Martha Cheng

Honolulu

Features and Food Writer at Freelance

Hawaii based freelance writer. Contributor to WSJ, Eater and other pubs. Author of The Poke Cookbook. Former Google techie, Peace Corps volunteer, pastry chef.

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Articles

Taste Invaders: The Invasive Species We Can Eat

3 weeks ago | honolulumagazine.com | Martha Cheng

Invasive species are bad for Hawai‘i’s ecosystem. The best way to vanquish our enemies? Eat them. At least our invasives taste good. The tart and sweet ruby red strawberry guava along our hiking trails. The Himalayan ginger that gives cocktails the fragrance of a tropical forest after a warm rain. Axis deer, lean yet tender and clean-tasting, whether in a tartare or ragu.
My 6 Favorite Bakeries on O‘ahu

1 month ago | honolulumagazine.com | Martha Cheng

To update my list of favorite bakeries, I set out to explore Honolulu’s newest ones, but in the process, fell back in love with some of our old ones. I shouldn’t have been surprised—nostalgia is my favorite ingredient, and in our rapidly shifting world, it’s totally trending right now. So here are some of the O‘ahu bakeries I’ve added back into my rotation.
A Honolulu Bakery That Folds In Tropical Flavors

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Martha Cheng

Welcome to the T List, a newsletter from the editors of T Magazine. Each week, we share things we're eating, wearing, listening to or coveting now. Sign up here to find us in your inbox every Wednesday, along with monthly travel and beauty guides, and the latest stories from our print issues.And you can always reach us at [email protected].
The 38 Best Restaurants in Honolulu, Hawai‘i - Eater

2 months ago | eater.com | Martha Cheng

Here are the best restaurants in Honolulu, according to a local restaurant writer with decades of experience.
The 20 Best Restaurants in Waikiki, Hawaiʻi - Eater

2 months ago | eater.com | Martha Cheng

The best meals by the beach in Honolulu’s famed Waikīkī, according to a longtime local food writer.
Mian & Bao Brings Noodles and Dumplings to Former Piggy Smalls Space

Jan 13, 2025 | honolulumagazine.com | Martha Cheng

Snacks, noodles and xiao long bao at the new sister eatery to Chengdu Taste and Mian. Mian and bao: two of my favorite things. And apparently, that of many friends: Birds of a feather carb together. They’ve been asking about the new restaurant, Mian & Bao, that opened on Dec. 16 in the space that housed Piggy Smalls and, for a short period, Peso. It’s the latest restaurant by the owners of Chengdu Taste and Mian.
The 23 Best Restaurants In Honolulu, Oahu - Oahu - The Infatuation

Jan 2, 2025 | theinfatuation.com | Martha Cheng

Where to find some extremely fresh poke, plate lunches, and incredible sushi at a dive bar in Oahu's biggest city. These are the best restaurants in Honolulu.
I-naba Brings Back Loaded Japanese Breakfast Sets

Dec 12, 2024 | honolulumagazine.com | Martha Cheng

Arrays of grilled fish, miso soup, rice, sashimi and sides restore order in a hectic holiday season. Breakfast is back at I-naba. And just in time, for though Japanese breakfast is a year-round delight, there’s something about the holidays that has me turning to it more often. Maybe it has to do with the balance and variety in the full spread, a sense of organized abundance in a season of chaos. Whatever it is, I’m glad it’s back.
5 Chefs to Watch on O‘ahu

Nov 30, 2024 | honolulumagazine.com | Martha Cheng

To be a chef is to be a craftsperson, applying artistry to food. But chefs are also tradespeople, enduring intense physical demands to produce consistent results, all while managing cooks on the line. Despite glossy features—like this one!—it can be largely thankless work. Here are five chefs to take note of, each driven by curiosity and the dynamic nature of the job. Emily Iguchi’s career has been shaped by tenacity.
Pukalani Superette

Nov 27, 2024 | theinfatuation.com | Martha Cheng

Open for more than 60 years in upcountry Maui, the small grocery is the place to pick up Maui-made snacks like venison and fishcake dip, along with desserts featuring kalo or ‘ulu. But if you skip the hot food, you’re making a mistake. Their bentos are prepared throughout the day, and our go-to is the fried chili chicken, which remains crispy underneath a slightly sweet glaze, paired with chow fun.