Looking to save money on food for your next trip to Oahu? Find out the best cheap eats on Oahu that will satisfy any craving! Scroll to see them all!
This best cheap eats on Oahu post was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Want to know the secret to eating like a local without destroying your Hawaii vacation budget?
After 40+ trips to Hawaii as both a professional tourist and Hawaii travel expert, I’ve figured out exactly where to find amazing food that won’t cost you $30 per person.
Here’s the truth: some of the best food on Oahu comes from the most unassuming places.
Food trucks, grocery store poke counters, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants where locals line up daily.
These aren’t tourist traps with inflated prices. These are the spots where you’ll find families grabbing dinner on a Tuesday night and office workers on their lunch break.
Everything on this list is under $15 per person, and most meals are closer to $10.
That means you can actually afford to eat out every day of your vacation instead of living on resort breakfast buffets and grocery store crackers.
Let me show you my go-to spots across the island. I’ve organized them by area so you can plan your stops while you’re already out exploring.
Waikiki & Kapahulu Area
Rainbow Drive-In
I need to start with Rainbow Drive-In because it’s literally the first place we eat when we land on Oahu. After the flight from Seattle, this is where we go.
Their beef stew is what I crave at 30,000 feet. It’s rich and comforting, served over rice with macaroni salad on the side.
My kids always go straight for the burgers, which are surprisingly good for a plate lunch place. They’re simple but done right.
The thing about Rainbow is that it’s been around since 1961, and they haven’t changed the formula.
You get huge portions, everything costs under $12, and the food is exactly what you want after a long travel day. It’s open 7am to 9pm daily, so you can hit it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Rainbow’s loco moco is famous for good reason. If you’ve never had loco moco, it’s rice topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and brown gravy. It sounds unusual but it’s absolutely delicious and filling.
The location on Kapahulu Avenue is the original. There are picnic tables outside where you can sit and watch the constant stream of people ordering. Guy Fieri even featured them on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives back in 2010.
Where: 3308 Kanaina Ave, Honolulu (near Diamond Head)
Hours: 7am-9pm daily
Price: $8-12 per plate
Pro tip: Get there before 8am if you want their fried rice for breakfast. They make limited quantities and it sells out fast.
Musubi Cafe Iyasume
Okay, I recommend this place to EVERYONE. We’ve been going to Musubi Cafe Iyasume since they first opened, and I genuinely think it’s one of the best quick meal spots on the entire island.
If you’re not familiar with musubi, it’s basically a rice ball wrapped in seaweed.
The classic version has a slice of grilled Spam on top, but Iyasume makes dozens of varieties.
They’ve got everything from teriyaki Spam to chicken karaage mayo to avocado bacon egg Spam. Each one costs $2-5 and they’re made to order with Koshihikari rice.
Two musubi make a perfect lunch. One is a solid snack. And they travel really well, so we always grab extras for beach days or hiking.
Iyasume now has seven locations across Oahu, including two in Ala Moana Center (they just opened a second one in November 2025).
The Waikiki locations are super convenient if you’re staying near the beach. They’re open early (6:30am at some locations) which makes them perfect for grabbing breakfast before a snorkel tour.
What I love is that they’re consistent. It doesn’t matter which location you go to, the quality is always the same.
The staff are friendly and patient if you’re trying musubi for the first time and have questions.
Where: Multiple locations (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kahala Mall, and more)
Hours: Vary by location (most open 6:30am-9pm)
Price: $2-5 per musubi
What to order: Start with the teriyaki Spam musubi. If you want something more adventurous, try the chicken karaage mayo or the avocado bacon egg Spam.
Ono Seafood
When you want the absolute freshest poke on Oahu, this is where you go. Ono Seafood has been making poke to order since 1995, and they only use never-frozen fish.
Their poke bowls come in two sizes: regular ($11.75) or large ($13.75). Both come with rice and your choice of two types of poke.
I always get one ahi and one salmon so I can try different flavors. The Hawaiian-style ahi and the miso salmon are both incredible.
Every bowl comes with a free drink from their fridge. Grab an Aloha Maid juice if you want something authentically local.
