Potluck Go-Tos: Delicious Last-Minute Takeout Dishes for Parties on O‘ahu

Editor’s note: While this post originally appeared last December, it’s not just at the holidays that we do potlucks. May is stuffed to the gills with graduation parties and Mother’s Day, so for those who’d rather pick up something than cook up something, we’re reprising the Frolic/HONOLULU team’s tasty go-tos from locally owned businesses.

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Between all the present buying and card writing, wreath making and tree decorating, the most wonderful time of the year is also usually the busiest, which can leave little time for toiling away in the kitchen. To help, we’ve put together a handy list of our favorite last-minute takeout dishes, including the tried-and-true favorites included in the spread (above) at our team’s own holiday picnic this week. So you can win both that ugly sweater contest and potluck season.

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Mango Salad

Bangkok Chef

Softly crunchy coils of green mango pop at a potluck, especially on a table loaded with the must-have trifecta of poke, noodles and deep-fried goodness. Bangkok Chef’s mango salad is a palate cleanser that hits all the notes—tart and a tad sweet, with cilantro and slivered red onions and the nutty chomp of whole cashews. Order it medium spicy only if you can handle real heat. —Mari Taketa, Frolic editor/HONOLULU dining editor

Multiple locations, bangkokchefexpress.com

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Beef Chow Fun

Bo’s Kitchen

When it comes to potlucks, I’m pretty selfish and bring what I want to eat. If I have the time to prepare a dish, I bring whatever new recipe I’m testing out. But for the times I don’t, it’s always a safe bet to bring something from the noodle category. They’re abundant and flavorful crowd-pleasers, especially Bo’s Kitchen beef chow fun ($14.95). I love the wok hei infused noodles with tender beef and green onions. It’s convenient to order online and pick up, they’re open nearly all-day and the prices are reasonable, so they’ve become a go-to for my last-minute potluck needs. —Thomas Obungen, Frolic/HONOLULU associate editor

800 South Beretania St., (808) 367-7283, boskitchens.com, @bo.s.kitchen

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Salt-and-Vinegar Chicken Wings

Foodland

Ooh, my mouth is watering just thinking about these ‘ono wings from Foodland’s deli counter. The classic salt-and-vinegar combo packs major punch with its tangy-meets-savory flavors, and if you snag a batch fresh from the fryer, you’ll get that wonderfully crispy skin. Order a small bag by the pound or preorder a four-pound pan that serves 10 to 12. —Brie Thalmann, HONOLULU managing style editor

Multiple locations, foodland.com, @foodlandhi

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Gyoza

Hokkaido Ramen

Despite its name, it’s not the ramen that draws me here, but the pork gyoza, which I serendipitously brought to a potluck a few years ago because it was a few blocks from my friend’s Kaimukī home. The pan with 40 pieces ($45.99) turned out to be the sleeper hit of that and several future parties because the gyoza isn’t greasy but still juicy and is pan-fried perfectly with just the right amount of delicate pork filling. When you order, give an exact pickup time, and if that’s right before your gathering, potluckers will still enjoy it warm. —Diane Seo, HONOLULU editorial director

1108 12^th Ave., (808) 735-9993

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Spanish Rolls and Turon

Nanding’s Bakery

Town-bound from Stadium/Hālawa for a potluck with no time to cook or preorder, I’m stopping by Nanding’s Bakery in Kalihi for Spanish rolls. Beyond the bakery case of Filipino baked goods, orders of buttery, sweet bread rolls are hot and fresh from the oven. The perfect potluck snack for your left hand. And for your right hand, grab a crispy, deep fried, glazed turon (Filipino banana lumpia)—preordered, of course! —Christine Labrador, HONOLULU senior art director

Multiple locations, @nandings_bakery

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Kara-oke Chicken 

Foodland

Unless there’s a specific theme for a potluck, I usually stick to universal favorites. And with the theme for this potluck being, ahem, potlucks—specifically, last-minute potlucks—I tacked an added layer of convenience to its universal appeal—a foil pan of deep-fried, boneless, skinless goodness delivered curbside at Foodland Farms Ala Moana to take to Magic Island across the street. Four pounds of bite-sized Kara-oke (karaage) morsels are marinated in Foodland’s poke marinade, battered, deep-fried to crispy, tender, juicy perfection, and garnished with lemon wedges and green onions. —James Nakamura, HONOLULU creative director

Multiple locations, foodland.com, @foodlandhi

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Cookie Corner

Dessert is a must at every potluck, and though the debate over crunchy vs. chewy can make you question some of your friendships, you won’t go wrong with a combo of original (chewy) and bite size (crunchy) cookies. With a dozen locations on O‘ahu, The Cookie Corner is bound to be on the way to wherever you’re headed. Just follow your nose. —Katrina Valcourt, HONOLULU executive editor

Multiple locations, cookiecorner.com, @cookiecornerhawaii

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Spinach, Garlic and Mushroom Pizza

Kaimukī’s Boston Pizza

Any day someone brought Boston Pizza to a school party was a good day, and that’s still the case for adult potlucks. The signature pie, in my memory, is the spinach and garlic, but I like to add mushrooms to make it heartier. The pizza crust is thin and crisp, the toppings plentiful and flavorful, the cheese melty and infused with garlic. You can order ahead online and schedule the pickup. Ask for the pizza to be cut into smaller pieces since the standard Boston slice is two to three times bigger than what you’ll get elsewhere. —Andrea Lee, HONOLULU digital editor

3506 Wai‘alae Ave., bostonpizzahi.com, @kaimukisbostonpizza

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Fried Chicken

New Queen Barbeque

This is one of my favorite fried chicken dishes in town. —Aaron K. Yoshino, HONOLULU staff photographer

730 Queen St., (808) 596-8274, newqueenbbq.com

Lechon Special

Elena’s Restaurant

Can you really go wrong with bringing crispy, juicy, deep-fried pork to a local potluck? Lechon kawali is one of my favorite Filipino dishes—it’s perfect for pūpū, with savory bite-sized pieces of pork belly tossed in vinegar, fish sauce, tomatoes, onions and green onions. Many Filipino restaurants serve up their own takes on lechon kawali, but the Lechon Special from Elena’s in Waipahu is always a go-to crowd-pleaser. —Darlene Dela Cruz, Hawaii Home + Remodeling Magazine editor

Tropicana Square Shopping Center, 94-866 Moloalo St. D4A, (808) 676-8005, elenasrestaurant.com, @elenasfilipino