Downbeat is always a fun place to go when you're downtown. It has vegan and vegetarian options for everything--I believe it's also gluten-free friendly. They have a wide selection of bottled beer and fun cocktails to choose from. The veggie burger is bomb and the salads are super fresh. The atmosphere is chill/retro and they always have live music action going on later in the evenings. The waitresses work very hard and are super friendly and helpful.
(5)
Alicia T.
The food is good. The vibe is fun. The staff is okay. The wait is usually long for some reason no reason At all. Late afternoon no one there and still takes a good while to get food.
(3)
Matthew N.
I'd wanted to try Downbeat for a while now, but never had the time. For those of you keeping score, that's a bit of ironic foreshadowing. As part of the TEDxHonolulu event, attendees were given colored lunch coupons that were good for some grub at Chinatown eateries. When my lunch companion and I both got blue tickets, redeemable at Downbeat, I thought that the Universe was finally aligning for me to experience its splendor. Blue, after all, is my color. The ironic foreshadowing, it builds. Had I visited this place in my pre-vegan days, it's likely I would have enjoyed the food. It's classic burger joint fare, and although there are vegetarian options (the Avo Sammy, the BLAT), this is the kind of place you go to if you're hankering for something to eat that used to walk, not sprout. There was a cheesy 80s movie on the television, streaming from Netflix, and when I saw the naked rear of some lithe blonde B-movie actress, I suspected the Universe had just punk'd me. I ordered seasoned curly fries and a Diet Coke at 1:15pm. My companion ordered a salad and a water. At 2:05pm, we'd both gotten our drinks and that's about it. Although, because we were seated near the kitchen, we got to hear the wonderfully snide comments the waitstaff made about certain customers. So I guess that's a bonus. I had to get back to the event, so suffice it to say that I left without being able to adequately judge the food or its value since, in reality, I got neither food nor value. Which, since I was paying with a slip of blue paper, probably was appropriate.
(1)
Sierra A.
As far as downbeat goes, its always a coin toss when it comes to service. I've been there when its been excellent service; smiling waitresses, food comes in a timely fashion, and its delicious. Then there's the flip side, unfriendly servers, waiting up to 25+ minutes for food, all around mediocre service. If it weren't for my constant cravings for the western burger and Downbeats awesome hours, I would probably have forgone this place awhile ago.. But the burgers keep me coming back.
(3)
Jeffery A.
I am so flustered by this place... Here you have a 'Mad Men'esk place with such a cool vibe. High backed booths with the images of music icons, & related personalities laminated on them (appeared to be Hendrix, Billy Idol?, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Howard Stern amongst others) wrapped in thick plastic like your grandma's couch. The high back smacks of slacker, drug dealer (think...Serpico), or revolutionaries (think Che and Fidel in Mexico, plotting...) but the thick wrapper reminds me of "get your feet off the couch"? The music is the main grab for me 60's and 70's Stones, Hendrix, Doors, you know... "I found an island in your arms, A country in your eyes, Arms that chain, Eyes that lie, Break on through to the other side, come on, break on through to the other side..." that was and is music! Atmosphere big plus! Our server Kat was timely and gracious, offering plenty of coffee (Yuban by the taste), creamer (half/half) served up in a small stainless steal container, not the individual prepackaged portions. Food delivered prompt, wonderful eye contact and a pleasing demeanor (not hard on the eye either). Plenty of seating and not, surprisingly, that hipster, wifi mooching, Fresh Cafe crowd, (guess they haven't migrated this far yet), but an older more dressed for success, business is next, bunch (Republicanish, if that is a word?). Contradiction to follow... We ordered Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs (add cheddar cheese/$1.50), brown rice, wheat toast. Let me stop here for just a moment (and here is why you lose a star, or part of the reason, man, I hope you guys read your reviews, cause I really like your place and this is a must for me and my crew!) GET WHITE RICE ON YOUR MENU! This is Hawaii! You are located in Chinatown! Brown rice (my and mines opinion) SUCKS! I know it healthier, but usually the same people who are asking for brown rice are sucking down Diet soda left and right, and take it from a former diet soda addict, nothing in this world is worse for you than diet soda...you just gotta trust me on that one (lost 65 lbs in six months/ work out 20min/twice a day, cold turkey diet soda, add fiber, lots of water, and 40 to 29 inseam with very little loose skin... I mean very little...vanity time...check my pic's) We also shared a bacon, mushroom and avocado omlt. with whole wheat. All food was tasty, but these are things that are hard to rave about, being as they are common items that can only be criticized if done poorly. Food was good, sausage crispy on outside, juicy with that little 'pop' when bitten into. The only other problem I might mention is their opening time, 11am. It would be nice to have a breakfast place in Chinatown that opens early and stays open late, but I think, me asks to much. On a final note, as I consumed way to much coffee, I found it necessary to visit their facilities (clean and well stocked, useful?). I had noticed that sometime after our arrival, one by one, a (how should I put this) 'slacker wannabe?' crowd had began to migrate up to the bar (the cool zone, again, useful?) area for assorted drinks, presumably nonalcoholic. Maybe the 'hipsters' found Downbeat before me? Downbeat is locate next to Lucky Belly just off Hotel and Smith (useful points?) So if you ever walk in and you see a beatdown looking couple just drinking coffee at one of the booths, and you hear the guy, looking like Tim Roth say, "Garçon! More coffee!" and if the lovely Kat approaches the table and replies, " Garçon means boy." You had better vacate, cause the next line is gonna be, "Everybody be cool! This is a robbery!" And when the female, looking like Amanda Plummer jumps up on grandma's plastic covered seat and screens, "Any of you f'in pricks moves, I'll execute every motherf'in last one of you!" Yeah, it's that kinda cool! Wish I could be there to see it unfold but first, you just gotta get some rice, K.
(4)
Mathelda W.
Excellent food... Excellent service! Would love to dine here again. The atmosphere was so relaxed great music... Our waitress Roxanne rocks!
(3)
Satoru Y.
Good downtown diner open late. One of the go-to places in the area. Been here more times than I can remember. Living in the area, this place is a pretty good option. The place is pretty accessible, and seems to be doing well. It's great to see both Lucky Belly and this place thriving. I hope more successful places ate to come. The staff is friendly. I love the post punk feel of the place. The food is standard diner fare, but has a noticeable selection of vegetarian options. Some of my veggie friends like come here. Everyone loves the Monte Cristo sandwich here (french toast ham cheese), and for good reason: delicious. I love the Pesto Chicken and Reuben. Also, who doesn't love a good Club Sandwich? I'm not a big fan of their burgers though. Had the lot of them, and just didn't seem like they had enough flavor to them. They weren't bland, but just didn't taste great. I do like their Loco Mocos though: Mega Moco it when you can. Those are delicious; the gravy is good. One of the specialty nights I like are Taco Tuesdays. You can get 2 tacos for $6: Beef or Black Bean. They also have good Won Ton Nachos for that day only. Cheap Tecates that day too. Good hipster diner to grab a bite.
(3)
Caleb S.
All I got to say about this place is that the Loco Moco is the best I've ever had in my whole life! And if you haven't tried it yet, you have no idea what you're missing out on!
(5)
Samantha K.
Food was good as always... service could be a bit better. I really do like this place, it has a fun vibe and it's "always" open. With that said, they were slammed on Sunday evening and seating was only available at the bar. I understand being busy and no open booths, so we opted to sit at the bar. However, seating opened up and typically, (at other restaurants anyway, they ask you to close out to move to a table), which is what we asked if they would be willing to let us move to the booth so we can be more comfortable and better conversation. They were very unaccommodating and noted that she had already put our order in, she would HAVE TO cancel our order and then we'd have to re-order the food from the server -- oh, and the best part was that we'll most likely not get our food in until later if that's the case because our server at the table has a lot more orders... Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed...
(3)
Alice A.
Good food at the diner. Nicely priced drinks at the bar. Great bar service. Good music. I will definitely return.
(5)
Chris H.
First time there today. Food was quite amazing! Only downbeat was the bench seat second on the left when you walk in the door. Fix it, the waitress said it had been a problem. So.... minus that the Ruben sandwich was top notch.
(4)
Patrick S.
Wish I could give a 4.5 but I can't. First off, the food they offer is pretty good. I had the Western burger with a vegan patty and vegan bacon. Had it with the add-on fries and it's nice you get 3 options to choose from. I had the garlic fries. They also have cajun and one other type but I don't remember. Once I heard garlic...i interrupted and said YUP! Garlic it is! As for the burger it was pretty tasty and decent on size. I really like how you can get vegan proteins for a lot of their menu items (vegan burgers, ham, bacon, chicken) and substitute without any price increase. The garlic fries are intense but good. They aren't chintzy with the garlic so it's real garlicky. I still enjoyed it but my mouth/throat reeked of garlic all night. Had a milkshake for dessert. They have many unique flavors to choose from and they are cool with mixing it up. I had a chocolate/peanut butter one and it was GOOD! The negatives I have are the lack of parking and the menu is somewhat limited. This place is in chinatown...so any establishment in this area doesn't have good parking. It is what it is...but if you are in the area bar-hopping or live in downtown this is a good spot to check out. Their menu mainly consists of breakfast and sandwiches/burgers. They have a pretty good selection on sandwiches, could use a few more burger options (like a teri burger?). But I hope they expand more into dinner entrees where you don't have to use your hands to eat or might want something more with like rice or mash potatoes. Like meatloaf, bbq chicken, or some pastas (all which I hope they'd still have vegan/vegi versions). Overall it's a pretty cool spot and with their vegan options it's definitely a place I'll still hit up every once in awhile.
(4)
Jake M.
This place is great when you want a bite in Chinatown. The restaurant is clean, the staff is fun, and the overall vibe in the place is nice. I like Downbeat because it's multi-purpose. I can meet a friend or have a meeting for lunch and the place is pretty tame, or I can grab a drunken bite at night with my friends and talk story with the colorful crowd that seems to be in there every night. They also just opened up a bar in the annex next door which will feature The food is mostly what you'd expect from a greasy spoon. Burgers, sandwiches and the like. They also have vegetarian/vegan fare and options. I'm a carnivore, but my nibbler friends tell me that the vegan wings are pretty tasty. That said, I find the salads pretty plain. I love the buffalo chicken sandwich and the green eggs + ham. I'm not a fan of the french toast/monte cristo because of the sweet bread they use. Too greasy for me. The booths in this kitsch diner are black, white and red; feature portraits of pop culture icons inlaid with interesting patterns; and each pair can seat 4-6 (or maybe more if you're skinny/friendly) There's a jukebox, but the staff's Pandora stations are usually what I'd want to listen to anyway. The restaurant also screens movies and surf/skate videos on their television/wall projector. These often coordinate with drink specials on certain nights of the week, like Whiskey and Western Wednesdays. Downbeat is my go to for drink night grinds!
(5)
Deborah L.
Great food, original menu items. The nachos were simply addictive: the roasted salsa had a bite but was excellent. The Greek salad had the freshest greens; my sister didn't leave anything on her plate! The brownie sundae was good, although the edges were burnt. The service was outstanding. My mother, sister, and I were traveling together. We ventured into that area but I definitely would avoid it after dark.
(4)
Stewart C.
Affordable, and Awesome. My wife and I dropped in after dinner in Chinatown for dessert and drinks. Dessert was very delicious, and the drinks were done very well, with good ingredients. The overall quality of drink and food exceeded what we have been getting in other locations in Honolulu, while costing less. It's not, from what I can tell a tourist destination. The neighborhood isn't that great. It seems to me that there is some really great foodie type places on the gentrifying edge of Chinatown, where young student types who really care about food are maintaining profit by having cheap leases, rather than gouging their customers. Oh, and service was good. The waitress knew everything about the menu, how stuff was made and what was in it. She was friendly, and also gave us advice about food and coffee in Honolulu.
(5)
Dani K.
Came back for a second try hoping it was amazing as the first, ordered the vegan chili fries which hardly had any chili and NO MORE FRITTERS!! I was completely disappointed.
(3)
Jules F.
So many good things I don't know where to start. 1. Great tasting food (this seems as good a place to start as any.) 2. Cozy atmosphere, I love the booths. 3. Friendly waitstaff who are eager to please 4. Really interesting variety of foods with all kinds of unique substitutions (friendly for vegetarian, vegan, etc.) 5. Near all the fun stuff you want to be doing in Chinatown. How near? Across the street from Hotel 39 and Bar 35, so like, almost touching. A 2 block walk from Du Vin and Bambu 2.
(5)
Sarah J.
Ah downbeat diner, where do I begin. I usually come here when I have a huge chunk of time between class and something else in the downtown/chinatown area. It's not too pricey and the food is amazing. Why not 5 stars if the food is amazing? The service is alright. They're nice and informative but if you don't look "hipster" enough they don't give you the time of day. The last time I went in I sat down, ordered the usual with a different group of friends then I normally come with. Took us 20 minutes to get water and an hour to get our food. I wouldn't mind if they were busy but it was us and 3 other parties in the diner and they all got checked up on, told that their food would be right out and they even received their food before we did. I wasn't too upset about it but still I tip based on service, usually I tip 35-45% but this time I had to go for 20, and this particular waitress knows I give sizeable tips. I went back today with more of a "hipster" crowd and I received my water before I ordered and my food in 15 minutes. Why still 4 stars? The ambiance/atmosphere is cool, they have very cool booths with famous people's portraits on them. Their happy hour specials are amazing and even though their service varies their waitresses/barbacks are pretty awesome. P.s. If you're a vegan/vegetarian, try the teriyaki veggie burger, it'll rock your socks off.
(4)
Jess G.
My husband and I stumbled upon this place while looking for a bite to eat when we were in Honolulu. I eat dairy free and vegan when possible, so I use the app happy cow to help find dairy free/vegan options while traveling. I had the Cajun chicken wrap with vegan ranch, it was delicious, drink were tasty and the vibe and music was awesome. My husband had the moco and fell in love with local dish. When we come back to Honolulu we will definitely come back and I will recommend this place to any friends that are traveling to Honolulu as well.
(5)
Patrick B.
I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time. The reviews made my mouth water with anticipation. Sorry to say but nothing special, in fact it was below par for quality and service. I ordered a basic hamburger with cheese and fries. How better to evaluate a dinner. I stopped in at 1pm, 4 other patrons in 3 booths, bar stools full. Service was ok not great not bad but ok. My burger came out well done (why?) and the bun was burned (black not toasted brown) inside and outside. I don't know what happened to the curly fries but mine were the common everyday frozen fries that were fried until they were almost crisp. Burger, fries and a glass of water came to $12. With all of the good burger places out there to choose from this was not one of them. Now maybe at 2am after partying hard I may rate this different but sober and for lunch, ehh. I was underwhelmed and disappointed.
(2)
Kim C.
The Things I Do For Food Hip diner serving tasty food and great desserts. Situated in a shady part of China town so make sure your on your toes. If you have kids go when the sun is up. Make sure you have ample time to get back to your car before the sunsets. Because of Yelp I found some fantastic places that I would have never tasted. Yet on a few occasions I follow it with eyes closed and my taste buds leading the way. Not to bad if it was just me and my hubby. But we usually venture out with our baby and 7 year old child. My first time at Downbeat Diner was one of those instances. The food here is amazeballs! Tried the volcano fries. The Otto Moco. Similar to a loco moco but with chicken or vegan instead of beef. Drinked the spiked strawberry lemonade. You'll enjoy it if you like strawberry lemonade. The dessert's serve cheesecake from Otto Cakes. One of the major reasons I ended up here in the sketchy town of China town, at night, with kids. Don't worry I have pepper spray handy. My son got a sundae and my hubby got got the mac nut brownie. This thing is humongous. It's a brownie sandwich, ice cream in the middle, with your usual sundae items decorating it. I took turns eating my husbands dessert and mine. Two scoops of yours and one scoop of mine. Yes, that's how I roll. When we got there the bartender greeted us quickly, chit chatted with us even though she had a full bar (she was the only worker) and the food came out a decent time. Portion sizes are good and the prices are very affordable. Yelp challenge 365: 21/365
(4)
Doris D.
I usually reserve my 1-star rating for vermin infested places. While Downbeat is clean, the food here warrants this 1-star because it is atrocious. I came here on a Sunday morning hoping for a decent diner breakfast. The coffee was promising. Then we got down to the food. I got the waffle ($6.50) with a side of sausage ($3). The waffle was the worst waffle I have ever eaten in my entire life. I took one bite and literally had to spit it out. The waffle tasted like raw dough, bland, and super dense. My husband took a bite and confirmed this. The waffle was merely sprinkled with powdered sugar and did not even come with buffer. Not only did it taste like mattress foam, it was also a sorry sight. The sausage was literally 6 thin slices of Portuguese sausage and an oily mess. My husband's loco moco was equally sorry. The brown rice was undercooked (unless al dente brown rice is now a thing, the rice was terrible), the hamburger patty was burnt black on the edges (not a pleasant BBQ burnt but like something went wrong burnt), the gravy was god awful bland and thin. While some folks dig this place, I have noticed that these same people come here after a drunken evening out. In the light of day, however, the food is less than desirable.
(1)
Javert M.
Great place to dine when going out with a mixed party of vegan/vegetarian and carnivore folk. Prices are reasonable and service has been prompt and friendly at least on my three visits so far. They are open into the wee hours till as late as 4am which is a good thing because this is one of the few eateries open this late that have vegan/vegetarian options. My favs are the seasoned fries, vegan wings, and the fact that they have Swiss inn dressing. The vegan wings are quite decadent seems to be deep fried seitan on wooden skewers so they somewhat resemble wings. Only downside is parking but that's not a big deal if you already live or work in Chinatown or if you go late nite as street parking is relatively easy to find. This place definitely does have a hipster vibe to it but the crowd is usually quite diverse. One last note... while there are some healthy options on the menu this place is still a diner which has the magical ability to turn vegan/vegetarian food into a fast food junkies dream come true.
(4)
Melissa O.
Late night adult milkshakes? who knew... so fun!
(4)
David S.
My wife and I stopped here on a whim. The menu is basic diner fare but with vegan options which was interesting, although we are not vegans so it didn't matter to us. I had the Club Sandwich and my wife had the Pastrami Reuben. Both were good, and were pretty large sandwiches (both of us only ate half and took the other half home). My favorite thing from the meal was their Cajun Spiced Fries! Great flavor and just the right heat! The main complaint seems to be service, but we got there when it was very empty, so we did not have a problem.
(4)
Kalae P.
AHmazing find in Chinatown! Read on for my full experience at one of the greatest places (for many reasons) I was taken to eat at 2am in the morning.. Summary: Downbeat Diner and Lounge is a great place for that comfort taste and feel, a full cultural experience is what I got. The detailed, grungy-rock bar interior design contrasted by the vibrancy of people here is a great memory. The food is beyond exquisite when you are ready to chow down. Give your taste buddies and your wallet something I'm sure they will enjoy! Here's the story: It was a long day of drinking (14 hours to be exact). From an Aloha Stadium UH Football game to one of Chinatown's Halloween events, me and my partner-in-"crime" somehow made it to Downbeat Diner and Lounge around 2am. First thoughts as I stepped foot into the eatery's establishment, "dark look, but vibrant people, awesome design, and the food is smelling great!" There was a 15 minute wait, but it was definitely worth it! My eyes grazing around the menu, everything would have satisfied my appetite (and I would have ordered everything if I could have). I chose wisely and ordered 'The Carnivore', which was a meat-packed burger accompanied with either fries or a salad. The taste was there, and needless to say I devoured every last bite. I left Downbeat that night fully satisfied with my experience, and the place left me wanting more. I will be back to try every last option on that menu!
(5)
Shay F.
Looking at the reviews it looks like if you're thrilled about the vegan option, you're liking it. If you could care less about the vegan option, you're NOT liking this place. LoL. So, obviously from my 4 stars, you can tell I like the place...of course, because of the vegan option. They have vegan burgers and vegan chicken...and they even have the option of using vegan cheese if you would like. I'm just happy to find a place that gives this option. It should be like this in EVERY restaurant. LoL. I got the Western Burger fully vegan and it wasn't bad at all. It was packed with flavor! I also got the apple fritters which reminded me of Disneyland. That happy, carnival-y flavor and smell. Yum. Yelp 365 Challenge #38/365
(4)
K L.
I will not be returning here. Ever. The food was so-so. This review is based largely off of the service. Came here with a friend and this seemed to be the only place open late on a Monday night. We walk in and there's nobody inside. It seems the staff have some friends visiting, no matter to me. My friend and I aren't greeted or seated. So we sit and chat awhile. Lucky for us there are already menus on the table, otherwise I don't know if we would have gotten them. Over 5 minutes have passed and for whatever reason, we still haven't been greeted or offered any drinks. My friend and I start wondering if we are not welcome and whether or not to leave, but we are starving and couldn't find anyplace else nearby to eat. The waiter finally stops by and takes our order. He's super unfriendly. We put in a pretty decent order, including cocktails, main courses, and desserts for each of us. The food was very whatever. As was my cocktail. And I was never offered a refill after it was finished. I should have gone with my senses when I felt that my friend and I were unwelcome. Too bad my hunger was encouraging me otherwise. I won't be supporting this place again.
(1)
Casey O.
What's better than being a little tipsy and walking out of a bar/lounge/club feeling good? Finding a diner right next door. Great Saturday night at Manifest and was feeling hungry, heard decent things about Downbeat so decided to give it a go. The waiter wasn't super friendly, not to say he was rude, but I'm sure he's just used to dealing with drunken idiots at 2 in the morning...I will give him mad props for quickly bringing us all water, much needed and appreciated. Onto the food!!! 2 people got the volcano fries, 1 went with the jalapeno poppers, and I went with the bacon and avocado omelette. I'll break down each of them since I tried them all. Jalapeno Poppers - Looked and tasted like the frozen kind you can get anywhere, nothing special about these. Plus, they gave a somewhat measly amount of them. 8 if I remember correctly. Volcano Fries - From how they looked in some Yelp pics, I was expecting more gravy and cheese. They were covered in this cajun seasoning and garlic. Some cheese and some gravy, though not nearly as much as needed by hungry folk. Fries were tasty but somewhat forgettable because the gravy was a little lacking in flavor as well, not very wholesome like gravy should be. Bacon and Avocado Omelette - Figured I would try and go with some protein to fill me up. The avocado was fresh and there was a good amount of bacon. The toast was covered with this butter like spread, wasn't a big fan, didn't taste like anything and just greased up the toast. Overall, the omelette was good...but nothing I couldn't make at home. Man, I was really hoping for more from this place. Everything seemed to be a little lacking. Like if they put a little more effort in, it could be great drunk food haha. But alas, this visit just wasn't in our favor I guess. I shall look for another half drunken eatery near Chinatown in the future. Though yes, somewhat better than Zippy's because it's way cheaper and closer.
(2)
Juliann C.
For the food ~ nothing special really. Typical diner foods. But then again I ordered ordinary things like fries, grilled cheese, and jalapeno poppers. The Good: *The decor is beautiful, it's what attracted me in the first place *It is kinda the one restaurant/diner in downtown in the middle of all the bars -- convenient location if you're just galloping around downtown *Service was great :) the girl that works there is too cute The Bad: *Nothing special about the food The Weird: *They definitely need better quality TVs, it was just so bad watching Dark Knight in bad quality! I honestly would have given this place only 2 stars, but I'll give it a three since the interior is nice :) I'll probably visit again and update my review.
(3)
Matthew A.
Good drinks...came early after Mexican food around da corner....they're doing DJ muzak tonite (wed), but have live bands Tues, Thurs, Fri, & Sat....they also serve Pabst blue ribbon and bacon for only $7...
(4)
Sam K.
Walk into this place on Sunday for a quick lunch. I ordered a Reuben sandwich with pastrami, it is very tasty. My wife ordered a Loco Moco; it is a little different from most local versions. Lots of pepper and I think, Provence Herb. Taste pretty good.
(4)
Angela M.
Dear Downbeat Diner, I decided to become mostly vegan for health reasons. I decided to become mostly vegan for my heart and my mind, and to reverse the 3 decades of damage and abuse this body has endured. And it was going well. Until YOU. You with your hipster vibe and random movies playing on the wall, you with your black booths and peculiar patrons seated at the bar with pants that are too tight and belts that are too wide. You with your diner menu full of tantalizing burgers and shakes and fritters and fries that, by golly, can all be made VEGAN. You lure us in with your addictive buffalo wings, your scrumptious breakfast sandwich, your delicious teri burger and cheap Tecate Tuesdays and BAM, we're plant based fatties. You are the twisted and dark place where vegans can become obese. We find ourselves reveling in pure gluttony within your walls far too often, enticed by your lit windows and doors which remain open when everything else has closed, beckoning, calling, a beacon of light, a promise of warmth in the darkness. A promise that I will never fit my skinny jeans again. Is it your fault that I have gained some veggie poundage in the last month? YES. Yes it is. Your dark magical powers that produce not only edible, but incredible vegan fare are to blame. I am but a hapless victim, too weak to turn away. And I will see you soon. Certainly the morrow if not tonight. Damn it, I don't need to be thin. Sincerely, Angela
(4)
Thomas O.
Came back after a month to see what was going on. I'm glad to see they're doing quite well with plenty of customers...and plenty of servers? Come on, do we need more than 4 people hustlin'? Well maybe not so much hustlin' but more moseyin', because it seemed like things took a little while. Riana S. and I were there for a hour when I know we coulda be in and out in 15 if we went to Liliha Bakery. Alas, it was close to Manifest where we were filming. Anyways, I gotta be frank here, I had to lower my review a star because of the prices. Oh my Jesus are they high. I never really realized. Because the times I came here I was either paying separately or came by myself. Well for two people, the tab came to $33. We had 2 burgers @ $9 ea. (no soggy fries this time) 2 vegan milkshakes @ $5 ea. (outrageous for the size and flavor) 1 order of Apple Fritters @ $5 (probably best purchase) I had the western burger and..it was well good. Nicely balanced bbq sauce, bacon, and onion. I want...no. I NEED onion rings with this. With bbq sauce for dipping. The shake was an Oreo Mint shake. Meh I could barely taste the mint and the oreo.
(3)
Mark W.
Great food. In town and was looking for some good comfort food. The tourist food was getting to me. Everything from breakfast to cheese fries to grilled cheeses was great. My wife had a salad that was the best so far I town at half the cost. Don't let the area fool you, this place is great. Park off bethel them walk down.
(5)
Jason D.
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute! Where have I been?!? This place is so darn good! This review is for lunch, so I'm not sure why the bad reviews. Anyway, my coworkers and I came here a little after 11, and they just opened up and I think we were the first ones there, fine by us. This place is located on Hotel Street, right across Bar 35 and next to Mini Garden. I haven't been to this area in a while, even though I work Downtown, which is why I probably never heard of this place, but thank goodness for Yelp! Walking into this place kinda felt like walking back in time. There design on the booths were really retroish cool and the jukebox playing take me back music was a nice touch. On to the food. If you go online and look at their menu, know that they have more food on the actual menu when you get there! So this would be my one wish - sync the menus, especially for those who have a time constraint for lunch and may be indecisive at times =) I ordered the chicken pesto sandwich and a chunky monkey milkshake. I swear if I wasn't at work, I would have added a shot to my milkshake, or try the Guiness milkshake. Oh well, next time. The pesto sandwich filled me up. The chicken wasn't dry at all and the toasted sourdough bread it came on wasn't oily at all. The milkshake was to die for and I seriously had a hard time staying up at work after. One of my coworkers had the teriyaki burger, which she said was really, really good. My other coworker had the buffalo chicken sandwich, which she enjoyed as well. Honestly, probably one of the better places we've had lunch at. Check this place out!
(5)
Amie P.
Haven't been here in forever, but I had to give it a review because I'm nostalgic! Happened by this diner when me and my sister were wandering around Chinatown looking for a bite to eat. Sister thought it looked interesting and I saw they had vegetarian options so we gave it a shot... No regrets!! THE best vegan meat I've had! My mouth waters thinking about their sandwiches. Especially their Buffalo Chicken sandwich! My sister, who is a total meatitarian even enjoyed the vegan options. Their shakes are pretty great, too (Chunky Monkey, specifically)...and UM! they have Otto's cheesecake! Gotta grab a slice up fast before they're sold out though! The diner has a great punk/retro vibe to it as well and plays some badass movies. During our stay in Honolulu, this was definitely one of our favorite go-to places. Try it out!
(5)
Bruce T.
We actually went twice the same night. We met up with our group there before hitting an event. Had nice drinks and some food... Me and a friend shared the chef salad (the most meat I have ever had in a salad LOL) and a avocado quesadilla. Both were tasty and went well with drinks. Service was awesome and pretty quick. Then we actually went again after the event for a late munchy. Short wait for a table (it was around 2am). This time around unfortunately the service, while our server was very nice, was super slow... I mean real slow. 30+ minutes for food to finally show. But again it was great (loco moco) but the experience was sub par. .. But it did not turn us off to the spot, assumed a bad night in the kitchen maybe.
(4)
Quyen N.
Oh my goodness! I'm so in love with Downbeat! I love the vegan options! The last time I was there, I went expressly for the vegan fritters, opted for the banana fritters per my dining partner's preference. Usually if I order a meal, I don't have room for dessert afterwards. So this time - just got the banana fritters and some appetizer fries with tahini gravy/sauce. The fritters were sizable - we could each eat only one - leftovers for me! On another note, If I weren't working and studying so hard, I'd be hitting up the diner during game night and movie night during the week. Just read that Downbeat is offering more mocktails and homemade sodas. Thanks for the great non-alcoholic drinks like ginger brew!
(4)
Alice D.
EXCELLENT service AND vegetarian fare at Downbeat. Waitress was super-attentive, refilling my Old-Fashioneds like they were going out of style. She was awesome, and even nursing a new tat. Food was stellar, and I've been veggie for 25 years (okay, the veggie ham WAS cheating - slices I find in produce, but everything else was STELLAR!). Rare find in Honolulu. Glad I Yelped this prior to visit.
(5)
Stephanie C.
This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I come here because they offer both meat and vegetarian/vegan options. FINALLY, a place where be both can enjoy a meal. Every time we've eaten here, there has been no left overs. I've tried their BLAT (vegan bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato on sourdough bread), pesto chicken (vegan chicken, pesto, lettuce, tomato, swiss cheese, onions, mayo on sourdough bread), avo sammy (avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber balsamic vinaigrette on whole wheat bread), the teriyaki and american burgers. Each of those with fries are about $10 and let's just say that I have not been let down yet! Last Saturday, my boyfriend ordered their Chunky Monkey milkshake since we've heard that they're a must try. I don't normally drink milk shakes--it's just too sweet for my taste but my boyfriend L O V E D it. I thought it was good but again, on the sweeter side. This is a super cute diner with a red, black and white color theme to it. Good food, good atmosphere and a full bar. Seriously, can't get any better than that!
(5)
Sean B.
Pretty decent menu that has all the local favorites, with a pretty surprising catch: the menu is littered with vegan options. There's yet another catch: the vegan options are very tasty (this coming from me, not a huge fan of vegan food). This being said, this is a great place to get relatively healthy food along with some relatively well made and decently priced drinks. The next big upside about this place is that it's right in the heart of downtown so you're assured a good time, whether you're there for afternoon meet up or pre-clubbing dinner or even post-partying dinner. I'd reccomend this place. Chill, healthy, decently priced.
(4)
Squid E.
Today was maybe my 4th visit to Downbeat, but had such a terrible experience with our waiter Kat, that I had to write a review. Overall, including previous experiences, service here is usually quite slow and the burgers are always really dry. Make sure you have some kind of sauce in that burger or use ketchup. I came with a party of 7 today, and waited for awhile for a table, although it would've been faster if they realized one of the tables had already opened up. We also asked if we could wait for a second table, and the waiter responded with a flat-out no. So we crammed into our booth and asked for a chair. Several minutes later I went up again and asked for a chair. Minutes later we saw another table with a chair leave, so we nabbed that, and only then did they come out back with a chair. Once we were ready to pay we asked if we could split our bill and Kat said no. She then went on to give us a lecture about how busy it is and how they don't split bills on First Friday because it takes too much time. Mind you it is 1 o'clock in the afternoon, way before the First Friday crowd comes in. "You must consolidate guys" she says. Kidding me? One of my coworkers puts it on her card and we were about to leave when she noticed they charged us a lot more than we thought it would've been. Ah gratuity, something she never mentioned, and she had already included a tip anyways. So all in all, the whole paying our bill process took probably 3 times as long as just splitting it. Well thanks Kat, I won't be coming back!
(1)
Claire M.
I really enjoyed their burger. Delicious! Besides their delicious food, I appreciated how they had vegan choices. It's hard to find a restaurant that can make the same dish, but vegan style! Service is awesome and the ambiance is cool. The best part was that they also offered Otto Cheesecake's Amazing Plain Cheesecake!
(4)
Wendy P.
Woohoo! As good as it gets! = Drinks and service. I've read some of these reviews about spotty service, but every time I go in this joint, I'm super happy with the way I'm treated by the staff. Drinks or food might take a while if they're busy or understaffed for a rush, but even then they're always friendly, patient, and helpful with suggestions and chit-chat whenever possible. And wish as I may, I can't fit the profile of a hipster with my fashion stylings... bag-lady sometimes- kindergarden teacher on a good day... but never hipster. I come from the south, from Hwy 61, from deep fat fryers and 24-hour diners the likes of which movies are made. Therefore, I cannot say I LOVE the food here. It's too clean usually, as if trying to straddle the line between health-conscious eatery and late-nite diner, vigilantly cautious never to cross the line to the 'bad' side. But the food is good-- there's decent variety in the menu. But let's get to it-- The REAL reason I love this place is their drink menu. For a diner, these guys have it going on behind the bar. They'll mix Ginger Tea with a shot of vodka and a splash of something lemony that'll make your day. And they've taken an old childhood favorite- Root Beer FLOAT!- and added a shot of whisky or rum like freakin' bosses. Why has no one else thought of this in my life? My favorite part is, they like to mix it up-- so when an indecisive and adventurous drinker like myself tries to go off-menu, the server tends to light up rather than roll eyes. Gotta love that. Oh, and if you haven't caught onto the theme of what I like most in my reviews- it's a good deal... and these yummispectaculations of libations are super reasonable in price. So there's that. Go out there and get 'em, kids!
(5)
Sharee P.
I'd give the food 4 stars- chili moco, Western burger, chicken fajita were yummy. However, the service was horrible. My husband and I are vegans, so we thought it would be nice to take his mother and some others family members here for brunch on Mothers Day being that they'll be able to get non-vegan options. After ordering our food, we waited for about 15 minutes to get our food- which is a reasonable time. They brought a dish or two out at one time. Shortly after waiting, we asked the waiter about my mother's order- a monte cristo. Apparently, the bartender that took our order forgot to put it in. He apologized and said it'll be out shortly. The restaurant started to fill up, so it was busy in there, however, we were in there 10 minutes after they opened. We all finished our food, and the order still didn't come out. The waiter handed me the check and even cleaned our tables. I told him that I didn't think we should be charged for my mother's meal because we still hadn't even received it yet!! He gave a little bit of an attitude and said it wasn't his fault because he didn't take the order and then he took it off. We waited for another 10 minutes until I approached the same guy- Chris, and asked about how much longer for the order? He said, " It's not like we're not busy, so I really don't know.". I was so upset, that we just decided to leave. So we took my mother in-law out for Mother's Day and she didn't even get her food! I will never eat at this establishment again.
(1)
Chad A.
The food sucks here, and the service is slow. What earns 2 stars is that they have great late-night hours.
(2)
Jenifer G.
The food options are great but the service needs some attention! I didn't feel the hipster servers were too attentive, how hard is it to get a cup of water? But.. I do empathize a little, it could be because they've got the late evening crowds that can be down right obnoxious. Maybe I need to come by at a different time of day to avoid the unruly crowd and its aftereffects, or I found it also works great to just order take out. :) The burgers are delicious and very juicy. My favorite is their Monte Cristo, a french toast sandwich with ham and cheese -- ingenious! It is the ultimate in savory! And there's even a vegan option. Apparently there are options for vegans and vegetarians which is a defininite plus. I guess it's a good spot for you to hit up late at night to top off the rest of your evening. I have yet to try it out during "normal" hours. Maybe service will be more enjoyable then!
(3)
Kazuo O.
The Good stuff: Staff is generally friendly and efficient, good characters all around. Full bar does all the basics well. Quirky atmosphere. Carry out option for food. Great shakes (which can be boozed up on request). Kitchen open late (huge plus). Improvements: Standard diner food, but nothing extraordinary. The vegan option for all menu items will please the non-animal crowd, but I remember the vegan chicken wings being better in the past. Bottom line: Causal meet-up spot in trendy Chinatown. Good place to launch your night or end it. Wish the juke box would be set to play only 80's rock or synthpop.
(4)
Joseph M.
The Ruben of the GODS!!!! This is a little hole in the wall place that might be one of my favorite restaurants on this island. I went here after Trivia at the Manifest next door one Tuesday night and I am now a big fan. The Reuben is outstanding and is easily the best one you can get in Hawaii. More about the Reuben in a minute. The place has a very artsy feel to it and is the kind of place that could slide right out of Chinatown and be right at home in Soho or Austin or some place like that. The seats have various artist and singers pictures on them and the decor is very "50s diner" but not as bright. They usually play something like Caddyshack or a Mexican Western on the wall with a projector which adds to the decor. Our server was a very nice girl with tons of cool tats and a septum piercing who wore those big nerd glasses. She was fast and efficient and we really didn't have to wait very long for our food. There was an assortment of club-kids, tatted hipster types, and girls from the yoga place across the street. This is the kind of place that your grandma would feel weird eating at. That girls hair is purple! The horrors! Well the main reason I am writing this review though is to talk about their Reuben. It is absolutely amazing. The pastrami was fresh without a ton of gristle and fat, the sauerkraut was not too wet and didn't get all sloppy, and the dressing was perfect. It was succulent, mouth-watering and was gone very quickly. I was literally wolfing the thing down and after I was done I really felt like ordering another one. I have had Reubens all over the world and this one was the best I have ever had. Just thinking about the Reuben makes me want to go back to Downbeat again and again. I also need to mention that they have like 12 different kinds of shakes and each one I tried has been very tasty. They aren't as thick as Teddy's Bigger Burgers but they are still a very tasty compliment to your meal. They also serve liquor as well and it would be nice to have a few nice brews to wash down my Reuben with if I wasn't already drinking a shake. Milk based sweet-stuff and beer do not mix for me. In any case this is a great establishment for Downtown/Chinatown and is a must try if you are in the area. The food was fresh, cheap, and oh yeah Reuben. Just an all around great place to get some dinner.
Went on a Sunday night. Fairly quiet. Only one person working the front of the house - bartender, server, she did it all. But she was busy. The food arrived room temperature. It definitely had been waiting somewhere. But she was so nice. They took the food back, the cook fried the burgers some more (there went any hope of a rare burger) and replaced the fries. Better. Had the apple fritter. A little too brown (burnt?) and seemed to have very little apple. Not worth it. Very nice people, but too many other places to eat.
(3)
Laurie P.
So ever since they closed Mini Garden, we've had to find a new place to eat after stumbling out of the bar. While Zippy's up on Vineyard is always clutch, a friend said this place was good. This place is going to totally appeal to all the hipsters. The random portrait fabric with the faces of Frieda Kahlo, James Dean, David Bowie, amongst others on the back of the benches, the arthouse video they project onto one of their very white walls, the small bar in the back, the kisch food, the PBR tall boys on sale for $5. Definite hipster vibe, but the guys working were all pretty low key and friendly. So maybe Seattle hipster, not LA hipster. Anyway, as soon as we plopped down the one waiter who was on his second day dropped by with large, icy glasses of water. Perusing the menu, I ordered gravy fries (I have a thing for gravy fries. They are just so wrong they are right.) and a Monte Cristo. A note on the service, the waiter was very attentive. Being drunk half of us hadn't looked at the menu, but he always left and came back relatively quickly to see if we had decided, was never short and rather funny. I had concerns about the fries when they came out, they weren't particularly golden or crispy looking and the gravy was anemically pale. Everyone knows that the beauty of the gravy fry is the crisp, fried potato contrast to rich, meaty gravy. Well I was pleasantly surprised. The fries were very fresh and weren't soggy. The gravy, in spite of its appearance, was delicious. The Monte Cristo was a little different than I was expecting. Instead of a lightly battered and deep fried ham and cheese sandwich dusted with powdered sugar, it was a ham and swiss between two pieces of french toast. The french toast was actually pretty tasty and held up well to being in a sandwich, which is surprising. All in all, a decent drunk meal. Definitely think I'd be back just to try the volcano fries and maybe even a Taco Tuesday.
(3)
Nathan F.
Had a BLaT and my GF had a chicken pesto both were really good, even more food options. Drinks were original and tasty music was classic, and atmosphere is on point. Only down fall was that is sort of plain And there was only one waitress working and over all was priced very nicely
(4)
Karebear W.
Update #3 Apparently, the C-town gangsters made a rare appearance on update day #2. I've been here many, many of times and that was the only concerning occasion. Overall, I love downbeat and it's awesome and convenient for a townie like me. Or for anyone cruising downtown.
(5)
Trevor T.
Very hipster (usually something I'm not a fan of). That said, the food was very good, I had the french toast and was pleasantly surprised. Another big plus is that they're open late if you get the munchies late at night downtown (and don't want to make your next stop Zippy's). The parking is less than ideal, being right in Chinatown. Odds are, however, that you'll be in the area anyway, so the parking thing should be a non-issue. That said, this is not someplace I'd go out of my way to eat at (not THAT good). If you or anyone in your group is vegan, this place is a good spot as their menu is chock full of vegan-friendly options. Atmosphere is also pretty chill, but fun at the same time...does that make sense? In sum, worth checking out if you're in the area, but I'd live if I never got to eat there again.
(3)
Leah K.
Looking for a new place to try out on a late Sunday afternoon and my cohort recommend this eatery. Wasn't quite sure what to expect considering the typical hustle and bustle of Chinatown is nonexistent on a Sunday afternoon. We were greeted upon arrival and since the place wasn't busy, we were able to pick out our seats. The service was very quick. Our server answered questions about the some of the menu items, and provided us with some recommendations. I selected the Monte Cristo. The french toast was delicious, although the ham and cheese filling were not quite as ample as what I have had elsewhere. The sandwich is served with pancake syrup on the side for those who want a little sweet to offset the saltiness of the ham and cheese. Overall, it was enjoyable. My cohort is a vegan, so he opted for the Vegan Pesto Chicken sandwich, which they were able to make totally vegan. Always wanting me to explore and try new vegan food, I sampled the sandwich and have to agree that it was very good. The sandwich was oozing the pesto sauce which was very light and fresh. It was nice little spot to drop into on a Sunday afternoon. It is great since is caters to the vegan and meat eaters alike.
(4)
Jason W.
This is regarding Brunch! Downbeat overall is still a 5 to me but I got talked into the Chicken and Waffles and well, for "selling out quickly," the waffles had some room for improvement. Plus I had to ask for cream for the coffee and syrup for the waffles so that was kind of weird. The chicken though was off the hook. I am a love/hate relationship with meat, I cant quite go vegetarian but I try to limit meat as I can for multiple reasons and this chicken was awesome, good flavor breading outside, and moist, tender white meat inside. I think if I went with my original idea of the Ottos Moco, which had the Chicken and brown rice loco moco style, this would be five stars. Next time...
(4)
Maria G.
Ok, so I was a bit reluctant when friends invited me here before a night out for drinks. Anything that purports "vegan" anything is always a bit suspect (Sorry to my vegan friends!) . But as revealed by my 5 star review, clearly I was proved wrong. It's not that big of a place, but it definitely makes an impact. Has a hipster/punk rock vibe with it's funky couches (with upholstery that has B&W portraits of famous icons), great jukebox, to the movies the project on the wall. However, what really won me over were the VOLCANO Fries and VEGAN wings. Wait...yes I said that right,...VEGAN wings. It is amazing, yummy, and even the texture was divine! It even had a little drum "stick" it was attached to. I ate it side by side with the "real" wings and the vegan version hands down wins. I have DREAMs and CRAVINGs (and no, I"m not pregnant) about these vegan wings. The volcano fries are a delicious mishmash of fries, gravy and cheese...nom nom nom. Burgers are also decent, and I also had there "avo" sandwich which was avocado, tomato and cheese. I swear...this place is gonna make a secret veggie out of me! For dessert, milkshakes can be ordered plain or with a shot of liquour. Delicious, delicious, delicious. Go get some vegan wings now!
(4)
Stephanie T.
Love Downbeat! They have a very versatile menu in that you can please every one that you go with because there is breakfast (served all day) to lunch type foods and more dinnery type items and desserts and a huge selection of adult beverages. One of my favorite adult desserts they have is the Guinness shake, I know it sounds gross, but its delicious. I think I have tried almost everything on their food menu. The BLAT (Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato) sandwich is super good. The bacon avocado cheese omelette is another favorite of mine as well. The staff is great too, all very friendly and fun to be around. A huge plus is everything that is on their menu can be done in vegan form including their loco moco. They are open really late so its good for after bar food.
(4)
Rissa K.
Mmm you gotta try the Volcano Fries! It's garlic fries with gravy poured all over! Wow! I haven't tried the burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes yet but I do want to try it next time I am there. Love the vibe here....it's like a feel of an old Diner. There is a cool bar that is right next door that is part of this Diner. You can go have lunch/dinner then go next door and have a few drinks. When you are here it goes you a feel like you are somewhere else. Friendly staff, clean restaurant, and great food!
(4)
Sara N.
Menu items are a bit misleading.... volcano fries are barely spicy- they're cajun fries smothered in grey gravy (they taste alright but nothing special) and their well-known Guinness milkshake does NOT have any alcohol in it; they use a Guinness flavored syrup :| I wouldn't order it again. The service was alright; the server knew it was our first time there but didn't ask us questions or make any recommendations. Now I'm just sad that I didn't try the fritters...
(3)
Rupert L.
Been here once during first Friday. Wish we didn't do that because now I'll have to give a three star for messing up orders and the jukebox ate the money. Also the wait just to get in was crazy. American burger was great. Good thing I didn't get the shake because I would've been full. The place is small but it's pretty cool. I'll definitely come back when it's not too busy.
(3)
Christine K.
This place has a cool feel to it. My daughter and I chose to eat here because of the vegetarian selections. The vegan chili was great! We enjoyed the music and the friendly staff as well.
(5)
Thomas A.
Best vegetarian place around, unless you're a rabbit and prefer raw things. Delicious diner/cafe kinda food. Hipster for sure, but not obnoxiously so. A must visit for any and all vegetarians.
(5)
Joyce F.
For: taco tuesday, maybe brunch, $2 Tecate on Tues! Against: inconsistent service, regular menu Other essentials: All menus offered all day. Street parking all around Chinatown...or walk from my house! More: Came here on two different nights, had the same server / bartender and had CRAZY different experiences. I'm all confused now. Let's start with Tuesday. Standing on Hotel St after Emi's show trying to find food. Options: late night Lucky Belly, Bar 35 or this joint we have yet to try. Lauren spots the PRB and bacon menu item at Downbeat so in we go. Sit down and see a TACO TUESDAY menu. Oh, how I love Tuesday and how Taco fits in front of you so seamlessly. The menu was mean...like good. Three tacos for $8. Okay the beef was overcooked and flavorless and they ran out of jalepenos but the other flavors made it delicious. Including the jalapeno salsa and sour cream! More importantly, there were $2 Tecate cans with limes shoved inside. I would 5 star any $2 Tecate lime combo. Was impressed with all the vegan and vegetarian options - what diner focuses on that? Haven't tried it so unsure of the quality. The diner has cool seat covers - liked spotting Bill Murray and Frida - but no artwork on the walls. The brunch menu looks incredible especially that bottomless mimosa! Fast forward to Easter Sunday. Everything is closed except for Downbeat (and Taco Bell) but since we had such a good experience on Tuesday, we raced off to Chinatown. We had the same server who said nothing to us even when I excitedly (making too excitedly) yelled hello at her as she was setting down menus. Girl was not happy to be there that night. To be fair, there were a ton of drunkies and people just generally happy to be eating and not working on a Sunday night. The sandwiches, burgers and salads were all so lame! Like good sounding on the menu and then nothing in your mouth. I now understand why Chuggy was skeptical of my rave Tuesday reviews. My friend had the Coke float with Sailor Jerry and was instantly drunk - in a good way. Overall, Sunday night did not kill my Tuesday experience. I will be back for Tuesday and probably to check out the brunch menu!
(3)
Anna F.
It's a far walk from where I work but it's totally worth it. Their menu is reasonable priced and they have a lot of different sandwiches. The staff was super nice and they check up on your every so often to see if the food is okay or if you need more water. My favorite item was the grilled ham and cheese sandwich. It's a simple item and they made it perfect. I also liked their cajun fries. They made the seasoning just right. If you're still hungry after your meal, you need to order the apple fritters! I know, it's deep fried and it's unhealthy but you know what, the batter was really light. If you go with a group, just share the dessert. For those who go to first Fridays, this place is open late. You can swing by here for food after all the drinking. Or just come in here and drink some more.
(4)
Crystal B.
I regularly attend a lot of events in Chinatown and Downbeat Diner is a favorite place for my friends and I to stop and get a bite! They are open late, have a fun & funky vibe and the food is delicious....they offer Vegan and Vegetarian options, but this is diner food people so it's not fat free, I'm training for the cover of Sports Illustrated fair...yummy comfort food at its best :) The Volcano fries are great to share with a couple of beers or one of their fabulous drink specials...or the adventurous should definitely go for a Pandemonium Milkshake (vanilla milkshake with a shot of Jagermeister and bacon syrup), creamy deliciousness with a kick!
(5)
Courtney O.
Finally a REAL diner!! Those of you who think that Big City Diner is actually a diner can stop reading this and move along. Downbeat Diner is a REAL diner that will leave your taste buds very satisfied! I had the monte cristo sandwich. I personally think the monte cristo is underrated and needs to me on more menus. I was very excited to see it on the menu here and had to stop by. It was served with fries which could be accompanied by gravy, garlic, cajun seasoning, or cheese. I picked gravy and it was delish! They also serve a variety of milkshakes. I had the chunky monkey. It was really good. If you're down for it, there is even a Guinness shake!! You can also add any liquor to your shake. Amazing!! There is a large white wall in the diner that shows movies and a jukebox. I think the prices are very reasonable for the food and for the drinks as well. Most of the drinks are around $5. The entire menu is available all day long! Yay for breakfast at night! Our waitress was very cute and friendly. I CAN'T wait to go back here. My only gripe is that it is in China Town and the night we went (like any other random night) had a lot of sketchy people walking around. It's not exactly in an area I would call safe. I would recommend they move closer to my house, maybe even next door if possible.
(5)
Kristy K.
To be honest we actually ended up going here because Lucky Belly had a set Valentines Day menu and had ran out of food already. ;( But anyway, here's my rundown: Service: Was not good. Our server hardly came to check on us. When we wanted a container she was no where to be seen. Then she decides to check on all her other tables but us. Really??? Atmosphere: Cool! The music was back in the day music, the kind of music my mom and dad listen to, so I actually enjoyed it. They were also projecting a movie on the wall, I think it was Dirty Dancing. Food: I ordered the hamburger steak, which sucked butt. The worst hamburger steak that I had in a while. The burger was tough and dry and the gravy didn't have much taste. My gf got the BLAT sandwich. It was just a normal sandwich. Nothing spectacular. The best thing about this place was the peanut butter shake. LOL! All in all, I was very upset because I read someones review that the hamburger steak here was the best!!! All I can say about that is...Lies...All Lies!! Lastly...parking in this area sucks! Will I be back? I doubt it.
(2)
Victoria S.
Really good vegan/vegetarian food. They have an animal friendly version of almost everything on their menu. The food itself is good. The wrap tends to be bigger then the sandwich. The fries are okay, but the usually get cold fast. There isn't a lot of seething, so plan on coming early if you want food from here.
(5)
Kelly G.
Late night food nom! Usually most restaurants are closed at such a late hour but not Downbeat! This is probably why it was so full. We ordered the vegan bbq chicken burger, cajun fries and .... the apple fritters! In our drunken state, everything tasted yum. Unfortunately, the apple fritters didn't meet my expectations. Price was alright. Service was not bad. Bar in the corner if you choose to continue your drunken debauchery!
(4)
Mark G.
Went there for a birthday lunch. Food was good, but the service was extremely slow. It took about 45 minutes from the time we ordered til we got our food. There was only one waitress working and I would have totally understood the situation til it came to paying the bill. We wanted to split the check between a couple cards but the waitress rudely stormed back and tossed our cash and cards back onto the table and ranted "you can't split checks on First Fridays." I was left confused since First Friday activity in downtown doesn't pick up til well after dinnertime and dumbfounded as to why she would waste even more of her time to express how irritated she was that we were even thinking of trying to split a check. Sorry to be a burden, geez!
(2)
Angela F.
This is a great place for late-night dining (it's opened past midnight and located right next to many bars and lounges in Chinatown)! The service is excellent...the staff was friendly and very accommodating. Being lactose intolerant, I was very excited about their vegan options. We ordered the vegan apple fritters and vegan vanilla milk shake. The milk shake was DELICIOUS...possibly one of the best vegan milkshakes I've ever had. they offer many different milkshake flavors. It was very creamy and tasty. The vegan apple fritters were good too...a very unique item. They remind me of beignets more than apple fritters but still delicious. Overall, this is a great dining option!
(4)
Cassie T.
We stopped in to Downbeat to grab a quick bite to eat and a couple of drinks. The place is really cute and I can see how this would be a great place to hang out at if you were out drinking. I love the music that they play and the vidoes that can be seen on the multiple TV's or the HUGE projection. Cool! We ordered the Volcano fries that are for sure not a part of a healhty eating plan. But, oh they were yummy. Basically the Volcano fries are french fries with garlic and cajun seasoning topped wtih gravy. Delicious! We also ordered the Mozerella Sticks. Nothing special. The burger I ordered was decent. I ordered the terryaki burger. I love that they use local products (Big Island Beef). The meat was topped with carmelized onions and mushrooms, cheese and a terryaki sauce. Our waitress was also the bartender (Sorry, I didn't catch her name). She was really nice. She also seemed to know most of the customers that were in there. What a good sign! After all the food and four drinks our bill was only 41.00! SCORE! Overall I think we will save this place for when we are out drinking. Not bad.
(4)
Mike T.
Hip atmosphere, food was great. I had the California Burger, My wife had the Chicken salad and she loved it. Awesome place for the young hip crowd. price was reasonable and the service was nice.
(4)
Ira J.
"Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter." -urban Dictionary (n.d.) Definition of Hipster Retrieved from urbandictionary.com/defi… My definition of Hipster is considerably different than the one above. While it has no attributed author, it was obviously written by a Hipster or a Hipster sympathizer. From my reckoning, a hipster is someone who believes they are too cool to be cool. So they go out of their way to be un-cool so that they can therefore be cool. An important aspect of this is for Hipsters to maintain at all costs that they are not a Hipster. They must do so because in their eyes being a Hipster is cool; and for them to be cool, they must be un-cool - not a Hipster. Get it? Well, by this definition, my teenage daughter is a Hipster. She believes that Hipsters are cool, but vehemently deigns being one. One of the first clues I had of this came several months ago when I tentatively selected Downbeat Diner and Lounge for our evening meal. Her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "The Hipster Restaurant! Cool!" Well, we didn't wind up eating there that night, but I filled away her excitement for a future use. That use came this week when I offered to take her to Downbeat Diner and Lounge for her birthday lunch. She was very excited. I believe she was so because she would get to hang with her fellow Hipsters. She does not subscribe to my theory about her hipsterhood or really to my Hipster Theory at all. In spite of myself, I liked the place. It definitely has serious atmosphere and attitude. The chicken sandwiches we both had were really good, as was our brownies with ice cream desert. The only thing that was a little lacking was the promptness of the service. However, I suspect that slow service is an engineered part of the serious atmosphere and attitude. It was also okay because it allowed us to stay longer and soak up more of that serious atmosphere and attitude. Which we both appreciated. I wanted to give my Hipster Theory a test; and more importantly like any good dad, I was anxious to embarrass my teenage daughter. My plan was to stand up and ask the clientele of Downbeat Diner and Lounge to raise their hands if they considered themselves Hipsters. Since I was sure none of them would do so, and they were all pretty much unquestionably Hipsters; my theory would be validated. However, I was forced to forgo this experiment because of another theory of mine: It is a bad idea to experiment on or otherwise harass large numbers of people who have tattoos on their faces.
(4)
Jesse S.
Terrific burgers and shake. The ambiance is fun.
(4)
Casey M.
First time here and I'm very impressed. The atmosphere is very modern and relaxed. Plus the food is delicious. Their vegan options are also very delicious. I'd recommend Downbeat Diner to anyone.
(5)
Paula H.
vegan/vegetarian diner food. considering its called a diner idk what i was expecting but i thought somehow it would be different. a friend of mine was excited to try this place bc everything on their menu can be made into vegan or vegetarian. sounds interesting huh! he was excited...so i was excited. one date night, it was my turn to pick the food and so i picked here. my husband is funny because he always puts a smile on his face when i pick vegan/vegetarian food and under his breath recites, "happy wife happy life." which has become his life's mantra. So we get there and we order the fries with vegan chili and vegan nachos. Sounds harmless. The cheese was of course soy cheese and meat was soy protein also. I have no problem with that but when I think of nachos I think of smooth melty cheese. Not the case. It was hard and all of the cheese lifted when I pulled one chip out. Yuck! At the bottom of the dish sat a puddle of oil. Double yuck! I know diner food is not suppose to be the healthiest but when u put vegan/vegetarian into the mix I personally expect differently. I think I'm expecting too much though. I walked back to my car regretting my diner decisions.
(3)
Cheryl L.
Looking for a late night place with more than a bar menu. We stumbled upon this gem. Their food was excellent and the service was awesome! Really laid back with up beat music. Definitely recommend! Great!
(4)
Mark M.
Went to downbeat yesterday for breakfast (brunch?). It's a really cool little place, very hipster vibe if you're into that sort of thing. Service was a bit slow at first, but that was probably because we got there about 2 minutes after they opened. Once it was all up and running it was much better. I had the Loco Moco, which is pretty good. They have an interesting gravy, but I always wish they would cook the burger medium instead of medium well. My wife had a breakfast sandwich, which she liked. Other than those, they usually have really good burgers, great French fries; you really can't go wrong for breakfast here... The home fries in particular are great. They also have lots of vegan options too if that's your thing. Overall it's a really cool place with some good food. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Lealyn P.
Great food, vegan options, cool atmosphere and good service. I love it here.
(5)
Cat D.
Came for lunch on a sat. Late afternoon. Parked nearby in a metered stall. Food and service is four stars and cleanliness is a 3 stars. Volcanic fries...cajun seasoning, garlic with a mild gravy and cheese is quite delicious. I was a little weirded out on the idea of gravy on cheesy fries, but it actually complimented it. Well done Spicy Vegan buffalo sandwich with vegan ranch dressing, lettuce, and tomato. On sourdough bread.... wow tastes just like chicken. Love the substitute. Ranch was subtle and Complimented the Buffalo sauce. Yummy...i'll be back 11/25/13 Finally came back and this time I had something meaty...the Reuben sandwich on rye. Swiss cheese, soft beef and perfectly toasted with a nice mustard sauce to compliment the sauerkraut. Served with volcanic fries with gravy on the side of course. They just do sandwiches well. Hasn't yet disappointed. Mixed apple and banana fritters were oh so delicious! Kanak attack
(4)
Kristin H.
We have eaten at Downbeat 3 times (there will be many more, trust me). The first time was because we researched vegan friendly restaurants in the area that weren't all hippy dippy. My (now) wife and I went in July, had a Primo and a vegetarian loco moco, and man, it was LOVE. We knew that while planning our December wedding on the North Shore, we wanted to incorporate the amazingness of Downbeat in the plan somehow. I contacted the diner and Josh was so helpful! He set us up with 3 booths and also helped me find a bakery to work on a surprise cake for my partner. When we arrived onsite, the manager on duty (her name completely escapes me right now) was so NICE and accommodating!! She was excited to show me the cake that was hiding in the back and had also informed me that she had put champagne on ice for us "just in case we wanted to do a toast". We ate, we danced, we toasted, and we enjoyed the entire night. Everyone was SO unbelievably impressed with everything. The surprise cake was a huge hit and we DID have some champagne toasts. The third time we went, it was the night before we left Hawaii and right before we surprised our daughter by taking her to see Wicked. We just couldn't leave without having that vegetarian loco moco one. more. time. Outside of Matsumoto's, Downbeat Diner is a MUST visit when on Oahu.
(5)
Eric A.
You'd think I've already of had gone here, cause of the Hotel St. nightlife. NOPE! Small, cozy and run by punk rockers. DIY. Reminds me of joints I've been to in San Francisco, mainly cause a lot of Asians also run amok there. Owner, scene icon and our band has played his shows. Bartender and patrons sitting at the bar, also Honolulu scenesters and DJs. Bartender seemed pretty nice, even if I always snob her and her band at shows. I'm not cool or nor "hipster" (that word is worse than EMO). I'm just very close minded these days. Didn't try the food (I've read and heard mixed) or drink a beer. In fact, I was here to chill with my new band after rehearsal and drink iced water. No consumption through the evening but I want to come back. Oh, and one of the only places that has Primo beer glasses. NICE! 4 stars Downbeat on Hotel Street
(4)
Terry K.
I had an appointment not too far from Downbeat so decided to have lunch and then go to my meeting. Not to mention the fact I had a groupon to use which was soon to expire. $8 for a burger? Granted, the meat was lean and it did not have fillers (like bread) so you get 100% ground beef. It was as lean as ground beef can be. Grilled up dry though. Had a side salad; add $2 to meal. I tried their "swiss inn" dressing. It was "ok" but I think I will have ranch dressing next time. Oh, the carrots and cucumbers were cut to a design. Cute! The carrots were cut in the shape of a star... $4.50 for a side of french fries. Considering the size of the order, I guess it is a good bargain. And- it's fried up fresh. Not some fries sitting under a heat lamp I ordered coffee with my meal and our waiteress was kind enough to make a new pot. The coffee was pretty good. Next time, I will try one of their milksakes. A few of the patrons had this giant glass of milkshake.. Looked yummy so maybe next time, I will get a milkshake, basket of fries and Maybe! a sandwich. Might just make it a snack stop, rather than a lunch stop or, as with the rest of the patrons; make Downbeat my last stop, on my way home after a long night in town.
(3)
Keopu R.
I'm reviewing Downbeat for what I use it as - a late-night spot to grab some good grub no matter the sobriety level of your party. And with that, I give it 5 stars. One of my favorite wingwomen and I would always hit up Zippy's after a big night in Chinatown for good measure for the next morning. We knew what Downbeat was and had heard the hype, but we always avoided it when we saw the chaos inside and the crowds outside. One night, after I had played some music down the road, we wandered into Downbeat to feed our stomachs that were pretty much eating themselves. It was early enough that we simply walked in and got our choice of tables. Friends had always recommended the veggie burger (which is vegan) when I was mostly vegetarian, so I had to try it. Since the first bite, I've been hooked. Add the order of fries seasoned with cajun spices, and I'm in diner heaven. I pretty much uniformly stick to the teriyaki veggie burger with real cheese - they have vegan cheese if you need - because it's so damn good. Treat the waitstaff well and they'll treat you just fine. Just keep in mind that they basically have to babysit half the restaurant after 1a and it'll make the sometimes long wait a lot easier. We've always had good service. We've made Downbeat a standard. I love that it reminds me of diners I used to frequent late at night in other cities, like Clarke's in Chicago or Grill in Tucson. It'll continue to be a standard as long as we continue to enjoy our Chinatown nights.
(5)
Ryan Y.
Walking in here, it really had a... hipster vibe (newsflash!). It didn't take away from the overall experience, however. The TVs were playing Flashdance (1983 version... of course), which was unexpected. The table was wobbly, but we managed. The service was prompt (more prompt than some of the other places I ate at), and the waitress was excellent. I had a Carnivore burger and some fries and it was fine. It was nothing great, but it wasn't anything horrible. It was good. Reading the other reviews, I guess we were either lucky to have this waitress, or we followed the little instructions on the bottom of the menu that said to inform the waitress if you want separate checks before ordering, which I thought was fair. Either way, I guess it's unfortunate that some people had that sort of rude service, but we never experienced anything like that so obviously I can't comment on that. Overall, good experience. I'm curious about seeing how these other servers are..
(4)
Lora H.
This place is quickly becoming one of my favorite work lunch spots. So you have to walk down Hotel St. and smell the icky-ness of urine and what not to get here, but once inside, it's the cutest little diner. Nice eclectic vibe. And my #1 reason for loving this place???? Breakfast all day long!!! Who doesn't want to eat breakfast food at lunch?! Or dinner for that matter!!! Omelette and toast for lunch - Heck ya! Haven't really tried too much here. Had the Greek salad and my co-worker has had the chef salad. It's not anything fancy, pretty basic. But nonetheless, good. This place is definitely not about the bells and whistles, it's just food. I've seen a lot of people ordering the sandwiches and burgers and those look pretty good. And another big bonus.... vegetarian options. I'm not a vegetarian, but on occassion, I'm about getting some healthy food so this place really gives you a plethora of options! As far as service...eh... not bad, not good. Usually there is just one person there serving the whole restaurant.
(4)
Shatina L.
Chinatown. Not many places to eat that dont have an Asian influence to it. Reminds me of a diner in the 50s. Booth seating with very cool fabric. Where's the jukebox hidden? Some movie playing on the overhead drowned out by the music playing. I dont mind it much. I am assuming it was because it was a weeknight that the lounge was slow when we entered but business picked up by the time we left. Surprisingly, it was nearly 10. They have a wide selection of drinks - alcoholic (Guinness shake) and non - as well as other things. I cant comment on entrees as my main goal today was for the dessert. I opted for the Orange Chocolate Chip cheesecake. I would highly recommend this for those who want a semi-not heavy dessert. A graham cracker crust speckled and lined with chocolate chips. Amidst the cheesecake base lies the dormant citrus flavor, as if memories of the sweet orange juice you had for breakfast are suddenly infusing with the dessert. Not an overpowering flavor, rather lingering in the back of your mouth as if tantalizing your mouth ever so nonchalantly. A mere $5 I will go back just to try the rest of their desserts - apple fritters, ice cream sundae with brownie, ice cream sandwich, salted chocolate chip cookies, Vegan brownie, and other flavors of cheesecake. For those of you with an ID (island discount, that is) card, the prize for flashing this card is free fries with an order of a burger. I may be quoting the deal wrong but bottom line is : buy burger, get fries free. I will definately come here again.
(5)
Suz S.
Such happy vibes. Good cheap food. A happy divey bar. Whiskey Wednesdays always have fun creative cheap drinks.
(4)
Khristine V.
The food is delicious and its great for people watching. I think its known as a hipster bar (and yes I did see a few) but I saw people from all sorts of walks of life getting their grub on here. I'm a sucker for milk shakes and they had loads of flavors. You must order the volcano fries (seasoned garlic fries smothered in melted cheese and gravy!) to share as an appetizer. I ordered a Otto Motto which was a chicken version of the loco moco. My portion was a good size but all of my other friend's entrees had huge servings. I had a vegan, a pescetarian, and a friend on a no-carb diet, come with me so we were that table with all the substitutions, however our hostess was super easy going with it and did a great job checking in on us. If you are a vegan, this is a great place to get some food as they have specialized vegan dishes and desserts. After you eat a meal, they have a full on bar at the back of the restaurant. We went on a Friday night around 9 pm and it was full but not crowded. It is on the strip of Chinatown where all the bars are and even though there were loads of people out parking and getting to the diner was a bit dodgy. However other than that I highly recommend you get your grub on here!
(4)
Victoria C.
WORST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER. And no I am not exaggerating. I don't know how this place even got such a high rating because I don't think I'll ever step foot in this restaurant again. Warning you... long rant. So my friend was visiting from the mainland and my other friend and I wanted to take her somewhere that she hasn't been before. We were thinking of going to Eat the Streets but didn't want the hassle of looking for parking and we were more in a sit down dining in at restaurant mood so we could talk and catch up. Since we were already in downtown I thought of checking out Downbeat Diner since I've been wanting to try this place for awhile and the reviews seemed to be pretty good. Plus I was kind of in the mood for something a little greasy :P Both of my friends were down to try this place and we were getting all hyped and excited based off of the pics from Yelp. When we arrived, the place was pretty packed but we were able to sit at the table by the entrance. Thought it was a pretty neat looking place... very hipster like I guess. Took us awhile for our server to come and help us (who BTW was not very welcoming... just sayin). The items on the menu looked good and we wanted to order just about everything since we were starving. While sitting and looking over menu I felt something crawl on my foot. I look down and it's a COCKROACH!!!!! I almost had a heart attack because I am deathly afraid of roaches. I freaked out and put my feet up. The roach started crawling to the other side of the restaurant and one of the customers saw it and stomped on it. Then he had to shoo it out the door. I think I had just about lost my appetite. That wasn't the first cockroach encounter though. We saw 2 more... one which was crawling up the wall and we were paranoid that it would drop on our table or one of us. I literally crawled up into a ball and put my feet up on the chairs because I was so terrified to have a roach on me again. This place is a dump. ANYWAY, after getting over the whole roach thing, we decided to order & share a loco moco, teri burger, chef salad and garlic fries. AND we were really set on ordering a milkshake. However when our waiter came he seemed very unenthusiastic about us ordering a shake and wouldn't even help us suggest one that was good when we asked. It's almost as if he didn't want us to order it. He warned us ahead of time that it would probably take 15 min since he's the only one that's makes it plus he's the only server... UGH. Well we kindly told him sure we don't mind the wait. Since we were being indecisive about what shake we wanted he said he would come back. WELLLL... when he did come back (actually we had to wave our hands to get his attention) and were ready to order our vanilla shake with a shot of rum he rudely told us that he's not making milkshakes due to how busy it is and because he wants "everyone to be happy." UMm... happy?? well what about us?? we're not happy!!! It really seemed like he was having a bad day or something but still it's YOUR JOB. He had no customer service skills whatsoever. Well we didn't want to b*tch and complain since he looked like he wasn't having it today so we settled on an alcoholic drink. I got the strawberry lemonade cocktail which was pretty good and tasted just like a strawberry lemonade. Ok so now on to the food..... based on appearance it looked really good. We were so hungry since it took so long that we couldn't wait to dig in. Unfortunately, it was all just appearance because the food was horrible. The burgers were burnt, dried and tasteless. The gravy on the loco moco was weird and the rice was like Uncle Ben's rice or something. It was gross. Everything... well except the salad and fries were okay but nothing outstanding. I'm pretty disappointed in this place but maybe we had high expectations. I mean I think our dining experience would of been a *tad* bit better if our server was at least nice to us and didn't look like he hated his job. Even asking to put cheese on our fries was a huge ordeal for him. Seriously, how hard is it to put cheese on top??? Maybe I should of gone back to the kitchen and done it myself. I think I would have rather gone to McDonald's than eat at this dumpster.
(1)
Kit T.
Comfort food for the 21st century! Delicious, clever, conscious. After three visits, I can say without hesitation that I really love this place! Breakfast anytime, great burgers and bacon, crispy-to-die-for fries, an eclectic full bar menu including absinthe, good rye whisky and some great bottled beers (I never did get into PBR, but rock on, hipstars), and a friendly ambience. A little bar/counter with stools and nice roomy booths, high ceilings, cartoons or other fun feeds on the bar TV. Promotes local scene and music. Most anything on the menu can be made vegan. Not just vegetarian, not just "theres no meat in it, only chicken" - really actually vegan. No dairy, no honey, no egg, no animal products at all. Now picture a cheeseburger and shake fitting that description. Or a loco moco. Wow! I am a fallen vegan, but I know first hand how hard it is to go out and get a decent meal - you burn out on salad and unadorned bread. Meaty or meatless, drinky crow or teatotalling tomcat, this rocks.
(5)
Cullen K.
Went here for our third anniversary as a surprise for my boyfriend after finding this place on yelp. He's vegetarian and im lactose intolerant so sometimes it's really hard for us to eat the same things. When I found out this place is vegan everything and vegan dessert and vegan cheese and vegan wings and vegan loco moco and VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN!!! It was literally the PERFECT place to take him. We were completely blown away by the food. A miiiiiiiiillion times better than we expected. God I can't get the tastes of those wings and fries out of my mouth lol. And the BLAT? SCORE! I didn't even know vegan bacon exists lol. I just can't even describe how amazing this place is. My favorite part was the fact that I could actually order dessert without debating if being bloated and all that nasty stuff(lactose intolerance) will be worth it. Vegan ice cream AND brownie?? Fawwwkkyuurrrrrhh! And to top it all off, I'm sorry but I have no idea what the complaints about service are all about. We had 2 waitresses one black hair and one blonde and both were so awesome. Affordable amazing food, cheap as F*** drinks and awesome service! It was the first of many times we will be coming here. THANK YOU DOWNBEAT FOR BEING AWESOME!
(5)
Valentine S.
This was by far our favorite bar on the island. The Downbeat has a relaxed atmosphere, great drinks, and hands down the best bartender on Oahu. I know I can't name names but she made a specialty drink called the unicorn. Not sure what was in it but that and all the other drinks she made us were awesome. They were classics like old fashions and manhattans, but with just enough of their own twist to be unique without veering too far away from the original. If you're in Chinatown I highly recommend stopping in for a drink.
(5)
Nishone W.
Finding delicious vegetarian/vegan food in Hawaii is unbelievable. We ate here 2x during our stay. First round was bloody Marys, veg moco loco, and veg club sandwich. All delicious! Especially when accompanied w/ their vegan ranch. Second round was veg chili cheese fries and veg chikn sandwich. No disappointments except for not having a down beat diner at home! The service was top notch both days! Don't forget to pick up a beer coozy for a souvenir! Can't wait to return!
(5)
Tze M.
Since my friends and I were getting off from work, and they serve vegan, we decided to check it out. I had bought one of those $5 for $10 deals online, thought I would try it since it was a place where my vegan friend can find a meal on the menu. I didn't find anything special about the teriyaki burger I had ordered. I heard it was the one to try.. and I'm not a fan of their fries either. I think because they had just opened for business, the service was not up to par. We waited for water, our menus, to order, our food. My friend ordered take out when we placed our order and we waited an hour after we were done eating. So we had them check and it seemed they had lost the order. So we ordered a vegan brownie ala mode while we waited, and that was pretty good. I've been to that location before when it was a Vietnamese restaurant, and still looks the same, just a few cosmetics things changed, like the bar stools and the booths been recovered to something cool. They are located in Chinatown on Hotel Street, next to Mini Garden. Parking is either metered street parking or private lot. For the prices, the service and the food...I don't plan on going back again.
(2)
Angie S.
I am here 2-3 times a week. I always get the side salad (it's huge) or jalapeno poppers(they are so amazing). There is always the same 2 girls working, and they are really down to earth and give good sincere quality service.
(5)
Matt B.
Great Reuben sandwiches! This is a Great place to eat if you are in China town. They have vegan options for just about everything so bring your vegetarian friends along.
(4)
Nicole K.
Perfect place for the late night munchies you might have. I really wanted the cheese cube pupu. But the cook said they were all out, so I opted for the mozzarella sticks. Not bad, but I really wanted the cheese cubes. And of course I had to try the green eggs and ham. The eggs are for sure green. They put pesto in it (which I love). It's a weird color, and I felt weird eating it because EGGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT COLOR. But it tasted awesome!! Comes with toast, but the waiter let me substitute it with rice :) Gotta have my rice. And it was Movie Monday. They were showing Donnie Darko, and I wanted a booth against the far right wall but they were all taken. So we sat in a booth right under the area where they show the movie, so I had a hard time watching it. I was sad considering this is one of my top 5 favorite movies. Service was pretty fast, and the wait staff is always friendly.
(4)
Ar S.
...Wonderful diner food - great decor, laid back, airy and comfortable. Servers were attentive. Best of all, really amazing Vegan items including volcano fries with yummy 'cheese' (tasted homemade...), spicy buffalo / 'chicken' burger and fries, & mushroom onion veggie burger. The vegan chocolate MILKSHAKE was phenomenal - even better than dairy milk Shake Shack (and better for you!). Yummy comfort food. The best meal we had during our 8-day stay at Hilton Honolulu (says a lot!). Reasonable prices too! Convenient location to downtown Honolulu. I wish we could come here every month ! tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(5)
Gina B.
Downbeat Diner, I really want to love and remember you because the food and service is good and not because you're easy and open late nights. But for the moment your availability is all you've got going for you and I'm not sure if that's enough to keep me interested. Since their opening, I've been to Downbeat at least 8 times and at different times of the day. Of the 7 of my 8 visits, I ordered one of their various burgers and I think inconsistency is my first complaint. Only once was my burger cooked the way I requested: medium rare. The other times it was medium or well done. Even though I like my meat red, I was able to overlook it not being cooked as requested since I was not unhappy with the taste and size for the price. On my 8th visit there, I decided to venture past the burger section of their menu. I ordered the tofu scramble with hash browns and bacon. I thought the tofu would be scrambled with something but no, I just got pan fried tofu. The server also tried to serve me fa-con (fake bacon). Instead of bringing the correct order to the table, she explained that even though she placed the right order, the cook made the vegan bacon. I understand how one might be confused by the order but I still wanted the real bacon so I had to wait another 10 minutes for that to be made. Unhappy with fried tofu, I decided I needed to order a burger because I didn't want to leave unsatisfied and angry. When I ordered it, the server gave me a heads-up that it'd be a 20 to 30 minute wait. I looked around at the 4 to 5 other tables - some already with their food. I didn't understand the reason for the long wait but my dining companion guessed that they only have one frying pan and they cook using a hotplate. That would be the only acceptable explanation. Thankfully, Downbeat has a full bar. I went on a Thursday night and well drinks were $3.
(2)
Michelle L.
I think that little strip of Hotel Street in between Nuuanu and Smith shouldn't be considered Chinatown anymore because it's turning into anything but. I'm so happy a new restaurant is around that is not Mini Garden that is opened late (real late) and won't charge an arm and leg for food. Downbeat is definitely eclectic but that's what makes it fun! The employees are really friendly and if you happen to sit at the bar with the other patrons, they are really chill as well. The food isn't out of this world amazing but it definitely hits the spot. On my first visit, I got my meat patty switched with my friend's and it was dry. I didn't care because I was too drunk to comprehend on what I was stuffing into my face. A trend I did notice after a few visits are their fries tend to be on the softer side. I love crispy fries and these don't really cut it for me but being a potato lover, I still eat them. Downbeat is opened until 3AM everyday except for Friday and Saturday which is until 4AM. I highly recommend this diner for those looking to sober up or if you're in the area craving a yummy burger.
(4)
Natalie K.
This place is so comforting to me. I used to spend weekend nights hanging out in the diner, listening to music, and eating greasy vegan food. It is fun and delicious. My favorite menu items: vegan bbq wings, vegan pesto chicken sandwich, vegan Teri chicken sandwich, and as of today.. The vegan toffee shake. It's awesome to bring all different types of people here, because the menu offers vegetarian, vegan, and meat items for all types of diets. Definitely worth checking out.
(5)
Chad Y.
Downbeat Diner is definitely located in a place where you might be if you were down on your luck. However if the mood for food should strike as you are parlaying in First Friday activities or you simply happen to be in the downtown or Chinatown neighborhood, Downbeat offers some good food that isn't Chinese! They offer a good menu, good service, and a nice ambiance. The menu isn't wide reaching by any means, but it makes up for it in its stellar menu items. Whether you want breakfast, sandwiches, or a burger, it will have something will aim to please. Is the loco moco the best on the island? I beg to disagree with Hawaii 5-0. It's not bad, however it didn't truly wow me. The BBQ chicken sandwich had great flavors with just the right amount of heat, however the toasted bread was almost rubbery and just a let down. The burgers were good and the buns nicely toasted with just the right amount of char while staying moist. Let's be honest...dessert is hard to mess up and is the one area where Downbeat shines. Their shakes are quite good, thick with just the right amount of flavor, whether it be chocolate or vanilla. While the banana fritter shines quite nicely with just the right amount of batter to the ripe, but firm banana. Service is a bit lackluster, there is no way around it. It always has appeared that they are under-staffed, even when they haven't been that busy. does that mean service is bad? No, just a little bit un-attentive. Parking is the one pain. It is always not available in Chinatown, however if you are willing to spring for it, the garage at Marks Garage is just up the street and of course there are municipal lots available in the neighborhood. One tip: Avoid when there is a first Friday, however it does offer a good food option if you are there!
(3)
Sarah L.
We ended up here because Nextdoor was totally dead. Wish we never came here. They didn't have the beer I wanted, apparently it was sold out. Which is understandable since I was trying to order hipster tall can PBR. What made this place suck was the fact that they took forever and a fucking day to make my friend's egg sandwich. It doesn't take thirty minutes to make an egg sandwich...what are they doing? Slaughtering the pretend pigs for the vegan bacon back there? Get the fuck outta here. Ain't nobody got time for that! I didn't order shit from this spot. Thank goodness, or else I would have been dying of old age by the time it got to my table. Gave it two stars because, the place looks cool, and the waitress was pretty cool. Other than that go to fucking Jack In The Box.
(2)
Matt M.
Small quesadilla, no where near filling even with chicken added. Female bartender has no manners and if you don't understand her explanation, she treats you like you're retarded, or shakes her head and refuses to answer like the question was inappropriate, I got both responses asking about which of two options had more quantity after the quesadilla didn't get me close to full and she couldn't let me buy a side of fries for less than $6. She questioned the word quantity as if it was a rude question and decided to order whatever she wanted. No manners, no customer service, no skill. I used to like this place until recently.
(2)
Timothy P.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Let the new year be rung in by a brand new baby business on hotel street! For the longest time, Manifest was quite lonely on the other side of the street of Bar35, thirtyninehotel, and NextDoor. This is pretty genius; these bars needed a late night diner joint - considering the closest up until now was Liliha Bakery. Downbeat is really cute and swank. If you ever been to Mercury Bar, this is the exact same eclectic crowd that Betsy Johnson, herself, would wet her panties over. Joyous punk, ska, rockabilly clientele fill this diner with their drunken bohemian laughter and murmur. The decor is very classic americana diner meets the circus. The menu: Burgers, sammiches, loco moco, french toast for around 8 bucks. All of the menu has a vegetarian option. They advertise vegan on their menu, but I have my doubts because of things like "vegan bacon" paired with swiss cheese (NOT VEGAN). I'll need to go back for clarification on whether they have truly vegan options or not. Our waiter, none other than whats-his-face-from-86List (Josh?) whom I've bought cheesecake from at Otto Cake. He takes our order. I order a western burger and a 5 dollar shake. He informs me they are out of bacon and he can substitute "vegan bacon." Fine with me. My friends order Loco Mocos. In a few minutes he brings out... icecream-less shakes because they are all out. He informs us that he'll charge us only $3 and walks away. WTF NO. The appeal of a 5 dollar shake is because it is a FIVE DOLLAR SHAKE. Hasn't anyone seen Pulp Fiction? Geez. 30 minutes must go by. Perhaps even longer. Our waiter suddenly becomes the bartender and is no longer waiting upon us. We find another waiter to add fries to our order. We see him tell our waiter-now-bartender. Another lifetime later - a waitress we've never seen before brings out my burger and two loco mocos come out with no fries. We inform her and she tries to quickly fetch us the fries. In the meantime, lets talk about the burger. DRY DENSE UNSEASONED OVERCOOKED. Where was the promised BBQ sauce? Also- my vegan bacon was completely missing. Same went for the loco moco burgers, but also the eggs were overcooked too! A few minutes later the fries come out. And we've all seen Mean Girls - when you accidentally say something cruel it's called word vomit. I totally had word vomit. "I've seen corpses that look better than this." and I wasn't kidding. The fries weren't cooked in hot enough oil. No crisp, completely soaked in the oil, and GREY in color. We didn't even bother touching this. Ideally this review should be 2.5 stars, because I really think this place is necessary in this area and love the vibe. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they had terrible opening night jitters. --- DOWNGRADED! After writing this review, they decided to write plenty of phoney reviews, one of which called my review lame. Not very professional, Downbeat!
(1)
Jordana F.
I'm here at 1230 am after a pau hana event and I can't quite remember how we got here but we ordered the sampler. It has mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, and buffalo wings. We also ordered drinks and I don't really know how I'm capable of writing this review but thank goodness for spell check! Anyways food is really good, the drinks are good and the prices are decent. Try it if you're ever in the area! It's not too crowded and the decor is simple and a little modern. It can be intimate but good for groups as well :)
(4)
Riana S.
Alright, I've been here three times and I really really want to love this place but...I'm having a hard time :( The first time I came here with Thomas O. the service was okay, for some reason I felt like the waitress was judging me? But anyway, came here to eat, not be judged. I ordered the teri burger and it was okay. They didn't have milk, only vegan milkshakes so it made the chocolate milkshake kind of runny and not as creamy. Overall it was a pretty expensive meal for okay taste. To burn time before an event at Next Door, Kristen O. and I came here to eat dessert. We ordered the mac-nut brownie with ice cream and it was super delicious and they nuked the brownie :) the waitress was very nice and attentive (I believe the singer from Narwhal?). My eyes were hungier so I ended up not eating the whole thing. It's better to split it between two people. This dish was worth it for its price. A few days ago I came here with Nicole K. after Bar35. She ordered the green eggs & ham and I ordered the BLAT. My sandwich was mediocre, the only great part about it was the avocado, it could have done with more bacon (come on, bread is thick! BACONNN!) I had a couple bites of Nicole's pesto eggs and they were really yummy. I think I'm just ordering the wrong things. I'll keep trying haha.
(3)
Jasmind T.
Love Downbeat! Its a [slightly] cheaper alternative to the eateries on Hotel St, and the only diner! As a native East Coaster I crave diner food after a night of drinking. I like the decor and vibe of this place, and the fact that they have a full bar and specialty drinks. The quesadillas and fries (volcano fries sans cheese being my fave) are really good, and so are the burgers. The staff is young, friendly, artsy and just cool (NOTE: Do not eat here if you're visibly intoxicated, they don't like that, lol). The only thing that prevents me from giving it 5 stars is...WHERE'S THE BREAKFAST?! I like pancakes and bacon at 1am...I'm sure I'm not the only one, this is a diner after all. I do really like Downbeat, great place to eat before or after a night out on Hotel St.
(4)
Patrice D.
I thought this place was awesome! I had the vegan chili and rice. Absolutely love how they have vegan options for everything. Will definitely be going here again!
(5)
Lani A.
Love this place! The food could be a bit better but having vegan choices is wonderful seeing as my boyfriend won't touch meat with a 20ft pole. The service is generally on it, it's sometimes lacking when it's busy but that's completely understandable. Its a reasonable quality/quantity of food and drinks for a decent price.
(5)
Paola R.
Their buffalo chicken sandwich was very delicious and surprisingly light! Normally when I get this type of sandwich elsewhere, I feel really guilty and fat afterward. But this wasn't so bad at all. A friend told me that they serve vegan versions of any of their sandwiches. I'll have to come back later and try them out!
(4)
Vivian H.
So we tried out Downbeat Diner & Lounge because 1) I had a Groupon & 2) it was listed in Best of Honolulu (Honolulu magazine). It is on Hotel street so your best bet is to park in the municipal parking lot (if you're not going to be there late). We get there and shown a booth but then we weren't greeted or given menus for about 10 minutes. Now if we had just sat down and no one saw us, then I'd understand but someone who worked there pointed out the booth to us! We both ordered the American burger with grilled onions (mine sans the house sauce) & an order of gravy fries. As the burgers are Big Island free-range beef, I was looking forward to it as I find the taste of this beef is just so yummy. The burgers came out and I wasn't quite blown away by it. It was good but not "OMG I want to stuff my face with this all the time" good. I had also ordered a vanilla shake and it took FOREVER. My first inquiry on it revealed that she forgot to put the order in. My second inquiry on it when I was nearly done with my burger revealed that she made it but forgot to give it to me. The shake was good and thankfully she comped it as it was melted by the time I got it. Overall, I think that this place is probably much more appealing when you've already been out all night and had a few to drink. At which point you won't notice the long wait and just O.K. food. The saving grace was due to the comped shake & my Groupon, I only had to leave a tip.
(2)
Gayle S.
Stopped in here for a late night snack with a friend... we were in Chinatown, and had just missed the bus we were trying to catch... with an hour until the next bus, we dipped into Downbeat to split a quick sandwich. The turkey club was pretty awesome... we were just drinking water, since we had imbibed a bit much earlier (I don't even remember where we were earlier that night lol)... Took a while for someone to come take our order, but it seems that there was a bit of a rush, and we were the last ones in. When we ordered we mentioned that we didn't have a lot of time, which she took to heart! She brought our food out packed to go, so we ate what we could (I finished my portion, but my friend is a light eater), and since we had a box and bag already, we closed it back up and ran back out to the bus! And guess what? We made it! :) Thanks Downbeat!!
(4)
Alicia D.
I really like downbeat. In fact i love down beat. I usually go here to start off my night and end of my night. A great range of diner food. They also serve good drinks on the kitchen side. Good place to go during happy hour as well. They have a really great selection for your vegan friends. They have very nice staff who are so patient even when your one of the annoying drunk ones in the place. Its always very clean, even the bathrooms. Open till 4am which rocks. Go there to satisfy all your cravings. nom
(5)
Nikki N.
I'm always down to have breakfast for dinner and had the monte cristo which was ok. Overall, I was distracted on how the bartender kept on talking about himself and the awful bloody and graphic b movie they we're showing. Customers, especially ones with children, really want to see that when they are eating dinner. TVs in restaurants are distracting and tacky and meant for sports bars.
(3)
Danielle S.
I've never been here prior to 12am, but it is the BEST late night grub venue. Usually an interesting crowd. Great late night people watching.
(5)
Jill B.
Finally some real food on Hotel St! I was at the brink of starvation and the friend I was with suggested we try "that new organic vegan free range chicken diner across from 39Hotel". Instantly intrigued, I readily agreed. Even as we walked into Downbeat, the modern diner decor and cozy feel was enough to have me praying to the gods that the food and service would be up to snuff enough for me to make this a regular stop on my Chinatown circuit. We sat at the bar and our very friendly bartender - Serena - gave us menus and gave us the breakdown about their alcohol policy. (Assumably until they get their liquor license?) The alcohol is free but they do ask for a VOLUNTARY donation. There are a few different beer choices and liquor choices but the mixers list is pretty short but it's only been open a couple of weeks so I'm sure these things will change in time. Anyway, back to the food. Even though I usually hate gravy, I was really hungry and I do like eggs, rice, and hamburger steak so I ordered the loco moco with gravy on the side. My friend ordered the BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Tomato) with vegan bacon with garlic fries. While we waited for our food my friend had a beer and I chatted with the bartender and one of the servers. Some of it was haring the story of running out of food and being beyond slammed during their grand opening on New Year's Eve - a bold choice for a grand opening since it's usually such a circus EVERYWHERE on NYE. Needless to say, I'm glad I didn't discover this place on such an off night. Our food arrived pretty promptly and I dug in immediately. The loco moco was great! I'm super picky about loco moco and, as mentioned usually HATE gravy but their very well seasoned patty over the hapa rice and eggs paired perfectly with their gravy (which was white gravy, not brown). The tried my friend's BLAT which was also great. The bread was toasted well and the vegan bacon was pretty good. Plus, they have avocado! And it's not depressing slivers of avocado but still sliced thin enough to fit in your mouth. The garlic fries were OK but a little on the soggy side. After inhaling my food I didn't have room for dessert but I'm definitely coming back to this place again... maybe just for dessert if that part of the menu is catered by Otto! Overall this place is great! They seem to be working out some kinks and working with a strong learning curve but I strongly suspect that things will only get better at Downbeat. The prices are great (all entrees are between $7 & $8), the food is amazing and the ingredients are a little on the healthier side. Plus, they're actually open 6 days a week and late enough to catch the post-bar crowd! I'm interested to see how next month's First Friday goes for them but I know I'll DEFINITELY be stopping by again (probably several times) before that happens.
(4)
Misty P.
I don't know about the food, but we only stopped in here after visiting Bar 35 and got a Guiness and Sailor Jerry milkshake. Totally unique and yummy! Service was friendly and fast and even though we didn't order food, our waiter brought us all waters and consistently refilled the glasses. We didn't feel rushed or anything. I'd definitely come back again to try their food when I have more time.
I've been coming to Downbeat Diner on & off for a while for lunch. In the past I've had their chicken pesto sandwich & loco novo dishes & wanted to try their Chicken & Waffles after seeing it mentioned in Frolic Hawaii recently. I didn't see it on their lunch menu & upon inquiry, our server stated that it's only available on Sunday. My back up choice was their Mac & Cheese $5.00 (and I added the bacon option $1.50). It was pretty good, rich, creamy & satisfying. I couldn't finish it, probably because I had a chai milkshake $5.50 (which was also awesome) so my Mac & Cheese leftovers are in my mini fridge. Their prices are pretty low. Everything our group ordered was under $10 & my co workers both had sandwiches or burgers & both items were only $8. Service is quick & friendly.
(4)
Erica A.
Somehow, some way, I always end up at Downbeat Diner after a fun night in Chinatown. They have good food at a decent price, and most importantly, they have vegetarian and vegan options. (Sometimes, they get vegan orders mixed up with non-vegans ones, which can be annoying, but it's a rare occurrence.) The diner itself has a very cool vibe, with movies projecting on one of the walls, a vast and unique drink selection- including but not limited to, spiked milkshakes- and of course the pop icons printed on the upholstery of all the booths. Downbeat Lounge is connected to Downbeat Diner, with a door inbetween. They have a small stage that is great for bands, and they have a good sound system for different dance nights. The Lounge has their own specialty drinks, which are served in mason jars and pretty tasty. The service is okay, they're usually kind of slow and a little passe... but considering how hipster this place is, it kind of goes. And since we've been here so many times, it's obviously not bad enough to discourage us, lol. They have different events throughout the week, such as brunch on weekends with mimosas and bloody maries, and Taco and Tequila Tuesdays. If you are vegan, and love chocolate, do NOT leave here without trying the vegan chocolate chunk brownie. Side note: It's always hilarious that I order the Vegan BLAT ("bacon", lettuce, avocado, tomato sandwhich) and my husband literally orders the Carnivore burger. Maybe that's why they mix up my order and accidentally give me meat sometimes...
(4)
Hunter H.
Downbeat Diner is such an enjoyable place to relax and eat. The service is very consistent and the food was delicious. The vegetarian option is great as well, I'll be back for sure!
(5)
Val M.
Awesome vegan diner food. I have enjoyed everything so far....the food, the cocktails, the service, the ambience, EVERYTHING
(5)
Amina P.
I am in the midst of a love hate relationship with DownBeat. Every piece of food I have ever had here is great diner food. Every encounter I have with a server/bartender has upset me. I am not regular enough apparently, so the ignoring game is played well and often. Eaten here at least 15 times, will eat there again, simply due to the food and location. However, not nearly as often as I would if they had mandatory personality classes upon hiring.
(3)
Kuuipo D.
DownBeat saved me & my hubby from having a crappy night. Let me set up the story: I was looking on Yelp for our next adventure when I found this ice cream place in Chinatown (I will not name the place). The hours were listed as open until 11pm. It was 8:30 pm, so off we go! We got there in 20 minutes (no, we were not speeding), found street parking, only to discover the ice cream place was closed!!! UGH!!!! As we were walking back to our car, we noticed that Chinatown has a busy nightlife. Even as it was 9pm, a lot of places were still open. We looked around and discovered DownBeat Diner. It wasn't too busy so we went in. Thank God we did!! When we walked in, we felt this vibe going on. It was like hipster-cool. The seats and menus had the coolest design. It was celebrity faces. Bill Murray on my menu! In fact, his face was next to me on my bench! We were greeted by one of the coolest waitresses I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She asked us if it was our 1st time. When we said yes, she gave us a run down on the menu and the vegan options! Woohoo! (I'm not vegan, but when I have options, I feel like I could be.) AND, just a side note, the water boy was on point! Our water glasses were ALWAYS full! I ordered the volcano fries. They are fries with gravy, cheese, garlic, and some type of fiery goodness. So, so good! On top of that, I ordered the meaty loco moco (with Big Island beef). The patty was light, something I really appreciate. The gravy was not too salty, so thanks for that! Hubby had a American burger with a salad. (It made me feel guilty for what I ate.) Now, if you have read my reviews before, you know I ALWAYS dedicate a separate paragraph for dessert. We ordered the salted chocolate chip cookie sundae. Two cookies, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and nuts (or without). Bring it! It didn't come. Our waitress said they only had vegan cookies. ALRIGHT! Bring that then. It was beautifully simple, but oh, so delicious. We couldn't even tell that it was a vegan cookie. I just know it was GOOOOOD!!!! Thank you, DownBeat Diner for turning our crappy evening into a memorable one!
(5)
Allison D.
I left Downbeat full...of disappointment. I used to LOVE this place. I was their number one advocate. But, unfortunately, the last couple of times I've been there the service has been incredibly subpar. My partner and I had lunch at Downbeat this last Saturday and the experience is what has caused me to update my review. We walked in to a somewhat full restaurant and sat down. My partner ordered the egg breakfast with bacon. He received the egg breakfast with Portuguese sausage. I ordered a grilled cheese with tomato on wheat bread. If you look at my last review, you'll see I raved about their grilled cheese. Unfortunately, it has fallen from grace. I received a grilled cheese on sourdough with the cheese barely melted. I really dislike sourdough bread which is why I had specifically asked for wheat bread. I attempted twice to flag down our waiter by raising my hand and saying "excuse me" to ask for a side of ranch but was ignored both times. The waiter did not come by once to ask if our meal was ok so we never got the chance to explain to them they messed up on our order. I won't be back for the food, but would go back for drinks in the lounge.
(2)
Jozlyn H.
I like this place!!!!! It's pretty chill, hip and they have a wonderful vegan selection!!! I'm not vegan, but I love that they have this option because I can bring my friend here without being limited!!! Plus.... Their vegan food is pretty tasty!! I only have them 4 starts because service...... Could have been a little better. It was t that busy... But it seemed liked server didn't pay attention to us. Not a biggie because I'll definitely be back. Atmosphere: I came here on Saturday night. Restaurant was fairly busy but we were still able to sit right away. Chill, hip and casual Service: could be better. Not that bad... But wasn't the greatest experience of mine. Didn't affect my decision to come here tho Food: the fact that they can make vegan food taste that good was awesome in itself I'm will be back here... I want to try their other menu items! I had the vegan chili nacho... And my vegan friend had the vegan loco moco. thumbs up!!!
(4)
Don N.
We've been coming here for the past year, finally posting a review! One of the few spots in Chinatown open on Sunday's, they are a great choice for brunch and even have brunch drink specials. Food: always spot on whether you choose regular, vegetarian, or vegan. This time I tried the Avo Sammy, great light sandwich with fresh avocado, tomato, lettuce on toasted bread. Simple enough but delish. Had their maple bacon old fashioned, crispy thick cut bacon in a bourbon old fashion. Smoky, salty, crispy, with a sweet finish...yum! Service: Friendly, attentive servers. Since they were one of the few places open in the area, the restaurant was crowded with one waitress. She managed all of the tables efficiently and took care of all the customers. Atmosphere: Funky, Dive-ish, diner decor. Clean with a cool vibe. I like it as it gives it their distinctive personality. Value: Great prices, good portion sizes, make this place a plus in the value category. My Avo Sammy, side of fries, and Old fashioned only set me back $15. Overall a great place for people looking to get unique drinks with healthy diner food.
(4)
Mikey H.
I love coming down to Chinatown, and there's some great restaurants that have opened, but my only problem is that most of them close at 2...or shall I say they stop serving at 1:30. We had walked by Downbeat on past visits, and were pretty happy that they are open all day. Low key and chill dining area....friendly greeting when we entered. Cool booths! I ordered a natural ginger ale...very refreshing! They have a number of items to choose from. I ordered the club sandwich with garlic fries, the partner had the pesto chicken with curly fries. Both came out in a timely manner and tasted great! It was around 2 pm so it wasn't that crowded which was nice. I'm sure it can be a zoo. Our waitress/bartender was very friendly and had that 50s pin up girl look...very cute! I will definitely be back. Such a great little gem in Chinatown and one that's open past the standard 2 pm.
(4)
Raelyn B.
When you travel with more than one other person it gets a bit difficult to try and coordinate where to eat, especially if one of those people are a vegetarian or a vegan of some kind. So taking into consideration that specific food option and being able to fill everyone's tummy can be frustrating. But no fear. In Chinatown there is a great a place for you vegan and veggie friends to get their fill along with your meat hungry friends. They have vegan burgers, vegan bbq wings, salads, breakfast, drinks and milkshakes. Heck you can even bring your momma's mom along to this shin dig and make her feel Forever 21 with the music they play. When I visited the mix of 80's and 70's music can take you back and if you're anything like my friends we love to sing and if we know the song we're sure to sing along. FYI the vegan bbq sticks taste like they're not vegan.. or maybe idk what vegan tastes like but it tasted like chicken. So when my lover-of-meats friend had some he didn't mind it. "Tasty," he says. Their burgers come with a $3 add on of fries or salad and you can choose between a cajun, garlic, curly or regular fries and wanting all the fries you can ever have picking just one is a challenge. So this time I opted for garlic with my Teriyaki burger that comes with grilled mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese. It was delicious, very filling after the first half of my sandwich. I couldn't finish - it's sitting here with me as write this review. It's a cool, hipster-esque place where the waiters all have died bright hair and tattoos. The waiters are not only look cool, but they actually are cool. The booth seating makes you feel like you're at a diner and the design of various artists give the splash of hipster. Chinatown is turning into a great place. This hot spot is between Lucky Belly and the Manifest on Hotel St. Municipal parking is about one or two blocks away (cheapest ones) but if you're on no Chinatown parking budget theres parking lots right around the corner on Smith st.
(4)
Kimberly D.
We pretty much waited 10-15 minutes for our food, but it was WORTH THE WAIT!!! It was my first time there & tbh, I'm coming back. Good service, friendly people & very reasonable price.. Thanks guys!
(4)
Bri M.
I've been to this place way too many times to count. I should have written a review sooner but here I am. If you're looking for delicious food, good company, and great service, here it is. Downbeat is by far my favorite go-to place in Chinatown. They have Brunch on Sundays and Taco Tuesdays if you're into that sort of thing. I am. If you ever find yourself hungover after a night of debauchery, the breakfast burrito or loco moco is the best cure. They also have vegan options for most of their delicious meals which are as good if not better than the original.( vegan chicken wings I'm looking at you) It's self seating and very relaxed. The staff is a friendly bunch of cool characters you Can ask for anything you might want. Want something sweet? Try one of their chocolate chip sundaes (also offered in vegan) or one of their delicious mason-jar milkshakes. Go to Downbeat!
(5)
Gil G.
I know my food hasn't even come yet. But knowing the quality and consistency of DownBeat... No worries. Sunday morning, post holiday with loads of folks in Chinatown, this place is rocking! The bartender and server are working so hard, yet they have consistently served and maintained a full restaurant without any flaws. From a management standpoint, I would have had more staffing, however, these two are saving the day! kudos! The Breakfast Burrito arrived and the Michelada was tasty and spicy. The bar filled up and these two, continued to provide flawless service. On the best of days from my previous visits, usually around the same time, I have never witnessed exceptional performance as I have today! Hana Hou to Rian and Dell!
(5)
Sunny Joy B.
Fun for the whole FAMILIA! Dad: twoFULL BARs Uncle: twoFULL BARs. Mom: twoFULL BARs. Auntie: twoFULL BARs. Niece: Gluten-Free Friendly. G-Ma: Raw Local Band Action. Sisters: Hot Bros. Bros: Hot Sisters. Kids: Handmade Milkshakes. Cavemen: Beef. Mine: Vegan Pesto Chicken Sandwich, Curly Fries w/ Vegan Ranch, Vegan (Coconut Ice Cream) Oreo Shake. MGMT: Do I get a prize for being review number 420?
(5)
Dwayne Y.
So we just went here for dessert. This place has a cool vibe. We went here after we had dinner at Livestock Tavern. Anyway we had the cheesecake and the Brownie Sundae. The cheesecake was quite small and nothing special. It was ok. The brownie sundae was anything you could have made at home. The two desserts was ok, but nothing special. Service was nice here though.
(3)
Allx M.
Awesome place to support a local dinner/bar. Thy alwayyyys have events happening and there food is simple but tasty! I come here when I'm craving a awesome milkshake . It's totally with the scene in Chinatown but it's bt weird for a family to come in or anything. Also, good music playing, always. Super important note lol
(5)
Bubba S.
This place is the bomb bradda's and sista's! Always great food and service.....y'all best check em out!!! Prices are good just parking can be tough....check em out now ya hear....You'll be glad you did!!!
(5)
Kara P.
Love all the vegan options... Great drinks and fun environment. .Jaz is my favorite bartendress!!
(5)
Damon P.
A wonderful old school diner with new school vibe, or vice versa. Food is awesome, people are cool. In the heart of chinatown. My favorite place for a burger. The cheeseburger is the best in town. Late night hours are a huge plus. PARKING: metered street - free after 6 PM, municipals
(5)
Ben M.
I don't know what was going in last night. Was it people just having a bad night all exploding at once, or was that the level of chaos they call normal. I'm hoping it was just a bad night because I don't if much more could have gone worse. The saving grace was the reggae band that was playing next door in the music / bar area. (Ionz and the Shimabukus) We got there around 9:30 PM as they were doing a shift change, meeting a larger group who had had dinner and drinks there. The waitress who was leaving was very busy but still greeted us. We sat with our group and decided on what to drink. She told us the name of the guy taking her place if we wanted drinks. We called out to the guy at least three different times over a 20-30 minute period, and went as far to chant his name as a fun way to pass the time, still no answer, glance or acknowledgement. We ended up getting up and going to the bar, that was the next interesting experience. The bar tender seemed to either be having a bad night or just be spewing a ton of negativity left and right. The odd part is they (using "they" to avoid getting someone in trouble, this is good feedback for change not to be malicious) stopped to describe the drinks we were ordering. (Chinatown Zombies...woah strong!) Seemed out of place but was welcome after they yelled at a patron who was waiting 15-20 minutes for drinks they ordered that the server forgot about. They were at the bar melting and being ruined. We were able to get that round and another, but the service was beyond bad. The bar had no flow and the vibe was not positive. After a few drinks we decided to try our hand at the other side. Saving grace! Bartenders on the "music venue" side and bar was much better! They were quick and efficient. The live music was fun and welcome after the vibe of the other side. Two stars instead of one because of the music side. Bathroom had just a toilet as the urinal was out of order. The bathroom was clean which was nice. I liked the flat screens and projector playing a movie with subtitles. I will try them out again sometime in the distant future, at least a good place with AC to get some food and drinks, I will go in with low expectations and hope they have stepped it up!
(2)
Jamie S.
Hands down the cutest hipster diner in town. This place has never disappointed me, I've never had to wait for a table or experienced bad service. Must try: volcano fries, everything you could ever ask for. When you think fries on steroids, this is it! Chunky Monkey milk shake: a perfect combination of deliciousness BLAT: your typical BLT but with the added bonus of avocado which takes it to a whole other level of awesomeness Cajun Chicken wrap: tried this for the first time recently. Could have a stronger kick of Cajun, but still satisfying. The chicken is definitely on the dry side and chopped tomatoes are scarce. I give this an overall rating of 3/5. I'm not a Vegan, but pretty much for a fee everything on the menu can be made Vegan. Parking: typical downtown parking issues. Street metered parking or paid lots. I usually park in the municipal garage and pay $2-3.
(4)
Keun W.
People seem to have great things to say about this place, but our experience was different. They needed more help, because we waited for a long time for our food. My friend returned her dish, but the waitress never came over to fixed the order or check in on us. So, my friend just gave up. Finally, the waitress comes to clean our table (to basically kick us out) and says, "Oh. She's over it, huh?" Well, yeah! You never came to get our order or check up on us!!! Rude she gave the table next us apologies and a complimentary dish, yet nothing for us when it was their fault!! The food is over priced and the service was terrible. The only reason I am giving a star is for the fries.
(1)
Angela D.
This is our favorite place on the island. The vegetarian options are as plentiful as the meat options and they are all delicious. When I come here, I always eat too much. I continue to order the vegetarian Reuben sandwich with fries and there are veggie barbecue "wings" that I cannot get enough of. The chili cheese fries are yummy, the American veggie burger is great and the Buffalo chicken sandwich rocks (and is hot!). Beer selection is good and the TV is often playing some quirky movie that attracts your attention. Only thing I wish they would change is their hours. I came here for breakfast once only to find out they don't open until 11 am! What diner does that?
(5)
Kris B.
Two stars for the diner, adding another one for the lounge. I've tried the diner several times now, and I don't know why I end up here time and again. Atmosphere is appropriate to that hipster Chinatown culture. The lounge area is fun when they have the live bluegrass music, but the area can get quite cramped. In my opinion, the lounge is superior to the diner. The servers are usually nice but maaaaannn is service slow at the diner! I usually go during the later hours of night and I don't eat much. One night I ordered the Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae which is every person's late night dream snack. Hard to mess up right? Just heat up a couple day old cookies and top it off with ice cream. But no! I had what a friend called a "charcoal chip" cookie, which made me laugh on the outside and cry on the inside. Whyyyeeeeee! Burned to a black crisp (and I could smell it too), must I pay $5 for carcinogens? Knowing my track record, will probably end up coming here again because they have late night hours but ...whyeeeee...
(3)
Sally F.
Sometimes you go to a diner hoping for bad coffee and a laid back atmosphere. This is not that diner. You want to like this place and keep coming back because you're drunk and hungry and nothing else is open but every time you wonder why you came back. Waiters are awful and too cool to use proper manners or even be friendly while serving you. Always understaffed. Loooooong wait times. This goes for the bar and the cafe. They just don't know how to do their jobs and are hired on the basis of indie band knowledge and whether they own a pair of doc martens or not.
(1)
Mariko K.
After living in Hawaii for eight years I finally tried a loco moco yesterday and I specifically tried it here after finding out they serve it with brown rice and they have vegetarian and vegan options. I hate greasy spoon food, so I figured that if they have these options it's a good indicator that they are using quality ingredients. I was right and it was delicious! The burger patty was very good, I really liked the seasonings used. Also, I appreciated the generous portion size, I took half home and ate the rest for breakfast today. At the same time, I think DownBeat ruined me for loco moco, I can't imagine it tasting as good anywhere else so I'm only going to eat it here. My friend got the zombie drink, which was pretty much straight up alcohol :) My friend and I were jealous of how cool our waitress was, haha. We liked the vibe a lot and especially enjoyed that they were playing kitten videos on their tv screens.
(5)
Alex S.
What needs to be said first is that there is a diner eatery area of Downbeat (which is where I went) but there is also a stage with live music and bar area next door, both are called Downbeat. When I first arrived with my friends at Downbeat we went to the bar in the diner and waited for a table to open. The girl behind the bar was super nice and got our drinks very fast. This was the highlight of the night and it went down from here. When we got to our table our orders were taken and we ordered more drinks. 20 min later one of my friends had to remind them that he ordered a drink. 10 more minutes later he finally got his drink. After waiting way too long for our food we ask the waitress to check on our food and she just says that "They only had 2 cooks and they were busy." It was a Saturday night, yes they were busy, but wouldn't you expect to be busy on a Saturday night? Finally, after what felt like and age we finally get our food. The food was very good. I got their American burger and it was a good burger. My friend got their breakfast burger and it looked amazing. The food is why I gave them 2 stars and not 1. After finishing our food we ask for the check. 25 min later we finally get them. I put a 20 down to pay my check and the waiter didn't even ask me if the extra was for tip or if I wanted change back he just took it. At this point I was tired of waited and just wanted to leave so I didn't press the issue. We left wanting much more and being severely disappointed. Maybe if the staff wasn't dancing and just hanging out with random guests they could have helped the kitchen and done their job faster. Might be a good place if you are the only ones being served. I do not plan on coming back or recommending it to anyone.
(2)
Kristine C.
I am definitely a fan. I enjoy going here for milk shakes and their BLAT. Friends and I have been here during First Fridays and it is a pretty fun dive to hang out at. The atmosphere is super kick back, friendly and it is divey. The staff are super friendly as well. The only downfall is the wait. It can get lengthy if you don't get here early enough. But that only goes to show that people would to come here for everything! Drink happy, eat happy and sing along with the crowd during an awesome tune while socializing is the way to do it here. Side note: You can enjoy Netflix on projection screen while dining in at night.
(4)
Briana Y.
The service wasn't good. We ordered the fajita wrap and the Monte Cristo and enjoyed neither. The best part of the meal was probably the veggie buffalo wings appetizer.
(2)
Jeana P.
On February 20, 2015 I went down to the Downbeat Diner and Lounge for the first time on my night off from work. I arrived around 7:25pm. Lounge Take 1 -- I stepped into the lounge area and noticed that it was practically empty. I sat at one of the high tables and waited like a good 5 minutes to see if the bartender would approach me to ask if I wanted anything to drink. No greetings whatsoever from the bartender. I ended up using the restroom and left the lounge area. Diner -- I made my way to the diner side of the business. It was pretty busy. I was greeted by the waitress and the bartender. I went straight to the bar seating and the bartender hands me the menu as well as asking me on what I would like to drink. I ordered a Coke/Sprite mix to drink and settled for the Club Sandwich with french fries. While having my meal I was able to watch DINOSAURS on the flat screen television. As I am chewing on my food the bartender asked if everything was okay....all I could do was nod my head and give a thumbs up. My drink was almost gone and the bartender asked if I wanted another drink....I asked for a Ketel OJ. I received the Ketel OJ plus a refill on the Coke/Sprite mix. Found out the bartender's name is Chris (thanks to another customer who started to chat with the bartender). Finished eating my meal as well as my drinks. I paid for my tab and mentioned to Chris "I'm going to head on over to the lounge side and listen to the music," He says, "Perfect timing....they are almost done with the preparations." Left the diner at 8:30pm. Lounge Take 2 -- I make my way back to the lounge area. I noticed that it got a little crowded. The sound equipment guy greeted me. I stood near the wall and watched the remaining scenes of CABLE GUY on the flat screen television. I noticed a seat at the bar got vacated so I went straight to that seat and got comfortable. I witnessed the changing of shifts at 9pm. A different bartender...at least this person acknowledged me by making small talk with me. I had to ask him "What time does the music normally starts?" "Around 9:30pm or later" was his reply. I looked at my watch and it was 9:30pm. I told him "The only reason why I am down here is to listen to the music. Otherwise I'd be at home tonight (in my head I'm thinking {or at work})." 10pm comes....finally we have some live music going. First group was Drowning Dreamers (cd release party). The last two groups Ionz and Urchinz got the crowd dancing. There's a small dancing area in front of the stage. It gets crowded if there's a lot of people dancing. Found out my second bartender's name is Johnny (thanks to one of the other customers who called out his name). I was people watching at the same time of listening to the music. I noticed that Johnny helped other customers, I seen him hook up a keg for one of the beers, and I also noticed that he cleared some tables off of empty cups and napkins. I tried a couple of the signature cocktails....Lilikoi Sour (it really was sour) and the Lavender Collins (had whiskey in it). I also had Ketel OJ as my last drink for the night. Excellent service by both Chris and Johnny for acknowledging me as a customer. Now if only the live entertainment can start on time (9pm according to the printed free ticket that I had) then this establishment would receive more than just the 3 stars. BTW....Fridays and Saturdays last call for alcohol is at 2am but the diner side opens until 4am for food only. Live music I think is only on Friday nights and Saturday nights (?).
