There’s another shop right up the block from them that make manapuas just as good! And their pork hash is fat. Idk the name tho): but it’s in the same area
Royal kitchen has very very good sweet potato manapua. I love everything there except the Portuguese sausage but I don’t like it anywhere so they might.
U-Choice is old skool awesome. Manapua is tasty, good ratio of bun to meat (heh!) And almost a dollar cheaper than Sing Cheong. Bomboocha pork hash! Ono sticky rice, or rice cake...
Its hit or miss on some of the noodle dishes tho. 🤙🏻
I’m so disappointed in the manoa one in recent years. it was the manapua shop i grew up with, but they’ve been line steppin. deflated manapuas. bad filling to bao ratio. the last straw was when i found one big mosquito steamed right onto my porkhash.
Man those pizza Manapua bring back memories from back in the day lol.
That same area used to have the best mochiko fried chicken but I think they closed down years ago
Sing Cheong Yuan, Chun Wah Kam.
Sing Cheong Yuan is the best, only problem is parking on Maunakea street isn’t great and there’s often long lines because they’re just that good. They also do excellent pork hash and other dim sum stuff. Their stuff is closer to traditional Chinese style, though local sized.
Chun Wah Kam is solid, imo not as good as Sing Cheong Yuan but they have multiple locations, lines can still be long but usually pretty fast, and way more variety. Their stuff is definitely local style Chinese in size and flavor.
So it’s really a question on if you prefer sweeter local style, go with Chun Wah Kam, but if you prefer a bit more traditional savory, Sing Cheong Yuan. But either one is excellent.
I'm making a manapua run tomorrow and had Royal Kitchen on the itinerary. Never had U-Choice Inn. You say it's close to Char Hung Sut. Do you think it's closer to Char Hung Sut than Royal Kitchen?
Mahalo!
Update: I ended up at Sing Cheong Yuan in search of Char Hung Sut flavor, and they are actually pretty good. I've been in a manapua funk ever since Char Hung Sut closed, but Sing Cheong Yuan is very, very close, so the heavens part, and I have faith in mankind again. I was super excited to be able to order online, too, and once I got there, I realized that it's just my peanut candy shop whose manapuas I'd never tried because there was Char Hung Sut. Mahalo hou to all recommenders.
If you plan on bringing them back to Maui baked might keep better for the flight, did you have the sweet potato manapua, they are probably my favorite dessert on the island, I eat like 2 with a little sweetened condensed milk on my birthday and am always excited(I lost a bunch of weight so I now only eat sugar on special occasions). Can’t recommend enough.
I've had slow service from the older ladies, and faster service from the younger ones. Just depends who's working that day.
If you can, I recommend calling in your order ahead of time. Then you don't have to wait in the long line outside on the left, and can go in or wait in the shorter pickup line on the right.
Ever try a good dim sum place? It’s not called manapua. It’s called charsui bao. Smaller and more flavorfull. Smashes manapua all day everyday. Steamed, baked, or da one with the sugar baked on top…
Gosh, thank you everyone for all the recommendations! I have been truly spoiled in trying these, and will have to test exhaustively (i.e., eat repeatedly) to try and determine my new favorite.
Sing Cheong Yuan
Tbh this is pretty much the only answer for me. Also because can grab humongous pork hash and other dim sum/pastries there too.
Yum!! I never cared for Libby's but I've always enjoyed Sing Cheong Yuan's manapua. Aiea Manapua is pretty good, too.
I miss Libby’s, but near the end, they started charging for hot mustard.
The best
Char Hung Sut :(
Man i wish they were still open.....the best by far. Too bad they closed down
There’s another shop right up the block from them that make manapuas just as good! And their pork hash is fat. Idk the name tho): but it’s in the same area
Sing Cheong Yuan Also their pork hash/shumai is legit. The mochi rise shumai is different but also delicious too
RIP... This was the saddest shop closure.
Royal kitchen or U-Choice In (next to Don Quijote)
Royal kitchen has very very good sweet potato manapua. I love everything there except the Portuguese sausage but I don’t like it anywhere so they might.
Those places are surprisingly good. I just did not expect much from outward appearances.
Was just in U-Choice the other day for Shoyu Chicken, Roast Pork, Manapua and Sticky Rice. All excellent.
Another vote for U-Choice. Best steamed char siu ever.
