Lomi Salmon

1/4/2025

This is always my family's go to for Hawaiian food on the island. This was my first time eating at the restaurant and not getting to go. The service was great. We were seated a lot faster than I expected and our orders came out quick! The restaurant itself is super casual. You get seated, your food is served, then you head to the counter to pay. Must gets everytime I go are the beef short ribs, kalua pork, and lomi lomi salmon. The beef short ribs are thick and savory. I believe we got a large to share. We thought it wouldn't be enough but we got just the right amount of food for how hungry we were. We got a small kalua pork with cabbage which was so tender and perfectly seasoned as well. My favorite way to eat everything at Halenas is with some chili water and a little bit of lomi lomi salmon with each bite. This time I tried the chicken long rice which was amazing. I mainly got this dish because the restaurant was freezing cold when we got seated so it was perfect for a little bit of soup. The broth was very flavorful and had a strong ginger taste. One of the best bites at Halenas is their haupia. It's the perfect consistency and the perfect end to any Hawaiian meal. If you come to Hawaii please please come try their short ribs and haupia at the very least. You will not regret it!

12/26/2024

Helena's is a must go to when in Oahu. Every time I visit I need to get Helena's. I just pour the chili pepper water over everything and also order it to-go because it is so good. I would say just order everything and share. Then order some more and keep eating haha! My favorites are the lomi lomi salmon, chicken long rice, and butter fish. They do it better than most places. There is usually always a wait but it goes fast and the workers are super fast and friendly. They seat big groups well and love the welcoming feel inside the restaurant. Always love coming back!

10/30/2024

When I think of true Hawaiian food, I think of Helena's. The food is straight up comfort food, homemade with love and the Aloha spirit. Keep this business thriving and always support the locals as this is their way of life! The service is super friendly, heartwarming, and they treat you like family with their older brothers and sisters, ensuring you're well fed before leaving.

We got the menu D option, and after eating away, I think you need at MINIMUM two scoops of rice per person because of the luau squid, Lomi lomi salmon, poi, and the short ribs- everything. You can't avoid not having rice here. It's a MUST! Let the food speak for itself, and like I said, all of it is made with the true Aloha spirit.

I'm glad they were able to expand their place so they can have more people and customers enjoy their food and sit down. I hope they'll be here for a long long time, thank you and I'll be coming back each time I visit Hawai'i.

10/4/2024

So by now we all know that Helena's Hawaiian Food is pretty much the top recommendation to go to for traditional, old school, authentic Hawaiian food. It's true, places that sorta look like your modest great aunt in the 90s cooked a family meal served in various bowls and plates from a Salvation Army are growing increasingly rare. Unfortunately, there are a few points that I think would prevent me from coming here again.

The parking is almost nonexistent. You should really bring a friend who can pick up a takeout order (if you drove on your own), and just do that. If for some reason you refuse to do that, then I hope you get excessively lucky. If you are thinking of taking a rideshare service to this place, I wouldn't do it because that's a really expensive meal, there's nothing in the area, and Helena's is not that cheap to begin with. Based on everything we ate (we had a variety from their set menu), I'd say nothing is really notable except the pipikaula shortribs, which definitely cost a pretty penny. And even then, I'd bet 9 out of 10 times you'd prefer eating galbi at a generic Korean place. Based on me marinating and cooking my own short ribs recently, I spent half as much as their listed price to make about 10 times the amount they gave me; I wish I was exaggerating, and yes my short ribs taste better.

Their set menu offers a combo of items, which was perfect for our first time here. We chose menu D, which has the most items and includes: kalua pig (cooked in underground oven, tastes like typical unsurprising pulled pork), lomi salmon (mostly pico de gallo tomato and onion pieces with flakes of cooked salmon here and there), pipikaula shortribs (like thick galbi but jerky-like and salty from the soy marinade), and luau squid (my second favorite item, as it's very interesting stewed taro leaves - basically like a well stewed creamy saag dish with bits of tender squid).

