Cheesy, delicious, the comfort food we all love. It’s mac and cheese! At cozy little eateries, brewing companies, and barbecue joints across Hawaii, you’ll find incredible options for a mean mac and cheese. From smoky mac and cheese with porchetta to indulgent bacon mac, here are our favorite spots!
Waialae is well known for its on-trend restaurants and chefs. That is where you will find the Surfing Pig. The vibe is hipster local and the food gives the same feel. Their smoky cheese mac with porchetta is the grown-up version of that blue and yellow box you grew up with. Grown up because instead of elbow macaroni, you will find ziti and instead of powdered cheese, you will find a gouda sauce. The gouda lends smokiness to the dish and the porchetta adds texture and crunch. This is not a typical mac and cheese so proceed with delicious expectations.
With two Honolulu locations to choose from, you should have no problem getting this cheesy goodness. Waikiki Brewing’s mac and cheese incorporates a longtime beer buddy, bratwurst. The sausage offers a delicious change in texture and flavor. All of this is topped off with a crumble of parmesan cheese. Either location that you visit has nearby shopping to help you work those calories off.
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On the edge of Chinatown sits Smith and Kings. They regularly host trivia night and have a tableful of board games for additional entertainment during your meal. While absorbing the cool atmosphere, nosh on the lobster mac and cheese. It is rich and creamy, with chunks of buttered lobster that you cannot miss. The best part is that it is topped off with truffle oil. Delicious. They also offer a traditional mac and cheese with pulled pork, bacon, pork belly or fried chicken as toppers. These are large dishes that are good to share, though you may not want to.
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Within a luxury mall, you will find the Pint and Cork, a comfy tavern. There is the standard pub-type fare but the mac and cheese comes out bubbling with a slightly browned top. You can add toppers such as truffle, bacon or jalapenos—or add them all, known as the kitchen sink. It is a large portion, best enjoyed while catching a game on the many televisions throughout. It is a nice place to catch up with friends and indulge in this comforting classic.
The portions are large. The vibe is laid-back. The mac and cheese is dreamy. It can be ordered alone or as a side and plays very nicely with the richness of the barbecue flavors. It is as classic as the green bean or coleslaw accompaniments and needs no fancying up. This dish is like a crisp white shirt—you just can’t beat the classics.
Located not far from the airport sits Kauai Beer Company. It is a smaller outlet than most breweries but packs a lot in the cuisine. Their brew house mac and cheese is a mix of creamy, crunchy and cheesy. The top is browned and has a crumble which gives it crunch and texture. Break through that deliciously browned cheese topping and you will uncover the creamy noodles and more cheesiness. Add the bacon and you will have an additional layer and texture. Add a Kauai beer and you will have a well-rounded brewery experience.
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