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    Pho 27 Cafe

    3.3 (57 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Pho 27 Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    PHO 27 CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Eileen J.

    I was pleasantly surprised by this hidden restaurant. Very clean and modern looking pho cafe. The broth wasn't too complex but it was clean and yummy. The service was prompt and the server was nice. The restaurant was surprisingly empty for a Saturday night. What I liked best about my combination pho was the unexpectedly generous portions of tendon and tripe. Normally five minutes after I start in on my pho - I'll keep digging through the noodles and sprouts hoping to find just one more delicious morsel of tendon. After all, that's the main reason anyone orders the combination pho, right? Well, there was not just one, or two, or even five large thick chunks of tendon. There were six! Bite after big bite of yummy tender tendon just kept appearing....I was a happy camper. I will definitely be coming back.

    View of the restaurant from the parking lot
    Lyla D.

    The other day, we drove up to the Kaimuki Shopping Center to take care of some business at our credit union when I noticed Fairwood Drive-Inn/Pho 27 right next door. While my husband entered the credit union, I walked up Pho 27 to peruse the menu that was posted outside and my eyes widened when I saw their menu item, oxtail pho. Within a few minutes (thankfully, this credit union was quick) my husband exited the credit union and I excitedly told him about the oxtail pho. Hey, good thing he's easy going since he agreed upon dining at Pho 27 right away. When you enter the restaurant, it shares the space with Fairwood Drive-Inn in front. If you want pho, all you need to do is walk straight past the Fairwood order counter and then you'll find yourself in Pho27. The Pho27 space is nicely air-conditioned, has contemporary lighting fixtures and seats. There are pictures of several of the menu items that adorn the walls above their seating booths. A friendly and demure waitress greeted us and seated us immediately. The other dining booths were filled with other customers so we figured this would be a good experience. Our demure and soft-spoken server kindly made some recommendations as this was our first dine here. However, we had pretty much made up our minds and ordered the Tofu Salad, Oxtail Pho and Pigs' Feet Pho. We had made our selections based upon the pictures that were posted outside of the restaurant. TOFU SALAD: The tofu salad was light, refreshing and cleared our palates for the upcoming pho. It was a good change as we can get the green papaya or shrimp salads at other Vietnamese restaurants. The dressing was served on the side so the customer can "control" the spiciness and sharpness of this "vinaigrette". It was large enough of a serving to be considered an entrée salad. $7.95 OXTAIL PHO: Whoa..this was a behemoth-sized serving! There were 4 large and tender oxtails and the rest of the bowl was filled with noodles, shiitake mushrooms, fresh ginger root slices, carrots, Napa cabbage, green onions and peanuts. The broth was beefy and was more similar to Chinese-style oxtail soup. I really liked this pho and its generous serving was too much for me to even finish before I started feeling like I was seeing pho from behind my eyes. Haha. $14.50 PIG'S FEET PHO: The pho broth of this huge bowl was unlike the broth in my oxtail pho. It was more like what we're used to from other Vietnamese restaurants (Hale Vietnam, PHO'hana or Rice Paper). It was clear and clean tasting without any greasiness. There were the usual fresh vegetable condiments (culantro, bean sprouts, spearmint, Thai basil, jalapeño peppers, lemon wedges) that cooked in the steaming hot broth when my husband sprinkled them in. The two pigs' feet were the leg part so no worries about being skiddish by seeing the knuckles or trotter. These leg pieces were thick-cut, tender and well-seasoned and SERVED ON THE SIDE. The sauce was like a Chinese barbecue-like sauce (hoisin) and in our opinion, would've made for a better pairing with steamed rice. My husband confirmed that it was tasty and very filling. $10.95 We asked our server if they served pigs' feet IN pho like the oxtails because we felt the sauce made it more messy to eat and would taste better with rice. She confirmed that slow-cooked pigs' feet were available in soup noodles and the item is listed under a different menu name. Aha! That's what we'll order the next time. Pho27 did not disappoint as it hit us with great flavors and very generous portions. There was good value for the portion sizes and we certainly wouldn't mind returning to try more of their other dishes when we're in the Kaimuki area again.

