Highway Inn Kaka'ako

This place is awesome! Came to the island for the first time and the family wanted to try authentic Hawaiian food versus food from the hotel. The Hawaiian Loco was amazing. Such richness and flavor was quite a delight. My 11 year-old son ate the chicken barbecue, which was exquisite as well. The fried sweet potato was a nice addition to the meal. I recommend wearing here away from the Waikiki beach resorts. Coming from California I’m used to eating at Ono Hawaiian, but doesn’t compare to the taste from the Highway Inn.

This place was recommended to us for a traditional Hawaiian food, wow! So glad we came. Food and the beers were so good. We came mid afternoon and it was no wait at all. Eileen helped us, she was great! We definitely want to come back before our trip is over.

Some of the best chicken Ive ever had. Exceptionally attentive service. Cute little cafe feel, authentic and delicious. Well worth the stop and have them validate your parking ticket.

SO ono!!! I grew up visiting the Waipahu location, thrilled to find them in Kakaako on my latest visit home. Of course had to have the Hawaiian plate and the mini loco moco, and they didn’t disappoint! Wanted the steak fries and the server turned me on to their smoked aioli - dunk the fries into the aioli and then the gravy - game changer!!!

My first meal in Hawaii and it blew me away. It set the bar extremely high for the trip. Highway Inn was so good that I went back on another day for a second meal. Everything was flavourful and punchy. Kalua Pork was smokey which gives an amazing flavour. I personally feel Highway Inn is much better than Waiahole Poi Factory.

We had picked this place out online before our trip to stop at, and boy we're glad we did! The restaurant wasn't very busy when we were there, so we got a nice break from the heat and noise of the city for awhile. Our waitress was friendly and happily answered our questions, gave recommendations, and made small talk with us. The kahlua pig sliders were delicious, and the potato mac salad as well! My friend got the platter where you can try a smaller portion of a lot of different Hawaiian food, and they were pleased with just about every bite.

This place is iconic! Great Hawaiian food, our waitress was attentive, and help us order. Restaurant is clean. Restrooms are cute & well kept.

My daughter loved the kalua nachos with the taro chips! So good that I'm going to get that next time! Of course I went with my kalua combo with poi and sub haupia with a scoop rice. Service was attentive and good vibes.

This place is awesome! Came to the island for the first time and the family wanted to try authentic Hawaiian food versus food from the hotel. The Hawaiian Loco was amazing. Such richness and flavor was quite a delight. My 11 year-old son ate the chicken barbecue, which was exquisite as well. The fried sweet potato was a nice addition to the meal. I recommend wearing here away from the Waikiki beach resorts. Coming from California I’m used to eating at Ono Hawaiian, but doesn’t compare to the taste from the Highway Inn.

This place was recommended to us for a traditional Hawaiian food, wow! So glad we came. Food and the beers were so good. We came mid afternoon and it was no wait at all. Eileen helped us, she was great! We definitely want to come back before our trip is over.

Some of the best chicken Ive ever had. Exceptionally attentive service. Cute little cafe feel, authentic and delicious. Well worth the stop and have them validate your parking ticket.

SO ono!!! I grew up visiting the Waipahu location, thrilled to find them in Kakaako on my latest visit home. Of course had to have the Hawaiian plate and the mini loco moco, and they didn’t disappoint! Wanted the steak fries and the server turned me on to their smoked aioli - dunk the fries into the aioli and then the gravy - game changer!!!

My first meal in Hawaii and it blew me away. It set the bar extremely high for the trip. Highway Inn was so good that I went back on another day for a second meal. Everything was flavourful and punchy. Kalua Pork was smokey which gives an amazing flavour. I personally feel Highway Inn is much better than Waiahole Poi Factory.

We had picked this place out online before our trip to stop at, and boy we're glad we did! The restaurant wasn't very busy when we were there, so we got a nice break from the heat and noise of the city for awhile. Our waitress was friendly and happily answered our questions, gave recommendations, and made small talk with us. The kahlua pig sliders were delicious, and the potato mac salad as well! My friend got the platter where you can try a smaller portion of a lot of different Hawaiian food, and they were pleased with just about every bite.

