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In 1946, Helen Chock opened the doors to Helena’s Hawaiian Food, a humble eatery on North King St. in Honolulu, Hawaii. Over the past 64 years Helena’s Hawaiian Food has been serving the local community quality Hawaiian cuisine. In 2000, the James Beard Foundation awarded Helena’s Hawaiian Food the Regional Classic Award. Helena’s is one of a handful of restaurants in Hawaii to receive this distinctive award. After nearly 55 years, the restaurant was relocated to its current location on 1240 N. School Street. Helena’s remains the simple and unpretentious eatery it was over 6 decades ago. The restaurant is now run by Helen’s grandson, Craig Katsuyoshi.
Simple restaurant specializing in local classics such as kalua pork, lomi salmon, and ribs.
Hours
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10 AM–7:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM–7:30 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
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Helena’s Hawaiian Food | Serving great Hawaiian food since 1946!
in Honolulu, Hawaii. Over the past 64 years Helena’s Hawaiian Food has been serving the local community quality Hawaiian cuisine. In 2000, the James Beard …
Full menu of Hawaiian food
Menu, Ala Carte, Poi – Small: $6.20 • Large: $6.75, Rice – 1 Scoop: $2.50 • 2 Scoops: $5.00, Macaroni Salad* – $4.55, Kalua Pig – (Cooked In Imu
Helena’s Hawaiian Food (@helenashawaiianfoood) – Instagram
14K followers · 598 following · 85 posts · @helenashawaiianfoood: “ 1240 North School St. Tues-Fri 10am-7:30pm (808)845-8044 ONLINE ORDERING NOW …
Reviews
Katrina Doherty
So first, I just want to set expectations. When you order large size especially the short ribs, don’t expect the portions to get big plates. All entrees are delicious and different from Hawaiian fast food. We ordered the short ribs, luau chicken (like Laing), watercress with beef (like Malunggay soup), and LauLau. I highly recommend all of them!
At first we felt it was overly price for the amount you get but after eating the food altogether, it was actually a lot and quality was very good. I would say price is more like $35-$40 per person.
Service – Friendly. Atmosphere – ok.
… moreAt first we felt it was overly price for the amount you get but after eating the food altogether, it was actually a lot and quality was very good. I would say price is more like $35-$40 per person.
Service – Friendly. Atmosphere – ok.
Liann Amagan
Perfect spot for home cooked food arriving from the airport, or leaving, and even to call and order take out and eat when you get to your accommodation. Parking is pretty difficult, the lot is small on a busy street, there’s some street parking but can get busy. This was our first stop arriving on a Wednesday afternoon. They’re closed Saturday-Monday so weekdays are the best. You can sign up on waitlist on Yelp and make sure you wait outside after signing in, we made that mistake and walked in not knowing. They have QR codes for the menu. We didn’t know that the Menu sets A-C are recommended for one person. For a group of 4 the server understood what we meant and made our orders family style. We for sure wanted to try their short ribs, kalua pig, limo salmon, luau chicken, Mac salad, rice, and had to have my friends try poi. They also gave us a coconut dessert since it was our first time. There were onions and salt to go with the kalua pork.
Their short ribs pipikaula style were so good, they were like the perfect crispiness of a short rib that I didn’t expect! Service and hospitality were great. Drooling while writing this review.
… moreTheir short ribs pipikaula style were so good, they were like the perfect crispiness of a short rib that I didn’t expect! Service and hospitality were great. Drooling while writing this review.
Carmen Hall-Buchanon
Helena’s came highly recommended during our visit to Hawai’i, and we finally had the opportunity to check them out. Upon arrival, we were able to order immediately. While there was seating available, we opted to order our food to go. We ordered the long rice chicken, a small order of Pipikaula-style short ribs, macaroni salad, and fried butter fish. It didn’t take long to receive our food.
For the prices, the portion sizes seemed a bit small. When we finally ate, we felt that the food didn’t meet our expectations. The short ribs were a bit tough, the butter fish was excessively salty but the vinegar helped balance it out, and the macaroni salad was probably our favorite, but not the best one we had in Hawai’i. After trying Waiahole Poi Factory’s chicken long rice, which was incredibly flavorful, we felt this one was lacking in taste.
Overall, Helena’s was okay, but it didn’t quite live up to the hype!
… moreFor the prices, the portion sizes seemed a bit small. When we finally ate, we felt that the food didn’t meet our expectations. The short ribs were a bit tough, the butter fish was excessively salty but the vinegar helped balance it out, and the macaroni salad was probably our favorite, but not the best one we had in Hawai’i. After trying Waiahole Poi Factory’s chicken long rice, which was incredibly flavorful, we felt this one was lacking in taste.
Overall, Helena’s was okay, but it didn’t quite live up to the hype!
Alvaro Mesa
Excellent!
Went for lunch on a Friday, it was busy but there were some seats. Parking was somewhat difficult but doable if you are able to walk 1-2 blocks.
We ordered one of the menu’s that included short rib, the salmon salad, pork, side of rice + the coconut finale. We also included a fried fish that was recommended.
Everything came out of the kitchen rather fast.
First, the salmon salad: we liked it, but we think it was normal, we are no experts in that dish.
Next, short rib: excellent. Tasty, great color, goes very good with the rice.
Fried fish: juicy, cooked to perfection.
Pork: tasty, also goes very well with the rice.
To end lunch, we tried the coconut (“jello”). It was good, just not used to eat it with onion.
Price was super reasonable as it was a good amount of food.
Definitely recommend if you want a Hawaiian experience!
… moreWent for lunch on a Friday, it was busy but there were some seats. Parking was somewhat difficult but doable if you are able to walk 1-2 blocks.
