When you visit Hawaii, you want to enjoy gourmet food unique to the islands, right?
This time, we have compiled 5 hidden B-grade gourmet spots that were introduced on the popular Japanese TV show segment "Kitana Tran" (Dirty Michelin).
There are many things in Hawaii that are "not well known but delicious"!
While restaurants with a nice atmosphere and style are great, we highly recommend fun and local "dirty but delicious shops" for your travel memories. Haha.
Every place listed here is cheap and delicious, so please include them in your Hawaii travel plans.
Ethel’s Grill (3 Stars)
Ethel’s Grill is a famous shop for Mochiko Chicken that is hugely popular with Hawaii locals.
It is a fried chicken dish made using rice flour instead of wheat flour, and it is something you must eat at least once when you come to Hawaii!
Although it is rarely listed in guidebooks, Mochiko Chicken, which originated in Japan, has undergone its own unique evolution in Hawaii and has become a standard B-grade gourmet dish.
The name is Ethel’s Grill. While there can sometimes be confusion over the pronunciation among Japanese visitors, it is a well-established name here.
It is hidden on a street in Kalihi with little foot traffic, but since there is always a line of customers only in front of this shop, you will be able to spot it immediately!
It is a popular shop, but you can often get in without waiting too long around 10:00 AM or 1:00 PM, so please try aiming for those times.
Ethel’s Grill’s Most Popular Item is Mochiko Chicken
Large pieces of chicken are packed in generously, making it incredibly filling!
The special ginger sauce and miso soup are also supremely delicious, making you want to visit regularly.
It has even earned 3 stars—a rare feat—as a "dirty but delicious shop" on the "Kitana Tran" (Dirty Michelin) corner of the Tunnels TV show’s Hawaii Special.
In Hawaii, cheap and delicious shops often go out of business quickly, but Ethel’s Grill has been operating for a long time with cheap prices and generous portions, making it a very grateful existence for Hawaii residents.
Ethel’s Grill’s Second Most Popular Item is Seared Ahi Tuna
We also highly recommend the Ahi (Tuna) Tataki.
While the Mochiko Chicken is famous, this seared tuna is also incredibly delicious, making them the two signature dishes!
The sashimi is very fresh, sourced every morning from the harbor near this area, so there is absolutely no fishy smell even though the surface is only lightly seared.
The combination of the soy sauce-based sauce and garlic slices is also irresistibly delicious.
By the way, both items can be made into a volume-packed set meal that comes with excellent seafood miso soup and salad.
Giovanni’s (3 Stars)
Giovanni’s is the most popular garlic shrimp spot among Hawaii’s B-grade gourmet options.
There is no other plate lunch that beats this exquisitely seasoned garlic shrimp.
Among the many shops available, Giovanni’s seasoning is exceptional, and once you eat it, you are sure to get addicted!
I am hooked on it so much that I eat it about once a week. Haha.
Please definitely stop by at least once during your stay in Hawaii.
No.1 Popular Menu: Scampi
Giovanni’s Scampi might actually be the most delicious food in Hawaii.
"Scampi" refers to the garlic flavor, so please be careful not to order a different flavor by mistake.
The original garlic sauce soaked into the plump shrimp is simply the best!
Honestly, just the rice and garlic alone are satisfying enough. Haha.
As a tip for eating: many people immediately peel the shells and eat, but the sauce on the shells is exquisite, so that way of eating is a waste!
The trick to eating it 10 times more deliciously is to first suck the shrimp with the shell on, and then bite into the shrimp while the sauce is still in your mouth.
Note that many flies will come attracted by the garlic scent, but if you squeeze the provided lemon over it, quite a few will stay away because they dislike the smell.
Hawaii’s Spiciest: Hot & Spicy
The Hot & Spicy menu says "No Refunds". Haha.
This is because it is so spicy that people constantly try to return it.
It is truly spicy enough to be a punishment game, so unless you love extremely spicy food or want to challenge your limits, you should avoid it!
By the way, even the shop staff find it a mystery why it becomes so spicy.
