Char Hung Sut

I can’t believe this is my first time here! As soon as you walk in you feel like you’re in a kitchen and you see employees in there making everything by hand! They roll dough and use their hands to shape the half moon or manapua. I would advise to call in an order in case they get quite busy. Their pork manapua was good but in my opinion so much bread. I still prefer Libby’s in Kalihi. I also ordered their half moon and pork hash which was also both good. I want to come back and try their Mai Tai Soo and Yap Chai.

Good manapua. Bought some for my staff. Too bad it’s cash only, would’ve bought more.

On my latest trip to Honolulu, I was introduced to the wonderful world of manapua. Oh sure, they look like steamed pork buns, and they taste like steamed pork buns, but they aren’t just steamed pork buns. They are Hawaiian! They are manapua! And I love them.
After being recommended by a coworker, I set out to Char Hung Sut on the way to the office from Waikiki. Located in the heart of Chinatown, I was able to find a parking spot right in front, amidst a small homeless camp. Walking in, I realized it’s essentially a production space that happens to have a cash register in the middle of the room. I ordered a couple manapuas and a couple half moons The manapuas were delightfully fluffy, but the star of the show is the barbequed pork in the middle. Some manapuas and baos have pork that is too sweet, too sauced, or too plain. Char hung sut’s finds a nice happy medium with its delicious pork filling. The half moons, sweetened pork hash with tart pickled onions stuffed into a steamed rice wrapper, were delicious, with the sweetness and pickled onions complementing perfectly.
All of this cost me five bucks and I was stuffed. It wasn’t much to look at, but Char Hung Sut sold me the best manapuas I’ve had in Hawaii. I would even venture to say they give Momofuku’s baos a run for their money; they’re definitely a better value.

Manapuas are not to be beat! Such a classic Hawaii place untouched by the technological advances and gentrification of the rest of the world. A unique hole in the wall with perfect dimsum.
Their hours are sporadic. Sometimes they will just be closed, no sign or reason up on the door. It’s also the only business I know without call-​waiting. You WILL get a busy signal.
These aren’t really complaints though because the manapuas are SO good that it outweighs any lack of customer care consistency. It’s almost comical and adds to character of the place to just be closed, just because… «closed.» I don’t care if the only way to contact them about their hours is by paging them.
GO HERE! and try get a steamed pork manapua… maybe you’ll get lucky!

I’ve been staying at my parents’ area for a week and thought it’s time to explore some foodie place here. I saw this place was rated high. It has been a very long time since I ate dim sum, I thought I would go get some here.
I was craving half moon dumplings, when I went there to order it was gone!!! Omg! Noooooo! This sucks, I wanted to try it. I just got the manapua $ 1.80. It was about the size of my hand. When we got it, it was steamy and soft. I took a bite of it, the bun was soft and smooth. The charsiu was not over marinated and was shredded good. It was sooo good. Or maybe cuz I haven’t tried one for awhile. But yea it was good! Okay, that’s too much good…
I will be back if I ever crave another bunbun again. Yummy!

First, don’t come here an hour before they close like we did. Pretty much everything was sold out! And as we pondered whether to buy the pork dumplings, someone walked in and bought whatever was left. Man!
I did manage to get a fresh batch of pork chow fun though. The thing with chow fun is that the restaurant needs a good noodle supplier because the fresh rice noodles are what make the dish. And I consider myself a bit of a chow fun snob because I live close to a good noodle supplier in Washington DC, so I generally expect to be disappointed by chow fun in other cities. Here, the rice noodles were very good and fresh (though a narrower width than I’m used to). There was less soy sauce than I’m used to but it was still tasty. And the pork was different than the beef than I’m used to (although I get that it’s cheaper to ship pork than beef to Hawaii). But overall, it was a delicious experience! And the price was good too — either $ 6 or $ 7!
Bottom line — I’m a fan of Honolulu’s Chinatown. :)

This is the go-​to place for many visiting Neighbor Islanders for local style manapua.
My favorites to take to parties include the pork hash, mai tai soo (sp?), and half moon. The char siu bao has alot of bread in proportion to the filling. Remember to get the mustard shoyu sauce for those who want that extra kick.
Most folks park in front and run in to pick up their order, since parking in Chinatown is often difficult to find.

The Good:
+ Open bright and early, so you can get your pastries early on in the day.
+ CHEAP
+ Huge portions.
The Not So Good:
— All the pastries were delicious, but all the stuffings were lackluster. For example, the manapua bun was delicious but the pork stuffing was dry and overseasoned. The shiumai skin was delicious, but the stuffing was oily and overseasoned.
— Minor inconsistencies between same pastries (some had more stuffing that others, etc).
Bottom Line:
Great value if you are bringing pastries to share. Fast, made to order, and can feed an army. Certainly not gourmet by any means, but delicious and very homestyle feeling.

