Green Papaya Bistro
555 N King St,Ste 108, Honolulu, HI, 96817
Green Papaya Bistro Menu
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Address :
555 N King St,Ste 108
Honolulu, HI, 96817 - Phone (808) 841-6988
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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yoshi s.
Out of all Green Papaya restaurants on the island this one is best BY FAR!!! One day I was craving for Vietnamese food and stumbled into this place... There I saw was a cool fish tank with a cute server greeting me in. MONEY! And the food... I got the spring rolls, that were freshly made and delicious, and an order of Bitter Melon with tofu. I've been looking for a good place to eat bitter melon for years and I finally met her here in N King, Green Papaya. I understand bitter melon has an acquired taste but you must try it if you are feeling adventurous. In terms of the service, they were extremely friendly and nice! I'm not 100% sure but I think the workers were Japanese, and we all know how kind Japanese people are... In my opinion, Japanese people do provide the best hospitality for customers and i saw a reflection of that. If you are looking for a good Vietnamese place to dine in, why not this place? If you're lucky you may see the cute girl that I've only seen twice out of the four times I've been there haha.
(5)Santi T.
Vietnamese? Yes! The best? Ahhhh, not really. I picked this place for lunch because the parking is somewhat decent (same lot as Jiffy Lube) along with the food. It's a vietnamese restaurant that serves a bunch of noodle, vegetarian and meaty dishes. We ordered #5 House Special Salad with Chicken $8.75 which included grilled chicken with leafy greens, sliced tomatoes, onions and cucumbers with the typical vietnamese fish sauce based dressing. Refreshing but they overly dressed it. I prefer my salad a little bit more naked! My entree was #33 Eggplant w/Chicken $9.50 and brown rice (50¢ extra). It had a good flavor but it had too many onions. It was an onion-fest because when I looked around, everyone had onions on their dish! Bust out the mints! The portion size could improve because they served so much rice. The brown rice had a good texture. It wasn't too hard or grainy. The place has about 12 tables with outdated decor. The service was good enough for the lunch crowd. Price wise ~ not too impressed.
(3)Sean R.
I close and often eat Vietnamese food, the employees here are awesome, food quality good, what more can you ask for. Thanks for making my experience always a good one!
(5)Sally V.
I've been going here for the past 4 years and with every visit I am never disappointed. it's my type of comfort food. my favorite is the Chicken Pho. the broth is so delicious and keeps me satisfied.
(5)Monthakan B.
With too many Pho restaurants to choose from, Green Papaya needs to step up their game a little. Their Pho was okay but very little meat. But their Oxtail Pho is pretty sad. The taste was good but too much noodles and not enough oxtail. Only had 3 small pieces with hardly any meat on it :(
(3)Nica N.
My favorite vietnamese restaurant. The spring roll and pho tastes pretty good. This is probably the only vietnamese restaurant owned by a Japanese family. The service is great and it's always very clean. The only negativity is the location. Kind of ghetto.
(4)Ellen W.
Dinner at Green Papaya Bistro was the absolute best meal I've had eating out in years. The food was fresh, tasty and cooked perfectly. We ordered the green papaya salad which was a generous portion topped with shrimp, sliced tomatoes, fresh Thai basil and the green papaya salad sauce. We also ordered the soft noodles with beef and vegetables and kalbi with shrimp with rice. The portions are generous and even though I skipped lunch, I couldn't finish my soft noodles with beef. My husband normally finishes what I can't eat but today he was satisfied with what he had already eaten. The orders arrived quickly and the service was friendly and cordial. I think this restaurant may very well have become our new favorite place to eat. My husband was so happy he gave the owner and cook a $20 tip for a $35 dinner order. Totally worth every cent we spent there. We got there early, around 5:00 and there was only one person there so that is a good time to go if you want your food quickly. We are very happy with our experience at Green Papaya Bistro and highly recommend it for anyone who likes Vietnamese or Thai food.
(5)Anna T.
Small size pho is aprox. 6" that's pretty small for 7$. We'd advise anyone who wouldn't mind another $1 difference for a medium bowl. Had better Pho but this is pretty decent for cravings. :) Picture shown is a medium. The size of this bowl was much more satisfying. :D Basically one person would spend about $10 for a filling or partial filling meal. Lol My brother had a Spring roll dish and paid $10 for four pieces cut in half with palm size vermicelli noodles and cucumbers. He said they were pretty good. Service was decent, and the cook was nice about upgrading our small into a medium.
(3)Carrie G.