The seasoning is very simple—shrimp sautéed with the "hot sauce" that you can get when ordering Scampi—and the sauce itself has a common level of spiciness.
Perhaps because it is cooked through and piping hot, it feels extra spicy.
We recommend ordering the Scampi and getting some hot sauce on the side to dip and eat.
Light and Healthy: Lemon & Butter
If you don’t like garlic, please try the Lemon & Butter.
The shrimp is boiled with a lemon flavor, resulting in a fairly light taste.
It feels like a slight saltiness and the sourness of the lemon bring out the natural taste of the shrimp.
The compatibility of the accompanying butter sauce and lemon is also perfect!
If you unfortunately have a shellfish allergy, there is a Garlic Hot Dog on the menu, so please at least enjoy the delicious garlic.
You can ask to switch the hot dog bun to rice, and if you do, they will pour plenty of garlic sauce over the rice!
Giovanni’s Plate Size and Volume
There are two sizes for Giovanni’s plates.
The Regular Plate comes with 12 shrimp and 2 scoops of rice per plate.
In terms of volume, it is an amount that makes one adult woman feel just about full.
The Half Plate comes with 6 shrimp and 1 scoop of rice per plate.
Both the price and size are truly cut exactly in half. Haha.
So if you want to try different flavors, ordering two half sizes is a good option!
Giovanni’s Has 3 Locations
Giovanni’s has a total of 3 locations in Hawaii.
The main location is in Kahuku on the North Shore, the second is in Haleiwa Town also on the North Shore, and the third is inside H Mart (a Korean supermarket) in Kakaako.
The two North Shore locations are wagon-style shops, while Kakaako is a store-front type.
It is a famous tradition that you can write graffiti on the truck, so if you go to a North Shore location, please try writing something.
If you ask the shop staff, they will lend you a pen!
Also, since it is popular, you may wait about an hour even on weekdays, so Aloalo Travel tours offer a free purchasing service.
Enjoy the exquisite garlic shrimp without waiting in line.
Forty Niner (3 Stars)
Forty Niner is a restaurant loved by Hawaii locals since just after the war in 1947.
Since being introduced on Tunnels’ Kitana Tran, its recognition has increased, and it has become popular among Japanese visitors as well.
By the way, it is a shop with an established reputation for taste that successfully earned 3 stars on Kitana Tran.
It was originally a breakfast shop where locals ate fairly common menus, but currently, many people come for the pancakes and French toast!
It didn’t become famous just because it was on TV; it has had many popular menu items for a long time, so it is a highly recommended spot for people who like hidden B-grade gourmet food.
Forty Niner Recommended Menu
Forty Niner has a variety of menus, but the sweet items are particularly popular!
We hope this serves as a reference when you visit.
Forty Niner Pancake
This is the No.1 popular pancake that bears the shop’s name.
There are many famous pancake shops in Hawaii, but there are actually quite a few people who like Forty Niner’s pancakes the best!
Two chewy, voluminous pancakes with banana kneaded into the dough are topped with plenty of haupia sauce made from coconut milk that isn’t too sweet.
The crispy texture of the macadamia nut flakes also provides a nice accent!
Since it is a volume-packed menu typical of Hawaii, it might be better for lunch than breakfast.
Banana French Toast
And then there is the French Toast, which was also recommended on TV!
You might be shocked to see a banana sitting on top of the toast with the peel still on, but this is also a hugely popular menu item.
By the way, the banana peel comes off very easily, so it doesn’t get in the way at all while eating.
The sauce isn’t too sweet, the toast isn’t heavy, and you can eat it without getting bored by changing the flavor with butter.
Rest assured that the menu is extensive, so even those who don’t like sweets have plenty of options.
Ray’s Kiawe Broiled Chicken (3 Stars)
Ray’s Huli Huli Chicken is a super popular B-grade gourmet item in Haleiwa.
"Huli Huli" means "turn turn" in Hawaiian, and chicken that is grilled while literally turning round and round is called "Huli Huli Chicken."
Among the shops that handle Huli Huli Chicken, Ray’s (Formal name: Ray’s Kiawe Broiled Chicken) is the most popular.
