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    Pioneer Saloon

    4.1 (1.1k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Pioneer Saloon Photos

    Business Info

    PIONEER SALOON ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Pioneer Saloon

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    Reviews With Photos

    Garlic Cajun Shrimp
    Hallie G.

    A MUST-TRY PLACE! This place was the hardest to say goodbye to on my recent Hawaii trip. Their plates are DELICIOUS. Ate here 3x on 6 day trip and could have eaten here everyday and be content. You order at the window outside and can eat in or take plates to go. The interior is woodsy and western-y, as the name would lend itself to be. Food comes out fairly quickly. Every plate I got was delicious. The ribeye steak, cajun ahi, garlic shrimp, miso butterfish - all great! HOWEVER, their grilled spicy chili ahi???? Out of this world. It has a perfect kick and the ahi is so tender. And it is super worth the extra $$$ to upgrade your rice to the shiso wakame rice. I MISS THIS PLACE ALREADY.

    Fried Chicken
    Peter H.

    TL;DR - It's near the Honolulu zoo. Old western cowboy themed restaurant (really interesting!). The fried chicken was good. The miso butterfish was amazing and I'd get it again We heard really good things about this place from a friend. We were visiting to Honolulu Zoo that day and made sure to stop by afterwards. Luckily it's a short walk so I highly recommend considering this place if you're in the area! The interior has this really cool Old western cowboy theme to it. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the decor was super super old. We got their fried chicken which was pretty tasty. I believe they batter it with mochi or something along those lines prior to frying it. It was quite delicious! The highlight of the meal was the miso butterfish. I absolutely love this fish and it's rare for me to find a place that serves this fish. I haven't had it in over 6 years since I was in Indonesia. They made it perfectly and it was SO GOOD. For those who haven't had butterfish, it is VERY tender. And as the name implies, it is buttery and soft. I wanted to order another plate but decided to hold back. I wouldn't want to order anything else to be honest. I'd get the same thing each time I came to visit! Highly recommend this place!

    Fried, soggy chicken
    Sharissa C.

    So disappointed, ordered the fried chicken plate to go, had to wait for it and when I got home, it's not even crispy! It's soggy. They should maybe vent holes in the take out container to let the heat out.

    Inside
    Edie N.

    My new favorite spot in Waikiki for garlic shrimp! You order at the window before coming in. Food came out fast and service was friendly and efficient. There were plenty of tables on the day we came but based on our experience today I am sure this place gets slammed! The garlic Cajun shrimp was by far one of the best I've had EVER. We came back another day but they were closed due to a power outage (but we'll be back before we leave). The ribeye was super tender and flavorful. It honestly didn't even need the sauce it came with. MAC salad was light and not too heavy. Perfect portions for the price. Would highly recommend!

    Randall M.

    Forgot to take a picture of the food, sorry. Teppan chicken, medium rare steak, and loco moco were all delicious. Service was very hospitable considering we are from California and they welcomed us with open arms. Ambiance is interesting - cool artifacts on the wall, smaller space, and they're ok with connecting tables together.

    Local grass fed kine Ribeye
    Tanner K.

    Brah... I no even get words fo dis one, but I going try. Pioneer Saloon? Hoooo, dis place stay DIFFERENT DIFFERENT. I went in thinking yeah just one quick grind, nothing crazy... nahhh. These grindz was so ono I swear I slipped straight into one kanak attack mid-meal. Had me quiet, eyes wide, just nodding my head like "yeah... dis da one." I one picky buggah when it come to food too. Real talk, I care about flavor and ingredients more than anything. If no taste right, I no scared fo say. But dis place? Broke da mouth. Straight up. We went get da pork cutlet wit egg, and da ribeye. Brah... da pork first. Outside crispy like fresh fried, golden brown perfection, every bite get dat crunch sound. But inside? JUICY. Tender. Flavor stay soaked all da way through, not just surface kine. And when da egg yolk break and start run all ova? Ho brah... creamy, rich, mix in wit da meat... was like everything just lock in. I almost shed one tear, no joke. Den da ribeye... ehhhh dis one had me heated. LOCAL steak. You know how hard dat is fo do right? Hawaii grass fed beef can come out tough if you no careful. But these guys? Nah, dey dialed in heavy. We order um rare, and dey came out PERFECT rare. Cool center, juicy, soft, melt in ya mouth kine. You can taste da land in um, like straight pasture to plate. No funny business. And den da ponzu sauce... BRAH. Whoever made dat, give um one raise and one hug. Light citrus, lil salty, lil tang, tiny kick... but it no overpower. It just LIFT da steak. Every dip had me like "sheeeesh." Was dipping everything after that, no shame. Even da Japanese potato salad... hooo, lowkey assassin. Creamy but not heavy, lil sweet, lil tang, smooth but still get texture. I neva even trip on potato salad usually, but I was straight mopping dis buggah. Plate came back CLEAN. Service too? Solid kine. Cashier get choke aloha, staff friendly, no weird attitude, just good people making sure you straight. Felt welcoming, not all stiff kine. Real talk, if you like FOOD food, like real flavor, real ingredients, no shortcuts... you gotta come here. Dis not hype. Dis da kine place you eat and just sit back after like "damn... I needed dat." 10 outta 10 easy. I going back fo sure. Next time I bringing da whole crew.

