Yama's Fish Market

Yama's Fish Market is a local fish market and plate-lunch counter at 2332 Young Street in the Moiliili neighbourhood of Honolulu, Hawaii, close to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. It combines a retail fish case with a hot-food counter, and it is known across the city for generous Hawaiian-style plates at everyday prices of roughly US$12-18 per person. The cuisine is Hawaiian plate lunch and poke. Signature dishes include the fried butterfish plate, poke sold by the pound from the case, laulau (pork or fish steamed in taro leaves) and kalua pig, the slow-cooked, smoky shredded pork associated with the traditional imu oven. Plates are served with rice and sides, and portions are built for hearty appetites. The setting is a working market rather than a restaurant: orders are placed at a counter, food is packed for takeout and customers wait among local office workers, students and families. There is no dress code, the noise level is that of a busy market, and no wine or cocktail programme exists. Reservations are not taken, but pre-ordering by phone shortens waits at lunch, which is the busiest time of day. Hours are typically Monday to Saturday during the daytime, with Sunday closed, and visitors should confirm before going. Moiliili lies north of Waikiki and is reachable by bus or a short drive, making Yama's a good stop for travellers who want a local lunch away from tourist areas. The poke case suits visitors planning a picnic, and the butterfish plate is the order regulars most often recommend. As with other small markets in the city, popular items can run out later in the day, so earlier visits are safer.