Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ray's Café

    4.4 (968 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Ray's Café Photos

    Business Info

    RAY'S CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    More like Ray's Café

    Recommended Reviews - Ray's Café

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ono chicken combo
    Joy H.

    Such a cute place!! We were served right when it was cooked. I got the Ono and chicken combo. My friend got the ribeye with asparagus. The ribeye was soft and so tasty. The Ono was moist and flaky. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. This place is cash only

    Steak  and Lobster
    Neriza R.

    I love rays cafe . Friendly people and they give big portion and taste goood . Is one of my favorite restaurants..

    Grilled pork chops and mushrooms.
    Leland N.

    Even though this place is small and there's no ac it still was a nice place to eat. I ordered the grilled pork chops with mushrooms. I'm kind of skeptical about ordering grilled pork chops because I had some bad experiences with it being too hard or too chewy like I'm eating gum. But Rays one was prefect I was really surprised the only thing was the mushrooms was a little salty but other than that everything on my plate was yummy. Definitely plan on coming back here to try other food on the menu. They had some really friendly severs one of them actually told us some stories about back in the day and how much construction workers got paid it was real interesting to hear the stories.

    Today's order: rack of lamb and grilled salmon.
    Leona H.

    This little gem in Kalihi is our new favorite take out place. We ordered the rack of lamb and the grilled salmon. They give such large portions that hubby and I split the two plates for lunch AND dinner. If you get the salmon, ask for two tartar sauces. One wasn't enough. The two plates cost $57. Remember they do not accept cash as payment. We also order their prime rib and lobster plates for special (or not) occasions. It would probably cost double to have this dish in a steak house. The prime rib is tender and the lobsters are huge! Usually my husband pulls up and sits in the car at the curb while I dash in. I hope the owner doesn't retire any time soon.

    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

    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!

    Massive 24oz Prime rib $29- unbeatable.
    Russel M.

    Been going to Rays for 15 years. It started with the fried chicken then fish and shrimp. Nowadays it's all about the Prime Rib. 24 oz for $29- is amazing. Don't forget Cash Only!

    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.

    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

    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!

    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.

    Mahi-mahi plate broke the mouth

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Neriza R.
    3
    49
    116

    5 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Leona H.
    20
    22
    31

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 3
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Stan M.
    152
    427
    1437

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 3

    1 year ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 5
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joey S.
    214
    1
    23

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erin M.
    0
    25
    11

    30 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wanna L.
    26
    303
    154

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Dub C.
    88
    240
    925

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marty M.
    29
    52
    72

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 3
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joel D.
    744
    233
    12774

    2 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 25

    Ray's Café Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ray's Café

    When do they serve prime ribs?

    Check their menu posting on Instagram each day ... rayescafehonolulu

    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!!!

    View All 21 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for American 13,593 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Street Eats

    Street Eats

    4.9
    (17 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    8/23/25 This review is for the Street Eats Pearlridge Farmer's Market location. First time there…read moreand had heard about it from Hawaii News Now Cheap Eats segment. They are there every Saturday and are the first vendor on the left as you walk in the main entrance. I had a great experience. Top notch customer service. The owner is very personable and friendly. They have a small menu of only 7 food items compared to their main location in Chinatown with a larger variety menu. This menu seems to be their popular items and according to the owner, the pork belly is their best seller. Even with just these items, I still had a hard time deciding what I wanted because it all looked so good. They not only have the menu posted but a picture of each menu item. I like when businesses do that, you know what you're getting. I opted for the Double Fried Chicken. It comes with 2 pieces of boneless chicken thighs (about 3 oz each), 2 scoops of white rice, cole slaw (about 1/2 cup) & a mild sauce. The chicken was wonderful! It was lightly breaded, not over cooked but fried just right to give the chicken a good crispiness. The thigh meat was still moist and not dry from over frying. Seasoning was just right, not overly seasoned, yet still tasty. Good 'ole fried chicken as fried chicken should be. The only problem I had with the chicken was there wasn't enough. Wish there were 3 pieces. The cole slaw was surprisingly good and I'm not a big fan of cole slaw. This one I liked. It was well seasoned, not tangy, and a lite creaminess with good crunch. The sauce that came with the chicken was also good. It tasted like ketchup with a kick. Keep in mind this is not fast food and usually everything is cooked to order with food trucks. The owner did advise me the wait would be 10 - 15 minutes. I was ok with that because then I knew I was definitely getting it hot and fresh. Overall, the food was great matched with first-rate customer service. It's a place worth a return visit. Support local!