(3)
Jenna S.
Four stars? Most people must be drunk when they eat here because my experience was anything but. First off, the service was really slow, and two people came in well after us (after we ordered and had been waiting about 10 minutes) and they got their food before us! The food quality was very poor. Honestly they serve the same curly fries as Jack in the Box, and sadly at least Jack's fries come out HOT and they even have better sourdough bread than what I got on my sandwich. My grilled chicken was not juicy at all, and the when my nachos came out they were COLD too. The waitress gave us new nachos but they still tasted like crap. We also noticed the table across from us also sent their food back. The food they serve here is not worth the price and it's already pretty cheap. I really do not understand why this place has such high reviews. Save your money and go elsewhere, I only gave this place a shot because where I really wanted to go was closed on Sunday, and people had good things to say about it. Yelpers you let me down get off the fad wagon!
(1)
Randall H.
The place is great hands down, I would certainly come again & eat here. The service was friendly & constantly checked on us to see if we needed anything. Overall this was a good experience. Music was good also.
(4)
Mina M.
I love coming here! There's always something going on. This is a great place for burgers and milkshakes. On my most recent visit, Friday around 5pm, we had a table of 8 and they connected a table to the booth. I was on the end but it wasn't uncomfortable like I was gonna have people brush up against me every time they walk by. They were also playing Bob's Burgers on the projector +++ (!!!!!!!!!) I actually had a really bad craving for burgers and fries and this was literally a dream come true (can't get away from food even in my dreams.) - I usually get the American burger with garlic fries -drool- it comes on a nicely toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced onion, and melted cheese. I like to add the fries inside my burger for that little extra salt. I was in the mood for it to be medium and it was perfection. Yeah, perfection. - Their garlic fries are amazinggggggg but when aren't garlic fries amazing? - Their wings are also good and reasonably priced. - Mozzarella sticks tastes like how it should taste. Nice crunch with yummy breading and gooey cheese. - I had a sip of the chai milkshake - really good, you can taste the spices - Bacon milkshake - also good, tastes like bacon lol - Two of my friends always order the Ruben. - And they do really flavorful vegan burgers! Service is hit or miss. When it's busy, you may get checked on once or twice. And paying seems to take a while. Since our last visit was beginning of dinner, (5pm) waters were refilled and beers were brought over. We got everything we wanted. And the place didn't start filling up and until we were about to leave. The downside of this place is that they do not split checks if you have a party of 5 or more so bring cash if you can! Oh and parking. Try finding a spot on the street or pay the $12(!?) for the nearest parking lot like we did.
(5)
Amber B.
What's not to love about a place with a vegan option for most of the menu that's open late even on Sundays and has a bar? This is one of mine & hubby's favorite date-night locations! The only thing that I'm not a fan of is the location due to the lack of parking and sometimes crazy homeless peeps who come around late at night, which is the only time we ever go. (Just sayin, nothing against the homeless, but I definitely clutch my pearls a bit when I am walking around and see people yelling and coming towards me) But even the crazies aren't enough to deter me from eating there (as long as hubby is by my side) OR from a 5-star rating. I've never had a bad experience here, nor have I eaten anything on the menu that wasn't absolutely awesome. I hope they stay in business for a loooooong time!
(5)
Peter T.
So the draw of this place is slowly dying for me, really if not the only place where I could get brunch downtown on a Sunday without a wait AND if my kid didn't like it so much, would probably give up on it. I'm done with their breakfast, just not doing it for me anymore. Last time I was here got the chicken and waffles was meh at best; ditto the rest of the entire breakfast menu (see other reviews). Have repeated the burrito twice after my initial review and just not doing it for me either anymore, not sure why. Today decided to try the loco moco and was a big meh. The secret to a good loco moco in my opinion is the gravy and the gravy here wasn't cutting it; taste like the chicken and waffle gravy (more a flour based thick gravy) than proper brown beef gravy. Wasn't bad but wasn't good either, def forgettable. Irish coffee was excellent like always. Kid got her standard eggs and bacon though going to do a little rant here as this has happened the last three times now and it drives me nuts. So she orders "eggs + bacon, no potatoes, and white toast" every time and the last two servers (chicks, not the skinny gay dude) always bring her a side of eggs, side of bacon, and side of toast. Now look I understand you are probably doing that because toast doesn't come with the bacon+eggs breakfast menu item (and you can't seem to substitute toast for potatoes) and it's cheaper this way (and I appreciate that) but you don't need to bring it out on three small little side dish plates, obviously it's breakfast for her since she ordered it. It annoys the hell out of me (and even she finds it bemusing) that the staff can't just use some common damn sense and throw it all on one plate like a normal person would; how it's ordered or rung up is irrelevant to the presentation. On a similar vein, and this is a mixed bag, is hot chocolate. Look I know hot chocolate isn't the menu nor chocolate milk (or I don't think it is) for that matter and I super appreciate your server custom making chocolate milk + whip cream for my kid [as a compromise when she asked for hot chocolate but the server really understood what she wanted was whip cream] but is it really that much to ask to just stick it in a coffee mug and nuke it? Not asking for proper hot coco here. Ignoring that though kid loves the bacon and eggs here so we keep coming back plus the prices are right. Lastly I want to give kudos to the waitress today. White chick with blond/green hair and two stub pony tails (?). She was super friendly and my kid loved her; couldn't stop talking about how awesome she was after we left. On the grownup side, was no complaints either. She was fast, attentive, didn't screw the order up, and pleasant, everything one could ask for. Giving props where due.
(3)
Kurt M.
Honolulu is not a vegetarian or vegan friendly city. Thus, I was happy to come across this place during my stay. It's in Chinatown, making it centrally located. I was helped quickly and the servers were friendly. My food was always great (not fine-dining great but pretty damn good for a diner) and came quickly. I also appreciated that their menu was large and varied. The fact that it's also a bar with alcohol made me happy because boy, do I love drinking! And to top it off, they show entertaining movies which gives the solitary diner something to do while sitting at the bar eating their meal or drinking away their loneliness. I wish this place was in my neighborhood in Boston; I'd go frequently.
(5)
Jon H.
Argh. That sound of inner conflict truly sums up my feelings on Downbeat Diner and Lounge, and I hate saying that since I want to love this place so badly. Starting with their strengths and what they do well, Downbeat is a vegan-friendly diner wrapped in a trendily decorated package in the heart of downtown. They specialize in options aimed to please your (American) comfort food cravings without compromising on your dietary and culinary lifestyle choices. Speaking from personal experience, places like this make it extremely convenient for vegetarians and vegans alike. Having been a vegetarian for a good handful of years, it was always reassuring to know that whatever order I placed would be carefully prepared and not run the risk of me cheating on my diet. The food itself is generally pretty good as well. From veggie loco mocos to veggie "chicken" wings, there really is something for everyone on their menu. Speaking for myself, I am pretty partial to their chips and salsa and avocado quesadillas. But maybe my favorite thing on their menu is their milkshakes, which without trying to sound like an alcoholic, can be ordered spiked with the liquor of your choosing. I don't know about you, but there's just something so satisfying to me about that concept. And although every time I intend to order something different, I usually end up getting the strawberry milkshake with rum. What can i say, I love strawberries...even artificially flavored ones so it seems. The milkshakes aren't necessarily über strong, but there definitely is enough alcohol mixed in to give it a nice kick. And on a somewhat related note, one of Downbeat's greatest attributes is it's location and hour of operation. I cannot even count how many times Downbeat has provided a safe haven to eat-who am I kidding, i totally mean sober up-for me and my friends after a night out of bar hopping at nearby establishments. The fact that Downbeat is literally only a stone's throw away from places like Bar35 and Manifest, two places I frequent a lot, as well as being open late, make it one of the default "where to go?" options. With that all being said, and as big of a fan of their concept as I am, i can't give them a perfect rating because of a combination of two things: the wait time between order and the arrival of your food, and a past incident that occurred that could've potentially been so much more damaging/enraging given different circumstance. Starting with my gripe with the wait time, I try to be really understanding anywhere I go, and especially wanna give the benefit of the doubt when I factor in convenience and "life-saving"-ness. However, the food really seems to take forever and I'm honestly not sure what the reason for it is. I mean some of the more complex orders I can understand taking awhile, and I'm completely ok with that necessary wait. But when you end up waiting 30+ minutes for a Veggie Boat, which is basically assorted sticks of vegetables, more than a few eyebrows are gonna get raised. This is not trying to take anything away from the customer service, however, as every interaction I've had with staff at Downbeat has been quite friendly and excellent. Everyone here seems to genuinely like working there and it shows in their demeanor and positive attitudes. It's just that damn waiting that really takes away from their good points. And the second reason I can't give them 5 stars is on account of a "grudge," for a lack of better words, that I just can't shake. I previously mentioned that I was a vegetarian for awhile, and during that time I really appreciated places like Downbeat that provided diet-friendly options and made it clear that your food would be prepared worry-free. Anyway, one night my friends and I were eating at Downbeat and I ordered their BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) sandwich with a substitute of vegan bacon. Our orders arrived and we all began to eat. I'm not sure if you've ever sampled vegan bacon before, although it's pretty tasty it's nowhere near as good as the real thing. It just can't match that flavor, texture, or smokiness. With this in mind, I'm a couple bites into my sandwich, when I think to myself, "Damn, this is the BEST vegan bacon I've ever had! I swear it's the real thing!" And that's when I knew something was wrong. When something's too good to be true it usually is. I deconstructed my sandwich and pulled the slices of what I had believed to have been vegan bacon only to discover in horror that they were in fact real bacon strips. Now I took the mistake well, and although I was quite upset at the time about the mixup, I understand people make mistakes and it wasn't like it was intentional. And they were quite apologetic and comped the cost of my sandwich, so it kinda ended up being a "no harm, no foul" type of deal. However, I can't lie and say that the incident did not leave a lasting negative impression. Bottom line, I'll keep on coming here...just as long as I'm not in a rush.
(4)
Russ C.
The best diner in Honolulu for sure . Its Vegan/ Vegetarian options make is totally welcoming to anyone. The staff also goes out of thier way to welcome the entire family. I've gone there times when the diner was almost completely filled with families. The wait staff is superfantastic. Can't say enough good things about them. Great drinks too.
(5)
Steve C.
So excited. This could be my favorite place for vegan comfort food. Had the buffalo wings, chilli cheese fries, carnivore burger and pesto chicken sandwich. All vegan and all delicious. If it weren't for the hair in our sandwich it would've been 5 stars. The server was super cool and made up for it though. Props to him. I'll be back
(4)
Juvy L.
This past summer when I was in Chinatown on the regular because of HSF, there were many stops to Downbeat. The food is super deliciously good. I'm not vegan/vegetarian at all, but I have many friends who are, or have to be picky about what they eat. To them Downbeat is a godsend. A lot of their dishes have non-meat alternatives, which is awesome. The vegan chicken wings! So good. The gravy fries are ON POINT. Much nomnomnoms. The loco moco (there's more than one version) I had was lovely. The gravy, man. it's the gravy. I had the Reuben as well, that was ono. I wanted to try everything! The milkshakes though! DEFINITELY get milkshakes. For a little more, you can get a shot of alcohol in it. I've had the Oreo and Nutella ones. So good. Haven't put a shot in yet, though. Someday... Just have to say this because it was a popular drink with some of my theatre peeps in the summer....the AMF is pretty damn potent. I just know I can order pretty much anything off the menu and love it. The quality of the food is great. Does get busy on the weekends, but you probably know that already.
(4)
Jenna M.
Just thought that I'd drop by and have a salad..yeah I can't say this is the worse experience ever ever ever~~ but I wasn't too fond of the orange stuff floating at the bottom of the water glass put in front of me. When I informed the bartender, I was told "I'll let my Manager know" WAIT~~ What?? you'll let your Manager know??? so you don't know how to pull a bar gun apart and clean it?? You don't know how to check the bottom of cups glasses etc to make sure they're clean?? Wow!! I'm not complaining ~~ bitching about it YES I am... my salad had cucumber in it that was clear ??? I dunno I was hoping this by myself time would cheer me up but now I'm feeling like maybe I should've had a sandwich at my Cafe. Oi Vey!!!
(2)
Nicole K.
Let me just preface this review by mentioning that Downbeat Diner was playing Cadet Kelly on TV the day I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch there! Cadet Kelly! If you were a tween in the early 2000's and fondly remember the heyday of Disney Channel Original Movies, you will be impressed by Downbeat Diner's superb entertainment selection. If not, sorry for the blast from the not-too-distant-past! Back to the Review... One day, as my co-worker and I mulled over where to grab lunch, he casually mentioned his past visit to Downbeat Diner where his friend ordered a French Toast Sandwich. I immediately stopped whatever I was doing, dramatically whipped back, and asked "You mean a Monte Cristo?!" I first tried a Monte Cristo in college when I was stuck in LA for the summer and frequented a cafe (Black Cow Cafe) where The. Best. Monte. Cristo. Sandwich was served. It was a novelty to me at the time - French Toast AND Ham AND Cheese?! After one strangely confusing yet delicious bite, I was hooked! With the new-found knowledge that Downbeat Diner, just a few blocks away from my office, served this awesome Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner sandwich, there was no more mulling over where to go. We were going to Downbeat! We arrived around 12:00 p.m. during lunch rush. There were plenty of seats open at the bar and one booth left! We hightailed it to the booth and were immediately greeted and provided with menus. If I hadn't come to Downbeat Diner specifically for a Monte Cristo, I could have spent quite awhile pouring over the delicious sounding options offered...especially the milkshakes! *Drool* I ordered my Monte Cristo with a side of french fries (an additional $2.50) and tried not too look overly intrigued with Cadet Kelly on the TV while I waited. It was difficult... After a few minutes, our meals appeared. And after a few minutes, our meals disappeared. The Monte Cristo Sandwich was great! The French Toast, albeit a bit soggy, was perfectly sweet and topped with powdered sugar. I used to enjoy my Monte Cristo with a side of cream cheese and jam, but the maple syrup provided with my meal was ooey-gooey-amazing! The sweetness of the French Toast with the saltiness of the ham and cheese made for a delectable and savory flavor! By the end of our meal, I was too full to order a milkshake to-go, but am eyeing the Chai Tea one for next time! While Downbeat Diner is a great spot for lunch, I am even more intrigued to visit at night for some of their awesome sounding drinks!
(4)
Gavin H.
Just had dinner here with a friend visiting from Scotland. She happens to be vegan. The Loco Mock may be the best I've ever had and the vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sunday we shared was beyond my expectations.
(5)
Courtney B.
Bar was a bar... Appetizers came out with the food, ALL of the food was cold when it did arrive. Positives, waitress was great, drinks were good. Food was good once it did re-arrive. Update: waitress removed all of our drinks, in order to compensate, which was more than great in the customer service department. Like I said "great waitress", nice recovery.
(3)
Failed O.
Great food (especially when it comes to vegan and vegetarian options because those can be hard to come by), delicious drinks, affordable prices, and amazing bartenders/servers. Not to mention they're open late, which is always a plus. Downbeat is one of our favorite places in Chinatown and we're so glad it exists.
Downbeat diner is a hipster diner in Chinatown. And it served me well for both mid-day food and late night drinking and dining. There are the classic meat based dishes on the menu - like burgers & chicken sandwiches. But I love that any of those can be substituted with vegan/vegetarian equivalents. The 'faux' chicken sandwiches were tasty and I was delighted I could get a vegan version of hot-wings - score! Beer and and liquor available, so you can enjoy a mixed drink or just add a shot to your milkshake. And there's a breakfast menu for those recovering from the night before. A great find in Chinatown - I'd definitely come back.
(4)
Carin H.
Wow! I love this place. It was my first time here last night and I had an amazing experience. Our waitress was friendly and quick. Very cool hipster atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable. Food was delicious. Drink: I had a "spiked ginger brew" which is a mixture of vodka and non-alcoholic ginger beer. I decided to get stoli. Never get well vodka people! Bad hangovers and headaches lol. Appetizer: My bf and I shared an order of chili cheese fries. I don't eat meat. This was a vegan chili and vegan cheese on top of french fries. Omg! I was so surprised. The fries were thick, crispy and NOT greasy at all! How are chili cheese fries not greasy?! But I loved so much that it wasn't! Entree: I had the vegan chicken pesto sandwich made as a wrap instead. Bf had some kind of bbq burger. I do like that almost everything on the menu, you can get the regular meat or as a vegan (mock) meat! Sooooo awesome. We both enjoyed our food! You have an option to get a side salad or fries for $2.50 more. Dessert: Okay, so how can you go to a diner and not have a milkshake?! Bf wanted to try one and I agreed to share. Glad we did! It wasn't too thick but it was full of flavor. Btw it came in a mason jar. I know how everyone likes their mason jar drinks nowadays. lol. We got the Nutella banana shake! So good but when I got home I couldn't breathe cause I ate way too much. But, in conclusion, I had a great experience and I'll be back. They open till 3am! :)
(5)
Grant M.
My wife and I have been loyal customers of Downbeat Diner for several years now and have enjoyed the good atmosphere and good food. We often come in for drinks pau hana, or dinner. Lately, however, it seems that the customer service and some of the food has really decreased in quality. Despite the fact that we order practically the SAME thing almost every week, they get the order wrong 50% of the time. During a recent experience, when we ordered our usual chicken pesto salad with vegan ranch, I was given regular ranch (the kind you could buy at Costco) instead of the yummy vegan ranch they make at Downbeat Diner. When I informed the server, he took the dressing container to the back, and returned with the same container saying, "here's your vegan ranch". I knew it wasn't the vegan ranch since it looked different. I informed another waitress and she took one look at the color and agreed that it was regular ranch. She replaced it with what I had ordered in the first place. Recently my experience is that I feel trepidation every time I order from here, as I have to double check what I order to make sure it's what I requested. I'm so frustrated with their customer service that I fear they are going to serve the same container of regular ranch that I gave back to them to another customer, even though I specifically told them I had tasted the dressing out of it. Two weeks ago the "chicken" was vegan and tasted like tofu. A few weeks before that, the french fries tasted so burnt that they were nearly inedible. It should not be this difficult to get a simple order right. EVERY week. These issues seem mostly to be in the last few months. I don't know if it's new ownership or if there are other changes that are going on. I am a patient person but I am finally fed up with the customer service. Two stars is for treating regular customers who order the same thing weekly as if we are some random couple just walking in off the street. If you order take out, be sure to check your order before leaving. I don't think I will be patronizing this place any longer and I plan to tell my friends about my experiences. Sorry Downbeat. We had a good run.
(2)
Steve S.
Omg best nachos and tacos ever. Some vegan stuff going on but I'm cool with that if food is good and this is mind blowing good. Taco Tuesday's is the bomb. Margaritas really good.
(5)
Jeffrey H.
I really wanted to enjoy my down town experience . However when I was called a "phucking phaget by the staff I was somewhat turned off. Good thing I ate their burger and I realized it phucking sucked.
(1)
Mallory T.
Food was great... Good prices for the food and beers. Minus two stars because of terrible service. Took about 15 minutes before we spoke the waitress (not her fault per say, management only had one girl working the tables) and the food took another 30 to reach our table. TIPS= to insure proper service. Recommend hiring someone else to keep business flowing. Would have been back for the food, but not worth the wait.
Breakfast served all day, decent breakfast burrito, vegan milkshake option (when available), and a solid beer selection for Hawaii! We'll definitely be back. Just beware that this is a bar and has no child changing tables available. No point knocked for that, it's common sense.
(5)
Stefanie D.
I am in love with Downbeat Diner and Lounge. I've only been a couple of times but that's all it needed to secure a spot in my stomach forever. The milkshakes are divine...as in, possibly from heaven itself. The Chunky Monkey milkshake could tempt a trip all on its own. The kitschy, retro decor and the hipster staff sans the attitude make it all the better. The vegetarian and vegan options here set a standard for all the other veg places I try now. The vegan hot wings and vegan burgers are nothing to be afraid of. Even my meat lover of a boyfriend tried and liked my wings and declared my burger had a "lot of flavor". I consider that a win. Even on the First Friday that we visited last, our servers were attentive, quick, and friendly. Our food came out hot and delicious and we left stuffed and smiling. Try this place out for a really great quality meal downtown.
(5)
Mary A.
Visiting with adult kids who are Vegan/vegetarian. Looking for some options and found this cute diner. Food was very good. We had Vegan Chili Cheese Fries, vegan Teri Burger, milkshakes, and vegan loco moco. All were excellent. Service was good. Really enjoyed everything about this place
(5)
Bree R.
Get the volcano fries!!!!!! Everything else was pretty good that we ordered but the fries were amazing! The service was pretty good in the beginning but as it got busier our waitress was pretty distracted.... Pretty reasonably priced though and a fun check of the foodie bucket list!
(4)
Angelica R.
Came by on Friday. It was pretty full so we had to sit at the bar. Ordered the vegan bbq wings, bbq chikn sandwich (made vegan) and the pesto chicken salad (made vegan). The wings were pretty good, drumsticks cooked and slathered with bbq sauce. I should've just ordered that, and was looking forward to the rest, what a mistake. Both meals were as bland as can be. The salad was fake(?)Chicken uncooked and way too much pesto sauce dumped on top. The sandwich was also uncooked fake(?) Chicken with lettuce, onion and veganese with a piece of bacon in it!!! As soon as I bit into the piece of bacon I was done with the meal. Such a disappointment for me and my partner. Both meals could have been way better! Vegans-steer clear!! This meal ruined my night.
(1)
Tyler A.
The surrounding area is a little sketchy, but inside is nice. The vegan (black bean) burgers are the best I've had, and the french toast is quite good as well. Only downside is that it takes a while to get a table, because it's usually pretty crowded.
(5)
Lillie M.
Great place to eat in downtown! They have really good burgers and garlic fries! Haven't really explored too much of the menu, but everything I've gotten so far has been delicious. Great customer service. Although, if you have a party of 5 or more then you can't split the check. Other than that, I would recommend this place!
(4)
Claire R.
LOTS of vegan options! The food is pretty good if you're looking for veg comfort food. Our server was really nice and prompt with food and drink orders. It's got a neat hipster vibe. We ordered the vegan drumsticks, vegan carnivore burger, and Monte Cristo sandwhich. Overall, we were really pleased with the food. Took away one star because of the atmosphere. there were a few rowdy drunks at the bar that kept yelling gross stuff while we were trting to eat (ex: "VAGINA JUICE HAHAHHAHAHAH"). I thought it was odd that the staff didn't shut them up since it was only about 6pm... There was also a guy standing outside that was watching the TV through the window...that's nice that the restaurant didn't mind him hanging out there, but man it was extremely distracting and made me slightly uncomfortable. I felt like a fish in an aquarium. The workers were all smiling and waving at him so I guess he's a frequent visitor.
(4)
Mark Y.
There is only one reason anyone would refer to me as being a hipster...and that reason is because I have big hips. I've walked past Downbeat a bunch of times but I'm usually full of drink and food by then so I never go in. I do notice a lot of younger, hipster looking patrons there though. Well, after leaving the TEDx after party, we still felt hungry so decided to walk over to Downbeat. It was kind of empty for a Saturday but it was still pretty early so I guess the regular hipster patrons either hadn't woken up yet or were still having drinks at some dark, ambient music playing establishment. My friend ordered the Pesto scramble with bacon and I ordered the Vegan chili loco moco. Both dishes were OK but honestly I was expecting better. The vegan chili on my moco was pretty bland and the hamburger patty was really dry. The two sunnyside up eggs were cooked perfectly though. My friends dish was better I think. The pesto scramble tasted pretty good and the thick cut bacon was really smokey tasting. There were some other menu items that looked good, like some of the desserts and all those milkshakes...that Guiness milkshake sounds interesting, so I'm looking forward to trying here again and hopefully up my rating. One thing that I did thoroughly enjoy though was watching the movie Teen Wolf being projected onto the wall. If you were a guy growing up in the '80s, you know you secretly wished you were Michael J. Fox.
(3)
Hollywood J.
This was a little gem we discovered randomly while wandering around Chinatown. The beer selection was alright, but ice cold! It was a welcome distraction of being served beer which was barely cooler than room temperature. It reminded me of a place in Los Feliz or Silverlake. The staff had a punk / edgey look but were absolutely welcoming and friendly. I didn't have any food, but they had what looked like well planned, and delicious vegan cuisine and some American fare as well. The neighborhood is a tad seedy, but I didn't feel unsafe.
(4)
Kelsey U.
Service and atmosphere at Downbeat go hand-in-hand, I enjoyed my experience! A friend and I visited on First Friday for an early dinner, around 5:30pm. Seats were open and we were told to seat where we wanted - of course we choose the booth by the window! My friend ordered the vegan bacon B.L.A.T (Bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato), as I'm told. Although the name of the dish sounds pretty gnarly, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great sandwich! I also ended up getting a sandwich, their version of a club sandwich, which although does not vary much by restaurant, was great at Downbeat because it's served on yummy sourdough! Stop by Downbeat if you're in the area as it's a quick, on the cheaper side of a delicious meal!
(4)
Charity J.
I wanted to like this place, I really really did. I had been going over reviews on this place for a couple days and it sounded really promising, so the boyfriend and I finally decided to give it a try and it was such a huge letdown. We walked in around 5:30 or so, not a word was said to us. We were confused as to whether or not we were supposed to wait or just grab a table. After a couple of minutes we sat ourselves and a few minutes after that we were greeted by a waitress. She informed us that it was Taco Tuesday, which I was so psyched about because I LOVELOVELOVE tacos&the nachos were on special too(BONUS). (being from arizona, Mexican food is my 'ish.) SOOOO, we ordered the nachos w/ chicken(extra 3bucks) &Avo(extra dollar), 2 chicken tacos for me, 3 for my boyfriend, and a veg. chili/rice bowl for our son. The nachos...not even nachos. I literally counted 3 MAYBE 4 chips with cheese on them, the sour cream came on the side in a tiny paper cup which did nothing for the "nachos" at all. The chips were a weird dark brown color, definitely overcooked. The chicken (3 DOLLARS EXTRA MIND YOU) was almost non-existent! AND the pieces that were present were dryer than an Arizona desert in the middle of July D: Forgot to mention that when our nachos came out, the Avo wasn't present. Took us awhile to flag down our waitress for the avo and when we finally did, she brought out a tiny plate of like 4 slices. come. on. The tacos, meh. The chicken was a shredded chicken in some kind of sauce, that did nothing for the taste. The chicken was cooked in a sauce, BUT STILL DRY...wutdafuh? I'll stick to doing Taco Tuesday in my own home from now on. Not worth the 6 bucks for two teensy ones. The vegan chili was probably the saving grace, but even then, I feel like I might be able to whip something up that could blow it out of the water. I tried, I really tried to find something positive about our experience here, but it was just a no go this time around. Even the interior of the space was depressing. Blank walls, odd use of space. Not the least bit inviting. I'm hoping we just stopped in on a bad day or SOMETHING, but as an extreme nacho/taco lover, my heart cried for those burned, cheeseless, chickenless "nachos". never again.
(2)
Loren B.
Hey if you are a vegan or vegetarian this is the place for you, as well as the rest of us carnivores. I have been to Downbeat multiple times, both in the diner and the lounge area. Our friends, who are vegans, really enjoy the vegan food options. Their happy hour specials are really good, $3 tecate - yum. Not the biggest fan of their quesadillas (a little too tex-mex inspired for me), but their hamburgers are really good. I will definitely go again.
(4)
Robert W.
My favorite place in Chinatown!!! Great place to hangout any time of the day. Downbeat is an incredible diner and bar! The menu is full of great choices that caters to all types of eaters (vegetarian / vegan / omnivores) Every item is well prepared and served by a very courteous staff. My favorite items on the menu are the carnivore burger and garlic fries. Additionally, brunch / breakfast items that are very tasty and the home fries are just great. The bar menu is solid. The cocktails, especially the ginger brew and root beer no float, are delicious. The atmosphere of Downbeat is the reason to keep coming back. Between the great music and interesting videos that constantly being played and the Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy adorn booths the Downbeat diner is the epitome of cool. I love this restaurant and will come back every time I am back in Honolulu!
(5)
Randi C.
This place deserves some credit for being open on Sundays, because most downtown restaurants are closed on Sundays. My sister wanted to try a place across the street but there was a long wait and we agreed nothing tastes good enough to be worth a long wait in a congested space. We debated trying a Vietnamese restaurant( very commonplace in Honolulu) or the diner ( rather more exotic for the location). The place is spacious. The menu featured a variety of creatively re-imagined diner items. For example, our table had a vegan burger, a pesto chicken salad, and a sundae. The vegetables were fresh, and the chef had even cut the carrots into a flower shape. They incorporated other chefs' products in their menu such as : Ottocake cheesecake, Wing ice cream, and Swiss Inn salad dressing so it seemed like the owners are team players. The servers were friendly and helpful, but not all were knowledgable about the menu items. Everything was satisfactory until it was time to pay. The credit card system was not working but we had not been informed. We had to scramble to find cash. THEN... The bill was 31.94, we gave 100.00, and the server gave back $67.00. $1.06 is not a big deal but it seemed a little insulting that she thought we wouldn't notice. Overall, it was a decent place with pretty good food and friendly service. But be sure to count your change!
(3)
Trisha G.
I've been here a handful of times. This latest time was for a late dinner and when in doubt, I order my staple dish - loco moco. Downbeat's comes with REAL GRAVY. Delicious, homemade gravy smothered over a bed of brown rice. The Hamburger was so yummy. I was so excited and happy about my food that I forgot to get a shake. They have a huge selection of shake flavors (with a few strange ones mixed in). The downtown, retro vibe with old movies projected on the walls and the coolest booths with the legends of music displayed in the upholstery. It is a bit hipster, but excusable for the food I had. Great place to stop by after a few drinks to fuel up and sober up before driving home. Hit it up!
(4)
Yoselyn F.
I've been here before but never reviewed them. Probably because I was left confused? Like today. I got the California burger and English toffee milkshake. I knew the milkshake was a win because last time I ordered that and a grilled cheese sandwich. My sandwich order was never place so I had a milkshake for dinner. Not shabby right?! An the shake is awesome. But today I decided to give them my one burger monthly allowance. The bacon was good, the bun was good the meat though. It was weird at first bite it was juicy BUT super over flavored. To the point that it distracted from the joy of the meat. So I wasn't floored by it and usually burgers floor me. But the shake was perfect. However, their portions aren't consistent. They seem to use whatever glass is near o serve them meaning you can order to shakes at the same time but they arrive looking different and you can't help but wonder if you re being cheated! During our last visit we had three shakes. All indifferent glasses. One was obviously larger. This pissed me off because mine wasn't the large one and the shake was awesome! Today I got a glass jar. If that was their thing is be all oh cute a milkshake I a cute glass jar BUT that's not their thing so instead I was left wondering if I was being cheated. Not the sensation one wants on their one cheat day in 5 weeks! Overall eh. I would go for the shake an wonder what glass I'm getting BUT the food hasn't made me a regular.
(3)
Anthony K.
Was pretty good. Organic too based off what I had. I got the pesto breakfast with a tofu scramble, vegan sausage, toast and home fries. My girlfriend had the simple local breakfast with eggs, sausage, brown rice and toast. I also got the nachos. It was OK, a little dry but still good. The service was good. They tended to our needs and checked up on us and the rumor about waiting long was a lie. People are just impatient. I'll be back to try something different.
(5)
Megan P.
Everything on the menu is delicious. Great vegan options. Their shakes are delicious and most can be made vegan. The Nutella shake is my favorite. Food can take some time to get made, so going there in a hurry is probably not the best idea. The place can be pretty loud at night since the live music seeps through the walls and it has great people watching. Something to note: The bartender's custom concoctions are pretty on point.
(5)
Ian L.
They're open on Sunday when other places in China Town are not. The Deshutes Black Butte Porter was perfect with The Greek burger...oooh so good! Music playing created a great ambiance to go with the velvet red diner feel. The service was excellent and frequent. I only took a star for price in consideration for what I ordered. Still totally worth it and will come here again!
(4)
Mathew S.
#NAME?
(3)
Reid S.
Downbeat Diner on First Fridays is such a different experience from a typical day in downtown Honolulu. Let me elaborate: During the day, Downbeat Diner is a fun lunch hang out spot for the 20-30 year olds, equipped with a trendy bar and menu, while at night the Diner can be a music venue to a bumping club with New York/L.A vibe. My first visit to DBD (feel free to use this acronym) was a delicious late lunch filled with pupus and homemade ginger ale, which by the way, was a magnificent drink. The Volcano fries were out of this world, it is the best way to reward yourself for a day out in the hot Hawaiian sun. However, DBD is also an awesome place to come with a group of friends for a night on the town! As much as I hate going all the way to Chinatown/Downtown area for events/food, I really can't picture this place anywhere else. The vibe and feel of DBD almost requires it to be in the downtown area where there is an almost secret Hawaiian nightlife. It's rather hard to explain, but it's meant to be in the hustle and bustle of the city's downtown. The drinks in particular are so strong but very flavorful. They have a wide-array of specialty cocktails designed to challenge your tastebuds and knock your socks off. The Negroni in particular is a cocktail comprised of gin, Campari, and amaro cio ciaro. It was like a licorice explosion, very flavorful, granted not my favorite flavors, but it was strong and full, which is all that mattered. On Tuesdays the lounge and bar is lively as new and upcoming local musicians and talent play live music. It's a young vibe with young clientele. Definitely worth a visit when in Chinatown. I like seeing local artist play because it not only reminds me that we have great music with Hawaiian roots, but also the fact that we have so many talented people in Honolulu. We should support our local musicians because they are undeniably talented, and also because music is life. Period. So come on down to local music night at DBD! The place is interestingly decorated: when you first walk in you will take in the loud pop culture collage, and then you realize that you are in a very trendy place and you probably shouldn't leave. During the day, DBD feels like a quirky L.A. diner, and at night....a swanky New York lounge. Walk outside though, you won't be cold.
(4)
Mari G.
The drinks are delicious and the environment is pretty awesome. The prices are okay. I ordered the loco moco and it was cold when I got it. The place wasn't packed at all so I was pretty disappointed. They always play some cool movies so that's kinda neat too at the bar. The waitress wasn't friendly so it was probably better we sat at the bar.
(3)
Tabatha P.
I love that this place is open to satisfy my late night cravings for delicious food. I love the menu. I love that there is vegetarian options for everything. The scramble is really really good. The sausage was a little unexpectedly spicy for me, but the breakfast burrito was delicious! Next time I will get bacon. I always see interesting people here who are friendly, and the bartender and waitress I have hAd experience with here have treated me with respect and good customer service so I am all satisfied there. I like the quality above all in this place and it's nice for beer with a friend or meals. Also nice and clean. Sometimes I come here to network and talk to people about events, I always manage to meet someone new and awesome.
Awesome place! Cool scene and fantastic food for meat eaters and vegetarians. Open Sunday's too with a brunch menu ya!
(5)
Tina L.
I stumbled upon this restaurant several months ago, and initially started off with their french toast sandwich, which is sooooo YUMMY. Went back and tried their french toast sandwich again, and was very pleased. I decided to venture off from my usual sandwich, and tried their BBQ chicken wrap. I was NOT HAPPY with the wrap at all. The BBQ sauce had no BBQ flavor at all. It definitely tasted like they had used ketchup, and barely any seasoning to put it together. I decided,well, maybe they had an off night, and went back another night and tried their California burger. WOW this burger SUCKED!!! It was bland, the patty was very thin, it barely had any meat in it! The avocado was good in it, but the entire burger was VERY BLAND! I left feeling sad and STILL HUNGRY. The prices are cheap here, but they barely give you any food! Not going to go back here anytime soon! On a side note, my boyfriend always gets the mega moco, and that is VERY GOOD. However, the lack of consistency, and meager portions for their other items is enough to prevent me from going back :-( The service was good, I was greeted upon entering, and the waitress tending to my bill was nice as well.
(2)
Nickolidas T.
Really slow poor service. You stand around in the middle of the place waiting to be sat, because there's no check in sheet. Got a burger, bacon was burnt patty overcooked and dry. Server was alright but organization was off, she came by with another tables drinks, and went to another table with our check. Place might be good when it's empty but on a moderate night they need a strong manager in that place.
(2)
Virginia D.
Excellent from start to finish: spiked ginger brew, vegan buffalo wings, Western burger with house made vegan patty & vegan dark chocolate brownie. YUM One of the best vegan meals we had on Oahu! Serious hipster vibe. My cocktail came in a mason jar, natch. Kind of a sketchy area (I foresee gentrification...), but at least parking is easy at night!
(4)
Anuhea P.
What do you do if you have only one day off before work starts again, and all your friends (including hubby) are stuck at work? You explore the ever changing-for-the-better Downtown/Chinatown area. I enjoyed walking the surprisingly clean streets, peeking in the local (and expensive) boutique clothing stores, and finding tons of new places to bookmark for future yelp dining. I was really hoping to try Horeo's Peruvian food but they were closed (when they were supposed to be open) so I came back to Downbeat. The first time I was here was when I was searching for BRAINS!!! as part of the Chinatown Zombie Crawl last fall...I tried an alcoholic milkshake and some sort of smothered fries (I think Volcano fries). Honestly I wasn't a fan of the fries...but the chunky monkey milkshake made such an impression on me that I ordered it on my second visit. It was pretty empty around 1pm on a weekday...maybe the business crowd take early lunches. I ordered the Reuben (xtra crout) and a chunky monkey milkshake with a whiskey shot (bartender's choice). Both were fantastic...maybe I was already a little tipsy, but the sandwich was sweet, salty, and warm and the milkshake....I could drink one every day and never tire! Unfortunately my bill with tip came out to $20 which is not cheap for lunch (especially for just a sandwich and milkshake) but it was a nice treat. The bartender waited on me even thought I sat in the very front booth and she was very nice...even told me about the free concerts and events they have in their back space. I will definitely be back to try their Monte Cristo!
(4)
Greg S.
Friendly service, fun atmosphere and good food. This is my 3rd time here. First time I tried the ruben, must have!!! Chili loco moco, not so much. Bottom line, i going back !!!
(4)
Megan W.
Nice little place in Chinatown. Came for brunch and they had Chicken and Waffles! So yummy! The chicken had great flavoring and the waffle was nice and soft. The server was very nice and our food came out quickly. I will definitely come back here to try the other items on the menu.
(4)
Ivy Lou H.
The Downbeat Diner & Lounge surprised me with its delicious burgers and excellent service. The burgers were homemade patties served on a Brioche bun and were possibly the best burgers we've ever had. The service was really attentive and fast for us so unlike some other Yelpers we left shop and impressed. Great place for food or just drinks.
(4)
Luke G.
This was my go to spot when i went to HPU. I loved the punk rock atmosphere, the reasonable prices and great crowd. I miss the veggie burger almost as much as surfing. I loved how laid back it was with a true dinner spirit. I super recommend it to anyone visiting Honolulu. Its located on historic hotel street one of the only places in the city with brick buildings where sailor jerry of rum fame worked. Go for a nice Primo and check out one of their many free shows next door. I hope its still there when i return sometime in the future.
(5)
Javier B.
We had a party of 4 and ordered 3 burgers and 1 BLT. After waiting for more than half an hour for our food we decided to walk out and find pizza. I'd advice the restaurant to look for more/better employees. Don't come here if you are starving or have time constraints.
(1)
Britni K.
This is my go to place for some yummy diner food with a vegetarian twist. Whenever I'm in Chinatown, for whatever reason I usually end up here if I get hungry. Although I haven't been here as frequently as I had before they remodeled with their lounge, I still get recognized by Miss Emily and some of the bartenders, haha. A good thing or bad thing? Not quite sure... Highlights for me- cajun fries, cheeseburger or teriyaki burger (with their handmade black bean patties), and chai milkshake! To die for, let me tell you. Downbeat is also where my affair with St. Germain first started. My signature cocktail here- champy with a shot of St. Germain and a twist of lemon. This drink is the ultimate pick me up if you're feeling a little blue. Bubbly is already a happy alcohol but with these fixins, it's like someone giving you a nice hug and telling you everything will be alright. ;) As a warning though, this place is paaaacked on Friday and Saturday nights! Super cray, usually with a line waiting to get in. I would suggest going on a weeknight- especially Tuesdays with specials on margaritas and tacos! Fun hipster vibe, a varied menu that includes breakfast foods (available all day), and friendly staff makes Downbeat Diner a winner for sure. Definitely pop in sometime!
(4)
Bonnie B.
I'm not sure about this place... Is it serve yourself? No one has even come to our table and we have been sitting here a half hour. Lol maybe I should call my order in..
(2)
Brianna S.
Cute little diner that has a HUGE selections of veggie and vegan items. Service was fast and friendly, and the price was right. I ordered the veggie Reuben with cajon fries. The Reuben was decent enough, but was kind of shocked to see they used veggie hot dogs as the 'meat' in it. I was expecting a pattie of some sort, but got a split hot dog. Not quite what I had in mind... Though it was not bad, and I noticed after ordering it did state that it was a hot dog. But it would have been 10 folds better with a pattie or veggie pastrami. They had a lot of other things worth trying on their menu, like vegetarian Chicken + Waffles!!
(3)
Matt W.
Decent drinks. Modestly priced. Awesome food. Only downside here is that the service is very inconsistent. Out of the 10+ times I've been here about half the time I get wonderful attentive service. The other half of the time I felt ignored. But again it depends on the server you get. The vegan food here is way better than the regular food. Whether or not you're vegetarian, the meat substitute they use is astonishing. You can't tell the difference. Highly recommend their buffalo vegan wings. It's nicely spicy and has a wonderful flavor. In fact I've always been pleased with all their sandwiches they offer. As long as you get it vegan. They tend to overlook actual meat... Atmosphere wise this place is awesome. It's very relaxing and has the typical ambiance of a 1950s diner with a hip twist.
(4)
Stephanie S.
I have yet to have a dish here that I didn't instantly love, and even my omnivorous boyfriend said he would consider being vegan if we could always eat like this! The buffalo wings and buffalo chicken sandwich are both PHE-NOM-EN-AL. The "meat" has a texture that flakes just like real chicken! On my honor as a Yelper, trust me when I say you will not be disappointed with either one. I also recommend upgrading your fries to either garlic or cajun. The garlic flavor is rubbed into the fries, and comes with a little pesto on top. For the Cajun, each fry is coated in spices and bursting with a mildly spicy flavor! The root beer float was just top notch with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that was smoother, creamier, and I daresay better than any other I've had, vegan or otherwise. It's easy not to miss beef when the veggie patty here is so meaty! I recommend the teriyaki burger because it was perfectly seasoned with teriyaki sauce and onions. Service is always friendly, with the sweetest waitresses you'll find even in Hawaii. I'm always surprised that this place isn't more crowded (not a complaint!) but service is fast and I've never had any hiccups. In my experience, Downbeat is a consistent home run!
(5)
Candice L.
Will not ever go here for lunch again. The $9.50 burger was dry with too much pepper. The service was horrible. Asked for mayo from our waitress who took her sweet time cashing other guest out, getting others take out boxes. I had to stand up and ask someone else for mayo...if I didn't I would have been done with my burger by the time the mayo would have come. I def would not recommend this place.
(1)
Todd F.
Dropped in while walking around ChinaTown! Great surprise. Loved the vegan Chili Moco
(4)
Isaia S.
3 words: PBR and Bacon. Best appetizer around. The atmosphere is great, the Reuben is excellent and they're open late so I can hit it up after shows.What's not to like?
(5)
Mandi S.
I love downbeats food! They're delicious. The servers are awesome. The only problem I have with this place is that it seems like every time I go here, service drops off after I order. I swear I won't get a check up or refill for half an hour. And getting my ticket back takes SOOO long. I dunno if management tells them to back off or what, but it happens every time.
(4)
Melissa S.
Thank you, Rian for bringing the fiyah! I was looking for a MoscowMule and she steered me into the right direction! And I will def have another! Love me some DOWNBEAT!
(5)
Sean O.
Very unique atmosphere! There is no place like it. I like how every food option they have can be vegan as well. I always get the vegan Buffalo wings. Really cool place.
(4)
Julia S.
Downbeat, you really put a down beat into my day. Service: I'm personally fine with sitting my butt down anywhere. But I do know others will just stand in the doorway until a host tells them they're allowed to sit. No one was there to tell me, so I just sat on over to a booth and waited for like 5 minutes for someone to finally come over and acknowledge me. After that though, the waitress was nice. She gave my boyfriend and I a menu each and waters. Food: We weren't too hungry so we decided to share their vegan version of a BLT between sourdough bread, called a BLAT (bacon lettuce avocado tomato). And by vegan, I mean with veganaise and fakin bacon. My boyfriend loves his bacon, but me not so much. So I'm thankful he enjoys the meat substitutes also. We ordered a side of garlic fries (which are ala carte and will cost you an extra $2) since I have an IDCard (gives me a free side of fries). I told the waitress this. She heard it and happily acknowledged it. Food cont.. + Experience: We got our sandwich back and started to dig in. The fries were standard with real garlic which I enjoyed. I looked at the sandwich though and it looked unimpressive. Then I looked at it closer and the "meat" sticking out of it looked oddly like... bacon. My boyfriend took a bite and after thinking about it for a bit, he was like, "Yup. This is bacon". Soooo we sent it back to this other waiter who apologized. I mean I'm not vegan but how could you send something out with this sort of mistake if you 1)Are the person taking the order and even repeated it back and 2) are delivering the food yourself to the exact same table that ordered ? When we got the sandwich back with our fakin bacon it looked NOTHING like bacon and more like bologna would. So how could you look at the sandwich prior and not know it was the wrong order? Anyways, I was fine with this mistake because the girl was nice. Sadly, the sandwich wasn't special and the sourdough was thin and bland. (If you want REAL GOOD fakin bacon go to North Shore's Beet Box Cafe!. They give you thick cuts of soy bacon that are delicious and even look similar to the real stuff)!!! The guy waiter started helping us from then on though. Experience cont...: I mentioned to him again about my IDCard situation when we were done. He knew about it and even finished my sentence for me. He understood that I had it. Then we got the bill. It was $10.... The sandwich was $8. You know, the $2 isn't what bothered me. It's the fact that 1)I mentioned the IDCard to them several times 2)They acknowledge it confidently several times 3)I got the wrong sandwich after waiting a while (and good thing the both of us aren't vegans or I would've flipped) 4)The food wasn't good.. Soooo the overall experience was pretty bad. We didn't bother flagging the waiter down again to take the $2 off. My boyfriend was irritated, I was irritated, and we just wanted to leave. The two stars is for the workers. They're laid back and kind of neglectful and don't have a good memory, but they were nice. So, yeah. Don't know if I'll be coming back.
(2)
Sydney L.
Best vegan food EVER. The chunky monkey milkshake is HEAVENLY- so are the fries and 'chicken' drumsticks! I don't live in Oahu, but i'll definitely come back here every time I visit. I just want to eat every single dessert they have! :')
(5)
David H.
Excellent atmosphere! Great crowd and staff! I haven't tried the food but the drinks are very special... Soooo f'in good!!!
(5)
Christian G.
I'll just start by explaining my experience and those can judge for themselves. So it wasn't really a busy night and upon entry there were at least three other groups dining and eating their food. It started with the waiter taking our drink order within a reasonable amount of time of I would say about 5 minutes and then a little bit longer somewhere around the 10 minute range to take our food order. When it really got unacceptable was the 45 minutes that passed before the food was brought out and again it wasn't a busy night. In between those 45 minutes to other parties of two people had entered and their food was brought out well ahead of hours. In the mean time the waiter managed to check on those two tables to see if they where doing okay and if the food is good yet not once checked on our table or gave us an update on our order. It wasn't until I asked the waiter how our food order was going that he gave us an update and said he was going to check with the cook in the kitchen as to where our food was at. So more time elapses and we are nearing the one hour mark that we have sat down only to have been provided with drinks no update and no food. So it wasn't a very good dining experience and on top of all that the food was just okay so the long wait for ok food makes it a below average experience for me.
(2)
Frank C.
Great burger and fries. Guinness on tap. Cartoons and fifties music. Friendly service. What's not to love?!
(4)
Stella H.
Ate dinner here on a Sunday night, & this place was pretty busy! Lucky for us, there was 1 open booth right when we walked in. There seemed to only be 1 waiter, so it took him a little while to get to us. Service was very friendly tho & they even play movies on their wall :) It was my boyfriend & I's 1st time here, so we werent sure if they were a vegan & vegetarian place, BUT the waiter told us they had everything for meat lovers like us too :)!! We shared an Avocado Burger w/ fries & French toast w/ bacon. The avocado burger was pretty good! And the french toast was even better!! I think they deep fried it x__x!! My boyfriend & i agree we NEED to come back!!!!
(4)
Frances P.
That ginger brew drink here was pretty good, and I'm not a ginger fan. Can't add much else because I only had that and chips and dip. Cool place though, will have to try more next time I'm on the island!
(3)
Desmond S.
The staff is great both front and back of the house. The food comes out fast even when it's packed and service is friendly, helpful and efficient. Plus they put on great shows with local artists and theme nights every month if you're not dining that night. Great place to be or visit while on the island.
(5)
Jillian P.
I ate here for the first time last night (Cinco de Mayo). ATMOSPHERE: I liked the feel of it for suree... It definitely sticks true to its name. Diner booths plus a counter, with that pinup (downbeat), edgy feel. Super cool. :) SERVICE: We had thee cutest server! Wish I would have got her name, but she was really friendly and kind and most definitely a big help. We weren't sure what fries to get, and she gave us her opinion and told us what was really popular. What I also liked about her is that all of her timing was perfect. Whenever our drinks were empty, she was always quick to ask if we wanted another. And prior to that, she gave us just the right amount of time in between the first time she asked if we were ready to order and when we were ready to place our order (if that makes sense). LOL FOOD: Both my friend and I got the CALIFORNIA BURGER and we shared the VOLCANO FRIES. :) The Cali Burger is a Big Island (yeah Big Island!) Beef burger, with swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, and avocado. :D I put mayo and ketchup on my burger, so I'm not sure how it tasted sans condiments, but nonetheless it was still very delicious! IF ONLY I could've eaten the whole thing. :( I got full off of half the burger, since it was huge. :) The volcano fries are cajun spiced with gravy and cheese. I thought that the gravy would make the fries really gross and soggy, but it did not. :) Our server was RIGHT, they were very yummy and for good reason. OVERALL: I really liked this place and would love to go back and am giving them a thumbs up recommendation!
(4)
Phillip M.
One of the best Reuben's I've ever had at a restaurant. Service can be really slow at peak hours. And servers can be less than friendly some times but the food makes up for it.
(4)
Will S.
Avocado burger is on point i usually get that. Sometimes they only have one person serving in the day so your wait time can be long. They have a tv with netflix playing and next door they usually have bands playing.
(4)
Jo Z.
Chill place to have a good burger and I always order the ginger brew...sooo yummy for my tummy
The problem with food is that no one is ever going to be happy about everything! People love to complain about things. We visited Downbeat early say 5pm- looking for dinner. They had happy hour- 1 dollar off drinks- AWESOME. Burgers? Pretty good. Prices are not bad either. Our waitress was a pretty thing who was nice and someone came by to refill our water glasses when they got low. So perhaps people need to put a smile on their faces and realize that nothing- ever- is perfect but this place is great. Open late, the bar attached has live music which we came back to hear another night and had more great drinks (RUM punch is DA BOMB) so for us we give it 4 starts until next time! Nothing but love for ya Downbeat Diner!
(4)
Eric Robert R.
Liverpool 1962. Riding up to the pub door on my '59 Lambretta and joining my mod squad for a few sessions. What's shakin' Ringo??? *Lucky Strike dangling from my lips* Well not quite, but as close as it comes in downtown Honolulu, circa 2013! I've been to Downbeat several times, but I don't recall sitting down for lunch. A question was asked recently on Yelp's Honolulu Talk on who has the best milkshake in town? Answers galore and frankly I think the last milkshake I had was maybe when I was a pre-teen, lol. Eons ago! So, the question intrigued me and definitely inspired my taste buds to taste test a few places. So who has the best milkshake in town? My hipster buddy, Missy T. mentioned how the milkshakes at Downbeat are the bomb, so since I trust her with my life (slight exaggeration)... I decided to cruise down to Chinatown and hit Downbeat! I walk in and I'm immediately greeted... "Sit anywhere" and with a bartender go-go girl smile. WIN! The difference with Liverpool in 1962 was birds had zilch tattoos, today even granny's have tats, so no surprise that my waitress had a dozen plus tats, well the ones I could see! She was hip, über cool, and very easy on the eyes, but at the same time efficient! Twiggy dead-ringer! WIN! My Order: -Downbeat Loco Moco -English Toffee Milkshake -Glass of Agua The Loco Moco was good. Nothing special, but definitely unique and you could taste the Big Island beef. The house gravy seemed like a can of mushroom gravy to me. Hmm. The English Toffee Milkshake was definitely worth the 5 bucks and change. Very fresh, creamy, tasty, quality, loads of whipcream, and topped with the infamous maraschino cherry! So yummy. Seemed smallish, maybe I was just jonesing for a shake, but it overflowed and it was definitely a WIN! The best shake in town? Idk since my milkshake experience has been lacking since my days in intermediate school, lol. It was definitely yummy and a good standard to measure other milkshakes. So, until I try Teddy's, Big Kahunas, etc shakes... I can't give the crown to Downbeat... Yet! Hey, but I might have started with the best! Will keep you updated. Missy T. figured I hit the Chunky Monkey shake, which apparently is the most popular shake at Downbeat. The go-go waitress drooled over it too, but frankly it sounded too rich for a bloke like me, so I wimped out and went with something sounding "lighter"... The English Toffee. Yeah right, probably still a zillion calories! It was mmm, mmm good and very English! After all, it's Liverpool 1962. Oh btw, the vinyl seats here are über groovy! YELP REVIEW #135
(4)
Eric F.
I had the loco moco and a Freddie Fizz. It was so good I don't know what to do with myself. I had enough to eat but it was so good...I want to order more to just sport eat. Seriously prices are reasonable the food is awesome what can I say? Thanks and good job!
(5)
Audrey S.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this place because they offer a vegan version of pretty much everything on the menu. The food was delicious (vegan hot wings and vegan ranch=amazing ! ) Only disappointment is I ordered the Cajun vegan chicken wrap but it's served with regular cheese. I would have preferred to not have dairy with my vegan chicken wrap, and it was unclear whether the sauce was vegan. If I'm getting vegan chicken I would like the entire wrap to be vegan. Also the service was bad, the server knew I wanted only vegan and still didn't inform me about regular cheese, plus she kept forgetting our table even though the restaurant wasn't busy. Other than that, the food was great and I will definitely go back.
(4)
Cara G.
Sadly, though the food here is pretty good, the service has been quite crappy. This place prides itself on being a 'hipster' joint, and being a Hawaii native who has lived in San Francisco for the past four years, I will state that there isn't anything hipster about this place, except for the snooty waitresses. Even so, I've never known hipster to be synonymous with rude, passive aggressive and unattentive, though it has been assumed that such service would accompany innovative, high-quality and new age food that tends to be served in hipster joints. Downbeat does not serve this type of food; it's diner food. So why are the servers here so impolite and curt? Not really sure, and as someone who works in a restaurant, I believe that it's completely safe to say that the staff (minus the bartender) at Downbeat need some lessons in how to treat customers. Nobody wants to feel like their committed a crime simply by asking their waitress if they prefer the michelada to the Bloody Mary, which is precisely how I was treated. I think everyone should skip this place and go find some other late night food instead of this sad excuse for a 'hipster' joint.
(1)
Richel C.
Stopped by for some late night dessert. service was average, our waiter was new so he tried his best to give recommendations. we ended up ordering the salted chocolate chip sundae. it was delicious! The cookies added the perfect touch to a delicious Sundae. while for the most part, the cookie was soft and gooey, there were parts that weren't burnt and hard to chew. still, overall good dessert and chill environment!
(4)
Meg M.
I want to LOVE Downbeat diner.... Tons of vegan options, awesome hipster vibe, late night food I can actually eat.... And I haven't had too many complaints prior to today. But that was probably because, to be completely honest, I am usually a little buzzed when I am here! Today for lunch though, the service was pretty terrible. I ordered vegan hot wings with my avocado sando and real wings came out instead! Sad face. Good thing Dustin took the first bite! It also took about 40 minutes to get our food. It was crowded in there but it would have been nice to just get a warning from our waitress..... But she kind of avoided us after we ordered. I asked her to take the wings off the check and didn't want to wait for the vegan wings (we were in a rush!) but when we got the check they were on there. We just paid and left because we didn't want to make a big deal out of it but it was definitely not cool. Great atmosphere, pretty good food, lots of veggie options but the service makes me not want to return.... Unless I'm buzzed.
(3)
Tatiana W.
This place is always hit or miss. Some of the food is great while some is not. Drinks are always good though. The worst part is, this place is always understaffed. I have sat upwards of 30 minutes waiting to even be acknowledged by a server. The problem is... I know it's usually not their fault considering the tables are full and he/she is the only one working. Recommendations for customers: don't expect a quick trip and know that the nachos are a disappointment every time. Recommendation for the restaurant: get more staff and make fast, quality service a PRIORITY!
(3)
Lei N.
After looking at difference place, Charles and I ended up coming here for lunch. We walked past it the first time then ended up coming back and inside. The interior of the place it neat and menus are already set out at whichever booth you choose. It's awesome they have a jukebox though modern, I like their music selection. No, not oldies this time. Looking over the menu there were a few things I wanted to try like their wings and burgers / sandwiches, but I ended up ordering breakfast instead. Nothing wrong with that! As I ordered my Egg Breakfast... I said white rice... I didn't know that they only had brown rice! That was a first for me. As I ate my breakfast... the eggs and bacon seemed a bit cold so I was disappointed with that. I couldn't really taste the brown rice. If there is such a taste to it. It also came with an orange slice. That I enjoyed. Along with that, we got the Sampler which came with 3 cheese sticks, 3 jalapeno poppers, 3 buffalo wings and 3 sticks of carrot. The first food item I had to eat were the buffalo wings, though mild, it's too spicy for me! Yet I ate all three of them! I had some of the cheese sticks too. Can't eat it when it's too hot, can't really enjoy it when it's too cold. Grrr. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Our waitress had a cool outfit on and gave us enough time as we ordered, and got the check.
(3)
Kelly T.
I've tried this place a handful of times since my first horrific milkshake experience, and the service has improved. This place is still going for the trendy hipster vibe and has lots of hipsterish meal options, including veggie sausage, Oregon beers, and PBR. Sometimes the fully tatted bartenders play Sharknado or Taxi Driver, and lots of black-rimmed glasses-laden college kids with matching haircuts are slumped over in booths checking Facebook and eating Loco Mocos. I really wish this place tried harder on the quality of their food instead of the Lawry's Seasoned Salt overkill, but I guess I should just be content that Downbeat Diner exists and try to fit in. Damn you, Honolulu, and your lack of pm breakfast options! Maybe it will keep getting better?
(3)
Sarah J.
I usually like this place due to it's vegan options, however, this time I feel that the waitress was picking and choosing who she wanted to wait on. We waited for our food for 40mins, she never came over to tell us it was on it's way, and when it got there it was regular chicken wrap not vegan like I asked for. I didn't want to wait any longer so she comped it. I'm not impressed with the service or the food this time at all. I have been in the past. I'm hoping it's different if I come back ever again.
(2)
Jordan S.
A great late night eats place. Good diner food, awesome milk shakes, and if you come before 2am they are a bar as well so you can add liquor to your shakes or floats. The food is pretty standard for a diner, the spot is perfect though for going to as China Town bars are shutting down. They also have some Vegan and Vegetarian options, which is nice as it's a place all of my friends can usually agree on.
(4)
Amauri T.
Showed up here for a late night snack after a night at M Nightclub, walked in at 3 a.m. on a Saturday and there business hours stated they stayed open until 4 a.m. I ordered a loco moco which is standard local fare but according to the sever they couldn't be bothered to make more rice and they started turning off the lights with an hour left.
(1)
Keisha B.
This is hands down my favorite place to dine. 1. Taco Tuesdays!! *WHAT!! $3 margaritas!! 2. Great drinks 3. Open late 4. No cover for lounge. 5. All menus items are available as VEGAN! That's right - all vegan if you want it! Finally found a great place to have date night or eat before 1st Friday and I can get vegan friendly food and the bf can get meat! What a great option! Vegan bacon, vegan ham, vegan cheese, vegan chicken etc. If you are vegetarian or vegan you gotta check this place out! The staff is friendly and the vibe is great! I cannot wait to go back :)
(5)
Liz K.
Chili fries and mozzarella sticks were really good. Service was a little slow, but it was really busy (sat 1am) and seemed like they only had 1 server, and she was doing her best. Will come back!
(5)
Keith C.
Love this place. 5 minutes before closing they made me an awesome breakfast sandwich. Trading places "the movie" was on the TV. What a great place and walking distance to/ from everything downtown/ China town. Breakfast all day rocks!!!
(5)
Ariana M.
I really dont have much to say about this place. Everything I have here was just meh. Nothing I would ever really crave or come back for. The main reason why I come here often is because its close to work and its open late. So when I'm dying from hunger I definitely come here to grab a bite. If I have other options, I'll usually go there first. Every time I have come here the staff is always nice and friendly so thats a plus. However, the food always take forever.
(2)
Missy T.
I love milkshakes. No, furreal; I. Love. MILKSHAKES. So on TOP of the sandwich/cajun fries rating, I have to bump Downbeat up another star for having some AWESOME milkshakes! The regular selection is all there: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, etc., but what you really wanna try, if you're a chocolate milkshake kinda person, is the Chunky Monkey. I was here on a Taco Tuesday (not to order tacos :/), was told that the milkshake would be a 10 min wait, and was still blown away by the Chunky Monkey when it came out. Chocolate, banana, and peanut butter all blended to perfection were well worth the wait, and to my surprise, tasted exactly like Reese's Peanut Butter Crunch cereal! For those of you still on the fence about Downbeat, I'd highly recommend the sandwiches (I've heard mixed reviews about the plate lunch sort of stuff), and would DEFINITELY recommend grabbing a shake while you're at it!
(5)
Caroline P.
This is absolutely one of my favorite places to eat in Honololulu so far. Situated in the center of China Town in a quirky little building. There are 8 booths with pictures of famous people on the seats. There is only one waitperson manning this station but it's really worth the wait. My boyfriend and I love this place. I am a vegetarian and sometimes vegan. My boyfriend loves meat and lovingly complains when I cook that we are eating rabbit food, rainbows and kale. So the Downbeat caters to both of our tastes. I love the Vegan BLT and the garlic fries. So darn good. The funny thing is my boyfriend ends up getting something vegetarian too. They have nice cocktails there. The wine list is really limited. White or Red wine. Also great live music performances next door so don't forget to support the artists. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Warren N.
Went here last Sunday evening and liked it. We had the nachos, and unlike previous reviewers we had lots of chips and some good chili on top. I like that you can get breakfast anytime and their vegan/veg choices are great also. I had the pesto-tofu scramble which was very good. Dessert was empanadas which were accompanied by a nice caramel sauce. Dive bar? Yes. Good dive bar with good food? Double yes!!
(4)
Tori B.
Truly disappointing! I've heard a lot of hype about this restaurant and have been meaning to check it out, but my experience here was lousy. Upon entering, my boyfriend and I stood there in the middle of the restaurant for quite a while until the server shouted from the back, "sit anywhere!" Not a very welcoming start. If this is your restaurant's policy, at least post a sign; don't make me stand there while all the other restaurant patrons stare at me. I ordered the vegetarian monte cristo, which was actually very good, but pretty oily. My boyfriend, however, ordered the teri burger, which was probably the sorriest looking teri burger I'd ever seen. He said it was not cooked very well either. I guess since vegetarian and vegan is their specialty, this translates to an inability to cook meat well. Our server, though, was the ultimate kicker. We came in late on a Sunday night and it was not very busy at all. She had maybe four or five tables to wait and a few bar patrons. She seemed much more interested in talking and laughing with the people at the bar than serving us, and was really curt and disinterested when she did. She never bothered to clear our plates even after we'd finished eating and brought the dessert to our table. I'd understand if you were swamped and happened to forget about us, but it was essentially a ghost town, and she was totally aloof. Anyway, the only thing that kept this experience from being a one star rating was my veg monte cristo. Otherwise, Downbeat Diner left me disappointed and I won't be back again.
(2)
Gemma R.
Came by last night before heading out to the crowds at First Friday. The place does have a diner feel to it, the chairs are awesome and we had a great time trying to figure out who everyone was based on their photos. They carded us at the door which was odd because it's a restaurant and there shouldn't be an age limit to a restaurant. We were all obviously over 21 but still, kinda weird. We asked the waitress how to get a table and she told us it was first come first serve. Wrong. We sat at the bar and then a table opened up and the door guy said that the table was already taken and he had a list! Which he failed to tell us when we walked in. Oh well, back to the bar. We were seated shortly after so it wasn't a big deal. The bartender was having a hard time with a groupon so if you purchased a groupon, make sure to tell your server prior to ordering so it your problem doesn't hold up everyone's drinking! lol We had 3 vodka tonics & a lychee sour at the bar which was $18. Awesome. Had the burgers, fries, blat and the mix appetizer thing. everything was pretty good, but we were drunk so I probably could of ate styrofoam and would of been happy. The waitresses were very attentive and refilled our drinks/got us more drinks constantly. I had a great time and if I'm ever in the area, I'd go again. Over all, it was a cheap pre-party dinner and an overall good time. Actually, I do have to go back. I didn't have dessert. lol I love the whole regular/vegan menu which is something I'm really looking forward to trying.
(5)
Evan B.
This place is awesome. I like supporting local places, and when I was in Honolulu, this was a favorite spot to stop. Volcano fries are very tasty, and the atmosphere is chill. The music is good, and the movies on mute are equally enjoyable. I recommend this place to all my friends.
(5)
J Z.
I go there for the vegan fare - and so far, I'm happy! I only venture there in the daytime because let's face it - it's in Chinatown - and not somewhere I want to be at night (unless Chinese New Year block party - that's a whole 'nuther story!) Since I don't drink, I'm more than happy with the giant basket of fries and bbq, etc. vegan sandwiches, breakfasts, entrees & salads. :-) The grilled cheese needs work, however - but all in all - I recommend this to the adventurous vegans/vegetarians & on-the-fencers out there!
(5)
jeannine s.
Downbeat Diner is where Americana meets counter culture. Nestled on Hotel Street between Mini Garden and Pynk, is one of Chinatown's newer additions open from 11 am to 4 pm nearly every day. You can either sink into one of a number of booths upholstered with mugs of the famous and infamous: Frida Kahlo, Billy Idol, Mark Twain, Bruddah Iz and Freddy Mercury or pull up to a seat at their well-stocked bar. Breathe and you can smell rockabilly in the air. Burgers come in two forms either Big Island free range beef or Vegan and are prepared either American, Western or Teriyaki style. For $2 more, you can get them with a side order of fries. And for $5 more, you can get them with a frosty shake, either regular or vegan. I enjoyed my second visit far more than the first. I thought the Teriyaki burger was an improvement over the American version I had a few weeks before. The fries were actually more tasty and not soggy as they were during my first visit. And, while I did enjoy a spiked Ginger Brew, I loved the hell out of the Rogue Dead Guy Ale, imported from Portland. These also are instant classics. Hands down my favorite thing would be the basket of fritters. If I had to go out for just dessert, I'd split a basket of apple fritters with caramel sauce with a couple of friends. It's too decadent for two and split among a foursome, it's quite perfect. The mac nut brownie ice cream sandwich is good but not as special. The service is also much better than the first visit. So, some kinks are getting worked out. We're definitely coming back and bringing friends next time.
(4)
Nancy S.
I first tried this place after a night out with friends in Honolulu. We wanted a late night snack and boy did this place hit the spot. One of our friend's is vegetarian so it was nice that you could get practically anything on the menu as a vegan option. We had the vegan hot wings. These were the best non-meat wings I have had in my life. The flavor was amazing and the texture was far from all the rubbery meat substitutes I have had in the past. The bacon burger was also very delicious and flavorful. This will be somewhere to stop whenever I get to visit the island.
(5)
Sajili B.
Oh Downbeat. I haven't been here since I first moved to Hawaii in Oct 2011. Yea, not too long ago, I just wanted it to sound like that. Anyway, my go to is their fresh ginger brew drink they serve. It's freakin' delicious. First time I went I got fries and a burger. It was goood. The most recent time was on a Tuesday, 1st of the month, I had to do it right. I was scrambling to find a place that was open past 9:30pm that was hip, had good food on a Tuesday night of all nights. You know why. Anyway, I was surprised they did Taco Tuesday (and very thankful) because she likes mexican food. Yea, it's not a mexi-restaurant and you'll be hard-pressed to find that in Hawaii, but it sufficed. (No mexican food spot is open in Hawaii past 9 or 9:30pm on a weekday, wth right? Spoiled LA kid.) I got a bacon quesadilla (delicious), their nachos, and she got the tacos. They freshly made it into a hard taco and it became vaseline greasy by the third shot. So that was a minor fail but a winning night. Chill, hip environment that you can take friends, special friends, and whoever to. You got the hipster and artsy scene in Chinatown, so if you are a transplant, you'll feel at home (esp. if you are from LA, the Bay, etc).
(4)
Jody S.
Downbeat Diner has a cool vibe. It has vegan options which make me happy. A few coworkers raved about this hole in the wall located in Chinatown so was stoked when we went to eat there. However, the experience left me something to be desired. Service was just okay. Our waitress appeared and disappeared like a ninja, you really never knew when she would show up. When we tried to order, they had no French fries, they had no veggie burgers and they had no milkshakes....what the heck?! Two words--go shopping! Three more words--restock your cupboards. HELLO....do hope to be back and hopefully the next time will be great.
(3)
Keri B.
It's nice when I am traveling to other parts of the country to have some vegan options. The BLAT was great and the vegan chicken wings were good for sharing. Love the vibe here
(4)
Ryan S.
Great option for vegetarians and vegans alike. They're also open late which is awesome for those late night munchies and quick dinners after working late. All their food options are delicious and reasonably priced. Wide array of sandwiches, and house specials with cool combo options available. Breakfast is served all day I believe. The staff are super friendly and well-mannered. The ambience of the establishment is cozy, energetic, and welcoming. Recommended for any foodie, vegetarian, or vegan!
(4)
Dextin A.
I habe been here a few times and the food has been consistently good and the prices are great milkshakes are friggin awesome. My only knock is sometimes the service here is slow thats the only reason i didnt give 5 stars
(4)
Tina S.
We had eaten at the Downbeat Diner once before and the food was good. The lack of parking and the shadiness of the area kept us away. However with our friends, the Saloon Pilots and Rye & Discord playing here we ventured out again. Loved the chicken nachos and moonshine mixed drinks.
(4)
Sheryl N.
Went here today to take my friends for a birthday lunch, sooo this is how it went down. Service: Sucked. Pretty much when we got in she didn't really acknowledge us. And when she did, said there were a few people ahead of us which was alright. It took about 20-30 minutes to get us seated, even when there clearly was a table open; but she didn't realize it until later. It took them about 20 minutes to get our waters... And about 25-30 minutes for us to get our food. Kinda long. What sucked the most was the fact she charged us almost $20 over the original amount without mentioning the 18% gratuity. She didn't have such a great attitude when we asked kindly if we could split the bill; which she declined due to the "rush" which was non-existent & first friday. Probably won't be coming back for awhile. Food: Decent. I got the pesto chicken sandwich with cajun fries which was pretty good, yet dry. The fries were a good cut, fried well. My other friendss also have noticed their burgers/sandwiches to be a little dry. The flavors were alright, I've had better. It was better before. Atmosphere: Pretty chill, casual. Parking: There's several places to park, mostly street parking of the chinese municipal parking. We parked at the South Beretania parking structure, because it's much cleaner than the rest. Overall: Food's alright, service is meh and parking is good as usual.
(2)
Jenn T.
Bottomless mimosas??? Yes please!! Came for the brunch experience that my friends have been talking about at this place. They had been here many times before to grab the bottomless mimosa deal. I also ordered the pesto scramble, which came with pesto scrambled eggs, choice of meat and toast. It was pretty delicious, though I was starving at the time I ate it. The cheese fries were also really good. The mimosas here are decent, though they kept running out of champagine and had to go out and buy more, making the mimoas....bottom-full for about 10 minutes. Seems like they should be a little better prepared for the deal if they're going to offer it, but I think it was their way of telling us to stop drinking :P. Overall, a decent meal.
(3)
Sabrina O.
Wonderful little hipster diner. A VERY welcome change from touristy Waikiki. It's place wouldn't be out of place in Brooklyn, very hipster vibe. We were there Saturday lunchtime but it wasn't busy at all. I had the BLAT sandwich - I substituted mayo for mustard, no hassles, although they did put too much mustard on! My husband had Otto's Moco, which he enjoyed. We also tried the house made ginger soda, which was excellent. This place also looks like a fun place to drink in the evening as well, and they seem to have alot of live soul, ska and revival bands. We would definitely come back to this place.
(4)
Keola P.
I am somewhat of a regular of Downbeat Diner, going there about once every other month or so. I appreciate the vegetarian options, though it is a lot of fried stuff. I like the vegan ranch dressing and fries. The fritters are good if you are craving sweet. The service can be spotty. Usually the servers are very friendly and positive, but a few times they have made some snarky sarcastic comments randomly, which is the main reason they only get four stars. Also, I personally get annoyed with televisions in restaurants. I prefer to focus on the food and company I am with! I guess it's a kind of "hipster" place, so maybe that's why the wait staff is sarcastic sometimes? I think their subculture is about being ironic, but I don't really get it. If they got rid of the televisions, and just played music, and the servers were a little more sincere instead of sarcastic, I would give them five stars. A great little haven to go to get away from the madness of the Chinatown streets and chill before or after going to clubs and such.
(4)
Jesand A.
Did not expect this joint to be as good as it was. Awesome service! Clean eats, offers vegan and non GMO beef. Tasty, the garlic fries are a must!
(4)
Morgan N.
This food was amazing !!!!! My wife is vegan and i simply just love meat. I had a burger it was amazing it was juicy and cooked perfect at med well. My wife was in love with the fact that she didn't have to explain what vegan was or ask a million questions about the menu. She had the Ruben and she loved in fact we had three other entries while we were there. The old saying a happy wife a happy life, so def will be coming back. the atmosphere is very different then anything on the island very hipster and mellow. parking wasn't bad it cost us $3 one block away for 2 hours. It was simply amazing!!!! I even ate some vegan nachos wasn't bad at all not melted but have you very tried to melt vegan cheese its hard to do lol
(5)
Emi H.
Downbeat was a bit of a mixed bag for us last night and I've realized that unless you're a vegetarian you really should order DESSERTS! They have a lovely assortment of sweets for those of you who share my penchant for SUGAR. Here's the rundown of last night's late night visit... KEITH: He ordered a ham and cheese grilled sandwich and unfortunately the cheese was not melted. Booooooooooooo. We told him to tell the server but he's very Japanese and would never send anything back. He ate his sandwich in sad silence and I grabbed a sample. I have to say although the cheese wasn't melted, it still wasn't half bad. It could have used some creamy tomato soup to make it spectacular! JOHN: He's a vegetarian so I didn't really pay attention to his food because I don't think vegetables should be consumed after 9 pm. It was already 11:15 pm when we walked through the doors and John had to ruin my good time with his garden goodness. It was some sort of all veggie grilled sandwich and I did my best to ignore it. GARY: He got chili cheese fries and a Nutella milkshake. OH YEAH! Now that's what I'm talking about people! This was no half hearted attempt to enjoy oneself, this was PURE UNADULTERATED GLUTTONY. The fries themselves were good but I didn't fall in love with the veggie chili. Gary liked the spiciness but honestly when I eat chili cheese fries I want that old school flavor that falls somewhere between ball park and cafeteria. ME: I order the apple fritters and course corrected with the apple AND banana fritters. If you go to Downbeat you have to PROMISE that you'll order these! They come out HOT and are complete perfection when you've been out all night. They're like funnel cakes wrapped around fruit. The bananas were sweet while the apples had a nice tartness. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. In addition to my fritters I got a chocolate peanut butter milkshake which was DAMN GOOD. Poor Keith grabbed the spoon in my milkshake to have a taste and was unfortunate enough to inadvertently swallow a spoonful of peanut butter. Oh well, bygones! Service was really friendly and he gave us some solid recommendations which made our experience. Definitely a hipster hangout but it makes for entertaining people watching.
(4)
Rita L.
My friend and I really wanted to eat at Lucky Belly but the wait was kinda long...so we went next door to try out Downbeat. We are soo happy we did, it was such a yummy experiance! We had the chunky monkey shake was yummers. I had the Vegan bbq chicken sandwich and I couldn't tell it wasnt really meat...it was soo good! I loved the garlic fries too! We ended our diner meal with the apple fritters which you have to order at the beginning of your meal...try it! The batter of the fritters taste like its funnel cake....loved the caramel sauce on top! I will def be back to try more delicous vegan delights!
(4)
Shiloh R.
Still coming back years later! The servers are so sweet and friendly (can I mention cute?!?!) and the food is DELICIOUS!
(5)
DJ Nocturna R.
Downbeat Diner always had a great vibe and friendly bartenders and servers. Great food and reasonable price. The lounge section beside it is open now with awesome sound and lighting. Every Wednesday night, come check out Totally 80s, a night of 80s/90s music and dancing and no cover! Video screen, tables and chairs and a great crowd with DJ GSpot, DJ Coondog and DJ Nocturna. Also DJ guest appearances as well.
(5)
Keun W.
People seem to have great things to say about this place, but our experience was different. They needed more help, because we waited for a long time for our food. My friend returned her dish, but the waitress never came over to fixed the order or check in on us. So, my friend just gave up. Finally, the waitress comes to clean our table (to basically kick us out) and says, "Oh. She's over it, huh?" Well, yeah! You never came to get our order or check up on us!!! Rude she gave the table next us apologies and a complimentary dish, yet nothing for us when it was their fault!! The food is over priced and the service was terrible. The only reason I am giving a star is for the fries.
(1)
Angela D.
This is our favorite place on the island. The vegetarian options are as plentiful as the meat options and they are all delicious. When I come here, I always eat too much. I continue to order the vegetarian Reuben sandwich with fries and there are veggie barbecue "wings" that I cannot get enough of. The chili cheese fries are yummy, the American veggie burger is great and the Buffalo chicken sandwich rocks (and is hot!). Beer selection is good and the TV is often playing some quirky movie that attracts your attention. Only thing I wish they would change is their hours. I came here for breakfast once only to find out they don't open until 11 am! What diner does that?
(5)
Kris B.
Two stars for the diner, adding another one for the lounge. I've tried the diner several times now, and I don't know why I end up here time and again. Atmosphere is appropriate to that hipster Chinatown culture. The lounge area is fun when they have the live bluegrass music, but the area can get quite cramped. In my opinion, the lounge is superior to the diner. The servers are usually nice but maaaaannn is service slow at the diner! I usually go during the later hours of night and I don't eat much. One night I ordered the Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae which is every person's late night dream snack. Hard to mess up right? Just heat up a couple day old cookies and top it off with ice cream. But no! I had what a friend called a "charcoal chip" cookie, which made me laugh on the outside and cry on the inside. Whyyyeeeeee! Burned to a black crisp (and I could smell it too), must I pay $5 for carcinogens? Knowing my track record, will probably end up coming here again because they have late night hours but ...whyeeeee...
(3)
Sally F.
Sometimes you go to a diner hoping for bad coffee and a laid back atmosphere. This is not that diner. You want to like this place and keep coming back because you're drunk and hungry and nothing else is open but every time you wonder why you came back. Waiters are awful and too cool to use proper manners or even be friendly while serving you. Always understaffed. Loooooong wait times. This goes for the bar and the cafe. They just don't know how to do their jobs and are hired on the basis of indie band knowledge and whether they own a pair of doc martens or not.
(1)
Mariko K.
After living in Hawaii for eight years I finally tried a loco moco yesterday and I specifically tried it here after finding out they serve it with brown rice and they have vegetarian and vegan options. I hate greasy spoon food, so I figured that if they have these options it's a good indicator that they are using quality ingredients. I was right and it was delicious! The burger patty was very good, I really liked the seasonings used. Also, I appreciated the generous portion size, I took half home and ate the rest for breakfast today. At the same time, I think DownBeat ruined me for loco moco, I can't imagine it tasting as good anywhere else so I'm only going to eat it here. My friend got the zombie drink, which was pretty much straight up alcohol :) My friend and I were jealous of how cool our waitress was, haha. We liked the vibe a lot and especially enjoyed that they were playing kitten videos on their tv screens.
(5)
Jenna S.
Four stars? Most people must be drunk when they eat here because my experience was anything but. First off, the service was really slow, and two people came in well after us (after we ordered and had been waiting about 10 minutes) and they got their food before us! The food quality was very poor. Honestly they serve the same curly fries as Jack in the Box, and sadly at least Jack's fries come out HOT and they even have better sourdough bread than what I got on my sandwich. My grilled chicken was not juicy at all, and the when my nachos came out they were COLD too. The waitress gave us new nachos but they still tasted like crap. We also noticed the table across from us also sent their food back. The food they serve here is not worth the price and it's already pretty cheap. I really do not understand why this place has such high reviews. Save your money and go elsewhere, I only gave this place a shot because where I really wanted to go was closed on Sunday, and people had good things to say about it. Yelpers you let me down get off the fad wagon!
(1)
Randall H.
The place is great hands down, I would certainly come again & eat here. The service was friendly & constantly checked on us to see if we needed anything. Overall this was a good experience. Music was good also.
(4)
Eric F.
I had the loco moco and a Freddie Fizz. It was so good I don't know what to do with myself. I had enough to eat but it was so good...I want to order more to just sport eat. Seriously prices are reasonable the food is awesome what can I say? Thanks and good job!
(5)
Robert W.
My favorite place in Chinatown!!! Great place to hangout any time of the day. Downbeat is an incredible diner and bar! The menu is full of great choices that caters to all types of eaters (vegetarian / vegan / omnivores) Every item is well prepared and served by a very courteous staff. My favorite items on the menu are the carnivore burger and garlic fries. Additionally, brunch / breakfast items that are very tasty and the home fries are just great. The bar menu is solid. The cocktails, especially the ginger brew and root beer no float, are delicious. The atmosphere of Downbeat is the reason to keep coming back. Between the great music and interesting videos that constantly being played and the Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy adorn booths the Downbeat diner is the epitome of cool. I love this restaurant and will come back every time I am back in Honolulu!
(5)
Jeana P.
On February 20, 2015 I went down to the Downbeat Diner and Lounge for the first time on my night off from work. I arrived around 7:25pm. Lounge Take 1 -- I stepped into the lounge area and noticed that it was practically empty. I sat at one of the high tables and waited like a good 5 minutes to see if the bartender would approach me to ask if I wanted anything to drink. No greetings whatsoever from the bartender. I ended up using the restroom and left the lounge area. Diner -- I made my way to the diner side of the business. It was pretty busy. I was greeted by the waitress and the bartender. I went straight to the bar seating and the bartender hands me the menu as well as asking me on what I would like to drink. I ordered a Coke/Sprite mix to drink and settled for the Club Sandwich with french fries. While having my meal I was able to watch DINOSAURS on the flat screen television. As I am chewing on my food the bartender asked if everything was okay....all I could do was nod my head and give a thumbs up. My drink was almost gone and the bartender asked if I wanted another drink....I asked for a Ketel OJ. I received the Ketel OJ plus a refill on the Coke/Sprite mix. Found out the bartender's name is Chris (thanks to another customer who started to chat with the bartender). Finished eating my meal as well as my drinks. I paid for my tab and mentioned to Chris "I'm going to head on over to the lounge side and listen to the music," He says, "Perfect timing....they are almost done with the preparations." Left the diner at 8:30pm. Lounge Take 2 -- I make my way back to the lounge area. I noticed that it got a little crowded. The sound equipment guy greeted me. I stood near the wall and watched the remaining scenes of CABLE GUY on the flat screen television. I noticed a seat at the bar got vacated so I went straight to that seat and got comfortable. I witnessed the changing of shifts at 9pm. A different bartender...at least this person acknowledged me by making small talk with me. I had to ask him "What time does the music normally starts?" "Around 9:30pm or later" was his reply. I looked at my watch and it was 9:30pm. I told him "The only reason why I am down here is to listen to the music. Otherwise I'd be at home tonight (in my head I'm thinking {or at work})." 10pm comes....finally we have some live music going. First group was Drowning Dreamers (cd release party). The last two groups Ionz and Urchinz got the crowd dancing. There's a small dancing area in front of the stage. It gets crowded if there's a lot of people dancing. Found out my second bartender's name is Johnny (thanks to one of the other customers who called out his name). I was people watching at the same time of listening to the music. I noticed that Johnny helped other customers, I seen him hook up a keg for one of the beers, and I also noticed that he cleared some tables off of empty cups and napkins. I tried a couple of the signature cocktails....Lilikoi Sour (it really was sour) and the Lavender Collins (had whiskey in it). I also had Ketel OJ as my last drink for the night. Excellent service by both Chris and Johnny for acknowledging me as a customer. Now if only the live entertainment can start on time (9pm according to the printed free ticket that I had) then this establishment would receive more than just the 3 stars. BTW....Fridays and Saturdays last call for alcohol is at 2am but the diner side opens until 4am for food only. Live music I think is only on Friday nights and Saturday nights (?).
(3)
Mina M.
I love coming here! There's always something going on. This is a great place for burgers and milkshakes. On my most recent visit, Friday around 5pm, we had a table of 8 and they connected a table to the booth. I was on the end but it wasn't uncomfortable like I was gonna have people brush up against me every time they walk by. They were also playing Bob's Burgers on the projector +++ (!!!!!!!!!) I actually had a really bad craving for burgers and fries and this was literally a dream come true (can't get away from food even in my dreams.) - I usually get the American burger with garlic fries -drool- it comes on a nicely toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced onion, and melted cheese. I like to add the fries inside my burger for that little extra salt. I was in the mood for it to be medium and it was perfection. Yeah, perfection. - Their garlic fries are amazinggggggg but when aren't garlic fries amazing? - Their wings are also good and reasonably priced. - Mozzarella sticks tastes like how it should taste. Nice crunch with yummy breading and gooey cheese. - I had a sip of the chai milkshake - really good, you can taste the spices - Bacon milkshake - also good, tastes like bacon lol - Two of my friends always order the Ruben. - And they do really flavorful vegan burgers! Service is hit or miss. When it's busy, you may get checked on once or twice. And paying seems to take a while. Since our last visit was beginning of dinner, (5pm) waters were refilled and beers were brought over. We got everything we wanted. And the place didn't start filling up and until we were about to leave. The downside of this place is that they do not split checks if you have a party of 5 or more so bring cash if you can! Oh and parking. Try finding a spot on the street or pay the $12(!?) for the nearest parking lot like we did.
(5)
Amber B.
What's not to love about a place with a vegan option for most of the menu that's open late even on Sundays and has a bar? This is one of mine & hubby's favorite date-night locations! The only thing that I'm not a fan of is the location due to the lack of parking and sometimes crazy homeless peeps who come around late at night, which is the only time we ever go. (Just sayin, nothing against the homeless, but I definitely clutch my pearls a bit when I am walking around and see people yelling and coming towards me) But even the crazies aren't enough to deter me from eating there (as long as hubby is by my side) OR from a 5-star rating. I've never had a bad experience here, nor have I eaten anything on the menu that wasn't absolutely awesome. I hope they stay in business for a loooooong time!
(5)
Ryan S.
Great option for vegetarians and vegans alike. They're also open late which is awesome for those late night munchies and quick dinners after working late. All their food options are delicious and reasonably priced. Wide array of sandwiches, and house specials with cool combo options available. Breakfast is served all day I believe. The staff are super friendly and well-mannered. The ambience of the establishment is cozy, energetic, and welcoming. Recommended for any foodie, vegetarian, or vegan!
(4)
Dextin A.
I habe been here a few times and the food has been consistently good and the prices are great milkshakes are friggin awesome. My only knock is sometimes the service here is slow thats the only reason i didnt give 5 stars
(4)
Peter T.
So the draw of this place is slowly dying for me, really if not the only place where I could get brunch downtown on a Sunday without a wait AND if my kid didn't like it so much, would probably give up on it. I'm done with their breakfast, just not doing it for me anymore. Last time I was here got the chicken and waffles was meh at best; ditto the rest of the entire breakfast menu (see other reviews). Have repeated the burrito twice after my initial review and just not doing it for me either anymore, not sure why. Today decided to try the loco moco and was a big meh. The secret to a good loco moco in my opinion is the gravy and the gravy here wasn't cutting it; taste like the chicken and waffle gravy (more a flour based thick gravy) than proper brown beef gravy. Wasn't bad but wasn't good either, def forgettable. Irish coffee was excellent like always. Kid got her standard eggs and bacon though going to do a little rant here as this has happened the last three times now and it drives me nuts. So she orders "eggs + bacon, no potatoes, and white toast" every time and the last two servers (chicks, not the skinny gay dude) always bring her a side of eggs, side of bacon, and side of toast. Now look I understand you are probably doing that because toast doesn't come with the bacon+eggs breakfast menu item (and you can't seem to substitute toast for potatoes) and it's cheaper this way (and I appreciate that) but you don't need to bring it out on three small little side dish plates, obviously it's breakfast for her since she ordered it. It annoys the hell out of me (and even she finds it bemusing) that the staff can't just use some common damn sense and throw it all on one plate like a normal person would; how it's ordered or rung up is irrelevant to the presentation. On a similar vein, and this is a mixed bag, is hot chocolate. Look I know hot chocolate isn't the menu nor chocolate milk (or I don't think it is) for that matter and I super appreciate your server custom making chocolate milk + whip cream for my kid [as a compromise when she asked for hot chocolate but the server really understood what she wanted was whip cream] but is it really that much to ask to just stick it in a coffee mug and nuke it? Not asking for proper hot coco here. Ignoring that though kid loves the bacon and eggs here so we keep coming back plus the prices are right. Lastly I want to give kudos to the waitress today. White chick with blond/green hair and two stub pony tails (?). She was super friendly and my kid loved her; couldn't stop talking about how awesome she was after we left. On the grownup side, was no complaints either. She was fast, attentive, didn't screw the order up, and pleasant, everything one could ask for. Giving props where due.
(3)
Natalie K.
This place is so comforting to me. I used to spend weekend nights hanging out in the diner, listening to music, and eating greasy vegan food. It is fun and delicious. My favorite menu items: vegan bbq wings, vegan pesto chicken sandwich, vegan Teri chicken sandwich, and as of today.. The vegan toffee shake. It's awesome to bring all different types of people here, because the menu offers vegetarian, vegan, and meat items for all types of diets. Definitely worth checking out.
(5)
Kurt M.
Honolulu is not a vegetarian or vegan friendly city. Thus, I was happy to come across this place during my stay. It's in Chinatown, making it centrally located. I was helped quickly and the servers were friendly. My food was always great (not fine-dining great but pretty damn good for a diner) and came quickly. I also appreciated that their menu was large and varied. The fact that it's also a bar with alcohol made me happy because boy, do I love drinking! And to top it off, they show entertaining movies which gives the solitary diner something to do while sitting at the bar eating their meal or drinking away their loneliness. I wish this place was in my neighborhood in Boston; I'd go frequently.
(5)
Jon H.
Argh. That sound of inner conflict truly sums up my feelings on Downbeat Diner and Lounge, and I hate saying that since I want to love this place so badly. Starting with their strengths and what they do well, Downbeat is a vegan-friendly diner wrapped in a trendily decorated package in the heart of downtown. They specialize in options aimed to please your (American) comfort food cravings without compromising on your dietary and culinary lifestyle choices. Speaking from personal experience, places like this make it extremely convenient for vegetarians and vegans alike. Having been a vegetarian for a good handful of years, it was always reassuring to know that whatever order I placed would be carefully prepared and not run the risk of me cheating on my diet. The food itself is generally pretty good as well. From veggie loco mocos to veggie "chicken" wings, there really is something for everyone on their menu. Speaking for myself, I am pretty partial to their chips and salsa and avocado quesadillas. But maybe my favorite thing on their menu is their milkshakes, which without trying to sound like an alcoholic, can be ordered spiked with the liquor of your choosing. I don't know about you, but there's just something so satisfying to me about that concept. And although every time I intend to order something different, I usually end up getting the strawberry milkshake with rum. What can i say, I love strawberries...even artificially flavored ones so it seems. The milkshakes aren't necessarily über strong, but there definitely is enough alcohol mixed in to give it a nice kick. And on a somewhat related note, one of Downbeat's greatest attributes is it's location and hour of operation. I cannot even count how many times Downbeat has provided a safe haven to eat-who am I kidding, i totally mean sober up-for me and my friends after a night out of bar hopping at nearby establishments. The fact that Downbeat is literally only a stone's throw away from places like Bar35 and Manifest, two places I frequent a lot, as well as being open late, make it one of the default "where to go?" options. With that all being said, and as big of a fan of their concept as I am, i can't give them a perfect rating because of a combination of two things: the wait time between order and the arrival of your food, and a past incident that occurred that could've potentially been so much more damaging/enraging given different circumstance. Starting with my gripe with the wait time, I try to be really understanding anywhere I go, and especially wanna give the benefit of the doubt when I factor in convenience and "life-saving"-ness. However, the food really seems to take forever and I'm honestly not sure what the reason for it is. I mean some of the more complex orders I can understand taking awhile, and I'm completely ok with that necessary wait. But when you end up waiting 30+ minutes for a Veggie Boat, which is basically assorted sticks of vegetables, more than a few eyebrows are gonna get raised. This is not trying to take anything away from the customer service, however, as every interaction I've had with staff at Downbeat has been quite friendly and excellent. Everyone here seems to genuinely like working there and it shows in their demeanor and positive attitudes. It's just that damn waiting that really takes away from their good points. And the second reason I can't give them 5 stars is on account of a "grudge," for a lack of better words, that I just can't shake. I previously mentioned that I was a vegetarian for awhile, and during that time I really appreciated places like Downbeat that provided diet-friendly options and made it clear that your food would be prepared worry-free. Anyway, one night my friends and I were eating at Downbeat and I ordered their BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) sandwich with a substitute of vegan bacon. Our orders arrived and we all began to eat. I'm not sure if you've ever sampled vegan bacon before, although it's pretty tasty it's nowhere near as good as the real thing. It just can't match that flavor, texture, or smokiness. With this in mind, I'm a couple bites into my sandwich, when I think to myself, "Damn, this is the BEST vegan bacon I've ever had! I swear it's the real thing!" And that's when I knew something was wrong. When something's too good to be true it usually is. I deconstructed my sandwich and pulled the slices of what I had believed to have been vegan bacon only to discover in horror that they were in fact real bacon strips. Now I took the mistake well, and although I was quite upset at the time about the mixup, I understand people make mistakes and it wasn't like it was intentional. And they were quite apologetic and comped the cost of my sandwich, so it kinda ended up being a "no harm, no foul" type of deal. However, I can't lie and say that the incident did not leave a lasting negative impression. Bottom line, I'll keep on coming here...just as long as I'm not in a rush.
(4)
Russ C.
The best diner in Honolulu for sure . Its Vegan/ Vegetarian options make is totally welcoming to anyone. The staff also goes out of thier way to welcome the entire family. I've gone there times when the diner was almost completely filled with families. The wait staff is superfantastic. Can't say enough good things about them. Great drinks too.
(5)
Steve C.
So excited. This could be my favorite place for vegan comfort food. Had the buffalo wings, chilli cheese fries, carnivore burger and pesto chicken sandwich. All vegan and all delicious. If it weren't for the hair in our sandwich it would've been 5 stars. The server was super cool and made up for it though. Props to him. I'll be back
Downbeat diner is a hipster diner in Chinatown. And it served me well for both mid-day food and late night drinking and dining. There are the classic meat based dishes on the menu - like burgers & chicken sandwiches. But I love that any of those can be substituted with vegan/vegetarian equivalents. The 'faux' chicken sandwiches were tasty and I was delighted I could get a vegan version of hot-wings - score! Beer and and liquor available, so you can enjoy a mixed drink or just add a shot to your milkshake. And there's a breakfast menu for those recovering from the night before. A great find in Chinatown - I'd definitely come back.
(4)
Nicole K.
Let me just preface this review by mentioning that Downbeat Diner was playing Cadet Kelly on TV the day I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch there! Cadet Kelly! If you were a tween in the early 2000's and fondly remember the heyday of Disney Channel Original Movies, you will be impressed by Downbeat Diner's superb entertainment selection. If not, sorry for the blast from the not-too-distant-past! Back to the Review... One day, as my co-worker and I mulled over where to grab lunch, he casually mentioned his past visit to Downbeat Diner where his friend ordered a French Toast Sandwich. I immediately stopped whatever I was doing, dramatically whipped back, and asked "You mean a Monte Cristo?!" I first tried a Monte Cristo in college when I was stuck in LA for the summer and frequented a cafe (Black Cow Cafe) where The. Best. Monte. Cristo. Sandwich was served. It was a novelty to me at the time - French Toast AND Ham AND Cheese?! After one strangely confusing yet delicious bite, I was hooked! With the new-found knowledge that Downbeat Diner, just a few blocks away from my office, served this awesome Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner sandwich, there was no more mulling over where to go. We were going to Downbeat! We arrived around 12:00 p.m. during lunch rush. There were plenty of seats open at the bar and one booth left! We hightailed it to the booth and were immediately greeted and provided with menus. If I hadn't come to Downbeat Diner specifically for a Monte Cristo, I could have spent quite awhile pouring over the delicious sounding options offered...especially the milkshakes! *Drool* I ordered my Monte Cristo with a side of french fries (an additional $2.50) and tried not too look overly intrigued with Cadet Kelly on the TV while I waited. It was difficult... After a few minutes, our meals appeared. And after a few minutes, our meals disappeared. The Monte Cristo Sandwich was great! The French Toast, albeit a bit soggy, was perfectly sweet and topped with powdered sugar. I used to enjoy my Monte Cristo with a side of cream cheese and jam, but the maple syrup provided with my meal was ooey-gooey-amazing! The sweetness of the French Toast with the saltiness of the ham and cheese made for a delectable and savory flavor! By the end of our meal, I was too full to order a milkshake to-go, but am eyeing the Chai Tea one for next time! While Downbeat Diner is a great spot for lunch, I am even more intrigued to visit at night for some of their awesome sounding drinks!
(4)
Gavin H.
Just had dinner here with a friend visiting from Scotland. She happens to be vegan. The Loco Mock may be the best I've ever had and the vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sunday we shared was beyond my expectations.
(5)
Ar S.
...Wonderful diner food - great decor, laid back, airy and comfortable. Servers were attentive. Best of all, really amazing Vegan items including volcano fries with yummy 'cheese' (tasted homemade...), spicy buffalo / 'chicken' burger and fries, & mushroom onion veggie burger. The vegan chocolate MILKSHAKE was phenomenal - even better than dairy milk Shake Shack (and better for you!). Yummy comfort food. The best meal we had during our 8-day stay at Hilton Honolulu (says a lot!). Reasonable prices too! Convenient location to downtown Honolulu. I wish we could come here every month ! tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(5)
Carin H.
Wow! I love this place. It was my first time here last night and I had an amazing experience. Our waitress was friendly and quick. Very cool hipster atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable. Food was delicious. Drink: I had a "spiked ginger brew" which is a mixture of vodka and non-alcoholic ginger beer. I decided to get stoli. Never get well vodka people! Bad hangovers and headaches lol. Appetizer: My bf and I shared an order of chili cheese fries. I don't eat meat. This was a vegan chili and vegan cheese on top of french fries. Omg! I was so surprised. The fries were thick, crispy and NOT greasy at all! How are chili cheese fries not greasy?! But I loved so much that it wasn't! Entree: I had the vegan chicken pesto sandwich made as a wrap instead. Bf had some kind of bbq burger. I do like that almost everything on the menu, you can get the regular meat or as a vegan (mock) meat! Sooooo awesome. We both enjoyed our food! You have an option to get a side salad or fries for $2.50 more. Dessert: Okay, so how can you go to a diner and not have a milkshake?! Bf wanted to try one and I agreed to share. Glad we did! It wasn't too thick but it was full of flavor. Btw it came in a mason jar. I know how everyone likes their mason jar drinks nowadays. lol. We got the Nutella banana shake! So good but when I got home I couldn't breathe cause I ate way too much. But, in conclusion, I had a great experience and I'll be back. They open till 3am! :)
(5)
Courtney B.
Bar was a bar... Appetizers came out with the food, ALL of the food was cold when it did arrive. Positives, waitress was great, drinks were good. Food was good once it did re-arrive. Update: waitress removed all of our drinks, in order to compensate, which was more than great in the customer service department. Like I said "great waitress", nice recovery.
(3)
Failed O.
Great food (especially when it comes to vegan and vegetarian options because those can be hard to come by), delicious drinks, affordable prices, and amazing bartenders/servers. Not to mention they're open late, which is always a plus. Downbeat is one of our favorite places in Chinatown and we're so glad it exists.
(5)
Tyler A.
The surrounding area is a little sketchy, but inside is nice. The vegan (black bean) burgers are the best I've had, and the french toast is quite good as well. Only downside is that it takes a while to get a table, because it's usually pretty crowded.
(5)
Lillie M.
Great place to eat in downtown! They have really good burgers and garlic fries! Haven't really explored too much of the menu, but everything I've gotten so far has been delicious. Great customer service. Although, if you have a party of 5 or more then you can't split the check. Other than that, I would recommend this place!
(4)
Grant M.
My wife and I have been loyal customers of Downbeat Diner for several years now and have enjoyed the good atmosphere and good food. We often come in for drinks pau hana, or dinner. Lately, however, it seems that the customer service and some of the food has really decreased in quality. Despite the fact that we order practically the SAME thing almost every week, they get the order wrong 50% of the time. During a recent experience, when we ordered our usual chicken pesto salad with vegan ranch, I was given regular ranch (the kind you could buy at Costco) instead of the yummy vegan ranch they make at Downbeat Diner. When I informed the server, he took the dressing container to the back, and returned with the same container saying, "here's your vegan ranch". I knew it wasn't the vegan ranch since it looked different. I informed another waitress and she took one look at the color and agreed that it was regular ranch. She replaced it with what I had ordered in the first place. Recently my experience is that I feel trepidation every time I order from here, as I have to double check what I order to make sure it's what I requested. I'm so frustrated with their customer service that I fear they are going to serve the same container of regular ranch that I gave back to them to another customer, even though I specifically told them I had tasted the dressing out of it. Two weeks ago the "chicken" was vegan and tasted like tofu. A few weeks before that, the french fries tasted so burnt that they were nearly inedible. It should not be this difficult to get a simple order right. EVERY week. These issues seem mostly to be in the last few months. I don't know if it's new ownership or if there are other changes that are going on. I am a patient person but I am finally fed up with the customer service. Two stars is for treating regular customers who order the same thing weekly as if we are some random couple just walking in off the street. If you order take out, be sure to check your order before leaving. I don't think I will be patronizing this place any longer and I plan to tell my friends about my experiences. Sorry Downbeat. We had a good run.
(2)
Steve S.
Omg best nachos and tacos ever. Some vegan stuff going on but I'm cool with that if food is good and this is mind blowing good. Taco Tuesday's is the bomb. Margaritas really good.
(5)
Jeffrey H.
I really wanted to enjoy my down town experience . However when I was called a "phucking phaget by the staff I was somewhat turned off. Good thing I ate their burger and I realized it phucking sucked.
(1)
Mallory T.
Food was great... Good prices for the food and beers. Minus two stars because of terrible service. Took about 15 minutes before we spoke the waitress (not her fault per say, management only had one girl working the tables) and the food took another 30 to reach our table. TIPS= to insure proper service. Recommend hiring someone else to keep business flowing. Would have been back for the food, but not worth the wait.
Get the volcano fries!!!!!! Everything else was pretty good that we ordered but the fries were amazing! The service was pretty good in the beginning but as it got busier our waitress was pretty distracted.... Pretty reasonably priced though and a fun check of the foodie bucket list!
(4)
Angelica R.
Came by on Friday. It was pretty full so we had to sit at the bar. Ordered the vegan bbq wings, bbq chikn sandwich (made vegan) and the pesto chicken salad (made vegan). The wings were pretty good, drumsticks cooked and slathered with bbq sauce. I should've just ordered that, and was looking forward to the rest, what a mistake. Both meals were as bland as can be. The salad was fake(?)Chicken uncooked and way too much pesto sauce dumped on top. The sandwich was also uncooked fake(?) Chicken with lettuce, onion and veganese with a piece of bacon in it!!! As soon as I bit into the piece of bacon I was done with the meal. Such a disappointment for me and my partner. Both meals could have been way better! Vegans-steer clear!! This meal ruined my night.
(1)
Alex S.
What needs to be said first is that there is a diner eatery area of Downbeat (which is where I went) but there is also a stage with live music and bar area next door, both are called Downbeat. When I first arrived with my friends at Downbeat we went to the bar in the diner and waited for a table to open. The girl behind the bar was super nice and got our drinks very fast. This was the highlight of the night and it went down from here. When we got to our table our orders were taken and we ordered more drinks. 20 min later one of my friends had to remind them that he ordered a drink. 10 more minutes later he finally got his drink. After waiting way too long for our food we ask the waitress to check on our food and she just says that "They only had 2 cooks and they were busy." It was a Saturday night, yes they were busy, but wouldn't you expect to be busy on a Saturday night? Finally, after what felt like and age we finally get our food. The food was very good. I got their American burger and it was a good burger. My friend got their breakfast burger and it looked amazing. The food is why I gave them 2 stars and not 1. After finishing our food we ask for the check. 25 min later we finally get them. I put a 20 down to pay my check and the waiter didn't even ask me if the extra was for tip or if I wanted change back he just took it. At this point I was tired of waited and just wanted to leave so I didn't press the issue. We left wanting much more and being severely disappointed. Maybe if the staff wasn't dancing and just hanging out with random guests they could have helped the kitchen and done their job faster. Might be a good place if you are the only ones being served. I do not plan on coming back or recommending it to anyone.
(2)
Kristine C.
I am definitely a fan. I enjoy going here for milk shakes and their BLAT. Friends and I have been here during First Fridays and it is a pretty fun dive to hang out at. The atmosphere is super kick back, friendly and it is divey. The staff are super friendly as well. The only downfall is the wait. It can get lengthy if you don't get here early enough. But that only goes to show that people would to come here for everything! Drink happy, eat happy and sing along with the crowd during an awesome tune while socializing is the way to do it here. Side note: You can enjoy Netflix on projection screen while dining in at night.
(4)
Briana Y.
The service wasn't good. We ordered the fajita wrap and the Monte Cristo and enjoyed neither. The best part of the meal was probably the veggie buffalo wings appetizer.
(2)
Stefanie D.
I am in love with Downbeat Diner and Lounge. I've only been a couple of times but that's all it needed to secure a spot in my stomach forever. The milkshakes are divine...as in, possibly from heaven itself. The Chunky Monkey milkshake could tempt a trip all on its own. The kitschy, retro decor and the hipster staff sans the attitude make it all the better. The vegetarian and vegan options here set a standard for all the other veg places I try now. The vegan hot wings and vegan burgers are nothing to be afraid of. Even my meat lover of a boyfriend tried and liked my wings and declared my burger had a "lot of flavor". I consider that a win. Even on the First Friday that we visited last, our servers were attentive, quick, and friendly. Our food came out hot and delicious and we left stuffed and smiling. Try this place out for a really great quality meal downtown.
(5)
Claire R.
LOTS of vegan options! The food is pretty good if you're looking for veg comfort food. Our server was really nice and prompt with food and drink orders. It's got a neat hipster vibe. We ordered the vegan drumsticks, vegan carnivore burger, and Monte Cristo sandwhich. Overall, we were really pleased with the food. Took away one star because of the atmosphere. there were a few rowdy drunks at the bar that kept yelling gross stuff while we were trting to eat (ex: "VAGINA JUICE HAHAHHAHAHAH"). I thought it was odd that the staff didn't shut them up since it was only about 6pm... There was also a guy standing outside that was watching the TV through the window...that's nice that the restaurant didn't mind him hanging out there, but man it was extremely distracting and made me slightly uncomfortable. I felt like a fish in an aquarium. The workers were all smiling and waving at him so I guess he's a frequent visitor.
(4)
Mark Y.
There is only one reason anyone would refer to me as being a hipster...and that reason is because I have big hips. I've walked past Downbeat a bunch of times but I'm usually full of drink and food by then so I never go in. I do notice a lot of younger, hipster looking patrons there though. Well, after leaving the TEDx after party, we still felt hungry so decided to walk over to Downbeat. It was kind of empty for a Saturday but it was still pretty early so I guess the regular hipster patrons either hadn't woken up yet or were still having drinks at some dark, ambient music playing establishment. My friend ordered the Pesto scramble with bacon and I ordered the Vegan chili loco moco. Both dishes were OK but honestly I was expecting better. The vegan chili on my moco was pretty bland and the hamburger patty was really dry. The two sunnyside up eggs were cooked perfectly though. My friends dish was better I think. The pesto scramble tasted pretty good and the thick cut bacon was really smokey tasting. There were some other menu items that looked good, like some of the desserts and all those milkshakes...that Guiness milkshake sounds interesting, so I'm looking forward to trying here again and hopefully up my rating. One thing that I did thoroughly enjoy though was watching the movie Teen Wolf being projected onto the wall. If you were a guy growing up in the '80s, you know you secretly wished you were Michael J. Fox.
(3)
Hollywood J.
This was a little gem we discovered randomly while wandering around Chinatown. The beer selection was alright, but ice cold! It was a welcome distraction of being served beer which was barely cooler than room temperature. It reminded me of a place in Los Feliz or Silverlake. The staff had a punk / edgey look but were absolutely welcoming and friendly. I didn't have any food, but they had what looked like well planned, and delicious vegan cuisine and some American fare as well. The neighborhood is a tad seedy, but I didn't feel unsafe.
(4)
Kelsey U.
Service and atmosphere at Downbeat go hand-in-hand, I enjoyed my experience! A friend and I visited on First Friday for an early dinner, around 5:30pm. Seats were open and we were told to seat where we wanted - of course we choose the booth by the window! My friend ordered the vegan bacon B.L.A.T (Bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato), as I'm told. Although the name of the dish sounds pretty gnarly, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great sandwich! I also ended up getting a sandwich, their version of a club sandwich, which although does not vary much by restaurant, was great at Downbeat because it's served on yummy sourdough! Stop by Downbeat if you're in the area as it's a quick, on the cheaper side of a delicious meal!
(4)
Charity J.
I wanted to like this place, I really really did. I had been going over reviews on this place for a couple days and it sounded really promising, so the boyfriend and I finally decided to give it a try and it was such a huge letdown. We walked in around 5:30 or so, not a word was said to us. We were confused as to whether or not we were supposed to wait or just grab a table. After a couple of minutes we sat ourselves and a few minutes after that we were greeted by a waitress. She informed us that it was Taco Tuesday, which I was so psyched about because I LOVELOVELOVE tacos&the nachos were on special too(BONUS). (being from arizona, Mexican food is my 'ish.) SOOOO, we ordered the nachos w/ chicken(extra 3bucks) &Avo(extra dollar), 2 chicken tacos for me, 3 for my boyfriend, and a veg. chili/rice bowl for our son. The nachos...not even nachos. I literally counted 3 MAYBE 4 chips with cheese on them, the sour cream came on the side in a tiny paper cup which did nothing for the "nachos" at all. The chips were a weird dark brown color, definitely overcooked. The chicken (3 DOLLARS EXTRA MIND YOU) was almost non-existent! AND the pieces that were present were dryer than an Arizona desert in the middle of July D: Forgot to mention that when our nachos came out, the Avo wasn't present. Took us awhile to flag down our waitress for the avo and when we finally did, she brought out a tiny plate of like 4 slices. come. on. The tacos, meh. The chicken was a shredded chicken in some kind of sauce, that did nothing for the taste. The chicken was cooked in a sauce, BUT STILL DRY...wutdafuh? I'll stick to doing Taco Tuesday in my own home from now on. Not worth the 6 bucks for two teensy ones. The vegan chili was probably the saving grace, but even then, I feel like I might be able to whip something up that could blow it out of the water. I tried, I really tried to find something positive about our experience here, but it was just a no go this time around. Even the interior of the space was depressing. Blank walls, odd use of space. Not the least bit inviting. I'm hoping we just stopped in on a bad day or SOMETHING, but as an extreme nacho/taco lover, my heart cried for those burned, cheeseless, chickenless "nachos". never again.
(2)
Loren B.
Hey if you are a vegan or vegetarian this is the place for you, as well as the rest of us carnivores. I have been to Downbeat multiple times, both in the diner and the lounge area. Our friends, who are vegans, really enjoy the vegan food options. Their happy hour specials are really good, $3 tecate - yum. Not the biggest fan of their quesadillas (a little too tex-mex inspired for me), but their hamburgers are really good. I will definitely go again.
(4)
Randi C.
This place deserves some credit for being open on Sundays, because most downtown restaurants are closed on Sundays. My sister wanted to try a place across the street but there was a long wait and we agreed nothing tastes good enough to be worth a long wait in a congested space. We debated trying a Vietnamese restaurant( very commonplace in Honolulu) or the diner ( rather more exotic for the location). The place is spacious. The menu featured a variety of creatively re-imagined diner items. For example, our table had a vegan burger, a pesto chicken salad, and a sundae. The vegetables were fresh, and the chef had even cut the carrots into a flower shape. They incorporated other chefs' products in their menu such as : Ottocake cheesecake, Wing ice cream, and Swiss Inn salad dressing so it seemed like the owners are team players. The servers were friendly and helpful, but not all were knowledgable about the menu items. Everything was satisfactory until it was time to pay. The credit card system was not working but we had not been informed. We had to scramble to find cash. THEN... The bill was 31.94, we gave 100.00, and the server gave back $67.00. $1.06 is not a big deal but it seemed a little insulting that she thought we wouldn't notice. Overall, it was a decent place with pretty good food and friendly service. But be sure to count your change!
