Glad we stopped by for authentic Hawaiian food, but perhaps it's better when dining in because the pig and short ribs, while seasoned well, were a bit on the dry side. Probably what happens with takeout, but with very little parking and a long, long wait, we decided against eating in. Happy to have experienced this iconic spot, though.
My brother found this place, and it was pretty good. The beef short ribs were a little tough but seasoned well! I had the beef stew, and it was pretty decent, with no complaints. My wife had the fried Ahi, and that was really good! There were 2 servers when we went. 1 one was exceptional. The other waitresses had an attitude and was being short with everyone. I suck at remembering names, but the waitresses that was exceptional was a little chubby. I apologize for the description, but I want to make sure the correct waitresses get the recognition!!!
I was traveling in Honolulu for 1 week and have been eating out at a lot of amazing restaurants. Helena’s have beat it all. The moment you walk in, you feel like you are at home. The food here are nourishing to the soul. Loved every bite I had here. Was almost mad I couldn’t be here for longer. Thank you Helena’s for a memorable meal!
Highly highly recommend fried butterfish collar! It melts in the mouth. The texture of the fish is perfect.
Authentic Hawaiian food. Staff was considerate and patient with me. They explained the traditional way to eat their food.
I discovered I am not a big Poi fan but the pork and coconut jelly were very delicious.
It was expensive considering the portion sizes and atmosphere. It is basically a hole in the wall.
Definitely my favorite Hawaiian food on the island! The fried butterfish came out super hot and crispy, the squid luau was great, the beef shortribs thick and flavorful - everything super good! Service is super fast and friendly, and we got lucky on a weekday for late lunch - had tables immediately available and parking outside.
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What to do when in Hawaii and you’re looking for authentic Hawaiian food that’s made from airhead ingredients, passion and a love of food. The answer is short and straight to the point, you go to Helena’s Hawaiian Food.
Let’s get the obvious out in the open. If you were to pass by Helena’s, you might not give it a second thought and keep it moving but Yelp and Google reviews suggest that you need to give them a try and we’re glad that we did.
Sometimes there can be a line but we came at the right time and were seated promptly. Our waitress quickly greeted us and helped us navigate the menu since we weren’t familiar with Hawaiian cuisine.
We tried the short ribs, the LauLau, beef stew, Fries ButterFiah Collar. Everything and I mean everything was delicious, my favorite however was the short ribs. They were so delicious that we order three servings.
The atmosphere is very welcoming, warm and simple. Helena’s focuses on the food not the decor so what you see is what you get and that is a deep dive into Hawaiian cuisine at a reasonable price.
I highly recommend Helena’s and a word of advice before you go is to check out their menu and understand what food is what. That will help you make the best decision possible but honestly you can’t go wrong. Aloha!
This restaurant is certainly off the usual beaten path for tourists, however, if you're in the area, it's certainly worth the trip. We stopped in for lunch prior to going to the Bishop Museum. The atmosphere inside and outside is nothing fancy. The service was excellent and friendly and the local Hawaiian food was exactly with my wife and I were looking for on our visit. If only we had more time to try the different dishes.
Local favorite for authentic Hawaiian food. Be sure to order the beef short ribs! Menu D recommended for a first timer sampler.
It’s my first time here, and I must say it was great!
The staff was so nice and offered such great suggestions.
We ordered the Menu D which included the Short Ribs, Lomi Salmon, Kalua Pork and the Luau Squid, rice and haupia.
We added the tripe stew, small short ribs, Laulau, long rice chicken, fried butterfish collar and small poi.
Was enough for 5, but we weren’t stuffed so I would recommend ordering more options so you can taste everything. We genuinely enjoyed everything. Tasted very homey, comforting and delicious! It was also our first time trying poi and we really liked it with the squid!
Thanks for such a great experience!!
Excellent. Do not let the outside fool you. Amazing food, clean dining room, and great service. We beat the rush, 10 minutes after we arrived, there was a line formed outside to get in! Local hotspot.
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