Green Papaya
629 Keeaumoku St, Honolulu, HI, 96814
Green Papaya Menu
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Address :
629 Keeaumoku St
Honolulu, HI, 96814 - Phone (808) 953-2340
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Stefanie D.
After reading the reviews for this place and checking out the extensive menu, my friend and I were very excited and highly anticipated our visit here. Being a vegetarian/kinda-pescetarian, I was especially enthused there were SO many vegetarian options and couldn't wait to try one out. Parking was difficult because of where the restaurant is and we ended up parking at Wal-Mart and crossing the street. Everyone knows you aren't supposed to park here unless you're shopping in the store or surrounding stores but ehh, everyone does it and will continue to because there's just no where else to park! The inside of the restaurant is a lot nicer than I expected. It's nicely decorated and very clean. It was pretty empty when we first got there but soon filled up as dinner parties started to arrive. Still, it seats a lot of people and could accommodate a larger gathering (about 10-15 people I think, obvs call ahead to see first). I think the employees are all family and none of them were really all that friendly but they weren't rude either. They just seemed distracted by some issue, discussing it loudly in the restaurant for anyone to hear. Service was pretty fast when we first ordered because the restaurant was empty but when more parties arrived, it got pretty slow. The menu is extensive as mentioned earlier. They even have a special page just for vegetarian options. We ordered the vegetarian spring rolls which have sweet potato in them instead of pork. They were just okay, nothing spectacular but pretty good. For my entree, I was feeling like fried rice so I ordered the tofu vegetable fried rice. It came out fast but was kind of baffling. See my picture for reference. The plate had rice, which I'm still not sure if it was even fried or not, and veggies and tofu. The veggies included snow peas, broccoli, carrots, and then this is the strange part- raw tomato and cucumber slices?!?! Also, the peas, broccoli and carrots were definitely steamed. This has gotta be the weirdest "fried rice" I ever had. It was alright, but I didn't eat the raw veggies and I didn't even finish the plate. I was craving a nice hot fried rice that was really fried, and maybe had some egg or something. I wish they had a description on the menu but oh well. I'm not sure I would like to come back to try anything else. My friend ordered some kalbi and wasn't a big fan of it. If anything, I'd try the veggie pho if I do come back.
(2)Amber B.
This place is yummy BUT a little expensive. I like the vegetarian options, but when I went in for the first time, I ended up placing a take-out order and realizing I was overcharged when it was too late. I'm willing to give it another shot based only on the great customer service.
(3)Nikki N.
No smiles, no hello , atmosphere wasn't welcoming You shouldn't make jokes about your customer in your language the first thing you turn your back on them, you never know who could understand . We wont be returning , your pho was bland .
(1)CD B.
Fav place for pho & lemonade :)) best I've had yet ! Been going there for years the ladies remember my order already nice ppl I think they're all family. Parking sucks at times but if you're a good driver you'll make it work. They really do have the best lemonade though. They put a sweet orange fruit in it. Can't remember the name of it right now. Beef pho with steak tendon & meatballs ... Sooo good. Love the broth, noodles & meat ! Craving it rn ! The spring rolls & summer rolls are also very yummy. The green papaya salad is my #2 pick here after the pho ! Even the pork chops with a side of rice, veggies & tasty fish sauce is soo good ! The salt & pepper shrimp is amazing as well ! Overall this place has the best Vietnamese food I've ever eaten !
(5)Amy Y.
Dinner for two! Vietnemese..omnomnomnom.. We ordered the chicken pho and the crispy spring roll. Was a pretty good meal. Decent price with a decent portion. Not too salty...got the taste. Spring rolls were crispy. Just didn't like the way the tables were set. Why does the middle section table line together? So we sat on the back table under the AC. Which was a bad idea, because it was dripping water. Service was okay. Just a small place to eat and go.
(3)Vanessa B.
I work near by and I order from here occasionally. I order the green papaya salad and it's seasoned very well. So a few vegan options which I like having near my job. My coworkers love the pork chops and lemongrass chicken which I can say smells amazing but more importantly they love and say it's seasoned to perfection. Usually when one person orders from there we all jump on the band wagon cuz the smell is so intoxicating.
(4)Brittany L.
This place is very easy to find, right across the street from Wal-Mart. Very clean environment, the space is a good size. They only have a medium and large pho. But the size is with the price. I like their soup. Spring rolls are always great with a side of pho. GOOD six pieces of told but nicely enough the cut it in half rather than having to eat a whole one, even the lettuce is cut. Also kept up with filing water (very important) making sure everything's okay. OVERALL SERVICE WAS NICE
(5)A S.
Great Veg/Vegan selections and always good food/sizable portions......
(4)Heidi G.
Located on Keeaumoku Street, right next door to my favorite Tan Tan place, Gomaichi Ramen. Green Papaya is great place for vegetarian dishes and Pho. I really like the food here, but if you're looking for top service then I suggest you look for another restaurant. Don't get me wrong, in this case I don't mind. Maybe because it's the language barrier and you can't fault them for that. They get the food out on time and it tastes great. My only peeve is the parking and that's why I gave it 3 stars. If you've driven around that area then you know what I'm talking about. Certainly worth trying if your in the Keeaumoku area :)
(3)Christina A.
This is my most favorite Vietnamese restaurant! I come here every couple of weeks and always order the same thing, so the ladies have my order stored in their memory banks! Every time I come here to eat, they bring me water (and a straw!) and say "same thing?" LOL! Seriously...Sometimes I like to switch up my order and get pho, but yeah, same thing is about right 99% of the time. I always get the fried spring rolls (sooo yummy) and the pork chop and garlic shrimp. I have no idea how they cook the pork chop, but it's nice and sweet and it pairs really well with the shrimp. Although I usually come here for dinner, I know they also offer a great breakfast deal: Buy 1, get one 50% off! What a steal! I think it runs from 8am-10ish so if you're in the mood Vietnamese at breakfast or early lunch, I'd definitely recommend it.
(5)José C.
Park at the Walmart across the street. The Thai food is decent, and the Vietnamese selections are dependable. The service was not as bad as everyone here said it was. The two waitresses were sisters and are very gracious and accommodating. It's not the best Vietnamese food I've ever had, but in a town filled with good East and Southeast Asian food options, it's very hard to rise to the top. You can't beat their location, which is why they charge above-average prices for their food. It's walking-distance from Ala Moana Mall, the beach park and all, major downtown attractions. I ordered the bbq pork over vermicelli. It was made just as I expected, nothing extra, nothing unexpected or unwanted.
(4)Isaac S.
Great place for a quiet family dinner. Great vietnamese food and great service. Everyone should stop by and enjoy quality and value! Green Papaya Salad, Summer Rolls, Pork Chops, Hot and Spicy ..... Winners all the way around!
(5)Bob P.
As newly vegetarian, I long for certain dishes that are hard to find without meat, like a good Pho! The pho here is as tasty as any I had before turning into a veggie! Also a full section of their menu is dedicated to vegetarian friendly dishes, definitely recommend!
(5)BAJIBU K.
Food is yummy, service is scary. Just got the LOOK OF DEATH when I asked for more basil....everything went downhill after that.
(2)Tina S.
This place is excellent. A whole page of vegetarian offerings. They accept calls for takeout orders. Quick food delivery and service. My favorite thing to order is the Vietnamese tofu sour soup....soooo flavorful! All the friends I've brought here have been happy campers. Parking is in the rear of the building.
(5)Mary Chelle C.
My first choice when it comes to PHO! And they have the best menu. Been coming here since I moved here in hawaii..
(4)rasa f.
I came here once before. Being veggie, I braved all the pics of meaty dishes on the windows and discovered an entire page of veggie dishes, and at inexpensive prices. However, that was 3-4 months ago, and when I came back today with family, we got summer rolls, pho, and crispy noodles with veggies and tofu. Prices seem to have doubled and food quality seems to have dived. The rolls had no flavor and the peanut sauce was grossly sweet. The pho had fresh basil and mung bean sprouts, but it was boring, and the crispy noodles were junk from a plastic package ... Inedible with tasteless veggies. Last time I'm going there. Meanwhile, walking outside, the three restaurants nearby were packed while we were the only diners at Green Papaya. I wish i had noticed that before going in, rather than on exiting. I left so dissatisfied and desperate for a yummy taste in my mouth that I went and got JJ Dolan pizza. Score! That was delicious and made up for the yucky Green Papaya experience.