(3)
Trisha G.
I've been here a handful of times. This latest time was for a late dinner and when in doubt, I order my staple dish - loco moco. Downbeat's comes with REAL GRAVY. Delicious, homemade gravy smothered over a bed of brown rice. The Hamburger was so yummy. I was so excited and happy about my food that I forgot to get a shake. They have a huge selection of shake flavors (with a few strange ones mixed in). The downtown, retro vibe with old movies projected on the walls and the coolest booths with the legends of music displayed in the upholstery. It is a bit hipster, but excusable for the food I had. Great place to stop by after a few drinks to fuel up and sober up before driving home. Hit it up!
(4)
Yoselyn F.
I've been here before but never reviewed them. Probably because I was left confused? Like today. I got the California burger and English toffee milkshake. I knew the milkshake was a win because last time I ordered that and a grilled cheese sandwich. My sandwich order was never place so I had a milkshake for dinner. Not shabby right?! An the shake is awesome. But today I decided to give them my one burger monthly allowance. The bacon was good, the bun was good the meat though. It was weird at first bite it was juicy BUT super over flavored. To the point that it distracted from the joy of the meat. So I wasn't floored by it and usually burgers floor me. But the shake was perfect. However, their portions aren't consistent. They seem to use whatever glass is near o serve them meaning you can order to shakes at the same time but they arrive looking different and you can't help but wonder if you re being cheated! During our last visit we had three shakes. All indifferent glasses. One was obviously larger. This pissed me off because mine wasn't the large one and the shake was awesome! Today I got a glass jar. If that was their thing is be all oh cute a milkshake I a cute glass jar BUT that's not their thing so instead I was left wondering if I was being cheated. Not the sensation one wants on their one cheat day in 5 weeks! Overall eh. I would go for the shake an wonder what glass I'm getting BUT the food hasn't made me a regular.
(3)
Reid S.
Downbeat Diner on First Fridays is such a different experience from a typical day in downtown Honolulu. Let me elaborate: During the day, Downbeat Diner is a fun lunch hang out spot for the 20-30 year olds, equipped with a trendy bar and menu, while at night the Diner can be a music venue to a bumping club with New York/L.A vibe. My first visit to DBD (feel free to use this acronym) was a delicious late lunch filled with pupus and homemade ginger ale, which by the way, was a magnificent drink. The Volcano fries were out of this world, it is the best way to reward yourself for a day out in the hot Hawaiian sun. However, DBD is also an awesome place to come with a group of friends for a night on the town! As much as I hate going all the way to Chinatown/Downtown area for events/food, I really can't picture this place anywhere else. The vibe and feel of DBD almost requires it to be in the downtown area where there is an almost secret Hawaiian nightlife. It's rather hard to explain, but it's meant to be in the hustle and bustle of the city's downtown. The drinks in particular are so strong but very flavorful. They have a wide-array of specialty cocktails designed to challenge your tastebuds and knock your socks off. The Negroni in particular is a cocktail comprised of gin, Campari, and amaro cio ciaro. It was like a licorice explosion, very flavorful, granted not my favorite flavors, but it was strong and full, which is all that mattered. On Tuesdays the lounge and bar is lively as new and upcoming local musicians and talent play live music. It's a young vibe with young clientele. Definitely worth a visit when in Chinatown. I like seeing local artist play because it not only reminds me that we have great music with Hawaiian roots, but also the fact that we have so many talented people in Honolulu. We should support our local musicians because they are undeniably talented, and also because music is life. Period. So come on down to local music night at DBD! The place is interestingly decorated: when you first walk in you will take in the loud pop culture collage, and then you realize that you are in a very trendy place and you probably shouldn't leave. During the day, DBD feels like a quirky L.A. diner, and at night....a swanky New York lounge. Walk outside though, you won't be cold.
(4)
Mari G.
The drinks are delicious and the environment is pretty awesome. The prices are okay. I ordered the loco moco and it was cold when I got it. The place wasn't packed at all so I was pretty disappointed. They always play some cool movies so that's kinda neat too at the bar. The waitress wasn't friendly so it was probably better we sat at the bar.
(3)
Tabatha P.
I love that this place is open to satisfy my late night cravings for delicious food. I love the menu. I love that there is vegetarian options for everything. The scramble is really really good. The sausage was a little unexpectedly spicy for me, but the breakfast burrito was delicious! Next time I will get bacon. I always see interesting people here who are friendly, and the bartender and waitress I have hAd experience with here have treated me with respect and good customer service so I am all satisfied there. I like the quality above all in this place and it's nice for beer with a friend or meals. Also nice and clean. Sometimes I come here to network and talk to people about events, I always manage to meet someone new and awesome.
(5)
Anthony K.
Was pretty good. Organic too based off what I had. I got the pesto breakfast with a tofu scramble, vegan sausage, toast and home fries. My girlfriend had the simple local breakfast with eggs, sausage, brown rice and toast. I also got the nachos. It was OK, a little dry but still good. The service was good. They tended to our needs and checked up on us and the rumor about waiting long was a lie. People are just impatient. I'll be back to try something different.
(5)
Megan P.
Everything on the menu is delicious. Great vegan options. Their shakes are delicious and most can be made vegan. The Nutella shake is my favorite. Food can take some time to get made, so going there in a hurry is probably not the best idea. The place can be pretty loud at night since the live music seeps through the walls and it has great people watching. Something to note: The bartender's custom concoctions are pretty on point.
(5)
Ian L.
They're open on Sunday when other places in China Town are not. The Deshutes Black Butte Porter was perfect with The Greek burger...oooh so good! Music playing created a great ambiance to go with the velvet red diner feel. The service was excellent and frequent. I only took a star for price in consideration for what I ordered. Still totally worth it and will come here again!
(4)
Mathew S.
#NAME?
(3)
Juvy L.
This past summer when I was in Chinatown on the regular because of HSF, there were many stops to Downbeat. The food is super deliciously good. I'm not vegan/vegetarian at all, but I have many friends who are, or have to be picky about what they eat. To them Downbeat is a godsend. A lot of their dishes have non-meat alternatives, which is awesome. The vegan chicken wings! So good. The gravy fries are ON POINT. Much nomnomnoms. The loco moco (there's more than one version) I had was lovely. The gravy, man. it's the gravy. I had the Reuben as well, that was ono. I wanted to try everything! The milkshakes though! DEFINITELY get milkshakes. For a little more, you can get a shot of alcohol in it. I've had the Oreo and Nutella ones. So good. Haven't put a shot in yet, though. Someday... Just have to say this because it was a popular drink with some of my theatre peeps in the summer....the AMF is pretty damn potent. I just know I can order pretty much anything off the menu and love it. The quality of the food is great. Does get busy on the weekends, but you probably know that already.
(4)
Jenna M.
Just thought that I'd drop by and have a salad..yeah I can't say this is the worse experience ever ever ever~~ but I wasn't too fond of the orange stuff floating at the bottom of the water glass put in front of me. When I informed the bartender, I was told "I'll let my Manager know" WAIT~~ What?? you'll let your Manager know??? so you don't know how to pull a bar gun apart and clean it?? You don't know how to check the bottom of cups glasses etc to make sure they're clean?? Wow!! I'm not complaining ~~ bitching about it YES I am... my salad had cucumber in it that was clear ??? I dunno I was hoping this by myself time would cheer me up but now I'm feeling like maybe I should've had a sandwich at my Cafe. Oi Vey!!!
Awesome place! Cool scene and fantastic food for meat eaters and vegetarians. Open Sunday's too with a brunch menu ya!
(5)
Luke G.
This was my go to spot when i went to HPU. I loved the punk rock atmosphere, the reasonable prices and great crowd. I miss the veggie burger almost as much as surfing. I loved how laid back it was with a true dinner spirit. I super recommend it to anyone visiting Honolulu. Its located on historic hotel street one of the only places in the city with brick buildings where sailor jerry of rum fame worked. Go for a nice Primo and check out one of their many free shows next door. I hope its still there when i return sometime in the future.
(5)
Tina L.
I stumbled upon this restaurant several months ago, and initially started off with their french toast sandwich, which is sooooo YUMMY. Went back and tried their french toast sandwich again, and was very pleased. I decided to venture off from my usual sandwich, and tried their BBQ chicken wrap. I was NOT HAPPY with the wrap at all. The BBQ sauce had no BBQ flavor at all. It definitely tasted like they had used ketchup, and barely any seasoning to put it together. I decided,well, maybe they had an off night, and went back another night and tried their California burger. WOW this burger SUCKED!!! It was bland, the patty was very thin, it barely had any meat in it! The avocado was good in it, but the entire burger was VERY BLAND! I left feeling sad and STILL HUNGRY. The prices are cheap here, but they barely give you any food! Not going to go back here anytime soon! On a side note, my boyfriend always gets the mega moco, and that is VERY GOOD. However, the lack of consistency, and meager portions for their other items is enough to prevent me from going back :-( The service was good, I was greeted upon entering, and the waitress tending to my bill was nice as well.
(2)
Nickolidas T.
Really slow poor service. You stand around in the middle of the place waiting to be sat, because there's no check in sheet. Got a burger, bacon was burnt patty overcooked and dry. Server was alright but organization was off, she came by with another tables drinks, and went to another table with our check. Place might be good when it's empty but on a moderate night they need a strong manager in that place.
(2)
Virginia D.
Excellent from start to finish: spiked ginger brew, vegan buffalo wings, Western burger with house made vegan patty & vegan dark chocolate brownie. YUM One of the best vegan meals we had on Oahu! Serious hipster vibe. My cocktail came in a mason jar, natch. Kind of a sketchy area (I foresee gentrification...), but at least parking is easy at night!
(4)
Aaron N.
Breakfast served all day, decent breakfast burrito, vegan milkshake option (when available), and a solid beer selection for Hawaii! We'll definitely be back. Just beware that this is a bar and has no child changing tables available. No point knocked for that, it's common sense.
(5)
Matt M.
Small quesadilla, no where near filling even with chicken added. Female bartender has no manners and if you don't understand her explanation, she treats you like you're retarded, or shakes her head and refuses to answer like the question was inappropriate, I got both responses asking about which of two options had more quantity after the quesadilla didn't get me close to full and she couldn't let me buy a side of fries for less than $6. She questioned the word quantity as if it was a rude question and decided to order whatever she wanted. No manners, no customer service, no skill. I used to like this place until recently.
(2)
Anuhea P.
What do you do if you have only one day off before work starts again, and all your friends (including hubby) are stuck at work? You explore the ever changing-for-the-better Downtown/Chinatown area. I enjoyed walking the surprisingly clean streets, peeking in the local (and expensive) boutique clothing stores, and finding tons of new places to bookmark for future yelp dining. I was really hoping to try Horeo's Peruvian food but they were closed (when they were supposed to be open) so I came back to Downbeat. The first time I was here was when I was searching for BRAINS!!! as part of the Chinatown Zombie Crawl last fall...I tried an alcoholic milkshake and some sort of smothered fries (I think Volcano fries). Honestly I wasn't a fan of the fries...but the chunky monkey milkshake made such an impression on me that I ordered it on my second visit. It was pretty empty around 1pm on a weekday...maybe the business crowd take early lunches. I ordered the Reuben (xtra crout) and a chunky monkey milkshake with a whiskey shot (bartender's choice). Both were fantastic...maybe I was already a little tipsy, but the sandwich was sweet, salty, and warm and the milkshake....I could drink one every day and never tire! Unfortunately my bill with tip came out to $20 which is not cheap for lunch (especially for just a sandwich and milkshake) but it was a nice treat. The bartender waited on me even thought I sat in the very front booth and she was very nice...even told me about the free concerts and events they have in their back space. I will definitely be back to try their Monte Cristo!
(4)
Greg S.
Friendly service, fun atmosphere and good food. This is my 3rd time here. First time I tried the ruben, must have!!! Chili loco moco, not so much. Bottom line, i going back !!!
(4)
Megan W.
Nice little place in Chinatown. Came for brunch and they had Chicken and Waffles! So yummy! The chicken had great flavoring and the waffle was nice and soft. The server was very nice and our food came out quickly. I will definitely come back here to try the other items on the menu.
(4)
Ivy Lou H.
The Downbeat Diner & Lounge surprised me with its delicious burgers and excellent service. The burgers were homemade patties served on a Brioche bun and were possibly the best burgers we've ever had. The service was really attentive and fast for us so unlike some other Yelpers we left shop and impressed. Great place for food or just drinks.
(4)
Javier B.
We had a party of 4 and ordered 3 burgers and 1 BLT. After waiting for more than half an hour for our food we decided to walk out and find pizza. I'd advice the restaurant to look for more/better employees. Don't come here if you are starving or have time constraints.
This is my go to place for some yummy diner food with a vegetarian twist. Whenever I'm in Chinatown, for whatever reason I usually end up here if I get hungry. Although I haven't been here as frequently as I had before they remodeled with their lounge, I still get recognized by Miss Emily and some of the bartenders, haha. A good thing or bad thing? Not quite sure... Highlights for me- cajun fries, cheeseburger or teriyaki burger (with their handmade black bean patties), and chai milkshake! To die for, let me tell you. Downbeat is also where my affair with St. Germain first started. My signature cocktail here- champy with a shot of St. Germain and a twist of lemon. This drink is the ultimate pick me up if you're feeling a little blue. Bubbly is already a happy alcohol but with these fixins, it's like someone giving you a nice hug and telling you everything will be alright. ;) As a warning though, this place is paaaacked on Friday and Saturday nights! Super cray, usually with a line waiting to get in. I would suggest going on a weeknight- especially Tuesdays with specials on margaritas and tacos! Fun hipster vibe, a varied menu that includes breakfast foods (available all day), and friendly staff makes Downbeat Diner a winner for sure. Definitely pop in sometime!
(4)
Bonnie B.
I'm not sure about this place... Is it serve yourself? No one has even come to our table and we have been sitting here a half hour. Lol maybe I should call my order in..
(2)
Brianna S.
Cute little diner that has a HUGE selections of veggie and vegan items. Service was fast and friendly, and the price was right. I ordered the veggie Reuben with cajon fries. The Reuben was decent enough, but was kind of shocked to see they used veggie hot dogs as the 'meat' in it. I was expecting a pattie of some sort, but got a split hot dog. Not quite what I had in mind... Though it was not bad, and I noticed after ordering it did state that it was a hot dog. But it would have been 10 folds better with a pattie or veggie pastrami. They had a lot of other things worth trying on their menu, like vegetarian Chicken + Waffles!!
(3)
Matt W.
Decent drinks. Modestly priced. Awesome food. Only downside here is that the service is very inconsistent. Out of the 10+ times I've been here about half the time I get wonderful attentive service. The other half of the time I felt ignored. But again it depends on the server you get. The vegan food here is way better than the regular food. Whether or not you're vegetarian, the meat substitute they use is astonishing. You can't tell the difference. Highly recommend their buffalo vegan wings. It's nicely spicy and has a wonderful flavor. In fact I've always been pleased with all their sandwiches they offer. As long as you get it vegan. They tend to overlook actual meat... Atmosphere wise this place is awesome. It's very relaxing and has the typical ambiance of a 1950s diner with a hip twist.
(4)
Stephanie S.
I have yet to have a dish here that I didn't instantly love, and even my omnivorous boyfriend said he would consider being vegan if we could always eat like this! The buffalo wings and buffalo chicken sandwich are both PHE-NOM-EN-AL. The "meat" has a texture that flakes just like real chicken! On my honor as a Yelper, trust me when I say you will not be disappointed with either one. I also recommend upgrading your fries to either garlic or cajun. The garlic flavor is rubbed into the fries, and comes with a little pesto on top. For the Cajun, each fry is coated in spices and bursting with a mildly spicy flavor! The root beer float was just top notch with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that was smoother, creamier, and I daresay better than any other I've had, vegan or otherwise. It's easy not to miss beef when the veggie patty here is so meaty! I recommend the teriyaki burger because it was perfectly seasoned with teriyaki sauce and onions. Service is always friendly, with the sweetest waitresses you'll find even in Hawaii. I'm always surprised that this place isn't more crowded (not a complaint!) but service is fast and I've never had any hiccups. In my experience, Downbeat is a consistent home run!
(5)
Candice L.
Will not ever go here for lunch again. The $9.50 burger was dry with too much pepper. The service was horrible. Asked for mayo from our waitress who took her sweet time cashing other guest out, getting others take out boxes. I had to stand up and ask someone else for mayo...if I didn't I would have been done with my burger by the time the mayo would have come. I def would not recommend this place.
(1)
Todd F.
Dropped in while walking around ChinaTown! Great surprise. Loved the vegan Chili Moco
(4)
Isaia S.
3 words: PBR and Bacon. Best appetizer around. The atmosphere is great, the Reuben is excellent and they're open late so I can hit it up after shows.What's not to like?
(5)
Mandi S.
I love downbeats food! They're delicious. The servers are awesome. The only problem I have with this place is that it seems like every time I go here, service drops off after I order. I swear I won't get a check up or refill for half an hour. And getting my ticket back takes SOOO long. I dunno if management tells them to back off or what, but it happens every time.
(4)
Melissa S.
Thank you, Rian for bringing the fiyah! I was looking for a MoscowMule and she steered me into the right direction! And I will def have another! Love me some DOWNBEAT!
(5)
Sean O.
Very unique atmosphere! There is no place like it. I like how every food option they have can be vegan as well. I always get the vegan Buffalo wings. Really cool place.
(4)
Julia S.
Downbeat, you really put a down beat into my day. Service: I'm personally fine with sitting my butt down anywhere. But I do know others will just stand in the doorway until a host tells them they're allowed to sit. No one was there to tell me, so I just sat on over to a booth and waited for like 5 minutes for someone to finally come over and acknowledge me. After that though, the waitress was nice. She gave my boyfriend and I a menu each and waters. Food: We weren't too hungry so we decided to share their vegan version of a BLT between sourdough bread, called a BLAT (bacon lettuce avocado tomato). And by vegan, I mean with veganaise and fakin bacon. My boyfriend loves his bacon, but me not so much. So I'm thankful he enjoys the meat substitutes also. We ordered a side of garlic fries (which are ala carte and will cost you an extra $2) since I have an IDCard (gives me a free side of fries). I told the waitress this. She heard it and happily acknowledged it. Food cont.. + Experience: We got our sandwich back and started to dig in. The fries were standard with real garlic which I enjoyed. I looked at the sandwich though and it looked unimpressive. Then I looked at it closer and the "meat" sticking out of it looked oddly like... bacon. My boyfriend took a bite and after thinking about it for a bit, he was like, "Yup. This is bacon". Soooo we sent it back to this other waiter who apologized. I mean I'm not vegan but how could you send something out with this sort of mistake if you 1)Are the person taking the order and even repeated it back and 2) are delivering the food yourself to the exact same table that ordered ? When we got the sandwich back with our fakin bacon it looked NOTHING like bacon and more like bologna would. So how could you look at the sandwich prior and not know it was the wrong order? Anyways, I was fine with this mistake because the girl was nice. Sadly, the sandwich wasn't special and the sourdough was thin and bland. (If you want REAL GOOD fakin bacon go to North Shore's Beet Box Cafe!. They give you thick cuts of soy bacon that are delicious and even look similar to the real stuff)!!! The guy waiter started helping us from then on though. Experience cont...: I mentioned to him again about my IDCard situation when we were done. He knew about it and even finished my sentence for me. He understood that I had it. Then we got the bill. It was $10.... The sandwich was $8. You know, the $2 isn't what bothered me. It's the fact that 1)I mentioned the IDCard to them several times 2)They acknowledge it confidently several times 3)I got the wrong sandwich after waiting a while (and good thing the both of us aren't vegans or I would've flipped) 4)The food wasn't good.. Soooo the overall experience was pretty bad. We didn't bother flagging the waiter down again to take the $2 off. My boyfriend was irritated, I was irritated, and we just wanted to leave. The two stars is for the workers. They're laid back and kind of neglectful and don't have a good memory, but they were nice. So, yeah. Don't know if I'll be coming back.
(2)
Sydney L.
Best vegan food EVER. The chunky monkey milkshake is HEAVENLY- so are the fries and 'chicken' drumsticks! I don't live in Oahu, but i'll definitely come back here every time I visit. I just want to eat every single dessert they have! :')
(5)
David H.
Excellent atmosphere! Great crowd and staff! I haven't tried the food but the drinks are very special... Soooo f'in good!!!
(5)
Christian G.
I'll just start by explaining my experience and those can judge for themselves. So it wasn't really a busy night and upon entry there were at least three other groups dining and eating their food. It started with the waiter taking our drink order within a reasonable amount of time of I would say about 5 minutes and then a little bit longer somewhere around the 10 minute range to take our food order. When it really got unacceptable was the 45 minutes that passed before the food was brought out and again it wasn't a busy night. In between those 45 minutes to other parties of two people had entered and their food was brought out well ahead of hours. In the mean time the waiter managed to check on those two tables to see if they where doing okay and if the food is good yet not once checked on our table or gave us an update on our order. It wasn't until I asked the waiter how our food order was going that he gave us an update and said he was going to check with the cook in the kitchen as to where our food was at. So more time elapses and we are nearing the one hour mark that we have sat down only to have been provided with drinks no update and no food. So it wasn't a very good dining experience and on top of all that the food was just okay so the long wait for ok food makes it a below average experience for me.
(2)
Frank C.
Great burger and fries. Guinness on tap. Cartoons and fifties music. Friendly service. What's not to love?!
(4)
Stella H.
Ate dinner here on a Sunday night, & this place was pretty busy! Lucky for us, there was 1 open booth right when we walked in. There seemed to only be 1 waiter, so it took him a little while to get to us. Service was very friendly tho & they even play movies on their wall :) It was my boyfriend & I's 1st time here, so we werent sure if they were a vegan & vegetarian place, BUT the waiter told us they had everything for meat lovers like us too :)!! We shared an Avocado Burger w/ fries & French toast w/ bacon. The avocado burger was pretty good! And the french toast was even better!! I think they deep fried it x__x!! My boyfriend & i agree we NEED to come back!!!!
(4)
Frances P.
That ginger brew drink here was pretty good, and I'm not a ginger fan. Can't add much else because I only had that and chips and dip. Cool place though, will have to try more next time I'm on the island!
(3)
Desmond S.
The staff is great both front and back of the house. The food comes out fast even when it's packed and service is friendly, helpful and efficient. Plus they put on great shows with local artists and theme nights every month if you're not dining that night. Great place to be or visit while on the island.
(5)
Jillian P.
I ate here for the first time last night (Cinco de Mayo). ATMOSPHERE: I liked the feel of it for suree... It definitely sticks true to its name. Diner booths plus a counter, with that pinup (downbeat), edgy feel. Super cool. :) SERVICE: We had thee cutest server! Wish I would have got her name, but she was really friendly and kind and most definitely a big help. We weren't sure what fries to get, and she gave us her opinion and told us what was really popular. What I also liked about her is that all of her timing was perfect. Whenever our drinks were empty, she was always quick to ask if we wanted another. And prior to that, she gave us just the right amount of time in between the first time she asked if we were ready to order and when we were ready to place our order (if that makes sense). LOL FOOD: Both my friend and I got the CALIFORNIA BURGER and we shared the VOLCANO FRIES. :) The Cali Burger is a Big Island (yeah Big Island!) Beef burger, with swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, and avocado. :D I put mayo and ketchup on my burger, so I'm not sure how it tasted sans condiments, but nonetheless it was still very delicious! IF ONLY I could've eaten the whole thing. :( I got full off of half the burger, since it was huge. :) The volcano fries are cajun spiced with gravy and cheese. I thought that the gravy would make the fries really gross and soggy, but it did not. :) Our server was RIGHT, they were very yummy and for good reason. OVERALL: I really liked this place and would love to go back and am giving them a thumbs up recommendation!
(4)
Phillip M.
One of the best Reuben's I've ever had at a restaurant. Service can be really slow at peak hours. And servers can be less than friendly some times but the food makes up for it.
(4)
Will S.
Avocado burger is on point i usually get that. Sometimes they only have one person serving in the day so your wait time can be long. They have a tv with netflix playing and next door they usually have bands playing.
(4)
Jo Z.
Chill place to have a good burger and I always order the ginger brew...sooo yummy for my tummy
The problem with food is that no one is ever going to be happy about everything! People love to complain about things. We visited Downbeat early say 5pm- looking for dinner. They had happy hour- 1 dollar off drinks- AWESOME. Burgers? Pretty good. Prices are not bad either. Our waitress was a pretty thing who was nice and someone came by to refill our water glasses when they got low. So perhaps people need to put a smile on their faces and realize that nothing- ever- is perfect but this place is great. Open late, the bar attached has live music which we came back to hear another night and had more great drinks (RUM punch is DA BOMB) so for us we give it 4 starts until next time! Nothing but love for ya Downbeat Diner!
(4)
Eric Robert R.
Liverpool 1962. Riding up to the pub door on my '59 Lambretta and joining my mod squad for a few sessions. What's shakin' Ringo??? *Lucky Strike dangling from my lips* Well not quite, but as close as it comes in downtown Honolulu, circa 2013! I've been to Downbeat several times, but I don't recall sitting down for lunch. A question was asked recently on Yelp's Honolulu Talk on who has the best milkshake in town? Answers galore and frankly I think the last milkshake I had was maybe when I was a pre-teen, lol. Eons ago! So, the question intrigued me and definitely inspired my taste buds to taste test a few places. So who has the best milkshake in town? My hipster buddy, Missy T. mentioned how the milkshakes at Downbeat are the bomb, so since I trust her with my life (slight exaggeration)... I decided to cruise down to Chinatown and hit Downbeat! I walk in and I'm immediately greeted... "Sit anywhere" and with a bartender go-go girl smile. WIN! The difference with Liverpool in 1962 was birds had zilch tattoos, today even granny's have tats, so no surprise that my waitress had a dozen plus tats, well the ones I could see! She was hip, über cool, and very easy on the eyes, but at the same time efficient! Twiggy dead-ringer! WIN! My Order: -Downbeat Loco Moco -English Toffee Milkshake -Glass of Agua The Loco Moco was good. Nothing special, but definitely unique and you could taste the Big Island beef. The house gravy seemed like a can of mushroom gravy to me. Hmm. The English Toffee Milkshake was definitely worth the 5 bucks and change. Very fresh, creamy, tasty, quality, loads of whipcream, and topped with the infamous maraschino cherry! So yummy. Seemed smallish, maybe I was just jonesing for a shake, but it overflowed and it was definitely a WIN! The best shake in town? Idk since my milkshake experience has been lacking since my days in intermediate school, lol. It was definitely yummy and a good standard to measure other milkshakes. So, until I try Teddy's, Big Kahunas, etc shakes... I can't give the crown to Downbeat... Yet! Hey, but I might have started with the best! Will keep you updated. Missy T. figured I hit the Chunky Monkey shake, which apparently is the most popular shake at Downbeat. The go-go waitress drooled over it too, but frankly it sounded too rich for a bloke like me, so I wimped out and went with something sounding "lighter"... The English Toffee. Yeah right, probably still a zillion calories! It was mmm, mmm good and very English! After all, it's Liverpool 1962. Oh btw, the vinyl seats here are über groovy! YELP REVIEW #135
(4)
Audrey S.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this place because they offer a vegan version of pretty much everything on the menu. The food was delicious (vegan hot wings and vegan ranch=amazing ! ) Only disappointment is I ordered the Cajun vegan chicken wrap but it's served with regular cheese. I would have preferred to not have dairy with my vegan chicken wrap, and it was unclear whether the sauce was vegan. If I'm getting vegan chicken I would like the entire wrap to be vegan. Also the service was bad, the server knew I wanted only vegan and still didn't inform me about regular cheese, plus she kept forgetting our table even though the restaurant wasn't busy. Other than that, the food was great and I will definitely go back.
(4)
Cara G.
Sadly, though the food here is pretty good, the service has been quite crappy. This place prides itself on being a 'hipster' joint, and being a Hawaii native who has lived in San Francisco for the past four years, I will state that there isn't anything hipster about this place, except for the snooty waitresses. Even so, I've never known hipster to be synonymous with rude, passive aggressive and unattentive, though it has been assumed that such service would accompany innovative, high-quality and new age food that tends to be served in hipster joints. Downbeat does not serve this type of food; it's diner food. So why are the servers here so impolite and curt? Not really sure, and as someone who works in a restaurant, I believe that it's completely safe to say that the staff (minus the bartender) at Downbeat need some lessons in how to treat customers. Nobody wants to feel like their committed a crime simply by asking their waitress if they prefer the michelada to the Bloody Mary, which is precisely how I was treated. I think everyone should skip this place and go find some other late night food instead of this sad excuse for a 'hipster' joint.
(1)
Richel C.
Stopped by for some late night dessert. service was average, our waiter was new so he tried his best to give recommendations. we ended up ordering the salted chocolate chip sundae. it was delicious! The cookies added the perfect touch to a delicious Sundae. while for the most part, the cookie was soft and gooey, there were parts that weren't burnt and hard to chew. still, overall good dessert and chill environment!
(4)
Meg M.
I want to LOVE Downbeat diner.... Tons of vegan options, awesome hipster vibe, late night food I can actually eat.... And I haven't had too many complaints prior to today. But that was probably because, to be completely honest, I am usually a little buzzed when I am here! Today for lunch though, the service was pretty terrible. I ordered vegan hot wings with my avocado sando and real wings came out instead! Sad face. Good thing Dustin took the first bite! It also took about 40 minutes to get our food. It was crowded in there but it would have been nice to just get a warning from our waitress..... But she kind of avoided us after we ordered. I asked her to take the wings off the check and didn't want to wait for the vegan wings (we were in a rush!) but when we got the check they were on there. We just paid and left because we didn't want to make a big deal out of it but it was definitely not cool. Great atmosphere, pretty good food, lots of veggie options but the service makes me not want to return.... Unless I'm buzzed.
(3)
Tatiana W.
This place is always hit or miss. Some of the food is great while some is not. Drinks are always good though. The worst part is, this place is always understaffed. I have sat upwards of 30 minutes waiting to even be acknowledged by a server. The problem is... I know it's usually not their fault considering the tables are full and he/she is the only one working. Recommendations for customers: don't expect a quick trip and know that the nachos are a disappointment every time. Recommendation for the restaurant: get more staff and make fast, quality service a PRIORITY!
(3)
Lei N.
After looking at difference place, Charles and I ended up coming here for lunch. We walked past it the first time then ended up coming back and inside. The interior of the place it neat and menus are already set out at whichever booth you choose. It's awesome they have a jukebox though modern, I like their music selection. No, not oldies this time. Looking over the menu there were a few things I wanted to try like their wings and burgers / sandwiches, but I ended up ordering breakfast instead. Nothing wrong with that! As I ordered my Egg Breakfast... I said white rice... I didn't know that they only had brown rice! That was a first for me. As I ate my breakfast... the eggs and bacon seemed a bit cold so I was disappointed with that. I couldn't really taste the brown rice. If there is such a taste to it. It also came with an orange slice. That I enjoyed. Along with that, we got the Sampler which came with 3 cheese sticks, 3 jalapeno poppers, 3 buffalo wings and 3 sticks of carrot. The first food item I had to eat were the buffalo wings, though mild, it's too spicy for me! Yet I ate all three of them! I had some of the cheese sticks too. Can't eat it when it's too hot, can't really enjoy it when it's too cold. Grrr. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Our waitress had a cool outfit on and gave us enough time as we ordered, and got the check.
(3)
Nikki N.
I'm always down to have breakfast for dinner and had the monte cristo which was ok. Overall, I was distracted on how the bartender kept on talking about himself and the awful bloody and graphic b movie they we're showing. Customers, especially ones with children, really want to see that when they are eating dinner. TVs in restaurants are distracting and tacky and meant for sports bars.
(3)
Danielle S.
I've never been here prior to 12am, but it is the BEST late night grub venue. Usually an interesting crowd. Great late night people watching.
(5)
Keisha B.
This is hands down my favorite place to dine. 1. Taco Tuesdays!! *WHAT!! $3 margaritas!! 2. Great drinks 3. Open late 4. No cover for lounge. 5. All menus items are available as VEGAN! That's right - all vegan if you want it! Finally found a great place to have date night or eat before 1st Friday and I can get vegan friendly food and the bf can get meat! What a great option! Vegan bacon, vegan ham, vegan cheese, vegan chicken etc. If you are vegetarian or vegan you gotta check this place out! The staff is friendly and the vibe is great! I cannot wait to go back :)
(5)
Liz K.
Chili fries and mozzarella sticks were really good. Service was a little slow, but it was really busy (sat 1am) and seemed like they only had 1 server, and she was doing her best. Will come back!
(5)
Keith C.
Love this place. 5 minutes before closing they made me an awesome breakfast sandwich. Trading places "the movie" was on the TV. What a great place and walking distance to/ from everything downtown/ China town. Breakfast all day rocks!!!
(5)
Ariana M.
I really dont have much to say about this place. Everything I have here was just meh. Nothing I would ever really crave or come back for. The main reason why I come here often is because its close to work and its open late. So when I'm dying from hunger I definitely come here to grab a bite. If I have other options, I'll usually go there first. Every time I have come here the staff is always nice and friendly so thats a plus. However, the food always take forever.
(2)
Missy T.
I love milkshakes. No, furreal; I. Love. MILKSHAKES. So on TOP of the sandwich/cajun fries rating, I have to bump Downbeat up another star for having some AWESOME milkshakes! The regular selection is all there: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, etc., but what you really wanna try, if you're a chocolate milkshake kinda person, is the Chunky Monkey. I was here on a Taco Tuesday (not to order tacos :/), was told that the milkshake would be a 10 min wait, and was still blown away by the Chunky Monkey when it came out. Chocolate, banana, and peanut butter all blended to perfection were well worth the wait, and to my surprise, tasted exactly like Reese's Peanut Butter Crunch cereal! For those of you still on the fence about Downbeat, I'd highly recommend the sandwiches (I've heard mixed reviews about the plate lunch sort of stuff), and would DEFINITELY recommend grabbing a shake while you're at it!
(5)
Caroline P.
This is absolutely one of my favorite places to eat in Honololulu so far. Situated in the center of China Town in a quirky little building. There are 8 booths with pictures of famous people on the seats. There is only one waitperson manning this station but it's really worth the wait. My boyfriend and I love this place. I am a vegetarian and sometimes vegan. My boyfriend loves meat and lovingly complains when I cook that we are eating rabbit food, rainbows and kale. So the Downbeat caters to both of our tastes. I love the Vegan BLT and the garlic fries. So darn good. The funny thing is my boyfriend ends up getting something vegetarian too. They have nice cocktails there. The wine list is really limited. White or Red wine. Also great live music performances next door so don't forget to support the artists. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Warren N.
Went here last Sunday evening and liked it. We had the nachos, and unlike previous reviewers we had lots of chips and some good chili on top. I like that you can get breakfast anytime and their vegan/veg choices are great also. I had the pesto-tofu scramble which was very good. Dessert was empanadas which were accompanied by a nice caramel sauce. Dive bar? Yes. Good dive bar with good food? Double yes!!
(4)
Tina S.
We had eaten at the Downbeat Diner once before and the food was good. The lack of parking and the shadiness of the area kept us away. However with our friends, the Saloon Pilots and Rye & Discord playing here we ventured out again. Loved the chicken nachos and moonshine mixed drinks.
(4)
Sheryl N.
Went here today to take my friends for a birthday lunch, sooo this is how it went down. Service: Sucked. Pretty much when we got in she didn't really acknowledge us. And when she did, said there were a few people ahead of us which was alright. It took about 20-30 minutes to get us seated, even when there clearly was a table open; but she didn't realize it until later. It took them about 20 minutes to get our waters... And about 25-30 minutes for us to get our food. Kinda long. What sucked the most was the fact she charged us almost $20 over the original amount without mentioning the 18% gratuity. She didn't have such a great attitude when we asked kindly if we could split the bill; which she declined due to the "rush" which was non-existent & first friday. Probably won't be coming back for awhile. Food: Decent. I got the pesto chicken sandwich with cajun fries which was pretty good, yet dry. The fries were a good cut, fried well. My other friendss also have noticed their burgers/sandwiches to be a little dry. The flavors were alright, I've had better. It was better before. Atmosphere: Pretty chill, casual. Parking: There's several places to park, mostly street parking of the chinese municipal parking. We parked at the South Beretania parking structure, because it's much cleaner than the rest. Overall: Food's alright, service is meh and parking is good as usual.
(2)
Jenn T.
Bottomless mimosas??? Yes please!! Came for the brunch experience that my friends have been talking about at this place. They had been here many times before to grab the bottomless mimosa deal. I also ordered the pesto scramble, which came with pesto scrambled eggs, choice of meat and toast. It was pretty delicious, though I was starving at the time I ate it. The cheese fries were also really good. The mimosas here are decent, though they kept running out of champagine and had to go out and buy more, making the mimoas....bottom-full for about 10 minutes. Seems like they should be a little better prepared for the deal if they're going to offer it, but I think it was their way of telling us to stop drinking :P. Overall, a decent meal.
(3)
Sabrina O.
Wonderful little hipster diner. A VERY welcome change from touristy Waikiki. It's place wouldn't be out of place in Brooklyn, very hipster vibe. We were there Saturday lunchtime but it wasn't busy at all. I had the BLAT sandwich - I substituted mayo for mustard, no hassles, although they did put too much mustard on! My husband had Otto's Moco, which he enjoyed. We also tried the house made ginger soda, which was excellent. This place also looks like a fun place to drink in the evening as well, and they seem to have alot of live soul, ska and revival bands. We would definitely come back to this place.
(4)
Sarah M.
Downbeat is always a fun place to go when you're downtown. It has vegan and vegetarian options for everything--I believe it's also gluten-free friendly. They have a wide selection of bottled beer and fun cocktails to choose from. The veggie burger is bomb and the salads are super fresh. The atmosphere is chill/retro and they always have live music action going on later in the evenings. The waitresses work very hard and are super friendly and helpful.
(5)
Keola P.
I am somewhat of a regular of Downbeat Diner, going there about once every other month or so. I appreciate the vegetarian options, though it is a lot of fried stuff. I like the vegan ranch dressing and fries. The fritters are good if you are craving sweet. The service can be spotty. Usually the servers are very friendly and positive, but a few times they have made some snarky sarcastic comments randomly, which is the main reason they only get four stars. Also, I personally get annoyed with televisions in restaurants. I prefer to focus on the food and company I am with! I guess it's a kind of "hipster" place, so maybe that's why the wait staff is sarcastic sometimes? I think their subculture is about being ironic, but I don't really get it. If they got rid of the televisions, and just played music, and the servers were a little more sincere instead of sarcastic, I would give them five stars. A great little haven to go to get away from the madness of the Chinatown streets and chill before or after going to clubs and such.
(4)
Jesand A.
Did not expect this joint to be as good as it was. Awesome service! Clean eats, offers vegan and non GMO beef. Tasty, the garlic fries are a must!
(4)
Morgan N.
This food was amazing !!!!! My wife is vegan and i simply just love meat. I had a burger it was amazing it was juicy and cooked perfect at med well. My wife was in love with the fact that she didn't have to explain what vegan was or ask a million questions about the menu. She had the Ruben and she loved in fact we had three other entries while we were there. The old saying a happy wife a happy life, so def will be coming back. the atmosphere is very different then anything on the island very hipster and mellow. parking wasn't bad it cost us $3 one block away for 2 hours. It was simply amazing!!!! I even ate some vegan nachos wasn't bad at all not melted but have you very tried to melt vegan cheese its hard to do lol
(5)
Alicia T.
The food is good. The vibe is fun. The staff is okay. The wait is usually long for some reason no reason At all. Late afternoon no one there and still takes a good while to get food.
(3)
Mark W.
Great food. In town and was looking for some good comfort food. The tourist food was getting to me. Everything from breakfast to cheese fries to grilled cheeses was great. My wife had a salad that was the best so far I town at half the cost. Don't let the area fool you, this place is great. Park off bethel them walk down.
(5)
Sean B.
Pretty decent menu that has all the local favorites, with a pretty surprising catch: the menu is littered with vegan options. There's yet another catch: the vegan options are very tasty (this coming from me, not a huge fan of vegan food). This being said, this is a great place to get relatively healthy food along with some relatively well made and decently priced drinks. The next big upside about this place is that it's right in the heart of downtown so you're assured a good time, whether you're there for afternoon meet up or pre-clubbing dinner or even post-partying dinner. I'd reccomend this place. Chill, healthy, decently priced.
(4)
Emi H.
Downbeat was a bit of a mixed bag for us last night and I've realized that unless you're a vegetarian you really should order DESSERTS! They have a lovely assortment of sweets for those of you who share my penchant for SUGAR. Here's the rundown of last night's late night visit... KEITH: He ordered a ham and cheese grilled sandwich and unfortunately the cheese was not melted. Booooooooooooo. We told him to tell the server but he's very Japanese and would never send anything back. He ate his sandwich in sad silence and I grabbed a sample. I have to say although the cheese wasn't melted, it still wasn't half bad. It could have used some creamy tomato soup to make it spectacular! JOHN: He's a vegetarian so I didn't really pay attention to his food because I don't think vegetables should be consumed after 9 pm. It was already 11:15 pm when we walked through the doors and John had to ruin my good time with his garden goodness. It was some sort of all veggie grilled sandwich and I did my best to ignore it. GARY: He got chili cheese fries and a Nutella milkshake. OH YEAH! Now that's what I'm talking about people! This was no half hearted attempt to enjoy oneself, this was PURE UNADULTERATED GLUTTONY. The fries themselves were good but I didn't fall in love with the veggie chili. Gary liked the spiciness but honestly when I eat chili cheese fries I want that old school flavor that falls somewhere between ball park and cafeteria. ME: I order the apple fritters and course corrected with the apple AND banana fritters. If you go to Downbeat you have to PROMISE that you'll order these! They come out HOT and are complete perfection when you've been out all night. They're like funnel cakes wrapped around fruit. The bananas were sweet while the apples had a nice tartness. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. In addition to my fritters I got a chocolate peanut butter milkshake which was DAMN GOOD. Poor Keith grabbed the spoon in my milkshake to have a taste and was unfortunate enough to inadvertently swallow a spoonful of peanut butter. Oh well, bygones! Service was really friendly and he gave us some solid recommendations which made our experience. Definitely a hipster hangout but it makes for entertaining people watching.
(4)
Rita L.
My friend and I really wanted to eat at Lucky Belly but the wait was kinda long...so we went next door to try out Downbeat. We are soo happy we did, it was such a yummy experiance! We had the chunky monkey shake was yummers. I had the Vegan bbq chicken sandwich and I couldn't tell it wasnt really meat...it was soo good! I loved the garlic fries too! We ended our diner meal with the apple fritters which you have to order at the beginning of your meal...try it! The batter of the fritters taste like its funnel cake....loved the caramel sauce on top! I will def be back to try more delicous vegan delights!
(4)
Shiloh R.
Still coming back years later! The servers are so sweet and friendly (can I mention cute?!?!) and the food is DELICIOUS!
(5)
DJ Nocturna R.
Downbeat Diner always had a great vibe and friendly bartenders and servers. Great food and reasonable price. The lounge section beside it is open now with awesome sound and lighting. Every Wednesday night, come check out Totally 80s, a night of 80s/90s music and dancing and no cover! Video screen, tables and chairs and a great crowd with DJ GSpot, DJ Coondog and DJ Nocturna. Also DJ guest appearances as well.
(5)
Matthew N.
I'd wanted to try Downbeat for a while now, but never had the time. For those of you keeping score, that's a bit of ironic foreshadowing. As part of the TEDxHonolulu event, attendees were given colored lunch coupons that were good for some grub at Chinatown eateries. When my lunch companion and I both got blue tickets, redeemable at Downbeat, I thought that the Universe was finally aligning for me to experience its splendor. Blue, after all, is my color. The ironic foreshadowing, it builds. Had I visited this place in my pre-vegan days, it's likely I would have enjoyed the food. It's classic burger joint fare, and although there are vegetarian options (the Avo Sammy, the BLAT), this is the kind of place you go to if you're hankering for something to eat that used to walk, not sprout. There was a cheesy 80s movie on the television, streaming from Netflix, and when I saw the naked rear of some lithe blonde B-movie actress, I suspected the Universe had just punk'd me. I ordered seasoned curly fries and a Diet Coke at 1:15pm. My companion ordered a salad and a water. At 2:05pm, we'd both gotten our drinks and that's about it. Although, because we were seated near the kitchen, we got to hear the wonderfully snide comments the waitstaff made about certain customers. So I guess that's a bonus. I had to get back to the event, so suffice it to say that I left without being able to adequately judge the food or its value since, in reality, I got neither food nor value. Which, since I was paying with a slip of blue paper, probably was appropriate.
(1)
Sierra A.
As far as downbeat goes, its always a coin toss when it comes to service. I've been there when its been excellent service; smiling waitresses, food comes in a timely fashion, and its delicious. Then there's the flip side, unfriendly servers, waiting up to 25+ minutes for food, all around mediocre service. If it weren't for my constant cravings for the western burger and Downbeats awesome hours, I would probably have forgone this place awhile ago.. But the burgers keep me coming back.
(3)
Jeffery A.
I am so flustered by this place... Here you have a 'Mad Men'esk place with such a cool vibe. High backed booths with the images of music icons, & related personalities laminated on them (appeared to be Hendrix, Billy Idol?, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Howard Stern amongst others) wrapped in thick plastic like your grandma's couch. The high back smacks of slacker, drug dealer (think...Serpico), or revolutionaries (think Che and Fidel in Mexico, plotting...) but the thick wrapper reminds me of "get your feet off the couch"? The music is the main grab for me 60's and 70's Stones, Hendrix, Doors, you know... "I found an island in your arms, A country in your eyes, Arms that chain, Eyes that lie, Break on through to the other side, come on, break on through to the other side..." that was and is music! Atmosphere big plus! Our server Kat was timely and gracious, offering plenty of coffee (Yuban by the taste), creamer (half/half) served up in a small stainless steal container, not the individual prepackaged portions. Food delivered prompt, wonderful eye contact and a pleasing demeanor (not hard on the eye either). Plenty of seating and not, surprisingly, that hipster, wifi mooching, Fresh Cafe crowd, (guess they haven't migrated this far yet), but an older more dressed for success, business is next, bunch (Republicanish, if that is a word?). Contradiction to follow... We ordered Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs (add cheddar cheese/$1.50), brown rice, wheat toast. Let me stop here for just a moment (and here is why you lose a star, or part of the reason, man, I hope you guys read your reviews, cause I really like your place and this is a must for me and my crew!) GET WHITE RICE ON YOUR MENU! This is Hawaii! You are located in Chinatown! Brown rice (my and mines opinion) SUCKS! I know it healthier, but usually the same people who are asking for brown rice are sucking down Diet soda left and right, and take it from a former diet soda addict, nothing in this world is worse for you than diet soda...you just gotta trust me on that one (lost 65 lbs in six months/ work out 20min/twice a day, cold turkey diet soda, add fiber, lots of water, and 40 to 29 inseam with very little loose skin... I mean very little...vanity time...check my pic's) We also shared a bacon, mushroom and avocado omlt. with whole wheat. All food was tasty, but these are things that are hard to rave about, being as they are common items that can only be criticized if done poorly. Food was good, sausage crispy on outside, juicy with that little 'pop' when bitten into. The only other problem I might mention is their opening time, 11am. It would be nice to have a breakfast place in Chinatown that opens early and stays open late, but I think, me asks to much. On a final note, as I consumed way to much coffee, I found it necessary to visit their facilities (clean and well stocked, useful?). I had noticed that sometime after our arrival, one by one, a (how should I put this) 'slacker wannabe?' crowd had began to migrate up to the bar (the cool zone, again, useful?) area for assorted drinks, presumably nonalcoholic. Maybe the 'hipsters' found Downbeat before me? Downbeat is locate next to Lucky Belly just off Hotel and Smith (useful points?) So if you ever walk in and you see a beatdown looking couple just drinking coffee at one of the booths, and you hear the guy, looking like Tim Roth say, "Garçon! More coffee!" and if the lovely Kat approaches the table and replies, " Garçon means boy." You had better vacate, cause the next line is gonna be, "Everybody be cool! This is a robbery!" And when the female, looking like Amanda Plummer jumps up on grandma's plastic covered seat and screens, "Any of you f'in pricks moves, I'll execute every motherf'in last one of you!" Yeah, it's that kinda cool! Wish I could be there to see it unfold but first, you just gotta get some rice, K.
(4)
Mathelda W.
Excellent food... Excellent service! Would love to dine here again. The atmosphere was so relaxed great music... Our waitress Roxanne rocks!
(3)
Chris H.
First time there today. Food was quite amazing! Only downbeat was the bench seat second on the left when you walk in the door. Fix it, the waitress said it had been a problem. So.... minus that the Ruben sandwich was top notch.
(4)
Jess G.
My husband and I stumbled upon this place while looking for a bite to eat when we were in Honolulu. I eat dairy free and vegan when possible, so I use the app happy cow to help find dairy free/vegan options while traveling. I had the Cajun chicken wrap with vegan ranch, it was delicious, drink were tasty and the vibe and music was awesome. My husband had the moco and fell in love with local dish. When we come back to Honolulu we will definitely come back and I will recommend this place to any friends that are traveling to Honolulu as well.
(5)
Satoru Y.
Good downtown diner open late. One of the go-to places in the area. Been here more times than I can remember. Living in the area, this place is a pretty good option. The place is pretty accessible, and seems to be doing well. It's great to see both Lucky Belly and this place thriving. I hope more successful places ate to come. The staff is friendly. I love the post punk feel of the place. The food is standard diner fare, but has a noticeable selection of vegetarian options. Some of my veggie friends like come here. Everyone loves the Monte Cristo sandwich here (french toast ham cheese), and for good reason: delicious. I love the Pesto Chicken and Reuben. Also, who doesn't love a good Club Sandwich? I'm not a big fan of their burgers though. Had the lot of them, and just didn't seem like they had enough flavor to them. They weren't bland, but just didn't taste great. I do like their Loco Mocos though: Mega Moco it when you can. Those are delicious; the gravy is good. One of the specialty nights I like are Taco Tuesdays. You can get 2 tacos for $6: Beef or Black Bean. They also have good Won Ton Nachos for that day only. Cheap Tecates that day too. Good hipster diner to grab a bite.
(3)
Caleb S.
All I got to say about this place is that the Loco Moco is the best I've ever had in my whole life! And if you haven't tried it yet, you have no idea what you're missing out on!
(5)
Samantha K.
Food was good as always... service could be a bit better. I really do like this place, it has a fun vibe and it's "always" open. With that said, they were slammed on Sunday evening and seating was only available at the bar. I understand being busy and no open booths, so we opted to sit at the bar. However, seating opened up and typically, (at other restaurants anyway, they ask you to close out to move to a table), which is what we asked if they would be willing to let us move to the booth so we can be more comfortable and better conversation. They were very unaccommodating and noted that she had already put our order in, she would HAVE TO cancel our order and then we'd have to re-order the food from the server -- oh, and the best part was that we'll most likely not get our food in until later if that's the case because our server at the table has a lot more orders... Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed...
(3)
Alice A.
Good food at the diner. Nicely priced drinks at the bar. Great bar service. Good music. I will definitely return.
(5)
Paola R.
Their buffalo chicken sandwich was very delicious and surprisingly light! Normally when I get this type of sandwich elsewhere, I feel really guilty and fat afterward. But this wasn't so bad at all. A friend told me that they serve vegan versions of any of their sandwiches. I'll have to come back later and try them out!
(4)
Claire M.
I really enjoyed their burger. Delicious! Besides their delicious food, I appreciated how they had vegan choices. It's hard to find a restaurant that can make the same dish, but vegan style! Service is awesome and the ambiance is cool. The best part was that they also offered Otto Cheesecake's Amazing Plain Cheesecake!
(4)
Patrick S.
Wish I could give a 4.5 but I can't. First off, the food they offer is pretty good. I had the Western burger with a vegan patty and vegan bacon. Had it with the add-on fries and it's nice you get 3 options to choose from. I had the garlic fries. They also have cajun and one other type but I don't remember. Once I heard garlic...i interrupted and said YUP! Garlic it is! As for the burger it was pretty tasty and decent on size. I really like how you can get vegan proteins for a lot of their menu items (vegan burgers, ham, bacon, chicken) and substitute without any price increase. The garlic fries are intense but good. They aren't chintzy with the garlic so it's real garlicky. I still enjoyed it but my mouth/throat reeked of garlic all night. Had a milkshake for dessert. They have many unique flavors to choose from and they are cool with mixing it up. I had a chocolate/peanut butter one and it was GOOD! The negatives I have are the lack of parking and the menu is somewhat limited. This place is in chinatown...so any establishment in this area doesn't have good parking. It is what it is...but if you are in the area bar-hopping or live in downtown this is a good spot to check out. Their menu mainly consists of breakfast and sandwiches/burgers. They have a pretty good selection on sandwiches, could use a few more burger options (like a teri burger?). But I hope they expand more into dinner entrees where you don't have to use your hands to eat or might want something more with like rice or mash potatoes. Like meatloaf, bbq chicken, or some pastas (all which I hope they'd still have vegan/vegi versions). Overall it's a pretty cool spot and with their vegan options it's definitely a place I'll still hit up every once in awhile.
(4)
Jake M.
This place is great when you want a bite in Chinatown. The restaurant is clean, the staff is fun, and the overall vibe in the place is nice. I like Downbeat because it's multi-purpose. I can meet a friend or have a meeting for lunch and the place is pretty tame, or I can grab a drunken bite at night with my friends and talk story with the colorful crowd that seems to be in there every night. They also just opened up a bar in the annex next door which will feature The food is mostly what you'd expect from a greasy spoon. Burgers, sandwiches and the like. They also have vegetarian/vegan fare and options. I'm a carnivore, but my nibbler friends tell me that the vegan wings are pretty tasty. That said, I find the salads pretty plain. I love the buffalo chicken sandwich and the green eggs + ham. I'm not a fan of the french toast/monte cristo because of the sweet bread they use. Too greasy for me. The booths in this kitsch diner are black, white and red; feature portraits of pop culture icons inlaid with interesting patterns; and each pair can seat 4-6 (or maybe more if you're skinny/friendly) There's a jukebox, but the staff's Pandora stations are usually what I'd want to listen to anyway. The restaurant also screens movies and surf/skate videos on their television/wall projector. These often coordinate with drink specials on certain nights of the week, like Whiskey and Western Wednesdays. Downbeat is my go to for drink night grinds!
(5)
Deborah L.
Great food, original menu items. The nachos were simply addictive: the roasted salsa had a bite but was excellent. The Greek salad had the freshest greens; my sister didn't leave anything on her plate! The brownie sundae was good, although the edges were burnt. The service was outstanding. My mother, sister, and I were traveling together. We ventured into that area but I definitely would avoid it after dark.
(4)
Stewart C.
Affordable, and Awesome. My wife and I dropped in after dinner in Chinatown for dessert and drinks. Dessert was very delicious, and the drinks were done very well, with good ingredients. The overall quality of drink and food exceeded what we have been getting in other locations in Honolulu, while costing less. It's not, from what I can tell a tourist destination. The neighborhood isn't that great. It seems to me that there is some really great foodie type places on the gentrifying edge of Chinatown, where young student types who really care about food are maintaining profit by having cheap leases, rather than gouging their customers. Oh, and service was good. The waitress knew everything about the menu, how stuff was made and what was in it. She was friendly, and also gave us advice about food and coffee in Honolulu.
(5)
Dani K.
Came back for a second try hoping it was amazing as the first, ordered the vegan chili fries which hardly had any chili and NO MORE FRITTERS!! I was completely disappointed.
(3)
Jules F.
So many good things I don't know where to start. 1. Great tasting food (this seems as good a place to start as any.) 2. Cozy atmosphere, I love the booths. 3. Friendly waitstaff who are eager to please 4. Really interesting variety of foods with all kinds of unique substitutions (friendly for vegetarian, vegan, etc.) 5. Near all the fun stuff you want to be doing in Chinatown. How near? Across the street from Hotel 39 and Bar 35, so like, almost touching. A 2 block walk from Du Vin and Bambu 2.
(5)
Sarah J.
Ah downbeat diner, where do I begin. I usually come here when I have a huge chunk of time between class and something else in the downtown/chinatown area. It's not too pricey and the food is amazing. Why not 5 stars if the food is amazing? The service is alright. They're nice and informative but if you don't look "hipster" enough they don't give you the time of day. The last time I went in I sat down, ordered the usual with a different group of friends then I normally come with. Took us 20 minutes to get water and an hour to get our food. I wouldn't mind if they were busy but it was us and 3 other parties in the diner and they all got checked up on, told that their food would be right out and they even received their food before we did. I wasn't too upset about it but still I tip based on service, usually I tip 35-45% but this time I had to go for 20, and this particular waitress knows I give sizeable tips. I went back today with more of a "hipster" crowd and I received my water before I ordered and my food in 15 minutes. Why still 4 stars? The ambiance/atmosphere is cool, they have very cool booths with famous people's portraits on them. Their happy hour specials are amazing and even though their service varies their waitresses/barbacks are pretty awesome. P.s. If you're a vegan/vegetarian, try the teriyaki veggie burger, it'll rock your socks off.
(4)
Patrick B.
I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time. The reviews made my mouth water with anticipation. Sorry to say but nothing special, in fact it was below par for quality and service. I ordered a basic hamburger with cheese and fries. How better to evaluate a dinner. I stopped in at 1pm, 4 other patrons in 3 booths, bar stools full. Service was ok not great not bad but ok. My burger came out well done (why?) and the bun was burned (black not toasted brown) inside and outside. I don't know what happened to the curly fries but mine were the common everyday frozen fries that were fried until they were almost crisp. Burger, fries and a glass of water came to $12. With all of the good burger places out there to choose from this was not one of them. Now maybe at 2am after partying hard I may rate this different but sober and for lunch, ehh. I was underwhelmed and disappointed.
(2)
Kim C.
The Things I Do For Food Hip diner serving tasty food and great desserts. Situated in a shady part of China town so make sure your on your toes. If you have kids go when the sun is up. Make sure you have ample time to get back to your car before the sunsets. Because of Yelp I found some fantastic places that I would have never tasted. Yet on a few occasions I follow it with eyes closed and my taste buds leading the way. Not to bad if it was just me and my hubby. But we usually venture out with our baby and 7 year old child. My first time at Downbeat Diner was one of those instances. The food here is amazeballs! Tried the volcano fries. The Otto Moco. Similar to a loco moco but with chicken or vegan instead of beef. Drinked the spiked strawberry lemonade. You'll enjoy it if you like strawberry lemonade. The dessert's serve cheesecake from Otto Cakes. One of the major reasons I ended up here in the sketchy town of China town, at night, with kids. Don't worry I have pepper spray handy. My son got a sundae and my hubby got got the mac nut brownie. This thing is humongous. It's a brownie sandwich, ice cream in the middle, with your usual sundae items decorating it. I took turns eating my husbands dessert and mine. Two scoops of yours and one scoop of mine. Yes, that's how I roll. When we got there the bartender greeted us quickly, chit chatted with us even though she had a full bar (she was the only worker) and the food came out a decent time. Portion sizes are good and the prices are very affordable. Yelp challenge 365: 21/365
Went on a Sunday night. Fairly quiet. Only one person working the front of the house - bartender, server, she did it all. But she was busy. The food arrived room temperature. It definitely had been waiting somewhere. But she was so nice. They took the food back, the cook fried the burgers some more (there went any hope of a rare burger) and replaced the fries. Better. Had the apple fritter. A little too brown (burnt?) and seemed to have very little apple. Not worth it. Very nice people, but too many other places to eat.
(3)
Doris D.
I usually reserve my 1-star rating for vermin infested places. While Downbeat is clean, the food here warrants this 1-star because it is atrocious. I came here on a Sunday morning hoping for a decent diner breakfast. The coffee was promising. Then we got down to the food. I got the waffle ($6.50) with a side of sausage ($3). The waffle was the worst waffle I have ever eaten in my entire life. I took one bite and literally had to spit it out. The waffle tasted like raw dough, bland, and super dense. My husband took a bite and confirmed this. The waffle was merely sprinkled with powdered sugar and did not even come with buffer. Not only did it taste like mattress foam, it was also a sorry sight. The sausage was literally 6 thin slices of Portuguese sausage and an oily mess. My husband's loco moco was equally sorry. The brown rice was undercooked (unless al dente brown rice is now a thing, the rice was terrible), the hamburger patty was burnt black on the edges (not a pleasant BBQ burnt but like something went wrong burnt), the gravy was god awful bland and thin. While some folks dig this place, I have noticed that these same people come here after a drunken evening out. In the light of day, however, the food is less than desirable.
(1)
Javert M.
Great place to dine when going out with a mixed party of vegan/vegetarian and carnivore folk. Prices are reasonable and service has been prompt and friendly at least on my three visits so far. They are open into the wee hours till as late as 4am which is a good thing because this is one of the few eateries open this late that have vegan/vegetarian options. My favs are the seasoned fries, vegan wings, and the fact that they have Swiss inn dressing. The vegan wings are quite decadent seems to be deep fried seitan on wooden skewers so they somewhat resemble wings. Only downside is parking but that's not a big deal if you already live or work in Chinatown or if you go late nite as street parking is relatively easy to find. This place definitely does have a hipster vibe to it but the crowd is usually quite diverse. One last note... while there are some healthy options on the menu this place is still a diner which has the magical ability to turn vegan/vegetarian food into a fast food junkies dream come true.
(4)
Melissa O.
Late night adult milkshakes? who knew... so fun!
(4)
Amina P.
I am in the midst of a love hate relationship with DownBeat. Every piece of food I have ever had here is great diner food. Every encounter I have with a server/bartender has upset me. I am not regular enough apparently, so the ignoring game is played well and often. Eaten here at least 15 times, will eat there again, simply due to the food and location. However, not nearly as often as I would if they had mandatory personality classes upon hiring.
(3)
Lani A.
Love this place! The food could be a bit better but having vegan choices is wonderful seeing as my boyfriend won't touch meat with a 20ft pole. The service is generally on it, it's sometimes lacking when it's busy but that's completely understandable. Its a reasonable quality/quantity of food and drinks for a decent price.
(5)
Kalae P.
AHmazing find in Chinatown! Read on for my full experience at one of the greatest places (for many reasons) I was taken to eat at 2am in the morning.. Summary: Downbeat Diner and Lounge is a great place for that comfort taste and feel, a full cultural experience is what I got. The detailed, grungy-rock bar interior design contrasted by the vibrancy of people here is a great memory. The food is beyond exquisite when you are ready to chow down. Give your taste buddies and your wallet something I'm sure they will enjoy! Here's the story: It was a long day of drinking (14 hours to be exact). From an Aloha Stadium UH Football game to one of Chinatown's Halloween events, me and my partner-in-"crime" somehow made it to Downbeat Diner and Lounge around 2am. First thoughts as I stepped foot into the eatery's establishment, "dark look, but vibrant people, awesome design, and the food is smelling great!" There was a 15 minute wait, but it was definitely worth it! My eyes grazing around the menu, everything would have satisfied my appetite (and I would have ordered everything if I could have). I chose wisely and ordered 'The Carnivore', which was a meat-packed burger accompanied with either fries or a salad. The taste was there, and needless to say I devoured every last bite. I left Downbeat that night fully satisfied with my experience, and the place left me wanting more. I will be back to try every last option on that menu!
(5)
Shay F.
Looking at the reviews it looks like if you're thrilled about the vegan option, you're liking it. If you could care less about the vegan option, you're NOT liking this place. LoL. So, obviously from my 4 stars, you can tell I like the place...of course, because of the vegan option. They have vegan burgers and vegan chicken...and they even have the option of using vegan cheese if you would like. I'm just happy to find a place that gives this option. It should be like this in EVERY restaurant. LoL. I got the Western Burger fully vegan and it wasn't bad at all. It was packed with flavor! I also got the apple fritters which reminded me of Disneyland. That happy, carnival-y flavor and smell. Yum. Yelp 365 Challenge #38/365
(4)
K L.
I will not be returning here. Ever. The food was so-so. This review is based largely off of the service. Came here with a friend and this seemed to be the only place open late on a Monday night. We walk in and there's nobody inside. It seems the staff have some friends visiting, no matter to me. My friend and I aren't greeted or seated. So we sit and chat awhile. Lucky for us there are already menus on the table, otherwise I don't know if we would have gotten them. Over 5 minutes have passed and for whatever reason, we still haven't been greeted or offered any drinks. My friend and I start wondering if we are not welcome and whether or not to leave, but we are starving and couldn't find anyplace else nearby to eat. The waiter finally stops by and takes our order. He's super unfriendly. We put in a pretty decent order, including cocktails, main courses, and desserts for each of us. The food was very whatever. As was my cocktail. And I was never offered a refill after it was finished. I should have gone with my senses when I felt that my friend and I were unwelcome. Too bad my hunger was encouraging me otherwise. I won't be supporting this place again.
(1)
Casey O.
What's better than being a little tipsy and walking out of a bar/lounge/club feeling good? Finding a diner right next door. Great Saturday night at Manifest and was feeling hungry, heard decent things about Downbeat so decided to give it a go. The waiter wasn't super friendly, not to say he was rude, but I'm sure he's just used to dealing with drunken idiots at 2 in the morning...I will give him mad props for quickly bringing us all water, much needed and appreciated. Onto the food!!! 2 people got the volcano fries, 1 went with the jalapeno poppers, and I went with the bacon and avocado omelette. I'll break down each of them since I tried them all. Jalapeno Poppers - Looked and tasted like the frozen kind you can get anywhere, nothing special about these. Plus, they gave a somewhat measly amount of them. 8 if I remember correctly. Volcano Fries - From how they looked in some Yelp pics, I was expecting more gravy and cheese. They were covered in this cajun seasoning and garlic. Some cheese and some gravy, though not nearly as much as needed by hungry folk. Fries were tasty but somewhat forgettable because the gravy was a little lacking in flavor as well, not very wholesome like gravy should be. Bacon and Avocado Omelette - Figured I would try and go with some protein to fill me up. The avocado was fresh and there was a good amount of bacon. The toast was covered with this butter like spread, wasn't a big fan, didn't taste like anything and just greased up the toast. Overall, the omelette was good...but nothing I couldn't make at home. Man, I was really hoping for more from this place. Everything seemed to be a little lacking. Like if they put a little more effort in, it could be great drunk food haha. But alas, this visit just wasn't in our favor I guess. I shall look for another half drunken eatery near Chinatown in the future. Though yes, somewhat better than Zippy's because it's way cheaper and closer.
(2)
Juliann C.
For the food ~ nothing special really. Typical diner foods. But then again I ordered ordinary things like fries, grilled cheese, and jalapeno poppers. The Good: *The decor is beautiful, it's what attracted me in the first place *It is kinda the one restaurant/diner in downtown in the middle of all the bars -- convenient location if you're just galloping around downtown *Service was great :) the girl that works there is too cute The Bad: *Nothing special about the food The Weird: *They definitely need better quality TVs, it was just so bad watching Dark Knight in bad quality! I honestly would have given this place only 2 stars, but I'll give it a three since the interior is nice :) I'll probably visit again and update my review.
(3)
Matthew A.
Good drinks...came early after Mexican food around da corner....they're doing DJ muzak tonite (wed), but have live bands Tues, Thurs, Fri, & Sat....they also serve Pabst blue ribbon and bacon for only $7...
(4)
Kelly T.
I've tried this place a handful of times since my first horrific milkshake experience, and the service has improved. This place is still going for the trendy hipster vibe and has lots of hipsterish meal options, including veggie sausage, Oregon beers, and PBR. Sometimes the fully tatted bartenders play Sharknado or Taxi Driver, and lots of black-rimmed glasses-laden college kids with matching haircuts are slumped over in booths checking Facebook and eating Loco Mocos. I really wish this place tried harder on the quality of their food instead of the Lawry's Seasoned Salt overkill, but I guess I should just be content that Downbeat Diner exists and try to fit in. Damn you, Honolulu, and your lack of pm breakfast options! Maybe it will keep getting better?
(3)
Sarah J.
I usually like this place due to it's vegan options, however, this time I feel that the waitress was picking and choosing who she wanted to wait on. We waited for our food for 40mins, she never came over to tell us it was on it's way, and when it got there it was regular chicken wrap not vegan like I asked for. I didn't want to wait any longer so she comped it. I'm not impressed with the service or the food this time at all. I have been in the past. I'm hoping it's different if I come back ever again.
(2)
Jordan S.
A great late night eats place. Good diner food, awesome milk shakes, and if you come before 2am they are a bar as well so you can add liquor to your shakes or floats. The food is pretty standard for a diner, the spot is perfect though for going to as China Town bars are shutting down. They also have some Vegan and Vegetarian options, which is nice as it's a place all of my friends can usually agree on.
(4)
Amauri T.
Showed up here for a late night snack after a night at M Nightclub, walked in at 3 a.m. on a Saturday and there business hours stated they stayed open until 4 a.m. I ordered a loco moco which is standard local fare but according to the sever they couldn't be bothered to make more rice and they started turning off the lights with an hour left.
(1)
Jordana F.
I'm here at 1230 am after a pau hana event and I can't quite remember how we got here but we ordered the sampler. It has mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, and buffalo wings. We also ordered drinks and I don't really know how I'm capable of writing this review but thank goodness for spell check! Anyways food is really good, the drinks are good and the prices are decent. Try it if you're ever in the area! It's not too crowded and the decor is simple and a little modern. It can be intimate but good for groups as well :)
(4)
Hunter H.
Downbeat Diner is such an enjoyable place to relax and eat. The service is very consistent and the food was delicious. The vegetarian option is great as well, I'll be back for sure!
(5)
Val M.
Awesome vegan diner food. I have enjoyed everything so far....the food, the cocktails, the service, the ambience, EVERYTHING
(5)
Wendy P.
Woohoo! As good as it gets! = Drinks and service. I've read some of these reviews about spotty service, but every time I go in this joint, I'm super happy with the way I'm treated by the staff. Drinks or food might take a while if they're busy or understaffed for a rush, but even then they're always friendly, patient, and helpful with suggestions and chit-chat whenever possible. And wish as I may, I can't fit the profile of a hipster with my fashion stylings... bag-lady sometimes- kindergarden teacher on a good day... but never hipster. I come from the south, from Hwy 61, from deep fat fryers and 24-hour diners the likes of which movies are made. Therefore, I cannot say I LOVE the food here. It's too clean usually, as if trying to straddle the line between health-conscious eatery and late-nite diner, vigilantly cautious never to cross the line to the 'bad' side. But the food is good-- there's decent variety in the menu. But let's get to it-- The REAL reason I love this place is their drink menu. For a diner, these guys have it going on behind the bar. They'll mix Ginger Tea with a shot of vodka and a splash of something lemony that'll make your day. And they've taken an old childhood favorite- Root Beer FLOAT!- and added a shot of whisky or rum like freakin' bosses. Why has no one else thought of this in my life? My favorite part is, they like to mix it up-- so when an indecisive and adventurous drinker like myself tries to go off-menu, the server tends to light up rather than roll eyes. Gotta love that. Oh, and if you haven't caught onto the theme of what I like most in my reviews- it's a good deal... and these yummispectaculations of libations are super reasonable in price. So there's that. Go out there and get 'em, kids!
(5)
Sharee P.
I'd give the food 4 stars- chili moco, Western burger, chicken fajita were yummy. However, the service was horrible. My husband and I are vegans, so we thought it would be nice to take his mother and some others family members here for brunch on Mothers Day being that they'll be able to get non-vegan options. After ordering our food, we waited for about 15 minutes to get our food- which is a reasonable time. They brought a dish or two out at one time. Shortly after waiting, we asked the waiter about my mother's order- a monte cristo. Apparently, the bartender that took our order forgot to put it in. He apologized and said it'll be out shortly. The restaurant started to fill up, so it was busy in there, however, we were in there 10 minutes after they opened. We all finished our food, and the order still didn't come out. The waiter handed me the check and even cleaned our tables. I told him that I didn't think we should be charged for my mother's meal because we still hadn't even received it yet!! He gave a little bit of an attitude and said it wasn't his fault because he didn't take the order and then he took it off. We waited for another 10 minutes until I approached the same guy- Chris, and asked about how much longer for the order? He said, " It's not like we're not busy, so I really don't know.". I was so upset, that we just decided to leave. So we took my mother in-law out for Mother's Day and she didn't even get her food! I will never eat at this establishment again.
(1)
Chad A.
The food sucks here, and the service is slow. What earns 2 stars is that they have great late-night hours.
(2)
Jenifer G.
The food options are great but the service needs some attention! I didn't feel the hipster servers were too attentive, how hard is it to get a cup of water? But.. I do empathize a little, it could be because they've got the late evening crowds that can be down right obnoxious. Maybe I need to come by at a different time of day to avoid the unruly crowd and its aftereffects, or I found it also works great to just order take out. :) The burgers are delicious and very juicy. My favorite is their Monte Cristo, a french toast sandwich with ham and cheese -- ingenious! It is the ultimate in savory! And there's even a vegan option. Apparently there are options for vegans and vegetarians which is a defininite plus. I guess it's a good spot for you to hit up late at night to top off the rest of your evening. I have yet to try it out during "normal" hours. Maybe service will be more enjoyable then!
(3)
Joseph M.
The Ruben of the GODS!!!! This is a little hole in the wall place that might be one of my favorite restaurants on this island. I went here after Trivia at the Manifest next door one Tuesday night and I am now a big fan. The Reuben is outstanding and is easily the best one you can get in Hawaii. More about the Reuben in a minute. The place has a very artsy feel to it and is the kind of place that could slide right out of Chinatown and be right at home in Soho or Austin or some place like that. The seats have various artist and singers pictures on them and the decor is very "50s diner" but not as bright. They usually play something like Caddyshack or a Mexican Western on the wall with a projector which adds to the decor. Our server was a very nice girl with tons of cool tats and a septum piercing who wore those big nerd glasses. She was fast and efficient and we really didn't have to wait very long for our food. There was an assortment of club-kids, tatted hipster types, and girls from the yoga place across the street. This is the kind of place that your grandma would feel weird eating at. That girls hair is purple! The horrors! Well the main reason I am writing this review though is to talk about their Reuben. It is absolutely amazing. The pastrami was fresh without a ton of gristle and fat, the sauerkraut was not too wet and didn't get all sloppy, and the dressing was perfect. It was succulent, mouth-watering and was gone very quickly. I was literally wolfing the thing down and after I was done I really felt like ordering another one. I have had Reubens all over the world and this one was the best I have ever had. Just thinking about the Reuben makes me want to go back to Downbeat again and again. I also need to mention that they have like 12 different kinds of shakes and each one I tried has been very tasty. They aren't as thick as Teddy's Bigger Burgers but they are still a very tasty compliment to your meal. They also serve liquor as well and it would be nice to have a few nice brews to wash down my Reuben with if I wasn't already drinking a shake. Milk based sweet-stuff and beer do not mix for me. In any case this is a great establishment for Downtown/Chinatown and is a must try if you are in the area. The food was fresh, cheap, and oh yeah Reuben. Just an all around great place to get some dinner.
(5)
Laurie P.
So ever since they closed Mini Garden, we've had to find a new place to eat after stumbling out of the bar. While Zippy's up on Vineyard is always clutch, a friend said this place was good. This place is going to totally appeal to all the hipsters. The random portrait fabric with the faces of Frieda Kahlo, James Dean, David Bowie, amongst others on the back of the benches, the arthouse video they project onto one of their very white walls, the small bar in the back, the kisch food, the PBR tall boys on sale for $5. Definite hipster vibe, but the guys working were all pretty low key and friendly. So maybe Seattle hipster, not LA hipster. Anyway, as soon as we plopped down the one waiter who was on his second day dropped by with large, icy glasses of water. Perusing the menu, I ordered gravy fries (I have a thing for gravy fries. They are just so wrong they are right.) and a Monte Cristo. A note on the service, the waiter was very attentive. Being drunk half of us hadn't looked at the menu, but he always left and came back relatively quickly to see if we had decided, was never short and rather funny. I had concerns about the fries when they came out, they weren't particularly golden or crispy looking and the gravy was anemically pale. Everyone knows that the beauty of the gravy fry is the crisp, fried potato contrast to rich, meaty gravy. Well I was pleasantly surprised. The fries were very fresh and weren't soggy. The gravy, in spite of its appearance, was delicious. The Monte Cristo was a little different than I was expecting. Instead of a lightly battered and deep fried ham and cheese sandwich dusted with powdered sugar, it was a ham and swiss between two pieces of french toast. The french toast was actually pretty tasty and held up well to being in a sandwich, which is surprising. All in all, a decent drunk meal. Definitely think I'd be back just to try the volcano fries and maybe even a Taco Tuesday.
(3)
Nathan F.
Had a BLaT and my GF had a chicken pesto both were really good, even more food options. Drinks were original and tasty music was classic, and atmosphere is on point. Only down fall was that is sort of plain And there was only one waitress working and over all was priced very nicely
(4)
Karebear W.
Update #3 Apparently, the C-town gangsters made a rare appearance on update day #2. I've been here many, many of times and that was the only concerning occasion. Overall, I love downbeat and it's awesome and convenient for a townie like me. Or for anyone cruising downtown.
(5)
Trevor T.
Very hipster (usually something I'm not a fan of). That said, the food was very good, I had the french toast and was pleasantly surprised. Another big plus is that they're open late if you get the munchies late at night downtown (and don't want to make your next stop Zippy's). The parking is less than ideal, being right in Chinatown. Odds are, however, that you'll be in the area anyway, so the parking thing should be a non-issue. That said, this is not someplace I'd go out of my way to eat at (not THAT good). If you or anyone in your group is vegan, this place is a good spot as their menu is chock full of vegan-friendly options. Atmosphere is also pretty chill, but fun at the same time...does that make sense? In sum, worth checking out if you're in the area, but I'd live if I never got to eat there again.
(3)
Leah K.
Looking for a new place to try out on a late Sunday afternoon and my cohort recommend this eatery. Wasn't quite sure what to expect considering the typical hustle and bustle of Chinatown is nonexistent on a Sunday afternoon. We were greeted upon arrival and since the place wasn't busy, we were able to pick out our seats. The service was very quick. Our server answered questions about the some of the menu items, and provided us with some recommendations. I selected the Monte Cristo. The french toast was delicious, although the ham and cheese filling were not quite as ample as what I have had elsewhere. The sandwich is served with pancake syrup on the side for those who want a little sweet to offset the saltiness of the ham and cheese. Overall, it was enjoyable. My cohort is a vegan, so he opted for the Vegan Pesto Chicken sandwich, which they were able to make totally vegan. Always wanting me to explore and try new vegan food, I sampled the sandwich and have to agree that it was very good. The sandwich was oozing the pesto sauce which was very light and fresh. It was nice little spot to drop into on a Sunday afternoon. It is great since is caters to the vegan and meat eaters alike.
(4)
Jason W.
This is regarding Brunch! Downbeat overall is still a 5 to me but I got talked into the Chicken and Waffles and well, for "selling out quickly," the waffles had some room for improvement. Plus I had to ask for cream for the coffee and syrup for the waffles so that was kind of weird. The chicken though was off the hook. I am a love/hate relationship with meat, I cant quite go vegetarian but I try to limit meat as I can for multiple reasons and this chicken was awesome, good flavor breading outside, and moist, tender white meat inside. I think if I went with my original idea of the Ottos Moco, which had the Chicken and brown rice loco moco style, this would be five stars. Next time...
(4)
Maria G.
Ok, so I was a bit reluctant when friends invited me here before a night out for drinks. Anything that purports "vegan" anything is always a bit suspect (Sorry to my vegan friends!) . But as revealed by my 5 star review, clearly I was proved wrong. It's not that big of a place, but it definitely makes an impact. Has a hipster/punk rock vibe with it's funky couches (with upholstery that has B&W portraits of famous icons), great jukebox, to the movies the project on the wall. However, what really won me over were the VOLCANO Fries and VEGAN wings. Wait...yes I said that right,...VEGAN wings. It is amazing, yummy, and even the texture was divine! It even had a little drum "stick" it was attached to. I ate it side by side with the "real" wings and the vegan version hands down wins. I have DREAMs and CRAVINGs (and no, I"m not pregnant) about these vegan wings. The volcano fries are a delicious mishmash of fries, gravy and cheese...nom nom nom. Burgers are also decent, and I also had there "avo" sandwich which was avocado, tomato and cheese. I swear...this place is gonna make a secret veggie out of me! For dessert, milkshakes can be ordered plain or with a shot of liquour. Delicious, delicious, delicious. Go get some vegan wings now!
(4)
Stephanie T.
Love Downbeat! They have a very versatile menu in that you can please every one that you go with because there is breakfast (served all day) to lunch type foods and more dinnery type items and desserts and a huge selection of adult beverages. One of my favorite adult desserts they have is the Guinness shake, I know it sounds gross, but its delicious. I think I have tried almost everything on their food menu. The BLAT (Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato) sandwich is super good. The bacon avocado cheese omelette is another favorite of mine as well. The staff is great too, all very friendly and fun to be around. A huge plus is everything that is on their menu can be done in vegan form including their loco moco. They are open really late so its good for after bar food.
(4)
Rissa K.
Mmm you gotta try the Volcano Fries! It's garlic fries with gravy poured all over! Wow! I haven't tried the burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes yet but I do want to try it next time I am there. Love the vibe here....it's like a feel of an old Diner. There is a cool bar that is right next door that is part of this Diner. You can go have lunch/dinner then go next door and have a few drinks. When you are here it goes you a feel like you are somewhere else. Friendly staff, clean restaurant, and great food!
(4)
Sara N.
Menu items are a bit misleading.... volcano fries are barely spicy- they're cajun fries smothered in grey gravy (they taste alright but nothing special) and their well-known Guinness milkshake does NOT have any alcohol in it; they use a Guinness flavored syrup :| I wouldn't order it again. The service was alright; the server knew it was our first time there but didn't ask us questions or make any recommendations. Now I'm just sad that I didn't try the fritters...
(3)
Rupert L.
Been here once during first Friday. Wish we didn't do that because now I'll have to give a three star for messing up orders and the jukebox ate the money. Also the wait just to get in was crazy. American burger was great. Good thing I didn't get the shake because I would've been full. The place is small but it's pretty cool. I'll definitely come back when it's not too busy.
(3)
Christine K.
This place has a cool feel to it. My daughter and I chose to eat here because of the vegetarian selections. The vegan chili was great! We enjoyed the music and the friendly staff as well.
(5)
Thomas A.
Best vegetarian place around, unless you're a rabbit and prefer raw things. Delicious diner/cafe kinda food. Hipster for sure, but not obnoxiously so. A must visit for any and all vegetarians.
(5)
Joyce F.
For: taco tuesday, maybe brunch, $2 Tecate on Tues! Against: inconsistent service, regular menu Other essentials: All menus offered all day. Street parking all around Chinatown...or walk from my house! More: Came here on two different nights, had the same server / bartender and had CRAZY different experiences. I'm all confused now. Let's start with Tuesday. Standing on Hotel St after Emi's show trying to find food. Options: late night Lucky Belly, Bar 35 or this joint we have yet to try. Lauren spots the PRB and bacon menu item at Downbeat so in we go. Sit down and see a TACO TUESDAY menu. Oh, how I love Tuesday and how Taco fits in front of you so seamlessly. The menu was mean...like good. Three tacos for $8. Okay the beef was overcooked and flavorless and they ran out of jalepenos but the other flavors made it delicious. Including the jalapeno salsa and sour cream! More importantly, there were $2 Tecate cans with limes shoved inside. I would 5 star any $2 Tecate lime combo. Was impressed with all the vegan and vegetarian options - what diner focuses on that? Haven't tried it so unsure of the quality. The diner has cool seat covers - liked spotting Bill Murray and Frida - but no artwork on the walls. The brunch menu looks incredible especially that bottomless mimosa! Fast forward to Easter Sunday. Everything is closed except for Downbeat (and Taco Bell) but since we had such a good experience on Tuesday, we raced off to Chinatown. We had the same server who said nothing to us even when I excitedly (making too excitedly) yelled hello at her as she was setting down menus. Girl was not happy to be there that night. To be fair, there were a ton of drunkies and people just generally happy to be eating and not working on a Sunday night. The sandwiches, burgers and salads were all so lame! Like good sounding on the menu and then nothing in your mouth. I now understand why Chuggy was skeptical of my rave Tuesday reviews. My friend had the Coke float with Sailor Jerry and was instantly drunk - in a good way. Overall, Sunday night did not kill my Tuesday experience. I will be back for Tuesday and probably to check out the brunch menu!
(3)
Anna F.
It's a far walk from where I work but it's totally worth it. Their menu is reasonable priced and they have a lot of different sandwiches. The staff was super nice and they check up on your every so often to see if the food is okay or if you need more water. My favorite item was the grilled ham and cheese sandwich. It's a simple item and they made it perfect. I also liked their cajun fries. They made the seasoning just right. If you're still hungry after your meal, you need to order the apple fritters! I know, it's deep fried and it's unhealthy but you know what, the batter was really light. If you go with a group, just share the dessert. For those who go to first Fridays, this place is open late. You can swing by here for food after all the drinking. Or just come in here and drink some more.
(4)
Crystal B.
I regularly attend a lot of events in Chinatown and Downbeat Diner is a favorite place for my friends and I to stop and get a bite! They are open late, have a fun & funky vibe and the food is delicious....they offer Vegan and Vegetarian options, but this is diner food people so it's not fat free, I'm training for the cover of Sports Illustrated fair...yummy comfort food at its best :) The Volcano fries are great to share with a couple of beers or one of their fabulous drink specials...or the adventurous should definitely go for a Pandemonium Milkshake (vanilla milkshake with a shot of Jagermeister and bacon syrup), creamy deliciousness with a kick!
(5)
Courtney O.
Finally a REAL diner!! Those of you who think that Big City Diner is actually a diner can stop reading this and move along. Downbeat Diner is a REAL diner that will leave your taste buds very satisfied! I had the monte cristo sandwich. I personally think the monte cristo is underrated and needs to me on more menus. I was very excited to see it on the menu here and had to stop by. It was served with fries which could be accompanied by gravy, garlic, cajun seasoning, or cheese. I picked gravy and it was delish! They also serve a variety of milkshakes. I had the chunky monkey. It was really good. If you're down for it, there is even a Guinness shake!! You can also add any liquor to your shake. Amazing!! There is a large white wall in the diner that shows movies and a jukebox. I think the prices are very reasonable for the food and for the drinks as well. Most of the drinks are around $5. The entire menu is available all day long! Yay for breakfast at night! Our waitress was very cute and friendly. I CAN'T wait to go back here. My only gripe is that it is in China Town and the night we went (like any other random night) had a lot of sketchy people walking around. It's not exactly in an area I would call safe. I would recommend they move closer to my house, maybe even next door if possible.
(5)
Kristy K.
To be honest we actually ended up going here because Lucky Belly had a set Valentines Day menu and had ran out of food already. ;( But anyway, here's my rundown: Service: Was not good. Our server hardly came to check on us. When we wanted a container she was no where to be seen. Then she decides to check on all her other tables but us. Really??? Atmosphere: Cool! The music was back in the day music, the kind of music my mom and dad listen to, so I actually enjoyed it. They were also projecting a movie on the wall, I think it was Dirty Dancing. Food: I ordered the hamburger steak, which sucked butt. The worst hamburger steak that I had in a while. The burger was tough and dry and the gravy didn't have much taste. My gf got the BLAT sandwich. It was just a normal sandwich. Nothing spectacular. The best thing about this place was the peanut butter shake. LOL! All in all, I was very upset because I read someones review that the hamburger steak here was the best!!! All I can say about that is...Lies...All Lies!! Lastly...parking in this area sucks! Will I be back? I doubt it.
(2)
Victoria S.
Really good vegan/vegetarian food. They have an animal friendly version of almost everything on their menu. The food itself is good. The wrap tends to be bigger then the sandwich. The fries are okay, but the usually get cold fast. There isn't a lot of seething, so plan on coming early if you want food from here.
(5)
Kelly G.
Late night food nom! Usually most restaurants are closed at such a late hour but not Downbeat! This is probably why it was so full. We ordered the vegan bbq chicken burger, cajun fries and .... the apple fritters! In our drunken state, everything tasted yum. Unfortunately, the apple fritters didn't meet my expectations. Price was alright. Service was not bad. Bar in the corner if you choose to continue your drunken debauchery!
(4)
Mark G.
Went there for a birthday lunch. Food was good, but the service was extremely slow. It took about 45 minutes from the time we ordered til we got our food. There was only one waitress working and I would have totally understood the situation til it came to paying the bill. We wanted to split the check between a couple cards but the waitress rudely stormed back and tossed our cash and cards back onto the table and ranted "you can't split checks on First Fridays." I was left confused since First Friday activity in downtown doesn't pick up til well after dinnertime and dumbfounded as to why she would waste even more of her time to express how irritated she was that we were even thinking of trying to split a check. Sorry to be a burden, geez!
(2)
Angela F.
This is a great place for late-night dining (it's opened past midnight and located right next to many bars and lounges in Chinatown)! The service is excellent...the staff was friendly and very accommodating. Being lactose intolerant, I was very excited about their vegan options. We ordered the vegan apple fritters and vegan vanilla milk shake. The milk shake was DELICIOUS...possibly one of the best vegan milkshakes I've ever had. they offer many different milkshake flavors. It was very creamy and tasty. The vegan apple fritters were good too...a very unique item. They remind me of beignets more than apple fritters but still delicious. Overall, this is a great dining option!
(4)
Cassie T.
We stopped in to Downbeat to grab a quick bite to eat and a couple of drinks. The place is really cute and I can see how this would be a great place to hang out at if you were out drinking. I love the music that they play and the vidoes that can be seen on the multiple TV's or the HUGE projection. Cool! We ordered the Volcano fries that are for sure not a part of a healhty eating plan. But, oh they were yummy. Basically the Volcano fries are french fries with garlic and cajun seasoning topped wtih gravy. Delicious! We also ordered the Mozerella Sticks. Nothing special. The burger I ordered was decent. I ordered the terryaki burger. I love that they use local products (Big Island Beef). The meat was topped with carmelized onions and mushrooms, cheese and a terryaki sauce. Our waitress was also the bartender (Sorry, I didn't catch her name). She was really nice. She also seemed to know most of the customers that were in there. What a good sign! After all the food and four drinks our bill was only 41.00! SCORE! Overall I think we will save this place for when we are out drinking. Not bad.
(4)
Mike T.
Hip atmosphere, food was great. I had the California Burger, My wife had the Chicken salad and she loved it. Awesome place for the young hip crowd. price was reasonable and the service was nice.
(4)
Ira J.
"Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter." -urban Dictionary (n.d.) Definition of Hipster Retrieved from urbandictionary.com/defi… My definition of Hipster is considerably different than the one above. While it has no attributed author, it was obviously written by a Hipster or a Hipster sympathizer. From my reckoning, a hipster is someone who believes they are too cool to be cool. So they go out of their way to be un-cool so that they can therefore be cool. An important aspect of this is for Hipsters to maintain at all costs that they are not a Hipster. They must do so because in their eyes being a Hipster is cool; and for them to be cool, they must be un-cool - not a Hipster. Get it? Well, by this definition, my teenage daughter is a Hipster. She believes that Hipsters are cool, but vehemently deigns being one. One of the first clues I had of this came several months ago when I tentatively selected Downbeat Diner and Lounge for our evening meal. Her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "The Hipster Restaurant! Cool!" Well, we didn't wind up eating there that night, but I filled away her excitement for a future use. That use came this week when I offered to take her to Downbeat Diner and Lounge for her birthday lunch. She was very excited. I believe she was so because she would get to hang with her fellow Hipsters. She does not subscribe to my theory about her hipsterhood or really to my Hipster Theory at all. In spite of myself, I liked the place. It definitely has serious atmosphere and attitude. The chicken sandwiches we both had were really good, as was our brownies with ice cream desert. The only thing that was a little lacking was the promptness of the service. However, I suspect that slow service is an engineered part of the serious atmosphere and attitude. It was also okay because it allowed us to stay longer and soak up more of that serious atmosphere and attitude. Which we both appreciated. I wanted to give my Hipster Theory a test; and more importantly like any good dad, I was anxious to embarrass my teenage daughter. My plan was to stand up and ask the clientele of Downbeat Diner and Lounge to raise their hands if they considered themselves Hipsters. Since I was sure none of them would do so, and they were all pretty much unquestionably Hipsters; my theory would be validated. However, I was forced to forgo this experiment because of another theory of mine: It is a bad idea to experiment on or otherwise harass large numbers of people who have tattoos on their faces.
(4)
Jesse S.
Terrific burgers and shake. The ambiance is fun.
(4)
Kazuo O.
The Good stuff: Staff is generally friendly and efficient, good characters all around. Full bar does all the basics well. Quirky atmosphere. Carry out option for food. Great shakes (which can be boozed up on request). Kitchen open late (huge plus). Improvements: Standard diner food, but nothing extraordinary. The vegan option for all menu items will please the non-animal crowd, but I remember the vegan chicken wings being better in the past. Bottom line: Causal meet-up spot in trendy Chinatown. Good place to launch your night or end it. Wish the juke box would be set to play only 80's rock or synthpop.
(4)
Paula H.
vegan/vegetarian diner food. considering its called a diner idk what i was expecting but i thought somehow it would be different. a friend of mine was excited to try this place bc everything on their menu can be made into vegan or vegetarian. sounds interesting huh! he was excited...so i was excited. one date night, it was my turn to pick the food and so i picked here. my husband is funny because he always puts a smile on his face when i pick vegan/vegetarian food and under his breath recites, "happy wife happy life." which has become his life's mantra. So we get there and we order the fries with vegan chili and vegan nachos. Sounds harmless. The cheese was of course soy cheese and meat was soy protein also. I have no problem with that but when I think of nachos I think of smooth melty cheese. Not the case. It was hard and all of the cheese lifted when I pulled one chip out. Yuck! At the bottom of the dish sat a puddle of oil. Double yuck! I know diner food is not suppose to be the healthiest but when u put vegan/vegetarian into the mix I personally expect differently. I think I'm expecting too much though. I walked back to my car regretting my diner decisions.
(3)
Cheryl L.
Looking for a late night place with more than a bar menu. We stumbled upon this gem. Their food was excellent and the service was awesome! Really laid back with up beat music. Definitely recommend! Great!
(4)
Mark M.
Went to downbeat yesterday for breakfast (brunch?). It's a really cool little place, very hipster vibe if you're into that sort of thing. Service was a bit slow at first, but that was probably because we got there about 2 minutes after they opened. Once it was all up and running it was much better. I had the Loco Moco, which is pretty good. They have an interesting gravy, but I always wish they would cook the burger medium instead of medium well. My wife had a breakfast sandwich, which she liked. Other than those, they usually have really good burgers, great French fries; you really can't go wrong for breakfast here... The home fries in particular are great. They also have lots of vegan options too if that's your thing. Overall it's a really cool place with some good food. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Lealyn P.
Great food, vegan options, cool atmosphere and good service. I love it here.
(5)
Cat D.
Came for lunch on a sat. Late afternoon. Parked nearby in a metered stall. Food and service is four stars and cleanliness is a 3 stars. Volcanic fries...cajun seasoning, garlic with a mild gravy and cheese is quite delicious. I was a little weirded out on the idea of gravy on cheesy fries, but it actually complimented it. Well done Spicy Vegan buffalo sandwich with vegan ranch dressing, lettuce, and tomato. On sourdough bread.... wow tastes just like chicken. Love the substitute. Ranch was subtle and Complimented the Buffalo sauce. Yummy...i'll be back 11/25/13 Finally came back and this time I had something meaty...the Reuben sandwich on rye. Swiss cheese, soft beef and perfectly toasted with a nice mustard sauce to compliment the sauerkraut. Served with volcanic fries with gravy on the side of course. They just do sandwiches well. Hasn't yet disappointed. Mixed apple and banana fritters were oh so delicious! Kanak attack
(4)
Sam K.
Walk into this place on Sunday for a quick lunch. I ordered a Reuben sandwich with pastrami, it is very tasty. My wife ordered a Loco Moco; it is a little different from most local versions. Lots of pepper and I think, Provence Herb. Taste pretty good.
(4)
Angela M.
Dear Downbeat Diner, I decided to become mostly vegan for health reasons. I decided to become mostly vegan for my heart and my mind, and to reverse the 3 decades of damage and abuse this body has endured. And it was going well. Until YOU. You with your hipster vibe and random movies playing on the wall, you with your black booths and peculiar patrons seated at the bar with pants that are too tight and belts that are too wide. You with your diner menu full of tantalizing burgers and shakes and fritters and fries that, by golly, can all be made VEGAN. You lure us in with your addictive buffalo wings, your scrumptious breakfast sandwich, your delicious teri burger and cheap Tecate Tuesdays and BAM, we're plant based fatties. You are the twisted and dark place where vegans can become obese. We find ourselves reveling in pure gluttony within your walls far too often, enticed by your lit windows and doors which remain open when everything else has closed, beckoning, calling, a beacon of light, a promise of warmth in the darkness. A promise that I will never fit my skinny jeans again. Is it your fault that I have gained some veggie poundage in the last month? YES. Yes it is. Your dark magical powers that produce not only edible, but incredible vegan fare are to blame. I am but a hapless victim, too weak to turn away. And I will see you soon. Certainly the morrow if not tonight. Damn it, I don't need to be thin. Sincerely, Angela
(4)
Thomas O.
Came back after a month to see what was going on. I'm glad to see they're doing quite well with plenty of customers...and plenty of servers? Come on, do we need more than 4 people hustlin'? Well maybe not so much hustlin' but more moseyin', because it seemed like things took a little while. Riana S. and I were there for a hour when I know we coulda be in and out in 15 if we went to Liliha Bakery. Alas, it was close to Manifest where we were filming. Anyways, I gotta be frank here, I had to lower my review a star because of the prices. Oh my Jesus are they high. I never really realized. Because the times I came here I was either paying separately or came by myself. Well for two people, the tab came to $33. We had 2 burgers @ $9 ea. (no soggy fries this time) 2 vegan milkshakes @ $5 ea. (outrageous for the size and flavor) 1 order of Apple Fritters @ $5 (probably best purchase) I had the western burger and..it was well good. Nicely balanced bbq sauce, bacon, and onion. I want...no. I NEED onion rings with this. With bbq sauce for dipping. The shake was an Oreo Mint shake. Meh I could barely taste the mint and the oreo.
(3)
Jason D.
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute! Where have I been?!? This place is so darn good! This review is for lunch, so I'm not sure why the bad reviews. Anyway, my coworkers and I came here a little after 11, and they just opened up and I think we were the first ones there, fine by us. This place is located on Hotel Street, right across Bar 35 and next to Mini Garden. I haven't been to this area in a while, even though I work Downtown, which is why I probably never heard of this place, but thank goodness for Yelp! Walking into this place kinda felt like walking back in time. There design on the booths were really retroish cool and the jukebox playing take me back music was a nice touch. On to the food. If you go online and look at their menu, know that they have more food on the actual menu when you get there! So this would be my one wish - sync the menus, especially for those who have a time constraint for lunch and may be indecisive at times =) I ordered the chicken pesto sandwich and a chunky monkey milkshake. I swear if I wasn't at work, I would have added a shot to my milkshake, or try the Guiness milkshake. Oh well, next time. The pesto sandwich filled me up. The chicken wasn't dry at all and the toasted sourdough bread it came on wasn't oily at all. The milkshake was to die for and I seriously had a hard time staying up at work after. One of my coworkers had the teriyaki burger, which she said was really, really good. My other coworker had the buffalo chicken sandwich, which she enjoyed as well. Honestly, probably one of the better places we've had lunch at. Check this place out!
(5)
Amie P.
Haven't been here in forever, but I had to give it a review because I'm nostalgic! Happened by this diner when me and my sister were wandering around Chinatown looking for a bite to eat. Sister thought it looked interesting and I saw they had vegetarian options so we gave it a shot... No regrets!! THE best vegan meat I've had! My mouth waters thinking about their sandwiches. Especially their Buffalo Chicken sandwich! My sister, who is a total meatitarian even enjoyed the vegan options. Their shakes are pretty great, too (Chunky Monkey, specifically)...and UM! they have Otto's cheesecake! Gotta grab a slice up fast before they're sold out though! The diner has a great punk/retro vibe to it as well and plays some badass movies. During our stay in Honolulu, this was definitely one of our favorite go-to places. Try it out!
(5)
Bruce T.
We actually went twice the same night. We met up with our group there before hitting an event. Had nice drinks and some food... Me and a friend shared the chef salad (the most meat I have ever had in a salad LOL) and a avocado quesadilla. Both were tasty and went well with drinks. Service was awesome and pretty quick. Then we actually went again after the event for a late munchy. Short wait for a table (it was around 2am). This time around unfortunately the service, while our server was very nice, was super slow... I mean real slow. 30+ minutes for food to finally show. But again it was great (loco moco) but the experience was sub par. .. But it did not turn us off to the spot, assumed a bad night in the kitchen maybe.
(4)
Quyen N.
Oh my goodness! I'm so in love with Downbeat! I love the vegan options! The last time I was there, I went expressly for the vegan fritters, opted for the banana fritters per my dining partner's preference. Usually if I order a meal, I don't have room for dessert afterwards. So this time - just got the banana fritters and some appetizer fries with tahini gravy/sauce. The fritters were sizable - we could each eat only one - leftovers for me! On another note, If I weren't working and studying so hard, I'd be hitting up the diner during game night and movie night during the week. Just read that Downbeat is offering more mocktails and homemade sodas. Thanks for the great non-alcoholic drinks like ginger brew!
(4)
Alice D.
EXCELLENT service AND vegetarian fare at Downbeat. Waitress was super-attentive, refilling my Old-Fashioneds like they were going out of style. She was awesome, and even nursing a new tat. Food was stellar, and I've been veggie for 25 years (okay, the veggie ham WAS cheating - slices I find in produce, but everything else was STELLAR!). Rare find in Honolulu. Glad I Yelped this prior to visit.
(5)
Stephanie C.
This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I come here because they offer both meat and vegetarian/vegan options. FINALLY, a place where be both can enjoy a meal. Every time we've eaten here, there has been no left overs. I've tried their BLAT (vegan bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato on sourdough bread), pesto chicken (vegan chicken, pesto, lettuce, tomato, swiss cheese, onions, mayo on sourdough bread), avo sammy (avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber balsamic vinaigrette on whole wheat bread), the teriyaki and american burgers. Each of those with fries are about $10 and let's just say that I have not been let down yet! Last Saturday, my boyfriend ordered their Chunky Monkey milkshake since we've heard that they're a must try. I don't normally drink milk shakes--it's just too sweet for my taste but my boyfriend L O V E D it. I thought it was good but again, on the sweeter side. This is a super cute diner with a red, black and white color theme to it. Good food, good atmosphere and a full bar. Seriously, can't get any better than that!
(5)
Squid E.
Today was maybe my 4th visit to Downbeat, but had such a terrible experience with our waiter Kat, that I had to write a review. Overall, including previous experiences, service here is usually quite slow and the burgers are always really dry. Make sure you have some kind of sauce in that burger or use ketchup. I came with a party of 7 today, and waited for awhile for a table, although it would've been faster if they realized one of the tables had already opened up. We also asked if we could wait for a second table, and the waiter responded with a flat-out no. So we crammed into our booth and asked for a chair. Several minutes later I went up again and asked for a chair. Minutes later we saw another table with a chair leave, so we nabbed that, and only then did they come out back with a chair. Once we were ready to pay we asked if we could split our bill and Kat said no. She then went on to give us a lecture about how busy it is and how they don't split bills on First Friday because it takes too much time. Mind you it is 1 o'clock in the afternoon, way before the First Friday crowd comes in. "You must consolidate guys" she says. Kidding me? One of my coworkers puts it on her card and we were about to leave when she noticed they charged us a lot more than we thought it would've been. Ah gratuity, something she never mentioned, and she had already included a tip anyways. So all in all, the whole paying our bill process took probably 3 times as long as just splitting it. Well thanks Kat, I won't be coming back!
(1)
David S.
My wife and I stopped here on a whim. The menu is basic diner fare but with vegan options which was interesting, although we are not vegans so it didn't matter to us. I had the Club Sandwich and my wife had the Pastrami Reuben. Both were good, and were pretty large sandwiches (both of us only ate half and took the other half home). My favorite thing from the meal was their Cajun Spiced Fries! Great flavor and just the right heat! The main complaint seems to be service, but we got there when it was very empty, so we did not have a problem.
(4)
Kristin H.
We have eaten at Downbeat 3 times (there will be many more, trust me). The first time was because we researched vegan friendly restaurants in the area that weren't all hippy dippy. My (now) wife and I went in July, had a Primo and a vegetarian loco moco, and man, it was LOVE. We knew that while planning our December wedding on the North Shore, we wanted to incorporate the amazingness of Downbeat in the plan somehow. I contacted the diner and Josh was so helpful! He set us up with 3 booths and also helped me find a bakery to work on a surprise cake for my partner. When we arrived onsite, the manager on duty (her name completely escapes me right now) was so NICE and accommodating!! She was excited to show me the cake that was hiding in the back and had also informed me that she had put champagne on ice for us "just in case we wanted to do a toast". We ate, we danced, we toasted, and we enjoyed the entire night. Everyone was SO unbelievably impressed with everything. The surprise cake was a huge hit and we DID have some champagne toasts. The third time we went, it was the night before we left Hawaii and right before we surprised our daughter by taking her to see Wicked. We just couldn't leave without having that vegetarian loco moco one. more. time. Outside of Matsumoto's, Downbeat Diner is a MUST visit when on Oahu.
(5)
Eric A.
You'd think I've already of had gone here, cause of the Hotel St. nightlife. NOPE! Small, cozy and run by punk rockers. DIY. Reminds me of joints I've been to in San Francisco, mainly cause a lot of Asians also run amok there. Owner, scene icon and our band has played his shows. Bartender and patrons sitting at the bar, also Honolulu scenesters and DJs. Bartender seemed pretty nice, even if I always snob her and her band at shows. I'm not cool or nor "hipster" (that word is worse than EMO). I'm just very close minded these days. Didn't try the food (I've read and heard mixed) or drink a beer. In fact, I was here to chill with my new band after rehearsal and drink iced water. No consumption through the evening but I want to come back. Oh, and one of the only places that has Primo beer glasses. NICE! 4 stars Downbeat on Hotel Street
(4)
Terry K.
I had an appointment not too far from Downbeat so decided to have lunch and then go to my meeting. Not to mention the fact I had a groupon to use which was soon to expire. $8 for a burger? Granted, the meat was lean and it did not have fillers (like bread) so you get 100% ground beef. It was as lean as ground beef can be. Grilled up dry though. Had a side salad; add $2 to meal. I tried their "swiss inn" dressing. It was "ok" but I think I will have ranch dressing next time. Oh, the carrots and cucumbers were cut to a design. Cute! The carrots were cut in the shape of a star... $4.50 for a side of french fries. Considering the size of the order, I guess it is a good bargain. And- it's fried up fresh. Not some fries sitting under a heat lamp I ordered coffee with my meal and our waiteress was kind enough to make a new pot. The coffee was pretty good. Next time, I will try one of their milksakes. A few of the patrons had this giant glass of milkshake.. Looked yummy so maybe next time, I will get a milkshake, basket of fries and Maybe! a sandwich. Might just make it a snack stop, rather than a lunch stop or, as with the rest of the patrons; make Downbeat my last stop, on my way home after a long night in town.
(3)
Keopu R.
I'm reviewing Downbeat for what I use it as - a late-night spot to grab some good grub no matter the sobriety level of your party. And with that, I give it 5 stars. One of my favorite wingwomen and I would always hit up Zippy's after a big night in Chinatown for good measure for the next morning. We knew what Downbeat was and had heard the hype, but we always avoided it when we saw the chaos inside and the crowds outside. One night, after I had played some music down the road, we wandered into Downbeat to feed our stomachs that were pretty much eating themselves. It was early enough that we simply walked in and got our choice of tables. Friends had always recommended the veggie burger (which is vegan) when I was mostly vegetarian, so I had to try it. Since the first bite, I've been hooked. Add the order of fries seasoned with cajun spices, and I'm in diner heaven. I pretty much uniformly stick to the teriyaki veggie burger with real cheese - they have vegan cheese if you need - because it's so damn good. Treat the waitstaff well and they'll treat you just fine. Just keep in mind that they basically have to babysit half the restaurant after 1a and it'll make the sometimes long wait a lot easier. We've always had good service. We've made Downbeat a standard. I love that it reminds me of diners I used to frequent late at night in other cities, like Clarke's in Chicago or Grill in Tucson. It'll continue to be a standard as long as we continue to enjoy our Chinatown nights.
(5)
Ryan Y.
Walking in here, it really had a... hipster vibe (newsflash!). It didn't take away from the overall experience, however. The TVs were playing Flashdance (1983 version... of course), which was unexpected. The table was wobbly, but we managed. The service was prompt (more prompt than some of the other places I ate at), and the waitress was excellent. I had a Carnivore burger and some fries and it was fine. It was nothing great, but it wasn't anything horrible. It was good. Reading the other reviews, I guess we were either lucky to have this waitress, or we followed the little instructions on the bottom of the menu that said to inform the waitress if you want separate checks before ordering, which I thought was fair. Either way, I guess it's unfortunate that some people had that sort of rude service, but we never experienced anything like that so obviously I can't comment on that. Overall, good experience. I'm curious about seeing how these other servers are..
(4)
Lora H.
This place is quickly becoming one of my favorite work lunch spots. So you have to walk down Hotel St. and smell the icky-ness of urine and what not to get here, but once inside, it's the cutest little diner. Nice eclectic vibe. And my #1 reason for loving this place???? Breakfast all day long!!! Who doesn't want to eat breakfast food at lunch?! Or dinner for that matter!!! Omelette and toast for lunch - Heck ya! Haven't really tried too much here. Had the Greek salad and my co-worker has had the chef salad. It's not anything fancy, pretty basic. But nonetheless, good. This place is definitely not about the bells and whistles, it's just food. I've seen a lot of people ordering the sandwiches and burgers and those look pretty good. And another big bonus.... vegetarian options. I'm not a vegetarian, but on occassion, I'm about getting some healthy food so this place really gives you a plethora of options! As far as service...eh... not bad, not good. Usually there is just one person there serving the whole restaurant.
(4)
Casey M.
First time here and I'm very impressed. The atmosphere is very modern and relaxed. Plus the food is delicious. Their vegan options are also very delicious. I'd recommend Downbeat Diner to anyone.
(5)
Shatina L.
Chinatown. Not many places to eat that dont have an Asian influence to it. Reminds me of a diner in the 50s. Booth seating with very cool fabric. Where's the jukebox hidden? Some movie playing on the overhead drowned out by the music playing. I dont mind it much. I am assuming it was because it was a weeknight that the lounge was slow when we entered but business picked up by the time we left. Surprisingly, it was nearly 10. They have a wide selection of drinks - alcoholic (Guinness shake) and non - as well as other things. I cant comment on entrees as my main goal today was for the dessert. I opted for the Orange Chocolate Chip cheesecake. I would highly recommend this for those who want a semi-not heavy dessert. A graham cracker crust speckled and lined with chocolate chips. Amidst the cheesecake base lies the dormant citrus flavor, as if memories of the sweet orange juice you had for breakfast are suddenly infusing with the dessert. Not an overpowering flavor, rather lingering in the back of your mouth as if tantalizing your mouth ever so nonchalantly. A mere $5 I will go back just to try the rest of their desserts - apple fritters, ice cream sundae with brownie, ice cream sandwich, salted chocolate chip cookies, Vegan brownie, and other flavors of cheesecake. For those of you with an ID (island discount, that is) card, the prize for flashing this card is free fries with an order of a burger. I may be quoting the deal wrong but bottom line is : buy burger, get fries free. I will definately come here again.
(5)
Suz S.
Such happy vibes. Good cheap food. A happy divey bar. Whiskey Wednesdays always have fun creative cheap drinks.
(4)
Khristine V.
The food is delicious and its great for people watching. I think its known as a hipster bar (and yes I did see a few) but I saw people from all sorts of walks of life getting their grub on here. I'm a sucker for milk shakes and they had loads of flavors. You must order the volcano fries (seasoned garlic fries smothered in melted cheese and gravy!) to share as an appetizer. I ordered a Otto Motto which was a chicken version of the loco moco. My portion was a good size but all of my other friend's entrees had huge servings. I had a vegan, a pescetarian, and a friend on a no-carb diet, come with me so we were that table with all the substitutions, however our hostess was super easy going with it and did a great job checking in on us. If you are a vegan, this is a great place to get some food as they have specialized vegan dishes and desserts. After you eat a meal, they have a full on bar at the back of the restaurant. We went on a Friday night around 9 pm and it was full but not crowded. It is on the strip of Chinatown where all the bars are and even though there were loads of people out parking and getting to the diner was a bit dodgy. However other than that I highly recommend you get your grub on here!
(4)
Victoria C.