This place was a solid 3 stars. The prices seem a bit high for the area, but it was a healthy choice amidst all the fast food spots. Parking was also ample, which is nice in that area bc the struggle is real! Went in around 2pm on a Saturday afternoon, and we're the only 2 in there. Ordered a rice noodle combo with bbq pork and spring rolls, a shrimp papaya salad, and 2 ice coffees- total was $29.06. Gave $30 cash and received no change until we asked for it. As if the extra change was assumed to be the tip (pet peeve). Take out was ready in less than 10 minutes. The bbq pork was super thin but tasty. The spring rolls also very thin. Hubby said it was ok but probably wouldn't order again. The papaya salad was HUGE, but lacked flavor without the spicy dressing, even after the sweet dressing was added. I had some ingredients in my fridge I added to "soup up my salad"... Avocado, red onion, more tomatoes from my garden, and mint. The papaya salad only had basil, peanut, shrimp, carrot and tomato on top. Pretty plain for a $10 salad. Probably won't go out of my way to return but if it's a choice of that or the Jack in the Box across the street (see my review on that debacle- 45 minutes for drive thru?!) I'm going to get some pho instead!
(3)Renz P.
Was one of my favorite pho places to go to way back, with the new owner I am not liking it that well. The service here sucks during dinner hours. I feel like you guys need employees. Been waiting for an hour and a half just to get my food.
(2)Alizabeth H.
Always great service. Both husband and wife owners ate really nice. They know what we want and it comes out fast. We love there food!
(5)Michelle E.
When I'm craving for some traditional Vietnamese food especially pho bo this is where I go. I've been to a lot of restaurants where they carry pho particularly all around Chinatown and downtown area, and they all taste the same to me and I have the same problem with all of it which is basically their broths are watery or most of the time it tastes watery. But at green papaya their broth is sooooo flavorful that you don't even have to go ham on the sauces. Which I think is the real reason why people like to put so much sauces into their pho is because they want to add flavor because the broth does not have enough flavor. So if you want some good pho I suggest you come here. Their other dishes are pretty good as well their salads are very light and refreshing. Whenever I done in here of course I always get my combo pho and I sometimes like to also order their cold noodle dishes specifically their cold vermicelli with BBQ beef and spring rolls. The spring rolls here are the bomb!!!! I love to order it with a side of peanut sauce. However no fear for those vegetarians out there they also have a vegetarian menu so no worries. I've been here for like over 10 years and I've always been satisfied and leave happy and full. The owners are great they're kind and welcoming they like to individually talk to all their diners same to the waiters/waitresses. The establishment is very neat, clean, and organize. So it's great for business meeting or if you just want some breakfast, lunch or brunch. So if you're craving for some authentic really good Vietnamese food or pho I recommend you try dining at green papaya.
(5)Brittaney T.
To make it clear: I got takeout. The only CON about this place is that they don't offer the small size for takeout orders. It has to be medium or large. Food: excellent and flavored. Everything was fresh. It was packaged and separated appropriately. Service: absolutely excellent. The man who took our order was very friendly. He held a genuine smile. What I particularly liked was that he offer my sister-in-law and I water while we waited. Location: it's located on king st. It's in the same location as the new jolibee. Parking lot is small, however many people do not know of the parking lot below. Price: It was appropriately priced. Not expensive, but not cheap pho. They charged the standard prices for pho as any other restaurant. Ambience: very clean and decorated elegantly. A lot of Asian decoration. I liked that the tables were huge. I can imagine myself eating in the restaurant and not worry about the space on the table. It's very casual also. Overall, I really like this place and would eat here again. I probably would rather dine in next time instead of take out.
(4)Al D.
Decent Vietnamese place. Big menu. Parking is ok but neighborhood is bad. Service is so so. I would return.
(3)Avian M.
I absolutely love this place. Good location. Amazing food Their pho is so great. I suggest having pho with their amazing summer and/or spring rolls to start off with. They have pork and shrimp summer rolls as options and comes with their super good peanut sauce!!! Too bad for those who are allergic to peanuts, but it's to die for! I'll also get their pho with tripe, steak, meatballs, and tendon with all garnishing on top. Their workers are Vietnamese friendly and serves his/her customers with a great greeting. I'll also recommend ordering their Thai tea, and for dessert; avocado shake!!!! Love it their
(5)Yamamoto C.
this is hands down, the best place to eat pho. it is my absolute fav. this is a long overdue review. i used to come here at least once or twice a week for over a year, with my bf. i don't think i could ever eat pho that often if it was anywhere else, lol. i like it here mostly because i think the broth is delicious. and comparing to some other places, the noodles are also the best here. i also prefer here since they have more than one size bowl (sml, med, lrg etc). recently i've only been trying pho places with only one size! and i can never finish it. i usually get the rare steak pho and he would get the combination. also, usually get the spring rolls which are also so yummy! and to finish it off, i get a strawberry smoothie. (tbh i would rather go here for a smoothie than somewhere like jamba :p)
(5)Amber M.
