[8] A typical pu pu platter, as found in American Chinese cuisine, includes appetizers such as egg rolls, spare ribs, chicken wings, chicken fingers, beef teriyaki, skewered beef, fried wontons, fried shrimp, or crab rangoons.

[n 1] An establishment that serves "heavy pupus" will often have a buffet table with warming trays or warming tables full of chicken, tempura vegetables, shrimp, poke (cubed and seasoned raw fish), small skewers of teriyaki meat or chicken, sushi, and other similar finger foods.

An establishment that serves "light pupus" usually will offer only the cold foods such as poke, sushi, and vegetables.

At Hawaiian bars, restaurants, catered events such as political rallies, and private parties, establishments and hosts are known in "local" circles by the quality of their pupus.

[11] The appetizers were served on "a Lazy Susan made of monkey pod wood and equipped with a little stove fired with charcoal briquettes.