By 
Note: This post was originally written in 2018.
Welcome to my second blog post of my trip to Oahu!
If you like sushi or poke, eating on Oahu is paradise on earth. If I could eat anything for the rest of my life, it would be poke. It’s also my food of choice whenever I’m out and about running errands in LA.
We ate so much poke and I’m so happy to share with you these great finds! In Hawaii, the fish is fresh and perfectly marinated with that melt-in-your-mouth quality you don’t easily find in LA or elsewhere on the mainland.
Tip: If you love fish and you’re in Hawaii for less than a week, try to avoid restaurant chains you can easily find on the mainland!
Sushi 🍣
I’m a big sushi lover. I’ve been to Japan three times and adore the culture and the food. But in the eight years since my last visit to Japan, never have I eaten sushi as fresh as I did at Mitch’s. My dad and I even closed our eyes and slowly chewed the fish to appreciate it and fully immerse ourselves in the flavors and unique textures. This hole-in-the-wall restaurant is located in an industrial warehouse, just 2 blocks away from the Honolulu airport. The fish, caught in the waters of New Zealand, comes straight from the airplane to the restaurant. Mitch’s, like Oahu, is very laid-back, no-frills and unpretentious. It was so laid-back that even the staff were wearing shorts. Every single server was super attentive and one of them was even impressed that I had found Mitch’s.
It is a little bit pricey but nothing outrageous: $14 for a 2-piece sushi order compared to your regular $4, 2-piece sushi order here in LA, but you’re definitely getting your money’s worth. There was also the chef’s specials, which were obviously more expensive and everyone around us, mostly locals, ordered those. We strictly stuck to sushi and sashimi lol. I mean, when will we ever again get to taste the freshest sushi on earth? The cuts of sushi and sashimi were also huge, like, you could just not eat them in one bite. We liked Mitch’s so much we even went back again before returning our car and going to the airport. Coincidentally, our car rental was only two blocks away! I’m seriously considering booking a round-trip to Honolulu from LAX just to hop off the plane, go to Mitch’s and head back to LA. Yes people, it was that good. This place is probably Oahu’s best-kept secret.
Former President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born and raised in Honolulu. Whenever he goes back to Oahu, he pays a visit to Mitch’s, which speaks highly of their consistency and unsurpassed quality.
Poke
We ate poke EVERY DAY. Eating fresh Hawaiian poke set the bar to a whole different level and made me seriously question and fear whether I’ll ever enjoy mainland poke again. Inexpensive, giant scoops of fresh, perfectly marinated fish and hot steamed rice made our taste buds rejoice in delight after a long beach day.
I was baffled by how ubiquitous poke was on Oahu: liquor stores, convenience stores, random hole-in the-wall places and supermarkets. It was funny to see the lack of indoor seating and trendy décor. A far cry from most poke joints on the mainland, with hipster decor and wall neon signs that read “I Love Poke”. We ate in our car pretty much every day, which was also nice and enhanced our Hawaiian adventure. If you go to poke joints late in the day they might sell out, so make sure to go early in the day.
Aloha Cones, Honolulu
We were starving when we got there from the other side of the island after a long day at the beach. I had driven for one hour straight! A warning to consider is that everything closes super early. We made it 16 minutes before closing time which was 4pm. Traffic on Oahu is no joke, so map out the places you want to go before you leave in the morning to avoid surprises. Thankfully, there was parking in the back, which helped us get there on time.
We were blown away by how good everything was as we devoured our bowls. We also ordered one of their shave ices which was also incredible and insanely refreshing! Talking about shave ice, we missed Matsumoto Shave Ice (North Shore) and Waiola in Honolulu. These last two places are the top shave ice spots on Oahu.
Ahi Assassins Fish Co, Kanehoe
The best poke joint on Oahu is located on the second level of what seemed to be a rundown converted apartment building. This was our favorite place so far!! The people working there were young local fishermen. Their vast knowledge about poke and good energy was infectious. Delicious is a BIG understatement. If you don’t believe me, look at the picture below. This hole-in-the-wall poke joint was the hardest to find as there were no signs. There was no place to sit and parking in the plaza was very limited.
“Over 80% of America’s fish is imported from foreign countries with unstable processing plants & lower health regulations. Much of the fish sold in big marketplaces are flash frozen and pumped with CO2 to bring back color. The only thing Ahi Assassins pumps is gas into the boats we fish from.” – Ahi Assassins Website
Look at all their media exposure. Yes my friends, their hype is completely justified.
Fresh Catch in Kanehoe
There’s another location in Honolulu but we went to the one in Kanehoe, where they had ample parking and indoor seating, which is shocking for a Hawaiian poke joint in Hawaii. To our disappointment, indoor seating was at its full capacity so once again, we ended up eating in our car! If you didn’t want to get out of your car, you could simply order through the drive-through window!
Maguro Bros, Chinatown
Located in Chinatown, this place was our first stop after checking into our hotel on the first day.
Compared with the other hole-in-the-wall places we ate at, this was our least favorite. The fish was fresh and the quality was outstanding, but the place was more specialized in sashimi and sushi rather than poke. The portions were also surprisingly small. If you’re staying on Oahu for 3/4 days, I wouldn’t add this to my must-stop list.
Below you’ll see the other poke places on my list that we missed: 😢😢
Apparently, Poke from Foodland, which is a supermarket is a must.
Tamashiro Market
802 N King St, Honolulu, HI 96817
Ono Seafood
747 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816
Tamura’s Fine Wine & Liquors (multiple locations)- We went to the one on Maui the following year!
