Hamura Saimin

This place is a must when visiting Kauai. Get the saimin and add on a beef and chicken stick. Don’t forget the lilikoi chiffon pie. Food is so damn good. Fast and friendly service…but be prepared to order and move on so the next party can enjoy. This place can get busy and expect to wait. No frills here with the look of the place. Old school counter seating. Enjoy. 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

Delicious bowls of noodles and fast service. Small place but turnover is fast if needed. Don’t forget to try something on a stick and I really likes the pork and wontons in my Specialty Saimin. Important- Cash only!!!!

💣.com If you want real local Hawaiian food this should be your first stop. It’s everything you want in a Saimin Shack. If you’re from California and are going to compare it to Ramen then just keep walking. But if you’re from California want to try true local comfort food this is Good as it Gets. Order a Special. Add a Chicken Stick or two, I prefer the Chicken over beef. Reminds me of Japanese yakitori. Make sure you mix some hot mustard, 🌶️ water (in old Costco spice bottles) and soy sauce to dip your meat in. My wife loved the shrimp Saimin. Cash Only!!! Service is awesome. Went here twice in one week.

Like all the reviews say, old school feel with delicious noodles. Got the medium Special Siamin and it was delicious. Lilikol chiffon pie was also very good.

What a great local find. This is not a tourist spot by any means…. Which makes it exactly the kind of restaurant we like to find This is reminiscent of an Asian hawker shop or noodle stall. But it’s inside a building and setup like a counter service restaurant that would have served breakfast and coffee back in the day… This place is all about the noodles, wontons and pork dumplings. It’s cash only so don’t bring a credit card. There are several versions of noodle dishes. All just variants on a common broth theme. And there are some pretty large size bowls if you go the XL route. They have specials like oxtail and also add ons like shrimp tempura, fried dumplings etc. We had the tempura shrimp noodles. Excellent As well as the Saimin Special noodles. Also excellent. We saw people getting some pork & chicken skewers and other extras. It all looked wonderful. What a cool little place. So happy we found it. Having lived in Asia for nearly 22 years, this really brought back the memories of the noodle bowls we used to get. They also serve cookies and Likikoi pie (like a passionfruit meringue pie) which is fantastic. And here is bonus. There is a little stall in the restaurant that only operates from Mon-Fri. They make the absolute most authentic Manapua (like a charsu bao). You have to call and order and then come pickup. See my photos for the phone number and costs. Go to this joint if you are a fan of noodle dishes. You will love it. Super low key and unpretentious place. It’s all about the food. Great and friendly service. Super helpful staff This is a fun little restaurant where you sit at the counter and eat with everyone else Loved it!!

I finally got to try the infamous saimin establishment of Kauai. ATMOSPHERE: The plantation-style building looks like someone's former home, as does the feel inside. It's open-air, with a communal table and counter that winds back and forth like a snake with mini stools to perch upon. The open-view kitchen is a bustling factory with steam, smoke, clinging and clanging. MENU: Saimin, fried noodles, udon, beef, chicken, tempura, manapua, shave ice, halo halo, pie. FOOD: BBQ Chicken Stick The boneless and skinless thigh looked and smelled great, but it was overcooked and a bit tough. BBQ Beef Stick Marinated in the same sauce as the chicken, the beef was more tender and finished better than its chicken compadre. Saimin Special Being the pig that I am, I went extra large, which wasn't as huge as you'd think. Broth sip first... Mmm piping hot, savory and shrimpy-tasting. Very nice! Next, the homemade noodles. Excellent flavor, though I forgot to follow the advice of other reviewers in asking for the noodles to be "half-cooked". It was a little soft but still had body to it. Being the "special", it came loaded with toppings - lots of tender charsiu, sliced bok choy and deli ham, half a boiled egg, green onions, and homemade won tuns with a peppery pork filling. I finished everything including the broth. SERVICE: It's seat yourself. We came at the right time and snagged four seats before the constant flow of diners filled the place. Our female server was friendly and quick yet patient, even taking the time to visually show guests the different saimin bowl sizes without attitude. TIP: Cash only. OVERALL: Well-deserved James Beard Foundation recognition, delicious and authentic Hawaii-style saimin.

