Bruh…the line cooks DID NOT USE GLOVES!!! I was so disgusted watching the 2 uncles in the back grab our bread for our cheeseburgers then spread the Mayo before slapping it together with both hands before wrapping. Not hygienic at all!!! Why people why?!? I told the cashier and she said she didn’t see it. We asked for a new burger with gloves and watched them prepare it! The food is garbage! It had the consistency of cardboard. This place is cheap but definitely not worth the potential for getting sick! This was my first time here and the ‘ohana wanted to try it! Never again! You have been warned!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ed U.
You can get local grindz pretty much anywhere in Hawai'i, but this one stands out for the country-style Japanese approach they take here. Managed primarily by three Japanese-American women, this spot appears to be beloved by my motherland brethren, and I can see why as where else can you find sashimi as fresh as this on a Hawaiian lunch plate? Jamie W. and I became aware of this ramshackle spot by way of a Japan-based gay couple named TabiEats who vlog relentlessly about Hawai'i. They became so nostalgic about this spot we felt a need to give it a try. Jamie ordered the straightforward $10.50 Loco Moco Plate with two fried eggs over easy and a thick brown gravy over the hefty hamburger steak (photo: It was exactly what he was looking for down to the macaroni salad and two scoops of rice. I went with the TabiEats recommendation of the $13.50 Japanese Plate Deluxe, quite a mixed plate of chicken & beef teriyaki, shrimp tempura, potato croquettes, cabbage slaw, and the unexpected highlight, slices of fresh tuna sashimi (photo: It reminded me of what my oba-san, just not at the same time. FOOD - 4.5 stars...Japanese-type lunch plates done right with plenty to eat AMBIANCE - 3 stars...looks like it's been there for decades...no place to eat unfortunately, so we sat at the bus stop and waved off the bus SERVICE - 4 stars...they've seen it all TOTAL - 4 stars...definitely a place to go if you're hungry and even hangry RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed:
Harrison K.
Worst beef stew ever! Beef was tougher then beef jerky. If you're not gonna cook beef stew till tender, don't make at all. Saimein cold! Burger and fries suck. Never coming back again
Steven A.
Highly recommend to phone in your order ahead of time, but you will still have to wait in line for a while. At least your food will be ready by the time you get to the window. Seating area closed so only take out for now.
Shelby I.
3 words: Japanese Plate Deluxe! Who knew you could get such quality Japanese food at a drive inn! I went to college right across the street from this place and I never came here until recently! Dang was I missing out! As I was browsing Yelp for places to try in the Kaimuki area and came across pictures of their menu and plates. I was shocked and intrigued with the Japanese Plate and Japanese Plate Deluxe. Sashimi in a bento box?! Waaah? I immediately knew I had to try it! The Japanese Deluxe Plate is $13 which is sooo reasonable! It comes with TWO shrimp tempura, teri beef, mochiko chicken, ~5 pieces of ahi sashimi, rice, and toss salad. Everything is flavorful and tender, the sashimi is FRESH, and everything is made to order. Since everything is made to order, be prepared to wait a while even if there's little to no line. The 2 older ladies are very sweet and take orders as well as help cook and pack the food. Trust me, it's worth the wait! Not only are their prices reasonable for plate lunches but, being across from both Saint Louis and Chaminade, they have cheap bentos, breakfast bentos, and student specials! Lastly, they have an okazuya right next to the window where you order. I've personally never been but it's only open until 2pm. This place is now on my go-to list of places to go when in Kaimuki!
Nicole S.
I came to pickup a large delivery order at this restaurant. After patiently waiting in line I arrived at the counter to a hostess who rudely told me to move out of the way so she could hand out an order to someone else. There was no need for the rudeness and not a way you'd want to talk to a customer. I continue to wait in line until she calls me up. I go up and let her know I'm there to pickup an Uber order. She curtly replies that it's not ready so I ask for a time estimate. She says a time in a short way again. I wait back in line and then when the next customer approaches the window she says something about "yeah gotta love Uber drivers..."sarcastically. I don't know what her problem was but honesty every interaction was rude and totally uncalled for. I will never eat here and this restaurant should reconsider who they staff and how they represent their business.
T A.
