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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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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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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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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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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I attended an event this evening and Minasa catered the entire event. I tried the chicken rice bowl, the vegetarian lumpia with calamansi (lettuce, shredded carrots, cucumber slices), a shrimp dish, and fries topped with lechon. The dishes were beautifully plated. You can not only taste, but you can see the love that went into creating these dishes. Everything I ate was delicious. They had many staff working the event, from the cooks to the servers. They kept the flow of the food coming. During intermission, they served several pastries. One of which was an ube churros. They also had a coffee & tea bar. Everyone looked so happy and eager to assist guests. I don't know how long they've been in business, but they sure have their act together. I hope to see them at more events!! read more

Minasa - Yummy shrimp with tomatoes - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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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Is it lunch time already? YES.! We were staycationing on the West side for entire week so I finally get to check out Minasa, has been on my bookmarks after reading Foodie Rod U.'s review. Just that the restaurant times does not work out for me, even on weekends- unless I have to take a day off, which I will do for my next visit. What a nice surprise, I was expecting a food truck but its a cute little shop at the end of this mall, I was carried away looking at all the cute decor, plants, & artwork and didn't get to the menu and deciding what to order.. Decisions... everything sounds so good especially we love Filipino foods! I wanted to try it all, but just got noodles, chicken, and shanghai lumpia for today's visit. Since we still had leftovers at the hotel. Order was nicely packed, both wings flavored were seperared as well thank you for doing this! Smelled so good in the car on the way to hotel, I was so excited! The verdict, I got the glazed wings instead of fried chicken in adobo and spicy calamansi, thank you for acomodating my order, wanted to try both flavors. I loved how the wings are glazed and not saucy! (reminds me of these wings I had in Vegas and trying to go back there for more) but now I can just go west for them. Out of both flavors, my favorite was teh calamansi. Wow! loved the flavors packed in that wings! I love how they added the bits of tomatoes and onions. I really enjoyed the Shanghai lumpia, cute bite size rolls, I loved the ends, charred taste and the sauce that goes with the lumpia, I need a bottle of that! The noodles, its like fried saimin, Filipino style but way better. I could taste the shrimp, pork, lechon, and veggies, so GOOD & tasty! I love it, love it! Enjoyed our lunch! Since we were going to grab some Filipino pastries along the way I didn't get the Ube Churros, next time for sure! This business is amazing, fusion Filipino goodness, When I say I will be back, I am going to be back for the Kamayan Box! Service, staff, was awesome! There are few tables for dine in which I know I will love the fun vibe of this business. Whats a Kamayan Box?- Lechon fries, calamansi fried chicken with garlic rice and ube churros for $36.09. All great choices! Recommend! read more

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My wife found this gem through social media and the food was delicious! We got the pork sisig and fried chicken/longanisa pork buns, both were incredible. The sisig came as a large serving and was perfect for 2-3 people. I was able to get the pork buns with a combination of two meats because I wanted to try both meats. The flavors on them were so good, both unique with tangy, spicy, and crunchy textures. The staff was super friendly and couldn't have been happier with our experience. Highly recommended and can't wait to return to try other menu items! Best, Charlie read more

Minasa - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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Met friends after soccer. The parking lot was a bit full and its a little weird with the one ways but its located in the same lot as Elena's, little ceasar's and arby's. FYI they said the closest bathroom is jack in the box so make sure to go before you come. Staff was incredibly helpful and friendly and helped me change my mind a few times when ordering! We ordered the pork sisig bowl, adobo wings, lechon fries, shrimp with veggies (forgot the name), lumpia and ube funnel cake fries. The shanghai lumpia were mini and a little lackluster. Everything else was super delicious! Happy we did the pork sisig bowl. The lechon on the fries were crisp and not too fatty drizzled with all kinds of saucy oniony goodness read more

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I rarely go to Waipahu but there were times I like to go to Waipahu Arby's, Filipino restaurants, Pacific Market, Tanioka, or just places I wanted to check out. Minasa's menu has a variety of Filipino Fusion food which caught my eye one day. I wanted to try ube churro, love calamansi drinks or calamansi fried chicken and lechon. When I saw the Kamayan sampler on the menu, immediately wanted to check this place out! I wasn't sure where they were located in Waipahu but thought it was worth checking them out and try the Kamayan sampler which had a little bit of everything that I wanted to try. There were lechon fries, calamansi fried chicken over garlic rice and ube churros! Lechon was good with a crunch over fries which I liked and if not, there was garlic rice under the calamansi fried chicken. Although the calamansi taste on the chicken was on the light side, it was good but could be a bit stronger and the ube churro was different but absolutely delicious. I would get it again. The sampler was enough for two, but since it was so good, I maybe able to finish most of it myself, lol. I did get a calamansi refresher which hit the spot on a hot Sunday afternoon. Funny, we sometimes have calamansi fruit in our yard and I could make my own drink, but I never did! I do want to try some other dishes like the spicy calamansi or adobo wings, Shanghai lumpia, ube funnel cakes! Now I know where to find Minasa. I didn't realized it's in the same mall complex as Arby and Elena. It's a little hidden at the end of the complex! It's worth checking out! it was a cute & small restaurant with good food with a lot flavor! Like they mentioned on the website...Filipino food in a modern way. read more