    Grilled Spicy Chili Ahi
    Rylan B.

    Oh man, where do I even start. This is like a home away from home for me. On my six day vacation, I had the privilege of visiting this place THREE times. My absolute favorite spot in Honolulu. If you are in the mood for plate lunches, you will not go wrong with this place. Ambiance is home-y. You order outside at the window and can wait inside where they bring the food to you. Ordering is very efficient, fast, and stafff is always friendly. Out of the three times I went, I had the grilled spicy chili ahi twice. The second time I tried to stray and try their miso butterfish, which was good, but it wasn't the sensory experience that is the ahi. Cooked and seasoned to perfection. I know for a fact that every day I'm on the mainland I will be dreaming about this dish. Pair it with the shiso wakame rice if you want the saltiness from the seaweed with your delicious fish. Their pasta salad was also really good. Best thing I ate all trip 999999/10 no notes (all the notes, I can't praise this dish enough). Would not hesitate to visit again if I'm ever in Hawaii again.

    Kev O.

    This place was recommended to us, and I'd seen it mentioned as a must try place to eat on some foodie videos. So, since it was on our way back on a trolley ride, we decided to stop by, have lunch, then walking off our fill by walking back to our hotel after. I didn't know what to expect coming here, but was quite pleasantly surprised by the rustic old saloon style hole-in-the-wall ambiance... very casual yet very interesting interior.... looks very much like a small family business. You place your order through a window on the outside, with take away your order, or sit inside and wait for your order to be called. Everything comes in a take away box, so no dishes to wash up... just throw all your leftovers in the trash bin provided by the entrance. The menu wasn't too difficult to navigate, and looking at the list of menu offerings, it was obvious that the food here looked very comforting. So, we ordered the Fried chicken with brown rice and tossed salad, and the fried shrimp with brown rice and tossed salad. The food was ready pretty quickly as our name was called within 10 minutes or less...we go up to the counter to take it back to our table, and just dig in. I must say that the food here is actually very good for take out style.... everything was prepared with very fresh ingredients, came out hot and steaming, and was really delicious! The portion size was a bit smaller than I had expected, but for the price, not bad at all. Especially the fried chicken dipped in that spicy sauce... wow... yummy! I'd consider this a very good dining experience, with very good quality food, surrounded by a very unique ambiance that's different from any other place I'd ever tried... in Hawaii anyway. Would have loved to come back again, but it was a bit out of the way from where we were staying. Perhaps next trip. Highly recommended.

    Liliana U.

    Rustic hole in the wall kind of charm. You order at the window for both dine in and takeout. Plate lunch style. Parking: street side only. Drinks: no alcohol but have a good selection of juices/soda Prices: for Hawai'i, prices are very reasonable. $15-$20 per person. Service: Everyone was very friendly & food came out quick. Food: the garlic chicken & mochiko chicken were delicious and perfectly crisp. The garlic chicken had great flavor just wish it had a sticky stile sauce on it.

    Rib eye
    Craig T.

    Update on Pioneer Saloon located on Monsarrat . I ordered take out for dinner and I remembered the last time it was ok . I ordered their Korean beef it was like Bulgogi style but it was tuff and stringy. Prices are ok $15 -$22 roughly for a plate comes with rice and pasta salad . Support local

    (Top) Ribeye steak (Bottom) Mochiko chicken and ahi steak
    Tasnim C.

    This was our first stop after landing and it was a great idea! My husband got the ribeye steak and I got a combo plate with Mochiko chicken and ahi steak. Both plates were very good and flavorful. Their mac salad was also so yum! We found street parking and walked over. There was ample seating inside as well. The service was fantastic :)

    :)
    Nicole L.

