Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Blue Seafood Company

    4.7 (69 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 3:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Blue Seafood Company Photos

    Business Info

    BLUE SEAFOOD COMPANY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    More like Blue Seafood Company

    Recommended Reviews - Blue Seafood Company

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Restaurant
    Anthony W.

    TLDR; wonderful shop that will cook any fresh fish you bring them with great service at good prices This restaurant is at the heart of Chinatown in Honolulu. It's actually a stall in a bustling foot court that is also attached to a fish market (they sell local catches). They operate in two ways: 1) you pick a fish from their menu and they either steam or fry it or 2) you give them a fish and based on what it is they will fry or steam it (you can ask them to cook it however you want but they will have recs). The owner is friendly and the food is good -- I'd come again!

    Steamed snapper with sauce
    Bryan G.

    Seafood combo prawns and shrimps fried to the crisp Came out hot with rice. Enough portion 4 of each for 2. prawns melt in your mouth with the juice melting on the rice. Shrimp perfectly cooked .btheir fish is also good snapper red and white steamed

    Pick your choice
    Janice L.

    We are so excited and we made it! Omgosh all the varieties to choose from, can't decide. The service at the fish market and the kitchen was so very friendly helpful and fun. We really like the old school vibes like when we were little kids coming to Chinatown. Anyways, the fried fish choice was the red snapper and was sooo good! The ama ebi combo was sooo good too! You can eat the shells as it so crunchy and yum!!! Check out photos of their menu and how droolish you'll be with the pics of fish and shrimps. Enjoy! Mahalo BLUE, we'll be back for more.

    Sean L.

    Whoa, September and October were a whirlwind! So much was going on that I totally fell behind on my reviews. My wife had bookmarked this spot, so the week of her birthday we finally made it in. We ordered four kinds of fish (had to ask which ones they recommended), plus the shrimp and raw marinated crab. We did two steamed and two fried, and honestly, for what we paid, it was solid. The service was great too. One of the steamed fish was a little tougher, but the server actually gave us a heads-up about that, so no complaints there. The marinated crab was just okay for me, but everything else really hit. I've already been telling friends and family about this place. Definitely worth checking out!

    Anny L.

    Blue Seafood Company is such a hidden gem in Chinatown. The marinated crab, steamed fish, and fried shrimp were all incredibly fresh and delicious. You can pick your own seafood right from the market and they'll cook it for you however you want. Service was great and fast, with very casual vibes overall. Easily one of my favorite meals in Oahu and definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

    Aloha plate (2 fried Ta'ape, 1 menpachi and 1 akule) Steamed uhu plate
    Cymry P.

    The service, amazing! The young man working the counter was super helpful with all my questions I had to ask. He gave great advice on what to get and when we finished eating, he offered to wrap the steamed uhu plate since the shoyu could spill. The fish was very fresh and great portion sizes for both plates. The aloha plate was only $20 for 4 fish + rice. The steamed uhu was about $23. Not having to clean the fish yourself and having it cooked by someone else plus the price for both plates is such a good deal. You are also able to go down to the side where they sell the fish and pick out what you want to eat and have them cook it for you instead of choosing from the menu. I was too nervous to do that this time so maybe next time around since they're so friendly here lol. The wait can get long but you have to understand they make everything fresh to order. And if the people in front of you order a lot then then time to get your own food will be longer. It is located in Mauna Kea Marketplace where all the food stalls are so it can get hot inside but you're also able to look around at the other stalls and see if you like anything from there. So the time can pass by quickly! You are able to dine inside.

    look at the size of the prawn head
    Angel H.

    I finally got to try this place. I was here last week, but they weren't open yet. The cashier, Alex, told me that they open the food stand at 9:30am. Today, we made it there around 10:30am and everything was up and running. I ordered the Prawn and Shrimp plate $19. It was impressive. I love prawns, but you can't find them at too many places these days. I counted five shrimp and three prawns on my plate. They were deep fried and so good, especially the huge prawn heads. They were full of head butter. It also came with two scoops of white rice sprinkled with furikaki. The rice was dry, but tolerable. I also got the Yuzu Truffle Shoyu as my dipping sauce. The sauce was yummy. It wasn't too salty and a little sweet. Customer service was superb. Alex, remembered me from the week before. He thanked me for returning and for supporting small business. He told me the plate would take about 20 minutes, which was fine. He actually found me in the food court and delivered my food. Go see Alex!

