Fried Butterfish Collar

1/3/2025

If I could only eat at one place during my trip to Oahu it would have to be Helena's. It is ALWAYS my first stop after picking up my rental car because I need to make sure I get at least 1 meal here during my vacation. It's been a favorite for years! There will probably be a wait to get a table and parking will be difficult during prime time but it's so worth the struggle. LOL

Pipikaula (deep fried short ribs), kalua pig, fried butterfish collar, and chicken long rice are my go tos. Always served piping hot! Like cannot eat pipikaula with your hands hot LOL.  Some people say they're too salty but I think coz they didn't eat it with rice. Must dip the sliced white onion in the pink Hawaiian sea salt and eat with the pipikaula. Mouth waters just thinking about it. The kalua pig is tender, juicy, and slightly smoky. Good with a bit of the chili pepper water on the table or with the pink Hawaiian sea salt. If you're lucky enough to order the fried butterfish collar, you must do it. They always sell out. Then the chicken long rice. This is sooo soothing to eat. It's like chicken broth with ginger essence. No need to worry about biting into ginger so don't worry about that. Oh and that white jiggly cube served with the sliced raw onions ... that's haupia. A coconut dessert. LOL. Yeah odd to serve with the onions but the onion doesn't affect the flavor so just try it.

They expanded the restaurant a few years back thankfully. Used to be half as big. The restaurant is always clean and they bus the tables fast. Servers are always friendly and are more than willing to give you suggestions on what or how much to order. Last thing I should mention are the days/hours of operation ... make sure you check before heading over. It's a small family run business so they are not open 7 days a week and they do close to take vacations.

10/22/2024

Whenever we visit Hawaii, My wife has to visit Helena's for a taste of home.

Laulau are what she misses most, while I enjoy the Pipikaula Beef
Shortribs, which I think are the best on the island!  Have those with a side of Poi or white rice.

For a place that can sometimes have lines out the door, the service is amazingly fast.

Parking is very sparse.  Susan recommends the #2 bus if you are coming from Waikiki.

Other winners on their menu are the Fried Butterfish (Black Cod) Collars if you can get them, Squid Luau, Chicken Long Rice and Kalua Pork.

Watch out for the Chili Peppa Watta on the table as it is spicier than most I have had on the island!

VIDEO:
youtu.be/cYYl72_ee0o

9/22/2024

We've been going to Helena's Hawaiian Food for years. Every trip to Hawaii we HAVE to eat here at least once. The food is always on point, the pipikaila ribs, luau squid, chicken long rice and fried butterfish collar are the staple orders (oh, and fruit punch .). Before I get into the food in more detail, please note, parking can be tight. The small lot in front can accommodate probably 8 cars. The business at the end of the building is no longer there so we parked on the side of the building (probably 3 spots available there to park.). There is a tablet on a pedestal outside the front door where you would enter your info to be on the waiting list. I really like this feature. We waited less than 10 minutes. Note, if you arrive when they open, they appear to be more crowded with that early morning rush. We got there probably after 1pm so it wasn't too crowded.
This is a very casual place. Don't get me wrong, as when I say "casual" it means very comfortable to me, like I'm in a relatives house. This means the atmosphere, and more importantly, the employees make me feel at home. They are very helpful in describing the menu if you're new to Helena's so they will walk you through the items they serve.  Depending on your background, they will attempt to find a comin dish you may be familiar with to help describe their local or Hawaiian food they offer (saying the "Luau squid" is like the Filipino "la'ing" as an example.)
Note if you're there early and first in the restaurant, you may notice that the meat is being air cured in the kitchen. This is part of the pipikaula preparation process so don't be alarmed. The pipikaula ribs are then pan fried to order AND THEY ARE DELICIOUS!!!  As with everything nowadays, the prices have gone up, so a large order of pipikaula ribs is $34 so we only ordered two large orders . If the price is a shock to you, let me say that the value is absolutely still there.  These are the BEST pipikaula ribs without a doubt and you need to try them!  The pipikaula ribs are served with slice onions and seat salt. I dip my ribs in the salt and chase the bite with the onions - delicious!!!  The luau squid is so deep in flavor, it's hard to describe how wholesome each bite is. The chicken long rice was slightly different with a larger noodle being used but still very good. The butterfish collar is so unctuous that we find it as a great addition to the table.  We order two scoops of rice but always need to order two more scoops .
As I said, you need to make a stop at Helena's Hawaiian Food for the food, the ambiance and the people.  When I visit Hawaii, what I look for as far as "Hawaiian" culture, I myself do not find in Waikiki (where I stay when visiting) but I find it in places like Helena's Hawaiian Food. Mahalo to the family that is continuing the restaurant as it's always a highlight of our visit!

9/16/2024

Coming to Honolulu for the 1st time this was my 1st meal in Hawaii. We got our order for pick up just as it was about to close and picked up an order of Fried Butterfish Collar, Haupia & a Large Order of Pipikaula Short Ribs. This food was amazing im addicted to those ribs and the Macaroni Salad was delicious. So glade I tried this.

