I was so glad I got to stop by one more time before they closed. But I understand a new owner has taken it over and hasn't changed much...yet. But the women working here are so sweet! It's also a great place that locals hang out in. I had the oxtail ramen and a side of mac salad. So good! It just felt great to be home! So long Kam Bowl! Mahalo for all the memories! read more

I am giving them a 5 because I enjoy going there with two of my friends. The ambiance, which consists of very old school diner vibes is what I love, in addition to the teri chicken sandwich, which is my go-to. The waitresses are nice and friendly. I heard they announced they are closing (on the newscast that aired on Sunday, June 21st, 2026) and becoming Aliʻi Diner after closing on Sunday, 6/28/26, and reopening on July 1st as Aliʻi Diner, under new management. I am sad but hopeful they will still be a place I enjoy going with my friends. I saw a sign posted on the news story that mentioned they will be moving to Pearl City: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/06/22/kam-bowl-restaurant-closing-reopening-under-new-management/ Mahalo for being Kam Bowl all these years in the old Kenny's location. I will check you folks out, and am glad to hear Aliʻi Diner should open and continue with one of the same head chefs and management team. Thank you for also keeping the prices affordable all these years. A hui hou! read more

Kam Bowl - Sign posted on the door as seen in the Hawaii News Now article. - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great old school diner Nice atmosphere Friendly fast service Great old school local menu Booths need to be redone. Very bad condition Great menu Great prices Food was awesome Great location Highly recommend read more

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Today my brother husband and I had breakfast/lunch to finalize our upcoming trip. I had the chicken papaya soup my husband had oxtail soup and my brother had Vienna sausage with eggs. My soup was very good the soup was good only thing I wish the chicken was cooked longer it was kinda of tuff but they cook it on the bone and not debone. My husband said hes oxtail soup was ok but he tasted better places. My brother must of been hungry he ate the whole thing. Lol.... I be back for the chicken papaya soup again. read more

Kam Bowl - My pancake - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I don't know why the average rating is only 3 stars? The food here is always good. Especially the seafood! Every single time my fish is cooked to perfection! The Salmon belly (when available) is a must try! It just melts in your mouth. My dad would always order the Saba and he loved it! The Japanese breakfast is another must try meal. You get one egg cooked to order, fish of your choice, green salad, some Japanese pickles, 2 scoops rice and a bowl Miso soup. All for less than $20! If you like Filipino food, the mungo beans are a winner too. Plenty of parking and they two rooms for large groups. Service can get slow sometimes, when they get busy. Most times I've been there, only two servers are working. read more

Kam Bowl - Japanese Breakfast with with salmon and an extra egg. - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Kam Bowl in the Kamehameha Shopping Center, a longtime shopping mall and a cornerstone establishment. I went during the lunch rush and just got my takeaway order before others dining in and out arrived. Parking stalls aplenty in the center but at this peak rush hour...packed...even on a Wednesday. I requested the Tonkatsu Curry Plate as the Lau Lau is only available on the extended weekend. Waited just over the 15 minutes of wiat time mentioned...I did walk in. Tonkatsu was on the thinner side, but good...and all meat. Curry was pretty standard...tastes like the Japanese curry roux brick from any Asian or local grocery store. It comes with a choice of mac salad or mixed greens as well as 2 scoops of rice. Price was good at $17. I was full...didn't finish all of the greens. read more

Well I know this place has a lot of history, but sadly, wasn't too impressed. Ordered the pork chops and gotta say, they were pretty tough. I liked the onion and mushrooms on top but the gravy was too thick, almost gummy. Mac salad tasted spoiled, so didn't eat it. Service wasn't that good either. Won't go back. read more

Kam Bowl - Pork chops, meh - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Breakfast at Kam Bowl. I ordered the Kam Bowl combo. It consisted of two slices of bacon, two pieces of Portuguese sausage ,one piece of link sausage with two eggs. Along with rice or toast. Good price point for a dine in restaurant. The service was spot on. Enjoy read more

