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Hawaii, North America, Travel Food & Wine · August 10, 2018

Hawaii Food Guide: Places to Eat & Drink on North Shore, Oahu

Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Hawaii Foodies Guide: Places to Eat & Drink on North Shore
Hawaii Foodies Guide: Places to Eat & Drink on North Shore
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes

I recently spent a very relaxing week on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii with my husband, his two adult children, and their partners. We spent the entire week hiking, going to the beach, snorkeling, and of course, eating!

To say my family are big foodies is an understatement. My mum used to own a catering business, my husband is a chef, and his two children have grown up with chef-quality meals cooked for them most of their life.

Before going to Hawaii I wrote down a list of all the best things to do in Hawaii. Needless to say, finding some amazing places to eat and drink is pretty high on our priority list. As was trying Oahu’s famed garlic shrimp and food truck scene!

Here is our guide to the best places to eat and drinks on Oahu’s north shore

Read More About Hawaii: The Ultimate Hawaii Bucket List: 85 Epic Things To Do in Hawaii


Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
Best Places to Eat and Drink North Shore Oahu - North Shore Restaurants and Cafes
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In This Post:

  • Best Tacos on North Shore:
      • Killer Tacos
  • Best Restaurant on North Shore:
      • Haleiwa Joe’s
  • Best Coffee on North Shore:
      • Coffee Gallery
  • Best Casual Restaurant on North Shore:
      • Cholo’s Mexican Restaurant & Margarita Bar
  • Best North Shore Food Trucks:
      • North Shore Shrimp Truck
      • North Shore Taco Truck
  • Best Dessert on North Shore:
      • IL Gelato Cafe
  • Best Burgers on North Shore:
      • Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
  • Where to Avoid:
      • Banzai Sushi
  • More Information for Your Visit to North Shore Oahu
      • Where to Stay in North Shore Oahu
      • Getting Around Oahu
      • Best Tours on Oahu
      • Beware Of…
      • Don’t forget to Bring…
  • Ready to Plan Your Trip to North Shore?

Best Tacos on North Shore:

Killer Tacos

Cheap, quick and tastes good. That’s how I like my tacos. They offer good vegetarian options, which I was pleased about. And, according to several trip advisor reviews, their fish tacos are to die for.

We arrived into Honolulu Airport mid-morning, and after the 40-minute drive across the island to the North Shore, our first priority was FOOD! Killer Tacos was the first place we saw as it’s located on the main drive into Haleiwa town and very convenient for a quick bite.

Location: 66-560 Kamehameha Hwy # 1, Haleiwa, HI 96712, USA


Best Restaurant on North Shore:

Haleiwa Joe’s

A Foodie's Guide: Best Places to Eat & Drink on Oahu’s North Shore. During next vacation to Oahu, Hawaii, check out these great food spots in and around Haleiwa town. From garlic shrimp food trucks, to the best coffee, gelato and shave ice and some of the best restaurants in Oahu #oahu #hawaii #foodiesguide #northshore #placestoeat
A Foodie's Guide: Best Places to Eat & Drink on Oahu’s North Shore. During next vacation to Oahu, Hawaii, check out these great food spots in and around Haleiwa town. From garlic shrimp food trucks, to the best coffee, gelato and shave ice and some of the best restaurants in Oahu #oahu #hawaii #foodiesguide #northshore #placestoeat

Haleiwa Joe’s is one of the only upmarket restaurants in the Haleiwa area. The food here was excellent. And the service, even better. In fact, it’s a big call but Haleiwa Joe’s might actually be one of the best restaurants we tried on Oahu.

Our server was very knowledgeable, we got the impression that she not only works here but also eats here on a regular basis. Haleiwa Joe’s was also very accommodating to our various requests to change the accompaniments.

Haleiwa Joe’s also has a beautiful view of the marina. If you make a booking, which I would recommend as it is very popular, try and request a seat on the lanai. Happy hour is between 4:30 and 6:30 pm Monday to Friday.

Location: 66-011 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712, USA


Best Coffee on North Shore:

Coffee Gallery

A Foodie's Guide: Best Places to Eat & Drink on Oahu’s North Shore. During next vacation to Oahu, Hawaii, check out these great food spots in and around Haleiwa town. From garlic shrimp food trucks, to the best coffee, gelato and shave ice and some of the best restaurants in Oahu #oahu #hawaii #foodiesguide #northshore #placestoeat

When you just can’t go without your daily coffee (like me), then you’ll be happy you found Coffee Gallery. As a regular traveller to the United States, finding a barista who actually knows what a ‘flat white’ is, let alone being able to make a good one, is always a challenge. While trying to explain to the cashier that I wanted a small, single-shot with milk and no foam, I was pleasantly surprised at her response, “oh, you mean a flat white?”