(1)Thomas P.
This is our favorite vietnamese restaurant. They don't add any additional MSG, which is very important to me and my mom when dining out. The staff is a regular, so they will get to know you very quickly. They get our order ready as we walk through the door, right after asking us if we want the "usual". Their bbq pork, spring rolls with vermicelli is our favorite. Their Pho is excellent too. Nice cozy seating, with a large table in the middle great for a large party. Excellent air conditioning for a comfortable experience. Bathrooms are outside, though, and although they don't look it, are usually kept very clean. One of the places we often eat at that we can call the staff friends. Even the cooks greet us and say goodbye as we leave. Parking is tight behind the restaurant, and street parking is available in front, but often not available. It gets busy, but we have rarely had to wait long for a table. Very very VERY highly recommended.
(5)Joelle D.
I work nearby and to me, it's a great lunch option: lots of variety and vegetables at an affordable price. The setup and the service are nothing special so not a good place for a fancy dinner but for food options, relatively fast meal at an affordable price, it's a good choice.
(4)Nanea L.
This place is located right across of Walgreens in town by Ala Moana Shopping Center. At first I thought it was an Organic Food Place. But my friend wanted to take me here for the Pho because she has one right next to her house by Honolulu Community College. So I was like why not I love PHO! So we make the drive to town because we needed to stop by Wal*Mart too. There's like NO PARKING* so it kind of sucks unless you park at Wal*Mart than leave your car there and walk across the street. Inside is pretty cute. Cute = Small. LOL It's your typical vietnamese pho establishment. The menu looks good. We ordered the Spring Rolls, Sea Food Pho, Make your own Combo Pho, Taro Rice Pudding, &Thai Tea. OUT PHO WAS A FAIL.COM! Never going to eat here for Pho or Spring Rolls again! It BOTH tasted like SHIT. Suprisingly the only TWO things that tasted good where things I could basically make myself because they come powder ready. The soup wasn't clear at all like normally Pho places I go to/The broth just didn't taste right&The meat tasted gross. My friend told me the chow fun or watever is good here. If you wana try it go headddd. bye:)
(1)Lorilynn L.
Friendly service, great tasting food and not too expensive. I would definitely recommend!!
(4)Annie W.
The prices are very reasonable and the food is authentic and decent. The pho broth has a nice and strong flavor. The noodles weren't cooked as long as I would normally like it, but it was still delicious. I'm thinking they're not skimping on the MSG. $7.50 for a medium and $8.50 for a large bowl of pho, it's definitely reasonable. For the same price you can mix and match the meat any way you like it. They provided a good amount of tripe and the normal 6-7 thin slices of rare beef. The menu had a nice variety of noodles and rice dish, but their specialty is vegetarian Vietnamese food. The air conditined restaurant is decorated with dark brown wooden tables and chairs, with light bamboo lining the ceiling wall and elephants that reminded me of a Thai restaurant. Try to find parking along Makaloa and just walk to the restaurant. If you know this area, it's always a bit of a challenge to find parking. #036/365 Still on a quest to find the best bowl of pho on the Islands
(3)Cintamani A.
I had a lot of high hopes but unfortunately none of them were met by the Green Papaya. It's a shame since the staff were so sweet and had a good sense of humor. A healthy sense of humor is big in my book. It gives a restaurant warmth and a laid-back attitude. As if you're eating in a friend's kitchen rather than a random restaurant that was in your proximity that garnered decent reviews on Yelp. They have an impressive range of vegetarian options which is a refreshing change. A full page of options on their menu to be exact. Unfortunately, I would have to describe their food as the most disappointing Vietnamese food I've ever had. It was bland. One of my dishes tasted like Pot O' Noodles! They at least had the decency to have a fair amount of vegetables but could have used more tofu. I could distinguish that there was tamarind at least. For such food it was extremely overpriced. The other dish was just plain boring. If it were a human it would be the type of person you see walking down the hall who makes you think, "How does he/she not know how boring he/she is?! Ugh...". I won't bother eating there again but I do hope the other dishes are better since it's always great to have a wider selection of vegetarian friendly restaurants. Perhaps someday...
(2)Virginia R.
I'm addicted to Pho in general. So of course, I'd go and try all Pho places in general. The Pho was okay in general, but portions are VERY decent. They don't hold back on veggies and meat, which is great on the wallet. The restaurant should re-think of the way they situate the tables though. The place wasn't all the crowded the time I went, however, tables and chairs were so close to each other that if the place was crowded, it'd be very uncomfortable. Parking is a little difficult. Luckily, the time I went, there was someone leaving. However, they share the lot of parking along with 3-4 other restaurants and 4-5 boutique shops.
(3)Mei-Lan C.
best place to eat thai/vietn. style of bbq meat !!! the bbq chicken and lemongrass chicken combo is the winner ( 9.50 $ ) you can get brown rice upon request .
(5)Ed L.
I have been to this place and location a few times before discovering Yelp. When they had their other location in Kaimuki (before they closed shop), I was eating there almost regularly. Since then, I have discovered Green Papaya here on Keeaumoku Street, near the WalMart and the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Your best bet would be to use Wal-Mart's parking garage for suitable parking and walk over. Or find some street parking to be close to the action. You can try your luck at Ala Moana shopping center as well. With that said, I had hoped that what they did at their Kaimuki location will copy over to their Keeaumoku Street location too. The layout of their restaurant is pretty much the same as Kaimuki. The decor and the ambiance of this place was near perfect. Even the server who worked at the Kaimuki location transferred here. I was here for dinner recently after an evening of shopping at Ala Moana Shopping Center, then subsequently at Wal-Mart before heading to dinner. Realizing that I had limited choices in terms of Pho / Vietnamese food, I opted out in returning to this place, which had served me good in Kaimuki for so long. I always get my usual here. Beef Pho with summer rolls. Can't go wrong with the staple I have been working with for so long and it's a winner. The service is always top notch and the staff is friendly. With a few other Pho restaurants in the area, this restaurant had given me the consistent service and food you would expect at a typical Vietnamese restaurant. A+ for decor and ambiance, whereas alot of places are drab with that department. I kid you not. The summer rolls normally come out first with the peanut dipping sauce. I always now try to use the hot sauce in the peanut sauce to drive the flavors into my mouth before get it on with the Pho. It is quite awesome indeed! With that said, I love this place and intend on returning whenever I am in the area. In the true spirit of Yelp, I wish I could give them more than just 5 stars, but it is what it is. Love this place. It's much more homespun than alot of restaurants I have been to, and that includes fine dining. A++++
(5)Tupu S.
Today's cold rainy weather called for some comfort food so my coworker recommended this place for some "pretty good Pho". So off we went for a lunch time adventure... We arrived at the peak of lunch hour and luckily there was a table in the corner (that I didn't even notice) where the lady who worked there smiled and placed two menus on for us to sit. Immediately another lady brought us water and after a couple minutes she came back to take our order. There wasn't much of a selection for Pho; in fact, it was more of a "build your own Pho" kinda thing (I started to think, this isn't a Pho place)... Seriously, it's advertised in their Menu that way. You choose your meat of choice (I think there were 7 meat options) with your selection of topping "Green Onion, Parsley, and Cut Round Onion". You can mix and match anything and everything. Bowl sizes are Medium and Large. I got the rare steak with beef balls and if you don't tell them which topping you want, they just give you all three (fine by me)! The soup base was pretty good, not murky broth where you're thinking they've been stewing it for weeks like grease at a fast food joint; the temperature was just the right hot and pretty tasty. The wait staff were pretty attentive and the food was good. I noticed they had a lot of rice/ veggie/ noodles dishes on the menu so I'll have to try it the next time I visit. Overall good food with a good price!
(3)Sukatuh S.
