Forty Niner Restaurant
98-110 Honomanu St, Aiea, HI, 96701
Forty Niner Restaurant Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Aiea for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Aiea for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Aiea for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
98-110 Honomanu St
Aiea, HI, 96701 - Phone (808) 484-1940
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Hoku S.
Small diner. First impression walking in was that it smelled bad-as in, old dusty greasy wall smell. Everything looked old and slightly dirty. Walls in kitchen...ick. But actually glad we stayed. We sat at the counter and waitress was super nice and friendly, made a little small talk, which was nice. Food came quickly as it there were only a couple of other people there. Ordered chicken and waffles (crispy and juicy chicken and fluffy waffles) and banana mac nut pancakes with haupia sauce (not too sweet and was very light. Could eat the haupia sauce by itself). Highly recommend both!! Maybe take out or ask to eat outside on picnic tables next time?
(4)Birdie F.
My first time here and I liked it very much, I definitely will be coming back! The Elvis pancakes were great and their garlic chicken fired noodles!
(4)Mike T.
The chopped steak was really good. Comes with green bell peppers, celery and onions. Hela a good.$13.95.
(4)Luis R.
Love the breakfast plates. I had the banana pancakes which came with a fried banana on top and banana syrup. Awesome. I mean I love bananas and I love pancakes so why would I not love this. FYI. This place is a hole-in-the-wall! You might see insects that you don't normally see in a restaurant and that is due to the openness between the interior and exterior seating of the restaurant. I also noticed a lot of Japanese tourists dining here and wondered why would they come to a place that looks like a dump. Well the waitress explained that Japanese tourists come here due to the fact that some famous Japanese foodie/person visited the place a few years ago, blasted it on TV, so now it is a must see for all tourists but don't let that stop, you come on by and try their assortment of breakfast items. I truly believe that you would not be disappointed.
(4)Jewelyn T.
Yay! My BFF brought me here the other day for breakfast while I visited home. Never heard of this place until the my bff shared with me this cool find. Had the fried rice breakfast which hit the spot and a burger to go for the place ride back to LA. Fast service, good food. no frills. No complaints here. great find! local love. Aloha. Miss Yelp 2014
(5)Rossana Y.
This is a good place if you order the right thing. I ordered the corned beef hash with 2 eggs over medium, with a large helping of white rice. The corned beef hash came out quite soggy and was not very appetizing. I believe they used canned corned beef which was why it was so soggy...very disappointing. I only ended up taking a few bites before deciding to box up the rest of the food without the hash. My boyfriend ordered the Forty Niner Breakfast that included 2 eggs, rice and a choice of meat (he chose Portuguese sausage). The sausage was quite tasty, and made me wish I ordered his same dish as well! Our friend ordered the buttermilk pancakes and they came out in huge 3 stacks, so it was worth it. Our waitress was kind enough to comp my meal, which made me feel a little better from the not-so-great experience. If I were to come here again, I would recommend ordering something else besides their corned beef hash. The prices are a little expensive (around $8-11) considering that half of the whole dish consists of rice.
(3)Jennifer A.
I came here for the first time with my friend to have breakfast before our flight. I was craving waffles so I ordered strawberry waffles and my friend had eggs, sausage, and corned beef hash. When the waffles came out it looked delicious but when I bit into it, it was soggy...maybe from the strawberries? My friends hash was mushy. The waitress saw it and offered to make a new one but we declined. We kind of lost our appetite after that.
(2)Noelia V.
Run for your life!! I tried this place few times with the same result.. BAD FOOD!!!!! Low quality food!! No fresh food looks like reheat from previous day.. Price for each thing in your plate.. Save your trip and your money
(1)Erica K.
I think I'm in love... This place is def a dive but who cares the food is on point. I will be back for breakfast! I got the cheeseburger dirty with an egg... I'm just so surprised at just how amazing the meat is... And it was very quick. I can't wait to come back and try more!!!
(5)Sean O.
Hard to recall, but I think it was the first full day of my father's Hawaiian bucket list trip. We were in the car around Pearl Harbor and I was trying to explain how I noticed people acting differently (read: kindly) outside of Waikiki. I would later come to know this as THE ALOHA SPIRIT. In any case, I was really put off by Roy's the night before and its sterile caricature of Hawaii. I didn't want to take another hotel tip and end up somewhere else that felt like it almost preyed on the vapid comforts of the upper middle class clientele endemic to that beach. I had some recommendations from friends from Oahu, but none from this area, so to begin our tour of Oahu, I turned to Yelp. We missed the restaurant at first. It's not much to look at and doesn't give off vibes of a mainland diner. It has an adobe kind of exterior. The unpaved, dirt lot is also on the higher part of the hill we were descending. My mother wasn't really into it, and we went down the main road looking for another brunch place. The farther we went, I knew this was a bad idea. We don't have the money to vacation often (hence the bucket list), and thus vacations have the expectation of relaxation and the amenities one doesn't appreciate in the everyday. Some waffle house is safer because it feels more familiar, more comfortable. Turning the car around to visit the 49er was a choice to not have that sort of vacation. The room had a stagnant feel about it, with a dead breeze through the open back door, through which we entered. Outside, a few people were hanging out in the little shade, perhaps with drinks, and I thought it was an odd place to chat. Inside were a few booths and a cheap card table in the center. The room had an unassuming, very hole-in-the-wall "nook" feel. We sat at one of the booths and the waitress gave us sticky menus. My dad was eyeing the plate on the center table. A man wearing an aloha shirt and sunglasses on the back of his neck was eating with his wife and either his granddaughter or niece. I encouraged dad to ask what the dish was and while I wish I could remember the details, he ended up with a plate as a sampling of the dish--some sort of saimin and spam, some wet (in soup) and some dry (without). My father is on the bigger and burlier side of men, but when he isn't brusque, he's jolly and closer to a teddy than to a brown bear. I think he was pleasantly shocked or even taken aback by this man's generosity. The sunglasses man continued to eat at his table, but turned around a few times to check on us, ask us what we thought. We were far enough apart that it made the space into something friendlier because everyone else saw us interacting, but the room wasn't very large in the first place. The waitress didn't comment, as if this was either a common occurrence or a relief to not have to explain to the tourists. (In New York, where we have lived our whole lives, this is not common.) It probably wasn't either--I actually doubt she noticed. We ended up with his granddaughter/niece's plate of food, whatever she didn't finish. Has that happened to you in a restaurant before? Doesn't matter--it's a symbolic gesture that we shared food and now shared plates. On the East Coast, this is something reserved for close friends, usually signifying some degree of comfort between both parties. And even then, you might steal a bite, and never rarely take the whole plate. I'm not convinced it's much different in Hawaii, but it took relatively little time to warm up to this gesture. We didn't talk much about tourist things apart from acknowledging that we weren't from around here and which food trucks to hit up north. It was more about his family and what they liked to eat. And he wished us well and was on his way, and didn't linger past the point where we could be simultaneously indebted and appreciative. What we all have and what we choose to have in abundance or in stinginess is the time of day. So much of Yelp is the qualitative evaluation of the service or price-to-quality ratio, but I rate the 49er for turning my father's bucket list trip into the reason why he continues to wear his kukui nut necklace daily, close to two years later. There are local dishes and customs that float like cream to the top of Yelp, and then there is the spirit of a place that lurks behind the details of our insignificant words. We use words to get at that spirit and what it was like to partake. In this case, the 49er's Aloha spirit of pleasant and mutual regard is also the spirit of Yelp. It's what brought us to this hole-in-the-wall and what will keep it a hole-in-the-wall for others to discover and unfurl through the kindness of strangers, with no expectation of reciprocation. The food and photos are just transient impressions of an undulating spirit, like the dead breeze past the door jamb speaks of the ambiance or the food through our systems recalls a taste. We too process and are processed by the moment, and all that remains is this review.
(5)Agnes B.
It's not what you expected inside base on what you see outside. I had the forty niner omelette, my daughter the chocolate chip pancake and my husband got the pancake breakfast and we all gave it a 5 star. It was busy this morning but still serves us on time.
(5)Alma M.
Descent place to eat at before a good walkathon at the swap meet. Only been here once. The macnut pancake is good. They mix the mac nut well into the batter. The pancake is soft and not rubbery like other restaurants. The fried rice are just okay and same goes for the portugese sausage. Will I come back? Yes, but not anytime soon.
(3)Joe P.
Nothing like good old fashion Hawaiian style breakfast. Kids loved the food too. I would say the outside of the establishment is a bit sketchy, but that doesn't really matter at the end of the day. Recommend the fourty niner pancake and chicken and waffles
(4)Melissa M.
I would definitely come here againand bring family! Just went forbreakfast this morning and wanted to try somewhere new. Waitress was the only one working inside and out and she was BEYOND EXCELLENT! Food was great and kids demolished their plates. Belgian waffle, veggie omelet, steak and eggs, and pancake platter we all on point. Sat outside which was roomy, breezy, and not too loud for the locale. With a great big tree in the back we ate with nature.
(5)Dave K.
More like 3 1/2 I like this place. One side of the restaurant is the sit down and dine side and the other side is set up with bar stools and geared toward take out. the good the food is above average. Some items are hit or miss, but in general they have some pretty unique things here and they are fairly delicious. The workers have been very nice to me every time I have gone. food portions are good sized the not so good parking is very limited and not so great Not much else to say so far. This is a nice mom/pops style local place to go for the basic breakfast or lunch. Well priced, and pretty good. Worth hitting up now and then.
(3)Zach H.
Do not be deceived by the rough look of the restaurant; this place is excellent! My family and I were looking for a good place to eat after visiting Pearl Harbor and came across this on this site. Reviews were good, so we navigated our way there. The menu was full of great options. I could not make up my mind until we started to order; I ended up with the pork sandwich and fries. It was delicious, but I wished I had considered the garlic chicken and creme brûlée pancakes more after tasting them. I'd order either if I could return, though there are other options that I'd like to try as well. Bottom line: if you visit Oahu, eat here at least once and take plenty of time studying your meal options.
(5)Vanessa C.
Came here with a family of 11. The forty niners pancakes and special were a hit. The rice was delicious. The burger we ordered was bland. Nothing special.
(4)Amanda A.
Pulling up do not let the outside deter you. It's not a very fancy place but if you give it a shot you will not be disappointed. The service is always great they are very welcoming. I have got the creme brûlée pancakes both times I have been and I can't even describe how delicious they are. First time I just ordered them as a stack and it was a lot. Today I asked if I could just do one pancake still creme brûlée with eggs and bacon on the side she said no problem and it was the perfect amount. Server was so sweet she brought out water for my puppy. I don't live in Aiea but anytime I'm in the are I will definitely stop here for breakfast.
(4)Samantha R.
Went to eat for breakfast. Pretty good. Though they brought me a short stack when I asked for a full, the put my food on a different computer so I didn't get it until after my party was done eating, they didn't bring me any silverware or syrup, and the pancake was not completely done in the middle. But when I did get to eat it was good. Did get a 25% discount though.
(4)Shy K.
My friend and I came here every now and than. The food is usually good. Never a disappointment. However on 12/16, me and my friend went go have lunch. I ordered a hamburger steak with toss. The waitress brings my order with Mac. The next thing I noticed is that my hamburger patty is raw in the middle. I couldn't take another bite. The only thing I could finish was my side french fries I ordered. So if you don't like raw meat like myself make sure you say we'll done! Hopefully the waitress listens. We will try lunch again and I will update my review.
(2)Nicole K.
Forty Niner's is definitely a West Side staple! Entering the diner is like taking a step back in time. Since its transition to a new owner, the menu has certainly changed, but the restaurant is (almost) exactly like I remembered. The menu offers a large selection of diner classics and fresh new items. I'm embarrassed to admit that I still have not tried anything off the new menu, but if you ate "Hamburger and Small Saimin" since you were three years old, it's hard to change. My parents are huge advocates for the new menu and are constantly encouraging me to try it, but I always stick to my 3 favorites: Hamburger, Small Saimin, and Beef Cutlet. Since its renovation, the diner has expanded into outdoor seating and a parking lot! I remember always trying to score street parking by the stop sign against the little hill. Now, parking is never an issue. I applaud Forty Niner's new owners for upgrading the establishment while maintaining its old school charm and menu.
(4)Emm J.
I love this place because it's close to my house and the fried chicken and waffle of course. My husband and I came here today to get some breakfast. We ate at the bar so we got to watch them in action. The ratings is not just for the food but also the service. They have 3 young (more like high school teens) working as servers. Obviously they are not trained properly so you can really tell on how they deliver service. I don't know why for such a well stablished business, you would let untrained people to work here? As a server myself, I really don't agree with this. The server are so unprofessional and don't know what their doing. I get its maybe a summer job for them, but serving customer who expect good food and service, it maybe not be the best idea. I'm just saying.
(2)M M.
I had lunch here with my wife and the food was excellent! I had the fried saimin with fried garlic chicken. The flavor and seasoning were on point. Not salty, not bland, perfect serving size for price, and awesome variety on menu. 4 stars for parking because it's tight and a little risky if you have a nice car, or lowered car. Otherwise this place is going to be a favorite of mine.
(4)June M.
Definitely try the home made burgers - and make it "dirty"!!! It's luscious - deep fried pickles, grilled onions, extra tomato & lettuce AND the dirty sauce is to die for! You won't regret it: it's a smaller bun and patty than most fast food joints but I find it just right (as in you don't want to nap right after eating). Perfection.
(5)Carrie Y.
I don't know anything about anything sports-related, but if you're coming here to inquire about San Francisco's 49ers, (had to Google what the 49ers were. LOL. I told you so.) I can assure you that you are out of luck. But if you're coming here to inquire about plate lunches, all-day breakfasts and brunch items, I can assure you that it's your lucky day. Btw, 49ers fans are very welcome here :) This restaurant isn't hard to miss when you're getting off the freeway and heading towards Pearlridge shopping center. However, we had a difficult time determining whether it was open or not as we were driving because both open signs were unlit. Fortunately, they close around 9pm in the evening. The restaurant is located on the corner of a street with its own parking lot. During traffic hours, it is a bit difficult to actually get into the parking as the street seems to be a rather busier one. But once you do manage to get into the lot, be wary of parking too close to the street as the lot isn't closed off. The restaurant is divided into two rooms: a dine-in room and a take-out/dining-in-on-a-counter room. A really friendly waitress greeted and helped us. It was our first time there and she let us know what was popular. We decided to take out (because someone wanted to head home to the restroom lol) an order of pork roast and the 49ers pancake. The food came out quickly and the waitress kept us company & tended to the dine-in customers (great service!) while we waited. When we arrived home, we opened up our warm boxes of yummy aromas and dug in. The first thing I noticed about the pork roast plate was the Mac salad. The Mac salads I've had before were all shaped like an actual macaroni, but this Mac salad was stringy as if it were made of very thin noodles. It tasted all right, more oily if anything. The pork roast was cooked to perfection and tasted great with the gravy. We dipped it in some BBQ sauce for an extra kick of flavor. The 49ers pancakes are 2 large pancakes with bananas covered in macadamia nuts and haupia sauce. We were only able to finish about 1/4th of it as it was a very large portion and quite filling. The sauce wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be, so all you sweet tooth-ers out there, myself included, it may taste a little bland, but you can also taste more of the haupia. Overall, I did enjoy the pancakes. I cannot say much about the dine-in service, but I'm certain the waitress there provides excellent service. Might come back here for the chicken & waffles which were already sold out when we arrived at 3pm. Need to come earlier for that!
(4)L L.
Loved our breakfast at forty niners! We went based on reviews here and it did not disappoint! I love trying places that have a local feel, and this place fit the bill. Not a huge eating area (don't take all the extended family) but friendly and the food was awesome! I had the 49er breakfast with Portuguese sausage and it surpassed other "local" places we've tried. Yum! The other options looked good too so I'll be trying another next time we go. Coffee was fine and price very reasonable.
(5)Javier P.
This is a hole in the wall restaurant with great food and very friendly staff. A definite local gem.
(5)Monica C.
I ordered what everyone else says to order: the garlic chicken. Yes, it was very good. It was very fatty, however. I felt like I was pulling grizzle out of my mouth more often than I should. However, the sauce they use is fantastic -- the best I've had. My daughter ordered the saimin. Kids ordered a burger and hubby ordered katsu chicken. He was enjoying my meal more. I gave it 3* because out of our whole family, half of us enjoyed our food. They should be a little more consistent in the quality/flavor across their entire menu. Price was fair. I think it was about $14 for my dinner, saimin was $6, pancake was about $5, burger was about $5. We enjoyed sitting on the back lanai more than inside. The evening lights made it nice and welcoming (and more private as we were the only ones sitting back there).
(3)Jeanette M.
Delicious local food. Garlic chicken and Saimen are great. Been here twice and it hasn't disappointed. It is very casual, parking can be difficult.
(4)Jon R.
Can't stay in Aeia without eating here at least a couple times! It's table service, not counter service, which I personally prefer! The service is also good here, which is a definite plus! The food is good, I recommend the plate lunch or the specials. the garlic chicken here is outta this world! The breakfast, honestly, just ain't that great in my opinion, but since I'm a total breakfast fiend, I almost always order off the breakfast menu and I'm usually not 100% satisfied. Fried Banana french toast ( s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.com… ) -tasty, sweet, a solid breakfast option! Da Elvis ( s3-media4.ak.yelpcdn.com… ) -2 bacon & banana pancakes with peanut butter in between -topped with banana syrup, whipped cream and bacon -not enough bacon inside, not enough peanut butter, just meh. -sounds a lot better than it actually is. Teri Burger ( s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.com… ) -moist, juicy, flavorful -fried are thick but too soft for me
(4)Janet L.
Ordered the pancake breakfast: pancake, 2 eggs and bacon. Bacon was cooked right and pancake cooked through. Eggs over easy and done right. The butter was completely weird and had an artificial looking color aka cheap. Coffee was diner coffee aka made with tap water (for $1.85). NOTE: They do not have half and half. They have powdered creamer aka white death (corn syrup solids.) Two waitresses on and one had her sh*t together and the other - well who knows. The good one pulled all the weight. My friend had a veggie omelet and it was awful. Had neither green nor grilled onions as described. Shitake mushrooms were like rubber and the tomato was white. Omelette was overcooked on the outside and raw on the inside. Blech. Came with 2 scoops of white rice, which is a local delicacy. She tried to eat it and then after flagging down the good waitress, ordered the pancake breakfast. Went here based on Yelp! reviews and the fact it's been here since 1947 and we were on our way to the stadium swap meet. Would not go here again unless you like tasteless, overpriced white food.
(2)Ananias T.
Sad to say that I used to like this place but recently somethings have seriously changed and not for the better. We really believe that it wasn't a bad day to go...it's was clearly bad all together. We walked in and no one was there to great us, but we saw an open booth and sat down. the bus boy quickly came over and wiped down our table and welcomed us...but that's where our experience took a nose dive south fast. As all the 5 tables that were there were finished, they waited impatiently also for someone to come cash out their tab. We watched people walked into the other section looking for help, but no one and they sat back down. Most people just left the money on the table and walked out. We waited 20min before a waitress walked by our table and (with a shocked look) said "Ohh hi, be right with you"... It was apparent that there was only 2 waitresses working, one outside and one inside. There was no apology when she came to take our order, but an excuse why they were so slow that morning. The food sucked, I ordered the Loco Moco (which my 3yr old can make better) it was just a plastic bowl of rice, simple beef patty, an over cooked egg and gravy that tasted horrible. They need to go to Aiea Bowl or Big City Diner to really see how it's done. My wife ordered a Portuguese Sausage omelet with Cheddar cheese and got a ham omelet with Kraft slices of melted cheese (disgusting). Our friend who was with us just pushed his plate away and we left feeling so disappointed. Maybe, sometime in the future we'll return but it's now definitely at the bottom of places to go to, sad to say.
(1)K J.
This review is of breakfast! LOVE this restaurant. Service was amazing! The two waitresses who were working Saturday morning (I should have gotten their names!) are so friendly, funny, and made my fiancé and I feel like we were family. The food...I got the Forty Niner pancakes, Forty Niner breakfast and my fiancé got the chicken and waffles. The fried rice that came with the breakfast was so good. It reminded me of how my mother makes it. Rice is perfectly cooked! The pancakes...that coconut sauce...not too sweet. It was just perfect. The fried chicken was crispy, and juicy, and the waffles...everything was so spot on. I'm definitely coming back here to try the saimin. It's become a new/fav go-to spot.
(5)Samantha L.
A local diner with classic options for breakfast and lunch. I was a bit hesitant upon walking in and seeing the run down booths and windows but i didn't come for the decor, i came for the food. The coffee was weak and the powdered non diary creamer was discouraging. I was spoiled by the great kona and peaberry coffee by then so decided to focus on the rest of the menu. I split the hamburger steak and pork lechon. The hamburger steak patty was a good texture with a great sauce. I liked their mac salad with angel hair like pasta versus macaroni. It was an authentic, homemade meal and as comforting as you can get. The pork lechon was a huge dish. A lot of salty deliciousness which i was happy we shared. Sweet staff. Very local feeling.
(3)Brittany B.
I wanted to like this restaurant and maybe I might try it again someday but I went here solely for the famous chicken and waffles but I didn't know that they stop serving them at 1030 am. Sadly, I went for choice #2 the 49ers pancakes and what can I say, they tasted like pancakes but with a little more flavor because of the macadamia nut sauce. My husband got an egg cheeseburger "dirty" and that wasn't too good but the garlic chicken wasn't bad. 3 stars for mediocre food and a run down atmosphere... server was nice tho, that's why it wasn't a total loss.
(3)Courtney A.
The best mom and papa restaurant that I would drive 10 miles from home to eat at! Very friendly local Hawaiian hospitality! The food here is mouth watering and I enjoyed there food at every single visit! If you are visiting the islands and you truly want to eat where the locals go this is the place to eat at!
(5)Jayson T.
49ers is a place you have to try at least once, but you'll probably be back again because this restaurant is one of the best. The prices are affordable and you get more than your money's worth of food. The food itself is tasty but the one thing I really love about this place is the service. The waitresses are so kind and attentive, they really make you feel welcomed here. They're also quick with there orders even when the place is packed.
(5)Roxy W.
This is definitely one of those good ol' hole in the wall joints you passed by all your life and you finally try it 20 years later. Lol. Location: It is located on the main road across the street from McGrew Navy Housing. There limited parking area is in the back of the restaurant. Food: I ordered what most people raved about on Yelp; fried saimin and garlic chicken. The portions were huge and the food was good. My sister ordered a burger and fries and it was good as well. Prices: The prices are reasonable and they do accept credit card. Service: One cashier/waitress was helping the bar area and dining area. There were two people cooking and another person around doing something. This was during rush hour when the dining room was packed. I felt bad for the waitress doing everything but she seem to have everything in control. She still came by to check on us and refill our waters. It's not the prettiest place to eat and it gets noisy since they are off the main road. But overall, it's definitely worth checking out for breakfast or lunch.
(3)Jane A.
Knowing breakfast ends at 10:30 and after checking out Yelp for a good hour, I placed a breakfast order for pick up at 10:15ish. I thought they'd be resistant about taking a phone order that late, but the girl over the phone had really good CS. She didn't rush me off the phone, or sounded irritated at all. (This was definitely worth yelping about!) The price you pay, may be a little more than some places, especially for what you get... But it's not OVERPRICED IMO. The 49r breakfast was good. My husband inhaled his, but it could be he was super hungry. Either way, he usually comments if he didn't like something... And he didn't. Ordered the Creme Brûlée pancakes. It was OK. Nothing bad, but not "wow" either. I probably won't order that again, but I'll be back for the other stuff.
(4)Johnathan Q.
Very good the macadamia nut and coconut cream pancakes were great. If you want Hawaiian style breakfast this is the place to go.
(4)Mari K.
I probably have driven by the Forty Niner Restaurant like 5,624 times but have never stopped by.... until this past weekend. And I'm so glad I did! We came here for a late breakfast at around 10:15am. There was ample parking in the parking lot behind the restaurant - easy access from the parking lot and the back entrance to the restaurant. We sat ourselves down and was greeted right away by a friendly woman. We had a few minutes left to order off of the breakfast menu so we ordered the Macadamia Nut Haupia Pancakes and the Forty Niner Omelet. The Mac Nut Haupia Pancakes were SO GOOD. That haupia sauce is just so freaking dslicious. It was the best mixture of creamy and sweet goodness. The nuts just added a little crunch that makes the meal complete. The omelet was just good. 2 scoops of rice with a large omelet filled with Vienna sausage, Portuguese sausage, ham. I could pass on this next time and get a saimin instead! Really looking forward to trying a saimin for real. The service was AWESOME. The two ladies who took care of us inside were just incredible. Waters were always refilled, food came out SUPER FAST, they made small talk, and were just really friendly. There's ample seating outside on picnic tables as well as the indoor tables, and a bathroom in the restaurant. If you ever want good pancakes and are in the Aiea area, come here! I'll sure be back for them and next time I'm getting a saimin too!
(4)Kristian G.
Great waitress! She takes all the orders and doesn't write anything down. Shes friendly and precise! One waitress for the whole restaurant and she remembers everything!!!! My family and I were amazed. I had the Hawaiian Breakfast: kalua pig, 2 eggs (any style), and white rice. The plate usually comes with lomi salmon but they were out :( Regardless, it wasva big portion of kalua pig (over half the plate)! If I come at lunch time, I enjoy getting a cheese burger and a small saimin. Deeeeelicious! It is a very hole in the wall restaurant with limited seating but worth it.
(5)Anna M.
Was craving garlic chicken.. Got to forty niners at 1:15pm and they close at 2pm. Upon arriving they tell us that they are not serving deep fried foods because they already turned their fryer off! That is unbelievable how they will cut their menu 45 minutes before closing. It was a waste of time to go. Needless to say I did not fulfill my garlic chicken craving.
(2)Edward T.
This is the place is like a time machine. You can go there and get the feel for old school diner, not mainland 50's kine but real Hawaii old school. There used to be places like this in downtown in the 70's and 80's but most are all gone. This one is legit and has good food. I always hit 49er when I want old homestyle roast pork with gravy and rice. Gravy is good, pork is soft, and the atmosphere is chill. Just sit at the counter and watch the two cooks in the kitchen do their thing while eating good comfort food. Thats a relaxing way to spend a lunch or breakfast. No need to worry about the traffic or anything else.
(4)Brandy W.
There is one item that separates this restaurant from every other plate lunch place: Chicken and Waffles!!!! This is pretty much the best combination since Diana Ross & Lionel Richie. Sure... everyone has their preferences on the dish, but for me I like a crisp waffle and spiced fried chicken. I do prefer the chicken at Hughley's, but Forty Niner definitely beats them with their waffles. Only served during breakfast, I wish they carried this item over for lunch and dinner. The urge for chicken and waffles does not only come in the morning. Bring it back all day! The ambience is really not leaving much to be desired. Mismatched chairs, cement floors, this is truly a hole in a wall. On the corner of Honomanu and Kam Hwy, there is plenty of parking and plenty of seating for all patrons, if you include outdoor seating. Do not expect there to be a whole lot of substitution options , but the customer service is prompt and helpful.
(4)Sheryl K.
Now the seemingly "hole in the wall" eatery gave me much to rave about. From the cleanliness of the restaurant, the pleasant chit-chat amongst regular diners, great local favorites offered, exceptional Customer Service provided by our waitress who smiled, greeted and served us with urgency...Forty-Niners is the Spot! Needless to say the food was banging!!! I ordered the Roast Pork with Bown Gravy. Oh gosh...in one bite it took me back to my Mama's cooking. My partner tried the Fried Noodle with Dirty Teri Beef Sandwich which rendered lots of juicy flavors! I gave this place four stars.
(4)Jennifer C.
I LOVE the pancakes here. 49ers pancakes - banana pancakes with mac nuts and coconut syrup. Fluffy and perfect level of sweetness! If you're not a fan of pancakes drenched in syrup, ask for it on the side. They give you a huge bowl of the stuff. Tastes perfect with a small dip. I also had the grilled pork chops with eggs (yes- fatty mode). The grilled pork chops are pretty good, too, but I think the seasonings were just straight salt and pepper. Probably something you can make at home, but it's so damn worth it to eat it here (I think about $9). Minus 1 star for service. The girl working the tables fudged our orders twice and it took us a while to get anything. To be fair, she was the only waitress working inside and out, as well as answering phones. But...that should be an indication to the owners that perhaps they need another waitress to help. Other tables were taking a while to get service as well. I felt bad for her...but part of the reason our orders were fudged was because she didn't write anything down. I don't blame the waitress entirely. Plus she was really sweet and apologetic.
(4)Brannon T.
This place has been here forever! Even when my parents were my age. But you could pass by it and not even remotely realize it. It's crazy! If you toward pearlridge and pass KFC, you've gone too far. If you're going away from pearlridge toward the stadium just turn left at the stoplight after KFC and you'll be there. They're food is really good, the prices are fair and the people are pretty helpful. This is a great place to go to lunch.
(3)Juliet M.
It was ai-ght said the starving beast! I have been holding out for a special day to eat here.... not only does it share the name of the most amazing football squad, but it is close to my home - not to mention I have heard pretty fantastic things about it. I ordered the Forty Niner Breakfast, and a side of garlic chix. I asked for my eggs scrambled and they arrived overeasy. Not even over medium, but completely overeasy. The server was nice, but she seemed more concerned about being witty with the guys that were taking up two - three tables. The fried rice was okay, totally not close to Side Street Inn's amazingness (I know different styles, but still - meh quality). The garlic chix was crispy, but the quality of meat was so bad and fatty it made me gag. Ick. I am not sure where the high ratings are coming from when put beside Liliha Bakery this place crumbles into saving my money for the gas and driving mi ar$$ to town.
(2)Lance W.
Came here for breakfast, you know while the wife is away. Couldn't get her to come here for anything. But the reviews kept me wanting to try. Was greeted promptly and introduced to my seat. Since this was my first time here, I asked the waitress what she would suggest for I was hungry and wanted to try everything that was reviewed. She suggested the fried saimin with garlic chicken. Mmm sounds good, sure! The fried saimin was good, but the meat was salty for my liking., although the garlic chicken was moist and not too strong. Got my bill, and it was $12.59. Whoa, coffee, fried saimin, and garlic chicken for $12.59? I think next time I'd go to mitsu-ken. The banana waffles look good, maybe I will try to that next time.
(3)Jeanette S.
Whenever my husband and I eat here, we always get great service. Don't let looks fool you, it may look like a small location but there is a lot of seating, both indoor and outdoor. There are more than 5 parking stalls if you don't mind parking on gravel. Service is great and quick. Most times there is only one waitress, and couple cooks, but they are on it. Waitress is quick, doesn't write anything down but always gets our order right. Food is pretty good. Love their saimin, it reminds me of the saimin from the old Kennys Burgerhouse. I always get the small saimin, sometimes with a side of Teri beef or garlic chicken. Husband loves their garlic chicken. Portions are also worth the price as well.
(4)Lorena B.
I really like this places. Its really small and old looking like mixed-matched chairs but for me it feels like I'm at an aunty's house chilling with the family. The staff is super nice and friendly, always checking on us and making sure we're doing okay. The food is really good. Just this last time I tried something different like the creme brulee pancakes, the pancakes were okay but I didn't get the taste of creme brulee so that was a little bit of a bummer. Other than that, overall I would come back here when I am in the area. P.S- be aware that the parking isn't that great. Its unpaved and right next to the street, just be careful getting in and out.
(4)Bethany G.
Good food. The restaurant is definitely a hole in the wall. I got the 49er bento which was very good. I've never had a bento meal before so I don't have anything for comparison so I went right down the middle with 3 stars. My husband got the double cheese burger which he rated a 3 also. He said the fries were really good!
(3)Stephanie D.
Not much to look at from the outside or the inside and absolutely no a/c - but man, was the food and service awesome! Very friendly people and the food is yum-yum-my!! I tried the DaElvis Pancake with peanut butter, banana and plenty of bacon - holy cow, that was heaven! I totally recommend stopping by at least once if not twice.
(4)Tasha G.
This food is amazing and they are very nice. Also it is very fast. We haven't even been sat for ten mins and we aready had our food.
(5)Kara H.
Their bento and Hawaiian plate are awesome. Good variety and generous portion. Best garlic chicken you will find.
(5)Yuzen Y.
Great local food! No frills! Ive been here many times and always enjoy my food. In particular, i enjoy the garlic chicken and the roast pork. The ambiance of the place reminds me of my grandmothers house.
(5)Seth M.
Ate here with a couple friends for breakfast. Service was standard-nothing to brag about. Plates and utensils were so badly worn. Plates had cracks and holes in them. Belgian waffle was good, but definitely nothing to write home about. I'm really not sure why this place gets such good reviews. We pulled up and the place looked closed, and at that, it looked like it should've been some kind of auto shop - not a restaurant. Won't be coming back.
(2)Kahealani P.
Haven't been here in years but it's pretty much the same. The food is always good from the loco moco, the burgers and of course the saimin. This is the first time that I've come here with my baby and they had one high chair. Not really a problem for me I just wasn't expecting it. I'd come back of course. Gotta try the chicken and waffles!
(4)Russ S.
This place totally rocks! If I lived out on that side of the island I would eat there way more often than I do. Instead it is more like a "treat" for me to do so. For me it is all about the saimin. The saimin is of the "thin noodle" variety and there are many portion sizes to order from small all the way up to the BIG BOY! There is kamaboko, spam AND char siu as garnishes. Oh and that nasty green onion stuff too which of course I request that is never allowed to foul my delicious meal with it's ickiness. The big boy is HUGE and is a whole lotta noodles to eat so be sure you are hungry if you do order that size. Good prices. Besides the saimin the fried noodles is good. Oh and the garlic chicken is DA BOMB! So fried noodles with garlic chicken combo is DA SUPER BOMB!
(5)Joanna Y.
Good ol' fashioned local saimin. It's hard for me to judge from other saimin joints, but there are definitely some notable differences. The toppings are really basic (and kinda lacking) here. Just the basic saimin noodles, broth, few slices of spam, small bits of char siu and green onion. My friend always has to order extra toppings and a side of chicken to make up for it. I wish they had a wonton option, or were a little more generous with the toppings. Maybe throw some bok choy or cabbage, egg, and voila! The chicken is pretty amazing here. Was it garlic chicken? It reminds me of how the tasty chicken from Aiea bowl used to be back in the day - perfectly cooked, divine pieces of fried chicken. Nowadays the tasty chicken is more breaded/battered, and not as flavorful. But I certainly found a chicken that beats Aiea bowl's tasty chicken now! The parking situation kind of annoys me. It's along the side road where people are driving down the hill, waiting at the stop light. Kind of a blind spot too, so people like me have a hard time getting out lol. I like that you can sit inside or eat outside, however the inside can be packed and gets super hot. The hot saimin did not help cool me down either lol! I will probably be back...for that chicken!!
(3)Jamie S.
Delicious breakfast as our last meal before heading to the airport! The place definitely didn't look like there was much to offer from the outside, but the banana pancakes and chicken & waffles were great. The chicken was cooked perfectly.
(4)Nette E.
Love the macadamia nut banana filled pancake with coconut syrup/sauce!!! This place is a hidden gem! Don't let the outside fool you..its a small place but the food makes up for it! This place was busy but our party of 7 was able to sit right away. There's also outside seating. Our waitress was nice and friendly and remembered everything we ordered (plates for a party of 7) without writing anything down! Only downside was that we missed some of the breakfast items (they stopped serving waffles at 10:30am) and they ran out of bacon..maybe cuz a lot of people eat breakfast here. The garlic chicken, creme brulé pancakes, and saimin was also very good! Definitely coming back to this place!
(5)Adam D.
We went for a late breakfast on a Monday. Easy parking in their small lot. The service was fast and friendly. However, the food wasn't great. I got the smoked Hawaiian meat and eggs. The meat was pretty tough and overcooked. The eggs were what you'd make at home and it came with like four cups of white rice. My wife got an omelet, which she said was ok. I'd only come here if the location really is convenient, but otherwise I don't think it's worth it.
(3)Shinanagins O.
Ono food at affordable prices. Service is fast and friendly... can't ask for more. Had breakfast here today, pancakes were hot and fluffy, eggs and meat cooked perfectly and all for under $8!
(5)Nicholas P.
Very unique diner on the edge of pearl harbor. Ordered a take out breakfast of fried rice omlette and waffles. All were very good, would recommend to anyone wanting a good breakfast.
(4)Bryce A.
I have driven past Forty Niner countless times, but never made it inside for food until I stopped by with my sister this past Monday. There are a whole lot of tables between the dining room and the patio, but it was fairly empty when we got there around 9 in the morning. We split a Loco Moco and an order of the Forty Niner Pancakes. Both dishes were great. The Loco Moco had a great homemade hamburger patty and decent gravy. The pancakes were fluffy and had bananas inside, mac nuts on top, and a delicious haupia syrup. I asked for the haupia syrup on the side and would recommend doing so if you are particular about how much sauce is on your pancakes. Service was good. When we visited there was only one waitress and I'm not sure how it gets when it is crowded, but when we were there she was on top of taking orders, topping off waters, and checking in on us. Also, our food was prepared fairly quickly. Overall, a great choice if you're looking for a sit-down breakfast.
(4)Hervick R.
Don't judge a book by its cover! Saimin, corned beef hash, & burger was goooood! I have yet to find a dish that will disappoint me.
(5)Jamie B.
The huzzband & I stopped here for take out a few weeks ago. We ordered fried saimin & burgers, plus an order of fries. Wait time was not bad considering it was lunchtime on a Saturday & it was pretty busy. We took our take out to the park. I was so excited to eat the noodles & it smelled so good! However, my excitement soon turned to disappointment when I realized the noodles were smooshy & under seasoned. I don't know if the texture was due to the steaming in the take out container or just the cook having a rough day but I'd eaten the fried saimin before & it had been delicious. Burger was good sized... Thick homemade patty on a standard bun, but again under seasoned (in my opinion, of course). It didn't come with any condiments so you have to add your own. Although this particular time the food was a bit disappointing, I have eaten here before & have liked the food which is why I'm giving it 3 stars.
(3)Linh B.
I've driven by this place many, many times and have always wanted to try it. Well, after 15+ years, I'm here!!! My husband and I went for an early dinner, ordered the pot roast pork, pork lechon, and Forty Niner pancakes (banana mac with Haupia sauce). Every item was delicious, very flavorful! The pot roast was like eating kalua pork smothered with brown gravy. The pork lechon was super crispy and the pancakes, dare I say, as good as Boots 'n Kimos! The bananas, I think, were apple bananas, giving it a good tartness, balancing out the sweet. My husband, who usually does not like to eat out, likes this place so much, he wants me to order take out on his days off. I also forgot to mention, our server was very attentive and friendly. :)
(5)Christopher A.
i had the bento plate and it was great! the waitress was nice lol a lot of guys liked her for certain reasons. for me what drew me in was the food. i would say i wish i got more spam and kamaboko but the portion was so big for only like 8-9 dollars! definitely going to revisit
(4)Jana T.
My favorite place for lunch. Food is always good as is the service. We went for breakfast but their breakfast is just as good. And there is no wait.
(4)Kristen M.
Ate breakfast with my family here today. My mom and stepdad are regulars here. This was my first time eating here. On the ride over I heard all about the restaurants history. My grandparents frequently came here back in the day. My mom ordered the smoked meat with sunny side up eggs. She loves the smoked meat and always tells people to try it. The onions that come with it were cooked perfectly. My stepdad ordered Da Elvis Pancakes. Like the name implies there are bananas and peanut butter in it. Added bonus of bacon and whipped cream. The perfect amount of everything. You could taste each element. Nothing was overpowering. The pancakes were deliciously fluffy. My friend ordered fried rice, scrambled eggs and bacon. The fried rice has onions, green onions, bacon, spam and Portuguese sausage. I ordered Banana French Toast minus the banana. The actual order comes with grilled bananas and banana syrup. I opted for plain French toast and they threw in side of bacon since I didn't have bananas. I eat A LOT French toast and this was definitely NOT French Toast. It is sweet bread that has pancake batter on the outside. It was delicious but NOT French Toast. I felt like I was eating pancakes. This is a cute little place. Small indoor seating and picnic tables outside for outdoor seating. My mom brings our dogs sometimes and they eat outside :) NOTE: the parking lot is very small. Sometimes you have to wait for parking.
(4)Greg M.
Solid place! Cheap food but NOT cheap in taste or quality! Fast and friendly service.
(5)Joleen K.
First time here. The parkingwas alright, even though we came after work it was still a little busy. The staff here was really nice and friendly. After we ordered our food we didn't wait very long to start eating. It reminds me of a less popular Zippys. The dessert though was amazing!it was a deep fried brownie ala mode. Delicious. I think we might be stopping by next week just for that!
(4)Tupu L.
I've only been here a handful of times but every time I've come it has always been great. The service was always fast and friendly and the the food, especially the burgers and saimin (ramen), although simple, are delicious and makes you wanting more if you dont get satisfied with the first. My last visit here was with my girlfriend and she had the saimin while i had the garlic chicken plate and we shared a teri burger. Cant go wrong with saimin. It had a lot of meat, and the noodles were cooked well. The garlic chicken is probably one of my favorites on the island now. The fried parts maintain a nice crunch but the best thing about it was that unlike most places who use tons of garlic, the garlic flavor here is much more subtle and balanced. Very nicely prepared. Also, i thought it was really nice that the mac salad was actually a spaghetti salad which i loved because my mom used to make that kind of salad when i was younger. Basically, this place has great food and very reasonable prices. The hours are kind of weird but when you see that they're open, this place is a sure shot.
(4)Royce M.
Not the best, pancakes are no uniform in size 1, large,1 small, and raw in the middle.
(1)Chad S.
What a surprise! I've driven past this place for YEARS, and never bothered to even think twice about eating here. But I searched "Breakfast" on Yelp and up popped this little treasure. We drove past it and it looks like a building you don't want to enter (seriously). I even joked with my wife and said that maybe we should find somewhere else to eat. She said, "If it got such great reviews on Yelp, it must be good." We went in, and the server was AWESOME. Super nice, sweet, and friendly. We told her we had never eaten there before and she made some recommendations. I had the chicken and waffles and my wife the standard breakfast with pancakes. DELICIOUS! There's only one other place I've had with better chicken and waffles and that's in a different state. I've had a few in Hawaii, and this is by far the best. I'm glad I chose to go in, and we'll definitely go back again!
(4)Faye M.
I grew up in Pearl City and always passed this place and always yelled out "FORTY NINER DINER!!", mostly because it rhymed - and as a little kid, it's always fun to shout out rhyming words. But I think I yelled it out mainly because my dad is a big 49ers fan and duh. Any place called Forty Niner Diner has to be affiliated with the football team! So fast forward a few (dozen) years and I finally set foot in this place for some brunch with my BF. Surprise, surprise, there is no trace of football memorabilia in there! What is there is not much, but it works. It's a no frills, no thrills kinda place - and I like it! I believe there is a counter area where you can sit and eat, a main dining area, and an outside eating area that's pretty cool to sit at - especially if you don't want to wait for a table to eat inside. The food here is tasty and perfect for a casual meal before heading out to run your errands - a very good alternative to Zippy's! The first time I ate here, I had a corned beef hash type of breakfast that came with rice and eggs - it was simple, but good. My BF ordered their bento which had garlic chicken, and a few other types of meat. The garlic chicken was pretty good! The second time we came, I had a veggie omelet with bacon and my BF had their smoked meat plate. Both dishes were very good. It did take a little longer than expected to get the food out, but our waitress was very friendly and kept updating us. One thing that was kinda weird - it happened the two times we went. Our waitress asked my BF if he wanted a refill on his soda, and he said "yes", but they never came back with it. Only after he reminded them about it - and after about five minutes of waiting. That was kind of off - and it was two different waitresses! I'd still come back though! I don't drink soda, and my water cup was never more than half empty!
(4)Kathy A.
Okay I have to apologize for my scathing review of this restaurant in July. My bad and I have punished my family for two months by going elsewhere and being petty about an oversight. I'm usually not that person. I was here this morning for the betst oxtail soup and my honey bunny had his favorite loco moco. Even though he has done his best to support me and my pettiness he admitted he and the Wes have been here when I was traveling! I applaud the owner for not stooping to my level and refusing to serve me, thank you for that. Sorry to hear that Leilani, owner's mom, passed away. She has been a mainstay and so easy to talk story with for many years.
(5)Dan O.
Got a chance to head to 49'ers for breakfast. Passed my military fitness test & weigh in, so I could indulge. Seen the smoked meat breakfast but never could go before 10:30 am to try it. Now I could chance 'um! Generous helping of smoked meat, sauteed onions, 2 eggs your style (mine was sunny side up), & fried rice. It broke da mouth! Enjoyable, but definitely something to treat yourself too once in a great while if you're trying to watch your girlish figure. 49'ers parking as been improved too. Aside from their regular 5 paved stalls, they now have dirt parking in the back of the stalls. Inside of fighting the traffic on Honomanu St to go into/out of the paved stalls, i could take a left on Kaamilo St, drive through the dirt parking, and end up engine facing out of a paved stall on Honomanu. Very easy to get into and leave! Winna!
(4)Clarissa M.
Lived here for most of my life and this was my first time - where have I been?! We shared the lechon, fried saimen with garlic chicken, and egg cheeseburger with fries. The solo server is super quick and efficient - she has got that down to a science. I give her credit! The food was super tasty too! I have been missing out all these years!
(4)Shey O.
Came here with the husband and his friends on a Saturday morning. I really wanted to try the creme brulee pancakes. They were a lot smaller than the short stack of blueberry pancakes that the others ordered and the vanilla sauce was kind of grainy. I enjoyed the center parts with the caramelized sugar but other than that, i wish i ordered something else. I truly wanted to like it. The pancake itself is good on its own so maybe simplicity is best here. Husband LOVED the chicken and waffles and his friends devoured the blueberry pancakes. As soon as they tore the pancakes apart, it was obvious that the texture was on point. Pancakes cooked to perfection! Service was slow with two servers and one cook. They mentioned they were understaffed but being a server myself, i didn't mind.
(4)Troy G.
Really good Burgers!!! First time my wife and I have eaten at this place, it will not be the last!!!!! Service was good and hospitable with just the right amount of service to customer interaction, which provides adequate time to eat the meal while still being checked on periodically. I had a bacon cheese burger! Amazingly juicy burger with great flavor. The fries could use some work but this is Hawaii so probably should have gotten the Mac salad or rice instead of fries.
(4)Kat K.
Small hole in the wall but ono food! Came here for dinner with the fam..fried pickles in their burger, its like Christmas! Next time we're coming for breakfast! !
(4)Scott K.
Garlic chicken and the dirty burger were excellent. Can't beat the prices as well. Definitely recommend.
(4)June L.
Fantastic!!! Food tastes grrreatt!!!! We ordered fried saimin and crispy chicken, and burger with pulled pork. Everything was very tasty! Price was good and service was very good too. The waitress was friendly and attentive. Love the place and will definitely return!!! There is also outdoor seating in the back. Very nice. Also, parking available. Score.
(4)Angela R.
Hungover and in dire need of saimin I decided to give Forty Niner Restaurant a try. Funny thing is I drove by this joint for over 2 decades and never stopped in. But since it came up on my handy dandy Yelp app with 4 stars when I searched "saimin", I had to check it out. I ordered an egg burger deluxe and saimin. The saimin was basic. They funny thing is it is just what I expected and needed. I came here and I knew it was going to be basic and sometimes (such as hangover days) I just want to eat some simple food. The burger had some girth with the added egg and veggies! I loved it!! On the menu, there are a some different menu items such as chicken and waffles and the Hawaiian breakfast. I also heard the banana pancakes were good with haupia sauce. My husband had the smoked meat and he was very impressed. He said it had a good smoked flavor and the portion was huge. Menu offerings were surprisingly well-rounded. I think everyone can find a item to eat and be satisfied. It is a charming little spot that everyone should try once. I would consider it a clean dive restaraunt. Waitresses were cheery. Service was friendly, a little too friendly. The waitress wanted to talk story with everyone so it took awhile for her to get around the dining area. Yelp 31 Day Challenge: #9/31 The hangover cure
(4)Kimberly M.
My husband and I love this place! We go there every other weekend or so. Their garlic chicken, pulled pork, and Mac salad are just terrific and the service is great. If you're looking for a good breakfast dish, try the crème brûlée pancakes. They're to die for!
(5)Len C.
Unpretentious, good food, good price. One of the icons. Recommend the garlic chicken, the lechon is no nonsense, big pieces of pork, ask for extra sauce.
(5)Evander M.
I came here to try their chicken and waffles but they ended up not serving it at the time so I wanted to try their famous fried saimin. I was pretty excited about it because it is pisted as a local favorites. When I got it was surprised on how plain and ordinary it looked. It looked like they just boiled a ramen pack and then fried it with some side of meats. The taste of it was what it looked like...just plain. This rating is based on their fried saimin only. I would have given it a lower rating but the service was friendly. I also found a small bug on my plate after I was half way through. I'm not sure if it was IN my food from the beginning or if it just happened to fly on the plate without me noticing. Just a heads up to be careful before you eat your food.
(3)Heather S.
Amazing food! Huge portions and the service is great. Def recommend! I got the garlic chicken and the second trip the banana french toast and they were amazing!!!!
(5)Les G.
I had the garlic chicken with rice and mac salad. That was really delicious! I would have that again and again!
(5)Marcus S.
I am rating the burgers only. The new owners changed the recipe of the burgers 100 percent. don't know why but it is pretty basic now. they had it's own texture and flavor before. been there years before the new owners. so I know this!
(1)Hunter H.
Had the macadamia banana waffle, would give it 5 stars if crispier. Still in the top 5 of all time!!!
(4)Cris G.
I have eaten here for breakfast only twice recently, and both times were good! The first time I came, I ordered the smoked meat with eggs and rice. The meat was smokey In flavor, but a little too fatty and I thought it could use more flavoring in it. Like some salt or garlic.... I probably wouldn't order that again. The second time I went, I got the corn beef hash, eggs, and rice. That was really good! I love the hash and the portions were good. My boyfriend got the meat lovers omelette which had spam, Vienna sausage, and bacon in it. It was good too! We sat in the outdoor area which we liked. I want to come back and try everything else on the menu!
