Off the Hook Poke Market is a poke restaurant in Manoa, Honolulu.
Off the Hook Poke Market in Manoa Honolulu is the takeout-only poke counter at the foot of Manoa Valley that draws University of Hawaii students for two-scoop shoyu bowls.
Why locals love it: Manoa Valley is twenty minutes off the tourist track but UH Manoa students fill the counter for the city's best two-scoop bowls.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Order via the website for pickup to skip the lunch queue.
Address: 2908 East Manoa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822
Why locals love it: The two-brother poke counter inside Kekaulike Market sells out by 13:00 and never opens past lunch, so Waikiki visitors miss it.
Tip: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 14:00. The Tsuchiya brothers source from the Honolulu Fish Auction at dawn.
Why locals love it: Tourists go to Foodland for poke; locals come to this Kapahulu storefront for the sashimi-grade shoyu ahi at half the price.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. No inside seating; sells out by 16:00 weekends.
Why locals love it: The Manoa Marketplace sandwich shop is a hike from Waikiki, but UH students and Manoa Valley families have eaten here since 1977.
Tip: Monday to Friday 07:00 to 16:00, Sunday to 14:30. Closed Saturday. The papaya smoothie is the must-order.
Why locals love it: Locals queue for this 1946 Kalihi institution but most visitors never venture past Chinatown to North School Street.
Tip: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 19:30. Pipikaula short ribs are the must-order; the kalua pig is also canonical.
Why locals love it: Most Honolulu visitors buy Mauna Loa macadamia chocolates at the airport, missing this tree-to-bar chocolate maker in SALT Kakaako.
Tip: Daily 10:00 to 18:00. The 90-minute factory tour runs at 10:00 most mornings; book ahead.
Why locals love it: Hidden up Waialae in Kaimuki, Ed Kenney's aina-based room cooks with farms tourists never see and rotates the menu weekly.
Tip: Sunday brunch is the locals' move. The shishito pepper romesco runs as a small plate most weeks.
