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    CU Hawaii - Downtown

    3.7 (78 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 11:00 pm

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    Entrance faces Hotel Street
    Nadine C.

    Shopping in Downtown Honolulu, Hawai'i... This relatively new Korean convenience store, CU - Hawaii, is located on the ground level of the Executive Centre. It's the first store of this Korean chain to be in the USA! Wow! The Executive Centre was a smart choice of location because it is a condo/hotel building. Many people (residents, hotel guests, and working people in the area) would appreciate the snacks, beverages, and grab 'n go foods here. Note: The entrance of CU - Hawaii is actually facing Hotel Street. The space was formerly Ross Dress For Less. I arrived on a Sunday when metered street parking is free. The spacious, clean environment was well-organized! There's a lot of merchandise, plus microwaves, a smoothie making station, and a do-it-yourself Ramen area. It's a good idea if you want to dine here to stand and dine at one of the large "ramen cup" tables! Come check it out! I almost got one of those cute plushie bag charms... (The price is kinda reasonable!) Instead, I got one of those beverages in a pouch that you pour into a cup of ice. I'll do that at home... LOL!

    Irene M.

    C U there... Thank you to Yelp friend Jackie K for suggesting this place since we were already in the area and searching for a place which turned out to be closed not wasting a moment it was great idea to peek in for the very first time. Located in the midst of Downtown it was a nice and bright new spot filled with various items for foodies and anyone hungry to explore with grab and go ready prepared warm bites to smoothie machine and what many flocked over to the back for the wall of Ramyun which you can cook and enjoy there is an interesting and fun option that is cost friendly as well. Though what I was recommended was the "Tornado Potato" which they were out of unfortunately but as I was about to make another decision here they come woohoo! At $3.49 is a fabulous deal and comes with sauce of your choice does level it up but thank you to Jackie K for the suggestion as it was a great place for a simple treat that made plan B a A+. Thank you!

    K-pop Demon Hunters Display
    Ashley F.

    CU is the first Korean-based convenience store to establish itself in Downtown Honolulu, located near where Ross used to be. I walked in since I was in the area and it is a very well-kept store, with items frequently restocked. They have the iconic ramyeon station, where instant noodles can be immediately made for consumption after purchasing. There was also K-pop Demon Hunters collab shin noodles and displays of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys. Overall, I liked the vibe and would have been down to try food if I wasn't full from a matcha latte I had earlier. Would visit again for Korean products!

    squid fishcake bar
    Angel H.

    I really like this place. It's the Korean 7-11. I would come more often, but parking in downtown is a pain in my behind. As with any convenience store it's filled with food and snacks. The whole back wall is ramen that you can heat up with their high tech microwaves against the wall. Don't forget to pay for it first with the cashier up front. I really wasn't feeling ramen that day. I saw another customer buying a cup filled with ice and pouring a pouch of syrup in there. That piqued my interest and I wanted to try it. I got a cup filled with ice from the freezer $1.99 and looked through their syrup selection. They had a lot; everything from fruity to coffee. I settled on the sweet mango. All the syrups were $1.99. The mango was good. It had a little of that artificial taste to it though. At first it was really sweet. You have to wait until the ice melts, then it's good to go. As with the ramen they want you to pay first with the cashier. At the checkout they have all these hot food items that you can purchase such as fried mandoo, corndogs, tornado potato and squid fishcake bar. I had to try the squid fishcake bar $3.49. It was so yummy. I could taste the bits of squid in there.

    Ramyeon library
    Jess W.

    There was so much excitement about a new store in downtown Honolulu! Lines so long and interesting new products and novel ways to prepare and consume. I was so excited and happy that I could come here during the first week, earlier in the morning, and not have to endure any long lines! After 2-3 visits and trying a few items, the novelty wore off. Everything I've had here is so mid. That's the best way to describe the offerings of CU Hawaii. The smoked ahi Musubi? Fine. Kim chee mandoo? Ok. Potato corn dog? Meh. Tornado potato? Dry but fine. Egg salad sandwich? Fine but dry bread. L Egg and karaage chicken Musubi? Bland. Americano in a pouch? It's just coffee really. There is a cold brewed coffee in a small carton that was pretty good and strong! I'd get that one again. Some of the snacks might be worth a shot. The fried nori chips were good and different from the ones you usually see at longs or Walmart. Otherwise, this place is pretty mid. 7-11 is better for sandwiches and musubis. Palama market express is better for convenience store Korean food. Happy mini mart is good too. Hope CU stays open though, as an option in downtown.

    I went to this CU market with my family a couple of weeks ago. Great service and very helpful with recommendations. The store was clean and there were tons of great snack options.

    make your own banana milk coffee
    Doreen T.

    Nice to CU is basically a Korean-style 7-Eleven located in downtown Waikiki. We were lucky enough to find street parking nearby, otherwise, I honestly have no idea where you'd park. This was our very first stop after landing in Oahu, and we grabbed some snacks to hold us til we have a real lunch. I made my own iced coffee using banana milk, crushed ice, and pack of americano, and we picked up water, popcorn, and chips. They also have a pretty extensive selection of instant ramen if you're craving it. CU totally made me reminisce about my trip to Seoul. However, I think you may also find the items cheaper at Hmart nearby. Nice to take a peek here!