    Ann N.

    If I'm in the Kaimuki Shopping area (usually to see my dentist), I will venture here for phõ. Is it the best? No. But it's ok. The phõ part of the restaurant is in the back. The front portion of the restaurant is local style foods. I came when lunch just started and was the 1st one to arrive. Tables are clean and has a modern feel to it. I ordered the veggie phõ, medium and was just the right amount. There is nothing outstanding about their phõ other than I appreciate the veggies. Some places put only a few pcs of vegetables. They had a fair amount of broccoli in it that I separated out so i could dunk into my special sauce I created. The broth is a little on the sweeter side. Service was ok and prompt especially with me being the only one. I've been here during peak hours and have had decent service which I can't complain. If you're looking for fast phõ with a clean broth, come here. I'd prefer a more rich broth, but this is phõ and vegetarian so I don't expect much.

    Lora C.

    Lyla and I have started our diet, to cut back and be good for 2 weeks... no competition. Motivate each other! We had banan and did well.. Healthy right??? Then we have Lyla's Husband Ed, who stated he was hungry and we ended up here!! After Banan, I started getting cold and with Hurricane Lester on its way. Pho sounds good! They have been here, was my first time. This place is odd, 2 restaurants in one??? What? Front is Fairwood.. walk to the back there's another entrance to Pho.. hmmm looks more dine in while the front looked like a self seated Chinese food take out. The 3 of us were set on pho.. looking through the menu and we all ended up getting Won ton Pho! Yum! Their broth is very flavorful, not too salty, not sweet, not oily, not clear like water. Pho noodles are good, doesn't fall apart. Comes with 6 won ton, my first piece didn't have shrimp, but then I found them in the pieces after. Taste of the wonton was odd, can't describe it, by the last one I got sick of it. I got extra won ton pii (wrapper) from the top... missing a 7th piece? haha. We also got salt and pepper wings to share. Wings came with the parts I like wingette! Yay for me and Ed. Sorry Lyla, no drums. I had 2 pieces, it was soft, tender, moist, juicy and sweet! I liked the flavor. Although it had lots of jalepeno on top, wasn't spicy. If I'm on this side, another option! The workers are Chinese. We'll we continue/start our diet tomorrow! I'll be good.. I promise!

    Lemon grass tofu sandwich. Sooo tasty! Packed with veggies, tofu, & flavor!
    Dannie C.

    Kudos to my dad for choosing this place for lunch one day (he always chooses Panda Express or Zippy's). I would normally get pho at Vietnamese restaurants but for some reason I got the tofu lemongrass sandwich and I do not regret it! Restaurant is located upstairs from Times on Waialae and 4th ave. Super convenient for me since I live nearby. The lights hanging in their are pretty artsy and gives off a fancy feel but this place is pretty casual. All the times I've been here it's never been super crowded which is a good thing because I soaking crowds anyway. I have tried their pho but after tasting the lemongrass tofu, omg - it's my new fave. What I like to do is share an order of veggie pho and half a tofu sandwich with my dad and dip my sandwich in the pho soup -voila! I made my own veggie French dip! I like how the lemongrass tofu has so much flavor and their not stingy with filling the sandwich. Other places I've tried give more bread than anything. But Pho 27 is generous plus the bread is crispy on the outside and oh so soft on the inside. I'll be having my pho lemongrass tofu French dip here regularly.

    Large pieces of chicken in pho.

    Their chicken pho had large pieces of chicken/bone, the kine used for oyster sauce chicken. Even had a drumstick in the pho. That was really different. The spring roll was very salty. Waste of money.

    Prices went up a bit
    Yasmin S.

    I ordered the two meat iption pho. The both on this place was really tasty and the brisket was super tender and flavorful. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was that my food wasn't very hot... not fun eating cold pho. Also, you can't order the small size pho to go so I had to get the large size.

    Vermicelli with barbecue pork and spring rolls.
    Julie L.

    I love this place. The staff are very friendly and the food is delicious. They give large portions here. My regular dish here is the vermicelli with spring rolls and barbecue pork. The meat is marinated well and the spring rolls are very tasty. I'm always coming back here!

