Sato’s Okazuya
94-235 Hanawai Cir, Waipahu, HI, 96797
Sato’s Okazuya Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Waipahu for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Waipahu for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Waipahu for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
94-235 Hanawai Cir
Waipahu, HI, 96797 - Phone (808) 677-5503
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Marc L.
Best fried noodles in on the leeward side hands down!
(5)Tracy S.
This place is one of the reasons why I'm proud to have strong Waipahu roots. My grandparents used to (still!) live near and worked at the sugarmill there (you know, the giant smoke stack above Waipahu St). So, as a direct result, my grandpa used to take my mom to Sato's (and eventually us too!), then my mom took me and my brothers to Sato's, and now I take my son here for the best noodles around. So, for me, Sato's tastes like home and has truly stood the test of time. With all that Sato's-experience, I always CALL IN (677-5503) my order a day ahead, whether it be a small or large order. Now, this tip doesn't serve the newbie too well, but you can always count on fellow Yelpers (and me) to help a brother or sister out. You don't come here for their BBQ meat or pork chops (just keepin' it real). You're waiting in that long line and/or calling ahead (yes, sometimes there's a wait to pick up a phone order) for their delectable NOODLES. A small order will cost you about $4; a large order $7; and an extra large around $11-$12. By the way, cash only and they're closed on Sundays and Mondays (and on other select days when they go to Vegas). Service is old school, so don't take personal offense if the elderly folk taking your order don't always greet you with a 2011-bright smile-and-wave. They're doing it the way it's always been done, stepped on a few toes perhaps, but obviously still making the magic happen - there's still long lines coming out of this place despite inconsistent service. My grandpa used to tell me and my brothers that good things come to those who wait....nicely.
(4)Will I.
Ok- this place is more of a 3.5 star rating. Went at 10:00 and there were a few people in front of me in line, however it must have been really busy early since several of the items were out. So I ordered the xlarge fried noodles, the last piece of chicken and a hot dog. So how did everything taste? Fried noodles were good, not great. A little oily and not a lot of substance to it although it was still tasty. Take a look at the pictures and you'll notice there really isn't a bunch of ingredients there- maybe that's what people like, I'm definitely in the minority on this one. Fried chicken wasn't the biggest but it was very good- in all its salty glory. Hot dog- it's a hot dog, nothing else to really elaborate about.
(3)Lynn W.
Sato's Okazuya has the best fried noodles that I have ever tasted. Both of the times that I went, everyone is line was ordering them. The fried noodles are simple, but delicious. They are so good that I, sometimes, crave them. We tried several different items from Sato's: The Pork Chop & Fried Noodles plate lunch, Fried Noodles, Fried Shrimp, Fried Chicken, Hash, and Salad. The only things that stood out, for me, were the fried noodles and salad. Everything else was only ok. The only thing I didn't like about this place was the staff. The two ladies running the front didn't speak English too well and they weren't that friendly. I didn't appreciate that. Overall, I will return to Sato's again because of their fried noodles. This hole-in-the-wall restaurant is worth visiting, if you're in Waipahu.
(5)Arlene A.
I loooove Sato's fried noodles! I always get the porkchop special which is fried noodles and pork chop for $7. The fried noodles is fresh and is complemented with cabbage, green onions, luncheon meat and bits of char siu. They keep making em in batches and often run out because its so popular. The porkchop is nice and thin with just the right amount of fat. Not too salty either. The food may take a while and after standing in line, waiting is the last thing you want to do, but it's well worth it and I do it time and time again for their yummy food. The menu is not very extensive. Very simple and nothing too fancy schmancy either. Plan on taking out as there are only 3 tables to dine in. They take phone orders, too! The workers are not the most quickest moving people as you can tell they are aging and have been around for a long time, but they will eventually get to you and I have never had a bad experience. Parking is a challenge ever since the Waipahu Festival opened, but here's a tip: Try to avoid entering from Waipahu Depot Rd. It is always congested and takes forever to turn in. Turn right at the Bank of Hawaii from Farrington Hwy. and come around the back. Muuuch faster! Oh, and they are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Definitely one of my favorite places to get fried noodles and, lucky for me, it's only 5 minutes away from my house!
(4)Kristen C.
#73/365 Havent been here in a couple years and I finally went because I was craving for some fried saimin and I know that this place has one of the BEST. This place is pretty small with only 3 tables but people mostly come here to take out anyway. I got their small fried saimin for $4.19+tax. and boy was it ALOT. It comes in those mini plate containers and the lady sure stuffed it! She also topped it with some green onions and bits of charsui. As for taste it is very delicious. I havent really tried fried saimins elsewhere so I cant really compare but in my opinion so far so good :).
(5)Jamie B.
My bf introduced me to this place and if he likes something, it's usually good because he's PICKY. He told me this place had the bomb fried noodles (that's exactly how he described it) and i had to try it. We stopped by for a "snack" which came out to a plate of fried noodles, a cone sushi, and two fried shrimp. The cone sushi was ok. The fried shrimp was pretty much batter and oil. But the fried noodles.... oh MAN were they delicious. I wish they would put a little more veggies, but the flavor is so good. I couldn't stop eating it. I had to remember that we were sharing and it was just a snack. Plus the noodles were kind of chewy, which I liked. Not mushy, and not hard. I really think this is the best fried noodles I've had! If you're in the Waipahu area and craving fried noodles, definitely check this spot out. But I hear that you have to go early because they sell out!
(4)Toney N.
You know how you say when you eat somewhere everyday you'll get tired of it. Well I never get tired of there noodles. I work in the same plaza and I have eating there so many times that they're so nice to deliver free.lol Good qualities bout them: they treat there customers like family, prices are very reasonable, and quantity is massive. FYI: -Sato's parking are all the YH reserve parking stalls Recommendations: -Pork chop special -Hamburger steak special -Chop steak special Thats MY top picks but there whole menu is awesome.
(5)Lana H.
Stopped by about 11:30 a.m. praying they had something left to eat. Regulars know that by high noon a lot of their menu items are very limited. Let me warn you the Marketplace parking lot is a NIGTMARE! I just wanted to make my way to the backside of the lot to get my fried noodles! Instead, it took me nearly 5 minutes to move past 4 rows of parking. I guess patience does pay off, I ended up with a spot right in front of Sato's! They were out of a couple menu items (as expected) but, there were other yummy choices. Ordered the Pork Chop and Chop Steak plates both with noodles. Total was little less than $16. The aunties that greet you are friendly and very sweet. Then, there's one of the cooks, "Titarella" with tattoos and piercings all over. She does the register and money stuff. She was a bit gruff with customers but she did crack a sliver of a smile when a guy told her have a good day. Got home and dug into the pork chop plate. Surprised to see the think style pork chop being used. But, it was 2 pieces so all was good. There was no batter/panko on it, just fried with some delicious seasonings. It kind of tasted like the Fried Chicken seasoning you buy in big bags from Y. Hata. The chop steak had a nice balance of veggies and a light seasoning, not too salty. The star of the plates was the noodles. They taste the same each time I've had them over the last decade or so. Over time, other places will change their recipes or use cheaper ingredients, not Sato's. Next time you're craving for great noodles and you have some time to drive around a parking lot stop by Sato's.
