Try These 6 Quality Dishes the Next Time You’re in Hawaii
Hawaii is part of the United States, but its cuisine is vastly different from what most people consider “American.” Traditional Hawaiian cuisine has heavy Asian influence, but also features ingredients and dishes popular in other cultures and countries. “The first wave of immigrants to Hawaii were Chinese, followed by Japanese, Korean, Filipinos, and Puerto Ricans,” writes Naomi Tomky for the food blog Serious Eats. “Throw in a few Mormon Samoans, Mexican cowboys, and American GIs, and the edges of incoming cuisines faded away, all melting into something entirely Hawaiian.”
Below are six authentic Hawaiian dishes that you need to try on your next visit to the island.
1. Poke
A raw fish dish, poke (pronounced poh-kay) is arguably the most well-known Hawaiian dish, usually served at potlucks or as a high-end appetizer at restaurants. Many people also enjoy the dish as a beachside snack. Once described by Honolulu Magazine as “Hawaii’s hamburger,” the raw fish salad is prepared with a variety of different fish and ingredients. It’s like ceviche, a raw fish dish popular in South America, but usually with a savory flavor as opposed to acidic. It’s almost like a deconstructed sushi bowl.
Octopus (hee or ahi) is the most common variation of seafood used in poke, while yellowfin tuna and salmon are among the other common alternatives. Seaweed, avocado, ginger, spicy mayo, and Maui onions are some of the other ingredients in poke. The dish is incredibly easy to find on the island, but for the best poke check out Da Poke Shack on Hawaii Island, Ono Seafood in Honolulu, or Eskimo Candy on Maui.
2. Loco Moco
Loco moco is not a healthy dish, but one you need to try if you’re on vacation in Hawaii. It’s like a hamburger, but don’t call it that; Food Network Magazine was once laughed off the island for calling it that. The uniquely Hawaiian dish features a hamburger patty covered in gravy on top of a bed of rice. The patty is then topped with an over-easy fried egg that, blends the rich flavors into mouthwatering bites when the yolk is broken.
The patty is usually made of ground beef but can also be swapped out for Portuguese sausage or Spam, which is a popular canned meat substitute on the island. Some people also use chili or teriyaki sauce instead which of gravy. It’s usually eaten for breakfast but is also suitable for other meals. Don’t plan on doing much after eating the dish; it’s known to bring about a “kanak attack,” which is a local phrase for overeating to the point where you need a nap.
3. Manapua
A delicious pork-filled pastry, manapua is like the Chinese steamed pork bun known as char siu bao, but it is usually a bit bigger. There are also other variations with ginger chicken, sweet potato, and even hot dogs inside the dough instead of pork. Made popular on the island following the arrival of Cantonese immigrants in the 1800s, they’re now usually sold on bakery shelves at convenience stores or by street vendors. The Libby Manapua Shop on Oahu and The Manapua Bakery on Maui are the best places to sample one of these delicious pork buns.
4. Luau Stew
A luau, a lively Hawaiian feast with cultural performances, usually isn’t complete without luau stew. This comfort dish, also served often at birthday parties and potlucks, only features a few signature ingredients, including beef brisket and kalo leaves. The leaves are cooked in a broth of coconut milk, ginger, and onion until tender and seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt. Mission Houses Museum in Honolulu has a great luau stew with uala or pork shoulder.
5. Saimin
Saimin might appear to be an odd mix of ingredients for non-locals, but it’s a popular comfort food on the island. It’s kind of like ramen, a Japanese noodle dish, but it features Chinese egg noodles and a variety of Hawaiian local ingredients. It’s also usually topped with slices of deli ham or spam. Shiro’s Saimin Haven on Oahu has more than 60 variations of the dish, but it is so popular that even many McDonald’s locations on the island serve saimin.
6. Plate Lunch
A plate lunch is the perfect way to sample a variety of Hawaiian foods; the popular lunchtime meal blends numerous flavors and ingredients. The dish’s origins date back to the 1880s when plantation workers packed up heavy bento-box-style lunches to give them sufficient energy for the day. Today, street vendors and other restaurants serve up heavy bento trays with large portion sizes.
The typical plate lunch usually includes a choice of meat — either fried chicken, kalua pork, or teriyaki beef — along with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad. Some variations include multiple types of meat, including huli huli chicken, which is boneless chicken thighs marinated in soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and pineapple juice.
