Little overdue of a review but here we go lol…read more. Diners has been a staple for my family & I , and I'm sure many other families on island for YEARS. Our family's go to was always Cheeseburger and yellow sauce with fries! As time and society evolved , so did Diners, since they became "Upscale" and added more things to their menu. I have tried their Grilled lobster plate more than once from their Upscale menu in the past and I think during that time it was $15? Not sure if it's still that price, but for that price it was a winner! Lobster + salad and rice ? What more can you ask for since that's basically a steal in today's economy. Anyway , I was in the area recently and decided on diners for dinner. I was really craving ahi katsu, unfortunately my go to spot was already closed since I decided on dinner a little after 8pm ish? So I thought .. well diners has ahi katsu supposedly .. why not give it a try. I wasn't expecting much since it was Diner's BUT needless to say.. their ahi katsu is DELICIOUS. Seasoned well and cooked to perfection! I love the sauce they drizzle on the katsu. I should've asked for extra sauce on the side had I known it was gonna be yummy! But that's something to keep note of on my next visit in the future. I definitely would order this plate again! And continue to adventure out on their menu lol. A tip to keep in mind : they do have signs posted by their windows to be patient when ordering because they do take a bit to make and give you your order since they are always short staffed. And there's normally alot of people waiting or ordering since lots come to this establishment right after work or in between work or just simply there for a bite to grab. So prepare to wait .. but sometimes you can be lucky where it doesn't take as long. It does truly depend on time and the day I guess. Also one last thing, my personal opinion , I think Diners is worth grabbing food from. Whether you're hungry , in the area or wanting to grind. Some people have mixed reviews or bad experiences but me personally , I always had a good outcome. Oh also before I forget their steak is delicious too (LOL) , never ordered it for myself but I shared some of it with one of my relatives who ordered their steak before. Give this place a shot!

This morning stopped to have a quick breakfast at the old Diners in Kalihi . It's now called…read moreUpscale Hawaii . It's funny the new name it's the same old Diners . Maybe the menu change a little but same ordering counter limited tables with the cement seating like I remembered over 20years ago lol . I had their breakfast special not bad @ $9.95 2 eggs, rice, choice of meats , I decided on Vienna sausage and they gave 7 pieces very generous I've been to places they either gave between 4-5 . Service was like usual pretty slow the lady at the counter was getting the phone orders and the live customers orders mix up . So it took awhile with only 2 customers in front of me . Support local when possible

Everything prepared with Love here You can tell that the bakers and cooks enjoy and take pride in…read moretheir work, deliciousness tastes like it Service is genuinely kind; consistently smiling whether from behind the dining counter or wonderful pastries and chantilly cakes or poi donuts Ohh how they are experts at making poi donuts : Liliha Bakery has the most moist tender flavorful POI DONUTS try the poi donut - do-nut eat just one! I dare you to try eat just one! Must have 2? (I confess, I've eaten 3!! Such a warm Ohana feeling when you dine in and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere whether Larger location Pearlcity or their original mostly take out location favorite counter/kitchen service It's like good therapy coming here!

There's something quietly electric about stepping into Liliha Bakery on Kuakini, It's not just a…read moremeal, it's a front-row seat to a Honolulu classic in motion. Their famous pancakes, fluffy, golden, and just the right kind of indulgent, paired with a hearty omelet that hits that comfort-food sweet spot. The coffee keeps things grounded, rich and reliable. And the service? Warm, attentive, and genuinely local. But the real magic lives in the back. Watching the bakers at work feels like peeking behind the curtain of a show, trays sliding, hands moving with purpose, decades of tradition humming along in real time. It's equal parts diner, bakery, and local legend. You come for the pancakes, but you stay for the rhythm of it all.

Christian was a great server considering that when I asked the chefs to make my fried potatoes well…read moredone they came out firm and hard with absolutely no crust involved. Christian went out of his way to fry the potatoes and brought them back to my plate tasting much better. This was my second time coming here so I'm aware that the potatoes aren't cooked through very well and he made my meal much more edible. The ambience is great and the bakery is okay as long as you don't get the old stale pastry.

