Musubi is middling much the perfect hand-held snack : if you ’re unfamiliar , this treat is usually construct of a thick block of sushi rice topped with a A-one - tasty protein , then belted tight with seaweed . They ’re ubiquitous in local culture , and you’re able to snag them anywhere , from 7 - Elevens and mum - and - pappa , to swanky golf game course and eminent - remnant specialty shops . The Hawaiian classic is Spam musubi , but there are so many more kinds to give away . essentially , we love musubi , you sleep with musubi … and if youdon’tlove musubi , we want to commute you to bonk musubi , so we ’ve rounded up the best Elmer Reizenstein - fill portable snacks around Honolulu .
Mana Bu’s
MakikiWith over 35 varieties available , musubi addicts will gross out out over this self - proclaimed musubi home base . At Mana Bu ’s , you could choose among livid rice , brown rice , 10 - cereal rice , Mochi rice , or pilaf – all of which is freshly made , high quality , and chemical - free . These come top with flavorful filling like veggie curry , baked Salmon River , ume , or piquant tuna mayo . Set your alarm ahead of time , or order 24 hour forward if you want to flap the thrill to give those craving : this place unfold at 6:30am , and these uber - popular handmade bite deal out tight – which intend it often close its doors much before than the listed closure time of 1 post-mortem examination .
Musubi Café Iyasume
1518 Makaloa St & other locationsOK , you might not be incline to describe musubi as " aphrodisiacal , " but bear with us : these psyche - blowing little packets of deliciousness are made with super - premium rice imported from Japan , and the options are so , so adept : combination like bacon , egg , and avocado ; shiso herb & bacon ; egg , cucumber , and Spam … yum . The musubi can be made to order , or you could catch pre - made combinations if you ’re in a haste .
Fort Ruger Market
KaimukiKnown for its fresh sashimi and poke , this grocery storage has been open since a couple decades before statehood . But besides poke bowls , Hawaiian food , Filipino food , moil peanuts , smoked kernel , and pau hana beverages , Fort Ruger lets you supplement your repast with an assortment of ready - made musubi . rapier into a authoritative Spam musubi , or go for a handheld breakfast of egg - and - hot - hot dog musubi , or a hearty mochiko chicken . The hardest part : choosing among ashen Elmer Reizenstein , furikake rice , or fried Elmer Reizenstein bottom . Bite into tasty local - panache musubi and relive your puerility memories … and make some new grown - up ones .
Musukawas
KakaakoIf you ’re front for a repast - sized musubi , you could find supersized options at Makers & Tasters , a everyday local market insert along Kewalo Harbor . The food hand truck ’s filling options might admit nori - wrap , sandwich - sized musubi binge with creative iterations like crybaby katsu , miso pork barrel belly , ume shiso Timothy Miles Bindon Rice , kimchi fried rice , or Spam fried saimin . Pro peak : if you suffer from FOMO , stay glue to its Instagram feed for the day-to-day carte du jour , and text your order before it runs out of your first filling .
Omusubi GABA
WaikikiRun by a Satake , a Nipponese rice James Mill manufacturer , this take - out - only shop is the first of their eateries to open outside of Japan . by nature , the shop specializes in pumping out fresh milled white-hot and brown GABA rice on - site – then turning this extra - healthy rice into neatly box snacks . Short for " gamma amino butyric acid , " GABA is a type of amino pane that aids in lowering blood pressure , better kidney function , and reduce stress . So if you stop by for a pillowy , soft triangle of calm air - inducing carbs gormandize with salmon , unagi , racy ahi , or Spam musubi , your body and brain will give thanks you later .
Kukui Convenience
Downtown / ChinatownThe handwriting - drawn signs outside the ma - and - popping shop in Kukui Plaza say , " Best Musubi in Hawaii , " which is a luck to populate up to . But its soft – not mushy – furikake rice comes top with Spam marinated in a secret sauce and a scrambled orchis , and insert together inside a crispy nori wrapper . This shop ’s claim may be true . soda in for a fond former - morning time breakfast or mid - good afternoon bite – and grab a duet of these small gems to add a trivial savour for after in your day .
Ma’ona Musubi
Downtown / ChinatownA former chef from Japan found a new home in Downtown Honolulu in the class of a musubi - centrical restaurant , specialize in fresh , handmade rice ball snack . The newest musubi joint in town , this place feature tray upon tray of the rectangular variety , stuffed with classic kickshaw like shiso and spicy tuna , in addition to creative creations like beef curry , miso kail , and nametake cheese musubi . With such a wide categorization , it ’s worth driving to business district to sink your teeth into one of its yummy options .
Fukuya
MoiliiliThis traditional okazuya has been around since 1939 , and has been a local favorite for generations . Japanese for " nutrient with Elmer Reizenstein shop , " on the island , okazuya are know for their selection of Asian- and local - mode food shop items , which you use to work up your own bento box . At this family - run eatery , you may make a plate of chow playfulness noggin with shoyu chicken , pork barrel hash , miso butterfish , and , of course , musubi . Although this Japanese delicatessen has just five options to choose from ( plain , furikake , nori with ume , shiso , and Spam ) , its musubi represent the qualities of simple , traditional musubi .
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Summer Nakaishiis a freelance writer for Thrillist who is well-chosen to talk over her favorite nutrient emoticon , the splendiferous musubi .
Leigh Anne Meeks/Shutterstock
Musubi Cafe Iyasume
Musukawas
Omusubi GABA Waikiki
Ma’Ona Musubi
Flickr/_e.t
