Fort Ruger Market

Hawaiian restaurant · Kaalawai

Fort Ruger Market

Hawaiian restaurant · Kaalawai

3

3585 Alohea Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816

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Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by Laura La Monaca
Fort Ruger Market by Laura La Monaca
Fort Ruger Market by Martha Cheng/Eater
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null
Fort Ruger Market by null

Highlights

This laid-back spot dishes up mouthwatering Hawaiian and Filipino fare, including fresh poke and legendary lechon, all while boasting friendly service and generous portions.  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

3585 Alohea Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816 Get directions

toasttab.com
@rugermarket

$$$$$$ · Menu

Information

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3585 Alohea Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816 Get directions

+1 808 737 4531
toasttab.com
@rugermarket

$$$$$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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@infatuation

"Join the surfers and construction workers refueling at this general store. Fort Ruger Market dates back to 1942, but the food has never been as good as it is now. You don’t have to choose between the Rugerlicious poke made up of fresh ahi mixed with taegu, or the crispy-skinned lechon: get them both on top of rice for the ultimate bowl. And while you’re there, grab some dried ahi, a tub of smoked ahi, and a paper bag of boiled peanuts by the cash register for all-day snacking, and bring your haul for a picnic at the nearby Diamond Head lookout." - martha cheng

The 21 Best Restaurants In Honolulu, Oahu 2024
View Postcard for Fort Ruger Market
@infatuation

"Join the surfers and construction workers refueling at this general store. Fort Ruger Market dates back to 1942, but the food has never been as good as it is now. You don’t have to choose between the Rugerlicious poke made up of fresh ahi mixed with taegu, or the crispy-skinned lechon: get them both on top of rice for the ultimate bowl. And while you’re there, grab some dried ahi, a tub of smoked ahi, and a paper bag of boiled peanuts by the cash register for all-day snacking, and bring your haul for a picnic at the nearby Diamond Head lookout." - Martha Cheng

Fort Ruger Market - Review - Diamond Head - Oahu - The Infatuation
View Postcard for Fort Ruger Market
@eater

"A fixture in the Lē‘ahi (Diamond Head) area since 1937, this takeaway market keeps things simple for its regular cast of pro surfers and construction workers. You’ll find auction-fresh ‘ahi poke, seasoned with limu, rock salt, ‘inamona, chile pepper, and sesame oil, alongside fish jerky, smoked fish dip, and chicharrones, all made in house. In recent years, Fort Ruger has also become a go-to spot for Filipino and Hawaiian plate lunches. Be prepared to leave with a lot of food, and don’t forget to pick up some boiled peanuts, bundled in brown paper bags by the cash register." - Martha Cheng

The Best Poke in Honolulu: 11 Restaurants to Hit - Eater
View Postcard for Fort Ruger Market

Nicole Kuo

Google
We all know it's a true struggle to have to pick one out of many delicious-looking poke seafood options, especially if you always wanna try a little bit of everything like I do. So I'm so glad that they offer free sampling before you order! The staffs are friendly and give great recommendation! Overall we're super satisfied with our order. They also offer a mini poke option if you're doing poke hopping like we were. Additionally, there's a section of discounted overnight poke! (still perfectly edible and delicious of course)

Jason Philip Yoong

Google
Scallop Poke Bowl is top 3 poke bowls I’ve ever had. A must have. The guy was super cool and the samples helped us decide what to get. Will 100% go back.

Minion_Dave5-O

Google
Solid place to get your local Hawaiian and Filipino grindz. It’s a place hidden away from Waikiki and close proximity to Kapiolani Community College. Nothing fancy, it has a hole in the wall feel, Workers are friendly, and food is good. Local Hawaiian and Filipino Plate lunches, poke bowls, and snacks. Inflation sucks but this is Hawaii. The poke special is ~$30/lb, it’s high but it’s good. Mixed Plate 2choice combination plate lunches were $17.99 each. Add lechon and it’s $21.99. I got the Kalua Pig and Squid luau. No worries tourists, it’s not exactly squid, it’s actually octopus chopped small in luau leaves. But they call it squid luau. The Kalua pig was solid, moist, and flavorful. The squid luau was good too, more on the sweeter side. I also got another mixed plate of the pork adobo and sari sari. That was delicious as well. The spam Musubis were delicious. Chicken Musubi was ok.

Fiorella Cortez

Google
Delicious poke, friendly service. Our favorite was the spicy shoyu. Go for the poke bowl is a better deal than poke by the pound.

