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    Ray's Café

    4.5 (962 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Ray's Café Photos

    Business Info

    RAY'S CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Ray's Café

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    Corned beef hash and eggs.
    Mikey H.

    I belong to this local food group and people raved about the prime rib here. I would've gotten it, because I saw a woman eating it for breakfast, and she couldn't finish it all. I had lunch plans later so too heavy, but it sure looked good! This is an old school, down to earth cafe, with a cozy dining room. A friendly good morning and he told me to have a seat. Lots to choose from and I decided on the corned beef hash and eggs. It came with two scoops of rice and buttered toast. This really hit the spot! The men working here are really nice! Please keep in mind, it's cash only. Parking is a challenge. It's also in an area that's locals heavy, so no ack high maka maka...LOL! But once you're in, get ready for some real local kine cookin!

    Dolan T.

    Rays cafe is an old school restaurant with the best food really first time I went there , side street parking, never asked if they had bathroom not wheelchair accessible but but you can take out had so much people coming to pick up the take out food so you know they good, service great The food was amazing I going back there. Restraunt is mellow and clean with a old school style vibe if you never been there before you need to go and see what I talking about

    Interior of Ray's Cafe.
    Dan A.

    I think I've been to this longtime ( but it may have been too long or a false memory ) local eatery on North School Street. Ray's Cafe is known for their prime rib. So, that is what I got for takeaway. Open daily, from 600a to 500p...I went for the Prime Rib Plate at $28+ ...a decent price...no general excise tax tacked on. Thiccc ( with three c's ) slice...done medium as requested. It came with two scoops of rice, au jus ( aurite ), and a choice between greens or mac salad. If you are hungry, this meal will satisfy. Excellent signature dish. Well seasoned. Parking: street metered stalls are nearby and in front of the cafe. Old school interior...service...so old school, they only accept cash.

    Hamburger Steak plate with an added bonus from owner, a piece of his delicious fried chicken.
    Emma C.

    The owner/Felix always friendly and welcoming...a very generous human...I ordered 3 Ray's Special plate consisting of home made, tasty hamburger steak and 2 pcs fried chicken, rice and mac salad & 1 hamburger steak plate, which Felix, as a bonus, added a pc of fried chicken to the plate. He didn't charge for it! I picked up a to go order and when I entered the little cafe, every seat was occupied...great local/family style ambiance!

    Where the magic happens
    debi k.

    Ok 1st time at Ray's cafe - parking very limited so we did takeout instead! They will do phone order which is something to consider- it's cash only but at these price it's not a dealbreaker! Seating is limited to 6 tables so it's another good reason for takeout! We got the prime rib for $28.95 w/ rice - green salad and horseradish! Can't wait to get home to dig into it! The cut is generous for the 2 of us to share ! The wait for food is fast considering only Uncle and one other are taking orders and doing kitchen work. The prime rib was perfectly Med-rare loved our meal! Got to get back for the fried chicken and other specials! It was easy to find but parking is very limited but the folks are nice and the food great! So maybe uber to the restaurant and not worry about out parking! The food is worth it prices are awesome

    Mahi-mahi plate broke the mouth
    Joey S.

    Awesome whole in the wall in kalihi , Hawaii And I strongly recommend it to anyone that is on a budget friendly meal

    Stan M.

    Amazing Food at a Hidden Gem! I was in Hawaii for my birthday and came across Ray's Cafe on Yelp -- the reviews were glowing, so my wife and I decided to check it out. We grabbed an Uber from the Hilton Hawaiian Village (it's too far to walk) and headed over. The hotel front desk guy even confirmed what I'd read: Uncle Ray is known for his Prime Rib, and the rib-eye and fried chicken are also must-tries. When we arrived, it was definitely a hole-in-the-wall spot, maybe 18 seats inside, but don't let that fool you. This place is all about incredible food and hospitality. I ordered the Prime Rib ($27.75), and it was cooked to perfection -- tender, flavorful, and the crust was absolutely delicious. The cut was about 1-2 inches thick and came with two scoops of rice and a choice of mac salad or green salad (I went with the mac salad). The best part? When I finished my rice, Uncle Ray himself asked if I wanted more! Who does that anymore? He truly wants to make sure you leave full and happy. My wife went big and ordered the Rib-Eye and Lobster Tail combo ($56.75). What she got was incredible: a perfectly cooked rib-eye (medium, just as she likes it) and not one, but two large lobster tails, cooked to perfection and served with melted butter and lemon. She also had two scoops of rice and a scoop of mac salad. Everything was amazing -- the portions, the quality, the service. I was so impressed that I'm telling everyone: this is the spot. It's absolutely worth the Uber ride to get there. Next time we're in Hawaii, we'll be back for sure. Mahalo, Uncle Ray!

    Don G.

