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    Mama Merces Kitchen

    3.7 (21 reviews)

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    Lechon Kawali and Bicol Express
    Anika Shanelle M.

    I grew up on Filipino food being cooked by my grandmas, and needless to say, the Filipino food served here reminded me of home. I ordered the plate with two choices (Bicol express and lechon kawali). I had the choice of pancit and/or rice, but I ended up staying with the rice. We didn't have to wait for the food since it was pre-cooked and kept warm. The lechon kawali had tomato and onion on top, and wow the skin was crispy! The Bicol express was also very tasty as it had a mild coconut flavor. We visited them as a stand at the bi-monthly What the Truck event! I know they normally have a food truck parked at Waikele though. I'd definitely come by again! Great food and great service :)

    Jeanette S.

    First review of 2021! Filipino food craving satisfied. I heard about this place from my coworkers and we decided to go there today. Food was good. I like that you can sub the rice for pancit. And price is pretty good for the amount of food. We all ordered different thing so that we could try it all. I personally like the pork gisantes, Bicol express and pork belly. The pork belly is lechon pork belly and the flavor is so good! It's straight up Filipino food. Love it!

    Aimee L.

    I'm gonna be completely honest. Not tryna complain, but I need to complain because I wanted to support the business... I paid $16 and this is all I got. Is this right?! I wanted to ask for a refund after I opened the plate but the line was way too long at What da Truck in Waikele.

    a menu on the side of a food truck
    Crystal A.

    When I got there, there was one person in line and maybe 5 people waiting for their food. The staff was friendly. I ordered the two choice plate- with lechon pork belly and bicol express, one order of shanghai and one bbq stick. Wait for food was about 10-15 mins. The lechon was a bit bland and it seems like I had junk cuts with lots of fat and no crispy skin. AND when I looked at my receipt there was a $1 extra charge for the lechon, which didn't say on the menu. The bicol express was tasty and not too spicy but lots of fat. Pancit was ok, not much flavor. The bbq stick was tasty but could have been bbq'ed a little more. The shanghai lumpia was ok, nothing stood out that made it so yummy- I would rather buy the frozen shanghai from Costco and fry it myself. I was hoping to try their dinaguan but it wasn't on today's menu. I miss my parents Filipino cooking and since we can't travel, I can't get their yummy Filipino food. They always cooked for Filipino parties and for gatherings, so it's hard to beat! I'll give this business 3 stars for their efforts and since they're just starting. I'll give this place another try later on- hopefully they improve some of their dishes.

    We had a great time this morning!
    Cam G.

    What's not to love! We came to the grand opening of Mama Merce's Kitchen and we were absolutely impressed. After the few kinks were worked out after the first 30 mins to an hour the opening day line began to move smoothly! We ordered the Princess Special and got belly and fried chicken with rice as well as two bbq sticks and a side of lumpia! It was all very delicious and we couldn't be more happy for the wait! And we got to take some pics with Bret and the crew! We see them all the time around town but to celebrate the opening of the truck with them was pretty special!

    Beef steak and dinugan
    Stephanie B.

    Came exactly when they opened at 11am to beat the crowd. There were 3 people ahead of me and in total it took 10 min of waiting in line and another 5 min for our order. The line would move a lot faster if they had a menu posted up however they refer to Instagram for their menu. But if you don't have IG, they can tell you what is on the menu for the day since it seems to change every time. 3 stars are for service but had to take off 2 points for the food (sorry!!). The rice was mushy and the cuts of meat had too much fat or were tough. The dishes could also use more veggies. The chicken adobo was the only thing I really enjoyed.

    Letchon, bicol express

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    5 years ago

    Drove 30 mins for this food truck. The staff was friendly, truck was clean, food was okey!

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    5 years ago

    Best authentic Filipino food here in Hawaii! Excellent customer service! Favorites: Dinuguan, bbq, Bicol express, Beef steak.

