What a great trip Hawaii was. We definitely can’t complain about having a work conference here. We already knew the food was going to be absolutely banging. Here are some of the best spots we ate at in Honolulu — in no particular order.
If you’re looking for poke in Honolulu, forget Foodland. Our favorite spot had locations in both Waikiki and Chinatown, and it quickly became our go-to. The poke was incredibly fresh and perfectly balanced without being overwhelmed by heavy sauces.
Walking past a McDonald’s, we had to stop and get the taro pie — a menu item we’ve never seen on the mainland. Crispy on the outside with a warm, sweet taro filling inside, it somehow managed to be even better than my childhood favorite apple pie.
Honestly, I thought the Dole Whip at the Dole Plantation would be overrated, but it ended up being the perfect sweet treat on a hot sunny day. The pineapple flavor really came through and wasn’t overwhelmed by sweetness, which made it even more refreshing.
4. L and L Hawaiian Barbeque –
L and L offered hearty, filling meals at a reasonable price. We ordered the Kalua Pork with Cabbage and Macaroni Salad, which reminded Jimmy of a similar Chinese dish but with a unique Hawaiian flavor. Our friends got the short ribs, which was similar to Korean galbi. We grabbed our food and took it to one of the benches by the beach — such a great way to start the morning.
The udon here is handmade and served with a selection of tempura you can choose on the side. It’s a popular spot, so there are almost always long lines, but the wait feels worth it once you’re sitting down with a warm bowl in front of you. It’s the kind of dish that shows up in Jimmy’s dreams, if that tells you anything.
We grabbed a bite at the Zippy’s (Koko Marina) to try this local fast food chain that’s been in business for the last 60 years! The staff was friendly, the selection was large. It had a mix of American fast food with Hawaiian flair. At this particular location there was a lovely had a view of the bay. The meal was large and filling, and we even had a lovely conversation with some locals who told us more about the area!
Out of all the work conferences we’ve traveled for, we were the most impressed by Hawaii’s food scene. We had other great dishes and drinks on our short trip. However, These were the spots we kept talking about long after the trip ended — and honestly, we’d fly back just to eat them again. As a first time visitor we think any of these spots would be worth your time!
Written by,
Ashley
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