Walking into Char Hung Sut this morning (at 6:30am no less) and seeing the owner and the ladies in the front making manapua, I immediately flashed back to being a 7^th grader again. Holy nostalgia batman. Growing up, manapua from Char Hung Sut was a special occasion both literally and also when one of my parents had to wake up early and take someone to the airport. Then, I started middle school near Chinatown and my dad, ever the opportunist, decided we would get manapuas here at least once a week using «if you can get ready early we can grab manapua and rice cake on the way to school» tactic. Which is probably one of the few ways to get a middle school aged girl awake at 4:45 to leave Ewa.
So back to this morning– everyone working there were the same familiar faces I’d seen growing up. Not having been here for awhile (I have to admit we became Libby’s people the past few years) I way over ordered ordering for more like 8 people than the 4 in my house but it was totally worth it. It may still have the red dye but what’s a little red dye numba 5 once in a great while, right? Everything was delicious– my manapua, my pork hash, pepeiau-​way too full to eat my rice cake now but if it’s anything like when I was in school-it’ll be my favorite part! I know for sure it won’t be another 4+ years before I step into this delicious hole in the wall again!

I remember this place back in the day and I haven’t had a decent manapua since… love the old style, support local, simple menu, simple everything…
I wasn’t ready to order when the girl at the register summoned me over, I let my sister take over cause I was feeling shame I didn’t know what I wanted, lol…
Loved watching the ladies and their assembly line, making up orders as fast as they can.
My manapua was bambucha, soft, fluffy, fresh, moist, everything was garans! Maybe because we went early in the day? I never met a dry manapua? What they talking about? I love picking up little meals when sightseeing and this hit the spot.
Next time I’ll bring them some omiyage from Trader Joes. Cause I looooove this place.
I think it’s cash only? Dunno anything about large orders but they are right on when you buy small quantities.

WOW! Unbelievable! I just went to Char Hung Sut for the first time and it was great. The half moon, Mai tai and pork hash Sui were awesome. Also, the Char Siu Bao (aka char siu manapua) was awesome. It’s a big fluffy roll packed with meat. I believe it’s pork. This seems to be what they’re known for and man they’ve mastered this item. Also got some sort of dessert not sure what it was called but it had some coconut sugar filling and was interesting and. The whole box was like $ 8.25.
FYI this place is a whole in the wall in Chinatown and directly across the street from a park with a lot of homeless. The area is fine but I wouldn’t go eat in that park. It’s a takeout spot. So you walk in and see all of the ladies diligently working and making the menu items right in front of you then you order and they serve you your food very quickly. I will definitely be back.

Char Hung Sut is a landmark in Chinatown. People line up for boxes of Dim Dum – crispy Gau Gee, and steamed Manapua, Half Moon, and Rice Cakes.
For me, the Taro Cakes, Ma Tai Soo, and Pork Hash are the stars. Sometimes you get a dry Taro Cake, maybe you got the butt of an old taro, but when the Taro Cakes are good they are moist, even creamy in texture; from the taro being so soft. A friend introduced me to the Ma Tai Soo. Slightly sweet, crunchy on the outside with a pork-​water chestnut filling, they are addictive. The Pork Hash is standard, they are on the larger side, and perfect to eat with the Taro Cakes.
Get there early on weekend, they will sell out. Find street parking or in one of the municipal lots and walk down to Char Hung Sut, your box of goodies is waiting for you.

チャイナタウン、バス通りより
一本山側あります。
お店の外観は入り口と出口の間は
全て壁なんで中の様子は一切見えなく
看板をしっかり目印にしていないと
通り過ぎてしまうほどです。
店内に入ると
レジカウンターがあるだけ。
他はほぼ厨房という
あまり店としては見慣れない風景です。
そういった感じなんで
イートインはもちろんなく
togoのみです。
マナプアのサイズは大きく
生地は厚めです。
具はたくさん入ってました。
ただ、生地はもちもち感はあまりなく
個人的には好き嫌いがあると思います。
お客さんはひっきりなしに来店していて
ローカルには人気のお店のようです。
味や見た目でいうと
リビィマナプアショップに近いでしょうか。
個人的にはロイヤルキッチンのマナプアのほうが
好きなマナプアでした。

