This was our 4th time visiting the island of Oahu in Hawaii! And maybe some of you are wondering why we’re not visiting the other islands, too. Well, we will do that at some point, of course. But we love Oahu so much, and we couldn’t say no to coming to Waikiki for one more time. And one of the things I love the most here is the food. As I said, Hawaiian food is a fantastic fusion of Polynesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, and American food. And it’s interesting how every time I come here I discover something new to eat or to drink which I like (but of course I go back to my favorites too). 

So this year, this is what I really loved to eat in Oahu, Hawaii: 

Coconut Curry Fish from Uahi Island Grill

Seafood meeting coconut in an explosion of vibrant aromas! This dish is probably the best thing I’ve eaten in Hawaii, and it’s also in my top ten favorite dishes ever! Other than that, Uahi Island Grill is a perfect place for lunch or dinner, and everything we’ve ever eaten there was delicious.

Truffle fries from The Royal Hawaiian

One of the best fries I’ve ever had! The truffle fries at the Royal Hawaiian are seasoned with truffle salt, garlic, and parmesan, perfect for sharing or enjoying on your own. They are a delicious and upscale twist on a classic comfort food.

Pono Pie from Hula Grill

It was our first time trying Hula Grill restaurant and we had such a beautiful surprise. The food was more than delicious, and the service was perfect! For dessert, we want to taste something new and exotic – Pono Pie, made with breadfruit.

Ginger Pesto Fresh Catch from Hula Grill

This is one of the best seafood dishes at Hula Grill! The fresh seafood comes covered in a ginger pesto sauce (with just enough ginger to be refreshing but not too much to make it too gingery), alii mushrooms, bok choi, and chow mein noodles. Exotic, delicious, and fulfilling.It was something I could order every night without getting tired of it!

Taro chips

This was the first time when I tried the Taro chips. And I fell in love immediately. I’m not a big fan of potato chips, and actually, Taro chips are the only ones I like. I love their earthy and nutty taste with delicate hints of coconut. You can find Taro chips everywhere in Hawaii (I was getting mine from an ABC store). On the mainland, I found good taro chips at Whole Foods.

READ MORE: Aloha State Eats – the best foods to try in Hawaii

Spam Musubi

Spam Musubi is an old love of mine from Oahu. It is a very popular snack in Hawaii, consisting of a block of rice and a slice of spam (canned meat) wrapped together in seaweed. Spam Musubi is a fusion of Japanese and American tastes, and even though you might need some time to get used to this combination, it is very possible to love it in the end. I loved getting a Spam Musubi with me on the beach as a tasty snack!

Smoked Marlin from Foodland

At Foodland, the local grocery supermarket, I found many types of Poke, smoked fish, and a lot of other traditional Hawaiian foods. It’s a good place to get food for a picnic on the beach or a hike, especially if you want to taste fresh local food. I loved their Poke too, but the best thing I had from Foodland was the smoked Marlin. It was smoked to perfection, a bit sweet (but only just a bit), and with the most soft and delicate texture. I ate it like that at a picnic on Waimanalo Beach!

Haupia Moana Acai Bowl from Island Vintage Cafe

I’ve been a long-time fan of Island Vintage Cafe, even though I’ve been discouraged lately by the everyday long lines. Last time I was in Oahu, I ordered their Haupia Moana Acai Bowl, a mouth-watering combination of acai, frozen haupia cream (a rich coconut pudding), shaved coconut, local papaya, and Big Island honey. Tropical paradise in a bowl!

READ MORE: My top 10 experiences in Oahu, Hawaii

Trio Poke from Uahi Island Grill

Poke is such a beloved and popular food in Hawaii, enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. I don’t think I ate a bad poke in Hawaii, but the Trio Poke from Uahi Island Grill was definitely the tastiest!

Mai Tais from Genius Lounge

Genius Lounge is the place where we had our first-ever dinner in Hawaii years ago. And since then, it’s a place we come back to every time we visit Oahu. We love this place, especially for its Mai Tai, which is done exactly to our taste: a bit sweet (but not extremely) and with the right combination of rum and juice.

Toasted Coconut Milk Chocolate Macadamias

I’ve tried many assortments of chocolate-coated macadamias, but when I first tasted the ones with toasted coconut, I knew I found my favorites! The combination of chocolate, coconut, and macadamia is purely divine! I used to get them from ABC stores, but you can also order them on Amazon!

Malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery

Every time we go to Hawaii we have to get another big box of hot Malasadas. Brought by Portuguese immigrants in the 19th century, the sweet doughnuts called Malasadas are now a typical Hawaiian desert. Custard and chocolate are regular fillings, but you should also dive into something more exotic, like Haupia (coconut), Guava, or Macadamia Nut.

Guava Biscuits

We got to taste these biscuits because the cleaning lady in our hotel gave us a bag of pink Guava biscuits one morning (thank you!!). They’re sweet, crisp, and very tropical!

Kai Latte from Kai Coffee

Most of our mornings in Hawaii began the same, with one of us getting coffee from Kai Coffee. Kai Latte is their signature coffee, with macadamia nut syrup. Delicious!

Coconut Poke from Shor

Another poke we loved in Hawaii was the Coconut Poke from Shor, the restaurant located in the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa. This poke, made with fresh ahi from the Honolulu fish auction, gained extra points for presentation: the bowl was actually a coconut!

Kauai Pie Icecream from Lapperts

We love ice cream, and we hardly let a day pass (especially on vacation) without having ice cream! The best ice cream we had in Oahu was the Kauai Pie Ice cream from Lapperts, and this is why: Kona Coffee ice cream + coconut flakes + dark chocolate fudge + Hamakua macadamia nuts + Vanilla cake crunch!

READ MORE: Date Shake – the unofficial drink of Palm Springs

Would you like to try any (or all) of these foods on your next Hawaii vacation?

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