Reviews of Helena's Hawaiian Food (Restaurant)

Thao Ngo

Flavours here are homely and satisfying. We had menu d and added the butter fish. The taro paste is definitely an acquired taste. I loved the raw onion with chili salt addition. Service can be a bit abrupt. It's a tourist recommendation so can be quite busy.

Shae Hansen

This was the first restaurant we ate at when we arrived for our vacation. Service was good if a little pushy. We didn't realize we had some picky eaters, but I have to say the food wasn't that great except the kalua pork. Everything else was only okay and it was pretty expensive for the area.

Jason Cosner

Nice local type place. Simple comfort foods

Thomas Obungen

An icon of Hawaiian food. If you're visiting Oahu, Helena's should be your first stop off the plane because you will want to make a point to visit it on the way back to the airport. Order a menu combo and get the best of everything. Pipikaula ribs done the old fashioned way transcend any regulation for the basis that they're just that awesome. Bring cash (and plenty) because that's all they take.

Marlon Liddell

I believe this is the best authentic local island food you can eat. Met Grandma years ago before she passed and have eaten here 3 times. Poi, butter fish, lome lome salmon, squid luau and just WOW. The only thing that was Bad at Helenas was one of the servers, who I can tell is not found of mainlanders, wasn't Cordial or fast at filling water glasses at all. (5 otherwise) Please eat here when you're in Hawaii and I promise you will come every time you land. If you plan on going to Hawaii,EVER, I would love to help and save you tons of money!!! "Customers Matter "

Carson Huang

Really good hawaiin food! Their ribs are delicious.

SoloKrabs

Food is ok (we don't like Poi), but service was terrible. They threw food on the the table for you without telling you what's it. We don't recommend this restaurant for big groups.

Luxe Hawaii

So ono! Parking is kinda crazy with so few spaces but worth it when you start eating. Staff is very friendly. Definitely coming back soon.

Yara Campana

First time trying Hawaiian food and I loved it. The staff is as amazing as the food. I will definitely go back there.

Jeffrey Wong

The food was very good.

Heidi H

The pork was the best I had in Honolulu!

Bialy Maven

You know the place is authentic when it is packed with the locals. We had poi, short ribs, luau squid, poke w/opihi, and haupia. Ribs and poke are the best. First time we tried opihi and it was a pleasant surprise. Luau squid was good but we had to dig deep to find actual squid. Haupia has the the perfect amount of sweetness. Poi is okay, a bit bitter for us. Price is a bit steep for the amount of food.There was a line but the wait wasn't too bad. Finding parking is a challenge so avoid lunchtime rush if possible.

Thao Ngo

Flavours here are homely and satisfying. We had menu d and added the butter fish. The taro paste is definitely an acquired taste. I loved the raw onion with chili salt addition. Service can be a bit abrupt. It's a tourist recommendation so can be quite busy.

Léo Duarte

Food is good, but not good for the price

Krys M Gatmaitan

Often times, we hear about a restaurant that is hyped to the point that we have to try it, only to find out that the offerings are just ok. Helena's is definitely not one of them. On our recent visit to the island, we were only able to eat here on the last day of our trip due to our schedule, but boy do we regret not having more chances to enjoy this place. We got menu D, which includes a selection of their most popular offerings (kalua pig, short ribs, luau squid, lomi salmon, haupia, and choice of either poi or rice), along with the long rice chicken and mac salad. It sounds like a lot of food, but for two adults and a toddler, we quickly found out that we could easily put down two of everything. In fact, let's just say we did just that because the food was that good. What surprised me the most was how amazing the short ribs were. They were perfectly tender and moist, and tasted like they should cost more than what we paid. The haupia was a such a great way to finish off our meal, so much that we tried to replicate it at home. Lastly, the service was wonderful. Our servers were always smiling and willing to go the extra mile for us. They truly made us feel welcome and happy to be there. A couple of tips from one first timer to another: make sure to bring enough cash as they do NOT accept cards. Also, try to get there as soon as they open to snatch up a parking spot in front of the restaurant. There are only a couple spots and they go fast.

Glen Fa'avale Tuala

Amazing food experience for the whole family!! Best short ribs in the world...loved it!

Jacquelin Shon

Ordered takeout for 1 small order (2 pieces) of short ribs because I heard they were good. $10 and a fly flew out the plate of wrapped short ribs. Ribs were good, but I've had better.

Shiloh Ice

Delicious food. Good service. Busy restaurant. But the place is a bit old. The best Hawaiian food I have tried so far. Will definitely go back.

linda standifer

Really nice workers and great local food

Dana Ferguson

This place has amazing Hawaiian food. Very authentic, and delish! I give them only four stars because the service wasn't as amazing as the food. I mean this is a busy place.. but when we asked questions about the food, the lady went and got a book with pictures and basically threw it at us. The pictures didn't answer our questions! If you want good food you should def go here! If you want good service, don't expect it! Seems they're too busy to care about the service they give you.

