 |
| Local Hawaiian cuisine // Photo courtesy of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB) |
The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB) recently named five local eats your foodie clients heading to the Aloha State must try.
In no particular order here are five local Hawaiian eats that the HVCB thinks your clients cannot miss.
Poke
With tender cubes of fresh raw tuna perfectly marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil and other seasonings, it's no wonder this Hawaii staple is quickly gaining popularity in major cities across the United States. Poke can be found everywhere from grocery stores and food trucks to favorites like Da Poke Shack on Hawaii Island and Ohana Poke Market on Lanai.
Shave Ice
Perfect for Hawaii's year-round tropical days, this cool Japanese treat has evolved into a local staple with many shops, like Wailua Shave Ice on Kauai, now offering 100 percent natural syrups.
Loco Moco
Delicious in any form, many have taken creative liberties with this popular dish consisting of a hamburger patty served over rice, topped with brown gravy and eggs (most opt for over easy). In fact, Da Kitchen in Maui has a whole section of its menu dedicated to inventive versions of the loco moco. Just be sure to come hungry.
Saimin
Some may call it ramen, but saimin, developed by different immigrant groups during the plantation era, is very much unique to Hawaii. Warm broth and chewy noodles make it the ultimate comfort food in the islands, enough to be one of the few items offered at no-frills mom and pop shops like Hamura Saimin on Kauai.
Malasadas
Fried, fluffy and rolled in sugar. It's no wonder these Portuguese-style donuts are a tasty hit across the islands. Try it plain or with delicious fillings like haupia (coconut) or lilikoi (passion fruit) at shops dedicated to the treat, like Leonard's Bakery on Oahu.
Visit www.gohawaii.com and www.hvcb.org.