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Always friendly service with great food! The cost is average like most places, so it will not be on the cheap side. Won ton min and the hamburger steak is my go-to. Still CASH ONLY!
Yesterday was the day the Kona Low storm made its strongest impact on Oahu. I sheltered in place all day at home, eating whatever I had on hand while my wife is on a trip. With today's weather much milder, I felt a bit of nostalgia and headed for Jane's Fountain. I arrived well before 10 am, and there were no other customers at that time. A woman came by to take my order. I wanted to try a couple of different things, but ordered a large wun tun min to start. It wasn't long before the hot bowl of soup arrived. When I was young, I would automatically add a lot of shoyu and black pepper before beginning to eat. Now that I'm all grown up... scratch that... Now that I'm no longer in my prime, I do things much differently. I kept the broth clear and just dabbed some mustard mixed with shoyu here and there on the surface of the wun tun min. The noodles were the way I like them, nice and firm. The broth was mild, also to my liking. I enjoyed the old-time taste of real saimin. When I had eaten most of it, I stood up and ordered a deluxe cheeseburger as well. A short time later, another younger woman arrived and brought the cheeseburger to my table, asking if I was still hungry. I said, "No, but I want to try different things." I enjoyed the cheeseburger, even though I had snacked at home before venturing out this morning. It had the simple, old-style diner taste that I was hoping for. While I was there, I heard more customers arriving and being seated at tables behind me. I eyed the menu boards and mentally noted other items I'd like to try in the future. I left thoroughly satisfied.
Update on Jane's Fountain hardly come here because parking sucks ! If you're lucky you'll find couple metered parking across the street or 3 parking in front of the restaurant . Today for lunch I had their Hamburger steak which comes with Mac salad and pickle tsukemono . Service was ok only one 1 waitress although it wasn't too busy 4 tables of customers. They have a lot to choose from their menu board. Support local
You just can't find places like this so enjoy this gem while it's still exists. Great old fashioned food like mom and pop used to make. A real burger and simple delicious saimin and other favorites. Sadly no longer on the menu is oxtail soup but you can still have pig's feet soup another choice. Come sit down, relax like you're in your living room at home. Talk story and enjoy! The tradition continues at Jane's fountain thanks to new owner Karen and family!
Still in Business and still Cash Only. Hole in the wall on Liliha Street, metered parking available on the street. This is my comfort food, wun ton mein and bbq beef stick. Not fancy, no QR codes or alcohol here but simple menu small establishment, solid home cooking. 1 waitress and probably 1 cook so be patient and support local;)
Old school. Cash only. Had tried many times to find parking near by. Finally got lucky on a Sunday lunchtime. Metered Street parking, but free on Sunday. Many tables were taken. But ordered take out. Ordered: Grilled Sea Bass, includes rice, macaroni salad, lemon wedge Grilled Pork Chops, 2 pieces, includes rice, lettuce and cucumber for toss salad Hamburger steak and gravy, includes rice and macaroni salad About 10 minutes wait. Prices are reasonable. Good portion. Other menu items: Saimin, Won ton mein, Hamburger, Breakfast, Special, Sandwiches Hours M, T, W, F 730am to 8pm Thursday closed Saturday 730am to 230pm Sunday 730am to 2pm Highly recommend.
Update 12-17-25 after picking up Christmas cookies in town we wanted to get a poke bowl at the liliha food court but so sad we were early and the poke place opens at 11am. Every place was open except Dave's ice cream and the place that serve acai. So drove up the street and found parking at this place. I had the bacon and egg sandwich was good bread was soft and the bacon was crispy only thing I really didn't care for the lettuce inside and the egg was made like a omelet style not a fried egg but that being said it was good. My husband had their hamburger sandwich and small saimin. He said was homemade hamburger and the saimin the broth was good. Lucky we had parking if not we would have going around thinking of what to eat.
