Ethel's Grill

I hate the No Parking situation at Ethel’s Grill but love the food. The Jumbo Chicken Katsu Donburi Special with miso soup and salad was a lot of food. So sad to hear that they are closing and hope that they will relocate somewhere soon. One of my favorite stops in Kalihi whenever I visit.

Take-out only and sooooo worth every morsel. All four dishes we tried were very tasty, even the deep fried turkey tail which was very rich, and were totally wiped clean. Particularly loved the bitter melon pork and egg stir fry which is such a nostalgic comfort food for me, and the Ahi Tataki sashimi plate which was super fresh! Always appreciate an ample amount of greens and every sauce they provided was very well paired for the dish, whether gingery sweet citrus or garlicky soy sauce. The miso was also very flavorful :) definitely want to come back and try more!

This place is a hidden 💎 Everything here is delicious, portions are large and priced well they all include a seafood miso soup that is very tasty 🤤 Parking can be tricky, normally I find parking in the side of the building in the parking structure. The street is never busy also the order is brought out when it’s ready. This place only offers takeout, but sand island is just down the street and makes a perfect ocean front dine.

This is take away only now. We just got a side portion of their famous tataki to try which has about 8 pieces over some veggies. It was yum and fresh but unsure about all the fuss over it. Good value though for $9.95 but wouldn’t go out of my way for this.

Slightly off the beaten track, but my god is the food here worth the while. The portion sizes are large but more importantly the food is tasty. The tataki platter and the mochiko chicken are the standout dishes and must haves whilst the loco moco is also good. Great service too but unfortunately no dining in at the minute. Come here for some good local authentic food and you won't be disappointed.

At this time, my review is for “take-out” only. I was referred here and was really hoping for something more. I ordered the Mochiko Chicken and the Japanese Hamburger Steak. I would say the Mochiko Chicken was really good, large portions, really good flavor - (I would order again and if I had only ordered that I my review would have been 5 stars) and I would pass on the Japanese Hamburger Steak ( I thought the meat was dry, a bit tough. And didn’t care for it. If I had only ordered this I would have give this review a 2 or a 3). Again, this review was during a period of time that this restaurant is only serving take out. I will go back a try again with some of the other entrees.

Located at Industrial part of Kalihi, small mom and pop restaurant. Waiting can be a while but the food really worth your while. We went for lunch on Saturday, there are 3 people waiting in line before us, we waited for 30 mins and when we got called in, there are ice tea already waiting on our table ( for me this is really thoughtful because after waiting outside we are getting thirsty) we ordered sweet and sour spare ribs, mochiko chicken and saimin. Lunch comes with salad with house dressing and soup and said ice tea. Food comes in big portion but because they are really good I don’t share my food this time. They accept cash only, parking is available in the garage but limited number, we park at the street. Price is really good for Honolulu area. I saw Anthony Bourdain photo when he came to visit and eat here and also his autograph, very cool!

Holy smokes! This place is SO good! Lightly battered chicken with great flavors & so juicy. Salad & dressing were fresh & delicious. Rice was great texture too! Just dah-uhm! Such a great takeout place! MUST GO!! we got the chicken furikake

Ethel's Grill is closing but plan to open sometime next year at a new location . I have attached a their recent instagram posting. Wish them well and thank you for many decades of ono grinds. Good luck to Ethel's Grill and see hopefully see you in 2025.

Looks closed for good. This place has its ups and down, but decent. The mochicko chicken was good too.