The set menus also come with a choice of poi (small or large portion) or rice. With all meals, they include haupia, raw onion slices, and salt if available. If you want chili pepper water for take-out (it seems they're already on the tables if you dine-in), you need to request it, which I did not do. The haupia tastes like delicious coconut jello, I did not eat the onions, and I did not need to use the salt on anything. If you don't know anything about poi, it basically tastes like gloopy glue, so order at your own risk. I couldn't eat more than a sample of ours, though I was given a tip to combine it with the lomi salmon. I had poi elsewhere and liked it there better; Helena's has a thicker consistency and super bland taste.

For the price, portions are small and you can rest well skipping this on your Hawaii trip. While I sound harsh in my criticism of Helena's, I don't regret trying it because it gave me perspective, and I did enjoy eating the pipikaula and luau squid. However, the value is just not there and I don't see myself wanting to return.

9/20/2024

I went here today with a co-worker and we shared menu C and side of Mac salad. Menu C came with their famous pipikaula ribs, Kalua pork, Lomi salmon, large poi and Haupia. I love combining Kalua pork and Lomi salmon with poi and put some shoyu and chilli peppah water on top. This place is legit and so good!

9/11/2024

This local spot offers homestyle hawaiian staples either a la carte or as a meal. The staff working here are nice and the food comes out fast. It is a family style place and there are 4 different options A-D. The meal is the way to go if you are new as you get a little of everything and sides. The main items are kalua pig, lomi salmon, and short rib. The butter fish is an extra item but they are sometimes sold out. It is really popular so get it if you can. The portions are not that big so you may need to order a la carte items as well. I will definitely be back for some of my favorites when I'm on that side of town.

9/6/2024

Helena's is HELLA good !

Food: I had Menu A and Menu B. Kalua pig is flavorful and not dry. The short ribs fall off the bone and marinated so well. The Lomi Salmon is paired with tomatoe salad which I find refreshing! Most importantly it comes with this delicious coconut dessert.

Service: The cashier was so friendly and she reminded me that the Lomi Salmon is raw which I have no problem with. The guy who gave us the take out gave us some friendly instructions of how to pair the onion with the short ribs. The food was all in a nice card board tray. No mess no fuzz !

Ambiance: Parking could be difficult and make sure you watch out for traffic. We had good luck finding a spot immediately.

7/21/2024

First time trying this place and love it. The pipikaula short ribs are a bit thick but no complaints there! We got their large poi, kalua pig and lau lau mixed plate with a side of lomi salmon and opihi which was fire. We'll be back in the future.

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!

7/6/2024

Helena's was recommended to me and I was told is a must go for traditional Hawaiian food. Parking is a pain here. We circled around the side streets and ended up parking a few streets over. Luckily there wasn't a wait when we came. We were seated immediately and the girl was so friendly and explained everything to us when we said it was our first time visiting. We ended up ordering the menu D to split between 2 people and added a side of macaroni salad. Food came out almost immediately after ordering which was very impressive.

Food wise, I was most impressed by the short ribs. It was so flavorful and had the perfect amount of fat. I was not a fan of the lomi salmon, squid, or poi. We actually didn't finish these 3 dishes. I feel their food is more on the saltier side. They give a plate of salt to dip the meat into but it was totally unnecessary because everything was already so flavorful.

The price was pretty steep for the small portions. We were still hungry when we left which gave me a good excuse to get some dessert.

Overall a pretty good experience to try some traditional Hawaiian food but I probably would not come back again.

7/1/2024

The outside is nondescript. The building that houses Helena's looks a bit old but don't let that deter you. Find parking, take a leap of faith and go through the door because what they offer you is a comprehensive experience of excellent, authentic Hawaiian food and hospitality.

They greet you enthusiastically as you enter and  seat you immediately. Because we were new to their setup, we abdicated all decision-making to them. They took one look at us and started naming dishes they intuited we would like. In minutes, they placed multiple dishes on our table. It all looked and smelled so yummy.

