Papa Ole's is a spot I heard about from a friend, and it hasn't disappointed me yet. It feels like…read morea small mom and pop type place that locals enjoy, which is always a good sign. My personal favorite is the kalbi ribs. They've got that backyard BBQ taste that feels like a homecooked meal, and it's usually what I end up ordering. Simple, comforting, and it just hits. I also love grabbing food here and taking it down the street to eat at the beach. It's one of those meals that feels even better when you're eating it by the water. I just read that they may be closing soon, and if that's true, thank you for all the delicious meals over the years and wishing the team nothing but the best moving forward.

Went to Papa Ole's before they will be closing their business after all these years on December…read more15th! We ordered a regular plate mix with kalbi and shrimp and a mini pulehu ribs. The kalbi and pulehu are just about the same cuts of meats just a different marinade and you get to choose how you want it cooked. We got it medium rare. Kalbi is more like a sweeter Korean bbq and pulehu more smoky bbq. Meat was good and tender and shrimp was a nice creamy taste. Getting a bite of everything with the Mac salad is a must! Only downside is I tried to phone order in advance knowing they would be busy but I couldn't get the phone call through. We had to order once we got there and there was about an 1.5 hour wait for our order. The area is a dead zone for phone service so although they'll call to let you know your order is ready, you may not receive the call. But the wait was expected so we decided to go hang around the beach while waiting. There was a line of people wanting to order. I'd recommend to go early in the morning while they still have everything in stock because we got there at about 10:45AM and they had just sold out of their peanut butter rolls! It is cash only as well. Sad to see the business go but happy there is a lot of locals supporting them, giving fond farewells and wishing the Papa Ole's ohana the best!

Need to remind you that you need to stop at this establishment you won't be disappointed…read more Their plate lenses. I am hooked. I'm always stopping by when I have a chance. I love their system where you they take your order and then you take that ticket and then if you do wanna shop for items you're more than welcome to shop around look around support local, which I highly recommend shopping around and then once you are all set with your purchase, you go to the cashier who is really friendly and they just bring you up your ticket and the items that you found in the store what's even better they give you a buzzer so when your food is ready, it goes off that way you're not standing awkwardly in the store. Also allows the cooks to truly be comfortable and not feel the pressure of being watched. I highly recommend coming to despite even if it's your first time or your hundredth time good Ono food. Thanks aunty for the amazing aloha you share with the community everyday

Since it's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I wanted to highlight a longtime local favorite…read more-- Kaya's Kitchen and Kaya's Store, established in 1946! Kaya's Kitchen is located inside the store. You order at the kitchen window, then pay the cashier in the middle of the store. They serve up local-style favorites at great plate lunch prices. Nothing fancy -- just good local food that's been part of the community for generations. There's plenty of outdoor seating, convenient free parking, and a laid-back country vibe that makes it worth the stop if you're driving through the area. Check them out if you're on the North Shore side!

Located conveniently a few minutes from our Airbnb so it's a must. They close at 8pm so if you're a…read moretourist that eat late make sure to come before closing! Little nice restraint with 3 - 4 seated tables and 4 high-top 2 seated. Very small so during busy hours prob can't find seats. We came at around 7:15 and there were only 2 other parties there so not bad. Mandoo- crispy and yummy as expected. Ribeye BbQ - WARNING! Plate is massive! They are not shine with their portion size. For $22 that is a steal! For once the meat portion is bigger than the rice! My husband and I shared 1 entree and 1 appetizer and we were stuffed, actually couldn't finish the whole thing. The owner? (Cashier lady) was very nice and welcoming. Not sure if we will ever end up back here but definitely recommend and would come back. Currently losing my taste buds so the flavor to me is not as strong but hubby says the seasoning is great and he's a bit picky.

This is one of the few eateries that opens on Sundays for lunch and dinner in the vicinity. This…read moreplace also serves local, Korean food. My son ate all of his meat jun with rice. He seemed perfectly fine with his meal. My husband ordered their bi bim bap which tasted fairly good when all the ingredients, including raw, shredded purple cabbage, sesame seed oil, and kochujang sauce were mixed together. Unfortunately, fresh, orange colored egg yolk wasn't runny. The orange colored egg yolk didn't satisfy my palate. I ordered their kim chee fried rice because out of all the photos I saw in the restaurant, this dish popped right out and looked very appealing. My husband and I agreed that this entree was super spicy. There was some type of yellow, melted topping in the middle that didn't go well with this dish. Sprinkled furikake didn't jive well and threw off my taste buds. Orange colored egg yolk lacked the runny effect and did not appeal to my palate. This is the first place that didn't have chopsticks. My husband asked for chopsticks on my behalf because he knows I like to use them whenever possible. Instead, I kindly asked the worker for a spoon. There's only forks, knives and spoons. Workers were very courteous. Interior design has a variety of colors with a few tables and seats. Free, limited parking in the small lot.

We spotted Aloha Shrimp on our way to Kahuku from the side of the island we were coming from and…read moredecided to give it a try. We ordered the spicy shrimp and added extra spicy sauce on the side. There was a bit of a wait, but we weren't in a rush so it didn't bother us. We brought our food over to Kahuku Beer Garden, and it was definitely worth it. The shrimp was flavorful, saucy, and had a really nice kick without being overwhelming. It was so good that we got curious about the butter garlic shrimp and ended up going back the same day to grab another plate to take home. The butter garlic shrimp was just as good--rich, garlicky, and super satisfying. Overall, the shrimp tasted fresh, portions were solid, and both flavors delivered. Definitely worth a stop if you're heading toward Kahuku or planning on circling around the island. * didn't get to take a picture of the butter garlic shrimp plate

When rolling to the east side for views make sure you get a pit stop at Aloha Shrimp truck…read more Stopped in at Aloha just before 11am on a Monday and was blessed that nobody was there. Ordered up a shrimp fried rice and a 10 piece garlic shrimp order. Bubba Gump himself would be speechless after tasting these perfect pieces of shrimp Yelpstars! Unreal tasty food fresh to order. I'll be back. 5 stars.

