Aloha Manapua — Restaurant in Honolulu

This is strictly a takeout place. We only tried the dim sum--for 3 days in a row! Great food to take on the plane. The chopsuey cake was different, with a thicker crust than before, but still pretty good. The Mochi or Yip Chai filled with pork, black sugar or coconut was good. We didn't try the coconut, and the mochi would get dried out by late afternoon, but for a morning snack it was so soft and tender. The baked char siu manapua are like large island-style bao with buns that are sweet like Portugese sweet bread--think King's Hawaiian. The peking duck manapua are okay. Don't taste much like peking duck, but the peking duck buns are pretty good. They also have pork belly buns that looks pretty good. Island Manapua has a wide variety of both baked and steamed manapua with all kinds of fillings. Of course, the later you go, the narrower the choices as things sell out. I explained to the lady serving me that although we have very good dim sum in the Los Angeles area, we can't get the same things that Island Manapua has to offer. This is a really good place for those of us who grew up on the food from Char Hung Sut. It's not the same, but reminiscent. And for those coming from the Mainland, the food is not the same as San Gabriel Valley, or New York City, but if you keep and open mind, you might find something new that you like. They also have a huge variety of warm dishes that they make up fresh, but we...

A small shop with lots of options. From plate lunch to bentos, dim sum and asian desserts (almond cookies, milk tea, etc.) this place has no shortage of options. We selected the Peking duck bento which included 4 bao, ready to eat; look fun bento with the charsiu cooked right in; 3 manapua - char siu, Peking duck and hot dog; white rice cake (though brown was also available) and coconut mochi. The baked manapua generously glazed, all flavorful though salty. And the mochi cake was packed full of coconut. The downside is that the Peking duck bao, being steamed and packed, left the bao bread slightly mushy and the duck skin which would ordinarily be crispy was a little gummy and chewy. Oddly the look fun was dry and packed flavor if not enjoyed with the sauce. Overall, with the convenience of dim sum to go, the expectations of dim sum changes. A spot worth trying for its convenience but not the right spot when totally craving dim sum.The food was good, service quick but experience is different when the food is not served steaming hot.

Pro-Tip: Double-check your order, especially if sticking to lots of small items. We ordered small things and somehow our rice cake got left out or left behind :(

Side Note: There is limited seating in Mānoa Marketplace, have a plan for a place to eat if not a nearby resident. A quick 4 minute drive to Mānoa District Park made the perfect spot to eat and have the little one...

It’s upsetting to have to post this review because I normally try to support all small, family-owned businesses, but this needs to be said: Straight-up worst Chinese food / dim sum ever. 💔 I NEVER waste food but I actually threw most of what I ordered away. So sad. Noodles swimming in oil. Overly salty manapua. Pitiful excuse of a salad with just lettuce, some shriveled chicken and won ton chips thrown on top, too-sweet dressing. Saving grace was the friendly gal taking orders and payments, but since she was the only one taking orders, I had to wait an additional time for the food; inefficient ordering system. Wish them the best of luck but honestly I will never buy food from...