Let’s be honest. No matter where in the world you’re visiting from, a trip to Hawaii doesn’t come cheap and food is one of those travel expenses that sneaks up on you. Because eating out in Hawaii is very expensive! It probably has to do with the fact that Hawaii is a remote island chain in the middle of the world’s largest ocean.
Eating on a budget can be a bit challenging but doable if you know the tricks. These are my top tips and ideas on how to save money on food in Hawaii, in particular on Oahu, without sacrificing the chance to enjoy some wonderful Hawaiian cuisine and local flavours!
1. Dine during Happy Hour
Happy Hour is a time-honoured tradition in Hawaii where restaurants and bars offer food and drinks at discounted prices most every day. The trick is to be seated and order before Happy Hour ends. This is a great way to try some tasty pupus (appetizers) and drinks for cheap!
2. Skip the alcohol at restaurants
If you’re one to indulge on alcohol while vacationing, it is much cheaper to buy it at a grocery store than ordering individual drinks at a restaurant. You can pick up a pre-dinner or post-dinner alcoholic drink at a grocery store or ABC Store for only a few bucks! Same goes for soft drinks.
Photo courtesy of Yelp
3. Use coupons
You can find coupons online or in popular tour magazines offered at tourist kiosks in many venues. We used Oahu’s Best Coupons, mini coupon books found in the brochure bins along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. Offers range from a free drink to 15% off the entire bill so take advantage of these free coupons to get a discount on your meals!
4. Order take out
Ordering take out will save you at the minimum 15%, the amount you typically leave for tips when dining out. Some restaurants may also be offering promotional discounts on a pickup or delivery order, like get $10 off when you order $50 or more, so stack those discounts!
5. Food truck venues
The food truck scene is thriving in Hawaii so you won’t have to look far for one of them. Food trucks offer cheap alternative and tasty options that can be eaten on the go. Some food trucks are stationary and can be found at the same spot most days like Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck while others are mobile and set up shop at different locations and times.
Fair warning, only a few food trucks accept credit cards, many are cash only.
Photo courtesy of Flickr
6. Eat at the malls
We were surprised to find food courts in malls offer a variety of specialty and local flavours at a fraction of the price we would pay at a sit down restaurant. The best part is that we didn’t have to limit ourselves to a single cuisine. For one meal, I had Japanese for my appetizer, Italian for my main course and Thai for dessert for less than $20!
7. Buy prepared foods at local markets
Check out local markets and the ABC Store for quick grab-and-go food items that you can take back to your hotel or to the beach for a picnic. These markets prepare fresh deli-style food daily and offer plenty of budget-friendly hot and cold food options. For example, poke bowls are usually less than $10 compared to the $15 or so you will pay elsewhere.
Musubi, aka spam sushi, is a must try!
Photo courtesy of Yelp
8. Make your own meals
If you have a condo or your hotel room has a kitchen, take advantage of making your own meals. You can save a ton of money by making just one meal each day. We opted to make our own breakfast most mornings—simple things that require very little preparation like cereal, instant oatmeal, frozen pancakes, toast—and saved hundreds of dollars over two weeks!
I hope these tips help you save money (on food, at least!) on your next family trip to Hawaii!
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