Pascal Marquis

So, the food was good, not my favorite but I did like to try the local dishes. The staff very friendly and the place was clean. I would had ad a star if they had take credit card. This ppace isbcash only.

Leslie Hamada

Very good traditional Hawaiian food and good service. Go early to find parking. Very small parking lot.

Arlen Balanon

Pepekaula was awesome and people there were very friendly. I will tell all friends to go there for the Pepekaula.

Dalton Hashimoto

The Food here is awesome sauce all day because its easy to find right a long the street on school street and is known for the pipikaula short ribs and the kalua pork!! check it out and they are open from 10am to 7pm. Mahalo!

Carrie F

For any MSG-sensitive or allergic people, just be aware Helena's uses MSG per woman who answered the phone today...I asked which dishes they put MSG in and she replied, "in everything." I used to love the food there but can't tolerate MSG (headache, irritability/loss of temper, insomnia, etc.) so won't be eating there anymore.

Ikaikakealoha Honda

Super popular with the locals. Good food. If you're doing take out bring a friend to wait in the car, the parking is terrible.

Candy Corrales

If you want to try a real Hawaiian meal this place would be the best restaurant we ate from , it is a bit different than our regular food but we wanted to try real Hawaiin food

Ned K

Must try . True authentic food .

Mr. 3vino

It was recommended as a must visit place! I thought the food was over priced and over rated... You could hardly see the Salmon in the small cup of onion and tomato and the squid seemed more like smashed greens. The short ribs were very fatty... The place was clean and staff was very friendly...

Carine Cheng

No wonder why this place is so popular. Food is good...staffs are very nice. Worth the wait.

Krista Holmes

We were looking for some good authentic Hawaiian Food. Service was excellent, and the food was delicious! Definitely order the short ribs. It was well worth our out of the way trip. Just remember to bring cash as they don't take credit cards.

Frances Holland

Where do I start? Everything was DELICIOUS. I can't even begin to explain how flavorful, authentic and homemade everything tasted. Employees were great at making recommendations. We got the short ribs, kale pork, Laulau (soooo tender and juicy, I'm tearing just thinking about it). The Haupia was delicious too. If you what authentic Hawaiian food, look no further. This place will give you an even greater appreciation of REAL Hawaiian food and culture

Court Hardy

Dude, Shaka! The best short ribs I've ever had. Service is quick. If you're a mainlander, ask for the poi with some sugar. You gotta try it if you want to experience Hawaii, you stinking howli.

1SunniBee

The food was delicious! Definitely a must try if you want to experience some traditional Hawaiian dishes.

ALEX GARCIA

This food was really good for the short ribs were the best must visit when coming to Honolulu Hawaii pricey always busy but worth it

FRANK JOHNSON

I had to try authentic Hawaiian dishes so I drove several miles to try out this place. The service was good even though there was some waiting. I had the squid, poi, white rice, cabbage and Kuala pig, and beef. The beef and kuala pig were very delicious but we didn't like the poi, it's an acquired taste, the squid was okay but not great. Overall we did enjoy the dishes and the prices were reasonable.

Rafael Medina

Not bad. Chicken luau very good ribs good. Nothing to rave about though?

Dana Henderson

Helena's Hawaiian Food is by far the best in the world! Every dish I ordered..poi, squid luau, opihi, pipikaula and opihi...exquisite!

John Rich

Spare ribs were amazing!

Victor Tran

Worth the wait for authentic Hawaiian food. Large and clean restaurant. Quick service and tables turn pretty quickly. Def check it out if you're visiting Oahu.

Donna Lloyd

Always the best food, quick service and always served with a smile. They make u feel like ohana.

Juan Peaks

Fast food in a restaurant, literally. Good service, good food.

David Wolstenholme

Very good authentic Hawaiian food. You should take at least two plates per person. The short ribs were delicious (everything was delicious). Highly recommend Helena's. Be prepared to wait there's is almost always a line.

Ginger Racing

If you want authentic this is one of the best places to go hands down. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. I will say there were quite a few things I did not like that there were a few that I absolutely love but then again I'm a mainlander. The pork is absolutely awesome and the macaroni salad is really good. The nice thing is you can try a whole bunch of different little plates of food to find out if you like it or not you're not stuck with one big plate of whatever you order

David Ford

We went in there before flying back out to Maui and told the waitress upon coming in that we were in a bit of a rush because we had a flight to catch. Let me tell you, I have never ever been given as fast of a service as I was given at Helena’s. I was so shocked when our food was ready in like , 5 min kid you not. The food was so good, the service super fast, and the staff very friendly. What is not to love ! 5 stars well deserved .