    Myning C.

    Fresh local and international fish - reasonably priced and they clean it for you - great for Chinese steamed fish - pro tip - walk around when they clean your fish - depending on how busy they are may take up to 20 mins -

    ahi katsu yummmmm
    Shantelle B.

    i got the ahi katsu and the serving was so large i couldn't even finish it, it was so worth the price ($22). also the customer service was a 10/10. the workers gave us free sides (3 different kimchi), and 2 sauces. as we were finishing up our food and getting ready to leave, one of the workers came up to us and gave us a FREE plate of garlic shrimp to try. like wow we were so gagged!!

    Staff work area
    Jo Y.

    "The color of the ocean is blue," noted DJ who came out of the kitchen. Yes, that's why this business is named "Blue Seafood Co." Not to be confused with Blue Ocean Seafood & Steak or Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood restaurants in Waikiki, Blue Seafood Co. was opened on 3/1/25 in Chinatown's Maunakea Marketplace by owner Samuel Lee. Yes, I guess seafood vendors love the word "blue." Blue Seafood Co. offers a daily seafood selection of fresh fish and shellfish that you can buy (seafood selection changes daily) and take home or have the chefs cook them. Another option is to just choose off of their menu, and the chefs will prepare these dishes at their food stall. Menu items include: fried akule plate, tomato chili tai snapper, fried tai snapper, steamed Chinese style tai snapper, Korean raw marinated crab, prawn and shrimp plate, and steamed garlic black mean mullet. Menu items could also include fresh flounder, local sweet crab, tilapia, and fresh chuka. Each plate comes with rice with furikake or garlic noodles for $2 more. There is a choice of Thai spicy sauce, yuzu truffle shoyu, and shoyu vinegar chili pepper. Blue Seafood's consulting chef, Kate Afong, notes that there are plans to have Dungeness crab and frozen King crab on the menu soon. He states that the business is similar to seafood markets in Asian countries where you can request seafood be cooked at time of selection. He notes that there is no fresh fish market like this in HI. I ordered the shrimp and prawn plate, which came with 3 huge shrimps with heads and 3 huge garlic butter prawns heads, fried crispy with a light batter on the outside that you can eat the shell and juicy tender meat on the inside. I could taste the rich buttery garlic sauce that complemented the natural sweetness of the prawns. I was given the Thai spicy sauce. Blue Seafood is near the diamond head end of the food court, near Maguro Brothers. While it would have been best to eat it there fresh, tables were already getting crowded. Plus, my Dodger game would begin shortly, so I was anxious to get home to watch the game live. All dressed in black t-shirts, staff Alex was very friendly and courteous in taking my order, while chef DJ came out from the kitchen and said it would take 5 minutes to prepare. Fortunately, there was no one ahead of me, as orders are made to order. Staff were very efficient and helpful. During this waiting time, I took a short walk downstairs to view their inventory of fresh fish before back up to pick up my order. As with other vendors, the physical space is crowded with food equipment and supplies with little space to put together the plates. There were 2 samples of fresh menu items displayed on the counter; however, they were not labeled as to the specific item. Large straight-forward signage in blue color was prominently displayed in the area. As the owners and staff are starting out, rent may not be as high as a brick-and-mortar establishment, as they see it fitting for them at this time. But I'm sure once they start raking in the revenues, a separate location will come into being. I enjoyed eating it at home while watching the Dodger game at the same time! I took my time eating the shrimps and prawns with its delicious white meats and breaking it into pieces while eating the crispy shells and dipping them in the vinegary sauce that complemented it. This made good eating while watching the play-by-play game. And I loved the garlic noodles that complemented it well! And it tasted even better, as the Dodgers won the game! Hours are 7:30a to 3:30p daily for fresh fish purchase, which is located a few steps below the food court. Hours are 9:00a to 3:30p for kitchen services to cook your fish, which is located in the food court next to Maguro Brothers. Municipal parking is available in the Smith & Beretania lot located across the street. Dining area is shared with other vendors in the food court and fills out fast during peak dining hours. Or, eat outside under the umbrellas in the open-air courtyard. This is a good start for Blue Seafood Co. to present their take on this seafood market here in HI whose concept has already been in place in Korea, China, and Japan. Looking forward to returning to try other menu dishes, and wishing Blue Seafood Co. much success in their business venture! Support local!

