Ever since I was a child I can remember the glorious takeaway flavors from Char Hung Sut.

Famous as one of the most beloved places to get Hawaii style dim sum (since 1946), especially pork siu mai, and char siu bao (known as manapua, and similar to Chinese baozi), Char Hung Sut is a legend in Honolulu.

The menu is very simple, offering only a few items of the finest quality dumplings and steamed buns, and also chow fun noodles, which I don’t think I’ve ever tried before here, but is does look good.

Also, I normally avoid the sweets, but many people I know enjoy the steamed Chinese rice cakes – I personally go for salty.

Char Hung Sut is located on the edge of Honolulu’s Chinatown, on Pauahi Street.

You can sometimes find a quick parking spot on the side of the street, but it’s often better to go with someone else in the car so you can run into the shop as the other person waits in the car.

It is only a takeaway restaurant, and you walk into the door, which sort of looks like a warehouse, to grab your goodies.

Walk in the door, and it won’t take more than a few minutes for them to box up your order, wrap it into a package and you’re on your way. The staff are always friendly and pretty quick.

Most of the time I like to takeaway my treats and go to the beach or go back home to devour them all, but this particular time when I went, because I wanted to make a video, I had to get a taste immediately outside the shop.

My two favorite things on the menu at Char Hung Sut are the steamed char siu bao and the pork hash siu mai; Every time I go, those are the two items I can’t wait to eat.

But the last time I went, I decided to try a few more items like the mai tai soo and a few half moon dumplings as well.

Let’s begin with the pork hash, the item I had to choose as my first bite.

The pork was sweet and moist, steamed, and sort of melting into the fresh wan tan noodle wrapper. I’m a big fan of their pork hash, always a nostalgic comforting flavor and texture.

Price – $0.75 per piece

I then grabbed one of the half moons, a dim sum type of dumpling loaded with shredded pieces of char siu pork and lots of diced water chestnuts.

They were good, and I loved the filling, but the outer dough was a little on the thick side for me. Still, they were delicious.

Price – $0.75 per piece

Moving on to the mai tai soo, something that’s pretty famous at Char Hung Sut and many people rave about, though of all the times I’ve been there, this was my first time to have it.

It’s a baked good, sort of like Chinese pastry dough with a combination of char siu (Chinese barbecue pork) mixture. The outside dough was flaky and sweet, and the meat filling was nice and salty. Overall though, I’m still more of a fan of the manapua and the pork hash.

Price – $0.75 per piece

Last but not least, I saved my mouth energy for the char siu manapua, one of the ultimate Hawaiian Chinese creations. They only make the steamed version with char siu, not the baked kind, and they do it exceptionally well.

Price – $1.50

They are big and fluffly, and absolutely packed with shredded char siu, and steamed to perfection. In my opinion, the char siu manapua is what Char Hung Sut is all about, it’s my favorite item they serve.

Char Hung Sut, Honolulu, Hawaii

Address: 64 N. Pauahi Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Phone number: 808 538 3335
Open hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 5:30 am – 2 pm, Sunday from 5:30 am – 1 pm, Tuesday is closed

How to get there:

Char Hung Sut is located on the edge of Chinatown. From Beretania street, make a left on Nuuanu St., then turn right on Pauahi St., pass through Smith St., and Char Hung Sut will be right on the corner on your right hand side.