Healthy in Oahu

[sasha1]

I'll be travelling to Oahu in 2 weeks with family. At least 3 of us are watching our weight or losing weight. In an attempt to not derail these diets completely while we're there, I'm seeking recommendations for the best healthy spots (or spots with good healthy options) on the island. We're based in Honolulu, but will be traveling here there and everywhere I imagine. Budget is preferably not too steep and atmosphere family friendly (6 adults, 3 kids 9, 6, 2). Farmer's markets are great for eating fruit, but we don't have any cooking facilities. We could probably hit up a park for dinner on the grill sometimes, but that invariably takes longer than it seems it should. So I'm looking for recs for every meal.

So specifically, breakfast options that include fruit, eggs, oatmeal, maybe smoothies. Lunch and dinner spots that that feature lots of produce, lean proteins, salads, soups, whole grains, etc. Thank you so very much!

[sasha1]

Thanks thanks thanks to all of you!

[sasha1]

Thanks to Macaraca and Killersmile for the suggestions. What about healthy and walkable from the eastern edge of Waikiki. I'd like to get a few of those options as well.

A couple of the places I've looked up - like the ones in Manoa, are a definite drive to - are they destination places, or is there much sightseeing to be done in those neighborhoods?

[killersmile]

None of the places i mentioned are destination spots. They are just affordable comfortable neighborhood spots. For instance, Andy's Sandwiches is just a very tiny hole in the wall take-out sandwich shop. There isn't anything to see in Manoa, unless you are interested in roaming around the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus. To me, destination dining would be places like Alan Wong's or Chef Mavro type places that are high-end. As a note, any of the better restaurants should be able to accomodate any dietary requests you have, but I don't think that was in the price range you were thinking of. For an example you can check out this article which I found interesting: http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honol...

There are a lot of asian restaurants, in particular japanese restaurants in the waikiki area which should fit your requirement. I tend to think of japanese food as healthy since they have dishes that use a lot of vegetables, fish, and chicken. They do tend to have a lot of starches/carbohydrates as well though, such as rice and noodles which you may be trying to avoid. Another option could be the select/cook your own hot pot places that seem to be popping up everywhere.

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Alan Wong's Restaurant
1857 S King St Fl 3, Honolulu, HI 96826

Chef Mavro restaurant
1969 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96826

[sasha1]

Ok - thanks for clarifying on the Manoa spots. I tend to avoid fancy white linen spots when I am travelling with the kids. It's just not worth it on a variety of levels. I agree with you on the Japanese places - sushi and sashimi are always good bets. Any particular favorites of yours (again, mid range budget...)?

[killersmile]

For affordable bentos I like Kokoro-tei. Irifune is your standard old-school, been there forever japanese restaurant. Mr. Ojisan has your usual teishoku meals. I like Gazen as an affordable izakaya. They have happy hour drink and pupu specials, and they make their tofu fresh daily. These are just my choices for the Kapahulu area. There are many more in other areas.

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Irifune Restaurant
563 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Mr Ojisan Restaurant
1018 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816

Gazen Bar & Grill
2840 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96826

Izakaya Nonbei
3108 Olu St, Honolulu, HI 96816

Kokoro-tei Waikiki
2310 Kuhio Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Kokoro-tei
2424 S Beretania St, Honolulu, HI 96826

[KaimukiMan]

Diamond Head Market and South Shore Grill are both within walking distance of Waikiki, depending on your point of view. Both offer some fairly healthy meals. Da Spot is a bit further, especially from the east end of waikiki, but easy to get to on the #4 bus if you have a bus pass (week long passes avail at many ABC stores.) The #2 bus takes you very close to Peace Cafe and their sister restaurant "Loving Hut".

the farmer's market on Wednesday at Blaisdell Center (S. King & Ward) has many of the same vendors as the Sunday market, although fewer of them. It is worth a trip. Easy to get to on the #2 bus from Waikiki.

[killersmile]

I wouldn't really call it walking distance with the kids in tow unless you are by the zoo or Kapiolani Park since it is uphill. However I do agree with the choices as I like Diamond Head Market. There is also Pioneer Saloon and Diamond Head Cove Health Bar right there as well.

[KaimukiMan]

wasn't sure if 'eastern edge' of waikiki meant Kapahulu, or even further down by Kaimana Beach. Living here I don't consider anything further than 2 or maybe 3 blocks to be 'walking distance', but I've seen discussions where people swore that Nuuanu Avenue/Chinatown was walking distance from the Sheraton Waikiki.

