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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!
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?
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
9 months ago
Food was amazing. Love the ambiance inside, the location is a bit off, but that's not important. Friendly crew. I love it. I highly recommend this place!!! read more
It was Sunday and a late lunch after church. I enjoyed this little restaurant in Waipahu. The service is great and the people are very friendly. The menu is quite simple with traditional Filipino dishes with a local fusion flare. You order your food at the counter and they bring it to your table. The decor is pretty neat. They feature local artwork on their walls and from what I was told the artists periodically change. It's a very nice vibe in this restaurant. As for the food we had the Lechon Fries; one of their signature dishes. Very delicious. We also ordered the fried chicken rice bowl and the 2 pc Bao; one with Longanisa and the other with fried chicken. The servings were very filling and both tasted super delicious. We did a take out for the Ube Churros for our dessert. Yummy! We can't wait to return to taste some of those other Filipino cuisine dishes! read more
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Minasa H.
Mahalo for your review, Val. We've shared your compliments with our…
Minasa is a hidden gem in Waipahu. Although I was unfamiliar with this comfortable yet upscale Filipino eatery, I am now a fan! I only heard of this place because of its lechon fries. I rarely venture out to the Westside (I'm such a townie), but, hey, lechon fries... gotta make the drive! And, boy, was it worth it. For $17.59, you get a container bursting with fries covered with chunks of lechon, creamy sauce, and bacon. It is so delicious. We also had the steak and egg rice bowl for $18.59. The steak was cooked perfectly tender and medium rare, but the overeasy egg was over hard. Still, I can't be mad because there are some surprising pickled sides in the bowl: onions, cucumbers, ong choy (I think). There's a tangy sauce, a calamansi lime, and some vibrant sprouts (I didn't even ask what kind it was because it looked so pretty!). Then, to top it all off, we had the ube churros (4 for $14.49). These are warm, crunchy churros stuffed with cream, sprinkled with ube sugar, and drizzled with ube cream. Perfection! The chef did such a beautiful job that I plan to work my way through the entire menu. The counter staff is polite and helpful. The atmosphere is chic and cozy, with its dark, sleek furniture, gray walls, eclectic lighting, fresh flowers, and local artwork. Put this on your must-visit list! It's worth the drive for any townie. read more
2 years ago
Minasa has been on my list for a little while and was happy I got to visit on the way to kapolei. I called in my order for lechon plate, pork sisig plate, and lechon kare kare with ube churros for dessert. Total was about $75.00 Once arrived the place was clean and had nice decor, located in a plaza with many other stores. Parking lot was full but we were able to catch someone leaving pretty quickly. The staff was nice and assuming it was the owner who came out and thanked us for visiting which I thought was very sweet. I enjoyed the sisig plate very flavorful. I got full quick so I'm saving the rest for dinner tonight. Only note I wish the ube churros had more ube taste. Other than that this place is worth the visit to try some Filipino / fusion foods read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Reyes, thank you for the feedback! We take pride in maintaining…
Snagged takeout on a rainy day and it really hit the spot! The bowl lunch and the lechon fries were super satisfying comfort food and knocked us out for an afternoon food coma. Between two people we stretched everything out to 2.5 meals easily. Because it was takeout and I didn't get to eat it for ~20min everything was softer than it'd be freshly served (due to hot steam in the boxes) but the flavors were great, and good portion sizes. The churros were yummy (and obviously so gorgeous!) but didn't taste like ube at all to me- but I find that's a common problem in Hawai'i with a lot of ube desserts. Would love to try their lechon fresh next time, and their steak rice bowl :) Staff was so nice too! read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Anna, thank you reviewing us! We’re glad you enjoyed the food, and…
2 years ago
Made it out to Minasa to try their infamous Ube Churros so this review is for that only. UBE CHURROS 3/5: - Can't justify that this was worth $12 - Only tasted a subtle amount of Ube and expected this to have cinnamon just as any churro would - While the taste of ube was subtle, the inside of the churro was nice and gooey. - Cute presentation! SERVICE: - The service we received was okay, might've just caught the cashier on a bad day! AMBIANCE: - Minasa itself is pretty small. - Minimal seating. - Clean, modern, cozy and inviting Although the ube churros was a let down, we may be returning to try other items on their menu! read more
1 year ago
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Minasa H.