    Judy C.

    Those Instagram reels especially seeing @Tommy_Eats, made me check out Blue Seafood Company & I happen to see him, when I stopped by for another shrimp plate. I've been to Blue Seafood Company a few times, to purchase seafood from the fish market downstairs and ordered a shrimp plate which is my favorites too! Although I have yet to try the fish plates, I am looking forward to being back again for this! Blue Seafood Company is located at Maunakea Marketplace food court at Chinatown. The down side of BSC is the location and parking, but make the best out of it, a reason to get other goodies at Chinatown. I know where to park since I frequent Chinatown often. Don't let let the atmosphere of Maunakea Marketplace scare you. During my first visit to Blue Seafood Company, I met DJ one of the co-owners/chef, He travels back and forth between SD and Oahu. He is also a chef at a Michelin star restaurant back at SD. He is super cool and friendly. I ordered my very first shrimp and prawn plate with garlic noodles. I did mentioned to DJ that, now I don't have to travel to north shore for shrimp plate. I was excited to share this plate with the other half, the shrimp and prawn plates comes with mix of shrimp and prawns , huge portions, with choice of starch and sauce, I got all of the different sauces to try -yuzu truffle, Thai spicy, shoyu vinegar. The verdict: It was lot of work, messy with peeling, cleaning , sucking the shrimp & shrimp heads but it was fun and worth it. I loved the sauces and have to say the Thai spicy is spicy and my favorite out of the 3, the other half's favorite is the shoyu vinegar ( of course because he is Filipino, hehe) I loved dipping the shrimp with the sauce. The garlic noodles, my opinion I would save the noodles for Zippy's meat sauce, that would go so great together. I didn't like spaghetti noodles and was hoping for a different type of noodles, I was expecting type of noods like at the shops in Cali. The 2nd visit I also got a shrimp/prawn plate and wanted to get garlic noodles because I had plans, I had sauce to go with the noodles, but they were out that morning, so I went for rice with furikake. I am not a fan of the rice ( long grain-?) but that's ok, the shrimp and sauce made up for it. We really enjoyed the plates. The only one minor complaint I have is, I wish they have some sort of vegtables. I can't eat meals without any veggies. No big deal, which I normally add my veggies to my meals when I get home. ( ban chan or salads) Besides shrimp/prawns, other seafood options available include red snapper, tai snapper, akule, mullet, and Korean raw marinated crab. The menu is very simple with only 7 items. I saw they have a trio of different fish as one of the specials on a most recent Instagram post. Next on my list to try is the Steamed Chinese Style snapper, I never had this for so long ( but I have to get my lup chong /tofu ready!) While waiting, I saw another customer order this, looked so good and I had to take a photo of it. If you're looking and craving for a seafood meal, at a great price! Check out Blue Seafood Company open daily from 7-3pm, head straight to the food court. They take credit cards and FYI-they get really busy especially during the lunch rush, expect a wait. Check them out, so glad to have Blue Seafood, this type of seafood business on the islands now! Oh & the seafood tastes fresh off/from the ocean kine good!

    Storefront
    Nadine C.

    Breakfast in Chinatown, Honolulu, Hawaii... Blue Seafood Company is a Hot New Business. Located in the food court of Maunakea Marketplace, we parked in the Smith and Beretania parking garage, across the street. Service was very efficient, helpful, and friendly! When my order was ready, the cashier/chef (DJ) carried my meal to my table! When I went back, he asked me how I liked my food! It was great! I ordered the Prawn and Shrimp plate for $19 including tax! The heads were still on - with scrumptious head butter! The shrimp shells and legs were crisp and edible! The tail meat was firm and sweet! I didn't really need the Yuzu Truffle Shoyu Sauce! The white rice had tasty Furikake on it! This is an old school, casual, low maintenance place. The shared dining area in the middle of the vendors is unique with all kinds of locals and tourists. It was loud, stuffy, and full inside, so we eventually went outside to dine at one of the umbrella tables. Note: There are keys for the restrooms outside. The market downstairs (that has the fresh seafood) has the women's key. The kitchen side has the men's key.