Stepping into Jane's Fountain is like stepping into the past. No frills inside -- just good homemade food. Parking is very hit or miss, but if you circle around and get lucky, it's worth a stop in. Service is quick and friendly. I had a cheeseburger today. Excellently toasted bun, crisp lettuce, homemade patty, and melty cheese. It's a cheeseburger done right. I've had other dishes here and I've never been disappointed.
This place was Okay. Food portions were alright and service here was okay as well nothing really bad to say besides some things were very bland and for their price point to the amount of food for me it didn't add up. All in all in okay experience with alright food. Atmosphere here was pretty homey and although parking maybe hard to find I guess it's a place worth trying at least once.
Went based on a rave recommendation from a foodie friend of a friend. Love hole in the wall gems. Unfortunately our experience was disappointing & wish it was 4* like other reviews. It was a gray, drizzly day - perfect for saimin. Upon arrival, we scored the last available table. Service: 4* The front of house was a 1 woman show. She was friendly, efficient & attentive. Minimal wait for service. She refilled our water cups & brought the check without being waved down. $4 Beef stick: 1* The thin cut of beef was hard & tough, like bad jerky. To compound that, it was COLD, not room temp, out of the fridge cold! Wonton saimin: 2* "Soup" base was clear & tasteless. Was it only hot water? Did they forget the seasoning or to stir the pot before adding to our bowls? The wonton meat had an odd aftertaste & sawdust-like texture. Would have been happier going to Zippy's. **Cash only**
2-5-2025 Update Still the quintessential of Hole in the wall restaurants. The food was top notch. When it comes to home style flavors this restaurant rocks. We ordered The Beef Curry, Chicken Chip suey, and Sari Sari to go . All three dishes were tasty and the potions were good. Enjoy
Ok!!! I have to admit that THIS is my favorite OLD SCHOOL fountain (but not fountain) saimin and hamburger combo place EVER!!! I'm on the road a lot for work and owner Karen always knows how to make my combo just right especially when I have eat and digest while driving from hospital/clinic to hospital/clinic. They have practically all the old style local foods including some local Japanese and Filipino, too. My favorites here are Filipino sari sari soup and hamburger steak!!! The ambiance is super LOCAL CHILL but please wear a shirt...no need to wear something fancy unless you plan to go somewhere before and after. Service is fast and friendly. My favorite is their coin operated juke box playing some old school songs and oh one more thing.. it's CASH ONLY so leave your cards home!
Food was much better this time. The lady even brought out extra mayo for my sandwich! The hot mustard complimented the wontons well and all for less than $19! My next visit I ordered hamburger steak with grilled onions. It was ok. I liked their slaw though and the mac salad is very nostalgic of the 70's.
2 months ago
4 months ago
If you're looking for that old Hawai'i experience from before the influencers, something you can't find in Waikiki, Jane's is it. Saimin is what Japanese immigrants made back in days before air transportation allowed for affordable importation of the Japanese ingredients to make ramen, and Jane's is one of the most authentic representations of the kind of establishment that existed 40 or 50 years ago. It's not fancy, it's simple working class comfort food that locals come to and recall hanabata days coming to such diners with their parents and grandparents, and if that's the experience you're looking for, Jane's is that for many locals. read more
Old school diner. Apparently, they have been on Liliha Street for a long time; though I have never been here. I decided to dine-in for breakfast. You can't go wrong with a Loco Moco and it was solid, a bit bland but one can always add seasoning. Also, had a burger for takeout. Simple, with condiments, solid. Cash only...so glad I had more than my usual $10 or so. Street metered parking and I was lucky tofind an open stall. Hours are 730a to 800p weekdays, except when they're closed on Thursdays. Saturdays they close at 230p ; Sundays at 200p. read more
15 days ago
Always friendly service with great food! The cost is average like most places, so it will not be on the cheap side. Won ton min and the hamburger steak is my go-to. Still CASH ONLY! read more
7 months ago