(4)Keola m.
Sunday Morning at about 9am... Forty Niner Restaurant is packed...Counter, Full. Inside seating, Full. What a great idea to create patio seating in the back. If not, I would be out of a great breakfast experience. At first I was thinking....all these people and I only see 1 waitress. This is going to be a long wait for breakfast. WRONG! We were watered, ordered, and fed before I knew it. Needless to say I was totally impressed. Food: Mac nut/bannana pancake,Hawaiian smoke meat and eggs,corned beef hash patties and eggs, vienna sausage and fried rice. The Mac Nut/Bannana Pancakes were good but, I've had better. The rest of the food however, was awesome.
(5)Lucus R.
The best Chicken and waffles we have ever had. They are not super speedy but it is worth the wait. We went there after visiting the USS Arizona Memorial. We had brunch there and everyone was completely satisfied!
(5)Paul R.
Ehh... No complaints, but very average. Forty Niner Restaurant is clean. The wait staff is friendly, and takes good care of you. The food comes out in a timely manner.. But there isn't anything I've had thats really stood out.. This last visit was for breakfast. I had eggs, bacon, and a pancake.. And it was good... I don't know what really else to say.. Nice little place, but averagely average. Great if you're just too lazy to cook and what a relax, comfortable environment. And its pretty cheap so can't go wrong!!
(3)Sara G.
Forty Niner redeemed itself because of the waitress!! We were looking forward to eating at the Forty Niner because of all of the great reviews on the chicken and waffles. We arrived at 1031 am to find out that certain items are not served after 1030. This is not advertised at all online so how would we know that? After asking the waitress if we could still order it she did no because it is now 1030. Really? So if you're planning on coming to this restaurant for waffles or fried rice, make sure you arrive WAY before 1030! We were debating on leaving but another waitress was able to put our order through! It was definitely awesome of her to make an exception and take care of us! My husband was more than satisfied with his chicken and waffles!
(4)Victoria A.
We were looking for a local favorite breakfast place and we found it. The place doesn't look like much from the outside or inside but the food was great. I think there was only 1 server working so the service was a little slow. We sat outside where the picnic tables are, which is better for 5 adults. We ordered the Corn Beef Hash and Eggs and the Forty Niner Pancakes. The corn beef was so yummy, eggs cooked right, and there was a lot of rice. The pancakes were so light and fluffy and that Haupia sauce was so yummy!
(4)Elizabeth D.
I heard about fortyniners for like forever but never came in until today. All of my friends were giving this place rave reviews. So I finally went today and ordered the fried Saimin, loco moco, and garlic chicken. Out of the 3, the garlic chicken was the best. Fried Saimin was ok, and loco moco was just ok. I heard the hamburger patty was not the frozen patty- generic, but hand made. It wasn't as tasty like everyone said? Maybe it's just me? The gravy wasn't really tasty. I still wanna try other items on the menu, someone mentioned they have the macadamia nut pancakes just like you know who?!? Will try teriyaki meat and chicken and waffles. So u will be back and maybe next time they will get 5 stars. Waitress was nice and friendly.
(3)Derrick V.
The garlic chicken was absolutely wonderful and filling. The service was also delightful.
(5)Masayoshi S.
My girlfriend n I came in for lunch today. Only four tables sat. We were the second people to be seated but the waitress decides to take orders from the two tables that walked in after us. The haole girl that sat us gave our waters n went straight into the kitchen. Did not return! The new owners need to hire better waitresses that don't have attitudes towards their guest. Never had a problem with the Old Owners! WHAT HORRIBLE SERVICE!! WILL NOT COME BACK HERE AGAIN!!
(1)Andrew K.
Great breakfast! Had the 49er pancakes! So delicious with the banana, macadamia nuts and coconut sauce! Got my pancakes less than 5 minutes from ordering!
(5)Lei N.
For dinner tonight, my brother wanted to head back to Forty Niner since there "wasn't food at home". Anyways we walked over; it wasn't bad it was nice. When we finally reached the restaurant I thought it was closed and that they were doing construction. It looked like that from where we were walking from. This time we sat at a booth instead of sitting at the counter which was in a totally different room. Walking in, it was cozy. The atmosphere made it appear like we were in someone else's home and not a restaurant. Another reason I thought it was closed because of the lack of customers. We were the only ones there at the time until a family of three came in. The waitress was the same one from the last time we visited (minus her glasses) she was quick on getting us the menu, drinks and food but then again it could be because there were was only us and the family. It was around 6 PM but I'm glad we didn't have to fight a crowd for tables. I debated between a cup of coffee or a cheeseburger... the cheeseburger won. I ordered the cheeseburger deluxe which comes with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. I said no to the pickles. My brother ordered the garlic chicken and saimin. It wasn't that long of a wait and our food was out. She admitted that my burger was a bit cold but that's okay. After my first bite... my burger started getting messy. Ha ha. Luckily there were a lot of napkins. I was provided a knife which I tried to use but failed. It wasn't until I was halfway done with my burger that I picked up my knife along with some chopsticks and ate the rest that way; cutting up my burger piece by piece. The waitress must think I'm weird or something after tonight. Next time I won't be getting onions if I'm craving a burger. By the end of our meal, my brother and I were satisfied! We sat a bit before heading back home. Of course I would come over again -- maybe then I'd get some coffee.
(4)Chris M.
I have to agree with Rod U. on this one. There's no question that Forty Niner restaurant is synonymous with old-school nostalgia for some - it's been around for over 50 years. I live in town and this was my first time here, so I wasn't very impressed. HAMBURGER STEAK, $8.50 This was the first to come out and was clearly pre-cooked. The hamburger patty was mushy and unremarkable. I did not like the gravy at all, a thick clumpy mess of blandness. The macaroni salad was made with spaghetti noodles, which my dad liked. yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… FRENCH FRIES, $2.95 I did enjoy these, served hot and crispy on the outside. A side order was the perfect portion size to share between 3 people. yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… CORNED BEEF HASH & EGGS, $8.55 The waitress said the corned beef hash is homemade....it was okay, I just didn't think the portion size matched the price at all. yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… GARLIC CHICKEN, $2.75 There wasn't much meat; most of it was skin....so I guess you get what you pay for. I did like the taste of the sauce though - perfect balance of garlic, shoyu & sugar. We even dipped our fries in the leftover sauce! yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… Our waitress seemed to be a little stressed out by the lunch rush and she took a while to refill waters. Not a huge issue, though we didn't see the friendliness that everyone else talks about. I noticed a lot of 4-star reviews....maybe I just ordered the wrong things and/or came on an off day?? Nonetheless, not sure that there will be a return visit - there's too many other great options in the area!
(2)Ram K.
FINALLY got to try here. There's only like four parking spaces but behind it there's a gravel lot. We entered the booth area and was greeted and told to sit anywhere. Menus were brought along with water. Very nice waitress. Looked through the selections then my gf and I decided on the same thing, cheeseburger and small saimin. Food came out pretty fast. Nice size burger with homemade patty. Generous size saimin for a small. Tastes like S&S saimin with skinnier noodles. I'd rather have thicker noodles but not a problem. My tummy left happy.
(5)Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Variety of breakfast items. Price point a little high for what you are getting. I was curious about this place since I haven't ate here since I left the islands and the change in owners. Decided to take my Mom and brother. At first glance the menu was bigger offering more breakfast items. This is what we ate: 1. Chicken and waffles -the waffles were good, light and airy and the maple syrup was nice and savory sweet a great compliment to the fried chicken. The fried chicken was good but a bit on the oily side. Interesting presentation with the chicken towering up on a stick over the waffles. 2. Fried rice with two eggs and spam. The fried rice was not as good as I expected. The rice was mushy and it was cooked with a lot of shoyu very salty. The eggs were done well as ordered and the spam cooked to a dry crisp. 3. The saimin was good and there were a nice amount of green onions, fish cake and char sui.
(3)Marci C.
Although the food was delicious and the service was ok, the restaurant was rather warm (warm as in temperature) and its interior could use some renovations (the covering of the seat was nearly half gone). Nevertheless, the food was GREAT!! (5 stars for the food.. Good enough to ignore the aforementioned cons.. Which means you should definitely come here to sample the yumminess!) We ordered the banana macadamia nut pancakes with the lovely sauce on the side, as well as the breakfast plate with smokies. Took my grandma here and she was literally THRILLED by the amount of smokies on her plate! So cute ^_^ The menu was just full of yummy local, feel good foods. On a side note, loved the fact that we weren't rushed; in fact, it took awhile for the check to come (a little bit too long, but it's ok. Most restaurants shoo everyone out as fast as possible). On another note, my sister frequents this place with her bf and loves the salmon.. She RAVES about it. Hoping to return here soon to try this salmon dish and ALL the other dishes!! Nom nom
(5)Noe C.
Got there 15 mins to closing and the weather was pouring rain so traffic, was terrible. But once there, service was super fast and friendly. I had the hamburger steak with Mac salad. Coming from Maui, I've been a hamburger lover. It has to be soft, tasty, home made, not too much bread. And man I tell you theirs here was so ono...melt in the mouth kine. Felt like home. My fiancé had the roast pork with gravy. Ono too...not too much fat if that's what u like...it's shredded in big chunks. But over all it was okay. We also had a dessert special...deep fried brownie smothered with chocolate syrup two scoops vanilla ice cream ontop and couple sides of whip cream. Brooke the mouth...just don't wait to eat it cuz it's so delicious warm.
(4)Lily M.
Awesome place, giving it 4 stars for the food, but it was the fantastic service that push it up to 5 stars for me. We had the Kailua burger dirty with deep fried pickles, garlic chicken, oxtail saimin with char shui, and you have to finish with a deep fried brownie and bread pudding, it's a dessert that you would expect to have at a very high end restaurant, delicious! Our waitress was fun, informative and so friendly. She made us feel at home. Will definitely go back.
(5)Angelica V.
Small and quaint, but has great food and service. The serving size is pretty big as well. Definitely going to be a usual spot for me. The deep fried brownie a la mode is a sinful delight that I recommend!
(4)Alex P.
This was our last meal before leaving Hawaii since it was so close to the airport. Apparently this is a very popular place with Hawaiian locals because one of our local friends loves eating here. She said that we had to try it before we left. We ordered a 49er bento, a 49er pancake, and some garlic chicken on the side. The 49er bento wasn't great. The only item that I enjoyed on it was the garlic chicken. It was a good thing that we ordered garlic chicken on the side because it turned out to be the best menu item. The 49er pancake wasn't too great either. It was a banana pancake with haupia (coconut sauce) and macadamia nuts. It sounded amazing, but it didn't live up to the hype for me. Pancakes were bland the haupia wasn't too impressive either. The service was bad as well. We were the only two people in the restaurant and it was really hard getting the waitress' attention. The bathroom wasn't too clean either. At the end of the meal, we paid with a card, but the credit card machine went down so we had to pay with cash. That was a minor inconvenience. I didn't really like this restaurant much. Call me a filthy tourist, but this just wasn't my cup of tea.
(1)Stephie L.
Always love coming here to the 49er restaurant. I've been here a few times now maybe about five total and every time I go I have the best service ever the waitresses there are super awesome and so sweet and very helpful and service is always fast. When you walk into the diner initially it's just very simple kind of old-school feel you know booths and tables on the other side of the restaurant there is a bar with barstools the food comes out so quickly it's amazing if you're starving because you don't have to wait very long. I think for $7.95 is a great deal for Portuguese sausage eggs and fried rice as they're at 49er special. this time we actually had the 49er special pancakes which is a banana pancake with Macademia nut how PS sauce on top of the packet so amazing light fluffy pancakes with the sauce that's not very heavy or too sweet! I love coming here for the variety and want to try something new every time so far I've had the local moco with fried rice which is amazing, smoke meat and eggs as well as anything from their menu including the crème brûlée pancakes is a must try as well as their 49er special pancakes and their banana French toast so yummy! Either way everything I've had is 5-star so enjoy!
(5)Hans W.
Great Food at very reasonable prices. Their burgers are fantastic specially with their dirty sauce. Great place for lunch if you are heading to sightsee Pearl Harbour.
(4)Jenna And Gregory D.
Location: Located on the corner of Honomanu Street and Kamehameha Highway. Adjacent to Dixie Grill and KFC. Keep an eye out because it is easy to miss. The building looks abandoned from the outside because of the old school structure. But I assure you they are still up and running. Seating: Outdoor, indoor and counter seating. The outdoor seating is perfect on breezy days and if you have a group. Lots of shade provided. Service: Our waitress was very attentive and had great customer service skills. Setting: Very casual and chill vibe. Nothing fancy. Very old school. Wait time: The food was brought out with a quickness. We did not have to wait no more than 10 minutes for all of our meals to arrive (there was 5 of us total). Presentation: Your basic Hawaiian style food plating. Price: Inexpensive. The meals averaged anywhere from $6-12 depending on what you ordered. Taste: Definitely worth what you pay for. Delicious and made when ordered. I ordered the Forty Niner Bento (Salmon, beef steak, spam, garlic chicken, and rice topped with Furikake). It was a great experience.
(4)Lisa U.
Loco moco was very tasty, I could eat that everyday. Elvis pancakes hit the spot for my guy and my lil one had a hamburger with cheese :) Great hole in the wall, and recommend for a flavorful meal. Don't judge a book by its cover, you may miss out on something amazing. Thanks for the happy belly's!
(4)Jorel L.
The food tasted great and the servers were fast and attentive. It was pretty warm Inside, but overall, I enjoyed the experience. Definitely will be coming back.
(5)Katherine Y.
As an occasional meat eater, I have to say that the garlic chicken is one the best tasting things I ate while in Hawaii. My mouth literally waters everytime I think about it. It was so crispy on the outside but when you bit into it, all the flavors just explode! I would order a whole plate! The noodles were pretty good. I know I'll probably receive some hate messages but I'm just not a fan of spam which is crazy because it's I was in Hawaii and I'm Filipino. Anyway, the interior of the restaurant was very humble. It's what I imagine any small, family owned restaurant to look like. The main dining room can't accommodate too many people but they do have seating outside. The service was great. I imagine it may be a little difficult to turn into the parking lot when the cars get backed up from the streetlight. I'd definitely make my way back here for some more chicken!!
(5)Scott M.
10.00 omelette was very small hardly any meat, no taste, beef cutlet was boiled meat with gravy no taste... Would not recommend or would not eat here again!! Also asked for no rice all toss salad, she brought me rice.. I told her she said sorry and still left me with rice....
(1)Wendy I.
Lechon was like deep fried char siu. Disappointing, but I guess you shouldn't order Filipino food from a burger/fountain place. Fried noodles was ok. Garlic chicken was decent. We spent about $30 for our meals (2-people)
(2)Kent B.
Looks can be decieving from the outside..but not in this case. This place looks how it tastes. Service was pretty bad. The dining room was full so we sat at the bar area - our first mistake. We sit down and the waitress asks us if water is okay, we say yes. The first thing I notice was she went from wiping down the counters which were dirty - to the computer to place an order - to serving our water. Why on earth did she not wash her hands? It wouldn't have been that bad had she not put her whole palm over the rim of the cups she was bringing to customers? Disgusting. I watched her do this for 3 or 4 more customers. My guest ordered scrambled eggs with a short stack of pancakes with whipped cream on top. The eggs came out looking like McDonald's eggs, which are not scrambled. Looks aside, we verified with our waiter if the eggs were scrambled. She confirmed. After she walked away with an attitude we cut into the eggs and they were running all over the plate. We got her attention - mainting our polite attitude - and again asked her if she was sure we got the right eggs and she again said yes. She turned around to the cooks in the back and asked if they would "extra scramble" our eggs. The eggs came back looking crazy. After finally tasting them, they had a ridiculous amount of cheese in them. They tasted like a monzarella cheese stick and were unedible. The pancakes were average. Fried rice was good, but the pool of grease from the Portuguese sausage ruptured and leaked onto the majority of the rice, making them also unedible. I would not return to this diner.
(1)Aaron R.
Breakfast and lunch place. Great for local family owned diner. Easy to miss because of size and location of building. Tan Old school building. I would give 4 half stars if I could for the following. Food: Amazing and filling. One plate will fill the largest stomach/appetite size. Had the smoked meat and eggs with rice. Others food at the table food was all delicious. Service: We had a girl in training so she had to ask a lot inside but that's understandable. Waters and coffee always filled before empty and presentation great! Seating outside clean and trade winds feel better than inside.
(4)Kimberly C.
Forty Niner Restaurant was probably our favorite breakfast stop during our five-day stay on Oahu. Based on the raving reviews, we were expecting a long wait time, but that was not the case! We were quickly seated, which was great. Our waitress was extremely friendly and accommodating. We took a little while to decide what we wanted and she never made us feel rushed. I got the chicken and waffles, my boyfriend got the banana macadamia nut waffle. Both were OUTSTANDING. I loved how the waffles were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The chicken was cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of crunch. We left the restaurant with our tummies full and smiles on our faces. Just writing this review makes me crave those chicken and waffles, mmm! Hopefully on my next trip to Hawaii, I'll be able to come here for breakfast again!
(5)Jason Q.
This is the place that you will drive by at least 100 times before you remember that you've been meaning to try it. I would say that it's worth trying for yourself. I sat on the left side of the restaurant which is the counter. Service was fast and very friendly. I asked what they would recommend and they said the hamburger steak, garlic chicken or pork. I decided to order the pork and a hamburger with a fried egg. The food is heavy. You will definitely leave this place full. My only negative comment was that the gravy on the pork dish was cold. For me, that is a big no-no. The pork itself was delicious and cooked well, but when you cover it with cold gravy not so good. At lunch, they were jammed. They put out a lot of food very quickly. I do believe the cooks know what they are doing and cook great food. I am sure that during a slower time, the quality of the food gets even better. From the street, you won't be able to see the parking lot behind the restaurant. I had no trouble finding a parking spot.
(3)Michael D.
We were done visiting Pearl Harbor and found this place on Yelp. The place looks like it was built in the 50's, giving it a pretty cool vibe. We were greeted by one of the friendliest servers ever. She helped us make our choices for what to eat and was very attentive to our table. We ordered their Loco Moco and Cheeseburger. Overall, the food was good but not great. I feel that the meat patty in the Loco Moco was lacking some flavor, and my wife wasn't impressed with her burger....but I liked her burger The prices were also really reasonable....which I loved! Go get your grub on! Cheers!
(4)Esmond T.
Called in a phone order 10 minutes before I got there, stood at the counter while this girl walks by me at least 10 times, then finally looks at me, another 10 minutes later then asks if I wanted to make an order.. Food is good but service is not.. After calling in my order 20 minutes later I hear them call out my order to the cooks.. Get home and NO haupia sauce for the 49 era pancake..
(2)Eduardo M.
Horrible taste, horrible services, everything is loaded with fat, you just pay for fat and not lean meat. Chicken loaded with oil and grease from the fryer. The saimin is just noodles thigh together raw, unflavored, uncooked... I don't recommend this place, visit it on your own risk, you'll loose your money, your appetite and mess up your day.
(1)Jo Z.
Food: I ordered the Cornbeef hash with egg and rice. For me, the cornbeef was too salty. It reminded me of the canned cornbeef hash you get in the can except they added onions and gave it a nice texture on griddle. Not worth the $ on this item. So, my search goes on for awesome corned beef hash. What I should've ordered was what my friends had, the smoked meat. My friend was nice to let me try a piece and it was ono. Can't go wrong with good smoke meat with onion. My other friend got the Forty Niner Pancake- I got to try this as well, pancake was nice and fluffy, I didn't care much for the haupia sauce. I guess I like it with the plan old maple syrup. Service: The service was okay but the wait for the food was redonculous...two parties after us got their food before we did. We waited about 35 minutes. They did apologize but when you're hungry, you just want to eat... Nice local place to eat...good to know if I'm too lazy to go Pancake House...I can go here.
(3)Crystal R.
My very 1st visit :) Tuesday night for dinner & lots of parking. Was able to get a table right away. Opted to dine outside. They've got picnic style tables. Relatively clean considering it's outdoors. Partial overhang. Not enclosed. Fast service. The server took our drinks even before we sat. Food came out pretty quickly. Nice size portion on my beef cutlet. I am soooo full. Someone roll me to my car! O.O Ok, so it didn't help I ordered a side of fries too, but man, I am stuffed. Cutlet was ok. The meat was soft. I liked that it's chopped beef. My hubbie had the fried chicken. His verdict? "Crazy Cool"... lol (His words not mine) Great portion size too. My drink got refilled. Good service. Thank you Forty Niner's, we'll be back :)
(4)Lala K.
Our server was so sweet! Place was clean and a lot bigger than it looks outside, a great place to bring your family. We came here for dinner, and I wish I didn't snack on anything before getting here because the portions are HUGE! I got the bento and it's a great way to sample a few things in one meal. Their fried garlic chicken was winnahs! I had about five pieces, so good. My daughter had the oxtail Saimin, poor thing she ate a lot but it didn't look like she put a dent in it. The noodles tasted good, fresh not like it was from a package. The oxtail was so big! She had about three big pieces. And to lighten the dish up, there was veggies like cabbage and shiitake mushroom. The broth had a lot of flavor. I would highly recommend this "hole in the wall". Driving by you wouldn't notice this place or your think it was closed. So glad that after all these years, this place is still open and thriving!
(4)Jenifer G.
Came for breakfast, left feeling satisfied with my meal, but wish I got to try something like pancakes. I was just feeling already bloated so had to go easy on the starches. Instead of a real breakfast I opted for one of their popular dishes, the smoked meat plate with 2 eggs on rice. The server suggested it. + Smoked meat & eggs $10.45 - The meat was delicious, with some fat on it but it was tender and cut nicely in longer strips versus square cuts. The eggs were over easy, made perfectly, over white rice. + cup of coffee $1.85 - good coffee. not the watery stuff, so I was happy about that. I even asked for a cup of hot water, which she obliged. The interior is a little on the dingy side but that's what gives it its local flair. The outside can look kind of scary too. It's a gravel parking lot in the back with unmarked stalls. There were about 3 more spaces when I pulled in on a Sunday at 9:45am. It actually started to clear out by the time 10:45-11am hit. A few booth tables run along the wall, a few middle tables and side ones. Out back there are picnic style benches..there can easily be about 15+ people out there..I didn't get a close look at it besides peering at it from the parking lot. The server was nice and it was mellow. No frills. Watch for the restrooms. They are unmarked. Womens is located in the small door on the inside where the main dining room area is. There is another door to get into the bathroom stall. However, for the mens restroom which is in the hallway up 1 step between the main drining room and outside patio area, there is no inside door.. there is just that one door which opens up right to the toilet. I mistook the mens room for the womens..the guy inside hadn't secured the door so I opened the door and his back was faced towards me while he was doing his business. I quickly apologized and closed the door. I had trouble closing the door tightly but did the best I could without slamming it.
(4)Daniel K.
First off, food was next to perfect. Saimin was tasty and large portions for a reasonable price. The Fried Saimin with garlic chicken is amazing. Second, the one and only waitress was spot on. Super friendly and very attentive. The only reason I knocked off a star, is the place seems a little dirty. I get that it's got the dive feeling going, but the bathroom was disgusting and the dinning room was lacking any kind of upgrades in the last decade. Other than the lack of cleanliness, this place is killer. Oh and Go Hawks!
(4)Beerent G.
Everytime I come here I order the oxtail soup! broke da mout! Hamburger steak is off the hook as well but bring your appetite!
(5)Nelson Q.
YELP 365 CHALLENGE 2014-(223/365) "A Local Hole In The Wall In Aiea" As a kid growing up, I would always pass the Forty Niner, and on our way to Boots and Kimo's one morning, I see the OPEN light flashing in the window and immediately busted a U-turn(a LEGAL one!) Inside was pretty packed, but we were happy to see that they offer al fresco dining out back. The waitress running the whole dining room (and out back too) was great, quick, efficient, and offered suggestions as well. we went with the Smoked Meat Plate(Pipikaula, sauteed onions, eggs, and rice), Hawaiian Breakfast(Kalua Pig, Lomi Salmon, eggs, and rice) and shared their Forty Niner Pancakes(Banana Pancakes with Haupia sauce and macadamia nuts. The Smoked meat plate was devoured, but the Kalua Pig wasn't as flavorful as I hoped. The pancakes were nice, fluffy, and delicious. Glad I finally got to dine at an old landmark, and we are definitely fans! ALOHA!!! Shaka Meter: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ 4
(4)Nicholas S.
Best lechon i've had in a long long time. Forty Niner pancakes and the oxtail saimin with both very good as well.
(5)Mac J.
Ok service. Its a diner, not a fancy restaurant. I tried the meat eater omelette. The portion was a little smaller than I expected. Compared to other breakfast diners this omelette almost half the size and the price was not as proportional. Dining area is open air with cover both inside and outside. There a few tables in the out in the open. 3 stars for this breakfast diner. I wouldn't come here for lunch because it would much warmer around noon. Try this place once before deciding to come back or not.
(3)Greg S.
Again 4 stars is because the decor here is absent. The food alone is 5 out of 5 though. Breakfast here is amazing. I've had just about everything on the menu now. If you need to pick one thing get the Banana French toast. Then get the Fried Chicken and Waffles; the sauce they make for the Waffles is perfect. The omelets are filled generously with tasty meats. Pancakes are the size of a dinner plate and fluffy as a pillow. If you can eat, then you will want to check it out the food here.
(4)Ikaika V.
Top shelf food. Very glad I got here, out of the rain and after work. I had the Loco Moco.
(4)Clarence A.
5 stars for that egg cheeseburger hands down one of the better burgers I've had on the island, another 5 for the garlic chicken savory sweet finger lingling good, 3 for the pot roast loco moco, 3 for the oxtail saimin Let me break it down a tad more of all the likes and why some dishes didn't do it for me! The 3's oxtail saimin sadly was not the best I've had but I'm comparing it to having it home poked and that by far is impossible to beat my pop's got me knowing how it should be made and how it should taste, the 3 is for the meat with oxtail I know you will always get what ever is offered the portion was on the larger size which is a plus a good 4-6 pieces of decent size tails sadly the down fall was more fat to the meat ratio, the soup although it was good lacked a real flavor, the meat, lettuce can only do so much a bit more salt would have made the broth a tad heavier, the tails were also not super tender not fall off bone tender, maybe another 1.5hrs in a pressure cooker would have made the meat fall off the bone tender. The other 3 was the pot roast loco moco, not on the menu it was a request I made since a few others suggested it, rice portion good, gravy good, the pot roast on the other hand was not seasoned to well and I believe I got one of the end pieces that was more fat then meat, only part that seemed to be heavily seasoned was portion of the fat where you can see pepper and salt glistening off the edge, all the other pieces were similar to pulled pork style pork not full seasoned sadly The 5's the garlic chicken - piping hot, well seasoned garlic tasting, lightly breaded chicken " this ain't your Panda Express garlic chicken" flavor wise delicious, savory, thin layer of what tasted like soy sauce/ teriyaki sauce glazed the bottoms of the fried chicken giving the chicken that little more ummmfff to make it an awesome dish The final 5 belongs to the recommended and delicious egg cheeseburger, I had two bites and that was all I needed to grade it heavenly among the burgers I've tried, tender, gooey, flavorful, well seasoned all out the park flavor explosion in your mouth happiness, may have tasted mayo somewhere in there, would of mattered it was DAM good!!! Food ***** for the egg chesseburger & garlic chicken *** for the oxtail & pot roast locomoco Price $$ Service **** very friendly, helpful Ambiance *** spot looks tad older but the food speaks thru the walls hahahaha
(4)Ana R.
Four star because, service was awesome, Dana was super friendly and she took her time to chat with us tourist. Also food was really good and very authentic Hawaiian food. The place is ok, but then again we love going to local places here in Hawaii. Service was fast I mean fast! Did I mention it's very affordable too. Parking is the only thing I sorta didn't like, very few spots only but other than that we'd come back here again and again. So mahalo forty niners
(4)Sarah C.
Before I begin, this establishment should put their nutritional facts on My Fitness Pal for the IIFYM and people who monitor their intake Great food, great selection, friendly staff and huge portions! Oh, fairly priced too. I love this local gem! The server was busy but great. She knew the place, had great suggestions, and made it quite the enjoyable experience. She constantly refilled my coffee mug, and didn't bother me excessively. I am highly satisfied with this place. Will be definitely coming back for another meal. Got the pancake breakfast with egg whites and smokies and a side of toast. It was exceptional. I'm pretty sure I've found the best breakfast joint on all of Oahu!
(5)Dwayne Y.
Disappointing service! Called a phone order and said I would be there in 15 minute. Food wasn't ready after 20-25 minutes and the place was empty. Ordered the Forty Niner pancakes and lady tells me it's pancakes with macadamia nut sauce on it. But when I pay for it I'm told "sorry we don't have any macadamia nuts." Well how can it be pancakes with macadamia nut sauce if you don't have macadamia nuts? Couldn't this have been told to me in the phone? Food is not bad. But the purpose of ordering on the phone is often to save time, not to wait for your waffles to be cooked when you get there, (especially when waffles take such a short time to cook and the place wasn't crowded). I don't know if I will come back, very turned off.
(2)Sashimi J.
I'm sure this place would be better if we had breakfast there, instead we ordered Togo. The pancake was so hot that it melted the box. Food was good though, basic eggs, cornbread, spam and rice. It was a little pricy for the small portion of food.
(4)Daniel C.
Different owner but same great taste! Parking: They have a private lot you can park in right next to the restaurant. It's not paved so keep that in mind when parking here. There are also no marked stalls so some people do take up more than a stall. If you can't find parking in here, there is street parking available around the restaurant in the residential area. Food: We started off with the Egg Cheeseburger Delux ($5.65+$1.25) and it was delicious. The burger patty is homemade which is something I've been craving for a long time. Egg was a nice touch and added a different taste to the original cheeseburger concept we are so accustomed to. Mink ordered the Short Stack Pancakes with Banana ($7.50). It was very fluffy and flavorful. There was banana in the pancakes as well as a couple slices on top of the pancake as well. We shared the Oxtail Soup ($15.95). It had 2-3 large pieces of oxtail in the soy based soup. The rice that came with it was a tad hard and dry but the soup helped soften it up as we were eating. During the meal we had coffee ($1.85). Overall, food was 4 out of 5 stars. The prices did shoot up quite a bit from when I ate there last so that's why I docked it 1/2 a star. Ambiance and Service: It's a hole in the wall so you don't expect too much when you come here. They do take credit which is nice when you didn't bring cash. You can choose between dining at the counter on stools which is the entrance closest to Kamehameha Hwy or dining inside, other entrance closer to the parking lot. There are limited tables inside so if you can't dine in, don't worry because there are picnic style tables outside. Hawaii has beautiful weather so eating outside allows you to enjoy some of it. Our server was working really hard running back and forth catering to all the tables outside. When she did check up on us, she was very friendly and eventually brought out our requests. Kitchen was probably backed up with all the orders because it took awhile to get our food. Overall, I give the ambiance 3.5 stars out of 5 and service 4 out of 5 stars.
(4)Caitlin A.
This is one of the best places I have ever been. I highly suggest it and one of the best meals is the garlic chicken.
(5)Christine H.
When you first drive by it looks like a small restaurant with very little seating. When you park and get inside its actually fairly big and there's also outside seating. My husband ordered the Elvis pancakes, my mom had the Hawaiian breakfast and I had the 49er pancakes. Tried everything and everything was equally delicious!! The sauce on the 49er pancake was amazing ,but I wish there were more bananas in the pancakes. Good food service!
(4)Angie L.
This awesome place was suggested by the locals....Great prices, wonderful staff and AMAZING BURGERS!! MUST make your burger DIRTY!! Not in the mood for burgers? No worries, they have Saimin (Asian noodle soup), bento, Korean style BBQ, OXTAIL SOUP!! SLAMIN'
(5)Trisha G.
The Forty Niner - a recent discovery in our search for local breakfast. We have become morning regulars at this local drive inn on the weekend. The same two waitresses run the joint yelling orders to the local cooks. Along with the standard eggs, rice and meat breakfast, they make pancakes and waffles. The waffles are freshly made and ono! Most days I stick with eggs, rice and meat. They have fried up corned beef hash, and even lunch plates including oxtail soup. The parking lot is a small gravel lot. There's indoor seating and outdoor picnic tables. It's usually packed, so we sit at the bar in front of the kitchen. Good feel and good food - just like going to your aunty's house.
(4)Claudia M.
Haven't been to this restaurant in a long, long while. Ordered the large saimin which came in a rather small bowl filled with lots of noodles. The saimin was overcooked and rather floury which means they didn't wash the flour off well before serving. For that amount of noodles, I would have preferred a bigger bowl with more soup. We also ordered the cheese burger, which looked homemade. I tasted fillers in the burger, which was possibly bread. Burgers were a bit salty for me. While seated at the counter, we saw a roach crawling behind the sink area, ewww! It amazed me that tourists frequent this place which is so out of the way.
(2)Dave M.
Ermahgerd. Da Elvis pancakes were the best breakfast we had in Hawaii. Banana and bacon pancakes with peanut butter in between. This place is obviously a local spot, not many tourists. Nice patio out back with picnic tables. Charming place with delicious food. Reasonably priced.
(5)Tessa V.
Hawaiian Plate and Banana Mac Nut Waffles with Haupia sauce on the side hit the spot!
(4)Nia R.
I was disappointed we just missed breakfast because I wanted to try the bacon pancakes. But the lunch menu was awesome. The garlic chicken and fried chicken stew so crispy and delicious. The saimin is also fresh and tasty. The servings are huge and u can definitely share. If you want delicious Hawaiian food this place will not let you down! Also servers were super friendly and nice!
(4)Derrick S.
Relaxing place to go to for lunch. Great service too. Had the loco moco. Definitely the nom noms! This place has been here for a very long time and deserves to stay for much longer!
(5)Amanda F.
Hole in the wall restaurant. Parking is wonky but no big deal. Good food. Service was a tad slow but we came in during a breakfast rush and it appeared that only one waitress was working and she was working hard! We definitely appreciated her friendly attitude and quick work. I had a pancake breakfast which hit the spot. My mom had the banana Mac nut waffle which was delicious. My dad has the forty niner breakfast, which he thoroughly enjoyed and didn't leave a piece of fried rice behind. We recommend.
(4)Nat W.
My husband and I visited Forty Niner for dinner, after just passing by it for two years. Now I have dined here, I cannot wait to go back! They have the same menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I actually saw a clip of a Japanese TV show which introduced their macadamia nut pancakes. I wanted to try their garlic chicken so I ordered fried saimin with chicken. It came with nice sized 4 pieces. They were absolutely delicious and definitely not enough sharing with my husband. Fried saimin was good too but it came with a lot of spam and I am just not into spam. My husband's loco moco was excellent also. Their hamburger pattie was just so authentic. The gravy was very rich and delicious too. I definitely wanna try their macadamia pancakes next time and my husband wants to order their classic burger, since the pattie was so good.
(5)Mills E.
Service was great. Food was great plus there was big portions! I tried their cheeseburgers, it came with a large portion of fries!
(5)L C.
Great comfort food!! Friendly wait staff very attentive very local I been here choke times and always good food! You should try one time to go
(4)Josie C.
Updating: Same amount of stars but had to point out that the oxtail soup isn't the same. It's no longer tender, fall of the bone, smoked oxtail :( I was kinda sad. The meat was tougher BUT the soup was still tasty. I also tried the "forty niner" banana mac nut pancake with haupia sauce. It was hot and fluffy. I really liked it but only ate 1/4 of it. So just a heads up, it's enough for 2-3 people to share. My hubby ordered the hamburger steak and it came out medium rare which is bad for my hubby cause he's a "well done" kinda person. I, on the other hand, love medium rare so I had no problem eating his food. Haha. Their hamburger steak is homemade and very delicious. It came with gravy and a choice of Mac or toss salad. So remember, if you order this, don't forget to tell them how you want it done. Staff was friendly as always. Never a problem with them. See you again soon forty niner :)
(4)Joe K.
What would you call... a freshly ground, hand made all beef patty grilled perfect on a sizzling flattop, throw on cheese, lettuce, tomato, some grilled onions. Then add some special sauce; something like the one at "In & Out Burger," topped with a slightly well ( yolk still a little runny) fried egg. Piled high on a fresh hamburger bun? Well this messy, sloppy, dirty dining sandwich is called exactly that..... The Forty Niner "Egg Cheeseburger Made Dirty" I dunno how it 'd fare against the triple D's shoulder haunch sandwiches, but I'd totally give it the... "Knocked it outta the park, Dude" while looking into the camera compliment, complete with a blinged out fist bump! The flavor just burst forth with each bite, the beefy goodness, the crisp fresh veggies, the sweet tart sauce, watch out cause here comes the smokey grilled onions, and then the eggy cheesy finish. With a side of piping hot ( and I mean really, Really, REALLY piping hot) hand cut fries, and we have the perfect Lite Lunch.......... NOT! So I'm saying.... If you're the adventurous Guy Fieri type, and you wanna check out your greasy-spoon-ish, mom and pop-ish diner complete with swinging, slamming screen doors, and fountain stools, then " Ya jus gotta check this joint out!"
(5)Michael Evan F.
Hooooooooooooooooooooooo braaaaaaaaaaaaah, the drive from waikiki is worth it! Gave the aunty (she da best btw) our orders and BOOM. Our order came out a minute later. I was like HOOOOOOOOO NAAAAAAAAAH & I jus wen grind 'em. Full-on grind da smoked meat & eggs, brah. Almost get kanak attack! Thanks eh, aunty! Happy Independence Day!
(5)Adriana B.
So this place looks like a hole in the wall diner from the side of the road, but their food is on point! Breakfast and lunch foods served. The Da Elvis pancakes are so awesome. Pancakes with bacon, peanut butter, banana and syrup....yes please. Total fat kid food. The furikake ahi special my bf ordered was good too. This spot is great for a weekend morning breakfast if you're not in any rush. There is indoor and outdoor seating. You may have to wait a little bit for the food, but it is worth it.
(4)Sara P.
Awesome breakfast! The portions are very generous. We got the ham and eggs and it was a good deal! $10 for a big cut of a thick cut of ham! Definitely coming back soon for breakfast.
(5)Lislee B.
Best place on the island for a burger especially if you like dirty burgers with a fried egg. They have lots of good food and all the servers are kind.
(5)Doris D.
Couldn't resist. I had to come back for egg cheeseburger. Enough said.
(4)Paige S.
oooweee, I was TOO excited to come here! After reading the reviews I was hungry and ready. Parking here is on gravel, and at first this little location on the corner with the weird parking is a bit disheartening but don't let that fool you. Upon walking in the customer service is uh-may-zing. Everyone is so friendly...all the time. There are 2 sections, one with counter seating and the other with tables. We opted for the tables and quickly a waitress came over with waters and greeted us. She struck up conversation with us so easily and it was so nice. We browsed the menu and yelp and decided on a side of garlic chicken, fries, a deluxe burger and a teri burger. Garlic chicken was so ono! It was crispy, full of flavor and filling :) My Teri burger was just the right size for me, it was small in my texans hands but it was maybe equivalent to a kids size McD burger but it was 1000x the quality. The meat was SO tender, flavorful and could tell it was a homemade burger. The bun was so soft and fluffy! GAH! I loved my burger, and I can't wait to go back and get another one. My husband got the deluxe burger, and we thought it would have more things like double cheese and double everything but that was not the case. However, we are not complaining, my husband loved his burger and while it was snack size for him, he would definitely go back and get another one. Now here is the kicker, this mini lunch was not even near $10. WhhhatttHOLYFURIKAKE! AMAZEBALLS. Super cheap, delicious food? Win win all around! Can't wait to go back!
(4)Apple Gem F.
Love it. Very cozy mom & Pop place. The service is good friendly staff.. Love the pork lechon. Will come back again.
(4)Eddie P.
This was my second visit to Forty Niner. So a review is somewhat overdue!. If you are a professional food critic, wine snob or into flash, pizazz or just looking for that "Je ne sais quoi" you may be better suited having breakfast at place more concerned with obtaining a Michelin star. Something about this place had a certain appeal and the only thing I could think was its no frills look and down home approach, which is comparable to those awesome greasy spoon diners one may find in the mainland who serve up great food. I went with the typical all American breakfast...a pancake (good sized), egg and bacon, with a cup of coffee and small OJ. All I can say is mmm good! It wasn't a gluttonous serving but just right and with the flavor to match. Although it may be somewhat sacrilegious to say, I enjoyed the pancake (and sides for that matter) just a tad more than those at Koa Pancake House, again..this is just a personal opinion. Overall, if you are looking for a good meal, at a decent price and rolling through AIea...you probably wont be disappointed! I'll have to pick up a T-Shirt on my next visit.
(4)Taylor-Darrin L.
Saimin was great! Hamburger was great! Pancakes were great! The only thing I didnt like was that I couldnt order everything off the menu, it all looked sooo good. Between two of us we ordered like four things and they were all great and the bill was still only like $25. Love this place. Its so cute! The one server for the entire restaurant was doing great. She provided amazing service for all nine of her tables!!! Super impressive!!! Aunty was rockin it!!!
(5)Teresa G.
After years of driving by I finally decided to stop in. For the longest time I thought that this place was deserted. I never really saw anybody walking in or out. Nor did I hear about anyone eating here. I entered in the booth area and at first I was sure if I entered in the right door not. Right away a very friendly waitress popped out and seated us and provided us with menus. After a few minutes of studying the menu we finally place our order.she was extremely patient while we studied the menu and I didn't feel rushed or anything. As I waited for my food, I looked around and even though the place is not updated or anything, I loved it. Reminded me of the way things were when I was growing up. Food came out right away and very large portions. I ordered the forty niner omelet with fried rice. Very delicious. My daughter got the banana pancakes with coconut Mac nut syrup. I'm not a fan of coconut but wanted to taste it anyway. The pancakes were moist and flavorable. You can taste the banana without it being overwhelming. The syrup wasn't too sweet which made it perfect. I give it 5 stars for the portion of the food/cost of food, the taste and super friendly service. I will definitely be back and can't wait to try other items on the menu.
(5)Lesley S.
Feeling the Aloha. I never felt it and knew it until I stepped into this little diner. I love it!! It reminds me of the tiny little diners back home. Divey, yet amazing. Best Cheeseburger I've had on the island. Simple. Fresh. The cheese wasn't that cheap nasty slap on the American cheese with a smack type cheese. I tried the garlic chicken. It was pretty good as well. A little too fried (if there is such a thing) for me. Over done maybe? We set outside with the beautiful birds flying around. (not annoying birds stalking you) I can't wait to come back here for the Loco Moco. I'm trying to find the best place on the island without going over my calories for the week. Throwback fix- accomplished.
(4)Gijoey B.
Great place for breakfast. Elvis pancakes are wonderful. Cheeseburger with egg is tasty. Oh ya, the service is great too.
(5)Steve A.
Looks sketchy from the outside, homey on the inside, but the food makes up for it all. Macadamia nut pancakes were outstanding! BBQ Kalua pork sandwich was amazing, too. I'll definitely repeat.
(5)Christy M.
Absolutely love the chicken and waffles it's a must. Service is great and parking is perfect. Great hole in a wall
(5)John N.
I can't believe I never visited Forty Niner Restaurant until recently! For lovers of what's old and creaky, this place is a dream come true. Walking in, it seems like if you just zone out the freeway offramp and the roads next to you, you're walking into a diner from 50 years ago. We came here for breakfast and both my girlfriend and I ate the forty-niner breakfast. The food came out quick and tasted like old school diners. Just like I expected. Service is PERFECT. Servers are the embodiment of aloha here. They had just opened up the gravel pit behind for parking so those afraid of parking there do not need to worry. I can't wait until I visit again for lunch! 100 Reviews, 1 Day 58/100 January 12, 2013
(4)Rod U.
Nostalgia kills a legend? I remember the stories. My grandma taking my mom and my aunties to get a Coke and maybe a saimin from Forty Niner. A real treat in the 1950's, a time when Pearl City (my home town) did not extend above the two lane Kamehameha highway, there were no shopping centers or super markets, and watercress fields were everywhere. Great expectations; crash and burn. The old school feel is there. The aloha spirit, alive and well. The food, ack! The fried saimin taste like someone opened the dried dashi packet and poured it over the noodles. Loaded with MSG, and salt. The hamburger steak is OK, the roast pork is juicy and tender; both ruined by a salty gravy. Finally the disaster they call chicken and waffles. Take a crisp, fluffy waffle, pour ridiculous amount of COLD maple syrup over them and finish with a skewer of oil dripping, deep fried, breaded chicken jerky (chicken karaage) that's over cooked and over salted. I'm not a horse, I don't need a salt lick. I seriously wish I didn't bring my mom here; three times. At least she has her memories. I'll opt not to ruin the nostalgia further with another visit.
(2)Michael M.
Went for breakfast, nothing to fancy. The corned beef hash was a bit greasier than i am used to. The service at the counter was quick and friendly. Here is where it went wrong. I paid just over $12 for a hash/scramble with rice, a coffee. When i asked for a reciept. The nice lady told me she did not ring up the order, no reciept = FAIL. This is kind if basic, and why do i even have to ask for my bill. I wanted to review the cost vs. quality of the food, but now i regret not remembering the price on the menu. Overall, 49er did not make a lasting impression.
(2)Wendy A.
We go here at least once a week, because my children absolutely love this restaurant. But not because of the food... 1) Because they remember who we are when we get there. 2) They treat us like we're the most important people in the world. 3) The waitresses take special care of the kids. I food is always consistent and the atmosphere is very family friendly. Once of the few "mom and pop" restaurants out there who deserve to be acknowledged and congratulated just for surviving in Hawaii this long!
(5)Twy J.
The servers were very courteous. A quaint little place right off of kam highway. A very home cooked feel environment. The price was about $10 a plate and worth it.
(4)Ryan E.
Everything was great. Food, service, coffee. It was not comfortable right next to the street, plus not so clean.
(4)Jenn Y.
Why haven't I been here before. I lived in Aiea for years before moving and we never tried this place. Seems like a hole in a wall off the freeway but we always pass it. It's a small restaurant with not much parking. I got the the teri hambuger with fries. It was so good, I love it!!! My sister got the garlic chicken and fried noodles. I got to try it and it was yummy too. Definitely will come here again!!!
(5)Kris C.
Based on the appearance of this place I wasn't expecting to be wowed. It is a little hole in the wall with concrete walls as the structure. Red booths line the perimeter with a few tables in the middle. I did not go to the other side of the building where additional seating was available. The service was outstanding. You could tell that this was ran by a "Mom and Pop" type of establishment...."where everybody knows your name". The regulars are referred to as Auntie and Uncle; endearing. I had the Loco Moco; this was my first Moco (this cracks me up as I am Latin and we all know what Moco means...haha). This however tasted nothing like "moco" and was quite good. Rice, seasoned beef patty and good ole brown gravy with a runny egg on top. I don't know that I would run out craving this dish in general, but none the less filling and tasty. I would come by this place in the future to try some of their other breakfast items.
(4)Jenn A.
The waitress always remembers us whenever we eat here. I love the pork roast and crime brûlée pancakes. Don't let the outside/inside fool you. This place is. Gem!
(5)Jackie C.
Went here for the first time. Ordered the garlic chicken which was okay...Nothing great. Boyfriend ordered the cheeseburger "dirty style" which was fried pickles, special sauce, lettuce, onion, tomatoes and a large saimin. Burger patty was hard and the saimin noodles seemed like it was soaking in the soup for a while. The service was great tho! Very helpful when you're not sure what to order. Attentive and friendly! Not sure if I'll go back...
(2)Rob S.
New Restaurant Branch.. all new staff except the waitress who also works at Aiea and is up in Wahiawa for training the new staff. I ordered the smoke meat with eggs.. nice.. I think the grill may have been a tad hot.. the smoke meat was a little dry and the scrambled eggs were just a little brown. Coffee Hot fresh and your cup is always kept full. I was told mornings are a little light... Evenings and lunch are busy. We'll revisit with the club this weekend and see how it goes with a large group.
(4)liz t.
Try ox trail soup
(4)Timothy H.
I hate giving places such a low rating, especially since I used to be a waiter, it honestly would have been a one if the service stunk but the server was very nice and attentive so she made it a 2 star. Now I don't want to sound like a 5 star chef but I am a decent cook and have been experimenting a lot lately with my cooking so I expect to taste a certain something. Well because of my new experiences of cooking I can tell when a burger was perviously frozen. It was very cooked mushy in the middle and decently cooked on the outside.They do use frozen burgers. The bread was also stale which did't make things better. I was thinking before I went in with my girlfriend that it isn't hard to mess up a burger and made sure to look at the reviews online before we went (it has a little over 4 stars). She liked her grilled cheese, another item impossible to mess up. She even asked me not to write this review but it has to be said because I would have liked to know more so what I was getting myself into. This place may not ever again visited by me but I would recommend it to the causal eater that isn't as bothered by the things I am.
(2)Joe E.
Made it in three times while in town and never had anything i wouldn't order again. Had the Pot Roast , the Garlic Chicken, and a Cheeseburger. All fantastic. My only regret is that a just couldn't get over there early enough to try the Fried Rice Omelet. Something about that just sounds right to me. The service was always very friendly and extremely quick, especially considering that it was generally only one waitress taking care of the counter and dining room. I can see how this place could easily become a regular choice. Hell, I was only in town for a couple weeks, and I was back 3 times. They have a nice varied selection to keep it interesting. My buddy got the Elvis Pancakes one night (Pancakes with Peanut Butter, Banana, and Bacon) ...he didn't share.
(4)Brad S.