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If you're looking for a true, old-school local diner vibe with comfort food that never misses, Kam Bowl is the spot. Every time we walk in, it feels like visiting family--everyone is warm, welcoming, and somehow remembers exactly what we like to order. Our go-to is always the oxtail soup, and honestly, it's one of the best on the island. The broth is rich and flavorful, the kind that tastes like it's been simmering all day, and the oxtail falls right off the bone. They always serve it with a generous side of fresh ginger, which takes the soup to a whole different level. It's simple, classic, and perfect every single time. We also can't resist the two-item katsu combo. Both the chicken and pork come out super crunchy on the outside while staying juicy and tender on the inside--the kind of katsu that makes you stop mid-bite to say "okay, this is good." And on days we're extra hungry, we add the kalbi beef, which is always well-seasoned and incredibly juicy. Kam Bowl has daily specials and all-day breakfast, but we usually come for lunch or dinner when we're craving real local comfort dishes. Everything hits the spot--no frills, no fuss, just solid, satisfying, consistent meals that remind you why Hawaii's food culture is so special. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the service always makes you feel at home. If you want authentic local food with that nostalgic diner charm, Kam Bowl never disappoints. A true Honolulu classic. read more

Kam Bowl - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Update on Kam Bowl located in the Kamehameha shopping center . My friend and I ate lunch on Friday. He ordered of course their Oxtail soup and I hit their lunch special Salmon Belly, I haven't been here for almost 3 Months and now they have iPads to take the orders. I guess they're keeping up with the technology . My salmon belly was nice and soft with a light panko batter . Service was friendly and fast . read more

Really enjoyed the meal, which came fast and the service was very good. Highly recommend and will return. read more

Today the service was pretty good, the food was good today, and the AC was actually working this time. I forgot to take a picture of the other breakfast we got and the hot coco. Personally this time I didn't like the coco seems they just put warm water and dumped coco inside and didn't even stir it. It was all on the bottom. I'm not a pancake girl but I was craving it today and to my surprise it was pretty good. The banana was sweet and tasty. My bacon cooked perfectly as well as my scrambled eggs. It's looked at Kam shopping and we went around the morning time , tons of parking and open seating. read more

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Simple fast n Ono great service n Ooo. Opens at 7 get a quick bit then off to work can't get any simpler than that. Prices are far food is good. Had a hard time not getting the oxtail but I'll save that for later. read more

Kam Bowl - Ono fast n Ono great service n Ono - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

日本のテレビで紹介されていて、来訪しました。 店員さんが少なく、席空いてても待たされました。 非常に残念なので、オックステールスープがヌルい！ 全く熱くなく少し気持ち悪かったです。 味は問題なくおいしいですが、本当にヌルかったです。レトロな店内で少し汚いぐらいです・・・ テレビ紹介のお店はダメなとこ多いです。（所感） read more

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Stopped by Kam Bowl for a casual lunch and left pretty happy! The service was really friendly and surprisingly quick, even though the place was decently busy when we arrived. Everything came out in good time and the staff checked in just enough without being overbearing. We tried the oxtail soup first, definitely one of the standouts. It was flavorful, super fresh, and the broth had a nice depth to it. That said, the portion was a little smaller than I expected, especially for the price. Still delicious though! We also ordered the combo plate with kalbi and fish. Both were cooked perfectly, the kalbi was tender and had that nice charred flavor, and the fish was light and crispy. And randomly, we got the spaghetti too, which honestly tasted like something out of a home kitchen. Super nostalgic, comforting, and way better than you'd expect from a side! Overall, Kam Bowl feels like a reliable local spot with good food and a homey vibe. Would definitely come back to try more dishes and maybe double up on that oxtail soup next time! read more

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I'd have to read these reviews to understand, but I don't get the low rating tbh. Kam bowl is pretty consistently a no brainer, esp if you need a nice easy, delicious, hot, flavorful soup. Ya gotta get the oxtail. Like duh. It's so good!!!! Broth is perf. Meat is excellent. Soooooo good! Like what? 3 stars overall.. I'm not sure why. I get that maybe the establishment itself could use a revamp, it's not the prettiest place, def needs a deep clean, esp the fabric of the booths. That I know. The service is hit or miss but our last server was such a doll, she was the only one working the floor that day and she was killin it. We all noticed. I mean she was lovely! The staff up front, meh, but didn't matter, they didn't serve us our food so we didn't care lol. Will go back obvi. Have gone back lol. Oh if you try the Kimchi ramen, you won't be disappointed! Sooo ono! For real, you'll love. I know I did. Glad my brother ordered it cus I wanted to try something else but couldn't help but get the oxtail... bc well... it's oxtail lol :) read more

