Super fast and friendly service, immensely delicious food, and large portions. The price is more than worth it.My husband and I come in 2-3 times a month when he's on his cheat day, they often come up with interesting new spins on classic Filipino favorites that we absolutely have to try every time we see their posts pop up on our instagram feeds.After a while, the owner began to recognize us and once in a while we would get a complimentary dessert which tells me they take great pride in caring for their customers and showing their appreciation.I'm a long time and forever fan of Minasa, and everyone should absolutely try their food! My personal favorites are the Steak plate, Lechon fries, and ube churros while my husband loves the Calamansi Glazed Chicken and Adobo wings but honestly, whatever you order is going to be amazing.Don't forget to try the Calamansi sparkling water, we get it every time with our food.
Like, the food was GOOD. The service was great too (cashier was very friendly with smiles and all, and me and my friend were dining in, so they checked on us and happily answered the questions we had). Also, I honestly wasn’t expecting the inside to be nice, but it was and that caught me by surprise. The other customers dining in seemed to be having a pleasant experience as well.Edit: I brought my parents here to dine in, and they said the rice was undercooked.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Terry Cuabo
This restaurant is a hidden gem.Great fusion restaurant taking a different approach on traditional filipino dishes. Restaurant is super under-rated due to its location but it absolutely a MUST TRY. You will not disappointed with any of the entrees and desserts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa
Without a doubt, Minasa offers the finest Filipino fusion cuisine I've ever enjoyed. The flavors are exquisite, the portion sizes are perfect, and the presentation is stunning. The chef's warmth and attentiveness towards his guests only enhance the dining experience. Whenever I'm in Hawaii, visiting Minasa will be a must!
I’ve had the Lechón fries at Wai Kai and the Chicken Calamansi at this location. The food was delicious and the portions are nice. The service is quick and friendly. The vibe inside is trendy and welcoming. Looking forward to trying everything on the menu.
mad good food here. chef came out to greet us and talk a little about the food after we asked about some ingredients. we had fried chicken with calamansi chicken sisig lumpia longanisa naps ube churros (best churros me and wifey ever had) everything was delicious. we will be back!
Rod U.
Bacon. Crispy pork. Garlic fried rice. Pair them with an array of pickled veg, a zesty squeeze of fresh calamansi; this is modern Filipino food and wow does it impress. Get the lechon fries. A pile of insanely crisp fried topped off with a heaping of crispy skin, juicy lechon, drizzled with a creamy aioli, a generous amount of Mang Tomas (sweet sour Filipino condiment) and topped with rendered bacon and green onions. Outright gut buster that you will happily finish. Get a rice bowl. All are made with a base of bacon, garlic fried rice. Bacon and its fat add great flavor and keeps the fried rice moist. All bowls use a plethora of pickled veg and microgreens that make each bite different while keeping the oily nature of the proteins in check. Lechon, great. Tamarind shrimp, excellent. Fried chicken, even better. Well fried boneless thighs, crisp on the outside, moist on the inside. It is glazed in a sweet / sour calamansi glaze. Opt to squeeze more fresh calamansi on the chicken for an even brighter burst of citrusy goodness. Pickled green papaya and ong choi (water spinach) and peppery radish sprouts all add to the enjoyment. If available, grab the longanisa corn dog. Trust. Yes they have gram worthy ube churros. Yes they are crave worthy. Limited seating. All good, the food survives transport well. Very friendly counter service. Extremely well thought out dishes and a modern approach to Filipino food make Minasa destination worthy.
Tanya m
The owner is so humble and he and staff were very welcoming for our group of 6. We ate family style and had multiple items off of the menu. Everything was so delicious and cooked perfectly. I highly recommend Minasa for dine in or take out whether you are local or visiting the island.Kid-friendliness: We ate family style with rice and chicken, pork and shrimp and veggies so there was plenty for my son to choose from (he had chicken and fried rice.)
