Came for brunch at 10:30 a.m., no crowd at all! Friendly staff very attentive. Took our orders right away. I got laulau combination and mom got the squid luau combination. Laulau pleasantly surprised me as this was my first foray to Waipahu Highway Inn. Every time I got laulau at the Kakaako location the meaty (non fatty) parts of the pork was dry; this one was moist throughout, even in the meaty parts. Poi was good, especially mixed with the lomi salmon. Mom's squid luau was nice, came out hot, though it was a little sweet for her taste. The smoked meat was also a little sweet, though we know that's how they prepare it at H.I. Nice mix of smoky and sweet with the meat and onions. Finished with the haupia, which is standard and always dependable there. Like the old plantation feel and the old photographs of Waipahu all over the place, right down to the palaka decor. Every time I return I try to eat at H.I. read more

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Always so satisfied with my visits. I do normally do takeout but keep in mind they charge a 5% kitchen fee if you opt to dine-in.. a practice that seems pretty common nowadays. I'm not sure why they don't pool the tips or just raise the menu price but it is what it is. Service has always been warm and welcoming even when they were at their older location by McDonalds. I do love this location more than the Kakaako one. Stopped by yesterday for two tripe stew plates and to me, the to-go container containing the stew was a little small, but they were very generous with the pipikaula. Each plate was around $17 and it included rice, salad, and haupia. To me, that's still a very fair price. I had ordered online and my order was ready to go by the estimated time. The lot is extremely small and the spaces are tight so you may have to find street parking. They also have a points program so don't forget to sign up for bonuses and rewards. read more

Highway Inn - Kanak right after - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Did a take out order tonight...in the mood for Hawaiian food. We normally eat in but this time we couldn't. Did takeout of the beef stew combo plate and miso butterfish plate and smoked meat plate. Came home and the beef stew had some small containers where the beef stew would b, there was another one..so I was like oh ok got two. Open one had very little then the second container had ONE carrot! Like why! Next plate, butterfish had all bones deep fried way too much with three small pieces that literally made the plate look empty. Smoked meat plate was fine. Honestly, in restaurant portions are good! But why did the takeout look lame! Plates not cheap nowadays..what happened ?! I seriously wouldn't do any take out! And at this point not go back smh! Like come on do better highway inn! We want to keep coming back but give me a reason to... read more

Highway Inn - Container on the right had the beef stew, just to compare sizes..the one on the left is the chilli pepper water..like come on man!! - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

When I want the Na'au combo this is the place I always go I just love Hawaiian food and I'm picky about it got to be Ono. Service is good and the food is delicious the only problem is the parking other than that it's good read more

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Good spot to try local, authentic Hawaiian food. I only stopped by for a light bite, but if I came for a bigger meal, I'd definitely try the Tasting Plate next time. It includes a sampling of several different Hawaiian dishes and seems like a great intro to local food. Asides from that, there's a large menu of other dishes and combo platters. I tried the kahlua pig nachos and the loco moco. The nachos came with a generous serving of sweet potato chips topped with kahlua pork, lomi salmon, guac, and sour cream - it was tasty and satisfying. The loco moco was pretty good as well, a bit simpler but hit the spot. Will be back next time I'm craving Hawaiian! read more

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Highway Inn in Waipahu (Plantation Town) never misses. This time we ordered the Kamaʻāina breakfast and the corned beef hash smothered in gravy, and it hit the spot. The hash was flavorful and hearty, and the gravy just takes it to another level. I also love how much variety they have on the menu--there's always something I want to try. I've been here many times and honestly I've enjoyed everything I've ordered. If you're craving legit local-style comfort food, this is a go-to. Friendly staff, casual dining experience. read more

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After doing a Yelp search on authentic local food, I decided to check out Highway Inn and the gloomy weather didn't stop me from driving over. My decision turned out to be the right call coz I enjoyed my authentic Hawaiian lunch. The wait staff were all friendly and after settling in our designated table, we browsed the menu and settled on the combo platter since we wanted to make the most of our visit. The food came out fast and serving size was large enough for two. Everything was yum and tasted homemade. My favorite among the various dishes was the pork lau lau; it was moist, tender, and flavorful. If you're in Honolulu, check out Highway Inn for authentic local dishes! Value for money can't be beat especially for the amount and quality of food you're getting. read more

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I absolutely love the customer service here! They show so much aloha and is very quick with the food ! My whole table got our food 10 mins after ordering. read more