Tomomi Nakashima

Taste so good! Real Hawaiian food. Parking is an issue... But worth the 30 min wait.

Blu Phone South Korea

4 of us arrived before 6pm on a weekday and didn't have to wait at all but while we were there, the place was filled up with mostly local people. Ordered some typical dishes so that my friend who was visiting Oahu could experience the local food. Mostly small portions(get to choose) and good amount to try many different foods.

Andrew Varis

Deliciously flavourful dishes at a reasonable price. The ribs are lightly sauced and salty, good with rice. The luau squid tastes of coconut and taro. The pork compliments the unique flavour of the poi.

Errol Wong

Order the pipikaula, kalua pig, lomi salmon, squid luau, and poi. Oh and eat the round onion with the red salt. Nom nom.

Brian Ngan

Simple Hawaiian food done spectacularly. I was skeptical when i saw the pictures but the food speaks for itself. Get the combo d and dont look back.

David Wolstenholme

Very good authentic Hawaiian food. You should take at least two plates per person. The short ribs were delicious (everything was delicious). Highly recommend Helena's. Be prepared to wait there's is almost always a line.

Michael Young

Best stop right off the plane from the mainland. Visited twice during my trip. Cant wait to go back!

Paloma Colunga

My boyfriend’s parents had been coming to Helena’s since they were in HS. Naturally it was one of the first places he took me to eat here. WOW! Service was so so friendly and fast. The food was phenomenal. Savory and authentically made. My boyfriend pointed out the main chef and he was briefly on the floor asking how the food was! Everything about Helena’s is charming and now one of my favorite restaurants of all time.

Kyle Berryman

Never had a business decide for me whether or not their garbage service was worthy of any tip! Definitely never ever returning

Zx2Nick

Good food but bad service. The employees are nice but since the place is so busy you don't get routine service. You have to get there attention and then continue to wait. The place was remodeled to expand its footprint. Expect long wait lines. This is a tourist attraction because you food is that good.

Charles Pickett

Just not my style or type of food, the ribs were decent... salty but edible, didn't like the long rice chicken. To be specific, this is a noodle dish that taste like chicken and noodles. The noodles are translucent and have a jelly consistency. I didn't care for the texture, the taste was good just couldn't get past that slimy jello texture. To each his own

Tyler Ferrari

Food is pretty traditional. Service is alright, friendly service. Parking is tough to find. The only reason to come here is to try local food.

Mary Lou Griego

A must try! You will not be disappointed.

Gloria Perez

The food was so good. Thank you so much.

Lynnele West

Did not live up to the hype for our group of 6. Very small portions but prices seem to reflect that. It’s definitely affordable. We received very poor customer service by waitress and person bringing out our food. Food did not look appetizing and was okay tasting... the menu was very confusing with no description of what you’re getting, no pictures nothing. We had to ask a lot of questions and were treated as an annoyance to them. They do not accept credit cards which is odd. Good thing we had cash, haha!

GladysJean Simer

Food ONO Service Bad Couldn't do 2cd round of Water

Kevin Inase

Pulehu ribs are the best!

J Root

First timer and it was exactly as I had hoped it would be. I would have loved to see it 10 years ago. Laulau was great, pork was excellent (some of the best I've had on the islands) and the ribs were tasty though a little chewier than expected. All around, I'd go back.

Morgun Somerset

Kalua pig. Pretty good. I'm not a big Kalua pig fan in general. I would definitely eat it if it was there offered to me but I wouldn't order it again for myself. Not my style. Decided to try something I don't usually crave and was pleased enough with the taste that I almost finished my serving.- Short rib pipikaula style. Ooo dat's mah iiiiish! Tender and juicy... will order again.

Ginger Racing

If you want authentic this is one of the best places to go hands down. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. I will say there were quite a few things I did not like that there were a few that I absolutely love but then again I'm a mainlander. The pork is absolutely awesome and the macaroni salad is really good. The nice thing is you can try a whole bunch of different little plates of food to find out if you like it or not you're not stuck with one big plate of whatever you order

Kay Jong

Menu item B was delicious and service was extremely friendly. Food comes out quickly too. There isnt a lot of parking here, but there is street parking close by. Great food, definitely come check this restaurant out if you visit Honolulu.

Joseph Chitwood

The food was excellent! The prices were mostly reasonable. I was a little surprised at how many ribs you get for $17.50. I would have liked a few more.

jen jarin

I mean if you've come to Oahu and haven't come to Helena's...get your lifeeeee. Their pipkaula is life changing. Dont forget to dip it in chili water!