Ethel's Grill is a local gem, highly recommended me by friends who live in this area. It's a small mom and pop shop that reverted to takeout only after covid, and reminds me of the Hawaiian version of a mainly takeout place where I live, Tani's Kitchen (now permanently closed). Basically, it's cash only, looks like an apartment on some random side streets, can be hard to find when you're driving past it, open during very limited times, and pack so much food in your takeout boxes. You should call in to place an order as it can get popular, takes time to cook, and the wait time can vary (I waited 20 minutes at 9am on a Thursday). - Ethel's Famous Tataki Sashimi It looks pretty - tuna tataki on a bed of various sprouts. The sauce is too soy salty for me, and the tuna is otherwise unflavored. I wish they charred the outside, but maybe that's too fancy. I was disappointed in the tataki because of the overly salty soy, and the tuna itself did not taste as fresh as the poke that I've had on O'ahu. - Mochiko Chicken I had to eat this an hour after it had been sitting in the box, so I won't judge on the degraded crisp factor (it indeed got soggy from condensation). The ginger ponzu dipping sauce is sweet but good, somewhat sweeter than orange chicken sauce from Panda Express. The rice and salad were okay, with the green herb dressing being my favorite thing of the meal, and the miso soup was on the salty side. I ate this while I was in line for the TSA and scarfed it down quick. The chicken was very plump and tender. I would hope to try Ethel's again in a less rushed environment, but they seem very solid as far as a takeout option goes - though you should eat it fresh, and they're only open for lunch!

Finally stopped by to try their food, and they didn't disappoint. The Order: Japanese Hamburger Streak with Toss Salad and comes with a side of Miso Soup The burger is a huge homemade patty. Definitely will fill your tummy. It's served with cabbage under and daikon and green onions on top. Then you had that sweet, savory, and slight zing of the sauce and over the top flavor. The saad comes with a herby aioli that's got a nice zing as well. The server was polite and even brought my food out to my car. Note: only offer take out. I'll definitely be back to try something else like the mochiko chicken next time.

Finally made it to Ethel's Grill, a local spot steeped in decades of history, known for its loyal lunch crowd and signature dishes. With its early closing time at 2 PM and being open only five days a week, planning a visit here requires a bit of scheduling acrobatics. Today, I managed to squeeze in a visit right before closing at 1:45 PM. Walking in, I was greeted by the quaint ambiance of the place, decked out with memorabilia from notable visitors like Anthony Bourdain, which added a unique charm. The personable staff behind the counter was incredibly helpful, guiding me through the menu and pointing out favorites like the sashimi plate, hamburger steak, mochiko chicken, and grilled island fresh ahi. I decided to go for the mochiko chicken, opting for the sumo size to see what all the fuss was about. The staff were fantastic, not only taking our order but also advising on parking spots nearby. Within 15 minutes, our food was ready, and it was piping hot--so much so that the plate was almost too hot to handle. We parked nearby to dive into our meal, and the mochiko absently did not disappoint. The chicken was perfectly cooked; the oil tasted fresh, and the chicken itself was juicy and flavorful. The breading was satisfyingly crunchy, and the sauce--a delightful blend of ginger and ponzu--was spot on, enhancing every bite. Ethel's Grill is definitely one of those under-the-radar places that only locals might know about, but it's worth seeking out. The experience was so memorable that I'm already planning to return to try the grilled ahi. For anyone in the area or looking to try something authentically local, Ethel's Grill is a must-visit.

Gosh I was pretty upset with our whole service. Lady taking order wasn't that nice. She didn't smile and she didn't greet. I had questions considering it was my first visit and it seemed like she didn't want to answer them. Ordered the hamburger steak and mochiko chicken. Hamburger steak was a bit raw inside. Not for me. Chicken was kinda burnt. Wasn't impressed. Great prices but lacked flavors.

Found this place on Yelp because I was looking for Mochiko chicken closest to me. It's a super small place that you almost miss when driving by, so look for the signage! We ordered the Mochiko chicken and garlic chicken from the lunch menu which came with miso soup, rice and salad. It was so a good amount of food too! There were a lot of unique sounding dishes on the menu that I would have loved to have tried. I'd recommend stopped by if you're close to this area.

Kalihi is so lucky! We have Ethel's grill around! The food is great! Service is fast! Takes cash and card! Phone order is better. I did walk-in and wait time is not too bad. Parking inside lot and street parking. The place and atmosphere is okay and recommended by the great Anthony Bourdain!