    Dine in the Local way, at Ray's Cafe! Parking is a challenge but the reward is Ray's local home cooking! Today my inner carnivore cravings had me focused on Ray's Special Prime Rib plate! This local hole in the wall cafe has a consistent menu of delicious food with portions that satisfy the biggest appetites! Ray's slow cooked Prime Rib is da meal deal of DEALS! This melt in your mouth, perfectly cooked prime rib comes with 2 scoops rice and a scoop of Mac Salad. Bonus! Slice of Custard Pie to make this epic meal complete! Nothing fancy here but plenty of old school Aloha flowing from Rays attentive servers that make you feel at home. CASH ONLY! Five Fabulous Stars for Authentic Small Local Business, Homemade Delicious Grinds, Great Value, Service with Aloha and Generous Portions!

    $29 Prime Rib - medium rare, horse radish given upon request.  Got exactly what we were craving.  Perfect.  As of Dec 2025.
    Teri C.

    Sunday lunch hunger. Husband was craving Prime Rib. Called around a couple places near Waipahu... sold out or prices are high. Drove all the way to Kalihi for Ray's Cafe... open every day and they always have prime rib. Found street parking and modest Cafe was filled with diners and lots of take-out. Lots of regulars. Ordered their prime rib and opakapaka (another diner recommended the pork chop for next time). Our meals included a small salad. Food came out timely and was delicious... everything cooked perfectly. Cravings filled and left super satisfied... headed home for a nice Sunday afternoon nap. Thanks, Uncle Felix! Your cafe continues to provide tasty food at reasonable prices... giving me the biggest bang for my buck. Check out his Facebook page for weekly menu specials and pricing.

    Prime rib, steak and shrimp, fried chix plates. Crazy goodness
    John N.

    Don't let the location or appearance of this place fool you. It's probably one of best places in Kalihi for great food. You will find the owner Mr. Ray to be one of the most humble business owners you will ever meet. The prime rib plate and the steak and shrimp 10/10. The fried chicken, better than Zippy's. Probably top 3 on this island. Very moist, huge, flavourful to the bone. Great employees as well. Support this place and give it a try. You will definitely make it ur regular eating place. Aloha

    Butterfish
    Chad K.

    The food was not to shabby very nice portions for the price. The only thing I thought needed some help was the tartar sauce to butterfish ratio maybe having a little bit more would have been great but all in all it was a good experience. Keep in mind they do only accept cash so keep the credit card in the car haha. Service was great parking is a bit tough to find In this part of town and the inside atmosphere was quite homey. Very great people mahalo to the crew here at rays cafe. Next time I'll come to try their prime rib & lobster tail, I've heard a lot of good things about it.

    Specials on 12/2/25
    Wanna L.

    $28.95 for a large, well seasoned, beautifully cooked prime rib meal. Small fresh green salad, 2 scoops of rice and a cup of au jus. This is such a deal! Cash only here. I wanted to try so many other things. Check Ray's Cafe instagram for his daily specials. He had a prime rib and snow crab combo for $55.95. Steak and Shrimp scampi sounds so good right now. The pork chops with mushroom gravy looked delicious. I've only ever had prime rib and fried chicken. In fact, I didn't know they had fries so I never even had a burger! It might look like a dive, but Ray provides the fancy vanity fair napkins, real dishware and cutlery (not paper plates). Lots of condiments on the table to choose from. It has been well over 10 years since my last time here. The furniture in the seating area is all newer. I used the restroom for the first time in my life (better than a beach park). The gentlemen taking the orders was efficient and friendly. I was bummed he asked where I was from, thinking we were Californians. I grew up off School Street and Gulick a few blocks away.

    5 wing chicken plate
    Sabrina S.

    If you're daring to go to a sketch neighborhood hot spot, this place is for you. The owner Ray is the sweetest guy ever. He's been running this place for decades and has a variety of menu items that constantly change. We wanted to go there for their ox tail stew but sadly it wasn't on the menu that day. I ordered the fried chicken wings instead and it ranked pretty high up there on my standards. It was made to order so it was hot and fresh and crispy throughout. The best part is that you get the whole wing and not some drums or flats. My family ordered their grilled butterfish which they raved about. Warning! This is a cash only place so bring cash. Very reasonable priced menu items. People were ordering the prime rib and lobster and the prime rib and crab legs. Big portions great prices. They're side dishes is nothing to write home about. All dishes come with rice and a choice of Mac salad or green salad. This is a very small place and it gets busy with the locals so if you don't mind waiting, check this place out.

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    Ray's Café Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ray's Café

    4 of us retirees want to sit in for brunch. Is 9am good time?

    Earlier the "BETTER" especially when there's "Prime Rib / Lobster or King Crab Legs" ~ CALL AHEAD to make sure and to check the daily menu ~ Felix never serves the same food week to week so it's worth checking.

    Is Ray Cafe fried chicken thighs good? Meaning seasoned well and crunchy?

    Yes it is crunchy, juicy and seasoned well. Similiar to Z...y's.

    Do they still sell the whole prime rib and how much?

    They still sell the whole prime rib, however I forgot for how much. I think it was roughly $250-275

    It's 5:40 PM, and the door is closed. Open sign is turned off, are they taking a break or are they done for the day?

