Diamond Head Market & Grill

Almost everyone is praising their scones.
Today, blueberry and apple were available. There was nothing special about it. The apple was really moist for a scone that I’m not sure if it still classifies as a scone.
Being my first time there, everything is really pricey. Besides the 2 scones, i purchased a strawberry shortcake and an apple crisp. I make better strawberry shortcake better than this. Anyone can make a strawberry shortcake better than this at home. The apple crisp hardly had any apples. It was majority all crumbs and i wasnt expecting the crumbs to taste funny. like it was scented with lavender.
I wont be going back.

This is a very home style restaurant. Pick-​up window style with seating outside limited to about 6 or 7 people. If you like local style cooking and large portions, you’re at the right place. The attached market had some great baked goods as well. I’ve ate at this place many times and will continue to return. This visit I had the Surf ń Turf pictured. The only thing that keeps this from being 5-​star is that it’s not a sit down restaurant with an artful presentation.

THE LOCATION
Just about a quarter mile from Kapiolani Regional Park, this popular eatery is located on an easy access corner lot at the intersection of Monsarrat and Campbell Avenues.
THE PARKING
16 stalls on a private lot with a driveway off of Campbell Avenue and a driveway off of Monsarrat Avenue. We arrived at 11:15am on a Monday to happily find ample parking. Many thanks to Amy Y., Sheryl M., Brian M., and Darrell P. for the helpful forewarning about the parking situation.
THE ATMOSPHERE
For bakery and deli items, step inside the market portion to find walls lined with self-​serve refrigerator cases. Besides the ready-​made foods, it’s truly a sweet tooth’s dream in there! Thank you, Jennifer Y., Lyla D., and Nat N., for your dessert recommendations.
For food orders, there’s an exterior take-​out only order window next to an exterior pick-​up window along with three bench seats outside for waiting patrons with at least two or three outdoor picnic tables for diners.
THE FOOD
—Mushroom Garlic Herb Chicken Plate $ 12.00—
Served with one scoop of white or brown rice and macaroni or romaine lettuce salad with house made Dijon dressing, this plate consists of a single boneless chicken breast fillet with a portobello mushroom cut into halves, then sautéed in a delicious garlic herb butter with caramelized onions. While the chicken and mushroom itself are well prepared, both lacked adhesion from the flavor packed sauce thus rendering it slightly weak in taste by comparison.
—Char Siu Chicken Plate $ 10.00—
Served with one scoop of white or brown rice and macaroni or romaine lettuce salad with house made Dijon dressing, this plate consists of three to four small to medium sized pieces of boneless chicken thigh fillet marinated in a wonderful char siu marinade, then grilled to perfection over an open flame. The flavors are very well balanced… not too sweet, not too salty, not too much Chinese spice.
THE SERVICE
Service was prompt and efficient. Our wait was about 20 minutes due to several large orders ahead of us.

This is a good spot for a healthy breakfast or lunch. Being 3 hours ahead, I really wanted a lunch item but they said I’d have to wait 30mins and I was starving so my friend and I got breakfast plate lunches.
It’s a little pricey and I don’t think you get what you pay for quantity wise but quality wise yes it sure beats the other chains/​greasy plate lunches. The food was fresh and the fruit punch was refreshing.
There’s seating at the tables and chairs outside the bakery side. Love the to-​go options in little plastic containers. Perfect for work, before a play at Diamond Head theater, after a hike, or on your way to the beach. Parking is tricky because it’s always busy here and in this location in general. The wait for the food took a while but at least you know it’s freshly made and it’s worth the wait. The sun hits the dining tables so you’ll get a tan while chewing down.
The crowd was mostly spring breakers combined with locals. The customer service was great. The girl helped me go about getting a lunch item for breakfast via a la carte. I definitely recommend stoping here if your in the area.

nice little market with packaged bento, salad and bakery (sconce!)
the grill outside has hot food, about 10-​ish parking spots, quite popular place.
a little bit on pricey side for take-​out

Love this place! Great for tourists and locals. I have been coming here for years and l love that they offer new items every now and then on top of their staples. For example. brown rice jook with char siu and cilantro, so good and comforting.
Plate lunches are awesome and you can’t walk out that door without a scone. And the nicest people working there too!