    Space Saving table drawer
    Loydd W.

    Not impressed. Not Satisfied. The highlight wasn't even the food, it was the smelly table w/drawer. When we sat down, the table had a stink sweaty and sour smell caused from a used and dirty rag. I had to ask for the table to be re-wiped or it was gonna ruin my appetite. #nojoke I believe I am sensitive to taste and smell which is maybe why I LOVE FOOD so much but it's also a curse at times like this. The most enjoyable part about lunch was opening the drawer/table which held our utensils and napkins. Very cool concept and space saver. I wouldn't mind having that in my house. What I would NOT like in my house is the food we ordered. I'm not trying to trash this place but I'm just giving my 2 cents about my experience. The food was quite plain tasting compared to other pho places I've been to like my #1 Aloha PHO!!! Maybe it's a different cooking method or part of Vietnam but I personally didn't care for the taste. My dad ordered some chicken dish which came with a so so dipping sauce. Again, not impressed and some what dissatisfied. I would NOT RECOMMEND this pho place....but my parents like it. So on that note...dont bother lol my parents aren't FOODIES.

    Large combination pho.
    Darick M.

    I'll have to pass on this place.. The pho isn't bad but the flavor of the broth isn't my thing. There's something about it that doesn't taste like any pho I've ever had, almost like a Chinese soup that's trying to be pho. Again, it wasn't bad but it didn't seem right to me. I'm not going to judge them for their broth, but they should call it "faux" or "phaux." On my most recent visit.. I waited about 5 minutes to be seated. The place was empty and there was no one around. I walked in further, found a server, and got her attention. After confirming they were not closed I asked to be seated. The server was friendly bit could be a little more attentive. I ordered a large combination pho with the meat outside. The soup wasn't hot at all.. It was very warm but not hot enough for the meat; it remained pink the entire time. The garnish seemed fresh but they really don't give you much basil. It's about half as much as other places. I personally prefer more basil. To be fair I've been here a few times.

    Lien V.

    3.5 overall stars Pho 27 Cafe, located in the Kaimuki Shopping Center, has reopened after a brief stint as the former Vietnamese eatery named Pho 27. After Pho 27 closed, the place turned into a ramen restaurant and again, it closed quickly. Then it was followed by the opening of another restaurant serving Chinese food. I do hope Pho 27 Cafe can make it because it is such a cute place to eat, talk story and hang out. The entry to the restaurant can be accessed through the same doorway shared with Fairwood Drive Inn & Diner. A quick glance from the cashier's counter shows Pho 27 Cafe has about 12 to 13 tables-booths spread comfortably and evenly in the long I-shape restaurant. I entered Pho 27 Cafe to find its decor and furnishings appeared exactly the same as the prior pho restaurant. Well the menu looks different and upon closer inspection, the new menu revealed a new page incorporating some Hong Kong style fare: i.e. sizzling platter meals and baked spaghetti/fried rice dishes to include soup and salad. Explains why the caption below the restaurant's name included Chinese letterings. Since this is their second month back, Pho 27 Cafe is offering a 10% re-opening discount. Cool jellybeans! IDK how long this special is good til though. Also, I'm glad to find the interior didn't changed much because I was always partial to it when I used to eat there before they closed the restaurant. The entire place is almost completely white and the tall ceiling made the long space looked "opened and airy" but still modern. It's kinda cool they hang those architectural lantern-like white ball drops from the black ceiling. Loved the vanilla leather seats at each booth because they're so comfortable. Lighting is soft and relaxing, making it not too hard to slouch there if one is not careful. They served decent pho and the broth was pretty good from my past dining experiences there. However, I decided to order the #34 vermicelli noodles with BBQ pork and spring rolls. This bun bowl came out beautifully arranged and it looked really appetizing. Serving size was right on, the julienned veggies (lettuce, cucumbers, carrots and basil) tasted fresh and refreshing. Unfortunately the pork was a tad too salty for me and the spring rolls could have used longer frying time. These were the only 2 sticking points I wasn't too keen on. Next time, I will probably order the pho to see if it is still the same pho. It's unclear if Pho 27 Cafe is the same owner as the previous Pho 27. Under the beverage section, they got a variety smoothies but there was one that stood out: the caramel latte smoothies. Sounded interesting and unusual; perhaps it will complement the pho nicely when I return.

