If you grew up in Hawaii, you’ll instantly remember these flavors. And if you didn’t, you’ll instantly love them. Asato Family Shop, which opened a new brick-and-mortar shop near Downtown Honolulu last month, is all about nostalgic flavors of sherbet. Owner Neale Asato, who has worked in various kitchens in Honolulu and ran the cafeteria […]
Nestled amid old monkeypod trees and lush greenery in Manoa Valley on Oahu, the historic Waioli Tea Room, which opened in 1922, had been serving finger sandwiches and fragrant teas in pretty china until it closed four years ago. The beautiful restaurant, with its lava-rock fireplace and garden views, sat empty. But, late last November,
Food blogger Melissa Chang gives us the rundown on Hawaiian shave ice, its origins and two of the best places to get it: Shimazu Store in Honolulu and Baldwin’s Sweet Shop in Aiea, both on the island of Oahu. She’s also got some valuable tips on how to eat the fast-melting treat. Have Aloha
For breakfast, a visit to Café Haleiwa is a must. The North Shore staple has been serving generous portions of American cuisine to salt-crusted early morning surfers since it first opened in 1982. And though its traditional breakfast platters are good, the real winner here is the café’s dessert Belgian waffles. 66-456 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa,
You can get a Hawaiian food plate lunch almost anywhere in the Islands, with nearly all of the required fixins (kalua pig, laulau, lomi salmon, etc.). But if we were to craft the best Hawaiian plate ever, here’s where we’d go. 1. Haupia: Yama’s Fish Market (Oahu) We appreciate Yama’s taking creative license with the coconut
It’s Saturday morning, and it’s early. Really early. Earlier than I’m ever awake on a weekend, and, judging by the stillness of the Wahiawa streets, earlier than most anyone else, too. Except, that is, for a line of determined sweet-tooths already forming at Uber Factory, a barely-there nook tucked into a wee side alley off
Craving something sweet? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Try these tropical snacks on the Waikiki strip for the best ways to get your sugar high. These addictive mochi doughnuts come in all kinds of unique flavors. Photo: Elena Bragg MoDo doughnuts The Japanese-style mochi doughnuts have a chewy consistency with unique flavors, such as
Ready for a night on the town in Honolulu’s bustling tourist mecca? Just follow our handy step-by-step guide for some of Waikiki’s best cocktails and views, or if you’re looking for a deal, stop by one of the happy hour spots on our list earlier in the evening for cocktails and pupu (appetizers). Tommy Bahama’s
Waikiki can be notoriously expensive when it comes to food. But for those of you looking for a deal, there are a number of delicious options. From musubis to burgers, we found these reasonably priced meals coming in at $15 or less. Here are the spots that should be on your radar. Under $15 The
How does Hawaii like its mochi? Let us count the ways. No matter which culture these tasty tidbits are from, they’re made from sugar, rice and everything nice, and we’re into that. Here are some places on Oahu to get your local-style, Korean, Chinese, Japanese or Filipino mochi fix. Modern Colorful vegan options from Peace
*This story was updated in January 2026. Drive some of Hawaiʻi’s main thoroughfares and you might notice a curious thing: The presence of restaurants declaring themselves “drive-ins,” although that is clearly not the case. An idea popularized in the 1950s across America and recreated in the Islands with local-style plate lunches, loco moco and saimin,
If you’ve driven through Windward Oahu, you’ve probably seen the rustic fixture that is the Waiahole Poi Factory, surrounded by greenery with the stunning Koolau mountains in the background and Mokolii (aka Chinaman’s Hat) just off the coast. But have you stopped there for lunch? The spot, which sells fresh poi in bulk and by the