It is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, and only in Haleiwa Town on the North Shore, which gives it a rare feel typical of B-grade gourmet!
It is such a popular shop that some people visit the North Shore just to eat Ray’s Huli Huli Chicken, so please try it when you visit Haleiwa Town on a weekend.
Secrets of Ray’s Huli Huli Chicken’s Popularity
In Hawaii, "whole roasted chicken" is a fairly popular dish.
So, regarding Huli Huli Chicken, you can see it in various places on Oahu.
The reasons why Ray’s is the most popular among them are:
- The exclusive feeling of being able to eat it only on weekends & on the North Shore
- Dedication to cooking, such as using Kiawe wood which produces a smoky aroma
- A secret sauce so carefully made that they spend all their weekdays preparing it
It seems two major reasons are that you can’t eat it anytime, and the taste is superior to other shops.
It used to feel like a hidden gem, but after earning the highest 3 stars on Tunnels’ Kitana Tran and rumors spreading on SNS, I have the impression it has become increasingly popular.
The skin is crispy, the meat is juicy, and the seasoning is excellent. It is a menu you absolutely must try, so if possible, please go to the North Shore on a weekend.
Sales end as soon as they sell out, so we recommend going earlier than 4:00 PM!
Ray’s Huli Huli Chicken Menu
There are two sizes for Huli Huli Chicken: Whole Chicken (one whole bird) or Half Chicken (half).
There is also a Plate Lunch (Half Chicken + Rice + Coleslaw + Pineapple), so essentially there are 3 items on the menu!
As for volume, if you are eating alone, I think the half size is quite satisfying.
The Whole Chicken is enough to fill up an adult man.
The North Shore has many other exquisite gourmet foods, so it might be good to keep the portion a little smaller.
By the way, we recommend the chicken alone rather than the plate lunch!
Other than that, there are drinks and special sauces (soy sauce-based ones).
Ray’s Cafe (1 Star)
Ray’s Cafe is a B-grade gourmet spot where you can eat exquisite prime rib at a low price.
Prime rib is a standard item in Hawaii steakhouses, but Ray’s Cafe is where you can eat it the cheapest.
The interior is by no means pristine, and it is a shop in Kalihi, an area where security is not the best.
However, precisely because it is that kind of shop, they can create menus that are cheap, voluminous, and delicious.
By the way, it has been introduced on Tunnels’ Kitana Tran and is a shop that perfectly fits the description of "dirty but delicious," so please check it out.
Ray’s Cafe Recommended Menu
Ray’s Cafe is a slightly mysterious shop that actually has a variety of menus.
There are common menus like a regular plate lunch shop, but there are also luxurious menus you would only see in high-end restaurants.
The only common point is that everything is cheap and has a large volume, but the range of genres handled is very wide. Haha.
Prime Rib
For those who want to enjoy the taste rather than the shop’s atmosphere, Ray’s Cafe’s prime rib is the best choice.
You can eat a heavy, thick piece of meat for less than one-third of the price in Waikiki.
It is a type of steak you might not see often in Japan, but despite its raw-looking appearance, it is tender and truly delicious.
From the atmosphere of the shop, you wouldn’t think authentic steak would come out, but rest assured, it is characterized by an abundance of menus using high-quality ingredients. Haha.
By the way, the prime rib sells out relatively quickly, and since it is an area you shouldn’t wander around too much at night, we recommend going for lunch!
Seafood Plate
Seafood plates with salmon, Toro Ahi (tuna), grilled lobster, and more are also popular items!
It features a volume and price that makes you wonder if they are making a profit, and while the taste is somewhat simple, I think it is a good choice when you are hungry.
The characteristic of Ray’s Cafe is that the prices are low & volume is high, but the seasoning is not heavy, so we recommend ordering items with good ingredients.
So, the Ono Chicken Combo with grilled fish and fried chicken, or the Ribeye Steak & Lobster Combo would also be good!
By the way, we do not particularly recommend the "Lobster Omelet" and "Beef Stew" introduced on Kitana Tran. Haha.