    Elizabeth M.

    I've returned four times to eat here I get the won ton pho every time. The first time I got it I had picked out pieces of cow tongue. It was cooked, it's just not my thing. However, I loved the refreshing broth and wontons filled with pork and shrimp. my love got the lemon grass chicken and was underwhelmed. The spring rolls and summer rolls are very well done. Either one will be a great appetizer choice. The atmosphere is casual and the restaurant is clean. Additional napkins and utensils are readily available in a drawer on the side of each table(cool quirky fact). There's usually only one person working the front register and dining area, sometimes there is a little wait. Parking is pretty good considering the lot is shared with Longs oh yeah and it's free Side note-special pho like the unusual wonton pho only come in large no medium available but they don't stuff you with fillers. The dishes are equally balanced. One of my daughters tried the char siu pho & that was good . The other daughter tried the short ribs in pepper sauce, total loss. Shouldn't even be on their menu . It's rare to like every single thing you try at a restaurant with so much unique variety. For the most part I think they got something good going on here.... it's worth exploring.

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    2 months ago

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    Pho was very delicious ,service very professional, and very fast delivering my order.

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    Fun Station

    Fun Station

    4.6
    (694 reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    All I can say about eating at the - "Fun Station" is that it's more fun when eating with a friend,…read more& getting a 20% discount.........well, that's just an extra bonus! So the thing about coming to Fun Station is the "suspended flying noodle thingy" which I didn't go for, but if you like Instagramable stuffs, then I supposed you would probably go for that flying-noodle dish. As for me, I mainly came to try their Minute Chicken Cake Noodles, and as a bonus......... I actually got a 20% discount thanks to my friend - Jennifer C. who let a Bruddah know about da DEALAGES in da Sunday food section newspaper, as they had a coupon! The Sunday morning when I came with my friend, I can clearly see that this restaurant was thriving, as every table in the restaurant was taken. Fun Station specializes in noodles, but if you're not into that, they do serve other items like - soups, vegetable dishes, rice plates, & porridge (jook). Upon looking over the menu, we ordered the following items - 1. Frrrrrrried Chicken Wings ($9.95) for an appetizer 2. Minute Chicken Cake Noodles ($17.95 - minus da 20% coupon DEALAGES) 3. Beef Brisket Tendon & Won Ton in soup ($18.95) What can I say about da grub??? Da chicken wings came out hot & crispy. Although they featured only "flats" vs. drums (I like drums), I must say da wings was nicely executed. As for the Minute Chicken Cake Noodles.........nicely plated on a fancy smanshy panda plate. The cake noodles weren't drowning in gravy, so the noodles stayed crispy on the dish. I really liked how they did this dish, and would easily come back here to eat it again. My friend had the Beef Brisket Tendon & Won Ton soup. The dish looked good, and there weren't any complaints, so I take it that it was pretty ono! Overall, a very satisfying meal and the service here was on point, as the staff was friendly & very efficient. Easy 5 stars for the Minute Chicken Cake Noodles! Chance 'em!

    Think we found our new Chinese restaurant that serves local favorites, that are tasty, for a good…read moreprice, in a comfortable and casual setting, with pretty good service, and all fairly close to home. Wife and I came around 2:00 for a late lunch. Usually places are much slower during this and it's a hit and miss for service and spread of food coming out. There was only one other table, two top, and that thought came to mind. However, we were promptly seated, given menus, and shortly after ice waters. We ordered shortly and our food came out fairly quickly, hot and fresh. All were very flavorful. We even ordered Ma Po Tofu as takeout for our daughter for dinner. That was also very good. Yes, think we found our new Chinese restaurant and will be back probably very soon.

