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Located at the end of a strip mall in Waipahu (conveniently near a rail station stop), Minasa is this cute lil unassuming restaurant taking Filipino classics and putting a fun twist on them. Went with a few friends and in true Filipino fashion, ordered a good amount to share. The prices are a bit on the pricier side, but the portions are generous. My favorite was the lechon kawali fries--cubed tender fried pork belly over a bed of crispy fries. Dare I ask for more? The calamansi fried chicken was tender but I wish there was a stronger calamansi flavor. Stole bites of my friend's kalbi and it was reminiscent of tocino, but just a tad too sweet for me. Overall, the food was good and I'd go back to try more dishes. Although it's a cozy spot, they've got a good amount of seating inside if you wanted to dine in. The decor is nice, vibes are chill, and service is quick!
One of my favs! Service is always friendly and efficient! Love the cozy ambience of the place and the food! Creative twist on your fav Filipino foods! If you're in Waipahu stop by. Desserts are pretty awesome too! Place employs culinary students from Waipahu HS. How freakin awesome is that?
This Filipino spot is an absolute must have in Hawaii! I found out about them from a YouTube vlog and so glad we made sure to stop by during our trip. It was one of my favorite meals of the week! I wanted to try everything but we narrowed it down to the lechon fries and the pork sisig bowl. The sisig was cooked perfectly and chopped just to the right size. The calamansi was strong and added so much flavor! I loved the sauce on the lechon fries and the meat was tender. The portions were huge too so we had plenty for leftovers between the two of us - but it's great for family style if you come with a group! The calamansi refresher was just what we needed after a hot afternoon in the sun. We finished off our meal with an ube churro sundae, with the softest chewiest churros ever! So tasty!! Service was great, and they made a point to thank us for coming in while we were eating. The food was on our table in minutes which is awesome when you're dining with kids! The interior is small but we were the only ones there in the afternoon so it was nice and comfortable. The location is a bit hidden so I hope they get the traffic they need to thrive. Would really hate to see this delicious food and talent go to waste! I'll definitely be recommending it to everybody that asks for Oahu recommendations!
Came in right after work so we could get some Ono grinds and before they close at 4pm. We had the Ube churro sundae. Pretty good and we'll be back to try their other yummy goodness on their menu. Service was fast and friendly. It was cool and love the bench seating and tables. Clean and slick too.
This is the best Filipino restaurant/food I've had in Hawaii and probably one of the better ones I've had. That's saying something since I've had plenty of Filipino food across the US (HI, NY/NJ, Chicago, FL, Vegas, CALI) Pricing is on the high side but the quality of food is worth it. Service was fast but we ordered take out. Tried a few items on the menu. The calamansi fried chicken is a common denominator on a few of our orders. The calamansi taste is subtle and goes well with the chicken. The skin is crispy and the meat is tender. This was my favorite item and the best one IMO. The rest were pretty good as well - kalbi ribs were tasty, pancit is pancit, lumpia was crispy and not dry, lechon had a bit too much fat for my liking and the fries ended up a bit soggy since we ordered for pickup, which took another 30 min travel before we ate it. I'm sure it lechon fries would be money if the fries were not soggy. But it has good flavor nonetheless. The churros definitely had that ube flavor. The filling complimented it well. It was sweet but for the portion, it was sufficient. We'll definitely come back to try other items on the menu. I applaud them for mixing different Filipino flavors. Well done!
This spot has been on my radar for the longest time. Especially with my love for ube desserts, I've always wanted to try their ube churros. Issue is, Minasa has pretty limited hours, so I never had the chance to make my way out to Waipahu before they closed. Sooo, instead of inserting this spot into me and my partner's day, we decided to plan our day around it, and I'm so glad we did. I really liked the overall aesthetic of the place, as the establishment is very nicely decorated. The service is different from any other places, it's almost self service? You go up to the counter and order and seat yourself. They'd bring the food to you, but that's really the only service you're provided. That is honestly my only gripe about this place, it was kind of weird to just walk in and stand at the door and have the cashier stare at you, we awkwardly walked in and eventually sat down on our own whim. Maybe it's just us, but later during our meal, a group of folks walked in, got stared at just like us earlier and after a few moments, walked out... TO THE FOOD THOUGH: - Kamayan Sampler: 8.5/10 - The lechon fries were SOOO good, and there was a good amount of lechon on top! I'd give it on its own a 10/10! However, I didn't care too much for the calamansi fried chicken, it was just okay 7/10, especially as SOME pieces of the chicken were majority skin/batter. I really liked the pickled cabbage and ong choy provided as well. I also liked that they offered the option to give us the ube churros at the end of our meal, which we happily took up on. It ensured that they were still warm and crispy, and I enjoyed it A LOT 10/10. - Lechon & Rice: 9/10 - Very good, I liked this and so did my partner. I feel like it wouldn't hurt to have a few more pieces of lechon on top. Overall, I'm so glad we visited and I will definitely try to make my way out here more often!
