Just got back from Oahu. I lived there 42 years ago and had not been back or had Manapua since (almost impossible to find on the mainland). I got off the plane and sought out this place, heard it has the best Manapua and I was not disappointed. I took one bite of the steamed original Manapua and it took me back 42 years in time to the Manapua van that used to visit Millilani town in the 70's. Absolutely amazing.
This was the second time at this town location. The first time we didn't have a good visit and thought it was that it was later in the lunch hour.? But our visit yesterday was earlier.? There seems to be a disconnect with staff and some customers.esp those who they didn't know or wasn't a regular. Not friendly at all. no greeting.which isn't a big deal for me. We go to the waimalu location and its like night and day. Super friendly ? well lighted shop and you can feel the positive energy from the staff.? Dont think will be going to his local in the near future.?
After Char Hung Sut closed and Island Manapua Factory changed owners (and their food started tasting different), I needed a new place to get manapua. Chun Wah Kam filled that void pretty well. Both their steamed and baked char siu manapua have well seasoned filling and the bread is light and fluffy. While they have other varieties, like lap cheong manapua and pizza manapua, my feelings towards these more eccentric options are...mixed and I might just stick with classic char siu. Their pork hash is great as well, and while their gaugee has a nice crispy wrapper, the filling seems to be exactly the same as the pork hash which isn't normal. Their half moons are monstrosities that both look and taste weird, but that doesn't effect me since I don't usually get half moon. Their rice cake is good too.Overall a good place to get manapua if you stick with the classics (char siu manapua and pork hash) minus the half moon.
Gone are the days of the half half dishes, now straight choice of starch and 2 sides. It was really nice to get the halved choices so you can sample something different.
Had seamed pork manapua and was good. Bun and meat ratio was good had shredded pork not cubed. I rate the manapua at a 4, but gave an overall rating of 3 because of the pork hash. It had no tate and the noodle was hard.
Outstanding service and food!! The staff is knowledgeable and helped assist us novices. The food was delightful, the Manapua is unforgettable, and the Almond cookies are delectable! Thank you for a fantastic experience!
Just don't. I have been passing by this place for 3 years now. Always homeless people sleeping out in the front - which is okay because their front entrance appears to be in the back. Lights are never on and it always appears closed. After finding out they're actually open for business, I want in and ordered 2 mini platters. The portions are huge. The price is low - under 12 USD for a mini platter. Staff was friendly enough. The problem is that the food is not good. It's cold, greasy and mostly tasteless. Once in a lifetime experience.
Love how big the portions are here. Their pork hash, half moons and manapuas are to die for! But you better come early! They sell out quick and they usually close by 4pm
Do not patronize this restaurant. They do not follow the law. They have a sign on the door which says that you have to wear a mask to come in but they clearly do not enforce it as well I was there I saw three people clearly not wearing their masks in a very busy restaurant where there was no social distancing and we are in the thousands daily number count. These people did not have masks at all it's not like they had them on and it was improperly used they just never had them on. The lines were so long to get food and no one even once enorced it. This is a takeout restaurant and people who are unvaccinated can enter at any time
Everything was delicious. Rice cake cut into bite size pieces prepackaged into plastic containers. The egg fu Yung, kau yuk, sweet sour spare ribs, garlic chicken, garlic fish, baked manapuas and pork hash. Yummy yummy yummy!!! Just be sure to check your order. The lady who helped me forgot to put in my Chow fun and charged me for it. Didn't realize it till I got home (to another island). But I'll continue to buy from Chun Wah Kam when I'm on Oahu.