    Photos
    Inside the restaurant.....
    Inside the restaurant.....
    Choi Sum & Beef Cake Noodle
    Choi Sum & Beef Cake Noodle
    Wonton close-up

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    Marugame Udon

    Marugame Udon

    4.5
    (14.1k reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    Taste good and quality. Long line but fast served food. I will go back again. My daughter love udon…read morealso she will give. 5

    It's a rare treat when I fall in love with a place and rave about it so much that I have to have it…read moreagain. Not only that, but I have to bring my significant other along to share in the deliciousness! I don't know how I'm just now talking about Marugame Udon. When I first came here, my friend and I decided to give it a try because we saw the longest line and wanted to see what all the hype was about. There was a couple in front of us who said they come here every time they visit Hawaiʻi and that it's a must-do stop on every trip. When you walk in, it's a small place. You can watch a team member washing the noodles and portioning them into bowls right in front of you. Then you choose your bowl size, small or large, and select your broth. After that, you get to choose from a variety of fried items and other à la carte options displayed on a warmer. Seating can be limited because of how busy this place gets. You line up to get your food, pay for it, grab your condiments, utensils, and a cup of water, then find a seat and enjoy. I've already been here twice, and after writing about my experience, I need to make a third visit happen very soon! There are not enough days off in a week to enjoy all of the amazing food on this island, but I'm going to do my best to experience as many places as I can. This place is totally worth the 45-minute commute from Wahiawa.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Kake Udon
    Kake Udon
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    Wuwei Chong Qing Cuisine

    Wuwei Chong Qing Cuisine

    4.3
    (211 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Authentic Chong Qing style noodles - really worth to give it a try. Some hopefully helpful tips:…read more1. The noodles only have one size but it's pretty large. Depending on your appetite, two ladies could possibly share. We ordered 2 and it was enough for 3 people to share. 2. Since we do not eat anything spicy, we asked for non-spicy from the get-go at ordering. The owner was able to accommodate. 3. Parking is street parking only but readily available fronting the restaurant. 4. The restaurant space is rather small, so it gets busy during meal time. We often take out by ordering ahead of time.

    stand alone restaurant - with limited seating insides…read more freshmade noodle for sure noted with quality. Do recommended getting chewy noodle vs flat noddle. The texture is more enjoyable when eating. Flat noddle - would have prefer to be more wide in size. Had the beef noodle classic -flavor in broth was decent, but could use with additional pickle vegetables to bring some sour and cut the richness of the broth. beef itself was very tender and came in separate bowl. Breakdown easily. not spicy at all though. next dish tried - was the pickle fish noodle - first time trying to dish anywhere. Surprisingly preferred this over the beef noodle. a little bit of sour, but just the right amount with the creamy broth mix. This with the chewy noodle was bomb. Highly recommended* price - reasonable for quality - but could have more noodle for quantity*

    Photos
    Unique cr code menu
    Unique cr code menu
    泡椒鸭爪米线(Duck Feet Rice Noodle)Added Duck Blood (good!! Nice numbing and spicy)
    泡椒鸭爪米线(Duck Feet Rice Noodle)Added Duck Blood (good!! Nice numbing and spicy)
    Pork with green peppers and fried egg

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    Pork with green peppers and fried egg
    Mian & Bao

    Mian & Bao

    4.3
    (324 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Lunch after kid city with my family. Food was delicious! staff was great! Great price! Food came…read moreout fast! Would definitely come back

    I've been wanting to try this spot for a while but after hearing so much mixed reviews I held off…read moreon it for a while. I finally decided why not and came with a friend on new years day lunch time. They were pretty busy already after just 30ish minutes of opening (12pm). Service: We were seated immediately and the service method is pretty simple, you scan the QR code and order through there. My main gripe with this service method is the waitresses aren't as attentive, we couldn't really ask any questions prior to ordering and even after ordering, I had to stand up to the front and wave someone down to pay for our order (as they had a special they had to apply before we paid). We ordered: - Spicy Beef Pancake: 10/10, didn't expect to like this so much as well. Not that spicy to be honest. More like a light spicy flavor. The beef inside was also juicy. - Pan-fried pork bun: 10/10, I was honestly looking forward to this more than the XLB and I was correct to do so. The filling was juicy like a XLB but the dough was also fluffy, doughy, AND has a crispy bottom. Would come back just for this and recommend this 10 times over!! - Sui Mai: 8.8/10; this was like any other good sui mai you may get at different dimsum places. Just pork though, no mushroom or seafood chucks like some other spots. - Steamed Beef with Sticky Rice: 8.1/10. This wasn't bad by any means but just didn't compare to the rest of the items. I didn't like how some parts were super fatty. - Xiao Long Bao: 10/10, the wrapped is thin but thick enough for me to pick up the dumpling without it popping. The soup was flavorful and so was the pork within. They had a special going on which made our XLB be like $5 instead of the $14 it usually is. We were super surprised of how little our bill was give that we were stuffed at the end of the meal and had some leftovers. Even without the discount it would've been a great deal. I heavily recommend, especially the pan-fried pork bun and XLB!!