(4)Jill T.
I was so excited to go to a different okazuya than my usual. It was a little weird in there. I was a little turned off by the stuffed animals in the food case. Kinda gross but I guess this is okay with the Health Dept??? The choices were very limited...not like the typical okazuya. We got the fried saimin of course and that was excellent! Not too salty and so tasty. They said they use Okahara saimin. Someone once said that they have the best fried chicken but hmm, not sure about THE best...it was good though. Will definitely be back for the fried saimin. Oh ya, and it's cash only!
(3)Xiao L.
Noodle was average.....Very crowded and waited long time to be seated.
(2)Gina E.
They have the best fried noodles ever, and the amount that they give is worth your money. Unfortunately, the service is pretty bad and you'll have to wait a while before you get your order. Once you've tried their fried noodles, than you'll find out that it's worth the wait.
(3)Ryan R.
Sato's is a family owned hole-in-the wall okazuya, and it's located right across from the Waipahu Festival Market. Sato's is known for their fried noodles, and let me tell you, their fried noodles beats Zippys and Leeward Drive Inn's by a far mile. There's only 3 or 4 tables for patrons to dine in, but most of the people that dine in usually order one of the few plate lunches and a side of their fried nooldes. Majority of the people that come here order a take out because the place is so small. From what I remember, they had grilled saba (makarel) on their menu, pork chops, and chop steak. On the counter they have their fried noodles and a few okazuya Items on the side. It can get busy during the lunch hours, sometimes the line goes past the door. What I usually do, is call in and make an order. So by the time you get there, your order is ready! Go early because I think they close by 1 or 2 in the afternoon.
(5)Mama N.
We followed the reviews and went to Sato's to try the fried noodles. Driving in the parking lot can be a bitch. Look for the stalls in the back that say parking for "Y-H". There were a bunch of those that were empty and not too far away. We didn't have to stand in line even on Saturday, but then we went before lunch time. The noodles didn't look that great to me, but we decided to try it anyway. We got a small portion, with 2 cone sushi, and 1 hot dog. It came to $7.07 which was really reasonable when you see that the small portion is really huge! The noodles were better than they looked. It wasn't greasy like some other places, and actually had taste! I was impressed. Put it on my list of places to repeat. Recommend. Especially if you used to like Leeward's.
(4)Lyn L.
3/16/10 - Update Been a while, but got back here today.....deeeelicious! I went early and bought a small container of fried saimin....went to my car to eat a bit...oh so yummy. Ended up going back to get a large container for my friend...within 1/2 hour, the place was packed and the sushi sold out...that'll teach me! Gotta go early and order lots....gotta try the saimin next time too! Yummmmm Good to know about the parking..thanks! Oh yeah, CASH ONLY... ******************************************** If you are looking for good ole fashion fried saimin, you want to go to Sato's Okazuya.... You might have to wait for them to fry up the saimin fresh...it's yummy.
(4)Nelson S.
Never had there fried noodles or fried chicken so after reading several reviews and comments from friends and family, I had to try it out. Its located in the old Big Way shopping center in Waipahu. Employees where nice and friendly I order fried noodle w/ fried chicken and upon eating it, I was hooked and it was price very reasonable the only draw back was how small the eating area was but other than the food was great. Eat Sato's! you wont regret it.
(4)Derek R.
mean da fried noodles! okazu-ya winnaz too! :D
(5)James Q.
I read some of the reviews. I just want to comment that this place has been around since like 68' or 69'. Operations may not be what we're used to today, like excellent customer service or fast food on the fly. But if you give it a chance, you'll be happy with the food. Because they do take the time to prepare and make the noodles the same way it's been done all these years. Some times it's good to take it slow if we know we're waiting for something ONO to enjoy.
(5)G O.
Best Fried Saimin on the planet.
(5)Rex H.
Had the fried noodles with barbeque meat. $7.25 and I was full. Choke size portion. Good value, good taste. Located in back of Waipahu Sporting goods. 5-star aloha from the staff. Would go back, but kinda far for me. Reminds me of neighbor island.
(4)Joo S.
this place is hyped up like no other! i've never been a fried noodle person, like when there are buffets or catered parties, i'm one of the minority that puts like, 3 noodles on my plate. there was only one other time i tried really really good ones that i craved afterward, and that was from the manapua man. perhaps this place might convert me to the religion of sato's fried noodles. went here specifically for the fried noodles and pork chops. can't say the fried noodles blew my mind but they were good. my friend that's a HUGE fan (and fellow yelper) went on the same day and told me that the noodles didn't taste like they normally did. so i guess i need to go back and give it another go. considering the flavor was "off" that day, i still thought they were pretty darn good. pretty stingy on the garnishes, even the cabbage was cut super tiny. i actually like the meat being small...but at least give more veggies! nevertheless, the noodles themselves were so good that i ate leftovers for 4 meals straight. the pork chops were just one thin slab. tasty, salted perfectly, with a good amount of fat. yum. prices are super reasonable. i bought 2 pork chop/fried noodle plates + fried noodles for $21! so cheap! i will try this place one more time before i officially convert to SFN.
(4)Jack T.
Went to sato's yesterday need to get there early, because when the filipino market opens ups forget about it (no parking and I mean no parking) Sato's makes the best fried noodles on the island and their cornbeef hash is mostly corn beef and less potato. The shrimp tempura is a must and if you can get a table need to order the saimin too. !When they run out of the okazuya in the glass show class, that is it. Most people take out because theres only about 4 tables.
(5)Neichan Y.
Best best fried noodles on the Island!!! One of those hole in the wall restaurant. Simply okazu nothing fancy but so tasty. Don't expect to have sit down dining. Just 3 small tables and no A/C. The parking lot is worst. But one taste if the food and it's worth the headach.
(4)Dwayne A.
I've been going to Sato's since intermediate time. I always order the pork chop and fried noodle plate. Their current location is a lot smaller than before but that don't really matter because most of the people that go there are taking it to go.