    Pioneer Saloon is top 3 in terms of my favorite places to eat and my favorite meals while visiting Hawaii. We ordered the garlic ahi tuna and the rib eye steak plate. Oh my goodness... THE WAY THE MEAT MELT INTO YOUR MOUTH. The meats on both were tender and the sauce paired with it was *chefs kiss*. Even the mac salad was fire. Everything here is so good -- I can't even say which one is better because everything was DELICOUS. This was such a cute restaurant and I would 10000% recommend this place as #1 to anyone while visiting Hawaii. I really wish we got it again while we were visiting but there is always next time ;)

    Menu
    Dianna W.

    Excellent food and good prices . It has a wide range of selection. You order and pay at the small window counter and then find a seat on your own . They will call your number when food is ready. Relatively small restaurant with 5-6 tables , a very clean restroom. I recommend to go on off hours ( like when they open or later ) to avoid the crowds. They serve the food In a to go lunch box . The portion is so big so I take 1/2 to 1/3 box home . We came here 3 times within a week of our stay in Waikiki. There is another pioneer restaurant closed by with similar food. Please make sure you file this address. Highly recommended their garlic shrimp and prime ribs combo box !

    Salmon Furikake Katsu with Multigrain Rice and Pesto Pasta

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    Pioneer Saloon Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pioneer Saloon

    Are there any gluten free options?

    Not really :/ Everything has wheat or has some sort of shoyu. I got the shio salmon GF. Very plain. They didn't accommodate make a dressing for the salad though. :(.

    Can they organize a plate lunch day in the little park by the school with food?

    Why don't you ask them

    Does anyone know if they are doing that shave ice anymore?

    Monsarrat Shave Ice is in the small alley next to it. But hours may not necessarily be the same as Pioneer Saloon.

    Are they now open on mondays?

    Yup, certainly. In fact, my wife are having late lunch there now

    How can u find the menu,?

    Go to Pioneer Saloon on Yelp, click all pics, on top of screen choose the menu tab, look for most current pic of menus

    View All 6 Questions

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    Momosan Waikiki - Spicy vegan ramen!

    Momosan Waikiki

    4.2(1.3k reviews)
    0.8 miWaikiki
    $$$

    This is a bit overdue but left a lasting impression. We stopped by Momosan on a whim while in…read moreWaikiki and glad we did! The most impressive part of the night was the reaction from my two daughters. They are typically very picky eaters, but they completely devoured the Tokyo Chicken ramen. My wife and I were just as impressed with our Spicy Tonkatsu and regular Tonkatsu bowls. The broth was remarkably rich and packed with complex flavors, while the chashu was a savory burst in every single bite. I live right near Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and have very high standards for what makes a good bowl of ramen, so I was honestly blown away by the quality here. The kids were so into the food that we even decided to grab an order of chicken karaage to go. The service was exceptionally attentive and the staff went out of their way to ensure our family had everything we needed. The ambiance was also fantastic and added to the overall experience. Regarding parking, it can be tough in Waikiki, but we found a convenient public garage right next to the hotel where the restaurant is located. This spot is a must-visit for anyone looking for top-tier ramen in Honolulu.

    On a prime location just a short walk from Waikīkī beach you'll find Chef Morimoto's Momosan…read more Parking can be found street side when available however can be tough. Walking is suggested and the primary mode of transportation while in Waikīkī. Must-Do: Sticky Ribs (say yes to the side of rice, thank me later) Ahi Tacos Tonkatsu Ramen Karaage (kids love it too) Sashimi (Hamachi is very nice cut) During different times of the day, you may encounter some wait time to be seated. You'll add yourself to the list. Varying from 20 minutes up to 45 minutes for a party of 4 or more. If you are patient, your tastebuds will certainly be rewarded. Consistency is key and Momosan puts this to practice day in day out. Attentive service, delicious food, great quality and a comfortable cozy dining experience. Outdoor seating allows you to enjoy the beauty of Waikiki beach. 8 years ago I brought my wife to our first taste of Momosan on a date, we were blown away by the flavors, freshness and quality of the ramen, the sashimi and the incomparable Sticky Ribs. Each and every visit has never failed to impress us still. To this day my kids now 12 am 14 years old, have added Momosan to their list of favorite restaurants. Many can try to ie Earls, but none can dethrone(the Iron Chef Morimito-san and his Sticky Ribs

    Photos
    Momosan Waikiki - Outdoor seating

    Outdoor seating

    Momosan Waikiki - Salmon poke donburi*

    Salmon poke donburi*

    Momosan Waikiki - Momosan Waikiki Ramen and Sake Exterior

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    Momosan Waikiki Ramen and Sake Exterior

