I'll never stop raving about this place. Minasa is a restaurant serving a variety of comforting and nostalgic Filipino food -- appetizers, entree, desserts and drinks. The space is cozy and welcoming, with limited amount of seating but ok for holding intimate events. Service is always great, food always comes out fresh and hot, and they always get our orders right. My personal favorites would be: * Kare-Kare (Beef Peanut Stew), which reminds me of my mom's cooking; and * Calamansi fried chicken + noodles, the noodles are very nostalgic for me as it reminds me of my "merienda" (afternoon snack) when I was growing up (in the Philippines). They usually change up their monthly specials (which I always look forward too) so make sure to check out their Instagram page @minasahawaii. Plenty of shared parking space in the shopping complex where it's located (Tropicana Square). read more

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We first heard of Minasa while we were with friends who says it was a modern twist on filipino food we know and love. They talked it up and hyped it up so my wife and I decided to try it out last October for our anniversary. We showed up and they were closed for an event. Since then we've tried to eat here multiple times with it being booked or not open. It's been elusive. Last weekend was the weekend we finally were able to eat here being in Waipahu and the wait finally ended! We ordered the chef's special, salted egg fried rice, ube churros, and banana lumpia sundae. The dishes were colorful and vibrant. Everything tasted good but we were looking for that twist that was hyped up to us and there was nothing unfamiliar to our taste buds. Though we left full and enjoyed our meal, the "new" flavors didn't stand out. Overall we were quite underwhelmed especially with all the hype that was given to us over their food. Maybe I ordered the wrong things? Not sure but we'll likely give this a second shot when we're in Waipahu again at the right time. read more

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My wife and I were on an adventure out to Waikele and decided to stop by Waipahu for lunch. How I found this place, I'm not sure. It might've been the search for fried chicken to which Minasa didn't disappoint. We arrived just after opening and happened to get the last open table - after ordering, of course. The restaurant is clean and well put together with darker accents. Our food came out relatively quick - having the chef's special and ube churros. The kalbi sauce soaking into the rice was the perfect balance of flavors. Same for the calamansi fried chicken. Lechon, I must say was also a fine example of how seriously the chefs take their selection of ingredients - as I looked closer, it had the classic 5 layers (shown in my photo). Usually, this is the prime factor in the perfect roast pork - providing juicy layers of pork meat. Overall, this has been the best (new) meal we've had in a LONG time. It was so delicious, I could only wish there was a way to share this place with a larger collection of diners because frankly, if you haven't tried this place, I honestly think you're missing out on the definition of culinary art. Each dish carefully crafted with the goal of providing the best experience to all the patrons. I seriously seriously hope you all have a chance to visit. If we're ever back on this side of the island, we won't hesitate to stop by. read more

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My favorite place for a modern fusion on Filipino food. By far the most flavorful Sisig with the calamansi flavor and on point. For the Bao buns, I was able to order one of each (chicken and longanisa) and enjoyed the flavors and textures. The ambiance inside was clean, modern and refreshing. The staff were extremely helpful and courteous. Service was friendly and quick as I normally do takeout. There is parking but it can be a little tight depending on the time of day. Highly recommend Minasa. read more

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Located at the end of a strip mall in Waipahu (conveniently near a rail station stop), Minasa is this cute lil unassuming restaurant taking Filipino classics and putting a fun twist on them. Went with a few friends and in true Filipino fashion, ordered a good amount to share. The prices are a bit on the pricier side, but the portions are generous. My favorite was the lechon kawali fries--cubed tender fried pork belly over a bed of crispy fries. Dare I ask for more? The calamansi fried chicken was tender but I wish there was a stronger calamansi flavor. Stole bites of my friend's kalbi and it was reminiscent of tocino, but just a tad too sweet for me. Overall, the food was good and I'd go back to try more dishes. Although it's a cozy spot, they've got a good amount of seating inside if you wanted to dine in. The decor is nice, vibes are chill, and service is quick! read more

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Found another dish that I will most likely be repurchasing forever. Eggplant sisig. Hard winner for me. read more

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One of my favs! Service is always friendly and efficient! Love the cozy ambience of the place and the food! Creative twist on your fav Filipino foods! If you're in Waipahu stop by. Desserts are pretty awesome too! Place employs culinary students from Waipahu HS. How freakin awesome is that? read more