Stopped for breakfast and grabbed some pastries to go for later. So many good breakfast items to…read morechoose from like chocolate chip Mac nut waffle, porky belly items, Mahi Mahi & eggs plate, etc. The butter rolls they bring before your meal are so delicious we ordered some to go! Food: - Smoked pork belly Loco moco - two eggs plate - one half papaya - Butter rolllllls to go for a charge so good

Located on the University St side, right next to the Asian Market. There is parking in a private…read morelot parking within Puck's Alley. As you enter, the staff warmly welcomes you and very helpful with explaining their menu selection. Have been here several times and so far, everything I've ordered, I've enjoyed. Off to the side, they have a semi private dining area (not sure if they allow you to reserve the area if you have a larger group of people) . This restaurant gives a "diner" vibe, I like it

Popped in on a Sunday to grab a quick bite. Parking in pucks…read morealley (which i think under 1 hr is free). Its located next to nijiya market. Walk in and order at the register. The lady who took our order was friendly :) Got waters (self pour) and sat at an empty table Got the following Avocado toast - good and had lots of topping Philly cheese egg rolls - wish the sauce was more spicy but they were decent. Eat them while they're still hot Bento w/ salt pepper chicken and kalbi - the kalbi was super good! The chicken was good but could've used more salt pepper taste. Will be back if I wanted a quick bite that doesn't break the bank.

Stopped in for lunch after being away for a long while, and Big City Diner Waipio reminded me…read moreexactly why it's such a dependable local go‑to. The place still moves at Jurassic‑fast speed--tables turning over nonstop, servers gliding through the chaos with calm efficiency, and service that stays consistently friendly no matter how busy the room gets. The kitchen was absolutely swamped, but Aunty Ida and the crew didn't miss a beat. No go‑backs, no complaints--just plate after plate coming out hot and on point. * Fish and Chips: The breading was different in the best way--chewy, crisp, and clinging to juicy, perfectly cooked fish. Every bite was a little "mmm" moment. * Pork Chops: Tender, soft, and smothered in a gravy so good you could honestly drink it. Rich, savory, and balanced--comfort food done right. And to finish it all off, a scoop of Dave's ice cream sealed the deal. Cold, creamy, and the perfect sweet ending to a great lunch. Big City Diner Waipio still has that fast‑paced charm, that reliable service, and those flavors that make you want to come back sooner rather than later. Marie

Always great for breakfast. Quality food that is served quickly. Service is excellent, our table…read morewas always being checked on. The restaurant was not crowded when my family arrived. We got a table right away. The restaurant did fill up once the church service ended. The restaurant does appear a little older, they've been there a long time. Bathroom was clean.

I have no idea how these guys are still in business, this franchise has real staying power! We had…read moreto wait ONE hour for a table, clearly due to a lack of waitstaff, not because it was crowded as there were plenty of tables around. The food was mid and expensive. We only came here because we had a gift card to spend. We had: Cheeseburger and fries - fine Loco moco - OK Kids Burger - fine Hot dog - fine

02/10/26 First time at this location, usually go to the Pearlridge BCD but was meeting up with a…read morefriend for lunch. They are located right next to the main food court on the first floor, makai side. We got here about 11:45AM & the place wasn't busy. There were a few tables occupied, maybe 5 tables. We were greeted by a friendly young man who seated us right away at a booth. The waitress appeared in a few seconds for drink orders as we perused the menu. She was also warm and welcoming. One thing with BCD, they do offer a lot of local dishes. My friend decided on the chili nachos and I went with the mushroom burger. The food prices run a little high. Both our dishes were $19.99 each. The chili nachos was huge, served on a big plate and more than enough for 2 people. There was a generous amount of chili, cheese, and toppings on a base of multi-colored tortilla chips. My friend said it was good & ended up only eating half, taking the rest home. My mushroom burger was ono and huge as well. They did not skimp on the mushrooms, nicely sauteed in garlic. The whole burger was covered in it. The hamburger patty was pretty thick, 10 oz and came with lettuce, tomatoes, & onions. A good portion of french fries came with the meal. I had selected the standard, skin-on fries cut thick, served hot & not soggy or wilted. I ended up eating just half my burger also as it was quite filling. It did take awhile before we got our food, about 15 minutes so don't expect fast food. But when the food did arrive, it was nice and hot. Overall it was a good experience - good food, warm & friendly staff, clean restaurant along with clean bathrooms. Give them a try, support local!