CASH ONLY Initial impressions were okay. Walking in, you see a very unique snake-like center table in an otherwise fairly average building. After some time to become accustomed, you realize the standards of the building are quite low. The air would be still if not for the multitude of fans constantly running. The walls are yellow, but that only emphasizes the dirtiness of the walls. Table cleanliness is not much better. Service is okay. Neither good nor bad. That being said, the host reseated some people to help our walk-in group of 8 sit together. Now, that's kind of her towards us, but I think that's somewhat rude to the other guests. Otherwise, they took our orders very pragmatically. Also occasionally came by with some packaged thing to sell us, like a cookie. No standard courtesy "How's the food?" Or "Can I get you anything else?" Meal wise, we had both chicken and beef skewers. They were decent. Well seasoned and overall solid. The time it took to bring them out made me think they were not made to order. For the main course, I got the special saimin. It was... disappointing. It tasted and had the texture of a well-prepared, but cheap instant Ramen. My noodles were overcooked and mushy. The quality of all the materials was acceptable, but not good. Some meats were cooked, but cold -- implying freezer prep or similar. But most importantly, the broth was simple and mostly unseasoned. When I really tried, it tasted like a chicken broth. Otherwise, it was just a slightly salty liquid. There was absolutely no depth to the flavor. And at last, we tried the cake. Which was decent, but definitely not made to order. It had hints of lemon, a spongy texture, and a well-balanced lilikoi cream. All in all, disappointing. I considered a 1 star, but the skewers, acceptable service, initially good impressions, and low prices are enough to bump it up to a 2.

Everything was great. Menu is simple to choose from. I got the regular. With bbq stick beef and chicken. The broth was so good. Too bad they didn’t have the fries noodles. That’s a must to try.

Great hole in the wall. Locals love it. Kids love it. Has a nice diner feel where it's set up is bar-style. We come to Kauai every year for our wedding anniversary and always come to the place on the first day arriving. The old aunties are quiet and hard working. Understanding of children. We were able to split the sumo saimin size amongst all 4 of the kids. The only thing is parking. The small lot is usually full and you'll have to find street parking which can be a pain.

The saimin is a Hawaiian take on a fusion between Chinese and Vietnamese noodle soups and a Japanese Ramen (which itself actually derives from Chinese noodle soup). Loving all of these individually had me really excited to try the specialty saimin. Unfortunately, what results is all three flavors being a bit more mild, so you end up with a soup that's tastes lighter and none end up being "the star." I very much enjoyed it, but it fell short of expectations in what I would have expected in going for a ramen or noodle soup on its own. It's definitely worth a try for the uniqueness of the dish on its own though. The chiffon cake was surprisingly good being quite a light and fluffy treat at the end of the meal.

A classic kauai saimin spot! CASH ONLY-- make sure you have cash ready & anticipate a line. Very hole in the wall spot, simple menu but saimin was great & felt home cooked! I loved the chewy noodle texture & adding vinegar to the broth. Good prices & a cozy, nostalgic experience. Aunty working seemed very busy. We ordered the saimin & a Lilikoi pie, but I think our pie got forgotten. We weren't able to get anyone to bring us the pie, but it's okay! We were happy with just the saimin. Seat yourself, just wait for an open spot on someone's table. We came late at night so the wait wasn't too bad, but I heard the lines can be pretty long at rush hour.

There are few places in Hawaii that stick out from my trip the way this place does. Something about a cash-only joint like this one just breathes authenticity - nowhere better for Hawaiian-Japanese-style noodles. The portion was overly generous for such an incredibly reasonable price - cash only was a bit of an obstacle, but also kind of added to the experience. My only regret is not trying the Lilikoi Chiffon Pie - but I'll be thinking about that Special Saimin Bowl for a LONG time. Service was solid - especially having walked in 30 minutes before they closed - and overall the ambiance is very "hole-in-the-wall" or "hidden-gem." This place should be so proud of the product they put forward - it's popular for good reason!

Tried the special saimin, but the wontons were undercooked and the broth reminded me of cup noodles. It was packed when we went for lunch, but overall, only the affordable prices stood out. It's a lively, casual, well-known local spot. Cash only.

Solid meal choice! Been coming here for 20+ years for ramen/saimin. Plus, our only meal in Hawaii for under $100 for 5 of us. Tip 1: Bring CASH; they don't accept credit cards. Tip 2: Arrive during "off hours" like 3pm and you'll get right in without a wait. Tip 3: Skip the "famous" lilikoi pie--tasteless.