Amy Stoddard

Great Hawaiian food! We had the short ribs, Kalua pork, rice, and the Mac salad. All meals come with huapia which was a cream coconut jello dessert. Our only complaint is that the portions were small.

Araceli Valencia

Go there every time I'm in Hawaii and I love it. One of my fav places to eat

Betsy Gonzalez

Really wanted to live this place, as it was very highly recommended, but I didn't. My husband and 2 kids agreed, no repeat visit for us. We waited 40 min. in showers on a Tuesday about 1pm. We ordered menus "C" &"D", fried butter fish, and laulau. We found the food over all lacking in flavor. Short ribs were the tastiest thing on our plates for main dishes, but they were tough. The coconut "jello" dessert was very tasty however.

Tyra Cox

hawaiian food is delicious this place does a great job at cooking it fresh

Dustin Holland

It definitely does not deserve all of the praise it gets from tourists that are told it's a great restraunt so they pretend that it is. The portions are very small, you have no idea what the food looks like until you get it after you order, and there are no descriptions telling what each dish is.

Toni Young

Just trying new food. Servers were very good.

Giselle Vazquez

Short ribs, chicken long rice, macaroni salad = best combo EVER!

Gretta Poole

Super busy and parking was a little bit difficult, but way worth it. Everything we got was amazing and as far as restaurant haupia goes, this is my favorite so far.

clifford kam

Great Hawaiian Food From Old Kalihi On King Street Hana bada Days

Tiffany Chan

Great small dishes family style. Favorite were the luau pork, short ribs and mac salad. Less favorite were the lomi salmon and pulled pork. Poi, made with taro, was unexpectedly good. It was great with the meat. Haupia, a coconut dessert, was also really yummy. Must try if you’re in the hood.

Nate Black

I lived within walking distance of Helena’s for five and a half years and finally went with a friend on the day I moved away from the islands. My criminal neglect haunts me to this day (almost five years later). I ate plenty of genuine Hawaiian food before going to Helena’s and in a very real sense Helena’s—since it was so `ono, so broke da mout (delicious)—was the perfect culinary valedictory, or summary statement, of why Polynesian food generally (I’ve also enjoyed Samoan and Tongan foods), and Hawaiian food specifically needs to be more broadly known and experienced. The regular but sadly unrequited cravings I still get for Helena’s is proof of the truth that you can take the boy from the island, but not the island from the boy.

Harold Gomez

True taste of local Hawaiian cuisine. Try everything. Parking can be tricky

Bernadette Wilkins

This is the only place you will be able to eat these kind of ribs as they cannot be found anywhere in the States! My wife enjoyed the Kalua Pig which was smoked pulled pork and the LauLau which is pulled pork cooked in leaves which is edible! They also serve coconut jelly as their dessert!I

Lynn Scholl

Really good beef short ribs and rice. The salmon was just okay. Was nice to try the poi, a local Hawaiian food. Service was good and we didn't have to wait too long for a table

Todd VonAchen

Tried the pork, but my favorite was the short ribs. So friendly and great staff. Made me feel like family.

Kiersten Collier

It was good, but, don't expect warm and fuzzy service. Our waitress was great for explaining the menu; but, the host was very gruff. The spare ribs, luau chicken (similar to creamed spinach) and pulled pork were very good.

Kathleen Miller

Best authentic Hawaiian food on Oahu. Love the laulau!

Mykaela Beattie

Neighborhood around it isn’t the greatest, but wow the food is amazing! The short ribs are a must-try! The staff were all like family and service was quick.

David Ford

We went in there before flying back out to Maui and told the waitress upon coming in that we were in a bit of a rush because we had a flight to catch. Let me tell you, I have never ever been given as fast of a service as I was given at Helena’s. I was so shocked when our food was ready in like , 5 min kid you not. The food was so good, the service super fast, and the staff very friendly. What is not to love ! 5 stars well deserved .

nelson goodness

Great local food limited hours

Philip Tse

Very good food. Everything comes in small dishes so you can order a lot and try everything.

Le Nguyen

My sister and I got here 5 minutes before opening and so glad we did. People piled in quickly behind us and by the time we walked out, there was a mob of people outside. It is a little pricey for Hawaiian food but definitely worth it. My sister and I eat with our eyes and somehow ended up with $60 worth of food which is probably the most I've ever spent on Hawaiian food. But no regrets here. The service was friendly and efficient. The parking extremely limited.... But the food incredible. Will definitely keep coming back but will make sure we go early as possible!

Lisa Capamagian

Great local home style food. Fast and friendly service, although you might have to wait for a table. We enjoyed poi, beef ribs, pork and cabbage, rice and macaroni. Note this restaurant is cash only.

karina

The food is delicious! a small local and well loved place. This was our first time trying authentic Hawaiian food and it was amazingly flavorful. If you're in Oahu and looking for authentic Hawaiian food Helena's is must have!

