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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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    Pioneer Pantry

    Pioneer Pantry

    5.0
    (7 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    I've come to know Pioneer Pantry for a while now. It's a small little convenience store that can be…read morea lifesaver and a place where life can restore some meaning in the universe. It's a place where you can be yourself. I've come to value Pioneer Pantry for what it is. They've been here for 20 years and I'm just noticing for a month or so now in June 2026. I recently relocated jobs and now work in the downtown Honolulu area. After discovering Pioneer Pantry, I feel like its been a good thing to have when you're running late and didn't have breakfast. Its nice to come here and score some breakfast muffins or those bag of chips, or even cold drinks to have during drab office hours during the day. Pioneer Pantry functions like a 7-Eleven with an actual live kitchen in the back. Pioneer Pantry is a small functioning convenience store that carries most things that many people enjoy on a daily basis. On most mornings, I would enter the store running late to the office and stumble through here. I would pick up a couple of items and a cold drink and be on my way. I wasn't sure if the fountain drink machine was operational or not, so I just grabbed a cold bottle from one of their refrigerators. The prices here can be a bit more than other places, but I was in a rush - most days anyway. The overall experience here at the Pioneer Pantry is good and blessed that they are here. It's nice to have them here for those of us who are rushing to work and have this oasis on the way there for breakfast and other necessities. During the early morning though, they are open along with the Wiki Wiki Drive Inn before 8am. During the lunch hours, they are open along with the other restaurants in the Pioneer Plaza food court fully open for business. The ladies in the back of the store are very friendly and are awesome. Small business owners are amazing for sure. I try to stop by every day here to pick up something for breakfast. Knowing my schedule, I tend to sleep in and rush to work anyway and having Pioneer Pantry here to help is a big boost for me. Majority of my experiences here are happy ones and don't intend on changing. For the most part though, it's always nice to have this place here. While people have their Starbucks or McDonald's in the morning, I rely on Pioneer Pantry for my cold morning beverage of choice, which incidentally includes a cold soda with or without ice. Most people love hot or iced coffee to start their day. I prefer cold soda. Not healthy, but its my thing and it's pretty good. The Pioneer Pantry is located inside Pioneer Plaza building on the 1st floor food court. It's physically located at 900 Fort Street Mall in downtown Honolulu. They accept major credit cards as well as cash. It's next to the taco place and the Subway restaurant. As far as parking is concerned, best bet would be either street parking or paid parking garages nearby. If you are like me, public transportation is good and there's a bunch of bus routes that traverse thru the downtown corridor. Pick the ones that stop off at either Bishop Street or Fort Street Mall and walk on over. And of course, there's always Uber and Lyft and even Tauro, if you need their services. For now though, if you work or pass thru downtown Honolulu and don't like what the others are offering you, consider Pioneer Pantry at the Pioneer Plaza building. It's a nice trip here to grab something on the way to work every morning. Or a quick snack for lunch too. Its definitely a lifesaver when you're running late and you can support local businesses too. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+

    My co-workers and I have been frequenting this tiny convenience store in Pioneer Plaza for years…read more Joanne, the owner, is the sweetest lady you'll meet. She is so personable and a joy to speak with. She offers inexpensive breakfast bentos featuring white or fried rice, a fried egg and pieces of Portuguese sausage, bacon or frankfurter. The meat varies. It used to sell for $3 but now costs $4.50 (I think). It's still a deal and the containers are great! (We use them to hold leftovers.) During lunch she sets up an array of entrees ... Honey Walnut shrimp, Beef with Vegetables, Meat Jun, Spicy Chicken, Choi Sum, Vegetable Pancake ... the selection varies by day and she offers two or three starches. A two-choice plate ($9.75) comes with a choice of white rice, fried rice or noodles. You have to go early; she can run out of food by 12:30pm. I usually choose one chicken dish and a vegetable with fried rice or noodles. A co-worker always gets the Honey-Walnut shrimp. It's hard to find a better deal in a plate lunch in downtown Honolulu. Her drinks are "the deal", $1.25, $1.50 and $1.75, for large, larger and humongous. Add in the personable service and you have a winner! Hey, stay away, we don't want any more competition for her food. Highly recommended!

    Photos
    Fried rice, zucchini & mushrooms and meat (or fish) jun
    Fried rice, zucchini & mushrooms and meat (or fish) jun
    Entrance to shop
    Entrance to shop
    Noodles, beef broccoli and spicy chicken

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    Noodles, beef broccoli and spicy chicken
    Kukui Convenience

    Kukui Convenience

    4.0
    (43 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $

    My fave spam musubi spot is in this little convenience store located in Kukui Plaza! The sauce they…read moreuse for cooking the spam is superior and so good!

