Hawaii restaurants feature some of the most varied cuisine in the world! Why? It's because many different cultures have come to Hawaii over the centuries - so a whole new style of cuisine has emerged in Hawaii. Some people call this cuisine 'Pacific Rim Cooking' - and it's certainly something you won't experience anywhere else!
In Hawaii restaurants, you'll experience culinary influences from America, Asia and Europe. This means you'll be excited to try Hawaiian restaurant specialties - or interesting twists on some of your favorite meals! And, better still, many Hawaii restaurants are set on the beach side. If you're visiting Hawaii on vacation, there's no reason why you can't eat an amazing restaurant meal, whilst watching the sun set over the sea, on every night of your holiday.
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Hawaii Restaurant Specialties
Hawaii's an island nation - so as you'd expect, you'll find many restaurants serving incredible seafood. Tuna fish is abundant in Hawaii, and so you'll find many restaurants serving the fish in a variety of styles. The most traditional is 'poke' - tuna with sea salt and other tasty seasonings, like kukui nut and green pepper. It's often served as an appetizer. Alongside, you may wish to try 'lomi-lomi salmon' - a fresh dish of diced tomatoes, salmon, and onions.
If you want to eat some of the freshest seafood - and experience some of the cheapest prices for restaurants in Hawaii - you could stop off at a shrimp truck. You'll see them all over when driving around the islands, but many are concentrated on the North Coast near Kahuku, on Oahu. Here, you'll be able to buy a plate of hot, tasty, fresh shrimps, soaked in butter, garlic oil, or other specialties. Many shrimp trucks have tables and chairs where you can eat out in the sunshine.
Feel like something a little more sophisticated? Well, Hawaii has some of the most notable sushi restaurants in the world, thanks to the combination of super-fresh fish and Hawaii's proximity to Japan. You'll often find sushi served as a starter at mealtimes, or you may wish to visit some of the best known restaurants, many of which are in Honolulu.
Traditional Dishes at Hawaii Restaurants
No visit to Hawaii would be complete without eating food from a Kalua. Kalua is a tradition in Hawaii - it's an underground oven filled with hot rocks and banana leaves, where a whole suckling pig or turkey will be roasted until tender! Many Hawaii restaurants will serve Kalua pig for lunch, alongside traditional staples of rice and macaroni salad.
If you want the full Kalua experience, then you should definitely visit a traditional 'luau'. These feasts are held at some restaurants and resorts around the islands of Hawaii, and feature music, dance, hula, and lots and lots of Hawaiian food. There will almost always be a Kalua pig to be shared between the guests - alongside the tastiest appetizers and sides!
A World of Choice In Hawaii's Restaurants
The cuisine in Hawaii is simply unique compared to anywhere else you'll ever visit. No matter what your budget, there'll be a restaurant in Hawaii to suit you - with some of the freshest food (and finest views!) you may ever experience.
Written by: Edd Morris
