This is legit Honolulu locals-only joint. I ordered the beef stick to start. The beef is tender, well-charred, and holds soy/ginger/garlic type flavors very well. The saimin bowl with wontons was also quite good. The noodles were fresh and the broth well seasoned. It lacks the complexity of a fancy noodle bowl, the broth could have been more unctuous/silky. Overall, this seems to be a tasty dependable place for saimin. read more

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I feel like it was just okay wonton saimen, maybe I just do not really like wonton saimen. The broth was bland and the wontons were not meaty and felt like it was boiled for a long time however the the ramen was Aldenti the way I like. I didn't like the beef sticks. Chewy and hard to eat. I don't know if I would come back any time soon but it's a possibility the people were nice there. read more

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Old school kine grinds... We've been on a saimin kick lately. Dan, Angel, and I had never been to this restaurant in Kalihi, so we decided to give it a try... Located across from the Kapalama Post Office, Palace Saimin has a few stalls of free parking right out front. There was hardly any ventilation in the restaurant. I could feel the breeze from the open back door when I walked through the kitchen to the restroom. The dining area is compact and the simple menu is posted on the walls. I got the Combination which included udon, saimin, and wonton. The broth was tasty without being salty. I liked the wonton wrappers which were the thick, local style. The udon was on the soft side and the saimin was a bit firmer than the udon. Angel said that the BBQ meat stick was rather tough, but flavorful. Dan let me have a small piece and I agree with Angel. Overall, it was an authentic local experience. I enjoyed taking a step back in time and having an inexpensive lunch! read more

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Family run with a very friendly and communicating owner! We tried everything on the menu: salmon noodles, Saigon dumpling noodles, grilled meats. Delicious! It's comforting noodles that reminds you of home. read more

Palace Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

That outdoor signage is starting to fade real bad, but you can see it if you are hungry and putting the effort in. Don't blink and look for a parking spot like a hawk! You step inside and it's like you are going back in time, old school cool with the simplest menu, it's all I need. They have just a few items on the menu and they do them well. The saimin broth is clear and extremely flavorful, so clean I don't know how they do this. The char siu is sweet and the green onions/scallions provide that hint of fresh crunch. The noodles are firmer but has such a nice bouncy chewiness! The wonton and regular small sizes are perfectly portioned for a lunch and we enjoyed it after a wild day at the water park. The bbq skewers are smokey and flavorful with that sweet teriyaki like marinade. The beef is chewy but most of the meat is tender for the price point. I can't get beef that tender on a skewer at home, so let's be real under 3 dollar bbq beef skewers it's as good as it's gonna get! No complaints! The customer service is super nice from what we experienced. Support local and they take credit cards! Enjoy!! read more

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Claaaaassic spot for local kine saimin and teriyaki beef sticks. The family is always super friendly, and it's one of those childhood staples that I'm so glad endured COVID. read more

We ate here several times before and it is your typical local style hole in the wall establishment. Decided to stop by and try this place once again since options are quite limited for dine in due to the pandemic. We ordered our food and had the usual won ton mein and barbecue sticks which were OK. The food here is average and I would say that although it's very popular, there are other Saimin establishments that are on par with it or slightly better. However the family that runs his business works really hard and does provide pretty good service. However, we would still eat here again in the future if we felt like eating Saimin and were in the area. read more

Palace Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I was hungry, and I didn't know where to go. And then I thought, oh wait, I haven't been to the Palace yet. Luckily it was late in the evening, so parking was available. They have a small lot in front, but at a busy time, you're outta luck. The family that owns it is very friendly! I felt right at home! I ordered a large won ton min and one barbeque skewer. The soup comes out and it's hot! There's no AC, and it's hot! But once I started eating, I was transported to another era...when life was simpler. This no frills, non-pretentious saimin shop is a welcomed respite. Everything was delicious! I took pieces of my skewer and dunked them in my soup which gave it a slightly smokey flavor. I'm in love with this little spot, and I'm sure you will be too! Mahalo! read more