Found this gem thru travel vlogs on YouTube. Those guys didn't lie! Everything we ordered was pleasing and hit the spot. This place stays busy and we were lucky enough to end up finding seats during busy hours! One thing for sure, you need to speak up and not wait for the servers to come to you! They stayed occupied! Recommend!

Saimin tasted okay but it was definitely a comfort food. I've been eating burgers, sandwiches and pizza, so it's nice to have noodles again. The broth was light and I could mostly taste noodle for the soup. Quick service. Casual retro restaurant. I got the regular saimin. They only accept cash. I only had one bill so I couldn't try their other items.

As authentic as it gets .It definitely is unassuming but I could tell that locals eat here because the place didn't have any shenanigans and just offered 100% delicious food .You enter and they seat you at a communal table with others. There are only a handful of menu items and as a result it doesn't take too long to get your meal out. They cook right in front of you and it felt like a home cooked meal. The food was good ,my husband who was extremely sea sick only a few hours back was not only able to stomach it but also enjoyed it. The restaurant is cash only so keep that in mind .

Came here based on recommendations and my guy and I just found it to be average. It's good and not crazy priced for what you get, but it's very forgettable. We tried their Special Saimin and we were very happy with how packed it was. The wontons were pretty decent, but the broth was bland despite all the ingredients that were in it. I can see how this would be good if you have nothing to compare it to, but it missed the mark for me.

We heard about this place from the "Guidealong" tour app. The guide recommended it. As we entered, it was clear, this was a local spot. I think we were the only tourists there. These are the places I live for, the ones you won't see on Food Network! The restaurant is homey with counter seating. You can see into the kitchen and although they hand you a menu, it also hangs above the ktichen. We sat down and the server working the counter came over right away. She was so friendly and constantly refilled my water. We ordered two speical Saimins, fried wontons and of course my partner had to finsih it with the lilikoi chiffon pie which, I tried. All of it was excellent!

This place is local to its Formica bones. It was exactly the same on my second visit in 2025 as it was on my first in 2006. The nicely charred chicken and beef bbq sticks are a delicious appetizer. We chose the wonton mein, which had delicious homemade-tasting wontons with the standard (yummy) noodles and roast pork. Our server looked like her bunions were really bothering her (or something). She wasn't thrilled when we ordered one soup to share, but it was plenty of food with the appetizers and pie. I wished the pie was a little more tart, but the flaky crust and chiffon texture were perfect. No AC, no credit cards, no BS.

Looks better than it tastes This is place is not bad by any means, it just isn't anything amazing. Tastes like a home cooked ramen dish. The wonton, eggs, and veggies felt overcooked. The noodles were a little too tough for me. The broth is just plain chicken broth. We also tried their skewers - the beef one was a bit tough, but the chicken one was juicy and tender. The lilikoi chiffon pie was probably my favorite - tasted like a not too sweet egg custard.

This little hole in the wall Samin stop is a favorite here on Kauai. It's cash only and has counter and 1 table seating that can sit about 30 people. It's usually very busy but on this visit, we came in at a good time. We got seated at the counter and was greeted by Auntie and Uncle who were working hard taking orders. There was another Auntie who was making all of the saimin orders. We ordered: 1. Small Saimin 2. Shrimp Samin 3. Beef Sticks The saimim was delicious and the broth was tasty along with the beef sticks and shrimp tempura. It hit the spot on that rainy weekend that we spent there. If you've been here you know and if you have never been here, it is worth a stop especially if you love traditional saimin, beef and chicken sticks, and shrimp tempura. The menu is not big but big enough for options and sizes. I will definitely return when I am in Kauai again.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the first stop for my husband and I after picking up the rental car at the airport (only a short drive away!). Food: We both ordered the Special Saimin, although I'd be tempted by the ox tail saimin (only available on certain days of the week) and other options if I was hungrier or had more time on th eisland. The medium bowl is probably a good size if you plan on getting other items too (like the BBQ chicken sticks and/or dessert), but that being said, the XL bowl didn't feel like "too much" food since the soup was tasty but light. For dessert, we shared a slice of the lilikoi chiffon pie (cake? pie?). Note that if you order food to-go after dining in, there is a slight price markup - this isn't a secret though since it's posted visibly on their menus. Service: TBH the service experience varied between visits, in terms of speed, attentiveness, friendliness, and other factors (it was never poor service though). Either way, we were always able to order and receive food quickly enough, and same with the bill. If you enter by the leftmost door and see a line, a tip that a local gave us is to just walk by and seat yourself (or use another door) - he said the line is for pickup/takeout orders, so you can save yourself some time there. I usually try not to go to food places more than once while on vacation, but my husband and I ended up going full circle by both starting and finishing our trip in Kauai with a meal at Hamura Saimin because we enjoyed it that much. One more tip before ending this review is that they're cash only, so don't forget to bring some with you!