My absolute favorite place to get pho The broth is so flavorful and noodles are always perfect Usually I don't like take out pho but this place is my only exception other places take out usually taste like fast food half a** pho to me but this place is consistently perfect My only negative comment would be about the hours they aren't open long enough and on Sundays which sometimes I need it the most if u know what I mean but that isn't enough for me to knock this place their pho is too good and their workers are to nice so 5 stars in my book
(5)Darin O.
When I was new to the islands co-workers brought us here because it was their thing and if we wanted to get along at work - it would have to become our thing too. OK- let's try something on the menu - their treat. I'm game. Low and behold- even this seasoned traveler and Peace Corps Volunteer learned something new. Green Papaya- yes - you can eat Green Papaya. I did not know that. In the country where I was in the Peace Corps - they grew Green Papaya but no one ever would put it in a cooking dish- it is more seen as kids food when it is ripe only. I wish I knew about these dishes when I was serving in the PC as it would be very nutritious compared to many of the islanders diet- that ate very little greens. Back on track to review. Fresh food. Green Papaya is definitely different if you have never had it and the right amount of vinegar and spice to add to the flavor of any meat - chicken is always a plus. It all seems fresh and looks great. Sometimes if you are not used to the food as I was then you may think of it as grass with sides of meat- but really it has to be enjoyed and realize that most of the world does not order a hunk of meat to eat with a few sides. Service is friendly not over the top and wait time is reasonable. Again- I have visited many times and the food always is consistent and cooked well to taste.
(4)Doris D.
Terrible pho broth in my honest opinion. I ordered a small chicken pho and it was obviously a beef pho broth but with thick slices of tough chicken breast strewn on top. The broth was like drinking anise soup with lots of MSG and no depth of flavor (or even flavor for that matter) whatsoever. My husband had the lemongrass chicken and grilled pork chop rice which he said was good. The service, in their defense, was very good. Pretty disappointing experience.
(2)Lory A.
I honestly love this place. They treat you like family and the pho is delicious. Also very close to my place.
(5)Misty P.
I'm on the search for the best vermicelli on the island. I've read reviews about the lemongrass chicken vermicelli and tried it. I phone ordered at 8:30pm during work and didn't realize the time. The lady on the phone said the kitchen was closing but was offering to make it for me. Thus the extra star for her friendliness and kindness. The noodles were a great consistency (not mushy), the veggies were great, but there was this sweet and sour sauce on it (kinda like that Thai sweet sauce for chicken nuggets) spread all over it and the chicken tasted really gamey for some reason. It turned me off. So sad....not for me. So far the best lemongrass vermicelli is Pho 808 in Kapolei.
(3)JO G.
I was introduced to this restaurant by a good friend a few years ago. . . and I have returned numerous times sine then! I always order the cold noodles with bbq pork and spring rolls. O-M-G!! And, their Thai Iced Tea is the BEST on the island. :) Friendly service, clean restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere, reasonably priced food that tastes good . . . and, there's the GREEN PASS score on their front door. Highly recommend to any individual craving for Vietnamese food.
(5)Claire F.
Review based on the pho, only! When compared to other pho in nearby Chinatown, this place is just okay. The broth is okay, not as flavorful as I would like, but if you douse your spoon in enough hot sauce, it makes it better (haha). And they give lots of green onions in the broth (my fave)! Portions are normal-sized; not too big, not too small. The service is good; very friendly and polite, my water glass is always full (a must when eating pho!), and the restaurant is clean. The location is easily walkable from my workplace (aka don't have to worry about parking), and its never busy (a sign of its popularity? or a poor location choice?). Either way, I'd come here again just because it's so convenient.
(3)Mac J.
This continues to be my favorite Vietnamese restaurant on North King Street for dinner. I used to live in the downtown Honolulu area when I worked at the Federal building. They have excellent pho and a great variety in their menu. I always order the spring rolls because they are simply delicious! They are just outside the downtown area so you can expect to not pay downtown prices!!! Customer service is also very good and attentive. I'm going to try their lunch hour on my next review. It's hard not to rate 4 stars!!
(4)Trinidad S.
I had the seafood spring rolls, egg plant chicken, and a bowl of Pho. The woman serving me gave excellent service as well as who I believed to be the cook, even came outside to check up on the customers. Will come back again!
(5)Trevor T.
Beef pho was pretty solid and the green papaya salad was pretty good too (heck, it better be, given the name of the restaurant!). The prices were pretty spot-on with the food quality here, and as a bonus they also do delivery (via Takeout in Paradise).
(4)Ed L.