    Signage
    Paul C.

    ***4.25 STARS*** Mission accomplished. I've been eyeing Blue Seafood Company (BSC) for weeks now since I saw on social media their prawn and shrimp plate. Shortly after that I saw notable Yelp friends (Daniel C., Rod U. and Nadine C.) who came here one by one and posted positive reviews and delicious looking pics. Whole head on prawns and shrimp deep fried with a dipping sauce on the side. Sign me up!!! Had to wait until my day off, which is today in recognition of Prince Kuhio Day. I dragged a buddy of mine to go hiking and timed it to grab an early lunch after our hike. We scored free street park and made our way to Maunakea Marketplace. The food court had quite a few people with hustle and bustle going on. BSC is located near Maguro Brothers, just two stalls away from them. Because they are new, the stall is very clean, bright and with a digital menu. There was only one person in line when I arrived but I pretty much knew what to order. I surveyed the tables nearby and noticed 2 young guys were feasting among 3 plates, one of them being the prawn and shrimp plate. When it was my turn, I placed my food order and requested no furikake on the rice. I'm just not a fan of commercially mass produced seasoning. Because it wasn't busy I was advised a wait of 6min. THE VERDICT: Food here is legit. The prawn and shrimp plate lived up to the hype. The seafood was deep fried fresh and made to order. It was hot and seasoned well. I opted for their spicy Thai sauce that made my tummy happy. This plate itself is worthy of a repeat visit and I'm willing to explore more of the menu. I guess I'll need to drag my family here one day. Customer service was above average. The guy behind the counter was courteous and addressed my concerns prior to ordering. So why not 5-stars? I wasn't a fan of their rice. Long grain rice doesn't work for me in plate lunches and it was someway lukewarm. The prawns and shrimp were way hotter than the rice. BSC also has a stall inside Maunakea Marketplace where you can buy fresh seafood. Make your way here to check out that day's offerings. Overall, a very pleased first experience where I'm game for a return visit. The prawns and shrimp plate is highly recommended from me. I also enjoy eating whole fish so that'll be on my order during the next visit.

    These lil white crabs are local and often done marinated raw soooo good.

    See all

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anne Q.
    2
    63
    20

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vince I.
    43
    180
    505

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 10
    Love this 19
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 27
    Thanks 10
    Love this 22
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 22
    Thanks 7
    Love this 18
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 28
    Thanks 11
    Love this 33
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 7
    Love this 15
    Oh no 3

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rod U.
    592
    1725
    5659

    1 year ago

    Helpful 31
    Thanks 12
    Love this 28
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 17
    Thanks 10
    Love this 19
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lily D.
    293
    820
    15978

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of ann
    0
    3
    2

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kellie N.
    26
    13
    59

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kalina T.
    122
    20
    9

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Queenie S.
    349
    274
    751

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of S L.
    2
    36
    8

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Edward M.
    11
    418
    234

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vicky V.
    115
    39
    26

    6 months ago

    Owner is super friendly and nice! We had steam and fried fish and free sake from the owner which was a plus!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Blue Seafood Company

    Tamashiro Market

    Tamashiro Market

    4.5
    (449 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    One of my fondest childhood memories is going to Tamashiro Market with my dad…read more When we lived in Kalihi, this was our usual spot. And even after we moved, we would still drive out just to come here for the seafood. That's how special it was to us. The reason why he chose Tamashiro over other grocery stores was simple--it was quality and because of my Nanay (grandma). His mom purchased from here and made so many delicious dishes. He knew what to look for, and he trusted this place. For him, it wasn't just about buying food... it was about getting the best for his family. My dad isn't the type to say "I love you." He shows it. One of the biggest ways he showed love was through his cooking. Even after a long day on his feet cooking for others, he would come home and cook for us. That was his way of taking care of us. I loved coming here with him. It was a five-senses overload--the smell of fresh seafood, the sound of people talking story, the colors of fish on display. Back then when you were allowed to sample a grape or poke to make sure it was good before buying. But more than that, it was time with him. I still remember the excitement I felt when I saw the pink building with the huge crab. I thought back then was to look at everything but now I understand that it meant something more..... something special--time with my dad. It's with a sad heart that Tamishiro Market is now closed. Thank you, Tamashiro, for providing quality food and memories for so many years. You were more than a market--you were part of my childhood

    Goodbye to another Hawaii landmark! Tamashiro Market is closing its doors on April 30, 2026…read more FPO and I went the Sunday before for one last tour of the legendary fish market. It looked the same as it did the first time I went with my grandfather. I picked up a couple pounds of dry aku for my favorite sister and some tee shirts as memorabilia. It was pretty busy and I expect that will continue until They close. Still, the people were nice and very helpful. I'm really going to miss it!