WORST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER. And no I am not exaggerating. I don't know how this place even got such a high rating because I don't think I'll ever step foot in this restaurant again. Warning you... long rant. So my friend was visiting from the mainland and my other friend and I wanted to take her somewhere that she hasn't been before. We were thinking of going to Eat the Streets but didn't want the hassle of looking for parking and we were more in a sit down dining in at restaurant mood so we could talk and catch up. Since we were already in downtown I thought of checking out Downbeat Diner since I've been wanting to try this place for awhile and the reviews seemed to be pretty good. Plus I was kind of in the mood for something a little greasy :P Both of my friends were down to try this place and we were getting all hyped and excited based off of the pics from Yelp. When we arrived, the place was pretty packed but we were able to sit at the table by the entrance. Thought it was a pretty neat looking place... very hipster like I guess. Took us awhile for our server to come and help us (who BTW was not very welcoming... just sayin). The items on the menu looked good and we wanted to order just about everything since we were starving. While sitting and looking over menu I felt something crawl on my foot. I look down and it's a COCKROACH!!!!! I almost had a heart attack because I am deathly afraid of roaches. I freaked out and put my feet up. The roach started crawling to the other side of the restaurant and one of the customers saw it and stomped on it. Then he had to shoo it out the door. I think I had just about lost my appetite. That wasn't the first cockroach encounter though. We saw 2 more... one which was crawling up the wall and we were paranoid that it would drop on our table or one of us. I literally crawled up into a ball and put my feet up on the chairs because I was so terrified to have a roach on me again. This place is a dump. ANYWAY, after getting over the whole roach thing, we decided to order & share a loco moco, teri burger, chef salad and garlic fries. AND we were really set on ordering a milkshake. However when our waiter came he seemed very unenthusiastic about us ordering a shake and wouldn't even help us suggest one that was good when we asked. It's almost as if he didn't want us to order it. He warned us ahead of time that it would probably take 15 min since he's the only one that's makes it plus he's the only server... UGH. Well we kindly told him sure we don't mind the wait. Since we were being indecisive about what shake we wanted he said he would come back. WELLLL... when he did come back (actually we had to wave our hands to get his attention) and were ready to order our vanilla shake with a shot of rum he rudely told us that he's not making milkshakes due to how busy it is and because he wants "everyone to be happy." UMm... happy?? well what about us?? we're not happy!!! It really seemed like he was having a bad day or something but still it's YOUR JOB. He had no customer service skills whatsoever. Well we didn't want to b*tch and complain since he looked like he wasn't having it today so we settled on an alcoholic drink. I got the strawberry lemonade cocktail which was pretty good and tasted just like a strawberry lemonade. Ok so now on to the food..... based on appearance it looked really good. We were so hungry since it took so long that we couldn't wait to dig in. Unfortunately, it was all just appearance because the food was horrible. The burgers were burnt, dried and tasteless. The gravy on the loco moco was weird and the rice was like Uncle Ben's rice or something. It was gross. Everything... well except the salad and fries were okay but nothing outstanding. I'm pretty disappointed in this place but maybe we had high expectations. I mean I think our dining experience would of been a *tad* bit better if our server was at least nice to us and didn't look like he hated his job. Even asking to put cheese on our fries was a huge ordeal for him. Seriously, how hard is it to put cheese on top??? Maybe I should of gone back to the kitchen and done it myself. I think I would have rather gone to McDonald's than eat at this dumpster.
(1)
Kit T.
Comfort food for the 21st century! Delicious, clever, conscious. After three visits, I can say without hesitation that I really love this place! Breakfast anytime, great burgers and bacon, crispy-to-die-for fries, an eclectic full bar menu including absinthe, good rye whisky and some great bottled beers (I never did get into PBR, but rock on, hipstars), and a friendly ambience. A little bar/counter with stools and nice roomy booths, high ceilings, cartoons or other fun feeds on the bar TV. Promotes local scene and music. Most anything on the menu can be made vegan. Not just vegetarian, not just "theres no meat in it, only chicken" - really actually vegan. No dairy, no honey, no egg, no animal products at all. Now picture a cheeseburger and shake fitting that description. Or a loco moco. Wow! I am a fallen vegan, but I know first hand how hard it is to go out and get a decent meal - you burn out on salad and unadorned bread. Meaty or meatless, drinky crow or teatotalling tomcat, this rocks.
(5)
Cullen K.
Went here for our third anniversary as a surprise for my boyfriend after finding this place on yelp. He's vegetarian and im lactose intolerant so sometimes it's really hard for us to eat the same things. When I found out this place is vegan everything and vegan dessert and vegan cheese and vegan wings and vegan loco moco and VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN!!! It was literally the PERFECT place to take him. We were completely blown away by the food. A miiiiiiiiillion times better than we expected. God I can't get the tastes of those wings and fries out of my mouth lol. And the BLAT? SCORE! I didn't even know vegan bacon exists lol. I just can't even describe how amazing this place is. My favorite part was the fact that I could actually order dessert without debating if being bloated and all that nasty stuff(lactose intolerance) will be worth it. Vegan ice cream AND brownie?? Fawwwkkyuurrrrrhh! And to top it all off, I'm sorry but I have no idea what the complaints about service are all about. We had 2 waitresses one black hair and one blonde and both were so awesome. Affordable amazing food, cheap as F*** drinks and awesome service! It was the first of many times we will be coming here. THANK YOU DOWNBEAT FOR BEING AWESOME!
(5)
Valentine S.
This was by far our favorite bar on the island. The Downbeat has a relaxed atmosphere, great drinks, and hands down the best bartender on Oahu. I know I can't name names but she made a specialty drink called the unicorn. Not sure what was in it but that and all the other drinks she made us were awesome. They were classics like old fashions and manhattans, but with just enough of their own twist to be unique without veering too far away from the original. If you're in Chinatown I highly recommend stopping in for a drink.
(5)
Tze M.
Since my friends and I were getting off from work, and they serve vegan, we decided to check it out. I had bought one of those $5 for $10 deals online, thought I would try it since it was a place where my vegan friend can find a meal on the menu. I didn't find anything special about the teriyaki burger I had ordered. I heard it was the one to try.. and I'm not a fan of their fries either. I think because they had just opened for business, the service was not up to par. We waited for water, our menus, to order, our food. My friend ordered take out when we placed our order and we waited an hour after we were done eating. So we had them check and it seemed they had lost the order. So we ordered a vegan brownie ala mode while we waited, and that was pretty good. I've been to that location before when it was a Vietnamese restaurant, and still looks the same, just a few cosmetics things changed, like the bar stools and the booths been recovered to something cool. They are located in Chinatown on Hotel Street, next to Mini Garden. Parking is either metered street parking or private lot. For the prices, the service and the food...I don't plan on going back again.
(2)
Angie S.
I am here 2-3 times a week. I always get the side salad (it's huge) or jalapeno poppers(they are so amazing). There is always the same 2 girls working, and they are really down to earth and give good sincere quality service.
(5)
Matt B.
Great Reuben sandwiches! This is a Great place to eat if you are in China town. They have vegan options for just about everything so bring your vegetarian friends along.
(4)
Nicole K.
Perfect place for the late night munchies you might have. I really wanted the cheese cube pupu. But the cook said they were all out, so I opted for the mozzarella sticks. Not bad, but I really wanted the cheese cubes. And of course I had to try the green eggs and ham. The eggs are for sure green. They put pesto in it (which I love). It's a weird color, and I felt weird eating it because EGGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT COLOR. But it tasted awesome!! Comes with toast, but the waiter let me substitute it with rice :) Gotta have my rice. And it was Movie Monday. They were showing Donnie Darko, and I wanted a booth against the far right wall but they were all taken. So we sat in a booth right under the area where they show the movie, so I had a hard time watching it. I was sad considering this is one of my top 5 favorite movies. Service was pretty fast, and the wait staff is always friendly.
(4)
Jody S.
Downbeat Diner has a cool vibe. It has vegan options which make me happy. A few coworkers raved about this hole in the wall located in Chinatown so was stoked when we went to eat there. However, the experience left me something to be desired. Service was just okay. Our waitress appeared and disappeared like a ninja, you really never knew when she would show up. When we tried to order, they had no French fries, they had no veggie burgers and they had no milkshakes....what the heck?! Two words--go shopping! Three more words--restock your cupboards. HELLO....do hope to be back and hopefully the next time will be great.
(3)
Gina B.
Downbeat Diner, I really want to love and remember you because the food and service is good and not because you're easy and open late nights. But for the moment your availability is all you've got going for you and I'm not sure if that's enough to keep me interested. Since their opening, I've been to Downbeat at least 8 times and at different times of the day. Of the 7 of my 8 visits, I ordered one of their various burgers and I think inconsistency is my first complaint. Only once was my burger cooked the way I requested: medium rare. The other times it was medium or well done. Even though I like my meat red, I was able to overlook it not being cooked as requested since I was not unhappy with the taste and size for the price. On my 8th visit there, I decided to venture past the burger section of their menu. I ordered the tofu scramble with hash browns and bacon. I thought the tofu would be scrambled with something but no, I just got pan fried tofu. The server also tried to serve me fa-con (fake bacon). Instead of bringing the correct order to the table, she explained that even though she placed the right order, the cook made the vegan bacon. I understand how one might be confused by the order but I still wanted the real bacon so I had to wait another 10 minutes for that to be made. Unhappy with fried tofu, I decided I needed to order a burger because I didn't want to leave unsatisfied and angry. When I ordered it, the server gave me a heads-up that it'd be a 20 to 30 minute wait. I looked around at the 4 to 5 other tables - some already with their food. I didn't understand the reason for the long wait but my dining companion guessed that they only have one frying pan and they cook using a hotplate. That would be the only acceptable explanation. Thankfully, Downbeat has a full bar. I went on a Thursday night and well drinks were $3.
(2)
Michelle L.
I think that little strip of Hotel Street in between Nuuanu and Smith shouldn't be considered Chinatown anymore because it's turning into anything but. I'm so happy a new restaurant is around that is not Mini Garden that is opened late (real late) and won't charge an arm and leg for food. Downbeat is definitely eclectic but that's what makes it fun! The employees are really friendly and if you happen to sit at the bar with the other patrons, they are really chill as well. The food isn't out of this world amazing but it definitely hits the spot. On my first visit, I got my meat patty switched with my friend's and it was dry. I didn't care because I was too drunk to comprehend on what I was stuffing into my face. A trend I did notice after a few visits are their fries tend to be on the softer side. I love crispy fries and these don't really cut it for me but being a potato lover, I still eat them. Downbeat is opened until 3AM everyday except for Friday and Saturday which is until 4AM. I highly recommend this diner for those looking to sober up or if you're in the area craving a yummy burger.
(4)
Chad Y.
Downbeat Diner is definitely located in a place where you might be if you were down on your luck. However if the mood for food should strike as you are parlaying in First Friday activities or you simply happen to be in the downtown or Chinatown neighborhood, Downbeat offers some good food that isn't Chinese! They offer a good menu, good service, and a nice ambiance. The menu isn't wide reaching by any means, but it makes up for it in its stellar menu items. Whether you want breakfast, sandwiches, or a burger, it will have something will aim to please. Is the loco moco the best on the island? I beg to disagree with Hawaii 5-0. It's not bad, however it didn't truly wow me. The BBQ chicken sandwich had great flavors with just the right amount of heat, however the toasted bread was almost rubbery and just a let down. The burgers were good and the buns nicely toasted with just the right amount of char while staying moist. Let's be honest...dessert is hard to mess up and is the one area where Downbeat shines. Their shakes are quite good, thick with just the right amount of flavor, whether it be chocolate or vanilla. While the banana fritter shines quite nicely with just the right amount of batter to the ripe, but firm banana. Service is a bit lackluster, there is no way around it. It always has appeared that they are under-staffed, even when they haven't been that busy. does that mean service is bad? No, just a little bit un-attentive. Parking is the one pain. It is always not available in Chinatown, however if you are willing to spring for it, the garage at Marks Garage is just up the street and of course there are municipal lots available in the neighborhood. One tip: Avoid when there is a first Friday, however it does offer a good food option if you are there!
(3)
Sarah L.
We ended up here because Nextdoor was totally dead. Wish we never came here. They didn't have the beer I wanted, apparently it was sold out. Which is understandable since I was trying to order hipster tall can PBR. What made this place suck was the fact that they took forever and a fucking day to make my friend's egg sandwich. It doesn't take thirty minutes to make an egg sandwich...what are they doing? Slaughtering the pretend pigs for the vegan bacon back there? Get the fuck outta here. Ain't nobody got time for that! I didn't order shit from this spot. Thank goodness, or else I would have been dying of old age by the time it got to my table. Gave it two stars because, the place looks cool, and the waitress was pretty cool. Other than that go to fucking Jack In The Box.
(2)
J Z.
I go there for the vegan fare - and so far, I'm happy! I only venture there in the daytime because let's face it - it's in Chinatown - and not somewhere I want to be at night (unless Chinese New Year block party - that's a whole 'nuther story!) Since I don't drink, I'm more than happy with the giant basket of fries and bbq, etc. vegan sandwiches, breakfasts, entrees & salads. :-) The grilled cheese needs work, however - but all in all - I recommend this to the adventurous vegans/vegetarians & on-the-fencers out there!
(5)
Timothy P.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Let the new year be rung in by a brand new baby business on hotel street! For the longest time, Manifest was quite lonely on the other side of the street of Bar35, thirtyninehotel, and NextDoor. This is pretty genius; these bars needed a late night diner joint - considering the closest up until now was Liliha Bakery. Downbeat is really cute and swank. If you ever been to Mercury Bar, this is the exact same eclectic crowd that Betsy Johnson, herself, would wet her panties over. Joyous punk, ska, rockabilly clientele fill this diner with their drunken bohemian laughter and murmur. The decor is very classic americana diner meets the circus. The menu: Burgers, sammiches, loco moco, french toast for around 8 bucks. All of the menu has a vegetarian option. They advertise vegan on their menu, but I have my doubts because of things like "vegan bacon" paired with swiss cheese (NOT VEGAN). I'll need to go back for clarification on whether they have truly vegan options or not. Our waiter, none other than whats-his-face-from-86List (Josh?) whom I've bought cheesecake from at Otto Cake. He takes our order. I order a western burger and a 5 dollar shake. He informs me they are out of bacon and he can substitute "vegan bacon." Fine with me. My friends order Loco Mocos. In a few minutes he brings out... icecream-less shakes because they are all out. He informs us that he'll charge us only $3 and walks away. WTF NO. The appeal of a 5 dollar shake is because it is a FIVE DOLLAR SHAKE. Hasn't anyone seen Pulp Fiction? Geez. 30 minutes must go by. Perhaps even longer. Our waiter suddenly becomes the bartender and is no longer waiting upon us. We find another waiter to add fries to our order. We see him tell our waiter-now-bartender. Another lifetime later - a waitress we've never seen before brings out my burger and two loco mocos come out with no fries. We inform her and she tries to quickly fetch us the fries. In the meantime, lets talk about the burger. DRY DENSE UNSEASONED OVERCOOKED. Where was the promised BBQ sauce? Also- my vegan bacon was completely missing. Same went for the loco moco burgers, but also the eggs were overcooked too! A few minutes later the fries come out. And we've all seen Mean Girls - when you accidentally say something cruel it's called word vomit. I totally had word vomit. "I've seen corpses that look better than this." and I wasn't kidding. The fries weren't cooked in hot enough oil. No crisp, completely soaked in the oil, and GREY in color. We didn't even bother touching this. Ideally this review should be 2.5 stars, because I really think this place is necessary in this area and love the vibe. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they had terrible opening night jitters. --- DOWNGRADED! After writing this review, they decided to write plenty of phoney reviews, one of which called my review lame. Not very professional, Downbeat!
(1)
Riana S.
Alright, I've been here three times and I really really want to love this place but...I'm having a hard time :( The first time I came here with Thomas O. the service was okay, for some reason I felt like the waitress was judging me? But anyway, came here to eat, not be judged. I ordered the teri burger and it was okay. They didn't have milk, only vegan milkshakes so it made the chocolate milkshake kind of runny and not as creamy. Overall it was a pretty expensive meal for okay taste. To burn time before an event at Next Door, Kristen O. and I came here to eat dessert. We ordered the mac-nut brownie with ice cream and it was super delicious and they nuked the brownie :) the waitress was very nice and attentive (I believe the singer from Narwhal?). My eyes were hungier so I ended up not eating the whole thing. It's better to split it between two people. This dish was worth it for its price. A few days ago I came here with Nicole K. after Bar35. She ordered the green eggs & ham and I ordered the BLAT. My sandwich was mediocre, the only great part about it was the avocado, it could have done with more bacon (come on, bread is thick! BACONNN!) I had a couple bites of Nicole's pesto eggs and they were really yummy. I think I'm just ordering the wrong things. I'll keep trying haha.
(3)
Jasmind T.
Love Downbeat! Its a [slightly] cheaper alternative to the eateries on Hotel St, and the only diner! As a native East Coaster I crave diner food after a night of drinking. I like the decor and vibe of this place, and the fact that they have a full bar and specialty drinks. The quesadillas and fries (volcano fries sans cheese being my fave) are really good, and so are the burgers. The staff is young, friendly, artsy and just cool (NOTE: Do not eat here if you're visibly intoxicated, they don't like that, lol). The only thing that prevents me from giving it 5 stars is...WHERE'S THE BREAKFAST?! I like pancakes and bacon at 1am...I'm sure I'm not the only one, this is a diner after all. I do really like Downbeat, great place to eat before or after a night out on Hotel St.
(4)
Patrice D.
I thought this place was awesome! I had the vegan chili and rice. Absolutely love how they have vegan options for everything. Will definitely be going here again!
(5)
Vivian H.
So we tried out Downbeat Diner & Lounge because 1) I had a Groupon & 2) it was listed in Best of Honolulu (Honolulu magazine). It is on Hotel street so your best bet is to park in the municipal parking lot (if you're not going to be there late). We get there and shown a booth but then we weren't greeted or given menus for about 10 minutes. Now if we had just sat down and no one saw us, then I'd understand but someone who worked there pointed out the booth to us! We both ordered the American burger with grilled onions (mine sans the house sauce) & an order of gravy fries. As the burgers are Big Island free-range beef, I was looking forward to it as I find the taste of this beef is just so yummy. The burgers came out and I wasn't quite blown away by it. It was good but not "OMG I want to stuff my face with this all the time" good. I had also ordered a vanilla shake and it took FOREVER. My first inquiry on it revealed that she forgot to put the order in. My second inquiry on it when I was nearly done with my burger revealed that she made it but forgot to give it to me. The shake was good and thankfully she comped it as it was melted by the time I got it. Overall, I think that this place is probably much more appealing when you've already been out all night and had a few to drink. At which point you won't notice the long wait and just O.K. food. The saving grace was due to the comped shake & my Groupon, I only had to leave a tip.
(2)
Gayle S.
Stopped in here for a late night snack with a friend... we were in Chinatown, and had just missed the bus we were trying to catch... with an hour until the next bus, we dipped into Downbeat to split a quick sandwich. The turkey club was pretty awesome... we were just drinking water, since we had imbibed a bit much earlier (I don't even remember where we were earlier that night lol)... Took a while for someone to come take our order, but it seems that there was a bit of a rush, and we were the last ones in. When we ordered we mentioned that we didn't have a lot of time, which she took to heart! She brought our food out packed to go, so we ate what we could (I finished my portion, but my friend is a light eater), and since we had a box and bag already, we closed it back up and ran back out to the bus! And guess what? We made it! :) Thanks Downbeat!!
(4)
Alicia D.
I really like downbeat. In fact i love down beat. I usually go here to start off my night and end of my night. A great range of diner food. They also serve good drinks on the kitchen side. Good place to go during happy hour as well. They have a really great selection for your vegan friends. They have very nice staff who are so patient even when your one of the annoying drunk ones in the place. Its always very clean, even the bathrooms. Open till 4am which rocks. Go there to satisfy all your cravings. nom
(5)
Jill B.
Finally some real food on Hotel St! I was at the brink of starvation and the friend I was with suggested we try "that new organic vegan free range chicken diner across from 39Hotel". Instantly intrigued, I readily agreed. Even as we walked into Downbeat, the modern diner decor and cozy feel was enough to have me praying to the gods that the food and service would be up to snuff enough for me to make this a regular stop on my Chinatown circuit. We sat at the bar and our very friendly bartender - Serena - gave us menus and gave us the breakdown about their alcohol policy. (Assumably until they get their liquor license?) The alcohol is free but they do ask for a VOLUNTARY donation. There are a few different beer choices and liquor choices but the mixers list is pretty short but it's only been open a couple of weeks so I'm sure these things will change in time. Anyway, back to the food. Even though I usually hate gravy, I was really hungry and I do like eggs, rice, and hamburger steak so I ordered the loco moco with gravy on the side. My friend ordered the BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Tomato) with vegan bacon with garlic fries. While we waited for our food my friend had a beer and I chatted with the bartender and one of the servers. Some of it was haring the story of running out of food and being beyond slammed during their grand opening on New Year's Eve - a bold choice for a grand opening since it's usually such a circus EVERYWHERE on NYE. Needless to say, I'm glad I didn't discover this place on such an off night. Our food arrived pretty promptly and I dug in immediately. The loco moco was great! I'm super picky about loco moco and, as mentioned usually HATE gravy but their very well seasoned patty over the hapa rice and eggs paired perfectly with their gravy (which was white gravy, not brown). The tried my friend's BLAT which was also great. The bread was toasted well and the vegan bacon was pretty good. Plus, they have avocado! And it's not depressing slivers of avocado but still sliced thin enough to fit in your mouth. The garlic fries were OK but a little on the soggy side. After inhaling my food I didn't have room for dessert but I'm definitely coming back to this place again... maybe just for dessert if that part of the menu is catered by Otto! Overall this place is great! They seem to be working out some kinks and working with a strong learning curve but I strongly suspect that things will only get better at Downbeat. The prices are great (all entrees are between $7 & $8), the food is amazing and the ingredients are a little on the healthier side. Plus, they're actually open 6 days a week and late enough to catch the post-bar crowd! I'm interested to see how next month's First Friday goes for them but I know I'll DEFINITELY be stopping by again (probably several times) before that happens.
(4)
Misty P.
I don't know about the food, but we only stopped in here after visiting Bar 35 and got a Guiness and Sailor Jerry milkshake. Totally unique and yummy! Service was friendly and fast and even though we didn't order food, our waiter brought us all waters and consistently refilled the glasses. We didn't feel rushed or anything. I'd definitely come back again to try their food when I have more time.
(4)
Tori B.
Truly disappointing! I've heard a lot of hype about this restaurant and have been meaning to check it out, but my experience here was lousy. Upon entering, my boyfriend and I stood there in the middle of the restaurant for quite a while until the server shouted from the back, "sit anywhere!" Not a very welcoming start. If this is your restaurant's policy, at least post a sign; don't make me stand there while all the other restaurant patrons stare at me. I ordered the vegetarian monte cristo, which was actually very good, but pretty oily. My boyfriend, however, ordered the teri burger, which was probably the sorriest looking teri burger I'd ever seen. He said it was not cooked very well either. I guess since vegetarian and vegan is their specialty, this translates to an inability to cook meat well. Our server, though, was the ultimate kicker. We came in late on a Sunday night and it was not very busy at all. She had maybe four or five tables to wait and a few bar patrons. She seemed much more interested in talking and laughing with the people at the bar than serving us, and was really curt and disinterested when she did. She never bothered to clear our plates even after we'd finished eating and brought the dessert to our table. I'd understand if you were swamped and happened to forget about us, but it was essentially a ghost town, and she was totally aloof. Anyway, the only thing that kept this experience from being a one star rating was my veg monte cristo. Otherwise, Downbeat Diner left me disappointed and I won't be back again.
(2)
Gemma R.
Came by last night before heading out to the crowds at First Friday. The place does have a diner feel to it, the chairs are awesome and we had a great time trying to figure out who everyone was based on their photos. They carded us at the door which was odd because it's a restaurant and there shouldn't be an age limit to a restaurant. We were all obviously over 21 but still, kinda weird. We asked the waitress how to get a table and she told us it was first come first serve. Wrong. We sat at the bar and then a table opened up and the door guy said that the table was already taken and he had a list! Which he failed to tell us when we walked in. Oh well, back to the bar. We were seated shortly after so it wasn't a big deal. The bartender was having a hard time with a groupon so if you purchased a groupon, make sure to tell your server prior to ordering so it your problem doesn't hold up everyone's drinking! lol We had 3 vodka tonics & a lychee sour at the bar which was $18. Awesome. Had the burgers, fries, blat and the mix appetizer thing. everything was pretty good, but we were drunk so I probably could of ate styrofoam and would of been happy. The waitresses were very attentive and refilled our drinks/got us more drinks constantly. I had a great time and if I'm ever in the area, I'd go again. Over all, it was a cheap pre-party dinner and an overall good time. Actually, I do have to go back. I didn't have dessert. lol I love the whole regular/vegan menu which is something I'm really looking forward to trying.
(5)
Evan B.
This place is awesome. I like supporting local places, and when I was in Honolulu, this was a favorite spot to stop. Volcano fries are very tasty, and the atmosphere is chill. The music is good, and the movies on mute are equally enjoyable. I recommend this place to all my friends.
(5)
jeannine s.
Downbeat Diner is where Americana meets counter culture. Nestled on Hotel Street between Mini Garden and Pynk, is one of Chinatown's newer additions open from 11 am to 4 pm nearly every day. You can either sink into one of a number of booths upholstered with mugs of the famous and infamous: Frida Kahlo, Billy Idol, Mark Twain, Bruddah Iz and Freddy Mercury or pull up to a seat at their well-stocked bar. Breathe and you can smell rockabilly in the air. Burgers come in two forms either Big Island free range beef or Vegan and are prepared either American, Western or Teriyaki style. For $2 more, you can get them with a side order of fries. And for $5 more, you can get them with a frosty shake, either regular or vegan. I enjoyed my second visit far more than the first. I thought the Teriyaki burger was an improvement over the American version I had a few weeks before. The fries were actually more tasty and not soggy as they were during my first visit. And, while I did enjoy a spiked Ginger Brew, I loved the hell out of the Rogue Dead Guy Ale, imported from Portland. These also are instant classics. Hands down my favorite thing would be the basket of fritters. If I had to go out for just dessert, I'd split a basket of apple fritters with caramel sauce with a couple of friends. It's too decadent for two and split among a foursome, it's quite perfect. The mac nut brownie ice cream sandwich is good but not as special. The service is also much better than the first visit. So, some kinks are getting worked out. We're definitely coming back and bringing friends next time.
(4)
Nancy S.
I first tried this place after a night out with friends in Honolulu. We wanted a late night snack and boy did this place hit the spot. One of our friend's is vegetarian so it was nice that you could get practically anything on the menu as a vegan option. We had the vegan hot wings. These were the best non-meat wings I have had in my life. The flavor was amazing and the texture was far from all the rubbery meat substitutes I have had in the past. The bacon burger was also very delicious and flavorful. This will be somewhere to stop whenever I get to visit the island.
(5)
Sajili B.
Oh Downbeat. I haven't been here since I first moved to Hawaii in Oct 2011. Yea, not too long ago, I just wanted it to sound like that. Anyway, my go to is their fresh ginger brew drink they serve. It's freakin' delicious. First time I went I got fries and a burger. It was goood. The most recent time was on a Tuesday, 1st of the month, I had to do it right. I was scrambling to find a place that was open past 9:30pm that was hip, had good food on a Tuesday night of all nights. You know why. Anyway, I was surprised they did Taco Tuesday (and very thankful) because she likes mexican food. Yea, it's not a mexi-restaurant and you'll be hard-pressed to find that in Hawaii, but it sufficed. (No mexican food spot is open in Hawaii past 9 or 9:30pm on a weekday, wth right? Spoiled LA kid.) I got a bacon quesadilla (delicious), their nachos, and she got the tacos. They freshly made it into a hard taco and it became vaseline greasy by the third shot. So that was a minor fail but a winning night. Chill, hip environment that you can take friends, special friends, and whoever to. You got the hipster and artsy scene in Chinatown, so if you are a transplant, you'll feel at home (esp. if you are from LA, the Bay, etc).
(4)
Keri B.
It's nice when I am traveling to other parts of the country to have some vegan options. The BLAT was great and the vegan chicken wings were good for sharing. Love the vibe here
(4)
Mary A.
Visiting with adult kids who are Vegan/vegetarian. Looking for some options and found this cute diner. Food was very good. We had Vegan Chili Cheese Fries, vegan Teri Burger, milkshakes, and vegan loco moco. All were excellent. Service was good. Really enjoyed everything about this place
I've been coming to Downbeat Diner on & off for a while for lunch. In the past I've had their chicken pesto sandwich & loco novo dishes & wanted to try their Chicken & Waffles after seeing it mentioned in Frolic Hawaii recently. I didn't see it on their lunch menu & upon inquiry, our server stated that it's only available on Sunday. My back up choice was their Mac & Cheese $5.00 (and I added the bacon option $1.50). It was pretty good, rich, creamy & satisfying. I couldn't finish it, probably because I had a chai milkshake $5.50 (which was also awesome) so my Mac & Cheese leftovers are in my mini fridge. Their prices are pretty low. Everything our group ordered was under $10 & my co workers both had sandwiches or burgers & both items were only $8. Service is quick & friendly.
(4)
Damon P.
A wonderful old school diner with new school vibe, or vice versa. Food is awesome, people are cool. In the heart of chinatown. My favorite place for a burger. The cheeseburger is the best in town. Late night hours are a huge plus. PARKING: metered street - free after 6 PM, municipals
(5)
Nishone W.
Finding delicious vegetarian/vegan food in Hawaii is unbelievable. We ate here 2x during our stay. First round was bloody Marys, veg moco loco, and veg club sandwich. All delicious! Especially when accompanied w/ their vegan ranch. Second round was veg chili cheese fries and veg chikn sandwich. No disappointments except for not having a down beat diner at home! The service was top notch both days! Don't forget to pick up a beer coozy for a souvenir! Can't wait to return!
(5)
Erica A.
Somehow, some way, I always end up at Downbeat Diner after a fun night in Chinatown. They have good food at a decent price, and most importantly, they have vegetarian and vegan options. (Sometimes, they get vegan orders mixed up with non-vegans ones, which can be annoying, but it's a rare occurrence.) The diner itself has a very cool vibe, with movies projecting on one of the walls, a vast and unique drink selection- including but not limited to, spiked milkshakes- and of course the pop icons printed on the upholstery of all the booths. Downbeat Lounge is connected to Downbeat Diner, with a door inbetween. They have a small stage that is great for bands, and they have a good sound system for different dance nights. The Lounge has their own specialty drinks, which are served in mason jars and pretty tasty. The service is okay, they're usually kind of slow and a little passe... but considering how hipster this place is, it kind of goes. And since we've been here so many times, it's obviously not bad enough to discourage us, lol. They have different events throughout the week, such as brunch on weekends with mimosas and bloody maries, and Taco and Tequila Tuesdays. If you are vegan, and love chocolate, do NOT leave here without trying the vegan chocolate chunk brownie. Side note: It's always hilarious that I order the Vegan BLAT ("bacon", lettuce, avocado, tomato sandwhich) and my husband literally orders the Carnivore burger. Maybe that's why they mix up my order and accidentally give me meat sometimes...
(4)
Kuuipo D.
DownBeat saved me & my hubby from having a crappy night. Let me set up the story: I was looking on Yelp for our next adventure when I found this ice cream place in Chinatown (I will not name the place). The hours were listed as open until 11pm. It was 8:30 pm, so off we go! We got there in 20 minutes (no, we were not speeding), found street parking, only to discover the ice cream place was closed!!! UGH!!!! As we were walking back to our car, we noticed that Chinatown has a busy nightlife. Even as it was 9pm, a lot of places were still open. We looked around and discovered DownBeat Diner. It wasn't too busy so we went in. Thank God we did!! When we walked in, we felt this vibe going on. It was like hipster-cool. The seats and menus had the coolest design. It was celebrity faces. Bill Murray on my menu! In fact, his face was next to me on my bench! We were greeted by one of the coolest waitresses I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She asked us if it was our 1st time. When we said yes, she gave us a run down on the menu and the vegan options! Woohoo! (I'm not vegan, but when I have options, I feel like I could be.) AND, just a side note, the water boy was on point! Our water glasses were ALWAYS full! I ordered the volcano fries. They are fries with gravy, cheese, garlic, and some type of fiery goodness. So, so good! On top of that, I ordered the meaty loco moco (with Big Island beef). The patty was light, something I really appreciate. The gravy was not too salty, so thanks for that! Hubby had a American burger with a salad. (It made me feel guilty for what I ate.) Now, if you have read my reviews before, you know I ALWAYS dedicate a separate paragraph for dessert. We ordered the salted chocolate chip cookie sundae. Two cookies, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and nuts (or without). Bring it! It didn't come. Our waitress said they only had vegan cookies. ALRIGHT! Bring that then. It was beautifully simple, but oh, so delicious. We couldn't even tell that it was a vegan cookie. I just know it was GOOOOOD!!!! Thank you, DownBeat Diner for turning our crappy evening into a memorable one!
(5)
Allison D.
I left Downbeat full...of disappointment. I used to LOVE this place. I was their number one advocate. But, unfortunately, the last couple of times I've been there the service has been incredibly subpar. My partner and I had lunch at Downbeat this last Saturday and the experience is what has caused me to update my review. We walked in to a somewhat full restaurant and sat down. My partner ordered the egg breakfast with bacon. He received the egg breakfast with Portuguese sausage. I ordered a grilled cheese with tomato on wheat bread. If you look at my last review, you'll see I raved about their grilled cheese. Unfortunately, it has fallen from grace. I received a grilled cheese on sourdough with the cheese barely melted. I really dislike sourdough bread which is why I had specifically asked for wheat bread. I attempted twice to flag down our waiter by raising my hand and saying "excuse me" to ask for a side of ranch but was ignored both times. The waiter did not come by once to ask if our meal was ok so we never got the chance to explain to them they messed up on our order. I won't be back for the food, but would go back for drinks in the lounge.
(2)
Jozlyn H.
I like this place!!!!! It's pretty chill, hip and they have a wonderful vegan selection!!! I'm not vegan, but I love that they have this option because I can bring my friend here without being limited!!! Plus.... Their vegan food is pretty tasty!! I only have them 4 starts because service...... Could have been a little better. It was t that busy... But it seemed liked server didn't pay attention to us. Not a biggie because I'll definitely be back. Atmosphere: I came here on Saturday night. Restaurant was fairly busy but we were still able to sit right away. Chill, hip and casual Service: could be better. Not that bad... But wasn't the greatest experience of mine. Didn't affect my decision to come here tho Food: the fact that they can make vegan food taste that good was awesome in itself I'm will be back here... I want to try their other menu items! I had the vegan chili nacho... And my vegan friend had the vegan loco moco. thumbs up!!!
(4)
Don N.
We've been coming here for the past year, finally posting a review! One of the few spots in Chinatown open on Sunday's, they are a great choice for brunch and even have brunch drink specials. Food: always spot on whether you choose regular, vegetarian, or vegan. This time I tried the Avo Sammy, great light sandwich with fresh avocado, tomato, lettuce on toasted bread. Simple enough but delish. Had their maple bacon old fashioned, crispy thick cut bacon in a bourbon old fashion. Smoky, salty, crispy, with a sweet finish...yum! Service: Friendly, attentive servers. Since they were one of the few places open in the area, the restaurant was crowded with one waitress. She managed all of the tables efficiently and took care of all the customers. Atmosphere: Funky, Dive-ish, diner decor. Clean with a cool vibe. I like it as it gives it their distinctive personality. Value: Great prices, good portion sizes, make this place a plus in the value category. My Avo Sammy, side of fries, and Old fashioned only set me back $15. Overall a great place for people looking to get unique drinks with healthy diner food.
(4)
Mikey H.
I love coming down to Chinatown, and there's some great restaurants that have opened, but my only problem is that most of them close at 2...or shall I say they stop serving at 1:30. We had walked by Downbeat on past visits, and were pretty happy that they are open all day. Low key and chill dining area....friendly greeting when we entered. Cool booths! I ordered a natural ginger ale...very refreshing! They have a number of items to choose from. I ordered the club sandwich with garlic fries, the partner had the pesto chicken with curly fries. Both came out in a timely manner and tasted great! It was around 2 pm so it wasn't that crowded which was nice. I'm sure it can be a zoo. Our waitress/bartender was very friendly and had that 50s pin up girl look...very cute! I will definitely be back. Such a great little gem in Chinatown and one that's open past the standard 2 pm.
(4)
Raelyn B.
When you travel with more than one other person it gets a bit difficult to try and coordinate where to eat, especially if one of those people are a vegetarian or a vegan of some kind. So taking into consideration that specific food option and being able to fill everyone's tummy can be frustrating. But no fear. In Chinatown there is a great a place for you vegan and veggie friends to get their fill along with your meat hungry friends. They have vegan burgers, vegan bbq wings, salads, breakfast, drinks and milkshakes. Heck you can even bring your momma's mom along to this shin dig and make her feel Forever 21 with the music they play. When I visited the mix of 80's and 70's music can take you back and if you're anything like my friends we love to sing and if we know the song we're sure to sing along. FYI the vegan bbq sticks taste like they're not vegan.. or maybe idk what vegan tastes like but it tasted like chicken. So when my lover-of-meats friend had some he didn't mind it. "Tasty," he says. Their burgers come with a $3 add on of fries or salad and you can choose between a cajun, garlic, curly or regular fries and wanting all the fries you can ever have picking just one is a challenge. So this time I opted for garlic with my Teriyaki burger that comes with grilled mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese. It was delicious, very filling after the first half of my sandwich. I couldn't finish - it's sitting here with me as write this review. It's a cool, hipster-esque place where the waiters all have died bright hair and tattoos. The waiters are not only look cool, but they actually are cool. The booth seating makes you feel like you're at a diner and the design of various artists give the splash of hipster. Chinatown is turning into a great place. This hot spot is between Lucky Belly and the Manifest on Hotel St. Municipal parking is about one or two blocks away (cheapest ones) but if you're on no Chinatown parking budget theres parking lots right around the corner on Smith st.
(4)
Kimberly D.
We pretty much waited 10-15 minutes for our food, but it was WORTH THE WAIT!!! It was my first time there & tbh, I'm coming back. Good service, friendly people & very reasonable price.. Thanks guys!
(4)
Bri M.
I've been to this place way too many times to count. I should have written a review sooner but here I am. If you're looking for delicious food, good company, and great service, here it is. Downbeat is by far my favorite go-to place in Chinatown. They have Brunch on Sundays and Taco Tuesdays if you're into that sort of thing. I am. If you ever find yourself hungover after a night of debauchery, the breakfast burrito or loco moco is the best cure. They also have vegan options for most of their delicious meals which are as good if not better than the original.( vegan chicken wings I'm looking at you) It's self seating and very relaxed. The staff is a friendly bunch of cool characters you Can ask for anything you might want. Want something sweet? Try one of their chocolate chip sundaes (also offered in vegan) or one of their delicious mason-jar milkshakes. Go to Downbeat!
(5)
Gil G.
I know my food hasn't even come yet. But knowing the quality and consistency of DownBeat... No worries. Sunday morning, post holiday with loads of folks in Chinatown, this place is rocking! The bartender and server are working so hard, yet they have consistently served and maintained a full restaurant without any flaws. From a management standpoint, I would have had more staffing, however, these two are saving the day! kudos! The Breakfast Burrito arrived and the Michelada was tasty and spicy. The bar filled up and these two, continued to provide flawless service. On the best of days from my previous visits, usually around the same time, I have never witnessed exceptional performance as I have today! Hana Hou to Rian and Dell!
(5)
Sunny Joy B.
Fun for the whole FAMILIA! Dad: twoFULL BARs Uncle: twoFULL BARs. Mom: twoFULL BARs. Auntie: twoFULL BARs. Niece: Gluten-Free Friendly. G-Ma: Raw Local Band Action. Sisters: Hot Bros. Bros: Hot Sisters. Kids: Handmade Milkshakes. Cavemen: Beef. Mine: Vegan Pesto Chicken Sandwich, Curly Fries w/ Vegan Ranch, Vegan (Coconut Ice Cream) Oreo Shake. MGMT: Do I get a prize for being review number 420?
(5)
Dwayne Y.
So we just went here for dessert. This place has a cool vibe. We went here after we had dinner at Livestock Tavern. Anyway we had the cheesecake and the Brownie Sundae. The cheesecake was quite small and nothing special. It was ok. The brownie sundae was anything you could have made at home. The two desserts was ok, but nothing special. Service was nice here though.
(3)
Allx M.
Awesome place to support a local dinner/bar. Thy alwayyyys have events happening and there food is simple but tasty! I come here when I'm craving a awesome milkshake . It's totally with the scene in Chinatown but it's bt weird for a family to come in or anything. Also, good music playing, always. Super important note lol
(5)
Bubba S.
This place is the bomb bradda's and sista's! Always great food and service.....y'all best check em out!!! Prices are good just parking can be tough....check em out now ya hear....You'll be glad you did!!!
(5)
Kara P.
Love all the vegan options... Great drinks and fun environment. .Jaz is my favorite bartendress!!
(5)
Ben M.
I don't know what was going in last night. Was it people just having a bad night all exploding at once, or was that the level of chaos they call normal. I'm hoping it was just a bad night because I don't if much more could have gone worse. The saving grace was the reggae band that was playing next door in the music / bar area. (Ionz and the Shimabukus) We got there around 9:30 PM as they were doing a shift change, meeting a larger group who had had dinner and drinks there. The waitress who was leaving was very busy but still greeted us. We sat with our group and decided on what to drink. She told us the name of the guy taking her place if we wanted drinks. We called out to the guy at least three different times over a 20-30 minute period, and went as far to chant his name as a fun way to pass the time, still no answer, glance or acknowledgement. We ended up getting up and going to the bar, that was the next interesting experience. The bar tender seemed to either be having a bad night or just be spewing a ton of negativity left and right. The odd part is they (using "they" to avoid getting someone in trouble, this is good feedback for change not to be malicious) stopped to describe the drinks we were ordering. (Chinatown Zombies...woah strong!) Seemed out of place but was welcome after they yelled at a patron who was waiting 15-20 minutes for drinks they ordered that the server forgot about. They were at the bar melting and being ruined. We were able to get that round and another, but the service was beyond bad. The bar had no flow and the vibe was not positive. After a few drinks we decided to try our hand at the other side. Saving grace! Bartenders on the "music venue" side and bar was much better! They were quick and efficient. The live music was fun and welcome after the vibe of the other side. Two stars instead of one because of the music side. Bathroom had just a toilet as the urinal was out of order. The bathroom was clean which was nice. I liked the flat screens and projector playing a movie with subtitles. I will try them out again sometime in the distant future, at least a good place with AC to get some food and drinks, I will go in with low expectations and hope they have stepped it up!
(2)
Jamie S.
Hands down the cutest hipster diner in town. This place has never disappointed me, I've never had to wait for a table or experienced bad service. Must try: volcano fries, everything you could ever ask for. When you think fries on steroids, this is it! Chunky Monkey milk shake: a perfect combination of deliciousness BLAT: your typical BLT but with the added bonus of avocado which takes it to a whole other level of awesomeness Cajun Chicken wrap: tried this for the first time recently. Could have a stronger kick of Cajun, but still satisfying. The chicken is definitely on the dry side and chopped tomatoes are scarce. I give this an overall rating of 3/5. I'm not a Vegan, but pretty much for a fee everything on the menu can be made Vegan. Parking: typical downtown parking issues. Street metered parking or paid lots. I usually park in the municipal garage and pay $2-3.
(4)
Julie H.
Service: 4.5 stars Super friendly and while the food doesn't come out lightning fast, it doesn't take forever. They always check up on you but not overly so. Food: 4 stars This is diner food that doesn't make me feel horrible about myself. They have vegan options and use local beef for their burgers so that's always a plus in my book. A big plus for me is that they serve shakes and other desserts in addition to their burgers, sandwiches and booze. I was a bit disappointed when I ordered a slice of Otto's cheesecake because it seemed kinda small but other than that I'll keep coming back. Atmosphere: 3.75 stars It's clean, it's fun... sometimes I feel like I'm not hip enough to be there and sometimes I don't love their choice of music.. but it's pretty cool with their movies projected on the walls. It's a fun place!
(4)
Tracy P.
Downbeat is a great place serving food late. I really enjoyed the club sandwich and Chili Cheese Fries. Good service, nice relaxed atmosphere. I haven't gone to the bar that's next door yet.
(4)
Jenny T.
I love this place! Jenn was my waitress and her customer service is awesome. I love the food here I wish I knew bout this place a while back.
(5)
Alyssa K.
Trendy & fun little joint that my husband and I enjoyed on a rare date night. Great atmosphere. I really liked their orange dreamsicle cocktail. Wanted to try other flavors but hey, I'm a responsible mommy now. Pesto chicken sandwich: delicious. reminded me of Bogart's pesto chicken. Green eggs & ham: I thought the eggs would be greener. It's more eggs with specks of pesto. Volcano fries: I was a little put off by the appearance of the garlic "gravy" but it tasted ok. Will pass on it next time though. They carry ottocakes but we didn't order it because we ate the fries. next time ;)
(4)
Kimmy A.
Always love their food. Service is okay but hey! it's a diner
(4)
Puffer O.
for those on a modest budget, it's a good selection of food, burgers and beer with B movies and an eclectic mix of pop/rock songs playing in the background. nice crowd and excellent/friendly wait staff every time we've been there.
(5)
Cindy L.
BLAT - Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato A simple burger and sandwich joint for lunch. Most of the sandwiches run around $8, sides like salad and fries are additional $2.
(3)
SS C.
I'm obsessed with the vegetarian buffalo "chicken" sandwich! I also tried a bite of the quesadilla which was yummy too. Also, love the fact that fact that you can get Otto's cheesecake late! Very fast and friendly service, good music...what more could you ask for?
(5)
Christian F.
Great food, great service, nice atmosphere, and good music. Went here my second night on the island
(4)
Christy G.
Four words: VEGAN WINGS. CAJUN FRIES. Oh my stars. I don't know what on earth they put on their perfectly-not-to-thin-not-too-thick-cut fries here, but it is seriously a kick of WOW to the mouth. In addition to their wonderful fries, the vegan hot wings are to die for. As a gluten-free vegan, there have been ZERO GF+V options for me within the past two years as far as wings go. Seitan wings? I would be sick for days! Tempeh covered in buffalo sauce? No thanks. Sure, that's good and dandy, but when I want WINGS, I want frickin WINGS! (Vegan ones, obvs.) So when I found out that the wings here are both vegan AND free of gluten, I knew I had to order them. Let me tell you...holy. moly. The texture is crazy! It shreds similarly to chicken and has the same mouth-feel as a tender wing, but without all that nasty fat and skin (although many meat lovers would argue that these two traits are WHY one eats chicken wings). Anyhow, I ended up having a negative reaction to my food, which I later found out was from the wings because they are soy and WHEAT based. The girl who sold them to me reassured me that they were free of gluten, but it's okay--mistakes happen. Gluten is definitely a new term restaurants are having to learn about! No hard fe My second time there, our male waiter confirmed that they do, absolutely, contain gluten. Oh, service is great, too. The servers are always attractive (men and women alike) with spunky, cute attitudes. Good vibes all around here. I will definitely be back after at least a few weeks of abstaining from deep-fried calorie-ridden vegan junkfood. UPDATE: I ordered the wings on my second visit and was told they were made out of seitan, a.k.a. wheat meat! No idea how I escaped that one without getting sick the first time (?!?!?!!!!!) . So I ordered the Cajun fries instead, and got horrifically sick for a few days. This included much shaking and bathroom runs. Pun intended, gotta be honest here. Another time, I thought I would be safe by ordering brown rice and marinara sauce, but, of course, got so sick I had to miss work, again! I think there is far too much gluten in the air there for a glutie like me to eat there safely. Lesson learned! I LOVE their huge selection of vegan things, though, I hear wonderful things about them from friends!
(4)
Nikki N.
I have mixed thoughts on this place. I've been here 3 times because I bought 2 crowdsaving vouchers for this place, but the first time we came outside of the 5p-7p time to use it. The atmosphere is pretty cool with the seats that have performers printed on them like Marilyn Monroe and Bradda Iz. I've eaten the Avo Sammy, Otto's Loco, and just last night I had the Western Burger. My boyfriend like the sampler, so all three times I've had the sampler. The service is good, but the servers are dressed like any one else in the restaurant so its hard to tell who is working here if they aren't behind the bar. The food is nothing great. I could do a better job, even though I don't really cook, but it is appreciated since I don't like to cook. Every sandwich I have got from this place fell apart and my mouth is always messy here. The food is not bad, but not anything extraordinary. I want to come here for dessert one day and get a peanut butter shake with the apple pie and ice cream. Never got that yet, because it wasn't late enough yet. Maybe one day after I get drunk at Manifest I'll have the courage to devour that many calories in one sitting. Until then this place is nice walk down to since I live 3 blocks away.
(3)
Diana B.
I came in today not expecting much but boy was I wrong! From the get go my eyes were directed towards the eclectic art on the booths. I ordered the strawberry lemonade which comes in alcoholic form too if you wish. Seeing that it was wayyy before 5 I took the PG version. It was very tasty- it had blended strawberry seeds with the tanginess of the lemons. For food I had the American cheeseburger with no onions. On the side I ordered garlic fries (for 2 bucks more) but they also offer cajun fries if you'd like. The cheeseburgers were huge so make sure that if you order this dish you smash down your burger because it's huge and you'll have trouble getting all of it in your mouth. The meat was cooked perfectly and was seasoned to my liking. The fries were also good. The food was so tasty I finished in record time and I'm the type of person who likes to savor their food but not this time. On top of being delicious the meal was huge so I just kept eating and eating.... I can honestly say you will leave full. Behind our booth I noticed a bar so I'm thinking it's probably a good place to get your drink on too. Perhaps first Friday? Anyway, I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Joanne M.
I cannot believe it took me so long to eat here. The food is amazing! Took my vegetarian friend here, since I know she'll appreciate it more. We shared a pesto vegan chicken sandwich, mozzarella sticks, and volcano fries. That satisfied my pesto craving and the chicken was awesome! Mozzarella sticks were good but we loved the fries more. I believe it was gravy and garlic on the fries--definitely mouth watering! I was very sad to hear that their shakes were good after ordering and getting too full for dessert. A friend recommended the peanut butter and chai. Will try those next time, because I'm totally DOWN with the BEAT of this diner!! :)
(5)
Jamila J.
A food place downtown that's open until 3am and it's not Zippy's?! I'm there. Chinatown just gets better and better. Just happened to be downtown and heard about this place. checked it out and it is awesome. Really great service and good food. If you're like me and a meat eater, but have some how made friends with those who don't possess the meat eater gene, you can all be happy with your food options. Grassfed beef, veganaise, apple fritter with ice cream, garlic fries....seriously you can't go wrong. There's even booze. Apple Fritter is good, but if it was the last thing you ate before you died, you'd be sad. Vegans and Meateaters finally have a place to be happy friends who all have full bellies!!!
(4)
Marcus S.
i love this place. Bacon with Beer, Grill cheese with ham, and a vegan Loco Moco. This place is the bomb. The atmosphere is cool, the food is bananas, overall this "dinner" is just a cool place to eat. They also play old school movies on the wall, and when thats not on there are some bad ass songs coming out their juke box. The one other thing that makes this place soooo neat is the occasional crack head yelling outside about his horse or something having the flu. Go Go Go, Go check them out!!
(4)
Kalani C.
4.43 stars. Came to Chinatown for a Sunday afternoon escapade. Reviews looked promising, so decided to come here and glad we did. Place is a modern take on a greasy spoon. Sort of Manifest meets Bettie Page. The clientele were mostly tatted twenty/thirty-somethings, primarily clothed in black. Modern day (down)beatniks? Ambiance: 4 stars. We started with fresh horseradish Bloody Marys that were spot on and perhaps the best on the island: 5 stars! We ordered the Monte Cristo or a French toast sandwich of ham & Swiss with maple syrup on the side for sweet dipping. A wonderful reinvention that I enjoyed immensely: 5 stars! My partner in crime had the Otto Moco or chicken breast over brown rice & tahini gravy, a healthier version of its obese cousin, the infamous loco moco: 4 stars. We followed up our Marys with Deschutes Brewery's Green Lakes Organic Ale and Rouge's Dead Guy Ale. Part of a nice collection of beers by the bottle. I don't recall seeing anything on tap. Beer selection: 4 stars. Our waitress was very pleasant, made nice conversation and chimed in that she will be a judge in Manifest's "Man Challenge" that my friend happens to be a part of (not shaving facial hair from Nov. 1-Dec. 1 for testicular cancer awareness). Service: 4 stars. The music here is stellar! In the 45 minutes we were there, the likes of Violent Femmes, Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, Brian Eno, Dusty Springfield, Joy Division and Led Zepplin graced my ears. An eclectic selection that played like a greatest hits playlist from my very own collection and contributed to the lounge part of this diner's edgy aura. Music: 5 stars! Highly recommended apart from ending up here after a night's debauchery. Tally: Ambiance: 4 stars Bloody Mary: 5 stars! Monte Cristo: 5 stars! Otto Moco: 4 stars Beer selection: 4 stars Service: 4 stars Music selection: 5 stars! 4+5+5+4+4+4+5= 31/7= 4.43 stars. #Yelp 365: 100/365 (Whoo hoo! Made it to 100!)
(4)
August A.
FINALLY....again I'd like to reiterate...FINALLY!!! What am I elating about is that FINAAAAAAAAALLY, A TRUE LATE NIGHT SPOT with attitude. I live between Las Vegas and Hawaii, to which I've become way too accustomed be late night eats. The Downbeat delivers in an all too familiar way. Situated in the heart of Chinatown near the NextDoor, Bar35, Manifest, and 39Hotel, this promises to be the place where everyone comes before, in between, or after a debaucherous night. The menu here hovers around the traditional American fare: cheeseburgers, sandwiches, shakes, and oh yah...a FULL BAR!! Specials such as sliders for $5, nightly drink specials, and specialty desserts round this place out pretty well. What definitely seals the deal for me is the 2-3am closing times. I've been here about 10 times (mostly sober) and have never came across a bad meal. Notables are the Otto cheesecake, garlic fries, sliders, and shakes. The main attraction that keeps me coming back are the desserts. About a week ago, I was treated to an Almond Cookie Ice Cream sandwich...love at first bite. Coupled with garlic fries, it was PERFECT drunk food. So, if you're looking for the iconic late night eatery, complete with talented bartenders, jukebox, and amazing deep fried goodies...definitely head here.
(4)
Al D.
This place was just OK. My vegan chicken was dry and my guiness milkshake wasn't guiness-y enough. Nothing special here. Better off going to loving hut for vegetarian/vegan food.
(3)
Jessica M.
Being the 20-something that I am, I have spent many a night drunk as piss in the land that is Chinatown. Sometimes, there really is nothing else like shoving a vegan loco moco with tofu scramble into your mouth at 3:30 A.M. with a drink that you can't remember the name of to wash it all down. Enter Downbeat Diner. Not only does this place offer some scrumptious foodie choices for carnivores and herbivores alike, but it also has a full bar. Oh...and did I mention that it's open til' 4 am? Yeah. It's definitely a step up from going to Denny's and passing out with your cheek lying in your greasy pancake pile. The food is seriously really good, and I am normally not a fan of resturaunt food. The servers are always pretty cool and normally just chat with you like a friend while you are waiting on your food. (This may have just been me being overly friendly and drunk, but they have never seemed to mind.) I have been here on Tuesday night for their beer tastings and it's a fun and sociable event to sample some new stuff. It was only $18, too. My only complaints: The service, while friendly, is super slow. So don't come here if you are in a hurry. There are about 10 tables, maybe even less. It's very small, so make a reservation, or get your food to go if you are faced with having to wait. People tend to stick around and watch the movie screen and catch up with friends, so tables don't exactly just open up every couple minutes. Other than that, I will continue to be a downbeat diner.
(4)
Killah G.
Spent a lot of time to think of what direction i was going to take this review. Being that a lot of my friends seem to be connected to this place made me feel somewhat bad about not having that great of a first time experience. Please don't drop me from your facebook & yelp lists or stink eye me when i'm in chinatown and decide to give it a go again. After all this review was after one experience and i'm sure there's potential to be blown away by some awesome grindz. Especially since i hear there's chicken and waffles. yum. Anyway i was excited about the place. Cool little diner smack dab in the middle of one of my favorite areas to be in China Town. The set up and decor is nice. Love the braddah Iz and Bob Marley portraits and the seating upholstery. So we ordered a couple burgers, some cheese fries and a loco moco. Our server was nice. Burgers seem really tiny??? Even the loco moco patty was almost no where to be found? Sorry if that's such a nit picky thing to write about but from past experiences at diners i've had some satisfying portions. Especially for an $8 burger... Dunno? Maybe my eyes fooled me? There's $8 of awesomeness at some of the local competitors that we've all said is "expensive". I don't really care about the price but i'd like to hopefully at least get a juicy flavorful burger to match. Anyway, the fries came out and had no cheese on them. Our server took it back and when it came back out it had a half melted slice of cheese on the fries. When you picked up a fry the whole slice lifted because it had already got cold and not so cheesy??? Hmm... Wasn't stoked on the fries. Overall i'd like to try it again. Although from the first experience i'm not too hyped to go back. And usually burgers and fries are somewhat of a comfort food for most that is hard not to want to eat it again for nothing but to satisfy that hunger need. Whoa?! Did that sentence make sense? English majors help me. I will eat here once again because i am curious why i'm part of 3 people reviewing this place that wasn't stoked on it. For now i see 3 stars as a neutral starting point.
(3)
Zenny Z.
Downbeat Diner is the type of diner you'd find in Portland OR or any one of the cool and hip neighborhoods across the US. What sets Downbeat apart from many other hip late night eateries across the US is the quality of the food. This ain't your typical greasy spoon -- all the food served here is of high quality with vegan/vegetarian options that aren't hasty thrown together afterthoughts or special requests that drive the cooks mad. I personally haven't tried the veg options, but I hear they are great. Also, there's very little pretension here; the atmosphere is welcoming and comfortable. I always order the American burger, which comes with a grass fed burger patties from the Big Island. Although it isn't cheap at around 8 bucks, it's worth it for the high quality and great taste. The burger patty is a tad on the dry side, but other wise it tastes great. Many hip bars have opened up in Chinatown the past few years, yet there wasn't any late-night eateries nearby until Downbeat Diner opened -- very smart and strategic move. It's exciting how much livelier the night life in Chinatown has become in the past few years, thanks in part to the opening of Downbeat. Hopefully more restaurateurs will follow suit and open more great restaurants nearby.
(5)
Mary S.
I went to Downbeat with a some of my girlfriends for some late night grinds and it was my first time there. It had a cute, fun, rockabilly feel to it. Started with the Gingerbrew, it was ok but the ginger was a little overwhelming. A couple of the girls had the Rootbeer Float cocktail which I tasted and was quite good. I had ordered the BLAT sandwich which was alright - the bread was hard and had that tear-up-the-roof-of-your-mouth texture to it and for what I paid for it was disappointing but the french fries were tasty and not soggy. This particular night we had a waiter who apparently didn't know what he was doing. One of the girls had to leave before the rest of us to go meet with her boyfriend and he threw a fit about splitting the check. He brought her the check and she left then he came back and complained to us that she didn't leave him enough tip which was VERY unprofessional. Then once the rest of us got our bills, he had charged one of the girls for the cheese fries which the girl who left had ordered and already paid for and I was charged extra for my Gingerbrew than what was listed on the drink menu. Overall, I was not impressed with this place and was actually very disappointed because I think it has a lot of potential - but what I paid for and the service that I received were subpar.
(2)
Jim S.
Great atmosphere. Kind of a hipster vibe, but friendly staff. Delicious food. I love that they offer the option to make anything on the menu vegan.
(5)
Sean T.
I've been back several times, and it's been consistently awesome each time. But I wanted to add: their milkshakes are phenomenal! I was disappointed one visit when they were out of ginger tonic, so I asked the waitress if the milkshakes were good. She nodded, and I replied "No, I mean, will they blow my mind?" She had the guts to say yes, and she was right. I've been dreaming about that chunky monkey milkshake all week. Hints of chocolate, nuts, banana... I can't even finish this update or I'll have to go order another one.
(5)
Marissa L.
I seem to be in the minority amongst reviewers, but the food here is not good. Maybe we came on a bad day? Not sure. We came here for lunch after reading about it in Yelp's weekly newsletter -- and as my boyfriend said to me, "We got Punk'd." I ordered the BLAT (bacon lettuce avocado tomato). With ingredients so simple, you'd think it would be impossible to get wrong. Unfortunately that was the case here. The bacon was flimsy (cheap!) and it seemed like they put a teaspoon of miracle whip (again, cheap!) on each piece of toast instead of real mayonnaise. Sad! The fries were soggy and we left most of them sitting on the table. My boyfriend had the loco moco. It has strange mashed up carrots blended into the gravy (they don't tell you this on the menu and they really should-- all the menu says is that it's "downbeat gravy" without explaining what that entails). The carrots blended into the gravy make it look like something the cat vomited up. Gross, but true. We won't be coming back. I will say though, our server was nice, and the restaurant was clean.
(2)
Gspot H.
Green eggs n ham is my Favorite
(4)
S E.
Great (cajun) fries, tasty burgers (both meat and vegan), a nice buffalo chicken sandwich, delicious milkshakes, relaxed atmosphere, and a super friendly staff.
(4)
Sheryl M.
I don't know why it took me so long to try this place...this place rocks! It's like a modern 50's kinda place...burgers and fries with milkshakes...all of which can be served vegan as well. Love it! Next time, I will need to try their vegan burger and regular milkshake (since this time I had the regular burger with the vegan shake). But first I need to make sure my desk area is comfy enough to have a kanak attack in...
(4)
Tim W.
Great Buffalo chicken sandwich and $3 Sierra Nevada.
(4)
Food Find F.
I guess if you're a vegan, this place rocks! But for the rest of us carnivores/dairyvores, I have had better food at other places. I give the food a "B-." The menu is very limited, so if you don't want a burger, BLT w/ avocado or chicken sandwich you'd better go somewhere else. Staff is "eh." I assume they didn't spit in my food and they got the orders right so they get a "C," but not once did they come back to our table to ask if the food was alright or if we needed anything. I'm not high maintenance, I'm just saying that they didn't do it. Don't know, maybe they're not fully awake at lunch time. The food also took exceptionally long to come out. There were only 2 of us and again, the menu isn't complicated or extensive. We ordered the American burger and BLAT (BLT with avocado). So after waiting a long time and the waitress brought out the orders of a 4 top that came after us, we asked what happened to our food. To which she said, "Oh, they came in before you." No, "Oh, let me check on your order right now." That would have been nice to be acknowledged. And I distinctly remember the 4 ladies coming in the door and taking a seat just 3 booths infront of me. So from my recollection, they came in after me. Anyway.... I did really like that they use grass fed beef for burgers and sub veganaise for mayo. Decor was cool and the place is clean. And I really like to support hip places, but this one just sunk below my threshold.
(2)
Christine P.
I had the best cheese burger with avocado here! It made me think of a place that should be in San Francisco. I loved it! And they have fresh and warm chocolate chip cookies you can order. What's not to like?
(5)
Nate M.
Great food, super friendly people, surprisingly good beer selection, always good music playing, what's not to like?! I love this place. Also, they brew their own ginger concoction, so get a spiked ginger brew. So good.
(5)
Justin T.
We dropped by Downbeat Diner last night for the first time and we were blown away! The service is top notch, the food is amazing, the atmosphere is inviting, and the hours are to die for! Not only is the menu absolutely delicious, it's made of healthy ingredients such as grass-fed beef, locally grown potatoes, etc... None of that frozen nonsense. Will def return in the near future. And did I mention the prices rock?
(5)
June K.
Five dollar sliders. I think, can't beat that, so we head in and get seated. The diner style seats were very cute and modern designed with familiar faces such as IZ. The first Friday menu was very enticing. We ordered $5 sliders, $5 chili cheese fries, $5 cajun fries. When the portions came out, they of course were what we paid for, $5 portions. There was a bar, which was only by donations. I like that idea! But they probably didn't have a liquor license. The sliders came with 2 pieces. They consisted of what looked like sesame dinner rolls and a little patty, lettuce and thousand island looking dressing. After taking a bite, I tasted a hint of rosemary and it was actually good. The chili on the cheese fries looked like it came from a can and tasted like it came from a can. The cajun fries had no kick to it what-so-ever. We ordered 2 slices of Otto cheesecake, flavor of the day was key lime. The cheesecake was moist and full of flavor, very tasty and not to heavy. I could've eaten one all by myself! Our waiter stopped by and asked what we thought of the cheesecake. After reassuring him it was delicious, he introduced himself to us as "Otto". What a shock we had! TIP: Have 2 orders of sliders if you're hungry. Get the cheesecake!
(3)
Ashley D.
Love this diner! The bartenders and servers here are super nice and down to earth. I've had the burger and fries twice and both times they were delicious. Lots of booth seating and stools at the bar makes it a nice place to relax after a night of revelry in Chinatown.
(4)
Marla F.
My family and I love this place! We happened upon it when we to our first First Friday with the kiddos (9 &11). It was the time when Indigo had closed the street and there was a DJ and several food trucks. We didn't want to eat from the food trucks, so we wandered around and found the Downbeat Diner. And what a find! This place takes my husband and I back to our years in Atlanta, Georgia - namely Little Five Points and the Highlands. We both lived and worked in that area that was chock-full of funky clubs and restaurants with amazing food and kick-ass atmospheres. The diner/rocka billy feel put us at ease and my kids thought the music and the B-rated movies showing overhead were awesome. Everyone is friendly without being suck-ups. You just have to come in with an attitude of not being in a hurry, with a good appetite and a sense of adventure. They have a great beer selection and I love that they offer meatless options (although I still go for the beef!) And in true diner fashion, they offer delicious shakes and ice cream. I can't say enough about how much we love this place and the people that work there. My husband and I went there one recent First Friday without the kids and we both had to promise we couldn't tell them otherwise they'd be mad at us! :)
(4)
Shelby B.
I went here because I heard of this place from my professor, also its located in downtown and i've passed it a few times. It's a cool atmosphere, real retro. I got a burger, and garlic fries, which was good. A typical burger and fries. The service was a little slow but they were slow and there was only one waitress serving, ordering and busing tables. It was a cute place to have lunch.
(3)
Serene G.
I had a Groupon for Downbeat Diner. We went during our lunch break. When we got there, they greeted us and told us to sit anywhere. I got the Western burger while my boyfriend got the Teriyaki burger. We both added the fries since the side basket was only one seasoning for the same price. He got the Cajun while I got the garlic. Everything was definitely tasty but nothing spectacular. We both noticed that the prices on the menu for the burgers were $0.50 more than the menu online. The waitress also didn't ask how we wanted our burgers. I also got their homemade ginger brew. It was a bit on the sweet side. I'm not sure if it was worth the $4. The guy did say that they do refills on everything except the ginger grew. I definitely agree that service is slow. We waited about 30 - 40 minutes for our food. Overall, good food but slow service. If I wasn't using my Groupon, I would think it was a bit expensive too. (It's not so bad with the iDcard discount: free side order of fries with a purchase of burger. )
(3)
Aaron K.
I had an appointment downtown and wanted to try out Downbeat Diner, specifically their Banana Fritters and I think it should be called Banana Fricker or Banana isn't ! You know when you peel the skin off the banana and it has a little bit of flesh on the peel, well the peel had more banana than in their fritter! It came out all warm and it looked yummy with a container of caramel on the side, I took a bite, okay, taste good with caramel, took another bite, finished the first, second, third fritter and I'm thinking where's the banana? They should call it Banana flavored Andag ! If my Portuguese grandmother were alive, she'd show them what a real banana fritter is.
(2)
Lyle M.
Randomly ate here two consecutive days while on vacation, basically due to the convenience. It is centrall located in the downtown Chinatown, HI area. Tons to do in this area night and day. Digs: Lot's of natural light. Booths! It's a very fun place with a classic 50s / punk rock aesthetic combined with an light hearted aloha vibe. Very clean. The customers there were popping in for lunch, dessert, a drink, etc and the easily accomodated them all. I like that they are always open. Always a good option. Service: The staff are very friendly and helpful. Food: Buggah was ono (delicious)! The first time I came here I only had dessert, but I had the brownie ice cream. It was awesome. They serve Otto Cake products here as well, BONUS! The second time was for lunch, I have the fake bacon blt which was exactly what I wanted. Hit the spot. They have vegan options and full on carnivore options. Something for everyone. Cool place. If you are in the mood for a drink or a whole diner-style meal, this place will satisfy. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Trav15t ..
Love it! Eco and enviro-conscious without the granola, located in the middle of Chinatown on Hotel st. A nice blend of hipness with the usual fare you expect from a diner, except beef for the burgers is sourced from the Big Island and the sauces are known for being delicious despite the fact they're vegan. I had the western burger, fries and fritters with a rum drink... giving it a 5 star all around. Good place to go for a drink, better place for late-night grinds.
(5)
Danielle Y.
Haters gonna hate? Haters to the left? Haters something something darkside? Whatever makes you feel better, Downbeat Diner. You've got a special place in my heart. Went here for Sunday Brunch (oh yes my friends, they are open on Sundays for Brunch, open PAST 11am, oh my oh my). Now, I know I am not the only person absolutely devastated by the current state of Honolulu Brunch Options. I want food, I want it to to be BOTH Breakfast or Lunch, I want to eat it at 2pm if I want/need to, and I want there to be a mimosa. That is what I want. And that is exactly what the Downbeat Diner provides. $5 brunch mimosas or bloody marys, $7 Loco Moco (vegan or local beef), from 10am to 10pm on a Sunday. Yum food, friendly service, knows what gluten-free means, done and done. THANK YOU.
(4)
Alexandra T.
Yummy vegan options, as well as non-vegan, so it's great for those brave couples where one is anti-meat and the other is not. Nice higher-end beer selection, as well as cheap PBR pounders. The fries are great, good music on the juke box, and a big projector with either movies or music videos. I was lucky enough to spend 2 weeks in Hawaii, and went to Downbeat 4 times. It's perfect for just hanging out with friends, especially before catching a show at 39 Hotel across the street.
(4)
Michiko H.
First time I went here, I had the classic loco moco. It was down right the best loco moco I've ever had! Gravy was what got me loving this place, plus the interior is bad ass with even a movie projector playing so you can watch while you eat. BONUS: this place is vegan friendly so check it out!
(3)
Jessie D.
3.75/5 As the growth of the Chinatown social scene has grown, the need for more eateries has popped up. Although Chinatown is FULL of little hole in the wall restaurants and amazing culinary delights, the major problem has always been that they close really early. After a fun night out, no one wants to drive around searching for the next place to go. Well, Downbeat Diner is the supposed solution to that. Located next to Manifest on the "other" side of Hotel St., Downbeat offers a full diner menu until 4am. We stopped by after work on Monday and checked out what all the hype was all about. The menu is simple, but spanning. the BLAT seems like a winner, so was the loco moco that one of the party had. I opted for the Western Burger, because I can't turn down the combo of BBQ sauce and bacon. The beef is grass fed Big Island beef, so this is definitely some good stuff, but the size is 6oz., which is good for the after club experience, but teeters on the "I'm full, but I can eat more" border. The beef was juicy, cooked to a great medium. The fries it came with were not that bad. Thankfully, I prefer a fully cooked, less crisp, more soft fry. It's a love/hate thing with the fries. If you like them kinda crisp, skip them. The burger size turned out to be a Godsend, as that left room for dessert. The folks from Otto Cake are here as well, so the Otto Cake cheesecake was headlining the menu. Unfortunately, it was Key Lime & I'm not a big fan of Key Lime. I went with the Red Velvet Cake, while others went for the basket of fritters. The Red Velvet was dense, and overly frosted. It was sweet, but since I was still hungry after the burger, I didn't mind. The basket of fritters are a MUST GET, though. Big pieces, a cup of caramel sauce, and fritters so soft and sweet that the sauce is almost an after thought. if you MUST get dessert, get the basket of fritters. Service was good, but could be great. Being the only patrons in the diner at one point, the waitress disappeared while we were waiting for the check. She returned and returned to being attentive, it's just that 10 minutes of "where did she go" that is worrisome. Overall, a pretty good experience. I would definitely go back and try the BLAT or maybe some of the more vegan options. And I would definitely go back for the fritters. After a night in Chinatown, looks like the next stop might not need to be Zippy's.
(4)
George G.
This place should be appreciated for what it is and what it is trying to be. It's a diner, with diner food, but unusually for Honolulu, every item has a vegan alternative--what fun. It does the simple diner fare well, with an ample but focused menu. I really liked the Western vegan burger with vegan bacon, though like one reviewer mentioned, the bbq sauce is mixed with mayo on the bun, so you'll need to request no mayo if you no like. I tried the garlic fries, but learned they are no longer making hand-cut fries, and these were okay but obviously frozen. My friend had a good omelette--a bit small especially when compared to Cafe Kaila--and a crispy waffle, and I had to splurge at the end on a vegan banana shake with soy milk and soy ice cream--not too sweet but plenty creamy. For that much food, the final bill was more than reasonable, and perfectly comfy and satisfying especially on a rainy day. It's not food you necessarily want to eat every day, but it's a great new addition.
(4)
Beverly Ann B.
This was my second time going to this place and the first time I'm writing a review for it. The diner is nice and cozy. It has a rock/urban feel to it. Prices are also reasonable. They have a cool beer list that offers a few unique brews that you wont normally find. They even have a unique cocktail menu as well. Since I'm on a roll, they have a milkshake menu too! MILKSHAKES!!! This diner is definitely vegetarian and vegan friendly. But, don't be afraid, carnivores, because they cater to everyone's tastebuds. And, they stay open late!!! The first time I went there, I had the loco moco. They serve brown rice. In fact, I think they only serve brown rice. I was skeptical at first because I'm a traditionalist and expected it to be plated over a bed of white rice, but it was yummy and it didn't disappoint. My boyfriend had it the second time around, and he loved it. However, as much as everyone raves about the loco moco here, I strongly believe they should give a try at their Reuben. OMG. I love reubens and I'm really picky with where I get it from, how it's made, and everything in between. Hands down, Downbeat's reuben is the best I've ever had. The pastrami is amazing and the bread is beautiful. They use marbled rye. I opted to go with a side salad instead of fries and it was great. I gave it four stars because the service was inconsistent. The first time I went, we were greeted upon entering. However, the second time, no one was around except a couple that was dining. Maybe a few minutes passed and finally someone came around to help us. But when we did get serviced, service was friendly. Anyway, back to the star... the reuben is a must-try.
(4)
Catherine L.
I've been here twice now and have been satisfied each time. The food is simple, but delicious, and with its late night hours, an amazing relatively cheap alternative to fast food. The first time I went for dinner, I ordered the loco moco. I thought it was great, but my friend did not like the Downbeat gravy very much. I'm not sure what it was made of, but the gravy is definitely different from your typical homemade gravy. I don't quite know how to describe it, but it was not as heavy. My friend thought it tasted like beans, of which she is not a huge fan. During my second trip, I ordered the BLAT, which came out perfectly and was exactly what I wanted. It is definitely something I will order again. The service was great during my first visit. Since we were sitting at a booth near the bar, the bartender even checked in on us to make sure we had been helped. But the second time was not as great. It was not overwhelmingly busy, but it took a lot more effort to get our waitress' attention. I am not sure if this had to do with the fact that we were sitting at a booth closer to the door or simply because this waitress was not as attentive. I will definitely be back, most likely after late nights in Chinatown.
(4)
Tellia W.
This place is pretty cool and the food is pretty good. General diner style food, but they offer most things on the menu as vegetarian or vegan. I am not a vegetarian, but I love their veggie burgers. I would give them a 5 but some times the service is inconsistent. Some times it's great, some times it's not so good. Food is always good though.
(4)
Leimalani F.
The carnivore lets the door swing carelessly behind him. He grunts a man grunt and scratches some wandering itch. Giving the skinny tattooed waiter a once over, he orders a PBR while perusing the menu. Roadie he mumbles, referring to those flatulent tattooed limbs. I know what I'm having: the buffalo chicken sandwich ala vegan! The carnivore considers which calorie laden cow pie to consume, but since the carnivore also happens to be my husband, I can wield my magic wifey wand that occasionally makes him do my bidding. This only lasts for short periods of time before he consumes to much protective alcohol, so I need to act fast. Luckily for me, this happens to be one such night! The carnivore orders: one carnivore burger with two patties, grilled onions, bacon, ham, and cheese... ala vegan! YESH!!! Now I can sample the veggie delights that are the specialty of this hip diner. Verdict: Carnivore burger ala vegan is a WIN!~ Even skinny obviously vegan boy admits that no one ordered that before, but it was DELISH! The 'burger' meat has great flavor and it's made in house. All the other veggie meats are bought (and probably taste close to sidewalk by themselves) but altogether, this was a pretty fantastic imitation of an I-wanna-eat-like-a-million-calories splurge. Carnivore man, he enjoy *grunt!* Buffalo sandwich is a FAIL! They do not make the 'chicken' in house and it is a watery, rubbery, substitute for the real thing (BeGOCK!) Also, this is served on sliced white bread with non-melted cheese. The whole thing was cold and not good. Cajun fries are freakin' awesome. Salad was a good size. Nice selection of milkshakes and ice cream floats, all of which can be made vegan. We ordered a Guinness Shake (vegan of course, thanks to the wifey wand). This was watery and did not taste at all like stout - Go with one of the stout or spiked ice cream floats instead. Wifey wand wields magic. I get to eat 1/2 of better tasting veggie carnivore burger of irony and steal many fries. Small person happy and carnivore man is strangely satisfied. Life is good. NOTE: Not good for kids or large groups. Better to sit in a booth facing away from Hotel Street unless you like yu-gly druggie dudes making ogle eyes whilst you eat. Yes, I AM going to eat that! Cool classic movies on the tv. You will have to stand up and wave your arms to get some attention from the wait help - they're too cool for school. Someone needs to enforce a dress code cuz one guy looked like he got up from the couch to get a beer and ended up at work in his house shorts. PBR and BACON for an appetizer anyone????
(4)
Anju J.
This a good nook hidden on Hotel st. The overall look of the place was clean, inviting, and authentic. I don't normally see a projection on the wall of any restaurant that I have been to. The benches have pictures of various artists or public figures such as Albert Einstein and Braddah IZ. I thought it was cool. The servers are nice and knowledgable about the menu, something I like. The menu itself was ok. The food took too long to come out( I ordered a grilled ham and cheese sandwich), but other than that, I have no complaints. Overall, I like the atmosphere that this place offers!
(4)
Tamika D.
I wanted to eat here so bad. But only had time to grab a shake. Which I was told would take 15 to 20 mins. Ah, never mind I didn't wait. Why two stars? Cause I don't hate the place only the wait. Plus the menu looked great.
(2)
Rkb B.
This past weekend was the third time going to Downbeat and by far it has been the worst experience I've had in a long time. There for lunch, the table was the 4 of us, including my 5 year old nephew. At first, service was good: waitress brought out water and menus rather quickly and came back in an expected time for our orders. The wait for the food was longer than you'd expect for 3 sandwiches (2 BLAT's, and a grilled cheese) and one plate (the 'pile' which is home fries covered in cheese with 2 over-easy eggs on top, quite good actually), but nonetheless it did come out. As soon as that happened however, our waitress almost never came back to our table save once - and not even to give us the bill. The jalapeno poppers were clearly store-bought and were quite disappointing. The side of fries were decent, if a little salty overall. The vegan bacon in one of the BLAT's wasn't anything flavorful, merely a visual substitute that lacked any smokey goodness one looks for in fake bacon. My side of bacon was overly cooked and a tad tough, but still manageable. But that wasn't the worst of it. I had ordered a soda which, without me asking, she'd probably never would have refilled. To add to it, our waters were never refilled even though she walked around to the other tables filling everyone else's water and bypassed us. She even brought a bug-floating glass of milk to our table for my nephew - he spotted it. I mean, he's 5 years old, so how could the waitress not notice it? Maybe it's because we weren't 'hip' enough, or we didn't have enough tattoos or piercings, or dreadlocks, or maybe it's because we had the audacity to bring a kid into the place, but overall I felt very unwelcome. Please don't get me wrong, but I'm not one who needs the service to be at my beck and call for every little thing - far from it. I have very low standards for service - be nice, take down the order correctly, and fill my darn drink, please.
(2)
Alex F.
I finally tried this place and I was expecting a bit better, but it's not bad. Some days they are open until 4am, which is awesome. Their burgers are a little plain, their special sauce didn't taste like much other than mayonaise. I got like 2 onions and an unripe tomato on my burger, and my bun was so dry that it was crumbling apart so I ended up eating it with a fork. You have to order fries separately, which sort of bothers me because it's standard to just give you fries on the side. However, I do like the vibe. They have cool booth seats, though the walls are a bare (I sat in the diner, the lounge is a little different). My food came fast, so that was good. Overall, I think it was a little pricey for what you get, but I'll be giving it another chance because I really want to try those milk shakes. They have a wide variety of them and they look delicious.
(2)
Nikki G.
Nice laidback atmosphere. Menu choices to fit meat and non- meat eaters needs. Majority of items come also in a vegan choice. Staff is friendly and remember their customers. Sometimes service is slow. Some items are a bit costly but all in all menu items are a decent price. Nice place to eat when going out for an evening of dancing in Chinatown.
(4)
Keola m.
Located on Hotel Street between some bars and Mini Garden Downbeat Diner is a pretty cool place. Has an atmosphere similar to the old style diners but with a bar instead of a soda fountain. A simple place. They have a cool menu and had some nice drink specials. (Chocolate Cake shots were the featured drink on this day) I was there at 1pm between rehersals so I didnt do any drinks. The waitress/bartendress suggested the Bloody Mary. She said it ws the best around town. The menu offers a lot of vegan subsitutions. Nice. Ordered the Otto Moco. Chicken Loco Moco (again I could have ordered it Vegan style...but, didnt) Everyone knows the key to a good loco moco is the gravy and boy Downbeat Diner has the gravy DOWN! Served with hapa rice it was Delicious. Other than the slow service....Only 1 waitress/bartendress. It was a great experience. Id definately go back.
(4)
Simon C.
As with most of the downtown scene, depending on when you come this is a hit or miss. If there is a crowd, be ready for a long wait. If you are in luck, the food is great and they have good drink specials depending on what day it is. The play random movies projected against the wall, so its always entertaining to play drinking games tied with the movies. The decor, ambiance, and atmosphere seems to hark back to a 50s diner, which is most likely what they go for with their menu as burgers, fries, and shakes dominate their menu.
(3)
Blue M.
I would like to see this place go up in a blaze of glory.
(1)
Michael S.
I purchased a 1/2 off certificate recently for Downbeat diner and since I've I know Downbeat has a good happy Hour I wanted to give them another try. I wasn't impressed. Parking: Like everything else in Chinatown your on your own for parking. Luckily late nights means easy free street parking or tons of city lots Atmosphere: The place is straight up a diner with a little bit rockabilly influence. One big problem from our visit(this was my second time) was that the air conditioning was broken. How long it was broken and if it will ever be fixed will never be known, but it did affect my visit because it was pretty hot. At first I sat by the bar but moved towards the door to get more air. Service: At first while I was waiting for my group to come the waitress came over a couple of times. After we moved seats the checking on us slowed down. Overall the service was pretty good. Food came out promptly and I have no complaints. I even had a 1/2 off certificate which they gladly accepted. Price: First of all let me start with the happy hour. From 5-7pm they have 1/2 off appetizers and some 3$ well drinks in which for Chinatown is pretty good overall. Since I had a certificate I choose to get myself a burger. For about 20$ we got 1 burger, a grilled cheese & cheese sticks. Not bad. Food: Since this was my second visit I kind of knew what to expect food wise. So far every time I've had any food I wasn't overly impressed. All the food I've had is very basic and I can't say I'm a fan. Downbeat Diner does have some vegetarian and vegan options but since I'm neither that doesn't make me like this place more. Overall: DownBeat Diner has a nice feel to it and it has an excellent happy hour(at least for drinks & pupus) but food wise you can get better tasting food at McDonalds.
(2)
Esteban W.
In all honesty, I only wanted to hit up the hipster joint because Tim P. disliked it so much. He did have good reason; they may have decent burgers and fries, they may be eco-friendly, they may be saving a tree somewhere or composting, but one thing they are not doing is learning some good service. The GOOD: It's a small, quaint, cozy, hispster joint right across from all the main China Town attractions. Inside its brightly lit, but you get that, "I don't have enough tattoos or silly mustaches to fit in" feeling. When all the skater/emo kids grow up, they open up places like Downbeat. The chick behind the counter was nice and helpful; our server however must have learned his people skills from Helen Keller (before she met Anne Sullivan). I order some gravy fries and a teriyaki burger. Both came out relatively quickly, especially since there was a good number of people already there. The BAD: They had a decent selection of beers - but the night I am there, they only have Bud and Bud Light. WTF. I pass on alcohol and order water instead. The server comes back with three plastic water cups. One with forks and knives, and two others with water and none of the plastic cups came with ice. I was unaware that there was an ice shortage in China Town... maybe it was extra. Overall: The burger was decent and the fries we ordered were sad. In the end I felt I could have done a better job at home. The one thing this place has going for it is the fact that they have the local grown, eco-friendly blah, blah, blah going on. Will I come back? Most likely, since its right across the street from Bar35. I may get drunk enough to not give a shit about what I want to eat, stumble across the street and scarf down a $9, 6oz. burger. Who cares, if I am THAT drunk ill probably end up throwing it up later anyway. Of course they're Hipster, they serve Otto Cakes.
(2)
Stace S.
My bf and I wandered in after a concert at the Historic Hawaii Theater. It was a Saturday night and many of the eateries in the area were offering only their late-night selections. We quickly walked about 2 blocks from the theater afraid of the impending rush of hungry concert goers. Luckily, a booth had opened up not too long after we got their. The guy at the front was friendly and casually asked for our IDs. We settled into the cute little diner booths upholstered with black and white vinyl. On the vinyl were portraits of well known icons. The bf and I had fun identifying each portrait while we waited for our food. The waitress was also very casual, but really friendly. It was no fine dining style service but she was attentive. Her service and style really suited the atmosphere. I ordered the BLAT sandwich with a house salad. The bf had the Western Burger with a basket of fries. The food came fairly quickly considering there wasn't an empty seat in the place. The BLAT was amazing! Its been a month since I ate it, but I still crave it! The avocado was the perfect consistency! Not overly mushy and not rubbery. The creaminess of the avocado with the saltiness of the bacon were perfectly matched with the sourdough. BF really enjoyed his Western burger also. And the fries were so delicious! They were seasoned well and so nice and crispy! There's also some alternatives to the menu items, which I thought was really great. I'm not vegan, but I am allergic to dairy products. Its nice to know that I can indulge in some of the desserts offered.
(4)
Spidey S.
CURRENT RATING (3 STARS): in addition to my former review, as shown below, i am very disappointed with the cooks who were working upon our last visit. our order was pretty badly fucked up. i mean, you can't send out a burger with no patty - vegan or not. that's a universal fact, and, in my book, completely unacceptable. thankfully our server was quite competent. he was able to balance the entire FOH by himself, while the BOH (multiple lunch cooks...?!) sent out three burgers with no patties on them. my advice to you, downbeat diner, is to hire ONE badass lunch cook, rather than TWO crappy lunch cooks. otherwise, you might lose customers. p.s. when the burgers came back out - our same buns (that had already been bitten into) had holes in them - most likely from the cooks jamming their fingers in them. try to take some more pride in your food, will you? sorry to our server (josh86?), i know you're awesome and i do love your establishment... but that shit shouldn't be able to fly. especially if you want to promote quality. also, line cooks shouldn't need babysitters 24/7. --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â------------- MY PREVIOUS RATING (5 STARS): despite it's shady location downtown. this place has awesome food. this place has awesome drinks. along with a semi-awesome staff (sometimes they can be a little standoff-ish). also, anywhere you travel - VEGAN OPTIONS ARE A DEFINITE PLUS. although i, myself, am an omnivore (those who eat meat and veg) - the vegan carnivore burger w/ half cajun and half garlic fries is my go-to-meal. they also have a Guinness milkshake and an excellent bloody mary. p.s. fuck all you vegan haters out there. vegan food is much more difficult to prepare than food for carnivores (those who eat meat ONLY). i mean, hello, you don't see any fast food places offering vegan food. why? because vegan food is actually somewhat nutritious, and most of the time cannot be frozen. unlike the frozen, prepared foods distributed to all fast food establishments WORLDWIDE (aka empty calories). think about it next time you eat a $1 burger. my advice to is eat ACTUAL FOOD, and therefore, you should give DOWNBEAT a try.
(3)
Patrick G.
I stopped in here for lunch with my wife after shopping in Chinatown and we were pleasantly surprised. We had been looking for a quality, cheap lunch experience and Downbeat was perfect. I got the buffalo chicken sandwich with garlic fries and my wife got the BLAT. Even though these are very simple items, they were both prepared perfectly. I will definitely be going back here in the future.
(5)
Tash M.
GARLIC FRIES! So wonderful, especially after a few spirits in me (no, not the exorcism type, silly.) Their fries have a little extra "zest" in it, like the butter had hint of lemon. Never had that in any garlic fries before, it was nice. I like how they're open late (4am I believe?) I've only been here after hitting the bars around the area (i.e. Manifest, Nextdoor, thirtyninehotel.) Service was OK. We were seated quickly, as it wasn't too busy. But our waitress took about 5 minutes to get us water and take our order...maybe she was new? Seemed a little flustered, but we were feeling good so it didn't matter much so.
(4)
Claudia M.
This is the place to go if your looking for awesome vegan food! Their food is amazing and freaking DELICOUS!!!!! I love it! Their menu is different for lunch and dinner though.
(4)
Jessica S.
Underwhelmed. I had high expectations for this place since I've seen it featured in various Honolulu publications. We went in around 8pm on a Friday night and there was one server for the whole room. Service took forever, and the food was just ok. When we got our bill, there was an automatic 20% gratuity added on for FOUR people!! We had a groupon but still...geez. Also, multiple cockroaches came in while we were waiting and as we were dining. GROSS!!
(2)
Victoria A.
Went back to try something different. I wasn't feeling well so I opted for a grilled cheese. I was very disappointed. The bread was sour dough and it was VERY VERY sour tasting. Also, the bread tasted like it had been marinated in butter sauce for 3 days before they prepared it. Bummer.
(2)
Z Z.
If I was rating this restaurant solely on my milkshake, I would increase the stars, however, I am basing it on my overall experience. During my visit I had the Jagger Bacon Milkshake (awesome BTW), and the buffalo chicken sandwich with cajun fries. My sandwich was disappointing to say the least and was served on "sourdough" that tasted more like cheap white bread. The chicken was sliced razor thin and tasted frozen. I could have made a better sandwich at home for half the price. As lame as my sandwich was, my bacon milkshake was pretty enjoyable. I didn't have any drinks, however many sounded really good. I would probably return for another shake or a drink, but will probably avoid the food.
(2)
Alexander C.
A french toast sandwich? Root beer float mixed drinks? A delightful selection of junk food to please the most discriminating palette. Downbeat Diner has a ridiculously good menu for us veg-heads. They can make pretty much any item vegan style including the drinks. My wife and I found this place by chance and we were extremely impressed. The service was super friendly and fast, the food was delicious and oh wow, the prices were quite cheap. We visited here twice and we'd definitely come back if we make it back to Hawaii.
(5)
Cristyn T.
Cute diner! Came here two First Fridays in a row. All seating, aside from the bar, is pretty much the same size booth so you may have a bit of a wait whether you come in a group of 2 or a group of 6. Love the fabric on the booth seats which feature portraits of an eclectic group of artists such as Frida Kahlo and Braddah Iz! Servers are friendly and food comes out relatively quick. I ordered the American burger with a vegan patty instead of Big Island beef. Also stuffed my face with a side of fries. SOOO GOOD! Reminded me a little of an In-N-Out Burger, but I felt a little less guilty since I got a vegan patty. The patty was so good you wouldn't even think it was vegan! You can order the whole burger vegan if you choose, but who wants to eat a burger without cheese?!?! I also tried a chai coconut milkshake, thick and creamy! You can add a shot of alcohol to your shake if you dare. Nice selection of beer and alcohol, but haven't ventured in that direction yet! I love a place with reasonable prices that also supports local! I'll definitely be back to a place that I can spend $10-15 on a meal including tip and enjoy junk food with less guilty options! Oh, and did I mention that they are open really late? Like 3 am or later kinda late! Good place to get your fatty on after a night of drinking! *Use your ID Card for a free side of fries or salad when you purchase a burger or sandwich!
(4)
Darby C.
**PLEASE DO NOT BELIEVE THE 5 STAR REVIEWERS OF THIS PLACE** ***THEY ARE EITHER FRIENDS OF THE RESTAURANT OR JUST PLAIN HIGH AS A KITE*** Run the F away! Like many others, we wanted to like this place. You look at the pictures posted here on yelp, and it all looks so good, and fresh, and delicious... but then your food arrives and its like opening a Big Mac box from McDonalds and saying, "it doesn't look like that in the picture!" The photos of the good looking food items are all from the owner or their friends or something. Perfectly staged images to post on yelp... check out how it's the same 3 or 4 people taking photos and posting them. The interior is pretty amateur, with blank white walls and black goopy paint on the walls along the booth... looks like it was slapped together over night. The booths have some music icons on them and the tables are covered with some cold, sheet metal. They have some fairly loud, post punk, new-wave playing so I guess that makes them hipster? Over all it pretty chic for the area, considering you have to step over the homeless and down-trodden to enter the establishment... no forget to lock up your car, eh?! Our experience was really bad, as in I will never go there again, even if the prices weren't ridiculously beyond the caliber of their food. The waitress/bartender was pleasant. She greeted us and took our drink order. All was good, but when the food started to arrive it went down hill fast. $7 for 5 tiny hot wings that weren't even crispy. They reminded me of the wings you get at roundtable pizza that get thawed out, rolled in some buffalo sauce, thrown on a cookie sheet, and tossed in the oven. They come served with 2 carrot sticks and 2 celery sticks and a small paper cup of store bought nastiness, that they call ranch. Then the entrees came out. The $9 chef salad had nothing to do with a chef. It was a person, who in no way could be called a chef, assembling a bunch of store bought ingredients on a plate. The cheese is grated cheese from a bag, the ham is pre-packaged cold cuts sliced into some thin strips and rolled, the chicken is also some cubed chicken from a bag, the bacon was ok, and I don't know how they could screw up a hard boiled egg, and somehow they didn't... but what tripped me out most was the lettuce; they use the same hand leafed butter lettuce that I assume they throw on the burgers. Each piece of lettuce was huge and beat up. Never had a chef salad that I needed to a knife to eat. The topper again was the minuscule paper cup of "bleu cheese" dressing on the side. It was really gross and gelatinous. It's weird how this place touts itself as being this vegan fresh trendy place, but can't even produce a decent salad. I literally have had better salads from the roach coach that pulls up at my office. Finally was the $10 carnivore burger. This burger did not fit the description at all. When you think carnivore do you think of a small, super well done, hockey puck of a burger, with a couple slices of ham, some fairly insignificant bacon, small slice of yellow cheese, and some cold grilled onions? Cause if you do, then this is your place. No lettuce, tomato, pickles, nothing... Just bun, small thawed out burger meat, a little bit of ham, 1 slice of bacon chopped in half, cheese, grilled onions, and some sap they call downbeat sauce. And the fries were luke warm, bland, and limp. If everything was 1/3 of the price, it would all be very worth it. But at $40 for a burger, salad, a couple drinks, and 5 wings, I will happily spend my money elsewhere, and you should too. This place is a bar... they shouldn't try to trick people into thinking it's good, healthy, vegan-ie, fresh food.
(1)
Vincent Q.
Hipster was a term I considered facetious, a title that shouldn't be placed alongside an eatery. In an odd sense, I was in err. For 50% of the customers, I was amazed, but there was a certain look, a posture, I did indeed feel this hipster vibe. It was something you need to absorb and soak in if you were an outsider, or radiate and be proud of, if you were an insider. I was thankful I sat next to a homeless group, they were quite loud and amusing. There was even a cute corner where they were photographing food. Volcano Fries (Vegan)- 3.5-stars- At first site, the grey-tan gravy made me reconsider what I was getting myself into. Here I was, eating with a vegan friend, and decided, I might as well indulge. The gravy had a heavy look, but didn't leave me feeling bogged down. The flavor was a bit light, nearly non-existent. It isn't necessarily a volcano--the cajun fries have a spicier bite for heat seekers. I asked my friend if the volcano is the look of the item, but he had no idea. Overall it's a large plate of fries, but the gravy and cheese wasn't too potent in terms of flavor. This was definitely made up for with the garlic and spices. Otto's Moco (Vegan)- 3-stars- A bed of brown rice, covered with vegan chicken, more of the gravy, and topped with mock eggs and mushrooms, garnished with green onions. The portion was not overflowing nor massive, but the collection of different ingredients definitely leaves you with a reason to explore the dish. Being roughly the same gravy as the volcano fries, it wasn't too exciting, so I had hoped for more there. The chicken actually had the texture and flavor of real chicken. This led to a discussion about making non-meats look like and taste like meats, for me it was mildly wasteful, because of all the vegetables and fruits which exist in nature, giving a definite plethora of flavor, texture, and color to new and interesting dishes. He replied that he doesn't really have cravings for meats, so it didn't matter too much. The mushroom and egg mixture on top was a nice addition, as with the brown rice which adds a different texture and flavor than white rice. In truth, real chicken or vegan, that addition was different. As I've written about loco moco, it is the gravy, the meat or the additions which make a difference. Here, nothing stood out or made the dish stand on it's own. Guiness Shake- 4-stars- I am not a fan of Guiness, so why the 4-stars? It tasted like Guiness, even as a non-alcoholic option. This was one unique flavor which isn't easy to duplicate, and it was done. You can pay a few dollars more and get a shake with any alcohol of your choice. Atmosphere- This place definitely has the look and feel of a cool diner. The staff has a sense of style and look which matches perfectly. Actually, I saw a wave of people, one at a time, dressed in black, heading straight to the back. There are options for the box seats and bar seating. Bathrooms are in the back, and give you a glimpse into the kitchen. Service- I arrived early, because I wanted to order my shake while I waited for my friend. I received a water and waited about ten minutes. A few minutes later, my friend arrived, but no one had taken my order. I was a bit disappointed by this, only because I read this in the reviews, but didn't know if it was entirely true. Throughout our meal, different people served us, and we ended up with a waitress at the end. There was a strange interaction, when she asked if we wanted anything else or wanted the check--because we were in a conversation, I don't think we wanted either one, but we felt like those were the only options. The way she spoke and acted was almost offensive, and as she left to get the check, because we didn't want to order anything--he said, "Well, that was weird." she came back with a check, and I looked at it, and knew something was wrong. We examined it, and found we weren't charged for some food. She came back, almost defensive as we pointed out the check was wrong--I think she was taken aback as we revealed we weren't charged for everything. There was no time to see if she was nicer, because we took the receipt, paid separately (where she mixed our credit cards, and we paid for each other's meal), and we left. Conclusion- I doubt it has anything to do with being hipster, but perhaps with the perspective which you look at yourself compared to your customer. My experience here on the service level left me wanting for more. If we were rude, if we were demanding, if we were cheap, yes, maybe you can be abrasive. I have never consciously been any of these things, and expect a reciprocity of balance and respect. My vegan friend likes the place, but I wonder if there are other vegan places which pushes the bar of flavor and ingredients to another level. Leaving the establishment, I was immediately approached by a homeless man for change, then for a dollar. The area definitely isn't that great, but the inside is made to feel like a different place.
(3)
Daniel K.
- Took forever and then some for my order, which was just a burger and fries. - Server didn't seem like he wanted to be there. - Seemed a bit pricy for the type of food that was available for order.
(1)
Reimi D.
For a place with such a cool interior, it's a shame that they are not living up to the hype. I'll start with the pro's: contrary to other reviewers I actually like that they have a limited menu. Having too much to choose from makes it harder to decide what to eat. The black/white/red/ decor is appealing and is meant to attract a specific crowd. Kinda cool, I guess. Can't go wrong with the hours, and the location is quite convenient if you're bar-hopping and want a bite to eat. Cons: oh, where do I begin? 1. Slow. Service is slow. Incredibly slow. Sloth-like slow. And why? As mentioned above, their menu is pretty simple, and aside from us, there were only about 4 other customers. After being seated it took about 15-20 minutes for the waiter to take our beverage order. It took another 15 minutes for him to come back with them. So after 30 minutes, all we were our drinks. Later during the meal, which I will get to, I asked for a refill and the waiter kindly explained that they use canned soda and would have to charge me another $2.00 for a soda. Two dollars for a CAN of soda??? I can buy a 2 liter bottle of soda for less than that. Don't get me wrong, I understand paying $2.00 for a beverage *with* refills is normal, but I could not get over the fact that we paid $6.00 for 3 cans of soda. And if all it takes is opening a can of soda and pouring it into a glass, then WHY does that take 15 minutes? 2. Inexperienced cook. My hubby and I ordered burgers--the waiter did not ask how we wanted them cooked. Apparently well-done and on the brink of being overcooked is the default. When a burger is cooked well-done without it being requested, it means two things: either the 'chef' simply does not know how to cook a burger to order, which, yes, does take skill but should also be pretty basic for a burger joint, or he is afraid the undercooked meat with get people sick, which if fresh it shouldn't. If done right, a well-done burger should still be juicy; this was not. 3. Rude. I get that it's a cruel, cruel world and no one understands what you're going through, tattoo girl, but cracking a smile here and there can't hurt, especially when dealing with paying customers that are willing to try out your new establishment. You do want customers, right? Yah, I know right now it's just your "crowd" that's stopping by for a burger at 2 am so screw everyone else, but eventually you're going to have to cater to customers who aren't also your roommates or hipster DJ's, so how about a little customer service with those fries? In all, I don't believe anyone at Downbeat Diner has ever waited tables or cooked for an establishment until now. Seems cool at first until you realize it takes actual work and effort to run a restaurant...oh wait, I mean diner. The inexperience with overall service, the lengthy wait for pretty basic food, and burgers that are way over-cooked tells me that this spot is all about appearance and not enough about substance. Sorry guys, you seemed like such a cool joint, and I really don't like that I'm disappointed.
(1)
Nick W.
These guys make great diner food. I came here right after they opened and was hooked on their GREAT burgers and milkshakes. I especially love their Western Burger. They also make a pretty strong long island. Super packed on First Fridays, but a good meal any other time.
(5)
Christa W.
Only missing a star because I have yet to be able to order the apple fritters (they are always out), but their secret hand made Bloody Mary Mix solves EVERYTHING! It tastes like they muddled fresh celery and tomatoes with like angel wings or something. Sunday brunch goes all the way until 10pm and the chicken and waffles are only available then. SO ono.
(4)
Kathryn D.
Never heard of the place, but I'm glad I tried it out. We were roaming Chinatown for First Friday not really knowing what to do with ourselves. We walked past Downbeat Dinner twice before deciding to go in. It was packed packed packed! Not sure if we were supposed to wait to be seated or just pick a booth, we stood around for awhile before the waitress came to help us. I think this is the type of place where you just sit where ever. We started off with the Gingerbrew. It's made in house and is really really good! It's refreshing and sweet...but not too sweet. We ate the American Burgers and I loved that they were made from local Big Island Free Range Beef. You CAN taste the difference and I didn't notice the beef being drier then usual. We also got the Apple Fritters. They came with caramel sauce and they were truly divine! If you're going to try anything from this place, make it the apple fritters, they're worth it! The only qualm I had with this place is that when I asked about the house sauce the waitress told me it was a secret and that it tasted like ranch. I told her as long as it wasn't mayo...but it totally was mayo...mixed with ketchup. I would rather not have had the sauce in my burger. And also, it felt like they were trying to get us out of there as fast as possible. Like I said, it was a packed house and more people kept coming in, but there were people there in booths who were there before we were, and who I assume were "friends" with the workers because they were just taking space (IE...not eating a damn thing) and no one was rushing them to leave.
(3)
Arisa G.
I like Downbeat. When the pho restaurant that used to be in it's place closed down, I was infinitely sad because let's be honest-- pho is amazing when drunk. But when I heard that a cozy diner was taking it's place I was excited. Downtown late night dining is pretty limiting so it was nice to see a new place opening up for that kind of crowd. On my first visit here I was horribly disappointed. I had the loco moco. I won't lie, I f**king love these things, but this burger was dreadful. Just, ugh, really really bad. Burnt, solid, over salted. It was a pain to eat and I ended up eating everything around it. I've never had a burger patty so dry in my life, I was insulted. But subsequent visits have been better. I've realized that avoiding meat options here is the only way to get a decent plate of food, which is a little frustrating because I can't always order what I want knowing it might suck. Whether this is a statement on behalf of the owners might be a bit of a projection, but I don't think it should be ruled out completely. But let's move on: The BLAT is delicious. And the cajun fries? Oh man, I've had dreams about them. The brownie sundae was meh. The vegan brownies are really hard like pucks and I wish they were warmed a bit more or at least fresh for serving. Ice cream was alright. Pretty okay dessert. The only reason this place is getting more than two stars is because they have Dead Guy Ale, which is hard to find at most bars and restaurants. Their beer selection could use some sprucing, though.
(3)
Sara T.
Came here yesterday after a hard night of First Fridaying. We were starving and didn't want to cab it to Zippy's, and JJ Dolans had just closed, so we headed to Downbeat. I had the Loco Moco ($8) with a vegan patty and two eggs on brown rice, and it was pretty tasty. The patty was sort of the texture and taste of falafel, and the gravy was good. However, I would not say it's the "best loco moco" like some other Yelpers claim. It's also quite small by local portion size standards, so while it was a perfect size for me, I think my friend's 6'4" boyfriend was still hungry after finishing his in 5 minutes. We also shared a basket of fries, which was pretty huge for $4. The fries tasted fresh and were thick-cut, and had the perfect ratio of crunchy outside and soft inside. The decor was "hipster diner" and the place was definitely buzzing with people. Service was actually quite fast considering how packed they were (with people out the door trying to get seated). Our bill came out to $30 for three of us (we ordered two loco mocos and a sandwich and fries). I would definitely come back in a similar situation (drunk, late at night), but I don't know what the food/service will be like when I'm sober. I'm hoping it's just as good! Bonus points for being open til 4 am :)
(3)
Sarah B.
I really love this diner. The staff are lovely and the food is really good. I get the teriyaki burger, it's the best veggie burger I've had in YEARS. The milkshakes are good (very thick) and the cajun fries are delicious -- crispy and spicy. Beer selection is limited but good and there's a full bar as well. The overall vibe is hipster-but-friendly.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Tue, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Sarah M.
Downbeat is always a fun place to go when you're downtown. It has vegan and vegetarian options for everything--I believe it's also gluten-free friendly. They have a wide selection of bottled beer and fun cocktails to choose from. The veggie burger is bomb and the salads are super fresh. The atmosphere is chill/retro and they always have live music action going on later in the evenings. The waitresses work very hard and are super friendly and helpful.
(5)Alicia T.
The food is good. The vibe is fun. The staff is okay. The wait is usually long for some reason no reason At all. Late afternoon no one there and still takes a good while to get food.
(3)Matthew N.
I'd wanted to try Downbeat for a while now, but never had the time. For those of you keeping score, that's a bit of ironic foreshadowing. As part of the TEDxHonolulu event, attendees were given colored lunch coupons that were good for some grub at Chinatown eateries. When my lunch companion and I both got blue tickets, redeemable at Downbeat, I thought that the Universe was finally aligning for me to experience its splendor. Blue, after all, is my color. The ironic foreshadowing, it builds. Had I visited this place in my pre-vegan days, it's likely I would have enjoyed the food. It's classic burger joint fare, and although there are vegetarian options (the Avo Sammy, the BLAT), this is the kind of place you go to if you're hankering for something to eat that used to walk, not sprout. There was a cheesy 80s movie on the television, streaming from Netflix, and when I saw the naked rear of some lithe blonde B-movie actress, I suspected the Universe had just punk'd me. I ordered seasoned curly fries and a Diet Coke at 1:15pm. My companion ordered a salad and a water. At 2:05pm, we'd both gotten our drinks and that's about it. Although, because we were seated near the kitchen, we got to hear the wonderfully snide comments the waitstaff made about certain customers. So I guess that's a bonus. I had to get back to the event, so suffice it to say that I left without being able to adequately judge the food or its value since, in reality, I got neither food nor value. Which, since I was paying with a slip of blue paper, probably was appropriate.
(1)Sierra A.
As far as downbeat goes, its always a coin toss when it comes to service. I've been there when its been excellent service; smiling waitresses, food comes in a timely fashion, and its delicious. Then there's the flip side, unfriendly servers, waiting up to 25+ minutes for food, all around mediocre service. If it weren't for my constant cravings for the western burger and Downbeats awesome hours, I would probably have forgone this place awhile ago.. But the burgers keep me coming back.
(3)Jeffery A.
I am so flustered by this place... Here you have a 'Mad Men'esk place with such a cool vibe. High backed booths with the images of music icons, & related personalities laminated on them (appeared to be Hendrix, Billy Idol?, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Howard Stern amongst others) wrapped in thick plastic like your grandma's couch. The high back smacks of slacker, drug dealer (think...Serpico), or revolutionaries (think Che and Fidel in Mexico, plotting...) but the thick wrapper reminds me of "get your feet off the couch"? The music is the main grab for me 60's and 70's Stones, Hendrix, Doors, you know... "I found an island in your arms, A country in your eyes, Arms that chain, Eyes that lie, Break on through to the other side, come on, break on through to the other side..." that was and is music! Atmosphere big plus! Our server Kat was timely and gracious, offering plenty of coffee (Yuban by the taste), creamer (half/half) served up in a small stainless steal container, not the individual prepackaged portions. Food delivered prompt, wonderful eye contact and a pleasing demeanor (not hard on the eye either). Plenty of seating and not, surprisingly, that hipster, wifi mooching, Fresh Cafe crowd, (guess they haven't migrated this far yet), but an older more dressed for success, business is next, bunch (Republicanish, if that is a word?). Contradiction to follow... We ordered Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs (add cheddar cheese/$1.50), brown rice, wheat toast. Let me stop here for just a moment (and here is why you lose a star, or part of the reason, man, I hope you guys read your reviews, cause I really like your place and this is a must for me and my crew!) GET WHITE RICE ON YOUR MENU! This is Hawaii! You are located in Chinatown! Brown rice (my and mines opinion) SUCKS! I know it healthier, but usually the same people who are asking for brown rice are sucking down Diet soda left and right, and take it from a former diet soda addict, nothing in this world is worse for you than diet soda...you just gotta trust me on that one (lost 65 lbs in six months/ work out 20min/twice a day, cold turkey diet soda, add fiber, lots of water, and 40 to 29 inseam with very little loose skin... I mean very little...vanity time...check my pic's) We also shared a bacon, mushroom and avocado omlt. with whole wheat. All food was tasty, but these are things that are hard to rave about, being as they are common items that can only be criticized if done poorly. Food was good, sausage crispy on outside, juicy with that little 'pop' when bitten into. The only other problem I might mention is their opening time, 11am. It would be nice to have a breakfast place in Chinatown that opens early and stays open late, but I think, me asks to much. On a final note, as I consumed way to much coffee, I found it necessary to visit their facilities (clean and well stocked, useful?). I had noticed that sometime after our arrival, one by one, a (how should I put this) 'slacker wannabe?' crowd had began to migrate up to the bar (the cool zone, again, useful?) area for assorted drinks, presumably nonalcoholic. Maybe the 'hipsters' found Downbeat before me? Downbeat is locate next to Lucky Belly just off Hotel and Smith (useful points?) So if you ever walk in and you see a beatdown looking couple just drinking coffee at one of the booths, and you hear the guy, looking like Tim Roth say, "Garçon! More coffee!" and if the lovely Kat approaches the table and replies, " Garçon means boy." You had better vacate, cause the next line is gonna be, "Everybody be cool! This is a robbery!" And when the female, looking like Amanda Plummer jumps up on grandma's plastic covered seat and screens, "Any of you f'in pricks moves, I'll execute every motherf'in last one of you!" Yeah, it's that kinda cool! Wish I could be there to see it unfold but first, you just gotta get some rice, K.
(4)Mathelda W.
Excellent food... Excellent service! Would love to dine here again. The atmosphere was so relaxed great music... Our waitress Roxanne rocks!
(3)Satoru Y.
Good downtown diner open late. One of the go-to places in the area. Been here more times than I can remember. Living in the area, this place is a pretty good option. The place is pretty accessible, and seems to be doing well. It's great to see both Lucky Belly and this place thriving. I hope more successful places ate to come. The staff is friendly. I love the post punk feel of the place. The food is standard diner fare, but has a noticeable selection of vegetarian options. Some of my veggie friends like come here. Everyone loves the Monte Cristo sandwich here (french toast ham cheese), and for good reason: delicious. I love the Pesto Chicken and Reuben. Also, who doesn't love a good Club Sandwich? I'm not a big fan of their burgers though. Had the lot of them, and just didn't seem like they had enough flavor to them. They weren't bland, but just didn't taste great. I do like their Loco Mocos though: Mega Moco it when you can. Those are delicious; the gravy is good. One of the specialty nights I like are Taco Tuesdays. You can get 2 tacos for $6: Beef or Black Bean. They also have good Won Ton Nachos for that day only. Cheap Tecates that day too. Good hipster diner to grab a bite.
(3)Caleb S.
All I got to say about this place is that the Loco Moco is the best I've ever had in my whole life! And if you haven't tried it yet, you have no idea what you're missing out on!
(5)Samantha K.
Food was good as always... service could be a bit better. I really do like this place, it has a fun vibe and it's "always" open. With that said, they were slammed on Sunday evening and seating was only available at the bar. I understand being busy and no open booths, so we opted to sit at the bar. However, seating opened up and typically, (at other restaurants anyway, they ask you to close out to move to a table), which is what we asked if they would be willing to let us move to the booth so we can be more comfortable and better conversation. They were very unaccommodating and noted that she had already put our order in, she would HAVE TO cancel our order and then we'd have to re-order the food from the server -- oh, and the best part was that we'll most likely not get our food in until later if that's the case because our server at the table has a lot more orders... Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed...
(3)Alice A.
Good food at the diner. Nicely priced drinks at the bar. Great bar service. Good music. I will definitely return.
(5)Chris H.
First time there today. Food was quite amazing! Only downbeat was the bench seat second on the left when you walk in the door. Fix it, the waitress said it had been a problem. So.... minus that the Ruben sandwich was top notch.
(4)Patrick S.
Wish I could give a 4.5 but I can't. First off, the food they offer is pretty good. I had the Western burger with a vegan patty and vegan bacon. Had it with the add-on fries and it's nice you get 3 options to choose from. I had the garlic fries. They also have cajun and one other type but I don't remember. Once I heard garlic...i interrupted and said YUP! Garlic it is! As for the burger it was pretty tasty and decent on size. I really like how you can get vegan proteins for a lot of their menu items (vegan burgers, ham, bacon, chicken) and substitute without any price increase. The garlic fries are intense but good. They aren't chintzy with the garlic so it's real garlicky. I still enjoyed it but my mouth/throat reeked of garlic all night. Had a milkshake for dessert. They have many unique flavors to choose from and they are cool with mixing it up. I had a chocolate/peanut butter one and it was GOOD! The negatives I have are the lack of parking and the menu is somewhat limited. This place is in chinatown...so any establishment in this area doesn't have good parking. It is what it is...but if you are in the area bar-hopping or live in downtown this is a good spot to check out. Their menu mainly consists of breakfast and sandwiches/burgers. They have a pretty good selection on sandwiches, could use a few more burger options (like a teri burger?). But I hope they expand more into dinner entrees where you don't have to use your hands to eat or might want something more with like rice or mash potatoes. Like meatloaf, bbq chicken, or some pastas (all which I hope they'd still have vegan/vegi versions). Overall it's a pretty cool spot and with their vegan options it's definitely a place I'll still hit up every once in awhile.
(4)Jake M.
