A few months ago, we did a post about 5 Popular Restaurants in Honolulu We Avoid. This post came about we asked on Instagram if you would like to know what hot spots we avoid and why. The answer was a resounding YES.

We figured the best follow up would be to give you a much longer list of restaurants on Oahu that we love and why. This particular post will encompass our five favorite restaurants in Waikiki and our five favorite restaurants in Hale’iwa on Oahu’s North Shore. We will create another blog post for other spots on the island where you can find great restaurants to add to your list.

Gluten Free/Allergy Friendly

We will also add a note if any of these restaurants on Oahu offer gluten free options, as well as allergy friendly options. Be sure to let us know in the comments below if you have any further questions about any of the restaurants we list here.

Please note this post is for informational purposes only and not to be used as medical advice. Always do your own research when it comes to ensuring a restaurant is safe for you to eat at based on your dietary needs.

North Shore – Hale’iwa

Farm to Barn

Our first recommendation for our favorite restaurants on Oahu is a spot we’ve posted about this on our Instagram account a few times. We love the food, atmosphere, and service here. To boot, they have several (and delicious) gluten free, as well as vegan options on the menu. From our knowledge, there are no peanuts or tree nuts served here. But menus change frequently at restaurants, so check the Farm to Barn menu first before heading there!

Seven Brothers

Coming in at #2 on our list of popular Oahu restaurants we don’t care for, comes Teddy’s Bigger Burgers. Where then do we go if we want the best burger on the North Shore? Seven Brothers of course!

This burger joint makes fresh, delicious burgers that are always filling and fresh. This is a family favorite and we never worry about any of Leo’s food allergies here. You can always get your burgers lettuce wrapped for a gluten-free option, and they are just as tasty as the originals.

Surf N Salsa

This food truck in Hale’iwa is super popular – and for good reason. We have never ordered anything from here we didn’t love. It was recommended to us by a fellow southern-Californian who told us to grab a California burrito. (If you’re not from SoCal, then you may not realize the significance of this food staple.)

The burrito was amazing, and the tacos are killer. Big, stuffed, incredibly filling. Also, Surf N’ Salsa serves horchata and jamaica if you’re hankering for a full on SoCal meal on the island. Plus, they can make most things (minus burritos) gluten and dairy free. Most importantly, Leo has also eaten here successfully many times, therefore we don’t fret about possible cross contamination at this spot.

The only negative side to this Oahu food truck is the length of time it takes to get your order. Plan for at least 15 minutes before being able to eat after you order!

Hale’iwa Beach House

If you’re looking for a sit-down, server style restaurant on the North Shore, check out Hale’iwa Beach House. They also offer many gluten and dairy free options, and as far as we know, they don’t have peanuts on the menu. This restaurant also offers local Hawaiian food staples like loco moco, poke, and kalua pork.

Jorge’s Tacos & Ceviche

Quick and easy, Jorge’s is great for a light seafood meal. Their ceviche is really good and their outdoor seating options make for a nice atmosphere. We definitely recommend Jorge’s for a chill place to eat if you’re looking at easy restaurants on Oahu.

Waikiki

SKY WAIKIKI Raw & Bar

If you look it up on Apple Maps or Yelp, this restaurant and bar doesn’t get the best reviews. However, we’ve always had a great experience here and it’s one of our go-to’s when taking visitors to our favorite places on the island.

A view from SKY.

SKY is the only place in Waikiki (and on the island to our knowledge) that you can stand 20 atop 20 stories on a rooftop bar and take in the entire strip. From the top of SKY you can see the pacific ocean and watch people surf. You can watch the sunset you people watch from high above Kalakaua Ave. You can soak in the mountains, lights and fresh air of Waikiki.

The food and drinks, while not priced low, are always a hit. They’re not afraid to pour on the drinks and everyone we’ve brought here loves their food. It’s a great place to share time and appetizers together while soaking in an amazing view.

We can’t comment on whether they still have a lot of gluten free menu items, but as we recall, there are a few with food items like poke nachos and fresh fish options available.

The Hideout

We LOVE eating at The Hideout, recommending it to others, and bringing people to this cozy rooftop bar. Their food is top notch, not to mention large portion sizes and their large variety of gluten free options as well.

In addition to all that, The Hideout has great service. With attention to detail, every server we’ve had has always been friendly, attentive and accommodating. Great service truly makes you want to go to a restaurant repeatedly, and The Hideout has that on point.

Pricing is your average Waikiki pricing when it comes to food, but portion sizes seem to be bigger than most.

Topped Waikiki

If you’re looking for an off the beaten path, hole in the wall, delicious place to eat, this is it. At Topped, the menu is short and it’s mostly bibimbap – a hearty serving at a decent price, great for lunch. In fact, it’s pretty darn filling for dinner too. From time to time, we order something other than bibimbap, which is always good too. But the real heart of this place is their signature dish.

Added bonus? It’s all gluten free. That’s not to say if you have celiac disease that you shouldn’t still check if they have any gluten in their products (like soy sauce, etc.). But being a rice-based dish, those with intolerances like myself can snarf down these bowls without issue.

Tommy Bahama

It seems odd to put a chain restaurant on our list of top 5 in Waikiki, but in reality, Tommy Bahama is a truly delicious restaurant and we aren’t the only ones who seem to think so. To put it another way, unless you go early or have reservations, you’ll be waiting a while for the table.

Here in Waikiki, they have a two story restaurant, both with city views. They have seating, their bar and the kitchen on the second floor of their shop and their third floor consists of a rooftop seating area, complete with a firepit, bathrooms and more table seating.

They have a good amount of gluten free options and their portions are fair for the price. Everything we’ve eaten here has been delicious and we have brought many visitors to this eatery when we are looking for a nice place to eat that offers something for everyone.

The boys like eating here too! Not to mention, Leo has safely eating at this restaurant many times. Their only complaint is that the chicken strips on the kids menu are spicy.

Marugame Udon

UDON! That’s what we always say whenever we see this restaurant. Being that it’s, well, udon, this is not a gluten intolerant friendly restaurant. There is gluten everywhere, so if you can’t eat it, don’t go here.

The portions here are huge, pricing is low, and the line is always a mile long. There are times this restaurant boasts a line of people down the street and around the corner of the block it sits on. With this in mind, yes, this restaurant is that good. People are willing to wait an hour just to snag some udon.

While there are many udon dishes to choose from, their most popular is the curry. And though this is gluten central, they do have rice bowls if cross-contamination doesn’t affect you.