Michael van Eckhardt

Google
A fine spot for Hawaiian and Filipino takeout food. Prices are great, particularly given the high quality and large quantities of the food served. Ahí poke and Filipino 2 choice meal were both outstanding. Folks behind the counter were friendly and really helpful. Highly recommend!!!

Chelle T

Google
Hungry after a hike so we chose a little of everything. Hawaiian and Filipino food. Nice selection, nice service.

Camilla

Google
Got the poke + lechon bowl and it was delicious! I got the Ruger Ahi and it might have been one favorite pokes. The lechon was still warm. Definitely get the cucumber kimchi as your side, it pairs perfectly.

Leilani Latimer

Google
This place was a bit of a disappointment, but maybe we got there too late. I was expecting the typical place with picnic benches, but there is no place to eat there, so you can only do take out. The poke was really good, plate lunch options good and very big portions, but no BBQ options.

Kari L.

Yelp
An underrated gem! Most think of Ono's Seafood as their default poke option if they are in the Diamond Head/Kapahulu area, myself included. I would not even have thought to explore other poke spots had I not stumbled upon this place while on a walk. I knew this place meant business as the establishment was humble, which is typically a good sign for authentic, no-frills poke (as it should be). Aside from poke, they serve other local favorites, like li hing mui pineapple and poi mochi. My friend and I tried their poke bowl and li hing mui pineapple, both of which hit the spot as we had hiked Diamond Head earlier. The fish was fresh and tasty. I appreciated that they did not overload the mayo in their spicy ahi, which is a common pitfall other pokes places have. The li hing mui pineapple was refreshing and served as a sweet contrast to the savory fish. I would definitely come here again if I'm in the neighborhood!

Jason C.

Yelp
Tried Rugger Market for the first time, and it was a mixed experience. The service was great--friendly and welcoming, which is always appreciated. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite hit the mark for me. The rice was hard, and as a true local, I know the rice makes or breaks the dish. I was looking forward to trying the boiled peanuts, which I'd heard good things about, but they were sold out by the time we arrived. The ambience was interesting--dimly lit, with a vibe that felt like stepping back into the old days. Overall, it's a place with potential, but the food quality needs to match the great service.

Tiffany P.

Yelp
5 stars all around--The variety of poké, different combination plates (multiple poké choices or poké with meat + sides), and flavors of everything is what makes this 5 stars. Oh, and I cannot forget the portions--They do not skimp out! If you're ever near Diamond Head, I highly recommend going to Fort Ruger Market for some food/snacks/other local market items!

Raeann Y.

Yelp
We've had food from here before about two years ago, went to a housewarming party and they catered Hawaiian food. It was delicious but we haven't had it since then. Decided to come by on a Saturday morning for some brunch. Got their famous poke bowl with lechon and cucumber kimchi. It was absolutely delicious but so filling! Had to try the spicy pipikaula too, so good! We got their bacon and egg musubis too in case we got hungry later in the afternoon but could not eat it until the next day and it was still good after refrigerating and microwaving it. Service was amazing, everyone there was so nice! Can't wait to come back!

Deborah P.

Yelp
Update 1-15-25. Didn't know what to eat for lunch but because we needed to pick up at Walmart things my husband said let's go ruger mkt to pick up something for lunch I said ok. I ordered small plate of Filipino pinabet and my husband ordered dingaguan. The pinabet was ok lots of Filipino beans and eggplant some tomatoes and pieces of crispy pork no okra or bittermelon. My husband dingaguan was ok but not like real Filipinos who makes just the blood and inners. Uses lots of pork mixed with the blood. Brought some boil peanuts haupia, and dry aku to round up our purchase. At least now got to try the Filipino dish.

Keola K.

Yelp
I've been coming to this place since I was a kid, when my dad first introduced me some 305+ years ago. They are still cranking out high quality poke and you can still get your bag of boiled peanuts. My dad would always grab a bag when we popped in, They are so juicy and flavorful. They now have a hamachi onolicious ginger poke, so onooooo!!! It's like cold ginger chicken sauce either hamachi. My favorite Chinese sauce with my favorite raw fish.......broke da mouth. Their poke bowls are awesome......you can go all fresh poke or poke with cooked meat (crispy pork, adobo, etc). They also have Hawaiian and/or Filipino food plate lunches! If you're in a rush, try their hot bar with hot and ready bentos or musubis. They are located right down the road from KCC and diamond head theater. If you weee just driving by and didn't know about this place....you'd be passing a diamond in the rough.