Round 1 (in the beginning) My wife orders the Pork Chops and BBQ Chicken. She loves the pork chops but doesn't like the BBQ chicken; wife: "I'm never ordering the BBQ chicken again." Round 2 (2 months after R1...oh no, not again) My wife orders the Pork Chops and BBQ Chicken. Not surprisingly, she loves the pork chops but doesn't like the BBQ chicken; wife to me: "Remind me not to order the BBQ chicken." Me: "Okay." Round 3 (4 months after R2...lather, rinse, repeat) Server: "Are you ready?" Wife: "Yes, I'll have the Pork Chops and BBQ Chicken." Me: "OMG! Don't order the BBQ Chicken." Wife: "Why not?" Me: "Because you don't like it." Wife: "Really? But it looks so delicious in this picture." Me: "You told me to remind you not to get that." Wife: "Did I?" Me: "If I made a recording of you saying not to get that and played it back to you now, would you believe yourself?" Wife: "Look at this picture." Me: "Wow, that does look delicious. I think I'll get that." Wife: "Really?" Me: "No." Bottom Line 1) Don't order the BBQ Chicken. 2) Do order the Pork Chops, Spicy Lemongrass Chicken, or Garlic Shrimp.
(4)Christine C.
I just had the house fried rice and spring rolls here. It was okay, but I guess that I prefer the flavor of Chinese food better. The fried rice had a different taste to it, than what I am used to.
(3)Kelly H.
I love this place! As a vegan, it's hard to find restaurants that offer many choices for me short of going to an actual vegan restaurant. Green Papaya has a whole page of options for those who are veg. The pho is good and the broth comes to you nice and hot which I need when ordering pho. The veggie spring and summer rolls are delicious and the lemongrass tofu is very tasty. For those carnivores out there, there are many options for you too!
(4)Riki T.
Waltzed in here and had to wait a few minutes, but the turnaround is really quick. Pho was pretty good (wasn't the worst, wasn't the best) and moderately priced. Being a meat eater I didn't get to try the vegetarian side of the menu, but as others have noted, it is very vegetarian friendly with a lot of meat-less options, but still having a lot of regular choices as well.
(3)Krysten I.
Parking is pretty sparse....But if you are lucky enough to find parking, the food is pretty great. The pho broth is probably the best I've had (I was pretty hungry though, so I might be a little biased). The garlic chicken is also really good. prices are pretty decent; everything is about $10. They give you the option of having brown rice instead of white rice too. The layout of the restaurant is a little funny. One room has refrigerators filled with hotpot options and a door leading outside that doesnt close by itself. I would suggest sitting in the other room, the main room, where the waitresses can attend to you all the time. The waitresses are great, btw!
(5)Zar A.
Not too keen on the pho here, but I really like their menu. As you have noticed, this is a Vietnamese restaurant but its name doesn't contain the word "pho". That's because their focus isn't pho, but a more vegetarian or just general Vietnamese food. I used to pass by this place all the time, not really interested in coming in. But when I did decide to give it a try, I was instantly hooked. The establishment is fairly decent looking (not a hole-in-the-wall), so it's attractive to those that are fearful of cockroaches! What I like about this place is their menu. They have a large assortment of different Vietnamese food, instead of just "pho" as with the majority of Vietnamese restaurants, anywhere. I have tried a whole bunch of items on their menu and I would have to say that overall, it is fairly decent. Prices are decent and dishes are made fairly well. I would say that some dishes are made better then others and some dishes may be a bit salty. But, I have not discovered any other Vietnamese restaurant in Hawaii that offer such a large menu of items. So, I give them major props for being able to handle this. Noodles, soups, fish, rice, bbq, lemon grass, fish, they got them. My favorite item has to be the seabass with black bean sauce noodles! Love fish!
(4)Jeanie Y.
I'm am not impressed by the pho. The broth is kind of "meh" and it tastes a little too strongly of cilantro. But if you are a cilantro lover, you may want to check this place out. When I go out to eat, service can just be okay, or even a little subpar, but if the food is great then I will definitely come back. If I get amazing service, but subpar food, I probably won't come back. I go out to restaurants to stuff my face, not to be BFFs with the staff. With that said, if I get truly appalling service, I would definitely let the manager know. It's too bad I'm not more thrilled with the food, because the staff here seems really nice.
(2)Diane Y.
Very hit-or-miss. If you get something good, it's great. The pho, for instance, is great. So are the lemongrass chicken and the spring rolls. However, The choy sum and tofu soup is tap water with soy sauce. I would not recommend this restaurant to a vegetarian. Stick to the Vietnamese dishes, because their foray into Thai is confused and lacking. They have a Thai sour soup that tastes like it needs coconut milk and lemongrass to make it even close.
(3)Olivia D.
THEY GOT MY ORDER WRONG AGAIN TODAY! AND THE GIRL WAS SNARKY ABOUT IT. HOW COULD THEY GET THE SAME ORDER WRONG TWICE IN A ROW?!!! Yesterday, they told me over the phone that if I came back today at opening time, they would remake my beef stir fry that they screwed up. At 11:11am, I called and reminded them that it was a BEEF stir fry, not chicken, and they said to go pick it up in 10 minutes. 10 minutes later, I walked in the door. The girl that took my order yesterday glared at me as I walked up to the cash register, even as I smiled at her. She stood there giving me a sullen look the entire time. Her sister was standing behind the register with my takeout all wrapped up. I thanked her and she smiled and said, "Oh, no problem" while the angry sister continued to stare me down. I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED MY ORDER BEFORE I LEFT! It wasn't until I got back to my office that I discovered that, yes, THEY GAVE ME CHICKEN! AGAIN! I HATE CHICKEN!! But really, how could they get it wrong 2 days in a row? I'm so irritated with them. They will never get my business or my co-workers' business again. Good thing my awesome friend Sherri surprised me by coming to my office with manapua. Sherri, you're my hero!
(1)Scott H.
Their spring rolls here are pretty good. I don't like pho, but my wife does. The one thing I don't like about this place...their fried rice varies in quality and items. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Last time we went, bad. The fried rice was bland and had chicken in it. Slices of chicken in their house fried rice. That was a first for me, and I know why most places don't put chicken in the fried rice. yuck.
(3)Rebecca S.
i rolled in here with my eyes half shut after a late night out in waikiki the night before. they should package this pho and put it on the drugstore shelves as hangover reliever. i couldn't focus on the menu, so went with my de-facto pho ga (about $7). the four of us also shared the spring rolls and the papaya salad (also about $7 a pop). the salad was so tangy and not overpowered by fish sauce. it was a perfect palate cleanser and start to the meal. i could have eaten the entire plate, but i was feeling generous and shared. the spring rolls were good, but not terribly memorable. one thing i couldn't finish was my pho because it was huge....but also hugely divine. i judge pho by the broth and this one had it going on. you could tell it had been brewing for a while and the pho noodles were rightly cooked. the decor didn't blow me away and parking is a bitch, but it was authentic and a place to bookmark for a return visit. even though it's in the middle of a busy tourist intersection, everyone looked pretty local.
(4)Vincent Q.
During my adventures looking for noodles, I ended up at Green Papaya, a place I've taken friends several times, to see what they have, but the 'vegetarian' in the window scared my friends away. Of course, this isn't a vegetarian restaurant, nor is their menu even half-vegetarian. In addition, I didn't even end up getting noodles after I looked and ordered. Garden Rolls- 4.5-stars- Well, I actually ordered something from the vegetarian menu anyway. This is their vegetarian version of a summer roll. Instead of the usual ingredients, here it's sweet potato, vermicelli, romaine lettuce, carrots, and soy beans, served with a traditional peanut dipping sauce. The sauce has the texture of a peanut butter with real peanuts inside, making it both creamy and sweet. The flavors were a great mix of flavored vegetables, making me actually wonder, are these better than the meat version of summer rolls? House Special Fried Rice- 3.5-stars- Fried rice is one of my specialties when it comes to eating, so I'm a bit tougher than other people would be. I was a little surprised seeing this pinkish delight ending up on my table. The aroma and flavor is lightly of fish sauce and some flavors I don't know. The rice was fried with lup cheong, shrimp, chicken, cucumber, tomato, egg, carrots, and peas, mixing a bit of the usual with Vietnamese flavorings. It was delicious and light in flavor to start with, but after eating several bites, the flavor seems to go away, almost disappear, which was a surprise. After eating a garden roll, I came back to the fried rice and the flavor returned, then disappeared again. It wasn't entirely exciting, but it was definitely different. Atmosphere- I actually appreciated the real wooden panels in the restaurant, because of the natural textures and colors. The entire place has a very woodsy appeal to it. The tables are set up with smaller ones on the side, and a long central table. This restaurant also connects to their hot pot restaurant next door, giving you an idea they serve a wide breadth of dishes here. Service- The service was normal, not too helpful or kind. I was facing the kitchen which made it weird for me, since I do take pictures and I actually take notes as I eat. I felt like they were watching me, as they watch all the customers--looking if they need help, without going up and asking how each customer is doing. This makes the help a little more distant in someways. Conclusion- If their garden rolls are any identification, they have a special knack for vegetarian dishes here. Yet, there was a lacking distinction for flavor that would blow me away, as I've had at some Vietnamese restaurants. It is definitely a convenient place near the mall to get some Vietnamese food, but there is so much competition in the general area, too. It's never too full here, so if you want to sit and eat with a friend, you can and won't need to worry about being pestered--just don't sit facing the counter.