    Best Musubi in Hawaii, I know there's tons of musubi available in Hawaii but I would say it is the…read moreBest musubi in Downtown, Honolulu! Whenever I am in the area or wanting to grab musubi for family or just ME, I make a stop here. Bonus, you get those musubi hot & fresh, if you don't see them on counter or the musubi you want is not available in egg with spam or just spam, only 2 varieties, mom or pop will make it right there for you. @$2.00 for spam only and I believe $2.45 for egg with spam. Located at Kukui Plaza tucked away in the back, you will have to walk pass few shops, to see the handwritten sign of " Best Musubi in Hawaii" posted on the door. Although there are bentos available & other goodies, I am mostly here for the delicious musubi. Why so good? My opinion, lets start with spam, perfectly cooked, with secret sauce, love the umami taste while I took my first bite, and the rice is hot & moist, not watery & not premium rice but it is still good, along with the nori. I loved everything about this musubi. Great spam to rice ratio. The only thing that I need is some of my chili spices! Mom & Pop is super friendly, I remember asking how many musubi's they sell a day and owner mentioned they make and sell over 100 a day. I usually park quick at the loading zone of Kukui Plaza, let the security know and walk over real quick to load up on my musubi(s). Don't forget cash only! Recommend, check it out and get your musubi fix or a quick and convenient lunch!

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    Kukui Convenience
    2 left.
    2 left.
    Piece of spam is thin and overall rice is flat.

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    Piece of spam is thin and overall rice is flat.
    Longs Drugs

    Longs Drugs

    2.9
    (153 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I've been going to this Longs for years, and I honestly don't know what happened to it, but the…read morecurrent experience is hard to ignore. Every time I walk inside, there's a strong, unpleasant odor that smells like sewage or fecal matter. It's consistent enough that it doesn't feel like a one-off issue--it's something you notice immediately when you enter the store. At times it seems stronger in certain areas, which makes me wonder if it's coming from plumbing, floor drains, or possibly even outside air getting pulled in. What's frustrating is that this location used to feel like one of the better-run stores on the island. Now, the overall impression is very different. Even if the shelves are stocked and the staff is doing their job, the environment itself really affects the experience of shopping there. What stands out is the comparison with nearby stores like Safeway, which don't seem to have the same issue, even though they serve the same general area. That contrast makes the problem at this location even more noticeable. I hope management takes a serious look at it, because this doesn't feel like a minor cleanliness issue--it feels like an infrastructure or maintenance problem that's been left unresolved for too long. It's a shame, because the store has a lot of potential and used to be a go-to spot.

    Always super busy but that is the location as well as the fact that Longs has just about…read more EVERYTHING. Owned by CVS now...but still retains the soul of a Hawaiian independent drug store. A nice hybrid. They need self check out.

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    Longs Drugs
    Longs Drugs
    Longs Drugs

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    ABC Stores

    ABC Stores

    4.0
    (72 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    For some reason, I always have a slushie craving when at Ala Moana, yet can never find one that's…read morenot overloaded with sugar. I go round and round the food courts to no avail. I then remembered that ABC has a store here, first level by the centerstage. It's not a full-fledged location with a kitchen but they have all the usual souvenirs, snacks and beverages including alcohol. ABC didn't fare well in the slushie department either and by this time I was so parched and over it, I just ended up with a healthy bottle of water. I was greeted by one of the female cashiers as I entered, though I didn't get one from the male cashier who rang me up. OVERALL: Convenience at its best.

    Have you ever heard about da inside joke about "ABC Stores"?…read more This really applies if one is in Waikiki, because if a local asked another local - "eh, where you stay???" And the local says - "I stay by the ABC Store!", guess what???? Probably every block in Waikiki get one ABC Store! Buwahahahahaha! Well, lucky for me, ABC Stores are also located at the Ala Moana Shopping Center, and if I'm correct, there's like two stores. One store is located by the centerstage of the Ala Moana Shopping Center, and the newer ABC Store is located on the west wing going towards the Foodland Farms store, or a few doors down from Spectrum. Although I don't shop at ABC Stores on a regular basis, I have been known to pop into the store for a snack, or a drink once in a blue moon. While cruisin' a Ala Moana yesterday, I decided to pop on into the ABC Store by the center stage area for a coffee, since I missed my morning cup of joe. Rest-a-sure, whenever one goes to an ABC Store, you'll find a very clean & well organized store. ABC Stores kinda caters to our visiting tourist, as you'll find an array of Hawaii souvenirs, food items, and some really cool t-shirts! Walking into this particular ABC Store, I was taken back at the very nice designs they had for their t-shirts. The shirts did not look touristy, and even a local like me would proudly buy & wear some of those designs. Locally owned by the Kosasa ohana, shop local & support local whenever you can. A little history about the Kosasa ohana & how ABC Store came about (see link) https://shidler.hawaii.edu/tim/legacy-in-tourism/past-recipients/paul-kosasa

    Photos
    I took this pic for my Yelp buddy  - Da FAMOUS Auntie,  Nadine C.! Lol!
    I took this pic for my Yelp buddy - Da FAMOUS Auntie, Nadine C.! Lol!
    Pineapple liquor. Cute container.
    Pineapple liquor. Cute container.
    ABC Stores

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    CU Hawaii - Downtown - convenience - Updated July 2026

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