    Street Eats is the newest addition to the Maunakea Marketplace Food Court. They are next to Lime…read moreand you just need to look for the "blue food truck" there. They have been there about 2 months. Dine in is possible if you're able to find a seat but I opted for takeout. The food court tables and chairs were relatively clean but they were quite full around lunch so takeout was a better option. Their food stall was very clean and everything looked new. They offer a different weekly special that they announce on their IG. This is a husband and wife operation with the husband in front as cashier and the wife in the kitchen. The husband was friendly and they didn't take long to get my order out. You can see the care they take to prepare each order. After looking at the menu, I ordered their Cheeseburger Add Deluxe and Bacon. There wasn't an explanation or photos of what Add Deluxe is so I just went for it. It turns out that the Add Deluxe is the veggies (tomato, lettuce and onions). Since I'm kinda a fatty, I also ordered a Chicken Sandwich and side of Fries (extra crispy) to try. The chicken comes tossed in either a BBQ or Buffalo sauce. If you're not a sauce fan, it can be plain (option I chose). I was able to get both sauces on the side to try. Both the burger and chicken sandwich were good. They fried the chicken well as it wasn't oily and moist inside. The fries were still crunchy when I got home and it was salted perfectly. Great option for good food in Maunakea Marketplace Food Court! 4.5 stars

    Photos
    Inside the food court!
    Inside the food court!
    Coleslaw
    Coleslaw
    Boneless fried chicken with bomb sauce!

    See all

    Boneless fried chicken with bomb sauce!
    Fatboys

    Fatboys

    3.6
    (24 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Today after dropping hubs off for his eye surgery by 10:15 am I thought: glory be! Possibly 4…read morehours of freedom. However by the time noon rolled along I was getting hungry. The first place I tried was closed. I decided to eat close to Dole Cannery. Fortunately I found a space right in front for picking hubs up later so I took it. Long story short, I decided to check out the food court at Dole Cannery. I saw an elderly man eating solo and seemed his choice was yummy. I asked him Did you get it from Fat Boys? He said Hamburger Steak mini. I was intrigued cuz hubs always gets that any place we end up 90% of the time. I don't think I've ever ordered hamburger steak. Today would be the day to give it a try. Oh my! The gravy on the rice was perfect. The hamburger steak was soft and delicious- the secret must be in their gravy. Literally broke da mout'. I'd definitely order this for myself if we are in the area. I miss having Fat boys by Costco in Waipio but now I found them.

    Breakfast in Kalihi, Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. While searching my Yelp app for "Breakfast", Fatboys popped up! Located at Dole Cannery, on the Ground Level, there's a lot of shared seating in the spacious Food Court. Service was very helpful and friendly! I was happy that my plate included two side dishes! They were labeled - and the cashier pointed out each item. I selected cucumber kimchi and choi sum. One of the fishes of the day was Ono. I chose it because it's not very common. I took the pan-fried preparation that came with Garlic ponzu butter dipping sauce... yum! I even poured that sauce on my rice! I look forward to returning!

    Photos
    Outside
    Outside
    Furikake shrimp plate
    Furikake shrimp plate
    As of 1.24.26

    See all

    As of 1.24.26
    Southern Love

    Southern Love

    4.7
    (396 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    I had read about Southern Love in an issue of Honolulu magazine. I had wanted to try them for a…read morewhile, and since I was flying solo, I thought, why not give myself a little southern love....LOL! Finding them can be a little tricky. But once you do, there are four parking spots right in front. If you can't get one of those, it's street parking. The owners are really nice! The wife told me to sit wherever I wanted and I chose outside on the patio. I ordered Da Meat Combo plate. A well-seasoned pork chop. An old school fried chicken leg you'd think your grandma made for you, so good! And two tender delicious barbecue ribs! The cornbread was great! They were out of collard greens, so I opted for the mac n cheese. Me: Which one, potato salad or barbecue beans? She: The potato salad is more tangy, we add a little mustard, and the beans are more on the sweet side... Me: I'll take both, please. This rounded out my meal! I also had the fresh squeezed lemonade. And for dessert, a real hard choice, the peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. This was a great way to end my meal. Such a wonder place to come to! Looking forward to returning! Mahalo Southern Love!

    Catfish was cooked to perfection!…read more Fast friendly service. I sat at the bar and had a catfish po' boy sandwich served with chips and a sweet tea. I wanted to try dessert but was too full. Will I return? Yes! Next time for the dinner menu and peach cobbler. Mahalo!

    Photos
    Interior décor
    Interior décor
    Catfish Po' Boy Sandwich and Catfish N' Grits
    Catfish Po' Boy Sandwich and Catfish N' Grits
    AMAZING Chicken Biscuits & Gravy $17 Brunch Menu Only

    See all

    AMAZING Chicken Biscuits & Gravy $17 Brunch Menu Only

    Ray's Café - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...