    Drink section
    Alyssa K.

    CU finally made its way to Oahu, and I was so excited to check it out! They had a great selection and basically all of my favorite Korean snacks, food, and drinks in one place. The ramen selection alone is extensive, and I loved that they have hot water stations so you can make your ramen and eat it right there. They also have ice cups and drink stations, which really add to the experience. I loved eating at the giant ramen tables! The only downside, if anything, was that it was smaller than I expected. Influencer videos made it look huge, so I was a little surprised by the size, but it didn't take away from the experience. The staff was really nice, and everything we tried, food- and drink-wise, was good. Definitely a fun stop, but for me it was more of a one-and-done experience since I don't live or work nearby. I can get most of my favorite Korean items at other Korean markets like Palama, so it's not somewhere I'd go out of my way for regularly. Still, it's worth checking out at least once!

    Grab-n-go eats
    Jill F.

    @fortunefoodfinds: "C-U later! Last month I finally got the chance to check out CU Hawaii located in downtown Honolulu. From the self-serve ramyun, to the variety of snacks n' customizable drinks, it's an experience whether you go solo or with a friend to link!" SERVICE: friendly INTERIOR: clean, well kept n' stocked. Had a photo booth in the back. Limited stand up tables (shaped like instant noodle cups). Smaller than what I expected, that's bc I thought it was going to be like a big supermarket, idk why! EXTERIOR: in the business area, not easily seen WAIT TIME: came after work hours so line to register moved fast PARKING: difficult, found a nearby public garage that I believe charged every 30 mins OVERALL COMMENTS: came for the self-serve ramyun n' customizable drinks, which was a neat experience with the fam. The location is great for people who work around there n' who can easily get there by walking. Although if you have a vehicle you may think twice about making a visit. Unfortunately, I won't be back anytime soon unless I'm randomly in the area n' on foot. Glad I was able to try it out at least once!

    April K.

    Was downtown for an appointment and my husband suggested we stop by and check this place out. The store is very neat and clean and well stocked, for the most part. The convenient eats section was pretty bare lol. The most impressive thing was the ramyun library and large selection of various different noodles. I honestly expected more of a variety of Asian snacks so I was a little disappointed in that. I liked the tables that looked like ramen bowels but think they could have probably made better use of the space with a different dining area. Overall I probably won't return unless it's to bring my kids to check out the ramyun wall.

    Allen N.

    I stopped by the grand opening of CU Hawaii after seeing all the hype, and I'm glad I did. It's pretty cool to have Hawaii's first CU in the U.S. right here in our backyard, especially with all the unique items they brought over from Korea. The one thing I was really excited to try was the Tornado Potato. It was good, but having a few different topping options would really take it to the next level. Also, like fellow Yelper Jackie K. said, it was warm, but not hot!

    Potato tornado
    Craig T.

    Update on CU Hawaii I guess the best time to check out this new trendy place is on Sunday . Lots of free street metered parking and not too crowded compared to other days . This time I ordered what's called Potato tornado. It's alright although you need ketchup it's a little dry .

    Ramen machine
    Candace F.

    Super bright, colorful, welcoming and interesting. Located at former Longs location CU is like a trend with a ton of young people taking pictures inside for instagram worthy photos. The products are very different with an Asian flare of drinks, hot snacks, instant ramen bar. The lines are long with only a couple of cashiers. This shop can be likened to an Asian 7-11 without the hard liquor aisle. The instant ramen bar is different but cool because you can access a glorified fancy hot water machine. It's self serve and well... don't know if I would pay a premium for instant ramen in a styrofoam bowl. Nice to CU is worth a visit but shop probably has to offer other things to keep the surrounding lunchtime crowd interested.

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    Ask the Community - CU Hawaii - Downtown

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    One 2 Buy

    One 2 Buy

    3.5
    (152 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Ok so I forgot to check in when I went here but I must say... THIS PLACE IS AWESOME FOR SNACKS THAT…read moreYOU WANT WITH FLAVORS! TBH, I'm going back for more! Tastes so yummy and better than the ones we have in the regular stores. SORRY... but it's OUR opinion. Oh and their fruit snacks are pretty good too! ANYWHO, this place is worth TRYING and I'm not saying more cause I want to have them all to myself! HAHAHA! Nah nah but I'd rather YOU go in yourself to see it instead of listening to me on what I liked or thought. They have so much new and yummy flavored chips and I swear... it tastes GOOD! I got the buldak flavor, crab (MY FAVORITE), steak (my husbands choice), chicken, cucumber flavor, ketchup, lobster, chicken and then they have some others I didn't think to try like avocado or nori. I figured they'd be good for a second try. But the best was the apricot snacks! Idk ‍ it's probably because I needed it. But overall, it's NOT DRIED OUT! Not YET at least. Anywho, they've been out for about a year and they look as if they're not that busy. So, I'm hoping this will get MORE people to go here and visit to keep them open and so they CAN bring in MORE Asian snacks that we ALL wait for. Okie dokes! Thanks for reading and enjoy!

