Written by Brandon Ferreira
Photos by Brandi Kaneshiro
Eat the Street is easily one of the most popular events in the state of Hawaii. It was first held in 2011, in a small parking lot on Kapiolani Boulevard, and has since then grown a massive following, bringing in thousands of patrons every month and expanding to many locations. The event itself features a large variety of food trucks and vendors, of whom provide consumers with a myriad of cuisines and tastes.
Some of us at Ka Mana’o attended the September 2019, Eat the Street. Here are some of our food highlights!
Drink Highlight: Tea Girls Hawaii
Tea Girls Hawaii is a family-owned business that sells various flavors of iced tea and lemonade. That also includes a very delicious, Polynesian dessert drink called a Vaifala which some staff members of Kamana’o tried. Specifically, they tried the Vaifala Explosion of which had: strawberries, mango, and li hing mui powder in it. The Vaifala had a sweet, yet citrusy taste. It was incredibly creamy, smooth and velvety in the mouth, yet bursting with flavor. If you want a refreshing and sweet drink come next Eat The Street, then the Vaifala from Tea Girls could be a good first choice.
Food-Food Highlight: Angelo’s Hot Malasadas
Angelo’s Hot Malasadas features some of the best malasadas on the island of Hawaii, with reviewers often calling them “the best”. We at Kamana’o decided to try out their very own Malasada Burger-- specifically, their Bacon Jammies variety . It was very meaty, a bit of a flavor bomb, if you will. The sweetness of the malasada bun, combines with the saltiness of the burger and bacon jam, thus creating a rather savory taste. But wait, there’s more. The Bacon Jammies also have sriracha aioli and arugula, both of which throw some spice and bitterness into the burger as well. If you want something small, yet dense and packed with flavor, this is the thing for you.
Dessert Highlight: Uncle Lani’s Poi Mochi
Uncle Lani’s Poi Mochi is a small extension of Uncle Lani’s Cafe in Wahiawa, that goes with Eat The Street-- providing their famous poi mochi to everyone that attends. The only thing they sell is their poi mochi, which is simply delightful. Uncle Lani’s Poi Mochi is very sweet, filling the mouth with a sugary taste that is addicting. It is fairly hard and crispy on the outside, but gooey and chewy once you bite into it. You also get a good amount of mochi for one purchase. If you need a good dessert, or a small snack, Uncle Lani’s Poi Mochi is a great choice for any upcoming Eat the Street.
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2019 issue.