(5)pat m.
took off on a friday to see my gramma with the family, normally i'm off sundays and mondays, n this place is closed. finally got to try them out. directions from other yelpers were excellent as usual, talk about old school style. wait is long.. but da noodles are fresh and made right there.. you can see da lady cooking right through the window. pork chop was ono.. an wow, that crew works HARD!! if i'm off again during a weekday.. i'll be back!!
(4)Anna M.
You will not get fried noodles like the fried noodles at Sato's anywhere else. Their fried noodles are BOMB. I've been going here for their noodles for years and I can definitely tell the difference between fried noodles and Sato's fried noodles. I crave them a lot and fortunately for me, I don't live very far. Like many hole in the walls, they close early so get here during your lunch break to satisfy your need for their noodles.
(5)Kina T.
Seriously THE BEST FRIED NOODLES on the island. They're food is always made fresh upon ordering so you know you're getting quality stuff. Although fried noodles is just a starch, it's so good that I can just get a small order to myself and eat just that. The portion size is rather large. You definitely get your monies worth here. Also, FYI they're CASH ONLY. The location is rather hard to find but its inside of a little shopping area behind Rocky's Coffee Shop. Most people know that shopping/parking area as the old Big Way Supermarket but it's now an open market, not too sure of the name. The hours differ so be sure to call ahead before you come in. It's best recommended to call in your order and pick it up rather than dine in because tables are really limited and they also get really busy.
(5)Tuesday Y.
Tried it out because the great reviews on Yelp. Whole in the wall, no ambiance, counter help was not friendly at first but then warmed up a little. They have a good following of steady customers ordering and waiting for their items. Very small space, not ideal if you need somewhere to eat, definitely a "togo" place. 2 stars for quality and 4 stars for quantity of food. The pork chop was thin and seasoned well. The BBQ was ok tasting. The noodles were gummy and had an odd taste, can't figure it out. The plate is made up majority of the noodles, the protein was limited (the plates ordered either has 1 thin pork chop or 2 thin pieces of marinated beef). If you're hungry and want to eat a lot for under $10 and do not mind the taste and most of the plate being starch, then this is a place for you.
(3)Amber F.
I stumbled upon this place on the internet when I was searing for fried noodle in Oahu. My bf and I made a quick stop here on our way from Honolulu to Ko'Olina. Oh dear was it a good find!! I called ahead to put in our orders for pork chop special and a small fried noodle order. I heard they run out of fried noodle on busy days...so I figured I'd call ahead to be safe. The place was a little bit difficult to find as it's tucked away in a row of small businesses across the market place. It's a super tiny store with only a few tables... literally a hole in the wall. Well...a gem in the wall, really. Best fried noodle I've had. I can taste the freshness of their noodles! The pork chop was also flavorful, although I am completely happy with my plain fried noodle that comes with some roast pork. And don't be fooled... their small portion was huge! My bf and I actually shared a plate and took the other dish of fried noodle home for late night snack. Re-heats very well. I wish I can get more of that fried noodle!!!
(5)Tim F.
This is a local dive hidden in an old strip center. Not a strike against them in my book. What they lack in decor they make up for in the quality of their fried noodles. I had the fried noodles with teriyaki pork. Let me tell you the food was off the hook good. Cooked and garnished perfectly by loving hands. Nothing more to add except 5 stars good eats, if you can find it. Enjoy Heads up cash only and limited hours (closed Sundays, Mondays and after 1pm). Also I hear this place can have a line out the door at peak times.
(5)Jon C.
Since I live on Oahu and cannot satisfy my Sam Sato's dry-mein craving, I needed to find some noodle crack to satisfy my addiction. After reading about this on Tasty Island Hawaii's blog (Thanks Pomai!), I ventured to Sato's Okazuya in Waipahu one day. It's located below the old Waipahu sugar mill in the Y-H building, located on Hanawai Circle, right up the street around the corner of Bank of Hawaii on Farrington Highway in Waipahu. As you enter the parking lot from Hanawai Circle, to the right will be the Waipahu Festival Marketplace. Hours are posted; however this place is popular and often times if you come after 12 p.m., there will be no more noodles! The reason I came is for their famous Fried Noodles. When I walked in there were two local guys in construction worker fluorescent yellow shirts eating on one of two small tables. They had fried noodles and pork chop plate which looked really good. Because I was buying noodles on my way to buy poke at Tanioka's I settled for ordering just a Large Fried Noodles ($7). I noticed through the small window to the kitchen a man in the back making more noodles and then dressing it with a shoyu bottle (is that the secret or something else)? The noodles are amazing! Perfectly chewy and not too starchy. These are minimalist fried noodles topping wise but like Sam Sato's its all about the noodles. There seems to be a hit on dashi, shoyu, maybe vegetable oil for sheen and maybe some oyster sauce? I'm not positive but I know it's ono. Only reason for 4 stars is their limited availability and hours!
(4)Reid I.
The fried noodles is very tasty and one of the best I ate in a while. They constantly cook new batches of noodles so you know its fresh and it feels like its made to order. I had to wait about 10 minutes for my fried noodle/teri beef plate. They give a good amount for the price you pay.
(5)Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Delicious fried saimin noodles. I finally got a chance to eat some of the most delicious fried noodles on island. It took some pre-planning to get there early enough to find a parking spot but it was worth it. The fried saimin noodle is the signature item here. The taste is unexplainable. The noodles are tossed and lightly fried and sprinkled with green onions, chopped fish cake and char siu. There must be more to it because the flavor is so good. The noodle has a great texture which is not too chewy. There are other items offered such as plate lunches, saimin, shrimp and sweet potato tempura.
(5)Jhoren C.
Finally got to try this place out after so many attempts when coming here. Their hours are different and there are certain days they are only open for catering pick up. Had a hair appointment next door and had some time to kill and luckily they were open! Omg they've got the freshest fried noodles soft and chewy just like the manapua mans food truck! Also got their ala carte breaded fried chicken that was pretty good. They don't have a lot of variety like your regular delicatessens but you definitely need to try their fried noodles!
(4)Emi H.
