Loco Moco, photo credit, Michael Saechang
We’ve got EVERYTHING in San Francisco when it comes to food. Name a type of food and I bet we’ve got that. That means Hawaiian too. Of course, here in the city, we are only 5 hours from the islands, but when we can’t get there and are craving the island’s culinary delights, we’ve got options!
If you are seeking ono (delicious) Hawaiian in San Francisco, look no further than these spots:
Liholiho Yacht Club (871 Sutter Street, b/t Leavenworth and Jones) A former pop-up that recently opened its brick-and-mortar location in Tendernob, Liholiho Yacht Club is a must-try. I say skip the entrees and get the tuna poke on crisp nori crackers; the marinated squid with crispy tripe (tender squid rings, crispy tripe, mint, cabbage slaw and crispy shallots); the beef tongue bun (beef, kimchi, cucumber in a poppy seed steam bun) and the duck liver toast with pickled pineapple sprinkled on top!
Here is a fun hyper-lapse service video of Chef Ravi Kapur at Liholiho Yacht Club via Chefs Feed:
Grindz (832 Clement St) Want some Hawaiian in your breakfast? Grindz in the Richmond District has what you need. How about kalua pig huevos rancheros with slow-cooked shredded pork in tortillas with kimchi fried brown rice, salsa, avocado, and an egg. Yah, that will do. They’ve also got poke, loco moco, and Spam.
Aina (903 Cortland Ave., b/t Folsom St & Gates St) A great spot for brunch Hawaiian-style Aina is actually a pop-up in Bernal Heights. Personally, I’d go straight for dessert with the malasadas and haupia custard, but if you are more constrained have the guava and taro french toast or the kalbi loco moco.
Sammy’s Aloha poke salad, photo credit, A Small Trip
Sammy’s Aloha (Pier 33, The Embarcadero) Although this spot is in a touristy area, and their tuna poke with salmon roe and green onion, may not entirely be worth the hassle, but the Sammy’s Aloha Porky Boy kalua pork sandwich with kimchee in a brioche bun is!
Namu Gaji Restaurant (at the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market and 499 Delores Street, b/t 18th St & Dorland St) this is a Korean restaurant BUT they have an amazing version of loco moco that you do not want to miss!
Huli Huli Hawaiian Grill (4100 3rd St, b/t Hudson Ave & Innes Ave) in Bayview is a spot where you can get great Hawaiian food and support a good cause. The restaurant is staffed by Project Bayview residents a “discipleship home” that reforms men after gangs, drug addictions, and prison. Avoid the burritos and get the loco moco plate or the BBQ chicken. Save room for the shaved ice – it is authentic!
Hawaiian Shaved Ice photo credit, Kim.
Hawaiian Drive-in (4827 Mission St) this spot was opened by ex-islanders who missed home. They’ve got classic lunch plates BBQ (short ribs and chicken) and Loco Moco, but the star of the show is the chicken katsu.
It wouldn’t be San Francisco without a food truck dedicated to Hawaiian eats, but we don’t do anything small here, so there are several!
Hula Truck serving island flavors with a “NorCal twist.” Best item on the truck? Da Situation with tater tots with meat (get crispy pork belly and an egg), pico de gallo, shredded cheese, sour cream, and their special “hula verde” sauce. Okay, that may be tied with the Boom Plate with papaya salad and lechon kawali (crispy pork belly) or kalua pork. They are mostly found in the South Bay, except Friday nights when there are Off The Grid in Fort Mason.
My Itz It Fresh Grill Hula Platter
IZ IT Fresh Grill does three things really well: fried chicken, kicker tacos with chicken or beef, and Spam Musubi. The fried chicken leg makes it on my list of the best in the city. I love the musubi. The tacos are in my opinion just okay – I like the addition of cucumber slices with the meat and salsa.
Slider Shack, is a Hawaiian-inspired slider truck with a Kalua pork sliders (along with their pretty good fried chicken slider). They even have a really good black bean slider for vegetarians. Whatever you get, don’t miss the tater tots!
Slider Shack Chicken Slider
Those are my picks for Hawaiian in San Francisco. Do you have any to add? What’s your favorite Hawaiian dish?
Like it? PIN it!
About Andi Fisher
Lady, you are QUICKLY moving San Francisco up in the ranks of my top choices of where to live one day. Of course, now I just need to figure out how to afford it. 😉 (And do envious you’re heading back to Hawaii!!)
Wow this looks really yummy!! Being an island girl myself some of our food is no different from hawaiian food as well.
Great review! My go to would be the chicken slider. It looks delicious!
Those are great dishes and ideas. I am drooling over them and get me thinking about moving to San Fransisco
Ooh these dishes definitely look good. I’d love to try out some Hawaiian food. I’m sure I’ll make it to San Fransisco at some point next year.
That shaved ice looks so refreshing! I’ve never been to Hawaii. It’s on my bucket list, but we usually go to the Caribbean because it’s a lot closer since I’m on the east coast. I guess I’ll have to visit San Francisco to try Hawaiian food.
Always something delicious looking! I’d like to try everything you posted! 🙂
That all looks so good. I love Hawaiian food, it’s such a melting pot of different influences.
I’ve honestly never eaten Hawaiian food but I have to say that it looks REALLY good! Thanks so much for sharing!
Andi! These looks some amazing spots to grab a Hawaiian bite in San Francisco! I am heading there last minute for work traveling to Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and rounding back to San Fran for a night. I wish we could meet up but I see you’r heading to Hawaii. Lucky girl!
I’ll be returning to Oahu this Winter so I can’t wait to see what culinary inspiration you bring back!
Oh my gosh the snowcones are one of my favorites from Hawaii!! Greet list of restaurants in San Fransisco!
The food looks delicious! I’ll have to remember to look into some of these places when I visit San Francisco. I could go for that Hawaiian Ice right now. YUM!
Such delicious looking foods! The snow cone and the burger would be my favourites right now.
Oh my! Haven’t tried Hawaiian food so it makes me want to try these delicious foods. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
WOW! Everything looks delicious but the one that’s calling me is that giant snowcone!
Yummy! Hope you’re having fun in Oahu! My mom lived in Hawaii for years and she raves about the food all the time. I can’t wait to visit there for myself soon <3
Have fun in hawaiian, I have never had any hawaiian foods before and will need to check in the UK where I can get some of the foods you mentioned
It all looks really good, but I’m allergic to ocean fish, so I have to be careful there, but everything else looks really yummy and love the colorful ice it looks really refreshing.
These dishes look too good!! San Francisco would be such a fun place to visit. We’ll have to remember some of these places to eat.
Such colorful dishes! I could really go for that yummy shaved ice right now 🙂
OOOH the black bean slider and shaved ice looks so nom. Thank you for sharing these with us!!!