サイミン / Saimin / Teshima Restaurant — Kealakekua, Hawaii

Hawaiian saimin combines clear seafood based soup with medium width noodles by S&S, a local Hawaiian brand. Toppings include fried spam, napa cabbage, scrambled egg and kamaboko fish cake. Japanese breakfast on the side.

The history of this establishment dates back to 1929, when Mary Shizuko Teshima opened the F. Teshima General Merchandise Store. First selling housemade ice cream (using ice brought in from Hilo daily), Teshima-san transitioned into serving hot food items like hamburgers and saimin for soldiers during WWII. Rebuilt into a full-scale restaurant in 1957, “Grandma Teshima” ran operations until the age of 105, when she retired to her home just a few steps behind the restaurant. She passed away in 2013 at the age of 106, after working in the kitchen for over 60 years and raising a family that included five children, 12 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. Today the restaurant is operated by some of the 4th-generation great-grandchildren. Current head chef Jose Ruiz started out as a dishwasher around 40 years ago. 50+ seats. Open since 1929 @teshimas