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5 CHINATOWN TREASURES

Yes, we’re going to be talking about the hidden tiny treasures in the mysterious community that is Chinatown. Located right next to our government offices in Honolulu, Chinatown is the link to many Chinese-Americans or Asian Americans in general to connect back to their cultural roots. Not only is the produce and food acquired in Chinatown comparably cheaper than supermarkets, but you’re getting the most bang for your buck. We all know the mainstream Chinatown go-to restaurants and dine-ins, but what about those tinier shops? Surprisingly, these could end up tasting better than the high-end versions. 

Here are some Chinatown hole in the wall treasures I’ve found, enjoy and let’s get eating! 

5. FOOK LAM (100 N Beretania St. Ste 110-112 Honolulu, HI 96817) 

Without a doubt, there is nothing more Chinatown than dim sum. Dim sum is always hard for me to talk rate because once you’ve had the authentic stuff straight from China, its hard to find the same flavors back in Hawaii. With that being said, Fook Lam cuts it pretty close to the real deal. Located in the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, this shop has servers that roll around carts of dim sum so you can pick off your favorites and look at others at the same time. Without a doubt this place is going to cost you the most out of the rest on the list but c’mon, you simply can’t skimp on price for quality dim sum. Their small plates feature 3-4 pieces and will cost at $3.30 a plate, with their specialty dishes costing as much as $18 a plate. With that being said, there are only a few iconic dishes I’d recommend you try and that includes their silky Look Fun topped with hot shoyu, hoisin sauce, and sesame seeds and their perfectly steamed Ha Gau (shrimp dumpling). Other popular dishes include Siu Mai (shrimp and pork dumpling), Dan Tat (egg tarts) and Jin Dui (Deep fried sesame balls). Win some with some dim sum! 

4. MICKEY CAFE (1120 Maunakea St. Honolulu, HI 96817) 

Milk tea boba, fresh fruit smoothies, and egg puffs, that’s all I can say. Mickey Cafe is the drink galore stand of Chinatown. Located right in front of Mauna Kea Marketplace, this little stand features an array of seasonal fruits for their display case. From watermelon, to dragonfruit, and even the stinky fruit we know as durian, they have it all. This is also the only stand I’ve seen so far that serves egg puffs. For those unfamiliar with this term, egg puffs are a Hong Kong snack, crunchy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside, basically like a asian waffle. If you’re looking for a quick middle of the day pick me up, I’d suggest their coffee milk tea. They also serve fresh sugarcane juice where they put it through a strainer and made to order. All of these choices range from $3-$5 at the most with their large one size cup. With no tax, this is the place to go for drinking on a budget. 

3. SEASON’S ICE & EATERY (100 N Beretania St. Ste 117 Honolulu, HI 96817)

Cilantro and parsley haters beware, but those looking for a taste of Taiwanese cuisine, Season’s Ice & Eatery is the place to visit! With a mere 5 tables and a kitchen ran by a husband and wife couple, this place cannot get more authentic than that. Not to be confused with Chinese cuisine, Taiwanese cuisine has a much heavier and flavorful sauces, with herb and spice heavy broths. With their noodle soups averaging around $6.75 for a bowl, you know it’s already going to taste good. Some of their signature dishes are their Taiwanese beef noodle soup, Taiwanese dumplings (with some sweet chili sauce added on top of course) , and their braised pork intestines. Yes you heard me, intestines. But hey, don’t knock it till you try it! 

2. LAM’S KITCHEN (1152 Maunakea St. Ste A Honolulu, HI 96817) 

I don’t know about you but whenever I was sick, Lam’s Kitchen was the first place I’d head to. Known for their famously tender and melt in your mouth beef flank and tendon look fun soup, Lam’s Kitchen was THE place to go to if you were looking to visit your home away from home. Once you step through its rickety red doors you enter a realm of old ladies gossiping and shouting in cantonese along with the latest tv drama or soap opera airing on tv. At $8.15 for this massive bowl, you’re getting all the meaty goodness and their house made noodles, along with their broth brewed for many hours and topped off with some bok choy and green onions for flavor. If you’re looking for the most authentic Chinese cuisine on the island, this is definitely the place to check out! 

1. MAGURO BROTHERS HAWAII (1039 Kekaulike St Ste 113 Honolulu, HI 96817) 

There’s no other place on this island where you can get poke as fresh as seeing it cut off from the tuna right in front of your eyes. Hidden in the corner of a massive fish and produce market, Maguro Brothers was started respectively by two brothers. They’ve gotten so popular that this summer they were able to open their second stand right next to the Surfjack Waikiki. They have a small size starting at $6.50 and their large size (pictured above) is $7.95. You can then mix and match your sauces or include extra add-ons like uni (sea urchin), hamachi (yellowtail), or king salmon. If you’re looking for a poke bowl experience unlike any other, try this place out! 

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There’s only been one location so far but 2017 has definitely been the year of liquid nitrogen EVERYTHING. 

You know, that colorless gas that will conveniently come spilling out of your drinks, ice cream, candy, you name it and its there. While its meant to be completely evaporated before you can eat your food, its probably not the best idea to ingest any leftover liquid. So with virtually no change in taste, is this new liquid nitrogen trend really worth it? 

For the Instagram likes, yes. But if we’re actually talking about flavor? I’d suggest you stay as far away from it as possible. Another known creation from this is called, “Dragon’s Breath Candy” which is basically dry and bland cereal balls served in a flimsy styrofoam cup with some chocolate sauce to actually give you flavor. Fittingly, this place is called Mauna Kea Mist located at the Shirokiya Japanwalk in Ala Moana Center. This was THE craze for summer 2017, showing up on all forms of social media sites attracting more and more people. I finally caved in and tried this place out a few months ago, and I could not be any more disappointed in this trend as you are. 