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - grilled miso black cod

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    0.7 miWaikiki
    $$$

    I WISH I COULD GIVE MORE STARS!!!! WORTH THE PRICE! FOOD AND SERVICE IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!…read more Okay seriously, I've been to a ton of expensive high end restaurants and none have impressed me like this Morimoto's. When I tell you everything that came out was amazing.... Holy moly it was SO TASTY. EVERYTHING! I was even impressed with the fried rice with how much they served and how much was in it. I personally loved the fish carpaccio, rib eye, hamachi kama, wok vegetables and malasadas for dessert. The orange chicken was my least favorite but it was still good. Oh and the STICKY RIBS...... you HAVE to get them. So crispy yet tender.... I loved how everything we had bursted in my mouth with flavor and was something I couldn't make to that level at home. Service was amazing like any other fine dining restaurant, but for the first time, I felt like this one was worth the money for how good the food was. I will definitely be back!

    My bad review is entirely based on how terrible the food was. For context, we ordered Tonkatsu…read moreramen and Tsukemen dipping ramen. Ramen, according to the server, was the most popular thing on the menu, so how likely could it get messed up? Tonkatsu: Rich, but lacked any salt or had very little. We requested some salt and that instantly made the ramen better. The noodles had enough salt to carry it, but the broth was not great. It tasted like the broth was watered down or reconstituted, however no seasoning was added to re-adjust the broth. Broth: Had little salt and lacked punch, umami, and was brown instead of white. Noodles: Had enough salt to taste good, but was slightly overcooked Pork: Extremely bland. Tasted like zero salt was added during cooking. Toppings: Greatly lacking in toppings Tsukemen: The Tsukemen had a lot of the same issues. Now being a dipping ramen, the broth should be even richer and more flavorful than any normal ramen. Tsukemen -- no matter where you have it in Japan, should be richer and saltier than most broths, but the broth here was severely lacking. For $26 a bowl this was worse than your DIY frozen ramen packs. Now I'm not asking for Japan-level of ramen mastery here, this is after all, just a tourist spot -- but if your Tonkatsu is the best selling item, you have to step it up. Our server did mention that some people complained about the amount of salt in ramen, so they adjusted it. But dare I say, instead of diluting the normal salt/seasoning amount for everyone, couldn't you just add a separate, flavor-light version for people inexperienced with ramen, instead of diluting the original for everyone else? If you're reading this Mr. Morimoto, I would highly encourage you to fly here and order the ramen. I think you and I would share the same opinions. P.S. I've also been to your other Morimoto spots and it was not this bad.

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    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Interior

    Interior

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Black pepper beef

    Black pepper beef

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining

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    Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining

    EbiNomi - BEST of Hawaii in FOUR categories!

    EbiNomi

    4.4(511 reviews)
    1.1 miWaikiki
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Locally sourced ingredients

    This was a great place recommended to me by a local person. It appears they switch up the menu…read moreperiodically but the dish I had for dinner was the Ebi à la king (shrimp, mushrooms, onions, a little peppers + rice in a delicious white sauce). Fresh and flavorful, though was a bit heavy with the onions for me. There is no inside seating but there's a really cute shared courtyard with a few tables. I know some of the reviews I saw mentioned that it can be a long wait but I went on a Monday night around peak dinner time and didn't have much of a wait at all. The courtyard is also a cute vibe, including a piano that people would just walk up and randomly start playing. The only downsides I would say is they don't provide real silverware- it was a little difficult to get all the shrimp and vegetables on a plastic fork. But even that wasn't enough to impact the rating. I'd also say the dish was quite filling even though it may not look like a lot of food. I will definitely visit again the next time I'm in Waikiki.

    A very literal interpretation of garlic shrimp.... Don't understand the hype…read more Came here because it was a decently rated garlic shrimp spot. Other than the shrimp being fresh, this wasn't it. Literally shrimp with garlic. No butter. One measly lemon, so the flavors weren't hitting. Just oily garlic shrimp. Rather make the drive to Giovanni's. Staff was also a bit cold, but outside seating was nice. Won't be back.

    Photos
    EbiNomi - Great ambience at night

    Great ambience at night

    EbiNomi - One of TOP FIVE Asian fusion restaurants

    One of TOP FIVE Asian fusion restaurants

    EbiNomi - Al fresco dining

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    Al fresco dining

    Carte Blanche

    Carte Blanche

    4.5(80 reviews)
    1.3 miKaimuki
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Luxury

    Took our friend here for her birthday and what a hidden gem this place was. Tucked away in the…read moreheart of Kaimuki, Carte Blanche was definitely a delightful surprise! When our party first walked in, we were a tiny bit skeptical because of the empty room (which was beautifully decorated). However as each course came out, we were blown away and didn't know how the restaurant was not way busier for a Saturday night! Each dish/course was well thought out and prepared to perfection. We were all taken by surprise in a great way. The head chef Anthony was very passionate and excited about his work and that was very refreshing! Overall a wonderful experience and we will be back!

