Best Food Tours in Oahu

Oahu is the most important island of the entire Hawaiian archipelago and, therefore, the busiest and most touristy. If you've come to spend your holidays in this paradise on earth, you'll surely be curious to try the typical food of this charismatic and special place.

To make sure you don't miss out, I've put together a selection of the best food tours on the island. Oahu has a lot to see and do, but I assure you that on a full stomach, any tour looks better. Romantic cruises, bike rides and island tours await, so are you going to miss out? Then bring your appetite and join me to discover it.

Oahu is a small island that is easily accessible by car and can be covered from end to end in less than an hour. However, if you want to get to know this special place in a more dynamic and ecological way, and stop to try all the local food it has to offer, I recommend you take one of the gastronomic bike tours.

For at least 4 hours, a specialised guide will take you and a small group of people through the most popular areas of the island, to around six stops where you can sample street food, snacks, typical drinks and traditional dishes.

You won't have to worry about calories, as you'll burn them all off as you move from place to place on this eco-friendly transport.

It's also a perfect activity to do in Oahu with children, as you can adapt your children's tasting and they'll have a great time being outdoors and riding comfortably on the bike's extra seat.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately €180 with bike, helmet, guide, food and drink included.
• Duration: about four hours.
• Advantages of this option: it's a different and fun way to tour the island and reach the most important gastronomic spots on Oahu.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are not in good physical condition, you may end up tired and not feeling like eating.

There is no more typical scene when you arrive in Hawaii than that of its hospitable people placing the iconic flower necklace around your neck. Experiencing the island tradition of Oahu is one of the most interesting experiences you can have on holiday and, like all good things, such cultural immersions often come with food tasting.

If you're looking to soak up the local culture and try some of the local dishes, you'll find the best traditional shows on Oahu. Most of them come with a tasting of Hawaiian dishes.

You can experience an authentic Luau, with traditional dances, fire knife displays, music and much more. In addition, you can enjoy a buffet-style meal with the most representative dishes so that, while you experience this energetic and important ceremony, you can taste the most delicious dishes of the island.

Details of interest

• Price: around €150 all inclusive.
• Duration: The whole party and dinner usually lasts around two to three hours.
• Advantages of this option: it is a great opportunity to experience an authentic Hawaiian show.
• Disadvantages of this option: the food may be put on the back burner in favour of the party.

If you want to focus on the local food on the island of Oahu and don't want any distractions on the tour other than to try different dishes at the local stalls, there's a tour for you.

Oahu and the entire Hawaiian archipelago is a very touristy destination, but if you come with your family or group of friends, you can book a small group tour where a guide will take you to the best local stalls and restaurants in the capital.

In this way, you will be able to taste the real Hawaiian cuisine and its tradition with a local guide who will take you to the best stalls. You will be able to taste the island's rich fruit, homemade ice cream, the famous malasadas and a multitude of seafood dishes with their characteristic citrus dressings.

Details of interest

• Price: around €120 per person including transfers.
• Duration: these tours usually last around 3 hours.
• Advantages of this option: it's the perfect way to get to know in depth the food consumed by the local people of the island and get off the beaten tourist track in the capital.
• Disadvantages of this option: as they are local stalls, it is possible that locals may end up asking for tips or taking advantage of the opportunity to sell you their products.

Lanai Tabura is an eminent figure in the world of Hawaiian cuisine. The DJ, chef and comedian has even won an Emmy Award for his US show, "Cooking Hawaii Style".

His fame is such that he now guides groups around the island of Oahu to taste and experience first-hand the ingredients and techniques that inspired him so much.

If you want to take a trip through Hawaiian cuisine with one of Hawaii's top chefs, you should know that you can book this type of tour in which, for at least 3 hours, Tabura will take you to his favourite places, you will be able to talk to his trusted suppliers and he will share some of his cooking tips and how to prepare typical dishes such as poke, garlic seafood or Spam Musubi.

Details of interest

• Price: This type of tour usually costs around €170 including transfers.
• Duration: around three hours tour.
• Advantages of this option: You will be guided at all times by one of the island's top international chefs.
• Disadvantages of this option: This tour is subject to the availability of Tabura, as he is the star of the excursion, so there is not always room.

Oahu, like any good island, has most of its activity at sea and, without a doubt, one of the attractions that attracts the most tourists are the boat rides along the coast. Being able to hop aboard a boat or cruise ship and spend an evening in the middle of your holiday is one of the luxuries you can afford if you come to Hawaii.

In addition, many of the most popular sunset cruises are those that feature a tasting dinner with local dishes.

Seafood, citrus and spicy dishes are the stars of this excellent culinary offering, and what better way to sample them than floating in the middle of the Pacific?

This plan is ideal for couples or small groups who want to have an intimate moment full of flavour and new dishes. As if that wasn't enough, in addition to the pleasant ride and the gastronomic tasting, most of these tours have a show in the purest Hawaiian style.

Details of interest

• Price: These types of on-board tours cost around €100 per head.
• Duration: they are usually two-hour tours.
• Advantages of this option: you'll have the chance to see the coast on board a boat and you'll also be able to dine on traditional dishes.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you get seasick on the high seas, it is not recommended as the aim is to fill your stomach with local gastronomy.

The whole island has a multitude of places to visit, but one of the best cities in Oahu at night is its capital, Honolulu, which creates a unique contrast between the island paradise to which it belongs and the skyscrapers of a major capital city.

When the sun goes down and the whole city lights up, Honolulu is a sight to behold.

That's why, if you are interested in this subject, there are some gastronomic tours in the city of Honolulu to see it illuminated at night and, in addition, you can go to eat and taste its best cuisine in its most famous restaurants.

