Palace Saimin is a saimin restaurant in Kalihi, Honolulu.
Palace Saimin in Kalihi Honolulu is one of the state's oldest saimin shops, opened by Kame Ige in 1946 and still serving the shrimp-and-pork-dashi broth that defined the local noodle bowl.
Signature dishes: Saimin, BBQ stick, Won ton min
Must order: A regular saimin and a BBQ stick on the side.
Tip: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 20:00, Saturday to 15:00. Closed Sunday and Monday. Six-spot parking.
Address: 1256 North King Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
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: Pipikaula short ribs, Kalua pig, Butterfish collar
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.
The Pig and The Lady in Kaimuki Honolulu is chef Andrew Le's modern Vietnamese room, relocated from Chinatown to the Civil Beat Plaza on Waialae in late 2025.
Signature: Pho French dip, Mama Le's pho, Banh mi sandwiches
Order: Mama Le's pho and the pho French dip with brisket.
Tip: Lunch is pho and banh mi, dinner a chef's-choice tasting. Weekends book two weeks out.
Buzz's Original Steak House in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the surf-shack steakhouse where Obama family Christmases parked at the teriyaki sirloin and salad bar.
Signature: Teriyaki sirloin, Salad bar, Garlic shrimp
Order: Teriyaki sirloin off the kiawe grill, plus a turn through the salad bar.
Tip: Lanikai Beach is a five-minute walk. Lunch is the move; dinner books two days out.
Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen in Kailua across the Pali from Honolulu is the original home of the banana macadamia nut pancake stack drowned in macadamia nut sauce.
Signature: Banana macadamia nut pancakes, Kalbi short ribs breakfast, Loco moco
Order: Full stack banana mac nut pancakes with the signature macadamia nut sauce.
Tip: Enchanted Lake shopping center, on Keolu Drive. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday; weekend queue starts by 08:00.
Cinnamon's Restaurant in Kailua is the 1985 breakfast spot across the Pali from Honolulu, where red velvet pancakes and guava chiffon pancakes anchor a 30-deep weekend queue.
Signature: Red velvet pancakes, Guava chiffon pancakes, Eggs Benedict
Order: Red velvet pancakes with cream cheese frosting; guava chiffon if the menu has it.
Tip: Walk-in only; queue from 07:30 weekends. Cash and card accepted.
Koko Head Cafe in Kaimuki Honolulu is chef Lee Anne Wong's brunch room where the cornflake French toast and breakfast bibimbap have anchored 12th Avenue since 2014.
Signature: Cornflake-crusted French toast, Breakfast bibimbap, Hangtown fry
Order: Cornflake French toast and the breakfast bibimbap with kimchee bacon.
Tip: Daily brunch; dinner Friday to Monday from 17:00. Walk-in queue steady at 09:00 weekends.
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: Pipikaula short ribs, Kalua pig, Butterfish collar
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.
