Introduction

Welcome to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Base Honolulu! The base sits on a tiny island called Sand Island, which is part of the larger island of Oahu, the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world for a variety of reasons, including the incredible food scene. This guide will help you find the best restaurants in Honolulu, Hawaii. If you need a starting point for your culinary quest, below is a small selection of places to eat in Hawaii.

Suggested read:

USCG Base Honolulu: In-Depth Welcome Center

USCG Base Honolulu Restaurants

1. USCG Club 14

400 Sand Island Pkwy. Honolulu, HI 96819

Phone

: 1 (808) 842-2961 Club 14 is located adjacent to USCG Base Honolulu’s main gate and serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday from 0700 to 1400. For breakfast, they serve classic American fare, like a two-egg plate or biscuits & gravy. For lunch, an array of burgers, wraps, and sandwiches is offered. The large facility can also be rented out for private events with 24/7 catering.

Best Restaurants in Honolulu, Hawaii, Near Base

Yelp’s Top 3 Honolulu Restaurants Near Base

2. Helena’s Hawaiian Food

1240 N. School St. Honolulu, HI 96817

Phone

: 1 (808) 845-8044 When craving authentic Hawaiian food, head to Helena’s. There, you’ll find all your lunch favorites, like kalua pork, short ribs pipikaula style, and laulau (fish or pork cooked in taro leaves). Meals also come with all the classic Hawaiian fixins’, like macaroni salad and, of course, rice. You can also try their poi, which this writer would just as soon skip, but maybe you’ll enjoy it! Keep in mind this is a cash-only establishment, and locals say parking can be tough. Helena’s is worth those minor inconveniences, though.

3. The Surfing Pig

3605 Waialae Ave. Honolulu, HI 96816

Phone

: 1 (808) 744-1992 While Helena’s offers a more traditional menu of island classics, The Surfing Pig presents many of those same ingredients with an elevated twist. They encourage sharing appetizers and small plates, like the ahi poke tartar, sriracha fried rice, and flatbread pizza topped with their award-winning kalua. But if you’re not in a sharing mood, they also serve a number of fish and steak dishes, as well. Be sure to pair your meal with one of their signature craft cocktails. The Smoking Pig is a “smoked” Old Fashioned with bacon-infused bourbon and topped with crispy bacon. How can you pass that up?

4. Nico’s Pier 38

1129 N Nimitz Hwy. Honolulu, HI 96817

Phone

: 1 (808) 540-1377 Nico’s boasts having the freshest fish on the island. And given all the seafood restaurants in Honolulu, Hawaii, that’s no small claim. It’s a casual dining atmosphere where you order your grilled peppercorn swordfish or pan-seared ahi from the counter and seat yourself. If you sit outside on their spacious patio, you’ll have a great view of the harbor. If there are any non-seafood-lovers in your crew, there is no need to worry! Nico’s serves plenty of alternative options, like burgers, short ribs, and chicken alfredo.

TripAdvisor’s Top 3 Honolulu Restaurants Near Base

5. Poke Bar

226 Lewers St., Ste. L106 Honolulu, HI 96815

Phone

: 1 (808) 888-8616 During your posting at USCG Honolulu, you can’t miss an opportunity for some excellent, fresh poke. At Poke Bar, you can build your own poke bowls with whatever you like. Choose between ahi, salmon, spicy tuna, garlic shrimp, octopus, scallops, or tofu. From there, you can add anything from rice to pineapples to wasabi mayo. It’s a perfect spot for a light lunch.

6. La Mer

2199 Kalia Rd. Honolulu, HI 96815

Phone

: 1 (808) 923-2311 For a special night out, treat yourself to La Mer and their excellent French cuisine, located in the Halekulani hotel. La Mer is the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes 5-Star restaurant on the Islands, and it offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Their dinner menu features elegant French dishes that most can’t begin to pronounce but look delicious. If you’ve ever been curious about what foie gras tastes like, now’s your chance.

7. Uncle Bo’s Pupu Bar

559 Kapahulu Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815

Phone

: 1 (808) 735-8310 Uncle Bo’s Pupu Bar is a great option to split a bunch of pupus, a.k.a appetizers, with friends. Favorites among their pupu list include shrimp tossed in garlic aioli and parmesan panko, as well as their “Big Nachos,” topped with ham and kalua pork. There are plenty of pasta, meat, and seafood dishes if you’re still hungry after working your way through the apps menu. They have a generous cocktail menu, whether you want a specialty craft cocktail or something appropriate for Hawaii, like a mai tai.

Veteran-Owned Option Near Base

8. Tin Hut BBQ

1000 Kamehameha Hwy. Pearl Highlands Center Food Court Pearl City, HI 96782

Phone

: 1 (808) 492-6776 Owned and operated by Army Veteran Frank Diaz, Tin Hut BBQ serves all your favorite BBQ staples like Carolina-style pulled pork, Texas-style brisket, and Kansas City ribs. Any barbeque lover will find something to make their mouth water. Head to their brick-and-mortar location in Pearl City or stay on the lookout for one of their food trucks, which is how Frank got his start on Oahu.

Fast Food Restaurants in Honolulu

9. McDonald’s

414 N. School St. Honolulu, HI 96817

Phone

: 1 (808) 532-1590

10. Popeye’s

1515 Dillingham Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96817

Phone

: 1 (808) 841-4285

11. Taco Bell

615 Waiakamilo Ave. Honolulu, HI 96817

Phone

: 1 (808) 832-4546

12. Starbucks

130 Merchant St. Honolulu, HI 96813

Phone

: 1 (808) 585-8658

Italian Food: Honolulu

13. Brick Fire Tavern

3447 Waialae Ave. Honolulu, HI 96816

Phone

: 1 (808) 379-2430 Specializing in wood-fired pizzas, Brick Fire is the place to go when you want to treat yourself to something a little better than regular ol’ delivery. Their oven cooks at 900 degrees, and the pies are ready in only 90 seconds, meaning you can expect fast service from the time you order. The Mamma Mia pizza is a local favorite, topped with soppressata, pancetta, pork sausage, red onions, and hot peppers. Pair that with a draft beer, and you’re good to go. Still hungry? You won’t be sorry you ordered a Nutella calzone.

Mediterranean Food: Honolulu

14. Mary’s Mediterranean Kitchen

Moanalua 99 Food Court 1151 S Mapunapuna St., Ste. 8 Honolulu, HI 96819

Phone

: 1 (808) 839-7777 Founded by Lebanese-born Varouj Artinjian, Mary’s Mediterranean Kitchen delivers all you can ask for when the craving for falafel, a lamb kebab, or a chicken shawarma gyro hits. Plates come with hummus, salad, rice, and pita bread.

Vietnamese Food: Honolulu

15. Ha Long Pho Noodle House

1414 Dillingham Blvd., Ste. 101 Honolulu, HI 96817

Phone

: 1 (808) 845-3687 If you want Asian food, Honolulu won’t disappoint no matter what specific cuisine you’re craving. One such spot is Ha Long Pho Noodle House. Definitely do like the sign says and order a bowl of delicious pho, but if it’s a particularly warm Hawaiian day, they also serve banh mi (a popular Vietnamese sandwich) as well as rice plates.

Conclusion

We hope this guide proves useful as you explore restaurants in Honolulu, Hawaii, during your new posting. Moving is a stressful experience for everyone, but a good meal with good friends is a welcome respite from those hassles. We recommend asking friends and neighbors what some of their favorite local eateries are. Enjoy your time in Honolulu and USCG Base Hawaii!