My friend and I wanted to try a new restaurant today for lunch so we went to Waipahu. Loved the interior design! There's lots of parking out front. This place is not a typical restaurant. You order and pay for your food first. We saw the kamayan special picture at the register and knew we had to get it. Cashier was nice enough to give us the option of getting the ube churros after we ate our meal. Pros: the lechon was really good, 8/10. The fries were crispy. Calamansi fried chicken was also juicy. Food presentation 10/10. Staff were really nice and the owner or chef came out after the meal and thanked us for dining in. That was super nice! Cons: there is no public bathroom here. We were told to go to Jack in the Box or Arby's to use the bathroom. They don't give free water when dining in. This took us by surprise. I went up to the register and bought water. We didn't get garlic rice even though there was a picture of the chef's special kamayan sampler at the register that states garlic rice. I think the garlic rice would've made a difference to cut the sweetness of the chicken. Sampler came with pickled veggies and cucumbers. These were good in between bites to balance the oils and fats from the lechon and fries. Ube churros didn't taste like Ube. The sauce had a faint Ube taste. Overall, would I get the sampler again? Probably not. I would come back to try the rest of the menu but will be ordering takeout. Knocked off stars due to no bathroom and no water for dine in customers.
One could hardly notice occasional pop-ups from this one food operator called Minasa at various farmers' market that had consistently had long lines. Regular customers rejoiced when this Filipino eatery Minasa opened its brick-and-mortar restaurant in Tropicana Square in Waipahu near the Pouhala rail station on 5/27/23. "Minasa" in Tagalog means to "to mix" or "to mash up." Co-owner and chef Maleko Lagmay, who was born and raised on Oahu, honed his skills for about a decade working alongside local chefs. Chef Maleko learned how to craft his dishes that are innovative and yet rooted in tradition, as he brings a modern twist to classic Filipino dishes while honoring traditional tastes. Hence, "Minasa" was chosen as the restaurant's name to represent this process. Chef Maleko created Minasa as a homage to his grandparents, who instilled in him a passion for cooking. Minasa's signature items include: calamansi fried chicken & rice and ube churros. Other menu items include: lechon fries; bao buns; chicken wings; lumpia; lechon & rice; tamarind shrimp & rice; egg omelette & rice; steak, egg & rice; sisig; fried noodles w/ calamansi fried chicken; chef's special; salted egg fried rice; kamayan sampler; kare kare & rice; garlic chicken & rice; sinigang flavor fish & chips; ube funnel cake fries; ube churro sundae; chicken inasal; calamansi refresher. We ordered the following via takeout: * Calamansi fried chicken & rice bowl. Such a generous portion that should be shared! Excellent huge and juicy pieces of fried chicken thighs that are light, non-greasy and so flavorful from the light tangy and sweetness from the calamansi, which is a small citrus fruit that tastes like a cross between a lime, lemon, and orange! The chicken is served over regular rice or with calamansi spicy sauce, which we requested on the side, and it was very spicy! It was also served with delicious vinegary, pickled veggies (carrots, onions, sliced cucumbers, ong choy), and a half calamansi with red and green onions that complemented the chicken, glaze, and rice. Absolutely delicious! * Ube churros. The churros were heavily sprinkled with housemade purple sugar, with one end dipped with an ube purple drizzle. A creamy custard filling of silky smoothness was piped into the length of the crunchy churros, giving it a most delicious dessert that was not overly sweet. Outstanding! What a great restaurant that blends traditional Filipino dishes with modern creativity! The chef does a good job in balancing savory, sweet, and tangy flavors in coming up with a unique menu with nostalgic Filipino items getting a temporary twist and yet are so delicious! We were pleased with the customer service provided! We had arrived about 15 minutes prior to opening and were sitting on a bench fronting the restaurant until it opened. Staff was going in and out of the restaurant, bringing in supplies and setting up. Staff suggested that we wait inside the air-conditioned restaurant instead of waiting outside in the hot sun, which we took their offer. While waiting, the lone cashier was very personable and asked if we had any questions on anything. About 5 minutes prior to opening, she said she could take our order, which was ready in a few minutes! Gosh, talking about beating the crowd and no waiting time! The restaurant interior walls were adorned with artwork by local artists, which shows their support of local talent. With black tables and bench seats seating 5 or more people, the small popular restaurant is easily filled quickly. You order at the counter and grab your seat while waiting for your order. In addition to Minasa supporting local artists, they partner with Waipahu High School's Culinary Arts Program, offering students their 1st professional internship experience. They provide hands-on training in culinary skills, customer service, and business operations. Hours of operation are: Wed to Sat 12n to 4p, Sun 11a to 3p, closed Mon/Tues. Free parking available at the Tropicana Square that is shared with other businesses. Looking forward to trying the mouth-watering lechon fries, a 1:1 ratio of succulent crispy pork belly to crinkle fries, bacon, red & green onions, drizzled with a house sauce! So glad that Minasa is an important part of the community! Support local!