With this type of tour, you can dine at some of the best restaurants in the city with a tasting of up to three courses with a presentation and style of the most gourmet. If you want to impress your partner or treat yourself, this tour is for you.

Interesting details

• Price: around €170 all-inclusive.
• Duration: The panoramic view of the city and dinner usually lasts around four hours.
• Advantages of this option: You will be able to feel the luxury of the capital and taste real gourmet dishes of Oahu's gastronomy.
• Disadvantages of this option: This is a plan designed for tourists, so if you're looking for a more local experience, this may seem too artificial.

If you're coming on holiday to Hawaii but will only be able to spend a few days on the island of Oahu, don't miss out on some of the best tours of Oahu and Circle Island. This place is full of beaches, inland villages, jungle lookouts and a spectacular coastline that you can't leave without seeing.

And if you like and are interested in the world of cuisine and want to try some of the most typical dishes of the island, you can kill two birds with one stone, as there are many types of tours that leave from the capital to discover the island in a whole day, but with the excuse of food in between.

In this way, you can travel the length and breadth of the island by coach with a group of people, making several stops throughout the day where, in addition to having a full lunch, you can also stop to taste some of the island's local products. A real treat!

Interesting details

• Price: the average price is around €150 per head.
• Duration: This is a full-day excursion of around nine hours.
• Advantages of this option: In just one day you can not only try a wide variety of typical dishes, but also get to know the whole island.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is a very popular tour and the groups tend to be quite large.

Oahu is one of the most popular Pacific destinations by far, and no matter what time of year you go, you'll always find crowds of travellers and tourists wanting to experience the charms and cuisine of this special place.

That's why, if you want to go off the beaten track and get to know Oahu's hidden gastronomy, there's a tour designed for you.

I suggest you book some of the private tours to the lesser-known areas of Oahu to sample the food in a much more intimate and intimate way and get to know the corners that tourists don't usually get to see.

This way, in addition to sampling delicious, artisanal dishes, you'll get to see Oahu's best beaches and discover that, for example, the North Shore area has plenty to see and do. Get off the beaten track and sample the food that Oahu's hospitable locals eat.

Details of interest

• Price: Around €500 including transfers.
• Duration: These tours usually last around eight hours.
• Advantages of this option: it gives you the opportunity to get to know almost inhospitable places on the island in a unique way and accompanied by delicious dishes prepared by locals.
• Disadvantages of this option: as it is private and not so popular, the price is a little higher than the rest of the tours around the island.

Do you love food and photography? Well, believe it or not, there's a tour in Honolulu just for you that combines these two passions into one great sightseeing experience.

You can take a professionally guided tour of the Hawaiian capital and make stops not only to sample traditional food in the various bars and eateries, but also to take iconic photos of the island.

The island is full of tours in and around nature, but if you want to bring out your urbane side, a professional guide will take you to some of Honolulu's most charismatic spots.

He'll show you amazing vantage points from which to take stunning photos while you enjoy a pleasant stroll along the island with a variety of dishes you'll try at the local eateries you pass.

This type of tour is usually designed for groups and is a great way to experience the essence of modern, urban Honolulu, while bringing out your photography skills and your appetite for food.

Details of interest

• Price: €140 with guide and all food included.
• Duration: this is usually a tour that lasts six to seven hours.
• Advantages of this option: it is a dynamic and different way of getting to know the city and sightseeing, tasting food from the most popular places and taking photographs.
• Disadvantages of this option: On this type of tour the dishes you will try are closed and there are usually no vegetarian options or children's menus.

One of the most efficient ways to get around the island of Oahu is with a jeep that can get you on the rougher roads of the interior and take you to the amazing jungle attractions and native villages.

If you're interested in seeing this part of the island, the best off-road tours of Oahu are at your fingertips.

But if you also want to enjoy and sample the best of the island's cuisine, you're in luck, as there are several types of tours that take small groups by jeep to the island's most intimate and private places to sample the local cuisine.

These are usually all-day excursions that, in addition to sampling the food of the locals, also allow you to experience first-hand much of the traditions and daily life of the Hawaiian people. The best seafood and homemade recipes await you on this jeep adventure with your friends or family.

Details of interest

• Price: around €190.
• Duration: these are usually half-day trips, lasting around six hours.
• Advantages of this option: You'll get to ride in a jeep with your private group and tour off the beaten track, sampling some of the best home-cooked local food.
• Disadvantages of this option: Being a slightly off-the-beaten-path experience, some dishes may not be included in the price.

Coming to Hawaii is a once in a lifetime experience. You'll find that everything on the island of Oahu is full of tourist offerings that will make it much easier for you to make the most of your holiday.

It's possible that you'll want to do it on your own and prefer to go at your own pace, sampling the food at local eateries along the coast and in the capital, and taking one of the many tour buses to get to know the island.

However, to avoid falling into scams or tourist traps, I recommend that, for specific items such as gastronomic tours, you hire an excursion that guarantees a good experience. It doesn't have to be the most conventional and multitudinous on the island; you're lucky enough to be able to choose from some of the more alternative and local ones, but it's definitely worth being guided by an expert and knowing what you're putting in your mouth.

Hawaii is a paradise destination at any time of the year. The influx of tourists never ceases but, if you think about it, everyone has their own preferences as to what they come looking for on the island of Oahu.

While some come looking for the best waves for surfing or the warmest weather for water sports, in your case, if you want to see the whole island and taste what this fantastic place tastes like, my recommendation is to come to Oahu from April to October, a wide range of months in which rainfall is scarce and the weather is stable enough to avoid surprises.

Getting to know a place's cuisine is one of the best ways to discover its essence. If you are determined to come and enjoy Oah and all its possibilities, don't miss the gastronomic experience offered by its tours, you won't regret it!