I really enjoy Kam Bowl, particularly because I learned they have Chicken Papaya Soup! It's a fish I find isn't available at a lot of restaurants, so this is now a go to spot for me. They offer good, classic diner food with some local classics like Oxtail Soup. Staff is generally pleasant and efficient and there's lots of parking since it's at Kamehameha Shopping Center. The space itself is pretty dated, but it's a diner, but a high end restaurant, so it's fine. read more

My cousins brought me here since I said that I was in the mood for ox tail soup. It's an old school eatery with a lot of variety but I just ordered the ox tail soup. They also offer different sizes for their ox tail soup, which is nice if you aren't in the mood for a large bowl you can get a small or medium size. The ox tail soup was good, lots of meat! I obviously liked it since I finished my bowl. I do have to admit though, it was a bit smoky in the restaurant. So it doesn't seem like their HVAC system has been updated. Service was ok too. read more

Kam Bowl - All pau - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Craved comfort food after a long shift, so hit up Kam Bowl for their legendary oxtail soup--rich, flavorful broth loaded with tender, fall-off-the-bone oxtail that melts in your mouth, perfect with the included rice and pickled radish on the side. Went for Combo 2 with katsu: crispy, golden chicken katsu that's juicy inside, not greasy, paired with two scoops rice, mac salad, and miso soup--massive portions that satisfied big time without breaking the bank. Local gem with quick service and chill vibes; plates come out steaming hot and fresh every time. Must-try for Honolulu comfort eats--already planning the next visit! read more

Kam Bowl - Combo Plate - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Back at Kam Bowl for dinner it was a very busy night we got seated right away no waiting. The service is awesome they get your drink and order in no time at all . The ambience is nice and chill not to loud the cooks play some good easy listening music. My husband ordered the beef stew I had the spaghetti and it was so warm and good tasty and the garlic bread is even tastier hit the spot. Such a good place to eat with a wide variety for everyone please make sure you try it out soon you won't be disappointed I assure you. read more

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Wonderful food and friendly customer service at amazing value in Hawaii. Must try the oxtail soup.

The place is dirty. I've been served coffee in a cup with a lipstick stain and a knife with gunk on it. Food can be decent but when I went recently and got the beef stew, it was undercooked with crunchy potato's and carrots as well as tough beef. Service can be good depending on which server you get. The younger girl is slow and doesn't refill your coffee. read more

I live near kam shop so this place is always in view. I loved the OG Kam Bowl when I was a kid. Before this new one opened up, it was the restaurant Kenny's which was my family's go to place. Once this place took over Kenny's, I was very excited. We went there a couple times and was not impressed with the food. It was a little flat and did not have quality. Now, of course it's only regular cell diner, but it just didn't have flavor , things were mushy, and just lacking. Of course, the best thing is their oxtail soup. Although it was the same recipe, it just didn't have the same best flavor. you are better off going to Asahi Grill or Aiea bowl. Also, the service is kind of iffy between the old aunties and the young high school kids. I feel like a lot of the young high school kids don't know what they're doing and some of the aunties are a little on the slower side. I've been there four times since opening and didn't have a great experience for all of them. I have not gone back in about two years due to my time visiting. I hope they have improved since. read more

I came here to try it's famous oxtail soup. The service was okay. The atmosphere is nice. They even had a church group at the private section of the restaurant, singing gospel music. Then eating afterwards. Going back to the oxtail soup, it was delicious and tasty. Lots of scallions and Chinese parsley, even came with grated ginger. Portion wise, the bowl seems smaller and less soup. Maybe I should have ordered the sumo size, nah! Next time. The meat was tender and fell of the bone. Otherwise, it was wonderful meal. read more

Kam Bowl - The Famous Oxtail Soup - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Other than the AC working overtime, the servers were very attentive and have a sense of urgency to get your food out. I Love It!!! All the food is comforting. So Much Variety, I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to eat. read more

