19 Cheap Eats in Oahu from a Local: Eat Well Without Breaking the Bank!

Can your budget handle having to eat out for every meal on your trip to Oahu?

It’s a fair concern – restaurants are expensive, especially in major tourist destinations like Waikiki. It was an issue for me, too, before I moved to Oahu when I vacationed here!

But when I lived on Oahu for 9 years, I rarely cooked for myself aside from the odd grilled cheese. The pay was lousy and the rent was high.

So I learned to find good food for a reasonable price. And I didn’t live off ramen and spam, or eat only rice for every meal.

Keep reading to find out how to eat affordably without having to cook in your hotel room, or live on MacDonalds. Though Hawaiian MacDonalds does have some interesting local flavours 😋.

Best Cheap Eats on Oahu

Eating out at beachfront restaurants is a beautiful part of a vacation on Oahu, and a few nights out should absolutely be part of your trip. But the cost of 30 meals over a 10-day vacation can really add up.

Many of those meals can be so much cheaper if you know where to go. I got into a routine of visiting different places on the same day of the week, they had a weekly menu.

Here are some examples of my go-to places.

Local Shops

1. Times Supermarket

• Many locations
• Hours depend on location. Many are open from 6am-11pm or longer.

There are several Times Supermarkets across the island. This is a local business, so it’s great to support them! They also have a 7-day/week menu of plate lunches made up of ono (Hawaiian for delicious) local favourites.

🍱 Tip: A Hawaiian plate lunch typically has two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, and a choice of protein like teriyaki chicken, kalua pork, or mahi-mahi, served up in generous, comfort-food-style portions.

Wednesday is my favourite at Times – roast beef with mashed potatoes or rice, gravy, green salad or potato/mac salad, and a can of soda. Salmon steak and teriyaki short ribs are choices for another day.

I might grab my food and take it home, or take it down to the beach or a park with my dogs. It’s a fantastic meal for a great price.

2. Whole Foods

• 3 locations
  • Kailua, 629 Kailua Rd
  • Kahala, at the Kahala Mall
  • In Honolulu, at 388 Kamakee St
• Open 7am to 10pm

Other supermarkets around Oahu have ready-made meal options, too. I was a regular at the Whole Foods hot bar – they also have a big salad bar that I’ve never sampled 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Plus, if you’re familiar with Whole Foods, you know they have a counter that serves hot smoked meats. The brisket and pulled pork are incredible.

I’d buy a portion (by weight or container size), and some rice at the hot foods bar. They have very tasty soups too, like lobster bisque.

Add some veggies at the veggie bar if that’s how you roll, and it’s a perfect meal. They have tables outside, or head to a beach or viewpoint to dine al fresco.

3. Foodland

• Oahu has several locations
• Click above to find your store, and you’ll find the hours there, too. They tend to open at 5am or 6am.

Ready-made choices vary a bit at Foodland from store to store, but you can find terrific poke bowls everywhere (say ‘pō-kay’). They also have sushi, sandwiches, bento boxes, and a lot of other choices.

There are several Foodland stores on Oahu – use their store locator to find one near where you’re at.

Local Markets

Markets are always fun things to do on Oahu, and they usually have a great selection of meal options. There are markets scattered all over the island – here are a few.

4. Kailua Farmers Market

Each Thursday from 4-7pm, out in front of Long’s Drugs, next door to Whole Foods in Kailua. You’ll find fruit and produce, as well as hot meals, crepes, and lots of treats.

5. KCC Farmers’ Market

Saturdays from 7:30 to 11 am at Kapiolani Community College, across from the entrance to the Diamond Head hike. They have local tropical fruits, baked goods, hot foods, acai bowls and a lot more. Take the scenic Diamond Head Road to get here.

6. Honolulu Night Market

Located in the Kaka’ako district of Honolulu. Here you can get some truly gourmet street food, and enjoy some nightlife atmosphere at the same time. Only in June and November, though.

Cheap Restaurants in Oahu Hawaii

Yes, you can even eat at restaurants on Oahu without going broke. Try these ones out.

7. The Steak Shack

• In Waikiki, 2161 Kālia Rd
• Open 10:20-7pm; until 7:30pm Fridays and Saturdays

Cheap eats at Waikiki Beach! This place is a bit of a hidden treasure. You’ll get mouth-watering, affordable steak or chicken plates with a view. It comes with rice or greens – your choice.

It’s a simple, casual spot with outdoor seating, and it’s perfect for enjoying a sunset meal with a view of the ocean.

The Steak Shack is easy to find, right next to Fort DeRussy Beach Park. It’s also very close to the Hilton Hawaiian Village. On Friday nights, stay for the Hilton’s fireworks around 8pm.

8. Rainbow Drive-In

• 3 locations
  • Honolulu, 3308 Kanaina Avenue and 1339 School Street
  • Aiea, 98-1005 Moanalua Road
• Hours Vary; click here to find out

A true local favourite on Oahu, offering plate lunches with generous portions. Their mix plate with BBQ, chicken, and fish is my all-time favourite.

Rainbow is a can’t-miss stop on Oahu for any budget and will give you a great taste of local cuisine without breaking the bank.

