Hawaiian Food In Honolulu: Exploring The Cuisine Of Hawaii

Spread the love

When it comes to a friendly destination, Honolulu, Hawaii usually comes to mind. There are plenty of places to visit in Honolulu that can keep you busy all day.

It has some beautiful sightseeing and attractions that attract tourist from all over the world, which makes it your ultimate getaway and family escape.

Another plus-side is that the weather of Hawaii is warm all throughout the year, which makes any time of the year is the best time to visit Hawaii.

It is known for having the best sites for surfing and snorkeling, such as snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, so do not miss the opportunity to try that, or at least observe some surfers doing what they do best.

Another advantage of visiting Hawaii is that the food is delicious there. There are some popular Hawaiian dishes that are preferred by tourists and locals alike.

Not mention is that Honolulu is a hub of mouthwatering Hawaiian cuisine that is mixture of traditional Hawaiian flavors with inspirational taste of many different cultures.

Whether you prefer desert, a quick snack or a full meal, this beautiful island has it all. There are verities of food that are being offered, but some foods are preferred than others.

This is why we made this list for you of the best and most affordable food in Honolulu, and where you can find them. We will mention the dish, and what is the best restaurant In Honolulu to order this dish from.

Therefore, stay tuned for an amazing journey to the culinary delights of Honolulu. We will explore the Cuisine of Hawaii, and give you an inside knowledge about the Hawaiian food.

Table of Contents

Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

Hawaiian Glossary:

Before getting to the list, there are some basic terms that you need to know before ordering a dish. You will probably come across them when ordering a meal at a Hawaiian restaurant.

You might come across or see on the menu the word Keiki. It means a child, which refers to a small or a child serving. You might also hear the word Lilikoi, which means passion fruits.

Another word is Pupus. It means appetizers. Finally, you might see or hear the word Pau Hana. It refers to happy hours. Therefore, you can attend this period of time for a cheaper food and drink.

The Best Food To Eat In Honolulu, Oahu. The Ultimate Hawaiian Food Guide:

Now that we covered the food terminology in the Hawaiian language, it is time to cover the best Hawaiian food in Honolulu. Be ready to be impressed with what this isle has to offer.

1. Malasadas In Leonard’s Bakery:

Malasadas is a Portuguese donut without holes. The signature cuisine in the Leonard’s Bakery are Malasadas, which offered with 9 different flavors.

They come with either custard or rolled in flavorful sugar. It is your choice to choose what topping you want in your donut. It is totally worth the hype.

The reason why it is worth the hype is that the dough is so light that it melt in your mouth and come hot from the fryer. Therefore, you can enjoy it fresh with a cup of tea or coffee.

I would recommend going there early in the morning after watching the Waikiki Beach’s sunrise. It is only 30 minutes walking from the beach. You can also rent a bike or a taxi to get there.

2. Snow Puffys At Paalaa Kai Bakery:

Located in the North Shore in Waialua, the Paalaa Kai Bakery offers some delicious baked goods with friendly service. No matter what time is it, you would find costumer lined up to order their tasty Snow Puffys.

Snow Puffys is a pastry of their creation, so you won’t find in any other places. It is filled with a lot of vanilla custard with chocolate and icing of sugar. The taste is out of this world and is a must-try if you happen to be in Honolulu.

When you want to find out about a traditional cuisine of Hawaii, then this signature Hawaiian pastry should be on your top list.

3. Pink Pancakes At Royal Hawaiian:

There is nothing better than eating a breakfast with pink pancakes. They are quite fluffy and delicious. They can sure keep you full and give you energy to start the day.

The pink pancake is mixed with guava and raspberry, making it flavorful. You have the choice to order it with Haupia or coconut pudding sauce. There are also some fresh berries that you can eat along with it, which is why it is healthy Hawaiian food.

Located in the Royal Hawaiian hotel, the Surf Lanai restaurant serves some of the best brunch in Hawaii. There are many Hollywood stars who stayed in the hotels, such as Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley.

4. Poke at Maguro Spot Poke:

When it comes to the best seafood dish in Hawaii, poke almost always come to mind. It is either comes with diced cubes of raw fish (or cooked prawns or scallops). They are seasoned and served with a bed of rice and verity of options to add.

The most common kind of fish that are being served are ahi or tuna. To try this delicious Hawaiian dish, you should visit Maguro Spot Poke at reasonable price. The small bowel costs 6 dollars, which considered as cheap comparing to the food economy in Hawaii.

