4. Restaurants

Yama’s Fish Market

2332 Young St, Honolulu, HI, 96826
  • (808) 941-9994
  • Store is closed

Yama’s Fish Market Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Kimo U.

    My family wanted to try a lot of menu choices, so I called early Sunday morning (before they opened) & ordered enough for nine members. Everything from the plate lunches to the various haupia dessert to the masago pokes to the beef stew and pasta salad turned out delicious. Sadly, no butterfish or furikake salmon are made on Sundays. To be safe, call ahead; you had to know that they only make miso-butterfish on Thursdays and Fridays. Their pickled mango, though, was a bit too tough for me. Wish they hadn't left the pit on.

    (5)

  • Joe V.

    Wow. I feel like a fool for not finding this place sooner. I've been driving by for years but thought it was only large cuts of fish. Stupid I know since I go to helenas too. This is gonna be a loooong review. Sorry but its worth it. My better half sent me to Kozo sushi and they were closed. I know I know.. Kozo isnt great, but its ok and its SO close to me house. So I went over to Yamas just to see if they had ahi bowls. This is at about 7:30 They were closed too but I didnt notice until l was right in the doorway. I asked if they were closed and the girl said yeah, but come on in, what would you like. That was a good sign right there. Happy employees cheerily welcoming you 30 minutes after closing time is rare. So I ordered a spicy ahi bowl and some wasabi ahi. I felt so good and confident that I knew this would be a new favorite take out place. I got home and shared my excitement with the boss and she was skeptical. This is now one of her new favorite places to eat too. The wasabi ahi was amazing and is her favorite now and the spicy ahi was damn good too. We shared both and were really happy. I'll never go to Kozo again thats for sure. And they have plenty local food too. I tried a sample of the Kalua pork at the counter persons suggestion and it was as good if not better than Ono's. When I went to pay I figured the girl was being so nice to me because they accepted tips but there was no line on the receipt to add a tip. I would have thrown $5 down just based on the experience BEFORE I even ate. Margie's cookies are killer too. This morning I texted my 3 of friends about it and they already knew and have their own favorites there. Like someone else said you can't go wrong here. It's really really good served by happy employees. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Ashley G.

    oh yamas, i wanted soo badly to love you. your customer service was amazing but the food was lack luster. the lau lau was extremely bland. no taste what so ever!! what a disappointment. the kalua was decent and so was the garlic chicken. but id much rather go to another place to eat.

    (2)

  • jesus c.

    i used to like this place a lot. but now, im my ripe age of 26, i find that i only really like their squid luau. mostly because you can't really get it anywhere else, and it's a good way to beat the line cause it's already cooked. sure the parkiing sucks, but im a master and random parking spots, so never a problem for me. tip to yamas: a fresh coat of paint wouldn't hurt. tip to diners: get a moped?

    (4)

  • Andrew U.

    Instructions for people visting from out of town..... 1) get off plane 2) head to Yamas! Im off to Hawaii a few times a year to visit family and make a beeline to Yama's for some the best local food on the island. My favorites are the Kalua Pig and the Ahi Limu Poke (soooooo fresh!!). But if you are a fan of local food everything is great including the haupia, lomi salmon and lau lau. Of course there is mac salad on the side and generous scoops of rice! This place is off the beaten path so you need to know your way around Honolulu. It is take out only so stake out somewhere to go to enjoy. Also

    (4)

  • Epicurious M.

    My first review as a new transplant! This place sorta fell into my lap while I was perusing Craigslist for work. They were hiring for dessert makers to make haupia...and my curiosity was piqued. For the job opportunity and cuz I love haupia. I checked out their menu online and was pleasantly surprised by the prices. I finally got to check them out and I had to abandon my choice of getting one of the cheaper items. Instead I decided to go big or go home...I chose #6 cuz it had a variety of stuff I could sample. For $9.30 + tax I got Kalua Pig, Salmon Lomi, Poke (I chose spicy ahi from a number of options) & Haupia. I got lucky as there's only 2 tables to eat at and I got one of them. I arrived after 1pm so I just missed when it was hella croweded and I saw everyone leaving. Even though my meal was very filling, I still went back in to get some different haupia concoctions. I was obsessing. Anyway, I got the brownie with the haupia on top for 85¢; haupia on a crust with a piece of strawberry in strawberry jello; and haupia on crust with sweet potato on top both for $1.45. There were other haupia options there but I was already feeling guilty for breaking my diet and for splurging on myself, so I bounced. Mos def though I will return and sample the cheaper priced lunches...so I can get more haupia in return. Or maybe I'll apply, get lucky and work there!

    (5)

  • Koko M.

    I returned to Yama's again and it is still just as good. Highly recommend it! Just don't order the fried rice bowl, it's not that good. Stick to the plate lunches!

    (4)

  • REBEKAH H.

    Whenever I come to visit Honolulu this is an easy stop and has great food!

    (4)

  • Dave L.

    Poke! Best on the islands in my opinion. Freshly caught ahi that just melts in your mouth. I have been craving this for the last 7 months being on the mainland. Oh yea, the lau lau and stuff is good here too, but of course is even better with a tub of poke on the side!

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    LOVED IT! it was delicious! the ahi tuna was fresh and the lau lau was so tender and moist! the best lau lau i had in HI

    (5)

  • Baby T.

    Great food. A bit pricey though. The haupia is really good and the selection of poke is wonderful. Nice and fresh. Parking is pretty tight though. Very good food though, it is worth it.

    (5)

  • Kendall H.

    MAD good quality fish for the price. Good selection of local food on the menu. Only problem is i get annoyed when i want a poke bowl and have to buy poke and rice seperately, and an extra bowl to mix it together myself outside. Also MAD tasty, and worthy of writing a review for while working in my office in boston, ma craving good local food.

    (4)

  • Rob C.

    takeout place. ~$14/lb poke, this is the fresh stuff. various preps too, have the hawaiian but try wasabi masage (sesame). difference from the store versions like foodland is the pieces are very smooth (not include those sometimes stringy between areas). can order by the quarter lb to try several.

    (5)

  • Kristen C.

    I came here cause I had a BOGO free coupon. it was 1130 and not crowded and I was lucky to get a parking in their lot. There was only a few other people ordering/taking out. As for myself, I got the #1 lau lau plate, with 2 scoops rice and mac salad ($5.85)and I got my mom the #4 kalua pig with 2 scoops rice and mac sal'. For dessert I got the okinawan sweet potato haupia pie ($1.45) and the haupia brownie (.85). They have a lot of other desserts and cookies that looked really good too! Before ordering I gave the lady my coupon and she said to hold on to it. Then, after a 3 min wait or so my food was ready and so I gave the lady my coupon but she never ringed it up after checking my receipt, so then i gave it to her again...3rd times the charm i guess...and everything was clear and she apologized so that was nice. It was no problem but I just didnt get why she missed it after showing here for several times...o well. As for the price its as good as it gets! its really cheap for what you get compared to other shops that sell they same for way more. My laulau was pretty good, I've had better but still good. I wish it came with more luau leaves but I like that it came with chicken and pork although it was a bit dry it still had good flavor. As for their mac salad it was eh, not really to my liking, although my mom liked. She also thought her kalua was not bad, she had better and claimed that it was too salty, which it was after having a sample. And not to forget about dessert, she loved the sweet potato haupia pie and I really enjoyed my haupia brownie that was really moist and filled with choco chips and complimented well with the creamy haupia...mmmMMM gooood! The desserts were pretty pricey for their size but Overall its more like a 4.5 and i'll definitely be coming back.

    (4)

  • Albert L.

    As a previous reviewer (who oh-so-kindly introduced me to this place when I first moved here) mentioned, they have GREAT fresh/Hawaiian food! Even though there are not many tables, and it's mainly a take-out place, lots of locals know about it and they have a fresh selection of food AND are set up to do large quantity catering. Especially if you are one of those people who host visitors a lot and they keep screaming about wanting Hawaiian food, this is an excellent place to grab food on the way home. They are a LOT cheaper than a place like Ono Hawaiian Food (which although it's very good, is overpriced and more of a sit-down place). I think Yama is a good introduction to Hawaiian food, especially if you just want Hawaiian food and don't want to have to spring to go to a luau or something. So save yourselves some money, skip Ono or any of the luaus, and hit Yama's Fish Market. On top of that, I think they have one of the MOST extensive/fresh/tasty selections of poke, everything from Ahi Shoyu and Ahi Limu Poke to Tako Poke and Ahi Masago/Wasabi Masago Poke. It's so fresh and delicious!

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    A good stand with a wide variety of local dishes. But it is a market so primarily good for take out. But if you want one of the amazing looking lunch plates, you have to order in advance.

    (4)

  • Joy M.

    A luau in your plate!! The BEST kalua pig and laulau ever.

    (5)

  • Lndn O.

    What can I say. Hawaiian food is my soulfood. The food is grub and what I found interesting is when buying a drink, you pay one price but you get to pick what size you want. That's rare.

    (4)

  • Mathew K.

    you know the sign of a great restaurant/chef is when they can take a food you aren't really a fan of and make it so you really like it? you know what i mean? no? so i'm not the biggest fan of lau lau. it's always too dry and i'd rather just have kalua pig over a side of rice. by yama's does a RIDICULOUS job with it. it's super juicy and flavorful and there may be some crack in there because it just makes you want to lick the styrofoam box clean. man....writing about makes me want some of that tea leaf delight. just fyi, i wouldn't get the salmon poke. i love poke and don't really ever see salmon poke, but it was just kinda below average salmon sashimi with a hint of flavor. i would've rather just got tuna poke, which there is RIDICULOUS AGAIN!!!! funny thing again, is that, it's called yama's fish market, but i'm in love with a pork dish more than their fish. haha

    (5)

  • David E.

    A review in four parts. Review the first: Teriyaki beef lunch plate. "Awesome. Satisfying. It had much more flavor than any other beef I've ever had. The teriyaki sauce was the best I've ever had." Review the second: Mochiko Chicken. "Crispy deliciousness. I was lovin' that chicken, it hit the spot. I like teriyaki beef better though. If I could get a combo plate of beef and chicken, I'd be a happy Cali girl." Review the third: Kalua pig with shoyo ahi poke. "It was yummers! The beef teriyaki is awesome!" Review the fourth: Kalua pork and lau lau. "Porky Pig never captured my imagination so much as when he was cooked Kalua style. I had never had lau lau before and it was totally worth the risk. But man, that teriyaki beef? THAT'S where it's at! I would totally have that next time." Group consensus: "Broke da mouth"

    (5)

  • Ahjeck K.

    The garlic ahi plate (#18) here is my all time favorite. The fish is as fresh as it gets. It comes with an oily garlic sauce, but I just eat it w/o that as the fish is well seasoned. They offer many other food including Hawaiian food (lau lau, kalua pig, poi, haupia, lomi salmon, etc) variety of poke, and other snacks; I haven't tried them all yet but I'm sold on the Ahi plate! I would go here just to pick up some Ahi plates, just as you would go all the way to North shore to get some garlic shrimp! It's just that good! The parking is very-very limited (7 stalls) and very-very limited seating space (2 non-AC tables) so I would not recommend eating there. If you're looking for a quick stop-by-pickup food area, this works. Despite the cons, the food and service outweighs it completely. After all, the food quality and service are the main things for a food joint. Best of all, the prices are very reasonable! Pros: - Ono Ahi Plate! - Friendly people - Clean place. - Reasonable prices. - Free ice water to drink. - Did I mention delicious (and FRESH) food? Cons: - Limited parking space - Limited seating areas w/o AC! (Don't come here if you want to sit down to eat. Buy and then go somewhere else to eat.) - Not exactly that easy to find if you've never been there before. - Can get busy esp. during lunch hour. (which translate to 0 parking stalls; but people come and go relatively fast)

    (5)

  • Mark B.

    You gotta swing by this place while you're in town. Very Hawaiian and very friendly. NOT at all a tourist destination. Grab a couple tubs of grub and take it all back to the room for a great meal. Friends/Family will be VERY impressed. I love it!

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    I would def go here again! Ordered the kalua pork plate and hawaiian stew. The kalua was so tender and flavorful! The poke was good...a little too much shoyu/sauce for my liking but the flavor was nice! The lomi salmon was delicious! The stew was pretty good. Looking forward to eating here again!

    (4)

  • Lisa J.

    I'm a fan of their kalua pig, chicken long rice, and haupia squares. The haupia squares I'd recommend are the strawberry jello and okinawan potato ones. Eat as quickly as you can or put them in the fridge when you get home because the creamy haupia layer will start to lose its shape if it gets too warm. And if you're at Yama's with someone else, do yourselves a favor and get a piece (or two or three...) for each of you. Once you take a bite, you won't want to share it with anyone else.

    (5)

  • Ivan L.

    Nice bright blue paint on the exterior. Easy to find though parking is sparse. The service was awesome, offering us several samples of the various types of poke. The prices are average but the food is fabulous. The poke was the best; fresh and tasty, well seasoned. We ordered half a pound each of the spicy ahi and the shoyu poke. We also had lau lau and kalua pig as a combo plate, both were excellent and tasty. We had two haupia desserts; regular and strawberry cream. Both were good but the regular was better. Their haupia was thick, creamy, and smooth. Really good though we ate too much of it. All this food for about $30 split between 4 people. I would definitely visit Yama's again if I get the opportunity.

    (5)

  • Vicky B.

    This is why I moved back from the mainland, the plate lunches are awesome. They give two huge scoops of rice and so much food it typically lasts for two to three days. My boyfriend can finish it in one sitting, but even for him its a struggle. Their poke is so fresh and has really good seasoning. All of their local plates are great too. Their mochiko chiken is super good, but not your typical mochiko chicken. Its more like chicken katsu with a sweet and sour sauce to pour over. If you go during lunch take someone with you so they can grab the food. Parking is tough, we always call in our orders.

    (5)

  • Khai L.

    Chicken lau lau and sweet potato dessert was on point.

    (4)

  • Tez L.

    Yama's Fishmarket has the BEST LAU LAU I'VE EVER, EVER HAD. And I love Lau Lau. The traditional pork/chicken mix is the only way to go, my mouth waters thinking about it. Choice of mac salad or salmon. They have a good selection of poke which is really good, too, but my fave Poke place is still Tamura's (but it's pricey). The poi here is really good too. Gosh I miss Hawaii!

    (5)

  • Ron B.

    By far, the best lau lau I have ever had. Nuff said.

    (5)

  • Alan T.

    used to eat here regularly when i lived in mccully. good poke, plate lunches, snack items, and my favorite pie on the island.... yama's okinawan sweet potato haupia pie.

    (4)

  • Whitney Y.

    great kalua pig and haupia :) and great price!

    (4)

  • Ruth D.

    I loooved this place. Now that we've moved to the mainland I feel like a part of me is missing hahaha. Seriously, this was my joint when I was cravin some local kine grindz. I always ordered the #7 the one with Lau Lau, Kalua Pig & Lomi Salmon gotta sub rice with poi. Oh and a pound of fresh ahi limu poke. And for dessert Sweet Potato Haupia. Mmmh so onolicious! I asked my haole husband what would be the first thing he would do when he got off the plane on Oahu and he said he would go straight to Yama's and order one plate lunch! LOL! Damn. I wish I could go home to have some... I guess that gives me an excuse to come home to visit

    (5)

  • Janice O.

    Hungry for Hawaiian food and decided to try Yama's. Got there before the pau Hana crowd. Whew! Love their lau lau, squid luau. Next time ill get there earlier for the ahi poke patties. it was pretty good. Desserts are good too! Staff was very nice and helpful! will definitely go back again when I get the cravings!!

    (5)

  • Christopher M.

    wasabi masago poke, Chili peppah water + Lomi salmon, Poi, and top it off with Haupia sweet potato pie... So fresh and so clean... you are what you eat.

    (5)

  • D N.

    B/f got #2 I got #6 and w/ an entertainment book, this came out to be like $11. It was crazy good and filling. A lil bit salty but I think most things in Hawaii are like that. The thing I remember most about this place was the Wasabi Poke. The cashier offered to let me sample other poke and while normally I would be all over that. I knew I couldnt leave this island w/out a full order of the wasabi poke. The laulau was also very good but the poke...again...soooooooo delightfully good.

    (5)

  • E S.

    POKEEEEE!!!! love the variety of poke that yama's offers. i think other food items are good, too. i was so lucky to have found this place while i was visiting oahu. well, my friend from hawaii took me there and of course, we went back multiple times. :) writing about it is making me salivate. getting hungry now....

    (4)

  • Kale O.

    food is mediocre, squid luau is tasty, garlic pepper dry ahi poke is great, maui style tako poke is spectacular, and i live near by is the best !! skebe

    (3)

  • Arnold G.

    Yama's has a great selection of plate lunches and poke and it's pretty cheap, too. I've had the Kalua Pig and Lau Lau and they were excellent. We almost had our wedding catered by them so you can order things for large groups there. I can't think of anything that's bad there, but it can be a little hard to find. They did recently paint their building blue which should help you find it easier.

    (4)

  • Ben F.

    Their beef stew, lau lau, and kalua pork is really ono! What i like most, besides being so close to where i live, is the fact that they still have food late in the day. And the taro growing out front is pretty cool too. Just wish i could a get bigger serving of the side of lomi salmon.

    (4)

  • Les Is More M.

    how it is that the current location has much more parking, but is harder to get into? the old location (closer to mccully bike) seemed a lot more accessible. call me crazy but when a place moves to a bigger location with much more parking, you'd expect it to be easier to get to. Nope!! not yama's. the quality seems to have gone down a bit, but the portions and selection are decent. the poke to me isn't as good as it used to be, can't hang with tanioka's and I'd give foodland and/or tamura's the nod before any of the options at yama's. the shoyu chicken is portioned well and they have enough other options available where you can find something you'll enjoy. price-wise, I'm starting to look elsewhere because you can still find good plate lunches for less (elsewhere). hawaiian food is what it is, you can't/won't find cheap hawaiian food anywhere. service means a lot to me and like I said earlier, it does seem like they aren't as much into "taking care" of you as much as they are trying to get to the next person behind you in line.

    (3)

  • Angel L.

    I thought this place was good but the only thing that I really like is their small bentos and the chicken musubi!

    (2)

  • J R.

    (Where every day is Aloha Friday)...this place is one of my all time hawaiian plate lunch favorites! I always order the #6: kalua pig or kalua chicken plate with their ahi limu poke (freshly prepared raw fish w/ sea weed & seasonings) which also includes 2 scoops rice, their lomi-lomi salmon & a serving of haupia! They also have a wide variety of poke & other ono plate lunches. I still frequent this place or if anything get unko G $$$ to get em for me +tipsy...thx unko!

    (5)

  • BIANCHA Y.

    I love this place. It's walking distance if you love in the Moili`ili area --which is a good thing because parking isn't all that. Basically this place is a guaranteed kanak attack!

    (5)

  • Darick M.

    overall not bad.. close to where i live... not a big fan of their lau lau.. it's a bit on the dry side and could use more flavor.. their lau lau is either chicken and pork or just chicken.. none with just pork.. but like i said, overall it isn't bad and i'll eat there again..

    (3)

  • Joy S.

    I go there mainly for the poke. We love all the selection of poke they have to offer. The laulau is pretty good too. I also love the chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies and my brother got me hooked on the haupia chocolate pudding desserts. Everytime I'm home from Cali I stop by to eat all stuff I just mentioned.

    (5)

  • omar b.

    the pasteles were much more grubbing than Young's- go with the spicy one and be sure to heat up for no more than a minute cause it will get a bit too mushy. the olives add a nice touch as they bring a different flavor from what iam used to eating in the big island. what sucks is they always sell out of their haupia platters before 1pm!!!! sure. there are haupia-potato and haupia-brownie offerings still around but come on!!! just make more so the rest of us purists can enjoy some too =( during a scorching hawt summer like this one, it is so smart for them to be serving what i think is the coldest water in town...ahhhhhhh..

    (4)

  • Lynn B.

    I have to say that if you ever need to find a caterer for your next party, you should definitely consider Yama's. We recently had our daughter's 1st birthday luau and had them cater our food. I was impressed by Petula who took the time to work with me with the menu and portions. She was patient, informative and overall very pleasant to work with. The portions are great for the price. Before going to Yama's, I checked out another reputable Hawaiian food restaurant. So glad I chose Yama's because I saved $250 for the exact same menu plus 2 more dishes and delivery. The delivery was on time and the presentation of the food was really nice too! Very pleased with Yama's for sure.

    (4)

  • David N.

    Yama's has all your popular local Hawaiian foods. Yama's has some of the best Kalua Pig I've ever tasted. It's dry, but it's still really delicious. The Beef Stew is really good too and they have a good deal on their sodas. They have a big selection of different kinds of Haupia deserts. Their Haupia is quite tasty. There are a couple tables outside, but often times there both taken so don't come here expecting to eat here.

    (5)

  • Gabrael A.

    The poke here is soooooooo good and the prices are very reasonable. Try to go there for lunch and kind of hungry because portions are very generous. I usually have difficulty finishing my order. It was one of my favorite places to eat in HI.

    (4)

  • X Y.

    Great poke and pipikaula. On recent trips back, we have always stopped by for our first day fill of poke and other local food that we can't get in the mainland. It's not a restaurant, but they also have plate lunches and side dishes like pork adobo and have a few tables out front that you can sit at to eat.

    (5)

  • Jasmine l.

    great poke, hot lau lau, fast service. my only gripe is that there seems to be a lot of chicken in the lau lau and hardly any pork. (or any at all? i'm not sure). it's still ono. there's like TWO tables outside so it's best to take it to go. their haupia is bomb. I think they close 7pm so gotta get there early, too.

    (4)

  • Philip H.

    Yama's has the best kalua chicken ever (I get the #21: kalua chicken bowl with rice and cabbage). My girlfriend raves about the lomilomi salmon, poi and kalua pig. I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it. The prices are low and the food is super tasty. They have great fresh poki, too. I used to live near Yama's in Moili'ili, but now live in California. Whenever I get a chance to go home, I always try and stop by Yama's. Ono grinds, brah! Note: they don't really have any tables, except two small outdoor tables. This is mostly take-out.

    (5)

  • Cat A.

    Eh. Okay. Had a nice picnic across the street at the park-- Chicken Long rice, Tako poke (Apparently it's the best my sous chef bf has had in awhile) and good ol' ahi poke. One thing I wasn't happy about was the fact they didn't have poke bowls. SHe made one for me, but she made it seem like it was hard to make-- Really...a poke bowl.. easy!! They also didn't have furikake. WTF? I'm just picky. Overall good but I'd rather save the drive and head to Fresh Catch! Do your recycling there too!!

    (3)

  • Jesse C.

    Good little local fisharkets to get Hawaiian food in the area. Also one of the cleanest fish markets I've ever seen. The ahi wasabi poke, garlic chicken, ahi belly nitsuke, and the squid luau are all mean. Wish there were more family owned businesses like this still around.

    (4)

  • Eva L.

    as a first timer to Hawaii....i was relectant to think that it is a big market. It's a small market with many goodies. pokeeeeee!!!!! TUNAAAAAA I ordered the chicken long rice because others said they are good excepting to see rice. haha! of course it's not rice. it's a soup noodle and very yummy. i had the poke with seaweed (duno the name). it was very good and it was quite reasonable. you know it's a great place when you see people go in and out nonstop. thanks yelp

    (5)

  • Brian V.

    You seriously cannot go wrong with the laulau/kalua pork with the mac salad (add Tabasco!!) or lomi lomi salmon with a quarter lb. of the ahi masago (add shoyu!!). Dude that poke is insane, definitely a must try. Also, this is also one of the few places I know that serves traditional squid luau (taro leaves, squid, coconut milk -- all mixed) one of my personal favorites. It gets kind of busy around lunch time and is better for take out since there are only two 2-seater tables outside...

    (4)

  • Siu L.

    A local Hawaiian saw me with a take out box from L&L's and quickly redirected me to Yama's for a real Hawaiian plate lunch. Despite my love for L&L's macaroni salad, Yama's was by far THE BEST hawaiian plate lunch I've ever had. Very authentic tasting, really generous portions and way too many good items to choose from. It's slightly pricey for a plate lunch, but the portions are so big that it could be for lunch & dinner. I've only been there twice, but I always make sure I order the LauLau and Poki Salad. The LauLau is very juicy and flavorful...way better than the stuff they serve at Luau's! I highly recommend this little joint!

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    I'll confess to never have been to Yamas Fish Market but they have catered our company events many times. The pipikaula is really great. The fried noodles are a disappointment. The katsu isn't that crisp. All in all a fairly ordinary experience. I wouldn't seek this place out although I wouldn't say no to it either.

    (3)

  • Laurel R.

    Our favorite find of a week-long trip in O'ahu. My favorite was the Hawaii style Ahi Poke. The Kaluha pig was also delicious. The staff was very friendly and gave an excellent recommendation for a sushi restaurant that we tired later. So good, would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • dan o.

    You want Hawaiian food or fresh poke? Yama's is a reliable take out option. Also has all of your other "beer" food (boiled peanuts, dried fish, etc.)....

    (5)

  • Craig I.

    my dad always orders up a bunch of lau lau for me to take back to mainland. we always stop here to pick up 12-18of them...ask them to freeze it for you when you order ahead of time. the parking area is really small, but once inside the service is very friendly and helpful.

    (4)

  • Ema C.

    Yamas used to be the old Iwase Bookstore (RIP). I still mourn Iwase because I was able to just walk right on over to get Japanese books and magazines..oh, not anymore though.

    (3)

  • Mallory M.

    my bf loves this place and its super close to where we live. the prices are pretty good and they give a pretty good amount of food. i always get the laulau and i can't really have laulau with out the lomi salmon. their lomi salmon isn't the greatest but something to settle for. their selection of poke is pretty good but its not the best i've had. i guess i rather just go to foodland and get poke there. it actually taste better and the prices are half the amount than yamas and its pretty had to find the traditional poke here on oahu. but i like their spam musubis :) those are perfect for the beach. overall 3 stars and the service is pretty good! :)

    (3)

  • B N.

    i go here at least once a year...to use one of the few usable coupons in the entertainment book, so im due again this year. :) (fyi i also use the peppers coupon)...the okinawan / haupia dessert is fricken killer. i go here when i am in the area and craving hawaiian food.

    (4)

  • Mary H.

    Went with husband on 12/21 expecting great dishes (had been here one before and had good lau lau pork). Got two dishes this time - mushroom chicken and fried ahi belly. Both appeared unappetizing when served but what really matters is the taste - unfortunately they both fell flat and neither had any sauce. The mushroom chicken had no mushrooms! Worst of all we got sick later on. Certain it was from the fried ahi belly. Very disappointed!

    (1)

  • ray c.

    stop by and pick up a plate here, take it to a beach or a park -- it's the best setting for hawaiian food! soooo ono!

    (5)

  • Sarah F.

    For local kine grinds, this is the place to go. It's more like a deli, most people take their food to go. There are a few tables to eat outside, however. I love their chicken long rice, kaluha pig, and lomi lomi salmon. Also, check out their cookies for sale! They are so thin and crisp. The cornflake ones are my fav. This place is a must for out of towners to go.

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    Two or three small outdoor tables signify this is mainly take-out. Just got back from there and the lau lau and lomi salmon were excellent. Not bad tae gu. Also picked up pasteles and some maui-style poke. They were out of the squid luau and were pretty low on most of the poke, but it was 6pm already (they close at 7pm on Saturday). Pretty quick service. A bunch of crack seed and other stuff there as well. Definitely worth a stop. Check their website for menu.

    (5)

  • Ange M.

    This place is the bomb diggity!!! Everything we had was just perfect. Had laulau (which was both chicken AND pork - what a concept!), Kalua pig, Ahi Limu, Pork Adobo and for dessert, sweet potato & haupia pie. Everything was spot on, perfectly seasoned. Sooooo good. And the price can't be beat.

    (5)

  • Ganj P.

    bring plenty $$$ food is average, i cook bettah!

    (3)

  • R H.

    Don't order the shoyu chicken here. It looked and tasted disgusting. There was more skin on the plate than anything I have ever seen. Plus, it still had feathers! I was extremely grossed out!!!

    (1)

  • Helen H.

    First time trying Hawaiian Food and I was quite pleased. Came here for lunch and it was pretty crowded. Parking is limited, but there is parking on the street. There isn't any seating available inside so I think it might just be for take-out. I noticed there were a lot of people that called their orders in, that would probably be smart since they do get pretty busy. They have a bunch of different haupia desserts that I will definitely try the next time I stop by. A showcase of poke selections. I got the #3 that came with laulau, poke, lomi salmon, a scoop of rice, and haupia, I got a side of kalua pig and a side of the chicken long rice. I was not disappointed. I could probably do without the chicken long rice, but everything else was a thumbs up! I think I might even stop by for some haupia later on today. Service was okay, not bad nor was it over the top. They were attentive and quick to get my order ready, so that's always a plus. I will definitely be back to try the other things on the menu.

    (4)

  • Dianna D.

    I would highly recommend this place if you wanted a bite of classic Hawaiian food. If you are a tourist, I would highly recommend for you to stop by this place and have a bite to eat, preferably the plates that have many choices on them. Some favorites of mine include their kalua pork, lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, and haupia pie. They also have quite the selection of ahi and tako poke at a reasonable price, which can be purchased in 1/4 pound increments. Service is good. The only not so great part about this place is that they only have seating for a few people outside on their 2 tables. Otherwise everything is to go.

    (4)

  • Ken W.

    Fresh Poke, I would say better (and also slightly cheaper) than Ono Seafood. The Spicy Wasabi was delicious and my clear favorite! This place is more than a fish market, they had all sorts of food inside. We also got some cooked food like the garlic chicken and the laulau, which weren't bad, but we should've stuck with getting all poke coming to a place like this. Both of those dishes were HUGE too, so we couldn't even get more poke being so full. We did get some of their desserts as well, and those were nothing to write home about. Limited seating outside with only 2 tables, this is definitely more of a takeout place.

    (4)

  • Trisha G.

    HAWAIIAN PLATE LUNCH! There are multiple combos of Hawaiian food plates including lau lau, kalua pig, poi, lomi lomi salmon, squid luau, and rice. Then there's the variety of poke they offer (which can be a choice in one of the combos). Added bonus, the ono desserts. My fave is the haupia sweet potato pie which is layers of haupia, purple Okinawan potato filling and shortbread crust. They also offer other plate lunch meals, but I can never bring myself to order anything other than Hawaiian plate (especially lomi in my poi). It can get pricey, but it's comparable to other Hawaiian plates. Parking can get tight too, but the onolicious food is worth a little wait. It's never too long.

    (4)

  • Jozlyn H.

    Cheap, quick, delicious local plate lunch. Not much parking but most people are in and out so I always find a parking spot whenever I go during lunch time. Cheap... All their plates are under $10... Most around $6-$7 and their portions are pretty big. This place is my favorite lunch place when I'm on a budget

    (4)

  • Emmi N.

    Delicious pokes! Can't go wrong with the Shoyu Ahi! Asked the girl helping us what her favorite is, and she said Shoyu. But we already got that, so we asked her for her 2nd favorite - Wasabi Mayo Ahi Poke. Got that, and also delicious! Other items we got were the Octopus Poke (refreshing), spicy and mild Pasteles, and macaroni salad. Why do Hawaiian macaroni salad taste so good?! Pasteles was a first for me - I liked it but mom didn't. I forget the reason - too greasy or salty? Anyway, I loved everything we got from this place, and the only regret is that we didn't get more :) They have other hot food items you can get like a bento combo. Would love to try those out next time :)

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    One of the Hawaiian joints that I can finally cross off my list. I hoped I could buy a plate with just the lau lau and poke but they only serve in the combinations they list. The food was alright - lau lau was moist and tender, lomi lomi good, very small serving of poke. $11 for my combination plate and it came with haupia. Overall if you need Hawaiian food and dont want to wait at other places Yama's isn't a bad choice.

    (3)

  • CHRIS M.

