12 Best Restaurants in Windward Oahu, Oahu

This food truck in the Manuhealii parking lot serves delicious, made-to-order malasadas (Portuguese donuts) that are crispy and dark brown on the outside and soft, chewy, and sweet on the inside. They're also denser than those found at some other bakeries on the island. This means that they're probably more authentic to the original Portuguese recipe.

A long-time local favorite, elegant, inviting Baci Bistro is a classic Italian restaurant offering an extensive range of pastas, antipasti, mains, and really excellent desserts. Consider the ravioli del giorno followed by vitello (veal) cooked with a variety of sauces. Top off your meal with a dessert specialty: crème brûlée.

This outlet of the popular retro diner chain—with four locations, including one at Windward Mall in neighboring Kaneohe—is across the street from a small bird sanctuary and has outdoor lanai seating and a bar. It's a hot spot for breakfast and Sunday football; popular dinner items include grilled steak with onions and mushrooms, baby back ribs, meatloaf, and salads. Kids and families love this spot.

Virtually unchanged since opening in 1967, this neighborhood institution opposite Kailua Beach Park is filled with the aroma of grilling steaks and plumeria blooms. It doesn't matter if you're a bit sandy and beach bedraggled (though bare feet are a no-no, as are tank tops after 4:30 pm)—just find a spot in the cozy maze of rooms; stop at the salad bar; and order a steak, a burger, teriyaki chicken, or the fresh fish special. Leave room for desserts. Get a table on the lanai if you can, especially at lunch when the menu is a bit less expensive; the view alone makes it worth the visit. If you sit at the bar, expect to make friends. Be warned: the mai tais here are the strongest you'll find anywhere; if you order the "B.F.R.D." don't expect to drive home.

Known for uncommon variations on common breakfast themes, this neighborhood favorite is tucked into a hard-to-find Kailua office park (call for directions). Local-style lunch plates are good, but the main attraction is breakfast, when you don't want to miss the guava chiffon and red velvet pancakes or the signature cinnamon macadamia-nut rolls. (The Waikiki location in the Ilikai Hotel serves dinner, too.) Be prepared to wait. The place is always packed for breakfast, particularly on weekends.

This chef Roy Yamaguchi spinoff serves elevated Hawaii regional cuisine and cocktails in the Lau Hala Shops complex, right where the old Macy's used to be. The kids' menu goes above and beyond the typical fare.

The Haleiwa location may be the namesake and claim the surf, but this windward-side branch offers knock-'em-dead views and a tiki torch–lit atmosphere after dark along with the friendly vibe and grilled seafood. In addition to surf-and-turf favorites, look for special preparations of each day's catch, which is delivered straight from the Honolulu Fish Auction. Come for an early dinner and a stroll around the pond and through the Haiku Gardens directly behind the restaurant. Note the H3 highway nestled into the deep valleys and soaring Koolau Mountains in the distance; it's reportedly the longest and most expensive elevated highway in the United States.

This hole-in-the-wall has been creating shave ice perfection in its tiny original spot since 1979, but when two young girls named Obama discovered the luscious flavors in 2008, it was really put on the map. A favorite spot for both locals and storied visitors (and these days lots of regular tourists), it makes a mean shave ice, whether you stick with standard flavors like cherry or go for lilikoi (passion fruit) guava with a snowcap on top. The original is right by the beach; there's a second location in the Kailua Shopping Center. Buy one of the popular shirts and hats while you're there.

This one-stop, green-and-white, Mediterranean-leaning café, wine bar, bakery, and gourmet deli is the creation of the Dymond family, two generations of restaurateurs who have shaken up the windward food scene. Come in on your way to the beach for a cup of coffee and bagel, and stop back for a gourmet pizza or bruschetta for lunch or a candlelight dinner at night. The breakfast and lunch menus are a mix of sandwiches, salads, and other creative offerings; the place transforms at night, with table service, candles, and a frequently changing menu of freshly grilled fish and turf offerings. The original Kalapawai Market, a grab-and-go spot, is right at Kailua Beach.

Generations of children have purchased their beach snacks and sodas at Kalapawai Market near Kailua Beach. A Windward Oahu landmark since 1932, the green-and-white market has distinctive charm. You'll see slipper-clad locals sitting in front sharing a cup of coffee and talking story at picnic tables or in front of the market. It's a good source for your carryout lunch, since there's no concession stand at the beach. It also has one of the better selections of wine on the island. There's a sister Kalapawai Cafe with a sit-down menu in the center of Kailua.

This open-air, upscale taproom puts a local spin on classic American dishes and has an excellent waterfront view from its otherwise nondescript strip-mall location. A long beer, wine, and cocktail menu includes locally sourced drinks. The food portions are large, and TVs around the restaurant make for good game-day viewing or distraction for the kids. Stop here for lunch in between south and windward shore activities.

Located in a strip mall in the residential neighborhood of Aina Haina, Uncle Clay’s is a happy place. This shave-ice stand specializes in homemade all-natural syrups made from cane sugar and locally sourced fruits, including “kalespin”—a combination of kale and spinach. And the bowl is biodegradable, of course! Uncle Clay himself might show up with a warm welcome—and a lot of conversation.