Kua ‘Aina

Honolulu, United States

3.3

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 808-591-9133
Website:
www.kuaainahawaii.com
Address:
Ward Center 1200 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI, 96814
Ala Moana
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.7 mi986
0.7 mi760
1.2 miAlakea St + S Hotel St
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Garage
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
No
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
No
Dogs Allowed
Yes
Waiter Service
No
Drive-Thru
No
Caters
No

Today

Today –
Local time (Honolulu) –

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Founded on the North Shore of O’ahu in Haleiwa, Kua Aina is the original and oldest gourmet hamburger place in Hawaii. Now located at the entrance to Ward Centre, Kua Aina continues to satisfy appetites daily.

Freshness is at the heart of every meal served at Kua Aina. Each meal is prepared to order using fresh, quality ingredients. We’re known for our charbroiled hamburgers, juicy and cooked to perfection, as well as our extensive sandwich and salad selections, including mahi, ahi, chicken, pastrami, turkey, BLTs, and more, all made to order. Don’t forget to save room for our famous shoestring fries, cut fresh every day.

Since 1975, Kua Aina has been serving up Honolulu’s best burgers, sandwiches, salads, and fresh cut shoestring fries to locals and tourists alike. Whether you’re cruising along the North Shore or shopping in town, come by and pay us a visit. Just be prepared to experience the BEST.

History

Established in 1975.

Kua Aina has been serving Hawaii’s best burgers, sandwiches, salads and fresh cut shoestring fries since 1975. Originating in beautiful Haleiwa, Kua Aina continues to satisfy appetites daily at our Honolulu location at the Ward Centre. Our mission is to provide juicy burgers and fresh sandwiches and salads in a warm, welcoming environment. With over 40 years of success, we look forward to adding you to our long history of happy customers.

Meet the Business Owner

Bryan B.

Business Owner

An O’ahu native, Bryan first opened shop in 1975, creating Hawaii’s first gourmet burger place. Over 40 years later, Bryan enjoys being able to serve the public at Kua Aina, where our fresh, quality ingredients are the driving force of the business. Bryan hopes to provide you such a positive experience you’ll remember to return to Kua Aina when you’re in need of a great meal.

