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Five Favorite Foods of the North Shore

Yes, the waves, wipeouts, and hyperbole of winter on the North Shore are alluring. Few things please a surfer more than warm water and gaping barrels, but they say the true way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and for this reason, we pay homage to the foods of the North Shore – the real reason we keep coming back.

Ahhh...syrup and ice.

5. Shave Ice. Nothing beats Hawaii’s version of ice cream, and while we admit it’s available anywhere and everywhere in the world, it just doesn’t taste the same unless you’re in Hawaii.

Best burger on the North Shore.

4. Kua Aina Burger. One of the cool things about hanging out on the seven-mile miracle is the absence of fast food. Most restaurants here are family-owned, small operations, which seems to improve food quality drastically. And because your In-N-Out cravings might not subside, head over to Kua Aina Burger for one of their many delicious burger incarnations. Personal favorite: Avocado and Bacon.

Shark's Cove Grill: Teriyaki chicken sandwich, here I come.

3. Shark’s Cove Grill Teriyaki Chicken Sandwhich. When you’re watching an event at Pipeline, you’re often short on time and long on hunger. If you have a bike (which you must have), few things motivate pedal power the way the teriyaki chicken sandwich at Shark’s Cove does. Throw on a little pineapple and soft Hawaiian bread buns, and, BAM, hunger resolved. The only thing discouraging about this place and this particular sandwich is the mass of chickens clucking around the picnic tables. They kind of make you wonder…

Ted's Pie. A dream come true.

2. Ted’s Chocolate Haupia Pie. This thing looks like it came straight out of an episode of the Three Stooges, but a forkful of Ted’s legendary Haupia Pie will make you wish your name was Larry, Moe, or Curly.

No better way to end the day. Kahuku Dinette's Shoyu Poke.

1. Kahuku Superette’s Poke. This is the real reason the world migrates to the North Shore each winter. Kahuku Superette, a tiny, convenience store on the East Side of Oahu serves up world class tuna with shoyu and vegetables and spices (poke) with a world class helping of MSG in the mix. A warm bowl of rice and fresh fish is the only way to end a satisfying day after surfing on the North Shore. And how fun is it to say poke (Poh – Kee)?

There are tons of great restaurants and food on the North Shore, so by no means is this a definitive list, but these are definitely a few highlights. You’ll have to head over on an empty stomach and check them out for yourself.