Modern ambience, artwork, and fusion Filipino foods in the heart of Waipahu. Courteous and efficient customer service. Calamansi refresher lives up to its name. Loved it so much! Combination of sweet and sour. I could close my eyes and taste calamansi. The only item missing was half sliced calamansi fruit. I can sip and drink this beverage all day long especially in this heat and humidity. Calamansi Fried Chicken Rice Bowl (Regular): Enjoyed the crispiness of the skin, succulent pieces of chicken, veggies, exuding hints of sweetness, sour, tangy, and acidity from calamansi. Loved this entree! Pork Sisig Rice Bowl w/ Egg: Tender pieces, able to taste hints of calamansi and abundance of soy sauce. I appreciate having the egg which balances the acidity for this meal. I truly missed having garlic rice with these meals. I didn't see it available on 3.2.25 menu. None was offered or explained. Kindly save a calamansi and garlic rice on my next visit. Would love to dine in, try kare kare and lechon at my leisure.
The modern take on classic Filipino food would be enough to win me over by itself, but the comfortable dining area, and genuinely warm and quick service make Minasa my new favorite Filipino restaurant on Oahu. We showed up around 1145am for lunch only to find that they open 12-4pm. Chef was bringing in some produce and invited inside to get out of the heat. That's the kind of customer care that engenders lasting loyalty, and we felt immediately welcomed. For our meal two of us shared the chef special, which has lechon, calamansi fried chicken, and kalbi over a bed of rice and with a variety of fresh and colorful pickled vegetables. We also ordered the ube funnel cake fries for dessert and the calamansi juice to wash it all down. All the food was excellent, and the calamansi juice hit the spot. Our favorite was the calamansi chicken, but every single item was fresh, hot, visually appealing, and exploding with flavor. We'll be back soon to try some more of Minasa's exciting menu!
I tried the Ube Churros at an event at Ward and Calamansi Fried Chicken my friend brought for a gathering and had been wanting to try this place out and glad I finally did. We decided to try the Kamayan Sampler which includes Lechon Fries, Calamansi Fried Rice and Ube Churros. You place the order at the counter and wait at your table for the food. The place has a decent amount of tables. We went late Saturday afternoon and it wasn't very busy. Parking: there is a parking lot shared by several businesses so had no issues parking.
2 years ago
I attended an event this evening and Minasa catered the entire event. I tried the chicken rice bowl, the vegetarian lumpia with calamansi (lettuce, shredded carrots, cucumber slices), a shrimp dish, and fries topped with lechon. The dishes were beautifully plated. You can not only taste, but you can see the love that went into creating these dishes. Everything I ate was delicious. They had many staff working the event, from the cooks to the servers. They kept the flow of the food coming. During intermission, they served several pastries. One of which was an ube churros. They also had a coffee & tea bar. Everyone looked so happy and eager to assist guests. I don't know how long they've been in business, but they sure have their act together. I hope to see them at more events!! read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Jeanette, we're so thrilled to hear you enjoyed the food, staff,…
2 years ago
My wife found this gem through social media and the food was delicious! We got the pork sisig and fried chicken/longanisa pork buns, both were incredible. The sisig came as a large serving and was perfect for 2-3 people. I was able to get the pork buns with a combination of two meats because I wanted to try both meats. The flavors on them were so good, both unique with tangy, spicy, and crunchy textures. The staff was super friendly and couldn't have been happier with our experience. Highly recommended and can't wait to return to try other menu items! Best, Charlie read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Charlie, thank you for coming! So glad you enjoyed the food. For…
Met friends after soccer. The parking lot was a bit full and its a little weird with the one ways but its located in the same lot as Elena's, little ceasar's and arby's. FYI they said the closest bathroom is jack in the box so make sure to go before you come. Staff was incredibly helpful and friendly and helped me change my mind a few times when ordering! We ordered the pork sisig bowl, adobo wings, lechon fries, shrimp with veggies (forgot the name), lumpia and ube funnel cake fries. The shanghai lumpia were mini and a little lackluster. Everything else was super delicious! Happy we did the pork sisig bowl. The lechon on the fries were crisp and not too fatty drizzled with all kinds of saucy oniony goodness read more
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Minasa H.
