Every wednesday afternoon (4pm-7pm) and every saturday morning (9am-11am) there are two uber cool markets that serve lots of food! During our time in Waikiki we went there almost every single time. Here's what you HAVE to try:
Wednesday Honolulu Farmer's market:
- hand-pulled noodles @ Youpo. Every dish tastes different, try all of them!
- vietnamese coffee and food (<3 monk fish) @ The Pig and The Lady (they also have a restaurant, great pho).
- Lau lau @ luau bombs. These are fantastic, get the spicy pork which has coconut milk inside <3. But all of them are very different (and they often change their menu).
Saturday KCC Farmer's market:
- ginger cooler @ Pacifikool. When you arrive at the market, just go there and get this drink til you find something to eat. It is fucking bomb.
- fresh fruit mochis @ Daizutei. These are some of the best mochis we've ever eaten. Get the strawberry with white beans one! Tangerine is bomb also.
- luau bombs (they're here as well, so get your dose of lau lau)
- The pig and the lady (here as well)
I also heard good things about Kaka'ako Farmers Market which is the closest to Waikiki (!!) and is on Saturday (8AM-12PM)
- Han no Daidokoro - omg, wagyu tasting menus for 55$ for A4 and 75$ for A5, both are fucking amazing!!!
- Diamond Head Market & Grill - probably the most legit/popular place for BBQ
- Tonkatsu Tamafuji - if you like tonkatsu, this is the place
- Honolulu Skewer House - cool Chinese DIY bbq
- The Cookie corner (several locations) - best cookies ever o.o it's a bit like you're eating butter, but it's worth it
- BRUG (several locations) - this is the best bakery hands down, they have plenty of locations and everything there is dope, we went like 50 times there :D hahaha
- Me Bar-B-Que - my favorite hole in the wall BBQ, kalbi on rice FTW
- Marukame Udon Waikiki
- La Vie - great French restaurant, pricey though
- Yanagi Sushi - great izakaya and sushi
- Jejubing Dessert Cafe - good bingsoo : )
- Kona Coffee Purveyors | b patisserie - they have B pattisserie !!! (the best pastryshop in SF)
- Island Vintage Shave Ice - best shaved ice on the island! Geet the lilikoi heavenly! (good for 2 people)
- Island Vintage Coffee (several locations) - the local coffee place, lots of great drinks and great breakfast and food!
- The Alley - we tried almost everything, wish this place was in SF
- It's Tea - get their wintermelon and lemon tea ^.^ dope hole in the wall boba tea place.
- Aloha Beer Company - local brewerie with really cool patio and great food.
- Island Vintage Wine Bar - local wine bar which is fucking dope! Go there and try all the food (everything is amazing). You will have to book though.
- Amuse Wine Bar - bougie wine bar.
- Dukes Lane Market & Eatery - they have good bread (baguette)
- Nijiya - same as in SF (though smaller)
- Foodland Farms classy foodland (they have foie gras, iberian ham, etc.)
- pillbox is fucking grandiose, super cool to hike, and not too hard. Hard to park near by, so park at the parkings at the kalua park. Also, if you go all the way til' the end of the trail, you can't go back to get your car without crossing a gated community... good to know (we had to hitchhike).
- three peaks is hard as fuck but cool (small) climbing parts and incredible view.
- koko head is super cool! You just climb this mountain via a train rail stair case thing. Don't miss this one!
- stairways to heaven is fucking amazing.
- massage @ Jai Dee Thai Therapeutic Massage
- cyber cafe @ HPU eSports Arena