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I have been to the Kaka'ako Highway Inn a few times but this was my initial visit to the original location in Waipahu. Adjacent to UPS store and across from Goodyear on Moloalo Street...there is a small shared parking lot. I ordered takeaway and there were a few customers waiting for the doors to open...now open on the weekdays at 930a. Service was good and the food was better. Requested the Beef Stew Combo Plate; the combo comes with pipikaula, haupia, poi/rice, and potato salad/greens/ lomi lomi. Beef stew was old school...very good with soft chunks of meat. Tomato-based sauce. Pipikaula can be a bit on the salty side, but not in this instance. Potato salad was very good...red potatoes with skin. Poi was fresh. If there was a disappointment - it was the haupia, it kinda tasted like what you make at home from a package. read more

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Wrote my first review for Highway Inn 12 years ago and not much has changed (besides the location)! It's easily one of my first stops when I go back home and that's very unlikely to change. Queue the song "Fish and Poi" (Sean Na'auao) because that's exactly what plays on repeat in my head when I walk into Highway Inn. My ohana's go-to order for the last couple decades: * Beef Stew * Squid Luau * Poi * Lomi Ahi * Pipikaula * Double Rice ...and shot glasses of chili peppah watah! (If you know, you know.) Shoutout to the staff here for being so consistent and always serving up yummy food! Can't wait til my next trip back home. read more

Highway Inn - Some of the best Hawaiian food on the island! - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

I came in on the recommendation of my sister, and she was right on! I love the atmosphere. It reminds me of being on a plantation. Beautiful pictures all around, and gentle Hawaiian music playing. Just a wonderful atmosphere. Even at 2 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, the place was busy. You write your name down on a list when you walk in. I had to wait less than 10 minutes, and I was seated. I decided to go with the Hawaiian moco with pork. The food comes quick, and when it does, oh dear, oh dear. Ohhhhh mmmmyyyyyyyyy.... That thing was *HUMOUNGOUS!* Everything was *ONO!!* I loved the Laulau, and the pork was so amazingly tender. I asked for my egg over easy, and that's exactly how I got it, with plenty of yolk to drip down into the food. The beef stew gravy was rich and delicious, and the lomi salmon on top of all of that, provided a nice pop of acid to cut through all of that richness. The rice on the bottom was very tender, and I loved the Mac salad as well. I don't know how, but I finished almost all of it, just leaving a little bit of rice behind. It was that good, and I was stuffed! I asked if they do a military discount, and he said only for those in uniform. That's fine. Even without the discount, the price was more than reasonable for an amazing plate of food. I see why they have been around for so long. I will be back! Mahalo! read more

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Highway Inn missed the mark today. Food was below average. My son was complaining of stomach issues and I was sick when I got home. We ordered a plate with squid la'ua and Kiawe steak, butterfish with a side of fried rice and banana pancakes with lilikoi sauce. Service was average. She checked on us one time and refilled drinks. Restaurant was quiet with 5 other tables with customers. Not too busy. On top of tipping, the restaurant is charging a kitchen fee of 5% for admin costs and tips to kitchen staff. Probably not going to be a return customer for a while. read more

Highway Inn - Kitchen Service Charge - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Food was great but prices Definitely went up from the last time I been here was $75 for 3 people I paid lol but there food is just so delicious though the only down fall is when you eat inside they charge 5% tax for Kitchen service so that's different also I left a tip to for the server idk. Service was fast & helpful was a full house every one was enjoying the delicious food super family friendly place. Definitely would come back but only for special occasions just my honest review. read more

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Hawaiian cuisine for Lunch in Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i... I've driven past this landmark so many times. This is the "Original" Highway Inn, although it was in a different location in the same town. (The second location is in Kaka'ako, Honolulu, on Ala Moana Boulevard.) The interior of this Waipahu location reminds me of the Honolulu location, but a little bigger. The service by Lillian was excellent! She took my order on a tablet and repeated it to me. She checked on me and let me take my time with my meal. I didn't leave any leftovers! I had the Hawaiian Beef Stew Combination with a side of Squid Luau. The beef was melt-in-the-mouth and the gravy was just right! [I used to enjoy gravy and rice when I was a little kid! That was my favorite!] The squid Luau was on the thicker side. I liked the tender pieces of squid! The pipikaula was chewy and moist. I thought it would be dryer... like a Jerky, but that's ok. It was alright. The lomi salmon (tomato salad) wasn't too salty - that's a good thing! The haupia (coconut dessert) seemed healthier because it wasn't too sweet! I liked the free, shared parking! I'm glad that I went early because people were waiting for my space! Thank you for the convenient restroom and beautiful, calm environment! I was there before the crowd arrived! read more

