Ethel’s Grill

Ethel’s Grill is a hole in the wall with no frills. Parking is limited and if you don’t get one of their stalls it’s really hard to find street parking in this area. Seating is limited, so if there is a wait, your best bet is takeout. So why do people keep coming here hoping to score a seat?
The food is good. The Ahi Tataki is what everyone talks about for a reason. The fish is fresh and sliced sashimi style. Served with cabbage, onion, bean sprouts, radish sprouts, shoyu garlic chips and sauce. This dish has tons of flavor and textures to enjoy. Definitely plan to share a side order with the table or order the plate just for yourself.
For other entrees, I like the Japanese Hamburger Steak which has a ponzu sauce instead of a demi glacé and lots of grated daikon and shredded cabbage. The combination of tangy ponzu and crunch from the veggies makes this Hamburger Steak fresh, not heavy.
If you’re hungry, the Garlic Chicken is the way to go. They give you a pile of lightly fried dark meat chicken which has been coated in a homemade sweet-​garlic sauce that is so much better than the bottled stuff.
Plates are complete meals and come with salad, miso soup and either fruit punch or ice tea. Make plans to trek on down and bring cash.

I never understood the draw of Ethel’s Grill. Sure, it’s an endearingly dingy dive that serves up hearty portions of local and Japanese/​Okinawan comfort food. But even though I always left full, I didn’t leave fully satisfied. A seasoning issue, perhaps? I like a little more salt, a little more oomph. Maybe it’s just not my kind of fare.
It certainly is the fare of many, evidenced by the crowd of people itching to get in at lunchtime. You’ll always start out with a bowl of good miso soup and a crisp, little salad drizzled with a riff on green goddess. You should probably also start with the signature tataki, a generous block of fresh, silken ‘ahi seared, sliced and set atop crunchy mung bean sprouts with garlic soy, shaved red cabbage, and Big Island fern stems.
The Japanese hamburger steak, with its pool of ponzu and massive crown of grated daikon, is fine, but not how I like to eat beef. (Salmon shioyaki, sure.) Order the «normal» version if you also prefer your patty swimming in gravy. Sadly, either way you get it, the patty lacks flavor.
Blandness afflicts the garlic ‘ahi as well. My trick is to flake the fish into the tomatoey garlic butter so that all the sauce soaks in and I can really dig in with the rice.
But redemption comes in the form of crunchy, juicy mochiko chicken that gets a boost from a brief dip in ponzu.
Make sure to bring cash and be prepared to drive up and down Kalihi Street looking for parking.

Decided to try this place out bcus my dad saw Anthony bourdain try it out and raved that it was a must try.
So we decided to try it out. The people were nice, food was cheap and large portions but to be honest I don’t see the wow factor to it.
It’s not something I would tell ppl that they must come and eat here. If u want cheap eats with big portions then this is the place to go. Other than that there’s way more places in the island that’s better in my opinion.

Happened to be in Honolulu whole watching the food channel and Anthony Bourdain was doing his hawaii series. He was here and eating with the owners.
They had an array of food from taco Rice to ahi platters and hamburger steak with daikon and ponzu sauce.
They described it as a hole in the wall in kali hi which is a Filipino neighborhood.
It peaked our interest and so we had to try it.
When I Unilocaled it, I realized it’s only open till 2pm so we planned our day around lunch.
We got there and realized it’s the ground floor of an old apartment complex. Parked on the street. There were 4 people in line in front of us. Went in to put our name down and waited outside.
Waited about 20 min used at 1245 and it was worth it!!!
Abbé 8 tables inside and décor is pictures of sumo wrestlers and of course photos of Anthony with the family. We ordered the ahi appetizer platter. .so good and tender. Mochiko chicken which was a huge serving. Hamburger steak was my favorite and Mahi plate lunch too. I could eat here everyday.
All entrees come with miso soup and salad and punch or iced tea with one refill.
Don’t come looking for fancy but come and try. Local home made amazing place.

Ethel’s is a soulful, family-​owned, hole-​in-​the-​wall slightly off the beaten path in Kalihi. They have a fantastic set of delicious staple dishes on the regular menu, like the tataki sashimi and the garlic ahi. While they have a number of comfort food local favorites, the fish is where they really shine. What keeps me coming back is their constantly rotating set of specials, usually announced on social media the day they’re released. The misoyaki opah belly is a go-​to favorite of mine as is any of their experimental teriyaki chicken dishes. Sometimes, they just make something up on the fly and give it a name like «Super Duper Chicken Teriyaki Donburi,» and it never disappoints.
Parking is tough, so carpool if possible. The food will definitely be worth it!

When it comes to my Unilocal reviews, I err on the side of the food/​dishes, and not so much on ambiance, etc. Ethel’s is no exception. A must go, when in the area (it is a little out of the way and has little parking), Ethel’s is truly a diamond in the rough. Great food, but surely not somewhere you are willing to impress a date with… unless, that is, he or she is a foodie! The dishes are of your typical «Hawaii-​style» Japanese (we just call it local food), but of a caliber that you would expect of fancier places (better tasting in most cases in my opinion). I love coming here for lunch, but it has to be on a day that I have some time on my hands, parking can be a pain. Also, you may need a nap when done!

