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    Ilocos Best

    4.1 (19 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 5:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Ilocos Best Photos

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    ILOCOS BEST ATMOSPHERE

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    April 2026 Prices for their plate lunches

    Amazing good authentic Filipino foods. My favorite place to get Filipino foods when I have a craving. But the best thing too are the women workers. They are so welcoming, friendly, and kind. The owner, Joe is very nice and friendly as well.

    Some hot dishes
    Deborah P.

    My husband saw this place on the yelp app so he wanted to eat Filipino food for lunch so we went to try them. It's the old North Star business on school Street where the old PNP super food market was located back in early 80's. In the small strip mall. There's is parking for its customers if not its very tight in looking for parking. They share the parking with other businesses as well. We got pinakbet, dingaguan, and squid adobo. Plus some dessert. The food was OK my husband likes dingaguan but he likes it with innards instead of pork. It was mostly with pork and blood. The squid adobo didn't taste like adobo it was mild and the pinabet was ok. We wanted the chicken papaya soup but they have it on Tuesdays only. Service was fast and the food was in hot trays ready to serve to go. Comes in plate lunch style and also containers take out too. Food was ok.

    Jessica F.

    I went to San Nicolas to get some chicharon, but they sold out so I headed Norte to Ilocos. I knew this place as North Star. I had a lovely conversation with the owner and learned that the North Star owners sold it and retired. I love that everything pretty much stayed the same, including the employees that make their amazing food. I got my chicharon and picked up a dozen ube putoflan. I for sure plan to go back when I crave Filipino food or need some chicharon.

    Jeanette E.

    First time here and I can't believe I never knew about this place!! I love Filipino food, so this spot satisfied my cravings! You can order plate lunch or ala carte. They also have a good selection of freshly made desserts, groceries, and meat. It's basically a little market which also offers cooked foods to go. The service is great and they are very friendly. They accept credit cards. There's ample parking in the front lot. The store is clean and very well organized. I can't wait to come back!

    Cassava flan

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    5 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    11 days ago

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Did not like it. There was mostly just cabbage in it. No meat. Plus I was worried about the cleanliness of the place.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Was disappointed with the taste of the empanada. Not the authetic empanada that I use to eat back from home.

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    1 year ago

    The fried Lechon is ono and they have the best pork guisantes I have ever had and the peeps that work there are super nice

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Different owners but I think same cook!!! Always bomb! And the best dinakdaken and adobo

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    Elena's Home of Finest Filipino Foods - Lechon kawali

    Elena's Home of Finest Filipino Foods

    3.9(944 reviews)
    8.8 mi
    $$

    My friend and I wanted Filipino breakfast so he recommended this place and I'm so glad he did! We…read morewalked in and got in line to order. There were two people ahead of us and we probably waited about 5 minutes to have our order taken which is to be expected. The inside has beautiful decor, lots of pictures of food and vibrant colors and plenty of comfortable seating. We had some questions about the menu and the women taking our order was very helpful with everything. We ordered our food and were told to sit anywhere we like. We ordered an Elena's Mixed Plate 2 plate combo with Diniguan and Monggo Beans with Pork, it came with two scoops of rice. And we also ordered the March Special which had Pancit, Gisantes, Lechon and Pork Adobo Fried Omelet. The Diniguan was made perfectly! Not sour at all but just the perfect amount of flavor.. the Monggo Beans with Pork were cooked perfectly with delicious pork pieces inside. The March Special was such a good deal! The Pancit, made just right, thr Gisantes, spot on, thr Lechon, amazingly fried and the Pork Adibo Fried Omlete was absolutely delicious! Something i didnt know I needed! The rice was also cooked perfectly, not mushy or under cooked but just right! We got cups of water to drink and they brought us out two cups and a pitcher to refill our cups at the table which I can appreciate.. Overall such a great place with kind, friendly staff and amazing delicious food!

    we just love Elena's. Food is ALWAYS fresh, the staff is always amazing…read more Anytime we are craving filipino food this is where we come. Our regular order is pinapaitan, marinated pork (altho I must say, the last 3 times we came I feel like the marinated fried pork is getting thicker and thicker like chopped pork chops, lol.. but still so good) the marinated fried pork used to be thin and crispy, now its thick and juicy, please bring back the old way, lol... We also get diniguan, sari sari, pancit. let me just say, there is not one food that we eat there that we dont like, haha... So if you have never tried them, I suggest you wait no longer :)))

