A Hawaii-specific noodle soup in a clear shrimp-and-pork dashi, topped with char siu, fish cake, scrambled egg and green onion. Lighter than ramen, sweeter than udon, deeply local.
Saimin emerged in the plantation camps in the early 1900s as a fusion of Japanese udon, Chinese mein and Filipino pancit. The broth was historically clear and built from dried shrimp, konbu and a touch of ginger. Palace Saimin in Kalihi opened 1946 with thicker custom Sun Noodle and the dashi recipe unchanged today. Zippy's Kapahulu carries the most popular chain version; saimin is sold at Hawaiian McDonald's, the only US state where you can buy it as a fast-food side.
2 editor picks for Saimin in Honolulu, ranked by editorial score. All Honolulu signature dishes · Saimin across every city.
Palace Saimin ★ 4.4
kalihi · 1256 North King Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
Palace Saimin in Kalihi Honolulu is one of the state's oldest saimin shops, opened by Kame Ige in 1946 and still serving the shrimp-and-pork-dashi broth that defined the local noodle bowl.
Zippy's Kapahulu ★ 3.8
kapahulu · 601 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
Zippy's Kapahulu in Honolulu is the 24-hour diner of the local Higa-family chain that sells over 110 tons of chili per month, founded by Francis and Charles Higa in 1966.