This place is great when you want a bite in Chinatown. The restaurant is clean, the staff is fun, and the overall vibe in the place is nice. I like Downbeat because it's multi-purpose. I can meet a friend or have a meeting for lunch and the place is pretty tame, or I can grab a drunken bite at night with my friends and talk story with the colorful crowd that seems to be in there every night. They also just opened up a bar in the annex next door which will feature The food is mostly what you'd expect from a greasy spoon. Burgers, sandwiches and the like. They also have vegetarian/vegan fare and options. I'm a carnivore, but my nibbler friends tell me that the vegan wings are pretty tasty. That said, I find the salads pretty plain. I love the buffalo chicken sandwich and the green eggs + ham. I'm not a fan of the french toast/monte cristo because of the sweet bread they use. Too greasy for me. The booths in this kitsch diner are black, white and red; feature portraits of pop culture icons inlaid with interesting patterns; and each pair can seat 4-6 (or maybe more if you're skinny/friendly) There's a jukebox, but the staff's Pandora stations are usually what I'd want to listen to anyway. The restaurant also screens movies and surf/skate videos on their television/wall projector. These often coordinate with drink specials on certain nights of the week, like Whiskey and Western Wednesdays. Downbeat is my go to for drink night grinds!
(5)Deborah L.
Great food, original menu items. The nachos were simply addictive: the roasted salsa had a bite but was excellent. The Greek salad had the freshest greens; my sister didn't leave anything on her plate! The brownie sundae was good, although the edges were burnt. The service was outstanding. My mother, sister, and I were traveling together. We ventured into that area but I definitely would avoid it after dark.
(4)Stewart C.
Affordable, and Awesome. My wife and I dropped in after dinner in Chinatown for dessert and drinks. Dessert was very delicious, and the drinks were done very well, with good ingredients. The overall quality of drink and food exceeded what we have been getting in other locations in Honolulu, while costing less. It's not, from what I can tell a tourist destination. The neighborhood isn't that great. It seems to me that there is some really great foodie type places on the gentrifying edge of Chinatown, where young student types who really care about food are maintaining profit by having cheap leases, rather than gouging their customers. Oh, and service was good. The waitress knew everything about the menu, how stuff was made and what was in it. She was friendly, and also gave us advice about food and coffee in Honolulu.
(5)Dani K.
Came back for a second try hoping it was amazing as the first, ordered the vegan chili fries which hardly had any chili and NO MORE FRITTERS!! I was completely disappointed.
(3)Jules F.
So many good things I don't know where to start. 1. Great tasting food (this seems as good a place to start as any.) 2. Cozy atmosphere, I love the booths. 3. Friendly waitstaff who are eager to please 4. Really interesting variety of foods with all kinds of unique substitutions (friendly for vegetarian, vegan, etc.) 5. Near all the fun stuff you want to be doing in Chinatown. How near? Across the street from Hotel 39 and Bar 35, so like, almost touching. A 2 block walk from Du Vin and Bambu 2.
(5)Sarah J.
Ah downbeat diner, where do I begin. I usually come here when I have a huge chunk of time between class and something else in the downtown/chinatown area. It's not too pricey and the food is amazing. Why not 5 stars if the food is amazing? The service is alright. They're nice and informative but if you don't look "hipster" enough they don't give you the time of day. The last time I went in I sat down, ordered the usual with a different group of friends then I normally come with. Took us 20 minutes to get water and an hour to get our food. I wouldn't mind if they were busy but it was us and 3 other parties in the diner and they all got checked up on, told that their food would be right out and they even received their food before we did. I wasn't too upset about it but still I tip based on service, usually I tip 35-45% but this time I had to go for 20, and this particular waitress knows I give sizeable tips. I went back today with more of a "hipster" crowd and I received my water before I ordered and my food in 15 minutes. Why still 4 stars? The ambiance/atmosphere is cool, they have very cool booths with famous people's portraits on them. Their happy hour specials are amazing and even though their service varies their waitresses/barbacks are pretty awesome. P.s. If you're a vegan/vegetarian, try the teriyaki veggie burger, it'll rock your socks off.
(4)Jess G.
My husband and I stumbled upon this place while looking for a bite to eat when we were in Honolulu. I eat dairy free and vegan when possible, so I use the app happy cow to help find dairy free/vegan options while traveling. I had the Cajun chicken wrap with vegan ranch, it was delicious, drink were tasty and the vibe and music was awesome. My husband had the moco and fell in love with local dish. When we come back to Honolulu we will definitely come back and I will recommend this place to any friends that are traveling to Honolulu as well.
(5)Patrick B.
I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time. The reviews made my mouth water with anticipation. Sorry to say but nothing special, in fact it was below par for quality and service. I ordered a basic hamburger with cheese and fries. How better to evaluate a dinner. I stopped in at 1pm, 4 other patrons in 3 booths, bar stools full. Service was ok not great not bad but ok. My burger came out well done (why?) and the bun was burned (black not toasted brown) inside and outside. I don't know what happened to the curly fries but mine were the common everyday frozen fries that were fried until they were almost crisp. Burger, fries and a glass of water came to $12. With all of the good burger places out there to choose from this was not one of them. Now maybe at 2am after partying hard I may rate this different but sober and for lunch, ehh. I was underwhelmed and disappointed.
(2)Kim C.
The Things I Do For Food Hip diner serving tasty food and great desserts. Situated in a shady part of China town so make sure your on your toes. If you have kids go when the sun is up. Make sure you have ample time to get back to your car before the sunsets. Because of Yelp I found some fantastic places that I would have never tasted. Yet on a few occasions I follow it with eyes closed and my taste buds leading the way. Not to bad if it was just me and my hubby. But we usually venture out with our baby and 7 year old child. My first time at Downbeat Diner was one of those instances. The food here is amazeballs! Tried the volcano fries. The Otto Moco. Similar to a loco moco but with chicken or vegan instead of beef. Drinked the spiked strawberry lemonade. You'll enjoy it if you like strawberry lemonade. The dessert's serve cheesecake from Otto Cakes. One of the major reasons I ended up here in the sketchy town of China town, at night, with kids. Don't worry I have pepper spray handy. My son got a sundae and my hubby got got the mac nut brownie. This thing is humongous. It's a brownie sandwich, ice cream in the middle, with your usual sundae items decorating it. I took turns eating my husbands dessert and mine. Two scoops of yours and one scoop of mine. Yes, that's how I roll. When we got there the bartender greeted us quickly, chit chatted with us even though she had a full bar (she was the only worker) and the food came out a decent time. Portion sizes are good and the prices are very affordable. Yelp challenge 365: 21/365
(4)Doris D.
I usually reserve my 1-star rating for vermin infested places. While Downbeat is clean, the food here warrants this 1-star because it is atrocious. I came here on a Sunday morning hoping for a decent diner breakfast. The coffee was promising. Then we got down to the food. I got the waffle ($6.50) with a side of sausage ($3). The waffle was the worst waffle I have ever eaten in my entire life. I took one bite and literally had to spit it out. The waffle tasted like raw dough, bland, and super dense. My husband took a bite and confirmed this. The waffle was merely sprinkled with powdered sugar and did not even come with buffer. Not only did it taste like mattress foam, it was also a sorry sight. The sausage was literally 6 thin slices of Portuguese sausage and an oily mess. My husband's loco moco was equally sorry. The brown rice was undercooked (unless al dente brown rice is now a thing, the rice was terrible), the hamburger patty was burnt black on the edges (not a pleasant BBQ burnt but like something went wrong burnt), the gravy was god awful bland and thin. While some folks dig this place, I have noticed that these same people come here after a drunken evening out. In the light of day, however, the food is less than desirable.
(1)Javert M.
Great place to dine when going out with a mixed party of vegan/vegetarian and carnivore folk. Prices are reasonable and service has been prompt and friendly at least on my three visits so far. They are open into the wee hours till as late as 4am which is a good thing because this is one of the few eateries open this late that have vegan/vegetarian options. My favs are the seasoned fries, vegan wings, and the fact that they have Swiss inn dressing. The vegan wings are quite decadent seems to be deep fried seitan on wooden skewers so they somewhat resemble wings. Only downside is parking but that's not a big deal if you already live or work in Chinatown or if you go late nite as street parking is relatively easy to find. This place definitely does have a hipster vibe to it but the crowd is usually quite diverse. One last note... while there are some healthy options on the menu this place is still a diner which has the magical ability to turn vegan/vegetarian food into a fast food junkies dream come true.
(4)Melissa O.
Late night adult milkshakes? who knew... so fun!
(4)David S.
My wife and I stopped here on a whim. The menu is basic diner fare but with vegan options which was interesting, although we are not vegans so it didn't matter to us. I had the Club Sandwich and my wife had the Pastrami Reuben. Both were good, and were pretty large sandwiches (both of us only ate half and took the other half home). My favorite thing from the meal was their Cajun Spiced Fries! Great flavor and just the right heat! The main complaint seems to be service, but we got there when it was very empty, so we did not have a problem.
(4)Kalae P.
AHmazing find in Chinatown! Read on for my full experience at one of the greatest places (for many reasons) I was taken to eat at 2am in the morning.. Summary: Downbeat Diner and Lounge is a great place for that comfort taste and feel, a full cultural experience is what I got. The detailed, grungy-rock bar interior design contrasted by the vibrancy of people here is a great memory. The food is beyond exquisite when you are ready to chow down. Give your taste buddies and your wallet something I'm sure they will enjoy! Here's the story: It was a long day of drinking (14 hours to be exact). From an Aloha Stadium UH Football game to one of Chinatown's Halloween events, me and my partner-in-"crime" somehow made it to Downbeat Diner and Lounge around 2am. First thoughts as I stepped foot into the eatery's establishment, "dark look, but vibrant people, awesome design, and the food is smelling great!" There was a 15 minute wait, but it was definitely worth it! My eyes grazing around the menu, everything would have satisfied my appetite (and I would have ordered everything if I could have). I chose wisely and ordered 'The Carnivore', which was a meat-packed burger accompanied with either fries or a salad. The taste was there, and needless to say I devoured every last bite. I left Downbeat that night fully satisfied with my experience, and the place left me wanting more. I will be back to try every last option on that menu!
(5)Shay F.
Looking at the reviews it looks like if you're thrilled about the vegan option, you're liking it. If you could care less about the vegan option, you're NOT liking this place. LoL. So, obviously from my 4 stars, you can tell I like the place...of course, because of the vegan option. They have vegan burgers and vegan chicken...and they even have the option of using vegan cheese if you would like. I'm just happy to find a place that gives this option. It should be like this in EVERY restaurant. LoL. I got the Western Burger fully vegan and it wasn't bad at all. It was packed with flavor! I also got the apple fritters which reminded me of Disneyland. That happy, carnival-y flavor and smell. Yum. Yelp 365 Challenge #38/365
(4)K L.
I will not be returning here. Ever. The food was so-so. This review is based largely off of the service. Came here with a friend and this seemed to be the only place open late on a Monday night. We walk in and there's nobody inside. It seems the staff have some friends visiting, no matter to me. My friend and I aren't greeted or seated. So we sit and chat awhile. Lucky for us there are already menus on the table, otherwise I don't know if we would have gotten them. Over 5 minutes have passed and for whatever reason, we still haven't been greeted or offered any drinks. My friend and I start wondering if we are not welcome and whether or not to leave, but we are starving and couldn't find anyplace else nearby to eat. The waiter finally stops by and takes our order. He's super unfriendly. We put in a pretty decent order, including cocktails, main courses, and desserts for each of us. The food was very whatever. As was my cocktail. And I was never offered a refill after it was finished. I should have gone with my senses when I felt that my friend and I were unwelcome. Too bad my hunger was encouraging me otherwise. I won't be supporting this place again.
(1)Casey O.
What's better than being a little tipsy and walking out of a bar/lounge/club feeling good? Finding a diner right next door. Great Saturday night at Manifest and was feeling hungry, heard decent things about Downbeat so decided to give it a go. The waiter wasn't super friendly, not to say he was rude, but I'm sure he's just used to dealing with drunken idiots at 2 in the morning...I will give him mad props for quickly bringing us all water, much needed and appreciated. Onto the food!!! 2 people got the volcano fries, 1 went with the jalapeno poppers, and I went with the bacon and avocado omelette. I'll break down each of them since I tried them all. Jalapeno Poppers - Looked and tasted like the frozen kind you can get anywhere, nothing special about these. Plus, they gave a somewhat measly amount of them. 8 if I remember correctly. Volcano Fries - From how they looked in some Yelp pics, I was expecting more gravy and cheese. They were covered in this cajun seasoning and garlic. Some cheese and some gravy, though not nearly as much as needed by hungry folk. Fries were tasty but somewhat forgettable because the gravy was a little lacking in flavor as well, not very wholesome like gravy should be. Bacon and Avocado Omelette - Figured I would try and go with some protein to fill me up. The avocado was fresh and there was a good amount of bacon. The toast was covered with this butter like spread, wasn't a big fan, didn't taste like anything and just greased up the toast. Overall, the omelette was good...but nothing I couldn't make at home. Man, I was really hoping for more from this place. Everything seemed to be a little lacking. Like if they put a little more effort in, it could be great drunk food haha. But alas, this visit just wasn't in our favor I guess. I shall look for another half drunken eatery near Chinatown in the future. Though yes, somewhat better than Zippy's because it's way cheaper and closer.
(2)Juliann C.
For the food ~ nothing special really. Typical diner foods. But then again I ordered ordinary things like fries, grilled cheese, and jalapeno poppers. The Good: *The decor is beautiful, it's what attracted me in the first place *It is kinda the one restaurant/diner in downtown in the middle of all the bars -- convenient location if you're just galloping around downtown *Service was great :) the girl that works there is too cute The Bad: *Nothing special about the food The Weird: *They definitely need better quality TVs, it was just so bad watching Dark Knight in bad quality! I honestly would have given this place only 2 stars, but I'll give it a three since the interior is nice :) I'll probably visit again and update my review.
(3)Matthew A.
Good drinks...came early after Mexican food around da corner....they're doing DJ muzak tonite (wed), but have live bands Tues, Thurs, Fri, & Sat....they also serve Pabst blue ribbon and bacon for only $7...
(4)Sam K.
Walk into this place on Sunday for a quick lunch. I ordered a Reuben sandwich with pastrami, it is very tasty. My wife ordered a Loco Moco; it is a little different from most local versions. Lots of pepper and I think, Provence Herb. Taste pretty good.
(4)Angela M.
Dear Downbeat Diner, I decided to become mostly vegan for health reasons. I decided to become mostly vegan for my heart and my mind, and to reverse the 3 decades of damage and abuse this body has endured. And it was going well. Until YOU. You with your hipster vibe and random movies playing on the wall, you with your black booths and peculiar patrons seated at the bar with pants that are too tight and belts that are too wide. You with your diner menu full of tantalizing burgers and shakes and fritters and fries that, by golly, can all be made VEGAN. You lure us in with your addictive buffalo wings, your scrumptious breakfast sandwich, your delicious teri burger and cheap Tecate Tuesdays and BAM, we're plant based fatties. You are the twisted and dark place where vegans can become obese. We find ourselves reveling in pure gluttony within your walls far too often, enticed by your lit windows and doors which remain open when everything else has closed, beckoning, calling, a beacon of light, a promise of warmth in the darkness. A promise that I will never fit my skinny jeans again. Is it your fault that I have gained some veggie poundage in the last month? YES. Yes it is. Your dark magical powers that produce not only edible, but incredible vegan fare are to blame. I am but a hapless victim, too weak to turn away. And I will see you soon. Certainly the morrow if not tonight. Damn it, I don't need to be thin. Sincerely, Angela
(4)Thomas O.
Came back after a month to see what was going on. I'm glad to see they're doing quite well with plenty of customers...and plenty of servers? Come on, do we need more than 4 people hustlin'? Well maybe not so much hustlin' but more moseyin', because it seemed like things took a little while. Riana S. and I were there for a hour when I know we coulda be in and out in 15 if we went to Liliha Bakery. Alas, it was close to Manifest where we were filming. Anyways, I gotta be frank here, I had to lower my review a star because of the prices. Oh my Jesus are they high. I never really realized. Because the times I came here I was either paying separately or came by myself. Well for two people, the tab came to $33. We had 2 burgers @ $9 ea. (no soggy fries this time) 2 vegan milkshakes @ $5 ea. (outrageous for the size and flavor) 1 order of Apple Fritters @ $5 (probably best purchase) I had the western burger and..it was well good. Nicely balanced bbq sauce, bacon, and onion. I want...no. I NEED onion rings with this. With bbq sauce for dipping. The shake was an Oreo Mint shake. Meh I could barely taste the mint and the oreo.
(3)Mark W.
Great food. In town and was looking for some good comfort food. The tourist food was getting to me. Everything from breakfast to cheese fries to grilled cheeses was great. My wife had a salad that was the best so far I town at half the cost. Don't let the area fool you, this place is great. Park off bethel them walk down.
(5)Jason D.
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute! Where have I been?!? This place is so darn good! This review is for lunch, so I'm not sure why the bad reviews. Anyway, my coworkers and I came here a little after 11, and they just opened up and I think we were the first ones there, fine by us. This place is located on Hotel Street, right across Bar 35 and next to Mini Garden. I haven't been to this area in a while, even though I work Downtown, which is why I probably never heard of this place, but thank goodness for Yelp! Walking into this place kinda felt like walking back in time. There design on the booths were really retroish cool and the jukebox playing take me back music was a nice touch. On to the food. If you go online and look at their menu, know that they have more food on the actual menu when you get there! So this would be my one wish - sync the menus, especially for those who have a time constraint for lunch and may be indecisive at times =) I ordered the chicken pesto sandwich and a chunky monkey milkshake. I swear if I wasn't at work, I would have added a shot to my milkshake, or try the Guiness milkshake. Oh well, next time. The pesto sandwich filled me up. The chicken wasn't dry at all and the toasted sourdough bread it came on wasn't oily at all. The milkshake was to die for and I seriously had a hard time staying up at work after. One of my coworkers had the teriyaki burger, which she said was really, really good. My other coworker had the buffalo chicken sandwich, which she enjoyed as well. Honestly, probably one of the better places we've had lunch at. Check this place out!
(5)Amie P.
Haven't been here in forever, but I had to give it a review because I'm nostalgic! Happened by this diner when me and my sister were wandering around Chinatown looking for a bite to eat. Sister thought it looked interesting and I saw they had vegetarian options so we gave it a shot... No regrets!! THE best vegan meat I've had! My mouth waters thinking about their sandwiches. Especially their Buffalo Chicken sandwich! My sister, who is a total meatitarian even enjoyed the vegan options. Their shakes are pretty great, too (Chunky Monkey, specifically)...and UM! they have Otto's cheesecake! Gotta grab a slice up fast before they're sold out though! The diner has a great punk/retro vibe to it as well and plays some badass movies. During our stay in Honolulu, this was definitely one of our favorite go-to places. Try it out!
(5)Bruce T.
We actually went twice the same night. We met up with our group there before hitting an event. Had nice drinks and some food... Me and a friend shared the chef salad (the most meat I have ever had in a salad LOL) and a avocado quesadilla. Both were tasty and went well with drinks. Service was awesome and pretty quick. Then we actually went again after the event for a late munchy. Short wait for a table (it was around 2am). This time around unfortunately the service, while our server was very nice, was super slow... I mean real slow. 30+ minutes for food to finally show. But again it was great (loco moco) but the experience was sub par. .. But it did not turn us off to the spot, assumed a bad night in the kitchen maybe.
(4)Quyen N.
Oh my goodness! I'm so in love with Downbeat! I love the vegan options! The last time I was there, I went expressly for the vegan fritters, opted for the banana fritters per my dining partner's preference. Usually if I order a meal, I don't have room for dessert afterwards. So this time - just got the banana fritters and some appetizer fries with tahini gravy/sauce. The fritters were sizable - we could each eat only one - leftovers for me! On another note, If I weren't working and studying so hard, I'd be hitting up the diner during game night and movie night during the week. Just read that Downbeat is offering more mocktails and homemade sodas. Thanks for the great non-alcoholic drinks like ginger brew!
(4)Alice D.
EXCELLENT service AND vegetarian fare at Downbeat. Waitress was super-attentive, refilling my Old-Fashioneds like they were going out of style. She was awesome, and even nursing a new tat. Food was stellar, and I've been veggie for 25 years (okay, the veggie ham WAS cheating - slices I find in produce, but everything else was STELLAR!). Rare find in Honolulu. Glad I Yelped this prior to visit.
(5)Stephanie C.
This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I come here because they offer both meat and vegetarian/vegan options. FINALLY, a place where be both can enjoy a meal. Every time we've eaten here, there has been no left overs. I've tried their BLAT (vegan bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato on sourdough bread), pesto chicken (vegan chicken, pesto, lettuce, tomato, swiss cheese, onions, mayo on sourdough bread), avo sammy (avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber balsamic vinaigrette on whole wheat bread), the teriyaki and american burgers. Each of those with fries are about $10 and let's just say that I have not been let down yet! Last Saturday, my boyfriend ordered their Chunky Monkey milkshake since we've heard that they're a must try. I don't normally drink milk shakes--it's just too sweet for my taste but my boyfriend L O V E D it. I thought it was good but again, on the sweeter side. This is a super cute diner with a red, black and white color theme to it. Good food, good atmosphere and a full bar. Seriously, can't get any better than that!
(5)Sean B.
Pretty decent menu that has all the local favorites, with a pretty surprising catch: the menu is littered with vegan options. There's yet another catch: the vegan options are very tasty (this coming from me, not a huge fan of vegan food). This being said, this is a great place to get relatively healthy food along with some relatively well made and decently priced drinks. The next big upside about this place is that it's right in the heart of downtown so you're assured a good time, whether you're there for afternoon meet up or pre-clubbing dinner or even post-partying dinner. I'd reccomend this place. Chill, healthy, decently priced.
(4)Squid E.
Today was maybe my 4th visit to Downbeat, but had such a terrible experience with our waiter Kat, that I had to write a review. Overall, including previous experiences, service here is usually quite slow and the burgers are always really dry. Make sure you have some kind of sauce in that burger or use ketchup. I came with a party of 7 today, and waited for awhile for a table, although it would've been faster if they realized one of the tables had already opened up. We also asked if we could wait for a second table, and the waiter responded with a flat-out no. So we crammed into our booth and asked for a chair. Several minutes later I went up again and asked for a chair. Minutes later we saw another table with a chair leave, so we nabbed that, and only then did they come out back with a chair. Once we were ready to pay we asked if we could split our bill and Kat said no. She then went on to give us a lecture about how busy it is and how they don't split bills on First Friday because it takes too much time. Mind you it is 1 o'clock in the afternoon, way before the First Friday crowd comes in. "You must consolidate guys" she says. Kidding me? One of my coworkers puts it on her card and we were about to leave when she noticed they charged us a lot more than we thought it would've been. Ah gratuity, something she never mentioned, and she had already included a tip anyways. So all in all, the whole paying our bill process took probably 3 times as long as just splitting it. Well thanks Kat, I won't be coming back!
(1)Claire M.
I really enjoyed their burger. Delicious! Besides their delicious food, I appreciated how they had vegan choices. It's hard to find a restaurant that can make the same dish, but vegan style! Service is awesome and the ambiance is cool. The best part was that they also offered Otto Cheesecake's Amazing Plain Cheesecake!
(4)Wendy P.
Woohoo! As good as it gets! = Drinks and service. I've read some of these reviews about spotty service, but every time I go in this joint, I'm super happy with the way I'm treated by the staff. Drinks or food might take a while if they're busy or understaffed for a rush, but even then they're always friendly, patient, and helpful with suggestions and chit-chat whenever possible. And wish as I may, I can't fit the profile of a hipster with my fashion stylings... bag-lady sometimes- kindergarden teacher on a good day... but never hipster. I come from the south, from Hwy 61, from deep fat fryers and 24-hour diners the likes of which movies are made. Therefore, I cannot say I LOVE the food here. It's too clean usually, as if trying to straddle the line between health-conscious eatery and late-nite diner, vigilantly cautious never to cross the line to the 'bad' side. But the food is good-- there's decent variety in the menu. But let's get to it-- The REAL reason I love this place is their drink menu. For a diner, these guys have it going on behind the bar. They'll mix Ginger Tea with a shot of vodka and a splash of something lemony that'll make your day. And they've taken an old childhood favorite- Root Beer FLOAT!- and added a shot of whisky or rum like freakin' bosses. Why has no one else thought of this in my life? My favorite part is, they like to mix it up-- so when an indecisive and adventurous drinker like myself tries to go off-menu, the server tends to light up rather than roll eyes. Gotta love that. Oh, and if you haven't caught onto the theme of what I like most in my reviews- it's a good deal... and these yummispectaculations of libations are super reasonable in price. So there's that. Go out there and get 'em, kids!
(5)Sharee P.
I'd give the food 4 stars- chili moco, Western burger, chicken fajita were yummy. However, the service was horrible. My husband and I are vegans, so we thought it would be nice to take his mother and some others family members here for brunch on Mothers Day being that they'll be able to get non-vegan options. After ordering our food, we waited for about 15 minutes to get our food- which is a reasonable time. They brought a dish or two out at one time. Shortly after waiting, we asked the waiter about my mother's order- a monte cristo. Apparently, the bartender that took our order forgot to put it in. He apologized and said it'll be out shortly. The restaurant started to fill up, so it was busy in there, however, we were in there 10 minutes after they opened. We all finished our food, and the order still didn't come out. The waiter handed me the check and even cleaned our tables. I told him that I didn't think we should be charged for my mother's meal because we still hadn't even received it yet!! He gave a little bit of an attitude and said it wasn't his fault because he didn't take the order and then he took it off. We waited for another 10 minutes until I approached the same guy- Chris, and asked about how much longer for the order? He said, " It's not like we're not busy, so I really don't know.". I was so upset, that we just decided to leave. So we took my mother in-law out for Mother's Day and she didn't even get her food! I will never eat at this establishment again.
(1)Chad A.
The food sucks here, and the service is slow. What earns 2 stars is that they have great late-night hours.
(2)Jenifer G.
The food options are great but the service needs some attention! I didn't feel the hipster servers were too attentive, how hard is it to get a cup of water? But.. I do empathize a little, it could be because they've got the late evening crowds that can be down right obnoxious. Maybe I need to come by at a different time of day to avoid the unruly crowd and its aftereffects, or I found it also works great to just order take out. :) The burgers are delicious and very juicy. My favorite is their Monte Cristo, a french toast sandwich with ham and cheese -- ingenious! It is the ultimate in savory! And there's even a vegan option. Apparently there are options for vegans and vegetarians which is a defininite plus. I guess it's a good spot for you to hit up late at night to top off the rest of your evening. I have yet to try it out during "normal" hours. Maybe service will be more enjoyable then!
(3)Kazuo O.
The Good stuff: Staff is generally friendly and efficient, good characters all around. Full bar does all the basics well. Quirky atmosphere. Carry out option for food. Great shakes (which can be boozed up on request). Kitchen open late (huge plus). Improvements: Standard diner food, but nothing extraordinary. The vegan option for all menu items will please the non-animal crowd, but I remember the vegan chicken wings being better in the past. Bottom line: Causal meet-up spot in trendy Chinatown. Good place to launch your night or end it. Wish the juke box would be set to play only 80's rock or synthpop.
(4)Joseph M.
The Ruben of the GODS!!!! This is a little hole in the wall place that might be one of my favorite restaurants on this island. I went here after Trivia at the Manifest next door one Tuesday night and I am now a big fan. The Reuben is outstanding and is easily the best one you can get in Hawaii. More about the Reuben in a minute. The place has a very artsy feel to it and is the kind of place that could slide right out of Chinatown and be right at home in Soho or Austin or some place like that. The seats have various artist and singers pictures on them and the decor is very "50s diner" but not as bright. They usually play something like Caddyshack or a Mexican Western on the wall with a projector which adds to the decor. Our server was a very nice girl with tons of cool tats and a septum piercing who wore those big nerd glasses. She was fast and efficient and we really didn't have to wait very long for our food. There was an assortment of club-kids, tatted hipster types, and girls from the yoga place across the street. This is the kind of place that your grandma would feel weird eating at. That girls hair is purple! The horrors! Well the main reason I am writing this review though is to talk about their Reuben. It is absolutely amazing. The pastrami was fresh without a ton of gristle and fat, the sauerkraut was not too wet and didn't get all sloppy, and the dressing was perfect. It was succulent, mouth-watering and was gone very quickly. I was literally wolfing the thing down and after I was done I really felt like ordering another one. I have had Reubens all over the world and this one was the best I have ever had. Just thinking about the Reuben makes me want to go back to Downbeat again and again. I also need to mention that they have like 12 different kinds of shakes and each one I tried has been very tasty. They aren't as thick as Teddy's Bigger Burgers but they are still a very tasty compliment to your meal. They also serve liquor as well and it would be nice to have a few nice brews to wash down my Reuben with if I wasn't already drinking a shake. Milk based sweet-stuff and beer do not mix for me. In any case this is a great establishment for Downtown/Chinatown and is a must try if you are in the area. The food was fresh, cheap, and oh yeah Reuben. Just an all around great place to get some dinner.
(5)Angel A.
I decided to dedicate meat for Lent. Allll meat. Fish, chicken, turkey, so it's been hard. Today my fiancé and I decided that I should eat something vegan other that burgers and salad. So we went to this little spot and I ordered the wings and pesto vegan chicken sandwich. It was great! I'm not vegan but I was shocked at how much the non meat tasted like Meat! The service was awesome and my fiancé had a real chicken sandwich and he loved it!! Then we had this Apple thing OMG! Thanks emi hart for the suggestion. We will be back!
(4)Kelly M.
Went on a Sunday night. Fairly quiet. Only one person working the front of the house - bartender, server, she did it all. But she was busy. The food arrived room temperature. It definitely had been waiting somewhere. But she was so nice. They took the food back, the cook fried the burgers some more (there went any hope of a rare burger) and replaced the fries. Better. Had the apple fritter. A little too brown (burnt?) and seemed to have very little apple. Not worth it. Very nice people, but too many other places to eat.
(3)Laurie P.
So ever since they closed Mini Garden, we've had to find a new place to eat after stumbling out of the bar. While Zippy's up on Vineyard is always clutch, a friend said this place was good. This place is going to totally appeal to all the hipsters. The random portrait fabric with the faces of Frieda Kahlo, James Dean, David Bowie, amongst others on the back of the benches, the arthouse video they project onto one of their very white walls, the small bar in the back, the kisch food, the PBR tall boys on sale for $5. Definite hipster vibe, but the guys working were all pretty low key and friendly. So maybe Seattle hipster, not LA hipster. Anyway, as soon as we plopped down the one waiter who was on his second day dropped by with large, icy glasses of water. Perusing the menu, I ordered gravy fries (I have a thing for gravy fries. They are just so wrong they are right.) and a Monte Cristo. A note on the service, the waiter was very attentive. Being drunk half of us hadn't looked at the menu, but he always left and came back relatively quickly to see if we had decided, was never short and rather funny. I had concerns about the fries when they came out, they weren't particularly golden or crispy looking and the gravy was anemically pale. Everyone knows that the beauty of the gravy fry is the crisp, fried potato contrast to rich, meaty gravy. Well I was pleasantly surprised. The fries were very fresh and weren't soggy. The gravy, in spite of its appearance, was delicious. The Monte Cristo was a little different than I was expecting. Instead of a lightly battered and deep fried ham and cheese sandwich dusted with powdered sugar, it was a ham and swiss between two pieces of french toast. The french toast was actually pretty tasty and held up well to being in a sandwich, which is surprising. All in all, a decent drunk meal. Definitely think I'd be back just to try the volcano fries and maybe even a Taco Tuesday.
(3)Nathan F.
Had a BLaT and my GF had a chicken pesto both were really good, even more food options. Drinks were original and tasty music was classic, and atmosphere is on point. Only down fall was that is sort of plain And there was only one waitress working and over all was priced very nicely
(4)Karebear W.
Update #3 Apparently, the C-town gangsters made a rare appearance on update day #2. I've been here many, many of times and that was the only concerning occasion. Overall, I love downbeat and it's awesome and convenient for a townie like me. Or for anyone cruising downtown.
(5)Trevor T.
Very hipster (usually something I'm not a fan of). That said, the food was very good, I had the french toast and was pleasantly surprised. Another big plus is that they're open late if you get the munchies late at night downtown (and don't want to make your next stop Zippy's). The parking is less than ideal, being right in Chinatown. Odds are, however, that you'll be in the area anyway, so the parking thing should be a non-issue. That said, this is not someplace I'd go out of my way to eat at (not THAT good). If you or anyone in your group is vegan, this place is a good spot as their menu is chock full of vegan-friendly options. Atmosphere is also pretty chill, but fun at the same time...does that make sense? In sum, worth checking out if you're in the area, but I'd live if I never got to eat there again.
(3)Leah K.
Looking for a new place to try out on a late Sunday afternoon and my cohort recommend this eatery. Wasn't quite sure what to expect considering the typical hustle and bustle of Chinatown is nonexistent on a Sunday afternoon. We were greeted upon arrival and since the place wasn't busy, we were able to pick out our seats. The service was very quick. Our server answered questions about the some of the menu items, and provided us with some recommendations. I selected the Monte Cristo. The french toast was delicious, although the ham and cheese filling were not quite as ample as what I have had elsewhere. The sandwich is served with pancake syrup on the side for those who want a little sweet to offset the saltiness of the ham and cheese. Overall, it was enjoyable. My cohort is a vegan, so he opted for the Vegan Pesto Chicken sandwich, which they were able to make totally vegan. Always wanting me to explore and try new vegan food, I sampled the sandwich and have to agree that it was very good. The sandwich was oozing the pesto sauce which was very light and fresh. It was nice little spot to drop into on a Sunday afternoon. It is great since is caters to the vegan and meat eaters alike.
(4)Jason W.
This is regarding Brunch! Downbeat overall is still a 5 to me but I got talked into the Chicken and Waffles and well, for "selling out quickly," the waffles had some room for improvement. Plus I had to ask for cream for the coffee and syrup for the waffles so that was kind of weird. The chicken though was off the hook. I am a love/hate relationship with meat, I cant quite go vegetarian but I try to limit meat as I can for multiple reasons and this chicken was awesome, good flavor breading outside, and moist, tender white meat inside. I think if I went with my original idea of the Ottos Moco, which had the Chicken and brown rice loco moco style, this would be five stars. Next time...
(4)Maria G.
Ok, so I was a bit reluctant when friends invited me here before a night out for drinks. Anything that purports "vegan" anything is always a bit suspect (Sorry to my vegan friends!) . But as revealed by my 5 star review, clearly I was proved wrong. It's not that big of a place, but it definitely makes an impact. Has a hipster/punk rock vibe with it's funky couches (with upholstery that has B&W portraits of famous icons), great jukebox, to the movies the project on the wall. However, what really won me over were the VOLCANO Fries and VEGAN wings. Wait...yes I said that right,...VEGAN wings. It is amazing, yummy, and even the texture was divine! It even had a little drum "stick" it was attached to. I ate it side by side with the "real" wings and the vegan version hands down wins. I have DREAMs and CRAVINGs (and no, I"m not pregnant) about these vegan wings. The volcano fries are a delicious mishmash of fries, gravy and cheese...nom nom nom. Burgers are also decent, and I also had there "avo" sandwich which was avocado, tomato and cheese. I swear...this place is gonna make a secret veggie out of me! For dessert, milkshakes can be ordered plain or with a shot of liquour. Delicious, delicious, delicious. Go get some vegan wings now!
(4)Stephanie T.
Love Downbeat! They have a very versatile menu in that you can please every one that you go with because there is breakfast (served all day) to lunch type foods and more dinnery type items and desserts and a huge selection of adult beverages. One of my favorite adult desserts they have is the Guinness shake, I know it sounds gross, but its delicious. I think I have tried almost everything on their food menu. The BLAT (Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato) sandwich is super good. The bacon avocado cheese omelette is another favorite of mine as well. The staff is great too, all very friendly and fun to be around. A huge plus is everything that is on their menu can be done in vegan form including their loco moco. They are open really late so its good for after bar food.
(4)Rissa K.
Mmm you gotta try the Volcano Fries! It's garlic fries with gravy poured all over! Wow! I haven't tried the burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes yet but I do want to try it next time I am there. Love the vibe here....it's like a feel of an old Diner. There is a cool bar that is right next door that is part of this Diner. You can go have lunch/dinner then go next door and have a few drinks. When you are here it goes you a feel like you are somewhere else. Friendly staff, clean restaurant, and great food!
(4)Sara N.
Menu items are a bit misleading.... volcano fries are barely spicy- they're cajun fries smothered in grey gravy (they taste alright but nothing special) and their well-known Guinness milkshake does NOT have any alcohol in it; they use a Guinness flavored syrup :| I wouldn't order it again. The service was alright; the server knew it was our first time there but didn't ask us questions or make any recommendations. Now I'm just sad that I didn't try the fritters...
(3)Rupert L.
Been here once during first Friday. Wish we didn't do that because now I'll have to give a three star for messing up orders and the jukebox ate the money. Also the wait just to get in was crazy. American burger was great. Good thing I didn't get the shake because I would've been full. The place is small but it's pretty cool. I'll definitely come back when it's not too busy.
(3)Christine K.
This place has a cool feel to it. My daughter and I chose to eat here because of the vegetarian selections. The vegan chili was great! We enjoyed the music and the friendly staff as well.
(5)Thomas A.
Best vegetarian place around, unless you're a rabbit and prefer raw things. Delicious diner/cafe kinda food. Hipster for sure, but not obnoxiously so. A must visit for any and all vegetarians.
(5)Joyce F.
For: taco tuesday, maybe brunch, $2 Tecate on Tues! Against: inconsistent service, regular menu Other essentials: All menus offered all day. Street parking all around Chinatown...or walk from my house! More: Came here on two different nights, had the same server / bartender and had CRAZY different experiences. I'm all confused now. Let's start with Tuesday. Standing on Hotel St after Emi's show trying to find food. Options: late night Lucky Belly, Bar 35 or this joint we have yet to try. Lauren spots the PRB and bacon menu item at Downbeat so in we go. Sit down and see a TACO TUESDAY menu. Oh, how I love Tuesday and how Taco fits in front of you so seamlessly. The menu was mean...like good. Three tacos for $8. Okay the beef was overcooked and flavorless and they ran out of jalepenos but the other flavors made it delicious. Including the jalapeno salsa and sour cream! More importantly, there were $2 Tecate cans with limes shoved inside. I would 5 star any $2 Tecate lime combo. Was impressed with all the vegan and vegetarian options - what diner focuses on that? Haven't tried it so unsure of the quality. The diner has cool seat covers - liked spotting Bill Murray and Frida - but no artwork on the walls. The brunch menu looks incredible especially that bottomless mimosa! Fast forward to Easter Sunday. Everything is closed except for Downbeat (and Taco Bell) but since we had such a good experience on Tuesday, we raced off to Chinatown. We had the same server who said nothing to us even when I excitedly (making too excitedly) yelled hello at her as she was setting down menus. Girl was not happy to be there that night. To be fair, there were a ton of drunkies and people just generally happy to be eating and not working on a Sunday night. The sandwiches, burgers and salads were all so lame! Like good sounding on the menu and then nothing in your mouth. I now understand why Chuggy was skeptical of my rave Tuesday reviews. My friend had the Coke float with Sailor Jerry and was instantly drunk - in a good way. Overall, Sunday night did not kill my Tuesday experience. I will be back for Tuesday and probably to check out the brunch menu!
(3)Anna F.
It's a far walk from where I work but it's totally worth it. Their menu is reasonable priced and they have a lot of different sandwiches. The staff was super nice and they check up on your every so often to see if the food is okay or if you need more water. My favorite item was the grilled ham and cheese sandwich. It's a simple item and they made it perfect. I also liked their cajun fries. They made the seasoning just right. If you're still hungry after your meal, you need to order the apple fritters! I know, it's deep fried and it's unhealthy but you know what, the batter was really light. If you go with a group, just share the dessert. For those who go to first Fridays, this place is open late. You can swing by here for food after all the drinking. Or just come in here and drink some more.
(4)Crystal B.
I regularly attend a lot of events in Chinatown and Downbeat Diner is a favorite place for my friends and I to stop and get a bite! They are open late, have a fun & funky vibe and the food is delicious....they offer Vegan and Vegetarian options, but this is diner food people so it's not fat free, I'm training for the cover of Sports Illustrated fair...yummy comfort food at its best :) The Volcano fries are great to share with a couple of beers or one of their fabulous drink specials...or the adventurous should definitely go for a Pandemonium Milkshake (vanilla milkshake with a shot of Jagermeister and bacon syrup), creamy deliciousness with a kick!
(5)Courtney O.
Finally a REAL diner!! Those of you who think that Big City Diner is actually a diner can stop reading this and move along. Downbeat Diner is a REAL diner that will leave your taste buds very satisfied! I had the monte cristo sandwich. I personally think the monte cristo is underrated and needs to me on more menus. I was very excited to see it on the menu here and had to stop by. It was served with fries which could be accompanied by gravy, garlic, cajun seasoning, or cheese. I picked gravy and it was delish! They also serve a variety of milkshakes. I had the chunky monkey. It was really good. If you're down for it, there is even a Guinness shake!! You can also add any liquor to your shake. Amazing!! There is a large white wall in the diner that shows movies and a jukebox. I think the prices are very reasonable for the food and for the drinks as well. Most of the drinks are around $5. The entire menu is available all day long! Yay for breakfast at night! Our waitress was very cute and friendly. I CAN'T wait to go back here. My only gripe is that it is in China Town and the night we went (like any other random night) had a lot of sketchy people walking around. It's not exactly in an area I would call safe. I would recommend they move closer to my house, maybe even next door if possible.
(5)Kristy K.
To be honest we actually ended up going here because Lucky Belly had a set Valentines Day menu and had ran out of food already. ;( But anyway, here's my rundown: Service: Was not good. Our server hardly came to check on us. When we wanted a container she was no where to be seen. Then she decides to check on all her other tables but us. Really??? Atmosphere: Cool! The music was back in the day music, the kind of music my mom and dad listen to, so I actually enjoyed it. They were also projecting a movie on the wall, I think it was Dirty Dancing. Food: I ordered the hamburger steak, which sucked butt. The worst hamburger steak that I had in a while. The burger was tough and dry and the gravy didn't have much taste. My gf got the BLAT sandwich. It was just a normal sandwich. Nothing spectacular. The best thing about this place was the peanut butter shake. LOL! All in all, I was very upset because I read someones review that the hamburger steak here was the best!!! All I can say about that is...Lies...All Lies!! Lastly...parking in this area sucks! Will I be back? I doubt it.
(2)Victoria S.
Really good vegan/vegetarian food. They have an animal friendly version of almost everything on their menu. The food itself is good. The wrap tends to be bigger then the sandwich. The fries are okay, but the usually get cold fast. There isn't a lot of seething, so plan on coming early if you want food from here.
(5)Kelly G.
Late night food nom! Usually most restaurants are closed at such a late hour but not Downbeat! This is probably why it was so full. We ordered the vegan bbq chicken burger, cajun fries and .... the apple fritters! In our drunken state, everything tasted yum. Unfortunately, the apple fritters didn't meet my expectations. Price was alright. Service was not bad. Bar in the corner if you choose to continue your drunken debauchery!
(4)Mark G.
Went there for a birthday lunch. Food was good, but the service was extremely slow. It took about 45 minutes from the time we ordered til we got our food. There was only one waitress working and I would have totally understood the situation til it came to paying the bill. We wanted to split the check between a couple cards but the waitress rudely stormed back and tossed our cash and cards back onto the table and ranted "you can't split checks on First Fridays." I was left confused since First Friday activity in downtown doesn't pick up til well after dinnertime and dumbfounded as to why she would waste even more of her time to express how irritated she was that we were even thinking of trying to split a check. Sorry to be a burden, geez!
(2)Angela F.
This is a great place for late-night dining (it's opened past midnight and located right next to many bars and lounges in Chinatown)! The service is excellent...the staff was friendly and very accommodating. Being lactose intolerant, I was very excited about their vegan options. We ordered the vegan apple fritters and vegan vanilla milk shake. The milk shake was DELICIOUS...possibly one of the best vegan milkshakes I've ever had. they offer many different milkshake flavors. It was very creamy and tasty. The vegan apple fritters were good too...a very unique item. They remind me of beignets more than apple fritters but still delicious. Overall, this is a great dining option!
(4)Cassie T.
We stopped in to Downbeat to grab a quick bite to eat and a couple of drinks. The place is really cute and I can see how this would be a great place to hang out at if you were out drinking. I love the music that they play and the vidoes that can be seen on the multiple TV's or the HUGE projection. Cool! We ordered the Volcano fries that are for sure not a part of a healhty eating plan. But, oh they were yummy. Basically the Volcano fries are french fries with garlic and cajun seasoning topped wtih gravy. Delicious! We also ordered the Mozerella Sticks. Nothing special. The burger I ordered was decent. I ordered the terryaki burger. I love that they use local products (Big Island Beef). The meat was topped with carmelized onions and mushrooms, cheese and a terryaki sauce. Our waitress was also the bartender (Sorry, I didn't catch her name). She was really nice. She also seemed to know most of the customers that were in there. What a good sign! After all the food and four drinks our bill was only 41.00! SCORE! Overall I think we will save this place for when we are out drinking. Not bad.
(4)Mike T.
Hip atmosphere, food was great. I had the California Burger, My wife had the Chicken salad and she loved it. Awesome place for the young hip crowd. price was reasonable and the service was nice.
(4)Ira J.
"Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter." -urban Dictionary (n.d.) Definition of Hipster Retrieved from urbandictionary.com/defi… My definition of Hipster is considerably different than the one above. While it has no attributed author, it was obviously written by a Hipster or a Hipster sympathizer. From my reckoning, a hipster is someone who believes they are too cool to be cool. So they go out of their way to be un-cool so that they can therefore be cool. An important aspect of this is for Hipsters to maintain at all costs that they are not a Hipster. They must do so because in their eyes being a Hipster is cool; and for them to be cool, they must be un-cool - not a Hipster. Get it? Well, by this definition, my teenage daughter is a Hipster. She believes that Hipsters are cool, but vehemently deigns being one. One of the first clues I had of this came several months ago when I tentatively selected Downbeat Diner and Lounge for our evening meal. Her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "The Hipster Restaurant! Cool!" Well, we didn't wind up eating there that night, but I filled away her excitement for a future use. That use came this week when I offered to take her to Downbeat Diner and Lounge for her birthday lunch. She was very excited. I believe she was so because she would get to hang with her fellow Hipsters. She does not subscribe to my theory about her hipsterhood or really to my Hipster Theory at all. In spite of myself, I liked the place. It definitely has serious atmosphere and attitude. The chicken sandwiches we both had were really good, as was our brownies with ice cream desert. The only thing that was a little lacking was the promptness of the service. However, I suspect that slow service is an engineered part of the serious atmosphere and attitude. It was also okay because it allowed us to stay longer and soak up more of that serious atmosphere and attitude. Which we both appreciated. I wanted to give my Hipster Theory a test; and more importantly like any good dad, I was anxious to embarrass my teenage daughter. My plan was to stand up and ask the clientele of Downbeat Diner and Lounge to raise their hands if they considered themselves Hipsters. Since I was sure none of them would do so, and they were all pretty much unquestionably Hipsters; my theory would be validated. However, I was forced to forgo this experiment because of another theory of mine: It is a bad idea to experiment on or otherwise harass large numbers of people who have tattoos on their faces.
(4)Jesse S.
Terrific burgers and shake. The ambiance is fun.
(4)Casey M.
First time here and I'm very impressed. The atmosphere is very modern and relaxed. Plus the food is delicious. Their vegan options are also very delicious. I'd recommend Downbeat Diner to anyone.
(5)Paula H.
vegan/vegetarian diner food. considering its called a diner idk what i was expecting but i thought somehow it would be different. a friend of mine was excited to try this place bc everything on their menu can be made into vegan or vegetarian. sounds interesting huh! he was excited...so i was excited. one date night, it was my turn to pick the food and so i picked here. my husband is funny because he always puts a smile on his face when i pick vegan/vegetarian food and under his breath recites, "happy wife happy life." which has become his life's mantra. So we get there and we order the fries with vegan chili and vegan nachos. Sounds harmless. The cheese was of course soy cheese and meat was soy protein also. I have no problem with that but when I think of nachos I think of smooth melty cheese. Not the case. It was hard and all of the cheese lifted when I pulled one chip out. Yuck! At the bottom of the dish sat a puddle of oil. Double yuck! I know diner food is not suppose to be the healthiest but when u put vegan/vegetarian into the mix I personally expect differently. I think I'm expecting too much though. I walked back to my car regretting my diner decisions.
(3)Cheryl L.
Looking for a late night place with more than a bar menu. We stumbled upon this gem. Their food was excellent and the service was awesome! Really laid back with up beat music. Definitely recommend! Great!
(4)Mark M.
Went to downbeat yesterday for breakfast (brunch?). It's a really cool little place, very hipster vibe if you're into that sort of thing. Service was a bit slow at first, but that was probably because we got there about 2 minutes after they opened. Once it was all up and running it was much better. I had the Loco Moco, which is pretty good. They have an interesting gravy, but I always wish they would cook the burger medium instead of medium well. My wife had a breakfast sandwich, which she liked. Other than those, they usually have really good burgers, great French fries; you really can't go wrong for breakfast here... The home fries in particular are great. They also have lots of vegan options too if that's your thing. Overall it's a really cool place with some good food. Definitely recommend.
(4)Lealyn P.
Great food, vegan options, cool atmosphere and good service. I love it here.
(5)Cat D.
Came for lunch on a sat. Late afternoon. Parked nearby in a metered stall. Food and service is four stars and cleanliness is a 3 stars. Volcanic fries...cajun seasoning, garlic with a mild gravy and cheese is quite delicious. I was a little weirded out on the idea of gravy on cheesy fries, but it actually complimented it. Well done Spicy Vegan buffalo sandwich with vegan ranch dressing, lettuce, and tomato. On sourdough bread.... wow tastes just like chicken. Love the substitute. Ranch was subtle and Complimented the Buffalo sauce. Yummy...i'll be back 11/25/13 Finally came back and this time I had something meaty...the Reuben sandwich on rye. Swiss cheese, soft beef and perfectly toasted with a nice mustard sauce to compliment the sauerkraut. Served with volcanic fries with gravy on the side of course. They just do sandwiches well. Hasn't yet disappointed. Mixed apple and banana fritters were oh so delicious! Kanak attack
(4)Kristin H.
We have eaten at Downbeat 3 times (there will be many more, trust me). The first time was because we researched vegan friendly restaurants in the area that weren't all hippy dippy. My (now) wife and I went in July, had a Primo and a vegetarian loco moco, and man, it was LOVE. We knew that while planning our December wedding on the North Shore, we wanted to incorporate the amazingness of Downbeat in the plan somehow. I contacted the diner and Josh was so helpful! He set us up with 3 booths and also helped me find a bakery to work on a surprise cake for my partner. When we arrived onsite, the manager on duty (her name completely escapes me right now) was so NICE and accommodating!! She was excited to show me the cake that was hiding in the back and had also informed me that she had put champagne on ice for us "just in case we wanted to do a toast". We ate, we danced, we toasted, and we enjoyed the entire night. Everyone was SO unbelievably impressed with everything. The surprise cake was a huge hit and we DID have some champagne toasts. The third time we went, it was the night before we left Hawaii and right before we surprised our daughter by taking her to see Wicked. We just couldn't leave without having that vegetarian loco moco one. more. time. Outside of Matsumoto's, Downbeat Diner is a MUST visit when on Oahu.
(5)Eric A.
You'd think I've already of had gone here, cause of the Hotel St. nightlife. NOPE! Small, cozy and run by punk rockers. DIY. Reminds me of joints I've been to in San Francisco, mainly cause a lot of Asians also run amok there. Owner, scene icon and our band has played his shows. Bartender and patrons sitting at the bar, also Honolulu scenesters and DJs. Bartender seemed pretty nice, even if I always snob her and her band at shows. I'm not cool or nor "hipster" (that word is worse than EMO). I'm just very close minded these days. Didn't try the food (I've read and heard mixed) or drink a beer. In fact, I was here to chill with my new band after rehearsal and drink iced water. No consumption through the evening but I want to come back. Oh, and one of the only places that has Primo beer glasses. NICE! 4 stars Downbeat on Hotel Street
(4)Terry K.
I had an appointment not too far from Downbeat so decided to have lunch and then go to my meeting. Not to mention the fact I had a groupon to use which was soon to expire. $8 for a burger? Granted, the meat was lean and it did not have fillers (like bread) so you get 100% ground beef. It was as lean as ground beef can be. Grilled up dry though. Had a side salad; add $2 to meal. I tried their "swiss inn" dressing. It was "ok" but I think I will have ranch dressing next time. Oh, the carrots and cucumbers were cut to a design. Cute! The carrots were cut in the shape of a star... $4.50 for a side of french fries. Considering the size of the order, I guess it is a good bargain. And- it's fried up fresh. Not some fries sitting under a heat lamp I ordered coffee with my meal and our waiteress was kind enough to make a new pot. The coffee was pretty good. Next time, I will try one of their milksakes. A few of the patrons had this giant glass of milkshake.. Looked yummy so maybe next time, I will get a milkshake, basket of fries and Maybe! a sandwich. Might just make it a snack stop, rather than a lunch stop or, as with the rest of the patrons; make Downbeat my last stop, on my way home after a long night in town.
(3)Keopu R.
I'm reviewing Downbeat for what I use it as - a late-night spot to grab some good grub no matter the sobriety level of your party. And with that, I give it 5 stars. One of my favorite wingwomen and I would always hit up Zippy's after a big night in Chinatown for good measure for the next morning. We knew what Downbeat was and had heard the hype, but we always avoided it when we saw the chaos inside and the crowds outside. One night, after I had played some music down the road, we wandered into Downbeat to feed our stomachs that were pretty much eating themselves. It was early enough that we simply walked in and got our choice of tables. Friends had always recommended the veggie burger (which is vegan) when I was mostly vegetarian, so I had to try it. Since the first bite, I've been hooked. Add the order of fries seasoned with cajun spices, and I'm in diner heaven. I pretty much uniformly stick to the teriyaki veggie burger with real cheese - they have vegan cheese if you need - because it's so damn good. Treat the waitstaff well and they'll treat you just fine. Just keep in mind that they basically have to babysit half the restaurant after 1a and it'll make the sometimes long wait a lot easier. We've always had good service. We've made Downbeat a standard. I love that it reminds me of diners I used to frequent late at night in other cities, like Clarke's in Chicago or Grill in Tucson. It'll continue to be a standard as long as we continue to enjoy our Chinatown nights.
(5)Ryan Y.
Walking in here, it really had a... hipster vibe (newsflash!). It didn't take away from the overall experience, however. The TVs were playing Flashdance (1983 version... of course), which was unexpected. The table was wobbly, but we managed. The service was prompt (more prompt than some of the other places I ate at), and the waitress was excellent. I had a Carnivore burger and some fries and it was fine. It was nothing great, but it wasn't anything horrible. It was good. Reading the other reviews, I guess we were either lucky to have this waitress, or we followed the little instructions on the bottom of the menu that said to inform the waitress if you want separate checks before ordering, which I thought was fair. Either way, I guess it's unfortunate that some people had that sort of rude service, but we never experienced anything like that so obviously I can't comment on that. Overall, good experience. I'm curious about seeing how these other servers are..
(4)Lora H.
This place is quickly becoming one of my favorite work lunch spots. So you have to walk down Hotel St. and smell the icky-ness of urine and what not to get here, but once inside, it's the cutest little diner. Nice eclectic vibe. And my #1 reason for loving this place???? Breakfast all day long!!! Who doesn't want to eat breakfast food at lunch?! Or dinner for that matter!!! Omelette and toast for lunch - Heck ya! Haven't really tried too much here. Had the Greek salad and my co-worker has had the chef salad. It's not anything fancy, pretty basic. But nonetheless, good. This place is definitely not about the bells and whistles, it's just food. I've seen a lot of people ordering the sandwiches and burgers and those look pretty good. And another big bonus.... vegetarian options. I'm not a vegetarian, but on occassion, I'm about getting some healthy food so this place really gives you a plethora of options! As far as service...eh... not bad, not good. Usually there is just one person there serving the whole restaurant.
(4)Shatina L.
Chinatown. Not many places to eat that dont have an Asian influence to it. Reminds me of a diner in the 50s. Booth seating with very cool fabric. Where's the jukebox hidden? Some movie playing on the overhead drowned out by the music playing. I dont mind it much. I am assuming it was because it was a weeknight that the lounge was slow when we entered but business picked up by the time we left. Surprisingly, it was nearly 10. They have a wide selection of drinks - alcoholic (Guinness shake) and non - as well as other things. I cant comment on entrees as my main goal today was for the dessert. I opted for the Orange Chocolate Chip cheesecake. I would highly recommend this for those who want a semi-not heavy dessert. A graham cracker crust speckled and lined with chocolate chips. Amidst the cheesecake base lies the dormant citrus flavor, as if memories of the sweet orange juice you had for breakfast are suddenly infusing with the dessert. Not an overpowering flavor, rather lingering in the back of your mouth as if tantalizing your mouth ever so nonchalantly. A mere $5 I will go back just to try the rest of their desserts - apple fritters, ice cream sundae with brownie, ice cream sandwich, salted chocolate chip cookies, Vegan brownie, and other flavors of cheesecake. For those of you with an ID (island discount, that is) card, the prize for flashing this card is free fries with an order of a burger. I may be quoting the deal wrong but bottom line is : buy burger, get fries free. I will definately come here again.
(5)Suz S.
Such happy vibes. Good cheap food. A happy divey bar. Whiskey Wednesdays always have fun creative cheap drinks.
(4)Khristine V.
The food is delicious and its great for people watching. I think its known as a hipster bar (and yes I did see a few) but I saw people from all sorts of walks of life getting their grub on here. I'm a sucker for milk shakes and they had loads of flavors. You must order the volcano fries (seasoned garlic fries smothered in melted cheese and gravy!) to share as an appetizer. I ordered a Otto Motto which was a chicken version of the loco moco. My portion was a good size but all of my other friend's entrees had huge servings. I had a vegan, a pescetarian, and a friend on a no-carb diet, come with me so we were that table with all the substitutions, however our hostess was super easy going with it and did a great job checking in on us. If you are a vegan, this is a great place to get some food as they have specialized vegan dishes and desserts. After you eat a meal, they have a full on bar at the back of the restaurant. We went on a Friday night around 9 pm and it was full but not crowded. It is on the strip of Chinatown where all the bars are and even though there were loads of people out parking and getting to the diner was a bit dodgy. However other than that I highly recommend you get your grub on here!
(4)Victoria C.
WORST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER. And no I am not exaggerating. I don't know how this place even got such a high rating because I don't think I'll ever step foot in this restaurant again. Warning you... long rant. So my friend was visiting from the mainland and my other friend and I wanted to take her somewhere that she hasn't been before. We were thinking of going to Eat the Streets but didn't want the hassle of looking for parking and we were more in a sit down dining in at restaurant mood so we could talk and catch up. Since we were already in downtown I thought of checking out Downbeat Diner since I've been wanting to try this place for awhile and the reviews seemed to be pretty good. Plus I was kind of in the mood for something a little greasy :P Both of my friends were down to try this place and we were getting all hyped and excited based off of the pics from Yelp. When we arrived, the place was pretty packed but we were able to sit at the table by the entrance. Thought it was a pretty neat looking place... very hipster like I guess. Took us awhile for our server to come and help us (who BTW was not very welcoming... just sayin). The items on the menu looked good and we wanted to order just about everything since we were starving. While sitting and looking over menu I felt something crawl on my foot. I look down and it's a COCKROACH!!!!! I almost had a heart attack because I am deathly afraid of roaches. I freaked out and put my feet up. The roach started crawling to the other side of the restaurant and one of the customers saw it and stomped on it. Then he had to shoo it out the door. I think I had just about lost my appetite. That wasn't the first cockroach encounter though. We saw 2 more... one which was crawling up the wall and we were paranoid that it would drop on our table or one of us. I literally crawled up into a ball and put my feet up on the chairs because I was so terrified to have a roach on me again. This place is a dump. ANYWAY, after getting over the whole roach thing, we decided to order & share a loco moco, teri burger, chef salad and garlic fries. AND we were really set on ordering a milkshake. However when our waiter came he seemed very unenthusiastic about us ordering a shake and wouldn't even help us suggest one that was good when we asked. It's almost as if he didn't want us to order it. He warned us ahead of time that it would probably take 15 min since he's the only one that's makes it plus he's the only server... UGH. Well we kindly told him sure we don't mind the wait. Since we were being indecisive about what shake we wanted he said he would come back. WELLLL... when he did come back (actually we had to wave our hands to get his attention) and were ready to order our vanilla shake with a shot of rum he rudely told us that he's not making milkshakes due to how busy it is and because he wants "everyone to be happy." UMm... happy?? well what about us?? we're not happy!!! It really seemed like he was having a bad day or something but still it's YOUR JOB. He had no customer service skills whatsoever. Well we didn't want to b*tch and complain since he looked like he wasn't having it today so we settled on an alcoholic drink. I got the strawberry lemonade cocktail which was pretty good and tasted just like a strawberry lemonade. Ok so now on to the food..... based on appearance it looked really good. We were so hungry since it took so long that we couldn't wait to dig in. Unfortunately, it was all just appearance because the food was horrible. The burgers were burnt, dried and tasteless. The gravy on the loco moco was weird and the rice was like Uncle Ben's rice or something. It was gross. Everything... well except the salad and fries were okay but nothing outstanding. I'm pretty disappointed in this place but maybe we had high expectations. I mean I think our dining experience would of been a *tad* bit better if our server was at least nice to us and didn't look like he hated his job. Even asking to put cheese on our fries was a huge ordeal for him. Seriously, how hard is it to put cheese on top??? Maybe I should of gone back to the kitchen and done it myself. I think I would have rather gone to McDonald's than eat at this dumpster.
(1)Kit T.
Comfort food for the 21st century! Delicious, clever, conscious. After three visits, I can say without hesitation that I really love this place! Breakfast anytime, great burgers and bacon, crispy-to-die-for fries, an eclectic full bar menu including absinthe, good rye whisky and some great bottled beers (I never did get into PBR, but rock on, hipstars), and a friendly ambience. A little bar/counter with stools and nice roomy booths, high ceilings, cartoons or other fun feeds on the bar TV. Promotes local scene and music. Most anything on the menu can be made vegan. Not just vegetarian, not just "theres no meat in it, only chicken" - really actually vegan. No dairy, no honey, no egg, no animal products at all. Now picture a cheeseburger and shake fitting that description. Or a loco moco. Wow! I am a fallen vegan, but I know first hand how hard it is to go out and get a decent meal - you burn out on salad and unadorned bread. Meaty or meatless, drinky crow or teatotalling tomcat, this rocks.
(5)Cullen K.
Went here for our third anniversary as a surprise for my boyfriend after finding this place on yelp. He's vegetarian and im lactose intolerant so sometimes it's really hard for us to eat the same things. When I found out this place is vegan everything and vegan dessert and vegan cheese and vegan wings and vegan loco moco and VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN!!! It was literally the PERFECT place to take him. We were completely blown away by the food. A miiiiiiiiillion times better than we expected. God I can't get the tastes of those wings and fries out of my mouth lol. And the BLAT? SCORE! I didn't even know vegan bacon exists lol. I just can't even describe how amazing this place is. My favorite part was the fact that I could actually order dessert without debating if being bloated and all that nasty stuff(lactose intolerance) will be worth it. Vegan ice cream AND brownie?? Fawwwkkyuurrrrrhh! And to top it all off, I'm sorry but I have no idea what the complaints about service are all about. We had 2 waitresses one black hair and one blonde and both were so awesome. Affordable amazing food, cheap as F*** drinks and awesome service! It was the first of many times we will be coming here. THANK YOU DOWNBEAT FOR BEING AWESOME!
(5)Valentine S.
This was by far our favorite bar on the island. The Downbeat has a relaxed atmosphere, great drinks, and hands down the best bartender on Oahu. I know I can't name names but she made a specialty drink called the unicorn. Not sure what was in it but that and all the other drinks she made us were awesome. They were classics like old fashions and manhattans, but with just enough of their own twist to be unique without veering too far away from the original. If you're in Chinatown I highly recommend stopping in for a drink.
(5)Nishone W.
Finding delicious vegetarian/vegan food in Hawaii is unbelievable. We ate here 2x during our stay. First round was bloody Marys, veg moco loco, and veg club sandwich. All delicious! Especially when accompanied w/ their vegan ranch. Second round was veg chili cheese fries and veg chikn sandwich. No disappointments except for not having a down beat diner at home! The service was top notch both days! Don't forget to pick up a beer coozy for a souvenir! Can't wait to return!
(5)Tze M.
Since my friends and I were getting off from work, and they serve vegan, we decided to check it out. I had bought one of those $5 for $10 deals online, thought I would try it since it was a place where my vegan friend can find a meal on the menu. I didn't find anything special about the teriyaki burger I had ordered. I heard it was the one to try.. and I'm not a fan of their fries either. I think because they had just opened for business, the service was not up to par. We waited for water, our menus, to order, our food. My friend ordered take out when we placed our order and we waited an hour after we were done eating. So we had them check and it seemed they had lost the order. So we ordered a vegan brownie ala mode while we waited, and that was pretty good. I've been to that location before when it was a Vietnamese restaurant, and still looks the same, just a few cosmetics things changed, like the bar stools and the booths been recovered to something cool. They are located in Chinatown on Hotel Street, next to Mini Garden. Parking is either metered street parking or private lot. For the prices, the service and the food...I don't plan on going back again.
(2)Angie S.
I am here 2-3 times a week. I always get the side salad (it's huge) or jalapeno poppers(they are so amazing). There is always the same 2 girls working, and they are really down to earth and give good sincere quality service.
(5)Matt B.
Great Reuben sandwiches! This is a Great place to eat if you are in China town. They have vegan options for just about everything so bring your vegetarian friends along.
(4)Nicole K.
Perfect place for the late night munchies you might have. I really wanted the cheese cube pupu. But the cook said they were all out, so I opted for the mozzarella sticks. Not bad, but I really wanted the cheese cubes. And of course I had to try the green eggs and ham. The eggs are for sure green. They put pesto in it (which I love). It's a weird color, and I felt weird eating it because EGGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT COLOR. But it tasted awesome!! Comes with toast, but the waiter let me substitute it with rice :) Gotta have my rice. And it was Movie Monday. They were showing Donnie Darko, and I wanted a booth against the far right wall but they were all taken. So we sat in a booth right under the area where they show the movie, so I had a hard time watching it. I was sad considering this is one of my top 5 favorite movies. Service was pretty fast, and the wait staff is always friendly.
(4)Ar S.
...Wonderful diner food - great decor, laid back, airy and comfortable. Servers were attentive. Best of all, really amazing Vegan items including volcano fries with yummy 'cheese' (tasted homemade...), spicy buffalo / 'chicken' burger and fries, & mushroom onion veggie burger. The vegan chocolate MILKSHAKE was phenomenal - even better than dairy milk Shake Shack (and better for you!). Yummy comfort food. The best meal we had during our 8-day stay at Hilton Honolulu (says a lot!). Reasonable prices too! Convenient location to downtown Honolulu. I wish we could come here every month ! tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(5)Gina B.
Downbeat Diner, I really want to love and remember you because the food and service is good and not because you're easy and open late nights. But for the moment your availability is all you've got going for you and I'm not sure if that's enough to keep me interested. Since their opening, I've been to Downbeat at least 8 times and at different times of the day. Of the 7 of my 8 visits, I ordered one of their various burgers and I think inconsistency is my first complaint. Only once was my burger cooked the way I requested: medium rare. The other times it was medium or well done. Even though I like my meat red, I was able to overlook it not being cooked as requested since I was not unhappy with the taste and size for the price. On my 8th visit there, I decided to venture past the burger section of their menu. I ordered the tofu scramble with hash browns and bacon. I thought the tofu would be scrambled with something but no, I just got pan fried tofu. The server also tried to serve me fa-con (fake bacon). Instead of bringing the correct order to the table, she explained that even though she placed the right order, the cook made the vegan bacon. I understand how one might be confused by the order but I still wanted the real bacon so I had to wait another 10 minutes for that to be made. Unhappy with fried tofu, I decided I needed to order a burger because I didn't want to leave unsatisfied and angry. When I ordered it, the server gave me a heads-up that it'd be a 20 to 30 minute wait. I looked around at the 4 to 5 other tables - some already with their food. I didn't understand the reason for the long wait but my dining companion guessed that they only have one frying pan and they cook using a hotplate. That would be the only acceptable explanation. Thankfully, Downbeat has a full bar. I went on a Thursday night and well drinks were $3.
(2)Michelle L.
I think that little strip of Hotel Street in between Nuuanu and Smith shouldn't be considered Chinatown anymore because it's turning into anything but. I'm so happy a new restaurant is around that is not Mini Garden that is opened late (real late) and won't charge an arm and leg for food. Downbeat is definitely eclectic but that's what makes it fun! The employees are really friendly and if you happen to sit at the bar with the other patrons, they are really chill as well. The food isn't out of this world amazing but it definitely hits the spot. On my first visit, I got my meat patty switched with my friend's and it was dry. I didn't care because I was too drunk to comprehend on what I was stuffing into my face. A trend I did notice after a few visits are their fries tend to be on the softer side. I love crispy fries and these don't really cut it for me but being a potato lover, I still eat them. Downbeat is opened until 3AM everyday except for Friday and Saturday which is until 4AM. I highly recommend this diner for those looking to sober up or if you're in the area craving a yummy burger.
(4)Natalie K.
This place is so comforting to me. I used to spend weekend nights hanging out in the diner, listening to music, and eating greasy vegan food. It is fun and delicious. My favorite menu items: vegan bbq wings, vegan pesto chicken sandwich, vegan Teri chicken sandwich, and as of today.. The vegan toffee shake. It's awesome to bring all different types of people here, because the menu offers vegetarian, vegan, and meat items for all types of diets. Definitely worth checking out.
(5)Chad Y.
Downbeat Diner is definitely located in a place where you might be if you were down on your luck. However if the mood for food should strike as you are parlaying in First Friday activities or you simply happen to be in the downtown or Chinatown neighborhood, Downbeat offers some good food that isn't Chinese! They offer a good menu, good service, and a nice ambiance. The menu isn't wide reaching by any means, but it makes up for it in its stellar menu items. Whether you want breakfast, sandwiches, or a burger, it will have something will aim to please. Is the loco moco the best on the island? I beg to disagree with Hawaii 5-0. It's not bad, however it didn't truly wow me. The BBQ chicken sandwich had great flavors with just the right amount of heat, however the toasted bread was almost rubbery and just a let down. The burgers were good and the buns nicely toasted with just the right amount of char while staying moist. Let's be honest...dessert is hard to mess up and is the one area where Downbeat shines. Their shakes are quite good, thick with just the right amount of flavor, whether it be chocolate or vanilla. While the banana fritter shines quite nicely with just the right amount of batter to the ripe, but firm banana. Service is a bit lackluster, there is no way around it. It always has appeared that they are under-staffed, even when they haven't been that busy. does that mean service is bad? No, just a little bit un-attentive. Parking is the one pain. It is always not available in Chinatown, however if you are willing to spring for it, the garage at Marks Garage is just up the street and of course there are municipal lots available in the neighborhood. One tip: Avoid when there is a first Friday, however it does offer a good food option if you are there!
(3)Sarah L.
We ended up here because Nextdoor was totally dead. Wish we never came here. They didn't have the beer I wanted, apparently it was sold out. Which is understandable since I was trying to order hipster tall can PBR. What made this place suck was the fact that they took forever and a fucking day to make my friend's egg sandwich. It doesn't take thirty minutes to make an egg sandwich...what are they doing? Slaughtering the pretend pigs for the vegan bacon back there? Get the fuck outta here. Ain't nobody got time for that! I didn't order shit from this spot. Thank goodness, or else I would have been dying of old age by the time it got to my table. Gave it two stars because, the place looks cool, and the waitress was pretty cool. Other than that go to fucking Jack In The Box.
(2)Matt M.
Small quesadilla, no where near filling even with chicken added. Female bartender has no manners and if you don't understand her explanation, she treats you like you're retarded, or shakes her head and refuses to answer like the question was inappropriate, I got both responses asking about which of two options had more quantity after the quesadilla didn't get me close to full and she couldn't let me buy a side of fries for less than $6. She questioned the word quantity as if it was a rude question and decided to order whatever she wanted. No manners, no customer service, no skill. I used to like this place until recently.
(2)Timothy P.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Let the new year be rung in by a brand new baby business on hotel street! For the longest time, Manifest was quite lonely on the other side of the street of Bar35, thirtyninehotel, and NextDoor. This is pretty genius; these bars needed a late night diner joint - considering the closest up until now was Liliha Bakery. Downbeat is really cute and swank. If you ever been to Mercury Bar, this is the exact same eclectic crowd that Betsy Johnson, herself, would wet her panties over. Joyous punk, ska, rockabilly clientele fill this diner with their drunken bohemian laughter and murmur. The decor is very classic americana diner meets the circus. The menu: Burgers, sammiches, loco moco, french toast for around 8 bucks. All of the menu has a vegetarian option. They advertise vegan on their menu, but I have my doubts because of things like "vegan bacon" paired with swiss cheese (NOT VEGAN). I'll need to go back for clarification on whether they have truly vegan options or not. Our waiter, none other than whats-his-face-from-86List (Josh?) whom I've bought cheesecake from at Otto Cake. He takes our order. I order a western burger and a 5 dollar shake. He informs me they are out of bacon and he can substitute "vegan bacon." Fine with me. My friends order Loco Mocos. In a few minutes he brings out... icecream-less shakes because they are all out. He informs us that he'll charge us only $3 and walks away. WTF NO. The appeal of a 5 dollar shake is because it is a FIVE DOLLAR SHAKE. Hasn't anyone seen Pulp Fiction? Geez. 30 minutes must go by. Perhaps even longer. Our waiter suddenly becomes the bartender and is no longer waiting upon us. We find another waiter to add fries to our order. We see him tell our waiter-now-bartender. Another lifetime later - a waitress we've never seen before brings out my burger and two loco mocos come out with no fries. We inform her and she tries to quickly fetch us the fries. In the meantime, lets talk about the burger. DRY DENSE UNSEASONED OVERCOOKED. Where was the promised BBQ sauce? Also- my vegan bacon was completely missing. Same went for the loco moco burgers, but also the eggs were overcooked too! A few minutes later the fries come out. And we've all seen Mean Girls - when you accidentally say something cruel it's called word vomit. I totally had word vomit. "I've seen corpses that look better than this." and I wasn't kidding. The fries weren't cooked in hot enough oil. No crisp, completely soaked in the oil, and GREY in color. We didn't even bother touching this. Ideally this review should be 2.5 stars, because I really think this place is necessary in this area and love the vibe. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they had terrible opening night jitters. --- DOWNGRADED! After writing this review, they decided to write plenty of phoney reviews, one of which called my review lame. Not very professional, Downbeat!
(1)Jordana F.
I'm here at 1230 am after a pau hana event and I can't quite remember how we got here but we ordered the sampler. It has mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, and buffalo wings. We also ordered drinks and I don't really know how I'm capable of writing this review but thank goodness for spell check! Anyways food is really good, the drinks are good and the prices are decent. Try it if you're ever in the area! It's not too crowded and the decor is simple and a little modern. It can be intimate but good for groups as well :)
(4)Riana S.
Alright, I've been here three times and I really really want to love this place but...I'm having a hard time :( The first time I came here with Thomas O. the service was okay, for some reason I felt like the waitress was judging me? But anyway, came here to eat, not be judged. I ordered the teri burger and it was okay. They didn't have milk, only vegan milkshakes so it made the chocolate milkshake kind of runny and not as creamy. Overall it was a pretty expensive meal for okay taste. To burn time before an event at Next Door, Kristen O. and I came here to eat dessert. We ordered the mac-nut brownie with ice cream and it was super delicious and they nuked the brownie :) the waitress was very nice and attentive (I believe the singer from Narwhal?). My eyes were hungier so I ended up not eating the whole thing. It's better to split it between two people. This dish was worth it for its price. A few days ago I came here with Nicole K. after Bar35. She ordered the green eggs & ham and I ordered the BLAT. My sandwich was mediocre, the only great part about it was the avocado, it could have done with more bacon (come on, bread is thick! BACONNN!) I had a couple bites of Nicole's pesto eggs and they were really yummy. I think I'm just ordering the wrong things. I'll keep trying haha.
(3)Jasmind T.
Love Downbeat! Its a [slightly] cheaper alternative to the eateries on Hotel St, and the only diner! As a native East Coaster I crave diner food after a night of drinking. I like the decor and vibe of this place, and the fact that they have a full bar and specialty drinks. The quesadillas and fries (volcano fries sans cheese being my fave) are really good, and so are the burgers. The staff is young, friendly, artsy and just cool (NOTE: Do not eat here if you're visibly intoxicated, they don't like that, lol). The only thing that prevents me from giving it 5 stars is...WHERE'S THE BREAKFAST?! I like pancakes and bacon at 1am...I'm sure I'm not the only one, this is a diner after all. I do really like Downbeat, great place to eat before or after a night out on Hotel St.
(4)Patrice D.
I thought this place was awesome! I had the vegan chili and rice. Absolutely love how they have vegan options for everything. Will definitely be going here again!
(5)Lani A.
Love this place! The food could be a bit better but having vegan choices is wonderful seeing as my boyfriend won't touch meat with a 20ft pole. The service is generally on it, it's sometimes lacking when it's busy but that's completely understandable. Its a reasonable quality/quantity of food and drinks for a decent price.
(5)Paola R.
Their buffalo chicken sandwich was very delicious and surprisingly light! Normally when I get this type of sandwich elsewhere, I feel really guilty and fat afterward. But this wasn't so bad at all. A friend told me that they serve vegan versions of any of their sandwiches. I'll have to come back later and try them out!
(4)Vivian H.
So we tried out Downbeat Diner & Lounge because 1) I had a Groupon & 2) it was listed in Best of Honolulu (Honolulu magazine). It is on Hotel street so your best bet is to park in the municipal parking lot (if you're not going to be there late). We get there and shown a booth but then we weren't greeted or given menus for about 10 minutes. Now if we had just sat down and no one saw us, then I'd understand but someone who worked there pointed out the booth to us! We both ordered the American burger with grilled onions (mine sans the house sauce) & an order of gravy fries. As the burgers are Big Island free-range beef, I was looking forward to it as I find the taste of this beef is just so yummy. The burgers came out and I wasn't quite blown away by it. It was good but not "OMG I want to stuff my face with this all the time" good. I had also ordered a vanilla shake and it took FOREVER. My first inquiry on it revealed that she forgot to put the order in. My second inquiry on it when I was nearly done with my burger revealed that she made it but forgot to give it to me. The shake was good and thankfully she comped it as it was melted by the time I got it. Overall, I think that this place is probably much more appealing when you've already been out all night and had a few to drink. At which point you won't notice the long wait and just O.K. food. The saving grace was due to the comped shake & my Groupon, I only had to leave a tip.
(2)Gayle S.
Stopped in here for a late night snack with a friend... we were in Chinatown, and had just missed the bus we were trying to catch... with an hour until the next bus, we dipped into Downbeat to split a quick sandwich. The turkey club was pretty awesome... we were just drinking water, since we had imbibed a bit much earlier (I don't even remember where we were earlier that night lol)... Took a while for someone to come take our order, but it seems that there was a bit of a rush, and we were the last ones in. When we ordered we mentioned that we didn't have a lot of time, which she took to heart! She brought our food out packed to go, so we ate what we could (I finished my portion, but my friend is a light eater), and since we had a box and bag already, we closed it back up and ran back out to the bus! And guess what? We made it! :) Thanks Downbeat!!
(4)Alicia D.
I really like downbeat. In fact i love down beat. I usually go here to start off my night and end of my night. A great range of diner food. They also serve good drinks on the kitchen side. Good place to go during happy hour as well. They have a really great selection for your vegan friends. They have very nice staff who are so patient even when your one of the annoying drunk ones in the place. Its always very clean, even the bathrooms. Open till 4am which rocks. Go there to satisfy all your cravings. nom
(5)Nikki N.
I'm always down to have breakfast for dinner and had the monte cristo which was ok. Overall, I was distracted on how the bartender kept on talking about himself and the awful bloody and graphic b movie they we're showing. Customers, especially ones with children, really want to see that when they are eating dinner. TVs in restaurants are distracting and tacky and meant for sports bars.
(3)Danielle S.
I've never been here prior to 12am, but it is the BEST late night grub venue. Usually an interesting crowd. Great late night people watching.
(5)Jill B.
Finally some real food on Hotel St! I was at the brink of starvation and the friend I was with suggested we try "that new organic vegan free range chicken diner across from 39Hotel". Instantly intrigued, I readily agreed. Even as we walked into Downbeat, the modern diner decor and cozy feel was enough to have me praying to the gods that the food and service would be up to snuff enough for me to make this a regular stop on my Chinatown circuit. We sat at the bar and our very friendly bartender - Serena - gave us menus and gave us the breakdown about their alcohol policy. (Assumably until they get their liquor license?) The alcohol is free but they do ask for a VOLUNTARY donation. There are a few different beer choices and liquor choices but the mixers list is pretty short but it's only been open a couple of weeks so I'm sure these things will change in time. Anyway, back to the food. Even though I usually hate gravy, I was really hungry and I do like eggs, rice, and hamburger steak so I ordered the loco moco with gravy on the side. My friend ordered the BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Tomato) with vegan bacon with garlic fries. While we waited for our food my friend had a beer and I chatted with the bartender and one of the servers. Some of it was haring the story of running out of food and being beyond slammed during their grand opening on New Year's Eve - a bold choice for a grand opening since it's usually such a circus EVERYWHERE on NYE. Needless to say, I'm glad I didn't discover this place on such an off night. Our food arrived pretty promptly and I dug in immediately. The loco moco was great! I'm super picky about loco moco and, as mentioned usually HATE gravy but their very well seasoned patty over the hapa rice and eggs paired perfectly with their gravy (which was white gravy, not brown). The tried my friend's BLAT which was also great. The bread was toasted well and the vegan bacon was pretty good. Plus, they have avocado! And it's not depressing slivers of avocado but still sliced thin enough to fit in your mouth. The garlic fries were OK but a little on the soggy side. After inhaling my food I didn't have room for dessert but I'm definitely coming back to this place again... maybe just for dessert if that part of the menu is catered by Otto! Overall this place is great! They seem to be working out some kinks and working with a strong learning curve but I strongly suspect that things will only get better at Downbeat. The prices are great (all entrees are between $7 & $8), the food is amazing and the ingredients are a little on the healthier side. Plus, they're actually open 6 days a week and late enough to catch the post-bar crowd! I'm interested to see how next month's First Friday goes for them but I know I'll DEFINITELY be stopping by again (probably several times) before that happens.
(4)Misty P.
I don't know about the food, but we only stopped in here after visiting Bar 35 and got a Guiness and Sailor Jerry milkshake. Totally unique and yummy! Service was friendly and fast and even though we didn't order food, our waiter brought us all waters and consistently refilled the glasses. We didn't feel rushed or anything. I'd definitely come back again to try their food when I have more time.
(4)Kelli S.
I recently paid my first visit to Downbeat Diner & Lounge with my parents because I heard pretty good reviews about the Chinatown eatery. Granted, I don't like going into Chinatown because I always get stressed about parking and everything feels claustrophobic. But eating at Downbeat was totally worth it. Of course, parking was hard to navigate/find, and we ended up parking in a lot close by, but it cost $10 for parking. Super pricy; I would try to find another lot next time, even if it means walking a bit further. When we got to Downbeat around noon on a Sunday, I was surprised to see that the diner was relatively small. In fact, it was all full when we went - all the tables were taken but there were some seats open at the bar. One of the ladies was dining alone and was gracious enough to move to the bar so my family could enjoy the table. How nice! Our server was super friendly and knowledgeable of the menu; she answered all of our questions and provided excellent service. During our meal, the power also went out (and stayed out during the remainder of our time at Downbeat), but they were actually still able to cook all the food. Good thing we were seated next to a window so we could actually enjoy the sunlight! I would definitely return to Downbeat to enjoy other brunch items, but I would also want to order items from their regular lunch/dinner menu. Here's what we got: "Chicken and Waffles": This chicken and waffles dish is only available for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it's definitely worth trying if you haven't taken a gander before. I had no idea what to expect before trying it, but this is one of my favorite chicken and waffles entrees that you can find on the island. It includes housemade deep fried country chicken breast (or vegan chicken) on a golden, malted waffle and it comes with housemade gravy and maple syrup. This is one of the few chicken and waffles entrees I've gotten that includes maple syrup and a country gravy. The slab of chicken breast was huge; there was definitely a 1:1 chicken-to-waffle ratio. And for only $9.50, I thought this was a pretty generous portion. I drizzled the maple syrup over half the waffle and the country gravy over half the waffle. This was seriously a match made in heaven. The chicken was tender on the inside and it was perfectly breaded. The waffle was sweet, soft and moist. But the medley of syrup/gravy was what made this combo a winner. The syrup gave the entrée that extra sweetness, while the country gravy was savory and thick to provide the perfect balance. "Loco Moco": My dad said that he still preferred the "Loco Moco" at Big City Diner, but the one at Downbeat was decent. It included a Big Island beef patty or vegan patty, Downbeat gravy and two eggs over easy over brown rice. Perhaps he didn't like this version as much because of that brown rice (as compared to white rice). But my dad prefers dark gravy to be in a "Loco Moco," so I think this lighter gravy made the dish so-so for him. But to me, it looked delicious. It was smaller than some loco mocos go (only $9) so he was still hungry afterwards, I think, but this loco moco seemed satisfactory to me. I'll just have to try it for myself one day. "Monte Cristo": My mom ordered this dish, and I'm always on the lookout for a good "Monte Cristo," so this one was totally Kelli-approved. It entailed a French toast sandwich filled with ham and melted swiss cheese. The layer of ham and swiss cheese was really thin, which was good because this sandwich didn't feel overly greasy or heavy because it wasn't super thick. I did like the billowy, puffier French toast bread that was used. My mom really enjoyed her sandwich and I wouldn't hesitate to order it for myself one day. "Volcano Fries": I do love loaded fries, and these certainly sounded bomb. They feature a basket of fries with garlic, Cajun seasoning, cheese and gravy. My stomach tends to have a love-hate relationship with gravy, but everything else in this savory side sounds awesome ... especially that garlic and Cajun seasoning. "Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae": This dessert features two cookies topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream, and you get the option of having it with or without nuts. I've recently been into desserts that provide a balance of salty-sweet textures/flavors, so this one sounds like it's up my alley. "Downbeat Mac and Cheese": I do love a good mac and cheese dish, so I'm curious to see what this one consists of. You do have the option of adding bacon, sausage or Poncho sausage for a slight fee; I would probably want to add bacon to add some more salty flavors to the mac and cheese. I'm not very hard to please when it comes to mac and cheese, so I look forward to trying Downbeat's version of the comfort food one day.
(4)Pam M.
I've been coming to Downbeat Diner on & off for a while for lunch. In the past I've had their chicken pesto sandwich & loco novo dishes & wanted to try their Chicken & Waffles after seeing it mentioned in Frolic Hawaii recently. I didn't see it on their lunch menu & upon inquiry, our server stated that it's only available on Sunday. My back up choice was their Mac & Cheese $5.00 (and I added the bacon option $1.50). It was pretty good, rich, creamy & satisfying. I couldn't finish it, probably because I had a chai milkshake $5.50 (which was also awesome) so my Mac & Cheese leftovers are in my mini fridge. Their prices are pretty low. Everything our group ordered was under $10 & my co workers both had sandwiches or burgers & both items were only $8. Service is quick & friendly.
(4)Erica A.
Somehow, some way, I always end up at Downbeat Diner after a fun night in Chinatown. They have good food at a decent price, and most importantly, they have vegetarian and vegan options. (Sometimes, they get vegan orders mixed up with non-vegans ones, which can be annoying, but it's a rare occurrence.) The diner itself has a very cool vibe, with movies projecting on one of the walls, a vast and unique drink selection- including but not limited to, spiked milkshakes- and of course the pop icons printed on the upholstery of all the booths. Downbeat Lounge is connected to Downbeat Diner, with a door inbetween. They have a small stage that is great for bands, and they have a good sound system for different dance nights. The Lounge has their own specialty drinks, which are served in mason jars and pretty tasty. The service is okay, they're usually kind of slow and a little passe... but considering how hipster this place is, it kind of goes. And since we've been here so many times, it's obviously not bad enough to discourage us, lol. They have different events throughout the week, such as brunch on weekends with mimosas and bloody maries, and Taco and Tequila Tuesdays. If you are vegan, and love chocolate, do NOT leave here without trying the vegan chocolate chunk brownie. Side note: It's always hilarious that I order the Vegan BLAT ("bacon", lettuce, avocado, tomato sandwhich) and my husband literally orders the Carnivore burger. Maybe that's why they mix up my order and accidentally give me meat sometimes...
(4)Hunter H.
Downbeat Diner is such an enjoyable place to relax and eat. The service is very consistent and the food was delicious. The vegetarian option is great as well, I'll be back for sure!
(5)Val M.
Awesome vegan diner food. I have enjoyed everything so far....the food, the cocktails, the service, the ambience, EVERYTHING
(5)Amina P.
I am in the midst of a love hate relationship with DownBeat. Every piece of food I have ever had here is great diner food. Every encounter I have with a server/bartender has upset me. I am not regular enough apparently, so the ignoring game is played well and often. Eaten here at least 15 times, will eat there again, simply due to the food and location. However, not nearly as often as I would if they had mandatory personality classes upon hiring.
(3)Kuuipo D.
DownBeat saved me & my hubby from having a crappy night. Let me set up the story: I was looking on Yelp for our next adventure when I found this ice cream place in Chinatown (I will not name the place). The hours were listed as open until 11pm. It was 8:30 pm, so off we go! We got there in 20 minutes (no, we were not speeding), found street parking, only to discover the ice cream place was closed!!! UGH!!!! As we were walking back to our car, we noticed that Chinatown has a busy nightlife. Even as it was 9pm, a lot of places were still open. We looked around and discovered DownBeat Diner. It wasn't too busy so we went in. Thank God we did!! When we walked in, we felt this vibe going on. It was like hipster-cool. The seats and menus had the coolest design. It was celebrity faces. Bill Murray on my menu! In fact, his face was next to me on my bench! We were greeted by one of the coolest waitresses I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She asked us if it was our 1st time. When we said yes, she gave us a run down on the menu and the vegan options! Woohoo! (I'm not vegan, but when I have options, I feel like I could be.) AND, just a side note, the water boy was on point! Our water glasses were ALWAYS full! I ordered the volcano fries. They are fries with gravy, cheese, garlic, and some type of fiery goodness. So, so good! On top of that, I ordered the meaty loco moco (with Big Island beef). The patty was light, something I really appreciate. The gravy was not too salty, so thanks for that! Hubby had a American burger with a salad. (It made me feel guilty for what I ate.) Now, if you have read my reviews before, you know I ALWAYS dedicate a separate paragraph for dessert. We ordered the salted chocolate chip cookie sundae. Two cookies, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and nuts (or without). Bring it! It didn't come. Our waitress said they only had vegan cookies. ALRIGHT! Bring that then. It was beautifully simple, but oh, so delicious. We couldn't even tell that it was a vegan cookie. I just know it was GOOOOOD!!!! Thank you, DownBeat Diner for turning our crappy evening into a memorable one!
(5)Allison D.
I left Downbeat full...of disappointment. I used to LOVE this place. I was their number one advocate. But, unfortunately, the last couple of times I've been there the service has been incredibly subpar. My partner and I had lunch at Downbeat this last Saturday and the experience is what has caused me to update my review. We walked in to a somewhat full restaurant and sat down. My partner ordered the egg breakfast with bacon. He received the egg breakfast with Portuguese sausage. I ordered a grilled cheese with tomato on wheat bread. If you look at my last review, you'll see I raved about their grilled cheese. Unfortunately, it has fallen from grace. I received a grilled cheese on sourdough with the cheese barely melted. I really dislike sourdough bread which is why I had specifically asked for wheat bread. I attempted twice to flag down our waiter by raising my hand and saying "excuse me" to ask for a side of ranch but was ignored both times. The waiter did not come by once to ask if our meal was ok so we never got the chance to explain to them they messed up on our order. I won't be back for the food, but would go back for drinks in the lounge.
(2)Jozlyn H.
I like this place!!!!! It's pretty chill, hip and they have a wonderful vegan selection!!! I'm not vegan, but I love that they have this option because I can bring my friend here without being limited!!! Plus.... Their vegan food is pretty tasty!! I only have them 4 starts because service...... Could have been a little better. It was t that busy... But it seemed liked server didn't pay attention to us. Not a biggie because I'll definitely be back. Atmosphere: I came here on Saturday night. Restaurant was fairly busy but we were still able to sit right away. Chill, hip and casual Service: could be better. Not that bad... But wasn't the greatest experience of mine. Didn't affect my decision to come here tho Food: the fact that they can make vegan food taste that good was awesome in itself I'm will be back here... I want to try their other menu items! I had the vegan chili nacho... And my vegan friend had the vegan loco moco. thumbs up!!!
(4)Don N.
We've been coming here for the past year, finally posting a review! One of the few spots in Chinatown open on Sunday's, they are a great choice for brunch and even have brunch drink specials. Food: always spot on whether you choose regular, vegetarian, or vegan. This time I tried the Avo Sammy, great light sandwich with fresh avocado, tomato, lettuce on toasted bread. Simple enough but delish. Had their maple bacon old fashioned, crispy thick cut bacon in a bourbon old fashion. Smoky, salty, crispy, with a sweet finish...yum! Service: Friendly, attentive servers. Since they were one of the few places open in the area, the restaurant was crowded with one waitress. She managed all of the tables efficiently and took care of all the customers. Atmosphere: Funky, Dive-ish, diner decor. Clean with a cool vibe. I like it as it gives it their distinctive personality. Value: Great prices, good portion sizes, make this place a plus in the value category. My Avo Sammy, side of fries, and Old fashioned only set me back $15. Overall a great place for people looking to get unique drinks with healthy diner food.
(4)Mikey H.
I love coming down to Chinatown, and there's some great restaurants that have opened, but my only problem is that most of them close at 2...or shall I say they stop serving at 1:30. We had walked by Downbeat on past visits, and were pretty happy that they are open all day. Low key and chill dining area....friendly greeting when we entered. Cool booths! I ordered a natural ginger ale...very refreshing! They have a number of items to choose from. I ordered the club sandwich with garlic fries, the partner had the pesto chicken with curly fries. Both came out in a timely manner and tasted great! It was around 2 pm so it wasn't that crowded which was nice. I'm sure it can be a zoo. Our waitress/bartender was very friendly and had that 50s pin up girl look...very cute! I will definitely be back. Such a great little gem in Chinatown and one that's open past the standard 2 pm.
(4)Raelyn B.
When you travel with more than one other person it gets a bit difficult to try and coordinate where to eat, especially if one of those people are a vegetarian or a vegan of some kind. So taking into consideration that specific food option and being able to fill everyone's tummy can be frustrating. But no fear. In Chinatown there is a great a place for you vegan and veggie friends to get their fill along with your meat hungry friends. They have vegan burgers, vegan bbq wings, salads, breakfast, drinks and milkshakes. Heck you can even bring your momma's mom along to this shin dig and make her feel Forever 21 with the music they play. When I visited the mix of 80's and 70's music can take you back and if you're anything like my friends we love to sing and if we know the song we're sure to sing along. FYI the vegan bbq sticks taste like they're not vegan.. or maybe idk what vegan tastes like but it tasted like chicken. So when my lover-of-meats friend had some he didn't mind it. "Tasty," he says. Their burgers come with a $3 add on of fries or salad and you can choose between a cajun, garlic, curly or regular fries and wanting all the fries you can ever have picking just one is a challenge. So this time I opted for garlic with my Teriyaki burger that comes with grilled mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese. It was delicious, very filling after the first half of my sandwich. I couldn't finish - it's sitting here with me as write this review. It's a cool, hipster-esque place where the waiters all have died bright hair and tattoos. The waiters are not only look cool, but they actually are cool. The booth seating makes you feel like you're at a diner and the design of various artists give the splash of hipster. Chinatown is turning into a great place. This hot spot is between Lucky Belly and the Manifest on Hotel St. Municipal parking is about one or two blocks away (cheapest ones) but if you're on no Chinatown parking budget theres parking lots right around the corner on Smith st.
(4)Kimberly D.
We pretty much waited 10-15 minutes for our food, but it was WORTH THE WAIT!!! It was my first time there & tbh, I'm coming back. Good service, friendly people & very reasonable price.. Thanks guys!
(4)Bri M.
I've been to this place way too many times to count. I should have written a review sooner but here I am. If you're looking for delicious food, good company, and great service, here it is. Downbeat is by far my favorite go-to place in Chinatown. They have Brunch on Sundays and Taco Tuesdays if you're into that sort of thing. I am. If you ever find yourself hungover after a night of debauchery, the breakfast burrito or loco moco is the best cure. They also have vegan options for most of their delicious meals which are as good if not better than the original.( vegan chicken wings I'm looking at you) It's self seating and very relaxed. The staff is a friendly bunch of cool characters you Can ask for anything you might want. Want something sweet? Try one of their chocolate chip sundaes (also offered in vegan) or one of their delicious mason-jar milkshakes. Go to Downbeat!
(5)Gil G.
I know my food hasn't even come yet. But knowing the quality and consistency of DownBeat... No worries. Sunday morning, post holiday with loads of folks in Chinatown, this place is rocking! The bartender and server are working so hard, yet they have consistently served and maintained a full restaurant without any flaws. From a management standpoint, I would have had more staffing, however, these two are saving the day! kudos! The Breakfast Burrito arrived and the Michelada was tasty and spicy. The bar filled up and these two, continued to provide flawless service. On the best of days from my previous visits, usually around the same time, I have never witnessed exceptional performance as I have today! Hana Hou to Rian and Dell!
(5)Sunny Joy B.
Fun for the whole FAMILIA! Dad: twoFULL BARs Uncle: twoFULL BARs. Mom: twoFULL BARs. Auntie: twoFULL BARs. Niece: Gluten-Free Friendly. G-Ma: Raw Local Band Action. Sisters: Hot Bros. Bros: Hot Sisters. Kids: Handmade Milkshakes. Cavemen: Beef. Mine: Vegan Pesto Chicken Sandwich, Curly Fries w/ Vegan Ranch, Vegan (Coconut Ice Cream) Oreo Shake. MGMT: Do I get a prize for being review number 420?
(5)Dwayne Y.
So we just went here for dessert. This place has a cool vibe. We went here after we had dinner at Livestock Tavern. Anyway we had the cheesecake and the Brownie Sundae. The cheesecake was quite small and nothing special. It was ok. The brownie sundae was anything you could have made at home. The two desserts was ok, but nothing special. Service was nice here though.
(3)Allx M.
Awesome place to support a local dinner/bar. Thy alwayyyys have events happening and there food is simple but tasty! I come here when I'm craving a awesome milkshake . It's totally with the scene in Chinatown but it's bt weird for a family to come in or anything. Also, good music playing, always. Super important note lol
(5)Bubba S.
This place is the bomb bradda's and sista's! Always great food and service.....y'all best check em out!!! Prices are good just parking can be tough....check em out now ya hear....You'll be glad you did!!!
(5)Kara P.
Love all the vegan options... Great drinks and fun environment. .Jaz is my favorite bartendress!!
(5)Damon P.
A wonderful old school diner with new school vibe, or vice versa. Food is awesome, people are cool. In the heart of chinatown. My favorite place for a burger. The cheeseburger is the best in town. Late night hours are a huge plus. PARKING: metered street - free after 6 PM, municipals
(5)Ben M.
I don't know what was going in last night. Was it people just having a bad night all exploding at once, or was that the level of chaos they call normal. I'm hoping it was just a bad night because I don't if much more could have gone worse. The saving grace was the reggae band that was playing next door in the music / bar area. (Ionz and the Shimabukus) We got there around 9:30 PM as they were doing a shift change, meeting a larger group who had had dinner and drinks there. The waitress who was leaving was very busy but still greeted us. We sat with our group and decided on what to drink. She told us the name of the guy taking her place if we wanted drinks. We called out to the guy at least three different times over a 20-30 minute period, and went as far to chant his name as a fun way to pass the time, still no answer, glance or acknowledgement. We ended up getting up and going to the bar, that was the next interesting experience. The bar tender seemed to either be having a bad night or just be spewing a ton of negativity left and right. The odd part is they (using "they" to avoid getting someone in trouble, this is good feedback for change not to be malicious) stopped to describe the drinks we were ordering. (Chinatown Zombies...woah strong!) Seemed out of place but was welcome after they yelled at a patron who was waiting 15-20 minutes for drinks they ordered that the server forgot about. They were at the bar melting and being ruined. We were able to get that round and another, but the service was beyond bad. The bar had no flow and the vibe was not positive. After a few drinks we decided to try our hand at the other side. Saving grace! Bartenders on the "music venue" side and bar was much better! They were quick and efficient. The live music was fun and welcome after the vibe of the other side. Two stars instead of one because of the music side. Bathroom had just a toilet as the urinal was out of order. The bathroom was clean which was nice. I liked the flat screens and projector playing a movie with subtitles. I will try them out again sometime in the distant future, at least a good place with AC to get some food and drinks, I will go in with low expectations and hope they have stepped it up!
(2)Jamie S.
Hands down the cutest hipster diner in town. This place has never disappointed me, I've never had to wait for a table or experienced bad service. Must try: volcano fries, everything you could ever ask for. When you think fries on steroids, this is it! Chunky Monkey milk shake: a perfect combination of deliciousness BLAT: your typical BLT but with the added bonus of avocado which takes it to a whole other level of awesomeness Cajun Chicken wrap: tried this for the first time recently. Could have a stronger kick of Cajun, but still satisfying. The chicken is definitely on the dry side and chopped tomatoes are scarce. I give this an overall rating of 3/5. I'm not a Vegan, but pretty much for a fee everything on the menu can be made Vegan. Parking: typical downtown parking issues. Street metered parking or paid lots. I usually park in the municipal garage and pay $2-3.
(4)Keun W.
People seem to have great things to say about this place, but our experience was different. They needed more help, because we waited for a long time for our food. My friend returned her dish, but the waitress never came over to fixed the order or check in on us. So, my friend just gave up. Finally, the waitress comes to clean our table (to basically kick us out) and says, "Oh. She's over it, huh?" Well, yeah! You never came to get our order or check up on us!!! Rude she gave the table next us apologies and a complimentary dish, yet nothing for us when it was their fault!! The food is over priced and the service was terrible. The only reason I am giving a star is for the fries.
(1)Angela D.
This is our favorite place on the island. The vegetarian options are as plentiful as the meat options and they are all delicious. When I come here, I always eat too much. I continue to order the vegetarian Reuben sandwich with fries and there are veggie barbecue "wings" that I cannot get enough of. The chili cheese fries are yummy, the American veggie burger is great and the Buffalo chicken sandwich rocks (and is hot!). Beer selection is good and the TV is often playing some quirky movie that attracts your attention. Only thing I wish they would change is their hours. I came here for breakfast once only to find out they don't open until 11 am! What diner does that?
(5)Kris B.
Two stars for the diner, adding another one for the lounge. I've tried the diner several times now, and I don't know why I end up here time and again. Atmosphere is appropriate to that hipster Chinatown culture. The lounge area is fun when they have the live bluegrass music, but the area can get quite cramped. In my opinion, the lounge is superior to the diner. The servers are usually nice but maaaaannn is service slow at the diner! I usually go during the later hours of night and I don't eat much. One night I ordered the Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae which is every person's late night dream snack. Hard to mess up right? Just heat up a couple day old cookies and top it off with ice cream. But no! I had what a friend called a "charcoal chip" cookie, which made me laugh on the outside and cry on the inside. Whyyyeeeeee! Burned to a black crisp (and I could smell it too), must I pay $5 for carcinogens? Knowing my track record, will probably end up coming here again because they have late night hours but ...whyeeeee...
(3)Sally F.
Sometimes you go to a diner hoping for bad coffee and a laid back atmosphere. This is not that diner. You want to like this place and keep coming back because you're drunk and hungry and nothing else is open but every time you wonder why you came back. Waiters are awful and too cool to use proper manners or even be friendly while serving you. Always understaffed. Loooooong wait times. This goes for the bar and the cafe. They just don't know how to do their jobs and are hired on the basis of indie band knowledge and whether they own a pair of doc martens or not.
(1)Mariko K.
After living in Hawaii for eight years I finally tried a loco moco yesterday and I specifically tried it here after finding out they serve it with brown rice and they have vegetarian and vegan options. I hate greasy spoon food, so I figured that if they have these options it's a good indicator that they are using quality ingredients. I was right and it was delicious! The burger patty was very good, I really liked the seasonings used. Also, I appreciated the generous portion size, I took half home and ate the rest for breakfast today. At the same time, I think DownBeat ruined me for loco moco, I can't imagine it tasting as good anywhere else so I'm only going to eat it here. My friend got the zombie drink, which was pretty much straight up alcohol :) My friend and I were jealous of how cool our waitress was, haha. We liked the vibe a lot and especially enjoyed that they were playing kitten videos on their tv screens.
(5)Alex S.
What needs to be said first is that there is a diner eatery area of Downbeat (which is where I went) but there is also a stage with live music and bar area next door, both are called Downbeat. When I first arrived with my friends at Downbeat we went to the bar in the diner and waited for a table to open. The girl behind the bar was super nice and got our drinks very fast. This was the highlight of the night and it went down from here. When we got to our table our orders were taken and we ordered more drinks. 20 min later one of my friends had to remind them that he ordered a drink. 10 more minutes later he finally got his drink. After waiting way too long for our food we ask the waitress to check on our food and she just says that "They only had 2 cooks and they were busy." It was a Saturday night, yes they were busy, but wouldn't you expect to be busy on a Saturday night? Finally, after what felt like and age we finally get our food. The food was very good. I got their American burger and it was a good burger. My friend got their breakfast burger and it looked amazing. The food is why I gave them 2 stars and not 1. After finishing our food we ask for the check. 25 min later we finally get them. I put a 20 down to pay my check and the waiter didn't even ask me if the extra was for tip or if I wanted change back he just took it. At this point I was tired of waited and just wanted to leave so I didn't press the issue. We left wanting much more and being severely disappointed. Maybe if the staff wasn't dancing and just hanging out with random guests they could have helped the kitchen and done their job faster. Might be a good place if you are the only ones being served. I do not plan on coming back or recommending it to anyone.
(2)Kristine C.
I am definitely a fan. I enjoy going here for milk shakes and their BLAT. Friends and I have been here during First Fridays and it is a pretty fun dive to hang out at. The atmosphere is super kick back, friendly and it is divey. The staff are super friendly as well. The only downfall is the wait. It can get lengthy if you don't get here early enough. But that only goes to show that people would to come here for everything! Drink happy, eat happy and sing along with the crowd during an awesome tune while socializing is the way to do it here. Side note: You can enjoy Netflix on projection screen while dining in at night.
(4)Briana Y.
The service wasn't good. We ordered the fajita wrap and the Monte Cristo and enjoyed neither. The best part of the meal was probably the veggie buffalo wings appetizer.
(2)Jeana P.
On February 20, 2015 I went down to the Downbeat Diner and Lounge for the first time on my night off from work. I arrived around 7:25pm. Lounge Take 1 -- I stepped into the lounge area and noticed that it was practically empty. I sat at one of the high tables and waited like a good 5 minutes to see if the bartender would approach me to ask if I wanted anything to drink. No greetings whatsoever from the bartender. I ended up using the restroom and left the lounge area. Diner -- I made my way to the diner side of the business. It was pretty busy. I was greeted by the waitress and the bartender. I went straight to the bar seating and the bartender hands me the menu as well as asking me on what I would like to drink. I ordered a Coke/Sprite mix to drink and settled for the Club Sandwich with french fries. While having my meal I was able to watch DINOSAURS on the flat screen television. As I am chewing on my food the bartender asked if everything was okay....all I could do was nod my head and give a thumbs up. My drink was almost gone and the bartender asked if I wanted another drink....I asked for a Ketel OJ. I received the Ketel OJ plus a refill on the Coke/Sprite mix. Found out the bartender's name is Chris (thanks to another customer who started to chat with the bartender). Finished eating my meal as well as my drinks. I paid for my tab and mentioned to Chris "I'm going to head on over to the lounge side and listen to the music," He says, "Perfect timing....they are almost done with the preparations." Left the diner at 8:30pm. Lounge Take 2 -- I make my way back to the lounge area. I noticed that it got a little crowded. The sound equipment guy greeted me. I stood near the wall and watched the remaining scenes of CABLE GUY on the flat screen television. I noticed a seat at the bar got vacated so I went straight to that seat and got comfortable. I witnessed the changing of shifts at 9pm. A different bartender...at least this person acknowledged me by making small talk with me. I had to ask him "What time does the music normally starts?" "Around 9:30pm or later" was his reply. I looked at my watch and it was 9:30pm. I told him "The only reason why I am down here is to listen to the music. Otherwise I'd be at home tonight (in my head I'm thinking {or at work})." 10pm comes....finally we have some live music going. First group was Drowning Dreamers (cd release party). The last two groups Ionz and Urchinz got the crowd dancing. There's a small dancing area in front of the stage. It gets crowded if there's a lot of people dancing. Found out my second bartender's name is Johnny (thanks to one of the other customers who called out his name). I was people watching at the same time of listening to the music. I noticed that Johnny helped other customers, I seen him hook up a keg for one of the beers, and I also noticed that he cleared some tables off of empty cups and napkins. I tried a couple of the signature cocktails....Lilikoi Sour (it really was sour) and the Lavender Collins (had whiskey in it). I also had Ketel OJ as my last drink for the night. Excellent service by both Chris and Johnny for acknowledging me as a customer. Now if only the live entertainment can start on time (9pm according to the printed free ticket that I had) then this establishment would receive more than just the 3 stars. BTW....Fridays and Saturdays last call for alcohol is at 2am but the diner side opens until 4am for food only. Live music I think is only on Friday nights and Saturday nights (?).
(3)Jenna S.
Four stars? Most people must be drunk when they eat here because my experience was anything but. First off, the service was really slow, and two people came in well after us (after we ordered and had been waiting about 10 minutes) and they got their food before us! The food quality was very poor. Honestly they serve the same curly fries as Jack in the Box, and sadly at least Jack's fries come out HOT and they even have better sourdough bread than what I got on my sandwich. My grilled chicken was not juicy at all, and the when my nachos came out they were COLD too. The waitress gave us new nachos but they still tasted like crap. We also noticed the table across from us also sent their food back. The food they serve here is not worth the price and it's already pretty cheap. I really do not understand why this place has such high reviews. Save your money and go elsewhere, I only gave this place a shot because where I really wanted to go was closed on Sunday, and people had good things to say about it. Yelpers you let me down get off the fad wagon!
(1)Randall H.
The place is great hands down, I would certainly come again & eat here. The service was friendly & constantly checked on us to see if we needed anything. Overall this was a good experience. Music was good also.
(4)Mina M.
I love coming here! There's always something going on. This is a great place for burgers and milkshakes. On my most recent visit, Friday around 5pm, we had a table of 8 and they connected a table to the booth. I was on the end but it wasn't uncomfortable like I was gonna have people brush up against me every time they walk by. They were also playing Bob's Burgers on the projector +++ (!!!!!!!!!) I actually had a really bad craving for burgers and fries and this was literally a dream come true (can't get away from food even in my dreams.) - I usually get the American burger with garlic fries -drool- it comes on a nicely toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced onion, and melted cheese. I like to add the fries inside my burger for that little extra salt. I was in the mood for it to be medium and it was perfection. Yeah, perfection. - Their garlic fries are amazinggggggg but when aren't garlic fries amazing? - Their wings are also good and reasonably priced. - Mozzarella sticks tastes like how it should taste. Nice crunch with yummy breading and gooey cheese. - I had a sip of the chai milkshake - really good, you can taste the spices - Bacon milkshake - also good, tastes like bacon lol - Two of my friends always order the Ruben. - And they do really flavorful vegan burgers! Service is hit or miss. When it's busy, you may get checked on once or twice. And paying seems to take a while. Since our last visit was beginning of dinner, (5pm) waters were refilled and beers were brought over. We got everything we wanted. And the place didn't start filling up and until we were about to leave. The downside of this place is that they do not split checks if you have a party of 5 or more so bring cash if you can! Oh and parking. Try finding a spot on the street or pay the $12(!?) for the nearest parking lot like we did.
(5)Amber B.
What's not to love about a place with a vegan option for most of the menu that's open late even on Sundays and has a bar? This is one of mine & hubby's favorite date-night locations! The only thing that I'm not a fan of is the location due to the lack of parking and sometimes crazy homeless peeps who come around late at night, which is the only time we ever go. (Just sayin, nothing against the homeless, but I definitely clutch my pearls a bit when I am walking around and see people yelling and coming towards me) But even the crazies aren't enough to deter me from eating there (as long as hubby is by my side) OR from a 5-star rating. I've never had a bad experience here, nor have I eaten anything on the menu that wasn't absolutely awesome. I hope they stay in business for a loooooong time!
(5)Peter T.
So the draw of this place is slowly dying for me, really if not the only place where I could get brunch downtown on a Sunday without a wait AND if my kid didn't like it so much, would probably give up on it. I'm done with their breakfast, just not doing it for me anymore. Last time I was here got the chicken and waffles was meh at best; ditto the rest of the entire breakfast menu (see other reviews). Have repeated the burrito twice after my initial review and just not doing it for me either anymore, not sure why. Today decided to try the loco moco and was a big meh. The secret to a good loco moco in my opinion is the gravy and the gravy here wasn't cutting it; taste like the chicken and waffle gravy (more a flour based thick gravy) than proper brown beef gravy. Wasn't bad but wasn't good either, def forgettable. Irish coffee was excellent like always. Kid got her standard eggs and bacon though going to do a little rant here as this has happened the last three times now and it drives me nuts. So she orders "eggs + bacon, no potatoes, and white toast" every time and the last two servers (chicks, not the skinny gay dude) always bring her a side of eggs, side of bacon, and side of toast. Now look I understand you are probably doing that because toast doesn't come with the bacon+eggs breakfast menu item (and you can't seem to substitute toast for potatoes) and it's cheaper this way (and I appreciate that) but you don't need to bring it out on three small little side dish plates, obviously it's breakfast for her since she ordered it. It annoys the hell out of me (and even she finds it bemusing) that the staff can't just use some common damn sense and throw it all on one plate like a normal person would; how it's ordered or rung up is irrelevant to the presentation. On a similar vein, and this is a mixed bag, is hot chocolate. Look I know hot chocolate isn't the menu nor chocolate milk (or I don't think it is) for that matter and I super appreciate your server custom making chocolate milk + whip cream for my kid [as a compromise when she asked for hot chocolate but the server really understood what she wanted was whip cream] but is it really that much to ask to just stick it in a coffee mug and nuke it? Not asking for proper hot coco here. Ignoring that though kid loves the bacon and eggs here so we keep coming back plus the prices are right. Lastly I want to give kudos to the waitress today. White chick with blond/green hair and two stub pony tails (?). She was super friendly and my kid loved her; couldn't stop talking about how awesome she was after we left. On the grownup side, was no complaints either. She was fast, attentive, didn't screw the order up, and pleasant, everything one could ask for. Giving props where due.