This place is iconic! Great Hawaiian food, our waitress was attentive, and help us order. Restaurant is clean. Restrooms are cute & well kept.

My daughter loved the kalua nachos with the taro chips! So good that I'm going to get that next time! Of course I went with my kalua combo with poi and sub haupia with a scoop rice. Service was attentive and good vibes.

Good Hawaiian Food! This was my first time trying this place with friends. We arrived at a good time and were seated within 10 minutes. We decided to try something we have never had before. We wanted something different. Tjus is the place to come if you are looking for good food and good service. We ordered the Highway Inn Tasting Plate with Pork Lau Lau. It included the following items... - Poi - definitely something I have been wanting to try. I personally liked it. The flavor and texture are hard to describe but worth trying it at least once. - Squid Lau- I really like this one but it would be nice if there was more Squid. The flavor was good! - Kālua Pig- One of my faves! The meat was tender, smokey and juicy. My second favorite! - Lomi Salmon- The star of the show. My favorite! The combination of flavors were on point! Loved it! - Chicken long rice- This was another good one. The rice was so good! I definitely recommend this. - Haupia- This was different and my taste buds didn't care for it, but a couple of my friends loved it. It's more of a personal preference. It looked and smelled good to me. - Sweet potato - anything with sweet potato is good. The prices are reasonable here and the portions are generous. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying something else.

Known for their Hawaiian fare: Fried butterfish collar Lau lau pork Poi Ordered their ube-bun burger, for US$14, it was worth it. The rest...nope!

Went around 10am on a Saturday and Highway Inn Kaka'ako was slowly getting busier and busier. Located in the Salt Plaza, there's plenty of other shops around the area you can leisurely stroll through, and I believe they validate parking. The inside of the restaurant is spacious and clean, and has a more quiet and homey vibe. I ordered a mini loco moco, subbed brown rice, and chose the potato-macaroni salad. It was pretty mid - the rice was dry (which I guess is why most people say they don't like brown rice - places don't cook it well!) and the gravy was a mush, bland and salty. The salad was alright, nothing wrong there. Pretty big portion, as I was able to save half for lunch the next day. Service was scarce - the inside of the restaurant is huge and the servers were all over the place trying to accommodate all the patrons. It was slow-pickings on getting water refills and the cheque.

Made a little visit to Highway Inn! I haven't been here in awhile so it was really nice coming back and just seeing how the place is doing! ***What I ordered ~ **Plantation Iced Tea (10/10) ~ Just get it. It's super good, the perfect ratio, and not overall sweet. I chugged it by the time I finished all my food and it's so refreshing! **Mochiko Chicken Plate (8/10) ~ I wasn't a huge fan of the fried rice, but the mochiko chicken was SOOOOO damn good. Super crispy and juicy! It also came out pipping hot too! Overall, The hostess is super rude, but our sever was really sweet and the food was great! Wouldn't mind coming back for the chicken though!

My first time having Moco Loco! It was delicious, but glad I got the "mini" size because it was very heavy. The service was very friendly and we didn't have to wait very long. The vibe was chill like a classic diner.

This was my first visit to Highway Inn in AGES...since way back when they were only located in Waipahu! The Kaka`ako location was convenient and we were hungry for Hawaiian food, so in we went. It was nice and quiet for a weekday, and my coworker and I thoroughly enjoyed our pleasant server and ono food. The restaurant was clean, parking was easy (and free with validation). I liked the decor, but just one tip for the chairs--they're super heavy and make big noise when you slide them in & out.

For my first experience with poi, a beloved Hawaiian staple, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction! The poi was smooth and slightly tangy, perfectly complementing the pulled pork and the fresh, vibrant salmon-tomato salad. The meal also included taro sweet potato and a delightful taro dessert, each showcasing the earthy and comforting flavors of traditional Hawaiian ingredients. The restaurant itself is a gem, with plenty of natural sunlight creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly, ensuring every aspect of my visit was enjoyable. I truly enjoyed every bite and the overall experience. I'll definitely be coming back for more! If you're looking to explore authentic Hawaiian flavors in a welcoming setting, this spot is a must-visit.

