Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    A-Ma’s Gua-Bao

    4.8 (19 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    A-Ma’s Gua-Bao Photos

    A-MA’S GUA-BAO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - A-Ma’s Gua-Bao

    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

    Storefront
    Nadine C.

    Breakfast at the Kaka'ako Farmer's Market in Honolulu, Hawaii... Every Saturday between 8am and noon, A-Ma's Gua Bao sets up a tent on the Makai (towards the ocean) side of Ala Moana Boulevard. I was really impressed with the teamwork of the four people under the tent. The polite elder male was taking orders and distributing packages of Gua Bao (pork belly Bao), while holding down the tent with one hand when a major gust of wind passed by. When he went to place more bao in the steamer, the pleasant young male staff called out the numbers of the finished orders. The two quiet, hard-working women also moved gracefully between the different tasks of assembling the gua Bao. I had read Andy's review for the pork belly Bao... I wished I had gotten that. However, the tofu version was tasty, but probably not as decadent as pork belly. I did like the crunchy bits of peanut and tasty hoisin sauce. It was a nice snack that I wouldn't mind getting again! Maybe I'll get the beef shin version - not the minced pork because I don't like spicy food. Even though this is outdoor/stand up dining (especially in the February wind), it wasn't too cold nor too humid. The sun was shining pleasantly - as expected in the Aloha State! Note: go early because the free parking on nearby streets fill up quickly!

    Pork Belly Gua Bao
    Andy F.

    When I see a Gua Bao, it reminds me of Rou Jia Mo. They're not the same, but the idea is the same. Meat in bread. I always see A-Ma's Gua Bao at the Kaka'ako Farmers Market, but never tried until now. It's always nice to see more Taiwanese foods offered in Hawaii as there aren't many. This place only offers Gua Bao with 4 choices (pork belly, minced pork, beef shin, and tofu). All $6 each. Gua Bao uses the lotus leaf buns (he ye bao). You actually see this type of bun used at more and more restaurants. Decades ago it was just for Peking Roast Duck or Roast Pork. Now you can put anything in it. On this occasion, I just tried the original, Pork Belly. This was surpassingly very good. Soft bun with tender and tasty pork belly, and a nice sour note from the pickled mustard greens to cut into the rich pork belly. The thing I didn't like was the crushed peanuts. It was very sweet and didn't match with everything. Eating the peanuts alone was delicious, and had that honeyed walnut taste that you find in the Honey Walnut Shrimp. But together? I didn't agree with it. The taste clashed. Overall, the gua bao was good sans peanuts. I'll come back to try the other baos. Hope they expand to more things!

    Gavin N.

    A-Ma's Gua Bao is at the Kakaako farmers market every Saturday! I always love their Gua bao as they are always packed with flavor! Their service is pretty fast! Staff are very friendly! The baos do have peanuts, but you have the option of omitting peanuts if you have a food allergy :) 10/10 recommend!

    Gua Bao with minced pork (spicy!)
    Samuel P.

    I've been to Taiwan and have had Gua Bao there, this is hands down the best on island, comparable to getting it from the motherland. I love that they have a few varieties and I get at least two each week at the Kakaako Farmers market. I've had Gua Bao at several places in Hawaii and non are able to even come close to perfecting the bun, and including the correct ingredients. Some places put a mystery sweet sauce on it and omit the peanuts, I just don't get it. This is a MUST try each and every time you go to the farmers market. P.S. to the person who left a 3-star review because they didn't put nuts on the side for your wife and child who are allergic, are you kidding me? If they were actually allergic to peanuts, you would not get them anything from a business who has peanuts as a main ingredient. It feels more like you requested peanuts on the side for other reasons and were upset they messed up your order. They now are very explicit about asking, and now I know why.

    Gua Bao menu
    Jen C.

    I went to the Kakaako Farmers market and got the Minced pork bao. The employee taking orders was so friendly and warned me that it would be spicy hot and if that was okay and that it contained nuts and if I had any allergies. I said sure I love spicy. They make the bao fresh so it's about a five minute wait. Omg it was so good! Yes it was spicy but offset w the sweet dust of nuts on the top. It also had lettuce, tomato, minced pork, basil, garlic and lemon. Yum! Please visit them and support local business!

    Pork belly
    Brennan T.

    I was walking around the Kakaako Farmers Market on Saturday morning and looking for a delicious and affordable bite to eat. There are not a lot of affordable options anymore, sadly, so I'm so glad we stopped at A-Ma's Gua-Bao. For $6 we got to try a pork belly gua bao, which was amazing. There were tender pieces of pork belly with cilantro, shredded carrots, and crushed peanuts in a soft "manapua bun." So good! After we ordered we waited a few minutes at a nearby table in the shade, and when I went back, my food was ready. Service was nice and quick. And I'm glad I spent $6 to try something new and yummy. Worth every cent! I recommend A-Ma's Gua Bao! Looking forward to trying other flavors next time.

