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Street food
Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu Honolulu is the canonical Hawaii plate lunch counter since 1961, slinging loco moco, BBQ beef and boneless chicken plates.
TryLoco moco and mix plate
TipNo inside seating, eat at the picnic tables. Mix plate is the move for a first-timer.
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Street food
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.
TrySugar malasada straight from the fryer
TipFive-minute fryer-to-bag turnaround. Sugar plain is the move; haupia rotates.
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Street food
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.
TryChocolate haupia cream pie and garlic shrimp plate
TipThe chocolate haupia pie is the canonical North Shore order; pies sell by the slice or whole.
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Street food
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.
TryStrawberry condensed milk shave ice
TipStrawberry condensed milk is the move; cash and card. Mokihana Street relocation in 2013.
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Street food
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.
TryGarlic butter shrimp scampi over rice
TipTwelve shrimp over two scoops rice with caramelized garlic; queue 30 to 45 minutes. Bring cash for shorter lines.
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Street food
Romy's Kahuku Prawns on the North Shore an hour from Honolulu farms its own shrimp and prawns on the property and serves them butterfly-cut from the lunch.
TrySweet shrimp and prawns from the farm next door
TipOrder the spicy prawn plate over rice; the sweet shrimp size up larger than the truck competitors down the road.