Skip to main content
NateEatsHawaii Logo
💸Cheap Eats·Ala Moana

Best Cheap Eats in Ala Moana

Ala Moana is one of Honolulu's most food-packed neighborhoods, and you don't need to break the bank to eat well here. I pulled together 18 budget-friendly spots worth knowing — from our editors' hand-picked recommendations to the area's best-rated eateries — so you can spend more time eating and less time guessing.

1 visitor-rated1 Nate-recommendedUpdated September 2026
NateEats screens showing saved spots and lists

Your shortlist

Save the spots you want to try 🌺

Bookmark restaurants, build collections, and share your list. Works in your browser — no app needed.

Also on the App Store →

The ranking

21 cheap eats in Ala Moana

85°C Bakery Cafe - Honolulu (Ala Moana Center)
2$

85°C Bakery Cafe - Honolulu (Ala Moana Center)

Ala Moana Area·Bakery

Bakery fare in Ala Moana. 85°C Bakery Cafe - Honolulu (Ala Moana Center) is a well-loved spot.

View details
Ali'i Coffee Co.
3$

Ali'i Coffee Co.

Hawaiian Restaurant
View details
Cinnabon
4$

Cinnabon

Ala Moana Area·Bakery

Bakery fare in Ala Moana. Cinnabon draws a steady crowd.

View details
Crispy Grindz Hawaii
5$

Crispy Grindz Hawaii

Brazilian Restaurant
View details
Harbor Pub & Pizza
6$

Harbor Pub & Pizza

Breakfast Restaurant

Family-owned pub & eatery serving nachos, pizza, sandwiches & more in casual, marina-inspired digs.

View details
Jollibee
7$

Jollibee

Ala Moana Area·Chicken Restaurant

Popular Philippines-based chain globally known for its famed fried chicken, spaghetti & burgers.

View details
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
8$

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

Hawaiian Restaurant

Island-themed fast-food chain whose menu features traditional Hawaiian plate lunches.

View details
Malu Honolulu
9$

Malu Honolulu

Ala Moana Area·Cafe

Cafe fare in Ala Moana. Malu Honolulu is a solid pick and offers takeout.

View details
Mango Mango Dessert - Ala Moana Center
10$

Mango Mango Dessert - Ala Moana Center

Dessert Restaurant
View details
Meet Fresh
11$

Meet Fresh

Food Store

Food Store fare in Ala Moana. Meet Fresh is a reliable choice and offers takeout.

View details
Musubi Cafe IYASUME Ala Moana / Lanai
12$

Musubi Cafe IYASUME Ala Moana / Lanai

Ala Moana Area·Korean Restaurant

Korean fare in Ala Moana. Musubi Cafe IYASUME Ala Moana / Lanai draws a steady crowd.

View details
Paradise Poke Hawaii at Ilikai
13$

Paradise Poke Hawaii at Ilikai

Seafood Restaurant

Seafood fare in Ala Moana. Paradise Poke Hawaii at Ilikai is a solid pick and offers outdoor seating.

View details
Poke & Box
14$

Poke & Box

Ala Moana Area·Fast Food Restaurant

Modern counter serve in the Ala Moana Makai food court, mixing custom poké bowls to order.

View details
San Paolo Pizzeria
15$

San Paolo Pizzeria

Pizza Restaurant

San Paolo Pizzeria brings pizza to Ala Moana at a budget-friendly price point. Lively atmosphere perfect for groups and celebrations.

View details
Sweet Creams
16$

Sweet Creams

Ala Moana Area·Food Store

Tucked into Ala Moana, Sweet Creams serves food store at budget-friendly prices. Known as a solid pick.

View details
Tropical Tribe
17$

Tropical Tribe

Brazilian Restaurant

Counter-serve cafe specializing in Brazilian açaí & guarana berry-based smoothies & fruit bowls.

View details
TRY Coffee
18$

TRY Coffee

Cafe
View details
Aloha Sushi-Waikiki Inc
19$

Aloha Sushi-Waikiki Inc

Sushi Restaurant
View details
Cafe KYRA
20$

Cafe KYRA

Ala Moana Area·Cafe

Tucked into Ala Moana, Cafe KYRA serves cafe. Look for takeout — known as a solid pick.

View details
Gordos
21$

Gordos

Ala Moana Area·Mexican Restaurant
View details

See every spot on a live map

Filter, get directions, and find what's open right now.

View Cheap Eats in Ala Moana on the map

At the top of the list are two spots that carry the NateEatsHawaii badge — our editors' personally verified picks. Zucchi Pizza stands out for its authentic Neapolitan-style pies made with quality ingredients, and Waikiki Crepes (Ala Moana Area) rounds things out with a sweet and savory crepe fix that's easy on the wallet. Spots our editors have personally been to are marked with the NateEatsHawaii badge on the page, so you always know which recommendations come straight from firsthand experience.

Beyond our editors' picks, the list features well-regarded options like 85°C Bakery Cafe at Ala Moana Center — a popular bakery destination — and Jollibee, the Philippines-based chain celebrated for its fried chicken and burgers. Whether you're craving a plate lunch from L&L Hawaiian Barbecue or a dessert stop at Mango Mango Dessert, Ala Moana's cheap eats scene has something for every appetite.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the best cheap eats in Ala Moana?

Zucchi Pizza and Waikiki Crepes are our editors' personally verified picks for budget-friendly eating in Ala Moana. The list also includes highly regarded spots like 85°C Bakery Cafe, Jollibee, and L&L Hawaiian Barbecue — all known for delivering solid meals at wallet-friendly prices.

Where can I find affordable food near Ala Moana Center?

Ala Moana Center and its surrounding blocks are home to a wide range of budget options, including bakeries, fast-casual chains, dessert shops, and local plate lunch spots — many of which appear on this curated list of 18 cheap eats.

How is this cheap eats list put together, and is it kept up to date?

This is a curated guide combining our editors' personally verified picks (marked with the NateEatsHawaii badge) with the top-rated budget spots in the Ala Moana area based on visitor ratings collected on NateEatsHawaii. The list is reviewed regularly to keep it accurate and useful.

Cheap Eats

Cheap Eats in nearby neighborhoods

Ala Moana

More to eat in Ala Moana

The 10 Oahu spots I send my own friends

Restaurants, beaches, hikes — my exact shortlist as a free printable PDF. Plus first dibs on the app when it drops.

Nate's 10 + app news. Unsubscribe anytime.