Marugame Udon is a must-visit Japanese restaurant if you're visiting Waikiki, Oahu. It's a very popular udon joint that serves hand-crafted Sanuki-style udon bowls, tempura, and beverages from a theater kitchen. The customers line up and get their orders cafeteria-style. The udon noodles are made to order, and the workers are constantly making new udon noodles. The line is almost always really long, but the wait isn't too bad. It's a quick eatery, so people come in, get their food, eat, and leave.
My go-to dishes are Nikutama Udon and Garlic Chicken Salad. I also like to add a couple of tempura as sides.
Nikutama Udon: Marugame's Sanuki-style Udon served in our Umami-rich (flavor-packed) sauce. It can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Garlic Chicken Salad: cold udon noodles with lettuce mix, tomato, cucumber, and tempura chicken topped with homemade garlic sauce.
I understand it's not seafood-heavy, but this restaurant is going to be totally worth the wait. You won't regret it.
Located in the Royal Hawaiian Center, Doraku Sushi has top-quality and fresh seafood. I was wary of this place at first, worried that it would be another tourist trap, but I was wrong! I've had a fair share of sushi and oysters, and I consider myself a connoisseur when it comes to sushi, everything I ordered from here was nothing short of perfection. The presentation was great and the food was amazing. The poke nacho had the best seasoning. My group seriously debated whether to order another because it was so delicious.
2. Rigo
Rigo is my favorite restaurant on O'ahu. The ambiance is great, and the restaurant is always crowded. It does get loud, so if you're looking for a quiet place to dine, this may not be one. But food! Oh, the food is so good. Their food is on a saltier end, but it's so delicious nonetheless.
The Paella Negra is squid ink paella with squid, green beans, seafood stock, and aioli. It makes your lips black! haha
The Bolognese was a solid dish, as well. Made with fresh rigatoni with bolognese meat sauce topped with mascarpone yogurt sauce, the Bolognese is surely going to be liked by everyone.
Their steak menu is expansive and overall of very high quality.
I suggest you make a reservation beforehand because the place gets booked up quickly, and it's always full.
They have the best complimentary bread baskets! So soft, warm, and yummy.
The place has a formal dress code, so be sure to wear polos and covered shoes. People at the restaurant were formally dressed the last time I went there - dresses, heels, dress pants, polos, etc.
4 adults visiting Hawaii for the first time
$100/person
Good quality food
Serves fresh poke or other seafood menu
It can be a food truck or a fancy restaurant with a dress code. As long as the food tastes great, we'll give it a try.
Marugame Udon is a must-visit Japanese restaurant if you're visiting Waikiki, Oahu. It's a very popular udon joint that serves hand-crafted Sanuki-style udon bowls, tempura, and beverages from a theater kitchen. The customers line up and get their orders cafeteria-style. The udon noodles are made to order, and the workers are constantly making new udon noodles. The line is almost always really long, but the wait isn't too bad. It's a quick eatery, so people come in, get their food, eat, and leave.
My go-to dishes are Nikutama Udon and Garlic Chicken Salad. I also like to add a couple of tempura as sides.
Nikutama Udon: Marugame's Sanuki-style Udon served in our Umami-rich (flavor-packed) sauce. It can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Garlic Chicken Salad: cold udon noodles with lettuce mix, tomato, cucumber, and tempura chicken topped with homemade garlic sauce.
I understand it's not seafood-heavy, but this restaurant is going to be totally worth the wait. You won't regret it.
1. Doraku Sushi Waikiki
Located in the Royal Hawaiian Center, Doraku Sushi has top-quality and fresh seafood. I was wary of this place at first, worried that it would be another tourist trap, but I was wrong! I've had a fair share of sushi and oysters, and I consider myself a connoisseur when it comes to sushi, everything I ordered from here was nothing short of perfection. The presentation was great and the food was amazing. The poke nacho had the best seasoning. My group seriously debated whether to order another because it was so delicious.
2. Rigo
Rigo is my favorite restaurant on O'ahu. The ambiance is great, and the restaurant is always crowded. It does get loud, so if you're looking for a quiet place to dine, this may not be one. But food! Oh, the food is so good. Their food is on a saltier end, but it's so delicious nonetheless.
The Paella Negra is squid ink paella with squid, green beans, seafood stock, and aioli. It makes your lips black! haha
The Bolognese was a solid dish, as well. Made with fresh rigatoni with bolognese meat sauce topped with mascarpone yogurt sauce, the Bolognese is surely going to be liked by everyone.
Hy's Steakhouse
Their steak menu is expansive and overall of very high quality.
I suggest you make a reservation beforehand because the place gets booked up quickly, and it's always full.
They have the best complimentary bread baskets! So soft, warm, and yummy.
The place has a formal dress code, so be sure to wear polos and covered shoes. People at the restaurant were formally dressed the last time I went there - dresses, heels, dress pants, polos, etc.