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This Filipino spot is an absolute must have in Hawaii! I found out about them from a YouTube vlog and so glad we made sure to stop by during our trip. It was one of my favorite meals of the week! I wanted to try everything but we narrowed it down to the lechon fries and the pork sisig bowl. The sisig was cooked perfectly and chopped just to the right size. The calamansi was strong and added so much flavor! I loved the sauce on the lechon fries and the meat was tender. The portions were huge too so we had plenty for leftovers between the two of us - but it's great for family style if you come with a group! The calamansi refresher was just what we needed after a hot afternoon in the sun. We finished off our meal with an ube churro sundae, with the softest chewiest churros ever! So tasty!! Service was great, and they made a point to thank us for coming in while we were eating. The food was on our table in minutes which is awesome when you're dining with kids! The interior is small but we were the only ones there in the afternoon so it was nice and comfortable. The location is a bit hidden so I hope they get the traffic they need to thrive. Would really hate to see this delicious food and talent go to waste! I'll definitely be recommending it to everybody that asks for Oahu recommendations! read more

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Came in right after work so we could get some Ono grinds and before they close at 4pm. We had the Ube churro sundae. Pretty good and we'll be back to try their other yummy goodness on their menu. Service was fast and friendly. It was cool and love the bench seating and tables. Clean and slick too. read more

Minasa - Seating and table - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

This is the best Filipino restaurant/food I've had in Hawaii and probably one of the better ones I've had. That's saying something since I've had plenty of Filipino food across the US (HI, NY/NJ, Chicago, FL, Vegas, CALI) Pricing is on the high side but the quality of food is worth it. Service was fast but we ordered take out. Tried a few items on the menu. The calamansi fried chicken is a common denominator on a few of our orders. The calamansi taste is subtle and goes well with the chicken. The skin is crispy and the meat is tender. This was my favorite item and the best one IMO. The rest were pretty good as well - kalbi ribs were tasty, pancit is pancit, lumpia was crispy and not dry, lechon had a bit too much fat for my liking and the fries ended up a bit soggy since we ordered for pickup, which took another 30 min travel before we ate it. I'm sure it lechon fries would be money if the fries were not soggy. But it has good flavor nonetheless. The churros definitely had that ube flavor. The filling complimented it well. It was sweet but for the portion, it was sufficient. We'll definitely come back to try other items on the menu. I applaud them for mixing different Filipino flavors. Well done! read more

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The food was absolutely delicious, the service was warm and attentive, and the ambiance made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Everything felt welcoming and well thought out -- definitely a place worth coming back to. read more

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Been waiting to go to this restaurant for a while! Ordered calamansi spicy wings, kare kare plate, salted egg fried rice, & chicken sisig. EVERYTHING was amazing & came out fast. Husband and I are from the Bay Area and it's been hard to find good tagalog filipino food on the island. These plates brought a great piece of home for us Also met the owner and had good convo with him. He has us try the mango panna cotta & it was to dieeee for. read more

This spot has been on my radar for the longest time. Especially with my love for ube desserts, I've always wanted to try their ube churros. Issue is, Minasa has pretty limited hours, so I never had the chance to make my way out to Waipahu before they closed. Sooo, instead of inserting this spot into me and my partner's day, we decided to plan our day around it, and I'm so glad we did. I really liked the overall aesthetic of the place, as the establishment is very nicely decorated. The service is different from any other places, it's almost self service? You go up to the counter and order and seat yourself. They'd bring the food to you, but that's really the only service you're provided. That is honestly my only gripe about this place, it was kind of weird to just walk in and stand at the door and have the cashier stare at you, we awkwardly walked in and eventually sat down on our own whim. Maybe it's just us, but later during our meal, a group of folks walked in, got stared at just like us earlier and after a few moments, walked out... TO THE FOOD THOUGH: - Kamayan Sampler: 8.5/10 - The lechon fries were SOOO good, and there was a good amount of lechon on top! I'd give it on its own a 10/10! However, I didn't care too much for the calamansi fried chicken, it was just okay 7/10, especially as SOME pieces of the chicken were majority skin/batter. I really liked the pickled cabbage and ong choy provided as well. I also liked that they offered the option to give us the ube churros at the end of our meal, which we happily took up on. It ensured that they were still warm and crispy, and I enjoyed it A LOT 10/10. - Lechon & Rice: 9/10 - Very good, I liked this and so did my partner. I feel like it wouldn't hurt to have a few more pieces of lechon on top. Overall, I'm so glad we visited and I will definitely try to make my way out here more often! read more

