Restaurants on Oahu’s North Shore

Explore this complete guide to the restaurants on Oahu's North Shore. We’ll help you find places to eat throughout the area and share our top recommendations for each location.

Where to eat on Oahu's North Shore

When you visit, you’ll want to stop and grab a bite to eat, so we're here to guide you to the North Shore restaurants and offer recommendations for each location.

The North Shore extends about 20 miles from Ka’ena Point to Kahuku Point. Along the coast, you can find dining spots at five specific locations:

• Haleiwa Town
• Between Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach
• Turtle Bay Resort
• Waialua
• Kahuku

Here's a map to help you get a sense of these locations along the coastline.

Now that you know where to find them, let’s dive deeper into the food scene in each of these locations. I’ll be sharing tips, recommendations, and more!

Dining in Haleiwa Town

Haleiwa Town is home to most of the restaurants on the North Shore. Here, you'll find everything from cozy cafes to waterfront dining, popular food trucks, and a variety of cuisines.

The town has a wide variety of dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’ll find many places with outdoor seating, different atmospheres from casual to upscale, and options to suit any budget.

One iconic spot you can't miss is Matsumoto Shave Ice. Since 1951, they’ve been serving refreshing shaved ice to the community. It's super popular and a must-try!

And no matter if you’re in the mood for Mexican, Hawaiian, Japanese, Thai, burgers, pizza, or seafood, or are looking for healthier vegan options, you’ll find it here.

Below are a few local favorites, but for a more complete list of dining options in this historic town, take a look at our Haleiwa restaurant guide:

• Haleiwa Joe's: A popular spot with a diverse menu, including amazing locally sourced and fresh seafood, offers both indoor and outdoor seating with ocean views by the Haleiwa Harbor.
• 9th Island Vegan: The best healthy vegan restaurant on Oahu's North Shore, open for breakfast and lunch.
• Uncle Bo's: Features a cozy ambiance with both indoor and outdoor seating and a varied menu blending flavors from Hawaii, Asia, and beyond.
• Crispy Grindz: A Brazilian food truck known for serving authentic acai bowls and other delicious Brazilian foods.
• Big Wave Shrimp: Renowned for their signature garlic butter shrimp plates, this food truck is a top choice for dining in Haleiwa.
• Surf N Salsa: This food truck serves authentic Mexican cuisine and is one of our top picks among the Mexican restaurants in town!
• Seven Brothers: A popular local spot known for its big, juicy burgers that won’t disappoint!

Dining between Waimea Bay & Sunset Beach

Along Kamehameha Hwy, from Waimea Bay to Sunset Beach, you'll find a few great dining spots you can enjoy while visiting the beaches. Specifically, you’ll find them at Waimea Valley, Shark's Cove, and Sunset Beach.

Waimea Valley

Waimea Valley is home to the restaurant Open Kitchen. This is a beautiful and tranquil place to enjoy a meal overlooking the botanical garden.

They serve Hawaiian dishes such as Kalbi Steak and Luau Plates, sandwiches, salads, snacks, coffee, and other drinks.

Shark’s Cove

Shark’s Cove is a popular snorkeling spot on Oahu, and right across the street, you'll find numerous food trucks, offering a meal with unbeatable views!

You’ll have several options when it comes to cuisine, but three food trucks we highly recommend are Pupukea Grill, Seven Brothers, and Hawaii’s Best Fish Tacos.

Sunset Beach

Around Sunset Beach, you'll find great places to eat, all within a few minutes of each other, whether walking or driving.

You’ll come across Banzai Bowls at the Chevron gas station serving acai bowls and smoothies, and the food truck Elephant Thai which we highly recommend (tucked in the back left corner of the gas station parking lot).

Also, right across the street from the beach you'll find the world-famous Sunrise Shack. Be sure to stop by and try their smoothie bowls, and 'bullet' coffees.

Finally, just north of Sunset Beach is the renowned Ted's Bakery. Go there and order sandwiches, Hawaiian plate lunches, baked goods, and their signature Chocolate Haupia Pie - it's amazing!

Note: There’s a Foodland supermarket between Waimea Valley and Shark’s Cove. You can stop by to get food at the deli, and grab coffee at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf cafe inside.