Scones? Did someone say scones!!! Omgeeee these scones are awesome!!! There are many more food options as well. Ready to go salads, main entrees, and desserts. They have really good almond cookies. Yum!!!
There is a takeout window on the right side of the building. The menu is filled with delectable choices!!! I have tried their loco moco — it is perfectly cooked, covered in homemade gravy that is not too salty and the egg wasn’t too runny, just the way I like it!!! I have also tried their garlic grilled chicken sandwich on foccacia bread. This was a pleasant surprise for me. The chicken was a full breast and not dry at all. The bread was flavorful and soft, and the aioli that was spread added the perfect taste and spice to the sandwich.
Their plantation iced tea was different — it had a very strong cinnamon flavor. It isn’t for me, I have heard that their lemonade and regular iced tea are quite tasty. Will have to try those next time I go!!!
They have their own parking lot with about 10 stalls. There are also a few tables outside that you can enjoy your food and drinks on. If you decide to get their ready to eat food, there is a microwave by the front door along with utensils and condiments.

Really wanted to love this place based on the pictures on Unilocal.
We got a Loco Moco and Mixed Plate.
Loco Moco was small. Like a mini plate. Taste was ok.
Mixed plate was a size of a mini with a regular plate price. Husband said it tasted ok.
Really wanted to like the bakery items as well. Maybe I didn’t choose the right item.
Got the taro haupia square. Haupia was hard, not in its usual jello like consistency. Maybe that’s just the way they make it. I like Taniyoka’s one better.
All in all, there is nothing special about this place. Tourist frequent this place and the prices probably cater to that fact.

A friend told me to visit Diamond Head Market and Grill because of their delicious blueberry scones, but on my first trip, I was almost overwhelmed by the extensive selection of items available. For such a small space, Diamond Head Market features a wide variety of pastries, sweets, entrees and salads you can choose from.
Parking is limited in the tiny lot in front of the market, but during the two times I’ve been there, I was fortunate enough to get a stall. If you want a plate lunch, you can order from the menu outside and pick up your meal at the walk-​up window. My mom and I have never ordered lunch from here before, but I do want to try one of the entrees someday.
So far, we have gotten something different each time we entered Diamond Head Market, and it’s impossible to walk out with just one item. Here are some of my favorites from the items we’ve gotten:
«Soba Rolls»: This was one of the packs that I got during my most recent visit to Diamond Head Market. I was just coming to look at the selection of pastries, but I just wanted to try these soba rolls because it looked so different. They featured soba noodles in sushi roll form, and each little roll also featured a good chunk of teriyaki chicken. While I loved the flavor of the chicken and the fresh noodles, the winning component of this bento-​like dish was the accompanying sauce. I couldn’t get enough of it and liberally dipped each roll in it. I would get this again from Diamond Head Market if I ever saw it again, no questions asked!
«Blueberry Cream Cheese Scones»: The fact that I don’t even like blueberries but love these scones is a strong statement. You definitely get your money’s worth with these larger-​than-​life scones. I like these scones because they’re moist and they taste fresh; not dry at all. They also sport an ample amount of blueberries, which is great for any blueberry lover. Even though blueberries aren’t my favorite, I bear with them for the sake of this delicious pastry. I try to only eat half in one sitting for breakfast and put the other half in the fridge for later … even when in the fridge, it’s not dry or hard the next day. I usually pick up one of these on every trip to Diamond Head Market (and there’s always plenty in stock in the bakery section).
«Quiche»: The quiches here all have different ingredients, and the one we got contained leeks, feta, kale and sundried tomatoes. I don’t care much for tomatoes, so I pulled those out, but fortunately, there were minimal chunks and they were easy to spot. I loved this mixture because the kale didn’t have a bitter taste. The leeks and feta blended seamlessly together, and feta cheese is one of my favorites. As a whole, the quiche tasted cheesy, buttery and fresh. I would not hesitate to order this again.
«Diamond Head Torte»: This dessert is the bakery’s signature specialty. It consists of peanut butter cheesecake on a layer of Oreo cookie crumbs crust with bananas, peanut butter pudding and a top layer of whipped cream. My parents liked this dessert better than I did, since I don’t really care for soggy bananas. There’s a great blend of peanut butter and chocolate, and I did like the Oreo cookie crust as well. I just am not the hugest fan of bananas, so that part of the dessert ruined the whole thing for me … there’s a good layer of the mushy fruits, so you can’t really get around it. But, if you like peanut butter, chocolate and bananas, you’re sure to be satisfied with this dessert.
«Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart»: When I saw a photo of this tart on Instagram, I immediately wanted to try it because it features chocolate and peanut butter … my absolute favorite combo. 10 layers of this medley, to be exact. Granted, not every layer is peanut butter or chocolate. The layers include a crust, a thin layer of peanut butter, some kind of creamy, chocolate mousse, a large layer of whipped topping and OREO cookie crumbles on top. Though I’m not a huge fan of mousse or custardy flavors, I rather enjoyed this dessert. I even ate the entire layer of whipped cream on top. I have to say, my favorite part probably was the crust, since it was buttery and dense. I liked how I could aptly taste both, the peanut butter and chocolate components of this dish. I wish the whipped cream layer wasn’t as thick, but it was worth trying this dessert, since I’m not sure how long it’s available. I can’t wait to try some of the other tarts and desserts they have featured.

