Ono Hawaiian Foods

Ono Hawaiian Foods is a small Hawaiian restaurant at 726 Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii, serving the traditional dishes of the islands in a plate-lunch format. The cuisine is traditional Hawaiian, featuring the foods that originate in Native Hawaiian cooking and the luau tradition. Signature dishes include kalua pig, the slow-cooked, smoky shredded pork associated with the imu earth oven, laulau, pork or fish wrapped in taro leaves and steamed, lomi salmon, a tomato and onion salad with salted salmon, and haupia, a firm coconut pudding served as a dessert. Plates are typically served with rice or poi, and prices run roughly US$15-25 per person. The restaurant is small and unfussy, with a simple dining room, a noise level that stays moderate and no dress code. The beverage options are basic, with soft drinks and tea, and no wine programme exists. Reservations are not taken, so walk-ins are the only route, and waits can occur at peak meal times because the room is limited. Hours are typically lunch and early dinner, with some days closed, so confirm before visiting. Kapahulu Avenue is a short ride from Waikiki and is a well-known stretch for local food, with poke, shave ice and plate-lunch stops nearby, so the restaurant combines easily with other tastings. Visitors who want to try traditional Hawaiian food rather than the broader local-style plate lunch will find the menu a useful introduction, and ordering a combination plate gives a sampling of kalua pig, laulau and lomi salmon together. Dishes may be unfamiliar to first-time visitors, and staff can explain them.