The 44th President of the United States was a real foodie! During his time in office, President Obama traveled to many different countries and took the chance to try some of the best food in the world. He didn’t limit his choices to only fine dining, he also explored street food and other local foods.

True to form, President Obama interest in high-quality, sustainable food and global culture is visible in his restaurant choices. Many of the restaurants he visited during his travels are known for using fresh, local ingredients. He was known to enjoy multi-course meals that showcased the chefs’ creativity and skill. For example, he visited The Fat Duck, known for its experimental and creative cuisine and enjoyed a meal that included the restaurant’s famous “Sound of the Sea”.

In addition to high-quality food, Obama also showed a love for regional cuisine. During his trips to Asia, he visited several restaurants that are known for their local specialties. President Obama wasn’t afraid to try new foods and was always open to experiencing the local cuisine of the places he visited. Whether he was enjoying a fancy meal or trying street food, Obama’s passion for delicious and sustainable food will be remembered by many. Here’s a list of restaurant picks from his numerous trips as president. Bon appetit!

Kua ‘Āina Sandwich Shop – Haleiwa, Hawaiʻi

Before he was president, Obama was already a regular at the original Kua ‘Āina burger shack near Haleiwa, eating avocado‑topped burgers during trips home in the mid‑2000s, as recounted in coverage from August 2008. While this visit was before his presidency, we’re including it because this early North Shore stops later became a standard feature of his holiday visits to Hawaiʻi while president.

Island Snow – Kailua, Hawaiʻi

Pool video and contemporary accounts show Obama getting shave ice with his daughters at Island Snow in Kailua during his August 2008 break in Hawaiʻi, a few months before the election. The footage, later reused in retrospectives, shows him helping the kids pick flavors like cherry and rainbow before joining them on the sidewalk outside.​ He frequently returned while president. Reports say he ordered a cone with cherry and lemon‑lime syrup for himself and a dozen more for family and friends, inspiring the shop’s now‑standard “Snowbama” flavor combination.

Spiaggia – Chicago, Illinois

Spiaggia on North Michigan Avenue was the Obamas’ go‑to special‑occasion restaurant, starting with a high‑profile date there to celebrate his election win on November 8, 2008. Chicago coverage notes that they had already used Spiaggia for anniversaries, typically choosing long Italian tasting menus with lake views.

BeaverTails kiosk (ByWard Market) – Ottawa, Canada

On his first foreign trip as president, Obama ducked into Ottawa’s ByWard Market to try a BeaverTail on February 19, 2009. CBC and bakery‑trade write‑ups say staff served a custom “ObamaTail” pastry topped with chocolate and maple syrup in the shape of an “O,” a moment he later referenced in a 2016 address to Parliament.

Le Moulin de Provence – Ottawa, Canada

That same ByWard Market walkabout included a stop at Le Moulin de Provence, where Obama bought maple‑leaf sugar cookies for his daughters on February 19, 2009. The red‑iced shortbread cookies, labeled “Canada,” quickly became known as “Obama Cookies” and remain a staple at the bakery, which still displays photos of his visit.

Rainbow Drive-In – Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

An NBC roundup on March 18, 2009 of Obama’s “favorite island eateries” singled out Rainbow Drive‑In, noting that he had been a regular there since long before the White House. Later Hawaiʻi food pieces reiterate that he has picked up classic plate lunches of loco moco, chili and fried chicken at the Kapahulu stand during Christmas trips home.

Ray’s Hell Burger – Arlington, Virginia

On May 5, 2009, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden left the White House complex for lunch at Ray’s Hell Burger in Arlington, creating a media crush at the small counter‑service spot. Pool notes recorded Obama ordering a cheeseburger cooked medium‑well with spicy mustard and a side of fries, and the visit helped turn the shop into a short‑lived Washington burger pilgrimage. He enjoyed it enough to return on June 24, 2010, this time bringing Russian president Dmitry Medvedev for burgers and shared fries at a cramped table.

La Fontaine de Mars – Paris, France

On June 6, 2009, during the D‑Day commemoration trip, Obama and Michelle ate at La Fontaine de Mars, a traditional bistro on Rue Saint‑Dominique. The New York Times and other reports describe a classic southwestern French meal of foie gras, lamb and steak with shallots in the upstairs dining room, while Secret Service sealed off the narrow street outside.

The Audley – London, England

During the their Europe trip, Michelle Obama took Malia and Sasha to The Audley, a Victorian pub in Mayfair, for a low‑key dinner on June 8, 2009. Media reports note that the First Lady ordered steak while the girls went for fish and chips in the upstairs dining room, with the road outside briefly closed as they left.