If filtered coffee is not your thing, head to this little gem for your early morning fix. They have a great variety of options to eat and drink on the menu and there’s a cute little courtyard to sit out the back.

Location: 66-250 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712


Best Casual Restaurant on North Shore:

Cholo’s Mexican Restaurant & Margarita Bar

A Foodie's Guide: Best Places to Eat & Drink on Oahu’s North Shore. During next vacation to Oahu, Hawaii, check out these great food spots in and around Haleiwa town. From garlic shrimp food trucks, to the best coffee, gelato and shave ice and some of the best restaurants in Oahu #oahu #hawaii #foodiesguide #northshore #placestoeat

When I saw the word ‘Margarita Bar’ in the front window, I was sold. Another excellent Mexican option in Haleiwa town. With brightly colored Mexican day of the dead themed décor and several margarita options, Cholo’s food was cheap, traditional and delish. The service was a little on the slow side, so we filled up on a mountain of tortilla chips and salsa before our very generously portioned mains arrived. One thing’s for sure, you won’t go home hungry – you’ll have a difficult time trying to decide what to eat and drink at Cholo’s. The spinach and cheese enchiladas were a hit.

Location: 66-250 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712, USA

Click here to subscribe and get our free printable Hawaii Map and Bucket List

Best North Shore Food Trucks:

North Shore Shrimp Truck

Before our visit to Hawaii, I’d heard about Hawaii’s famed shrimp trucks. Most reviews I read seemed to recommend one called Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, but to be honest, we didn’t actually try it (I think it was closed when we drove past). We did, however, stop for a bite to eat and drink at the North Shore Shrimp Truck, and it did not disappoint!

Conveniently located on the Kamehameha Highway drag at Pupukea, you can’t miss the North Shore Shrimp Truck. It’s not far from the well-known tourist area Banzai Pipeline.

The North Shore Shrimp Truck can be summed up with four words… best garlic shrimp ever! Enough said…

Location: 59-063 Pahoe Rd, Haleiwa, Oahu, HI 96712-9646

North Shore Taco Truck

This food truck is located right next door to the North Shore Shrimp Truck, and they serve the best fish tacos I’ve ever had! The only problem is, you’ll have a hard time deciding whether to eat here or at the Shrimp Truck. You might just have to do what my husband did and share one of each!

Both these food trucks are located just across the road from Shark Cove, one of the best places for snorkeling in Oahu. Do what we did and head to Shark Cove for a morning snorkel, then have lunch at the North Shore Food Trucks. All that energy that you’ll expend exploring the beautiful coral sea caves is sure to make you hungry!


Best Dessert on North Shore:

IL Gelato Cafe

A Foodie's Guide: Best Places to Eat & Drink on Oahu’s North Shore. During next vacation to Oahu, Hawaii, check out these great food spots in and around Haleiwa town. From garlic shrimp food trucks, to the best coffee, gelato and shave ice and some of the best restaurants in Oahu #oahu #hawaii #foodiesguide #northshore #placestoeat

Everybody raves about shaved ice in Hawaii. And while I’m a big fan of trying the local cuisine, personally, I’m more of a gelato-kinda gal. I was so happy to stumble across IL Gelato Cafe in Haleiwa.

The founder of IL Gelato, Dirk Koeppenkastrop heads up the USA Culinary Gelato Team who competed in the world gelato-making championships in Italy and won, twice! That’s gotta say something about the quality of the gelato they serve at this place.

Location: 66-250 Kamehameha Hwy C104, Haleiwa, HI 96712, USA


Best Burgers on North Shore:

Teddy’s Bigger Burgers

A Foodie's Guide: Best Places to Eat & Drink on Oahu’s North Shore. During next vacation to Oahu, Hawaii, check out these great food spots in and around Haleiwa town. From garlic shrimp food trucks, to the best coffee, gelato and shave ice and some of the best restaurants in Oahu #oahu #hawaii #foodiesguide #northshore #placestoeat

Ok, so in all honesty, we actually didn’t actually eat here. But we wish we did. Because they had a whopping twenty-five burgers on the menu to choose from. Yep, twenty-five! Every time I walked past, Teddy’s Bigger Burgers was packed full of people, with their faces buried in mouthwatering burger stacks. And the Tiki Bar out the back looked like a great spot to enjoy a feed.

Location: 66-111 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712, USA


Where to Avoid:

Banzai Sushi

And last but not least, a place I would recommend you avoid. We attempted to eat at Banzai Sushi two nights during our holiday. However, we had a less than favorable experience both times. The first time we put our name down at the door as we had to wait 20 minutes. When the host rang us to let us know that our table was ready, we missed the call by a minute and were just around the corner, so we headed straight back to the restaurant, only to find that they had already given our table away to another group. We decided to try again a few nights later, and after being seated at our table for 15 minutes before they even brought us menus, we decided to leave and try somewhere else.

