Taste Hawaii’s unique flavors from kālua pork to butter mochi. Here is your guide to the islands’ most delicious local foods.
*We use ads so we can pay for our travels and continue to bring you free travel advice. We also use affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. See our Privacy Policy for more information.
Your When we travel, we always make it a point to try the local food and drinks, and of course, Hawaii was no exception. Hawaiian cuisine is a joyful blend of many different cultures, and each island even has its own little specialities. And since you’re on the island, it’s no surprise that seafood plays a big role on the menus.
One thing is for sure, you will never go hungry in Hawaii! The food scene has something for everyone. At first, I added a few mentions of Hawaiian dishes into my other Hawaii posts, but there ended up being so many that it made more sense to put them all together in a separate post.
So here it is: A guide to some of the foods you should definitely try when visiting Hawaii.
Must-try Hawaiian foods
Mains
The best way to get an introductions to traditional Hawaiian cuisine is by attending a luau. If you’re curious about authentic dishes, make sure to pick a luau where you can see a whole pig being lifted up from an underground imu oven. It’s wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked for hours. The result, Kālua pork, is usually served with rice, potato salad, or macaroni salad.
One of my absolute favorites in Hawaii has been the combo plate with kālua pork, Lomi lomi salmon and Lau lau.
Lau lau is a dish made from pork that’s wrapped in taro leaves and steamed until tender. Lomi lomi, on the other hand, is refreshing side dish made with salted salmon, onions, tomatoes, and green onions. It looks a little bit like salsa.
The name lomi lomi actually means massage, referring to the way the salt is massaged into the fish.
And then there’s the striking purple paste called Poi, made from the root of the taro plant. Poi is a staple in Hawaiian households, and its texture can range from quite thick to very runny.
Other local Hawaiian dishes worth trying include Poke and Loco moco.
Poke is raw, cubed fish marinated in soy sauce. There are endless variations, but the most famous are poke bowls, where the fish is served over rice and salad.
Loco moco, on the hand, is true Hawaiian comfort food; simple, hearty and affordable. The dish usually comes with rice, a hamburger patty, a fried egg and plenty of brown gravy. I tried loco moco and I have to say, in all its quirky uniqueness, it really worked. The brown gravy even reminded me of my mom’s cooking back in Finland, which made me feel a little nostalgic.
The story goes that loco moco was invented on Hawaii’s Big Island in 1949 when a group of teenagers wanted a cheap and filling alternative to sandwiches. A local restaurant put together this dish for them, and the kids loved it and named it Loco moco.
On our latest trip, a friend gave us a tip to try the Hawaiian version of sushi; Musubi. It instantly became our go-to lunch, especially since there happened to be a Musubi Cafe right downstairs from our hotel. We clearly weren’t the only ones who loved it as there was always a line out the door.
The most local version is called Spam Musubi. Spam is canned pork, and it became popular in Hawaii (and across the United States) during World War II when food imports to the islands were difficult. Even today, Spam is still eaten in huge amounts in Hawaii. While Spam musubi sounded a little odd at first, it turned our to be really delicious. Definitely worth trying!
Of course, musubi comes in many variations and flavors. For breakfast, you can order egg musubi, and for lunch there seaweed-wrapped versions filled with everything from fish to chicken and shrimp. You can even ask for a spicy kick if you like. I paired mine with a bowl of miso soup on the side.
Musubi is so popular that you can find it everywhere; in grocery stores, gas stations and even in the famous ABC Stores. But the freshest and tastiest musubi is definitely at Musubi Cafe. It’s not only delicious but also a super affordable meal.
Of course, being on the islands means you’ll find plenty of fresh seafood. Almost every restaurant serves shrimp and fish prepared in countless ways. One dish you’ll spot just about everywhere is Garlic shrimp.
We grabbed it a couple of times from roadside food trucks, for example from Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck in Oahu north shore, and it was absolutely delicious! If garlic isn’t your thing, you can usually choose a butter sauce instead. The dish is typically served with rice and salad on the side. So, so good!
Restarants that serve traditional Hawaiian food can take a little hunting, but we’ve always managed to find gems. The best way is to ask locals for recommendations or do a quick search online before heading out.
Sure, you’ll find plenty of the big American chain restaurants in Hawaii, but I highly recommend skipping those at least once and trying the local flavors instead, they’re absolutely worth it!
Hawaiian drinks
One of the most famous local drinks is a tropical mix called POG. The name comes from its ingredients: pineapple, orange, and guava. You’ll usually find it at hotel breakfasts and in every grocery store across the islands. We absolutely love POG, as well as straight guava juice.
And of course, no list of Hawaiian drinks would be complete without the Mai Tai. It’s often linked closely to Hawaii, and locals are happy to claim it as their own, with stories saying it was invented at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki. In reality, though, it was first mixed in Oakland, California, before the recipe made its way to the islands. Where ever it came from, this rum-based classic cocktail is now a global favorite, and it definitley tastes even bette in Hawaii.
Hawaii also grows its own coffee, and it’s definitely worth sampling. Two of the most popular brands are Kona Coffee from the Big Island and Lion Coffee from Oahu. Personally, I preferred Lion’s flavor profile, though Kona is probably the better-known of the two worldwide.
Desserts and Sweet Treats in Hawaii
When it comes to sweets, one of the must-try Hawaiian classics is Shaved Ice. You’ll find it on nearly every street corner, piled high and flavored with colorful syrups. As a Finn, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first; why would anyone want to eat ice? But of course, the kids were eager to try it, and in the end, it was actually pretty tasty (though very, very sweet).
Just make sure to eat it quickly, Shaved Ice melts in no time!
On the island of Oahu, we also discovered delicious donuts called Malasadas, or mybe they are closer to filled pastries? They’re made much like regular donuts, deep-fried until golden, but the fun part is choosing your own filling. Options range from fruity jams to rich vanilla cream. You can also pick your sugar coating, from plain to cinnamon.
Malasadas actually originated in Portugal and were originally part of Portugese cuisine. They were brought to Hawaii by immigrants, but they’ve since become a local favorite.
The one and only place to get the real deal on Oahu is Leonard’s Bakery in Honolulu. Everywhere else just doesn’t quite compare. Leonard’s is almost iconic at this point. You’ll always see a line, but it moves quickly once you manage to snag a parking spot. And trust me, the wait is absolutely worth it.
The last treat I just have to mention came from a local vendor we bumped into right on the beach. It was Hawaiian Butter Mochi. And wow, was it good! This chewy, coconut mik-based dessert is a true Hawaiian invention, and it instantly became one of my favorite finds from our trip.
If you spot Butter Mochi anywhere in the islands, don’t pass it up. It’s seriously one of the best sweet discoveries we made in Hawaii!
🍧🍧🍧
If you are heading over to Oahu, check our tips to top sights in Honolulu and Oahu. We listed all the best places and how to find them, including the Diamond Head Crater and Pearl Harbor.
To see what it’s like at Big Island, read about our adventures at Volcanoes National Park, around the island or the rare green sand beach.
Mahalo! 🤙
🇺🇸 OUR USA TRAVEL RESOURCES 🇺🇸
🗝 We use this site to book hotel rooms and this site to book apartments when ever we travel.
🚗 We use DiscoverCars for car rentals everywhere in the world.
🗺 When looking for tours we use either Viator or GetYourGuide. They are both great.
🎫 Ticketmaster is a reliable site to get concert and event tickets.
✈️ With Priority Pass membership you can access over 1300 airport lounges all over the world.
📞 If you need a data package to navigate or make calls, Yesim works well for that.
🩹Always protect yourself with an insurance. We use SafetyWing when we travel.