A very pleasant lunch and place to get Hawaiian food and alcoholic drinks. I loved their li hing Mui margarita! They also offered other beers, speciality cocktails, wine & mimosas. I love the variety of their drink options. My husband & I picked the classic Hawaiian combo plates. I love their Kalua pig here because it's kiawe smoked and you can really taste the kiawe. Beef stew is always so filling and hearty. Laulau is ok. Nothing compliments Hawaiian meal more than lomi salmon & haupia. Our server was really friendly and attentive to all our needs during our dine in experience. Food came out quick! Definitely one of my go-to spots for Hawaiian food in town.

Felt like lau lau and Yelp led us to this restaurant. Look at this picture of their tasting plate, it has a little bit of everything including their AMAZING pork lau lau, it was so good I could have placed another order for it to go! Never had squid luau before, that was different. Loved their lomi salmon and the haupia was perfect. The staff there were all so friendly. Would definitely come back here again!

First time at this location: parking was limited due to the area and availability. Food was great as always ! Also have beer on tap. We thoroughly enjoyed the combo plate and beef stew ! Highly recommend however give yourself extra time for parking. Service was good - unfortunately forgot her name Wednesday night 9/25

This place truly has something for everyone! Highway Inn offers local cuisine, from the more "out there" dishes like tripe stew and squid lu'au to familiar options like loco moco and kalua pig. They also have American classics like burgers, fish sandwiches and quesadillas for those in your party who are less adventurous. The servers at Highway Inn are so kind and welcoming. There was a 10 minute wait until our table was ready. Unfortunately, it took awhile for our food to come out because the place was so busy, so be prepared to wait a bit. But the food is definitely worth it! Overall, I'd definitely check Highway Inn out if you're visiting Oahu. Delcious food, friendly service, and cute decor.

You can't really go wrong with anything on the menu except for the pipikaula. lol I wish it was more traditional style and smoked with peppers rather than just small pieces of what feel and taste like slices of steak. Their lomi and laulau is my go to. Their combos give you the most bang for your buck and has a bit of everything. They also do take out if you're on the go. Dinner and weekends get busy, so prepare to wait. Park in the SALT complex, they validate parking.

Pau Hana from 3-6 pm Monday through Friday. Ordered the fried butterfish combo. Loved the butterfish, but the beef stew was disappointing. No meat, just grave, though had good flavor. Lomi salad was pretty good and good grinds for the price. Lots of seating, but seemed to be short staffed.

3.5* I've been to Highway Inn several times, but I don't think I ever wrote a review. My first experience was with the Original Highway Inn in Waipahu. Went to the Kaka'ako location in July 2023 and ordered the following: Sapporo Draft $8; Hawaiian Style Limu Poke $15.95; Kalua Pig Sliders $13.95; Plantation Mixed Plate $22.95; Humbug Combo $16.95; and Passion of the Guava $12. Portions are a little light for my appetite, but everything tasted on point. Parking is not free and the lot fronting the restaurant is pretty limited. Service was a little slow, but they were very busy. They also charged a "Kitchen Service Fee" of $4.49.

We walked from Waikiki to the Glass Bottom Boat, did the boat tour and we were ravenously hungry afterwards. So on the recommendation of our boat Captain, we walked over to the Highway Inn. And we had one amazing lunch. The history of this wonderful restaurant (now chain) dates back almost eighty years. And it evokes it a not so pleasant part of US History. The couple who would eventually be the founders of these wonderful restaurants, were ripped apart from their families at the beginning of WWII and placed in internment camps in the US mainland. After the war ended, they eventually set up their first restaurant. The rest is history. The Highway Inn's menu is very Hawaiian. They serve numerous varieties of Ono, Merlin and others. And a plethora of Hawaiian dishes with pork and chicken. A delightful cacophony of culinary delights. We had the best Fish Tacos on the planet. The sauce, made with avocado, Wasabi and butter, was amazing. The clientele is most diverse and wonderful, just like Hawaii. Absolutely recommended.