    Photos
    See? I told you they were huge!!!
    See? I told you they were huge!!!
    Tamashiro Market
    Tamashiro Market

    See all

    Yan Seafood Market

    Yan Seafood Market

    3.9
    (7 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    I called them prior to heading there since I live in Kapolei and they are located in China town. I…read moreasked if they had live Dungenous crab and the lady I spoke to said yes and gave me the price per pound. I got there about an hour or so later, walked in and all I saw was 2 live lobsters, nothing else! The guy that was there told me, oh no we don't have any and we didn't have any today.

    Yan Seafood Market is located in Chinatown across Kekaulike Market. It's clean, bright and full of…read moretanks with live seafood. They offer live Dungeness crab, Samoan crab, lobsters, snails, fish, clams, etc. I pass by here all the time but never looked inside. It wasn't till one day Mink was craving Dungeness crab and we couldn't find it anywhere. We looked at Costco (they had but they were already cleaned and all the good stuff was discarded), Richard's Meat Market and a few stalls in Chinatown. Fortunately I remembered this place and we walked there. Sure enough, they had tanks of live Dungeness crab. Customer service was friendly but a little slow. We were the only customers inside when we arrived but couldn't decide on how many to buy. In a blink of an eye, the place was packed and it took awhile to make our purchase. When we were finally helped again, we purchased two live Dungeness crabs. She gave us two huge ones! Cleaning was offered but my dad said it'll taste better to keep them alive till we're about to eat them. We politely declined the cleaning and paid. Bring cash! I was going to pay by credit card but they said cash. They probably don't want to pay processing fees. The crabs were still moving around on the way home and up till the moment we cleaned them. Seeing the crab cleaning in real life vs YouTube is totally different! It was a quick steam and we had our dinner ready. Don't worry, we also picked up take out from Thai Issan to accompany the crab. Mink made some homemade Thai seafood sauce. It was the perfect compliment to the plump and sweet crab meat. Yes, she made something in the kitchen! Thank social media or YouTube! Great discovery in Chinatown and we'll be back the next time we're in the mood for fresh seafood.