This place has been around for 40 years, the last time I ate there sitting down was about 30 years ago. After the pandemic, you can only order take out. Today we ordered some takeout for lunch for our work crew. The food is same as usual, very yummy and the portion is huge! Friendly people. Still not easy to find parking, so I drive there with a co-worker and I watch the car while he picks up the food. I would suggest your phone in your order early, so you don't have to wait in line. This is truly a local kine grind. Hope they stay in business and keep going. The price for the plate lunch is also reasonable. We get free soup for our order too. Go check it out.

The garlic pork chops were a disappointment. The donburi is what I usually get but I wanted to try something other than the usual mochicko chicken. I wouldn't Order this again. I didn't find the flavor is on the garlic side more like a Sweet and sour pork chop. I wanted the garlic taste. I'll be back but if I go it won't be for pork chops.

April 2024. Aloha! Ok so I finally tried something besides the Hamburger steak w extra gravy. Had the special "ginger beef" and it was so damn good. Flavorful and so damn satisfying. Have no idea how long they will keep on the menu so get it while you can. To be honest I had the hamburger steak as well and it was so frickin good. Same as always. The gold standard for hamburger steak. Service is 5 stars as always compliments of the sassy and spectacular Minakasan! Chef Robert is his usual self, a quiet assassin excelling at his craft in the back of the house. Ambiance is a perfect hole in the wall 4 stars. I would give them 5 stars if parking was better. Just keeping it real. But overall my favorite overall go to spot for lunch on the entire island. Hands down.

Been a while since I stoped by here for lunch, but it's just as I rememeber! Call ahead so your order is ready when you get there! Parking sucks, they have a single stall for customers, and everytime you can count on your car getting blocked in. Street parking is hit or miss, so helps if you got 2 people with you. They take card! But they do charge the 4% service fee. One of the specials was the chicken katsu donburi 10/10 fry that.

A+. This is a must have when you're visiting the island wonderful place with authentic food and freshness of the ingredients. The staff is very friendly and very fast service. Places located off the grid but it's worth a drive. Loving the authentic flavor A+.

Ethel's Grill Kalihi has been a long-time establishment providing Oahu with delicious food since 1978. Their Japanese style menu with local influence has customers coming back for more. Crispy, juicy, flavorful, fulfilling, good-sized portions, and worth the price. These are a few words to describe the food. Service is quick and attentive, and the interior shows its age but has been maintained quite well. NOTE: The parking for Ethels is a 1 stall, tight, and narrow area within the building. If their stall is occupied, you can use the stall next to it, and they can deliver your food to you. From experience working in the area. It's an industrial area with big and wide vehicles and sketchy people walking around. It's possible for damages or break-ins to occur. Also, photos and videos are not allowed unless given permission from owners. Update to date menus are on their Instagram. See the link below. https://www.instagram.com/ethelsgrill_kalihi?igsh=Mm5icjNpbTQ3Mmdw Payment Cash or credit cards Restrooms Customers only and located in the back

I've only been to Ethel's a few times, but everytime I go, their food is always good. I especially like their tataki sashimi. This time I around, I ordered their side order of tataki sashimi which is served on a bed of bean sprouts served with their garlic shoyu sauce and their Japanese hamburger steak. It comes with miso soup and salad. The hamburger steak is home made style topped with daikon and ponzu sauce. Hamburger steak was juicy and flavorful. But I have to say my all time favorite is their tataki sashimi. So worth it.

A family run business with the most delicious food for takeout! There is often a line going out the door and for good reason.

Our favorite meal during our trip to Oahu was at Ethel's - we got the mochiko fried chicken, loco moco, oyako donburi, and the tataki tuna salad. Everything - every single item - was delicious. The mochiko fried chicken was my personal favorite and star of the show. So juicy and flavorful - accompanied with that sauce that complements the chicken so well with the bed of white rice. The service was also the kindest on the entire island. Food was delivered out directly to our car in Ethel's parking lot. By far my favorite meal memory on the island!

The food is good home cooking, large servings and tastes good. This is take out only and parking is almost non-existent so may have to park illegally for a few minutes while you pickup order. Also should order online or on phone, otherwise you have to come back later to pick up food. It takes ~45 minutes to prepare. The food is good local cuisine, a worthy stop when in the area.

