Helena's Hawaiian Food

 

8

56

Emari H.

Gerlach, NV

Another one of my favorite restaurants in Hawaii.  If you like Hawaiian food, this is it.  There are other places (like Ono's) but this place clearly blows it out of the water!  This is definitely more for the locals, tucked away from the busy touristy areas.  Parking could be a PIA and it's always busy.  Just walk in and put your name down and wait outside.  The ladies sometimes looks mean or mad but they will serve you awesome food in a minute so be patient!  My last spread consisted of Poi, Lomi Salmon, Kalua Pig, Pipikaula (short ribs), Squid Luau (to die for!), Opihi/Poke combo, rice, & haupia.  I would have had more if I had two stomachs...  I haven't had opihi for a long, long time and it was soooo good!  I've had laulau and other poke too and they are always good...better than anyone else's on the island.  If you want the real thing, this is it!

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Elite '08

23

62

Geraldine C.

San Diego, CA

The BEST, MOST AUTHETIC Hawaiian food I have ever experienced in my entire lifetime! If I could have every meal during my stay in Hawaii, I would have, but they are closed at odd times.  

I've been to Ono's and I wasnt really blown away. I didn't get what the big deal was and why there was such a long ass wait.  Then I went to Helenas and I swear I thought I died and went to hawaiian food heaven.  This is seriously where the locals go to get their Hawaiian food fix.  

Its located in an inauspicious shopping center that you might even drive past it.  Its a small little eatery where you order your food at the cash register and then seat yourself.  Right away they give you onion and seasalt, and haupia.  Everything was delicious and reasonably priced. Unlike most people, I enjoy poi.  I dont know what it is about this place but the poi tasted soooo good here, or rather, it complemented ALL the dishes soooo perfectly.  It was like the poi made the dish even better!  I never  understood why poi even exists in Hawaiian food  until I had a meal at Helena's Hawaiian Food.  

The best thing is that this place is not a tourist trap!  This place is the real deal folks!!

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51

39

Hideki K.

New York, NY

Helena's is The Best Hawaiian Restaurant I've Been To !

Skip Ono's and go to Helena's.  I highly recommend the Spare Ribs and Butterfish (any style).  Guess there's a reason why Helen and her restaurant have been around since 1946.

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9

39

Mary M.

Honolulu, HI

Sadly, Helena passed away recently. I remember going into the restaurant and she would be working the register. She was really old, but it seemed like any time I went - she was working. It was great to see here there.

I went to grab lunch here recently and the food here is STILL AMAZING. Really, there isn't a better Hawaiian Food place on the entire island. Man, the pipikaula is just "broke da mouth" good - I HAVE to get a large order of this every time. I love the lau lau and the kalua pig and cabbage.

Oh, God, I wish I ould o there now.

Ono's Hawaiian food is okay - but Helena's is truly the best. People - she won a BEARD AWARD!!!

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3

3

Wayne L.

Yonkers, NY

This place is extremely tasty.  I ordered the Kaula pork which goes perfectly with the poi, the squid luau, pipikaula short ribs.  The short ribs were so tasty!  There were moist and almost crispy, with a kick you in your mouth amazing flavor.  My mouth waters just thinking about it.  I throughly enjoyed the food, and will make it one of my must stop by spots whenever I come through.

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11

53

Rey T.

San Francisco, CA

(Although I noticed that there was another review of Helena's on Yelp, I added to this one because it retains the 5 star average Helena's obviously deserves!)

This should be your first stop upon arriving in Honolulu! Hawaiian food. It seems like a broad classification of food to have just one champion. But believe me, once you come eat here...there's no need to go anywhere else.

Helena's has been doing this for more than 20 years. She knows just how to make this kind of food and  make it to its perfection.

But who cares about the food's history? What is the food actually like? The best thing about Helena's good food is that you can order it in very small bowls. You can order so many small bowls of food, that even though they are cheap unto themselves, you'll end up spending more than you realize just because you will want to taste everything.

The dishes I've tried before and recommend are listed above. Helena's was my first experience of squid luau. The dish is comprised of taro (luau) leaves stewed in coconut milk, onions and diced squid. The flavor is mildly sweet and has a great coconut milk flavor to it, without it having to remind you of any Thai food you've ever had. It's completely Hawaiian. However, the best part of this dish, is how tender each small diced piece of squid is. Never rubbery or tough, you wouldn't know what it was if no one told you. It's not gamey or "seafood-y". Spoon this on warm, fluffy rice and go to town.

