The Appeal of Asian Supermarkets Supporting Hawaii Life
For mid-to-long term stays, studying abroad, and living in Hawaii, the unique high cost of living and the weak yen are unavoidable challenges. If you eat out every day, your wallet will quickly become depleted. In such times, ‘Asian supermarkets’ become our strong allies.
Not only can you find essential ingredients for home cooking like Japanese seasonings, rice, and thinly sliced meat, but the in-store food courts and bento corners offer excellent value with no tips required, unlike restaurants. This time, we’ve carefully selected 5 Asian supermarkets around Waikiki and in Honolulu that ‘locals and students truly rely on’. Let’s understand their characteristics and wisely enjoy your Hawaii life.
Mitsuwa Marketplace
📍 Address: 2330 Kalākaua Ave # 250, Honolulu, HI 96815 United States
Located on the 2nd floor (Kuhio Avenue side) of the International Market Place, right in the heart of Waikiki, this is the only Japanese supermarket in the area. Since its opening in 2017, it has become a precious spot for many tourists and long-term residents, serving as an ‘oasis’ where they can find Japanese ingredients and daily necessities without leaving Waikiki.
Inside, you’ll find a wide array of fresh foods, bento boxes, Japanese snacks, and household goods. Due to the high cost of living, prices might feel a bit steep for local residents, but the peace of mind knowing ‘you can get a taste of Japan here’ is immense. With chopsticks available and hot water on hand, it’s not uncommon for students and travelers to enjoy a sense of accomplishment by slurping down Japanese instant noodles bought from the store on a nearby terrace, while thousands-yen ramen shops are bustling nearby.
Furthermore, the eat-in space (food court) is well-equipped, offering easy access to sushi, katsu curry, ramen, and more. Even on Sunday dinner times when nearby restaurants are packed and you might struggle to find a meal, this super convenient savior allows you to quickly grab a warm spicy chicken bowl or a fresh ahi poke bowl to go.
Don Quijote Honolulu
📍 Address: 801 Kaheka St #A7, Honolulu, HI 96814 United States
Located on Kaheka Street, within walking distance from Ala Moana Center, this large supermarket is truly a fundamental base for life in Hawaii. Although the store is only on one floor, its aisles are wider than those of Don Quijote in Japan, making it easy to shop with a cart.
It boasts an overwhelming selection, from familiar Japanese foods, beauty products, instant noodles, and microwaveable retort rice, to local Hawaiian ingredients – ‘you can find anything here.’ For those who cook at home, being able to buy rice and thinly sliced meat at prices comparable to Japan is a huge plus.
It also offers top-tier cost performance for souvenir shopping, where you can find classic souvenirs like chocolates, macadamia nuts, and Lion Coffee at great prices. Be sure to check for campaigns where you might receive a durable original eco-bag when you spend a certain amount with a JCB card. The premises also feature terrace seating lined with Japanese takeout specialty stores, making it a great spot to enjoy some ‘junk’ local food alongside the ‘locos’.
Palama Supermarket
📍 Address: 1670 Makaloa St, Honolulu, HI 96814 United States
Located directly across from Don Quijote Honolulu (a 2-3 minute walk), this is a long-established Korean supermarket with over 40 years of history in Hawaii. Stepping inside, you’ll be enveloped in a deep Korean town atmosphere, almost making you forget you’re in Hawaii.
The store is packed with a wide variety of homemade kimchi, Korean seaweed, seasonings, and retort foods. While prices might be a bit higher compared to Korea due to reliance on imports, it’s an indispensable spot when you want to make flavorful Asian dishes at home. They also have an abundant selection of marinated meats for yakiniku, making it convenient for stocking up on BBQ ingredients for your condominium.
And what you absolutely mustn’t miss is the small food court at the back of the store. You can enjoy authentic Korean dishes like bulgogi, sundubu, and highly-rated cold noodles, all at reasonable prices. Grabbing a quick lunch here after shopping at Don Quijote has become a classic route for the Asian community living in Hawaii.
H Mart Kaka’ako
📍 Address: 458 Keawe St floor 2, Honolulu, HI 96813 United States
Opened in 2020 in Kaka’ako, a popular area known for its wall art and young crowd, this is one of the largest Korean supermarkets in America. With a spacious supermarket on the first floor and a food court on the second, it’s gaining attention as a ‘fun outing spot’ that goes beyond a typical grocery store.
The first-floor grocery section is clean and well-stocked with fresh vegetables, seafood, and ‘thinly sliced meat for shabu-shabu,’ which is a welcome find for Japanese residents. In addition to Korean ingredients, a wide range of Japanese and Chinese seasonings are available, strongly supporting a multinational home cooking lifestyle. (Note: The store can get quite chilly due to the refrigerated cases, so a light jacket is essential for longer shopping trips.)
The second-floor food court gathers exquisite Hawaiian-specific gourmet delights. The biggest highlight is ‘Giovanni’s,’ the incredibly popular garlic shrimp truck, which you can now enjoy without traveling all the way to the North Shore. Other establishments like ‘Left Wing,’ a Korean fried chicken shop, are also present, allowing you to indulge in a hearty local lunch alongside dishes bought from the supermarket’s prepared foods section.
J-Shop
📍 Address: 1513 Young St, Honolulu, HI 96826 United States
Located on Young Street, a little inland from Waikiki across the Ala Wai Canal, a short car or Uber ride away, J-Shop is a hidden gem specializing in Japanese ingredients and fresh seafood. It’s a local favorite, patronized by Japanese residents in Hawaii ‘when they truly want to eat delicious fish.’
They handle many direct imports from Japan and also do wholesale, making their sashimi freshness unparalleled in Hawaii. While the price range is a bit rich for daily use, they also sell high-quality Japanese-style bento boxes like the ‘Saba Bento’ and other prepared dishes, allowing for a luxurious use like enjoying them with squid sashimi for a late lunch.
Furthermore, at the back of the store, there’s a restaurant (izakaya space) where skilled sushi chefs showcase their craft. With dishes like assorted sashimi platters, Unagi Tororo Don, and the finishing dashi chazuke (sea bream chazuke), it’s an absolutely reliable spot when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Hawaii and calmly savor authentic and delicate Japanese cuisine.
Summary: How to Strategically Use Different Supermarkets
To wisely manage living expenses in Hawaii while enjoying a fulfilling diet, strategically choosing your Asian supermarket is key.
For easily stocking up on water, instant noodles, or bento boxes without leaving Waikiki, head to ‘Mitsuwa Marketplace’. For a full grocery haul including daily necessities, souvenirs, and rice for home cooking, ‘Don Quijote’ is your go-to. When craving flavorful Korean deli items or cold noodles, ‘Palama Supermarket’ is the spot. If you want to enjoy the famous garlic shrimp while sightseeing Kaka’ako’s wall art, visit ‘H Mart’. And on days you yearn to be truly satisfied by delicious Japanese cuisine and fresh seafood, ‘J-Shop’ is the answer.
Make the most of these supermarkets according to your needs to make your stay in Hawaii even deeper and more comfortable!