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So long over due we stopped by earlier this month and had to have some Highway inn Nalani provided great customer service and recommendations We got the following items HIGHWAY INN TASTING PLATE w/ Pork lau lau DEEP FRIED BUTTERFISH COLLAR N' STEW GRAVY HIGHWAY INN CLASSIC BURGER w/ cheese and avacado read more

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"WQ" The standing joke I have with friends is that based on recommendations made by this inner circle, they are classified as to their ability to "accurately" analyze the worthiness of an eating place for their offerings. The highest classification is WQ which stands for "WITHOUT QUESTION"- meaning, if the person has a WQ status and they say a certain offering is recommended, you can be confident it will be good and you should not let doubt enter your mind. Enter my friend Mr. G who is the only group member who is considered WQ. Mr. G knows his food and staked his WQ reputation on Highway Inn's sirloin cutlet as a can't miss. So without hesitation I ordered it. True to his word, the cutlet was really good. A really soft piece of sirloin cut thin, breaded and smothered in a delicious brown gravy. Served with your rice and potato-mac salad (toss is an option with a delightful lilikoi vinegaritte dressing) I took the toss. Let me repeat: If there is a food combination that makes for a perfect, delicious meal, this is it. A generous portion of tender sirloin cutlet, smothered with a just the right consistency of gravy poured over the cutlet snd rice. Adding balance, the toss salad with that homemade dressing provided the perfect complement to the main offering. In my younger days I would probably have had the potato-mac and toss salad together but being you can only get this dish on FRIDAYS, and I'm an east oahu townie, that meal could put me in a comatose state- not safe for driving. Don't drive after eating a nice delicious meal with lots of carbs. Mr. Sandman may be visiting you not long after you are pau. Needless to say, Mr G keeps his WQ rating. The restaurant is clean, the service is great, the parking can be problematic- but they do have parking. Avoid the normal dining "feeding times" if you can. So in short, Highway Inn's sirloin cutlet is worth driving to Waipahu for, and it's only served at the Waipahu location and ONLY ON FRIDAYS. read more

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Wanted to eat Hawaiian food while we were out that way and it has been a while that I went to Highway inn and first time at their new location. I ordered the pork Lau Lau plate which comes with Lomi salmon, pipi kaula, Haupia, rice or poi. It was very good and tasty. My wife ordered the kalua pork plate which comes with the same items. The chili pepper water was good and went well with the Hawaiian food. Service was good and fast and area was clean. Restrooms were clean and well kept. They add a 5 percent back kitchen charge and also round up on the bill and if you charge there is an additional charge card fee. read more

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To preface, I miss the old location. The food just hit different. Having been here a few times recently, the food is inconsistent. I've had burnt laulau here, and the hardest pipikaula ever. Also I'd definitely recommend eating in as taking out is definitely not where it's at. Overall the service is good, the location is convenient as it's close to the office. Just the food isn't as consistent as the old location... Still good if you've got a craving for Hawaiian food and way better then the other options in the area! read more

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One of my go to when craving squid luau! Service is always fast and friendly and squid luau is always on point. They could add more squid lol..it's just so tender want it all! Laulau is pretty good, I don't care for butterfish in my laulau but I just take it out. Super combo is the way to go. Pretty good prices! read more

Always love their tripe stew combo plate and add a chicken long rice to fill yourself up with homemade goodness. It can get really busy in there so be prepared to wait. Totally worth it. Old school kids lunch plates is super nostalgic. Definitely need to go back. read more

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As an Oahu native, who has tried many Hawaiian food restaurants, I think Highway Inn takes the prize for best atmosphere and service. Their Hawaiian food also tastes amazing. Sometimes Hawaiian food is too salty, but theirs is not. For the price, they serve a lot of food. We had to get boxes and take a lot home. As a mom of a toddler, what really stood out to me about Highway Inn is how kid friendly it was. I've never seen a restaurant on Oahu offer books and toys to kids while they wait for their table or food. My daughter loved it and it really helped to occupy her for a while. We will be back! read more

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My first time dining at this location. I had a late lunch around 3pm. Had a good amount of customers but the restaurant wasn't crowded. Very clean and spacious. I ordered my favorite combo (what I normally order from the Kakaʻako location), the Squid Lūʻau combo, and it did not disappoint. I didn't want the pipikaula, so the server subbed it with the lomi salmon without an added charge. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and the server brought out a fresh batch of chili pepper water which further complimented my meal. To top it off, as a rewards member I was able to redeem a birthday dessert (belated) and a 10% discount off my meal. Definitely will come back here again and probably around the same time when it's less crowded. read more

Highway Inn - Squid Luau Combo Plate with smoked meat. - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

This is THE SPOT. Ugh just thinking of the Lomi salmon and mochiko chicken is making my mouth water. We MUST be back soon!!

