Good but cheap food in Hawaii

[dr&momto2boys]

Our family of 7 (5 kids) will be in Waikiki area for a few days in regular hotel rooms (no kitchen or even refrigerator like we'll have the rest of the trip), so we're looking for affordable but delicious meals. Recommended restaurants?

If there's a market nearby we may pick up milk daily for cereal for the kids for breakfast. Otherwise maybe we'll get instant oatmeal and use hot water to make it in the room for the kids. We'll pick up fruit too. Lunch is easy if we get peanut butter and bread, and chips. But how about dinners out? We will have a rental van so we'll drive if it's worth it.

Then we'll spend a week on the Big Island in a condo with a kitchen. But we'll want a few meals out too. So I'd appreciate restaurant advice here too. We'll be touring all around. Thanks!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I like where your head is at OP! Eating out in HI can be very expensive! Do you mind if I add Kauai to this list? Our fam of 4 will be in a no-kitchen but yes mini fridge situation. All over 21 we do enjoy a good happy hour deal!

 

[pate59]

ABC stores (All Blocks Covered) are found all over Waikiki as well as throughout rest of Hawaii.
Almost like a CVS/Walgreens/Rite Aid. Some quick foods/drinks available to get you through the day.
We always found them to be a good option while staying at a hotel before we checking into our condo.
Tons of tourist books with all sorts of discounts for different restaurants, can almost be overwhelming to keep track.
My suggestion, grab duplicates of each tourist/visitor book and use one to cut out the discount that interests you and keep one to continue to look through.
Since you have a rental, get out of the city to see the beautiful island and if you enjoy food trucks, that is another cost saving opportunity.

 

[Vijoge]

https://www.facebook.com/rockislandcafe.honolulu/?fref=ts

It's actually owned by Dh's distant cousins

 

[Psychodisney]

We took the kids to Jimmy Buffett's at the Beachcomber and the Shore Bird https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaur...estaurant_Beach_Bar-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html I don't remember the prices being crazy. The Shore Bird is open air overlooking Waikiki beach. Jimmy Buffett's was in the entertainment book at the time.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

We took the kids to Jimmy Buffett's at the Beachcomber and the Shore Bird https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaur...estaurant_Beach_Bar-Honolulu_Oahu_Hawaii.html I don't remember the prices being crazy. The Shore Bird is open air overlooking Waikiki beach. Jimmy Buffett's was in the entertainment book at the time.

ABC stores (All Blocks Covered) are found all over Waikiki as well as throughout rest of Hawaii.
Almost like a CVS/Walgreens/Rite Aid. Some quick foods/drinks available to get you through the day.
We always found them to be a good option while staying at a hotel before we checking into our condo.
Tons of tourist books with all sorts of discounts for different restaurants, can almost be overwhelming to keep track.
My suggestion, grab duplicates of each tourist/visitor book and use one to cut out the discount that interests you and keep one to continue to look through.
Since you have a rental, get out of the city to see the beautiful island and if you enjoy food trucks, that is another cost saving opportunity.

When we were in Oahu, one of the discount magazines (maybe Oahu Gold?) had a buy one get one 50% off coupon for Shore Bird. We also asked locals where they like to eat. The rental car folks told us about Nimitz Bar-B-Q House (Korean bbq) near the airport - sooo sooo good and very reasonable.

 

[ryankski]

Our family of 7 (5 kids) will be in Waikiki area for a few days in regular hotel rooms (no kitchen or even refrigerator like we'll have the rest of the trip), so we're looking for affordable but delicious meals. Recommended restaurants?

If there's a market nearby we may pick up milk daily for cereal for the kids for breakfast. Otherwise maybe we'll get instant oatmeal and use hot water to make it in the room for the kids. We'll pick up fruit too. Lunch is easy if we get peanut butter and bread, and chips. But how about dinners out? We will have a rental van so we'll drive if it's worth it.

Then we'll spend a week on the Big Island in a condo with a kitchen. But we'll want a few meals out too. So I'd appreciate restaurant advice here too. We'll be touring all around. Thanks!