Craig T.

Yelp
Today after work i decided to head to Fort Ruger Market located in Kaimuki near Diamond head Theatre. I remember way back in the day when my friends and I use to Cruz Waikiki we use to stopped here to buy some snacks . This Market is nostalgic in the Kaimuki area . I ordered their spicy Shoyu Ahi with spicy Salmon w/mayo. Their poke poke also comes with a choice of Kim Chee , Edamame, or ocean salad . It was very fresh auction quality fresh and you know when it's fresh at $25.99 a pound it's not frozen Ahi Lol! Next time I'll get their ruger special Ahi looked ono . This eatery also has plate lunches available along with drinks and other type of goodies . Support local when in the area . Service is also friendly and fast

Richard L.

Yelp
Come here, if you have a car or can make the hike from Diamond Head PLEASE come here. It's small and extremely unassuming but my god do they do a great Poke bowl. It's the only place in the world I've ever had Lechon + Poke in the same bowl and it works so well. Don't judge the small store, cause the food packs a LARGE punch. I recommend this place to everybody that goes to Hawaii and wants something different than what's on the main stretch of Waikiki

Aleksandr F.

Yelp
Good poke bowls with fresh fish. We've tried here 2 poke bowls on our way to Diamond Head. It's a store so no tables where you can sit inside or outside. Be prepared to eat you food in your car or as we did near parking lot on Diamond Head Crater.

Sheena W.

Yelp
So much nostalgia coming here ahh and the prices for such yummy food. It fulfilled the local cravings, Hawaiian and Filipino food like who wouldn't want lechon wit chilli pepper water or poke for breakfast lol plus the great view of diamond head on the way there.

Samantha J.

Yelp
We had poke daily during our trip to Oahu and I found out about this spot from a locals tiktok. We stopped by after our Diamond Head hike as it was pretty close by. Out of the 4 other poke places this was one of our favorites! We opted for the poke bowl with the Ruger Special Ahi and Spicy Salmon. I wanted to try the lechon but we didn't want to be too full for dinner. The poke was fresh and flavorful and with an added spam musubi it was the perfect amount for a pre dinner snack after a quick hike. Overall, this is a nice spot to stop by for a quick snack that is a little more local than some of the other touristy poke spots.

Hazuki R.

Yelp
Good poke, hidden spot in DH area. I had never heard or seen this place in the diamond head area as it seems to blend into its surrounding neighborhood. The poke was fresh and the prices were decent as the portions were bigger than what you would get at Onos. The staff inside were kind and helpful and were patient with us as we decided on what to order. I would recommend this spot to anyone craving poke in the DH/Kapahulu area as it is less crowded than other popular spots and the fish is also fresh! Parking: few stalls out front. Parking shouldn't be an issue.

Ryan O.

Yelp
You not going believe it I got to come here & right off the bat the family atmosphere strong, Braddah went automatically help me out as soon as he's done helping at all on a customers I got on da poke bowl with lechon so FIYAH mayjah action I tell you thank me later I haven't been here since a kid but wow 23yr later here we are food was fresh good portion service was cherry fast

Fairlani P.

Yelp
First time coming. My cousin who lives here all his life, recommended me to go here. I was craving for local foods because I miss it. The portion was perfect. This is what I remember growing up here in Hawaii

StaciLei T.

Yelp
I love this local hidden gem. Fort Ruger Market has got you covered. I mean, from poke, Hawaiian and filipino food, and anything you'd need from a convenience store! Personally, I'm head over heels for their hamachi poke. And don't even get me started on their spicy toragashi and ginger marlin!! So ono. But let's not forget about those poke bowl combos they whip up - I've got two words for you: lechon bowl. Yeah, you heard it right, crispy pork and poke. Now, let's dive into some of that Hawaiian goodness they're serving up. Ike lau lau? Check. Lomi salmon? Check. Chicken long rice? Check. Squid luau? You betcha. They've got these traditional Hawaiian dishes on point. Oh, and hold up, they're not stopping there. If you've got a hankering for some Filipino flavors, Fort Ruger Market has got your back. Pork adobo that's so tender it practically melts in your mouth, pinakbet that's a veggie lover's dream, and sari sari for that ultimate Filipino comfort food fix. Check out Fort Ruger Market for some legit poke and an array of Hawaiian and Filipino goodies. Just remember, get there early, grab some poke before they run out.

