USA TODAY 10Best
Readers say Highway Inn makes the best kalua pig sandwich in Hawaii
Best Kalua Pig Sandwich in Hawaii (2017)
The Hawaiian word "kalua" refers to a method of cooking using an underground oven, called an imu. When pig is slow-roasted in this manner – an iconic luau dish – it's referred to as kalua pig. Since islanders love a good sandwich as much as anyone, this succulent pulled pork has found its way between slices of bread at restaurants throughout the islands.
10Best and Sandwich America set out to find the best kalua pork sandwich in the state, and to do so, 10Best editors joined forces with local Hawaii food writers and The Food Channel to nominate 20 worthy restaurants across the state. Our readers have been voting daily for the past four weeks, and the results are in!
The top 10 winners in the category Best Kalua Pig Sandwich in Hawaii are as follows:
Photo courtesy of appthing / Flickr
No. 10: Aloha Mixed Plate - Lahaina
A favorite local eatery is West Maui, Aloha Mixed Plate serves a Kalua pig sandwich using pork slow-cooked in a traditional underground oven. It's served with guava BBQ sauce and caramelized sweet Maui onions.
Photo courtesy of 808 Grindz Cafe / Facebook
No. 9: 808 Grindz Cafe - Lahaina
808 Grindz Cafe in Lahaina proves that Kalua pork need not be reserved for lunch and dinner. The restaurant's hearty Kalua Pork Hash is an open-faced breakfast sandwich featuring crispy Kalua pork patties on a grilled English muffin with poached eggs and hollandaise.
Photo courtesy of Maui Brewing Co.
No. 8: Maui Brewing Co. - Lahaina
Maui Brewing Co. serves their Kalua pork slider-style with a Coconut Hiwa Porter BBQ sauce on freshly baked slider buns.
Photo courtesy of CJ's New York Style Deli
No. 7: CJ's New York Style Deli - Honolulu
At CJ's New York Style Deli in Honolulu, sandwich lovers will find Kalua pig inside a double decker club with bacon, BBQ sauce, avocado, lettuce, tomato and mayo on sourdough or as a reuben on rye with swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing.
Photo courtesy of Island Ono Loa Grill
No. 6: Island Ono Loa Grill - Kailua-Kona
Island Ono Loa Grill on the Big Island serves two different Kalua pig sandwiches, both served on Hawaiian sweetbread hamburger buns from the nearby Punalu'u Bake Shop. The BBQ Kalua Pork sandwich features onions, BBQ sauce and a house-made pineapple coleslaw, while the Hot Bess Kalua Pork sandwich comes with swiss cheese, a fried egg and a Hawaiian chili water aioli.
No. 5: Da Kitchen - Kahului
The Kalua pork sandwich from Da Kitchen in Kahului is made with traditional slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone pork served with a sweet and sour sauce.
Photo courtesy of Kendall Leue / Anuenue Cafe
No. 4: Anuenue Cafe - Koloa
No. 3: Porky's - Waimea
Can't decide between pulled pork and a hot dog? Get both at Porky's in Waimea. This popular food truck tops its signature menu item, the Porky Dog, with Kalua pork, pineapple relish, Maui sweet onions and Porky Sweet Sauce.
No. 2: Kono's - Haleiwa
Diners at Kono's can choose between a couple of pig sandwiches. The Old School comes with guava BBQ sauce, Hawaiian slaw and caramelized onions on a toasted french roll, while the Triple Crown features Kalua pork, bacon, ham and slaw with a papaya seed and guava BBQ sauce.
No. 1: Highway Inn - Honolulu
Kalua pig from the Highway Inn comes in the form of sliders – hand-shredded pork prepared using a 70-year-old family recipe and served with bell peppers, onions and a spicy Hawaiian chili aioli on a taro roll with a side of taro chips and salsa.
Congratulations to all these award-winning restaurants!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Catherine Toth Fox
Born and raised on Oahu, Catherine Toth Fox has... Read More
Born and raised on Oahu, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for nearly a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawaii for 10 years and has freelanced – in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight – for national and local print and online publications. In 2015, she ditched the full-time freelance life to become the food and dining editor at HONOLULU Magazine, where she now eats even more often – but gets paid for it!
Catherine Toth Fox
Born and raised on Oahu, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for nearly a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawaii for 10 years and has freelanced – in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight – for national and local print and online publications. In 2015, she ditched the full-time freelance life to become the food and dining editor at HONOLULU Magazine, where she now eats even more often – but gets paid for it!
Frank Abraham
Frank Abraham is founder of Cooking Hawaiian Style... Read More
Frank Abraham is founder of Cooking Hawaiian Style whose mission is to celebrate the diversity of Hawaii's food and food culture and preserving a part of our culinary history.
Frank Abraham
Frank Abraham is founder of Cooking Hawaiian Style whose mission is to celebrate the diversity of Hawaii's food and food culture and preserving a part of our culinary history.
Jennifer Daskevich
After winning the World Sandwich Championships,... Read More
After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Jennifer Daskevich
After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Kay Logsdon
Kay serves as Editor in Chief of The Food Channel,... Read More
Kay serves as Editor in Chief of The Food Channel, developing food-related stories, videos, recipes and more for the website and its distribution network. She speaks and consults on food trends, working with some of the biggest food brands in America. Her favorite thing to do is work with chefs across the country as they do menu development, since she gets to taste and critique the dishes.
Kay Logsdon
Kay serves as Editor in Chief of The Food Channel, developing food-related stories, videos, recipes and more for the website and its distribution network. She speaks and consults on food trends, working with some of the biggest food brands in America. Her favorite thing to do is work with chefs across the country as they do menu development, since she gets to taste and critique the dishes.