A night at Honolulu Farmers Market

Left: Otsuji Farm's fried banana and "Sushi Surfer Sliders;" Right: The Pig and the Lady's Vietnamese chicken salad on shallot rice.

The Honolulu Farmers Market at Blaisdell is a bit light on the farmers, (I count five produce stands out of 23 total vendors), but it's become something of a street food market—a fun way to graze and spend a Wednesday night picnicking on the grass.

Some highlights from a recent night at the market:

Otsuji Farm: Of the "Sushi Surfer Sliders," go for the kale tempura (it's crisper than the eggplant) topped with ahi and a teriyaki drizzle ($5). Also fun is the banana wrapped in shredded Okinawan sweet potato and deep fried ($5). Served sliced, top it with powdered sugar, cinnamon, chocolate syrup or whipped cream from the condiments bar.

The Pig and the Lady: The menu has expanded considerably. Staples are the noodle soup (last week, Hu Tieu Ga Ca ($10.50), a chicken noodle soup with fish and pork cracklings), a Vietnamese chicken salad on shallot rice ($8.50), and Bo Lo Lat ($3), pork wrapped in betel nut leaf and grilled. Specials are announced the day of the market on the website: thepigandthelady.com

Above: Carnitas taco plate from Zaratez

Zaratez: Tacos, burritos and taquitos ($10 for each plate with rice and beans) from this food-truck-turned-farmers-market vendor, same delicious quality. Also now for sale: salsa to take home, to slather on everything.
facebook.com/zaratez

Left: Daizu Tei's okonomiyaki; Right: Kombucha from Licious Dishes (photo by David Croxford)

Daizu Tei: In addition to selling organic natto, Daizu Tei griddles up a vegan okonomiyaki (a savory Japanese pancake) with okara (the pulp remaining after making tofu), onion, cabbage, kale, green onion and carrot ($4 a slice).

Licious Dishes: Bright vivid flavors with the tri-layer dip with a cashew "sour cream" ($8.50) and kombucha, the fermented goji-strawberry concoction recently named "Best Health Drink" by HONOLULU Magazine.

The Honolulu Farmers Market is Wednesdays 4 to 7 p.m. on the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall. The weekly tip sheet: hfbf.org/markets/markets/honolulu/#tips