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    Pupukea Grindz

    4.6 (108 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Pupukea Grindz Photos

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    PUPUKEA GRINDZ ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Pupukea Grindz

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    Reviews With Photos

    Val H.

    I work in Waipahu and just happen to discover this eating place Not disappointed at all. I ordered the garlic chicken plate with potato/Mac salad and a side order of pastele stew. There is seating however, I took mine to go. The food was delicious but I forgot to take some pictures. I must have been very hungry.

    PASTELE STEW
    Landon B.

    Never knew about this place until I walked past one day on my way to the liquor store. Fishing gear caught my eye as I passed. Two days later and I'm kicking myself for not eating here in the past!!!! Pastele stew was unreal! Inhaled my plate in 5 minutes. Will definitely be back to get some fishing stuff and try their garlic chicken. YOU MISSING OUT!

    Jill M.

    Delicious plate lunch and other offerings at Pupukea Grindz! Stopped by for lunch on a weekday, and it wasn't busy at all. I wanted their turkey chili, but unfortunately, they were sold out. I ordered the hummus wrap instead which was super fresh and tasty with nice local veggies. Hubby had a plate lunch with shoyu chicken, Ono katsu, cone, and Maki sushi and chow fun. My son had a side of chow fun, and the portions were generous! Ample dine in space. They have AC, but it was a little war. The food came out fresh and pretty quickly. We will be back to try more!

    8/2023
    Sarah N.

    Delicious food. Great prices. Definitely will be back! I've been wanting to try Pupukea Grindz for so long now, but since they have limited hours, I always find myself checking them out when they're already closed (funny, not funny). Lucky for me, it's summer time and I'm off (for a while lol) so I took the kids on a spontaneous run for some grindz. Yesterday, we ordered the Ahi Katsu plate with tossed salad, and 2 Korean Garlic Chicken plates with mac. The food was spot on - fresh and flavorful. I absolutely enjoyed my ahi katsu and having the option of FRESH GREENS! The dressing tasted like a basic Oriental, that of which I switched out once I got home, but overall, that plate was 5 stars. Both kids got the Korean chicken. They really should've shared one plate; each had a nice hefty portion. Chicken was so frickn crunchy and perfectly seasoned with their sauce. Mac was somewhat grainy from the potatoes, but still another 5 star dish. Sorry, my pic just doesn't do the KGC justice. Why 4 stars then? They seemed to be out of a good chunk of their menu. And most importantly, I'm a simple person and the first impression goes far. I don't want to sound picky, but it's a pet peeve of mines when I walk into a place AND ITS EMPTY, and the workers can't even say hello. I just don't get it. Maybe they were super busy with phone orders (although we got eye contact) and didn't realize the unwelcoming tone when we got the "I'll be with you in a minute" from the kitchen prep area, but that's my piece with hopes that it makes a difference for the better of the business. Upon grabbing my food after the 20 minute wait, the guy seemed to have cheered up a slight bit, just to add. Can't change the first impression tho. Anyways!! Go check em, go check em, go!

    "Pipeline plate" w/ garlic chicken and shoyu chicken
    Rod U.

    "What's going on foodie ohana?" Have you ever binge watched something because you wanted to see / hear something outrageously funny (roulade being pronounced roo-la-dae, "use-to-to", "taste-ta-tid good", "dranken", saying in Hawaii we call it o-ka-zoo-ya with the emphasis on the zoo because it's different from Japan), and along the way picked up some knowledge? That's what prompted the visit. 1. Outstanding old school ahi katsu. Thick cuts of ahi marinated in miso, coated with panko and fried mid well before being doused in a sweetened ginger, garlic, soy sauce. Umami supercharged goodness. 2. Solid garlic chicken. Boneless thighs sat in flour for a while to get the perfect crisp coating flash dipped in a sweet soy, garlic, cayenne, green onion sauce. The skin still crisp even 20 minutes later. All is not perfect. The boiled shoyu chicken is extremely sweet and being sat on a bed of chow funn, alters the taste of the noodles. The cone sushi, too dense and wet. Portions are HUGE. Prices fair. Good value for the money. Friendly local service. Take out only. Check yelp (they update their hours daily if there is a change) and/or call ahead to be sure they are open. Sometimes, even through tears of laughter, you find a worthy recommendation. Going to eat Japanese shabu shabu at a Chinese hotpot resto... ROFL.