Wine her, dine her, Forty Niner? Like others, we visited Forty Niner enroute to the USS Arizona, and the simple diner food offered here was a nice relief from the big flashy places in Honolulu. I like to try as much as possible, so the bento box, despite being served on a plate, was a tasty menagerie of garlic chicken, teriyaki beef, salmon, kamaboko, Spam and rice. There wasn't much by way of fruit or vegetables, but the heavy protein load was universally cooked quite well, with the obvious winner handily going to the garlic chicken in all of its fried and crispy glory. The other person I was eating with got a burger, but the patty looked pretty pale and overprocessed. He wasn't thrilled with it. Sucks for him, this is my review and I say that if you stick with the specialty meats you won't have a bad time.
(3)Robert R.
I went to Forty Niner for the first time. The place brought back a flood of memories for this Kapahulu boy.Brought back memories of K.C. Drive In, Alex's, Kammy's and Matsus. Ate the "Holy Trinity" of small saimin, cheeseburger deluxe and fries. Walked out of there completely satisfied. Will definitely go back and try the lechon, garlic chicken, oyako don...And was real impressed by our waitress. Three words, "she get 'um!" Hmm, when's pay day?
(4)Elle V.
This is the go-to restaurant for my boyfriend and I when we can't think of any place else to eat and don't want to venture out of Pearl City. We're big on breakfast but what's good about Forty Niner's is they have smoked meat! Only other time I can get smoked meat is when I get a text from a friend down from the west side, which is few and in between. The serving is hefty, comes with two eggs, lots of rice, plenty of smoked meat cooked with onions. I'm drooling just thinking about it :) Like all the other yelpers probably suggested, you can't come here without trying the saimin or teri burger, it's what they are practically known for. I've also tried their special the furikake salmon, which is a huge piece of salmon and it was perfectly cooked.. no dry bits here! If you're in the area and want a fast, delicious, and filling meal I'd say this is a good spot to pick!
(5)Jason M.
Foods good! i always get the salmon. the Egg burger is also great! only complaint, my gf got food poisoning once :(
(4)Patrick G.
After getting a recommendation from a coworker who grew up in the area, I was very excited when he took me to lunch at the Forty Niner. I have probably driven by this place an uncountable number of times, but never thought anything of it. The exterior is anything but aesthetically pleasing, but do not let the looks of the building keep you from dining at this restaurant. When I first walked in, I thought there wasn't going to be enough seating for us, but there was an outdoor seating area and a second room with a counter. We opted to eat outside because it was a nice day and it was the least crowded. The waitress was very efficient and very friendly. She memorized our orders and I even heard her memorize a group of six's orders at the table next to ours. Talk about impressive. The food came out very fast and it was very good. I had the forty niner bento and it was a great sampling of all the classics: garlic chicken, spam, pork, rice, mac salad. After eating, I was pleasantly surprised by the price on the bill. Both of our meals were under 10 dollars which was a great in these hard financial times. Overall, I was very happy with the dining experience at the Forty Niner Restaurant. Having already tasted lunch, I would love to go back to try breakfast.
(4)Jen P.
Great place to eat..good service, friendly people, of course great food to eat:)! Parking is ok, but sometimes none at all, they can get busy.
(4)Brian M.
Forty Niner Restaurant is a place I past so many times and always wondered about. Being in the Aiea area (Dave F.'s Hood...Lol!!) I finally made it a point to drop in and eat at this long time establishment and get my grindz on!.Walking into this throwback establishment I felt really comfortable,love that old school feeling! I have always thought that this was a saimin and hamburger joint but was surprised to find a nice small menu of really taste tempting items. We came here for breakfast and was delightfully informed that I could order anything off the menu,all I could think was awesome! Ordered; Molokai rub roast pork with brown gravy: The roast pork is a kalua pig style serving with a little of the outer crust from the rub. It's smother with brown gravy and comes with a spaghetti macaroni salad. I enjoyed the perfectly cooked roast pork and the way it shredded. The brown gravy was a little bland,but it didn't really bother me. I loved the spaghetti macaroni salad,it was a change from the basic mac salad. yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… Service was very good, friendly and attentive. I'll be back to try more of the "Ono" food from here!
(4)Jesse B.
Finding great places to eat on Oahu is easy when you pay attention to Yelp and other critics but most definitely the best way to get the dish on the tastiest grub is..... through locals!! I've not been here long but I've met some great people along the way that have the same respect for gastronomy as I do. Forty Niner Restaurant is one of those recommendations. I took my dad as his first truly Hawaiian meal but he really doesn't know how to enjoy --different--. I got the Haupia pancakes and my dad got a, wait for it, burger!! My pancakes were amazing and I gulped down all I could before the threat of my stomach bursting stopped me. My dad even found himself wishing he'd gotten my pancakes instead of his burger, which was just OK. The best part by far is how cheap our meal was: no more than $14!! Can you say, guiltless pleasure?! Yum!! I will be back definitely.
(4)Chris P.
Decent place, close to Pearl Harbor. Enjoying a good breakfast before we head over to see the memorial. Looked empty when we drove up to it, but the menu is nice and complete, and there are a lot of Hawaiian type foods.
(4)Noella M.
First time here since new ownership, food and service was terrible. Hamburger burnt on the outside and undercooked on the inside, cheese was old, corned beef hash was watery and undercooked, eggs shells in my eggs.,,Service was terrible, no coffee refills, waited a long time to order and long time for check, stay away!!
(1)Natalie N.
Nice service, food is ok. Teriyaki hamburger is 4.5 stars, pancakes are 3 stars probably. Tried 3 kinds of pancakes and they all taste nearly identical. Cute outside patio. Lots of flies and gnats in the area
(3)Gordito G.
First time here . Order the roast pork plate and my wife order a small saimin with a side order of garlic chicken. The roast pork with brown gravy was really and the spaghetti "mac " salad was the perfect combination. Garlic chicken was crunchy and tasty. The saimin was good also. I will definetly be coming back for more.
(4)Coney L.
If I can give this place zero stars, I would. Let me preface by saying my family and I came to this place on our last day in Oahu. I had high hopes of having a good meal on my last day...however, this meal never even happened. There were 6 people in my party and we all gave our orders to a waitress who did not write down any of our orders. Fine, I get that some people can remember a lot of things. Well, she didn't remember, she also never remembered to refill our coffees. After waiting for more than 45 minutes, we finally got ONE of our orders. First order came out and it was wrong, second order came out, still wrong. Third, fourth, fifth orders came out almost an hour later...then my husband discovered the most disgusting thing he could ever find underneath his pancakes...a DEAD COCKROACH!!! By this time, I hadn't even gotten my meal and it didn't matter because we were leaving. They comped the meal, as they should, but most of us didn't even get a chance to start eating. Good thing too, because if there's one cockroach, you know there's more where it came from. This visit was on Sunday, August 18, 2013.
(1)Meraldine L.
Great customer service! Good food! Location is a little odd but when you go inside it's different. Has it's own parking space. Just awesome! Will be back soon!!!
(5)David L.
Nice simple local place. I highly recommend them for breakfast. I haven't eaten here for other than breakfast, but the place is good food and the staff is quick to help. Ate here 3 days in a row while on a trip here, and was never disappointed. The only downside...parking(not why it is 4 stars). Parking here is painful at best. The reason why it is 4 stars...no A/C and the place does look a bit on the dirty side.
(4)Myong C.
Living in Salt Lake and now Aiea for all of my life, I must have driven past Forty Niner hundreds if not thousands of times but I have never once stopped in. I've always meant to but never got around to it until today when a co-worker suggested we have lunch there. We sat at the counter and I had the small saimin ($4.75) and a teri burger ($2.75). After all, gotta order saimin at a place with the word in its name, right? The saimin was pretty good, typical of other local saimin shops but I didn't really like the fact that a large chunk of my noodles were still stuck together. The teri burger could have used a little more teri sauce but was okay overall. My co-worker had the beef cutlet and I had a bite of it and that tasted okay too. The lady at the counter was amazing, taking and placing orders, doing money transactions, serving food and drink refills and even answering the phone, a lll the while being super friendly and nice to all of the customers. I'm glad I finally got to try this place and I totally would go back to try more of their offerings.
(3)Katsumi I.
I drove past this place millions and millions of time. I made first visit here today. Out side looked really dirty but once you go inside.....nothing's changes. I ordered Forty Niner breakfast. It was delicious and except for too much fried rice. This place was popular with Japanese Tourist because they were featured in Japanese TV show. I suggest that you should give it a try.
(4)Gian I.
I had the oxtail soup here. It was my favorite oxtail soup that I have had in Hawaii. My girlfriend had the saimen and the broth was really tasty as well. Nice little place but I wish it was a little cleaner.
(4)kristine f.
I have always been a Forty Niner fan since I was like BORN. My pops would bring us over for their Saimin because their Dashi was the shiz! So after the new owners came over, I was saying to myself for years that I wanted to try it out. It only took me 5+ years to check it out and I live in Aiea! What a disgrace, huh? Oh and might I had I live very close by. Shame on me. Anyway, so the boy and I went over for brunch. He had a Local Moco and I had a small Saimin with a side of Garlic Chicken. My Saimin was awesome, the noodles were cooked perfectly. However, the Garlic Chicken was very dry and it tasted like it was twice fried and I don't mean that in a good way. Next time, I think I'll go with my usual side when I grab Saimin, hamburger!
(4)Marie M.
I would say this place is about average, nothing really special. My kids liked the pancakes but they are preschoolers and anything with chocolate in them will be a hit. I wanted the creme brulee pancakes but they said they didn't have the propane for the torch to fix them. So I settled on Bbq chicken. Was just ok really, good portion size but quality was not there. My mom had the garlic chicken which was just alright as well. I probably wouldn't come back.
(2)Golden R.
Bring CASH! Now a days Charge/Debt is how we shop. BUT when you come to these kinds of "mom & pop" places... bring CASH. Good thing I have EMERGENCY $$$$. Now to the real review... FOOD: Chixn & Waffles: Chixn kine of over cook, but still get taste/Waffles nice crunch Pork Chops: Good, not dried, good taste Fried Rice Omelet: Good - NO NEED any side meat. Lots of filling.
(3)Prescott James L.
Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooo was mops bah. So ono. Ho and da auntie workin was supah chill.
(5)Cuong L.
Nice homely diner with tons of different varieties of comfort food. Very nice and fast friendly service. The garlic chicken is pretty legit. Their pancakes looked delicious, gonna try that next.
(5)Irma Lizet H.
Quick, yummy and easy to locate. The place is very homy. It's one of those places you can go with your spouse/ family on a Sunday and chat about anything. The waitresses are very helpful, patient and down to earth. It gets busy after 8:30 am so get there early. I had the chicken and waffles and the waffles were so tasty, fluffy that melted in my mouth. The chicken was a little greasy but it's fried chicken so it's suppose to be lol and very tasty. The coffee is no Starbucks but who really needs Starbucks when you have that good feel cup of joe with cream and sugar to your tasting. Overall experience, it was excellent. From their warm greeting when you walk in to their cheerful good bye when you walk out. Oh and did I mention the price. My husband and I had coffee, chicken and waffles and 2 eggs, all for $26 for the both of us. Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! We will return. Thank you so much for this experience!
(5)Meiko S.
My family loves this restaurant. The food is always fresh and delicious! We are sure to bring all of our visiting family and friends here before they depart the island! Forty NIner Restaurant used to be our Sunday morning spot. I can't think of any one dish that is better than them all. I can for sure vouch for the saimen, Teri-burger (or maybe its the BBQ cheese burger) and the Banana Mac Nut pancakes!!! A+++++++ Everything I have ordered so far has been amazingly flavorful! Definitely continuing our Sunday tradition! * The only downfall is the parking lot is very small in comparison to customer flow!
(4)Bob K.
Great food , service and prices. I would definitely eat here again. The breakfast was fast and delicious. My daughter asked the next day if we could return.
(5)Chase J.
First time here and the service was friendly and quick for the most part. The pregnant wife had to wait almost 10 minutes after the rest of our family of 4 got their food. I got an omelette and some of the meat was not cooked fully and was too juicy. Same with the omelette itself. It had runny parts. The pancakes, while god, were not cooked fully. There were bites that were very soft and had the batter texture still. For a first visit was not impressed. Will probably come back and give them another try. But definitely not worth dedicating as our breakfast spot.
(3)David S.
Was with my son and Uncle looking for a local diner with good breakfast. I had the banana French toast and it was amazing! My son had spam and eggs, which he loved. It is a very traditional ol' school diner where you expect locals would frequent. I would absolutely go here again.
(5)Rachael E.
Omg please get the pancakes they melt in your mouth. This place is sooooo good. Must eat.
(5)Chad K.
Its nice to come back to a place when you are much older so you can appreciate a locally owned and run establishment. Forty Niners was a staple for my grandfather and I back when he would watch me over the summer. Back then it was a rundown saimin and burger joint that certainly did not have the allure of a McDonalds. Now, its the same rundown place, aesthetically the same and I wouldnt change a thing. I love that they still have the same red chairs that I sat in as a 7 year old. What has changed is my perspective on what has value. Value is not the corporate McDonalds that proudly serves a billion, its the contrary. The locally owned and operated anti-McDonalds that takes pride keeping its individualism by providing great comfort food with outstanding service. Forty Niner's has the best hamburger steak (2 patties per serving) and diner style burgers in my opinion. Their hamburger patty is delicate in texture but still has a crust on the outer layer and their gravy homemade or not I have no clue, is delicious. I've tried their loco moco, hamburger steak, teri-burger, egg-burger and French fries and love them all. You can't go wrong with this place, the food is excellent and just what you'd hoped it would be. This establishment gets an easy 5 stars from me because they know what they want to accomplish and they do it excellently. Their niche in today's market is very few and far between and they keep the history alive with a young and vibrant staff, hopefully to be around for many more years.
(5)Air-n L.
Hamburger steak plate is really good and so is the garlic chicken plate. If you want to eat saimin, you will be disappointed. The large is like Soooooo small. And the small is SUPA small. For 8 bucks for the large, I honestly will say nobody will be back again to eat saimin when Shiro's is 5 minutes away from here. Saw what everyone else there was eating and nobody else had the saimin. The cheeseburger was pretty good. The service was real good with this young girl on top of everyone needs. Will be five stars if you just go for the plate lunches..
(3)Andrea T.
I love this family runned business! Good food and always friendly staff!! Breakfast is always tha best!!
(5)Mark M.
My wife and I were in the area to go the mall in Pearlridge and we Yelped for some breakfast and found this place. We usually like the hole in the wall type places best and this one did not disappoint. We debated about the loco moco and the creme brulee pancakes, but the fried rice and chicken and waffles sounded too good to pass up, so we saved them for next time. My wife loves rice and was very impressed by the fried rice breakfast. She had little smokies with them, which I had never heard of but they were pretty good, and the fried rice was tasty (first time I had ever tried fried rice). My chicken and waffles, however, were outstanding, some of the best I have had. It was more of a brunch than breakfast and it was perfect for that. Overall this was a great little place to go for breakfast or brunch; really good food for a good price and the right portions. I only wish it was closer to my house so I could go more often. 5 stars, all worth it.
(5)Mary N.
We ate here for breakfast before touring Pearl Harbor. Everything about this place was pretty good, if not overly memorable. The service was friendly and quick. They were out of a few items, which was disappointing considering breakfast consists of relatively few items to stock. We had some pancakes, the loco moco, and an omelet. The food was hot and tasty, your typical breakfast fare. I wouldn't go out of your way to try it, but if you're in the area its a much better option for breakfast or lunch than what is offered at Pearl Harbor.
(3)Ashley M.
Ordered takeout here a couple of times. Their food is very good here! I got the banana French toast the first time and that was amazing and then the creme brûlée pancakes the second time and that wasn't as good as the French toast but still pretty tasty. I also got a side order of Portuguese sausage and it was pretty yummy!
(4)Leslie S.
This was the first time I came to the 49er restaurant. My friend was served 1st. I waited 15 mins and they only served me the pancake. The eggs and Portuguese sausage can 5 min later. 2 families who came after me were served first. Service was really bad. I've never had to wait that long for a split meal. By the time I got my food, my friend was finished with her loco moco. Parking was cramped also. I won't be back. Service is really bad.
(1)Jen J.
We went here for breakfast, enjoyed the 49er Special, an omelette and pancakes. Fried rice was chock full of meat and fish cake, really yummy. The service was great, poor gal had the whole place covered. My only complaint is there was no milk/half&half for the coffee. I love hole in the wall diners, but can't stomach powdered corn syrup in my brew:(
(4)JJ L.
CASH ONLY. TWO SEATING OPTIONS: separate entrances and separated by a wall, so it's either/or for your party. 1. Bar/diner style (bar stools and high counter-top) with a view into the modest kitchen (and of a pretty handsome, tatted-up lad cook). This option is closest to Kam Hwy. 2. Dining tables and booths. PHALLIC: Chicken and Waffles [ s3-media2.ak.yelpcdn.com… Just in case you can't tell from my photo, it's a fluffy Belgian waffle freshly made-to-order cut into fourths and assembled prettily around chopstick-skewered morsels of (double fried?) fried chicken, then the whole thing is drizzled with sweet syrup and a quick dusting of powdered sugar. Did I mention the phallic presentation ... YAM! You are not dreaming, this really exists! The place isn't as filthy as other reviews make it sound -- especially compared to other "Yelp-popular" establishments that employ a toothless tranny who dips her cracked, blood-scabbed fingers in pickle juice before prepping the borderline salmonella garlic chicken. It's definitely a no-frills environment with bare walls and an unassuming exterior. I wasn't blown away with the other dishes I tried (fried rice, omelet, little smokies) because they are quite standard for diners. The signature Forty-Niner pancakes aren't anything to write home to mom about. However, it tastes BETTER than Boot's and Kimo's macadamia pancakes. You also don't have to wait hour(s) for it! Another plus side to the pancakes is how fluffy and HOT they are. The creamy coconut/macadamia syrup tasted like frothy haupia (coconut pudding). Oh yeah, there are also banana slices cooked into the pancakes. Forty Niner Cafe is definitely a gem in the coal mine that is West/Leeward-ish Oahu.
(4)Lauren C.
I love the feel of this place. It's a no frills diner and the waitress that works at night is always super sweet and friendly even when she's busy. I've gotten the fried chicken there and it was a bit too greasy for me but their saimin and teri cheeseburger is awesome! I can usually eat both and if I'm super hungry I can usually down a soda float too! I've been wanting to try their chicken and waffles but they don't serve waffles and night which is a huge bummer. I also love breakfast food but never wake up early enough so I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to try their waffles. There's not much to say about this place no because it's not good but only because their menu is so simple. This is a great nostalgic place to get a quick bite and remember what saimin is suppose to taste like! P.S. They no longer serve the Opakapaka...I never got to try it :(
(4)Kim J.
Good breakfast food and wonderful customer service. Had the Hawaiian breakfast of kalua pig, lomi lomi, eggs and rice. Husband had corned beef hash and daughter had strawberry belgian waffles. Their credit card system went down and I didn't have any cash on hand. I also had to wait a little longer for my take out order because they had trouble with the waffle maker.....my order was coverrd by them! I will definitely be returning to tip generously next time I order there.
(5)Mia K.
I absolutely love this place, no bells and whistles, just flat out great home cooked food. One of the few old school places that are around. Breakfasts are awesome and served all day and night. We just go done scarfing down the haupia pancakes which were to die for. This is definitely a favorite place for us locals.
(5)Rissa K.
It was my 1st time here and I went because I heard great things about this place. I heard this place is known for their burgers, saimen, and garlic chicken. I had the Forty Niner Special which includes Garlic chicken, spam, peice of salmon, and Teri beef with rice topped off with Furukaki. OMG Wow Garlic chicken is pretty good! This place has been around in ages and I have no idea how they got this name but it reminds me of my fave Football team! I need to come back for their saimen and burgers next time!
(4)Gman O.
My 49er's review: My Dad would take me there for our weekly bowl of Saimen back in the early 60's when suger cane plantation's and small family farm lots enveloped the landscape throughout lower Aiea and Pearl City. 49er's catered to many folks working the plantations in the early years. If there's a place I can return to often to reflect and enjoy that old plantation country feeling in the midst of the now present hustle and stress of modern Hawaii...It's 49er's. The menus variety has improved since those old plantation days, never to disappoint. The Ohana atmosphere so retro old Hawaii, excellent service, welcoming, very pleasant, it'll put a smile on ones face that'll last throughout the day. The Menu is local all the way with some personal touches..again it doesn't disappoint. One should not be in a rush when dinning at 49er's. Breakfast is my favorite, only because I'm usualy working in the afternoons. When traveling to the West Coast and beyond, I usualy get a takeout order to dine on the plane....
(4)Chas A.
I love their mac salad! It's the bomb. The server is really nice & she was by herself at that time. A lot of food to choose from and their prices is alright. Parking is kind of small. Other than that, recommend this place to anyone who's around Pearl City/Aiea area.
(5)Terri T.
Excellent service always! Not waiting no more then 10 minutes for your food. Very delicious! If you haven't tried this place. Put this place on your list!
(5)Ben T.
I've driven by this restaurant like a zillion times and always meant to stop by. We finally did last Saturday night and all I can say is I wish we had eaten here earlier! I ordered the large Saimin with a side order of Garlic Chicken, my wife ordered the Grilled Salmon, and my father in law ordered the Pork Chops. I tasted everything as both my wife and father in law are small eaters :) The good: Saimin had good flavor and the noodles were cooked just right. The really good: Garlic chicken, we all really liked the flavor and crispiness. I was really impressed with the Salmon! There aren't very many places that cook it just right. Not undercooked, and not overcooked. My compliments to the chef that night! The not so good: the Pork chops were really tough. As my father in law was cutting it, the table was moving back and forth. Our server (Cara) did a very good job with us. Friendly and efficient, she took care of the room by herself as it did start to get busy when we were finishing our meal. We will be back!
(4)Lisa C.
Loco moco and oxtail soup were great! Topped it off with deep fried brownie a la mode. Winnahz!
(5)Kevin C.
Been here twice, both times had the cheeseburger and side of garlic chicken. Yummy good, and great service too. All the ratings are legit, its really good food, clean place. Check it out.
(5)Christine E.
If you're looking for good ol' hole in the wall, back in the day kine vibe and food, then this is the place to be. The servers are always soooo nice. And they're really on it! We had a packed house this past weekend, there was about 25-30 people in the restaurant, 2 servers, and they were sooooooo attentive. It really gives you that nice old school Hawaii feel that I miss sometimes. Food is pretty good. Garlic Chicken has good flavor (although they did give me a large skin to actual chicken meat ratio), my boyfriends burger was delicious and juicy. I was a little sad that the menus were so tourist'd out! they have everything written in Japanese now, on what is already a packed menu. Which is good for the tourists I guess, but hurt my eyes. :/ I still love it here though. :) Every time I've been here I have not been disappointed.They had a special of a "fried brownie" ala mode that the guy next to me was having, it looked GOOD! I will definitely return!
(4)kari n.
This place is ridiculously delicious!!!!!! Today I had the Pork Roast and it was seriously "broke da mouth!" The pork just melts in your mouth and the gravy, while a bit salty, was still really good. We've also had the banana pancakes with mac nut sauce in the past. The banana's make the pancakes really moist and the mac nut sauce is just heavenly. No need to drive all the way to Kailua for pancakes! This has become our new weekend breakfast routine. The place is clean. the wait staff are really nice, and i like that it still has that old Hawaii feel and taste. Side note: If you want fried rice or waffles, you have to come before 10:30am.
(5)Brent K.
Small place, Big taste ! The food is GOOD ! Plenty of parking. And they made a nice lanai in the back with a few picnic tables. To accommodate the lunch crowed. That would be Me ! LOL Ya I like here. Reminds me of the old drive inn's. Local style food !
(4)Malia H.
I have been missing out all these times I drove by this place thinking it's not good. Boy was I ever wrong. There isn't much parking and let me tell you, it will take you a long time to pull out of your parking stall. But the portions and prices are worth it. The hamburger is homemade and very good. The fried saimin was not greasy but had good flavor. The staff is very friendly and its a small place. There is one side for take-out and counter service and the other side is a regular restaurant with tables. This place is on Kam Hwy, a little after you get off the freeway and it will be on your right side. You get a nostalgic feeling when you eat here. ^_^*~
(4)Joy I.
Based on all of the positive reviews, we decided to stop by on our way to Pearlridge on a Saturday morning at around 10:30 am. Parking was tight, but we managed to find one. It was semi busy with customers sitting both inside at the counter and in the dining room and outside on picnic like tables. Although there was only one woman servicing all three areas, the service was fast and great! We ordered the roast pork plate and garlic chicken with fried noodles. Both were very tasty and satisfying, especially the garlic chicken. IMHO,one of the best I've ever tasted. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and portions are generous. The dining area is very clean and, although there is no air conditioning, quite comfortable as well. We will definitely be back when visiting Oahu again.
(4)Alan K.
Awesome place. Best burger ever and I love burgers. Service was outstanding. Great atmosphere. Everything you expect a diner to be.
(5)Stephanie D.
I've always driven past this place on my way home but never went in. Their fried saimin was pretty good and the hamburger steak was great! Definitely would go again!
(4)Tyler G.
I love their saimin and hamburger. Reminds me when I was a kid eating lunch with family at the saimin stands. Roast pork, garlic chicken, hamburger steak are all awesome. Gravy is Gluten free with corn starch. Service is fast. Oh also love the pancakes for breakfast.
(5)Raymond S.
Great local food, friendly staff, quick service, great little mom and pop restaurant. Gotta try!!!!!
(4)Sheena C.
UPDATE: They now take credit cards (not AMEX, though)!!!!
(5)grace g.
I came here once, for the first time. It was a weekday and it was a little slow. Ordered the haupia pancakes and corned beef hash. The food was just okay. Maybe lunch may taste better? I will still give this place a try for lunch or dinner.
(3)Foodie N.
I love this spot, I am an ultimate foodie and every thing is delicious. I highly recommend the smoked pork sausage and onions dish (finger licking good) also the saimin noodles is great aswell
(4)Hiro I.
Good cheap eats. Love the beef cutlet which is chopped beef and not a beef filet like most places. Garlic chicken is also good. They make a pretty good Forty Niner Macadamia Coconut Pancake. Similar to Boots & Kimo but not as good. If your looking for good comfort food this is the place to go. I like that they added additional seating outdoors in the back.
(4)Chen N.
Stopped by here on my way back from town with my boss. We both had the pork chops with mushroom gravy. It was a filling meal, but my boss added a side order of lechone? Doggie bags were in order. If you are in the area its worth the stop. The waitress was working alone on the lunch rush and she still was pretty attentive. The food came out quick. Its a little on the older side but not a dirty old. The jack in a box in waipahu has dust bunnies hanging above the counter where you order... Disgusting. Parking is in a rock filled area around back don't park on the pavement it will take forever to get out because of the traffic light right in front of the place. Gonna go back for breakfast
(4)Bigg M.
Great service, low price & excellent food.
(5)Joe B.
Service is quick and friendly. I enjoy eating at places where the waitress seems to enjoy her job. Tried the smoked meat last time and it was delicious. Had the fried pork with tomato and onion this time around. Basically its lechon kawali for those that know what that is. Loved it, but not good for dieters. Lucky for me it's a cheat day ;)
(5)Matt T.
Building was definitely not anything to ride home about. But the food! Pancakes are Huge! Had the Da Elvis Pancakes. They are cooked with bacon and bananas inside them. They have a homemade banana maple syrup that is amazing. They were out of peanut butter but I couldn't finish the 2 pancakes already. Would definitely eat here anytime I am near Honolulu.
(5)Craig F.
Since we were in the area a few weeks ago we decided it would be a great time to go and get some ono burgers and saimin - so we headed to Forty Niner. It hasn't changed and still has that charm of imagining this is where grandpa and grandma used to eat. What was great was that we were all hungry for different types of foods and they had breakfast, plate lunches, burgers and saimin. Just a great place to go for a quick and simple bite to eat without paying $15 per person like everywhere else out there now.
(4)Joanna R.
It's ok, I had the small saimen and a side of garlic chicken. Hubby had the hamburger plate....it's kind of like meatloaf with heavy gravy. There are plenty of people there, and lots of locals. The parking lot was full. The meal was not bad, but wasn't anything above average either. The staff was very nice.
(2)Warren S.
Bestest Saimen dis side of da Koolau's. value 5/5 food 5/5 beware of the hamburger steak personnel 5/5
(5)Bridget C.
I had the best Loco Moco here and I have had a lot of them in my 40+ years in Hawaii. The "new" management have kept the same cozy, old Aiea feel while improving the already-pretty-damn good food. Pickup a couple of uniquely designed t-shirts if you love Aiea.
(5)Marchell T.
Have been going to 49ners since I was a little kid. Now as a mom, I take my son there to eat too
(5)Ira J.
I like Forty Niner Restaurant. It has a real old-timey feel to it. And not that fake contrived old-timey feel you find at those places that decorate their dining rooms with too many faux antiques. But a genuine, "we haven't changed any more than necessary since we opened up for business more than half a century ago," old-timey feel. Who knows, that might actually be the case. Their menu, service, food and prices are all reasonable or better, but it's their old-timey charm that really wins me over. Some of my favorite dining spots are my favorite dining spots because they magically transport me to far off places. Forty Niner Restaurant magically transports me to a far off time, and I appreciate that too. It is a dining experience worth having.
(4)Tanya C.
this was ok - not sure what the hype is about. super dingy and dirty and the food wasn't good (to make up for it)
(3)Bryanie R.
The service here is fast! I felt like we ordered and then our food came shortly after. I like how they use noodles for their Mac salad, instead of the typical. I try to get something different everytime, and it's usually delicious. The waitress seems kinda like she's in a rush though. But it's understandable, cause it looks like she was the only one there! And they charge extra if you want to substitute something (Mac salad instead of fries). I like how there's Breakfast served all day! Except fried rice and waffles, I believe.
(4)Jason T.
Enjoyed lunch here after visiting the USS Arizona memorial. The Forty Niner Bento had everything I was looking for, but the star was the garlic chicken. Everyone ordered something different (Hawaiian Plate, Portuguese Sausage with eggs, fried saimin, beef cutlet, garlic chicken plate) and we all left full and happy. Sit outside on a sunny day!
(5)Kat S.
This place has been around for a long time i've always seen it, driving pass it's location. So one day my boyfriend and I decided to try it out. The staff are always friendly they do a great job with customer service and if they mess up an order they will not hesitate to fix your order nor will they have a stink attitude about it. We love their Teri Burgers its so simple but so ONO!! We always try a different dish each time we go, and all times we leave very happy. The waitress really make our dining experience wonderful because of their awesome customer service. I cant stress enough about Customer Service. So over all Food is pretty awesome Service is always on point and to top it all off its so affordable.
(5)Clarice K.
Went here because of the reviews. Thanks everyone, this place was great. I had the ham steak with eggs and fried rice, fantastic! The ham was so thick. My husband had hamburger steak and my grand daughter had chicken and waffles, both really enjoyed their food. We had the best waitress ever, she was so friendly and talkative. Will definitely be back the next time we are on Oahu.
(5)Doug D.
We were looking for some place different from the usual breakfast places in Aiea, so we went to Yelp for help. FortyNiner came up, a place that we've been to lunch a few times and found to be great. We haven't had the opportunity to try breakfast so we took a chance. We were surprised to find out how much they've added to this place, including more parking and an outside dining area with picnic tables. My wife tried the Belgian Waffles with Macadamia nut and banana slices and I had the fried rice omlette, both very good choices. The omlette was tasty and the flavor of the fried rice was just to my liking. I didn't find it to be oily either. Our server, Carolyn, was very customer-oriented and kept our coffee cups always full. She made sure we were satisfied. We left very happy and even our wallets was not emptied. We definitely will be back for breakfast again.
(5)Matt H.
Awesome! Old school diner! Had the crispy lechon, great. Wife had the garlic chicken that was good as well, definitely coming back.
(5)Kerrie C.
Places like Forty Niner Diner are my favorite kinds of restaurants. Family run, with a vintage nostalgic feel that takes you back in time. In my case, it's like stepping back into the 50s and eating at a diner that my grandparents might have taken my parents when they were kids. The decor and overall feel is authentic, because it is authentic. They haven't "decorated" and I would imagine that the place hasn't changed much over the years. Original window frames, no a/c, and mismatched vintage furniture. First off, this place is in a tough location. Completely surrounded by busy roads with only a 3-stall parking lot. But just remember that this place has been here way before the hustle and bustle of the area, like everything around was developed except the 49er. One very friendly waitress, no air conditioning, and CASH ONLY. Totally expected for a charming place like this. The menu consists of local diner food with a variety of plate lunches, breakfast items and specials with that special local flair. Their saimin is simple and terrific!!! The noodles are delicious, garnished with spam, kamaboko, green onion and the dashi is great. My last visit was for lunch on a crazy hot day and I still ordered saimin because I love it so much. I was absolutely dripping sweat, but i left completely satisfied and glad I made the visit. I recommend stopping in at 11am for lunch before the crowd, and in the early evening. I will be sure to order their macadamia nut pancakes with haupia sauce next time I stop in for lunch. They serve breakfast all day!!! Places like these are getting harder and harder to find. Forty Niner is truly a fixture in Aiea. It's a very special time capsule that I hope remains open for business for years to come.
(4)Aimee C.
Eggburger=Genius! You have to try the delicious homemade burger patty with egg, it. is so. good. I tried the saimin which was good, but in HI you know there are a lot of GREAT saimin stops. So that's hard to compare. But the server was awesome and super friendly. And well worth the stop if you are in the neighborhood. Small parking lot behind the restaurant. Seating can be limited since it's a popular spot, even for Japanese visitors (the menu is in Japanese, too!) Def worth a try!!!
(4)John T.
Half a mile from Pearl Harbor and not a tourist in sight. For lovers of Roadfood, this is a great find.
(5)Brad T.
It was a sad day when I heard this place was closing because I loved eating here ever since I was little. Fast forward to today....new owner, same good old saimin and burgers! The new owner has even expanded the menu to offering breakfast and other dishes like hamburger steak, ox tail soup, pork chops. I would like to try the other dishes but I just can't pull myself away from getting my standard saimin and cheeseburger. Nothing fancy about the saimin, no special soup base or fancy toppings....just old school saimin, homemade noodles, green onions, fish cake and char sui. Hambuger is homemaid as well and grilled to a nice crispyness on the edges with a nice slice of chedder cheese. Ok parking USED to super suck here. I can't remember how many times I drove here to eat, but kept driving past since the 4 stalls were full. I just stopped by here last week and now they have more parking!! Hooray! They leveled the grass yard area and added at least 10 more stalls plus built an outside eating area. Sweet! The inside can get pretty hot during the day so the outside eating area is a plus. Now with the additional parking, I'll have to drop by for breakfast and check out the macadamia pancakes. I heard they were onos! Now I just gotta work on waking up at a resonable hour to make it for the breakfast menu.
(5)K F.
Ever since i was a little girl, ive passed by this little hole in the wall. It took me almost 20 years to finally step foot into this restaurant. I was amazed how clean and upkept the place was! They have a nice seating area outside as well as tables inside. They recently made a spacious parking area. The first time i went for breakfast and had the Forty Niner Breakfast: 2 eggs, fried rice, and portuguese sausage! They give generous portions and great service!! I'm already thinking of when i can go back just to sit on their patio area and enjoy some ono breakfast!
(5)Lani H.
ah, I had to subtract 2 stars from my review. . . I recently came here for Sunday breakfast with one of my friends and I was very disappointed. The service was ok, our waitress came and took our orders pretty fast but kept on forgetting to give me utensils (she had given my friend hers but accidently dropped mine and said that she would be right back. . .) We ordered chicken & waffles and an omelette to share, we were told that the chicken and waffles would take a little while to cook but over 25 min was a bit ridiculous. When we finally got our food, the chicken & waffles were delicious, nice fluffy waffles and crispy chicken covered in maple syrup, yum! The omelette on the other hand, was not as awesome . . . The first bite and *crunch* eggshells . . . ewww . . . I understand that every once in a while things like that will happen but when you wait for almost half an hour for your food, you expect it to be at least close to perfect. We didn't complain about this to our waitress though because we were really hungry and didn't want to wait for another dish to be made. In the end, I still really like this place and will continue to come here (especially for the garlic chicken!) and maybe one day I will venture in for breakfast again :)
(3)Michelle M.
Great reviews on Yelp dont always mean great food. Sometimes it means great service, other times its a carismatic restaurant owner that everyone just loves... But sometimes the food is the reason to boast. I have learned this and now adjust my bookmarks accordingly. having said this, Fourty Niner made it to the bookmark list. Food, service and value were all high marks. Had to check this place out! Decided to make it out for lunch there with the coworkers. It was about a week in the plan, so you know it was a big eff'ing deal! We hit up the Yelp faves: Hamburger Steak for me- Handmade hamburger topped with sauteed onions, mushrooms and smothered with this yummy delicious gravy, 2 scoops if rice and choice of Mac Salad or Green. I opted for Mac since one of my new obsessions is to conduct in-dept research on the Hawaiian food wonder that is Mac Salad. Total score on this rendition here, imho. My friend had the chopped steak. He said he totally loved the tenderness and juiciness of the steak but found it to be a bit salty for this liking. I tried a bite and I dont know what the heck he was talking about!?! I thought it was great! The service is prompt and polite. Very comfy and a definite throw back to the good ol' days. I have GOT to go back with my Favorite Foodie friend because there are still a few items that I want to check out. Hear that the Salmon is the bomb.com . We'll have to see about that!
(4)Michael C.
If you're looking for a good homestyle burger then Forty Niner is where you have to be. The burgers are super soft, almost creamy. Add crinkle cut fries to that and maybe a bowl of saimin and you have yourself one heck of a meal. Other more modern dishes; like miso salmon, are also tasty. And they have breakfast for dinner! The wait help are all extremely friendly and welcoming. They make you feel like you've been coming in for years. The caveat to this great food and awesome service is that the parking is very limited and they close early. If they were open just an hour later, I would be in there several times a week!
(5)Leilani F.
Spent 10 days on the island and found this hole in the wall place. All 7 of us liked the food we ordered and came back a second time. This is homestyle cooking. The burgers are ground fresh everyday and the locomoco can't be beat. All the noodle dishes were yummy. This place isn't fancy, but who cares when you're eating. Prices are reasonable and we gave a whopping tip for the service.
(5)Matt B.
Have only been for breakfast but the food was always good and service is average. Parking is easy enough and they are pretty cheap.
(4)Chris L.
It's been years since I've been here, actually I think since high school, which is many, many years ago! We were recently in Aiea so we decided to stop in... WOW! A blast to the past, and the food is soooo ono!! They give you generous portions, so be careful when you are ordering or you'll be pleasantly surprised to find yourself on a food overload! =) I highly recommend paying a visit to Forty Niner Restaurant!! Great Service, Great Food, and parking is pretty good too and most of all, you are Supporting a LOCAL BUSINESS!! =)
(5)Cely H.
I've driven by this place about a zillion times and I always thought that it was an abandoned store. Turns out, there's a restaurant that is very much ALIVE in there! Parking sucks, with only about 5 spots, but one was open when I went. The place was a bit dirty and run down. I ordered a teri burger with fries and hubs ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries. So-so. It wasn't bad, but I think the price for what they were was a tad bit high. With both of us it came out to a little over $20. I remember a better tasting burger coming out of a truck for a buck. They only take CASH, for any of you Yelpers that decide to try it out. I'm glad I found out that this wasn't an abandoned store! And even though the food was only so-so, I'll probably be coming back just for the excellent service alone.
(3)Jodi S.
Don't judge a book by its cover! Amazing little diner...if you've got time before your USS Arizona tour, find this place! Food is delicious.
(4).Alan Y.
The Forty Niner sits on the corner of Kam Highway and Honomanu Street. Its a non-descript brown building that looks like it was built during WWII. K-girl said that she'd been passing the Forty Niner since she was a kid, and her grandma said that the Forty Niner had been around since K-girl's mom was a kid. We drove by and the diner was closed. It looked like the typical mom-n-pop saimin / breakfast / burger joint. Needless to say, it was exactly the type of place I wanted to eat during this visit to Hawai'i. A cute local girl waited on us. I had the Forty Niner Breakfast, two eggs, choice of meat and fried rice. K-girl had the fried saimin. We tucked in, and were not disappointed. The fried rice was the best I've ever had, other than homemade. And the fried saimin was ono. Whatever daishi or soup they use to flavor the saimin is a bit salty, but still ono. I would love it if someone could give me a definitive reason for why this place is named Forty Niner. The waitress said that the restaurant was founded in 1947. I think we can rule out this place being named after a football team, and I'm fairly sure that the Gold Rush was not in Hawai'i. So I'm going to take a wild guess that the owners thought that this was going to be the 49th state instead of the 50th? Oh yeah, service was excellent, friendly and attentive. Pro-tip: If parking is full, go around the corner and park at KFC.
(5)Jamie D.
It wasn't all it was cranked up to be.... I have to admit, its like food that I could cook at home but nothing I would go out of my way or even pay for. If I had a choice I'd rather go to Big City Diner. What I did find interesting was their banana Mac but pancakes with haupia sauce. It was good but it can't compete agains boots and kimo's! It almost reminded me of the Filipino dessert ginitaan with coconut milk and sometimes bananas. Good dish but maybe not so much on my pancakes- just alright. To each its own really. I have to disagree with the yelp reviews on this one and say its decent, but really- I probably won't come back again.
(2)Jeremy U.
Good comfort food!
(5)LesliAnn K.
I am kinda glad that I didn't automatically check my Yelp reviews before I went to this place. Going in with an open mind, like back in the olden days, before all the technology and social networking to influence us and make us at times, too connected. And THAT is the biggest charm about this place, that it brings you back to a more innocent time. Open air windows, screen doors blocking out the mosquitos/flies, but not the tradewinds, and maybe a little dust while you're at it. Liked that I didn't know what to expect, and that I was pleasantly surprised. That I found out the good items and recommendations from talking story with the waitress behind the counter. That we built our experience ourselves. Everyone has zoomed by this place in their car on the way to the freeway, rushing to town, swanky new restaurants and places. But on Monday pau hana, it was the perfect place to be. Comfort food. Freshly made. Not too crowded. I felt that universal feeling of contentment felt by anyone who's ever been on the road, after a long hard day, and ate at a roadside diner. It feeds the soul. "What to get? How does this work?" We ask the waitress. "Depends on what you want. Get all kine customers, construction workers like their plate lunch and meat, get the Japanese tourists come who like order pancakes and burgers. But my absolute fave...garlic chicken. Never ever gets old." Dining section and counter section, choose between the two. A jam-packed menu guaranteed to have something for everyone. We chose Forty Niner pancakes with haupia sauce, big chunks of macadamia that you can taste, and jam-packed with bananas. Rivals the one from Boots and kimos. Fresh, homemade burger, and a side of garlic chicken. I mean, this is how restaurant-ing used to be. And by the way, OLD SCHOOL PRICES TOO. SOO CHEAP. West side, you got some gems.
(5)Shanti B.
Forty Niner is a small hole in the wall that for most of my life (up until a few years ago) always just drove past without giving it any time of day...But for someone like myself (who LOVES saimin) that's been a BIG mistake... My girlfriend found out that I've never ate there & was so shockec she just had to take me & I loved it!! Whenever we go there we usually get ourselves a bowl of saimin, and we split an order of fries & cheeseburger....so I haven't really ever strayed from that...simple YET delicious.... If you haven't already, you should definately check it out!
(5)FDfoodie J.
First off, i am a foodie. But I like real food made by real people. Not a fan of the line cook franchises. I love this local diner. Just happened upon it while driving to the pro bowl at aloha stadium. Best chicken and waffles I ever ate!!!! (and I have been to New Orleans). My wife had Da Elvis pancakes, delish. Great, fast service. Don't be put off by the hole in the wall feel. Besides my family, the other diners were all locals. That's what I like to see. I will definitely revisit the 49er on my next trip to Oahu.
(5)Mark M.
I'm a terrible cheerleader for my home town. I've lived in Aiea for my entire life and I've only been to Forty Niner once. It was always one of those places I wanted to try and I always said I'd do it later. Yeah, like 15 years later. I finally made my way into this place and I was pleasantly surprised. After reading some reviews I decided to get the hamburger steak. It was handmade, fresh, flavorful, and hearty. That's pretty much anything could ever want in a hamburger steak. It came with gravy all over it and it also came with two scoops of rice and their version of a mac noodle salad which I found interesting. After finishing my meal I realized what my dad used to talk about all these years. When I told that I finally tried Forty Niner he was surprised that I've never been there before and I told me that I need to hang my head in shame. After all, how can I try to be an expert in food through Yelp if I haven't even mastered my own damn home town? I'd love to return there again sometime soon to try the saimin that everyone has been raving about. Supposedly it's to die for and if I'm going to die, it might as well be with a full stomach.
(4)Kalei F.
I've been hearing such great things about this place, my friends and I finally had to stop in! The ambiance in this place is definitely old school Hawaii diner-ish, which brought me back to the hana-bata days! The food is decent here and the service is pretty good, though I'm one of those types that you MUST always fill my water fast because I drink like a fish!! We had the hamburger steak, which was seasoned perfectly, very good flavor and texture, but too much gravy all over everything. We had the macadamia nut, banana, haupia pancakes which was ok. NOTHING compared to Boots & Kimo's!! I don't like nuts in my actual pancake so that was kind of weird and the pancakes were too salty and dry. Definitely not my favorite! The garlic chicken, however, was pretty darn tasty!! I'm a huge fan of garlic chicken and this did not disappoint! It was crunchy and flavorful :) We also ordered the cheeseburger which was very good. It tasted kind of like a McDonald's cheeseburger but I did like it and the fries were cooked well. Do not get the mac salad.......it should really be called spaghetti salad because that's all they used....cut spaghetti pasta, carrots, and mayonnaise.....very gross!! This place has huge portions, cash only, and super local style flavor. It's super cheap for how much food you get, but it just left me wanting something else.......and parking is rough around there!!
(3)Dan N.
Ox tail soup is a little to salty for me and I think they forgot to trim the fat off .I think they should rename it ox tail fat soup. I still gave it 3 stars because the pancakes not bad ,and friendly service.but no more ox tail fat soup for me
(3)Bert W.
my wife & i had breakfast at the forty niners . the food & service was excellent & i rate them a 100. the two waitress are always hassling. when they are getting overwhelmed they are still hassling & giving the best customer service. therefore i rate them 5 stars.
(5)Charity G.
Drive to pearl harbor and get free tickets for the USS Arizona tour. Now don't get upset if you have to wait for a while... Take the time to come here! It doesn't look like much outside. It's an awesome local's place. Garlic chicken in the bomb! Fried rice omelette is pretty awesome too!
(5)Natasha K.
Previously I would've given this place 4 stars. I've eaten here two times although I admittedly was hesitant at first because it definitely does not look appealing from the outside. I was pleasantly surprised, the breakfast food was very good and the waitresses I had both times were nice. However I do not think I will return after the unacceptable service I received on the phone. I called in the morning to ask if they do take out and the lady replied "yes but we're extremely busy right now"....I tried to ask her "ok so does that mean I can't place one right now?"(because that response isn't very clear, she could've just been warning me that my order would take longer etc, I wasn't sure). She didn't reply because she was talking to another customer about their order, so I tried saying "hello" one time and getting her attention but she continued to ignore me and then ended up just hanging up on me!! That is completely unacceptable. If they are in fact too busy to accept take out orders the appropriate response would've been "yes we normally do but I apologize we are really busy right now and cannot accept any at the time" or something along those lines. She shouldn't reply with an answer that leaves the customer wondering "ok so what does that mean" and ignoring me to talk to other customers and then hanging up....that's completely unacceptable, there's no reason it needed to be handled that way. I understand your busy but there is a much better way that situation could've been handled. Doubt I will ever return there because of that.
(1)Justin Y.
Some things never change. This statement rings true for good ol' Forty Niner out in Aiea without a doubt. For anyone that grew up in Hawaii, this place is ridiculously nostalgic in pretty much every way. The building still looks almost abandoned from the outside, with tables and chairs that have probably been there longer than I've been alive. The service is very "aunteh style" which would seem a bit random to anyone not familiar with it. From the moment you enter, you have to figure out yourself to just seat yourself in the dining room side...a bit strange, but hey its fine once you figure it out. Once you get past the awkward seating process however, the service is simply lovely and full of personality. The food is pretty much the same standard local fare that we've grown accustomed to over the past 30 years...but the prices are surprisingly still relatively low. You can easily get a good lunch or breakfast in for under $10. (Or for $5 if you get the 49er special which is a pretty sweet deal.) Most of the breakfast stuff are served all day which is another huge plus in my book. The serving sizes aren't the hugemangous portions that people have come to know, which can be a good or bad thing. I tried to loco moco and while its biggest thing i've seen, it was more than enough to fill me up without making me feel sick (like most would if I ate the entire thing.) Only downside to 49er is that its still cash-only! Not to mention there are no nearby ATMs. A big CASH ONLY sign would help a lot...we weren't carrying cash and that made for a long awkward wait while one person in our party had to drive and make a cash run. Definitely going back soon...so glad this place is still around and going strong! Keep it old school 49er!
(4)Larry R.
Saimin and cheeseburger, nuff said. That's all I need to get my tummy filled me up. When I was a kid, my dad and I used go to fishing and stop by after at forty niner for grinds. I'm craving! I wanna go there right now!!
(5)Cynthia L.
Really friendly staff. Came the day after Xmas and they're open till two for lunch. Ordered a saimin hamburger combo with a side of garlic chicken. Everything is mouth watering good. We didn't know they only accepted cash and we had already sat down to order. Waitress said no problem just finish eating its ok..go grab money and just come back afterwards. Waitress was very attentive even after we had no cash on us. :)
(5)Bobby K.