    Good, as long as you don't get the Squid Luau! We ordered take out last Friday, and when I grabbed my squid luau from the bag I noticed its BRIGHT GREEN color illuminating through the take out container cover. It looked similar to Mexican avocado salsa that was watered down. Even though it looked inedible I tasted it because I had been craving this dish for a few weeks. To no surprise it was horrible! It was basically green colored coconut milk with chewy bits of frozen squid. I'm thinking that they ran out of luau leaves, decided to sell it anyway, and hoped that no one would notice how bad it looked and tasted. If you are craving squid luau, Highway Inn is the place to go! Luckily, I ordered a beef stew bowl too which was good. Tasted my boyfriend's lau lau (pork & chicken mix) and it was good as well.i

    (3)

  • Cat C.

    I'm so glad we asked our Enterprise rep on a nearby recommendation for poke. He recommended Yama's & I can see why locals come to this tucked away fish market. The woman helping us was so friendly & told me that we could sample any of their variety of poke after we asked her about a couple. We got a 1/4lb each of the shoyu and the spicy poke, alongside with a Kahlua pork lunch plate. We got all this delish food for $14 & change. Most of their customers park in the small parking lot and get their food to go. There's only two tables outside to eat at, so while we were waiting for one table to clear up we were eating in the car. The poke was so fresh. The spicy one was coated in Sriracha like sauce and had a bite to it for sure. The shoyu is more traditional. We enjoyed both, but I think I prefer the shoyu. The pork was plentiful and very juicy. The mac salad was one of the best I had too as it was a little lighter on the mayo. Their menu has a lot of enticing food options..including desserts! Come to Yama's for fresh and delicious poke and lunch plates that won't hurt your wallet.

    (5)

  • Kent I.

    I've been coming here for about 20 years now! Thank goodness that Yama's is only a block away from where I work! I LOVE the food here! It's my favorite place for Hawaiian take out. They have lots of different kinds of entrees, poke, salads, and desserts to choose from. My favorite feast for two consists of: combo plate with laulau, kalua pig, rice, lomi salmon, and haupia. Then add a shoyu chicken plate (either regular or shredded) with mac salad - ask for extra sauce over the rice! Then add a side order of namasu and poke (we like the spicy masago ahi or limu poke the best). I like to use a lot of sriracha over the laulau, kalua pig, and shoyu chicken. For dessert, my favorite is the sweet potato haupia dessert, but they're all good. So much to choose from. Damn I think I'm gonna eat there tomorrow!

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    This was my first time at their new location and yes, I know that they've been there for years! I'll admit that it has been a while! They carry a variety of items - snacks (seeds, chips, boiled peanuts), dessert (ice cakes, haupia desserts), candies, drinks, assorted poke and of course their ono plate lunches. I ordered their plate (I think it was #7). This plate had a substantial helping of rice, kalua pig, a small container of lomi salmon and a laulau (pork & chicken). Definitely a good amount of food for the price you pay. Check it out! I'm going back again to try some of their other plates (soon..hopefully).

    (4)

  • Smash S.

    This place is a must eat while you're in hawaii. I just moved here and found this gem right down the street from my house. HUGEEEEE plates, hella generous. And the food is delicious and so inexpensive! I got shoyu chicken and it came with 4-5 chicken thighs with 2 big scoops of rice yumm. And I tried their Haupia pumpkin dessert . Seriously try this place when you get a chance, you won't regret it! Ohh and their poke looks so good, they have a huge selection.

    (5)

  • John A.

    #7 for $10.37 is what I ordered@ Yama's Fish Market. lau lau, kalua pig, big scoop of rice and lomi lomi salmon. Great friendly service. #3 lau lau plate for $ 10.25

    (3)

  • Aryan O.

    Poke was good, Garlic Chicken was really good, Katsu was alright. Just be prepared to either eat in your car or at home because there are no seating at this place. There were 2 tables with 2 chairs each to that table but I'm pretty sure those tables would be taken on any given day.

    (4)

  • Kayla L.

    I really like it here. They have very convenient hours and the prices are decent. I love their Kalua pig. It's not super dry like other places. Their deserts are pretty good too. I have yet to try their poke, but it looks delicious. They're super fast too. No long waits like other places we've been to.

    (4)

  • Randy L.

    My new addiction is the wasabi masago ahi poke. Right level of spicyness, buttery soft tuna chunks, and the crunch of the fish eggs popping in your mouth. Boiled peanuts are the best that I've found on the island. Everything else is pretty solid. I think they have the best price for taro chips--better than Safeway. Pork or chicken laulau are great. Interesting variety of innovative haupia desserts.

    (5)

  • Helen Z.

    I wandered farther downtown than most tourists do to visit this wonderful fish market frequented by locals. In the short twenty minutes I spent sitting outside, at least ten cars stopped in the small parking lot to pick up some fresh food for lunch. The market itself is modest in size, with only two small tables out front for seating. The food is outstanding though. Never have I seen such a variety of poke! They offer spicy, regular, shoyu, wasabi, and more with tako (squid), ahi (tuna), and other seafoods. I ended up ordering a quarter pound of spicy tako, a quarter pound of ahi limu poke, and a side of lomi salmon, all for a little over $10 (the minimum to use a credit card). The limu turned out to be my favorite - I highly recommend it. Because they never freeze their tuna, it tastes very fresh and doesn't have the weird aftertaste that I've experienced with some other pokes. I only wish I had also added a side of rice or poi - all that poke by itself was salty!

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    I absolutely adore this place! The prices are good and the food is delicious. I got a #9. Kalua, beef stew, rice, and Mac salad. So yummy. Will definitely be back many more times.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    I've been going to Yama's almost 20, maybe over 20 years. From the old location down the street to the one there are at now. I've recommended them to many friends and family. I guess when you've been successful for so long, you forget your customers helped make you what you are today. I haven't been there in awhile - But I do stop by whenever i'm in the area. The food is still good. But whoever helped me today was a total (rhymes with PRICK). So it started with the $10 CC minimum. I guess my math was bad, and I was short - NO PROBLEM, I just grabbed something to make it over $10. He was so annoyed in telling me my total was $9 something. It was a hot day, and my dog was with me. I just asked for 2 pieces of ice. I didnt say it was for my dog. I was going to buy a drink, but figured if they'd let me get a couple pieces I could skip the drink I didn't want. Figure the store that's known for 1 price - ANY SIZE drink would let me. Even if not, the drink is a good deal so didn't hurt to ask. WELL NO. I got the snippiest remarks with such BS attitude. Honestly, a simple No would be fine. So by giving me 2 pieces of ice, the entire island will want it for free. Ok whatevers - I can see your point, but wow /THANKS for that message. Ya know, you could've always just bought a cup or a bag of ice. WOW - I was planning to, but the way you said to me. F!U! Yama's you will never have my business again. I will not recommend you to anyone new who visits. Any friends who wants to eat there, is welcomed to go, but I will definitely take my money elsewhere. My recommendations will be honest to them. The food and price is great. Though if you wanted to be treated like dirt, you're welcomed to go. Out of principal I didn't even buy the drink I would've gotten. I just went to longs to get my dog a water.

    (1)

  • Nicole C.

    Onolicious da kalua pig plate!!! Evrything tasted amazing and the prices are fantastic. Portions are generous and the staff is very nice.

    (4)

  • Julie N.

    Yamas is my go to take out place. Been coming here for years now & I'm always satisfied with their food. They have fresh, good quality, hawaiian plate lunches, pupus, poke, amazing desserts, easy grab & go bentos & the portions are pretty big!!!

    (5)

  • Walter C.

    Excellent selection of food. Variety of Poke is the best. I wish this place was here when I was living across the street on South Beretania. I definitely would have wasted huge quantities of cash to eat here. Location is not bad, out of the way enough to makes it easy to get to and a parking lot to fit most cars.

    (5)

  • Annie W.

    Their lau lau and poke is the best here. The taro leaves with chunks of meat and just a tiny of bit of fat to bring out the flavors. I miss Hawaii so much because we only get frozen lau lau flown into the Mainland and it's not the same. Their poke, not too salty at all and the added masago gives it slight break in texture. This is lunch plate done right, with sides like ocean salad and lomi lomi salmon to make it all better. If you're not feeling these dishes, they even have tako or beef and chicken adobo. This is a tiny joint with two tables outside. After a 5 hour flight, local grindz like this hits the spot. They carry my absolute favorite Hawaiian Co. taro chips, not the best prices in town, but it'll do. Funny thing is they're like a small convenient store that carry gummies, candies sprinkles with island favorites of li hing too. If not, maybe an individual cup of haupia? The customer service is quick, friendly and they even stayed a few minutes extra just to make sure we had our fill before closing shop and bringing in their tables and chairs.

    (5)

  • Lynne H.

    It's always a good day when I get go to Yama's because I know I'm going home with all sorts of goodies. We actually started going there to pick up poke and some snacks, and figured we might as well try out their plate lunches. You can't miss the sky blue building on Young Street (closer to Isenberg): yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… There are a lot of choices on their plate lunch menu and their daily specials, and I'm slowly working my way through them. So far my favorites are the laulau plates. I love their laulau. It's a chicken/meat combo without a lot of fat. It could use more laulau leaves, but the flavor is perfect. I like the way the plate the adobo in a separate container so the rice doesn't get mushy. The adobo itself is delicately flavored, not too salty and not too vinegary, and the grilled ahi plate is a winner: yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… You can't beat the price of a fresh ahi salad @ $5.55 and the pateles are a whopping size that comes in mild and spicy (though the mild can be spicy): yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… As the other reviews point out, the poke is the freshest. And it is. Which is why it's funny that my favorite poke is the Garlic Pepper Dry Ahi Poke (dried salted ahi, black pepper, chili pepper and sesame oil). It's a great pupu to take to parties: yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… The Garlic Pepper Dried Ahi (without sesame oil and chili pepper) also makes a great pupu or snack: yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… Sad to say, but I haven't tried out their desserts YET. That's my next *goal*. There's lots to chose from: yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… You can go online to their website and check out the regular plate lunch menu. The parking lot is small and can get crowded so plan on going early. 31 Yelps Challenge: #3/31

    (5)

  • Mary Anne Q.

    All my friends and family rant and rave about how the food here is "Soo Ono!", but I don't venture out into Kalihi too often unless I have business there or I happen to be travelling with friends and family, which in this case, I was with my family shopping at "Chinatown Market Place" - It's not exactly Chinatown, but that's what the place is called. Anyway, as I'm waiting for my folks to finish up their shopping, my son and I decide to walk around and see what other shops there are. We came across Yama's Fish Market and I decide to pick up lunch to go. I order 3 combo plates to go with poi in place of rice. Combo plate includes: Lau Lau pork with butterfish, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Rice or Poi, Sweet Potato, Kalua pork and Pipikaula. I think the lady who took my order was in training or something because she only made 2 plates instead of 3 and got all flustered when I reminded her of this. She looked at her co-worker for help, who told her to ring me up for 3 plates and then make the 3rd plate. There was no line when I ordered my food, but by now there was and I'm thinking she doesn't do well under pressure because she was moving rather SLOW! I really should have checked the food before I went home because I realized that our food was short 1 Lomi Lomi Salmon and she gave us RICE instead of POI. That was the FIRST thing she asked me too - if I wanted Rice or Poi!! Why ask me what I want if you're not going to give it to me anyway?!? I had never tried Pipikaula before, but the pieces that were given to me were all ROCK HARD! Is it supposed to be like that? We could barely sink our teeth into it. It tasted like Bar-B-Que, but none of us could bite into it. If it wasn't for the Pipikaula and the poor customer service, I would've given this place 5 stars. I might visit this place again because I did enjoy the rest of my plate lunch, but I'll make sure not to have my order taken by that Chinese Lady again. I'm really disappointed. I was really looking forward to eating Poi too. =(

    (4)

  • Lee L.

    This is a "locals" place to go... It's take out place... If you are looking for good Poke- this place has it, also the kalua pig dish is good too. We go here every time we are in Honolulu- then we take it to the beach and chow down. Line can be long but it goes fast... Parking sometimes hard... Don't park across the street in the apartment lot, they'll tell you to leave. They have good hawaiian snacks too, the spam musubi are yummy for a quick bite.

    (5)

  • Ruby R.

    This review is just for select items. Poi, squid luau, shoyu ahi poke, and spicy ahi poke. It's all delicious! And it's the BEST spicy ahi poke. My favorite. Flavor is good, it's spicy, and the texture of crunchy limu and onions with the ahi makes it amazing. I can't wait to try other things.

    (5)

  • Shane S.

    Used to go here often when I worked a block away and the Kalua Pig plate at the time was cheap...obviously prices have gone up the past 15 years...

    (4)

  • RONALD W.

    Great bang for the buck. Great meal for under $10. The Kahlua pork plate was more than enough for dinner for me and oh so tasty. They also have an assortment of poke. I had the samlle ahi masago poke which is made with fish eggs and it was really good. Get there early as I think they close at 7p on most nights.

    (4)

  • Courtney C.

    I could honestly condense this review to one sentence: GET THE WASABI AHI POKE. But that wouldn't be too helpful, would it? Yama's is my go-to place for poke. It's fresh and I prefer their spicy ahi over Foodland's because of the taste. I also don't think they put masago in it like Yama's. My family buys all our Hawaiian food here in bulk for parties, which is one the best places to order from in town. They also have plate lunches such as mochiko chicken and panko crusted ahi (I'm starting to consider going back to pick something up for dinner now), as well as all kinds of snacks and goodies like taro chips, li hing mui seeds, and rock candy. This place is popular, but not in the way that you can never find parking and you have to wait for a while to be helped. Whenever I come, I never have trouble finding parking or have to wait for more than five minutes for my order--and I've come at all hours of the day. Everything I have eaten here has been amazing, but I think their best dishes would be the Wasabi Ahi Poke (there is also a spicy wasabi ahi poke, which is exactly that: SPICY. I enjoy spicy food but this poke is too spicy for me. Try the two before you decide which one you want!) and don't forget to try their Haupia!

    (5)

  • Jess I.

    As far as Hawaiian food goes, it's good. The combo plates are huge and a pretty decent deal, although don't expect it to come with much more than a few pieces of ahi if you order a combo w/ poke. The poke here is great though. Also the Kahlua pork wasn't dry and had a lot of flavor.

    (4)

  • jazzy l.

    $16.75 limu poke. Love the sweet potato haupia pie. Love the Pastele.

    (4)

  • Timothy B.

    Price isn't bad, you can get a plate lunch for under ten dollars. The kalua pig is top notch. Foods solid, prices are solid, service is solid. Overall I would definitely recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Thomas P.

    Local favorite plate lunches (lau lau and pork adobo are my favorites) with a great selection of poke, some of them signature favorites of Yama's. Good sized portions in their plate lunches, with great fish selections and specials (I am not a fish eater, but I choose this selection often from here). Their desserts are a little pricey, but oh so with it. Quite ono. The parking lot is small and hard to maneuver, but worth the effort. There is a small area in front of the building with a few tables and chairs, but it's dusty and reeks of car exhaust, not to mention the heat on a hot day. Best taken home or to your favorite beach park to enjoy.

    (5)

  • Karissa K.

    Large menu with a larger variety of different foods. They sell dried ahi, dried poke, etc. fresh ahi poke, fresh tako poke, poi, chicken long rice, laulau, lomi lomi, adobo, and kalua pigs of all kinds of flavor! Spicy, mild, normal- this place has it! Not super large and only two cashier but super friendly service! Only wish it was longer since this place is so popular!

    (4)

  • Mega G.

    Love the Grilled Ahi and Haupia. The ahi was fresh and delicious. Hard to come by inexpensive, delish and non-frozen fish like this on the mainland, so do stop by here and try the fresh fish. Poke is saltier than Ono Seafood, but still good. There are a couple small tables outside to sit, but otherwise really just a grab-and-go. Parking is in a small private lot. Minus one star because the gal at the counter could be a bit nicer. There was no greeting or smile and she made us feel like she wanted to hurry us up although there was no one behind us. She seemed impatient...or maybe just unhappy? Other than that, we loved this place.

    (4)

  • Amara E.

    I come by here for two things: poke and their haupia pie. I usually order the wasabi ahi masago poke. Their poke is always fresh and well-seasoned. I love how it's never too salty and always has a good amount of punch to it! The place is also convenient because it is close to my work and their is a parking lot just in front. It's a great place for grab-n-go food. Surprisingly, Yama's carries a lot of baked goods and desserts. Most, if not all, of the baked goods are locally made and I absolutely LOVE their chocolate biscottis. I usually buy a bag and munch on them for breakfast with coffee. My favorite, though, is their Okinawan sweet potato with haupia pie. SO good! They have haupie pie that comes in other flavors, but the sweet potato-haupia combo is my absolute favorite. Yama's also serves plate lunch here. They have a whole menu of different plates they can make and a daily special, too. The food is genuine local food and it's a great place to grab a bite for lunch.

    (5)

  • Alyson Y.

    I've eaten at Yama's at least 10 times, since discovering it last year and it's my favorite plate lunch spot in town (though, there are a couple of my list I've been meaning to try). The parking is tight, but if you can't find parking in the front lot - I'd hang around because one is bound to open up soon. They don't have seating, so you're just grabbing your food and taking it to go. When you walk in you have dry goods (mostly snacks) to the left and the full case of their fresh entrees in front. I always order the Kalua Pig Plate with Mac Salad and am always impressed how much food they give you for the price. They do sell out, so if you're going there later in the day - they may not have what you're looking for. Even if you order the plates, the food comes out quickly. Fountain sodas and canned drinks available. Supposedly delicious poke, but I don't eat sea creatures (having been born on the mainland and all). 5 stars because they couldn't do better by me.

    (5)

  • Kahala H.

    The poke is always ono. It's creative, fresh and tasty. Hawaiian plates are great. My favorite is the grilled ahi with ginger sauce one word: incredible! They cook 2 generous pieces to order and serve it with rice and mac. I always opt for poi and namasu. It's good food at a reasonable price. The desserts...OMG! Can you tell I like this place?

    (5)

  • Ashlie C.

    This place was absolutely wonderful! I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Hawaii. 1. Ambiance - The restaurant is half indoors and half outdoors. There are tables with bar stools and lawn chairs, but setting is all very tasteful. They have tiki torches and live music which adds a little Hawaiian theme. 2. Service - Our waiter was very friendly and quick with our orders. One of the nicest service we received in Hawaii. 3. Food - The food is absolutely delicious and the seafood tastes very fresh! We couldn't get enough of it! I highly recommend the pasta dish. Definitely our fav place to eat in Hawaii. You must check it out because it's delicious, affordable, comfortable, and friendly!

    (5)

  • Calily B.

    Legit Hawaiian lunch plates away from all the touristy noise. If you go during lunchtime, you will see workers waiting for their orders and tons of to-go orders being put together as well. The various pokes are fresh and flavorful. The laulau needed a bit more salt but still tasty! There's no seating so be prepared to take it with you or keep an eye out for the two tables that are out front. My boyf had one of the fish specials of the day when we came and it was cooked perfectly but it was lacking in a sauce or topping -- but still good. I highly recommend this place if you want to get the real deal when it comes to where the locals eat.

    (4)

  • Edwin S.

    Generous portions for a good price. Lau lau was moist and juicy. Kalua pork was a huge portion and.I had to really roll up my sleeves to polish it off. Poke selection was fresh and delicious. Parking is pretty challenging, but that is to be expected with this part of town. Great service though. I felt very much at home and would love to visit again.

    (5)

  • Patrick S.

    A great choice for Hawaiian food and local plates. Prices are reasonable and food is fresh. I usually get their #6 with an upgrade to poi. That's Kalua Pig, Lomi, Haupia, and poke. I ALWAYS get their Wasabi Masago Ahi Poke. It's just has an AWESOME flavor to it and the wasabi isn't overwhelming. They do offer a similar plate with Lau Lau, but they don't make pork laulau. They do chicken/fish laulaus which to me just isn't as good. They do have some great homemade desserts and all soda sizes are the same price. I'm also not aware of many poke shops serving hawaiian food during dinner time (till 7pm). Overall a GREAT place in town to get mean local grinds at reasonable prices.

    (4)

  • Lan N.

    I've been preferring my poke pretty strongly flavored lately. So a lot of poke, even if it has great cuts of fish and is super fresh, just seems to lack that bit of "bang" to send it over the top. Yama's spicy wasabi ahi definitely hits the mark. I bought half a lb and almost ate the entire thing myself. I enjoyed that extra kick from the wasabi. Probably one of my top favorite pokes now.

    (4)

  • Annelise C.

    I used them to cater my wedding of 200 people. Excellent food, and and excellent prices. The Kalua pig is the best I have ever had.

    (5)

  • Erin N.

    Man oh man this place is ridic delish!! I don't have other hawaiian food joints to compare to bc my parents usually just make it at home. I was jones'n for some laulau, kalua pig and cabbage and poke real bad one day and decided to try here bc of my fellow yelpers reviews. Let me tell you I was NOT disappointed! My bf and I shared a laulau kalua pig plate, side poke and opihi and we were stuffed!! The leaf is my favorite part of the laulau...weird right? But it was so juicy and flavorful, the chicken and pork were both so moist! $20 for one plate, 2 sides and 1 drink to share but sooooo good! I wanna go back everyday! Their desserts took good too but that'll have to be another visit.

    (5)

  • Anissa F.

    I came here everyday when I was in Hawaii && it's my favorite poke spot in Hawaii! Decent prices and a good portion of food served. This spot doesn't have a lot of seating arrangements, so plan to eat in the car or get the food to go. But other than that they are really friendly local people who know their poke and serve a wide variety of flavors. Fresh and delicious! Wish there was one like this back home. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Zalen E.

    Pulehu Tako. Beef Stew. Pork Adobo. Ahi Poke. AND any size drink for one price? Geez, the only reason I don't get the extra large bambucha soda is because it won't fit into the cup holder! Yama's is a treasure. I'm always surprised when someone says they never heard of it, because in my noggin, their Pulehu tako should be world wide news. If you love their plate lunches, keep your eye open for their chili plate. It reminds you of the chili dad used to make. Looking for a fast bento? The somen salad. BIG and thrifty. Parking can be sparce, and the line can be a bit confusing (mostly because there is kinda a line, but kinda...not?) But overall, fast and worth it service.

    (4)

  • Wesley W.

    Poke me, I'm in heaven..well Poke heaven. they got lots of different pokes and although we only got 3 types, all were delicious. If you want poke, this is a must visit location. Just make sure to check if they're open.

    (5)

  • Connie L.

    Oh, how do I love my local places. I have a love/hate relationship with Hawaii in that I love the food but hate coming here (don't ask). Yama's Fish market makes me forget all of that. Yama's is literally a market with a take out counter. We tried the wasabi poke and ordered some plate lunches to go. The chicken lau lau is sooooo good. The beef stew is too sweet for my taste. There isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said. Do yourself a favor and check it out. There is only one table out front so you have to take your food to go. Find a nice spot on the beach or in the park and have a picnic. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Eduardo S.

    First review, dried ahi was awesome firm outside and soft center with the right amount of salt to go with my beer, taegu was awesome, peanuts a little on the soft and mushy side but edible. Pipikaula lacked flavor to me, but looking forward to trying their hot food items.

    (3)

  • Sage S.

    Lau Lau is soooo delicious. Poke good too.

    (4)

  • Grace C.

    Solid Hawaiian food. Was here the other day, picked up plate lunch with kalua pork (generous portion), 2 scoops rice, mac salad, lomi salmon and AHI poke~ yum! Also haupia chocolate brownie was awesome~ and li hing pineapples. Good prices, and yummy!

    (4)

  • Lexi L.

    Thank you so much Yelpers! I'm so glad I found this place! Parking was terrible, you gotta find else where on the street. I got #3 laulau, lomi salmon, lumi Tako poke. My bf got #17 grilled mahimahi with side order 1/2lbs shoyu ahi poke. And the original potato haupia dessert. Everything we had was amazing... especially the laulau it was so tasty! I also loved the poke. They have so many different kinds of poke that it's so hard to decide which one to get. I'm definitely going back!!!

    (5)

  • Corey B.

    Ordered the number 7 laulau kalua pig lomi salmon rice with a half pound of ahi masago poke. Broke da mout!

    (5)

  • Ela M.

    Final stop before boarding the plane back to Cali. I found this place on Yelp and skimmed through great reviews.....mainly on their poke, but I thought I would give it a try. Friday during Lent, I ordered the Grilled Ahi and a side of Hijiki Rice. The tuna was perfectly grilled with a hint of rawness. It came with a green dipping sauce ... hmm so good. I wasn't sure what Hijiki Rice was about, but it was pretty good. It's rice with seaweed, shrimp, and carrots. Different in a good way and went great with my tuna. My BF was sold when I told him Pasteles and Arroz were on the menu. Sadly, rice was not on the menu so he ordered 2 Pasteles to go and did the usual run to Teddy's. I'm giving this place 3 Stars for so-so food, but I plan on returning on my quest to find the best Okinawan Sweet Potato Pie. A good amount of local food to choose from and different types of Haupia pie that makes you just want to sample all of them. I'll add this to "The List..."for my next visit. Location is convenient to Hawaii Kai and Kahala so yeah....perfect for a second time experience. I find myself discouraged by the traffic when it comes to trying out places outside of Honolulu.

    (3)

  • Laura S.

    Shoyu & Limu Poke were so, so fresh and tasty. Kalua pig was flavorful and tender. Love the feel of this place. Small market that is just all about the fresh food. Wish they had more tables though! It was hard having to wait to drive back to the hotel to eat everything!

    (5)

  • Bobby S.

    The Kalua Pig is the best! Service was great in and out so quick. Also had the Lau Lau and chicken long rice both were very good too.

    (5)

  • Crystal R.

    The food is excellent here. I always order the lau lau plate and that always seems to put me sleep right after (also known as a kanak attack). I have been eating Hawaiian local food ever since I was born and when I moved here to Oahu, I was glad to run into this place. The lau lau is delicious and the chicken meat inside it just melts in your mouth and falls off the bone. There is also a wide selection of FRESH poke which is also delicious. Everything they make is fresh, ono (delicious), and down right awesome. One downfall is there small parking lot and gets pretty chaotic during lunch hour, car pooling or patience to find parking is suggested.

    (5)

  • Angelica Z.

    Good, reliable Hawaiian food for a very decent price and in close proximity to UH (yes!). I usually order the laulau/lomi salmon combo with two scoops of white rice for about $8! I also get the squid luau side for $3.25. This feeds me three meals, no joke! Squid luau is very good-not too sweet. Laulau is also pretty good, though I think it's chicken and not pork; this might not be as attractive of a choice to some. I've never ordered the poke but I've tasted the shoyu ahi poke and it's pretty tasty! This place is a regular on my cheap/delicious lunch options list!

    (4)

  • Vic S.

    my friend had recommended this place when I came a few years ago and I've been making this a stop ever since. lunch plates, poki and dried ahi are delicious at Yama's Fish Market! this was our first stop after landing in Oahu, killing time while we were waiting to check into our hotel back in July. this is more of a walk-up/to-go type place with only 2 small tables outside. we took our food to a nearby park and enjoyed the food and weather.

    (5)

  • Diandra M.

    Took some friends here from California. They wouldn't know any difference, so they loved it. + it's Hawaiian food! + they're open on Sundays +friendly customer service + okay size portions + flat rate for any size beverage -very, very little seating -not the most affordable -parking was a headache

    (3)

  • Nadine L.

    I never liked poke until this place: The spicy ahi poke The spicy wasabi ahi poke Were sooooo good I could've just eaten the spicy wasabi ahi poke all day and I don't even like wasabi. That's how good it was. We had the lau lau and spam fried rice and the pudding brownie too... But really all you need is the spicy wasabi ahi poke.

    (5)

  • Ella G.

    Absolutely amazing food. Decently priced on all of their items, the workers are friendly and helpful. These guys have a great selection of menu items and they allow substitutions. I got the grilled ahi (pictured) and my bf got the kalua pork. I also got a pastelle for later. The ahi came with this weird looking green sauce that was really good! All around these guys are great. I will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Kelly M.

    I second what several of the reviews have said, disappointing and I'll stick to Maile's, Ono's, or Helena's. This is mainly a take-out place, with a couple of tables outside. Both were taken by one family, so we had to take our food home. Had the garlic chicken. This would probably been better if eaten there, but did not travel well. Overall, good but not great.

    (3)

  • Alissa T.

    This place is a stand in line then order for take out type of place. There is plenty kinds of poke...I Love it (and Im not just saying that because my aunty has worked there for many years!) I love their lau lau and their poke, which I usually go for. While in line you can't help but eye the treats in the refrigerated area...especially the HAUPIA, so I end up getting a few of those too. Only thing is parking... a lot of times the lot is full, but people are in and out pretty fast, so if you sit and wait a few then you will eventually find someone coming out. Say hi to Aunty Jackie!

    (5)

  • Sheri M.

    Never disappoints. Usually get a #7-kalua pig, lau lau, lomi salmon and rice or the ahi poke patties. Or one of the salads if I'm feeling healthy. Sweet potato haupia pie and chocolate haupia is a must. Recently discovered the layered ice cream desserts too. And the cookies.

    (5)

  • marian z.

    One of my favorite places in hawaii. They have a variety of poke and other dishes and they are pretty cheap. It's a small hole in the wall place. I tried many poke here and my favorite was the spicy one with masago =)

    (5)

  • Millicents F.

    The poke was really tasty, but the customer service threw a few stars off my review. I really liked the spicy masago ahi I think it was called.

    (3)

  • A W.

    Come to Yama's if you are looking for some bomb ass poke. Poke is made fresh everyday. The Hawaiian food is pretty traditional and delicious. My offices love #2 and #7.

    (5)

  • Lei D.

    This is the only place I go for Hawaiian food! I don't eat pork, so I love that they have a chicken laulau, and it's moist and tastes great. I usually get the chicken long rice too and love it. It reminds me of how my mom used to make it... Service is always great and staff is friendly. Parking can get crazy when it's busy, but they only have 2 tables outside and they're often in the sun, so people don't usually stay long.

    (5)

  • Val D.

    Everytime I buy from Yama's, it's never a disappointment. This time, I decided to try their pastele, and it was very flavorful, and I'm glad I bought it: Laulau - 5 stars - consistently big and fresh. Our usual that we buy each time we visit. Squid Luau - 5 stars - today they made it just right. It wasn't sour like the last time we ate it. Pastele - 5 stars - the best I've tried so far. Chicken long rice - 4 stars - better than most places, and my kids love it. Hawaiian style poke - 4 stars - it's usually fresh but today it was a little fishy. Haupia - 5 stars - We can never leave without buying at least a small size haupia. So fresh and delicious! We like the chocolate, taro and just haupia by itself the best. Service - 5 stars - the cashiers are always friendly, happy and personable even if they are busy. Best place to buy fresh hawaiian food and poke, and I'm glad I found it last year through Yelp. However, because it's football season, their specials always run out by the time I get there.

    (5)

  • Rebecca F.

    No need for Long stories. This place is a must go. It's delicious,fresh,healthy and not expensive at all. Love the Tuna, Lau Lau and the Ahi Poke

    (5)

  • Ticha B.

    Tight parking, no parking, no seating, take out only, a line. Not typically good for an establishment. But good local Hawaiian food makes up for all of the above mention cons. We were lucky to find parking right away when another car pulled out when we pulled in. The line wasn't bad either, it just got pretty bad after us. We also took our lunch togo and ate it at Pearl Harbor, so we didn't have a problem with the no tables. The food was really cheap too considering what a plate had it in: pork, rice, lomi lomi salmon, ahi poke and haupia for like $7-8 bucks. Yama's (not related to Reid Y.) also has a big display of the different Ahi Tuna poke they serve...Hawaiian style, shoyu, etc. They have fresh fish! We also had the special menu fried rice which was tasty also. Worth the wait for a big togo plate. I wished they'd put out more tables in the front so the customers could actually enjoy their food right away.

    (4)

  • Helen C.

    Hits close to home - in location and in memories. I didn't learn of this place until after I graduated from high school years back, but I'll always remember the summers when my friends and I would grab a plate lunch and drive to a park to eat. The laulau is awesome x10. I wish we could substitute the macaroni salad or lomi salmon with long rice...I'd be such a sucker for that. But alas, my go-to order would have to be the laulau, poke, lomi salmon plate, and maybe a small side of long rice. I'd strongly recommend the shoyu chicken too. Generous servings. I can never finish my plate, but I can't stop. I can't because it's too good to stop, so I keep eating until I hate myself. Ugh. Thanks, Yama's. Thanks.