Katie Lewis

If you're into seafood and deep fried stuff, I suggest you order that! Beef stew was delicious! I loved how tender the beef was and the tomato-y taste of the stew. It was very homey and hearty. The short ribs were super tasty too - they reminded me of the ones you'd get at Korean BBQ places. No matter what you order, they give you haupia (coconut pudding) on the house and it's delicious!!

Mark Fleis

This place has a truly local feel to it, seems quite busy. Portions are small so i was able to try many dishes, short ribs and fried cuttlefish were the best! Pork, Mac salad and long chicken noodles were good. Didn't care for the oily and dry fried Ahi. They gave a complimentary coconut+onion+sea salt dessert that was surprisingly tasty (I would chop onions up finer though).

S Misi

What can I say? You NEED to eat here!! You will NOT be disappointed!! Go hungry and leave fulfilled!!

John Park

Good food - nothing I would consider to be great - but worth it for FOMO. We got combination B and C and while the meat for short ribs were a bit too tough, kalua pork was awesome. Lomi salmon was also good but overall, the cost and the toughness of the meat for short ribs takes one star off in my mind.

Thomas Tseng

fast service even for a big party. the beef short ribs are to die for, highly recommend! most of my party didn't like the poi (first time), but worth a try!

Jonathan Ribbe

This was an in the moment choice coming from Pearl Harbor. We saw how well reviewed this spot was and we barely beat the lunch rush. We were seated as soon as we walked in the door and waited on almost immediately. The menu was very simple and the experience matched. We ordered be menu a and B along with fried butter fish. Our food came out within minutes and was very fresh. The spare ribs were the best I've ever had and the kalua pork was impressive. The restaurant itself was very simplistic but you could tell it was a favorite spot of many of the patrons as the staff knew them all. The prices were fair for the amount and quality of food you received. I was quite full by the end of our meal. Definitely a must try place.

Adam Sebesta

Here’s the deal, if you get here right when they open and can get in without a wait or fighting for parking it’s worth it. The food is good, it really is, it’s just not worth stressing out over. If they’re busy go find some other Hawaiian food joint and you’ll get 95% of the experience with less hassle. That being said the squid luau and Mac salad is awesome. Be aware it’s cash only.

lanikai twister

Very tasty Hawaiian food. Parking kinda limited on site, but street parking may be available at certain times. Staff is courteous and wait time doesn't seem to be too long. Restroom in location. CASH ONLY!!

Marcia Cook

We were looking for some good authentic Hawaiian Food. Service was excellent, and the food was delicious! Definitely order the short ribs. It was well worth our out of the way trip. Just remember to bring cash as they don't take credit cards.

Charles Hughes

Really wanted to live this place, as it was very highly recommended.

Bailey Chitwood

Great atmosphere, friendly staff and amazing food. The only complaint is the amount of short ribs you got for almost $20 other than that prices were fair and we left full

Le Nguyen

My sister and I got here 5 minutes before opening and so glad we did. People piled in quickly behind us and by the time we walked out, there was a mob of people outside. It is a little pricey for Hawaiian food but definitely worth it. My sister and I eat with our eyes and somehow ended up with $60 worth of food which is probably the most I've ever spent on Hawaiian food. But no regrets here. The service was friendly and efficient. The parking extremely limited.... But the food incredible. Will definitely keep coming back but will make sure we go early as possible!

John L

Really good local Hawaiian fare. Great food quality, generous portions for price, and friendly staff. Recommend Set D + laulau. Their short ribs was interestingly crispy.

Justin Huang

Coming here for the first time, I think my wife and I were a little unprepared. For one thing, the restaurant has very little parking for a place that’s always busy. Secondly, the place doesn’t accept credit cards, so we had to find a nearby ATM(of which I’m sure gets frequented due to The no credit card rule). Come on Helena’s! I get three times the points using my card!... -_-* haha kidding aside the food here was amazing although somewhat expensive for the portion size. We got the Combo Set D, laulau pork, And Fried Butter fish. All of this came out to roughly around $45. I found a real liking to the laulau Pork and my wife really liked the fried butter fish. I would definitely recommend this place, just remember, parking is sometimes difficult to come by and second, come with cash!

James White

Tried the Mac salad, short ribs, kalua pork, lau lau, haupia and a few others. I must say, that while one should try all of the dishes offered, one must must try the short ribs and the kalua pork. Short ribs have almost a crisp to the exterior while not being overdone, it’s hard to explain, the flavor of course was also superb. Kalua pork was also amazing, I’m usually not a fan of pulled pork since I usually find most pulled pork dishes to be dry, this was a very big exception, it was super juicy. The flavor! Very unique, it is smokey but not in the usual way which is due to the way it is prepared by being cooked under ashes. Overall, check this place out! One tip, best time to come is about 15 mins before they open. It will save you the wait.

