Between an amazing Vietnamese restaurant, a true American bar & grill, and a couple of places that blur the lines, we were incredibly pleased by the non-Hawaiian and Japanese places we tried while in Oahu.
Read my guides on Oahu’s local food and bakeries.
The Pig and The Lady
Located in the heart of Honolulu’s Chinatown, The Pig and The Lady is a trendy Vietnamese restaurant churning out inventive dishes bursting with unique and complex flavors on a menu of rotating items. While the lunch menu offers a raved about pho French dip sandwich, we went for dinner and got to try the newly added citrus cured kona kampachi that was garnished with bitter grapefruit coated in sweet plum powder (Li ping) and mint. Their standout sausage surrounded an octopus tentacle with lemongrass pork, swimming in a fish sauce based sauce and covered with fresh mint, dill & coriander.
They regularly change the variations of pho served – we got to enjoy a delicious duck pho with a complex broth, cured egg yolk and thicker rice verimicelli noodles that had a much better texture than you’d find at standard Vietnamese spots. Save room for dessert, including their Sunday Funday which offers rotating flavors of soft serve in a waffle cone, finished with “chocolate magic crack” at the table.
Eat this: ahi tuna tataki toasts, citrus cured kampachi (seasonal), octopus sausage, pho (changes regularly), pork chop, semifreddo, Sunday Funday
See more photos from The Pig and The Lady here
Mahina & Suns
This casual yet trendy semi-outdoor restaurant inside the Surfjack Hotel in Waikiki has great vibes to go with its island influenced menu. We dined for brunch, which offered an eclectic menu of both brunch classics and unique items like our favorite dish, the pork adobo fried rice. It takes the Filipino pork dish and combines it with avocado, pickled mushrooms, kimchi, and pickled ginger topped with a perfectly cooked runny egg for a bowl you just can’t stop eating. They also offer a variety of pizzas – we loved their naked pig pizza which was quite rich, so the mountain of arugula and parmesan that’s offered as an add on balanced things out perfectly.
Eat this: pork adobo fried rice, naked pig pizza with arugula and parmesan, kale salad, kuahiwi burger, surfjack breakfast with Portuguese sausage
See more photos from Mahina & Suns here
Herringbone Waikiki
While there may be outposts of Herringbone outside of Waikiki, their coastal California inspired menu created by Top Chef alum Brian Malarkey and the airy, carefree space make it perfect for a meal while you’re in Hawaii. We dined for brunch, and loved the seafood-focused menu that included unique takes on standard brunch dishes, like their eggs benedict with bacon, king crab, sea urchin and caviar on Hawaiian sweet bread and island-influenced thick pancakes that get drowned in a bright lilikoi (passionfruit) butter. It’s perfect for big groups, especially with their bottomless mimosa option that includes 6 different fruit juices to mix to your liking.
Eat this: buffalo octopus, eggs benedict, ray ray pancakes, smoked trout caesar salad
See more photos from Herringbone Waikiki here
Reef Bar & Market Grill
Are you a master on the grill, or perhaps you’ve always wanted to try but were intimidated by it? Either way, Reef Bar & Market Grill is the right place for you. Located inside the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Resort right on Waikiki Beach, the restaurant has a butcher counter with a variety of proteins from steaks to fish and vegetable kebabs, plus large indoor grills to cook your protein on while taking in views of Diamond Head. If you don’t want to grill your own food, they also have a menu of beach favorites to order from, but it’s definitely a fun way to feel like you’re having a beachfront BBQ.
Eat this: ribeye steak, mahi-mahi kebabs, fish & chips, pineapple upside down bread pudding with haupia ice cream
