Hunger Pangs

It's been a while since I've been home and I'm craving some manapua. I'm sure there are many new manapua shops around and I'm wondering what your favorite manapua shop is.

For the record, my fave is Char Hung Sut. They also have my favorite chow fun and pork hash.

Comments

I haven't had a good manapua for a long time. Is there anyplace good around Kapahulu?

The following recommendation comes from a relative whose "local creds" make me look like a Norwegian birdwatcher.

"Royal Kitchen on the Kukui Street end of the Chinese Cultural Plaza, facing the canal (nee Nuuanu Stream) across the Shinto Shrine (Izumo Taishakyo temple). You can park on Kukui Street at the bridge that goes over the canal/stream. They have charsiu, kalua pig, vegetarian, shrimp, etc., etc. All baked manapua.

"I prefer them over Char Hun Sut in Chinatown."

I still like Char Hung Sut the best (no visible gobs of fat in the pork filling); I don't like baked manapua.

Have you tried Chun Wah's manapua?:
http://starbulletin.com/98/12/22/news/story3.html

Once on KITV's On the Menu they talked up Aiea Manapua for its pizza-filled variety; tried that, didn't like it. Their char siu variety is super, though (steamed version, anyway).

I actually have tried Chun Kam's, but I, too, like the extra shreddedyness of Char Hung Sut's and the lack of huge bits of fat or mystery globs. I haven't tried Aiea Manapua or Royal Kitchen, though. But I will when I get home for Christmas! :)

On a side note, but not too much of a side note, did your parents make you "peel" your manapua when you were a kid? My grandmother did and I always thought that was a little funny.

I've never been to Char Hung Sut, although I have had nice folks bring their goodies to the office. There's this thing which sounds to me like "mai tai soo" (sorry, I'm ignorant, so it may be completely different from what my untrained ears are hearing)... apparently, this is another popular item at Char Hung Sut.It looks like a minature manapua, but with a hard outside... it's filled with mysterious goodness inside, which I can't describe but tastes like there's a few diced water chestnuts hiding in there somewhere.

Does anybody know what the heck I'm talking about? If so, is it called "mai tai soo" and is that how it's spelled?

Btw, where exactly is Char Hung Sut, anyway? When I was in Chinatown buying some fresh fruits and veggies from the fish market area, I asked one of the vendors and they acted like they never heard of the place. (And another important question: Are they open on Saturdays?)

Gee, how long have I lived here? (Hmm, only all my life!)

Char Hung Sut info: 64 N. Pauahi St.; 538-3335. 5:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and Mondays. 5:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays.

Okay, here's a REALLLLLL dumb question. What's the difference between white manapua and brown manapua? All I know is the brown ones I get in Chinatown are WAAAAYYYYYY better than the white ones I get elsewhere. The bread tastes sweet and the pork is succulent. I forget which store I usually go to but it's on the corner of...damn...can't remember now. North Hotel and Smith I think...

Donna: CHS is open on Saturday (get there early because they sell out fast; people buy boxes of manapua and usually pre-order).

Sin: brown manapua is baked; white is steamed (I like peeling the skin off!).

OKay, then my question is: where do I find the best BAKED manapua? Screw the steamed kind.

Thanks everyone for the Char Hung Sut information! When I get back from my travels, I'll see if I can make it out there. Maybe a photojournal entry might be in order when that happens...

Mahalo!

Argh... this thread makes me hungry. I have some frozen manapua, but that ain't the same. *sigh*

Aiya! I got frozen manapua, too! Nope, it ain't the same, but at least it's here. :)

"Frozen" manapua? Meaning you bought it fresh and froze it, or is someone enterprising enough to box it up like corn dogs or HotPockets(tm)?

Hee hee... Zippys.com is the enterprising one. It ends up costing less to ship than if my mom freezes, boxes and ships it to me.

Somehow I should have known. ;)

I love Chun Wah in Waimalu!

Frozen manapua? That sounds wrong somehow...

Okay, everybody talking about getting Manapua locally. How about us in the mainland? Where can us folks get them shipped to us--frozen, fresh--baked, steamed--no make dif--long as char siu type. Stay live in East coast.

I live here in Newport News, VA, and I was wondering is there a place out here in VA that you can get manapua?

Sandi, I dunno about locally, but Zippys.com has the best deals hands down. Ships fast and "satisfaction" guaranteed. I ordered a dobash and a chantilly cake from them and came quick and wasn't smashed. If you read their policy carefully they say "100% Guarantee" read on....

We're confident you'll be satisfied with your order. Upon receipt of our products within the two day delivery, please check each item and if you find you are not satisfied with it, we will gladly replace or refund your purchase, whichever you prefer.

If you feel our product did not meet your "taste" standards, please give us a call and we will gladly replace or refund the product.

Kwong On in Kaimuki Town has some ono dim sum as well. They're right next to Toys 'n Joys and Kamuki Camera Shop.

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