Click here to subscribe and get our free printable Hawaii Map and Bucket List

More Information for Your Visit to North Shore Oahu

Where to Stay in North Shore Oahu

Here are a few options for hotel accommodation around Oahu North Shore. We recommend using Booking.com to find the best rate and many hotels offer free cancellation in case your plans change.

  • Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore
  • Turtle Bay Resort 
  • Modern Hawaii Beach House 
  • Yellow Beachfront Paradise

Pro Tip: There actually aren’t many hotels located on Oahu’s North Shore. If you’re keen to stay in a hotel, you might want to consider staying in Waikiki and visiting North Shore on a day trip (about 1-1.5 hours drive away). Alternatively, we booked a house through VRBO for our week on the North Shore. Or check out these amazing Airbnbs in Oahu.

Click here to find north shore vacation rentals on vrbo

Getting Around Oahu

I highly recommend hiring a car to get around the island. North Shore is around 1-1.5 hours drive from Honolulu and having a car will allow you to do day trips around the island. We rented a Jeep Wrangler, which was the PERFECT car to get around. Click here to compare prices and book on Rentalcars.com.

Best Tours on Oahu

For some of the best tours and things to do on North Shore Oahu, check out these recommended day tours:

  • North Shore Waterfall Adventure
  • Oahu Scenic Helicopter Flight
  • Full-Day Oahu Scenic Photo Tour
  • Snorkeling with Dolphins Tour

Pro Tip: If you plan on doing a bit of sightseeing around Oahu, consider purchasing a Go Oahu Card before arriving. The card will also give you access to over 30 attractions on the island, including Hanauma Bay, the Dole Pineapple Plantation and the Pearl Harbour memorial. You’ll also get discount at some of the above dining experiences. Click here to pre-purchase the Go Oahu Card.

Click here to Purchase the go Oahu Card!

Beware Of…

The weather and traffic. Be aware that there is commonly a lot of cloud cover around the mountains, so if you plan to do any hiking in Oahu, an activity that is usually top of most people must-do list, make sure to be prepared.

Parking at the main tourist attractions around North Shore is also difficult to come by, however many locals allow you to park in their backyard for a small fee (around $5).

Don’t forget to Bring…

Reef-Safe Sunscreen – To protect the beautiful turtles

Hiking Shoes – Oahu has some amazing hikes!

Flip Flops – You’ll live in these.

Wide-Brim Hat – Because you simply can’t go to a beach destination without a great hat!


Ready to Plan Your Trip to North Shore?

We hope this article has helped you to find some amazing places to eat on Oahu’s North Shore.

Deciding which island to visit in Hawaii can be a difficult one. We settled on staying on Oahu for our first visit to Hawaii as there are so many epic things to do on Oahu. However, we can’t wait to go back to Hawaii and spend some more time exploring Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.


Read More About Hawaii:
  • The Ultimate Hawaii Bucket List: 85 Epic Things To Do in Hawaii
  • Best Places to Eat & Drink on North Shore, Oahu

Can you recommend any other great restaurants or cafes on the North Shore? Let our readers know about them in the comments below.


Planning a trip soon? Here is a list of the websites and resources we use for booking everything from flights, to accommodation, tours, and more:
  • Skyscanner for booking the best flight deals
  • Booking.com | Agoda | Hotels.com for the best rates on hotels
  • Airbnb | HomeAway to find the best apartment and home rentals
  • Rentalcars.com for quick and easy car rentals
  • Luxury Escapes | Expedia for luxury package holiday deals and tours
  • Get Your Guide  for a great range of day tours
  • Tourradar | Intrepid for multi-day experiential and adventure tours
  • Priority Pass for airport lounge access in hundreds of locations around the world
  • Skyroam to stay connected to WiFi everywhere I go 
  • iVisa to apply for entry visas for most countries in the world
  • World Nomads for the most comprehensive worldwide travel insurance

Did You Know? When you click through and make a purchase or book your stay from one of our blog posts, we are rewarded with a small commission (at no extra cost to you) that helps to keep our blog running. Thank you for supporting us! Please see our Disclosure Policy for more details.


About the Author:

Amanda Twine is the founder and creator of Bucket List Seekers – a luxury travel blog sharing informative travel guides, food guides, hotel reviews, itineraries, and tips about how to make luxury travel more affordable.

Connect with us on  Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter. If you found this article helpful, please share it with your friends!


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In: Hawaii, North America, Travel Food & Wine · Tagged: Destinations, Food and Wine, Food Guide, Hawaii, North Shore, Oahu, Places to Eat, Restaurants, USA, Where To Drink, Where To Eat

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