(3)Jessica M.
I had just gotten tattooed. I was sore, I was tired, and I was hungry. What always makes me feel better? Pho! It's hard to find vegetarian pho here for whatever reason...even if you find a place that sells tofu or veggie pho, they still like to use beef broth. Yuck. Well, this place hits the spot with a vegetable broth and vegan menu options for me, and a full menu for my meat-eating boyfriend. The pho wasnt the best I have ever had in my life or anything, but it was really good. Chock full of veggies. It hit the spot for sure. The wait staff was attentive and polite. I will definitely return. :)
(4)Evan H.
If you're shopping at walmart or ross's, here's a great place to eat! If you're not, good luck with street parking. Great if you're a pedestrian walking from home or work near by. I've been there on more than a few counts and they do get very busy around lunch time. Small seating area doesn't guarantee you a seat and that means you might end up waiting outside in the keeaumoku heat. If you go shortly after lunch but before dinner, you'll probably find yourself to be the only person there and everything comes out super quick! I live near by so I'll continue walking there when I get my cravings, but If I got a friend who wants to drive somewhere else, I'll go to Pho Huong Lan or Pho Bistro2.
(4)Isao K.
Probably a solid 3 and a half. Nothing special, but i needed a bowl of pho at 10, and it was one of the only places that was open late, so for that alone, i just decided to give them a 4 instead of a 3.
(4)Herm C.
I found a long hair in my food. I was asked if i wanted to order something else. No apology just "Do you want to order something else?" It continues my bad luck of dining near the tail end of my recent visit.
(1)Melissa L.
The thing is, i work litterally across the street from this place and i crave pho atleast twice a week, so naturally im g2 give this place my business. The food isnt horrible nor bad but its just enough to get you by.. i still would choose a chinatown joint over this but the only diffrence is the service here is a little better. im not sure if theyre sisters or just co-owners but if you eat there enought you'll notice one girl is alot nicer than the other.. and i never got her name so its my fault. it can get a bit crowded bc its a small restaurant but it is cozy. the prices is appropriate to what you get, i usually get the med combo with ice coffe and its $10.
(4)Emily O.
The worst place in hawaii, I sign up yelp because I want to share what happen after what I ate from them. Last night our family wAnt to eat pho, but pho one close so we went to this place, we ordered two pho and one rice plate. The service is bad, the food is bad, everything seems dirty, and the price is not balance with the food. Omg, after we finished , my trout already feeling weird, little bit sore, so I drank a lot water. The worst thing happen, I can't sleep the whole night, I cant stop dreaming scary staff, I can't breath well, I sweating, my eyes super dry. It must be they put too much MSG , or something soup powder . I know most of the restaurant put MSG, but this time I felt the worst ever. I really hope they shut down the store.
(1)Cheryl S.
One of my favorite PHO places. I like the friendly service and if you go often enough they also will remember what you order. Now that is service. The pho has great taste and is consistant. =)
(5)Kanani A.
My co-workers and I come here at least once a week for lunch since we work right across the street. My order is always the same... large pho with rare steak and brisket.. and it is AWESOME. I love this place.
(5)Gabriel T.
Since this place is called Green Papaya, do they have green papayas? I went down to this place for the first time with a friend of mine at night for dinner. We decided to go after I started feeling like crap and suggested we go eat some Pho. Fortunately it is super close to where we work. So we sat down and they immediately handed down the menu. There were a lot of food items other than Pho but we mainly just focused on the Pho. It is $7.50 for a medium and $8.50 for a large. The prices for the Pho are decent. My friend got a large and I got a medium and surprisingly they both look the same as far as the amount of soup/Pho/veggies/etc. go! The Pho was really good. The customer service is good too. The atmpsohere of the restuarant is pretty relaxed and chill. We were sitting right next to the entrance and a lot of people stop and take a look of the place and they can see it's poppin'. I think imma start eating Pho after this experience. I know there are a lot of Pho eaters on the island. The place is conveniently located right on Keeaumoku right along by Walgreens, Walmart, KFC, Pacific Guardian Building, etc. The parking is always a challenge and issue so you have to make the best of it. Next time I come here, imma see if they have some green papayas here. Yelp 365 Challenge #149/365
(4)Joshua P.
There wasn't much meat in the pho and the waitress said a total of 2 words to us the entire time. They did however keep our cups full of water.
(3)Melissa K.
A few years back, my dad and I frequented the Green Papaya often as our lunchtime go-to spot but we haven't been back in about four years. I recently stopped by with a buddy and we ordered the make your own roll set with bbq chicken ($11.95) and spring rolls ($8.95). Although the spring rolls arrived after the make your own roll entree, I was too hungry to be overly-annoyed that the appetizer arrived after the entree. The make your own roll set comes with the clear rice wrappers that you dip into a bowl of hot water to soften, bbq chicken, noodles, and a variety of vegetables such as lettuce, bean sprouts, mint, etc. Although the chicken was delicious, the portion was very, very small; maybe one chicken thigh. The spring rolls were hot, fresh, plentiful and tasty, and I liked that they came with lots of vegetables.
(3)Jennifer W.
I came here with my dad for lunch. Since my dad is a vegetarian, we came here to eat pho. Yup, there is vegetarian pho here. Haha...how ironic. Of course, the soup stock is not the same as regular pho. There are many vegetables in the vegetarian pho. We also had spring rolls and bitter melon with tofu. First, the vegetarian pho is good for vegetarians. It just lacked a bit taste, so that's where you can add the condiments. The spring rolls were excellent. The dipping sauce with the spring rolls is not the typical dipping sauce since my dad is a vegetarian. So, once again the taste was great. If you like bitter melon, which I love is great. It just provides a variety of tastes for me-from bitter, salty, and condiment tasting. :OP I still have to go back and try the regular pho.:O)
(4)Dee C.
What great food! Sometimes its hard trying to get vegetarian food in Hawaii since there is so much seafood. The experience we had here was great. !e ordered: Vegetable tofu sour soup Sweet and sour tofu Sauteed spicy lemon grass tofu All of the meals were great. My favorite was he sweet and sour tofu since that is the one I ordered and was the most flavorful to me. I thought the sauteed spicy lemon grass tofu was a bit too gingery to me, but the fiancee loved it. The soup was also great and just what we wanted. Wold have done a round 2 if we stayed in Oahu longer!
(5)Keesha G.
Oh man I tell ya, that green papaya salad (the lemongrass tofu one) is delicious. I used to get the combo pho and it is okay but for a while now, I eat vegetarian and on occasion, pescetarian so I had their seafood pho and I loved it. I just wish they had a restroom that was not through the kitchen and outside the back door, up the stairs and shared with the whole block. eeeew.
(4)Fred F.
Heard a lot of good things about this place so I thought I'd check it out and get take out. Turned out to be a big mistake. Although I hadn't been to the other Green Papaya Cafes on the island, I would not go back to this one. The cashier did not welcome me as I walked in, I had to find my own menu. She had me wait at the hostess stand while she babbled on with another waitress in the back even though it was clear I was ready to order. When I finally got the food I ordered, tofu summer rolls and a thai iced tea, there was a hair in my summer roll and a hair in my drink.
(1)Dwayne D.
Good fast service. I was stoked to find a place that serves vegetarian pho! While not fancy or shining in service this little place on the corner of Keeaumoku and Makaloa Street near Ala Moana Center hits the spot when looking for Vietnamese Vegan Cuisine. The vegetarian offerings are actually at the back of the menu so if you are dining with meat eaters there will be choices for both of you. There is actually a back entrance on Makaloa, across from Walgreens that connects the Green Papaya to its main dining area on Keeaumoku. The parking here is limited but there is plenty of street meter parking on Makaloa. I had the veggie spring and summer rolls, and the vegetarian Pho. This one is tricky however because if you are used to regular pho then you may be disappointed. Vegetarian pho uses a broth without meat so it is nearly impossible to get the same depth of flavor. In substitute for meat is broccoli, carrots and tofu. Yummy! Ive been back several times.
