Things That Made Us Go Mmmmm At The New Foodland Farms In Pearl City

Foodland Farms puts the SUPER in supermarket with the addition of a sports bar, okazuya and burrito station in its new 45,000-square-foot location.

By Stacey Makiya

Photo: Courtesy of Foodland Super Market Ltd.

Foodland Farms Pearl City delivered a big blow to national food retailers (we won’t mention names … Schmole Foods) when it opened this week in the old Babies“R”Us location in Pearl City Gateway Center. Locals, lots of locals, were highly impressed when the doors opened to a food heaven that includes an expanded grocery space filled with gorgeous produce; convenient make-it-your-way food counters; pizza, poke and fried chicken windows; hot-and-cold self-serve bars; and a sports lounge helmed by Pearl City native and mixologist Matt Rosskopf. Yeah, long gone are the days of buying just milk and bread.

SEE ALSO: After 71 Years in Business, Family-Run Foodland is Swinging for the Fences

PHOTO: COURTESY OF FOODLAND SUPER MARKET LTD.

We bumped into Chief Food Officer Keoni Chang at the opening and told him we only had a short time to eat (we spent 45 minutes looking for parking), so what are some musts? “We spent a lot of time researching authentic okazuya foods to make sure we got everything right. The burrito station has a great meat selection (and a veggie option) along with fresh toppings that include local produce when they’re in season,” says Chang. “And, we visited popular local bars to find what works for them and make sure when people come to the Pau Hana bar, they have a good time and good local food. Try the fried chicken skin.”

So, here are our fresh-from-the-Foodland-Farm picks that made the long-line waits worth it.

SEE ALSO: Your O‘ahu Neighborhood Guide: Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City

Photos: Stacey Makiya

Okazuya

Prices run from $1.99 to $3.99

Nori chicken: tasty, crispy and savory



Spaghetti mac salad: creamy goodness just like tūtū used to make



Kabocha and veggie tempura: deeply flavorful and good even when it sat for a while



Okra aemono: the steamed texture added a fresh bite to all the fried foods



Japanese hamburger steak: a bit dry but the sautéed onions and ketchup served with it boosted the umami-ness



Tofu katsu: crunchy panko coating around a tender tofu steak (needs a splash of shoyu)



SEE ALSO: 3 We Tried (Twice): Who Has the Best Salt-and-Vinegar Wings on O‘ahu?

Burrito Station

Prices range from $8.99 to $9.99 per entrée

Street tacos with pork adobo: very meaty, tangy and juicy



Beyond Molida (Beyond Meat cooked in Mojo sauce) salad bowl: Don’t be fooled by the bean-ish color and texture; this protein packs a lot of great Mexican flavor



They are very generous (mucho gracias!) with the toppings that include fresh guac, pickled onions, kim chee, salsas and Cojita cheese



Pau Hana Bar

$7.99 per order

Fried chicken skin, crunchy-fried perfection and extremely addictive

1150 Kuala Street. Hours are 5 a.m. to midnight daily. For more information, visit foodland.com or call (808) 453-4509

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