Jeffrey T.

Bold Bites and Soulful Flavor at Mama Guava I first tried Mama Guava's food at a pop-up at SALT at Our Kaka'ako, and it was delicious. So I had to check out their pop-up restaurant in the former Pig and the Lady space in downtown. Lumpia Look Fun: A fun fusion of two of my favorite things to eat. Oxtail & Pechay Soup: Hearty and healing, this soup had real soul. Fried Chicken: Crispy salt and vinegar fried chicken was a hit. The batter and crunch were excellent. Tortang Talong: Charred eggplant and garlic rice. I became addicted to that garlic rice. Kang Kong (Ong Choy): My favorite bite, served in a savory garlic sauce. The staff was friendly and attentive, and we really enjoyed our time there. Mama Guava brings bold flavor, thoughtful fusion, and warmth in every dish. This is the kind of pop-up you hope sticks around for good.

Melody K.

Pop up with poppin' flavors! Yelp BFF and I have been eyeing out Mama Guava and after the end of the hectic holidays, we finally got a chance to visit. Things we ordered: lumpia look fun, veal pancit/pad see ew, and curry fish with roti My favs: lumpia look fun and curry fish with roti The lumpia was crispy and the look fun was nice and thin. Topped with green onions, a soy, vinegar and chili sauce. My only wish is they used a Thai sweet chili sauce instead. The veal pancit/pad see ew was saucy, but a little too salty for my taste. The curry fish with roti was perfect. Fish was flakey, curry was packed with flavor, and paired well with the crispy roti. Definitely worth a visit! Thanks for reading my reviews! Let me know what I should try next!

Toan D.

Undeniably good cooking from the very first bite This new pop-up at the old Pig & Lady location in Chinatown is special. Growing up in Kalihi, Chef Monique Cadavona left home for the bright lights of NYC, where she cut her teeth in fine-dining kitchens under Michelin-star chefs. Now back on Oahu, she returns to her Kalihi roots and applying all that world-class technique to local flavors and we're better for it. Although Cadavona's heritage is Filipino, her menu pays homage to the rich, diverse flavors of Hawaii. The menu is small but impressively broad: from Vietnamese Banh Xeo to an all-American Cheeseburger, everything is crafted with thoughtfulness, restraint, and real culinary craftsmanship. The standout of the meal: Lumpia Look Fun vegetable lumpia wrapped in chewy look fun and served in a soy-vinegar-chili oil bath. Pure genius. The lumpia is perfectly crunchy with a satisfying mouthfeel, while the look fun wrapper is soft, silky, and toothsome. This dish alone is worth the visit. The Banh Xeo is super crispy with a generous filling of shrimp and ground pork rivaling the best Vietnamese kitchens on the island. The Veal Pancit "Pad See Ew" is a nod to the chef's Filipino background but built on house-made Chinese-style noodles. Tender veal, crispy shallots, calamansi brightness, the whole dish lands in that perfect intersection of salty, sour, pungent, and umami. It's comfort food elevated through technique. Not your typical table side service. You order and pay via QR code, and a staff member (often Chef Cadavona herself) brings out the food. We found that to be a wonderful opportunity to engage with the Chef and get to know her better. In any case, the service was super friendly and attentive. It's BYOB, so bring your favorite bottle. Street parking is available, or you can park in the Smith St. municipal garage around the corner. This pop-up is only here through February 2026, so get in while you can. Support local. This chef deserves to be seen, celebrated, and talked about. Happy eating!

Nadine C.

Lunch in Chinatown, Honolulu, Hawai'i... I convinced my friend to go with me to a pop-up called "Mama Guava". It's located where Pig & The Lady used to be. I told her that it will only be open for a few months... so we should go now! We found free parking on the left side of King Street, near River Street. This area is free on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays! We didn't make a reservation, but we were first in line. The door opened at 10:30am Ordering via QR code, we each got a Mama Guava Tea. It was refreshing! I tried to stretch it out a bit by adding a bit of water to the jar! Haha! We shared Garlic Fries, Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin, Banana Lumpia, and Lumpia Look Funn. We both enjoyed the Banana Lumpia the most. The caramelized glaze, crunchy outer shell, and touch of kaffir lime leaf was amazing! The Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin was crisp and not greasy, but very, very tart! The Lumpia Look Funn was spicy for me - however, the other flavors and the texture were great! We both liked the Garlic Fries and wished that they were served at a hotter temperature. Overall, it was a fun experience. Our server offered us refills on water. We asked another server for takeout boxes. We liked the spaciousness and calm, dark atmosphere. The lights and brick wall were cool!

