Honolulu Kitchen - Waipahu

Initial impressions: Upon arriving, I was immediately hit by a strong unpleasant odor, and there were people experiencing homelessness camped out in front of the restaurant. This doesn't reflect well on the business at all. I have nothing against the homeless, but it's definitely concerning.

Uncle Steve and the rest of the staff were wonderful, very welcoming! Clean, homey type eatery. My first time there and I came at end of lunch line service, so they made me a mix plate to taste a little of everything! It is all Awesome! A Great Hole in the Wall Hidden Gem! A must try! My new favorite spot for some local grinds with lots of Aloha!

We had some Fried Manapua from here today and was not disappointed! Quality food with amazing service (Thank you Jin) Would recommend it to everyone.

My favorite place, GAUGEE! I absolutely love their baked char siu bao. I'm more accustomed to the traditional glaze, but these are still fantastic. The pork hash shumai are quite large, and I’d rate the flavor at 3.5 out of 5. The owner really knows how to handle a packed house all by himself while also managing pre-orders in the morning. He’s the only one in during that time. He even gave us complimentary mandoo and melon to try, which was a nice touch!

As for the PORK HASH, the wrapping was on the thicker side, and the filling was quite tough, although it packed a good amount of flavor. The RICE CAKE was a bit too soft and overly sweet for my taste. Lastly, the FRIED CUSTARD BAO had a nice texture, but it was also too sweet for my liking.