Masa’s Cafeteria

Located in Mapunapuna, Masa’s Cafeteria serves hot breakfast and lunch to the worker’s in the area and around the airport.
Enjoyed the pork nishime special with rice and fresh tossed salad with thousand island dressing. Plenty of konyaku and konbu in the serving, which I love. It was a little sweet for my taste, but otherwise spot on nishime with fat free pork, carrots, bamboo shoots, konyaku, konbu, and a little bit of black mushrooms, another favorite of mine! Tasty and satisfying!

Just as the name says. Cafeteria and it’s pretty good.
I recently tried it for the first time thanks to the suggestion of the one and only Theresa (foodie extraordinaire).
We tried the Cheeseburger Deluxe & Noodles w/​special sauce. Both were good and for the area one of the best choices.

I don’t know why it took me so long to review Masa’s since I go there pretty often. good food for cheap! these guys are always generous with their portions. For the amount of food you get to the dollar you’d expect to get slop but it really isn’t. They give even more when you dine in. I like how the name is Masa’s cafeteria and it’s actually a cafeteria. You come in and the spread is layed out on heaters for you to choose. They have a set menu and a menu that changes daily. I usually like going on Wednesdays or Thursdays because of their fresh corned beef and cabbage (real deal corned beef, not the canned stuff) pastrami sandwich Thursdays for the wife and Oxtail soup for me. I also like the fact that they offer brown rice and toss salad as an alternative to white rice and mac salad for those with their health in mind. And everything you order comes with a side of toast. Really does maintain the school cafeteria feel from school days except with a TV. I usually place a phone order since I’m usually strapped for time when I’m in the area. My only complaint about this place is the parking. It’s best to avoid the lunch hours since everyone that works around that area is there for lunch but I’d avoid going after lunch since all the good stuff sells out sometimes. Good stuff and lots of it to choose from.

Went to Masas today for a take-​out breakfast and the experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I ordered a side order of corned beef hash, one scoop of fried rice, and two eggs. I know they sell this combination as a complete meal, but the complete meal also comes with toast and coffee, which I did not want. The server took my order and charged me for the complete meal. When I explained that I did not want the complete meal and ordered side orders because I did not want the toast and coffee, she said «You can’t do that.» I looked at the side order menu and nowhere was it stated that you can’t order sides if the combination is equivalent to a complete meal.
The food was okay… standard cafeteria-​style food. It was their lack of flexibility that I did not like. I will not be going back.

The daily specials are amazing! My favs are roast turkey on Wednesdays and the pastrami on Thursdays! Pastrami on a plate lunch? Amazing!

Best value in town! These are my favs…
Wed — Corned Beef Cabbage
Thurs — Oxtail or Roast Beef
Fri — Chix Long Rice

What can I say about this hole in the wall.
ONO ONO ONO food (and TONS of it), at the price of about 10 bucks.
Musubi’s the size of bricks and local atmosphere.
Cafeteria style with auntie cleaning up da lunch tables.
Be sure to tip her.
Parking can be a challenge during peak hours so go early and don’t forget to pick up your white soft bread with real butter inside!

Had the corned beef and cabage special, which is every wednesday. Was really tasty, although it had a lot of fatty pieces. I suppose that could be normal, and a lot of people like that… not us! We also had a terriaki mini plate, which was huge!
All food was delicious and affordable, what more could you ask for?
We’ll be back, for sure.

The graduation party I attended here served Japanese food and the food was down right horrible! Last night we had a graduation party (for my nephew) and opted for the hawaiian food hoping it was better which it was? Better meaning at least the food was edible. The kalua pig was over cooked, dry, and bland, chicken long rice was very bland, squid luau was actually a hit, mahi mahi was pretty good, sweet potato was ok. I guess my biggest gripe is if you’re paying $ 25 per head every thing should be cooked to perfection! The cooks here should try eating the hawaiian food at Pakeles in kahaluu, people’s café in downtown, or 100% hawaiian pearl city so they know how the kalua pig and chicken long rice should taste!

Food is good and price is right but this is the only business that doesn’t want me to buy things. Went in one morning and wanted 2 dozen andagi and the lady said I could only buy 1 dozen because people that come later may want to buy. WTH? Funny, a month and a half ago when I went in there at lunch time and bought out their supply, they didn’t give me hassles. Make up your mind; you want me to buy stuff or not?
Told if you want more than 1 dozen, gotta call in your order the day before.

*This review is specifically for Masa’s Cafeteria’s catering through Ige’s Catering.*
I recently attended a banquet at Masa’s Cafeteria for my Okinawan Club. If you’re Okinawan or know an Okinawan, you know we love our PORK! And Ige’s Catering knows exactly how to cater to pork-​loving, andagi-​eating Okinawans! Our banquet had Pork Chow Mein, Pork Nishime, Sweet/​Sour Spareribs and andagai! Lots of andagi… It also had a great assortment of sushi and other non-​pork inclusive items.
Masa’s Cafeteria, located on Mapunapuna Street somewhat near to Ben Franklin’s or Wah Kung Restaurant (one of my favorites!) is conveniently situated between town and the west side — perfect for large parties that bring together people from across the island. Parking is abundant, but it seems as though the lot shares with nearby businesses so it may be crowded during business hours.

The food here rocks and they are flexible if you request substitutions for the starchs. They pile on the food as well. There are lots of choices and not every choice is a homerun but you can order a mix plate of two to three choices. Try a few choices and ascertain your favorites. It is impossible to leave this place hungry. The girls serving food are always friendly.

Standard fare for local cafeteria style food. Grab and go musubis, andagi, noodles, were good but not something I would crave. Probably your best option for food if you’re waiting for your car to be serviced at Servco like I was. Just a block away!