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    Moojigae Korean Grill - Spicy pork

    Moojigae Korean Grill

    4.5(178 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    We came here for a quick casual lunch after the beach and it hit the spot! My boyfriend and I…read moreshared the seafood pancake and it was so yummy! I love how they make their pancake crispy and it was loaded with seafood in it. We also noticed it had mochi or rice cakes in it which is not something you usually see in seafood pancakes but it was a nice touch. The food came out fast and the prices are ok. I would definitely come here again for their pancakes and maybe try other things from their menu!

    Rainbow stream... As…read moremany food trucks are obvious this one stands out just from their wheels ;) Moojigae is one of several food trucks on the side lot of Waikele Premium Outlet and though this open air location can get insanely hot having some shaded seats does help to relax and enjoy your meal. I chose the simple Shinramyun ya not the brightest choice on this humid day but didn't want something too heavy as it just need a bit of fuel to get me going and this spot was definitely on my list. Love that they put the spice level beside each item for a heads up the staff here is nice and as they were more flooded with orders than I realized as they do take phone orders it did take a bit for my order. Since I was dining right there among the bench it didn't need to be separated and loved that it was served on a tray along with a side of kimchee yum the ramyun had a soft cooked egg and some carrots a nice and simple snack which gave me much needed boost though as it was basically no different than a bowl of instant noodle this was crazy overpriced and glad that I didn't get the soft tofu which was $13.50 which I didn't need that type of spice in my life. Thank you!

    Photos
    Moojigae Korean Grill - Food truck

    Food truck

    Moojigae Korean Grill - Bulgogi

    Bulgogi

    Moojigae Korean Grill - Seating

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    Seating

    Dick's Lechon - Super Combo

    Dick's Lechon

    2.9(321 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    @fortunefoodfinds: "PIG-ture perfect! Attended the Waikīkī SPAM JAM this past Saturday n' visited…read moreDick's Lechon. Ordered lechon with spam on top of fried rice, a bbq pork skewer, pork lumpia, n' turon. When you got a block party + Filipino food, it's sure to put you in a good mood!" SERVICE: fully staffed INTERIOR: n/a EXTERIOR: pop-up tent @ Waikīkī SPAM JAM 2026 WAIT TIME: 25 mins prior to placing order, 15 mins to receive food PARKING: street, nearby lots n' garages OVERALL COMMENTS: arrived at the line, which was long but surprisingly moved faster than expected. Everyone was working hard to get the food out fast. Lechon had the perfect crispy skin while the meat was tender. A good amount was given n' was nicely prepared. Ate it with the mang tomas sauce that was provided. The addition of spam pieces was to incorporate the main attraction. The fried rice unfortunately didn't have much flavor. I ended up eating it with vinegar to jazz it up. Bbq pork stick was really good on its own. The vinegar that was provided added even more flavor. It was actually my favorite out of everything; had a good char. Pork lumpia was two long pieces that was equivalent to like 6 regular size pieces. My kids enjoyed it. The turon had a good crunchy exterior, the banana seemed a bit on the dry side. Glad to see many people trying Dick's Lechon n' supporting local!

    I was craving lechon -n- we were near Waikele so decided to try this truck out. The menu was kinda…read moreconfusing. We ordered the adobo omelette -n- the lechon plate, which came with rice -n- pancit. Actually, I got the lechon kawali but when we went back to the car to eat, there were no tomatoes or onions . Also, there's a sign that says "don't forget to ask for sauces" but because it started pouring rain, I forgot -n- assumed they would just add it. The lechon was super good -n- crunchy but I'm a sauce person so it definitely would've been better with some vinegar sauce, onions -n- tomatoes. The pancit kinda tasted off, I can't describe it. The adobo omelette was ok, but salty; I was tripping out that the rice was so dark colored. I think I would go here again just for the lechon -n- I won't forget to ask for sauce haha.