Nicole, thank you for the feedback. We'll take that into…
3 months ago
The food here was phenomenal. We ordered the Kamayan sampler as well as the fried noodles with Calamansi fried chicken. They are so generous with the portions. Between me and three friends, we couldn't even finish the two dishes! When we split the price, it ended up being like $19 total. The ube churros were to die for there's like a custard filling inside, which was so decadent. The fries had pork belly topped on it with a creamy sauce; the fried chicken was crispy. Maybe one thing would be to ask for some spicy sauce on the side if you like your fried chicken ~saucy~. I am literally a carnivore, and I love it when restaurants are so generous with their meat! Minasa does not skimp on the meat! The service was really fast, and the food came out within 10ish minutes. Super fresh and hot. I absolutely loved the ambience; the lighting and the cute decorations were so welcoming -- a lot of thought definitely went making this such an amazing experience from start to finish. I will be thinking about Minasa until the next time I visit Hawaii!!! read more
Is it lunch time already? YES.! We were staycationing on the West side for entire week so I finally get to check out Minasa, has been on my bookmarks after reading Foodie Rod U.'s review. Just that the restaurant times does not work out for me, even on weekends- unless I have to take a day off, which I will do for my next visit. What a nice surprise, I was expecting a food truck but its a cute little shop at the end of this mall, I was carried away looking at all the cute decor, plants, & artwork and didn't get to the menu and deciding what to order.. Decisions... everything sounds so good especially we love Filipino foods! I wanted to try it all, but just got noodles, chicken, and shanghai lumpia for today's visit. Since we still had leftovers at the hotel. Order was nicely packed, both wings flavored were seperared as well thank you for doing this! Smelled so good in the car on the way to hotel, I was so excited! The verdict, I got the glazed wings instead of fried chicken in adobo and spicy calamansi, thank you for acomodating my order, wanted to try both flavors. I loved how the wings are glazed and not saucy! (reminds me of these wings I had in Vegas and trying to go back there for more) but now I can just go west for them. Out of both flavors, my favorite was teh calamansi. Wow! loved the flavors packed in that wings! I love how they added the bits of tomatoes and onions. I really enjoyed the Shanghai lumpia, cute bite size rolls, I loved the ends, charred taste and the sauce that goes with the lumpia, I need a bottle of that! The noodles, its like fried saimin, Filipino style but way better. I could taste the shrimp, pork, lechon, and veggies, so GOOD & tasty! I love it, love it! Enjoyed our lunch! Since we were going to grab some Filipino pastries along the way I didn't get the Ube Churros, next time for sure! This business is amazing, fusion Filipino goodness, When I say I will be back, I am going to be back for the Kamayan Box! Service, staff, was awesome! There are few tables for dine in which I know I will love the fun vibe of this business. Whats a Kamayan Box?- Lechon fries, calamansi fried chicken with garlic rice and ube churros for $36.09. All great choices! Recommend! read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Judy, thank you so much for visiting, we really appreciate it! Our…
I rarely go to Waipahu but there were times I like to go to Waipahu Arby's, Filipino restaurants, Pacific Market, Tanioka, or just places I wanted to check out. Minasa's menu has a variety of Filipino Fusion food which caught my eye one day. I wanted to try ube churro, love calamansi drinks or calamansi fried chicken and lechon. When I saw the Kamayan sampler on the menu, immediately wanted to check this place out! I wasn't sure where they were located in Waipahu but thought it was worth checking them out and try the Kamayan sampler which had a little bit of everything that I wanted to try. There were lechon fries, calamansi fried chicken over garlic rice and ube churros! Lechon was good with a crunch over fries which I liked and if not, there was garlic rice under the calamansi fried chicken. Although the calamansi taste on the chicken was on the light side, it was good but could be a bit stronger and the ube churro was different but absolutely delicious. I would get it again. The sampler was enough for two, but since it was so good, I maybe able to finish most of it myself, lol. I did get a calamansi refresher which hit the spot on a hot Sunday afternoon. Funny, we sometimes have calamansi fruit in our yard and I could make my own drink, but I never did! I do want to try some other dishes like the spicy calamansi or adobo wings, Shanghai lumpia, ube funnel cakes! Now I know where to find Minasa. I didn't realized it's in the same mall complex as Arby and Elena. It's a little hidden at the end of the complex! It's worth checking out! it was a cute & small restaurant with good food with a lot flavor! Like they mentioned on the website...Filipino food in a modern way. read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Donna, we're happy to hear you enjoyed the food. If there's any…
1 year ago
Soooo delicious and filling. Very friendly staff and great atmosphere, loved the layout and designs on the wall. Went on a Saturday around 1pm and it was packed so actually decided on taking the food to go but it was delicious. Lechon fries were had bits of crispy topping, pork sisig was probably my favorite so moist and full of flavor! Definitely coming back again to try out the ube churros! read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Jalissa, we do apologize. Weekends tend to be our busiest dates.…
I love many of their dishes, but their sweets are my personal favorite! The Ube Funnel Cake Fries are just as much a stand out as the Ube Churros, and their omelettes are a savory and filling homerun as well. It's a nice and small dining area decorated super cool, and the owner and staff are amazing people to chat and converse with. Looking forward to my next visit! - Miguel Morales Photography read more
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Minasa H.