    Photos
    Yan Seafood Market
    Yan Seafood Market
    Yan Seafood Market

    See all

    Troy Enterprise

    Troy Enterprise

    4.4
    (15 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I have fond memories of dinner time while growing up in the heart of Chinatown. My father and…read morepaternal grandmother would shop for groceries on a regular basis in Chinatown as they would check out what's in season and/or what looks good. Many times, they would come home with a whole fresh fish and cook it for dinner. The preferred way of cooking a whole fish is by steaming it and dress it up with julienne green onions and fresh ginger, Chinese parsley with soy sauce and some sesame oil. Last week a group of us celebrated the birthday of 2 February babies at Lagoon Chinese Restaurant near the airport. We have dined there many times and often order their steamed fish fillets where the chefs execute this dish excellently. However, we were celebrating a special occasion, so I wanted to get a whole fresh fish and have the chef prepare it for us. I arrived in Chinatown shortly after 7am and was on the hunt for fresh fish. I was saddened to have witnessed so many empty stalls in Chinatown and found myself coming across just a few places that had fresh fish, one of them being Troy Enterprises (TE). Troy Enterprises started in business around the mid-70's and I do have recollection of my father coming here for whole fish as often I tagged along with him. They are located deep in the C Q Yee Hop Building with neighbors of Lee's Bakery and the New Hong Kong Supermarket. As I grew older and inherited culinary skills by my father and then refined by watching a chef from Hong Kong cook when I helped at my buddy's family restaurant in Chinatown, I learned how to prepare steamed fish. I've cooked whole fish a lot where I prepared it for my family. It's been YEARS since I last purchased a whole fish and TE is still at the same stall location but immediately noticed very few staff working. To be exact, just 2 people, perhaps a husband-and-wife team. Previously, there were easily over 6 staff with a lot of people hovering over the fresh fish checking out to see which one would be best on their dinner table. TE is quite spacious and well organized and clean. I was pleased the area didn't smell fishy when it had a lot of seafood displayed in the area. I was the only customer at that time, so I had free range of checking out their inventory in leisure. I did want a whole fish to be steamed Chinese style, so I was looking for a snapper or UHU (parrot fish). There were just 2 UHU but they weren't appealing to me, so I started to look at their snapper inventory. The male staff showed me a beautiful ONAGA (long tail red snapper) but it was quite large. The dinner was for 9 people, and we usually order an array of dishes and worried that the fish would be too big. I then glanced around and came across a beautiful OPAKAPAKA (pink/crimson snapper) that was slightly smaller than the ONAGA. As a rule of thumb, you check the eyes of the fish to ensure its freshness and after it passed the test, my decision was made. I asked the staff to have it cleaned (gutted and scaled) for me and the female staff rung me up. The OPAKAPAKA was about 2.92 lbs at $18.95/lb and the staff was kind enough to round it down for an even $55. She was kind enough to also include a small bag of ice placed with the fish for me to carry back to my car. I took my prized fish to my part-time job where my colleagues eyed on it and constantly joked with me during my shift. Many kitchen staff commented on how they should prepare it and have it for that day's employee meal. Hahaha.... I brought the fish to me to Lagoon's later that afternoon where I asked the staff to prepare it steamed, Chinese style of green onions, ginger and soy sauce. I ended up ordering 10 dishes that day with the steamed whole fish making it 11 courses. The fish was the las thing to arrive on the table and regardless we didn't have much room left in our stomachs, our table to 9 whacked the OPAKAPAKA with very minimal leftovers. One of our friends surprised us by picking up the tab so I am unaware of what the kitchen fee was to prepare this monster fish. The OPAKAPAKA was indeed fresh and prepared so well that it was worth waking up early and shopping in Chinatown that Saturday morning. Overall, a great reunion of TE where I wouldn't hesitate to come back again. As part of due diligence, it's always great practice to shop around but I'll be sure to stop by TE to see what they have on hand. My OPAKAPAKA may have costed pretty pennies, but the money was well spent. I am already looking forward to coming back to TE to get a whole fish and have Lagoon's prepare it for my family as they love steamed fish, as well as picking up some fresh seabass to make Chinese style sashimi that my father often made for us.

    I've been marketing for fresh fish at Troy Enterprise in Chinatown as I've always found them to…read morebring in fresh daily catches. They have a good selection of locally caught fish, provide quick service (they'll efficiently clean, gut, bone or fillet your purchase) and are reasonably priced. CASH IS KING so make sure you bring your "ke kālā" (money). Recently, when we were invited to a family potluck dinner, our nephew specifically asked me to prepare a Chinese-style steamed whole fish. So, I went out to Troy Enterprise at its opening hour (7:00AM) just so that I could assure myself and family of a fish worthy of the occasion. My husband and I arrived at 7AM sharp and found their door was already open and a crowd had gathered in front of the fresh catches. I paced the displays to see which type and size of fish would be best for steaming. My Chinese family has always relied on kūmū (goatfish), opakapaka (pink snapper) or uku (gray snapper). I didn't see any kūmū but my eyes zeroed in on the opakapaka. As I donned a pair of disposable gloves to select my fish, I "eyeball estimated" a 2 - 3 pound fish. I picked an opakapaka then handed it to one of the workers who weighed it (2.52 pounds) as I told him I wanted the fish cleaned. He told me how much my fish cost, we paid him and he gave me a claim number. The worker took my fish over to the cleaning station and we waited for our fish. While we waited, another fishmonger cleared an area in the display and dumped in a batch of kūmū(goatfish). There were other Chinese shoppers who swooped in for the kūmū . I started to wish that I had waited a few minutes before selecting my fish. But, just then, my claim number was called and I collected my fish. We left happy with our pink snapper and thought to ourselves, ah, next time. We'll be back!

