The best Hawaiian foods to try
The top 3 according to 41 votes from people: Huli huli chicken · Poke · Loco moco. (Updated Sep 30, 2026.)
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.
Top 12
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1
Huli huli chicken
Rotisserie chicken basted in a sweet soy glaze, sold at roadside fundraisers.
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2
Poke
Cubed raw ahi tuna with shoyu, sesame oil, onions and seaweed; this is an island, after all.
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3
Loco moco
Rice topped with a hamburger patty, fried egg and brown gravy, born in Hilo in 1949.
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4
Laulau
Pork and butterfish wrapped in taro and ti leaves and steamed.
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5
Shave ice
Finely shaved ice with tropical syrups, sometimes over ice cream or azuki beans.
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6
Kalua pig
Whole pig slow-cooked in an underground imu oven, the star of the luau.
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7
Spam musubi
Grilled Spam on rice wrapped in nori, sold at every convenience store.
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8
Poi
Pounded taro root paste, the traditional Native Hawaiian staple.
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9
Malasadas
Portuguese doughnuts rolled in sugar; Leonard's Bakery is the most famous.
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10
Saimin
Noodle soup in dashi broth with fish cake and Spam, Hawaii's own ramen.
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11
Haupia
Coconut milk pudding, often on a pie with chocolate.
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12
Lomi lomi salmon
Salted salmon salad with tomato and onion, a luau side.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 12… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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13
Plate lunch
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.
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Comments (5)
Poke from a local grocery store is better than any poke chain on the mainland.
Loco moco at Café 100 in Hilo, where it was invented.
Malasadas from Leonard's, worth the line.
Shave ice with li hing mui, the best.
Spam musubi from 7-Eleven is a Hawaii institution 😂