Authentic Hawaiian and Local Food Favorites in Honolulu

A neighborhood fish market turned local institution.

What started as a small neighborhood fish market has grown into something much richer — a true reflection of Hawaiʻi itself. Over the years, our kitchen has become a melting pot of local comfort food, drawing from the Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Puerto Rican cultures that have shaped island life for generations.

For more than four and a half decades, we've tried our best to stay true to what matters — preparing every dish with care, using quality ingredients, and sharing the aloha spirit that has always guided us. The recipes have been passed down, the faces have changed, and we're grateful for every customer that walks through our doors.

Everything made fresh.

Long before poke became popular around the world, it was simply a part of everyday life in Hawaiʻi. Yama's has been serving traditional Hawaiian poke since 1980 — the way island families have always made it, rooted in fresh fish and honest, simple seasoning.

Good poke starts with good fish — and ours comes straight from the daily Honolulu auction, sashimi-grade and as fresh as it gets. We mix in small batches so every scoop is at its peak. Our seasonings are kept simple on purpose: just enough to bring out the natural flavor of the fish.

Our Hawaiian classics take time, and that's the point. We make our lau lau in-house, wrapping it by hand and steaming it low and slow until the pork and chicken turn meltingly tender. Our kalua pig is slow-cooked for hours to draw out that deep, smoky flavor. There are no shortcuts here — the superb flavor comes from doing it the traditional way.

Our haupia desserts — from our famous haupia to our colorful layered creations — are baked in small batches throughout the day. That's why generations of Honolulu families, visitors, and food lovers keep coming back.