Hawaiian haystack facts for kids

A Hawaiian haystack (also known as a "chicken sundae") is a type of haystack. It is a convenience cuisine dish composed of a rice base and several toppings. It is prepared by topping rice with toppings such as chicken, chicken gravy, diced pineapple, diced tomatoes, Chinese noodles, cheese, and celery. Traditionally, each topping is prepared in its own dish and presented buffet-style, then added on top of the rice as desired.

Hawaiian Haystack example before serving.

It is popular in the Western United States both as a school lunch and as a quick, bespoke meal for family dinners.

Etymology

The dish did not originate in Hawaii, but derives its name from the Hawaiian character of staple ingredients such as coconut and pineapple.