Yesterday was the day the Kona Low storm made its strongest impact on Oahu. I sheltered in place all day at home, eating whatever I had on hand while my wife is on a trip. With today's weather much milder, I felt a bit of nostalgia and headed for Jane's Fountain. I arrived well before 10 am, and there were no other customers at that time. A woman came by to take my order. I wanted to try a couple of different things, but ordered a large wun tun min to start. It wasn't long before the hot bowl of soup arrived. When I was young, I would automatically add a lot of shoyu and black pepper before beginning to eat. Now that I'm all grown up... scratch that... Now that I'm no longer in my prime, I do things much differently. I kept the broth clear and just dabbed some mustard mixed with shoyu here and there on the surface of the wun tun min. The noodles were the way I like them, nice and firm. The broth was mild, also to my liking. I enjoyed the old-time taste of real saimin. When I had eaten most of it, I stood up and ordered a deluxe cheeseburger as well. A short time later, another younger woman arrived and brought the cheeseburger to my table, asking if I was still hungry. I said, "No, but I want to try different things." I enjoyed the cheeseburger, even though I had snacked at home before venturing out this morning. It had the simple, old-style diner taste that I was hoping for. While I was there, I heard more customers arriving and being seated at tables behind me. I eyed the menu boards and mentally noted other items I'd like to try in the future. I left thoroughly satisfied. read more
Update on Jane's Fountain hardly come here because parking sucks ! If you're lucky you'll find couple metered parking across the street or 3 parking in front of the restaurant . Today for lunch I had their Hamburger steak which comes with Mac salad and pickle tsukemono . Service was ok only one 1 waitress although it wasn't too busy 4 tables of customers. They have a lot to choose from their menu board. Support local read more
3 months ago
You just can't find places like this so enjoy this gem while it's still exists. Great old fashioned food like mom and pop used to make. A real burger and simple delicious saimin and other favorites. Sadly no longer on the menu is oxtail soup but you can still have pig's feet soup another choice. Come sit down, relax like you're in your living room at home. Talk story and enjoy! The tradition continues at Jane's fountain thanks to new owner Karen and family! read more
Still in Business and still Cash Only. Hole in the wall on Liliha Street, metered parking available on the street. This is my comfort food, wun ton mein and bbq beef stick. Not fancy, no QR codes or alcohol here but simple menu small establishment, solid home cooking. 1 waitress and probably 1 cook so be patient and support local;) read more
Old school. Cash only. Had tried many times to find parking near by. Finally got lucky on a Sunday lunchtime. Metered Street parking, but free on Sunday. Many tables were taken. But ordered take out. Ordered: Grilled Sea Bass, includes rice, macaroni salad, lemon wedge Grilled Pork Chops, 2 pieces, includes rice, lettuce and cucumber for toss salad Hamburger steak and gravy, includes rice and macaroni salad About 10 minutes wait. Prices are reasonable. Good portion. Other menu items: Saimin, Won ton mein, Hamburger, Breakfast, Special, Sandwiches Hours M, T, W, F 730am to 8pm Thursday closed Saturday 730am to 230pm Sunday 730am to 2pm Highly recommend. read more
10 months ago
Update 12-17-25 after picking up Christmas cookies in town we wanted to get a poke bowl at the liliha food court but so sad we were early and the poke place opens at 11am. Every place was open except Dave's ice cream and the place that serve acai. So drove up the street and found parking at this place. I had the bacon and egg sandwich was good bread was soft and the bacon was crispy only thing I really didn't care for the lettuce inside and the egg was made like a omelet style not a fried egg but that being said it was good. My husband had their hamburger sandwich and small saimin. He said was homemade hamburger and the saimin the broth was good. Lucky we had parking if not we would have going around thinking of what to eat. read more
Stepping into Jane's Fountain is like stepping into the past. No frills inside -- just good homemade food. Parking is very hit or miss, but if you circle around and get lucky, it's worth a stop in. Service is quick and friendly. I had a cheeseburger today. Excellently toasted bun, crisp lettuce, homemade patty, and melty cheese. It's a cheeseburger done right. I've had other dishes here and I've never been disappointed. read more