This was a very last minute decision to eat here. My boyfriend and I didn't know what to expect but…read morewe were absolutely blown away. From the moment we walked in, we were immediately greeted and sat down. It was quiet and very peaceful, which I am a HUGE fan of. I hate being in loud overcrowded places so this was already very appealing to us. After reviewing their menu, we were impressed by the choices and the prices. I ordered the loco moco and my boyfriend ordered the Famous fried rice omelette, along with a side of banana pancakes. The food came out within 10 minutes maybe less and the portions were massive! I'm quite picky when it comes to loco mocos because most places don't make them well enough. Usually the friend rice is plain, the patty is overcooked and the gravy is flavorless. HOWEVER, the fried rice was incredible to start, the patty literally melted in my mouth and the gravy was flavored very well and had the perfect amount of salt. If I'm being honest, that was the best loco moco I've eaten at a restaurant ever! My boyfriend's omelette was super good, he had the same fried rice I did and the egg was cooked perfectly. Pancakes were an absolute chefs kiss. I'm a huge sucker for Dennys pancakes over ihop and these pancakes blew Dennys out the door. On top of the food being perfect, the customer service was so good. They never missed a refill, they gave us their house made kimchee to try and WOW! (They sell it in 12oz tubs too) The workers were so so so kind and to top it off they gave us cookies to take home! Not to mention, we only spent $55 for everything we ordered! Great pricing if you ask me. I have not had such a great experience anywhere in a while so this just made my day! I pray blessings on blessings to the people who work here and own the restaurant! I can't wait to come back and try their lunch menu!

Cherrehhh Staff…read morereally fast, and food super good, ordered two plates with my nephew definitely coming again

We were looking for a place to grab dinner within walking distance of our hotel, and this place…read morekept popping up. It has won Open Table Customer Favorite Award, Trip Advisor Customer Favorite Award, and several local awards, so we thought we'd give it a try. I read some comments about there being a wait, so I made a reservation on Open Table. Glad I did, because this place is quite small. Go up the stairs outside to get to the door, then the dining room is up a few more stairs inside. There are several tables and a cool table in the corner set up with pillows that give it a"loungy" effect. It's got a beachy look with reclaimed wood walls, surfboards, and high wood beamed ceiling. We sat by the open air window, which was nice because you can see down onto people passing on the sidewalk from the second level. Our server was really good and the drinks and food came out fast. Hubby and I ordered the exact same thing --a Blue Hawaiian (rum and pineapple? Yes, please!) and the Big Island Beef Loco Moco. I like my eggs over hard, and they happily did that for me. Everything was delicious, and the portion was big. I love that this place is local and food is locally sourced. Definitely a huge plus in my book! Hopefully we will get to return for breakfast!

Walk up the stairs and you'll be met with the line but don't just stand there, go to the front and…read moresign up on the wait list. Line moves pretty quickly so don't go too far away. Local vibes meet great food! Quick service with ono eats. Love the "local first, organic whenever possible" vibes. Would definitely be back.

BCD is one of my top "go-to" spots for take out, especially whey they're offering the Suzy Q burger…read morespecial. The burger is juicy and delicious, topped with a side of melted cheese, lettuce, red onion, and a nice dab of mayo on the bun. I've dined in here on several occasions, but I like to just order ahead on the app and then grab and go. The service is always on point; fast and friendly, even for take out. I've been here often enough that the servers, especially Kristen, greet me by name. I think I'll start dining in a little more often to take advantage of the Senior Tuesdays and Wine Wednesday specials, lol.

After trying to find parking at multiple other restaurants we were aggravated and found this place…read more Glad we did! Easy parking in the grocery store lot. There wasn't many people here but it's brunch time 10:30am on a Wednesday. The waitress was fast and courteous. The food came out super fast and was hot and delicious. I had the local favorite called the loco moco and was a beef patty over rice with eggs and gravy. Wife had three eggs and bacon and tater tots. This place did not disappoint and was exactly what we needed.