The Forty Niner Restaurant in Aiea, Honolulu, is an exceptional experience. It is for anyone who…read morewants to experience really local cuisine. Opened in 1947, the Forty Niner offers a selection of local fairs like saimin , loco moco, furikake salmon, taro sweetbread French toast and hamburgers for the less adventurous. The service is mixed - place your order at the front counter and wait at a table for service. But, the staff is wonderful. Ambiance? The Forty Niner is in a small building that has about 7 or 8 tables inside and a few more on the back patio. It has a simple, local atmosphere. But, it is on our list of places we try to get to every time we are in Hawaii.

We all ordered the same burger. Double cheese burger…read moredeluxe with dirty sauce The Grilled Apostle: 6/10 Ordered the double cheeseburger deluxe with dirty sauce from Forty Niner Restaurant. It looked huge and inviting. The burger itself tasted good as it was cooked with bread mixed in it to make it soft but once you started eating it, the burger fell apart. The bun was thin so it was messy as the sauce and burger started falling out and you needed a lot of napkins. Some people like it messy but it's not my thing. The onions and pickles were a perfect match. Too much American cheese. ________________________________________________ The Premium Purists: 5/10 I was looking forward to trying the burger at Forty Niners and hoped it would be an old fashioned/traditional style deluxe burger. It definitely had the look and right toppings but the patty was a little disappointing. After my first two bites the patties crumbled into pieces and the texture seemed off. It was too mushy and lacked good beef flavor. After learning they mix breadcrumbs in their burger patty, I think the patties I got were not mixed well and the ratio of beef and breadcrumb was off. That is probably why the texture was off, it lacked beef flavor, and crumbled. I would honestly give it another try and go with a single patty. ________________________________________________ The stack analyst: 7/10 Tried the double cheeseburger(dirty style) at 49ers and it was delicious. The fried pickles were the highlight for me. I love fried pickles and they worked really well on the burger. They also didn't hold back on the caramelized onions, which added flavor. The burger had four slices of cheese, so it was definitely rich. The patty had a nice sear on the outside, it did fall apart though. I would've liked a little more salt, but I know that comes down to preference. Bun was nothing special, just your standard setup, but it got the job done. I'd definitely come back and order it again! ________________________________________________ Double stack daddy: 6/10 The burger had a solid foundation, but it was missing flavor and could've used more seasoning. The biggest downside was the bun--it fell apart after the first bite, making the rest of the meal messy. Not a bad burger, but it didn't stand out, and there's definitely room for improvement. ________________________________________________ Bruddah big buns: 4/10 Da patty was mushy. ________________________________________________ Captain messy hands, keeper of the drip: 8/10 I found a winner! This fresh, hand-formed double cheeseburger delivered exactly what I look for--thick, juicy patties with the drip. Every bite was messy, flavorful, and napkin-worthy. It started falling apart halfway through, but that's a compliment in my book. Nothing fancy, just an honest burger executed right. This is the kind of burger that keeps you coming back. CMH Rating: Drip Approved!

**Need military ID or CAC Card to enter the base in order to get to this place**…read more Tucked away in the dated bowling alley on Pearl Harbor, this spot has good food for reasonable prices. Credit card or debit card only, they dont accept cash. Tried calling in a phone order but they didnt answer so when you get there, so you gotta be patient and wait to place your order... Knocked a star off for this. Breakfast is known for their FRO.... the Fried Rice Omlette with cheese and this buggah is mayjah. For $8.00 it cant be beat. Daily lunch specials available after 11am but i grabbed the Fried Chicken Plate and for 11 bucks i was impressed. Cooked to order so you may have to wait a bit till your food is ready. Cheap eats in a hole in a wall. Parking is limited around the area so you might have to walk a bit to get here too.

Everything about this little shop is awesome. I believe the owner was there to take our order and…read morethe menu is pretty straight forward. At the time, he stated that him and his partner were in a competition to see how many triples they could sell, but figured I'd keep that in the back of my mind for our next visit. We came here on a recommendation from my boyfriend's coworker and I'm glad we came! The burgers and fries were made fresh. There are only a hand full of tables inside and a small bar area, but there is also outdoor seating outside, too! A neat fact is that there were pictures posted from when the shop first opened up and to see They Daley as a fixture in Chinatown is amazing since they've stuck around and adapted to the development around. The burger was delicious, too. They have an aioli sauce that was good with diced up pickles. Usually I request no pickles but the small bursts really added to the texture and feel of the burger overall. 10/10 would come again!

This was my first visit to The Daley in years ... I love their burgers, and most time their fries,…read morebut my last order was left wanting. I'm pleased to report that this latest order contained a perfectly prepared burger and a bag of crispy fries (as ordered). The remaining nitpicks were: 1) having to wait an additional 10 minutes past the time the order was supposed to be ready, 2) paying $6 for a bag of fries. Increase the price of the burger by $1 and reduce the price of the fries. Yes, the total would be the same but the value would be where it belongs. In any case, $10 is money well spent for a great burger.