(3)Kurt M.
Honolulu is not a vegetarian or vegan friendly city. Thus, I was happy to come across this place during my stay. It's in Chinatown, making it centrally located. I was helped quickly and the servers were friendly. My food was always great (not fine-dining great but pretty damn good for a diner) and came quickly. I also appreciated that their menu was large and varied. The fact that it's also a bar with alcohol made me happy because boy, do I love drinking! And to top it off, they show entertaining movies which gives the solitary diner something to do while sitting at the bar eating their meal or drinking away their loneliness. I wish this place was in my neighborhood in Boston; I'd go frequently.
(5)Jon H.
Argh. That sound of inner conflict truly sums up my feelings on Downbeat Diner and Lounge, and I hate saying that since I want to love this place so badly. Starting with their strengths and what they do well, Downbeat is a vegan-friendly diner wrapped in a trendily decorated package in the heart of downtown. They specialize in options aimed to please your (American) comfort food cravings without compromising on your dietary and culinary lifestyle choices. Speaking from personal experience, places like this make it extremely convenient for vegetarians and vegans alike. Having been a vegetarian for a good handful of years, it was always reassuring to know that whatever order I placed would be carefully prepared and not run the risk of me cheating on my diet. The food itself is generally pretty good as well. From veggie loco mocos to veggie "chicken" wings, there really is something for everyone on their menu. Speaking for myself, I am pretty partial to their chips and salsa and avocado quesadillas. But maybe my favorite thing on their menu is their milkshakes, which without trying to sound like an alcoholic, can be ordered spiked with the liquor of your choosing. I don't know about you, but there's just something so satisfying to me about that concept. And although every time I intend to order something different, I usually end up getting the strawberry milkshake with rum. What can i say, I love strawberries...even artificially flavored ones so it seems. The milkshakes aren't necessarily über strong, but there definitely is enough alcohol mixed in to give it a nice kick. And on a somewhat related note, one of Downbeat's greatest attributes is it's location and hour of operation. I cannot even count how many times Downbeat has provided a safe haven to eat-who am I kidding, i totally mean sober up-for me and my friends after a night out of bar hopping at nearby establishments. The fact that Downbeat is literally only a stone's throw away from places like Bar35 and Manifest, two places I frequent a lot, as well as being open late, make it one of the default "where to go?" options. With that all being said, and as big of a fan of their concept as I am, i can't give them a perfect rating because of a combination of two things: the wait time between order and the arrival of your food, and a past incident that occurred that could've potentially been so much more damaging/enraging given different circumstance. Starting with my gripe with the wait time, I try to be really understanding anywhere I go, and especially wanna give the benefit of the doubt when I factor in convenience and "life-saving"-ness. However, the food really seems to take forever and I'm honestly not sure what the reason for it is. I mean some of the more complex orders I can understand taking awhile, and I'm completely ok with that necessary wait. But when you end up waiting 30+ minutes for a Veggie Boat, which is basically assorted sticks of vegetables, more than a few eyebrows are gonna get raised. This is not trying to take anything away from the customer service, however, as every interaction I've had with staff at Downbeat has been quite friendly and excellent. Everyone here seems to genuinely like working there and it shows in their demeanor and positive attitudes. It's just that damn waiting that really takes away from their good points. And the second reason I can't give them 5 stars is on account of a "grudge," for a lack of better words, that I just can't shake. I previously mentioned that I was a vegetarian for awhile, and during that time I really appreciated places like Downbeat that provided diet-friendly options and made it clear that your food would be prepared worry-free. Anyway, one night my friends and I were eating at Downbeat and I ordered their BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) sandwich with a substitute of vegan bacon. Our orders arrived and we all began to eat. I'm not sure if you've ever sampled vegan bacon before, although it's pretty tasty it's nowhere near as good as the real thing. It just can't match that flavor, texture, or smokiness. With this in mind, I'm a couple bites into my sandwich, when I think to myself, "Damn, this is the BEST vegan bacon I've ever had! I swear it's the real thing!" And that's when I knew something was wrong. When something's too good to be true it usually is. I deconstructed my sandwich and pulled the slices of what I had believed to have been vegan bacon only to discover in horror that they were in fact real bacon strips. Now I took the mistake well, and although I was quite upset at the time about the mixup, I understand people make mistakes and it wasn't like it was intentional. And they were quite apologetic and comped the cost of my sandwich, so it kinda ended up being a "no harm, no foul" type of deal. However, I can't lie and say that the incident did not leave a lasting negative impression. Bottom line, I'll keep on coming here...just as long as I'm not in a rush.
(4)Russ C.
The best diner in Honolulu for sure . Its Vegan/ Vegetarian options make is totally welcoming to anyone. The staff also goes out of thier way to welcome the entire family. I've gone there times when the diner was almost completely filled with families. The wait staff is superfantastic. Can't say enough good things about them. Great drinks too.
(5)Steve C.
So excited. This could be my favorite place for vegan comfort food. Had the buffalo wings, chilli cheese fries, carnivore burger and pesto chicken sandwich. All vegan and all delicious. If it weren't for the hair in our sandwich it would've been 5 stars. The server was super cool and made up for it though. Props to him. I'll be back
(4)Juvy L.
This past summer when I was in Chinatown on the regular because of HSF, there were many stops to Downbeat. The food is super deliciously good. I'm not vegan/vegetarian at all, but I have many friends who are, or have to be picky about what they eat. To them Downbeat is a godsend. A lot of their dishes have non-meat alternatives, which is awesome. The vegan chicken wings! So good. The gravy fries are ON POINT. Much nomnomnoms. The loco moco (there's more than one version) I had was lovely. The gravy, man. it's the gravy. I had the Reuben as well, that was ono. I wanted to try everything! The milkshakes though! DEFINITELY get milkshakes. For a little more, you can get a shot of alcohol in it. I've had the Oreo and Nutella ones. So good. Haven't put a shot in yet, though. Someday... Just have to say this because it was a popular drink with some of my theatre peeps in the summer....the AMF is pretty damn potent. I just know I can order pretty much anything off the menu and love it. The quality of the food is great. Does get busy on the weekends, but you probably know that already.
(4)Jenna M.
Just thought that I'd drop by and have a salad..yeah I can't say this is the worse experience ever ever ever~~ but I wasn't too fond of the orange stuff floating at the bottom of the water glass put in front of me. When I informed the bartender, I was told "I'll let my Manager know" WAIT~~ What?? you'll let your Manager know??? so you don't know how to pull a bar gun apart and clean it?? You don't know how to check the bottom of cups glasses etc to make sure they're clean?? Wow!! I'm not complaining ~~ bitching about it YES I am... my salad had cucumber in it that was clear ??? I dunno I was hoping this by myself time would cheer me up but now I'm feeling like maybe I should've had a sandwich at my Cafe. Oi Vey!!!
(2)Nicole K.
Let me just preface this review by mentioning that Downbeat Diner was playing Cadet Kelly on TV the day I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch there! Cadet Kelly! If you were a tween in the early 2000's and fondly remember the heyday of Disney Channel Original Movies, you will be impressed by Downbeat Diner's superb entertainment selection. If not, sorry for the blast from the not-too-distant-past! Back to the Review... One day, as my co-worker and I mulled over where to grab lunch, he casually mentioned his past visit to Downbeat Diner where his friend ordered a French Toast Sandwich. I immediately stopped whatever I was doing, dramatically whipped back, and asked "You mean a Monte Cristo?!" I first tried a Monte Cristo in college when I was stuck in LA for the summer and frequented a cafe (Black Cow Cafe) where The. Best. Monte. Cristo. Sandwich was served. It was a novelty to me at the time - French Toast AND Ham AND Cheese?! After one strangely confusing yet delicious bite, I was hooked! With the new-found knowledge that Downbeat Diner, just a few blocks away from my office, served this awesome Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner sandwich, there was no more mulling over where to go. We were going to Downbeat! We arrived around 12:00 p.m. during lunch rush. There were plenty of seats open at the bar and one booth left! We hightailed it to the booth and were immediately greeted and provided with menus. If I hadn't come to Downbeat Diner specifically for a Monte Cristo, I could have spent quite awhile pouring over the delicious sounding options offered...especially the milkshakes! *Drool* I ordered my Monte Cristo with a side of french fries (an additional $2.50) and tried not too look overly intrigued with Cadet Kelly on the TV while I waited. It was difficult... After a few minutes, our meals appeared. And after a few minutes, our meals disappeared. The Monte Cristo Sandwich was great! The French Toast, albeit a bit soggy, was perfectly sweet and topped with powdered sugar. I used to enjoy my Monte Cristo with a side of cream cheese and jam, but the maple syrup provided with my meal was ooey-gooey-amazing! The sweetness of the French Toast with the saltiness of the ham and cheese made for a delectable and savory flavor! By the end of our meal, I was too full to order a milkshake to-go, but am eyeing the Chai Tea one for next time! While Downbeat Diner is a great spot for lunch, I am even more intrigued to visit at night for some of their awesome sounding drinks!
(4)Gavin H.
Just had dinner here with a friend visiting from Scotland. She happens to be vegan. The Loco Mock may be the best I've ever had and the vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sunday we shared was beyond my expectations.
(5)Courtney B.
Bar was a bar... Appetizers came out with the food, ALL of the food was cold when it did arrive. Positives, waitress was great, drinks were good. Food was good once it did re-arrive. Update: waitress removed all of our drinks, in order to compensate, which was more than great in the customer service department. Like I said "great waitress", nice recovery.
(3)Failed O.
Great food (especially when it comes to vegan and vegetarian options because those can be hard to come by), delicious drinks, affordable prices, and amazing bartenders/servers. Not to mention they're open late, which is always a plus. Downbeat is one of our favorite places in Chinatown and we're so glad it exists.
(5)Jennifer S.
Cute place to visit for lunch downtown. Black, red and white décor and friendly staff. I went with 2 friends who visit there often (sometimes weekly) so I was able to get an inside scoop as to what they thought were good items to try. I settled on the chicken pesto sandwich and added the curly fries for an additional charge. Wow! They gave a good amount of food! They didn't skimp on the fries, the chicken and most importantly, the pesto!!! I really enjoyed my lunch. My other friend ordered the otto moco. Boneless, skinless chicken, with the downbeat gravy, easy over eggs, over a bed of brown rice I tried a bite and it's something I'd consider ordering the next time. My other friend ordered a wrap of some sort with gravy fries. I didn't try it so I can't give you my opinion on it. Oh and the shakes!!! I need to come back here and try the shakes. I heard they're really good and they better be cause they cost $5+ for a small cup. I'll update you on the shake after my next visits (plural because there are 3-5 flavors of shakes that I want to try...ha!)
(4)Jen S.
Downbeat diner is a hipster diner in Chinatown. And it served me well for both mid-day food and late night drinking and dining. There are the classic meat based dishes on the menu - like burgers & chicken sandwiches. But I love that any of those can be substituted with vegan/vegetarian equivalents. The 'faux' chicken sandwiches were tasty and I was delighted I could get a vegan version of hot-wings - score! Beer and and liquor available, so you can enjoy a mixed drink or just add a shot to your milkshake. And there's a breakfast menu for those recovering from the night before. A great find in Chinatown - I'd definitely come back.
(4)Carin H.
Wow! I love this place. It was my first time here last night and I had an amazing experience. Our waitress was friendly and quick. Very cool hipster atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable. Food was delicious. Drink: I had a "spiked ginger brew" which is a mixture of vodka and non-alcoholic ginger beer. I decided to get stoli. Never get well vodka people! Bad hangovers and headaches lol. Appetizer: My bf and I shared an order of chili cheese fries. I don't eat meat. This was a vegan chili and vegan cheese on top of french fries. Omg! I was so surprised. The fries were thick, crispy and NOT greasy at all! How are chili cheese fries not greasy?! But I loved so much that it wasn't! Entree: I had the vegan chicken pesto sandwich made as a wrap instead. Bf had some kind of bbq burger. I do like that almost everything on the menu, you can get the regular meat or as a vegan (mock) meat! Sooooo awesome. We both enjoyed our food! You have an option to get a side salad or fries for $2.50 more. Dessert: Okay, so how can you go to a diner and not have a milkshake?! Bf wanted to try one and I agreed to share. Glad we did! It wasn't too thick but it was full of flavor. Btw it came in a mason jar. I know how everyone likes their mason jar drinks nowadays. lol. We got the Nutella banana shake! So good but when I got home I couldn't breathe cause I ate way too much. But, in conclusion, I had a great experience and I'll be back. They open till 3am! :)
(5)Grant M.
My wife and I have been loyal customers of Downbeat Diner for several years now and have enjoyed the good atmosphere and good food. We often come in for drinks pau hana, or dinner. Lately, however, it seems that the customer service and some of the food has really decreased in quality. Despite the fact that we order practically the SAME thing almost every week, they get the order wrong 50% of the time. During a recent experience, when we ordered our usual chicken pesto salad with vegan ranch, I was given regular ranch (the kind you could buy at Costco) instead of the yummy vegan ranch they make at Downbeat Diner. When I informed the server, he took the dressing container to the back, and returned with the same container saying, "here's your vegan ranch". I knew it wasn't the vegan ranch since it looked different. I informed another waitress and she took one look at the color and agreed that it was regular ranch. She replaced it with what I had ordered in the first place. Recently my experience is that I feel trepidation every time I order from here, as I have to double check what I order to make sure it's what I requested. I'm so frustrated with their customer service that I fear they are going to serve the same container of regular ranch that I gave back to them to another customer, even though I specifically told them I had tasted the dressing out of it. Two weeks ago the "chicken" was vegan and tasted like tofu. A few weeks before that, the french fries tasted so burnt that they were nearly inedible. It should not be this difficult to get a simple order right. EVERY week. These issues seem mostly to be in the last few months. I don't know if it's new ownership or if there are other changes that are going on. I am a patient person but I am finally fed up with the customer service. Two stars is for treating regular customers who order the same thing weekly as if we are some random couple just walking in off the street. If you order take out, be sure to check your order before leaving. I don't think I will be patronizing this place any longer and I plan to tell my friends about my experiences. Sorry Downbeat. We had a good run.
(2)Steve S.
Omg best nachos and tacos ever. Some vegan stuff going on but I'm cool with that if food is good and this is mind blowing good. Taco Tuesday's is the bomb. Margaritas really good.
(5)Jeffrey H.
I really wanted to enjoy my down town experience . However when I was called a "phucking phaget by the staff I was somewhat turned off. Good thing I ate their burger and I realized it phucking sucked.
(1)Mallory T.
Food was great... Good prices for the food and beers. Minus two stars because of terrible service. Took about 15 minutes before we spoke the waitress (not her fault per say, management only had one girl working the tables) and the food took another 30 to reach our table. TIPS= to insure proper service. Recommend hiring someone else to keep business flowing. Would have been back for the food, but not worth the wait.
(3)Azadeh K.
This will be my second time coming here, came with my fiancé the first time b/c she drives "The Bus" & always passes by & wanted to take me on a date to a place I have not eaten. I love love LOVE this place, it's super retro with such a chill, laid back place to have a couple of drinks at the bar or just to sit down & have some yummy comfort food! (They are also vegan/vegetarian friendly!) Tried the Loco Moco last time, & it was super delicious, so I wanted to try something new, ended up getting the Pastrami Sandwich, & thanks to Yelp, my fiancé & Mother-in-law wanted to try the VOLCANO FRIES. Okay before I even start on the delicious "broke da mouth" volcano fries, let's talk about our orders. My order - Pastrami Sandwich - I ordered this & the waitress apologized saying that they were out of rye bread (urgh! made me sad lol) but she offered either wheat or sourdough (so I chose sourdough since I'm not a big fan of wheat) when my order came out, it actually looked delicious! It had a great heaping of pastrami & good amount of sauerkraut that came with a side of a carrot & pepperchini Madre & babes - both got American Burgers that came with beef patties, lettuce, tomatoes (the basic veggies) & the downbeat sauce smothered (which my fiancé raved about saying it was an awesome sauce) with the same sides that I had on my plate - Madre ordered a strawberry lemonade & it came in a cute mason jar with a slice of lemon inside, it was super tangy & oober sweet! Good thing had cup of water to mix with the lemonade! So it was so-so, according to my Mother-in-law.. So now drum roll please!!!!! VOLCANO FRIES! Crispy fresh cooked deep fried fries smothered in garlic, Cajun for a hint of spice while gooey melted cheese & gravy to satisfy anyone's needs! The first batch was sooooo DELICIOUS we had to order 1 more!! (Tho the chef who made our first order left so whoever made the 2nd one was alright just needed more Cajun & garlic!) but overall I recommend it highly to try if you eat here!! Overall we were full & satisfied before we left! & the guys at the bar seen the fries and was very interested in it as well! So if you want some great comfort food & a few drinks this is where it's at! Happy eating everyone!
(4)Alison S.
this place is rad!! and its like the only place in downtown that you can get food at super late at night or early in the morning! lol. the last time we went was the second time I had gone. their menu is huge and I never know what to get. they have vegan/vegetarian options as well as non vegan/vegetarian. its a win win for everyone! beer selection is pretty good too! the décor is fun, and they're always showing a movie projected on the wall :)
(5)Aaron N.
Breakfast served all day, decent breakfast burrito, vegan milkshake option (when available), and a solid beer selection for Hawaii! We'll definitely be back. Just beware that this is a bar and has no child changing tables available. No point knocked for that, it's common sense.
(5)Stefanie D.
I am in love with Downbeat Diner and Lounge. I've only been a couple of times but that's all it needed to secure a spot in my stomach forever. The milkshakes are divine...as in, possibly from heaven itself. The Chunky Monkey milkshake could tempt a trip all on its own. The kitschy, retro decor and the hipster staff sans the attitude make it all the better. The vegetarian and vegan options here set a standard for all the other veg places I try now. The vegan hot wings and vegan burgers are nothing to be afraid of. Even my meat lover of a boyfriend tried and liked my wings and declared my burger had a "lot of flavor". I consider that a win. Even on the First Friday that we visited last, our servers were attentive, quick, and friendly. Our food came out hot and delicious and we left stuffed and smiling. Try this place out for a really great quality meal downtown.
(5)Mary A.
Visiting with adult kids who are Vegan/vegetarian. Looking for some options and found this cute diner. Food was very good. We had Vegan Chili Cheese Fries, vegan Teri Burger, milkshakes, and vegan loco moco. All were excellent. Service was good. Really enjoyed everything about this place
(5)Bree R.
Get the volcano fries!!!!!! Everything else was pretty good that we ordered but the fries were amazing! The service was pretty good in the beginning but as it got busier our waitress was pretty distracted.... Pretty reasonably priced though and a fun check of the foodie bucket list!
(4)Angelica R.
Came by on Friday. It was pretty full so we had to sit at the bar. Ordered the vegan bbq wings, bbq chikn sandwich (made vegan) and the pesto chicken salad (made vegan). The wings were pretty good, drumsticks cooked and slathered with bbq sauce. I should've just ordered that, and was looking forward to the rest, what a mistake. Both meals were as bland as can be. The salad was fake(?)Chicken uncooked and way too much pesto sauce dumped on top. The sandwich was also uncooked fake(?) Chicken with lettuce, onion and veganese with a piece of bacon in it!!! As soon as I bit into the piece of bacon I was done with the meal. Such a disappointment for me and my partner. Both meals could have been way better! Vegans-steer clear!! This meal ruined my night.
(1)Tyler A.
The surrounding area is a little sketchy, but inside is nice. The vegan (black bean) burgers are the best I've had, and the french toast is quite good as well. Only downside is that it takes a while to get a table, because it's usually pretty crowded.
(5)Lillie M.
Great place to eat in downtown! They have really good burgers and garlic fries! Haven't really explored too much of the menu, but everything I've gotten so far has been delicious. Great customer service. Although, if you have a party of 5 or more then you can't split the check. Other than that, I would recommend this place!
(4)Claire R.
LOTS of vegan options! The food is pretty good if you're looking for veg comfort food. Our server was really nice and prompt with food and drink orders. It's got a neat hipster vibe. We ordered the vegan drumsticks, vegan carnivore burger, and Monte Cristo sandwhich. Overall, we were really pleased with the food. Took away one star because of the atmosphere. there were a few rowdy drunks at the bar that kept yelling gross stuff while we were trting to eat (ex: "VAGINA JUICE HAHAHHAHAHAH"). I thought it was odd that the staff didn't shut them up since it was only about 6pm... There was also a guy standing outside that was watching the TV through the window...that's nice that the restaurant didn't mind him hanging out there, but man it was extremely distracting and made me slightly uncomfortable. I felt like a fish in an aquarium. The workers were all smiling and waving at him so I guess he's a frequent visitor.
(4)Mark Y.
There is only one reason anyone would refer to me as being a hipster...and that reason is because I have big hips. I've walked past Downbeat a bunch of times but I'm usually full of drink and food by then so I never go in. I do notice a lot of younger, hipster looking patrons there though. Well, after leaving the TEDx after party, we still felt hungry so decided to walk over to Downbeat. It was kind of empty for a Saturday but it was still pretty early so I guess the regular hipster patrons either hadn't woken up yet or were still having drinks at some dark, ambient music playing establishment. My friend ordered the Pesto scramble with bacon and I ordered the Vegan chili loco moco. Both dishes were OK but honestly I was expecting better. The vegan chili on my moco was pretty bland and the hamburger patty was really dry. The two sunnyside up eggs were cooked perfectly though. My friends dish was better I think. The pesto scramble tasted pretty good and the thick cut bacon was really smokey tasting. There were some other menu items that looked good, like some of the desserts and all those milkshakes...that Guiness milkshake sounds interesting, so I'm looking forward to trying here again and hopefully up my rating. One thing that I did thoroughly enjoy though was watching the movie Teen Wolf being projected onto the wall. If you were a guy growing up in the '80s, you know you secretly wished you were Michael J. Fox.
(3)Hollywood J.
This was a little gem we discovered randomly while wandering around Chinatown. The beer selection was alright, but ice cold! It was a welcome distraction of being served beer which was barely cooler than room temperature. It reminded me of a place in Los Feliz or Silverlake. The staff had a punk / edgey look but were absolutely welcoming and friendly. I didn't have any food, but they had what looked like well planned, and delicious vegan cuisine and some American fare as well. The neighborhood is a tad seedy, but I didn't feel unsafe.
(4)Kelsey U.
Service and atmosphere at Downbeat go hand-in-hand, I enjoyed my experience! A friend and I visited on First Friday for an early dinner, around 5:30pm. Seats were open and we were told to seat where we wanted - of course we choose the booth by the window! My friend ordered the vegan bacon B.L.A.T (Bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato), as I'm told. Although the name of the dish sounds pretty gnarly, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great sandwich! I also ended up getting a sandwich, their version of a club sandwich, which although does not vary much by restaurant, was great at Downbeat because it's served on yummy sourdough! Stop by Downbeat if you're in the area as it's a quick, on the cheaper side of a delicious meal!
(4)Charity J.
I wanted to like this place, I really really did. I had been going over reviews on this place for a couple days and it sounded really promising, so the boyfriend and I finally decided to give it a try and it was such a huge letdown. We walked in around 5:30 or so, not a word was said to us. We were confused as to whether or not we were supposed to wait or just grab a table. After a couple of minutes we sat ourselves and a few minutes after that we were greeted by a waitress. She informed us that it was Taco Tuesday, which I was so psyched about because I LOVELOVELOVE tacos&the nachos were on special too(BONUS). (being from arizona, Mexican food is my 'ish.) SOOOO, we ordered the nachos w/ chicken(extra 3bucks) &Avo(extra dollar), 2 chicken tacos for me, 3 for my boyfriend, and a veg. chili/rice bowl for our son. The nachos...not even nachos. I literally counted 3 MAYBE 4 chips with cheese on them, the sour cream came on the side in a tiny paper cup which did nothing for the "nachos" at all. The chips were a weird dark brown color, definitely overcooked. The chicken (3 DOLLARS EXTRA MIND YOU) was almost non-existent! AND the pieces that were present were dryer than an Arizona desert in the middle of July D: Forgot to mention that when our nachos came out, the Avo wasn't present. Took us awhile to flag down our waitress for the avo and when we finally did, she brought out a tiny plate of like 4 slices. come. on. The tacos, meh. The chicken was a shredded chicken in some kind of sauce, that did nothing for the taste. The chicken was cooked in a sauce, BUT STILL DRY...wutdafuh? I'll stick to doing Taco Tuesday in my own home from now on. Not worth the 6 bucks for two teensy ones. The vegan chili was probably the saving grace, but even then, I feel like I might be able to whip something up that could blow it out of the water. I tried, I really tried to find something positive about our experience here, but it was just a no go this time around. Even the interior of the space was depressing. Blank walls, odd use of space. Not the least bit inviting. I'm hoping we just stopped in on a bad day or SOMETHING, but as an extreme nacho/taco lover, my heart cried for those burned, cheeseless, chickenless "nachos". never again.
(2)Loren B.
Hey if you are a vegan or vegetarian this is the place for you, as well as the rest of us carnivores. I have been to Downbeat multiple times, both in the diner and the lounge area. Our friends, who are vegans, really enjoy the vegan food options. Their happy hour specials are really good, $3 tecate - yum. Not the biggest fan of their quesadillas (a little too tex-mex inspired for me), but their hamburgers are really good. I will definitely go again.
(4)Robert W.
My favorite place in Chinatown!!! Great place to hangout any time of the day. Downbeat is an incredible diner and bar! The menu is full of great choices that caters to all types of eaters (vegetarian / vegan / omnivores) Every item is well prepared and served by a very courteous staff. My favorite items on the menu are the carnivore burger and garlic fries. Additionally, brunch / breakfast items that are very tasty and the home fries are just great. The bar menu is solid. The cocktails, especially the ginger brew and root beer no float, are delicious. The atmosphere of Downbeat is the reason to keep coming back. Between the great music and interesting videos that constantly being played and the Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy adorn booths the Downbeat diner is the epitome of cool. I love this restaurant and will come back every time I am back in Honolulu!
(5)Randi C.
This place deserves some credit for being open on Sundays, because most downtown restaurants are closed on Sundays. My sister wanted to try a place across the street but there was a long wait and we agreed nothing tastes good enough to be worth a long wait in a congested space. We debated trying a Vietnamese restaurant( very commonplace in Honolulu) or the diner ( rather more exotic for the location). The place is spacious. The menu featured a variety of creatively re-imagined diner items. For example, our table had a vegan burger, a pesto chicken salad, and a sundae. The vegetables were fresh, and the chef had even cut the carrots into a flower shape. They incorporated other chefs' products in their menu such as : Ottocake cheesecake, Wing ice cream, and Swiss Inn salad dressing so it seemed like the owners are team players. The servers were friendly and helpful, but not all were knowledgable about the menu items. Everything was satisfactory until it was time to pay. The credit card system was not working but we had not been informed. We had to scramble to find cash. THEN... The bill was 31.94, we gave 100.00, and the server gave back $67.00. $1.06 is not a big deal but it seemed a little insulting that she thought we wouldn't notice. Overall, it was a decent place with pretty good food and friendly service. But be sure to count your change!
(3)Trisha G.
I've been here a handful of times. This latest time was for a late dinner and when in doubt, I order my staple dish - loco moco. Downbeat's comes with REAL GRAVY. Delicious, homemade gravy smothered over a bed of brown rice. The Hamburger was so yummy. I was so excited and happy about my food that I forgot to get a shake. They have a huge selection of shake flavors (with a few strange ones mixed in). The downtown, retro vibe with old movies projected on the walls and the coolest booths with the legends of music displayed in the upholstery. It is a bit hipster, but excusable for the food I had. Great place to stop by after a few drinks to fuel up and sober up before driving home. Hit it up!
(4)Yoselyn F.
I've been here before but never reviewed them. Probably because I was left confused? Like today. I got the California burger and English toffee milkshake. I knew the milkshake was a win because last time I ordered that and a grilled cheese sandwich. My sandwich order was never place so I had a milkshake for dinner. Not shabby right?! An the shake is awesome. But today I decided to give them my one burger monthly allowance. The bacon was good, the bun was good the meat though. It was weird at first bite it was juicy BUT super over flavored. To the point that it distracted from the joy of the meat. So I wasn't floored by it and usually burgers floor me. But the shake was perfect. However, their portions aren't consistent. They seem to use whatever glass is near o serve them meaning you can order to shakes at the same time but they arrive looking different and you can't help but wonder if you re being cheated! During our last visit we had three shakes. All indifferent glasses. One was obviously larger. This pissed me off because mine wasn't the large one and the shake was awesome! Today I got a glass jar. If that was their thing is be all oh cute a milkshake I a cute glass jar BUT that's not their thing so instead I was left wondering if I was being cheated. Not the sensation one wants on their one cheat day in 5 weeks! Overall eh. I would go for the shake an wonder what glass I'm getting BUT the food hasn't made me a regular.
(3)Anthony K.
Was pretty good. Organic too based off what I had. I got the pesto breakfast with a tofu scramble, vegan sausage, toast and home fries. My girlfriend had the simple local breakfast with eggs, sausage, brown rice and toast. I also got the nachos. It was OK, a little dry but still good. The service was good. They tended to our needs and checked up on us and the rumor about waiting long was a lie. People are just impatient. I'll be back to try something different.
(5)Megan P.
Everything on the menu is delicious. Great vegan options. Their shakes are delicious and most can be made vegan. The Nutella shake is my favorite. Food can take some time to get made, so going there in a hurry is probably not the best idea. The place can be pretty loud at night since the live music seeps through the walls and it has great people watching. Something to note: The bartender's custom concoctions are pretty on point.
(5)Ian L.
They're open on Sunday when other places in China Town are not. The Deshutes Black Butte Porter was perfect with The Greek burger...oooh so good! Music playing created a great ambiance to go with the velvet red diner feel. The service was excellent and frequent. I only took a star for price in consideration for what I ordered. Still totally worth it and will come here again!
(4)Mathew S.
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(3)Reid S.
Downbeat Diner on First Fridays is such a different experience from a typical day in downtown Honolulu. Let me elaborate: During the day, Downbeat Diner is a fun lunch hang out spot for the 20-30 year olds, equipped with a trendy bar and menu, while at night the Diner can be a music venue to a bumping club with New York/L.A vibe. My first visit to DBD (feel free to use this acronym) was a delicious late lunch filled with pupus and homemade ginger ale, which by the way, was a magnificent drink. The Volcano fries were out of this world, it is the best way to reward yourself for a day out in the hot Hawaiian sun. However, DBD is also an awesome place to come with a group of friends for a night on the town! As much as I hate going all the way to Chinatown/Downtown area for events/food, I really can't picture this place anywhere else. The vibe and feel of DBD almost requires it to be in the downtown area where there is an almost secret Hawaiian nightlife. It's rather hard to explain, but it's meant to be in the hustle and bustle of the city's downtown. The drinks in particular are so strong but very flavorful. They have a wide-array of specialty cocktails designed to challenge your tastebuds and knock your socks off. The Negroni in particular is a cocktail comprised of gin, Campari, and amaro cio ciaro. It was like a licorice explosion, very flavorful, granted not my favorite flavors, but it was strong and full, which is all that mattered. On Tuesdays the lounge and bar is lively as new and upcoming local musicians and talent play live music. It's a young vibe with young clientele. Definitely worth a visit when in Chinatown. I like seeing local artist play because it not only reminds me that we have great music with Hawaiian roots, but also the fact that we have so many talented people in Honolulu. We should support our local musicians because they are undeniably talented, and also because music is life. Period. So come on down to local music night at DBD! The place is interestingly decorated: when you first walk in you will take in the loud pop culture collage, and then you realize that you are in a very trendy place and you probably shouldn't leave. During the day, DBD feels like a quirky L.A. diner, and at night....a swanky New York lounge. Walk outside though, you won't be cold.
(4)Mari G.
The drinks are delicious and the environment is pretty awesome. The prices are okay. I ordered the loco moco and it was cold when I got it. The place wasn't packed at all so I was pretty disappointed. They always play some cool movies so that's kinda neat too at the bar. The waitress wasn't friendly so it was probably better we sat at the bar.
(3)Tabatha P.
I love that this place is open to satisfy my late night cravings for delicious food. I love the menu. I love that there is vegetarian options for everything. The scramble is really really good. The sausage was a little unexpectedly spicy for me, but the breakfast burrito was delicious! Next time I will get bacon. I always see interesting people here who are friendly, and the bartender and waitress I have hAd experience with here have treated me with respect and good customer service so I am all satisfied there. I like the quality above all in this place and it's nice for beer with a friend or meals. Also nice and clean. Sometimes I come here to network and talk to people about events, I always manage to meet someone new and awesome.
(5)Hiro M.
I'll start by giving this place a full 5 star and see what it ends up with. Went here on a Saturday night for the first time to catch my brother-in-law and his band perform in the lounge. My fiance' and I decided to go check out the diner before we watch the gig. There were quite a few hit and miss about this place. We walked in the diner and I thought cool, nice open area. Booths on the side, awesome decorations on the seats, color scheme looks very modern. Then we thought...OK? Do we seat ourselves or wait to be seated? Now a lot of eateries allow you to take a seat in open tables, others will have an attendant/host lead you to one. Mind you, this was our first time there, we didn't see it as some food joint or a pho' place where you can seat yourself. No, we waited a few seconds, nothing...I said "fuck it, we'll seat ourselves" Luckily, there was an open booth right by the door. Imagine if that wasn't open, we'd be standing there like "oookay? Now what?". One star deducted. So we sit there, checkin out the place. Couple minutes pass, no biggy. Fiancé's busy configuring his camera, while I take a look around, and oh they have a wait staff, well whattayaknow!! I look behind me and see flyers and oh, there's the menu. Shouldn't a waiter come by already? Where's the water? Where's the menus? I was able to read some of the entrées on the menu....on the window....behind me. Five minutes pass..." Hi *smiles*"says one of the waitresses who FINALLY made eye contact with us....but failed to stop on over or even say "I'll be right over". Another star deducted for failed customer service from wait staff. A good 15 minutes later finally someone comes, with two glasses of water. I'm ready to order (thanks to the menu, on the window, behind me) I say my order and server says " ooo the quesadillas are pretty good....hey do you guys want me to bring over some menus?" "Sure" we say. Uh duh!! Server walks away. Wtf?? I have a feeling, dis guy is just the bus boy. *SMH*. Person brings back some menus, but since we've waited for quite some time, we almost missed our bros opening song. FAIL. Another star deducted for prolonged wait time. My fiance asked if we could just order from the lounge area. "Server" says "yes, you can open a tab at the bar" we thought "k cool" got right up and we bolted outta there. Don't think we'll be back here anytime soon. Sorry Downbeat Diner, you lost a customer. And I sooooo wanted to give this place a chance, with the food especially. Not often do we check out restaurants in downtown at night. Another star deducted for overall experience. EPIC FAIL!
(1)Erika H.
Awesome place! Cool scene and fantastic food for meat eaters and vegetarians. Open Sunday's too with a brunch menu ya!
(5)Tina L.
I stumbled upon this restaurant several months ago, and initially started off with their french toast sandwich, which is sooooo YUMMY. Went back and tried their french toast sandwich again, and was very pleased. I decided to venture off from my usual sandwich, and tried their BBQ chicken wrap. I was NOT HAPPY with the wrap at all. The BBQ sauce had no BBQ flavor at all. It definitely tasted like they had used ketchup, and barely any seasoning to put it together. I decided,well, maybe they had an off night, and went back another night and tried their California burger. WOW this burger SUCKED!!! It was bland, the patty was very thin, it barely had any meat in it! The avocado was good in it, but the entire burger was VERY BLAND! I left feeling sad and STILL HUNGRY. The prices are cheap here, but they barely give you any food! Not going to go back here anytime soon! On a side note, my boyfriend always gets the mega moco, and that is VERY GOOD. However, the lack of consistency, and meager portions for their other items is enough to prevent me from going back :-( The service was good, I was greeted upon entering, and the waitress tending to my bill was nice as well.
(2)Nickolidas T.
Really slow poor service. You stand around in the middle of the place waiting to be sat, because there's no check in sheet. Got a burger, bacon was burnt patty overcooked and dry. Server was alright but organization was off, she came by with another tables drinks, and went to another table with our check. Place might be good when it's empty but on a moderate night they need a strong manager in that place.
(2)Virginia D.
Excellent from start to finish: spiked ginger brew, vegan buffalo wings, Western burger with house made vegan patty & vegan dark chocolate brownie. YUM One of the best vegan meals we had on Oahu! Serious hipster vibe. My cocktail came in a mason jar, natch. Kind of a sketchy area (I foresee gentrification...), but at least parking is easy at night!
(4)Anuhea P.
What do you do if you have only one day off before work starts again, and all your friends (including hubby) are stuck at work? You explore the ever changing-for-the-better Downtown/Chinatown area. I enjoyed walking the surprisingly clean streets, peeking in the local (and expensive) boutique clothing stores, and finding tons of new places to bookmark for future yelp dining. I was really hoping to try Horeo's Peruvian food but they were closed (when they were supposed to be open) so I came back to Downbeat. The first time I was here was when I was searching for BRAINS!!! as part of the Chinatown Zombie Crawl last fall...I tried an alcoholic milkshake and some sort of smothered fries (I think Volcano fries). Honestly I wasn't a fan of the fries...but the chunky monkey milkshake made such an impression on me that I ordered it on my second visit. It was pretty empty around 1pm on a weekday...maybe the business crowd take early lunches. I ordered the Reuben (xtra crout) and a chunky monkey milkshake with a whiskey shot (bartender's choice). Both were fantastic...maybe I was already a little tipsy, but the sandwich was sweet, salty, and warm and the milkshake....I could drink one every day and never tire! Unfortunately my bill with tip came out to $20 which is not cheap for lunch (especially for just a sandwich and milkshake) but it was a nice treat. The bartender waited on me even thought I sat in the very front booth and she was very nice...even told me about the free concerts and events they have in their back space. I will definitely be back to try their Monte Cristo!
(4)Greg S.
Friendly service, fun atmosphere and good food. This is my 3rd time here. First time I tried the ruben, must have!!! Chili loco moco, not so much. Bottom line, i going back !!!
(4)Megan W.
Nice little place in Chinatown. Came for brunch and they had Chicken and Waffles! So yummy! The chicken had great flavoring and the waffle was nice and soft. The server was very nice and our food came out quickly. I will definitely come back here to try the other items on the menu.
(4)Ivy Lou H.
The Downbeat Diner & Lounge surprised me with its delicious burgers and excellent service. The burgers were homemade patties served on a Brioche bun and were possibly the best burgers we've ever had. The service was really attentive and fast for us so unlike some other Yelpers we left shop and impressed. Great place for food or just drinks.
(4)Luke G.
This was my go to spot when i went to HPU. I loved the punk rock atmosphere, the reasonable prices and great crowd. I miss the veggie burger almost as much as surfing. I loved how laid back it was with a true dinner spirit. I super recommend it to anyone visiting Honolulu. Its located on historic hotel street one of the only places in the city with brick buildings where sailor jerry of rum fame worked. Go for a nice Primo and check out one of their many free shows next door. I hope its still there when i return sometime in the future.
(5)Javier B.
We had a party of 4 and ordered 3 burgers and 1 BLT. After waiting for more than half an hour for our food we decided to walk out and find pizza. I'd advice the restaurant to look for more/better employees. Don't come here if you are starving or have time constraints.
(1)Britni K.
This is my go to place for some yummy diner food with a vegetarian twist. Whenever I'm in Chinatown, for whatever reason I usually end up here if I get hungry. Although I haven't been here as frequently as I had before they remodeled with their lounge, I still get recognized by Miss Emily and some of the bartenders, haha. A good thing or bad thing? Not quite sure... Highlights for me- cajun fries, cheeseburger or teriyaki burger (with their handmade black bean patties), and chai milkshake! To die for, let me tell you. Downbeat is also where my affair with St. Germain first started. My signature cocktail here- champy with a shot of St. Germain and a twist of lemon. This drink is the ultimate pick me up if you're feeling a little blue. Bubbly is already a happy alcohol but with these fixins, it's like someone giving you a nice hug and telling you everything will be alright. ;) As a warning though, this place is paaaacked on Friday and Saturday nights! Super cray, usually with a line waiting to get in. I would suggest going on a weeknight- especially Tuesdays with specials on margaritas and tacos! Fun hipster vibe, a varied menu that includes breakfast foods (available all day), and friendly staff makes Downbeat Diner a winner for sure. Definitely pop in sometime!
(4)Bonnie B.
I'm not sure about this place... Is it serve yourself? No one has even come to our table and we have been sitting here a half hour. Lol maybe I should call my order in..
(2)Brianna S.
Cute little diner that has a HUGE selections of veggie and vegan items. Service was fast and friendly, and the price was right. I ordered the veggie Reuben with cajon fries. The Reuben was decent enough, but was kind of shocked to see they used veggie hot dogs as the 'meat' in it. I was expecting a pattie of some sort, but got a split hot dog. Not quite what I had in mind... Though it was not bad, and I noticed after ordering it did state that it was a hot dog. But it would have been 10 folds better with a pattie or veggie pastrami. They had a lot of other things worth trying on their menu, like vegetarian Chicken + Waffles!!
(3)Matt W.
Decent drinks. Modestly priced. Awesome food. Only downside here is that the service is very inconsistent. Out of the 10+ times I've been here about half the time I get wonderful attentive service. The other half of the time I felt ignored. But again it depends on the server you get. The vegan food here is way better than the regular food. Whether or not you're vegetarian, the meat substitute they use is astonishing. You can't tell the difference. Highly recommend their buffalo vegan wings. It's nicely spicy and has a wonderful flavor. In fact I've always been pleased with all their sandwiches they offer. As long as you get it vegan. They tend to overlook actual meat... Atmosphere wise this place is awesome. It's very relaxing and has the typical ambiance of a 1950s diner with a hip twist.
(4)Stephanie S.
I have yet to have a dish here that I didn't instantly love, and even my omnivorous boyfriend said he would consider being vegan if we could always eat like this! The buffalo wings and buffalo chicken sandwich are both PHE-NOM-EN-AL. The "meat" has a texture that flakes just like real chicken! On my honor as a Yelper, trust me when I say you will not be disappointed with either one. I also recommend upgrading your fries to either garlic or cajun. The garlic flavor is rubbed into the fries, and comes with a little pesto on top. For the Cajun, each fry is coated in spices and bursting with a mildly spicy flavor! The root beer float was just top notch with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that was smoother, creamier, and I daresay better than any other I've had, vegan or otherwise. It's easy not to miss beef when the veggie patty here is so meaty! I recommend the teriyaki burger because it was perfectly seasoned with teriyaki sauce and onions. Service is always friendly, with the sweetest waitresses you'll find even in Hawaii. I'm always surprised that this place isn't more crowded (not a complaint!) but service is fast and I've never had any hiccups. In my experience, Downbeat is a consistent home run!
(5)Candice L.
Will not ever go here for lunch again. The $9.50 burger was dry with too much pepper. The service was horrible. Asked for mayo from our waitress who took her sweet time cashing other guest out, getting others take out boxes. I had to stand up and ask someone else for mayo...if I didn't I would have been done with my burger by the time the mayo would have come. I def would not recommend this place.
(1)Todd F.
Dropped in while walking around ChinaTown! Great surprise. Loved the vegan Chili Moco
(4)Isaia S.
3 words: PBR and Bacon. Best appetizer around. The atmosphere is great, the Reuben is excellent and they're open late so I can hit it up after shows.What's not to like?
(5)Mandi S.
I love downbeats food! They're delicious. The servers are awesome. The only problem I have with this place is that it seems like every time I go here, service drops off after I order. I swear I won't get a check up or refill for half an hour. And getting my ticket back takes SOOO long. I dunno if management tells them to back off or what, but it happens every time.
(4)Melissa S.
Thank you, Rian for bringing the fiyah! I was looking for a MoscowMule and she steered me into the right direction! And I will def have another! Love me some DOWNBEAT!
(5)Sean O.
Very unique atmosphere! There is no place like it. I like how every food option they have can be vegan as well. I always get the vegan Buffalo wings. Really cool place.
(4)Julia S.
Downbeat, you really put a down beat into my day. Service: I'm personally fine with sitting my butt down anywhere. But I do know others will just stand in the doorway until a host tells them they're allowed to sit. No one was there to tell me, so I just sat on over to a booth and waited for like 5 minutes for someone to finally come over and acknowledge me. After that though, the waitress was nice. She gave my boyfriend and I a menu each and waters. Food: We weren't too hungry so we decided to share their vegan version of a BLT between sourdough bread, called a BLAT (bacon lettuce avocado tomato). And by vegan, I mean with veganaise and fakin bacon. My boyfriend loves his bacon, but me not so much. So I'm thankful he enjoys the meat substitutes also. We ordered a side of garlic fries (which are ala carte and will cost you an extra $2) since I have an IDCard (gives me a free side of fries). I told the waitress this. She heard it and happily acknowledged it. Food cont.. + Experience: We got our sandwich back and started to dig in. The fries were standard with real garlic which I enjoyed. I looked at the sandwich though and it looked unimpressive. Then I looked at it closer and the "meat" sticking out of it looked oddly like... bacon. My boyfriend took a bite and after thinking about it for a bit, he was like, "Yup. This is bacon". Soooo we sent it back to this other waiter who apologized. I mean I'm not vegan but how could you send something out with this sort of mistake if you 1)Are the person taking the order and even repeated it back and 2) are delivering the food yourself to the exact same table that ordered ? When we got the sandwich back with our fakin bacon it looked NOTHING like bacon and more like bologna would. So how could you look at the sandwich prior and not know it was the wrong order? Anyways, I was fine with this mistake because the girl was nice. Sadly, the sandwich wasn't special and the sourdough was thin and bland. (If you want REAL GOOD fakin bacon go to North Shore's Beet Box Cafe!. They give you thick cuts of soy bacon that are delicious and even look similar to the real stuff)!!! The guy waiter started helping us from then on though. Experience cont...: I mentioned to him again about my IDCard situation when we were done. He knew about it and even finished my sentence for me. He understood that I had it. Then we got the bill. It was $10.... The sandwich was $8. You know, the $2 isn't what bothered me. It's the fact that 1)I mentioned the IDCard to them several times 2)They acknowledge it confidently several times 3)I got the wrong sandwich after waiting a while (and good thing the both of us aren't vegans or I would've flipped) 4)The food wasn't good.. Soooo the overall experience was pretty bad. We didn't bother flagging the waiter down again to take the $2 off. My boyfriend was irritated, I was irritated, and we just wanted to leave. The two stars is for the workers. They're laid back and kind of neglectful and don't have a good memory, but they were nice. So, yeah. Don't know if I'll be coming back.
(2)Sydney L.
Best vegan food EVER. The chunky monkey milkshake is HEAVENLY- so are the fries and 'chicken' drumsticks! I don't live in Oahu, but i'll definitely come back here every time I visit. I just want to eat every single dessert they have! :')
(5)David H.
Excellent atmosphere! Great crowd and staff! I haven't tried the food but the drinks are very special... Soooo f'in good!!!
(5)Christian G.
I'll just start by explaining my experience and those can judge for themselves. So it wasn't really a busy night and upon entry there were at least three other groups dining and eating their food. It started with the waiter taking our drink order within a reasonable amount of time of I would say about 5 minutes and then a little bit longer somewhere around the 10 minute range to take our food order. When it really got unacceptable was the 45 minutes that passed before the food was brought out and again it wasn't a busy night. In between those 45 minutes to other parties of two people had entered and their food was brought out well ahead of hours. In the mean time the waiter managed to check on those two tables to see if they where doing okay and if the food is good yet not once checked on our table or gave us an update on our order. It wasn't until I asked the waiter how our food order was going that he gave us an update and said he was going to check with the cook in the kitchen as to where our food was at. So more time elapses and we are nearing the one hour mark that we have sat down only to have been provided with drinks no update and no food. So it wasn't a very good dining experience and on top of all that the food was just okay so the long wait for ok food makes it a below average experience for me.
(2)Frank C.
Great burger and fries. Guinness on tap. Cartoons and fifties music. Friendly service. What's not to love?!
(4)Stella H.
Ate dinner here on a Sunday night, & this place was pretty busy! Lucky for us, there was 1 open booth right when we walked in. There seemed to only be 1 waiter, so it took him a little while to get to us. Service was very friendly tho & they even play movies on their wall :) It was my boyfriend & I's 1st time here, so we werent sure if they were a vegan & vegetarian place, BUT the waiter told us they had everything for meat lovers like us too :)!! We shared an Avocado Burger w/ fries & French toast w/ bacon. The avocado burger was pretty good! And the french toast was even better!! I think they deep fried it x__x!! My boyfriend & i agree we NEED to come back!!!!
(4)Frances P.
That ginger brew drink here was pretty good, and I'm not a ginger fan. Can't add much else because I only had that and chips and dip. Cool place though, will have to try more next time I'm on the island!
(3)Desmond S.
The staff is great both front and back of the house. The food comes out fast even when it's packed and service is friendly, helpful and efficient. Plus they put on great shows with local artists and theme nights every month if you're not dining that night. Great place to be or visit while on the island.
(5)Jillian P.
I ate here for the first time last night (Cinco de Mayo). ATMOSPHERE: I liked the feel of it for suree... It definitely sticks true to its name. Diner booths plus a counter, with that pinup (downbeat), edgy feel. Super cool. :) SERVICE: We had thee cutest server! Wish I would have got her name, but she was really friendly and kind and most definitely a big help. We weren't sure what fries to get, and she gave us her opinion and told us what was really popular. What I also liked about her is that all of her timing was perfect. Whenever our drinks were empty, she was always quick to ask if we wanted another. And prior to that, she gave us just the right amount of time in between the first time she asked if we were ready to order and when we were ready to place our order (if that makes sense). LOL FOOD: Both my friend and I got the CALIFORNIA BURGER and we shared the VOLCANO FRIES. :) The Cali Burger is a Big Island (yeah Big Island!) Beef burger, with swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, and avocado. :D I put mayo and ketchup on my burger, so I'm not sure how it tasted sans condiments, but nonetheless it was still very delicious! IF ONLY I could've eaten the whole thing. :( I got full off of half the burger, since it was huge. :) The volcano fries are cajun spiced with gravy and cheese. I thought that the gravy would make the fries really gross and soggy, but it did not. :) Our server was RIGHT, they were very yummy and for good reason. OVERALL: I really liked this place and would love to go back and am giving them a thumbs up recommendation!
(4)Phillip M.
One of the best Reuben's I've ever had at a restaurant. Service can be really slow at peak hours. And servers can be less than friendly some times but the food makes up for it.
(4)Will S.
Avocado burger is on point i usually get that. Sometimes they only have one person serving in the day so your wait time can be long. They have a tv with netflix playing and next door they usually have bands playing.
(4)Jo Z.
Chill place to have a good burger and I always order the ginger brew...sooo yummy for my tummy
(4)Debbie R.
AWESOME sandwiches and burgers. Its nice that they offer a vegetarian option for just about every dish. Fries are to die for - get them loaded with either gravy, garlic or Cajun season (or combination of any of the above). Prices reasonable, décor is hip.
(4)Mica I.
The problem with food is that no one is ever going to be happy about everything! People love to complain about things. We visited Downbeat early say 5pm- looking for dinner. They had happy hour- 1 dollar off drinks- AWESOME. Burgers? Pretty good. Prices are not bad either. Our waitress was a pretty thing who was nice and someone came by to refill our water glasses when they got low. So perhaps people need to put a smile on their faces and realize that nothing- ever- is perfect but this place is great. Open late, the bar attached has live music which we came back to hear another night and had more great drinks (RUM punch is DA BOMB) so for us we give it 4 starts until next time! Nothing but love for ya Downbeat Diner!
(4)Eric Robert R.
Liverpool 1962. Riding up to the pub door on my '59 Lambretta and joining my mod squad for a few sessions. What's shakin' Ringo??? *Lucky Strike dangling from my lips* Well not quite, but as close as it comes in downtown Honolulu, circa 2013! I've been to Downbeat several times, but I don't recall sitting down for lunch. A question was asked recently on Yelp's Honolulu Talk on who has the best milkshake in town? Answers galore and frankly I think the last milkshake I had was maybe when I was a pre-teen, lol. Eons ago! So, the question intrigued me and definitely inspired my taste buds to taste test a few places. So who has the best milkshake in town? My hipster buddy, Missy T. mentioned how the milkshakes at Downbeat are the bomb, so since I trust her with my life (slight exaggeration)... I decided to cruise down to Chinatown and hit Downbeat! I walk in and I'm immediately greeted... "Sit anywhere" and with a bartender go-go girl smile. WIN! The difference with Liverpool in 1962 was birds had zilch tattoos, today even granny's have tats, so no surprise that my waitress had a dozen plus tats, well the ones I could see! She was hip, über cool, and very easy on the eyes, but at the same time efficient! Twiggy dead-ringer! WIN! My Order: -Downbeat Loco Moco -English Toffee Milkshake -Glass of Agua The Loco Moco was good. Nothing special, but definitely unique and you could taste the Big Island beef. The house gravy seemed like a can of mushroom gravy to me. Hmm. The English Toffee Milkshake was definitely worth the 5 bucks and change. Very fresh, creamy, tasty, quality, loads of whipcream, and topped with the infamous maraschino cherry! So yummy. Seemed smallish, maybe I was just jonesing for a shake, but it overflowed and it was definitely a WIN! The best shake in town? Idk since my milkshake experience has been lacking since my days in intermediate school, lol. It was definitely yummy and a good standard to measure other milkshakes. So, until I try Teddy's, Big Kahunas, etc shakes... I can't give the crown to Downbeat... Yet! Hey, but I might have started with the best! Will keep you updated. Missy T. figured I hit the Chunky Monkey shake, which apparently is the most popular shake at Downbeat. The go-go waitress drooled over it too, but frankly it sounded too rich for a bloke like me, so I wimped out and went with something sounding "lighter"... The English Toffee. Yeah right, probably still a zillion calories! It was mmm, mmm good and very English! After all, it's Liverpool 1962. Oh btw, the vinyl seats here are über groovy! YELP REVIEW #135
(4)Eric F.
I had the loco moco and a Freddie Fizz. It was so good I don't know what to do with myself. I had enough to eat but it was so good...I want to order more to just sport eat. Seriously prices are reasonable the food is awesome what can I say? Thanks and good job!
(5)Audrey S.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this place because they offer a vegan version of pretty much everything on the menu. The food was delicious (vegan hot wings and vegan ranch=amazing ! ) Only disappointment is I ordered the Cajun vegan chicken wrap but it's served with regular cheese. I would have preferred to not have dairy with my vegan chicken wrap, and it was unclear whether the sauce was vegan. If I'm getting vegan chicken I would like the entire wrap to be vegan. Also the service was bad, the server knew I wanted only vegan and still didn't inform me about regular cheese, plus she kept forgetting our table even though the restaurant wasn't busy. Other than that, the food was great and I will definitely go back.
(4)Cara G.
Sadly, though the food here is pretty good, the service has been quite crappy. This place prides itself on being a 'hipster' joint, and being a Hawaii native who has lived in San Francisco for the past four years, I will state that there isn't anything hipster about this place, except for the snooty waitresses. Even so, I've never known hipster to be synonymous with rude, passive aggressive and unattentive, though it has been assumed that such service would accompany innovative, high-quality and new age food that tends to be served in hipster joints. Downbeat does not serve this type of food; it's diner food. So why are the servers here so impolite and curt? Not really sure, and as someone who works in a restaurant, I believe that it's completely safe to say that the staff (minus the bartender) at Downbeat need some lessons in how to treat customers. Nobody wants to feel like their committed a crime simply by asking their waitress if they prefer the michelada to the Bloody Mary, which is precisely how I was treated. I think everyone should skip this place and go find some other late night food instead of this sad excuse for a 'hipster' joint.
(1)Richel C.
Stopped by for some late night dessert. service was average, our waiter was new so he tried his best to give recommendations. we ended up ordering the salted chocolate chip sundae. it was delicious! The cookies added the perfect touch to a delicious Sundae. while for the most part, the cookie was soft and gooey, there were parts that weren't burnt and hard to chew. still, overall good dessert and chill environment!
(4)Meg M.
I want to LOVE Downbeat diner.... Tons of vegan options, awesome hipster vibe, late night food I can actually eat.... And I haven't had too many complaints prior to today. But that was probably because, to be completely honest, I am usually a little buzzed when I am here! Today for lunch though, the service was pretty terrible. I ordered vegan hot wings with my avocado sando and real wings came out instead! Sad face. Good thing Dustin took the first bite! It also took about 40 minutes to get our food. It was crowded in there but it would have been nice to just get a warning from our waitress..... But she kind of avoided us after we ordered. I asked her to take the wings off the check and didn't want to wait for the vegan wings (we were in a rush!) but when we got the check they were on there. We just paid and left because we didn't want to make a big deal out of it but it was definitely not cool. Great atmosphere, pretty good food, lots of veggie options but the service makes me not want to return.... Unless I'm buzzed.
(3)Tatiana W.
This place is always hit or miss. Some of the food is great while some is not. Drinks are always good though. The worst part is, this place is always understaffed. I have sat upwards of 30 minutes waiting to even be acknowledged by a server. The problem is... I know it's usually not their fault considering the tables are full and he/she is the only one working. Recommendations for customers: don't expect a quick trip and know that the nachos are a disappointment every time. Recommendation for the restaurant: get more staff and make fast, quality service a PRIORITY!
(3)Lei N.
After looking at difference place, Charles and I ended up coming here for lunch. We walked past it the first time then ended up coming back and inside. The interior of the place it neat and menus are already set out at whichever booth you choose. It's awesome they have a jukebox though modern, I like their music selection. No, not oldies this time. Looking over the menu there were a few things I wanted to try like their wings and burgers / sandwiches, but I ended up ordering breakfast instead. Nothing wrong with that! As I ordered my Egg Breakfast... I said white rice... I didn't know that they only had brown rice! That was a first for me. As I ate my breakfast... the eggs and bacon seemed a bit cold so I was disappointed with that. I couldn't really taste the brown rice. If there is such a taste to it. It also came with an orange slice. That I enjoyed. Along with that, we got the Sampler which came with 3 cheese sticks, 3 jalapeno poppers, 3 buffalo wings and 3 sticks of carrot. The first food item I had to eat were the buffalo wings, though mild, it's too spicy for me! Yet I ate all three of them! I had some of the cheese sticks too. Can't eat it when it's too hot, can't really enjoy it when it's too cold. Grrr. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Our waitress had a cool outfit on and gave us enough time as we ordered, and got the check.
(3)Kelly T.
I've tried this place a handful of times since my first horrific milkshake experience, and the service has improved. This place is still going for the trendy hipster vibe and has lots of hipsterish meal options, including veggie sausage, Oregon beers, and PBR. Sometimes the fully tatted bartenders play Sharknado or Taxi Driver, and lots of black-rimmed glasses-laden college kids with matching haircuts are slumped over in booths checking Facebook and eating Loco Mocos. I really wish this place tried harder on the quality of their food instead of the Lawry's Seasoned Salt overkill, but I guess I should just be content that Downbeat Diner exists and try to fit in. Damn you, Honolulu, and your lack of pm breakfast options! Maybe it will keep getting better?
(3)Sarah J.
I usually like this place due to it's vegan options, however, this time I feel that the waitress was picking and choosing who she wanted to wait on. We waited for our food for 40mins, she never came over to tell us it was on it's way, and when it got there it was regular chicken wrap not vegan like I asked for. I didn't want to wait any longer so she comped it. I'm not impressed with the service or the food this time at all. I have been in the past. I'm hoping it's different if I come back ever again.
(2)Jordan S.
A great late night eats place. Good diner food, awesome milk shakes, and if you come before 2am they are a bar as well so you can add liquor to your shakes or floats. The food is pretty standard for a diner, the spot is perfect though for going to as China Town bars are shutting down. They also have some Vegan and Vegetarian options, which is nice as it's a place all of my friends can usually agree on.
(4)Amauri T.
Showed up here for a late night snack after a night at M Nightclub, walked in at 3 a.m. on a Saturday and there business hours stated they stayed open until 4 a.m. I ordered a loco moco which is standard local fare but according to the sever they couldn't be bothered to make more rice and they started turning off the lights with an hour left.
(1)Keisha B.
This is hands down my favorite place to dine. 1. Taco Tuesdays!! *WHAT!! $3 margaritas!! 2. Great drinks 3. Open late 4. No cover for lounge. 5. All menus items are available as VEGAN! That's right - all vegan if you want it! Finally found a great place to have date night or eat before 1st Friday and I can get vegan friendly food and the bf can get meat! What a great option! Vegan bacon, vegan ham, vegan cheese, vegan chicken etc. If you are vegetarian or vegan you gotta check this place out! The staff is friendly and the vibe is great! I cannot wait to go back :)
(5)Liz K.
Chili fries and mozzarella sticks were really good. Service was a little slow, but it was really busy (sat 1am) and seemed like they only had 1 server, and she was doing her best. Will come back!
(5)Keith C.
Love this place. 5 minutes before closing they made me an awesome breakfast sandwich. Trading places "the movie" was on the TV. What a great place and walking distance to/ from everything downtown/ China town. Breakfast all day rocks!!!
(5)Ariana M.
I really dont have much to say about this place. Everything I have here was just meh. Nothing I would ever really crave or come back for. The main reason why I come here often is because its close to work and its open late. So when I'm dying from hunger I definitely come here to grab a bite. If I have other options, I'll usually go there first. Every time I have come here the staff is always nice and friendly so thats a plus. However, the food always take forever.
(2)Missy T.
I love milkshakes. No, furreal; I. Love. MILKSHAKES. So on TOP of the sandwich/cajun fries rating, I have to bump Downbeat up another star for having some AWESOME milkshakes! The regular selection is all there: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, etc., but what you really wanna try, if you're a chocolate milkshake kinda person, is the Chunky Monkey. I was here on a Taco Tuesday (not to order tacos :/), was told that the milkshake would be a 10 min wait, and was still blown away by the Chunky Monkey when it came out. Chocolate, banana, and peanut butter all blended to perfection were well worth the wait, and to my surprise, tasted exactly like Reese's Peanut Butter Crunch cereal! For those of you still on the fence about Downbeat, I'd highly recommend the sandwiches (I've heard mixed reviews about the plate lunch sort of stuff), and would DEFINITELY recommend grabbing a shake while you're at it!
(5)Caroline P.
This is absolutely one of my favorite places to eat in Honololulu so far. Situated in the center of China Town in a quirky little building. There are 8 booths with pictures of famous people on the seats. There is only one waitperson manning this station but it's really worth the wait. My boyfriend and I love this place. I am a vegetarian and sometimes vegan. My boyfriend loves meat and lovingly complains when I cook that we are eating rabbit food, rainbows and kale. So the Downbeat caters to both of our tastes. I love the Vegan BLT and the garlic fries. So darn good. The funny thing is my boyfriend ends up getting something vegetarian too. They have nice cocktails there. The wine list is really limited. White or Red wine. Also great live music performances next door so don't forget to support the artists. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Warren N.
Went here last Sunday evening and liked it. We had the nachos, and unlike previous reviewers we had lots of chips and some good chili on top. I like that you can get breakfast anytime and their vegan/veg choices are great also. I had the pesto-tofu scramble which was very good. Dessert was empanadas which were accompanied by a nice caramel sauce. Dive bar? Yes. Good dive bar with good food? Double yes!!
(4)Tori B.
Truly disappointing! I've heard a lot of hype about this restaurant and have been meaning to check it out, but my experience here was lousy. Upon entering, my boyfriend and I stood there in the middle of the restaurant for quite a while until the server shouted from the back, "sit anywhere!" Not a very welcoming start. If this is your restaurant's policy, at least post a sign; don't make me stand there while all the other restaurant patrons stare at me. I ordered the vegetarian monte cristo, which was actually very good, but pretty oily. My boyfriend, however, ordered the teri burger, which was probably the sorriest looking teri burger I'd ever seen. He said it was not cooked very well either. I guess since vegetarian and vegan is their specialty, this translates to an inability to cook meat well. Our server, though, was the ultimate kicker. We came in late on a Sunday night and it was not very busy at all. She had maybe four or five tables to wait and a few bar patrons. She seemed much more interested in talking and laughing with the people at the bar than serving us, and was really curt and disinterested when she did. She never bothered to clear our plates even after we'd finished eating and brought the dessert to our table. I'd understand if you were swamped and happened to forget about us, but it was essentially a ghost town, and she was totally aloof. Anyway, the only thing that kept this experience from being a one star rating was my veg monte cristo. Otherwise, Downbeat Diner left me disappointed and I won't be back again.
(2)Gemma R.
Came by last night before heading out to the crowds at First Friday. The place does have a diner feel to it, the chairs are awesome and we had a great time trying to figure out who everyone was based on their photos. They carded us at the door which was odd because it's a restaurant and there shouldn't be an age limit to a restaurant. We were all obviously over 21 but still, kinda weird. We asked the waitress how to get a table and she told us it was first come first serve. Wrong. We sat at the bar and then a table opened up and the door guy said that the table was already taken and he had a list! Which he failed to tell us when we walked in. Oh well, back to the bar. We were seated shortly after so it wasn't a big deal. The bartender was having a hard time with a groupon so if you purchased a groupon, make sure to tell your server prior to ordering so it your problem doesn't hold up everyone's drinking! lol We had 3 vodka tonics & a lychee sour at the bar which was $18. Awesome. Had the burgers, fries, blat and the mix appetizer thing. everything was pretty good, but we were drunk so I probably could of ate styrofoam and would of been happy. The waitresses were very attentive and refilled our drinks/got us more drinks constantly. I had a great time and if I'm ever in the area, I'd go again. Over all, it was a cheap pre-party dinner and an overall good time. Actually, I do have to go back. I didn't have dessert. lol I love the whole regular/vegan menu which is something I'm really looking forward to trying.
(5)Evan B.
This place is awesome. I like supporting local places, and when I was in Honolulu, this was a favorite spot to stop. Volcano fries are very tasty, and the atmosphere is chill. The music is good, and the movies on mute are equally enjoyable. I recommend this place to all my friends.
(5)J Z.
I go there for the vegan fare - and so far, I'm happy! I only venture there in the daytime because let's face it - it's in Chinatown - and not somewhere I want to be at night (unless Chinese New Year block party - that's a whole 'nuther story!) Since I don't drink, I'm more than happy with the giant basket of fries and bbq, etc. vegan sandwiches, breakfasts, entrees & salads. :-) The grilled cheese needs work, however - but all in all - I recommend this to the adventurous vegans/vegetarians & on-the-fencers out there!
(5)jeannine s.
Downbeat Diner is where Americana meets counter culture. Nestled on Hotel Street between Mini Garden and Pynk, is one of Chinatown's newer additions open from 11 am to 4 pm nearly every day. You can either sink into one of a number of booths upholstered with mugs of the famous and infamous: Frida Kahlo, Billy Idol, Mark Twain, Bruddah Iz and Freddy Mercury or pull up to a seat at their well-stocked bar. Breathe and you can smell rockabilly in the air. Burgers come in two forms either Big Island free range beef or Vegan and are prepared either American, Western or Teriyaki style. For $2 more, you can get them with a side order of fries. And for $5 more, you can get them with a frosty shake, either regular or vegan. I enjoyed my second visit far more than the first. I thought the Teriyaki burger was an improvement over the American version I had a few weeks before. The fries were actually more tasty and not soggy as they were during my first visit. And, while I did enjoy a spiked Ginger Brew, I loved the hell out of the Rogue Dead Guy Ale, imported from Portland. These also are instant classics. Hands down my favorite thing would be the basket of fritters. If I had to go out for just dessert, I'd split a basket of apple fritters with caramel sauce with a couple of friends. It's too decadent for two and split among a foursome, it's quite perfect. The mac nut brownie ice cream sandwich is good but not as special. The service is also much better than the first visit. So, some kinks are getting worked out. We're definitely coming back and bringing friends next time.
(4)Nancy S.
I first tried this place after a night out with friends in Honolulu. We wanted a late night snack and boy did this place hit the spot. One of our friend's is vegetarian so it was nice that you could get practically anything on the menu as a vegan option. We had the vegan hot wings. These were the best non-meat wings I have had in my life. The flavor was amazing and the texture was far from all the rubbery meat substitutes I have had in the past. The bacon burger was also very delicious and flavorful. This will be somewhere to stop whenever I get to visit the island.
(5)Sajili B.
Oh Downbeat. I haven't been here since I first moved to Hawaii in Oct 2011. Yea, not too long ago, I just wanted it to sound like that. Anyway, my go to is their fresh ginger brew drink they serve. It's freakin' delicious. First time I went I got fries and a burger. It was goood. The most recent time was on a Tuesday, 1st of the month, I had to do it right. I was scrambling to find a place that was open past 9:30pm that was hip, had good food on a Tuesday night of all nights. You know why. Anyway, I was surprised they did Taco Tuesday (and very thankful) because she likes mexican food. Yea, it's not a mexi-restaurant and you'll be hard-pressed to find that in Hawaii, but it sufficed. (No mexican food spot is open in Hawaii past 9 or 9:30pm on a weekday, wth right? Spoiled LA kid.) I got a bacon quesadilla (delicious), their nachos, and she got the tacos. They freshly made it into a hard taco and it became vaseline greasy by the third shot. So that was a minor fail but a winning night. Chill, hip environment that you can take friends, special friends, and whoever to. You got the hipster and artsy scene in Chinatown, so if you are a transplant, you'll feel at home (esp. if you are from LA, the Bay, etc).
(4)Jody S.
Downbeat Diner has a cool vibe. It has vegan options which make me happy. A few coworkers raved about this hole in the wall located in Chinatown so was stoked when we went to eat there. However, the experience left me something to be desired. Service was just okay. Our waitress appeared and disappeared like a ninja, you really never knew when she would show up. When we tried to order, they had no French fries, they had no veggie burgers and they had no milkshakes....what the heck?! Two words--go shopping! Three more words--restock your cupboards. HELLO....do hope to be back and hopefully the next time will be great.
(3)Keri B.
It's nice when I am traveling to other parts of the country to have some vegan options. The BLAT was great and the vegan chicken wings were good for sharing. Love the vibe here
(4)Ryan S.
Great option for vegetarians and vegans alike. They're also open late which is awesome for those late night munchies and quick dinners after working late. All their food options are delicious and reasonably priced. Wide array of sandwiches, and house specials with cool combo options available. Breakfast is served all day I believe. The staff are super friendly and well-mannered. The ambience of the establishment is cozy, energetic, and welcoming. Recommended for any foodie, vegetarian, or vegan!
(4)Dextin A.
I habe been here a few times and the food has been consistently good and the prices are great milkshakes are friggin awesome. My only knock is sometimes the service here is slow thats the only reason i didnt give 5 stars
(4)Tina S.
We had eaten at the Downbeat Diner once before and the food was good. The lack of parking and the shadiness of the area kept us away. However with our friends, the Saloon Pilots and Rye & Discord playing here we ventured out again. Loved the chicken nachos and moonshine mixed drinks.
(4)Sheryl N.
Went here today to take my friends for a birthday lunch, sooo this is how it went down. Service: Sucked. Pretty much when we got in she didn't really acknowledge us. And when she did, said there were a few people ahead of us which was alright. It took about 20-30 minutes to get us seated, even when there clearly was a table open; but she didn't realize it until later. It took them about 20 minutes to get our waters... And about 25-30 minutes for us to get our food. Kinda long. What sucked the most was the fact she charged us almost $20 over the original amount without mentioning the 18% gratuity. She didn't have such a great attitude when we asked kindly if we could split the bill; which she declined due to the "rush" which was non-existent & first friday. Probably won't be coming back for awhile. Food: Decent. I got the pesto chicken sandwich with cajun fries which was pretty good, yet dry. The fries were a good cut, fried well. My other friendss also have noticed their burgers/sandwiches to be a little dry. The flavors were alright, I've had better. It was better before. Atmosphere: Pretty chill, casual. Parking: There's several places to park, mostly street parking of the chinese municipal parking. We parked at the South Beretania parking structure, because it's much cleaner than the rest. Overall: Food's alright, service is meh and parking is good as usual.
(2)Jenn T.
Bottomless mimosas??? Yes please!! Came for the brunch experience that my friends have been talking about at this place. They had been here many times before to grab the bottomless mimosa deal. I also ordered the pesto scramble, which came with pesto scrambled eggs, choice of meat and toast. It was pretty delicious, though I was starving at the time I ate it. The cheese fries were also really good. The mimosas here are decent, though they kept running out of champagine and had to go out and buy more, making the mimoas....bottom-full for about 10 minutes. Seems like they should be a little better prepared for the deal if they're going to offer it, but I think it was their way of telling us to stop drinking :P. Overall, a decent meal.
(3)Sabrina O.
Wonderful little hipster diner. A VERY welcome change from touristy Waikiki. It's place wouldn't be out of place in Brooklyn, very hipster vibe. We were there Saturday lunchtime but it wasn't busy at all. I had the BLAT sandwich - I substituted mayo for mustard, no hassles, although they did put too much mustard on! My husband had Otto's Moco, which he enjoyed. We also tried the house made ginger soda, which was excellent. This place also looks like a fun place to drink in the evening as well, and they seem to have alot of live soul, ska and revival bands. We would definitely come back to this place.
(4)Keola P.
I am somewhat of a regular of Downbeat Diner, going there about once every other month or so. I appreciate the vegetarian options, though it is a lot of fried stuff. I like the vegan ranch dressing and fries. The fritters are good if you are craving sweet. The service can be spotty. Usually the servers are very friendly and positive, but a few times they have made some snarky sarcastic comments randomly, which is the main reason they only get four stars. Also, I personally get annoyed with televisions in restaurants. I prefer to focus on the food and company I am with! I guess it's a kind of "hipster" place, so maybe that's why the wait staff is sarcastic sometimes? I think their subculture is about being ironic, but I don't really get it. If they got rid of the televisions, and just played music, and the servers were a little more sincere instead of sarcastic, I would give them five stars. A great little haven to go to get away from the madness of the Chinatown streets and chill before or after going to clubs and such.
(4)Jesand A.
Did not expect this joint to be as good as it was. Awesome service! Clean eats, offers vegan and non GMO beef. Tasty, the garlic fries are a must!
(4)Morgan N.
This food was amazing !!!!! My wife is vegan and i simply just love meat. I had a burger it was amazing it was juicy and cooked perfect at med well. My wife was in love with the fact that she didn't have to explain what vegan was or ask a million questions about the menu. She had the Ruben and she loved in fact we had three other entries while we were there. The old saying a happy wife a happy life, so def will be coming back. the atmosphere is very different then anything on the island very hipster and mellow. parking wasn't bad it cost us $3 one block away for 2 hours. It was simply amazing!!!! I even ate some vegan nachos wasn't bad at all not melted but have you very tried to melt vegan cheese its hard to do lol
(5)Emi H.
Downbeat was a bit of a mixed bag for us last night and I've realized that unless you're a vegetarian you really should order DESSERTS! They have a lovely assortment of sweets for those of you who share my penchant for SUGAR. Here's the rundown of last night's late night visit... KEITH: He ordered a ham and cheese grilled sandwich and unfortunately the cheese was not melted. Booooooooooooo. We told him to tell the server but he's very Japanese and would never send anything back. He ate his sandwich in sad silence and I grabbed a sample. I have to say although the cheese wasn't melted, it still wasn't half bad. It could have used some creamy tomato soup to make it spectacular! JOHN: He's a vegetarian so I didn't really pay attention to his food because I don't think vegetables should be consumed after 9 pm. It was already 11:15 pm when we walked through the doors and John had to ruin my good time with his garden goodness. It was some sort of all veggie grilled sandwich and I did my best to ignore it. GARY: He got chili cheese fries and a Nutella milkshake. OH YEAH! Now that's what I'm talking about people! This was no half hearted attempt to enjoy oneself, this was PURE UNADULTERATED GLUTTONY. The fries themselves were good but I didn't fall in love with the veggie chili. Gary liked the spiciness but honestly when I eat chili cheese fries I want that old school flavor that falls somewhere between ball park and cafeteria. ME: I order the apple fritters and course corrected with the apple AND banana fritters. If you go to Downbeat you have to PROMISE that you'll order these! They come out HOT and are complete perfection when you've been out all night. They're like funnel cakes wrapped around fruit. The bananas were sweet while the apples had a nice tartness. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. In addition to my fritters I got a chocolate peanut butter milkshake which was DAMN GOOD. Poor Keith grabbed the spoon in my milkshake to have a taste and was unfortunate enough to inadvertently swallow a spoonful of peanut butter. Oh well, bygones! Service was really friendly and he gave us some solid recommendations which made our experience. Definitely a hipster hangout but it makes for entertaining people watching.
(4)Rita L.
My friend and I really wanted to eat at Lucky Belly but the wait was kinda long...so we went next door to try out Downbeat. We are soo happy we did, it was such a yummy experiance! We had the chunky monkey shake was yummers. I had the Vegan bbq chicken sandwich and I couldn't tell it wasnt really meat...it was soo good! I loved the garlic fries too! We ended our diner meal with the apple fritters which you have to order at the beginning of your meal...try it! The batter of the fritters taste like its funnel cake....loved the caramel sauce on top! I will def be back to try more delicous vegan delights!
(4)Shiloh R.
Still coming back years later! The servers are so sweet and friendly (can I mention cute?!?!) and the food is DELICIOUS!
(5)DJ Nocturna R.
Downbeat Diner always had a great vibe and friendly bartenders and servers. Great food and reasonable price. The lounge section beside it is open now with awesome sound and lighting. Every Wednesday night, come check out Totally 80s, a night of 80s/90s music and dancing and no cover! Video screen, tables and chairs and a great crowd with DJ GSpot, DJ Coondog and DJ Nocturna. Also DJ guest appearances as well.
(5)Keun W.
People seem to have great things to say about this place, but our experience was different. They needed more help, because we waited for a long time for our food. My friend returned her dish, but the waitress never came over to fixed the order or check in on us. So, my friend just gave up. Finally, the waitress comes to clean our table (to basically kick us out) and says, "Oh. She's over it, huh?" Well, yeah! You never came to get our order or check up on us!!! Rude she gave the table next us apologies and a complimentary dish, yet nothing for us when it was their fault!! The food is over priced and the service was terrible. The only reason I am giving a star is for the fries.
(1)Angela D.
This is our favorite place on the island. The vegetarian options are as plentiful as the meat options and they are all delicious. When I come here, I always eat too much. I continue to order the vegetarian Reuben sandwich with fries and there are veggie barbecue "wings" that I cannot get enough of. The chili cheese fries are yummy, the American veggie burger is great and the Buffalo chicken sandwich rocks (and is hot!). Beer selection is good and the TV is often playing some quirky movie that attracts your attention. Only thing I wish they would change is their hours. I came here for breakfast once only to find out they don't open until 11 am! What diner does that?
(5)Kris B.
Two stars for the diner, adding another one for the lounge. I've tried the diner several times now, and I don't know why I end up here time and again. Atmosphere is appropriate to that hipster Chinatown culture. The lounge area is fun when they have the live bluegrass music, but the area can get quite cramped. In my opinion, the lounge is superior to the diner. The servers are usually nice but maaaaannn is service slow at the diner! I usually go during the later hours of night and I don't eat much. One night I ordered the Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae which is every person's late night dream snack. Hard to mess up right? Just heat up a couple day old cookies and top it off with ice cream. But no! I had what a friend called a "charcoal chip" cookie, which made me laugh on the outside and cry on the inside. Whyyyeeeeee! Burned to a black crisp (and I could smell it too), must I pay $5 for carcinogens? Knowing my track record, will probably end up coming here again because they have late night hours but ...whyeeeee...
(3)Sally F.
Sometimes you go to a diner hoping for bad coffee and a laid back atmosphere. This is not that diner. You want to like this place and keep coming back because you're drunk and hungry and nothing else is open but every time you wonder why you came back. Waiters are awful and too cool to use proper manners or even be friendly while serving you. Always understaffed. Loooooong wait times. This goes for the bar and the cafe. They just don't know how to do their jobs and are hired on the basis of indie band knowledge and whether they own a pair of doc martens or not.
(1)Mariko K.
After living in Hawaii for eight years I finally tried a loco moco yesterday and I specifically tried it here after finding out they serve it with brown rice and they have vegetarian and vegan options. I hate greasy spoon food, so I figured that if they have these options it's a good indicator that they are using quality ingredients. I was right and it was delicious! The burger patty was very good, I really liked the seasonings used. Also, I appreciated the generous portion size, I took half home and ate the rest for breakfast today. At the same time, I think DownBeat ruined me for loco moco, I can't imagine it tasting as good anywhere else so I'm only going to eat it here. My friend got the zombie drink, which was pretty much straight up alcohol :) My friend and I were jealous of how cool our waitress was, haha. We liked the vibe a lot and especially enjoyed that they were playing kitten videos on their tv screens.
(5)Jenna S.
Four stars? Most people must be drunk when they eat here because my experience was anything but. First off, the service was really slow, and two people came in well after us (after we ordered and had been waiting about 10 minutes) and they got their food before us! The food quality was very poor. Honestly they serve the same curly fries as Jack in the Box, and sadly at least Jack's fries come out HOT and they even have better sourdough bread than what I got on my sandwich. My grilled chicken was not juicy at all, and the when my nachos came out they were COLD too. The waitress gave us new nachos but they still tasted like crap. We also noticed the table across from us also sent their food back. The food they serve here is not worth the price and it's already pretty cheap. I really do not understand why this place has such high reviews. Save your money and go elsewhere, I only gave this place a shot because where I really wanted to go was closed on Sunday, and people had good things to say about it. Yelpers you let me down get off the fad wagon!
(1)Randall H.
The place is great hands down, I would certainly come again & eat here. The service was friendly & constantly checked on us to see if we needed anything. Overall this was a good experience. Music was good also.
(4)Eric F.
I had the loco moco and a Freddie Fizz. It was so good I don't know what to do with myself. I had enough to eat but it was so good...I want to order more to just sport eat. Seriously prices are reasonable the food is awesome what can I say? Thanks and good job!
(5)Robert W.
My favorite place in Chinatown!!! Great place to hangout any time of the day. Downbeat is an incredible diner and bar! The menu is full of great choices that caters to all types of eaters (vegetarian / vegan / omnivores) Every item is well prepared and served by a very courteous staff. My favorite items on the menu are the carnivore burger and garlic fries. Additionally, brunch / breakfast items that are very tasty and the home fries are just great. The bar menu is solid. The cocktails, especially the ginger brew and root beer no float, are delicious. The atmosphere of Downbeat is the reason to keep coming back. Between the great music and interesting videos that constantly being played and the Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy adorn booths the Downbeat diner is the epitome of cool. I love this restaurant and will come back every time I am back in Honolulu!
(5)Jeana P.
On February 20, 2015 I went down to the Downbeat Diner and Lounge for the first time on my night off from work. I arrived around 7:25pm. Lounge Take 1 -- I stepped into the lounge area and noticed that it was practically empty. I sat at one of the high tables and waited like a good 5 minutes to see if the bartender would approach me to ask if I wanted anything to drink. No greetings whatsoever from the bartender. I ended up using the restroom and left the lounge area. Diner -- I made my way to the diner side of the business. It was pretty busy. I was greeted by the waitress and the bartender. I went straight to the bar seating and the bartender hands me the menu as well as asking me on what I would like to drink. I ordered a Coke/Sprite mix to drink and settled for the Club Sandwich with french fries. While having my meal I was able to watch DINOSAURS on the flat screen television. As I am chewing on my food the bartender asked if everything was okay....all I could do was nod my head and give a thumbs up. My drink was almost gone and the bartender asked if I wanted another drink....I asked for a Ketel OJ. I received the Ketel OJ plus a refill on the Coke/Sprite mix. Found out the bartender's name is Chris (thanks to another customer who started to chat with the bartender). Finished eating my meal as well as my drinks. I paid for my tab and mentioned to Chris "I'm going to head on over to the lounge side and listen to the music," He says, "Perfect timing....they are almost done with the preparations." Left the diner at 8:30pm. Lounge Take 2 -- I make my way back to the lounge area. I noticed that it got a little crowded. The sound equipment guy greeted me. I stood near the wall and watched the remaining scenes of CABLE GUY on the flat screen television. I noticed a seat at the bar got vacated so I went straight to that seat and got comfortable. I witnessed the changing of shifts at 9pm. A different bartender...at least this person acknowledged me by making small talk with me. I had to ask him "What time does the music normally starts?" "Around 9:30pm or later" was his reply. I looked at my watch and it was 9:30pm. I told him "The only reason why I am down here is to listen to the music. Otherwise I'd be at home tonight (in my head I'm thinking {or at work})." 10pm comes....finally we have some live music going. First group was Drowning Dreamers (cd release party). The last two groups Ionz and Urchinz got the crowd dancing. There's a small dancing area in front of the stage. It gets crowded if there's a lot of people dancing. Found out my second bartender's name is Johnny (thanks to one of the other customers who called out his name). I was people watching at the same time of listening to the music. I noticed that Johnny helped other customers, I seen him hook up a keg for one of the beers, and I also noticed that he cleared some tables off of empty cups and napkins. I tried a couple of the signature cocktails....Lilikoi Sour (it really was sour) and the Lavender Collins (had whiskey in it). I also had Ketel OJ as my last drink for the night. Excellent service by both Chris and Johnny for acknowledging me as a customer. Now if only the live entertainment can start on time (9pm according to the printed free ticket that I had) then this establishment would receive more than just the 3 stars. BTW....Fridays and Saturdays last call for alcohol is at 2am but the diner side opens until 4am for food only. Live music I think is only on Friday nights and Saturday nights (?).
(3)Mina M.
I love coming here! There's always something going on. This is a great place for burgers and milkshakes. On my most recent visit, Friday around 5pm, we had a table of 8 and they connected a table to the booth. I was on the end but it wasn't uncomfortable like I was gonna have people brush up against me every time they walk by. They were also playing Bob's Burgers on the projector +++ (!!!!!!!!!) I actually had a really bad craving for burgers and fries and this was literally a dream come true (can't get away from food even in my dreams.) - I usually get the American burger with garlic fries -drool- it comes on a nicely toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced onion, and melted cheese. I like to add the fries inside my burger for that little extra salt. I was in the mood for it to be medium and it was perfection. Yeah, perfection. - Their garlic fries are amazinggggggg but when aren't garlic fries amazing? - Their wings are also good and reasonably priced. - Mozzarella sticks tastes like how it should taste. Nice crunch with yummy breading and gooey cheese. - I had a sip of the chai milkshake - really good, you can taste the spices - Bacon milkshake - also good, tastes like bacon lol - Two of my friends always order the Ruben. - And they do really flavorful vegan burgers! Service is hit or miss. When it's busy, you may get checked on once or twice. And paying seems to take a while. Since our last visit was beginning of dinner, (5pm) waters were refilled and beers were brought over. We got everything we wanted. And the place didn't start filling up and until we were about to leave. The downside of this place is that they do not split checks if you have a party of 5 or more so bring cash if you can! Oh and parking. Try finding a spot on the street or pay the $12(!?) for the nearest parking lot like we did.
(5)Amber B.
What's not to love about a place with a vegan option for most of the menu that's open late even on Sundays and has a bar? This is one of mine & hubby's favorite date-night locations! The only thing that I'm not a fan of is the location due to the lack of parking and sometimes crazy homeless peeps who come around late at night, which is the only time we ever go. (Just sayin, nothing against the homeless, but I definitely clutch my pearls a bit when I am walking around and see people yelling and coming towards me) But even the crazies aren't enough to deter me from eating there (as long as hubby is by my side) OR from a 5-star rating. I've never had a bad experience here, nor have I eaten anything on the menu that wasn't absolutely awesome. I hope they stay in business for a loooooong time!
(5)Ryan S.
Great option for vegetarians and vegans alike. They're also open late which is awesome for those late night munchies and quick dinners after working late. All their food options are delicious and reasonably priced. Wide array of sandwiches, and house specials with cool combo options available. Breakfast is served all day I believe. The staff are super friendly and well-mannered. The ambience of the establishment is cozy, energetic, and welcoming. Recommended for any foodie, vegetarian, or vegan!
(4)Dextin A.
I habe been here a few times and the food has been consistently good and the prices are great milkshakes are friggin awesome. My only knock is sometimes the service here is slow thats the only reason i didnt give 5 stars
(4)Peter T.
So the draw of this place is slowly dying for me, really if not the only place where I could get brunch downtown on a Sunday without a wait AND if my kid didn't like it so much, would probably give up on it. I'm done with their breakfast, just not doing it for me anymore. Last time I was here got the chicken and waffles was meh at best; ditto the rest of the entire breakfast menu (see other reviews). Have repeated the burrito twice after my initial review and just not doing it for me either anymore, not sure why. Today decided to try the loco moco and was a big meh. The secret to a good loco moco in my opinion is the gravy and the gravy here wasn't cutting it; taste like the chicken and waffle gravy (more a flour based thick gravy) than proper brown beef gravy. Wasn't bad but wasn't good either, def forgettable. Irish coffee was excellent like always. Kid got her standard eggs and bacon though going to do a little rant here as this has happened the last three times now and it drives me nuts. So she orders "eggs + bacon, no potatoes, and white toast" every time and the last two servers (chicks, not the skinny gay dude) always bring her a side of eggs, side of bacon, and side of toast. Now look I understand you are probably doing that because toast doesn't come with the bacon+eggs breakfast menu item (and you can't seem to substitute toast for potatoes) and it's cheaper this way (and I appreciate that) but you don't need to bring it out on three small little side dish plates, obviously it's breakfast for her since she ordered it. It annoys the hell out of me (and even she finds it bemusing) that the staff can't just use some common damn sense and throw it all on one plate like a normal person would; how it's ordered or rung up is irrelevant to the presentation. On a similar vein, and this is a mixed bag, is hot chocolate. Look I know hot chocolate isn't the menu nor chocolate milk (or I don't think it is) for that matter and I super appreciate your server custom making chocolate milk + whip cream for my kid [as a compromise when she asked for hot chocolate but the server really understood what she wanted was whip cream] but is it really that much to ask to just stick it in a coffee mug and nuke it? Not asking for proper hot coco here. Ignoring that though kid loves the bacon and eggs here so we keep coming back plus the prices are right. Lastly I want to give kudos to the waitress today. White chick with blond/green hair and two stub pony tails (?). She was super friendly and my kid loved her; couldn't stop talking about how awesome she was after we left. On the grownup side, was no complaints either. She was fast, attentive, didn't screw the order up, and pleasant, everything one could ask for. Giving props where due.
(3)Natalie K.
This place is so comforting to me. I used to spend weekend nights hanging out in the diner, listening to music, and eating greasy vegan food. It is fun and delicious. My favorite menu items: vegan bbq wings, vegan pesto chicken sandwich, vegan Teri chicken sandwich, and as of today.. The vegan toffee shake. It's awesome to bring all different types of people here, because the menu offers vegetarian, vegan, and meat items for all types of diets. Definitely worth checking out.
(5)Kurt M.
Honolulu is not a vegetarian or vegan friendly city. Thus, I was happy to come across this place during my stay. It's in Chinatown, making it centrally located. I was helped quickly and the servers were friendly. My food was always great (not fine-dining great but pretty damn good for a diner) and came quickly. I also appreciated that their menu was large and varied. The fact that it's also a bar with alcohol made me happy because boy, do I love drinking! And to top it off, they show entertaining movies which gives the solitary diner something to do while sitting at the bar eating their meal or drinking away their loneliness. I wish this place was in my neighborhood in Boston; I'd go frequently.
(5)Jon H.
Argh. That sound of inner conflict truly sums up my feelings on Downbeat Diner and Lounge, and I hate saying that since I want to love this place so badly. Starting with their strengths and what they do well, Downbeat is a vegan-friendly diner wrapped in a trendily decorated package in the heart of downtown. They specialize in options aimed to please your (American) comfort food cravings without compromising on your dietary and culinary lifestyle choices. Speaking from personal experience, places like this make it extremely convenient for vegetarians and vegans alike. Having been a vegetarian for a good handful of years, it was always reassuring to know that whatever order I placed would be carefully prepared and not run the risk of me cheating on my diet. The food itself is generally pretty good as well. From veggie loco mocos to veggie "chicken" wings, there really is something for everyone on their menu. Speaking for myself, I am pretty partial to their chips and salsa and avocado quesadillas. But maybe my favorite thing on their menu is their milkshakes, which without trying to sound like an alcoholic, can be ordered spiked with the liquor of your choosing. I don't know about you, but there's just something so satisfying to me about that concept. And although every time I intend to order something different, I usually end up getting the strawberry milkshake with rum. What can i say, I love strawberries...even artificially flavored ones so it seems. The milkshakes aren't necessarily über strong, but there definitely is enough alcohol mixed in to give it a nice kick. And on a somewhat related note, one of Downbeat's greatest attributes is it's location and hour of operation. I cannot even count how many times Downbeat has provided a safe haven to eat-who am I kidding, i totally mean sober up-for me and my friends after a night out of bar hopping at nearby establishments. The fact that Downbeat is literally only a stone's throw away from places like Bar35 and Manifest, two places I frequent a lot, as well as being open late, make it one of the default "where to go?" options. With that all being said, and as big of a fan of their concept as I am, i can't give them a perfect rating because of a combination of two things: the wait time between order and the arrival of your food, and a past incident that occurred that could've potentially been so much more damaging/enraging given different circumstance. Starting with my gripe with the wait time, I try to be really understanding anywhere I go, and especially wanna give the benefit of the doubt when I factor in convenience and "life-saving"-ness. However, the food really seems to take forever and I'm honestly not sure what the reason for it is. I mean some of the more complex orders I can understand taking awhile, and I'm completely ok with that necessary wait. But when you end up waiting 30+ minutes for a Veggie Boat, which is basically assorted sticks of vegetables, more than a few eyebrows are gonna get raised. This is not trying to take anything away from the customer service, however, as every interaction I've had with staff at Downbeat has been quite friendly and excellent. Everyone here seems to genuinely like working there and it shows in their demeanor and positive attitudes. It's just that damn waiting that really takes away from their good points. And the second reason I can't give them 5 stars is on account of a "grudge," for a lack of better words, that I just can't shake. I previously mentioned that I was a vegetarian for awhile, and during that time I really appreciated places like Downbeat that provided diet-friendly options and made it clear that your food would be prepared worry-free. Anyway, one night my friends and I were eating at Downbeat and I ordered their BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) sandwich with a substitute of vegan bacon. Our orders arrived and we all began to eat. I'm not sure if you've ever sampled vegan bacon before, although it's pretty tasty it's nowhere near as good as the real thing. It just can't match that flavor, texture, or smokiness. With this in mind, I'm a couple bites into my sandwich, when I think to myself, "Damn, this is the BEST vegan bacon I've ever had! I swear it's the real thing!" And that's when I knew something was wrong. When something's too good to be true it usually is. I deconstructed my sandwich and pulled the slices of what I had believed to have been vegan bacon only to discover in horror that they were in fact real bacon strips. Now I took the mistake well, and although I was quite upset at the time about the mixup, I understand people make mistakes and it wasn't like it was intentional. And they were quite apologetic and comped the cost of my sandwich, so it kinda ended up being a "no harm, no foul" type of deal. However, I can't lie and say that the incident did not leave a lasting negative impression. Bottom line, I'll keep on coming here...just as long as I'm not in a rush.
(4)Russ C.
The best diner in Honolulu for sure . Its Vegan/ Vegetarian options make is totally welcoming to anyone. The staff also goes out of thier way to welcome the entire family. I've gone there times when the diner was almost completely filled with families. The wait staff is superfantastic. Can't say enough good things about them. Great drinks too.
(5)Steve C.
So excited. This could be my favorite place for vegan comfort food. Had the buffalo wings, chilli cheese fries, carnivore burger and pesto chicken sandwich. All vegan and all delicious. If it weren't for the hair in our sandwich it would've been 5 stars. The server was super cool and made up for it though. Props to him. I'll be back
(4)Jennifer S.
Cute place to visit for lunch downtown. Black, red and white décor and friendly staff. I went with 2 friends who visit there often (sometimes weekly) so I was able to get an inside scoop as to what they thought were good items to try. I settled on the chicken pesto sandwich and added the curly fries for an additional charge. Wow! They gave a good amount of food! They didn't skimp on the fries, the chicken and most importantly, the pesto!!! I really enjoyed my lunch. My other friend ordered the otto moco. Boneless, skinless chicken, with the downbeat gravy, easy over eggs, over a bed of brown rice I tried a bite and it's something I'd consider ordering the next time. My other friend ordered a wrap of some sort with gravy fries. I didn't try it so I can't give you my opinion on it. Oh and the shakes!!! I need to come back here and try the shakes. I heard they're really good and they better be cause they cost $5+ for a small cup. I'll update you on the shake after my next visits (plural because there are 3-5 flavors of shakes that I want to try...ha!)
(4)Jen S.
Downbeat diner is a hipster diner in Chinatown. And it served me well for both mid-day food and late night drinking and dining. There are the classic meat based dishes on the menu - like burgers & chicken sandwiches. But I love that any of those can be substituted with vegan/vegetarian equivalents. The 'faux' chicken sandwiches were tasty and I was delighted I could get a vegan version of hot-wings - score! Beer and and liquor available, so you can enjoy a mixed drink or just add a shot to your milkshake. And there's a breakfast menu for those recovering from the night before. A great find in Chinatown - I'd definitely come back.
(4)Nicole K.
Let me just preface this review by mentioning that Downbeat Diner was playing Cadet Kelly on TV the day I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch there! Cadet Kelly! If you were a tween in the early 2000's and fondly remember the heyday of Disney Channel Original Movies, you will be impressed by Downbeat Diner's superb entertainment selection. If not, sorry for the blast from the not-too-distant-past! Back to the Review... One day, as my co-worker and I mulled over where to grab lunch, he casually mentioned his past visit to Downbeat Diner where his friend ordered a French Toast Sandwich. I immediately stopped whatever I was doing, dramatically whipped back, and asked "You mean a Monte Cristo?!" I first tried a Monte Cristo in college when I was stuck in LA for the summer and frequented a cafe (Black Cow Cafe) where The. Best. Monte. Cristo. Sandwich was served. It was a novelty to me at the time - French Toast AND Ham AND Cheese?! After one strangely confusing yet delicious bite, I was hooked! With the new-found knowledge that Downbeat Diner, just a few blocks away from my office, served this awesome Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner sandwich, there was no more mulling over where to go. We were going to Downbeat! We arrived around 12:00 p.m. during lunch rush. There were plenty of seats open at the bar and one booth left! We hightailed it to the booth and were immediately greeted and provided with menus. If I hadn't come to Downbeat Diner specifically for a Monte Cristo, I could have spent quite awhile pouring over the delicious sounding options offered...especially the milkshakes! *Drool* I ordered my Monte Cristo with a side of french fries (an additional $2.50) and tried not too look overly intrigued with Cadet Kelly on the TV while I waited. It was difficult... After a few minutes, our meals appeared. And after a few minutes, our meals disappeared. The Monte Cristo Sandwich was great! The French Toast, albeit a bit soggy, was perfectly sweet and topped with powdered sugar. I used to enjoy my Monte Cristo with a side of cream cheese and jam, but the maple syrup provided with my meal was ooey-gooey-amazing! The sweetness of the French Toast with the saltiness of the ham and cheese made for a delectable and savory flavor! By the end of our meal, I was too full to order a milkshake to-go, but am eyeing the Chai Tea one for next time! While Downbeat Diner is a great spot for lunch, I am even more intrigued to visit at night for some of their awesome sounding drinks!
(4)Gavin H.
Just had dinner here with a friend visiting from Scotland. She happens to be vegan. The Loco Mock may be the best I've ever had and the vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sunday we shared was beyond my expectations.
(5)Ar S.
...Wonderful diner food - great decor, laid back, airy and comfortable. Servers were attentive. Best of all, really amazing Vegan items including volcano fries with yummy 'cheese' (tasted homemade...), spicy buffalo / 'chicken' burger and fries, & mushroom onion veggie burger. The vegan chocolate MILKSHAKE was phenomenal - even better than dairy milk Shake Shack (and better for you!). Yummy comfort food. The best meal we had during our 8-day stay at Hilton Honolulu (says a lot!). Reasonable prices too! Convenient location to downtown Honolulu. I wish we could come here every month ! tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(5)Carin H.
Wow! I love this place. It was my first time here last night and I had an amazing experience. Our waitress was friendly and quick. Very cool hipster atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable. Food was delicious. Drink: I had a "spiked ginger brew" which is a mixture of vodka and non-alcoholic ginger beer. I decided to get stoli. Never get well vodka people! Bad hangovers and headaches lol. Appetizer: My bf and I shared an order of chili cheese fries. I don't eat meat. This was a vegan chili and vegan cheese on top of french fries. Omg! I was so surprised. The fries were thick, crispy and NOT greasy at all! How are chili cheese fries not greasy?! But I loved so much that it wasn't! Entree: I had the vegan chicken pesto sandwich made as a wrap instead. Bf had some kind of bbq burger. I do like that almost everything on the menu, you can get the regular meat or as a vegan (mock) meat! Sooooo awesome. We both enjoyed our food! You have an option to get a side salad or fries for $2.50 more. Dessert: Okay, so how can you go to a diner and not have a milkshake?! Bf wanted to try one and I agreed to share. Glad we did! It wasn't too thick but it was full of flavor. Btw it came in a mason jar. I know how everyone likes their mason jar drinks nowadays. lol. We got the Nutella banana shake! So good but when I got home I couldn't breathe cause I ate way too much. But, in conclusion, I had a great experience and I'll be back. They open till 3am! :)
(5)Courtney B.
Bar was a bar... Appetizers came out with the food, ALL of the food was cold when it did arrive. Positives, waitress was great, drinks were good. Food was good once it did re-arrive. Update: waitress removed all of our drinks, in order to compensate, which was more than great in the customer service department. Like I said "great waitress", nice recovery.
(3)Failed O.
Great food (especially when it comes to vegan and vegetarian options because those can be hard to come by), delicious drinks, affordable prices, and amazing bartenders/servers. Not to mention they're open late, which is always a plus. Downbeat is one of our favorite places in Chinatown and we're so glad it exists.
(5)Tyler A.
The surrounding area is a little sketchy, but inside is nice. The vegan (black bean) burgers are the best I've had, and the french toast is quite good as well. Only downside is that it takes a while to get a table, because it's usually pretty crowded.
(5)Lillie M.
Great place to eat in downtown! They have really good burgers and garlic fries! Haven't really explored too much of the menu, but everything I've gotten so far has been delicious. Great customer service. Although, if you have a party of 5 or more then you can't split the check. Other than that, I would recommend this place!
(4)Grant M.
My wife and I have been loyal customers of Downbeat Diner for several years now and have enjoyed the good atmosphere and good food. We often come in for drinks pau hana, or dinner. Lately, however, it seems that the customer service and some of the food has really decreased in quality. Despite the fact that we order practically the SAME thing almost every week, they get the order wrong 50% of the time. During a recent experience, when we ordered our usual chicken pesto salad with vegan ranch, I was given regular ranch (the kind you could buy at Costco) instead of the yummy vegan ranch they make at Downbeat Diner. When I informed the server, he took the dressing container to the back, and returned with the same container saying, "here's your vegan ranch". I knew it wasn't the vegan ranch since it looked different. I informed another waitress and she took one look at the color and agreed that it was regular ranch. She replaced it with what I had ordered in the first place. Recently my experience is that I feel trepidation every time I order from here, as I have to double check what I order to make sure it's what I requested. I'm so frustrated with their customer service that I fear they are going to serve the same container of regular ranch that I gave back to them to another customer, even though I specifically told them I had tasted the dressing out of it. Two weeks ago the "chicken" was vegan and tasted like tofu. A few weeks before that, the french fries tasted so burnt that they were nearly inedible. It should not be this difficult to get a simple order right. EVERY week. These issues seem mostly to be in the last few months. I don't know if it's new ownership or if there are other changes that are going on. I am a patient person but I am finally fed up with the customer service. Two stars is for treating regular customers who order the same thing weekly as if we are some random couple just walking in off the street. If you order take out, be sure to check your order before leaving. I don't think I will be patronizing this place any longer and I plan to tell my friends about my experiences. Sorry Downbeat. We had a good run.
(2)Steve S.
Omg best nachos and tacos ever. Some vegan stuff going on but I'm cool with that if food is good and this is mind blowing good. Taco Tuesday's is the bomb. Margaritas really good.
(5)Jeffrey H.
I really wanted to enjoy my down town experience . However when I was called a "phucking phaget by the staff I was somewhat turned off. Good thing I ate their burger and I realized it phucking sucked.
(1)Mallory T.
Food was great... Good prices for the food and beers. Minus two stars because of terrible service. Took about 15 minutes before we spoke the waitress (not her fault per say, management only had one girl working the tables) and the food took another 30 to reach our table. TIPS= to insure proper service. Recommend hiring someone else to keep business flowing. Would have been back for the food, but not worth the wait.
(3)Azadeh K.
This will be my second time coming here, came with my fiancé the first time b/c she drives "The Bus" & always passes by & wanted to take me on a date to a place I have not eaten. I love love LOVE this place, it's super retro with such a chill, laid back place to have a couple of drinks at the bar or just to sit down & have some yummy comfort food! (They are also vegan/vegetarian friendly!) Tried the Loco Moco last time, & it was super delicious, so I wanted to try something new, ended up getting the Pastrami Sandwich, & thanks to Yelp, my fiancé & Mother-in-law wanted to try the VOLCANO FRIES. Okay before I even start on the delicious "broke da mouth" volcano fries, let's talk about our orders. My order - Pastrami Sandwich - I ordered this & the waitress apologized saying that they were out of rye bread (urgh! made me sad lol) but she offered either wheat or sourdough (so I chose sourdough since I'm not a big fan of wheat) when my order came out, it actually looked delicious! It had a great heaping of pastrami & good amount of sauerkraut that came with a side of a carrot & pepperchini Madre & babes - both got American Burgers that came with beef patties, lettuce, tomatoes (the basic veggies) & the downbeat sauce smothered (which my fiancé raved about saying it was an awesome sauce) with the same sides that I had on my plate - Madre ordered a strawberry lemonade & it came in a cute mason jar with a slice of lemon inside, it was super tangy & oober sweet! Good thing had cup of water to mix with the lemonade! So it was so-so, according to my Mother-in-law.. So now drum roll please!!!!! VOLCANO FRIES! Crispy fresh cooked deep fried fries smothered in garlic, Cajun for a hint of spice while gooey melted cheese & gravy to satisfy anyone's needs! The first batch was sooooo DELICIOUS we had to order 1 more!! (Tho the chef who made our first order left so whoever made the 2nd one was alright just needed more Cajun & garlic!) but overall I recommend it highly to try if you eat here!! Overall we were full & satisfied before we left! & the guys at the bar seen the fries and was very interested in it as well! So if you want some great comfort food & a few drinks this is where it's at! Happy eating everyone!
(4)Bree R.
Get the volcano fries!!!!!! Everything else was pretty good that we ordered but the fries were amazing! The service was pretty good in the beginning but as it got busier our waitress was pretty distracted.... Pretty reasonably priced though and a fun check of the foodie bucket list!
(4)Angelica R.
Came by on Friday. It was pretty full so we had to sit at the bar. Ordered the vegan bbq wings, bbq chikn sandwich (made vegan) and the pesto chicken salad (made vegan). The wings were pretty good, drumsticks cooked and slathered with bbq sauce. I should've just ordered that, and was looking forward to the rest, what a mistake. Both meals were as bland as can be. The salad was fake(?)Chicken uncooked and way too much pesto sauce dumped on top. The sandwich was also uncooked fake(?) Chicken with lettuce, onion and veganese with a piece of bacon in it!!! As soon as I bit into the piece of bacon I was done with the meal. Such a disappointment for me and my partner. Both meals could have been way better! Vegans-steer clear!! This meal ruined my night.
(1)Alex S.
What needs to be said first is that there is a diner eatery area of Downbeat (which is where I went) but there is also a stage with live music and bar area next door, both are called Downbeat. When I first arrived with my friends at Downbeat we went to the bar in the diner and waited for a table to open. The girl behind the bar was super nice and got our drinks very fast. This was the highlight of the night and it went down from here. When we got to our table our orders were taken and we ordered more drinks. 20 min later one of my friends had to remind them that he ordered a drink. 10 more minutes later he finally got his drink. After waiting way too long for our food we ask the waitress to check on our food and she just says that "They only had 2 cooks and they were busy." It was a Saturday night, yes they were busy, but wouldn't you expect to be busy on a Saturday night? Finally, after what felt like and age we finally get our food. The food was very good. I got their American burger and it was a good burger. My friend got their breakfast burger and it looked amazing. The food is why I gave them 2 stars and not 1. After finishing our food we ask for the check. 25 min later we finally get them. I put a 20 down to pay my check and the waiter didn't even ask me if the extra was for tip or if I wanted change back he just took it. At this point I was tired of waited and just wanted to leave so I didn't press the issue. We left wanting much more and being severely disappointed. Maybe if the staff wasn't dancing and just hanging out with random guests they could have helped the kitchen and done their job faster. Might be a good place if you are the only ones being served. I do not plan on coming back or recommending it to anyone.
(2)Kristine C.
I am definitely a fan. I enjoy going here for milk shakes and their BLAT. Friends and I have been here during First Fridays and it is a pretty fun dive to hang out at. The atmosphere is super kick back, friendly and it is divey. The staff are super friendly as well. The only downfall is the wait. It can get lengthy if you don't get here early enough. But that only goes to show that people would to come here for everything! Drink happy, eat happy and sing along with the crowd during an awesome tune while socializing is the way to do it here. Side note: You can enjoy Netflix on projection screen while dining in at night.
(4)Briana Y.
The service wasn't good. We ordered the fajita wrap and the Monte Cristo and enjoyed neither. The best part of the meal was probably the veggie buffalo wings appetizer.
(2)Stefanie D.
I am in love with Downbeat Diner and Lounge. I've only been a couple of times but that's all it needed to secure a spot in my stomach forever. The milkshakes are divine...as in, possibly from heaven itself. The Chunky Monkey milkshake could tempt a trip all on its own. The kitschy, retro decor and the hipster staff sans the attitude make it all the better. The vegetarian and vegan options here set a standard for all the other veg places I try now. The vegan hot wings and vegan burgers are nothing to be afraid of. Even my meat lover of a boyfriend tried and liked my wings and declared my burger had a "lot of flavor". I consider that a win. Even on the First Friday that we visited last, our servers were attentive, quick, and friendly. Our food came out hot and delicious and we left stuffed and smiling. Try this place out for a really great quality meal downtown.
(5)Claire R.
LOTS of vegan options! The food is pretty good if you're looking for veg comfort food. Our server was really nice and prompt with food and drink orders. It's got a neat hipster vibe. We ordered the vegan drumsticks, vegan carnivore burger, and Monte Cristo sandwhich. Overall, we were really pleased with the food. Took away one star because of the atmosphere. there were a few rowdy drunks at the bar that kept yelling gross stuff while we were trting to eat (ex: "VAGINA JUICE HAHAHHAHAHAH"). I thought it was odd that the staff didn't shut them up since it was only about 6pm... There was also a guy standing outside that was watching the TV through the window...that's nice that the restaurant didn't mind him hanging out there, but man it was extremely distracting and made me slightly uncomfortable. I felt like a fish in an aquarium. The workers were all smiling and waving at him so I guess he's a frequent visitor.
(4)Mark Y.
There is only one reason anyone would refer to me as being a hipster...and that reason is because I have big hips. I've walked past Downbeat a bunch of times but I'm usually full of drink and food by then so I never go in. I do notice a lot of younger, hipster looking patrons there though. Well, after leaving the TEDx after party, we still felt hungry so decided to walk over to Downbeat. It was kind of empty for a Saturday but it was still pretty early so I guess the regular hipster patrons either hadn't woken up yet or were still having drinks at some dark, ambient music playing establishment. My friend ordered the Pesto scramble with bacon and I ordered the Vegan chili loco moco. Both dishes were OK but honestly I was expecting better. The vegan chili on my moco was pretty bland and the hamburger patty was really dry. The two sunnyside up eggs were cooked perfectly though. My friends dish was better I think. The pesto scramble tasted pretty good and the thick cut bacon was really smokey tasting. There were some other menu items that looked good, like some of the desserts and all those milkshakes...that Guiness milkshake sounds interesting, so I'm looking forward to trying here again and hopefully up my rating. One thing that I did thoroughly enjoy though was watching the movie Teen Wolf being projected onto the wall. If you were a guy growing up in the '80s, you know you secretly wished you were Michael J. Fox.
(3)Hollywood J.
This was a little gem we discovered randomly while wandering around Chinatown. The beer selection was alright, but ice cold! It was a welcome distraction of being served beer which was barely cooler than room temperature. It reminded me of a place in Los Feliz or Silverlake. The staff had a punk / edgey look but were absolutely welcoming and friendly. I didn't have any food, but they had what looked like well planned, and delicious vegan cuisine and some American fare as well. The neighborhood is a tad seedy, but I didn't feel unsafe.
(4)Kelsey U.
Service and atmosphere at Downbeat go hand-in-hand, I enjoyed my experience! A friend and I visited on First Friday for an early dinner, around 5:30pm. Seats were open and we were told to seat where we wanted - of course we choose the booth by the window! My friend ordered the vegan bacon B.L.A.T (Bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato), as I'm told. Although the name of the dish sounds pretty gnarly, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great sandwich! I also ended up getting a sandwich, their version of a club sandwich, which although does not vary much by restaurant, was great at Downbeat because it's served on yummy sourdough! Stop by Downbeat if you're in the area as it's a quick, on the cheaper side of a delicious meal!
(4)Charity J.
