Now is the time to support local businesses during the pandemic and enjoy delicious food — without breaking the bank. Here is a selection of Oahu’s West Side hand-picked faves.

Whether you’re a kamaʻaina, a resident snow-bird, or a tourist vacationing in Ko Olina — you know that there are plenty of restaurant choices available on the leeward side of Oahu.

The mandated shut-downs on the island due to the pandemic have caused restaurants to suffer. Residents of the island feel that they have few dining options. But an island-wide shut down with limited dining options doesn’t mean you still can’t order, carry-out, and enjoy an ono meal.

Who doesn’t love a one-of-a-kind restaurant? What’s even better is finding a restaurant that not only serves delicious food but barely leaves a dent in the wallet! Here are some tried and true mom and pops restaurants in the Ewa Beach and Kapolei area that will guarantee to brok da’ mout. And have you returning again...and again.

Ono Thai Cuisine

Tucked away in a small plaza across from Ilima Intermediate School is this rare find. You wonʻt be disappointed with their authentic Thai dishes and generous servings.

Yelp reviewers rave about Ono Thai Cuisine’s Gai Tod (or Thai fried chicken), their curries, and their spring rolls. Pad thai and Pad See Ew enthusiasts will love the fact that their noodles are freshly made! Vegetarians and pescatarians will delight in the number of veggie and seafood options that are available. This restaurant will do what it can to satisfy your substitutions.

Who doesnʻt love delicious and bona fide Thai food at great prices? And with an ample amount of free parking spaces it makes it so easy to grab and go. Ono Thai Cuisine is also available to cater — that is — if you decide to share this local secret with your friends and ohana. You can check out their menu on their website.

Ono Thai Cuisine
91-896 Makule Rd., Suite #106
Ewa Beach, HI 96706
Phone: (808) 689-5808
Email: onothaicuisine@gmail.com

Business Hours
Monday to Sunday: 10:30 AM to 9 PM

Spoon Korean Kitchen

Craving some authentic traditional Korean dishes on the west side of Oahu? Try Spoon Korean Kitchen. Located just off of Fort Weaver Road is a cafe-like restaurant that serves Korean dishes that are mostly eaten with a — you got that right — spoon!

Asian comfort foods such as soft tofu stews and dumpling soups will hit the spot. Soups will come with a large side of rice and cold side veggies. Traditional cold noodles such as bibim guksu are served with a huge serving of banchan. This restaurant is known for their generous portions.

Vegetarians will not be disappointed with the choice of dishes available. And meat lovers will be satisfied with the delicious Korean staples such as meat jun, kalbi, and bulgogi. If you do find your way to Spoon Korean Kitchen — the kimchi fried rice and kimchi pancakes are a must.

Calling ahead to place your order is recommended with this local eatery as it can get busy. Free and easy parking makes this experience stress-free. To get a closer look at their menu, you can view their website.

Spoon Korean Kitchen
91-775 Papipi Rd.,
Ewa Beach, HI 96706
Phone: (808) 689-6646

Business Hours
Monday to Saturday: 11 AM to 8 PM
Sunday: Closed

Fantastic Frosting

Located within the new and upcoming transit-oriented community — Hoopili — is this gem. There are several businesses thriving in flex townhomes within this urbanized district of Ewa Beach. Roughly 2 miles from Ka Makana Alii Shopping Center — cruise into the Hoopili neighborhood and you’ll find Fantastic Frosting.

This neighborhood establishment is a dream come true for families. Owners, Eileen and Max, will attest to the fact that they exist to serve the community and pride themselves on keeping prices low for residents.

Here you will find an assortment of bakery items such as freshly-baked cakes, cupcakes, and other delicious goodies that can be made to order. Your kids will find spam musubis for $2 and keiki-sized shave ice (up to 3 flavors with ice cream!) for $3. Homemade meals such as a lasagna and salad will cost $10 and a chili and rice meal with a drink will set you back $7!

Their cafe hours can vary during the week but you can call them to place your order and pick up on days that their storefront is closed. For more information, you can visit their website.

Fantastic Frosting
91-960 Iwikuamoo St., Unit 1008
Ewa Beach, HI 96706
Phone: (808) 888-7949

Business Hours
Monday: By appointment
Tuesday: By appointment
Wednesday to Saturday: 11 AM to 4 PM
Sunday: 9 AM to 2 PM

Sushi Bay

Who doesn’t love fresh, mouth-watering sushi rotating on a conveyor belt right under your nose? Though the conveyor belt is on hiatus with current pandemic restrictions it doesn’t mean that Sushi Bay isn’t still cranking out ono sushi!

Known for their generous slabs of fresh sashimi, mixed don bowls, and tempura (just check out their Yelp reviews) — it is not unusual to find a line outside their restaurant at the Kapolei Shopping Center. Even during the pandemic, loyal fans can’t get enough of their delicious dishes at affordable prices.