[sasha1]

We're off Kapahulu.

[killersmile]

since you are off kapahulu, then that is reasonably close enough to consider it walking distance I guess. I see japanese tourists all the time walking from Waikiki to Leonard's Bakery for malasadas so walking distance means different things to different people.

[sasha1]

I looked up Da Spot online last night. I saw yelp posting saying both that it was incredibly dirty and unhygenic, and then saying it was closed. Any intel on these concerns?

[killersmile]

da spot just opened up at a different location earlier this year. it looks nice and clean to me. I think you were looking at the old review on yelp. They have another listing here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/da-spot-honolulu-3 and you can see pictures here: http://lunch-time.blogspot.com/2011/10/da-spots-new-digs-on-king-st.html and here: http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honol...

[sasha1]

What time is the Wed FM?

[killersmile]

if you are talking about the one at the blaisdell, it is from 4pm-7pm

[macaraca]

The one in Waikiki listed as Queen Kapiolani Park on the list previously mentioned is in the morning, 10-11am. Blaisdell in the afternoon puts you close to the Academy of Arts which is well worth a visit. They also usually have some good kids educational stuff related to current shows in a basement education area. They have a very nice lunch, in a courtyard, with fresh and local ingredients, but maybe a bit pricey for a family meal. Not sure if they have a kids menu, but the Pavilion Cafe is mainly salads and sandwiches, usually with a daily pasta choice and maybe something else as a hot entree.
http://www.honoluluacademy.org/

On a slightly different thread, if you walk (or bus)all the way up to the back of Diamond Head to do the climb to the summit...a very long walk with kids, but not a difficult one, with a faboulous view as payoff, you will pass the location of the Saturday KCC market. On weekdays, you could take advantage of their campus cafeteria which offers a wide range of things, including a salad bar, sandwiches, hot dishes, the works, all aimed at the college crowd, but open to the public. http://kapiolani.hawaii.edu/page/dining

KCC has a major culinary program but unfortunately, the nicer meal options ended today for the fall semester, but you might want to keep them in mind for a future visit. The culinary students prepare and serve a fine-dining, white tablecloth lunch and dinner in one building, and in the student center where the cafeteria is, they also offer a modest bistro type sit down menu, very reasonable, which by chance I tried yesterday. Since they don't pay rent, and the students are not paid, prices are excellent and the food usually quite good. Service can be spotty, especially when the semester starts.

The cafeteria fare doesn't match up, but is also reasonable and probably better than most college cafeteria fare. All of these have an incredible, million-dollar view looking out to the east to Koko Head, and if it is clear, to Moloka'i and Maui.

[sasha1]

Great ideas - thank you. We have a similar culinary type of school where they "practice" on the public for very modest prices and upscale dishes. For some reason, we haven't made it there yet. But the reservations go fast I hear.

[killersmile]

In addition to the good choices put forth by macaraca, Down to Earth and Umeke Market are other vegetarian/organic markets with delis/prepared foods that should have many healthy choices. Covenant Books and Coffee in Kaimuki has good sandwiches, salads and soups. You could also go to Cafe Laufer for sandwiches and salads, but it's hard to ignore the desserts while you are there. Also Andy's Sandwiches and Smoothies and Red Ginger Cafe in Manoa are good choices.

[sasha1]

Thank you! Usually on family get togethers, I'm the default eating out researcher, but I haven't felt much like doing it for this trip, being on a diet. But it sounds like there will be some good choices even within that limitation, so now I'm starting to get psyched about the meals over there. Plus, there is nothing better than a plate of that delicious pineapple and papaya for breakfast....

[macaraca]

Kokua Market on King St near the university has pretty healthy choices in it's deli, both sandwiches to go and a buffet of hot items, and always local fresh fruit in the grocery section. Open daily 8-8. It is a coop, so prices are reasonable. Outdoor seating is not very charming, as it is next to a busy alleyway and their parking lot, but the food is good.

On the edge of Waikiki is Diamond Head Market and Grill which offers fairly healthy fast food and plate lunch choices, and inside, nice salads and wonderful desserts, but Waikiki prices.

The very (too?) popular Saturday morning KCC farmer's market behind Diamond Head has a wide selection of prepared food choices in addition to wonderful produce. One of the healthiest may be Da Spot. Worth also checking their brick and mortar site at 2469 S King St. Mostly vegetarian, but usually some lamb or chicken dishes with middle east or asian flavors (husband is Egyptian, wife Japanese). Reasonable and delicious...no breakfast at King St, but at KCC they are usually serving at 7:30 am.

