I just finished a Yelp event nearby (she wasnt able to go) and we are starving, so we finally…read moredecided to check this place off our bookmark. Highway Inn is known for traditional Hawaiian food, but we ended up trying some of the local-style twists. The kalua pig quesadilla was really good, and the tacos were solid too. The surprise for me was the chicken from the kids menu. I ordered it anyway, and honestly, no regrets. It was juicy, flavorful, and better than a lot of regular chicken plates I've had. The Kaka'ako location is clean and modern, service was quick, and it was exactly what we needed after a long event. We would definitely come back to try more. The on-site music artist was good.

The internet told me if I wanted authentic Hawaiian food, this was the place to go, so of course I…read morehad to try it. Since it was our last meal before leaving Hawaii and there were still a few Hawaiian dishes I hadn't gotten around to trying, this felt like the perfect spot. What I really liked is that they have a sampler plate with a bunch of classic Hawaiian dishes, and the menu actually breaks down what everything is. Clearly this is something people come here for, because it makes trying a little bit of everything way less intimidating. I split the sampler with someone, and overall I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the items didn't look the most appetizing at first glance -- one especially because of the color -- but flavor-wise, everything was actually really good. One of the dishes reminded me of a comforting chicken soup situation, the clear noodles were good, some of the other items were more savory, and it all balanced together well. The lomi salmon was one of my favorites -- kind of like a light, fresh tomato salsa or pico de gallo situation that paired really well with the pork and everything else on the plate. I didn't finish it all because I was already full, but I genuinely liked the variety and thought the flavors were rich and comforting. So if you're curious about Hawaiian food but don't know where to start, this sampler is a great move. Don't let the appearance of some of the dishes scare you off. Service was quick and everyone was nice. At first I kind of wished someone had walked us through the food a little more, but honestly, the menu already does that for you pretty clearly. Overall, I'm glad we came. It was a fun way to try the Hawaiian dishes we hadn't gotten to yet, and I'd come back to try more.

What an iconic gem! So sorry I missed it last time I was here. It has been profiled on Food Network…read moreas one of the best and it was so true! Made sure to come here the first night I landed so I did not miss out and could see if it lived up to the hype. It did. It is such a fun place to feel like you are having a picnic. You know this place is good since there is a steady line of people ordering bags and bags of food. Just to say, this is another must-do must-try place for food. We was super excited to have the mixed plate with gravy. It was beef, chicken and fish with rice and mac salad. It was huge and perfect. It tasted amazing and I would order this again and again. We had two of those. We also tried the loco moco and classic dish, and the saimin, which I had always wanted to try. One child also ordered the BBQ pork sandwich which she enjoyed and since it was a small menu item could help with the mix plate, which is impossible to finish in one sitting. I was stuffed and in woman versus food, food won overwhelmingly. I wish I had room to try the slush and ice cream or other items, but I could not eat another bite. So many items on the menu were very tempting and I am sad I only got to visit here one time. I do hope to return and have so many things on my dish wish list, but that mixed plate was so good, I bet I would go with that again.

Love the drive-in vibes. Parking lot is small but we got lucky with a spot and also got lucky with…read morea bench table. Not a long wait for food. The four of us shared the loco moco plate, boneless chicken with gravy plate, and the BBQ beef plate. Food was good and hearty. My favorite was the loco moco plate. Boneless chicken had some pieces that were on the pink-ish side and the breading was a little soggy and didn't stick to the chicken that well. BBQ beef plate was good but nothing mindblowing. Some beef slices were dry. Mac salad was good. Overall good place for a cozy classic Hawaiian meal.

OMG! This was a dining experience! So, the restaurant was closing so my friend said we should eat…read morethere! I didn't know that the servings were group sized!! I found so many things that looked great on the menu, to include fried gizzards, boneless Kal Bi ribs, fully loaded fried rice, Mac salad and other stuff I can't recall! So the TWO of us ordered way too much! We tried to eat as much as we could and ended up taking the rest home! Everything we ordered was delicious, so we knew we were going to eat good leftovers! The restaurant was a great place to go with a group to eat and watch sports! Our Waitress (I have to remember to get names) was a track star, she was running to and from several tables of groups to deliver food! I will go again if they reopen!