Because Sushi Bay is a popular joint, calling ahead to place your order is recommended. And for your convenience, they have recently activated an online ordering service. When you arrive to pick up your order you will find friendly staff ready to assist you at a table stationed outside their storefront. Their website can be found here.

Sushi Bay
Kapolei Shopping Center
590 Farrington Hwy.,
Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 693-9921
Email: sushibay808@yahoo.com

Business Hours
Daily: 10:30 AM to 6 PM

808urbanbowls

Located nearby Ilima Intermediate School is one of a few places on the Leeward side where you can find acai bowls. But not only that, 808urbanbowls also offers pitaya (or red dragon fruit) bowls! This gem is tucked away in another little plaza across the way from Ono Thai Cuisine so parking is a non-issue.

A healthier alternative to sugary sweets — this icy treat is crowned with fresh strawberries, bananas, granola, and frozen blueberries and cherries. This is all topped off with a drizzle of honey and shredded coconut can be added at no cost.

What makes this joint different from other acai bowl establishments are their choices of unique toppings. Here you can add stuffed strawberries and flavored cookie dough! For an extra $2.50, chocolate-dipped strawberries and strawberries stuffed with brownies or nutella. Cookie dough flavors such as chocolate chip or cream cheese, are a couple of extra toppings that you can add to your assortment of fresh fruit.

At 808urbanbowls there are plenty of options for those of us who have an extra sweet tooth. You can look up more info about 808urbanbowls here.

808urbanbowls
91-902 Fort Weaver Rd., P104
Ewa Beach, HI 96706
Phone: (808) 230-1151

Business Hours
Monday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Sunday: Closed

En Fuego Grill & Catering

For those of you who prefer the satisfaction of a local plate lunch, En Fuego Grill & Catering will indulge your taste buds. You will find this restaurant at the western end of the Kapolei Marketplace.

En Fuego Grill & Catering pride themselves on using local produce and burgers made with organic beef from the Big Island. Fresh catch from our Hawaiian waters include ahi, mahimahi, and hebi. Popular Hawaiian plate lunches such as squid luau, pork laulau, and kalua pig are also offered.

If you prefer a healthy alternative there are numerous salads available. Try the ahi tofu salad, grilled salmon salad, or grilled poke salad. Plate lunches come with the option of white or brown rice, and mac or garden salad.

They’ve recently updated their online ordering service so ordering a meal and taking out is hassle-free. Check out their online menu and catering services here.

En Fuego Grill & Catering
The Marketplace at Kapolei
590 Farrington Hwy., C-1 Suite #534
Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 674-8805

Business Hours:
Daily: 10:30 AM to 8 PM

Eat Out on the West Side.

For the townies and tourists alike — venture out to the west side of Oahu and support our local restaurants. Who can argue with convenient ordering services, affordable prices, and free and easy parking? Try out these eateries and we can guarantee that these are grindz that you’ll return to over and over again.

Glossary:

ahi - Bigeye or Yellowfin tuna

banchan - small side dishes served alongside rice in Korean cuisine

bibim guksu - Korean cold noodle salad

brok da’ mout - “Broke the mouth” or local pidgin for absolutely delicious!

bulgogi - thinly sliced and marinated Korean barbeque beef

don - or donburi; mixed rice bowls in Japanese cuisine

hebi - shortbill spearfish

Hoopili - an area located on the west side of Oahu between Ewa Beach and Kapolei

grindz - Hawaiian pidgin for local food

kalbi - Korean barbeque short ribs

kalua pig - Hawaiian pulled pork traditionally smoked under ground

kamaʻaina - refers to a Hawaii resident regardless of ethnic background

keiki - the Hawaiian word for children

Ko Olina - a vacation and residential community located on the Leeward coast of Oahu

mahimahi - a Hawaiian dolphin fish

meat jun - a Korean-Hawaiian dish made of thinly sliced beef dipped in egg and flour before being pan fried

ohana - the Hawaiian word for family

ono - the Hawaiian word for delicious and “good to eat”

pad see ew - a Thai stir fried soy sauce noodle dish

pad thai - a Thai stir fried sweet, savory, and sour noodle dish served with meat or seafood, and vegetables, egg, and peanuts

poke - raw, cubed marinated fish

pork laulau - a Hawaiian dish of pork wrapped in layers of taro or ti leaves that is steamed

sashimi - thinly sliced raw meat or fish served uncooked

spam musubi - a popular Hawaiian snack made with a slice of spam on top of a small block of rice that is wrapped together with seaweed

squid luau - a traditional Hawaiian dish that involves young taro leaves and squid stewed in coconut milk

tempura - a Japanese dish of vegetables, seafood, or meat that is coated in a light batter and then deep fried.

The Best Cheap and Easy Take-Out Restaurants on the West Side of Oahu