    Photos
    Elena's Home of Finest Filipino Foods - Table seating

    Table seating

    Elena's Home of Finest Filipino Foods - Pork gisantes

    Pork gisantes

    Elena's Home of Finest Filipino Foods

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    Shay's Filipino Cafe - Special #2

    Shay's Filipino Cafe

    3.8(744 reviews)
    9.4 mi
    $$

    Craving authentic Filipino comfort food in Honolulu? Hit up Shay's for a mix plate featuring…read morepancit, dinuguan, monggo, and veggie lumpia - spot-on flavors that hit all the right nostalgic notes. The pancit was a standout: bihon noodles perfectly stir-fried with green onions and subtle seasoning, light yet satisfying as a side that balanced the richer dishes without overwhelming. Dinuguan brought that deep, savory pork blood stew richness - tender meat in a chocolatey gravy with a vinegar kick, way better than average and not overly gamey Monggo (mung beans) was hearty and comforting, simmered smooth with malunggay or bittermelon options for that homey veggie depth - grows on you with each bite. Veggie lumpia delivered crispy perfection: fresh fillings, not greasy, and a great crunchy contrast to the stews. Generous portions at fair prices, quick service, and that lechon nearby if you want to level up next time. Solid Waipahu/Honolulu Filipino spot - will return!

    Shay's is legit. I…read moreordered the chicken adobo and an order of lumpia. You can't really go wrong with that order. The adobo was tasty. I mean to be fair, no one makes it better than my mom. But this was close enough. The portions are great probably good enough for two. The lumpia were fire as well. 4 for $10 is a bit steep but not too bad. Crunchy wrappers. Tasty inside. They have this vinegar based dipping sauce, that I didn't really enjoy. My mom softens that vinegar by mixing it with ketchup and a bit of sugar if needed. If they had something similar to that it would have been 10/10. As it is, I'm just nitpicking. Shay's did make me miss my mom's cooking a bit but in a good way. I'd totally bring her in to get her take next time she visits. Will totally go back.

    Photos
    Shay's Filipino Cafe
    Shay's Filipino Cafe - Pancit Bihon

    Pancit Bihon

    Shay's Filipino Cafe - Special #1

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    Special #1

    Fort Ruger Market - These are dried aku sticks, we also have dried tako, smoked goods and now on Fridays smoked meats

    Fort Ruger Market

    3.9(406 reviews)
    6.5 miKaimuki
    $$

    How prophetic- see Jennifer Y's review from a few months ago…read more Evidently Fort Ruger Market closed yesterday on April 14, 2026. Great memories over the decades. Too bad it didn't play out well. The boiled peanuts were always a buy when we were in the mood. A posting this morning on the doors indicates they will re-open after renovation (does not mention timetable). Social media indicated they closed down 4/14/26. Same owner? New owner? Totally different business? Would be a shame if the iconic "Fort Ruger Market" disappears. If you lived in Kaimuki or went to Kapiolani Community College, this store was an example of the mom n pop stores that used to dot many neighborhoods before the arrival of 7-11 and other convenience stores. They were a Kaimuki Institution for over 75+ years. Hope they come back in a new and better form. Posted notice seen 4/15/26. Note: 4/16/26- a kitv news broadcast indicated that the owner, connected with the Young Fish Market family, told KITV after renovation the bldg would be occupied by CU Korean store, and that they would carry some of the Ruger Mkt favorites like poke and boiled peanuts . Hope they can incorporate the Fort Ruger Market name. Too iconic to disappear.

    Went for poke and some lechon for lunch at 10:45am on a Saturday. Walked out with a bowl of adobo…read moreinstead. Because they had NO POKE! Walked in, saw the case was empty but waited for the person behind the counter so I could ask him if they were making/bring any out. First off, that guy was super awkward and just stared at me without a greeting. I said hi and asked if they had any poke. He slowly shook his head and said "no, we don't have any poke right now". I asked if they were gonna bring some out. He turned around to look at the lady behind him (who was already busy doing something else) then turned back around to look at me and continued to slowly shake his head and only said "no". So I just stared back at him and said ooookkkaayyyy.... What kind of place advertises poke but not have any poke on a Saturday close to lunch time nor has staff competent enough to help. I would completely understand if I went later in the afternoon but this was only a little before lunch. And no poke?! Cmon I looked at the hot food section and didn't see any lechon. So again, I asked if they had lechon today. SAME RESPONSE - looks at the case, then looks at me, and slowly shakes his said and says "no". Ummm....alright then... I wasn't going to get anything at all after this interaction and lack of food choices but the adobo did look good so I got a bowl of that. The food itself was good, a little oily, but what pork adobo isn't? I won't be going back anytime soon. That guy was useless and awkward and poke won't be guaranteed for lunch.

