The rush of new store openings in Hawaii continues unabated. One of the most noticeable changes is in Waikiki, where a full-service supermarket opened this past January, offering the best of Hawaii’s food culture. It is called Waikiki Market (2380 Kuhio Avenue, 2nd Floor, Honolulu). The location will be in the newly constructed Lilia Waikiki mixed-use building on Kuhio Avenue.
The site was originally occupied by a long-established supermarket “Food Pantry” which opened in 1960. It was closed due to redevelopment and has now been reborn.
There are few stores in Waikiki that can be called supermarkets, but this is a full-fledged supermarket that also focuses on take-out of Hawaii’s representative foods. With a restaurant on the premises, it is a one-stop shop for everything from Hawaiian dining to daily life.
The entrance to the new supermarket is on the second floor, and the first floor houses Pico Kitchen + Bar, a restaurant serving Hawaiian-style soul food, and a ramen store (opening soon).
Stylish gold shopping carts line the front of the entrance.
Upon entering the entrance, the first thing you will see is the Deli Corner. It is divided into four food cultures that Hawaii prides itself on: Poke, Rice, Local Plates, and Bake Shop.
The “Rice” station had a board that read “It’s All Rice – It’s All Rice,” explaining that rice was brought to Hawaii by the Chinese. Rice has become an essential staple food in Hawaii, including sushi, Spam musubi, and plate lunches.
This station features such rice and sells Spam musubi (rice balls) and onigiri (rice balls). The highlight is that you can have your favorite fried rice made right in front of you.
You choose the type of rice (white rice, brown rice, five-grain rice, etc.), vegetables, meat, sauce, toppings, etc., and they are quickly stir-fried on the griddle and your fried rice is ready. If choosing your own toppings is a bit much for you (……), signature rice bowls such as the “North Shore Style” with garlic shrimp, vegetables, and furikake are a must (they were exquisite!). (It was exquisite!).
Next, visit the “Poke” station, a daily side dish for locals. Under the theme of “Poke All Day,” fresh poke is served throughout the day.
Freshly caught fish is diced and seasoned with Hawaiian salt, paakai (a traditional seasoning made from kukui nuts), limu (seaweed), and other ingredients using traditional cooking methods. Although Hawaii is known for its strong seasoning, the poke here was just the right amount of salt, and the fresh ingredients were used to their fullest.
In addition to bowls such as the “Surf & Turf,” which features poke and roast pork topped with lomi salmon and garlic pickles and green onions, customers can choose poke, sides, sauces, and toppings to create a custom-made poke bowl.
Next door, “Local Plates – Local Plates” is a station where you can order a plate lunch. Here, an explanation was posted: “Plate lunches originated when immigrants from different countries worked on plantations and brought the taste of their hometowns to share for lunch.
Adobo-flavored pork ribs, garlic sambal sauce-flavored fried chicken, smoked ahi potato salad, miso grilled fish of the day, cucumber and choy sum namul, and more, a truly international mix of Hawaiian flavors can be enjoyed on a daily basis.
Most of the dishes so far cost less than $20 per person. Not reasonable, but this is the current market price in Hawaii.
The Bake Shop is the perfect station to fill up on a quick bite that is also easy on the wallet.
Malasadas, introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants in the 1800s, are now everyone’s favorite Hawaiian snack. The malasada here is not the typical round type, but square in shape. In addition to the basic sugar and cinnamon sugar, there are also daily flavored sugars such as passion, orange, and guava, as well as a type with cream inside.
Lined up next to the malasadas are flatbreads. There is a wide variety, including “Hawaiian Meat Lovers” topped with pipikaula, Portugies sausage, and other toppings, and “Frigid Chicken” with frigid chicken, onions, and lilikoi BBQ sauce, which is a hearty meal. When I tucked into a freshly grilled one, it was full of flavor, too–$5.99 a piece.
Just browsing through the well-conceived deli section is enjoyable, but at the back of the deli section is a supermarket (you can also go to the supermarket without going around the deli section).
The space is larger than expected and has a large selection. There is also a good selection of local Hawaiian beers, perfect for comparing beers. Pasta sauces, canned foods, frozen foods, and daily necessities were all on display. This is convenient.
There is a well-stocked tropical fruit and vegetable section, including papayas. Many kinds of ready-to-eat cut fruits are also available.
The original Waikiki Market eco-bags and tumblers have just been released, so they will be rare souvenirs that few people have.
From made-in-Hawaii sweets to spices, sauces, and sundries, you can choose souvenirs and gifts from a wide selection of genres and prices.
Self-service checkout is the most common way to pay at the end of the day. The number of self-checkout machines in Hawaii has been increasing rapidly since the pandemic, but don’t worry, if you are confused, assistance will come to you immediately.
A full-fledged supermarket in the center of Waikiki would be very useful. To go to a supermarket in the suburbs, you will need a car, and depending on the time of day, it may take a long time to park. Gasoline is also quite expensive in Hawaii. With this in mind, a one-stop supermarket is a boon for tourists, residents, and Waikiki workers alike.
© Source travel watch
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