Amazing traditional Hawaiian comfort food! Loved the squid luau. We got the menu combo D and added an order of laulau. Everything was excellent and staff was super welcoming!
Great food love the atmosphere and words can't explain the food taste..
Laura Tang
We LOVE Helena's, we try to go as many times as we can when we're in Oahu. They are only open from Tuesday to Fridays, so always busy.
L H
Food taste was ok, although they don't serve fresh poi. Spare ribs excellent. Mostly ala carte selections in very small bowls & expensive. Except for our waitress who showed plenty Aloha, two old Hawaiian female workers were very rude & grumpy. One constantly was sweeping around our table & saying we're in her way...really? While we eat? The other would demand us to move if we stood up for a minute before going to use the bathroom. My family is never going back!
Recommended dishes: Short Ribs Pipikaula Style U S Choice, Kalua Pig \u0026 Cabbage
Skye C
Great local food, try one of the combos!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anna Peters
So good! It’s a quick way to get some food at the Bishop Museum. We ordered at the counter and while there was a little bit of a line and a wait, the food came out quickly and was delicious. We loved the poke bowl, the saimin and the lilikoi cake.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Siawosh Eskandari
Might just be the best museum food in the whole world? It's surprisingly good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Geetika Jain
Very very cute cafe!! They nailed the vibe! I tried a veggie tart for afternoon snack...that might've been the best veggie tart I've ever had! So so fresh and good !!! Highly recommend!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kyrene
Pretty decent pricing for some pretty good Hawaiian food!
Being the only option for food in Bishop Museum and its compound, we chose to eat here after walking around. We appreciate that there’s local food fare as we did want to try to Kalua Pig and Saimin which we read about online. Thus, we ordered the Hawaiian plate which is a decent deal with protein, a side and a dessert. The food isn’t mind blowing but we did enjoy the Kalua pig (shredded pork) that was very tasty. As for the Saimin, it’s a simple convenience type of meal as a cup of noodles and the added char Siu helped to elevate the dish a little. The plantation iced tea was sweetened nicely with pineapple juice which we liked.
Decent food, decent prices, great location and atmosphere. Staff were also very friendly and the pick-up of food was easy with an announcement system and buzzer. We did wait a little over 8mins for our food, similar to what others mentioned over a wait.
Great place for a quick lunch, snack, or drink. Had the Kailua pig lomi lomi flat bread with a soda chanh muoi..perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott Patterson
Came in here after visiting the bishop museum. Very nice staff, Maite was awesome 🤙🏼
Thanks!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
CalRaise
Being from Oklahoma and running into the only other Hawaiian ever to live in my small town. Brandon and staff treated us like family. I’d give this place infinite stars if I could. Food was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
L Wedekind
The poi, haupia and Kahlua pig were excellent! Highly recommend for local Hawaiian food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaleo Keanu
I make it a point to visit Helena's Hawaiian Food every time I’m in Hawaii, and it never disappoints. This place feels like a true slice of old-school Hawaiian culture, not just another tourist spot. From the moment you walk in, there’s a warm, welcoming vibe that makes you feel like you’re being invited into someone’s home.
The food is absolutely incredible and consistently authentic. You can really taste the care and tradition in every dish. Their kalua pig is always tender, smoky, and perfectly seasoned, while the lomi salmon is fresh and refreshing. One of my personal favorites is the pipikaula ribs—they’re packed with flavor and cooked just right. The poi here is also some of the best I’ve had, with a smooth texture and a clean, traditional taste. Every visit reminds me why Hawaiian cuisine is so special.
Service is friendly and genuine. The staff are always patient, helpful, and happy to explain dishes if you’re not familiar with everything. Even when it gets busy (which it often does), they keep things moving without making you feel rushed.
The atmosphere is simple and unpretentious, which honestly adds to the charm. It’s not about fancy decor—it’s about the food, the history, and the experience. You’ll see a mix of locals and visitors, which is always a good sign that a place is doing something right.
Overall, this is a must-visit spot if you want authentic Hawaiian food and a real local experience. It’s become a tradition for me to come here every trip, and I can’t recommend it enough. If you’re in Honolulu and want something genuine and memorable, this place should be at the top of your list.