    Photos
    Signage
    Signage
    Opakapaka
    Opakapaka
    Fresh fish chilling in ice

    See all

    Fresh fish chilling in ice
    Foodland Farms

    Foodland Farms

    4.2
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    What can I say? Every time I visit Hawaii, stopping by Foodland to pick up a Poke bowl is a MUST!…read moreThere's often times a line waiting for your number to be called, but it's all part of the fun and anticipation. The staff is super duper friendly, and happy to let you sample before committing to which poke(s) you want to order. Let's be honest, they all taste phenomenal and super fresh. Truly one of my favorite grocery stores ever. They have everything you need here. Hot food bar, cold food bar, snacks, drinks, essentials... and of course Aloha vibes.

    Put it this way... there's a literal island for poké in the center of the store. Safe to say you're…read morein the right place, and if you were questioning the decision, let the droves of people waiting be your sign to sit tight. $6/lb hot bar fridays, fresh poké by the pound, crispy crunchy karaage and succulent teriyaki skewers, and DO NOT forget about the plump and meaty salt & pepper wings... this is an epic stop to score your picnic essentials or fuel up before heading off to your next experience! Walking in late afternoon (3pm) I was shocked to find a veritable mob scene at the poké counter. By the pound, bowls, and even party trays are all being ordered, made and delivered in a moments notice. Now the play here is to ask for samples because you can try it all! I ordered their signature poké and some of the house spicy and enjoyed both, but it was after ordering that I realized that I'd missed 5-10 more varieties that were hiding around the corner. With so many customers lined up, this was overwhelming but I am sure I enjoyed every bite! The karaage was probably the most disappointing item, as it really was under seasoned and had obviously been prepared quite a bit earlier. The teri skewer was straight fire. I ordered one and quickly realized that should've been two because the first just seemed to disappear! Now those salt and pepper wings... DO NOT SKIP THESE. I ordered four, ate two with lunch and carried two into the airport with me for a snack later. I only wish I had a dozen more because that was the meal I was craving and now I need to wait until I get back there to have more. If a market is on your radar for some quick eats, this is a good choice. It's located in the massive mall, so it's a great place to kill some time.

    Photos
    DIY Poke Nachos but with Foodland Furikake Shrimp Chips, Shoyu Ahi, Spicy Ahi, crispy onions, unagi sauce, avocado (Cali style)
    DIY Poke Nachos but with Foodland Furikake Shrimp Chips, Shoyu Ahi, Spicy Ahi, crispy onions, unagi sauce, avocado (Cali style)
    Limu Ahi/Spicy Ahi Tuna with Seaweed Poké Bowl
    Limu Ahi/Spicy Ahi Tuna with Seaweed Poké Bowl
    Just one of their bowls to go

    See all

    Just one of their bowls to go
    Yama's Fish Market

    Yama's Fish Market

    4.1
    (795 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    I've always loved Yama's because they typically have chicken laualau when so many other places…read moredon't offer that option. The other cool thing about this place is they often have a ton of local goodies for sale as well. Cookies, candies, some refrigerated treats as well. But the real star here is their poke and I've recently fallen in LOVE with their sea asparagus option. It's pricey, but they use fresh and it's pretty good quality fish too. I've needed a new place since Tamashiro's closed, and while this is a bit out of my way, it's absolutely worth it!! They have a small lot in front with 7 spots, plus 1 accessible spot on the side. It can get pretty busy at peak times, but it's otherwise pretty reasonable. Staff are polite, friendly, and know their menu pretty well. You can also call in advance to confirm they have something, or to request something if needed, but best to call at off peak hours otherwise they may be too swamped to answer. If you like Hawaiian food, quality poke, or just want to support local, Yama's is a great place to try!

    Best fish on Island in my humble opinion. Staff is always…read morehelpful and patient with customers! Easy to order and great selection too. Flavor on poke helps to boost the taste rather than drown it out and prevent you from tasting the quality of ahi. Hard to justify paying for a poke bowl that has mayo on the fish such as Foodland, Yama doesn't do that on their spicy but rather uses actual chili! Get there as early as you can as they sometimes sell out of certain options!

    Photos
    Yama's Fish Market
    #2.  Lau lau with lomi lomi salmon.
    #2. Lau lau with lomi lomi salmon.
    Yama's Fish Market

    See all

    Blue Seafood Company - seafood - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...