McDonald's Hawaii offers a special menu that you can only find in Hawaii. Think breakfast platters loaded with Spam and Portuguese sausage, a dessert menu with hot haupia (coconut pudding) and taro pies. Plus fried apple pies and more!
The only time I eat fast food is in Hawaii. Fast food places here are clean, service is friendly...and the Hawaii-only menu items are a treat.
There are breakfast platters loaded with Spam and Portuguese sausage. The dessert menu offers haupia (coconut pudding) and taro pies. Bonus: did you know Hawaii is one of the few states where you can get McDonald's fried apple pies (not baked!) in the US?
Below, my favorite Hawaii-only McDonald's menu items.
Fried Pies: Haupia and Taro
Haupia (sometimes called "coconut pudding") is a traditional Hawaiian coconut dessert that has a consistency halfway between pudding and jelly.
At Mcdonald's Hawaii, they stuff haupia into the pie crust and deep fry the whole thing. It's really good, the haupia is all hot and molten, and that fried pie crust is familiar in all the right ways.
They also make Fried Taro Pies! But you'll never find both Fried Haupia Pies and Fried Taro Pies on the menu at the same time. It's always one or the other, and they keep rotating them back and forth...
Spam, Portuguese Sausage, Eggs, and Rice
Spam, Portuguese Sausage, Eggs, and RiceMy favorite savory thing at McDonald's Hawaii are the breakfast platters!! You can mix and match, pick only Spam or only Portuguese Sausage.
Or you can have it all...which is what I prefer.
This is my go-to combo breakfast platter. Lots of rice (most essential part), scrambled eggs, two slices of Spam (which are pan-fried), and three slices of Portuguese Sausage (also pan-fried). It's a classic Hawaii breakfast.
And don't forget the Aloha brand shoyu (soy sauce) packets that come with the breakfast platter. You know how some people put ketchup on their eggs? In Hawaii we put shoyu. Open the packet and drizzle it on top of the eggs and rice.
The best is when you can get everything (a bit of rice, egg, spam/sausage) in one bite. FYI, breakfast is now served all day. 🙂
Fried Apple Pies
Fried Apple PiesRemember when McDonald's discontinued fried apple pies and replaced them with baked apple pies? Everyone was so upset. In Hawaii we took action and brought back the fried apple pies (thank goodness).
McDonald's Hawaii is the one of the few states where you can still get those beloved fried apple pies.
No Longer Available: Saimin (Noodle Soup)
Saimin is Hawaii's answer to ramen. I enjoy saimin more than ramen because it's lighter but just as flavorful. Ramen soup is made out of a dashi-based broth, and the noodles are wheat noodles.
There are many places to eat saimin in Hawaii (you can even find saimin at 7-11, my go-to is Zippy's, and my favorite is Shige's), and McDonald's offers a solid version that will do in a pinch.
They also cover the essential saimin toppings: kamaboko (fish cake), char siu, sliced egg, and seaweed. Only thing missing is the green onion! #LuckyWeLiveHawaii indeed.
Hawaiian Iced Tea and Kona Coffee
Hawaiian Iced Tea and Kona CoffeeOf course we didn't forget about drinks. Only in Hawaii can you try McDonald's Kona coffee and Hawaiian Islands Passion Fruit Na Pali iced tea. Some locations also have Fruit Punch. If you see it, make sure to try it.
Replace Sausage Patty With Portuguese Sausage
You can replace the sausage patty in any menu item with Portuguese sausage!
Very, very cool. In the above photo I ordered a Sausage Egg McMuffin and asked to replace the sausage patty with Portuguese sausage. It came with three nice and meaty slices. Definitely doing it this way going forward.
Tip: You can only do this substitution when ordering in person or via the drive thru. It does not work in the McDonald's app (as there is no option to sub for Portuguese sausage). I spoke with someone at the drive thru and he said there used to be a "special instructions" option in the app but it's no longer there.
McDonald's Hawaii: Worth Noting
McDonald's Hawaii: Worth Noting- The Waikiki locations of McDonald's Hawaii occasionally has fresh cut pineapple on the menu.
- Once in a big while, all the McDonald's Hawaii locations bring back the McTeri Deluxe (which is a big teriyaki burger) for a short period.