    (5)

  • David M.

    Great Poke!

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    Went there for #7 (kalua pig and laulau combo), mochiko chicken, chicken long rice, and poke. The Hawaiian food never disappoints, although sometimes the kalua pig is a little salty for me but nothing to complain about or to stop eating. Today was my first time trying the poke. I was skeptical at first but so far its my favorite. Granted, in the past two weeks ive had poke from safeway, foodland, fresh catch, taniokas, ono hawaiian seafood, and costco. But yamas is the front runner. The mochiko chicken is good but nothing to rave about. It's like a mochiko chicken batter but cooked and cut like katsu. Overall yamas is still my go to place for Hawaiian food. Good food, decent parking, short wait, good prices.

    (4)

  • Jason Y.

    Always good food but never an open place to eat. They have 2 tables outside but are never open. Prices are reasonable and food is always fresh and delicious. Usually get the baked seafood mahi and some pulehu tako on the side.

    (4)

  • Chelle S.

    Yama's has some pretty good Hawaiian food. Their laulau here is spot on and kalua pig is just right, not dry and not too oily. The squid luau isn't the best I've had (too much on the cooconut milk for my taste and not as thick) and the pipikaula is average. They do have a big variety of poke so that's something to keep in mind. Yama's is more of a take-out place. They do have 2 small tables outside but they'll probably be taken by the time you get there. Parking is also very limited so it's a good idea to have a food runner and while someone waits in the car. Other than that, I like the place. The portions are big and the prices are right.

    (4)

  • Casey O.

    Oh, how to begin. First, their kalua pig is good for sure...not overly salty, a reasonable amount of fat cooked in to preserve the taste, perfectly moist and pairs well with their good lomi lomi salmon. Second, their chicken long rice was a little lacking. The soup base it's cooked in was lacking flavor and didn't have that strong chicken taste, was more like a salt water. Plus, the noodles were a bit under cooked. Last, the laulau was not very tasty at all. The taro leaves were lacking in flavor, so I'm assuming they didn't absorb enough from the meat. Which makes sense, because the chicken was a little dry and lacking in flavor as well. Most places season with sea salt, but I couldn't tell if they used any salt at all. I can understand it if they want to preserve the natural flavor of the chicken and taro leaves, but both were seriously lacking in taste. Maybe just came on a bad day, but I won't be going back anytime soon. Still though, the kalua pig was pretty good. Just won't be getting the laulau again.

    (2)

  • Kimberly L.

    Since I before deigned to try it I know I'd be in love. As exactly the "type" lusted after by Yelpians, Yama's Fish Market succors me back again and again with their illustrious and cheap local food. The combination of low prices and lipsmacking proteins have me in the Yama-crave-zone. All the time now I crave Kalua Pig & Cabbage, the yummy different kinds of poke, lomilomi salmon (although mushy in texture, it still tastes good?), and the sweet creamy haupia, which is not gelatinous/hard at all. Um I also created a squid luau fandom for myself. All these foods are things I obviously don't make at home, and when I do buy them pre-made from Costco/Times/Foodland/Safeway, they taste crummy compared to Yama's. The only thing Yama's could work on is their rice... I'm spoiled by fat chewy morsels of high-quality rice grains (I could never tell the difference before living in Japan), and my beloved lady at Harbor Snack Shop always serves the best in rices. Oh, and watch out for sometimes stale cubes of haupia dessert. The flavors become flavorless and the crust becomes bogged by sludge if it sits too long in the fridge. Their portions of lomi salmon, mac salad (yes this marks the first year in a twenty-something year life that I have ever eaten more than 1 noodle out of mac salad before grossing out), and everything else that comes in the little round lidded spoon-sized containers. All in all, hurrah for Yama's. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Suchandra T.

    Great plate lunches and a nice selection of tasty poke. Totally worth going out of your way to grab lunch here.

    (5)

  • Ohh S.

    Visited here from California and wanted to try a local spot and our friends brought us to yamas. And they did not disappoint! Bomb poke, pork, and service. Def recommend for a quick stop, away from the Hus n bus of Waikiki.

    (5)

  • Kari C.

    We ate here twice during our recent trip to Oahu. They have awesome poke, lau lau, and kalua pig! Combos contain relatively large portions. Keep this in mind when you're ordering! I got the lau lau, which is bone-in chicken thigh wrapped in a leaf and boiled. Conceptually similar to Chinese loh mai gai (lotus leaf wrapped chicken served at dim sum), but without the sticky rice. Flavors are also more subtle, but still savory. It was appropriately salted and came with greens inside. My plate also included sides of rice & macaroni salad. The macaroni was a bit bland, but I think that's actually authentic, so I won't ding them for that. You can get brown rice for 25 cents or poi for 50 cents extra. For dessert, try the haupia. This is like the Hawaiian version of the lemon bar. It's a mildly sweet coconut cream over chunky purple yam (like taro). The crust is a dense shortbread. Individual servings are a deal at $1.45. My guy got the kalua pig and once again, it was entirely too much food! Fortunately, we packed it for our Hanauma Bay snorkeling trip and made kalua pig sandwiches the next day. The pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender and quite flavorful. One of the best places to get kalua pig. The poke was very good, but I think Ono's is slightly better. The first time we tried the masago poke, it was a bit over-salted. But we still ate it all! Fish was super fresh. Excellent with rice. We also tried some of their baked goods. The lemon cookies were crisp and tasted like real lemon zest. Try them out!

    (5)

  • Anon Y.

    How does Yamas not have 5 starts yet? Crazy! Yamas is some gooooooood grinds, and pretty cheap considering how much food you get. I love the low pressure, casual feel of the place, and the people who work there are super chill, fast, and good at what they do. The grilled ahi is really tasty, comes with some kind of green sauce that is radically delicious. Im seeing a lot of reviews from tourists - those should be disregarded because what do they know about local food?? I love that someone wrote in their review about the Kahlua pig and salmon Lomi, hahaha! Classic. I do wish you would get a bigger parking lot, Yamas. But I still come all the way from Palolo to grind your delicious grindables.

    (5)

  • Zar A.

    One of the BEST places to get Hawaiian food in Honolulu. The menu offers anything from poi, (pork & chicken) lau lau, kalua pig, chicken long rice, haupia, various poke... All good choices! The price is reasonable and the food is awesome! I always end up buying too much food here because I can never decide whether I want the laulau, kalua pig, long rice, haupia, poke, or all of the above! They also have plate lunches, which I have never tried yet. But I have heard that it is pretty good too. I've pretty much been memorized by their Hawaiian food menu and can't take my eyes off of it each time I visit the place!

    (5)

  • Mitch N.

    I've been coming here for about 10yrs. This is my go to place for poke, kalua pig, lau lau, and some really yummy desserts. The poke, so many choices. So fresh. And they dont make a huge batch that just sits in the pan all day. There have been many occasions where they've made a new batch for my order, or even asked if I wanted a fresh batch of spicy poke. On top of a hot bed of rice, this stuff is fantastic. The plate lunch choices are awesome. So many to choose from, and HUGE. You'll be in a food coma in no time. Whether it's a for a party, a lunch, or after beach food... Yama's has you covered!.

    (4)

  • Felicia F.

    Mmm... soo happy. Today is a good day. I found parking at Yama's (without having to Austin Powers my vehicle into the parking stall), didn't have to wait in line while ordering my food and had a *moment* with me, myself and my kalua pig. Mm... As most know, Yama's Fish Market is more than meets the name. Although their specialty may be their delish poke items in their refrigerated display case, Yama's is known for much more than that-- from various local-Hawaiian plate lunches to their scrumptious pre-made desserts. Today, I went for what my tummy desired... #4-- Kalua pig, 2 scoops rice, sub haupia for mac salad and a side order of chicken long rice. Total: $8.85. Ouch, but mm. I finished my chicken long rice before I even got out of the parking lot. The haupia was gone while at the stop light in front of First Hawaiian. ...And all but half of scoop of white rice was devoured in my car while sitting in my work parking lot...before I even got back to the office. ...So... happy.

    (4)

  • Amanda D.

    I absolutely love this place. There isn't even anywhere to sit.... but I don't care! I've never had a bad meal here, and the prices are reasonable. Huge selections of poke, kalua pork, lau lau, etc. They've got a fridge on the side filled with goodies like boiled peanuts. Yum yum. I judge a Hawaiian restaurant by how good its haupia is, and Yama's gets an A+!!!

    (5)

  • Alen N.

    This is a great place for Hawaiian food and poke! Food: I normally come here for their Kailua pig & Cabbage and their different types of poke! Come early to get the poke you want! For the price, it's pretty good. Service: They are super nice and chill! They are understanding and will let you know if your food will take awhile to make. Parking: Small, but there is street parking around the area. Tips: If you love poke or Hawaiian food in general? This is definitely the place to be. It's fresh, local and very delicious! Also, try their lau lau if you have room for more.

    (4)

  • elena j.

    Came here for poke. I tried their shoyu. It was ok and a bit overpriced.

    (3)

  • Sage T.

    Ono food! Pastele plate is the bomb! Nothing but good grinds and pupus. Only down side is a little slow in getting people out the door quickly. Other than that great place to eat.

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    This is where I fell in love with haupia. They really do have the best haupia but their little 4 oz portion sized cups are not big enough for the price they charge! But still, I love *makes a heart with my hand* Went down today to get my laulau, poi, and haupia fix. They don't have squid luau with their combo plates so I had to order a small which was pretty massive for one person. Their laulau was really good, not too salty, not too bland but juuuust right. The poi was perfectly portioned for me because I was able to finish it all. Squid luau had great consistency but I wanted it to be a wee bit sweeter. The laulau comes full wrapped with the string still tied to it. It was annoying because I was famished and the laulau was still too hott to handle! Great service and great prices. I lost my "real" Hawaiian food virginity with them about four years ago so Yama's will always have a special place in my heart. *hand heart*

    (5)

  • Steve Y.

    I had their #6 here that consisted of rice, a large portion of Kalua Pig, Haupia, Lomi Salmon, and a poke of my choice. I believe the total cost of my plate came out to around $10.00. Everything was of good quality. There are several people on here who are raving about the Kalua Pig. It's good, but not the greatest. The greatest can be found at Kailua High School football games (I'm serious here) The service at Yama's is top notch. They are curious, fast, and treat your place with a lot of care. One thing that really surprised me with this place is the cleanliness. Usually, when you head into a fish market, it smells of fish, it's messy, hot, with flies everywhere. This place is sterile clean. This is probably the best Hawaiian food restaurant on Oahu. It's nothing like home cooking, but it's good. I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Kevin C.

    I came here at least once a week when I was taking classes at UH over the summer. The poke is a must-try, especially the wasabi masago poke! Nom nom. Soooo good. I've tried most of their poke and I've enjoyed all of them. The poke is pretty reasonably priced. (~$11/lb) Poke + rice will always be a great meal in my book. The garlic chicken is GREAT! They sometimes sell out quick, so get on it! Enough said. Seriously, go get it. I've also enjoyed their Strawberry Sensation Dessert which is strawberry jello on top of haupia. It's a nice, light and sweet dessert to compliment your meal. I definitely want to try more of their haupia desserts the next time I go back!

    (4)

  • Dani D.

    Oh how I love your awesome chicken lau lau! In a ten day trip, or 28 meals, three of those meals consisted of chicken lau lau from Yamas and some assortment of side dishes including chicken long rice, lomi lomi salmon, and haupia. The beef stew my mom bought for my brother was also pretty tasty. Oh and the cornflake cookies are the best!

    (5)

  • Christina B.

    It's been about three months since I stepped foot in this place... man, do I miss it. They've got a ton of different types of poke here and they've even got cooked foods here. I would definitely get a combination lunch since the prices are decent and it is kind of a hidden gem. I hit up The Sushi Company while visiting this place and I wish I hadn't! I wasted precious stomach room for what could've been delicious food from Yamas'!

    (5)

  • Cely H.

    Went here because I was in town and had a coupon I needed to use up in the Entertainment book. What a great surprise! I had kalua pig, lau lau, mac salad, lomi salmon, ahi limu poke, and dried ahi poke. Man, was everything good! The place was SUPER clean and I totally love that. Even dining al fresco was nice and clean and the fresh air was perfect. I love it that it's like half store so when you're waiting for your food you can browse the shelves of som good salad dressings, bento, candies, and desserts. With the coupon for two plate lunches, 2 kinds of poke and drink it came out to a little bit over $20. Sweet deal!

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    I've lived about half a mile from this place for years and years and never knew about it! One day, my friend, who used to work at Longs, said she went there a lot with her coworkers and so off we went. At first, I was a little unsure since the name sounds like they only sell fish or seafood-related stuff. (I'm not a fan of seafood.) However, I valiantly decided to suck it up and see what Yama's has to offer! Kalua Pork is AMAZING. I used to dream of their kalua pork after I moved to California for a couple of years and tried to imitate how they did it (or how it ended up tasting, anyway). So good and nice portions. I've had better but I definitely won't be complaining about the kalua pork here. Friends who have gotten the poke (I'm not a huge fan of poke and haven't tried theirs yet) love it and say it's mouthwateringly fabulous. The laulau I enjoy though I wouldn't rate this item 5 stars. Pretty darn good, though. Their chicken long rice is great and something I'd get over and over again. I'm not loving their macaroni salad (comes as a side) too much but that's just personal preference. Nothing's wrong with it or anything. My favorite item is their garlic chicken. SO GOOD. Just thinking about it makes me salivate and drool. Now I want some...damnit. I hate how sometimes they sell out so fast. Make more!!! Make more! And no review is complete without a conclusion - HAUPIA. Nom. A little too expensive for something I'm sure I can fairly decently at home so I usually refrain but it's so good!!!! :)

    (4)

  • Doris D.

    I recently had the pork and chicken lau lau and it was alright. I found the meat to be on the dry side! It was a little disappointing but I'd still go back for the other menu items because it's such a good place for Hawaiian food.

    (3)

  • Jon A.

    The first time I visited Hawaii, I had Yamas! Wow I'm forever hooked. The POKE is to die for. They let you sample it if you ask them. I'm a fish guy and I love the ahi with the special green sauce. The Lau Lau is very good. I recommend Yamas to all visitors and friends. This place is great for LUNCH! Prices are great and they have parking. The only thing is you have to take it to go since they have only 2 tables with 2 chairs each table.I only go there for the food brahh.. Shoots!!

    (5)

  • Ajie P.

    You can never go wrong with local Hawaiian grindz any day of the week!! I ordered the number #8 combo.. comes with lau lau - Beef stew mix with rice and mac salad. I took the first bite of the lau lau, and...WHOA!! a mixture of both pork and chicken nicely SALTED. U heard me, Salted. You dont need salt or soyu!!! Thats when you KNOW it's ONO. The beef stew...Just mixed it will the rice..and yea, broke da mouth goodness! If you want AWESOME Hawaiian food under $10, then come here. The Poke is a reasonable price too! Nice and friendly staff too. Awlays smiling :)

    (4)

  • Shannon A.

    Unfortunately, I only had the pleasure of going here on a full stomach. Stupid, stupid, stupid. But I had two days on Oahu and you know, being human and all, there's only so much I can eat. I stopped here for dessert after having some amazing sushi and I am STILL craving some of their haupia desserts. I had the sweet potato haupia, pumpkin pie haupia, and the reg haupia. Bomb, bomb, bomb. Totally going back there on my next trip to Oahu. The menu looks way too good. Definitely on my top 5 list of Oahu.

    (4)

  • Lina O.

    out of the two weeks in hawaii, we went to a different place everyday to eat. yamas was the one place i picked to go to twice. unfortunately it was closed already and i didnt get to have a last savory taste of yamas before the flight back home to the mainland. yamas is located down a small residential street with its own parking lot, that fits probably 4 or 5 cars only. when you walk in, there are some random snacks like taro chips to the left and then the fish display case to the right with different kinds of poke and other seafood. behind the counter on the wall is the menu and all across the top are pictures of their various plates. its a place to order your plate or side of poke and take it to-go. there is one small table outside with two chairs, but why not take it to-go to the beach?? we ordered a plate with kalua pork with rice and mac salad. we also got side of poke. oh em gee. i love kalua pork when its moist and juicy. yama's kalua was sooo juicy, and the parts that was still in its juices was even more tasty. my mouth just watered just thinking about it. it was just enough salty and oh so delicious. their poke was really good too. i wish i had a bigger stomach so i could have kept eating :) next trip im going to make sure yama's gets at least two visits :)

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    My trip to Hawaii wouldn't have been complete without a full array of Hawaiian eats: poke up the wazoo, kalua pork, lomi lomi salmon, lau lau and more! After hearing many reviews on how great the traditional Hawaiian food is at Yama's - I had to try it! Unfortunately, I think I have come to the conclusion that I don't really love Hawaiian food. The kalua pork and lau lau was fork tender, like literally, it just fell apart upon impact with the fork. I enjoyed the kalua but the lau lau was a bit too salty for me. Although, I must say though, I love poke!! I chose to try their Shoyu poke which was fresh, and perfectly velvety!

    (3)

  • Esther Y.

    Not really a sit-down place, although there are a couple tables and chairs outside. I got the #3 lau lau and shoyu poke, both of which were delicious. I'm pretty new to Hawaiian food, but I already know I LOVE poke, and apparently Yamas has some of the best poke here. I had my first haupia here too. You can get this large tray of haupia with sweet yam (I think?) and a crust, kinda like a haupia pie? It was pretty good, I'd definitely recommend sharing with more than a few people though!

    (5)

  • Lee H.

    The Lau Lau is good and the prices here are reasonable. It's worth a try to come here and see if you would like this place. This is a to-go place for the most part, but there are two tables outside.

    (3)

  • Raina S.

    Yamas has the biggest poke selection I have ever seen. Seeing all those choices, I figured I was about to have a memorable meal. There were four of us, and we all ordered plate lunches. My daughter ordered ahi, but she wanted it well-done, so it took a lot longer than the other dishes. Our server plated up the three other lunches, but we had to wait about 10 minutes on the ahi. Meanwhile, the rest of our food was cooling on the countertop. By the time we got our food to the beach (there's very little seating at Yamas), the hot stuff had become cold and the cold stuff had become warm. I see that some other Yelpers (below) have suggested Helena's or Ono's in place of Yamas. This is good advice. You'll find similar dishes at those places, but with much better execution.

    (2)

  • Lucy M.

    The spicy wasabi ahi poke and the shoyu poke was amazing! The texture and flavor of the two balanced out well. Super fresh you almost don't need to use any teeth to eat! The Lau Lau was a mix of pork and chicken, I wish it was pork and fish instead but it was still delicious. They have a variety of other lunch items and just a couple of tables outside the market with a nice big shady awning. It's about a mile walk from the Waikiki hotels. Make room for dessert and walk over to Waiola shave ice which is only a few blocks away!

    (5)

  • Jay T.

    If you're looking for Hawaiian food on a budget, this is the place to go. I feel their kalua pig ranks within the top 10 in Hawaii. Juicy, succulent and with just the right amount of salt, with a hint of smoke flavor. Their laulau is also one of my favorites. You can specify either pork or chicken. Their Poke selection is very good as well! My favorites are: Ahi masago, Wasabi-ahi, and a recent addition to their extensive line of fine poke.... Smoked Salmon! The only poke that I didn't care for was their Shoyu Tako Poke. The shoyu was sweet, with an aftertaste of what I thought might be Mirin. I would rather get the tako onion or limu, take it home and add my mixture of grated ginger, garlic, shoyu (Kikkoman, Yamasa or a special Kaki-shoyu from Japan) la-yu & sesame oil. My favorite off of their regular menu is the "Ahi poke patties". Warning: IT'S ADDICTIVE!! Chopped up ahi-limu poke is made into a patty, panko-crusted, fried to a golden-brown, then drizzled with a sweet & spicy Pineapple-chili sauce. It's a little on the salty side, but the pineapple-chili sauce and white rice helps neutralize it. Some other notables sometimes appear on their 'Daily Specials' menu. Like the "Sauteed Mahi filet with butter garlic & shoyu sauce". This took awesomeness to the next level!!! But like the Ahi poke patties, these specials tend to go fast.... So if you go at Pau-hana time, it may have already been sold out. I always end up going there because it's convenient & inexpensive. The only negative thing I would bring up, is their service time. While the staff is very courteous & friendly, it takes a long time to get your order in when it gets busy. One person works the register, then goes into the kitchen to make your plate and poke order. All the while, people are lined up and unable to place their orders until one of their staff returns. I would give them the 5 stars they deserve, if they change their current system and delegate their duties and service the customers quicker. Despite this, if you have the 'onos' for Hawaiian food, I recommend Yama's.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth N.

    Being the 90th reviewer of this establishment with a high marking tells you that this place is what it seems. I'll keep it short and sweet as to not repeat what everyone else is already saying: Pros: -SUPER FRESH and tasty poke and sashimi -Great quality food -Even better prices! Surprisingly cheap for what they give you. -Wasabi Poke (YUM) -Smoked Dried Ahi (Double yum!, never had it before until here and it's really good. Can't even tell that it's fish but way cleaner tasting than beef jerky) -Deep Fried Spicy Ahi Belly -Great customer service Cons: -Lines can get long (but service is fast) -Grilled Ahi (was waaay too salty and over spiced) -Small parking lot, not the easiest place to find parking if the lot is full and street parking is kind of at your own risk it seems....

    (4)

  • No Ram E.

    Oh Yama's how my opinion of you has changed due to the lack of good customer service when catering! I had Yama's cater a 45 person party for us and we ordered Hawaiian Food. Lomi salmon, poke, chicken long rice, poi, okinawan sweet potato, squid luau, shoyu chicken, and kalua pig and cabbage. Everything tasted okay but they pretty much forgot the PIG in the kalua pig and cabbage. I'm pretty sure, cabbage and pepper aren't the only two ingredients in that dish. Many of my guests noted that there was hardly ANY pig, someone even took a photo of the tray because they couldn't believe that Yama's would serve such a disgrace( they took the photo right after Yama's delivered the food). I emailed Brian Yamamoto the catering manager my compliant and maybe I should have sent him the photo too. It's been 5 days now and NOTHING! Not even an apology! So disappointing! NEVER again Yama's. I'd suggest you don't order catering from Yama's try Tanioka's or Young's or Highway Inn?

    (1)

  • Herbert A.

    When I need my Hawaiian food fix I always come here. Very good food, fresh fish

    (5)

  • Joseph N.

    I don't think twice when someone suggests Yama's for lunch. The poke is amazing, the plates are cheap and heaping, and the menu choices can be overwhelming. They offer the best lomi salmon and squid luau I have had. The traditional Hawaiian plates are amazingly good. Lots of variety, so if your with a group, there is bound to be something for everyone. Don't forget about dessert, they have a few unique sweets that will bring you to your knees.

    (5)

  • Darin H.

    Masago ahi poke was delicious! Excellent food as usual.

    (4)

  • Diane K.

    One of da most favorite lunch places in Moiliili. Pro - Ono Hawaiian food, fresh pokes, fresh opihi, consistent plate lunch quality, reasonably priced menu Con - s~l~o~w moving line at the counter. I really like this place for daily lunch and all my party needs, except for the booze.

    (4)

  • Mel P.

    So much poke, I didn't know what to do with myself. After walking to Yama's from the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, I was ready to eat! I ordered the local poke, kalua pork and lomi lomi salmon plate...oh yeah, and a side of mini cookies. The poke was pretty good. It was fresh and not overly salted. The kalua pork was a bit too salty for my taste, but it was cooked well, and still very good. I would skip the lomi lomi salmon, because there was barely any salmon in it. It tasted like pico de gallo with a couple bits of salmon. The cookies were super tasty, get a bag!

    (4)

  • Sara T.

    I love that Yama's is right by UH! I'm definitely partial to Young's, but trekking to Kalihi is not fun at 3 pm when that kalua pig craving sets in. I have yet to try their luau, lau lau, and long rice, so I can't leave an adequate review, but for now, I'll review the kalua pig. It's delicious and juicy, but man, it is SALTY! The rice to pig proportion I need to eat to offset the salt is way higher than I'd usually like. The prices are decent and the portions are giant (but not as giant as Young's). This is my go-to place for Hawaiian food in the University area.

    (3)

  • Vincent Q.

    Near the old Stadium Park, between two roads--Beretania and King--if you look, you'll see the sign. Definitely an easy place to miss. Most of the lot is open parking, once inside, you move into a well air-conditioned, modern looking poke bar and kitchen. Mochiko Chicken- 3-stars- I asked if they had a side-order, she looked and yes they do! I ordered this. For me, this was more like basic fried chicken, than the style of Mochiko I've been used to. The flavor wasn't exciting, it didn't stand out. My friend liked it, I think it was the simplest thing I ordered. The sauce reminds me of a sweet Thai gel sauce, mild chili flavor. Together they're good, not great. Kalua Chicken Cabbage Bowl- 3 1/2-stars- This is an interesting adaptation of the traditional Kalua pork recipe. As per my usual, I seem to be used to this being saltier, but the shredded chicken was still a good play on kalua. I don't know if you can bake a chicken the same way as pork, since their structure is different, but the end product isn't too bad. In the bowl, you have cabbage and rice. The rice seems to get soggy and brown from the juices, which is interesting. Chicken Lau Lau- 4-stars- This was my favorite of these chicken dishes, and least favorite for my friend. I think the taro leaves, being soft and squishy was something unfamiliar. It comes in a plastic bag, tied and wrapped in ti leaves. The flavor is ono. A little oily, but packed with deliciousness. As long as you can get passed the plastic bag display, it's something you can't miss. Poi- 3-stars- Poi is poi, expensive though it can be, you can't have a truly local meal without some of this stuff. Haupia and Sweet Potato- 3-stars- This was an interesting mix of haupia and sweet potato, which I thought would create a unique taste, but it was a little dry and cracked easily. If you love both haupia and sweet potato, you're in luck. Otherwise, it was a dessert where we wondered who would eat the last piece. Atmosphere- Well, there are seats outside. Inside, it's like a lunch-wagon, poke bar, and take-out window. They do offer a huge cooler of water with Styrofoam cups in case you're thirsty. There is even a snack area and fridge space to pick up some of their favorites to take home and eat whenever you want. Service- The service here is really good. They're helpful and patient, especially considering there are so many choices to pick from. I was pleased with how fast the food was prepared, but I imagine they must have a lot of it back there, right? And I came on a Sunday, a couple hours before they closed. Conclusion- I was really excited to come, here. I've planned on stopping here for lunch for nearly two months. The service, even the look of the place was great, it made me feel comfortable and at home. The food wasn't as exciting as I had hoped. I need to go back and try different things, since I like variety. Still, it's a good stop to get some quick bites, and food that doesn't disappoint!

    (3)

  • Selena H.

    best poke i've ever had!! thank you to chef friends for referring us here. ahi limu poke - ahi tuna poke with a type of seaweed with light sauce. very refreshing. wasabi masago poke - a bit of spice, downplayed by the egg.. recommended by the staff so thankfully we ordered some. lau lau - the pork had a bit of chicken in it too which was very tasty. kind of hidden on a small side street, but well worth the drive. you can buy the poke in a variety of sizes, or you can simply order lunch plates. small parking lot but it shouldnt be too bad during off hours.

    (5)

  • Dean H.

    Do you like fresh ahi poke, kalua pig and lau lau? Well, you have come to the RIGHT place for all that goodness. You heard that right, FRESH, not pre frozen ahi poke. Come on now. Who makes that anymore, well Yama's does and they are proud of it. The prices are pretty reasonable at about 13 dollars a pound too! Lots of variety and lots of good combinations of flavors. The kalua pig is a winner, not too salty and the lau lau is actually not the best but it is very good. Lemon drops and other old school candies are also there. Haupia in different flavors line the reefer. Boiled peanuts, bag ice, taegu, and all kinds of stuff in the reefer to choose from. Taro chips of ALL kinds of flavors are there too! There are also plate lunches of all kinds of combos of their good foods.... The parking can be a little snug and sometimes you may have to park somewhere else and walk but it is seriously worth the walk. Go get some goodness here! 042/365 hawaiianfoodgoodnessyelptasticchallenge.....

    (5)

  • Arlene A.

    Their lau lau is super fresh and prices are good. I bought a lb of squid luau today and did not like it. Very bland, weird coconut flavor (kinda seemed like the coconut was a bit spoiled). Other than that, we love ordering take out from this place and will always come her for our Hawaiian food craving. We'll probably just not ever order the squid luau again.

    (4)

  • Emiko T.

    After eating here I got a major food coma. But boy if ever anything was worth getting put to sleep at 2:30 in the afternoon, the mochiko curry chicken combo is it. This review will be pretty short and to the point, which also is appropriate for the kind of place Yama's is: no fuss, no frills, just good food and nice service. The service is fast and only ideal for to-go service. There are a couple of tables outside but it's close to the parking lot so you could either walk over to one of the nearby parks or just take your onolicious food home. Very affordable and they're definitely not stingy with the portions. I had such a hard time choosing between the kalua pig and the mochiko chicken but i figured either one I went with was going to be completely satisfying. The mochiko curry chicken was SO good. The curry was really thick and a little sweet and the chicken was juicy and tender. They give you a little cup of mac salad to go along with it. I was admiring the array of haupia desserts like brownies, jello and cakes but (un)fortunately I resisted and didn't buy any this time. For the number 24 combo and a water my total came to 8 bucks flat. They have their own private parking lot so hopefully you can get lucky and snag a spot. Can't wait to go back and try all the other hawaiian foods, especially the ones other yelpers are raving about! Yelp challenge: #10/365

    (4)

  • Lisa L.

    Loved finding Yamas while on vacation here in Honolulu, not a tourist trap, great local food, rock bottom prices. We had: -the ahi lunch plate, the green sauce that came with it was so good I used every last drop of it. -the ahi belly lunch plate, very good -the zebra haupia dessert, YUM This deli is off the beaten path, the parking lot is small, there are two tiny tables outside, the tiny interior is lined with shelves of snacks and refrigerator cases full of delicious looking food. Our lunch plates were cooked to order. We were ecstatic over getting almost a pound of delicious ahi in our $6 lunch plate, you just can't beat that.

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    Cheaper than Ono's but only take out. Kalua pig - great, not too fatty or too salty. Chicken lau lau - would prefer more lau lau leaves & a little overcooked (too squishy). Lomi salmon - good, yep you can see the salmon not just tomatoes. Poke - fresh & a bunch of choices.

    (3)

  • John S.

    Amazing! A welcome respite from the Spam and Moco Loco spots elsewhere in Honolulu. The pork, octopus, & poki are lovely and this neighborhood spot is worth fasting for ( you'll need the extra space in your stomach for all the amazing selections they have to offer). Not to be missed!

    (5)

  • Lisa N.

    solid kahlua pork and lomi salad. :) and i love that they have a fridge with fresh fruits and other goodies.

    (4)

  • Nathan N.

    When it comes to a Hawaiian Plate with all the good stuff, Yama's is hard to beat. Everyone likes Ono's, which I think is overpriced and portions are skimpy. The other suggested locale is Young's Fish Market. Nope. Not for this foodie fat guy. Yama's Hawaiian plate is huge, a good price and they also have a kick ass spicy ahi poke. I first discovered Yama's years ago when it was on the small one way lane adjacent to McCully Bike Shop. I was only going there for ahi poke and boiled peanuts. Since then, it has moved to a larger location on Young St. and to my delight, expanded their menu. When I'm in need of a Hawaiian gut buster, I only go to Yama's Fish Market. Polynesian Paralysis soon follows. ZZZzzzzzzzzzzz........

    (4)

  • Tara O.

    Went here a lot to pick up lunch while living in Hawaii. I now occasionally come whenever I'm home (too many places to grind, can't fit them all in at each visit!) and the service and quality of Hawaiian food has not changed. In one word, Yama's is AWESOME! I'm grateful that some good things don't change, and I hope Yama's never does...they are great the way they are!

    (5)

  • NIKKI F.

    This hidden gem doesn't have much curb appeal but I tell you, it's big on taste, wide on variety, smart on service and small on price. Isn't that just a great combination? With Hawaiian ono classics like Kalua Pork and twists on classics like Kalua chicken (great for this non-pork eater) I was impressed with the variety of the menu. The fish (Lomi Salmon) is fresh and tasty! And they have lots of non-fishy things too...