Thank you for taking the time to review us, Miguel! This is a lovely…
9 months ago
Minasa is a solid five stars for quality Filipino food! In recent years, I'd feel iffy at the thought of modernized Filipino cuisine or Filipino fusion. When I think of Filipino food, I think of my mom and two lolas' cooking. Still, when I first heard of Minasa years ago during their "farmers markets-only" days through my Instagram algorithm, I was intrigued by two items--the sisig fries and ube churros. I love lechon kawali sisig, French fries, ube halaya, and churros, but combined? I was excited when I heard Minasa finally opened shop in Waipahu (next to Elena's, Little Caesar's, Jack in the Box, etc.). I could never catch them when they'd set up their booth at events all the way in town! During my first visit earlier this year, I had to order the two intriguing dishes. I ordered take out during lunch break to bring home. I was surprised to find out the sisig was juicy, tender, crispy, and cut in larger bite size pieces! The fries' texture wasn't so bad either, but we wouldn't want fries (which take the place of steamed rice here) to steal the spotlight from Minasa's amazing sisig! The ube churros surprised me as well! The thick ube sauce actually tasted legit and not too sweet, reminiscent of my family's ube halaya recipe and not like most ube crinkle cookies in the market. The churros were nice sized and still crispy underneath the ube sauce! Minasa should just do a collab with Disneyland (or at least, Disney Aulani resort) because these ube churros match up with Disneyland churros! About a couple months ago, I was curious to try one of Minasa's ulam/rice bowls while continuing to introduce my ABC (American-Born Chinese) husband to authentic Filipino food. I ordered the Tamarind Shrimp Rice Bowl with Veggies as takeout during another lunch break. OMG, the entire dish was so delicious! I'm usually a slow eater, but I demolished my half of this bowl! The shrimp and veggies were so flavorful. The dish really looked like something Lola could've cooked herself. I love that Minasa has that modern feel, but all the foods I've tried so far uphold traditional flavors I grew up eating. The dishes may not be served family-style like traditional Filipino cooking, but Minasa is a great way for a solo curious eater (or two!) to enjoy flavorful, authentic Filipino food. I hate to say it, but Minasa is more homey, more affordable, and more legit than Peso, the extremely bougie Filipino fusion restaurant that closed in Kaka'ako. When I have townie friends visiting the West Side, Minasa is a mainstay on my list of recommended Waipahu food spots! read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Angel, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with…
4 months ago
Greeted by friendly staffs as soon as we came in and service was really warm and thoughtful. Their food is really good and the restaurant is clean. Everyone makes you feel that they are grateful for your visit and I wish this business more success! read more
Just came home for a quick visit and this place popped up on my social media as a new Filipino place to try. I'm so thankful to have tried this place, the food is so ono and sarap my sister and I wanted to cry. It's a humble but well decorated, good vibes place. Cashier was helpful, courteous and quick. We ordered the chef's special (fried chicken, lechón kawali, kalbi, pickled veggies on a bed of rice. The stand out part was def the chicken, skin was super crispy and flavorful. We also got the ube churros which are filled with cream and have ube drizzle. Would come back again to try the rest of the menu. Mahalo for the awesome visit! read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Eunice, thank you for coming by to check us out! We’re very glad…
11 months ago
Lunch for two at 12:30pm on a Saturday, at this quirky Fil/Am restaurant. Minasa is located in a strip mall on Farrington Hwy, a short 5 min walk from the Waipahu Skyline station. First, the parking lot is packed, and we had to circle to get an open spot. The restaurant is small, and during our lunch, it was full. Four tables along one wall and two tables in the center. Along the other wall is a narrow 12 inch wide piece of wood that kinda serves as an overflow. We were able to move to a table in the center when it came open. The two center tables are so close that my elbows were almost touching the other tables occupants. Awkward. I also prefer restaurants with full table service. Minasa is like L&L, in that you order at the counter. No menus at the table, nor glasses of water. But, that's my only criticism... the restaurant is just too small to handle its brisk business. However, I give FIVE stars for the quality and quantity of the food. Likewise, the service was very friendly and relatively fast... FIVE stars. read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Richard, we are very grateful for your feedback. We apologize for…
4 months ago
4 months ago
This is one of those meals you will wish you could eat for the first time to experience it again. It was delicious! My friends and I ordered a Kamayan sampler to go and ate it in the car- they were pretty fast and efficient with ordering (we had driven from north shore and it was ready by the time we picked it up). The Kamayan sampler is so good!! The calamansi fried chicken was the perfect amount of sweet/savory and crunchy, the lechon fries were crispy and perfect amount of sauce and the ube churros were AMAZING! So delicious and tasty. I really enjoyed the calamansi refresher as well. I will definitely be back. read more
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Minasa H.