Palace Saimin - Won ton min....sooooooo ono! - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It's been a few years that I've had Palace Saimin and this time I brought my family. Due to covid there was a short wait. Once inside we were greeted and a table was cleaned for us social distancing is apparent here as the tables are spaced out. We ordered two small saimins, a small wonton min, an XL wonton min and bbq beef sticks. The wait for our food was not long and of course the flavors never disappoint! The broth, Noodles and beef sticks are tender and their sauce is everything. It's very clean, service was good and I love that although there isn't much seating customers are respectful of each other by eating and leaving when they're done, not to hold anyone up. It's not a published thing it's just human beings being wonderful to each other. My family and I will definitely be back for more ono saimin! Best saimin on the island in my opinion. read more

Palace Saimin - Small wonton min and bbq beef sticks - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I wanted to see what the fuss was about. Im not a big saimin connoisseur or anything. My memories of eating saimin with my mom at JC Pennies, Zips and da old beach consession stands was about the extent of it. So I figure Ill go make the drive out special to try this hole-in-the-wall place in Kalihi to see what the real thing might be. Parking was a pain in the ass but understandable. Only 6 real usable stalls and little or no street parking. I saw people eventually queuing up on the street. Place was clean and no fuss. Menus were on the wall and we seated on benches literally back-to-back with neighbors. Uncle seated behind me was warm. I could have leaned back but might probably have saimin dumped on my head. Saimin came out looking a little pale. But a little dash of shoyu fixed that for me. Noodles was just the right texture and the portion was good. Real simple, not that much condiments inside. My wife ordered the BBQ beef sticks and those were unexpectedly ono. I wondered if my boy liked it. I looked over and he finished two bowls of saimin already. I guess so. Overall, I liked it. Im not sure it would pull me out there to eat it special, but I would go there again if I was in the neighborhood. read more

Been coming here since my hannabatta days! The broth is the best!. Saimin noodles is chewy just how I like them! Always order the small wunton & 2 BBQ sticks . Hiroshi is the best, so friendly, & helpful!! read more

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Thus is the place for purist saimin lovers... plain and simple saimin but oh so good! Going strong for 70+ years!!! Back for more ono saimin in this cool night weather... read more

Palace Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A simple Hawaii comfort food done right. It's not fancy but the homemade taste is a reminder of better days for many. You can't go wrong with any of the saimin choices. I personally prefer the combination with a beef stick. A rainy night adds to the ambience if you're not a fair weather eater. read more

Palace Saimin - Combination - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Very much hole in the wall place that has been around forever, feels as if it traveled back 100 years in time. BBQ sticks $2.75 - it was cooked to perfection, tender and juicy with hint taste of fire. Saimin noodle soup $5.25 - lots of noodles for a cheap price, but nothing special. read more

A small hole in the establishment in Kalihi. Very busy, if unable to wait, recommend you call and place your order to go. We order wonton saimin, saimin, udon and BBQ sticks. Reasonable priced and ono. read more

I was disappointed to say the least. I had placed an in-store order through the phone for a Small Wonton Min and an XL Wonton Min. Upon my arrival, my food was ready. I paid for my food and went on my way. When I came home, I checked my food when I knew I should've checked it at the restaurant but I was in a rush. I noticed that my XL did not have a WONTON MIN only my Small had. At first I thought they separated my Wonton Min into a different container but it was actually the Small Wonton Min. Unfortunately I did not give a store a call since it would take me thirty minutes to even go back there. It wouldn't be worth going back for just two-three pieces of a Wonton Min. I checked all parts of the saimin in case the Wonton Min was on the bottom but it wasn't. I gave up and just ate my food. I'm not too sure why the cook didn't put the Wonton Min. Though I wished they checked it twice or even three times before giving it away to the guest. I was charged an XL Wonton Min when they clearly had given me XL Saimin. I really loved coming here. I remember coming here every Friday nights before COVID had hit but things changed though I still love coming here once in a while. read more

Palace Saimin - Small Wonton Min - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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How did I not review this place before? I've been coming here since little kid time! Pretty sure it's been the same owner for 40yrs! Simple yet satisfying. Gotta have 2 Bbq sticks with your wonton mein! read more

