You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Chinese Roast Pork 燒肉 Shops on O‘ahu

Editor’s Note: We posed the question to readers shortly after Chinatown’s longtime Nam Fong closed last fall: Who makes the island’s best roast pork? Now that summer picnic season is upon us, we’re reposting the tasty results.

I remember going with my dad to get $10 haircuts at Supercuts in Mililani Marketplace. Zero guard, taper the sides and back and a little off the top. Afterward, we’d stop next door at Po Sing Kitchen for Pepsi Icees and a pound each of roast pork and “sweet meat” char siu, as Dad would call it. I’d always marvel at how crispy and salty the roast pork was, often still warm, too.

Growing up in suburbia, I didn’t realize how good I had it. Especially with my neighborhood Chinese barbecue shop. It’s amazing that Po Sing is still around. In the same spot with the same red tile storefront with the same smudgy glass window framing slabs of roasted pork belly. As this reader poll proves, it deserves to stick around for a while.

SEE ALSO: You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Roast Duck Shops on O‘ahu

Our initial list of choices on the poll covered 21 spots that offer siu yuk. Readers wrote in a few others, including Nice Day, various Times Supermarket stores, Sing Hing and the now closed Nam Fong. We know it’s difficult to let go, but we hope these results will help you find a new roast pork shop to love.

Here are Your Top 5 Chinese roast pork shops on O‘ahu:

No. 5: Asian Mix

Is it even a viable list if Asian Mix isn’t mentioned? We know readers ponder this question and so do we. With 6.3% of the vote, the fifth spot goes to this popular shop that’s not even a roast meat specialist. But folks still flock here for the roast duck and roast pork, two top sellers. You’ll want to go early as both tend to sell out.

1234 S. Beretania St., (808) 521-1688, hiasianmix.com

No. 4: Fong’s Meat Market

Photo: Melissa Chang

Once again, this humble stall on the King Street side of O‘ahu Market gets a nod, this time for its crispy roast pork. Fong’s took 7.1% of the vote in a narrow race with Asian Mix—and is now the roast pork king of Chinatown.

145 N. King St., (808) 536-6307

No. 3: Po Sing Kitchen

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Here’s where the gaps between shops begin to widen. Unlike the results of our roast duck poll, with 10.1% of the vote going to this Mililani gem, folks in Central O‘ahu are not losing out this time. Po Sing’s ideal meat-to-fat ratio and crispy, almost cracker-thin skin join forces to create a perfect porky bite. It might be worth a special journey if you’re in search of top-tier roast pork.

Mililani Marketplace, 94-780 Meheula Parkway E, (808) 623-9878

No. 2: Alicia’s Market

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Alicia’s Market might be smaller than it used to be, but it still manages to put out some killer roast meat and poke. We can never resist adding some of Alicia’s crispy roast pork to balance out our poke bowls, and obviously, neither can you. With 18.6% of the poll, Alicia’s takes second place as our readers’ favorite roast pork.

267 Mokauea St., (808) 841-1921, aliciasmarket.com, @aliciasmarket

No. 1: Roast Duck Kitchen

Photo: Mari Taketa

Was there ever any question? With more than a quarter of the total vote, Roast Duck Kitchen, ‘Aiea’s Chinese roast meat specialist, is now officially O‘ahu’s as well. The roast pork here is so famous that many people hear about it before they hear about Roast Duck Kitchen’s roast duck. I haven’t been able to obtain a photo of the famous roast pork because it’s always sold out by the time I show up. Best to call ahead or go early to secure the goods.

‘Aiea Shopping Center, 99-115 ‘Aiea Heights Dr., (808) 486-0005

Chart: Thomas Obungen