We were there in August 2013 and found a place called HulaDog that was affordable and good. We went the night we landed and as it was around 10:30-11:00 pm we had limited options and were very happy with randomly finding this place. They are hot dogs/sausages in bread with unique condiments/relishes. I think each dog/sausage is around $7. This is in Waikiki. Also check out Rainbow Diner! It's not right in the tourist area of Waikiki and has very affordable traditional Hawaiian plate lunches. We walked to Rainbow diner and it was well worth the walk away from the tourist area for this place

https://www.facebook.com/rockislandcafe.honolulu/?fref=ts

It's actually owned by Dh's distant cousins

This looks like the place we went to in 2013 and we were disappointed. As I recall we went around 5:00-5:30pm and were one of two or three tables. I just remember the waitress wasn't very good or friendly. I remember thinking the food wasn't that good for the money we paid. Again this was 2013 so things could have changed. I did try and google other 50s diners in Waikiki and this is the only place I'm finding and I'd put money on it that it is the same place. But since I don't recall the name and just remember discussing with my wife that we would never go back to the 50s diner in Waikiki I could have the wrong place.

 

[Vijoge]

We were there in August 2013 and found a place called HulaDog that was affordable and good. We went the night we landed and as it was around 10:30-11:00 pm we had limited options and were very happy with randomly finding this place. They are hot dogs/sausages in bread with unique condiments/relishes. I think each dog/sausage is around $7. This is in Waikiki. Also check out Rainbow Diner! It's not right in the tourist area of Waikiki and has very affordable traditional Hawaiian plate lunches. We walked to Rainbow diner and it was well worth the walk away from the tourist area for this place



This looks like the place we went to in 2013 and we were disappointed. As I recall we went around 5:00-5:30pm and were one of two or three tables. I just remember the waitress wasn't very good or friendly. I remember thinking the food wasn't that good for the money we paid. Again this was 2013 so things could have changed. I did try and google other 50s diners in Waikiki and this is the only place I'm finding and I'd put money on it that it is the same place. But since I don't recall the name and just remember discussing with my wife that we would never go back to the 50s diner in Waikiki I could have the wrong place.

Oh, that's too bad. I'm sorry to hear that. We were there in 2010 and it was ok.

 

[bearzabout]

We liked noshing at the farmers market and in Chinatown on Oahu.

We have spent months on the big island. For budget options, I like:
Umekes in Kona (great Korean chicken - kids should like it)
Big Island Grill in Kona - good prices on Hawaiian dinners (I like the kalbi) Teriaki chicken or beef is usually a good choice for a hawaiian meal.
You Make the Roll in Kona - super cheap, huge sushi rolls in town. Add any ingredients you like.
Pine Tree Cafe near the airport. A great value and awesome selection. Amazing fish options but will have many things that the kids will like.
Jackie Reys - a little high end, but great deals at lunch - south of Kona. Our favorite for a bit upscale but great food.
Hawaiian Style Cafe in Waimea for Hawaiian comfort food. Try the mac nut pancakes somewhere with coconut syrup.
Tex Drive Inn - you must stop here for their legendary Malasada donuts (get some with and without filling)
Da Fish House in Kawaihae - great fish lunches at a good price. Kohala burger and taco has good specials on facebook or by email.
Tuk Tuk Thai in Volcano - an affordable food truck near the park.
Whats Shakin in Papeekeo has good smoothies.

You absolutely must go to the farmers market in Hilo. The one in Keauhou on Saturdays is also a favorite. Seek out any local farmers market.
You must try shave ice. Some are far better than others. Do a bit of research.
If you are a member of Costco, the cheapest food on the island there. If stopping in to buy gas (also cheap), pick up some $2 pizza slices.
Moonstruck Patisserie in Hilo - amazing baked goods.
Make sure to buy exotic fruits. I love longans, rambutan, lychee, passion fruit, dragon fruit, starfruit, papaya, ginger flavored dried coconut. I love the passion fruit juice and fresh squeezed sugar cane juice at the Keauhou market.

I want to try TJs BBQ by the Beach and Whale of a Crepe Food Truck. Food truck food is often good and a great value.

 

[AZMermaid]

If you go up to North Shore- the shrimp trucks are pretty affordable and delicious!

 

[ejcraft]

ooh, keep the ideas coming, hubby and I will be stopping off in Hawaii on our way back from visiting our daughter and granddaughter in Guam this summer, only spending a few days so we can visit Pearly harbor, so will need places to eat also. another question would we be better off getting a rental for the 2 days or will we be able to get around on the buses?

