It's very heartwarming that one of the best meals I had on the island was at this local family owned saimin spot that has been in operation for decades. This is a no frills place - they specialize in two things: their delicious, steaming bowls of saimin (duh) and the beef sticks. You won't find anything else (so order both!) I went for their traditional Wonton Min and a side order of beef sticks both of which were SENSATIONAL!!! The noodles are perfectly chewy, the wontons were delectable and had a perfect wrapper to meat ratio, and the broth was just purely delightful. Do NOT make the mistake of missing out on the treasure that is Palace Saimin. Service is so friendly, quick, and the place has a real local vibe to it (I swear it makes the food taste 10x better too!!) One thing I'll mention is parking is insanity! Super small lot but if you're good at navigating parking, it'll be fine. Try to come early! I've since gone back to the mainland but I'll be recommending them to everyone I know and dreaming of the next time I can stop in again. Beyond happy to support this local business read more

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the Saimin in Hawaii with some BBQ Sticks the Soup has the tasteful salt it feels Shige saimin spot and the Aiea saimin shop in the 90's read more

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fantastic...got our saimin fix. large saimin, large won ton min and 2 bbq. Not disappointed, yummy read more

Palace Saimin - getting our fix....large saimin, two bbq, and large won ton min - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Love the Saimin here as the broth is very tasty. The prices are consistently affordable for the amount of food you get the smell and taste of that barbecue stick, which compliments the saimin is a must. You can even add extra garnish for a reasonable price. Parking is a bit tight, so try to go on off times as in not during lunch and not during dinner time but before or after. One of the best comfort foods in Hawaii and their service is always friendly and quick. read more

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We got the wonton min for togo. Since my daughter loves it we had to try it. Small old restaurant in a plaza. Small parking lot but thankfully we found one. It wasn't as busy when we got there but when we left it was pretty busy. The saimin was good. Wonton was delish. It's a winner for my daughter. To bad it's far from where we stay. But I'd say if you're in town try it. Good fast service and cool workers. read more

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Since 1946 Palace Saimin has been serving great Saimin, Wonton, udon and amazing BBQ beef sticks. A tiny hole in the wall in the heart of Kalihi. A gathering place for the young and old. Used to come here after a day of surfing in the 70's. It's the spot that I treated my parents to a meal after my first paycheck. I was 15 years old. Fast forward 48 years later, I still love this place. If you were a visitor, this is a true local establishment definitely worth a visit. I would highly suggest you go off hours because this place gets crowded and it only seats around 30 people max. first time customers, order yourself a regular Saimin and some BBQ beef sticks. You can't go wrong. read more

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Great Saimin, good service, my Lynn. Consistent flavor, and servings.Been coming here for years. To go place for good Saimin, wontun mein

I decided one rainy day to come check this place out during my lunch break so I went. I got super lucky and scored a parking in their small parking lot. It was a perfect day for saimin because it was raining. I can't believe I haven't been here before since it's been around forever. I ordered a small bowl of saimin and a side order of their bbq beef stick. This place reminds me of Hamura's in Kauai. Love how Hawaii still has some of these nostalgic places like this! Simple but yet yummy! They also take credit cards! read more

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

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I enjoyed the saimin and bbq sticks here. The old school ambiance was cool too. The only two things that could have made my experience better was some kamaboko in my saimin and there was a little cockroach crawling up the wall while I was eating. Super old building I get it, but still not appetizing read more

Palace Saimin - Xl saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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OMG‼ It was the best Saimin I ever had it My husband said it was a worth to drive to. read more

This is true local comfort food. The menu hasn't changed since I started coming here 30 years ago. It's simply the best saimin, the best noodles in Hawaii. The bbq stick is so very ono, the meat is tender and the sauce is so delicious. Parking in front, limited spaces. You can street park but be careful it's on a busy street. read more

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Craving a bowl of saimin from your childhood? Look no further, Palace Saimin is the best place on island. They serve only noodles and bbq beef sticks, Classic. Convenient parking out front and friendly service inside, I'll definitely be back for more. (Don't have any photos of the food because it was all immediately inhaled) Palace Saimin shirts are $22 size xs -4XL read more