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This kind old skool eatery is my kinda jam!!! Lol! It was Pau Hana Friday for me & I got together with my retired homie - Gary T. for a meal. While searching on Yelp for a place for some local kine grindz, I remembered my Yelp buddy - Donna O. mentioning about da Korean Chicken at Kam Bowl restaurant, located at the Kamehameha Shopping Center. Sure enough, my homie was down for some local style comfort food, so we headed on down to da Kalihi neighborhood for some local kine GRINDZ! I haven't been to this restaurant in years. I swear the last time I dined at this restaurant, it was called "Kenny's Restaurant?" The interior was nicely lit, clean, and the restaurant has those old skool vynal booths & bar type counter seating that reminded me of old skool eateries from my young boi dayz. The menu was pretty simple, with lots of local comfort food offerings. I already knew what I came for - da Korean Chicken plate, and my friend ended up with a Chicken Stir-Fry plate. What can I say about the grub? If you like old skool local style comfort food, then you've hit paydirt by coming here!!! Service was fast & friendly, food portions was on point, and the food prices was very affordable! Good local style comfort food, & outstanding prices.....sign me up Bro! I'll be back sooner, than later! Lol! read more

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Low key, no frills offering local comfort food. The place is homey, feels like home. Their signature dish is the Oxtail Soup. Rich broth, flavorful, and meat falling off the bone. The portion size is very generous. The Aunties that work there are so warm, and always treat you like family. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the food. read more

Kam Bowl - Oxtail Soup - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've been going here since I was little and my last experience was unusual. Most of the time the service is great but on my last visit, our server seemed impatient and even spoke rudely when we asked for a drink refill. Maybe she was having a bad day but in this industry, it's important to always be courteous to your customers. read more

When to Kamehameha Shopping Center and decided to eat a light dinner at Kam bowl. Parking was available, but inside they were very busy and like all other businesses short of help, so the service was pretty slow customers in the separate room came out a couple of times looking for his waitress and finally walked out and looked for her to ask for his bill. We had to get our old hot mustard for the Gyoza Ramen and tried many times to get more water so finally when she came to fill the water I asked her for the bill after noticing the many customers waiting for their bills and customers waiting outside for seats? I understand this is the problem every employer has with finding workers, that is why I see many other business hiring robots to take some of the work off the other employees. read more

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A blast from the past. Back in the day, there used to be a bowling alley where Walgreens is located today. The bowling alley had the transplanted Kapiolani Coffee Shop there and while they served a variety of stuff, the number one seller was their oxtail soup. For me, second only to Wailana Coffee shop (now defunct) in Waikiki. The current Kam Bowl is located where Kennys used to be and they have carried on their winning tradition with their oxtail soup offering. However, for me the plate that I enjoy more is their chopped steak plate. Lots of veggies, two scoops rice and a toss salad choice makes it a pretty "healthy" meal. Just enough beef to satisfy vour animal protein craving and enough gravy to go with the rice. This is a dish made famous by Kennys and I'm glad they kept it on the menu. Another favorite is the Japanese breakfast served all day. A nice change of pace for lunch or dinner. It's highlighted by one egg and a choice of mahi, salmon or saba. Delicious! Their desserts are sparce but their coconut pie warmed up is winnahs. The interior is reminiscent of Kennys but has been remodeled but still retains the old comfort and charm. The booths by the window are especially padded well and has a 70s vibe to it from the old Kennys days- with a nice updating. So when you especially have a craving for chopped steak , Japanese breakfast or oxtail soup, Kam Bowl restaurant in the Kamehameha shopping center has to be on your list. read more

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Their mungo beans with malunggay are awesome. Just need more leaves. I like going there because of the home style cooking. Sometimes though I feel like the new comers are not so welcomed. Their fried salmon belly was also awesome! read more

We stopped in for dinner and got seated quickly. I ordered coffee and Tonkatsu with mac salad. My wife got tea and a Loco Moco with toss salad. Just before our food came out I was serverd my coffee, some 15min after ordering it. My wife got her Loco Moco and it came with Mac salad, no toss salad. The server asked if we needed anything else, maybe extra katsu sauce and I stated that would be great. Next time we saw our server it was after we had finished. Never got that extra sauce. The Tonkatsu tasted like it had bewn fried in old oil and the mac salad was tasteless. Bland, no seasoning and almost no mayo. Even black pepper and hot sauce couldn't save this side. read more

