Tag Archives: Hawaiian food

Leonard’s Bakery

A popular Hawaiian treat is malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery. Malasadas are Portuguese versions of a sugar donut filled with creams. They were invented in Madeira to use up the lard and sugar before Lent and are generally eaten on Fat Tuesday. The concept traveled to Hawaii for Shrove Tuesday, which is also known as Malasada Day. 

Leonard’s Bakery offers a variety of seasonal fillings such as guava, macadamia nut, pineapple, and original (with no filling). They reminded me of a dense sugar donut. I recommend eating them while they’re fresh. They don’t sit well overnight.

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The pineapple dole whip was delicious but eat it quickly. The intense Hawaiian sun will melt it in a heartbeat.

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(933 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816)

Yama’s Fish Market


When in Hawaii, kalua pork is a must try. Generally, they are served at a luau, where they unearth the pig from the ground. If you want to skip the expensive luau price but try kalua pork, visit Yama’s Fish Market to get a taste of the delicious pork.

Above is order #7 which comes with kalua pork, laulau, lomi lomi salmon, and rice. Kalua in Hawaiian means to cook in an underground oven (imu). The imu is created by digging a deep pit, lining it with hot rocks and a layer of veggies. Then te pig is placed on top of veggies, covered with a wet burlack sack, and another layer of hot rocks. After hours of smoking, the pig comes out super tender and smoky.

Laulau is pork wrapped in taro leaf that has been cooked for many hours. Today’s modern method steams them on a stovetop. The classical method cooks them in an imu. The laulau at Yama’s Fish Market is tender and juicy.

Lomi-lomi is raw salted, diced salmon, tomato, and onion salad that is mixed by massaging. It’s a side dish that is sold all around Hawaii. The name of this dish comes from the method of preparation. Lomi-lomi in Hawaiian means massage. Lomi-lomi salmon reminds me of salsa with salmon.

(2332 Young Street, Honolulu, HI 96826)

Fresh Catch

Posted in Oahu by

Hawaii was the first place I tried poke. I haven’t been able to find a place in the states that makes it just as good. So when I came back to Hawaii, I was excited for more poke. Fresh Catch just blew the poke game out of the water. If you’re on the hunt for the best poke, look no further. The fish is fresh, and the marinades will delight your taste buds. None of them are too salty or sweet. Sold by weight, buy as much as your heart desires.

The tuna was the perfect savory balance to the salmon’s sweet marinade.

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Mmm…mmm…good! I want more!

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(3109 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816)

Musubi Cafe Iyasume

I stopped by Musubi Cafe Iyasume every morning to pick up fresh musubis before starting my day. These lightweight snacks kept well throughout the day whether I went hiking or snorkeling at the beach. My favorites were the double salmon onigiri and egg and spam musubi. The perfectly cooked sweet egg balances out the saltiness of the spam. They also offer a bacon, spam, and egg musubi and a egg, avocado, and spam musubi.

Below are all the Musubi Cafe Iyasume locations in Oahu.

Pineapple & Coconut Hut aka Zangu


If you’re in search of some pineapple dole whip and Yelp tells you to check out Pineapple & Coconut Hut, be prepared to be a chicken with it’s head cut off. First, it’s located in the Maikai food court of Ala Moana Center. People don’t know the name of this place. I asked a girl for help two stalls down and she said she had never heard of it. Second, it’s also named Zangu.

The pineapple dole whip was tangier than expected but it definitely was soft!

(1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814)

Ono Seafood


In search of poke, this place kept popping up in recommendations, but I didn’t try it until I attempted to go to Haili’s Hawaiian Food. To our dismay, they were closed. Ono Seafood was across the street so I decided to give it a shot.

I ordered the super bowl with an additional poke flavor for 50 cents more. The super bowl comes with rice, extra poke and a drink. I chose the Shoyu Ahi Poke and Haw’n Style Tako Poke. The Shoyu Ahi has tuna, shoyu (soy sauce), green and white onion, limu (algae), kikul, chili pepper, and sesame oil. The Haw’n Style Tako has octopus, sea salt, green and white onion, limu (algae), kikul, and chili pepper. Overall, I found the pokes to be mediocre. Nothing was outstanding.

(747 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816)

Matsumoto’s Shaved Ice 

Hawaii is well known for it’s shaved ice. Having never tried the famous summer snack, I decided to give it a go. Above is strawberry, guava, and lilikoi (passion fruit). The flavors were strong and tasty but when melted down, it tasted like syrup water.

At Matsumoto’s you can order a large or small, above is the small, with up to three flavors. Extras include condensed milk, ice cream or mochi. 

(66-087 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712)