DINING

In Hawaii, you can get all the fresh seafood your heart desires. In many restaurants, it is hook to plate. Oahu offers many fine seafood venues to appease your love of oceanic cuisine.

Also, if you are inclined to visit destinations where fine dining is on the world-wide radar, we suggest this location.

Whether you would like to try local dishes or more conventional options, we have highlighted five exemplary seafood restaurants you may wish to consider on your Oahu travels:

Waiolu Ocean Cuisine

Waiolu Ocean Cuisine offers a seafood dinner menu with the freshest of seafood including lobster, Alaskan king crab legs, Kona Abalone, and Moi fish, or Pacific Threadfin. You can dine in an intimate and romantic setting for two, or have a gathering of family and friends while watching a beautiful Hawaiian sunset over Fort DeRussy Park and the ocean. At Waiolu there is also sushi including traditional nigiri and new wave maki sushi options using the freshest catch sourced from the Pacific. For some lively libations, experience the “Liquid Artistry of Waiolu” – handcrafted specialty cocktails made from the finest and freshest local ingredients, including the signature Ilikea’s Mai Tai, awarded the World’s Best Mai Tai in 2011. Watch a spectacular aerial fireworks display over Waikiki Beach every Friday from the terrace of this open-air restaurant located on the 6th floor level of Trump International Hotel Waikiki.

We recommend: The North Shore roll to start. Made with garlic shrimp, avocado, kampachi, garlic aioli and kabayaki sauce. For your main, we suggest the lobster miso ramen with fresh lobster, soft cooked egg, gai lan, tonkotsu lobster brother and shitake mushrooms or the roasted Pacific sea bass with kabocha squash, bekana, yuzu shichimi dressing. The macadamia cake with marinated pineapple, rum and coconut gelato is a definite must-try for dessert.

Hoku’s

Hoku's at The Kahala Hotel & Resort is heralded for its tantalizing menu featuring global Hawaiian cuisine. Open nightly for dinner and for its famous TeiHoku Sunday brunch, the menu draws on Executive Chef Jonathan Mizukami's Michelin-starred experience blending classic French technique with bold local flavors. Dining at Hoku’s is an elevated, extraordinary sensory experience. Elegant and refined, yet comfortable and relaxed, grounded in the Legacy of The Kahala.

We recommend: The Grand Tasting menu which includes pickled Kahala featuring caviar, crème fraîche, dill, caraway melba and Maui olive oil; sweet white Hawaiian canoe potato Agnolotti; lobster luau stew; tomato salad; confit of Hawaiian bigeye; Pipikaula with braised caraflex cabbage, potatoes and thousand island gastrique; Pavlova and Ku’ia estate chocolate tart.

Oahu is such a majestic island and it stands to reason many luxury travelers choose to stay here during their Hawaiian vacations. Villa Ariadne is one of the most amazing Oahu luxury homes imaginable. When staying in this magnificent beachfront home you will be able to enjoy a show-stopping garden of tropical delights with a Zen-like waterfall feature in a serene, personal oasis. A poolside cabana presents alfresco dining options. The home also includes an outdoor hot tub, BBQ, cinema room, gym, library and a state-of-the-art sound system.

Duke’s Canoe Club

Duke’s in Waikiki is the beachfront destination for fresh, island-inspired fare including a daily catch of some of the best fresh Pacific seafood, along with hand-cut premium steaks. Here is where Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku grew up swimming, surfing, canoeing and bodysurfing. In 1929, Duke rode a monster wave for 1-1/8 miles at Waikiki, likely the longest ride in modern times. You know the image in your mind of Waikiki Beach, the one with Diamond Head in the distance and outrigger canoes in a turquoise bay of warm water? It’s real and it’s at Duke’s every moment, making for a superb dining ambiance.

We recommend: For your pupu (appetizer) our choice is poke tacos with fresh raw ahi, shoyu, Maui onions, chili flakes, avocado and wasabi aioli. For a main, we suggest Duke’s favorite sautéed macadamia nut and herb crusted fresh fish dusted with parmesan and panko bread crumbs, served with lemon caper butter and herbed jasmine farro rice or slow-cooked mango BBQ pork ribs with mango BBQ sauce, Yukon gold mashed potatoes and sesame slaw. Without a doubt, you must try Duke’s famous hula pie – chocolate cookie crust, macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge, toasted macadamia nuts and whipped cream.

Nico’s at Pier 38

Nico’s brands itself as having the freshest fish in town and it’s no surprise since it is right across from the daily fish auction. The upscale, but easy ambiance is elevated with an eclectic array of local musicians playing every night. French-born owner Nico Chaize came to Hawaii as a foreigner, but Hawaii soon became his home. He attends the fish auction at 5:30 in the morning each day, hand-selecting fish for the day's special and for the in-house fish market where guests can purchase fresh items.

We recommend: We can’t decide which appetizers to try, so why not get the best? Garlic pesto shrimp, French fries drizzled with truffle oil, spicy edamame and fried calamari. The poke sampler is a delicious choice featuring limu, shoyu and spice poke dishes. For the entrée, we suggest Furikake pan-seared ahi coated with Japanese dried seaweed and sesame seeds then cooked to order, from rare to well done and served with Nico’s ginger garlic cilantro dip or green peppercorn and five herb marinated grilled swordfish served with sauce vierge and mashed potatoes. Try the praline crunch and dark chocolate mousse tart with chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert.

Orchids

This oceanside restaurant has the most outstanding view of Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach. It is decorated with a profusion of colorful orchids and creative seafood specialties are presented in an elegant manner. The cuisine celebrates sophisticated flavors of coastal Italian regions. Chef de Cuisine, Christian Testa, infused his own distinctive flair to create signature dishes. Ingredients used at Orchids are sourced from across the Hawaiian Islands, including Kahuku prawns, scallops and avocados.

We recommend: The citrus-marinated Hamachi, orange supreme sea asparagus and pressed watermelon to start. We also suggest a mid-course of Carnaroli risotto, prawns, red bell pepper and asparagus tips. For your main, try the Hawaiian sea bass, asparagus flan with lemon-caper sauce or the grilled octopus Gallega style with red bell pepper, onion, roasted potatoes, cauliflower purée and smoked paprika. For dessert, try the tiramisu wrapped in a chocolate ball with a gold leaf.

Trusting LVH with your travel plans means you can be sure we will get you into the finest dining establishments at the finest tables for whatever type of cuisine you desire. We invite you to reach out to one of our client relations professionals who will begin planning your getaway to Oahu where you will stay in a luxurious, private home complete with full services and 24/7 support. Your vacation includes a tailored itinerary reflecting your vacation dreams. We fashion your itinerary knowing your time is precious. We work diligently ensuring every moment of your time away creates magical memories that will last forever!