Honolulu kitchen notes
Real Hawaii food, the way it tastes here.
From spam musubi and loco moco to poke, POG, and island desserts, these are the recipes and food stories CurtisJ keeps coming back to in his own kitchen.
Pupus & Snacks
Spam Musubi Recipe — The Only Way I Make Hawaii’s Iconic Snack
Spam musubi with caramelized Spam, seasoned rice, and a wrap that stays tight enough to eat one-handed.
Why cook with CurtisJ
You get the dish and the reason it tastes right.
Built on 20+ years in Hawaii food and beverage work, with the kind of kitchen experience that shows up in the details. Expect clearer judgment, steadier recipes, and more of the small details that make Hawaii food taste like itself.
Start here
Start with the dishes people ask about first.
If you are just getting into Hawaii food, begin with poke, loco moco, and breakfast plates that show you what people keep coming back to.
What Is Poke? Hawaii’s Famous Raw Fish Dish Explained
What poke actually is, where it comes from in Hawaii, and why the best versions stay simple once the fish hits the bowl.
02Hawaiian BreakfastThe Local's Guide to Loco Moco (Restaurant-Style at Home)
Loco moco is rice, hamburger steak, brown gravy, and a fried egg, but the real story is why Hawaii never stopped craving it.
Food that sounds like somebody actually makes it every week.
Recipes you can use, stories worth reading, and the kind of practical detail that helps you cook the dish instead of circling around it.
Built on 20+ years in Hawaii food and beverage work, with the kind of kitchen experience that shows up in the details.
Cook by craving
What sounds good right now?
Go salty, cold, sweet, comforting, or quick. Start with the craving instead of the category name.
Poke and Seafood
A guide to Hawaiian poke bowls that covers the fish, seasoning, rice, and toppings that make the bowl taste right, plus what to leave out.
Hawaiian Poke Bowls — The Real Story Behind the Islands’ Most Famous DishIsland Comfort
A weeknight loco moco with juicy beef patties, quick brown gravy, hot rice, and a runny egg on top. Fast enough for a Tuesday, still worth craving.
Hawaiian Loco Moco Recipe — The Weeknight Version That Actually WorksTropical Treats
Buttery shortbread cookies loaded with chopped macadamia nuts. The Hawaiian souvenir classic you can make at home — simple ingredients, impressive results.
Macadamia Nut Cookies — Crispy Hawaiian ShortbreadHawaiian Breakfast
Loco moco is rice, hamburger steak, brown gravy, and a fried egg, but the real story is why Hawaii never stopped craving it.
The Local's Guide to Loco Moco (Restaurant-Style at Home)From CurtisJ's table
Stay for the dishes. Linger for the kitchen opinions.
CurtisJ cooks with a strong point of view: what belongs on the table, what is worth the effort, and what gets overhyped fast.
Best Cast Iron Skillets for Island-Style Cooking
The best cast iron skillets for island-style cooking hold heat hard, move from stove to oven without drama, and stay dependable for years.
Butterflied shrimp with a crispy coconut flake coating, deep fried until golden. Restaurant-quality with a sweet chili dipping sauce, ready in 20 minutes.
Hawaiian BreakfastHow to Make a Hawaiian Breakfast at Home (Even on the Mainland)A practical guide to Hawaiian breakfast at home, from rice, Spam, and eggs to the pantry staples that make the whole plate feel familiar.
Worth opening
If one category gets you hungry, go there next.
Each section starts with one strong entry point, then gives you enough range to keep dinner interesting.
Ahi, shrimp, and cold things
Poke and Seafood
A guide to Hawaiian poke bowls that covers the fish, seasoning, rice, and toppings that make the bowl taste right, plus what to leave out.
Rice, gravy, and heavy hitters
Island Comfort
A weeknight loco moco with juicy beef patties, quick brown gravy, hot rice, and a runny egg on top. Fast enough for a Tuesday, still worth craving.
Butter, coconut, and sugar
Tropical Treats
Buttery shortbread cookies loaded with chopped macadamia nuts. The Hawaiian souvenir classic you can make at home — simple ingredients, impressive results.
Keep cooking
Here’s what to open next.
Go from one dish straight into the next thing worth making.