Local Take Out for Family Meals (Food Trucks, restaurants, etc)

[Julia M]

With summer rapidly approaching, I know many families will be traveling to Oahu. I am hoping we can get people to post if they saw (or even better, tried) any family type meals from food trucks, take out, etc, even Costco!

I'm not really interested in hearing that you can get take out Monkeypod or places like that. I'm really more wondering about local food trucks or restaurants where you can get a family style meal (like a main course and sides).

I am planning a trip in June 2023 with my three adult children (and one SO). Just the airfare, lodging and entrance to some sightseeing will likely be 10K (or more), and when I envision meals (including alcohol), I think that just might overwhelm me! So I was planning to do breakfast in the resort and maybe half our meals in the room in the evening. I am hoping seeing if people can post might help me develop a budget.

While Costco wouldn't be my first choice, I know our local Costco's sell ready to heat meals and I would be okay with one or two from there. I'm wondering of they have anything we can't get here on the mainland?

I'd appreciate any input from people who have been before or will be traveling this summer.

 

[Laura K]

There's both a Costco and Foodland (Hawaii grocery store) not too far from Aulani if you have a car and my parents' favorite thing to do when on any island on Hawaii is to eat food from those stores. Costcos in California have poke too, but they have more variety in Hawaii. We visited one on Big Island last summer and the more unique foods they had that I could remember were guava danish, char siu pork buns (and lots of Asian foods in general), and TONS of delicious seafood snacks. We also bought a pretty good tropical drink alcoholic mix that we drank throughout the rest of the trip. Foodland, and many grocery stores there, has a lot of great prepared foods. In addition to poke, there's different musubis, croquettes, sushi, mochis, and sandwiches that they make hot that day. I loved going into Foodland and picking out what I wanted to eat for lunch/dinner that day. It's priced more like a Trader Joe's than a Whole Foods I think.

 

[alohamom]

While is isn't super cost effective, there is a store across the street from Aulani at Ko'Olina Station called Island Country Market (a larger version of the ABC stores which are popular in the Hawaiian islands) and they have a hot table with a variety of fairly decent take out.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/island-country-markets-at-ko-olina-kapolei

 

[tankin]

@Julia M If it makes you feel better, we always hit a grocery store on the morning of day 2. All of our breakfasts (expect day 2 when we do something at the resort) are in the room and we buy stuff for lunch when we're at the resort. Really frees up some budget for dinners.

 

[cseca]

Zippy’s has some party trays too I think . You can order online .

 

[monsterkitty]

There is a food truck on Wawamalu Beach Park and all of the entrees were $5. It was a protein, such as pork, chicken, or fish, rice, and the veggie. They also had the best Dole Whips because they were made with real pineapple. Sorry, I can't find the picture of the plate of food or the food truck.

It's called the $5.00 Bento Box and you can find them on FB.

Each plate was enough for two people. It was also some of the best food truck food we've ever had.

 

[jviking]

Tanioka's in Waipahu is our go to favorite. Only open 9am-2pm Weds through Sunday. Great poke, local food and family meals.

 

[corgi_monster]

I love Costco! I'm not familiar with what the mainland stores carry, but here's a list of items I think might be unique to Hawaii Costco's:

- Laulau, kalua pork, lomi lomi salmon, and poi - have your own luau.
- Miso butterfish (my favorite!)
- May's Teriyaki Beef Patties to make hamburgers/cheeseburgers (the grills have reopened)
- Red Redondo's hotdogs
- Portugese sausage for breakfast

Costco also sells poke but it's not very good and not significantly cheaper. I'd pick some up at Foodland and make poke bowls.

If you want to eat like the locals do, Zippy's has Ohana Packs, I suggest the Korean Chicken: https://order.zippys.com/?_ga=2.242...789/item/e218fc42-0724-4e3b-9dae-431c7cecd740

Gina's BBQ has one of the best meal deals but they're on the opposite side of the island. You can feed 10 adults for about $100-$125 and have a ton of leftovers.

Big City Diner is a popular local chain restaurant that sells family meals: https://www.grindztogo.com/single.php/order/restaurant/menu/6

Highway Inn has Hawaiian food family meals that you can order as well: https://www.myhighwayinn.com/at-home-family-packs/

 

[crazydad123]

Ono Steak and Shrimp has excellent fish--not just batter fried stuff! DB Grill in Kappolei has Korean fusion that can be done as take-out--very good and lots of variety. Chun Wah Kam Noodle Factory has terrific stuff if you order if they are back to normal--we were there a year ago and they got wiped out pretty quickly in the day. For breakfast, go do the ONO Pancake house in the mall by Safeway. Easy, quick and very good food.

 

[davidher]

Zippy’s has some party trays too I think . You can order online .

I will second Zippy's. We go to Aulani about twice a year and we always make a point to go to Zippy's. They have one in Kappolei about a ten min drive from the resort. I would get the fried chicken

 

[cseca]

I will second Zippy's. We go to Aulani about twice a year and we always make a point to go to Zippy's. They have one in Kappolei about a ten min drive from the resort. I would get the fried chicken

I still think about the Korean chicken

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Having moved from Honolulu 40 years ago (but still going back to visit every year), Tanioka’s is always on my Itinerary when I go back.

I would add Zippy’s to that list, but one of our local markets carries their chili now, so it’s not a “must stop” anymore.

 

[cgattis]

I know this is practically sacrilegious, but my family hated Zippy’s. It’s like dive local food—like our little local greasy burger joint. To the locals who grew up with it, it’s like home—almost equivalent to coming home to your grandma’s cooking after being away at college. To everyone else, it’s like….meh. I mean, I’ll eat pretty much anything and it was ok. But to all the folks who think luau food is bad, I’d rate Zippys one star below that. I’m glad we tried it just because…..but I’m not going back LOL

 

[808blessing]

I just ate Tropic Poke. It is in the center across Monkeypod (across the street of Aulani). So good. Lots of toppings and choices. It's like the Subway of poke bowls. They have everything from miso to macarons in there too.

 

[cgattis]

Yum!! There’s a place like this down at Cocoa Beach and it is awesome too. They make all their sauces in house. Mmmmm need to investigate if there’s one on Maui!

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

I know this is practically sacrilegious, but my family hated Zippy’s. It’s like dive local food—like our little local greasy burger joint. To the locals who grew up with it, it’s like home—almost equivalent to coming home to your grandma’s cooking after being away at college. To everyone else, it’s like….meh. I mean, I’ll eat pretty much anything and it was ok. But to all the folks who think luau food is bad, I’d rate Zippys one star below that. I’m glad we tried it just because…..but I’m not going back LOL

I really only ever eat chili when I go to Zippy’s. Their other food is pretty much diner food (which they are), but L&L Drive in does a better job on the basic plate lunch.

 

[808blessing]

Same. I only ate chili there but don't even go because the best chili is Rainbows.

 

[alohamom]

I just ate Tropic Poke. It is in the center across Monkeypod (across the street of Aulani). So good. Lots of toppings and choices. It's like the Subway of poke bowls. They have everything from miso to macarons in there too.

Sounds amazing, thanks for posting this!

 

[Mamasarges]

Ono steak and shrimp in Kapolei Marketplace

 

[gpalagi13]

Just got back after spending a week at Aulani. My family did a pick-up order form Eggs n' Things across the street for breakfast one morning. It was delicious and convenient.