Sonia T.

Finally got the opportunity to visit Mama Guava when celebrating two coworkers' birthdays! This Filipino-inspired pop-up (in the old Pig & the Lady space) is only around until February 2026, so definitely check it out while you can. Ordering and paying was super easy and quick via QR code. The server/host/busser (yes, all one person!) was incredibly friendly and suggested we order family-style so everyone could try a bit of everything. We shared the Lumpia Look Fun, which came with perfectly crisp vegetable lumpia on chewy rice noodles with a soy vinegar and chili oil combo that tied everything together. The Salt & Pepper Karaage was another standout featuring crispy chicken with serrano and garlic, served with an addictive chicken-fat ginger scallion rice and tangy pickled mustard greens. It was also my first time eating Tortang Talong, a dish made of grilled smoky eggplants and savory fluffy eggs. I would order that again! We also snacked on the garlic fries and these were perfectly seasoned and super garlicky and crispy. Our food took a little while to come out, but the restaurant was busy and there was only one person running the front of house. None of us really minded since the quality made it worth the wait. The highlight of the afternoon came as we were getting ready to leave. Our server surprised our birthday guests with a complimentary dessert. He brought out two bowls of their ice cream sandwich: a giant oatmeal chocolate chip cookie with guava and pistachio ice cream. The tart ice cream was really refreshing and paired perfectly with the crumbly sweet cookie. Overall, really delicious food, warm service, and a great spot for sharing dishes with friends. We're already talking about going back before the pop-up ends.

Terry K.

New kid on the block - here is my story About a week ago I saw a clip on the morning news about a new pop up. The clip featured Chef Monique Cadovana, Honolulu girl who moved back to Honolulu after making a mark as a chef in / at the Big Apple. Mama Guava has popped up in the former Pig and the Lady location on King Street in Chinatown Honolulu October 8 yesterday was their opening day. I was lucky to have elite Irene M as my lunch partner today, October 9 day number 2 for Mama Guava For those who previously dined at the Pig and the Lady you will feel at home because the interior is the same as when they left it The menu is viewed by QR code. It's pretty efficient. The menus outlined you get to pick the table you're at. Order your food and it gets delivered in no time flat. It's a pretty good system. They have set up. The menu is eclectic. It's a combination of all ethnic Asian tastes. We had three dishes and as of this writing, I am still full and content Chicken Karaage, banana lumpia and lookfun spring roll was what we had for our lunch The portions are huge, share plate style. Everything is made on order. Teas and juice are made fresh Since the orders are digital, the staff works as bussers and food movers from the kitchen to the table I am looking forward to my next visit so I can try other items on the menu Of note, I try not to write reviews for new establishments, especially in this day and culture but, Mama Guava is the exception to my rule. I wanted to share my wonderful experience with everyone. Go there, be there or be square

Gail U.

Wow! Renovated atmosphere from the former Pig & the Lady with upbeat music, trendy, pretty fuschia lights strung above the bar area. Unique, tasty & intriguing dishes. The veal in the noodles was so tender and the flavor- high five. They have a variety of teas, I had the guava tea, more like a light guava juice, refreshing. Their gender neutral restroom which is decorated top to bottom, is a must-see with collections of someone's favorite posters, collectible items. Would be nice to have paper menus for the UN-tech savvy generation but easier on the staff and kitchen. Staff is very friendly. You may need to flag them down for chopsticks, take out boxes for left overs. You pay before the food comes out when you order. Foodies... this place is calling your name. You will be lucky to find street parking. I had the last rooftop parking at Marin Tower. You pay by debit or credit card there. Thankyou for lunch, Yelp Elite, All Star, Terry K.

Irene M.