This Green Papaya Bistro is an extension of what I am used to in Kaimuki and across the street from WalMart on Keeaumoku Street locations. So to my surprise when I saw this location in Kalihi, near by Mayor Wright Homes on Dilingham Blvd, I wasn't feeling so hot about coming to this place - being that this place can be sketchy at night, so I opted to go during the day for lunch just because it was just safer. You hear stories about Kalihi, so you wouldn't want to be another statistic. With that said, Green Papaya Bistro is easy to get to. It is located in a small shopping block and has its own private parking lot. But if you are like me, several bus routes serve this area, including, #1, #2, #3, and #9, to name a few from downtown / Hotel Street. This place is similar to what I have known about this place all along, just the location is different, but the set up remains the same. I do love the hospitality that Green Papaya serves. I sometimes miss this place, when I try other Pho houses around the island, so it's nice to go back and see what they are up to from time to time. The service is average, I am not going to lie, but I like it. Not fancy, but you dine in humble surroundings and that's good. It's not run down, just average ambiance and plenty of quiet when you want it to be. Green Papaya would probably the the only place I would order the green papaya salad from, since it's part of the business name, so I did just that! I ordered the green papaya salad, summer rolls, and large bowl of Pho. Yes, I was hungry that day and felt the need to really go to town, since I have earned it from a grueling week of work, seeing that I was here last Friday, 6/16/12. The staff was friendly and attentive, which is always a plus. They refilled my water cup as fast as I could drink it and that was awesome. You don't see that much in other Pho houses at all. Since the restaurant is small, they do keep more of a watchful eye, just to keep everyone happy and satisfied with their meals, which is good customer service. I love that. The green papaya salad turned out good, not too pickly and gross with liquid oozing onto the plate. The summer rolls were on par with what i am used to. No more cold refrigerated rolls, especially when they've been in there for more than 1/2 the day. That sucks! Love room temperature summer rolls where they make it as soon as it's ordered. Lastly, the Pho was good, but not great. I guess it just depends on who makes the Pho, but I thought it was good and it hit the spot, obviously. I would come back here just for the Pho. The prices are average, but not so much as it would be a cause for concern. It is a Pho house after all, so do need to remember on how much these things cost. I probably had shelled out close to $30 w/o tip, but it was so worth it. Dine local! B+
(4)Christina Y.
Tried this place Saturday. My husband is fighting a cold so we wanted some spicy, hot pho to clear up his sinuses. Unlike pho menus that I'm used to, they do everything ala carte. Even though it's "build your own," they just charge you for the size of the soup. So you can order all kinds of meat and veggies and be charged on rate. We just got rare steak and beef balls. If you order to go, which we did, they pack the rare steak raw - so make sure you eat it soon before the soup gets cold! The broth was delicious, and they included all of the usual sides. Definitely going back here again.
(4)Kevin A.
OH THE IRONY Wouldn't you expect the green papaya to be excellent at a placed named Green Papaya? I did, and I was very disappointed. It was dry, bland, and I had to ask for extra dressing which still didn't remedy the situation. In any case, I came here for the spicy beef soup and with sinuses that needed unclogging, I wasn't about to be deterred. The soup was very good. I asked for it extra spicy and it certainly made me sweat and helped to ease my cold symptoms. The only problem was the cost which was almost $10! That's a pit pricey for pho which I can get at my local restaurant for $3.25 a bowl. Also ridiculously expensive were the spring rolls which were $8.75. For that price they had better be wrapped in gold leaf. I think next time I'll pass on this place.
(2)Love S.
Decent. I keep forgetting that Goma Ichi next door is closed between lunch and dinner, so we ended up at Green Papaya on default. The pho is good, nothing wrong, nothing extra special. It did ruin my appetite that the cooks, waitresses and manager were sitting down eating Balut (fetal duck or chicken egg) on the table next to us. They had a big bowl of eggs and they were cracking um and sucking out all the juices, I could see the little feet and head, it was a little disturbing. Waitress gave us good service in between eating her Balut. When she dropped the check she had a feather stuck in her tooth. Not sure if I'd go back, so many other pho places out there.
(3)Roo C.
I randomly crave their Spicy Thai Tofu soup with rice. Their vegetable spring rolls are pretty good too. Just a nice place with good veg options. Friendly staff, decent food. What's not to like?
(4)N T.
Mediocre vietnamese food. I ate at Green Papaya once, and I'm not eager to go back. The food was underwhelming and uninspired. Atmosphere unexceptional and service inattentive. Out of ~6 vegetarian dishes ordered the green papaya salad was the best. Vegetarian pho was okay, but somewhat bland. Mediocre quality ingredients repeat at an extremely high rate between dishes. I felt that the vegetables used were cheap + boring. Too much cabbage, only fried tofu, thick rice noodles in all noodle dishes (including pho). Peanut sauce for the summer rolls had an off flavor, giving a processed rather than fresh taste. I expected to have fresh, vibrant, Vietnamese style vegetables at Green Papaya, especially as they bill themselves as a vegetarian restaurant. This was not the case, and none of the flavors nor vegetables struck me as especially Vietnamese nor in any way vibrant. Diem, previously down the street from Down to Earth, was a thousand times better. Diem sadly is closed, but I think it still exists at lunch time downtown. Mekong, although Thai, not Vietnamese, offers a similar style of food (rice noodle soups, summer rolls, stir fried vegetables... even, i believe, a green papaya salad) at a much higher level of quality and taste at a similar price point (perhaps slightly more expensive, but worth it.). By the way, although the sign on Green Papaya says vegetarian on it in big letters, the restaurant is not exclusively vegetarian and the vegetarian selection is actually not that large. It is in fact smaller than many supposedly non-vegetarian restaurants (ex. Mekong)
(3)Geri S.