I want to like this place… Maybe I just ordered the wrong things.
So it looked busy and so we decided to end our night here. Now knowing what was their specialty, the four of us went with our gut. We ordered a portobello sandwich with fries, a teriburger, a garlic mushroom chicken plate, and a hamburger steak plate.
The portobellos sandwich was all bun. It was grilled with some onions and came with a vinaigrette sauce on the side. The sauce was mild and did not add much taste. I also added mayo because it was a bit dry. The bun was nice and soft, but it was so large that I only ate one side with my mushroom.
The teriburger tasted like a normal hamburger. It was moist. The burger itself was large. Nothing really exciting o say about it.
The hamburger steak was small and well done. A bit dry, but luckily the gravy help give it life. The gravy was good– tasted homemade with minimal salt. It came with a salad pre-​tossed with a house dressing. The dressing tasted like thousand island.
The garlic mushroom chicken plate was good. Chicken moist. The size was still small– again, good for those who like portion control.
The favorite of the evening was the Lilikoi Cheesecake. Booming with flavor it had a dense buttery crust.
I also got some kimchee because it said, «best kimchee». It was ok, but not the best I’ve had.
Haven’t tasted the almond cookies, but it looks promising. Will update.

Blueberry scones… omnomnom.
I keep hearing good things about this place. Never got to try the real food here. I’ve only tried their blueberry scones twice and loved it. It’s moist with blueberry and cream cheese. It’s decent size and priced at $ 3.50. $ 3.50 for fresh ones and $ 2.50 for the ones in the fridge. I tried both the fresh and fridge one, it still tasted good.
There are plate lunches and drinks. A mini convenience store on the left and a food stand on the right. Parking is decent space. When it gets busy it could be full.
I will be back for the food. It looks good!

I really like Diamond Head Market & Grill! It’s great for those days when you’re too lazy to cook and just need to pick up something easy going. My husband often buys stuff from the Grill, but I just go inside and get a salad and one of their delicious desserts. Their salads are great – the lettuce is nice and they have all different types of proteins and dressings pre-​packaged for easy and fast pick up. Their desserts are also pre-​packaged by the slice. My favorite desserts (that I’ve tried so far) are the haupia and Okinawan sweet potato, haupia cake, and lemon crunch.
The one negative thing I have to say is that the food from the Grill side often takes a really long time. We often call ahead to avoid having to wait. Other than that, Diamond Head Market & Grill is an excellent stop and people of all dietary proclivities can find something to eat here.