Busy place as when we arrived they were having some fun Trivia…read more Burgers were good and reasonably priced. I enjoyed the tots as they were crispy (nothing worse than a soggy tot). Service was fine as you place your order and they call you when it's ready. One of our orders I guess was running a little late and they brought it out to us which was nice. As mentioned this place was BUSY so it was a bit hectic and seemed they were having trouble keeping things clean and organized. There was a bar in the corner that seemed to be used for storage rather than as a bar since it was stacked with boxes and things.

Used to be better. Eat at this location about once a month and generally pleased but not today…read more Took longer for our food to come (which was ok since there were more people than usual since we were a little later than usual. When we got our food, my burger was only luke warm (and my onion rings, too). I ordered it medium rare and this was the first time it was almost medium, and not any all juicy. Since I paid an extra $3.50 for my onion rings I was very disappointed. Only plus is they were nice and crunchy. Hubby's burger and fries were hot, so my order must have been made first and then just sat there for a while. Hubby was happy with his meal since it was hot and cooked medium as he ordered. Not happy. First time I gave them only three stars.

Hmmm sad little burgers with extremely soggy bread. Been to other locations and the bread was not…read morethis sad. It's not like we let it sit either, sat down and ate it right after we got it. Would have been an ok fast food meal if the bread wasn't so disappointing. The fries were fine/not soggy so not sure what was up with the bread haha. Service was nice but it seems the are under staffed and very slow. Mr. Wahlburg, pls check on your place.

We went to visit the area, the NEX. My mom sees hot coffee…read morebrewing.. she stands in line.. asks the cashier. "Are you serving coffee?" My mom kindly asked.. The cashier replies.. "no". My mom walks away.. ** when we first arrived, the coffee pot was on and steam was coming out from the spout. So, we get our food... and as we sit here to eat lunch, the coffee machine is not cleaned but the pot is full. Visible to customers ..

1- Fun Guy- Mushroom burger 1-All American 2 Burgers &…read moreFries Total: $41. Worth it? YES! Burger was super flavorful!! I had the mushroom burger (Fun Guy) it was super yummy!! Flavors were great & both the burger & veggies were cooked perfectly! Fries were too salty for my liking but still good My husband had the All American w/ crazy fries. He said the crazy fries were good. He liked the sauce. He enjoyed the burger too! Service was fast and cooked to order. Lots of parking but parking is in a lot. We came before and now they have renovated the area with another truck vendor and seats with umbrellas to sit and enjoy your food. However, we are in the car because the heat was too much for us LOL! Will definitely come back for another chest diet meal!

One of the better smash burgers I've tried, a real hidden gem. I know Shay's has been around for a…read morewhile and only now I got to try it. Look for the orange food truck across from Boston's Pizza along Kam Highway, you can't miss it. We got there about 1pm on a Monday and placed our orders right away. Everything is made to order so there is a bit of a wait, about 10 minutes. There are about 7 picnic tables and 4 shaded areas to eat. I was also surprised that there were quite a few Japanese tourists venturing out this side for Shay's. Their menu is simple, with 3 types of burgers and fries. We ordered the All American, Fun Guy, and Krazy Fries. I like how the burgers did not taste greasy but still had flavor. They also give disposable gloves if you're not a fan of getting your hands dirty. Will be back again next time I have a burger craving.

Joe's Grill Express is an excellent breakfast spot! I had the loco moco, and it was absolutely…read moredelicious--the ultimate local comfort food. As a huge bonus, they have great baked goods to grab on the way out for later. I picked up a chocolate brownie, and it was delectable. It's the perfect place to get a heavy, satisfying breakfast and a sweet treat for the road.

Joes Grill is my classic all time brunch spot! When they…read morehad the Acai bowl back in 2018/2019 oh my that was the best. I haven't gone in awhile but we had takeout last week and the Papaya Chicken was kickin! Needed that for my cold. Salamat Joes Grill express. We highly recommend!

Today at a food truck event at City Hall I ordered 2 Shaggy Jrs. I gotta say it's the pictures of…read moreyour menu board that sold me - they all looked so 'ono. After ordering - 15 seconds later my name was called. Yes, I thought wow that was super quick! I grabbed the 2 containers and headed back to the office. This was going to be our snack on the way home. When I got back to the office this is what I found. The burgers were $15.00 each and both were extremely papaʻa. We took a bite from the first burger (it tasted how it looked) then opened the second box and it looked worse. How shameful to serve this kind of food that should have been thrown out and not sold. You need to do better, aūe! One star was generous because zero stars was not an option.

