Harbor Snack Shop

It’s about time I bring up the average review for Harbor Snack to above a 2.0! Ok, I do admit that the ambience is probably 2-​star, but at least it’s not dirty! And I have a special affection for the place. It’s basically a small counter with a kitchen, a soda fridge, 2 small tables squished between the windows and the kitchen partition, and a small heat lamp area with bento and musubi. Oh, and the rack of chips and small ice cream freezer. Lots of stuff squished into a small space!
Basic Merit Badge because: The food is tastier and cheaper than other places in the area, even though it doesn’t have to be because it’s the only food place in the Harbor Center and they have an entrapped audience. (I refuse to eat at Ige’s and Harbor Drive Inn). I don’t know if I’d make a special trip to eat here, but it sure beats the other 2 available options in Harbor Center for lunch. And, on many occasions, I have chosen to have a Mandoo Soup or Tuna Melt over, say, stopping at subway, chun wah kam, ba le, or any other place on my way to work.
The nice aunties at Harbor Snack will make you a healthful mandoo soup with plenty of veggies and topped with bbq beef. Or perhaps you want a fast bento to-​go, choices rotate daily but often include fish jun, chicken katsu, teriyaki chicken, and unagi with white rice, some sort of small veggie portion like asparagus, okinawan sweet potato, edamame, pickled pink ginger, and maybe some mixed veggie omlette roll or shrimp tempura. She will also make things like spicy ahi, poke, and a yummy buttery toasted tuna cheddar melt on white bread, $ 2.65. Bentos are around $ 5 – 6. Spam musubi $ 1.65 and she puts furikake and sometimes egg inside.
This is an auntie-​run lunch place that’s decent enough to eat at daily! The helper/​assistant goes home at 2pm though, so she stops making hot food or anything complicated after that! Closes around 4. Open early. Breakfast bentos will include loco moco, over easy egg, sausage links, spam, portuguese sausage slices, corn beef hash, and only $ 3 – 4.

We eat at this little place daily. Its located in the same commercial complex as Jelly’s (and our office). Aside from the easy access we like the food, the prices, and the owners. It’s worth a stop in if you’re in the area and in need of lunch.
What it’s like:
Just a small lunch counter, more of a take out place. Friendly husband and wife, who know pretty much all the regulars by name.
Why I’d go back:
The Loco Moco here is done nicely with a real burger and a generous amount of brown gravy. The hamburgers have a nice old school feel to them, they taste a lot fresher than anything fast food created. They’re served on a fresh bun with some lettuce and tomato, just simple and good. The homemade brownies or bread puddings make excellent cheap and delicious snacks. Additionally they’ve got smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, sushi rolls, fruit cups (great combo of watermelon, canteloupe, and honey dew), soda coffee, a wide variety of plate lunch choices, and the daily paper.
Paper or Plastic:
Cash, if you plan on actually leaving with any food
Random Thoughts:
To avoid having to wait (especially around lunch time) call Herb and place your order about 8 – 10 minutes before going over. Request a breakfast burrito (they stopped making them because not enough people ordered them, a real tragedy as they were quite good, perhaps with your help they’ll bring them back). :)