This is a bustling small restaurant with a really unique bar that snakes across the room. Don't forget that it's CASH ONLY! There's a bank you can get cash from ~5 min walk away. Not the biggest fan of saimin, I wasn't impressed. The skewers were really tasty! I wish they included some recommended insturctions for the sauces that are left on the bar. I had no idea what the sauces were and how they suggest to use them. The star IMO is the lilikoi chiffon pie! It's like eating a fruity cloud. Super light, moist, and eggy. The lilikoi flavor is pronounced and adds a nice tart flavor.

Cute little mom and pop place. Lots of locals. We may have been the only tourists. I had a BBQ chicken skewer, chicken thighs with a light sweet sauce. Very good! We both got the ramen. The broth was amazing, the rest was just okay. Ham lunch meat slices with ramen, fish cakes and green onions. No frills but we loved it. Easily the least expensive meal we had on the island and very filling.

This place is a must when visiting Kauai. Get the saimin and add on a beef and chicken stick. Don't forget the lilikoi chiffon pie. Food is so damn good. Fast and friendly service...but be prepared to order and move on so the next party can enjoy. This place can get busy and expect to wait. No frills here with the look of the place. Old school counter seating. Enjoy.

Recommended by many when on Kauai & it was a rainy day so we had to give it a try. Entered and sign says cash only, it was pretty full. No one greeted us. It was our first time so we didn't know what to do. Do we seat ourselves or just wait? We waited on the side but a table was kind enough to offer us seats since its family style seating. The aunty that worked there didn't look so happy or friendly she dropped off menus and walked off. Another aunty dropped off waters. We had a few questions since it's our first time she just looked irritated like she didn't want to be there. Took our order. Food came out pretty quick. It definitely was comfort food for us and was pretty good. The oxtail saimin was good just missing ginger and shoyu. Other than that I would come back again if I am in the mood for saimin.

The food is made to order. FYI, get there later in the day they maybe out of some things. Like today they had no fried noodles... The ladies helping us were fantastic and fun always with a smile... as for the place it is totally a mom and pop local business... the real deal as they say and boy it's great to support local businesses...

I'm a fan of simple, no-frills saimin. I believe that's the only way to eat it. This is exactly that. And a bonus is that they have lilikoi chiffon cake! Food (5/5): Cheap and simple options that hit! You know exactly what you're getting when you order. This is a cash only establishment and it feels like you've been transported to a few decades ago with the diner style foods. We ate the saimin and lilikoi cake, I thoroughly enjoyed both for the price we paid! Service (4/5): There's only 2 people working this whole place, one in the front and one in the kitchen. They are there to get you your food and that's it. I don't mind it, I'm there for the food anyways! Ambiance (4/5): All the tables are a part of a continuous counter that snakes throughout the restaurant. Everyone sits on a stool and there's a possibility you sit next to others.

At the time of writing, Hamura Saimin has a rating of 3.8 stars, which sets the stage for an experience that can swing from decent to memorable, depending on what you order. I went for the Special Saimin, a bowl brimming with an assortment of green onions, ham, fish cakes, vegetables, wontons, roast pork, and an egg. Individually, each ingredient held its own, but together, they seemed more like a mismatched band than a symphony. The components didn't quite harmonize, leaving the overall dish feeling a bit disjointed. Then came the BBQ chicken sticks--an undeniable highlight. Juicy, flavorful, and perfectly charred. For lack of a better word, I found myself "tricked" into buying banana bread. But it was a trick I didn't mind falling for. Moist, sweet, and comforting, this banana bread made for a perfect breakfast the next morning. The open seating at Hamura Saimin means it's first come, first serve, and I can imagine it gets crowded during peak hours. I didn't get to sample the Lilikoi Pie, but it looked like a treat worth coming back for. There's something here for everyone, and despite my lukewarm feelings about the saimin, I'd return to explore more of the menu. (Bring Cash)