    (4)

  • Randall F.

    Pure Hole in the Wall - way off the beaten path in an alley. More like a Poke shop with over the counter poke of many styles. Two outdoor table overlooking the parking lot. Perfect for grabbing your plate lunch combo and heading to the beach.

    (4)

  • Christine A.

    Get the grilled ahi it's super good! ...my sister loved the poke too!

    (4)

  • Rae X.

    was lucky enough to be staying within walking distance of this place on my first trip to hawaii, and it became a go-to. it's not the prettiest walk, though, for hawaii -- drove there after the first time. first kalua pig i've ever had...and then second, and third, because the helping was large enough for many meals' leftovers. just amazing. salty, porky deliciousness. oh, and the squid luau was amazing. (also a first for me.) i don't know if this is what you're supposed to do with it, but i mixed in rice and ate it straight, with chopsticks. then i googled it, to see what the heck i was eating. sampled all of the pokes except octopus -- favorite was the wasabi/roe. and i wish i'd been there long enough to go back and try the dried ahi/garlic poke, which looked really cool and different. oh, and first haupia, too! delicious little see-thru vat of white coconut creamy thing that i thought was like mayo or tartar sauce or something, and was about to toss in the garbage, but i'm SO glad i tried it. ate the whole thing. ate in a park nearby, ate in the car with the windows down.... ran into our waiter from "eggs'n'things," waiting in line to order, and he greeted us warmly and confirmed that we were in a genuine locals-eat-here sort of place. i wish i could get their stuff in california!

    (5)

  • C Y.

    Stuff is friendly. Parking and tables are limited. I had Shoyu Ahi Poke and Shoyu Tako Poke. The Ahi was good but the Tako was a little salty to me. I will try their Limu Poke next time.

    (3)

  • Jeremy K.

    Very nice indeed. The poke is on the salty side, but hey it matches my salty tastes... The spicy poke is pretty spicy and it has a sort of korean raw crab banchan taste to it. I love it personally. They also had one which had big thick limu and also lots of roe so, that with fresh soy sauce and sesame oil, was great as well. Properly salted of course. The mochiko chicken was very crunchy (not the best I've had), but passable. My daughter enjoyed it. The mac salad needs improvement though. Needs more texture and seasoning. Odd that they heavily salt everything else. I also had the lau lau - very nice (though which it had butterfish in it), and kalua pig which was smokey and salty as it should be. The lomi lomi was pretty good too. The rice proportion was small. 1 scoop for all the food. The dried ahi is great as well and salty. O well. I had to drink a gallon of water afterwards to satiate my thirst, but I'm coming back to this place for more salt (via poke and dried ahi)! The price is pretty good as well. Not cheap, but good for fresh poke.

    (4)

  • Jenny K.

    YAMMMMMAAAAAA'SSSSS!!!!!!!!! UHHH NA NA NA NAAAAAA!!! This place makes me want to smack my grandmama it is sooo good!! ( that means it's really effin good ya'll : ) Kalua Pork, Lau Lau, Grilled Ahi, Lomi Salmon, mac salad, and don't forget the strawberry haupia and okinawan haupia pie... all UHHMAZING! Best Plate Lunch I have had for sure. And convenient location with parking (not much, but at least they have some) Don't go there at lunch time though, I don't want you making the line long for me!! : )

    (5)

  • Tamara P.

    Definitely the best kalua pig plate that I've ever ate. Very juicy and tender pork with just right amount of seasoning along with sticky rice and haupia. YUM-O!! I didn't care too much for their laulau though. I love the lu'au leaves and pork, but can't stand the piece of butterfish that they put in there. And the sweet potato version just wasn't the same! I would much rather save my trips here for my kalua pig cravings and go to Ono Hawaiian Foods for their pork laulaus! Food: ***** Service: **** Ambiance: *** Value: *****

    (5)

  • Cameron B.

    Quality poke, decent prices and different flavors. They also have a small selection of desserts to choose from for those people with a sweet tooth. Priced at $1.95 how could you say no to a Haupia chocolate treat?

    (5)

  • Tai M.

    Always a great place for poke. I went the other day and they had just run out of Hawaiian Style Poke, but they made more right away. It was some of the best I have ever had. I think I said in a previous post that Ono Seafood was the best. Yama's has finally rivaled that. Fresh and delicious. Their pasteles are also very good, but I can't resist the poke!

    (5)

  • Jamie B.

    I'd forgotten how good Yama's really is... it's been so long since those UH pool tournament days and Yama's dinner runs... Oh. Back to reality. My good friend just had her baby's first birthday and it was catered by Yama's. I was pretty excited since I hadn't had Yama's in forevers and I was totally NOT disappointed!! There was a wonderful spread of shoyu ahi poke, tako onion poke, lomi salmon, pipikaula, shoyu chicken, chicken long rice, kalua pig, squid luau, haupia, pineapple, and sweet potato. I took a little bit of everything except the squid luau (i am just not that brave.) Everything was so good! The only thing that was a tad bit too salty for me was the shoyu ahi poke, but i think i may have just gotten a couple pieces that weren't mixed good. The kalua pig was really good and the pipikaula was peppery and delicious. I love Yama's haupia too... it's different from other haupias I've tasted. It's not real coconut-ty which to me is a good thing. Anyway, by the end of the party I was stuffed and felt like a sausage but I still wanted to eat more LOL!

    (4)

  • Jaynie K.

    Lau lau. Kalua pig. Ahi limu poke. Haupia. Sweet potato haupia. OMG!!! I think I peed a little. *SIGH*

    (5)

  • Gemma R.

    It maybe a few dollars more than Don Q's but you get your money's worth. The fish is fresh and they have a great selection to choose from. I also like their baked goods selection WHICH I know I shouldn't have looked at because now I always wanna get the haupia pumpkin thing. :(

    (5)

  • Angela K.

    So many great combo plate lunches here, perfect for taking to go and sitting on the beach and enjoying it! I got the #6 Combo: Kalua Pig, Lomi, Poke & Haupia for $10. So much food, would of been enough to share between two people. You have the choice of what kind of poke you want in your combo - they have about 5 different kinds. I opted for the Ahi Limu Poke and the flavor was delicious! In addition, to finish off the meal you get a sweet dessert - haupia!

    (5)

  • Radiant C.

    I love that this place is on the same street as my workplace. Can you say convenient! Despite that, I am having trouble acquiring a liking to the food served here. I just had the ahi salad today, and I must admit it was worth my $5.15, promise! However, I have had the hot meals here at Yama's before and wasn't as satisfied. I tried the shoyu chicken my first trip to Yama's, and again a second time to see if it was just a bad day. But, dang, I was still unsatisfied with the shoyu chicken. Boo. :( The macaroni salad isn't as good either. But, eh, surely it works. When this place is busy, the parking sucks, and the line to order food, pick-up food & pay is just random! The cashier just gets your orders then tell you to wait on the side, when your order is ready, they tell you to come up, pay for your food and pick-up your food. They need a different system that works quicker, because this current one sure as hell doesn't. I hope I can come back again and this time with a better perspective on Yama's.

    (3)

  • Kayla K.

    They sell a haupia strawberry pie sort of thing here that is off the hook. It's shortbread on the bottom and then a haupia layer on top then a strawberry gelatin layer on top along with real strawberry slices inside the gelatin layer. It's grindz for real. They also have a haupia pumpkin pie too that is super grindz. Their food I'm not too sure about because we only ordered chicken long rice and squid luau from there but judging from those dishes I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't really like it. Their chicken long rice was good but nothing special. Definitely not memorable. Oh and their squid luau should be renamed to be just luau. No squid. There was like nothing in there. And it was sweeter than expected. It was a little strange. Yama's desserts should definitely be tried but don't worry about their plate lunches. It'll probably just be mediocre.

    (3)

  • Jay S.

    Just ate here the other night. Yama's is our go-to place for Hawaiian food. Generous portions and delicious food. Their poke is the best: fresh, tasty, and quality pieces of fish. Laulau and poi, lomi salmon, pateles, kalua, long rice, they have it all! The workers are always friendly and efficient. I don't know how they remember the orders as they seldom write things down and always get things right. They also sell great desserts - cookies, jello, haupia, and other brownie / cake / pie type items. Yum! The only downside is the parking lot, which is tiny, and if you come late they may run out of some of the more popular things.

    (5)

  • Jennie E.

    One time there and I am hooked. It isn't your regular mixed plate joint. This place has quality food! From the wide variety of poke, to the scrumptious kailua pig, to the lomi lomi - This place is GREAT! It also has a little store with sundries in it, which is helpful. A little disorganized at the counter, but the staff was friendly, patient and helpful. Parking is rough and locating this place is more like a person stumbles on it. So savory, tasty and more than what you would expect! There are a few chairs outside but this is a take out joint. I wish they had a small dine in area!

    (4)

  • Vicky K.

    I've been a customer since the 90's & hands down, BEST Lau Lau on the island. My favorite part of the Lau Lau are the leaves. You know when you bite into the Lau Lau & the leaves are dry, slightly bitter & stingy with flavor....it's because those Lau Lau are made from the old leaves. Yama's sort out the bad leaves, using the good leaves, which leaves you with tender, never dry, or acidic leaves that soaks in all the flavor from the pork & chicken. ONO! I also buy a few of the frozen Lau Lau for my freezer; My version of a Hawaiian TV dinner. The service is always friendly & helpful....Love that! Buy Local. It Matters!

    (5)

  • Heidi L.

    i've been annoying the yamas employees since i was a wee bitty toddler growing up there up until now! all i gotta say is : POKE HEAVEN :) with some amazing pork/chicken lau lau, and chicken long rice to top it off. -AKA- this is why most people in hawai'i are fat. 143 yamas.

    (5)

  • S K.

    Returned to Yama's as soon as I could upon my return to Honolulu. Not surprised that the fresh pokes, dried seafoods and warm kitchen preparations are all as delicious as my memories. Super friendly folks both staff (Camea) and customers.

    (5)

  • Emily C.

    Their kalua pig and cabbage is amazing! Poke is pretty good as well. Their prices are good.

    (5)

  • Ming-Jou C.

    Sh!t! No spam musubi! And I didn't get any last time because of my friend's greedy and sneaky dog. That's what I get for going at night. I had only been there for lunch, but had to cram in a visit since a trip to Oahu is not complete without a trip to Yama's. So I called in and their nice automated answering service said they closed at 7 pm. So we hauled our asses over there from North Shore and decided to get our poke on, rather than get huge plates. So we got 1/2 lb. lomi lomi salmon (my fave), 1/2 lb. ahi poke and 1/4 lb. maui style tako poke. Then we got a chicken and pork lau lau side. Eating this in your hotel room after having spent the day at the beach is just all kinds of AWESOME. I guess I'll have to make another trip for the spam musubi. Sigh.

    (5)

  • Daniel B.

    Damn I almost don't want to tell you how good this place is!! Don't want it to get out cuz itll get busier. Hands down THE BEST local plates on the island!! So many choices then they add daily specials!! Lau lau is incredible with any combo or by itself. Kahlua pork awesome. Not for health food nerds. Desserts great! Just had chocolaty chocolate haupia. Wow. Small parking lot but fast service. Staff is awesome and right on it. Just do it! Won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Kevin T.

    One of the rare places I've seen in HI with a parking lot. The customer service was great, along with the food, plus the prices were extremely fair especially compared to restaurants around Waikiki. There are 2 tables outside with a total of 4 seats for customers to dine outside (only).

    (4)

  • Jillian P.

    I've eaten here a couple of times and I must say, I really like their food! The poi is reallllllllyyyyyyyy good! :) Definitely will be going back for that! The first time there, I had Kalua Cabbage, mmhmm. They know how to do it right! And I think I would know, because Kalua is my ULTIMATE favorite food - as in - number ONE on my list of favorite grinds! Haha. It's really good. :) I don't know what else there is to say about that?! Haha. The second time around, I had their Lau Lau plate . . . Ehhh, it was OKAY. I think I may have been expecting a lot, just because the Kalua Cabbage was really good. But I mean, to me, it really wasn't anything special. I did however, like the fact that the lau lau was so big! The plate I got was only 6 bucks and the lau lau is pretty big, so that's always a plus. :) I also think it's RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME that all drinks, no matter what size are only 1.25. That's a pretty sweet deal. :) Thus far, I haven't eaten any of their sweets, but am planning on eating a few of them the next time I go there. :) Which amy be soon! Writing this review is making me crave their food! LOL. Overall, definitely would go here again! Over and over and over again! ;)

    (5)

  • Shannon K.

    SO good! If I could choose one place that gives me local Hawaiian food, this place would be it! After trying places like Ono, Rainbows, Poke Stop, Zippy's, Helena's (but I have to say that Helena's has the BEST short ribs EVER), Side Street Inn, and different cafes, Yama's is FTW. This is kind of like a fast food joint (not as "ghetto" as Rainbows, but not sit down like Ono). You go in and see shelves to your left that function like a makeshift grocery store that sells packaged cookies, nuts and dried fruit. In front of you, you'll see a long glass case and counter where a nice local will take your order and serve you the food in a to go container ASAP. Kalua Pork (5/5): The kalua pork is moist, tender and infused with flavor. Forget going to a luau because this place has GREAT kalua pork. The meat is succulent and falls apart when you use your fork to grab a bite. The juices are delicious and I can't stop eating it! Lau lau (4/5): DELICIOUS! Again, it's all about the flavor-- this lau lau is infused with flavor and the leaves are soft and complement the pork wonderfully. I think they also mix in chicken, so watch out for a bone or two. Lomi Salmon (3/5): Tastes the same as Ono. You can't really go wrong with tomatoes and salmon pieces.

    (5)

  • Derek R.

    hawaiian plate for $10 bucks?! no wayz! I got the hawaiian plate combo, kalua pig, laulau (pork & shicken), shoyu shicken, haupia. they gave so much! I wasn't able to finish it all. how's that one?

    (4)

  • Daniel L.

    Good Food, Terrible Service. Had to wait 10 minutes before I was called by a worker. With only 2 other people in the store. The guy was terrible. Manager wasn't helping either. Won't go back unless they improve their service.

    (1)

  • Brent S.

    Great place for Hawaiian food! The poke is always fresh. The lau lau is not too salty, but still very flavorful. Prices are very reasonable. Try the dried pepper poke for something a little different and delicious.

    (4)

  • Rick B.

    Good authentic Hawaiian food. Just had lunch here today and noticed that the portions were kinda small, but that's ok 'cause I'm trying to loose some weight anyway. ;)

    (5)

  • Monica S.

    This place gets 5 stars from me because everything I tried was great: kalua pig shoyu ahi poki tako poki lomi lomi somen salad - salad must be the only green vegetable on the island chocolate haupia The kalua pig portion was especially generous so my daughter and I shared a Hawaiian plate. I would have loved to have returned to Yamas during my short stay, but there were so many other restaurants to try. Next time!

    (5)

  • Yoonah L.

    Omg. Hands down BEST ahi pokes!!!!!!!!!! On top of that, super inexpensive! Very local place. Was difficult to find this place (especially using only public transportation). It's NOT in a touristy area. BUt TOTALLY worth the 1 hour of wandering around in the scorching heat.

    (5)

  • Manda S.

    I Love Yama's. With a capital L. :( But unfortunately, the last 2 times I've been here, I've gotten sick after I've eaten their food! The first time, I had the ahi poke patties which kinda reminded me of a crab cake. It was ono but I got sick. :( The second time, I got the furikake salmon which was interesting. It was fried just like the ahi patties but with the skin on? I liked it too but I still got sick. :( My BF is in love with Yama's kalua so perhaps the next time we come, I'll stick to that. :(

    (2)

  • Megan T.

    My order (feeds two): -#3 plate: pork&chicken lau lau, lomi salmon, poke of your choice, brown rice, and a small cup of haupia. -small side order of pork adobo -small side order of poi and if I'm feeling indulgent.. a slice of their sweet potato haupia dessert! This meal is so HUGE and fills both me and my boyfriend when we share it.. and the best part is that the total comes out to about $16! I don't know how they keep their prices so low for such good quality local food. Their poke is always super fresh and the limu they use is always crunchy. Their lau lau is hot and juicy... and their pork adobo is so vinegary and delicious! The ONLY thing that I wish is that their poi was thicker. I love day old sour-ish poi and theirs is usually really thinned out (which I completely understand because poi is so freakin' expensive). In conclusion, this is the best hawaiian food with the best service you will get in this area of town. I usually go around 3pm and there is NEVER a line.

    (4)

  • Minah L.

    my local friend took me here! I tried the kalua pig, pork lau lau and lomi. i really liked the lau lau!! not so much the kalua pig. (my friends went to a restaurant called Ono and they said the kalua pig there was better than this kalua pig-- granted they tried my leftovers..) but anyways! I don't like shredded meat.. that's maybe why i didn't like the kalua pig. the lau lau was really good though!!!!!!!! with the lomi!! :))

    (3)

  • R C.

    Poke-poke-poke!!! Yay. Can't go wrong with pokes at Yamas. They have been doing a great job for yearssss. It's da mom/pop place, can't go wrong. It's hard to find parking at times, especially, lunch hours. I have had many bentos and lunch plates here. My personal favs are : pasteles, poi bowl, ahi limu poke, #6 plate , dried aku, kimchee ahi poke... spicy ahi ( da hawaiian one is ono too), boiled peanuts, chocolate haupia and pipikaula. The prices aren't as high as other spots.I would say affordable even on a college budget. Sometimes, when I didn't have $ I would only buy like1/4lb of poke or small poi and rice. Hey, that was more than a meal to me, it was super onolicious. They have other snacks but I stick to hot -fresh-homemade food. Sometimes, it's so freakin busy, other times...dead quiet. Best poke in town , no doubt. It's non touristy and local, can't beat that. Plenty take outs throughout the day... so be on time!!! You have been warned.

    (4)

  • Awa S.

    Sooooo good! I had the spicy ahi poke and, wow, that was yummy. It's small place with a small parking lot but it was always busy. All locals so I knew this place was good. I went there twice on my visit and took some plate lunches on the plane. I will definitely be back the Yama's when I visit again. So ono!

    (5)

  • Joson P.

    I like Yama's. Today I had the panko encrusted Mahi for lunch. I usually don't care for deep-fried batter + tartar sauce, but it was good. The outside was crispy/crunchy and the fish inside was tender and moist. I like that you have the option of getting tossed salad instead of Mac salad. It was good, but I'm kinda wishing I ordered a laulau. They have a parking lot, but it's kinda small since they can get busy during lunchtime. Luckily, it wasnt too busy today. They also only have two tables to eat at out front. It's more of a pick up and go place. The staff is always friendly. So grab your lunch and eat it at the beach!

    (4)

  • Greg T.

    Thank you Yamas! You completed my Oahu wedding trip. Usually I eat Hawaiian food as much as possible on my Oahu trips. But, with a busy wedding prep schedule, we did not have a chance to hit up a Hawaiian place until the last night. Sadly, we discovered that many Hawaiian food places are CLOSED on Sundays! AHHH!! It was 4:00 and I found out that Yamas was open until 5:00 so we busted out the hotel and went to Yamas. The line was long...made sense since all the other places were closed. No poi on Sundays...bummer. But, the food was outstanding as usual. This was my 2nd time there. Lau lau was hearty and moist, kahlua pork was moist, smoky, and good. I tried their poke for the first time and was very impressed - soft and good. Next day, I got on the airplane and was happy that Yamas saved the trip.

    (5)

  • Sang Yup K.

    Best local hawaiian food on the island. Really good staff and always fresh catch.

    (5)

  • dannydan d.

    good food!

    (4)

  • Sean H.

    Something I noticed about this island is that Hawaiian food tends to be expensive. Why is Hawaiian food so expensive in Hawaii?? Anyway, this place has AFFORDABLE Hawaiian food! Plates run from $6-9. And it is not poor quality fast-food stuff. It's very delicious! I had a plate that had kalua pig and poke, and both were very delicious! I like that the main entree type things (kalua pig, laulau) can be paired with a small cup of poke. A lot of these places do not offer such a deal. At other places, you need to actually buy a separate order of poke, which gets really expensive, not to mention they often have "minimums," which sucks if you only want a little bit of poke on the side!

    (5)

  • Yumi N.

    1st time at Yama's was a pleasant surprise! They have so many other munchies & things other than poke & plate lunches. I had an entertainment coupon so I tried it a couple of days ago...order mochiko chicken & lau lau plate. The mochiko chicken wasn't bad but I've never had one that looked more like katsu...the lau lau was totally awesome!!! & I'm really picky about lau lau since my mom brings the best one I've had from Kauai but Yama's was just as good with alot of meat & lau lau leaf plus 2 big scoops of rice, mac salad, & lomi lomi salmon on the side. Omg I was so full, I couldn't eat for the rest of the day! :) Very happy with a great take out restaurant & I'm itching to try the rest of the menu!

    (4)

  • Min K.

    Originally, I have been craving hotpot so I decided to fulfill that need last night. Wrong idea. at 6:30, a mob formed by the front door and I knew I had no chance to wait in line to eat hotpot and shave ice. As a second option, I went to Yama's. Next door and open until 7, I was craving Hawaiian food. So I went in, and first and foremost, it was dead. No one there except me, this couple, and this really loud guy. He wouldn't shut up about sports. So as it became my turn to order, I had already grabbed the tapioca/chocolate pudding and wanted to order the #7, which is the Kalua pig, Laulau and Lomi salmon bento. As I am about to order, the male worker says hold on, and then goes in the back, gets the loud guys meal, talks to him, takes his change, and then accompanies to go in the back once more before returning back out. Now I know I'm not a brute when it comes to fast food service, but WTF. Isn't it common practice to take that persons order, take their money, and then give them their food? Who goes backwards? I waited in line for 8 minutes before he is done and calls me to place my order. I have to say Yama's has always exceeded my standards on service; and this night was NOT an exception. I'm giving it four stars for the food but had to dock two for the unbelievable service I received. Not even an apology was rendered for the wait, and call me prude, I felt one was needed for that long of a wait.

    (2)

  • Poly J.

    went to Yama's on a couple of days ago for the first time...Wow, the food was really good!!! I had the good 'ole local stuff; Kalua, Lomi,Lau lau, rice & Poi. I was a happy boy! service was fast & friendly. So what if there are only two little tables outside, there are plenty of parks here to go eat under a tree. I'll be going back often. Plus, I need to try their Poke & Opihi.! Oh, parking is a little rough, but be patient, someone is bound to take off in minutes. Aloha!

    (4)

  • Love A.

    Yama's fish market became my favorite place to go to whenever I'm craving for some hawaiian food. Actually I just came from this place yesterday when my bf and I couldn't decide where to eat for lunch. For the first time in so many months, I ate laulau. Man, I forgot how good their laulau is. I could eat the taro alone, even without the meat with it. I also just discovered that they sell chocolate covered gummy bears. I've never had these since I was working at a chocolate factory when I was in high school. The only negative part about this was that I think the gummy bears were priced too much. I mean for a small bag of gummy bears = $4. That's too much. But then, I thought about the fact that I never had them in years. I also just realize that they serve daily lunch special, which has reasonable prices and the food is a LOT! But i stick with the usual plates and haupia on the side. The fact that they're near UH...they'll definetely see my face there several more times.

    (4)

  • Misha T.

    Lordy this place rules, me and my friends all shared so we got to have a try of a variety of things so let me break it down by dish Ahi Limu Poke - good, the fish tastes super fresh and so does the seaweed, great texture, my only complaint is that the salt they use comes in really really big grains and it sorta crunches which is a bit too intense in my opinion. Ahi Wasabi Poke - awesome, thats all i can say, think spicy poke but with that special zing that only wasabi offers. Kalua Pork - some of the best i've had, it was super moist and not dry at all, i really sorta wished i ordered it for myself but i just mooched off people. Lau Lau - pretty bomb for the most part, they use chicken and pork and it rocks, got a little dry in the middle but still pretty rockin Masago Poke - good, way better than most i've had. I want to go back next week to get the tako poke If you want legit bomb food that will literally put a smile on your face do yourself a favor and hit up yama

    (5)

  • Reina B.

    I don't think I've sampled enough of their food to judge accurately. We got 2 kinds of poke and 2 different salads. The salads were okay... good for Hawaii I guess. The poke was all right, lacked "wow". I'm guessing their lunch plates are killer?

    (3)

  • Mayumi T.

    We came here because we had a coupon from the Entertainment Book. This place is a little hidden and somewhat hard to find. This is basically a Hawaiian food deli with most of the luau/lunch plate offerings as well as poke in the deli case. WHAT WE ORDERED: - Kalua Pork: Kalua pork is kind of like Hawaiian carnitas. This was the best kalua pork we've had. Juicy, smokey, tender, flavorful... everything you'd want in kalua pork meat. It's so good and popular that they have it stocked in the freezer in convenient packages. - Limu Ahi Poke: Poke is like Asian ceviche: diced raw fish marinated in sesame oil, rock salt, with crunchy limu seaweed. I think Ono Seafood ruined my taste for any other poke. This wasn't as fresh as I thought it would be, and was a little chewy. - Chicken Adobo: This was a little lacking in flavor, was a little dry and had a lot of bones. It really paled in comparison to the Kalua Pork. - Haupia: Coconut pudding/jello. This is how haupia should taste. Sweet, smooth, coconutty, creamy, and ohhhh sooo delicious. I wish they gave more with their meals. I would definitely go back for a big plate of the Kalua pork and haupia!

    (4)

  • Jenny C.

    My foodie friend took me to this hidden gem on Young street. From the outside, it looks very plain and mildly unattractive. There are only 2 tables outside for seating, so most people do take out, or a fast eat-and-run (after paying for the food, of course ;) Since I always had bad luck ordering food (don't ask, it's an Aries thing), I decided to follow his lead and ordered #3: #3 Lau Lau, Lomi, Poke & Haupia. So, Lau Lau was good, not as salty as those grocery store ones..thank God. I think it could have been a little bit more moist. I chosen spicy poke and it was fresh and good. But my friend's Wasabi Masago was soooo much better!! (should have followed his order exactly!). Lomi was ok, kind of like salsa mixed with salmon bits...not bad. last but not least.the Haupia..OMG...taste like heaven! It's got right amount of sweetness and consistency, I think I am going to buy a tub of it like ice cream..wait..maybe I should put it in freezer next time and see what it would taste like.MmmmMM I can't wait to go back and try everything else on their menu!

    (4)

  • Matthew N.

    I'm not a poke eater. Long story, and since I'm telling too many of those here on Yelp I'll just skip that and note that I can't really say anything about the great poke that Yama's evidently has. There are so few places that can boast about doing everything right, the kind of place you walk out of thinking to yourself, "Damn, that is going to be a five-star review on Yelp," that we sometimes forget that if a place gets many things right, or even does one thing really well, then that should also be celebrated. Granted, some places do over-reach, but I think we sometimes also over-expect. Like some folks, I go to Yama's for only one thing. Unlike most of those folks, my One Thing isn't poke. It's not the haupia, or the laulau, or the oodles of snacks that sit on a shelf like non sequitirs. It's kalua pig. Kalua pig in this town is a giant hit or miss. Most places serve it up in a wet, sloppy mess, overwhelmed more by onions or cabbage than with flavor. At most places, you get one part kalua pig for three parts of filler. Perhaps those places are trying to help us moderate, to serve us more vegetables than meat, and make kalua pig a kinder, gentler plate lunch. Those kinds of places have it wrong, and Yama's has it absolutely right. Their kalua pig plate lunch (#4, I think) has one thing and one thing only: succulent, tasty, kalua-y pig. It has the perfect moisture, tenderness, and flavor. Nothing else. Just pure, unadulterated kalua pig. One note: don't just grab your plate and go. They don't automatically provide your utensils, so you have to remember to go to the drink/napkins station and get your fork, knife, etc., lest you get home and have to rock it Filipino style and eat with your fingers. Which, as a part-Ilocano, I'd be well inclined to do I suppose. Parking is definitely a problem, and I've had more than one occasion when my hankering for Yama's kalua pig necessitated me double-parking my beloved car on that treacherous stretch of Young Street. But that always seems like a small price to pay for some oinky goodness.

    (4)

  • Sara S.

    This was our first experience with Hawaiian food and we were not disappointed. There is no place to sit inside (a couple of spots outside), but we took our bags of food and biked them home to eat. The lau lau (pork wrapped in a leaf thing) was so rich and savory. Will definitely get again. The kalua pork was tasty, but wasn't my favorite. The lomi salmon was a weird pico de gallo type thing, and I didn't eat but a bite of it. The macaroni salad and white rice were awesome sides, because they make you so full! Prices were very reasonable, which is always a good thing!

    (4)

  • Michelle B.

    I regularly get the kalua pig and cabbage bowl and their spicy ahi poke is delicious!! This is also one of the few plate lunch places left that sell poi ready to eat YUMMY!!!

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    Local Hawaiian foodstuff for sale. I had the dried peppered ahi which was spectacular! Also tried the poke which was great. Finally, I tried the wasabi ahi, which is not visually appealing, but I gave it try anyway. I plan on returning here another day to sample more different types of foodstuffs. Don't park in the neighboring parking lot. The doctor will yell at you for trespassing.

    (5)

  • Jenni D.

    There chocolate haupia is to die for, and the chicken long rice is super tasty! I would recommend going right before or after the lunch rush because parking can be difficult. In spite of the "rice shortage" this year, Yamas still gave me two big heaps in my plate lunch... so if you are in need of some good rice for the right price, go pick some up at Yamas.

    (5)

  • Janet K.

    Good Hawaiian food and decently priced. The laulau is super meaty with not too much fat. That can be good for the health conscious or bad because it can be on the drier side. I also like their haupia sweet potato dessert. The poke is hit or miss and tend to be on the sweeter side. Parking sucks big time especially when it's super busy.

    (4)

  • Caleb R.

    Meh, was okay. I got the kalua pig plate which was edible but not anywhere near as good as kalua pig I have had from other places - it was way liquidy, not smokey at all, all around boring. My roomy got the mochiko chickien, which was weird because it looked just like chicken katsu and didn't particularly taste like either. I may come here again since I dont have a car and i kind of go wherever friends drive me to, but if they ask me where I want to eat it wont be coming up as my recommendation

    (2)

  • Benjamin A.

    I go here 2-3 times a week. The garlic chicken was my favorite for a long time but I just tried the deep fried spicy ahi belly. Kalua pig is so good. Miso butterfish bento on Thur and Fri. I love their chocolate tapioca desert too. Their customer service is top notch as well. They are all super courteous and helpful.

    (5)

  • R K.

    so effin good. price is reasonable for the flavor. poke was amazing.

    (5)

  • Phung C.

    Yamas Fish Market is my top spot for Hawaiian food in town. My favorite is their Kalua Pig. It's never dry.....always moist, just the way I like it. Some chili peper water is perfect with it. I also like their Limu Poke. It has just the right about of sesame oil. I go back to them often as I find them very consistant. I will always get it fresh and not be disappointed. I also love the snacks and other delectables they have display in their refridgerated display.

    (4)

  • Stephanie L.

    Love this place and everyone has already said how amazing the food is. However, if you now live on the mainland like me, I not only get food for lunch that day, I also head to the freezer! Their frozen Kalua Pig is SO GOOD! It's in concentrated form is whenever you want to defrost, just put it in a pot with a cup of water. My friends love it when I bring this stuff back and make Kalua Pig and Cabbage or Kalua Pig Quesadillas!

    (5)

  • Brent K.

    One of my regular places I go to. Poke is good. Plate lunches are three to four stars. The secret is in the freg waiting for you! Desert, of all sorts, houpia. pudding,jello, salads are very good. And they have brown rice. Most of the time. They also have ready made food, and snacks. These guys are good! You go for the plate lunch. But leave with poke and desert. LOL I always save some for later.

    (5)

  • AsianRunningDiva S.

