




Barefoot Beach Cafe
About
Oceanfront Dining at the Edge of Queen’s Surf
Steps away from the golden sands of Waikiki, Barefoot Beach Cafe offers an open-air escape where the sound of crashing waves serves as the permanent soundtrack. This casual, counter-service spot captures the quintessential Honolulu spirit, favoring salt-air breezes over white-tablecloth pretense. You grab your tray, find a picnic table, and watch the surfers catching their final waves as the sun dips behind the horizon.
Island Flavors with a View
The menu focuses on local comfort food that fits the tropical surroundings. The signature Kalua pork plate and fresh ahi poke bowls are staples for a reason, providing a hearty, no-fuss meal that tastes best after a morning in the water. Coffee drinkers often congregate here in the early hours to grab a Kona blend while watching the ocean wake up. The food is straightforward and unpretentious, designed for those who prefer to keep their sandals off while they eat.
A Local Perspective
Because the seating is entirely outdoors, be prepared for the unpredictable nature of island weather; a sudden mist can send patrons scrambling for cover under the umbrellas. The communal picnic tables mean you might end up sharing space with a local family or visitors from across the globe, adding to the bustling, communal energy. It is an ideal spot for anyone looking to bypass the polished resort restaurants in favor of a relaxed, authentic experience right on the Diamond Head side of the beach. Parking in the nearby lot can be a competitive sport during peak sunset hours, so arriving a bit early is highly recommended to secure your spot before the sky turns orange.
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Amenities & Features
Location
Queens Surf Beach Front, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96815
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Reviews
Showing 10 of 24 community reviewsKrish RaghunathGoogle Maps
Recently
The beautiful beachfront setting makes this an appealing place to eat. The food is adequate, but the fries were burnt and inedible. I thought it was a fluke the first time I came here, but they were equally burnt for my second visit. What’s more I had to shoo off pigeons who were aggressively trying to steal food both times. The service and ambience were both great. I just wish the food itself was more flavorful. The quesadilla came with salsa and cashew cheese, but no guacamole.
Britt McConnGoogle Maps
Recently
This place is exactly what you think it is. A beach side cafe with a little shade and some tasty tasty food. The portions are generous and the staff are friendly. Convenient for wet bodies and sandy feet when you just want a quick bite to eat or a smoothie. I was a little disappointed that the shrimp was peel your own but they are so jumbo and juicy it’s hard to complain.
Austin HildickGoogle Maps
Recently
Wow❗️ 10/10❗️ Was a bit expensive for everything we ordered. But keeo in mind, we ordered the pineapple smoothie drinks which explains the price. From my knowledge, this was one of the easiest places to find pineapple cups for smoothies. It was SO worth it! The food was absolutely incredible. Literally ever bite was perfect. The Kalua Pig Sanwhich, the Breakfast Pancakes, Fruit Bowl, Fresh Smoothies, and the Shrimp Plate was bomb! Despite the price, we would totally go back again. Being able to have the beach at our backs and watching the surfers catch waves was a total plus! AND there was live music. It was the perfect stop in paradise for good food, good waves, and lovely music to our ears! Came hungry, left completely satisfied! 🥰😁🙌🏻
AdventureswithDaniMNGoogle Maps
Recently
Enjoyed breakfast and dinner here! The breakfast burrito was by far best breakfast burrito I ever had! Could almost share it with 2 people very filling. Generous portion for the fish fry as well! Smoothie was just the right amount of fruit. Loved the views and the music in the evening! Thank you for the great food and memories ❤️🌈
GentryGoogle Maps
Recently
One of my bucket list items is to dip my toes in Waikiki Beach. While on the big island, visiting family, I was able to check this one off. We googled, best restaurant near Waikiki Beach, and came up with the Barefoot Beach Cafe. It was a beautiful morning, not too crowded, when we arrived, but by the time we left it was packed with a very long waiting line. We sat right on the beach in a lovely park area, and we're able to partake the delicious, traditional items, mere steps away from the beach. As you can see from the pictures, everything was served with native flowers which added to the ambiance. On the kids menu they had hot dogs and and fries. In fact, the ries were so yummy, we ended up ordering an extra basket of them because one of the grands wouldn't share, lol. I wanted to try the French toast and it arrived with a wonderful sauce and plenty of fruit. We also ordered a fruit bowl because the strawberries, bananas, and pineapple was so fresh. They had stacks of pineapples everywhere so we treated ourselves to a refreshing, pineapple drink, served in the pineapple! It was, frothy and delicious! If you want a fun, relaxing day at the beach, that includes a nice variety of delicious food, I highly recommend the barefoot Beach Cafe.
