Oahu is famous for it’s stunning beaches, lush nature, vibrant culture, and important history. It’s no surprise that millions of tourists flock to the 597 square mile hunk of paradise that’s smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Quite a few just so happen to arrive via cruise ship, like yours truly!
The Koningsdam pulled into Honolulu for an overnight stay. And after 5 long sea days, you better believe we were ready to eat some island grub!
Let’s dive into my top 5 Oahu eats!
5. Burmese food from Rangoon Burmese Kitchen
Rangoon Burmese Kitchen is a dimly lit, subtly decorated spot in the Chinatown area. It’s the type of place you peer at through the windows and think, “Wow, that’s probably delicious….” I wouldn’t let it be the one that got away, so we decided to go the second night.
To start, we got the Burmese samusa and platha with curry dip. The samusa (like an Indian samosa) had a flakey, crispy exterior and soft, slightly spicy interior with a nice pop of freshness from the cilantro. For the second app, the platha (a Burmese flat bread) was perfectly tasty. But the curry dip didn’t tickle my fancy. It had coconut, chicken, and fish, among other various spices. Sounds like an odd mix of flavors. Tasted like an odd mix of flavors.
For the mains, we split the lamb Burmese curry and myeik pan-fried noodles. The lamb curry was thick and rich with unique notes of cinnamon. The lamb was on a fatty side, and I would have struggled to finish the whole plate alone. The noodles were the star of the show. They were perfectly thick with a nice chew, and the combination of soy and oyster sauce was delightful. Crunchy mung bean sprouts added texture, a sprinkle of chili gave it some heat. There was also a nice char flavor that reminded me of pad see ew.
This was my first time trying Burmese food, and I’m clueless as to whether or not this was “good” Burmese food. But I can say I enjoyed trying new dishes.
4. Goofy Cafe and Diner
Goofy Cafe and Diner is a casual spot with elevated surf shack vibes that’s on the edge of Waikiki. We got French toast and an acai bowl to share.
The French toast ($18.70) was smothered with strawberries, blueberries, and bananas to a point where you could hardly see the French toast underneath. A dollop of fresh cream tied it all together.
The niu acai bowl ($16.50) had a layer of frozen acai topped with coconut yogurt, hemp granola, papaya, raspberry, banana, chia seeds, and flaked coconut. It was refreshing and as tasty as it looks.
Both were absolutely delicious, but painfully expensive.
3. Egghead Cafe
Egghead Cafe is a local spot that has won numerous “Best Cafe in Honolulu” awards. The menu features classic breakfast fare with Taiwanese and Hawaiian twists.
We shared a breakfast burrito that was good, not great, as well as a the trio of pancakes which were the star of the show. We chose the Hawaiian, strawberry shortcake, and mac-nut choco pancakes, and all were delicious. The pancakes themselves were fluffy and light, and the toppings were all fresh and flavorful.
Egghead Cafe earns the #3 spot on my top Oahu eats list not just because the experience was great, but also because the menu has so many tasty looking items that I would go back for.
2. Canelé from Canelei at a farmers market
Canele is a French pastry flavored with vanilla and rum that features a caramelized crust, soft cake, and gooey center. Canelei adds an island twist with flavors like guava and lilikoi (passion fruit).
The center stupendously toed the line between moist and gooey, which complimented the crunchy exterior. Zings of freshness and acidity from the tropical fruit center tied it all together. Pure bliss in a dessert! Plus, each was only $3.75 a pop— Oahu eats ain’t cheap, so this seemed like a deal!
1. Skull and Crown Trading Co.
Skull and Crown is a modern tiki bar serving up wicked cocktails and delicious food to match. The ambiance is dark and moody with an interesting blend of old shipwreck vibes and kitschy tiki decor.
The cocktail list is extensive and expensive. But hey, good luck making any of these in your home bar! We each got two, and the winner was the “Bird of Paradise” which had dark rum, coffee rum, campari, smith and cross (whatever that is) pineapple, limes, and bitters. It had an unusually beautiful symphony of flavors that I would have never expected to pair so harmoniously.
The food was just as impressive, with the highlight being the lettuce wraps. (The lighting was so dark that getting any good snaps was mission impossible…. sorry!) It consisted of mega juicy roasted pork tossed with garlic chili, onions, herbs, crispy shallots, and pickles. The blend of fresh herbs with pops of heat and acid was nothing short of mind blowing. Each little textural component just elevated it that much more. It’s one of the best dishes I’ve had all year, and one I’ll be going back for on our next visit to Honolulu.
We finished out the meal with a slice of ube tres leches. (Learn about the history of tres leches HERE!) The cake was delicate and moist, making the perfect canvas for the coconut ube whipped cream to shine. It was perhaps one of the best pieces of tres leches I’ve ever had. Or maybe that’s just the tiki cocktails talking….
Wrapping up my top 5 Oahu Eats…..
Oahu has an excitingly diverse food scene that blends the flavors of the island with the flavors of all the different cultures that in inhabit it. While I’d hardly call our eats frugal, they were undoubtedly delicious.
Cheers to another foodie adventure!