(4)Frank S.
Reasonably priced and tasty Vietnamese dishes served in a casual atmosphere. The Oxtail Pho is especially good.
(4)S L.
Don't be fooled by this restaurants' size, the inside is small but the menu is huge! Along with many meat options they also have an extensive list of vegetarian options which can be hard to find on the island. I started with the garden rolls which were decent but I've had better. For my main I ordered the vegetarian green papaya salad with tofu. I figured a restaurant called Green Papaya must have a good gp salad, and let me tell you it was not a disappointment! It was very different from the Thai papaya salads I'm used to but it was delicious in its own way. The papaya was shredded very thin, drenched in a tasty sauce (not the light citrusy sauce commonly used in Thai gps but instead a dark salty sweet sauce), and topped with crushed peanuts and crispy fried lemongrass tofu. The tofu was fantastic! I think they might also offer it as an entree which I will probably order next time. Over all I had a good experience here and will return to try more of their vegetarian options.
(4)Fred W.
Best value for the money! We live down the street and we take out from there a lot. We usually only order the meat combo pho so I'll reserve comment on the other items.
(5)Terrell L.
Their Vietnamese food was very authentic and reasonably priced. The restrooms are located in the alley behind the building and upstairs, just beyond the passed out drunk gentleman ...
(5)Stacey K.
LOVE this place! I am vegan, and it's difficult to find options on island. This place serves a mean tofu/veggie pho (with veg broth). The veggies are always fresh and the broth flavorful. There is a whole page devoted to vegetarian options... although I always order the pho because it is SO delicious. The garden rolls are utterly amazing. Can't visit Green Papaya without ordering them! I usually order take-out, but when dining in, the staff are very attentive-constantly filling water glasses and taking away dirty plates. And.. lastly, nothing says local style than walking into the restaurant through the back door (which is a normal entrance) that goes directly through the kitchen.
(5)Nick Y.
I really enjoyed the lunch I had today at Green Papaya Cafe. My bowl of Oxtail soup came out to the table steaming hot in just a few minutes. The broth was richly beefy, and the tail segments were tender and gelatinous. The bowl was also loaded with choi sum, and shiitake mushrooms. I was surprised that there weren't any peanuts, but the aromas of anise, cassia, cilantro, and fresh ginger were definitely present. And, the service was good, too: my water glass never went below optimistic.
(4)Lesley S.
Vegetarian Pho is so good. I had mine spicy and it was so ono. Now I have to try veggie pho every place that I go that sells it.
(5)Trisha T.
Their shrimp rolls are fantastic (shrimp rolls...the ones that are not fried. Are they called spring or summer rolls, I cannot keep this straight) Anyway the rolls are a generous size and seem to be a decent price. Each order comes with peanut sauce and fish sauce. Very 'ono. Restaurant is large, cool, and clean and the service is fast.
(4)Kimberly L.
Out of all the Vietnamese places in the area, why didn't I think to come to Green Papaya sooner? The portions are HUGE and the prices are great for someplace smack dab in the center of ala moana/walmart area. The place was pretty hopping even on an early Monday evening. Lots of women on girl-dates and a few couples, mostly ordering Pho. I got my usual bun, the vermicelli with roast pork, bbq chicken and spring rolls. HUGE. and the noodles are spaghetti-fat and chewy yummy, not overcooked like certain other places in the immediate vicinity. The bbq chicken was crispy on the outside, which I loved! (Perhaps it was actually pan fried and not bbqed?) The shredded pork I can do without. The spring roll was fresh! and did I mention that the bowl of food was huge? We also tried the eggplant and chicken rice plate. Very yummy. Love eggplant. Thai ice tea is decent too. If you're going to eat at the Viet place in the ala moana food court, or if you're going to eat at the Saigon place up keeaumoku, think again and try out Green Papaya! Parking on Makaloa St across Walgreens.
(5)Tammy T.
I think Pho is Pho-bulous! It's the awesome-est when you're feeling sick. I use to go to the Kaimuki one, but found out there was one closer to me. Parking is a bitch, true! If you don't mind the walk you can slide your car among the Wal-Mart cars and walk over. Believe me, Wal-Mart shoppers take a lot longer to shop then for you to eat :) The Pho in chinatown is cheaper, but they're not open past 9 PM. I either get Pho or Mushroom, Zucchini and Tofu (pictures). Both really good! Oh man, they make some lemonade tea drink thing with little seeds in it. Mmm that's super good too. Don't go in expecting them to be all smiles. They just drop menus, take orders, fill water, remove dishes, that's it. Which is all I ask for. I'm easily pleased. They usually don't drop the check you have to go up and pay at the register.
(4)Jeff Z.
Im not much of a Pho aficionado but to me its great place, The Pho is pretty good, and they give you a lot of it. . Service can be a little challenging at times. Not a bad place to eat for $12.
(4)Jennifer D.
We decided to try the Shabu Shabu for lunch and see how it compared to other places. There was no wait for a table and we were the only people eating in the entire restaurant. Maybe that should have been a sign? Needless to say... After our meal, we concluded that a two-hour wait for Sweet Home Cafe for dinner Shabu Shabu would have been better!
(2)Christopher C.
Due to my friend Justin's idea to give up meat for lent, going out to meals with him has limited my normally carnivorous palate. Sadly disappointed by the lack of flavor in the dishes here, my bud wasnt impressed either. Pho was bland without a ton of flavor, both of us kinda left unsatisfied by our choice to check it out
(2)Lani G.
Trying to find parking may be challenging, but well worth the wait. So far, one of the best seafood pho and lemongrass chicken I've ever had. The staff are nice and friendly; and haven't had any problem with their customer service.
(3)David P.
The pho was not horrible, but it doesn't compare to some of the good pho places in Chinatown. Not a big fan of spring rolls, but I loved the ones here! Water glass never went empty, great and friendly service, and very clean. I will come back to try the chicken I hear so much about as well as the vermicelli. My theory of Vietnamese places are that if the pho doesn't match to your par, the vermicelli will be worth it; same the other way around.
(3)Dow L.
Came here for dinner on one of my last nights of my recent trip to Oahu. I can't remember which pho I ordered (I think it was pho tai which is the one with the rare steak). The broth was good. Light yet flavorful. Very refreshing. We also ordered the summer rolls as an appetizer. Wasn't too into those. Tasted too much like your typical chinese egg roll. I'm much more a fan of the spring rolls made with the rice paper. This place is like a combo restaurant. One side is Vietnamese pho and the other side is shabu shabu. Maybe next time I'll try the shabu shabu side? I think this place delivers because while I was dining, a girl was going over orders and packing them into a delivery hotbox. The decor is nice and the service was friendly and attentive.
(4)Arthur G.
Great vegetarian. Quick happy service. Clean.
(4)AiKo S.
What is this place? Two restaurants in one? I yelp'd "Shabu Shabu" and came across this place called "Island Shabu Shabu Cuisine" only to find out it's IN Green Papaya. They were nice to accommodate my party of 6 immediately, however, the service was horrible. The staff could barely explain the shabu shabu menu since there was nothing in the refrigerator to choose from. I opted for pho instead and it was mediocre. Even the satay sauce has to be requested and that wasn't all that great. I guess I would come back only if I was desperate for pho in that area, but not otherwise.
(2)Brooke M.
I really do not like this place. I don't know how I keep ending up back here. I suppose it's because it's one of the only places around with vegetarian soup broth, but everything I've had here is tasteless and boring, including the vegetarian soup broth... Last time I got a veggie tofu sour soup. It had shitloads of pineapple in it. I hate cooked pineapple. And it had virtually no veggies, just slices of scouring pad-like bittermelon and tomatoes. Ew. Also, the lemonade was way too sweet. I keep saying this, but for real this time-- never again!
(2)Olivia M.
Good pho, good food. I love the vermicelli bowls. Healthy and delicious. If you want a quick bite to eat and don't want to spend a lot, come here.
(3)Cassie P.
