add 30% and you're good to go. Ciao

If your in a condo definitely get some breakfast items at the grocery store. We got Hawaiian sweet breads and rolls at the store bakery, a wonderful fresh pineapple, and some toaster strudel. This lasted us all week and cost next to nothing. If your going to Maui eat a meal at BJ's Pizza. It was fairly inexpensive and had a nice view looking out to the ocean. Very good pizza!

such a shame to go for cheese burgers and the like with all of the wonderful local restaurants Zippy's (fast food Local style), L&L (cheap and greesy like denny's), Boston Pizza, Auntie Pestos(Italian), Keo's (Thai). I would search for the best reccomendations of Khalbi beef. Why would you go for a cheeseburger when you are arms reach from Khalbi bbq. YUM!! Feeling like some soup remember Saimin. I had a great bowl of it this summer at Hungry Lion. BTW Hungry lion also serves up a great Hula bowl. The hula bowl is a base of fried rice Hawaiian style, Terriyaki chicken, fried wontons, and chicken Katsu (fried chicken patty)on top. I always ask for extra teriyaki sauce for dipping.

Breakfast Waikiki I like eggs nthings, Shore bird buffet, going to Pearl Harbor/ Bishop Museum there is always Bob's Big boy I like the eggs benidict. You just know the berne sauce is fake. Still yummy and not so high in fat because it is probably from a mix.

Okay, let me be more specific. For two adults I consider $15 for breakfast, $25 for lunch and $40-$60 for dinner to be reasonable. Is this realistic, low or high? We're in the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel in Oahu and in the Outrigger Wailea in Maui. Your thoughts?

As long as you eat out of the hotel, you should have no problem getting good food at those prices, especially the $25 for two lunches.

3 years ago, got small quarter of a watermelon at Safeway. When we checked out it was $7.00./ Just about had a heart attack at the time. Food is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.

Lenore
When we travel, we usually keep fruit and rolls in our room and have it for breakfast with coffee. That way we get a faster start on the day and only eat out twice. Or, if there is a great breakfast being served, we'll have that late, as brunch. and then our evening meal. Seriously, eating 3 sit down meals uses a lot of vacation time and money.

Lenore,

Your price range seems on the low side, especially if you give in to the temptation of hotel meals... When we went last summer we budgeted $150 a day for meals and went over.

Hotel breakfast for two was ALWAYS $40 - it didn't seem to matter how much we ordered! (And actually we went out a few times too but sit-down meals were about the same.) At the pool we split a burger and a few drinks and that was around $40 too. And if you want to go to the nicer restaurants they were in the higher end ($150-200 for two with an appetizer, two entrees, a dessert and wine).

One thing we did that saved us some money was to eat appetizers for dinner at our hotel bar. Watching the sunset, we didn't feel at all deprived!

We could also have brought food along which would have been really wise but we were too lazy. And if you aren't drinking a lot your numbers might be fairly realistic. Just be sure to resist temptation better than we did!

lenore I would feel more comfortable with $20 for breakfast for two. It will be $40 if you are eating at the better hotels. I go every year. You can certainly find a 15 dollar breakfast outside of Waikiki.

Eggs n things (opposite end waikiki from you), Shore bird ususally work. I only spent 20+ at Royal Hawaiian or Halekelani. I think I even ate at the Sheraton Waikiki for under ten but not the buffet. Those buffets get old anyway when you feel them kicking into your energy level. That is if your eyes are bigger than your stomach as mine are.

As for the mellon post Would be interesting seeing if people involved were buying a mainland mellon out of season. On Hawaii think Mango, papaya, apple bananas, pineapple. I must stop before I cry.

There is a place in Waikiki that is on the opposite side of street as Duke statue. The restaurant is on the second floor and has a wonderful veiw. Anybody local know where I am talking of? I forget the name but it is standard mainland omlettes. It might be a denny's but I hate denny's and I remember liking this place. Anyone know?

P.S Go to michels in the W hotel for a wonderful veiw and great dinner. Your end of Waikiki pop in a cab or your car to Kapahulu street for Ono's Hawaiian food. I use to go Wednesday's for chicken Lau Lau.

Don't be freaked about high prices on Oahu unless you are coming from an inexpensive part of the country. I have seen little to no difference to NY and NJ prices.

Gina I think you must be ordering some very special wine. I usually spend 100 and frequently under per couple at the high end restaurants in Honolulu. That is when I am ordering as you factored in Dessert, appetizer 2, Alcohol. This at Roy's, Kincaids comes to mind most recently.