    If you're looking for Kaimuki's most romantic date night spot, look no further than Carte Blanche…read more We recently experienced their summer prix fixe menu (which changes twice a year), and it was one of those meals you remember long after the plates are cleared. The progression of dishes felt thoughtful and creative-- * Crispy Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin (the perfect starter crunch) * Soupe de Poisson (deep, comforting flavors) * Pina Colada Granita (a refreshing palate cleanser) * Pan Seared Scallops (my personal favorite--perfectly caramelized and tender) * Double Cut Rack of Lamb (succulent and cooked to perfection) * Lemon Crème Brûlée Tart (a sweet, bright finish) Every plate was elegant, well-executed, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere strikes a balance between sophisticated and welcoming. Dim lighting, intimate tables, and quiet elegance make you feel like you've stepped into a hidden gem in the middle of Kaimuki. Honestly, I felt like a celebrity dining here. Service was polished but never pretentious--our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the courses, and kept the pacing of the meal just right. For the level of creativity and execution, Carte Blanche feels like an affordable luxury in Honolulu's dining scene. Perfect for anniversaries, date nights, or anytime you want an elevated experience without flying to the mainland. Highly recommend booking a reservation--you'll want to savor every moment here.

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    Carte Blanche
    Carte Blanche
    Carte Blanche

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    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - kurobuta tonkatsu

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    4.3(4.2k reviews)
    1.3 miWaikiki
    $$$
    Free parking
    19 years in business

    I'm not sure what happened to my original review when I tried this spot 2 years ago but this update…read morewas well deserved! During both visits, the employees were so accommodating. Even with a decent amount of seating, there is minimal space so they ask that you leave your strollers outside. When we called the first time saying our daughter was asleep they arranged everything in order to fit the stroller inside. The second visit, I had an even bigger stroller because it was a double stroller for my daughter and son. When I said my son was asleep they again, quickly tried to arrange space for the stroller until we realized he woke up. I truly appreciate them being so welcoming because I've come across many establishments that are not especially towards kids. As for the food, the first time the tonkatsu was a miss for me. I was comparing it to a popular spot on the island that books out months in advance that I tried just before my first visit here and it just seemed a lot more oily and not as tender. We were actually going to eat at the other business again but with two kids and walking non stop on our trip already, I was so happy we had an option closer to us. Both times, we were coming from Hilton Hawaiian Village. They have the cutest car bento boxes for the kids, and they let you choose the car color. My daughter loved the mini umbrella that came with her plate. My son was days before turning 1 year old so a lot of things ended up on the floor and even then, they were so kind about it. The best thing though for my husband and I AND my son, was the loco moco which we were told was limited and a new item for dinner since it was primarily only served as a lunch option? The flavor of the gravy alone was sooo good and rich. My son ended up eating my whole portion of rice and gravy with no crumbs left behind or on the floor lol. The other katsu items we ordered were nice and lightly coated and were not heavily oily at all. The only thing that I felt lacked was their curry especially in comparison to their gravy. I would definitely recommend coming here and I can't wait to come back. That was one of our favorite new dishes this trip and we come every year!

    Such a great tonkatsu experience as if I was in Kyoto on a quick trip. The restaurant flavors felt…read morevery traditional and genuinely Japanese in the best way. I got the pork loin with shrimp combo (the mixed portion instead of the large), and everything was perfectly crispy, flavorful, and satisfying without feeling too heavy. One of my favorite parts was grinding the sesame seeds myself in the little ceramic bowl with the wooden grinder, then mixing in the tonkatsu sauce. It made the whole meal feel interactive and intentional, and the sauce was SO good on the pork loin. I also ended up getting a refill of the cabbage because the sesame dressing they served with it was honestly addictive. I went around 8 PM to avoid the dinner rush and was pleasantly surprised I got a table pretty easily. Taking my time with the smaller mixed portion made the whole experience feel relaxed and enjoyable instead of rushed. Overall, really delicious food, great atmosphere, and one of my favorite meals I've had in Waikiki so far. Pictured are the before and after of my dish. Probably a better "go with friends place" than a date.

    Photos
    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu

    Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - Special Katsu-don set

    Special Katsu-don set

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - Katasu-don

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    Katasu-don

    Pioneer Saloon - japanese - Updated May 2026

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