Local Hawaiian$$ala-moana
Side Street Inn Ala Moana is the 1992 Hopaka Street original in Honolulu from the late Colin Nishida, the off-duty chef pupu room behind Ala Moana Center where pan-fried pork chops and kim chee fried rice built the cult following.
Signature: Pan-fried pork chops, Kim chee fried rice, Pupu plates
Order: The pan-fried pork chops and the kim chee fried rice.
Tip: Group-friendly portions; come with at least four. Mon to Fri from 16:00, weekends from 12:00, until 20:30.
Japanese udon$waikiki
Marukame Udon Waikiki in Honolulu is the theatre-kitchen Sanuki udon counter on Kuhio Avenue where you watch handcut noodles boiled to order and finished with tempura sides.
Signature: Kake udon, Niku udon, Tempura sides
Order: Niku udon with a sweet beef topping and a kakiage tempura on the side.
Tip: Queue snakes down Kuhio but moves fast. Average bowl is around $6 to $8; cash and card both work.
Plate lunch$kapahulu
Rainbow Drive-In on Kanaina Avenue in Kapahulu Honolulu has slung plate lunches since 1961, founded by Seiju and Ayako Ifuku and now voted top loco moco by Hawaii Magazine readers.
Signature: Loco moco, Mix plate, Boneless chicken plate
Order: The loco moco mix plate with chili and the boneless chicken on the side.
Tip: Open 07:00 to 21:00 daily. Cash-friendly window; no inside seating, eat at the parking-lot picnic tables.
Japanese udon$downtown
Marukame Udon on Fort Street Mall is the Downtown Honolulu cousin of the Waikiki cafeteria-line udon shop, slinging Sanuki-style noodles to office workers on lunch break.
Signature: Kake udon, Curry udon, Tempura
Order: Curry udon and a shrimp tempura, plus a musubi if you skipped breakfast.
Tip: Lunch line peaks 11:30 to 13:00; before 11:30 the kitchen is calm.
Poke$kapahulu
Ono Seafood in Kapahulu Honolulu is the family-run poke counter that fishes shoyu ahi, spicy ahi and tako preparations from the refrigerated case for grab-and-go bowls.
Signature: Shoyu ahi poke, Spicy ahi poke, Tako poke
Order: A two-scoop shoyu ahi and spicy ahi bowl with rice.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays, 09:00 to 18:00 otherwise. No inside seating; eat at the picnic table or take it to Ala Wai Park.
Poke$chinatown
Maguro Brothers Hawaii in Chinatown Honolulu is the Kekaulike Market poke counter that brothers Junichiro and Ryojiro Tsuchiya stock from the Honolulu Fish Auction at dawn.
Signature: Shoyu onion ahi poke, Garlic marlin, Ahi belly
Order: Shoyu onion ahi over rice, plus the grilled garlic marlin if the case has it.
Tip: Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 14:00 only; sells out by 13:00 most days. Closed Sunday.