Palace Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Updating my review from 2 years ago and decided to add a star for the simple fact that this place has not changed at all with the exception of inflation. The service is always friendly. The parking still sucks. Still cash only! Still the best simple bowl of saimin around and still the best beef sticks! So good I am now willing to pay $3 for 1. With that being said, yes I still wish they'd get a credit card machine and maybe an AC cause I be sweating up in there, lol. read more

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Located off N King St. in Honolulu. Small saimin place more of the local hole in the wall type place. Parking is very small and difficult getting in and out cause of the size. The place is small too a few amount of seating when it gets packed you'd have to wait outside for a table to open up. Service here is excellent. I got the large won ton min and beef Teri stick. The saimin was yummy as expected but the topper was the beef stick it was so good no too tough and not too soft the flavor was excellent no need for extra Teri sauce which they charge you an extra 75 cents. Overall a great saimin place definitely feel like a local eating here. read more

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Prices went up quality went down service was ok...last 3 times I went there Saimin noodles was soggy

This place shines in its simplicity. It does saimin and does it well! I've tried a couple saimin and this is my favorite so far. The broth is rich and flavorful without it being too salty. I'm not a huge fan of the noodle texture but my boyfriend loves it so it's just preference. We all thought the beef stick was just okay, but i would get it again to eat with my saimin. read more

Palace Saimin - Wonton Min* Combination* Bbq Sticks - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

One of the CHAMPS of H.C.F. (Hawaii Comfort Food). Everyone else says the next stop is the Z-word. Well we like Palace Saimin, but CASH ONLY so be prepared. Located on the mauka side of N King St across the Kalihi Post Office. Parking stalls are limited to less than half dozen, and street parking isn't many in that area, so hopefully you'll find a stall in front or near by. Inside is a few tables with some that seat 2 and others that seat more. Very humble joint, but that's where the comfort starts from. Menus are on the wall so look up and order what you need. Usual order for me is a Large Wonton Min & 2 BBQ Sticks. The dashi (soup) is bland, but on purpose... I think... I usually mix hot mustard and shoyu for the wontons, but also dab some into my bowl and stir that in... noodles are always consistent and cooked well but never too soggy. Of course with a bite of da BBQ Stick in-between slurps and before I know it, it's all gone! So, if you're in the mood for an easy, reassuring meal to satisfy your H.C.F. needs, then go to Palace Saimin. Till, my next visit, Grind On! Pau! read more

Best barbq sticks I ever had and the soup is same great for hangover or if you have a cold pit lots of hot mustard

We were introduced to this local gem by our dear friends who were born on O'ahu! My friend's mom has been going here since elementary school and she said she would walk here after classes for a hot bowl of saimin! Can't beat the prices, there's a small parking lot out front, and the portions are generous and filling! We always stop by when we visit O'ahu to support them, I can't say enough wonderful praises for this place!! We will be back! read more

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This place is iconic. It's been there forever. Nothing like old school food. Takes us back to when we were young. The price is right. read more

I love places like this. It is literally the proverbial "hole in the wall" restaurant. They have been open for 75 years, specializing just in saimin. They have a single broth and an extremely limited menu. But what they do, they do well. Walking into the restaurant is a bit like walking back in time. I could totally imagine the place exactly the same nearly 50 years ago. There is no AC with just a few ceiling fans running. You can have the broth with curly saimin noodles, udon noodles +/- wontons. They also have some BBQ sticks (think yakitori analogue) and soda. The prices are pretty reasonable and the lady waiting on you seems like such a kind soul. The food reminds me to going to a close friends home and having them feed you simply. I always think that mom and pop places like this need to be supported, as they offer a wonderful counterpoint to the big box restaurants of today. And yes, the food is delicious. No frills, but made with love. It's always easy to be critical but I'm giving this place 5 stars as a restaurant that makes the Hawaiian food community special. It reminds me of places like Helena's and I, for one, hope it's around for another 75 years. read more

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They used to stay open late pre-pandemic, I miss it especially when I get off from work late, and just want some ono Palace Saimin! They also changed their hours, 10:00a-8:00p and days of operation are Tuesday-Friday... so no more Palace on Saturday after your kid's games or shopping! Regardless of the changes, I'll still eat my wonton mein & 2 BBQ sticks!! The Best!!!! read more