    Pork belly gua boa

    Authentic Taiwanese gua boa! Got the pork belly and the minced pork, both very good! The pork belly is a bit greasy (per my husband) but it's what is supposed to be from an authentic stand point. Highly recommended, flavor is on point!

    Pork belly and tofu bao

    See all

    11 months ago

    Finally got to try this. Tasted straight out of Taiwan. No complaints! Watch out for all the sticky monkeypads on the ground!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lina C.
    214
    579
    4789

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 2

    3 months ago

    Best I've ever had, anywhere...fresh ingredients, all made to order. I will definitely go back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 40
    Thanks 3
    Love this 36
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 3
    Love this 11
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Jen C.
    101
    400
    1783

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricky L.

    Ricky L.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricky L.

    Ricky L.

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 4
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pete S.
    768
    1906
    3029

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Rachael H.
    165
    26
    49

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricky L.

    Ricky L.

    You mostly welcome,expecting to come back!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nikki A.
    0
    142
    61

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Super delicious just like the Gua Bao from Taiwan. Meat is very juicy. Something different on the island. Highly recommend to try it.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricky L.

    Ricky L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricky L.

    Ricky L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Pork belly melted in my mouth! It had a lot of depth and flavor! Really enjoyed the bun as well.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricky L.

    Ricky L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - A-Ma’s Gua-Bao

    Do you cater events?

    Hi Shari Yes ! We do ! Just Email us at least 3 weeks ahead than we can discuss all the details!

    Did they have vegetarian options?

    There's a braised tofu option that's vegetarian I think

    Did you move locations? Couldn't find you on 4/29 Kakaako in your usual spot?

    Dear Maile : Sorry for the inconvenience, we took two weeks off and we do have posted in instagram ,please follow us on instagram, we will be back on May 13 at Kakaako at the… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Seasons Taiwanese Eatery

    Seasons Taiwanese Eatery

    4.5(283 reviews)
    1.3 miChinatown
    $$

    This is on of my favorite places to eat. My husband introduced me to Seasons, and now every chance…read moreI get, my coworkers and I will stop in for lunch when in the area. My opinion, better than Pho or Ramen. Not to mention his popcorn chicken on a bed of basil is absolutely incredible. Right now, my coworker and I are sitting at our desk first thing in the morning in Waianae planning our next visit to Seasons. This place gets 5 Shakas \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/

    I ate here for the first time and how did I not know this place existed? It is located on the…read moreground floor of the Chinese Cultural Plaza so parking is easy. This place is great if you need a small private meeting room off to the side. The food here was all so amazing! The owner Brian was such a delight! He came to talk story with us, he's so funny and friendly! and such a talented chef! We ordered - signature popcorn chicken w crisp fried basil this is a must order, so tasty! This is amazing. - Ong Choy and green beans. Must i say the best green beans i have ever tasted? -Black Bean Ox Tail Very good ox tail, nice and tender and the flavor is so good. - Pineapple Shrimp Tastes like honey walnut shrimp using pineapple. This was great! - Dragon Dumplings and Fried Pan Dumplings, we all loved the dumplings -Beef Noodle Soup So good, we got a couple of bowls to share. This place is a must try. BYOB, They have a website to do takeout orders as well. I can't wait to go back to try more dishes, we already planned our next visit here!

    Photos
    Seasons Taiwanese Eatery - Inside

    Inside

    Seasons Taiwanese Eatery - 11. Classic Beef and Tendon Noodle

    11. Classic Beef and Tendon Noodle

    Seasons Taiwanese Eatery - New location is around the corner, towards the canal.

    See all

    New location is around the corner, towards the canal.

    Dew Drop Inn

    Dew Drop Inn

    4.1(611 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    We ordered pickup here and it was delish! Usually pickup food can be tricky and may not be as good…read morebut it was! I followed recommendations by others and ordered Orange Beef, Garlic String Beans, and my husband got Mongolian Beef. Honestly the Mongolian Beef wasn't good, but the Orange Beef and String Beans were delicious! They gave it to us with the sauce on the side which is smart so it doesn't become soggy. I was suspicious cause the fried beef looked white so I was nervous but when we dipped the beef into the sauce, it was soooo good! We will have to try this place again but so far this has been the best Chinese food that we've found on island! And my aunt used to have Chinese cooks from China that worked in her restaurant so I'm very picky!