Lisa Capamagian

Great local home style food. Fast and friendly service, although you might have to wait for a table. We enjoyed poi, beef ribs, pork and cabbage, rice and macaroni. Note this restaurant is cash only.

Akeena Carino

Love this place! Really good food!

B L

Wait was not too long. Delicious authentic Hawaii food. Loved the description of foods by the waitress.

Gina Hicks

Pipikaula is my favorite food on Earth. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Unless you're a vegetarian.

sarah gorospe

As I was waiting for our order to be taken I couldn't help notice the meat that was hanging in the kitchen. I guess it's part of their prepping process. Also noticed there was only one bathroom in the establishment so lines can easily and quickly form. The restaurant is closed Saturday and Sunday. Parking is super limited. They did run out of fried collar bone. Everything else we ordered was good. The haupia and maui onion combination was strangely delightful.

Tim Chan

We were finally able to get in on our 3rd try! The first time they were closed for a few weeks for Thanksgiving. The second time was when we tried to go on a Saturday. (They are open Tue-Fri 10am-7:30pm) On the 3rd attempt there was a line with a bit of a wait. The place is small and the parking lot is even smaller. The menu is simple with a section for dining there and a section for to-go orders. The food is served family style. I will say this is the best Hawaiian food I've had. The flavors were great. It's no wonder this place won a James Beard award a few years ago. My advice is try to go during off-hours to avoid the crowds.

Valerie Wickert

My new favorite Hawaiian food restaurant.. Ono (delicious), pleasant ambiance... Like visiting auntie's Cafe... friendly service and very reasonable prices

Julie Perry

Helena's Hawaiian poki (ahi) is one of the best in Oahu. We arrived early and there was already a line before they opened. Come early to find parking. ..and jump in line to dine in...and try different hawaiian foods (they do have poi on their menu). They also have carry-out.

Larisa S.

Delcious food. We tried Kalua pork, short ribs, tribe soup and everything was excellent! Also fast service.

Joshua Cambra

Hear they have good food and pricey

karina

The food is delicious! a small local and well loved place. This was our first time trying authentic Hawaiian food and it was amazingly flavorful. If you're in Oahu and looking for authentic Hawaiian food Helena's is must have!

Lana Jacobs

We were looking for some good authentic Hawaiian Food. Service was excellent, and the food was delicious! Definitely order the short ribs. It was well worth our out of the way trip. Just remember to bring cash as they don't take credit cards.

spitfire Izumi

Got to time it right. Big lines no parking but food is ONO!

Łukasz Nowosielski

Great food! If you are visiting Hawaii, this is a must-go location. PS: Short Ribs rulez!

Elizabeth Fisher

Where to begin. It's super busy, but a good time. The staff is awesome and they will teach you how to eat the food and what goes with what. From the kalua pig to poi & lomi lomi. Great place for 1st timers indeed. But a great place for regulars to. You can order individual dishes to your liking. I love it! My favorite was the laulau & mac salad. Upbeat atmosphere & ono grinds for sure!

Samantha Afcan

The food was astounding. Worth the wait. If you come to Oahu you must have some authentic Hawaiian food at Helena’s.

Katie Lewis

If you're into seafood and deep fried stuff, I suggest you order that! Beef stew was delicious! I loved how tender the beef was and the tomato-y taste of the stew. It was very homey and hearty. The short ribs were super tasty too - they reminded me of the ones you'd get at Korean BBQ places. No matter what you order, they give you haupia (coconut pudding) on the house and it's delicious!!

Moomoo mlew

Delish Hawaiian food. Make sure to get the short ribs and the squid luau. It is so yummy. There may be a short wait but it is worth it. Check the website for hours. Parking is tight so look for street parking . Read the parking signs since there are times in the afternoon they may ticket or tow.

Karen Smith

These people will treat you like family! Omg the beautiful girl in the front totally blessed me today. Please remember to bring cash! The food is made with LOVE.

Aaron Tsosie

Food was great! Came with my wife. I got the kalua pig & cabbage with a scoop of poi. They gave me a complimentary slice of coconut jelly VERY GOOD COCONUT AFTER TASTE! Be prepared to pay with cash

DanDaMan

I can see why this is “Award Winning” and a local favorite. The short ribs, kalua pig and fried butterfish are awesome! Service was great. We planned ahead and got there before the lunch rush. After that, line formed outside.

R R

Palehu Ribs.... Awesome... Everything else just as awesome

Rossie

It was my first time st Helena’s, after many attempts. We ended having carry out, the place was packed. The service was fast, and the food delicious. Authentic Hawaiian Food. In business since 1946. Please be aware the parking is limited, we spent like half hour to park.