Love this old school establishment. Prices did go up compared to a few months ago but still very reasonable prices for take out food. My go to is this huge mahi-mahi sandwich with a side of fries. Large piece of fish for a burger. Comes in this cool old school pink box. Just like how is was bay in the day. Husband loves the bentos. Today he got the regular bento. He usually gets the seafood bento but wanted to eat more of the teriyaki meat and chicken instead Always a long line but worth the wait
Glenn Y.
Great breakfast specials with a drink and less than $7; open from 5 am weekdays. Love the old style comfort foods like beef stew and roast pork but also the contemporary Japanese plates and bentos. Strictly a take-out operation and parking can be tight but turnover is quick. Limited ambiance and with usually only one counterperson, there may be a wait but worth it.
Cindy M.
Food is 5 star, 2star on getting your food if you order at the window. They move at turtle speed. But if you call it in the food is ready. Excellent fried rice, japanese plates and my fav Lilikoi and green river drink.
Leona H.
Always our go to place lace for seafood. Today we ordered a "super" deluxe Japanese plate. It's their deluxe Japanese plate with two breaded scallops added. It was $16.50, That's $2.00 more than the deluxe plate. It wasn't on their menu board. I was going to order a deluxe plate with a side order of scallops and the guy taking my order said, "Oh, you want the super deluxe Japanese plate"! And it came in a pink manapua box!
Haven't been here in a while, i guess cause I moved out to Ewa. But was in the area since kids had sports out in Kaimuki. Had my regular, BBQ Cheeseburger with fries...going to have to say, the bun was different and the Mayo (I think originally they left it out all day) just wasn't the same. The fries used to be crinkle cut but it's not anymore. The service was good and it didn't take long to get my food but it just wasn't the same. Loved this place and will still probably eat there when I'm in the are..call it nostalgia but it's not what I remember growing up.
De T.
It's alright. Not the best, not the worst. Had the Bento deluxe for $10.99, which is regular Bento, plus extra items. To go only, no seating available. Fast, quick service.
Christina Lin
Great food at very reasonable prices. The ladies are very nice
Food: 5
Service: 5
The CLAW
Awesome Meatloaf Special on Wednesday ??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Special
BJ Okazaki
Order food at 1207, ready at 1232. Saimin was cold so we requested a new HOT one. They stated their water doesn’t get hot ? and we need to wait another five min. Well it’s now 1249 and I just got it. What make it more crazy is that it’s S&S, I could’ve went to Safeway and bought my own if I had known.
Bruh…the line cooks DID NOT USE GLOVES!!! I was so disgusted watching the 2 uncles in the back grab our bread for our cheeseburgers then spread the Mayo before slapping it together with both hands before wrapping. Not hygienic at all!!! Why people why?!? I told the cashier and she said she didn’t see it. We asked for a new burger with gloves and watched them prepare it! The food is garbage! It had the consistency of cardboard. This place is cheap but definitely not worth the potential for getting sick! This was my first time here and the ‘ohana wanted to try it! Never again! You have been warned!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
You can get local grindz pretty much anywhere in Hawai'i, but this one stands out for the country-style Japanese approach they take here. Managed primarily by three Japanese-American women, this spot appears to be beloved by my motherland brethren, and I can see why as where else can you find sashimi as fresh as this on a Hawaiian lunch plate? Jamie W. and I became aware of this ramshackle spot by way of a Japan-based gay couple named TabiEats who vlog relentlessly about Hawai'i. They became so nostalgic about this spot we felt a need to give it a try. Jamie ordered the straightforward $10.50 Loco Moco Plate with two fried eggs over easy and a thick brown gravy over the hefty hamburger steak (photo: It was exactly what he was looking for down to the macaroni salad and two scoops of rice. I went with the TabiEats recommendation of the $13.50 Japanese Plate Deluxe, quite a mixed plate of chicken & beef teriyaki, shrimp tempura, potato croquettes, cabbage slaw, and the unexpected highlight, slices of fresh tuna sashimi (photo: It reminded me of what my oba-san, just not at the same time. FOOD - 4.5 stars...Japanese-type lunch plates done right with plenty to eat AMBIANCE - 3 stars...looks like it's been there for decades...no place to eat unfortunately, so we sat at the bus stop and waved off the bus SERVICE - 4 stars...they've seen it all TOTAL - 4 stars...definitely a place to go if you're hungry and even hangry RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed:
Worst beef stew ever! Beef was tougher then beef jerky. If you're not gonna cook beef stew till tender, don't make at all. Saimein cold! Burger and fries suck. Never coming back again
Highly recommend to phone in your order ahead of time, but you will still have to wait in line for a while. At least your food will be ready by the time you get to the window. Seating area closed so only take out for now.