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20 reviews of Kua ‘Aina

No registration required
Place rating: 3
Aurora, CO
The sandwiches here are no joke! Well, at least the Tuna Salad sandwich I had.
The sandwich was stuffed (and, I mean STUFFED) with veggies and tuna salad. The bread was toasted to a crispy yet fluffy consistency.
The fries. Oh, the fries. They were stringy and delicious! Ask for a side of ranch with it and increase your happiness points by 20. (Just kidding, can you even get points for happiness?)
The service here is friendly, but not. It’s a bit inconsistent, to be quite honest, but most places are!
Overall, decent place if you’re looking for quick food.
Place rating: 4
Aiea, HI
This is a pretty darn good burger! It’s juicy and fresh. As a burger connoisseur, it’s not my favorite by far but it’s definitely a place I enjoying going to. Love the fried onion stack they put on the burger and the bun. Their fries are super thin and therefore, kind of messy to eat, but they’re delicious and fresh too. Also, service is always friendly and food comes out at a reasonable time.
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
Had to try it! Read a lot of good reviews from Unilocal friends. So I had to have some. My wife and I had the same burger. We should have tried two different kinds but they were out of avocado. I wanted to try the avocado sandwich that everyone is writing about. I guess we have to come back for it
So we went with the next best thing, pineapple burger with teriyaki sauce and cheese. It was a big messy burger to eat. I loved it. Ate it like a cave women. They also have 3 different hot sauce to put on your sandwich.
A place with 3 types of hot sauce for my burger, is a place for me!
My burger was delicious with out the hot sauce but with the hot sauce, was the bomb! We will go back again today so we can get that avocado burger.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
Best burger joint on the Island. Not the best idea before heading to the beach. The burgers are big and heavy! The tasty fries were shoe-​string which I was not a fan of. I wish they had thick cut.
Their sandwiches where good too. I had the BLT Avo and the Mahi-​Mahi over the week. Fresh cut Avocado with all the fixings. I’ll defiantly revisit the next time I’m here.
Place rating: 3
Kaneohe, HI
The employees were nice and the menu was simple but good options. The place was clean but all of the tables were sticky. Like, sticking-​to-​my-​arm. Ew.
We got the avocado bacon burger and fries. It was good but nothing amazing. Probably nice if you’re craving a burger and nothing else will satisfy. Price was alright.
Place rating: 2
Honolulu, HI
Good food!
BAD customer service!
We asked the cashier if they could do us a favor by cutting the burgers in half for us. Then SHE said «we have knives.»
Teach your people proper customer service.
NO ALOHA whatsoever!!!
Place rating: 1
Honolulu, HI
I wasn’t a huge fan and neither was my boyfriend. I thought the bun was dry/​stale and the under seasoned burgers were overcooked. Fries weren’t too good — seems like the bottom of the barrel crunchies, but I know some people are into that kind of shoestring thing. I’ll be on the hunt for a better burger on the island.
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
Burgers at Kua’Aina are pretty darn tasty. BUT, sometimes someone must be having a rough day because you will occasionally get a not so yummy burger.
My requirement for a yummy burger is pretty simple:
(^.^*)/​Yummy = A juicy burger with a nice char to it.
/(;_;)\ Not So Yummy = Dry and over cooked to the point of hockey puck-​like status.
I’ve had a not so yummy burger here & because of that I haven’t been back for over five years. Well, Kua’Aina is still around so they must be doing something right. I’ve been back several times now since last year & it’s safe to say my burger passed muster.
To French Fries or Not to French Fries? The skinny little shoestring fries are not my favorite. It lacks the potato flavor to me. Sort of like eating air somehow? It tastes better if you eat a handful of it at a time but that just makes me look like a pig so I dunno. Not much of a fan.
These days I’m more apt to veg out on their Grilled Eggplant & Peppers sandwich ($ 7.40). It’s perfect for the days when you just want to eat veggies just because it’s veggies. The nicely charred eggplant, peppers & onions really brings out the sweetness of the vegetables & has it’s own «meatiness» to it. It is so good!
I have tried this sandwich with all three types of breads (Kaiser roll, multi-​grain wheat & hearth rye) and hearth rye is the way to go because the other two breads just fell apart not even halfway through eating… so go with rye for less mess.
Best to eat on sight. I’m pretty sure if you order to go you will get a soggy mess.
3 stars for the burgers, 4.5 stars for the grilled eggplant & pepper sandwich.
One more thing. If you order a drink you have to grab your own lid. Straws to the left of the counter & lids all the way to the right of the counter.
Happy eating!
Place rating: 3
Honolulu, HI
I remembered this place a little differently.
Burgers were okay, I didn’t seem to see anything that stood out for me. I also remembered the fries being like shoe string fries… however, now its more like potato sticks. Its wasn’t a bad place to stop by for lunch, but it sadly did not satisfy my craving for a burger that day.