9. Marukame Udon

• In Waikiki, 2310 Kuhio Ave.
• Hours: 10am to 10pm

Found in Waikiki, this spot is actually kind of famous for its freshly made udon noodles and selection of broths. They’re all very affordable and very ono.

I love the Curry Nikutama – a little sweet. The line can be long, but it moves fast and it’s so worth the wait. Find it not far from Waikiki Beach, near the International Marketplace.

10. Fat Boys

• In Kailua, 301 A Hahani St.
• Open: 9:30 to 7pm; until 6:30 for take-out

This Kailua diner is another local favourite Hawaiian-style plate lunch place. The portion sizes are generous here and the food is great.

It’s the perfect place to try some Hawaiian dishes like loco moco. It’s made up of rice, beef patties (or spam, kalua pork, etc), fried egg and gravy.

My go-to is the garlic chicken, crispy and tender in the best garlic sauce. And they also have a breakfast menu. There are a few tables outside if you’d like to eat here.

11. Kailua Pub and Grill

• In Kailua, 26 Hoolai St
• Open 11am to 1:30am

The pub is not well known to tourists – it’s a friendly friendly place, and yes, you can have a drink with your meal here. That’s one thing missing from the other places on this list.

It’s a bit dark, as pubs tend to be, but there are a couple of little tables outside. They have the absolute best fish and chips on the island, and at half the price of a Waikiki restaurant. They don’t do take-out, though.

12. Zippy’s

Zippy’s is an institution in Hawaii, and there are multiple locations across the island. Zippy’s is famous for comfort food with a local twist, like chilli, saimin, and plate lunches.

It’s a fantastic spot for any meal of the day, whether you’re looking for a filling breakfast, a quick lunch, or a Hawaiian-style dinner.

Zippy’s locations also have a Napoleon’s Bakery in-house. Stellar baked goods.

Food Trucks

Food trucks are a big part of Oahu’s daily life. There are all kinds of delicious, quick, and often gourmet options. Give them a try – it’s a great way to eat on the cheap!

Some are pop-up style, though – you might not always find them in the same place.

13. North Shore

The shrimp trucks in Kahuku are pretty well known, and deservedly so. The prices are creeping up, but you get a good serving of shrimp and rice. There are trucks that serve other local favourites here, too.

There are also food trucks in Haleiwa, and across from Shark’s Cove.

14. Honolulu

Check out the area around Kaka’ako, particularly along Auahi Street and Cooke Street. This neighbourhood is a frequent host of food truck gatherings and has a fun and yummy street food scene.

In the area of Honolulu that is Waikiki, the Waikiki Shell parking lot occasionally hosts food truck events. Otherwise, there isn’t much room for the trucks.

15. Windward Side

Kailua town will sometimes have food trucks near the beach park areas and along Kailua Road. Plus, you might sometimes find one along the stretch of road near Waimanalo Beach Park.

Breakfast!

Fancy buffets aren’t the only breakfasts you’ll find on Oahu. These are my top affordable breakfast spots.

16. Cinnamon’s Restaurant

• Kailua, 315 Uluniu St
• Open 7am to 2pm
  Thurs – Fri also open 5:30-8:30pm

Located in Kailua, Cinnamon’s is famous for its guava chiffon pancakes and red velvet pancakes. They’re other unique and traditional breakfast dishes are amazing, too.

Even on just with syrup the pancakes are fantastic. Great eggs benedict, too.

17. Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen

• Kailua, 1020 Keolu Dr, in the Enchanted Lake Centre
• Open 8am to 1pm, until 2pm Sat and Sun
  Closed Tuesday and Wednesday

Also in Kailua, this place has a following of people addicted to their macadamia nut sauce pancakes. Personally, I go for the strawberry waffles with extra whipped cream.

18. Liliha Bakery

• There are several locations across Oahu
• Open times vary. Click here to find your location

Liliha Bakery is not only a bakery but also a diner that serves up delicious breakfasts like coco puffs, omelets, and their famous coffee jelly. I actually dream about these coco puffs. Try them!

19. Koko Head Café

• Honolulu, 1120 12th Ave
• Open 7am to 2pm

Find it in the eclectic, off-the-beaten-path Kaimuki neighbourhood. The café has a really unique and inventive breakfast menu created by Chef Lee Anne Wong.

The dishes you’ll find here are a fusion of local and international flavours. This is another economical option that everyone should try, regardless of budget.

Last But Not Least

BONUS: I can’t leave out 7-Eleven. Their spam musubi has been voted the best in Hawaii more times than I can count, and their pork hash (dim sum) is often what kept me alive. It’s perfect for a quick snack or even a meal.

They also sell really good manapua (steamed buns with different savoury fillings), bento boxes, hot dogs, and salads. There’s a lot to eat here, and it’s as cheap as it gets. It’s not just for Slurpees anymore!

As you can see, you don’t have to be a trust fund baby to afford to eat well on Oahu. Any and all of the places on this list will keep you fed and happy, with enough money left in your pocket to send one of those mailable coconuts home.

Happy travels!

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