I'm a firm believer that the best food doesn't have to come from the most lavish restaurants. I also believe you will get further as a tourist if you don't act disrespectful. Ethel's Grill makes delicious food, period. My friend and I are from the mainland and we had an early morning scheduled. We stopped in and ordered two Original Morning Specials. For the unfamiliar, it's made from vegetables, tofu, and egg simmered in a large bowl of miso soup served with a bowl of rice. Delicious!! Ethel says "start your day the healthy way!"

I'm an ass, I have been selfishly stalling on this review because I don't want it to be so crowded they turn me away. I really enjoy the homey feels of their food. Even when the man grouchy you cannot taste it in his food it still tastes good. I maybe tried only like 3 things because it's hard to change when you ono for something and that something is so good you scared the next thing going make you wish you had the other thing. Hamburger steak is that thing. I don't know how they make the mochiko chicken so lightly fried almost like tempura. I like that there is a sauce for it. I want to tell you what the worst thing is but I cannot get past the first few things to try everything on the menu ..I want to, but chances are everything is great. This is a take out only -you can blame the pandemic on that. There are a few parking stalls in the building. Follow them on instagram @ethelsgrill_kalihi because they tell you when the hours are. Which is not open Sunday Mondays and when they need a break from a holes like me and sometimes they have tsukemonos, natto thingies, & special made desserts on the days I cannot go. So let me tell you the coolest thing is the actual people of bobs burgers (the show) made a cartoon of Ethel's and it looks just like them as if they stepped out of that cartoon. Freakin awesome but so is the girl who runs this place.

Ethel's Grill is a popular hole-in-the-wall located in Kalihi, Honolulu. It's known for local and Japanese fusion dishes including the ahi tataki, barely seared, served in a sesame-shoyu sauce, the shoyu infused with garlic, mochiko chicken and deep-fried turkey tails. The restaurant has a casual and unassuming atmosphere that only offers take away plate lunches. You can find the daily changing menu specials that are highlighted on the Ethel's Grill Instagram page. Chef Robert Urquidi and his wife, Minaka run the casual no-frills restaurant. The small size and bustling environment are common so, be prepared to experience a wait during peak hours. But the wait is worth it! The prices are reasonable especially given the quality and portion sizes of the plates that include fresh salad, miso soup and rice. Ethel's Grill is open for breakfast and lunch until 2 p.m. It's tucked under an apartment building on lower Kalihi Street.

I have been living in Kalihi for over 10 years and I can't believe I have never went here yet. Last week I had the Ahi Tataki and this week I had the Japanese Hamburger Steak. Can you say broke the mouth?!?! Trying to thing what I'll try next.

We had the special of the day.....deep fried soft shell crab & spicy beef eggplant. Food was bomb! Broke da mout! So good to come home & enjoy da local food!

This place is probably 1 of my top 5 places to eat in Oahu! Maybe even top 3! My only gripe is the location and parking situation. It is kind of in a little sketchy of an area, but don't worry it is totally worth it! Pro tip: call and order your food before you go so you don't have to wait in the parking area. Trust me, you'll thank me for this tip. The employees are super nice and sweet. We didn't order beforehand, and they recommended for us to come park closer than they even brought our food out to our car. Super sweet! Now to the Main event, the food! Many years ago, Anthony Bourdain came here and named it. One of his favorite restaurants, he was not like this place is incredible! Whenever we go, we always make sure to order the Mochiko chicken and the Oyako Donburi. Mochiko chicken is perfectly crispy, full flavor, and so freaking juicy! The donburi is just as delicious! It has a ton of veggies delicious sauce, all on top of a bed of rice! Amazing! Next time we go we want to try the spare ribs and the garlic chicken! I know its going to be delicious!