8/12/2024

*Helena's Hawaiian Food: best authentic local Hawaiian food, a long time iconic HIW that will help you feel more connected to the island. Most dishes come in a small bowl, so you can try multiple items, reasonable prices. The Ribs are most famous, get the delicious squid luau, kalua pork, tripe, and fried butterfish (if a group). You will love the staff, I think they became a family and treat everyone so well. Bonus, they give you Haupia dessert at the end - so delicious. 1240 N. School St. 4.4/4.2K, 10am-7:30pm 808-845-8044 Cash only, No reservations, you park and wait outside, Tues-Frid only! Closed Sat, Sun, Mon, 2$.

8/11/2024

Helena's may not look like much on the outside, but it does offer up some really amazing Hawaiian foods on the inside.

Helena's has a small parking lot in the front that is a little tricky to go in and out of. If you're lucky, you might be able to snag a spot. There is also some street parking available, as well.

On Tuesday afternoon there was already a line. You can sign up on their waitlist outside using the iPad. Our estimated wait time was roughly 30 minutes.

We decided to try some of the classics that everyone recommends:
1) Short ribs - these were flavorful and tender. We ordered the small size which only came with 4 short ribs. We were a little surprised given it's price point how small of a portion was got, but then again, with inflation and the cost of meat, who is actually surprised these days?
2) Kalua pork - so tender and surprisingly full of flavor. You can amp up the flavor by using the sauce on the table as well. The server recommended that we eat it with the raw white onions dipped in salt. We were skeptical at first but then tried it and were so surprised at how delicious the combination was! Definitely try it out.
3) Fried butterfish collar - by far our favorite recommendation. The butterfly fish is fried so crispy, yet does not feel oily whatsoever. The fish is tender and flaky on the inside. Truly the best fried fish I've had.

We also got a side of macaroni salad which was standard.

They gave us two pieces of haupia at the end for dessert free of charge. It's silky and full of coconut flavor, and was a nice way to cut through some of the more tender and fatty foods we were eating.

Once you're done you pay at the front. This was a great first meal to start our trip to Oahu and we would recommend it!

7/26/2024

Food: 5 mics
Service : These go to 11
Ambiance: 4 mics

This may be a biased review....I love Helena's.  It is my first stop getting off the plane.  I found this place in 2003.  I went here weekly.  

Food: The short ribs are to die for.  The lau Lau is tender and flavorful.  The fried butterfish collar was tender, juicy and tasty!  

Service: 5 Mics of Aloha. Aloha all the way.  Even though it's busy, they keep your food coming and they keep the aloha coming.  

Ambiance:  It's a lot bigger since they expanded a while back.  They can accolade the large crowds coming in.  

Be patient with the service.  The food is amazing. If you are in Hawaii.  Go grind and get try everything.

7/18/2024

Omg so delicious. Service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean.

We were clueless on what to order but wanted to try everything so the server gave us her recs and everything was soooo delish!

Literally just go with a group of at least 4 adults and order everything on the menu. That's what we did! Lol

Short ribs YUM
Mac salad YUM
Laulau YUM
Kalua pig and cabbage YUM
Luah Squid YUM
Lomi Salmon YUM
Fried butterfish YUM
Fried Ahi YUM
Haupia (dessert) YUM

We went on a Wednesday early dinner around 5:30pm and was able to find parking right away and not wait too long!

6/19/2024

I was wondering what's the best local food in Honolulu ? Been to food trucks , supermarket Poki bowls, but nothing really hit the taste buds! Wait! So my local friends brought me to Helena's Hawaiian restaurant! Simple menu, nothing fancy interior decoration but the food is so delicious !!!! Must have are the Laulau, pipikaula, and kaula pig..... all mouth watering. Forgot to try Fried butterfish collar ..... aiya....

6/18/2024

Hands down the best Hawaiian food in the world. Their aloha for preparing the food and serving the food is obvious from the minute u enter until u leave. I have never tasted anything better. U have to get the ribs. Out of this world. I always get poi and lomi salmon, fried butterfish and squid luau. I wld consider washing the dishes in this establishment just to b around people who look like they are so proud of their product. I have been coming to this restaurant since 1960.

6/6/2024

Wanted to try the food here based on the yelp reviews AND they were right.  Don't be put off by the location.  It's a small restaurant with limited parking, but believe me, find parking and the food does not disappoint.  We had the Kalua Pig & Cabbage, Beef Stew, Short Ribs, Mac Salad, and Fried Butterfish Collar.  All the food was so good. This was actually the best kalua pig I've ever tried. The short ribs tasted well marinated and were tender.  The beef stew had a tomato like soup flavor with very tender beef and potatoes.  Hubby is a big mac salad guy and said this was the best hawaiian mac salad he's had.  The Fried butterfish was really crispy on the outside and the fish was so tender and flaky.  For a family of 5 we ordered 2 servings of each dish, including rice.  The service was great.  Ask for suggestion on what they recommend and also portions.  The portions are NOT huge, so be aware when ordering.  We plan on visiting again.