The best pho I've ever eaten.....the meat has such a great texture too! Not sure where they buy their meat but I'd love to know! Plus the owners there are suuuuper nice...I think they recognize me by now after I keep coming back for pho! In my opinion not all the Green Papayas are the same...this one is the best yet....I've eaten at the Keeaumoku one and the broth their tastes watered down.
(5)H O.
The pho here is great! The service gets a little spotty when they are busy, but in general, the staff is amiable and they really seem to care about the customers. The portions are a little smaller than other places in town, but their medium pho was just the perfect size for me.
(4)rowena w.
Make sure you go to the KING ST Green Papaya, this is the best one! I love the combination pho, good portions, savory broth, fresh sides, and they have the best condiments to spice it up (the sauce containers are actually clean and not stick & grimy like other places). Got to try their tasty seafood spring rolls. Also any of their fruit smoothies (avocado is my favorite). This place is super clean, friendly service, and parking is available most of the time. Enjoy
(4)Pablo N.
my local vietnamese fix!! pho is great, esp. the chicken pho!! japanese owners know me by name!! order either the bbq chicken w/ garlic shrimp or pork chop w/ garlic shrimp plate, you'll love it!! vegetables always fresh, plentiful, and leafy green!! just a tad expensive, but worth it!!!
(5)Caitlin G.
While I'm not sure if this is the best Vietnamese food ever, the food is consistent and always fresh and light. My husband and I always get pho or bun and the shrimp summer rolls which are always perfectly moist-never dried out or too sticky like I've had at other restaurants. The food always comes out quick and our water glasses are never empty. While it is true the decor is so so, this is a great any day of the week kind of place to go. The owners are extremely nice, maybe because we are regulars-but last time I went in to pick up a take out order of pho for my sick husband they wished us well and said they hope he feels better! I really love this place.
(5)Norm G.
I brought my wife and 2 kids here and we ordered some summer rolls and 2 big bowls of pho noodles. The very rude woman serving us forgot the summer rolls and acted like we had done something wrong when we reminded her about the summer rolls. Her sour attitude made our lunch very unpleasant. We'll never go back!
(1)Waynele Y.
pretty decent vietnamese food... and as an added bonus, it feels pretty clean. like most asian restaurants, you can't expect overly friendly service, but our waiter was helpful and offered to bring a take out box without having to ask for one. my husband had the pho which was about average, and i had the vietnamese spicy soup, which was actually pretty good. it was kind of weird to me that it had pineapples in it, but i really enjoyed all the fresh veggies in it.
(3)Ritsuko K.
I like Green Papaya cuz they have "Oxtail Pho" which not so many Vietnamese places carry. The prices are reasonably set and great taste!
(4)Joel A.
On the last night of our vacation, we came here for dinner because some of my friends are vegans. We all enjoyed our dinner. My partner and I split a couple of dishes -- the cold vermecelli bowl with shredded pork, spring rolls and BBQ chicken, as well as a rice plate with BBQ beef and shrimp. I found the BBQ'd meats to be very tasty. My vegan friends liked the vegatarian vermecelli bowl with lemongrass tofu. We thought we were full at the end, but when it came time for dessert we devoured their tapioca pudding with banana and sweet potatos. Our servers were very polite and accommodated our group of six with one baby.
(4)Terry K.
Yelp Challenge 365 # 17/365 Now this place is not bad at all. They have a good menu but I settled for the pho. I used to say "pho is pho" but quickly learned that is not the case by any means. Beef pho please, extra lemon and bean sprouts. Beef sliced paper thin, such that it melts in your broth. The broth! The broth! is absoulutely delightful. Clean and very lean. Only thing about this place is the location. Don't go late at night because the strip mall where Green Papaya is located is a very seedy place to be. And try to park your car within plain sight.... I ordered tofu pho (to go please) and an order of summer rolls. And that my friends, became my dinner.
(3)Angelica A.