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My friend and I wanted to try a new restaurant today for lunch so we went to Waipahu. Loved the interior design! There's lots of parking out front. This place is not a typical restaurant. You order and pay for your food first. We saw the kamayan special picture at the register and knew we had to get it. Cashier was nice enough to give us the option of getting the ube churros after we ate our meal. Pros: the lechon was really good, 8/10. The fries were crispy. Calamansi fried chicken was also juicy. Food presentation 10/10. Staff were really nice and the owner or chef came out after the meal and thanked us for dining in. That was super nice! Cons: there is no public bathroom here. We were told to go to Jack in the Box or Arby's to use the bathroom. They don't give free water when dining in. This took us by surprise. I went up to the register and bought water. We didn't get garlic rice even though there was a picture of the chef's special kamayan sampler at the register that states garlic rice. I think the garlic rice would've made a difference to cut the sweetness of the chicken. Sampler came with pickled veggies and cucumbers. These were good in between bites to balance the oils and fats from the lechon and fries. Ube churros didn't taste like Ube. The sauce had a faint Ube taste. Overall, would I get the sampler again? Probably not. I would come back to try the rest of the menu but will be ordering takeout. Knocked off stars due to no bathroom and no water for dine in customers. read more

Minasa - Kamayan sampler. Ube churros not pictured. We wanted those last. - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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One could hardly notice occasional pop-ups from this one food operator called Minasa at various farmers' market that had consistently had long lines. Regular customers rejoiced when this Filipino eatery Minasa opened its brick-and-mortar restaurant in Tropicana Square in Waipahu near the Pouhala rail station on 5/27/23. "Minasa" in Tagalog means to "to mix" or "to mash up." Co-owner and chef Maleko Lagmay, who was born and raised on Oahu, honed his skills for about a decade working alongside local chefs. Chef Maleko learned how to craft his dishes that are innovative and yet rooted in tradition, as he brings a modern twist to classic Filipino dishes while honoring traditional tastes. Hence, "Minasa" was chosen as the restaurant's name to represent this process. Chef Maleko created Minasa as a homage to his grandparents, who instilled in him a passion for cooking. Minasa's signature items include: calamansi fried chicken & rice and ube churros. Other menu items include: lechon fries; bao buns; chicken wings; lumpia; lechon & rice; tamarind shrimp & rice; egg omelette & rice; steak, egg & rice; sisig; fried noodles w/ calamansi fried chicken; chef's special; salted egg fried rice; kamayan sampler; kare kare & rice; garlic chicken & rice; sinigang flavor fish & chips; ube funnel cake fries; ube churro sundae; chicken inasal; calamansi refresher. We ordered the following via takeout: * Calamansi fried chicken & rice bowl. Such a generous portion that should be shared! Excellent huge and juicy pieces of fried chicken thighs that are light, non-greasy and so flavorful from the light tangy and sweetness from the calamansi, which is a small citrus fruit that tastes like a cross between a lime, lemon, and orange! The chicken is served over regular rice or with calamansi spicy sauce, which we requested on the side, and it was very spicy! It was also served with delicious vinegary, pickled veggies (carrots, onions, sliced cucumbers, ong choy), and a half calamansi with red and green onions that complemented the chicken, glaze, and rice. Absolutely delicious! * Ube churros. The churros were heavily sprinkled with housemade purple sugar, with one end dipped with an ube purple drizzle. A creamy custard filling of silky smoothness was piped into the length of the crunchy churros, giving it a most delicious dessert that was not overly sweet. Outstanding! What a great restaurant that blends traditional Filipino dishes with modern creativity! The chef does a good job in balancing savory, sweet, and tangy flavors in coming up with a unique menu with nostalgic Filipino items getting a temporary twist and yet are so delicious! We were pleased with the customer service provided! We had arrived about 15 minutes prior to opening and were sitting on a bench fronting the restaurant until it opened. Staff was going in and out of the restaurant, bringing in supplies and setting up. Staff suggested that we wait inside the air-conditioned restaurant instead of waiting outside in the hot sun, which we took their offer. While waiting, the lone cashier was very personable and asked if we had any questions on anything. About 5 minutes prior to opening, she said she could take our order, which was ready in a few minutes! Gosh, talking about beating the crowd and no waiting time! The restaurant interior walls were adorned with artwork by local artists, which shows their support of local talent. With black tables and bench seats seating 5 or more people, the small popular restaurant is easily filled quickly. You order at the counter and grab your seat while waiting for your order. In addition to Minasa supporting local artists, they partner with Waipahu High School's Culinary Arts Program, offering students their 1st professional internship experience. They provide hands-on training in culinary skills, customer service, and business operations. Hours of operation are: Wed to Sat 12n to 4p, Sun 11a to 3p, closed Mon/Tues. Free parking available at the Tropicana Square that is shared with other businesses. Looking forward to trying the mouth-watering lechon fries, a 1:1 ratio of succulent crispy pork belly to crinkle fries, bacon, red & green onions, drizzled with a house sauce! So glad that Minasa is an important part of the community! Support local! read more