Fat Poi does catering and it's just as good as that place in Waiahole. Because it was catering, we…read moregot to try more things than are on the daily Food Truck Menu. Their Kalua Pork is all the things--salty, smoky, juicy, tender, shredded meaty goodness. Their Squid Luau is perfect--the right balance of savory, mildly coconutty, melty luau leaves with bits of chewy squid. The Lomi Salmon has a nice bite from the red and green onions, the freshness from the tomatoes, and that briny saltiness. The Mac-Potato Salad was creamy and chunky, with a little bit of carrot and onion for freshness. The Lau Lau was loving assembled. Each foil packet was lined with a small piece of Ti leaf for flavor. The inside of the Lau Lau contained a piece of sweet potato, a chuck of salted pork, and a small piece of fat to keep everything succulent. More places should put sweet potatoes in their Lau Lau--I'm a fan. The catering buffet also had Chicken Long Rice which looked great with thick rice noodles and lots of chicken and green onions, but I skipped it because I didn't want to pour soup on my plate. I also skipped the white rice and fresh green salad. Another reason to seek out the Fat Poi truck is they do poke bowls and you can get combos to try more things. If you are looking for Hawaiian food, don't hesitate to order from Fat Poi, their food is winnahs!

During a break from the Polynesian Cultural Center, we stopped by the Fat Poi food truck. It was…read moreone, if not the cheapest, option out of the available food trucks and restaurants available. I got an Hawaiian Food with Kalua Pig and Squid Luau as my two choices. It was ready in about 10 minutes. The two main meets were decent and imo were just nicely shredded meat to pair with rice and some diced tomatoes that made for a quick meal. The server was very positive and gracious and there was table seating available as part of the center. Worth a try! But nothing to particularly write home about.

Deserves 100 stars! IRENE!!!…read more The Shrimp Shack on Oahu is an absolute must! My 4th time here. The owner, IRENE, is amazing--so friendly, fun, and truly beautiful inside and out. IRENE is hands-down the BEST SHRIMP PIMP EVER!! (Irene's funny phrase) The food is top-notch, and eating at tables right on the sand by the water is completely unparalleled. Anytime you're on Oahu, you have to stop here and eat. Pure island magic. Love you, Irene! So proud of you and all the smiles you bring to so many people. See you when i travel back to the islands from So Cal.

The ladies are friendly. But idk, nothing to write home about shrimp wise. Again the service is…read moregood but I can make um at home just same.

Absolutely delicious and HUGE portions! There were a few people in front of us, but we got all our…read morefood within 10 minutes. The mac salad was perfect! This cafe is to-go only, but that just made it the perfect breakfast to sit near the beach and enjoy the morning.

Hukilau Cafe was recommended to me by one of my coworkers that lived in the area. Unfortunately, at…read moretime of posting (12/14/25), it is carryout only. We ordered at the walk-up window and didn't wait long for our food to be made fresh! We both got the fried rice breakfast, which comes with two eggs (however you'd like), as well as protein. I opted for fried spam. My meal was hot, fresh, and delicious. It stayed very hot on the drive back to our hotel, as we sat at a table there. Prices are extremely fair for what you're getting! Great breakfast - we will be back!

This place is a laugh out loud riot. Order and pay at the…read morewindow and they find you. We had the roasted pork plate lunch. A rough exterior and inside is rustic North Shore decor. Bible verses are on the wall in bold lettering. There is a farm-like seating area in the back complete with goats, chickens, and dogs. The food was delicious and one plate lunch was too much for 2 hungry people.

This is a fun place to stop by on the North Shore. There are goats and a sheep in the back for the…read moreKeiki to wave to while you wait for your food. The loco moko was so Ono and the kalua pig and kalbi were good too! I love the interior and the cups too! Staff were friendly and welcoming.

This place is sooo good!…read more They serve the best French toast for breakfast and they have really good plate lunches for lunch or dinner. I've been coming her for like 10 years and they have always been really nice and the food is great and the service is great and a great environment

Tita's Grill This…read moreis a review for my experience eating at Tita's Grill, a food truck that serves Filipino cuisine. It is located by the Polynesian Cultural Center. Tita's Grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner *Be mindful of their hours Hours Monday - Saturday Breakfast: 8:00 am - 10:00 am Lunch 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm Dinner: 05:00 pm - 7:30 pm Closed Sundays & Wednesdays Words to describe Tita's Grill: Filipino Cuisine, flavorful, hearty comfort food, delicious, mouthwatering, fresh, savory Service/Menu: Friendly, efficient, seating is outdoors FOOD TITA'S PACK Rice, pancit (noodles), chicken wings, fried fish, brisket, macaroni salad *Trust me...just get it Yummy! Flavorful! Filling! GARLIC SHRIMP Garlic shrimp, macaroni salad, and rice All of the food plates we ordered were tasty-a warm hug in every bite! My favorite was the Tita's Pack! Portions were huge-and great to share All in all I enjoyed dining at Tita's Grill! Thank you aunties, uncles, and cousins for creating scrumptious and appetizing meals for us! I can't wait to dine with you again soon! Mahalo! Salamat Po!

Best Thai on the island! Love the yellow, green, and Penang curry. We order and pick up every time…read morewe are staying at pats at Punaluu. Mango sticky rice is also a winner.

If you like Thai, for a quiet side of the island where you don't have as much options as in town…read more This smacks! Green papaya salad is fire and made right, huge portions! Don't hesitate, just go!