    I had Yamas cater my wedding celebration over the weekend and it was FANTASTIC! They delivered the food and rented catering supplies in the time designated, and had signs for each food item so that our guests would know what everything was. I ordered shoyu poke, hapa rice, steamed mixed veggies, kalua pig, chicken long rice, shoyu chicken, okinawan sweet potato, panko crusted mahi. It was such a hit! Brian worked with me via email so that I had the right amount for our guests...and we only have a little leftover! Everyone was very happy with the food and I was very happy that I didn't have to stress about it! I was able to rent their catering dishes so that it looked really professional (and they gave sternos to keep the food warm). I've had their laulaus there and they are amazing as well! THANK YOU BRIAN for your help!!! A $250 deposit is required to set the date. Definitely recommend for parties as well as for lunch! :)

    (5)

  • Evelyn T.

    i DON'T like POKE. I mean I love sashimi and seaweed salad, but for some reason poke makes me gag. Before coming here, I kept trying it at different places thinking I was just getting bad fish, but now I know. If I had the best, and the best isn't good enough, then it's just not my thing.The nice lady gave me samples of several flavors of poke that had available, and I realized it was just..me. Several locals came in to buy poke here before I could decide what I wanted, so I know it's quality stuff. I finally decided on poi and kalua pig. Kalua pig was full of flavor, moisture, and hearty. The portions are generous--pleasing my eyes-bigger-than-stomach complex as well as my inside-fat-lady complex. The poi was even better than the kalua pig! Super moist, super tender, super flavorful. The boyfriend watched me with a raised eyebrow as I dug in and ate a mouthful of the taro leaves. Haha. It's gooooooood. MMm now I have to find me some authentic hawaiian food in California...

    (4)

  • Gary F.

    Haven't been here in ages. I don't think I even came the new store, just the old one down the street. Anyways, good impression of a clean store front. Lots of choices and good looking Poke. I came here to pick up the Kalua Pig from a fund raiser. It wasn't too crowded but the way the store is shaped, there was a bit of a confusion in where to line up. I got 10 one pound containers. After getting to taste the Kalua pig, it was on the saltier side. But not too bad. Love the smokey flavor. Thumbs up! G

    (4)

  • Jan M.

    Great food, we had the pork/chicken laulau, kalua pig, squid luau and haupia. Everything was good. The haupia and squid luau are extra good here. Haupia is nice and creamy, texture is just right. Not too soft and not too firm. Squid luau is creamy and smooth. Doesn't have a bite to it like some places. Shoyu poke was yummy too. Parking a little small, but at least they have one. Will be back again!

    (4)

  • Bora K.

    Since we were in Hawaii, a plate lunch was definitely in order so we decided to reward ourselves after our hike up Diamond Head at the highly recommended Yamas Fish Market. Like a lot of other places in Oahu, Yamas' is take-out only so keep that in mind when deciding where to eat once you get your food. The parking is really cramped and the wait can be long... We were waiting for a car to pull out in the parking lot for quite awhile until we realized the people hadn't gotten in their car to leave, they had gotten in so they could sit in their car and eat. *shaking head* The menu is large and they have daily specials which many of looked interesting. We ended up getting the Hamburger Steak (w/ brown rice and macaroni salad) and a Kalua Pork and Lau Lau Chicken Combination Platter (w/ white rice and Lomi Lomi Salmon). We also threw in a Spam Musubi and a slice each of Sweet Potato and Chocolate Haupia Pie. We hauled our loot to the beach in front of our hotel and spread out our food onto our towels. If we looked ghetto with our take-out boxes amidst the other hotel guests with drinks in hand and eating food ordered from the beachfront bar, it didn't matter. The food was filling and delicious- the Kalua Pork was moist and smoky, the Lau Lau fall off the bone tender and melt in your mouth (I was a little disappointed they didn't have Lau Lau made with fish but the chicken was so good it didn't really matter once I tasted it). The Hamburger Steak was decent for what it was (maybe a tad too much breadcrumbs in the ground beef mix) but I'd have to say that white rice always trumps brown. Sweet Potato and Chocolate Haupia Pies were just the right amount of sweet and size to cap off our lunch. The most memorable Plate Lunch in Oahu for me.

    (4)

  • Sapna P.

    Probably the best poke in the island. It is a little hole in the wall but everything is so fresh. The kalua pig was very tender and delish. Must stop if visiting the island. There really isnt a place to sit down and eat but worth taking it to go.

    (5)

  • Jull Y.

    Authentic local Hawaiian can be found here. All the seafood are fresh, and cheap! Don't get stuck in touristy areas for Hawaiian food... drive out of the city a little and it'll be worth it. The lau lau they have here isn't too oily and fatty, I strongly urge you to try the poi here. The poi they have here super fresh. A must have! Will change your mind about them forever.

    (5)

  • marko i.

    Bought a couple pounds of poke here to satisfy my craving and introduce a friend to real Hawaiian poke. The food was great! I would definitely go again. Line was short and staff were friendly. I am glad the folks at Da Kitchen recommended an out of the way place.

    (4)

  • Jill Y.

    Okay, I'm a from the Big Island. What does this mean? I eat a lot of good home cooked Hawaiian and local food from all my aunties and uncles. I really feel like I know what good kalua and good lau lau is especially when we make imu for all the grad parties. Okay, here's the thing, Yama's is clean and convenient. They actually have a decent parking lot. Yama's looks nice inside. AND every time I go there, I want to like the food. I've tried a bunch of different things: kalua and poi, beef stew, chicken long rice, etc. But it's just OK. People's Cafe is so much better, Helena's is better and Ono's is a little better. Why go to Yama's then? Okay, honestly, I just keep thinking it's going to be better. I keep forgetting it's mediocre. I'm sorry Yama's...I want to date you, but I don't think it's going to work out...I won't be seeing you for a while.

    (3)

  • Kalei F.

    Yum!! If you want good, reasonably priced, authentic Hawaiian food, come here!!! Their kalua pig and cabbage is ok, a bit under cooked, but you just have to get their Hawaiian plate with the kalua pig, rice, mac salad, and chicken long rice!!!! Kanak Attack right after!! And they have a lot of local snacks and desserts, my ABSOLUTE favorite being their Sweet Potato Haupia Pie!!! You MUST try this!!! It's the best ever!! Even better than Ted's Bakery or Sunny's Bakery!!!

    (5)

  • Kevin A.

    DEAR YAMAS... We've only met a few times, but I think I'm in love with you. Specifically your Hawaiian plate lunches, your buttery melt-in-your-mouth lau lau, your perfectly salted kalua pig, and your amazing haupia. Will you consider moving to the mainland so we can live happily ever after? Please check yes or no. Yes ___ No ___ -Kevin A.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    Very good selection of well prepared Hawaiian foods. Yama's has several spectacular items, including a squid luau that is heavy on the coconut milk, which I like. The laulau is unique in that it uses chicken and pork (complete with chicken bone) and no butterfish. For someone with a fish allergy, this is great! The taste was average though. This trend continues through most of the menu, where many items could be great, but don't quite make it. What I come back often for though, is their selection of local snacks. Their pipikaula and smoked squid at about $10/lb is too good. I could eat that all day.

    (3)

  • Kawelo D.

    green sauce for the grilled ahi is the best thing i tried anywhere....

    (4)

  • Love S.

    I come in for 3 things, I end up leaving with 10. Person behind me in line, "You ready?" Me, "NO, you can go." Person behind the person that was behind me, "You ready?" Me, "NO, you can go too." EVERY FREAKING TIME!!! It takes me forever to make up my mind here. I go in thinking, "I'm gonna get a hawaiian plate". Then I see what others are ordering and I think, "Oh, that looks good too". So, I end up ordering some stew, some lau lau, poi, a musubi, some wasabi and masago poke, shoyu poke, tako poke, sweet potato haupia, and whatever other goodies I can get my hands on. They offer over 20 different variety's of poke (rotating) and lot's of different plate lunch choices. Be careful it tends to add up. Don't forget the sweets, selection varies and they sell out fast. 4.75 stars for selection of goodies

    (5)

  • Erika K.

    Loved it! Seriously good poke at very reasonable prices. They are so fresh and seasoned just right. Loved the Ahi Limu Poke. Only got to try a couple from the wide variety of poke that they offered; I guess I have to go back there for more! Spam musubi was yummy, too. Good rice to spam ratio. Note: Consider this place take out only. There are only a few seating facing the parking lot.

    (4)

  • Gina H.

    A must stop for lunch every time I vacation in Honolulu. I love everything they have especially the macaroni salad. Spicy poke was delicious as well. Fast service & great food!

    (5)

  • Dan F.

    I ate here awhile ago but can't remember much about it because it wasn't memorable. Anyway, I had the Kailua Pork, Chicken Long Rice, Haupia, Poi, and Lomi Salmon. I kind of spent more on that day with my order since I wanted to try one of everything. Nearly cost me $15 just for lunch. Overall the food didn't impress me compared to Ono's or Helena's. ATM, I can't described how it taste. But if the taste was memorable then I would've explained more. The food there reminds me of typical Hawaiian food, there's just nothing special about it. I would probably give this place 3 1/2 stars. But I wouldn't give it 4 stars because after what I ate, I don't feel like coming back to Yama's again.

    (3)

  • Maile F.

    If you got the munchies or not, Yama's is a great place to stop when you ono for just a little bit of everything. Hawaiian food, local plate lunch, sushi, poke, ogo, namasu, candy, crack seed, taro chips, and my favorite the haupia sweet potato dessert. Fast service and friendly staff. Check it out soon.

    (4)

  • Drew W.

    Great grinds. Faves: Poke, Lau Lau, Spicy Pasteles. I only wish they had place to sit and eat.

    (4)

  • Hannah K.

    Dropped by here recently, and ordered the spicy ahi poke with rice! OMGGGG. LIFE is PERFECT!

    (5)

  • LANCE C.

    At my suggestion, my partner and I stopped by Yama's on our way to the beach. We've never been to this place before and wanted to give it a try. Gosh, where have we been? Their Hawaiian plate lunches are surprisingly affordable. For just about $6, I got me a kalua pork cabbage, two "bumbucha" (gigantic) scoops of rice, and some mac salad (Zippy's would have charged me about a whopping $9--ouch to my wallet!). You can also order a fountain soda for just $1.25, and you can choose whatever size you want! Once we got to the beach, we dived right into our lunch. The kalua pork cabbage was "onolicious" (Hawaiian slang for "very yummy"). Yama's size portions are just right! Their mac salad tasted even better than Zippy's. For dessert, we each got a cup of the Chocolate Haupia Tapioca. Gosh, I was in dessert heaven! I consumed half of it at the beach and finished the rest at home. Yama's also offers a variety of fresh poke (Ahi, Tako, Kim Chee, etc). I plan to order some on my next visit! They even have a large selection of island snacks and cookie products. So if you want some cheap and ono "grindz" (good food), head on over to Yama's Fish Market in McCully--you won't regret it!

    (4)

  • Brad N.

    This place is way better and way cheaper than Ono Hawaiian Food. Also, I didn't get any MSG headaches from this place, compared to Ono. They have a vegetarian Lau Lau that's actually very good. You can also get a coupon from an Entertainment coupon book. Check them out!

    (4)

  • david l.

    I will never visit Honolulu without visiting Yama's. The food is great and WELL PRICED. and, hands down, everybody.... Yama's has got the best Poke you could ask for.

    (5)

  • Erika A.

    I only ever have one thing. Kalua pig and cabbage. YUM! Ok, I also have some of that yummy green sauce that comes with boyfy's fish plate. Me likey: )

    (4)

  • Nina B.

    [[ Drool ]] I loved this place!! Grab some food and enjoy it at the park. Be sure to watch your back because I'm sure if someone knew you're carrying food from here they just might attack :) Lau lau - Not dry and totally flavorful. I liked that they combo-ed the meat, score! Chicken Musubi - Another please! Other chicken musubis have been a little tasteless but this one wasn't. Too bad I had to share. Spam Musubi - It is what it is, simple and delicious. Rice had a good consistency... again, too bad I had to share. Ahi Wasabe Poke - Awesomeness! Ahi Limu Poke - Double Awesomeness!! Kailua Pork - Triple Awesomeness!!!

    (5)

  • Morose G.

    lau lau, poi, and lomi salmon. perfect. this is what it's all supposed to taste like. the lau lau's moist and a good portion. lomi salmon is just salty enough with lots of juice and tomatoes and onion and some salmon. and the poi. oh that poi. just trust. just trust. and with masu's gone, this is the place to go for your lau lau. what'd i say? just trust. onolicious :)

    (5)

  • papaya s.

    Believe it or not, we catered through Yama's Fish Market for our outdoor, beach side wedding. It was one of the tastiest local buffets I've ever tasted and we got rave reviews! We plated the food on some snazzy dishware, and you would have never guessed it originated in this little gem... or cost a mere $13 per person! Although Yama's won't impress you with their packaging -- it's plate lunch style, after all -- you won't be wanting more after eating your meal. Some of my favorites are the fresh poke, garlic ahi with ginger/onion pesto, kalua pig, and shoyu chicken. All the Hawaiian plates are awesome and the zebra haupia (chocolate/coconut) is to die for! I love this place! Best value for your money!

    (5)

  • Tracy M.

    What on earth did people do before Yelp (besides roll the dice or simply never set foot inside a non-chain restaurant)? Well, thanks to Yelp places like Yama's can be enjoyed by even a couple mopes from Phoenix!! Just to be clear (because I wasn't just by the reviews) this is not a fish market per se in that they only have prepared dishes. There are several choices along with take away stuff, and it was super busy this Tuesday afternoon-I'll assume it always is. The Kalua pig is outstanding, my buddy had the garlic chicken special and the flavor was really good. The prices simply can't be beat and a 50% off coupon from the Entertainment book makes it a downright steal. Minus one star for some mystery/gristly/fatty pieces in both dishes and they need to have a couple more tables set up outside.

    (4)

  • Vera W.

    Great Service. Great poke. Depending on the day the lau lau is a hit or miss but the poke is great and they carry a lot of local favorite snacks. Love their ahi patties.

    (4)

  • kate r.

    The man and I are going the cheap-o route for the wedding and decided not to go with "fancy" full-service caterers. Not to say that the food quality of Yama's is cheap at all, and compared to any caterer I've been in contact with--their prices are definitely cheap and budget friendly. We figure our guests will enjoy what the locals eat, and since we enjoyed trying the food in styrofoam containers--eating it on some "fine china" would be even better! Side note: While sampling the food outside we witnessed a worker transporting a super fresh tuna carcass to the back. I can appreciate the fact that Yama's is going to serve food that fresh.

    (5)

  • Aaron I.

    Okinawan sweet potato mochi cake, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only get once a week though. This review is to be continued due to the amount and quality of ono foods at Yama's.......

    (5)

  • Yuko K.

    This place is great. I had a combo plate that came with lau lau, lomi salmon, tako poke and haupia. Also added a side order of kalua pig, 2 spam musubi, a half pound of shoyu ahi poke. These plus drink were about $23 that were more than enough to feed 2 big eaters. We loved lau lau and kalua pig, both of which were succulent and just right amount of saltiness. I did not get too excited about lomi salmon. It's like pico de gallo with bits of salmon. Also, tako poke had a cucumber taste and I really hate cucumbers. The ahi poke was good but the one from Ono Seafood is much much better. I'd definitely come back for more lau lau and kalua pig.

    (4)

  • Mary P.

    My husband would have eaten here everyday if he could. We loved the laulau (chicken & pork), the haupia desserts, kalua pig, and although I didn't care for the poi (this taro porride-like thing that you can substitute for rice for 50 cents more), T liked it. Oh and the poke was very fresh and light.

    (5)

  • Leimalani F.

    Still good, but they changed their spicy limu poke recipe. Their spicy poke used to be the only variety of spicy poke made without mayo in town. And the limu is what held all the spice. Now it has korean hot sauce. SAD!

    (4)

  • Bongiorno M.

    Good Hawaiian food at a fast paced, no seating, reasonable price.

    (3)

  • Grace L.

    BEST haupia pies....sweet potato and strawberry jello are our favorites here. The haupia is so smooth and the tantalizing macadamia crust just massage your mouth and tummy...happily. Service with a smile, always, and we will be back for a full meal...but we keep getting distracted for just desserts. ;-)

    (5)

  • Ryan Y.

    This review is just for finding 1 lb poi bags. Was last minute and lazy to drive all around town to look for poi, found here to be the cheapest at $4.95/bg vs. Times and Foodland which was about a dollar more. By the way found that the recommended instructions of 1 cup water per bag makes the poi to thin.

    (4)

  • Leila K.

    I love the food here. It is a hidden little gem. BACKKKKK in the day, I used to come here often during my lunch breaks. The kalua pig and poke are divine. They used to make the poke on the spot!

    (5)

  • Antonio A.

    First time I came here was with my boy Paul Umholtz, and of course Cindy and Carrie, two super hot Japanese-Hawaiian sisters I met while on my trip to Hawaii. This is what we love to order here: Ahi Limu Poke! Lau Lau! Kalua Pork! Hawaiian fruit punch Hawaiian iced tea! There were soooo many other food items that looked super good, but I was too full to try them! I can't wait to come back to Hawaii so I can get down with some of the other grindz here! Had a Kanak Attack afterwards for sure! There isn't much in terms of seating here. I believe it was plastic chairs and seats from a van or something. But who cares, the food is soooooo f*cking good!!! Come to Yama's and see for yourself! Shoots!

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Fantastic poke, both the shoyu and spicy variety. Kalua pig with mac salad is always a great call as well. Helpful staff and great for picnics and road trips.

    (4)

  • Bao L.

    BEST Hawaiian Plate - #2 Chicken Lau Lau, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Macaroni Salad, Rice. MUST GET: Sweet potato Haupia and Key Lime Haupia - Delicious. Friendly atmosphere and freshest POKE!

    (5)

  • Melody C.

    Okay, the parking isn't the best, but this is a problem all over Honolulu. Whenever friends are in town THIS is the place I bring them to get Hawaiian food. After a subpar experience at another popular hawaiian joint, I realized just how amazing Yama's is. - WON'T BREAK THE BANK. Price wise it's definitely more affordable than other places. I can get a full lunch for under $15 if I'm being good! Also they have a great selection for whatever you're in the mood for. -EASY/CONVENIENT Everything is take out so you can grab and go. The Haupia and other goodies are in the sliding door fridges. -SIMPLY ONO I keep going to other places but I still crave Yama's! Their kalua pork is juicy, melt in your mouth good. If you're thinking about Yama's definitely give them a try, you won't be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Jill K.

    I wish I could make the emoticon here with the smiley face whose eyes are two hearts. They have the best. haupia. ever. Not to mention, their Hawaiian food is super ono. It's too too too heavy and doesn't leave you feeling sluggish. They also sell desserts, taro chips (my absolute favorite) and a variety of other snacks. You won't be disappointed here.

    (5)

  • Teri Y.

    Yama's is our go-to place in town for take-out Hawaiian food, especially when bringing family home from the airport and they have to have their "fix" as soon as their Mainland feet hit the rock :-) There are plenty of plate lunch selections to choose from, lots of fresh poke, and the desserts in the refrigerator case are 'ono. It's hard to pick just one. There's also boiled peanuts, ocean salad, some crack seed & candy items, and Hawaiian Chip Company bagged chips. The Yama's gang are all friendly and super efficient. Poor things must be pooped at the end of the day! The parking lot can be tight, but since Yama's is just a place to grab & go, a little patience will get you a spot pretty fast. Favorites: Poke (we like them all) Kalua pig plate with poi & lomi salmon Chicken long rice Boiled peanuts Haupia "Zebra" (Haupia & chocolate pudding) Haupia brownie Ocean salad

    (4)

  • Linda C.

    Delicious poke! The guy that was working was really patient with me and nice. This was the first place we came to grab lunch when we got off the plane. The guy helping me out let me sample a couple of the poke since I was having trouble deciding on which one to get. Loved the wasabi poke with masago. Half a pound with a scoop of rice was more than enough. Really fresh and great flavors, definitely better eating it with some rice, since the flavors were quite strong. Would have loved to try some of their other dishes, next time I guess! Still craving for more of that poke!

    (5)

  • Annette Y.

    I found this place on Yelp and came with a friend to try out Hawaiian food for the first time. It is quite close to Waikiki (short bus ride away on the express bus), close to the university. The staff here were incredible! They were very attentive to the many questions I had and even hand picked several poke samples for me to try. The prices were also quite reasonable and I loved that each combo allowed you to try several types of food. As a side note, there are no public restrooms here, or in any of the restaurants nearby (use the restrooms at the park)... Learnt that the hard way!

    (4)

  • Diane T.

    Came here after high recommendations from friends and family and was satisfied (for the most part) Yama's is a small joint serving fresh made poke and an assortment of plate lunches. I will have to say that everything was very fresh and tasted quite delicious. The staff was friendly and was patient giving recommendations. The BF and I ended up getting 3 kind to try, ahi limu poke, wasabi masago ahi poke, and onion tako poke. Now i'll give it to them. Everything was very fresh and the flavors complimented everything very well....but at $16.95/lb eep..that's a bit steep (well compared to mainland prices, that's actually pretty good). The tako was very tender and not chewy at all. They did their work here and it's worth trying. The ahi limu was very nicely flavored and simple. The wasabi was a bit heavy for my taste, but a good change. Overall, i would say if you're a poke fan, you should give this joint a try. However, after visiting several poke establishments during my stay on Oahu, some might say i'm crazy, but I find that the foodland poke was pretty much on par with the ones here..and for $11.98/lb, it's a steal. BUT supporting local mom and pop shops is good too. Maybe i'm not a great poke connoisseur, but my tastebuds were equally as happy with foodland's poke. But anyhow, I wish i got to try Young's..i would say, try yourself and see how you compare.

    (3)

  • Cara O.

    I came here today for some poke at lunchtime. I ordered the Spicy Ahi Poke and the Wasabi Spicy Ahi Poke, both at $16.95/lbs. Honestly, they were both pretty spicy, and I'm the kind of person who likes to order a medium at thai restaurants. All in all, the poke was good, but not great, definitely not $16.95/lbs great. The service was a bit confusing to me. Usually, the customer gives their order, pays for it, and then gets their food. But today, they received the order, prepared the food, and then paid for the order. Things were a bit disorganized though and a kinda slow. I'm willing to try them again on their plate lunches, as I hear they're really good. But today was a bit of a miss.

    (2)

  • Barry K.

    #7 Lau Lau,Kalua Pig, Lomi Salmon and Rice is da bomb. Lau Lau is decent size and good portion of Kalua. I like the Lomi Salmon here because is not as briney/fishy. It's more oniony. This is definitely one of a hidden gems of Hawaii.

    (5)

  • J L.

    Great laulau. They combine pork and chicken, a great flavor combination. Lomi salmon is better than Ono Hawaiian Foods in that the salmon is fresher. The Haupia at Yama's is also much better than Ono's. Ono tends to have too little coconut milk in their Haupia and also added gelatin- which really should not be in Haupia! Yama's has rich coconut flavor and firm yet silky texture.

    (5)

  • Gov. B.

    One old flip lady gave old poke!! I came back, and she said no refund! No trust time place no more!!

    (1)

  • Traci R.

    Lau lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, and of course their haupia desserts. It's no wonder Yama's is well-known and well-frequented. I used to come here more often when I was attending University of Hawaii at Manoa, but lately, I haven't really had the chance. However, the last 4-5 visits have been a slight disappointment. Maybe 6 months ago, I ordered the Kalua Pig Cabbage bowl figuring it's pretty cheap ($6.25) and I don't care for macaroni salad. I remember opening my bowl and it being filled with mostly rice and cabbage. I was so disappointed! The meat to cabbage ratio was way out of proportion! I felt like I paid $6.25 for a bowl of cabbage and rice. Then, maybe 3 months ago, we ordered food from Yama's again. This time I knew not to order the Kalua Pig Cabbage bowl from the last fiasco. So, I just ordered a side of Kalua Pig ($3.55 for sm) and a side of rice ($1.10). The portion size was way better than the bowl and cheaper too! It was slightly oily, but that's expected since it's Kalua Pig. And then last week....we ordered from Yama's yet again and I couldn't decide what I wanted. I decided to try the Kalua Chicken this time instead. So again, I ordered the side order Kalua Chicken ($3.55 for sm). I expected it to be a little oily...it's Kalua Chicken what else do you expect? But when I got it, I swear the chicken was sitting in oil. Now imagine you buy a tuna can like the one from the store. You know how you drain the water? Well, that's how this Kalua Chicken was! I could actually pour out oil from the bowl! The bowl isn't very large either...approximately a 4" diameter and 2" deep. If they had drained all the oil, I would have really liked it better! The chicken had a slight oil taste (probably cause it soaked it aalllllll up!) My co-worker ordered the Grilled Ahi since it looked like a healthier option and the photos on Yelp made it look like the portion size was pretty good. But he was saddened when he opened up his plate to see that the fish pieces were small and rather than having two filets, he had chunks! Plus side, my other co-worker ordered shoyu chicken with all rice. She got 3 scoops of rice and 2 large chicken thighs! She said she really liked it! The taste of the food isn't bad at all. Don't get me wrong. They make tasty dishes, but their portion sizes and even proportion of foods are sometimes whack. In the end, it really just depends on what you're ordering. Seems like non-Hawaiian food gives better portion sizes.

    (3)

  • R M.

    Great haupia/brownie. The food here is inexpensive and very good. We ordered Laulaus and poi. (I like day-old poi and discovered it was the most popular type in the 19th century). Yama's does have day-old poi. We also tried the apple crumble and the traditional ice cakes--inexpensive and good! Laulaus have either pork or pork & a chicken thigh. Serving size is generous and the meat is very tender.

    (3)

  • Bobby N.

    For under $10, you get your choice of meat, rice, salad, mac salad/dessert. I ordered the mochiko chkn w/ choc haupia. Minus one star for the disappointingly soggy mochiko chnk. Dessert here is cheap. I'd go back just for that. Service is fast and courteous, and market is clean. 2 outdoor seating tables. Overall, the best bang for you buck with the most variety in food. They are a tiny market that also serves meats and fish by the lb. I will be back for their poke.

    (4)

  • Mark O.

    Yama's gets a lot of good reviews and having gone there to try it out, I can see why. They have a huge variety of almost everything local that you could want from a plate lunch/fish market. There are at least 15+ varieties of poke, two full refrigerators of desserts, shelves of snacks and a good amount of options for plate lunches, including some fairly interesting specials. I ordered more than I probably should have, but I wanted to try a lot of things that they offered. Some were good and some were rather lackluster, but hey, they can't all be winners. Spicy tuna patties - This was on the special board and it sounded delicious, so this was the plate lunch I went with. While interesting, altogether it wasn't that great. It could have used more flavor and more spiciness because it ended up tasting like a patty of canned tuna. Adobo - Not great, I didn't have more than a bite or two. Wasabi Masago poke - I usually like wasabi masago, but this just wasn't doing it for me. It was too creamy and had too much limu. Dried pepper poke - This was really good and I would definitely get it again. It was nice and soft for the most part, which is where a lot of dried poke fails. It had a lot of pepper and really good flavor. Desserts - Almost all of the desserts in the refrigerator have a layer of haupia on top of whatever flavor is underneath. I tried a slice of the pumpkin crunch and it was above average, but only because of the added haupia. Overall, Yama's offers up a lot of options and can likely hit the spot for whatever local food you are looking for. I don't think it did anything exceptionally well, but that much variety is always welcomed.

    (3)

  • Jake F.

    The plates are always made fresh. The poke and laulau is my favorite! When mom allows me to I get a side order of opihi! Yummy!

    (5)

  • Lori L.

    Yama's Fish Market is a mini-mart sized market that's got it going on. Poke, Hawaiian and Local Food, Ready to Eat and Take Away, plus Desserts and Snacks too. I recommend the #3. The Chicken and Pork Lau Lau is super meaty; Lomi Salmon is fresh and well seasoned; Your Choice of Poke, creamy, rich Haupia; and for just a dollar more, sub fresh Poi for the Rice. This will satisfy your Hawaiian Food craving until the next time Aunty gets the steamer going. I've also tried the Kalua Pig, which was pretty good; the Squid Luau which was light and didn't have a strong coconut milk flavor; and the Mac Salad which is just a plain mayo-macaroni salad. Come for a plate lunch and buy additional goodies to take home. This is take out only, they just have 4 outdoor seats, find a place to sit, and enjoy!

    (3)

  • Tiffany P.

    I wanted to go here everyday I was in Waikiki. Poke galore and it was all fresh and flavored well. I ended up getting several extra small portions of different poke, your best bet for trying everything. The chicken long rice... sooo good. It's really the simplest thing ever to make, but I really enjoyed it at Yama's. We also had the Kahlua pig plate, which was hearty and tasty. Make sure to get some haupia before leaving. The strawberry and pumpkin haupia desserts were awesome! They also have a great cookie selection, which I suckered myself into while waiting for my food. Love this place!

    (5)

  • Kristi A.

    Like Ahi Assasin's this place has fresh poke, no preservatives. I got to sample the Shoyu Poke and it was so flavorful, the poke was moist and very tasty, but I usually like my poke with a crunchy texture and choose the Limu Poke instead. They don't have a traditional poke bowl meaning giving you a bowl of rice with poke on top. Instead, they pack the poke and rice separately. The ahi poke at Yama's Fish Market was priced at $16 per a pound. For the poke bowl, you had the option of getting 1/4 , 1/2, and 1 pound of poke. The cashier was nice and helpful that she told me I could get 1/3 of a pound of poke since I wasn't ready to spend $9 on a poke bowl. The poke bowl also comes with the option of getting 1 scoop of rice for $1. 20 or so or 2 scoops of price for $2. I opted to get 1 scoop of rice since I was on a budget and in total, my poke bowl costed $7.10. I was surprised at how filling 1/3 of a pound of poke and one scoop of rice would make me, but I left feeling pretty satisfied. The poke had a lot of limu in to give it the extra crunch. The ahi was fresh and tasty, but next time, I would probably get the Shoyu poke since the flavor was so much stronger. Yama's Fish Market also sells a variety of sushi, musubis, desserts, mochi, and other snacks too for a reasonable price. I'll probably come back for to try more of their food and desserts.

    (4)

  • Stephanie S.

    First stop off the plane and my boyfriend's first Hawaiian food from Hawai'i. We got lau lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, haupia, shoyu poke, and limu poke. Everything was broke da mouth ono. The fish practically melted in our mouths it was so fresh. The bf hasn't been a fan of mainland lomi but really liked the one from here. His favorite was the kalua pig and mine was the lau lau. Cooked to perfection.

    (5)

  • Shu Jin S.

    Oh lau lau, you are oh so delicious here. The ahi limu poke was also fantastic, along with the long rice. You must not skip the haupia either, especially the haupia pastry that had okinawa sweet potato. A must-go every time I visit Oahu.

    (4)

  • Johnny B. J.

    I'm not sure bout des guys, they are ok, but my wife loves des guys! So I'll give dem another shot I got the "Panko Mahi"....I would have got da Stuff Mahi, but it has mussels, And I no can do mussels....allergic I hope it's crunchy & Moist....we shall see

    (2)

  • Tuan N.

    Great Hawaiian plate lunches, fresh poke, and bomb side dishes. I had the #6 which came with kalua pig, lomi salmon, haupia, and side of poke. Also got a musubi and side of tako poke. Kalua pig was not too salty and had an awesome smoky flavor. Lomi salmon was fresh and not too mushy or salty. The spicy ahi poke was not the normal creamy spicy mayo but was soy based with a touch of sweetness. The haupia had a lot of flavor and sweet. It wasn't too jellowy or bland like a lot of other places. Pretty much a staple any time I come home. They have a bunch of other stuff that looks good as well and under $8.

    (5)

  • Carrie G.