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Modern ambience, artwork, and fusion Filipino foods in the heart of Waipahu. Courteous and efficient customer service. Calamansi refresher lives up to its name. Loved it so much! Combination of sweet and sour. I could close my eyes and taste calamansi. The only item missing was half sliced calamansi fruit. I can sip and drink this beverage all day long especially in this heat and humidity. Calamansi Fried Chicken Rice Bowl (Regular): Enjoyed the crispiness of the skin, succulent pieces of chicken, veggies, exuding hints of sweetness, sour, tangy, and acidity from calamansi. Loved this entree! Pork Sisig Rice Bowl w/ Egg: Tender pieces, able to taste hints of calamansi and abundance of soy sauce. I appreciate having the egg which balances the acidity for this meal. I truly missed having garlic rice with these meals. I didn't see it available on 3.2.25 menu. None was offered or explained. Kindly save a calamansi and garlic rice on my next visit. Would love to dine in, try kare kare and lechon at my leisure. read more

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The pork sisig was great and I am comparing it to sisig in Pampanga. The texture was amazing. Nice crunch and flavor. I highly recommend ordering the Ube Churros. It was something I tried for the first time and was very impressed. It's a cozy restaurant with an ambiance I appreciate. read more

Minasa - Menu 16 April 2026 - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

The modern take on classic Filipino food would be enough to win me over by itself, but the comfortable dining area, and genuinely warm and quick service make Minasa my new favorite Filipino restaurant on Oahu. We showed up around 1145am for lunch only to find that they open 12-4pm. Chef was bringing in some produce and invited inside to get out of the heat. That's the kind of customer care that engenders lasting loyalty, and we felt immediately welcomed. For our meal two of us shared the chef special, which has lechon, calamansi fried chicken, and kalbi over a bed of rice and with a variety of fresh and colorful pickled vegetables. We also ordered the ube funnel cake fries for dessert and the calamansi juice to wash it all down. All the food was excellent, and the calamansi juice hit the spot. Our favorite was the calamansi chicken, but every single item was fresh, hot, visually appealing, and exploding with flavor. We'll be back soon to try some more of Minasa's exciting menu! read more

Minasa - Chef's special (lechon on the side). - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

I tried the Ube Churros at an event at Ward and Calamansi Fried Chicken my friend brought for a gathering and had been wanting to try this place out and glad I finally did. We decided to try the Kamayan Sampler which includes Lechon Fries, Calamansi Fried Rice and Ube Churros. You place the order at the counter and wait at your table for the food. The place has a decent amount of tables. We went late Saturday afternoon and it wasn't very busy. Parking: there is a parking lot shared by several businesses so had no issues parking. read more

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Takeout lunch from Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawaii... I was across the parking lot at Loke Aloha Coffee when I realized that Minasa was right there! I could see their sign! Located in the same strip mall as Taste Tea, Minasa was reviewed by my friends, Irene, Donna, and Daniel! Rod U. even received Review of the Day (ROTD)! CONGRATULATIONS! Minasa is an upscale, but casual establishment with a calm environment, muted lighting, and simple, but elegant decor. Order and pay at the counter with the pleasant, helpful staff! Since there were several customers dining in already, I took my order to go. The Chef's Special was perfect: boneless kalbi, calamansi fried chicken, & lechon with white rice. Everything was tasty, beautiful, and scrumptious! I wouldn't mind returning to sit down, relax, and enjoy the decor... and more delicious food! read more

