Pioneer Saloon

I’ve been to the Pioneer Saloon four times, I’ve only tried three items off the menu. My favorite is the Furikake Ahi (well done) not seared, I also like the Geso (calamari squid legs). The one thing I did not like that much was the creamy shrimp, the sauce is a little rich.
The reason for the three star rating would be the service. The last two times we were there they were rude, and for that reason My family and I will never eat there again. Despite the fact that they make the best Furikake Ahi I’ve ever had.

Butterfish is to die for. Great concept, wish there were more places like this in waikiki.

Pioneer Saloon does a Japanese take on plate lunch and it always comes out tasting delicious. The food is tasty and a good value. Although I’ve tried many things on their menu, like the pork hamburger katsu and butterfish, I usually like the salmon flakes with wasabi sauce. I don’t get the big deal about shiso rice. I’d rather just have brown rice, but I’m glad other people like it and it’s worth trying!
The setting is adorable and you can browse their knick knacks for sale as you wait for your food. In the summer, I recommend doing takeout because they don’t have AC, so it’s uncomfortably hot. There’s no parking lot, but I’ve never had a problem finding something and usually park in the neighborhood.

Lovely! Great relaxing atmosphere, price is the best! My husband and I love fish, I took him here for his first time and he ordered the Ahi, totally fell in love with his meal and let me tell you, he is a critic when it comes to seafood! I’ve had the garlic salmon and others and come away satisfied every time. The staff is friendly, they carry a nice BIG variety of dishes to choose from, and the café is filled with conversational pieces, crafts and antiques for purchase! Their price can’t be beat for the quality of their meals! Simple and delicious!!!

Easy, affordable plate lunch/​dinner in Waikiki. No parking, so you have to find street parking. Or be a patron at both Pioneer and another store at the Diamondhead Center Lot across the street.
They have every protein imaginable and all plates around the $ 8 – 15 range. I’ve had the Oxtail, Butterfish, Spare Rib, Baby Tako, Lamb and the Eel. All my favorites. The other ones that were so-​so were the Braised Short Ribs (too much fat IMO), Katsus.
I do miss their old pasta salad. Now they have potato salad instead.
Wakame rice is a surcharge but does have nice texture and flavor.
They also sell random clothes, souvenirs etc. Enough to keep you occupied while you wait! It does feel homey like Grandmas house.

Update December 2015
New items to try
Braised beef short ribs
Beef asparagus
Fried chicken
Hamachi kama
All winnaz!

I’ve been a fan of this place since I first tried them when they first opened, however, with limited parking, it’s a bit of a hassle even though not so far away.
The plate lunches here are delicious. I’ve tried their oyster fries which are tasty and juicy, their hamburger katsu is also very good. I did try their creamy scallop and thought it to only be ok. Needs to be creamier and a little more salt/​flavor would go a long way for the dish.
The place here is huge, but seating is slightly limited due to their HUGE tables that they could probably replace and get regular sized eating tables and fit more people in here. Also, the tables get really sticky or are just like that in general but it could make dining in a little uncomfortable especially since it gets really hot in there, unless its a super windy day.

Exceptional plate lunch and Montserrat roadside Café. The prices are A few dollars more than rainbow drive in but much less greAsy, organic. Here the selection is extensive with Japanese dishes like Katsudon flake salmon and awesome sides and actually bordering on exciting. I suggest taking it to go beach as tourists.

This place popped up on my feed and I was so excited to try it! Went on a Sunday (just so happens it was the same time as the marathon) and it wasn’t too crowded. Read the reviews before coming here and decided to order takeout so there wasn’t much of a wait.
We ordered the Salmon Katsu, Fried Baby Tako, and Ramen Burger with Avocado and Mushrooms.
I never and I mean NEVER order any type of fish katsu, but I’ve been craving some so I ordered the Salmon Katsu. It was so delicious! The batter wasn’t heavy and it was very moist. I just wish they had a wasabi aioli for it. The Fried Baby Tako was alright. It would be better if we ate it there instead of letting it sit in a plate so it could get soggy. The Ramen Burger was one of the best my boyfriends had. It was moist and filling. Oh and don’t forget every plate comes with pasta salad! The pasta salad is simple to make, but that is my favorite! I love that they include pasta salad in the plates.
As for price, this place is cheaper than most establishments in the area. So worth the money to come and eat here. I will be back soon!