We heard this place was banging!! Came to check it out, 1st people in the door! Owner greeted us, hella nice!!! Ordered our food, came out so fast!!! And the food was emaculate!!! Let me tell you.. we got the kamayan sampler, shanghai lumpia and the no soup shrimp sinigang! Bruhhhh! My good friend is Filipino and is so hard to please lmao! But even she was raving about Minasa!!! We also got to have a great conversation with the owner Chef Maleko.. super awesome, humble dude! We also got a dope back story on how Minasa came to be. Overall amazing experience, and the restaurantsounds decor is so nice! They have lots of local art! It's amazing! Oh and wait the ube churros were the best everrrr!!! Better then disneyland lol!!!! Yall gotta go!!
I enjoyed the adobo fried chicken wings. The lechon fried rice plate was ok but overrated as it is their most popular item. I enjoyed the ube fries, but for $10 I expected more than 8 fries. Overall interesting place and service was fast and friendly, but definitely one and done.
R Keoni Fairbanks
Parking: A iarge parking area.Wheelchair accessibility: Not accessable
This is a quaint little spot, tucked in a corner, in a strip mall in Waipahu. There is parking but limited with lots of other food establishments in one spot. I discovered this spot through my friend, Steven, who has a dog named Churro. I was craving Churros and was recommended to this spot. Here you place your order and select a table. We were greeted by Tehama, a very sweet and friendly hostess who answered all of our questions. She made us feel warm and welcomed and checked in on us often. We ordered the Lechon Fries, Lechon Rice Bowl, Adobo Wings, Shanghai Lumpia, Ube Churros, and Ube Funnel Cake Fries. Let's start with the portions, holy moly they are HUGE! This place is super generous with their portions! Although each dish is about $18, it's enough to feed 2 adults! For sure these are meant to be shared, with only 2 of us, we barely made a dent. The Lechon Fries is chalked full of perfectly fried french fries, soft in the middle and crisp on the outside. Then generously topped with lechon, bacon bits, fresh chopped red onions, chives, cilantro, and sour cream. The Lechon Rice Bowl has garlic bacon seasoned rice, topped with a generous portion of thick pieces of lechon. The lechon has the perfect balance of juicy pork, fat, and super crispy skin. This was accompanied by fresh pickled onions, limes, sprouts, and sauces. Both dishes were so ono! The Adobo Chicken Wings is cooked just the way I like it, juicy meat on the inside and crispy on the outside. The seasoning was a little on the salty side but paired well with the rice. Now for dessert! Ube Churros!! Again, chef Moaleko made it perfectly! His ability to make everything so perfectly BLOWS my mind! The churro is a normal flavor and the Une drizzle was not overly sweet and just the right amount of Ube flavor. And the Ube Funnel Cake Fries? Yes, please! And at the end, Chef and Co-owner, Maoleko, came out to check in on us after sending Tehama out with a complimentary light seasoned Ahi Inari. It was an extremely refreshing and light treat. The atmosphere at this establishment is overall warm and family vibes. We left feeling SUPER satisfied and special.
Kenadi K.
The food here is amazing!! Definitely not fast food. Small dining area so take out is usually the best. The steak bowl, chicken bowl, fries, cupcakes is definitely a must!!
Pili S.
Inviting. Artistic. Intentional. The decor is well thought out and welcomes you into a small , but beautiful space. A celebration of culture,everything is a nod to what I presume is their Filipino roots. But as with any food evolution in Hawaii, it has fused the best of other cultures as well. Filipino artists are featured on the walls and the beautiful banana mural draws you further into the restaurant. A few friends and I met for lunch...first time for all. We decided to try the sampler as it would allow us to taste as much as we could. The presentation of these Filipino 'tapas' were beautiful, artistic and builds on the expectation that you're about to indulge in something special. And lo and behold it was! Sweet, salty and savory: these small bites covered all the potential tastebud bases if you will. We also tried the spicy ahi with Inari bombs. These were one of the BEST I've had. The flavors were well-balanced. Lightly sauced goes further in my opinion and most overdo it. The lechón pieces added a nice touch texturally and it elevated it to first place in my book. LOCATED next to La Casitas and where the old Laverne's restaurant used to be. I had to park next to Jack n the Box, but that's not a problem. SERVICE: They checked on us at the table a few times. Where service is almost non-existent or mediocre these days, it was noticeable.