Nancy’s Restaurant – Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

Martha’s Vineyard coverage shows the Obamas picking up a fried‑seafood lunch at Nancy’s on the Oak Bluffs harbor on August 25, 2010. Local reports say he ordered fried shrimp, fried oysters, onion rings and fries to go, then repeated the Nancy’s ritual on a later trip, with another documented stop in August 2013.

Alan Wong’s – Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Politico and Honolulu profiles identify Alan Wong’s on South King Street as Obama’s favorite restaurant in Hawaiʻi, visited on multiple trips from his Senate years through his presidency, with a 2015 piece calling it “his favorite restaurant in the world” as of January 20, 2015. Chef interviews and local coverage say he typically ordered a tasting menu focused on soy‑braised short ribs, local seafood and a “coconut” dessert of haupia sorbet in a chocolate shell filled with tropical fruit.

Red Rooster – New York City, New York

On March 29, 2011, Obama headlined a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster in Harlem, his first presidential visit to the neighborhood. About 50 guests reportedly paid around 30,800 dollars each for a menu featuring cornbread, lobster salad on hot biscuits, braised short ribs, chocolate cake and sweet‑potato doughnuts.

MK – Chicago, Illinois

Back home in Chicago, Obama held one of two high‑dollar fundraisers at MK in River North on April 14, 2011. Local coverage notes that donors paid up to 35,800 dollars and that the contemporary American restaurant effectively became a campaign outpost for the night.

Ollie Hayes’ Pub – Moneygall, Ireland

On May 23, 2011, while highlighting his Irish roots, Obama visited Ollie Hayes’ Pub in Moneygall for a well‑publicized pint of Guinness. Irish and US stories show him drinking most of the pint at the bar, talking with locals and leaving the village pub permanently branded as “Obama’s local.”

DeWitt Dairy Treats – DeWitt, Iowa

During his 2011 Midwest bus tour, Obama stopped for soft‑serve at DeWitt Dairy Treats in DeWitt, Iowa, on August 16, 2011. Wire photos show him eating a cone and greeting locals outside the small roadside stand, briefly putting the shop into the national spotlight.

Great Eastern Restaurant – San Francisco, California

On February 16, 2012, Obama made an unscheduled detour to Great Eastern Restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown for dim sum between events. Pool reports detail him shaking hands with diners before ordering takeout bags filled with shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, barbecue pork buns, Shanghai dumplings and stuffed mushrooms.

Kozy Corners – Oak Harbor, Ohio

On July 5, 2012, Obama stopped at Kozy Corners, a small restaurant in Oak Harbor, Ohio, during a campaign swing through the state. Reuters photos capture him talking with customers in booths and ordering lunch as part of his “Main Street” push in battleground counties.

Deb’s Ice Cream & Deli – Cedar Rapids, Iowa

On the 2012 campaign trail, Obama visited Deb’s Ice Cream & Deli in Cedar Rapids on July 10, 2012, ordering mint chocolate‑chip in a cone. Reporters and photo agencies noted, somewhat amused, that he ate the cone with a spoon, and images from the stop still appear in “presidential diet” galleries.​

OMG Burger – Miami, Florida

A Reuters photo feature on the “presidential diet” includes Obama eating fries at OMG Burger in Miami during a discussion with young voters on September 20, 2012. The burger‑joint roundtable fit a broader pattern of combining casual food stops with campaign messaging in swing regions.

Finnegan’s Pub – Dalkey, Ireland

On June 17, 2013, Michelle Obama and her daughters met Bono, his wife Ali and their sons for a traditional pub lunch at Finnegan’s in Dalkey, south of Dublin. Irish and international coverage says the group ate classic pub dishes like fish and chips, cottage pie and smoked bacon while the pub was closed to the public for the private lunch.

Beach Plum Inn – Chilmark, Massachusetts

On August 13, 2013, Obama and Michelle opted for a quieter Martha’s Vineyard evening with dinner at the Beach Plum Inn restaurant in Chilmark. The Vineyard Gazette described them greeting other guests in the lounge before sitting at a simple table overlooking Menemsha Harbor.​

Café Beauregard – New Britain, Connecticut

Obama used lunch at Café Beauregard in New Britain on March 5, 2014 to spotlight his push for a higher federal minimum wage. He ate a Korean‑style beef sandwich and chili with four New England governors at a café that already paid above the minimum, then cited the restaurant in a campus speech later that day and again when Connecticut passed its 10.10‑dollar wage law.