    Ok, so I think it's a documented fact that really good Hawaiian food is surprisingly hard to find. I really wanted Helena's but they are closed for 3 whole weeks for the holidays!! And Young's fish market closes early; Highway Inn annoys me for some reason and their food isn't that great except for their squid luau, and Kapahulu spots are a long drive and annoying to find parking... So alas- Yama's won the debate for me. I like that they have a decent amount of parking spots ~8. I like that they take credit cards. I like that their poke and dessert selection is extensive. I like that they also have cookies and other random dry goods like chocolate covered gummi bears. I got the kalua pig, lomi salmon, lau Lau and rice plate. And a poi bowl, a spicy pastele, a pound of squid luau and a haupia key lime pie. Hey- I like leftovers and it was a long way to drive- don't judge me!! Everything was good, but nothing was phenom. The kalua pig was a good blend of smoky/ salty, not too fatty. The lau lau was meaty but I love the taro leaves the best, and they wasn't much. The lomi salmon was good but the portion is tiny! And I don't like how an $11 plate doesn't come with haupia standard (there's 1-2 that do but I didn't want the entree combo)... The pastele was big and tasty though not spicy IMO. The squid luau was like green water- not flavorful, super liquidy and the squid chunks were microscopic. Made me sad that I got a whole pound of it :( the poi tasted day old already. Haven't tried the dessert yet bc I ate all of the above ;) Yama's lost a star because they nickle and dime- chili water and onions and haupia cost extra. The squid luau was a giant fail. The other star lost was the lack of mouthgasm their food gave me- I tried a lot of things and nothing was spectacular. Oh, and the service was slow- I was told to wait for the onions and 5 minutes later I was told I couldn't get them bc they couldn't weigh them out to give me a price. Like there's a massive charge for a few slices of onion? In summary, I'm going to suck it up and abide by Helena's tight time window to get what I think is the best Hawaiian food. They're open 4 days a week and close early, but driving halfway across town for what I got at Yama's wasn't worth the time or gas.

    (3)

  • Kelly K.

    Yama's has average Hawaiian food. In comparison to places like Young's fish market, Ono's, Helena's or Alicia's, the food is just ok. If this were LA, I'd be in heaven. But given the plethora of Hawaiian food options on Oahu, I probably won't be back. Here's what we had: 1) #27 ahi cakes plate lunch 3/5 2) #12 kalua cabbage plate lunch 3/5 3) opihi 4/5 4) tako limu onion poke 3/5 5) squid luau 3/5 Strangely the small parking lot in front was packed. But only 4 people were eating outside and inside was completely empty. Given the limited amount of seating provided (2 tables for 2) it's better to take out rather than eat there.

    (3)

  • Daniel Q.

    1 of my favorite spots for Hawaiian plate. I usually get the #3 combo. I get it w/a side order of rice. Yest I got it and was really looking forward to eating the poi but never got it. I was already home and was really disappointed. Hawaiian food isn't the same without poi! I called them and they said they'll call me back. Never got a call back.

    (3)

  • Tracey A.

    This is a true tale of how a Hawaiian fish market somewhere off the beaten path gets into my yelp bookmarks: 1. I read a review where someone writes about poke. 2. In that review the author mentions the poke. It is not, he states, amongst his favorites. 3. I stalk that reviewer and demand he give me the names of the poke places that he favors. 4. He obliges, I bookmark. Given my 487 (and growing) yelp bookmarks, it's unlikely that I'll ever try this poke joint and even less likely that I'll have any idea who told me about it in the first place. But then, coming off an arduous 4-hour hike and 2 hours before dinner reservations elsewhere, I'm in search of sustenance. And, lo and behold, not far from my current location is Yama's and I'm all over that like a cheap suit (whatever that means). There's a lot of poke in this place and, judging from my sampling, it's as good as it gets. All priced at $15.95/lb., I ordered up 1/2 pound each of Spicy Ahi Poke and Ahi Shoyu Poke. They also sell Ahi Limu Poke, Spicy Wasabi Ahi Masago Poke, and more. This place rains poke and, lord, let it rain. There's a crowded little parking lot out front and two small metal tables with chairs. Inside, there's no place to eat. Don't let any of this stop you. If you like poke, this is your place. It is truly wonderful. They do sell other things but forgive me, I didn't pay one lick of attention to what those other things were. And mahalo to whoever it was out there in the yelposphere who steered me to this place.

    (5)

  • Ariana M.

    I love Yama's Hawaiian food~! Yama's is located on Young Street. It has a bright blue exterior so it stands out from all the houses. Unfortunately they only have 4 stalls for parking, so your better off just looking for street parking. There isn't any "dine-in" seats. They only offer two small tables outside. So this is a great place to come to just grab and go. They have a great selection of combination plates so you can try a little of everything! I'm definitely a fan of the Kalua Pig and Lau Lau here!

    (4)

  • Noji N.

    Good prices on ono Hawaiian food. I always gotta have it when I come back home! Lau Lau is served hot and it is very moist and flavorful! Poke is fresh and there is a lot of variety. Love this place. Oh, and if you still have room, there's a great selection of dessert. My fav is the sweet potato haupia pie. Mmmmmmm

    (5)

  • Jonathan D.

    Take out place, they only two small outdoor tables with two chairs each. But the food is good. We tried several of the different kinds of Poke, the Kalua Pig, and the Lau Lau. It was all tasty and the Poke was at least on par with the other places we tried on the island. Fountain drinks were very cheap, a much better deal that buying bottled anything.

    (4)

  • Shantel V.

    So I came back to try the grilled ahi.... It came with a huge slab of ahi, 2 scoops rice and they let me sub the Mac salad for Haupia. They did have other options to sub the Mac salad with, but really... you have to get the Haupia. Every. Time. To me what made the dish was that little green sauce that came with the ahi... It was a gingery sauce that when put together with the fish it was just a match made in heaven. And this time I got the brownie Haupia... sooo good. Next time I think I'll try the pastele.

    (4)

  • Ha N.

    The wasabi ahi poke (there's a 'masago' thrown in that phrase somewhere) is insane. It melts in your mouth in a way that I attribute to the fresh quality of the ahi. The sauce is bomb -- it's the right amount of spicy and mayo-y without being too mayo-y. I've tried the other types they offered, but this is my favorite and I cannot to bothered to comment on the others. I will forego getting poke in general if they were out of this one. I usually get the poke and a side of brown rice to create my own poke bowl. For some reason, they don't have that on the menu so you kind of have to order it ala carte style. You end up with two styrofoam cups, but you can access the utensil counter and dump the fish over the rice in that way. It doesn't make for much efficiency, but such is life. I was also craving baked chicken the other day because of high school cafeteria withdrawals, and luckily, they had it on their specials. SO AWESOME. But besides all this, I don't know why people insist on bringing their friends from out of town here. I would never do such a thing. The parking lot isn't the best situation. There are two tables outside that seat two. Ordering sucks too. You have to stand in line to order, and then pay after the order comes out. It's just a complicated place to be. I remember standing in front of the poke glass counter for fifteen minutes as the girl standing behind it was ignoring me and the line was growing longer and longer by the minute. That was the worst day of my life. I don't see why they can't have a separate line for poke. I also don't see why there is no sign telling people to get in line to order... This is probably the only poke place that does this. But besides my complaints and cries, the wasabi ahi poke is definitely worth the worst day of your life.

    (4)

  • Eric Robert R.

    Yama's should be called "Yummy's!" Suuuuriously! Yama's Fish Market has some pretty yummy grinds! And not only fish! I mean is there anything in here that tastes junk?! Nope! Yama's has all the comfort foods out there to feed my picky local appetite... POKE! KALUA PIG! FRESH FISH! LAU LAU! TERI-BEEF! BEEF STEW! CURRY BEEF! LOMI LOMI! MAC SALAD! POI! 2-SCOOPS RICE! MOCHIKO CHICKEN! GARLIC CHICKEN! MUSUBIS! & Guess what? Desserts too... HAUPIA CHOCOLATE! HAUPIA PUMPKIN! HAUPIA GREENTEA! SWEET POTATO & HAUPIA! RED JELLO IN CRUST! CUSTARD! TROPICAL ICE CAKE! GUMMY STUFF! CHINESE PRETZELS! CHOCOLATE COVERED STUFF! HAWAIIAN POTATO CHIPS! There's more too in this small, yet very efficient, take-out spot located on the backstreet of Young! Not really a hole-in-the-wall since you can't miss the brightly colored "baby-blue" exterior! Inside it consists of a cold seafood display case, and a couple of fridges with homemade desserts, shelves line the walls with to-go foods like bentos and musubis - the bentos are awesome here and so very fresh with a "best if eaten before time"- good sign! It's a place I highly recommend for some super fresh poke (fish always "day of") and killer bentos and yummy (and cheap) homemade desserts! A place surfers, locals, sistas, and the occasional curious cat will drop in. Not the biggest or very known, but everything you need to satisfy that cravings! YAMA'S FISH MARKET! WINNING! OVERALL GRADE: 4.5-STARS! (Super solid and cheap too!) LIVE ALOHA... YELP REVIEW #337

    (5)

  • Mel T.

    If you wan't some local food, this place seems to be pretty popular. I've been here twice and I remember it being better the first time. This time around, I tried the lau lau, kalua pig, and the fried ahi belly. All of the plates come with rice, along with macaroni salad and/or lomi lomi salmon, and an extra heaping of salt. The only dish that wasn't overly salty was the fried ahi belly. Can't go wrong with anything fried, right? They also have a pretty good selection of poke. I had the wasabi masago ahi. I think it tasted fresh? Sometimes, I can't tell, when it's smothered in sauce. But it tasted pretty good to me! I highly recommend getting a container (or two) of the haupia for dessert. Tip - no seating so you're going to have to get these to go!

    (3)

  • Koren N.

    Very very unorganized, the person who takes your should finish putting together your order, too many people around and not paying attention

    (1)

  • Kanani K.

    Very friendly staff, fresh food, and food vibes. Fast service and turnover of food. They are conveniently located in Honolulu, and have all the great, favorites - Hawaiian and local kine foods. Gotta go!

    (5)

  • Sara S.

    These are a few of my favorite things: Ahi masago poke ($16.95/lb), lau lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, chicken long rice, squid luau, beef stew. I LOVE THEIR CHICKEN LONG RICE. You can phone order ahead of time for easy pick up, and for the holidays, plenty people were picking up bulk orders of lau lau ($4.25/lau lau). I usually get the #3 which has lau lau, lomi salmon, poke, mac salad, haupia for just under $11. They also have daily specials that you should check out. I'm intrigued by the "ahi poke patty." Their adobo also looks pretty bombskies but I haven't tried it yet. I love that they are also a "market" so they have some to-go ready made bentos and salads, and a wide variety of candy, cookies, and other sweets. The mini bentos are a steal. Just the other day I popped in and saw an ahi wasabi masago bento for $5.95! Good deal. I can also vouch for their haupia and apple crumble. I was eyeing the sweet potato mochi... They have guri guri too! I can literally list more and more, but you should just check it out for yourself. Prices are reasonable for good quality local food. I do have some not so favs here: I used to get the kalua pig and cabbage bowl but it was much too dry the last time I got it. Also, not a big fan of the mochiko chicken because it is more like chicken katsu in my opinion. Was craving katsu curry so I got mochiko chicken with curry lol. However, I would stick to their other stuff. But other than that, I love Yama's and it's one of my go-to take out places for local food. The only junk thing is parking. Their lot is incredibly small and has about 5 stalls. You can park along the opposite wall if you're in a pinch. Just cross your fingers and hope that the odds will be in your favor. The earlier you go, the better.

    (5)

  • Alyssa P.

    This place was just eh. The poke was really good and fresh. The garlic chicken was really good, crispy, and juicy on the inside. Everything else was just ok. There was barely any meat in my kalua pork, 90% cabbage so I was able to eat my whole plate and then some (which should be challenging with how big their plates are). No real seating so plan to take your food to-go

    (3)

  • Cin T.

    Yama's Fish Market is my go-to place for good lau lau and kalua pork. Known for their friendly service and most importantly, mouth-watering local favorites that's consistently delicious every time. While you're there, don't forget to check out their delicious fresh pokes and 8oz sashimi platters, made fresh daily! Their fresh poke varieties are sold at market price, but I've never had anything that costs more than $16/lb. Their grab&go bentos (helloooo garlic chicken!!) and musubis are also winners. LAU LAU (Avail in pork w/chicken and chicken-only, both $4.25 each): Traditionally lau lau is a Hawaiian dish consisting of fatty cubes of pork and butterfish, wrapped and steamed in taro leaves. - What separates Yama's from others is that they don't put butterfish in theirs. Great news for people like me who don't care for that fishy taste in my lau lau (I'm a fan of butterfish, just not in my lau laus). - The piece of pork shoulder is seasoned just right with a nice amount of salt. Not a lot of fat, but yet quite tender that it just falls apart as you press into it ever so slightly with your fork. - They even put a whole chicken thigh inside too! Trust me when i say that one lau lau is mighty satisfying for a plate lunch. KALUA PORK (1 lb for $6.60): - Delicious pork shoulder seasoned with Hawaiian salt and cooked for hours until fork tender. Yama's well-seasoned kalua pork is spot on with just the right amount of smokiness. This mouthwatering favorite is so juicy and tender, perfect w/just a bowl of rice. Menu items #1 (lau lau plate, $6.45) and #7 (lau Lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, $10.35) are the 2 most popular plates amongst my friends and family. - Each plate comes with 2 scoops of rice and a scoop of mac salad. Since I like to order an extra pound of kalua pork on the side, I tend to go with just the #1 plate consisting of one lau lau, with rice and mac salad. yelp.com/biz_photos/yama… MOCHIKO CHICKEN (item #16, $7.25): - Served w/2 scoops rice, 1 scoop mac salad (or choice of tossed salad w/dressing). - Mochiko Chicken is a local favorite in most restaurants and home, looks just like chicken karaage but with a sweeter taste due to the mochiko flour (Japanese rice flour used in mochi). - Yama's version is quite different, they cover theirs in panko crumbs prior to frying, so it looks exactly like chicken katsu. I was quite surprised when I opened up my take-out at home. I had to call them because I thought they mistakenly gave me another customer's chicken katsu. The server assured me and said that it's indeed my mochiko chicken (they don't serve chicken katsu). It tasted like sweet chicken katsu.....I'll stick to my lau lau and kalua pork, lol. They're open daily, 9am - 7pm Monday thru Saturday and 9am - 5pm on Sunday. Parking is limited, there's about 4-5 stalls in their small lot. It's a small obstacle to pay for good eats!

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    I wish they would make all pork Lau Lau! I don't like the chic/pork combo lau Lau! I usually get one of the daily specials as its good!

    (2)

  • Irene G.

    Food here is alright. Parking is limited. 2 outside tables to dine out. Desserts are on point. Note to self. Stick with what you usually order. Yesterday I tried their special: panko crusted mahi and I didn't think I would get mahi nuggets. Sister got the #17 baked seafood and there was no flavor (even after pouring shoyu on it). Needed a little more mayo, salt, and pepper.

    (3)

  • Nelson Q.

    Wow, just the name Yama's bring back tons of memories! Yup, Yama's was my first place of employment WAAAAY back when they had a location in the Westgate Shopping Center in Waipahu. That shop had your typical fish market atmosphere(like Tanioka's and Tamashiro's)...Crack seed jars, Icee machine, and a huge tank out front full of Kahuku Prawns. Ahhhh...those were the days! These days at the present shop, The crack seed jars and the Icee machine has been replaced locally made cookies and chips, and the HUGE variety of Yama's homemade sweets! The Prawn tank has been replaced by an aquarium up front. The workers up front are very nice and helpful, and I also noticed they were rockin' cool Yama's T-Shirts and caps(and we got to work in surfah shorts, tank top and rubbah slippahs!?!? WOW LAU LAU!?!? Nah, j/k...:P One thing that has never changed though, is Yama's killer selection of poke and plate lunches! We were on our way to KILL IT at Sweet Home Cafe, so we decided to peek in for some pupu action and also to see if my poke sensei Brian Yamamoto was there, and sure enough, he was! We "talked story" for a bit, and that was so cool, because its been 25 YEARS since we last saw each other! I decided to get the two first items Brian taught me, his Ahi Shoyu, and Ahi Limu Poke, and let me tell you, you can't get fresher than this! How do I know? I even remember dragging in the containers FULL of fish straight from the fish auction! To this day, Yama's will not serve frozen fish. They rather not sell any fish at all for that matter, and that's good to know, because its all about quality, not quantity. Yama's Fish Market will forever have a special place in my heart....ALOHA!!!

    (5)

  • Mel T.

    I really really wanted to like this place, especially because the guy helping us was so friendly. Too bad the food wasn't as good as the service. We ordered a fourth pound each of the spicy ahi poke and the garlic pepper dried ahi poke as well as a beef stew plate. The spicy ahi was fine, but didn't come close to my fav Ono's Seafood. I wasn't much a fan of the dried poke. I don't know what I had expected, but super tough jerky was not it. I should have asked for a sample beforehand or requested an even smaller portion, since we ended up tossing the bulk of it. I could not eat more than two pieces in a sitting, my jaw tired from chewing so much. The beef stew wasn't much better. The flavoring was reminiscent of Chef Boyardee, and I am not a Chef Boyardee fan. Despite Yama's aloha spirit, it certainly won't be on my list for my next Oahu visit.

    (2)

  • kristine f.

    Yama's is on my mental post-it board that I love to frequent and tend to crave at random times a day. Folks there are very nice and attentive. I always call my order in ahead of time. I typically get Lau Lau and I love their Kalua Pig (juicy shredded pieces of pork) and Garlic Chicken. The Pipikaula is also another tasty dish that I cannot go without. I also appreciate how all the sides i.e. Lomi Salmon, Mac Salad are all in separate containers. I really hate when things get all slopped together. They have quite an array of cookies along the wall that are all very ono. Chocolate chip and Cornflake are my two favorites. The Haupia is creamy and oh so good. Mmmm...I may just need to stop there for a huge take out order. :)

    (5)

  • Mark M.

    I came here during a long layover on my way to New Zealand on the recommendation of a friend who was giving me a ride. I lived in Honolulu for nearly five years and had never gotten around to going here. On first glance it seemed like any other plate lunch place; all the usual Hawaiian staples are there, plus some baked goods and assorted Asian foods. One of my favorite things from plate lunch places is garlic chicken, and I will usually get that if nothing else jumps out at me, and it seemed like a good idea here. I was also intrigued by the kalua chicken... never heard of that before. My wife got kalua pig and cabbage and some poke. The food was good, but not incredible. Good garlic chicken, but I wasn't overly impressed by the kalua chicken: interesting concept, but kalua pork is better and the chicken is still super greasy so it's no healthier. My wife's food was about the same, good but not earth shattering. The problem was the service. I lived in Hawaii long enough to know that no one is ever in a rush, so I don't expect prompt service anywhere, least of all a plate lunch place. But this was ridiculous. At least 5 people who came in after us got their food before we did. Also, our friends, who ordered right before us, got their food quickly. Neither of us ordered anything that should have taken especially long to make, so I was at a loss to explain why it took so much extra time. Factoring in the fact that I hadn't eaten during my 6 hour flight, I was not happy. The fact that I have learned to expect slower service from these kind of places is the only reason I gave 3 stars instead of two. Whenever I come back to visit Hawaii, this is not a place I will be returning to.

    (3)

  • Tracey M.

    VERY disappointed with the new hours. It's 5:30 and wanted to pick up dinner but they now close at 5:00pm??!!

    (1)

  • Al D.

    Good little Hawaiian food shop on Young Street. I like the smoked fish here and the tofu patties. I also get the poi, lomi salmon, haupia/okinawan sweet potato or haupia/chocolate or haupia/pumpkin desserts, and like their boiled peanuts.

    (4)

  • J G.

    I am a fan, especially on Wednesday when their special is gandule rice! BBBUUUTTTT, their new Monday to Friday hours of 9am - 5pm is not convenient :(

    (3)

  • Ryan G.

    They have a lot of variety. As far as Hawaiian food I'm going to say that they are just ok. The squid luau is bland and barely put enough squid in it to enjoy. The lau lau is good. The Kailua pig is a little on the salty side but it goes hand in hand with poi. I enjoy their spicy ahi masago poke and their lomi salmon is pretty good. The grilled ahi players also another favorite because they give a ginger green onion sauce on the side. They are fast and convenient, but if your looking for the best Hawaiian food I would venture to other places.

    (3)

  • Asako I.

    If you want to eat local this is definitely the place to be. We were staying along Waikiki resort area and this place was probably 8-10 minute drive. We were there just around closing time so their full selection was not available. I would recommend for you to be there well before closing time. The staff is very friendly and helpful if you don't know terms like 'poke' 'lau lau' and 'kalua'. We made a great selection for dinner!

    (5)

  • Jia-Wen H.

    I honestly wish they had Yama's in Los Angeles. I made it a point to try this place while on my vacation in Hawaii. I ordered the 22oz chicken long rice, taro coconut pie, and pumpkin coconut pie. The chicken long rice was available in different sized containers. The 22 oz was the biggest size. It really didn't look that big. But I was so wrong. Chicken long rice is very heavy. It tastes like chicken noodle soup with mung bean noodles. But I was not able to finish it. The pies also look very small, but it was perfect in every way! You can actually taste the taro and pumpkin. You can tell they use fresh ingredients. This was, in my opinion, the best place we ate at during our entire trip. That's saying a lot since we ate about 5 meals a day. We tried a good number of 4 to 5 star restaurants on the island.

    (5)

  • Jackie C.

    Looks like a fish market but it doesn't smell like one! Girls working here are super nice. First time trying poke so we got both common flavors! Lomi, shoyu and one special one cause I just wanted to try it, wasabi!! Shoyu is very normal tasting. Its fresh and delicious but it didnt wow me. Lomi was kind weird. Maybe I didn't like the texture of the green grass looking thing. Its crunchy and possibly seasoned with sea salt?! Cause I had some crystalized crunchiness as well...not my cup of tea.. But boy was I surprised about the wasabi flavor!! Its a little spicy and the hint of wasabi comes after! SUPER YUM! Its i dont usually like rice but I seem to like all Hawaiian rice. A little mushy, sticky, and chewy! Its perfect plain or with pretty much anything! This is the first time having laulau! For a fish market/ togo place like this, I think its amazing! Cannot wait to try the real deal!!

    (4)

  • Alfred Y.

    It's hot, and muggy in Hawaii. There isn't a sidewalk on Young street, so you're busy diving around parked cars to avoid the ones passing you on the street. The store sits in its own parking lot near a corner, and you pass by a smell that reminds you that this is a seafood-based market. There isn't a lot of space to sit down and eat, as this place is geared toward take-out orders as many locals appeared to be doing. They have everything Hawaiin in here, but we mainly came for the poke since we love chewing on raw, dead, fresh fish. Everything tasted fresh and we ordered a 1/4 lb of most of the poke variations. There were a few notable ones, but I've had much better seasoned poke variations from other areas, including the mainland. Some were over seasoned (too salty) and others under-seasoned (not salty enough). Would I come here again? Maybe, to try their other non-poke hawaiin food to do this place better justice!

    (3)

  • Erika E.

    best place for poke! all of the employees are happy and helpful love this little hidden gem and love that they offer you samples before you buy a lb or 1/2 lb of poke. I wanted the shoyu poke and it was almost gone, so they made me a fresh batch

    (5)

  • Josh K.

    Decided to try Yama's for the first time while visiting back on Oahu and I was impressed. The lau lau was on par with other great Hawaiian food places on the island. The squid luau was also very good. The staff was friendly and parking was adequate. My particular favorite was the brownie haupia. Will come back again once back in Oahu.

    (5)

  • Courtney Y.

    Yama's has been my family's go-to place for Hawaiian food for a while now, and it has been for good reason! First things first, a helpful hint, do NOT go on a completely empty stomach, the refrigerated section will lure you in with all the completely delicious desserts it has: haupia brownies, chocolate and haupia tapioca (my favorite), or if you want to go with the classic haupia (that's fine too!), and so much more. But, if you do, no one will blame or judge you for loading up on these delectable goodies. But, usually, we go to Yama's for the food. I always ALWAYS get the Kalua Pig plate (complete with mac salad, and two heft scoops of rice)! So GOOD. Also, on a completely random side note, we still had a menu from them from '09, that's THREE years ago, yet all the prices are all relatively the same, nothing has gone up too much, just 30 cents more, really minor. Yama's is really there just to serve good food, and not to overcharge. I can respect that.

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    I love poke so when I decided to try this place I was expecting to be thrown into a proverbial oasis of delicious poke. I ordered the spicy ahi poke while my boyfriend ordered the hawaiian style poke. I did not like my spicy ahi poke!! It was waaaay too salty and was in desperate need for rice which I hadnt ordered with the poke. I mean damn I couldn't eat it because they just pour the salt on there. The hawaiian poke was actually really really yummy. It was not salty at all and literally tasted like the ocean. I would give the hawaiian poke a 5 out of 5. Being a salt junkie, my boyfriend loved the over salted spicy ahi poke but disliked the mildly salted hawaiian poke. I also tried their chocolate chip cookies which were some of the best cookies I have ever had. They were thin and crispy with just the right amount of chocolate chips...man strange coming from a poke place. So in conclusion if you love spicy ahi poke dont come here and order it unless you have a large order of rice to eat it with. The hawaiian poke is to die for though :)

    (4)

  • Darcy K.

    Wow, Laulau! Good deal on a hawaiian plate lunch...about $9 for a big laulau, two big scoops rice, lomi salmon (not lomi tomato), POKE :), and haupia. The laulau was my favorite part, big size and lots of juicy meat...droooool... Hawaiian style poke was pretty good too. My bf had beef stew with laulau plate...He even said it was the best meal he had in a while, so that makes me even happier!

    (4)

  • Claudia M.

    Haven't been to Yamas in awhile. Tonight I had the combo plate, kalua pig, chic/pork laulau, lomi salmon and rice. The kalua pig and chicken/pork laulau was salty, salty, salty. The rice was super dry...maybe it was old. The chicken long rice was okay. I was very disappointed as Yama's was one of our favorite places to go for hawaiian food.

    (1)

  • David K.

    Had the Kalua pig, poi, and lomi salmon, they were all good, but nothing spectacular - I could have made pig just as good at home and bought the salmon @ costco. For the cost I thought the portions would have been a bit bigger, but on this particular day it was enough for me. I'll say that under a buck more for the poi is worth it, if you have the acquired taste for it....

    (3)

  • Cindy W.

    This place is great if you want to try a variety of delicious Hawaiian food! The only negative I would give is that it's more of a to-go place so it's lacking in seating (there's only two tables w/ two chairs in the parking lot for eating). I love how they have a wide selection of combination plates that allows you to try a little bit of everything. Did I also mention that they have a HUGE poke selection?? I was able to sample their dried poke which was really interesting. Kind of tasted like beef jerky but with poke. I got the combo plate #6 which included kalua pork, poke, lomi lomi, and haupia. Everything was delicious! If I'm ever back in the area, I definitely will hit up this place again and try their other plates :)

    (5)

  • James B.

    While Yama's has good local food, to me it's not the best, but I still enjoy eating there from time to time. Most of the staff is friendly and courteous, though there are a couple of them that are down right rude. And that is a shame, and also the reason I'm giving only 3 stars. I would consider this a type of local mom & pop business and what usually makes them stand out is the food and the great local service, the type that makes you feel like family, my last visit didn't give the warm fuzzy I usually get. I'm not going to use names, because trust me, you know who you are, and you really need to drop the attitude, it's bad for business. I like to support local businesses, but when the staff are rude and not courteous, that makes me long to drive the extra 25 minutes and hit up Taniokas, where they're always in a hustle and bustle, but they always have smiles on their faces and they're polite. With many local businesses going under, the management at Yama's really need to take a look at their staff and let the ones that are bad for business go. While I know the most recent visit won't be my last, I may consider other options if I encounter the same rude individual, which I should at least point out was female.

    (3)

  • Shayna K.

    Yama's catered my baby's first bday luau. They were reliable, servers were pleasant, portions were fine. Hawaiian food was mediocre. I can't complain, because I chose the menu, but it was just so average. Nothing to rave about. We ordered the Poke. Maki sushi platters, Chicken long rice, kalua pig, lomi salmon, poi, chinese chicken salad, squid luau, haupia, rice What I did appreciate was that the guy in charge of their catering, Brian, was extremely efficient, experienced (he knew how much of what dishes to order, that the chicken long rice goes fast if there are a lot of kids, that you only order poi for 75% of the guests, down to the grams per person), and pleasant. My complaints with him, however, were that: 1) it seemed he only wanted to correspond via email, never on the phone, 2) he seemed in a rush to get my menu done than really willing to work it through with me (which would have been easier on the phone). They gave me a good deal, though, and totally pulled through with great service and prompt arrival of the food. That's the main thing at these luaus anyway, right?

    (3)

  • Sarah T.

    This is where my local friend took me for dinner to give me a literal taste of real Honolulu. I was not disappointed. Excellent poke of all kinds and the lau lau plate with a side of Kalua pig (# 7) is a sure way to go to bed happy and sated. Seating is very limited so take it to go.

    (5)

  • Mark F.

    Been coming here for years since they opened, I'm usually in honolulu 1-2 times a year because of family here, but the place i always come to is Yama's for poke. Wish they had a sit down area, but it's convenient. I pretty much like everything here, lunch plates, poke and all the snacks they have on the shelves there, including deserts, purple potato deserts and haupia. They usually have boiled peanuts too. To me, the poke here is always fresh and seasoned perfectly, always a hit with family get togethers. My usual is a lau lau plate lunch, or kalua, but everything is good here. Ahi poke, tako poke, man really good and fresh, the chicken long rice and the adobo are good as well. And they usually have some musubi on the counter and poi on the shelves, so it's a one stop food feast for the family. Great place!

    (5)

  • Beth I.

    I've been here dozens of times, usually for poke or a Hawaiian plate, but I've recently been fixated on the salads. You wouldn't think to go to Yama's for a salad, but the Fresh Ahi salad or Somen salad are REALLY good. It's pretty busy during lunch especially if you are trying to order a plate so if you want to grab something and go a salad and some cone sushi really hits the spot. I also grab some of their really yummy cookies or desserts to fatten the guys up at the office. They love the biscotti and "Everything" cookies. They'll make you the favorite coworker! So try something new at Yama's....you'll be pleasantly surprised.

    (4)

  • Santi T.

    Attention: Lau Lau Lovers!! Come and rejoice here at Yama's Fish Market! For people who haven't had the pleasure of having fresh lau lau, you must come here as I do when I crave this stuff. Traditionally, it's a local dish where you take pieces of meat or fish (pork, chicken or butterfish or a combination), sprinkle some Hawaiian salt, wrap it up in luau leafs (which is edible) and wrapped again in the ti leafs. They steam it to perfection where you can eat it without a knife. yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… Recently, I ordered the pork/chicken lau lau ($3.65) which had the right amount of salt in each bite. There was a chicken thigh bone inside which added more flavor. I also picked up my frozen 1lb kalua pig ($6.25) which I purchased at a fundraising event. I plan to use this to make quesadillas or fried rice at home. I've also ordered the combination plates and other entrees including: chicken long rice, poke, kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon, okinawa sweet potato and the beef stew (my fave too!). Everything is top notch and not overly priced. Besides the local foods, they offer tons of homemade desserts and snacks. There are two tables outside but majority of the folks have their meals to go. They accept credit cards too! The next time you're craving unbeatable, onolicious (local for delicious) lau lau in Hawaii, try this place out. Sorry to my mainland friends who are salivating right now!

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    A-OK lau lau (a bit bland), A-OK haupia, A-OK and not-so-fresh poke All at a not-so-A-OK price ($10 for a plate lunch?) What may have been a more satisfying lunch: Keoki's lau lau, Homemade haupia, Poke from Foodland (Fresh, 99% of the time) All at probably a better price than what you get at Yama's. Bleh. =/

    (3)

  • Jennifer K.

    I only recently found out about Yama's Fish Market but I've already been there a few times and tried a number of things there. Poke: I tried the spicy ahi and shoyu pokes. I liked both but the spicy ahi is a little too spicy for me. It's not the type that has mayonnaise in it so that's good (less fattening) and has a bit of a sweetness to it. But it was very spicy. The shoyu poke was also really good. The poke is a little pricey (about $16 a pound) but it's fresh fish, not frozen. (or so they claim) Kalua Pig with Cabbage bowl is worth the price and has a lot of pig in it. The kalua pig is salty but not too salty and the cabbage is moist and very flavorful. I got this and added a side of lomi lomi salmon which was delicious. Often times I'll buy lomi lomi salmon and you can barely taste the salmon. This was not the case. They are generous with their salmon bits and it was overall super ono. Oh and yes! HAUPIA! They have one of the best haupia I've ever had. The texture was perfect and you can really taste the coconut in it.I also tried the brownie with haupia on top. I don't think it was the best combination ever but the brownie had bits of chocolate chip in it and was delicious on its own. xD They have a small parking lot in front of the store but I've never problem with parking. As for service, it's iffy at times. If you go when they're busy then you might have to wait a while. There's no one stationed at the cashier so if you come in and grab something from the shelf or fridge you still have to wait until someone finishes with another customer. It would be better if they had someone to ring people up on quick purchases. But they are really nice. I bought a ohana sized haupia once and asked how long it could last without refrigeration because I wasn't going straight home. And she offered me an ice-pack. 31 Yelps Challenge: #7/31

    (5)

  • Angelie D.

