Hawaiian Recipes: Easy Island-Inspired Dishes
Hawaiian Recipes
Hawaiian food is a beautiful mix of Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, and American influences — the result of generations of immigrants who brought their cuisines to the islands and blended them into something entirely new. The flavors are bold, tropical, and often sweet-savory: soy sauce, pineapple, ginger, garlic, and sesame working together.
This collection brings together our most-loved Hawaiian-inspired recipes — from J Alexander's Steak Maui to Hawaiian Bros Kilauea chicken, Aiea Bowl's famous pumpkin crunch, and Rainbow Drive Inn's plate-lunch roast pork. Every recipe is tested, photographed, and written with clear step-by-step instructions, tips, and FAQs.
Hawaiian Plate Lunch Favorites
The plate lunch is a Hawaii institution — a scoop of rice, a scoop of mac salad, and a protein that's usually marinated, grilled, and full of flavor. These are the plate lunch recipes you can make at home.
- J Alexander's Steak Maui Recipe — Soy-pineapple marinated ribeye with a sweet-savory glaze. Our #1 Hawaiian recipe.
- Hawaiian Bros Kilauea Chicken Recipe — The copycat version of the sweet-spicy Hawaiian chicken from the popular chain.
- Kilauea Chicken Recipe — A stand-alone version of the sweet-spicy Hawaiian chicken.
- Rainbow Drive Inn Roast Pork Recipe — The classic roast pork from the legendary Honolulu plate lunch spot.
- Zippy's Korean Fried Chicken Recipe — The crispy, sweet-spicy Korean fried chicken from Hawaii's favorite diner chain.
Hawaiian Desserts
Tropical, sweet, and often no-bake — these are the desserts that end a Hawaiian meal on a high note.
- Aiea Bowl Pumpkin Crunch Recipe — The famous layered pumpkin dessert from the Honolulu bowling alley. 421 clicks and counting.
- Hula Pie Recipe — The frozen macadamia nut ice cream pie from Duke's Waikiki.
Hawaiian Drinks & Smoothies
Refreshing tropical drinks that pair with any island-inspired meal.
- Thirsty's Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe — The copycat version of the creamy smoothie from the Hawaii-based chain.
- Hwachae Recipe (Korean Fruit Punch) — Korean fruit punch that fits right in with Hawaiian flavors.
More Recipe Collections
- Copycat Recipes — Restaurant favorites made at home.
- Dessert Recipes — Cakes, cookies, frostings, and international sweets.
- Southern & Soul Food Recipes — Classic American comfort food.
- Filipino Recipes — The other island cuisine that shaped Hawaiian food.
About Hawaiian Food
Hawaiian food is often misunderstood as "poke and pineapple," but the reality is much richer. Native Hawaiian cuisine uses taro, breadfruit, sweet potato, and fresh fish — often prepared in an imu (underground oven) for slow-cooked, smoky flavor. In the 19th and 20th centuries, immigrant workers from Japan, China, Portugal, the Philippines, Korea, and Puerto Rico brought their own cuisines, and the result is one of the most unique food cultures in the world.
The "plate lunch" is the clearest expression of this: a scoop of white rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, and a protein that can be anything from teriyaki chicken to kalua pork to Korean fried chicken. It's a meal that's simple, satisfying, and unmistakably Hawaiian.
Our Hawaiian collection focuses on the recipes people ask for most — the copycat versions of dishes from famous Hawaiian chains (Hawaiian Bros, Zippy's, Rainbow Drive Inn, Aiea Bowl), plus the J Alexander's Steak Maui that's become a cult favorite on the mainland. Every recipe is tested and adjusted for a home kitchen, with clear instructions and honest tips.