All Our Favorite Soups in Honolulu

Photo: Andrea Lee

Asahi Grill Kaka‘ako

An oldie but goodie, Asahi Grill’s oxtail soup is one of its most popular dishes for a reason. It hasn’t changed in taste or quality since I was growing up. Wholesome and infused with hearty oxtail and herbs, it hugs my tongue, while the green onion and cilantro offer bright spots of flavor. Add the ginger for the extra kick. Tip: the large soup ($32.95, dine-in only) is big enough to split between two people and, the last time I ordered it, came with six chunky oxtails. —Andrea Lee, HONOLULU digital editor

515 Ward Ave., Kaka‘ako, (808) 593-2800

Photos: Thomas Obungen

Feast by Jon Matsubara

I’m not sure if this really counts as soup, but since it comes with a quart of savory broth, it should. Jon Matsubara’s Salt Beef Watercress at Feast in Mānoa is my favorite soup that I will go out for. It’s incredibly simple, but that is where its power lies. Brined beef is boiled for hours to create a rich elixir full of collagen and beefiness. Its richness, cut by the bitter stems and leaves of Sumida watercress, makes for an addictive bowl; hot rice is served on the side. Its purity and heartiness are unmatched when I want something comforting to dive into. —Thomas Obungen, HONOLULU special projects editor

2970 East Mānoa Rd., Mānoa, feastrestauranthawaii.com, @feast808

Faria

I love all the soups at Faria (and have seen eyes roll back at first sip of the garlic soup), but for me, the bowl that’s at once most exotic and accessible is the Oxtail Caldo Verde ($19). It’s a creamy comfort, the creaminess from potato and kale blended with an edge of chouriço. The crowning touch, a softly braised oxtail, isn’t part of the traditional version you find in northern Portugal. It’s a local touch, I’m told, “because Hawai‘i people like meat.” —Mari Taketa, Frolic editor

306 Ku‘ulei Road, Kailua, (808) 200-4953, fariahawaii.com, @fariahawaii

King Restaurant & Bar

In all honesty, I’m not a soup person, except when I’m feeling under the weather. On those rare occasions, I only want to eat the hot and sour soup from King Restaurant. It’s hearty, filling and best of all, sour. The vinegar cuts through with scalpel-like precision and always leaves me feeling a little better and on the mend. —Gregg Hoshida, Frolic

1340 Kapi‘olani Blvd., #101, Kaka‘ako, (808) 957-9999, @kingrestaurantandbarhi

Olive Tree Café

Avgo lemono, a soothing Greek soup ($4.99) is my must-order at this beloved, longstanding eatery in Kāhala, which once again is offering customers the option to dine in. (The restaurant was only open for takeout for several years after COVID.) Fresh egg and lemon are slowly whisked with rice, offering a delicious and comforting starter to my other staple order, the fish souvlaki. Sometimes, I order two servings of the soup with pita and call it a meal. —Diane Seo, HONOLULU editorial director

We always start our order from Olive Tree with the Avgo lemono soup! The fresh dill and light flavor make it my favorite.  —Aaron Yoshino, HONOLULU photographer

4614 Kīlauea Ave., Kāhala, olive-tree-cafe.square.site, @olivetreecafehi

Pālama Snack Corner

I also love the Seollangtang from Pālama Snack Corner in Pālama Supermarket. It’s a super savory, simple soup that’s my go-to on a rainy day. —AY

Years ago, a friend taught me to make hobakjook, Korean pumpkin soup, so I know exactly what’s in it: hobak, or kabocha, simmered with just enough water until tender, plus sweet mochi rice flour, azuki beans and a pinch of salt. That’s it. These come together in a blended, gently sweet soup rich with pumpkin flavor. It’s hard to find in Honolulu, and not every version hits the right texture or flavor balance. Pālama Supermarket’s does, in convenient 16-oz containers that go perfectly with the kim chee in your fridge. —MT

Pālama Supermarket, 1670 Makaloa St., Ala Moana

San Francisco Salad Co.

On days when the office AC is hitting a little too hard and I’m craving something warm and cozy to defrost my frozen bones, I go straight for San Francisco Salad Co.’s chicken tortilla soup. Just a few slurps of its tomato-y goodness is like a fuzzy blanket for your soul. A blend of roasted peppers, onion and garlic, it’s topped with Monterey Jack cheese and cilantro, and offers a little kick, cooled down by a dollop of sour cream. Tip: ask for the tortilla chips on the side and add them as you go to avoid a soggy soup. —Brie Thalmann, HONOLULU home + style editor

1033 Bishop St., Downtown, sfsalad.com

Photo: Mari Taketa

Zippy’s

Nothing fancy here—just oxtail soup, a caveman concoction of chopped tailbones simmered tender for hours in a broth infused with clear fatty gel caps and collagen, umami shiitake and peanuts for texture, heightened with star anise and an aromatic fistful of cilantro. Comes with two scoops of rice and a bowl of grated ginger. —James Nakamura, HONOLULU creative director

Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys

Read the rest of the series: Our Favorites