Whether you’ve only visited Hawaii, or have called the islands’ home for years, you have undoubtedly tried these 14 iconic Hawaiian foods. And while we love a good loco moco or poke bowl as much as the next local, there is one food that reigns supreme: the musubi. The most popular musubi is of the spam variety – a thick slab of the infamous canned meat attached to a block of sushi rice with a strip of nori – and it has become one of Hawaii’s most famous foods. Seriously, you can find it everywhere, including your local 7/11 store. But because not all musubi is created equal, we’ve rounded up 11 of the greatest places to get the popular snack food throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
- Musubi Cafe Iyasume, Honolulu
Cassandra Y./Yelp
Musubi Cafe Iyasume/Facebook This small eatery serves up some of the best musubi in Honolulu, with mouth-watering flavor combinations like bacon, egg + avocado. Best of all, you can either wait for your made-to-order musubi, or pick of pre-made combinations if you’re in a hurry.
- Pukalani Superette, Pukalani
Pukalani Superette/Facebook
Trang H./Yelp This low-key grocery store is known island-wide for their mouth-watering selection of dishes made in their kitchen daily - including a selection of cheap, ready-made musubi to satisfy your snack cravings.
- Pono Market, Kapaa
Brigette R./Yelp
Jessica G./Yelp Family owned and operated since 1968, Pono Market serves up a variety of musubi, as well as seafood plate lunches, manju, poke, and sushi.
- Mana Bu’s, Honolulu
George K./Yelp
Joyce E./Yelp With more than 35 different varieties to choose from, musubi lovers are sure to find exactly what they’re looking for at this self-proclaimed musubi headquarters. Plan to arrive early - the eatery opens at 6:30 a.m., and often closes long before the posted closing time of 1 p.m. because they sell out so quickly.
- Kawamoto Store, Hilo
Emily T./Yelp
Kawamoto Store/Facebook This Hilo storefront may specialize in Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino cuisine for catering purposes - but their musubi is top-notch.
- Local Food, Lahaina
M.J. M./Yelp
Brian C./Yelp A no-frills name accompanies a laid-back atmosphere, killer musubi, and the best plate lunches on the island.
- Ma’ona Musubi, Honolulu
Sharon H./Yelp
Ma’Ona Musubi/Facebook This musubi-centric restaurant in Chinatown is home to a a former chef from Japan, and all of her creative musubi offerings - like beef curry and miso kale.
- Mark’s Place, Lihue
David B./Yelp
April S./Yelp Serving up everything from musubi and plate lunches to bento boxes, Mark’s Place is a local favorite and features different food combinations every day.
- Da Kitchen Cafe, Kahului
Helana P./Yelp
Da Kitchen/Facebook With two Maui locations, Da Kitchen is a go-to spot for deep fried musubi, plate lunches, and hearty portions in a casual environment.
- Broke Da Mouth Grindz, Kailua-Kona
Scott G./Yelp
Rawn G./Yelp This small eatery serves up some of the best Hawaiian food around in a casual environment. Their chicken furikake is phenomenal, and they are known for their foot-long Spam musubi. Oh, and don’t forget to order their famous pork adobo fries on the side.
- Fort Ruger Market, Honolulu
Fort Ruger Market/Facebook
Fort Ruger Market/Facebook This grocery store is known for their fresh sashimi and poke, though their pre-made musubi does not disappoint. With your choice of white rice, furikake rice, or fried rice, as well as a selection of spam, chicken, and other meats.
Are you still confused about Hawaii’s love affair with Spam? Be sure to give “9 Reasons Why Spam Became Hawaii’s Most Beloved Food” a read.
Cassandra Y./Yelp
Musubi Cafe Iyasume/Facebook
This small eatery serves up some of the best musubi in Honolulu, with mouth-watering flavor combinations like bacon, egg + avocado. Best of all, you can either wait for your made-to-order musubi, or pick of pre-made combinations if you’re in a hurry.
Pukalani Superette/Facebook
Trang H./Yelp
This low-key grocery store is known island-wide for their mouth-watering selection of dishes made in their kitchen daily - including a selection of cheap, ready-made musubi to satisfy your snack cravings.
Brigette R./Yelp
Jessica G./Yelp
Family owned and operated since 1968, Pono Market serves up a variety of musubi, as well as seafood plate lunches, manju, poke, and sushi.
George K./Yelp
Joyce E./Yelp
With more than 35 different varieties to choose from, musubi lovers are sure to find exactly what they’re looking for at this self-proclaimed musubi headquarters. Plan to arrive early - the eatery opens at 6:30 a.m., and often closes long before the posted closing time of 1 p.m. because they sell out so quickly.
Emily T./Yelp
Kawamoto Store/Facebook
This Hilo storefront may specialize in Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino cuisine for catering purposes - but their musubi is top-notch.
M.J. M./Yelp
Brian C./Yelp
A no-frills name accompanies a laid-back atmosphere, killer musubi, and the best plate lunches on the island.
Sharon H./Yelp
Ma’Ona Musubi/Facebook
This musubi-centric restaurant in Chinatown is home to a a former chef from Japan, and all of her creative musubi offerings - like beef curry and miso kale.
David B./Yelp
April S./Yelp
Serving up everything from musubi and plate lunches to bento boxes, Mark’s Place is a local favorite and features different food combinations every day.
Helana P./Yelp
Da Kitchen/Facebook
With two Maui locations, Da Kitchen is a go-to spot for deep fried musubi, plate lunches, and hearty portions in a casual environment.
Scott G./Yelp
Rawn G./Yelp
This small eatery serves up some of the best Hawaiian food around in a casual environment. Their chicken furikake is phenomenal, and they are known for their foot-long Spam musubi. Oh, and don’t forget to order their famous pork adobo fries on the side.
Fort Ruger Market/Facebook
This grocery store is known for their fresh sashimi and poke, though their pre-made musubi does not disappoint. With your choice of white rice, furikake rice, or fried rice, as well as a selection of spam, chicken, and other meats.
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