    First time visit, but looking forward to our next time…read more Dropped in on a Friday at 4 PM for an early dinner, beat the crowds and the staff accommodated an odd number of party of five at a spacious table. PARKING: we walked over from a nearby apartment, but the narrow lot had only a handful of spaces and was full before the restaurant opened. plan on street parking, Beretania at dinnertime :(( SERVICE: Service was friendly and attentive, staff made good suggestions about the right amount of food to order. FOOD: Dishes were all very tasty Tofu choisum - tasty and light. Garlic beans - super crunchy yet soft inside, perfectly cooked. best i've ever had. Salt and pepper shrimp - huge crispy butterflied shrimp. Chicken potstickers - well cooked but ordinary, could use a little more filling Pork soup dumplings - juicy, subtle flavor. Maybe i'd order it every second or third visit for variety. Orange chicken - Over marinated, like when the meat turns translucent if you know what i mean. Also the sauce is a little heavy. Crispy duck - a bit too salty.

    Photos
    Dew Drop Inn - Stuffed sesame bread

    Stuffed sesame bread

    Dew Drop Inn - Ground Pork & Tofu with Sesame Bread (top), Spicy Mongolian Beef, Orange Chicken

    Ground Pork & Tofu with Sesame Bread (top), Spicy Mongolian Beef, Orange Chicken

    Dew Drop Inn - Shao bing (sesame bread pocket) with pork

    See all

    Shao bing (sesame bread pocket) with pork

    Fooki

    Fooki

    4.4(829 reviews)
    8.0 mi
    $$

    It was KISMET we ended up here! This was hands down one of the best Taiwanese restaurants I have…read moreever been to! My family was in the area to shop over at Crafts Way and I found Fooki on Yelp as a nearby food option. It had something for everyone in our group of seven: 2 vegetarians, 1 vegan and 4 meat eaters. The restaurant had a divy vibe, cozy and welcoming. The service was very friendly and the server was incredibly knowledgable about their menu and how what made some of their dishes stand out from what's expected. The Li Hing Mui Sweet Potato Fries are a must! They totally reminded me of my childhood and the kind of fries I'd get at the amusement park back in Taiwan. Here's everything we ordered. Every single item was a hit! -stewed egg -stewed tofu -Majiang noodles -Lu Rou Fan -Grandpa Rolling Beef -Scallion Pancake -Fooki Bao -Tofu Bao -Li Hing Mui Sweet Potato Fries -Veggie Scallion Noodles -Fooki Bowl -BoomBoom Chicken If we ever find ourselves back in Aiea again, we will be stopping in!

    I've always wanted to try this place because I love Taiwanese food. But maybe because I had such…read morehigh expectations, I was pretty disappointed with everything. First, the price was pretty high compared to the amount of food they served and the flavor of their menu. The pork rice bowl had way too much rice compared to the pork, and I think I only had half of the rice to eat with the pork on top. All the foods we ordered wasn't very flavorful either and they charged 3% for credit cards. The economy is tough right now so that may explain the card charge and the portion size but I don't think I'll be going to this place again. It was good to try but wasn't impressionable!

    Photos
    Fooki - Insect on rice

    Insect on rice

    Fooki - Braised beef Noodle Soup

    Braised beef Noodle Soup

    Fooki - Grandpa Rolling Beef- the perfect appetizer!

    See all

    Grandpa Rolling Beef- the perfect appetizer!

    Fun Station

    Fun Station

    4.6(692 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    All I can say about eating at the - "Fun Station" is that it's more fun when eating with a friend,…read more& getting a 20% discount.........well, that's just an extra bonus! So the thing about coming to Fun Station is the "suspended flying noodle thingy" which I didn't go for, but if you like Instagramable stuffs, then I supposed you would probably go for that flying-noodle dish. As for me, I mainly came to try their Minute Chicken Cake Noodles, and as a bonus......... I actually got a 20% discount thanks to my friend - Jennifer C. who let a Bruddah know about da DEALAGES in da Sunday food section newspaper, as they had a coupon! The Sunday morning when I came with my friend, I can clearly see that this restaurant was thriving, as every table in the restaurant was taken. Fun Station specializes in noodles, but if you're not into that, they do serve other items like - soups, vegetable dishes, rice plates, & porridge (jook). Upon looking over the menu, we ordered the following items - 1. Frrrrrrried Chicken Wings ($9.95) for an appetizer 2. Minute Chicken Cake Noodles ($17.95 - minus da 20% coupon DEALAGES) 3. Beef Brisket Tendon & Won Ton in soup ($18.95) What can I say about da grub??? Da chicken wings came out hot & crispy. Although they featured only "flats" vs. drums (I like drums), I must say da wings was nicely executed. As for the Minute Chicken Cake Noodles.........nicely plated on a fancy smanshy panda plate. The cake noodles weren't drowning in gravy, so the noodles stayed crispy on the dish. I really liked how they did this dish, and would easily come back here to eat it again. My friend had the Beef Brisket Tendon & Won Ton soup. The dish looked good, and there weren't any complaints, so I take it that it was pretty ono! Overall, a very satisfying meal and the service here was on point, as the staff was friendly & very efficient. Easy 5 stars for the Minute Chicken Cake Noodles! Chance 'em!