Been eating here for at least 20 yrs since the original owners had the place. The new owners have added a lot of new items to the menu, but kept some of the original items. My stand-by is saimin and cheeseburger w/fries. My son is garlic chicken or macadamia nut pancake or both sometimes. I have to say though that the beef cutlet isn't quite the same as before. I prefer the one the original owners made. 5/13/15 Update: Lechon Kawali 1 Star: I've always like everything I've ordered here so when I saw the Lechon on the menu, I decided to try it out because I love Lechon Kawali (with onion and tomato). Let me start by saying that if you like Elena's Lechon, you will probably not like it here. The pork pieces were too big and and so it didn't cook right. The skin was crunchy which I like, but because the pieces of pork were so big, the fatty part didn't cook good and was like eating big chunks of cooked rubber. Not too appetizing. Needless to say I won't ever be ordering the lechon here again. But this bad meal won't stop me from coming here because I like the other dishes I usually order and the service is always good.
(4)Neka S.
I love this place! Food and service are always on point.
(5)Gary F.
went here of lunch this week. It's your standard local hamburger class Restaurant. The hamburger steak was really good. local style but crispy on the outside. We had a side dish of the garlic chicken and fries. The Garlic chicken was really good. The skin was coated with garlic sauce but yet still a bit crispy. Big G
(4)eric e.
Checked out this place after watching Champ TV. Was feeling kinda skeptical cuz the building is pretty old and run down. As soon as we parked we noticed alot of people eating outside on picnic tables, so it was a good sign. We ordered smoked meat w/ scrambled eggs, Macadamia nut/banana/haupia pancakes, hamburger steak, and garlic chicken. Seemed like alot but it was perfectly filling lol. Everything we ordered was great! overall, the garlic chicken stood out the most and it is alot better than other places that are known for it. Everything we ordered also was season perfectly. The staff was very friendly and was always checking how everyone was doing. Parking isn't too bad, but i'd recommend parking on the gravel lot in the back cuz it's kinda hard to get in/out w/ the amount of traffic there. This is probably one of the best breakfast/lunch on the west side of the island. We will definetly come here again!
(5)Jay C.
I had driven down to Sand Island to get some dinner. With no luck of finding a suitable spot, I headed to Mapunapuna in hopes of a hidden gem to eat at. I resigned to go somewhere in Pearl City after another failed search, until I saw light coming out of the Forty Niner restaurant. I thought this place closed a long time ago! Forty Niner has that old-time cool. The screen doors and windows meant you could hear whatever was going out on the street. They still had those menus where each letter was on a line, and any of them could fall off at any moment. They had floats you could enjoy at the bar and see what was coming out of the kitchen. They close at 8pm, and only accept cash. Because it was on the original items menu, I ordered the beef cutlet. If you've tried beef cutlet before in Hawaii, it's usually a slice of breaded beef that's grilled until the crust is crisp. I got a plate full of sukiyaki thin beef slices, topped with a juicy gravy. It came with two scoops of rice and a tasty mac salad made with spaghetti noodles. I ate it all in a fury, and it was enough to keep me content. What made the night though, was the helpfulness of our server Kara, who also was a fellow Yelper! She made many recommendations of what to try in the future, like the oxtail saimin and the garlic chicken. Kara tried to explain why the hamburgers and hamburger steak were so good, but just couldn't express it in words. Because of her attempt, I ordered a cheeseburger to go. Unfortunately, I can't explain it myself either. One of my nephews ate it, and he's not too eloquent at his age. For me, my experience at Forty Niner is not over. I HAVE to go back for that hamburger. I have this hope that the burger may match up to a burger I ate in '96 or '97 from this place called Lapule in Puck's Alley. That burger was super juicy, had lots of flavor, and had that something special that I could never explain. It was the best burger I ever ate. If Kara's expressions are correct, I might have found a burger suited to do the same.
(5)Kanya E.
Loved the Forty Niner! We were hungry one night and tried to stop in, but it was closing as we pulled up. We could see the menu from the outside, and the small old-timey feel of it, so we vowed to go back. The service was great. We sat at the bar area and the girl was very kind and prompt with her service. The food was very good, and there is a pretty decent selection to choose from. You can tell this is the kind of place where they make a good selection of food WELL. We will be going back for sure to try more of the menu!
(5)Jean W.
Stopped here after visiting Pearl Harbor. Great service & good food. We had: double cheeseburger, fried chicken, Kahlua pork sandwich & saimen noodles with garlic chicken.
(4)Beth W.
Delicious! I'd eat here every morning!
(5)Lilian N.
We finally got lucky and locked down a parking space...! So we quickly went in for some cheap and tasty eats for lunch. I had the eggburger deluxe and the bf got the loco moco. This was his first time here and I am happy to report that his only words of approval were "wow!", "wow!" and "wow!"....the hamburger patty definitely makes the loco moco! Nicely charred but so moist on the inside. Same with my eggburger deluxe, charbroiled patty with a fried egg, and onions/tomato/lettuce. I swear I could've ate at least 2 more of these. We also split a large saimin which we felt was a little bland, but nonetheless deemed a simple and classic local saimin. We plan to go back sometime soon for the yummy burgers and perhaps the hamburger steak plate. Great food, great service, and cheap eats!
(4)Flip N.
First time here and had to say, hearing the waitress saying aunty and uncle was something i had to smile at. Not every day you hear that at a restaurant...just goes to show, people do have some respect and make others feel like family. Anyway, Had the mac banana waffle and chicken combo...was done before the 49er pancake even came out. Fried rice with pocho sausage and eggs were good. 4 stars only because they could use some help in the kitchen. Other than that. Food was awesome enough to say we are going back!
(4)Kalani C.
3.7 stars. Came here for breakfast. Had the short stack banana pancakes (3.5 stars) and the corn beef hash with eggs and rice (3.5 stars). Service is always great and with a smile (4 stars). Old-style local eatery that always makes me feel at home and glad I came. Go eat! Tally: 3.5+3.5+4= 11/3= 3.7 stars. #Yelp 365: 106/365
(3)M.B. L.
I give it four stars for their breakfast. We've been here several times, mostly for breakfast. I've driven pass this place for years and always thought it was scary. One day, we finally decided to try it based on Yelp reviews. It was cozy; service was friendly; and the food was yummmmy! Parking used to be really tight, but now they have additional parking and outdoor seating. My favorite is the banana mac nut waffles. The meat eater loves the egg and ham steak. Their coffee is okay. I used to get mad about them not having any fresh milk or cream for my coffee but am now over it. You can BYOC if you really need to. The prices are not over the top but are also not cheap for Aiea. The service is always friendly. The facilities are modest, but you come here for the food and the smiles! We took visiting family to the place, and they felt like they were getting a tast of Aiea. If you are looking for a breakfast place, skip Anna Miller's and come here instead! Be forewarned. It's a cash-only joint. Being vegetarian, I wouldn't recommend this place for lunch, as you will have few to no options. However, there will be plenty of local grinds for your meat eating friends!
(4)Darcy K.
Saimin and teri beef sandwich or teri burger...thats whats up!... I may die from a heartattack with a smile on my face after all (: My boyfriend brought me here because he said I "had to try it!" They serve breakfast all day, which I think is pretty awesome, but I didnt eat that. The saimin noodles are thinner than what I usually see at other restaurants, but its so yummy (: You cant go wrong with teri burgers, they load up on the sauce and mayo in that bad boy. Only downside about my experience here is that they do not accept credit cards as a form of payment. Bf spent his cash on gas (wallet rape!) but we scrounged up enough loose change and singles to pay for our $14.00 bill! The waitress was really nice and cool about it, she didnt even laugh at us or get pissed about the $9 in change. (: teehee. Also parking is very limited here. Theres street parking in the side streets I guess, I wouldnt chance parking at KFC next door. So yeah. Good local food here that you must try! Love you Forty Niner!
(4)Kehau G.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place! Grew up down the street and 30 years later, it's still the first place I eat at when I arrive home to Oahu. It's a hole but it's because they've put their aloha into the food. I crave their saimin whenever I'm ill, homesick, whenever. Da best!
(5)Corey R.
Good affordable breakfast!!! Def coming back
(5)Rachel C.
Another great dive, conveniently located to the Aloha Stadium! I absolutely loved this place from the authenticity of the food and the great family style service! I had their Hawaiian breakfast which included lomi lomi salmon, kahlua pork, two eggs and rice! Yum! This was so much better than the Paradise Cove luau food! Definitely will be coming back here!
(4)Mindy M.
I'm sad that I've lived down the street for almost 2 years now and JUST went to the 49'er. I went for a quick lunch with some friends. We sat outside on the breezy, lovely covered lanai. It was quiet and nice. They had the pork chops which were reported to be great. I had a pulled pork sandwich. Food was good, portions were just right- def try the mac salad! It's made with spaghetti noodles and it was SO GOOD. I can't wait to go back and try the breakfast foods.
(5)Tad N.
Always wanted to try this place as we drive by it often enough for years.... so one Sunday, finally did. Ample parking in back. Very simple place, almost felt like I was back in my high school days at a down to earth mom & pop eatery. After a friendly greeting and being told of the roast pork just coming out of the oven, I opted for the best roast pork I've had in a long time. My companion ordered the garlic chicken and it was awesome as well. Can't wait for the next visit, perhaps during the upcoming football season. Btw, server Carolyn was friendly and fast!
(4)Daniel K.
Driving by the long time institution on Kam Highway, you would think it's an abandoned building. But this no frills saimin, burger, breakfast and plate lunch diner has a lot to offer. Worried that the quality would drop and pricing rise after ownership change a few years ago, it was good to see that everything is pretty much the same. Even the no AC dining. Can't comment on the plate lunches, because I've only ordered two things: Saimin and cheeseburger. Not a gourmet burger, but no frozen patty here making this a better than average burger. The saimin broth could use a boost, but still tasty. Saimin and cheeseburger will set you back $10. Good deal considering plate lunches are just as pricey. Owners say that parking at the KFC lot is okay.
(4)Sunshine C.
AMAZING! The banana French toast was HEAVENLY, the FRO was so Ono! Also had the chocolate chip pancakes and they were so tasty as well!! Extremely satisfied!
(5)Alex T.
Definitely a solid 4 stars! The service was fast and friendly, just the way I like it. No muss, no fuss. The food came out hot, and while it was delicious (I had the pancake breakfast with scrambled eggs, Portuguese sausage, and a forty-inner pancake), it was nothing ground-breaking. Just your standard, solid diner breakfast at a price that didn't make my wallet cry. And that's just fine by me! I'll be coming back for more yummy food soon!
(4)William M.
Great local place. Good food for low price. Third best meal on the island. Try smoked sausage and loco moco. Both excellent. Servers were amazingly attentive.
(5)Mikala L.
A bit old school like you're eating at Manago Hotel or some hole in the wall in Hilo. However, this is part of the experience and the food is seriously good. Hamburger Steak with grilled onions and dark gravy was tasty as the burgers are homemade and decent size for $8.50. The "mac" salad is good taste if you like spaghetti noodles - but ono and simple. Hence, any burger deluxe will be great for the price! The garlic chicken (side For $2.75) very tasty but crusty but cheap - sauce delish. The full stack choc chip pancakes for $6.75 was yummy according to son and HUGE! Every local that appreciates old school feel should give this place a try as I will be coming back, esp if Aiea Bowl and The Heights have a long wait. The service was also excellent and you'll wanna leave them a 30% tip. :)
(5)Scott K.
Not the same as when I was a kid but the new owners still pack a good crowd in there. You would think I would be eating saimin there but honestly, there chicken is good! Back in the day it felt like Hamuras......but its still just as good. Old world charm.
(3)Jeff S.
First timer. We lucked into one of their 5 or so stalls. According to one Yelper you can park at KFC next door. Service is very friendly and I'll say pretty efficient. One of my wife's fried banana halves from her french toast slipped off of the plate and onto the table while the plate was being served and there it sat through the meal. Luckily it was skin on so she just ate out of the skin. I would have at very least put it on a plate for the customer if not replaced it. Breakfast all day EXCEPT waffles and fried rice. Hmmm. Spotted Fried Chicken & Waffles on the menu but I'd have to get there before 10:30am to try it. Looking for satisfaction after the disappointment at "pancakes and waffles" Had breakfast Eggs over (done perfect), over fried rice (small serving), Vienna sausage and a short stack cause I'm always on the look out for a good pancake. These hotcakes unfortunately, like many, are second string. To be ordered only in a desperate pinch when everywhere else is closed or too far. A little too rubbery (and yet dry) for my taste. Back to my wife's banana French toast (remember w the banana on the table). It seems like they coat the French toast in the pancake batter creating a rubbery pancake condom over the french toast which to me kind of ruins it. I noticed a majority of tables ordering burgers. They look really good. I would go back to try one. Maybe there'll be more stars then but based on our breakfast, 3 stars is right on the money.
(3)Alyssa M.
Forty Niner's is located right at the corner with KFC on Kamehameha Hwy. It's hard to find parking (their lot is tiny -- 3 or 4 stalls) but i found out you're able to park in KFC's parking lot too. My first time there in YEARS...almost forgot the taste of homemade food :) I had the loco moco -- BEST loco moco i've had in...idk how long?! The gravy was good, the meat was good...usually it's always one thing that's not right, BUT Forty Niner's got it right!! Their customer service is awesome!! They memorize your order, they walk around & talk story with everyone...see if you're okay...make sure you always have something in your cup...very personable people.
(4)Aaron T.
Never ever had a bad meal here. The hamburgers are generic but decent as for everything else it is above average.
(4)Wina G.
Old time soda shop! Cousin and I stopped in for a "snack". Well we had a blast from the past experience and ended up ordering hamburger, BBQ stick, saimin and mac salad and a rootbeer float! Friendly service. Small parking lot in the back.
(5)Oly C.
The loco moco (hamburger steak with gravy) is the best I've every had in Oahu. Parking is bad, I usually park in the residential in the back and walk down. There is usually only one girl working the register and tables but services is still relatively fast if you don't go during lunch hour.
(4)Mr. C.
When I first walked into Forty Niners it brought me back to my younger days of going up to my uncle Chans house in Papakolea. The old school tables and chairs, the cement floor and the feeling of being on my uncles porch hanging out with ohana and enjoying family and friends company. The food is "Broke Da Mout, Ono". The saimin and cheeseburger combo takes me back to my childhood. The chicken and waffles is my favorite breakfast...no wait, the smoke meat and eggs is...no wait, the forty niner pancakes...you get the picture. The specials, like the fried pork w/ onions and tomatos (should be on the perminent menu already, just a suggestion=) it's Unreal!!! The pickled onions add just the right flavor to bring the dish together...Superb!!! The service is awsome and we always look forward to see Aunty Lei and the girls on Sunday mornings. The parking can be a bit of a squeeze but it's worth the delicious food and great service.
(5)Craig C.
Used to go to the Forty Niner when I was a Teen back in the early '70's. And always had either their Saimin or a Charbroiled burger. And of course when I used to go there I was just a haole boy who lived across the street in the military housing at McGrew Point. Fast-forward 40 years, the place basically has not changed, and the food is still very good. Was there just last week and had the Forty Niner breakfast with Portugee Sausage (4 slices) with coffee, toast and 1 OJ. Great meal that was filling as well as very reasonably priced, service was great and the waitress was very friendly. My sister and I had basically the same meal minus the coffee, toast and the OJ in downtown Waikiki the day before with only 2 slices of sausage and it was 5 dollars more. Highly recommend, food is served quick and is good. And the prices are very reasonable.
(5)Samantha S.
Excellent Kalua pork sandwich and the waitress was super friendly. She kept checking on us to make sure we had what we needed.I would definitely recommend.
(5)Rebecca C.
always the best customer service :)
(5)Shelly i.
I used to love saimin until I went to Japan when I was 15 and tasted ramen. From then on I became a saimin snob and wouldn't eat it because "it's not like what you get in Kyoto." Egads, I was such a brat. Thankfully, 49er's brought me back to reality. Saimin is not ramen, in fact in certain cases it's better. I especially like ordering saimin with a teri burger on the side and letting the broth cut the sweetness and the richness of the burger. 49er's saimin broth is mild and tastes faintly of char siu. I prefer it to Shiro's, Sonoya's, and Sekiya's and I am so grateful that the recipe didn't change when the new owners took over a couple of years back. But ramble-y bratty memories aside, 49er's is a great little hole in the wall with almost zip-zilch-nada parking. There are maybe four stalls in a really awkwardly located lot. Good luck getting out when all the cars trying to get onto Kam start speeding by. You could try parking in the neighborhood or walking from the Toys R Us lot (that lot is empty except for around Christmas). Either way it's worth it. It's also good to keep in mind that they take a break between lunch and dinner, so if you don't get there by two in the afternoon you're out of luck until they open for dinner.
(5)Genevieve J.
Don't let the appearance of this building fool you!! It may look old, but there is a living tradition when it comes to Forty Niner! It took me awhile to actually eat at this place but I have only heard good things about it. Forty Niner has apparently been around forever because all of the older local individuals know about this place and will highly reccomend it. I reccomend it also. There is a take out area as well as a dining area, and service is very prompt and curteous. The food is very reasonably priced and well worth the price. You get a good feel of the warmth and compassion that small local places in Hawaii posess. If you havent gone here..you should definitely give it a try!
(4)Greg B.
This is a local place that is rather hard to get to, given that it is on the outskirts of Aiea, but far from any place in Honolulu. Parking is a challenge. However, the saimin and the normal plate lunches are very good. The setting evokes age and a memory of when establishments like this used to be all over Honolulu. There is a bar up front and service is rather quick. I believe this establishment is the first that serves fish tempura that isn't of a large slice or fillet but rather of the reef fish that populates an aquarium. That was a surprise for me when I came here (which was very long ago). However, it is a good place to visit and it has moderate prices (although it may have changed from when I went here last).
(4)Marc C.
Great variety of breakfast items to Hawaiian lunch plates! The garlic chicken was awesome! Check our the forty niner bento for a good variety plate.
(5)L K.
This establishment is "broke da mouth" good food!! Love their breakfasts and friendly staff. It is what many would consider a "hole in the wall", but that shouldn't matter when the food is really delicious.
(5)John A.
Walking into this place makes you feel like you stepped back in time, until you look out the window and see all the traffic : ) I gave the garlic chicken w/ fried noodles a try.
(3)Andrea L.
I went here the other day when where I originally planned to go was packed. what a nice surprise! the atmosphere was very warm and inviting. There was only one waitress it looked like but she was very attentive. I had the fried noodles with garlic chicken and I have to say that I am in LOVE. my mom was with me and had the teri beef burger. she loved hers too. just like home! I have been living here all my life and only went there now?!?! I don't know what I was thinking. I'm going back asap!
(4)D L.
I know that this restaurant has been around for ages but I never thought to eat there since it looked like an abandoned structure. We were in the Aiea area and my friend wanted to eat hamburger so she suggested we go Forty Niner. The waitress was quite informative, telling us that their hamburger patties were made fresh and that they serve breakfast all day (well, besides the waffle selections). I ordered a Hamburger with a side of Fries. My friend ordered the Hamburger Steak plate, and my hubby got the Forty Niner Pancakes (bananas, mac nuts, and haupia sauce). I didn't like what I ordered. If you like your burgers charred and fries so crispy it's hard...then this is the place for you. My hamburger was not juicy at all and there was mustard but no ketchup in it which I thought was strange. They should call their burgers BBQ burgers instead. Now, for my hubby's pancakes, that I loved! It is very similar to Boots N Kimo's Mac Nut pancakes, but not as sweet. It was two round plate-sized pieces with Haupia sauce all over topped with Mac Nut crumbs. They could've been more generous with the Haupia sauce, but otherwise it was perfect. I didn't get grossed out after a few bites, and I like that I don't have to make the drive into Kailua for my pancake cravings. The prices were very reasonable, customer service was decent (forgot the ketchup when I asked), and the restaurant was kept pretty clean. A plus is that they offer free refills on fountain drinks! I don't know of any other small business that does that!! The hours of operation is a bit different...they open for breakfast and lunch, closed for a few hours after lunch and reopens again at 4pm til 8pm. Best to call before you go.
(3)Mike N.
I have been passing this place for 20 something years and finally stopped to check it out. Its really small, only like 8 tables so it fills up fast. We went about 2 pm and was still busy but the waitress said that day was unusual. Usually it slows by then. Only 1 waitress too. Anyway, I thought the food was pretty good. Had the hamburger steak plate and the wife had a burger. Was pretty fresh. The banana mac-nut pancake with haupia sauce was really good too. Waitress also suggested saimin and garlic chicken which probably is good too. Very nostalgic atmosphere. Would come again for sure. Hope this review helps.
(4)Darci N.
Being a resident of 'Aiea my entire life I have eaten here tons of time. Glad to see that they look like they will be expanding the restaurant with a hopefully much needed facelift. Hopefully they add more parking too! The only waitress was very sweet and obliging to every request. We dined on furikake salmon, beef cutlet and a side order of garlic chix. Everything was delicious but my garlic chix was tough to eat, it was hard to bite into but the flavor was good. The wasabi aioli sauce on my salmon was just the right amount, not too overbearing. The beef cutlet was tender and smothered in gravy.
(4)Adam P.
my co-workers always sneak out from work and eat here. Great prices. Killer garlic chicken. The workers are all nice. Last week I went for breakfast and got eggs. They ran an extra order on accident and gave it to me for free. Definitly check them out. Parking is weak cause that side road is always backed up. I've been parking at KFC and sneaking over.
(5)Emi H.
I grew up in Aiea and today was my very first visit to Forty Niner Restaurant! All I could hope was that it was worth the three decades of waiting. There are two sides to Forty Niner, one is for take-out and counter service and the other side is a regular restaurant with tables. I plopped down into a booth with my friend and two kiddies, and we were a bit confused as to whether or not there was a waitress who'd take our order or if we were suppose to order from the counter. A nice waitress brought us menus and water. Like our menus, the Forty Niner is tattered and dirty but there's a homey charm that you have to love about the place. It's almost like dining at your Obachan's house with the old school tables and chairs. I am talking rustic with a capital RUSTY, but I'm totally serious when I say its charming. I decided to order the hamburger steak ($7.75), because hey, who needs their arteries intact right? And my girlfriend decided to get the oxtail soup ($10.75). I ordered my kiddies a cheeseburger ($3.25) with fries ($2.65) being that they are the world's pickiest children and only eat rice, apples and chicken nuggets. Our food took about 10 minutes to come out and we dug into the Forty Niner meal which felt like a long intended meeting with destiny. Unfortunately for me and my friend, our food fell short of our expectations. The hamburger steak was really burnt and oddly mushy. It was okay but definitely not the best I'd ever had as some have said in other reviews. The tossed salad had a dressing that looked like thousand island but it was some weird creamy oriental dressing. Bleck! My friends oxtail soup was very fatty and she pulled out the fat from her bowl and put it on a separate plate. Maybe we ordered the wrong thing but the food was nothing to write home about. I think the reason why Forty Niner has so many great 4 star reviews is because of the servers. Although they were a bit scattered, I think it was because our waitress was pregnant, they were really eager to please and you could tell honestly cared about their customers. My girlfriend ordered refill on her coke at the end our meal as they were getting ready to box up our food and our waitress had the foresight to put her drink in a take out cup. I was thoroughly impressed by this because when was the last time a server did something like this for you? If ever? I'm really happy I got to dine at the Forty Niner and that it indeed has not gone out of business. Long live Mom and Pops and may the hamburger steak be cooked better on my return!
(3)Mako O.
Are you guys playing a joke on me? I should have followed my instinct and not tried this place. But after reading some reviews, i was craving the Chicken and Waffles. The staff was very attentive although the waitress forgot that we ordered Diet Cokes for drinks...no biggie. NO Chicken and Waffles served after 10:30am??? Oh and no Fried Rice after 10:30 neither. So i decided to try the Garlic Chicken, Beef Cutlet and a side of fries. The Beef Cutlet came out first...funny thing, it didn't look like a cutlet. It was more like Roast Beef. The flavor was ok but nothing to rave about. This is when the nightmare started. The Garlic Chicken and Fries came out. I took one bite of the Garlic Chicken and got a rancid after taste. I then looked at the fries and saw that the oil dripping off the fries were almost black! I have never NEVER had food deep fried in oil that was so rancid! ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!! I couldn't get out of here quick enough! I think I will call the health department to see if there are any regulations about frying oil... BLEH! I can still taste it!
(1)Jason Y.
Ahhhhh...the memories! this place has been here forever, longer than most people have been alive. not sure if its still the same family that owns it, but the food here is pretty darn good and pretty reasonable. i remember walking here as a little kid with grandpa and eating saimin and a burger, it was awesome. the place has been "renovated" but it still looks like an old fashioned saimin stand with the counter and all. everything on the menu is good...can't explain everything on it, but just go lots of time and try everything! for old times sake, get a saimin and burger as your first meal only problem here is parking sucks big time, there's only like four stalls and its alongside a major intersection so even if you can get a stall, good luck trying to get out when you want to leave. better off parking in a side street by the residential homes and walking. it's not hard at all and it'll be a lot easier.
(4)Rani R.
Finally went here and I'm glad I did. Had saimin and hamburger. You know something simple and it was really good. I love home made burgers vs. the premade. They are easier to eat and taste better. The saimin was good and I really like the dashi. I'll be back again!!
(4)Kristin B.
while on vacation in Hawaii, i wanted to check out more local spots than touristy ones so while meeting up with a friend in the area, he suggested the Forty Niner. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here! it's a really small place but having lunch around 1pm, it wasnt too crowded. I opted for a Forty-Niner original with the beef cutlet, rice, and macaroni salad plate lunch. Hearing the word cutlet, i automatically assumed deep fried but when my lunch came out, it was nothing like i expected! it's basically chopped up, sauteed beef drenched in gravy (almost like a loco moco). served over rice and macaroni salad it was the perfect lunch. great portion size and affordable at only $8...parking may be hard to find so we parked in the KFC lot nearby since we werent there for too long...it's definitely worth your while to drive out to this area of the island if you're staying in waikiki for a great meal and to avoid the tourists. Note: The place is cash only! if you need an atm machine, the closest one is a couple blocks away so bring cash with you if you dont wanna walk.
(4)Zach R.
This place is Awesome for lunch! I don't know how many times I've cruised by this diner and it was closed. I finally got the pleasure of eating lunch here and I was super impressed. The staff were very friendly and attentive... This place has a great menu of local dishes (Saimin, Teri plate lunches, Garlic Chicken, Fish, etc.) and juicy, delicious Burgers as well as other classic favorites. Two words, OXTAIL SOUP! The broth was the best I've ever tasted, and it came with two huge pieces of tender, unctuous oxtail. I will be going back very often just for this bowl of heaven! Can't wait to try the chicken-n-waffles too!
(5)Brian A.
GO Niners! Unlike my favorite football team, FNR delivers championship caliber local comfort food. I've always wanted to go here, but the location coupled with wrong timing and the fact that the parking lot consist of maybe four stalls, always prevented us from stopping. Today that drought ended! It's reputation as a good hamburger place precedes it, so I had to order something with hamburgers. Seeing it was breakfast, I chose a tasty loco moco and fruit punch for breakfast. It all cost me under $8 sans tip (but I left a $2 tip because I was feeling really good about coming out of there, more on that below). The burger itself was nice and moist. Add the excellent gravy, rice, and an egg on top my bowl and it was very good. The restaurant exudes a small diner feel. I met and chatted a bit with a regular aunty who always comes in on Fridays to get her special meal. No order taking for her, they know what she wants and it was complicated. They seem to have fixed her up perfectly though. See, I sat at their counter area. It seems like it's the more social place to be with all the regulars chatting it up and they included me, which made me feel right at home. They also have a regular dining area. The counter and dining area are not connected and have a separate entrance for each side. The decor is definitely diner-ish and gives you that old time Hawaii feel with the old painted concrete floors. It is a bit loud there because it sits at the crossroads of Kamehameha Highway, but I think that adds to the charm of a diner like this. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. Unfortunately, unless you bring grandpa and his handicap placard, parking may be an issue. I got lucky this day, but it really is four stalls and a handicap parking space. Additionally, it's all located right next to the busy side street off of Kam Hwy. So you will have to be careful backing out. Other than that, I will definitely be going back!
(5)Joshua C.
Sometimes the best secrets are hidden in plain sight. I always thought this place was abandoned....in fact I'm sure most people drive right by this place. Don't be one of them. Don't miss out on one of the island's great old school hole in the wall saimin places. We started eating here before the renovation. Loved the Eggburgers (Hamburger with EGG) and saimin (the aji of the broth and the noodles make this simple and good). So I greived when they closed, and was hesitant when they reopened.....but now having gone back, I think the new owners succeeded in maintaining the charm while expanding the menu. I've heard that the magician lady in charge of the broth stayed on board to help out the new regime. My old favorites are still available and in addition they've added more seats, about twenty new menu items (really like the Fried Saimin). Parkings limited, if the lots full, try the side street just up the block. This is a fun spot to sit, slurp some saimin,, and dream about pre traffic Hawaii. :)
(4)Shannon C.
I really wanted to give this place more stars but just couldn't with the food that we had. My husband and I had a late lunch there yesterday. I had the egg cheeseburger deluxe and my husband had a regular cheeseburger with fries. The egg burger was okay but very rich the hamburger patty was kinda mushy. My husband didn't even finish his burger. Maybe we should've ordered something else, but with all the reviews talking about their hamburger, we just had to try it. Next time I'm gonna try the pancakes with the macadamia nut sauce.
(3)Nicole K.
After the new management took over, it wasn't as good as before. But, the food is still good, and the service is still good. I still like the saimin, and they always provide. Parking is kind of hard, and the facility is small.
(4)James C.
The food was good. I had a bento and my kids each had a teri-burger. The burger was cooked just right. The patty was homemade and very tender. My bento was tasty but not unlike any other bento, with the exception of the fish. I was given a actual fish that had a tail. The fish was filleted so I could eat it without worry of bones. But I could hold it by the tail and munch on it much like I would eat a fried shrimp. The staff was very friendly. Great chat skills. It definitely had a down home feel to it. So while the food was good but not great, the friendly vibe bumps this place up to a 4 star joint.
(4)J A.
I'm going to be the bubble burster and break the 4 star streak. I asked hubby what he would rate the overall experience and he said 2.5-3 and the kid rated it a 3. I got a small saimin and teri burger deluxe, the kid ordered the garlic chicken and hubby got a teri plate with a side of fries. Here are the cons: 1. Parking is very limited and the parking spaces are tight. 2. I am aware that the area they are situated can't be helped. But nonetheless, multiple Harleys drove by with their obnoxiously loud engines and the smell of exhaust was not a good mix while eating dinner. 3. The screen door did not close properly and I saw 2 flies circulating the restaurant. 4. The food I ordered was salty. I even mentioned to my husband that I wasn't sure if my taste buds have changed since being pregnant but the food I ordered was really salty. He tasted it and agreed. 5. The place is laid back. It was evident with the wait help. One waitress yelled from one side of the room at a couple on the other side of the room and asked, "You guys pau?" Nothing is wrong with being laid back, but come on. That's just G-H-E-T-T-O. 6. Witnessed a waitress dropping off french fries to customers and a couple fell on her serving tray. She picked up the fries with her (probably filthy) fingers and placed it back on the customer's plate. Pro: 1. Cheap food.
(3)Whitney M.
This is a tiny little old building near Aloha Stadium. We stopped here on our way to the Saturday market. We got there at 9am, and it wasn't busy, so parking was no problem. I had the Macadamia nut pancakes. They were AMAZING! Super fluffy and delicious! My mom had the regular pancakes, but she liked mine better. My dad and sister had the forty-niner breakfast - eggs, spam and fried rice. They both really loved it. The fried rice was great. The staff are very friendly, and helpful to tourists, like us. I don't know if the place is officially family-run, but there were family members working there. It was a great place to have breakfast! Be advised that there are no frills here. The coffee creamer is the powdered kind, like Coffee-Mate. I still give it 5 stars, though.
(5)Betsey L.
fellow yelper boki C. brought us here during my first visit to hawaii, specifically oahu! we went NUTS during our first visit and each ordered a dish not realizing how BIG the portions are! we ordered: - loco moco: first time trying this traditional dish of rice, gravy, hamburger patty and eggs. before coming i dind't want to try b c it sounds gross but o m g, its so good!!! - 49er pancake: TO DIE FOR. macadamia banana pancake w/ this amazing white sauce w/ more macadamia sprinkled on top!!! - 49er breakfast: comes with fried rice, choice of sausage or bacon (get the portugese sausage), eggs. what a deal. - ox tail saimen: YUM i love how its served with chinese mustard green service is so friendly and nice! i wish i had a place like this in DC.
(4)Ryan T.
This is definitely a cheap eat. The portions are gigantic. I had the loco moco and was not disappointed. My friends ordered the saimin, teri burger, and oxtail soup. Everything that we ate was delicious. The only drawback here is the very limited parking. We actually had to park next door in the KFC lot.
(4)Kasey T.
I used to come here with my father and we'd always order saimin with a burger on the side. I still frequent here with the new ownership. The food is great and so is the service. Many of the old timers still populate this diner.
(5)Cy C.
When you think of 49ers you think of a gold mine and San Francisco. Well guess what 49ers in Hawaii means a pretty good meal. Changed hands with a new owner, lost a little of the magic but it is still there. Its known as a saimen stand but I always order their loco moco or hamburger steak. Okay I admit it I order a small saimen with a hamburger. I just love homemade hamburgers with saimen. Saimen is good but not great. Gets crowded during lunch. The only downfall is finding parking with only 5 stalls in front. Friendly staff but they get so busy, just hold on, you do not have to go up to the counter someone will be by to assist. Not the nicest place to eat lunch, but oh well can't complain about the old skool charm. Make your day Finer, with a meal from Forty Niner!
(4)Allison D.
Without Yelp on my iPhone, I never would've found this place, and my friend I would've gone hungry... I had a burger that was delicious, and my friend got the garlic chicekn. The prices were awesome, especially compared to our previous Waikiki dining experiences. It's family-run, and everyone was super nice, even to our Wisconsin-shirt-wearing tourist selves. If I ever get the chance to go to Oahu again, I'm going back to try some saimin...
(5)Gee Gee M.
Old fashion style diner - the kind of place you can enjoy a bowl of Saimin and a Hamburger sandwich - lots of other good local style plates like good 'ole Hamburger Steak or even a bowl of Ox Tail Soup, but they also have some fancy, fancy stuff that they put together like a tower of fried chicken - very interesting menu. Service is good too - parking can be tough but worth it to fuss a bit with parking and be able to dine in an old fashioned atmosphere.
(4)Jayme K.
This place is great :) pricing is reasonable for the amount they give...fried rice.and garlic chicken is awesome!
(5)Chad B.
Me and my wife love coming here. Very friendly people. I've really liked everything I ordered. We love the banana macadamia haupia sauce pancakes. I had the waffles and fried chicken, interesting combination, but very good. I love the 49ers omelet! The only thing we didnt like as much was the banana french toast, i think it was made out of pancake batter instead of bread. If you like local food and want something different than Anna Millers or Ihop you will appreciate this place.
(5)Kalani H.
The hamberger steak and breaded pork chops was killa. Gotta try the garlic chicken!
(5)Mama N.
Definitely worth a trip! I guess I never tried it since it was just this kind of hole in the wall place. Thanks to yelp, reviews looked good and we wanted good food. Parking is limited, but we must have gone at the right time, found open spots! Tried the garlic chicken, roast pork and gravy, and fried noodles. All really good! Even the little one enjoyed the roast pork and gravy (and he never likes it)! Put this one on your list.
(4)Wendy G.
First time eating here and I am absolutely satisfied. Ordered the egg with cheeseburger deluxe and garlic chicken and my gf got the forty niner bento. We loved everything about this place. Food, service and comfort vibe.
(5)Eric L.
Nice little cozy place to eat. The stafff is really nice and they recognize you after multiple times u go
(4)Colette A.
John and I had lunch today at the 49er Diner in Aiea. It is so nice that these places still exist in Hawaii. Reminds us of the Hawaii from many years ago before all of the development. Really good food, lots of it (had to take home doggy bag) and priced right. Family atmosphere. It has been ten years since we ate their but we will visit this place much more often.
(5)Joann N.
We stopped in one afternoon to get out of traffic deadlock. Also, I wanted to try it out after reading the reviews on yelp! The food is very good and the service is great. I ordered the garlic chicken and it was very good. My water glass was never empty as our waitress made sure it was topped off frequently. She was very sweet taking time to talk story with all the customers. Dessert was a fried brownie a la mode shared. No way could I have ever eaten it alone unless it was ordered instead of dinner. Parking wasn't a problem but getting out during high traffic time wasn't easy. Just remember CASH ONLY and you will not be sorry. We will be back.
(5)Jake A.
Make sure to try a bowl of saimin and Teri burger delux
(4)John F.
Hands down the best place I've ever eaten in my life. My dad took me there when I was a kid. His dad took him when he was a child. When I grow up I'm gonna take my son there. And the food will continue to be amazing. Love the Saimin + Cheeseburger combo. Another is the Beef Cutlet with bread. Amazing, amazing food.
(5)Jon L.
DANK. I love the dingy exterior, and the WWII diner style interior. Heck, it was probably built in the 40's. The place serves a variety of things, and I had the oxtail soup. DANK. The cilantro and ginger were on point. Wow. Fast, close to my work, and o.g. flavor. Parking is crappy but you can luck out with a spot. Or park across the street where the dixie grill and go banana's is.
(4)Jason H.
Oxtail soup is so delicious! Reminds me of my grandmas! Way better than any Place I ever tried!
(5)Karl K.
Talk about a "throw-back" from the distant past! I had heard about Forty Niner prior to moving to Oahu in the late '60s. I was under the mistaken impression that the original owners were San Francisco 49er fans, but I later learned that the name wa derived from the desire that Hawaii would become the 49th state of the USA.. Do you remember the 49th State record label that released the Hawaiian music by artists like "Auntie" Genoa Keawe, Johnny Alameida, and "Uncle" Bill Lincoln? I missed the boat the first time around when the two guys who started it after World War II retired. Damn, I had passed this non-descript "dive," a hole-in-the-wall "classic" thousands of time. But, wait, a reprieve was in store for us all when the new owners stepped in. The word was out that the tradition would continue. Since I had never stepped foot in there during its previous incarnation, I have no recollection of what the food tasted like. I can only say that based on the things I've ordered (saimin, hamburgers, hamburger steak, roast pork, and teri beef), it's good, damned good. If it was better in the old days, then HOLY ****, I really missed out! The parking sucks, the place is old, and it's off the main drag. But, those "deficiencies" somehow contribute to the "charm" of the establishment - I'm a big fan of "comfort food." It's at a level that foie gras and other "hoity-toity" cuisine cannot even begin to approach. Especially when it's time to "grind," not "dine."
(5)Roy U.
For dinner we had pancakes, fried saimin with garlic chicken, cheeseburger and fries...everything was so delicious and the staff was so helpful!!! We'll definately come back to try their chicken and waffles!!!
(4)Noe M.
Family atmosphere is nice. Hamburger Steak w/onions is my fav! Fried Saimin and Garlic Chicken is Winnahz!
(4)Jenny Z.
Today I had breakfast from Forty Niners. I used to love this place when I was a child. This was the first meal I've had from here in atleast 10 years. I ate the portuguese omelette with fried rice. The fried rice was yummy, one of the best I've ever tried. However, I only ate about 1/4 of my omelette because I kept biting down on something hard and crunchy in it. It wasn't eggshells, I think it actually was something in the sausage. So I was really disappointed, but thankful for my co-workers who picked up breakfast for me.
(2)Boki C.
I love this place. The family is so nice & friendly. I love mom & pop diners. Food is great, portions are huge. Ambiance is excellent. I want to become a regular! ~~ edit 05/17/10 after eating boots & kimo (boo) i felt that i had to update this review, that obviously doesn't do it justice. so since my review, i've probably been here i dunno at least a dozen times. i HAVE become a regular. i usually go on sundays & bring my guests when they r in town. the family is super nice & cool. i stand firm on my comment about the ambiance. the 49er pancakes are the best thing since fluoridated water =) hehehe. they are banana pancakes w/ their aweome haupia sauce & mac nuts sprinkley on top. portions are huge, prices are GREAT! i really love this place.. and their coffee is awesome, ordinary, but brewed JUST right! i pretty much only drink "regular" coffee here, otherwise i gotta do do the starbucksy/latte style goodness. i fear that after ppl realize how amazing this place is, it's gonna get so busy & i won't get to talk story with the fam during breakfast! heheh
(5)George T.
Had the fried rice to go for breakfast. IT was very good. Always a friendly staff and will remember most people once you visit the first time.
(4)Lara L.
A good restaurant....i grew up eating the burgers and saimin. There has been several owners. The newest owners keep it as good as the original. Local favorite for sure.
(4)Geno D.
I bought my wife the deluxe cheesburger and she loved it. The fries were ok and the bento box left me wanting more due to the small portions.
(3)Marlene F.
We came here on a whim while doing some shopping. I didn't know what to expect since I had never heard of this place before. They have reasonable prices and the meal selection is great! I had the egg and cheese burger with fries. It was really good! I recommend this place to anyone out there looking for a nice meal that won't put a whole in your wallet.
(4)Les U.
I first went there with my parents over 40 years ago. I still remember the bowling machine. Funny that you could pick up a 7-10 split by rolling the ball exactly down the center. My dad wanted to go there to eat saimin. Last year, I took my wife and kids for the first time. They got a kick out of the restroom sign leading outside. I told them it was the tree back across the grass. Anyway, the saimin was every good as I remembered it. That Chagami recipe is still there. I also had a hamburger deluxe with mayo/mustard sauce, the local standard. One of my daughters had the special that day, garlic chicken. She didn't care to trade for my burger. I know some people say its not as good as before but I disagree. I think the old standards are still, although it may have evolved a little over the years. I will still get there at 10:30 to beat the lunch crowd.
(5)Albert F.
I have always passed by this place on our way to Pearl Ridge or to grab some food at Pearl Kai, coming from town side. Recently I've heard people mention it, so it was fresh on my mind when we couldnt think of a place to eat on a lazy Saturday night in the Aiea/Pearl City area.. An unusual place, you can tell its been around for awhile with the soda fountain counters and odd dining area, but it is fairly clean. We were greeted and handed some menus that had seen some use. Everything they had to offer fit on a single menu page. The first thing I noticed was how cheap everything was! $2.95 for a burger? $7 for fried saimin? This place is like Hungry Lion circa 1993! My wife ordered the egg burger, I had the fried noodles with garlic chicken, and we ordered a hamburger for our daughter. The fried noodles were okay. My daughters hamburger was about the size of her head. My wife loved her egg topped burger. Will return again.
(4)Al F.
I've been here a couple of times nice good foods, nice people, specially Auntie Jenny. Gotta try their Forty Niner Special Breakfast.
(4)Mad G.
Was very cheap for lunch and the BBQ chicken was awesome!
(5)Vickie N.
We were pressed for time and had 20-30 minutes to eat and run to a show that was taking place just down the road at Leeward Community College. Pulled off the road to this hole in the wall dive. My hub LOVED the name of this joint, being the crazy Niners fan that he is... Note that the restaurant has two swinging door entrances. One leads to the cash register and kitchen area where there is very limited bar seating. The other door opens to the rest of the dining area. We went at around 7:30 PM on a Saturday night and the server said she didn't know why the place was suddenly teeming with customers because it had been a pretty slow day. The menu beckons with lots of choices-- it's a meat lover's paradise. My hub got the Forty Niner mixed plate that provides a sampling of all the stuff that makes this place famous: garlic chicken, spam, bbq beef, furikake over rice, and grilled salmon. He ate everything except the salmon which he gave to me and thought everything was flippin' awesome. The salmon, truthfully, was pretty darn dry, but not inedible. I ordered the banana macadamia nut pancakes (brekkie for dinner, gotta love it!). Thank GOD I ordered it with the syrup and nuts on the side... otherwise, you'll find that your cakes are drowning in the stuff. Sweet 'n buttery and they went down easy; not surprisingly, I could only finish half the stack. Hub was very happy with his and insisted on buying a T-shirt. Service was outstanding. We sat in front of the kitchen and more than a few times, the cook glanced up and gave us a warm, welcoming grin.
(4)Jack T.
When I get ono for Beef Cutlet, Forty Niner's is the only place I go. It is the best, no breading on the beef. The saimin and burgers are old school kine. And just about everything on the menu is good.
(5)CHRISTY M.
went here based on the prior yelp reviews...had the cheeseburger with fries and hubby had the pork chop plate special. Super yummy. Fries were crispyand the burger was fresh. Hubby said the pork chops were 'money'. One woman works all the tables and the counter and does a GREAT job. I would def go back and really want to try the breaki next time!
(4)Chad G.
Small, good service, homely, everything on the menu is good when you order it. Local food is there game, coca cola is there soda. Looks like there location has alot of history.
(4)Saane M.
After an early morning appointment, my brother took me to this place. I ordered pancakes (w/haupia sauce) and it wasn't bad. What I really did enjoy was the corn beef hash...mmmmmm....creamy and soooo tasty! I'd like to go back one day to try out some other stuff on the menu... I do think this place could use a little spring cleaning though. When the table we sat at finally got wiped down, it was wiped with a really dirty looking towel with no soap suds. I had to ignore the fact that our table was smeared with left over food and grease so that I could actually eat. However, the waitress was really friendly=)
(3)Cale G.
Great food but parking isn't great at all, looks abandoned and old, and is a bit pricy but the food makes up for it.
(3)Q. M. Z.
Was in Honolulu for 7 days. Ate here 4 times. The omelettes, loco moco, and other breakfast items were awesome...especially the loco moco and the spam fried rice. The regular Saimin and the regular pancakes were fairly standard. Can't beat the local neighborhood atmosphere and service though. Highly recommended if you're ever in this area.
(5)Robin W.
Talk about a hole in the wall. My uncle took us to this restaruant and driving up to it, I didn't even realize it was an open establishment. However once you get inside the staff is very kind and filled with the aloha spirit. The coconut haupia macadamia nut pancakes were delicious. Now I do not like breakfast foods, but I actually had some of these tasty pancakes. They were so sweet and desert like that I forgot it was a breakfast item. I actually ordered french fries which were quite tasty and fresh, so good thing there. Also that they make lunch items at breakfast time is always a plus. The waitress we had was a joy, she gave me a hard time about toast but it was all in good fun. They make you feel like family here and I really enjoyed it. It was very unpretentious and enjoyable. I would definitely go back and order more off of their menu. You can also buy shirts and hats if you feel like it, which I thought was cool for such a small diner. Parking did not seem very convenient. There were only three spaces on the hill beside the restaurant, so I'm not sure where everyone else parked.
(4)Ashley A.
Ono breakfast. Great staff!
(5)Travis M.
One of the best places to eat hamburger steak. Got to say the menu is better with the new owners. Tried the roast pork and that was also good. Garlic chicken had too much garlic when I had it. Would normally make this 4 stars, but if you try their hamburger steak, thats all I normally get when i come here.
(5)Todd T.
I don't know if you saw on the tasty island blog recently, but they get one mean pic of a teri burger from 49er. That is one of the most beautiful teri burgers I ever seen. I ate here long time ago and everything was ono. Good memories. Made me wonder if this is the best teri burger on the island. I gotta try em and then I going update this rating from where stay now. Update...just at the teri burger about 15 minutes ago. Dang it was ono tender juicy full of flavors. One of the best I've had. I also ordered the fried rice and that was ono too flavorful and just enough meat inside. Huge mound of fried rice for only $4.25. I going eat here more often.
(5)Waynele Y.
this building has been here forever and have always wanted to try it. sadly, we didn't make it in time to dine when it was own by the original owners. forty niner has reopened, and i'm sure it's not as rustic as it used to be and i'm not sure if the food is just as good, but i liked it despite the waitstaff being a little disorganized. we had a side of fried rice and the bento. the fried rice was really good local style (as opposed to chinese) fried rice. very flavorful, but not oily. the bento was good too. it came with garlic chicken, bbq beef, spam, and fish--i would say i enjoyed it more than a zip pac. we sat at the counter so we watched everyone's order come out of the kitchen, the teri burger and saimin seem to be favorites. maybe next time we can brave up to the saimin--there's no AC in here, and I was already sweating and we weren't even eating anything hot. speaking of which, next time, i need to remember to wear longer shorts. the back of my thighs still hurt from pulling my sticky self from the pleather stool!
(4)Michael B.
I eat here regularly. The food is great and the family is like your own ohana. Don't expect formality. Take the place for what it is. Good food. Good value. Good people. Good fun.
(5)Susan F.
this place is great, especially for those living on the west side/central, because its in aiea. They have a 49er special that has fried rice, two eggs and choice of breakfast meat for 4.95, not bad. But, they also have specails written on their board that can range from ahi belly to adobo omelette. Also, they have a version of boots and kimos mac nut pancake with sauce and everything that tastes really close to the original, for only 6 dollers short stack. but the size of the pancakes are huge. They also have really good service, and are rarely busy/crowded, never seen a line there or the place packed to full capacity. there is a bar area where they serve you food, and then there's a seperate room thats sit down dining. some mornings, especially on the weekdays they dont open the dining area just the bar, but if you ask they might open dining for you (we've done that a couple of times). P.S. dont go to the forty niner, i want it to remain my secret breakfast spot, uncrowded and low prices, HAHAHAHA!!
(4)Bryce K.
when my friend told me this place was open, i thought he was joking. i've passed by this place for years and only twice saw it open. and when it was, it was crowded. so, after many years, i finally stepped foot into this establishment. it was a good choice. the plates are not cheap, but the prices are reasonable. also, the portions are good. the four of us are pretty big eaters, but we did not leave hungry. great deal.
(4)Antoinette T.
passed this restaurant almost everyday and always talked about trying it but never got around to it, until this past week. We sat at the counter because it was packed at lunchtime and the few empty stools next to us filled up before we even took a breath. I ordered the garlic chicken plate but it was sold out, then i ordered a teri burger and a float, but the floats weren't there yet, and on my way out I asked for a take-out menu and they were out of those too. I guess its all part of being a newly re-opened restaurant, they have a few kinks to work out. However, the staff was very friendly and the food was tasty and very cheap. And since they were out of garlic chicken when I ordered it at only 11:30am, I have to assume its really good so I'll be back to check that out later. They are open for breakfast and lunch, but close at 2pm and re-open at 5pm for dinner. There is a small lot adjacent to the restaurant but it only holds about 5 cars. Look for street parking on the side streets if its packed when you get there.