Palace Saimin - Won ton mein, Saimin, & the best barbecue sticks!!! - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Neighborhood joint/hole in the wall 77 years in business 4 items ...saimin, won ton mein (saimin with won tons) , udon, bbq stick This place is nostalgic to me as I been eating here since I was born. We have lost so many places like this on the islands. This is one of the few OG spots left . Staple local dish ... if you are pretentious or obnoxious...saimin probably ain't for you. Go get your $25 ramen in kakaako , or wakiki. If you from mainland and want to try some local dish that we grew up with , get this : Won ton mein Bbq stick Strawberry soda. If you really hungry , get large won ton mein, and 2 bbq stick. read more

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I remember going to Palace Saimin maybe 20 years ago and noticing a huge brown paper barrel stored in the dining section. The barrel contained MSG. At the time, we were MSG-averse, since we erroneously believed it affected your brain cells. Yeah, your brain, not mine. Anyway, the food was always tasty. I wonder why? I recently went with Bob, my friend in his '80s, who has an old school palate. We ordered won ton mein and barbeque beef stick. I thought the food was just ok. But after recently eating at Wagyukushi outside Don Quijote and at fancy ramen places around town, the old school favorites taste pales a little. There are two older waiters - probably family members - who seemed to be working hard at the waitering chores. Service was a little slow, but not an issue in this time-warped environment. Parking is an issue since customers are coming in and going out of the small parking lot. The stalls are head-in, back out, so challenged drivers take note. Overall, a decent clean place to eat old style local food. read more

Always nostalgic coming to dine at Palace Saimin. The broth is always on point and every time I sip up that noodle, it always warms my heart! It's always onolicious! Love saimin! The service is always top notch with friendly people and they make you feel ohana every time! The ambiance is always homey and you feel the aloha spirit everywhere. Mahalo Palace for serving us ono saimin for all these years! read more

Palace Saimin - Bbq sticks - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I was really craving from local Saimin, and Palace Saimin fulfilled and excelled all my expectations. To be completely honest, we were originally planning on going to Helena's Hawaiian Food. But the line was insanely long. And to be frank, I'm glad it was. Palace Saimin is a hidden gem of a restaurant! It's located in a small plaza with only a few parking spots. We waited about 10-15 minutes for a table, as the restaurant was quite busy when we arrived (which is always a great sign)! The staff was extremely friendly, and got us ice waters and silverware immediately. However, we sat there for a couple minutes without realizing that the menu was posted on the wall above the cashier! Their menu is quite simple, but don't let that undermine the quality and variety of the food. We ordered an extra large saimin, 2 orders of the combination saidon (which comes in a large), and a couple orders of the barbecue skewers. Everything was extremely affordable. The extra large saimin was just under $7 or $8! And the portions are very generous! The food came relatively quickly, and the saidon was simply amazing. The broth was rich but not too overpowering, and the softness of both the saimin and udon noodles was the perfect consistency. The wontons were thin and stuffed with just the right amount of pork, and marinated well with the soup broth! I definitely recommend ordering the barbecue skewers. They come out relatively quickly, and are tender and super flavorful. When we came, they were celebrating their 75th anniversary -- I love supporting my local, family-run businesses! Come here for the most delicious and authentic Saimin! read more