    Boneless Korean Garlic Chicken
    Janice L.

    Was out with vertigo and I was hungry. Right after work the hubby came across this place and was intrigued and had heard about from our son-in-law so he tried them out and it is one we will keep in our top collections! So ONOLICIOUS! I had the shoyu teriyaki chicken was really yummy and not sweet at all, if anyone who knows me I don't care for teriyaki flavor but this soothed my taste buds (thumbs up)! The hubby had their Pipeline plate with Korean garlic chicken, my Boi had the regular plate and it was really good to. So if you in Waipahu, go check them out, you'll be back for more! Mahalo and we'll stop by again to try your pastele and chili.

    Ahi Katsu
    Steve T.

    Actually a pretty good place, good food for and good portions for the price. Only reason for one less stars is the wait times, think was a little over 20 maybe 30min wait for our 2 plates. The past few days they been getting slammed so it's understandable. While I'm ok with waiting others may not especially if short lunch hrs. So it's better to call it in. On with the food...2 plates that was shared and left overs for dinner. Ahi katsu plate. Good filet of ahi, good well outside nice crispy and still very moist inside. Most other places will overcook and be very dry. Light katsu style sauce all over. I usually prefer the mayo unagi/teri sauce style but was actually good this way to. Food company Kailua has their sauce this way as well. Like the potato mac most places don't take time on the sides and just throw macaroni and mayo salt call it good. Like that here they put potatoes and others things to change it up Pipeline Plate... 2 chickens was Fried and Shoyu, 1 cone sushi, 1 ume musubi, with chow fun underneath. Chicken was good and crisp nice flavor little dry on some pieces but better than red and raw. Shoyu chicken was OK not overly sweet but did have some redness inside by the bone which I dislike. I know it's fully cooked and safe but just a taste I dislike. Chow fun was ok, and cone sushi was OK as well not overly sweet. Overall those 2 plates are probably the 2 best sellers. Great portions and great for grab and head to the beach etc. They are inside the same complex as the old Highway Inn. Like that they cleaned up this complex as it used to be a little run down and filled with homeless everywhere.

    Ahi Katsu, Shoyu Chicken, and Açaí Bowl
    JessicaLynn R.

    Decided to give this place a try and I was pretty impressed. We decided to try the ahi katsu, shoyu chicken, and the Açaí bowl. Shoyu chicken and açaí bowl was okay, but the ahi katsu was one of the best I have ever had, so crunchy on the outside and so juicy on the inside. The Ahi Katsu was the star of the show!! Ahi katsu 5 stars (the best of the best) Shoyu chicken 3.5 stars (shoyu chicken like any other shoyu chicken) Açaí bowl 1.5 stars (açaí had a pasty taste and there was too much going on)

    Lorrie G.

    I had the Korean Garlic chicken. It's so tasty, delicious. My friend had the pastels rice and i tasted it. Really tasty, little spicy. overall the food is delicious the atmosphere a few tables and chairs. Drinks are all canned and bottle there's no fountain drinks. The owners are Shawn and Barry, very nice guys. It's a fairly new local spot, opened in March 2018 . They're same owners of (20years) Pupukea Grill Lunch Wagon, can find their lunch wagon across sharks cove. So whether you there or in waipahu come check these guys out. Today I had the Ahi Katsu. Omg it's true, reviews are on point. This is a first and honestly I didn't think I would like it so much. It's so crispy delicious and moist all in one bite. The sauce they put on the Katsu compliments it,even yummier

    Eileen U.