Will the trend continue? I sure hope not. These cereal balls cost $6 and similar places that feature liquid nitrogen products usually up their cost but tend to die off fast because they lack a key component: flavor. 

Like they all say, it’s whats on the inside that matters. 

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4 BEST ACAI BOWLS ON OAHU

Hey everyone! 

Let’s talk acai bowls. If you’re from Hawaii, you already know how important acai bowls are to us and no- i’m not talking about the ones from Jamba Juice, those are definitely not a Hawaii thing, or at least not the best you can get. 

First things first, we pronounce it here as “ah-sai” whereas people from the mainland know it as “ah-sah-EE.” Yes, we know that both terms are the correct way of pronouncing it, but we will definitely know you’re from the mainland if you say the second one. 

With that being said, below you will find a list of the 4 best acai bowls I’ve had around the island. It will be judged off of 3 basic criteria. 

Appearance. If it doesn’t look even a bit Instagram worthy then cmon, how are we supposed to hear about these places? 

Taste. If it tastes like an acai packet that we can buy from costco, then we’ll cross that off of our list. 

Price. If it’s $10 for basic toppings then no, you’re not going to make the cut. 

Let’s get eating!  

4. DA COVE HEALTH BAR (3045 Monsarrat Ave. Ste 5, Honolulu, HI 96815)

APPEARANCE 

With probably the messiest plating of the list, this place could definitely work on their arranging skills but hey, it sure gives you a local and homemade feel to it. 

TASTE 

I’m not too entirely sure what brand of acai Da Cove provides, but it sure doesn’t taste like your generic Jamba Juice blend. With that being said, they had an overpowering banana flavor and only placed one strawberry for their toppings. 

PRICE 

The picture above is their small size so they surely are generous with their portion sizes. Priced at $7.50, their small size comes with granola, bananas, strawberries, and a drizzle of honey. Their medium size is $9 and comes with more toppings, and additional toppings do cost $1 each. 

3. HALEIWA BOWLS (66-030 Kamehameha Hwy Haleiwa, HI 96712) 

APPEARANCE 

I’d say their serving sizes are comparably identical to all others. Not too little bananas and strawberries, but not so much that it overpowers the acai either. I do wish that they go a little more light handed on their granola but hey, I won’t complain. This store is also the only place I’ve seen that offers blackberries, kiwi, and wheatgrass powder as toppings. 

TASTE 

Now this one is the farthest you’ll have to travel away from central Honolulu for your acai fix but trust me, you’ll want to for this one. This small hut serving up acai bowls on the side of the road completes anyone’s North Shore experience. They also offer 2 types of acai blends, either blended with frozen berries or as its straight puree form. 

PRICE 

This one is the most expensive on the list, with their small size thats going to set you back $8 and their large at $11. With that being said, it will be served with your traditional toppings including fresh bananas, raw coconut flakes, granola and a drizzle of honey. Any other topping will however set you back at 0.75 cents each. But when being compared to other acai bowl places in this area, the flavors will be the most authentic. 

2. JUIC’D LIFE (685 Auahi St. Ste 218, Honolulu, HI 96813)

APPEARANCE 

The appearance on this one is surely not as nicely arranged as it could’ve, but it sure does reflect the variety of options you’ll be able to get! They included a whole small banana in there and honestly, i’m not complaining, it still looks for an amazing picture with their minimalistic white bowl and packaging. 

TASTE 

Without a doubt the Sambazon brand reigns highest in most stores around the island that carries acai bowls. With that being said, according to a comment made by the owner on yelp, their specific acai blend sets it apart from competitors because its specifically created by Sambazon for their brand, meaning normal consumers won’t be able to get this flavor anywhere else. Though using a generic brand, I applaud them for creating their special twist on a classic flavor. 

PRICE 

This place gets second place because it’s the cheapest on our list considering their topping options. For a flat rate of $8.50 including tax, you’ll be able to get any topping you’d like. Some of their unique toppings include dates, pineapples, and hemp seeds. Whether you like your acai bowls with 2 toppings or with all of their 18 options it’d all be at the same price, talk about eating healthy on a budget! 

1. BANAN (1810 University Ave Honolulu, HI 96822)

APPEARANCE

With a solid 4 stars and over 500 reviews across their 3 locations on the island, Banan has a unique acai flavor you cannot get anywhere else on the island. I mean just look at it, where else on this island can you get your acai fix served to you in a papaya that doubles as a bowl? You’ll definitely get a fair share of Instagram likes with this one. It’s so aesthetically pleasing you won’t even have to put a filter on it. #nofilter 

TASTE 

Non-dairy AND supporting local food industries? You can sure count me in! All of their soft serve flavors are made with frozen bananas all sustainably sourced and grown on Hawaii farms. Because they make all of their own combinations their acai flavor tastes more pure instead of the generic brand that most places use. You’ll be able to get all your favorite flavors without the guilt of added sugars, plus you’ll feel great afterwards too! And for this reason is why it’s placed at #1 on the list! 

PRICE 

Their smallest size is 8 ounces and priced at $4 and with their papaya boat at $6 and finally their biggest size of 16 ounces at $8. Then you’ll be able to choose a variety of toppings ranging in price, with 0.50 cents for each topping to as much as $2 for their 16 ounce size. They surely do not skimp on their toppings though and can carry anything from puffed quinoa to mochi to mac nut honey butter. Now c’mon, what other place around here carries those?