# The best Hawaiian foods to try

Native Hawaiian dishes and 'local food' born from the islands' plantation-era mix of cultures, according to Royal Caribbean, Midway Vacations and Hawaii food guides.

- 41 votes · 13 items
- Sep 30, 2026 · Amber Watson
- https://even.best/en/l/871/the-best-hawaiian-foods-to-try

## Top 12

1. **Huli huli chicken** (5 · ▲5 ▼0) — Rotisserie chicken basted in a sweet soy glaze, sold at roadside fundraisers.
2. **Poke** (4 · ▲5 ▼1) — Cubed raw ahi tuna with shoyu, sesame oil, onions and seaweed; this is an island, after all.
3. **Loco moco** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — Rice topped with a hamburger patty, fried egg and brown gravy, born in Hilo in 1949.
4. **Laulau** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — Pork and butterfish wrapped in taro and ti leaves and steamed.
5. **Shave ice** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — Finely shaved ice with tropical syrups, sometimes over ice cream or azuki beans.
6. **Kalua pig** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Whole pig slow-cooked in an underground imu oven, the star of the luau.
7. **Spam musubi** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Grilled Spam on rice wrapped in nori, sold at every convenience store.
8. **Poi** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Pounded taro root paste, the traditional Native Hawaiian staple.
9. **Malasadas** (2 · ▲3 ▼1) — Portuguese doughnuts rolled in sugar; Leonard's Bakery is the most famous.
10. **Saimin** (2 · ▲2 ▼0) — Noodle soup in dashi broth with fish cake and Spam, Hawaii's own ramen.
11. **Haupia** (0 · ▲1 ▼1) — Coconut milk pudding, often on a pie with chocolate.
12. **Lomi lomi salmon** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Salted salmon salad with tomato and onion, a luau side.
13. **Plate lunch** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — Two scoops of rice, macaroni salad and a main like teriyaki beef or chicken katsu.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.