9 Insta-Worthy Plate Lunches You’ll Only Find In Hawaii
Hawaii isn’t just about stunning beaches and epic sunsets, it’s a paradise for foodies too! Plate lunches are the heartbeat of Hawaiian cuisine, combining hearty portions of meat, two scoops of rice, and mac salad on a single plate.
These iconic meals showcase the islands’ unique cultural blend of flavors from Japanese, Filipino, Korean, and native Hawaiian traditions that will make your taste buds dance and your Instagram followers drool.
1. Rainbow Drive-In’s Loco Moco Explosion
This legendary concoction has fueled hungry surfers since 1961. Rainbow Drive-In serves their loco moco with a perfectly runny egg that creates an Instagram-worthy yolk waterfall when punctured.
The hamburger patty sits like a meaty island in a sea of rich brown gravy that somehow never makes the rice soggy. Their mac salad has a secret hint of pickle juice that locals recognize instantly but visitors can’t quite place.
2. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue’s Kalua Pig Fantasy
Where smoke meets magic, you’ll find L&L’s kalua pig slowly cooking underground for hours. The meat emerges tender enough to pull apart with chopsticks, carrying whispers of kiawe wood smoke in every strand.
Though originally reserved for luaus and special occasions, L&L democratized this royal dish for everyday consumption. Paired with their slightly sweet cabbage and perfectly sticky rice, the contrast between smoky meat and fresh crunch creates textural nirvana worth documenting.
3. Aloha Mixed Plate’s Mahi Mahi Miracle
Did you know fish could taste like sunshine? Aloha Mixed Plate’s mahi mahi comes perfectly grilled with a lemon butter sauce that glistens under Lahaina’s golden light.
The fish flakes at the mere suggestion of your fork, revealing pearly white flesh beneath a caramelized exterior. Their unique twist includes a side of lomi lomi salmon that adds a bright, acidic counterpoint to the buttery fish.
Hawaiian sea salt hand-harvested from Molokai elevates the entire experience to something transcendent.
4. Da Kitchen’s Notorious Teri Beef Bonanza
However long you think beef should marinate, Da Kitchen doubles it. Their teri beef absorbs a secret family sauce for days before hitting the grill, creating caramelized edges that should be illegal.
The meat arrives glistening with a sticky-sweet coating that somehow avoids being cloying. Each bite delivers a perfect balance of char, sweet, salt, and umami that makes you close your eyes involuntarily.
Even their mac salad has attitude, chunky, creamy, and somehow both cooling and complementary to the beef’s intensity.
5. Pono Market’s Poke Party Platter
Fresh doesn’t begin to describe what’s happening at Pono Market. Their ahi poke practically quivers with freshness, having been swimming in Kauai’s waters just hours before meeting your plate.
The cubes of ruby-red tuna glisten with sesame oil and are studded with crunchy green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Unlike mainland versions that try too hard, Pono’s poke lets the fish be the star while supporting flavors know their place.
Pro tip, ask for the spicy version if you dare. It’ll make your Instagram story extra dramatic.
6. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck’s Garlic Lover’s Dream
Are vampires extinct in Hawaii? Giovanni’s might be responsible. Their garlic shrimp plate arrives with enough aromatic cloves to ward off supernatural threats for weeks.
The North Shore institution serves prawns swimming in butter and garlic that demand both a bib and zero plans for kissing afterward. Rice soaks up the ambrosial sauce, becoming almost more coveted than the shrimp themselves.
The white truck’s exterior covered in thousands of signatures makes for the perfect backdrop to your food glamour shot.
7. Big Island Grill’s Kalbi Rib Revolution
Though Korean in origin, these short ribs have found their spiritual home at Big Island Grill. Marinated for 48 hours in a mixture that includes crushed pears for tenderizing, these kalbi ribs develop a complexity that borders on sorcery.
When grilled, the sugars caramelize into a lacquer that makes each rib shine like it’s been professionally styled for a photoshoot. The meat easily pulls from the bone with just enough resistance to remind you you’re eating something substantial.
Their kimchi side adds the perfect acidic punch.
8. Zippy’s Chili Cheese Omelet Extravaganza
When midnight cravings hit, locals make a beeline for Zippy’s. Their chili cheese omelet plate defies all breakfast conventions by being available 24/7 and incorporating their famous chili recipe that’s been a closely guarded secret since 1966.
The fluffy egg blanket somehow contains a volcanic interior of chili and cheese without compromising structural integrity. Every bite delivers a perfect ratio of egg, spiced beef, and melted cheese that soothes hangovers and hunger pangs alike.
The contrast against the pristine white rice is particularly photogenic.
9. Feast Manoa’s Furikake Chicken Sensation
Hence the lines that form daily outside this unassuming Manoa Valley spot. Feast’s furikake chicken combines crispy fried chicken thighs with a shower of Japanese seaweed seasoning that creates texture upon texture.
The chicken skin shatters audibly when bitten, revealing juicy meat that’s been brined in a ginger-garlic solution. Green onion oil drizzled on top adds a fresh, aromatic dimension that cuts through the richness.
Their purple sweet potato mash side provides a pop of color that makes this plate particularly camera-ready.