Four words: Hole. In. The. Wall. Across from Waipahu Festival Marketplace in the Y-H building. Although the address for Sato's is Hanawai Circle you'll want to turn into the parking lot from Waipahu Depot Road. If you're not familiar with Waipahu, it can be a bit confusing. I'd heard about Sato's from a few Waipahu natives and decided to check it out because we happened to be in the area. What better way to ruin my green smoothie diet than with greasy local style noodles, right? If you're a germaphobe my suggestion to you is to completely skip this place. If you appreciate a dirty local kitchen and miss the heyday of okazuya fair, then this is the place for you. We walked in and a plate of raw shrimp sat on a table waiting to be cleaned. Case and point. Two women stood behind the counter and we ordered a large noodles and five BBQ sticks. $7.50 for the large which is in a regular plate lunch box. Other noodle pricing options are $6 for small and $12-14 for XL. They also sell the noodles in giant manapua boxes for $20 which would be perfect for any family gathering! It's $1.60 per BBQ stick which might seem ridiculous but you get quite a bit of meat on that stick. I watched as one of the women scooped up noodles from a big tray with a bowl covered in aluminum foil. My friend Johnny T would have cringed at the sight of this but I really didn't care. I have an iron stomach! The amount of noodles you get in a large can easily feed a family of four. You get a TON of noodles and it's quite the deal. Not the best noodles I've ever eaten, but for the price you can't beat it. The BBQ meat sticks were very tasty and they won my boyfriend over in two seconds. I don't know if I would go out of my way to eat at Sato's but if I was in the area it would certainly be a contender. I didn't order any of their other items but they've got a list of okazuya staples you can order in addition to the basics of noodles and BBQ meat sticks. Stay local!
(4)Jarod H.
Five stars. First time here, after all these years of visiting Waipahu, and I must say that Sato's has pretty darn good ono food! Thinking that it was mainly an okazuya / plate lunch place, my initial thought was, "meh!" But I really was impressed with the quality and taste of the food. I ordered the pork chops with half noodles and white rice. I kind of figured, at that point that the fried noodles was the mainstay of the place. Since a table was open, I decided that dining in was the option (there are only two tables). While I was waiting for the food, many many customers came in and out for lunch. Eventually, there was a line out the door! I was amazed at that. When the food arrived, I was impressed at the quantity of fried noodles on each plate, even for half noodles on my plate, it was a good portion. Positive! The taste of the fried noodles was exquisite and delicious! I sampled some of the ahi belly and boy, that was ono too! The pork chops were thin, but tasty. Really a good flavor to it. More on the crispy grilled side. Yum! Overall, I highly recommend Sato's, if you are having an old fashioned craving for fried noodles and plate lunch. Go get em!
(5)Virgie L.
Very disappointed. Just went to Satos and the are closed because they ran out of noodles how do u run out of noodles at 12:00 peek lunch time. My son was super sad and so was I. Drove all the way from Milian to find out the closed early cause no more supplies. HELLO!!!
(1)Eric M.
I really like fried saimin and Sato's hits the spot when I have a craving. Nothing really fancy - not-that-oily fried noodles with a few vegetables and slivers of some type of lunch meat topped with some green onion and char siu. They have "regular" saimin, okazu items, and some other stuff but I pretty much come here only for the noodles. Pricing is deceiving. A "small" ($6) is enough for one really hungry person. A "large" ($7.50) is easily enough for two hungry people. The "X-large" actually comes in two sizes ($12 and $14) depending on how many people you want to feed. So if plain fried saimin is what you're craving, head for Sato's. Oh, as long as they're open. Closed Sunday and Monday and closes at 1:00 pm Tuesday to Saturday.
(4)Antone S.
Amazing old school fried noodles....'NUFF SAID!
(5)S Q.
When craving for fried noodles there's one place to go & that place is Sato's Okazuya & of course they have Okazuya dishes to go with their legendary noodles.
(4)Candice P.
Sooo good! My first time here was actually only this year. Idk what took me so long! Come to find out I knew the daughter-in-law and granddaughter! Me and my kids love the fried noodles! Not salty at all! The sweet potato tempura is good as well. My son loves their saba too! I haven't tried anything else yet but by the looks of the other reviews I just may need to. Parking does suck a bit because the festival market is in the same area but I usually find one that are assigned to the Y-H businesses.
(5)Ashlyne F.
Sato's has been around for a long time. At least 20 years or more. This place is definitely one of my favorites. Grew up eating the noodles and getting the potato and shrimp tempura on the side. Even got my son hooked on their noodles. But I learned to always call in my order since it does get really busy.
(4)Sherry S.
I've been here several times and the food has always been great! I love the fried noodles! And their won ton min is delicious. The flavor of the won ton and dashi hit the spot. ((; Plus they have affordable fried noodle pans. I ordered a pan of fried noodles to cover a potluck at school and it was two thumbs up. At first I wasn't sure of what to purchase but the customer service was friendly and gave good recommendations. (: And they were willing to accomodate a later pick up time. Love it! ((; Thanks Sato's Okazuya!
(5)Kristyn F.
My parents have been coming here for so long they know my dad by first name. Noodles and saimin is always a good choice along with the shrimp tempura or bbq sticks and what not. Small shop but a lot of regulars here so I suggest you come early to get first picks!
(5)Saxon S.
Im a little confused at why the reviews are so high for this place. I would probably rate it a 3.2 at best. Let me start with the pros. Service was good and nice people there to take your order. The wait was fairly long. I waited 20 minutes to get an order of chooped steak and 2 orders of BBQ beef. The portions were tiny and the chopped steak was more like chopped veggies. Barely any meat! The fried noodles were good. I'll admit that they gave a lot of noodles but i wanted more of what i ordered from the menu and not the fillers like noodles and rice. Thus, the experience was ok but not what i expected.
(3)Gary M.
Today April24th 2015 I went to order fried noodles. It was almost closing (closes at 1pm). I waited for a good 20 minutes. I understand they cook it fresh because I was watching but the lady cook could've step it up bcuz I was not the only one waiting. Had 2 order takers in the front but one of them could've helped the cook to run more smoothly instead of talking story. Irritated as I was, I still gave it a one
(1)Joshua R.
Driving around Waipahu looking for lunch, Yelp pointed me to Sato's Okazuya. Located in an aged shopping area, don't shy away; the fact that it's a hole in the wall, you should be excited. This was my first time here today, and I the workers were polite and very open to answering any questions I had. I discovered the fried noodles are the staple dish everyone orders so I got a BBQ/Noodle Special. Luckily I was the only one there when I ordered and the wait was fast. The counter worker scooped the a generous portion of fried noodles into a plate while she waited for the BBQ meat to come out. I was in and out in less than 5 minutes. The noodles are amazing! They stand out as being not too salty or oily and the garnish portions of veggies, luncheon meat, and char siu are cut small (easy to mix) and doesn't overbear the noodles. The BBQ meat were two thin slices, nothing special but meat is the greatest compliment. + Fast, friendly service + Ideal for a grab-and-go lunch + Located in a shopping plaza, so parking is manageable + I will argue they have one of the BEST FRIED NOODLES ON OAHU - It's an Okazuya, popular dishes (like the pork chops) can run out - Not enough meat in Noodle special
(4)Zar A.
