5 restaurants you absolutely have to eat at in Waikiki

While Hawai’i has a lot more to offer than hanging out in the prime tourist areas, it’s hard to ignore the allure of Waikiki. The magnificent beachside resort area with incredible views of the ocean and Diamond Head State Monument is more than postcard worthy.

It might not be the cheapest part of Honolulu, but Waikiki has a lot of great restaurants to check out if you’re in the neighborhood. While these five are great choices, there are dozens upon dozens that could be added to your list.

Musubi Cafe Iyasume

Given the long standing, heavy influence of Japanese culture on Hawai’i, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are a lot of Japanese restaurants in Waikiki. Keeping that in mind, Musubi Cafe Iyasume is an incredibly unique experience.

Musubi are balls of rice covered with nori as well as meat and vegetables added to it. Musubi Cafe Iyasume is one of the few, if not only, restaurants in Waikiki that specializes in Musubi. The Spam Musubi in particular are amazing.

Steak Shack

Eating good in Waikiki doesn’t require spending a lot of money in a five star restaurant. Steak Shack is a great place to grab a bite to eat without breaking the bank. It’s a stand close to the beach serving up plates of steak, chicken, and steak and chicken on a bed of rice and salad.

It’s a hell of a place to get great, unassuming food at the end of a day on Oahu. You can even watch the always spectacular sunset while you eat. Steak Shack is one of those places that you’ll want to go back to before your trip is over.

Tikis Grill & Bar

Is Tikis Grill & Bar a touristy spot in a Waikiki hotel? Absolutely. Is it still a place you want to hit up? Absolutely times two. Located in the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, Tikis is the place to grab a drink and spend the afternoon gazing out at the ocean.

It’s also got a great tiki vibe to it that just a lot of fun. While some people might slam hotel restaurants, Tikis still serves great food in an laid back environment. This is the spot to chill out and just take in the day.

Marukame Udon Waikiki

Marukame might have the best bowl of Udon in the entirety of Waikiki. And the best part about it is that this is also one of the most cost effective places to eat around. Marukame is a superb combination amazing food and even more amazing prices.

Everything is prepared using only the freshest ingredients, including their magnificent Tempura. The only thing to keep in mind is the fact that the lines can get a little long. Given the price point, that really doesn’t come as a surprise.

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin

Tonkatsu is a small Japanese restaurant chain with locations in Tokyo as well as Hong Kong and Seoul. But they also have one location in the United States, which is not surprisingly in Waikiki. This makes Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin a very unique stop.

It serves a variety of traditional Japanese dishes, specifically light and delicious pork cutlets. But they also have other unique dishes such as shrimp cutlets, Katsu bowls and more. Tonkatsu is a great spot for a low key bite to eat.