Ethel's is a family owned restaurant that smartly pivoted during the pandemic to takeout only. While I do miss coming in for piping hot pig feet soup and ox tail soup, I'm happy they were able survive the pandemic and make things safer for themselves and customers. We ordered the following: Mochiko chicken (4/5): ample amounts of well seasoned and fried mochiko chicken with a good sized scoop of rice and salad Garlic Ahi (5/5): fresh ahi sautéed in garlic butter sauce. Absolutely delicious dish cooked to perfection. We all wanted to drink the butter sauce, it was so ono! Japanese hamburger steak (3/5): a good sized hamburger steak with grated daikon on a bed of shredded cabbage and scoop of rice. Filling and tasty but nothing exceptional. Shiso hijiki (5/5): a winner! This was a special extra that we didn't expect to be available. I should've bout a few more of this because it was so good on rice! It's worth noting that the ahi tataki is delicious. I didn't get it this trip but it's definitely a family favorite and a must try. Service is always great. The owner can be direct but who cares. She works so hard each and every day. I give her major props for hustling and continuing the family business. I do miss seeing her Mom who added character to the place. Parking can be rough. But it's definitely worth it! There is a small lot attached to the restaurant. It's narrow and stalls are small. So if you can find street parking, take it. Otherwise you may want to back into the parking just to make life easier. This is a cash only, takeout business. So plan accordingly. I always visit at least once whenever I return home. The food here is local, home style, and consistently delicious. It's one of my favorite places to eat when in Honolulu. LOCATION: 3/5 FOOD: 4.5/5 SERVICE: 5/5 VALUE: 4/5 AMBIANCE: 4/5 PET FRIENDLY: no, takeout only CLEANLINESS: 3/5 PARKING: 3/5

Have reviewed this restaurant a few months ago and have to do it again. A regular menu item is their Fried Ahi Belly with spicy lomi tomato. However, Chef Robert a few weeks ago did it with a Tomato Ogo Vinaigrette which was SUPERB. They always have the freshest seafood but the special Vinaigrette takes this dish out of the park! Look forward to seeing this dish in the special daily menu soon as it may become my favorite meal.

I ordered take out right before closing on a Friday and even though it was busy, they took my order. The setup was different, but I enjoyed reading their signage. I haven't been here since I moved to the west side and stopped working in Kalihi, but the food took me right back. Everything is exactly as good and tasty as I remember. I love that they have authentic Japanese tasting dipping sauces. I ordered 2 ahi tatakis and bought a container of their signature shoyu garlic sauce for home. We also ordered mochiko chicken and if course the Japanese hamburger steak. Sooooo ono and nothing I've ever ordered disappoints! Now... if only they'd make a cookbook to buy!

Goyachamparu feels like my mom's homemade food. I love it so much. Not too bitter but just right. Might be the best meal I ate in hawaii so far. Definitely felt my tummy thanking me after that. Very filling and healthy.

As other reviewers have noted, the grill is not always open during the listed hours, so you should call ahead. However, when you call, they may not answer... we stopped by around noon, and although the sign outside said they would close at 2pm, unfortunately we didn't get to try anything

No dining in here, take-out only! There is a small, covered parking lot for the restaurant, else there is limited street parking in the area. Amazing comfort food with huge lunch portions. I wished I had found this place sooner! The food comes out quickly and the staff are super friendly.

Their Tataki sashimi is the bomb! They make their own garlic shoyu to dip the Tataki into and it MAKES the dish! (You can buy containers of the shoyu to use for other food, too.) Since the pandemic, orders are all takeout now so don't plan on sitting down in the restaurant to enjoy your food. :(

