President Obama doesn't need a restaurant guide when he visits Hawai'i.

When the Island icon comes home to visit family and vacation, he knows exactly where and what to eat.

His favorites range from Hawai'i's top fine-dining establishments to walk-up windows where $10 could buy a carb-rich feast.

Michelle Obama once said, "You can't really understand Barack until you understand Hawai'i."

And there's no way to truly experience Hawai'i without tasting the local "grinds."

During his past two visits to Honolulu, where he was born and raised, Obama provided a glimpse of what pleases his presidential palate.

While he has undoubtedly become a fan of Chicago fare, he didn't experience deep-dish pizzas or Italian beef sandwiches growing up.

The closest young Obama got to snow was slurping an Island-style shave ice.

Here are some of the places the president eats when he's in Hawai'i, along with some of the eateries he spent time in growing up.

INDIGO

1121 Nu'uanu Ave.

Maya Soetoro-Ng, Obama's sister who lives in Honolulu, has said Indigo is one of her brother's favorite spots. Indigo is a hot spot in Chinatown, popular with everyone from locals like Kelsey Grammer to Honolulu's political and business power players. This "Island fusion" eatery features a fresh and eclectic menu by chef Glenn Chu that matches the urban, Eurasian decor.

Greg Johnson, Indigo's vice president of operations, said when the Obamas visited in August, they started with the dim sum plate ($14), which includes goat cheese won tons, lumpia-wrapped shrimp (similar to eggrolls) and duck mu-shu rolls.

For dinner, they had one of the most popular items: toasted black mustard- and pepper-crusted 'ahi served rare with wasabi soy, sun-dried tomato and tapenade ($36).

"We treated them just like any another guest," Johnson said. "What I mean by that is, we made sure not to take pictures, or bother him or his guests, and really just let them enjoy themselves."

Other popular dishes are miso-marinated salmon ($22) and tandoori-style grilled chicken breast with mint pesto ($24).

ALAN WONG'S

1857 S. King St.

Another Obama favorite is Alan Wong's, according to his sister. The acclaimed restaurant is a leader in Hawai'i Regional Cuisine, which fuses flavors and foods from the Islands' many cultures, stressing local ingredients.

Dinner entrees range from $27 to $52. Popular items include ginger-crusted onaga, a long-tail red snapper, and twice-cooked short ribs.

RAINBOW DRIVE-IN

3308 Kana'ina Ave.

Obama mentioned Rainbow as a possible stop to get his local plate-lunch fix. It's just outside Waikiki and popular with hungry surfers and locals looking for a quick, hearty and affordable meal.

Plate-lunch offerings include hamburger steak ($5.75). A mix plate comes with teriyaki-style beef, mahimahi and boneless chicken for $6.50.

The outdoor eatery hasn't changed much since it was founded in 1961 by Seiju Ifuku, who learned to cook during World War II while serving in the Army.

ZIPPY'S

24 locations on O'ahu, one on Maui

Obama also mentioned Zippy's, one of the few diners open around the clock. It's sort of like Hawai'i's version of Denny's, a family restaurant serving breakfast, burgers and local favorites.

An institution for four decades, Zippy's is best known for chili served with white rice or spaghetti. It's a chili no Texan would love, but is beloved in the Islands.

Obama mentioned the restaurant's "Zip Min," a bowl of noodles in hot broth with everything from won ton and vegetables to fish cake and sweet pork.

GRACE'S INN

Two locations in Honolulu

Alan Lum, Obama's high school basketball teammate at Punahou, said a favorite spot was Grace's. The team's favorite dish was chicken katsu on top of a bed of chow fun noodles, two scoops of rice and a side of macaroni salad.

"I know Barack grinded at Grace's!" Lum said in an e-mail.

ISLAND SNOW SHAVE ICE

130 Kailua Road

Island Snow has served up cold, colorful concoctions to NBA athletes, rock stars, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jamie Lee Curtis. Even with its star-studded clientele, the super laid-back, surfer-type crew doesn't bat an eye.

Until Obama walked in.

"It was nuts," said Richard Whaley, who created the treat for the then-presidential candidate in August.

Whaley said Obama's entourage seemed like it was 300 deep, including police, Secret Service, reporters, photographers, staffers, friends and about a dozen kids.

The shop has a framed copy of a widely distributed AP photo showing Obama sitting on a bench that day, eating shave ice with his daughters and other children.

"It's the shave ice that went around the world," Whaley said.

And things haven't been the same since. Tourists have flocked to order the same shave ice Obama ordered and sit on the same bench. The store even sells Obama T-shirts now.

Obama had the regular-size cone ($2.50) with three flavors: "choo-choo cherry," "da kine lemon-lime" and "tangy guava-orange." The most popular item is the "Rainbow" — strawberry, vanilla and banana.

CHOWDER HOUSE

1050 Ala Moana Blvd.

A sign in the window of the Chowder House says he ate there as a U.S. senator and often as a student. The low-key restaurant's menu ranges from fried seafood to sandwiches for about $10. But it's best known for clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls ($8). So what did Obama eat?

"Cheeseburgers," the waiter said.

SAKURA RESTAURANT

41-1801 Kalaniana'ole Highway

Sakura is on the top level of the clubhouse of Olomana Golf Links.

Manager Jun Tsuchiya said Obama and his friends usually order pupus after a round of golf. They have shared the 'ahi poke ($10.95), fried gyoza ($6.95) and the 12-ounce rib-eye steak ($15.25).

Tsuchiya even has an autograph from Obama that reads, "Thanks for the good food."

Obama didn't stop by during his last visit. Instead, he went to the snack shop outside for hot dogs, Spam musubis and drinks. It wasn't known if Obama ordered the Spam treat for himself or his buddies.

KUA 'AINA SANDWICH

1200 Ala Moana

Obama created quite a scene when he stopped at Kua 'Aina and purchased a box of burgers to take to nearby Ala Moana Beach Park to share with family and friends during his visit in August.

Obama ordered eight 1/3-pound cheeseburgers ($7.50), six 1/2-pound cheeseburgers ($7.90), 10 Kiddie Burgers ($4.50) and 20 orders of fries ($2.25 or $3.25). He must have received a presidential pardon, because his tab totaled just $116.50, about half of what it should have been. He did leave $40 in the tip jar.

The burgers are simple, yet satisfying. They come with a charbroiled patty, lettuce, tomato and grilled onions on request on a kaiser bun.

KOKO MARINA PARADISE AND KOKONUTS SHAVE ICE

7192 Kalaniana'ole Highway

After watching the dolphins at Sea Life Park, Obama and his daughters ate at Koko Marina Paradise deli, which is owned by Akemi Shindo.

"Let me get a tuna sandwich," Obama said, asking for it on 12-grain bread, with tomatoes and no mayo. "Actually, can you melt cheese on that? Can you make like a tuna melt with cheddar cheese?"

The tuna melt is now known as the "Presidential Order" and costs $6.50.

Obama then went across the parking lot to order shave ice at Kokonuts Shave Ice and ordered 15 treats for his daughters, friends and staff . Owner Sabina Yi said Obama had the small lemon-lime and cherry, and that business has picked up since his visit.

MARIPOSA

1450 Ala Moana Blvd.

Obama, family and friends spent an evening last year dining at this relaxed but swank eatery inside the Neiman Marcus store at Ala Moana Center.

Dinner entrees include king crab cioppino ($32), grilled lamb chops ($36), seared diver scallops with lilikoi butter ($29) and the Kona Kampachi, a fish grown in a farm off the Big Island ($32).