The first time I went to Pioneer Saloon was this past summer, and I liked it so much that I went twice in one week.
I recently returned for dinner with a friend on a Saturday night. I expected the small eatery to be really crowded, based on my previous lunch experience … but to my surprise, it was pleasantly empty. There weren’t even too many take-​out orders going on. I was surprised but happy, cause I felt like my friend and I could actually relax, hang out and enjoy our food, without worrying about vacating our table so others can eat.
This place is best for take-​out, since there aren’t too many tables inside, but there are a few large, round tables, as well as a counter. The only downfall is that, since the tables are so large, you may feel bad taking up one whole one to yourselves if you have a smaller party. Either that, or you may end up sharing the large table with another small party. On this occasion, though, my friend and I had an entire table to ourselves.
I was also glad that there weren’t too many customers because we could take our time deciding what to order. I knew I wanted to try the chicken katsu from here, but my friend was undecided. I had the «Salmon Katsu» before and recommended that, and he ended up trying it. Thanks to the great staff, who are so accommodating and more than willing to answer all my questions!
I was disappointed that they ran out of the pasta salad, which I LOVE from this place. My friend never tried it before, so I told him we would simply have to revisit the place so he could get it.
This has to be one of my favorite hole-​in-​the-​wall spots on the island, even though street parking may be hard to find during the day. We were fortunate to grab a close spot!
Here’s what we got:
«Chicken Katsu»: This chicken was breaded and fried with panko and it comes with rice and your choice of salad. Since the pasta salad wasn’t available, by default, we got mixed greens … but I missed that pasta salad! The assortment of sauces available, however, made up for it. Normally, you get your choice of one sauce – besides the katsu sauce that’s available – but I actually got all three options (25 cents each) because I wanted to sample them all. You can get either demi, ponzu or miso. At first, the miso sauce was my favorite because of the sesame/​miso taste … but once I tried the demi sauce, all bets were off! I loved the slightly sweet sauce and told my friend to try some, too. He said it reminded him of the sauce used to cover Japanese hamburger steak; it was thicker and slightly sweet, with caramelized onions inside. If you get the katsu, I highly recommend getting this sauce with it! I liked the lighter, slightly citrusy taste of the ponzu, but the demi sauce was my favorite. The katsu sauce was more liquidy than I would have liked, but still flavorful. The chicken itself was meaty and tender, and I loved the panko breading … the exterior was crispy and the chicken had sufficient flavor without the sauce, but the sauce just accentuated it. Great katsu and I would order it again in a heartbeat, but I’m trying to get something different with each trip to Pioneer Saloon, since there’s lots to choose from on the menu.
«Salmon Katsu»: Based on my first experience at Pioneer, they seemed to have cut back a little when it came to this dish – I thought they were more generous before – but the great taste was still there and my friend enjoyed his dish. This entrée features three pieces of salmon that are breaded and fried, and it comes with a delicious tartar sauce. I usually don’t like tartar, but this is an exception. Since I had so many sauces with my katsu dish, I shared some with my friend and we discovered the salmon + the ponzu/​miso sauces are delicious.

How did I not write a review for this place? This place is off the beaten path and my all time favorite plate lunch place on the island. Pioneer saloon? This makes me think of cowboys and American grub. Wrong. Think Japanese style plate lunches. It’s on Monsarrat Ave next to Monsarrat shave ice. It’s only street parking so don’t go at peak times or you’ll have a hard time parking unless you call in and have someone go in.
This place is a hidden gem I stumbled upon. This place has character. When you walk in there’s tables, a few single seats and community benches to eat at. What makes it interesting is their décor and that they also sell random items like cute chanchitos (hint: oink). Random photos and things decorate the place. Look for Abercrombie as I affectionately call him, the reindeer with the bifocals!
This place does get busy and there’s always a line when I go. Luckily, it moves pretty well and food is prepared fast, but you may need to wait for a table. Also, there’s no ac so it can get hot. Luckily, there’s shave ice next door!
The menu is right when you come in. There are hand written specials that do vary as well. I tried a few things and got hooked. I haven’t been able to try anything else! They have plate lunches that range $ 8-​$ 15. The menu has a lot of variety ranging from chicken katsu to Thai green curry to creamy scallops. You get a pretty good amount of food for the price. They also have bowls and ramen burgers.
For your plates, you get pasta or potato salad (whatever they have available). You also get your choice of rice; you can can choose regular white rice or brown rice, or for $ 0.50 more you can get mixed grains and beans or shiso wakame (seaweed) rice. I personally like the mixed grain since its heartier but the shiso wakame is good too. Something different. You can also pay $ 2 more and get Nalo greens to substitute the salad and rice.
So I have had the grilled garlic salmon which is delicious with garlic chips on top of the salmon. The salmon isn’t too garlicky. This is my go to when I don’t want anything fried.
I’ve also had the deep fried baby tako which is chewy and nicely fried. But my go to dish is the menchikatsu which is pork hamburger katsu. It’s basically a deep fried hamburger and it’s amazing. There’s different sauces you can choose from (katsu, demi and ponzu). They were all good but I usually go for the katsu. The meat is flavorful and moist.
I need to go with a group one day so I can get my usual but try new things too. I will drive to Waikiki to eat here, it’s that good. Great value and quality food with a reindeer wearing glasses. What more could you ask for???