*Here for a party*
The look of the facility from the outside… Not appealing. Just looks like a warehouse, which it probably was until it was converted.
Parking is on the left side of the building (if you are facing it), other than that, if the lot happens to be full, there’s street parking.
Inside, looks like any other party. Seems like it could fit a lot of guests. Also with a lot of people, not much room to walk through and it took a while before we were in line and getting our food.
Food (
)
Assuming everything was made in the kitchen.
Just about everything was yummy, except for the ham and pineapple, and that big piece of chicken – top left of my photo. I honestly thought the ham and pineapple was going to be delicious. Looks are deceiving! I took a big bite and almost spit it back out! Must be the sauce or something. The chicken was hard and I had difficulty tearing it apart that I eventually gave up eating that.

So ive been slacking with my reviews but Masa’s is worth me coming back.
If youve seen any of the photos Ive uploaded from here, youd know that they have the best pancakes of all time. Seriously best ever. Best on Oahu guaranteed. They are so soft and tender. Plus they are served with a huge glob of butter. This is some serious stuff.
Other than pancakes, Ive tried their Denver omelette which is pretty large and comes with the side starch of your choice. Id recommend the huge portion of hash browns or the delicious fried rice. Ive also had the hamburger and cheeseburger deluxe. Both are very tasty and if you get a side of fries with that, its a lot of food. Got the fish plate a couple times. Also very enjoyable. Fish comes out steaming hot and you can help yourself to the tartar sauce. Sweet Bread french toast is always a winner. The hamburger steak was pretty good.
There is seriously nothing that Ive had from here that wasnt good. It goes from good to great. I really like the setting too. Theres a reason is called a cafeteria. Its set up cafeteria style. Theres a bunch of big tables set up, so after you order your food, have a seat anywhere and your food will be brought out. It has a real nice old school Hawaii feel which isnt available at a lot of places these days.
Thanks to my co-​worker, we pretty much go here for breakfast everyday we work on the westside. My diet is not standing a chance. If youre ever in the Mapunapuna area, you should definitely check these guys out. Or if youre like me, and youre not in the area, I check them out anyway when Im in the mood for the best pancakes of all time. This place is seriously a hidden gem.

Large portions for a good price. You can choose how many items you want in your mixed plate. The menu is always different, just come inside and take a look at the entrees in the window and point! The dishes taste like food that your mom makes. There is a homemade essence to the food here that is addicting. Meatloaf, pork spareribs, baked spaghetti, you name it. Once I tried to be healthy and come and eat a sandwich instead of a full-​on plate. Their bread is amazingly soft btw. A sandwich at Masa’s is not your usual Subway type of sandwich with cold cut meats and lettuce. You basically choose one of the meat entrees and they put in in bread with mayo. I ended up with a meatloaf sandwich for my «healthy» lunch, haha. And when offered a side of brown gravy to go with my sandwich, I said YES PLEASE: D
Great lunch spot right in the middle of the warehouses. It is packed during lunch time. Parking is to the left in the elevated parking lot or on the street. I usually park in the lot because street parking can be scarce. Be patient and search around and reward yourself with some big portions!

Masa’s is like a fixture in Mapunapuna. They are always busy on weekday lunches. Parking is usually a pain because everyone takes a lunch break at about the same time, and Masa’s closes at 1:30. I’ve eaten here maybe four or five times. Every time I come, the food looks sooooo good, I can’t wait to dig in. But it never fails, I’m always disappointed. My last meal was a hamburger steak with onions. It looked sooooo good. But the burger was probably sitting in the pan for a long time because it was super hard and barely edible. I didn’t even finish it! And I ALWAYS finish my hamburger steak. One time I had the fried chicken because it looked so ono. It ended up being oily and yucky. The thing I enjoy the most about every meal is the plain buttered sandwich bread that comes with the meal. That’s sad.

Hawaiian Plate lunch… Laulau, beef stew, lomi salmon and rice is one of the weekly Friday specials. Parking is limited so our office had to tag team one person circles the block while the other jumps out to get the phone order. Which I would recommend to do is call in your order, so you don’t have to stand in line. OH, and don’t forget Thursday is Oxtail Soup Day!

This cafeteria styled establishment provided a gracious mound of shoyu fried ahi with two large scoops of rice (brown rice available!) mac or tossed salad and an optional butter sandwich for about $ 9.
The ahi was firm, cooked a little too well aka firm for my liking, but flavored well! Slightly sweet, even coating of crumbs and savory. The rice and salad was standard. The butter bread was an interesting offering in my experience.
The ladies were also nice enough to give me a small sample of one of their specials of the day, a stew of sorts. Made me a happy customer.
Arrive early though! Parking seems limited. My co-​workers anticipated the parking so we came for an early lunch. The interior is a spacious room with lots of tables and chairs. Theres a tv at the end of the food line for your viewing pleasure.

Just came here today; my supervisor took me here for lunch because it’s my last day of work at the VA Medical Center!
Parking is a bit difficult around lunchtime. We got a stall after circling around once and stalking someone about to leave. The place really had a cafeteria-​like feel, with all the foods sitting out already waiting to be scooped onto plate lunches. We got in line to order the Friday special — Hawaiian plate lunch with laulau, lomi salmon, 2 scoops of rice or poi, and some kind of stew (beef stew, tripe stew, or clear noodles with chicken). About $ 8.95 for the rice plate?
The fish in the laulau was a bit salty for my tastes, and yes I know it’s supposed to be. I liked it otherwise. The lomi salmon was pretty good, and I chose the tripe stew, which was pretty thick and a bit spicy (Tabasco sauce, I think). I was pretty stuffed by the end of my plate.
Pretty good for Hawaiian food, not hugely spectacular or impressive… but good value and great specials.