    Not gonna lie, Instagram got me on this one. I was so intrigued by the flying noodle that this…read moremade it on my list so I can go there during my vacation in Oahu. That was the first thing we ordered and the waiter asked if we've had it before so they could make sure that they presented it as the picture show it. We also ordered the chicken wings, salt and pepper pork chops, garlic, bok choy, and the salted fish and chicken fried rice. Everything was so delicious. Food was promptly delivered, and staff was very friendly. It's also BYOB and there's a Foodland in the parking lot so that was a plus as we went to the store to get some alcohol. Restaurant is very casual with about 10 to 12 tables. They were pretty busy when we arrived, but they moved with the quickness to make sure everyone got their food timely. I love the presentation of the flying noodle, although I was in a fan of the dish itself as it had a little sweetness, which I wasn't a fan of. It was just OK to me. However, everything else we ate was tasty and decently priced.

    Photos
    Fun Station - Inside the restaurant.....

    Inside the restaurant.....

    Fun Station - Wonton close-up

    Wonton close-up

    Fun Station - Choi Sum & Beef Cake Noodle

    See all

    Choi Sum & Beef Cake Noodle

    Honolulu Noodle & Co - Beef Noodle combo with beef and tendon (served on the side)

    Honolulu Noodle & Co

    4.2(177 reviews)
    2.2 miWaikiki
    $$

    Classic comfort Chinese food with Hawaiian names…read more I was honestly a bit confused by the branding of the restaurant and their item names when I first got to the end of the food hall, but they probably know their market better than I, and all I needed to see was minced pork over rice (the Neo loco moco) and I knew it was going to be a good spot for food. All the comforting classics are here: minced pork over rice, sesame noodles (don't forget to mix in the sauce), fried tofu, wonton soup, hot and sour soup, fried rice, you name it, they have it (kidding, obviously - they may not have it if it's not on their menu). Though, I will say that the pork chop was a bit disappointing, as it lacked flavor compared to everything else. Basically everything is good here, you just have to sit down and hope you get service (when it's busy and full, it can feel understaffed).

    Really good place for gyoza. Get the gyoza…read more Came here for lunch and got their version of loco moco, gyoza and soup dumplings. Everything was good but the gyoza was the star. The dipping sauce was excellent too! The waitress was amazing. She was by herself but handling a packed restaurant with ease. The only thing that would have made it better was if the restrooms weren't backed up and stinking up Stix but not their fault. Place is a must try if you like gyoza.

    Photos
    Honolulu Noodle & Co - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Honolulu Noodle & Co - Toppings for Beef Noodle bowl

    Toppings for Beef Noodle bowl

    Honolulu Noodle & Co - Sign and inside

    See all

    Sign and inside

    Joy Cup Noodles Mean - In the mood for something cool and refreshing, then come see us!

    Joy Cup Noodles Mean

    4.5(293 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Keep an eye out for this hole-in-the-wall noodle spot off of Kalākaua. There is a small parking lot…read morewith a few dedicated stalls up front making it super easy if it's not busy. Good thing all of the food came out as they were ready, since items like their fresh blanket noodles took longer to prepare (but def worth the wait). We started with their chicken wings which were lean on the meat but I think that made it easier to flash fry because they were so hot and crispy and still juicy! We also ordered their cucumber salad and eggplant salad-- I'd probably just go with the cucumber salad next time but both were good. For noodle dishes we went with the dan dan, ja jiang and the beef noodle soup but we subbed it for the blanket noodle for an extra $4. Hungry but also in the mood for karaoke? Come here!