I've been craving Phad Thai all week and finally decided to walk and get some during lunch. I intended on going to Siam Garden Cafe on Nimitz but my coworker was going to Man doo express right next to Green Papaya so i tagged along with him. I've been here a couple times before but i've only had the chicken pho and springs rolls which are decent. I didn't have a menu and i couldn't find one online so i just called in and order of vegetarian phad thai and vegetarian spring rolls. I'm not a vegetarian or anything but for religious reasons i'm not eating meat this week. Anyway when i got there I went up to the front counter to pick up my order. As i stood at the counter i browsed the menu till I was helped. I noticed that there was no Phad thai on the menu but yet i was positive that when i called in that they understood my order. Once I was helped the worker there went over my order and i paid and left. I walked over to Man Doo express to meet up with my coworker. I sat down and checked my order...vegie spring rolls...check...phad thai...um what the heck is this! I could tell instantly that this wasn't phad thai. Besides the skinny long rice noodles and the few nuts they topped it with it didn't resemble phad thai at all. There was no color to it, it looked like pho with out the broth. There was absolutely no flavor to it. I was super disappointed, i knew i should have gone with my first instinct, Siam Garden Cafe. At least i know they have good phad thai. I just don't understand why if they don't have it on their menu they didn't tell me. But no they decided to charge $10 for this crap and its vegetarian! Ugh i'm so disappointed and still find myself wanting some good phad thai to make up for this horrific one. As for the vegie spring rolls they were ok. Nothing to write home about but it was a good thing i ordered them so i had something to eat. The phad thai was inedible, i only took 3 bites and i couldn't bare to have anymore or waste my calories on. I don't think i'll be going back here, even for the chicken pho. I just don't know how they could let something like this out of their kitchen and feel good about themselves. I think they should take pride in their cooking at put out food that makes people want to come back. There are too many other Vietnamese restaurants out there that are significantly better! I work hard for my money and i'm not one to waste food, so having to throw away $10 of phad thai just really rubs me the wrong way!
(1)Ira J.
Picture this: Your mother-in-law is visiting and she wants to go out to dinner with the family... to Zippy's! Well that's the situation I found myself in earlier tonight. However, I was able to make a nice save and get the dinner moved at the last minute to Green Papaya Bistro on King. So maybe my opinion is slightly skewed because I was so happy I wasn't eating at Zippy's. I mean, I really enjoyed my dinner tonight! I ordered my standard Vietnamese fare. They quickly served me a generous portion of tasty Lemongrass Chicken at a very fair price. The rest of my family ordered, Garlic Shrimp, Chicken Pho, and Asparagus Chicken. Everyone was as happy with their meal as I was. So, if you find yourself in the car with your mother-in-law headed toward Zippy's, don't despair. Go to Green Papaya Bistro on King instead and have a really enjoyable meal. Hey, it worked for me!
(4)Amber S.
Very friendly service, food came out fast, and it was delicious! Will definitely be coming here again.
(5)Avery D.
the best vietnamese cuisine in town...i've tried other restaurants but green papaya is top notch... the best spring rolls, the best summer rolls and the best pho...i can eat here everyday...
(5)Tuan T.
I wasn't sure the food was going to be great because my haole friends recommended this place. I ordered rice with pork chop and egg just in case because that's usually difficult to mess up. My food was great and it was a good portion of food. I would recommend this restaurant to others.
(4)Shelly i.
Taking off a star cause the location is kinda sketch... otherwise Bistro Green Papaya is a really nice southeast Asian fusion restaurant. We had a private party for about 40 folks here (the restaurant capacity is about that much). Cost was $25 each. Here's what was on the menu for the party: Spring rolls (awesome! lots of mint and lettuce for rolling in too) Summer rolls (didn't skimp on the shrimp and wrapped with press and seal wrap to stay fresh) Ham salad (strange, but tasty tossed salad with creamy dressing, ham, and cheese) Beef broccoli (looked like the Chinese staple but had a different spice profile to it) Fried noodles (yum, again not Thai, but not Chinese either) Fried rice (Chinese style, pretty standard) Chicken wings (tasty sauce, simple preparation) The owner was really sweet and stayed late to refresh the lemon scented water. He even had an electric keyboard and sound system so we could do our own ghetto karaoke. Speaking of ghetto... my baby started to get a little warm so my husband took her outside to cool off... he got all freaked out and insisted on moving our car closer to the entrance before we left. Also, I'd recommend coming from the Liliha side rather than Nimitz. Less traffic and the approach into the parking lot is easier.
(4)Reggie N.
I was in the area and decided to check it out if their pho kung fu is strong!! hehehe :D Waitress was nice and service was quick for the noonish crowd. I ordered my usual after scanning over their colorful menu. Pho dac biet, summer rolls, and green papaya salad. I noticed there was no bahn mi on the menu as I always try them out too. Dishes came quick I was suprised as I was fumbling with my phone haha. Broth was good a bit sweet but all the condiments except the typical sate sauce on the table. I had the meat on the outside and placed it in with the culantro and sprouts. The XL bowl didnt seem XL more like a L. hehehe Summer roll was getting stuck together but I still enjoyed them after pulling them apart and dipping in the peanut sauce. Green papaya salad with shrimp was shredded thin unlike the thai papaya shred consistency. You can tell they used a mandolin for it. Long shreds like noodles. Nice crisp and crunchy with the ground peanut and sweet patis or nuoc mam. All and all excellent but no bahn mi so I can only give it 4 stars. They have extensive selection of com dia plates as well and a vegetarian section in their menu which is a plus. Nice place and good food. I think the manager or owners were Korean if I'm not mistaken. :) No matter its about the food and the service. Check it out!!
