In recent years, Oʻahu’s brunch scene has taken off, with dozens of local restaurants dishing up creative takes on traditional breakfast fare, from lilikoʻi pancakes to specialty loco moco—all paired with a POG mimosa.
Of course, there are the local institutions that have been serving breakfast to generations of hungry locals.
Oʻahu is dotted with great breakfast and brunch spots. Some are local gems, while others are Insta-famous. Here are the top five, according to our readers.
1. Eggs ‘n Things
Photo: Courtesy of Eggs ‘n Things
Since 1974, Eggs ‘n Things has been serving locals and visitors alike. The restaurant first opened in Waikīkī and became a mainstay thanks to its generous portions and laid-back atmosphere. Today, the eatery has four locations on Oʻahu, along with a location Japan and one in Guam.
Popular dishes include the restaurant’s fluffy pancakes topped with a rainbow of fruit and whipped cream, the classic loco moco, eggs Benedict and Portuguese sausage and eggs.
2. Liliha Bakery
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
The beloved Liliha Bakery is a favorite among local families on Oʻahu. The bakery opened in 1950 in Liliha and has become a go-to spot for fresh-baked pastries. Today, the business boasts six locations across the island, with a menu full of comforting breakfast staples, including omelets, loco moco and waffles.
3. Koko Head Café
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Chef Lee Anne Wong’s Koko Head Café has become a defining destination in Oʻahu’s brunch scene. In her typical style, Wong crafted a clever menu of breakfast items that highlight local ingredients and the Islands’ cuisine. The breakfast bibimbap combines Korean ingredients and flavors: crispy garlic rice, soy-mirin shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, gochujang, kimchi with Portuguese sausage and bacon. It’s all served in one hot skillet.
You can also get cornflake-crusted French toast and tempura-fried shoyu chicken served with French-style scrambled eggs.
4. Cinnamon’s Restaurant
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Tucked in Kailua, Cinnamon’s Restaurant serves all your breakfast favorites: fluffy omelets, loco moco, French toast and a variety of eggs Benedicts. But the pancakes are standouts. The red velvet and guava chiffon versions are among the restaurant’s signature pancakes, served with housemade honey butter.
5. Waiʻoli Kitchen & Bake Shop
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
The Waiʻoli Tea Room opened in 1922 as a vocational training facility for the orphans housed at the Salvation Army Girls Home. The Waiʻoli Tea Room served breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. At one point, it attracted hundreds of guests every day from around the world.
Today, the Waiʻoli Kitchen & Bake Shop continues to be mission-driven, providing vocational training for graduates of substance abuse treatment programs and individuals recently released from incarceration. Serving breakfast and lunch six days a week, you can enjoy breakfast sandwiches, banana macadamia nut pancakes and short rib loco moco.
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