Tip Top Motel Cafe & Bakery

This is an institution on Kauai. You have to visit here and if you do visit, it's because you know.

This is a totally unassuming place parking is hard to come by so be prepared even though they do have a lot it is always packed.

Here on a random weekday for a fairly late breakfast, but got lucky with the parking, and there was no line for once and were quickly seated.

The menu is very diverse with lots of different options so if your substitution kind of person, there are options, just read the menu. They have a lot of classics and local menu items that are a must try.

Don't expect anything fancy and the service is pretty straightforward.

Once you've been here and eaten here, you will understand why they've been around for decades!!!

Fast and efficient. Definitely a great place to try to blend in with the locals. Oxtail soup had plenty of oxtail but I found the broth too salty for my taste. Breakfast plates are solid but I didn't find them anything particularly special.

A great local diner experience. My favorite things were the "to go" Lillikoi cheesecake and banana cream pie they sell at the front from a outside vendor.

One of our favorite breakfast places on Kauai. Came here originally for breakfast fried rice, but everything is amazing.

Love the service here too- feels like just post WWII Hawaii to me.

Nothing beats a bowl of oxtail soup right when you land in Hawaii, and this place delivered just that.

The oxtail soup was delicious. It's always a must try for my partner and I when we go to Hawaii and I love all the variations of oxtail soups from different restaurants.

I loved that this was a no frills restaurant. Literally super casual. There was even a motel right on top of this restaurant.

Everyone was easy going and all the locals at here.

I also ordered mixed plate (the name escapes me), but it included Portuguese sausage, tempura, steak, and chicken. I highly recommend trying that dish if you go to Tip Top.

A place packed with so much memories and great food. Tip top is place to be when in the area for some great tasting food made with a lot of aloha. There is honestly nothing not good on this menu. Atmosphere here is very ohana style and food comes out the same. Very friendly staff and service here is great.

After reading countless reviews about this place, I knew I had to come for the oxtail soup. My boyfriend and I arrived early for breakfast and the place was already filled. Luckily, we were seated right away, no line for us! By the time we had left, there was a small wait to be seated.

The efficiency of this place was great! They come around with carts to offer you water or coffee along with any utensils. We ordered the corn beef hash patties and a small bowl of oxtail soup. The small was still huge for me. They included a lot of oxtail which was really surprising! The broth itself was so good, an ideal comfort dish for me. I love glass noodles, so this really hit the spot.

My boyfriend's corn beef hash was also tasty! He wasn't expecting them to be in a patty form so that was surprising, but he still enjoyed it. They load up the plates, so you're guaranteed to be left full.

Overall, I'd definitely come back here. Too bad I was traveling and couldn't come back again. I'm still dreaming of the soup!! Definitely stop by, it's a wonderful spot!

When in Hawaii... Eat where the locals eat! The best food comes from the " hole in the wall" restaurants. Definitely a must try! You have to be an adventurous eater to try the oxtail soup, delicious and hearty. The breakfast is amazing! You can get your choice of spam, Portuguese sausage, or bacon. My all time favorite that brought me back here two more times, was Grandpa Ota's made from scratch pancakes, the fried rice with eggs, and Portuguese sausage. It gets soooo busy that the waitresses try their best to keep up but definitely friendly. I would give my arm to go back lol. Check them out, you will not be disappointed!

As a (self-proclaimed) saimin connoisseur, I can confidently say this is my favorite won ton min. The pictures says it all. Generous toppings, thick-cut pork, savory but not too rich broth, unlimited spicy mustard and shoyu, chewy noodles and a large portion, it's everything I'm looking for in a bowl of saimin. The service is quick and efficient and I love the comfy booths.

My family and I made our first stop on the island at Tip Top for some yummy food. Parking was easy right up front and there's a lot of space inside. It was a bit busy but the service was exceptional and the aunties wasted no time getting us seated and fed.

The oxtail soup and shrimp plate are my favorites and would have been a perfect hangover cure. The loco moco put my uncle in a food coma. Very happy overall and will come back!

Great food, super fast service. A little hard to find spot in Kauai.. will definitely go back for the Oxtaill soup.