Elijah, thank you for taking the time to visit and leave Minasa a…
2 years ago
I just wanna say, Chef Maleko is amazing!!! He was very accommodating when I called Minasa Restaurant and told him we were going to have dinner there for our July birthday friends. He texted me the updated menu and shared a little about the history of how he wanted to open up his own restaurant (Filipino fusion) after working with other great chefs. When we got there, they had the tables already set up for us. The number of people in our party kept decreasing for various reasons, but for the 7 of us who showed up, we were very, very delighted, grateful and busog!!! We ordered 2 Kamayan Samplers (lechon with fries, calamansi fried chicken, garlic fried rice, mango with alamang, AND ube churros). It was loaded and oh so tasty!!! The lechon and chicken were crunchy and delicious! Having it paired up with the fries and fried rice, it really fills you up fast! They brought it out "doubled" on a platter, but just looking at it, it seemed like it was tripled! Others in our party ordered 2 lechon burgers (burger patties with pieces of lechon) with fries and they said it was unique and very flavorful). I noticed that there was a steady stream of satisfied customers and the tables were always occupied. It is a "hole in the wall" eatery....a small space with the probability to expand. The staff was so pleasant in making us feel at home, they brought us extra napkins, plates, utensils and containers. Chef Maleko came out a few times to check on how we're doing, he even introduced us to 4 up and coming young Filipino chefs and to let us know he was gonna bring out something special. Who does that?!? Well, that something special was an ube churros and ube jellyroll birthday cake drizzled with ube yumminess! Furthermore, the unexpected surprise was the "icing on the cake" (figurative, not literal). We were so thrilled to be the recipient of our favorite and refreshing Filipino dessert.... "Halo-Halo!" Naks naman! Ay naku! We highly recommend this place and we will definitely be back! read more
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Minasa H.
Minnie, thank you all again for coming to celebrate your birthdays at…
Some of the greatest food I've tried on this island! I got to the register and asked for one of everything. It was pretty windy outside so the sweet person checking us out asked if we wanted ponchos and my heart wanted to burst! Alright, everything I tried was AMAZING. The lechon fries, the crispy calamansi chicken bowl, lumpia, ube churros, A M A Z I N G. Whoever came us with these recipes executed them perfectly and every element works so well together. I've been waiting months to try Minasa and it was so very worth it. You can taste nothing but love and FLAVOR in every bite. The quality of their food is exquisite and the ube churros even though they're straight sugar were surprisingly not too sweet. 10000/10 would recommend. read more
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Minasa H.
Sorry for the late reply! We would like to thank you so much for such…
2 years ago
The food is always so good! I'm always talking about Minasa with my friends and family. The Calamansi refresher is always what I'm craving. You'll find classic Filipino flavors and dishes with a delicious twist. The Bao Buns are great with the crunch of the cabbage and sweet Longanisa. The Pork Sisig is enough to want to share and trade a piece of the calamasi fried chicken or eat the whole bowl on your own. The side of pickled vegetables with the fried chicken go so well together. We always come back because something on the menu is new or there's dishes we haven't tried yet. We're so close to eating everything on the menu and there's nothing but smiles and a happy tummy everytime we leave the restaurant. Service is always so helpful and nice. Minasa is the go-to for Filipino dishes. read more
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Minasa H.
Charimhel, this is a lovely photo. Thank you for your kind review and…
1 year ago
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Minasa H.