3 words: Japanese Plate Deluxe! Who knew you could get such quality Japanese food at a drive inn! I went to college right across the street from this place and I never came here until recently! Dang was I missing out! As I was browsing Yelp for places to try in the Kaimuki area and came across pictures of their menu and plates. I was shocked and intrigued with the Japanese Plate and Japanese Plate Deluxe. Sashimi in a bento box?! Waaah? I immediately knew I had to try it! The Japanese Deluxe Plate is $13 which is sooo reasonable! It comes with TWO shrimp tempura, teri beef, mochiko chicken, ~5 pieces of ahi sashimi, rice, and toss salad. Everything is flavorful and tender, the sashimi is FRESH, and everything is made to order. Since everything is made to order, be prepared to wait a while even if there's little to no line. The 2 older ladies are very sweet and take orders as well as help cook and pack the food. Trust me, it's worth the wait! Not only are their prices reasonable for plate lunches but, being across from both Saint Louis and Chaminade, they have cheap bentos, breakfast bentos, and student specials! Lastly, they have an okazuya right next to the window where you order. I've personally never been but it's only open until 2pm. This place is now on my go-to list of places to go when in Kaimuki!
I came to pickup a large delivery order at this restaurant. After patiently waiting in line I arrived at the counter to a hostess who rudely told me to move out of the way so she could hand out an order to someone else. There was no need for the rudeness and not a way you'd want to talk to a customer. I continue to wait in line until she calls me up. I go up and let her know I'm there to pickup an Uber order. She curtly replies that it's not ready so I ask for a time estimate. She says a time in a short way again. I wait back in line and then when the next customer approaches the window she says something about "yeah gotta love Uber drivers..."sarcastically. I don't know what her problem was but honesty every interaction was rude and totally uncalled for. I will never eat here and this restaurant should reconsider who they staff and how they represent their business.
Love this old school establishment. Prices did go up compared to a few months ago but still very reasonable prices for take out food. My go to is this huge mahi-mahi sandwich with a side of fries. Large piece of fish for a burger. Comes in this cool old school pink box. Just like how is was bay in the day. Husband loves the bentos. Today he got the regular bento. He usually gets the seafood bento but wanted to eat more of the teriyaki meat and chicken instead Always a long line but worth the wait
Great breakfast specials with a drink and less than $7; open from 5 am weekdays. Love the old style comfort foods like beef stew and roast pork but also the contemporary Japanese plates and bentos. Strictly a take-out operation and parking can be tight but turnover is quick. Limited ambiance and with usually only one counterperson, there may be a wait but worth it.
Food is 5 star, 2star on getting your food if you order at the window. They move at turtle speed. But if you call it in the food is ready. Excellent fried rice, japanese plates and my fav Lilikoi and green river drink.
Always our go to place lace for seafood. Today we ordered a "super" deluxe Japanese plate. It's their deluxe Japanese plate with two breaded scallops added. It was $16.50, That's $2.00 more than the deluxe plate. It wasn't on their menu board. I was going to order a deluxe plate with a side order of scallops and the guy taking my order said, "Oh, you want the super deluxe Japanese plate"! And it came in a pink manapua box!
Restaurantji Recommends
Haven't been here in a while, i guess cause I moved out to Ewa. But was in the area since kids had sports out in Kaimuki. Had my regular, BBQ Cheeseburger with fries...going to have to say, the bun was different and the Mayo (I think originally they left it out all day) just wasn't the same. The fries used to be crinkle cut but it's not anymore. The service was good and it didn't take long to get my food but it just wasn't the same. Loved this place and will still probably eat there when I'm in the are..call it nostalgia but it's not what I remember growing up.
It's alright. Not the best, not the worst. Had the Bento deluxe for $10.99, which is regular Bento, plus extra items. To go only, no seating available. Fast, quick service.
Great food at very reasonable prices. The ladies are very nice
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome Meatloaf Special on Wednesday ??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Special
Order food at 1207, ready at 1232. Saimin was cold so we requested a new HOT one. They stated their water doesn’t get hot ? and we need to wait another five min. Well it’s now 1249 and I just got it. What make it more crazy is that it’s S&S, I could’ve went to Safeway and bought my own if I had known.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1