3 Best Restaurants in Waianae, Leeward and Central Oahu

A humble, family-run restaurant in a tiny roadside shack, Coquito’s serves an eclectic array of traditional Puerto Rican and Latin American dishes, from arroz con gandules (rice with peas) and shrimp mofongo to pastel borricúa (ground green-banana masa stuffed with pork), Colombian empanadas, and Argentinian flank steak with chimichurri sauce. Order takeout for a picnic at a beach park, or dine in the small outdoor patio (no alcohol sold here, so you need to BYOB).

Escape the tourist traps and rub elbows with locals at this small, busy breakfast–brunch café, with outdoor porch seating and ocean views (come early or order takeout, as it closes early afternoon). Island favorites dominate the menu, including corned beef hash loco moco and lilikoi (passionfruit) pancakes for breakfast and garlic shrimp with mushrooms, fish tacos, and kalbi ribs for lunch.

Housed in a former officer’s dining hall right on the west-facing beach at Pokai Bay, the hip, casual, younger sibling of Pearl Harbor’s Restaurant 604 is a great place to stop for a bite before or after a surf session at Makaha or a day trip up the west side to Yokohama Bay. The island-inspired menu focuses on comfort foods and includes everything from poke, burgers, fries, and pizza to traditional island plates with fish and rice. During happy hour and sunset time, locals congregate to watch sports on large-screen TVs and watch the golden orb dip into the crystal-clear seas.