Palace Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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75 years! Yes, we're celebrating the 75th anniversary of Palace Saimin in 2021! For awhile, with COVID, it was touch and go for Palace Saimin, but they survived! With dine-in now allowed, this old-school charm, Palace Saimin, is back into good times again! Opened in 1946 and named after the Palace Theater on Beretania St., owner Kame Ige opened this saimin restaurant, offering simple noodles dishes that originated back in HI's plantation era in the late 1800's, when workers from various ethnic camps would gather to eat, bringing with them various ingredients to share. The restaurant was subsequently sold to one of its longtime waitresses, Setsuko Arakaki, in 1975. Then in 2010, Ms. Arakaki's daughter, Susan and her husband, Scott Nagakagwa, took over the reigns and continue to be its present owners. The restaurant was initially located on Keeaumoku St. between Beretania and Kinau Sts. up until the 1950's (hubby remembers going here when he was a kid!), moved to Kalihi next to Tamashiro's Market in thereafter, and finally to its present location in the industrial area of Kapalama, across from the US Post Office in the 1960's. "Saimin" is a combination of two Chinese words: "sai" meaning thin, and "min" meaning noodles. Found only in HI, saimin can be considered a meal or a snack, and it's basically the same ingredients in making ramen, but its color is normally darker, curly, and slightly chewy when cooked. It is served in hot broth (dashi) made from shrimp, mushrooms, ginger, and konbu. Palace Saimin's broth is delicious, as it's made in-house, using a secret shrimp broth flavored with beef and pork. Their menu offerings are simple: saimin, won ton mein, plain wonton, udon, wonton udon, saidon (combination of saimin and udon), and bbq beef stick. The dishes come in small, medium, or large. We always enjoy the won ton mein. The broth is served so piping hot that we burn our tongues in the end, but we're not complaining, as it is so flavorful! The noodles were firm, chewy, and generous in amount. The won tons were plump and tasty! And there were generous toppings of chopped green onions and slivers of char siu. A separate condiment dish with hot mustard was served, and you add your own shoyu to your liking. The bbq beef stick included thick, skewered chunks of beef served in a shallow pool of teri sauce; the beef edges were charred, which you can request. (Note that old-school saimin stands would serve bbq burgers of skewers of teri beef with their saimin dishes.) Prices are so reasonable too! Palace Saimin is on the ground floor of a non-descript two-story apartment building. As its parking lot is in the front, blink, as you'll miss it, as the restaurant is set back from the curb. The parking lot only has eight stalls that are shared with the neighboring Morikawa Drapery. With COVID, only eight to ten people at a time can dine-in at present (note that no communal table right now). No air conditioning, but huge wall fans blowing at full speed. Hours of operation are Tues. to Sat. 10a - 8p, Sun./Mon. closed. Service is friendly, and the dishes are promptly served within five to ten minutes after ordering. COVID requires masks be worn, with tables appropriately spaced for social distancing. Now that they have dine-in again and with a lesser number of people allowed in the restaurant, the restaurant gets busy. We arrived before the 10a opening time on a Sat. morning, thinking that we would avoid the lunch crowd, and were surprised to see a line! Some of these people were regulars, as what was told to us as we chatted with our grandson's acquaintance, Guy Ontai, Scholastic Director of the HI Chess Federation. After our meal, we continued to be surprised, as there was still a line out the door! So glad that they are back in business after pretty much shutting down during the peak of COVID! In celebration of its 75th anniversary, Palace Saimin is offering a cool black t-shirt commemorating this special event! Yes, a colorful bowl of saimin printed on it! Do hope that there will be many more years for Palace Saimin, as it brings all the nostalgic memories back! Its consistency and familiarity of delicious won ton mein and bbq sticks will certainly bring back people of many generations to this familiar place of sweet memories! read more

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On our way back from Pearl Harbor we stopped by to try out a local noodle place. Very small place with 5 tables and no A/C. Saimin and wonton bowls were good but the beef skewers are the best! Very well priced and good service. The server knew immediately we were not locals and asked where we were from.... Tip: wear mosquito repellent at this place as lots of mosquitos bit me... read more

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The most satisfying meal of the trip so far. Portion size was just right. The clean broth and chewy saimin noodles was really comforting. At $8-9 a bowl, the price is right and is a good reminder that's all the food I need to be comfortably full. My wife got the saidon, which is a combination of saimin noodles and udon noodles in the same bowl. Id say skip the udon as their udon texture isn't as good as the saimin. read more

Palace Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Super small place with a small parking lot. We had to park in the neighborhood. One group was ahead of us, we didn't have to wait long to get seated on a weekday night. I enjoyed my time at Palace Saimin - the food was very clean, delicious, and cheap. Definitely get the SKEWERS, you won't regret it. Full of flavor in your mouth! I got the WONTON MIN. The wontons had just the right amount of flavor but I wouldn't have minded a bit more saltiness. But that's why I thought this meal was so good - it just tasted very healthy. The noodles were great texture wise too. They do take card now! Check it out! read more

Palace Saimin - Bbq Sticks - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Food was awesome very tasty service was very fast didn't have to wait long the lady was very friendly and Ambiance what can I say got more than my stomach could hold Palace Saimin is the place to go. read more

History in a bowl! This divey outlet serves your tutu's Saimin soup. Loved the Terri beef stick, and the Asian mustard to get your eyes open! Very little parking or seating but a fun, affordable nostalgic meal. Could use a good cleaning read more

Palace Saimin - Combo with meat stick - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Simple, consistent and delicious. Noodles are perfect texture. No frills. Just good saimin. read more

