Palace Saimin is a saimin restaurant in Kalihi, Honolulu.
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.
Why locals love it: Tourists rarely make it past Chinatown to Kalihi for this 1946 saimin counter, but locals have eaten here for three generations.
Tip: Tuesday to Friday only. The custom-order Sun Noodles thicker than the city standard; broth is the secret shrimp-pork dashi.
Address: 1256 North King Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
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.
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.