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I love many of their dishes, but their sweets are my personal favorite! The Ube Funnel Cake Fries are just as much a stand out as the Ube Churros, and their omelettes are a savory and filling homerun as well. It's a nice and small dining area decorated super cool, and the owner and staff are amazing people to chat and converse with. Looking forward to my next visit! - Miguel Morales Photography read more

Minasa - Ube Funnel Cake Fries (@miguelmoralesphotography on Instagram) - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Soooo delicious and filling. Very friendly staff and great atmosphere, loved the layout and designs on the wall. Went on a Saturday around 1pm and it was packed so actually decided on taking the food to go but it was delicious. Lechon fries were had bits of crispy topping, pork sisig was probably my favorite so moist and full of flavor! Definitely coming back again to try out the ube churros! read more

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Minasa is a solid five stars for quality Filipino food! In recent years, I'd feel iffy at the thought of modernized Filipino cuisine or Filipino fusion. When I think of Filipino food, I think of my mom and two lolas' cooking. Still, when I first heard of Minasa years ago during their "farmers markets-only" days through my Instagram algorithm, I was intrigued by two items--the sisig fries and ube churros. I love lechon kawali sisig, French fries, ube halaya, and churros, but combined? I was excited when I heard Minasa finally opened shop in Waipahu (next to Elena's, Little Caesar's, Jack in the Box, etc.). I could never catch them when they'd set up their booth at events all the way in town! During my first visit earlier this year, I had to order the two intriguing dishes. I ordered take out during lunch break to bring home. I was surprised to find out the sisig was juicy, tender, crispy, and cut in larger bite size pieces! The fries' texture wasn't so bad either, but we wouldn't want fries (which take the place of steamed rice here) to steal the spotlight from Minasa's amazing sisig! The ube churros surprised me as well! The thick ube sauce actually tasted legit and not too sweet, reminiscent of my family's ube halaya recipe and not like most ube crinkle cookies in the market. The churros were nice sized and still crispy underneath the ube sauce! Minasa should just do a collab with Disneyland (or at least, Disney Aulani resort) because these ube churros match up with Disneyland churros! About a couple months ago, I was curious to try one of Minasa's ulam/rice bowls while continuing to introduce my ABC (American-Born Chinese) husband to authentic Filipino food. I ordered the Tamarind Shrimp Rice Bowl with Veggies as takeout during another lunch break. OMG, the entire dish was so delicious! I'm usually a slow eater, but I demolished my half of this bowl! The shrimp and veggies were so flavorful. The dish really looked like something Lola could've cooked herself. I love that Minasa has that modern feel, but all the foods I've tried so far uphold traditional flavors I grew up eating. The dishes may not be served family-style like traditional Filipino cooking, but Minasa is a great way for a solo curious eater (or two!) to enjoy flavorful, authentic Filipino food. I hate to say it, but Minasa is more homey, more affordable, and more legit than Peso, the extremely bougie Filipino fusion restaurant that closed in Kaka'ako. When I have townie friends visiting the West Side, Minasa is a mainstay on my list of recommended Waipahu food spots! read more

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Bacon. Crispy pork. Garlic fried rice. Pair them with an array of pickled veg, a zesty squeeze of fresh calamansi; this is modern Filipino food and wow does it impress. Get the lechon fries. A pile of insanely crisp fried topped off with a heaping of crispy skin, juicy lechon, drizzled with a creamy aioli, a generous amount of Mang Tomas (sweet sour Filipino condiment) and topped with rendered bacon and green onions. Outright gut buster that you will happily finish. Get a rice bowl. All are made with a base of bacon, garlic fried rice. Bacon and its fat add great flavor and keeps the fried rice moist. All bowls use a plethora of pickled veg and microgreens that make each bite different while keeping the oily nature of the proteins in check. Lechon, great. Tamarind shrimp, all kinds of good with it's zesty burst of calamansi for tartness. Fried chicken, even better. Well fried boneless thighs, crisp on the outside, extremely moist on the inside. It is glazed in a sweet / sour calamansi glaze. Opt to squeeze more fresh calamansi on the chicken for an even brighter burst of citrusy goodness. Pickled green papaya and ong choi (water spinach) and herbaceous micro cilantro all add to the enjoyment. If available, grab the longanisa corn dog. Trust. Yes they have gram worthy ube churros. Yes they are crave worthy. Limited seating. All good, the food survives transport well. Very friendly counter service. Extremely well thought out dishes and a modern approach to Filipino food make Minasa destination worthy. 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