Came here for lunch today with my girlie. Super satisfying! We shared an order of spring rolls, and then had broccoli beef and broccoli chicken plates. I was going to order a mixed veggie/noodle plate, but at the last second, all that broccoli sounded good. And it was. Water glass was kept full at all times, brownie points! The rolls were served with lettuce, mint, cucumber, and fish oil. Probably some of the best spring rolls I've had in a long time! The broccoli dishes were definitely yummy. And I felt good even after finishing nearly all of it! My new mission: minimal fried, maximum "healthy feel good". Green Papaya definitely fits the bill.
(4)Natasha S.
Staff is Rude and the food SUCKS. Being vegetarian, there are limited places to eat in the area so when I saw the menu I was super excited about all the vegetarian options. This is the second time I've tried to eat here. The first time the food was bland and my tofu and veggies were overcooked. I chalked it up to a one-off, ate, paid and left. This time however, same thing!! Veggies and noodles were WAY overcooked and there was no flavor in the dish what so ever. When I explained this to the waitress, she argued with me! Kept telling me "we don't overcook, we don't overcook" .."we don't cook in microwave, we don't overcook" then walked away. Next thing I know the cook is at my table with a small portion of noodles to on a plate to "show me" they don't overcook. When I said, "that's fine but I don't like it", I was told "well that's your order, you ordered it" I apologized, thanked them for the attempt and told them that I'd like to send it back, "please and thank you". Before even clearing the food off my table the waitress hands me a menu and told me to order something else. I politely said, "no thanks" and left. Totally blown away by the attitudes of the staff and not to mention I felt that they were trying to embarrass me for not liking it - they made it into such an ordeal. I would have probably chosen another menu item, been moderately happy, paid and left but no now I'm writing about what A-holes they are and telling everyone never to eat there. There's another vegetarian place next door, much nicer and better food anyway!
(1)Trish P.
so the spring rolls are a little greasy - well, they're cooked in oil arent they? so the servers dont speak english that well - the restaurant is Vietnamese. the pho can be pretty good depending on who's cooking it and their hot and spicy sour soup is very good - lots of heat and pieces of seafood all floating around in a nice sour broth. the spicy lemon grass chicken is good and the green papaya salad is ok too. try the thai iced tea (wait, is this restaurant Thai or Vietnamese....?).
(4)Maree N.
Okay, their food is good. I like their garlic chicken with vermicelli and spicy beef soup. I used to work around the area and would go there for lunch very often. The service was great overall as well. However, when I went back there for lunch the other day with my friend, I was deeply disappointed in their degraded service. The girl who took our order looked snarky the whole time, didn't greet or even say a word when we had questions about food, she only answered by nodding or shaking her head. Smile was nonexistent. At 2pm, all the employees came out from the kitchen and started having lunch all together at the center table. I understand that their restaurant's "lunch hours" ends at 2pm and that is totally fine that they eat at the tables while the customers are still around, but they almost completely stopped paying attention to the customers right there. Didn't even come back to take our payment when it was ready and sitting on the table for more than 10 minutes. When we asked for our water glasses to be refilled, a girl server reluctantly did it and this guy who came out of kitchen gave us a really mean look and kept glaring at us until we left that place. I like their food but after this recent unpleasant experience I don't know if I want to go back there again. If I ever do that, I will just pick up take-out and eat elsewhere!
(2)Leticita C.
Love it! Cheap, good, friendly, simple, fast, and very vegetarian friendly (they have a whole page of veggie stuff on the menu!). What more could you want? I've been going there at least once a week for over two years. The food is extremely consistent--and by that, I mean always good. The Tom Yum (Thai soup) is fab, fresh, and spicy. I've brought all of my out-of-town guests there as well.
(5)Robyn S.
I went here with my boyfriend on a late breakfast early lunch binge. We ordered a helping of crispy spring rolls and our own respectable bowls of pho. If there's one thing I'm crazy about it's crispy spring rolls... and green papaya delivers! The pho portions are reasonably sized, the broth is slightly earthy and salty, and the price is decent. It certainly stands out as one of the better pho restaurants I've perused but nothing that cuts the cake.
(3)Jesse R.
This place has really great food!! I was on a brake between classes and we decided to get some pho, and they gave quite a bit. I had the pho w/ flank steak and meatballs. Dude, I couldn't eat all my food. We also had those lumpia looking rolls with the vermicelli and my special sauce, dang, I'm kinda craving those things right now. Next time I am gonna try a rice plate but I was completely satisfied with the pho. This place is pretty chill, never rushed and the staff are friendly. Good service, and we should be going there again soon.
(4)Elsie S.
Vegetarian pho was horribly bland. Tofu in the pho was too soft. Even when we tried to add soy sauce, the pho had zero appeal to the palate. We decided to tell the waitress we were not satisfied, and she snapped back saying we shouldn't have added the soy sauce. Customer service was rude and unfriendly. It is going on my blacklist, never to return.
(1)Steven L.
For Vietnamese food away from home, it's A-OK. Totally passable with their PHO. I am impress with the abundance and different variety of mint leafs they served, very authentic. Definitely Vietnamese owners which is a plus. Prices are very reasonable. A good place to satisfy your Vietnamese cravings but just don't expect memorable secret recipe cooking here like in Westminster or Santa Ana, CA.
(3)babynorah t.
The sign outside said vietnamese vegetarian and I was expecting vegetarian food. They barely had any vegetarian selections. What the heck? I ordered the veggie spring roll and some sort of horrible stiry fry noodle dish. I forced myself to finish the roll and couldn't take more than one bite of the noodle dish. Yuck!
(2)sky i.
My pregnant wife: I wanna eat some pho. Me: But...we've had pho 30 out of the last 33 days...don't you want something different? (translation: I want to eat something else besides Vietnamese food). Wife: But I'm CRAVING it...besides, it's the baby who wants it, not me (looks at me with sad, puppy dog eyes). How can a father-to-be argue with that?? So we made our trek to Green Papaya on Makaloa street. Warning: Parking is scarce. As we sat down and the waiter placed our untensils on the table, I noticed was that there was a noticeable brown stain on her spoon that could be removed with our napkin. We asked for another spoon. You may want to bring your own plastic untensils a la Jack Nicholas' character in the movie "As Good as it Gets" or some packets of Germ-X. Either way, their dishwashing needs to be improved. I wanted something other than Pho so I ordered the stir fried chicken with rice. The chicken was spiced nicely and before I knew it, I scarfed the whole plate clean. I also sampled the Pho, just for reviewing sake. I was mildly surprised in that it exceeded my expectations. The soup had nice depth and wasn't overly sweet or salty. In fact, it was the second best Pho I've tasted so far in my limited experience in Vietnamese dining. My favorite is still Pho Huang Lan in the Chinese Cultural Center, but alas, they are only open for lunch business and therefore cannot address my wife's current addiciton for Pho during the evening hours. I suspect we will be returning here for more Pho in the future...the little tyke in my wife's belly will make sure of that.
(4)Craig P.
Being a Pesce-Vegetarian, I would have to rate this one pretty high! The food here is great. Tasty, hot and on request, spicy! I have a couple of favorites here. The Tofu and Vegetable Fried Noodle with Look Fun and the Mixed Vegetable Curry with Brown Rice. They will prepare it with chili and make it spicy with great flavor. I've tried the Vegetable Pho, excellent and friends of mine have had the Spring Rolls with Noodles and Eggplant with Chicken and really enjoy it! So much so that they always order it when we go there! The taste is consistent. I can always count on a great lunch. The service is excellent. The folks there are nice. Watch the time though. Try and get here before 12 noon or else expect a wait. They do try to get you seated right away, but if you're in a rush, you may want to come back later.
(4)Maribell P.
This place is awesome! Besides serving up delicious vietnamese pho, they also offer the option of doing Shabu-Shabu. If you are ever in the mood for Shabu-Shabu, come here. They give you 5 different types of broths (all are basically liquid gold in terms of deliciousness). It does get a little pricey when you choose what items you want to put into your soup, but over all the experience and the taste far outweigh the price. Oh and don't forget about the spring rolls and avocado shake. They are AMAZING :)
(4)Elle V.
The vermicelli and spring rolls are super good here! I miss coming here with certain friends on random days ;) I think about them every time I eat here.
(4)Dakine C.