    Hooray! One 2 Buy has added price tags to most of the items!…read more A number of items I looked at had English nutrition labels as well. Not everything, but it's a great improvement. The back of the store now has lights on. You can see in the back of the store. You no longer need to be apprehensive about venturing in the back of the previously unlit store. There is air conditioning, however, it doesn't seem to work well. I was in here for ten minutes and perspiring due to humidity and heat. I asked the one employee if she was uncomfortable in working in this heat. She replied that they are required to keep the front door open to let customers know it's open, so much of the cooled air escapes. It is crazy warm inside. Service is good. The one employee must stock, look out for customers and ring up sales. There is a half off table that I didn't observe in the past. Some of the drinks in the refrigerated section appear ready to burst. Overall, plus one star for labeling and price tags. I picked up a few sugar free and low calorie drinks to try here.

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    New location at the corner of Ala Moana and coral
    New location at the corner of Ala Moana and coral
    One 2 Buy
    Loads of goods.

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    Loads of goods.
    Don Quijote

    Don Quijote

    4.0
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    I just love this place! What can I say. It's always my first stop when I visit Hawaii. I always…read morebuy poke and beer to eat and drink on my hotel room balcony. The tako (octopus) is my favorite. This Honolulu store may not look like much from the outside, but when you walk in, it's just fun for me. It's like a Target and Japanese supermarket in one! You want tourist gifts? Buy here and save then going to an ABC store or other tourist trap. Mahalo!

    Am I in Japan or Hawaii? This one took me back in the best way possible…read more Just seeing that there was a Don Q in Honolulu got me excited and I knew I'd make it here at some point. I decided to do the long walk from Waikiki down to the store, and I was so rewarded for the effort. Walking up and the row of epic restaurant stalls had me grinning from ear to ear. There were so many delicious options OUTSIDE the store that I almost never made it in. From handrolls featuring the freshest seafood from Hokkaido to wagyu kushiyaki and more, my mouth was watering seeing it all beautifully displayed in the windows, and I'm surprised no one said anything about my gawking. Don Q is such a fun store because they have anything and everything you can think of across nearly every category. If I said they're like the Japanese Walmart, it wouldn't hit quite right because the quality and breadth of the selections here are far better. My favorite part of visiting Don Q has to be the incredible array of Asian specialty ingredients and snacks they sell and the reasonable prices. I picked up some gifts here including some exceptional styles of furikake and togarashi, but saw way too many other things I wanted. They also have amazing prepared foods here, specifically Japanese items. There's an entire sushi counter featuring all cuts of bluefin and more, freshly made onigiri, great selection of bentos and and poké too! You really owe it to yourself to visit!

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    $15+ for 5 otoro nigiri - yes, please!!! =)
    $15+ for 5 otoro nigiri - yes, please!!! =)
    100% Kona coffee prices have skyrocketed!
    100% Kona coffee prices have skyrocketed!
    California rolls $8?

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    California rolls $8?
    Hawaii Banchan Company

    Hawaii Banchan Company

    4.5
    (23 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    The side kick…read more.. Banchan has been the item that I've always looked forward to whenever I order a plate and never really knew that it had a name and as everyone has their favorite so did I and there are a few places that you can find some yummy banchan I had no idea about Hawaii Banchan Company but know that Elite Peter Y had gotten some snacks from there that I enjoyed and knew that I had to give them a visit one day...where!? You can find them right on Kapiolani though you can barely seem them from the street view as it's not the prominent located spot as they're located right below The Republik right beside the ramp where you can find several parking stalls it shares with other tenants. Open daily except Sunday I love how clean and spacious the shop is where each item is labeled along with price so you know without picking up the item to search makes browsing very easy with items like drinks, snacks both savory and sweet and of course display case filled with various banchan. Love the convenience of this location and now know that I can now find some of the unique items they carry and though I didn't walk away with banchan on this day know that my cravings will certainly bring me back. Thank you!

    A lot of interesting Korean groceries here. And except for the hot food in styrofoam trays,…read moreeverything is imported from Korea! I got to try some real Korean kimchi. It's sour with good umami flavor. I'm not a real Korean so I prefer kimchi that is a bit more fresh and not as aged, but I can see how some would like it. I also tried their japchae made in house. Not bad, but definitely not the best I've had, not enough sesame oil for my taste. They also have the popular fried strawberries snacks for sale. I also got a frozen musubi and some abalone congee to try. (The congee is really tasty!) There's also the famous fancy hotel kimchi for sale here if that's what you're into. All the products look interesting!

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    Hawaii Banchan Company
    Hawaii Banchan Company
    Hawaii Banchan Company

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    CU Hawaii - Downtown - convenience - Updated July 2026

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