My Favorite Spots to Eat in Hawaii

Where to start…

I’m not going to deny it, but I’m extremely spoiled by the amazing food that the Bay Area has to offer. However, after coming back from my holiday vacation in Hawaii, I’m already missing a few of my favorite local food spots, many of which I’m unable to find in the Bay Area. Going through my food pics made me little homesick haha 😛

BEST MUSIBIS EVER!!! I’ve tried to replicate these babies, but it’s not even close to the real deal. The spam, cucumber, and egg go very well together.

Favorite Ramen Place In Hawaii: Gomatei is the place I go to when I want my ramen fix in the islands. I have yet to try AguRamen (apparently one of the contenders for amazing ramen in Hawaii), but Gomatei is pretty delicious. I usually go for the Tan Tan Ramen. This ramen has a few pieces of thick-cut char-siu and some veggies. The soup has a nice kick to it.  

Hawaiian Style Eggs Benedict: If I had to choose between breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I would choose BRUNCH in a heart beat! My favorite brunch meal is anything with eggs benedict. I love the satisfaction I get when I cut open a perfectly poached egg and the egg’s yolk slowly oozes onto the english muffin. SO SATISFYING! Brunch places in the Bay Area are the best (I don’t mean to brag, but they really are). However, the Bay Area don’t really serve Kalua Pork, which happens to be one of my favorite Hawaiian dishes. There is this place called My Cafe in Kapolei that serves Kalua Pork benedicts, which were phenomenal. Definitely will be back again.

POKE BOWLS: Hawaii has their own unique take to poke bowls. The picture on the left is a spicy ahi poke bowl from Ono Seafood, and the picture on the right is spicy ahi & hawaiian style poke bowl from Poke on Da Run. My favorite poke bowl will always be from Ono Seafood. However, if I have a sudden craving for a poke bowl, Poke On Da Run will be my go-to place. Its literally a 5 minute drive, compared to a 25 minute drive to Ono Seafood.

Craving Breakfast in the Middle of the Night? Don’t fear, breakfast at Liliha Bakery in Kalihi is worth the trip. Their warm and buttery rolls with guava jelly will melt in your mouth and their corn beef hash is always on point. Don’t forget to order some coco puffs!

“Snowflake Ice” – A mix between shave ice and ice cream: A delicious dessert, commonly known as Taiwanese shave ice. A big thanks to my boyfriend, who took me here when we first started dating ~3 years ago. My favorite flavor is black sesame. It has an acquired taste, but there are also other flavors to satisfy your palate.

Acai Bowls! Hawaii’s warm and sunny weather makes these babies even more enjoyable. I know I could just go to a nearby Jamba Juice and order a bowl, but Blue Hawaii and HiBlend Cafe make acai bowls a million times better. The next time I’m in Hawaii, I will definitely try other places, as I have heard there are other pretty good ones.

Kahuku Butter & Garlic Shrimp from Romy’s: My annual around the island trip with family will ALWAYS and FOREVER have a lunch stop at Romy’s. If you love garlic and you love shrimp, then you have to try their butter and garlic shrimp plate. It’s not the healthiest thing in the world, but it will make you wanting more. TRUST ME!

I’ve included a few dishes from my Mom’s cooking because her cooking is the best I could ever ask for. For me, Filipino food does not taste good unless its made with love in your mom or dad’s kitchen. Filipino parents typically show their love for their child through their cooking and because my mom loves me SO much, her cooking comes out extra special. I’ve tried a fair share of Filipino restaurants, and they are usually oily or have a good amount of fat attached to the meat. My mom makes Filipino dishes on the healthier side, so its a huge plus for me. My mom’s cooking is what I miss the most from Hawaii.

XOXO,

Andrea