The portobello n burger platter was so good. Loved the balsamic sauce n the platter was a good filling portion. It was actually so good, i came back the next day in attempt to order the garlic shrimp, but they have a different menu for breakfast that didn’t seem as appealing. Would suggest u definitely stop by after your hike to diamondhead

A-​OK experience for me based solely on the plate lunch that I ordered during my visit. I know this place is known for their desserts, but that was not my craving of the day. I ordered the teri hamburger steak plate with teriyaki sauce for $ 10. The plate comes with a teri patty, white or brown rice, and toss greens with honey mustard dressing. The teri patty was dry and over cooked. I thought teriyaki sauce would be drizzled on the patty, but there wasn’t any. Definitely wouldn’t recommend ordering this unless you like disappointments.
Partially shaded picnic benches are available for seating. The shade depends on what time of the day you visit. No public restroom available on site. Can’t believe that there isn’t one since this place is popular with tourist and locals.

To the left, is the «market». This is where you’ll find all the baked goods. Pies, cakes, brownies, scones, and more. To the right, is the «grill». They have a really large selection of plates, salads and burgers.
Personal faves: Blueberry cream cheese scone portobello mushroom burger.
Parking: On site, and it can get pretty busy and tight. Lots of locals and tourists.

Dessert and to-​go heaven inside. The left wall and side is cake/​pie/​square-​lined. There are decadent chocolate options, or their best sellers like Lemon Crunch and pumpkin crunch. I hear their scones are great too.
Their plantation ice tea is good. Pretty sweet but if you’re looking for something pineapple-​ly, minty and tea-​based, order one to go outside.
–super happy customer
ps they take CC’s and have a microwave for their refrigerated to go foods
pps ok it is pricey here but I guess living in SF has prepared me for the sticker shock: X

I absolutely love the blueberry cream cheese scones! They are to die for! The store is lined with so many different food options from different types of bentos to oodles of slices of cake! I’ve had their peanut butter banana & chocolate cake & lets just say it tastes like heaven.
After walking to another establishment in the area I decided to run inside & buy a few scones. Sadly my brother had to wait in the hot sun with the doggies while I rushed in for my scones. They are heavy and taste so amazing. I bought 2 to share, but I may end up keeping them for myself!
There’s a parking lot in the front with about 10 stalls but there is quite a bit of street parking if you don’t mind walking a little. Enjoy!

Must stop if you’re in Oahu! They have the best scones I’ve ever had! We came early in the morning and grabbed the blueberry scones, which were my favorite. They told me they continue making them until 6 pm, but if you come early you’ll get to try their other flavors.
I also tried the banana and cranberry and orange which were both good but not as good as the blueberry cream cheese. The scone is super soft and moist inside with chunks of cream cheese throughout. I grabbed a box to go for the flight home and wished I could carry more.
The spam musubi and teriyaki chicken musubi were amazing! They sprinkle the furikake throughout the rice which adds amazing flavor! Definitely get it! I went around 2 pm and they had run or so come early if you wanna try some!

Scones.
I am not typically a fan of scones. Dense, dry blocks of pastry are not something I ever crave. I’ve gotten burned one too many times by scones and had sworn them off forever… until I heard about Diamond Head Market & Grill.
Unilocalers have sung the praises of Diamond Head Market & Grill’s $ 3.95 scones, which are available daily in three flavors, blueberry, banana, and one of the following: cranberry Mandarin orange, pineapple, and apple crumb. Skeptical, I decided to give the blueberry scone a try, and I was blown away. The scone was warm, moist, and just overall delicious. I was licking my fingers as I was eating this as well as kicking myself for not purchasing more. At least now I know for next time!
Diamond Head Market & Grill also offers a ton of other baked goods, grab and go meals, and a take-​out window reminiscent of Rainbow. While I can’t vouch for anything else, just know that you shouldn’t pass up the scones.

After I hiked the diamond head, and while still in the area, I checked out the «store section» of the Diamond Head Market & Grill, and bought one Musubi, as a quick bite for later! Because it was so popular in Hawaii, I had to get it, even if it was just for a little snack on the side.
There were few kinds of Musubi, and I ended up getting the Teriyaki Chicken Musubi. It was interesting with a sushi-​like concept, a delicious little snack on the side. Basically, it was two layers of rice with teri-​chicken filling in the middle, and wrapped in dry seaweed (aka nori.) It was different and it was yummy.
Three and half Unilocal