Chef Brandon Mamo set up shop at 16 North Hotel Street in 2020, introducing naturally fermented artisan pan and deck-fired pizzas to Oahu’s historic Chinatown.
High-hydration doughs undergo a slow 72-hour cold fermentation cycle before baking in blue steel pans and stone deck chambers, forming a light, airy crumb framed by a crispy, caramelized frico cheese wall.
Located just steps from Nuuanu Avenue in Downtown Honolulu, Pizza Mamo provides a craft alternative to commercial delivery chains through its scratch Detroit-style square pizzas and Brooklyn-inspired round pies.
Quick Bite – Pizza Mamo, Honolulu, HI 🍕
Steel pans bake Wisconsin brick cheese and whole-milk mozzarella right against the edges until deeply browned, ladling warm crushed tomato sauce over cup-and-char pepperoni and hot honey drizzles.
The line also stretches round thin crusts for specialty combinations like the White Pie topped with whipped garlic ricotta and cracked black pepper, alongside freshly twisted garlic knots tossed in herb butter.
Frequent sell-out days and top recognition in Honolulu Magazine and the Hale Aina Awards have quickly made it a premier Honolulu County pizza destination.
The Local Atmosphere – Pizza Mamo, Honolulu, HI 🏙️
Exposed brick walls, neon signage, and a direct view of the busy dough-stretching counter give the compact Chinatown storefront an energetic, urban slice-shop vibe.
Lunch rushes and evening dinner services draw steady foot traffic from neighboring areas like Downtown Honolulu, Kakaako, Ala Moana, Makiki, and Waikiki.
Steam rises from square cardboard boxes as carryout customers and counter diners pick up whole pies and thick pan squares.
Signature Bites – Pizza Mamo, Honolulu, HI 😋
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Detroit Pepperoni Square Pie: Airy pan dough baked in blue steel with a crispy frico cheese border, loaded with cupping pepperoni, tomato sauce stripes, and finished with chili-infused hot honey.
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The White Pie: Hand-stretched round pizza topped with seasoned garlic cream, shredded mozzarella, dollops of house-whipped ricotta, and a drizzle of hot honey.
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Brooklyn Thin Crust Cheese: Hand-tossed deck-baked pizza layered with crushed plum tomato sauce, aged mozzarella, oregano, and grated pecorino romano.
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Cacio e Pepe Pizza: Creamy cheese base featuring sharp pecorino, cracked black pepper, and mozzarella, baked until bubbly and blistered.
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Scratch Garlic Knots: Hand-tied pizza dough baked golden, tossed in fresh garlic butter, parsley, and parmesan, served with house marinara.
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Classic Chopped Caesar Salad: Crisp romaine lettuce tossed in creamy scratch Caesar dressing with house-baked croutons and shaved parmesan cheese.
Takeaway Bite – Pizza Mamo, Honolulu, HI 😎
Stopping by 16 N Hotel St provides a direct taste of modern artisan pizza craft on Oahu.
Chef Brandon Mamo’s dedication to long dough fermentation, steel-pan caramelization, and premium Italian-American toppings sets this Chinatown counter far apart from conventional franchise operations.
That meticulous crust execution is why this mom and pops and hole in the wall slice shop remains an essential dining stop in Honolulu.
📍: 16 N Hotel St, Honolulu, HI 96817
🕒: Wed-Sun: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM (or until sold out); Mon-Tue: Closed