Johnny M.

Yelp
The market needs a lot of love and care to get it to be more presentable, but the poke here is hands down the best we've had on Oahu. Why? The poke seasoning is well done, the portions are generous, the fish cuts are large and chunky, and they have a Filipino menu that has items like crispy pork belly that compliment the poke well. Pro tip: come early for the taro mochi balls. They are delicious but sell out quickly.

Amanda P.

Yelp
Fresh poke bowls of you are ever in the diamond head area. I always come after a day at the beach. Also some great selection of musubis

Feliza C.

Yelp
Delicious! Market is located in a neighborhood but had parking out front. They have hawaiian and filipino food and I'm sad I forgot to try their lechon kawali because it looked BOMB! Staff was super helpful with our group of 6. Ordered the poke nachos with spicy salmon and local style ahi. Been searching for poke nachos our whole trip and so glad we found it here because it did not disappoint! Eating it with the chili water made it 100x better too!

Cyril C.

Yelp
I love this place! S/O to my boyfriend for introducing me. We always come early in the morning for their poke (50% off) and for their adobo fried rice. Their musubis are also FIRE.

Madonna P.

Yelp
They have lechon. There is also kimchee and mac salad. I got a choice of regular rice, sushi rice, and salad. I picked sushi rice. Thought you should know.

Mike Y.

Yelp
Have been going here for years until new owners bought this place been at least twenty years since but I've been buying boiled peanuts for few years now and today being a Biggest day for Super-Bowl Sunday went early this morning but they were all sold out before 9am cashier said they weren't making another batch but luckily I asked the old lady instead in the back said come back by 11 ! ! ! Almost forgot went back there were still six bag left still warm and wet cashier remembered me and said Oh you came back There should be four left by now I'm sure it's all Gone it's not the Same as the Original owners SBDay was Madness back then but their Boil Peanuts will hold till halftime

Kathy V.

Yelp
Instagram reels are quite the influence. I came for the lechon kawali (fried pork) and poke. The market offers Filipino food, dried meats (jerky) and all sorts of goodies. Definitely a great find.

Phil H.

Yelp
The poke bowls here are da bomb. Honestly some of the best poke I've had in the state. You get large portion size for the price, so also excellent value for unfrozen high quality poke.

Joe P.

Yelp
FRM has been open for 75 yrs and is owned by the same Filipino family that founded it. As the name indicates, it is near Ft Ruger in the Kaimuki neighborhood of Honolulu. I ordered the lechon kawali, but they also serve a lot of local favorites like beef stew, chicken long rice, fried chicken, et al. The prices may seem high, but the portions are massive. I could not finish my plate, and HTC had a couple of bites also. The market is pretty small, but also has grab & go items, as well as liquor store type items. The staff is super friendly, and serves the food w/ a lot of Aloha. The only downside is that there is no place to sit and enjoy your food. No problem: Just drive nearby and you can have a picnic at FT Ruger Park or Diamond Head Park. The next time I return I will make sure and rent a car for the day, and use it as an opportunity to explore the East side of O'ahu. FRM offers excellent food, served with a whole lot of Aloha.

Bryn Y.

Yelp
It was 4:30pm when my brother recommended this market to me for poke. I rushed over to grab a bowl, despite it being so late in the day. If you're from Hawaii or know anything about fish, it's well known that eating raw fish late in the day means the quality will not be at its peak. Upon walking in for the first time, it gives me the same hole in the wall local energy as Tanioka's - a small market selling snacks, cigarettes, and drinks with a corner dedicated to fresh foods like poke, lechon, dinuguan, and more. When you see a no frills stop and shop poke establishment, that's how you know it's the real deal! For $20, I got a very sizable poke bowl with 2 choices and a side. I swear, there was probably 1lb of poke on top of a very thin bed of rice. You will rarely find a place that gives more fish than rice ratio. I ended up not eating it immediately which should've in "Hawaii theory" diminished the taste and quality but goddamn this poke was the bomb.com, even when I ate it hours later for dinner! I will definitely be coming back here again but in the earlier daytime to enjoy fort ruger market !

Wakaba S.