This is a tiny hole in the wall shop with only three tables and a few chairs, but the Saimin is to die for!!! The saimin looks really simple and can be easy overlooked but don't you DARE! In addition, this place is really located in the middle of nowhere!! The drive is extremely far from Town... but if you're in the area, stop by, grab some saimin. It is worth it... They make their own noodles and take the time to stir fry the saimin, not bake!! Come early in the morning as they will sell out when 11am hits!
(5)Elizabeth D.
Small pop and mom store! Da best fried noodles hands down! Boeen coming here like forever!! everyting ono! u gotta wait but its worth it to me! No fancy setting but its da food dat matters! Heaven!!!
(5)Donna Lyn B.
Okazuya junkies, you will get your fix here! I don't get to come here often, but my husband picks me up lunch from here every time I get a craving for Sato's infamous fried noodles. They are super generous with the small portion of noodles. I asked my husband if he could get a smaller portion, but he said no, that's the smallest order and the way they portion it is by scooping the noodles into those little rectangle paper "bowls" and pile it on then dump it in the take-out styrofoam box. And I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove their shrimp tempura. I hate shrimp tempura that's panko fried. I like the tempura batter Sato's uses for their shrimp tempura. I recently tried their fried ahi belly and it was super moist and delicious. Their fried chicken is super good, too. Gotta go early to get the good stuff because it goes fast and they close at 1 PM. Cash only.
(5)Pamela S.
The BEST fried noodles on the west side!!! This is my Saturday fix! Order ahead so you dont have to wait. Parking lot is always full so some patience is needed. Oh, and cash only!
(5)Mercedez C.
Sometimes there's a line but it's entirely worth the wait. The fried noodles are the best I've ever had. Portions are big and its always fresh. Staff is always friendly: )
(5)Kathleen G.
This is the place to get fried noodles. The line is always long. I love the different tempura but I haven't had them in such a long time because they always sell out! The ordering line can get confusing so ask the other customers if they ordered yet or you will get stink eye lol. 4 stars for food but 3 stars for the wait.
(3)Lee A.
First of all, this place is okazuya, so they run outta stuff. Early. I waited for over 30 minutes for my noodles. 30 minutes is a long time to wait for noodles, but there were a lot of people ahead of me and guess what they bought. Yep, noodles. They give a lot, and in those 30 plus minutes I waited, the noodle tray was refilled 3 times. I thought, man that is too many noodles! Then I took my first bite and I understood. It is not salty. It has juuuuuust enough to make your mouth want more. You know what I'm talking about? These noodles are like that!
(4)Mich S.
This place represents Waipahu. SATO'S & their famous friend noodles! Hit the spot whenever, I crave for comfort food. People wait in line to get food here. & It's worth the wait.
(5)Shayn B.
If u live in the Waipahu side n is craving fried noodles, I'm pretty sure if you was to ask anyone in the area they'll send u to go to satos! I've been going their since I was a kid. I usually get the pork chop special and for $8.00 you can't go wrong. They'll pack the fried noodles n give u one piece pork chop. If you go early they'll have some shrimp tempura or some potatoe too. Those are winners! Phone orders is a must because sometimes the lines can get super long and sometimes they go on vacation so it's better to call just in case they're closed. The only bad thing is the parking. It's always a challenge but it's worth it! So if you're ever in the area and craving fried noodles. Satos is the place to go!
(4)Alicia L.
So today we called at 12 noon to make a phone order. I would say about 6 times we called and no answer AT ALL. So we head down to Satos within minutes since it is only down the road. Anyway, Sato's close at 1pm and it is only 12:10 pm but they only servicing PHONE PICK UP ORDERS! WTF! Lose money! Ok so only servicing phone orders and yet we still tried calling in an order while we outside in the parking lot and still NO ANSWER. I would actually give NO STARS if Yelp allowed to.
(1)Charlene J.
I have had the hardest time trying to find the perfect local style fried noodles. I have searched far and wide for the perfect noodle to veggie to meat ratio, texture and flavor. So when my sister told me she had the best fried noodles ever from Satos Okazuya in Waipahu, I knew I had to venture over to the westside and get my hands, I mean mouth on these noodles. So one fine Saturday morning, my sister (always my accomplice when it comes to food) and I drove over to Satos. But as soon as we arrived at the little mini mall that the restaurant is located in, we knew this endeavor was going to be a bit of a challenge. Which as you might have noticed I gave it a four star rating instead of a five. Challenge #1: Parking. Maybe it was because it was a Saturday, but as soon as I tried to turn into the mini mall I was stopped due to the snaking line of cars ahead of me also trying to find parking. The mini mall parking is shard with an indoor market, a hair salon, diagnostic lab service or clinical (not sure which), a doctors office, Satos and a few other businesses. Had to circle the lot several time before a space finally opened up. Challenge #2: Waiting, waiting, waiting. If you ever have to wait anymore then 45 mins for your food, and not because the service is slow or your server forgot. Then you know you are going to be eating the best of the best of whatever it is that you are waiting for. When we got to Satos the restaurant had people waiting for their order. Not dining in but waiting on their takeout. We ordered with the girl in the front and just like those before us waited. Satos makes their noodles in small batches so that they are always fresh but that's seems to be one of the reasons for the long wait time, not that I was complain, much. As soon as a batch was ready, it was gone before I was even allowed to assume that it was my order. Finally after an estimated wait time of 45 mins we got our noodles hot and fresh. My sister said that she tried putting in a phone order for takeout and was quoted an hour and when she went to pick up her noodles she still waited another 15 mins. On to the noodles. Maybe it was because I was oh so hungry, and because the noodles were so fresh, I will debunk this for you in a moment, but oh the heavens. The noodles were so chewy and the flavor was perfect. Not at all oily albeit the term fried noodle. No noodles stocked together. So simply just noodles, a bit of cabbage, a few carrots, and luncheon meat topped with green onions and minced charsiu. Perfection. Now to debunk that earlier statement. We shared a lot get order ($7.50) but the serving was HUGE so we had leftovers. The very next day I reheated the noodles in the microwave and the chewy texture was still there as if it was just made. The noodles are worth the parking war and the waiting game. They do have other offerings but I never get there early enough around 10:30 am, to sample them.
(4)Janel B.
This place seriously has one of the best fried noodle & there such reasonable prices. Omg, love them! Craving for them right now
(5)Joan A.
I hope this place will be around forever! They have the BEST fried noodles on the island.... I MEAN IT.... THE BEST! I would suggest you call in your order and/or go early because they get soooo busy that you'll end up waiting. FRIED NOODLES AND THEIR FRIED CHICKEN DOESN'T AND I REPEAT DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS!!!!!
(5)Marcus S.
been going there since I was 12 years old. went there yesterday. had the chixn noodle plate and the noodles were on Da money. once in a while slips. But 95 percent of Da time it's Da best noodles on Oahu!!!! Mac salad killas also. everything on their menu is mean.
