Best Kalihi Plate Lunch: My Top 5

Part 1 of our father-daughter series spotlights Kelli Shiroma's faves. Tomorrow: Kelli's dad's Top 5

January 23, 2019

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta,

Kelli Shiroma’s dad owns a welding shop in Kalihi. When Kelli worked on nearby Sand Island Access Road, the two swapped plate lunch notes all the time. Not surprisingly, they had completely different favorites—so voila! Here’s part one of Frolic’s first-ever father-daughter Top 5. Up next: Kelli’s Dad’s Top 5.

When it comes to plate lunches, I’m always looking for a yummy deal that’ll give me the most bang for my buck. Since this is Kalihi we’re talking about, finding go-to plate lunch spots with parking can be a hassle, but these grinds are worth hunting for limited street parking. Here are my Top 5 Kalihi plate lunches.

No. 5: Combo 1, Pongo’s Kitchen

Pongo’s Kitchen‘s combos let you mix and match—a great option for indecisive eaters like me who want a little of everything. Combo 1 with baked ʻahi and chicken is my fave, and it’s one of Pongo’s best sellers. The baked ʻahi is flavorful and moist, and there are almost no words to adequately describe the guava chicken. It’s similar to mochiko chicken in texture—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside—but it’s the subtly sweet guava sauce that stays on my brain.

Added perk: Many plates at Pongo’s are under $10.

414 Mokauea St., (808) 847-2291, pongoskitchen.net

No. 4: Nori-wrapped crabmeat-stuffed ʻahi, Monarch Seafoods

Monarch Seafoods’ famous plate has six small pieces of ʻahi, each piece stuffed with a hybrid of real and imitation crab meat. It’s wrapped with nori like a maki sushi roll, then lightly battered and deep-fried. You can’t go wrong with fresh crab meat, and Monarch’s potato mac side has lots of hearty potato chunks and is lighter on the mayo than most.

515 Kalihi St., (808) 841-7877, monarchseafoods.com

No. 3: Furikake salmon, Island Style BBQ

I’m so enamored with this salmon that while I’m always tempted to instead try Island Style BBQ’s garlic chicken or chicken katsu, my usual go-to plate lunch orders, I never do. The fish is tender, with a melt-in-your-mouth consistency. Sweet chile aioli takes it to the next level with a hint of spice, but not beyond what I can bear.

2011 N. King St., (808) 945-3962

No. 2: Signature ʻahi steak plate with bomb sauce, Diners by Upscale Hawaiʻi

Upscale is known for its surf-and-turf plates, but the signature ʻahi steak is my fave at this food truck-turned-brick-and-mortar. The ʻahi slab is dense but not tough, and super delicious thanks to the aioli-based “bomb sauce” it’s covered with.

Note: There’s a generous helping of garlic in every plate, no matter what you order, so don’t inhale one before an important meeting.

1333 N. King St., (808) 842-0344, @upscalehawaii

No. 1: Two-choice combo plate, Alicia’s Market

Alicia’s closed after a fire last summer but recently opened a small counter in the same building with a selection of poke, char siu pork and roast beef. That means I can still get almost all the items on my favorite customized combo plate: Furikake salmon baked with mayo on top, Alicia’s signature wasabi masago ʻahi poke, and mac salad. The only missing thing is my fave roast pork, with delightfully tender meat and a crispy pork skin, which is unavailable until they reopen in their old spot later this year. No problem: I swap out for their tasty char siu or char siu ribs, which are fall-off-the-bone.

The poke is the same as ever and the char siu is thick-cut, soft and satisfies my craving for something meaty. Alicia’s Market may have been through the literal and figurative fire, but it’s still my number 1.

Alicia’s Market Poke Express, 267 Mokauea St., (808) 841-1921, aliciasmarket.com

Editor’s note: Alicia’s Market in 2024 moved back to its original location, with many of its original favorite foods including roast pork. Click the link below for more details.