I ordered squid luau plate. It was OK. I wish it has more squid in it but it was reasonably priced. I like the lilikoi dressing on the salad. Mom order chicken Lao Lao. The chicken was kinda dry but the taro leaf was good. The fried rice was really ono. It has spam, bacon and Portuguese sausage in it. Drink was ok. Food came out fast but otherwise service was slow.

First time here and this place came highly recommended online. Staff was friendly and seated us right away. Free water upon request. The ambiance was very homey, like a sitdown diner. We got the French toast and veggie omelet to share between us. Their Portuguese sausage was so good. Portions were decent but one very hungry person could finish one themselves.

If you're looking for traditional Hawaiian food, you've come to the right place! Everyone is friendly here and it didn't take too long to get our food. Get the CHICKEN LONG RICE! It's a must! The LOCO MOCO is really good too! My fiancé said it's one the best he's ever had! There was plenty of seating inside and had a diner vibe to it.

The food here is amazing! Definitely a place I would recommend to anyone visiting Honolulu. Our host told us that it's usually pretty packed but we came on July 4th and only had to wait about 5 minutes during lunch hour. I always look at the menu beforehand to avoid hemming and hawing and came just for the pork lau lau tasting plate with all the traditional Hawaiian dishes, but we ended up spontaneously ordering the Mochiko chicken plate as well and loved it. On the table, there's a newcomer's guide to what each of the dishes are and how to pronounce them. The tasting plate comes with the lau lau (generously filled with pieces of pork and butterfish), kālua pig, chicken long rice, poi (our waitress told us this is often the baby's first food), lomi salmon, 'uala (sweet potato), squid lū'au, and haupia. Our waitress recommended we dip some of the dishes into the poi but I also ended up dipping a lot of the meats into the salty coconut-flavored squid luau which was delicious as well. The mochiko chicken was juicy, savory, and with the perfect amount of crispy batter covering the outside. Fried rice had some meat pieces and was also seasoned and cooked incredibly well.

We've been coming to Highway Inn (other location) for as long as I can remember and recently changed it up and stopped in at Kaka'ako. Service was so friendly and quick on our weekday brunch. My dad ordered and enjoyed the corned beef hash and eggs, and I love their laulau. Always recommend Highway Inn for anyone who is new to Hawaiian food, already loves it or is just craving some comfort food. Excited to come back again and again on our next visit!

The humbug stew was the BEST yum. I would come back just for that. Everything else on the lunch plate was delicious as well. The salmon/tomato salad was refreshing and the purple yam was cooked perfectly. My husband really enjoyed the kalua pork and poi as well.

We came here after visiting the children museum down the street. The wait was a bit long despite having tables available. Maybe not enough staffs working that day? The combo plate was a good way to sample a bit of everything ... but to be honest though, I didn't like most of the items from it. Loco moco was solid. Poke was fine.

First time here. The experience was so good from start to finish. We were seated quickly, our server was so sweet and patient, our food arrived quick which was fantastic because we were hungry! We got the sample platter and our server kindly explained every item: squid luau, poi, kalua pork, lomi salmon, pork lau lau, chicken rice noodle, sweet potato and haupia!! Everything was so flavorful and delicious. It was honestly such a deal, we split it in two and we were satisfied. They also validate parking. But honestly, besides the food, our server was so kind and he really left a wonderful impression on us. We definitely felt the ALOHA spirit and passion both in the food and the people. Mahalo!!

Instagram: KonaFoodie If you're ever in Oahu, don't miss Highway Inn in Honolulu's Kaka'ako district. This family-owned spot has served authentic Hawaiian dishes since 1947, featuring classics like Lau Lau, Kālua Pig, and Squid Luau--all made with fresh, local ingredients. With its warm vibe and friendly staff, Highway Inn offers an unforgettable taste of Hawaii's culinary heritage.