The only downside is parking. The original Kapahulu location has just a few spots out front, and they fill up fast.
Try to go at off-peak times (like 2-3pm on a weekday) or be prepared to circle for a bit. They’re now open Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and closed Sundays and Mondays.
They also have a second location in Kealahou and a food truck that moves around the island. Check their Instagram for the food truck schedule.
Where: 747 Kapahulu Ave (also location at 501 Kealahou St)
Hours: Tue-Sat 9am-4pm, closed Sun-Mon
Price: $11.75-13.75 for poke bowls
Note: This is right by Leonard’s Bakery and Waiola Shave Ice, so you can hit all three in one stop.
Honolulu Area
Foodland
I’m genuinely obsessed with Foodland. We stop here on almost every single trip because their poke is fantastic and the prices are unbeatable.
Foodland is a locally-owned supermarket chain, so you can find them all over Oahu.
What makes them special is their hot food section and poke counter. They make everything fresh daily, and they’ve actually won awards for their poke.
Here’s what we always get:
Poke bowls: Around $11 for a bowl with one choice of poke (2/3 pound), or about $13 for two choices.
The poke sits on top of hot rice and you can get either white rice, brown rice, or mixed greens. Their poke selection is huge. Everything from classic Hawaiian-style ahi to spicy salmon to tako.
We usually can’t decide so we get the two-choice bowl.
Musubi: Foodland has a nice variety of pre-made musubi in their warmer for $2-4 each. Classic Spam musubi, kalua pork, chicken, mochiko chicken.
They’re perfect for grabbing on your way out the door.
Bentos: Pre-made bento boxes with meat, rice, and vegetables for around $8-10. Great if you want a complete meal but don’t want to sit down at a restaurant.
Where: Multiple locations across Oahu
Hours: Vary by location
Price: $2-13 depending on what you get
Pro tip: If you’re a Maika’i rewards member, watch for their Friday specials. Sometimes they do deals like buy 3 pounds of poke, get the 4th free.
Zippy’s
Zippy’s has been a long-time favorite of ours.
They’ve been around since 1966 and they’re basically Hawaii’s version of a local diner, except the menu has everything from Korean fried chicken to saimin to plate lunches to breakfast plates.
Many locations are open 24 hours, which is amazing if you’re dealing with jet lag or need a late-night meal. The menu is massive and most items are under $12.
Their chili is legendary. You can get it as chili and rice, chili spaghetti, or on top of a plate lunch.
The Korean fried chicken is also really good, especially during their limited-time promotions when they drop the price to $9.99 for takeout.
What I appreciate about Zippy’s is that they have both a takeout counter and a sit-down restaurant side at most locations.
So you can grab and go, or you can actually sit down with the family for a meal.
And here’s something you might not know: Zippy’s sells frozen meals at grocery stores.
We literally buy their frozen Portuguese stew at our Asian grocery store in Seattle because we miss it between trips. That’s how good it is.
Where: Multiple locations across Oahu (look for one near where you’re staying)
Hours: Many locations open 24 hours
Price: $8-15 for most plates
What to order: Korean fried chicken, chili plates, or their breakfast plates with Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice.
North Shore
North Shore Shrimp Trucks
If you’re driving up to the North Shore, stopping at a shrimp truck is basically mandatory.
The most famous is Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck in Kahuku, which started the whole shrimp truck trend back in 1993.
You can’t miss Giovanni’s. It’s the white truck completely covered in graffiti signatures. People have been signing this truck for decades, and it’s become part of the experience.
Their plates cost $15 and come with a dozen shrimp and two scoops of rice. The garlic scampi is what they’re known for, but the hot and spicy (which has a “NO REFUNDS” warning) is also popular if you can handle heat.
There are now lots of shrimp trucks along Kamehameha Highway between Haleiwa and Kahuku.
Famous Kahuku Shrimp is $12-13. Fumi’s is around $14 but they use shrimp from their own farm right there. They’re all good, honestly.
You’re getting freshly cooked shrimp with lots of garlic butter and rice. It’s hard to go wrong.
The portions are generous. Even the “mini” plates from most trucks are pretty filling.