Popping in downtown... Chef Monique Cadavona has popped up in downtown Honolulu in the former ThePig and The Lady location is now Mama Guava. Thank you Terry K for finding out this gem as they'll be here for just six short months. I've never been to The Pig and The Lady but know where it's former location so it was very easy to find and with some luck found street parking just a block away. We did have reservations just in case and is totally recommend as it was almost a full house upon our 12 noon arrival and yes they're open for lunch only though today October 9th is just their second day of service you'd never know of how the flow is so nice and chill. Once seated I enjoyed the simplicity of the decor though many of its former occupant decor remains it does give that industrial vibe that I love. Ordering is cashless as each table has a QR code to order all you need to do is enter your table number and decide...which is quite easier said than done as each item is different in its own way though we did decide on "Lumpia Look Funn" is exactly just that with a veggie lumpia is wrapped in a soft and fresh look funn topped with spicy shoyu vinegar sauce won me instantly as it was just a fun and very flavorful bite. "Salt & Pepper Karaage" looks quite simple but is delicious and comes with a bowl of rice topped with chicken fat ginger scallion which was incredible paired with the rice so perfectly I was very impressed. "Banana Lumpia" I just couldn't resist ordering and though I wished it had a bit more banana filling it was a nice and not too sweet bite. I had to have a sip of their "Mama Guava Tea" sencha with guava, calamansi, ginger and mint...very light and refreshing the mint is quite prominent with a hint of guava I really enjoyed it. Chef Cadavona is very hands on as she greeted us upon arrival and got to briefly chat about her temporary venture is so inspiring along with her adventures she's on and feel so blessed to have taste of what she's been creating. Thank you!

Agnes O.

Christopher and I decided to check out Mama Guava, a Filipino-inspired pop-up by Chef Monique Cadavona, located in the former Pig & the Lady space in Chinatown. The restaurant still looks pretty much the same as it did before, which brought back some nostalgic vibes the moment we walked in. We made reservations a few days in advance and were greeted right away when we arrived. The host quickly found our reservation and seated us immediately. Water was poured as soon as we sat down, and from there, everything ran smoothly. Ordering is done through a QR code system--super convenient since you can browse the menu, order, and pay whenever you're ready. The food comes out as it's prepared, so everything is fresh and nicely paced. We tried the seasonal fruit salad, lumpia look fun, tako poke, salt & pepper karaage, and the banana lumpia for dessert. For drinks, we had the Mama Guava tea and the Turon Matcha. The fruit salad was light and refreshing with that perfect balance of sweet and savory. Every dish that followed was full of flavor--the lumpia look fun, poke, and karaage all hit the mark and were perfectly portioned for the two of us. The banana lumpia was a great finish--crispy, caramelized, and full of that familiar merienda comfort. My only note is that the banana inside was a bit shriveled instead of plump, which isn't bad, just different from what I'm used to with traditional turon made with apple bananas. Still, it was delicious. The Mama Guava tea was wonderfully refreshing, and the Turon Matcha was creamy and not too sweet--just the way I like it. If you haven't been yet, make the trip to Chinatown to check out Mama Guava. Between the vibrant flavors, friendly service, and easy-going vibe, it's well worth it. There's street parking nearby and plenty of municipal lots, so finding a spot isn't too bad. Your taste buds will thank you.

Warren N.

Hawaii needs more up and coming chefs, and I think we've found a good one! Came here for lunch today to see what the hype is all about. Nestled in the old pig in the lady location on king street, this place has kept the same vibe and the same funky feeling , especially the bathroom. IYKYK. I think the food and the funk of the ambiance really matches. Filipino fusion food goes really well with this location. We started with lumpia look fun. The chef combines a familiar crispy veg lumpiang, covers it with a silky soft look funn roll and adds a soy/vinegar sauce. Very cool contrast of textures and great flavors, too. We had the utog burger and fries. The burger was juicy and covered in their house special sauce. But the garlic fries were the star to me. Thin shoestring fries perfectly cooked and tossed with fresh garlic. So tasty! (bring your breath mints, though, because they aren't shy about their use of garlic!) Our other entee was the Ilocos banh xeo. One of the crispiest banh xeo crapes i've ever eaten. The filling is longanisa, shrimp, shredded papaya and a fried egg. You get shiso, mint, and cilantro to add to your lettuce wrap and an awesome soy vinegar dipping sauce, too. Definitely a must try if you like banh xeo. The mama guava tea was refreshing,a tad sweet, and the guava seemed to overtake the green tea flavor. I'd experiment with using oolong or even Thai teas maybe. Service was great. They're a QR code ordering place, but if it's not working properly you can have the servers key it in and pay on their devices. Chef Monique was also very sweet and was very humble when I complimented her on the food. This may be a pop up for now (til February 2026?) But it looks like chef has hit on all the right notes for a successful restaurant.

LC M.

Karaoke Friday.... Is when we arrived for lunch. Super fun vibes but difficult to have full on conversations. Food and service were spot on! 1. Drinks: She's healthy and Mama Guava Tea - both were great 2. Appetizer: Salt & vinegar fried chicken skin - addicting! 3. Appetizer: Ilocos ban xeo - another great dish :) 4. Main: Fish curry with homemade roti - yum! 5. Banana lumpia - a bit dry, a sauce or ice cream may have helped but the banana was not ripe Overall great menu and look forward to additional menu creations.