Ethel’s is awesome, there are so many yummy dishes to eat here that it’s best to go with a group so you can order several things to share family style. Our favorites include their famous ahi tataki of course, mochiko chicken with ponzu sauce, saimin, roast pork with gravy, and teri burgers.
Meals are served with a small salad with tasty green goddess dressing, miso soup, and either iced tea or fruit punch.
The wait for a table can be long, but it’s always worth our time. The service is friendly and efficient. If you’re lucky they’ll have fresh bottles of chili pepper water or garlic shoyu to buy on your way out.

This is pretty much the definition of Hawaiian grub.
This is a small… and I mean SMALL… hole in the in the industrial area. Be prepared to wait in line and don’t expect anything fancy. The food itself was great. The tataki sauce is good and it’s an overall healthy meal. I could eat it over rice and be the most content person.
The Japanese steak in gravy was also very grubby. kinda like the stuff you want after a night of heavy drinking.
The salad dressing was incredibly good… I’m surprised people don’t go there just for that.
Random helpful hint for first time visitors. Parking is a bitch, but there is a very small lot attached to ethels for customers… keep an eye out.

First timer here! Yummy & good size for price ($ 4.50) Only complaint (minor) I ordered over easy eggs and got over hard

I’m not exactly sure how this place eluded me and my fiancé for so long. Granted, it’s a bit hidden in Kalihi and quite frankly, it is the literal definition of a hole-​in-​the-​wall. On the night before my fiancé had to fly out to the mainland for graduate school, I asked her what she wanted as her final meal on the island before leaving. She said she wanted to try something new, a place that she has never been and promptly referred to Unilocal which led us to find this little gem.
Tucked away in Kalihi disguised under an apartment complex, it’s quite easy to miss. We arrived before the big lunch hour rush, and it was a good thing we did because this place was constantly filled with hungry patrons. Around the restaurant were old articles about how Ethel’s Grill both in Japanese and English. The big paper signs in the front of the restaurant detailed the menu along with a little white board stating the day’s specials. However, we kept our eye on the prize and ordered garlic chicken, Japanese hamburger plate, mochiko chicken, and ahi tataki plate (we were there with friends).
Within a few minutes, we received our complimentary salad and miso soup both of which were delicious. A couple of minutes after that, our main entrees came out. We decided to share our plates so we could sample a bit of each and everything was delicious. The Japanese hamburger patty was nicely garnished with freshly grated daikon and swimming in a sea of ponzu sauce. The mochiko and garlic chicken were nicely fried but still juicy and tender, the way that chicken should be. And that ahi tataki was nicely seared and served with ponzu sauce and garlic chips. Delicious!
The next time we return to the islands, we are definitely going to frequent this place. It’s one of Hawai’i’s hidden gems.

This place is a gem, an old fashioned mom & pops. You can find it at the end of Kalihi Street. This place brings me back to my childhood. Cool sumo décor with paintings and old photos. The food is really great. From the tataki to the Okinawan dishes to the hamburger steak… everything is so ono. (I remember reading that their hamburger steak is a blend of ground beef and ground pork.) Love this place.

I’ve heard of this place for quite some time now, and finally got to visit on 10/17/15…I can see why folks have been talking about this place for so long! I had saimin (my favorite breakfast food), with the «required» hamburger sandwich… better half had eggs/​bacon (her fav) and my sister had the turbocharged breakfast miso soup (I forgot what it was called on the menu).
Food was delicious, and VERY reasonably priced … The atmosphere is quaint and homey with lots of historically referenced pictures on the walls. A mural of a sumotori’s behind was an entertaining distraction!
Service was very efficient (not too much engagement, though I could understand having heard of their «normally» slammed lunch rush)…I appreciated the service we had since I’ve experienced much worse for a lot more money at other establishments.
4 stars ONLY because if difficulty with regard to parking. Food taste and quality, service and atmosphere alone would’ve garnered a 5 from me.
Will definitely be back!

My favorite local food spot in Oahu. Everything on the menu is amazing. Loco Moco. Tataki sashimi. Mochiko Chicken. Garlic Pork Chops. Etc. Get there early for the breakfast menu. The owners are really nice people. They treat us like family.

This place just gets better and better…
HAMBURGER STEAK WITH BROWN GRAVY: ok, so this my favorite thing. It taste like just pure goodness. Homemade flavor and gravy all over. It’s not just your typical plate lunch hamburger steak (even though it looks like it).
JAPANESE HAMBURGER STEAK: yes this is the one they are more well known for and it is good, but I just prefer the brown gravy one. The daikon tsuru type stuff is great.
Ok I have to say yeah the TATAKI is what they are really known for but fish isn’t my thing, so I can’t speak to it personally, but everyone loves it. If you’re ordering special trays for occasions (e.g., new years) call in advance… don’t expect same day magic.
The garlic chicken is just ok to me.
No reservations, no place to wait, tiny parking (there are a few stalls next door but good luck… street parking may be easier than trying to maneuver in that small area)
I have no idea if they have a bathroom or anything. It’s tiny inside. Crowded, but great service. Be patient, it’s worth it. Or do takeout.