    Joy cup noodle mean is under new ownership with a new cook. They might've changed the name to wah…read morekung with joy cup underneath the main name. The proprietor is a lovely friendly person. The place was empty for lunch. I was so looking forward to the blanket dan dan noodles and cucumber salad. Sadly the flavors are completely different. The XLB were bland and half of them had no soup inside. Cucumber salad, mapo tofu, pork belly noodle bland. Dan Dan noodle bland and the blanket noodles too thick. Gone are the flavorful dishes and mouth numbing heat that I associated with joy cup noodle mean. The ong choy was well cooked and seasoned nicely. The gentleman was so nice I almost hate to write this update but I think people should know that this is no longer the joy cup noodle mean that we knew and loved.

    Photos
    Joy Cup Noodles Mean
    Joy Cup Noodles Mean
    Joy Cup Noodles Mean

    See all

    Wuwei Chong Qing Cuisine

    Wuwei Chong Qing Cuisine

    4.3(210 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Authentic Chong Qing style noodles - really worth to give it a try. Some hopefully helpful tips:…read more1. The noodles only have one size but it's pretty large. Depending on your appetite, two ladies could possibly share. We ordered 2 and it was enough for 3 people to share. 2. Since we do not eat anything spicy, we asked for non-spicy from the get-go at ordering. The owner was able to accommodate. 3. Parking is street parking only but readily available fronting the restaurant. 4. The restaurant space is rather small, so it gets busy during meal time. We often take out by ordering ahead of time.

    stand alone restaurant - with limited seating insides…read more freshmade noodle for sure noted with quality. Do recommended getting chewy noodle vs flat noddle. The texture is more enjoyable when eating. Flat noddle - would have prefer to be more wide in size. Had the beef noodle classic -flavor in broth was decent, but could use with additional pickle vegetables to bring some sour and cut the richness of the broth. beef itself was very tender and came in separate bowl. Breakdown easily. not spicy at all though. next dish tried - was the pickle fish noodle - first time trying to dish anywhere. Surprisingly preferred this over the beef noodle. a little bit of sour, but just the right amount with the creamy broth mix. This with the chewy noodle was bomb. Highly recommended* price - reasonable for quality - but could have more noodle for quantity*

    Photos
    Wuwei Chong Qing Cuisine - Unique cr code menu

    Unique cr code menu

    Wuwei Chong Qing Cuisine - 泡椒鸭爪米线(Duck Feet Rice Noodle)Added Duck Blood (good!! Nice numbing and spicy)

    泡椒鸭爪米线(Duck Feet Rice Noodle)Added Duck Blood (good!! Nice numbing and spicy)

    Wuwei Chong Qing Cuisine - Pork with green peppers and fried egg

    See all

    Pork with green peppers and fried egg

    Yi Xin Cafe - Teddy bear iced milk tea

    Yi Xin Cafe

    4.4(439 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$
    Takes reservations
    Catering service

    I saw local UTuber Sean Kaleponi (The Hawaiian Traveler) eat at YXC, and I said I gotta hit this…read moreplace. Its located in the Foodland Mall in Kaimukī. We had to order one of their sig crab dishes, and we rounded out the meal w/ beef and long beans, sweet & sour pork belly, eggplant and fried rice. The crab was amazing! The curry sauce was so deep & complex. In addition, the crab was fresh bc they have tanks in the restaurant. Of course I called dibs on the head, and it was packed with goodies. I added rice to the head (in Ilocano this is called "labay", adding rice to soup or broth to extend the meal). I was in heaven. The other dishes were all big portions and very good. The meat was tender, and the veggies were fresh and crunchy. I believe all the other dishes were ~ $20/each. The staff was super nice. We didn't have a res, but luckily we were seated in 20 min on a busy Sun night. Regarding the dining area, its tight but comfy. You have to wash your hands after, and the bathrooms are clean. I will def return the next time I come home. I want to try another crab dish (about 8 versions), and build a meal around the crab.

    Visited at 3pm to avoid the crowd. Ambiance was nice and less noisy at this time. Friendly server…read moretook our order and the food arrived promptly. Bitter melon and egg was soft and tender. Pork chop was salty and crispy. Honey walnut shrimp was big, juicy and the candied walnuts was plentiful. Malaysian fried rice tasty, and the Singapore rice noodle flavorful. The meal was scrumptious and delicious like a well prepared home cooked meal! Will definitely be back to try new items on the menu.

    Photos
    Yi Xin Cafe - 3/19/23 inside

    3/19/23 inside

    Yi Xin Cafe - Szechun spicy JJ chicken pot

    Szechun spicy JJ chicken pot

    Yi Xin Cafe - Impressive presentation that served with sizzling sound, but the beef was too well done & on the tough side.

    See all

    Impressive presentation that served with sizzling sound, but the beef was too well done & on the tough side.

    A-Ma’s Gua-Bao - taiwanese - Updated May 2026

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