Athina, thank you for coming out to try our food! We're happy to hear…
Bacon. Crispy pork. Garlic fried rice. Pair them with an array of pickled veg, a zesty squeeze of fresh calamansi; this is modern Filipino food and wow does it impress. Get the lechon fries. A pile of insanely crisp fried topped off with a heaping of crispy skin, juicy lechon, drizzled with a creamy aioli, a generous amount of Mang Tomas (sweet sour Filipino condiment) and topped with rendered bacon and green onions. Outright gut buster that you will happily finish. Get a rice bowl. All are made with a base of bacon, garlic fried rice. Bacon and its fat add great flavor and keeps the fried rice moist. All bowls use a plethora of pickled veg and microgreens that make each bite different while keeping the oily nature of the proteins in check. Lechon, great. Tamarind shrimp, all kinds of good with it's zesty burst of calamansi for tartness. Fried chicken, even better. Well fried boneless thighs, crisp on the outside, extremely moist on the inside. It is glazed in a sweet / sour calamansi glaze. Opt to squeeze more fresh calamansi on the chicken for an even brighter burst of citrusy goodness. Pickled green papaya and ong choi (water spinach) and herbaceous micro cilantro all add to the enjoyment. If available, grab the longanisa corn dog. Trust. Yes they have gram worthy ube churros. Yes they are crave worthy. Limited seating. All good, the food survives transport well. Very friendly counter service. Extremely well thought out dishes and a modern approach to Filipino food make Minasa destination worthy. read more
1 year ago
A blend of Filipino food and traditional flavors. The seating area is a little small but the food is worth the visit. I also ordered some Ube Churros to go with sorry no pics. Service was great and fast. Give it a try read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Roy, thank you for coming by! We're glad you enjoyed the food. We…
5 months ago
1 year ago
We really loved the food! Each dish was perfectly crafted and was well balanced. The flavors complemented each other. I don't have a favorite dish. Enjoyed them all! Def broke da mouth! We got the following: - Chef's special - lechon w/tomato onion relish, calamansi fried chicken, and boneless kalbi short rib w/rice. - Kamayan sampler (all best sellers) - lechon fries, calamansi fried chicken, and ube churros - Ube funnel cake - Calamansi refresher read more
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Minasa H.
Bryan, we're glad to hear that! Thank you for sharing this. These…
Haven't been this blown away by a meal in a hot minute, so I'm really happy I checked out Minasa in Waipahu. Tucked away in the corner in the shopping area along Farrington Hwy, you'd never think to find some of the best Filipino food in this cute space. Tried the Chef's Special (~$30) which consists of calamansi fried chicken, lechon, and kalbi with pickled vegetables over a bed of rice. Everything was so delicious and cooked to perfection. Perfect meals are hard to come by, but this took the cake. Paired with their calamansi refresher drink, I couldn't have asked for a better lunch. Will be back again!! read more
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Minasa H.
Mari, we’re ecstatic about your excellent first experience and we…
Inviting. Artistic. Intentional. The decor is well thought out and welcomes you into a small , but beautiful space. A celebration of culture,everything is a nod to what I presume is their Filipino roots. But as with any food evolution in Hawaii, it has fused the best of other cultures as well. Filipino artists are featured on the walls and the beautiful banana mural draws you further into the restaurant. A few friends and I met for lunch...first time for all. We decided to try the sampler as it would allow us to taste as much as we could. The presentation of these Filipino 'tapas' were beautiful, artistic and builds on the expectation that you're about to indulge in something special. And lo and behold it was! Sweet, salty and savory: these small bites covered all the potential tastebud bases if you will. We also tried the spicy ahi with Inari bombs. These were one of the BEST I've had. The flavors were well-balanced. Lightly sauced goes further in my opinion and most overdo it. The lechón pieces added a nice touch texturally and it elevated it to first place in my book. LOCATED next to La Casitas and where the old Laverne's restaurant used to be. I had to park next to Jack n the Box, but that's not a problem. SERVICE: They checked on us at the table a few times. Where service is almost non-existent or mediocre these days, it was noticeable. read more
1 year ago
Food 4.5/5 Lets break it down, yummy but higher priced food. Calamansi refresher = 5/5; not too sweet, really good. Calamansi chicken = 5/5; nicely fried, seasoned well, came with a side of rice. Try this dish! Lechon fries = 3/5; ahh, I really wanted to like this but it was just OK, the first thing I noticed was the lechon room temp, fries were OK, sauce was fair. I think I'm a lechon purest and need tomatoes. And bacon with lechon? Thats cool but a little too much for me. This seems like the kind of food you'd have with a beer. This is the one thing we did not finish unfortunately. Happy to have tried it, would probably not order again. Ube churos = 5/5. Yes, yes, yes. Trust me, yes. Ambiance 4/5. Cute, clean, small-ish space (I think 5 or 6 tables total). Appreciate the Filipino decor. As mentioned in other reviews, having an actual menu you could hold in your hands would be nice. On a side note, the parking lot is confusing, but we managed. Service 4/5. Polite but reserved/quiet cashiers. You have a small business...we are happy to support you, up sell your best dishes by talking to your customers. Worth a try for sure, will return for the sweets! read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Leia, thank you for your review. We’re sorry to hear the lechon…
