Going around looking for fasi povi since I've been craving. Was excited that they put it in…read moreindividual containers and the prices are clearly marked. The old female worker got mad at me when I told her she rung me up wrong. I told her no, the chop suey is $5.99 not the $6.99 she put it as. All she said was oh, there was no apology. And you know she was giving attitude for having to use calculator. Make sure you know the prices and check receipts so you no get ripped off.

Just stopped by today with my friend who needed some ingredients for his Samoan foods and what a…read moretreat it was. They had wide varieties of prepared hot foods along with ingredients to make Polynesian foods. I recognized taros, yams, coconut cream desserts and even some Korean side dishes. The owner was a sweet Korean lady who was very friendly and helpful. The place was clean and well organized. First thing I noticed when I stepped into the store was the scent of fresh baked bread. I got the fresh white bread and it was nice and dense. I also got the pineapple turnover or half moon and it was very tasty. What a great find..

I love this place. Every time you visit, if you don't want to cook but have a fat wallet, you know…read morewhere to go even early as 8am you get nice hot Poly food fresh and very delicious! Whoever the Chef is, you're doing a great job. So get ready to go and enjoy this Yummylicious hot Polynesian food! MAHALO

The staff here were welcoming and kind to my son and me, who came here looking to experience Samoan…read morecuisine. We left with a locally made coconut drink and a coconut-sauce bread desert. The bread desert was not too expensive either. Alofa!

I was never a huge fan of Spam and always thought musubi tasted pretty much the same- turns out I…read morejust hadn't had local Hawaiian musubi before. These were incredibly flavorful and so delicious! We ordered four different musubi, which came out to about $13. There are plenty of options on the menu, so it was hard to choose. The Spam had a sweet-savory teriyaki marinade that was unlike any Spam I'd had before. Don't let the simple appearance fool you- each musubi is packed with flavor, and I think the house marinade is what really sets them apart. Orders are made fresh and come out hot. They also sell bottles of their signature marinade inside the shop if you want to recreate the flavor at home. While you're there, it's worth browsing the store too- they have lots of cute Hawaiian souvenirs and gifts. A great spot to grab a quick, affordable snack on the go!

Good for a quick cheap bite. What I didn't prefer was the differences depending on location. I was…read moredisappointed at the one near Royal Hawaiian. The salmon, tuna, or chicken and mayo ones had barely any stuffing. Disappointed and felt cheated. I specifically asked the member at the register if the item was stuffed with the contents. Their answer, "yes." Nope - barely anything inside. If all you want is rice, seaweed wrap, and a dab of the meat on top. You're good to go. The issue was I had the same thing at other cafe's and was filled nicely.

Food outstanding Service efficient and personable…read moreespecially with the long lines at lunch. Ambiance appropriate for the venue.

@fortunefoodfinds: "This deserves a ROUND of applause! Whether you're visiting or simply wanting…read morelocal grindz, HELENA'S HAWAIIAN FOOD is sure to make your trip and/or meal feel complete. Ordered our must-haves: Short Ribs Pipikaula Style, Fried Butterfish Collar, Luau Squid, Long Rice Chicken, Lomi Salmon, Lau Lau, Poi, Mac Salad, Rice, n' their complimentary Haupia, Onions, n' Salt. Food so Ono I highly recommend, this very well-known local Hawaiian eatery again n' again!" SERVICE: fast n' fully staffed INTERIOR: spacious with limited seating EXTERIOR: gets hot, have water n' benches available WAIT TIME: came on a Thursday afternoon n' surprisingly wasn't too busy. After joining the waitlist that you sign in through the provided iPad, I would say 30 mins before getting seated. PARKING: very small free lot in front, limited spaces OVERALL COMMENTS: haven't had Helena's in a while so I've been craving it. Each visit is satisfying n' the food is always so good. I can't remember the amount of pieces they used to give for a large order of Short Ribs Pipikaula Style, it seemed smaller this time, but either way you gotta order it along with the Fried Butterfish Collar. Their Luau Squid is so creamy n' delicious just like everything else, all Ono. You can't go wrong bc this is truly local Hawaiian food at its finest!

Tried the food at sunnys today after church with the family- so good!…read moreLots of different hot food and had poke too. All the food was fresh and the place was clean. Prices are the cheap compared the other Samoan food places in town. They also have super cheap prices on the case meat - cheaper than sams club.