Dear Char Hung Sut Fans,
Your beloved Sut Hung Char, oh I mean Char Hung Sut… is my back up plan. Calm down. I’m not making fun of the name — it’s simply a name you have to think twice before you say it, unless you were born in Canton. No, not Canton, Ohio… I meant Canton Province in China! Ok, before you de-​friend me because you can’t take the heat or can’t take pure honesty rolling from my lips… hear me out!
First, have you noticed I gave your favorite spot a perfect score?! So there! I mean it’s good and all. Hung Sut Char, oh I mean Char Hung Sut has delicious half moon (s), pork hash, and other bite sized goodies, in fact the last time I was here my sister purchased half dozen crispy things with idk what was inside it, but it was all good! However, I need to say once again the manapua here is good, but it’s simply not my favorite manapua! Maybe second, or even forth?! Just IMHO I prefer (1) Libby, (2) Pinky’s (Big Island), (3) Chun Wa, over (4) Char Hung Sut… Again, I’m only speaking of the manapua!
I do think the pork hash & half moon (s) here edge the rest. So, even though I feel the manapua here is maybe 4^th rated in the islands, I have to admit it’s pretty consistent, big, and generally meaty! I know of some Char Hung Sut fans who want to take me to the back shed and give me dirty lickins, but it is what it is. I love Libby more… Sorry!
Ok, having given my very IMHO about the manapua here… I still highly recommend Char Hung Sut! You really can’t go wrong here, hence the perfect score of 5-​stars! Yes, I still advise you to pickup the famous manapua here and compare! Hey, you might like it better, maybe? That’s the great thing about our wonderful country — freedom of choice and freedom of opinions. Maybe it’s the mysteries of Chinatown that influence some that walk in the «don’t trip» doorway. Maybe because it’s always fresh here, like no matter what you order, even if you don’t know what you order! Hey… As long it does NOT «meow» or «bark» and we good, right?!
Lastly, another big influence for me is how Char Hung Sut has remained such a go-​to landmark, in an ever growing hipster destination, Chinatown! I mean Char Hung Sut was founded in 1945 by Bat Moi Kam Mau (yes, I’m not making up her name, silly)! Yup, it’s small and the sidewalk or car seat is your dining table, but that’s the joy of these one-​of-​a-​kind places! Oh, and the owner is NOT rude, like many wimpy hipsters claim he is… Nope! The owner is simply «Chinatown Friendly»…
Come on in… A third generation establishment, walk through the «don’t trip» door, you will not only see manapuas, pork hash and a variety of other items, but faces of the family, too: Barbara (Bat Moi’s daughter-​in-​law), Barry (Bat Moi’s grandson), and Jill (Bat Moi’s great-​granddaughter). And behind the scenes are Bruce (Bat Moi’s grandson) and Wanda (Bat Moi’s granddaughter). How wonderful is this? Not many places can claim a lineage like here… Well, maybe Libby can. Le sigh.
Sincerely Yours, Eric «Bat Bat» Robert
OVERALL GRADE: 4.7-STARS!
LIVE ALOHA…

REVIEW #499
True greatness, a restaurant survives the test of time. Things change and while some of remember with great longing the way things were, the next generation discovers greatness in it’s own right.
Chatting with my mom, she remembers the manapua man of her youth. The Chinese man walking the streets, calling out «manapua» carrying over his shoulder a wooden pole, two metal tins filled with manapua, pork hash, and pepeiao.
«The manapua was not like today. It was smaller. You had to peel the outer layer off before eating it. It was filled, not packed with pork, pork fat, cartilage, water chestnuts, green onion [scallion], Chinese parsley [cilantro], and ginger. The pork hash had chunks of pork in it. The pepeiao had a thin skin and flavored by dried shrimp and crunchy bits of this and that».
Gone by the early 1950’s then replaced by «your grandma would take us to Char Hung Sut. They made manapua the same way, just bigger. They were the best. By the time you were born, wasn’t as good»
Fast forward to my childhood through high school. Char Hung Sut was the place for manapua. The manapua, huge, lightly packed with pork, some pork fat, some cartilage, green onion, and ginger. The pork hash, dense but still having some chunks. The pepeiao, now having morphed into a half moon, paper thin wrapper, pressed with a cleaver by an elderly man then filled with the same dried shrimp goodness. It was the best. Ask me today «By the time Unilocal was born, wasn’t as good».
Enter the millennium. The manapua still huge, packed full with sweetened, lean pork period. The pork hash no longer has any chunks. The half moon wrapped in thick skin (flattened with a tortilla press) and the filling with almost no taste of dried shrimp. Still though:
«Anything you get on the menu is absolutely delicious!» — Unilocaler Marko C.
«This is the benchmark I have used for dim sum since my childhood» — Unilocaler Derek P.
«My favorite manapua place in the whole wide world!» — Unilocaler Lovesto E.
True greatness.