This is a quaint little spot, tucked in a corner, in a strip mall in Waipahu. There is parking but limited with lots of other food establishments in one spot. I discovered this spot through my friend, Steven, who has a dog named Churro. I was craving Churros and was recommended to this spot. Here you place your order and select a table. We were greeted by Tehama, a very sweet and friendly hostess who answered all of our questions. She made us feel warm and welcomed and checked in on us often. We ordered the Lechon Fries, Lechon Rice Bowl, Adobo Wings, Shanghai Lumpia, Ube Churros, and Ube Funnel Cake Fries. Let's start with the portions, holy moly they are HUGE! This place is super generous with their portions! Although each dish is about $18, it's enough to feed 2 adults! For sure these are meant to be shared, with only 2 of us, we barely made a dent. The Lechon Fries is chalked full of perfectly fried french fries, soft in the middle and crisp on the outside. Then generously topped with lechon, bacon bits, fresh chopped red onions, chives, cilantro, and sour cream. The Lechon Rice Bowl has garlic bacon seasoned rice, topped with a generous portion of thick pieces of lechon. The lechon has the perfect balance of juicy pork, fat, and super crispy skin. This was accompanied by fresh pickled onions, limes, sprouts, and sauces. Both dishes were so ono! The Adobo Chicken Wings is cooked just the way I like it, juicy meat on the inside and crispy on the outside. The seasoning was a little on the salty side but paired well with the rice. Now for dessert! Ube Churros!! Again, chef Moaleko made it perfectly! His ability to make everything so perfectly BLOWS my mind! The churro is a normal flavor and the Une drizzle was not overly sweet and just the right amount of Ube flavor. And the Ube Funnel Cake Fries? Yes, please! And at the end, Chef and Co-owner, Maoleko, came out to check in on us after sending Tehama out with a complimentary light seasoned Ahi Inari. It was an extremely refreshing and light treat. The atmosphere at this establishment is overall warm and family vibes. We left feeling SUPER satisfied and special. read more
2 years ago
This place is awesome, I was a little skeptical on trying Filipino fusion, but OMG, everything we ordered was good! We ordered the chefs special, which had calamansi fried chicken, kalbi, lechon with garlic fried rice. The calamansi fried chicken A++++, kalbi was so tender. We got pork sinigang soup, the pork belly was braised to perfection. Top tall that off, we got the ube churro, so yummy!! Service was awesome, the chef came out to talk story with us too! You won't be disappointed, must try! Sorry, didn't intend to leave a review, so no good foodie pics. read more
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Hi Geri, we're so happy to know you enjoyed the food and service! We…
I love the fresh new Filipino food concept at Minasa. The small establishment is located in Waipahu next to Watanabe Floral. They have a few tables and also a bench outside. The customer service was stellar. We were greeted upon arrival and the staff was really friendly. There were just a few other customers when we arrived, and our food didn't take long at all. Shanghai Lumpia With all due respect, I've had better elsewhere. You're not missing anything if you don't order these. Lechon Fries These are a must-try. Crinkle cut fries topped with crispy pork, tomatoes, onions, and sauce? Yes, please. The portion is huge and sharable. Fried Chicken Rice Bowl with Calamansi Glaze I've never thought of putting a calamansi glaze on fried chicken, but it works beautifully. I'm glad I tried this. What makes this bowl even better? The chicken is placed on a bed of bacon garlic fried rice. Yes, bacon garlic fried rice. They don't skimp on the chicken because there's a good ratio to rice and one thing I don't care for at other food establishments is that they give twice amount the rice as the meat. Not at Minasa. Ube Churros You've had all that salty food, now balance it out with the sweet ube churros. You get three cream-filled churros, dressed in ube and sugar. Cute accent is the tiny purple flower that comes with it. Our mistake was ordering them right off the bat. By the time we got done with our meal, the churros were cold. They were still good, but I know they would be best enjoyed warm. I guess order them towards the end of your meal, or just have dessert first. No one's judging your course order. Would I return? Absolutely. I'd get the Lechon Fries, Fried Chicken Bowl with Calamansi Glaze again, and I'd also like to give the Steak Rice Bowl with Calamansi Dip a try. It comes with the bacon garlic rice too! read more
1 year ago
Amazing, amazing, amazing!! I've been looking for another chance to come back. Nice little place by Elena's and Little Caesars. Brought my friend from Maui here and he was blown away... We're both chefs btw. Hands down favorite is the Lechon Fries. Crispy pork belly with red onions, bacon, green onions, tomato, and sauces. The Fried Chicken Bao Buns were so good. Crispy chicken with pickled cabbage and Pico for a nice blend of flavors. The Fried Noodles w/ Calamansi Fried Chicken get action!! The chicken is extra crispy and has a nice subtle flavor of calamansi. Want planning on getting dessert, but had the Ube Churros.... good night!! That was the icing on the cake. Had a hard time staying awake in traffic after that read more
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Minasa H.