It's been a few years since I lasted visited but the food is always good. I haven't dined inside in so long (I've always ordered take-out) that I forgot how nostalgic it felt. I usually get my usual which is bbq chicken sticks and the special saimin, and get the large size portion but I wasn't feeling all that well so I chose the medium. I didn't order it this time, but the lilikoi pie is always a great way to finish the meal. Everything about Hamura saimin feels like home, the ambiance just feels cozy. P.S. this is a cash only establishment so remember to withdraw money before arriving.

Everytime I visit Kauai, I always end my trip and head to Hamura Saimin right before heading to the airport. This historical saimin shop is true hole in the wall mom & pop. I always get the extra large special saimin with 2 bbq beef sticks. The portion is hefty and loaded with toppings. The poke belly is plump and juicy, the broth is deliciously salty, and the noodles have a good bite. I always pour in the vinegar steeped with chili's for a nice tang. The beef sticks are good, but they always come out first and are cold by the time my saimin comes out. I also bought a whole lilikoi chiffon cake to bring back to Oahu - it comes frozen, and a paper bag is $1. The staff are always working hard taking orders, serving food, and clearing tables. There's a large table to the left that can fit multiple parties around, otherwise there's a snaking U shape counter throughout the rest of the restaurant. Parking isn't bad, especially on weekends when you can park on the side streets. Note cash only.

Old school, Hawaii diner style eatery. It's nostalgic and reminiscent of old, simpler times. Best saimin in town & best beef stick ever. The lilikoi chiffon pie is next level too. If you go, please tip the aunties plenty. They work so hard!

It is what it is. An old school saimin shop. Efficient service, consistent food, affordable. Cash only. Open "late".

This hole in the wall has been in Lihue forever and I loved it 30 years ago. And back again for Saimin! Got the regular medium Saimin and it was plenty for me. Side of beef and chicken skewers -- a smidgen dry for me but hit the spot after arriving from a flight. The lilikoi chiffon pie was a nice ending to the meal. Cash only!

Just wanted to add that they do NOT sell uncooked Saimin for neighbor island or domestic travel anymore. I just called and the lady said no

This is definitely a place that has a lot of rich history. The locals come here as if it were home and you can't help but feel cozy walking into Hamura Saimin. I've never had Saimin before and ordered the wonton mein. The broth was good. The dumplings were not in my taste palette preference and the meat was under seasoned. I added hot sauce and the assortment of things that were on the table but overall I probably would not order this again. I also got a beef skewer which was very good! Would definitely come back for the skewer. It's clear that it's fresh and tastes very homey. Another highlight is the lilokai chiffon pie, it is excellent! Very light and airy with just a slight tartness from the passion fruit. It was very enjoyable to eat. The service can be worked on but also the people that work here are so sweet and treat you like a guest in their home. I think they could benefit from a slight revamp to speed up their processes. TLDR: Overall would visit for skewers and pie again. Not the place if you are looking for a proper sit down restaurant. This is a casual eatery that is great to visit if you just want a laid back homey atmosphere.

Was looking for noodles to eat and came up on Yelp. CASH only. Parking was easy to find maybe cause it was a weekend. Lilikoi pie and saimin tasted good.

Cash only. It's a straight to the point place to eat where you find yourself an area that's open and sit down on the bar stools. The way it's set up is counter style so it will be tough if you're a big party. It's all fans and windows here and can be tough when the heat is beating down trying to eat your bowl of saimin. However their bowls of saimin are worth the try, and it's not too far from the airport. Mondays and Fridays only they offer oxtail saimin. We also ordered the beef and chicken bbq sticks. Essentially it feels like Filipino aunties that you see serving the food and cooking behind the counter.

We enjoyed our saimin bowls. I got the wonton one, and G got the special one (which has veggies- recommend!) The chicken BBQ stick was pretty good. The Lilikoi chiffon pie was alright but would be a bit better if it was more flavorful (more tart and more sweet).

