[This post was originally published July 30, 2019. It was updated November 17, 2019 to include a step-by-step photo recipe on how to make Lau Lau at home.]
Lau lau is a Hawaiian dish made of pork and butterfish wrapped in lu’au leaves and ti leaves. Lau lau is steamed and eaten with rice and poi. It’s a real treat!
Making lau lau at home! Recipe towards bottom of the post.
It doesn’t look like much, but lau lau is one of my favorite Hawaiian dishes….
Crack Seed Store in Kaimuki (Oahu) is a legendary mom-and-pop shop known for li hing icees and crack seed (preserved, salted fruit snacks) offered by the pound.
Mr. Young and jars and jars of crack seed. My mouth is watering!
What is a “Crack Seed Store”?…
Big, fluffy, and stuffed with everything from sweet-savory char siu to kalua pork and Okinawan sweet potato, the manapua is Hawaii’s answer to Chinese baos.
Baked manapua offerings at Royal Kitchen (Oahu)
Meet the manapua!…
Over Easy in Kailua (Oahu) is a local breakfast spot. They make crispy edge pancakes, kalua pork, a fancy version of Portuguese sausage and rice…and much more! Also can get kim chee on the side ^_^
Brunch bowl with local eggs, avocado, tomato jam, and lots more.
Ready to dig in?…
Golden, deep-fried orbs, a batter rich with milk and sugar…this is Andagi, an Okinawan doughnut that is Hawaii staple at local markets, bento shops, and bon dances around town.
Meet the andagi!…
Local favorites like poke bowls, mochiko chicken, and mac salad fill the menu of Tin Roof Maui, a famous lunch spot located just two-minutes from Maui airport.
Welcome to Tin Roof Maui!…
Like a cross between sherbert and ice cream, guri guri is a famous Hawaii dessert served at Tasaka Guri Guri on Maui.
Tasaka Guri Guri offers two flavors: strawberry and pineapple….
Osmanthus flowers and goji berries come together in this light and clean agar agar dessert. Served chilled with a spoonful of osmanthus syrup.
Each cube is dotted with sweet goji and fragrant osmathus flowers….
Manju is a Japanese pastry traditionally filled with sweet azuki beans. Hawaii has a specific style of manju, baked and flaky, with fillings like sweet potato, coconut, and even apples.
Sweet potato manju from Home Maid Bakery (Maui)
Meet Hawaii-style manju!…
Aburaage! These puffy pouches of deep-fried tofu are so good braised in a dashi-sugar-shoyu-sake mixture. Serve prepared aburaage as a side dish, stuffed with seasoned rice, or in bowls of hot udon.
I love all things tofu, and aburaage may be at the top of that list….
da Cove menu specials
Fresh strawberries and homemade