Gavin, thank you both for taking the time to stop by. We feel…
Food: Very good. I enjoyed their adobo wings the most. Ube churros was a light flavorful dessert, not too sweet. Calamansi chicken bowl, was interesting. Tasted like Chicken Katsu glazed with a Calamansi sauce, I liked it though. Price: Was reasonable and affordable. The adobo wings was $10 which seemed like a good deal to me.. given the generous amount of wings and flavor it was packed with! Location: In that small shopping plaza in Waipahu, where Jack In the box and Arby's is. Parking can be difficult because there isn't lot of stalls available for the amount of food places in this area. Restaurant: Small but beautifully designed on the inside. Love all the trendy decor. Also, there are a couple of tables and chairs to sit and eat comfortably. Service: Friendly, helpful and quick. I'm glad I was able to make it out here during their hours and hopefully I am able to come back and try other things that seemed good on their menu. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
I wish I had found Minasa Restaurant earlier in my trip -- I would've come back! This place is an absolute culinary gem. From the moment we walked in, the service was warm and welcoming. We even had the pleasure of meeting Chef Maleko, the owner, who was incredibly kind and clearly passionate about his food. We ordered a variety of dishes and every single one was delicious. The salted egg fried rice was my personal favorite -- an explosion of flavor in every bite. Rich, savory, and perfectly balanced. I'm still thinking about it! The calamansi fried chicken rice bowl had perfectly cooked chicken: juicy inside, with a light, crispy skin that was just right. The Chef's Special was a feast in itself, featuring tender boneless kalbi and crispy, flavorful lechon. We also tried the Shanghai lumpia, which came with a unique dipping sauce that elevated the dish to a whole new level. For dessert, we had the ube churros -- crisp on the outside, warm and soft inside, and so satisfying. Chef Maleko even treated us to a bonus ube dessert with ice cream, which was absolutely delightful and the perfect sweet ending. Flavors were bold, balanced, and thoughtfully layered across all dishes. You can tell there's love and skill in every plate that comes out of the kitchen. Add to that the friendly service and relaxed atmosphere -- this spot is truly special. Do yourself a favor: eat at Minasa. And don't forget to order the salted egg fried rice. Trust me. read more
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Rose, we truly appreciate your kind words. You've described the kind…
8 months ago
2 years ago
I saw this place from IG and made the drive from Northshore en route to our next stay in Waikiki. It was so worth it. I have never tried sisig because of the traditional meat cuts it contains but these were amazing. The calamansi refresher was fresh ans not overly sweet. The baos were the star and have so much explosive flavors that worked well together. If you are in HI, you should try these Filipino flavors! read more
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Minasa H.
Hi Kristine, we're so glad you enjoyed the sisig! Thank you for…
2 years ago
I've been seeing this place pop up a lot within the instagram community and decided to give this place a shot. First, don't let the outside neighboring surroundings deter you from going in. It's so hot outside but once you enter you'll be in cool central. The lighting is more on the lower side, not sure if your grandma would be a fan but your teens and young adults will enjoy it. We weren't greeted upon entering, my other half asked for a menu (the lighting was a factor for him not really being able to see the menu) and the cashier simply pointed to the board while playing on her phone. An older couple who entered after us asked the same and were responded the same way. (Because of this, I had to take a star away) I would recommend laminated menus for those who have vision problems. The furniture fixings (which are aesthetically pleasing to the eye) can make it confusing to know if it's a seat yourself or wait to be seated kind of place. Note to self: It's a seat yourself kind of place. They bring your food to your table but you have to throw your trash away and return your dishes to the front. Food: The food is on the pricey side BUT the portions and taste make up for it. Every bite was full of flavor. We had plenty of leftover to take home. read more
9 months ago
Amazing service and the salted egg fried rice is something you'll be thinking about till the next day. The Calamansi chicken was definitely crispy and delicious. The service was attentive and asked if we wanted spicy shrimp paste to go along with our Lechon caldereta. I enjoyed my FOOD!! And will come back again and try other dishes read more
they have a brick and mortar now! limited hours though, so it makes it hard to stop by =( BUT the food is just as delicious as ever, and everyone is still super friendly! love this place! super late update, but i went on opening weekend. line moved along pretty quickly, and food didnt take that long even though basically everything is made to order. the food was soo good! got the ube churros and long john as always, since theyre amazing. also got the lechon frieds, the fish bowl (pickled veggies were killers!!!) and the steak bowl too! writing this post and remembering how good the food was makes we want to go back right now! read more
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Thank you so much for showing us love and support, Tara! We are…
7 months ago
6 months ago
2 years ago
Located next to Waipahu Jacks/Arby's / Elena's. Small local restaurant for Fusion Filipino grindz. Food was good, loved the ube churros. portions could be bigger/bit more for their prices. Staff was cool, thank you guys! read more
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Hi there, thank you for your feedback. We are constantly trying to…
2 years ago
Our 6th day on the island and finally got the chance to try this place! First, the inside is so cute! Love how they have plants (could purchase them as well). The staff were very welcoming from the beginning to the end of our time there. Menu is simple but a good amount to choose from, if you love fusion type of Filipino food - this is definitely a place you'd want to try out. We didn't know what to get exactly and I seen they had a combo which had everything we were eyeing called the 'KAMAYAN SAMPLER' which includes lechon fries, calamansi chicken with garlic rice, and 3 pieces of their ube churros. ....... ALLLL SOOO BOMB!!!! This place is my top and would come back here next time I go on vacay LOL. The power had went out shortly after receiving our food and they were generous enough to offer the customers free drinks and gave us an extra 4 ube churros. Thank you to the whole staff for the great experience!! read more
Business owner information
Minasa H.
Jelaica, we truly appreciate your patience and understanding in that…
More info about Minasa
94-866 Moloalo St
D12
Waipahu, HI 96797
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(808) 629-9958
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http://minasahawaii.com
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Minasa - filipino - Updated May 2026
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