Food was good but had to give 3 stars purely based on the service. Had a large party that we made a reservation for a month in advance. We were seated a little late because we were missing a couple in our party but once we were seated we literally sat there for half an hour with no staff ever approaching to greet us or to even provide us with the water... until the time was a couple minutes past happy hour and they approached to take our drink order (for regular price). Food arrived quickly and was good overall! Enjoyed my pulehu ribs but it was on the fatty side. Lau lau had too much taro leaves to pork ratio. Solid mac salad. Not my favorite Hawaiian place on the island but definitely good if you're looking to try Hawaiian food with a large party. Not trying to hate on the place but our overall experience was just so odd starting from check in and even up until getting our checks with the waiter awkwardly trying to clear our table but only clearing half and never coming back to clear out the rest.

Highly recommended for delicious Hawaiian food. Honestly, I didn't know Hawaiian food could be this good because at other places I've tried, they have all just been okay. I did wait about an hour but it was well worth it. This is probably the best meal I had in Hawaii. It was SO GOOD!! I tried deep fried butterfish collar n' stew gravy combo plate, loco moco (regular), smoked moco, and pulehu short ribs. Everything was incredible. Next time, I want to try the Tasting Plate.

This is my go to place when I land. Loco moco is incredible. I get the small. Mai tai is good as well.

Amazing food - especially the Kalua pork! It tasted perfect. Our server, Tatiana, was great! She was fast, despite being the only server. She didn't forget a single item, and checked on us multiple times! Place was clean and friendly, tables and floor clean :)

I can't believe I haven't left a review before! I love this place. Best Hawaiian and local food. It is so good it it has to decide what to eat. My favorite is the butterfish collar with gravy. The fist time I had it at the original Highway Inn I was hooked. The combo comes with Lomi lomi salmon, poi or rice, purple sweet potato and Haupia. They used to serve the collar in a bowl and pour the gravy over it. I bring all my out of town guests here. It's not a place for vegans or vegetarians. They serve alcoholic drinks. The restaurant is spacious and the staff are great.

Relatives came to visit and wanted Hawaiian food. But some of the locals didn't. Highway Inn to the rescue. Visitors (and my fam) got Hawaiian food and the locals got burgers, fish tacos (on ube tortillas-beautiful color) and fish sandwich. All were happy. One for Ray's breakfast special available on weekends. He raved over the home made corned beef hash texture and flavor. I took a bite and it really sis have a nice fluffy texture, not the usual heaviness. Loco moco was well appreciated by one visitor, he appreciated the local style gravy which he can't get in Cali. Butterfish collar was chosen by another. Two in my family got the chicken long rice combo. One got the pork lau lau. I got the squid luau combo-my go to here. Loved my squid luau, as always. IYKYK - this dish isn't for everyone, but if you love creamy luau leaves and slightly chewy pieces of meat this is a great dish. Not fishy (IMO). The two who ordered chicken long rice both thought it was delicious. Haupia was nice sized and creamy and delicious. Lomi salmon has plenty of salmon. Person who ordered the fish tacos must have liked them - they were a good size and had plenty of filling. He even took home the one (of three) he couldn't finish. He doesn't usually have left overs, and if he does he doesn't take it home so I'm guessing he was happy with his selection, both quantity and taste. Because we had a party of 11 we had to pre-order, which actually worked out well since it meant more time to catch up. We were seated on a long table so the atmosphere was very local. Overall, great choice for tasty Hawaiian food with American or local style dishes for those who aren't into Hawaiian. Come here every time folks returning home for a visit say they want Hawaiian food and are staying in Waikiki since it's so easy for them to get here. Server was very good, too. Only at the end, when the restaurant was really busy and had more tables to wait on, she was giving us a lot of attention. Pleasant and friendly the entire time. She kept us informed about the status of our order and it came out in a reasonable amount of time. Note-because we pre-ordered, I was also impressed with the quick email responses to clarify some items, which was great. Everything was correct in our order. Easy process as long as you don't mind typing.