For their prices, I think going to Honolulu Burger Co. may be a better choice. Staff however, was very nice. Dine in area was clean.
Place rating: 4
Ewa Beach, HI
Had the 1⁄3 lb Bacon Burger with cheddar cheese. Not gonna lie, it’s pretty awesome. The burger was juicy, just the way I like it. I couldn’t eat the whole thing which made me realize I should’ve just got a kiddie burger and just added the toppings I wanted my friend got the kiddie burger and it was pretty much the same size as my burger and it was half of the price. I love how the onions are grilled and you can choose whatever type of cheese you prefer. I didn’t like the fries, which is pretty much just shoe string fries. Definitely going back to try their other burgers.
Place rating: 1
Tioga County, PA
I ordered an avacoda burger and told them please dont burn the meat. Because last time I ordered a veggy burger, they burned the veggy patty.
Then I got my burger and the meat was burnt again. I gave it back and started to wait for my new burger. After 40 minutes of waiting I saw the chef, he was talking to the manager lady. I asked «is there any problem?» Because I was still waiting. And the chef said «yes there is a problem» !
I said they burnt the meat and I have been waiting for 40 minutes to get a new one! He said İt wasn’t burnt, it was just a little bit over-​cooked!
He was sooo rude and ready to fight. I said I took the pic of the meat and gonna put it on Unilocal!It was burnt not over-​cooked!
Anyway, the manager lady was so sorry about the chef’s attitude and asked me a free burger. It was almost an hour that I was waiting.
I got my money back and left.
I Waited for an hour to get a new burger (not a free stuff — just to get a new burger) — if they can’t cook a burger meat without burning it, then they should shut down their «burger» shop.
Place rating: 5
St. Augustine, FL
Love Kua’Aina Burgers! I keep telling myself to try the other sandwiches, but I am so hooked on that Avocado Burger!!! Quite honestly… you don’t even need to get a sandwich, just get the fries! The fries are apply to the thigh good!
There is plenty of seating inside and out at this location. It does take a little time to get your food since everything is made fresh to order. So, be patient, its worth it.
The only problem or thing I can’t understand is… when you order the smaller burger you get the same size bun as the larger burger. So you need to munch through some bread to get to the goodness.
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
Every time I’ve come here the people are friendly and the food has yet to disappoint! Our Conure loves the free water they give!
Place rating: 1
Kaneohe, HI
I wanted to see what the hype was so we went. WOW, disappointment when compared to Teddy’s and any other burger place.
1-​the menu: All I read about is the avocado burger — but they were out of avocado. I figured since it was so prominent they’d have had plenty. nope
2-​the burger: They tout all burgers are medium and the person we ordered from specifcially asked. They were so rare as to think the cow was only mildly injured.
3-​the bun: call me needy, but a hot burger off the grill gets a warm bun (or at least a soft one). Missed it again. The kaiser they advertised looked good, and should have been appetizing, but was clearly just taken out of some kind of storage.
I will give them a little break because we came at a very busy time, but that’s where you let customers wait until the food is properly prepared.
There’s PLENTY of other options for a good burger on the island. Teddy’s hasn’t failed us yet! In a market where folks compete for the best burger, Kua ‘Aina better pick up its game.
Place rating: 2
Honolulu, HI
When I first moved to Hawaii, everyone said this was the go-​to burger spot. Having lived here for years now, I know that this is not the case. It’s– meh. While the North Shore /​Haleiwa location is charming, I just don’t think the burgers at either location are anything to rave about– at all. The only time I go now is if a friend wants to go. I won’t balk at it.
I will say the place is clean and staff friendly. The cons? Every time I go– EVERY TIME– they are out of avocado. Yet, they are known for their avo burger. The burgers are usually overcooked and dry– I am a firm believer that burgers should be super juicy– like running-​down-​your-​arm-​multiple-​napkins juicy. The meat is totally bland and flavorless, and burgers are served with awkwardly-​large chunks of carrot (what!!!) — and don’t get me started on the «fries.» So gross. They are like oily little fry shavings. Like shredded hash browns that have been soaked in oil all night. These are not french fries. Finally, for the quality of what you get, I think it’s overpriced. There are far too many other places to get good burgers– I would much rather head over to Teddy’s.
Place rating: 3
Honolulu, HI
I was excited to finally try out Kua ‘Aina after a sabbatical from island grinds for quite some time. I love burgers so any chance I have to try out a new burger place, I’m definitely up for the foodie adventure!
The menu was lacking and I ended up ordering an Avocado burger with a side of fries. The fries really should have been complimentary with the burger order. It seriously did not add any value to the meal. It reminded me of the fries at Five Guys but at half the quality. :/​The burger was ok. cooked well but messy with the avocado sliding out of place with each bite. Still, it was tasty but certainly not one of the best that I’ve had. «I’ve had better,» she says. Lol