(4)Rita C.
The lemongrass vermicelli chicken bowl was very yummy and fresh.
(4)Joanne N.
Not the place to go to for pho. The pho is pretty good-- will satisfy a craving. But the best and ONLY reason to come here is for the Spicy Thai Soup. Trust me-- Spicy Thai Soup WITH Pho Noodles is sooo addicting. Everything else I've tried is tasty. Also love their Summer Rolls and lemongrass chicken on vermicelli. and you can order everything vegetarian if you'd like.
(4)John Matthew P.
I found this place to very nice and pleasant, Must try includes the pho, fried rice and beef wraps :D They're pretty nice and have great service here as well.
(4)Shara B.
fast service and staff is kind. nothing fancy inside, but the food is fresh tasting and good. I've lived here for 2 weeks and have been back 2xs. I would recommend for good Pho!
(4)Bev Z.
Phontastic! That's all I have to say! This definitely is my go to place when I am craving pho. I usually order the medium size, and it fills my tummy just right. If I'm really hungry we'll order the spring rolls, but then I have to roll myself out of the restaurant. Other dishes to try are their green papaya salad (regular and vegetarian)...not only does it taste good, but has good heat! BBQ Chicken and Beef rice plate, as well as their Pork Chop plate. Service is great and they staff is very friendly! BTW they do get pretty busy around peak lunch time, and parking can be a bear, although there is underground parking.
(5)Richard C.
The atmosphere is great - very casual and relaxed. The service is good and the workers and owners are very friendly and welcoming. I always order the Large Combination Pho when I eat here along with the Beef Summer Rolls. Both never disappoint. The Pho is excellent and the Beef Summer Rolls w/Peanut Sauce taste great too! But it wouldn't be complete without the Thai Iced Coffee (w/condensed milk)! Some other dishes that are awesome here: Pork Chops w/Garlic Shrimp and the Chicken w/Eggplant - both are winners!
(4)Robyn N.
The only reason I go to eat here is the Tamarind salt & pepper shrimp. Tangy, garlicy, TASTY! I haven't had better salt & pepper shrimp anywhere else.
(4)Nikki M.
My dad and I usually come here for a quick lunch break when we can. And it is quick, staff seems family run and very friendly and food is good. Today we got a papaya salad, spring rolls (yum!) and chicken /eggplant and the house special with beef. The veggies seem fresh and food was tasty. I've also ordered the pho during other visits and was not disappointed.
(4)Dianne G.
This is my favorite pho place off of china town. I usually order summer rolls and a small combination with no tripe. I've had the green papaya salad, cold noodle bbq dishes, lemon-grass chicken, and other bbq dishes and all were wonderful. I like my pho soup base to be less heavy and I like their presentation. I go here for the food and not the ambiance and it's really not a place to take a date. It's a good place to get a healthy alternative for lunch or dinner. You can also ask for half-orders! The King St. restaurant is owned by a cute couple and they are always pleasant. Service is so much better now that they own it. I prefer this place than the one near Ala Moana.
(5)Gregg P.
Of all of the pho chains on island, this one always brings a smile to my taste buds. Their beef is always lean, cooks easily and quickly, their veggies are always plentiful and fresh. The spring rolls are the crunchier I've had anywhere in Honolulu. We use this broth as the measuring stuck against all other pho restaurants.
(5)Arlo G.
I use to eat here years ago with old mgt, but now new owner made this the worst place every! Pho had no taste meat ball had old taste and girlfriend had bug in pho lady said ohh cause it's summer... wtf kinda answer is that. I would give this place 0 stars if I could
(1)Edmund L.
this place really got better and better for me. This place is downstairs of the gym I train at so it is convenient but not always my favorite place to go to. I didn't care too much for their pho at first. But I have been here so much times already that I have tried many things on their menu and their pho many times. It in fact seems to have improved in quality so that sounds good for itself. Their other dishes such as their cold noodle dishes with spring rolls and BBQ/lemongrass meats are just excellent. Their lemongrass chicken with their mix of brown rice fits well for those who are watching their weight/what they eat. Flavorful with good taste and texture spells out a winner for me. Did I mention the serving size is pretty big? It comes with a salad of lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. The workers and servers are also friendly and helpful. I don't think I ever asked for a refill. They constantly walk around and refill water glasses like no tomorrow. I take 2 sips of the water, BAM! my glass is filled again. Another great sign is that I frequently see the owner working his butt off by riding his bicycle that has a huge cart loaded with fresh ingredients to the restaurant. I see this often enough that I am very confident the restaurant is constantly using a new stock of food and doesn't have the same old and possibly expired stuff in the kitchen. For the portion sizes, taste, quality, service, and price, you cannot go wrong with fresh home cooked quality food
(5)lisa h.