We ordered one of the menu’s that included short rib, the salmon salad, pork, side of rice + the coconut finale. We also included a fried fish that was recommended.
Everything came out of the kitchen rather fast.
First, the salmon salad: we liked it, but we think it was normal, we are no experts in that dish.
Next, short rib: excellent. Tasty, great color, goes very good with the rice.
Fried fish: juicy, cooked to perfection.
Pork: tasty, also goes very well with the rice.
To end lunch, we tried the coconut (“jello”). It was good, just not used to eat it with onion.
Price was super reasonable as it was a good amount of food.
Definitely recommend if you want a Hawaiian experience!
Naomi K
Helena’s has been on my food wishlist for years and I finally made it on this trip for a late lunch. I can’t stop thinking about how delicious it was – easily my favourite meal I’ve ever had in Hawai’i. Enjoyed the Laulau (tender, rich, and flavourful), the butterfish collar (so fresh, light, and crispy) and poi (love how it balanced the richness of the Laulau). They brought out a plate with raw sliced onion and a lovely coconut dessert plus a small side of local salt – pro tip I learned the midway through the meal: dip the onion into the salt and eat with the food and it’s the most amazing flavour enhancer (nice salt and acidity)! Hours later my onion breath lingers land i’m trying to figure out if I can come back before my flight tomorrow to try the dry aged beef ribs. This restaurant and the staff deserve all the praise it gets. I’ll be dreaming of this meal until I can return again.
… moreKari S
We went for an early lunch on a Wednesday because we had read that it could get crowded. On the way, our Lyft driver gave us tips on what to order and how to eat it (don’t eat everything separately – get a little bit of multiple things in each bite), which made the experience even more fun. We ordered Lomi Salmon, Short Ribs Pipikaula Style, Luau Squid, Kalua Pig & Cabbage and it came with haupia (a coconut dessert). Everything was delicious, but the ribs (oooh, the ribs!) are magical! I still think about them and it has been 7 months since we were there. If I ever have the chance to go back to Hawaii, I will definitely go back.
… moreBoris
Visited at 11.30 mid week in Jan. Table available straight away but venue mostly full. Impeccable, friendly hospitality from wait staff. Food arrived 5 mins after ordering. Small yet appropriate serving sizes. Smoky, sharp flavors. Well priced.
… moreMelvin Dizon
I visited Helena’s Hawaiian Food to experience one of Honolulu’s most well-known traditional Hawaiian restaurants, and it quickly became clear why this place has such a strong reputation among locals.
The restaurant itself is simple and unpretentious, with a classic local diner-style setup. It feels like a place that has focused on the food rather than the décor, and that authenticity adds to the experience. Helena’s has been serving traditional Hawaiian dishes for decades, and the menu reflects that heritage.
One of the standout dishes for me was the pipikaula short ribs. The meat has a rich, smoky flavor and is cooked until tender while still maintaining texture. It pairs perfectly with rice and the other traditional sides.
Another highlight is the lau lau, which is pork wrapped in taro leaves and slow cooked until the meat becomes soft and flavorful. The dish captures the essence of traditional Hawaiian cooking methods.
The kalua pork is also worth mentioning. The meat is shredded and well seasoned, with a savory flavor that works well alongside classic sides like poi and rice.
Service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere felt very welcoming. The restaurant attracts a mix of locals and visitors, which is usually a good sign that the food maintains its authenticity.
What stood out to me most was how the restaurant preserves traditional Hawaiian flavors and cooking techniques. It feels like a place where you can experience dishes that reflect the history and culture of the islands.
Overall, Helena’s Hawaiian Food is a must-visit if you want to experience authentic Hawaiian cuisine in Honolulu. The dishes are traditional, flavorful, and rooted in local culinary heritage.
… moreThe restaurant itself is simple and unpretentious, with a classic local diner-style setup. It feels like a place that has focused on the food rather than the décor, and that authenticity adds to the experience. Helena’s has been serving traditional Hawaiian dishes for decades, and the menu reflects that heritage.
One of the standout dishes for me was the pipikaula short ribs. The meat has a rich, smoky flavor and is cooked until tender while still maintaining texture. It pairs perfectly with rice and the other traditional sides.
Another highlight is the lau lau, which is pork wrapped in taro leaves and slow cooked until the meat becomes soft and flavorful. The dish captures the essence of traditional Hawaiian cooking methods.
The kalua pork is also worth mentioning. The meat is shredded and well seasoned, with a savory flavor that works well alongside classic sides like poi and rice.
Service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere felt very welcoming. The restaurant attracts a mix of locals and visitors, which is usually a good sign that the food maintains its authenticity.
What stood out to me most was how the restaurant preserves traditional Hawaiian flavors and cooking techniques. It feels like a place where you can experience dishes that reflect the history and culture of the islands.
Overall, Helena’s Hawaiian Food is a must-visit if you want to experience authentic Hawaiian cuisine in Honolulu. The dishes are traditional, flavorful, and rooted in local culinary heritage.
H M
Hawaiian food is really getting hard to get. Apparently the food industry is overwhelmed by fast food. This restaurant has real Hawaiian food and the poi and laulau are so good and well prepared and I hope it remain open for a long time.
… moreRj Amante
Helena’s is hands down one of our absolute favorite spots every time we visit Hawaii! The food is consistently amazing–comforting, flavorful, and worth every bite. We were so happy to see their recent expansion, and it makes the experience even better.
The staff here are always so lovely and welcoming, making you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. This place has become a tradition for us, and we can’t imagine a trip to Hawaii without stopping by.
… moreThe staff here are always so lovely and welcoming, making you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. This place has become a tradition for us, and we can’t imagine a trip to Hawaii without stopping by.