With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
From Hawaiian favorites like spam musubi and shave ice to Asian fusion and acai bowls, Hawaii is home to some seriously phenomenal restaurants. And while it’s easy to argue that Oahu is home to the best dining among the islands, it can be difficult to decide where to eat, especially if you’re only visiting the island for a short time – say, three days?
That’s where we come in; we’ve broken down our 72 hours on Oahu into three distinct days, with restaurant selections limited to a specific region of the island. On day one, we’ll explore Honolulu’s greatest eats, then it’s off to the windward coast for day two, finishing off on the north shore for day three.
There's no doubt that brunch is one of the best meals ever invented, and the food from celebrity chef Lee Anne Wong's Koko Head Cafe does not disappoint. Doesn’t this breakfast bibimbap look incredible?
This casual Japanese eatery specializes in noodle soup, and there is almost always a line out of the door. It was even rated as the 10th best restaurant in America in Yelp's "Top 100 Places to Eat in the US."
Located within the Aqua Pacific Monarch Café in Honolulu is Musubi Café Iyasume, an adorable shop with an impressive selection of musubi – and affordable prices. And really, is there any better snack to grab before heading to the beach than bacon, egg, spam and avocado musubi?
Located in the heart of Honolulu, famed chef Alan Wong shows off his expertly-crafted Asian-fusion cuisine with a Hawaiian flare. This upscale third-floor restaurant is the perfect choice for a fancy meal.
Guava chiffon pancakes, cinnamon buns, banana cream cheese French toast, Hawaiian omelets and eggs benedict, oh my! This charming café located in the heart of Kailua town is an island favorite, and they serve some amazing breakfast foods.
While fresh juice, smoothies and acai bowls are normally thought of for breakfast, there is little better for an afternoon pick me up than a smoothie or bowl full of delicious fresh fruit.
While there are a variety of coffee shops near Haleiwa, the bakery items and pastries at Ted's Bakery cannot be beat - especially these scrumptious pineapple muffins. Don't forget to grab a slice of haupia pie for the road!
Kahuku is known for a plethora of shrimp trucks, but Giovanni's is by far the most famous - and the perfect spot for a casual lunch while traveling between the north shore's most famous beaches.
Located in the historic surfing town of Haleiwa, on Oahu’s north shore, is this famous shave ice shop. What once began as a small grocery story has transformed into so much more – t-shirts, souvenirs, snacks and, of course, their famous shave ice. On a hot summer day, the store produces more than 1,000 shave ices!