Doesn't look like much when you pass by, but don't let this whole-in-the-wall fool you. I've been drooling over their pictures for years now, and finally made it there! The last time my cousin folks visited from the mainland, we tried going but they were unexpectedly closed. So we called a couple days before this time, to make sure they were going to be open. There's not much parking out front, so I suggest you bring someone with you if possible so that they can run down to pick up your order. I called in our order at about 11:30am and I'm so glad I did because the wait time to pick up our food was about an hour. Sorry about the picture attached, we were stuck in traffic and almost an hour after our food was ready, we finally made it there. We were starving when we got to the park to enjoy our food so I snapped a quick photo so that we could all start digging in. My cousin and mom got the taco rice. I tried a bite of the taco meat and it was really tasty! I can't wait to come back and order this. My aunty & I got the garlic chicken. Different from the shoyu kine, but still very tasty. It was more like a chili sauce. I got all salad with mine & I looooved their parsley dressing! My step dad got their loco moco which came with a huge patty, rice, and eggs. Their portions are so huge most of us had leftovers. The lady helping was very nice, explained that the chips were for the taco rice, and even was courteous enough to ask if we needed utensils. Nowadays, you have to ask if you need utensils and if you forget you're out of luck. The only bummer part was that I originally wanted their garlic ahi but they were out of ahi for the day. It's okay though, I'll be back for sure. They definitely lived up to the hype!

There's been many places where I regret not dining at before they closed for good, especially those that've been open for many, many decades. Ethel's Grill has been around for over 40 years, which is amazing! Serving Local Japanese food. It's located in Kalihi Kai, specifically the industrial area, all the way down Kalihi St, in between Silva and Kahai St, and across from Mrs. Cheng's Tofu. Ethel's is right below an apartment complex with about 6 dedicated stalls, which half may or may not be taken by the employees. It's a tight squeeze in there, and you may need to reverse out onto the street. It's currently takeout only, and making your order by phone is highly recommended because they are usually busy. I failed to do that, and I had to wait around 25 minutes. But it was worth the wait! I ordered the Japanese Hamburger Steak, and wow, this was incredibly delicious and spot on. The first bite, you can immediately tell that this is right. This is how it should be. The hamburger was cooked perfectly. It was tender, juicy, and most importantly, meaty and beefy! No fillers or over seasoning. The accompanying ponzu sauce was very good. There was a nice tang to go along with the savory. I tasted a hint of Dashi too. The salad was fresh, and the accompanying salad dressing was very good! It was creamy, tasty, delicious, bright, and had a little kick. Felt like there was avocado in it. Even the rice was perfectly cooked, and good quality. It went so well with the ponzu dashi sauce. The miso soup was very good too. Light and warming. Overall, what a solid experience. Ethel's Grill is the true definition of a hidden gem. Actually, it's not that hidden. Just look for the place with plenty of people standing outside waiting for their well-prepared, well-seasoned, top quality, delicious and tasty food! The service was great. Lady at the front was friendly and courteous. I'll definitely be back to try other things.

I've been waiting to try the garlic pork here for a while, always a weird conflict with my schedule and the hours here. I almost didn't come when we called in and they said it would take 35 minutes. It was definitely worth the wait, this dish is must try. It's breaded fried pork chops in a sweet, spicy, garlic sauce, a lot like local spicy garlic chicken. I absolutely inhaled this thing. I typically would have liked something fried to be crispy, but I didn't mind too much that it wasn't. The rice was quality was pretty good, nice little tossed salad with a creamy green dressing. Looking forward to coming back for this and trying other things as well.

Love this awesome little hole in the wall! A friend of mine goes there all the time and I finally went. I am so glad I did! Parking can be kind of difficult so bring someone to pick up food with you. You cannot go wrong with the ahi tataki, but the Mochiko chicken and hamburger steak are so yummy too! If you can, place a phone order so your food will be ready for pick up as soon as you're there.

Simple menu. Items tried so far was good. I like the garlic chicken. It was not your typical garlic chicken as it was soft, flavorful, had a little kick of spice to it, and pieces were meaty. I would definitely go back to try their deep fried turkey tail plate lunch.

I love coming here food always delicious. Parking can be challenging but it's worth it.

Great garlic pork chops. Tomato based sauce I think. Would try their burger steak. Hard to park.

This is one of my favorite places on the island (ironically introduced to me by my adventurous friend who was visiting). They're known for their garlic chicken. It's really good, but my favorite thing is the mochiko chicken with the ponzu dipping sauce. The chicken is so moist and flavorful. The portions are rather large and the prices are very reasonable. Make sure you call ahead to order because the chicken is made to order otherwise you may have to wait, which is fine because it's fresh! The restaurant is mostly a take out place. There is some seating inside, but it's very limited and I haven't seen very many people eating there.