Kahuku Superette
56-505 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI 96731
Fort Ruger Market
534 Paikau St, Honolulu, HI 96816
Alicia’s Market
267 Mokauea St, Honolulu, HI 96819
Dinner
Livestock Tavern, Honolulu
American comfort food with a modern twist in downtown! Livestock Tavern was the perfect option for dining in Honolulu on our first night. The restaurant interior was very contemporary: brick walls, high ceilings with a hipster, trendy feel to it like many restaurants in LA. Their menu changes seasonally and they also specialize in handcrafted cocktails. I don’t remember exactly what we ordered, but the veggies were the best of the best, their cakes were mouth-watering, and the portions were so generous that we had to share!
Lei Lei’s Bar and Grill, North Shore
Located in the Turtle Bay resort’s golf course, Lei Lei’s is a great option if you’re in North Shore and you’re looking for a nice relaxing dining experience. This was a lovely dinner after spending the afternoon in Waimea Falls. We shared their fresh salad and their delicious ahi poke plate. It goes without saying that the server was very attentive and knowledgeable, and provided us with stellar recommendations.
This was the salad I ordered
Poke & Box, Ala Moana Shopping Center
We went to Ala Moana center at night but we weren’t really hungry, so we went to the food court in hopes of trying to find something light to eat and we opted for Poke & Box. After trying out the outstanding poke at the places I mentioned earlier, this one fell a little short. Later we grabbed a shave ice at the other food court and it was delicious.
Breakfast
Arvo Coffee, Honolulu
While researching Oahu-based Instagram accounts, I came across Arvo Coffee multiple times. It’s a coffee, clothing, plant store and possibly the best Instagrammable breakfast place in all Honolulu. What an amazing find!!! We wanted to go back a second time, but our tight schedule and its far location made it impossible. I was surprised at how good my almond latte was. Also, every dish was beautifully presented, which of course made for excellent Instagram pictures!
It was jarring to see the difference between the hustle of Waikiki and the calmness of this area.
Chadlou’s Coffee Roaster, Kailua
The coffee and breakfast were not as solid as Arvo’s, but this was a great breakfast option before going to Lainaki Beach, which was only 10 minutes away. The hipster ambiance and the gorgeous tile counter transported me to the hipster coffee shops in Silver Lake!
Olive & Oliver, Waikiki
Olive and Oliver is a cute coffee shop with modern decor connected to the lobby area of the Surfjack Hotel, which is where we stayed. The coffee shop had a very charming boutique shop, selling shirts and other mementos. The beautiful art-deco inspired counter, the pink walls and the lovely printed cups truly set this place apart from any other coffee shop in Waikiki! Not only was the coffee super good, but it was also very inexpensive. Olive and Oliver was a great option to grab something quick before we headed to the beach!
Note: Olive & Oliver only serves coffee and a few limited snack options, not full breakfast meals.
More places in North Shore
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck (Haleiwa)
Known for their world-famous shrimp, eating at Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck was messy yet amazing.
When we got there, there was a long line, but we had to try it! The rice and lemon were heavenly. I’m not crazy about shrimp in general, so eating with my hands next to a giant trash can and repelling mosquitoes wasn’t exactly the most pleasant eating experience. If you love shrimp, I advise you to do some research. Shrimp trucks are a dime a dozen on Oahu, especially in Haleiwa. It was good, but I don’t think it was worth the 30 / 40-minute wait. Parking in Haleiwa, this cute village in North Shore, was also a complete nightmare. There’s no street parking unless you’re going to any of the gift shops.
The Sunrise Shack
Another great find thanks to the power of Instagram. If you’re ever in North Shore, this place can’t be missed before going to Sunset Beach or one of the many hikes!!
We went there after Giovanni’s. This bright yellow shack on the side of the narrow highway boasts an array of nutritious, healthy fruit bowls and smoothies. They also make their own coffee, called the Bulletproof Coffee. We ordered two papaya boats: mine was with peanut butter and my dad’s had almond butter and needed to say, they were very flavorful and fresh. After eating salty shrimp, our sweet cravings were satisfied.
We ate papaya bowls surrounded by the most pleasant green garden with chirping birds and roosters running around. Afterward, my dad bought one of their chocolate bars from the display. It had sea salt and it was very decadent and rich! They also have a gift section with unique items like organic popcorn, chocolate, their signature Bulletproof Coffee ground, shirts and organic house-made skincare products. Go to their Instagram here.
Leonard’s Bakery, Waikiki
Although this year I made the commitment of leveling up my fitness game (which I am, and I’m so proud of myself) by cutting out sugar, certain fats and red meat, we had to go to Hawaii’s most famous bakery and try out Leonard’s signature malasadas. This place is in the Waikiki area, so if you’re staying nearby it’s a great walk!
These Hawaiian treats are essentially Portuguese doughnuts brought to Hawaii by Portuguese plantation workers in the 19thcentury. I had the custard filling one, which is their most popular. My dad had the plain one, which was a little lackluster. If you go, definitely order the filled ones. The combination of the creamy filling and the golden fried dough is what makes it so special.
That’s it folks!! If only we had stayed more days… we loved Hawaii so much that we tried to stay for one extra day, but the flight change fee was $200 each! Ugh.
Hawaii definitely surpassed my expectations. When people think of Hawaii, mostly they think of nice beaches, surfers and luau parties. Despite our short stay, we came back with memorable experiences: the food, the majestic, towering cliffs, the unforgettable swims, and the warmth of everyone we encountered. All of this allowed us to see Hawaii from an entirely different perspective. If you’re reading and you’ve never been to Hawaii, it should be at the top of your must-visit destinations list.
Thank you to redditor @brianlangauthor for sharing this!!
Click here to view the document.
“This is not my doc but was shared in this sub about a week before we went to Oahu. We used it the whole week.
Edit – and I would add 12th Ave Grill to it because we grabbed a same day rezzie there and the food was fantastic!”
Have you been to Hawaii? If so, which island? Please share in the comments!