Daniel, thank you for kindly leaving this review. We're very glad you…
3 years ago
Mmmm love their Fried chicken bowl! Broke the mouth! That sauce they used to drizzle the chicken was so good and the pickled veges with garlic rice and side of calamansi to squeeze over the bowl. Everything complimented each other so well. They also sell amazing desserts here too! Got their ube Danish pastry wow so good! Love that they have a storefront now but they still do some events as a pop up. read more
2 years ago
This is the best Filipino food on the island and definitely one the top foods on the island. Everything we had was so good. All our guests were raving and asking where we ordered. The fried chicken was especially so crispy and juicy and the sauces were so awesome. We ran out of lumpia so fast, lol. The Filipino Spaghetti w/ Fried Chicken was so uniquely delicious! Garlic Fried Rice Mini Shanghai Pork Lumpia Chicken Wings w/ 2x Sauces (Adobo and Calamansi) Vegetable Medley Stir Fry Filipino Spaghetti w/ Fried Chicken Chef Maleko and his team have great customer service. They were attentive and communicative throughout. We were given perfect instructions on how to serve the food at our event. Minasa went above and beyond for us! read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Larry, thank you so much for your kind review. We're so grateful…
2 years ago
Finally able to visit this place for a girls lunch date! We stopped in on a Saturday, about an hour after they opened & got the Kamayan Sampler (Lechon & rice, wings, longanisa bao bun, Ube churro) & Lechon fries. The Lechon had a good amount of meat, not too much fat. You can tell through the flavor of each bite each bite, that the dishes were made with love. The restaurant is a cute place, with lots of parking available ! After you place your order, you can find any open table to enjoy your food. The food got to us rather quickly, too! Nothing was short of amazing! I can't wait to go back to try the fried chicken rice bowl with calamari glaze. read more
9/29/23 @1340 Located in the heart of Waipahu where Jack in the Box, Arby's, Elena's, Little Ceasars is. They are the last unit on the right. In contrast to its surroundings, once you step inside, you are treated to a modern decor. There's even a small section of the counter with their Halloween decorations with skulls and other things. The restaurant is relatively small with a few tables and counter like seating for 2. The place is clean and air conditioned. The staff are friendly and greet their customers with a smile. The menu was just right. The menu had a good selection of items, but not a gazillion items where you are standing staring at the menu to make a choice. After I placed and paid for my order, it wasn't long before my order was ready. It was walked over to me where I was sitting waiting. I kept thinking to myself, that they have great pride in what they do. The presentation of the food, to the stickers put on their take out containers and the stamp on their package. Those small touches really make a difference. Ok, now for the food. I ended up ordering the Lechon Fries....WHAT?!?!??? Such a freakin good idea!!! I also ordered the Fried Chicken bowl. The Lechon Fries proportion was huge. It's a meal in itself, but it's perfect to share with someone. The lechon was delicious, pieces of pork and crunchy with crinkled fries AND bacon pieces!!! It is topped off with a perfectly balanced sauce. Next is the Fried Chicken bowl. On a bed of rice is perfectly cooked pieces of chicken. Pickled vegetables (like daikon). When you bite into the chicken, a pleasant hint of calamansi is present in every bite of the chicken. Very delicious. In closing, it was a very pleasurable experience as soon as I walked into the restaurant. The food was top-notch and has made its own special niche in the food industry. The only thing that I was a little disappointed about was their hours. They open around lunch and close at 4pm. I would like to see them open for dinner. But other than that, please continue to pay attention to detail and those little "special touches" I will definitely be back to try the other menu items. Highly Recommended!!! read more
1 year ago
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Minasa H.
