Jason Momoa Brings Beloved Hawaiian Food Chain Into His New Film ‘The Wrecking Crew’

Jason Momoa is not only known for his powerful screen presence and action roles, but also for his deep love for Hawaii and its culture. While promoting his new movie The Wrecking Crew, the actor revealed that he made sure to include something very close to his heart in the film — a famous Hawaiian food chain that reminds him of home.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine, Jason Momoa opened up about filming The Wrecking Crew and why local culture mattered so much during production. The film, which is now streaming on Prime Video, stars Momoa alongside his longtime friend and co-star Dave Bautista.

During the conversation, Jason Momoa shared that he personally added Zippy’s, a well-loved Hawaiian restaurant chain, into the movie. He explained that this was not done for advertising or promotion, but because the place holds strong childhood memories for him.

“So every time I was a kid and landed in Hawaii to see my dad, we went straight to Zippy’s,” Jason Momoa said while speaking to PEOPLE. He called the restaurant “very dear to me” and said seeing it included in the film felt like a personal win.

The actor also joked that appearing on Zippy’s menu through the film made him feel like he had truly made it in life. According to Momoa, the food chain represents comfort, family, and island life — things he wanted reflected in the movie’s world.

Dave Bautista, who has worked with Momoa before on films like Dune and the series See, shared a lighter moment from the set. He joked about feeling jealous while watching Momoa enjoy the food, as his own strict diet does not allow him to eat most items from the menu.

The two actors also discussed their very different food habits. While Bautista now follows a plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free lifestyle, Jason Momoa proudly sticks to traditional Hawaiian food for his cheat meals. He named favorites like kalua pig, lau lau, poi, and macaroni salad.

Momoa even revealed that a special “Wrecking Crew Pack” from Zippy’s exists within the movie, filled with local favorites. He stressed again that this was about respecting Hawaiian roots, not product placement. The Wrecking Crew is now available to stream on Prime Video.

Feature Image: Prime Video/YouTube Screenshot