Best Hawaiian food (not the common kind) on the island. Their tripe and na'au is always a winner. The pipikaula is unlike any other (especially this location). Service is ALWAYS amazing at this location as well! It's always clean and they are so accommodating. Love it here! read more

Highway Inn - Tripe, poi, lomi salmon, pipikaula,Lomi ahi, onion and haupia - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

If I could give 10 stars, I would! Lots of parking available, no wait, and I counted three large groups with about 10-15 people at each table, so yes they can accommodate large parties. Last time I was in Oahu, I tried the Tasting Plate and it was delicious but this time I just wanted as much as I could get of the Lau Lau and it did not disappoint. I was so happy. My daughter had the Hawaiian Moco and my son had the Mochiko Chicken. We all left there stuffed and happy. read more

Highway Inn - Pork Lau Lau Combo, Mochiko Chicken and Hawaiian Moco - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Been to all previous Highway Inn locations in Waipahu long before there was broadband Internet and social media. Surprisingly, I haven't left a review yet. Being a place known for Hawaiian food, I had to order their signature Laulau Combination Plate that included Pork Laulau, Poi, Pipikaula, Lomi Salmon and Haupia. Hands down the best Hawaiian plate on the island! The Laulau was huge with lots of tender pork inside with the elusive piece of butterfish inside (albeit tiny), the Lomi Salmon was fresh and actually had pieces of salmon in it, the Pipikaula was tender and flavorful which is unusual because most places serve tough Pipikaula that is usually chewy, the poi was at "3 finger" consistency meaning slightly on the watery side but it was fresh, the Haupia was excellent, with great texture, coconut flavor and just the right sweetness making a great dessert to finish the meal off. The service was great. We arrived around 5:15 on a Thursday evening and there was some parking left and seating available although it was filling up fast. Our server was very friendly and was an old timer so we had a nice chat about their really old hole in wall location across Arakawa's. (Old timers all remember Arakawa's & Big Way!). There's even an old b&w photo on the wall that shows the really old location on Waipahu Depot road from the Waipahu sugar mill days. They sell their own T-shirts, there are children's books in their little library area and a photo wall of customers. Even Guy Fieri from the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" show ate here. I think next time I'll try their Hawaiian style Beef Stew that I haven't had in a long time but was one of the memorable dishes they were known for. read more

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Food is always amazing. All of their staff are amazing and incredible!! Service is so fast. Thank you. read more

We were craving Hawaiian food yesterday (Aloha Friday) & went to Highway Inn Waipahu. As a family of 3 with a toddler we wanted to beat the dinner rush so we went at 5:30PM and there was no wait. They even have kids books and a table with toys there which was a major plus for me as a mom (in case we did have to wait). We ordered the chicken lau lau combo and Kalua pig combo. We made both our meals super combos for an extra price for an additional portion. My husband got the chicken long rice & I got more kalua pig to share with our little one. All the food hit the spot!! However the main reason we came to Highway Inn was for the HAUPIAAAAA. We've had it before at the town location and loved the thick coconutty dessert & couldn't wait to come back for more! Waipahu location has its own shared lot with UPS store. read more

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Good portions and delicious Hawaiian food. Service is great and attentive. Can't go wrong. A huge improvement compared to when they were at the old location years ago. My brother got the lau lau combo and I got the luau sampler. It was a lot of food for me but I enjoyed it. The kalua pork was a bit dry for my taste and the sweet potato could be served warmer as it didn't taste made the day but hey the luau sampler had everything I've been craving for in so long. Parking can be tight in the mini mall, but there are street parking or in the Tropicana Square across the street. Also, I hate to mention this but I think it's worth mentioning in this review; there is an extra surcharge for dining in(I believe it's an extra 5% on top of your total bill). The sign is posted when you walk in the door so you shouldn't be surprise if you see it on your bill. While this policy is worth noting, I still find the experience enjoyable and looking forward to my next Hawaiian food craving. read more

