Top 10+ iconic eats for your Hawaiʻi food tour: PHOTOS
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Food in Hawaiʻi is full of bold and exciting flavors from Asian, Pacific Islander, Portuguese and American cultures. From breakfast to late-night snacks, every bite tells a story about the islands and the people who live here.
These 10 must-try foods show off the best local ingredients and traditions that make Hawaiʻi’s food so ono (yummy, delicious, the best).
KHON2.com chose these 10 famous dishes because they show the true heart of Hawaiʻi’s cooking cultures. Each one has its own special taste and feel.
Want to find out what makes these island foods so delicious? Get ready for a tasty trip through the best food Hawaiʻi has to offer.
Spam musubi
This is super popular amongst the locals. Fried Spam that tops furikaki rice with unagi sauce and wrapped in seaweed. There are lots of variations. Some have egg added. Some are made with various types of fish. Whatever you choose, you can lose.
Spam musubi, a common Japanese lunch dish that was created in Hawaii with Spam can make a delicious picnic food. (Photo By Glenn Asakawa/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Poke
Lots of places try to make poke, but Hawaiʻi is the only place to get the real deal. Fresh fish with all sorts of seasonings served atop rice. There are few who don’t love this dish.
UNITED STATES – MARCH 25: Ahi poke, a raw tuna dish, and smoked meat is part Rep. Colleen Hanabusa’s, D-Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian food feast in her Capitol Hill home for her staff and guests. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Mix plate/plate lunch
Packed with food and satisfying to the last bite, plate lunches are a staple in Hawaiʻi. There are many options; so, it’s a great way to try lots of different types of foods Hawaiʻi is famous for.
Close-up of a traditional Hawaiian plate lunch featuring barbecue chicken, pulled pork, macaroni salad, salad greens, and a rice ball with sesame seeds, Waimea Valley, Honolulu County, Hawaiʻi, United States, July 22, 2024. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Katsu
Katsu is a crispy, breaded cutlet that’s usually chicken or pork. and fried until golden brown. It’s a popular dish in Hawaiʻi and is served with rice and a tangy katsu sauce. Found everywhere from lunch spots to convenience stores, katsu is a local favorite known for its crunch and comforting flavor.
You embraced change for Obama. Now eat like Obama. Chicken-katsu curry. (Photo by David Perry/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Shave ice
It’s not a trip to Hawaiʻi getting some delicious shave ice. Popular with keiki (children) and adults alike, you can find shave ice at some of Hawaiʻi’s most iconic stands all over the islands.
Yelp named Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice as the best place to get ice cream in Hawaiʻi. (Courtesy: Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice)
Kalua pig
This roasted pork dish comes in plate lunches, mix plates, sandwiches, quesadillas, tacos, nachos; it’s everywhere. Slow roasted with cabbage and spices, it is a great way to end a day at the beach.
Kalua pork, cabbage, and white rice in take-out container. (Photo/Getty Images)
Lau lau
Lau lau is a traditional Native Hawaiian dish made by wrapping pork, fish or chicken in taro/kalo leaves, then ti leaves and steaming it. It’s a staple in Hawaiʻi cuisine and was historically cooked in an underground oven (imu).
Lau lau in a plate lunch with mac salad and rice in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. (Photo/Getty Images)
Poi and kalo
Kalo, also known as taro, is one of the foods Polynesian explorers brought to the islands of Hawaiʻi when they settled here. The pound the kalo into a paste known as poi. It’s packed with nutrition and is a great addition to any meal. You can also eat kalo in different ways: frying, roasting, mashing and even in desserts.
Poi is a traditional polynesian dish. (Photo/Getty Images)
Loco moco
Loco moco is extremely popular, especially after an active beach day. It’s a yummy hamburger steak served atop rice with a fried egg and gravy on top. It’s hearty and really hits the spot.
Homemade Hawaiian loco moco with hamburger, egg, gravy and rice. (Photo/Getty Images)
Butter mochi
Butter mochi is a popular dessert in Hawaiʻi with roots in Japanese-American culture. Made from mochiko (sweet rice flour), butter, coconut milk and sugar, it has a chewy texture and rich flavor.
Common Hawaiian treat, delicious butter coconut mochi. (Photo/Getty Images)
The real magic happens when simple, fresh ingredients are cooked in traditional ways. Imagine tasty roast pork, sweet and salty Spam rolls and cool shaved ice topped with tropical fruits.
The folks who make these ono, flavor-packed foods turn everyday ingredients into amazing meals that show the spirit of our islands.
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