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
I have been craaaaaving a burger all week and made the decision to get dinner at Kua ‘Aina with my three-​year old in tow. Daddy was having a night out with his friends, so we were having a wild night on the town together! #GirlsGoneMILD
This shop is in my hood and for one reason or another, I always forget that it’s so close by. We decided to go with the ½ lb cheese burger (only $.40 more than a 1⁄3 lb) and small french fries. Our order came out to $ 11.40 and this is without a drink so prepare your wallet if you’re coming with your entire family. The good news is that you can really share one order of ½ lb burger + fries with another person and be totally full. In addition, you have lots of choices for add-​ons here such as different cheeses, bacon, avocado, pineapple, etc but as I was sharing with my little one I thought it best to keep it simple. All burgers come with lettuce, tomato, onions and mayo.
I have to give props to the lady at the counter who took our order because without me even asking she gave me a cup of water. This probably isn’t standard and I appreciated that she noticed I had my daughter in tow. So sweet! While we waited for our order I noticed that they were non-​stop busy because it was a Saturday, but they really need an extra set of hands just to wipe down tables. Waited about 12 minutes for our order but I thought it was worth the wait for a freshly cooked burger that really satiated my monster burger craving. I’m not the biggest fan of shoestring fries but my daughter finished them off so they’re definitely kid approved!
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
We’ve been fans of Kua’Aina from its humble beginnings in Haleiwa. When they expanded to Ward Center, we found ourselves going to this location more frequently. This location is more convenient, accessible and cleaner. There are more parking areas, other shopping options and entertainment around.
Somehow, after watching a movie at the nearby Ward Consolidated Theaters, having a burger with fries seems to finish the day. It’s like having a hot dog or nachos at a ball game… doesn’t it seem to taste better? When you peruse their menu, please note that you have several choices to make. The service counter and cashier are normally friendly and patient. You get to «customize» your burger with the following:
–burger size. either 1⁄3 lb. or ½ lb.
–burger doneness? They grill your burger to your order.
–what do you want on that burger? cheese, type of cheese, bun or type of bread, bacon, Ortega chile or avocado.
–rather not have a burger? They do offer vegetarian or non-​meat options.
Our favorite Kua’Aina meals are their ½ lb. Avocado burger, bacon cheeseburger, a large basket of crispy fried shoestring potatoes and 2 beverages. Our burgers have always been grilled medium to medium well, flavorful and juicy. My favorite is the avocado burger that is the best because it features a whole avocado. The bacon cheeseburger is also tasty with strips of crispy bacon atop either cheddar or Provolone. And the «natural» accompaniment is their crisp fried shoestring potatoes or onion rings. We’ve dined here often enough to have tried just about everything on their menu but we’re creatures of habit so we’ll order our favorites.
What will you try? Cheese boiger, cheese boiger, cheese boiger…
Place rating: 3
Honolulu, HI
I came for lunch with the husband, with a huge craving for a mahi sandwich, and a huge aversion against driving to the North Shore for one. I saw that they served mahi sandwiches at Kua ‘Aina and I was sold. I had the mahi sandwich on wheat, and he had the bacon avocado burger. The mahi sandwich was OK. They gave a generous portion of fish, but certain parts of it tasted fishy… I probably would stick to burgers. The husband ordered the larger of the burgers, and had trouble eating it… it was super messy and he couldn’t finish the whole thing. I ate his leftovers, and found the burger to be tasty. We shared an order of fries, which were totally bland. It was easily fixed with some salt and pepper, but kind of disappointing that they didn’t season them at all.
Overall, the food here is OK and the prices are reasonable. I would probably return, simply because of the wide array of menu choices and customization options there are.
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
I’ve been coming to Kua ‘Aina since high school & although I haven’t tried anything else other than the cheesebuger, I’m still a fan. I love cheeseburgers, and I’ve never been disappointed with a plain ol’ medium rare, 1⁄3 lb. Cheeseburger from Kua ‘Aina. Add a side order of large fries that look like Pik-​Nik Shoestring Potatoes, and I’m good to go. Nevermind that the burger itself is almost $ 8 – burgers are so FAT you’d need to do some major squashing to get just one bite of it all. Sometimes I just order it plain – just the patty, cheese & buns. But watch out for the patty juice trickling down your hands… That’s why they have the heavy duty paper towels on the table.
Overall, this is one of my favorite burger joints. I don’t tell friends & family about this place, I bring them here!