Best Dinner Spots Near The Ko Olina Resorts
Let me start by saying, I am not any kind of expert on food, except for the fact that I love to eat yummy food and enjoy it with my husband! LOL I am an expert in taking family, seniors, and couples photos though, and I love to do so in Ko Olina. This blog post came to mind because one of the top questions I get from my clients after a session is, “Where is your favorite place to eat dinner nearby?”
So, I am super excited to share some of the best dinner spots that are in and close by to the Ko Olina Resorts. I am breaking these restaurants up into three categories: resort restaurants, restaurants in Ko Olina, and restaurants that are close by. Hopefully, this is helpful to you if you are planning a vacation here or currently staying in Ko Olina and need an idea of where to eat! I hope you enjoy.
Resort Restaurants
Minas Fish House - Nestled on the beach on the lagoon side of the Four Seasons resort is Mina’s Fish House. Mina’s is a modern and elevated take on a traditional Hawaiian fish house style restaurant. They have amazing seafood options, but also have some great other protein and vegetarian options for those not into seafood. Mina’s has a great atmosphere and great views of the lagoon.
Noe - Also located in the Four Seasons resort is the Italian restaurant called Noe. Noe is known for elegant Italian dishes and an even more spectacular experience. Some tables have great views of the garden inside of the Four Seasons, but honestly there's not a bad seat in the restaurant. Noe is perfect for a date night or to celebrate a special occasion.
The Olelo Room - The Olelo Room is located within Aulani, the Disney resort. Olelo Room is more casual and offers a great mix of Hawaiian fusion dishes. You can enjoy the sights and sounds of the Disney resort while enjoying great food. This would be the most kid friendly option of the resort restaurants.
Longhis - Longhis began as a humble restaurant based on Front street in Lahaina, Maui. The restaurant grew with much popularity and now has a dedicated location in the Marriott Beach Club in Ko Olina. Longhis has great options and takes inspiration from many different cultures in its menu. Longhis would make for a wonderful date night or with the whole family.
Restaurants in Ko Olina
Roys - Yes, you heard it right. This is the restaurant featuring the recipes of THE Roy Yamaguchi. Roys has over 30 locations so you may have heard of it or been to one before. You can expect excellent Japanese and American dishes. This location is nestled along the Ko Olina golf course and has amazing service. If we are going out for a fancy dinner, this is where we are headed!
Monkeypod Kitchen - Monkeypod Kitchen was created by Peter Merriman, a pillar in the Hawaiian cuisine culture. Monkeypod has a big focus on sourcing food locally and working with local farmers to create menus that are always sure to “wow” you. Monkeypod also features a more casual environment and is very kid friendly. We love going here at Happy Hour for the $10 pizzas and discounted pupus.
Mekiko Cantina - Mekiko is a favorite for a lot of people with its Mexican inspired dishes. Even if you don't eat here, it's worth walking by just for the smells! From fajitas to margaritas, Mekiko is a solid choice.
808 Craft House - 808 Craft House focuses on two things. Great drinks and farm to table menus. They do both very well! 808 Craft is going to be your Hawaiian style pub that has a great selection of alcohol and food choices for everyone!
Restaurants Close By
Moani Island Bistro - Moanis offers family style Hawaiian cuisine that is meant to be shared with the whole table. Moanis is about a 10 minute drive from Ko Olina and is located in Oahu's second largest outdoor mall. Great option for family dining and has plenty of things to do close by in the Ka Makana Alii Shopping Center.
Kalapawai Cafe - Also known as the “green cafe”. Kalapawai Cafe started as a small beach cafe located in Kailua and grew to be a favorite all throughout Oahu. Now with its close to Ko Olina location in Kapolei, it has a full dinner menu that is really good and more affordable.
Village Bottle Shop - Village bottle shop is a really fun small restaurant with a very big drink selection. Close by in Kapolei Commons it features tons of local beers and has a small but mighty food menu. They also host trivia nights and other events so be on the lookout for those.
Earl - This is one of my husband and I’s favorite places to go for a yummy dinner. It may be because we are from the East Coast and they specialize in East Coast subs or just that they have insanely good food. They sell subs, burgers, and chicken sandwiches. The real highlight (at least for me) is that they sell fries too! Many sub shops only sell potato chips and that hurts my heart haha. Lastly, they have amazing frozen custard! Earl is also located at Ka Makana Alii Shopping Center, about 10 minutes from Ko Olina.
Alright! I think you have an option for every night of the week now? What do you think? Which place are you going to try or return back to? Let me know in the comments!
If this post was helpful and you’d like to hear my breakfast and lunch options, let me know in the comments too.
Thanks for being here! If you are looking for family photos on Oahu and think I might be a good fit for you, I would love to chat! You can email me or click the button below. I would be honored to capture your memories so that you can relive them later.
Aloha always,
Megan