    Photos
    Newbie in the former Peso location
    Newbie in the former Peso location
    Love noodles and dumplings...anticipating its opening!
    Love noodles and dumplings...anticipating its opening!
    Mian & Bao

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    Lam's Kitchen

    Lam's Kitchen

    4.4
    (654 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    Amazing Chinese noodles restaurant in Chinatown known for their beef noodles!…read more We had the beef mein, beef chow fun, and side order of look fun. Everything was great but the beef in the soup was the highlight, it was soft but not too soft and full of flavor. It paired perfectly with the noodles and soup. We went on a Sunday for lunch and they were pretty busy but we only had to wait maybe 10 - 15 min. Service was very speedy. Cute Chinatown shop vibes.

    Located in Chinatown, Lam's Kitchen is on a corner on Maunakea Street. The building is brick and…read morethe restaurant has red doors, which we read had been newly renovated. Inside, the space feels busy with tables and people moving around. There are benches inside for those waiting for a table. We had to wait a bit before we were seated but they seemed efficient in ushering people in and out of the restaurant. The middle had smaller tables, which seemed most suitable for two people. The sides had larger tables for larger parties. The tables felt pretty close together but we enjoyed the stool/bench chairs we sat on. They were different than what we are used to in restaurants. Our order was taken quickly. We decided to get the beef chow fun, yang chow fried rice, and cheong fun. The cheong fun was good, especially after adding hoisin sauce. The texture was soft and the portion was quite decent. The chow fun was also yummy. It was tasty without being overbearing. The fried rice was our favorite. It was flavorful and included a variety of ingredients. The prices were not bad either, considering the portion sizes. We hope to be back one day to try more of what they have!

    Photos
    So clean and spacious
    So clean and spacious
    Beef Chow Fun
    Beef Chow Fun
    Lam's Kitchen

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    Seasons Taiwanese Eatery

    Seasons Taiwanese Eatery

    4.5
    (288 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    By far my favorite Taiwanese go to restaurant!…read more I highly recommend their popcorn chicken, so crispy, so juicy and the leaves not sure if they were basil or sobering else but the way they fry them and get them to also be super crispy is amazing. It's also seasoned perfectly, not too salty and you can add a level of spicy to your liking.

    The death knell is ringing for the Chinese (Taiwanese-Chinese, apparently) Cultural Plaza with the…read moreJune 2026 announcement of plans to can the place, so Seasons and all Plaza cohorts will meet their maker in a year! IRREGARDLESS I'd go back for the popcorn chicken (crispy, light fry, bite sized) and air conditioning. Sometimes Chinese food can get super saucy so the small plates - cucumbers, rolls, baos, and veg - work for me. It's serious 家常菜 or home-style cooking or quick food you'd find on the street: ong-choy, tomato-braised scrambled egg, garlic cabbage, essentially all the greats, shareable. Seasons also offers the beef soupy noodle sets, but when it's 85+ degrees out and sunny and 80% humidity, I do question ppl's judgement. I've always loved the Plaza, empty and partly abandoned, bec/ the design is conducive to good airflow and cooling, a much underappreciated architectural element in modern downtowns. But the bums and indigent love it more and sadly always leave some je ne sais quoi. Seasons finds itself across from the dim sum behemoth in Chinatown, Legends, but that's a different flavor profile. Still, quite nice to have variety.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    11. Classic Beef and Tendon Noodle
    11. Classic Beef and Tendon Noodle
    New location is around the corner, towards the canal.