Good food, fast service, and very friendly staff. Always get the vegetarian pho and green papaya salad. Very vegetarian friendly and not too expensive.
(4)Danielle Y.
It's really 3.5 stars. But I imagine future visits would up the star level, not lower it. There was nothing amiss at Green Papaya Cafe. It's a well-lit room off of Ke'eaumoku (near the Wal-mart). E and I decided that as A gets back Monday (!!!!!!) we need to institute date-night so we can continue to be reminded of how awesome each other's existence is. So Vietnamese (and Green Papaya Cafe) it was! There's some parking in the back of the restaurant, which seemed under used even though there's not a lot. We walked into a mostly full restaurant. People were mostly eating pho, but I saw some people with larger, platter meals. Mmmmmm. The ambiance is: clean. The food: We started off with the garden rolls (4.75), which I liked, but I don't think E did. They had taro, and squash, and other bits of things in them. So beware: if you want a traditional non-fried spring roll this is NOT IT. But I enjoyed it. The peanut sauce was passable. Next, we ordered bun (vermicelli). I know, I know, I REALLY wanted pho. But in the end FRIED veggie rolls and lemongrass tofu (!!!!!) on bun (8.75) is what came out of my mouth when it was time to order. I'm not going to lie- I continue to assert that bun is NOT the dish to judge a restaurant by. It's mainly plain noodles, with something on top, with some additions, and fish sauce. However, I seriously enjoyed my lemongrass tofu and fried veggie roll (E just got bun and fried veggie roll- 8.25). Not a veggie by any means (I do love steak) I have recently discovered tofu and how excellent it can be. The lemongrass tofu had a nice texture and a lovely flavor. Nothing special or knock-your-socks off. But tasty and satisfying. Fried spring rolls were decidedly un-greasy. The extra stuff (bean sprouts, cucumber, mint, etc) were fresh and crunchy. Yummy. I ate the whole thing. Service: was friendly and cheerful and I always had a full water glass. Hurrah! All in all, I'd go back again. I continue to be appalled at the expense of bun on this island- and this restaurant is no exception. I just can't imagine having bun for over 6 dollars that would make me say "WOW! THIS WAS WORTH IT" So next time I go, I will try something else.
(4)Josh M.
Every since my stint in 'Nam I've not been able to shake this hankering for lemon grass tofu; and let me tell you, eating their delicious eats transports me back to the paddies. This place is wonderful - probably the best place in a 10 block radius. Their tap water is surprisingly good by Oahu standards, and the service is always impeccable, sometimes a little sassy. I can't shake the feeling that there may be Mogwais for sale in the back. Also, iced coffee trips BALLS.
(4)Angel L.
My bf & I ate here for lunch, I thought its pretty pricey and the soup itself wasn't that great! Just tastes bland and no flavor.
(3)Micah P.
Place is good. Girlfriend is vegetarian and this place has veggie pho so we went to check it out. Had veggie spring rolls which were delicious with all the fixings (lettuce, cucumber, vermicelli noodles, mint and dipping sauce). I had the King Pho with everything in it (tripe, meat balls, tendon, two kinds of thin cut beef) and it was great. Lots of meat and noodles and the broth was solid. Not the best I've ever had but very delicious. Gf liked her veggie pho and it was loaded with tofu and broccoli and all kinds of veggies. Came out to about $30 which was fine and we were very satisfied. Went back and had chow fun with chicken and she had chow fun with tofu. Tofu dish was much better as the chicken version had a slightly acrid taste like the peanuts got overcooked. Still a solid portion and the tofu dish was good. i back this place.
(3)Donna D.
Like the pho, and the service.
(3)Ritsuko K.
I like this place because they have Oxtail Pho! This is really good.
(4)Juli M.
They've changed in style and quality a few times over the years but have really reliably-good Bun (the vermicelli stuff), some of the best in Honolulu. Fantastic lemonade and a relatively comfortable space round out a great regular dinner place. There's much beter Pho to be had in Chinatown, but the stuff here is certainly edible. Really good summer rolls, too!
(4)Paula L.
green papaya salad always tastes the same,... the secret's in da sauce.
(4)kristen p.
I was lucky enough to frequent this restaurant one summer while visiting my then future in laws. This is probably one of the best Vietnamese restaurants that I have ever been to. Their vegetarian pho is my favorite. The green papaya salad is very good too. I love that they are so vegetarian friendly. My only wish is that there was a Green Papaya near my home considering that I so often crave it!
(5)Brian R.
Pho-tastic. Broth had very little fat. Ordered chicken noodle and crab noodle, both were prepared very well. Summer rolls were fresh and tasty. Price was fair (used to paying less for Pho) and I will definitely eat here again
(4)opqr s.
love love love this place! The chicken curry, garden vegetable soup, bbq chicken, and garden rolls are delicious!
(5)Jules Y.
My friends and I came here for dinner one night after a moderately strenuous evening practice and research visits to Sam's Club and Walmart across the street. We somehow wandered down the way looking into the various shops attached to the bldg and were starved by the time we decided to find something to eat :/ Lol After a lot of indecisive hemming and hawing hehe about which of the various restaurants along Keeaumoku Street to try, we walked across the street and came here. The food taste and quality overall are pretty good but for the prices per dish and for what is supposed to be a noodles kind of place, it would be good if they could increase their noodle portions was our opinion :( Here's what we ordered and what we thought: 1) Shrimp and spring rolls on a bed of noodles with lightly sweet vinegary sauce - I really didn't know what to try. I wanted pho, shrimp, and spring rolls but didn't want to order a separate dish of spring rolls. Honestly wasn't too thrilled about going without pho soup broth until I finally tried this dish and was completely pleased with my choice :) The medium-sized shrimp were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of soft meat shrimp crunch; the fried-to-golden-brown-goodness crunchy spring rolls were cut into cute bite-sized pieces which made it all fun to eat; crushed peanuts on top is always a welcome bit of heaven. Pour the lightly sweet vinegary sauce all over this dish and you've got one flavorful, refreshing, light yet filling meal. *Thoroughly* enjoyed :) The only thing I'd say is there should have been more noodles = -1 = 4 stars 2) Tofu stir fry on a bed of noodles - My friend wanted their Chinese-style noodles dish (see the light brown noodles peeking out from under the carrots at center?) and was a bit surprised what this one turned out to be. The plate was huge and there were a lot of veggies and good amount of tofu but she thought there would be more noodles. Also, the combination of ingredients flavored by an ok tasting gravy sitting on top of the small bed of noodles was somehow a little more than strange tasting. Rather than a green onions garnish, perhaps fresh bean sprouts would have worked better. Don't think she'll think to order this again :( Lack of noodles = -1 & strange combination and taste = -1 = 3 stars 3) Super amazingly-spicy hot pho! My other friend wanted some soup and she wanted it *spicy*. Boy, did she get spicy! She said the taste was pretty good but could only take sips and very small bites at a time bc of how super duper spicy it turned out to be. It was so hot that she took almost the entire bowl home! She'd order this again! Pretty good soup taste but needed more noodles (what's pho without the noodles, right?!?) = -1 = 4 stars 4) Sweet potato tapioca dessert - After dinner, one of my friends ordered the sweet potato tapioca dessert. She enjoyed this unexpectedly warm dessert that was happily littered with crushed peanuts on top :) The potato was soft and lightly and pleasantly delicious. Like my shirmp-spring rolls dish, the ingredients within this dish made for a very nice tasting and enjoyable finish for her dinner. Good serving & delicious! = 5 stars DINING EXPERIENCE: Table spacing - The place is a little larger than small. There are a lot of tables and chairs very close to each other. Decor - It's definitely not new here but the air conditioning is really nice and cool :) Service - You come to these small places to find good tastes with good deals. It's not meant to be a five star kind of restaurant with wait help watching over every part of your meal. Of course water service here is a given but does not have to be perfect. We were served water regularly and almost never needed to ask. Kitchen/Restrooms - Restrooms are located upstairs. You'll need a key from the cashier desk. Go thru the kitchen outside and on the right take the stairs up to the 2nd floor. Walk half way along the walkway women's then men's restrooms are on the left. The restroom may or may not have run out of soap so be sure to ask for soap and sink back at the restaurant kitchen :/ On my way to/from the restroom, I needed to go thru the kitchen. I really didn't get to check it out all that much but I remember thinking the kitchen was not so spic and span and could have been a bit cleaner. The driveway and bldg where the restroom is located seemed really dirty and could use a good cleaning. Parking - Usually this place is out of the way for me mostly bc parking is not an easy feat. I'm not even sure where I'd park except along the street. Overall - Food = a bit more than 3 not quite 4 stars; Lack of a cleaner experience on my way to their restrooms and in their restroom = -0.5 = 3 stars. Not sure I'd like to make a trek back to this place since I can dine at the Green Papaya on Dillingham where parking is more readily available in the bldg parking structure and the pho soup and spring rolls are really good there :)
(3)Lei A.