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    Dick's Lechon
    Dick's Lechon
    Dick's Lechon - Menu @ Waikīkī SPAM JAM 04.25.2026

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    Menu @ Waikīkī SPAM JAM 04.25.2026

    Kings Smoke

    Kings Smoke

    5.0(8 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    I didn't try to go down and find him during business hours which he has confirmed is accurately…read morereflected on Yelp. I messaged him instead with Yelp but you also text the number in this listing. He was very fast to respond and I simply told him what I wanted and met up with him to pick up. $10 for 1 pound or $25 for 3 pounds of either regular or spicy. While I picked up both I've only tried the spicy so far. The smoked meat comes in a vacuum sealed bag so I just put the regular one in the freezer. This smoked meat is fairly lean which concerned me at first but my concerns were not warranted. The meat has a strong great flavor but the spice level is pretty low. In a way I was happy with that because I didn't want to be have the spice overpower the flavor of good smoked meat. As long as you aren't looking for burn your mouth spicy this is excellent smoked meat at a reasonable price.

    This smoked meat is the best ive had here. I bought off of some other people and found it to be…read morerubbery, not too tasty, not much smoked flavor (my fav part), and once it wasnt cooked enough for my liking. Kings smoked meat was warm when we picked it up, she said they jus got done smoking it. The meat had very good flavor and a nice smokey taste (yummmm!) We jus bought a pound and thats a good amount for 2 people. We will definitely buy again and prob more next time. We gotta have my family and friends try it. #goodmeat -pic posted is what she sent, as I wanted to see what it looked like first. Lol

    Photos
    Kings Smoke
    Kings Smoke - Fresh smoked meat!  Warm, tender & delicious!!

    Fresh smoked meat! Warm, tender & delicious!!

    Kings Smoke - 10lbs of smoked meat

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    10lbs of smoked meat

    Leonard's Bakery - Food truck

    Leonard's Bakery

    4.3(872 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    When you see that Red & White striped food truck, you know you've found Leonard's Malasada Mobile…read morewagon. Parked in the parking lot of the Waikele shopping center. You can literally see it on either side of the H-1 freeway going West Or East. These freshly made, warm, fluffy & crisp delicious Malasadas are perfect for any time of the day. Recommended to be eaten right away for best tasting deliciousness of these Malasadas. Service: Stopped by on a Saturday morning, there was no line, just one other customer ahead of me. The ladies working were pleasant, quick and efficient with my order. I ordered 2 with sugar and 2 without sugar. Tips; - Cashless so be sure to have a debit card or credit card on hand. -When visiting Oahu definitely a must stop. Ambience: - No outdoor seating area, order & go. - Outdoor & ample parking. - Enjoy your Malasadas at your car.

    It says something that the tourist will drive out to Waikele for a Malasadamobile…read more Of course malasadas from Leonard's was on our foodie list this trip. It was a Thursday afternoon, and we mingled with the intrepid tourists who drove to Central O'ahu. This malasadamobile is permanently parked in food truck row. You can see it from the freeway. You can see Laverne's, the malasasamobile, Mountain Shave Ice, Thong's Thai, Taste Tea, Dick's Lechon, and ... the blood bank mobile. The truck ladies had to be sweltering but they were still nice. And it's always a happy atmosphere when you're about to get a box full of deep-fried, sugar rolled doughnuts. I stuck with the classic sugar but we also got some cinnamon sugar and stuffed (dobash and haupia) to share.

    Photos
    Leonard's Bakery - Custard Malasada for me! :)

    Custard Malasada for me! :)

    Leonard's Bakery - 6 Original Masalas in hand, let's go!