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    New location is around the corner, towards the canal.
    Shima Dreams Of Noodles

    Shima Dreams Of Noodles

    4.6
    (7 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    About 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, there was already a line of people placing their order for fresh…read morepulled noodles. We were told that the first batch would be served about 11 a.m. so we quickly put our order in. The first thing that caught my attention, was the savory aroma of their 5-spice ground pork being cooked. You can add this as a topping to the noodle dish. The second thing that caught my attention, was the labor of love going in to each order of fresh pulled noodles. You can watch him stretch the dough ball and slap it on the counter before he boils each batch with careful preparation. The third thing that caught my attention, was their adorable mother, helping to slice the cucumbers and top each dish with crushed iso peanuts. Do not forget to order the side of pickled bittermelon....so good!! From beginning to end, this was an incredible experience of all my senses! To see and hear them at work and then to taste the delicious sesame sauce on the fresh pulled noodles....WOW! The soft noodles, the crisp bittermelon, and the savory sauce....super delish! Seriously, go early to place your order. The wait is totally worth it :) Will come back next time to try other menu items.

    Shima Dreams of Noodles is a pop-up, located at Fishcake -…read more This place supposedly has a huge following, and people anticipate for the changing menu of various noodle dishes. When we went, the menu focused on udon: +Hot Yamakake Udon with Quail Egg (a special) +Cold Yamakake Udon (a special) +Hot Udon +Cold Udon The special udon dishes are servied with tororo (grated mountain yam), housemade tsukudani (seaweed braised in a sweet Japanese sauce), crispy nori, green onions, and an option to add wasabi. We went for both the hot and cold udon specials - I think it was a consensus that we would have liked to have more noodles in the dish. This is definitely a sweeter dish, with the tororo and the tsukudani. The place already had a long line, and the best way to enjoy would be to dine-in. Note that if you do order a carry-out, the quail egg would not be included. +ordering online is available +changing menu of noodle dishes +popup at Fishcake

    Photos
    Making fresh udon noodles!
    Making fresh udon noodles!
    Fresh pulled noodles with sesame sauce, 5 spice ground pork, and side of pickled bittermelon, so yum!
    Fresh pulled noodles with sesame sauce, 5 spice ground pork, and side of pickled bittermelon, so yum!
    Shima Dreams Of Noodles

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    Noods Ramen Bar

    Noods Ramen Bar

    4.3
    (678 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Established in 2020

    What is Noods? I had to Google it. I can't keep up with urban words nowadays. So keep up with me…read morehere. Vibe is chill as young folks say these days. Young server quickly greeted us and let us sit anywhere. He asked if we've been here before and quickly ran down some specials. I love it when they ask "been here before?" I was set on Black garlic Tonkotsu. Served with thin ramen noods. I love thin noodles and they're not yellow. No need to dye the noodles. I like them as is. Rich broth and crunchy garlic. Their special is carmelized kimchee gyoza and Gochuchang, spicy ramen. Kimchee gyoza wasn't too spicy but spicy ramen is spicy as it should be. Best of all, music playlists were from 90s. Love it even more! My Era! Anyways, comfortable, cute, easy ramen joint in Kaimuki with excellent service. You can park in Kaimuki municipal parking lot.

    3 and a half stars really... Full disclosure, I ordered…read morethrough Door Dash. My food was delivered with 20 minutes, which is incredibly speedy! The flavor of my creamy garlic shoyu ramen was fine. Nothing special, but good enough. However, it was cold (not room-temperature. Cold!) and there was very little of it. "Lazy tax" aside, I could've had a much tastier and more satisfying meal for way less if I had just added some veggies and (very) little meat to a pot of Sapporo noodles prepared at home. I understand times are hard, especially for small businesses, in this economy but pouring more broth would've made a big difference. Even if I had to po it in the microwave myself.

    Photos
    Seating area
    Seating area
    Parmesan Shishito Peppers
    Parmesan Shishito Peppers
    Tonkotsu ramen

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    Tonkotsu ramen

    Pho 27 Cafe - vietnamese - Updated July 2026

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