First time trying their amazing burgers and I will try to return as much as I can! So tasty and…read morefries weee just the way I like them--skinny cut and super crispy! Well done! I'll bring by my fawn Great Dane!

Seen this place a lot, but just saw it as a bar, so I never stepped in. Met my friends there at…read morethe suggestion of one of my friend's that I met. I was pleasantly surprised with the food there. Has the char siu chicken Katsu- very good Kalua nachos- very good Fried noodles- very good (chewy noodles how O like it) Kal bi- very good Needless to say, I've been back again and again! A must try! No need drink, just enjoy good food!

You order on your phone. Waitress does not provide any service other than just dropping off the…read moreorder you place online. The whole table sits down and has to stare at their phones putting credit card info into their system to try and order a beer. I'm not there to look at my phone, I'm there to be actively engaged with my friends/family. Then they have the nerve to make 20% the default tip? The waitress did not check on us, I had to fetch my own condiments, and order my food through a website. There was not any personal service whatsoever. As far as value, beers were $8 a pop for a normal glass. A local style 12oz beer was $10! I am shocked at prices, lack of service, and yet crowded. Can we not expect better?

@fortunefoodfinds: "Gonna try not to FRY n' hope for BUTTER days ahead! June 24th marks the last…read moreday that FAT CHEEKS HAWAII will be open at the Ward Center. No news yet on where they'll be relocating, but I'm hopeful that I'll get to see them again soon. With that said, we couldn't miss catching them one last time before they close n' I must say, each visit we seriously inhale their food bc it is so good. Ordered my go-to Lobster Double Smash Cheeseburger, a Buttered Lobster Roll, a Spicy Chicken Sandwich (sauce on side), side of their bombdiggity crispy Fries, n' Fat Cheeks Sauce + Ranch for dipping. If their grindz are something you've been thinking about, tomorrow is your last chance from 11am to sell out!" SERVICE: friendly n' fully staffed INTERIOR: limited tables n' chairs in AC building EXTERIOR: good amount of tables n' chairs, on Roger Dunn side, gets hot out WAIT TIME: with news that they are closing, it seems their final days have had tremendous support. Visited on Father's Day, arrived in line at 11:15am. Placed order at register at 11:56am. Received food 15-20 mins later. PARKING: free garages OVERALL COMMENTS: my review has been long overdue. I remember when I first came across them at Ohana Hale Marketplace n' have been visiting ever since. When I heard that their current spot at the Ward Center was closing, I was so bummed but knew I had to make one last visit bc it is unknown if I'll get to eat their bomb food again. My must have is the lobster cheeseburger, the best of both worlds, so delicious. The lobster roll is simple, yet buttery n' meaty. The chicken sandwich comes with huge chicken pieces n' is crispy n' not dry. Their fries are the best of the best + with their sauces makes it even more bomb. Gonna cross my fingers to see where they open next, n' I'll definitely be there!

6/9/26 This place is awesome! If you have heard of Fat Cheeks and have not tried them yet, best…read moreto do it soon. Their last day of business will be on June 24, 2026. They are forced to close due to the demolition of Ward Centre for redevelopment. They are just a small mom & pop shop at the ewa end of the mall, a limited menu, friendly customer service, reasonable prices, & ono food. I've eaten here twice and I am just wowed! I don't have a favorite item on their menu because everything I've tried has been great. Smash burger - the best I've had - for only $10.25, you get a double patty with their house sauce, lettuce, tomato, red onions on a toasted brioche bun. I added swiss cheese for 75 cents & subbed red onions for grilled onion for 50 cents. It's a pretty big burger & very juicy as well as messy. Plenty of napkins are needed for sure! Shrimp burger - ono! It's on a brioche bun and the shrimp is formed into a patty with a very light coating, not a totally breaded patty. The patty fills the whole bun so you get shrimp on every bite. Also served with lettuce, tomato, & red onions. The garlic aioli sauce makes this a tasty and flavorful sandwich. Butter lobster roll - I had this on my first visit and the price is a little steep at $23.90 but it was surprisingly one of the best lobster rolls I've ever had. It's not a big sandwich. The roll is not even 6" but it is packed with tender pieces of real lobster - 3.5 oz - topped with melted butter. The sandwich is a little on the salty side but was still ono. Lemon tart - had this on my first visit but didn't see it on the menu this time. It had homemade lemon curd in a sweet tart topped by whipped cream for $5. It was a good sized dessert easily shared by two. Overall, a great place to eat, ono sandwiches, reasonable prices, and friendly customer service. They do sell out of items early so best to get their when they open. Everything is cooked to order so sometimes the wait can be 10 - 15 minutes, but it's worth the wait. I did inquire where they are moving to and was told they are still looking. I sure hope this little place continues to stay in business because they have something good going. Support local!