(5)Grant S.
Whoa. This place is a blast from the past. Rewind time before Canefire baseball, Bigway Supermarket, Madonna, Grease, drive-in movie theatres, and you get Sato's Okazuya. When you enter, you will notice the aging staff, presumably working day in and day out since they opened long ago. Talk about old school. Grandma and grandpa working in the back cooking and prepping. Putting in the hard labor and labor of love into their cooking. This small okazuya is located in Hanawai Circle by Waipahu Festival Market and Futaba. So if we hearken back to the okazuyas of old we will remember the food, not the service. When ordering be patient, it is all made to order and its completely worth it. My food took probably 15 minutes to make especially since I got the pork chop special (pork chop and fried noodles) and it was worth every second. yelp.com/biz_photos/AQE9… The noodles are fresh, not frozen, and you see them making it and taking a fresh stack and throwing it on the griddle. This is always a good sign! The noodles have a very unique, unprocessed flavor to them and are unlike any other fried noodles I've ever had. And this is coming from a rice man, I usually don't like fried noodles. What better way to celebrate completing drug testing for a new job than with Sato's pork chop special? IDK. (my bff jill)
(4)Jasmine C.
Sato's always has the nicest workers with a warm welcoming vibe. The food is fantastic and I would recommend them to anyone. By far the best noodles around. Yum
(5)Jessica F.
one word: fried saimin. well that's technically two words, but who gives. fried saimin is all you need to know. for this reason, i am glad i moved to waipahu. i'd come here often even when i lived in town, but being a two-minute drive away is very convenient. looks outdated & unsanitary, like there's stuck grease on the walls. be slow to judge though. places like this have the best food. i'm used to it now and learned that's how hole-in-the-wall restaurants are. i tried the saimin. not a fan. the soup base was too shrimpy for me. i stick to the fried saimin. in my opinion, it's the best on the island of oahu. check sato's out if you're in wai-pa-huuu! just not on a sunday or monday cuz they closed. on the days that they are open, they close pretty early (1300 hrs) and run out sometimes so get there before noon to be safe.
(5)Gracey L.
Love their fried noodles!! I also had the cone sushi and fried chicken. So good!! Good customer service very pleasant.
(5)Lily B.
Soooo I had a few errands to run in Waipahu on a Saturday morning... and I wanted to get something to eat so I came to YELP to help me out! I loooove me some good fried noodles so I yelped "fried noodles" in Waipahu and came across Sato's and Leeward Drive Inn. As for Leeward Drive Inn, been there, done that, and meh... so I thought I'd give Sato's a try. I asked my BF about this place and he said he'd tried their fried noodles a while back and he said it was "okay". His review didn't sound promising... but I had to try it out for myself... so after running all my errands I made my way to Sato's. As everyone else said, they are located in the same complex as the Waipahu Farmers Market, so the parking lot is PACKED. It took a while to even get INTO the lot! Luckily there is parking that says "no farmers market parking", so this is where I luckily grabbed a spot at 10AM. Sato's is a small hole in the wall with 3 tables inside. There is a show case with some breakfast items and then a section next to it with the fried noodles (and when I arrived there was one piece of fish in a pan next to the fried noodles... which a person ahead of me ended up buying) They are BANGING OUT FRIED noodles!!! You can see through the little hole to the kitchen that it's a constant process. Cook noodles, fill up the pan, pan empties, cook noodles, fill up the pan, pan empties, etc. There were only 4 people ahead of me when I arrived (I didn't make a phone order as other Yelpers suggested... but only because it was my first time and I didn't wanna hold them up by asking 398483 questions)... but it took nearly 25 minutes to get outta there! They have SO many phone orders and SO many pan orders and SO many combo orders and the people in line are ordering SO many plate lunches of fried saimin!! Craaazzzyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So you can order the fried saimin in small, medium, or large and the prices vary. The small is $4 but man do they LOAD IT UP. Definitely worth the money and if you needed a pan of this stuff it would be cost effective and PLENTY for a potluck. That $4 portion was waaaaay more than enough for me. It's basically a plain fried noodles (they put in some cabbage and spam, but depending on where in the pan they grab the noodles from you could have a few pieces or one piece) and then they top it with a dollop of char siu and green onions. When they initially pour the freshly cooked fried noodles into the pan in the show case... it looks moist and full of flavor. By the time I ate my food... the noodles were dry, although I must admit it did still have some flavor. There were very little garnishes in it (I think I got some cabbage and no spam) and then of course there was the char siu and green onions dollop. The fried saimin was okay. Definitely NOT oily and waaaay better than Leeward Drive Inn, but I still felt it needed more garnishes, and that it should be eaten fresh. Would I come back?... hmmm... with the crazy parking and long wait... maybe. I wouldn't say it's a "must have" where I'm craving it and need to go back... but it's not a "meh I can do without it"... it's kinda either way. If I'm craving fried noodles and there was parking and no wait, maybe I'd go! Everyone talks about the fried noodles with pork chops combo... maybe if I had the pork chop it would've given the noodles more substance... or maybe if I had eaten it fresh it would've tasted better, it had sat for about 30 minutes before I got a chance to eat... and it tasted "dry"... So... maybe, after writing all of this... I should give Sato's another try and get the famous pork chops with it... we'll see! On a side note... I was a little weary about the staff since most Yelpers stated that they aren't the friendliest... but both "aunties" that helped me were SO nice! A greeting, my order, a thank you... good enough for me! CASH ONLY.
(3)Arielle D.
Hands down the best noodle joint in Hawaii ! This place is most definitely a hidden gem located in Waipahu. They are a very small sized business but let me tell you, the size of the place doesn't compare to what they offer. I've had a noodle phase in my life where all I wanted was to try the best noodles on the island. I thought I ended it at the carnival. I have no idea who the vendor was for that until this day & so each year I go ballistic getting those noodles. AND THEN I FOUND SATO'S. I will never ever order noodles elsewhere if I'm the one deciding. They have this distinct taste that is so perfect, not too salty, not too bland, not too oily, not too dry. They nail it with the green onion, meat and cabbage ratio. No other noodle house could possibly be up to par with these guys. The staff are friendly, I believe they're all family too. Best time to go is as early as possible because they do close early & run out of some other side order meat that you can add. I personally love chorizo or hot dogs to add with my noodles. Everyone should try them out and I hope to only hear how glad they are to have tried them! I now always recommend these guys to almost anyone who asks for my favorite place for noodles or if the topic comes up.
(5)Esther Claire D.
