Great little unassuming diner in a nondescript strip mall in Pearl City. The food is great here, and the chef isn't afraid to season things. I have to admit that when we walked in with only 15 minutes left before closing, i really expected some sort of complaining but experienced nothing of the short. Came with my extended family so we ordered a lot, bacon cheeseburger, bulgogi cheese sandwich, tater poutine, mixed bbq plate, jun plate, loco moco, and the kalbi eggs bene. Here's a rundown of what you need to order. .... poutine poutine poutine. It's soo damned good. Them taters are smothered in gravy, cheese sauce, coveted with cheese and a dosed in a secret sauce. That secret, is a creamy chipotle sauce, and it really adds a touch of heat and nice earthy and smoky dimension to the dish. Tater tots are the perfect delivery vehicle as the lattice like crunchy exterior holds up nicely against all that sauce. Two thumbs up, all the way up. The burger was nicely seasoned, great job, tho I'd be willing to pay more for a more substantial patty. The bulgogi sandwich tasted great, but same as the burger, wanted something bigger. The Kalua pork is unctuous, tender and smoky, very nice, tho on the salty side. It's perfect with a mouthful of rice. The jun with its sauce was great, actually that sauce. Think essence of dried Chile, with a touch b of sweetness that brings out all the jun's flavor. Excellent. I didn't have a chance to taste the kalbi bene, it was gone in the blink of an eye. Looked amazing in its short time on earth. Now the loco moco was just good, nothing amazing. My parents are a bit old school and no meal is complete without spicy pickles (kimchee). So even tho it wasn't in the menu, the boys in the back shared their private stash of their mom's homemade stuff. Ono. Highly impressed with their generosity. I hope the continue to develop their menu, bust out more delectable sauces and put their own spin on everything they put out. I'd definately recommend this joint to my friends. read more

I visited Button Up Cafe based on the mixed reviews I had read, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Contrary to what some people had mentioned, the place wasn't as busy as expected, which was a relief. This small hole-in-the-wall cafe definitely had its charm. One dish that stood out during my visit was the braised short rib loco loco. The tender and succulent short ribs were served atop a bed of flavorful rice, accompanied by a delicious gravy. The combination of flavors and textures was truly delightful, and it left me craving for more. Another highlight was the stuffed strawberry cheesecake French toast. This indulgent treat was a heavenly combination of fluffy French toast stuffed with a rich and creamy strawberry cheesecake filling. Topped with fresh strawberries and bananas, it was a sweet symphony of flavors that made for a decadent breakfast experience. The cafe itself had a cozy and intimate atmosphere, and despite its small size, it added to the overall charm. The staff members were friendly and attentive, making sure our dining experience was enjoyable. While Button Up Cafe may not be the most well-known or flashy establishment, it certainly delivers on taste and quality. If you're looking for a hidden gem with delicious comfort food options, this is the place to be. I highly recommend trying their braised short rib loco loco and the stuffed strawberry cheesecake French toast - they are absolute must-haves! Overall, my visit to Button Up Cafe left me satisfied and impressed. I would definitely return to explore more of their menu and savor the delightful dishes they have to offer. Don't let its unassuming exterior fool you - this cafe has some serious culinary magic happening inside read more

A True Gem in Oahu Button Up Café is a must-visit for breakfast and brunch lovers in Oahu! Tucked away in Waipahu, this cozy café serves some of the most creative and delicious dishes on the island. The star of the menu? Their Ube French Toast and Sweet Bread French Toast--absolute perfection! The Ube French Toast is a masterpiece. Thick, fluffy slices of bread are infused with the rich, nutty flavor of ube and topped with a generous drizzle of ube sauce. Every bite is a symphony of sweetness and texture, balanced perfectly with the creaminess of the ube. It's visually stunning too--vibrant purple hues make it an Instagram-worthy dish. Their Sweet Bread French Toast is a nostalgic treat. Made with Hawaiian sweet bread, it's delightfully soft on the inside with just the right amount of crispiness on the outside. The natural sweetness of the bread pairs beautifully with the toppings, and it's the ultimate comfort food. Aside from the food, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff are always friendly and attentive. Button Up Café delivers an authentic taste of Hawaii with a creative twist. Don't miss this spot--it's truly a hidden gem for anyone who loves unique and flavorful breakfast dishes. Trust me, you'll be dreaming about their French toast long after your visit! read more

**Button Up Cafe in Aiea: A Hidden Gem!** If you're in Aiea and looking for an incredible brunch spot, look no further than Button Up Cafe! This small, cozy hole-in-the-wall may have limited seating, but what it lacks in space, it more than makes up for in quality and service. The staff here are super friendly and work tirelessly to ensure you have an amazing dining experience. Button Up Cafe specializes in local breakfast classics, but what truly drew me in was their famous stuffed French toast. I indulged in their Nutella cream cheese French toast, and it was absolute perfection! The flavors were rich and decadent, making every bite pure bliss. I also tried their spinach, mushroom, and onion egg white omelette with tater tots, and it was equally impressive. The omelette was light, fluffy, and packed with fresh ingredients, while the tater tots were crispy and delicious. Every dish was a masterpiece, and I can't recommend this place enough. Whether you're a local or just visiting, Button Up Cafe is a must-try for any brunch lover. Don't miss out on this hidden gem! read more

