Helena's Hawaiian Food - Honolulu

The best food!! Definitely worth the wait. One of the servers told us what to do with the extras, the onions and salt, and it was super helpful! If you're in Hawaii, you need to go here.

I love coming here and was the food we craved the most for after leaving Hawaii. You do not want to miss the Short ribs Pipikaula style, eat it with a piece of raw onion. And to top off the meal Haupia is good too. We usually order take out because lines are long and it's quick and easy online. Usually sneak a few bites in the parking lot before leaving while everything is off the grill They are closed on weekends(+Monday) and parking is always a pain around here.

Dining in Helena’s Hawaiian Food as a tourist, I had a good experience in Hawaiian food. I tried Laulau, Pipikaula Short Rib, Fried Butterfish Collar, and Haupia, having a taste of Hawaiian food culture, though the taste didn’t appeal to me much, for I grew up with another type of alien food culture, but it was absolutely worth trying. Looking at the attractive green taro leaves on the wall by the sides of the Hawaiian woman who I believe must be the founder of the business, I realized the significance of the taro leaves they symbolize their best known food Laulau, a cuisine of meat wrapped up with taro leaf.

Please do yourself a favor and come try Helena’s if you haven’t had Hawaiian food. It’s seriously so delicious and feels like home. The short ribs was our favorites. We ordered it twice while we were there. We also ordered the fried butterfish collar, watercress soup with beef, beef stew, laulau and luau squid. The coconut jelly was a really nice dessert that comes with the meal. Highly recommend Helena’s for local food. The only issue is the parking situation. There is very limited parking space so you may have to wait for someone to leave and park in their spot. We waited about 15 minutes and were able to park. Once parked, make sure to put your name and party size down at the kiosk in the front by the door. The wait was really short too. Enjoy and we can’t wait to be back!

Recommended by a local guide and was not disappointed! I’ll share my 2 cents Short rib: fantastic! taste like dry aged steak. I’d size up from the small for 2 next time. 4/5 piece with bone wasn’t a whole lot. Chicken long rice: tricky name. Glassy noodles soak in chicken broth no broth though Poi: my absolutely least fav. Not fan of the texture. And the taste was sour. Maybe aged according someone else. No idea was it supposed to be? Kalua pig: go with cabbage and eat up with rice! Salmon lomi was a good pair too. Laulau: didn’t like the taste of the leaves. Pork or fish filling wasn’t prominent to me. Dessert thing: taste like coconut tapioca. Neutral on that one Location: not great part of town. Hard to find parking too