Eating at Palace Saimin is a nostalgic experience. With all of the new ramen places cropping up all over Honolulu, it's great to see that old school saimin shops still exist! For those who didn't grow up eating saimin, the broth and noodles are a little different from ramen. The broth is much lighter and has a slight shrimp taste. And the noodles are not as chewy as ramen noodles. When I was in high school, I loved eating saimin with Tabasco. Still do! Palace Saimin has a super simple menu that consists of saimin, won ton, and bbq sticks. Served in small, large, or extra large, ordering is easy and straight forward. Food is served quickly and piping hot. The saimin has a couple pieces of char siu, green onions, saimin noodles, and piping hot soup. Perfection! Won ton mein is like the saimin but has won ton. Portions are generous. For me, the small was just right. But my husband and Dad liked the large size. Service was efficient and friendly. There's a small parking lot out front. On a hot day, it does get a little warm in here because they don't have a/c. But for me, it was not an issue and added to the old school charm. I hope Palace Saimin lasts for many years to come. Definitely returning! read more

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3.5 stars First off, I had no friggin clue what saimin was. I went in and looked around for the menu but there was no description of what it would be other than knowing that is some kind of noodle in soup based on the pics I saw off Yelp. After consuming it and looking it up on Wikipedia, it turns out to be some kind of local Hawaiian creation from the sugar cane plantation days. A fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Hawaiian influences. Saimin is actually the Anglicized word for the Chinese characters 細麵 which translates to fine/slender noodles. This ends up being my second Hawaiian meal on this trip after having loco moco. The saimin came across as a blend between ramen and chinese wonton noodles. The broth had japanese influences and is light. Don't expect a deep richly flavoured broth. The noodle had a ramen texture or arguably 公仔麵 (Doll Instant Noodles) likeness, but fresher. The BBQ pork is a Cantonese influence and finally the wontons are Chinese, but the wrapper was incredibly thick compared to what you would find in HK. No prawns in the wontons neither. Skewers were good. Teriyaki marinated beef cooked over a flame grill Taste wise, the saimin was OK overall and the pricing was very reasonable. So why is everyone raving about this place and handing out five stars like candy during Hallowe'en? I'm gonna go with nostalgia as my guess. Nothing wrong with that if that's what floats your boat. It's a hole in the wall and a small space. Limited parking in the front, and no aircon. It can get quite warm. The noodles come very quickly once you place your order. read more

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Palace Saimin has been around Honolulu since the 1960s and is currently located at 1256 North King St. right across from the Kapalama post office. I would use the term "hole in the wall" or"mom & pop" to describe them. Parking is limited to about 7 stalls and the place gets super busy at lunchtime. The customer service is top notch -just what you would expect at a mom and pop saimin stand! They specialize in the classics... Saimin, won tun, udon, and barbecue sticks just to name a few. I love love love their barbecue sticks, and the barbecue sauce that goes along with it. They use good noodles and cook them perfectly (a bit al dente)! I would have given them 5 stars however, I wish the soup had a little more flavor. I remember when we had so many of these "hole in the wall" saimin stands all around the island, but now there are so few. Back then, they used to flavor the soup base with actual dry shrimp (opae) & scallops, and it would be simmering all day, so by the time you came in the evening, the soup had so much flavor. I noticed today, not only with Palace, but with other places, the soup doesn't have as much flavor as it used to. Don't get me wrong, my takeout was great, but not like how it used to be...REALLY, what is anymore? I encourage people to support this local small business and check them out. read more

The saimin bowl was great. The bbq pork sticks were delicious too. They do accept credit cards read more

Palace Saimin - Small Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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They have a small little parking lot in front of the restaurant. They opened up their seating inside there is maybe 2 or 3 tables it is a very small area. I accidentally said the wrong thing when I was picking up my order it was my first time and I got confused with the saidon and the combination. And I meant to order the combination but when I went to pick up I said saidon and in the end she gave me the wonton even though she only charged me for the saidon. They are such lovely people. The food was delicious and I loved the broth. Saidon is the best of both worlds, you can't go wrong with saimin and udon! Hit the spot! read more

Palace Saimin - Combination - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Best old school saimin, won ton mein and beef sticks in town...wish the had burgers..

