They fire up their ovens before the roosters crow at 2 a.m.!īut whether you’re picking up an assortment of treats for a mid-morning snack or hitting up Liliha Bakery’s full-service counter for a stack of their popular pancakes, come prepared to practice patience and spend up upwards of 10-15 minutes studying the extensive menu and displays of fresh-from-the-oven fare. Considered the panacea for any breakfast craving - and because they’re open 24 hours you can slip in post-dawn patrol or after a late night hitting the clubs - and enjoy cakes and pastries, baked fresh each day. Liliha Bakery Lying in idyllic Liliha, Liliha Bakery is a full-service bakery and diner which has grown a loyal fan club since it first opened its doors in 1950. Instead, they focused on putting painstaking TLC into their food – try their Dijon parsley dressing! - and boy does it show. When you visit, don’t ask to “meet Ethel.” The couple, Ryoko and Yoishi, who run this establishment actually purchased the diner more than 30 years ago and never took the time to put up a new sign. While enjoying your meal in the cramped dining room you could literally be rubbing shoulders with some of the island’s best chefs– the likes of Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi who have their own namesake restaurants – are known to frequent there. With affordably priced options (most dishes are under $8) diners won’t break the bank while enjoy Ethel’s personal spin on popular plate lunches like loco moco (hamburger with gravy, topped with a fried egg) and ahi tataki (a seared tuna sashimi plate swimming in a mouth-watering sesame oil). Off the beaten path for visitors, colorful Kalihi offers a number of “hole in the wall” dining options, but none as nondescript and nostalgic as Ethel’s Grill. Traveling to the neighbor islands? Ask for your manapua to be airplane-ready and the staff at Char Hung Sut will truss up your box with wax ribbon and family and friends (not to mention the hotel staff) will shower you with honi (kisses) and hugs. Grab a box of bao (buns) and head down to your favorite beach or park for an impromptu picnic or an easy party pleaser.

With a storefront quite literally etched into the side of a building, Char Hung Sut is well-known across the state for their award-winning manapua, pepeiao (pork-stuffed noodles), pork hash, chow fun and other delicious dim sum. So the next time your belly is running on empty take your stomach for a walk on the wild side and taste out some of these tried and true eateries.įor what many consider some of the most mouthwatering manapua (otherwise known as char siu bao) on the island, brave the long lines and local “flavor” and head over to Honolulu’s charming Chinatown. They’re the rough and tumble, unforgettable diners behind back roads or in cramped quarters that the locals refer to (because they are, quite literally) as “holes in the wall.” And some of the shining stars of Honolulu’s dining options are not the traditional, five-star restaurants with linen tablecloths and crystal glasses. The best way to get an idea of Hawaii’s culinary scene is to eat where the locals eat.

From delectable dim sum and traditional Hawaiian delicacies to one-of-a-kind local creations – the state’s melting pot of ethnicities and backgrounds has created a distinct hot pot of flavors. Whether you’re visiting Oahu for the first time or a kamaaina who has lived here your entire life, one of the best benefits of calling Hawaii home is our diverse selection of dining.

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