Oʻahu Restaurant Guide 🌺 | Hits & Misses in Honolulu

Just got back from Oʻahu with a mix of food highs and lows — here’s my real take to help you eat well and skip the letdowns. 🚫 Skip These Spots ❌ Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu The biggest disappointment of the trip 😅 Called "the best tonkatsu" by many — but their premium Kurobuta pork was overwhelmingly fatty (see pic — that’s the regular one!). One bite and our table of four fell silent. If you’re from a city with good Japanese food — you’ve had better. Not worth the hype or price. ❌ Waikiki Shokudo A 4.6-rated izakaya on Google, but totally average and overpriced. Their teppan fried rice smelled amazing… but tasted like nothing. Hard pass. 😐 Just Okay / Novelty Picks 🍜 Ramen Bario Decent ramen, but the chashu wasn’t authentic. Another overhyped spot. 🥣 Adela’s Country Eatery Interesting flavors — good for a unique experience! Takeout only, huge portions. 🍝 Moringa pasta > taro or avocado. Matcha cake was the real star! 🍛 Highway Inn Known for “authentic Hawaiian food” — the combo plate was dry and bland. But their Loco Moco was legit and delicious — a rare win. 🌊 North Shore Bites 🦐 Jenny’s Shrimp Truck Lighter seasoning, lets the shrimp shine — but we all preferred Big Wave Shrimp across the street. 🍧 Hale’iwa Bowls Average açaí bowls — not worth a long wait. Their coffee? Also meh. Tip: Show your coffee receipt for 20% off the bowl (wish I knew earlier!). ✅ Worth a Visit 🌊 Big Wave Shrimp Flavorful garlic shrimp plate — a North Shore must. ☕ Bird Nest Cafe (across from Big Wave) The best coffee I had on the island! Smooth and rich. 🍲 Udon Yama Solid udon, affordable, no crazy lines. Skip Marugame — come here! 🍢 Osaka Oden Izakaya Kawano Cozy spot with delicious okonomiyaki, oden, and teppanyaki — and easy on the wallet. 🥯 Island Vintage Coffee Brunch was consistently good — no bad orders. But drinks are just okay. Go if there’s no line. #OahuEats #HonoluluFood #HawaiiRestaurantGuide #FoodReview #EatThisNotThat