If you're visiting Hawaii with a big group, 100% recommend taking them here…read more We initially were a party of 16, and showed up without a reservation at 6pm on a Saturday. The staff was super nice about it and was able to accommodate us, with only a small request that we be out by 8pm since there was another big party with a reservation coming in. Absolutely reasonable. They sat us right away at three large tables, which gave us plenty of space for food and didn't force us to sit super close together. Menus, waters, plates, napkins, and forks were all brought out immediately, and our waiter was quick to take our order. We started with the prix fixe menu for 8-10 guests and were going to add other items à la carte, but a handful of our group accidentally went to the other Side Street location (make sure your group is all on the same page), so what we ordered ended up being more than enough. We left stuffed and with 5 boxes of food still. Edamame was nice and steamy, and large enough to easily pop the beans out with your mouth. Wish there was a bit more salt though. The farmer's salad had everything going on from citrusy to salty to crispy. Avocado had a little bit of oxidation but the capers, dressing and potato curls provided plenty of reasons to overlook it. The fried rice came in a hefty portion, with sizable pieces of bacon and sausage. The chicken I didn't realize was boneless based on the shape of the deep fry, but it was nice to freely bite into it without worrying about hitting anything with my teeth. Probably a bit too much on fried bits but still good. Pork chops had a better meat to crisp ratio in my opinion, as well as juiciness. They even came with ketchup on the side, which I love as a pairing but don't see much of at restaurants. My favorite meat item was definitely the sizzling boneless kalbi. The presentation on the sizzling plate with a side of kimchi was spectacular, and the meat was full of flavor. We also ordered yakisoba, which wasn't part of the prix fixe. Tasted good but nothing past standard expectations. We let the waiter know we had a 30th birthday at the table, and they brought a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream with a candle, and did a decent job getting the whole room to participate in the singing. It could also be the type of crowd this place attracts, since it seemed that everyone was so friendly and approachable. Thanks to the quick and consistent service, we were out in a little over an hour with no complaints.

Ono Hawaiian Kau Kau...don't forget to stop by for some ono lau lau n Kailua pig with da poi and…read moreHaupia...

This place is an Oahu staple for a reason. There's usually a line and cars parked along the road,…read morebut the food is worth it.Just be there early to beat the crowd. The combo plate with kalua pig and laulau is my go-to, and the hand-pounded poi tastes fresh and real, nothing like the store-bought kind. The mountain backdrop makes the whole meal even better. Do not leave without trying the Sweet Lady of Waiahole. Warm kulolo with cold haupia ice cream is unreal.Simple setup, great food, and still feels like old Hawaii. ps. I didn't get the other Pic cause it was eaten.

Tried Kehau's Kitchen and really liked it. The place has a chill local feel and everyone there was…read moresuper friendly. It felt more like a neighborhood spot than a touristy restaurant, which I appreciated. We had the poke nachos, ribs, and laulau. The poke nachos were really good and probably my favorite thing we ordered. Fresh poke with crispy chips and a good mix of flavors. The ribs were tender and flavorful, and the laulau tasted homemade and comforting. Portions were solid too. Service was great the whole time. Staff was welcoming, food came out fast, and overall it was just a good experience. Would definitely come back next time I'm in Honolulu.

Ok, so if you're looking for great ambiance but if you're looking for good food that you will find…read morelocals eating at, this is the place!! The food was flavorful and so enjoyable. It made me happy. They didn't have any of their Mexican dishes available so we got the Hawaiian menu items. We ordered kamakaze poke nachos (the star!), the local boy with checked and ribs and the local girl (both chicken and ribs were delish), and the beef teriyaki (also yummy) and the beef stew combo (not my fave though).