The owners are super friendly and the ube churros are always a must!! Also love the little cafe vibes with wall outlets asking it a great place to work/study. read more

Drove from Nalo to try Minasa's food and it was delicious!! From the first bite of lechon fries to calamansi fried chicken, I was I heaven. The Lechon kare kare was the best I've ever had! Thank you, Minasa, for an unforgettable lunch! read more

Just came home for a quick visit and this place popped up on my social media as a new Filipino place to try. I'm so thankful to have tried this place, the food is so ono and sarap my sister and I wanted to cry. It's a humble but well decorated, good vibes place. Cashier was helpful, courteous and quick. We ordered the chef's special (fried chicken, lechón kawali, kalbi, pickled veggies on a bed of rice. The stand out part was def the chicken, skin was super crispy and flavorful. We also got the ube churros which are filled with cream and have ube drizzle. Would come back again to try the rest of the menu. Mahalo for the awesome visit! read more

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The food was good. The service and people were top shape. The sampler was a bit pricey, but the portions and taste make it worth the cash! Over all, work it. Come, eat, be happy with this fusion Filipino grinds read more

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Lunch for two at 12:30pm on a Saturday, at this quirky Fil/Am restaurant. Minasa is located in a strip mall on Farrington Hwy, a short 5 min walk from the Waipahu Skyline station. First, the parking lot is packed, and we had to circle to get an open spot. The restaurant is small, and during our lunch, it was full. Four tables along one wall and two tables in the center. Along the other wall is a narrow 12 inch wide piece of wood that kinda serves as an overflow. We were able to move to a table in the center when it came open. The two center tables are so close that my elbows were almost touching the other tables occupants. Awkward. I also prefer restaurants with full table service. Minasa is like L&L, in that you order at the counter. No menus at the table, nor glasses of water. But, that's my only criticism... the restaurant is just too small to handle its brisk business. However, I give FIVE stars for the quality and quantity of the food. Likewise, the service was very friendly and relatively fast... FIVE stars. read more

Minasa - The Kamayan Sampler... Lechon Fries, Fried Chicken & Rice, and three wonderful Ube Churros. - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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Inviting. Artistic. Intentional. The decor is well thought out and welcomes you into a small , but beautiful space. A celebration of culture,everything is a nod to what I presume is their Filipino roots. But as with any food evolution in Hawaii, it has fused the best of other cultures as well. Filipino artists are featured on the walls and the beautiful banana mural draws you further into the restaurant. A few friends and I met for lunch...first time for all. We decided to try the sampler as it would allow us to taste as much as we could. The presentation of these Filipino 'tapas' were beautiful, artistic and builds on the expectation that you're about to indulge in something special. And lo and behold it was! Sweet, salty and savory: these small bites covered all the potential tastebud bases if you will. We also tried the spicy ahi with Inari bombs. These were one of the BEST I've had. The flavors were well-balanced. Lightly sauced goes further in my opinion and most overdo it. The lechón pieces added a nice touch texturally and it elevated it to first place in my book. LOCATED next to La Casitas and where the old Laverne's restaurant used to be. I had to park next to Jack n the Box, but that's not a problem. SERVICE: They checked on us at the table a few times. Where service is almost non-existent or mediocre these days, it was noticeable. read more

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This is one of those meals you will wish you could eat for the first time to experience it again. It was delicious! My friends and I ordered a Kamayan sampler to go and ate it in the car- they were pretty fast and efficient with ordering (we had driven from north shore and it was ready by the time we picked it up). The Kamayan sampler is so good!! The calamansi fried chicken was the perfect amount of sweet/savory and crunchy, the lechon fries were crispy and perfect amount of sauce and the ube churros were AMAZING! So delicious and tasty. I really enjoyed the calamansi refresher as well. I will definitely be back. read more

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

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A blend of Filipino food and traditional flavors. The seating area is a little small but the food is worth the visit. I also ordered some Ube Churros to go with sorry no pics. Service was great and fast. Give it a try read more