My father has been coming here since he was a little boy introduce to this place by my grandfather and me as well introduced to this place by my father it has a special place in our hearts I feel like this is one of the last places where you can get great amazing food at a cheat price with amazing service I always get a large saimin with 3 meats sticks and everyone the food is just amazing I love that this is run by a family and they keep it fresh and local although the space is small that's the best part about it if you blink you miss it and if you ever wonder if you should try it you should it it's so worth it in every way !!! read more

Comfort Food! Simple wonton min dashi soup with side order BBQ stick, good for the soul

Craving old school saimin? Well, you can't get any more old school than Palace Saimin! Parking can be quite a challenge, with a few, maybe 6 parking stalls, in their small lot. Be careful backing out, sometime traffic on North King Street can be dangerous. Inside the restaurant, there's about 7 tables. The tables are also old school style, and bench seating. Back in the day, at least 30 years, I used to eat here. I can honestly say, that the Saimin broth tastes the same. It's a clearish, shrimp based broth, and very simple. None of this fancy ramen broths with fancy toppings. Just char siu and green onions, and lots of broth. Choose with Saimin or Upon noodles, or, get the SaiDon, which is a combination of both, then get the won ton if you like, you can't go wrong. You have to get the BBQ beef sticks, with thick, tender cuts of beef, covered in a thin, tasty teriyaki sauce. read more

Palace Saimin - Large won ton mins with BBQ beef sticks! - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great hole in the wall place specializing in saimin and udon soup noodles. Very reasonably priced and hit the spot without breaking the wallet read more

Definite a local stop with simple and great food! There are no frills to this place but a good atmosphere with locals and simple soup and meat-on-a-stick. read more

Palace Saimin - Small saimin and a bbq stick - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you're searching for classic Hawaiian Saimin, Palace Saimin is one of the few dedicated Saimin restaurants where you can find it. It's important to note that Palace Saimin specializes in SAIMIN, not Ramen, Pho, or Udon (though they do offer an Udon option). Saimin is a simple noodle dish that blends multiple cultures from Hawaii's plantation era. The broth is based on shrimp and kombu (Japanese kelp). Each shop has its own recipe, and it appears Palace Saimin makes their own broth (though not their own noodles). The Saimin at Palace Saimin is classic in style and unadorned with extras. If you're looking for slices of Kamaboko (fish cake), Spam, sliced Egg, Bok Choy, etc., this is not the place. Instead, you can expect noodles and broth with chopped char siu (Chinese-style BBQ pork), green onions, and wonton (if you order wonton min). Check out the hundreds of photos others have posted to see what's involved. Review of the Saimin: 5 STARS - RECOMMENDED. Palace Saimin's one non-noodle dish is the "Barbeque Stick" (BBQ Beef Skewers). These are actually quite good--not overcooked and well-seasoned. Review of the Barbeque Sticks: 5 STARS - RECOMMENDED. The ambiance is basic. The main drawback of Palace Saimin is the small dining area and limited parking (again, see the dozens of photos posted on Yelp). Customers are often asked to wait outside, and the restaurant is very busy for at least three hours a day. Set your expectations accordingly. The odor of shrimp may be overpowering for some. Service is functional and to the point, as expected for a restaurant of this type. It's a good idea to decide what you want to order and what size before being seated so you can order right away. Overall Review: 5-STARS - if you're looking for classic Saimin. 4-STARS - if you're unfamiliar with Saimin and expecting Japanese Ikayaki. read more

This is the epitome of Iykyk. Not a lot of my friends know about this Kalihi spot, but if they are one of the few that know, then I know they are true local foodies and can be trusted. LOL. My Dad grew up eating at this place, and growing up we'd eat here often enough. They used to be open pretty late, and I vaguely remember my Dad always saying after UH games that "we go Palace Saimin." On my most recent trip back home, my family decided to have lunch at the good old reliable Palace Saimin. Things haven't changed much, and that's a good thing! I had the regular (smallest size) won ton min with a BBQ stick. And of course, gotta get that side hot mustard. Pour a little shoyu over the BBQ stick, and dip every time you take a bite. I'm salivating because Palace Saimin is really that good. BOTTOM LINE: This is truly a wonderful no frills kinda place. Parking can be tough. But friendly service. Insanely affordable price. Simple and nostalgic. Maybe one of my top 10 food places on Oahu. read more

Palace Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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