I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is gearing up to celebrate the new year and end of this decade – here comes 2020! As I am reflecting on this past year, I am grateful that I had an opportunity to do all the travel (links to my index of travel posts) – from Singapore to Penang to Hawaii, New Orleans, and several visits to California. My trip to Hawaii was to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, and resulted in many happy memories as well as onolicious eats in Oahu. Here are a few highlights I would recommend if you are in Waikiki, all are family friendly.
Our stay at the multi-bedroom, equipped with kitchen Aston Waikiki Beach Tower was an incredible location as it was right across from Waikiki Beach, with great views. It was very family friendly with a king bed, two single beds, a pull out couch bed, and full size kitchen. They even have free beach toys for the kids! The location could not be beat, as it right on the very walkable and bustling Kalakaua Street. The location is right across the street literally from the especially children friendly Kuhio Beach section of Waikiki Beach. This part is protected by a sea wall for calmer waters, which is perfect for little ones like my 3 year old niece and my 4 month old nephew.
It also was only blocks away from Musubi Cafe Iyasume, where we procured multiple musubi on different days for breakfast, for a snack, to eat on the plane back… They make the musubi to order, so the combination of fresh rice and teriyaki Spam is still soft and warm when you receive it. There also are a few bento boxes available too, and lots of different flavors of Spam.
Don’t be intimidated by the line – it moves quickly. At the location on Prince Edward/Kuhio and Uluiniu Streets, you will find the most variety to select from – almost 2 dozen starring Spam, and more traditional onigiri rice balls too. My favorite that I kept returning to was a combo of Teriyaki Spam Musubi with Avocado and Egg and Bacon, although we also enjoyed a version with Unagi/Eel. Most people take theirs to go, although there is a small seating section in the back.
A visit to Oahu also isn’t complete unless you try out the fried to order malasadas. Malasadas are essentially a round Portuguese donut without the hole in the middle and dusted with sugar and possibly filled with a cream that can range in flavor from macadmia nut to haupia/coconut, guava, or more.
They look big but are light and fluffy, making it a little too easy to put down two even before you drive away. Leonard’s Bakery is the famous original malasada bakery in Oahu, frying them up since 1953. There is a small parking lot in front of the storefront, but you can also find some street parking, and call ahead orders of two dozen or more. We reheated some malasadas for breakfast the next day.
Another do not miss stop in Oahu, or on any of the islands of Hawaii, is to stop at Foodland for poke, aka diced fish marinated in soy and sesame, sometimes additional sauces as well such as creamy wasabi or spicy mayo, etc. You can eat this on rice, or buy a bunch of tortilla chips for DIY poke nachos.
Before you check out make sure you look at the Foodland reusable bags – I love them as they are so foodie proud and are cool souvenirs or gifts.
If you head towards the beautiful beaches of Lanikai and Kailua, fuel up at Ono Steaks and Shrimp Shack. This casual counter service family owned business has indoor as well as outdoor seating, though the food is also in containers to go if you want to take it to the beach. Some dishes we tried included the Kalbi (boneless short rib marinated in Korean bbq sauce), Fresh ono with papaya and mango salsa, Furikake Ahi with wasabi aioli, Garlic Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, and a Fish Taco.
While in the area, get dessert at former President Obama’s favorite shave ice spot: Island Snow. It may seem a bit weird that it’s part of surf gear shop, but what makes it stand out is the option to have a scoop (or upgrade to two scoops) of ice cream at the bottom, and choice of a plethora of flavors including unique ones and all natural ones. You can also add on sweetened red adzuki beans on top, or a “snowcap” of condensed milk drizzle. Get the macadamia nut ice cream instead of the default vanilla if you’d like, and for extra chew upgrade with an addition of Nisshodo Mochi.
In central Waikiki, you can enjoy some Japanese food courts at Waikiki Yokocho in the heart of Waikiki, or go where the locals do at Shirokiya Walk food hall in Ala Moana mall. Both are great options because they offer excellent Japanese food in a casual atmosphere that is easy for groups and families and are open for lunch through dinner.
Shirokiya Japan Village Walk, as part of Ala Moana, boasts a lot more locals thanks to the easy mall parking and its almost 50 booths as part of its food court/village. It has live music, five beer counters, a couple hundred capsule machines (toy vending machines), and sometimes cultural performances. It is pretty bustling, and cheaper then Waikiki Yokocho. But depending on how tired you are, you may want something a little less loud and crowded, or something that opens later.
Waikiki Yokocho Gourmet Alley is a little hidden as it is in a basement below the Waikiki Shopping Plaza Mall. Here though, you will find 15 options, including 4 ramen shops, an onigiri kiosk, a matcha green tea drink and dessert cafe, a tempura specialty restaurant, a kushikatsu restaurant, and a bbq/hotpot restaurant. During my visits, we tried the onigiri, green tea beverages, an onigiri kiosk, a matcha green tea drink and dessert cafe, a tempura specialty restaurant, a kushikatsu restaurant, and a bbq/hotpot restaurant and more. 
As a bonus in Waikiki Yokocho there are also a bunch of retro arcade machines set to free play and that are short/child height. The central area is a bar area that besides drinks and some yakitori, oden, and appetizers also is open to 2 am on Fri and Sat and has free karaoke in the evenings after 10 pm daily. Check if your hotel coupon book or any visitor maps and magazines you may pick up have any coupons – we found one for 10% off our bill, and another offered us a free ice cream dessert with an order.
For Thanksgiving Day itself, we checked out the buffet at 100 Sails inside the Sheraton. We were all pleased with how well stocked they kept the buffet and the quality and taste of all the food. There was always crab legs on hand – not like other buffets where everyone is waiting and eyeing for the refill. For turkey day they had both turkey legs and a sumptious combo take with Roast Turkey with Giblets, Gravy, Corn Bread, Sausage, Chestnut Stuffing and Cranberry Sauce that is the best turkey I have had had for Thanksgiving. there were also dishes like Carved Prime Rib, Ham, Sashimi, Shrimp, Crab Legs, Dim Sum, Roast Pork Belly Bao, Fried Oysters, Pancit and more… the video below doesn’t even show the dessert table next to the live musicians.
If you head to the North Shore do not miss out on the shrimp trucks there – as I have written about previously. I have a separate tips post for visiting Dole Pineapple Plantation as an addition activity if you are heading to this part of the island.
I have one last tip for when you are on your way out of Honolulu Airport. Make sure you have plenty of time for the the scan for agricultural items in your checked suitcase (this is a pre-scan before you even get to the ticket counter to actually check your bags) and for TSA, which are for multiple airlines and there are only a few TSA checkpoints, which means longer lines. Then, head to the best spot to get take-out to eat at the airport while waiting for your flight or take on the plane – Lahaina Chicken Company.
Found by Gate 14, this is a fast-casual, order at the counter and they box it up spot. They specialize in roast chicken and pork, but also offer fried chicken and a prime rib carving station, and you then order your choice of sides. You can order your rib by the ounce, with or without jus, and your chicken to be white or dark meat. No horseradish, but this along with a glass of wine on the plane makes for one last hurrah before you are back to the real world at home. For the kids if you have any, there is a pizza and pasta booth right next to it so everyone can be happy.
Since I was with family, I avoided the fancier restaurants that you can also find in Waikiki, though if you so inclined you should check out the many other lists available with high end restaurants. And, there are even more casual spots opening up all the time that balance value with that blend of America with Asia and Hawaii that is always satisfying and fuel you.
What are your recommendations for must eats in Oahu?
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