Calling all you ahi tataki lovers! Ethel’s is where it’s at!!! It’s family run business as well. On a busy Saturday afternoon, we decided to check this place out. Despite the multiple parties ahead of us, the line sure goes by fast. So don’t be discouraged! We ordered:
–side of ahi tataki
–special: misoyaki opah
–garlic ahi
*entrees come with miso soup, salad, and fruit punch or iced tea.
(fruit punch is malolo syrup! Oh the memories!!!)
Everything was so ono! The ahi tataki literally melts in your mouth so order it! We could eat this for days! Nothing beats the sauce they use though. The garlic ahi sauce reminded me of Giovanni’s garlic butter sauce. Just wished the opah was marinated more in the misoyaki sauce because it was a bit dry. Fish was fresh & portions were big as well.
Overall, food is great, parking is junk, but it’s so worth checking out. Just for a FYI, if you are looking for a nice ambiance local food place with high end service then maybe this isn’t for you. Definitely will be back!

This place is a hole-​in-​wall spot in industrial Kalihi. I love their Japanese Hamburger steak here! Their home made salad dressing is the bomb too! It gets packed here but it’s well worth it! I would just call ahead to order take out. Parking can get difficult to find but there’s street parking in front or around corner. This place is cash only so remember to bring cash!

totally totally enjoyed this spot — though parking around the restaurant was a bit tricky. we came here before a hike, and man, it really made me wanna take a nap. a local pointed us to this spot, and im so glad he did! they run a pretty tight ship around here — wait outside, dont get seated until you’re called and the table is CLEAN, ice tea or punch, order, get your free miso soup and salad, wait for your YUMMY FOOD!
we ordered — the famous tataki appetizer, the mochiko chicken, and the pork and bittermelon stir fry. everything was in LARGE portions and really delish! nomnom. it was like $ 40 bucks for 2 for lunch for a lot of food. a deal!

My bf surprised me today when he made a lunch delivery from Ethel’s. The seared ahi was delicious & was served with a large side salad. It comes with two sauces, garlic shoyu & pesto cilantro (it tasted really good, so I used the green sauce as a dipping sauce for both ahi & salad greens). It was a tasty & healthy lunch.

This is going to sound bad… but this was my first time ever eating here. I know, I know… how did I go so long without this food in my life???
Yes, this restaurant is located in an industrial location… there’s hardly any parking… if you blink you’ll miss the sign… they close at 2 pm… STILL those are just excuses. I’m glad my friends got me to go.
I believe this is one of the few eateries on the street that has tables for you to eat at. All the other places look like strictly take out. The restaurant is small, but I didn’t feel cramped. The staff are very friendly and personable.
Looking at the menu, I immediately decided on their Japanese hamburger steak… and then changed my mind to their Garlic Ahi. All plates come with miso soup, green salad, and fruit punch or iced tea (dine in). They also had specials… tripe stew, sukiyaki, Ahi belly, pastele sausage… and more.
I will definitely be back to Ethel’s. I want to try many more dishes!!!

Ethel’s is a tiny hole in the wall shop down by sand island. It literally occupies a tiny room on the first floor of some run down apartment complex. There is hardly any seating in the cramped little room and even worse than that is the parking situation. Anyone who has tried to find street parking in this area during the day knows that you will likely either be walking multiple blocks or circling for a good long while. They do have some garage parking, but like the shop, the space is cramped and tiny and I dare not take my truck in there. Add on to all of that, Ethel’s has very limited hours as it closes well before dinner time.
From my above description of a whole bunch of limiting factors you may be wondering why my rating is 5 stars for this place. I rarely give 5 star ratings to anyone unless they do something in particular that is absolutely the best around. We will get to that shortly.
Most of the food I ordered was actually rather disappointing compared to the expectations I had going in to this place from the stellar ratings. The turkey tails were slightly above average, and I somewhat enjoyed these as leftovers. The garlic chicken was not very good in my opinion and I actually only had a bite or two before tossing the whole plate.
This brings us to the side dish which I ordered as a last minute impulse buy. I got a small side of tataki sashimi and I could not be happier that I did. This thing was like heaven. It may be some of the best sashimi that I’ve ever had outside of a high class restaurant. Along with the sauce, it was silky and delicious. I wish I had not ordered any of the other stuff and instead ordered a full plate of nothing but the sashimi. It was just that good. And to top it all off it was only 5 or 6 dollars! You may be able to get this kind of quality at some fine dining place where you’re breaking the bank for each tiny little piece but this is a cheap dive that will cost you nothing.
Overall, go to Ethel’s. Just do it. Skip all the other junk and just order the sashimi. It is quite simply «as good as it gets».