Still dreaming about the BUTTERFISH.
But dear GOD I wished they had AC.

One of the best kept secrets in Honolulu. Consistently great food, extensive menu selection, friendly efficient service and the prices are very reasonable. The chef/​owner is Japanese and the food is Japanese influenced with a splash of Hawaii flavors.
Had the Fried Oysters ($ 12) and Garlic Salmon ($ 11).
The oysters were perfectly fried with a nice crispy exterior and sweet tender interior.
The garlic salmon was just a tad on the salty side tonite but still very garlic flavors and cooked to a perfect medium rare.
Only bummer is this place doesn’t have a/​c. But it is definitely one of my all time fave eatery.
I frequently phone in my order then take it to the nearby Kaimana Beach or Kapiolani Park and eat under a tree.
There are three parking spots in an alley on the left side of the building. If those are full then drive through the same alley and park on Kaunaoa St. There’s usually a lot of parking back there.
They are closed on Mondays.

The cutest spot! The staff is Japanese oriented & friendly. The food is amazing. The best furikake ahi I’ve ever had! It was seared & moist, that it melted in my mouth. I would pay anything for their purple bean looking rice! It was so good and gave the whole meal texture. & finally, their potato salad is the best! It’s not consumed over mayo, which I like. Overall, the whole furikake ahi plate was amazing & I think about it whenever I’m hungry~
I will be back! ^_^

First timer!!!
Parking wasn’t too bad… waited around in the parking lot across the street from Pioneer Saloon for about 10 minutes before someone finally left and we took their spot.
We came around 6:00 and it was absolutely empty, with the exception of one guy. Yay for us! No line and no extra body heat warming up the place for us hahaha. Ordering and getting the food was quick and easy! And there is no tax applied to the prices.
With long deliberation… I ordered the «grilled salmon flakes with avocado and seaweed» with spicy mayo! I wanted something light and relatively «healthy.» I only had two complains about this dish: 1) it wasn’t topped with seaweed :(topped with a chiffonade of herbs… Too aromatic for my taste. And 2) Bones!!! You’d think that because it’s all flakes up, it’d be boneless right? Or at least I did… I had to eat with caution and that’s not exactly the most ideal way to enjoy food lol. I rate my salmon meal a ⁴⁄₅.
I also tried my friend’s ramen burger — she got the one with everything on it. There were sprouts, cheese, avocado, mushrooms, tomato, and I think onions? on it, along with a fresh burger and yummy teriyaki sauce! I rate her food a ⁵⁄₅!
I kind of feel like I should have went with the deep fried baby tako or the creamy shio-​kaji chicken like my gut told me to… I’ll just have to come back again!

It’s been like 5 years since I’ve eaten at Pioneer Saloon, and I’m thinking about — «why it took me so long to come back here?»
Back in 2010 or so when this place first opened up, I ate here 2 or 3 times, then never came back, but when my Unilocal buddy — Kathy A. ate here recently, it gave me the motivation to come back here and eat some of their delicious food.
I think one of the reasons why I wasn’t quick about coming here was the issue of «parking»…yes gang, there is absolutely NO parking for this restaurant. If you drive here, you will have to look around in the Kapahulu neighborhood to look for street parking.
Today, I guess everything fell into place when we came back here to eat at Pioneer Saloon… upon driving into the Kapahulu neighborhood, BAM!!! There was a open parking space just around the corner of the restaurant! Pulled my van into the stall, hopped out, and did a little skip and dance to the restaurant…
Upon walking into the joint, I can see nothing has changed much, with the exception of the food prices which went up a bit since 2010. They still have a very strong following, as I noticed a lot of Japanese tourist who were able to find this place. The place was «PACKED» for lunch today, and we ended up sharing a large table with some Japanese tourist.
For my lunch today, I ended up getting the «Sweet Chili Chicken, with brown rice & potato salad». One of my coworkers got the «Mochiko Chicken», and the other guy got the «Fried Chicken».
What can I say about the grub? Well, everything about my meal was delicious! For some reason I was expecting my chicken to be breaded & fried up, with the sweet chili sauce poured on top, but in reality, my chicken was made like you would get teri chicken, but the only difference was the sweet chili sauce.
I must say the sweet chili sauce was delicious… it had a slight hint of sweetness, yet a little kick of heat to the meal. The potato salad was also delicious! In fact, I ate all my potato salad today… and if you folks know me… I totally HATE mayonnaise! But since I ate all of my potato salad today… that says a lot about the dish! Noms!!!
As for my two coworkers, they said that their chicken dishes were kinda bland, and that they needed the sauce (which they provided in a little cup) to dip the chicken in to make it tastier. I did try one of my coworkers Mochiko Chicken… although the chicken was juicy & plump, and the texture of the chicken was pretty good… I will have to admit it was kinda bland tasting. I’m so glad I got the sweet chili chicken, as I was totally pleased with my selection of meal today!
Right next door to Pioneer Saloon was a shave ice place… but it was closed, and I was too full to eat dessert. But on the bright side, I was able to take a «pic» with the sign they provided outside. Lol! Check ‘em out!

