You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Manapua on O‘ahu
From Waipahu to Chinatown and beyond, these shops sell your favorite meaty buns.
Your top two manapua on O‘ahu. Photo: Mari Taketa
The two leaders were never in doubt. Chinatown icons Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery and Royal Kitchen dominated our reader poll from the start—but while the Maunakea Street favorite emerged with a strong lead in early voting, in the end it was the tiny takeout counter at the edge of Chinese Cultural Plaza that won out.
The results of our first survey of Honolulu’s manapua-scape since the closures of Char Hung Sut and Libby Manapua reveal a top echelon that’s very similar to Our Top 5 Manapua ranking of nearly eight years ago. The rest of the scene is a mixed bag, with readers’ fourth- and fifth-ranked choices garnering single-digit percentages of the 1,200 total votes. Write-in choices included a wide assortment of Chinese restaurants, two Vietnamese eateries and a ramen shop. The top write-in pick? U-Choice In outside Don Quijote on Kaheka Street.
So which shops make O‘ahu’s favorite manapua? Read on for the results.
SEE ALSO: Our Top 5: Manapua
No. 5: Honolulu Kitchen
Waipahu’s home of the famous fried manapuas garnered 3.2% of a wildly varied vote. Honolulu Kitchen’s fried manapua, like the steamed ones, are made to order. Points for fillings including honey garlic chicken, pork adobo and pastele stew for savory; and custard, Oreo and mango for sweet. The have-it-your-way philosophy even extends to hand-drawn designs topping each manapua, if that’s your thing.
94-861 Farrington Hwy, (808) 671-5241
No. 4: ‘Aiea Manapua & Snacks
This longtime spot next to the old ‘Aiea library got 5.4% of votes and gives Honolulu Kitchen a run for its money with fillings like turkey melt, ham and cheese omelet, teri cheeseburger and pizza. Yes, manapua fillings. Also sells frozen manapua for people to take on mainland flights, complete with defrosting and steaming instructions.
99-149 Moanalua Road, (808) 488-7443, aieamanapua.com
No. 3: Chun Wah Kam
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The Kalihi noodle factory whose manapua put them on the map and helped fuel expansion to two other locations was the choice of 12.5% of poll respondents. No wonder, because these are generous, meaty manapua. Props for the sweet glaze brushed on the baked manapua as they come out of the oven.
Multiple locations, chunwahkam.com, @chunwahkamhawaii
No. 2: Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery
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Sing Cheong Yuan fans are ardent about the supremacy of the shop’s steamed and baked manapuas—and its ma tai su, jin dui, famous peanut candy and other signature items. A lightly sweet bun complements super red, just sweetened char siu, a combination worthy of the 28.9% of votes garnered by Chinatown’s most popular Chinese bake shop.
1027 Maunakea St., (808) 531-6688, @singcheongyuanbakery
No. 1: Royal Kitchen
Photo: Melissa Chang
Warm, fluffy, barely crusty, sweet baked buns hold a fistful of lightly colored (props for that) sweet char siu, so it’s no wonder Royal Kitchen’s manapua have been a fave for neighbor island omiyage-gifting for generations. Baked is the key word here, because there are no steamed buns, and the selection of fillings—ranging from chicken curry and kalua pork to vegetarian and Okinawan sweet potato—doesn’t seem to have changed in ages. A solid No. 1 with an incredible 43.7% of the total vote.
100 N. Beretania St., (808) 524-4461, royalkitchenhawaii.com
SEE ALSO:
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Oxtail Soups on O‘ahu
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Ramen Shops on O‘ahu
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Saimin Spots on O‘ahu
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Okazuya on O’ahu
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Classic Loco Mocos
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Poke Shops