In search of a Lilikoi chiffon pie, wasn't sure which was the best place to go. Just when I had finished purchasing pie at another place, we got the phone call to say that mom had purchased a whole pie from here. She bought it frozen and tried to eat it right away despite the rubbery texture. Much better to have patience and wait for it to thaw. The texture will be light and airy. Quite good but a bit too light in texture and flavor for two of us. I wanted to taste more lilikoi which I realize is pricey these days. The other 2 thought it was fine. $6.50 a slice. Average rating from our group 4.5 stars Who knew you could get this at a famous Saimin place?! IYKYK

Located off of Rice Street in downtown Lihue, about 7 minutes from the main airport. Cash only, no credit card. This is a classic Kauai favorite restaurant. Serving the same type of of Hawaiian Saimin, as opposed to Japanese Ramen. Unique ebi broth and thick curly noodles. I highly recommend their Special Saimin, which includes: two won tuns, slices of ham, pork chashu, won bak cabbage, green onions, and sliced kamaboko (fish cake). They also offer baked goods: chocolate chip cookies, almond cookies, and their Lilikoi chiffon pie.

We love this saimin stand. We ate here multiple times during our week visiting Kauai and enjoyed their saimin, special saimin, fried noodles and of course their meat BBQ sticks (so meaty and delicious!). One of the days they put in some other meat besides spam (was it ham?) in the saimin but generally it was good! The only thing we didn't care for was the hard ice; it was too hard and didn't taste as expected. Everything else was great, very nice ladies and super friendly prompt service.

A quaint little restaurant that only has a few menu items, which is always a good sign! The Saimin reminds me of walking into a grandmas kitchen who has been preparing a special meal just for your arrival. This place is so authentic and real that it seems fake. The broth is rich and flavourful. The noodles are fresh and perfect portioned. The vegetables are amazingly blanched while simultaneously staying crisp. The meat is hearty and somehow doesn't portray the typical boiled meat texture. It might seem like gushing, but it's all factual! The service is friendly, but frank with a side of no bs or time for flip-flopping.

While I wanted to have the full dine-in experience, it didn't work out (my family wasn't interested in the foodie-adventure). My consolation prize: I was able to grab a slice of the famous lilikoi chiffon pie to go. I went directly to the register and waited and waited to place my order. I felt ignored but eventually someone came by. Don't forget this place is cash only! My slice was $6.50 and it had been previously cut and packaged. Sadly some of the whipped topping was smashed into the lid. Not the prettiest Yelp photo... I ate the slice right away, while my kids enjoyed the Friday night market in Lihue (once every other week). The dessert was underwhelming, to put it politely. It's mildy flavored and has the consistency of a jello pie. The lilikoi flavor is mild, at best. If you didn't tell me, I'd probably never guess the flavor. The whip topping is thin and tastes like Reddiwhip. In short, if you're coming just for the pie, temper your expectations.

It's a local business run by Asian women. There was one older Asian lady with a younger lady primarily serving. The older lady really reminds me of a typical Asian grandmother with a stoic face showing only an occasional smile. She was quick to take orders, bring out orders and clear dishes as if she has been doing this for many years. It is a cash only establishment. Plenty of parking by the lots nearby. Seating is in columns so you are seated side by side with someone else. It's more like a quick dine-in and leave kind of ambience - not a place you want to bring a group to linger around. Prices and portions are very good for this economy, so take advantage. This noodle shop is mainly known for their Saimin noodles. However, they do have some other various options available. I personally got to try the medium sized Special Saimin - which included the extra wontons, roast pork and egg. The bowl was decently sized (so I felt the medium was enough for me). There was so many stuff inside, so you don't leave hungry. The soup is great for a rainy/chilly day. I also got to try the Lilikoi Chiffon Pie slice. It had the texture of a mousse. Super soft, airy and fluffy. Nothing too filling, but a nice end to a great solid dinner.