This place was Okay. Food portions were alright and service here was okay as well nothing really bad to say besides some things were very bland and for their price point to the amount of food for me it didn't add up. All in all in okay experience with alright food. Atmosphere here was pretty homey and although parking maybe hard to find I guess it's a place worth trying at least once. read more
2 months ago
Went based on a rave recommendation from a foodie friend of a friend. Love hole in the wall gems. Unfortunately our experience was disappointing & wish it was 4* like other reviews. It was a gray, drizzly day - perfect for saimin. Upon arrival, we scored the last available table. Service: 4* The front of house was a 1 woman show. She was friendly, efficient & attentive. Minimal wait for service. She refilled our water cups & brought the check without being waved down. $4 Beef stick: 1* The thin cut of beef was hard & tough, like bad jerky. To compound that, it was COLD, not room temp, out of the fridge cold! Wonton saimin: 2* "Soup" base was clear & tasteless. Was it only hot water? Did they forget the seasoning or to stir the pot before adding to our bowls? The wonton meat had an odd aftertaste & sawdust-like texture. Would have been happier going to Zippy's. **Cash only** read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
2-5-2025 Update Still the quintessential of Hole in the wall restaurants. The food was top notch. When it comes to home style flavors this restaurant rocks. We ordered The Beef Curry, Chicken Chip suey, and Sari Sari to go . All three dishes were tasty and the potions were good. Enjoy read more
Ok!!! I have to admit that THIS is my favorite OLD SCHOOL fountain (but not fountain) saimin and hamburger combo place EVER!!! I'm on the road a lot for work and owner Karen always knows how to make my combo just right especially when I have eat and digest while driving from hospital/clinic to hospital/clinic. They have practically all the old style local foods including some local Japanese and Filipino, too. My favorites here are Filipino sari sari soup and hamburger steak!!! The ambiance is super LOCAL CHILL but please wear a shirt...no need to wear something fancy unless you plan to go somewhere before and after. Service is fast and friendly. My favorite is their coin operated juke box playing some old school songs and oh one more thing.. it's CASH ONLY so leave your cards home! read more
1 year ago
Food was much better this time. The lady even brought out extra mayo for my sandwich! The hot mustard complimented the wontons well and all for less than $19! My next visit I ordered hamburger steak with grilled onions. It was ok. I liked their slaw though and the mac salad is very nostalgic of the 70's. read more
Had an early lunch here since had a doctor's appointment nearby. I was a little scared because it seemed a little dirty. Got the curry beef stew. The curry was real good with a generous amount of beef. Potato and carrots cooked just right and the beef was tender. The only thing I didn't care for was the mac salad. Too much mayo for me.The lady serving was nice, appreared to be chinese. I would go back next time I'm in the area. read more
Went by their good reviews over the years, were in the area , so went there for lunch! Sunday it was steady, menu board is posted on the back wall & there is plenty to choose from, saimin , hamburger's, sandwiches of past years& local plate lunches, which bring back fond memories. Service is prompt& efficient, family run hole in the wall, Good!Had a Won Ton Min & Saimin & cheese burger deluxe to go, no fries here! Soups came out in a timely manner& came loaded with charsiu strips & green onions. 4 good size one tons & yellow mustard included. Very good , soup base & perfect portion for a small size. The cheeseburger deluxe was what you would expect, homemade& not fast food. To go containers there is a charge! Can't find this kind of old school diner around , so go support them! read more
2 years ago
Came back here as I was craving saimin. Truly a great hole in the wall. Server was friendly and pleasant as always and quickly took our orders. Food came out fast and was delicious as always. Great way to get full for only $10. Remember to bring cash! read more