Pros: loved the xiu Mai. Cheap prices.
Cons: minus a star for the dry char Sui bao. I like mine more saucy on the inside. Minus a star for the service. I only know the Chinese name dim sum, not the Hawaii name or English. So when this very helpful employee was explaining it to me, her boss was yelling at her/​me to move it along. He kept saying to «read the board.» She explained that the board would not be helpful as it doesn’t actually describe any of the items. He got really mad. Minus another star because they are cash only and my finance forgot our money at the hotel. This was even more embarrassing cause mean manager smirking at us. This super sweet lady paid the $ 5 for our meal. I offered to write her a check, but she declined.

Unilocal 365 CHALLENGE 2014−(350÷365) «69 Years Strong!»
This is the best spot on Oahu to come and get your Manapua, Rice Cakes, and other dim sum items. This tiny little mom and pop shop has already stood the test of time for 69 years! My faves are the steamed manapuas, pork hash, and both the white and 7-​layer rice cakes.
No fancy machines here, you see the ladies making all of Char Hung Sut’s items BY HAND! Totally old school… Oh, and no plastic is accepted here, so bring cash! Aside from being tasty, each one of their items are so cheap, and makes for a perfect quick snack, or a tasty meal after a quick surf session. Writing this review does me no good
and only makes me wish we had CHS on the 9^th island as much as Hawaii peeps wish there was a Trader Joe’s over there…:(
They open at the crack of dawn, so a good rule of thumb is to come early for the best selections, because when they’re out of something, they’re out, and you’ll be SOL. ALOHA!!!
Shaka Meter: \uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​\uuu/​5

FIVE STARS for Char Hung Sut. I don’t know of a more nostalgic place in Hawaii that brings back such great memories. This is a dim-​sum takeout shop located on Pauahi Street (corner of Maunakea) and the store has been around forever (at least 40+ years). The food is delicious and offers a taste of true Hawaiian Chinese. The restaurant is run by 3^rd generation Chinese Hawaiian, and they know customer service!
Manapua /​Char Siu Bao: B+
Pork Hash: A–
MaiTai Siu: A
Rice Cake: A
Layered Rice Cake: A
Black sugar bao: A–
Har Gau: B+
Chow Fun Noodles: B+
Anything you get on the menu is absolutely delicious! Cash only.
Food Grade: A
Service Grade: A
Worth the Money Grade: A+
Overall Impression Grade: A!

After tasting every «dim sum» item on their menu, I can’t really say that I would return. For starters, mainlanders visiting Honolulu should understand that this Chinatown hideaway does not serve traditional dim sum; rather, they make Hawaiian style dumplings, cakes, and buns. It’s similar to how Laotions have their own version of phở (Vietnamese), or how Americans americanized taekwando (Japanese) in the form of karate. To my point, don’t expect traditional dumpling regulars such as shu mai, har gow, or deep fried crab paste balls on sugarcane sticks. Even one of the chefs spoke with my mandarin speaking girlfriend and confessed she’s never heard of the items written on the menu, too! lol.
Upon entering, you’ll notice women scattered about, each holding down a different job. One is cutting and wrapping cakes with banana leaves. Others are making and steaming dumplings. And, of course, there’s someone holding down the cash registers, taking orders, and barking them back into the kitchen.
The menu hangs high on the right wall, and there, you can order from a variety of «dim sum» goods that, for most people familiar with this common Chinese brunch, sound completely foreign:
–Pepeiau
–Pork hash
–Cripsy Kau Gee
–Rice cake
–Yap chai
–Manapua
Aside from the manapua (which is like a Hawaiian pork bao), each goodie listed above just tasted a bit bland for me. The texture was there, the size, the shape, but they all needed additional marination. Especially the pork hash (which is their version of shu mai) — it tasted like bland steamed ground meat. Gah!
I regret buying multiples of each, because it was truly a bit difficult to eat it all. (And I eat everything.) Really too bad, because I love supporting small businesses and dim sum.
If you want to take a risk and try out their bites though, your pocket won’t take a big hit. They’re incredibly affordable. (Even for Hawaii.) The staff there are nice, too.

I think it’s pretty standard for manapua/​dimsum shops to not put much effort into their storefront or be all that professional in general. Char Hung Sut takes this to a whole new level though. You literally walk into their kitchen to order and get your food. Also there is no menu, you just need to know what to order ahead of time. I thought all of that was actually rather charming though. It gave me hope that the food would be just that much better.
Unfortunately, there were a lot of things about the food that I didn’t really care for. The pork hash was fairly dry and the filling was not very flavorful either. I really liked the manapua filling though, it was very good and I thought the stringy texture was just right. However the outer portion of the manapua was just too thick and bready. I ended up just breaking it open and avoiding the bulk of the outer portion.
Overall, While I thought their manapua filling was the best, I had a few issues with other areas of their items. Also, I think they are outdone by nearby competition, especially Royal Kitchen. Thus, ‘I’ve experienced better’.