Super fast and friendly service, immensely delicious food, and large portions. The price is more than worth it.My husband and I come in 2-3 times a month when he's on his cheat day, they often come up with interesting new spins on classic Filipino favorites that we absolutely have to try every time we see their posts pop up on our instagram feeds.After a while, the owner began to recognize us and once in a while we would get a complimentary dessert which tells me they take great pride in caring for their customers and showing their appreciation.I'm a long time and forever fan of Minasa, and everyone should absolutely try their food! My personal favorites are the Steak plate, Lechon fries, and ube churros while my husband loves the Calamansi Glazed Chicken and Adobo wings but honestly, whatever you order is going to be amazing.Don't forget to try the Calamansi sparkling water, we get it every time with our food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak and Eggs, Calamansi Chicken, Ube Churros, Lechon Fries, Loaded Fries
Like, the food was GOOD. The service was great too (cashier was very friendly with smiles and all, and me and my friend were dining in, so they checked on us and happily answered the questions we had). Also, I honestly wasn’t expecting the inside to be nice, but it was and that caught me by surprise. The other customers dining in seemed to be having a pleasant experience as well.Edit: I brought my parents here to dine in, and they said the rice was undercooked.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This restaurant is a hidden gem.Great fusion restaurant taking a different approach on traditional filipino dishes. Restaurant is super under-rated due to its location but it absolutely a MUST TRY. You will not disappointed with any of the entrees and desserts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Without a doubt, Minasa offers the finest Filipino fusion cuisine I've ever enjoyed. The flavors are exquisite, the portion sizes are perfect, and the presentation is stunning. The chef's warmth and attentiveness towards his guests only enhance the dining experience. Whenever I'm in Hawaii, visiting Minasa will be a must!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamansi Chicken, Ube Churros
I’ve had the Lechón fries at Wai Kai and the Chicken Calamansi at this location. The food was delicious and the portions are nice. The service is quick and friendly. The vibe inside is trendy and welcoming. Looking forward to trying everything on the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamansi Chicken, Lechon Fries
Small restaurant but really big in taste and service! A new fusion of Philippines cuisine that is fresh and tasty!?Highly recommended ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shanghai Lumpia, Fried Chicken Rice Bowl, Ube Churros
mad good food here. chef came out to greet us and talk a little about the food after we asked about some ingredients. we had fried chicken with calamansi chicken sisig lumpia longanisa naps ube churros (best churros me and wifey ever had) everything was delicious. we will be back!
Bacon. Crispy pork. Garlic fried rice. Pair them with an array of pickled veg, a zesty squeeze of fresh calamansi; this is modern Filipino food and wow does it impress. Get the lechon fries. A pile of insanely crisp fried topped off with a heaping of crispy skin, juicy lechon, drizzled with a creamy aioli, a generous amount of Mang Tomas (sweet sour Filipino condiment) and topped with rendered bacon and green onions. Outright gut buster that you will happily finish. Get a rice bowl. All are made with a base of bacon, garlic fried rice. Bacon and its fat add great flavor and keeps the fried rice moist. All bowls use a plethora of pickled veg and microgreens that make each bite different while keeping the oily nature of the proteins in check. Lechon, great. Tamarind shrimp, excellent. Fried chicken, even better. Well fried boneless thighs, crisp on the outside, moist on the inside. It is glazed in a sweet / sour calamansi glaze. Opt to squeeze more fresh calamansi on the chicken for an even brighter burst of citrusy goodness. Pickled green papaya and ong choi (water spinach) and peppery radish sprouts all add to the enjoyment. If available, grab the longanisa corn dog. Trust. Yes they have gram worthy ube churros. Yes they are crave worthy. Limited seating. All good, the food survives transport well. Very friendly counter service. Extremely well thought out dishes and a modern approach to Filipino food make Minasa destination worthy.
The owner is so humble and he and staff were very welcoming for our group of 6. We ate family style and had multiple items off of the menu. Everything was so delicious and cooked perfectly. I highly recommend Minasa for dine in or take out whether you are local or visiting the island.Kid-friendliness: We ate family style with rice and chicken, pork and shrimp and veggies so there was plenty for my son to choose from (he had chicken and fried rice.)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shanghai Lumpia, Fried Chicken Rice Bowl, Ube Churros, Lechon Fries, Loaded Fries
We heard this place was banging!! Came to check it out, 1st people in the door! Owner greeted us, hella nice!!! Ordered our food, came out so fast!!! And the food was emaculate!!! Let me tell you.. we got the kamayan sampler, shanghai lumpia and the no soup shrimp sinigang! Bruhhhh! My good friend is Filipino and is so hard to please lmao! But even she was raving about Minasa!!! We also got to have a great conversation with the owner Chef Maleko.. super awesome, humble dude! We also got a dope back story on how Minasa came to be. Overall amazing experience, and the restaurantsounds decor is so nice! They have lots of local art! It's amazing! Oh and wait the ube churros were the best everrrr!!! Better then disneyland lol!!!! Yall gotta go!!