    Possibly could be done for the day (at times hours varies) best to call before heading down to Rays cafe imo it's the best thing to do

    Yelp shows they don't accept credit cards, are the really cash only or do they except other forms, like PayPal or Venmo?

    Yup. Cash only. Many of the specials are less than $20 but have huge portions!

    Do they serve prime rib every day?

    No. Mostly on Fridays, and subsequent days until he runs out. Best thing to do is check his daily menu specials that morning on IG or FB.

    Do they offer take out?

    Yes they do! The place is really small and unless you want to wait for a seat, your best option is to take out.

    Do Ray delivery?

    No they do not have a delivery service last I checked.

    Does anyone know if Ray's will be offering whole prime rib for Christmas?

    Is Ray's closed? Haven't answered phone in more then two weeks.…

    Heard he was sick, though not covid. They're open again.

    Where is parking?

    Street parking only, which can be very difficult to find in that area. Suggest you go with another person and be dropped off. Also, phone in your order so you don't have to wait long.

    How often do they have prime rib?

    Friday-Monday. Just ate there last week. Enjoy!

    Anyone know why Ray's was closed today 5/22/19???!!!

    Did you try calling the Restaurant?? Maybe it was Felix = you know "Ray's Cafe" owner, Happy Birthday?? Lol! Nah I don't know, but it's always good to just call them, right. Aloha!

    What days you guys serve prime rib?

    For sure * FRIDAYS and SATURDAYS, Sundays possible * go get emmm

    Did the former owner retire?

    Same owner. Felix his real name had his restaurant in Downtown Honolulu in the day but relocated to King/Gulick in Kalihi.

    I saw they are on Bitesquad now, but I don't see the specials on the Bitesquad menu. Does anyone know how to put a special on your Bitesquad order?

    Not to sure about this one

    Anyone know their Monday night specials?

    If you have Instagram. Follow his page at @rayscafehonolulu where he posts his everyday daily specials.

    Is this the same Ray's Cafe that used to be located on smith street in chinatown ? Im talking like back in the 90's..

    Same one and Felix is still in the kitchen! Bento, ham steak and eggs and of course Prime Rib still winnahs!!!

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    The Cutlery - Porterhouse For Two

    The Cutlery

    4.2(429 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    First time eating here and I would definitely come back for the food. They are know for their prime…read morerib but I chose to try their ribeye. It does have a more char kind of flavor but I enjoyed it. It was also cooked just right! Sides were good too! Brussels sprouts were super crispy and delicious! Reservation was at 5 pm which is when they open for dinner and we were seated inside. There's also outdoor seating if that's your preference. There's also parking but it's a small parking lot. It can get cold inside so bring a jacket if you get cold easily like me. I did not use the restroom so I can't speak on that. Staff were very friendly and they were very attentive and our cups were always filled. Their dessert menu is small but what we had (banana bread pudding) was tasty! All in all, I would come back to try more of their sides and other entrees.

    Not just dog friendly - DOG WELCOMING. As new puppy…read moreparents, I was getting antsy to dine out but we couldn't leave the puppy alone. I found this spot and dropped in randomly. Not only did they offer a beat-up chair that he could sit directly on, they gave him ICE water and his own chopped-up plate of steak! It looked so good my husband wanted to sneak a bite, and it was enough for a large dog, so my puppy made a 'doggy bag' and ate it over a week! We knew this was the spot to have his 1st birthday party! Booked a table, and again he got his doggy chair, water, and steak! The family had a great selection of Steaks and Pastas (I loved the Oxtail pasta) and an extensive scotch list. Parking was easy. I'd say to plan ahead and order as soon as you sit down because the food did take quite a long time.

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    Stripsteak

    Stripsteak

    4.1(1.3k reviews)
    5.1 miWaikiki
    $$$$

    We were so pleased to spend our anniversary at this great restaurant! Our server, Rinaldo, was so…read morekind and made us feel quite special. The food was outstanding! We ordered custom cocktails. They had a lovely, signed anniversary card for us. Complimentary dessert. Just amazing. 0/-0

    Celebrated a birthday and a promotion at STRIPSTEAK Waikiki and honestly... it couldn't have been a…read moremore perfect night. The ambiance is dark, moody, and intimate--exactly what you want for a special occasion--but what really stood out was the live music. It added such a beautiful energy to the space and broke things up in the best way without taking away from the vibe. Every single dish we ordered was impeccable. Not one miss. The drinks were also perfectly balanced--crafted with intention, not just poured--and it definitely showed. Service? Top-tier. Our water glasses were never empty, and the entire staff was incredibly warm and welcoming. Huge shoutout to our server, Tori, who was absolutely amazing. She knew the menu front to back--ingredients, preparation, flavor profiles--and guided us with the best recommendations. You can tell she genuinely cares about the experience. And the finale... the 24-carat gold dessert. Easily the best way to end the night--such a fun, elevated touch that made the whole experience feel even more special. Pro tip: If you're driving, park at International Market Place and make sure to get your parking validated. Overall, an unforgettable experience. Perfect for celebrations or just treating yourself to something exceptional.

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    Ray's Café - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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