On a rainy north shore day, after a long hike, or just when the craving hits somewhere around 7pm — ramen is the answer. Oʻahu’s noodle scene has grown into one of the best in the country, and we’re not only talking about the Japanese imports. We’ve got tonkotsu that rivals anything in Tokyo, saimin that’s been passed down for generations, and late-night spots that know exactly what you need after pau hana.
We’ve been slurping our way around this island for years so you don’t have to guess. Here are the best ramen spots on Oʻahu — organized by area — with every address, hour, price, and practical detail you need to make it happen.
Quick Reference Links
Goma Tei Ramen | Lucky Belly | Momosan Waikīkī
Rai Rai Ramen (Kailua) | Palace Saimin | Shiro’s Saimin Haven
🍜 Best Ramen in Honolulu & Town
Honolulu has the deepest concentration of ramen spots on the island — from mall counters with lines down the food court to late-night izakaya bars tucked into Chinatown alleys. These are our consistent go-tos.
Goma Tei Ramen — Oʻahu’s Most Reliable Bowl
If there’s one ramen shop that’s woven into the fabric of everyday Oʻahu eating, it’s Goma Tei. The name means ‘sesame pavilion,’ and the tan tan (sesame-based) ramen delivers on every level — rich and nutty broth with just the right amount of heat. Goma Tei has multiple locations across the island, so you’re never far from a solid bowl.
The Ala Moana location is the most convenient, right inside the center’s dining level. The Kahala location tends to have shorter waits. Both serve the same consistently excellent menu, with prices that make it an easy yes on any budget.
📍 1450 Ala Moana Blvd (Ala Moana Center), Honolulu, HI 96814
📍 4211 Waialae Ave, Suite G07 (Kahala Mall), Honolulu, HI 96816
💰 Cost: ~$11–$16 per bowl | 🅿️ Ala Moana Center parking (first 3 hrs free) | Kahala Mall (free)
🕐 Ala Moana: Mon–Sat 11am–9:30pm, Sun 11am–9pm
🕐 Kahala: Mon–Sat 11am–9pm, Sun 11am–8:30pm
📋 Order online: Goma Tei Ala Moana on Uber Eats
Lucky Belly — Chinatown’s Best Kept Ramen Bar
Lucky Belly isn’t your standard ramen shop — it’s a full dining experience tucked into the heart of Honolulu’s Chinatown arts district. The interior is moody and cool, the sake list is serious, and the ramen has a creative edge you won’t find at any mall spot.
The pork belly ramen is the signature move — braised belly, rich broth, perfectly marinated soft egg. Lunch is low-key; dinner is when the vibe comes alive. And Thursday through Saturday, there’s a late-night takeout window open until 2am, which tells you everything you need to know about this place.
📍 50 N Hotel St, Honolulu, HI 96817
💰 Cost: ~$15–$22 per bowl | 🅿️ Street parking or Chinatown parking garages nearby
🕐 Mon–Tue 5–10pm | Wed–Thu 11am–2pm & 5–10pm | Fri 11am–2pm & 5–11pm | Sat 5–11pm | Sun Closed
🌙 Late-Night Takeout Window: Thu–Sat until 2am
🌐 Website: luckybellyhi.com
Momosan Waikīkī — Chef Morimoto’s Ramen (Yes, It’s Worth It)
Yes, the address is Kalakaua Ave in Waikīkī. Yes, you’ll be walking past tourists. But Momosan earns its place on this list because it’s genuinely one of the best bowls on the island — Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s ramen concept delivers the kind of quality you’d expect from someone who treats every ingredient seriously.
Tonkotsu, Tokyo chicken, spicy tan tan, and a standout tsukemen (dipping noodles) round out the menu. The vegan spicy miso has earned a serious following too. Prices are fair for the quality and location. It’s a great option for meeting visitors in Waikīkī who want something real.
📍 2490 Kalakaua Ave (Alohilani Resort), Honolulu, HI 96815
💰 Cost: ~$16–$24 per bowl | 🅿️ Alohilani Resort parking or metered street parking
🕐 Daily 11am–9pm
🌐 Website: momosanramen.com/restaurants/waikiki
Related: 50 Best Places to Eat on Oʻahu | Best Places to Eat in Waikīkī
🌊 Best Ramen on the Windward Side — Kailua
Spending the day at Kailua Beach, Lanikai, or making the Pali run? Don’t head back without stopping for a bowl. The windward side has a local gem that’s been holding it down for over two decades.