Yelp
It's close to KCC and Diamond Head Theater. I passed by this place many times but this was the first time going there. The place looked like a mini mart but it was actually more like a takeout place, simple and very local atmosphere. The service was fast and great. I picked a Mini Poke Bowl. You get to pick one poke, side, and rice. I wanted sushi rice but they ran out already, so picked brown rice. The rice was a bit undercooked and tough. For the poke, I picked Ahi Ginger that was plenty and delicious. The ginger had the nice kick to it. My side was Lomi Salmon and it wasn't too salty, so I liked it. Overall, I enjoyed the food and price was decent. I'd like to come back here again and try different items.

Henderson G.

Yelp
Amazing food and service. Staffs are welcoming, many options to choice from. Would come back again.

Lauren L.

Yelp
Local market where you can grab quick on the go lunch items. A lot of locals know about the place and it's been here for a long time. They have pre-musubo, pancit , and haupia dessert. The made to order style you have to wait in line for them to get your selections and put them they put it together. The famous bowl is around $21 and could most likely feed 2. You get to choose 1 fish and 1 meat and 1 side. I got the salmon lomi and didnt really care for it because it was pretty fishy tasting. The lechon has some pieces super crispy and some not so much (a good amount of fat on there too). We got the ruger special but ended up liking the spicy ahi for a heat kick. Order then take your meal to the register to pay. (Card is accepted here). Staff was pretty straight to the point - but also friendly. Decent place is you're in the diamond head area or around KCC. It's tucked on the corner around a residential area. Parking in front is pretty tight and limited! Decent bowl value the quantity quality wise was 1 star down. The brown rice didn't taste rusher fresh and was cold and a tad hard(would've liked it warm).

Aika O.

Yelp
This place is a must do whenever we come back to Hawaii! We'll grab a bowl to go and head to the beach. We love the poke bowls where you can also add lechon or adobo. I am obsessed. The staff are so sweet and friendly. Their dinuguan is so delicious, I like that it's very meaty which is how I personally prefer the dish. The lechon is so flavorful and juicy. And of course, the fish is so fresh. Some of the best poke that I've had!

Brandon M.

Yelp
Another place that was on my list to try while I was here in Hawaii. Big portions of great tasting poke. A quick in/out pick up your food and you're gone type place. Friendly workers and a small place for the locals. A must try little place up the street from waiola shave ice.

Jennifer E.

Yelp
Located near Kapiolani Community College (KCC) on the side street where Diamond Head Theater is. Fort Ruger Market is on Alohea and Edna St. There is parking out front or on the street. So I specifically came here to try their Simply Amazing Poke Bowl with poke and lechon. It blew my mind when I heard about the possibility to combine the two textures in one dish so I couldn't wait to try it. First attempt to get a bowl was around 5:15pm on a Saturday. Sadly they had run out of food so I went the next day around 2:30pm. The lechon pieces I got were full of fat and held no real flavor but since I got lomi salmon, I took a bite of both at the same time and it reminded me of lechon kewali. The lechon was a bit disappointing but it satisfied my craving for a bite with a crunch. The flavors for the poke were lighter than I expected. The hamachi ginger had ginger that I could see but it didn't pack a punch. And since I got the last few pieces of hamachi I also got the Ruger's Special. the seaweed adds a nice touch. Overall I felt like the flavors were lacking. Also got a piece of fried chicken. It was rather disappointing as it was cold and way too big. I probably won't go out of my way to come here again but if I'm in the neighborhood I might stop by to give it another shot.

Corina Q.

Yelp
I've lived in kaimuki my ENTIRE life but it took me 24 years to finally try Fort Ruger Market, and now i'm kicking myself for waiting this long. The shop itself is super rustic and straightforward - order poke right in front of the entrance, order Hawaiian and Filipino plate lunches to the right of the poke, grab some sides from the fridge or some drinks at the back of the shop. There's about 10 different types of poke. You can get it by the pound or in a poke bowl. We got the simple amazing poke bowl which comes with a choice of white, brown sushi rice or organic greens, a choice of ONE poke, one meat (kalua pork, lichen, pork adobo or pork gisantes) and a choice of a side (lomi salmon, kimchi, ocean salad or crab salad). You can also get the original poke bowl which just comes with rice and up to two choices, poke nachos, or a mini poke bowl (rice, ONE poke, one side). I got the rugerlicious poke which had amazing flavor. the ruger special ahi was my favorite - it was a simple hawaiian style ahi without the addition of shoyu, so all the light flavors of the ogo and ahi shine. my friend's spicy japan scallops were also SO amazing. They really pack everything into the poke bowl, I had to eat it for two meals because it was too big to finish in one sitting. The fried tako bites and chicharron bites from the refrigerated section were my favorite finds.