If you are hankering for a luau without the touristy frills and expense $$$, this is the place to come and feast. Just minutes away from Waikiki, you'll be walkout with your opu (belly) full! I order the Tasting Plate. It consists of squid lau, pork lau lau, chicken long rice, poi, lomi lomi, haupia and purple sweet potato. A luau party in my waha (mouth).

Great service. Staff is very friendly and responsive. Food is always delicious. Ordered tripe stew humbug style. Tastes like my grandma's tripe stew. Humbug style is thicker. Regular tripe stews is soupy.

My family and I come here every time we visit Oahu and it never fails to satisfy us. The food is absolutely amazing and the best thing to eat right after landing staff are always very, very welcoming and friendly. They all have such great personalities and are easy to make conversation with. The poi is amazing and always very fresh. I love the haupia as well. The restaurant is very welcoming and a nice place to relax and enjoy a delicious meal.

I stopped by Salt at our Kakaako for lunch and decided eat at the Highway Inn and it turned out good. Good vibes and good atmosphere. The service and the food was good.

One of the best local hawaiian mixed plate and breakfast. Took my father in law here who grew up on the islands and he was very impressed. Service was great, we went very early and there was only one server and she was able to attend to all us tables with aloha. Ambiance is nice aswell!

Highway Inn Kaka'ako is located at Salt. While they specialize in Hawaiian food, they also serve many local plate lunch favorites, salads for those watching their calories and burgers for the kids. While I prefer Helena's Hawaiian food, especially th Pipikalua short ribs and butterfish collars, Highway Inn's is conveniently located in Kakaako, there's no 30-60-minute line, they have lots of validated parking, they are open every day with longer hours, they serve alcoholic beverages, and they have a much larger menu. Their food is good and it will definitely satisfy you craving for Hawaiian food. If you're a visitor and you haven't eaten Hawaiian food, start with one of their Highway Inn Tasting plate. After you've had a chance to try each dish, order more of the dishes you like from their A La Carte Hawaiian Dishes menu. Then choose from poi, white or brown rice for your starch. Overall: **** Recommended **** Food: **** Value: **** Menu: **** Hawaiian & local favorites Ambiance: *** Service: **** Parking: **** lots of validated parking RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Signature Hawaiian Combo = A Squid Luau & Lomi Salmon = B Pulehu Short-ribs = C (wasn't marinated long enough) If you've eaten here, please leave your recommended dishes and other recommended restaurants that you enjoy in the Comments. Website: https://www.myhighwayinn.com/ Yelp: https://yelp.to/-LYxtd59Md YELP: Sorry! They allow only one 12 second video & the remaining to 3 seconds, with maximum of 10 pictures/videos. The full video can be found elsewhere. RATINGS KEY: A = Really Good - one of the best B = Good - would order again C = ok - similar, nothing special D = Not very good - wouldn't order F = Terrible - avoid

This is a great place to get Hawaiian food. They had 3 main vege options - veg loco moco made from ulu, tofu Katsu, and salad. I decided on the tofu Katsu since I already had eaten eggs earlier that day. Plus learned they were out of the ulu burger anyways. You do have to pay $7.99 extra for the ulu burger which I never understood. They take away the meat leaving just rice, eggs and gravy and you have to pay a lot more to add the ulu burger. The tofu Katsu was delightful--crispy and hot, accompanied by tasty Katsu sauce and potato salad. While I wished for more cabbage to balance out the carbs, the overall experience was enjoyable. Choosing between the potato salad and salad is an option, but the potatoes were too delicious to resist.

This place was coming off of lots of recommendations! Their Tasting plate has a little of everything, and got the touch of hawaii, highly recommend. And also the waiters told us that they recommended fish tacos there, which we also ordered! The alcohol selections with POG, and passion fruits were delicious! The waiters all are super welcoming and nice! Would definitely come back again! I don't think I had anything bad! There's a line out the door and we went on a weekday night! So plan ahead if you do want to come here. They have a small parking lot, that doesn't fit many cars, but street parking is available down the block! They also do have single stall restrooms.

