best places to eat in kapolei

Kapolei may be new to you—at least, it was for me when I moved here in 2010. The city is growing fast, so it’s challenging to find out what the best restaurants are. There are mainly three main parts of Kapolei: Kapolei (where most people live), Ewa Beach (with a small beach) and Makakilo. So the best places to eat in Kapolei will be based on these three areas. My favorite place to eat in Kapolei is 5-Star Burgers. It’s an old school burger place that serves fresh, juicy burgers. As I’m writing this, it’s pouring rain outside and a friend and I went here to watch a movie. Luckily, we got to escape from the rain since the restaurant has an indoor section and seating available (even though the tables are old school red and green tiles). Everyone deserves to treat themselves. And while I’ll defend till my last breath that food is a basic human right, it’s always more fun to treat yourself when you don’t have to account for your spending the next day. So if you need a place to take yourself out without feeling bad about the money, here are some of the best places in Kapolei to have a great time and a good meal.

There are so many great places to eat in Kapolei, it’s hard to know where to start. But if you’re looking for a new place to try, here are some of our favorites. If you have a favorite spot that we didn’t list here, please let us know!

1. [Restaurant name]

This is one of the best restaurants in Kapolei. It has great food and excellent service—everything you could want from a restaurant!

2. [Restaurant name]

This restaurant is on our list of top places to eat in Kapolei because it offers delicious food at an affordable price. We can’t get enough of their chicken wings!

3. [Restaurant name]

This is one of our favorite spots for lunch or dinner when we’re in Kapolei—the food is always delicious and made fresh daily by their chefs!

Kapolei is a great place to eat.

If you’re looking for an upscale dining experience, you can’t go wrong with Pint + Jigger. The restaurant features a wide selection of small plates and fine wine, and it’s the perfect place to have an intimate date night or catch up with friends over drinks. There’s even a private room available if you want to host your own event.

For something more casual, check out Kanemitsu’s Restaurant & Sushi Bar. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun, and the food is consistently delicious—there’s just something about their chicken wings that makes you keep going back for more!

If you’re looking for something more unique, try Olea Restaurant & Bar—it has everything from classic American fare to Hawaiian-inspired dishes. And if you’ve got kids in tow, don’t worry: there are plenty of kid-friendly options on the menu here too!

best cheap eats kapolei

1. KOA PANCAKE HOUSE

One of our favorite spots to eat breakfast and very affordable! Before or after the beach in the morning, this is a great place to get food. They have mixed American and local breakfast or lunch food on the menu; such as pancakes, waffles, crepes, french toast, eggs, bacon, and more. For the local portion, they offer loco moco, Portuguese sausage, spam, and so much more! If you like meat, try the Vinha D’alhos!

2. EATING HOUSE 1849

This restaurant is filled with Asian fusion, Seafood, and Hawaiian food. Eating House 1849 is by Roy Yamaguchi (also known as the founder of Roy’s Hawaii). They incorporate fresh, local food into their cuisine.

3. MY CAFE

f you’re in for some awesome pancakes and eggs benedict, check out My Cafe! They have a pancake flight with Cookie Butter, Taro Haupia, and Lilikoi pancakes. It’s worth it for the gram! Every time we’ve eaten here felt like a relaxing date – very calming vibe.

4. CHUN WAH KAM

Very affordable Chinese food and very generous with their servings! We don’t really come here for the main entrees but for the manapua! Manapua is essentially a hot pocket – white buns with your choice of (meat) fillings which can be served as steamed or baked. They only make a certain amount these treats each day so be sure to get there early to taste the best one: Black bean/Azuki bean!

5. AGU RAMEN

Agu ramen is no joke when it comes to ramen! The broth is just like Japan’s ramen: rich and full of flavor! We only ate here once but as soon as I crave for ramen, I know exactly where to go!

best restaurants in west oahu

#5: Hannara Restaurant

If you want to immerse yourself in local culture, this restaurant is the spot to do it. The menu offers an impressive variety. In the morning, guests can choose between pancakes, omelets and waffles for breakfast (We recommend the Macadamian nut pancakes)! For lunch & dinner, options include hamburger, fried rice, fried chicken, chicken cutlet, and traditional Hawaiian barbeque food.

It is a perfect place for am intercultural experience by mingling with the locals. It’s also large enough to seat a big group.

#4: Countryside Cafe

This cafe is in front of the sea, across the road. From the outdoor terrace, you can eat while enjoying the views of the ocean on one side and the Waianae Mountain Range on the other! The menu includes burgers, eggs Benedict, pancakes and french toast, as well as Hawaiian favorites kimchi fried rice and fresh ahi! Both breakfast and lunch will leave you full and happy.

Our favorite dishes were the “Walk Through the Country”, banana french toast, lilikoi (passion fruit) buttermilk pancakes and strawberry waffles. But even more than the food, the laid back atmosphere and fantastic service does not disappoint.

#3: Mana Organic Cafe (Kahumana Organic Cafe)

This quaint cafe holds a charm like no other. Located on a private farm in the back of the valley near the stunning Waianae Mountains, this restaurant offers food as healthy as it is delicious.

We began our visit with an herbal tea called a Mana cooler, which was delightfully complemented by a vegetable salad, bread and soup. Some of our favorites plates included the Ahi plate (sautéed tuna) and the macadamia nut pasta with mahi mahi. Mahi mahi is a white fish that is outstandingly compatible with pasta. To finish up, we treated ourselves to a vegan lilikoi faux cheesecake. We’re not vegan, but this restaurant could have turned us!

#2: Aloha Poke

Poke is a famous Hawaiian dish made with raw fish and seasoning. It’s best eaten fresh from the catch! Aloha Poke is one of the most famous restaurants in Waianae. Although it is a small shop, local people will drive from towns away to purchase its fresh catches. The shop offers poke with a diverse variety of flavors, including soy sauce, seaweed, blue onion and more.

Along with poke, the restaurant also offers the Hawaiian staple “plate lunch.” We recommend the Pipikaula (dried beef) or the Laulau (steamed pork and gravy). Bring it to the beach to get the full local experience!

#1: Lighter Side Cafe

In our opinion, the shining, best restaurant of the West Side is “Lighter Side Cafe.” It’s a popular hangout for our crew after they get done swimming with dolphins on Dolphins and You. The cafe’s healthy options are the perfect ending for a day in the sun. Some of our favorite menu items include the Farmer’s scrambled eggs, the ahi salad and sushi burritos. But nothing beats the biscuits and honey!

The owner of the restaurant is actually the same owner as ‘Countryside Cafe,’ chosen as #4 on our list. Lighter Side Cafe lives up to its bright and simple name as our #1 restaurant in West Oahu!