I've heard about and read about this place for years! It's like a local neighborhood spot where I can picture myself going to on a regular basis. Too bad there is no longer dining in. I had a friend who moved to Honolulu during the pandemic. He told me thsi spot is located in a sketchy neighborhood! I told him not to be scared and we will be fine. Tataki- just ok Taco Rice- huge portions and was not able to finish Reminds me of nachos with rice! Fresh ahi- full of flavor and fresh. Awesome sauce! Mochiko chicken- my favorite! Crunchy texture outside and soft juicy meat inside. Most items came with miso soup. Generous portions, great price. Difficult parking. My friend was converted and would be back!

This place is amazing! I ordered their mochiko chicken. WOW! I also love their salad dressing that they use! They also have some Okinawan dishes here too like Taco rice and Champuru. I will definitely be back again!

Best Mochiko chicken in the state hands down with or without the sauce and sistah up front is always nice to talk to even when she's prepping 20 orders at once.

Their food is always good and portions are big too. Too bad they can only do takeout. Can't find workers. So sad.

I've had this hole-in-the-wall restaurant on my list for a very long time and only recently got the chance to check it out. It's located in the corner of Kahai St and Kalihi St of a industrial work/residential neighborhood. There's a very small parking area reserved for customers in the same building next to the restaurant. It's very narrow but doable! If it's full, there is street parking around but difficult to find. I got the Mochiko chicken plate. The pieces were HUGE. Beautifully coated and fried! And it wasn't too oily. The chicken was delicious! Really juicy. There was a nice crunch to it that I find kind of hard to have in many places. The sauce that came with it was like a tempura sauce (unless it is??) which wasn't too heavy. It brought the flavor out. I loved it! I believe my friend got the Garlic Pork Chop (not too sure...) but it was really good! There was a subtle garlic flavor but the sauce that came with it was delicious! I usually prefer creamier sauces which is probably why I liked it more. Similar to my mochiko chicken, the meat was coated and fried nicely, giving a nice crunch! I really enjoyed the food from this hole-in-the-wall restaurant. I definitely will be back to try the ahi tataki, which they're known for, the next time. P.S. They take cash only.

customer service always gonna be your blessing and a curse. lady didn't greet us. just had a resting Btch face. Food ain't all that. Go to mom n pop shops were they truly value customers and have better customer service. and just a side note. they make you wait outside for your food where it stinks.

This is the only place I know that serves Japanese Hamburger Steak with grated daikon and daikon sprouts on the burger, served with ponzu sauce...it's my favorite! It comes with rice, toss salad with their homemade parsley dressing (it doesn't taste like parsley...it's delicious) and miso soup. I also ordered the Garlic Chicken for my husband. It didn't taste the same as before and the batter was mushy. I love the Tataki Sashimi with their special Garlic Shoyu sauce...it's really good! I couldn't go there without ordering this! FYI: They sell their Garlic Shoyu sauce for $10 a container. As for the parking, you can use the covered parking spaces on the left of the restaurant. If no open spaces, need to look for parking on the street.

I grew up going here with my Dad in the 70s and its still the same , besides the dining inside. The food is worth a great stroll into Kalihi and hospitality makes you feel comfortably at home.

Family owned and the food was absolutely delicious. Everything on the plate was 100% I would give 10 stars if I could .

It's been decadeds since I last ate at this "hole in dah wall" lucheon located in the Sand Island area. Mrs and I originally was looking forward to eating at Penny's, but was closed until Jun ... ooops, I forget! "Getting old is not for pussies!" No worries, I always have a Plan B and it was Ethel's. I didnt have the address and Mrs was not a good navigator so it took a while to finally get there. I know the parking is limited but luckily there were several stalls right next. Ordered Japanese style hamburger steak for dah Mrs and garlic ahi. Oh I was so hungry and had lunch hour traffic all dah way to Pearl City. Got home, open the plates and oh did I grinz. You know I no need say anything more about their food, right. Next week Tuesday it's Penny's.