A Guide to Eating and Drinking on Kapahulu
Eat and drink your way from Kaimukī to Waikīkī on da strip.
Kapahulu. Technically it’s an avenue, but it is also a one-and-a-half-mile-long neighborhood that begins at the edge of Kaimukī near Fresh Catch, enters Waikīkī, and ends at Queen’s Beach near a statue of Gandhi.
Right and left: Homes along Kapahulu. Center: Kai Coffee
This area of Honolulu is part residential and part century-old business district with a lingering vintage vibe. If you disregard the Starbucks, Taco Bell and Jack in a Box, you will mostly find locally-owned mom-and-pop spots with culinary delights and funky finds.
Tonkatsu Tamafuji
According to Hawaii News Now, Kapahulu means "worn out soul," or "the nightmare." However, I like to think of this well-traveled stretch of road as more like a favorite pair of comfy old shoes. This is where Leanard Rego fried his first malasada in 1953; where plate lunch icon Rainbow Drive-in began “serving 50-cent chili and rice plates, $1 BBQ beef plates, 25-cent hamburgers and 14-cent fries” in 1961; and where Baileyʻs Antiques and Aloha Shirts launched the worldʻs largest collection of Aloha Shirts (over 15,000) in 1980. Da Ono Hawaiian Foods has been in business for 60 years and Haile’s Hawaiian Food for 73 years!
Da Ono Hawaiian Foods
As a major artery, or urban minor arterial as the Department of Transportation calls it, Kapahulu connects Waikīkī to H-1 making it an easy in-and-out pathway for commuters. On its Ewa side is the Queen Kapiolani Hotel, Ala Wai Golf Course and a Safeway-centric strip mall with fast-food restaurants. On the Diamond Head side is where the local community lives in modest houses and walk-ups. Kapahulu will not be connected to the high-speed rail system once it makes its way into Honolulu and won’t be gentrified anytime soon, which is a pretty rare anomaly these days on Oʻahu. So let’s enjoy it, and go eat!
Ono-Ya Ramen
Better Daze Coffee
Weather on Kapahulu:
Usually sunny and warm. Not typically rainy.
Shimazu Shave Ice
My perfect day on Kapahulu:
8:30 am-9:00 am - Bike the Ala Wai Park Trail from home (Mōʻiliʻili) to Kai Coffee
9:00 am-9:30 am - Grab a latte at Kai Coffee (walk up window on Kapahulu)
9:30 am-10:45 am - Read books at the library
11:00-12:00pm - Lunch at Guava Smoked
12:15pm-1:15pm - Glass of wine (or 2) at Rigo
1:20pm-1:40pm - Mac Nut Ice Cream at Ululani’s Shave Ice
1:45pm-2:45 pm - Afternoon elixir at Better Daze and scoop of poke at Ono Seafood
3:00pm-4:00pm - Peruse aloha shirts at Baily’s
4:00 pm-5:00 pm - Walk down to Queen’s beach, take photos along the way at Rainbow Drive-In and at the beach.
5:00 pm-7:00 pm - Relax at the beach and catch sunset
7:00-7:15 pm - Bike the Ala Wai Park Trail from Queenʻs Beach to Aburiya Ibushi
7:15 pm-8:15 pm - Aburiya Ibushi for dinner
8:30 pm-9:30 pm - Nightcap at Blind Ox
The Blind Ox
Food and beverage recommendations on Kapahulu Ave:
Fresh Catch - Poke
Leonard's Bakery (Flagship) - Malasadas
Rigo - Wine and Melanzane
Blind Ox - Cocktails
Haili’s Hawaiian Foods - Laulau, Pastele Stew
Guava Smoked - Smoked chicken plate lunch
Aburiya Ibushi - Beef tongue salad, tsukemono, Aburiyaki, grilled Yukon gold potatoes, jellyfish, smashed cucumber salad, grilled saba, Mana’s Matcha Basque Cheesecake (if you’re lucky!)
Ono Seafood - Poke
Better Daze Coffee - Banana-ʻulu bread (ʻUlu & Kalo Bakery), Latte w/ Malama Mushroom Blend
Honolulu Skewer House - Braised beef salad w/ cucumber, Big Island whole eggplant, beef and lamb skewers, Yumyum baby cabbage
Side Street Inn - Kalbi short ribs, pork chops, fried rice, poke (Grab a seat at the bar if can)
Nanding’s Bakery - Spanish rolls (eat them while they’re hot!)
Kai Coffee (walk-up window) - If Stephan’s working, order anything and everything
Tokkuri Tei - Sashimi, wafu salad, yakitori, sakekawa tofu salad
Tonkatsu Tamafuji - Jyukusei Pork Loin Katsu Set
Da Ono Hawaiian Food - Pipikaula (“short rib style”), watercress salt beef soup
Onoya Ramen - Cheap and quick. Get the Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen (no higher than #2 spicy).
Yakitori Glad - Shio-yaki (all the salty, smoky chicken parts)
Ululani’s Shave Ice - Shave ice or mac nut ice cream from Maui
On On Chinese Restaurant - Kau Yuk with mui choy (pot roast with mustard greens, contains oyster sauce), stuffed bitter melon, chicken salty fish fried rice
Pho K&A - Vietnamese fried chicken, Banana tapioca
Shimazu Shave Ice (inside Hawaii’s Favorite Kitchens)
Omakase by Aung? - Would love to recommend it, but I’ve never been able to go due to my shellfish allergy. This restaurant cannot accommodate allergies.
On On Chinese Food
Other points of interest:
Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library
Rainbow Drive-In (for photo op)
Baily’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts
Kapiolani Park
Honolulu Zoo