I'm extremely disappointed with Button Up Cafe. My spouse and I had planned a date brunch before picking up our daughter, and we were really looking forward to it. To make sure we had enough time, I even dropped my spouse off early to wait in line and maximize our dining time. Unfortunately, when they got there, we found out the cafe had closed 40 minutes before their posted hours. What's the point of having hours posted if you're not going to honor them? Closing early with no warning is incredibly frustrating and unprofessional, especially for customers who go out of their way to plan a visit. We were left scrambling to find another spot last minute, which put a damper on our day. If Button Up Cafe can't stick to their own schedule, they should at least update customers. We won't be coming back. read more

Love this new place! Definitely a fan of the Rosemary chicken salad and Chicken Pesto Sandwich! If you are a sandwich lover that would be the best choice. So. Much. Flavor! The flavor is perfect in that sandwich and I love that they use ciabatta bread. I tried the short rib eggs Benedict (due to Yelp reviewers) but it was way too much flavors for me. If you'd like a calorie filled breakfast plate, maybe you might like it. I prefer something cleaner and lighter in the mornings and that choice was a little too much. Also was not a fan of the sweet bread French toast (I usually love sweets) but everyone is different and the crowd seems to like it. Hot on summer days (NO AC only fan). Nice little company. read more

Please do go there! We hate the wait but it's well worth it. The food and the price compliment each other almost as much as the creativity. Definetly worth the trip. ....This my review.. Owning my own restaurantS and coming from an area with an abundance of places and variety of restaurants is that there are so many different tastes. What most likes and dislikes seem to focus on is personal taste and not what the Chefs ideas are, meaning what We are used to. Think about it, how does a new try become a favorite? Unfortunately, there isn't one place that is for everyone. I read reviews all the time and sometimes wonder where they actually eating at the right place. read more

I came across this place while searching for breakfast spots to try in Hawaii. It's best to arrive early as it fills up quickly. Although it may not look impressive from the outside, the food is truly delicious. So, it's best not to judge the place by its appearance. The service is excellent, and the servers are always friendly, especially with my kids, which I appreciate. We have been there multiple times and always had a great experience. The French toast, in particular, is amazing. The presentation of the food is worth taking pictures. If you're looking for a fantastic breakfast spot, give this place a try. read more

Oh gosh, I already miss this little gem of a restaurant. This is the best, BEST, breakfast/brunch place in Hawaii. Definitely a cute little hole in the wall but they know how to cook the food. Eggs benedicts were delicious, way better than Cinnamon's restaurant (in my opinion). The Korean braised short rib beef and Kalua pork were to die for!!! Their hollandaise sauce was good, not too creamy, just perfect. The eggs were poached perfectly and potato hash was hot and crispy. I wish we went back again. This place was truly yummy! Definitely, recommend for you to go here as a "must try" in Hawaii. read more

I enjoyed this place! This was my first time here and I enjoyed it! The food was pretty good and for a good price! I gave four stars because the place is pretty small. It is a great place to order food and find a different spot to eat because there are only a handful of tables in the place. Parking was pretty good and pretty easy to find! I would definitely come here again and recommend this place to a friend or for those of you reading this. read more

We chose this restaurant for our last breakfast in Hawaii. I had the spinach and mushroom omelet and it was amazing. The eggs were light and fluffy and cooked perfectly! So much yumminess! The coffee was really good for cafe coffee also! Highly recommend, but be prepared for a little wait. It's very popular and not a huge place. So worth it though! read more

Wanted to visit someplace I have never been. Button Up popped up in my search. Liz had a massive Braised Beef Loco Moco on fried rice. Very good. I ordered the Corned Beef Chiabatta breakfast sandwich. The Chipotle aioli was very good and the eggs cooked perfectly. The best part was the crispy corned beef. read more

Let me just start by saying the eggs Benedict here is the bomb! Tried this restaurant the other day and was just happy with everything overall. The service was great and even after driving all the way back to town the food was still amazing! Thank you and I will definitely be coming back! read more

Worst restaurant in the world. Super garbage. Food taste like ass. Don't even come here. Menu is a lie. This whole place is a lie. Plastic ass forks and plates. Shitty workers. No respect. I could have found better quality meat at McDonald's. This shits disgusting. Stay away. read more

Their French Toast cake thing is to die for... OMG! I am in love... My husband and I shared that and the Kalbi Eggs Benedict. The Kalbi was okay... It was good just not something I would be addicted to... that may be more personal preference. The French Toast- a must get! read more

Actually a pretty good place. Recommend the eggs Benedict. Fountain soda so I can get my caffeine fix for next to nothing. Baskets and checkered paper somehow make good taste better. You should probably work out before you eat so the food taste better. Yah Yah Yah read more

Love this restaurant! It's such a great hole in the wall. Only thing I wish they had a bigger area to eat in, bc it's so small inside! We usually end up getting take out. But the food is definitely 10/10! read more

Good food but long waits not enough room to sit down so if you go have it to go or have time to wait but it was worth it my husband loved it when I took him there. read more

This place is so cute! It's also a little small so coming at 11 is a good time to come because it's not too crowded. Their potatoes are a must ! read more