Oʻahu is home to some of the most well-known restaurants in Hawaiʻi. From beloved bakeries to plate-lunch spots, these places have been influential in shaping the culinary culture throughout the Islands. From malasadas to manapua, you’ll want to try these 13 iconic dishes on Oʻahu. 1. A mega meat plate from Rainbow Drive-In Rainbow Drive-In […]
Coconut, or nui in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), arrived in Hawaiʻi via canoes sailed by Polynesian voyagers roughly 4,500 years ago. Native Hawaiians considered the coconut tree to be the god Kū in physical form. For them, coconut water was sacred and therefore used for important ceremonies and rituals. Many of the coconut trees’ ancient
If you’re craving traditional Hawaiian food fare—we’re talking kālua pig, lau lau and poi—stop at these reader-endorsed restaurants. Read More: What’s in a Hawaiian Plate, Anyway? 1. Helena’s Hawaiian Food This humble restaurant in Kalihi has topped our list multiple times. It opened in 1946, serving traditional, local Hawaiian food, including its popular version of pipi
Food and travel go hand-in-hand. That’s why it was so easy for me, a former food editor and longtime food writer, to make the transition to editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine several years ago. (I’m now the editor at large.) To me, there’s no better way to experience a new place than through its cuisine—and Oʻahu
We get it, you can’t go wrong with the classics. A plate lunch from Zippy’s will always satisfy, and shave ice from Matsumoto is a surefire way to beat the heat. But if you’re tired of hitting up the same spots time and time again, then we have some places you need to check out. Who
We know the appeal of those colorful food trucks along Kamehameha Highway en route to Oahu’s fabled North Shore that serve plates with mounds of shrimp deliciously drowning in garlic and butter. We stop, too. But don’t skip these small local eateries along the way. You may wind up eating your fill before you even hit
There’s a difference between local food (loco moco, chicken katsu, saimin) and actual Hawaiian food. If you’re craving the more traditional stuff, stop at these reader-endorsed restaurants to get your poi, laulau, kalua pig, poke, squid luau, pipi kaula and haupia fix. 1. Helena’s Hawaiian Food The James Beard Award-winning Helena’s is one of those
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