Great place to get a large portion of tasty Hawaiian food. Pros: -great food -nice, casual, and clean establishment to get local food -works for small or large parties Cons: -small parking lot -the service was a bit slow when we went since there were large parties so we didn't get a refill on our drinks

Service was a little slow. The tasting plate was a good way to try authentic Hawaiian food without overordering. Everyone was able to taste a little of each and not have to throw anything away. I'm glad I didn't order the poi in place of rice. I personally didn't like the taste and texture. It was too tart and mushy for my liking. The beef stew was what I was expecting. The flavors were a little mild compared to Asian beef stews. The taro dessert was great. I would order again. I would also go here with first time visitors to Hawaii to give them a taste of authentic Hawaiian food.

the location of highway inn is super pretty . There is a lot of shops and artwork around here! Parking there is either street or paid lot parking. the moment we walked in we were greeted and had to wait for our party to be seated. the service was excellent! Our server had great suggestions and answered our menu questions. As far as the food, it was superb. I had the mochicko chicken and the flavorings and crunchiness of the chicken was perfect. This is how mochicko chicken should be cooked!!! Everyone finished their plates completely and no crumbs were left. I can see why guy fieri ate here! It's a go to spot. I will definitely be back once I find myself on the island again

My brother has been working in Japan for the past couple of years, so when he came home to visit for Thanksgiving, we were not about to eat at a Japanese restaurant. I wanted to take him somewhere that allowed him to get food he can't get in Japan. We ended up at Highway Inn because if you're going to get Hawaiian food, you get it here IN Hawaii! I ordered my go-to at all Hawaiian restaurants...squid luau. I ordered the combo plate that comes with your choice of starch (rice or poi), choice of salad (lomi salmon, potato-mac salad or Maui greens with liliko'i dressing), 'uala (sweet potato) and haupia. For $17, it's actually a good deal. You get a generous service of squid luau and there are decent size chunks of squid in there. My brother ordered the Highway Inn tasting plate that comes with lau lau (chicken or pork...pork costs a little more), kalua pig, chicken long rice, poi, lomi salmon, 'uala (sweet potato), squid luau and haupia. For about $30, this is also a good deal. It's a LOT of food. Let's just say that my brother can eat a good amount of food and this left him actually saying he was full. We ordered a side of the potato-mac salad because I couldn't decide between that or the lomi salmon with my meal and I wanted to see what theirs was like. I could have passed on this, though. Check out their Frequent Diners rewards program. It's FREE and you get 5% cash back on all restaurant food, beverage and merchandise and other rewards throughout the year. You can scan the QR code that's on the menu or go to https://highwayinn.comosense.com/ Note: There's a 5% kitchen service charge automatically applied to your bill. The receipt notes that 'This is allocated to admin costs and tips to kitchen staff who do not share in the tips you leave'. Note #2: You can park in the open parking lot or structure for SALT at Our Kakaako. Make sure to get validation. The first hour is free, 1-2 hours is $1, 2-3 hours is $2 and over 4 hours (1/2 hour rate) is $3.

Last month we tried out their Waipahu location for breakfast due to a segment on a local TV show that showcased their food; French Toast w/Lilikoi Sauce was one of those items. But we found out that only the Kakaako location has the Lilikoi Sauce. Bummers. But last week we were in town & decided to visit their Kakaako location. And this time I was satisfied as they had their Lilikoi Sauce w/the French Toast & it was goood! We also tried their Hawaiian Food Sampler which came with bowls of Poi, Lomi Salmon, Kalua Pork, Lau Lau, Chicken Long Rice, Squid Luau, Haupia, & Sweet Potato. All of it was tasty, although the squid Luau was a little too sweet for my liking. I also wish the Poi bowl had more poi. But all in all, the Sampler was really good. They have other thing I want to try on my next visit, like Loco Mocos & their Beef Stew. They have validated parking that can be pretty busy near the lunch hour, especially when they are competing with other restaurants.