Chet DavisGoogle Maps
Recently
Our hotel was at the east end of Waikiki Beach, and searching for nearby restaurants, I found one a short walk, on the ocean. The next morning, we walked along the Waikiki shore to Barefoot Beach Cafe, where we ordered breakfast. There was a line, but it moved smoothly. They have a lot of choices on the breakfast menu (served from 8 a.m.—2 p.m.). We both ordered the omelet and went for the omelet. I had Portuguese sausage and cheese, while my wife ordered the green pepper and ham. We found a seat right near the promenade, where we could look out and see the ocean (over a short planter-box/fence). After a few minutes, our order was ready at the pickup window. Both our omelettes were full of the add-ons, not skimpy like some we’ve had elsewhere. They were also served with red potato hash (more like thinly sliced potatoes, kind of like very skinny fries that were not deep-fried but pan-fried). We both also enjoyed fresh pineapple smoothies. We enjoyed the meal so much that we came back for lunch the following day. I enjoyed their Kalua pork quesadilla, while my wife had their (daily special) fish tacos. And… we came back one evening for a smoothie while listening to Hawaiian music after sunset (they have live music every night!). So, if you’re seeking a tasty meal with fresh ingredients at reasonable prices without all the busy-ness of the Waikiki tourist spots, this is the place. We’ll be back!
Lorraine RunyanGoogle Maps
Recently
Best food I had in Oahu! They have everything from açaí, the smoothies inside pineapples to the fish of the day to Steak and the best Kalua pork. They also have Burgers and fries. I loved that it was fast food service but on Real plates and silverware! If you want a great atmosphere for couples , go after dark, to have the string lights and ocean waves. The musician we had on Tuesday Jan 20th was fantastic! I know they don’t have the same ones every night though. The only down side we felt was that it was in Waikīkī, which was not our favorite city to be in to say the least. But this cafe was worth going back to Waikiki just to eat there!!
Payton MillisGoogle Maps
Recently
This is my favorite breakfast spot in Honolulu! They have the best breakfast sandwich and as a breakfast sandwich connoisseur this is high praise! The North Shore pineapple smoothies are so worth it! I get one every time I go. The line may look long but the service is always fast. And the people who work there are the sweetest. We have been many times and every time we have a fabulous experience
Alex HGoogle Maps
Recently
This was my favorite restaurant on both Oahu and Maui and we ate the majority of our meals here during our time in Oahu. It is walkable from Waikiki. Outdoor dining with beautiful ocean and beach views. The menu is large and diverse enough that we were able to try something different each time. Everything we tried was delicious. Great local fish. Portions were huge and my wife and I wound up splitting meals after our first visit. The atmosphere was incredible. It's out of Waikiki's commotion and they had very good local musicians every night. Prices were very reasonable and comperable to the Midwest. The only downside is I probably won't get to go back and nothing in the Midwest can compare. Edit we were there in February of 2025. There was construction going on for the path behind the dining area which is why there's fencing and black plastic in the background. Normally it opens to the beach and I think tables right on the beach.
Chanelle SGoogle Maps
Recently
We had a delicious, fresh lunch at Barefoot Beach Cafe last week. Lots of choices on the menu! My avocado toast with an over-easy fried egg had fresh arugula, tomato and just enough feta to give the egg a nice bit of saltiness, and the presentation on the ceramic plate was bright and cheerful with a piece of fresh pineapple and a flower blossom. There was live music (very good, too!) while we were there for lunch, and the covered seating allowed us to see the ocean while enjoying the shade and cool breezes. A great stop for lunch!
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