Hawaiian$$kalihi
Helena's Hawaiian Food on North School Street has served traditional Hawaiian plates in Kalihi Honolulu since 1946, now run by the founder's grandson Craig Katsuyoshi.
Signature: Pipikaula short ribs, Kalua pig, Butterfish collar
Order: Pipikaula short ribs, butterfish collar and a side of poi.
Tip: Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 to 19:30, cash and card. Closed Saturday and Sunday; arrive by 17:00 for the full board.
Hawaiian$$kakaako
Highway Inn Kakaako is the 2013 Honolulu outpost of the Toguchi family's 1947 Waipahu original, serving the same kalua pork, laulau and combo plates inside the SALT block of Kakaako.
Signature: Kalua pork plate, Laulau, Poi
Order: The kalua pork combo with laulau and poi.
Tip: Free parking with validation, ninety minutes. Lunch wait shortens after 13:00.
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.