Best noodles I've ever had! Not too oily or salty, it's just right. I never get tired of eating here. I recommend their pork chop plate, friend noodles, and beef sticks. Reeeeally good. And their portion sizes are so much more than enough at a very reasonable price.
(5)Malia Q.
This place has the best fried noodles ever!! It is best to call in your order and then pickup if you don't have the time to wait in the long line.
(5)Wayne S.
FRIED NOODLES!! Parking can be a real pain, well the entire parking lot can be a real pain. The portion size is generous and the cost is very very reasonable. People in the know usually orders by the dollar amount because that equates to portion size. They are constantly making noodles through out the day because they move so much of it. I'll be honest, I have not tried anything else but the noodles. I mean really why would you want to stray from that of the "bomb fried noodles" as told by Jamie's BF now hubby.
(4)Tiffany Y.
Yelp 365 Challenge #82/365 Old School time and you can't get any better than these mom and pop places in Hawaii. These are the hidden gems to hunt around this island if you want cheap but good eats. Although I've been going to this shopping center for over 20 years since I've moved back to the islands, I've never...er...tried their fried saimin. And it's because Leeward Drive-Inn back in the days made the BEST fried noodles. However, that was because the late Mr. Pasco was cooking it up then for Leeward Drive-Inn. Anyhoo, back to Sato's. You can call in your phone order but expect the wait. However, stand there in line and appreciate the experience. You'll see an older crowd preparing the food. Come early if you want the Okazuya items or else it will be gone by lunch time. First time, I tried their noodles. I thought it would be semi-warm. No ways---it was HOT and fresh. Unfortunately, they didn't have fried chicken to go with it but I didn't care...I drove to Tanioka's Fish Market and picked up their fried chicken. Great eats from TWO different places = well-fed contented me *burp*
(5)Ramfis B.
*If you like waiting forever, this place is just for you* *If you don't wanna wait, call 677-5503 and place an order* *If you want to eat one of the BEST fried noodles, it's right here* *If you have claustrphobia, don't eat in here* *If you order the porkchop special, it was very salty* *If you are filipino, you will blend right in when in Waipahu* *If you come here on Sunday,you'll be sorry..CLOSED* *If you order the fried chicken, you wont be disappointed* *If you have a potluck,the fried noodles is a wise choice* *If you are the westside, this is the place to eat fried noodles* *If you believe your order will be ready soon, good luck* *If you want fried noodles made fresh, it's right here* *If you are reading this review, i hope it was useful* *If you aren't paying attention to my review, i will repeat* *If you want the best tasting fried noodles, go to Sato's in waipahu ok?* *If you are still reading this review, that's all i have to say* THIS IS WHY YOU COME TO SATO'S OKAZUYA yelp.com/biz_photos/AQE9… THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T COME TO SATO'S OKAZUYA, PORKCHOPS WAY TOO SALTY yelp.com/biz_photos/AQE9…
(4)Denalee C.
Like everyone says: the fried noodles are delicious! The parking is OK. It's a large lot that is shared with various businesses. However, the wait is very long. From the time I got there to the time I got my food and paid was at least twenty minutes and there was only about three people in front of me. Two of those people were just picking up their phone order. The workers aren't very friendly...I almost felt like I was inconveniencing them when ordering. During my wait I got to watch the cook crack open the bag of fresh noodles...so at least I knew my food was recently cooked. Sato's only boasts three tables. Two tables sit four people and the last sits only two. We had to kapu our table when we walked in. They have a self serve water cooler. A small thing I know, but still something I appreciate.
(4)Ethan T.
Wow so many 5 stars! WAY TO BUILD UP MY EXPECTATIONS, yelp! Was it truly a 5 star joint? Mmmm sure if you take it out of context, that being this place is a old school mom and pop joint without all that frizzle frazzle, razzle dazzle, whipper snapper stuff. Is it truly as mind bending as everyone sounds, not to me! Making good fried noodles isn't hard to do, I could probably cook up something comparable in under 20 minutes at home and be just as satisfied. Not trying to sound pompous, but I really can't say the same about other 5 star joints, so to say I can cook something just as delicious at home, is like me saying it really isn't that fantastic. However, given that this place is a hole in the wall with a small cult following that's been around for a while, I will say that it is something to at least try once in your life (should you ever find yourself wandering in Waipahu). But I wouldn't say it'd totally worth the drive out from the east side just to get a lick of their fried noodles. Bottom Line: Although a majority of these reviews praise their noodles, I don't want your expectations to get blown out of proportion. It's good stuff, it just isn't something you should feel the need to drive 20+ miles for. 10 mile drive? Maybe just for a taste. 5 mile drive? If you got the time. 1 mile drive? Only if you're CRAVING that old school flavor fried noodles.
(4)Jenel O.
Fried saimin.... yay! I don't know if I hyped it up in my head too many times before today though but my batch today wasn't as good as I was imagining it to be. But all in all, it's still delicious and I like supporting a small place like this. Got a small for $4 for my coworker and for $7 order the special - fried noodles and BBQ meat. The BBQ meat isn't anything special but it's not bad either. The bummer is that the wait is always long.
(4)Ross H.
The BEST fried Noodles! Period. It's all about the Fried Noodles. It's a little silly if you go there and "don't" get the fried Noodles. :) I take out from here EVERY Week, Seriously. Lately, my order has been a Large Fried Noodles with a Fried Saba side order (the Saba is ok) .. Hot mustard and soyu ... to go. * They sell Out ... so you best call in your order ... talking Sell-Out sometimes at 12pm. In fact the reason why I am writing this is, this Friday they where closed till Nov 1st , Really??? now, I have to wait till Tues lol. and all I have is pics. I am posting my two that I look at whenever they are closed. :) There is a reason why I almost always take-out , don't expect a John Dominus (yes, I still remember this closed restaurant ... back when it was cool to go there) Oh yea, I have this breakfast thing I order (old Jumbos Fried min style) ... Fried Noodles with Portuguese sausage and two over easy Eggs.
(5)Kristine M.
OK. First of all, I can't believe I'm writing about this place because it's already crowded enough when I go there. If you go at the wrong time, it can take you up to 30 minutes just to get your order in. That being said... Sato's has THE best fried noodles I've ever eaten. Seriously. Like, no joke. This means a lot coming from me. I like to think of myself as somewhat of a fried noodle connoisseur. As my friends can all attest, I have an addiction to noodles. I don't know what kind of magical oil they fry their noodles in, because the garnishes themselves are quite simple: green onions, char siu, and luncheon meat. I've even tried watching from the counter to see if they sprinkle some kind of fairy powder. Nothing. It must be straight up, old school, Japanese skillz. That's right, skills with a "Z" cause they so good. Anyhow, as far as the other food they offer there... I have no idea. Why try anything else when you KNOW what you want? I have their number on my cell, I pre-order, I get the large size, and I take as long as I like to eat it - all...by...my...self. I used to fantasize about working there part-time, offering them to pay me in noodles. THAT IS HOW AWESOME THIS PLACE IS. They deserve some kind of award... perhaps, "Oodles of Magically Delicious Noodles"? Hellllll yeaaah!!!!