I was expecting to like this a lot better. Pho was good, standard fare, but the chicken and eggplant my husband and I shared was bland and the chicken was kind of gross. I guess that's not a very authentic attititude for me to have but so be it. I want some cleaner chicken! Iced coffee was, of course, good. Service was fine, not super friendly, but not horrible. Nothing was super horrible, but not sure I'll go back. There are a lot better options nearby.
(3)Krysten I.
I would probably only come here again for the pho. A small is $6.50 and you can choose any combination of beef steak, brisket, tripe, beef ball, onion, green onion and parsley. Each pho comes with this green vegetable I dont know the name of, asian basil, lemon and bean sprouts.Make sure you put the vegetables in early so that they can cook a little while in the broth. We also ordered the spring rolls. They were just alright, nothing amazing....It didn't look like they made their own rolls, but I could be wrong. The drinks and desserts are pretty pricy.
(3)jen s.
My hubby and I eat here for lunch (just about) every Thursday. No menu needed. Hubby orders pho 2/4. I'm not a meat eater so pho-no meat. Occasionally i get the veggie spring rolls. Ahhh-Iced coffee-love it! Lemonade is also yummy. dont forget hubbys pepsi! The staff is always super friendly. The restaurant and bathroom is clean. Hubby likes the fish tanks. The only reason why I gave them 4 stars--being we eat here so often, the soup is not always consistent. We love it though. See u next Thursday (:
(4)Teri-Lyn T.
Let me just say that I love this place!! When compared to prices in downtown (hong cafe, pho mai lan) they are on the pricier side but worth it! I have been coming here for years! Their lunch rush is very crazy no where to sit, phone ringing off the hook and a mass of people coming and going to eat or pick up orders but that is the sign of a thriving business right? But dinner is always on the calmer side. They have a very inviting and pleasant attitude and do recognize regulars and remember your regular order even if you haven't been back in a while. Food always comes out in a very fast and timely manner regardless of how busy they are and your glass is never empty. I have a couple of dishes i order there and the cook remembers how i like each one prepared.
(5)Peter H.
Fairly tasty authentic Vietnamese food. Great menu and selection. They also have a fairly decent Vietnamese sandwich. I'll certainly come back.
(4)Charlotte L.
flavorless, super cold room, and bad service as they don't give more than one extra lemon if you ask to have extra lemons and complain in their native tongue before they give it to you, and their premade microwave garden spring rolls taste horrible. if you want the fried ones get the vegetable spring rolls they are "DEEP RICE". BAD.
(2)Julie Y.
love this place. i was never big on pho, but this place changed my mind! the owners are super nice and the food comes out fast. the drinks are good, along with thai tea they have this salty lemon drink, which is kinda like lemonade with li hing mui at the bottom. delicious!
(5)Jaslyn V.
This place is my all time favorite. I know there's probably a ton of pho places out there that is better but I've been coming here a while. And I love getting the same thing a 'large pho combo' and they workers already know (: great customer service, very friendly.
(5)Jody S.
Every once in awhile my boss and I make a pit stop for lunch over at Green Papaya Cafe. The parking lot is normally jam-packed with cars and we need to pray for a spot on the top...or suck it up and park downstairs. The menu is fairly extensive with a wide selection of entrees for both meat lovers and vegetarians. My boss is allergic to shrimp and I don't eat meat so we normally order 2 veggie entrees, share a plate of brown rice (they have the REALLY good ones with the beans included!) and enjoy for her a coke and for me, a Vietnamese coffee. Yum! We normally leave full AND with food still left over on the plate, enough for her to take home for leftovers.
(4)Beth M.
I really like the fresh vegetables and bright lemongrass flavour found in Vietnamese cuisine. I tried the lemongrass tofu, which came with thin noodles, lettuce, and other light veggies. The dish was tasty, though I'm not sure if I've ever not liked lemongrass tofu! I had a little left over to eat later. There were a couple other vegetarian/vegan items on the menu, including some salads. There is a big fish tank right inside the door, but in general the decor wasn't much to look at. The bathrooms - if I recall correctly - weren't particularly clean-looking. The restaurant was easy to miss - it is in a small strip mall near the fork in King St.
(3)Kristelle B.
I love this place. Better than me going all the way down to Town Square in Dillingham. The prices are the usual $8 range for a large pho. I love their service, really really nice people. If you cant find parking upstairs, there is a garage downstairs,, in which some people dont notice
(5)Liz K.
Got the pho with rare steak (very good) and the house drink (so good!). Great service, food came out quick and our waters were always refilled. We will be returning to try everything else on the menu!
(5)