You got the choice to choose the type of dish you prefer along with type price (sushi, brown, white). You can also select the type of sauce you want, such as spicy mayo, shoyu, or spicy volcano. There are some addition to the bowel like spring onion and ginger.

This Hawaiian cuisine is a popular choice by locals and tourist, so do not miss the opportunity to try it. It might get crowded. Thus, make sure to get there early.

5. Garlic Butter Shrimp At Jenny’s Shrimp Truck:

I loved the garlic shrimp in Honolulu. It was absolutely delicious. Located in Route 83, North Shore, the shrimp truck along with many trucks in the location serves verity of mouthwatering dishes.

The garlic shrimp prawns with salad or rice, making it a fulfilling dish for dinner or lunch. It is a great option if you like seafood and rice.

Driving along the Kamehameha Highway or Route 83 is full of great scenery and lush green. You will pass by many beaches as well, so I would highly recommend it.

It can definitely be one of your most memorable moments, so take the chance to do it beside trying the Hawaiian Food.

6. Shave Ice At Matsumoto:

Shave Ice is a classic Hawaiian treat that is quite tasty and can take the edge off the heat. It was introduced by a Japanese immigrant that worked in the sugar and pineapple plantations.

It is located in the North Shore, so you can try it while taking a road trip at Kamehameha Highway or Route 83. You have the choice to order a healthy shave Ice from fresh fruit or add commercial syrups’ verity of flavors.

The Matsumoto Shave Ice has been served since 1951. There are two sized served: small and large with different topping, such as vanilla ice cream, azuki beans, mochi balls, and condensed milk.

7. Kalua Pig At Highway Inn:

The Kalua pig is a traditional Hawaiian Polynesian dish made with a smoked pig. As a matter of fact, at Highway Inn, you not only can try the Kalua Pig, but many other Hawaiian dishes, such as lomi salmon, squid luau, lau lau, or poi.

The pig is smoked with Kiawe wood and banana leaves, and then served with generous amount, allowing you to fill your hungry stomach. It is a great option for lunch or dinner, so give it a shot. You won’t be disappointed.

8. SPAM Musubi At Musubi Café Lysume:

Located across the road from Maguro Spot poke, the Musubi Café Iyasume offers a delicious Japanese and Hawaiian dishes, so it is a must-try Café.

The café makes them fresh and serve them with verity of topping options, such as cheese, egg, and bacon. I really liked the Tempura shrimp with avocado and SPAM and, egg, shiso leaf, and eel.

It has the Teriyaki glaze topping, which makes its taste out of the world. Spam Musubi is a traditional cuisine of Hawaii that locals eat during their breakfast.

9. Loco Moco at Westman Café & Lounge:

Loco Moco is an affordable Hawaiian classic dish. It comes with fried eggs, gravy, rice and hamburger patty. There are verity of options and versions of the dish.

You can also add soft cooked anions, wagyu patty, beef stroganoff, and rich gravy. It is a delicious option for breakfast, dinner, or lunch. I am sure once you try it, you will end up asking for more.

10. Squid Lū‘au at Waiahole Poi Factory:

It is a Hawaiian Polynesian dish that prepared in taro leaves. The leaves got to be cooked at slow heat for hours until softened and then chopped in smaller pieces. After that it got to sautéed with onions, squid, and coconut milk.

The squid is stewed and seasoned with traditional Hawaiian spices. It is cooked slow to perfection that can melt in your mouth. It has an explosion of flavors that you will never forget.

Conclusion:

Whether you are looking for a traditional Hawaiian dish or cuisine, or want a simple to grab a quick snack, there is a taste for you in Honolulu. There are many restaurants and food trucks that offer delicious food, so make sure to add it to your itinerary.

If you are a foodie or a food critic, you would love this island. The service and ambience are out of this world, with plenty of options to choose from.

Although Hawaii’s food is somewhat expensive, there are a verity of cheap options on the island. Therefore, we made this blog for some affordable food in Honolulu.

We would love to hear your thoughts and experience trying any of the Hawaiian food options mentioned above, or any cuisine of Hawaii in general. Please, comment how do you link it and where did you try it.

We also have a blog post about the best hotels on the Big island of Hawaii, zip lining in Oahu, and the best surfing gears in Hawaii.

You can learn about in our separate blog scuba diving in Maui, hiking to waterfalls in Maui, or snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.

We also have a travel guide about where to stay in Maui that allows you to find the best accommodation on the island.

Awesome Traveler