This family run business has been in business for 90 years, but the owners have changed during the 90 years, still doing local home cooked meals or comfort foods. This time by chance we were driving home and I saw parking normally the biggest problem with going to Jane's fountain is only street paid parking and there are only a few metered parking near by. So we stopped by and I ordered the chicken cutlets it came with brown gravy 2 scoop rice, Tsukemono and macaroni salad. Let cooked it the way the older customers like it cooked well done which made it a little dry, good thing for the brown gravy which was very tasty! My wife had the pig feet soup but said it needed to be cooked more as it was very chewy and not fall off the bone which she had to use my knife for my cutlet to cut her pigs feet to smaller pieces. A lot of the regular come in and order the hamburger and Saimin or grilled cheese sandwich and Saimin I remember they did serve good Saimin, need to go back and order that the next time. Prices are reasonable, it you need a take out container there is a charge for the container. The service was good. read more
Cash only ! If you are looking for a bit of nostalgia and wanna know how real saimin tasted like 30 years ago, go to Jane's fountain! Getting popular due to social media - but I am the type that loves these old institutions with the home cooked vibe - the burgers are popular too due to the old fashioned way to hand prep the patty - the small saimin is pretty substantial- they offer canned soda with ice- and I asked if I could bring french fries from next door ( L and L ) and they said Yes (they dont have fries) but while waiting for the burger I ate the delicious fries and was too full to finish the good ol' fashioned burger- Hope this place lives on forever- we all need a little comfort food and nostalgia! read more
9 months ago
Always a must when coming to town side. Nothing fancy, homey just the way we like it. Simple but vast menu came for the basics cheeseburger deluxe and a small saimin. Usually just one server very efficient and attentive. read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
I've been wanting to try this place for years! My hubby said it reminded him of the old saimin places that his dad took him to. We had the Teri beef sandwich...soft lightly toasted bun with thin sliced beef; Wun Tun Min...old style broth; bbq sticks & Mac salad. Will definitely be back to try other items on the menu. read more
8 months ago
Teri burger was ʻono and waitress was nice! 4 stars only cause we had to ask for refill of water but food came out fast! read more
My friend Maris wanted to go to Jane's Fountain because she had never been. We picked up her beau Rian along the way, and he said he had been there many times 'cause he spent time at his granma's who lived close. I haven't been to Jane's Fountain in 50 years or so, and IIRC, I thought the place was run down then. Still, the place has a charm which transcends nostalgia. Whatever that means. I had the Chop Steak. They also have a Hawaiian Chop Steak which the waitress said only had steak and onions. The Chop Steak she said had celery and tomatoes as well. Surprisingly, the Chop Steak costs about 50 cents less with more stuff, but maybe the Hawaiian Chop Steak has more meat which would account for the up-charge. I'm a fan of more stuff. At $16 or $17 either dish would have been ok. Maris ordered the hamburger steak, and Rian ordered the saimin. As we were waiting for our food I looked around and noticed that there were several bundles of soda and juice cardboard bottoms in packs high above the shelves to the left side of the small restaurant. These are ostensibly used for takeout orders where patrons order multiple dishes. Presumably these bottoms are wrapped in clear plastic trash bags so roaches don't nest in the boxes. Or maybe more serious pests don't. Maybe they should just get a cat. I had a semi clear view into the kitchen and I noticed a Maggi bottle. Anyone who cooks with Maggi sauce is my kind of cook. When our food came, my Chop Steak had green bell peppers in it as well. Most local boys don't like bell peppers and for some reason it reminded me that I used to get the belt when I misbehaved as a kid. Oh how I wish today's kids got the belt occasionally. We probably wouldn't have as much crime and unpunishment in our not so great State. Anyway, it's all good, since Maris took the bell peppers and uneaten rice home to feed her 20 chickens. In Hawaii Kai. I used to remind her from time to time that she is violating the zoning ordinances but she usually gives me a dozen eggs a week so I have stopped mentioning the violations beyond my neighborhood of Manoa where the wild chickens roam freely. Plus, Maris' chickens are pets since each bird actually has a name. Crazy cat ladies are so yesterday. Nostalgic. Anyway, I went to check out the bathroom because nobody takes photos of the bathrooms so that has become my contribution to the Yelp community. FYI, the bathroom is outside. You travel through the small greasy kitchen and step outside where there is a stagnant pool of water which may or may not have fish. I know it has frogs 'cause one jumped in when I walked outside and a few more were sitting on the ledges of the pond. No lily pads in sight. I had to chuckle when I saw the bathroom. It has a new commode and new faucet fixtures on the sink but is so small that the door hits the sink and only opens at a 45 degree angle. All in all, a pretty entertaining way to spend 47 bucks (with tip) for a decent meal, the ambience, and someone else's nostalgia. read more
