Hawaii, a series of beautiful islands with breath-taking views at every turn, but also a major melting pot of different cultures. On this paradise you can find influences from Japan, China, Portugal, England, Korea, the mainland, and of course the Polynesian Islands. During my stay in Oahu, Hawaii, I tried my best to check off my to-eat list, and although there wasn’t enough time to go through the entire list, I did find a couple of favorites!
Below are five places you should eat at in the Aloha state.
1. Helena’s Hawaiian Foods $
If you are looking for traditional Hawaiian food than Helena’s Hawaiian Foods is the place to go to. Here you will find dishes like Kalua pork; a whole pig that has been slowly roasted in an imu (a type of underground oven), Laulau; pork or fish cooked while wrapped in taro leaves, and poi; a starch made from the taro plant.
What makes Helena’s so special is that it is family style, so you can try a bunch of different dishes in one order, without feeling like you are about to die by the end of it, because proportions are just right!
You can either order their set menu, or create your own. We got the Long Rice Chicken, Pipikaula, Laulau, Kalua Pork, with a side of poi, rice and mac salad. Poi is interchangeable with rice, the Hawaiians eat this as a starch so best way to eat it is to dip your Kalua pork for instance in the poi to balance the saltiness of the pork. I am not a big fan of poi although I try it every time it is served, so I make sure I have a small bowl of rice as well.
The meals at Helena’s also come with a side of onions and salt to cleans your palate between the bites, as well as a dessert; haupia, a Hawaiian coconut pudding.
2. Leonard’s Bakery $
Leonard’s Bakery is known for its deep fried balls of heaven, or better known as Malasadas. These are portoguese donuts without the hole. You can get them plain, or you can get the malasada puff, same donut coated in sugar, cinnamon or Li Hing, and with a filling of your choice; custard, haupia, macadamia nut, dobash (chocolate), or guava. I had the custard, haupia and macadamia nut, all great choices, but my favorite was the custard.
3. Fook Yuen Seafood Restaurant $
First of all, ignore the mediocre Yelp reviews, this place is SO WORTH GOING TO. The food is excellent, and although the main complaint on yelp is on their service, my two cents on that would be don’t expect anyone asking you how your day was or if you need more time, you come here to EAT, not to socialize. Our server was very helpful and quick, and considering it is a big establishment that gets packed, I was happily surprised over how quick we got our food.
Can we please take a moment and bask in the glory of buttery, garlicky, juicy and meaty lobster? This is THE DISH to order if you like seafood. Simple and finger-licking delicious. The garlic was subtle and complemented the lobster perfectly without overpowering. Tear a piece of lobster meat and scoop up the melted butter in the bottom of the dish that has been marinated with those garlic and lobster flavors. Get this; it will cost you only $15!
I wanted some crunchy greens on the side so by servers recommendation I got the Chinese broccoli tossed in garlic sauce. So crispy and fresh, with garlic and sesame flavors.
I can’t say which dish I liked the most; the lobster or the beef tenderloin in black pepper sauce. Out came the sizzling dish from the kitchen in a hot pan, spreading its aroma and still cooking as the pan was carefully placed on our table. Beefy gravy, tender meat, crunchy onions and something that looked like black beans but smaller and softer that added an interesting component to the dish. So delicious and comforting.
Here is my takeaway from Fook Yuen; when you are full to the maximum and the last bite of the food tastes just as good as the first one, then you know it is damn good food.
4. Kono’s $
This was a top priority on my to-eat list, and I am so happy I got to try it!
Kono’s is known for their 12-hour slow roasted Kalua Pork. I got their Old School sandwich; Kalua pork, guava bbq sauce, grilled onions, and slaw, with a side of chips.
There is something about slow cooked meat that just makes me weak in the knees. If you are the same then definitely stop at Kono’s for a quick lunch next time you are in Oahu.
5. Tamura’s Fine Wine & Liquors $
Yes, I had raw fish at a liquor store, and I LIKED IT!
Actually I loved it.
I have had many poke bowls in LA but none of them compare to the ones in Hawaii. You don’t need a bowl of rice and a bunch of add-on’s to camouflage the fish (although I do love those things), the poke is good as is here.
If you have had poke in Hawaii you know that it is no fancy schmancy shop food; traditionally you order it from the deli counter at a supermarket and take it to go. I went to Don Quijote Supermarket, Tamura Fine Wine & Liquors, and Alicia’s Market, and they were all wickedly good.
The variations of poke at Tamura’s was spectacular, I wish I lived in Hawaii just so I could go there on a weekly basis and get myself through their options. Of all the spicy tuna poke’s I had in Oahu I liked the one at Tamura’s the best. Their tako was a bit too salty, which was disappointing, (I would recommend the tako at Alicia’s instead!) but the rest was excellent. There is nothing worse than raw fish that is chewy, and you definitely won’t run into that issue at Tamura’s; fish so tender and soft you don’t even need teeth, just melts in your mouth.
Do you have any favorite eateries in Oahu? Drop them in the comments. Mahalo!
Hawaii!!!! Thanks for the list.
I’m glad you liked it!