Think of this as a diner-style restaurant but you're going to your non-emotional aunty's house for a bowl of delicious saimin...the service not there but the bowl makes you feel "homey". Even with that all said, I gave this a 3 because it definitely didn't wow my taste buds but it did taste familiar. My husband ordered the special saimin that came with egg, char Siu and won tons in additional to what you'd get with the regular saimin. If I had just stuck with my medium regular saimin ($9), maybe I'd give it a 4. But omg, when my husband gave me a wonton, I thought I was tasting chalk. It's pretty bad when you can taste the texture and taste itself is OLD. That made it like what the heck in terms of quality. Like I said, if it was purely ONLY the regular saimin, I'd say go for it, it's pretty great. Don't order any thing else on it because you might be highly disappointed in the quality of the meat. Other things to be aware of: CASH ONLY! And limited parking out front but there are other parking spots and street parking around the area.

Another local favorite for flavorful Saimin. The ambiance is of an old diner and ample amount of seating. You may need to make friends when the seating is crowded. The service is quick.

We finally got to try this classic Hawaiian eatery. Love! I tripped in, literally. That first step is a doozy :) We were seated promptly, greeted, given menus and ordered within 5 minutes. The service was friendly and helpful and fast! The saimin was delicious! We got one Special, one Regular, and some chicken and beef sticks. It was plenty of food, and a little to take home. We forgot to order the pie. Next time!

The food here is great. I ordered the Won Ton Soup and the Special. It was clearly homemade, and it was well made. The noodles were light, and flavorful. The won tons were well wrapped, and the meat filling was delicious. The broth flavoring was next level. The best part is that it was all very light! The service was great: quick, thoughtful, and efficient. This is a local place. Everyone here is happy. I would come back again. It is cash only, so just be aware of that!

The best! Complete dive - with surly service and little to no AC, but they've been serving up the yummiest saimin for years, decades, If you want a truly local and authentic experience, this is it!

Everything went well! Save room for the somewhat hidde gem of the lilikoi chiffon cake. It's air fluffy amazing. Ordered almost everything because im a pig Nothing was a let down. Bring cash..

We came just for the lilikoi chiffon pie (passionfruit meringue pie) since we were told that it was the highlight of someone's trip to Kauai! The pie was delicious, fluffy, tart, and not too sweet, though it was rather pricey for just one slice ($6.75 to go). I would love to try their food options next time we're back in Kauai given how busy and packed it was inside when we went to pick up our pie!

Ordered the special for $13.95. It's a medium sized bowl with roast pork, veggies, egg, luncheon meat and kamaboko. The noodles were overcooked and mushy. Noodles and broth make the saimjn not the toppings and the noodles were meh and nothing too special about the broth. Also ordered a bbq chicken stick that was generously sized. Recommendation to the staff - cut the chicken against the grain to make it easier to eat. Service was appropriate for a place this size. The counters are clean and well kept. This place still maintains the early days vibe of Hamura saimin - quaint and cosy. Missing is the saimin I grew up with - al dente noodles and Hamura's unique broth.

Local noodle shop with tasty saimin! It's hard to come by a spot that does mainly saimin nowadays, so I was really happy to find this spot on yelp! Parking - street parking & this spot is cash only! Food: + I got the special saimini because that's what we were recommended to try. Tasty toppings and picture worthy! The noodles in my opinion were on the soft side, I would have preferred my noodles more firm. Soup base was flavorful and I enjoyed adding vinegar into my noodles. + lilikoi chiffon pie was super fluffy and airy! Tasty! Overall, I'm glad I had a chance to try this spot out!

We landed and we're ono for some local eats. Found Hamura's saimin in Lihue and decided to try it. The parking was a bit difficult because there are a few stalls out front and down the street, but a lot of reserved parking on the other side. We had our luggage and didn't want it out of view. Luckily we waited and were able to snatch a stall right out front. In the shop it was crowded with everyone sitting in stools. We found a corner and we're able to sit with 7 in our party. The menu was pretty simple but the fried saimin wasn't available. We ordered saimin and my sister got the meat skewers. My one daughter really liked them. My other daughter really liked her saimin. I found the saimin lacking in flavor other than a pack of S&B and a lot of fish flakes. The only downside is that it's cash only. There are banks in the area you can get to an atm to pull out cash. Service was good! They were able to make room between other tables but we fit in nicely. Very mom and pop hole in the wall kind of place. Chili pepper water and hot mustard was also a nice touch!

Saimin place with locals and tourists. Simple menu, Saimin, wonton noodles, some skewered meat choices and Lilikoi chiffon pie. Casual atmosphere where you sit at this counter seating. Food feels salty so great if you need to replenish on your sodium loss from sweating all day.