Minasa - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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This is a quaint little spot, tucked in a corner, in a strip mall in Waipahu. There is parking but limited with lots of other food establishments in one spot. I discovered this spot through my friend, Steven, who has a dog named Churro. I was craving Churros and was recommended to this spot. Here you place your order and select a table. We were greeted by Tehama, a very sweet and friendly hostess who answered all of our questions. She made us feel warm and welcomed and checked in on us often. We ordered the Lechon Fries, Lechon Rice Bowl, Adobo Wings, Shanghai Lumpia, Ube Churros, and Ube Funnel Cake Fries. Let's start with the portions, holy moly they are HUGE! This place is super generous with their portions! Although each dish is about $18, it's enough to feed 2 adults! For sure these are meant to be shared, with only 2 of us, we barely made a dent. The Lechon Fries is chalked full of perfectly fried french fries, soft in the middle and crisp on the outside. Then generously topped with lechon, bacon bits, fresh chopped red onions, chives, cilantro, and sour cream. The Lechon Rice Bowl has garlic bacon seasoned rice, topped with a generous portion of thick pieces of lechon. The lechon has the perfect balance of juicy pork, fat, and super crispy skin. This was accompanied by fresh pickled onions, limes, sprouts, and sauces. Both dishes were so ono! The Adobo Chicken Wings is cooked just the way I like it, juicy meat on the inside and crispy on the outside. The seasoning was a little on the salty side but paired well with the rice. Now for dessert! Ube Churros!! Again, chef Moaleko made it perfectly! His ability to make everything so perfectly BLOWS my mind! The churro is a normal flavor and the Une drizzle was not overly sweet and just the right amount of Ube flavor. And the Ube Funnel Cake Fries? Yes, please! And at the end, Chef and Co-owner, Maoleko, came out to check in on us after sending Tehama out with a complimentary light seasoned Ahi Inari. It was an extremely refreshing and light treat. The atmosphere at this establishment is overall warm and family vibes. We left feeling SUPER satisfied and special. read more

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Greeted by friendly staffs as soon as we came in and service was really warm and thoughtful. Their food is really good and the restaurant is clean. Everyone makes you feel that they are grateful for your visit and I wish this business more success! read more

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We really loved the food! Each dish was perfectly crafted and was well balanced. The flavors complemented each other. I don't have a favorite dish. Enjoyed them all! Def broke da mouth! We got the following: - Chef's special - lechon w/tomato onion relish, calamansi fried chicken, and boneless kalbi short rib w/rice. - Kamayan sampler (all best sellers) - lechon fries, calamansi fried chicken, and ube churros - Ube funnel cake - Calamansi refresher read more

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I love the fresh new Filipino food concept at Minasa. The small establishment is located in Waipahu next to Watanabe Floral. They have a few tables and also a bench outside. The customer service was stellar. We were greeted upon arrival and the staff was really friendly. There were just a few other customers when we arrived, and our food didn't take long at all. Shanghai Lumpia With all due respect, I've had better elsewhere. You're not missing anything if you don't order these. Lechon Fries These are a must-try. Crinkle cut fries topped with crispy pork, tomatoes, onions, and sauce? Yes, please. The portion is huge and sharable. Fried Chicken Rice Bowl with Calamansi Glaze I've never thought of putting a calamansi glaze on fried chicken, but it works beautifully. I'm glad I tried this. What makes this bowl even better? The chicken is placed on a bed of bacon garlic fried rice. Yes, bacon garlic fried rice. They don't skimp on the chicken because there's a good ratio to rice and one thing I don't care for at other food establishments is that they give twice amount the rice as the meat. Not at Minasa. Ube Churros You've had all that salty food, now balance it out with the sweet ube churros. You get three cream-filled churros, dressed in ube and sugar. Cute accent is the tiny purple flower that comes with it. Our mistake was ordering them right off the bat. By the time we got done with our meal, the churros were cold. They were still good, but I know they would be best enjoyed warm. I guess order them towards the end of your meal, or just have dessert first. No one's judging your course order. Would I return? Absolutely. I'd get the Lechon Fries, Fried Chicken Bowl with Calamansi Glaze again, and I'd also like to give the Steak Rice Bowl with Calamansi Dip a try. It comes with the bacon garlic rice too! read more

