The Best Meals From Hawaii

Hawaii isn’t just about stunning beaches and swaying palm trees – it’s also home to some of the most mouthwatering food you’ll ever taste.

From smoky roasted pork to savory rice bowls topped with fried eggs, Hawaiian cuisine blends flavors from Polynesia, Asia, and America into something truly special. Food & Wine would probably agree with this list. Whether you’re craving comfort food or want to try something totally new, these island recipes will transport your taste buds straight to paradise.

1. Poke

Picture this: fresh chunks of ruby-red tuna swimming in savory soy sauce, kissed with sesame oil and sprinkled with crunchy seaweed. Poke (pronounced POH-keh) is Hawaii’s answer to sushi, but way more fun to eat.

Locals have been enjoying this dish for generations, originally made by fishermen seasoning their catch right on the boat. Now you’ll find poke bowls everywhere from gas stations to fancy restaurants across the islands.

2. Kalua Pork

Imagine meat so tender it practically melts on your tongue, infused with deep smoky flavors that took hours to develop. Kalua pork gets its magic from being slow-cooked underground in an imu (earth oven) wrapped in banana leaves.

The result? Juicy, pull-apart pork that tastes like a Hawaiian luau in every bite. You can recreate this at home using a slow cooker with liquid smoke and sea salt.

3. Laulau

Wrap pork, fish, or chicken snugly in taro leaves, steam it low and slow, and something magical unfolds – laulau. Each bundle cooks into buttery softness, the leaves soaking up every drop of smoky, savory flavor. When that fragrant steam hits your nose, it’s pure island comfort.

Unwrapping one feels like discovering a hidden gem of Hawaiian tradition, warm and rich enough to make any dinner feel like a luau.

4. Lomi Salmon

If salsa and sushi had a Hawaiian baby, it would be lomi salmon. This refreshing side dish combines salted salmon with ripe tomatoes, sweet onions, and sometimes chili peppers for a zingy kick.

The name “lomi” means “to massage” in Hawaiian, referring to how you gently mix everything together with your hands. It’s cold, tangy, and absolutely perfect for hot island days when you need something light and satisfying.

5. Poi

Here’s the truth: poi divides people faster than pineapple on pizza. Made from mashed taro root, this purple-gray paste has a unique sour taste that’s definitely an acquired flavor.

However, Hawaiians consider poi sacred – it’s been a staple food for over a thousand years, packed with nutrients and easy to digest. Try it with kalua pork or lomi salmon, and you might just join team poi!

6. Huli Huli Chicken

Huli means “turn” in Hawaiian, and boy, does this chicken get turned a lot while grilling! Basted constantly with a sweet-savory sauce of soy, ginger, and pineapple juice, the meat develops an incredible sticky glaze.

You’ll smell huli huli chicken cooking from a mile away at island fundraisers and beach parties. The aroma alone could probably convince a vegetarian to reconsider their life choices (just kidding… maybe).

7. Garlic Butter Shrimp North Shore Style

Cruising along Oahu’s North Shore, that unmistakable smell of sizzling garlic hits before you even spot the shrimp trucks. Each plate comes piled high with buttery shrimp drenched in garlicky goodness, the kind that clings to your fingers and makes every bite unforgettable.

Two scoops of rice and creamy mac salad complete the island comfort combo. Bring napkins, skip shame, and let that glorious garlic do its thing.

8. Spam Musubi

Before you judge, hear this out: Spam musubi is basically Hawaii’s version of a portable power snack. A slice of grilled Spam sits on a block of rice, all hugged together by a strip of crispy seaweed.

Hawaiians eat more Spam per capita than anywhere else in America, thanks to World War II soldiers introducing the canned meat. Now it’s an island icon found in every convenience store and lunch box.

9. Saimin

Think of saimin as Hawaii’s multicultural noodle masterpiece, blending Japanese ramen, Filipino pancit, and Chinese mein into one slurp-worthy bowl. The curly noodles swim in a light, comforting broth that warms you from the inside out.

Topped with char siu pork, green onions, and fishcake, saimin is the ultimate late-night food or rainy-day remedy. McDonald’s in Hawaii even serves it – talk about island dedication!

10. Loco Moco

Nothing says “I’m seriously hungry” quite like loco moco. This hearty dish stacks a juicy hamburger patty on white rice, smothers everything in brown gravy, then crowns it with a sunny-side-up egg.

Born in Hilo during the 1940s when teenagers wanted something cheap and filling, loco moco has become Hawaii’s ultimate comfort food. When that runny yolk breaks and mingles with the gravy? Pure breakfast-lunch-dinner magic happens right there.