When was the last time I had a meal at Kam Bowl? I don't remember! Thanks to Donna O., we recently ventured here for lunch. I followed Donna's suggestion to try the Garlic Chicken with garlic sauce. It comes with your choice of white rice, Mac salad or tossed salad. We also ordered a side of French fries to share. It's a good size serving of chicken and take home leftovers are necessary lol. The chicken pieces are tasty and crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. Don't expect a garlicky sauce poured on top of the chicken. The garlic is infused within the chicken. Yummy! The booths are on the older side and the seating reminds me of the old style restaurant days. Service is fast and the food comes out quick. Water is refilled and our server always had a smile. It's a bit noisy on the inside. There are families, big groups, birthday celebrations going on in this large restaurant. Free parking available outside the restaurant. Bathrooms are available within the restaurant. Food: 4/5 stars Service: 4/5 stars Ambiance: 3.5/5 stars read more

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Came to try this place out and it didn't disappoint. The inside is a little outdated and could use a makeover, But the service was excellent. We didn't have to wait long for a table and we got our food real quick. I tried the oxtail soup and it was delicious. I think it was better than zippys oxtail soup. The club sandwiches were also good. Good food at a decent price. read more

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I heard from our local ride share driver that food here was good so I decided to try it for myself. I went here on a Monday afternoon. The place was not yet busy. Iris, our server, was nice and answered all our questions regarding the menu. The place is famous for its oxtail soup. It was good and flavorful. The tonkatsu was also good. Both dishes were served with 2 small scoops of rice and macaroni salad. Giving it a 4/5. They serve good comfort food in a very relaxed, homey environment. Homey feel read more

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Kam Bowl, you never disappoint--always serving up my two food favorites combined as one: saimin oxtail soup (though let's be real, it's mostly about the oxtail). And trust me, this oxtail is legendary. It hasn't changed a bit over the years, and that's a good thing. The meat is so tender it practically melts off the bone, none of that chewy nonsense you get elsewhere. This place is a true local gem, but I'll admit, my family and I only order oxtail soup here. Honestly, I can't even remember the last time I ordered anything else--it's a forever favorite. The best part? The service is friendly and lightning fast. They've got a pot of this deliciousness simmering 24/7, so you'll be slurping away in under 5 minutes. If only Seattle had something like this for those cold, rainy days. Kam Bowl, you spoil us! read more

Kam Bowl - Small oxtail soup up top and regular size down below - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I love this kind of place. First time here, unless I came little kid time and don't remember. It's a bit out of the way for me but I was going Bishop Museum and Kam Bowl is Kam Bowl, I had to make sure I tried it. I'm real glad I did. I saw from the menu that they made the hamburger patties for the loco moco in-house, so I had to try that -- and it hit. the. spot!!! They put something in those patties that just makes the flavor perfect, I don't want to embarrass myself because I don't know what it is but it's probably some kind of spicy vegetable... which, now that I'm writing this out... it's probably just onions, right? But whatever it was, it made the thing perfect, each bite of that loco moco was so good. The ambience is not the kind modern minimalist kind, but like your neighborhood mom and pop diner kind. The kind I like. Staff at other places are good, but still get little bit pressure at those places just from the decor and stuff. Here, it's like you're at your Japanese auntie's house and the staff is so warm and so on it! I wanna come back and try other stuff on the menu but I don't know... that loco moco might be too good to pass up any chance to eat it! read more

Kam Bowl - "Small" Loco Moco - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Kam Bowl Restaurant is one of those classic local spots that never disappoints. Even though it's no longer attached to the bowling alley, it still carries that same comforting, home-style vibe. Every time I visit, the place is usually packed with locals--which is always a good sign. My go-to favorites are the oxtail soup (rich, flavorful broth with fall-off-the-bone meat), the loco moco (hearty and satisfying), and the chop steak (tender and packed with flavor). Portions are generous, service is fast and friendly, and the prices are reasonable for the quality. If you're craving solid local comfort food in a no-frills setting, Kam Bowl is the place to go. read more

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Oxtail Soup is still excellent. Staff is brief and very expeditious. Simple local comfort food. read more

Kam Bowl - Oxtail Soup, Regular, So Ono! - Diners Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We had a retiree luncheon here and it went well. The semi private room to the right of the greeter station easily held our party of 17. The room allowed us to easily converse with each other. We took a ling time to order but our waitress was very accommodating. Our food came out rather haphazardly, but you're always at the mercy of the cooks with a big party like ours. I had the chicken papaya soup with brown rice. Pretty solid soup with lots of chicken thigh pieces. For around $15 I thought it was a good deal. All in all, everyone seemed to enjoy their food. read more