 

[Patience]

We stayed in Waikiki in June. We had a car and ate all over Oahu and didn't find the prices to be all that bad, except in Waikiki. In Waikiki, we found the Wailana Coffee Shop (across the street from the Hilton) to be very reasonably priced and decent food. It was recommended to us by a police officer. They have breakfast all day, including an all you can eat pancake breakfast with sides that costs like $8. We also ate at the Hale Koa (military hotel) snack bar for lunch a couple of times. It's very reasonably priced and no tax but nothing fancy. Ice cream cones for the kiddos are $1. You can eat there even if you are non-military (we aren't military). Have fun! We loved our trip to Hawaii!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

When we were there, my husband used the APP for Diners, Drive-In's and Dives. Found some local places at reasonable prices and the food was good.

 

[MomToOne]

We usually stay on the North Shore in Haleiwa, the food trucks there are some of the best food. Lots of them are centered around shrimp, but there are trucks with other focuses too. If you head up that way for the day, give one a try.

And DD likes to get poke at any Foodland (a grocery store chain in Hawaii). They have other cold and hot deli foods, but we always seem to end up with poke

 

[tikilyn]

We were there summer of 2015. My kids loved going up to North shore area and getting food from the food trucks.There was like 7 different trucks all at one place.

 

[alohamom]

There are lots of basic fast food options in Waikiki too like Subway, McDs and Burger King. Not what I prefer but it can be really really inexpensive.

There is a great place on the beach over by Fort De Russey beach park kinda of near HaleKualani hotel called Steak Shack. It is really really good and very very inexpensive
https://www.yelp.ca/biz/steak-shack-honolulu It is cash only and essentially right on the beach

Another fairly inexpensive option is the food court at the Ala Moana Mall-parking is free

There is a couple of threads over on the Aulani board that are dedicated to places to eat on Oahu, you might find some other suggestions there

Since you have a van, I suggest making a stop at Target, Costco, Safeway or Foodland. The prices for bread and milk are pretty high in Hawaii so if you have time you may want to look at the weekly flyers for these stores (Oahu versions) and see who has stuff priced the best for your budget.

 

[ryankski]

ooh, keep the ideas coming, hubby and I will be stopping off in Hawaii on our way back from visiting our daughter and granddaughter in Guam this summer, only spending a few days so we can visit Pearly harbor, so will need places to eat also. another question would we be better off getting a rental for the 2 days or will we be able to get around on the buses?

If you will be in Honolulu/Waikiki I would avoid a car as you should be able to get where you want with walking or a bus. There are even companies with vans that will pick tourist up at their hotel and drop them off at tourist attractions with a reasonable round trip price. That is what we did for Pearl Harbor. I think the one way was $10 a person and then we took the public buss to Chinatown and then walked back from there to Waikiki Beach. I think round trip was $15-20 a person for the van. I also don't recommend walking from Chinatown back to Waikiki. It was cool to get out of the more tourist area walk along the water and see other things, but I think we walked like 4 -4.5 miles.

You can rent a car from lots (easily within walking distance from your hotel) around Waikiki for the day. I think I paid like $45 after all the taxes for a one day rental and we did a day trip to the North Shore. Just get a car the day(s) you will need it.

 

[ryankski]

If going to the North Shore of Oahu be sure to check out North Shore Shark Adventures! (https://sharktourshawaii.com/) You are in a cage with a snorkel and some pretty big sharks all around you. This was the coolest thing we did in Oahu! It was definitely a bucket list item for me and I have now added a cage dive with great whites to the buck list after this experience.

 

[darly2004]

You should check out Iyasume Musubi. They have different varieties of musubi there. There are different locations all over Waikiki. I believe certain locations also have bento boxes. If you up Kapahulu Ave by Honolulu Zoo, there are a few good restaurants there as well. Also, since you have a car, check out Helena's if you are looking for Hawaiian food and reasonable prices. Zippy's is also a good place. Definitely try Leonard's for their malasadas. I still dream of their coconut and custard ones. Mmmm.... gettting hungry thinking about all this food.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I highly recommend the Revealed books!! ( Kauai Revealed, The Big island Revealed, etc). We went to Maui and Kauai and used those books and had an amazing time. We love local cheap eats so they had everything on there right down to shave ice trucks. Very honest with pricing and the quality of the food. We ate at a bunch of "hole in the wall" kind of places we never would have dreamed driving up on. One place was a gas station and it had amazing hamburgers!!

And this may sound silly but we did do one meal at the Costco in Kauai just to say we got our $1.50 hot dog and soda whilst eating outside on the picnic tables among the wild roosters