Actually when you go to the Zagat survey they give most top food restaurants totals that are largely under 85 for two. So why did you spend so much more Gina? Just curious....vintage wine?

You can find some menus online through various Hawaii websites, or travel books will have websites of different restaurants to give you a good idea.
I was wondering the same thing the other night myself, so I pulled up some menus from the kaanapali area, and food has increased some from 2 years ago, so now our average nice dinners will probably run about $65-70 a couple at Leilani's or Hula Grill because we like fish dishes, and seems that the prices were like $23 p.p. for fish dinner, then add to that a cocktail (5-6 p.p)
and dessert (Hula Pie - probably another 6) tax, tip, voila! But you can always eat cheaper. Just depends on if you have a condo. If you do, well, you'll save on food for breakfasts, and yes, buffet hotel breakfasts were running us at least $18.50 to $21 per person before tip
two years ago!! But in Lahaina you can go to some breakfast places and have reasonably priced breakfasts. It's basically the hotels gouge you.
As for lunch, a lot of times my husband and I either split a hamburger by the pool (using our daily resort credit)
or we tend to eat lighter for lunch, such as splitting a salad, or you can even go to the many ABC stores over there and get the ready-made sushi or a snack. That always seemed to suffice.
The rule of thumb over in Hawaii is whatever you think you need moneywise for
food, well, tack on another 25% or so and that will probably be the more accurate estimate.

if you're staying at the New Otani then you MUST have brunch at the Hau Tree Lanai. It's not cheap, but it won't break the bank. Go for a morning walk across Kapiolani Park (OK it's not for those not in shape) and along Monsarrat Avenue there are all kinds of places for lunch and dinner--L&L, Bogart's, Zazou, Tavola Tavola (which took the place of my beloved Cafe Monsarrat).

Dana I really have to disagree this all depends on where you are coming from. I save money when I eat out in Hawaii but I am from NYC. Chances are if Lenore is from a major Metropolitan area or even most places the the vicinity of NY, Phil, Washington DC she will be saving money also.

You are right the Hotels gouge you but there are so many restaurants that the residents rely on and they are not earning top dollar in paradise with one job.

This was mentioned in another post. Go to Zagat Survey website look up Hawaii then compare with your home or near home location. I would be so lucky to go to a top food restaurant and get away with a 42 dollar meal (I person). JUST DON"T GET ALL THE TALK ABOUT HAWAII BEING EXPENSIVE.

There are cheaper alternatives to the top end in the Zagat guide also. Strongly suggest buying guide.

Thanks everybody for your two cents. Just for the record, we live in South Florida (Boca Raton) so food here is probably on the high side of average. Also, my husband doesn't drink and I only have a beer or two every now and then. I guess that should help with the dinner tabs, right?!

Lenore, a hint I don't see mentioned above - pick up all the Waikiki/Honolulu etc travel magazines and brochures that you find down at baggage claim when you arrive, also in your hotels, and on stands all over Waikiki. They're loaded with coupons, things like 50% off 2nd entree, early bird specials etc.
I hate to be redundant but another hint I've mentioned on here a lot is getting the Hawaii Entertainment book, costs about $35.00 (get it at the Aquarium, which is near where you will be) more than pays for itself after couple dinners. And I believe we used a coupon from that for the Hau Tau Tree at your hotel (great place, wonderful view, ambiance). Just one book is good for all the islands, and has lots of other deals in it too.
We find that we just don't eat much (breakfast and lunch) when we're there, but we'll splurge in the evenings, but still always trying to use a coupon or some special.
A must for us (and another redundant msg - I apologize!) We go to Leonards Bakery on Kapahulu in the early morning, get some malasadas and coffee, drive back to Kapiolani Park where my husband plays tennis across the street with the same guys every year and I stuff my face with the malasadas on the peaceful beach, then walk all the way back to other end of Waikiki to Ft. DeRussey Pk area.
Have a wonderful trip......

Gee,
Maybe I don't know enough, because I thought the Bay Area San Francisco
area was pretty darned expensive to begin with for food (and housing), and I felt that my suggestion to add 25% more for NICE dinners, et cet in Hawaii as compared to the mainland was actually on the conservative side. Oops! Evidently prices must just be completely outrageous on the East Coast (of which I don't have any familiarity)
The Entertainment Book idea is excellent though! I'm going to find that Zagat Survey right now and find out how prices compare, i.e., California vs. Hawaii, New York vs. Hawaii.