(4)Marci C.
Although the food was delicious and the service was ok, the restaurant was rather warm (warm as in temperature) and its interior could use some renovations (the covering of the seat was nearly half gone). Nevertheless, the food was GREAT!! (5 stars for the food.. Good enough to ignore the aforementioned cons.. Which means you should definitely come here to sample the yumminess!) We ordered the banana macadamia nut pancakes with the lovely sauce on the side, as well as the breakfast plate with smokies. Took my grandma here and she was literally THRILLED by the amount of smokies on her plate! So cute ^_^ The menu was just full of yummy local, feel good foods. On a side note, loved the fact that we weren't rushed; in fact, it took awhile for the check to come (a little bit too long, but it's ok. Most restaurants shoo everyone out as fast as possible). On another note, my sister frequents this place with her bf and loves the salmon.. She RAVES about it. Hoping to return here soon to try this salmon dish and ALL the other dishes!! Nom nom
(5)Noe C.
Got there 15 mins to closing and the weather was pouring rain so traffic, was terrible. But once there, service was super fast and friendly. I had the hamburger steak with Mac salad. Coming from Maui, I've been a hamburger lover. It has to be soft, tasty, home made, not too much bread. And man I tell you theirs here was so ono...melt in the mouth kine. Felt like home. My fiancé had the roast pork with gravy. Ono too...not too much fat if that's what u like...it's shredded in big chunks. But over all it was okay. We also had a dessert special...deep fried brownie smothered with chocolate syrup two scoops vanilla ice cream ontop and couple sides of whip cream. Brooke the mouth...just don't wait to eat it cuz it's so delicious warm.
(4)Lily M.
Awesome place, giving it 4 stars for the food, but it was the fantastic service that push it up to 5 stars for me. We had the Kailua burger dirty with deep fried pickles, garlic chicken, oxtail saimin with char shui, and you have to finish with a deep fried brownie and bread pudding, it's a dessert that you would expect to have at a very high end restaurant, delicious! Our waitress was fun, informative and so friendly. She made us feel at home. Will definitely go back.
(5)Angelica V.
Small and quaint, but has great food and service. The serving size is pretty big as well. Definitely going to be a usual spot for me. The deep fried brownie a la mode is a sinful delight that I recommend!
(4)Christine H.
When you first drive by it looks like a small restaurant with very little seating. When you park and get inside its actually fairly big and there's also outside seating. My husband ordered the Elvis pancakes, my mom had the Hawaiian breakfast and I had the 49er pancakes. Tried everything and everything was equally delicious!! The sauce on the 49er pancake was amazing ,but I wish there were more bananas in the pancakes. Good food service!
(4)Angie L.
This awesome place was suggested by the locals....Great prices, wonderful staff and AMAZING BURGERS!! MUST make your burger DIRTY!! Not in the mood for burgers? No worries, they have Saimin (Asian noodle soup), bento, Korean style BBQ, OXTAIL SOUP!! SLAMIN'
(5)Alex P.
This was our last meal before leaving Hawaii since it was so close to the airport. Apparently this is a very popular place with Hawaiian locals because one of our local friends loves eating here. She said that we had to try it before we left. We ordered a 49er bento, a 49er pancake, and some garlic chicken on the side. The 49er bento wasn't great. The only item that I enjoyed on it was the garlic chicken. It was a good thing that we ordered garlic chicken on the side because it turned out to be the best menu item. The 49er pancake wasn't too great either. It was a banana pancake with haupia (coconut sauce) and macadamia nuts. It sounded amazing, but it didn't live up to the hype for me. Pancakes were bland the haupia wasn't too impressive either. The service was bad as well. We were the only two people in the restaurant and it was really hard getting the waitress' attention. The bathroom wasn't too clean either. At the end of the meal, we paid with a card, but the credit card machine went down so we had to pay with cash. That was a minor inconvenience. I didn't really like this restaurant much. Call me a filthy tourist, but this just wasn't my cup of tea.
(1)Stephie L.
Always love coming here to the 49er restaurant. I've been here a few times now maybe about five total and every time I go I have the best service ever the waitresses there are super awesome and so sweet and very helpful and service is always fast. When you walk into the diner initially it's just very simple kind of old-school feel you know booths and tables on the other side of the restaurant there is a bar with barstools the food comes out so quickly it's amazing if you're starving because you don't have to wait very long. I think for $7.95 is a great deal for Portuguese sausage eggs and fried rice as they're at 49er special. this time we actually had the 49er special pancakes which is a banana pancake with Macademia nut how PS sauce on top of the packet so amazing light fluffy pancakes with the sauce that's not very heavy or too sweet! I love coming here for the variety and want to try something new every time so far I've had the local moco with fried rice which is amazing, smoke meat and eggs as well as anything from their menu including the crème brûlée pancakes is a must try as well as their 49er special pancakes and their banana French toast so yummy! Either way everything I've had is 5-star so enjoy!
(5)Hans W.
Great Food at very reasonable prices. Their burgers are fantastic specially with their dirty sauce. Great place for lunch if you are heading to sightsee Pearl Harbour.
(4)Joe P.
Nothing like good old fashion Hawaiian style breakfast. Kids loved the food too. I would say the outside of the establishment is a bit sketchy, but that doesn't really matter at the end of the day. Recommend the fourty niner pancake and chicken and waffles
(4)Melissa M.
I would definitely come here againand bring family! Just went forbreakfast this morning and wanted to try somewhere new. Waitress was the only one working inside and out and she was BEYOND EXCELLENT! Food was great and kids demolished their plates. Belgian waffle, veggie omelet, steak and eggs, and pancake platter we all on point. Sat outside which was roomy, breezy, and not too loud for the locale. With a great big tree in the back we ate with nature.
(5)Jenna And Gregory D.
Location: Located on the corner of Honomanu Street and Kamehameha Highway. Adjacent to Dixie Grill and KFC. Keep an eye out because it is easy to miss. The building looks abandoned from the outside because of the old school structure. But I assure you they are still up and running. Seating: Outdoor, indoor and counter seating. The outdoor seating is perfect on breezy days and if you have a group. Lots of shade provided. Service: Our waitress was very attentive and had great customer service skills. Setting: Very casual and chill vibe. Nothing fancy. Very old school. Wait time: The food was brought out with a quickness. We did not have to wait no more than 10 minutes for all of our meals to arrive (there was 5 of us total). Presentation: Your basic Hawaiian style food plating. Price: Inexpensive. The meals averaged anywhere from $6-12 depending on what you ordered. Taste: Definitely worth what you pay for. Delicious and made when ordered. I ordered the Forty Niner Bento (Salmon, beef steak, spam, garlic chicken, and rice topped with Furikake). It was a great experience.
(4)Lisa U.
Loco moco was very tasty, I could eat that everyday. Elvis pancakes hit the spot for my guy and my lil one had a hamburger with cheese :) Great hole in the wall, and recommend for a flavorful meal. Don't judge a book by its cover, you may miss out on something amazing. Thanks for the happy belly's!
(4)Jorel L.
The food tasted great and the servers were fast and attentive. It was pretty warm Inside, but overall, I enjoyed the experience. Definitely will be coming back.
(5)Katherine Y.
As an occasional meat eater, I have to say that the garlic chicken is one the best tasting things I ate while in Hawaii. My mouth literally waters everytime I think about it. It was so crispy on the outside but when you bit into it, all the flavors just explode! I would order a whole plate! The noodles were pretty good. I know I'll probably receive some hate messages but I'm just not a fan of spam which is crazy because it's I was in Hawaii and I'm Filipino. Anyway, the interior of the restaurant was very humble. It's what I imagine any small, family owned restaurant to look like. The main dining room can't accommodate too many people but they do have seating outside. The service was great. I imagine it may be a little difficult to turn into the parking lot when the cars get backed up from the streetlight. I'd definitely make my way back here for some more chicken!!
(5)Scott M.
10.00 omelette was very small hardly any meat, no taste, beef cutlet was boiled meat with gravy no taste... Would not recommend or would not eat here again!! Also asked for no rice all toss salad, she brought me rice.. I told her she said sorry and still left me with rice....
(1)Wendy I.
Lechon was like deep fried char siu. Disappointing, but I guess you shouldn't order Filipino food from a burger/fountain place. Fried noodles was ok. Garlic chicken was decent. We spent about $30 for our meals (2-people)
(2)Kent B.
Looks can be decieving from the outside..but not in this case. This place looks how it tastes. Service was pretty bad. The dining room was full so we sat at the bar area - our first mistake. We sit down and the waitress asks us if water is okay, we say yes. The first thing I notice was she went from wiping down the counters which were dirty - to the computer to place an order - to serving our water. Why on earth did she not wash her hands? It wouldn't have been that bad had she not put her whole palm over the rim of the cups she was bringing to customers? Disgusting. I watched her do this for 3 or 4 more customers. My guest ordered scrambled eggs with a short stack of pancakes with whipped cream on top. The eggs came out looking like McDonald's eggs, which are not scrambled. Looks aside, we verified with our waiter if the eggs were scrambled. She confirmed. After she walked away with an attitude we cut into the eggs and they were running all over the plate. We got her attention - mainting our polite attitude - and again asked her if she was sure we got the right eggs and she again said yes. She turned around to the cooks in the back and asked if they would "extra scramble" our eggs. The eggs came back looking crazy. After finally tasting them, they had a ridiculous amount of cheese in them. They tasted like a monzarella cheese stick and were unedible. The pancakes were average. Fried rice was good, but the pool of grease from the Portuguese sausage ruptured and leaked onto the majority of the rice, making them also unedible. I would not return to this diner.
(1)Aaron R.
Breakfast and lunch place. Great for local family owned diner. Easy to miss because of size and location of building. Tan Old school building. I would give 4 half stars if I could for the following. Food: Amazing and filling. One plate will fill the largest stomach/appetite size. Had the smoked meat and eggs with rice. Others food at the table food was all delicious. Service: We had a girl in training so she had to ask a lot inside but that's understandable. Waters and coffee always filled before empty and presentation great! Seating outside clean and trade winds feel better than inside.
(4)Kimberly C.
Forty Niner Restaurant was probably our favorite breakfast stop during our five-day stay on Oahu. Based on the raving reviews, we were expecting a long wait time, but that was not the case! We were quickly seated, which was great. Our waitress was extremely friendly and accommodating. We took a little while to decide what we wanted and she never made us feel rushed. I got the chicken and waffles, my boyfriend got the banana macadamia nut waffle. Both were OUTSTANDING. I loved how the waffles were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The chicken was cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of crunch. We left the restaurant with our tummies full and smiles on our faces. Just writing this review makes me crave those chicken and waffles, mmm! Hopefully on my next trip to Hawaii, I'll be able to come here for breakfast again!
(5)Jason Q.
This is the place that you will drive by at least 100 times before you remember that you've been meaning to try it. I would say that it's worth trying for yourself. I sat on the left side of the restaurant which is the counter. Service was fast and very friendly. I asked what they would recommend and they said the hamburger steak, garlic chicken or pork. I decided to order the pork and a hamburger with a fried egg. The food is heavy. You will definitely leave this place full. My only negative comment was that the gravy on the pork dish was cold. For me, that is a big no-no. The pork itself was delicious and cooked well, but when you cover it with cold gravy not so good. At lunch, they were jammed. They put out a lot of food very quickly. I do believe the cooks know what they are doing and cook great food. I am sure that during a slower time, the quality of the food gets even better. From the street, you won't be able to see the parking lot behind the restaurant. I had no trouble finding a parking spot.
(3)Michael D.
We were done visiting Pearl Harbor and found this place on Yelp. The place looks like it was built in the 50's, giving it a pretty cool vibe. We were greeted by one of the friendliest servers ever. She helped us make our choices for what to eat and was very attentive to our table. We ordered their Loco Moco and Cheeseburger. Overall, the food was good but not great. I feel that the meat patty in the Loco Moco was lacking some flavor, and my wife wasn't impressed with her burger....but I liked her burger The prices were also really reasonable....which I loved! Go get your grub on! Cheers!
(4)Dwayne Y.
Disappointing service! Called a phone order and said I would be there in 15 minute. Food wasn't ready after 20-25 minutes and the place was empty. Ordered the Forty Niner pancakes and lady tells me it's pancakes with macadamia nut sauce on it. But when I pay for it I'm told "sorry we don't have any macadamia nuts." Well how can it be pancakes with macadamia nut sauce if you don't have macadamia nuts? Couldn't this have been told to me in the phone? Food is not bad. But the purpose of ordering on the phone is often to save time, not to wait for your waffles to be cooked when you get there, (especially when waffles take such a short time to cook and the place wasn't crowded). I don't know if I will come back, very turned off.
(2)Sashimi J.
I'm sure this place would be better if we had breakfast there, instead we ordered Togo. The pancake was so hot that it melted the box. Food was good though, basic eggs, cornbread, spam and rice. It was a little pricy for the small portion of food.
(4)Agnes B.
It's not what you expected inside base on what you see outside. I had the forty niner omelette, my daughter the chocolate chip pancake and my husband got the pancake breakfast and we all gave it a 5 star. It was busy this morning but still serves us on time.
(5)Alma M.
Descent place to eat at before a good walkathon at the swap meet. Only been here once. The macnut pancake is good. They mix the mac nut well into the batter. The pancake is soft and not rubbery like other restaurants. The fried rice are just okay and same goes for the portugese sausage. Will I come back? Yes, but not anytime soon.
(3)Clarence A.
5 stars for that egg cheeseburger hands down one of the better burgers I've had on the island, another 5 for the garlic chicken savory sweet finger lingling good, 3 for the pot roast loco moco, 3 for the oxtail saimin Let me break it down a tad more of all the likes and why some dishes didn't do it for me! The 3's oxtail saimin sadly was not the best I've had but I'm comparing it to having it home poked and that by far is impossible to beat my pop's got me knowing how it should be made and how it should taste, the 3 is for the meat with oxtail I know you will always get what ever is offered the portion was on the larger size which is a plus a good 4-6 pieces of decent size tails sadly the down fall was more fat to the meat ratio, the soup although it was good lacked a real flavor, the meat, lettuce can only do so much a bit more salt would have made the broth a tad heavier, the tails were also not super tender not fall off bone tender, maybe another 1.5hrs in a pressure cooker would have made the meat fall off the bone tender. The other 3 was the pot roast loco moco, not on the menu it was a request I made since a few others suggested it, rice portion good, gravy good, the pot roast on the other hand was not seasoned to well and I believe I got one of the end pieces that was more fat then meat, only part that seemed to be heavily seasoned was portion of the fat where you can see pepper and salt glistening off the edge, all the other pieces were similar to pulled pork style pork not full seasoned sadly The 5's the garlic chicken - piping hot, well seasoned garlic tasting, lightly breaded chicken " this ain't your Panda Express garlic chicken" flavor wise delicious, savory, thin layer of what tasted like soy sauce/ teriyaki sauce glazed the bottoms of the fried chicken giving the chicken that little more ummmfff to make it an awesome dish The final 5 belongs to the recommended and delicious egg cheeseburger, I had two bites and that was all I needed to grade it heavenly among the burgers I've tried, tender, gooey, flavorful, well seasoned all out the park flavor explosion in your mouth happiness, may have tasted mayo somewhere in there, would of mattered it was DAM good!!! Food ***** for the egg chesseburger & garlic chicken *** for the oxtail & pot roast locomoco Price $$ Service **** very friendly, helpful Ambiance *** spot looks tad older but the food speaks thru the walls hahahaha
(4)Ana R.
Four star because, service was awesome, Dana was super friendly and she took her time to chat with us tourist. Also food was really good and very authentic Hawaiian food. The place is ok, but then again we love going to local places here in Hawaii. Service was fast I mean fast! Did I mention it's very affordable too. Parking is the only thing I sorta didn't like, very few spots only but other than that we'd come back here again and again. So mahalo forty niners
(4)Sarah C.
Before I begin, this establishment should put their nutritional facts on My Fitness Pal for the IIFYM and people who monitor their intake Great food, great selection, friendly staff and huge portions! Oh, fairly priced too. I love this local gem! The server was busy but great. She knew the place, had great suggestions, and made it quite the enjoyable experience. She constantly refilled my coffee mug, and didn't bother me excessively. I am highly satisfied with this place. Will be definitely coming back for another meal. Got the pancake breakfast with egg whites and smokies and a side of toast. It was exceptional. I'm pretty sure I've found the best breakfast joint on all of Oahu!
(5)Daniel C.
Different owner but same great taste! Parking: They have a private lot you can park in right next to the restaurant. It's not paved so keep that in mind when parking here. There are also no marked stalls so some people do take up more than a stall. If you can't find parking in here, there is street parking available around the restaurant in the residential area. Food: We started off with the Egg Cheeseburger Delux ($5.65+$1.25) and it was delicious. The burger patty is homemade which is something I've been craving for a long time. Egg was a nice touch and added a different taste to the original cheeseburger concept we are so accustomed to. Mink ordered the Short Stack Pancakes with Banana ($7.50). It was very fluffy and flavorful. There was banana in the pancakes as well as a couple slices on top of the pancake as well. We shared the Oxtail Soup ($15.95). It had 2-3 large pieces of oxtail in the soy based soup. The rice that came with it was a tad hard and dry but the soup helped soften it up as we were eating. During the meal we had coffee ($1.85). Overall, food was 4 out of 5 stars. The prices did shoot up quite a bit from when I ate there last so that's why I docked it 1/2 a star. Ambiance and Service: It's a hole in the wall so you don't expect too much when you come here. They do take credit which is nice when you didn't bring cash. You can choose between dining at the counter on stools which is the entrance closest to Kamehameha Hwy or dining inside, other entrance closer to the parking lot. There are limited tables inside so if you can't dine in, don't worry because there are picnic style tables outside. Hawaii has beautiful weather so eating outside allows you to enjoy some of it. Our server was working really hard running back and forth catering to all the tables outside. When she did check up on us, she was very friendly and eventually brought out our requests. Kitchen was probably backed up with all the orders because it took awhile to get our food. Overall, I give the ambiance 3.5 stars out of 5 and service 4 out of 5 stars.
(4)Caitlin A.
This is one of the best places I have ever been. I highly suggest it and one of the best meals is the garlic chicken.
(5)Mac J.
Ok service. Its a diner, not a fancy restaurant. I tried the meat eater omelette. The portion was a little smaller than I expected. Compared to other breakfast diners this omelette almost half the size and the price was not as proportional. Dining area is open air with cover both inside and outside. There a few tables in the out in the open. 3 stars for this breakfast diner. I wouldn't come here for lunch because it would much warmer around noon. Try this place once before deciding to come back or not.
(3)Greg S.
Again 4 stars is because the decor here is absent. The food alone is 5 out of 5 though. Breakfast here is amazing. I've had just about everything on the menu now. If you need to pick one thing get the Banana French toast. Then get the Fried Chicken and Waffles; the sauce they make for the Waffles is perfect. The omelets are filled generously with tasty meats. Pancakes are the size of a dinner plate and fluffy as a pillow. If you can eat, then you will want to check it out the food here.
(4)Ikaika V.
Top shelf food. Very glad I got here, out of the rain and after work. I had the Loco Moco.
(4)Trisha G.
The Forty Niner - a recent discovery in our search for local breakfast. We have become morning regulars at this local drive inn on the weekend. The same two waitresses run the joint yelling orders to the local cooks. Along with the standard eggs, rice and meat breakfast, they make pancakes and waffles. The waffles are freshly made and ono! Most days I stick with eggs, rice and meat. They have fried up corned beef hash, and even lunch plates including oxtail soup. The parking lot is a small gravel lot. There's indoor seating and outdoor picnic tables. It's usually packed, so we sit at the bar in front of the kitchen. Good feel and good food - just like going to your aunty's house.
(4)Claudia M.
Haven't been to this restaurant in a long, long while. Ordered the large saimin which came in a rather small bowl filled with lots of noodles. The saimin was overcooked and rather floury which means they didn't wash the flour off well before serving. For that amount of noodles, I would have preferred a bigger bowl with more soup. We also ordered the cheese burger, which looked homemade. I tasted fillers in the burger, which was possibly bread. Burgers were a bit salty for me. While seated at the counter, we saw a roach crawling behind the sink area, ewww! It amazed me that tourists frequent this place which is so out of the way.
(2)Dave K.
More like 3 1/2 I like this place. One side of the restaurant is the sit down and dine side and the other side is set up with bar stools and geared toward take out. the good the food is above average. Some items are hit or miss, but in general they have some pretty unique things here and they are fairly delicious. The workers have been very nice to me every time I have gone. food portions are good sized the not so good parking is very limited and not so great Not much else to say so far. This is a nice mom/pops style local place to go for the basic breakfast or lunch. Well priced, and pretty good. Worth hitting up now and then.
(3)Brittany B.
I wanted to like this restaurant and maybe I might try it again someday but I went here solely for the famous chicken and waffles but I didn't know that they stop serving them at 1030 am. Sadly, I went for choice #2 the 49ers pancakes and what can I say, they tasted like pancakes but with a little more flavor because of the macadamia nut sauce. My husband got an egg cheeseburger "dirty" and that wasn't too good but the garlic chicken wasn't bad. 3 stars for mediocre food and a run down atmosphere... server was nice tho, that's why it wasn't a total loss.
(3)Courtney A.
The best mom and papa restaurant that I would drive 10 miles from home to eat at! Very friendly local Hawaiian hospitality! The food here is mouth watering and I enjoyed there food at every single visit! If you are visiting the islands and you truly want to eat where the locals go this is the place to eat at!
(5)Dave M.
Ermahgerd. Da Elvis pancakes were the best breakfast we had in Hawaii. Banana and bacon pancakes with peanut butter in between. This place is obviously a local spot, not many tourists. Nice patio out back with picnic tables. Charming place with delicious food. Reasonably priced.
(5)Tessa V.
Hawaiian Plate and Banana Mac Nut Waffles with Haupia sauce on the side hit the spot!
(4)Nia R.
I was disappointed we just missed breakfast because I wanted to try the bacon pancakes. But the lunch menu was awesome. The garlic chicken and fried chicken stew so crispy and delicious. The saimin is also fresh and tasty. The servings are huge and u can definitely share. If you want delicious Hawaiian food this place will not let you down! Also servers were super friendly and nice!
(4)Derrick S.
Relaxing place to go to for lunch. Great service too. Had the loco moco. Definitely the nom noms! This place has been here for a very long time and deserves to stay for much longer!
(5)Amanda F.
Hole in the wall restaurant. Parking is wonky but no big deal. Good food. Service was a tad slow but we came in during a breakfast rush and it appeared that only one waitress was working and she was working hard! We definitely appreciated her friendly attitude and quick work. I had a pancake breakfast which hit the spot. My mom had the banana Mac nut waffle which was delicious. My dad has the forty niner breakfast, which he thoroughly enjoyed and didn't leave a piece of fried rice behind. We recommend.
(4)Sean O.
Hard to recall, but I think it was the first full day of my father's Hawaiian bucket list trip. We were in the car around Pearl Harbor and I was trying to explain how I noticed people acting differently (read: kindly) outside of Waikiki. I would later come to know this as THE ALOHA SPIRIT. In any case, I was really put off by Roy's the night before and its sterile caricature of Hawaii. I didn't want to take another hotel tip and end up somewhere else that felt like it almost preyed on the vapid comforts of the upper middle class clientele endemic to that beach. I had some recommendations from friends from Oahu, but none from this area, so to begin our tour of Oahu, I turned to Yelp. We missed the restaurant at first. It's not much to look at and doesn't give off vibes of a mainland diner. It has an adobe kind of exterior. The unpaved, dirt lot is also on the higher part of the hill we were descending. My mother wasn't really into it, and we went down the main road looking for another brunch place. The farther we went, I knew this was a bad idea. We don't have the money to vacation often (hence the bucket list), and thus vacations have the expectation of relaxation and the amenities one doesn't appreciate in the everyday. Some waffle house is safer because it feels more familiar, more comfortable. Turning the car around to visit the 49er was a choice to not have that sort of vacation. The room had a stagnant feel about it, with a dead breeze through the open back door, through which we entered. Outside, a few people were hanging out in the little shade, perhaps with drinks, and I thought it was an odd place to chat. Inside were a few booths and a cheap card table in the center. The room had an unassuming, very hole-in-the-wall "nook" feel. We sat at one of the booths and the waitress gave us sticky menus. My dad was eyeing the plate on the center table. A man wearing an aloha shirt and sunglasses on the back of his neck was eating with his wife and either his granddaughter or niece. I encouraged dad to ask what the dish was and while I wish I could remember the details, he ended up with a plate as a sampling of the dish--some sort of saimin and spam, some wet (in soup) and some dry (without). My father is on the bigger and burlier side of men, but when he isn't brusque, he's jolly and closer to a teddy than to a brown bear. I think he was pleasantly shocked or even taken aback by this man's generosity. The sunglasses man continued to eat at his table, but turned around a few times to check on us, ask us what we thought. We were far enough apart that it made the space into something friendlier because everyone else saw us interacting, but the room wasn't very large in the first place. The waitress didn't comment, as if this was either a common occurrence or a relief to not have to explain to the tourists. (In New York, where we have lived our whole lives, this is not common.) It probably wasn't either--I actually doubt she noticed. We ended up with his granddaughter/niece's plate of food, whatever she didn't finish. Has that happened to you in a restaurant before? Doesn't matter--it's a symbolic gesture that we shared food and now shared plates. On the East Coast, this is something reserved for close friends, usually signifying some degree of comfort between both parties. And even then, you might steal a bite, and never rarely take the whole plate. I'm not convinced it's much different in Hawaii, but it took relatively little time to warm up to this gesture. We didn't talk much about tourist things apart from acknowledging that we weren't from around here and which food trucks to hit up north. It was more about his family and what they liked to eat. And he wished us well and was on his way, and didn't linger past the point where we could be simultaneously indebted and appreciative. What we all have and what we choose to have in abundance or in stinginess is the time of day. So much of Yelp is the qualitative evaluation of the service or price-to-quality ratio, but I rate the 49er for turning my father's bucket list trip into the reason why he continues to wear his kukui nut necklace daily, close to two years later. There are local dishes and customs that float like cream to the top of Yelp, and then there is the spirit of a place that lurks behind the details of our insignificant words. We use words to get at that spirit and what it was like to partake. In this case, the 49er's Aloha spirit of pleasant and mutual regard is also the spirit of Yelp. It's what brought us to this hole-in-the-wall and what will keep it a hole-in-the-wall for others to discover and unfurl through the kindness of strangers, with no expectation of reciprocation. The food and photos are just transient impressions of an undulating spirit, like the dead breeze past the door jamb speaks of the ambiance or the food through our systems recalls a taste. We too process and are processed by the moment, and all that remains is this review.
(5)Nat W.
My husband and I visited Forty Niner for dinner, after just passing by it for two years. Now I have dined here, I cannot wait to go back! They have the same menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I actually saw a clip of a Japanese TV show which introduced their macadamia nut pancakes. I wanted to try their garlic chicken so I ordered fried saimin with chicken. It came with nice sized 4 pieces. They were absolutely delicious and definitely not enough sharing with my husband. Fried saimin was good too but it came with a lot of spam and I am just not into spam. My husband's loco moco was excellent also. Their hamburger pattie was just so authentic. The gravy was very rich and delicious too. I definitely wanna try their macadamia pancakes next time and my husband wants to order their classic burger, since the pattie was so good.
(5)Mills E.
Service was great. Food was great plus there was big portions! I tried their cheeseburgers, it came with a large portion of fries!
(5)L C.
Great comfort food!! Friendly wait staff very attentive very local I been here choke times and always good food! You should try one time to go
(4)Josie C.
Updating: Same amount of stars but had to point out that the oxtail soup isn't the same. It's no longer tender, fall of the bone, smoked oxtail :( I was kinda sad. The meat was tougher BUT the soup was still tasty. I also tried the "forty niner" banana mac nut pancake with haupia sauce. It was hot and fluffy. I really liked it but only ate 1/4 of it. So just a heads up, it's enough for 2-3 people to share. My hubby ordered the hamburger steak and it came out medium rare which is bad for my hubby cause he's a "well done" kinda person. I, on the other hand, love medium rare so I had no problem eating his food. Haha. Their hamburger steak is homemade and very delicious. It came with gravy and a choice of Mac or toss salad. So remember, if you order this, don't forget to tell them how you want it done. Staff was friendly as always. Never a problem with them. See you again soon forty niner :)
(4)Hoku S.
Small diner. First impression walking in was that it smelled bad-as in, old dusty greasy wall smell. Everything looked old and slightly dirty. Walls in kitchen...ick. But actually glad we stayed. We sat at the counter and waitress was super nice and friendly, made a little small talk, which was nice. Food came quickly as it there were only a couple of other people there. Ordered chicken and waffles (crispy and juicy chicken and fluffy waffles) and banana mac nut pancakes with haupia sauce (not too sweet and was very light. Could eat the haupia sauce by itself). Highly recommend both!! Maybe take out or ask to eat outside on picnic tables next time?
(4)Birdie F.
My first time here and I liked it very much, I definitely will be coming back! The Elvis pancakes were great and their garlic chicken fired noodles!
(4)Mike T.
The chopped steak was really good. Comes with green bell peppers, celery and onions. Hela a good.$13.95.
(4)Luis R.
Love the breakfast plates. I had the banana pancakes which came with a fried banana on top and banana syrup. Awesome. I mean I love bananas and I love pancakes so why would I not love this. FYI. This place is a hole-in-the-wall! You might see insects that you don't normally see in a restaurant and that is due to the openness between the interior and exterior seating of the restaurant. I also noticed a lot of Japanese tourists dining here and wondered why would they come to a place that looks like a dump. Well the waitress explained that Japanese tourists come here due to the fact that some famous Japanese foodie/person visited the place a few years ago, blasted it on TV, so now it is a must see for all tourists but don't let that stop, you come on by and try their assortment of breakfast items. I truly believe that you would not be disappointed.
(4)Jewelyn T.
Yay! My BFF brought me here the other day for breakfast while I visited home. Never heard of this place until the my bff shared with me this cool find. Had the fried rice breakfast which hit the spot and a burger to go for the place ride back to LA. Fast service, good food. no frills. No complaints here. great find! local love. Aloha. Miss Yelp 2014
(5)Rossana Y.
This is a good place if you order the right thing. I ordered the corned beef hash with 2 eggs over medium, with a large helping of white rice. The corned beef hash came out quite soggy and was not very appetizing. I believe they used canned corned beef which was why it was so soggy...very disappointing. I only ended up taking a few bites before deciding to box up the rest of the food without the hash. My boyfriend ordered the Forty Niner Breakfast that included 2 eggs, rice and a choice of meat (he chose Portuguese sausage). The sausage was quite tasty, and made me wish I ordered his same dish as well! Our friend ordered the buttermilk pancakes and they came out in huge 3 stacks, so it was worth it. Our waitress was kind enough to comp my meal, which made me feel a little better from the not-so-great experience. If I were to come here again, I would recommend ordering something else besides their corned beef hash. The prices are a little expensive (around $8-11) considering that half of the whole dish consists of rice.
(3)Jennifer A.
I came here for the first time with my friend to have breakfast before our flight. I was craving waffles so I ordered strawberry waffles and my friend had eggs, sausage, and corned beef hash. When the waffles came out it looked delicious but when I bit into it, it was soggy...maybe from the strawberries? My friends hash was mushy. The waitress saw it and offered to make a new one but we declined. We kind of lost our appetite after that.
(2)Noelia V.
Run for your life!! I tried this place few times with the same result.. BAD FOOD!!!!! Low quality food!! No fresh food looks like reheat from previous day.. Price for each thing in your plate.. Save your trip and your money
(1)Erica K.
I think I'm in love... This place is def a dive but who cares the food is on point. I will be back for breakfast! I got the cheeseburger dirty with an egg... I'm just so surprised at just how amazing the meat is... And it was very quick. I can't wait to come back and try more!!!
(5)Zach H.
Do not be deceived by the rough look of the restaurant; this place is excellent! My family and I were looking for a good place to eat after visiting Pearl Harbor and came across this on this site. Reviews were good, so we navigated our way there. The menu was full of great options. I could not make up my mind until we started to order; I ended up with the pork sandwich and fries. It was delicious, but I wished I had considered the garlic chicken and creme brûlée pancakes more after tasting them. I'd order either if I could return, though there are other options that I'd like to try as well. Bottom line: if you visit Oahu, eat here at least once and take plenty of time studying your meal options.
(5)Vanessa C.
Came here with a family of 11. The forty niners pancakes and special were a hit. The rice was delicious. The burger we ordered was bland. Nothing special.
(4)Amanda A.
Pulling up do not let the outside deter you. It's not a very fancy place but if you give it a shot you will not be disappointed. The service is always great they are very welcoming. I have got the creme brûlée pancakes both times I have been and I can't even describe how delicious they are. First time I just ordered them as a stack and it was a lot. Today I asked if I could just do one pancake still creme brûlée with eggs and bacon on the side she said no problem and it was the perfect amount. Server was so sweet she brought out water for my puppy. I don't live in Aiea but anytime I'm in the are I will definitely stop here for breakfast.
(4)Samantha R.
Went to eat for breakfast. Pretty good. Though they brought me a short stack when I asked for a full, the put my food on a different computer so I didn't get it until after my party was done eating, they didn't bring me any silverware or syrup, and the pancake was not completely done in the middle. But when I did get to eat it was good. Did get a 25% discount though.
(4)Shy K.
My friend and I came here every now and than. The food is usually good. Never a disappointment. However on 12/16, me and my friend went go have lunch. I ordered a hamburger steak with toss. The waitress brings my order with Mac. The next thing I noticed is that my hamburger patty is raw in the middle. I couldn't take another bite. The only thing I could finish was my side french fries I ordered. So if you don't like raw meat like myself make sure you say we'll done! Hopefully the waitress listens. We will try lunch again and I will update my review.
(2)June M.
Definitely try the home made burgers - and make it "dirty"!!! It's luscious - deep fried pickles, grilled onions, extra tomato & lettuce AND the dirty sauce is to die for! You won't regret it: it's a smaller bun and patty than most fast food joints but I find it just right (as in you don't want to nap right after eating). Perfection.
(5)Nicole K.
Forty Niner's is definitely a West Side staple! Entering the diner is like taking a step back in time. Since its transition to a new owner, the menu has certainly changed, but the restaurant is (almost) exactly like I remembered. The menu offers a large selection of diner classics and fresh new items. I'm embarrassed to admit that I still have not tried anything off the new menu, but if you ate "Hamburger and Small Saimin" since you were three years old, it's hard to change. My parents are huge advocates for the new menu and are constantly encouraging me to try it, but I always stick to my 3 favorites: Hamburger, Small Saimin, and Beef Cutlet. Since its renovation, the diner has expanded into outdoor seating and a parking lot! I remember always trying to score street parking by the stop sign against the little hill. Now, parking is never an issue. I applaud Forty Niner's new owners for upgrading the establishment while maintaining its old school charm and menu.
(4)Emm J.
I love this place because it's close to my house and the fried chicken and waffle of course. My husband and I came here today to get some breakfast. We ate at the bar so we got to watch them in action. The ratings is not just for the food but also the service. They have 3 young (more like high school teens) working as servers. Obviously they are not trained properly so you can really tell on how they deliver service. I don't know why for such a well stablished business, you would let untrained people to work here? As a server myself, I really don't agree with this. The server are so unprofessional and don't know what their doing. I get its maybe a summer job for them, but serving customer who expect good food and service, it maybe not be the best idea. I'm just saying.
(2)M M.
I had lunch here with my wife and the food was excellent! I had the fried saimin with fried garlic chicken. The flavor and seasoning were on point. Not salty, not bland, perfect serving size for price, and awesome variety on menu. 4 stars for parking because it's tight and a little risky if you have a nice car, or lowered car. Otherwise this place is going to be a favorite of mine.
(4)Daniel K.
First off, food was next to perfect. Saimin was tasty and large portions for a reasonable price. The Fried Saimin with garlic chicken is amazing. Second, the one and only waitress was spot on. Super friendly and very attentive. The only reason I knocked off a star, is the place seems a little dirty. I get that it's got the dive feeling going, but the bathroom was disgusting and the dinning room was lacking any kind of upgrades in the last decade. Other than the lack of cleanliness, this place is killer. Oh and Go Hawks!
(4)Beerent G.
Everytime I come here I order the oxtail soup! broke da mout! Hamburger steak is off the hook as well but bring your appetite!
(5)Carrie Y.
I don't know anything about anything sports-related, but if you're coming here to inquire about San Francisco's 49ers, (had to Google what the 49ers were. LOL. I told you so.) I can assure you that you are out of luck. But if you're coming here to inquire about plate lunches, all-day breakfasts and brunch items, I can assure you that it's your lucky day. Btw, 49ers fans are very welcome here :) This restaurant isn't hard to miss when you're getting off the freeway and heading towards Pearlridge shopping center. However, we had a difficult time determining whether it was open or not as we were driving because both open signs were unlit. Fortunately, they close around 9pm in the evening. The restaurant is located on the corner of a street with its own parking lot. During traffic hours, it is a bit difficult to actually get into the parking as the street seems to be a rather busier one. But once you do manage to get into the lot, be wary of parking too close to the street as the lot isn't closed off. The restaurant is divided into two rooms: a dine-in room and a take-out/dining-in-on-a-counter room. A really friendly waitress greeted and helped us. It was our first time there and she let us know what was popular. We decided to take out (because someone wanted to head home to the restroom lol) an order of pork roast and the 49ers pancake. The food came out quickly and the waitress kept us company & tended to the dine-in customers (great service!) while we waited. When we arrived home, we opened up our warm boxes of yummy aromas and dug in. The first thing I noticed about the pork roast plate was the Mac salad. The Mac salads I've had before were all shaped like an actual macaroni, but this Mac salad was stringy as if it were made of very thin noodles. It tasted all right, more oily if anything. The pork roast was cooked to perfection and tasted great with the gravy. We dipped it in some BBQ sauce for an extra kick of flavor. The 49ers pancakes are 2 large pancakes with bananas covered in macadamia nuts and haupia sauce. We were only able to finish about 1/4th of it as it was a very large portion and quite filling. The sauce wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be, so all you sweet tooth-ers out there, myself included, it may taste a little bland, but you can also taste more of the haupia. Overall, I did enjoy the pancakes. I cannot say much about the dine-in service, but I'm certain the waitress there provides excellent service. Might come back here for the chicken & waffles which were already sold out when we arrived at 3pm. Need to come earlier for that!
(4)L L.
Loved our breakfast at forty niners! We went based on reviews here and it did not disappoint! I love trying places that have a local feel, and this place fit the bill. Not a huge eating area (don't take all the extended family) but friendly and the food was awesome! I had the 49er breakfast with Portuguese sausage and it surpassed other "local" places we've tried. Yum! The other options looked good too so I'll be trying another next time we go. Coffee was fine and price very reasonable.
(5)Javier P.
This is a hole in the wall restaurant with great food and very friendly staff. A definite local gem.
(5)Monica C.
I ordered what everyone else says to order: the garlic chicken. Yes, it was very good. It was very fatty, however. I felt like I was pulling grizzle out of my mouth more often than I should. However, the sauce they use is fantastic -- the best I've had. My daughter ordered the saimin. Kids ordered a burger and hubby ordered katsu chicken. He was enjoying my meal more. I gave it 3* because out of our whole family, half of us enjoyed our food. They should be a little more consistent in the quality/flavor across their entire menu. Price was fair. I think it was about $14 for my dinner, saimin was $6, pancake was about $5, burger was about $5. We enjoyed sitting on the back lanai more than inside. The evening lights made it nice and welcoming (and more private as we were the only ones sitting back there).
(3)Jeanette M.
Delicious local food. Garlic chicken and Saimen are great. Been here twice and it hasn't disappointed. It is very casual, parking can be difficult.
(4)Esmond T.
Called in a phone order 10 minutes before I got there, stood at the counter while this girl walks by me at least 10 times, then finally looks at me, another 10 minutes later then asks if I wanted to make an order.. Food is good but service is not.. After calling in my order 20 minutes later I hear them call out my order to the cooks.. Get home and NO haupia sauce for the 49 era pancake..
(2)Eduardo M.
Horrible taste, horrible services, everything is loaded with fat, you just pay for fat and not lean meat. Chicken loaded with oil and grease from the fryer. The saimin is just noodles thigh together raw, unflavored, uncooked... I don't recommend this place, visit it on your own risk, you'll loose your money, your appetite and mess up your day.
(1)Jo Z.
Food: I ordered the Cornbeef hash with egg and rice. For me, the cornbeef was too salty. It reminded me of the canned cornbeef hash you get in the can except they added onions and gave it a nice texture on griddle. Not worth the $ on this item. So, my search goes on for awesome corned beef hash. What I should've ordered was what my friends had, the smoked meat. My friend was nice to let me try a piece and it was ono. Can't go wrong with good smoke meat with onion. My other friend got the Forty Niner Pancake- I got to try this as well, pancake was nice and fluffy, I didn't care much for the haupia sauce. I guess I like it with the plan old maple syrup. Service: The service was okay but the wait for the food was redonculous...two parties after us got their food before we did. We waited about 35 minutes. They did apologize but when you're hungry, you just want to eat... Nice local place to eat...good to know if I'm too lazy to go Pancake House...I can go here.
(3)Crystal R.
My very 1st visit :) Tuesday night for dinner & lots of parking. Was able to get a table right away. Opted to dine outside. They've got picnic style tables. Relatively clean considering it's outdoors. Partial overhang. Not enclosed. Fast service. The server took our drinks even before we sat. Food came out pretty quickly. Nice size portion on my beef cutlet. I am soooo full. Someone roll me to my car! O.O Ok, so it didn't help I ordered a side of fries too, but man, I am stuffed. Cutlet was ok. The meat was soft. I liked that it's chopped beef. My hubbie had the fried chicken. His verdict? "Crazy Cool"... lol (His words not mine) Great portion size too. My drink got refilled. Good service. Thank you Forty Niner's, we'll be back :)
(4)Lala K.
Our server was so sweet! Place was clean and a lot bigger than it looks outside, a great place to bring your family. We came here for dinner, and I wish I didn't snack on anything before getting here because the portions are HUGE! I got the bento and it's a great way to sample a few things in one meal. Their fried garlic chicken was winnahs! I had about five pieces, so good. My daughter had the oxtail Saimin, poor thing she ate a lot but it didn't look like she put a dent in it. The noodles tasted good, fresh not like it was from a package. The oxtail was so big! She had about three big pieces. And to lighten the dish up, there was veggies like cabbage and shiitake mushroom. The broth had a lot of flavor. I would highly recommend this "hole in the wall". Driving by you wouldn't notice this place or your think it was closed. So glad that after all these years, this place is still open and thriving!
(4)Jenifer G.
Came for breakfast, left feeling satisfied with my meal, but wish I got to try something like pancakes. I was just feeling already bloated so had to go easy on the starches. Instead of a real breakfast I opted for one of their popular dishes, the smoked meat plate with 2 eggs on rice. The server suggested it. + Smoked meat & eggs $10.45 - The meat was delicious, with some fat on it but it was tender and cut nicely in longer strips versus square cuts. The eggs were over easy, made perfectly, over white rice. + cup of coffee $1.85 - good coffee. not the watery stuff, so I was happy about that. I even asked for a cup of hot water, which she obliged. The interior is a little on the dingy side but that's what gives it its local flair. The outside can look kind of scary too. It's a gravel parking lot in the back with unmarked stalls. There were about 3 more spaces when I pulled in on a Sunday at 9:45am. It actually started to clear out by the time 10:45-11am hit. A few booth tables run along the wall, a few middle tables and side ones. Out back there are picnic style benches..there can easily be about 15+ people out there..I didn't get a close look at it besides peering at it from the parking lot. The server was nice and it was mellow. No frills. Watch for the restrooms. They are unmarked. Womens is located in the small door on the inside where the main dining room area is. There is another door to get into the bathroom stall. However, for the mens restroom which is in the hallway up 1 step between the main drining room and outside patio area, there is no inside door.. there is just that one door which opens up right to the toilet. I mistook the mens room for the womens..the guy inside hadn't secured the door so I opened the door and his back was faced towards me while he was doing his business. I quickly apologized and closed the door. I had trouble closing the door tightly but did the best I could without slamming it.
(4)Nelson Q.
YELP 365 CHALLENGE 2014-(223/365) "A Local Hole In The Wall In Aiea" As a kid growing up, I would always pass the Forty Niner, and on our way to Boots and Kimo's one morning, I see the OPEN light flashing in the window and immediately busted a U-turn(a LEGAL one!) Inside was pretty packed, but we were happy to see that they offer al fresco dining out back. The waitress running the whole dining room (and out back too) was great, quick, efficient, and offered suggestions as well. we went with the Smoked Meat Plate(Pipikaula, sauteed onions, eggs, and rice), Hawaiian Breakfast(Kalua Pig, Lomi Salmon, eggs, and rice) and shared their Forty Niner Pancakes(Banana Pancakes with Haupia sauce and macadamia nuts. The Smoked meat plate was devoured, but the Kalua Pig wasn't as flavorful as I hoped. The pancakes were nice, fluffy, and delicious. Glad I finally got to dine at an old landmark, and we are definitely fans! ALOHA!!! Shaka Meter: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ 4
(4)Nicholas S.
Best lechon i've had in a long long time. Forty Niner pancakes and the oxtail saimin with both very good as well.
(5)Jon R.
Can't stay in Aeia without eating here at least a couple times! It's table service, not counter service, which I personally prefer! The service is also good here, which is a definite plus! The food is good, I recommend the plate lunch or the specials. the garlic chicken here is outta this world! The breakfast, honestly, just ain't that great in my opinion, but since I'm a total breakfast fiend, I almost always order off the breakfast menu and I'm usually not 100% satisfied. Fried Banana french toast ( s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.com… ) -tasty, sweet, a solid breakfast option! Da Elvis ( s3-media4.ak.yelpcdn.com… ) -2 bacon & banana pancakes with peanut butter in between -topped with banana syrup, whipped cream and bacon -not enough bacon inside, not enough peanut butter, just meh. -sounds a lot better than it actually is. Teri Burger ( s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.com… ) -moist, juicy, flavorful -fried are thick but too soft for me
(4)Janet L.
Ordered the pancake breakfast: pancake, 2 eggs and bacon. Bacon was cooked right and pancake cooked through. Eggs over easy and done right. The butter was completely weird and had an artificial looking color aka cheap. Coffee was diner coffee aka made with tap water (for $1.85). NOTE: They do not have half and half. They have powdered creamer aka white death (corn syrup solids.) Two waitresses on and one had her sh*t together and the other - well who knows. The good one pulled all the weight. My friend had a veggie omelet and it was awful. Had neither green nor grilled onions as described. Shitake mushrooms were like rubber and the tomato was white. Omelette was overcooked on the outside and raw on the inside. Blech. Came with 2 scoops of white rice, which is a local delicacy. She tried to eat it and then after flagging down the good waitress, ordered the pancake breakfast. Went here based on Yelp! reviews and the fact it's been here since 1947 and we were on our way to the stadium swap meet. Would not go here again unless you like tasteless, overpriced white food.
(2)Ananias T.
Sad to say that I used to like this place but recently somethings have seriously changed and not for the better. We really believe that it wasn't a bad day to go...it's was clearly bad all together. We walked in and no one was there to great us, but we saw an open booth and sat down. the bus boy quickly came over and wiped down our table and welcomed us...but that's where our experience took a nose dive south fast. As all the 5 tables that were there were finished, they waited impatiently also for someone to come cash out their tab. We watched people walked into the other section looking for help, but no one and they sat back down. Most people just left the money on the table and walked out. We waited 20min before a waitress walked by our table and (with a shocked look) said "Ohh hi, be right with you"... It was apparent that there was only 2 waitresses working, one outside and one inside. There was no apology when she came to take our order, but an excuse why they were so slow that morning. The food sucked, I ordered the Loco Moco (which my 3yr old can make better) it was just a plastic bowl of rice, simple beef patty, an over cooked egg and gravy that tasted horrible. They need to go to Aiea Bowl or Big City Diner to really see how it's done. My wife ordered a Portuguese Sausage omelet with Cheddar cheese and got a ham omelet with Kraft slices of melted cheese (disgusting). Our friend who was with us just pushed his plate away and we left feeling so disappointed. Maybe, sometime in the future we'll return but it's now definitely at the bottom of places to go to, sad to say.
(1)K J.
This review is of breakfast! LOVE this restaurant. Service was amazing! The two waitresses who were working Saturday morning (I should have gotten their names!) are so friendly, funny, and made my fiancé and I feel like we were family. The food...I got the Forty Niner pancakes, Forty Niner breakfast and my fiancé got the chicken and waffles. The fried rice that came with the breakfast was so good. It reminded me of how my mother makes it. Rice is perfectly cooked! The pancakes...that coconut sauce...not too sweet. It was just perfect. The fried chicken was crispy, and juicy, and the waffles...everything was so spot on. I'm definitely coming back here to try the saimin. It's become a new/fav go-to spot.
(5)Samantha L.
A local diner with classic options for breakfast and lunch. I was a bit hesitant upon walking in and seeing the run down booths and windows but i didn't come for the decor, i came for the food. The coffee was weak and the powdered non diary creamer was discouraging. I was spoiled by the great kona and peaberry coffee by then so decided to focus on the rest of the menu. I split the hamburger steak and pork lechon. The hamburger steak patty was a good texture with a great sauce. I liked their mac salad with angel hair like pasta versus macaroni. It was an authentic, homemade meal and as comforting as you can get. The pork lechon was a huge dish. A lot of salty deliciousness which i was happy we shared. Sweet staff. Very local feeling.
(3)Jayson T.
49ers is a place you have to try at least once, but you'll probably be back again because this restaurant is one of the best. The prices are affordable and you get more than your money's worth of food. The food itself is tasty but the one thing I really love about this place is the service. The waitresses are so kind and attentive, they really make you feel welcomed here. They're also quick with there orders even when the place is packed.