    I am disappointed that I can't write the reviews of my fellow yelpers. We decided to go here for their poke, since they have a huge variety of it. This lady that was also buying something told us that we couldn't go wrong with anything. That was re-assuring at the beginning. Since we are not experts at poke, we decided to not go TOO out of the box and stick with what we knew "might" be good. We ordered the regular ahi poke with seaweed and sea salt. I couldn't get over the sea salt flavor. It was way to big but it did provide a different texture. For me it was waaaay too salty. I couldn't even taste the ahi because my tongue was numb from the salt. Then we ordered the spicy ahi poke. This dish was too spicy that again, I could not taste the fish. Now we did taste the ahi poke in Chinatown which I enjoyed. It was simply marinated in a soy sauce dish and I was able to taste the fish. Overall, it wasn't that bad.. but I wasn't impressed. It sucked the Ono Seafood was closed!! UGH!

    (3)

  • Jarrett W.

    Small little place... Great tasty laulau with combination pork and chicken. I believe this is one of the few places that dont have fish in their laulau's. I had the #3, laulau, lomi salmon, poke, and haupia. I love my poke.... unfortunately they only give a very small portion of poke with their laulau plate... 2 bites and it was gone!

    (3)

  • Samantha L.

    My friends and I had just finished a long hike and boy, were we hungry. It was a Sunday afternoon, around 3:00 p.m. and unfortunately, the first two restaurants we tried to visit were closed! Thankfully, Yama's fish market was open. We walked in and took a look at their menu, they have some pictures on menu (on the wall), which makes it easy. They have quite a variety of items, but my boyfriend and I decided on the garlic chicken and some poke. The pricing is pretty standard and our total was about $11.50. The garlic chicken was fried chicken nuggets with a honey-garlic sauce. Pretty tasty and it came out freshly made. There was nothing particularly special about this dish, but it was good still. They give you two scoops of rice and your choice of a side too. We chose the spicy pickled cucumbers. They were not really spicy at all, but still tasty. The poke came in a rather small container. I could tell that the fish was very fresh; it had an excellent texture to it. The flavor of the marinade was not my favorite though. It was alright, just not as good as some of the other poke I have had. Overall, the hot food comes out hot and the cold foods are nice and cool. Everything was fresh and pretty tasty. As for the customer service, it's a very casual place (like most of Hawaii) and the staff is friendly. A couple people in our group had to use the restroom and the staff member let them walk through their kitchen area to use it. Notes: -They have two small tables in front. -They also sell cookies, snacks, and desserts (pre-made and on the shelves).

    (3)

  • Kong T.

    POKE!!! Nuff said. Some of the best poke I've had. The quality of the fish to the different kinds of poke they made is just to die for. Wish I could just eat the stuff everyday. However, they just don't have fish, their plate lunches were really good as well. One big favorite we the mochico chicken, it wasn't over bearing and sweet. It had the right amount of batter and taste. Lastly, LAU LAU!!! Holy crap, this is a can't miss. If you come here, make sure you order some.

    (5)

  • Sajili B.

    I'm on a Poke kick right now. Sunday was Fresh Catch, now Yama's Fish Market. OOOOOOOoooooooHHHHHHHhhhh. I think I don't need to write anymore, right? I got the 1/4 lb each of Grilled Ika and the Spicy Wasabi Masago Ahi with two scoops of rice. I should have got three. There isn't much seating, just two tables and 4 chairs total. I shared with another local who was on his lunch break. You gotta get here early or just go in-and-out because parking is bad (~5 spots total). This was Kyle H. recommendation, so shout out to 'Bossy'!!! I will return again and again.

    (5)

  • Justin W.

    On a mission to find good eats close to where I live. We had some friends suggest it, so we decided to try it. Finding this place was great. Don't let the size of this place fool you though. It's a small place that serves fresh local food with big taste. The prices are great as well. If you are in the mood for some laulau, kalua pork, rice, mac salad & long rice then this is the place. It was all delicious. They do have some awesome looking desserts as well. If the desserts taste as good as they look then they are probably awesome. With extremely friendly staff this place is definitely worth checking out! I honestly think this is the best place to get local style food in Honolulu. They have a very small parking lot which probably has about 5 stalls and this place gets extremely busy.

    (5)

  • Masato I.

    Great local-style market for good-priced plate lunches and poke. Limited parking, but if you wait a few minutes, someone's sure to leave. I like the Poke here. The limu (seaweed) Poke was good, and the Spicy Poke is super-spicy and good with a big bowl of rice. They have some shelf items too from around the islands, but they're mostly pricey, so I haven't strayed from the main menu much. Good food, good price, good people, bad parking...

    (5)

  • Lezli L.

    Omg the mushroom chicken is so good! Love this place. It has all kinds of goodies besides fresh poke & Hawaiian food: ice cake, cookies, haupia, local snacks. Workers are professional & friendly too. I wish I lived close by, but I'll definitely come back when I'm in the neighborhood!

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    Sometimes being "good" can be boring. By good I mean I've been eating my leftover pasta for lunch all this week and enough is enough! Luckily, Yamas is literally door steps from the office and doubly lucky for me today that I am second in line to place my order! Sure, the display of mini bentos are tempting but I'm here for plate #1 (Lau Lau, Mac Salad with Poi substitute, extra 50 cents). Is the poi substitute worth it? Of course! Nothing better than dunking that fall-off-the-bone chicken morsel into a poi bath! Ten minutes later, all that remains is a very clean chicken bone in its blanket of ti leaf. Sometimes being good has its rewards!

    (4)

  • Maru The Cat T.

    Best Hawaiian Food on the island. I love the grilled ahi and kalua pig. The only thing is that this place can get extremely busy and don't try calling in around lunch time or else the phone will keep ringing. Oh, and that special green sauce that comes with the grilled ahi is delicious! UPDATE: Boy I really love this place. I wish they were open on Sundays. I'm now a huge fan of their poke selection, the Hawaiian Poke, Shoyu, Wasabi Masago, and more. Also, the Pulehu Tako is sooooo good. You gotta try it!

    (5)

  • Chad Y.

    When someone asks me where should they go get Hawaiian food, only one place comes to mind, Yama's Fish Market. They offer some of the best Hawaiian food in Honolulu consistently and some of the best value. As a primarily grab and go spot, its location is convenient for the townies and did I mention they offer some of the best Hawaiian food in town? The menu features all of the Hawaiian foods you would come to expect, but let's be honest. You come here for three things. 1) Laualau, 2) Kalua Pig, and 3) Haupia. Theirs are among my favorites in town and at pretty reasonable prices. The laulau is cooked well and the meat is moist and tender while the kalua pig is perfectly salty with the smoky flavors. The haupia is rich in flavors and perfectly gelatinous (is that a word?). Don't get me wrong, the other menu items are stellar as well, but this is what I come here for. Service is good, although can be a bit slow at times. They are very personable and very helpful. They certainly know their menu and can help you out if you happen to be torn between choices...however, I pose the question "Why not get both?" Parking can fill up, however there generally is a steady turnover of stalls so just pull over on the side of the street and wait.

    (4)

  • Katrina V.

    If you're looking for inexpensive local kine Hawaiian food this is the place to go. Parking is fairly limited as there's only about 10 spots so if you're lucky you can snag one right in front of the store. Otherwise you will need to look elsewhere parking. It was pretty busy with people when I went to try out items on the menu. The notables were: Chicken Lau Lau Haupia dessert They have a good selection of poke but for the price it's ok. It still doesn't top my all time Poke spot, Ono Seafood on Kapahulu, but if you are doing one stop shopping for a quick meal or picnic this would be convenient. Aside from the menu they also have some store front items and other packaged food. Service was decent considering the crowd of people they were servicing. This place is kind of tucked away and hidden as surrounded by other stores. There's only one table to eat at so it's really only good for take out.

    (4)

  • Mari S.

    Whether its kalua pig, lau lau, chicken long rice or poke you're craving, Yama's has all the ono Hawaiian dishes! This place really knows how to prepare Hawaiian food. If you don't leave Yama's satisfied, something is seriously wrong... and it's probably not them.. =P My two favorite items on the menu are the kalua pig and lau lau. So fresh and soooo delicious. My BF loves the poke here, specifically the shoyu. Its pretty tasty too, though I prefer limu poke. =) Yama's also carries a bunch of cookies and snacks which are locally made in Hawaii. Good as a gift to someone on the mainland. The only downside is that there are only two small tables outside. Basically, this is a take-out place but I do think having a few more tables would be convenient (under shade would be helpful, too). I once was soo hungry that I ate immediately after purchasing my food on the table outside. Yama's is awesome. Great for the locals or the visitor who wants to try Hawaiian food for the first time.

    (4)

  • Kasey T.

    Best bang for your buck! Healthy portions and good quality. I love their lomi salmon and the mushy white rice. $18 got us two plates, two haupias, and any size drink. The only thing that tripped me out was their system. The cashiers were pulling orders and ringing up customers individually. It was almost if as they were working on commission. People kept saying to move while we tried to figure out what was going on. They need a ticket system or something, but other than that they got my vote.

    (5)

  • Lindbergh B.

    This place by far, has the best laulau on the island. I tried the #2, which comes with laulau, 2 scoops rice and lomi salmon. The laulau is a mix of chicken and pork which was so moist, melt in your mouth, fresh- a true taste of aloha. This will guarantee satisfy your appetite, leave you with a "Kanak attack", and make any "haole" feel local, even for a bit. Con: Parking is limited, only 2 tables are available, and when its busy, its busy, so expect to wait. (However, this should not stop you, its worth it)

    (5)

  • Chloe M.

    Is everyone's taste buds broken? I love Hawaiian food, but not Yama's. Their laulau just doesn't have that yummy taste it's supposed to have, as well as the rest of the food. I would've given them three stars, if it weren't for the awful service I got from one of the cashiers. To this day it makes me upset thinking about it. My bf and I went to Yama's to get a laulau plate lunch and beef stew. We ordered our food and the cashier tells us that there is no more beef stew left. That's cool with me, except another cashier tells me "Oh no, we have one more order left!" My cashier then tells her to shush and says I'll need to order something else. I'm confused by this, but we patiently wait for our food, and while we were waiting I overheard the other cashier telling my cashier that she's going to need to sell the beef stew she was saving to take home. WTF! Aside from their tako poke being tough, and their laulau being dry and gross, I refuse to return because of the awful service. Eff you Yama's cashier, your beef stew probably sucks anyways.

    (2)

  • Jess O.

    Good variety of poke and lunch plates to go. This is a good place to get some take out for a picnic.

    (3)

  • Twinkle S.

    Yama's is hit and miss. Sometimes the food is terrific, other times its terrible. If I'm running errands in Moili'ili, I will stop in for a quick lunch. I really like their squid luau and beef stew. The laulau is sometimes delicious, sometimes. bland and dry. My kids like the cornflake cookies.

    (3)

  • Melody W.

    I admit, when I first tried Hawaiian Food (yah yah I'm a visiting Mainlander, get over it), I was not used to the taste in some of the cooking. I went to a different restaurant in my first visit (I wish I remembered the name), and it was a letdown for me (cooking was not that good there). When my family friend brought me here (she's a Local), I was willing to give Hawaiian food a try again. Since this place had some more seafood dishes than most Hawaiian restaurants I checked out, I got the Ahi Poke Patties with Poi. It was not bad at all. The haupia and sweet potato dessert were delicious! I definitely enjoyed the lomi salmon as well. Parking lot is available, but very limited and small. There is outdoor seating, but not a lot of them. Definitely a take-out only place. I'm surprised at some of the low ratings, but I guess I don't have enough Hawaiian food (and/or live on Oahu long enough) to know what's considered good and what isn't in that category. Otherwise, I like Yama's Fish Market & I'll definitely come back again in my next visit!

    (4)

  • Pete S.

    They are known for their Poke here and though it was fresh and tasty, it wasn't mind blowing. I do have to say their lau lau here rocks! I got the #3, lau lau, lomi, poke, haupia with 2 scoops of rice. static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ($9.30) We also got the #18 grilled ahi over rice static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ($7.45). Like I said, the lau lau wasn't salty, tasted fresh, though I wish it could've been bigger. The ahi was spectacular! It has this green chili oil sauce that came with it and tasted something like out of the nice restaurants. My biggest gripe here was the rice tasted awful! What kind of asian place serves hard rice? This place almost earned 5 stars but the rice was so bad that I didn't even finish half. The wait here can be quite long and I did notice a lot of people from the surrounding businesses come here to get food to go. There really isn't a place you can eat at here. I also got a container of Pineapple to go ($1.10). This is really healthy fast food eating at its best here, just make sure they don't overcook the rice.

    (4)

  • Hana J.

    My first taste of Hawaii after we got off the plane, and it was interesting, although I don't know if I'd come back if I were a regular. Each bite was incredibly salty, although the salsa salmon thing was delish. Definitely only a to-go only place; my family huddled around one of the small tables trying to shoe away birds and bugs alike.

    (3)

  • Severin G.

    Off the beaten path, and well worth the trip! The freshest fish, excellent creations, and reasonable prices. Bring cash! Don't expect a table - save the one table outside, it's a take-away place. Go for the fresh ahi poke and the lau lau!! You won't be disappointed!!

    (5)

  • John M.

    Pros - Order the laulau (chicken wrapped in taro leaf). - Poke is fresh and tastes good. - Staff is friendly. Cons - Limited parking. Remember, they only have like two small tables with two seats each so this is a place where you pick the food up and go home.

    (5)

  • Michael P.

    Three stars for their laulau. Probably the best laulau I've had on the island because it is made fresh. This is their standout dish. The laulau comes tied in string and some extra banana leaves to hold the moist interior. The grilled ahi was mediocre and only saved by their ginger sauce. The haupia was delicious as they used real coconut milk instead of just the water-based jello haupia. There is no seating in this place and the location is a bit tucked away. Good spot to grab and go.

    (3)

  • Denise K.

    Standard local grindz, but nothing to write home about. The lau lau could be a bit more salty, the lomi salmon didn't have enough salmon and the squid luau lacked the squid.

    (2)

  • Alison W.

    This was recommended to us for good lau lau since we went to another well-known place and they had run out. This is def more of a market with a takeout counter and literally 2 tables outside. You're better taking it to go and enjoying it elsewhere. I ended up getting the combo with rice, lomi salmon, kalua pork and lau lau. And since I love long rice, I decided on a small side order of the chicken long rice. The long rice wasn't my favorite - it tasted a little herbal-y or off somehow. The lau lau, I really enjoyed. But then again it was my first time having it so I have nothing to compare it to. But it's really tender pork and the mushy leaves really broke up the meat texture and tasted pretty good too. Thought the kalua pork was a bit salty but also again moist and tender. Big portions so it took me two meals to finish it. I also got to try my friend's masago poke. Really good. I wish I had more stomachs to try everything. What I got was a little pricey. But again it lasted over 2 meals.

    (4)

  • Ka'ili H.

    This is my favorite Hawaiian plate lunch places. I've been coming here for a few years and they have always been consistent in quality and taste. Stopped by after work, it was just across the street, and was feeling in the mood for my favorite homemade dessert from here: the brownie topped with haupia. I'm so thrilled my best friend opened my eyes to this amazing dessert because I get so giddy just thinking about it. He knows me too well =o) Today I got my usual, Kalua pig with lomi salmon and ahi poke with limu. The line was getting long with people getting food for the UH game so I forgot to substitute the rice for poi (it's an extra 45 cents). I was pretty disappointed, but was still happy with my meal. The Kalua pig is always cooked just right, not too salty, not to bland. Lomi salmon was a fair amount of lomi salmon and tomato (there's always some places where it's more like, tomato with lomi salmon!! aaah!) Whenever I'm in the mood for some Hawaiian food to go, Yamas is the place to get it. They're close by, reasonably priced, and have a bunch of other snacks and poke available. They also have handy take out menus for you to have, which is helpful when you wanna call in your order. *they don't have brown rice =o( *

    (4)

  • Tina C.

    Yummy poke. They have many variety, ahi, clams, tako, ika. I couldn't decide, so I got a little of each. They were all delish! This place is take out only. There's no sitting area.

    (4)

  • Christine Y.

    So I'm staying near the beach in Waikiki and all around me is touristy stuff. No complaints other than the lack of Hawaiian food! So handy dandy yelp comes in here and I find yamas. Well well I need to switch up how I pick places to eat on yelp. First I need to look at the rating and then I need to see if it's a sit down or take out only. Haha this way I won't be surprised upon getting there that it's not a good place for dinner! oops...if only I had thought of this sooner I wouldn't have trekked it out to Yamas and found out upon getting there that sit down options only consisted of 2 seats and one table. But the food was great nonetheless. It's really a hole in the wall. Yamas is in a residential area where it's one of the only businesses. Small parking lot, counter filled with different types of poke and a counter to order. Snacks on shelves for perusing and fridges with dessert items and drinks. That's about it, oh and the high number of people ordering and getting food from there. Popular place! We eventually ordered combo 2 (Lau Lau with rice and lomi salmon) and combo 6 (kahlua pork and rice and spicy ahi and lomi salmon and coconut dessert. Grabbed our takeout food, made it back to our hotel and dug in. Loved the ahi poke and the Lau lau! The poke was indeed spicy as promised but wasn't just a one note dish. Still lotsa other flavors going on. Their Lau Lau comes in a pretty big portion size for 6 dollars. They put a chicken drum and a piece if pork belly in there. It had the right amt of salt and the flavor of it was pretty addicting. Add to that the tenderness of it and I just wanted more! The dessert was delic but came in such a tiny container that in a way I wish I hadn't been able to try it at all cause it ran out so quickly. The kahlua pork had a great mix of flavors and was flavorful and subtle all the same. They gave us a lot of this one too! Just packed it in. Lomi salmon was oki. Not a lot of salmon and mostly tomatoes. Im so glad that I actually didn't kno that if was basically take out only or else I would never have even come here and had all this great food. One small adventure for my trip. Hehe . And after we were done eating...we made our second mistake...we decided to rest and thus our first night ended. I was way too hungry to even think of taking pics! Oops.

    (4)

  • Brian J.

    If you are in the mood for a Hawaiian plate lunch with delicious poke at a decent price, Yama's is a must! I've been going here for years and the food is always great. The LauLau and Kalua pig plates are generous in size and super ono, the poke is always fresh, and the haupia is the best I've ever had. Yama's is a little hard to find, and serves take out only, but is one of my favorite spots for great local food on Oahu.

    (5)

  • Joshua C.

    [3.5 Stars] Good memories are so hard to compete with. It's rare that things are ever as good or better than we remember. The more time that passes, the less of the details we remember, often we're left with unattainable warm fuzzies. Palate development and new life experiences during this period only complicate matters. Yama's is good, just not as great as I remember. It's been at least five years, if not longer since I'd eaten there, and it made for a fun first stop after landing. When you grow up in Hawaii, but live on the mainland you can't help but want everything when you show up at a place like this. I walked in needing a post flight snack and walked out with lunch for 3 (even though just 2 of us were eating). Beef stew and Laulau combo plate, side of long rice, side of squid luau, two kinds of poke, and you really can't/shouldn't leave Yama's without the Haupia (which was the one item that lived up to our collective memories). The beef stew (especially when eaten with the mac salad) and the Laulau satiated. The long rice was sadly lacking in texture and flavor. The Poke, decent. I was really craving squid luau, correction I'm always craving squid luau. Unfortunately, what I've come to realize is that I was craving the rare sort of backyard baby luau flavor rich creamy goodness with perfect seafood morsels that only the uncles (in this case my wife's calabash ones) can make. The Yama's and I'm guessing any other store bought edition was or would be underwhelming. I'd still go back, the people are nice, the food's good, and now that I've returned more recently my expectations will be more realistic. There's nothing wrong with 3 stars, as time passes and I experience new things, I just tend to reserve giving 4 or 5 stars for things that are great or amazing.

    (3)

  • w t.

    Super fresh poke. Spicy ahi is one of best. Kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon and edamame very good too.

    (5)

  • June W.

    We went there for the first time to take out our family dinner, and we were so pleased with their food quality and services.(cashier helped me so much, cause I wanted order everything-they looked so good including the dessert section-dangerous!) We tried... Lau Lau chicken: the BEST with enough flavored chicken and vegetables Pokes: so many various seasoned pokes, u can pick and choose! Very FRESH & TASTE! (We tried 3 different pokes) Poi: Very GOOD! Lomi Lomi Salmon: So fresh & well flavored, PERFECT! Strawberry Haupia: Light & not too Sweet and has REAL Strawberries inside, Excellent! Parking in front of the store, easy to find!!! Easy to order, and fast. Love Hawaiian Food? Must Stop by! U will be Happy!! :")

    (5)

  • Kobe O.

    Had to order bentos for my daughters cheer team. They have a great and wide selection of bentos that are reasonably priced. The mini bentos are pretty filling and cost about $5. They blow away the super cheap AKYTH mini-bentos...... I could do the order over the phone and pay over the phone too. Pick up was easy and they had everything in a box with utensils. Only complaint would be that the Teri-beef in the mini-bento was a little salty. Otherwise good and plentiful food. I like supporting these local operations that have been around for ages. Yamas, Youngs. Taniokas, Tamashiro,. Ks, AKYTH.....sounds like I'm taking roll call at Japanese school.

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    Read all the excellent reviews and decided to pick up some dinner for a night in. When we walked in, we were a bit at a loss for what to order and the cashier person was very helpful. We ordered: -chicken & pork lau lau: super duper melt in your mouth soft -grilled ahi: my fave by far! and my toddler son loved it, too. also, liked the green sauce they give you with it. -tako poke: salty, chewy goodness -kalua pig with cabbage: always a Hawaiian fave of mine So after this trip my hubby and I agreed that maybe we aren't the biggest fans of Hawaiian flavors. But despite our lack of love for Hawaiian food, we both had to agree that the food here is QUALITY. We are happy that we got to try it.

    (4)

  • Josh P.

    I usually recommend Yama's fresh selection of poke, but today I was very disappointed to find out that the half-pound Limu Tako I had ordered @ $13.95/lb was mostly limu and onions with very few pieces of actual tako. I took a few pictures of the Limu Tako order to better illustrate my concern: i.imgur.com/ZJkNF8b.jpg i.imgur.com/O1CBvdo.jpg

    (1)

  • Iris J.

    This is always the go-to-place to get my Hawaiian food fix... prices has increased since my last visit a few months ago... somen salad & the haupia desserts are always consistent in quality flavor and higher cost of these items are worth it!!!

    (3)

  • Jay P.

    My mouth is still on fire from the spicy ahi poke I ordered... Since Yama's Fish Market is so conveniently close to school, I decided to make a trip and buy myself an early lunch. Parking is found directly in front, but because there are only five spots available, parking could become a problem during peak hours. There is also street parking and the parking lot across the street. I didn't know exactly what to order in both quantity and poke choice, so I decided to get a second opinion from one of the workers. She was very informative and helpful in my decision to get the half pound of spicy ahi poke. The prices can be a little on the expensive side since it is set at market price (I paid about $8.00 for a half pound of poke), but I feel like the price is totally worth the quality and freshness! The spicy ahi poke is SPICY! I usually handle my own when it comes to spicy foods, but I was sweating and begging for a bottle of water! The flavor of the ahi was still there though despite the relatively overwhelming spiciness. I will definitely come back and order another poke option in the future!

    (5)

  • Alysha K.

    Although the workers are nice, Yama's is definitely a disappointment, and unfortunately, I am going to be brutally honest in this review... Went here cuz all the other Hawaiian restaurants are closed on Sundays and my outta town guest wanted to eat Hawaiian food. This time I tried a bunch of sides - chicken long rice (super soupy & bland), squid luau (way too sweet & thick), pastele (okay but only cuz I don't have too much experience eating this), and beef stew (mostly veggies). 4 sides for $19! On top of that, they don't offer Hawaiian salt, and the chili pepper water, you have to purchase! It also sucks cuz there is no place to eat. There are only two 2-seater tables outside. Sorry Yamas, but I'm sticking to Youngs & Helenas. And if it's a Sunday again, I will take my guests to Zippys...

    (2)

  • Dang P.

    The garlic chicken was very tasty. Not too garlicky and right down the middle of sweet and salty. Could have been crispier, but a solid dish that I would order again. The squid luau was so bland. I think maybe they forgot to add salt altogether. Otherwise the flavor and consistency were good, but it was so bland I had to eat it with the rice soaked in the garlic chicken juice.

    (3)

  • jonathan s.

    Freaking ridiculous lunch in the middle of the day. On a business trip from CA and felt the need for some local grindz. Jumped on Yelp looking for good Poke and this place was a few minutes away and I'm glad it was. Loved the spicy wasabi ahi poke and had the spicy tako salad also. I wish there was something half this good in OC, id' be there a lot. This place will definitely be a must have on my next trip to HNL. Awesome Awesome!

    (5)

  • Miranda S.

    I felt super cool to get to come to this place. My bf who is a hawaii native wanted to take me to all his favorite eats around town and this is the first place he took me to. He was dying for me to come visit him in Hawaii and he kept saying how I'd love all the food here because I am pescatarian, love Japanese food(I just spent 1 year living in Tokyo) I also love raw fish, in sushi, and sashimi and all that.(BTW, I'm home now but I LOVED ALL THE FOOD I ATE IN HAWAII) It was my first actual day in Hawaii and we had just gone to the beach so we were pretty hungry. So we came here and he ordered like three different kinds of poke and garlic ahi jerky. I was so excited because I love fish and haven't really had authentic poke in Hawaii ever(we shared "poke" at a place in LA but he didn't like it) so I was really amped for it. We were going to sit outside, but I had to pee(of course I did) and we had to find a bathroom. We ended up going to Foodland to use the bathroom and were gonna go back to Yama's to eat, but we were too impatient and just ate it in the car. Who cares we were so hungry and I just couldn't resist trying them. We had little cups of each different one: spicy ahi poke, wasabi masago poke and shoyu poke. The first one was REALLY good. I want to say favorite, but I liked them all it would be unfair to choose. My bf actually thought it was really hot; I didn't think so but maybe that's because he actually like swallowed the pepper wrong or something and started coughing like profusely, tears and sweat and everything!! But he was ok, he pushed through it and continued to eat with me. The wasabi poke was good it had masago in it and it added a little crunch and the wasabi flavour was there but not like overwhelming. It was creamy though. The shoyu one was really good! I like shoyu flavor so I was really pleased. I felt this one you could really taste the fish and I liked that. Last was the ahi garlic jerky and I actually didn't try it until a couple days later when we took it to the beach but it was good even then! I should have took some home keeps very nicely! Man, I wish I could go back now and get some. It's probably best because poke it quite pricy and I'd be even more broke!!! :P

    (5)

  • David M.

    This review was some time ago but I haven't been back since. I used to like this place when it first opened and the food and service was good. Last time I came, I ordered the lau lau plate for takeout. Got my plate and when I got home, the lau lau was FROZEN solid. Funny thing is the rice was warm (i'm sure it was hot when I got the plate) and everything else was good. Would you not notice that you are putting a frozen lau lau into my take out plate? geez.......... I now go to Young's for my Hawaiian food craving.

    (3)

  • Ivan S.

    Great Hawaiian and local food! Desserts are modest in size but big on taste, ie. pumpkin/haupia...the Wasabi Masago Ahi bowl (more like tray), is good with a little of Namasu, better than on the side ginger. (Would've been a better pic if I took the time to open the tray)...Parking is not the greatest as other Yelpers noted, but worth it. Friendly service, and I like that they accept AMEX charge cards.

    (4)

  • Melissa T.

    My eyes grew bigger than my stomach when I saw so many delicious poke varieties in the fridge area. The lady helping us was incredibly kind and patient when I asked for multiple samples and stood there saying outloud "I think I need more. 1/2 lb isn't enough. I need more. What should I get?!?!" In the end, there are definite favorites for me: I like the miso octopus and ... the ahi poke all the way to the left side that I can't remember the exact name of. At first compared to the other ahi poke it seems less flavorful, but in the end you'll be able to eat more of the first because the other one is just too salty. Even the rice is delicious and fluffy. My brother got a laulau and was in love with it. I bought a bunch of cookies here and sweet potato and taro chips, which are a must and make for great snacks while road tripping around the island. We also got the tapioca pudding which was really good and a sweet potato pie that I didn't expect to like but it wasn't as sweet as I feared so I enjoyed it. I can easily see myself coming here multiple times in a week for a healthy breakfast. Too bad I live thousands of miles away... The place has its own parking lot which makes it convenient. The employees here were super nice and friendly and the menu is quite extensive

    (5)

  • Anna K.

    Poke? Delicious. Long rice? Delicious. Kalua pig with cabbage? Delicious. Furikake salmon? Semi-delicious, since the fish scales are still on the skin! =[ Why Yamas??? No one likes to eat fish scales!!!! Other than that, everything is pretty delicious as I have mentioned above. My brother and I go here every time I'm back in town. Yamas also sells snacks and desserts so if you're extra hungry, you can pick something else up. The parking is terrible so you'll either have to find street parking or wait around for someone to leave. There is one table outside if you want to stay there to eat. Luckily, I live 5 minutes away and have a table outside my house so I can replicate the feeling of eating at Yamas without the headache.

    (4)

  • Keely C.

    Amazing poke! Their limu poke is to die for! Their laulau is so yummy. Their haupia desserts are lovely.

    (5)

  • Lou D.

    Super friendly staff. We ordered 3 different poke and two combination plates (one lau lau and one with shredded pork). More than enough to feed a family of five. Our server was super helpful and answered all of our questions. Really fresh and really good!

    (5)

  • Jessie K.

    Honestly if your craving Hawaiian food and Kapahulu Poi Factory is closed this is the next best thing! A couple things that I'm not a big fan of is definitely their parking situation, It's to cluttered and the amount of people they get coming in and out you would think there would be a solution. The second thing is that their Kalua Pork is dry and their rice is mushhhy.

    (3)

  • Esther S.

    By far they have the best laulau. My bf and I used to be regulars when we lived in town. But now that we live in Kapolei it's too far. However, we do make an effort to stop by when we are in town running errands. They also have an amazing strawberry jello haupia dessert.

    (5)

  • Alan S.

    First time here based on a tip from a local. No complaints other then there was no where to eat my food but I knew that going in cause I read all the yelp reviews. I came here over Youngs because Youngs does not sell Poke based on a yelp review I read. I didn't even know what Poke was but I knew they had what I wanted plus Poke so it was a plus to come here. Not to mention great Yelp reviews. Wife liked the poke and I loved the kalua pig. I had great customer service. Everything else has been said. I will say I know nothing about Poke but they had a lot of variety to choose from and a sign that read they only sell fresh Poke or no Poke at all. My wife loved it. She got a spicy one. We were in town for a few days and she kept asking me to drive back to Yama's to get her some more. 4 stars I am taking away a star for not having a sit down area and that's the only reason. I will be back next time I am in town.

    (4)

  • Daryl I.

    Good homemade food and Poke... Staff was very knowledgeable and knew where all their products came from down to the ophi lady from Hilo. Very impressed except for the parking and seating area. But who will notice when you are craving this food... Great job gang!!!

    (4)

  • Justino C.

    Oh yes indeed. That Japanese/Filipino/Chinese Hawaiian style. Found this joint on an early morning jog and yes, I'm heading back here again and you should too! I think this Is my favorite joint so far just on authentic style...maybe. If I'm wrong, somebody please tell me where I should go.

    (5)

  • Yummy P.