We got the poi, the beef short ribs pipikaula
style, the lomi salmon, the onions with salt, the fried fish, the macaroni salad, and the luau squid. Everything was so tasty and satisfying. You know everyone in your entire party loves the food when nobody is talking and everyone is busy reaching over and grabbing seconds and thirds. Let me tell you - we snarfed all that food down in minutes.

The squid was surprisingly good. It looked dark and mushy but I ladled it over my rice and I could not believe what my taste buds told me. I had to order more because I couldn't get enough of it. It was just incredible!

The star of the show was the short ribs. They aren't greasy but retained so much of the flavor. I think it's because the folks at Helena's hang them and allow the fat to drip off as it cooks. It's not chewy or tough at all. They've mastered the technique of finding a good balance between rendering a lot of the fat but retaining enough of it for flavor and tenderness.

This place was one of the biggest revelations about Honolulu and we plan on coming back to this restaurant to enjoy more meals here. Their hospitality and warmth are unmatched. And once you've had their food, you won't stop talking about it with each other. So unforgettable.

6/27/2024

I still dreaming about the short ribs here those are a must get! We got Menu D with poi and added long rice chicken and macaroni salad.

The portions of each item are small, especially for the price. We spent like $70 and were not full so that was disappointing. The short ribs and Kalua pork were the best, and we even ordered another order of the pork. The macaroni salad I would also get again for sure. The long rice chicken was good but would not get it again.

The lomi salmon and poi were really not for me but it was fun to try. They were out of the butterfish collar when we went but it's a popular item I would have liked to try.

We were actually able to get a table rather quickly for this very popular restaurant, around 6pm on a weekday. All of the staff was great and attentive.

The restaurant is very casual dining that feels like you're eating at a local joint.

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.

6/10/2024

This place was recommended by our driver and one of the employees at the ranch. Of course we had to check it out if it's recommended by the locals.
We do enjoy trying new things especially cuisines we can't get on the mainland. We told our server it was our first time and we wanted to try various things. She recommended option D from the menu. Lomi salmon, Kalua pig, short ribs, luau squid and rice. We also ordered the Mac salad. All very delicious. My husband enjoyed the ribs so much, he ordered another.
When they drop off your food, they ask if it's your first time. If it is, she explains what everything is and how to eat it. The meal also came with coconut jello and onions. The jello was dessert and it was so good.
Highly recommend this place. I can't wait to return to Honolulu and eat here again.

5/29/2024

Honestly a huge disappointment.  My family was very excited to try it after seeing the rave reviews, but the food turned out to be a huge letdown.

We got the kalua pork, short ribs, poi, and lomi salmon.  The kalua pork wasn't too bad; the texture was soft and it had a slightly smoked flavor.  The lomi salmon was okay, and it provided a good contrast to the heaviness of the meat and rice.  However, it wasn't very flavorful and I didn't pick up any salmon taste.  I'm personally not a poi fan, so I can't comment on that.  Lastly, the short ribs, which we were very excited for.  They had okay flavor, but their texture was downright horrible.  They were tough and chewy, and I even bent my fork trying to eat it!  The ribs also had large chunks of coagulated fat, which I definitely did not enjoy.

The price also strikes me as rip-off-y.  For the whole meal, the total was $70.  Keep in mind that the portions are quite small.  I forgot to take pictures, but if you think of banchans in Korean cuisine (that's right, the side dishes), that's about how large these dishes were.  Even the $30 ribs were only slightly bigger than the others.  Continuing with the Korean food comparison, they were about as big as two kalbi ribs.

I think this is, unfortunately, a tourist trap.  I wouldn't go here again.

5/25/2024

If you want some authentic Hawaiian food, Helena's is one of the best places you can go!

[Location]
Helena's has limited parking out front that is shared with other businesses. There seems to be some free street parking close by. I don't recall seeing a restroom inside. Modest exterior and interior--that's how you know the food speaks for itself.

