Helena's Hawaiian Food is a hawaiian restaurant in Kalihi, Honolulu.
Helena's Hawaiian Food on North School Street has served traditional Hawaiian plates in Kalihi Honolulu since 1946, now run by the founder's grandson Craig Katsuyoshi.
Signature dishes: Pipikaula short ribs, Kalua pig, Butterfish collar
Must order: Pipikaula short ribs, butterfish collar and a side of poi.
Tip: Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 to 19:30. Cash and card; closed Saturday and Sunday. Arrive by 17:00 for the full board.
Address: 1240 North School Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
Highway Inn Kakaako is the 2013 Honolulu outpost of the Toguchi family's 1947 Waipahu original, serving the same kalua pork, laulau and combo plates inside the SALT block of Kakaako.
Signature: Kalua pork plate, Laulau, Lomi salmon
Order: The kalua pork combo with laulau, lomi salmon and a side of poi.
Tip: Free parking with validation, ninety minutes in the SALT lot. Lunch wait shortens after 13:00.
Side Street Inn Ala Moana is the original 1992 Hopaka Street bar in Honolulu from the late Colin Nishida, the off-duty chef hangout known for pan-fried pork chops and kim chee fried rice in a no-frills sports-bar room behind Ala Moana Center.
Signature: Pan-fried pork chops, Kim chee fried rice, Spicy fried chicken
Order: Pan-fried pork chops with kim chee fried rice; share among four.
Tip: Open Mon to Fri from 16:00, weekends from 12:00, until 20:30. Bring four people minimum; portions are family-size.
Marukame Udon Waikiki in Honolulu is the theatre-kitchen Sanuki udon counter on Kuhio Avenue where you watch handcut noodles boiled to order and finished with tempura sides.
Signature: Kake udon, Niku udon, Tempura
Order: Niku udon with sweet beef and a kakiage tempura side.
Tip: Queue on Kuhio moves fast; daily 10:00 to 22:00. Average bowl is around $6.
Rainbow Drive-In on Kanaina Avenue in Kapahulu Honolulu has slung plate lunches since 1961, founded by Seiju and Ayako Ifuku and voted top loco moco by Hawaii Magazine readers.
Signature: Loco moco, Mix plate, Boneless chicken plate
Order: Mix plate with loco moco, BBQ beef and boneless chicken.
Tip: Open 07:00 to 21:00 daily. No inside seating; eat at the parking lot picnic tables.
Zippy's Kapahulu in Honolulu is the 24-hour diner of the local Higa-family chain that sells over 110 tons of chili per month, founded by Francis and Charles Higa in 1966.
Signature: Zippy's chili, Zip Pac, Saimin
Order: A bowl of Zippy's chili and rice, plus a Zip Pac bento on the way out.
Tip: Open 24 hours, dine-in and drive-through. Napoleon's Bakery counter at front holds apple napples.
Lucky Belly in Chinatown Honolulu is Dusty Grable and Jesse Cruz's 2012 ramen and bao shop that helped launch the neighborhood's modern restaurant generation along North Hotel Street.
Signature: Belly bowl ramen, Pork belly bao, Spicy chicken bao
Order: The Belly Bowl ramen with pork belly, bacon and shoyu egg.
Tip: Kitchen runs to 23:00 Friday and Saturday. The Tchin Tchin Bar across the street is the nightcap.