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Food: Very good. I enjoyed their adobo wings the most. Ube churros was a light flavorful dessert, not too sweet. Calamansi chicken bowl, was interesting. Tasted like Chicken Katsu glazed with a Calamansi sauce, I liked it though. Price: Was reasonable and affordable. The adobo wings was $10 which seemed like a good deal to me.. given the generous amount of wings and flavor it was packed with! Location: In that small shopping plaza in Waipahu, where Jack In the box and Arby's is. Parking can be difficult because there isn't lot of stalls available for the amount of food places in this area. Restaurant: Small but beautifully designed on the inside. Love all the trendy decor. Also, there are a couple of tables and chairs to sit and eat comfortably. Service: Friendly, helpful and quick. I'm glad I was able to make it out here during their hours and hopefully I am able to come back and try other things that seemed good on their menu. read more

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Chef's Special was delicious! Plenty for two people for lunch. We subbed garlic rice for the regular rice and it was perfect. Highly recommend. read more

Haven't been this blown away by a meal in a hot minute, so I'm really happy I checked out Minasa in Waipahu. Tucked away in the corner in the shopping area along Farrington Hwy, you'd never think to find some of the best Filipino food in this cute space. Tried the Chef's Special (~$30) which consists of calamansi fried chicken, lechon, and kalbi with pickled vegetables over a bed of rice. Everything was so delicious and cooked to perfection. Perfect meals are hard to come by, but this took the cake. Paired with their calamansi refresher drink, I couldn't have asked for a better lunch. Will be back again!! read more

Minasa - Chef's Special - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

We yearn for different delicious local eateries that lacks in our community. We found this gem in Waipahu that the food actually matches the dish description and oh my, so good! The Lechon was tasty, soft, and the skin was crispy, not hard and chewy with perfect matching pickled veggies. The Calamansi Chicken had a crispy bright flavor and moist, and the Arroz Caldo was devine. We had the pleasure of talking with the Chef Owner Mark and he made us feel like we were longtime friends. The dining room is small but so quaint, comfortable, and decorated very nicely. Check out the website which we did and reading Mark's philosophy besides the menu is why we had to visit. The interns were great, so nice and professional. Thank you again Mark. We've already spoke highly of your fantastic food, philosophy and of course the awesome Chef. Mike and Joy read more

We have been here 3-4 times now. Service and food has proven to be excellent each time. The dining room is small ish. Limited to about 6-8 tables. Very clean and well maintained (in significant contrast to the outside location). Don't let the exterior fool you. My BIL demanded we come here one evening after he had located their Socials a few months before. We came for the food and met the owner. What a stellar group of people!! They intern multiple youth from the local high school to help them establish a trade prior to graduation. Several times we have been back and they all rave about what a great experience it is and how grateful they are. My hubby would eat all the fried chicken and lumpia they could make in a day if I let him. The Lechon is great, the Kalamansi (?) fried chicken borders on the best on island. We have loved every Katsu we tried. The churros are fun, the limeade tart and perfectly sweet. We would eat here a lot more if they were open for dinner. We often talk about getting there but often have to check socials to catch them open. Work/Adulting suck sometimes. read more

Amazing Filipino food. Service was great. Good quality ingredients. Friendly staff. Loved the calamansi fried chicken and sisig. read more

Food 4.5/5 Lets break it down, yummy but higher priced food. Calamansi refresher = 5/5; not too sweet, really good. Calamansi chicken = 5/5; nicely fried, seasoned well, came with a side of rice. Try this dish! Lechon fries = 3/5; ahh, I really wanted to like this but it was just OK, the first thing I noticed was the lechon room temp, fries were OK, sauce was fair. I think I'm a lechon purest and need tomatoes. And bacon with lechon? Thats cool but a little too much for me. This seems like the kind of food you'd have with a beer. This is the one thing we did not finish unfortunately. Happy to have tried it, would probably not order again. Ube churos = 5/5. Yes, yes, yes. Trust me, yes. Ambiance 4/5. Cute, clean, small-ish space (I think 5 or 6 tables total). Appreciate the Filipino decor. As mentioned in other reviews, having an actual menu you could hold in your hands would be nice. On a side note, the parking lot is confusing, but we managed. Service 4/5. Polite but reserved/quiet cashiers. You have a small business...we are happy to support you, up sell your best dishes by talking to your customers. Worth a try for sure, will return for the sweets! read more

Minasa - Calamansi refresher and ube churros. - Filipino Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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Minasa closed its restaurant one evening to prepare a pre-wedding feast for our family. The food was superb abundance the decor was lovely! What stood out was the amazing service by everyone. The lechon, the calamansi drink, the chicken-- I could go on! So delicious! It made the beginning of the wedding festivities so very special! Mahalo! We will be back! read more