    This place is simply amazing! I've been here a bunch of times, and I finally wanted to make a proper review. This place has local plate lunches served in good portions, I feel that it makes it worth the drive to Waipahu. The shopping center it's located in is newly renovated, with a new parking lot and lots of nice plants. I got the Pipeline Plate with shoyu teri chicken and boneless Korean garlic chicken as my meat. It also comes with ume musubi, chow fun and cone sushi. I highly suggest that you buy a side of their mac (macaroni) salad to make it complete. They also have different desserts in their showcase that changes every so often. When I went, they had a creamy coconut cake which came in a huge square piece almost the whole size of the container! It reminded me of a coconut tres leches cake. I ate the whole thing! The owner Shawn is one of the nicest people I've ever met! You can tell he's really cares about his customers and we small talked for a bit. Follow their page on Instagram @pupukeagrindzxlocalkinelures

    Korean garlic chicken
    Pili S.

    Was recommended by a friend. Asked the cashier what is the most ordered dish. He said ahí Katsu And Korean garlic chicken. I opted for the Korean garlic chicken with tossed salad. Hey it makes me feel like I made a healthy choice! It was divine! Will be back to try the other stuff on the menu and will update!

    Inside
    Tawnya H.

    Surprisingly dropped in a not-so-upscale neighborhood. At first I was skeptical, but after discovering the atmosphere inside was more small family owned business, emulating the north-shore plate lunches; I was hooked. My husband claimed the Mac-potato was some of the best he had ever had!

    Açai bowl. Much better than all the others I've tried.  They adapt to low glycemic diets which we appreciated

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    6 months ago

    Mean shoyu chicken and mean garlic chicken. Staff was cool. Nice little plate lunch spot to jam.

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    7 months ago

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    2 months ago

    This is the 3rd time we tried to eat here, only to find it was closed again! No notice on the website, unbelievable. Never again!

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    1 year ago

    The food is amazing! One of my favorite places to eat. The My Korean chicken is fabulous!!

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    3 years ago

    Great Food. Been there 2 times both times the food was great. Ahi katsu fist time and pipeline plate the second time. Will be back more.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Pupukea Grindz

    Anyone know the hours of operation?

    10am-7pm Tuesdays - Saturdays Sundays - Mondays closed

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - Pupukea Grindz

    My boyfriend loves the ahi katsu and the shoyu chicken is the best I've ever had (and I'm super picky)!!!!

    Mentioned in 35 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Westside Dive & Tackle - Picking up Wes' new gun

    Westside Dive & Tackle

    4.2(74 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    KAYDENZE is the man! Love this shop! Always helps out! Thanks for setting up my bf pathosread more

    When it was time to upgrade my short fins and diving mask that I literally found on the beach -…read moreWestside Dive & Tackle was the spot I decided to go to. I walked into a few other surf and snorkel spots but they mostly carried short fins. I went with the Leaderfins which are the most affordable carbon fins. The fins do come separately from the foot pocket, so I also got their forza foot pockets. They do offer a service where they put together your fins and foot pockets but only certain people are trained on that, so I did have to pick it up just a few days later- and that service is $30. I also got a pair of diving socks to go with my fins. They have different sizes, thicknesses, and cuts (high vs low). I also got a new diving mask and snorkel. The best thing about going to a dive shop is the ability to try things on and Westside Dive has so many different options. Being able to put on the foot pockets with the diving socks or even just trying on a few different masks to find the one that best fits your face is why it's better to come in person than buying online. The service was also super friendly. I was making some big purchases, so I wanted to make sure that each component was exactly right and the staff here was helpful and overall super chill. We talked story for a bit, exchanged where we like to go diving and even some fish recipes. If you're looking for diving gear, support local and check out Westside Dive!