Amazing traditional Hawaiian comfort food! Loved the squid luau. We got the menu combo D and added an order of laulau. Everything was excellent and staff was super welcoming!
Expect a line if you go during peak hours!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Laulau, Luau Squid, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Kahlua Pork
The Best Food out here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food love the atmosphere and words can't explain the food taste..
We LOVE Helena's, we try to go as many times as we can when we're in Oahu. They are only open from Tuesday to Fridays, so always busy.
Food taste was ok, although they don't serve fresh poi. Spare ribs excellent. Mostly ala carte selections in very small bowls & expensive. Except for our waitress who showed plenty Aloha, two old Hawaiian female workers were very rude & grumpy. One constantly was sweeping around our table & saying we're in her way...really? While we eat? The other would demand us to move if we stood up for a minute before going to use the bathroom. My family is never going back!
Recommended dishes: Short Ribs Pipikaula Style U S Choice, Kalua Pig \u0026 Cabbage
Great local food, try one of the combos!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So good! It’s a quick way to get some food at the Bishop Museum. We ordered at the counter and while there was a little bit of a line and a wait, the food came out quickly and was delicious. We loved the poke bowl, the saimin and the lilikoi cake.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Might just be the best museum food in the whole world? It's surprisingly good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very very cute cafe!! They nailed the vibe! I tried a veggie tart for afternoon snack...that might've been the best veggie tart I've ever had! So so fresh and good !!! Highly recommend!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pretty decent pricing for some pretty good Hawaiian food!
Being the only option for food in Bishop Museum and its compound, we chose to eat here after walking around. We appreciate that there’s local food fare as we did want to try to Kalua Pig and Saimin which we read about online. Thus, we ordered the Hawaiian plate which is a decent deal with protein, a side and a dessert. The food isn’t mind blowing but we did enjoy the Kalua pig (shredded pork) that was very tasty. As for the Saimin, it’s a simple convenience type of meal as a cup of noodles and the added char Siu helped to elevate the dish a little. The plantation iced tea was sweetened nicely with pineapple juice which we liked.
Decent food, decent prices, great location and atmosphere. Staff were also very friendly and the pick-up of food was easy with an announcement system and buzzer. We did wait a little over 8mins for our food, similar to what others mentioned over a wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great place for a quick lunch, snack, or drink. Had the Kailua pig lomi lomi flat bread with a soda chanh muoi..perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came in here after visiting the bishop museum.
Very nice staff, Maite was awesome 🤙🏼
Thanks!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Being from Oklahoma and running into the only other Hawaiian ever to live in my small town. Brandon and staff treated us like family. I’d give this place infinite stars if I could. Food was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The poi, haupia and Kahlua pig were excellent! Highly recommend for local Hawaiian food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I make it a point to visit Helena's Hawaiian Food every time I’m in Hawaii, and it never disappoints. This place feels like a true slice of old-school Hawaiian culture, not just another tourist spot. From the moment you walk in, there’s a warm, welcoming vibe that makes you feel like you’re being invited into someone’s home.
The food is absolutely incredible and consistently authentic. You can really taste the care and tradition in every dish. Their kalua pig is always tender, smoky, and perfectly seasoned, while the lomi salmon is fresh and refreshing. One of my personal favorites is the pipikaula ribs—they’re packed with flavor and cooked just right. The poi here is also some of the best I’ve had, with a smooth texture and a clean, traditional taste. Every visit reminds me why Hawaiian cuisine is so special.
Service is friendly and genuine. The staff are always patient, helpful, and happy to explain dishes if you’re not familiar with everything. Even when it gets busy (which it often does), they keep things moving without making you feel rushed.
The atmosphere is simple and unpretentious, which honestly adds to the charm. It’s not about fancy decor—it’s about the food, the history, and the experience. You’ll see a mix of locals and visitors, which is always a good sign that a place is doing something right.
Overall, this is a must-visit spot if you want authentic Hawaiian food and a real local experience. It’s become a tradition for me to come here every trip, and I can’t recommend it enough. If you’re in Honolulu and want something genuine and memorable, this place should be at the top of your list.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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