- The special Hawaii menu items are listed alongside the regular menu item, so you have to look carefully to spot the Hawaii stuff ^_^
FOr the debate on whether Saimin is still available at McDo's.
https://www.khon2.com/local-news/no-more-saimin-at-hawaii-mcdonalds-kind-of-a-bummer/
massive bummer!
You can get fried apple pies at the first original McDonald's location in Downey California. Hawaii not the only state in the US to get fried apple pies.
This is absolutely mind blowing!
Uhh I went TWICE and the Micronesian at the counter said they don't have saimin and never did.
they got rid of it earlier the past years cause the company is no longer open
Wrong.
I'm from Hawaii. There absolutely is.
late 2022 they stopped selling Saimin cuz as the previous person stated, the company closed, Thanks COVID, but they said they are looking for a new supplier..... Time for Sun's to step up hahaha
That's a lie because when I went years ago they most definitely did out in Honolulu.
used to have moko-loko on the breakfast menu.
McD's used to serve ChiliGhetti...do they still do? I've been making my own ever since we lived there 40+ years ago.
McDonald’s Hawaii should sell Teri fries
I would love to see the mainland states (Continental USA) have a summer menu of the basic platter and add on a morning tropical frozen yogurt smoothie option. Coffee can be an option. Tired of seeing people choose only a soda or fizzy drink, as we know that milk or juice is a better option. Even water is a better option. Not complaining, I just think the rest of us here in the states (including Alaska) would love to have a simple platter like this.
The summer menus are nice and all on the mainlands (Continental USA), but for those whom can't travel to Hawaii and don't want to make breakfast, I think it would be nice to have a Hawaiian menu. Maybe the following year we could have an add on of New Zealand and Australian breakfast menu.
The last statement should have read: "Maybe the following year, we could add on a New Zealand and Australian most popular breakfast menu items."
Aloha from da mainland,I was born & raised in Hawai’i and let me tell you there is no McDonalds like Hawai’i McDonalds, I remember the 1st time I went to Mc’s (this was in the 80’s) I was ordering breakfast and the girl kept asking me am I ready,am I ready and I asked I don’t see where your potogee sausage w/rice is,of course she had no idea what I was talking about and I said yah but we have it at all the McDonalds back home in Hawai’i(she apologized still not knowing what I was talking about)so when I go home it’s nice to go to Mc’s and have a variety of options to choose from,more importantly tho is when I go to the 1in Kane’ohe and order the infamous teri burger w/mayo and fries 🍟 da bess w/a side of Saimin,to bad other franchises wouldn’t want to look into some of the menu items we have in Hawai’i I can guarantee there business would “boom”especially in areas where Hawaiian/Polynesians/Asians/Pacific Islanders etc. residents resides in. Mahalo Nui Loa (thank you very much)Aloha No’
Aloha Aku! I love your story, thank you so much for sharing 🙂 Agree 100% there is no McDonalds like Hawai'i McDonalds! Now I am craving teri burger heheheh. If only everyone knew what they were missing out on.
- Kathy
My first meal in Hawaii 3 years ago during our honeymoon was McD takeaway bought from Waikiki branch... we ate at the sidewalk, looking at the beach, enjoying sunset... what a wonderful memory! Been following your blog since you were studying and dreaming on eating all the Hawaiian food from your posts and finally gotten to be there with my husband, dream come true!
Hi Liv! Amazing!! Thanks for reading all this time, amazing how the years pass ^_^ So happy you got to come to Hawaii! McDonalds on the beach...I love it. Happy belated honeymoon!
- Kathy
The last time I was in Honolulu (2005) a side of sliced pineapples came with every combo meal. I didn't like pineapple before then but I ate it so often while there that even 15 yrs later, every single time I eat a combo meal at McDonald's, I crave pineapples lol
Lolol love this memory! 🙂
- Kathy
Oh man, fried pies...I remember the fried apple pies (raised on mainland) from when I was a kid. Mainland Mickey D's I guess decided they needed a "healthier" apple pie, but all they succeeded at was making a lamer apple pie. Miss these fried pies - though here in the Bay Area they have fried peach mango pies at Jollibee and that does the trick.
Hi Brent! I've heard so many good things about the Jollibee fried pies, will have to try them soon ^_^
- Kathy