Oh my goodness! This is my first time here! It's conveniently located near our workplace, and I had no idea it existed. The food is absolutely incredible! The prices are reasonable, and the portions are perfectly balanced. I'll definitely be returning to try more of their weekly specials. read more

Howard’s - Lobster bisque w/ grilled cheese - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

'Ono food! Great price and good quantity! Love it! You're missing out if you don't try their specials!

I keep forgetting to do a review on this but I just had it today so I finally! Remembered! Howard's is a small, literal hole in the wall spot in downtown, only open on weekdays I'm pretty sure. Such home-y offerings, one of my absolute must haves is the lobster bisque and grilled cheese. It hits every. Single. Time! And the prices are entirely reasonable in my opinion, which also keeps me coming back in an ever-expensive world. I also like to come here for salads and I've tried the occasional dessert that's out. I need to try more of the actual meals--I've also had the gumbo which was delicious but spicy in the best way! Other than that I've tried a few items here and there because I rarely buy lunch. If I do though, I'm always checking the Howard's menu. :) read more

Located in Alakea Plaza (on Alakea and Hotel, next to AC Hotel), Howard's has delicious lunch specials! It used to be a small convenience store, but they took over that space. My favorites? Seafood Gumbo (normally Wednesdays) and Taco Salad (normally Fridays)! Be sure to call ahead to see if they have! You can call after they open at 8am and then pickup your food between 11am- 1pm. They also have some snacks as well as a fridge of grab-and-go sandwiches and salads. Cheers to Howard's! read more

Howard’s - Seafood and sausage gumbo! - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I haven't actually been to Howard's in person but we have been ordering lunch from them recently because it's so good and affordable. From whatvI understand this is a hole in the wall under the escalator. Parking is basically non-existent as this is downtown and they probably rely on foot traffic from the offices during the weekday only. Every day their menu is different but there is some kind of rotating schedule of specials. For instance, they only have nachos every 3 weeks. I wait with baited breath until then as the last time I tasted my co-worker's nachos it was amazing. Very homemade, large portions. I've had 4 salads and all were super yummy: Italian, beet, and Chinese chicken salad and taco salad. The portions are huge. Just wish they could post their daily menu on Instagram or a website. read more

Howard’s - Chinese chicken salad - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Can't say enough good things...menu is small and simple, but always delish. Good prices especially for downtown. Only a few other places you can still get quality and quantity for $15-ish. Haven't been early for breakfasty things...but maybe should try go see one day. Easy nuff pre-order. No clue where to park or those logistics since I just walk from work a few blocks over. Sometimes got line, sometimes no more. And the best part...Traci and Troy are super awesome. Always happy and friendly. Support local small business! read more

Tucked away in a little corner of the Alakea building is this amazing little shop. I have heard of this place from my fellow colleagues multiple times but never had the chance to try their meals out until recently and now I begin to regret not going here sooner! Their menu always changes daily and depending on what is on the menu and the time you head over there, you might miss out as they make only a limited amount. And that is what makes this place so good. The owners definitely take pride in putting out their meals as you can taste it in every bite. I had the chance to try out their Portuguese Bean Soup and their famous Seafood and Sausage Gumbo (both times I ordered, I was the last one to get it). Both dishes were jam packed with savory flavor with a medium to hot kick of spice. I'm all for the spice so that definitely made my taste buds go crazy! Service is amazing too! They are super friendly to everyone and welcome all to a friendly atmosphere. Since this is a small little shop in an office building, there isn't a place to dine in. But luckily you can either eat outside or take it back to the office for you to indulge. As mentioned, their menu changes daily so it is best to check out their Instagram page for their menu. If there is something you really want, I suggest you either go early or phone it in to secure your order. Overall this is a great find and I can't wait to go back to try out what other home cooked meal they will be offering. read more

Howard’s - Portuguese bean soup - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

I've had this place on my lunch list for a while since I work downtown but it's rare that I actually go out to eat. I finally got to try so I checked their IG first like other Yelpers suggested and their special was beef stew and clam chowder. Since I take a late lunch around 1 pm I called ahead to make sure that they had beef stew left. The man who answered said they only had minis which was fine with me. I took a short walk there and it was a really tiny store in the lobby of the Alakea Corporate Tower. For the mini it came out to just under $15. I believe the only difference between a mini and regular from pictures I've seen is that the regular comes with a side of corn and Mac salad. The mini portion was very generous and I was able to make 2 meals out of it. The stew was flavorful and the meat was fall apart tender. It looked like they do have some ready made items and drinks for sale as well. They also open for breakfast. They do have some seating outside of the building but I decided to go back to my office to eat. I will be back to try their other items in the future. read more