Rai Rai Ramen — Kailua’s 20-Year Local Institution
Ask any Kailua local where to eat ramen and the answer is Rai Rai — end of discussion. This family-owned spot has been serving the windward side for over 20 years, and every bowl shows it. The broth is the kind of creamy, slow-cooked tonkotsu that takes all day to make properly. The soft-boiled eggs are perfectly marinated. The chashu melts. Nothing is phoned in here.
The menu covers all the essentials — spicy miso, spicy beef, house ramen, curry ramen — plus fried rice and katsu combos if you’re feeding hungry keiki. Online ordering is available for pickup.
📍 124 Oneawa St, Kailua, HI 96734
💰 Cost: ~$12–$18 per bowl | 🅿️ Street parking on Oneawa St
🕐 Daily 11am–8:30pm
📋 Order Online: rairairamenhi.com
Related: 10 Best Places to Eat on the North Shore | Oʻahu Travel Guide
🥣 Saimin — Hawaiʻi’s Own Noodle (Don’t Skip This)
Before mainland ramen culture arrived in force, Hawaiʻi had saimin — a uniquely local noodle soup born out of the plantation era, blending Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and Korean influences into one deeply satisfying bowl. Thin wheat noodles in a clean dashi-based broth, topped with green onion, fish cake, and char siu or Spam. It’s humble, honest, and it’s ours.
If you’re showing visitors around or new to the islands yourself, saimin is one of the most meaningful food experiences you can have on Oʻahu. These two spots are the real deal.
Palace Saimin — A Living Piece of Oʻahu History
Palace Saimin has been on N. King Street in Kalihi since 1946. The recipe hasn’t changed. The broth is still made the original way — pork and dried shrimp, simmered low and slow. The won tons are still hand-wrapped. The barbecue sticks (tri-tip, grilled fresh on the original grill) are some of the best bites anywhere on the island.
This is the kind of place where three generations of the same family sit down at the same table they’ve been coming to for decades. Go for the saimin, stay for the won ton min, and get a barbecue stick on the side. Cash friendly, local to the core.
📍 1256 N King St, Honolulu, HI 96817
💰 Cost: ~$7–$13 per bowl | 🅿️ Small lot on site
🕐 Tue–Fri 10am–8pm | Sat 10am–3pm | Sun–Mon Closed
🌐 Website: palacesaimin.com
Shiro’s Saimin Haven — 60+ Options, All of Them Ono
Shiro’s is less a restaurant and more of an institution. Over 60 different saimin varieties on the menu sounds overwhelming until you realize that the base broth is so clean and consistent that almost anything you order will be right. The Waimalu location in ʻAiea is the original, open seven days a week from early morning — a rare find.
Look for the oyster saimin, the oxtail saimin, and the classic regular with barbecue sticks on the side. There’s also an Ewa Beach location on the west side for those making the drive.
📍 98-020 Kamehameha Hwy (Waimalu Shopping Center), ʻAiea, HI 96701
📍 91-919 Fort Weaver Rd, Ewa Beach, HI 96706
💰 Cost: ~$7–$12 per bowl | 🅿️ Waimalu Shopping Center (free)
🕐 Daily 7am–9pm (Waimalu) | Check Ewa Beach location for hours
🌐 Website: shiros-saimin.com
Related: 10 Foods You Must Try in Hawaiʻi | 101 Things to Do in Hawaiʻi
🤙 Local Tips Before You Go
Show up early or late. Peak dinner hours (6–7:30pm) fill up fast at the best spots. Arrive before 5:30pm or after 8pm to avoid the wait.
Saimin ≠ ramen. They’re cousins, not twins. Saimin broth is clean and delicate; ramen broth is richer and more intense. Both are worth your time — try one of each.
Add the toppings. Soft-boiled marinated egg, extra chashu, nori, bamboo shoots — these aren’t extras, they’re the way the bowl is supposed to be eaten. Budget a couple extra dollars and go all in.
Bring cash to the old-school spots. Palace Saimin and a few of the older saimin shops are cash-preferred. Keep some on hand.
Rainy days are ramen days. Oʻahu gets showers — especially on the windward side and in the mountains. When the trade winds kick in and the temperature drops, a bowl of ramen hits completely different.
More from Wanderlustyle
50 Best Places to Eat on Oʻahu (Local’s Guide)
10 Best Places to Eat on the North Shore
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