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Minasa is exactly what the local Filipino scene needs right now. Minasa approaches Filipino cuisine from a modern perspective. FOOD :: Ordered the Kamayan Sampler (Lechon Fries, Calamansi Fried Chicken, Rice, and 2pc Ube Churros) and Chicken Inasal. Also got the Calamansi Refresher. Food was spectacular. I didn't expect lechon to pair so well with fries! The calamansi fried chicken was perfectly crisp and not oily nor too crispy. The ube churros were great, though I wish there were more ube sauce on it! The chicken inasal was also amazing. I do wish that the Calamansi Refresher had a stronger calamansi taste and sweetness to it, because it tasted a bit watered down. SERVICE :: Service was great. Food was prepared quick. I hope that Minasa is able to expand their menu, their physical location, and hours. Hours are a bit limited and you could only come here for a lunch meal. I wish they were a bit more transparent with their hours by posting it ahead of time instead of same-day so we could prepare ahead of time. AMBIANCE : Inside, it feels minimalistic. Seating is bench style. They have a shelf next to the cashier, which is supposedly their art gallery that features Filipino artists. Review for service received August 2025. read more

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The food here was phenomenal. We ordered the Kamayan sampler as well as the fried noodles with Calamansi fried chicken. They are so generous with the portions. Between me and three friends, we couldn't even finish the two dishes! When we split the price, it ended up being like $19 total. The ube churros were to die for there's like a custard filling inside, which was so decadent. The fries had pork belly topped on it with a creamy sauce; the fried chicken was crispy. Maybe one thing would be to ask for some spicy sauce on the side if you like your fried chicken ~saucy~. I am literally a carnivore, and I love it when restaurants are so generous with their meat! Minasa does not skimp on the meat! The service was really fast, and the food came out within 10ish minutes. Super fresh and hot. I absolutely loved the ambience; the lighting and the cute decorations were so welcoming -- a lot of thought definitely went making this such an amazing experience from start to finish. I will be thinking about Minasa until the next time I visit Hawaii!!! read more

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I've been looking forward to my next client meeting near Waipahu so I could finally try Minasa. When the day finally came, I didn't hesitate to recommend the restaurant. They are located in the same lot at as Jack in the Box, Arby's and Elena's. It's toward the end and when you enter, you'll see the main dining area with lots of art work for sale on the walls. It's a little dim inside but eyes adjust quickly. You order at the register and find any open table to dine on. The tables are perfect for small and medium size parties. Customer service was friendly and the kitchen was quick. Only hiccup was forgetting our cups of ice for our drinks but they quickly remedied that after a friendly reminder. It was an easy decision to order the Kamayan Sampler which included Lechon Fries, Calamansi Fried Chicken, Garlic Rice and Ube Churros. At first bite, everything was quite good but it was a lot of fried food. Personally I'm not a big fried foods person so I didn't enjoy it as much after 3+ bites. Also, I'm not a fan of mayonnaise or sauces with it mixed in so the Lechon Fries wasn't my cup of tea. My favorite dish was the Calamansi Fried Chicken over Garlic Rice. The acidity helped cut into the richness of the dish and the fried chicken was very good. I only had a couple bites of the Ube Churros and it was tasty. Overall, I can see why this restaurant is so popular but it's not food I can eat often. read more

Minasa - Kamayan Sampler - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

The food was amazing here! We had the eggplant torta with sisig, calamansi fried chicken, lechon fries, fried noodles, banana sundae, and ube churro. Everything was amazing, but my fav was the eggplant with sisig. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the items. Service was also on point. read more

They opened at 12 and got there at 12:15. They were already busy. You order at the counter and then grab a seat. I opt for take out so I hung out by the entrance in the corner. I got to observe all the dishes coming out I think the owner came out too. Greeted the guest. The place is clean and small. I wanna say maybe 6 tables. Server was very friendly and attentive. It's cute that the dishes are served in wooden bowls, plates and trays. I got the Kamayan sampler... calamansi fried chicken, lechon fries and ube churros. Good deal read more

Minasa - This is the Kamayan sampler. Ube Churros, calamansi fried chicken and rice & lechon fries - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Tried their Lechon Fries at a pop up and holy moly that was probably the best thing I ever ate in my life. Kinda pricey, but so worth it. Those fries were loaded with toppings and lechon. So so so good!!! read more

My cousin raves about this place constantly so my husband and I decided to check it out. We decided to try out the Kamayan platter because they had a little bit of everything. I'm not too much of a meat with fries type of girl, but the lechon was delicious. The meat was juicy. The fries were crispy and overall flavors were great. My favorite has has to be the calamansi chicken. Tart but salty and crispy. We both agree the ube churros exceeded our expectations. I want to come back to get more food! read more

