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Most people don’t think of Hawaii as a foodie destination, but it is! Hawaiian cuisine is a unique blend of Asian, Polynesian, and European influences, emphasizing fresh, tropical ingredients. So I’ve rounded up the best foods to try in Hawaii.
Which Hawaiian Island Should You Visit?
Hawaii is also an underrated rum and wine destination, so be sure to try some of the local spirits with these dishes.
Let’s work up an appetite! Here are the best foods to try in Hawaii!
Hawaiian Plate
If you only try one Hawaiian dish, then this is the one! A Hawaiian Plate comes loaded with poi, laulau, mac salad, rice, kalua pig, and a couple of different kinds of poke. You can get a Hawaiian Plate at a food truck or a 5-star restaurant, and they’ll both be delicious.
All-Natural Shave Ice
No trip to Hawaii would be complete without having a shave ice to cool you down on a hot, sunny day. The key to finding good shave ice is finding a place that uses natural fruit or organic concentrates instead of artificial flavors.
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The Best Hotels and Airbnbs on the Big Island
Ulu
Also known as ‘breadfruit,’ ulu is a superfruit grown on the Hawaiian Islands. Ulu can be eaten in many different ways. When it’s green and hard, it tastes like an artichoke and is eaten like a raw fruit or vegetable. When it’s mature, it tastes and cooks like a potato. And when it’s ripe, it’s sweet and is prepared as a dessert.
Coco Puffs
This will be your new favorite pastry. Coco puffs are flaky, cream-puff pastries filled with chocolate pudding and topped with buttery Chantilly frosting (a local Hawaiian take on German chocolate cake frosting).
Laulau
Laulau is a steamed dish of pork, chicken, or fish and coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves. This is typically a plate lunch served with rice and macaroni salad.
Poke
You’ve probably had poke before, but no one does poke as well as Hawaiians. This chunky, raw-fish salad is served at almost every restaurant on every island with every kind of protein and seasoning you can think of. What sets Hawaiian poke apart, though, is Hawaiian sea salt and limu kohu, a variety of seaweed that’s hard to find outside of Hawaii.
Mochi
Mochi is a sweet Japanese rice cake that’s evolved into many different Hawaiian deserts, such as mochi ice cream, mochi balls with shave ice, butter mochi, and fruit-covered mochi. So try as many mochi sweets as you can when you’re in Hawaii!
Saimin
A bowl of saimin is similar to a Chinese egg-noodle soup with chow mean-like noodles, meat, vegetables, and eggs in a Japanese-style dashi broth.
Malasadas
A malasada is essentially a doughnut without a hole. Malasadas originated in Portugal, but the Hawaiian version is filled with custard, chocolate, haupia (coconut pudding), or guava.
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What are your favorite foods to try in Hawaii? Share with us in the comments below!
Recommended Tours in Hawaii
For Planning the Rest of Your Hawaii Trip
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Foods To Try in Hawaii
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous food in Hawaii?
The Best Foods To Try in Hawaii:
1. Poke
2. Hawaiian Plate
3. All-Natural Shave Ice
4. Ulu
5. Coco Puffs
6. LauLau
7. Mochi
8. Saimin
9. Malasadas
What are popular foods in Hawaii?
The Most Popular Foods To Try in Hawaii:
1. Poke
2. Hawaiian Plate
3. All-Natural Shave Ice
4. Ulu
5. Coco Puffs
6. LauLau
7. Mochi
8. Saimin
9. Malasadas
What foods can you only get in Hawaii?
The Best Foods To Try in Hawaii:
1. Poke
2. Hawaiian Plate
3. All-Natural Shave Ice
4. Ulu
5. Coco Puffs
6. LauLau
7. Mochi
8. Saimin
9. Malasadas
What is a typical meal in Hawaii?
If you only try one Hawaiian dish, you need to try a Hawaiian Plate! A Hawaiian Plate comes loaded with poi, laulau, mac salad, rice, kalua pig, and a couple of different kinds of poke. You can get a Hawaiian Plate at a food truck or a 5-star restaurant, and they’ll both be delicious.
What should I avoid in Hawaii?
Things To Avoid When You’re in Hawaii:
1. Using non-reef-safe sunscreen
2. Touching or getting too close to seals and turtles
3. Underestimating the tide
4. Hiking on illegal trails or private land
5. Parking in non-parking spots
6. Stepping on coral
7. Bringing back lava rocks as souvenirs
What food is Honolulu known for?
The Best Foods To Try in Honolulu:
1. Poke
2. Hawaiian Plate
3. All-Natural Shave Ice
4. Ulu
5. Coco Puffs
6. LauLau
7. Mochi
8. Saimin
9. Malasadas
What do Hawaiians eat for lunch?
If you only try one Hawaiian dish, you need to try a Hawaiian Plate! A Hawaiian Plate comes loaded with poi, laulau, mac salad, rice, kalua pig, and a couple of different kinds of poke. You can get a Hawaiian Plate at a food truck or a 5-star restaurant, and they’ll both be delicious.
How do you say good food in Hawaiian?
‘Ono grinds
Pronounced “oh-no grinds“
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This article about the best foods to try in Hawaii is not a sponsored post. And, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Some of the links in this post about the best foods to try in Hawaii are affiliate links. And, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