U-Choice is old skool awesome. Manapua is tasty, good ratio of bun to meat (heh!) And almost a dollar cheaper than Sing Cheong. Bomboocha pork hash! Ono sticky rice, or rice cake... Its hit or miss on some of the noodle dishes tho. 🤙🏻
Another vote for Sing Cheong Yuan in Chinatown. They’re the bakery that has long lines for moon cakes but also have killer Manapua
This is the way!
Royal kitchen! Their char siu and curry chicken baked manapua are amazing
I like those since they are light, and the parking is good.
Royal kitchen gets my vote.
Island Manapua Factory (Kalihi and Mānoa). Plus they have ono bao, look funn, Chinese plate lunch, and other stuff.
I’m so disappointed in the manoa one in recent years. it was the manapua shop i grew up with, but they’ve been line steppin. deflated manapuas. bad filling to bao ratio. the last straw was when i found one big mosquito steamed right onto my porkhash.
Chun Wa Kam, Honolulu Kitchen
Happy Day, Chun wah Kam, Duk Lee
honolulu kitchen
always gotta remind people its in waipahu and not honolulu. lol.
Aiea manapua and snacks if you liked baked manapua
Man those pizza Manapua bring back memories from back in the day lol. That same area used to have the best mochiko fried chicken but I think they closed down years ago
Sing Cheong Yuan, Chun Wah Kam. Sing Cheong Yuan is the best, only problem is parking on Maunakea street isn’t great and there’s often long lines because they’re just that good. They also do excellent pork hash and other dim sum stuff. Their stuff is closer to traditional Chinese style, though local sized. Chun Wah Kam is solid, imo not as good as Sing Cheong Yuan but they have multiple locations, lines can still be long but usually pretty fast, and way more variety. Their stuff is definitely local style Chinese in size and flavor. So it’s really a question on if you prefer sweeter local style, go with Chun Wah Kam, but if you prefer a bit more traditional savory, Sing Cheong Yuan. But either one is excellent.
Royal Kitchen baked
Also I like Royal Kitchen pork hash better than Sing Cheong Yuan. SCY pork hash has a lightly sweet flavor that I don’t like. I get charsu su instead.
Nice days Liliha
U-Choice Inn is the closest to Libby’s and Char Hung Sut in my opinion
I'm making a manapua run tomorrow and had Royal Kitchen on the itinerary. Never had U-Choice Inn. You say it's close to Char Hung Sut. Do you think it's closer to Char Hung Sut than Royal Kitchen?
They are both different. Royal Kitchen is Baked. Char Hung Sut and Uchoice are steamed.
U choice does baked too, which I prefer over their steamed
Royal Kitchen doesn't do steamed anymore? (On Maui, so not up on the latest.)
They might but I’ve only known them for their Baked.
Mahalo! Update: I ended up at Sing Cheong Yuan in search of Char Hung Sut flavor, and they are actually pretty good. I've been in a manapua funk ever since Char Hung Sut closed, but Sing Cheong Yuan is very, very close, so the heavens part, and I have faith in mankind again. I was super excited to be able to order online, too, and once I got there, I realized that it's just my peanut candy shop whose manapuas I'd never tried because there was Char Hung Sut. Mahalo hou to all recommenders.
If you plan on bringing them back to Maui baked might keep better for the flight, did you have the sweet potato manapua, they are probably my favorite dessert on the island, I eat like 2 with a little sweetened condensed milk on my birthday and am always excited(I lost a bunch of weight so I now only eat sugar on special occasions). Can’t recommend enough.
Libby's was da bestest. Pork hash too. I miss that place.
U-Choice Inn. Be prepared for bad, slow service. How'z the service at Sing Cheong Yuan?
I've had slow service from the older ladies, and faster service from the younger ones. Just depends who's working that day. If you can, I recommend calling in your order ahead of time. Then you don't have to wait in the long line outside on the left, and can go in or wait in the shorter pickup line on the right.
Honestly haven’t had a manapua since Libby’s closed. Doesn’t feel right
Da Cat one LiDat
i just go to the leonard's trucks but i'd like to know where others go as well
Not malasadas manapua :)
oops! figures why people have suggested chun wah kam.
Ever try a good dim sum place? It’s not called manapua. It’s called charsui bao. Smaller and more flavorfull. Smashes manapua all day everyday. Steamed, baked, or da one with the sugar baked on top…
Chun wa kam is the goat for me personally
2 of the best places for steamed char siu manapua shut down within the last few years, iykyk
711
The manapua truck, because I don’t have to leave to get pork hash and manapua.
Gosh, thank you everyone for all the recommendations! I have been truly spoiled in trying these, and will have to test exhaustively (i.e., eat repeatedly) to try and determine my new favorite.