(5)Roxy W.
This is definitely one of those good ol' hole in the wall joints you passed by all your life and you finally try it 20 years later. Lol. Location: It is located on the main road across the street from McGrew Navy Housing. There limited parking area is in the back of the restaurant. Food: I ordered what most people raved about on Yelp; fried saimin and garlic chicken. The portions were huge and the food was good. My sister ordered a burger and fries and it was good as well. Prices: The prices are reasonable and they do accept credit card. Service: One cashier/waitress was helping the bar area and dining area. There were two people cooking and another person around doing something. This was during rush hour when the dining room was packed. I felt bad for the waitress doing everything but she seem to have everything in control. She still came by to check on us and refill our waters. It's not the prettiest place to eat and it gets noisy since they are off the main road. But overall, it's definitely worth checking out for breakfast or lunch.
(3)Jane A.
Knowing breakfast ends at 10:30 and after checking out Yelp for a good hour, I placed a breakfast order for pick up at 10:15ish. I thought they'd be resistant about taking a phone order that late, but the girl over the phone had really good CS. She didn't rush me off the phone, or sounded irritated at all. (This was definitely worth yelping about!) The price you pay, may be a little more than some places, especially for what you get... But it's not OVERPRICED IMO. The 49r breakfast was good. My husband inhaled his, but it could be he was super hungry. Either way, he usually comments if he didn't like something... And he didn't. Ordered the Creme Brûlée pancakes. It was OK. Nothing bad, but not "wow" either. I probably won't order that again, but I'll be back for the other stuff.
(4)Johnathan Q.
Very good the macadamia nut and coconut cream pancakes were great. If you want Hawaiian style breakfast this is the place to go.
(4)Sheryl K.
Now the seemingly "hole in the wall" eatery gave me much to rave about. From the cleanliness of the restaurant, the pleasant chit-chat amongst regular diners, great local favorites offered, exceptional Customer Service provided by our waitress who smiled, greeted and served us with urgency...Forty-Niners is the Spot! Needless to say the food was banging!!! I ordered the Roast Pork with Bown Gravy. Oh gosh...in one bite it took me back to my Mama's cooking. My partner tried the Fried Noodle with Dirty Teri Beef Sandwich which rendered lots of juicy flavors! I gave this place four stars.
(4)Mari K.
I probably have driven by the Forty Niner Restaurant like 5,624 times but have never stopped by.... until this past weekend. And I'm so glad I did! We came here for a late breakfast at around 10:15am. There was ample parking in the parking lot behind the restaurant - easy access from the parking lot and the back entrance to the restaurant. We sat ourselves down and was greeted right away by a friendly woman. We had a few minutes left to order off of the breakfast menu so we ordered the Macadamia Nut Haupia Pancakes and the Forty Niner Omelet. The Mac Nut Haupia Pancakes were SO GOOD. That haupia sauce is just so freaking dslicious. It was the best mixture of creamy and sweet goodness. The nuts just added a little crunch that makes the meal complete. The omelet was just good. 2 scoops of rice with a large omelet filled with Vienna sausage, Portuguese sausage, ham. I could pass on this next time and get a saimin instead! Really looking forward to trying a saimin for real. The service was AWESOME. The two ladies who took care of us inside were just incredible. Waters were always refilled, food came out SUPER FAST, they made small talk, and were just really friendly. There's ample seating outside on picnic tables as well as the indoor tables, and a bathroom in the restaurant. If you ever want good pancakes and are in the Aiea area, come here! I'll sure be back for them and next time I'm getting a saimin too!
(4)Kristian G.
Great waitress! She takes all the orders and doesn't write anything down. Shes friendly and precise! One waitress for the whole restaurant and she remembers everything!!!! My family and I were amazed. I had the Hawaiian Breakfast: kalua pig, 2 eggs (any style), and white rice. The plate usually comes with lomi salmon but they were out :( Regardless, it wasva big portion of kalua pig (over half the plate)! If I come at lunch time, I enjoy getting a cheese burger and a small saimin. Deeeeelicious! It is a very hole in the wall restaurant with limited seating but worth it.
(5)Anna M.
Was craving garlic chicken.. Got to forty niners at 1:15pm and they close at 2pm. Upon arriving they tell us that they are not serving deep fried foods because they already turned their fryer off! That is unbelievable how they will cut their menu 45 minutes before closing. It was a waste of time to go. Needless to say I did not fulfill my garlic chicken craving.
(2)Brandy W.
There is one item that separates this restaurant from every other plate lunch place: Chicken and Waffles!!!! This is pretty much the best combination since Diana Ross & Lionel Richie. Sure... everyone has their preferences on the dish, but for me I like a crisp waffle and spiced fried chicken. I do prefer the chicken at Hughley's, but Forty Niner definitely beats them with their waffles. Only served during breakfast, I wish they carried this item over for lunch and dinner. The urge for chicken and waffles does not only come in the morning. Bring it back all day! The ambience is really not leaving much to be desired. Mismatched chairs, cement floors, this is truly a hole in a wall. On the corner of Honomanu and Kam Hwy, there is plenty of parking and plenty of seating for all patrons, if you include outdoor seating. Do not expect there to be a whole lot of substitution options , but the customer service is prompt and helpful.
(4)Jennifer C.
I LOVE the pancakes here. 49ers pancakes - banana pancakes with mac nuts and coconut syrup. Fluffy and perfect level of sweetness! If you're not a fan of pancakes drenched in syrup, ask for it on the side. They give you a huge bowl of the stuff. Tastes perfect with a small dip. I also had the grilled pork chops with eggs (yes- fatty mode). The grilled pork chops are pretty good, too, but I think the seasonings were just straight salt and pepper. Probably something you can make at home, but it's so damn worth it to eat it here (I think about $9). Minus 1 star for service. The girl working the tables fudged our orders twice and it took us a while to get anything. To be fair, she was the only waitress working inside and out, as well as answering phones. But...that should be an indication to the owners that perhaps they need another waitress to help. Other tables were taking a while to get service as well. I felt bad for her...but part of the reason our orders were fudged was because she didn't write anything down. I don't blame the waitress entirely. Plus she was really sweet and apologetic.
(4)Brannon T.
This place has been here forever! Even when my parents were my age. But you could pass by it and not even remotely realize it. It's crazy! If you toward pearlridge and pass KFC, you've gone too far. If you're going away from pearlridge toward the stadium just turn left at the stoplight after KFC and you'll be there. They're food is really good, the prices are fair and the people are pretty helpful. This is a great place to go to lunch.
(3)Juliet M.
It was ai-ght said the starving beast! I have been holding out for a special day to eat here.... not only does it share the name of the most amazing football squad, but it is close to my home - not to mention I have heard pretty fantastic things about it. I ordered the Forty Niner Breakfast, and a side of garlic chix. I asked for my eggs scrambled and they arrived overeasy. Not even over medium, but completely overeasy. The server was nice, but she seemed more concerned about being witty with the guys that were taking up two - three tables. The fried rice was okay, totally not close to Side Street Inn's amazingness (I know different styles, but still - meh quality). The garlic chix was crispy, but the quality of meat was so bad and fatty it made me gag. Ick. I am not sure where the high ratings are coming from when put beside Liliha Bakery this place crumbles into saving my money for the gas and driving mi ar$$ to town.
(2)Lance W.
Came here for breakfast, you know while the wife is away. Couldn't get her to come here for anything. But the reviews kept me wanting to try. Was greeted promptly and introduced to my seat. Since this was my first time here, I asked the waitress what she would suggest for I was hungry and wanted to try everything that was reviewed. She suggested the fried saimin with garlic chicken. Mmm sounds good, sure! The fried saimin was good, but the meat was salty for my liking., although the garlic chicken was moist and not too strong. Got my bill, and it was $12.59. Whoa, coffee, fried saimin, and garlic chicken for $12.59? I think next time I'd go to mitsu-ken. The banana waffles look good, maybe I will try to that next time.
(3)Jeanette S.
Whenever my husband and I eat here, we always get great service. Don't let looks fool you, it may look like a small location but there is a lot of seating, both indoor and outdoor. There are more than 5 parking stalls if you don't mind parking on gravel. Service is great and quick. Most times there is only one waitress, and couple cooks, but they are on it. Waitress is quick, doesn't write anything down but always gets our order right. Food is pretty good. Love their saimin, it reminds me of the saimin from the old Kennys Burgerhouse. I always get the small saimin, sometimes with a side of Teri beef or garlic chicken. Husband loves their garlic chicken. Portions are also worth the price as well.
(4)Lorena B.
I really like this places. Its really small and old looking like mixed-matched chairs but for me it feels like I'm at an aunty's house chilling with the family. The staff is super nice and friendly, always checking on us and making sure we're doing okay. The food is really good. Just this last time I tried something different like the creme brulee pancakes, the pancakes were okay but I didn't get the taste of creme brulee so that was a little bit of a bummer. Other than that, overall I would come back here when I am in the area. P.S- be aware that the parking isn't that great. Its unpaved and right next to the street, just be careful getting in and out.
(4)Edward T.
This is the place is like a time machine. You can go there and get the feel for old school diner, not mainland 50's kine but real Hawaii old school. There used to be places like this in downtown in the 70's and 80's but most are all gone. This one is legit and has good food. I always hit 49er when I want old homestyle roast pork with gravy and rice. Gravy is good, pork is soft, and the atmosphere is chill. Just sit at the counter and watch the two cooks in the kitchen do their thing while eating good comfort food. Thats a relaxing way to spend a lunch or breakfast. No need to worry about the traffic or anything else.
(4)Bethany G.
Good food. The restaurant is definitely a hole in the wall. I got the 49er bento which was very good. I've never had a bento meal before so I don't have anything for comparison so I went right down the middle with 3 stars. My husband got the double cheese burger which he rated a 3 also. He said the fries were really good!
(3)Stephanie D.
Not much to look at from the outside or the inside and absolutely no a/c - but man, was the food and service awesome! Very friendly people and the food is yum-yum-my!! I tried the DaElvis Pancake with peanut butter, banana and plenty of bacon - holy cow, that was heaven! I totally recommend stopping by at least once if not twice.
(4)Tasha G.
This food is amazing and they are very nice. Also it is very fast. We haven't even been sat for ten mins and we aready had our food.
(5)Kara H.
Their bento and Hawaiian plate are awesome. Good variety and generous portion. Best garlic chicken you will find.
(5)Yuzen Y.
Great local food! No frills! Ive been here many times and always enjoy my food. In particular, i enjoy the garlic chicken and the roast pork. The ambiance of the place reminds me of my grandmothers house.
(5)Seth M.
Ate here with a couple friends for breakfast. Service was standard-nothing to brag about. Plates and utensils were so badly worn. Plates had cracks and holes in them. Belgian waffle was good, but definitely nothing to write home about. I'm really not sure why this place gets such good reviews. We pulled up and the place looked closed, and at that, it looked like it should've been some kind of auto shop - not a restaurant. Won't be coming back.
(2)Kahealani P.
Haven't been here in years but it's pretty much the same. The food is always good from the loco moco, the burgers and of course the saimin. This is the first time that I've come here with my baby and they had one high chair. Not really a problem for me I just wasn't expecting it. I'd come back of course. Gotta try the chicken and waffles!
(4)Russ S.
This place totally rocks! If I lived out on that side of the island I would eat there way more often than I do. Instead it is more like a "treat" for me to do so. For me it is all about the saimin. The saimin is of the "thin noodle" variety and there are many portion sizes to order from small all the way up to the BIG BOY! There is kamaboko, spam AND char siu as garnishes. Oh and that nasty green onion stuff too which of course I request that is never allowed to foul my delicious meal with it's ickiness. The big boy is HUGE and is a whole lotta noodles to eat so be sure you are hungry if you do order that size. Good prices. Besides the saimin the fried noodles is good. Oh and the garlic chicken is DA BOMB! So fried noodles with garlic chicken combo is DA SUPER BOMB!
(5)Joanna Y.
Good ol' fashioned local saimin. It's hard for me to judge from other saimin joints, but there are definitely some notable differences. The toppings are really basic (and kinda lacking) here. Just the basic saimin noodles, broth, few slices of spam, small bits of char siu and green onion. My friend always has to order extra toppings and a side of chicken to make up for it. I wish they had a wonton option, or were a little more generous with the toppings. Maybe throw some bok choy or cabbage, egg, and voila! The chicken is pretty amazing here. Was it garlic chicken? It reminds me of how the tasty chicken from Aiea bowl used to be back in the day - perfectly cooked, divine pieces of fried chicken. Nowadays the tasty chicken is more breaded/battered, and not as flavorful. But I certainly found a chicken that beats Aiea bowl's tasty chicken now! The parking situation kind of annoys me. It's along the side road where people are driving down the hill, waiting at the stop light. Kind of a blind spot too, so people like me have a hard time getting out lol. I like that you can sit inside or eat outside, however the inside can be packed and gets super hot. The hot saimin did not help cool me down either lol! I will probably be back...for that chicken!!
(3)Jamie S.
Delicious breakfast as our last meal before heading to the airport! The place definitely didn't look like there was much to offer from the outside, but the banana pancakes and chicken & waffles were great. The chicken was cooked perfectly.
(4)Nette E.
Love the macadamia nut banana filled pancake with coconut syrup/sauce!!! This place is a hidden gem! Don't let the outside fool you..its a small place but the food makes up for it! This place was busy but our party of 7 was able to sit right away. There's also outside seating. Our waitress was nice and friendly and remembered everything we ordered (plates for a party of 7) without writing anything down! Only downside was that we missed some of the breakfast items (they stopped serving waffles at 10:30am) and they ran out of bacon..maybe cuz a lot of people eat breakfast here. The garlic chicken, creme brulé pancakes, and saimin was also very good! Definitely coming back to this place!
(5)Adam D.
We went for a late breakfast on a Monday. Easy parking in their small lot. The service was fast and friendly. However, the food wasn't great. I got the smoked Hawaiian meat and eggs. The meat was pretty tough and overcooked. The eggs were what you'd make at home and it came with like four cups of white rice. My wife got an omelet, which she said was ok. I'd only come here if the location really is convenient, but otherwise I don't think it's worth it.
(3)Bryce A.
I have driven past Forty Niner countless times, but never made it inside for food until I stopped by with my sister this past Monday. There are a whole lot of tables between the dining room and the patio, but it was fairly empty when we got there around 9 in the morning. We split a Loco Moco and an order of the Forty Niner Pancakes. Both dishes were great. The Loco Moco had a great homemade hamburger patty and decent gravy. The pancakes were fluffy and had bananas inside, mac nuts on top, and a delicious haupia syrup. I asked for the haupia syrup on the side and would recommend doing so if you are particular about how much sauce is on your pancakes. Service was good. When we visited there was only one waitress and I'm not sure how it gets when it is crowded, but when we were there she was on top of taking orders, topping off waters, and checking in on us. Also, our food was prepared fairly quickly. Overall, a great choice if you're looking for a sit-down breakfast.
(4)Hervick R.
Don't judge a book by its cover! Saimin, corned beef hash, & burger was goooood! I have yet to find a dish that will disappoint me.
(5)Clarissa M.
Lived here for most of my life and this was my first time - where have I been?! We shared the lechon, fried saimen with garlic chicken, and egg cheeseburger with fries. The solo server is super quick and efficient - she has got that down to a science. I give her credit! The food was super tasty too! I have been missing out all these years!
(4)Jamie B.
The huzzband & I stopped here for take out a few weeks ago. We ordered fried saimin & burgers, plus an order of fries. Wait time was not bad considering it was lunchtime on a Saturday & it was pretty busy. We took our take out to the park. I was so excited to eat the noodles & it smelled so good! However, my excitement soon turned to disappointment when I realized the noodles were smooshy & under seasoned. I don't know if the texture was due to the steaming in the take out container or just the cook having a rough day but I'd eaten the fried saimin before & it had been delicious. Burger was good sized... Thick homemade patty on a standard bun, but again under seasoned (in my opinion, of course). It didn't come with any condiments so you have to add your own. Although this particular time the food was a bit disappointing, I have eaten here before & have liked the food which is why I'm giving it 3 stars.
(3)Linh B.
I've driven by this place many, many times and have always wanted to try it. Well, after 15+ years, I'm here!!! My husband and I went for an early dinner, ordered the pot roast pork, pork lechon, and Forty Niner pancakes (banana mac with Haupia sauce). Every item was delicious, very flavorful! The pot roast was like eating kalua pork smothered with brown gravy. The pork lechon was super crispy and the pancakes, dare I say, as good as Boots 'n Kimos! The bananas, I think, were apple bananas, giving it a good tartness, balancing out the sweet. My husband, who usually does not like to eat out, likes this place so much, he wants me to order take out on his days off. I also forgot to mention, our server was very attentive and friendly. :)
(5)Christopher A.
i had the bento plate and it was great! the waitress was nice lol a lot of guys liked her for certain reasons. for me what drew me in was the food. i would say i wish i got more spam and kamaboko but the portion was so big for only like 8-9 dollars! definitely going to revisit
(4)Shinanagins O.
Ono food at affordable prices. Service is fast and friendly... can't ask for more. Had breakfast here today, pancakes were hot and fluffy, eggs and meat cooked perfectly and all for under $8!
(5)Nicholas P.
Very unique diner on the edge of pearl harbor. Ordered a take out breakfast of fried rice omlette and waffles. All were very good, would recommend to anyone wanting a good breakfast.
(4)Jana T.
My favorite place for lunch. Food is always good as is the service. We went for breakfast but their breakfast is just as good. And there is no wait.
(4)Kristen M.
Ate breakfast with my family here today. My mom and stepdad are regulars here. This was my first time eating here. On the ride over I heard all about the restaurants history. My grandparents frequently came here back in the day. My mom ordered the smoked meat with sunny side up eggs. She loves the smoked meat and always tells people to try it. The onions that come with it were cooked perfectly. My stepdad ordered Da Elvis Pancakes. Like the name implies there are bananas and peanut butter in it. Added bonus of bacon and whipped cream. The perfect amount of everything. You could taste each element. Nothing was overpowering. The pancakes were deliciously fluffy. My friend ordered fried rice, scrambled eggs and bacon. The fried rice has onions, green onions, bacon, spam and Portuguese sausage. I ordered Banana French Toast minus the banana. The actual order comes with grilled bananas and banana syrup. I opted for plain French toast and they threw in side of bacon since I didn't have bananas. I eat A LOT French toast and this was definitely NOT French Toast. It is sweet bread that has pancake batter on the outside. It was delicious but NOT French Toast. I felt like I was eating pancakes. This is a cute little place. Small indoor seating and picnic tables outside for outdoor seating. My mom brings our dogs sometimes and they eat outside :) NOTE: the parking lot is very small. Sometimes you have to wait for parking.
(4)Greg M.
Solid place! Cheap food but NOT cheap in taste or quality! Fast and friendly service.
(5)Joleen K.
First time here. The parkingwas alright, even though we came after work it was still a little busy. The staff here was really nice and friendly. After we ordered our food we didn't wait very long to start eating. It reminds me of a less popular Zippys. The dessert though was amazing!it was a deep fried brownie ala mode. Delicious. I think we might be stopping by next week just for that!
(4)Tupu L.
I've only been here a handful of times but every time I've come it has always been great. The service was always fast and friendly and the the food, especially the burgers and saimin (ramen), although simple, are delicious and makes you wanting more if you dont get satisfied with the first. My last visit here was with my girlfriend and she had the saimin while i had the garlic chicken plate and we shared a teri burger. Cant go wrong with saimin. It had a lot of meat, and the noodles were cooked well. The garlic chicken is probably one of my favorites on the island now. The fried parts maintain a nice crunch but the best thing about it was that unlike most places who use tons of garlic, the garlic flavor here is much more subtle and balanced. Very nicely prepared. Also, i thought it was really nice that the mac salad was actually a spaghetti salad which i loved because my mom used to make that kind of salad when i was younger. Basically, this place has great food and very reasonable prices. The hours are kind of weird but when you see that they're open, this place is a sure shot.
(4)Royce M.
Not the best, pancakes are no uniform in size 1, large,1 small, and raw in the middle.
(1)Chad S.
What a surprise! I've driven past this place for YEARS, and never bothered to even think twice about eating here. But I searched "Breakfast" on Yelp and up popped this little treasure. We drove past it and it looks like a building you don't want to enter (seriously). I even joked with my wife and said that maybe we should find somewhere else to eat. She said, "If it got such great reviews on Yelp, it must be good." We went in, and the server was AWESOME. Super nice, sweet, and friendly. We told her we had never eaten there before and she made some recommendations. I had the chicken and waffles and my wife the standard breakfast with pancakes. DELICIOUS! There's only one other place I've had with better chicken and waffles and that's in a different state. I've had a few in Hawaii, and this is by far the best. I'm glad I chose to go in, and we'll definitely go back again!
(4)Faye M.
I grew up in Pearl City and always passed this place and always yelled out "FORTY NINER DINER!!", mostly because it rhymed - and as a little kid, it's always fun to shout out rhyming words. But I think I yelled it out mainly because my dad is a big 49ers fan and duh. Any place called Forty Niner Diner has to be affiliated with the football team! So fast forward a few (dozen) years and I finally set foot in this place for some brunch with my BF. Surprise, surprise, there is no trace of football memorabilia in there! What is there is not much, but it works. It's a no frills, no thrills kinda place - and I like it! I believe there is a counter area where you can sit and eat, a main dining area, and an outside eating area that's pretty cool to sit at - especially if you don't want to wait for a table to eat inside. The food here is tasty and perfect for a casual meal before heading out to run your errands - a very good alternative to Zippy's! The first time I ate here, I had a corned beef hash type of breakfast that came with rice and eggs - it was simple, but good. My BF ordered their bento which had garlic chicken, and a few other types of meat. The garlic chicken was pretty good! The second time we came, I had a veggie omelet with bacon and my BF had their smoked meat plate. Both dishes were very good. It did take a little longer than expected to get the food out, but our waitress was very friendly and kept updating us. One thing that was kinda weird - it happened the two times we went. Our waitress asked my BF if he wanted a refill on his soda, and he said "yes", but they never came back with it. Only after he reminded them about it - and after about five minutes of waiting. That was kind of off - and it was two different waitresses! I'd still come back though! I don't drink soda, and my water cup was never more than half empty!
(4)Dan O.
Got a chance to head to 49'ers for breakfast. Passed my military fitness test & weigh in, so I could indulge. Seen the smoked meat breakfast but never could go before 10:30 am to try it. Now I could chance 'um! Generous helping of smoked meat, sauteed onions, 2 eggs your style (mine was sunny side up), & fried rice. It broke da mouth! Enjoyable, but definitely something to treat yourself too once in a great while if you're trying to watch your girlish figure. 49'ers parking as been improved too. Aside from their regular 5 paved stalls, they now have dirt parking in the back of the stalls. Inside of fighting the traffic on Honomanu St to go into/out of the paved stalls, i could take a left on Kaamilo St, drive through the dirt parking, and end up engine facing out of a paved stall on Honomanu. Very easy to get into and leave! Winna!
(4)Shey O.
Came here with the husband and his friends on a Saturday morning. I really wanted to try the creme brulee pancakes. They were a lot smaller than the short stack of blueberry pancakes that the others ordered and the vanilla sauce was kind of grainy. I enjoyed the center parts with the caramelized sugar but other than that, i wish i ordered something else. I truly wanted to like it. The pancake itself is good on its own so maybe simplicity is best here. Husband LOVED the chicken and waffles and his friends devoured the blueberry pancakes. As soon as they tore the pancakes apart, it was obvious that the texture was on point. Pancakes cooked to perfection! Service was slow with two servers and one cook. They mentioned they were understaffed but being a server myself, i didn't mind.
(4)Troy G.
Really good Burgers!!! First time my wife and I have eaten at this place, it will not be the last!!!!! Service was good and hospitable with just the right amount of service to customer interaction, which provides adequate time to eat the meal while still being checked on periodically. I had a bacon cheese burger! Amazingly juicy burger with great flavor. The fries could use some work but this is Hawaii so probably should have gotten the Mac salad or rice instead of fries.
(4)Kat K.
Small hole in the wall but ono food! Came here for dinner with the fam..fried pickles in their burger, its like Christmas! Next time we're coming for breakfast! !
(4)Scott K.
Garlic chicken and the dirty burger were excellent. Can't beat the prices as well. Definitely recommend.
(4)Kathy A.
Okay I have to apologize for my scathing review of this restaurant in July. My bad and I have punished my family for two months by going elsewhere and being petty about an oversight. I'm usually not that person. I was here this morning for the betst oxtail soup and my honey bunny had his favorite loco moco. Even though he has done his best to support me and my pettiness he admitted he and the Wes have been here when I was traveling! I applaud the owner for not stooping to my level and refusing to serve me, thank you for that. Sorry to hear that Leilani, owner's mom, passed away. She has been a mainstay and so easy to talk story with for many years.
(5)June L.
Fantastic!!! Food tastes grrreatt!!!! We ordered fried saimin and crispy chicken, and burger with pulled pork. Everything was very tasty! Price was good and service was very good too. The waitress was friendly and attentive. Love the place and will definitely return!!! There is also outdoor seating in the back. Very nice. Also, parking available. Score.
(4)Angela R.
Hungover and in dire need of saimin I decided to give Forty Niner Restaurant a try. Funny thing is I drove by this joint for over 2 decades and never stopped in. But since it came up on my handy dandy Yelp app with 4 stars when I searched "saimin", I had to check it out. I ordered an egg burger deluxe and saimin. The saimin was basic. They funny thing is it is just what I expected and needed. I came here and I knew it was going to be basic and sometimes (such as hangover days) I just want to eat some simple food. The burger had some girth with the added egg and veggies! I loved it!! On the menu, there are a some different menu items such as chicken and waffles and the Hawaiian breakfast. I also heard the banana pancakes were good with haupia sauce. My husband had the smoked meat and he was very impressed. He said it had a good smoked flavor and the portion was huge. Menu offerings were surprisingly well-rounded. I think everyone can find a item to eat and be satisfied. It is a charming little spot that everyone should try once. I would consider it a clean dive restaraunt. Waitresses were cheery. Service was friendly, a little too friendly. The waitress wanted to talk story with everyone so it took awhile for her to get around the dining area. Yelp 31 Day Challenge: #9/31 The hangover cure
(4)Kimberly M.
My husband and I love this place! We go there every other weekend or so. Their garlic chicken, pulled pork, and Mac salad are just terrific and the service is great. If you're looking for a good breakfast dish, try the crème brûlée pancakes. They're to die for!
(5)Len C.
Unpretentious, good food, good price. One of the icons. Recommend the garlic chicken, the lechon is no nonsense, big pieces of pork, ask for extra sauce.
(5)Evander M.
I came here to try their chicken and waffles but they ended up not serving it at the time so I wanted to try their famous fried saimin. I was pretty excited about it because it is pisted as a local favorites. When I got it was surprised on how plain and ordinary it looked. It looked like they just boiled a ramen pack and then fried it with some side of meats. The taste of it was what it looked like...just plain. This rating is based on their fried saimin only. I would have given it a lower rating but the service was friendly. I also found a small bug on my plate after I was half way through. I'm not sure if it was IN my food from the beginning or if it just happened to fly on the plate without me noticing. Just a heads up to be careful before you eat your food.
(3)Heather S.
Amazing food! Huge portions and the service is great. Def recommend! I got the garlic chicken and the second trip the banana french toast and they were amazing!!!!
(5)Les G.
I had the garlic chicken with rice and mac salad. That was really delicious! I would have that again and again!
(5)Marcus S.
I am rating the burgers only. The new owners changed the recipe of the burgers 100 percent. don't know why but it is pretty basic now. they had it's own texture and flavor before. been there years before the new owners. so I know this!
(1)Hunter H.
Had the macadamia banana waffle, would give it 5 stars if crispier. Still in the top 5 of all time!!!
(4)Cris G.
I have eaten here for breakfast only twice recently, and both times were good! The first time I came, I ordered the smoked meat with eggs and rice. The meat was smokey In flavor, but a little too fatty and I thought it could use more flavoring in it. Like some salt or garlic.... I probably wouldn't order that again. The second time I went, I got the corn beef hash, eggs, and rice. That was really good! I love the hash and the portions were good. My boyfriend got the meat lovers omelette which had spam, Vienna sausage, and bacon in it. It was good too! We sat in the outdoor area which we liked. I want to come back and try everything else on the menu!
(4)Keola m.
Sunday Morning at about 9am... Forty Niner Restaurant is packed...Counter, Full. Inside seating, Full. What a great idea to create patio seating in the back. If not, I would be out of a great breakfast experience. At first I was thinking....all these people and I only see 1 waitress. This is going to be a long wait for breakfast. WRONG! We were watered, ordered, and fed before I knew it. Needless to say I was totally impressed. Food: Mac nut/bannana pancake,Hawaiian smoke meat and eggs,corned beef hash patties and eggs, vienna sausage and fried rice. The Mac Nut/Bannana Pancakes were good but, I've had better. The rest of the food however, was awesome.
(5)Lucus R.
The best Chicken and waffles we have ever had. They are not super speedy but it is worth the wait. We went there after visiting the USS Arizona Memorial. We had brunch there and everyone was completely satisfied!
(5)Paul R.
Ehh... No complaints, but very average. Forty Niner Restaurant is clean. The wait staff is friendly, and takes good care of you. The food comes out in a timely manner.. But there isn't anything I've had thats really stood out.. This last visit was for breakfast. I had eggs, bacon, and a pancake.. And it was good... I don't know what really else to say.. Nice little place, but averagely average. Great if you're just too lazy to cook and what a relax, comfortable environment. And its pretty cheap so can't go wrong!!
(3)Sara G.
Forty Niner redeemed itself because of the waitress!! We were looking forward to eating at the Forty Niner because of all of the great reviews on the chicken and waffles. We arrived at 1031 am to find out that certain items are not served after 1030. This is not advertised at all online so how would we know that? After asking the waitress if we could still order it she did no because it is now 1030. Really? So if you're planning on coming to this restaurant for waffles or fried rice, make sure you arrive WAY before 1030! We were debating on leaving but another waitress was able to put our order through! It was definitely awesome of her to make an exception and take care of us! My husband was more than satisfied with his chicken and waffles!
(4)Victoria A.
We were looking for a local favorite breakfast place and we found it. The place doesn't look like much from the outside or inside but the food was great. I think there was only 1 server working so the service was a little slow. We sat outside where the picnic tables are, which is better for 5 adults. We ordered the Corn Beef Hash and Eggs and the Forty Niner Pancakes. The corn beef was so yummy, eggs cooked right, and there was a lot of rice. The pancakes were so light and fluffy and that Haupia sauce was so yummy!
(4)Elizabeth D.
I heard about fortyniners for like forever but never came in until today. All of my friends were giving this place rave reviews. So I finally went today and ordered the fried Saimin, loco moco, and garlic chicken. Out of the 3, the garlic chicken was the best. Fried Saimin was ok, and loco moco was just ok. I heard the hamburger patty was not the frozen patty- generic, but hand made. It wasn't as tasty like everyone said? Maybe it's just me? The gravy wasn't really tasty. I still wanna try other items on the menu, someone mentioned they have the macadamia nut pancakes just like you know who?!? Will try teriyaki meat and chicken and waffles. So u will be back and maybe next time they will get 5 stars. Waitress was nice and friendly.
(3)Derrick V.
The garlic chicken was absolutely wonderful and filling. The service was also delightful.
(5)Masayoshi S.
My girlfriend n I came in for lunch today. Only four tables sat. We were the second people to be seated but the waitress decides to take orders from the two tables that walked in after us. The haole girl that sat us gave our waters n went straight into the kitchen. Did not return! The new owners need to hire better waitresses that don't have attitudes towards their guest. Never had a problem with the Old Owners! WHAT HORRIBLE SERVICE!! WILL NOT COME BACK HERE AGAIN!!
(1)Andrew K.
Great breakfast! Had the 49er pancakes! So delicious with the banana, macadamia nuts and coconut sauce! Got my pancakes less than 5 minutes from ordering!
(5)Ram K.
FINALLY got to try here. There's only like four parking spaces but behind it there's a gravel lot. We entered the booth area and was greeted and told to sit anywhere. Menus were brought along with water. Very nice waitress. Looked through the selections then my gf and I decided on the same thing, cheeseburger and small saimin. Food came out pretty fast. Nice size burger with homemade patty. Generous size saimin for a small. Tastes like S&S saimin with skinnier noodles. I'd rather have thicker noodles but not a problem. My tummy left happy.
(5)Lei N.
For dinner tonight, my brother wanted to head back to Forty Niner since there "wasn't food at home". Anyways we walked over; it wasn't bad it was nice. When we finally reached the restaurant I thought it was closed and that they were doing construction. It looked like that from where we were walking from. This time we sat at a booth instead of sitting at the counter which was in a totally different room. Walking in, it was cozy. The atmosphere made it appear like we were in someone else's home and not a restaurant. Another reason I thought it was closed because of the lack of customers. We were the only ones there at the time until a family of three came in. The waitress was the same one from the last time we visited (minus her glasses) she was quick on getting us the menu, drinks and food but then again it could be because there were was only us and the family. It was around 6 PM but I'm glad we didn't have to fight a crowd for tables. I debated between a cup of coffee or a cheeseburger... the cheeseburger won. I ordered the cheeseburger deluxe which comes with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. I said no to the pickles. My brother ordered the garlic chicken and saimin. It wasn't that long of a wait and our food was out. She admitted that my burger was a bit cold but that's okay. After my first bite... my burger started getting messy. Ha ha. Luckily there were a lot of napkins. I was provided a knife which I tried to use but failed. It wasn't until I was halfway done with my burger that I picked up my knife along with some chopsticks and ate the rest that way; cutting up my burger piece by piece. The waitress must think I'm weird or something after tonight. Next time I won't be getting onions if I'm craving a burger. By the end of our meal, my brother and I were satisfied! We sat a bit before heading back home. Of course I would come over again -- maybe then I'd get some coffee.
(4)Chris M.
I have to agree with Rod U. on this one. There's no question that Forty Niner restaurant is synonymous with old-school nostalgia for some - it's been around for over 50 years. I live in town and this was my first time here, so I wasn't very impressed. HAMBURGER STEAK, $8.50 This was the first to come out and was clearly pre-cooked. The hamburger patty was mushy and unremarkable. I did not like the gravy at all, a thick clumpy mess of blandness. The macaroni salad was made with spaghetti noodles, which my dad liked. yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… FRENCH FRIES, $2.95 I did enjoy these, served hot and crispy on the outside. A side order was the perfect portion size to share between 3 people. yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… CORNED BEEF HASH & EGGS, $8.55 The waitress said the corned beef hash is homemade....it was okay, I just didn't think the portion size matched the price at all. yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… GARLIC CHICKEN, $2.75 There wasn't much meat; most of it was skin....so I guess you get what you pay for. I did like the taste of the sauce though - perfect balance of garlic, shoyu & sugar. We even dipped our fries in the leftover sauce! yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… Our waitress seemed to be a little stressed out by the lunch rush and she took a while to refill waters. Not a huge issue, though we didn't see the friendliness that everyone else talks about. I noticed a lot of 4-star reviews....maybe I just ordered the wrong things and/or came on an off day?? Nonetheless, not sure that there will be a return visit - there's too many other great options in the area!
(2)Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Variety of breakfast items. Price point a little high for what you are getting. I was curious about this place since I haven't ate here since I left the islands and the change in owners. Decided to take my Mom and brother. At first glance the menu was bigger offering more breakfast items. This is what we ate: 1. Chicken and waffles -the waffles were good, light and airy and the maple syrup was nice and savory sweet a great compliment to the fried chicken. The fried chicken was good but a bit on the oily side. Interesting presentation with the chicken towering up on a stick over the waffles. 2. Fried rice with two eggs and spam. The fried rice was not as good as I expected. The rice was mushy and it was cooked with a lot of shoyu very salty. The eggs were done well as ordered and the spam cooked to a dry crisp. 3. The saimin was good and there were a nice amount of green onions, fish cake and char sui.
(3)Joe K.
What would you call... a freshly ground, hand made all beef patty grilled perfect on a sizzling flattop, throw on cheese, lettuce, tomato, some grilled onions. Then add some special sauce; something like the one at "In & Out Burger," topped with a slightly well ( yolk still a little runny) fried egg. Piled high on a fresh hamburger bun? Well this messy, sloppy, dirty dining sandwich is called exactly that..... The Forty Niner "Egg Cheeseburger Made Dirty" I dunno how it 'd fare against the triple D's shoulder haunch sandwiches, but I'd totally give it the... "Knocked it outta the park, Dude" while looking into the camera compliment, complete with a blinged out fist bump! The flavor just burst forth with each bite, the beefy goodness, the crisp fresh veggies, the sweet tart sauce, watch out cause here comes the smokey grilled onions, and then the eggy cheesy finish. With a side of piping hot ( and I mean really, Really, REALLY piping hot) hand cut fries, and we have the perfect Lite Lunch.......... NOT! So I'm saying.... If you're the adventurous Guy Fieri type, and you wanna check out your greasy-spoon-ish, mom and pop-ish diner complete with swinging, slamming screen doors, and fountain stools, then " Ya jus gotta check this joint out!"
(5)Michael Evan F.
Hooooooooooooooooooooooo braaaaaaaaaaaaah, the drive from waikiki is worth it! Gave the aunty (she da best btw) our orders and BOOM. Our order came out a minute later. I was like HOOOOOOOOO NAAAAAAAAAH & I jus wen grind 'em. Full-on grind da smoked meat & eggs, brah. Almost get kanak attack! Thanks eh, aunty! Happy Independence Day!
(5)Adriana B.
So this place looks like a hole in the wall diner from the side of the road, but their food is on point! Breakfast and lunch foods served. The Da Elvis pancakes are so awesome. Pancakes with bacon, peanut butter, banana and syrup....yes please. Total fat kid food. The furikake ahi special my bf ordered was good too. This spot is great for a weekend morning breakfast if you're not in any rush. There is indoor and outdoor seating. You may have to wait a little bit for the food, but it is worth it.
(4)Sara P.
Awesome breakfast! The portions are very generous. We got the ham and eggs and it was a good deal! $10 for a big cut of a thick cut of ham! Definitely coming back soon for breakfast.
(5)Paige S.
oooweee, I was TOO excited to come here! After reading the reviews I was hungry and ready. Parking here is on gravel, and at first this little location on the corner with the weird parking is a bit disheartening but don't let that fool you. Upon walking in the customer service is uh-may-zing. Everyone is so friendly...all the time. There are 2 sections, one with counter seating and the other with tables. We opted for the tables and quickly a waitress came over with waters and greeted us. She struck up conversation with us so easily and it was so nice. We browsed the menu and yelp and decided on a side of garlic chicken, fries, a deluxe burger and a teri burger. Garlic chicken was so ono! It was crispy, full of flavor and filling :) My Teri burger was just the right size for me, it was small in my texans hands but it was maybe equivalent to a kids size McD burger but it was 1000x the quality. The meat was SO tender, flavorful and could tell it was a homemade burger. The bun was so soft and fluffy! GAH! I loved my burger, and I can't wait to go back and get another one. My husband got the deluxe burger, and we thought it would have more things like double cheese and double everything but that was not the case. However, we are not complaining, my husband loved his burger and while it was snack size for him, he would definitely go back and get another one. Now here is the kicker, this mini lunch was not even near $10. WhhhatttHOLYFURIKAKE! AMAZEBALLS. Super cheap, delicious food? Win win all around! Can't wait to go back!
(4)Apple Gem F.
Love it. Very cozy mom & Pop place. The service is good friendly staff.. Love the pork lechon. Will come back again.
(4)Eddie P.
This was my second visit to Forty Niner. So a review is somewhat overdue!. If you are a professional food critic, wine snob or into flash, pizazz or just looking for that "Je ne sais quoi" you may be better suited having breakfast at place more concerned with obtaining a Michelin star. Something about this place had a certain appeal and the only thing I could think was its no frills look and down home approach, which is comparable to those awesome greasy spoon diners one may find in the mainland who serve up great food. I went with the typical all American breakfast...a pancake (good sized), egg and bacon, with a cup of coffee and small OJ. All I can say is mmm good! It wasn't a gluttonous serving but just right and with the flavor to match. Although it may be somewhat sacrilegious to say, I enjoyed the pancake (and sides for that matter) just a tad more than those at Koa Pancake House, again..this is just a personal opinion. Overall, if you are looking for a good meal, at a decent price and rolling through AIea...you probably wont be disappointed! I'll have to pick up a T-Shirt on my next visit.
(4)Christy M.
Absolutely love the chicken and waffles it's a must. Service is great and parking is perfect. Great hole in a wall
(5)Teresa G.
After years of driving by I finally decided to stop in. For the longest time I thought that this place was deserted. I never really saw anybody walking in or out. Nor did I hear about anyone eating here. I entered in the booth area and at first I was sure if I entered in the right door not. Right away a very friendly waitress popped out and seated us and provided us with menus. After a few minutes of studying the menu we finally place our order.she was extremely patient while we studied the menu and I didn't feel rushed or anything. As I waited for my food, I looked around and even though the place is not updated or anything, I loved it. Reminded me of the way things were when I was growing up. Food came out right away and very large portions. I ordered the forty niner omelet with fried rice. Very delicious. My daughter got the banana pancakes with coconut Mac nut syrup. I'm not a fan of coconut but wanted to taste it anyway. The pancakes were moist and flavorable. You can taste the banana without it being overwhelming. The syrup wasn't too sweet which made it perfect. I give it 5 stars for the portion of the food/cost of food, the taste and super friendly service. I will definitely be back and can't wait to try other items on the menu.
(5)Jackie C.
Went here for the first time. Ordered the garlic chicken which was okay...Nothing great. Boyfriend ordered the cheeseburger "dirty style" which was fried pickles, special sauce, lettuce, onion, tomatoes and a large saimin. Burger patty was hard and the saimin noodles seemed like it was soaking in the soup for a while. The service was great tho! Very helpful when you're not sure what to order. Attentive and friendly! Not sure if I'll go back...
(2)Rob S.
New Restaurant Branch.. all new staff except the waitress who also works at Aiea and is up in Wahiawa for training the new staff. I ordered the smoke meat with eggs.. nice.. I think the grill may have been a tad hot.. the smoke meat was a little dry and the scrambled eggs were just a little brown. Coffee Hot fresh and your cup is always kept full. I was told mornings are a little light... Evenings and lunch are busy. We'll revisit with the club this weekend and see how it goes with a large group.
(4)liz t.
Try ox trail soup
(4)Timothy H.
I hate giving places such a low rating, especially since I used to be a waiter, it honestly would have been a one if the service stunk but the server was very nice and attentive so she made it a 2 star. Now I don't want to sound like a 5 star chef but I am a decent cook and have been experimenting a lot lately with my cooking so I expect to taste a certain something. Well because of my new experiences of cooking I can tell when a burger was perviously frozen. It was very cooked mushy in the middle and decently cooked on the outside.They do use frozen burgers. The bread was also stale which did't make things better. I was thinking before I went in with my girlfriend that it isn't hard to mess up a burger and made sure to look at the reviews online before we went (it has a little over 4 stars). She liked her grilled cheese, another item impossible to mess up. She even asked me not to write this review but it has to be said because I would have liked to know more so what I was getting myself into. This place may not ever again visited by me but I would recommend it to the causal eater that isn't as bothered by the things I am.
(2)John N.
I can't believe I never visited Forty Niner Restaurant until recently! For lovers of what's old and creaky, this place is a dream come true. Walking in, it seems like if you just zone out the freeway offramp and the roads next to you, you're walking into a diner from 50 years ago. We came here for breakfast and both my girlfriend and I ate the forty-niner breakfast. The food came out quick and tasted like old school diners. Just like I expected. Service is PERFECT. Servers are the embodiment of aloha here. They had just opened up the gravel pit behind for parking so those afraid of parking there do not need to worry. I can't wait until I visit again for lunch! 100 Reviews, 1 Day 58/100 January 12, 2013
(4)Lislee B.
Best place on the island for a burger especially if you like dirty burgers with a fried egg. They have lots of good food and all the servers are kind.
(5)Doris D.
Couldn't resist. I had to come back for egg cheeseburger. Enough said.
(4)Joe E.
Made it in three times while in town and never had anything i wouldn't order again. Had the Pot Roast , the Garlic Chicken, and a Cheeseburger. All fantastic. My only regret is that a just couldn't get over there early enough to try the Fried Rice Omelet. Something about that just sounds right to me. The service was always very friendly and extremely quick, especially considering that it was generally only one waitress taking care of the counter and dining room. I can see how this place could easily become a regular choice. Hell, I was only in town for a couple weeks, and I was back 3 times. They have a nice varied selection to keep it interesting. My buddy got the Elvis Pancakes one night (Pancakes with Peanut Butter, Banana, and Bacon) ...he didn't share.
(4)Brad S.
Wine her, dine her, Forty Niner? Like others, we visited Forty Niner enroute to the USS Arizona, and the simple diner food offered here was a nice relief from the big flashy places in Honolulu. I like to try as much as possible, so the bento box, despite being served on a plate, was a tasty menagerie of garlic chicken, teriyaki beef, salmon, kamaboko, Spam and rice. There wasn't much by way of fruit or vegetables, but the heavy protein load was universally cooked quite well, with the obvious winner handily going to the garlic chicken in all of its fried and crispy glory. The other person I was eating with got a burger, but the patty looked pretty pale and overprocessed. He wasn't thrilled with it. Sucks for him, this is my review and I say that if you stick with the specialty meats you won't have a bad time.
(3)Robert R.
I went to Forty Niner for the first time. The place brought back a flood of memories for this Kapahulu boy.Brought back memories of K.C. Drive In, Alex's, Kammy's and Matsus. Ate the "Holy Trinity" of small saimin, cheeseburger deluxe and fries. Walked out of there completely satisfied. Will definitely go back and try the lechon, garlic chicken, oyako don...And was real impressed by our waitress. Three words, "she get 'um!" Hmm, when's pay day?
(4)Elle V.
This is the go-to restaurant for my boyfriend and I when we can't think of any place else to eat and don't want to venture out of Pearl City. We're big on breakfast but what's good about Forty Niner's is they have smoked meat! Only other time I can get smoked meat is when I get a text from a friend down from the west side, which is few and in between. The serving is hefty, comes with two eggs, lots of rice, plenty of smoked meat cooked with onions. I'm drooling just thinking about it :) Like all the other yelpers probably suggested, you can't come here without trying the saimin or teri burger, it's what they are practically known for. I've also tried their special the furikake salmon, which is a huge piece of salmon and it was perfectly cooked.. no dry bits here! If you're in the area and want a fast, delicious, and filling meal I'd say this is a good spot to pick!
(5)Jason M.
Foods good! i always get the salmon. the Egg burger is also great! only complaint, my gf got food poisoning once :(
(4)Patrick G.
After getting a recommendation from a coworker who grew up in the area, I was very excited when he took me to lunch at the Forty Niner. I have probably driven by this place an uncountable number of times, but never thought anything of it. The exterior is anything but aesthetically pleasing, but do not let the looks of the building keep you from dining at this restaurant. When I first walked in, I thought there wasn't going to be enough seating for us, but there was an outdoor seating area and a second room with a counter. We opted to eat outside because it was a nice day and it was the least crowded. The waitress was very efficient and very friendly. She memorized our orders and I even heard her memorize a group of six's orders at the table next to ours. Talk about impressive. The food came out very fast and it was very good. I had the forty niner bento and it was a great sampling of all the classics: garlic chicken, spam, pork, rice, mac salad. After eating, I was pleasantly surprised by the price on the bill. Both of our meals were under 10 dollars which was a great in these hard financial times. Overall, I was very happy with the dining experience at the Forty Niner Restaurant. Having already tasted lunch, I would love to go back to try breakfast.
(4)Jen P.
Great place to eat..good service, friendly people, of course great food to eat:)! Parking is ok, but sometimes none at all, they can get busy.
(4)Noella M.
First time here since new ownership, food and service was terrible. Hamburger burnt on the outside and undercooked on the inside, cheese was old, corned beef hash was watery and undercooked, eggs shells in my eggs.,,Service was terrible, no coffee refills, waited a long time to order and long time for check, stay away!!
(1)Natalie N.
Nice service, food is ok. Teriyaki hamburger is 4.5 stars, pancakes are 3 stars probably. Tried 3 kinds of pancakes and they all taste nearly identical. Cute outside patio. Lots of flies and gnats in the area
(3)Brian M.
Forty Niner Restaurant is a place I past so many times and always wondered about. Being in the Aiea area (Dave F.'s Hood...Lol!!) I finally made it a point to drop in and eat at this long time establishment and get my grindz on!.Walking into this throwback establishment I felt really comfortable,love that old school feeling! I have always thought that this was a saimin and hamburger joint but was surprised to find a nice small menu of really taste tempting items. We came here for breakfast and was delightfully informed that I could order anything off the menu,all I could think was awesome! Ordered; Molokai rub roast pork with brown gravy: The roast pork is a kalua pig style serving with a little of the outer crust from the rub. It's smother with brown gravy and comes with a spaghetti macaroni salad. I enjoyed the perfectly cooked roast pork and the way it shredded. The brown gravy was a little bland,but it didn't really bother me. I loved the spaghetti macaroni salad,it was a change from the basic mac salad. yelp.com/biz_photos/fort… Service was very good, friendly and attentive. I'll be back to try more of the "Ono" food from here!
(4)Jesse B.
Finding great places to eat on Oahu is easy when you pay attention to Yelp and other critics but most definitely the best way to get the dish on the tastiest grub is..... through locals!! I've not been here long but I've met some great people along the way that have the same respect for gastronomy as I do. Forty Niner Restaurant is one of those recommendations. I took my dad as his first truly Hawaiian meal but he really doesn't know how to enjoy --different--. I got the Haupia pancakes and my dad got a, wait for it, burger!! My pancakes were amazing and I gulped down all I could before the threat of my stomach bursting stopped me. My dad even found himself wishing he'd gotten my pancakes instead of his burger, which was just OK. The best part by far is how cheap our meal was: no more than $14!! Can you say, guiltless pleasure?! Yum!! I will be back definitely.
