Kailua is one of my favorite towns on the island of Oahu. It has the famous Lanikai Pillboxes Hike, beautiful blue waters, and of course, a ton of healthy and delicious food. I recently spent a perfect day with Jarden and our dog Buddy, eating our way though some of the best places to eat in Kailua.

The majority of these places are more for breakfast, lunch, and snacking – Kailua is a brunch town in my opinion! (This theory can be validated -When I asked a Kailua local where she and her family often ate for dinner, I was told they just frequented Whole Foods lol.) I love having breakfast in Kailua – these are some of the best Oahu restaurants!

12 Places To Eat In Kailua

Over Easy Kailua

One of the newer establishments on the list, I fell head over heels with this charming spot! They serve imaginative breakfast dishes all day long, with many locally sourced ingredients added in the mix. Plus, all of the dishes are beautiful to look at!

Learn More: Over Easy Kailua

The Curb Kailua

My friend told me about how much she loved this place, and I got to admit it has it’s appeal. It’s quaint, a hub for wifi-searching laptop users, and one of the only coffee dedicated shops in Kailua. (There’s a Starbucks, as well as the Target Starbucks, but I try to expand my foodie horizons as much as possible lol.)

Cactus Kailua

If you’re looking for a happy hour, this is the place! The appetizers are good, but my Sunday got kicked up a notch with their fruity cocktails and delicious frozen margaritas.

Nalu Kailua

Nalu health bar serves up amazing acai bowls, sandwiches, and refreshing smoothies. The acai bowl is Jarden’s favorite, mine is their ahi salad!

Lanikai Juice

Lanikai Juice is one of our favorites, and actually has a couple other stores on the island. Still had to include it though – it’s the original store after all!

The Local Kailua

I couldn’t forget shave ice now could I? What makes this shave ice special is their homemade syrups. With flavors like Kula Strawberry and Kona Orange, their locally sourced products give them a taste profile you won’t find at many other shave ice shops.

Crepes No Ka Oi

A local favorite, this place makes some of the best crepes on the island. They caramelize the sugar just enough to where parts of the crepe is crunchy, which I really like over the typical soft crepes. With sweet and savory options, you’ll have trouble choosing just one.

Boot’s and Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen

This place is famous, and therefore always crowded so be prepared to wait if you eat here. Known for their macadamia nut sauce, you’ll be wishing you could bottle the creamy topping and take it back home with you.

Honorable Mentions:

Hale Kealoha Restaurant – known for their Hawaiian food
Kono’s – known for their breakfast & sandwiches
Moke’s Bread and Breakfast – known for their lilikoi pancakes
Cinnamon’s – known for their red velvet pancakes

What are some of your favorite places to eat in Kailua?