Howard’s - Beef Stew - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Lunch in town can be expensive so it's no wonder that this place has a large following. Prices are reasonable given that the portions are generous. Perfect for the working person. I haven't had breakfast thee but was told that they do a really good business. Menus are available on Instagram And if you hear there is a special, go for it. A few weeks ago there was a $10 special that included baby bok choy, boneless short ribs and rice. The meat was tender and tasty. A real winner. This week I had the shoyu pork with rice, potato spaghetti noodle salad and corn. I really appreciate places that put a few potatoes to their salad and even better if they use spaghetti noodles instead of macaroni. The only criticism I had was that the pork was a little too sweet for me (or maybe not enough rice to counter balance it-but that would be too much carbs). But I can't deny that it was tasty. read more

I love this place which serves great food with good portions and affordable prices. My favorite is beet salad with pieces of chicken. I haven't been able to try some of their daily specials which are posted weekly on their IG page but I hope to. read more

Howard’s - Beet Salad - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

23AUG2023 I got "Seafood and Sausage Gumbo" from Howard's. I believe it's the best "Gumbo" on island. It reminded me of how SF food truck gumbo use to taste before it started tasting like cigarettes. I told my wife I wouldn't be too critical despite coming from a place that is very famous for the dish. I was actually pretty impressed with the the thickness and color of the roux. It was almost like a gravy. There is no right way to make gumbo (inside joke) so I was delighted to see they DID NOT include tomatoes in theirs, but it does have okra. Once again the portion was generous and I was happy with the offering. Their Gumbo definitely put the other area Gumbos to shame (easily). P.S. I hear they run out pretty quick, so if you are interested it's probably a good idea to call ahead of time and make sure they still have it before you make the frustrating trek through the city in vain. read more

Howard’s - Seafood and Sausage Gumbo - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Have eaten here a few times...it's one out go to places when we are at work. I usually get the same stuff, that's my downfall...they chicken salad and taco salads are pretty darn good but my favorites here are the chowders and the seafood gumbo...both are full of delicious ingredients that just make it feel like a home cooked meal. The gumbo has lots of sausage, shrimp and okra....it's just damn delicious. They only have daily specials so sometimes they sell out...but the chowder and gumbo are worth it! read more

Howard’s - Seafood Gumbo... - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Avocado toast is my favorite they also make great salads and have great healthy Snack options. Every Now and again I treat myself to their Desserts when they have it i love lemon bars and theirs is good. Prices are so good for being in town! read more

Howard’s - Avocado toast (before 10am) and yogurt parfait (greek yogurt, strawberries and blue berries and honey by choice). - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Avocado toast, egg salad sandwich, spam musubi, and acai bowl are my faves! They open at 7am and if I am able to, I will speed walk on over! I believe it is a $5 minimum (but it could be $10)to use debit or credit card. Bring your own bag! read more

O'ahu is filled with amazing eats and hole in the walls. However, inch for inch, all things considered, Howard's tops them all. COVID-19: Traci and Troy wear masks at all times, and keep Howard's clean and tidy. SERVICE: Traci and Troy, the owners, are the nicest, friendliest, and warmest people you can come across. They are so welcoming, they make friends with everyone in the building. RESTAURANT: Howard's is a tiny, unassuming spot. It is located on the ground floor (NOT lobby floor) of 1100 Alakea Street, a high rise business building in Downtown Honolulu. It is easy to miss because it is tucked in a corner on the side of escalators, opposite the elevators and to the left of the escalators when walking in the front doors of the building. Howard's is take-out only without any seating, but you can sit outside in the building's courtyard or at tables down the block. FOOD: The menu changes every day. It typically includes salads, sandwiches, a daily soup, and a daily main entree. All of the salad dressings are homemade and amazing. My favorite is the blue cheese. The soups range from lobster bisque to clam chowder to seafood gumbo. They are thick, earthy, and soul-warming. The entrees range from furikake salmon to chicken luau to kalua pork nachos. Every dish is homemade and reminds you of eating at your mom's house. You can taste the love and care in every bite, including the side dishes. The preparation and execution is spot on. The portions are generous and leave you feeling happy and satiated. OVERALL: I've eaten Howard's around fifteen times and I've loved every dish! I love supporting these locals and feeling their love. Stop by Howard's for your lunch hour in Downtown or to grab food for the beach. They also provide catering, which is just as quality as the regular menu! read more

Howard’s - Strawberry Ice Cream Slushy, Grilled Cheese, Salad, & Tomato Bisque - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Never disappoints always Yummo's & Onolicious great amount of food for the price awesome place & great service read more

