You Don’t Need Socks in Hawaii: Part II – Restaurants

A Visitors Guide to Eating in Oahu

Food in Hawaii was also a culture shock to me. There are so many options to try. I always make it a point to try new stuff whenever I travel; Hawaii was a perfect place to do this. There was a huge variety of Pacific Rim type food, which is my absolute favorite. We went to various places and tried various things. As one from the mainland you have to try Papaya. It is a fruit that can be found in Hawaii. You eat it like a melon. I suggest having it at breakfast time with some oatmeal and be sure to squeeze some lemon juice on it, oh yum! There were other fruits in Hawaii that I didn’t even know existed. Apple-bananas just to name one of them.

I feel kind of shafted because I don’t get to eat such sweet fruits over here in Michigan. If you get a chance, go to a grocery store and browse the produce section. Buy a new fruit and eat it. Browsing the fruit section is a great unknown tourist thing to do, I highly recommend it. While you are doing that, you also can enjoy the brief amount of air conditioning to cool you down. No sunscreen needed, and once again, no socks needed.

A colorful fish curry is just one of the many dishes to choose from at Da Spot restaurant in Honolulu.

I had the privilege of eating at a restaurant called ‘Da Spot’. It was unique in various aspects. The doors are like garage doors so it is an open eating experience without the sun beating down on you but you still get to enjoy the open air. This is a quaint restaurant located near the University district on King Street. You can even bike to it without worry, bike lane, remember? Da Spot serves globally influenced curries, smoothies, and sandwiches all within the healthy persuasion.

Everything is labeled clearly and the staff was upbeat and willing to help with any questions. I ate the Thai Vegetable Curry and I have to say it was so yummy, one of the tastiest foods I have ever eaten. I also recommend trying one of their smoothies. There are many selections; one will fit right into your dietary preference. Bottom line, if you are on King Street or looking for a good bite to eat, this place is a must. A shirt and shorts are needed, however they don’t care if you have socks on or not.

Ala Moana Shopping Center is a great place to enjoy some time shopping, taking in a hula show, or grabbing a bite to eat.

Another place to check out for a great meal is located in the Ala Moana Shopping Center near downtown. The shopping center is the Hawaii version of a mall and is a whole different story in itself. I have to rank this mall, better than the Mall of America. It’s an outside mall that has multiple levels to it. Not only do you get the sun and shopping but they have shows in the middle of the structure that you can watch. I was lucky enough to catch some hula dancing while sitting and drinking coffee. One must try Hawaii Kona coffee while you are there, it’s a must, maybe an unwritten rule. The mall is clean, neat and every employee in every store was super helpful and polite. However, we are talking food here.

In the bottom aspect of the mall there is a humongous eatery called Shirokiva Japan Village Walk. I urge everyone to walk through even if you don’t plan to eat. The experience of just the walk through will be memorable. We ate at one of the Udon Noodle places that was on the corner and it was so yummy. If you are looking for different food and experience then this place is a must. The only downside was that it was a popular place so it was a very busy and the walk ways are narrow. It’s a very over-stimulating place so be prepared, but this a must for some cultural diversity. Before going to Hawaii, chopstick practice is a must. The meal I had here was the first full meal that I have ever eaten with chopsticks. Add that into your Hawaii training.

Large pots of water for cooking noodles boil in a vendor kiosk at the Shirokiva Japan Village Walk in the bottom floor of the Ala Moana Shopping Center. (Honolulu Vibes photo/Ronen Zilberman)

The one place that I do not entirely recommend is the take-out Korean restaurants. I ventured to one in Kaneohe. I had trouble understanding the menu and the language barrier was difficult when it came to ordering. I didn’t end up with what I wanted, but I ate it anyway. The food was plenty and it tasted good however the person to person contact was poor and I will probably not try one of them again in Hawaii, at least not for a while. My advice, try one if you are interested but please research that culture and their food prior to entering their establishment. Then your order will be easy and there will be no let down if you encounter a language barrier. As a reminder, chopstick training is a must. Socks, totally not needed.

Next stage in my Hawaii training advice is to practice finger dexterity. Chopsticks, chopsticks and more chopsticks are a must. If you don’t have chopsticks, use pencils or something, anything that closely resembles a chopstick. I warn you, at some point you will end up at a restaurant where they only have chopsticks. At one Udon Noodle place, it took me an hour to eat my bowl of noodles because all they had was chopsticks. For my next Hawaii trip, I will be ready for those chopstick meals.

To Read More About My Recommendations for Visiting Oahu:

You Don’t Need Socks in Hawaii – Part I: Honolulu City Life

You Don’t Need Socks in Hawaii – Part III: Camping, Hiking & Must See Places

by Chris Plourde

Born & raised on the shores of Lake Superior in the isolated terrain of Michigan's Upper Peninsula Chris is a dedicated nurse and lover of the outdoors. Curiosity and exploration are her constant companions and she's always up to try something new. We welcome her input as she shares her perspective & experiences visiting Hawaii with Honolulu Vibes!