5/1/2024

Every time I visit Oahu, I gotta come here for some simple, good Hawaiian food. A little shop, a bit of a drive from Waikiki, but it's good. You gotta get here early or prepare for a wait since they are only open from Tues - Friday. Friendly service, but very tight parking.
Kalua pig - good
kalua pig w/ cabbage - good
comp onions w/ aloe salt to dip - good
comp haupia - great way to end the meal
fried butterfish collar - simply delicious. Do call ahead to make sure they have it, there have been quite a few occasions they don't have it available.
beef stew - ok
luau squid - not bad
short ribs - ok
macaroni salad - good

3/30/2024

I dropped by Helena's out of curiosity as they are famous for having the most authentic Hawaiian food. I would rate them a 3.5/5, but this is due to the minimal exposure I've had to "Hawaiian" cuisine, and just compared it to foods I've tried in general.

This place gets pretty busy, and they don't take reservations, but you can join the waitlist on Yelp, and sit on the long bench outside while you wait for a table. I waited approximately 20 mins on a weekday afternoon.

You're required to scan a QR code to access the menu here, and a server will come take your order when you're ready. I ordered the fried butterfish collar, macaroni salad, and a large order of the short ribs. The coconut jelly was complimentary. The butterfish was super delicious if you like fish, and don't mind a bit of the fish smell (my partner who doesn't usually like seafood thought it smelled too fishy). The short ribs were well flavoured, but super dry  and a bit overpriced for the portion given. Finally the macaroni salad was average.

The staff here were all very friendly and efficient, as both the food and bill came quickly (note that you're required to go up to the counter to pay). The restaurant has a casual atmosphere, with a very simple set up, and there's limited free parking out front.

3/23/2024

This place is a gem! My husband and I have tried this place 3 times and it always gives us so much joy each time! Highlights for us are the short rib, fried butterfish collar, and the haupia!

3/8/2024

Heard this was a must try in Honolulu. It seems like a staple for locals! Absolutely delicious food. We ordered a few things, small sizes, and it was perfect. ribs, mac salad,  kalua pork, poi, chicken long rice, fried butterfish collar We weren't too full after. The service was excellent, everyone was so nice and quick. Cute mom and pop place that I'd definitely recommend if you ever want real local food in Honolulu. Plus, it's pretty inexpensive.

3/7/2024

Honestly, I don't get the hype. We ordered the laulaus, ribs, fried butterfish, poke with opihi, poi, and rice. The portions were tiny and the flavors underwhelming. IMO, the best thing was the butterfish and the complementary haupia.
Service was very friendly but the food would not want me to come back.

3/3/2024

This was a nice way to start our vacation with authentic Hawaiian food. My family and I ordered Menu D. We also ordered a side of rice, macaroni, and short ribs. The short ribs reminded me of beef jerky and was too tough for my liking. We might've just gotten a bad batch. My favorite dish was the Fried Butterfish Collar. The fish was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The portions are super small. Even the plates you eat off of are small.

The price point was a bit of a shock. When I've been here previously I always loved how affordable the food was. However this time around it was $130 which seemed too pricy for me. But I understand times are changing and need to be paid fairly.

I've removed stars because of the texture of the short ribs we had and the price.

2/29/2024

Ahhhhhh... that feeling after a wonderful meal. I finally got to try Helena on a day they were open. I took the bus down and arrived at 10:05am. I believe I was the 3rd table to sit. It was full by the time I left 30 mins later.
Everyone that works there is super friendly and helpful. Food came out hot and fast. They have their system on point. So don't be worried if there is a line, cuz it'll be fast.
I ordered the short ribs after watching the video on how it was made. I loved the smokiness with just a bite of crispiness. My pieces were cooked perfectly and had just enough fat. I loved adding the chili water and soy to each bite. It's pricey for 4 pieces (small) but, worth it.
Next was the fried butterfish collar. Once again it was perfectly cooked and fresh. the fish was soft and smooth on the inside. I'm glad I ordered it instead of the pig.
I only wanted to try 2 dishes so I can have more food at my next stop. I'm gonna try everything next time I'm back. I did finish the meal with their tasty mac salad. The raw onions with chili water dipped in the sal mixture was a great palette shock.

2/18/2024

Finally got here...and I must say...
it lives up to the hype.  
Homey decor inside despite the divey appearance of the exterior. The space is warm and welcoming.
Service is Aloha personified.
We basically let our server order for us and she nailed it.
I will be dreaming of pipikaula short ribs for many days to come.
Fried butterfish collar...is a revelation. Simple perfection.
Kalua Pig...the best I've ever tasted.
I fully understand now why Helena's is considered to be the best Hawaiian food on the island....because it is.

10/30/2023

Arrived a few minutes after opening and the food and the vibes were great! Tripe stew was so tasty and everything else was just as delicious! The only thing i would skip is the long rice chicken. The staff were friendly and attentive! Our server was AM C.

* Large Short Ribs $31 x2
* Long Rice Chicken $13.50 x2
* Tripe Stew $7.25 x2 so good i had to order another bowl!
* Fried Butterfish Collar $8.75 x2
* Haupia is a Hawaiian dessert that is often referred to as "coconut pudding." The key ingredient in Haupia is coconut milk and it's pronounced as: "how-p-ahh."