(5)Danielle S.
Hands down the best fried noodles ever! Their small is $5, large is $7, and xlarge is either $10 or $12 (depending on what you want). The wait is somewhat long, but it's well worth it. Oh and their portions are huge! They're open from Tuesday-Saturday, 730am-1pm.
(5)Sam B.
Oh how I wished my experience was better here! I had high expectations for Sato's Okazuya. Me and my sister heard a good review from a coworker and I LOVE fried noodles, so it was a plus when we heard their noodles were excellent. We were so psyched to go here! We decided to go devour some noodles last week so we tried to call in an order to no avail. No one picked up the phone. We were so determined to eat there that day that we went out of our way before work to go stop by and what do you know?! They're on vacation! An answering machine would've helped us know that information... My sister was so disappointed but it was actually quite funny, tbh. We ended up picking up food at Kabuki on that day. :) Best choice! Anyway, the sign said that they would be back open on the 8th of May so that was our goal: Go to Sato's on the 8th. Today's the 8th and since we were already late getting ready for work and they open @ 730, we decided that it was meant to be. As we were heading that way around 745, we called in the order for pickup @ 830. Traffic was bad as usual, but we miraculously made it there @ 815. PARKING is horrible there. They share the parking lot with all types of businesses. There were so many people there. It was uncanny that so many people did not have be at work, unless they were all late like us. We found a nice spot away from all the commotion and made our way to that hole in a wall okazuya. While I was walking toward the door, some guy rushed to get in front of me. I was quite sour, but we got to pay for our food and we were out the door before him. The WAIT was ridiculous. Like I said, we were there @ 815 and we did not leave the place until 900. Isn't that ridiculous for pickup?! On one side, I feel sorry because the two mama-sans working in the front were definitely NOT fast workers at all. The paralysis from their vacation really must have took a toll on them. Either that or they're dealing with physical limitations, but I swear, there were 4 people in front of us in line, and none of us were helped for a good 30 mins because they were busy doing other stuff. I know they're a well established business and they can do whatever they like, but come on now. Waiting in line for a long time with no service is unacceptable. Hire some younger people who can be a hundred times efficient and faster. You would be able to make way more money. Some people behind us stood in line for 10 minutes and left. It was that bad. The FOOD was alright. I had the Pork Chop special with noodles. It was more oily than oily, not something that I'd wait again for 45 minutes to eat. I'd rather eat at Shige's in Wahiawa. I forgot to mention that the lady handling the money was also putting the food together WITHOUT GLOVES or even washing her hands! I am DEFINITELY NOT coming back to Sato's Okazuya and I do not recommend coming here unless there's some reason you want to stand in line for half your life and reward yourself by eating mediocre food. If you want to do that then go right ahead. Help yourself. Whatever floats your boat.
(1)Arin C.
It was soo unsanitary in here. Bought the fried noodles and other stuff everyone raves about. It was so awful I threw it all away, everything tasted the same and over salted. I wanted to like this so much because I was so hungry. There is hardly anything in the fried saimin, and HOW HARD IS IT to have fresh noodles? LOL. I make fried saimin, with little or many fixings depending on request, I make using real japanese dashi that I make from scratch. my fried saimin noodles are out of this world if people think this place is good. ugh, sry to the people who love this place. it was awful for me.
(1)Jade N.
Lunch at the best noodle place in the world. Seriously. Better than EVERY noodle place that I've eaten at. I mean, i have eaten good noodles... but not that good for me to crave it. It's a hole in the wall but "don't judge a book by it's cover." you are missing out on some good food if you haven't even tried this place.
(5)Jolie K.
All time favorite place til this day. Grew up in Waipahu and love eating the fried noodles!
(5)Fairy E.
I didn't write a review after the first visit because I thought it was just "an off day at the office". But...NOPE!! Service sucks here!! If you want service, you're NOT going to find it here. Just know that up front. The cashier and person that takes your order is ALWAYS cranky and doesn't smile. They have no organization from the moment you make your order to the time comes to pick it up. And that's probably why we waited about 50 minutes for our order to get done. If the wait for an order is going to take that long, they should tell you that up front. The place is UNSANITARY like someone posted. I'm surprised they haven't gotten cited because even regular customers walk in and out of the kitchen to say "Hi" to workers in the back. The food sometimes gets prepped in the front table where other customers are. The ONLY thing good here is their fried noodles. But don't be fooled by all the hype of the noodles. Put everything else into perspective, the taste of the noodles aren't worth the trouble.
(1)Joy P.
Sato's fried noodles set my standards for fried noodles. It's at the top of my list of favorites. The place is painfully tiny and knowing that you're gonna have to wait a bit to get your food is a given, but it's worth my wait! The portions are huge and are reasonably priced. The okazuya sells out fast, but if you're lucky you can get your hands on some saba, chorizo or fried chicken. Yum! I'll keep coming back for my fried noodle fix for forever!
(5)Clifford C.
Gotta get my fried noodle fix Best noodles in town
(5)Gina H.
Love their fried noodles especially for potluck!!! Staff friendly. It has a little eating area so i think it's better to grab and go. Parking is sometimes crazy so don't go when it's senior citizens day at the lil farmers market.
(4)Lisa S.
Best Fried NOODLES on the island!!!! Okazuya is very affordable, great for parties, picnics and get togethers #bestkeptsecretinWaipahu
(5)Nat N.
Fried saimin. Fried saimin. Fried saimin!! There's only one thing you need to know about this place - they make THE BEST fried saimin. The noodles they use are fresh, and they don't put a lot of "fillers" in the fried saimin (e.g. cabbage). Some may see that as a bad thing, but for me, I like my noodles more than I like cabbage and the other stuff. yelp.com/user_local_phot… While you're here, try a couple of their BBQ sticks. The meat is really tender! yelp.com/user_local_phot… Sorry, I can't vouch for any of their okazuya items because they were all sold out by the time I got there (12 pm on a Saturday).
(5)Vicky K.
Good food, quirky service, down to earth.....LOVE this place. It''s Waipahu very own okazuya time capsule. The service is semi-organized but, conscientious. Food is old style delicious and home of the BEST Fried Noodles on the island. Go early! Sato's is truly an old time mom & pop okazuya........they sell out fast & close early.
(5)