Highway Inn - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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Angelo was our server and he was great. Pros + Food was delicious. A friend who is local to Hawaii highly recommended this place. + Location was easy to find. Apparently they only have locations in Oahu. + Ambiance: there's a charm to this establishment. It isn't fine dining but I enjoyed it all the same. read more

Highway Inn - Kalua pork, Mac salad, poi - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Highway Inn is the go to when we are craving Hawaiian food and don't want to make it. We especially come here when family members come home and request it. The service is always good, never had a bad experience thus far, even when we are sitting at our table talking stories long after we finished our meal. For some reason the lighting seemed darker than the last time we were there. It is always clean inside and never worried about sitting on a table with leftovers from the last guest. read more

Came back on 6/16/25 and everything was amazing! From the moment we walked in to the end of our meal, everything turned out great. The food was delicious. We ordered the tasting platter and everything was ono! We loved squid luau, laulau, kalua pork. We also ordered a side of the beef stew and chicken long rice. The beef stew was tender and had a delicious flavor. The chicken long rice was also ono. We ordered kalbi plates and kalua combo. The restaurant was clean and the staff's customer service shined. Everyone was kind and friendly. We highly recommend! read more

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Still 5 stars, but you need to change your address in Yelp. It's still got the original location! We sent some visitors from the states and they ended up over there. read more

Highway Inn - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

My last visit to Highway Inn restaurant was way back in the 70's, when it was a small hole-in-the-wall across the street from Arakawas. The food back then and the day I visited the restaurant on Moloalo St., same. The Watercress Soup was so ono,but a bit salty, as was the Wet Pipikaula, but we wen grind-um anyway. Our maka was biggah den our ōpū and we ordered way too much. Lomi Salmon, Wet & Dry Pipikaula, Laulau, Ōpú Stew (large), Butterfish Collar (YUM), Mac Salad & rice. Of course we had left overs to take home to grinds later. Brought back lots of memories. By the way, the parking lot needs some serious improvement. Luckily, one of the handicapped parking stalls opened up just when I was trying to maneuver our rental car into a parking space that was too narrow. read more

This is one of thee best places to get Hawaiian food! Service was on the slower side but the food made up for it! I couldn't decide what to get so I went with the whole platter, the highway inn plate!! For $30 you get laulau, poi, lomi, chicken long rice, squid luau, kalua pig, sweet potatoes, and haupia!! This is a great deal could easily feed 2 hungry people! Ordered a side of rice to complete the whole experience. No disappointments just make sure you wear loose pants cause I left happy and full. Everything tasted perfect!! read more

Highway Inn - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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Squid luua, loco moco, and smoked meat tasted amazing. Family also got the lau lau. Service was fast and the waitress was friendly. Chill atmosphere. Would definitely go again. read more

Highway Inn is a good place to get Hawaiian Food. It's consistent and this location is nice inside. There are plenty of tables, less tourists than the other location and plenty of parking. So I'll be honest, I have a favorite Hawaiian Food restaurant that I frequent, but I was in Waipahu and needed to pick up a plate of food to share with my Hawaiian Club students. It was a quick process to order and my food came out quickly. I ordered the Hawaiian platter which came with a little of everything. There was chicken long rice, kalua pig, laulau, poi, sweet potato, lomi salmon and haupia. It was also $30! Food is crazy expensive these days, but I guess that's the cost of living in paradise. The food was decent. Everything was packaged individually and nicely fit into a nice box. Because I was just doing a takeout order, I didn't interact too much with the waitstaff. I was appreciative of the aunty who directed me to the back of the restaurant to make my order, otherwise I would have been standing by the hostess stand at the front of the restaurant for much longer. read more

Was looking for a nice sit down restaurant with good Hawaiian food which we def found here along with superb service! Also a lot of the locals came in after us which only confirmed it was a good place to eat...highly recommend! read more

Highway Inn - Mini size loco moco dish w/ mac-potato salad. - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Nice atmosphere with friendly staff. Ordered the smoked loco. It was a different take on the loco moco but better in my opinion if you don't want something too heavy like a hamburger patty. Had great flavor! read more

Highway Inn - Smoked moco - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Had "breakfast" today, but found out their menu is good all day! Si, ordered the tripe stew combo and a bloody Mary! Good was great, drink too! Great service nice ambience with historic photos. read more

Highway Inn - Tripe stew combo - Hawaiian Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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