Peace Cafe also on King St is strictly vegetarian, lunch and dinner.

Honolulu has dozens of Vietnamese restaurants that offer Pho, the ubiquitous soup that can be fairly healthy, depending. Some places offer variations with chicken broth instead of the more typical beef. Most are fairly reasonable. One of the best things for a family may be to share a couple of orders of Pho (pronounced "fa") and a tray of summer rolls that you assemble yourself with rice paper wrappers and piles of lettuce, herbs, bean sprouts, and then choice of tofu, shrimp, chicken, etc. Check other postings for recs as there is active discussion about favorite Pho places. One we like is Pho One on Kapiolani Blvd near Ala Moana...large, clean, bright, and very busy at main meal hours.

[sasha1]

Thank you for all the ideas! I was thinking that as far as cuisines go, Asian ones might be ones to check out. Sushi/sashimi is usually fairly light - rice, but at least not lots of oil. Chinese can include some steamed dishes. Even the sauteed can be primarily protein plus veg, without the rice. So we are on the same wavelength. Spring rolls sound delicious. Pho may be a little stretch for some in our group - I would probably try them out on ramen before pho, but in any case...

I bet there are some great places on the island that do grilled fish or chicken, and some nice salads. Looking forward to other natives or recent visitors to chime in too.

[macaraca]

Spring rolls are usually fried. Summer rolls are usually raw.. Yes, there are ramen places that may meet your needs, and lots of good Chinese if you search this site for discussions of those genres.
Surprisingly, there are few good places specializing in salads...you would think otherwise, but except for the health food-type places, may be hard to find good ones at a good price. Maybe better to take advantage of the wonderful organic offerings at the KCC farmer's mkt and make your own.

A healthy plate lunch is available at Nico's Pier 38 (the commercial fishing pier), with fish fresh from the boat, served with a choice of organic greens, but probably running $9-10 for a meal. Wonderful food, especially, IMHO, the Furikake Ahi (sprinkled with a typical Japanese condiment mix featuring salty dry seaweed flakes and sesame seeds).

Unfortunately fresh fish, especially ahi is quite pricey,especially around the holidays, when rough seas hold down supply and the importance of having it for traditional New Years' parties boosts demand; prime sashimi grade can run well over $30/lb.

[sasha1]

Yep - you're right on the rolls - I must've had a short circuit upstairs for a moment. I will look into the chinese food threads, and also check out Nico's - that sounds good, and for fresh fish $10 per plate is not bad at all. I'll also have to check with the hotel re refrigerators - if they have minis, then we can make a go of it at the FM. We are getting to the island on a Monday though - so its a long wait to the Saturday market. Is there a mid week market?

When we were on Kauai last year, I was blown away at the quantity and freshness of the various fish pokes the grocery offered in its deli section - so we may check that out too. Thanks again for the advice.

[macaraca]

There are Farmers Markets and then there are "open markets." The famous KCC Saturday market is sponsored by the farm bureau and they have strict rules about only offering produce and products that are grown or produced locally. Some vendors do organic, most don't. See http://hfbf.org/markets/ for their other markets.

The city sponsors open markets rotating in different neighborhoods daily. Some produce is local, but some is coming out of boxes...apples, oranges, you name it. Still, for the local stuff, and even imported, prices are lower than super markets. See http://www1.honolulu.gov/parks/progra... for the list. The one in Waikiki on Wed is pretty good, in the parking lot on Monserrat past the Waikiki Shell, across from the back of the Zoo.

Similar offerings in Chinatown daily, some local, some imported, but well worth a visit just for the experience of it, and you can get breakfast or lunch on the same visit.

Lots of choices for poke...all the supermarkets offer it. Foodland, a local chain is highly regarded...search this site for other poke recs.

[honu2]

If you're staying near Kapahulu, you might want to check out the large Safeway on Kapahulu. It has an incredible amount of prepared foods for sale, such as cut up fruit, sushi, salads, as well as a deli which sells rotisserie chicken and made-to-order sandwiches. The fish section sells a lot that could be used for light meals, i.e, poke (eat with rice which you can now buy in cooked form in small dishes that can be microwaved); cooked shrimp, cooked soy beans as a low-cal snack