Minasa - Kamayan - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Familiar food with a twist. It's a new twist to old dishes. I grew up with lumpia and everything adobo so I'm familiar with the flavors but not the combination they mix in. Many of their dishes use calamansi or tamarind. And whoever thought of ubi churros, should be awarded a medal. Unfortunately sometimes they do run out of items and for a while restaurant had weird hours. Call ahead to make sure they're open. The decor is nice and the restaurant is exceptional clean. The servers bust the tables quickly and give it a good wipe down. Parking is a challenge since they are in a strip mall with food trucks taking a lot of space. I have gotten the lechon friend and calamansi fried chicken. And these dishes are great. I always wanted the braise beef but it's such a popular seller that it's gone when I get there late. Overall four stars. The dishes I have gotten so far are delicious but the menu always seems to be out of the braise beef. M read more

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Even years later Minasa STILL delivers the best flavor on Island. I was so happy to see them at an event recently. Yay Minasa! read more

Such a unique and modern twist to classic Filipino dishes. Each dish reminisce the traditional Filipino dishes but you can definitely taste the spin they do. The kalbi was extremely tender and saucy and the lechon was tender but crispy! We definitely enjoyed the Calamansi chicken because you could prominently taste the Calamansi flavor. They even offered us a spicy Calamansi hot sauce on the side that was delicious to dip our chicken in! Overall, if you grew up in a Filipino household, trying new twists to old classics brings a sense of comfort while feeling like you're trying new dishes. Service overall was excellent. They're very attentive and always check up on how things are going. Highly recommend trying out this place--esp if you're in the area! read more

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A few things to note that I wish they had... -Complimentary waters -Personal menus to order (it was hard for my elder Dad to choose what he wanted to order because he couldn't see a menu) -I know it's wishful thinking, but a bathroom near by for dinein customers It was our first time coming here. I've seen this location on social media and heck, we live in Waipahu... idk why it took us so long to come here. It is literally a hole in the wall. Not a big location. But don't get me wrong, their portions are wayyy bigger than their location! I think that's what held us back from coming in. We came with a party of 9. Thankfully, there were seats for us. Also, we came on a Sunday so Sunday football was playing... My Dad and husband was happy with that. Their food... what can I not say?! Awesome fusion of Filipino food! Our kids were ecstatic with the noodles and chicken... and we ordered their other main dishes. Overall, we will be back. Maybe just for takeout? It's not really a "restaurant, restaurant" per say. But, sooo worth it! read more

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Delicious Filipino food with awesome selections. The servings were good size & variety selection pack is worth it to try other yummy Filipino dishes. There were desserts & nice refreshments too. read more

Minasa - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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Is there a 10 star rating on here?? Because this place deserves it! Tucked in a back spot this place deserves to be front and center for sure!! We enjoyed all of the things we got and it was a total breath of fresh air to have something that was so familiar but yet so unusual! To top it all off the workers were so friendly even Chef Mark came out to thank us and talk story ! I tried to convince him to come out to Kapolei and to my very pleasant surprise he said he was looking into it!!!!!! I hope u get that spot Chef Mark! We will definitely be regulars! What are you waiting for!!?? Check this place out like YESTERDAY!! Salamat po Chef and Staff you're killing it! read more

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MINASA Minasa combines traditional flavors with a modern and contemporary twist to create an unforgettable dining experience. Minasa's innovative approach allows for a bold infusion of Filipino ingredients, delivering a unique taste with a modern flair. Delight in their take on classic Filipino dishes like the "Kamayan Sampler," which includes their popular Lechon Fries, Calamasi Fried Chicken with Garlic Rice, and Ube Churros. This mouthwatering dish is characterized by tender, juicy, and flavorful chicken pieces that are perfectly marinated and cooked to perfection. I also appreciated the fresh-cut calamansi for that fresh squeeze! Minasa also offers a variety of other Filipino dishes and specials. The modern and contemporary ambiance of Minasa and their exceptional authentic Filipino dishes make it the perfect place to visit for anyone who loves food and culture. Minasa Restaurant 94-866 Moloalo St. Waipahu, HI 96797 (808) 629-9958 #queeniesfoodjourney #queeniesdiabadassfoodjourney #minasa #waipahu #filipinofood #filipinofoodmovement #modernfilipinofood #calamansifriedchicken #lechonfries #ubechurros #kamayan read more

