Local Food to Try on O'ahu: Plate Lunch, Poke, Shave Ice and More
One of the best ways to understand O'ahu is to eat your way around it. Local food here reflects the island's history: Native Hawaiian traditions, the plantation era that brought workers from China, Japan, Portugal, Korea, the Philippines and beyond, and the casual, generous style of island life. The result is comfort food you won't find quite the same anywhere else.
This guide covers the dishes to look for, what they are and a few tips for ordering like a local.
"Hawaiian Food" vs. "Local Food"
You'll hear both terms. Hawaiian food usually means traditional Native Hawaiian dishes such as poi, laulau and kalua pig. Local food is broader: the mixed, plantation-influenced cooking that everyday people in Hawai'i eat, like plate lunch, saimin and SPAM musubi. Try both.
The Plate Lunch
The plate lunch is the everyday meal of Hawai'i. A classic plate has two scoops of white rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and a main dish – perhaps teriyaki beef, chicken katsu, kalbi short ribs or garlic shrimp. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable and you'll find plate lunch at drive-ins, food trucks and small restaurants all over the island. A "mixed plate" lets you try two or three mains at once.
Poke
Poke (pronounced "poh-keh") means "to cut into pieces." It is cubed raw fish, most often 'ahi (tuna), seasoned with ingredients such as sea salt, seaweed, sesame oil, soy sauce and green onion. Supermarkets and fish markets in Hawai'i often have a poke counter with many varieties. Order it on its own or as a poke bowl over rice.
Garlic Shrimp
The shrimp trucks of the North Shore, especially around Kahuku, are famous for shrimp cooked in garlic butter and served with rice. It is messy, delicious and a classic stop on a circle island day. Read more in our North Shore O'ahu guide.
Shave Ice
Shave ice is ice shaved so finely it is almost like snow, then soaked in flavored syrups. Popular add-ons include ice cream or sweet azuki beans at the bottom, a "snow cap" of sweetened condensed milk on top and li hing mui powder, a sweet-and-sour dried plum flavor. And remember: it is shave ice, not "shaved ice" or a snow cone (see our post on Hawai'i tourist mistakes to avoid).
SPAM Musubi
A slice of grilled SPAM on a block of rice, wrapped with a strip of nori seaweed. It is sold everywhere from convenience stores to cafes and is the perfect road-trip snack. Hawai'i eats more SPAM per person than any other state, and once you try a warm musubi you'll understand why.
Malasadas
Malasadas are Portuguese-style doughnuts brought to Hawai'i by Portuguese plantation workers. They are fried until golden, rolled in sugar and sometimes filled with custard, chocolate or haupia (coconut) cream. They are best eaten warm.
Loco Moco
Loco moco is a Hawai'i comfort food classic: white rice topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and brown gravy. It is widely said to have originated in Hilo on the Big Island and is now on breakfast and lunch menus all over the islands.
Traditional Hawaiian Dishes
- Poi: taro root that is cooked and pounded into a smooth paste. It has a mild, slightly sour taste and is traditionally eaten alongside salty dishes. Taro (kalo) is deeply important in Hawaiian culture – learn why in The Hawaiian Creation Legend and Taro.
- Kalua pig: pork traditionally cooked for hours in an underground oven called an imu, giving it a smoky flavor.
- Laulau: pork, often with fish, wrapped in taro leaves and steamed until tender.
- Lomi salmon: a fresh, salty side dish of salted salmon with tomatoes and onions.
- Haupia: a firm coconut pudding often served at the end of a meal.
Many local restaurants serve these as a "Hawaiian plate," which is a great way to try several at once.
More Local Favorites
- Saimin: a noodle soup that reflects Hawai'i's Chinese, Japanese and Filipino heritage.
- Manapua: the local name for steamed or baked buns filled with sweet char siu pork.
- Acai bowls: blended acai topped with fruit and granola, popular after a morning at the beach.
- Fresh tropical fruit: look for apple bananas, papaya, mango and lilikoi (passion fruit) at farmers markets and roadside stands.
A Delicious Day of Eating on O'ahu
Want to try as much as possible in one day? Here is a simple plan that fits easily around sightseeing:
- Breakfast: a loco moco or an acai bowl topped with local fruit.
- Morning snack: a warm malasada or a SPAM musubi for the road.
- Lunch: garlic shrimp on the North Shore, or a mixed plate lunch.
- Afternoon: shave ice with ice cream on the bottom.
- Dinner: a Hawaiian plate with kalua pig, laulau, lomi salmon and poi, finished with haupia.
Pace yourself – and share. Portions in Hawai'i are generous.
Where to Find Local Food
You don't need a fancy restaurant to eat well on O'ahu. Some of the best local food comes from humble places: drive-in counters serving plate lunch, supermarket poke counters, bakeries, roadside fruit stands and food trucks parked near beaches. Farmers markets, such as the Saturday morning market at Kapi'olani Community College near Diamond Head, are a great way to sample fruit, snacks and prepared foods from many small vendors in one stop.
Tips for Eating Like a Local
- Look for the line. A queue of local workers at lunchtime is a very good sign.
- Bring an appetite – or a friend. Plate lunches are big and easy to share.
- Try something unfamiliar. Poi, li hing mui and laulau may be new to you, and that is the point.
- Be patient at food trucks. Food is often cooked to order, and the wait is part of the experience.
- Carry a card and some cash. Most places take cards, but a little cash is handy for small stands.
Taste O'ahu on a Tour
Introducing guests to local food is part of every tour we run. Meals aren't included, but we usually stop at a place that offers two or three different local options, so everyone can find something they like. Whether it is garlic shrimp on the North Shore or shave ice in Hale'iwa, your guide will point you to the local favorites. See all of our private O'ahu tours, plan your route with our circle island stop-by-stop guide, and don't forget a water bottle – our packing list has the rest.