The Kalua pig is just the right kind of smoky. It is oh-so-tender and subtle in its salty pork flavor. The Pork Laulau is also pork, but a different animal altogether. Wrapped this time, in taro leaves, the pork comes in chunk form, with a small piece of pork fat and/or butterfish to give it moisture and flavor. I always pour a little bit of Chili Pepper Water on it to give it a bite of contrasting flavor.

Pipikaula is beef, salted, then smoked or very, very slow roasted and either grilled or baked so that the meat is charred, but tender and the fat is grilled to a smoky, addicting texture. At once, both crispy and chewy. It's just heaven, ok?

I'm told that their Poi can be hit-and-miss. Some people prefer it really cold and tart, others, warmer and blander. All you really have to do is remember not to eat it by itself and you'll be fine. Throw the Kalua pig in here, like my niece does, or the Lomi Salmon, like I do. You won't even wonder where the rice is.

The Haupia here is top-notch. Creamy and full-bodied, it never tastes too sweet or watered-down. Texture-wise, if Almond Jello is a patent-leather Mary Jane, Helena's Haupia is a velvet slipper. You'll find yourself asking for another helping...not that your stomach could handle it.

Hi, Helena! Spak you latahs!

UPDATE: Helen Chock passed away on July 5th. Her grandson Craig now runs the place, but the food (which he was cooking the whole time with her guidance, tastes just as great. We will miss you Helen.)

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Elite '08

894

1906

Kristina R.

San Francisco, CA

Closed on the weekend?  Boo!  

This  is the real stuff, folks.  Don't come here expecting some California infused Hawaiian food, 'cause you 'ain't gonna get it here.  One big hint...ORDER THE POI.

Yes, poi, that gelatinous, puce colored substance that you are dared to eat at Luau's by your drunk friends. Most of you will wonder what on Earth this stuff is good for except maybe masonry.  

But you'll understand the need for poi when you eat here.  If you order the kalua pig, be aware of your cholesterol level first.  It is so salty, you're mouth will involuntarily pucker.  Thus, the need for poi...get it now?  Poi is like the rice of Hawaii.  And don't get me wrong...I actually LIKE poi.  It's just that I have to be in the mood for it, which is rarely.  

Hmmm...this review sounds negative but it's not...Helena's is AUTHENTIC Hawaiian food to the max.  Eat here and you'll definitely feel like a local, although you won't be one (you'll stick out like a sore thumb when you walk in.)  Order lots of dishes and try them all (with the poi.)  The haupia is soooo good, too.  

Also, don't expect a charming, quaint little local restaurant.  It's definitely low on atmosphere.  Divey may be the made-up word I'm looking for.  But go anyway, 'cuz Helena's is the bomb!

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5

30

tafkam c.

Irvine, CA

last time i went back to hawaii my folks picked me up at the airport and took me straight to Helena's. food here is excellent, real hawaiian food, i think a bit better than Ono's on Kapahulu and i think possibly a little cheaper in price. yes, squid luau is good and i don't think there's any other place in the area offering it that i can think of. just try it and see what you think! if you're a tourist, shouldn't you get out of the Waikiki area and explore a bit more anyway?

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55

54

winnie c.

San Francisco, CA

the chef, craig katsuyoshi, was one of my best friends in high school. and his grandma, who started the restaurant, is a very cool lady that let us drive her cadillac coup d'ville around town in those days.

this place garners great reviews from just about everyone. here's what the honolulu advertiser says about HHF in their 2005-2006 annual food awards write-up:

"This family-owned shop in Kalihi earned a James Beard Award as a regional treasure. Octogenarian Helen Chock is at the cash register rather than the stove now, but her grandson Craig Katsuyoshi continues the tradition of smoking pipikaula-style spareribs above the cooktop. Even mid-afternoon on a weekday and despite the fact that it's bigger than many such restaurants, with about 12 tables, this place is buzzing, the constantly ringing phone unanswered and a huddle of people at the door jealously waiting to pounce. Hard-to-find 'opihi (raw limpets) are on the menu. Chock's trademark short ribs arrive hot from the frying pan, cut into bite-size pieces, molasses colored and glistening with fat; chewy but delicious. Fried butterfish collar with stew gravy and kalua pork and cabbage here are the kinds of dishes that put you right back in Grandma's kitchen. The food here is just plain good."

if you go here, send craig my aloha.

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5

9

Eric M.

Milpitas, CA

authentic hawaiian food at its best.  definitely one of the better local spots to eat.  theres a lot to select from the menu so if youre not sure what to get, just go with menu d.  if you like select items seperately, i would have to recommend the pipikaula short ribs, some of the best i've had.  for the adventurous, the squid luau is a must try.  doesnt look very appetizing at first, but very tasty.  and of course, you cant go wrong with the butterfish.

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