Amber S.

Pop-up restaurant located where the Pig and the Lady used to be. Pig and the Lady's signs are still posted up but a small A-Frame fronting the door advertised Mama Guava. We ordered take out for lunch so can't really comment on the service or ambiance. However, the decor looks untouched from the previous tenant's time. Ordered the Utog Burger -- a longanisa onion smash burger with garlic fries. The burger came with a double patty smothered in a sauce that I'm not quite sure what it was. Didn't really catch any flavors of longanisa. It was huge and I was only able to eat half of it. The garlic fries were crispy, thin, and garlicky, made with real chunks of garlic. My coworker ordered the oxtail soup and said while it was delicious, the portion size was disappointing. Prices are pretty steep, expect to spend at least $25 for a main dish.

Jennifer K.

Mama Guava is a 6-month pop up located in the former Pig and the Lady space in Chinatown, led by Chef Monique Cadanova. The space recently opened on October 8th, and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am -2:30pm. Not much has changed in the interior, as the bricked walls and tables from Pig and the Lady days remain. Reservations are available through Open Table, but there was a good amount of open seats when I walked in around 11:45am on their second day of business. Mama Guava is completely cashless. We were not presented with a physical menu. Instead each table displayed a QR code. From there, you select your table number and you place the order and pay directly from your phone...including the tip. Those who know me, know I am NOT a fan of paying tip before my meal. Tips are based on the service, and I have no way of knowing how my service will be. As such, I always do a customary 15% when requested to provide a tip before hand. There have also been times where I forget to tip completely (I apologize!!! Although this was not the case this time around. I provided the 15% as calculated for me). We tried the: - Ilocos Banh Xeo ($19) - I was most excited for this dish, as it includes shrimp, longanisa, egg, and papaya, and is a mix between an Ilocos empanada and Vietnamese banh xeo. I love both Ilocos empanada and banh xeo so the thought of a fusion dish was just perfect. The dish came on a round, wooden slab, with lettuce, shiso leaves, and mint, accompanied with a vinegary (shoyu?) dipping sauce. Unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for either banh xeo or Ilocos empanada for me. I didn't feel like there was quite enough filling, and my bf thought the filling lacked flavor on its own (I thought it was fine - I don't like my food too salty). It was nice and crispy although interestingly was not hot - just luke warm. I also missed the typical fish sauce that comes with banh xeo, as opposed to the vinegary sauce (which I know matches the empanada). - Salt & Pepper Karaage ($23) - The karaage was fried really well and was nice and crispy as well. It came over a bed of cabbage with a side of pickled mustard greens and chicken fat ginger scallion rice. This whole dish reminded me of a fried version of Cantonese ginger scallion chicken. We liked this dish, but did feel like the pricing was a little steep for the amount of chicken. There were about 6 small-medium size pieces. - Mama Guava Tea ($7.50) - The Mama Guava tea is a sencha green tea, with guava, calamansi, mint, and ginger. It was also very sweet, and tasted a little like POG. But I did taste the guava (overpoweringly), calamansi, mint, and ginger which I appreciated. Nice and refreshing, although a bit sweeter than I expected. - Leche Flan Coffee ($8.50) - The coffee is a Vietnamese style coffee, with a salted leche flan foam. Surprisingly the foam was not very sweet (I expected it to be sweeter). The coffee was also not too sweet but was nice and strong, although the ice melted very quickly causing it to be watered down shortly after we received it. Note to others: just chug it haha. Service: I don't expect too much when experiencing a new restaurant, as I understand it takes a bit of time to work out the kinks. That said, it's important to acknowledge what worked and what can be improved on. It took about 15 minutes after ordering for our drinks to arrive and about 30 minutes after ordering for our food to arrive. That was a little longer than I expected, given the restaurant didn't appear to be overly busy. However, the servers were VERY quick to collect dishes as we finished. They were very courteous however, asking to make sure we were finished before taking away the dishes. I've had other restaurants collect my dish without asking before I was finished. All in all, Mama Guava is a welcome addition to the lunch scene in Chinatown/Downtown Honolulu. Pricing is on par to Pig and the Lady, but unfortunately it's just not quite on the same level. The whole experience was really just okay, but headed in a positive direction. There are a few other items I'm eying on their menu so I look forward to maybe giving them another try in the future.