Bar food has a reputation problem. Most people expect microwaved mozzarella sticks and soggy fries, and most bars in Waikiki confirm that expectation. Skybox Taphouse is the exception. The kitchen puts out food that stands on its own — not just "good for a bar," but genuinely good, full stop. Here's what to order.
The Fan Favorites
The Skybox menu marks certain items as fan favorites, and they've earned it. The Upper-Cut Wings are jumbo-sized, not the small floppy wings you get at most bars. They come as 8 naked wings tossed in your choice of Buffalo, Honey Sriracha, or Hawaiian BBQ sauce, served with celery sticks. They're one of the most-ordered items on the menu for a reason.
The All-Star Fish Tacos are another standout — three crispy fish tacos on corn tortillas with red cabbage, jack cheese, guac, pico de gallo, and a scratch taco sauce. They're fresh, they're crunchy, and they don't feel like typical bar food. You can add more tacos for $6 each if three isn't enough.
The Calamari rounds out the fan favorite trio — fresh Icelandic squid, hand-cut and fried golden brown, served with pomodoro. Light, crispy, and not rubbery. It disappears fast at a table.
Best for Sharing
If you're at Skybox with a group — and on game day, you probably are — the shareables are where to start. The Triple Play Nachos are a monster pile of corn tortilla chips with black beans, scratch nacho cheese, jalapeños, guac, and sour cream. They serve 4-6 people, and you can add braised beef, Kalua pork, or chicken for $5 more. This is the table centerpiece.
The Monster Pretzel is exactly what it sounds like — the biggest Bavarian pretzel they could source, brushed with butter, sprinkled with pretzel salt, and baked golden. It comes with Wisconsin cheese sauce, and it's big enough for the table to tear into while you watch the game.
The Quarterback Quesadilla is loaded with chicken, sautéed peppers and onions, black beans, and blended cheeses, with pico, guac, and sour cream on the side. You can upgrade to pot roast or Kalua pork for $5 more. Cut into wedges, it's another solid sharing option.
Pizza
Skybox does hand-crafted pizzas — not the reheated frozen kind. They're available as whole pies or by the slice, which makes them work for both groups and solo diners. The pizza menu rotates, but the quality is consistent. If you're ordering for a table during a game, a couple of whole pies plus a shareable plate is the play.
Burgers and Bigger Plates
Beyond the starters and shareables, Skybox has a full entrée menu. The burgers are substantial, the Kalua smoked pork sliders come with smoked gouda, house BBQ sauce, coleslaw, and pickles, and there are salads if someone at the table wants to go lighter — the Cobb salad and the roasted beet and goat cheese salad are both full-sized.
The Fries Situation
Skybox has three fry options, which tells you they take the side dish seriously. Victory Fries come with truffle oil, garlic, and salt — simple and elevated. Fiesta Fries are topped with Kalua pork, creamy garlic sauce, mozzarella, pico de gallo, jalapeños, and cilantro — basically a meal by themselves. And there are standard Deep Fried Pickles and Onion Rings with chipotle aioli if you want classic sides.
Late Night and Happy Hour
The kitchen runs until 1 AM every night, with a dedicated late-night menu starting at 10 PM. So if you're hungry after midnight, Skybox has you covered when most Waikiki kitchens have closed.
During happy hour (Monday through Friday, 3-6 PM), discounted pupus pair with $5 domestic pints, $7 local drafts, and $11 cocktails. It's one of the best food-and-drink values in Waikiki.
Getting There
Skybox Taphouse is at 2330 Kalakaua Ave #302, third floor of International Market Place in Waikiki. Open daily 11 AM to 2 AM, kitchen until 1 AM. Walk-ins welcome, or save a table for groups. You can also order online for pickup.