Susan Ross

Food was ono, price tooo expensive and limited parking. With the price they charge they shoud care for customers instead of making them park down the street.

MoMo Ang

First time ever try Laulau. Love it!!! Shorts ribs is very good, juicy and tasty. Complimentary Lupia is also delicious. Overall experience, highly recommended.

Frank Roy

I could write a long review about this place but all I can say is "Best Short ribs in the world!!" Me and my GF had a little bit of everything (short ribs, kulua pork, rice, potato salad, coconut dessert). Simply AMAZING!! Go there and taste those ribs and you will be stunned.

Michael Correa

Excellent experience. Definitely lived up to the hype. Delicious traditional food and very nice staff. The owner was even kind enough to meet me and take a picture despite being business. Thank you everyone...

Brain Bananas

Very basic establishment. Personnel were very friendly and helpful. Pricing was reasonable. We tried a few of their dishes which were all equally flavorful. Some dishes might require an aquired taste. If you want to try local dishes this is the place. We struggled with parking but ended parking in the neighborhood.

Enrique P. Crisostomo

We went there September 11th I was with my brother I had short ribs kalua pig lomi lomi salmon and help heal food was very delicious service superb I totally recommend s this restaurant to everyone

Michael Correa

Excellent experience. Definitely lived up to the hype. Delicious traditional food and very nice staff. The owner was even kind enough to meet me and take a picture despite being business. Thank you everyone...

Droid Box

Every youtuber or website recommend this place. I have high expectations of this place even thou I have done my research and know I will be eating going into the restaurant. First, not much costumer service (whatever it's fine). Second, we ordered menu D which include everything (since we want to try everything). So each little dish comes with one person portion. It include, a little dish of rib, little dish or pull pork, a little dish of tomato, a little dish of squid thing, a little dish of taro purée & a little dish of coconut pudding. This all cost $26+. This is ONE PERSON PORTION. A meal cost $26 for one person. Pull pork tasted smoky, a bit burnt for my taste. Rib tasted like BBQ, salty, very hard to chew, not tender at all. Tomato taste like chopped tomato with fish sauce (sure), taro purée is very thick. A little dish of squid thing, I can't find squid in there coz is like puree-like dish. Last, the coconut pudding as dessert, it was way too sweet, I am usually a fan of coconut pudding, but this is way toooooo sweet. I would recommend anyone to save their money and travel to go elsewhere. The quality of food is not worth it. This place is over-rated. Parking was horrible.

Robert Kaleikula

Amazing hawaiian food and awesome service! Order the pipikaula shortribs its the best!

Adrian Rosario

Great food and very friendly staff. The fried butter fish was my favourite!

Gabrielle Nico Reyes

Came during lunch rush, worth the wait

Adaline Marinda

High-quality food and fresh, good service and very efficient. The place is clean, inviting and there is enough space for the parking lot. And remember to bring cash because it is a cash-only restaurant.

warner lasala

The food is awesome. Best short rib. Ono squid luau. Expanding the dining area is great. Wat time is a lot shorter now. Food came out fast after we ordered. DA BEST!!

Camillie Mann

Short ribs, chicken long soup and rice. Very good. But the service is a bit slow when it comes time to order so get their attention if you're ready. Otherwise you might sit there waiting.

Susie Sipelii

The food is fresh and delicious. Very tasty.

Anthony R

Pipikaula is always great along with the mac salad and raw onion. If you don't visit Oahu often get a shirt you'll regret it if you dont.

Kelsey Vanden Heuvel

Amazing food! Small portions & lots of options for mixing & matching so you can try multiple dishes (kalua pork & salmon are the best!!) Comfortable, local, authentic feel with extremely quick & friendly service.

Theola Gonzalez

Can only say that this place rocks with the best Pizza in the south bay. My daughter turned me on a long time ago and i've been a regular ever since. The service is also very good and the decor is just as good. My current wife loves it as much as i do. We were there last night and ordered a large with half combination and half wester. Made my mouth water to the end.

Anita Kurialacherry

One of the best meals of the trip! Cash only

Don C.

The hype was real! The food was on point. I highly recommend this place to anyone coming to visit. The seating is huge and the service is pretty quick. The portions were more than enough. The ribs MAAAANNNN was tender and crispy at the same time. Definitely need to visit again.

Kit Batucan

Oh... My... God... I'm sorry but however good the luau squid was, or how the chicken long rice hit just the right spot, the pipikaula short ribs blew them all off the table. Yes, including the laulau. We walked in were seated promptly and were then served by a lady, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten, who would have to be one of the most friendliest people in the world. I'm just thankful that they don't take credit card, and that we only had a limited amount of cash else we would have kept on ordering from the menu to see if anything comes close to the ribs in taste.

