Maguro Brothers Hawaii Chinatown is a street-food stop in Chinatown, Honolulu.
Editorially verified May 21, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Tip: Lunch-only counter inside the market; sells out by 13:00. Closed Sunday.
Address: 1120 Maunakea Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
Ono Seafood in Kapahulu Honolulu is the takeout-only poke counter that sells shoyu ahi, spicy ahi and tako preparations from a refrigerated case.
Try: Two-scoop poke bowl
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Take it to Ala Wai Park; sells out by 16:00 weekends.
Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu Honolulu is the canonical Hawaii plate lunch counter since 1961, slinging loco moco, BBQ beef and boneless chicken plates.
Try: Loco moco and mix plate
Tip: No inside seating, eat at the picnic tables. Mix plate is the move for a first-timer.
Leonard's Malasadamobile on Kalanianaole Highway in Honolulu Kai is the mobile food truck arm of the 1952 Leonard's Bakery, frying the canonical Hawaii.
Try: Sugar malasada straight from the fryer
Tip: Five-minute fryer-to-bag turnaround. Sugar plain is the move; haupia rotates.
Ted's Bakery at Sunset Beach on Oahu's North Shore, an hour from Honolulu, runs a plate lunch counter alongside the pie case with garlic shrimp.
Try: Chocolate haupia cream pie and garlic shrimp plate
Tip: The chocolate haupia pie is the canonical North Shore order; pies sell by the slice or whole.
Waiola Shave Ice in Kapahulu Honolulu has shaved the city's finest-grain shave ice since 1940, with house syrups and the canonical strawberry condensed milk.
Try: Strawberry condensed milk shave ice
Tip: Strawberry condensed milk is the move; cash and card. Mokihana Street relocation in 2013.
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Kahuku on Oahu's North Shore, an hour from Honolulu, has slung butter-garlic shrimp scampi since 1993 and parked.
Try: Garlic butter shrimp scampi over rice
Tip: Twelve shrimp over two scoops rice with caramelized garlic; queue 30 to 45 minutes. Bring cash for shorter lines.
