If you are headed to Hawaii on vacation, you may be stressed about managing your allergies. Typically, I try to reserve a room with a kitchen where I can cook, but that isn’t always possible! Here are 11 things I ate safely while on vacation in Waikiki!
Marugame Udon
This was the first meal of my trip, and my favorite! Marugame has a great allergen menu online, which allowed me to consider my options before arriving. Although I had no reaction to my food (I ate here twice!) I would say that it isn’t the best environment to communicate with staff if you are worried about cross-contamination. Although I was worried, I didn’t have to worry about nuts, and it seemed like the items containing dairy were separate from the components going into my dish. Read about my entire experience at Marugame Udon here!
Foodland
The best thing about a grocery store is that allergies are often labeled on prepared food! Although the poke did not have allergens labeled, and many of the hot food items did not, I was able to find the hot breaded chicken musubi, salmon musubi, and sushi, all with a complete list of ingredients on their wrappers. A nearby alternative that I also ate at was Whole Foods! I eat at their hot food bar quite often at home, and I found many of the same options available in Hawaii.
Holey Grail Donuts
These taro donuts are dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, and mostly nut-free (only a few flavors had nuts)! I loved that the ingredients are locally sourced where possible. Both the website and the store had a list of their farm partnerships.
We ordered a four-pack of donuts and chose the original sin (Hawaiian vanilla bean and salted maple), hot single (local honey and flaky sea salt), Hail Mary (cardamom and rose), and a limited edition cinnamon and sugar flavor.
My favorites were the original sin and cinnamon sugar for sure!! The Hail Mary wasn’t my favorite, but it was nice to try something new and eat a treat I normally cannot due to my allergies.
Poke Nachos- Yard House
I know, I know, eating Yard House in Hawaii? Instead of local cuisine? I totally get it. However, after juggling allergies for a long trip, a familiar restaurant can really hit the spot. I ordered the Poke Nachos, which feature crispy wonton chips topped with marinated raw, sushi-grade ahi tuna. After removing the sauce on top, I was assured the nachos were dairy-free, and I had no reaction!
Yard House has an allergy menu available online. You can also search the menu for items safe to eat, filtering by allergens using the tablets on the table (the same ones you use to pay the bill)!
Crab Cake- Earl’s
I was really looking forward to Earl’s, an upscale but affordable dining location with great ambience and live music. I loved that they had an allergy menu online, and I ordered the crab cake, which was labeled as dairy-free. I confirmed my allergies with the waiter and ate the delicious crab cake. I was a bit disappointed shortly after finishing our meal, when I had a reaction to what I ate. I can only assume that this reaction was due to cross-contamination or an item containing dairy being included in the crab cake unknowingly. The service we received was absolutely fantastic, and I really wish that I hadn’t had such a bad reaction to my meal. My husband really loved what he ordered, so if you have a minor intolerance that isn’t too serious, I would give it a shot!
Dole Whip- Aulani
Despite having been to Disney World nearly one hundred times, I had never tried Dole Whip prior to this latest visit to Aulani! I was given an ingredient list to confirm that my allergies were not present in the mix, which I greatly appreciated. I really enjoyed the Dole Whip, so much so that I went back for a second helping!
Be advised: There are many spots around the island that offer Dole Whip. Many of these places do not have allergy information, and two spots we visited told us there was milk powder in their Dole Whip.
Grilled Prime Skirt Steak- Off the Hook (Aulani)
Wow! This was such a great meal, and I felt so confident eating it, assured that I wouldn’t have a reaction. The fingerling potatoes, broccolini, and fire-roasted peppers were all so filling, and I truly got my money’s worth with this meal at Aulani!
If you are someone who has multiple allergies, consider stopping by Aulani for a half day! You cannot utilize the pool or beach chairs or pose with characters, but all other areas are open for you to look around!
Read about my experience staying at Aulani here!
Monkeypod– Ahi Ahi Steak with Broccoli and French fries
This was a delicious dinner eaten right on the water. Although this restaurant has many dishes that contain nuts, I did not have a reaction to my meal. The broccoli wasn’t my favorite, but the ahi ahi was so delicious and fresh!
Pineapple sorbet- Monkeypod
This dessert was simple, sweet, and allergy-friendly! It wasn’t anything out of this world, but every allergy-friendly option is a win in my books.
Manoa Chocolate
If you are looking for a sweet treat or something to bring home, consider stopping by Manoa Chocolate! If you can’t make it to their store, don’t worry, they are carried in many other souvenir shops throughout the island. The sea salt chocolate was completely vegan and so delicious! I really loved the flavor; it was unlike normal dark chocolate bars and not too bitter at all.
Lilikoi Passionfruit Sorbet-Lappert’s
We headed over to Lappert’s on our last night after dinner. Lappert’s is located right next to Hilton Hawaiian Village, which puts on a fireworks show every Friday night! Lappert’s has a few sorbet flavors, and the website confirmed that the lilikoi passionfruit was dairy-free. It was really tasty, and great to have while watching the fireworks!
Are there any allergy-safe places you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!