Highway Inn

Place is pretty good for Hawaiian food. First time I came here was with family. It was good but kinda salty side. I came here tonight with my sister since we we’re craving Hawaiian food. Wait wasn’t too long even tho it was pretty busy. Food was decent. I felt like it needed to be seasoned a bit more. I ordered the chicken lau lau combo. Lau lau needed salt and the pipikaula was pretty good to but under seasoned. Max salad was alright. I had better. They mixed up my order when I wanted rice but they bought out poi instead. Service was pretty decent as well. Overall it was decent enough for 4 stars. I would eat here again for Hawaiian food since it’s the closet Hawaiian restaurant to my
Home in Ewa beach

I was craving Hawaiian food today so I came here with a co-​worker. I ordered the Lau Lau and Pipikaula with lomi salmon and haupia plate. Everything was pretty good and the service was pretty quick! They also have burgers and other local plates here besides Hawaiian food. If you’re not in mood for pork Lau Lau then they have an option for chicken Lau lau. They also sell variety of poke here too! Great place to go for Hawaiian food with out having to drive to town!

Excellent Hawaiian laulau combo. It comes with poi, pipikaula, lomi salmon and haupia for desert. The pork laulau had plenty pork inside. If you one hungry bradah, I would order poi with one scoop of rice on the side. If you one typical tourist who don’t know Hawaiian food go to the Kakaako Highway Inn, they get all the fancy dishes but if you one real local, born and raised here, go to the Waipahu Highway Inn where they serve the best stuff for us guys.

This is a great spot if you’re looking to eat where the locals dine. My local friend took me here and I enjoyed trying a combo with Kalua pig, beef, tomato salad, rice and a coconut flan-​type dessert. I also had a chance to try the tuna poke which is like ceviche. Service was very fast and friendly.
One note about the bathroom though — try to go elsewhere if you need to use a bathroom. This restaurant does not have a bathroom inside the restaurant so you have to take a key and go around the corner (no joke). It was akin to a gas station bathroom experience and I did not feel particularly safe as it was dark at night, although not late.

Ordered: Kalua pork&cabbage, beef stew combo with lomi salmon, and chicken long rice.
Everything was amazing. our server was very nice and fast.
I’ll definitely come back again.

It was my first time eating at this location. Very bustling but the wait staff was friendly and attentive. The menu boasts a great list of local standards, my husband and I both chose the pork laulau plate for around $ 13. He got his with poi while I selected rice as my starch. Our food arrived quickly, and portions were plentiful.
The pork in my laulau was rather dry and under seasoned but the luau leaf itself was tender and delicious. The lomi salmon was refreshing and not too salty. The pipikaula was also yummy, flavorful with a nice texture. The rice was mushy and was probably cooked with too much water. I had a spoonful of my husband’s poi and wish I had gotten that instead. I’m not much of a poi eater but the poi was good and mild, and loads better than my rice. The haupia was of standard quality.
I regret asking for the bathroom key. The shared building’s bathroom outside of the restaurant was dimly lit, dirty, with urine filled toilets and no toilet paper in sight. I backed away quickly. It’s not Highway Inn’s fault that the bathroom is nasty but it did detract from the overall experience.
Highway Inn is a pretty decent place for nostalgic old school local/​Hawaiian food. I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat there but it is a nice option if you are in the area and have a craving for authentic local cuisine.

From the items we ordered Pipikaula (steak), Lau Lau, Fried Shrimp w/​Brown Gravy hit the spot.
–Pipikaula was good, similar to Filipino Beef Tapa. Needed more flavor though. Some garlic would have done it.
–Pork Lau Lau had chunks of fat to maybe add flavor. Not bad.
–Fried Shrimp w/​Gravy. The Gravy compliments the fried flavor.
Next time I plan to hit up the Poke. Oh yeah and don’t use the bathroom that needs a key, kind of rough.
Overall good food. Rate 1 of 10… a 7. I’d do it again.

Highway Inn is tucked amongst a vast array of Filipino businesses in Waipahu. What I mean by that is — granted it’s in a great business location — many people coming out here would find themselves choosing something else. It’s not without saying, however, that when you know it’s there, you might visit more often. That was what I experienced seeing it here for the first time!
Food at the Inn is what I would expect — ONO-​LICIOUS. I had only ordered a Loco Moco at this location, have tried other food items at the Kaka’ako one, and the flavors are very consistent and very juicy. Maybe it’s my affinity for local food, or maybe it’s the local touch, either way I enjoy eating it.
The atmosphere is reminiscent of a plantation village house but retro-​fitted with modern amenities. It reflects in the workers being like a part of that community as well. They’re warm, welcoming and are happy to help! I’m sure lots of history run through the walls, and having been here since the 40’s, they’ll continue to share that history with revelers from all over the state and abroad for years to come.
Factoids:
Queue — From my experience at rush hour, I’d say roughly twenty minutes.
Parking — If not in the lot, street parking is not too shabby.

This was one of the first places I went to in Hawaii. I’m still getting used to the different Hawaiian foods and tastes, but I’m really beginning to enjoy it. It’s no surprise that if you have been to Hawaii even for just a few days, the local spots give large portions!
I ordered the Pork Lau Lau combo plate and was very satisfied. There was about 5 things on the plate I had never had, seen, or even heard of before. I switched out the white rice for brown rice and ate my father-​in-​laws white pastry thing on his plate. I don’t know what it was, but it was really tasty. It looked like a jello cake and cleansed my palate when I drenched my pork lau lau in their Volcano Hot sauce. I believe I drank 3 glasses of water after that. Pork Lau Lau has a different taste that I’m still getting used to.
My mother-​in-​law ordered the small portion Loco Moco. The thing was, even the small portion was a pretty large portion! She said it was delicious. I am a huge fan of the Loco Moco as well, as I had it at another restaurant a few days prior. But while I’m here, I promised myself I would try new things, like the purple pudding stuff which I wasn’t a fan of.
I plan on going to this place again and I recommend this to anyone willing to try real Hawaiian island food. The prices are unbeatable and the staff is very caring and will bring out samples of things if you ask them.

Highway Inn NEVER fails to satisfy me! Whenever I crave for yummy Hawaiian food this place is a must. Plus I love that it’s only 5mins from my house. My girls absolutely love the chicken long rice but my favorite is the Kalua Pig Combo, make it a super with squid luau please! Oh and gotta have it with poi. I still can’t get my husband and girls to eat it but that’s fine with me.
Might be on the pricier side of your wallet but take my word when I say that ITS TOTALLY WORTH EVERY PENNY!
Only complaint is, parking here is always hit or miss. Somedays it’s really busy and some days it’s empty and deserted. But hey if you find yourself waiting for your food the poke bar offers a wide variety of pupus to enjoy!