Hi Terry, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’re…
Stoked to be the first person to review this awesome pop-up Filipino eatery! I found them at the Ono Grindz & Makeke Sunday foodie event at the Kapolei Commons. It was hard to miss them, as they had the longest line of all the vendors! I had seen them on IG and just knew I had to try their food. The line went fast (15 min or so) and by the time I got to the front, the order taker (I think it was the owner's fiancé) was super sweet and apologized for the long wait. They were already sold out of a couple items after 1-1/2 hours, but they still had what I came for - the lechon fries and the ube churros! The lechon fries were a delicious, creative dish. They add small pieces of lechon (pork belly) on top of fries and splash some bacon bits, onions, parsley, aioli sauce, etc (at least I think that's what was on top)! The ube churros were also delicious. The churros were sprinkled (or dipped in) ube sugar and then they add ube sauce on top. It was sweet but not overly so. Any ube lover would love this! The lechon fries were $15 and the churros were $12 so it was approx $27+ for 2 street food items, which seems a bit expensive but I'm sure the cost of lechon is high, plus they had quite a few people in the tent that they have to pay, so I get it. Definitely check them out on Sunday's at the Kapolei Commons starting at 9am. Get there early, as they had sold out of the lechon fries around 10:30am. You won't find a friendlier team! read more
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Minasa H.
So sorry for the late response, Stacy!Thank you for the wonderful…
3 years ago
Don't be discouraged by their hours. We've been wanting to try this place out but it took us so long because our schedules never aligned with the business hours, BUT we're so happy we were able to finally try this place out. I'm a fil-am who rarely goes out to buy Filipino food because I prefer my parents cooking. This is the ONLY place I'll buy Filipino food because its just THAT good. We ordered their steak bowl, tocino, egg and rice bowl, lechon fries, ube churros, and the calamansi water. Everything tasted so delicious and I would definitely reorder everything again. The steak was nice and tender. You could tell the tocino was homemade and the lechon was meaty and paired well with the fries. All the bowls came with garlic bacon fried rice which was so divine. The bowls also came with some pickled sides, which reminded me of achara. This was so pleasing because I have never had achara outside of my parents cooking. The calamansi water is a canned sparkling water that I have never seen before. It was so refreshing and I even went back for seconds. The costs of everything may seem on the higher end, BUT I think the quality and quantity of what you get justifies it. Other than the amazing food, the staff and customer service was phenomenal. They checked in on us quite frequently and they made us feel very comfortable in their space. If you're coming with your family, please note that there are no high chairs. Luckily, we brought our stroller. Anyways, I'm looking forward to our next visit to Minasa. Can't wait for more! read more
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Minasa H.
Our Minasa team is so thrilled to receive such a great review! We’re…
Talk about the ultimate comfort food!! Minasa is one biz I just had to give a shout out and am so happy that I finally found them here at Ono Grindz & Mākeke in Kapolei Commons on their huge grassy fields next to the theaters with infinite parking I had no problems finding one but with all this fabulousness it does fill up quite fast! Okay I've been seeing so many teaser post on Instagram @minasahawaii that my problem is that I really wanted to try them all ugh!!! I had to start somewhere so as I was standing in this impressive loooooong line mind you don't let that discourage you as they have an unreal system and it was moving super fast so I had to make up my mind fast lol!!! Tadahhhhhh!!! Lechon Fries and Ube Churros. The fries is super flavorful with Krinkle cut fries loaded with what I'm told is a brown Lechon sauce for the roast pig...yummmy...it's so light and flavorful that sauce is made of onions, garlic, brown sugar and vinegar. It's topped with green onion and cilantro, red onions, load of chunky crispy lechon and bacon bits. Simply perfect nothing more to say. The Ube Churros is just that with yummy not too sweet Ube sauce and sugar...love love love!!! Follow them on Instagram @minasahawaii to keep up with their yummies and location. Thank you!!! read more
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Minasa H.
So sorry for the late response, Irene! Thank you so much for the…
1 year ago
7 months ago
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Minasa H.
Hi Ann, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. It’s…
2 years ago
Great modern take on Filipino food! Presentation was great and the flavors were very nostalgic and elevated. We got the spicy calamansi fried chicken bowl, lechon sisig bowl and ube churros and enjoyed every dish. Can't wait to go back and try other items on their menu. read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Darin, we're so glad to hear you enjoyed the food. We look forward…
3 years ago
Get the lechon fries. Get the ube churros. Get to Minasa ASAP. The fries and lechon are so delicious. The ube churros are filled with a light, sweet custard that balances out the churro. The space is clean and inviting and there are several tables and a small counter for dine in. The staff is SO HELPFUL, NICE, and HARD WORKING. read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Kuuleianuhea,…
2 years ago
1 year ago
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Minasa H.
