CGee’s Lunches

Sad to hear that they are closing on December 23^rd after 25 years of service. My daughter and I wanted to come by for one last lunch. Best wishes to everyone at CGee’s.

I heard CG’s is going to be permanently closing on 12/​23/​2015. I haven’t worked in town for quite awhile, but when I was, I made it a point to visit CG’s at least once or twice a week. I’ll try to stop by there before it closes for good.

I’ve known about this somewhat secretive place for over a year now, but I’m usually running errands in the area or the line during lunch hour is 5-​steps out the door! Yes, it’s popular with the downtown crowd, but oddly flies under the Unilocal radar! This somewhat secretive place with a funny name is…
CGEE’S LUNCHES!
It’s located in that arcade building with a handful of to-​go eateries. This one seems to be the most popular. Finally, I’m in the area and notice only 3 people in line here! Bam! I’m hungry, I’ve been wanting to try this place in like forever, and I’m actually here with only a few people standing in line! Yay! So, I make an executive decision to grub lunch STAT! I walk in and notice about 6 tiny tables, which is usually open since most orders are downtown workers and most take it to-​go! I note the order counter and the handwritten menu written on a board! The menu is pretty much local plate lunches — with choice of tossed or macaroni salad! After noting the regulars run about $ 7 and the combos about $ 8, I also note the mini’s at only about $ 5! I double check my Prada man-​purse and notice only a Lincoln on me… Yikes! A mini it is…
I peruse the menu… kalua pig & cabbage, beef stew, teriyaki chicken, loco moco, etc., etc. If you’re local or have lived in the islands for awhile that’s like pretty typical «plate lunches». I choose the hamburger steak mini… Get this… For UNDER $ 5! Where in downtown can you get local plate lunches for UNDER $ 5? Okay, I do admit it was manini (small), but it did come with the meat (maybe 4−5oz.?), fresh rice, and I opted for the manini tossed greens w/​dressing! It was okay, really! Nothing to scream home to Nana about, but again, UNDER $ 5! So, you could say it was a nice hardy snack! Yes, if hungry don’t be «Chang» and shell out the $ 7 for a regular! Just make sure you have the cash on you!
So yes, I recommend this somewhat secretive place…
CGEE’S LUNCHES!
It’s location is ideal if in downtown area, about a block Ewa of the main post office. It’s closest to the Merchant St. side of the building. It’s cheap, foods are familiar, and even if the line is long I noticed it went quickly since most foods are pre-​made and scooped! My only minus was the super small serving for my «just okay» hamburger steak mini, but then again I was being «Chang» with $ 5 that included tip! Next time, there will be a next time, I’ll get the teriyaki chicken over fried saimin (that Carly got!) or maybe the turkey or lau lau, but if or when I do return, it’ll be the the regular size, BRAH!
OVERALL GRADE: 3.8-STARS!
Unilocal REVIEW ⁴⁴⁶⁄₅₀₀

Doubt they even check Unilocal but here goes… Love most of the mini plates… the roast turkey is awesome. The Stuffed Cabbage, Kalua Pig Cabbage and Roast Pork is good too. My only gripe, the Hamburger Steak and Chili, soooo manini da portions. Oh and the Hamburger Curry, no veggies, just potato, and a grit that you can’t get out of your mouth for hours :(All in all you can’t go wrong for a pretty good, and quick, «warm» lunch (cafeteria style servings).

Unilocal 100 Review Challenge 2015: ¹⁄₁₀₀
Forgot my home lunch so I decided to venture into downtown for lunch. Anyone who works downtown could attest that food is pricey! And depending how far you venture into Chinatown, it begins to get sketchy as I have heard so many stories of food poison from co-​workers.
This is a tiny restaurant with a surprisingly good amount of seats. I ordered a mini hamburger steak w/​a choice of mac salad or toss for just under 5 $. It was definitely a mini as I am a small eater and was left a bit hungry after this meal but it is lunch after all. I say this place is cheap, good customer service and serves pretty good local comfort food which is better than eating at McD’s and many other fast food joints that will cost you over $ 5. I heard they’re known for their boneless chicken so I will come back for that! I will happily return here on another day that I forget my lunch! Note: It’s cash ONLY.

Another good cheap eats location in downtown Honolulu. You can get stuff to go or eat there. Regular plates are about $ 7; mix plates clock in at $ 8. My mix plate & large drink cost me under $ 10. Taste wise, it’s decent local food fanfare.

For greasy, local style plate lunch, the food is good. My boss got me hooked on their boneless chicken – breaded, fried slabs of goodness covered in brown gravy. They also have turkey plate – the upside of which is that you can specify all white meat or all dark and the downside is that you get a pat of cranberry sauce the size of your thumb. Plates run about $ 7.50 but they weigh everything so the portions are not large enough for me and I always leave hungry.
The family running it is very friendly and they move quickly.