Michelle Shani

By far a must visit during a visit to Oahu. The line tells you everything you need to know. Amazing dishes to share with a wonderful staff.

Veronica Mejia

We went in there before flying back out to Maui and told the waitress upon coming in that we were in a bit of a rush because we had a flight to catch. Let me tell you, I have never ever been given as fast of a service as I was given at Helena’s. I was so shocked when our food was ready in like , 5 min kid you not. The food was so good, the service super fast, and the staff very friendly. What is not to love ! 5 stars well deserved .

tasoftail

Great food and well organized. Quaint place that was very busy. Staff was friendly enough but they don't have a problem telling you what you can't order if it's your first time. (IE: "Poi is an acquired taste and we don't like to make it if you're going to waste it!") You might also get questioned, "for what?", if you ask for a doggy bag. Bottom line is I'd recommend it, just don't be thin skinned. TnT and family from Maryland

iordanescu dragos

A very nice place to eat. A very nice place to go.

Derek Yip

One of the most recommended spots here in Honolulu is @helenashawaiianfoood and we knew we had to pay them a visit. We arrived early at around 11am but most of tables were already taken at this point. We were just happy we didn’t have to line up to try out some of their traditional Hawaiian food! We ordered their “Menu D” (a combo of different dishes) with an additional side order of their fried Butterfish Collar. First thing to try off of Menu D is their Pipikaula Short Ribs, they are dried like beef jerky, but nowhere as tough as what you would expect. Prepared on a grill with a nice bit of char, they were delicious and every bite was packed with favor from the delicious marinade. Be sure to dip the ribs in the pink rock salt that is provided! Next up is the Luau Squid, which definitely did not appear as expected! It is a green dish that has the consistency of a spinach dip, but is actually made with Taro leaves with pieces of Squid mixed within. It is a bit on the salty side, but was delicious when you combine with some rice. Their Kalua Pig is heavy on the Smokey flavor, but otherwise quite plain. It was a good contrast to the other two saltier items. To round out their Menu D, there is their Lomi Salmon, which was like a Poke Salsa with small pieces of Salmon mixed with diced tomatoes. Finally, our side order of Fried Butterfish Collar! It was a great end to the meal, with crispy pieces of smooth Butterfish meat hidden within the fish collar bones. If you enjoy fish collars, this is definitely one to order!

Brian Munoz

Traditional Hawaiian cuisine. The short ribs and Laulau were out of this world. The lomi salmon was and poi were both good but the surprising item that was a star was haupia. Simple and extremely tasty. The biggest downfall is that this is a cash only establishment but luckily they let you know up front.

Janise Wertz

Delicious food! They only take cash. Pretty fast, we ordered take out and they brought it to us outside.

Raven G

Small portions of Ahi. Fatty Laulau. Tasty food. Kalua pork was our fav

AG News

One of the most unique restaurants in Oahu. Quite a long line, but very delicious food and helpful/nice staff!

Dean Bigler

The waiting line for this place was down the street but it moved fast. Kinda pricey but worth the wait and the price I guess. Staff was very helpful and attentive.

don fasone

I always love their food. I think it is the best Hawaiian food restaurant around. Staff is friendly and fast.

Macen Foster

Buggah get good action. Check em go check em go. Listen to unko

Farris King

We were looking for some good authentic Hawaiian Food. Service was excellent, and the food was delicious! Definitely order the short ribs. It was well worth our out of the way trip. Just remember to bring cash as they don't take credit cards.

Bac Nguyen

Great food Family business Tapas style portions Discover Hawaiian food (a lot of Asian influences) Not fancy place but cozy Finger licking good =) Try to avoid the crowd so you can take your time and enjoy (look it up on Google when is the best time to go) Closes early - 7:30pm

Les Lowe

Good delicious home style food. Favorite squid luau and pipikalau

Mike

Pain in the butt to find parking but when you get inside the staff are friendly and the food is amazing and so full of flavor. Highly recommend the kahlua pork and the ribs are out of this world good.

JOE RODRIGUEZ

The short ribs are awesome.

Hakeem Wakil

An authentic place with wonderful staff. I really enjoyed this meal here. I tried the beef ribs and poi. The staff were very kind and helpful when I ordered as well. Be sure to bring cash

Max Hilton

Great food and only accepts cash. There is an ATM up the street if you forget. Make sure to order for each individual person because the dishes are smaller than you think, but are very delicious!!

ke nu

Pork had a distinct smoke flavor, but that's about it. Short ribs were okay, not very tasty. Mac salad was fine. Poi tasted as expected if one is familiar with the taro root. Pricey.