    Photos
    Fort Ruger Market - Loyal customers from generation to generation

    Loyal customers from generation to generation

    Fort Ruger Market - Made 2 order sashimi grade poke. Secret is order poke plain and ask for wasabe shoyu, it's like you're eating sashimi...YUM!

    Made 2 order sashimi grade poke. Secret is order poke plain and ask for wasabe shoyu, it's like you're eating sashimi...YUM!

    Fort Ruger Market - Near the slopes of Diamond Head Sits this landmark that has been a local favorite for over 70 years

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    Near the slopes of Diamond Head Sits this landmark that has been a local favorite for over 70 years

    Nona

    Nona

    4.8(60 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    It seems Nona has moved around quite a bit. Currently, they are open Fridays and Sundays in this…read morecommunity kitchen (?) on Palolo Ave. This is great for us because it's close to our neighborhood and there's free parking. The chicken wings are very good. We tried 3 flavors in the 15 piece pack ($25.95) - calamansi chili, OG sauce, and yuzu buttah. The calamansi is tangy and spicy so you get a lot of flavor with a slow burn. The OG sauce is a classic soy garlic blend that is always satisfying. The yuzu buttah is not your typical lemon pepper rub. It has a nice fresh yet rich flavor. Our favorites were the OG and yuzu buttah. We're anxious to try the other flavors next. The waffle fries were nice, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, not dry at all. The homemade mac salad was also tasty and was a great balance to the spicy calamansi wings. I don't know how long they will be in this location orphan the hours will be. Definitely follow them on IG and make sure you catch them soon! The sandwiches look amazing... next level, for sure!

    Hella good!! Finally got the chance to check out Nona on their last day at Hapa Market & Grill in…read morePalolo. Was immediately greeted by the owner who was welcoming n' friendly. Got their chicken wings in yuzu buttah, calamansi chili, gochujang honey, OG sauce, S.P.V. + sides of slaw n' mac salad. Everything was made to perfection including the presentation. The wings were crispy n' the unique flavors were on point, I couldn't pick a fave! Def looking forward to when they announce their new spot, make sure to bookmark them n' save!

    Photos
    Nona
    Nona
    Nona

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    Tess Kitchen - Pigs feet soup

    Tess Kitchen

    4.5(20 reviews)
    2.1 miChinatown

    Stopped by for lunch and their sign says Filipino and French Food. Which basically is a very nice…read morecrepe food stand. They make and serve both sweet and savory crepes. I tried their Chorizo and Avocado and was pleasantly surprised how flavorful it tasted. The thin perfectly cooked crepe was the primary carb so no rice or potato filling just a healthy mixture of Mexican chorizo, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach and onion. It was great and a full meal. The chorizo is very succulent and does have the normal amount of oil released from cooking it which doesn't bother me but some folks may not like. The crepes are about 14" in diameter and are nice and properly thin. Like I've had at home and also in France and elsewhere in Europe. I look forward to trying their sweet and other savory crepes.

    They make an amazing pork adobo fried rice, egg, and longanisa sausage. It's a rich tasty vinegar…read moreflavor that goes great with rice and eggs. You really don't need the sausage, but it's there staring at you...."eat me!!!" I definitely will come back. Their prices are reasonable $10-$12 Of course, masks are required....it's open areas and people social distance naturally, part of life!

    Photos
    Tess Kitchen - Turkey Pesto Crepe: Turkey, Balsamic, pesto, tomato, spinach, and mozzarella cheese

    Turkey Pesto Crepe: Turkey, Balsamic, pesto, tomato, spinach, and mozzarella cheese

    Tess Kitchen - Ham, Egg, and Cheese crepe: Ham, egg, cheese, and aioli

    Ham, Egg, and Cheese crepe: Ham, egg, cheese, and aioli

    Tess Kitchen - Garlic Shrimp crepe: Shrimp, onions, family secret garlic sauce, spinach, and mushrooms

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    Garlic Shrimp crepe: Shrimp, onions, family secret garlic sauce, spinach, and mushrooms

    Ilocos Best - filipino - Updated May 2026

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