How can you rate pure nostalgia? It has a magic that can't be replicated when something is new or modern. Palace Saimin has decades of memories in its walls and you can definitely feel that old timey vibe which reminds me so much of my Japanese grandparents. If you love old school simple saimin, this is totally the place for you! I will preface that if you are a hard core gourmet ramen stalker, this might not be the place for you because it's really about small kid time comfort. Let's start with the prices which are unbelievably affordable. $5 for a small saimin, $6 for a large, $7 for x-large $2.50 for a meat stick The owner was our waiter for the evening and he took our order with a smile. Our saimin came out piping hot and it was exactly what I was looking for. A large is super filling and I could barely finish the portion of noodles. We got our meat sticks and an extra saimin to-go for my daughter who was at cheer practice and she loved her meal! My favorite part about visiting this little local gem is reading their menu sign that says "Thank you for letting us serve you for 70 years." Yes, I'm crying. Seven stalls of free parking out front. Bring a fan, it gets hot in there. Cash only. read more

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I've been coming here since I was a kid. The one thing that has changed recently as we eat here today?? The wonton in the wonton min probably needs to be steamed a little longer. I remember when it would fall apart when you pick it up with the chopsticks. But other than that oishii. read more

I got takeout for lunch to help support Palace Saimin during this time. I've been coming here since I was a kid, but another place I haven't written a review for. I got the extra large wonton min and two barbecue sticks. Today my eyes were almost bigger than my stomach as I could barely finish the saimin and BBQ. I had to take a nap afterwards! The BBQ sticks were tasty as usual with nice grilled taste, soft meat and light teriyaki sauce. The wontons don't taste as good as getting a hot bowl fresh to your table, so don't judge the quality of those from takeout. The soup is packaged in a separate container from the noodles, wonton, char siu and green onions. Hopefully we'll be able to enjoy meals inside soon but in the meantime takeout will do! read more

Palace Saimin - XL wonton min and barbecue sticks - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Large won ton min Five bbq stick please Growing up Kalihi Valley palace was a regular and favorite place for saimin now since moving back to Maui my birth place Still our go to for Ono saimin and beef sticks when visit Oahu read more

Living these simple live, eating at the same childhood places brings back fond memories. Love the Saimin and BBQ sticks. read more

First time eating Saimin and decided to check out this hole in the wall spot and just W.O.W. A hidden gem for sure. Small, old school feel with a super simple menu, loveeeee that. Ordered a large wonton min and 2 bbq sticks between me and my boyfriend and it was just the right amount of food, but they definitely left me wanting more. Never had Saimin so we didn't know what to expect. In my opinion, it's a mix of chinese wonton noodles and ramen noodles and it had just the right amount of bite to it. Soup was perfectly seasoned and simple, not overly salty, topped with green onions and some small pieces of char siu pork. Wontons were thicker skinned, more similar to dumplings, so it was like a fusion. I personally enjoy the thicker skin of dumplings over wonton skin, so it was definitely a plus. BBQ sticks were so simple but so bomb. Perfectly sauced and grilled. It was so tender, ugh. Just writing about this makes me want another one. Other notes: -Reasonably priced. Definitely on the cheaper side for Hawaii! -Parking lot is super small and limited -Service was great, not sure what her name was but she was so friendly, and I hope I run into her every time I come!!! Which I'm sure I'll be visiting again before I leave and I'll definitely be back whenever I visit. I'm totally hooked. If you've never had Saimin, I highly recommend letting Palace pop that cherry ;) read more

Palace Saimin - Large wonton min - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Such an amazing hole in the wall! My boyfriend and I wanted to try local food and never heard of saimin which is a Hawaiian dish that is essentially their version of a Filipino pancit, Chinese mein, and Japanese ramen. There's egg noodle with a light broth and the meat used at this place is char siu. + WON TON MIN XL Love this! The wonton wrap is so thick and you can tell it's handmade. The soup is light and nice to eat after a whole day of swimming. The char siu is so flavorful and this is the perfect size to share with someone! This was only $7!! +BBQ STICKS Very flavorful. I love the sauce that they have since it adds such a nice flavor to the meat. The meat is tender and is a nice side dish for the saimin. read more

Palace Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

One my favorite mom & pop shops. Their BBQ steaks are totally addictive. And the mamasan always makes it feel like home.