Jay, we're very happy to know you enjoyed your order so much! Thank…
2 years ago
The food was da bomb! We went there on a whim looking for a place it eat and yelp rated Minasa high so off we went. We had the Sampler with the calamansi fried chicken and lechon fries with ube churos on the side and an order of fried chicken bao buns..1 bite i was hooked! The owner came out talk to a few people asked about the food told him it was excellent. A few days later we went back and i ordered the chefs special and it wasnt disappointing! I was empressed because the owner came out again and remembered talking us. I would highly recommend Minasa to everybody! read more
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Ken, thank you for taking the time to visit Minasa and review the…
1 year ago
2 years ago
Foods are awesome! Chef Special is onolicious. First time I tried while back and it's something you want to keep going back for. If you love Kalamansi...yum yum yum! The restaurants ambiance is very appealing. It's gives you that homie vibes. Service is top notch!!! Owner Chef Mark and team are just lovely, great customer service and treats you like a family. It's something wonderful that no other restaurant will make you feel. Definitely be coming back again read more
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Jen, thank you so much for your kind review! We love serving you and…
Limited business hours, but well worth the day off to travel out of town. Located in the same strip mall as Elena's, Minasa is warm and inviting space with a modern local vibe. About 5 tables and can seat about 25 people. Order at the counter and food is brought to the table. Staff is friendly and helpful, and I appreciated the owner coming out from the kitchen to thank his customers for their patronage. A good number of delicious dishes to choose from, so highly recommend coming with a group the first time to try as many as possible. They do have a sampler, but it seemed like a little too much food for 2. So, based on the cashier's recommendation, we went with the lechon fries, pork sisig, and a side of calamansi fried chicken...and enjoyed each bite. I can see why the lechon fries are a customer favorite: sizable dish with chunks of crispy skin pork and crinkle cut fries topped with red onions, mayo, and lots of bacon. The modern version of pork sisig (no cartilage pieces here ) came with garlic rice and a fried egg, which was a hard over easy. The chicken had a sweet and sour glaze that added an additional layer to what was a perfectly fried chicken. I liked the extra calamansi given with the chicken and sisig to brighten up the dishes more. Would have also liked the option of having vinegar (true Filipino dipping sauce). My one sigh was that only bottled/canned drinks are available, on top of what is a pricier side for lunch...$50+ for the 2 of us, but with quite a bit leftover to take home as we ordered more than needed. A community pitcher of water with cups would be appreciated or even a recycle bin for the bottles. Happy tummy to see and taste a modern take on Filipino food! read more
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Minasa H.