I usually have hawaiian food here but decided to try something different, the smoked moco. The meat today was pork belly. It's kiawe-smoked, sautéed with onions and bell peppers and served on a bed of rice. Smoked aioli sauce is drizzled all over and topped with two eggs. The flavor of the pork, peppers and onions was good but the combination with the rice and eggs was somewhat dry. It needed more of the sautéed sauce to soak into the rice to add more flavor to it. The moco comes with potato/ mac salad or greens. I decided to go with the greens and it was good. Nothing special but a healthy complement to the moco dish. I also had a plantation ice tea which was refreshing and went well with the smoked moco. The service was good for a busy lunchtime. The food was freshly made and served hot. If you have a party of six or more, you can make reservations but only online. This is nice, especially if there's a bunch of you and you're on an hour lunch. The atmosphere is nice, not too loud but loud enough that you can have a good time and not worry about embarrassing yourself!

Out of a 4 day vacation in Oahu, this was by far the best authentic Hawaiian food we had during the entire trip. We went to the North Shore and visited some food trucks, but honestly felt that it was quite mid. We didn't realize that a lot of the more popular, traditional Hawaiian restaurants would only be open for breakfast and lunch. On our last day, we head to the Highway Inn, and we were totally blown away. It wasn't busy at all, so we were able to get seated immediately. I loved the surf diner feel to it. It was really welcoming and relaxing. I ordered the kalua pig combo plate with a side of squid lau lau and my bf ordered the smoked moco. Every single bite just tasted so fresh and made with love. I could eat that squid lau lau on rice all day. The smoked moco was also super surprising. I wasn't sure how it would differ from a traditional loco moco, and honestly, it was great. It was such a big portion that my bf took half back to our airbnb and ate it for breakfast the next day. Overall, this was a fantastic stop and we should've gone to this place sooner.

Lunch at Highway Inn. Busy area with small paid parking lot. Restaurant validates so no big deal. Walked in and was greeted and seated immediately. Water brought and order taken. Restaurant was clean and open. Cool a/c. The sweet waitress was happy to give recommendations. I don't eat a lot at one time anymore so she guided us to a meal where we could just share. Extra plate brought without asking. Food delivered quickly. Everything was beyond delicious!! We chose the kalua pig combo, with rice and potato Mac salad. Absolutely no complaints.

I recently dined at a popular Hawaiian restaurant in Honolulu that had a noticeable line of patrons waiting, which certainly raised our expectations. Fortunately, we were seated promptly, and the service maintained a good pace throughout our meal. We started with the plantation iced tea and pog, both of which were refreshing. For the main course, I chose the fried chicken, which was crispy and flavorful, paired with fried rice and macaroni salad. The fried rice was a solid complement to the chicken, and the macaroni salad provided a nice, creamy contrast. Overall, the experience was quite positive. The restaurant's popularity was well-deserved, offering satisfying Hawaiian comfort food with efficient service.

Visiting from California and we wanted try authentic Hawaiian food so when I found this place on Yelp I knew we had to try it! The tasting plate is a perfect way to try all of the traditional dishes that are served at a luau, only these are so much better!! The yakisoba with short rib was delicious as well. Not pictured is the cocktails we got, Lili Coco, if you like coconut, this is a must order!! The service was fantastic and all the staff were friendly and helpful. It felt like having dinner with family!

I've been craving Hawaiian food for some time and decided it was time to get my fix. In the past, Highway Inn has been really good and my go-to spot, but my last visit was quite disappointing. Honestly, so was the time before my most recent visit, so why I came back, I don't know. Maybe to give it one last try before drawing the line. I split the tasting platter with a family member but the flavors just weren't there. The best things may have been the sweet potato slices and the haupia. Someone else in our party got the burger, but the only good thing seemed to be the fries. At least the service was still good and we didn't have to wait for a table. Although we won't be coming back, please fix the leaky pipes, it's unpleasant to have water dripping onto you or someone else in your party.