(4)Jenn Y.
Why haven't I been here before. I lived in Aiea for years before moving and we never tried this place. Seems like a hole in a wall off the freeway but we always pass it. It's a small restaurant with not much parking. I got the the teri hambuger with fries. It was so good, I love it!!! My sister got the garlic chicken and fried noodles. I got to try it and it was yummy too. Definitely will come here again!!!
(5)Taylor-Darrin L.
Saimin was great! Hamburger was great! Pancakes were great! The only thing I didnt like was that I couldnt order everything off the menu, it all looked sooo good. Between two of us we ordered like four things and they were all great and the bill was still only like $25. Love this place. Its so cute! The one server for the entire restaurant was doing great. She provided amazing service for all nine of her tables!!! Super impressive!!! Aunty was rockin it!!!
(5)Chris P.
Decent place, close to Pearl Harbor. Enjoying a good breakfast before we head over to see the memorial. Looked empty when we drove up to it, but the menu is nice and complete, and there are a lot of Hawaiian type foods.
(4)Gordito G.
First time here . Order the roast pork plate and my wife order a small saimin with a side order of garlic chicken. The roast pork with brown gravy was really and the spaghetti "mac " salad was the perfect combination. Garlic chicken was crunchy and tasty. The saimin was good also. I will definetly be coming back for more.
(4)Coney L.
If I can give this place zero stars, I would. Let me preface by saying my family and I came to this place on our last day in Oahu. I had high hopes of having a good meal on my last day...however, this meal never even happened. There were 6 people in my party and we all gave our orders to a waitress who did not write down any of our orders. Fine, I get that some people can remember a lot of things. Well, she didn't remember, she also never remembered to refill our coffees. After waiting for more than 45 minutes, we finally got ONE of our orders. First order came out and it was wrong, second order came out, still wrong. Third, fourth, fifth orders came out almost an hour later...then my husband discovered the most disgusting thing he could ever find underneath his pancakes...a DEAD COCKROACH!!! By this time, I hadn't even gotten my meal and it didn't matter because we were leaving. They comped the meal, as they should, but most of us didn't even get a chance to start eating. Good thing too, because if there's one cockroach, you know there's more where it came from. This visit was on Sunday, August 18, 2013.
(1)Meraldine L.
Great customer service! Good food! Location is a little odd but when you go inside it's different. Has it's own parking space. Just awesome! Will be back soon!!!
(5)David L.
Nice simple local place. I highly recommend them for breakfast. I haven't eaten here for other than breakfast, but the place is good food and the staff is quick to help. Ate here 3 days in a row while on a trip here, and was never disappointed. The only downside...parking(not why it is 4 stars). Parking here is painful at best. The reason why it is 4 stars...no A/C and the place does look a bit on the dirty side.
(4)Myong C.
Living in Salt Lake and now Aiea for all of my life, I must have driven past Forty Niner hundreds if not thousands of times but I have never once stopped in. I've always meant to but never got around to it until today when a co-worker suggested we have lunch there. We sat at the counter and I had the small saimin ($4.75) and a teri burger ($2.75). After all, gotta order saimin at a place with the word in its name, right? The saimin was pretty good, typical of other local saimin shops but I didn't really like the fact that a large chunk of my noodles were still stuck together. The teri burger could have used a little more teri sauce but was okay overall. My co-worker had the beef cutlet and I had a bite of it and that tasted okay too. The lady at the counter was amazing, taking and placing orders, doing money transactions, serving food and drink refills and even answering the phone, a lll the while being super friendly and nice to all of the customers. I'm glad I finally got to try this place and I totally would go back to try more of their offerings.
(3)Katsumi I.
I drove past this place millions and millions of time. I made first visit here today. Out side looked really dirty but once you go inside.....nothing's changes. I ordered Forty Niner breakfast. It was delicious and except for too much fried rice. This place was popular with Japanese Tourist because they were featured in Japanese TV show. I suggest that you should give it a try.
(4)Gian I.
I had the oxtail soup here. It was my favorite oxtail soup that I have had in Hawaii. My girlfriend had the saimen and the broth was really tasty as well. Nice little place but I wish it was a little cleaner.
(4)kristine f.
I have always been a Forty Niner fan since I was like BORN. My pops would bring us over for their Saimin because their Dashi was the shiz! So after the new owners came over, I was saying to myself for years that I wanted to try it out. It only took me 5+ years to check it out and I live in Aiea! What a disgrace, huh? Oh and might I had I live very close by. Shame on me. Anyway, so the boy and I went over for brunch. He had a Local Moco and I had a small Saimin with a side of Garlic Chicken. My Saimin was awesome, the noodles were cooked perfectly. However, the Garlic Chicken was very dry and it tasted like it was twice fried and I don't mean that in a good way. Next time, I think I'll go with my usual side when I grab Saimin, hamburger!
(4)Marie M.
I would say this place is about average, nothing really special. My kids liked the pancakes but they are preschoolers and anything with chocolate in them will be a hit. I wanted the creme brulee pancakes but they said they didn't have the propane for the torch to fix them. So I settled on Bbq chicken. Was just ok really, good portion size but quality was not there. My mom had the garlic chicken which was just alright as well. I probably wouldn't come back.
(2)Golden R.
Bring CASH! Now a days Charge/Debt is how we shop. BUT when you come to these kinds of "mom & pop" places... bring CASH. Good thing I have EMERGENCY $$$$. Now to the real review... FOOD: Chixn & Waffles: Chixn kine of over cook, but still get taste/Waffles nice crunch Pork Chops: Good, not dried, good taste Fried Rice Omelet: Good - NO NEED any side meat. Lots of filling.
(3)Prescott James L.
Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooo was mops bah. So ono. Ho and da auntie workin was supah chill.
(5)Cuong L.
Nice homely diner with tons of different varieties of comfort food. Very nice and fast friendly service. The garlic chicken is pretty legit. Their pancakes looked delicious, gonna try that next.
(5)Irma Lizet H.
Quick, yummy and easy to locate. The place is very homy. It's one of those places you can go with your spouse/ family on a Sunday and chat about anything. The waitresses are very helpful, patient and down to earth. It gets busy after 8:30 am so get there early. I had the chicken and waffles and the waffles were so tasty, fluffy that melted in my mouth. The chicken was a little greasy but it's fried chicken so it's suppose to be lol and very tasty. The coffee is no Starbucks but who really needs Starbucks when you have that good feel cup of joe with cream and sugar to your tasting. Overall experience, it was excellent. From their warm greeting when you walk in to their cheerful good bye when you walk out. Oh and did I mention the price. My husband and I had coffee, chicken and waffles and 2 eggs, all for $26 for the both of us. Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! We will return. Thank you so much for this experience!
(5)Meiko S.
My family loves this restaurant. The food is always fresh and delicious! We are sure to bring all of our visiting family and friends here before they depart the island! Forty NIner Restaurant used to be our Sunday morning spot. I can't think of any one dish that is better than them all. I can for sure vouch for the saimen, Teri-burger (or maybe its the BBQ cheese burger) and the Banana Mac Nut pancakes!!! A+++++++ Everything I have ordered so far has been amazingly flavorful! Definitely continuing our Sunday tradition! * The only downfall is the parking lot is very small in comparison to customer flow!
(4)Bob K.
Great food , service and prices. I would definitely eat here again. The breakfast was fast and delicious. My daughter asked the next day if we could return.
(5)Chase J.
First time here and the service was friendly and quick for the most part. The pregnant wife had to wait almost 10 minutes after the rest of our family of 4 got their food. I got an omelette and some of the meat was not cooked fully and was too juicy. Same with the omelette itself. It had runny parts. The pancakes, while god, were not cooked fully. There were bites that were very soft and had the batter texture still. For a first visit was not impressed. Will probably come back and give them another try. But definitely not worth dedicating as our breakfast spot.
(3)David S.
Was with my son and Uncle looking for a local diner with good breakfast. I had the banana French toast and it was amazing! My son had spam and eggs, which he loved. It is a very traditional ol' school diner where you expect locals would frequent. I would absolutely go here again.
(5)Rachael E.
Omg please get the pancakes they melt in your mouth. This place is sooooo good. Must eat.
(5)Chad K.
Its nice to come back to a place when you are much older so you can appreciate a locally owned and run establishment. Forty Niners was a staple for my grandfather and I back when he would watch me over the summer. Back then it was a rundown saimin and burger joint that certainly did not have the allure of a McDonalds. Now, its the same rundown place, aesthetically the same and I wouldnt change a thing. I love that they still have the same red chairs that I sat in as a 7 year old. What has changed is my perspective on what has value. Value is not the corporate McDonalds that proudly serves a billion, its the contrary. The locally owned and operated anti-McDonalds that takes pride keeping its individualism by providing great comfort food with outstanding service. Forty Niner's has the best hamburger steak (2 patties per serving) and diner style burgers in my opinion. Their hamburger patty is delicate in texture but still has a crust on the outer layer and their gravy homemade or not I have no clue, is delicious. I've tried their loco moco, hamburger steak, teri-burger, egg-burger and French fries and love them all. You can't go wrong with this place, the food is excellent and just what you'd hoped it would be. This establishment gets an easy 5 stars from me because they know what they want to accomplish and they do it excellently. Their niche in today's market is very few and far between and they keep the history alive with a young and vibrant staff, hopefully to be around for many more years.
(5)Mark M.
My wife and I were in the area to go the mall in Pearlridge and we Yelped for some breakfast and found this place. We usually like the hole in the wall type places best and this one did not disappoint. We debated about the loco moco and the creme brulee pancakes, but the fried rice and chicken and waffles sounded too good to pass up, so we saved them for next time. My wife loves rice and was very impressed by the fried rice breakfast. She had little smokies with them, which I had never heard of but they were pretty good, and the fried rice was tasty (first time I had ever tried fried rice). My chicken and waffles, however, were outstanding, some of the best I have had. It was more of a brunch than breakfast and it was perfect for that. Overall this was a great little place to go for breakfast or brunch; really good food for a good price and the right portions. I only wish it was closer to my house so I could go more often. 5 stars, all worth it.
(5)Mary N.
We ate here for breakfast before touring Pearl Harbor. Everything about this place was pretty good, if not overly memorable. The service was friendly and quick. They were out of a few items, which was disappointing considering breakfast consists of relatively few items to stock. We had some pancakes, the loco moco, and an omelet. The food was hot and tasty, your typical breakfast fare. I wouldn't go out of your way to try it, but if you're in the area its a much better option for breakfast or lunch than what is offered at Pearl Harbor.
(3)Ashley M.
Ordered takeout here a couple of times. Their food is very good here! I got the banana French toast the first time and that was amazing and then the creme brûlée pancakes the second time and that wasn't as good as the French toast but still pretty tasty. I also got a side order of Portuguese sausage and it was pretty yummy!
(4)Leslie S.
This was the first time I came to the 49er restaurant. My friend was served 1st. I waited 15 mins and they only served me the pancake. The eggs and Portuguese sausage can 5 min later. 2 families who came after me were served first. Service was really bad. I've never had to wait that long for a split meal. By the time I got my food, my friend was finished with her loco moco. Parking was cramped also. I won't be back. Service is really bad.
(1)Jen J.
We went here for breakfast, enjoyed the 49er Special, an omelette and pancakes. Fried rice was chock full of meat and fish cake, really yummy. The service was great, poor gal had the whole place covered. My only complaint is there was no milk/half&half for the coffee. I love hole in the wall diners, but can't stomach powdered corn syrup in my brew:(
(4)JJ L.
CASH ONLY. TWO SEATING OPTIONS: separate entrances and separated by a wall, so it's either/or for your party. 1. Bar/diner style (bar stools and high counter-top) with a view into the modest kitchen (and of a pretty handsome, tatted-up lad cook). This option is closest to Kam Hwy. 2. Dining tables and booths. PHALLIC: Chicken and Waffles [ s3-media2.ak.yelpcdn.com… Just in case you can't tell from my photo, it's a fluffy Belgian waffle freshly made-to-order cut into fourths and assembled prettily around chopstick-skewered morsels of (double fried?) fried chicken, then the whole thing is drizzled with sweet syrup and a quick dusting of powdered sugar. Did I mention the phallic presentation ... YAM! You are not dreaming, this really exists! The place isn't as filthy as other reviews make it sound -- especially compared to other "Yelp-popular" establishments that employ a toothless tranny who dips her cracked, blood-scabbed fingers in pickle juice before prepping the borderline salmonella garlic chicken. It's definitely a no-frills environment with bare walls and an unassuming exterior. I wasn't blown away with the other dishes I tried (fried rice, omelet, little smokies) because they are quite standard for diners. The signature Forty-Niner pancakes aren't anything to write home to mom about. However, it tastes BETTER than Boot's and Kimo's macadamia pancakes. You also don't have to wait hour(s) for it! Another plus side to the pancakes is how fluffy and HOT they are. The creamy coconut/macadamia syrup tasted like frothy haupia (coconut pudding). Oh yeah, there are also banana slices cooked into the pancakes. Forty Niner Cafe is definitely a gem in the coal mine that is West/Leeward-ish Oahu.
(4)Lauren C.
I love the feel of this place. It's a no frills diner and the waitress that works at night is always super sweet and friendly even when she's busy. I've gotten the fried chicken there and it was a bit too greasy for me but their saimin and teri cheeseburger is awesome! I can usually eat both and if I'm super hungry I can usually down a soda float too! I've been wanting to try their chicken and waffles but they don't serve waffles and night which is a huge bummer. I also love breakfast food but never wake up early enough so I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to try their waffles. There's not much to say about this place no because it's not good but only because their menu is so simple. This is a great nostalgic place to get a quick bite and remember what saimin is suppose to taste like! P.S. They no longer serve the Opakapaka...I never got to try it :(
(4)Kim J.
Good breakfast food and wonderful customer service. Had the Hawaiian breakfast of kalua pig, lomi lomi, eggs and rice. Husband had corned beef hash and daughter had strawberry belgian waffles. Their credit card system went down and I didn't have any cash on hand. I also had to wait a little longer for my take out order because they had trouble with the waffle maker.....my order was coverrd by them! I will definitely be returning to tip generously next time I order there.
(5)Mia K.
I absolutely love this place, no bells and whistles, just flat out great home cooked food. One of the few old school places that are around. Breakfasts are awesome and served all day and night. We just go done scarfing down the haupia pancakes which were to die for. This is definitely a favorite place for us locals.
(5)Lesley S.
Feeling the Aloha. I never felt it and knew it until I stepped into this little diner. I love it!! It reminds me of the tiny little diners back home. Divey, yet amazing. Best Cheeseburger I've had on the island. Simple. Fresh. The cheese wasn't that cheap nasty slap on the American cheese with a smack type cheese. I tried the garlic chicken. It was pretty good as well. A little too fried (if there is such a thing) for me. Over done maybe? We set outside with the beautiful birds flying around. (not annoying birds stalking you) I can't wait to come back here for the Loco Moco. I'm trying to find the best place on the island without going over my calories for the week. Throwback fix- accomplished.
(4)Gijoey B.
Great place for breakfast. Elvis pancakes are wonderful. Cheeseburger with egg is tasty. Oh ya, the service is great too.
(5)Steve A.
Looks sketchy from the outside, homey on the inside, but the food makes up for it all. Macadamia nut pancakes were outstanding! BBQ Kalua pork sandwich was amazing, too. I'll definitely repeat.
(5)Rod U.
Nostalgia kills a legend? I remember the stories. My grandma taking my mom and my aunties to get a Coke and maybe a saimin from Forty Niner. A real treat in the 1950's, a time when Pearl City (my home town) did not extend above the two lane Kamehameha highway, there were no shopping centers or super markets, and watercress fields were everywhere. Great expectations; crash and burn. The old school feel is there. The aloha spirit, alive and well. The food, ack! The fried saimin taste like someone opened the dried dashi packet and poured it over the noodles. Loaded with MSG, and salt. The hamburger steak is OK, the roast pork is juicy and tender; both ruined by a salty gravy. Finally the disaster they call chicken and waffles. Take a crisp, fluffy waffle, pour ridiculous amount of COLD maple syrup over them and finish with a skewer of oil dripping, deep fried, breaded chicken jerky (chicken karaage) that's over cooked and over salted. I'm not a horse, I don't need a salt lick. I seriously wish I didn't bring my mom here; three times. At least she has her memories. I'll opt not to ruin the nostalgia further with another visit.
(2)Michael M.
Went for breakfast, nothing to fancy. The corned beef hash was a bit greasier than i am used to. The service at the counter was quick and friendly. Here is where it went wrong. I paid just over $12 for a hash/scramble with rice, a coffee. When i asked for a reciept. The nice lady told me she did not ring up the order, no reciept = FAIL. This is kind if basic, and why do i even have to ask for my bill. I wanted to review the cost vs. quality of the food, but now i regret not remembering the price on the menu. Overall, 49er did not make a lasting impression.
(2)Wendy A.
We go here at least once a week, because my children absolutely love this restaurant. But not because of the food... 1) Because they remember who we are when we get there. 2) They treat us like we're the most important people in the world. 3) The waitresses take special care of the kids. I food is always consistent and the atmosphere is very family friendly. Once of the few "mom and pop" restaurants out there who deserve to be acknowledged and congratulated just for surviving in Hawaii this long!
(5)Twy J.
The servers were very courteous. A quaint little place right off of kam highway. A very home cooked feel environment. The price was about $10 a plate and worth it.
(4)Ryan E.
Everything was great. Food, service, coffee. It was not comfortable right next to the street, plus not so clean.
(4)Kris C.
Based on the appearance of this place I wasn't expecting to be wowed. It is a little hole in the wall with concrete walls as the structure. Red booths line the perimeter with a few tables in the middle. I did not go to the other side of the building where additional seating was available. The service was outstanding. You could tell that this was ran by a "Mom and Pop" type of establishment...."where everybody knows your name". The regulars are referred to as Auntie and Uncle; endearing. I had the Loco Moco; this was my first Moco (this cracks me up as I am Latin and we all know what Moco means...haha). This however tasted nothing like "moco" and was quite good. Rice, seasoned beef patty and good ole brown gravy with a runny egg on top. I don't know that I would run out craving this dish in general, but none the less filling and tasty. I would come by this place in the future to try some of their other breakfast items.
(4)Jenn A.
The waitress always remembers us whenever we eat here. I love the pork roast and crime brûlée pancakes. Don't let the outside/inside fool you. This place is. Gem!
(5)kari n.
This place is ridiculously delicious!!!!!! Today I had the Pork Roast and it was seriously "broke da mouth!" The pork just melts in your mouth and the gravy, while a bit salty, was still really good. We've also had the banana pancakes with mac nut sauce in the past. The banana's make the pancakes really moist and the mac nut sauce is just heavenly. No need to drive all the way to Kailua for pancakes! This has become our new weekend breakfast routine. The place is clean. the wait staff are really nice, and i like that it still has that old Hawaii feel and taste. Side note: If you want fried rice or waffles, you have to come before 10:30am.
(5)Brent K.
Small place, Big taste ! The food is GOOD ! Plenty of parking. And they made a nice lanai in the back with a few picnic tables. To accommodate the lunch crowed. That would be Me ! LOL Ya I like here. Reminds me of the old drive inn's. Local style food !
(4)Malia H.
I have been missing out all these times I drove by this place thinking it's not good. Boy was I ever wrong. There isn't much parking and let me tell you, it will take you a long time to pull out of your parking stall. But the portions and prices are worth it. The hamburger is homemade and very good. The fried saimin was not greasy but had good flavor. The staff is very friendly and its a small place. There is one side for take-out and counter service and the other side is a regular restaurant with tables. This place is on Kam Hwy, a little after you get off the freeway and it will be on your right side. You get a nostalgic feeling when you eat here. ^_^*~
(4)Joy I.
Based on all of the positive reviews, we decided to stop by on our way to Pearlridge on a Saturday morning at around 10:30 am. Parking was tight, but we managed to find one. It was semi busy with customers sitting both inside at the counter and in the dining room and outside on picnic like tables. Although there was only one woman servicing all three areas, the service was fast and great! We ordered the roast pork plate and garlic chicken with fried noodles. Both were very tasty and satisfying, especially the garlic chicken. IMHO,one of the best I've ever tasted. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and portions are generous. The dining area is very clean and, although there is no air conditioning, quite comfortable as well. We will definitely be back when visiting Oahu again.
(4)Alan K.
Awesome place. Best burger ever and I love burgers. Service was outstanding. Great atmosphere. Everything you expect a diner to be.
(5)Stephanie D.
I've always driven past this place on my way home but never went in. Their fried saimin was pretty good and the hamburger steak was great! Definitely would go again!
(4)Tyler G.
I love their saimin and hamburger. Reminds me when I was a kid eating lunch with family at the saimin stands. Roast pork, garlic chicken, hamburger steak are all awesome. Gravy is Gluten free with corn starch. Service is fast. Oh also love the pancakes for breakfast.
(5)Raymond S.
Great local food, friendly staff, quick service, great little mom and pop restaurant. Gotta try!!!!!
(4)Sheena C.
UPDATE: They now take credit cards (not AMEX, though)!!!!
(5)grace g.
I came here once, for the first time. It was a weekday and it was a little slow. Ordered the haupia pancakes and corned beef hash. The food was just okay. Maybe lunch may taste better? I will still give this place a try for lunch or dinner.
(3)Foodie N.
I love this spot, I am an ultimate foodie and every thing is delicious. I highly recommend the smoked pork sausage and onions dish (finger licking good) also the saimin noodles is great aswell
(4)Hiro I.
Good cheap eats. Love the beef cutlet which is chopped beef and not a beef filet like most places. Garlic chicken is also good. They make a pretty good Forty Niner Macadamia Coconut Pancake. Similar to Boots & Kimo but not as good. If your looking for good comfort food this is the place to go. I like that they added additional seating outdoors in the back.
(4)Chen N.
Stopped by here on my way back from town with my boss. We both had the pork chops with mushroom gravy. It was a filling meal, but my boss added a side order of lechone? Doggie bags were in order. If you are in the area its worth the stop. The waitress was working alone on the lunch rush and she still was pretty attentive. The food came out quick. Its a little on the older side but not a dirty old. The jack in a box in waipahu has dust bunnies hanging above the counter where you order... Disgusting. Parking is in a rock filled area around back don't park on the pavement it will take forever to get out because of the traffic light right in front of the place. Gonna go back for breakfast
(4)Bigg M.
Great service, low price & excellent food.
(5)Joe B.
Service is quick and friendly. I enjoy eating at places where the waitress seems to enjoy her job. Tried the smoked meat last time and it was delicious. Had the fried pork with tomato and onion this time around. Basically its lechon kawali for those that know what that is. Loved it, but not good for dieters. Lucky for me it's a cheat day ;)
(5)Matt T.
Building was definitely not anything to ride home about. But the food! Pancakes are Huge! Had the Da Elvis Pancakes. They are cooked with bacon and bananas inside them. They have a homemade banana maple syrup that is amazing. They were out of peanut butter but I couldn't finish the 2 pancakes already. Would definitely eat here anytime I am near Honolulu.
(5)Craig F.
Since we were in the area a few weeks ago we decided it would be a great time to go and get some ono burgers and saimin - so we headed to Forty Niner. It hasn't changed and still has that charm of imagining this is where grandpa and grandma used to eat. What was great was that we were all hungry for different types of foods and they had breakfast, plate lunches, burgers and saimin. Just a great place to go for a quick and simple bite to eat without paying $15 per person like everywhere else out there now.
(4)Joanna R.
It's ok, I had the small saimen and a side of garlic chicken. Hubby had the hamburger plate....it's kind of like meatloaf with heavy gravy. There are plenty of people there, and lots of locals. The parking lot was full. The meal was not bad, but wasn't anything above average either. The staff was very nice.
(2)Warren S.
Bestest Saimen dis side of da Koolau's. value 5/5 food 5/5 beware of the hamburger steak personnel 5/5
(5)Bridget C.
I had the best Loco Moco here and I have had a lot of them in my 40+ years in Hawaii. The "new" management have kept the same cozy, old Aiea feel while improving the already-pretty-damn good food. Pickup a couple of uniquely designed t-shirts if you love Aiea.
(5)Marchell T.
Have been going to 49ners since I was a little kid. Now as a mom, I take my son there to eat too
(5)Ira J.
I like Forty Niner Restaurant. It has a real old-timey feel to it. And not that fake contrived old-timey feel you find at those places that decorate their dining rooms with too many faux antiques. But a genuine, "we haven't changed any more than necessary since we opened up for business more than half a century ago," old-timey feel. Who knows, that might actually be the case. Their menu, service, food and prices are all reasonable or better, but it's their old-timey charm that really wins me over. Some of my favorite dining spots are my favorite dining spots because they magically transport me to far off places. Forty Niner Restaurant magically transports me to a far off time, and I appreciate that too. It is a dining experience worth having.
(4)Tanya C.
this was ok - not sure what the hype is about. super dingy and dirty and the food wasn't good (to make up for it)
(3)Bryanie R.
The service here is fast! I felt like we ordered and then our food came shortly after. I like how they use noodles for their Mac salad, instead of the typical. I try to get something different everytime, and it's usually delicious. The waitress seems kinda like she's in a rush though. But it's understandable, cause it looks like she was the only one there! And they charge extra if you want to substitute something (Mac salad instead of fries). I like how there's Breakfast served all day! Except fried rice and waffles, I believe.
(4)Jason T.
Enjoyed lunch here after visiting the USS Arizona memorial. The Forty Niner Bento had everything I was looking for, but the star was the garlic chicken. Everyone ordered something different (Hawaiian Plate, Portuguese Sausage with eggs, fried saimin, beef cutlet, garlic chicken plate) and we all left full and happy. Sit outside on a sunny day!
(5)Kat S.
This place has been around for a long time i've always seen it, driving pass it's location. So one day my boyfriend and I decided to try it out. The staff are always friendly they do a great job with customer service and if they mess up an order they will not hesitate to fix your order nor will they have a stink attitude about it. We love their Teri Burgers its so simple but so ONO!! We always try a different dish each time we go, and all times we leave very happy. The waitress really make our dining experience wonderful because of their awesome customer service. I cant stress enough about Customer Service. So over all Food is pretty awesome Service is always on point and to top it all off its so affordable.
(5)Clarice K.
Went here because of the reviews. Thanks everyone, this place was great. I had the ham steak with eggs and fried rice, fantastic! The ham was so thick. My husband had hamburger steak and my grand daughter had chicken and waffles, both really enjoyed their food. We had the best waitress ever, she was so friendly and talkative. Will definitely be back the next time we are on Oahu.
(5)Doug D.
We were looking for some place different from the usual breakfast places in Aiea, so we went to Yelp for help. FortyNiner came up, a place that we've been to lunch a few times and found to be great. We haven't had the opportunity to try breakfast so we took a chance. We were surprised to find out how much they've added to this place, including more parking and an outside dining area with picnic tables. My wife tried the Belgian Waffles with Macadamia nut and banana slices and I had the fried rice omlette, both very good choices. The omlette was tasty and the flavor of the fried rice was just to my liking. I didn't find it to be oily either. Our server, Carolyn, was very customer-oriented and kept our coffee cups always full. She made sure we were satisfied. We left very happy and even our wallets was not emptied. We definitely will be back for breakfast again.
(5)Matt H.
Awesome! Old school diner! Had the crispy lechon, great. Wife had the garlic chicken that was good as well, definitely coming back.
(5)Kerrie C.
Places like Forty Niner Diner are my favorite kinds of restaurants. Family run, with a vintage nostalgic feel that takes you back in time. In my case, it's like stepping back into the 50s and eating at a diner that my grandparents might have taken my parents when they were kids. The decor and overall feel is authentic, because it is authentic. They haven't "decorated" and I would imagine that the place hasn't changed much over the years. Original window frames, no a/c, and mismatched vintage furniture. First off, this place is in a tough location. Completely surrounded by busy roads with only a 3-stall parking lot. But just remember that this place has been here way before the hustle and bustle of the area, like everything around was developed except the 49er. One very friendly waitress, no air conditioning, and CASH ONLY. Totally expected for a charming place like this. The menu consists of local diner food with a variety of plate lunches, breakfast items and specials with that special local flair. Their saimin is simple and terrific!!! The noodles are delicious, garnished with spam, kamaboko, green onion and the dashi is great. My last visit was for lunch on a crazy hot day and I still ordered saimin because I love it so much. I was absolutely dripping sweat, but i left completely satisfied and glad I made the visit. I recommend stopping in at 11am for lunch before the crowd, and in the early evening. I will be sure to order their macadamia nut pancakes with haupia sauce next time I stop in for lunch. They serve breakfast all day!!! Places like these are getting harder and harder to find. Forty Niner is truly a fixture in Aiea. It's a very special time capsule that I hope remains open for business for years to come.
(4)Brad T.
It was a sad day when I heard this place was closing because I loved eating here ever since I was little. Fast forward to today....new owner, same good old saimin and burgers! The new owner has even expanded the menu to offering breakfast and other dishes like hamburger steak, ox tail soup, pork chops. I would like to try the other dishes but I just can't pull myself away from getting my standard saimin and cheeseburger. Nothing fancy about the saimin, no special soup base or fancy toppings....just old school saimin, homemade noodles, green onions, fish cake and char sui. Hambuger is homemaid as well and grilled to a nice crispyness on the edges with a nice slice of chedder cheese. Ok parking USED to super suck here. I can't remember how many times I drove here to eat, but kept driving past since the 4 stalls were full. I just stopped by here last week and now they have more parking!! Hooray! They leveled the grass yard area and added at least 10 more stalls plus built an outside eating area. Sweet! The inside can get pretty hot during the day so the outside eating area is a plus. Now with the additional parking, I'll have to drop by for breakfast and check out the macadamia pancakes. I heard they were onos! Now I just gotta work on waking up at a resonable hour to make it for the breakfast menu.
(5)K F.
Ever since i was a little girl, ive passed by this little hole in the wall. It took me almost 20 years to finally step foot into this restaurant. I was amazed how clean and upkept the place was! They have a nice seating area outside as well as tables inside. They recently made a spacious parking area. The first time i went for breakfast and had the Forty Niner Breakfast: 2 eggs, fried rice, and portuguese sausage! They give generous portions and great service!! I'm already thinking of when i can go back just to sit on their patio area and enjoy some ono breakfast!
(5)Lani H.
ah, I had to subtract 2 stars from my review. . . I recently came here for Sunday breakfast with one of my friends and I was very disappointed. The service was ok, our waitress came and took our orders pretty fast but kept on forgetting to give me utensils (she had given my friend hers but accidently dropped mine and said that she would be right back. . .) We ordered chicken & waffles and an omelette to share, we were told that the chicken and waffles would take a little while to cook but over 25 min was a bit ridiculous. When we finally got our food, the chicken & waffles were delicious, nice fluffy waffles and crispy chicken covered in maple syrup, yum! The omelette on the other hand, was not as awesome . . . The first bite and *crunch* eggshells . . . ewww . . . I understand that every once in a while things like that will happen but when you wait for almost half an hour for your food, you expect it to be at least close to perfect. We didn't complain about this to our waitress though because we were really hungry and didn't want to wait for another dish to be made. In the end, I still really like this place and will continue to come here (especially for the garlic chicken!) and maybe one day I will venture in for breakfast again :)
(3)Michelle M.
Great reviews on Yelp dont always mean great food. Sometimes it means great service, other times its a carismatic restaurant owner that everyone just loves... But sometimes the food is the reason to boast. I have learned this and now adjust my bookmarks accordingly. having said this, Fourty Niner made it to the bookmark list. Food, service and value were all high marks. Had to check this place out! Decided to make it out for lunch there with the coworkers. It was about a week in the plan, so you know it was a big eff'ing deal! We hit up the Yelp faves: Hamburger Steak for me- Handmade hamburger topped with sauteed onions, mushrooms and smothered with this yummy delicious gravy, 2 scoops if rice and choice of Mac Salad or Green. I opted for Mac since one of my new obsessions is to conduct in-dept research on the Hawaiian food wonder that is Mac Salad. Total score on this rendition here, imho. My friend had the chopped steak. He said he totally loved the tenderness and juiciness of the steak but found it to be a bit salty for this liking. I tried a bite and I dont know what the heck he was talking about!?! I thought it was great! The service is prompt and polite. Very comfy and a definite throw back to the good ol' days. I have GOT to go back with my Favorite Foodie friend because there are still a few items that I want to check out. Hear that the Salmon is the bomb.com . We'll have to see about that!
(4)Michael C.
If you're looking for a good homestyle burger then Forty Niner is where you have to be. The burgers are super soft, almost creamy. Add crinkle cut fries to that and maybe a bowl of saimin and you have yourself one heck of a meal. Other more modern dishes; like miso salmon, are also tasty. And they have breakfast for dinner! The wait help are all extremely friendly and welcoming. They make you feel like you've been coming in for years. The caveat to this great food and awesome service is that the parking is very limited and they close early. If they were open just an hour later, I would be in there several times a week!
(5)Leilani F.
Spent 10 days on the island and found this hole in the wall place. All 7 of us liked the food we ordered and came back a second time. This is homestyle cooking. The burgers are ground fresh everyday and the locomoco can't be beat. All the noodle dishes were yummy. This place isn't fancy, but who cares when you're eating. Prices are reasonable and we gave a whopping tip for the service.
(5)Matt B.
Have only been for breakfast but the food was always good and service is average. Parking is easy enough and they are pretty cheap.
(4)Chris L.
It's been years since I've been here, actually I think since high school, which is many, many years ago! We were recently in Aiea so we decided to stop in... WOW! A blast to the past, and the food is soooo ono!! They give you generous portions, so be careful when you are ordering or you'll be pleasantly surprised to find yourself on a food overload! =) I highly recommend paying a visit to Forty Niner Restaurant!! Great Service, Great Food, and parking is pretty good too and most of all, you are Supporting a LOCAL BUSINESS!! =)
(5)Aimee C.
Eggburger=Genius! You have to try the delicious homemade burger patty with egg, it. is so. good. I tried the saimin which was good, but in HI you know there are a lot of GREAT saimin stops. So that's hard to compare. But the server was awesome and super friendly. And well worth the stop if you are in the neighborhood. Small parking lot behind the restaurant. Seating can be limited since it's a popular spot, even for Japanese visitors (the menu is in Japanese, too!) Def worth a try!!!
(4)John T.
Half a mile from Pearl Harbor and not a tourist in sight. For lovers of Roadfood, this is a great find.
(5)Cely H.
I've driven by this place about a zillion times and I always thought that it was an abandoned store. Turns out, there's a restaurant that is very much ALIVE in there! Parking sucks, with only about 5 spots, but one was open when I went. The place was a bit dirty and run down. I ordered a teri burger with fries and hubs ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries. So-so. It wasn't bad, but I think the price for what they were was a tad bit high. With both of us it came out to a little over $20. I remember a better tasting burger coming out of a truck for a buck. They only take CASH, for any of you Yelpers that decide to try it out. I'm glad I found out that this wasn't an abandoned store! And even though the food was only so-so, I'll probably be coming back just for the excellent service alone.
(3)Jodi S.
Don't judge a book by its cover! Amazing little diner...if you've got time before your USS Arizona tour, find this place! Food is delicious.
(4)Air-n L.
Hamburger steak plate is really good and so is the garlic chicken plate. If you want to eat saimin, you will be disappointed. The large is like Soooooo small. And the small is SUPA small. For 8 bucks for the large, I honestly will say nobody will be back again to eat saimin when Shiro's is 5 minutes away from here. Saw what everyone else there was eating and nobody else had the saimin. The cheeseburger was pretty good. The service was real good with this young girl on top of everyone needs. Will be five stars if you just go for the plate lunches..
(3)Andrea T.
I love this family runned business! Good food and always friendly staff!! Breakfast is always tha best!!
(5)Rissa K.
It was my 1st time here and I went because I heard great things about this place. I heard this place is known for their burgers, saimen, and garlic chicken. I had the Forty Niner Special which includes Garlic chicken, spam, peice of salmon, and Teri beef with rice topped off with Furukaki. OMG Wow Garlic chicken is pretty good! This place has been around in ages and I have no idea how they got this name but it reminds me of my fave Football team! I need to come back for their saimen and burgers next time!
(4)Gman O.
My 49er's review: My Dad would take me there for our weekly bowl of Saimen back in the early 60's when suger cane plantation's and small family farm lots enveloped the landscape throughout lower Aiea and Pearl City. 49er's catered to many folks working the plantations in the early years. If there's a place I can return to often to reflect and enjoy that old plantation country feeling in the midst of the now present hustle and stress of modern Hawaii...It's 49er's. The menus variety has improved since those old plantation days, never to disappoint. The Ohana atmosphere so retro old Hawaii, excellent service, welcoming, very pleasant, it'll put a smile on ones face that'll last throughout the day. The Menu is local all the way with some personal touches..again it doesn't disappoint. One should not be in a rush when dinning at 49er's. Breakfast is my favorite, only because I'm usualy working in the afternoons. When traveling to the West Coast and beyond, I usualy get a takeout order to dine on the plane....
(4)Chas A.
I love their mac salad! It's the bomb. The server is really nice & she was by herself at that time. A lot of food to choose from and their prices is alright. Parking is kind of small. Other than that, recommend this place to anyone who's around Pearl City/Aiea area.
(5)Terri T.
Excellent service always! Not waiting no more then 10 minutes for your food. Very delicious! If you haven't tried this place. Put this place on your list!
(5)Ben T.
I've driven by this restaurant like a zillion times and always meant to stop by. We finally did last Saturday night and all I can say is I wish we had eaten here earlier! I ordered the large Saimin with a side order of Garlic Chicken, my wife ordered the Grilled Salmon, and my father in law ordered the Pork Chops. I tasted everything as both my wife and father in law are small eaters :) The good: Saimin had good flavor and the noodles were cooked just right. The really good: Garlic chicken, we all really liked the flavor and crispiness. I was really impressed with the Salmon! There aren't very many places that cook it just right. Not undercooked, and not overcooked. My compliments to the chef that night! The not so good: the Pork chops were really tough. As my father in law was cutting it, the table was moving back and forth. Our server (Cara) did a very good job with us. Friendly and efficient, she took care of the room by herself as it did start to get busy when we were finishing our meal. We will be back!
(4)Lisa C.
Loco moco and oxtail soup were great! Topped it off with deep fried brownie a la mode. Winnahz!
(5)Kevin C.
Been here twice, both times had the cheeseburger and side of garlic chicken. Yummy good, and great service too. All the ratings are legit, its really good food, clean place. Check it out.
(5)Christine E.
If you're looking for good ol' hole in the wall, back in the day kine vibe and food, then this is the place to be. The servers are always soooo nice. And they're really on it! We had a packed house this past weekend, there was about 25-30 people in the restaurant, 2 servers, and they were sooooooo attentive. It really gives you that nice old school Hawaii feel that I miss sometimes. Food is pretty good. Garlic Chicken has good flavor (although they did give me a large skin to actual chicken meat ratio), my boyfriends burger was delicious and juicy. I was a little sad that the menus were so tourist'd out! they have everything written in Japanese now, on what is already a packed menu. Which is good for the tourists I guess, but hurt my eyes. :/ I still love it here though. :) Every time I've been here I have not been disappointed.They had a special of a "fried brownie" ala mode that the guy next to me was having, it looked GOOD! I will definitely return!
(4).Alan Y.
The Forty Niner sits on the corner of Kam Highway and Honomanu Street. Its a non-descript brown building that looks like it was built during WWII. K-girl said that she'd been passing the Forty Niner since she was a kid, and her grandma said that the Forty Niner had been around since K-girl's mom was a kid. We drove by and the diner was closed. It looked like the typical mom-n-pop saimin / breakfast / burger joint. Needless to say, it was exactly the type of place I wanted to eat during this visit to Hawai'i. A cute local girl waited on us. I had the Forty Niner Breakfast, two eggs, choice of meat and fried rice. K-girl had the fried saimin. We tucked in, and were not disappointed. The fried rice was the best I've ever had, other than homemade. And the fried saimin was ono. Whatever daishi or soup they use to flavor the saimin is a bit salty, but still ono. I would love it if someone could give me a definitive reason for why this place is named Forty Niner. The waitress said that the restaurant was founded in 1947. I think we can rule out this place being named after a football team, and I'm fairly sure that the Gold Rush was not in Hawai'i. So I'm going to take a wild guess that the owners thought that this was going to be the 49th state instead of the 50th? Oh yeah, service was excellent, friendly and attentive. Pro-tip: If parking is full, go around the corner and park at KFC.
(5)Jamie D.
It wasn't all it was cranked up to be.... I have to admit, its like food that I could cook at home but nothing I would go out of my way or even pay for. If I had a choice I'd rather go to Big City Diner. What I did find interesting was their banana Mac but pancakes with haupia sauce. It was good but it can't compete agains boots and kimo's! It almost reminded me of the Filipino dessert ginitaan with coconut milk and sometimes bananas. Good dish but maybe not so much on my pancakes- just alright. To each its own really. I have to disagree with the yelp reviews on this one and say its decent, but really- I probably won't come back again.
(2)Jeremy U.
Good comfort food!
(5)LesliAnn K.
I am kinda glad that I didn't automatically check my Yelp reviews before I went to this place. Going in with an open mind, like back in the olden days, before all the technology and social networking to influence us and make us at times, too connected. And THAT is the biggest charm about this place, that it brings you back to a more innocent time. Open air windows, screen doors blocking out the mosquitos/flies, but not the tradewinds, and maybe a little dust while you're at it. Liked that I didn't know what to expect, and that I was pleasantly surprised. That I found out the good items and recommendations from talking story with the waitress behind the counter. That we built our experience ourselves. Everyone has zoomed by this place in their car on the way to the freeway, rushing to town, swanky new restaurants and places. But on Monday pau hana, it was the perfect place to be. Comfort food. Freshly made. Not too crowded. I felt that universal feeling of contentment felt by anyone who's ever been on the road, after a long hard day, and ate at a roadside diner. It feeds the soul. "What to get? How does this work?" We ask the waitress. "Depends on what you want. Get all kine customers, construction workers like their plate lunch and meat, get the Japanese tourists come who like order pancakes and burgers. But my absolute fave...garlic chicken. Never ever gets old." Dining section and counter section, choose between the two. A jam-packed menu guaranteed to have something for everyone. We chose Forty Niner pancakes with haupia sauce, big chunks of macadamia that you can taste, and jam-packed with bananas. Rivals the one from Boots and kimos. Fresh, homemade burger, and a side of garlic chicken. I mean, this is how restaurant-ing used to be. And by the way, OLD SCHOOL PRICES TOO. SOO CHEAP. West side, you got some gems.
(5)Shanti B.
Forty Niner is a small hole in the wall that for most of my life (up until a few years ago) always just drove past without giving it any time of day...But for someone like myself (who LOVES saimin) that's been a BIG mistake... My girlfriend found out that I've never ate there & was so shockec she just had to take me & I loved it!! Whenever we go there we usually get ourselves a bowl of saimin, and we split an order of fries & cheeseburger....so I haven't really ever strayed from that...simple YET delicious.... If you haven't already, you should definately check it out!
(5)FDfoodie J.
First off, i am a foodie. But I like real food made by real people. Not a fan of the line cook franchises. I love this local diner. Just happened upon it while driving to the pro bowl at aloha stadium. Best chicken and waffles I ever ate!!!! (and I have been to New Orleans). My wife had Da Elvis pancakes, delish. Great, fast service. Don't be put off by the hole in the wall feel. Besides my family, the other diners were all locals. That's what I like to see. I will definitely revisit the 49er on my next trip to Oahu.
(5)Mark M.
I'm a terrible cheerleader for my home town. I've lived in Aiea for my entire life and I've only been to Forty Niner once. It was always one of those places I wanted to try and I always said I'd do it later. Yeah, like 15 years later. I finally made my way into this place and I was pleasantly surprised. After reading some reviews I decided to get the hamburger steak. It was handmade, fresh, flavorful, and hearty. That's pretty much anything could ever want in a hamburger steak. It came with gravy all over it and it also came with two scoops of rice and their version of a mac noodle salad which I found interesting. After finishing my meal I realized what my dad used to talk about all these years. When I told that I finally tried Forty Niner he was surprised that I've never been there before and I told me that I need to hang my head in shame. After all, how can I try to be an expert in food through Yelp if I haven't even mastered my own damn home town? I'd love to return there again sometime soon to try the saimin that everyone has been raving about. Supposedly it's to die for and if I'm going to die, it might as well be with a full stomach.
(4)Kalei F.
I've been hearing such great things about this place, my friends and I finally had to stop in! The ambiance in this place is definitely old school Hawaii diner-ish, which brought me back to the hana-bata days! The food is decent here and the service is pretty good, though I'm one of those types that you MUST always fill my water fast because I drink like a fish!! We had the hamburger steak, which was seasoned perfectly, very good flavor and texture, but too much gravy all over everything. We had the macadamia nut, banana, haupia pancakes which was ok. NOTHING compared to Boots & Kimo's!! I don't like nuts in my actual pancake so that was kind of weird and the pancakes were too salty and dry. Definitely not my favorite! The garlic chicken, however, was pretty darn tasty!! I'm a huge fan of garlic chicken and this did not disappoint! It was crunchy and flavorful :) We also ordered the cheeseburger which was very good. It tasted kind of like a McDonald's cheeseburger but I did like it and the fries were cooked well. Do not get the mac salad.......it should really be called spaghetti salad because that's all they used....cut spaghetti pasta, carrots, and mayonnaise.....very gross!! This place has huge portions, cash only, and super local style flavor. It's super cheap for how much food you get, but it just left me wanting something else.......and parking is rough around there!!
(3)Dan N.
Ox tail soup is a little to salty for me and I think they forgot to trim the fat off .I think they should rename it ox tail fat soup. I still gave it 3 stars because the pancakes not bad ,and friendly service.but no more ox tail fat soup for me
(3)Bert W.
my wife & i had breakfast at the forty niners . the food & service was excellent & i rate them a 100. the two waitress are always hassling. when they are getting overwhelmed they are still hassling & giving the best customer service. therefore i rate them 5 stars.
(5)Charity G.
Drive to pearl harbor and get free tickets for the USS Arizona tour. Now don't get upset if you have to wait for a while... Take the time to come here! It doesn't look like much outside. It's an awesome local's place. Garlic chicken in the bomb! Fried rice omelette is pretty awesome too!
(5)Natasha K.
Previously I would've given this place 4 stars. I've eaten here two times although I admittedly was hesitant at first because it definitely does not look appealing from the outside. I was pleasantly surprised, the breakfast food was very good and the waitresses I had both times were nice. However I do not think I will return after the unacceptable service I received on the phone. I called in the morning to ask if they do take out and the lady replied "yes but we're extremely busy right now"....I tried to ask her "ok so does that mean I can't place one right now?"(because that response isn't very clear, she could've just been warning me that my order would take longer etc, I wasn't sure). She didn't reply because she was talking to another customer about their order, so I tried saying "hello" one time and getting her attention but she continued to ignore me and then ended up just hanging up on me!! That is completely unacceptable. If they are in fact too busy to accept take out orders the appropriate response would've been "yes we normally do but I apologize we are really busy right now and cannot accept any at the time" or something along those lines. She shouldn't reply with an answer that leaves the customer wondering "ok so what does that mean" and ignoring me to talk to other customers and then hanging up....that's completely unacceptable, there's no reason it needed to be handled that way. I understand your busy but there is a much better way that situation could've been handled. Doubt I will ever return there because of that.
(1)Justin Y.
Some things never change. This statement rings true for good ol' Forty Niner out in Aiea without a doubt. For anyone that grew up in Hawaii, this place is ridiculously nostalgic in pretty much every way. The building still looks almost abandoned from the outside, with tables and chairs that have probably been there longer than I've been alive. The service is very "aunteh style" which would seem a bit random to anyone not familiar with it. From the moment you enter, you have to figure out yourself to just seat yourself in the dining room side...a bit strange, but hey its fine once you figure it out. Once you get past the awkward seating process however, the service is simply lovely and full of personality. The food is pretty much the same standard local fare that we've grown accustomed to over the past 30 years...but the prices are surprisingly still relatively low. You can easily get a good lunch or breakfast in for under $10. (Or for $5 if you get the 49er special which is a pretty sweet deal.) Most of the breakfast stuff are served all day which is another huge plus in my book. The serving sizes aren't the hugemangous portions that people have come to know, which can be a good or bad thing. I tried to loco moco and while its biggest thing i've seen, it was more than enough to fill me up without making me feel sick (like most would if I ate the entire thing.) Only downside to 49er is that its still cash-only! Not to mention there are no nearby ATMs. A big CASH ONLY sign would help a lot...we weren't carrying cash and that made for a long awkward wait while one person in our party had to drive and make a cash run. Definitely going back soon...so glad this place is still around and going strong! Keep it old school 49er!
(4)Larry R.
Saimin and cheeseburger, nuff said. That's all I need to get my tummy filled me up. When I was a kid, my dad and I used go to fishing and stop by after at forty niner for grinds. I'm craving! I wanna go there right now!!
(5)Cynthia L.
Really friendly staff. Came the day after Xmas and they're open till two for lunch. Ordered a saimin hamburger combo with a side of garlic chicken. Everything is mouth watering good. We didn't know they only accepted cash and we had already sat down to order. Waitress said no problem just finish eating its ok..go grab money and just come back afterwards. Waitress was very attentive even after we had no cash on us. :)
(5)Bobby K.
Been eating here for at least 20 yrs since the original owners had the place. The new owners have added a lot of new items to the menu, but kept some of the original items. My stand-by is saimin and cheeseburger w/fries. My son is garlic chicken or macadamia nut pancake or both sometimes. I have to say though that the beef cutlet isn't quite the same as before. I prefer the one the original owners made. 5/13/15 Update: Lechon Kawali 1 Star: I've always like everything I've ordered here so when I saw the Lechon on the menu, I decided to try it out because I love Lechon Kawali (with onion and tomato). Let me start by saying that if you like Elena's Lechon, you will probably not like it here. The pork pieces were too big and and so it didn't cook right. The skin was crunchy which I like, but because the pieces of pork were so big, the fatty part didn't cook good and was like eating big chunks of cooked rubber. Not too appetizing. Needless to say I won't ever be ordering the lechon here again. But this bad meal won't stop me from coming here because I like the other dishes I usually order and the service is always good.