One hundred stars! I saw this place somewhere online and I am so grateful, because this is such a…read morehidden gem off the strip. But is it not unknown. We always say if there is a line out the door that is the place to try and this place definitely had a long line out the door, but that was fine, it gave us a chance to figure out what we wanted to try. They are such a small business, but not only have food but many fun souvenir items to buy. They have copies of the menu outside posted as well as menus you can browse as you wait in line, but also pay attention to the chalk board for more choices not listed on the menu. We all went with the same pick, shrimp and avocado musubi. It was so fresh, the absolute best musubi that I have ever had, period! They have more items that just musubi. People were coming out with bags and bags of food. Unfortunately for myself, I only had an appetite for one and we were not able to return since we were visiting so many spots, but I will be dreaming of this tiny delight! If you are a musubi fan, this is a must visit place.

If you think 5,400 reviews are lying, let this one be the reason you make sure to visit this local…read morebusiness when you're in Honolulu. It was love at first bite for me with musubi and onigiri, so when I saw a spot dedicated to this deliciousness you better believe I made a point to go there! I ran even faster when StaciLei, Yelp Hawaii's amazing Community Manager, told me it's a must and gave me her list of greatest hits and must not miss items as a guide! Now I've had a lot of these in my life, and I must say, Iyasume are easily the best. See musubi and onigiri have humble origins as a quickly made homespun snack or on the go lunch, and when you spot them in the convenience environment they're often a giant ball of rice with a tinge of protein or seasoning for flavor. At Iyasume, these are culinary adventures, stacked with ingredients, all in handheld form, and the variety they offer is IMPRESSIVE! Of course musubi starts with the classic, SPAM. I had to order the kimchi + spam, shiso + spam, and unagi + tamago + spam, all of which were awesome (even the next day!). Onigiri here are actually layered with ingredients, so you get them in every bite, unlike the convenience store versions! They have a HUGE menu, and I went with spicy mentaiko and salmon, spicy mentaiko and ikura, ikura and salmon, and tuna mayo curry, all of which were great. I LOVE that they make these to order. You can see the line in the back hard at work, and they're very fast. You're sure to encounter a line when you arrive, but don't be scared, it moves quickly. I only had to wait about 5 minutes for mine to come up! Well worth it. Reasonably priced. Very filling. A taste of Hawaii and Japan in one place that'll have everyone smiling!

My #1 spot on Oahu. I can't believe I've never written a review for this place but it's finally…read moretime. Everytime I visit, I always try to stop by 2-3 times, even on a short trip! The Spicy Shoyu Ahi is to die for but all their other selection is amazing. You really can't go wrong with any choice!

***4.5 stars***…read more Fresh delicious poke. Pay by weight. We ordered 2 bowls with spicy ahi, wasabi ahi, spicy salmon, and salmon poke. Our favorites were the spicy salmon and salmon poke. Very flavorful, saucy, and tender. Service is extremely friendly. More of a grab-and-go shop. Would come back!

The smoked salmon belly is fire as hell, service was great and the wait was very short.read more

I loved it here. Truly a hole in the wall. Parking is really tough so street parking is usually…read moregonna be the norm unless you get lucky in their tiny shared parking lot. The guava bar was delicious and flavorful and just crumbles in your mouth! Definitely one of the better guava bars I've tried. Love how crumbly it is. The salmon belly was delicious OMFG. It looks so simple and straightforward but that sht is so flavorful. It is crispy and yet soft on the inside. The salmon belly is cut into bite-sized pieces so I didn't have to worry about using a knife to cut it. I usually try salmon belly where it is usually seasoned lightly to bring out the natural flavor of the salmon, but Guava Smoked's salmon belly is just grilled in a way that makes the salmon sweet/crispy and still get traces of the salmon taste as well. It's definitely not your traditional Japanese-style way of cooking salmon belly but really just their own. I'd go back and get this again. Another thing too. I'd get this with beer. This would hit very hard with alcohol but because I don't drink I need a kombucha. The grilled salmon belly would go perfect with it. Cheers! Uncle was very helpful and kind when serving and if you dine-in he brings it to your table.