Whether your meeting you’re a friend for a lunch date, bringing your sailor food while they are on duty or (like me) living in the Navy Lodge for 30+ days, Aiea / Pearl City has so many food options within a 15 minute radius.
Here are some of our favorite places to eat or grab take out:
Da Seafood Cartel
98-380 Kamehameha Hwy, Aiea, HI 96701
(808) 762-0044
Open 11am-7pm
Serving Sonora style seafood, tacos, and ceviche in a relaxed atmosphere. From tostadas, fresh ceviche and mouth watering tacos there is something for everyone. The establishment serves drinks but like many other Oahu restaurants it is BYOB.
Makoto Sushi
99-115 Aiea Heights Drive #227 (2nd Level of Aiea Shopping Center)
(808) 722-9711
Open Mon-Sat 10am-2pm
A local favorite serving massive sushi rolls! The rolls are truly 3x the size of regular sushi roll and are packed seafood. Rolls are categorized into Tempura Rolls, Spicy Lover rolls, Fresh Fish Rolls and Makoto Special Rolls. You have to try the fresh handmade mandoo (pan fried Korean dumplings) too! Tables are available for casual seating and phone orders can be taken as early as 9am.
Timmy T’s
930 Valkenburgh St (Moanalua Shopping Center)
(808) 737-3333
Open Mon-Sun
Serving fast fresh gourmet grinders perfect for a quick lunch or to pack up for a beach day. All bread is made fresh in store daily and meats / cheeses are sliced in store daily. My favorite is the Club Kailua (Roasted Turkey, Provolone cheese, Avocado Spread, Cucumbers, Sprouts). You can order a grinder without the bread in a low carb lettuce wrap. They even make sandwiches for the little ones with sandwiches on a Hawaiian style roll with meat and/or cheese only.
Liliha Bakery – Pearl Highlands
1000 Kamehameha Hwy #210
(808) 455-1188
Open 7am-10pm
Liliha Bakery is a full-service bakery and coffee shop that has built a loyal following since opening its doors in 1950. With island favorites like Loco Moco to my daughters favorite banana hot cakes there is something on the menu for everyone. The bakery is stocked full of tasty treats perfect to bring to a potluck or Hale and Farewell.
Big Kahuna’s Pizza
550 Paiea St
(808) 833-5588
Open M-F 10am-9pm; Sat & Sun 11am-9pm
Big Kahuna’s Pizza first opened its doors in 1994. Originally located in a tiny green shack on Pualoa Rd in Mapunapuna, They moved to their current location on Paiea St. in 2007. Their dough is made in house daily. The pizzas, sandwiches and our world famous garlic cheese balls (you have to try!) are all made to order. Their milkshakes are also the perfect post hike or beach day treat. My husband loves the meat lovers (Pepperoni, bacon, kalua pork, Italian sausage, ham, Portuguese sausage, & beef brisket) I love the BBQ chicken pizza. Make sure to check out their daily deal of buy one 12” pizza get the second pizza ½ off. You can combine that deal with their military discount giving you two pizza’s for under $35. (*vegan options are available).
For more restaurant ideas, check out our date night round-up, favorite shaved ice shops, guide to signature Hawaiian dishes and more.