Who Can Keep a Straight Face Eating

We originally planned to visit Ray’s Cafe, but the owner was on vacation — closed for the day! So we headed nearby to HeLena’s Hawaiian Food, a legendary spot that’s been serving locals since 1946 🏆 and has won multiple awards. 🍛 What We Ordered & Honest Thoughts 🍖 Short Ribs (Small Portion) So tender, smoky, and juicy — perfectly charred on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth inside. Absolutely delicious… though the small size only came with 4 pieces 😢 🐟 Lomi Lomi Salmon A refreshing mix of diced salted salmon, tomatoes, and raw onions. As someone who’s not a fan of raw onions, I skipped this one — but my partner said it was pretty good! 🫖 Poi (Small) Made from fermented taro root — and yes, it’s… unique. The staff kindly warned us when we ordered: “Have you tried it before? If not, start with a small.” And she was right 😅 It has a mild taro flavor, a tangy fermented sourness, and even a slight fizzy texture — like taro paste mixed with a hint of beer 🍺. Let’s just say it’s an acquired taste! 🌿 The Redemption Dish: Laulau Since the poi wasn’t our thing and portions were small, we noticed every table ordering Laulau — so we added one too. It’s pork and fish wrapped and steamed in taro leaves (not lotus leaf — but it reminded me of Chinese “mei gan cai” The pork was fall-apart tender, and the fish was so soft you could eat the bones. So flavorful and satisfying! 🥥 Bonus Bites The meal came with a side of haupia (coconut pudding), raw onions, and dipping salt. We cleaned the whole plate… except the poi 😂 🍍 Final Take: If you’re curious about real Hawaiian food — not just trendy plates — HeLena’s is a historic and heartfelt experience. Just maybe… share one small poi for the story 😉 #HawaiianFood #TraditionalEats #Oahu #HonoluluEats #PoiLife