Chicago Cut Steakhouse – Chicago, Illinois

While in Chicago for events, Obama had dinner at Chicago Cut Steakhouse on April 2, 2014, drawing TV cameras to the riverfront spot. The owner later described his order as a USDA prime dry‑aged bone‑in ribeye with green beans amandine and hash browns, and kept a signed menu from the visit.

Sukiyabashi Jiro – Tokyo, Japan

On April 23, 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted Obama for an omakase dinner at Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo’s Ginza district. Pool and Japanese media report that Jiro Ono served roughly 20 pieces of nigiri at the 10‑seat counter, and Obama later told reporters it was the best sushi he had ever eaten.

Valois Restaurant – Chicago, Illinois

The White House photo office captured Obama visiting Valois, his longtime Hyde Park cafeteria, for breakfast on May 23, 2014. Chicago features and even menu boards highlight “Obama’s favorites” there, usually a large plate of eggs, bacon, pancakes and hash browns ordered at the steam table.​

L’Ambroisie – Paris, France

While in Paris for the COP21 climate talks, Obama joined French president François Hollande and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for a working dinner at L’Ambroisie, a three‑Michelin‑star restaurant on Place des Vosges, on November 30, 2015. French and U.S. reports describe it as a full multi‑course classic French meal in one of the city’s most formal dining rooms, held after a day of climate negotiations and framed as a mix of high diplomacy and haute cuisine.

Estela – New York City, New York

On September 24, 2014, the Obamas spent about three hours at Estela, a small plates and wine bar on East Houston Street. The dinner later entered the political lore when Obama revealed his credit card had been declined there, with reports tying the story to dishes like burrata with salsa verde and charred bread and an endive, walnut and anchovy salad.

San Cristóbal Paladar – Havana, Cuba

On March 20, 2016, the first night of his Havana visit, Obama took his family to dinner at San Cristóbal Paladar. Cuban and international outlets say he ordered grilled sirloin with vegetables, Michelle had steak in red‑wine sauce and the daughters chose steak and pork skewers, with the restaurant now heavily promoting its “Obama table.”

Bún Chả Hương Liên – Hanoi, Vietnam

On May 23, 2016, Obama met Anthony Bourdain at Bún Chả Hương Liên in Hanoi for what became one of his most replayed travel meals. They shared bun cha, fried spring rolls and beer at a metal table on the second floor while filming Parts Unknown, and Bourdain later said the entire meal cost about six dollars. The restaurant has since encased their table in glass and added a “Combo Obama” to its menu.

Down Island – Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

During his final Martha’s Vineyard vacation as president, Obama chose Down Island, a 40‑seat restaurant in Oak Bluffs, for dinner with family and friends on August 7, 2016. CBS reports that they ate the full fixed menu, including rosemary potato bread with roasted‑garlic butter, a mushroom “forest,” roasted carrots, a lobster‑and‑clam bouillabaisse and local striped bass.​

Cosme – New York City, New York

On September 19, 2016, Obama and Michelle dined at Enrique Olvera’s contemporary Mexican restaurant Cosme during UN week. An order ticket later shared with reporters showed a table of six eating duck carnitas, tlayudas, tuna tostadas and red mole in a private room while the Secret Service managed the street outside.

Swift & Sons – Chicago, Illinois

On an October 2016 homecoming trip, Obama had a Friday‑night dinner at Swift & Sons, a West Loop steakhouse, with the visit reported on October 11, 2016. Staff told Eater Chicago that he stopped in the kitchen for photos with the line cooks before sitting down with his party in the main dining room.

Liverpool House – Montreal, Canada

On June 6, 2017, Obama met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a private dinner at Liverpool House in Montreal’s Little Burgundy. The chef and Canadian media say they shared oysters, shrimp, halibut, lobster spaghetti and strawberry shortcake, an evening quickly dubbed the “Liverpool House Summit.”

Ponte – Berlin, Germany

In May 2023, on a post‑presidency speaking tour, Obama dined at Ponte, an Italian restaurant in Berlin’s Schöneberg district, with former chancellor Angela Merkel and current chancellor Olaf Scholz. German coverage notes that the group took over a section of the dining room with security from both countries present, though the restaurant has kept quiet about exactly what was served.

Conclusion

President Barack Obama’s restaurant choices were always interesting and diverse. From Michelin-starred establishments to local favorites, Obama’s dining choices, his love of high-quality, sustainable food is clear from his choices and which chefs he chose to visit.

Are you planning your next travel adventure and looking for a new restaurant to try? You could do worse than one that President Obama visited. Are you adding any of his choices to your plans? Let us know!