#BEST GREEN PAPAYA SALAD..order with Tofu! Yummy as tofu is seasoned and fried! It is totally Alkaline and heals as well as helps you lose weight!
(5)Mystical K.
This was a horrible experience. Now I understand why the ratings for this place have gone waaaaay down. I walked in to order takeout. When I ordered my food, one of the cooks was standing in the front obviously because they were really slow...no customers now... Everything always makes sense in hindsight. I ordered a combination pho; no tendon and no meatballs. The woman who took my order repeated it back to me and told the cook standing in the front next to her waiting. I waited a few minutes and then my order came. It wasn't until I got home that I discovered meatballs floating in the broth and rare steak on the noodles; no tripe and no brisket. Ugh! I then proceed to call and complain. I end up having to talk to two different women who eventually ask the cook and then the cook has the audacity to lie! Once you mess up with me and takeout, there's pretty much no way of fixing it. What bugs me the most about this whole thing is that there were NO OTHER CUSTOMERS and they still messed up my order! This place is definitely not what I remember when they first opened and apparently I'm not the only one who's noticed.
(1)April P.
We were referred there by a sales associate from a nearby store. The food was just ok. We probably won't visit again.
(3)Lien V.
Ever since Green Papaya's 2nd location opened on Keeaumoku Street, getting my bitter melon and oxtail pho fix is so much easier than the drive to North King Street. This location is so convenient and surrounded by lots of shops where I can eat, then shop and come back for seconds lol. The restaurant specializes in vegetarian dishes but GP is not strictly vegetarian but also serves other non-vegetarian dishes. And they are delicious! Ordering 2 plate lunches would be gluttony so I opted to get my shrimp & bitter melon stir fried in black bean sauce. Yum yum yum...the shrimp was decent size while the bitter melon, thickly julienned absorbed the wonderful Chinese black bean sauce. Sweet onions cooked with the bitter melon really round out the whole dish nicely. Just can't stop eating this dish when paired with hot white rice. While I was eating the bitter melon with shrimp, I kept thinking I really want to order my other favorite oxtail pho but I controlled myself...hehehe. When I'm hungry for their awesome oxtail pho, I will be back for sure.
(4)Randall H.
It's not bad, just not as Vietnamese as I would expect coming from a person who is Vietnamese & eats at ones restaurant.. Just feel like I could've made better at home. I'm a chef & this is basic non authentic culture cooking truthfully. But servers were nice though. Even though they forgot my shoyu I requested for 2 times..
(2)Daniel Q.
My wife loves the chicken pho here. I like almost everything here. I got Bun cha gio Thit nuong today. We also shared summer rolls
(5)Kara P.
Vegan friendly without question... Food that is amazing and reasonably priced. I like the decor :) I will return multiple times!!!
(5)Real Friends X.
I've been on my fair share of vacations so I know that to really have a good experience you have to know the good local spots. No overpriced tourist meals for me!!1! What I got though, a scrumptious appetizer of spring rolls with some sweet peanut dipping sauce to start, don't tell my wife :) the noodle dish I ordered though tasted as if the cook went to a convenient store and bought a microwaveable cup of noodles and put them in a fancy dish. Oh well :(
(2)Blossom G.
rude service!! they got my order completely wrong and didn't even comp anything. absolutely unacceptable!!!!!!!!!! if i could give no stars, i would!
(1)Alexa April G.
The server is rude. Our party came first but the priotized the party after us. She left us hanging while taking orders. Service 0. Food idk-__- .
(1)Sheryll Y.
I have to say I was a bit disappointed in my food. The kalbi or short ribs were marinated in something that didn't really taste delicious to my palette. But I did order the avocado shake - which sounds weird, but is actually really delicious. I finished fb whole glass, completely recommend it. My friend ordered the tofu vegetable fried rice and I thought it was unique, with it's broccoli, tomatoes, and cucumber. Never would've thought of adding those - especially in the sizes they were cut up in the dish. But still it was delicious in taste and I would completely order it over the one I had. For parking, I wasn't sure where to park beyond street parking. And when my friend and I didn't find any, we headed to Walmart to park. I don't always recommend parking at Walmart - sometimes they threaten to tow your car. But it helped that we needed to go there after dinner and walked through Walmart to where we wanted to go. :)
(4)Shahanee V.
I still dream about the mouth watering spring rolls available at Green Papaya. - They were crispy - Filled with vegetarian friendly fillings - had a perfectly acidic juicy side dip Delicious and fried HARD! These rolls were the best I have ever had. Filled with the usual veggie mix but with added sweet potato - um YUM! It made these rolls have more substance and held up better to the dipping sauce. One may not believe it, but the night we ordered take out from here I decided to try PHO. Yes PHO which for some reason, have never ordered before! So glad I did! I'd even go as far and say the flavor was addictive! We took our meal to the park in the dark and ate under the street lights. They packed everything so tightly which was good since we were walking. Once comfy we dug in! Nice ample amounts of various veggies were in a bag ready to be poured into the pho. It was heavenly in a homey way. The Pho was so pleasing and warming to the soul. Not even the bugs crawling on my legs stopped me from slurping down my pho! One of the best and most affordable meals on our vacay this year! The staff were nice and offered water & a table even though we just ordered take out! Plus they specialize in vegetarian meals and seriously know how to season properly! COME HUNGRY - LEAVE HAPPY, full, and with leftovers for the following days lunch! SCORE ;)
(5)Thomas P.
This is our go to place for vermicelli salad. We do the bbq pork and spring rolls. The staff is great. They remember us and our order. I love this place.
(5)Shay F.
Again, I'm vegetarian-ish, so anyplace that has veggie friendly dishes is an automatic 4 stars. And this place didn't disappoint! I got the veggie pho, and it was FILLED with lots of veggies and tofu. The broth was very flavorful too. I don't have too many hungover-mornings anymore, but I know where to go if I do!
(4)Jason M.
Place is cleaner than before. They definitely revamped the place and lighting is much better than I saw it in 2009. The Zucchini, Mushroom, and Chicken Plate was fantastic. Still had a lot of flavor and taste to it. I am so glad I am back to enjoy this food.
(5)Ly N.
This is my go to spot for consistent, delicious, quality Vietnamese food! Very friendly staff and there is never a wait. Food always comes in a timely manner. Menu is very comprehensive with a wide range of food, including lots of vegetarian options! The only reason this review is one star short is due to parking. There is very limited parking spaces in the lot behind the restaurant and may be hard to find street parking. You can park either at Walmart or Ross which validates. I highly recommend this place for it's quality of food, and friendly customer service!
(4)Paul C.
I had the pho here and I thought it wasn't great, just average. Ambiance is a bit meh, not much interesting to look at. Service is ok. Location is good near ala moana and price is good for this area. Basically, average place. Overall, if you want Vietnamese food and are in this area, go here. If you're looking for something special or above average, venture to the more out the way numerous Vietnamese places in town. Pretty cheap though and better than McDonald's if you're in this area.
(3)Ashley S.
Ordered the oxtail pho and chicken pho and they both tasted the exact same, tasteless. Was craving a good pho and it was very disappointing
(1)Christina D.
I got the pho and man it was delicious I will come back again for all you people that never tried this go here it will surprise you
(5)Aditya N.
I cannot believe that this restaurant is rated 3 point something on yelp, i just cant. This has an excellent veg menu and the food has got to be the best i have eaten at honolulu. The helping sizes are ginormous, very reasonably priced and excellent quick service. We tried the veg spring rolls, thai tofu hot and sour soup and the vegetable tofu fried rice, and were unable to decide which was better. I tend to think i am a foodie, and i usually dont write reviews (this is my first on yelp), but this restaurant deserves every bit of the 5 stars i have given it.
(5)