15 best restaurants for Hawaiian plate lunch in Hawaii 

15 best restaurants for Hawaiian plate lunch in Hawaii

Probably the most famous dish in Aloha is the Hawaiin Plate Lunch. A go-to meal that is both fulfilling and light on your pocket, it is served in all drive-thrus, roadside stands, and big restaurants. It includes types of meat, a mayonnaise-based macaroni salad and white rice. The history of this delicacy dates back to the 1880s and the dish is believed to have originated as a lunch meal for plantation workers. A few components of the Hawaiian Plate Lunch include a loco moco, kalua pork or Spam musubi, and rice. Here is a list of some of the best Hawaiian Plate Lunches to help you relish this delicacy!

15. Smoked Guava

Established in 2011, Smoked Guava has been serving delicious Hawaiian cuisine for years. Their smoked pork lunch plate comes for 10$ and is a deliciously fulfilling meal. The white rice is perfectly cooked and the pork is well-spiced. All the meat here is smoked on strawberry wood which is then cooked in an oven.

14. Scooper's Kitchen

This is a lunch wagon located in Waipahu that serves a variety of lunch plates here. The menu here consists of local grinds. The Hawaiian Plate Lunch here consists of beef, white rice and macaroni salad which is filled with classic Hawaiian flavors. The dressing used in the salad is homemade and has a distinctive flavor. Locals also relish sweet and sour ribs here.

13. Pongos Kitchen

Serving traditional Hawaiian dishes since 1991, Pongo's Kitchen was started by Tracy and Cindy. You will find their local plate lunches to be fulfilling and equally appetizing. One of the most customer-favorite lunch plates here is their guava chicken and salmon plate. You will get mochi for dessert on some of their lunch plates which are delectable.

12. Str'Eats of Aloha

Run by Rudy Ducusin, this humble eatery is located in Honolulu. The portions here are giant and are extremely flavorful. Some of the popular lunch plate options available here are their salmon katsu plate, shrimp katsu plate, and lechon kawali. You will find a variety of fried and grilled options here.

11. Sugoi

Sugoi serves a sea of plate lunches which are the perfect meal to eat during a hectic office day. Every plate comes with white rice and macaroni salad. From mahi-mahi to pork and chicken, savor a variety of proteins that are available here or better build your own bento here.

10. Fresh Catch

As the name suggests, all the protein served in this eatery is sourced fresh from the waters. The menu here has around 20 different varieties of Hawaiian lunch plates. Some of the famous plate lunch options here include the ahi katsu, fried chicken, salmon, and beef stew which is served with rice and salad on the side.

9. Diamond Head Market and Grill

Well, let's just say, you will not get cheap plate lunches over here but they are totally worth the price! All the lunch plates in this eatery are served with white or brown rice and a green salad on the side which can be substituted with fries or potato mac salad. Their hamburger steak plate and teriyaki chicken plate are definitely worth trying.

8. Kau Kau Grill

Kau Kau Grill serves authentic Hawaiian-style lunches. A hole-in-the-wall eatery, you will find limited seating and a small counter here, but the food here will not disappoint you. Their spicy poke bowls here are delectable. The most ordered varieties of dishes here include garlic shrimp, spicy poke, and barbeque ribs.

7. Side Street Inn

Having been operating since 1992, this place is an award-winning eatery that is famous for serving authentic Hawaiian food. The lively atmosphere here will lighten up your mood. You will find traditional Hawaiian plate lunches being served on platters here. Relish a delectable plate lunch with chicken katsu and loco moco as an entree.

6. Taka's Box Lunch

This tiffin service provider well justifies the prime reason behind the invention of the Hawaiian plate lunch, which was to prepare a quick and healthy lunch. You will find a variety of bento boxes with seafood and smoked options which are absolutely scrumptious in taste. They have some special items also like their famous garlic chicken.

5. Helena's Hawaiian Food

This is a family-owned restaurant that has been serving traditional Hawaiian food since 1946. It is visited by people from other states as well. The simple and unpretentious eatery serves authentic Hawaiian recipes in a not-so-fancy style. According to reviews, the short ribs here are customer favorites!

4. Alicia's market

This eatery was started in 1949 in a small wooden hut by Alicia and Raymond Kam. The home-style Hawaiian food and friendly atmosphere will make you feel at home. Their roast beef, char sui, and seasoned steaks are loved by locals as per reviews.

3. Liliha Drive Inn

This small drive-thru is a heaven of Hawaiian dishes and barbeques. You will have a variety of plate lunches to choose from. According to the reviews, some of the most loved plate lunches here are the seafood plate lunch and the pork katsu. The variety of sauces here will leave you drooling. The prices are reasonable, and the service is also friendly.

2. Rainbow Drive-In

You will find a variety of plate lunches here that are droolworthy and probably the best in town. All plate lunches come with scoops of rice and macaroni salad. Their barbeque beef plate, chili plate, loco moco plate, pork cutlet, and mahi mahi plate are absolute favorites of many locals. The fast service here will also win your heart.

1. Oli's Kitchen

Hawaiian comfort food is served at its best here! The menu of this place is designed in such a way that classic hometown dishes are made even more delectable. Their fusion dishes are also popular. Their kalua pig and cabbage and garlic shrimp are the most ordered items from the menu.