Oahu’s food scene has grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade, with a crop of young chefs placing a premium on organic, local produce, elevating... Read More
Oahu’s food scene has grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade, with a crop of young chefs placing a premium on organic, local produce, elevating the restaurant scene beyond what the island has seen before. You’ll still find the traditional “plate lunch” (a classic staple consisting of barbecued chicken or kalua pork with white rice and macaroni salad) everywhere you go, but also farm-to-table restaurants with inventive menus that take every advantage of Oahu’s homegrown ingredients. Chef Ed Kenney has led the way in this new Hawaiian food movement, building a mini empire of restaurants on the island, including Mud Hen Water, Kaimuki Superette, Town, and his latest, Mahina & Suns, located in Waikiki’s Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club. The Honolulu native’s ethos, “local first, organic whenever possible, with aloha always,” is relevant to Oahu’s other best restaurants as well. Take the Local, a new shave-ice spot that opened in the beach town of Kailua. They took a classic island dessert but created all-natural, organic ingredients in flavors (like chili-pepper guava and Kona coffee) that are rooted in Hawaii. There’s never been a better time to eat on Oahu than right now.
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Kaimuki Superette
Directly next door to Mud Hen Water is another recent Ed Kenney creation, this one a throwback of sorts to old-school counter delis—but with a menu that... Read More
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Koko Head Cafe
The popularity of brunch on the island has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years, and nowhere else has led the trend like Koko Head Café. You... Read More
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Leonard's Bakery
Established in 1952 by the grandson of Portuguese immigrants, Leonard’s is best known for its malasadas, traditional Portuguese pastries made of fried... Read More
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Livestock Tavern
As the name suggests, this Chinatown newcomer (from the team behind the nearby popular restaurant Lucky Belly) specializes in all things meat, with a... Read More
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Mahina and Suns
Chef Ed Kenney ventured outside of Kaimuki (the neighborhood where his other restaurants—Town, Kaimuki Superette, and Mud Hen Water—are located) for his... Read More
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Mud Hen Water
Located in Honolulu’s Kaimuki neighborhood (which has emerged as one of the city’s hottest culinary destinations), Mud Hen Water is Hawaii-born chef Ed... Read More
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MW Restaurant
Alan Wong protégés (and husband-and-wife team) Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr-Ueoka have perfected their Hawaiian-inflected surf-and-turf menu since... Read More
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The Pig and the Lady
What started as a buzzy pop-up with stands at farmers’ markets around the island turned into an actual—and just as popular—restaurant in Chinatown in... Read More
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