The box was open coming from Wong meat market. The box had very mix and match cuts of meat. some…read morethicker than 4 fingers some of the meat cuts were so thin. the quality of the meat was mostly fat with little to no meat on what you see in the picture is the only meaty pieces

Great experience upon entering the store, the cashier was very friendly and helpful when I asked…read morequestions about items I didn't see out anymore, even the guy and lady that was in the back was helpful. I was able to get my corn beef. All The food i got was delicious and tasty and I will definitely come back again.

Too expensive. Items bought should be itemized on receipt. A weight of 3 cooked bananas for $9 is…read moreridiculous. Rip-off! Definitely overcharged on food that we can't see exactly how much the weight of the hot food is defined with the overcharged priced.

This place is an Oahu staple for a reason. There's usually a line and cars parked along the road,…read morebut the food is worth it.Just be there early to beat the crowd. The combo plate with kalua pig and laulau is my go-to, and the hand-pounded poi tastes fresh and real, nothing like the store-bought kind. The mountain backdrop makes the whole meal even better. Do not leave without trying the Sweet Lady of Waiahole. Warm kulolo with cold haupia ice cream is unreal.Simple setup, great food, and still feels like old Hawaii. ps. I didn't get the other Pic cause it was eaten.

Their ice cream was one of the highlights of our trip. We had the Haupia ice cream since sweet lady…read morewas sold out. It was unbelievably creamy, rich without being heavy, and packed with flavor in every bite. It's the kind of ice cream that makes you slow down and savor every spoonful, while already thinking about ordering a second scoop. FYI, there is a small parking lot behind and it was pretty easy to find a spot in the afternoon.

Son wanted to go here. He saw it on TikTok. I got the. BBq pork meal. The pork was great. A…read moregazillion pounds of rice. I only at about 1/4 of it. The macaroni salad was macaroni with what seemed like just mayo. (Not my jam). He had the loco moco. He loved it. Again a billion pounds of rice. Kid had a hot dog. Didn't finish it. Quality was really low. Maybe we are used to dodger dog snap style flavorful ones. Anyway was a nice little meal and took a walk at the park a couple blocks away to walk off the massive amounts of rice.

My family, across multiple generations, has been going here for decades, close to back when they…read morefirst opened. We have homes in the neighborhood. And we just can't go here anymore unless changes are made! We used to prefer them over Zippy's, but now they are less than 7-Eleven quality, while charging higher-end prices for the neighborhood. We have given them many chances, hoping it was just a fluke, but we have repeatedly been disappointed. Their chicken has become chewy and fatty, their rice is mediocre, and condiments such as mayonnaise are stripped down to the bare minimum quantity. Chile is poured so lightly that it is practically a minuscule amount. And their prices have continued to rise. I don't know if greedy people took over the restaurant who just don't care anymore, or what is going on. I remember when I used to take people here, and they would be impressed with the quality and quantity--plates just heaping with good cuts of meat, noodles, and rice. Those days are no more. As they say in Japan, the price performance is poor. Furthermore, their staff is rude. I can only imagine it was an owner working this day because it was a face I haven't seen that often. An older gentleman who appeared to be of Okinawan descent, working the cashier register, accosted us because I was privately discussing with my family about splitting different items with them. We were all ordering something, so he wasn't losing any money, but he told us about how prices are double in Waikīkī. First of all, it is rude to interrupt your customers that way. Secondly, we don't go to Waikīkī or care about Waikīkī. What happened to serving the locals? Third, Waikīkī has an assortment of restaurants, prices, and qualities, and they shouldn't be how you base your services. Lastly, I guarantee I could find a better deal in Waikīkī if I wanted to. Next time you're in the area, just go get a $6 bento or a $5 burrito from 7-Eleven next door. I assure you, the price performance and experience will be better. If Rainbow Drive-In is in the business of comparing themselves to other things, let's compare them to 7-Eleven and at least try to be better than them, right? I can get mochiko chicken from 7-Eleven for $6.99 that is similar in portion size and better quality. Meanwhile, they are serving their fatty, dry chicken for $16.75. Highway robbery! And they are not fancy, with their dirty picnic tables and plastic cutlery. They are just a step above a food truck, if that. Save yourself from the hype. They have gone downhill like a landslide. Go elsewhere.