(4)Mr. C.
When I first walked into Forty Niners it brought me back to my younger days of going up to my uncle Chans house in Papakolea. The old school tables and chairs, the cement floor and the feeling of being on my uncles porch hanging out with ohana and enjoying family and friends company. The food is "Broke Da Mout, Ono". The saimin and cheeseburger combo takes me back to my childhood. The chicken and waffles is my favorite breakfast...no wait, the smoke meat and eggs is...no wait, the forty niner pancakes...you get the picture. The specials, like the fried pork w/ onions and tomatos (should be on the perminent menu already, just a suggestion=) it's Unreal!!! The pickled onions add just the right flavor to bring the dish together...Superb!!! The service is awsome and we always look forward to see Aunty Lei and the girls on Sunday mornings. The parking can be a bit of a squeeze but it's worth the delicious food and great service.
(5)Neka S.
I love this place! Food and service are always on point.
(5)Gary F.
went here of lunch this week. It's your standard local hamburger class Restaurant. The hamburger steak was really good. local style but crispy on the outside. We had a side dish of the garlic chicken and fries. The Garlic chicken was really good. The skin was coated with garlic sauce but yet still a bit crispy. Big G
(4)eric e.
Checked out this place after watching Champ TV. Was feeling kinda skeptical cuz the building is pretty old and run down. As soon as we parked we noticed alot of people eating outside on picnic tables, so it was a good sign. We ordered smoked meat w/ scrambled eggs, Macadamia nut/banana/haupia pancakes, hamburger steak, and garlic chicken. Seemed like alot but it was perfectly filling lol. Everything we ordered was great! overall, the garlic chicken stood out the most and it is alot better than other places that are known for it. Everything we ordered also was season perfectly. The staff was very friendly and was always checking how everyone was doing. Parking isn't too bad, but i'd recommend parking on the gravel lot in the back cuz it's kinda hard to get in/out w/ the amount of traffic there. This is probably one of the best breakfast/lunch on the west side of the island. We will definetly come here again!
(5)Craig C.
Used to go to the Forty Niner when I was a Teen back in the early '70's. And always had either their Saimin or a Charbroiled burger. And of course when I used to go there I was just a haole boy who lived across the street in the military housing at McGrew Point. Fast-forward 40 years, the place basically has not changed, and the food is still very good. Was there just last week and had the Forty Niner breakfast with Portugee Sausage (4 slices) with coffee, toast and 1 OJ. Great meal that was filling as well as very reasonably priced, service was great and the waitress was very friendly. My sister and I had basically the same meal minus the coffee, toast and the OJ in downtown Waikiki the day before with only 2 slices of sausage and it was 5 dollars more. Highly recommend, food is served quick and is good. And the prices are very reasonable.
(5)Jay C.
I had driven down to Sand Island to get some dinner. With no luck of finding a suitable spot, I headed to Mapunapuna in hopes of a hidden gem to eat at. I resigned to go somewhere in Pearl City after another failed search, until I saw light coming out of the Forty Niner restaurant. I thought this place closed a long time ago! Forty Niner has that old-time cool. The screen doors and windows meant you could hear whatever was going out on the street. They still had those menus where each letter was on a line, and any of them could fall off at any moment. They had floats you could enjoy at the bar and see what was coming out of the kitchen. They close at 8pm, and only accept cash. Because it was on the original items menu, I ordered the beef cutlet. If you've tried beef cutlet before in Hawaii, it's usually a slice of breaded beef that's grilled until the crust is crisp. I got a plate full of sukiyaki thin beef slices, topped with a juicy gravy. It came with two scoops of rice and a tasty mac salad made with spaghetti noodles. I ate it all in a fury, and it was enough to keep me content. What made the night though, was the helpfulness of our server Kara, who also was a fellow Yelper! She made many recommendations of what to try in the future, like the oxtail saimin and the garlic chicken. Kara tried to explain why the hamburgers and hamburger steak were so good, but just couldn't express it in words. Because of her attempt, I ordered a cheeseburger to go. Unfortunately, I can't explain it myself either. One of my nephews ate it, and he's not too eloquent at his age. For me, my experience at Forty Niner is not over. I HAVE to go back for that hamburger. I have this hope that the burger may match up to a burger I ate in '96 or '97 from this place called Lapule in Puck's Alley. That burger was super juicy, had lots of flavor, and had that something special that I could never explain. It was the best burger I ever ate. If Kara's expressions are correct, I might have found a burger suited to do the same.
(5)Kanya E.
Loved the Forty Niner! We were hungry one night and tried to stop in, but it was closing as we pulled up. We could see the menu from the outside, and the small old-timey feel of it, so we vowed to go back. The service was great. We sat at the bar area and the girl was very kind and prompt with her service. The food was very good, and there is a pretty decent selection to choose from. You can tell this is the kind of place where they make a good selection of food WELL. We will be going back for sure to try more of the menu!
(5)Samantha S.
Excellent Kalua pork sandwich and the waitress was super friendly. She kept checking on us to make sure we had what we needed.I would definitely recommend.
(5)Jean W.
Stopped here after visiting Pearl Harbor. Great service & good food. We had: double cheeseburger, fried chicken, Kahlua pork sandwich & saimen noodles with garlic chicken.
(4)Beth W.
Delicious! I'd eat here every morning!
(5)Rebecca C.
always the best customer service :)
(5)Lilian N.
We finally got lucky and locked down a parking space...! So we quickly went in for some cheap and tasty eats for lunch. I had the eggburger deluxe and the bf got the loco moco. This was his first time here and I am happy to report that his only words of approval were "wow!", "wow!" and "wow!"....the hamburger patty definitely makes the loco moco! Nicely charred but so moist on the inside. Same with my eggburger deluxe, charbroiled patty with a fried egg, and onions/tomato/lettuce. I swear I could've ate at least 2 more of these. We also split a large saimin which we felt was a little bland, but nonetheless deemed a simple and classic local saimin. We plan to go back sometime soon for the yummy burgers and perhaps the hamburger steak plate. Great food, great service, and cheap eats!
(4)Shelly i.
I used to love saimin until I went to Japan when I was 15 and tasted ramen. From then on I became a saimin snob and wouldn't eat it because "it's not like what you get in Kyoto." Egads, I was such a brat. Thankfully, 49er's brought me back to reality. Saimin is not ramen, in fact in certain cases it's better. I especially like ordering saimin with a teri burger on the side and letting the broth cut the sweetness and the richness of the burger. 49er's saimin broth is mild and tastes faintly of char siu. I prefer it to Shiro's, Sonoya's, and Sekiya's and I am so grateful that the recipe didn't change when the new owners took over a couple of years back. But ramble-y bratty memories aside, 49er's is a great little hole in the wall with almost zip-zilch-nada parking. There are maybe four stalls in a really awkwardly located lot. Good luck getting out when all the cars trying to get onto Kam start speeding by. You could try parking in the neighborhood or walking from the Toys R Us lot (that lot is empty except for around Christmas). Either way it's worth it. It's also good to keep in mind that they take a break between lunch and dinner, so if you don't get there by two in the afternoon you're out of luck until they open for dinner.
(5)Flip N.
First time here and had to say, hearing the waitress saying aunty and uncle was something i had to smile at. Not every day you hear that at a restaurant...just goes to show, people do have some respect and make others feel like family. Anyway, Had the mac banana waffle and chicken combo...was done before the 49er pancake even came out. Fried rice with pocho sausage and eggs were good. 4 stars only because they could use some help in the kitchen. Other than that. Food was awesome enough to say we are going back!
(4)Kalani C.
3.7 stars. Came here for breakfast. Had the short stack banana pancakes (3.5 stars) and the corn beef hash with eggs and rice (3.5 stars). Service is always great and with a smile (4 stars). Old-style local eatery that always makes me feel at home and glad I came. Go eat! Tally: 3.5+3.5+4= 11/3= 3.7 stars. #Yelp 365: 106/365
(3)M.B. L.
I give it four stars for their breakfast. We've been here several times, mostly for breakfast. I've driven pass this place for years and always thought it was scary. One day, we finally decided to try it based on Yelp reviews. It was cozy; service was friendly; and the food was yummmmy! Parking used to be really tight, but now they have additional parking and outdoor seating. My favorite is the banana mac nut waffles. The meat eater loves the egg and ham steak. Their coffee is okay. I used to get mad about them not having any fresh milk or cream for my coffee but am now over it. You can BYOC if you really need to. The prices are not over the top but are also not cheap for Aiea. The service is always friendly. The facilities are modest, but you come here for the food and the smiles! We took visiting family to the place, and they felt like they were getting a tast of Aiea. If you are looking for a breakfast place, skip Anna Miller's and come here instead! Be forewarned. It's a cash-only joint. Being vegetarian, I wouldn't recommend this place for lunch, as you will have few to no options. However, there will be plenty of local grinds for your meat eating friends!
(4)Darcy K.
Saimin and teri beef sandwich or teri burger...thats whats up!... I may die from a heartattack with a smile on my face after all (: My boyfriend brought me here because he said I "had to try it!" They serve breakfast all day, which I think is pretty awesome, but I didnt eat that. The saimin noodles are thinner than what I usually see at other restaurants, but its so yummy (: You cant go wrong with teri burgers, they load up on the sauce and mayo in that bad boy. Only downside about my experience here is that they do not accept credit cards as a form of payment. Bf spent his cash on gas (wallet rape!) but we scrounged up enough loose change and singles to pay for our $14.00 bill! The waitress was really nice and cool about it, she didnt even laugh at us or get pissed about the $9 in change. (: teehee. Also parking is very limited here. Theres street parking in the side streets I guess, I wouldnt chance parking at KFC next door. So yeah. Good local food here that you must try! Love you Forty Niner!
(4)Kehau G.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place! Grew up down the street and 30 years later, it's still the first place I eat at when I arrive home to Oahu. It's a hole but it's because they've put their aloha into the food. I crave their saimin whenever I'm ill, homesick, whenever. Da best!
(5)Corey R.
Good affordable breakfast!!! Def coming back
(5)Rachel C.
Another great dive, conveniently located to the Aloha Stadium! I absolutely loved this place from the authenticity of the food and the great family style service! I had their Hawaiian breakfast which included lomi lomi salmon, kahlua pork, two eggs and rice! Yum! This was so much better than the Paradise Cove luau food! Definitely will be coming back here!
(4)Mindy M.
I'm sad that I've lived down the street for almost 2 years now and JUST went to the 49'er. I went for a quick lunch with some friends. We sat outside on the breezy, lovely covered lanai. It was quiet and nice. They had the pork chops which were reported to be great. I had a pulled pork sandwich. Food was good, portions were just right- def try the mac salad! It's made with spaghetti noodles and it was SO GOOD. I can't wait to go back and try the breakfast foods.
(5)Tad N.
Always wanted to try this place as we drive by it often enough for years.... so one Sunday, finally did. Ample parking in back. Very simple place, almost felt like I was back in my high school days at a down to earth mom & pop eatery. After a friendly greeting and being told of the roast pork just coming out of the oven, I opted for the best roast pork I've had in a long time. My companion ordered the garlic chicken and it was awesome as well. Can't wait for the next visit, perhaps during the upcoming football season. Btw, server Carolyn was friendly and fast!
(4)Daniel K.
Driving by the long time institution on Kam Highway, you would think it's an abandoned building. But this no frills saimin, burger, breakfast and plate lunch diner has a lot to offer. Worried that the quality would drop and pricing rise after ownership change a few years ago, it was good to see that everything is pretty much the same. Even the no AC dining. Can't comment on the plate lunches, because I've only ordered two things: Saimin and cheeseburger. Not a gourmet burger, but no frozen patty here making this a better than average burger. The saimin broth could use a boost, but still tasty. Saimin and cheeseburger will set you back $10. Good deal considering plate lunches are just as pricey. Owners say that parking at the KFC lot is okay.
(4)Sunshine C.
AMAZING! The banana French toast was HEAVENLY, the FRO was so Ono! Also had the chocolate chip pancakes and they were so tasty as well!! Extremely satisfied!
(5)Alex T.
Definitely a solid 4 stars! The service was fast and friendly, just the way I like it. No muss, no fuss. The food came out hot, and while it was delicious (I had the pancake breakfast with scrambled eggs, Portuguese sausage, and a forty-inner pancake), it was nothing ground-breaking. Just your standard, solid diner breakfast at a price that didn't make my wallet cry. And that's just fine by me! I'll be coming back for more yummy food soon!
(4)William M.
Great local place. Good food for low price. Third best meal on the island. Try smoked sausage and loco moco. Both excellent. Servers were amazingly attentive.
(5)Mikala L.
A bit old school like you're eating at Manago Hotel or some hole in the wall in Hilo. However, this is part of the experience and the food is seriously good. Hamburger Steak with grilled onions and dark gravy was tasty as the burgers are homemade and decent size for $8.50. The "mac" salad is good taste if you like spaghetti noodles - but ono and simple. Hence, any burger deluxe will be great for the price! The garlic chicken (side For $2.75) very tasty but crusty but cheap - sauce delish. The full stack choc chip pancakes for $6.75 was yummy according to son and HUGE! Every local that appreciates old school feel should give this place a try as I will be coming back, esp if Aiea Bowl and The Heights have a long wait. The service was also excellent and you'll wanna leave them a 30% tip. :)
(5)Scott K.
Not the same as when I was a kid but the new owners still pack a good crowd in there. You would think I would be eating saimin there but honestly, there chicken is good! Back in the day it felt like Hamuras......but its still just as good. Old world charm.
(3)Jeff S.
First timer. We lucked into one of their 5 or so stalls. According to one Yelper you can park at KFC next door. Service is very friendly and I'll say pretty efficient. One of my wife's fried banana halves from her french toast slipped off of the plate and onto the table while the plate was being served and there it sat through the meal. Luckily it was skin on so she just ate out of the skin. I would have at very least put it on a plate for the customer if not replaced it. Breakfast all day EXCEPT waffles and fried rice. Hmmm. Spotted Fried Chicken & Waffles on the menu but I'd have to get there before 10:30am to try it. Looking for satisfaction after the disappointment at "pancakes and waffles" Had breakfast Eggs over (done perfect), over fried rice (small serving), Vienna sausage and a short stack cause I'm always on the look out for a good pancake. These hotcakes unfortunately, like many, are second string. To be ordered only in a desperate pinch when everywhere else is closed or too far. A little too rubbery (and yet dry) for my taste. Back to my wife's banana French toast (remember w the banana on the table). It seems like they coat the French toast in the pancake batter creating a rubbery pancake condom over the french toast which to me kind of ruins it. I noticed a majority of tables ordering burgers. They look really good. I would go back to try one. Maybe there'll be more stars then but based on our breakfast, 3 stars is right on the money.
(3)Alyssa M.
Forty Niner's is located right at the corner with KFC on Kamehameha Hwy. It's hard to find parking (their lot is tiny -- 3 or 4 stalls) but i found out you're able to park in KFC's parking lot too. My first time there in YEARS...almost forgot the taste of homemade food :) I had the loco moco -- BEST loco moco i've had in...idk how long?! The gravy was good, the meat was good...usually it's always one thing that's not right, BUT Forty Niner's got it right!! Their customer service is awesome!! They memorize your order, they walk around & talk story with everyone...see if you're okay...make sure you always have something in your cup...very personable people.
(4)Aaron T.
Never ever had a bad meal here. The hamburgers are generic but decent as for everything else it is above average.
(4)Wina G.
Old time soda shop! Cousin and I stopped in for a "snack". Well we had a blast from the past experience and ended up ordering hamburger, BBQ stick, saimin and mac salad and a rootbeer float! Friendly service. Small parking lot in the back.
(5)Oly C.
The loco moco (hamburger steak with gravy) is the best I've every had in Oahu. Parking is bad, I usually park in the residential in the back and walk down. There is usually only one girl working the register and tables but services is still relatively fast if you don't go during lunch hour.
(4)Genevieve J.
Don't let the appearance of this building fool you!! It may look old, but there is a living tradition when it comes to Forty Niner! It took me awhile to actually eat at this place but I have only heard good things about it. Forty Niner has apparently been around forever because all of the older local individuals know about this place and will highly reccomend it. I reccomend it also. There is a take out area as well as a dining area, and service is very prompt and curteous. The food is very reasonably priced and well worth the price. You get a good feel of the warmth and compassion that small local places in Hawaii posess. If you havent gone here..you should definitely give it a try!
(4)Greg B.
This is a local place that is rather hard to get to, given that it is on the outskirts of Aiea, but far from any place in Honolulu. Parking is a challenge. However, the saimin and the normal plate lunches are very good. The setting evokes age and a memory of when establishments like this used to be all over Honolulu. There is a bar up front and service is rather quick. I believe this establishment is the first that serves fish tempura that isn't of a large slice or fillet but rather of the reef fish that populates an aquarium. That was a surprise for me when I came here (which was very long ago). However, it is a good place to visit and it has moderate prices (although it may have changed from when I went here last).
(4)Marc C.
Great variety of breakfast items to Hawaiian lunch plates! The garlic chicken was awesome! Check our the forty niner bento for a good variety plate.
(5)L K.
This establishment is "broke da mouth" good food!! Love their breakfasts and friendly staff. It is what many would consider a "hole in the wall", but that shouldn't matter when the food is really delicious.
(5)John A.
Walking into this place makes you feel like you stepped back in time, until you look out the window and see all the traffic : ) I gave the garlic chicken w/ fried noodles a try.
(3)Adam P.
my co-workers always sneak out from work and eat here. Great prices. Killer garlic chicken. The workers are all nice. Last week I went for breakfast and got eggs. They ran an extra order on accident and gave it to me for free. Definitly check them out. Parking is weak cause that side road is always backed up. I've been parking at KFC and sneaking over.
(5)Nicole K.
After the new management took over, it wasn't as good as before. But, the food is still good, and the service is still good. I still like the saimin, and they always provide. Parking is kind of hard, and the facility is small.
(4)D L.
I know that this restaurant has been around for ages but I never thought to eat there since it looked like an abandoned structure. We were in the Aiea area and my friend wanted to eat hamburger so she suggested we go Forty Niner. The waitress was quite informative, telling us that their hamburger patties were made fresh and that they serve breakfast all day (well, besides the waffle selections). I ordered a Hamburger with a side of Fries. My friend ordered the Hamburger Steak plate, and my hubby got the Forty Niner Pancakes (bananas, mac nuts, and haupia sauce). I didn't like what I ordered. If you like your burgers charred and fries so crispy it's hard...then this is the place for you. My hamburger was not juicy at all and there was mustard but no ketchup in it which I thought was strange. They should call their burgers BBQ burgers instead. Now, for my hubby's pancakes, that I loved! It is very similar to Boots N Kimo's Mac Nut pancakes, but not as sweet. It was two round plate-sized pieces with Haupia sauce all over topped with Mac Nut crumbs. They could've been more generous with the Haupia sauce, but otherwise it was perfect. I didn't get grossed out after a few bites, and I like that I don't have to make the drive into Kailua for my pancake cravings. The prices were very reasonable, customer service was decent (forgot the ketchup when I asked), and the restaurant was kept pretty clean. A plus is that they offer free refills on fountain drinks! I don't know of any other small business that does that!! The hours of operation is a bit different...they open for breakfast and lunch, closed for a few hours after lunch and reopens again at 4pm til 8pm. Best to call before you go.
(3)Mike N.
I have been passing this place for 20 something years and finally stopped to check it out. Its really small, only like 8 tables so it fills up fast. We went about 2 pm and was still busy but the waitress said that day was unusual. Usually it slows by then. Only 1 waitress too. Anyway, I thought the food was pretty good. Had the hamburger steak plate and the wife had a burger. Was pretty fresh. The banana mac-nut pancake with haupia sauce was really good too. Waitress also suggested saimin and garlic chicken which probably is good too. Very nostalgic atmosphere. Would come again for sure. Hope this review helps.
(4)Andrea L.
I went here the other day when where I originally planned to go was packed. what a nice surprise! the atmosphere was very warm and inviting. There was only one waitress it looked like but she was very attentive. I had the fried noodles with garlic chicken and I have to say that I am in LOVE. my mom was with me and had the teri beef burger. she loved hers too. just like home! I have been living here all my life and only went there now?!?! I don't know what I was thinking. I'm going back asap!
(4)Darci N.
Being a resident of 'Aiea my entire life I have eaten here tons of time. Glad to see that they look like they will be expanding the restaurant with a hopefully much needed facelift. Hopefully they add more parking too! The only waitress was very sweet and obliging to every request. We dined on furikake salmon, beef cutlet and a side order of garlic chix. Everything was delicious but my garlic chix was tough to eat, it was hard to bite into but the flavor was good. The wasabi aioli sauce on my salmon was just the right amount, not too overbearing. The beef cutlet was tender and smothered in gravy.
(4)Emi H.
I grew up in Aiea and today was my very first visit to Forty Niner Restaurant! All I could hope was that it was worth the three decades of waiting. There are two sides to Forty Niner, one is for take-out and counter service and the other side is a regular restaurant with tables. I plopped down into a booth with my friend and two kiddies, and we were a bit confused as to whether or not there was a waitress who'd take our order or if we were suppose to order from the counter. A nice waitress brought us menus and water. Like our menus, the Forty Niner is tattered and dirty but there's a homey charm that you have to love about the place. It's almost like dining at your Obachan's house with the old school tables and chairs. I am talking rustic with a capital RUSTY, but I'm totally serious when I say its charming. I decided to order the hamburger steak ($7.75), because hey, who needs their arteries intact right? And my girlfriend decided to get the oxtail soup ($10.75). I ordered my kiddies a cheeseburger ($3.25) with fries ($2.65) being that they are the world's pickiest children and only eat rice, apples and chicken nuggets. Our food took about 10 minutes to come out and we dug into the Forty Niner meal which felt like a long intended meeting with destiny. Unfortunately for me and my friend, our food fell short of our expectations. The hamburger steak was really burnt and oddly mushy. It was okay but definitely not the best I'd ever had as some have said in other reviews. The tossed salad had a dressing that looked like thousand island but it was some weird creamy oriental dressing. Bleck! My friends oxtail soup was very fatty and she pulled out the fat from her bowl and put it on a separate plate. Maybe we ordered the wrong thing but the food was nothing to write home about. I think the reason why Forty Niner has so many great 4 star reviews is because of the servers. Although they were a bit scattered, I think it was because our waitress was pregnant, they were really eager to please and you could tell honestly cared about their customers. My girlfriend ordered refill on her coke at the end our meal as they were getting ready to box up our food and our waitress had the foresight to put her drink in a take out cup. I was thoroughly impressed by this because when was the last time a server did something like this for you? If ever? I'm really happy I got to dine at the Forty Niner and that it indeed has not gone out of business. Long live Mom and Pops and may the hamburger steak be cooked better on my return!
(3)Mako O.
Are you guys playing a joke on me? I should have followed my instinct and not tried this place. But after reading some reviews, i was craving the Chicken and Waffles. The staff was very attentive although the waitress forgot that we ordered Diet Cokes for drinks...no biggie. NO Chicken and Waffles served after 10:30am??? Oh and no Fried Rice after 10:30 neither. So i decided to try the Garlic Chicken, Beef Cutlet and a side of fries. The Beef Cutlet came out first...funny thing, it didn't look like a cutlet. It was more like Roast Beef. The flavor was ok but nothing to rave about. This is when the nightmare started. The Garlic Chicken and Fries came out. I took one bite of the Garlic Chicken and got a rancid after taste. I then looked at the fries and saw that the oil dripping off the fries were almost black! I have never NEVER had food deep fried in oil that was so rancid! ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!! I couldn't get out of here quick enough! I think I will call the health department to see if there are any regulations about frying oil... BLEH! I can still taste it!
(1)Jason Y.
Ahhhhh...the memories! this place has been here forever, longer than most people have been alive. not sure if its still the same family that owns it, but the food here is pretty darn good and pretty reasonable. i remember walking here as a little kid with grandpa and eating saimin and a burger, it was awesome. the place has been "renovated" but it still looks like an old fashioned saimin stand with the counter and all. everything on the menu is good...can't explain everything on it, but just go lots of time and try everything! for old times sake, get a saimin and burger as your first meal only problem here is parking sucks big time, there's only like four stalls and its alongside a major intersection so even if you can get a stall, good luck trying to get out when you want to leave. better off parking in a side street by the residential homes and walking. it's not hard at all and it'll be a lot easier.
(4)Rani R.
Finally went here and I'm glad I did. Had saimin and hamburger. You know something simple and it was really good. I love home made burgers vs. the premade. They are easier to eat and taste better. The saimin was good and I really like the dashi. I'll be back again!!
(4)Kristin B.
while on vacation in Hawaii, i wanted to check out more local spots than touristy ones so while meeting up with a friend in the area, he suggested the Forty Niner. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here! it's a really small place but having lunch around 1pm, it wasnt too crowded. I opted for a Forty-Niner original with the beef cutlet, rice, and macaroni salad plate lunch. Hearing the word cutlet, i automatically assumed deep fried but when my lunch came out, it was nothing like i expected! it's basically chopped up, sauteed beef drenched in gravy (almost like a loco moco). served over rice and macaroni salad it was the perfect lunch. great portion size and affordable at only $8...parking may be hard to find so we parked in the KFC lot nearby since we werent there for too long...it's definitely worth your while to drive out to this area of the island if you're staying in waikiki for a great meal and to avoid the tourists. Note: The place is cash only! if you need an atm machine, the closest one is a couple blocks away so bring cash with you if you dont wanna walk.
(4)Zach R.
This place is Awesome for lunch! I don't know how many times I've cruised by this diner and it was closed. I finally got the pleasure of eating lunch here and I was super impressed. The staff were very friendly and attentive... This place has a great menu of local dishes (Saimin, Teri plate lunches, Garlic Chicken, Fish, etc.) and juicy, delicious Burgers as well as other classic favorites. Two words, OXTAIL SOUP! The broth was the best I've ever tasted, and it came with two huge pieces of tender, unctuous oxtail. I will be going back very often just for this bowl of heaven! Can't wait to try the chicken-n-waffles too!
(5)Brian A.
GO Niners! Unlike my favorite football team, FNR delivers championship caliber local comfort food. I've always wanted to go here, but the location coupled with wrong timing and the fact that the parking lot consist of maybe four stalls, always prevented us from stopping. Today that drought ended! It's reputation as a good hamburger place precedes it, so I had to order something with hamburgers. Seeing it was breakfast, I chose a tasty loco moco and fruit punch for breakfast. It all cost me under $8 sans tip (but I left a $2 tip because I was feeling really good about coming out of there, more on that below). The burger itself was nice and moist. Add the excellent gravy, rice, and an egg on top my bowl and it was very good. The restaurant exudes a small diner feel. I met and chatted a bit with a regular aunty who always comes in on Fridays to get her special meal. No order taking for her, they know what she wants and it was complicated. They seem to have fixed her up perfectly though. See, I sat at their counter area. It seems like it's the more social place to be with all the regulars chatting it up and they included me, which made me feel right at home. They also have a regular dining area. The counter and dining area are not connected and have a separate entrance for each side. The decor is definitely diner-ish and gives you that old time Hawaii feel with the old painted concrete floors. It is a bit loud there because it sits at the crossroads of Kamehameha Highway, but I think that adds to the charm of a diner like this. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. Unfortunately, unless you bring grandpa and his handicap placard, parking may be an issue. I got lucky this day, but it really is four stalls and a handicap parking space. Additionally, it's all located right next to the busy side street off of Kam Hwy. So you will have to be careful backing out. Other than that, I will definitely be going back!
(5)Joshua C.
Sometimes the best secrets are hidden in plain sight. I always thought this place was abandoned....in fact I'm sure most people drive right by this place. Don't be one of them. Don't miss out on one of the island's great old school hole in the wall saimin places. We started eating here before the renovation. Loved the Eggburgers (Hamburger with EGG) and saimin (the aji of the broth and the noodles make this simple and good). So I greived when they closed, and was hesitant when they reopened.....but now having gone back, I think the new owners succeeded in maintaining the charm while expanding the menu. I've heard that the magician lady in charge of the broth stayed on board to help out the new regime. My old favorites are still available and in addition they've added more seats, about twenty new menu items (really like the Fried Saimin). Parkings limited, if the lots full, try the side street just up the block. This is a fun spot to sit, slurp some saimin,, and dream about pre traffic Hawaii. :)
(4)Shannon C.
I really wanted to give this place more stars but just couldn't with the food that we had. My husband and I had a late lunch there yesterday. I had the egg cheeseburger deluxe and my husband had a regular cheeseburger with fries. The egg burger was okay but very rich the hamburger patty was kinda mushy. My husband didn't even finish his burger. Maybe we should've ordered something else, but with all the reviews talking about their hamburger, we just had to try it. Next time I'm gonna try the pancakes with the macadamia nut sauce.
(3)James C.
The food was good. I had a bento and my kids each had a teri-burger. The burger was cooked just right. The patty was homemade and very tender. My bento was tasty but not unlike any other bento, with the exception of the fish. I was given a actual fish that had a tail. The fish was filleted so I could eat it without worry of bones. But I could hold it by the tail and munch on it much like I would eat a fried shrimp. The staff was very friendly. Great chat skills. It definitely had a down home feel to it. So while the food was good but not great, the friendly vibe bumps this place up to a 4 star joint.
(4)J A.
I'm going to be the bubble burster and break the 4 star streak. I asked hubby what he would rate the overall experience and he said 2.5-3 and the kid rated it a 3. I got a small saimin and teri burger deluxe, the kid ordered the garlic chicken and hubby got a teri plate with a side of fries. Here are the cons: 1. Parking is very limited and the parking spaces are tight. 2. I am aware that the area they are situated can't be helped. But nonetheless, multiple Harleys drove by with their obnoxiously loud engines and the smell of exhaust was not a good mix while eating dinner. 3. The screen door did not close properly and I saw 2 flies circulating the restaurant. 4. The food I ordered was salty. I even mentioned to my husband that I wasn't sure if my taste buds have changed since being pregnant but the food I ordered was really salty. He tasted it and agreed. 5. The place is laid back. It was evident with the wait help. One waitress yelled from one side of the room at a couple on the other side of the room and asked, "You guys pau?" Nothing is wrong with being laid back, but come on. That's just G-H-E-T-T-O. 6. Witnessed a waitress dropping off french fries to customers and a couple fell on her serving tray. She picked up the fries with her (probably filthy) fingers and placed it back on the customer's plate. Pro: 1. Cheap food.
(3)Whitney M.
This is a tiny little old building near Aloha Stadium. We stopped here on our way to the Saturday market. We got there at 9am, and it wasn't busy, so parking was no problem. I had the Macadamia nut pancakes. They were AMAZING! Super fluffy and delicious! My mom had the regular pancakes, but she liked mine better. My dad and sister had the forty-niner breakfast - eggs, spam and fried rice. They both really loved it. The fried rice was great. The staff are very friendly, and helpful to tourists, like us. I don't know if the place is officially family-run, but there were family members working there. It was a great place to have breakfast! Be advised that there are no frills here. The coffee creamer is the powdered kind, like Coffee-Mate. I still give it 5 stars, though.
(5)Betsey L.
fellow yelper boki C. brought us here during my first visit to hawaii, specifically oahu! we went NUTS during our first visit and each ordered a dish not realizing how BIG the portions are! we ordered: - loco moco: first time trying this traditional dish of rice, gravy, hamburger patty and eggs. before coming i dind't want to try b c it sounds gross but o m g, its so good!!! - 49er pancake: TO DIE FOR. macadamia banana pancake w/ this amazing white sauce w/ more macadamia sprinkled on top!!! - 49er breakfast: comes with fried rice, choice of sausage or bacon (get the portugese sausage), eggs. what a deal. - ox tail saimen: YUM i love how its served with chinese mustard green service is so friendly and nice! i wish i had a place like this in DC.
(4)Ryan T.
This is definitely a cheap eat. The portions are gigantic. I had the loco moco and was not disappointed. My friends ordered the saimin, teri burger, and oxtail soup. Everything that we ate was delicious. The only drawback here is the very limited parking. We actually had to park next door in the KFC lot.
(4)Kasey T.
I used to come here with my father and we'd always order saimin with a burger on the side. I still frequent here with the new ownership. The food is great and so is the service. Many of the old timers still populate this diner.
(5)Cy C.
When you think of 49ers you think of a gold mine and San Francisco. Well guess what 49ers in Hawaii means a pretty good meal. Changed hands with a new owner, lost a little of the magic but it is still there. Its known as a saimen stand but I always order their loco moco or hamburger steak. Okay I admit it I order a small saimen with a hamburger. I just love homemade hamburgers with saimen. Saimen is good but not great. Gets crowded during lunch. The only downfall is finding parking with only 5 stalls in front. Friendly staff but they get so busy, just hold on, you do not have to go up to the counter someone will be by to assist. Not the nicest place to eat lunch, but oh well can't complain about the old skool charm. Make your day Finer, with a meal from Forty Niner!
(4)Allison D.
Without Yelp on my iPhone, I never would've found this place, and my friend I would've gone hungry... I had a burger that was delicious, and my friend got the garlic chicekn. The prices were awesome, especially compared to our previous Waikiki dining experiences. It's family-run, and everyone was super nice, even to our Wisconsin-shirt-wearing tourist selves. If I ever get the chance to go to Oahu again, I'm going back to try some saimin...
(5)Gee Gee M.
Old fashion style diner - the kind of place you can enjoy a bowl of Saimin and a Hamburger sandwich - lots of other good local style plates like good 'ole Hamburger Steak or even a bowl of Ox Tail Soup, but they also have some fancy, fancy stuff that they put together like a tower of fried chicken - very interesting menu. Service is good too - parking can be tough but worth it to fuss a bit with parking and be able to dine in an old fashioned atmosphere.
(4)Jayme K.
This place is great :) pricing is reasonable for the amount they give...fried rice.and garlic chicken is awesome!
(5)Chad B.
Me and my wife love coming here. Very friendly people. I've really liked everything I ordered. We love the banana macadamia haupia sauce pancakes. I had the waffles and fried chicken, interesting combination, but very good. I love the 49ers omelet! The only thing we didnt like as much was the banana french toast, i think it was made out of pancake batter instead of bread. If you like local food and want something different than Anna Millers or Ihop you will appreciate this place.
(5)Kalani H.
The hamberger steak and breaded pork chops was killa. Gotta try the garlic chicken!
(5)Mama N.
Definitely worth a trip! I guess I never tried it since it was just this kind of hole in the wall place. Thanks to yelp, reviews looked good and we wanted good food. Parking is limited, but we must have gone at the right time, found open spots! Tried the garlic chicken, roast pork and gravy, and fried noodles. All really good! Even the little one enjoyed the roast pork and gravy (and he never likes it)! Put this one on your list.
(4)Wendy G.
First time eating here and I am absolutely satisfied. Ordered the egg with cheeseburger deluxe and garlic chicken and my gf got the forty niner bento. We loved everything about this place. Food, service and comfort vibe.
(5)Eric L.
Nice little cozy place to eat. The stafff is really nice and they recognize you after multiple times u go
(4)Colette A.
John and I had lunch today at the 49er Diner in Aiea. It is so nice that these places still exist in Hawaii. Reminds us of the Hawaii from many years ago before all of the development. Really good food, lots of it (had to take home doggy bag) and priced right. Family atmosphere. It has been ten years since we ate their but we will visit this place much more often.
(5)Joann N.
We stopped in one afternoon to get out of traffic deadlock. Also, I wanted to try it out after reading the reviews on yelp! The food is very good and the service is great. I ordered the garlic chicken and it was very good. My water glass was never empty as our waitress made sure it was topped off frequently. She was very sweet taking time to talk story with all the customers. Dessert was a fried brownie a la mode shared. No way could I have ever eaten it alone unless it was ordered instead of dinner. Parking wasn't a problem but getting out during high traffic time wasn't easy. Just remember CASH ONLY and you will not be sorry. We will be back.
(5)Jake A.
Make sure to try a bowl of saimin and Teri burger delux
(4)John F.
Hands down the best place I've ever eaten in my life. My dad took me there when I was a kid. His dad took him when he was a child. When I grow up I'm gonna take my son there. And the food will continue to be amazing. Love the Saimin + Cheeseburger combo. Another is the Beef Cutlet with bread. Amazing, amazing food.
(5)Q. M. Z.
Was in Honolulu for 7 days. Ate here 4 times. The omelettes, loco moco, and other breakfast items were awesome...especially the loco moco and the spam fried rice. The regular Saimin and the regular pancakes were fairly standard. Can't beat the local neighborhood atmosphere and service though. Highly recommended if you're ever in this area.
(5)Les U.
I first went there with my parents over 40 years ago. I still remember the bowling machine. Funny that you could pick up a 7-10 split by rolling the ball exactly down the center. My dad wanted to go there to eat saimin. Last year, I took my wife and kids for the first time. They got a kick out of the restroom sign leading outside. I told them it was the tree back across the grass. Anyway, the saimin was every good as I remembered it. That Chagami recipe is still there. I also had a hamburger deluxe with mayo/mustard sauce, the local standard. One of my daughters had the special that day, garlic chicken. She didn't care to trade for my burger. I know some people say its not as good as before but I disagree. I think the old standards are still, although it may have evolved a little over the years. I will still get there at 10:30 to beat the lunch crowd.
(5)Jenny Z.
Today I had breakfast from Forty Niners. I used to love this place when I was a child. This was the first meal I've had from here in atleast 10 years. I ate the portuguese omelette with fried rice. The fried rice was yummy, one of the best I've ever tried. However, I only ate about 1/4 of my omelette because I kept biting down on something hard and crunchy in it. It wasn't eggshells, I think it actually was something in the sausage. So I was really disappointed, but thankful for my co-workers who picked up breakfast for me.
(2)Albert F.
I have always passed by this place on our way to Pearl Ridge or to grab some food at Pearl Kai, coming from town side. Recently I've heard people mention it, so it was fresh on my mind when we couldnt think of a place to eat on a lazy Saturday night in the Aiea/Pearl City area.. An unusual place, you can tell its been around for awhile with the soda fountain counters and odd dining area, but it is fairly clean. We were greeted and handed some menus that had seen some use. Everything they had to offer fit on a single menu page. The first thing I noticed was how cheap everything was! $2.95 for a burger? $7 for fried saimin? This place is like Hungry Lion circa 1993! My wife ordered the egg burger, I had the fried noodles with garlic chicken, and we ordered a hamburger for our daughter. The fried noodles were okay. My daughters hamburger was about the size of her head. My wife loved her egg topped burger. Will return again.
(4)Al F.
I've been here a couple of times nice good foods, nice people, specially Auntie Jenny. Gotta try their Forty Niner Special Breakfast.
(4)Mad G.
Was very cheap for lunch and the BBQ chicken was awesome!
(5)Michael B.
I eat here regularly. The food is great and the family is like your own ohana. Don't expect formality. Take the place for what it is. Good food. Good value. Good people. Good fun.
(5)Vickie N.
We were pressed for time and had 20-30 minutes to eat and run to a show that was taking place just down the road at Leeward Community College. Pulled off the road to this hole in the wall dive. My hub LOVED the name of this joint, being the crazy Niners fan that he is... Note that the restaurant has two swinging door entrances. One leads to the cash register and kitchen area where there is very limited bar seating. The other door opens to the rest of the dining area. We went at around 7:30 PM on a Saturday night and the server said she didn't know why the place was suddenly teeming with customers because it had been a pretty slow day. The menu beckons with lots of choices-- it's a meat lover's paradise. My hub got the Forty Niner mixed plate that provides a sampling of all the stuff that makes this place famous: garlic chicken, spam, bbq beef, furikake over rice, and grilled salmon. He ate everything except the salmon which he gave to me and thought everything was flippin' awesome. The salmon, truthfully, was pretty darn dry, but not inedible. I ordered the banana macadamia nut pancakes (brekkie for dinner, gotta love it!). Thank GOD I ordered it with the syrup and nuts on the side... otherwise, you'll find that your cakes are drowning in the stuff. Sweet 'n buttery and they went down easy; not surprisingly, I could only finish half the stack. Hub was very happy with his and insisted on buying a T-shirt. Service was outstanding. We sat in front of the kitchen and more than a few times, the cook glanced up and gave us a warm, welcoming grin.
(4)Jack T.
When I get ono for Beef Cutlet, Forty Niner's is the only place I go. It is the best, no breading on the beef. The saimin and burgers are old school kine. And just about everything on the menu is good.
(5)CHRISTY M.
went here based on the prior yelp reviews...had the cheeseburger with fries and hubby had the pork chop plate special. Super yummy. Fries were crispyand the burger was fresh. Hubby said the pork chops were 'money'. One woman works all the tables and the counter and does a GREAT job. I would def go back and really want to try the breaki next time!
(4)Chad G.
Small, good service, homely, everything on the menu is good when you order it. Local food is there game, coca cola is there soda. Looks like there location has alot of history.
(4)Saane M.
After an early morning appointment, my brother took me to this place. I ordered pancakes (w/haupia sauce) and it wasn't bad. What I really did enjoy was the corn beef hash...mmmmmm....creamy and soooo tasty! I'd like to go back one day to try out some other stuff on the menu... I do think this place could use a little spring cleaning though. When the table we sat at finally got wiped down, it was wiped with a really dirty looking towel with no soap suds. I had to ignore the fact that our table was smeared with left over food and grease so that I could actually eat. However, the waitress was really friendly=)
(3)Cale G.
Great food but parking isn't great at all, looks abandoned and old, and is a bit pricy but the food makes up for it.
(3)Robin W.
Talk about a hole in the wall. My uncle took us to this restaruant and driving up to it, I didn't even realize it was an open establishment. However once you get inside the staff is very kind and filled with the aloha spirit. The coconut haupia macadamia nut pancakes were delicious. Now I do not like breakfast foods, but I actually had some of these tasty pancakes. They were so sweet and desert like that I forgot it was a breakfast item. I actually ordered french fries which were quite tasty and fresh, so good thing there. Also that they make lunch items at breakfast time is always a plus. The waitress we had was a joy, she gave me a hard time about toast but it was all in good fun. They make you feel like family here and I really enjoyed it. It was very unpretentious and enjoyable. I would definitely go back and order more off of their menu. You can also buy shirts and hats if you feel like it, which I thought was cool for such a small diner. Parking did not seem very convenient. There were only three spaces on the hill beside the restaurant, so I'm not sure where everyone else parked.
(4)Ashley A.
Ono breakfast. Great staff!
(5)Travis M.
One of the best places to eat hamburger steak. Got to say the menu is better with the new owners. Tried the roast pork and that was also good. Garlic chicken had too much garlic when I had it. Would normally make this 4 stars, but if you try their hamburger steak, thats all I normally get when i come here.
(5)Todd T.
I don't know if you saw on the tasty island blog recently, but they get one mean pic of a teri burger from 49er. That is one of the most beautiful teri burgers I ever seen. I ate here long time ago and everything was ono. Good memories. Made me wonder if this is the best teri burger on the island. I gotta try em and then I going update this rating from where stay now. Update...just at the teri burger about 15 minutes ago. Dang it was ono tender juicy full of flavors. One of the best I've had. I also ordered the fried rice and that was ono too flavorful and just enough meat inside. Huge mound of fried rice for only $4.25. I going eat here more often.
(5)Waynele Y.
this building has been here forever and have always wanted to try it. sadly, we didn't make it in time to dine when it was own by the original owners. forty niner has reopened, and i'm sure it's not as rustic as it used to be and i'm not sure if the food is just as good, but i liked it despite the waitstaff being a little disorganized. we had a side of fried rice and the bento. the fried rice was really good local style (as opposed to chinese) fried rice. very flavorful, but not oily. the bento was good too. it came with garlic chicken, bbq beef, spam, and fish--i would say i enjoyed it more than a zip pac. we sat at the counter so we watched everyone's order come out of the kitchen, the teri burger and saimin seem to be favorites. maybe next time we can brave up to the saimin--there's no AC in here, and I was already sweating and we weren't even eating anything hot. speaking of which, next time, i need to remember to wear longer shorts. the back of my thighs still hurt from pulling my sticky self from the pleather stool!
(4)Susan F.
this place is great, especially for those living on the west side/central, because its in aiea. They have a 49er special that has fried rice, two eggs and choice of breakfast meat for 4.95, not bad. But, they also have specails written on their board that can range from ahi belly to adobo omelette. Also, they have a version of boots and kimos mac nut pancake with sauce and everything that tastes really close to the original, for only 6 dollers short stack. but the size of the pancakes are huge. They also have really good service, and are rarely busy/crowded, never seen a line there or the place packed to full capacity. there is a bar area where they serve you food, and then there's a seperate room thats sit down dining. some mornings, especially on the weekdays they dont open the dining area just the bar, but if you ask they might open dining for you (we've done that a couple of times). P.S. dont go to the forty niner, i want it to remain my secret breakfast spot, uncrowded and low prices, HAHAHAHA!!
(4)Bryce K.
when my friend told me this place was open, i thought he was joking. i've passed by this place for years and only twice saw it open. and when it was, it was crowded. so, after many years, i finally stepped foot into this establishment. it was a good choice. the plates are not cheap, but the prices are reasonable. also, the portions are good. the four of us are pretty big eaters, but we did not leave hungry. great deal.
(4)Antoinette T.
passed this restaurant almost everyday and always talked about trying it but never got around to it, until this past week. We sat at the counter because it was packed at lunchtime and the few empty stools next to us filled up before we even took a breath. I ordered the garlic chicken plate but it was sold out, then i ordered a teri burger and a float, but the floats weren't there yet, and on my way out I asked for a take-out menu and they were out of those too. I guess its all part of being a newly re-opened restaurant, they have a few kinks to work out. However, the staff was very friendly and the food was tasty and very cheap. And since they were out of garlic chicken when I ordered it at only 11:30am, I have to assume its really good so I'll be back to check that out later. They are open for breakfast and lunch, but close at 2pm and re-open at 5pm for dinner. There is a small lot adjacent to the restaurant but it only holds about 5 cars. Look for street parking on the side streets if its packed when you get there.
(4)Jon L.
DANK. I love the dingy exterior, and the WWII diner style interior. Heck, it was probably built in the 40's. The place serves a variety of things, and I had the oxtail soup. DANK. The cilantro and ginger were on point. Wow. Fast, close to my work, and o.g. flavor. Parking is crappy but you can luck out with a spot. Or park across the street where the dixie grill and go banana's is.
(4)Jason H.
Oxtail soup is so delicious! Reminds me of my grandmas! Way better than any Place I ever tried!
(5)Karl K.
Talk about a "throw-back" from the distant past! I had heard about Forty Niner prior to moving to Oahu in the late '60s. I was under the mistaken impression that the original owners were San Francisco 49er fans, but I later learned that the name wa derived from the desire that Hawaii would become the 49th state of the USA.. Do you remember the 49th State record label that released the Hawaiian music by artists like "Auntie" Genoa Keawe, Johnny Alameida, and "Uncle" Bill Lincoln? I missed the boat the first time around when the two guys who started it after World War II retired. Damn, I had passed this non-descript "dive," a hole-in-the-wall "classic" thousands of time. But, wait, a reprieve was in store for us all when the new owners stepped in. The word was out that the tradition would continue. Since I had never stepped foot in there during its previous incarnation, I have no recollection of what the food tasted like. I can only say that based on the things I've ordered (saimin, hamburgers, hamburger steak, roast pork, and teri beef), it's good, damned good. If it was better in the old days, then HOLY ****, I really missed out! The parking sucks, the place is old, and it's off the main drag. But, those "deficiencies" somehow contribute to the "charm" of the establishment - I'm a big fan of "comfort food." It's at a level that foie gras and other "hoity-toity" cuisine cannot even begin to approach. Especially when it's time to "grind," not "dine."
(5)Roy U.
For dinner we had pancakes, fried saimin with garlic chicken, cheeseburger and fries...everything was so delicious and the staff was so helpful!!! We'll definately come back to try their chicken and waffles!!!
(4)Noe M.
Family atmosphere is nice. Hamburger Steak w/onions is my fav! Fried Saimin and Garlic Chicken is Winnahz!
(4)Boki C.
I love this place. The family is so nice & friendly. I love mom & pop diners. Food is great, portions are huge. Ambiance is excellent. I want to become a regular! ~~ edit 05/17/10 after eating boots & kimo (boo) i felt that i had to update this review, that obviously doesn't do it justice. so since my review, i've probably been here i dunno at least a dozen times. i HAVE become a regular. i usually go on sundays & bring my guests when they r in town. the family is super nice & cool. i stand firm on my comment about the ambiance. the 49er pancakes are the best thing since fluoridated water =) hehehe. they are banana pancakes w/ their aweome haupia sauce & mac nuts sprinkley on top. portions are huge, prices are GREAT! i really love this place.. and their coffee is awesome, ordinary, but brewed JUST right! i pretty much only drink "regular" coffee here, otherwise i gotta do do the starbucksy/latte style goodness. i fear that after ppl realize how amazing this place is, it's gonna get so busy & i won't get to talk story with the fam during breakfast! heheh
(5)George T.
Had the fried rice to go for breakfast. IT was very good. Always a friendly staff and will remember most people once you visit the first time.
(4)Lara L.
A good restaurant....i grew up eating the burgers and saimin. There has been several owners. The newest owners keep it as good as the original. Local favorite for sure.
(4)Geno D.
I bought my wife the deluxe cheesburger and she loved it. The fries were ok and the bento box left me wanting more due to the small portions.
(3)Marlene F.
We came here on a whim while doing some shopping. I didn't know what to expect since I had never heard of this place before. They have reasonable prices and the meal selection is great! I had the egg and cheese burger with fries. It was really good! I recommend this place to anyone out there looking for a nice meal that won't put a whole in your wallet.
(4)