I wanted to like this place, I really really did. I had been going over reviews on this place for a couple days and it sounded really promising, so the boyfriend and I finally decided to give it a try and it was such a huge letdown. We walked in around 5:30 or so, not a word was said to us. We were confused as to whether or not we were supposed to wait or just grab a table. After a couple of minutes we sat ourselves and a few minutes after that we were greeted by a waitress. She informed us that it was Taco Tuesday, which I was so psyched about because I LOVELOVELOVE tacos&the nachos were on special too(BONUS). (being from arizona, Mexican food is my 'ish.) SOOOO, we ordered the nachos w/ chicken(extra 3bucks) &Avo(extra dollar), 2 chicken tacos for me, 3 for my boyfriend, and a veg. chili/rice bowl for our son. The nachos...not even nachos. I literally counted 3 MAYBE 4 chips with cheese on them, the sour cream came on the side in a tiny paper cup which did nothing for the "nachos" at all. The chips were a weird dark brown color, definitely overcooked. The chicken (3 DOLLARS EXTRA MIND YOU) was almost non-existent! AND the pieces that were present were dryer than an Arizona desert in the middle of July D: Forgot to mention that when our nachos came out, the Avo wasn't present. Took us awhile to flag down our waitress for the avo and when we finally did, she brought out a tiny plate of like 4 slices. come. on. The tacos, meh. The chicken was a shredded chicken in some kind of sauce, that did nothing for the taste. The chicken was cooked in a sauce, BUT STILL DRY...wutdafuh? I'll stick to doing Taco Tuesday in my own home from now on. Not worth the 6 bucks for two teensy ones. The vegan chili was probably the saving grace, but even then, I feel like I might be able to whip something up that could blow it out of the water. I tried, I really tried to find something positive about our experience here, but it was just a no go this time around. Even the interior of the space was depressing. Blank walls, odd use of space. Not the least bit inviting. I'm hoping we just stopped in on a bad day or SOMETHING, but as an extreme nacho/taco lover, my heart cried for those burned, cheeseless, chickenless "nachos". never again.
(2)Loren B.
Hey if you are a vegan or vegetarian this is the place for you, as well as the rest of us carnivores. I have been to Downbeat multiple times, both in the diner and the lounge area. Our friends, who are vegans, really enjoy the vegan food options. Their happy hour specials are really good, $3 tecate - yum. Not the biggest fan of their quesadillas (a little too tex-mex inspired for me), but their hamburgers are really good. I will definitely go again.
(4)Randi C.
This place deserves some credit for being open on Sundays, because most downtown restaurants are closed on Sundays. My sister wanted to try a place across the street but there was a long wait and we agreed nothing tastes good enough to be worth a long wait in a congested space. We debated trying a Vietnamese restaurant( very commonplace in Honolulu) or the diner ( rather more exotic for the location). The place is spacious. The menu featured a variety of creatively re-imagined diner items. For example, our table had a vegan burger, a pesto chicken salad, and a sundae. The vegetables were fresh, and the chef had even cut the carrots into a flower shape. They incorporated other chefs' products in their menu such as : Ottocake cheesecake, Wing ice cream, and Swiss Inn salad dressing so it seemed like the owners are team players. The servers were friendly and helpful, but not all were knowledgable about the menu items. Everything was satisfactory until it was time to pay. The credit card system was not working but we had not been informed. We had to scramble to find cash. THEN... The bill was 31.94, we gave 100.00, and the server gave back $67.00. $1.06 is not a big deal but it seemed a little insulting that she thought we wouldn't notice. Overall, it was a decent place with pretty good food and friendly service. But be sure to count your change!
(3)Trisha G.
I've been here a handful of times. This latest time was for a late dinner and when in doubt, I order my staple dish - loco moco. Downbeat's comes with REAL GRAVY. Delicious, homemade gravy smothered over a bed of brown rice. The Hamburger was so yummy. I was so excited and happy about my food that I forgot to get a shake. They have a huge selection of shake flavors (with a few strange ones mixed in). The downtown, retro vibe with old movies projected on the walls and the coolest booths with the legends of music displayed in the upholstery. It is a bit hipster, but excusable for the food I had. Great place to stop by after a few drinks to fuel up and sober up before driving home. Hit it up!
(4)Yoselyn F.
I've been here before but never reviewed them. Probably because I was left confused? Like today. I got the California burger and English toffee milkshake. I knew the milkshake was a win because last time I ordered that and a grilled cheese sandwich. My sandwich order was never place so I had a milkshake for dinner. Not shabby right?! An the shake is awesome. But today I decided to give them my one burger monthly allowance. The bacon was good, the bun was good the meat though. It was weird at first bite it was juicy BUT super over flavored. To the point that it distracted from the joy of the meat. So I wasn't floored by it and usually burgers floor me. But the shake was perfect. However, their portions aren't consistent. They seem to use whatever glass is near o serve them meaning you can order to shakes at the same time but they arrive looking different and you can't help but wonder if you re being cheated! During our last visit we had three shakes. All indifferent glasses. One was obviously larger. This pissed me off because mine wasn't the large one and the shake was awesome! Today I got a glass jar. If that was their thing is be all oh cute a milkshake I a cute glass jar BUT that's not their thing so instead I was left wondering if I was being cheated. Not the sensation one wants on their one cheat day in 5 weeks! Overall eh. I would go for the shake an wonder what glass I'm getting BUT the food hasn't made me a regular.
(3)Reid S.
Downbeat Diner on First Fridays is such a different experience from a typical day in downtown Honolulu. Let me elaborate: During the day, Downbeat Diner is a fun lunch hang out spot for the 20-30 year olds, equipped with a trendy bar and menu, while at night the Diner can be a music venue to a bumping club with New York/L.A vibe. My first visit to DBD (feel free to use this acronym) was a delicious late lunch filled with pupus and homemade ginger ale, which by the way, was a magnificent drink. The Volcano fries were out of this world, it is the best way to reward yourself for a day out in the hot Hawaiian sun. However, DBD is also an awesome place to come with a group of friends for a night on the town! As much as I hate going all the way to Chinatown/Downtown area for events/food, I really can't picture this place anywhere else. The vibe and feel of DBD almost requires it to be in the downtown area where there is an almost secret Hawaiian nightlife. It's rather hard to explain, but it's meant to be in the hustle and bustle of the city's downtown. The drinks in particular are so strong but very flavorful. They have a wide-array of specialty cocktails designed to challenge your tastebuds and knock your socks off. The Negroni in particular is a cocktail comprised of gin, Campari, and amaro cio ciaro. It was like a licorice explosion, very flavorful, granted not my favorite flavors, but it was strong and full, which is all that mattered. On Tuesdays the lounge and bar is lively as new and upcoming local musicians and talent play live music. It's a young vibe with young clientele. Definitely worth a visit when in Chinatown. I like seeing local artist play because it not only reminds me that we have great music with Hawaiian roots, but also the fact that we have so many talented people in Honolulu. We should support our local musicians because they are undeniably talented, and also because music is life. Period. So come on down to local music night at DBD! The place is interestingly decorated: when you first walk in you will take in the loud pop culture collage, and then you realize that you are in a very trendy place and you probably shouldn't leave. During the day, DBD feels like a quirky L.A. diner, and at night....a swanky New York lounge. Walk outside though, you won't be cold.
(4)Mari G.
The drinks are delicious and the environment is pretty awesome. The prices are okay. I ordered the loco moco and it was cold when I got it. The place wasn't packed at all so I was pretty disappointed. They always play some cool movies so that's kinda neat too at the bar. The waitress wasn't friendly so it was probably better we sat at the bar.
(3)Tabatha P.
I love that this place is open to satisfy my late night cravings for delicious food. I love the menu. I love that there is vegetarian options for everything. The scramble is really really good. The sausage was a little unexpectedly spicy for me, but the breakfast burrito was delicious! Next time I will get bacon. I always see interesting people here who are friendly, and the bartender and waitress I have hAd experience with here have treated me with respect and good customer service so I am all satisfied there. I like the quality above all in this place and it's nice for beer with a friend or meals. Also nice and clean. Sometimes I come here to network and talk to people about events, I always manage to meet someone new and awesome.
(5)Anthony K.
Was pretty good. Organic too based off what I had. I got the pesto breakfast with a tofu scramble, vegan sausage, toast and home fries. My girlfriend had the simple local breakfast with eggs, sausage, brown rice and toast. I also got the nachos. It was OK, a little dry but still good. The service was good. They tended to our needs and checked up on us and the rumor about waiting long was a lie. People are just impatient. I'll be back to try something different.
(5)Megan P.
Everything on the menu is delicious. Great vegan options. Their shakes are delicious and most can be made vegan. The Nutella shake is my favorite. Food can take some time to get made, so going there in a hurry is probably not the best idea. The place can be pretty loud at night since the live music seeps through the walls and it has great people watching. Something to note: The bartender's custom concoctions are pretty on point.
(5)Ian L.
They're open on Sunday when other places in China Town are not. The Deshutes Black Butte Porter was perfect with The Greek burger...oooh so good! Music playing created a great ambiance to go with the velvet red diner feel. The service was excellent and frequent. I only took a star for price in consideration for what I ordered. Still totally worth it and will come here again!
(4)Mathew S.
#NAME?
(3)Juvy L.
This past summer when I was in Chinatown on the regular because of HSF, there were many stops to Downbeat. The food is super deliciously good. I'm not vegan/vegetarian at all, but I have many friends who are, or have to be picky about what they eat. To them Downbeat is a godsend. A lot of their dishes have non-meat alternatives, which is awesome. The vegan chicken wings! So good. The gravy fries are ON POINT. Much nomnomnoms. The loco moco (there's more than one version) I had was lovely. The gravy, man. it's the gravy. I had the Reuben as well, that was ono. I wanted to try everything! The milkshakes though! DEFINITELY get milkshakes. For a little more, you can get a shot of alcohol in it. I've had the Oreo and Nutella ones. So good. Haven't put a shot in yet, though. Someday... Just have to say this because it was a popular drink with some of my theatre peeps in the summer....the AMF is pretty damn potent. I just know I can order pretty much anything off the menu and love it. The quality of the food is great. Does get busy on the weekends, but you probably know that already.
(4)Jenna M.
Just thought that I'd drop by and have a salad..yeah I can't say this is the worse experience ever ever ever~~ but I wasn't too fond of the orange stuff floating at the bottom of the water glass put in front of me. When I informed the bartender, I was told "I'll let my Manager know" WAIT~~ What?? you'll let your Manager know??? so you don't know how to pull a bar gun apart and clean it?? You don't know how to check the bottom of cups glasses etc to make sure they're clean?? Wow!! I'm not complaining ~~ bitching about it YES I am... my salad had cucumber in it that was clear ??? I dunno I was hoping this by myself time would cheer me up but now I'm feeling like maybe I should've had a sandwich at my Cafe. Oi Vey!!!
(2)Hiro M.
I'll start by giving this place a full 5 star and see what it ends up with. Went here on a Saturday night for the first time to catch my brother-in-law and his band perform in the lounge. My fiance' and I decided to go check out the diner before we watch the gig. There were quite a few hit and miss about this place. We walked in the diner and I thought cool, nice open area. Booths on the side, awesome decorations on the seats, color scheme looks very modern. Then we thought...OK? Do we seat ourselves or wait to be seated? Now a lot of eateries allow you to take a seat in open tables, others will have an attendant/host lead you to one. Mind you, this was our first time there, we didn't see it as some food joint or a pho' place where you can seat yourself. No, we waited a few seconds, nothing...I said "fuck it, we'll seat ourselves" Luckily, there was an open booth right by the door. Imagine if that wasn't open, we'd be standing there like "oookay? Now what?". One star deducted. So we sit there, checkin out the place. Couple minutes pass, no biggy. Fiancé's busy configuring his camera, while I take a look around, and oh they have a wait staff, well whattayaknow!! I look behind me and see flyers and oh, there's the menu. Shouldn't a waiter come by already? Where's the water? Where's the menus? I was able to read some of the entrées on the menu....on the window....behind me. Five minutes pass..." Hi *smiles*"says one of the waitresses who FINALLY made eye contact with us....but failed to stop on over or even say "I'll be right over". Another star deducted for failed customer service from wait staff. A good 15 minutes later finally someone comes, with two glasses of water. I'm ready to order (thanks to the menu, on the window, behind me) I say my order and server says " ooo the quesadillas are pretty good....hey do you guys want me to bring over some menus?" "Sure" we say. Uh duh!! Server walks away. Wtf?? I have a feeling, dis guy is just the bus boy. *SMH*. Person brings back some menus, but since we've waited for quite some time, we almost missed our bros opening song. FAIL. Another star deducted for prolonged wait time. My fiance asked if we could just order from the lounge area. "Server" says "yes, you can open a tab at the bar" we thought "k cool" got right up and we bolted outta there. Don't think we'll be back here anytime soon. Sorry Downbeat Diner, you lost a customer. And I sooooo wanted to give this place a chance, with the food especially. Not often do we check out restaurants in downtown at night. Another star deducted for overall experience. EPIC FAIL!
(1)Erika H.
Awesome place! Cool scene and fantastic food for meat eaters and vegetarians. Open Sunday's too with a brunch menu ya!
(5)Luke G.
This was my go to spot when i went to HPU. I loved the punk rock atmosphere, the reasonable prices and great crowd. I miss the veggie burger almost as much as surfing. I loved how laid back it was with a true dinner spirit. I super recommend it to anyone visiting Honolulu. Its located on historic hotel street one of the only places in the city with brick buildings where sailor jerry of rum fame worked. Go for a nice Primo and check out one of their many free shows next door. I hope its still there when i return sometime in the future.
(5)Tina L.
I stumbled upon this restaurant several months ago, and initially started off with their french toast sandwich, which is sooooo YUMMY. Went back and tried their french toast sandwich again, and was very pleased. I decided to venture off from my usual sandwich, and tried their BBQ chicken wrap. I was NOT HAPPY with the wrap at all. The BBQ sauce had no BBQ flavor at all. It definitely tasted like they had used ketchup, and barely any seasoning to put it together. I decided,well, maybe they had an off night, and went back another night and tried their California burger. WOW this burger SUCKED!!! It was bland, the patty was very thin, it barely had any meat in it! The avocado was good in it, but the entire burger was VERY BLAND! I left feeling sad and STILL HUNGRY. The prices are cheap here, but they barely give you any food! Not going to go back here anytime soon! On a side note, my boyfriend always gets the mega moco, and that is VERY GOOD. However, the lack of consistency, and meager portions for their other items is enough to prevent me from going back :-( The service was good, I was greeted upon entering, and the waitress tending to my bill was nice as well.
(2)Nickolidas T.
Really slow poor service. You stand around in the middle of the place waiting to be sat, because there's no check in sheet. Got a burger, bacon was burnt patty overcooked and dry. Server was alright but organization was off, she came by with another tables drinks, and went to another table with our check. Place might be good when it's empty but on a moderate night they need a strong manager in that place.
(2)Virginia D.
Excellent from start to finish: spiked ginger brew, vegan buffalo wings, Western burger with house made vegan patty & vegan dark chocolate brownie. YUM One of the best vegan meals we had on Oahu! Serious hipster vibe. My cocktail came in a mason jar, natch. Kind of a sketchy area (I foresee gentrification...), but at least parking is easy at night!
(4)Aaron N.
Breakfast served all day, decent breakfast burrito, vegan milkshake option (when available), and a solid beer selection for Hawaii! We'll definitely be back. Just beware that this is a bar and has no child changing tables available. No point knocked for that, it's common sense.
(5)Matt M.
Small quesadilla, no where near filling even with chicken added. Female bartender has no manners and if you don't understand her explanation, she treats you like you're retarded, or shakes her head and refuses to answer like the question was inappropriate, I got both responses asking about which of two options had more quantity after the quesadilla didn't get me close to full and she couldn't let me buy a side of fries for less than $6. She questioned the word quantity as if it was a rude question and decided to order whatever she wanted. No manners, no customer service, no skill. I used to like this place until recently.
(2)Anuhea P.
What do you do if you have only one day off before work starts again, and all your friends (including hubby) are stuck at work? You explore the ever changing-for-the-better Downtown/Chinatown area. I enjoyed walking the surprisingly clean streets, peeking in the local (and expensive) boutique clothing stores, and finding tons of new places to bookmark for future yelp dining. I was really hoping to try Horeo's Peruvian food but they were closed (when they were supposed to be open) so I came back to Downbeat. The first time I was here was when I was searching for BRAINS!!! as part of the Chinatown Zombie Crawl last fall...I tried an alcoholic milkshake and some sort of smothered fries (I think Volcano fries). Honestly I wasn't a fan of the fries...but the chunky monkey milkshake made such an impression on me that I ordered it on my second visit. It was pretty empty around 1pm on a weekday...maybe the business crowd take early lunches. I ordered the Reuben (xtra crout) and a chunky monkey milkshake with a whiskey shot (bartender's choice). Both were fantastic...maybe I was already a little tipsy, but the sandwich was sweet, salty, and warm and the milkshake....I could drink one every day and never tire! Unfortunately my bill with tip came out to $20 which is not cheap for lunch (especially for just a sandwich and milkshake) but it was a nice treat. The bartender waited on me even thought I sat in the very front booth and she was very nice...even told me about the free concerts and events they have in their back space. I will definitely be back to try their Monte Cristo!
(4)Greg S.
Friendly service, fun atmosphere and good food. This is my 3rd time here. First time I tried the ruben, must have!!! Chili loco moco, not so much. Bottom line, i going back !!!
(4)Megan W.
Nice little place in Chinatown. Came for brunch and they had Chicken and Waffles! So yummy! The chicken had great flavoring and the waffle was nice and soft. The server was very nice and our food came out quickly. I will definitely come back here to try the other items on the menu.
(4)Ivy Lou H.
The Downbeat Diner & Lounge surprised me with its delicious burgers and excellent service. The burgers were homemade patties served on a Brioche bun and were possibly the best burgers we've ever had. The service was really attentive and fast for us so unlike some other Yelpers we left shop and impressed. Great place for food or just drinks.
(4)Javier B.
We had a party of 4 and ordered 3 burgers and 1 BLT. After waiting for more than half an hour for our food we decided to walk out and find pizza. I'd advice the restaurant to look for more/better employees. Don't come here if you are starving or have time constraints.
(1)Alison S.
this place is rad!! and its like the only place in downtown that you can get food at super late at night or early in the morning! lol. the last time we went was the second time I had gone. their menu is huge and I never know what to get. they have vegan/vegetarian options as well as non vegan/vegetarian. its a win win for everyone! beer selection is pretty good too! the décor is fun, and they're always showing a movie projected on the wall :)
(5)Britni K.
This is my go to place for some yummy diner food with a vegetarian twist. Whenever I'm in Chinatown, for whatever reason I usually end up here if I get hungry. Although I haven't been here as frequently as I had before they remodeled with their lounge, I still get recognized by Miss Emily and some of the bartenders, haha. A good thing or bad thing? Not quite sure... Highlights for me- cajun fries, cheeseburger or teriyaki burger (with their handmade black bean patties), and chai milkshake! To die for, let me tell you. Downbeat is also where my affair with St. Germain first started. My signature cocktail here- champy with a shot of St. Germain and a twist of lemon. This drink is the ultimate pick me up if you're feeling a little blue. Bubbly is already a happy alcohol but with these fixins, it's like someone giving you a nice hug and telling you everything will be alright. ;) As a warning though, this place is paaaacked on Friday and Saturday nights! Super cray, usually with a line waiting to get in. I would suggest going on a weeknight- especially Tuesdays with specials on margaritas and tacos! Fun hipster vibe, a varied menu that includes breakfast foods (available all day), and friendly staff makes Downbeat Diner a winner for sure. Definitely pop in sometime!
(4)Bonnie B.
I'm not sure about this place... Is it serve yourself? No one has even come to our table and we have been sitting here a half hour. Lol maybe I should call my order in..
(2)Brianna S.
Cute little diner that has a HUGE selections of veggie and vegan items. Service was fast and friendly, and the price was right. I ordered the veggie Reuben with cajon fries. The Reuben was decent enough, but was kind of shocked to see they used veggie hot dogs as the 'meat' in it. I was expecting a pattie of some sort, but got a split hot dog. Not quite what I had in mind... Though it was not bad, and I noticed after ordering it did state that it was a hot dog. But it would have been 10 folds better with a pattie or veggie pastrami. They had a lot of other things worth trying on their menu, like vegetarian Chicken + Waffles!!
(3)Matt W.
Decent drinks. Modestly priced. Awesome food. Only downside here is that the service is very inconsistent. Out of the 10+ times I've been here about half the time I get wonderful attentive service. The other half of the time I felt ignored. But again it depends on the server you get. The vegan food here is way better than the regular food. Whether or not you're vegetarian, the meat substitute they use is astonishing. You can't tell the difference. Highly recommend their buffalo vegan wings. It's nicely spicy and has a wonderful flavor. In fact I've always been pleased with all their sandwiches they offer. As long as you get it vegan. They tend to overlook actual meat... Atmosphere wise this place is awesome. It's very relaxing and has the typical ambiance of a 1950s diner with a hip twist.
(4)Stephanie S.
I have yet to have a dish here that I didn't instantly love, and even my omnivorous boyfriend said he would consider being vegan if we could always eat like this! The buffalo wings and buffalo chicken sandwich are both PHE-NOM-EN-AL. The "meat" has a texture that flakes just like real chicken! On my honor as a Yelper, trust me when I say you will not be disappointed with either one. I also recommend upgrading your fries to either garlic or cajun. The garlic flavor is rubbed into the fries, and comes with a little pesto on top. For the Cajun, each fry is coated in spices and bursting with a mildly spicy flavor! The root beer float was just top notch with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that was smoother, creamier, and I daresay better than any other I've had, vegan or otherwise. It's easy not to miss beef when the veggie patty here is so meaty! I recommend the teriyaki burger because it was perfectly seasoned with teriyaki sauce and onions. Service is always friendly, with the sweetest waitresses you'll find even in Hawaii. I'm always surprised that this place isn't more crowded (not a complaint!) but service is fast and I've never had any hiccups. In my experience, Downbeat is a consistent home run!
(5)Candice L.
Will not ever go here for lunch again. The $9.50 burger was dry with too much pepper. The service was horrible. Asked for mayo from our waitress who took her sweet time cashing other guest out, getting others take out boxes. I had to stand up and ask someone else for mayo...if I didn't I would have been done with my burger by the time the mayo would have come. I def would not recommend this place.
(1)Todd F.
Dropped in while walking around ChinaTown! Great surprise. Loved the vegan Chili Moco
(4)Isaia S.
3 words: PBR and Bacon. Best appetizer around. The atmosphere is great, the Reuben is excellent and they're open late so I can hit it up after shows.What's not to like?
(5)Mandi S.
I love downbeats food! They're delicious. The servers are awesome. The only problem I have with this place is that it seems like every time I go here, service drops off after I order. I swear I won't get a check up or refill for half an hour. And getting my ticket back takes SOOO long. I dunno if management tells them to back off or what, but it happens every time.
(4)Melissa S.
Thank you, Rian for bringing the fiyah! I was looking for a MoscowMule and she steered me into the right direction! And I will def have another! Love me some DOWNBEAT!
(5)Sean O.
Very unique atmosphere! There is no place like it. I like how every food option they have can be vegan as well. I always get the vegan Buffalo wings. Really cool place.
(4)Julia S.
Downbeat, you really put a down beat into my day. Service: I'm personally fine with sitting my butt down anywhere. But I do know others will just stand in the doorway until a host tells them they're allowed to sit. No one was there to tell me, so I just sat on over to a booth and waited for like 5 minutes for someone to finally come over and acknowledge me. After that though, the waitress was nice. She gave my boyfriend and I a menu each and waters. Food: We weren't too hungry so we decided to share their vegan version of a BLT between sourdough bread, called a BLAT (bacon lettuce avocado tomato). And by vegan, I mean with veganaise and fakin bacon. My boyfriend loves his bacon, but me not so much. So I'm thankful he enjoys the meat substitutes also. We ordered a side of garlic fries (which are ala carte and will cost you an extra $2) since I have an IDCard (gives me a free side of fries). I told the waitress this. She heard it and happily acknowledged it. Food cont.. + Experience: We got our sandwich back and started to dig in. The fries were standard with real garlic which I enjoyed. I looked at the sandwich though and it looked unimpressive. Then I looked at it closer and the "meat" sticking out of it looked oddly like... bacon. My boyfriend took a bite and after thinking about it for a bit, he was like, "Yup. This is bacon". Soooo we sent it back to this other waiter who apologized. I mean I'm not vegan but how could you send something out with this sort of mistake if you 1)Are the person taking the order and even repeated it back and 2) are delivering the food yourself to the exact same table that ordered ? When we got the sandwich back with our fakin bacon it looked NOTHING like bacon and more like bologna would. So how could you look at the sandwich prior and not know it was the wrong order? Anyways, I was fine with this mistake because the girl was nice. Sadly, the sandwich wasn't special and the sourdough was thin and bland. (If you want REAL GOOD fakin bacon go to North Shore's Beet Box Cafe!. They give you thick cuts of soy bacon that are delicious and even look similar to the real stuff)!!! The guy waiter started helping us from then on though. Experience cont...: I mentioned to him again about my IDCard situation when we were done. He knew about it and even finished my sentence for me. He understood that I had it. Then we got the bill. It was $10.... The sandwich was $8. You know, the $2 isn't what bothered me. It's the fact that 1)I mentioned the IDCard to them several times 2)They acknowledge it confidently several times 3)I got the wrong sandwich after waiting a while (and good thing the both of us aren't vegans or I would've flipped) 4)The food wasn't good.. Soooo the overall experience was pretty bad. We didn't bother flagging the waiter down again to take the $2 off. My boyfriend was irritated, I was irritated, and we just wanted to leave. The two stars is for the workers. They're laid back and kind of neglectful and don't have a good memory, but they were nice. So, yeah. Don't know if I'll be coming back.
(2)Sydney L.
Best vegan food EVER. The chunky monkey milkshake is HEAVENLY- so are the fries and 'chicken' drumsticks! I don't live in Oahu, but i'll definitely come back here every time I visit. I just want to eat every single dessert they have! :')
(5)David H.
Excellent atmosphere! Great crowd and staff! I haven't tried the food but the drinks are very special... Soooo f'in good!!!
(5)Christian G.
I'll just start by explaining my experience and those can judge for themselves. So it wasn't really a busy night and upon entry there were at least three other groups dining and eating their food. It started with the waiter taking our drink order within a reasonable amount of time of I would say about 5 minutes and then a little bit longer somewhere around the 10 minute range to take our food order. When it really got unacceptable was the 45 minutes that passed before the food was brought out and again it wasn't a busy night. In between those 45 minutes to other parties of two people had entered and their food was brought out well ahead of hours. In the mean time the waiter managed to check on those two tables to see if they where doing okay and if the food is good yet not once checked on our table or gave us an update on our order. It wasn't until I asked the waiter how our food order was going that he gave us an update and said he was going to check with the cook in the kitchen as to where our food was at. So more time elapses and we are nearing the one hour mark that we have sat down only to have been provided with drinks no update and no food. So it wasn't a very good dining experience and on top of all that the food was just okay so the long wait for ok food makes it a below average experience for me.
(2)Frank C.
Great burger and fries. Guinness on tap. Cartoons and fifties music. Friendly service. What's not to love?!
(4)Stella H.
Ate dinner here on a Sunday night, & this place was pretty busy! Lucky for us, there was 1 open booth right when we walked in. There seemed to only be 1 waiter, so it took him a little while to get to us. Service was very friendly tho & they even play movies on their wall :) It was my boyfriend & I's 1st time here, so we werent sure if they were a vegan & vegetarian place, BUT the waiter told us they had everything for meat lovers like us too :)!! We shared an Avocado Burger w/ fries & French toast w/ bacon. The avocado burger was pretty good! And the french toast was even better!! I think they deep fried it x__x!! My boyfriend & i agree we NEED to come back!!!!
(4)Frances P.
That ginger brew drink here was pretty good, and I'm not a ginger fan. Can't add much else because I only had that and chips and dip. Cool place though, will have to try more next time I'm on the island!
(3)Desmond S.
The staff is great both front and back of the house. The food comes out fast even when it's packed and service is friendly, helpful and efficient. Plus they put on great shows with local artists and theme nights every month if you're not dining that night. Great place to be or visit while on the island.
(5)Jillian P.
I ate here for the first time last night (Cinco de Mayo). ATMOSPHERE: I liked the feel of it for suree... It definitely sticks true to its name. Diner booths plus a counter, with that pinup (downbeat), edgy feel. Super cool. :) SERVICE: We had thee cutest server! Wish I would have got her name, but she was really friendly and kind and most definitely a big help. We weren't sure what fries to get, and she gave us her opinion and told us what was really popular. What I also liked about her is that all of her timing was perfect. Whenever our drinks were empty, she was always quick to ask if we wanted another. And prior to that, she gave us just the right amount of time in between the first time she asked if we were ready to order and when we were ready to place our order (if that makes sense). LOL FOOD: Both my friend and I got the CALIFORNIA BURGER and we shared the VOLCANO FRIES. :) The Cali Burger is a Big Island (yeah Big Island!) Beef burger, with swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, and avocado. :D I put mayo and ketchup on my burger, so I'm not sure how it tasted sans condiments, but nonetheless it was still very delicious! IF ONLY I could've eaten the whole thing. :( I got full off of half the burger, since it was huge. :) The volcano fries are cajun spiced with gravy and cheese. I thought that the gravy would make the fries really gross and soggy, but it did not. :) Our server was RIGHT, they were very yummy and for good reason. OVERALL: I really liked this place and would love to go back and am giving them a thumbs up recommendation!
(4)Phillip M.
One of the best Reuben's I've ever had at a restaurant. Service can be really slow at peak hours. And servers can be less than friendly some times but the food makes up for it.
(4)Will S.
Avocado burger is on point i usually get that. Sometimes they only have one person serving in the day so your wait time can be long. They have a tv with netflix playing and next door they usually have bands playing.
(4)Jo Z.
Chill place to have a good burger and I always order the ginger brew...sooo yummy for my tummy
(4)Debbie R.
AWESOME sandwiches and burgers. Its nice that they offer a vegetarian option for just about every dish. Fries are to die for - get them loaded with either gravy, garlic or Cajun season (or combination of any of the above). Prices reasonable, décor is hip.
(4)Mica I.
The problem with food is that no one is ever going to be happy about everything! People love to complain about things. We visited Downbeat early say 5pm- looking for dinner. They had happy hour- 1 dollar off drinks- AWESOME. Burgers? Pretty good. Prices are not bad either. Our waitress was a pretty thing who was nice and someone came by to refill our water glasses when they got low. So perhaps people need to put a smile on their faces and realize that nothing- ever- is perfect but this place is great. Open late, the bar attached has live music which we came back to hear another night and had more great drinks (RUM punch is DA BOMB) so for us we give it 4 starts until next time! Nothing but love for ya Downbeat Diner!
(4)Eric Robert R.
Liverpool 1962. Riding up to the pub door on my '59 Lambretta and joining my mod squad for a few sessions. What's shakin' Ringo??? *Lucky Strike dangling from my lips* Well not quite, but as close as it comes in downtown Honolulu, circa 2013! I've been to Downbeat several times, but I don't recall sitting down for lunch. A question was asked recently on Yelp's Honolulu Talk on who has the best milkshake in town? Answers galore and frankly I think the last milkshake I had was maybe when I was a pre-teen, lol. Eons ago! So, the question intrigued me and definitely inspired my taste buds to taste test a few places. So who has the best milkshake in town? My hipster buddy, Missy T. mentioned how the milkshakes at Downbeat are the bomb, so since I trust her with my life (slight exaggeration)... I decided to cruise down to Chinatown and hit Downbeat! I walk in and I'm immediately greeted... "Sit anywhere" and with a bartender go-go girl smile. WIN! The difference with Liverpool in 1962 was birds had zilch tattoos, today even granny's have tats, so no surprise that my waitress had a dozen plus tats, well the ones I could see! She was hip, über cool, and very easy on the eyes, but at the same time efficient! Twiggy dead-ringer! WIN! My Order: -Downbeat Loco Moco -English Toffee Milkshake -Glass of Agua The Loco Moco was good. Nothing special, but definitely unique and you could taste the Big Island beef. The house gravy seemed like a can of mushroom gravy to me. Hmm. The English Toffee Milkshake was definitely worth the 5 bucks and change. Very fresh, creamy, tasty, quality, loads of whipcream, and topped with the infamous maraschino cherry! So yummy. Seemed smallish, maybe I was just jonesing for a shake, but it overflowed and it was definitely a WIN! The best shake in town? Idk since my milkshake experience has been lacking since my days in intermediate school, lol. It was definitely yummy and a good standard to measure other milkshakes. So, until I try Teddy's, Big Kahunas, etc shakes... I can't give the crown to Downbeat... Yet! Hey, but I might have started with the best! Will keep you updated. Missy T. figured I hit the Chunky Monkey shake, which apparently is the most popular shake at Downbeat. The go-go waitress drooled over it too, but frankly it sounded too rich for a bloke like me, so I wimped out and went with something sounding "lighter"... The English Toffee. Yeah right, probably still a zillion calories! It was mmm, mmm good and very English! After all, it's Liverpool 1962. Oh btw, the vinyl seats here are über groovy! YELP REVIEW #135
(4)Audrey S.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this place because they offer a vegan version of pretty much everything on the menu. The food was delicious (vegan hot wings and vegan ranch=amazing ! ) Only disappointment is I ordered the Cajun vegan chicken wrap but it's served with regular cheese. I would have preferred to not have dairy with my vegan chicken wrap, and it was unclear whether the sauce was vegan. If I'm getting vegan chicken I would like the entire wrap to be vegan. Also the service was bad, the server knew I wanted only vegan and still didn't inform me about regular cheese, plus she kept forgetting our table even though the restaurant wasn't busy. Other than that, the food was great and I will definitely go back.
(4)Cara G.
Sadly, though the food here is pretty good, the service has been quite crappy. This place prides itself on being a 'hipster' joint, and being a Hawaii native who has lived in San Francisco for the past four years, I will state that there isn't anything hipster about this place, except for the snooty waitresses. Even so, I've never known hipster to be synonymous with rude, passive aggressive and unattentive, though it has been assumed that such service would accompany innovative, high-quality and new age food that tends to be served in hipster joints. Downbeat does not serve this type of food; it's diner food. So why are the servers here so impolite and curt? Not really sure, and as someone who works in a restaurant, I believe that it's completely safe to say that the staff (minus the bartender) at Downbeat need some lessons in how to treat customers. Nobody wants to feel like their committed a crime simply by asking their waitress if they prefer the michelada to the Bloody Mary, which is precisely how I was treated. I think everyone should skip this place and go find some other late night food instead of this sad excuse for a 'hipster' joint.
(1)Richel C.
Stopped by for some late night dessert. service was average, our waiter was new so he tried his best to give recommendations. we ended up ordering the salted chocolate chip sundae. it was delicious! The cookies added the perfect touch to a delicious Sundae. while for the most part, the cookie was soft and gooey, there were parts that weren't burnt and hard to chew. still, overall good dessert and chill environment!
(4)Meg M.
I want to LOVE Downbeat diner.... Tons of vegan options, awesome hipster vibe, late night food I can actually eat.... And I haven't had too many complaints prior to today. But that was probably because, to be completely honest, I am usually a little buzzed when I am here! Today for lunch though, the service was pretty terrible. I ordered vegan hot wings with my avocado sando and real wings came out instead! Sad face. Good thing Dustin took the first bite! It also took about 40 minutes to get our food. It was crowded in there but it would have been nice to just get a warning from our waitress..... But she kind of avoided us after we ordered. I asked her to take the wings off the check and didn't want to wait for the vegan wings (we were in a rush!) but when we got the check they were on there. We just paid and left because we didn't want to make a big deal out of it but it was definitely not cool. Great atmosphere, pretty good food, lots of veggie options but the service makes me not want to return.... Unless I'm buzzed.
(3)Tatiana W.
This place is always hit or miss. Some of the food is great while some is not. Drinks are always good though. The worst part is, this place is always understaffed. I have sat upwards of 30 minutes waiting to even be acknowledged by a server. The problem is... I know it's usually not their fault considering the tables are full and he/she is the only one working. Recommendations for customers: don't expect a quick trip and know that the nachos are a disappointment every time. Recommendation for the restaurant: get more staff and make fast, quality service a PRIORITY!
(3)Lei N.
After looking at difference place, Charles and I ended up coming here for lunch. We walked past it the first time then ended up coming back and inside. The interior of the place it neat and menus are already set out at whichever booth you choose. It's awesome they have a jukebox though modern, I like their music selection. No, not oldies this time. Looking over the menu there were a few things I wanted to try like their wings and burgers / sandwiches, but I ended up ordering breakfast instead. Nothing wrong with that! As I ordered my Egg Breakfast... I said white rice... I didn't know that they only had brown rice! That was a first for me. As I ate my breakfast... the eggs and bacon seemed a bit cold so I was disappointed with that. I couldn't really taste the brown rice. If there is such a taste to it. It also came with an orange slice. That I enjoyed. Along with that, we got the Sampler which came with 3 cheese sticks, 3 jalapeno poppers, 3 buffalo wings and 3 sticks of carrot. The first food item I had to eat were the buffalo wings, though mild, it's too spicy for me! Yet I ate all three of them! I had some of the cheese sticks too. Can't eat it when it's too hot, can't really enjoy it when it's too cold. Grrr. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Our waitress had a cool outfit on and gave us enough time as we ordered, and got the check.
(3)Nikki N.
I'm always down to have breakfast for dinner and had the monte cristo which was ok. Overall, I was distracted on how the bartender kept on talking about himself and the awful bloody and graphic b movie they we're showing. Customers, especially ones with children, really want to see that when they are eating dinner. TVs in restaurants are distracting and tacky and meant for sports bars.
(3)Danielle S.
I've never been here prior to 12am, but it is the BEST late night grub venue. Usually an interesting crowd. Great late night people watching.
(5)Keisha B.
This is hands down my favorite place to dine. 1. Taco Tuesdays!! *WHAT!! $3 margaritas!! 2. Great drinks 3. Open late 4. No cover for lounge. 5. All menus items are available as VEGAN! That's right - all vegan if you want it! Finally found a great place to have date night or eat before 1st Friday and I can get vegan friendly food and the bf can get meat! What a great option! Vegan bacon, vegan ham, vegan cheese, vegan chicken etc. If you are vegetarian or vegan you gotta check this place out! The staff is friendly and the vibe is great! I cannot wait to go back :)
(5)Liz K.
Chili fries and mozzarella sticks were really good. Service was a little slow, but it was really busy (sat 1am) and seemed like they only had 1 server, and she was doing her best. Will come back!
(5)Keith C.
Love this place. 5 minutes before closing they made me an awesome breakfast sandwich. Trading places "the movie" was on the TV. What a great place and walking distance to/ from everything downtown/ China town. Breakfast all day rocks!!!
(5)Ariana M.
I really dont have much to say about this place. Everything I have here was just meh. Nothing I would ever really crave or come back for. The main reason why I come here often is because its close to work and its open late. So when I'm dying from hunger I definitely come here to grab a bite. If I have other options, I'll usually go there first. Every time I have come here the staff is always nice and friendly so thats a plus. However, the food always take forever.
(2)Missy T.
I love milkshakes. No, furreal; I. Love. MILKSHAKES. So on TOP of the sandwich/cajun fries rating, I have to bump Downbeat up another star for having some AWESOME milkshakes! The regular selection is all there: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, etc., but what you really wanna try, if you're a chocolate milkshake kinda person, is the Chunky Monkey. I was here on a Taco Tuesday (not to order tacos :/), was told that the milkshake would be a 10 min wait, and was still blown away by the Chunky Monkey when it came out. Chocolate, banana, and peanut butter all blended to perfection were well worth the wait, and to my surprise, tasted exactly like Reese's Peanut Butter Crunch cereal! For those of you still on the fence about Downbeat, I'd highly recommend the sandwiches (I've heard mixed reviews about the plate lunch sort of stuff), and would DEFINITELY recommend grabbing a shake while you're at it!
(5)Caroline P.
This is absolutely one of my favorite places to eat in Honololulu so far. Situated in the center of China Town in a quirky little building. There are 8 booths with pictures of famous people on the seats. There is only one waitperson manning this station but it's really worth the wait. My boyfriend and I love this place. I am a vegetarian and sometimes vegan. My boyfriend loves meat and lovingly complains when I cook that we are eating rabbit food, rainbows and kale. So the Downbeat caters to both of our tastes. I love the Vegan BLT and the garlic fries. So darn good. The funny thing is my boyfriend ends up getting something vegetarian too. They have nice cocktails there. The wine list is really limited. White or Red wine. Also great live music performances next door so don't forget to support the artists. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Warren N.
Went here last Sunday evening and liked it. We had the nachos, and unlike previous reviewers we had lots of chips and some good chili on top. I like that you can get breakfast anytime and their vegan/veg choices are great also. I had the pesto-tofu scramble which was very good. Dessert was empanadas which were accompanied by a nice caramel sauce. Dive bar? Yes. Good dive bar with good food? Double yes!!
(4)Tina S.
We had eaten at the Downbeat Diner once before and the food was good. The lack of parking and the shadiness of the area kept us away. However with our friends, the Saloon Pilots and Rye & Discord playing here we ventured out again. Loved the chicken nachos and moonshine mixed drinks.
(4)Sheryl N.
Went here today to take my friends for a birthday lunch, sooo this is how it went down. Service: Sucked. Pretty much when we got in she didn't really acknowledge us. And when she did, said there were a few people ahead of us which was alright. It took about 20-30 minutes to get us seated, even when there clearly was a table open; but she didn't realize it until later. It took them about 20 minutes to get our waters... And about 25-30 minutes for us to get our food. Kinda long. What sucked the most was the fact she charged us almost $20 over the original amount without mentioning the 18% gratuity. She didn't have such a great attitude when we asked kindly if we could split the bill; which she declined due to the "rush" which was non-existent & first friday. Probably won't be coming back for awhile. Food: Decent. I got the pesto chicken sandwich with cajun fries which was pretty good, yet dry. The fries were a good cut, fried well. My other friendss also have noticed their burgers/sandwiches to be a little dry. The flavors were alright, I've had better. It was better before. Atmosphere: Pretty chill, casual. Parking: There's several places to park, mostly street parking of the chinese municipal parking. We parked at the South Beretania parking structure, because it's much cleaner than the rest. Overall: Food's alright, service is meh and parking is good as usual.
(2)Jenn T.
Bottomless mimosas??? Yes please!! Came for the brunch experience that my friends have been talking about at this place. They had been here many times before to grab the bottomless mimosa deal. I also ordered the pesto scramble, which came with pesto scrambled eggs, choice of meat and toast. It was pretty delicious, though I was starving at the time I ate it. The cheese fries were also really good. The mimosas here are decent, though they kept running out of champagine and had to go out and buy more, making the mimoas....bottom-full for about 10 minutes. Seems like they should be a little better prepared for the deal if they're going to offer it, but I think it was their way of telling us to stop drinking :P. Overall, a decent meal.
(3)Sabrina O.
Wonderful little hipster diner. A VERY welcome change from touristy Waikiki. It's place wouldn't be out of place in Brooklyn, very hipster vibe. We were there Saturday lunchtime but it wasn't busy at all. I had the BLAT sandwich - I substituted mayo for mustard, no hassles, although they did put too much mustard on! My husband had Otto's Moco, which he enjoyed. We also tried the house made ginger soda, which was excellent. This place also looks like a fun place to drink in the evening as well, and they seem to have alot of live soul, ska and revival bands. We would definitely come back to this place.
(4)Sarah M.
Downbeat is always a fun place to go when you're downtown. It has vegan and vegetarian options for everything--I believe it's also gluten-free friendly. They have a wide selection of bottled beer and fun cocktails to choose from. The veggie burger is bomb and the salads are super fresh. The atmosphere is chill/retro and they always have live music action going on later in the evenings. The waitresses work very hard and are super friendly and helpful.
(5)Keola P.
I am somewhat of a regular of Downbeat Diner, going there about once every other month or so. I appreciate the vegetarian options, though it is a lot of fried stuff. I like the vegan ranch dressing and fries. The fritters are good if you are craving sweet. The service can be spotty. Usually the servers are very friendly and positive, but a few times they have made some snarky sarcastic comments randomly, which is the main reason they only get four stars. Also, I personally get annoyed with televisions in restaurants. I prefer to focus on the food and company I am with! I guess it's a kind of "hipster" place, so maybe that's why the wait staff is sarcastic sometimes? I think their subculture is about being ironic, but I don't really get it. If they got rid of the televisions, and just played music, and the servers were a little more sincere instead of sarcastic, I would give them five stars. A great little haven to go to get away from the madness of the Chinatown streets and chill before or after going to clubs and such.
(4)Jesand A.
Did not expect this joint to be as good as it was. Awesome service! Clean eats, offers vegan and non GMO beef. Tasty, the garlic fries are a must!
(4)Morgan N.
This food was amazing !!!!! My wife is vegan and i simply just love meat. I had a burger it was amazing it was juicy and cooked perfect at med well. My wife was in love with the fact that she didn't have to explain what vegan was or ask a million questions about the menu. She had the Ruben and she loved in fact we had three other entries while we were there. The old saying a happy wife a happy life, so def will be coming back. the atmosphere is very different then anything on the island very hipster and mellow. parking wasn't bad it cost us $3 one block away for 2 hours. It was simply amazing!!!! I even ate some vegan nachos wasn't bad at all not melted but have you very tried to melt vegan cheese its hard to do lol
(5)Alicia T.
The food is good. The vibe is fun. The staff is okay. The wait is usually long for some reason no reason At all. Late afternoon no one there and still takes a good while to get food.
(3)Mark W.
Great food. In town and was looking for some good comfort food. The tourist food was getting to me. Everything from breakfast to cheese fries to grilled cheeses was great. My wife had a salad that was the best so far I town at half the cost. Don't let the area fool you, this place is great. Park off bethel them walk down.
(5)Sean B.
Pretty decent menu that has all the local favorites, with a pretty surprising catch: the menu is littered with vegan options. There's yet another catch: the vegan options are very tasty (this coming from me, not a huge fan of vegan food). This being said, this is a great place to get relatively healthy food along with some relatively well made and decently priced drinks. The next big upside about this place is that it's right in the heart of downtown so you're assured a good time, whether you're there for afternoon meet up or pre-clubbing dinner or even post-partying dinner. I'd reccomend this place. Chill, healthy, decently priced.
(4)Emi H.
Downbeat was a bit of a mixed bag for us last night and I've realized that unless you're a vegetarian you really should order DESSERTS! They have a lovely assortment of sweets for those of you who share my penchant for SUGAR. Here's the rundown of last night's late night visit... KEITH: He ordered a ham and cheese grilled sandwich and unfortunately the cheese was not melted. Booooooooooooo. We told him to tell the server but he's very Japanese and would never send anything back. He ate his sandwich in sad silence and I grabbed a sample. I have to say although the cheese wasn't melted, it still wasn't half bad. It could have used some creamy tomato soup to make it spectacular! JOHN: He's a vegetarian so I didn't really pay attention to his food because I don't think vegetables should be consumed after 9 pm. It was already 11:15 pm when we walked through the doors and John had to ruin my good time with his garden goodness. It was some sort of all veggie grilled sandwich and I did my best to ignore it. GARY: He got chili cheese fries and a Nutella milkshake. OH YEAH! Now that's what I'm talking about people! This was no half hearted attempt to enjoy oneself, this was PURE UNADULTERATED GLUTTONY. The fries themselves were good but I didn't fall in love with the veggie chili. Gary liked the spiciness but honestly when I eat chili cheese fries I want that old school flavor that falls somewhere between ball park and cafeteria. ME: I order the apple fritters and course corrected with the apple AND banana fritters. If you go to Downbeat you have to PROMISE that you'll order these! They come out HOT and are complete perfection when you've been out all night. They're like funnel cakes wrapped around fruit. The bananas were sweet while the apples had a nice tartness. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. In addition to my fritters I got a chocolate peanut butter milkshake which was DAMN GOOD. Poor Keith grabbed the spoon in my milkshake to have a taste and was unfortunate enough to inadvertently swallow a spoonful of peanut butter. Oh well, bygones! Service was really friendly and he gave us some solid recommendations which made our experience. Definitely a hipster hangout but it makes for entertaining people watching.
(4)Rita L.
My friend and I really wanted to eat at Lucky Belly but the wait was kinda long...so we went next door to try out Downbeat. We are soo happy we did, it was such a yummy experiance! We had the chunky monkey shake was yummers. I had the Vegan bbq chicken sandwich and I couldn't tell it wasnt really meat...it was soo good! I loved the garlic fries too! We ended our diner meal with the apple fritters which you have to order at the beginning of your meal...try it! The batter of the fritters taste like its funnel cake....loved the caramel sauce on top! I will def be back to try more delicous vegan delights!
(4)Shiloh R.
Still coming back years later! The servers are so sweet and friendly (can I mention cute?!?!) and the food is DELICIOUS!
(5)DJ Nocturna R.
Downbeat Diner always had a great vibe and friendly bartenders and servers. Great food and reasonable price. The lounge section beside it is open now with awesome sound and lighting. Every Wednesday night, come check out Totally 80s, a night of 80s/90s music and dancing and no cover! Video screen, tables and chairs and a great crowd with DJ GSpot, DJ Coondog and DJ Nocturna. Also DJ guest appearances as well.
(5)Matthew N.
I'd wanted to try Downbeat for a while now, but never had the time. For those of you keeping score, that's a bit of ironic foreshadowing. As part of the TEDxHonolulu event, attendees were given colored lunch coupons that were good for some grub at Chinatown eateries. When my lunch companion and I both got blue tickets, redeemable at Downbeat, I thought that the Universe was finally aligning for me to experience its splendor. Blue, after all, is my color. The ironic foreshadowing, it builds. Had I visited this place in my pre-vegan days, it's likely I would have enjoyed the food. It's classic burger joint fare, and although there are vegetarian options (the Avo Sammy, the BLAT), this is the kind of place you go to if you're hankering for something to eat that used to walk, not sprout. There was a cheesy 80s movie on the television, streaming from Netflix, and when I saw the naked rear of some lithe blonde B-movie actress, I suspected the Universe had just punk'd me. I ordered seasoned curly fries and a Diet Coke at 1:15pm. My companion ordered a salad and a water. At 2:05pm, we'd both gotten our drinks and that's about it. Although, because we were seated near the kitchen, we got to hear the wonderfully snide comments the waitstaff made about certain customers. So I guess that's a bonus. I had to get back to the event, so suffice it to say that I left without being able to adequately judge the food or its value since, in reality, I got neither food nor value. Which, since I was paying with a slip of blue paper, probably was appropriate.
(1)Sierra A.
As far as downbeat goes, its always a coin toss when it comes to service. I've been there when its been excellent service; smiling waitresses, food comes in a timely fashion, and its delicious. Then there's the flip side, unfriendly servers, waiting up to 25+ minutes for food, all around mediocre service. If it weren't for my constant cravings for the western burger and Downbeats awesome hours, I would probably have forgone this place awhile ago.. But the burgers keep me coming back.
(3)Jeffery A.
I am so flustered by this place... Here you have a 'Mad Men'esk place with such a cool vibe. High backed booths with the images of music icons, & related personalities laminated on them (appeared to be Hendrix, Billy Idol?, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Howard Stern amongst others) wrapped in thick plastic like your grandma's couch. The high back smacks of slacker, drug dealer (think...Serpico), or revolutionaries (think Che and Fidel in Mexico, plotting...) but the thick wrapper reminds me of "get your feet off the couch"? The music is the main grab for me 60's and 70's Stones, Hendrix, Doors, you know... "I found an island in your arms, A country in your eyes, Arms that chain, Eyes that lie, Break on through to the other side, come on, break on through to the other side..." that was and is music! Atmosphere big plus! Our server Kat was timely and gracious, offering plenty of coffee (Yuban by the taste), creamer (half/half) served up in a small stainless steal container, not the individual prepackaged portions. Food delivered prompt, wonderful eye contact and a pleasing demeanor (not hard on the eye either). Plenty of seating and not, surprisingly, that hipster, wifi mooching, Fresh Cafe crowd, (guess they haven't migrated this far yet), but an older more dressed for success, business is next, bunch (Republicanish, if that is a word?). Contradiction to follow... We ordered Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs (add cheddar cheese/$1.50), brown rice, wheat toast. Let me stop here for just a moment (and here is why you lose a star, or part of the reason, man, I hope you guys read your reviews, cause I really like your place and this is a must for me and my crew!) GET WHITE RICE ON YOUR MENU! This is Hawaii! You are located in Chinatown! Brown rice (my and mines opinion) SUCKS! I know it healthier, but usually the same people who are asking for brown rice are sucking down Diet soda left and right, and take it from a former diet soda addict, nothing in this world is worse for you than diet soda...you just gotta trust me on that one (lost 65 lbs in six months/ work out 20min/twice a day, cold turkey diet soda, add fiber, lots of water, and 40 to 29 inseam with very little loose skin... I mean very little...vanity time...check my pic's) We also shared a bacon, mushroom and avocado omlt. with whole wheat. All food was tasty, but these are things that are hard to rave about, being as they are common items that can only be criticized if done poorly. Food was good, sausage crispy on outside, juicy with that little 'pop' when bitten into. The only other problem I might mention is their opening time, 11am. It would be nice to have a breakfast place in Chinatown that opens early and stays open late, but I think, me asks to much. On a final note, as I consumed way to much coffee, I found it necessary to visit their facilities (clean and well stocked, useful?). I had noticed that sometime after our arrival, one by one, a (how should I put this) 'slacker wannabe?' crowd had began to migrate up to the bar (the cool zone, again, useful?) area for assorted drinks, presumably nonalcoholic. Maybe the 'hipsters' found Downbeat before me? Downbeat is locate next to Lucky Belly just off Hotel and Smith (useful points?) So if you ever walk in and you see a beatdown looking couple just drinking coffee at one of the booths, and you hear the guy, looking like Tim Roth say, "Garçon! More coffee!" and if the lovely Kat approaches the table and replies, " Garçon means boy." You had better vacate, cause the next line is gonna be, "Everybody be cool! This is a robbery!" And when the female, looking like Amanda Plummer jumps up on grandma's plastic covered seat and screens, "Any of you f'in pricks moves, I'll execute every motherf'in last one of you!" Yeah, it's that kinda cool! Wish I could be there to see it unfold but first, you just gotta get some rice, K.
(4)Mathelda W.
Excellent food... Excellent service! Would love to dine here again. The atmosphere was so relaxed great music... Our waitress Roxanne rocks!
(3)Chris H.
First time there today. Food was quite amazing! Only downbeat was the bench seat second on the left when you walk in the door. Fix it, the waitress said it had been a problem. So.... minus that the Ruben sandwich was top notch.
(4)Jess G.
My husband and I stumbled upon this place while looking for a bite to eat when we were in Honolulu. I eat dairy free and vegan when possible, so I use the app happy cow to help find dairy free/vegan options while traveling. I had the Cajun chicken wrap with vegan ranch, it was delicious, drink were tasty and the vibe and music was awesome. My husband had the moco and fell in love with local dish. When we come back to Honolulu we will definitely come back and I will recommend this place to any friends that are traveling to Honolulu as well.
(5)Satoru Y.
Good downtown diner open late. One of the go-to places in the area. Been here more times than I can remember. Living in the area, this place is a pretty good option. The place is pretty accessible, and seems to be doing well. It's great to see both Lucky Belly and this place thriving. I hope more successful places ate to come. The staff is friendly. I love the post punk feel of the place. The food is standard diner fare, but has a noticeable selection of vegetarian options. Some of my veggie friends like come here. Everyone loves the Monte Cristo sandwich here (french toast ham cheese), and for good reason: delicious. I love the Pesto Chicken and Reuben. Also, who doesn't love a good Club Sandwich? I'm not a big fan of their burgers though. Had the lot of them, and just didn't seem like they had enough flavor to them. They weren't bland, but just didn't taste great. I do like their Loco Mocos though: Mega Moco it when you can. Those are delicious; the gravy is good. One of the specialty nights I like are Taco Tuesdays. You can get 2 tacos for $6: Beef or Black Bean. They also have good Won Ton Nachos for that day only. Cheap Tecates that day too. Good hipster diner to grab a bite.
(3)Caleb S.
All I got to say about this place is that the Loco Moco is the best I've ever had in my whole life! And if you haven't tried it yet, you have no idea what you're missing out on!
(5)Samantha K.
Food was good as always... service could be a bit better. I really do like this place, it has a fun vibe and it's "always" open. With that said, they were slammed on Sunday evening and seating was only available at the bar. I understand being busy and no open booths, so we opted to sit at the bar. However, seating opened up and typically, (at other restaurants anyway, they ask you to close out to move to a table), which is what we asked if they would be willing to let us move to the booth so we can be more comfortable and better conversation. They were very unaccommodating and noted that she had already put our order in, she would HAVE TO cancel our order and then we'd have to re-order the food from the server -- oh, and the best part was that we'll most likely not get our food in until later if that's the case because our server at the table has a lot more orders... Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed...
(3)Alice A.
Good food at the diner. Nicely priced drinks at the bar. Great bar service. Good music. I will definitely return.
(5)Paola R.
Their buffalo chicken sandwich was very delicious and surprisingly light! Normally when I get this type of sandwich elsewhere, I feel really guilty and fat afterward. But this wasn't so bad at all. A friend told me that they serve vegan versions of any of their sandwiches. I'll have to come back later and try them out!
(4)Claire M.
I really enjoyed their burger. Delicious! Besides their delicious food, I appreciated how they had vegan choices. It's hard to find a restaurant that can make the same dish, but vegan style! Service is awesome and the ambiance is cool. The best part was that they also offered Otto Cheesecake's Amazing Plain Cheesecake!
(4)Patrick S.
Wish I could give a 4.5 but I can't. First off, the food they offer is pretty good. I had the Western burger with a vegan patty and vegan bacon. Had it with the add-on fries and it's nice you get 3 options to choose from. I had the garlic fries. They also have cajun and one other type but I don't remember. Once I heard garlic...i interrupted and said YUP! Garlic it is! As for the burger it was pretty tasty and decent on size. I really like how you can get vegan proteins for a lot of their menu items (vegan burgers, ham, bacon, chicken) and substitute without any price increase. The garlic fries are intense but good. They aren't chintzy with the garlic so it's real garlicky. I still enjoyed it but my mouth/throat reeked of garlic all night. Had a milkshake for dessert. They have many unique flavors to choose from and they are cool with mixing it up. I had a chocolate/peanut butter one and it was GOOD! The negatives I have are the lack of parking and the menu is somewhat limited. This place is in chinatown...so any establishment in this area doesn't have good parking. It is what it is...but if you are in the area bar-hopping or live in downtown this is a good spot to check out. Their menu mainly consists of breakfast and sandwiches/burgers. They have a pretty good selection on sandwiches, could use a few more burger options (like a teri burger?). But I hope they expand more into dinner entrees where you don't have to use your hands to eat or might want something more with like rice or mash potatoes. Like meatloaf, bbq chicken, or some pastas (all which I hope they'd still have vegan/vegi versions). Overall it's a pretty cool spot and with their vegan options it's definitely a place I'll still hit up every once in awhile.
(4)Jake M.
This place is great when you want a bite in Chinatown. The restaurant is clean, the staff is fun, and the overall vibe in the place is nice. I like Downbeat because it's multi-purpose. I can meet a friend or have a meeting for lunch and the place is pretty tame, or I can grab a drunken bite at night with my friends and talk story with the colorful crowd that seems to be in there every night. They also just opened up a bar in the annex next door which will feature The food is mostly what you'd expect from a greasy spoon. Burgers, sandwiches and the like. They also have vegetarian/vegan fare and options. I'm a carnivore, but my nibbler friends tell me that the vegan wings are pretty tasty. That said, I find the salads pretty plain. I love the buffalo chicken sandwich and the green eggs + ham. I'm not a fan of the french toast/monte cristo because of the sweet bread they use. Too greasy for me. The booths in this kitsch diner are black, white and red; feature portraits of pop culture icons inlaid with interesting patterns; and each pair can seat 4-6 (or maybe more if you're skinny/friendly) There's a jukebox, but the staff's Pandora stations are usually what I'd want to listen to anyway. The restaurant also screens movies and surf/skate videos on their television/wall projector. These often coordinate with drink specials on certain nights of the week, like Whiskey and Western Wednesdays. Downbeat is my go to for drink night grinds!
(5)Deborah L.
Great food, original menu items. The nachos were simply addictive: the roasted salsa had a bite but was excellent. The Greek salad had the freshest greens; my sister didn't leave anything on her plate! The brownie sundae was good, although the edges were burnt. The service was outstanding. My mother, sister, and I were traveling together. We ventured into that area but I definitely would avoid it after dark.
(4)Stewart C.
Affordable, and Awesome. My wife and I dropped in after dinner in Chinatown for dessert and drinks. Dessert was very delicious, and the drinks were done very well, with good ingredients. The overall quality of drink and food exceeded what we have been getting in other locations in Honolulu, while costing less. It's not, from what I can tell a tourist destination. The neighborhood isn't that great. It seems to me that there is some really great foodie type places on the gentrifying edge of Chinatown, where young student types who really care about food are maintaining profit by having cheap leases, rather than gouging their customers. Oh, and service was good. The waitress knew everything about the menu, how stuff was made and what was in it. She was friendly, and also gave us advice about food and coffee in Honolulu.
(5)Dani K.
Came back for a second try hoping it was amazing as the first, ordered the vegan chili fries which hardly had any chili and NO MORE FRITTERS!! I was completely disappointed.
(3)Jules F.
So many good things I don't know where to start. 1. Great tasting food (this seems as good a place to start as any.) 2. Cozy atmosphere, I love the booths. 3. Friendly waitstaff who are eager to please 4. Really interesting variety of foods with all kinds of unique substitutions (friendly for vegetarian, vegan, etc.) 5. Near all the fun stuff you want to be doing in Chinatown. How near? Across the street from Hotel 39 and Bar 35, so like, almost touching. A 2 block walk from Du Vin and Bambu 2.
(5)Sarah J.
Ah downbeat diner, where do I begin. I usually come here when I have a huge chunk of time between class and something else in the downtown/chinatown area. It's not too pricey and the food is amazing. Why not 5 stars if the food is amazing? The service is alright. They're nice and informative but if you don't look "hipster" enough they don't give you the time of day. The last time I went in I sat down, ordered the usual with a different group of friends then I normally come with. Took us 20 minutes to get water and an hour to get our food. I wouldn't mind if they were busy but it was us and 3 other parties in the diner and they all got checked up on, told that their food would be right out and they even received their food before we did. I wasn't too upset about it but still I tip based on service, usually I tip 35-45% but this time I had to go for 20, and this particular waitress knows I give sizeable tips. I went back today with more of a "hipster" crowd and I received my water before I ordered and my food in 15 minutes. Why still 4 stars? The ambiance/atmosphere is cool, they have very cool booths with famous people's portraits on them. Their happy hour specials are amazing and even though their service varies their waitresses/barbacks are pretty awesome. P.s. If you're a vegan/vegetarian, try the teriyaki veggie burger, it'll rock your socks off.
(4)Patrick B.
I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time. The reviews made my mouth water with anticipation. Sorry to say but nothing special, in fact it was below par for quality and service. I ordered a basic hamburger with cheese and fries. How better to evaluate a dinner. I stopped in at 1pm, 4 other patrons in 3 booths, bar stools full. Service was ok not great not bad but ok. My burger came out well done (why?) and the bun was burned (black not toasted brown) inside and outside. I don't know what happened to the curly fries but mine were the common everyday frozen fries that were fried until they were almost crisp. Burger, fries and a glass of water came to $12. With all of the good burger places out there to choose from this was not one of them. Now maybe at 2am after partying hard I may rate this different but sober and for lunch, ehh. I was underwhelmed and disappointed.
(2)Kim C.
The Things I Do For Food Hip diner serving tasty food and great desserts. Situated in a shady part of China town so make sure your on your toes. If you have kids go when the sun is up. Make sure you have ample time to get back to your car before the sunsets. Because of Yelp I found some fantastic places that I would have never tasted. Yet on a few occasions I follow it with eyes closed and my taste buds leading the way. Not to bad if it was just me and my hubby. But we usually venture out with our baby and 7 year old child. My first time at Downbeat Diner was one of those instances. The food here is amazeballs! Tried the volcano fries. The Otto Moco. Similar to a loco moco but with chicken or vegan instead of beef. Drinked the spiked strawberry lemonade. You'll enjoy it if you like strawberry lemonade. The dessert's serve cheesecake from Otto Cakes. One of the major reasons I ended up here in the sketchy town of China town, at night, with kids. Don't worry I have pepper spray handy. My son got a sundae and my hubby got got the mac nut brownie. This thing is humongous. It's a brownie sandwich, ice cream in the middle, with your usual sundae items decorating it. I took turns eating my husbands dessert and mine. Two scoops of yours and one scoop of mine. Yes, that's how I roll. When we got there the bartender greeted us quickly, chit chatted with us even though she had a full bar (she was the only worker) and the food came out a decent time. Portion sizes are good and the prices are very affordable. Yelp challenge 365: 21/365
(4)Angel A.
I decided to dedicate meat for Lent. Allll meat. Fish, chicken, turkey, so it's been hard. Today my fiancé and I decided that I should eat something vegan other that burgers and salad. So we went to this little spot and I ordered the wings and pesto vegan chicken sandwich. It was great! I'm not vegan but I was shocked at how much the non meat tasted like Meat! The service was awesome and my fiancé had a real chicken sandwich and he loved it!! Then we had this Apple thing OMG! Thanks emi hart for the suggestion. We will be back!
(4)Kelly M.
Went on a Sunday night. Fairly quiet. Only one person working the front of the house - bartender, server, she did it all. But she was busy. The food arrived room temperature. It definitely had been waiting somewhere. But she was so nice. They took the food back, the cook fried the burgers some more (there went any hope of a rare burger) and replaced the fries. Better. Had the apple fritter. A little too brown (burnt?) and seemed to have very little apple. Not worth it. Very nice people, but too many other places to eat.
(3)Doris D.
I usually reserve my 1-star rating for vermin infested places. While Downbeat is clean, the food here warrants this 1-star because it is atrocious. I came here on a Sunday morning hoping for a decent diner breakfast. The coffee was promising. Then we got down to the food. I got the waffle ($6.50) with a side of sausage ($3). The waffle was the worst waffle I have ever eaten in my entire life. I took one bite and literally had to spit it out. The waffle tasted like raw dough, bland, and super dense. My husband took a bite and confirmed this. The waffle was merely sprinkled with powdered sugar and did not even come with buffer. Not only did it taste like mattress foam, it was also a sorry sight. The sausage was literally 6 thin slices of Portuguese sausage and an oily mess. My husband's loco moco was equally sorry. The brown rice was undercooked (unless al dente brown rice is now a thing, the rice was terrible), the hamburger patty was burnt black on the edges (not a pleasant BBQ burnt but like something went wrong burnt), the gravy was god awful bland and thin. While some folks dig this place, I have noticed that these same people come here after a drunken evening out. In the light of day, however, the food is less than desirable.
(1)Javert M.
Great place to dine when going out with a mixed party of vegan/vegetarian and carnivore folk. Prices are reasonable and service has been prompt and friendly at least on my three visits so far. They are open into the wee hours till as late as 4am which is a good thing because this is one of the few eateries open this late that have vegan/vegetarian options. My favs are the seasoned fries, vegan wings, and the fact that they have Swiss inn dressing. The vegan wings are quite decadent seems to be deep fried seitan on wooden skewers so they somewhat resemble wings. Only downside is parking but that's not a big deal if you already live or work in Chinatown or if you go late nite as street parking is relatively easy to find. This place definitely does have a hipster vibe to it but the crowd is usually quite diverse. One last note... while there are some healthy options on the menu this place is still a diner which has the magical ability to turn vegan/vegetarian food into a fast food junkies dream come true.
(4)Melissa O.
Late night adult milkshakes? who knew... so fun!
(4)Amina P.
I am in the midst of a love hate relationship with DownBeat. Every piece of food I have ever had here is great diner food. Every encounter I have with a server/bartender has upset me. I am not regular enough apparently, so the ignoring game is played well and often. Eaten here at least 15 times, will eat there again, simply due to the food and location. However, not nearly as often as I would if they had mandatory personality classes upon hiring.
(3)Lani A.
Love this place! The food could be a bit better but having vegan choices is wonderful seeing as my boyfriend won't touch meat with a 20ft pole. The service is generally on it, it's sometimes lacking when it's busy but that's completely understandable. Its a reasonable quality/quantity of food and drinks for a decent price.
(5)Kalae P.
AHmazing find in Chinatown! Read on for my full experience at one of the greatest places (for many reasons) I was taken to eat at 2am in the morning.. Summary: Downbeat Diner and Lounge is a great place for that comfort taste and feel, a full cultural experience is what I got. The detailed, grungy-rock bar interior design contrasted by the vibrancy of people here is a great memory. The food is beyond exquisite when you are ready to chow down. Give your taste buddies and your wallet something I'm sure they will enjoy! Here's the story: It was a long day of drinking (14 hours to be exact). From an Aloha Stadium UH Football game to one of Chinatown's Halloween events, me and my partner-in-"crime" somehow made it to Downbeat Diner and Lounge around 2am. First thoughts as I stepped foot into the eatery's establishment, "dark look, but vibrant people, awesome design, and the food is smelling great!" There was a 15 minute wait, but it was definitely worth it! My eyes grazing around the menu, everything would have satisfied my appetite (and I would have ordered everything if I could have). I chose wisely and ordered 'The Carnivore', which was a meat-packed burger accompanied with either fries or a salad. The taste was there, and needless to say I devoured every last bite. I left Downbeat that night fully satisfied with my experience, and the place left me wanting more. I will be back to try every last option on that menu!
(5)Shay F.
Looking at the reviews it looks like if you're thrilled about the vegan option, you're liking it. If you could care less about the vegan option, you're NOT liking this place. LoL. So, obviously from my 4 stars, you can tell I like the place...of course, because of the vegan option. They have vegan burgers and vegan chicken...and they even have the option of using vegan cheese if you would like. I'm just happy to find a place that gives this option. It should be like this in EVERY restaurant. LoL. I got the Western Burger fully vegan and it wasn't bad at all. It was packed with flavor! I also got the apple fritters which reminded me of Disneyland. That happy, carnival-y flavor and smell. Yum. Yelp 365 Challenge #38/365
(4)K L.
I will not be returning here. Ever. The food was so-so. This review is based largely off of the service. Came here with a friend and this seemed to be the only place open late on a Monday night. We walk in and there's nobody inside. It seems the staff have some friends visiting, no matter to me. My friend and I aren't greeted or seated. So we sit and chat awhile. Lucky for us there are already menus on the table, otherwise I don't know if we would have gotten them. Over 5 minutes have passed and for whatever reason, we still haven't been greeted or offered any drinks. My friend and I start wondering if we are not welcome and whether or not to leave, but we are starving and couldn't find anyplace else nearby to eat. The waiter finally stops by and takes our order. He's super unfriendly. We put in a pretty decent order, including cocktails, main courses, and desserts for each of us. The food was very whatever. As was my cocktail. And I was never offered a refill after it was finished. I should have gone with my senses when I felt that my friend and I were unwelcome. Too bad my hunger was encouraging me otherwise. I won't be supporting this place again.
(1)Casey O.
What's better than being a little tipsy and walking out of a bar/lounge/club feeling good? Finding a diner right next door. Great Saturday night at Manifest and was feeling hungry, heard decent things about Downbeat so decided to give it a go. The waiter wasn't super friendly, not to say he was rude, but I'm sure he's just used to dealing with drunken idiots at 2 in the morning...I will give him mad props for quickly bringing us all water, much needed and appreciated. Onto the food!!! 2 people got the volcano fries, 1 went with the jalapeno poppers, and I went with the bacon and avocado omelette. I'll break down each of them since I tried them all. Jalapeno Poppers - Looked and tasted like the frozen kind you can get anywhere, nothing special about these. Plus, they gave a somewhat measly amount of them. 8 if I remember correctly. Volcano Fries - From how they looked in some Yelp pics, I was expecting more gravy and cheese. They were covered in this cajun seasoning and garlic. Some cheese and some gravy, though not nearly as much as needed by hungry folk. Fries were tasty but somewhat forgettable because the gravy was a little lacking in flavor as well, not very wholesome like gravy should be. Bacon and Avocado Omelette - Figured I would try and go with some protein to fill me up. The avocado was fresh and there was a good amount of bacon. The toast was covered with this butter like spread, wasn't a big fan, didn't taste like anything and just greased up the toast. Overall, the omelette was good...but nothing I couldn't make at home. Man, I was really hoping for more from this place. Everything seemed to be a little lacking. Like if they put a little more effort in, it could be great drunk food haha. But alas, this visit just wasn't in our favor I guess. I shall look for another half drunken eatery near Chinatown in the future. Though yes, somewhat better than Zippy's because it's way cheaper and closer.
(2)Juliann C.
For the food ~ nothing special really. Typical diner foods. But then again I ordered ordinary things like fries, grilled cheese, and jalapeno poppers. The Good: *The decor is beautiful, it's what attracted me in the first place *It is kinda the one restaurant/diner in downtown in the middle of all the bars -- convenient location if you're just galloping around downtown *Service was great :) the girl that works there is too cute The Bad: *Nothing special about the food The Weird: *They definitely need better quality TVs, it was just so bad watching Dark Knight in bad quality! I honestly would have given this place only 2 stars, but I'll give it a three since the interior is nice :) I'll probably visit again and update my review.
(3)Matthew A.
Good drinks...came early after Mexican food around da corner....they're doing DJ muzak tonite (wed), but have live bands Tues, Thurs, Fri, & Sat....they also serve Pabst blue ribbon and bacon for only $7...
(4)Kelly T.
I've tried this place a handful of times since my first horrific milkshake experience, and the service has improved. This place is still going for the trendy hipster vibe and has lots of hipsterish meal options, including veggie sausage, Oregon beers, and PBR. Sometimes the fully tatted bartenders play Sharknado or Taxi Driver, and lots of black-rimmed glasses-laden college kids with matching haircuts are slumped over in booths checking Facebook and eating Loco Mocos. I really wish this place tried harder on the quality of their food instead of the Lawry's Seasoned Salt overkill, but I guess I should just be content that Downbeat Diner exists and try to fit in. Damn you, Honolulu, and your lack of pm breakfast options! Maybe it will keep getting better?
(3)Sarah J.
I usually like this place due to it's vegan options, however, this time I feel that the waitress was picking and choosing who she wanted to wait on. We waited for our food for 40mins, she never came over to tell us it was on it's way, and when it got there it was regular chicken wrap not vegan like I asked for. I didn't want to wait any longer so she comped it. I'm not impressed with the service or the food this time at all. I have been in the past. I'm hoping it's different if I come back ever again.
(2)Jordan S.
A great late night eats place. Good diner food, awesome milk shakes, and if you come before 2am they are a bar as well so you can add liquor to your shakes or floats. The food is pretty standard for a diner, the spot is perfect though for going to as China Town bars are shutting down. They also have some Vegan and Vegetarian options, which is nice as it's a place all of my friends can usually agree on.
(4)Amauri T.
Showed up here for a late night snack after a night at M Nightclub, walked in at 3 a.m. on a Saturday and there business hours stated they stayed open until 4 a.m. I ordered a loco moco which is standard local fare but according to the sever they couldn't be bothered to make more rice and they started turning off the lights with an hour left.
(1)Jordana F.
I'm here at 1230 am after a pau hana event and I can't quite remember how we got here but we ordered the sampler. It has mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, and buffalo wings. We also ordered drinks and I don't really know how I'm capable of writing this review but thank goodness for spell check! Anyways food is really good, the drinks are good and the prices are decent. Try it if you're ever in the area! It's not too crowded and the decor is simple and a little modern. It can be intimate but good for groups as well :)
(4)Hunter H.
Downbeat Diner is such an enjoyable place to relax and eat. The service is very consistent and the food was delicious. The vegetarian option is great as well, I'll be back for sure!
(5)Val M.
Awesome vegan diner food. I have enjoyed everything so far....the food, the cocktails, the service, the ambience, EVERYTHING
(5)Wendy P.
Woohoo! As good as it gets! = Drinks and service. I've read some of these reviews about spotty service, but every time I go in this joint, I'm super happy with the way I'm treated by the staff. Drinks or food might take a while if they're busy or understaffed for a rush, but even then they're always friendly, patient, and helpful with suggestions and chit-chat whenever possible. And wish as I may, I can't fit the profile of a hipster with my fashion stylings... bag-lady sometimes- kindergarden teacher on a good day... but never hipster. I come from the south, from Hwy 61, from deep fat fryers and 24-hour diners the likes of which movies are made. Therefore, I cannot say I LOVE the food here. It's too clean usually, as if trying to straddle the line between health-conscious eatery and late-nite diner, vigilantly cautious never to cross the line to the 'bad' side. But the food is good-- there's decent variety in the menu. But let's get to it-- The REAL reason I love this place is their drink menu. For a diner, these guys have it going on behind the bar. They'll mix Ginger Tea with a shot of vodka and a splash of something lemony that'll make your day. And they've taken an old childhood favorite- Root Beer FLOAT!- and added a shot of whisky or rum like freakin' bosses. Why has no one else thought of this in my life? My favorite part is, they like to mix it up-- so when an indecisive and adventurous drinker like myself tries to go off-menu, the server tends to light up rather than roll eyes. Gotta love that. Oh, and if you haven't caught onto the theme of what I like most in my reviews- it's a good deal... and these yummispectaculations of libations are super reasonable in price. So there's that. Go out there and get 'em, kids!
(5)Sharee P.
I'd give the food 4 stars- chili moco, Western burger, chicken fajita were yummy. However, the service was horrible. My husband and I are vegans, so we thought it would be nice to take his mother and some others family members here for brunch on Mothers Day being that they'll be able to get non-vegan options. After ordering our food, we waited for about 15 minutes to get our food- which is a reasonable time. They brought a dish or two out at one time. Shortly after waiting, we asked the waiter about my mother's order- a monte cristo. Apparently, the bartender that took our order forgot to put it in. He apologized and said it'll be out shortly. The restaurant started to fill up, so it was busy in there, however, we were in there 10 minutes after they opened. We all finished our food, and the order still didn't come out. The waiter handed me the check and even cleaned our tables. I told him that I didn't think we should be charged for my mother's meal because we still hadn't even received it yet!! He gave a little bit of an attitude and said it wasn't his fault because he didn't take the order and then he took it off. We waited for another 10 minutes until I approached the same guy- Chris, and asked about how much longer for the order? He said, " It's not like we're not busy, so I really don't know.". I was so upset, that we just decided to leave. So we took my mother in-law out for Mother's Day and she didn't even get her food! I will never eat at this establishment again.
(1)Chad A.
The food sucks here, and the service is slow. What earns 2 stars is that they have great late-night hours.
(2)Jenifer G.
The food options are great but the service needs some attention! I didn't feel the hipster servers were too attentive, how hard is it to get a cup of water? But.. I do empathize a little, it could be because they've got the late evening crowds that can be down right obnoxious. Maybe I need to come by at a different time of day to avoid the unruly crowd and its aftereffects, or I found it also works great to just order take out. :) The burgers are delicious and very juicy. My favorite is their Monte Cristo, a french toast sandwich with ham and cheese -- ingenious! It is the ultimate in savory! And there's even a vegan option. Apparently there are options for vegans and vegetarians which is a defininite plus. I guess it's a good spot for you to hit up late at night to top off the rest of your evening. I have yet to try it out during "normal" hours. Maybe service will be more enjoyable then!
(3)Joseph M.
The Ruben of the GODS!!!! This is a little hole in the wall place that might be one of my favorite restaurants on this island. I went here after Trivia at the Manifest next door one Tuesday night and I am now a big fan. The Reuben is outstanding and is easily the best one you can get in Hawaii. More about the Reuben in a minute. The place has a very artsy feel to it and is the kind of place that could slide right out of Chinatown and be right at home in Soho or Austin or some place like that. The seats have various artist and singers pictures on them and the decor is very "50s diner" but not as bright. They usually play something like Caddyshack or a Mexican Western on the wall with a projector which adds to the decor. Our server was a very nice girl with tons of cool tats and a septum piercing who wore those big nerd glasses. She was fast and efficient and we really didn't have to wait very long for our food. There was an assortment of club-kids, tatted hipster types, and girls from the yoga place across the street. This is the kind of place that your grandma would feel weird eating at. That girls hair is purple! The horrors! Well the main reason I am writing this review though is to talk about their Reuben. It is absolutely amazing. The pastrami was fresh without a ton of gristle and fat, the sauerkraut was not too wet and didn't get all sloppy, and the dressing was perfect. It was succulent, mouth-watering and was gone very quickly. I was literally wolfing the thing down and after I was done I really felt like ordering another one. I have had Reubens all over the world and this one was the best I have ever had. Just thinking about the Reuben makes me want to go back to Downbeat again and again. I also need to mention that they have like 12 different kinds of shakes and each one I tried has been very tasty. They aren't as thick as Teddy's Bigger Burgers but they are still a very tasty compliment to your meal. They also serve liquor as well and it would be nice to have a few nice brews to wash down my Reuben with if I wasn't already drinking a shake. Milk based sweet-stuff and beer do not mix for me. In any case this is a great establishment for Downtown/Chinatown and is a must try if you are in the area. The food was fresh, cheap, and oh yeah Reuben. Just an all around great place to get some dinner.
(5)Laurie P.
So ever since they closed Mini Garden, we've had to find a new place to eat after stumbling out of the bar. While Zippy's up on Vineyard is always clutch, a friend said this place was good. This place is going to totally appeal to all the hipsters. The random portrait fabric with the faces of Frieda Kahlo, James Dean, David Bowie, amongst others on the back of the benches, the arthouse video they project onto one of their very white walls, the small bar in the back, the kisch food, the PBR tall boys on sale for $5. Definite hipster vibe, but the guys working were all pretty low key and friendly. So maybe Seattle hipster, not LA hipster. Anyway, as soon as we plopped down the one waiter who was on his second day dropped by with large, icy glasses of water. Perusing the menu, I ordered gravy fries (I have a thing for gravy fries. They are just so wrong they are right.) and a Monte Cristo. A note on the service, the waiter was very attentive. Being drunk half of us hadn't looked at the menu, but he always left and came back relatively quickly to see if we had decided, was never short and rather funny. I had concerns about the fries when they came out, they weren't particularly golden or crispy looking and the gravy was anemically pale. Everyone knows that the beauty of the gravy fry is the crisp, fried potato contrast to rich, meaty gravy. Well I was pleasantly surprised. The fries were very fresh and weren't soggy. The gravy, in spite of its appearance, was delicious. The Monte Cristo was a little different than I was expecting. Instead of a lightly battered and deep fried ham and cheese sandwich dusted with powdered sugar, it was a ham and swiss between two pieces of french toast. The french toast was actually pretty tasty and held up well to being in a sandwich, which is surprising. All in all, a decent drunk meal. Definitely think I'd be back just to try the volcano fries and maybe even a Taco Tuesday.
(3)Nathan F.
Had a BLaT and my GF had a chicken pesto both were really good, even more food options. Drinks were original and tasty music was classic, and atmosphere is on point. Only down fall was that is sort of plain And there was only one waitress working and over all was priced very nicely
(4)Karebear W.
Update #3 Apparently, the C-town gangsters made a rare appearance on update day #2. I've been here many, many of times and that was the only concerning occasion. Overall, I love downbeat and it's awesome and convenient for a townie like me. Or for anyone cruising downtown.
(5)Trevor T.
Very hipster (usually something I'm not a fan of). That said, the food was very good, I had the french toast and was pleasantly surprised. Another big plus is that they're open late if you get the munchies late at night downtown (and don't want to make your next stop Zippy's). The parking is less than ideal, being right in Chinatown. Odds are, however, that you'll be in the area anyway, so the parking thing should be a non-issue. That said, this is not someplace I'd go out of my way to eat at (not THAT good). If you or anyone in your group is vegan, this place is a good spot as their menu is chock full of vegan-friendly options. Atmosphere is also pretty chill, but fun at the same time...does that make sense? In sum, worth checking out if you're in the area, but I'd live if I never got to eat there again.
(3)Leah K.
Looking for a new place to try out on a late Sunday afternoon and my cohort recommend this eatery. Wasn't quite sure what to expect considering the typical hustle and bustle of Chinatown is nonexistent on a Sunday afternoon. We were greeted upon arrival and since the place wasn't busy, we were able to pick out our seats. The service was very quick. Our server answered questions about the some of the menu items, and provided us with some recommendations. I selected the Monte Cristo. The french toast was delicious, although the ham and cheese filling were not quite as ample as what I have had elsewhere. The sandwich is served with pancake syrup on the side for those who want a little sweet to offset the saltiness of the ham and cheese. Overall, it was enjoyable. My cohort is a vegan, so he opted for the Vegan Pesto Chicken sandwich, which they were able to make totally vegan. Always wanting me to explore and try new vegan food, I sampled the sandwich and have to agree that it was very good. The sandwich was oozing the pesto sauce which was very light and fresh. It was nice little spot to drop into on a Sunday afternoon. It is great since is caters to the vegan and meat eaters alike.
(4)Jason W.
This is regarding Brunch! Downbeat overall is still a 5 to me but I got talked into the Chicken and Waffles and well, for "selling out quickly," the waffles had some room for improvement. Plus I had to ask for cream for the coffee and syrup for the waffles so that was kind of weird. The chicken though was off the hook. I am a love/hate relationship with meat, I cant quite go vegetarian but I try to limit meat as I can for multiple reasons and this chicken was awesome, good flavor breading outside, and moist, tender white meat inside. I think if I went with my original idea of the Ottos Moco, which had the Chicken and brown rice loco moco style, this would be five stars. Next time...
(4)Maria G.
Ok, so I was a bit reluctant when friends invited me here before a night out for drinks. Anything that purports "vegan" anything is always a bit suspect (Sorry to my vegan friends!) . But as revealed by my 5 star review, clearly I was proved wrong. It's not that big of a place, but it definitely makes an impact. Has a hipster/punk rock vibe with it's funky couches (with upholstery that has B&W portraits of famous icons), great jukebox, to the movies the project on the wall. However, what really won me over were the VOLCANO Fries and VEGAN wings. Wait...yes I said that right,...VEGAN wings. It is amazing, yummy, and even the texture was divine! It even had a little drum "stick" it was attached to. I ate it side by side with the "real" wings and the vegan version hands down wins. I have DREAMs and CRAVINGs (and no, I"m not pregnant) about these vegan wings. The volcano fries are a delicious mishmash of fries, gravy and cheese...nom nom nom. Burgers are also decent, and I also had there "avo" sandwich which was avocado, tomato and cheese. I swear...this place is gonna make a secret veggie out of me! For dessert, milkshakes can be ordered plain or with a shot of liquour. Delicious, delicious, delicious. Go get some vegan wings now!
(4)Stephanie T.
Love Downbeat! They have a very versatile menu in that you can please every one that you go with because there is breakfast (served all day) to lunch type foods and more dinnery type items and desserts and a huge selection of adult beverages. One of my favorite adult desserts they have is the Guinness shake, I know it sounds gross, but its delicious. I think I have tried almost everything on their food menu. The BLAT (Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato) sandwich is super good. The bacon avocado cheese omelette is another favorite of mine as well. The staff is great too, all very friendly and fun to be around. A huge plus is everything that is on their menu can be done in vegan form including their loco moco. They are open really late so its good for after bar food.
(4)Rissa K.
Mmm you gotta try the Volcano Fries! It's garlic fries with gravy poured all over! Wow! I haven't tried the burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes yet but I do want to try it next time I am there. Love the vibe here....it's like a feel of an old Diner. There is a cool bar that is right next door that is part of this Diner. You can go have lunch/dinner then go next door and have a few drinks. When you are here it goes you a feel like you are somewhere else. Friendly staff, clean restaurant, and great food!
(4)Sara N.
Menu items are a bit misleading.... volcano fries are barely spicy- they're cajun fries smothered in grey gravy (they taste alright but nothing special) and their well-known Guinness milkshake does NOT have any alcohol in it; they use a Guinness flavored syrup :| I wouldn't order it again. The service was alright; the server knew it was our first time there but didn't ask us questions or make any recommendations. Now I'm just sad that I didn't try the fritters...
(3)Rupert L.
Been here once during first Friday. Wish we didn't do that because now I'll have to give a three star for messing up orders and the jukebox ate the money. Also the wait just to get in was crazy. American burger was great. Good thing I didn't get the shake because I would've been full. The place is small but it's pretty cool. I'll definitely come back when it's not too busy.
(3)Christine K.
This place has a cool feel to it. My daughter and I chose to eat here because of the vegetarian selections. The vegan chili was great! We enjoyed the music and the friendly staff as well.
(5)Thomas A.
Best vegetarian place around, unless you're a rabbit and prefer raw things. Delicious diner/cafe kinda food. Hipster for sure, but not obnoxiously so. A must visit for any and all vegetarians.
(5)Joyce F.
For: taco tuesday, maybe brunch, $2 Tecate on Tues! Against: inconsistent service, regular menu Other essentials: All menus offered all day. Street parking all around Chinatown...or walk from my house! More: Came here on two different nights, had the same server / bartender and had CRAZY different experiences. I'm all confused now. Let's start with Tuesday. Standing on Hotel St after Emi's show trying to find food. Options: late night Lucky Belly, Bar 35 or this joint we have yet to try. Lauren spots the PRB and bacon menu item at Downbeat so in we go. Sit down and see a TACO TUESDAY menu. Oh, how I love Tuesday and how Taco fits in front of you so seamlessly. The menu was mean...like good. Three tacos for $8. Okay the beef was overcooked and flavorless and they ran out of jalepenos but the other flavors made it delicious. Including the jalapeno salsa and sour cream! More importantly, there were $2 Tecate cans with limes shoved inside. I would 5 star any $2 Tecate lime combo. Was impressed with all the vegan and vegetarian options - what diner focuses on that? Haven't tried it so unsure of the quality. The diner has cool seat covers - liked spotting Bill Murray and Frida - but no artwork on the walls. The brunch menu looks incredible especially that bottomless mimosa! Fast forward to Easter Sunday. Everything is closed except for Downbeat (and Taco Bell) but since we had such a good experience on Tuesday, we raced off to Chinatown. We had the same server who said nothing to us even when I excitedly (making too excitedly) yelled hello at her as she was setting down menus. Girl was not happy to be there that night. To be fair, there were a ton of drunkies and people just generally happy to be eating and not working on a Sunday night. The sandwiches, burgers and salads were all so lame! Like good sounding on the menu and then nothing in your mouth. I now understand why Chuggy was skeptical of my rave Tuesday reviews. My friend had the Coke float with Sailor Jerry and was instantly drunk - in a good way. Overall, Sunday night did not kill my Tuesday experience. I will be back for Tuesday and probably to check out the brunch menu!
(3)Anna F.
It's a far walk from where I work but it's totally worth it. Their menu is reasonable priced and they have a lot of different sandwiches. The staff was super nice and they check up on your every so often to see if the food is okay or if you need more water. My favorite item was the grilled ham and cheese sandwich. It's a simple item and they made it perfect. I also liked their cajun fries. They made the seasoning just right. If you're still hungry after your meal, you need to order the apple fritters! I know, it's deep fried and it's unhealthy but you know what, the batter was really light. If you go with a group, just share the dessert. For those who go to first Fridays, this place is open late. You can swing by here for food after all the drinking. Or just come in here and drink some more.
(4)Crystal B.
I regularly attend a lot of events in Chinatown and Downbeat Diner is a favorite place for my friends and I to stop and get a bite! They are open late, have a fun & funky vibe and the food is delicious....they offer Vegan and Vegetarian options, but this is diner food people so it's not fat free, I'm training for the cover of Sports Illustrated fair...yummy comfort food at its best :) The Volcano fries are great to share with a couple of beers or one of their fabulous drink specials...or the adventurous should definitely go for a Pandemonium Milkshake (vanilla milkshake with a shot of Jagermeister and bacon syrup), creamy deliciousness with a kick!
(5)Courtney O.
Finally a REAL diner!! Those of you who think that Big City Diner is actually a diner can stop reading this and move along. Downbeat Diner is a REAL diner that will leave your taste buds very satisfied! I had the monte cristo sandwich. I personally think the monte cristo is underrated and needs to me on more menus. I was very excited to see it on the menu here and had to stop by. It was served with fries which could be accompanied by gravy, garlic, cajun seasoning, or cheese. I picked gravy and it was delish! They also serve a variety of milkshakes. I had the chunky monkey. It was really good. If you're down for it, there is even a Guinness shake!! You can also add any liquor to your shake. Amazing!! There is a large white wall in the diner that shows movies and a jukebox. I think the prices are very reasonable for the food and for the drinks as well. Most of the drinks are around $5. The entire menu is available all day long! Yay for breakfast at night! Our waitress was very cute and friendly. I CAN'T wait to go back here. My only gripe is that it is in China Town and the night we went (like any other random night) had a lot of sketchy people walking around. It's not exactly in an area I would call safe. I would recommend they move closer to my house, maybe even next door if possible.
(5)Kristy K.
To be honest we actually ended up going here because Lucky Belly had a set Valentines Day menu and had ran out of food already. ;( But anyway, here's my rundown: Service: Was not good. Our server hardly came to check on us. When we wanted a container she was no where to be seen. Then she decides to check on all her other tables but us. Really??? Atmosphere: Cool! The music was back in the day music, the kind of music my mom and dad listen to, so I actually enjoyed it. They were also projecting a movie on the wall, I think it was Dirty Dancing. Food: I ordered the hamburger steak, which sucked butt. The worst hamburger steak that I had in a while. The burger was tough and dry and the gravy didn't have much taste. My gf got the BLAT sandwich. It was just a normal sandwich. Nothing spectacular. The best thing about this place was the peanut butter shake. LOL! All in all, I was very upset because I read someones review that the hamburger steak here was the best!!! All I can say about that is...Lies...All Lies!! Lastly...parking in this area sucks! Will I be back? I doubt it.
(2)Victoria S.
Really good vegan/vegetarian food. They have an animal friendly version of almost everything on their menu. The food itself is good. The wrap tends to be bigger then the sandwich. The fries are okay, but the usually get cold fast. There isn't a lot of seething, so plan on coming early if you want food from here.
(5)Kelly G.
Late night food nom! Usually most restaurants are closed at such a late hour but not Downbeat! This is probably why it was so full. We ordered the vegan bbq chicken burger, cajun fries and .... the apple fritters! In our drunken state, everything tasted yum. Unfortunately, the apple fritters didn't meet my expectations. Price was alright. Service was not bad. Bar in the corner if you choose to continue your drunken debauchery!
(4)Mark G.
Went there for a birthday lunch. Food was good, but the service was extremely slow. It took about 45 minutes from the time we ordered til we got our food. There was only one waitress working and I would have totally understood the situation til it came to paying the bill. We wanted to split the check between a couple cards but the waitress rudely stormed back and tossed our cash and cards back onto the table and ranted "you can't split checks on First Fridays." I was left confused since First Friday activity in downtown doesn't pick up til well after dinnertime and dumbfounded as to why she would waste even more of her time to express how irritated she was that we were even thinking of trying to split a check. Sorry to be a burden, geez!
(2)Angela F.
This is a great place for late-night dining (it's opened past midnight and located right next to many bars and lounges in Chinatown)! The service is excellent...the staff was friendly and very accommodating. Being lactose intolerant, I was very excited about their vegan options. We ordered the vegan apple fritters and vegan vanilla milk shake. The milk shake was DELICIOUS...possibly one of the best vegan milkshakes I've ever had. they offer many different milkshake flavors. It was very creamy and tasty. The vegan apple fritters were good too...a very unique item. They remind me of beignets more than apple fritters but still delicious. Overall, this is a great dining option!
(4)Cassie T.
We stopped in to Downbeat to grab a quick bite to eat and a couple of drinks. The place is really cute and I can see how this would be a great place to hang out at if you were out drinking. I love the music that they play and the vidoes that can be seen on the multiple TV's or the HUGE projection. Cool! We ordered the Volcano fries that are for sure not a part of a healhty eating plan. But, oh they were yummy. Basically the Volcano fries are french fries with garlic and cajun seasoning topped wtih gravy. Delicious! We also ordered the Mozerella Sticks. Nothing special. The burger I ordered was decent. I ordered the terryaki burger. I love that they use local products (Big Island Beef). The meat was topped with carmelized onions and mushrooms, cheese and a terryaki sauce. Our waitress was also the bartender (Sorry, I didn't catch her name). She was really nice. She also seemed to know most of the customers that were in there. What a good sign! After all the food and four drinks our bill was only 41.00! SCORE! Overall I think we will save this place for when we are out drinking. Not bad.
(4)Mike T.
Hip atmosphere, food was great. I had the California Burger, My wife had the Chicken salad and she loved it. Awesome place for the young hip crowd. price was reasonable and the service was nice.
(4)Ira J.
"Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter." -urban Dictionary (n.d.) Definition of Hipster Retrieved from urbandictionary.com/defi… My definition of Hipster is considerably different than the one above. While it has no attributed author, it was obviously written by a Hipster or a Hipster sympathizer. From my reckoning, a hipster is someone who believes they are too cool to be cool. So they go out of their way to be un-cool so that they can therefore be cool. An important aspect of this is for Hipsters to maintain at all costs that they are not a Hipster. They must do so because in their eyes being a Hipster is cool; and for them to be cool, they must be un-cool - not a Hipster. Get it? Well, by this definition, my teenage daughter is a Hipster. She believes that Hipsters are cool, but vehemently deigns being one. One of the first clues I had of this came several months ago when I tentatively selected Downbeat Diner and Lounge for our evening meal. Her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "The Hipster Restaurant! Cool!" Well, we didn't wind up eating there that night, but I filled away her excitement for a future use. That use came this week when I offered to take her to Downbeat Diner and Lounge for her birthday lunch. She was very excited. I believe she was so because she would get to hang with her fellow Hipsters. She does not subscribe to my theory about her hipsterhood or really to my Hipster Theory at all. In spite of myself, I liked the place. It definitely has serious atmosphere and attitude. The chicken sandwiches we both had were really good, as was our brownies with ice cream desert. The only thing that was a little lacking was the promptness of the service. However, I suspect that slow service is an engineered part of the serious atmosphere and attitude. It was also okay because it allowed us to stay longer and soak up more of that serious atmosphere and attitude. Which we both appreciated. I wanted to give my Hipster Theory a test; and more importantly like any good dad, I was anxious to embarrass my teenage daughter. My plan was to stand up and ask the clientele of Downbeat Diner and Lounge to raise their hands if they considered themselves Hipsters. Since I was sure none of them would do so, and they were all pretty much unquestionably Hipsters; my theory would be validated. However, I was forced to forgo this experiment because of another theory of mine: It is a bad idea to experiment on or otherwise harass large numbers of people who have tattoos on their faces.
(4)Jesse S.
Terrific burgers and shake. The ambiance is fun.
(4)Kazuo O.
The Good stuff: Staff is generally friendly and efficient, good characters all around. Full bar does all the basics well. Quirky atmosphere. Carry out option for food. Great shakes (which can be boozed up on request). Kitchen open late (huge plus). Improvements: Standard diner food, but nothing extraordinary. The vegan option for all menu items will please the non-animal crowd, but I remember the vegan chicken wings being better in the past. Bottom line: Causal meet-up spot in trendy Chinatown. Good place to launch your night or end it. Wish the juke box would be set to play only 80's rock or synthpop.
(4)Paula H.
vegan/vegetarian diner food. considering its called a diner idk what i was expecting but i thought somehow it would be different. a friend of mine was excited to try this place bc everything on their menu can be made into vegan or vegetarian. sounds interesting huh! he was excited...so i was excited. one date night, it was my turn to pick the food and so i picked here. my husband is funny because he always puts a smile on his face when i pick vegan/vegetarian food and under his breath recites, "happy wife happy life." which has become his life's mantra. So we get there and we order the fries with vegan chili and vegan nachos. Sounds harmless. The cheese was of course soy cheese and meat was soy protein also. I have no problem with that but when I think of nachos I think of smooth melty cheese. Not the case. It was hard and all of the cheese lifted when I pulled one chip out. Yuck! At the bottom of the dish sat a puddle of oil. Double yuck! I know diner food is not suppose to be the healthiest but when u put vegan/vegetarian into the mix I personally expect differently. I think I'm expecting too much though. I walked back to my car regretting my diner decisions.
(3)Cheryl L.
Looking for a late night place with more than a bar menu. We stumbled upon this gem. Their food was excellent and the service was awesome! Really laid back with up beat music. Definitely recommend! Great!
(4)Mark M.
Went to downbeat yesterday for breakfast (brunch?). It's a really cool little place, very hipster vibe if you're into that sort of thing. Service was a bit slow at first, but that was probably because we got there about 2 minutes after they opened. Once it was all up and running it was much better. I had the Loco Moco, which is pretty good. They have an interesting gravy, but I always wish they would cook the burger medium instead of medium well. My wife had a breakfast sandwich, which she liked. Other than those, they usually have really good burgers, great French fries; you really can't go wrong for breakfast here... The home fries in particular are great. They also have lots of vegan options too if that's your thing. Overall it's a really cool place with some good food. Definitely recommend.
(4)Lealyn P.
Great food, vegan options, cool atmosphere and good service. I love it here.
(5)Cat D.
Came for lunch on a sat. Late afternoon. Parked nearby in a metered stall. Food and service is four stars and cleanliness is a 3 stars. Volcanic fries...cajun seasoning, garlic with a mild gravy and cheese is quite delicious. I was a little weirded out on the idea of gravy on cheesy fries, but it actually complimented it. Well done Spicy Vegan buffalo sandwich with vegan ranch dressing, lettuce, and tomato. On sourdough bread.... wow tastes just like chicken. Love the substitute. Ranch was subtle and Complimented the Buffalo sauce. Yummy...i'll be back 11/25/13 Finally came back and this time I had something meaty...the Reuben sandwich on rye. Swiss cheese, soft beef and perfectly toasted with a nice mustard sauce to compliment the sauerkraut. Served with volcanic fries with gravy on the side of course. They just do sandwiches well. Hasn't yet disappointed. Mixed apple and banana fritters were oh so delicious! Kanak attack
(4)Sam K.
Walk into this place on Sunday for a quick lunch. I ordered a Reuben sandwich with pastrami, it is very tasty. My wife ordered a Loco Moco; it is a little different from most local versions. Lots of pepper and I think, Provence Herb. Taste pretty good.
(4)Angela M.
Dear Downbeat Diner, I decided to become mostly vegan for health reasons. I decided to become mostly vegan for my heart and my mind, and to reverse the 3 decades of damage and abuse this body has endured. And it was going well. Until YOU. You with your hipster vibe and random movies playing on the wall, you with your black booths and peculiar patrons seated at the bar with pants that are too tight and belts that are too wide. You with your diner menu full of tantalizing burgers and shakes and fritters and fries that, by golly, can all be made VEGAN. You lure us in with your addictive buffalo wings, your scrumptious breakfast sandwich, your delicious teri burger and cheap Tecate Tuesdays and BAM, we're plant based fatties. You are the twisted and dark place where vegans can become obese. We find ourselves reveling in pure gluttony within your walls far too often, enticed by your lit windows and doors which remain open when everything else has closed, beckoning, calling, a beacon of light, a promise of warmth in the darkness. A promise that I will never fit my skinny jeans again. Is it your fault that I have gained some veggie poundage in the last month? YES. Yes it is. Your dark magical powers that produce not only edible, but incredible vegan fare are to blame. I am but a hapless victim, too weak to turn away. And I will see you soon. Certainly the morrow if not tonight. Damn it, I don't need to be thin. Sincerely, Angela
(4)Thomas O.
Came back after a month to see what was going on. I'm glad to see they're doing quite well with plenty of customers...and plenty of servers? Come on, do we need more than 4 people hustlin'? Well maybe not so much hustlin' but more moseyin', because it seemed like things took a little while. Riana S. and I were there for a hour when I know we coulda be in and out in 15 if we went to Liliha Bakery. Alas, it was close to Manifest where we were filming. Anyways, I gotta be frank here, I had to lower my review a star because of the prices. Oh my Jesus are they high. I never really realized. Because the times I came here I was either paying separately or came by myself. Well for two people, the tab came to $33. We had 2 burgers @ $9 ea. (no soggy fries this time) 2 vegan milkshakes @ $5 ea. (outrageous for the size and flavor) 1 order of Apple Fritters @ $5 (probably best purchase) I had the western burger and..it was well good. Nicely balanced bbq sauce, bacon, and onion. I want...no. I NEED onion rings with this. With bbq sauce for dipping. The shake was an Oreo Mint shake. Meh I could barely taste the mint and the oreo.
(3)Jason D.
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute! Where have I been?!? This place is so darn good! This review is for lunch, so I'm not sure why the bad reviews. Anyway, my coworkers and I came here a little after 11, and they just opened up and I think we were the first ones there, fine by us. This place is located on Hotel Street, right across Bar 35 and next to Mini Garden. I haven't been to this area in a while, even though I work Downtown, which is why I probably never heard of this place, but thank goodness for Yelp! Walking into this place kinda felt like walking back in time. There design on the booths were really retroish cool and the jukebox playing take me back music was a nice touch. On to the food. If you go online and look at their menu, know that they have more food on the actual menu when you get there! So this would be my one wish - sync the menus, especially for those who have a time constraint for lunch and may be indecisive at times =) I ordered the chicken pesto sandwich and a chunky monkey milkshake. I swear if I wasn't at work, I would have added a shot to my milkshake, or try the Guiness milkshake. Oh well, next time. The pesto sandwich filled me up. The chicken wasn't dry at all and the toasted sourdough bread it came on wasn't oily at all. The milkshake was to die for and I seriously had a hard time staying up at work after. One of my coworkers had the teriyaki burger, which she said was really, really good. My other coworker had the buffalo chicken sandwich, which she enjoyed as well. Honestly, probably one of the better places we've had lunch at. Check this place out!
(5)Amie P.
Haven't been here in forever, but I had to give it a review because I'm nostalgic! Happened by this diner when me and my sister were wandering around Chinatown looking for a bite to eat. Sister thought it looked interesting and I saw they had vegetarian options so we gave it a shot... No regrets!! THE best vegan meat I've had! My mouth waters thinking about their sandwiches. Especially their Buffalo Chicken sandwich! My sister, who is a total meatitarian even enjoyed the vegan options. Their shakes are pretty great, too (Chunky Monkey, specifically)...and UM! they have Otto's cheesecake! Gotta grab a slice up fast before they're sold out though! The diner has a great punk/retro vibe to it as well and plays some badass movies. During our stay in Honolulu, this was definitely one of our favorite go-to places. Try it out!
(5)Bruce T.
We actually went twice the same night. We met up with our group there before hitting an event. Had nice drinks and some food... Me and a friend shared the chef salad (the most meat I have ever had in a salad LOL) and a avocado quesadilla. Both were tasty and went well with drinks. Service was awesome and pretty quick. Then we actually went again after the event for a late munchy. Short wait for a table (it was around 2am). This time around unfortunately the service, while our server was very nice, was super slow... I mean real slow. 30+ minutes for food to finally show. But again it was great (loco moco) but the experience was sub par. .. But it did not turn us off to the spot, assumed a bad night in the kitchen maybe.
(4)Quyen N.
Oh my goodness! I'm so in love with Downbeat! I love the vegan options! The last time I was there, I went expressly for the vegan fritters, opted for the banana fritters per my dining partner's preference. Usually if I order a meal, I don't have room for dessert afterwards. So this time - just got the banana fritters and some appetizer fries with tahini gravy/sauce. The fritters were sizable - we could each eat only one - leftovers for me! On another note, If I weren't working and studying so hard, I'd be hitting up the diner during game night and movie night during the week. Just read that Downbeat is offering more mocktails and homemade sodas. Thanks for the great non-alcoholic drinks like ginger brew!
(4)Alice D.
EXCELLENT service AND vegetarian fare at Downbeat. Waitress was super-attentive, refilling my Old-Fashioneds like they were going out of style. She was awesome, and even nursing a new tat. Food was stellar, and I've been veggie for 25 years (okay, the veggie ham WAS cheating - slices I find in produce, but everything else was STELLAR!). Rare find in Honolulu. Glad I Yelped this prior to visit.
(5)Stephanie C.
This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I come here because they offer both meat and vegetarian/vegan options. FINALLY, a place where be both can enjoy a meal. Every time we've eaten here, there has been no left overs. I've tried their BLAT (vegan bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato on sourdough bread), pesto chicken (vegan chicken, pesto, lettuce, tomato, swiss cheese, onions, mayo on sourdough bread), avo sammy (avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber balsamic vinaigrette on whole wheat bread), the teriyaki and american burgers. Each of those with fries are about $10 and let's just say that I have not been let down yet! Last Saturday, my boyfriend ordered their Chunky Monkey milkshake since we've heard that they're a must try. I don't normally drink milk shakes--it's just too sweet for my taste but my boyfriend L O V E D it. I thought it was good but again, on the sweeter side. This is a super cute diner with a red, black and white color theme to it. Good food, good atmosphere and a full bar. Seriously, can't get any better than that!
(5)Squid E.
Today was maybe my 4th visit to Downbeat, but had such a terrible experience with our waiter Kat, that I had to write a review. Overall, including previous experiences, service here is usually quite slow and the burgers are always really dry. Make sure you have some kind of sauce in that burger or use ketchup. I came with a party of 7 today, and waited for awhile for a table, although it would've been faster if they realized one of the tables had already opened up. We also asked if we could wait for a second table, and the waiter responded with a flat-out no. So we crammed into our booth and asked for a chair. Several minutes later I went up again and asked for a chair. Minutes later we saw another table with a chair leave, so we nabbed that, and only then did they come out back with a chair. Once we were ready to pay we asked if we could split our bill and Kat said no. She then went on to give us a lecture about how busy it is and how they don't split bills on First Friday because it takes too much time. Mind you it is 1 o'clock in the afternoon, way before the First Friday crowd comes in. "You must consolidate guys" she says. Kidding me? One of my coworkers puts it on her card and we were about to leave when she noticed they charged us a lot more than we thought it would've been. Ah gratuity, something she never mentioned, and she had already included a tip anyways. So all in all, the whole paying our bill process took probably 3 times as long as just splitting it. Well thanks Kat, I won't be coming back!
(1)David S.
My wife and I stopped here on a whim. The menu is basic diner fare but with vegan options which was interesting, although we are not vegans so it didn't matter to us. I had the Club Sandwich and my wife had the Pastrami Reuben. Both were good, and were pretty large sandwiches (both of us only ate half and took the other half home). My favorite thing from the meal was their Cajun Spiced Fries! Great flavor and just the right heat! The main complaint seems to be service, but we got there when it was very empty, so we did not have a problem.
(4)Kristin H.
We have eaten at Downbeat 3 times (there will be many more, trust me). The first time was because we researched vegan friendly restaurants in the area that weren't all hippy dippy. My (now) wife and I went in July, had a Primo and a vegetarian loco moco, and man, it was LOVE. We knew that while planning our December wedding on the North Shore, we wanted to incorporate the amazingness of Downbeat in the plan somehow. I contacted the diner and Josh was so helpful! He set us up with 3 booths and also helped me find a bakery to work on a surprise cake for my partner. When we arrived onsite, the manager on duty (her name completely escapes me right now) was so NICE and accommodating!! She was excited to show me the cake that was hiding in the back and had also informed me that she had put champagne on ice for us "just in case we wanted to do a toast". We ate, we danced, we toasted, and we enjoyed the entire night. Everyone was SO unbelievably impressed with everything. The surprise cake was a huge hit and we DID have some champagne toasts. The third time we went, it was the night before we left Hawaii and right before we surprised our daughter by taking her to see Wicked. We just couldn't leave without having that vegetarian loco moco one. more. time. Outside of Matsumoto's, Downbeat Diner is a MUST visit when on Oahu.
(5)Eric A.
You'd think I've already of had gone here, cause of the Hotel St. nightlife. NOPE! Small, cozy and run by punk rockers. DIY. Reminds me of joints I've been to in San Francisco, mainly cause a lot of Asians also run amok there. Owner, scene icon and our band has played his shows. Bartender and patrons sitting at the bar, also Honolulu scenesters and DJs. Bartender seemed pretty nice, even if I always snob her and her band at shows. I'm not cool or nor "hipster" (that word is worse than EMO). I'm just very close minded these days. Didn't try the food (I've read and heard mixed) or drink a beer. In fact, I was here to chill with my new band after rehearsal and drink iced water. No consumption through the evening but I want to come back. Oh, and one of the only places that has Primo beer glasses. NICE! 4 stars Downbeat on Hotel Street
(4)Terry K.
I had an appointment not too far from Downbeat so decided to have lunch and then go to my meeting. Not to mention the fact I had a groupon to use which was soon to expire. $8 for a burger? Granted, the meat was lean and it did not have fillers (like bread) so you get 100% ground beef. It was as lean as ground beef can be. Grilled up dry though. Had a side salad; add $2 to meal. I tried their "swiss inn" dressing. It was "ok" but I think I will have ranch dressing next time. Oh, the carrots and cucumbers were cut to a design. Cute! The carrots were cut in the shape of a star... $4.50 for a side of french fries. Considering the size of the order, I guess it is a good bargain. And- it's fried up fresh. Not some fries sitting under a heat lamp I ordered coffee with my meal and our waiteress was kind enough to make a new pot. The coffee was pretty good. Next time, I will try one of their milksakes. A few of the patrons had this giant glass of milkshake.. Looked yummy so maybe next time, I will get a milkshake, basket of fries and Maybe! a sandwich. Might just make it a snack stop, rather than a lunch stop or, as with the rest of the patrons; make Downbeat my last stop, on my way home after a long night in town.
(3)Keopu R.
I'm reviewing Downbeat for what I use it as - a late-night spot to grab some good grub no matter the sobriety level of your party. And with that, I give it 5 stars. One of my favorite wingwomen and I would always hit up Zippy's after a big night in Chinatown for good measure for the next morning. We knew what Downbeat was and had heard the hype, but we always avoided it when we saw the chaos inside and the crowds outside. One night, after I had played some music down the road, we wandered into Downbeat to feed our stomachs that were pretty much eating themselves. It was early enough that we simply walked in and got our choice of tables. Friends had always recommended the veggie burger (which is vegan) when I was mostly vegetarian, so I had to try it. Since the first bite, I've been hooked. Add the order of fries seasoned with cajun spices, and I'm in diner heaven. I pretty much uniformly stick to the teriyaki veggie burger with real cheese - they have vegan cheese if you need - because it's so damn good. Treat the waitstaff well and they'll treat you just fine. Just keep in mind that they basically have to babysit half the restaurant after 1a and it'll make the sometimes long wait a lot easier. We've always had good service. We've made Downbeat a standard. I love that it reminds me of diners I used to frequent late at night in other cities, like Clarke's in Chicago or Grill in Tucson. It'll continue to be a standard as long as we continue to enjoy our Chinatown nights.
(5)Ryan Y.