Richard H.

Yelp
I've lived here my entire life and this is my first time hearing about this place! Although, I've always seen these kinds of poke bowls on social media, but never really knew where it was located until now. I got the amazing poke bowl - They allow you to choose a poke of your choice (Some sell out fast!), rice of your choice (white, sushi, or brown), sides, and meat. I got the spicy ahi since it was the only one available with white rice, lomi salmon, and lechon for the meat. Wished there were more choices, but I didn't realize they would sell out fast at around 11 am. The bowl is pretty sizable, and it would range about $20. It's a bit much for what it is, since the meat was left out cold, and the poke didn't have much of a flavor to it. Overall, service was pretty good. It's also a market so there's a lot of options of snacks and other pupus to choose from. But this place is a great place to grab a simple poke bowl for the beach!

Ryan L.

Yelp
Fresh fish and delicious Filipino food can't go wrong with the combo poke bowl. Go to the counter on the left and the menu is visible. Plenty of local snacks and goodies. A bit pricy though but still good food.

Stacy S.

Yelp
Only in Hawaii can you find delicious, authentic Hawaiian food inside of a market! I'm so glad I discovered this place, as it's closer to my home than the other Hawaiian eateries in town or on the Windward side. I called in my order and they said it'd be ready in 15 min (which it was). I asked if they had a pork lau lau, chicken long rice and lomi salmon plate, and they said they could sub out the kalua pig for the lau lau and it would still be the same price = $17.95. Sounded good to me! Upon arrival, I discovered that it's more of a plate lunch and poke place than an actual market, although they do offer some grocery products. Apparently they're known for their poke, and they have plenty of options to choose from, but I was craving Hawaiian food so I went with that. They have a variety of Hawaiian and Filipino plate lunches. Prices are on par with other plate lunch eateries in the area. They are definitely very generous with the food portions! I could make two meals out of mine. The lau lau was moist and flavorful. The chicken long rice had thick pieces of chicken and it tasted very authentic. The lomi salmon was super ono, which isn't surprising since they're known for their fish items. The rice was fresh even though it was an hour before closing. I was blown away by how delicious everything was! I asked if they had haupia for dessert and the girl at the cash register gave me two squares for free! Unfortunately I wasn't a fan of the haupia though, as it tasted kind of "chalky" to me - is that a word? Customer service was amazing. Parking is right in front of the market with only a few spots available. I can imagine that this place gets very busy during peak lunch hours and you'd probably have to find street parking. I will definitely be back!

Jo-Anne S.

Yelp
I finally visited Ruger Market after living all my life on this island! LOL! A little mom & pop store located in Kaimuki, it has all the nostalgic food that us locals love to grind. Hawaiian, Filipino, poke, char siu, lechon, they got it all! Even boiled peanuts! Yum! On this visit I was Hungry for Kalua pig and rice, something I can find at the kakaako farmers market. (Prices are better at the farmers market). Everything looked delicious, so many items to choose from and great service was provided to me! The food was great and I do enjoy the boiled peanuts. I'll be returning to try their other things!

Kara B.

Yelp
This was my first time here at Fort Ruger Market. Easy place to find using the GPS, and hard to miss with their beautiful graffiti wall. The lot was super empty, so it was exciting for us to go because we knew there wasn't gonna be a line. Once we got out of our car, the lunch rush came, so we hurried inside. Small & spacious inside, and defined lines making it easy for people to know where to order and where to pay. I went quickly by the poke bar to order. It was quick and simple to state the order and the people work was super friendly. I've never been here so the guy made the recommendation of getting the super simply bowl. Comes with choice of poke, meat, and a side. Cashier is right by the door. The cashier was really friendly too. She offered a box for me to carry. The food itself was exceptionally amazing! Made me so full and I still have some leftover for lunch tmwr! Lechon was cut to a good size, poke tasted YUM, and the side options went well with the bowl. Definitely come here to check it out! They also have some other goodies, like spam musubi, which my son loved! The have Lechon skin, ahi dip, chips, soda. Great place to stop and go!

Meggie T.