[Service]
Every single person who works here radiates aloha without trying. You truly feel at home here, like you're at your aunty's home. If it's your first time visiting, don't be afraid to tell the server. I did and the waitress provided a little rundown of the menu.

[Food]
The pipikaula was my personal favorite. Delicious and generous portions. I loved the lau lau, kalua pork, mac salad and chili water. The lomi salmon was good with the heftier dishes. I'm not a big fan of coconut but the haupia was nice and refreshing. The onion slices dipped in Hawaiian salt was good too! You can order from one of the Menus (recommend for one person) or order Ala Carte.

5/1/2024

Absolutely some of the best Hawaiian food. I had the poi, kalua pig, pipikaula, lomi salmon, and rice. Everything was extremely flavorful and perfectly cooked. While the interior and exterior of the restaurant aren't much to look at, the restaurant is clean and the food makes up for this minor shortcoming. The staff are friendly, and super efficient in getting the orders out despite the usual 30+ minute wait to dine inside. If you're in a hurry (first of all, why you stay rushing Brah), you can get your order to go, which is usually much quicker than waiting for a table.

4/30/2024

Came here again because we wanted hawaiian food.  I'm glad to be pipikaula is still the same flavor however everything else wasn't that great. Husband ordered a kalua pig and chicken long rice combo with poi and it came with lomi, raw onion and haupia.  Tried a bite of the kalua pig and it lacked seasoning.  Lomi salmon had scales in it, it started to become annoying pulling it off my tongue. Chicken long rice was a tad watered down. Which ended up making it less like chicken long rice.  I passed on the haupia just by the look of it. And I was sad the poi was really sour.

The best thing on this table was pipikaula and fried ahi.

Service was great though!  Friendly and welcoming. I know what's my go to now day when ordering here.

4/16/2024

First time getting Helena's and it is solid! This place can get crowded but they have an easy online ordering system if you plan to take out.

I ordered:
Poi
Lau Lau
Lomi Salmon
Beef Stew
Mac Salad
And they threw in two pieces of Haupia

I thought it was all great! Their lomi salmon was so fresh and went perfectly with the lau lau that was extremely tender and not dry at all. Everything was good! Portion for the stew was a little small with just three pieces of beef and one carrot. Overall, would order from here again!

3/18/2024

It is sincerely good and a must for anyone wanting to sample Hawaiian food. This place is very low key, no frills and that's part of what makes it perfect. It's kind of like eating in someone's (very busy) home kitchen down to the friendly servers and mismatched dishes. Sign up for the waiting list on Yelp or on the tablet upon arrival (you can puruse the snack shop down the street while you wait).

I got "Menu C" plus the Laulau so I could try most of their specials. At about $40 it's not cheap, but it's a deceptively filling meal. I asked the server if the "Large Poi" was very big and she said no. If you are not a major poi fan, this serving is very big. :)

Laulau: Best I ever had! The taro leaves are perfectly tender and delicious with the pork and fish. It's so simple, but tasty and hearty.

Kalua Pig: Porky and lean with a bit of smoke. No complaints here!

Lomi Salmon: I had never had this before and thought it was a tomato salad at first. Tourists are dumb. Anyway, it was good though not my favorite and I was imagining it on a tortilla chip as if it was ceviche.

Pipikalua Short Ribs: Amazing. I thought, "yeah just some grilled short ribs" but this was far and away the star of the show. Thick and meaty with a beautiful mahogany color. It almost kind of cracks/pops when you bite through the roasted veneer into the tender juicy meat just below. It's hard to explain, but it's shockingly good and the texture is incredible. This alone is worth the price of admission.

Poi: This is a thick and tangy variety. It's a good compliment to the rich, salty meat. I opted for a large poi instead of rice, and honestly I probably should have gotten the smaller portion, but everyone should try it.

Haupia: Surprise dessert! They served these little rectangles of coconut pudding goodness. They are refreshing and not overly sweet, so that's a nice way to end a meal though I was stuffed!