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Tried the calamansi fried chicken at Minasa at Waikai once and finally got a chance to visit their storefront in Waipahu. We got the chef special with lechon, calamansi fried chicken, and boneless kalbi short rib. Everything was packed with flavor and had that familiar homestyle taste but with a modern twist. It came with pickled ong choy, cucumber, and rice topped with crispy fried garlic. Portion was plentiful and could easily be enough for two. We also got the pork sisig which had a nice umami flavor and the calamansi refresher was super light and refreshing. Service was quick and the vibe was cool and trendy, though it was a bit dark inside. Parking is easy to find, but some of the spots are a little tight. Definitely a great spot for elevated comfort food! read more

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I absolutely love everything about this restaurant! The inside is nice and cool. Perfectly decorated! The vibes are awesome! Both the workers I met inside were kind. The chef came to check my table and see if the food was good, which it was! I got the Kamayan sampler and a calamansi refresher! The ube churros, garlic rice and calamansi fried chicken were my favorite 10/10. The lechon fries were a 7/10 for me. I'm definitely coming back!! read more

Minasa - Inside - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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An unassuming frontage hides this cute restaurant...the interior is charmingly decorated with potted plants that are available for sale, tastefully displayed. They don't open until noon so hold on to your appetite. I had the chef special, calamansi chicken, lechon, kahlbi and garlic rice. I really enjoyed the chicken and lechon but found the kahlbi very tough and the seasoning was not to my liking. My friend enjoyed her chicken as well. Would be nice if there was complimentary water available instead of having to buy bottled water. I tipped but felt that tipping is for service, more than putting the food on the table. A simple follow up, otherwise it's all self service Cute restaurant, good food I wish them the best. read more

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Food is flavorful Favorite is lecheon bowl Service is amazing make you feel at home Owner is amazing very kindhearted shows in his food and his staff read more

I've had this one on my short list but my Pinoy mother in law came across it on a visit, and wanted to check it out for lunch. We were all thoroughly impressed!!! It's a fast casual restaurant but the food and eat-in presentation is all really wonderful. You order at the counter and then they will bring the food out to you. It comes out fairly quickly! We were one of several tables in the restaurant eating family style, and I highly recommend that so you can try everything they had to offer. We did the Lechon Rice Bowl, the Chef's Sampler Plate (Lechon, the Calamansi glazed fried chicken, and Kalbi), the Chicken Sisig, Shanghai Lumpia, and an order of Ube Churros. While everything was great, some of the favorites were the kalbi and the Chicken Sisig bowl! Prices are pretty reasonable for as much food as you get. We still had plenty leftover to bring home! Parking was a little tricky around 12:15 on a Wednesday, but we did find a spot in the adjacent lot and quite a few more opened up before we left, so I'm assuming it might just require a little patience if you catch the lot at a busy time. It's worth it! read more

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The best meal I had this week! Minasa offers innovative elevated dishes from classic Filipino dishes. The fresh local ingredients are noted. This chef definitely deserves awards on taste, quality, quantity, and overall unique Filipino flair that complements each dish well. Sleek ambiance with black tables, nicely decorated with art. Food: We couldn't decide what to get, so we opted for the Kamayan Sampler (lechon fries, Calamansi fried chicken, garlic rice, Ube churros). $36.09 current price. Food came out in a platter. Everything was so delicious! The lechon fries are a must try. I enjoyed the Calamansi citrus on the fried chicken over the bed of addicting garlic rice. The Ube churros were not only pretty, but the perfect dessert to end our meal. Value: Definitely a good deal for 2 hungry people! Drink: No water station, so bring your own water or buy their beverages. No bathrooms available, we were told Jack in the box nearby for an option. Service: What stood out about this place was the service! Chef Maleko came out to check up and thank us for coming, which was appreciated. The two young ladies working upfront were very happy and friendly, and seemed to genuinely enjoyed working there. Very rare to see that nowadays. The ladies also checked in with us multiple times throughout the meal. Location: The hardest part of this place was the parking. This was a very busy plaza filled with other business like liquor stores, drive thrus. We really enjoyed the delicious food and excellent service, so we hope to be back again! read more

Minasa - Kamayan Sampler (lechon fries, Calamansi fried chicken, garlic rice, Ube churros) $36.09 - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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