Must Try Food in Hawaii (2025)

Discover the must-try dishes in Hawaii, from poke and malasadas to garlic shrimp and Dole Whip—your ultimate 2025 island food guide. From iconic shave ice to next-level poke, here’s my 2025 lineup of what you absolutely have to eat when you’re in Hawaii.

There’s something magical about Hawaii that keeps drawing us back—and no, it’s not just the beaches. After returning from our 2025 family holiday in Honolulu, I’m convinced more than ever that Hawaii has one of the most unique and vibrant food cultures in the world. And since our last “must try” food list was made more than a decade ago, I figured it was about time we updated it—because there’s so much more to eat, and some of it we didn’t even know existed the first time around.

Hawaiian cuisine is a true melting pot—rooted in traditional Polynesian cooking but heavily influenced by Asian immigrants and post-war American flavours. It’s hearty, creative, and bursting with local produce, from tropical fruits to fresh-caught seafood. If you’re planning a trip to Oahu, this list is your updated 2025 guide to all the foods you simply must try. Let’s dig in.

Acai Bowls

You can’t visit Hawaii and not have an acai bowl. They’re cold, fruity, and the perfect way to cool down after a morning in the sun. If you’re on the North Shore, don’t miss Farm to Barn in Haleiwa. Their acai bowls are loaded with fresh fruit, granola, cocoa nibs, and are well-priced too.

Saimin

Saimin is Hawaii’s version of ramen, with influences from Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino cuisine. The noodles are slightly chewier, and the broth leans more towards shoyu or shio flavours. It’s probably not for everyone, especially if you’re used to rich tonkotsu ramen, but it’s worth trying at least once for the experience.

Spam Musubi

Let’s start with what you’ll see immediately upon landing: Spam musubi. I’m not even joking—you’ll find it at the airport, convenience stores, local diners, even petrol stations.  It’s basically a handheld rice ball topped with seared Spam glazed in teriyaki sauce, wrapped in a crispy seaweed strip. It’s savoury, sweet, and oddly addictive. Best of all, it’s the perfect grab-and-go beach snack.

Loco Moco

This is Hawaii’s version of a full English breakfast—only it swaps out the beans for something heartier. Picture this: a bed of rice, topped with a juicy burger patty, smothered in thick brown gravy, and crowned with two runny sunny-side-up eggs. Add a side of macaroni salad, and you’ve got a serious breakfast of champions. Our favourite version was at Kolohe Café—absolutely nailed it.

Kalua Pork

Kalua pork is Hawaii’s take on slow-cooked barbecue, and it’s truly something special. Traditionally, it’s made by roasting a whole pig underground in an imu, a Hawaiian earth oven. The result? Meat that’s smoky, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and deeply flavourful. It’s usually served as part of a luau feast, and if you get the chance to try it the traditional way—don’t skip it.

Poke

I’ll admit it: I wasn’t sold on poke during our first trip to Hawaii. But this time? Total convert. It’s simple—cubed raw fish (usually ahi tuna and our family favourite salmon), marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and other goodies. The quality of the fish makes all the difference, and on Oahu, you can find amazing poke nearly everywhere. Foodland grocery stores, in particular, had a surprisingly great variety.

Garlic Shrimp

Garlic shrimp is the dish to get on Oahu’s North Shore. It’s messy, shell-on, buttery, and absolutely packed with garlic. Giovanni’s Aloha Shrimp is the most famous (expect a queue), but we also loved Jenny’s Shrimp Truck for something a little less crowded and just as tasty.

Hawaiian Shaved Ice

Forget snow cones—Hawaiian shaved ice is a different beast altogether. It’s super fine and fluffy, almost like fresh snow, and soaks up syrup evenly throughout. This treat has its roots in the mid-1800s, brought over by Japanese plantation workers who’d top shaved ice with sweet syrups to cool off. Today, places like Matsumoto Shave Ice offer dozens of flavours and combinations. It’s an essential Oahu experience.

Dole Whip

No list of Hawaiian treats would be complete without mentioning Dole Whip. This soft-serve pineapple ice cream is famously creamy and refreshing. You can get it on the mainland, sure—but nothing compares to the one at the Dole Plantation in Wahiawa. We also discovered a delicious surprise there: chocolate-covered pineapple. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.

Malasadas

Malasadas are Portuguese doughnuts that made their way to Hawaii via immigrants in the 19th century—and thank goodness they did. Leonard’s Bakery in Honolulu has been frying them up since 1952, and it’s an institution for good reason. These doughnuts are crisp on the outside, pillowy soft inside, and dusted in sugar. Get them fresh and warm if you can—it makes all the difference.

Guava Everything

If there’s one fruit that seems to pop up everywhere in Hawaii, it’s guava. We saw it in sauces, pancakes, cocktails, and even butter. There’s something about its tart-sweet flavour that makes it incredibly versatile. Guava pancakes with a drizzle of syrup and a pat of butter? Unreal. It’s tropical, vibrant, and distinctly Hawaiian.

Li Hing Mui Madness

Li hing mui is another flavour that caught me by surprise. It’s a salty, sweet, and tangy dried plum powder that originated in China but has firmly made itself at home in Hawaii. The locals sprinkle it on everything—from gummy bears and dried mangoes to doughnuts and slushies. It adds a zing that’s hard to describe but impossible to forget.

Mai Tai

And finally, you can’t leave Hawaii without sipping on a Mai Tai—or several. We had some of the best during a sunset catamaran cruise, where they were unexpectedly strong and delicious. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a beach bar or on a boat—Hawaii knows how to pour a proper drink.

There you have it—my updated 2025 list of all the must-try foods in Hawaii. Whether you’re snacking on Spam musubi or slurping down shaved ice, the islands serve up unforgettable flavour in every bite.