What a fun place for lunch with Unilocalies! Met Li, Kelly and Terry for lunch here and after reading all the yummy reviews I was at a loss as to what I was going to order. Got there before the others and checked in and FINALLY got that instigator’s badge, woo hoo, but also got to peruse the menu on the wall and still didn’t know what I was going to order.
Terry solved it and told us all to order two things. I ordered the Fried Shrimp and the baby Calamari. There was an order of Ahi, awesome. Short ribs that were falling off the bone good. Salmon, Chicken Katsu, Coquettes, another order of a different kind of Calamari. Eight plates!
We actually did a great job of getting it all down and still trying to look slightly ladylike. LOL! We had a table for six. What a fun place to go with fun people. Oh, I didn’t know you could buy the decorative pieces so I got a teak wine rack for my kitchen. SCORE! Can’t wait to do it again.

It’s hidden in plain sight. I’m not sure what to categorize their food as, I would say local food with a Japanese twist? All I know is it’s pretty different.
Parking is not the best. You have to find street parking, which is sometimes really easy to do and sometimes impossible depending on the time of day. Just check the side streets in the area or you can park closer to Kapiolani Park and walk.
I’ve been here a few times and I believe I got the tonkatsu and the pork hamburger katsu with shiso rice. It was good enough that I told myself I’d only eat half and save the rest but next thing I knew I was staring at an empty plate… Oops. The pork hamburger katsu was very soft and juicy. It came with some salad, pasta, and rice (50 cents extra for the shiso rice but so worth it).
If you come here, depending on how busy they are, it might take a while for your food to be ready. If you come during the day theres a shave ice place next door that’s worth a visit while you wait for your food. Or there are a few other eating establishments to walk around and check out to try the next time you’re in the area.
In my opinion, it’s worth trying at least once.

To go or not to go– that is the question.
One of the more common problems of many hole-​in-​the-​walls is the absence of parking. You are left to the mercy of the public parking gods to smile favorably upon you or suffer the fate for parking illegally and getting a ticket or worse yet, towed. So the question becomes, is the place worth it?
For Pioneer Saloon the answer is yes. Yeah, the food is good. They offer lunches in a casual and comfortable setting. You get local style plates like chicken katsu, fried chicken, Teri-​chicken and also exotics like grilled baby octopus and salmon flakes/​avocado over rice, all with a Japanese culinary flair.
We had the salmon katsu plate and the miso butterfish plate. The plates were not cheap ($ 10 & $ 13) but for the quality and quantity of the offerings they were worth it. The salmon katsu with it’s Panko coating was crispy on the outside and not overcooked on the inside. The miso butterfish was also balanced well taste-​wise without being overpowered by the miso. As others have said, the potato salad is tasty and a nice compliment to the fish dishes. The dishes left us totally satisfied and we plan to go back to try other offerings.
Right next door you can complete your meal with cool shave ice offerings including a refreshing Yuzu flavor. What a great way to end your delicious Kapahulu neighborhood grinds adventure.

Pioneer Saloon is a neat hole-​in-​the-​wall Japanese/​local plate lunch and dinner place with a hip rustic vibe. There is no other place quite like it on the island and locals and tourists alike frequent here. When we came today, there was already a line waiting for the place to open, which hasn’t happened before. We got there a few minutes before it was supposed to open but the doors didn’t actually open until 11:10. The staff was in and out setting up tables and chairs and watering their plants xD. The waiting itself wasn’t a big deal but having to do it in the blazing hot sun wasn’t fun after already hiking Diamond Head right before.
The menu is wide with many fish options. I have tried several different things here and some items can be hit or miss. If you want to go with a for-​sure winner, I cannot recommend their Furikake Ahi Katsu enough!!! The ahi is unbelievably moist and the breading is perfectly crispy. The furikake and light mayo totally make the dish! The accompanying mac salad was unique – it had broccoli and cheese in it rather than too much mayo. I would order the Furikake Ahi Katsu again and again!