Restaurantji Recommends
I enjoyed the adobo fried chicken wings. The lechon fried rice plate was ok but overrated as it is their most popular item. I enjoyed the ube fries, but for $10 I expected more than 8 fries. Overall interesting place and service was fast and friendly, but definitely one and done.
Parking: A iarge parking area.Wheelchair accessibility: Not accessable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Cocktail, Fried Chicken Rice Bowl
This is a quaint little spot, tucked in a corner, in a strip mall in Waipahu. There is parking but limited with lots of other food establishments in one spot. I discovered this spot through my friend, Steven, who has a dog named Churro. I was craving Churros and was recommended to this spot. Here you place your order and select a table. We were greeted by Tehama, a very sweet and friendly hostess who answered all of our questions. She made us feel warm and welcomed and checked in on us often. We ordered the Lechon Fries, Lechon Rice Bowl, Adobo Wings, Shanghai Lumpia, Ube Churros, and Ube Funnel Cake Fries. Let's start with the portions, holy moly they are HUGE! This place is super generous with their portions! Although each dish is about $18, it's enough to feed 2 adults! For sure these are meant to be shared, with only 2 of us, we barely made a dent. The Lechon Fries is chalked full of perfectly fried french fries, soft in the middle and crisp on the outside. Then generously topped with lechon, bacon bits, fresh chopped red onions, chives, cilantro, and sour cream. The Lechon Rice Bowl has garlic bacon seasoned rice, topped with a generous portion of thick pieces of lechon. The lechon has the perfect balance of juicy pork, fat, and super crispy skin. This was accompanied by fresh pickled onions, limes, sprouts, and sauces. Both dishes were so ono! The Adobo Chicken Wings is cooked just the way I like it, juicy meat on the inside and crispy on the outside. The seasoning was a little on the salty side but paired well with the rice. Now for dessert! Ube Churros!! Again, chef Moaleko made it perfectly! His ability to make everything so perfectly BLOWS my mind! The churro is a normal flavor and the Une drizzle was not overly sweet and just the right amount of Ube flavor. And the Ube Funnel Cake Fries? Yes, please! And at the end, Chef and Co-owner, Maoleko, came out to check in on us after sending Tehama out with a complimentary light seasoned Ahi Inari. It was an extremely refreshing and light treat. The atmosphere at this establishment is overall warm and family vibes. We left feeling SUPER satisfied and special.
The food here is amazing!! Definitely not fast food. Small dining area so take out is usually the best. The steak bowl, chicken bowl, fries, cupcakes is definitely a must!!
Inviting. Artistic. Intentional. The decor is well thought out and welcomes you into a small , but beautiful space. A celebration of culture,everything is a nod to what I presume is their Filipino roots. But as with any food evolution in Hawaii, it has fused the best of other cultures as well. Filipino artists are featured on the walls and the beautiful banana mural draws you further into the restaurant. A few friends and I met for lunch...first time for all. We decided to try the sampler as it would allow us to taste as much as we could. The presentation of these Filipino 'tapas' were beautiful, artistic and builds on the expectation that you're about to indulge in something special. And lo and behold it was! Sweet, salty and savory: these small bites covered all the potential tastebud bases if you will. We also tried the spicy ahi with Inari bombs. These were one of the BEST I've had. The flavors were well-balanced. Lightly sauced goes further in my opinion and most overdo it. The lechón pieces added a nice touch texturally and it elevated it to first place in my book. LOCATED next to La Casitas and where the old Laverne's restaurant used to be. I had to park next to Jack n the Box, but that's not a problem. SERVICE: They checked on us at the table a few times. Where service is almost non-existent or mediocre these days, it was noticeable.