Restaurants at Turtle Bay Resort

Turtle Bay Resort has eight restaurants open to the public, not just to guests! Whether you’re seeking an elegant fine dining experience or a casual spot with beautiful ocean views, there’s something for everyone.

Here's a rundown of the dining choices available to you:

• Lei Lei's offers great golf course views and is one of the best dinner restaurants on Oahu's North Shore. Try their ribs and fish of the day when you dine here!
• Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi offers an exceptional fine dining experience on the North Shore, featuring locally sourced ingredients.
• Alaia is a great spot for breakfast and dinner, offering beautiful ocean and pool views. They’ve got tasty gluten-free options and their Mahi Mahi plate is a must-try!
• Sunset, open for lunch and dinner, is a fantastic pool bar restaurant where you can enjoy food and drinks while watching surfers and listening to live music.
• Off the Lip offers stunning ocean and infinity pool views, making it the perfect spot for an evening hangout. Enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks, and live music on most nights.
• Ocean Club invites you to relax in the resort’s private ocean-view lounge, where you can enjoy exclusive all-day dining and drinks.
• Ho'olana serves breakfast and lunch from morning until afternoon, perfect for a relaxed meal anytime during the day.
• Paniolo Pa'ina offers a great dining experience once a week featuring a buffet, drinks, kids' activities, a hula show, and exciting fire dancing.

Restaurants in Waialua

Waialua, the oldest town on the North Shore, offers a few great dining options. Here are our top restaurant recommendations in the area:

Breakfast and Lunch: Head to The Smoking Boar & The Coconut, Wicked Hi Cafe, and the Kichi Truck food truck. Don’t miss out on the delicious sada’s malassada donuts and snow puffies from Paalaa Kai Bakery.

Dinner: For a quick and easy dinner in Waialua, we love Jerry's Pizza for their delicious thin, crispy crust pizzas. On some nights, The Smoking Boar & The Coconut is open for dinner as well.

Food trucks in Kahuku

Kahuku is located on the northeastern tip of the North Shore, where you'll find numerous food trucks and one of the best spots to buy poke.

Among the many food trucks, don’t miss the iconic Giovanni’s, famous for its world-renowned garlic shrimp plates.

As you explore the area, you’ll also find small shops, public restrooms, and outdoor sinks to wash your hands before and after your meal.

Just east of the food trucks, Kahuku Superette is the go-to spot for one of the best poke bowls on Oahu, packed with chunky, fresh tuna.

Additional Dining Suggestions

Best dinner restaurants on the North Shore

We are often asked about the best places to go for dinner on the North Shore, so here are our top choices:

In Haleiwa:

• Haleiwa Beach House
• Haleiwa Joe's
• Aji Limo
• Maya's Tapas & Wine
• Stonefish Grill
• Uncle Bo's

At Turtle Bay:

• Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi
• Alaia
• Lei Lei's

Fine dining and special occasions

If you're looking for fine dining restaurants on the North Shore, or a special spot to celebrate an occasion, below are our top recommendations.

Keep in mind that while these restaurants offer a more upscale experience, they all maintain the casual and relaxed ambiance that is characteristic of this beach town.

• Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi
• Lei Lei's
• Haleiwa Beach House 
• Haleiwa Joe's
• Maya's Tapas & Wine

Restaurants with ocean view

Here are some great options for dining with ocean views on the North Shore:

• Haleiwa Beach House
• Haleiwa Joe's
• Food trucks across the street from Shark's Cove beach
• Turtle Bay Resort's restaurants

We also suggest picking up takeout and enjoying a picnic on the sand, grassy lawns, or at one of the picnic tables in the beach parks.

Restaurants with outdoor seating

These are our top picks for North Shore restaurants with outdoor seating:

• Haleiwa Joe's
• Farm to Barn
• Stonefish Grill
• Maya's Tapas & Wine
• Seven Brothers
• Ted's Bakery
• Cholo's Homestyle Mexican
• Turtle Bay Resort's restaurants

Local insights

• Parking is easy to find at or near the restaurants, with plenty of free options available.
• Budget around $15 to $50 or more per person per meal.
• Tipping in Hawaii is customary, generally 15 to 20% for good service.
• Many places close a bit early, usually by 10 pm.
• Most restaurants offer takeout, so you can enjoy your meals wherever you like.

FAQs

Looking for more info about Oahu's North Shore? Check these out: