We have compiled a list of recommended gourmet spots on the East Shore that we especially want to introduce to you.
The gourmet spots on the East Shore include stylish shops, unique places, and famous restaurants!
The breakfast and lunch options are particularly excellent, and each one offers delicious food worth visiting at least once.
We have listed them below, so please look for places that match where you want to go or what you want to do.
→The Ultimate Guide to Popular Spots on the East Shore of Oahu
Recommended Gourmet on the East Shore
We have summarized gourmet spots mainly in the Kailua, Kaneohe, and Hawaii Kai areas.
If there is a place that interests you, please use the link to the detailed article under each heading.
Over Easy
Over Easy is a breakfast restaurant in Kailua Town where you can enjoy stylish egg dishes.
It is a casual and bright shop that is particularly popular among Hawaii locals and tourists from the US mainland.
On sunny days, you can spend time on the terrace seats while enjoying the Hawaii atmosphere.
The breakfast menu can be ordered from opening to closing, and the lunch menu is available from 11:00 AM.
With delicious flavors, interesting presentation, and good service, it is a shop worth visiting at least once.
It is a popular store with lines on both weekdays and weekends, so we recommend going early in the morning!
Koa Pancake House
Koa Pancake House is a popular No. 1 breakfast spot chosen by Hawaii locals.
For those living in Hawaii, it is a budget-friendly breakfast restaurant that everyone knows!
Although there are many locations, they do not often open in tourist areas, so many visitors may not know about them.
Despite the incredibly reasonable prices that make you wonder if it’s real, the menu variety is abundant and the taste is delicious, so you can see why they have many fans.
Stylish restaurants in Waikiki are nice, but choosing a shop that locals love is also one way to enjoy Hawaii.
→Read more about Koa Pancake House
Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens
Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens is a hideaway restaurant located amidst lush green scenery overlooking the Koolau Mountain Range.
Actually, it is a sister store of the very popular Haleiwa Joe’s in Haleiwa on the North Shore!
Since it is an open-air restaurant where you can fully enjoy nature, locals often visit here as well.
It has a great reputation for reasonably priced, hearty dishes where everything tastes delicious.
It is a restaurant known to those in the know, not often crowded with tourists, so it is worth going at least once!
→Read more about Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens
Buzz’s Original Steak House
Buzz’s Original Steak House is an exquisite restaurant located at Kailua Beach, often ranked as the No. 1 beach in the US.
It is one of Hawaii’s premier popular restaurants, visited by former Presidents Obama and Clinton!
The building, inspired by a Polynesian hut, features a Hawaiian open-air style where the refreshing sea breeze blows through.
American-style dishes like hamburgers for lunch and steaks for dinner are popular.
Although it is a famous store, it does not appear in many guidebooks, so it is highly recommended for those who want to experience an atmosphere full of local vibes!
→Read more about Buzz’s Original Steak House
Boots & Kimo’s
Boots & Kimo’s offers macadamia nut pancakes that you absolutely must try at least once when you come to Hawaii.
It is hugely popular among locals for its pancakes covered in original special sauce and fluffy, exquisite omelets!
While most pancake shops from Hawaii have expanded overseas, Boots & Kimo’s remains exclusive to Hawaii.
Since there is always a line, the trick to eating without waiting too long is to go right when they open if you want to eat inside.
Even on weekdays, you might wait about an hour, so takeout is recommended as you can get your food in about 15 to 20 minutes no matter how crowded it is!
It is undoubtedly one of the top 3 popular pancakes in Hawaii, so please try it at least once.
→Read more about Boots & Kimo’s
Maui Mike’s
Maui Mike’s is an exquisite roast chicken specialty store in Hawaii.
It doesn’t appear in many guidebooks, but we highly recommend this delicious whole roasted chicken.
In Hawaii, whole roasted chicken is called “Huli Huli Chicken” and is a classic casual gourmet food, but Maui Mike’s is so famous that there isn’t a local who doesn’t know it!
Their commitment lies in using naturally raised chickens that ran around the Hawaiian land. The reason for their popularity is that they are raised healthily without using any steroids, hormones, antibiotics, or additives.
Seasoned with original seasoning and slowly roasted over an open flame for two hours, the chicken has crispy skin on the outside and is juicy on the inside.
Let’s enjoy plenty of these Hawaiian-style menu items!
Lanikai Juice
Lanikai Juice is an exquisite organic smoothie specialty store born in Hawaii.
Since its birth in Kailua Town in 1997, it has now opened stores in various areas of Hawaii!
Their authentic smoothies are truly delicious, using only health-conscious non-fat yogurt, organic soy milk, local honey, and fresh fruits and vegetables harvested in Hawaii, with a strict commitment to never using frozen ingredients.
While the tropical Hawaiian vibe is great, healthy diet menus are a very welcome presence in Hawaii where calorie-heavy food is mainstream. Haha.
These are the fresh smoothies we recommend most in Hawaii, so please stop by while sightseeing.
→Read more about Lanikai Juice
Waiahole Poi Factory
Waiahole Poi Factory is a specialty store where you can enjoy various traditional Hawaiian dishes.
When people think of famous Hawaiian food, many think of Loco Moco or Poke, but it is not well known that there are actually foods with a completely different style!
Dishes passed down from ancient times are characterized by using a lot of taro and coconut, resulting in a very deep flavor.
Waiahole Poi Factory is one of the few places offering such traditional Hawaiian cuisine using old-fashioned methods, and it is highly rated by both locals and tourists!
There are many people who have greatly changed their image of Hawaiian food after eating real Hawaiian cuisine and have become hooked.
→Read more about Waiahole Poi Factory
Access to the East Shore
The East Shore is a relatively wide area about 30 minutes to 1 hour from Waikiki.
As for access methods, we recommend “Tours” for peace of mind, comfort, and efficiency; “The Bus” for cost performance; “Taxi or Uber” for prioritizing travel time; and “Rental Car or Turo” for freedom.
Recommended Transport to the East Shore
The Bus Complete Guide [Cheapest Public Transport in Hawaii]
Taxi & Uber Complete Guide [Ride Services for Easy Travel in Hawaii]
Rental Car & Turo Complete Guide [Private Cars for Free Exploration in Hawaii]