Walking in here, it really had a... hipster vibe (newsflash!). It didn't take away from the overall experience, however. The TVs were playing Flashdance (1983 version... of course), which was unexpected. The table was wobbly, but we managed. The service was prompt (more prompt than some of the other places I ate at), and the waitress was excellent. I had a Carnivore burger and some fries and it was fine. It was nothing great, but it wasn't anything horrible. It was good. Reading the other reviews, I guess we were either lucky to have this waitress, or we followed the little instructions on the bottom of the menu that said to inform the waitress if you want separate checks before ordering, which I thought was fair. Either way, I guess it's unfortunate that some people had that sort of rude service, but we never experienced anything like that so obviously I can't comment on that. Overall, good experience. I'm curious about seeing how these other servers are..
(4)Lora H.
This place is quickly becoming one of my favorite work lunch spots. So you have to walk down Hotel St. and smell the icky-ness of urine and what not to get here, but once inside, it's the cutest little diner. Nice eclectic vibe. And my #1 reason for loving this place???? Breakfast all day long!!! Who doesn't want to eat breakfast food at lunch?! Or dinner for that matter!!! Omelette and toast for lunch - Heck ya! Haven't really tried too much here. Had the Greek salad and my co-worker has had the chef salad. It's not anything fancy, pretty basic. But nonetheless, good. This place is definitely not about the bells and whistles, it's just food. I've seen a lot of people ordering the sandwiches and burgers and those look pretty good. And another big bonus.... vegetarian options. I'm not a vegetarian, but on occassion, I'm about getting some healthy food so this place really gives you a plethora of options! As far as service...eh... not bad, not good. Usually there is just one person there serving the whole restaurant.
(4)Casey M.
First time here and I'm very impressed. The atmosphere is very modern and relaxed. Plus the food is delicious. Their vegan options are also very delicious. I'd recommend Downbeat Diner to anyone.
(5)Shatina L.
Chinatown. Not many places to eat that dont have an Asian influence to it. Reminds me of a diner in the 50s. Booth seating with very cool fabric. Where's the jukebox hidden? Some movie playing on the overhead drowned out by the music playing. I dont mind it much. I am assuming it was because it was a weeknight that the lounge was slow when we entered but business picked up by the time we left. Surprisingly, it was nearly 10. They have a wide selection of drinks - alcoholic (Guinness shake) and non - as well as other things. I cant comment on entrees as my main goal today was for the dessert. I opted for the Orange Chocolate Chip cheesecake. I would highly recommend this for those who want a semi-not heavy dessert. A graham cracker crust speckled and lined with chocolate chips. Amidst the cheesecake base lies the dormant citrus flavor, as if memories of the sweet orange juice you had for breakfast are suddenly infusing with the dessert. Not an overpowering flavor, rather lingering in the back of your mouth as if tantalizing your mouth ever so nonchalantly. A mere $5 I will go back just to try the rest of their desserts - apple fritters, ice cream sundae with brownie, ice cream sandwich, salted chocolate chip cookies, Vegan brownie, and other flavors of cheesecake. For those of you with an ID (island discount, that is) card, the prize for flashing this card is free fries with an order of a burger. I may be quoting the deal wrong but bottom line is : buy burger, get fries free. I will definately come here again.
(5)Suz S.
Such happy vibes. Good cheap food. A happy divey bar. Whiskey Wednesdays always have fun creative cheap drinks.
(4)Khristine V.
The food is delicious and its great for people watching. I think its known as a hipster bar (and yes I did see a few) but I saw people from all sorts of walks of life getting their grub on here. I'm a sucker for milk shakes and they had loads of flavors. You must order the volcano fries (seasoned garlic fries smothered in melted cheese and gravy!) to share as an appetizer. I ordered a Otto Motto which was a chicken version of the loco moco. My portion was a good size but all of my other friend's entrees had huge servings. I had a vegan, a pescetarian, and a friend on a no-carb diet, come with me so we were that table with all the substitutions, however our hostess was super easy going with it and did a great job checking in on us. If you are a vegan, this is a great place to get some food as they have specialized vegan dishes and desserts. After you eat a meal, they have a full on bar at the back of the restaurant. We went on a Friday night around 9 pm and it was full but not crowded. It is on the strip of Chinatown where all the bars are and even though there were loads of people out parking and getting to the diner was a bit dodgy. However other than that I highly recommend you get your grub on here!
(4)Victoria C.
WORST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER. And no I am not exaggerating. I don't know how this place even got such a high rating because I don't think I'll ever step foot in this restaurant again. Warning you... long rant. So my friend was visiting from the mainland and my other friend and I wanted to take her somewhere that she hasn't been before. We were thinking of going to Eat the Streets but didn't want the hassle of looking for parking and we were more in a sit down dining in at restaurant mood so we could talk and catch up. Since we were already in downtown I thought of checking out Downbeat Diner since I've been wanting to try this place for awhile and the reviews seemed to be pretty good. Plus I was kind of in the mood for something a little greasy :P Both of my friends were down to try this place and we were getting all hyped and excited based off of the pics from Yelp. When we arrived, the place was pretty packed but we were able to sit at the table by the entrance. Thought it was a pretty neat looking place... very hipster like I guess. Took us awhile for our server to come and help us (who BTW was not very welcoming... just sayin). The items on the menu looked good and we wanted to order just about everything since we were starving. While sitting and looking over menu I felt something crawl on my foot. I look down and it's a COCKROACH!!!!! I almost had a heart attack because I am deathly afraid of roaches. I freaked out and put my feet up. The roach started crawling to the other side of the restaurant and one of the customers saw it and stomped on it. Then he had to shoo it out the door. I think I had just about lost my appetite. That wasn't the first cockroach encounter though. We saw 2 more... one which was crawling up the wall and we were paranoid that it would drop on our table or one of us. I literally crawled up into a ball and put my feet up on the chairs because I was so terrified to have a roach on me again. This place is a dump. ANYWAY, after getting over the whole roach thing, we decided to order & share a loco moco, teri burger, chef salad and garlic fries. AND we were really set on ordering a milkshake. However when our waiter came he seemed very unenthusiastic about us ordering a shake and wouldn't even help us suggest one that was good when we asked. It's almost as if he didn't want us to order it. He warned us ahead of time that it would probably take 15 min since he's the only one that's makes it plus he's the only server... UGH. Well we kindly told him sure we don't mind the wait. Since we were being indecisive about what shake we wanted he said he would come back. WELLLL... when he did come back (actually we had to wave our hands to get his attention) and were ready to order our vanilla shake with a shot of rum he rudely told us that he's not making milkshakes due to how busy it is and because he wants "everyone to be happy." UMm... happy?? well what about us?? we're not happy!!! It really seemed like he was having a bad day or something but still it's YOUR JOB. He had no customer service skills whatsoever. Well we didn't want to b*tch and complain since he looked like he wasn't having it today so we settled on an alcoholic drink. I got the strawberry lemonade cocktail which was pretty good and tasted just like a strawberry lemonade. Ok so now on to the food..... based on appearance it looked really good. We were so hungry since it took so long that we couldn't wait to dig in. Unfortunately, it was all just appearance because the food was horrible. The burgers were burnt, dried and tasteless. The gravy on the loco moco was weird and the rice was like Uncle Ben's rice or something. It was gross. Everything... well except the salad and fries were okay but nothing outstanding. I'm pretty disappointed in this place but maybe we had high expectations. I mean I think our dining experience would of been a *tad* bit better if our server was at least nice to us and didn't look like he hated his job. Even asking to put cheese on our fries was a huge ordeal for him. Seriously, how hard is it to put cheese on top??? Maybe I should of gone back to the kitchen and done it myself. I think I would have rather gone to McDonald's than eat at this dumpster.
(1)Kit T.
Comfort food for the 21st century! Delicious, clever, conscious. After three visits, I can say without hesitation that I really love this place! Breakfast anytime, great burgers and bacon, crispy-to-die-for fries, an eclectic full bar menu including absinthe, good rye whisky and some great bottled beers (I never did get into PBR, but rock on, hipstars), and a friendly ambience. A little bar/counter with stools and nice roomy booths, high ceilings, cartoons or other fun feeds on the bar TV. Promotes local scene and music. Most anything on the menu can be made vegan. Not just vegetarian, not just "theres no meat in it, only chicken" - really actually vegan. No dairy, no honey, no egg, no animal products at all. Now picture a cheeseburger and shake fitting that description. Or a loco moco. Wow! I am a fallen vegan, but I know first hand how hard it is to go out and get a decent meal - you burn out on salad and unadorned bread. Meaty or meatless, drinky crow or teatotalling tomcat, this rocks.
(5)Cullen K.
Went here for our third anniversary as a surprise for my boyfriend after finding this place on yelp. He's vegetarian and im lactose intolerant so sometimes it's really hard for us to eat the same things. When I found out this place is vegan everything and vegan dessert and vegan cheese and vegan wings and vegan loco moco and VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN!!! It was literally the PERFECT place to take him. We were completely blown away by the food. A miiiiiiiiillion times better than we expected. God I can't get the tastes of those wings and fries out of my mouth lol. And the BLAT? SCORE! I didn't even know vegan bacon exists lol. I just can't even describe how amazing this place is. My favorite part was the fact that I could actually order dessert without debating if being bloated and all that nasty stuff(lactose intolerance) will be worth it. Vegan ice cream AND brownie?? Fawwwkkyuurrrrrhh! And to top it all off, I'm sorry but I have no idea what the complaints about service are all about. We had 2 waitresses one black hair and one blonde and both were so awesome. Affordable amazing food, cheap as F*** drinks and awesome service! It was the first of many times we will be coming here. THANK YOU DOWNBEAT FOR BEING AWESOME!
(5)Valentine S.
This was by far our favorite bar on the island. The Downbeat has a relaxed atmosphere, great drinks, and hands down the best bartender on Oahu. I know I can't name names but she made a specialty drink called the unicorn. Not sure what was in it but that and all the other drinks she made us were awesome. They were classics like old fashions and manhattans, but with just enough of their own twist to be unique without veering too far away from the original. If you're in Chinatown I highly recommend stopping in for a drink.
(5)Tze M.
Since my friends and I were getting off from work, and they serve vegan, we decided to check it out. I had bought one of those $5 for $10 deals online, thought I would try it since it was a place where my vegan friend can find a meal on the menu. I didn't find anything special about the teriyaki burger I had ordered. I heard it was the one to try.. and I'm not a fan of their fries either. I think because they had just opened for business, the service was not up to par. We waited for water, our menus, to order, our food. My friend ordered take out when we placed our order and we waited an hour after we were done eating. So we had them check and it seemed they had lost the order. So we ordered a vegan brownie ala mode while we waited, and that was pretty good. I've been to that location before when it was a Vietnamese restaurant, and still looks the same, just a few cosmetics things changed, like the bar stools and the booths been recovered to something cool. They are located in Chinatown on Hotel Street, next to Mini Garden. Parking is either metered street parking or private lot. For the prices, the service and the food...I don't plan on going back again.
(2)Angie S.
I am here 2-3 times a week. I always get the side salad (it's huge) or jalapeno poppers(they are so amazing). There is always the same 2 girls working, and they are really down to earth and give good sincere quality service.
(5)Matt B.
Great Reuben sandwiches! This is a Great place to eat if you are in China town. They have vegan options for just about everything so bring your vegetarian friends along.
(4)Nicole K.
Perfect place for the late night munchies you might have. I really wanted the cheese cube pupu. But the cook said they were all out, so I opted for the mozzarella sticks. Not bad, but I really wanted the cheese cubes. And of course I had to try the green eggs and ham. The eggs are for sure green. They put pesto in it (which I love). It's a weird color, and I felt weird eating it because EGGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT COLOR. But it tasted awesome!! Comes with toast, but the waiter let me substitute it with rice :) Gotta have my rice. And it was Movie Monday. They were showing Donnie Darko, and I wanted a booth against the far right wall but they were all taken. So we sat in a booth right under the area where they show the movie, so I had a hard time watching it. I was sad considering this is one of my top 5 favorite movies. Service was pretty fast, and the wait staff is always friendly.
(4)Jody S.
Downbeat Diner has a cool vibe. It has vegan options which make me happy. A few coworkers raved about this hole in the wall located in Chinatown so was stoked when we went to eat there. However, the experience left me something to be desired. Service was just okay. Our waitress appeared and disappeared like a ninja, you really never knew when she would show up. When we tried to order, they had no French fries, they had no veggie burgers and they had no milkshakes....what the heck?! Two words--go shopping! Three more words--restock your cupboards. HELLO....do hope to be back and hopefully the next time will be great.
(3)Gina B.
Downbeat Diner, I really want to love and remember you because the food and service is good and not because you're easy and open late nights. But for the moment your availability is all you've got going for you and I'm not sure if that's enough to keep me interested. Since their opening, I've been to Downbeat at least 8 times and at different times of the day. Of the 7 of my 8 visits, I ordered one of their various burgers and I think inconsistency is my first complaint. Only once was my burger cooked the way I requested: medium rare. The other times it was medium or well done. Even though I like my meat red, I was able to overlook it not being cooked as requested since I was not unhappy with the taste and size for the price. On my 8th visit there, I decided to venture past the burger section of their menu. I ordered the tofu scramble with hash browns and bacon. I thought the tofu would be scrambled with something but no, I just got pan fried tofu. The server also tried to serve me fa-con (fake bacon). Instead of bringing the correct order to the table, she explained that even though she placed the right order, the cook made the vegan bacon. I understand how one might be confused by the order but I still wanted the real bacon so I had to wait another 10 minutes for that to be made. Unhappy with fried tofu, I decided I needed to order a burger because I didn't want to leave unsatisfied and angry. When I ordered it, the server gave me a heads-up that it'd be a 20 to 30 minute wait. I looked around at the 4 to 5 other tables - some already with their food. I didn't understand the reason for the long wait but my dining companion guessed that they only have one frying pan and they cook using a hotplate. That would be the only acceptable explanation. Thankfully, Downbeat has a full bar. I went on a Thursday night and well drinks were $3.
(2)Michelle L.
I think that little strip of Hotel Street in between Nuuanu and Smith shouldn't be considered Chinatown anymore because it's turning into anything but. I'm so happy a new restaurant is around that is not Mini Garden that is opened late (real late) and won't charge an arm and leg for food. Downbeat is definitely eclectic but that's what makes it fun! The employees are really friendly and if you happen to sit at the bar with the other patrons, they are really chill as well. The food isn't out of this world amazing but it definitely hits the spot. On my first visit, I got my meat patty switched with my friend's and it was dry. I didn't care because I was too drunk to comprehend on what I was stuffing into my face. A trend I did notice after a few visits are their fries tend to be on the softer side. I love crispy fries and these don't really cut it for me but being a potato lover, I still eat them. Downbeat is opened until 3AM everyday except for Friday and Saturday which is until 4AM. I highly recommend this diner for those looking to sober up or if you're in the area craving a yummy burger.
(4)Chad Y.
Downbeat Diner is definitely located in a place where you might be if you were down on your luck. However if the mood for food should strike as you are parlaying in First Friday activities or you simply happen to be in the downtown or Chinatown neighborhood, Downbeat offers some good food that isn't Chinese! They offer a good menu, good service, and a nice ambiance. The menu isn't wide reaching by any means, but it makes up for it in its stellar menu items. Whether you want breakfast, sandwiches, or a burger, it will have something will aim to please. Is the loco moco the best on the island? I beg to disagree with Hawaii 5-0. It's not bad, however it didn't truly wow me. The BBQ chicken sandwich had great flavors with just the right amount of heat, however the toasted bread was almost rubbery and just a let down. The burgers were good and the buns nicely toasted with just the right amount of char while staying moist. Let's be honest...dessert is hard to mess up and is the one area where Downbeat shines. Their shakes are quite good, thick with just the right amount of flavor, whether it be chocolate or vanilla. While the banana fritter shines quite nicely with just the right amount of batter to the ripe, but firm banana. Service is a bit lackluster, there is no way around it. It always has appeared that they are under-staffed, even when they haven't been that busy. does that mean service is bad? No, just a little bit un-attentive. Parking is the one pain. It is always not available in Chinatown, however if you are willing to spring for it, the garage at Marks Garage is just up the street and of course there are municipal lots available in the neighborhood. One tip: Avoid when there is a first Friday, however it does offer a good food option if you are there!
(3)Sarah L.
We ended up here because Nextdoor was totally dead. Wish we never came here. They didn't have the beer I wanted, apparently it was sold out. Which is understandable since I was trying to order hipster tall can PBR. What made this place suck was the fact that they took forever and a fucking day to make my friend's egg sandwich. It doesn't take thirty minutes to make an egg sandwich...what are they doing? Slaughtering the pretend pigs for the vegan bacon back there? Get the fuck outta here. Ain't nobody got time for that! I didn't order shit from this spot. Thank goodness, or else I would have been dying of old age by the time it got to my table. Gave it two stars because, the place looks cool, and the waitress was pretty cool. Other than that go to fucking Jack In The Box.
(2)J Z.
I go there for the vegan fare - and so far, I'm happy! I only venture there in the daytime because let's face it - it's in Chinatown - and not somewhere I want to be at night (unless Chinese New Year block party - that's a whole 'nuther story!) Since I don't drink, I'm more than happy with the giant basket of fries and bbq, etc. vegan sandwiches, breakfasts, entrees & salads. :-) The grilled cheese needs work, however - but all in all - I recommend this to the adventurous vegans/vegetarians & on-the-fencers out there!
(5)Timothy P.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Let the new year be rung in by a brand new baby business on hotel street! For the longest time, Manifest was quite lonely on the other side of the street of Bar35, thirtyninehotel, and NextDoor. This is pretty genius; these bars needed a late night diner joint - considering the closest up until now was Liliha Bakery. Downbeat is really cute and swank. If you ever been to Mercury Bar, this is the exact same eclectic crowd that Betsy Johnson, herself, would wet her panties over. Joyous punk, ska, rockabilly clientele fill this diner with their drunken bohemian laughter and murmur. The decor is very classic americana diner meets the circus. The menu: Burgers, sammiches, loco moco, french toast for around 8 bucks. All of the menu has a vegetarian option. They advertise vegan on their menu, but I have my doubts because of things like "vegan bacon" paired with swiss cheese (NOT VEGAN). I'll need to go back for clarification on whether they have truly vegan options or not. Our waiter, none other than whats-his-face-from-86List (Josh?) whom I've bought cheesecake from at Otto Cake. He takes our order. I order a western burger and a 5 dollar shake. He informs me they are out of bacon and he can substitute "vegan bacon." Fine with me. My friends order Loco Mocos. In a few minutes he brings out... icecream-less shakes because they are all out. He informs us that he'll charge us only $3 and walks away. WTF NO. The appeal of a 5 dollar shake is because it is a FIVE DOLLAR SHAKE. Hasn't anyone seen Pulp Fiction? Geez. 30 minutes must go by. Perhaps even longer. Our waiter suddenly becomes the bartender and is no longer waiting upon us. We find another waiter to add fries to our order. We see him tell our waiter-now-bartender. Another lifetime later - a waitress we've never seen before brings out my burger and two loco mocos come out with no fries. We inform her and she tries to quickly fetch us the fries. In the meantime, lets talk about the burger. DRY DENSE UNSEASONED OVERCOOKED. Where was the promised BBQ sauce? Also- my vegan bacon was completely missing. Same went for the loco moco burgers, but also the eggs were overcooked too! A few minutes later the fries come out. And we've all seen Mean Girls - when you accidentally say something cruel it's called word vomit. I totally had word vomit. "I've seen corpses that look better than this." and I wasn't kidding. The fries weren't cooked in hot enough oil. No crisp, completely soaked in the oil, and GREY in color. We didn't even bother touching this. Ideally this review should be 2.5 stars, because I really think this place is necessary in this area and love the vibe. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they had terrible opening night jitters. --- DOWNGRADED! After writing this review, they decided to write plenty of phoney reviews, one of which called my review lame. Not very professional, Downbeat!
(1)Riana S.
Alright, I've been here three times and I really really want to love this place but...I'm having a hard time :( The first time I came here with Thomas O. the service was okay, for some reason I felt like the waitress was judging me? But anyway, came here to eat, not be judged. I ordered the teri burger and it was okay. They didn't have milk, only vegan milkshakes so it made the chocolate milkshake kind of runny and not as creamy. Overall it was a pretty expensive meal for okay taste. To burn time before an event at Next Door, Kristen O. and I came here to eat dessert. We ordered the mac-nut brownie with ice cream and it was super delicious and they nuked the brownie :) the waitress was very nice and attentive (I believe the singer from Narwhal?). My eyes were hungier so I ended up not eating the whole thing. It's better to split it between two people. This dish was worth it for its price. A few days ago I came here with Nicole K. after Bar35. She ordered the green eggs & ham and I ordered the BLAT. My sandwich was mediocre, the only great part about it was the avocado, it could have done with more bacon (come on, bread is thick! BACONNN!) I had a couple bites of Nicole's pesto eggs and they were really yummy. I think I'm just ordering the wrong things. I'll keep trying haha.
(3)Jasmind T.
Love Downbeat! Its a [slightly] cheaper alternative to the eateries on Hotel St, and the only diner! As a native East Coaster I crave diner food after a night of drinking. I like the decor and vibe of this place, and the fact that they have a full bar and specialty drinks. The quesadillas and fries (volcano fries sans cheese being my fave) are really good, and so are the burgers. The staff is young, friendly, artsy and just cool (NOTE: Do not eat here if you're visibly intoxicated, they don't like that, lol). The only thing that prevents me from giving it 5 stars is...WHERE'S THE BREAKFAST?! I like pancakes and bacon at 1am...I'm sure I'm not the only one, this is a diner after all. I do really like Downbeat, great place to eat before or after a night out on Hotel St.
(4)Patrice D.
I thought this place was awesome! I had the vegan chili and rice. Absolutely love how they have vegan options for everything. Will definitely be going here again!
(5)Vivian H.
So we tried out Downbeat Diner & Lounge because 1) I had a Groupon & 2) it was listed in Best of Honolulu (Honolulu magazine). It is on Hotel street so your best bet is to park in the municipal parking lot (if you're not going to be there late). We get there and shown a booth but then we weren't greeted or given menus for about 10 minutes. Now if we had just sat down and no one saw us, then I'd understand but someone who worked there pointed out the booth to us! We both ordered the American burger with grilled onions (mine sans the house sauce) & an order of gravy fries. As the burgers are Big Island free-range beef, I was looking forward to it as I find the taste of this beef is just so yummy. The burgers came out and I wasn't quite blown away by it. It was good but not "OMG I want to stuff my face with this all the time" good. I had also ordered a vanilla shake and it took FOREVER. My first inquiry on it revealed that she forgot to put the order in. My second inquiry on it when I was nearly done with my burger revealed that she made it but forgot to give it to me. The shake was good and thankfully she comped it as it was melted by the time I got it. Overall, I think that this place is probably much more appealing when you've already been out all night and had a few to drink. At which point you won't notice the long wait and just O.K. food. The saving grace was due to the comped shake & my Groupon, I only had to leave a tip.
(2)Gayle S.
Stopped in here for a late night snack with a friend... we were in Chinatown, and had just missed the bus we were trying to catch... with an hour until the next bus, we dipped into Downbeat to split a quick sandwich. The turkey club was pretty awesome... we were just drinking water, since we had imbibed a bit much earlier (I don't even remember where we were earlier that night lol)... Took a while for someone to come take our order, but it seems that there was a bit of a rush, and we were the last ones in. When we ordered we mentioned that we didn't have a lot of time, which she took to heart! She brought our food out packed to go, so we ate what we could (I finished my portion, but my friend is a light eater), and since we had a box and bag already, we closed it back up and ran back out to the bus! And guess what? We made it! :) Thanks Downbeat!!
(4)Alicia D.
I really like downbeat. In fact i love down beat. I usually go here to start off my night and end of my night. A great range of diner food. They also serve good drinks on the kitchen side. Good place to go during happy hour as well. They have a really great selection for your vegan friends. They have very nice staff who are so patient even when your one of the annoying drunk ones in the place. Its always very clean, even the bathrooms. Open till 4am which rocks. Go there to satisfy all your cravings. nom
(5)Jill B.
Finally some real food on Hotel St! I was at the brink of starvation and the friend I was with suggested we try "that new organic vegan free range chicken diner across from 39Hotel". Instantly intrigued, I readily agreed. Even as we walked into Downbeat, the modern diner decor and cozy feel was enough to have me praying to the gods that the food and service would be up to snuff enough for me to make this a regular stop on my Chinatown circuit. We sat at the bar and our very friendly bartender - Serena - gave us menus and gave us the breakdown about their alcohol policy. (Assumably until they get their liquor license?) The alcohol is free but they do ask for a VOLUNTARY donation. There are a few different beer choices and liquor choices but the mixers list is pretty short but it's only been open a couple of weeks so I'm sure these things will change in time. Anyway, back to the food. Even though I usually hate gravy, I was really hungry and I do like eggs, rice, and hamburger steak so I ordered the loco moco with gravy on the side. My friend ordered the BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Tomato) with vegan bacon with garlic fries. While we waited for our food my friend had a beer and I chatted with the bartender and one of the servers. Some of it was haring the story of running out of food and being beyond slammed during their grand opening on New Year's Eve - a bold choice for a grand opening since it's usually such a circus EVERYWHERE on NYE. Needless to say, I'm glad I didn't discover this place on such an off night. Our food arrived pretty promptly and I dug in immediately. The loco moco was great! I'm super picky about loco moco and, as mentioned usually HATE gravy but their very well seasoned patty over the hapa rice and eggs paired perfectly with their gravy (which was white gravy, not brown). The tried my friend's BLAT which was also great. The bread was toasted well and the vegan bacon was pretty good. Plus, they have avocado! And it's not depressing slivers of avocado but still sliced thin enough to fit in your mouth. The garlic fries were OK but a little on the soggy side. After inhaling my food I didn't have room for dessert but I'm definitely coming back to this place again... maybe just for dessert if that part of the menu is catered by Otto! Overall this place is great! They seem to be working out some kinks and working with a strong learning curve but I strongly suspect that things will only get better at Downbeat. The prices are great (all entrees are between $7 & $8), the food is amazing and the ingredients are a little on the healthier side. Plus, they're actually open 6 days a week and late enough to catch the post-bar crowd! I'm interested to see how next month's First Friday goes for them but I know I'll DEFINITELY be stopping by again (probably several times) before that happens.
(4)Misty P.
I don't know about the food, but we only stopped in here after visiting Bar 35 and got a Guiness and Sailor Jerry milkshake. Totally unique and yummy! Service was friendly and fast and even though we didn't order food, our waiter brought us all waters and consistently refilled the glasses. We didn't feel rushed or anything. I'd definitely come back again to try their food when I have more time.
(4)Tori B.
Truly disappointing! I've heard a lot of hype about this restaurant and have been meaning to check it out, but my experience here was lousy. Upon entering, my boyfriend and I stood there in the middle of the restaurant for quite a while until the server shouted from the back, "sit anywhere!" Not a very welcoming start. If this is your restaurant's policy, at least post a sign; don't make me stand there while all the other restaurant patrons stare at me. I ordered the vegetarian monte cristo, which was actually very good, but pretty oily. My boyfriend, however, ordered the teri burger, which was probably the sorriest looking teri burger I'd ever seen. He said it was not cooked very well either. I guess since vegetarian and vegan is their specialty, this translates to an inability to cook meat well. Our server, though, was the ultimate kicker. We came in late on a Sunday night and it was not very busy at all. She had maybe four or five tables to wait and a few bar patrons. She seemed much more interested in talking and laughing with the people at the bar than serving us, and was really curt and disinterested when she did. She never bothered to clear our plates even after we'd finished eating and brought the dessert to our table. I'd understand if you were swamped and happened to forget about us, but it was essentially a ghost town, and she was totally aloof. Anyway, the only thing that kept this experience from being a one star rating was my veg monte cristo. Otherwise, Downbeat Diner left me disappointed and I won't be back again.
(2)Gemma R.
Came by last night before heading out to the crowds at First Friday. The place does have a diner feel to it, the chairs are awesome and we had a great time trying to figure out who everyone was based on their photos. They carded us at the door which was odd because it's a restaurant and there shouldn't be an age limit to a restaurant. We were all obviously over 21 but still, kinda weird. We asked the waitress how to get a table and she told us it was first come first serve. Wrong. We sat at the bar and then a table opened up and the door guy said that the table was already taken and he had a list! Which he failed to tell us when we walked in. Oh well, back to the bar. We were seated shortly after so it wasn't a big deal. The bartender was having a hard time with a groupon so if you purchased a groupon, make sure to tell your server prior to ordering so it your problem doesn't hold up everyone's drinking! lol We had 3 vodka tonics & a lychee sour at the bar which was $18. Awesome. Had the burgers, fries, blat and the mix appetizer thing. everything was pretty good, but we were drunk so I probably could of ate styrofoam and would of been happy. The waitresses were very attentive and refilled our drinks/got us more drinks constantly. I had a great time and if I'm ever in the area, I'd go again. Over all, it was a cheap pre-party dinner and an overall good time. Actually, I do have to go back. I didn't have dessert. lol I love the whole regular/vegan menu which is something I'm really looking forward to trying.
(5)Evan B.
This place is awesome. I like supporting local places, and when I was in Honolulu, this was a favorite spot to stop. Volcano fries are very tasty, and the atmosphere is chill. The music is good, and the movies on mute are equally enjoyable. I recommend this place to all my friends.
(5)jeannine s.
Downbeat Diner is where Americana meets counter culture. Nestled on Hotel Street between Mini Garden and Pynk, is one of Chinatown's newer additions open from 11 am to 4 pm nearly every day. You can either sink into one of a number of booths upholstered with mugs of the famous and infamous: Frida Kahlo, Billy Idol, Mark Twain, Bruddah Iz and Freddy Mercury or pull up to a seat at their well-stocked bar. Breathe and you can smell rockabilly in the air. Burgers come in two forms either Big Island free range beef or Vegan and are prepared either American, Western or Teriyaki style. For $2 more, you can get them with a side order of fries. And for $5 more, you can get them with a frosty shake, either regular or vegan. I enjoyed my second visit far more than the first. I thought the Teriyaki burger was an improvement over the American version I had a few weeks before. The fries were actually more tasty and not soggy as they were during my first visit. And, while I did enjoy a spiked Ginger Brew, I loved the hell out of the Rogue Dead Guy Ale, imported from Portland. These also are instant classics. Hands down my favorite thing would be the basket of fritters. If I had to go out for just dessert, I'd split a basket of apple fritters with caramel sauce with a couple of friends. It's too decadent for two and split among a foursome, it's quite perfect. The mac nut brownie ice cream sandwich is good but not as special. The service is also much better than the first visit. So, some kinks are getting worked out. We're definitely coming back and bringing friends next time.
(4)Nancy S.
I first tried this place after a night out with friends in Honolulu. We wanted a late night snack and boy did this place hit the spot. One of our friend's is vegetarian so it was nice that you could get practically anything on the menu as a vegan option. We had the vegan hot wings. These were the best non-meat wings I have had in my life. The flavor was amazing and the texture was far from all the rubbery meat substitutes I have had in the past. The bacon burger was also very delicious and flavorful. This will be somewhere to stop whenever I get to visit the island.
(5)Sajili B.
Oh Downbeat. I haven't been here since I first moved to Hawaii in Oct 2011. Yea, not too long ago, I just wanted it to sound like that. Anyway, my go to is their fresh ginger brew drink they serve. It's freakin' delicious. First time I went I got fries and a burger. It was goood. The most recent time was on a Tuesday, 1st of the month, I had to do it right. I was scrambling to find a place that was open past 9:30pm that was hip, had good food on a Tuesday night of all nights. You know why. Anyway, I was surprised they did Taco Tuesday (and very thankful) because she likes mexican food. Yea, it's not a mexi-restaurant and you'll be hard-pressed to find that in Hawaii, but it sufficed. (No mexican food spot is open in Hawaii past 9 or 9:30pm on a weekday, wth right? Spoiled LA kid.) I got a bacon quesadilla (delicious), their nachos, and she got the tacos. They freshly made it into a hard taco and it became vaseline greasy by the third shot. So that was a minor fail but a winning night. Chill, hip environment that you can take friends, special friends, and whoever to. You got the hipster and artsy scene in Chinatown, so if you are a transplant, you'll feel at home (esp. if you are from LA, the Bay, etc).
(4)Keri B.
It's nice when I am traveling to other parts of the country to have some vegan options. The BLAT was great and the vegan chicken wings were good for sharing. Love the vibe here
(4)Mary A.
Visiting with adult kids who are Vegan/vegetarian. Looking for some options and found this cute diner. Food was very good. We had Vegan Chili Cheese Fries, vegan Teri Burger, milkshakes, and vegan loco moco. All were excellent. Service was good. Really enjoyed everything about this place
(5)Kelli S.
I recently paid my first visit to Downbeat Diner & Lounge with my parents because I heard pretty good reviews about the Chinatown eatery. Granted, I don't like going into Chinatown because I always get stressed about parking and everything feels claustrophobic. But eating at Downbeat was totally worth it. Of course, parking was hard to navigate/find, and we ended up parking in a lot close by, but it cost $10 for parking. Super pricy; I would try to find another lot next time, even if it means walking a bit further. When we got to Downbeat around noon on a Sunday, I was surprised to see that the diner was relatively small. In fact, it was all full when we went - all the tables were taken but there were some seats open at the bar. One of the ladies was dining alone and was gracious enough to move to the bar so my family could enjoy the table. How nice! Our server was super friendly and knowledgeable of the menu; she answered all of our questions and provided excellent service. During our meal, the power also went out (and stayed out during the remainder of our time at Downbeat), but they were actually still able to cook all the food. Good thing we were seated next to a window so we could actually enjoy the sunlight! I would definitely return to Downbeat to enjoy other brunch items, but I would also want to order items from their regular lunch/dinner menu. Here's what we got: "Chicken and Waffles": This chicken and waffles dish is only available for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it's definitely worth trying if you haven't taken a gander before. I had no idea what to expect before trying it, but this is one of my favorite chicken and waffles entrees that you can find on the island. It includes housemade deep fried country chicken breast (or vegan chicken) on a golden, malted waffle and it comes with housemade gravy and maple syrup. This is one of the few chicken and waffles entrees I've gotten that includes maple syrup and a country gravy. The slab of chicken breast was huge; there was definitely a 1:1 chicken-to-waffle ratio. And for only $9.50, I thought this was a pretty generous portion. I drizzled the maple syrup over half the waffle and the country gravy over half the waffle. This was seriously a match made in heaven. The chicken was tender on the inside and it was perfectly breaded. The waffle was sweet, soft and moist. But the medley of syrup/gravy was what made this combo a winner. The syrup gave the entrée that extra sweetness, while the country gravy was savory and thick to provide the perfect balance. "Loco Moco": My dad said that he still preferred the "Loco Moco" at Big City Diner, but the one at Downbeat was decent. It included a Big Island beef patty or vegan patty, Downbeat gravy and two eggs over easy over brown rice. Perhaps he didn't like this version as much because of that brown rice (as compared to white rice). But my dad prefers dark gravy to be in a "Loco Moco," so I think this lighter gravy made the dish so-so for him. But to me, it looked delicious. It was smaller than some loco mocos go (only $9) so he was still hungry afterwards, I think, but this loco moco seemed satisfactory to me. I'll just have to try it for myself one day. "Monte Cristo": My mom ordered this dish, and I'm always on the lookout for a good "Monte Cristo," so this one was totally Kelli-approved. It entailed a French toast sandwich filled with ham and melted swiss cheese. The layer of ham and swiss cheese was really thin, which was good because this sandwich didn't feel overly greasy or heavy because it wasn't super thick. I did like the billowy, puffier French toast bread that was used. My mom really enjoyed her sandwich and I wouldn't hesitate to order it for myself one day. "Volcano Fries": I do love loaded fries, and these certainly sounded bomb. They feature a basket of fries with garlic, Cajun seasoning, cheese and gravy. My stomach tends to have a love-hate relationship with gravy, but everything else in this savory side sounds awesome ... especially that garlic and Cajun seasoning. "Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae": This dessert features two cookies topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream, and you get the option of having it with or without nuts. I've recently been into desserts that provide a balance of salty-sweet textures/flavors, so this one sounds like it's up my alley. "Downbeat Mac and Cheese": I do love a good mac and cheese dish, so I'm curious to see what this one consists of. You do have the option of adding bacon, sausage or Poncho sausage for a slight fee; I would probably want to add bacon to add some more salty flavors to the mac and cheese. I'm not very hard to please when it comes to mac and cheese, so I look forward to trying Downbeat's version of the comfort food one day.
(4)Pam M.
I've been coming to Downbeat Diner on & off for a while for lunch. In the past I've had their chicken pesto sandwich & loco novo dishes & wanted to try their Chicken & Waffles after seeing it mentioned in Frolic Hawaii recently. I didn't see it on their lunch menu & upon inquiry, our server stated that it's only available on Sunday. My back up choice was their Mac & Cheese $5.00 (and I added the bacon option $1.50). It was pretty good, rich, creamy & satisfying. I couldn't finish it, probably because I had a chai milkshake $5.50 (which was also awesome) so my Mac & Cheese leftovers are in my mini fridge. Their prices are pretty low. Everything our group ordered was under $10 & my co workers both had sandwiches or burgers & both items were only $8. Service is quick & friendly.
(4)Damon P.
A wonderful old school diner with new school vibe, or vice versa. Food is awesome, people are cool. In the heart of chinatown. My favorite place for a burger. The cheeseburger is the best in town. Late night hours are a huge plus. PARKING: metered street - free after 6 PM, municipals
(5)Nishone W.
Finding delicious vegetarian/vegan food in Hawaii is unbelievable. We ate here 2x during our stay. First round was bloody Marys, veg moco loco, and veg club sandwich. All delicious! Especially when accompanied w/ their vegan ranch. Second round was veg chili cheese fries and veg chikn sandwich. No disappointments except for not having a down beat diner at home! The service was top notch both days! Don't forget to pick up a beer coozy for a souvenir! Can't wait to return!
(5)Erica A.
Somehow, some way, I always end up at Downbeat Diner after a fun night in Chinatown. They have good food at a decent price, and most importantly, they have vegetarian and vegan options. (Sometimes, they get vegan orders mixed up with non-vegans ones, which can be annoying, but it's a rare occurrence.) The diner itself has a very cool vibe, with movies projecting on one of the walls, a vast and unique drink selection- including but not limited to, spiked milkshakes- and of course the pop icons printed on the upholstery of all the booths. Downbeat Lounge is connected to Downbeat Diner, with a door inbetween. They have a small stage that is great for bands, and they have a good sound system for different dance nights. The Lounge has their own specialty drinks, which are served in mason jars and pretty tasty. The service is okay, they're usually kind of slow and a little passe... but considering how hipster this place is, it kind of goes. And since we've been here so many times, it's obviously not bad enough to discourage us, lol. They have different events throughout the week, such as brunch on weekends with mimosas and bloody maries, and Taco and Tequila Tuesdays. If you are vegan, and love chocolate, do NOT leave here without trying the vegan chocolate chunk brownie. Side note: It's always hilarious that I order the Vegan BLAT ("bacon", lettuce, avocado, tomato sandwhich) and my husband literally orders the Carnivore burger. Maybe that's why they mix up my order and accidentally give me meat sometimes...
(4)Kuuipo D.
DownBeat saved me & my hubby from having a crappy night. Let me set up the story: I was looking on Yelp for our next adventure when I found this ice cream place in Chinatown (I will not name the place). The hours were listed as open until 11pm. It was 8:30 pm, so off we go! We got there in 20 minutes (no, we were not speeding), found street parking, only to discover the ice cream place was closed!!! UGH!!!! As we were walking back to our car, we noticed that Chinatown has a busy nightlife. Even as it was 9pm, a lot of places were still open. We looked around and discovered DownBeat Diner. It wasn't too busy so we went in. Thank God we did!! When we walked in, we felt this vibe going on. It was like hipster-cool. The seats and menus had the coolest design. It was celebrity faces. Bill Murray on my menu! In fact, his face was next to me on my bench! We were greeted by one of the coolest waitresses I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She asked us if it was our 1st time. When we said yes, she gave us a run down on the menu and the vegan options! Woohoo! (I'm not vegan, but when I have options, I feel like I could be.) AND, just a side note, the water boy was on point! Our water glasses were ALWAYS full! I ordered the volcano fries. They are fries with gravy, cheese, garlic, and some type of fiery goodness. So, so good! On top of that, I ordered the meaty loco moco (with Big Island beef). The patty was light, something I really appreciate. The gravy was not too salty, so thanks for that! Hubby had a American burger with a salad. (It made me feel guilty for what I ate.) Now, if you have read my reviews before, you know I ALWAYS dedicate a separate paragraph for dessert. We ordered the salted chocolate chip cookie sundae. Two cookies, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and nuts (or without). Bring it! It didn't come. Our waitress said they only had vegan cookies. ALRIGHT! Bring that then. It was beautifully simple, but oh, so delicious. We couldn't even tell that it was a vegan cookie. I just know it was GOOOOOD!!!! Thank you, DownBeat Diner for turning our crappy evening into a memorable one!
(5)Allison D.
I left Downbeat full...of disappointment. I used to LOVE this place. I was their number one advocate. But, unfortunately, the last couple of times I've been there the service has been incredibly subpar. My partner and I had lunch at Downbeat this last Saturday and the experience is what has caused me to update my review. We walked in to a somewhat full restaurant and sat down. My partner ordered the egg breakfast with bacon. He received the egg breakfast with Portuguese sausage. I ordered a grilled cheese with tomato on wheat bread. If you look at my last review, you'll see I raved about their grilled cheese. Unfortunately, it has fallen from grace. I received a grilled cheese on sourdough with the cheese barely melted. I really dislike sourdough bread which is why I had specifically asked for wheat bread. I attempted twice to flag down our waiter by raising my hand and saying "excuse me" to ask for a side of ranch but was ignored both times. The waiter did not come by once to ask if our meal was ok so we never got the chance to explain to them they messed up on our order. I won't be back for the food, but would go back for drinks in the lounge.
(2)Jozlyn H.
I like this place!!!!! It's pretty chill, hip and they have a wonderful vegan selection!!! I'm not vegan, but I love that they have this option because I can bring my friend here without being limited!!! Plus.... Their vegan food is pretty tasty!! I only have them 4 starts because service...... Could have been a little better. It was t that busy... But it seemed liked server didn't pay attention to us. Not a biggie because I'll definitely be back. Atmosphere: I came here on Saturday night. Restaurant was fairly busy but we were still able to sit right away. Chill, hip and casual Service: could be better. Not that bad... But wasn't the greatest experience of mine. Didn't affect my decision to come here tho Food: the fact that they can make vegan food taste that good was awesome in itself I'm will be back here... I want to try their other menu items! I had the vegan chili nacho... And my vegan friend had the vegan loco moco. thumbs up!!!
(4)Don N.
We've been coming here for the past year, finally posting a review! One of the few spots in Chinatown open on Sunday's, they are a great choice for brunch and even have brunch drink specials. Food: always spot on whether you choose regular, vegetarian, or vegan. This time I tried the Avo Sammy, great light sandwich with fresh avocado, tomato, lettuce on toasted bread. Simple enough but delish. Had their maple bacon old fashioned, crispy thick cut bacon in a bourbon old fashion. Smoky, salty, crispy, with a sweet finish...yum! Service: Friendly, attentive servers. Since they were one of the few places open in the area, the restaurant was crowded with one waitress. She managed all of the tables efficiently and took care of all the customers. Atmosphere: Funky, Dive-ish, diner decor. Clean with a cool vibe. I like it as it gives it their distinctive personality. Value: Great prices, good portion sizes, make this place a plus in the value category. My Avo Sammy, side of fries, and Old fashioned only set me back $15. Overall a great place for people looking to get unique drinks with healthy diner food.
(4)Mikey H.
I love coming down to Chinatown, and there's some great restaurants that have opened, but my only problem is that most of them close at 2...or shall I say they stop serving at 1:30. We had walked by Downbeat on past visits, and were pretty happy that they are open all day. Low key and chill dining area....friendly greeting when we entered. Cool booths! I ordered a natural ginger ale...very refreshing! They have a number of items to choose from. I ordered the club sandwich with garlic fries, the partner had the pesto chicken with curly fries. Both came out in a timely manner and tasted great! It was around 2 pm so it wasn't that crowded which was nice. I'm sure it can be a zoo. Our waitress/bartender was very friendly and had that 50s pin up girl look...very cute! I will definitely be back. Such a great little gem in Chinatown and one that's open past the standard 2 pm.
(4)Raelyn B.
When you travel with more than one other person it gets a bit difficult to try and coordinate where to eat, especially if one of those people are a vegetarian or a vegan of some kind. So taking into consideration that specific food option and being able to fill everyone's tummy can be frustrating. But no fear. In Chinatown there is a great a place for you vegan and veggie friends to get their fill along with your meat hungry friends. They have vegan burgers, vegan bbq wings, salads, breakfast, drinks and milkshakes. Heck you can even bring your momma's mom along to this shin dig and make her feel Forever 21 with the music they play. When I visited the mix of 80's and 70's music can take you back and if you're anything like my friends we love to sing and if we know the song we're sure to sing along. FYI the vegan bbq sticks taste like they're not vegan.. or maybe idk what vegan tastes like but it tasted like chicken. So when my lover-of-meats friend had some he didn't mind it. "Tasty," he says. Their burgers come with a $3 add on of fries or salad and you can choose between a cajun, garlic, curly or regular fries and wanting all the fries you can ever have picking just one is a challenge. So this time I opted for garlic with my Teriyaki burger that comes with grilled mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese. It was delicious, very filling after the first half of my sandwich. I couldn't finish - it's sitting here with me as write this review. It's a cool, hipster-esque place where the waiters all have died bright hair and tattoos. The waiters are not only look cool, but they actually are cool. The booth seating makes you feel like you're at a diner and the design of various artists give the splash of hipster. Chinatown is turning into a great place. This hot spot is between Lucky Belly and the Manifest on Hotel St. Municipal parking is about one or two blocks away (cheapest ones) but if you're on no Chinatown parking budget theres parking lots right around the corner on Smith st.
(4)Kimberly D.
We pretty much waited 10-15 minutes for our food, but it was WORTH THE WAIT!!! It was my first time there & tbh, I'm coming back. Good service, friendly people & very reasonable price.. Thanks guys!
(4)Bri M.
I've been to this place way too many times to count. I should have written a review sooner but here I am. If you're looking for delicious food, good company, and great service, here it is. Downbeat is by far my favorite go-to place in Chinatown. They have Brunch on Sundays and Taco Tuesdays if you're into that sort of thing. I am. If you ever find yourself hungover after a night of debauchery, the breakfast burrito or loco moco is the best cure. They also have vegan options for most of their delicious meals which are as good if not better than the original.( vegan chicken wings I'm looking at you) It's self seating and very relaxed. The staff is a friendly bunch of cool characters you Can ask for anything you might want. Want something sweet? Try one of their chocolate chip sundaes (also offered in vegan) or one of their delicious mason-jar milkshakes. Go to Downbeat!
(5)Gil G.
I know my food hasn't even come yet. But knowing the quality and consistency of DownBeat... No worries. Sunday morning, post holiday with loads of folks in Chinatown, this place is rocking! The bartender and server are working so hard, yet they have consistently served and maintained a full restaurant without any flaws. From a management standpoint, I would have had more staffing, however, these two are saving the day! kudos! The Breakfast Burrito arrived and the Michelada was tasty and spicy. The bar filled up and these two, continued to provide flawless service. On the best of days from my previous visits, usually around the same time, I have never witnessed exceptional performance as I have today! Hana Hou to Rian and Dell!
(5)Sunny Joy B.
Fun for the whole FAMILIA! Dad: twoFULL BARs Uncle: twoFULL BARs. Mom: twoFULL BARs. Auntie: twoFULL BARs. Niece: Gluten-Free Friendly. G-Ma: Raw Local Band Action. Sisters: Hot Bros. Bros: Hot Sisters. Kids: Handmade Milkshakes. Cavemen: Beef. Mine: Vegan Pesto Chicken Sandwich, Curly Fries w/ Vegan Ranch, Vegan (Coconut Ice Cream) Oreo Shake. MGMT: Do I get a prize for being review number 420?
(5)Dwayne Y.
So we just went here for dessert. This place has a cool vibe. We went here after we had dinner at Livestock Tavern. Anyway we had the cheesecake and the Brownie Sundae. The cheesecake was quite small and nothing special. It was ok. The brownie sundae was anything you could have made at home. The two desserts was ok, but nothing special. Service was nice here though.
(3)Allx M.
Awesome place to support a local dinner/bar. Thy alwayyyys have events happening and there food is simple but tasty! I come here when I'm craving a awesome milkshake . It's totally with the scene in Chinatown but it's bt weird for a family to come in or anything. Also, good music playing, always. Super important note lol
(5)Bubba S.
This place is the bomb bradda's and sista's! Always great food and service.....y'all best check em out!!! Prices are good just parking can be tough....check em out now ya hear....You'll be glad you did!!!
(5)Kara P.
Love all the vegan options... Great drinks and fun environment. .Jaz is my favorite bartendress!!
(5)Ben M.
I don't know what was going in last night. Was it people just having a bad night all exploding at once, or was that the level of chaos they call normal. I'm hoping it was just a bad night because I don't if much more could have gone worse. The saving grace was the reggae band that was playing next door in the music / bar area. (Ionz and the Shimabukus) We got there around 9:30 PM as they were doing a shift change, meeting a larger group who had had dinner and drinks there. The waitress who was leaving was very busy but still greeted us. We sat with our group and decided on what to drink. She told us the name of the guy taking her place if we wanted drinks. We called out to the guy at least three different times over a 20-30 minute period, and went as far to chant his name as a fun way to pass the time, still no answer, glance or acknowledgement. We ended up getting up and going to the bar, that was the next interesting experience. The bar tender seemed to either be having a bad night or just be spewing a ton of negativity left and right. The odd part is they (using "they" to avoid getting someone in trouble, this is good feedback for change not to be malicious) stopped to describe the drinks we were ordering. (Chinatown Zombies...woah strong!) Seemed out of place but was welcome after they yelled at a patron who was waiting 15-20 minutes for drinks they ordered that the server forgot about. They were at the bar melting and being ruined. We were able to get that round and another, but the service was beyond bad. The bar had no flow and the vibe was not positive. After a few drinks we decided to try our hand at the other side. Saving grace! Bartenders on the "music venue" side and bar was much better! They were quick and efficient. The live music was fun and welcome after the vibe of the other side. Two stars instead of one because of the music side. Bathroom had just a toilet as the urinal was out of order. The bathroom was clean which was nice. I liked the flat screens and projector playing a movie with subtitles. I will try them out again sometime in the distant future, at least a good place with AC to get some food and drinks, I will go in with low expectations and hope they have stepped it up!
(2)Jamie S.
Hands down the cutest hipster diner in town. This place has never disappointed me, I've never had to wait for a table or experienced bad service. Must try: volcano fries, everything you could ever ask for. When you think fries on steroids, this is it! Chunky Monkey milk shake: a perfect combination of deliciousness BLAT: your typical BLT but with the added bonus of avocado which takes it to a whole other level of awesomeness Cajun Chicken wrap: tried this for the first time recently. Could have a stronger kick of Cajun, but still satisfying. The chicken is definitely on the dry side and chopped tomatoes are scarce. I give this an overall rating of 3/5. I'm not a Vegan, but pretty much for a fee everything on the menu can be made Vegan. Parking: typical downtown parking issues. Street metered parking or paid lots. I usually park in the municipal garage and pay $2-3.
(4)Julie H.
Service: 4.5 stars Super friendly and while the food doesn't come out lightning fast, it doesn't take forever. They always check up on you but not overly so. Food: 4 stars This is diner food that doesn't make me feel horrible about myself. They have vegan options and use local beef for their burgers so that's always a plus in my book. A big plus for me is that they serve shakes and other desserts in addition to their burgers, sandwiches and booze. I was a bit disappointed when I ordered a slice of Otto's cheesecake because it seemed kinda small but other than that I'll keep coming back. Atmosphere: 3.75 stars It's clean, it's fun... sometimes I feel like I'm not hip enough to be there and sometimes I don't love their choice of music.. but it's pretty cool with their movies projected on the walls. It's a fun place!
(4)Tracy P.
Downbeat is a great place serving food late. I really enjoyed the club sandwich and Chili Cheese Fries. Good service, nice relaxed atmosphere. I haven't gone to the bar that's next door yet.
(4)Jenny T.
I love this place! Jenn was my waitress and her customer service is awesome. I love the food here I wish I knew bout this place a while back.
(5)Alyssa K.
Trendy & fun little joint that my husband and I enjoyed on a rare date night. Great atmosphere. I really liked their orange dreamsicle cocktail. Wanted to try other flavors but hey, I'm a responsible mommy now. Pesto chicken sandwich: delicious. reminded me of Bogart's pesto chicken. Green eggs & ham: I thought the eggs would be greener. It's more eggs with specks of pesto. Volcano fries: I was a little put off by the appearance of the garlic "gravy" but it tasted ok. Will pass on it next time though. They carry ottocakes but we didn't order it because we ate the fries. next time ;)
(4)Kimmy A.
Always love their food. Service is okay but hey! it's a diner
(4)Puffer O.
for those on a modest budget, it's a good selection of food, burgers and beer with B movies and an eclectic mix of pop/rock songs playing in the background. nice crowd and excellent/friendly wait staff every time we've been there.
(5)Cindy L.
BLAT - Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato A simple burger and sandwich joint for lunch. Most of the sandwiches run around $8, sides like salad and fries are additional $2.
(3)SS C.
I'm obsessed with the vegetarian buffalo "chicken" sandwich! I also tried a bite of the quesadilla which was yummy too. Also, love the fact that fact that you can get Otto's cheesecake late! Very fast and friendly service, good music...what more could you ask for?
(5)Christian F.
Great food, great service, nice atmosphere, and good music. Went here my second night on the island
(4)Christy G.
Four words: VEGAN WINGS. CAJUN FRIES. Oh my stars. I don't know what on earth they put on their perfectly-not-to-thin-not-too-thick-cut fries here, but it is seriously a kick of WOW to the mouth. In addition to their wonderful fries, the vegan hot wings are to die for. As a gluten-free vegan, there have been ZERO GF+V options for me within the past two years as far as wings go. Seitan wings? I would be sick for days! Tempeh covered in buffalo sauce? No thanks. Sure, that's good and dandy, but when I want WINGS, I want frickin WINGS! (Vegan ones, obvs.) So when I found out that the wings here are both vegan AND free of gluten, I knew I had to order them. Let me tell you...holy. moly. The texture is crazy! It shreds similarly to chicken and has the same mouth-feel as a tender wing, but without all that nasty fat and skin (although many meat lovers would argue that these two traits are WHY one eats chicken wings). Anyhow, I ended up having a negative reaction to my food, which I later found out was from the wings because they are soy and WHEAT based. The girl who sold them to me reassured me that they were free of gluten, but it's okay--mistakes happen. Gluten is definitely a new term restaurants are having to learn about! No hard fe My second time there, our male waiter confirmed that they do, absolutely, contain gluten. Oh, service is great, too. The servers are always attractive (men and women alike) with spunky, cute attitudes. Good vibes all around here. I will definitely be back after at least a few weeks of abstaining from deep-fried calorie-ridden vegan junkfood. UPDATE: I ordered the wings on my second visit and was told they were made out of seitan, a.k.a. wheat meat! No idea how I escaped that one without getting sick the first time (?!?!?!!!!!) . So I ordered the Cajun fries instead, and got horrifically sick for a few days. This included much shaking and bathroom runs. Pun intended, gotta be honest here. Another time, I thought I would be safe by ordering brown rice and marinara sauce, but, of course, got so sick I had to miss work, again! I think there is far too much gluten in the air there for a glutie like me to eat there safely. Lesson learned! I LOVE their huge selection of vegan things, though, I hear wonderful things about them from friends!
(4)Nikki N.
I have mixed thoughts on this place. I've been here 3 times because I bought 2 crowdsaving vouchers for this place, but the first time we came outside of the 5p-7p time to use it. The atmosphere is pretty cool with the seats that have performers printed on them like Marilyn Monroe and Bradda Iz. I've eaten the Avo Sammy, Otto's Loco, and just last night I had the Western Burger. My boyfriend like the sampler, so all three times I've had the sampler. The service is good, but the servers are dressed like any one else in the restaurant so its hard to tell who is working here if they aren't behind the bar. The food is nothing great. I could do a better job, even though I don't really cook, but it is appreciated since I don't like to cook. Every sandwich I have got from this place fell apart and my mouth is always messy here. The food is not bad, but not anything extraordinary. I want to come here for dessert one day and get a peanut butter shake with the apple pie and ice cream. Never got that yet, because it wasn't late enough yet. Maybe one day after I get drunk at Manifest I'll have the courage to devour that many calories in one sitting. Until then this place is nice walk down to since I live 3 blocks away.
(3)Diana B.
I came in today not expecting much but boy was I wrong! From the get go my eyes were directed towards the eclectic art on the booths. I ordered the strawberry lemonade which comes in alcoholic form too if you wish. Seeing that it was wayyy before 5 I took the PG version. It was very tasty- it had blended strawberry seeds with the tanginess of the lemons. For food I had the American cheeseburger with no onions. On the side I ordered garlic fries (for 2 bucks more) but they also offer cajun fries if you'd like. The cheeseburgers were huge so make sure that if you order this dish you smash down your burger because it's huge and you'll have trouble getting all of it in your mouth. The meat was cooked perfectly and was seasoned to my liking. The fries were also good. The food was so tasty I finished in record time and I'm the type of person who likes to savor their food but not this time. On top of being delicious the meal was huge so I just kept eating and eating.... I can honestly say you will leave full. Behind our booth I noticed a bar so I'm thinking it's probably a good place to get your drink on too. Perhaps first Friday? Anyway, I highly recommend this place.
(4)Joanne M.
I cannot believe it took me so long to eat here. The food is amazing! Took my vegetarian friend here, since I know she'll appreciate it more. We shared a pesto vegan chicken sandwich, mozzarella sticks, and volcano fries. That satisfied my pesto craving and the chicken was awesome! Mozzarella sticks were good but we loved the fries more. I believe it was gravy and garlic on the fries--definitely mouth watering! I was very sad to hear that their shakes were good after ordering and getting too full for dessert. A friend recommended the peanut butter and chai. Will try those next time, because I'm totally DOWN with the BEAT of this diner!! :)
(5)Jamila J.
A food place downtown that's open until 3am and it's not Zippy's?! I'm there. Chinatown just gets better and better. Just happened to be downtown and heard about this place. checked it out and it is awesome. Really great service and good food. If you're like me and a meat eater, but have some how made friends with those who don't possess the meat eater gene, you can all be happy with your food options. Grassfed beef, veganaise, apple fritter with ice cream, garlic fries....seriously you can't go wrong. There's even booze. Apple Fritter is good, but if it was the last thing you ate before you died, you'd be sad. Vegans and Meateaters finally have a place to be happy friends who all have full bellies!!!
(4)Marcus S.
i love this place. Bacon with Beer, Grill cheese with ham, and a vegan Loco Moco. This place is the bomb. The atmosphere is cool, the food is bananas, overall this "dinner" is just a cool place to eat. They also play old school movies on the wall, and when thats not on there are some bad ass songs coming out their juke box. The one other thing that makes this place soooo neat is the occasional crack head yelling outside about his horse or something having the flu. Go Go Go, Go check them out!!
(4)Kalani C.
4.43 stars. Came to Chinatown for a Sunday afternoon escapade. Reviews looked promising, so decided to come here and glad we did. Place is a modern take on a greasy spoon. Sort of Manifest meets Bettie Page. The clientele were mostly tatted twenty/thirty-somethings, primarily clothed in black. Modern day (down)beatniks? Ambiance: 4 stars. We started with fresh horseradish Bloody Marys that were spot on and perhaps the best on the island: 5 stars! We ordered the Monte Cristo or a French toast sandwich of ham & Swiss with maple syrup on the side for sweet dipping. A wonderful reinvention that I enjoyed immensely: 5 stars! My partner in crime had the Otto Moco or chicken breast over brown rice & tahini gravy, a healthier version of its obese cousin, the infamous loco moco: 4 stars. We followed up our Marys with Deschutes Brewery's Green Lakes Organic Ale and Rouge's Dead Guy Ale. Part of a nice collection of beers by the bottle. I don't recall seeing anything on tap. Beer selection: 4 stars. Our waitress was very pleasant, made nice conversation and chimed in that she will be a judge in Manifest's "Man Challenge" that my friend happens to be a part of (not shaving facial hair from Nov. 1-Dec. 1 for testicular cancer awareness). Service: 4 stars. The music here is stellar! In the 45 minutes we were there, the likes of Violent Femmes, Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, Brian Eno, Dusty Springfield, Joy Division and Led Zepplin graced my ears. An eclectic selection that played like a greatest hits playlist from my very own collection and contributed to the lounge part of this diner's edgy aura. Music: 5 stars! Highly recommended apart from ending up here after a night's debauchery. Tally: Ambiance: 4 stars Bloody Mary: 5 stars! Monte Cristo: 5 stars! Otto Moco: 4 stars Beer selection: 4 stars Service: 4 stars Music selection: 5 stars! 4+5+5+4+4+4+5= 31/7= 4.43 stars. #Yelp 365: 100/365 (Whoo hoo! Made it to 100!)
(4)August A.
FINALLY....again I'd like to reiterate...FINALLY!!! What am I elating about is that FINAAAAAAAAALLY, A TRUE LATE NIGHT SPOT with attitude. I live between Las Vegas and Hawaii, to which I've become way too accustomed be late night eats. The Downbeat delivers in an all too familiar way. Situated in the heart of Chinatown near the NextDoor, Bar35, Manifest, and 39Hotel, this promises to be the place where everyone comes before, in between, or after a debaucherous night. The menu here hovers around the traditional American fare: cheeseburgers, sandwiches, shakes, and oh yah...a FULL BAR!! Specials such as sliders for $5, nightly drink specials, and specialty desserts round this place out pretty well. What definitely seals the deal for me is the 2-3am closing times. I've been here about 10 times (mostly sober) and have never came across a bad meal. Notables are the Otto cheesecake, garlic fries, sliders, and shakes. The main attraction that keeps me coming back are the desserts. About a week ago, I was treated to an Almond Cookie Ice Cream sandwich...love at first bite. Coupled with garlic fries, it was PERFECT drunk food. So, if you're looking for the iconic late night eatery, complete with talented bartenders, jukebox, and amazing deep fried goodies...definitely head here.
(4)Al D.
This place was just OK. My vegan chicken was dry and my guiness milkshake wasn't guiness-y enough. Nothing special here. Better off going to loving hut for vegetarian/vegan food.
(3)Jessica M.
Being the 20-something that I am, I have spent many a night drunk as piss in the land that is Chinatown. Sometimes, there really is nothing else like shoving a vegan loco moco with tofu scramble into your mouth at 3:30 A.M. with a drink that you can't remember the name of to wash it all down. Enter Downbeat Diner. Not only does this place offer some scrumptious foodie choices for carnivores and herbivores alike, but it also has a full bar. Oh...and did I mention that it's open til' 4 am? Yeah. It's definitely a step up from going to Denny's and passing out with your cheek lying in your greasy pancake pile. The food is seriously really good, and I am normally not a fan of resturaunt food. The servers are always pretty cool and normally just chat with you like a friend while you are waiting on your food. (This may have just been me being overly friendly and drunk, but they have never seemed to mind.) I have been here on Tuesday night for their beer tastings and it's a fun and sociable event to sample some new stuff. It was only $18, too. My only complaints: The service, while friendly, is super slow. So don't come here if you are in a hurry. There are about 10 tables, maybe even less. It's very small, so make a reservation, or get your food to go if you are faced with having to wait. People tend to stick around and watch the movie screen and catch up with friends, so tables don't exactly just open up every couple minutes. Other than that, I will continue to be a downbeat diner.
(4)Killah G.
Spent a lot of time to think of what direction i was going to take this review. Being that a lot of my friends seem to be connected to this place made me feel somewhat bad about not having that great of a first time experience. Please don't drop me from your facebook & yelp lists or stink eye me when i'm in chinatown and decide to give it a go again. After all this review was after one experience and i'm sure there's potential to be blown away by some awesome grindz. Especially since i hear there's chicken and waffles. yum. Anyway i was excited about the place. Cool little diner smack dab in the middle of one of my favorite areas to be in China Town. The set up and decor is nice. Love the braddah Iz and Bob Marley portraits and the seating upholstery. So we ordered a couple burgers, some cheese fries and a loco moco. Our server was nice. Burgers seem really tiny??? Even the loco moco patty was almost no where to be found? Sorry if that's such a nit picky thing to write about but from past experiences at diners i've had some satisfying portions. Especially for an $8 burger... Dunno? Maybe my eyes fooled me? There's $8 of awesomeness at some of the local competitors that we've all said is "expensive". I don't really care about the price but i'd like to hopefully at least get a juicy flavorful burger to match. Anyway, the fries came out and had no cheese on them. Our server took it back and when it came back out it had a half melted slice of cheese on the fries. When you picked up a fry the whole slice lifted because it had already got cold and not so cheesy??? Hmm... Wasn't stoked on the fries. Overall i'd like to try it again. Although from the first experience i'm not too hyped to go back. And usually burgers and fries are somewhat of a comfort food for most that is hard not to want to eat it again for nothing but to satisfy that hunger need. Whoa?! Did that sentence make sense? English majors help me. I will eat here once again because i am curious why i'm part of 3 people reviewing this place that wasn't stoked on it. For now i see 3 stars as a neutral starting point.
(3)Zenny Z.
Downbeat Diner is the type of diner you'd find in Portland OR or any one of the cool and hip neighborhoods across the US. What sets Downbeat apart from many other hip late night eateries across the US is the quality of the food. This ain't your typical greasy spoon -- all the food served here is of high quality with vegan/vegetarian options that aren't hasty thrown together afterthoughts or special requests that drive the cooks mad. I personally haven't tried the veg options, but I hear they are great. Also, there's very little pretension here; the atmosphere is welcoming and comfortable. I always order the American burger, which comes with a grass fed burger patties from the Big Island. Although it isn't cheap at around 8 bucks, it's worth it for the high quality and great taste. The burger patty is a tad on the dry side, but other wise it tastes great. Many hip bars have opened up in Chinatown the past few years, yet there wasn't any late-night eateries nearby until Downbeat Diner opened -- very smart and strategic move. It's exciting how much livelier the night life in Chinatown has become in the past few years, thanks in part to the opening of Downbeat. Hopefully more restaurateurs will follow suit and open more great restaurants nearby.
(5)Mary S.
I went to Downbeat with a some of my girlfriends for some late night grinds and it was my first time there. It had a cute, fun, rockabilly feel to it. Started with the Gingerbrew, it was ok but the ginger was a little overwhelming. A couple of the girls had the Rootbeer Float cocktail which I tasted and was quite good. I had ordered the BLAT sandwich which was alright - the bread was hard and had that tear-up-the-roof-of-your-mouth texture to it and for what I paid for it was disappointing but the french fries were tasty and not soggy. This particular night we had a waiter who apparently didn't know what he was doing. One of the girls had to leave before the rest of us to go meet with her boyfriend and he threw a fit about splitting the check. He brought her the check and she left then he came back and complained to us that she didn't leave him enough tip which was VERY unprofessional. Then once the rest of us got our bills, he had charged one of the girls for the cheese fries which the girl who left had ordered and already paid for and I was charged extra for my Gingerbrew than what was listed on the drink menu. Overall, I was not impressed with this place and was actually very disappointed because I think it has a lot of potential - but what I paid for and the service that I received were subpar.
(2)Jim S.
Great atmosphere. Kind of a hipster vibe, but friendly staff. Delicious food. I love that they offer the option to make anything on the menu vegan.
(5)Sean T.
I've been back several times, and it's been consistently awesome each time. But I wanted to add: their milkshakes are phenomenal! I was disappointed one visit when they were out of ginger tonic, so I asked the waitress if the milkshakes were good. She nodded, and I replied "No, I mean, will they blow my mind?" She had the guts to say yes, and she was right. I've been dreaming about that chunky monkey milkshake all week. Hints of chocolate, nuts, banana... I can't even finish this update or I'll have to go order another one.
(5)Marissa L.
I seem to be in the minority amongst reviewers, but the food here is not good. Maybe we came on a bad day? Not sure. We came here for lunch after reading about it in Yelp's weekly newsletter -- and as my boyfriend said to me, "We got Punk'd." I ordered the BLAT (bacon lettuce avocado tomato). With ingredients so simple, you'd think it would be impossible to get wrong. Unfortunately that was the case here. The bacon was flimsy (cheap!) and it seemed like they put a teaspoon of miracle whip (again, cheap!) on each piece of toast instead of real mayonnaise. Sad! The fries were soggy and we left most of them sitting on the table. My boyfriend had the loco moco. It has strange mashed up carrots blended into the gravy (they don't tell you this on the menu and they really should-- all the menu says is that it's "downbeat gravy" without explaining what that entails). The carrots blended into the gravy make it look like something the cat vomited up. Gross, but true. We won't be coming back. I will say though, our server was nice, and the restaurant was clean.
(2)Gspot H.
Green eggs n ham is my Favorite
(4)S E.
Great (cajun) fries, tasty burgers (both meat and vegan), a nice buffalo chicken sandwich, delicious milkshakes, relaxed atmosphere, and a super friendly staff.
(4)Sheryl M.
I don't know why it took me so long to try this place...this place rocks! It's like a modern 50's kinda place...burgers and fries with milkshakes...all of which can be served vegan as well. Love it! Next time, I will need to try their vegan burger and regular milkshake (since this time I had the regular burger with the vegan shake). But first I need to make sure my desk area is comfy enough to have a kanak attack in...
(4)Tim W.
Great Buffalo chicken sandwich and $3 Sierra Nevada.
(4)Food Find F.
I guess if you're a vegan, this place rocks! But for the rest of us carnivores/dairyvores, I have had better food at other places. I give the food a "B-." The menu is very limited, so if you don't want a burger, BLT w/ avocado or chicken sandwich you'd better go somewhere else. Staff is "eh." I assume they didn't spit in my food and they got the orders right so they get a "C," but not once did they come back to our table to ask if the food was alright or if we needed anything. I'm not high maintenance, I'm just saying that they didn't do it. Don't know, maybe they're not fully awake at lunch time. The food also took exceptionally long to come out. There were only 2 of us and again, the menu isn't complicated or extensive. We ordered the American burger and BLAT (BLT with avocado). So after waiting a long time and the waitress brought out the orders of a 4 top that came after us, we asked what happened to our food. To which she said, "Oh, they came in before you." No, "Oh, let me check on your order right now." That would have been nice to be acknowledged. And I distinctly remember the 4 ladies coming in the door and taking a seat just 3 booths infront of me. So from my recollection, they came in after me. Anyway.... I did really like that they use grass fed beef for burgers and sub veganaise for mayo. Decor was cool and the place is clean. And I really like to support hip places, but this one just sunk below my threshold.
(2)Christine P.
I had the best cheese burger with avocado here! It made me think of a place that should be in San Francisco. I loved it! And they have fresh and warm chocolate chip cookies you can order. What's not to like?
(5)Nate M.
Great food, super friendly people, surprisingly good beer selection, always good music playing, what's not to like?! I love this place. Also, they brew their own ginger concoction, so get a spiked ginger brew. So good.
(5)Justin T.
We dropped by Downbeat Diner last night for the first time and we were blown away! The service is top notch, the food is amazing, the atmosphere is inviting, and the hours are to die for! Not only is the menu absolutely delicious, it's made of healthy ingredients such as grass-fed beef, locally grown potatoes, etc... None of that frozen nonsense. Will def return in the near future. And did I mention the prices rock?
(5)June K.
Five dollar sliders. I think, can't beat that, so we head in and get seated. The diner style seats were very cute and modern designed with familiar faces such as IZ. The first Friday menu was very enticing. We ordered $5 sliders, $5 chili cheese fries, $5 cajun fries. When the portions came out, they of course were what we paid for, $5 portions. There was a bar, which was only by donations. I like that idea! But they probably didn't have a liquor license. The sliders came with 2 pieces. They consisted of what looked like sesame dinner rolls and a little patty, lettuce and thousand island looking dressing. After taking a bite, I tasted a hint of rosemary and it was actually good. The chili on the cheese fries looked like it came from a can and tasted like it came from a can. The cajun fries had no kick to it what-so-ever. We ordered 2 slices of Otto cheesecake, flavor of the day was key lime. The cheesecake was moist and full of flavor, very tasty and not to heavy. I could've eaten one all by myself! Our waiter stopped by and asked what we thought of the cheesecake. After reassuring him it was delicious, he introduced himself to us as "Otto". What a shock we had! TIP: Have 2 orders of sliders if you're hungry. Get the cheesecake!
(3)Ashley D.
Love this diner! The bartenders and servers here are super nice and down to earth. I've had the burger and fries twice and both times they were delicious. Lots of booth seating and stools at the bar makes it a nice place to relax after a night of revelry in Chinatown.
(4)Marla F.
My family and I love this place! We happened upon it when we to our first First Friday with the kiddos (9 &11). It was the time when Indigo had closed the street and there was a DJ and several food trucks. We didn't want to eat from the food trucks, so we wandered around and found the Downbeat Diner. And what a find! This place takes my husband and I back to our years in Atlanta, Georgia - namely Little Five Points and the Highlands. We both lived and worked in that area that was chock-full of funky clubs and restaurants with amazing food and kick-ass atmospheres. The diner/rocka billy feel put us at ease and my kids thought the music and the B-rated movies showing overhead were awesome. Everyone is friendly without being suck-ups. You just have to come in with an attitude of not being in a hurry, with a good appetite and a sense of adventure. They have a great beer selection and I love that they offer meatless options (although I still go for the beef!) And in true diner fashion, they offer delicious shakes and ice cream. I can't say enough about how much we love this place and the people that work there. My husband and I went there one recent First Friday without the kids and we both had to promise we couldn't tell them otherwise they'd be mad at us! :)
(4)Shelby B.
I went here because I heard of this place from my professor, also its located in downtown and i've passed it a few times. It's a cool atmosphere, real retro. I got a burger, and garlic fries, which was good. A typical burger and fries. The service was a little slow but they were slow and there was only one waitress serving, ordering and busing tables. It was a cute place to have lunch.
(3)Serene G.
I had a Groupon for Downbeat Diner. We went during our lunch break. When we got there, they greeted us and told us to sit anywhere. I got the Western burger while my boyfriend got the Teriyaki burger. We both added the fries since the side basket was only one seasoning for the same price. He got the Cajun while I got the garlic. Everything was definitely tasty but nothing spectacular. We both noticed that the prices on the menu for the burgers were $0.50 more than the menu online. The waitress also didn't ask how we wanted our burgers. I also got their homemade ginger brew. It was a bit on the sweet side. I'm not sure if it was worth the $4. The guy did say that they do refills on everything except the ginger grew. I definitely agree that service is slow. We waited about 30 - 40 minutes for our food. Overall, good food but slow service. If I wasn't using my Groupon, I would think it was a bit expensive too. (It's not so bad with the iDcard discount: free side order of fries with a purchase of burger. )
(3)Aaron K.
I had an appointment downtown and wanted to try out Downbeat Diner, specifically their Banana Fritters and I think it should be called Banana Fricker or Banana isn't ! You know when you peel the skin off the banana and it has a little bit of flesh on the peel, well the peel had more banana than in their fritter! It came out all warm and it looked yummy with a container of caramel on the side, I took a bite, okay, taste good with caramel, took another bite, finished the first, second, third fritter and I'm thinking where's the banana? They should call it Banana flavored Andag ! If my Portuguese grandmother were alive, she'd show them what a real banana fritter is.
(2)Lyle M.
Randomly ate here two consecutive days while on vacation, basically due to the convenience. It is centrall located in the downtown Chinatown, HI area. Tons to do in this area night and day. Digs: Lot's of natural light. Booths! It's a very fun place with a classic 50s / punk rock aesthetic combined with an light hearted aloha vibe. Very clean. The customers there were popping in for lunch, dessert, a drink, etc and the easily accomodated them all. I like that they are always open. Always a good option. Service: The staff are very friendly and helpful. Food: Buggah was ono (delicious)! The first time I came here I only had dessert, but I had the brownie ice cream. It was awesome. They serve Otto Cake products here as well, BONUS! The second time was for lunch, I have the fake bacon blt which was exactly what I wanted. Hit the spot. They have vegan options and full on carnivore options. Something for everyone. Cool place. If you are in the mood for a drink or a whole diner-style meal, this place will satisfy. Will definitely be back.
(4)Trav15t ..
Love it! Eco and enviro-conscious without the granola, located in the middle of Chinatown on Hotel st. A nice blend of hipness with the usual fare you expect from a diner, except beef for the burgers is sourced from the Big Island and the sauces are known for being delicious despite the fact they're vegan. I had the western burger, fries and fritters with a rum drink... giving it a 5 star all around. Good place to go for a drink, better place for late-night grinds.
(5)Danielle Y.
Haters gonna hate? Haters to the left? Haters something something darkside? Whatever makes you feel better, Downbeat Diner. You've got a special place in my heart. Went here for Sunday Brunch (oh yes my friends, they are open on Sundays for Brunch, open PAST 11am, oh my oh my). Now, I know I am not the only person absolutely devastated by the current state of Honolulu Brunch Options. I want food, I want it to to be BOTH Breakfast or Lunch, I want to eat it at 2pm if I want/need to, and I want there to be a mimosa. That is what I want. And that is exactly what the Downbeat Diner provides. $5 brunch mimosas or bloody marys, $7 Loco Moco (vegan or local beef), from 10am to 10pm on a Sunday. Yum food, friendly service, knows what gluten-free means, done and done. THANK YOU.
(4)Alexandra T.
Yummy vegan options, as well as non-vegan, so it's great for those brave couples where one is anti-meat and the other is not. Nice higher-end beer selection, as well as cheap PBR pounders. The fries are great, good music on the juke box, and a big projector with either movies or music videos. I was lucky enough to spend 2 weeks in Hawaii, and went to Downbeat 4 times. It's perfect for just hanging out with friends, especially before catching a show at 39 Hotel across the street.
(4)Michiko H.
First time I went here, I had the classic loco moco. It was down right the best loco moco I've ever had! Gravy was what got me loving this place, plus the interior is bad ass with even a movie projector playing so you can watch while you eat. BONUS: this place is vegan friendly so check it out!
(3)Jessie D.
3.75/5 As the growth of the Chinatown social scene has grown, the need for more eateries has popped up. Although Chinatown is FULL of little hole in the wall restaurants and amazing culinary delights, the major problem has always been that they close really early. After a fun night out, no one wants to drive around searching for the next place to go. Well, Downbeat Diner is the supposed solution to that. Located next to Manifest on the "other" side of Hotel St., Downbeat offers a full diner menu until 4am. We stopped by after work on Monday and checked out what all the hype was all about. The menu is simple, but spanning. the BLAT seems like a winner, so was the loco moco that one of the party had. I opted for the Western Burger, because I can't turn down the combo of BBQ sauce and bacon. The beef is grass fed Big Island beef, so this is definitely some good stuff, but the size is 6oz., which is good for the after club experience, but teeters on the "I'm full, but I can eat more" border. The beef was juicy, cooked to a great medium. The fries it came with were not that bad. Thankfully, I prefer a fully cooked, less crisp, more soft fry. It's a love/hate thing with the fries. If you like them kinda crisp, skip them. The burger size turned out to be a Godsend, as that left room for dessert. The folks from Otto Cake are here as well, so the Otto Cake cheesecake was headlining the menu. Unfortunately, it was Key Lime & I'm not a big fan of Key Lime. I went with the Red Velvet Cake, while others went for the basket of fritters. The Red Velvet was dense, and overly frosted. It was sweet, but since I was still hungry after the burger, I didn't mind. The basket of fritters are a MUST GET, though. Big pieces, a cup of caramel sauce, and fritters so soft and sweet that the sauce is almost an after thought. if you MUST get dessert, get the basket of fritters. Service was good, but could be great. Being the only patrons in the diner at one point, the waitress disappeared while we were waiting for the check. She returned and returned to being attentive, it's just that 10 minutes of "where did she go" that is worrisome. Overall, a pretty good experience. I would definitely go back and try the BLAT or maybe some of the more vegan options. And I would definitely go back for the fritters. After a night in Chinatown, looks like the next stop might not need to be Zippy's.
(4)George G.
This place should be appreciated for what it is and what it is trying to be. It's a diner, with diner food, but unusually for Honolulu, every item has a vegan alternative--what fun. It does the simple diner fare well, with an ample but focused menu. I really liked the Western vegan burger with vegan bacon, though like one reviewer mentioned, the bbq sauce is mixed with mayo on the bun, so you'll need to request no mayo if you no like. I tried the garlic fries, but learned they are no longer making hand-cut fries, and these were okay but obviously frozen. My friend had a good omelette--a bit small especially when compared to Cafe Kaila--and a crispy waffle, and I had to splurge at the end on a vegan banana shake with soy milk and soy ice cream--not too sweet but plenty creamy. For that much food, the final bill was more than reasonable, and perfectly comfy and satisfying especially on a rainy day. It's not food you necessarily want to eat every day, but it's a great new addition.
(4)Beverly Ann B.
This was my second time going to this place and the first time I'm writing a review for it. The diner is nice and cozy. It has a rock/urban feel to it. Prices are also reasonable. They have a cool beer list that offers a few unique brews that you wont normally find. They even have a unique cocktail menu as well. Since I'm on a roll, they have a milkshake menu too! MILKSHAKES!!! This diner is definitely vegetarian and vegan friendly. But, don't be afraid, carnivores, because they cater to everyone's tastebuds. And, they stay open late!!! The first time I went there, I had the loco moco. They serve brown rice. In fact, I think they only serve brown rice. I was skeptical at first because I'm a traditionalist and expected it to be plated over a bed of white rice, but it was yummy and it didn't disappoint. My boyfriend had it the second time around, and he loved it. However, as much as everyone raves about the loco moco here, I strongly believe they should give a try at their Reuben. OMG. I love reubens and I'm really picky with where I get it from, how it's made, and everything in between. Hands down, Downbeat's reuben is the best I've ever had. The pastrami is amazing and the bread is beautiful. They use marbled rye. I opted to go with a side salad instead of fries and it was great. I gave it four stars because the service was inconsistent. The first time I went, we were greeted upon entering. However, the second time, no one was around except a couple that was dining. Maybe a few minutes passed and finally someone came around to help us. But when we did get serviced, service was friendly. Anyway, back to the star... the reuben is a must-try.
(4)Catherine L.
I've been here twice now and have been satisfied each time. The food is simple, but delicious, and with its late night hours, an amazing relatively cheap alternative to fast food. The first time I went for dinner, I ordered the loco moco. I thought it was great, but my friend did not like the Downbeat gravy very much. I'm not sure what it was made of, but the gravy is definitely different from your typical homemade gravy. I don't quite know how to describe it, but it was not as heavy. My friend thought it tasted like beans, of which she is not a huge fan. During my second trip, I ordered the BLAT, which came out perfectly and was exactly what I wanted. It is definitely something I will order again. The service was great during my first visit. Since we were sitting at a booth near the bar, the bartender even checked in on us to make sure we had been helped. But the second time was not as great. It was not overwhelmingly busy, but it took a lot more effort to get our waitress' attention. I am not sure if this had to do with the fact that we were sitting at a booth closer to the door or simply because this waitress was not as attentive. I will definitely be back, most likely after late nights in Chinatown.
(4)Tellia W.
This place is pretty cool and the food is pretty good. General diner style food, but they offer most things on the menu as vegetarian or vegan. I am not a vegetarian, but I love their veggie burgers. I would give them a 5 but some times the service is inconsistent. Some times it's great, some times it's not so good. Food is always good though.
(4)Leimalani F.
The carnivore lets the door swing carelessly behind him. He grunts a man grunt and scratches some wandering itch. Giving the skinny tattooed waiter a once over, he orders a PBR while perusing the menu. Roadie he mumbles, referring to those flatulent tattooed limbs. I know what I'm having: the buffalo chicken sandwich ala vegan! The carnivore considers which calorie laden cow pie to consume, but since the carnivore also happens to be my husband, I can wield my magic wifey wand that occasionally makes him do my bidding. This only lasts for short periods of time before he consumes to much protective alcohol, so I need to act fast. Luckily for me, this happens to be one such night! The carnivore orders: one carnivore burger with two patties, grilled onions, bacon, ham, and cheese... ala vegan! YESH!!! Now I can sample the veggie delights that are the specialty of this hip diner. Verdict: Carnivore burger ala vegan is a WIN!~ Even skinny obviously vegan boy admits that no one ordered that before, but it was DELISH! The 'burger' meat has great flavor and it's made in house. All the other veggie meats are bought (and probably taste close to sidewalk by themselves) but altogether, this was a pretty fantastic imitation of an I-wanna-eat-like-a-million-calories splurge. Carnivore man, he enjoy *grunt!* Buffalo sandwich is a FAIL! They do not make the 'chicken' in house and it is a watery, rubbery, substitute for the real thing (BeGOCK!) Also, this is served on sliced white bread with non-melted cheese. The whole thing was cold and not good. Cajun fries are freakin' awesome. Salad was a good size. Nice selection of milkshakes and ice cream floats, all of which can be made vegan. We ordered a Guinness Shake (vegan of course, thanks to the wifey wand). This was watery and did not taste at all like stout - Go with one of the stout or spiked ice cream floats instead. Wifey wand wields magic. I get to eat 1/2 of better tasting veggie carnivore burger of irony and steal many fries. Small person happy and carnivore man is strangely satisfied. Life is good. NOTE: Not good for kids or large groups. Better to sit in a booth facing away from Hotel Street unless you like yu-gly druggie dudes making ogle eyes whilst you eat. Yes, I AM going to eat that! Cool classic movies on the tv. You will have to stand up and wave your arms to get some attention from the wait help - they're too cool for school. Someone needs to enforce a dress code cuz one guy looked like he got up from the couch to get a beer and ended up at work in his house shorts. PBR and BACON for an appetizer anyone????
(4)Anju J.
This a good nook hidden on Hotel st. The overall look of the place was clean, inviting, and authentic. I don't normally see a projection on the wall of any restaurant that I have been to. The benches have pictures of various artists or public figures such as Albert Einstein and Braddah IZ. I thought it was cool. The servers are nice and knowledgable about the menu, something I like. The menu itself was ok. The food took too long to come out( I ordered a grilled ham and cheese sandwich), but other than that, I have no complaints. Overall, I like the atmosphere that this place offers!
(4)Tamika D.
I wanted to eat here so bad. But only had time to grab a shake. Which I was told would take 15 to 20 mins. Ah, never mind I didn't wait. Why two stars? Cause I don't hate the place only the wait. Plus the menu looked great.
(2)Rkb B.
This past weekend was the third time going to Downbeat and by far it has been the worst experience I've had in a long time. There for lunch, the table was the 4 of us, including my 5 year old nephew. At first, service was good: waitress brought out water and menus rather quickly and came back in an expected time for our orders. The wait for the food was longer than you'd expect for 3 sandwiches (2 BLAT's, and a grilled cheese) and one plate (the 'pile' which is home fries covered in cheese with 2 over-easy eggs on top, quite good actually), but nonetheless it did come out. As soon as that happened however, our waitress almost never came back to our table save once - and not even to give us the bill. The jalapeno poppers were clearly store-bought and were quite disappointing. The side of fries were decent, if a little salty overall. The vegan bacon in one of the BLAT's wasn't anything flavorful, merely a visual substitute that lacked any smokey goodness one looks for in fake bacon. My side of bacon was overly cooked and a tad tough, but still manageable. But that wasn't the worst of it. I had ordered a soda which, without me asking, she'd probably never would have refilled. To add to it, our waters were never refilled even though she walked around to the other tables filling everyone else's water and bypassed us. She even brought a bug-floating glass of milk to our table for my nephew - he spotted it. I mean, he's 5 years old, so how could the waitress not notice it? Maybe it's because we weren't 'hip' enough, or we didn't have enough tattoos or piercings, or dreadlocks, or maybe it's because we had the audacity to bring a kid into the place, but overall I felt very unwelcome. Please don't get me wrong, but I'm not one who needs the service to be at my beck and call for every little thing - far from it. I have very low standards for service - be nice, take down the order correctly, and fill my darn drink, please.
(2)Alex F.
I finally tried this place and I was expecting a bit better, but it's not bad. Some days they are open until 4am, which is awesome. Their burgers are a little plain, their special sauce didn't taste like much other than mayonaise. I got like 2 onions and an unripe tomato on my burger, and my bun was so dry that it was crumbling apart so I ended up eating it with a fork. You have to order fries separately, which sort of bothers me because it's standard to just give you fries on the side. However, I do like the vibe. They have cool booth seats, though the walls are a bare (I sat in the diner, the lounge is a little different). My food came fast, so that was good. Overall, I think it was a little pricey for what you get, but I'll be giving it another chance because I really want to try those milk shakes. They have a wide variety of them and they look delicious.
(2)Nikki G.
Nice laidback atmosphere. Menu choices to fit meat and non- meat eaters needs. Majority of items come also in a vegan choice. Staff is friendly and remember their customers. Sometimes service is slow. Some items are a bit costly but all in all menu items are a decent price. Nice place to eat when going out for an evening of dancing in Chinatown.
(4)Keola m.
Located on Hotel Street between some bars and Mini Garden Downbeat Diner is a pretty cool place. Has an atmosphere similar to the old style diners but with a bar instead of a soda fountain. A simple place. They have a cool menu and had some nice drink specials. (Chocolate Cake shots were the featured drink on this day) I was there at 1pm between rehersals so I didnt do any drinks. The waitress/bartendress suggested the Bloody Mary. She said it ws the best around town. The menu offers a lot of vegan subsitutions. Nice. Ordered the Otto Moco. Chicken Loco Moco (again I could have ordered it Vegan style...but, didnt) Everyone knows the key to a good loco moco is the gravy and boy Downbeat Diner has the gravy DOWN! Served with hapa rice it was Delicious. Other than the slow service....Only 1 waitress/bartendress. It was a great experience. Id definately go back.
(4)Simon C.
As with most of the downtown scene, depending on when you come this is a hit or miss. If there is a crowd, be ready for a long wait. If you are in luck, the food is great and they have good drink specials depending on what day it is. The play random movies projected against the wall, so its always entertaining to play drinking games tied with the movies. The decor, ambiance, and atmosphere seems to hark back to a 50s diner, which is most likely what they go for with their menu as burgers, fries, and shakes dominate their menu.
(3)Blue M.
I would like to see this place go up in a blaze of glory.
(1)Michael S.
I purchased a 1/2 off certificate recently for Downbeat diner and since I've I know Downbeat has a good happy Hour I wanted to give them another try. I wasn't impressed. Parking: Like everything else in Chinatown your on your own for parking. Luckily late nights means easy free street parking or tons of city lots Atmosphere: The place is straight up a diner with a little bit rockabilly influence. One big problem from our visit(this was my second time) was that the air conditioning was broken. How long it was broken and if it will ever be fixed will never be known, but it did affect my visit because it was pretty hot. At first I sat by the bar but moved towards the door to get more air. Service: At first while I was waiting for my group to come the waitress came over a couple of times. After we moved seats the checking on us slowed down. Overall the service was pretty good. Food came out promptly and I have no complaints. I even had a 1/2 off certificate which they gladly accepted. Price: First of all let me start with the happy hour. From 5-7pm they have 1/2 off appetizers and some 3$ well drinks in which for Chinatown is pretty good overall. Since I had a certificate I choose to get myself a burger. For about 20$ we got 1 burger, a grilled cheese & cheese sticks. Not bad. Food: Since this was my second visit I kind of knew what to expect food wise. So far every time I've had any food I wasn't overly impressed. All the food I've had is very basic and I can't say I'm a fan. Downbeat Diner does have some vegetarian and vegan options but since I'm neither that doesn't make me like this place more. Overall: DownBeat Diner has a nice feel to it and it has an excellent happy hour(at least for drinks & pupus) but food wise you can get better tasting food at McDonalds.
(2)Esteban W.
In all honesty, I only wanted to hit up the hipster joint because Tim P. disliked it so much. He did have good reason; they may have decent burgers and fries, they may be eco-friendly, they may be saving a tree somewhere or composting, but one thing they are not doing is learning some good service. The GOOD: It's a small, quaint, cozy, hispster joint right across from all the main China Town attractions. Inside its brightly lit, but you get that, "I don't have enough tattoos or silly mustaches to fit in" feeling. When all the skater/emo kids grow up, they open up places like Downbeat. The chick behind the counter was nice and helpful; our server however must have learned his people skills from Helen Keller (before she met Anne Sullivan). I order some gravy fries and a teriyaki burger. Both came out relatively quickly, especially since there was a good number of people already there. The BAD: They had a decent selection of beers - but the night I am there, they only have Bud and Bud Light. WTF. I pass on alcohol and order water instead. The server comes back with three plastic water cups. One with forks and knives, and two others with water and none of the plastic cups came with ice. I was unaware that there was an ice shortage in China Town... maybe it was extra. Overall: The burger was decent and the fries we ordered were sad. In the end I felt I could have done a better job at home. The one thing this place has going for it is the fact that they have the local grown, eco-friendly blah, blah, blah going on. Will I come back? Most likely, since its right across the street from Bar35. I may get drunk enough to not give a shit about what I want to eat, stumble across the street and scarf down a $9, 6oz. burger. Who cares, if I am THAT drunk ill probably end up throwing it up later anyway. Of course they're Hipster, they serve Otto Cakes.
(2)Stace S.
My bf and I wandered in after a concert at the Historic Hawaii Theater. It was a Saturday night and many of the eateries in the area were offering only their late-night selections. We quickly walked about 2 blocks from the theater afraid of the impending rush of hungry concert goers. Luckily, a booth had opened up not too long after we got their. The guy at the front was friendly and casually asked for our IDs. We settled into the cute little diner booths upholstered with black and white vinyl. On the vinyl were portraits of well known icons. The bf and I had fun identifying each portrait while we waited for our food. The waitress was also very casual, but really friendly. It was no fine dining style service but she was attentive. Her service and style really suited the atmosphere. I ordered the BLAT sandwich with a house salad. The bf had the Western Burger with a basket of fries. The food came fairly quickly considering there wasn't an empty seat in the place. The BLAT was amazing! Its been a month since I ate it, but I still crave it! The avocado was the perfect consistency! Not overly mushy and not rubbery. The creaminess of the avocado with the saltiness of the bacon were perfectly matched with the sourdough. BF really enjoyed his Western burger also. And the fries were so delicious! They were seasoned well and so nice and crispy! There's also some alternatives to the menu items, which I thought was really great. I'm not vegan, but I am allergic to dairy products. Its nice to know that I can indulge in some of the desserts offered.
(4)Spidey S.
CURRENT RATING (3 STARS): in addition to my former review, as shown below, i am very disappointed with the cooks who were working upon our last visit. our order was pretty badly fucked up. i mean, you can't send out a burger with no patty - vegan or not. that's a universal fact, and, in my book, completely unacceptable. thankfully our server was quite competent. he was able to balance the entire FOH by himself, while the BOH (multiple lunch cooks...?!) sent out three burgers with no patties on them. my advice to you, downbeat diner, is to hire ONE badass lunch cook, rather than TWO crappy lunch cooks. otherwise, you might lose customers. p.s. when the burgers came back out - our same buns (that had already been bitten into) had holes in them - most likely from the cooks jamming their fingers in them. try to take some more pride in your food, will you? sorry to our server (josh86?), i know you're awesome and i do love your establishment... but that shit shouldn't be able to fly. especially if you want to promote quality. also, line cooks shouldn't need babysitters 24/7. --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â------------- MY PREVIOUS RATING (5 STARS): despite it's shady location downtown. this place has awesome food. this place has awesome drinks. along with a semi-awesome staff (sometimes they can be a little standoff-ish). also, anywhere you travel - VEGAN OPTIONS ARE A DEFINITE PLUS. although i, myself, am an omnivore (those who eat meat and veg) - the vegan carnivore burger w/ half cajun and half garlic fries is my go-to-meal. they also have a Guinness milkshake and an excellent bloody mary. p.s. fuck all you vegan haters out there. vegan food is much more difficult to prepare than food for carnivores (those who eat meat ONLY). i mean, hello, you don't see any fast food places offering vegan food. why? because vegan food is actually somewhat nutritious, and most of the time cannot be frozen. unlike the frozen, prepared foods distributed to all fast food establishments WORLDWIDE (aka empty calories). think about it next time you eat a $1 burger. my advice to is eat ACTUAL FOOD, and therefore, you should give DOWNBEAT a try.
(3)Patrick G.
I stopped in here for lunch with my wife after shopping in Chinatown and we were pleasantly surprised. We had been looking for a quality, cheap lunch experience and Downbeat was perfect. I got the buffalo chicken sandwich with garlic fries and my wife got the BLAT. Even though these are very simple items, they were both prepared perfectly. I will definitely be going back here in the future.
(5)Tash M.
GARLIC FRIES! So wonderful, especially after a few spirits in me (no, not the exorcism type, silly.) Their fries have a little extra "zest" in it, like the butter had hint of lemon. Never had that in any garlic fries before, it was nice. I like how they're open late (4am I believe?) I've only been here after hitting the bars around the area (i.e. Manifest, Nextdoor, thirtyninehotel.) Service was OK. We were seated quickly, as it wasn't too busy. But our waitress took about 5 minutes to get us water and take our order...maybe she was new? Seemed a little flustered, but we were feeling good so it didn't matter much so.
(4)Claudia M.
This is the place to go if your looking for awesome vegan food! Their food is amazing and freaking DELICOUS!!!!! I love it! Their menu is different for lunch and dinner though.
(4)Jessica S.
Underwhelmed. I had high expectations for this place since I've seen it featured in various Honolulu publications. We went in around 8pm on a Friday night and there was one server for the whole room. Service took forever, and the food was just ok. When we got our bill, there was an automatic 20% gratuity added on for FOUR people!! We had a groupon but still...geez. Also, multiple cockroaches came in while we were waiting and as we were dining. GROSS!!
(2)Victoria A.
Went back to try something different. I wasn't feeling well so I opted for a grilled cheese. I was very disappointed. The bread was sour dough and it was VERY VERY sour tasting. Also, the bread tasted like it had been marinated in butter sauce for 3 days before they prepared it. Bummer.
(2)Z Z.
If I was rating this restaurant solely on my milkshake, I would increase the stars, however, I am basing it on my overall experience. During my visit I had the Jagger Bacon Milkshake (awesome BTW), and the buffalo chicken sandwich with cajun fries. My sandwich was disappointing to say the least and was served on "sourdough" that tasted more like cheap white bread. The chicken was sliced razor thin and tasted frozen. I could have made a better sandwich at home for half the price. As lame as my sandwich was, my bacon milkshake was pretty enjoyable. I didn't have any drinks, however many sounded really good. I would probably return for another shake or a drink, but will probably avoid the food.
(2)Alexander C.
A french toast sandwich? Root beer float mixed drinks? A delightful selection of junk food to please the most discriminating palette. Downbeat Diner has a ridiculously good menu for us veg-heads. They can make pretty much any item vegan style including the drinks. My wife and I found this place by chance and we were extremely impressed. The service was super friendly and fast, the food was delicious and oh wow, the prices were quite cheap. We visited here twice and we'd definitely come back if we make it back to Hawaii.
(5)Cristyn T.
Cute diner! Came here two First Fridays in a row. All seating, aside from the bar, is pretty much the same size booth so you may have a bit of a wait whether you come in a group of 2 or a group of 6. Love the fabric on the booth seats which feature portraits of an eclectic group of artists such as Frida Kahlo and Braddah Iz! Servers are friendly and food comes out relatively quick. I ordered the American burger with a vegan patty instead of Big Island beef. Also stuffed my face with a side of fries. SOOO GOOD! Reminded me a little of an In-N-Out Burger, but I felt a little less guilty since I got a vegan patty. The patty was so good you wouldn't even think it was vegan! You can order the whole burger vegan if you choose, but who wants to eat a burger without cheese?!?! I also tried a chai coconut milkshake, thick and creamy! You can add a shot of alcohol to your shake if you dare. Nice selection of beer and alcohol, but haven't ventured in that direction yet! I love a place with reasonable prices that also supports local! I'll definitely be back to a place that I can spend $10-15 on a meal including tip and enjoy junk food with less guilty options! Oh, and did I mention that they are open really late? Like 3 am or later kinda late! Good place to get your fatty on after a night of drinking! *Use your ID Card for a free side of fries or salad when you purchase a burger or sandwich!
(4)Darby C.
**PLEASE DO NOT BELIEVE THE 5 STAR REVIEWERS OF THIS PLACE** ***THEY ARE EITHER FRIENDS OF THE RESTAURANT OR JUST PLAIN HIGH AS A KITE*** Run the F away! Like many others, we wanted to like this place. You look at the pictures posted here on yelp, and it all looks so good, and fresh, and delicious... but then your food arrives and its like opening a Big Mac box from McDonalds and saying, "it doesn't look like that in the picture!" The photos of the good looking food items are all from the owner or their friends or something. Perfectly staged images to post on yelp... check out how it's the same 3 or 4 people taking photos and posting them. The interior is pretty amateur, with blank white walls and black goopy paint on the walls along the booth... looks like it was slapped together over night. The booths have some music icons on them and the tables are covered with some cold, sheet metal. They have some fairly loud, post punk, new-wave playing so I guess that makes them hipster? Over all it pretty chic for the area, considering you have to step over the homeless and down-trodden to enter the establishment... no forget to lock up your car, eh?! Our experience was really bad, as in I will never go there again, even if the prices weren't ridiculously beyond the caliber of their food. The waitress/bartender was pleasant. She greeted us and took our drink order. All was good, but when the food started to arrive it went down hill fast. $7 for 5 tiny hot wings that weren't even crispy. They reminded me of the wings you get at roundtable pizza that get thawed out, rolled in some buffalo sauce, thrown on a cookie sheet, and tossed in the oven. They come served with 2 carrot sticks and 2 celery sticks and a small paper cup of store bought nastiness, that they call ranch. Then the entrees came out. The $9 chef salad had nothing to do with a chef. It was a person, who in no way could be called a chef, assembling a bunch of store bought ingredients on a plate. The cheese is grated cheese from a bag, the ham is pre-packaged cold cuts sliced into some thin strips and rolled, the chicken is also some cubed chicken from a bag, the bacon was ok, and I don't know how they could screw up a hard boiled egg, and somehow they didn't... but what tripped me out most was the lettuce; they use the same hand leafed butter lettuce that I assume they throw on the burgers. Each piece of lettuce was huge and beat up. Never had a chef salad that I needed to a knife to eat. The topper again was the minuscule paper cup of "bleu cheese" dressing on the side. It was really gross and gelatinous. It's weird how this place touts itself as being this vegan fresh trendy place, but can't even produce a decent salad. I literally have had better salads from the roach coach that pulls up at my office. Finally was the $10 carnivore burger. This burger did not fit the description at all. When you think carnivore do you think of a small, super well done, hockey puck of a burger, with a couple slices of ham, some fairly insignificant bacon, small slice of yellow cheese, and some cold grilled onions? Cause if you do, then this is your place. No lettuce, tomato, pickles, nothing... Just bun, small thawed out burger meat, a little bit of ham, 1 slice of bacon chopped in half, cheese, grilled onions, and some sap they call downbeat sauce. And the fries were luke warm, bland, and limp. If everything was 1/3 of the price, it would all be very worth it. But at $40 for a burger, salad, a couple drinks, and 5 wings, I will happily spend my money elsewhere, and you should too. This place is a bar... they shouldn't try to trick people into thinking it's good, healthy, vegan-ie, fresh food.
(1)Vincent Q.
Hipster was a term I considered facetious, a title that shouldn't be placed alongside an eatery. In an odd sense, I was in err. For 50% of the customers, I was amazed, but there was a certain look, a posture, I did indeed feel this hipster vibe. It was something you need to absorb and soak in if you were an outsider, or radiate and be proud of, if you were an insider. I was thankful I sat next to a homeless group, they were quite loud and amusing. There was even a cute corner where they were photographing food. Volcano Fries (Vegan)- 3.5-stars- At first site, the grey-tan gravy made me reconsider what I was getting myself into. Here I was, eating with a vegan friend, and decided, I might as well indulge. The gravy had a heavy look, but didn't leave me feeling bogged down. The flavor was a bit light, nearly non-existent. It isn't necessarily a volcano--the cajun fries have a spicier bite for heat seekers. I asked my friend if the volcano is the look of the item, but he had no idea. Overall it's a large plate of fries, but the gravy and cheese wasn't too potent in terms of flavor. This was definitely made up for with the garlic and spices. Otto's Moco (Vegan)- 3-stars- A bed of brown rice, covered with vegan chicken, more of the gravy, and topped with mock eggs and mushrooms, garnished with green onions. The portion was not overflowing nor massive, but the collection of different ingredients definitely leaves you with a reason to explore the dish. Being roughly the same gravy as the volcano fries, it wasn't too exciting, so I had hoped for more there. The chicken actually had the texture and flavor of real chicken. This led to a discussion about making non-meats look like and taste like meats, for me it was mildly wasteful, because of all the vegetables and fruits which exist in nature, giving a definite plethora of flavor, texture, and color to new and interesting dishes. He replied that he doesn't really have cravings for meats, so it didn't matter too much. The mushroom and egg mixture on top was a nice addition, as with the brown rice which adds a different texture and flavor than white rice. In truth, real chicken or vegan, that addition was different. As I've written about loco moco, it is the gravy, the meat or the additions which make a difference. Here, nothing stood out or made the dish stand on it's own. Guiness Shake- 4-stars- I am not a fan of Guiness, so why the 4-stars? It tasted like Guiness, even as a non-alcoholic option. This was one unique flavor which isn't easy to duplicate, and it was done. You can pay a few dollars more and get a shake with any alcohol of your choice. Atmosphere- This place definitely has the look and feel of a cool diner. The staff has a sense of style and look which matches perfectly. Actually, I saw a wave of people, one at a time, dressed in black, heading straight to the back. There are options for the box seats and bar seating. Bathrooms are in the back, and give you a glimpse into the kitchen. Service- I arrived early, because I wanted to order my shake while I waited for my friend. I received a water and waited about ten minutes. A few minutes later, my friend arrived, but no one had taken my order. I was a bit disappointed by this, only because I read this in the reviews, but didn't know if it was entirely true. Throughout our meal, different people served us, and we ended up with a waitress at the end. There was a strange interaction, when she asked if we wanted anything else or wanted the check--because we were in a conversation, I don't think we wanted either one, but we felt like those were the only options. The way she spoke and acted was almost offensive, and as she left to get the check, because we didn't want to order anything--he said, "Well, that was weird." she came back with a check, and I looked at it, and knew something was wrong. We examined it, and found we weren't charged for some food. She came back, almost defensive as we pointed out the check was wrong--I think she was taken aback as we revealed we weren't charged for everything. There was no time to see if she was nicer, because we took the receipt, paid separately (where she mixed our credit cards, and we paid for each other's meal), and we left. Conclusion- I doubt it has anything to do with being hipster, but perhaps with the perspective which you look at yourself compared to your customer. My experience here on the service level left me wanting for more. If we were rude, if we were demanding, if we were cheap, yes, maybe you can be abrasive. I have never consciously been any of these things, and expect a reciprocity of balance and respect. My vegan friend likes the place, but I wonder if there are other vegan places which pushes the bar of flavor and ingredients to another level. Leaving the establishment, I was immediately approached by a homeless man for change, then for a dollar. The area definitely isn't that great, but the inside is made to feel like a different place.
(3)Daniel K.
- Took forever and then some for my order, which was just a burger and fries. - Server didn't seem like he wanted to be there. - Seemed a bit pricy for the type of food that was available for order.
(1)Reimi D.
For a place with such a cool interior, it's a shame that they are not living up to the hype. I'll start with the pro's: contrary to other reviewers I actually like that they have a limited menu. Having too much to choose from makes it harder to decide what to eat. The black/white/red/ decor is appealing and is meant to attract a specific crowd. Kinda cool, I guess. Can't go wrong with the hours, and the location is quite convenient if you're bar-hopping and want a bite to eat. Cons: oh, where do I begin? 1. Slow. Service is slow. Incredibly slow. Sloth-like slow. And why? As mentioned above, their menu is pretty simple, and aside from us, there were only about 4 other customers. After being seated it took about 15-20 minutes for the waiter to take our beverage order. It took another 15 minutes for him to come back with them. So after 30 minutes, all we were our drinks. Later during the meal, which I will get to, I asked for a refill and the waiter kindly explained that they use canned soda and would have to charge me another $2.00 for a soda. Two dollars for a CAN of soda??? I can buy a 2 liter bottle of soda for less than that. Don't get me wrong, I understand paying $2.00 for a beverage *with* refills is normal, but I could not get over the fact that we paid $6.00 for 3 cans of soda. And if all it takes is opening a can of soda and pouring it into a glass, then WHY does that take 15 minutes? 2. Inexperienced cook. My hubby and I ordered burgers--the waiter did not ask how we wanted them cooked. Apparently well-done and on the brink of being overcooked is the default. When a burger is cooked well-done without it being requested, it means two things: either the 'chef' simply does not know how to cook a burger to order, which, yes, does take skill but should also be pretty basic for a burger joint, or he is afraid the undercooked meat with get people sick, which if fresh it shouldn't. If done right, a well-done burger should still be juicy; this was not. 3. Rude. I get that it's a cruel, cruel world and no one understands what you're going through, tattoo girl, but cracking a smile here and there can't hurt, especially when dealing with paying customers that are willing to try out your new establishment. You do want customers, right? Yah, I know right now it's just your "crowd" that's stopping by for a burger at 2 am so screw everyone else, but eventually you're going to have to cater to customers who aren't also your roommates or hipster DJ's, so how about a little customer service with those fries? In all, I don't believe anyone at Downbeat Diner has ever waited tables or cooked for an establishment until now. Seems cool at first until you realize it takes actual work and effort to run a restaurant...oh wait, I mean diner. The inexperience with overall service, the lengthy wait for pretty basic food, and burgers that are way over-cooked tells me that this spot is all about appearance and not enough about substance. Sorry guys, you seemed like such a cool joint, and I really don't like that I'm disappointed.
(1)Nick W.
These guys make great diner food. I came here right after they opened and was hooked on their GREAT burgers and milkshakes. I especially love their Western Burger. They also make a pretty strong long island. Super packed on First Fridays, but a good meal any other time.
(5)Christa W.
Only missing a star because I have yet to be able to order the apple fritters (they are always out), but their secret hand made Bloody Mary Mix solves EVERYTHING! It tastes like they muddled fresh celery and tomatoes with like angel wings or something. Sunday brunch goes all the way until 10pm and the chicken and waffles are only available then. SO ono.
(4)Kathryn D.
Never heard of the place, but I'm glad I tried it out. We were roaming Chinatown for First Friday not really knowing what to do with ourselves. We walked past Downbeat Dinner twice before deciding to go in. It was packed packed packed! Not sure if we were supposed to wait to be seated or just pick a booth, we stood around for awhile before the waitress came to help us. I think this is the type of place where you just sit where ever. We started off with the Gingerbrew. It's made in house and is really really good! It's refreshing and sweet...but not too sweet. We ate the American Burgers and I loved that they were made from local Big Island Free Range Beef. You CAN taste the difference and I didn't notice the beef being drier then usual. We also got the Apple Fritters. They came with caramel sauce and they were truly divine! If you're going to try anything from this place, make it the apple fritters, they're worth it! The only qualm I had with this place is that when I asked about the house sauce the waitress told me it was a secret and that it tasted like ranch. I told her as long as it wasn't mayo...but it totally was mayo...mixed with ketchup. I would rather not have had the sauce in my burger. And also, it felt like they were trying to get us out of there as fast as possible. Like I said, it was a packed house and more people kept coming in, but there were people there in booths who were there before we were, and who I assume were "friends" with the workers because they were just taking space (IE...not eating a damn thing) and no one was rushing them to leave.
(3)Arisa G.
I like Downbeat. When the pho restaurant that used to be in it's place closed down, I was infinitely sad because let's be honest-- pho is amazing when drunk. But when I heard that a cozy diner was taking it's place I was excited. Downtown late night dining is pretty limiting so it was nice to see a new place opening up for that kind of crowd. On my first visit here I was horribly disappointed. I had the loco moco. I won't lie, I f**king love these things, but this burger was dreadful. Just, ugh, really really bad. Burnt, solid, over salted. It was a pain to eat and I ended up eating everything around it. I've never had a burger patty so dry in my life, I was insulted. But subsequent visits have been better. I've realized that avoiding meat options here is the only way to get a decent plate of food, which is a little frustrating because I can't always order what I want knowing it might suck. Whether this is a statement on behalf of the owners might be a bit of a projection, but I don't think it should be ruled out completely. But let's move on: The BLAT is delicious. And the cajun fries? Oh man, I've had dreams about them. The brownie sundae was meh. The vegan brownies are really hard like pucks and I wish they were warmed a bit more or at least fresh for serving. Ice cream was alright. Pretty okay dessert. The only reason this place is getting more than two stars is because they have Dead Guy Ale, which is hard to find at most bars and restaurants. Their beer selection could use some sprucing, though.
(3)Sara T.
Came here yesterday after a hard night of First Fridaying. We were starving and didn't want to cab it to Zippy's, and JJ Dolans had just closed, so we headed to Downbeat. I had the Loco Moco ($8) with a vegan patty and two eggs on brown rice, and it was pretty tasty. The patty was sort of the texture and taste of falafel, and the gravy was good. However, I would not say it's the "best loco moco" like some other Yelpers claim. It's also quite small by local portion size standards, so while it was a perfect size for me, I think my friend's 6'4" boyfriend was still hungry after finishing his in 5 minutes. We also shared a basket of fries, which was pretty huge for $4. The fries tasted fresh and were thick-cut, and had the perfect ratio of crunchy outside and soft inside. The decor was "hipster diner" and the place was definitely buzzing with people. Service was actually quite fast considering how packed they were (with people out the door trying to get seated). Our bill came out to $30 for three of us (we ordered two loco mocos and a sandwich and fries). I would definitely come back in a similar situation (drunk, late at night), but I don't know what the food/service will be like when I'm sober. I'm hoping it's just as good! Bonus points for being open til 4 am :)
(3)Sarah B.
I really love this diner. The staff are lovely and the food is really good. I get the teriyaki burger, it's the best veggie burger I've had in YEARS. The milkshakes are good (very thick) and the cajun fries are delicious -- crispy and spicy. Beer selection is limited but good and there's a full bar as well. The overall vibe is hipster-but-friendly.
(4)