Here’s How To Eat Like A Local In Honolulu
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On the island of Oahu’s south shore is the capital of Hawaii, Honolulu, where nature is man’s best friend. Waikiki is the bustling district of Honolulu known for its nightlife, dining and shopping. It’s loaded with beaches and the volcanic Diamond Head crater. More recently, there’s been a whole new crowd taking over Honolulu, which has led to more restaurants, art galleries, bars and more affordable resorts. When you’re traveling to Honolulu, but trying to avoid eating at your hotel with the rest of the tourists, here’s where you can eat like local.
Musubi Cafe Iyasume
This is a must if you’re traveling to Oahu. If you’re into spam musubi — one of the most iconic and beloved snack foods in Hawaii composed of grilled spam, rice and nori — this is the spot to grab it. You can get your spam musubi to go before heading to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling. Masubi Cafe is popular with the locals for its wide variety of over 30 musubis and rice balls that come in a bunch of fun combinations. The prices are reasonable and even though you might run into a line, it’ll move quickly. Try the spam musubi with egg, bacon and avocado, the kimchi musubi or the teriyaki musubi.
Liliha Bakery
Liliha Bakery is where locals go to meet up with friends or bring relatives from out of town. The bakery and 24-hour diner, which opened in 1950, holds a special place in many Hawaiian hearts. The old-style eatery has a ton of character. Short order cooks are whipping up breakfast comfort foods. You can grab a seat at the counter and order a cheeseburger or fluffy pancakes. Liliha Bakery is most well known for its loco moco — a traditional Hawaiian dish made with white rice, a burger, fried egg and brown gravy. Not to mention its flaky pastries, donuts, buttered buns with jam and cocoa puffs, which are similar to profiteroles and made with chocolate pudding instead.
Helena’s Hawaiian Food
This family-owned old-school island favorite is tucked away in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu. Locals flock to Helena’s for its homestyle Hawaiian cooking in a hole-in-the-wall type space. Eater calls Helena’s “Home to the best Hawaiian Food on Oahu.” It’s one of Oahu’s most respected institutions, which opened back in 1946 and won the James Beard Foundation Regional Classic Award for its menu of simple island cuisine. The most well-known dish is the kalua pork, which is cooked in an underground pit called an imu. You’ll also want to try the pipikaula short ribs and haupia, a coconut milk-based pudding.
Rainbow Drive-In
The Rainbow Drive-In has been a traditional Hawaiian institution for over 50 years. Guy Fieri has made the trip with Diners, Drive-Ins. Over the years, the food has remained the same with chili, BBQ ahi tuna and roasted pork. Locals and tourists alike line up for the iconic mixed and loco moco plates. The portions are generous and the prices are reasonable. To get there, you’ll have to drive a little bit to escape the chaos of Waikiki, but it’s worth it to get yourself some of this Hawaiian comfort food. The Rainbow Drive-In is one of those places where the table goes silent once the food is delivered and people start shoveling in plates of food like they’ve never seen food before. It’s a classic.
Side Street Inn
At an unpretentious hangout spot, Side Street Inn, locals flock to the comfort food. Located in the Ala Moana area of Honolulu, Side Street Inn has a stamp of approval from former president Barack Obama and his daughters. Regulars will tell you to order the kimchi fried rice and pork chops. The boneless Galbi — a type of Korean BBQ that’s made of beef short ribs — and the spicy chicken are right up there on the list. Everything is served “pupu style,” which in American Chinese or Hawaiian cuisine, is an assortment of small meat and seafood appetizers. The family-style portions at Side Street Inn are perfect for large groups. The comfort food joint is on the casual side with drinks and TVs.
Highway Inn Kaka’ako
This family-friendly restaurant is no-frills with an all-day menu of classic Hawaiian home cooking. The food is contemporary without losing sight of its roots. The new location has traditional Hawaiian food like naau puaa — a pork and taro leaves stew — while serving up new twists like the kalua pig quesadilla and whole fried fish with poi, a bowl of purple dipping sauce made with steamed, mashed taro root. Some of the local dishes to try are squid luau, kalua pork, guava sorbet, smoked loco moco, butterfish collar and lomi-lomi salmon, which is a Hawaiian side dish of fresh tomato and raw, salted diced salmon. Highway Inn Kaka’ako is away from the main drag of tourist spots so it’ll be a good escape.
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