Ga u mui — salt-steamed chicken with hoa tieu peppercorn flower — is a specialty Vietnamese preparation that is rarely found on regular menus. In Honolulu, this dish appears at restaurants with strong Chinese-Vietnamese crossover influences, often available by request or as a special.
Pho Viet Thien Hong top-pick
Mon-Sun 10AM-9:30PM
Pho Viet Thien Hong's extensive regional Vietnamese menu sometimes features ga u mui as a special. Their kitchen has the skill set for steamed chicken preparations, and the Manoa location serves a Vietnamese-heritage clientele who would recognize and appreciate this dish. Call ahead to check availability.
An Di Dzo best-value
Mon-Sun 11AM-10PM
An Di Dzo's kitchen covers a range of Vietnamese regional specialties, and their steamed chicken dishes are well-executed. While ga u mui is not a regular menu item, they can prepare it on request with advance notice. The Ward Village location attracts a food-savvy crowd.
Golden River Restaurant hidden-gem
Mon-Sun 11AM-10PM
Golden River serves Chinese-Vietnamese crossover dishes, and their steamed chicken with salt and ginger preparation is the closest thing to ga u mui you will find without a special order. The Kalihi location means the kitchen caters to an Asian-heritage clientele that appreciates subtle, aromatic chicken preparations.