Thank you very much for coming down to try our food! We're happy to…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Hi Kolu, we're happy to hear you enjoyed the food! Thank you so much…
3 years ago
The restaurant that brought me back to doing Yelp reviews! Summary: The food is awesome and the hype is real! Lechon Fries: 10/10 First, let me clarify for my Filipino food purists out there - the lechon here is the lechon kawali variety, not the one roasted over an open charcoal fire. That said, the flavor was on point and at par with the best homecooked or restaurant lechon kawali in the Philippines. For context, I have eaten lechon kawali all over the Philippines and also in NY, Washington D.C., Florida, and California. I admit that I was initially skeptical whether lechon would work with fries, even if there was a drizzle of a Mang Tomas-like sauce over the whole thing. But I'm happy to say I loved the flavor combination! Minasa's chef has the skill and palate to make this dish work, and I commend him for it! In addition, the serving was pretty generous! My hubby and I shared one serving, and we could not finish the whole dish. Of course, we were also trying to leave room for the ube churros. Ube Churros: 10/10 I am not a big fan of churros - at least not the greasy variety like the ones they sell at theme parks. Again I was very pleasantly surprised - the churros at Minasa were not at all greasy. Each piece had the perfect crunchy exterior and slighly chewy interior with a Boston-creme-like filling. Half the length of the churros was topped with an ube sauce and, and ube powder was sprinkled all over. The end effect was a delicious dessert that just had the right amount of sweetness. Fried Chicken Rice Bowl with Calamansi Glaze: 9.5/10 I loved the sweet-and-salty flavor of the chicken glaze that had just the right calamansi tang. It was very delicious with the fried rice. Overall this was actually my favorite dish from Minasa, and something I would definitely want to go back for. I took out a half-point though because the pickled unripe papaya that was part of the dish was a little too sour for my taste. I think they were going for something similar to atchara, but the atchara I'm used to actually has a bit of sweetness to cut/balance the sour flavor. On a side note, this dish also had a generous serving. I had it for dinner and had a few chicken pieces left over that I ate the next day. Overall the flavors of the food we ordered at Minasa were amazing and worth taking the trip out to Waipahu! Quick note on the location: The restaurant itself is super cute, cool, clean, and inviting. However, there are only a few tables and it can get full inside pretty quickly. We decided to take our food to go so we can enjoy it more leisurely. Also, the restaurant is located in a strip mall that has a few other restaurants and shares a parking lot with an Arby's and a Jack in the Box, as well as a few food trucks (at least when we went there). So if you go there around lunchtime, just be aware that you may have to spend a few minutes looking for an open parking spot. This is what happened to us, but for me the delicious, flavorful food made it truly worth all the effort! read more
Amazing! So happy they opened a store front. We went right they opened at noon and let me tell you there was already a line. At this point they only have been open for less than a month. Our food was ready within 15 minutes. Cons: is the limited hours they are open Pros: the food is still amazing read more
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Hi Megan,…
11 months ago
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Hi Roland, thank you coming out to try Minasa and leaving a review!…
This place is so good. We got here Saturday morning when they opened and 2 tables were taken already and another party in line. I can totally see why because the food was delicious! I had their lechon bowl and added an egg and my friend asked for a longonisa bowl (it wasn't on the menu but we saw it on their ig page) they were able to make it and it was so good. Both bowls were delicious and flavorful and so visually appealing! All the flavors complimented eachother so well! The garlic rice and the veggies and sauce....heavenly! When we were leaving a guy thanked us by the door whom I'm thinking might be the owner, a nice ending to a delicious meal! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Charlie, we greatly apologize for the mishap. It was simply off for…
It was a great experience having lunch here yesterday. Mainly because of learning about the chef/owner's passion and mission for his restaurant! He really wants to contribute to the Waipahu community by providing work opportunities for Waipahu High students, while ensuring their personal and professional growth. As a former educator who was deeply involved in clinical externships and apprenticeships, this hit a homerun! Now for the review...of course the wait staff were friendly and courteous, but wow the food was so flavorful!!! Chef Maleko Lagmay said his menu honors his upbringing. Flavors are definitely Filipino-influenced, but the Chef creatively updates them and yet they feel homemade. The presentation of his dishes also reflect his Fine Dining background. We had the Sisig with Chicken and the tamarind shrimp rice bowl for our entrees. Portions were pretty generous, I took more than half of mine home, so my husband could try it. (He loved it as well). We even got to try the Shanghai lumpia and the yummy ube churros for dessert. Even though we live in East Oahu, it will be worth a trip to get more of these ono dishes!!! We'll definitely be back!!! read more
2 years ago
The service was great, the food was f'n good and the vibes are great. If you try nothing else... the lechon fries are sooo bomb. The skin is so crunchy and the meat is tender and juicy. Honorable mention to the kare-kare... the meat was so soft and tender. Definitely would come back! read more
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Hi Brianna, thank you so much for coming out to try Minasa! We really…
More info about Minasa
94-866 Moloalo St
D12
Waipahu, HI 96797
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(808) 629-9958
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http://minasahawaii.com
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Minasa - filipino - Updated July 2026
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