    6 Original Masalas in hand, let's go!

    Leonard's Bakery - Guava, haupia, macadamia nut

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    Guava, haupia, macadamia nut

    Daily Dose - Strawberry Matcha

    Daily Dose

    4.3(15 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    This review is long overdue. I came here for the first time in March '26, and have since returned 3…read moredifferent times, driving from Kapolei to Waipio just to get their matcha. How many places can you say, serve a 32oz sized drink for under $20? I mean, if you go to places like island vintage, you're looking at spending close to $12 for a 12oz sized drink. If I'm craving, it's worth the drive. They're easy to find being that they parallel park right outside Costco Waipio, you can parallel park near them, or drive around like I do, and park towards the backside of the Costco parking lot and walk through the hedges lol. Not to mention, there's a pretty good breakfast food truck neighboring them that serves fairly priced plates. Yummy. I'm not too sure if they move to other locations, or if they stay put in Waipio though. The girls are really pleasant. They were able to talk to me about the different drinks and milks they have available. I would say go early tho, as they usually have 2 people working at a time, and you could wait up to 15 minutes like I did to get your drink. But again, it's worth it.

    @fortunefoodfinds: "Wishing you good LUCK! A Marshmallow Magic Matcha n' A Gold Digger Coffee off…read moreof The Lucky Dose Menu from DAILY DOSE HI in Waipio. Rain or shine, expect to see a line!" SERVICE: fully staffed n' fast INTERIOR: n/a EXTERIOR: truck parked on the street facing Costco WAIT TIME: 5 mins to order n' less than 5 mins to receiving drinks PARKING: free street or lot OVERALL COMMENTS: went on a Sunday morning. Parked n' saw 1 customer in line. As I was getting out of the car, 3 more customers came. Then literally the line grew after me. Chose drinks off the lucky dose menu since it was for a limited time. The marshmallow magic matcha was on the sweeter side. You first get sweetness followed with the matcha, which was smooth. Was hoping for a more colorful array of lucky charms marshmallows, but it was still a fun drink n' perfect for St. Patrick's Day. The gold digger coffee, you could taste the toffee throughout along with the espresso. Was hoping for more toffee topping. If I end up back in the area I would like to try their daily dose next!

    Photos
    Daily Dose - Iced latte with almond milk, small size

    Iced latte with almond milk, small size

    Daily Dose - Christmas day lines were insane.  They ran out of matcha by the time I got there, about 10:00

    Christmas day lines were insane. They ran out of matcha by the time I got there, about 10:00

    Daily Dose - Marshmallow Magic Matcha $9 | Gold Digger Coffee $9 both off of The Lucky Dose Menu

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    Marshmallow Magic Matcha $9 | Gold Digger Coffee $9 both off of The Lucky Dose Menu

    Lee's Breakfast - Polish sausage regular and luncheon meat regular

    Lee's Breakfast

    4.6(115 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Finally able to knock this one off the list. I had to get up EARLY to take my Mom and sister to the…read moreairport so took advantage of that. Headed over about 5:30. Had a couple people in front of us waiting on our order but we didn't have to wait long. Got 3 orders of the double breakfast and my wife added the corned beef hash to hers. Paid with cash though I think I heard another customer pay via Venmo. While we were waiting a few people came to pickup phone orders and a few more came to order after us. I'm sure there are many regulars who come here. I think when one of the guys was ordering they already knew what he wanted. Definitely customer focused. Parking was super easy since nothing else was really open at the time. We just rolled up behind the wagon. There was enough food for 3-4 meals for me (I'm not as big an eater as I used to be LOL). Will definitely be back when I'm up that early again.

    Wednesday April 29, 2026 I was in the Mililani area around 7:00am…read more So, I decided to head to Waipio after to pick up breakfast! Phone order is the way to go, it's the easiest and fastest. Park on Moaniani Street fast kind. Or in the Costco Waipio parking lot fast kind. Pay, grab and go! Then enjoy! Ambiance is casual and comfortable for a lunch wagon. I always try to come here. When I am in the area as much as possible. Support local businesses. I will be back.

    Photos
    Lee's Breakfast - Storefront

    Storefront

    Lee's Breakfast - Yummy

    Yummy

    Lee's Breakfast - Outside view of lee's wagon 3.27.2023

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    Outside view of lee's wagon 3.27.2023

    Mama Merces Kitchen - foodtrucks - Updated May 2026

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