I really feel like there is no place else like Jane's anywhere, especially not on the mainland. My parents fondly refer to it as old school. I just love the more traditional feel when you walk in - it's no frills, just about the food. We came multiple times on our last visit out to Honolulu, and it's a regular stop for my parents who frequent the area. You're not going to find menu prices like these just anywhere, and the food is really good - ultimate comfort food (diner style meets Hawaiian food). As a family who grew up in both Hawaii and the mainland, were often nostalgic for uniquely Asian American dishes that we can only get in Hawaii - won ton min and fried saimin being among them. Staff are always quick to serve us, and the booths are perfect for our usual group of 4. Whenever we're craving comfort food, which is always in Hawaii, Jane's is at the top of our list. read more
This place has nostalgia for sure but that and the service would be the only thing that would make me come back because imo the food was not good. I had the chicken long rice and it was very oily and bland. I was extremely disappointed because I was so hungry and looking forward to this meal. I could only eat a few bites before my stomach said no more. The Mac salad and pickled cabbage was the best part of this meal. The beef sticks were also disappointing in terms of flavor. Even though there was sauce on the plate the meat was dry. The won ton min and ramen were okay. The noodles were kinda stuck together and a little chewy for my liking. The broth was again with the rest of the food...bland. I'm glad that I came to support this small local business but I would not come back for the food. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
3/26/25 Craved their Tender Beef Chopped Steak local style w lots of onions celery bell peppers tomatoes n an Ono Sauce LOL Opted for only 1 scoop rice n if I didn't have the tasty Mac Salad nor Coke it could have been a healthier meal read more
Old school style restaurant worth a visit. Meter street parking available. Go on a Sunday for free parking. Ordered some simple dishes: Decent portion for the price. Plate usually comes with corn, mac salad, and 2 scoops of rice. We replaced the mac salad with white rice instead. Pork chop plate and shoyu chicken was good. I think next time, I want to try the saimin and cheeseburger, which is supposed to be known there. We couldn't finish our food and needed a takeout box. Didn't know they would charge for it. :( Next time I need to eat all my food or order less. read more
1 year ago
Cutest place ever ... came here for the first time a week ago ... parking isn't the greatest but luckily or I should say amazingly we found a spot literally right outside the door! The service from when we walked in was amazing the staff soooo friendly! Now what to order hmm hit my saimin fix with a cheeseburger which were both delicious! Sister got breakfast which was perfect and the teri sticks were great!! The place is old been there forever but the coziness of a true mom n pop restaurant did not disappoint! The ambiance was perfect! The price was awesome for the quality and quantity of food was exceptional! Gotta love when you ask for the bill and they hand it to you! You gotta go there to see what I'm talking about it was too cute! Definitely worth the price money and attitude of the staff definitely will go back! read more
1 year ago
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More info about Jane's Fountain
1719 Liliha St
Honolulu, HI 96817
Kalihi
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(808) 533-1238
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Ask the Community - Jane's Fountain
How's the parking situation?
Only street parking they don't have a parking lot, so parking can be a problem
Is the French toast served all day?
Yes. It does not state otherwise on their menu.
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