8.20.13.
Fast. Cheap. Local. Decently delish.
Hard to not come here for these reasons. Usually will stop by here for lunch; come before 12 or after 1 otherwise the line can be out the door…& waiting in the awkward shaped venue can be, well awkward.
I needed something fast, cheap & pretty close to my office… and I had good experiences coming here before. But honestly I remember the food being a little better and much less salty. As I was waiting to order I was pretty set on ordering a «safe» choice of Hamburger Steak… but Fried Saimin caught my eye & I was hooked (~$ 7). The noodles are tousled in oil/​seasoning with bits of spam & also comes with your choice of meat (e.g., teri chicken, teri beef, etc.); beware, very salty!
I don’t think I would order this again… perhaps I will stick to «safe» with CGee’s.
Unilocal 365 Challenge: #231/​365

C&G’s on Merchant near Alakea: their chili spaghetti plate (Wednesdays only) is ono-​riffic. They make fresh turkey every day; combined with stuffing, choice of mashed potatoes or rice and an out-​of-​this-​world old-​style gravy, it’s consistently good. Their loco moco is perfect as a hangover cure. At lunchtime there is always a line (good sign) but it moves very quickly. I work nearby and I like that you can go in prior to the lunch rush, pay, tell them what time you’ll be back and essentially avoid the long lunch line. You can also call in your order and they’ll have it ready when you go in. Cash only. p. s. the cashier is gruff, especially now that her sister retired but she warms up once she gets to know your face :)

Came here for lunch because they have Hawaiian food. Being away from home (San Francisco), I figured I should try some local food. I was recommended by a fellow co-​worker to order the Lau Lau (
), basically pork wrapped in tea leaf. But I immediately regretted it after the first bite — it reeked uncontrollably of fish, as my co-​worker forget to tell me that Lau Laus actually have fish in them. Needless to say, I threw out my lunch and resorted to eating crackers.
But hey, maybe it’s just me. Brave souls, do proceed.

Very good local food. Fast and friendly service. It gets busy and there’s not a lot of table and seats so you may have to order take out, but its worth it.

I work close to CGee’s so I often visit for lunch. They usually have a line but it goes by fast. Be ready to order when it gets to your turn because they want to keep the line moving and they make your food almost instantly.
My favorite here is the boneless teriyaki chicken with tossed salad but almost everything else I’ve ordered was tasty.

I was told this morning by my co-​worker that we would be eating here for lunch today. Fine. I can’t make food decisions anyway, so it’s always nice when someone else does the deciding and all I have to do is pick something from the menu.
Naturally I did my Unilocal research, and was semi excited to try this place. My biggest fear was the alleged scary lady at the counter…
We arrived to an almost empty restaurant with only 2 people in front of us. This was great, but also meant I had to hurry and decide what I wanted out of fear of getting yelled at. I got the mini boneless teri chicken with white rice and mac salad. It was good. Not the best, like many have said, but OK. I don’t like that the sauce is all over and that it was touching my mac salad.
The lady at the register kept looking at me like she hated me :(She was very stern. I mean, really, does she hate me? My co-​workers said that that was in fact the NICE lady, and that the mean one doesn’t work there anymore. Geez. Maybe I’m expecting too much from my plate lunch ladies, but I don’t think it would hurt to crack a smile once in a while. I will not be returning on my own, out of fear.

I think they have one of the best plate lunch spots in Downtown Honolulu. You’re getting a lot for the price and everything on the menu is good. Never was once disappointed eating here. Amazing hole in the wall! Must try if you’re in Downtown!

I’ve worked downtown on and off for the last 5 or so years. I’ve eaten at almost every place near CGee’s, but never ever went in. I finally visited this wonderful eatery this week.
CGee’s is a typical plate lunch place, they serve breakfast and lunch to the masses downtown. They have great prices and you always get your money’s worth, or more! The food is good and they have a ton of choices, some specials change every day.
They are also able to be flexible with their menu, substitutions are easy and if for some reason you don’t want something with your plate lunch (like no starches) they’ll make sure you still get a good deal, either adding food or changing prices. They really are wonderful!
This week I went there three times, after my first time, they knew my face and remembered my order. I think that’s amazing, because they are busy! (Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I am noticeably not Asian)
Most of the time there is a ridiculously long line, but don’t leave! The line is really quick and the food is totally worth it.
It’s one of my new favorite places to eat downtown!

A great hole in the wall if you’re working in downtown!
The Good:
Prices are cheap! The mini is decently sized and the regular is basically 2x the size of the mini at about $ 3-​$ 4 more.
Soft drinks are pretty cheap too. Food and drink for under $ 10! under $ 7 if you get a mini! :D
Service is quite quick, we went there at 12:30ish prime lunch hour and the order turn around must have been 5 – 10 minutes (Also helps that I ordered a loco moco lol)
I didn’t dwell too much on the menu because I was craving a loco moco, but the overall feel was a local plate lunch restaurant.
The Meh:
Seating is very limited, and expect that hole in the wall feel.
I’m definitely coming back, hopefully to give you all a better sense of what is on the menu

This place is definitely off the map. I tried to find a Unilocal review as well as Google them, but they are nowhere to be found! But they do exist!
Much like the golden grail this fast-​food place is hard to find in the middle of the hustle and bustle of business district, found tucked away at the corner of S. King + Alakea street.
If you want good quick local food. Here it is!
I always order the Mahi Mahi Combo. This plate will run you about $ 7.60 for 2-​choices (Mahi Mahi + Kalua Pork), mac or toss salad, and two scoops of rice. The Mahi Mahi has a nice tartar sauce, including a wedge of lemon for extra zing.
Mmmmhmmm good P:
If you ever find this place it is open Monday-​Friday from 6AM-​3PM.
Happy hunting!