Where: Multiple trucks along Kamehameha Highway on North Shore
Hours: Most open 10:30am-6:30pm
Price: $12-15 per plate
Tip: Bring wet wipes or napkins. The garlic butter gets everywhere and you’ll be eating with your hands.
Island-Wide Options
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
L&L is a Hawaii chain that’s now expanded to the mainland, but the food is still solid and affordable.
They specialize in Hawaiian plate lunches with generous portions of meat, two scoops of rice, and macaroni salad.
Everything comes in both mini and regular sizes. The mini plates are about half the size and half the price, but they’re still pretty filling. Plates run $7-12 depending on what you get.
Their chicken katsu, kalua pork, and BBQ chicken are all good choices. You can also substitute the mac salad for regular salad or add fries for a small upcharge.
The best part about L&L is that there are locations all over Oahu. We’ve hit them in Waikiki, near Pearl Harbor, on the North Shore.
It’s reliable when you need something quick and don’t want to think too hard about it.
Where: Multiple locations island-wide
Hours: Vary by location
Price: $7-12 per plate
Marukame Udon
If you’re craving Japanese food, Marukame Udon is your spot. They’re known for their udon noodles made fresh in-house, and most items on the menu are $5-12.
You can watch them making the noodles through the window, which is pretty cool. The line moves fast even when it’s long because they’re efficient.
Besides udon, they have tempura, rice bowls, and salads. Get there early if you can because the lunch rush can be intense.
Where: Two locations (Downtown Honolulu and Waikiki)
Hours: Open daily
Price: $5-12
How to Save Even More Money
Farmer’s Markets
Hit up the farmer’s markets for fresh produce, local food, and sometimes plate lunches.
The prices are usually better than grocery stores, and you’re supporting local farmers and vendors. There are farmer’s markets happening somewhere on Oahu almost every day of the week.
Happy Hour Deals
A lot of restaurants have happy hour specials from 3-5pm or after 9pm. Even places that aren’t normally budget-friendly drop their prices during happy hour.
Shop at Grocery Stores
For breakfast and snacks, grocery stores are your friend. You can grab fruit, yogurt, bagels, and other breakfast items for way less than eating out. Save your restaurant budget for lunches and dinners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I budget for food per day on Oahu?
Plan on about $50 per person per day if you’re eating at places like the ones on this list.
That gives you breakfast, lunch, dinner, and maybe a snack or shave ice. If you’re doing some grocery store meals, you can get that down to $30-40 per person.
Is it cheaper to eat out or cook in Hawaii?
If your rental has a kitchen, you’ll save money by cooking some meals. But honestly, the cheap eats I’ve listed here are so affordable that eating out doesn’t break the bank like it does at sit-down restaurants.
What’s the cheapest meal option?
Musubi. Seriously. $2-5 gets you a filling snack or light meal. Stock up on these from Foodland or Musubi Cafe Iyasume.
Do I need to tip at these places?
At counter-service spots like food trucks and take-out windows, tipping is optional but appreciated. 10-15% is nice if service was good. At sit-down restaurants like Zippy’s restaurant side, tip the normal 15-20%.
Final Thoughts
Look, Hawaii isn’t cheap. But you can absolutely eat well without spending a fortune if you know where to go.
The places on this list are where locals actually eat. They’re the spots we return to trip after trip because the food is good, the portions are generous, and the prices are fair.
Your $15 goes a lot further at Rainbow Drive-In than it does at a resort restaurant.
Start with Rainbow Drive-In, stock up on musubi from Iyasume or Foodland, and hit a shrimp truck on the North Shore.
Those three things alone will give you a solid foundation for budget eating on Oahu.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by planning your Oahu trip, I can help.
I offer one-on-one Hawaii travel consultations where we map out exactly where to eat, stay, and what to do based on your family’s interests and budget.
I’ve been doing this for years and I love helping families figure out the logistics.
Want more Hawaii planning help? Grab my Oahu Travel Guide for Families or sign up for my free 7-day email course on planning a trip to Oahu.
You can also listen to my podcast, Hawaii Travel Made Easy, where I share more tips like these.
Now go eat some really good, really affordable Hawaiian food. Your wallet (and your stomach) will thank you.
