In Bizarre Foods Hawaii, part of the Delicious Destinations series featuring Andrew Zimmern, the host and his crew visited numerous restaurants in the city, showcasing a variety of unique and delicious dishes. Here is a convenient list of all the addresses and dishes highlighted in this exciting exploration of Hawaii’s food scene.
ANDREW ZIMMERN HAWAII DISH – Loco Moco
WHAT IS IT?
To make Loco Moco, a hamburger patty is placed over a bed of rice, smothered with gravy and topped off with a fried egg. The dish incorporates short grain white rice, which was introduced to the islands by the Japanese who arrived in the 1800s to work on sugar plantations. The gravy is a comfort food from the mainland that became popular among American GIs stationed on the islands, while hamburgers are a staple in Hawaii. Although there are options to cook the eggs in any style, traditionalists usually prefer over easy.
WHERE IS IT?
Cafe 100
969 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720, United States
Hawaii, United States
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS HAWAII
In 1793, British naval captain gave King Kamehameha a group of longhorn cattle. This led to the creation of the Hawaiian cowboy or Paniola and the need for Hawaiians to learn ranching skills. Beef became a big part of Hawaiian cuisine and is the main ingredient in the loco moco dish.
DISH – Huli Chicken
WHAT IS IT?
Huli chicken is a wood-coal smoked rotisserie chicken that’s known for its delicious taste and unique cooking experience. The chicken is seasoned with a rub containing paprika and garlic and often coated in teriyaki sauce, which reflects the Japanese influence on Hawaiian cuisine. The chicken is cooked on an 18-foot custom trailer rotisserie over kiawe wood coals, which gives it a distinct smoky flavor. Up to 230 chickens can be cooked in a day using this method.
READ MORE: ANTHONY BOURDAIN HAWAII: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED ON PARTS UNKNOWN
WHERE IS IT?
Randy’s Huli Chicken and Ribs
79-7552 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd, Kealakekua, HI 96750, United States
Hawaii, United States
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS HAWAII
The term “Huli” in Hawaiian means to turn. Huli chicken was invented in the 1950s by a local man from Hilo named Ernest Morgado. The dish was ideal for feeding a large number of people during fundraisers, thus it became associated with a sense of community.
READ MORE: ANTHONY BOURDAIN HAWAII : ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED ON NO RESERVATIONS
ANDREW ZIMMERN HAWAII DISH – Lau Lau
WHAT IS IT?
Lau Lau is an ancient Hawaiian dish made by wrapping salty meat in Taro leaves. The leaves come from a family farm and must be cooked before eating to prevent throat irritation. The filling is made using a mix of local pork butt and beef shoulder, although fish or sweet potatoes are also popular. Hawaiian sea salt is a must and is sprinkled between the leaves before it is folded into a package. Lau Lau is traditionally cooked in an underground oven called an imu, but modern recipes call for three hours of steaming. Lau Lau is often served plate lunch style with macaroni salad and rice.
WHERE IS IT?
Kuhio Grille – Home Of The Famous 1lb Laulau
80 Pauahi St, Hilo, HI 96720, United States
Hawaii, United States
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS HAWAII
Taro, a plant with starchy roots and leaves, is a staple food in Polynesia that was brought to Hawaii by the first settlers who arrived on double-hulled canoes. It played a vital role in the survival of the indigenous people, and is highly respected by Hawaiians who consider it as an elder sibling of humanity.
ANDREW ZIMMERN HAWAII DISH – Sweet Bread
WHAT IS IT?
Sweet bread is a soft, fluffy bread from Portugal. The famous King’s Hawaiian sweet bread was first baked in Short N Sweet bakery in the 1950s. To make it light and fluffy, the recipe includes mixing sugar and butter, mashed potatoes, lemon zest, and bread flour with a high gluten content. The dough is mixed for 20 minutes, left to rise, divided into equal pieces, hand-rolled into balls, and sprayed with egg wash before baking to a golden brown.
WHERE IS IT?
Short N Sweet Bakery & Cafe
1263 Kilauea Ave Unit 280, Hilo, HI 96720, United States
Hawaii, United States
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS HAWAII
Portuguese immigrants brought the tradition of sweet bread to Hawaii in the 1800s. It became a classic and is often associated with Hawaii along with the ukulele, another Portuguese import.
BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS HAWAII DISH – Opakapaka
WHAT IS IT?
Opakapaka, also known as Hawaiian pink snapper, is a unique fish species found off the coast of the big island. In this restaurant, the fish is cooked in a similar way to Lau Lau, wrapped in ti leaf with Hawaiian sea salt and steamed for 20 minutes. The chef adds ginger and shiitake mushrooms, and serves the fish over roasted vegetables. A sprinkle of white pepper, green onions, and a splash of peanut oil crisps the fish, while shoyu and cilantro give it the final touches.
WHERE IS IT?
The Seaside Restaurant and Aqua Farm
1790 Kalanianaole St, Hilo, HI 96720, United States
Hawaii, United States
NOTES – BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS HAWAII
Opakapaka is a prized fish in Hawaii for its delicate flavor and firm meat. It can only be caught with a line, which makes it more expensive than other types of fish caught by net. Opakapaka was once reserved for Hawaiian royalty and fishermen would use lines weighted with rocks to catch it in deep waters.
BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS HAWAII DISH – Lomi Salmon
WHAT IS IT?
Lomi Salmon is a salad made with salted salmon, tomatoes, and onions. To preserve it, the salmon is rubbed with salt and left for two days. The chef then cuts the salmon into salad-sized pieces and mixes it with tomatoes and chopped scallions. The dish is named after the Hawaiian word “lomi lomi,” which means “to massage,” because the ingredients are mixed by hand.
WHERE IS IT?
KTA Super Stores – Downtown
321 Keawe St, Hilo, HI 96720, United States
Hawaii, United States
NOTES – BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS HAWAII
Salmon arrived in Hawaii in the 1800s on Canadian trading ships. The ships carried barrels of salted salmon to feed the crew on long voyages. Hawaiians fell in love with the fish and soon turned it into a local favorite.
READ MORE: OUR FAVOURITE BREAKFASTS IN WAIKIKI
