Jason Momoa promotes his new movie, The Wrecking Crew, and shares insights from its Hawaii production<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
He highlights a beloved Hawaiian food chain that\u2019s \u201cvery dear\u201d to him<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Momoa talks friendship with co-star Dave Bautista and why local culture matters on set<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Jason Momoa<\/a> didn\u2019t just bring action and star power to his latest film \u2014 he brought a piece of home with him.<\/p>\n While promoting his new movie The Wrecking Crew<\/a> alongside costar Dave Bautista<\/a>, 57, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the Chief of War<\/a> star, 46, revealed that one of his favorite Hawaiian food spots made its way into the film in a very real, very personal way.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I got to put in my favorite local favorite, and it\u2019s in the movie,\u201d shared the Polynesian actor. \u201cThat\u2019s when I knew I made it. We\u2019re in the menu.\u201d That place is Zippy\u2019s<\/a>, the Hawaiian restaurant chain known for its comfort food and deep local roots. Momoa explained that the inclusion wasn\u2019t a casual Easter egg, but something tied closely to his childhood.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Prime<\/p>\n \u201cSo every time, when I was a kid, I would land and see my dad and we\u2019d go straight to Zippy\u2019s,\u201d he recalled. \u201cSo it\u2019s something that\u2019s very dear to me, and we put it in the movie.\u201d<\/p>\n The moment was especially bittersweet for Bautista, who also starred with Momoa in 2021\u2019s\u00a0Dune\u00a0and season 2 of the Apple TV+ series\u00a0See, joked about watching his costar enjoy the food while being unable to indulge himself.<\/p>\n \u201cHe tore it up,\u201d Bautista said, “and I was just so jealous watching him eat, because nothing on the menu I can eat,” the former wrestler recalled.<\/p>\n Bautista recently spoke about his weight loss journey<\/a> and healthy lifestyle after gaining weight for his role in the 2023 horror thriller Knock at the Cabin<\/a>. The conversation pivoted to the two stars, both known for their massive statures, to swap notes on cheat meals \u2014 a topic that quickly highlighted how differently they approach food these days.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I throw out all my diet restrictions…because now I\u2019m gluten free, dairy free,\u201d Bautista began, before Momoa quickly chimed in with, \u201cBoring!\u201d Bautista laughed, adding that he’s also \u201cplant-based.\u201d<\/p>\n Jason Laciste\/Prime<\/p>\n For Bautista, a true cheat meal would mean going all in on pizza. \u201cIf I could just have a real pizza, like pizza with real crust that just rises and baked just right,\u201d he said, specifying, \u201cNew York style pizza. Slices [that] are way too big. You have to fold it in half.\u201d<\/p>\n Momoa, meanwhile, kept things closer to home. \u201cMy cheat meal is just Hawaiian food, just all the stuff I love,\u201d he said, listing favorites like \u201cKahlua pig and lau lau and poi and mac salad.\u201d<\/p>\n Momoa even revealed that a custom Zippy’s \u201cWrecking Crew Pack\u201d made its way into the film\u2019s universe. \u201cDude, it\u2019s amazing,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s just some of the favorite local food.\u201d<\/p>\n Notably, for Momoa, it wasn\u2019t about product placement \u2014 it was about pride. \u201cFried chicken, rice with chili on top, and macaroni salad, the mayo inside, man,\u201d he said, smiling through the memory.<\/p>\n The Wrecking Crew\u00a0is now streaming on Prime Video.<\/p>\n![\"Jason](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/b20ee8ac9cd8f3d3eeb8549fb7b8c226.jpeg\"\/)
Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista star in The Wrecking Crew. <\/p>\n![\"Dave](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/38339949b758e0d8bacfd74a8d67fdfa.jpeg\"\/)
Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa star in THE WRECKING CREW <\/p>\n