See all

Looking for a literal hole-in-the-wall place to pick up some killer lunch grinds? Well, Howards is the spot. Located on Alakea Street (next to the old Remington College Building and across from the courthouse), Howards has you covered for snacks, drinks and meals! There is a huge fountain out front if you need more directions than that. Check out their Instagram for weekly menus and specials, as their menu changes daily and is never the same. If there is something that you like, I strongly recommend that you call ahead and request a hold, the morning of. I say this because there is a limited amount of food on certain days, and once they run out, they run out. Taco Salad day is TERRIBLE (im joking...I live for Taco Salad day...please dont order all of it, thanks). Depending on the time of the day, the line can get loooong. I mean, out the door of the building long. To avoid the lunch rush, go before 12 noon or after like 1/130. Family owned and operated, the people that run Howards are as friendly as they come. Super helpful, very polite, and I've noticed, they have even started to recognize my voice over the phone. Hahaha. Their pricing is competitive with surrounding downtown businesses and you get a good amount of food. They are huge fans of the KC Chiefs -- unrelated to the review, but when you walk in, youll understand, haha. Pat Mahomes -- if you ever read this, check out Howards and tell them I sent you LOL. Aside from their daily menu which usually has the main entrée, some secondary entrees, sandwiches, and random desserts, there is usually more than one soup of the day and special things like acai bowls, homemade cookies and baked goods. These wont be advertised on IG so its best you just venture over and check them out for yourselves. They open at 7am, M-F, subject to change -- so keep an eye out on their social media. They accept cash, credit and debit. Parking -- good luck. Unless you work in the business district, you'll need to find street parking somewhere and walk over. Alii is across the street and Iolani Palace is around the corner for street parking. There is NO INSIDE SEATING. It is a walk in, order, and go, type of place. And lastly, dont forget to bring your own bag and help save the planet. read more

Corn Chowder on Mondays... delicious! This was a $6 size. They also have a $7 and $14 size. The larger one is great to take home and will feed 2 people easily. read more

Howard’s - Corn Chowder - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Nice little lunch spot inconspicuously located in an office building. All the entrees I've tried has been good and the portions are generous. There's usually a few entrees of the day and they post their menu weekly. I like the panini's and soups they often have and the spaghetti salad that comes instead of mac. The family that runs it is also really nice. read more

Howard’s - Hamburger steak - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The service and the food is good. The workers there are really nice. I come here when I'm working around the area.

Howard's is 5 Star Service and 5 Star Food! A variety of daily specials for every appetite. Generous portions and the food is delicious. I eat there on average 2-3 times a week. I have my favorite dishes and Traci and Troy get to know their customers and make you feel so appreciated. In addition to the changing daily specials there is a nice assortment of grab and go items. Sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and a rotation of desserts/baked goods. You will definitely add them to your weekly lunch rotation . Some of my favorite specials: taco salad with pico de gallo, beanless chili and rice with frank, corn chowder, blue cheese ribeye sandwich, and shoyu pork. They also do furikake salmon, spicy crab and kimchee bowls and regular or spicy california bentos. Stop by and check them out! (I always send pictures to my friend on the mainland when I have something really good for lunch....she gets a lot of Howard's) Instagram howardshawaii read more

See all

This place is special in that it is family-run, good comfort food at a very affordable price. Traci and Troy are friendly and many of their customers know the menu and plan to take home for dinner too. We had lunch take-out-- their daily soup was crab chowder and we had some of the beef stew too. On a prior time we had their shoyu chicken which was delicious. They post their menu on Instagram too. I initially gave this place four stars because I usually give only fine dining places five stars--BUT considering the amount of food and prices they charge I upped them to five stars read more

Broke da mouth!!Hands down some of the best local "home made" food kine that I've tried. From their spam musubi, salmon terikyaki, beef stew, Mac salad, and soups!! A must try if you're in Honolulu for sure! Small hole in the wall place but a hidden gem for sure! Mahalos for the ono grindz!! read more

Great food, great service, great people! Traci and Troy have such an Aloha spirit and welcome you with plenty smiles. I haven't had everything on the menu, but the gumbo and tomato bisque were delicious! Will need to go back and try everything else on the menu! read more

Fantastic hole in the wall with delicious food and friendly owners! So far, I've had the grilled cheese, tomato bisque, seafood and sausage gumbo, and kalua pig-- all of which are excellent! But my favorite item is the strawberry ice cream slush which is so refreshing while eating just outside the building (no seating inside). read more

Love this place! Traci and Troy are the best and everything is delicious

Awesome food. Friendly staff and clean. Great how they change menus all the time so it does not get boring. Keep up the great work. Always will return for their awesome food. read more

I love this family run business by Tracy and Troy they are so welcoming and there food is always so fresh and yummy. A go to stop in my book! read more

Howard’s - Taco salad with fresh pico - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Damn Panini Pastrami Sandwich was delish! Sorry forgot the pic to go with. Definitely will go! It's available DAILY! read more

Had the tomato bisque, salad, chicken luau and strawberry ice cream slushy. everything was so delicious! there was nothing my picky toddler wouldn't eat. love this little hidden gem. read more

Food is so good. I've tried their kalua pig cabbage plate, their gumbo, and lobster bisque. The gumbo is stand out, I would get two orders next time. You can tell they are masters of making a proper roux, perfect consistency, spice blend, and a rather apparent heat. They also make a noodle mac with kamaboko that just hits different lol. Definitely give this spot a go if you happen to be in the area! read more

Howards has such a wide variety of entrees, soups and salads, it's amazing for such a tiny hole in the wall. Pumpkin Crunch is the best as well as energy bars, chocolate chip cookies, scones and decorated sugar cookies. Prices are really reasonable for such tasty meals you will definitely enjoy! read more