No trip is complete without sampling some local cuisine. In the case of Hawaii, the local cuisine is more like a wide mix of flavors, from Japanese to Brazilian to traditional Hawaiian food. It’s like a huge melting pot of good food with something to fit everyone’s palate. For my third and final post in the Hawaii series, here are my favorite foods from our recent trip to Oahu…
Poke Bowls @ Ono Seafood
Forget all those fancy toppings they give you at poke places on the mainland - this place is all about the fish, and they give you a LOT of it. Just pick a flavor of fish, rice, choice of free drink, and you’re good to go. Everything we tried here was good, but I especially recommend the spicy ahi.
Tiny store, big flavors
Generous portions of fish in every bowl
Empanadas @ Mami’s Empanadas
It’s a nondescript food truck in an empty alleyway away from the main streets that’s easy to miss if you’re not looking carefully. So I’d suggest looking very carefully because you don’t want to miss this. Mami’s has a selection of various Columbian snacks and sandwiches, but the main attraction is definitely the empanadas. They have both savory and sweet fillings, so take advantage of that 4 for $10 deal and try them all out!
Doesn't look like much on the outside, but the food is divine
Acai Bowls @ Crispy Grindz
Continuing on the food truck trend, Crispy Grillz is a relatively hidden gem we found while driving on the north shore. We came for the acai bowl, which did meet expectations, but we left with a bunch of extra Brazilian snacks that we couldn’t resist trying after seeing and smelling the samples. The coxinha, deep fried flour balls with your choice of meat and cheese filling, was especially good.
Crispy Grindz showing that Brazilian pride
So many yummy snacks
Sashimi @ Chiba Ken
A few blocks away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki Beach is modest looking Japanese restaurant by the name of Chiba Ken. We got the sashimi special here, and it was hands down the best sashimi I’ve ever had outside of Japan. 10/10 would eat again.
Not a single bad piece of fish on this place
Seafood Pasta @ Arancino at the Kahala
This was our one expensive meal of the trip - be prepared to spend at least $40/person here. But the dishes are very unique and well-made for those willing to pay the price. We got the Chitarra all Pescatora (squid ink pasta with seafood) and Spaghetti ai Ricci di Mare (spaghetti with uni). I highly recommend the uni pasta. They import the best uni straight from Japan, and it shows in the freshness and flavor.
Poor lighting in this picture doesn't do the uni pasta justice
Everything @ KCC Farmer’s Market
This would probably be my #1 recommendation for food on Oahu. Held Saturday mornings near the entrance to Diamond Head, it makes an excellent stop for a post-hike breakfast/brunch. There’s a ton of stuff you would never find at farmer’s markets on the mainland, like fresh abalone and poke. The quality, variety, and low price of the food makes coming here a no-brainer for anyone wanting to sample some island flavors.
Seafood, fresh fruit, and more!
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