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    Westside Dive & Tackle - My instructor Max and me  finished my dives for my Open Water Diver license

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    Byrna Less Lethal Leeward - Selection of launchers

    Byrna Less Lethal Leeward

    5.0(12 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    I'm so glad my husband found this place and got me in contact with the ow er Huey. He's not only…read moresuper friendly but extremely knowledgeable about the products he carries. I got a compact launcher for my birthday as a gift from my husband, then took it to Huey's store so he could teach and show me how to safely handle and use my Byrna. That's right, he can show you because he has indoor shooting lanes. I'm super excited to share this product with more moms like me who want to feel a little bit safer when we're home alone or out and about. The world is a crazy place, so having something like a Byrna is not far-fetched or "extra" to be doing. I feel safer walking having it with me when I'm alone, and my husband feels less anxious about me going out and about without him. If you get a chance to visit and have questions answered, and even try it out, absolutely do it. He's right here in Waipahu and trust you'll leave with one if you don't have one already. I did a review of my Byrna on my IG if anybody wants to see a demo: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTcJxFQDviW/?igsh=b2RqZW9va2ViMjBn

    I want to thank Huy at Byrna Less Leeward for the time spent educating us about your products…read more Your patience in answering our many questions truly put our minds at ease, and we appreciated the opportunity to train in your shop. We now feel much more confident in our ability to protect ourselves - especially knowing my daughter is as well. I highly recommend visiting Byrna Less Leeward for all your Byrna needs - excellent customer service!

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    BIKEFACTORY - Outside

    BIKEFACTORY

    3.9(118 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    I was really nervous about going into the Bike Factory today because of reading all the reviews. I…read moreknow nothing about bikes but I was hoping to get some knowledge before jumping in and buying bicycles for my kids. Walked in the door, and surprised when I wasn't ignored. Even if the greeting was behind the desk, that was still nice that someone acknowledged my existence. Then, out comes someone different. His name was Alex and he was so nice and friendly. He told me all about the differences between bikes and what I should look for when choosing the right bike for my kids. Told me the interesting fact about why girl bike frames used to be different and now it doesn't really matter. Just incredibly patient and he never made me feel like I was an inconvenience or a waste of time because I wasn't looking to buy... right now. Alex was extremely knowledgeable and his ability to make me feel comfortable in a setting that I wasn't, was a pleasant surprise. He told me all the things that the bike factory could assist with if we did purchase a bike such as changing the tires, brake pads, etc. which even if we are not avid bikers, was still great information. I would hope that if and when I go back again, I get Alex to help out. He was awesome.

    I'm not one to come on yelp to give bad reviews, but this was just a terrible experience. Sorry…read moreabout it. Bike factory has the worst customer service and on top of that Stacyc is rip offs! Long story short, but we bought 4 brand new Stacyc bikes for my children for Christmas, go to plug in the batteries to charge my son's 18 inch bike which cost me mind you $1800. The battery was not working. So I couldn't even give my son his Christmas gift on Christmas because the battery was not charging. I had to wait for after Christmas until they opened the following day to go and replace the battery and they still wanted me to place it under warranty, which that would've taken weeks to get replaced and if I hadn't give. my opinion on it that I just bought the bike. This is not my fault that the battery does not work and I want a battery today. They are responsible for checking to make sure the battery and bike is working when we leave out the door cause they do have a policy once you buy the bike and leave the store. It is nonrefundable. So I said I will not leave without a brand new battery for my son's brand new bike that was supposed to be a Christmas gift so that was already terrible news to my son! Then my daughter's smaller 12 inch bike. They ride it through the dirt got some mud on it and it started to smoke and then they wanna claim that the mud had ruined the motor which I highly doubt it because the mud was just on the frame and the tires, but because of the mud on the bike, they wanna claim the mud has ruined the motor and want me to pay out-of-pocket which I had just purchased the bike for Christmas and it was still technically under the 90 day warranty! But they called and said it's not covered, right on Stacyc! Will never be buying that brand of bike probably any brand of Bike from Bike factory again! ! !

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    BIKEFACTORY - Mounted tube and tire.

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    Mounted tube and tire.

    Pupukea Grindz - seafood - Updated May 2026

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