If you’re craving some traditional Pacific Islander cuisine, these flavorful joints are sure to hit the spot. From chicken kelaguen to savory pork belly, these are your go-to spots for Chamorro cuisine in the USA.
Prubechu (San Francisco, CA)
Opened by two longtime friends raised in Guam, this Mission District eatery in San Francisco is a must-visit for classic flavors of Guam and the Mariana Islands. Dig into Chamorro cuisine served family-style, like sweet rolls with tuba butter, chicken kelaguen and caramelized potato soup. Indulge in BBQ chicken skewers with sesame oil or roasted Japanese yams. Looking for good food and fun? Attend one of their pig-roasting parties for a night of live music and delicious munchies.
SMACK’N Guamanian Grill (San Diego, CA)
Few things taste better than island-style barbecue, and SMACK’N Guamanian Grill in San Diego is one of the best places to get it outside of the Mariana Islands. The family-owned restaurant’s menu is filled with authentic Chamorro recipes passed down from generation to generation. Be sure to order the succulent and flavor-packed chicken kelaguen, a classic Chamorro dish made with shredded chicken and a pickled marinade featuring coconut, hot peppers, scallions, lemon juice, and spices.
Ray & Dee’s Chamorro Food (Silverdale, WA)
Ray and Dee’s Chamorro Food is a food truck and pop-up restaurant in Washington. However, you can usually find it at the weekend swap meet at the Kitsap Mall Kohls parking lot in Silverdale. Pick up a plate of favorites like lemon-flavored chicken kelaguen, tuna poke and other tasty Chamorro bites. Catering and party trays are also available, from hot pepper jars to frozen tamales gisu. Keep an eye on their socials if you want to see where Ray & Dee’s Chamorro Food will set up shop next!
Marianas Grinds (Jacksonville, FL)
In Jacksonville, Florida, Mariana Grinds brings Hawaiian-Filipino and Chamorro cuisine to the East Coast. Offering up a no-frills vibe (food is served in styrofoam containers), this small eatery packs in the flavor. Dine on dishes like lumpia and fried chicken, savory red rice or creamy Hawaiian-style macaroni salad. You can’t go wrong with a plate piled high with Loco Moco (layers of rice, hamburger and egg smothered in gravy) and teriyaki tacos really hit the spot.
JJ’s Island Grindz (Bonita, CA)
JJ’s Island Grindz offers a taste of the Pacific Islands, from Guam to Hawaii, along with live music throughout the week! Stop by for lunch and pick up some spam musubi, chicken katsu or empanadas stuffed with Grandma Rosie’s spicy chicken puree. Try the spicy chicken adobo stew and grilled mahi mahi filet. No trip is complete without a side of Grandma Rosie’s potato salad (it’s packed with black olives, pimentos, relish and egg). Wash it all down with a fruity cocktail from the tiki bar!
Chochu Local (Portland, OR)
Chochu Local is a popular food cart serving up the flavors of Guam inside Portland’s iconic Rose City Food Park! The food truck’s most popular dishes include empanadas, juicy BBQ ribs, lumpia, and finger-licking good pork belly. If you have wanted to try Chamorro recipes and find yourself in Oregon, Chochu Local is an excellent spot to enjoy that first bite.
Jeremiah’s Island Fusion (Ewa, HI)
If you’re ever near Ewa Beach, make sure to visit Jeremiah’s Island Fusion food truck. Serving delicious Chamorro-Cali fusion, this new foodie spot is all about epic portions and even bigger flavor. Chow down on pickled papaya with onions, steak burritos large enough to feed two people and chicken curry. Order a Surf & Turf platter piled high with steak, shrimp, corn and their popular rice. Or, ask for a heaping portion of their sushi bake.
Red Rice (Las Vegas, NV)
Named after Guam’s iconic dish, Red Rice is a no-frills family-owned restaurant in the Eastern Promenade shopping mall far from the bustling Las Vegas strip. While many delicious Chamorro delicacies are on the menu, Red Rice is praised for its lumpia, a type of spring roll native to Indonesia and the Philippines. And, of course, make sure you try aromatic and flavorful red rice, which gets its vibrant coloring from soaking the grains alongside achote (annatto) seeds.
