Where We Ate in Hawaii: Honest Restaurant Reviews
During our 13-day adventure through Oahu, Kauaʻi, and Maui, we made it a point to experience a variety of restaurants—from world-famous fine dining and beachfront bars to local favorites, breweries, and even shave ice.
One of the questions we're asked most after returning home is, "Where should we eat?" Rather than simply listing restaurant names, we wanted to share our honest experiences at each one. Some became highlights of our trip, while others were simply good places to grab a meal between adventures.
As always, these are our personal opinions based on our experience. We hope they help you decide where to spend your vacation dining budget.
🏝️ Oahu
Royal Hawaiian Bakery
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📍 Location: The Royal Hawaiian Resort – Waikīkī
Why We Went
Staying at The Royal Hawaiian meant the bakery was just steps from our room, making it an easy choice each morning before heading out to explore Oahu.
Our Experience
Every morning, there was a line.
After trying it ourselves, we completely understood why.
The coffee was excellent, the pastries were fresh, and everything we tried was delicious. It became our favorite breakfast stop during our stay at The Royal Hawaiian.
Sometimes the best vacation breakfasts are also the simplest. Grabbing coffee and a pastry before walking onto Waikīkī Beach was the perfect way to begin each day.
Would We Return?
Absolutely. We'd happily start every morning here on a future visit.
Mai Tai Bar
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📍 Location: The Royal Hawaiian Resort – Waikīkī
Why We Went
After checking into the hotel, we wanted lunch without leaving the resort, and had researched the hotel options ahead of time, so we knew we wanted to experience the Mai Tai Bar at some point on the trip.
Our Experience
The Mai Tai Bar offers everything you'd hope for in an oceanfront Hawaiian restaurant.
The cocktails were excellent, the food was delicious, and the setting couldn't be much better. Sitting just steps from Waikīkī Beach while enjoying lunch and tropical drinks immediately put us into vacation mode.
The portions were a little smaller than expected, but the quality of the food and the unbeatable atmosphere more than made up for it.
Whether you're staying at The Royal Hawaiian or simply visiting Waikīkī, it's well worth stopping by.
Would We Return?
Without hesitation.
Cheeseburger in Paradise
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
📍 Location: Waikīkī, Oahu
Why We Went
After spending our first afternoon relaxing on Waikīkī Beach, we wanted a casual dinner within walking distance of our hotel.
Our Experience
We ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise on our first night in Oahu, and it was the perfect way to kick off our Hawaii vacation.
Everyone in our group enjoyed their meal, and the portions were generous. The open-air dining area offered beautiful views of the water, creating a relaxed atmosphere while we ate.
The restaurant has a fun, laid-back tiki diner vibe that fits right in with Waikīkī. Since it's open-air, there were birds flying in and out looking for crumbs. It wasn't a big deal for us, but it's something to be aware of if that might bother you.
Would We Return?
Definitely. It was a great casual meal with good food, beautiful views, and a fun island atmosphere.
Cuckoo Coconuts
⭐⭐☆☆☆
📍 Location: Waikīkī, Oahu
Why We Went
We were looking for a lively dinner with live music after spending the day at Pearl Harbor.
Our Experience
Unfortunately, this one didn't quite live up to our expectations.
The food was okay, but nothing memorable. Out of our group of five, two people didn't enjoy their meals, and the rest of us thought everything was fairly average. The drinks were decent, but again, nothing really stood out.
We were excited about the live music, but if I'm being honest, the band just wasn't our style, and it was so loud that we couldn't carry on a conversation without raising our voices.
The biggest positive was the staff.
There were only two servers and one bartender working, and they were absolutely hustling. By the time we finished dinner, the restaurant was packed, and it was obvious the staff was doing everything they could to keep up.
Unfortunately, being so short-staffed also affected the experience. After finishing our meal, we waited nearly twenty minutes just to receive our check.
Would We Return?
Probably not.
The hardworking staff deserved more support, but between the average food, loud atmosphere, and long wait to pay, this wasn't one of our favorite dining experiences in Hawaii.
🌴 Kauaʻi
Lava Lava Beach Club
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📍 Location: Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi
Why We Went
Since our vacation rental wasn't ready for check-in yet, we researched lunch spots ahead of time and decided Lava Lava Beach Club would be the perfect place to begin our Kauaʻi adventure.
Our Experience
It absolutely lived up to our expectations.
We sat outside in the shade overlooking the ocean while enjoying one of the best lunches of our trip.
One of our favorite parts was watching Kauaʻi's famous wild roosters wandering around the tables. It definitely added to the fun, laid-back island atmosphere.
The food was a 10/10.
Everything we ordered was delicious, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout our meal.
Would We Return?
Without hesitation.
If you're looking for the perfect first meal after arriving on Kauaʻi, we highly recommend Lava Lava Beach Club.
Happy Talk Lounge
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📍 Location: Princeville, Kauaʻi
Why We Went
Since we were staying in Princeville, Happy Talk Lounge was an easy choice for our first dinner on Kauaʻi.
Our Experience
We unfortunately got there when it was dark outside, so we couldn't see the beautiful views. However, the live music created the perfect Hawaiian atmosphere, and the food was excellent.
After a day of traveling and exploring Turtle Cave, it was exactly the relaxing evening we were hoping for.
Everything about the restaurant felt welcoming, and it was a wonderful introduction to Kauaʻi's North Shore.
Would We Return?
Absolutely.
We'd happily return on our next visit for the food and atmosphere, and hopefully, then we will get to see the beautiful scenery.