Friendly service in a small local noodle house somewhere in Honolulu. We went there on a rainy night on the recommendation of a local friend. Prices were cheap for hawaii and you got a lot of food. I got the Saimin x large and my partner got the wonton Bin. wontons were really good. noodles were great but nothing fantastic hence the 4 stars. I would definitely go back when I am in the area again. the bbq steak sticks were also really good and very reasonable. read more

A place to come to for comfort dinner on a cold rainy night. A little small hole in the wall located on king st. When you walk in you will notice how small this place is and there's chairs outside for people to wait in case it gets crowded. We came on a slow night, so it was perfect for us considering we had our daughter with us. Menu is located on the wall and it's kept very simple so you don't have to think too much. We order both a large won ton min so we could share some with our daughter and we also ordered the skewers. When you take the first bite, you can tell it's like comfort food and nothing like eating a saimin on a cold night. It's nothing fancy. You can't beat the price and the amount you get. The only down side is parking. Very limited parking. Also CASH only. read more

Palace Saimin - Large won ton min - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We are so happy we tried this place yesterday. The waiter was very kind. Little hole in a wall convinced us to try palace saimin. We ordered saimin with beef stick. The beef stick was so yummy! The sauce us so tasty. I'd love a bottle of that! The saimin was perfect. We swear to come again and try the wonton. Anyway, when you are in the mood for a good warm traditional saimin this place is great. read more

Palace Saimin - Small and large saimin with 2 beef sticks - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you live on Oahu and want saimin, this is a must try! As old school as it gets. I've been coming here since I was a kid. The only change they didn't have is the mix saimin/udon! The dashi has changed a little since I was a kid. Probably no msg anymore! HA! I remember years ago seeing the containers of Ajinomoto around the kitchen but alas, a great seasoning gone from restaurants! Still delicious though. The noodles cooked to perfection. You don't have to ask for al dente as they are firm and not squishy, just the way I like them. I usually order XL won ton but remember, here an XL is definitely an XL. You will feel like you overate but it feels so good! Barbeque sticks are a natural addition. Meat a little chewy but cooked very well with great seasoning. I only wish they had a cheeseburger I could combo with the saimin! Parking is limited. There's around eight stalls but if you go in the later evening and it's crowded, I've parked at the post office, ran across the street with no problems. Palace is definitely one of the few old school saimin places still left. A real gem in Kalihi! read more

Palace Saimin - XL Won Wonton Min - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Best noodle soup and service! Just like Grandma used to make! Soup is always consistent.

Amazing hole in the wall place that has been in business ever since my grandpa was young. I got a small wonton min which definitely hit the spot. Decent pricing for what you get and the food comes out fast. read more

Palace Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I told my gf that this place was old school and only the real og people know about this place. And truth be told only the older generations was eating here. Price went up due to inflation but the product did not change. Ordered my regular won ton min with a bbq stick and that was all I needed. Check them out if you want some old school saimin not like the ramen places read more

Well My friend and I went to to UH/Air Force football game.Unfortunately Hawaii did not Win, But I won decided to go to Palace Saimin and its always a Win there. Typical small Saimin stand only a few tables with couple bench tables in the middle. Small parking lot so if there busy hard to find parking. I guess other UH football fans had the same idea because they were also eating Saimin lol.. Fell 1 star short only because it is very hot , also eating hot Saimin. For me I prefer to be comfortable while eating so the establishment should be A/C but don't get me wrong I love there Saimin I would definitely recommend this place for good fast and quality Saimin Will be back read more

So simple, but SOOOO good! We love their saimin! Sure the parking lot is small and it's located on a busy street -- but definitely worth it! read more