Yelp
Delicious! Fresh food with huge portions hidden in what looks like a neighborhood convenience store. Definitely gets busy at times, but worth the wait. This was my favorite lau lau that I had. And the poke tasted amazing. So many varieties too! Staff is friendly and works efficiently. Only thing I noticed was that one or two flies got in and since some of the other food was not covered or sealed the flies could touch the food.

Kristen S.

Yelp
My honey and I moved to Kaimuki about two years ago, and were fortunate to stumble upon this market while on a run around diamond head. Needless to say, we walked home after indulging in a plate of Laulau, chicken adobo, fresh poke (which is 50% the last hour they're open!), and spam musubi (because why not, we were already in so deep). Certain days of the week they've got a smoker going out in the parking lot, which we can smell running up from 12th Ave. such a solid spot for picking up beach grinds and delicious, local food without a 2 hour wait.

Raymond M.

Yelp
Went with the lechon kawali and poke combo. No public restroom. Limited parking but there are a few parking spots around the neighborhood. Service was okay. No dine in. They also have Filipino food as well.

Moody F.

Yelp
You gotta be kidding me. $29/lb for poke now?! $25 for a Hawaiian plate?! What the heck happened? What's going on with this place? They took away the seating, they did add some nice paintings on the outside, but shouldn't just jack up the prices on us. I used to love Ruger Market, but now none of us can afford it. The service is still same old same old. Nice people but you are pricing people out of it. Even boiled peanuts seemed expensive. I'll give it a try again, hoping they run some specials for the loyal customers over the years. Until then, these changes have me giving low stars due to unaffordability.

Tu-Quyen P.

Yelp
This place lives up to the hype! Such a great option for something a little different from the usual poke bowl, I love the added crunch from the lechon and the yummy flavor on the Ruger special poke. The mac salad is probably my favorite of the ones I've tried in Hawaii which was an unexpected surprise. For breakfast they have to go musubi and bentos and I loved the longanisa box, so so good! Convenient unassuming spot with just enough options. Not the best poke on its own but with the lechon it's next level!

Jillian N.

Yelp
I really liked the spicy ahi poke. Your traditional spicy mayo type poke but it definitely was spicy and had a nice kick. I also got the local style ahi and thought it was good but I preferred the spicy. I would have gotten a poke bowl with the crispy pork belly next time but I was traveling back to the mainland and needed some poke to just take with me. They were really nice since I got there at 7:30 and they were still cutting up the poke. They were able to give me what I needed by 8am and had me on my way! Service was great and ambiance is like your normal small market store!

Alfredo M.

Yelp
Not the same ! Had the poke / lechon kind of bland . I used to come here long ago ! I remember they used to make the poke to order in a bowl was full of flavor ! not anymore.

Tammie A.

Yelp
Their food was okay but I didn't like it. I rather go to Julie's in Kapolei. Portion was too small and expensive for size they served me.

Kayla M.

Yelp
For transparency this review is based only upon the poke bowl (spicy ahi & Rugerliciou. I feel disappointed with my visit here. I was in the area and wanted to stop for a poke bowl before the beach. Others may have mentioned it, but their poke is not so great. I also asked for sushi rice but when I tasted it, it was definitely not what I was expecting. I didn't really smell or taste the vinegary, tangy taste I know sushi rice to be. Instead it was sweet. Knowing it would taste like this, I would have much rather preferred regular white rice. Fort Ruger Market has other options including Hawaiian & Filipino bowls, and musubis. I'd suggest giving those a try but definitely not the poke! Parking lot right off Alohea.

Joe P.

Yelp
Got the laulau & squid luau plate. The coconut milk in the (squid) luau had a rancid taste. They should just call it luau leaf because there was barely any microscopic bits of squid in it. For a $22 plate? No ma'am. The lomi salmon was warm. The laulau was good. The $30/lb poke tasted like the refrigeration needs to be a LOT colder. Will not be returning. Sorry.

Cheryl Y.

Yelp
3 bites and it was gone. $2.95. Plus they ran out of free chili pepper water and so I had to buy their bottle. Plus, a lot of fat in their dinaguan. So disappointed. Many dining places to choose and we chose here today. Been coming here from small kid time. Poho.

ShellbackOC9 ..

Yelp
I'll have to agree, this place relied on it's previous reputation which was ono local favs at a decent price. Now not even close....ordered the Mini Pork Adobo which was dry and had everything except.....what was it???.....yeah FLAVOR! That and a Diamond Head Strawberry Soda....$19.25. Awesome. Never going back. (...and Mom used to take us there all the time as keiki)