    Born and Raised in Hawaii, please don't hate me for saying that I am not a huge fan of Hawaiian! I would always find my kalua too dry, mushy long rice or my lau lau over cooked at almost every establishment on the Island! BUT...Not at Yama's!!! My Fiance ordered the Kalua Chicken Plate and I had the Chicken Lau Lau with Masago Poke. It was such a nice day, we ordered it to go and drove to Diamond Head Lookout. He put the tailgate down and opened up our plates of deliciousness! First bite of the Chicken Lau Lau, my eyes were like a "deer in headlights"! The chicken was so soft and juicy, I knew his Kalua Chicken must have been just as good. so I stole a bite and guess what!? Even better! As we were gobbling up the Kalua and Lau Lau, we did not forget about our sides! The Lomi Lomi was yummy yummy, Masago Poke, one of the best on the Island and the Haupia, like butter! To all you visitors and locals who have not had the pleasure, here is a little FYI...this place is a must try! TIPS: Yama's is a "Fish Market" - Best for Take Out, Bento's and Snacks. They do have a few tables outside but I'd recommend taking it to the beach or park. Don't forget to buy a water or fountain drink! Parking is limited but because most people are ordering take out, you are likely to find a spot where someone is leaving just as you arrive.

    (5)

  • Mayumi T.

    We came here because we had a coupon from the Entertainment Book. This place is a little hidden and somewhat hard to find. This is basically a Hawaiian food deli with most of the luau/lunch plate offerings as well as poke in the deli case. WHAT WE ORDERED: - Kalua Pork: Kalua pork is kind of like Hawaiian carnitas. This was the best kalua pork we've had. Juicy, smokey, tender, flavorful... everything you'd want in kalua pork meat. It's so good and popular that they have it stocked in the freezer in convenient packages. - Limu Ahi Poke: Poke is like Asian ceviche: diced raw fish marinated in sesame oil, rock salt, with crunchy limu seaweed. I think Ono Seafood ruined my taste for any other poke. This wasn't as fresh as I thought it would be, and was a little chewy. - Chicken Adobo: This was a little lacking in flavor, was a little dry and had a lot of bones. It really paled in comparison to the Kalua Pork. - Haupia: Coconut pudding/jello. This is how haupia should taste. Sweet, smooth, coconutty, creamy, and ohhhh sooo delicious. I wish they gave more with their meals. I would definitely go back for a big plate of the Kalua pork and haupia!

    (4)

  • Poly J.

    went to Yama's on a couple of days ago for the first time...Wow, the food was really good!!! I had the good 'ole local stuff; Kalua, Lomi,Lau lau, rice & Poi. I was a happy boy! service was fast & friendly. So what if there are only two little tables outside, there are plenty of parks here to go eat under a tree. I'll be going back often. Plus, I need to try their Poke & Opihi.! Oh, parking is a little rough, but be patient, someone is bound to take off in minutes. Aloha!

    (4)

  • Jenny C.

    My foodie friend took me to this hidden gem on Young street. From the outside, it looks very plain and mildly unattractive. There are only 2 tables outside for seating, so most people do take out, or a fast eat-and-run (after paying for the food, of course ;) Since I always had bad luck ordering food (don't ask, it's an Aries thing), I decided to follow his lead and ordered #3: #3 Lau Lau, Lomi, Poke & Haupia. So, Lau Lau was good, not as salty as those grocery store ones..thank God. I think it could have been a little bit more moist. I chosen spicy poke and it was fresh and good. But my friend's Wasabi Masago was soooo much better!! (should have followed his order exactly!). Lomi was ok, kind of like salsa mixed with salmon bits...not bad. last but not least.the Haupia..OMG...taste like heaven! It's got right amount of sweetness and consistency, I think I am going to buy a tub of it like ice cream..wait..maybe I should put it in freezer next time and see what it would taste like.MmmmMM I can't wait to go back and try everything else on their menu!

    (4)

  • Matthew N.

    I'm not a poke eater. Long story, and since I'm telling too many of those here on Yelp I'll just skip that and note that I can't really say anything about the great poke that Yama's evidently has. There are so few places that can boast about doing everything right, the kind of place you walk out of thinking to yourself, "Damn, that is going to be a five-star review on Yelp," that we sometimes forget that if a place gets many things right, or even does one thing really well, then that should also be celebrated. Granted, some places do over-reach, but I think we sometimes also over-expect. Like some folks, I go to Yama's for only one thing. Unlike most of those folks, my One Thing isn't poke. It's not the haupia, or the laulau, or the oodles of snacks that sit on a shelf like non sequitirs. It's kalua pig. Kalua pig in this town is a giant hit or miss. Most places serve it up in a wet, sloppy mess, overwhelmed more by onions or cabbage than with flavor. At most places, you get one part kalua pig for three parts of filler. Perhaps those places are trying to help us moderate, to serve us more vegetables than meat, and make kalua pig a kinder, gentler plate lunch. Those kinds of places have it wrong, and Yama's has it absolutely right. Their kalua pig plate lunch (#4, I think) has one thing and one thing only: succulent, tasty, kalua-y pig. It has the perfect moisture, tenderness, and flavor. Nothing else. Just pure, unadulterated kalua pig. One note: don't just grab your plate and go. They don't automatically provide your utensils, so you have to remember to go to the drink/napkins station and get your fork, knife, etc., lest you get home and have to rock it Filipino style and eat with your fingers. Which, as a part-Ilocano, I'd be well inclined to do I suppose. Parking is definitely a problem, and I've had more than one occasion when my hankering for Yama's kalua pig necessitated me double-parking my beloved car on that treacherous stretch of Young Street. But that always seems like a small price to pay for some oinky goodness.

    (4)

  • Sara S.

    This was our first experience with Hawaiian food and we were not disappointed. There is no place to sit inside (a couple of spots outside), but we took our bags of food and biked them home to eat. The lau lau (pork wrapped in a leaf thing) was so rich and savory. Will definitely get again. The kalua pork was tasty, but wasn't my favorite. The lomi salmon was a weird pico de gallo type thing, and I didn't eat but a bite of it. The macaroni salad and white rice were awesome sides, because they make you so full! Prices were very reasonable, which is always a good thing!

    (4)

  • Michelle B.

    I regularly get the kalua pig and cabbage bowl and their spicy ahi poke is delicious!! This is also one of the few plate lunch places left that sell poi ready to eat YUMMY!!!

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    Local Hawaiian foodstuff for sale. I had the dried peppered ahi which was spectacular! Also tried the poke which was great. Finally, I tried the wasabi ahi, which is not visually appealing, but I gave it try anyway. I plan on returning here another day to sample more different types of foodstuffs. Don't park in the neighboring parking lot. The doctor will yell at you for trespassing.

    (5)

  • Jenni D.

    There chocolate haupia is to die for, and the chicken long rice is super tasty! I would recommend going right before or after the lunch rush because parking can be difficult. In spite of the "rice shortage" this year, Yamas still gave me two big heaps in my plate lunch... so if you are in need of some good rice for the right price, go pick some up at Yamas.

    (5)

  • Janet K.

    Good Hawaiian food and decently priced. The laulau is super meaty with not too much fat. That can be good for the health conscious or bad because it can be on the drier side. I also like their haupia sweet potato dessert. The poke is hit or miss and tend to be on the sweeter side. Parking sucks big time especially when it's super busy.

    (4)

  • Caleb R.

    Meh, was okay. I got the kalua pig plate which was edible but not anywhere near as good as kalua pig I have had from other places - it was way liquidy, not smokey at all, all around boring. My roomy got the mochiko chickien, which was weird because it looked just like chicken katsu and didn't particularly taste like either. I may come here again since I dont have a car and i kind of go wherever friends drive me to, but if they ask me where I want to eat it wont be coming up as my recommendation

    (2)

  • Bao L.

    BEST Hawaiian Plate - #2 Chicken Lau Lau, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Macaroni Salad, Rice. MUST GET: Sweet potato Haupia and Key Lime Haupia - Delicious. Friendly atmosphere and freshest POKE!

    (5)

  • Melody C.

    Okay, the parking isn't the best, but this is a problem all over Honolulu. Whenever friends are in town THIS is the place I bring them to get Hawaiian food. After a subpar experience at another popular hawaiian joint, I realized just how amazing Yama's is. - WON'T BREAK THE BANK. Price wise it's definitely more affordable than other places. I can get a full lunch for under $15 if I'm being good! Also they have a great selection for whatever you're in the mood for. -EASY/CONVENIENT Everything is take out so you can grab and go. The Haupia and other goodies are in the sliding door fridges. -SIMPLY ONO I keep going to other places but I still crave Yama's! Their kalua pork is juicy, melt in your mouth good. If you're thinking about Yama's definitely give them a try, you won't be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Jill K.

    I wish I could make the emoticon here with the smiley face whose eyes are two hearts. They have the best. haupia. ever. Not to mention, their Hawaiian food is super ono. It's too too too heavy and doesn't leave you feeling sluggish. They also sell desserts, taro chips (my absolute favorite) and a variety of other snacks. You won't be disappointed here.

    (5)

  • Teri Y.

    Yama's is our go-to place in town for take-out Hawaiian food, especially when bringing family home from the airport and they have to have their "fix" as soon as their Mainland feet hit the rock :-) There are plenty of plate lunch selections to choose from, lots of fresh poke, and the desserts in the refrigerator case are 'ono. It's hard to pick just one. There's also boiled peanuts, ocean salad, some crack seed & candy items, and Hawaiian Chip Company bagged chips. The Yama's gang are all friendly and super efficient. Poor things must be pooped at the end of the day! The parking lot can be tight, but since Yama's is just a place to grab & go, a little patience will get you a spot pretty fast. Favorites: Poke (we like them all) Kalua pig plate with poi & lomi salmon Chicken long rice Boiled peanuts Haupia "Zebra" (Haupia & chocolate pudding) Haupia brownie Ocean salad

    (4)

  • Linda C.

    Delicious poke! The guy that was working was really patient with me and nice. This was the first place we came to grab lunch when we got off the plane. The guy helping me out let me sample a couple of the poke since I was having trouble deciding on which one to get. Loved the wasabi poke with masago. Half a pound with a scoop of rice was more than enough. Really fresh and great flavors, definitely better eating it with some rice, since the flavors were quite strong. Would have loved to try some of their other dishes, next time I guess! Still craving for more of that poke!

    (5)

  • Annette Y.

    I found this place on Yelp and came with a friend to try out Hawaiian food for the first time. It is quite close to Waikiki (short bus ride away on the express bus), close to the university. The staff here were incredible! They were very attentive to the many questions I had and even hand picked several poke samples for me to try. The prices were also quite reasonable and I loved that each combo allowed you to try several types of food. As a side note, there are no public restrooms here, or in any of the restaurants nearby (use the restrooms at the park)... Learnt that the hard way!

    (4)

  • Diane T.

    Came here after high recommendations from friends and family and was satisfied (for the most part) Yama's is a small joint serving fresh made poke and an assortment of plate lunches. I will have to say that everything was very fresh and tasted quite delicious. The staff was friendly and was patient giving recommendations. The BF and I ended up getting 3 kind to try, ahi limu poke, wasabi masago ahi poke, and onion tako poke. Now i'll give it to them. Everything was very fresh and the flavors complimented everything very well....but at $16.95/lb eep..that's a bit steep (well compared to mainland prices, that's actually pretty good). The tako was very tender and not chewy at all. They did their work here and it's worth trying. The ahi limu was very nicely flavored and simple. The wasabi was a bit heavy for my taste, but a good change. Overall, i would say if you're a poke fan, you should give this joint a try. However, after visiting several poke establishments during my stay on Oahu, some might say i'm crazy, but I find that the foodland poke was pretty much on par with the ones here..and for $11.98/lb, it's a steal. BUT supporting local mom and pop shops is good too. Maybe i'm not a great poke connoisseur, but my tastebuds were equally as happy with foodland's poke. But anyhow, I wish i got to try Young's..i would say, try yourself and see how you compare.

    (3)

  • Cara O.

    I came here today for some poke at lunchtime. I ordered the Spicy Ahi Poke and the Wasabi Spicy Ahi Poke, both at $16.95/lbs. Honestly, they were both pretty spicy, and I'm the kind of person who likes to order a medium at thai restaurants. All in all, the poke was good, but not great, definitely not $16.95/lbs great. The service was a bit confusing to me. Usually, the customer gives their order, pays for it, and then gets their food. But today, they received the order, prepared the food, and then paid for the order. Things were a bit disorganized though and a kinda slow. I'm willing to try them again on their plate lunches, as I hear they're really good. But today was a bit of a miss.

    (2)

  • Barry K.

    #7 Lau Lau,Kalua Pig, Lomi Salmon and Rice is da bomb. Lau Lau is decent size and good portion of Kalua. I like the Lomi Salmon here because is not as briney/fishy. It's more oniony. This is definitely one of a hidden gems of Hawaii.

    (5)

  • J L.

    Great laulau. They combine pork and chicken, a great flavor combination. Lomi salmon is better than Ono Hawaiian Foods in that the salmon is fresher. The Haupia at Yama's is also much better than Ono's. Ono tends to have too little coconut milk in their Haupia and also added gelatin- which really should not be in Haupia! Yama's has rich coconut flavor and firm yet silky texture.

    (5)

  • Noji N.

    Good prices on ono Hawaiian food. I always gotta have it when I come back home! Lau Lau is served hot and it is very moist and flavorful! Poke is fresh and there is a lot of variety. Love this place. Oh, and if you still have room, there's a great selection of dessert. My fav is the sweet potato haupia pie. Mmmmmmm

    (5)

  • Traci R.

    Lau lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, and of course their haupia desserts. It's no wonder Yama's is well-known and well-frequented. I used to come here more often when I was attending University of Hawaii at Manoa, but lately, I haven't really had the chance. However, the last 4-5 visits have been a slight disappointment. Maybe 6 months ago, I ordered the Kalua Pig Cabbage bowl figuring it's pretty cheap ($6.25) and I don't care for macaroni salad. I remember opening my bowl and it being filled with mostly rice and cabbage. I was so disappointed! The meat to cabbage ratio was way out of proportion! I felt like I paid $6.25 for a bowl of cabbage and rice. Then, maybe 3 months ago, we ordered food from Yama's again. This time I knew not to order the Kalua Pig Cabbage bowl from the last fiasco. So, I just ordered a side of Kalua Pig ($3.55 for sm) and a side of rice ($1.10). The portion size was way better than the bowl and cheaper too! It was slightly oily, but that's expected since it's Kalua Pig. And then last week....we ordered from Yama's yet again and I couldn't decide what I wanted. I decided to try the Kalua Chicken this time instead. So again, I ordered the side order Kalua Chicken ($3.55 for sm). I expected it to be a little oily...it's Kalua Chicken what else do you expect? But when I got it, I swear the chicken was sitting in oil. Now imagine you buy a tuna can like the one from the store. You know how you drain the water? Well, that's how this Kalua Chicken was! I could actually pour out oil from the bowl! The bowl isn't very large either...approximately a 4" diameter and 2" deep. If they had drained all the oil, I would have really liked it better! The chicken had a slight oil taste (probably cause it soaked it aalllllll up!) My co-worker ordered the Grilled Ahi since it looked like a healthier option and the photos on Yelp made it look like the portion size was pretty good. But he was saddened when he opened up his plate to see that the fish pieces were small and rather than having two filets, he had chunks! Plus side, my other co-worker ordered shoyu chicken with all rice. She got 3 scoops of rice and 2 large chicken thighs! She said she really liked it! The taste of the food isn't bad at all. Don't get me wrong. They make tasty dishes, but their portion sizes and even proportion of foods are sometimes whack. In the end, it really just depends on what you're ordering. Seems like non-Hawaiian food gives better portion sizes.

    (3)

  • R M.

    Great haupia/brownie. The food here is inexpensive and very good. We ordered Laulaus and poi. (I like day-old poi and discovered it was the most popular type in the 19th century). Yama's does have day-old poi. We also tried the apple crumble and the traditional ice cakes--inexpensive and good! Laulaus have either pork or pork & a chicken thigh. Serving size is generous and the meat is very tender.

    (3)

  • Bobby N.

    For under $10, you get your choice of meat, rice, salad, mac salad/dessert. I ordered the mochiko chkn w/ choc haupia. Minus one star for the disappointingly soggy mochiko chnk. Dessert here is cheap. I'd go back just for that. Service is fast and courteous, and market is clean. 2 outdoor seating tables. Overall, the best bang for you buck with the most variety in food. They are a tiny market that also serves meats and fish by the lb. I will be back for their poke.

    (4)

  • Mark O.

    Yama's gets a lot of good reviews and having gone there to try it out, I can see why. They have a huge variety of almost everything local that you could want from a plate lunch/fish market. There are at least 15+ varieties of poke, two full refrigerators of desserts, shelves of snacks and a good amount of options for plate lunches, including some fairly interesting specials. I ordered more than I probably should have, but I wanted to try a lot of things that they offered. Some were good and some were rather lackluster, but hey, they can't all be winners. Spicy tuna patties - This was on the special board and it sounded delicious, so this was the plate lunch I went with. While interesting, altogether it wasn't that great. It could have used more flavor and more spiciness because it ended up tasting like a patty of canned tuna. Adobo - Not great, I didn't have more than a bite or two. Wasabi Masago poke - I usually like wasabi masago, but this just wasn't doing it for me. It was too creamy and had too much limu. Dried pepper poke - This was really good and I would definitely get it again. It was nice and soft for the most part, which is where a lot of dried poke fails. It had a lot of pepper and really good flavor. Desserts - Almost all of the desserts in the refrigerator have a layer of haupia on top of whatever flavor is underneath. I tried a slice of the pumpkin crunch and it was above average, but only because of the added haupia. Overall, Yama's offers up a lot of options and can likely hit the spot for whatever local food you are looking for. I don't think it did anything exceptionally well, but that much variety is always welcomed.

    (3)

  • Jake F.

    The plates are always made fresh. The poke and laulau is my favorite! When mom allows me to I get a side order of opihi! Yummy!

    (5)

  • Lori L.

    Yama's Fish Market is a mini-mart sized market that's got it going on. Poke, Hawaiian and Local Food, Ready to Eat and Take Away, plus Desserts and Snacks too. I recommend the #3. The Chicken and Pork Lau Lau is super meaty; Lomi Salmon is fresh and well seasoned; Your Choice of Poke, creamy, rich Haupia; and for just a dollar more, sub fresh Poi for the Rice. This will satisfy your Hawaiian Food craving until the next time Aunty gets the steamer going. I've also tried the Kalua Pig, which was pretty good; the Squid Luau which was light and didn't have a strong coconut milk flavor; and the Mac Salad which is just a plain mayo-macaroni salad. Come for a plate lunch and buy additional goodies to take home. This is take out only, they just have 4 outdoor seats, find a place to sit, and enjoy!

    (3)

  • Tiffany P.

    I wanted to go here everyday I was in Waikiki. Poke galore and it was all fresh and flavored well. I ended up getting several extra small portions of different poke, your best bet for trying everything. The chicken long rice... sooo good. It's really the simplest thing ever to make, but I really enjoyed it at Yama's. We also had the Kahlua pig plate, which was hearty and tasty. Make sure to get some haupia before leaving. The strawberry and pumpkin haupia desserts were awesome! They also have a great cookie selection, which I suckered myself into while waiting for my food. Love this place!

    (5)

  • Kristi A.

    Like Ahi Assasin's this place has fresh poke, no preservatives. I got to sample the Shoyu Poke and it was so flavorful, the poke was moist and very tasty, but I usually like my poke with a crunchy texture and choose the Limu Poke instead. They don't have a traditional poke bowl meaning giving you a bowl of rice with poke on top. Instead, they pack the poke and rice separately. The ahi poke at Yama's Fish Market was priced at $16 per a pound. For the poke bowl, you had the option of getting 1/4 , 1/2, and 1 pound of poke. The cashier was nice and helpful that she told me I could get 1/3 of a pound of poke since I wasn't ready to spend $9 on a poke bowl. The poke bowl also comes with the option of getting 1 scoop of rice for $1. 20 or so or 2 scoops of price for $2. I opted to get 1 scoop of rice since I was on a budget and in total, my poke bowl costed $7.10. I was surprised at how filling 1/3 of a pound of poke and one scoop of rice would make me, but I left feeling pretty satisfied. The poke had a lot of limu in to give it the extra crunch. The ahi was fresh and tasty, but next time, I would probably get the Shoyu poke since the flavor was so much stronger. Yama's Fish Market also sells a variety of sushi, musubis, desserts, mochi, and other snacks too for a reasonable price. I'll probably come back for to try more of their food and desserts.

    (4)

  • Stephanie S.

    First stop off the plane and my boyfriend's first Hawaiian food from Hawai'i. We got lau lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, haupia, shoyu poke, and limu poke. Everything was broke da mouth ono. The fish practically melted in our mouths it was so fresh. The bf hasn't been a fan of mainland lomi but really liked the one from here. His favorite was the kalua pig and mine was the lau lau. Cooked to perfection.

    (5)

  • Shu Jin S.

    Oh lau lau, you are oh so delicious here. The ahi limu poke was also fantastic, along with the long rice. You must not skip the haupia either, especially the haupia pastry that had okinawa sweet potato. A must-go every time I visit Oahu.

    (4)

  • Johnny B. J.

    I'm not sure bout des guys, they are ok, but my wife loves des guys! So I'll give dem another shot I got the "Panko Mahi"....I would have got da Stuff Mahi, but it has mussels, And I no can do mussels....allergic I hope it's crunchy & Moist....we shall see

    (2)

  • Tuan N.

    Great Hawaiian plate lunches, fresh poke, and bomb side dishes. I had the #6 which came with kalua pig, lomi salmon, haupia, and side of poke. Also got a musubi and side of tako poke. Kalua pig was not too salty and had an awesome smoky flavor. Lomi salmon was fresh and not too mushy or salty. The spicy ahi poke was not the normal creamy spicy mayo but was soy based with a touch of sweetness. The haupia had a lot of flavor and sweet. It wasn't too jellowy or bland like a lot of other places. Pretty much a staple any time I come home. They have a bunch of other stuff that looks good as well and under $8.

    (5)

  • Carrie G.

    Ok, so I think it's a documented fact that really good Hawaiian food is surprisingly hard to find. I really wanted Helena's but they are closed for 3 whole weeks for the holidays!! And Young's fish market closes early; Highway Inn annoys me for some reason and their food isn't that great except for their squid luau, and Kapahulu spots are a long drive and annoying to find parking... So alas- Yama's won the debate for me. I like that they have a decent amount of parking spots ~8. I like that they take credit cards. I like that their poke and dessert selection is extensive. I like that they also have cookies and other random dry goods like chocolate covered gummi bears. I got the kalua pig, lomi salmon, lau Lau and rice plate. And a poi bowl, a spicy pastele, a pound of squid luau and a haupia key lime pie. Hey- I like leftovers and it was a long way to drive- don't judge me!! Everything was good, but nothing was phenom. The kalua pig was a good blend of smoky/ salty, not too fatty. The lau lau was meaty but I love the taro leaves the best, and they wasn't much. The lomi salmon was good but the portion is tiny! And I don't like how an $11 plate doesn't come with haupia standard (there's 1-2 that do but I didn't want the entree combo)... The pastele was big and tasty though not spicy IMO. The squid luau was like green water- not flavorful, super liquidy and the squid chunks were microscopic. Made me sad that I got a whole pound of it :( the poi tasted day old already. Haven't tried the dessert yet bc I ate all of the above ;) Yama's lost a star because they nickle and dime- chili water and onions and haupia cost extra. The squid luau was a giant fail. The other star lost was the lack of mouthgasm their food gave me- I tried a lot of things and nothing was spectacular. Oh, and the service was slow- I was told to wait for the onions and 5 minutes later I was told I couldn't get them bc they couldn't weigh them out to give me a price. Like there's a massive charge for a few slices of onion? In summary, I'm going to suck it up and abide by Helena's tight time window to get what I think is the best Hawaiian food. They're open 4 days a week and close early, but driving halfway across town for what I got at Yama's wasn't worth the time or gas.

    (3)

  • Kelly K.

    Yama's has average Hawaiian food. In comparison to places like Young's fish market, Ono's, Helena's or Alicia's, the food is just ok. If this were LA, I'd be in heaven. But given the plethora of Hawaiian food options on Oahu, I probably won't be back. Here's what we had: 1) #27 ahi cakes plate lunch 3/5 2) #12 kalua cabbage plate lunch 3/5 3) opihi 4/5 4) tako limu onion poke 3/5 5) squid luau 3/5 Strangely the small parking lot in front was packed. But only 4 people were eating outside and inside was completely empty. Given the limited amount of seating provided (2 tables for 2) it's better to take out rather than eat there.

    (3)

  • Daniel Q.

    1 of my favorite spots for Hawaiian plate. I usually get the #3 combo. I get it w/a side order of rice. Yest I got it and was really looking forward to eating the poi but never got it. I was already home and was really disappointed. Hawaiian food isn't the same without poi! I called them and they said they'll call me back. Never got a call back.

    (3)

  • Tracey A.

    This is a true tale of how a Hawaiian fish market somewhere off the beaten path gets into my yelp bookmarks: 1. I read a review where someone writes about poke. 2. In that review the author mentions the poke. It is not, he states, amongst his favorites. 3. I stalk that reviewer and demand he give me the names of the poke places that he favors. 4. He obliges, I bookmark. Given my 487 (and growing) yelp bookmarks, it's unlikely that I'll ever try this poke joint and even less likely that I'll have any idea who told me about it in the first place. But then, coming off an arduous 4-hour hike and 2 hours before dinner reservations elsewhere, I'm in search of sustenance. And, lo and behold, not far from my current location is Yama's and I'm all over that like a cheap suit (whatever that means). There's a lot of poke in this place and, judging from my sampling, it's as good as it gets. All priced at $15.95/lb., I ordered up 1/2 pound each of Spicy Ahi Poke and Ahi Shoyu Poke. They also sell Ahi Limu Poke, Spicy Wasabi Ahi Masago Poke, and more. This place rains poke and, lord, let it rain. There's a crowded little parking lot out front and two small metal tables with chairs. Inside, there's no place to eat. Don't let any of this stop you. If you like poke, this is your place. It is truly wonderful. They do sell other things but forgive me, I didn't pay one lick of attention to what those other things were. And mahalo to whoever it was out there in the yelposphere who steered me to this place.

    (5)

  • Ariana M.

    I love Yama's Hawaiian food~! Yama's is located on Young Street. It has a bright blue exterior so it stands out from all the houses. Unfortunately they only have 4 stalls for parking, so your better off just looking for street parking. There isn't any "dine-in" seats. They only offer two small tables outside. So this is a great place to come to just grab and go. They have a great selection of combination plates so you can try a little of everything! I'm definitely a fan of the Kalua Pig and Lau Lau here!

    (4)

  • Ken W.

    Fresh Poke, I would say better (and also slightly cheaper) than Ono Seafood. The Spicy Wasabi was delicious and my clear favorite! This place is more than a fish market, they had all sorts of food inside. We also got some cooked food like the garlic chicken and the laulau, which weren't bad, but we should've stuck with getting all poke coming to a place like this. Both of those dishes were HUGE too, so we couldn't even get more poke being so full. We did get some of their desserts as well, and those were nothing to write home about. Limited seating outside with only 2 tables, this is definitely more of a takeout place.

    (4)

  • Trisha G.

    HAWAIIAN PLATE LUNCH! There are multiple combos of Hawaiian food plates including lau lau, kalua pig, poi, lomi lomi salmon, squid luau, and rice. Then there's the variety of poke they offer (which can be a choice in one of the combos). Added bonus, the ono desserts. My fave is the haupia sweet potato pie which is layers of haupia, purple Okinawan potato filling and shortbread crust. They also offer other plate lunch meals, but I can never bring myself to order anything other than Hawaiian plate (especially lomi in my poi). It can get pricey, but it's comparable to other Hawaiian plates. Parking can get tight too, but the onolicious food is worth a little wait. It's never too long.

    (4)

  • Ha N.

    The wasabi ahi poke (there's a 'masago' thrown in that phrase somewhere) is insane. It melts in your mouth in a way that I attribute to the fresh quality of the ahi. The sauce is bomb -- it's the right amount of spicy and mayo-y without being too mayo-y. I've tried the other types they offered, but this is my favorite and I cannot to bothered to comment on the others. I will forego getting poke in general if they were out of this one. I usually get the poke and a side of brown rice to create my own poke bowl. For some reason, they don't have that on the menu so you kind of have to order it ala carte style. You end up with two styrofoam cups, but you can access the utensil counter and dump the fish over the rice in that way. It doesn't make for much efficiency, but such is life. I was also craving baked chicken the other day because of high school cafeteria withdrawals, and luckily, they had it on their specials. SO AWESOME. But besides all this, I don't know why people insist on bringing their friends from out of town here. I would never do such a thing. The parking lot isn't the best situation. There are two tables outside that seat two. Ordering sucks too. You have to stand in line to order, and then pay after the order comes out. It's just a complicated place to be. I remember standing in front of the poke glass counter for fifteen minutes as the girl standing behind it was ignoring me and the line was growing longer and longer by the minute. That was the worst day of my life. I don't see why they can't have a separate line for poke. I also don't see why there is no sign telling people to get in line to order... This is probably the only poke place that does this. But besides my complaints and cries, the wasabi ahi poke is definitely worth the worst day of your life.

    (4)

  • Eric Robert R.

    Yama's should be called "Yummy's!" Suuuuriously! Yama's Fish Market has some pretty yummy grinds! And not only fish! I mean is there anything in here that tastes junk?! Nope! Yama's has all the comfort foods out there to feed my picky local appetite... POKE! KALUA PIG! FRESH FISH! LAU LAU! TERI-BEEF! BEEF STEW! CURRY BEEF! LOMI LOMI! MAC SALAD! POI! 2-SCOOPS RICE! MOCHIKO CHICKEN! GARLIC CHICKEN! MUSUBIS! & Guess what? Desserts too... HAUPIA CHOCOLATE! HAUPIA PUMPKIN! HAUPIA GREENTEA! SWEET POTATO & HAUPIA! RED JELLO IN CRUST! CUSTARD! TROPICAL ICE CAKE! GUMMY STUFF! CHINESE PRETZELS! CHOCOLATE COVERED STUFF! HAWAIIAN POTATO CHIPS! There's more too in this small, yet very efficient, take-out spot located on the backstreet of Young! Not really a hole-in-the-wall since you can't miss the brightly colored "baby-blue" exterior! Inside it consists of a cold seafood display case, and a couple of fridges with homemade desserts, shelves line the walls with to-go foods like bentos and musubis - the bentos are awesome here and so very fresh with a "best if eaten before time"- good sign! It's a place I highly recommend for some super fresh poke (fish always "day of") and killer bentos and yummy (and cheap) homemade desserts! A place surfers, locals, sistas, and the occasional curious cat will drop in. Not the biggest or very known, but everything you need to satisfy that cravings! YAMA'S FISH MARKET! WINNING! OVERALL GRADE: 4.5-STARS! (Super solid and cheap too!) LIVE ALOHA... YELP REVIEW #337

    (5)

  • Mel T.

    If you wan't some local food, this place seems to be pretty popular. I've been here twice and I remember it being better the first time. This time around, I tried the lau lau, kalua pig, and the fried ahi belly. All of the plates come with rice, along with macaroni salad and/or lomi lomi salmon, and an extra heaping of salt. The only dish that wasn't overly salty was the fried ahi belly. Can't go wrong with anything fried, right? They also have a pretty good selection of poke. I had the wasabi masago ahi. I think it tasted fresh? Sometimes, I can't tell, when it's smothered in sauce. But it tasted pretty good to me! I highly recommend getting a container (or two) of the haupia for dessert. Tip - no seating so you're going to have to get these to go!

    (3)

  • Koren N.

    Very very unorganized, the person who takes your should finish putting together your order, too many people around and not paying attention

    (1)

  • Kanani K.

    Very friendly staff, fresh food, and food vibes. Fast service and turnover of food. They are conveniently located in Honolulu, and have all the great, favorites - Hawaiian and local kine foods. Gotta go!

    (5)

  • Sara S.

    These are a few of my favorite things: Ahi masago poke ($16.95/lb), lau lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, chicken long rice, squid luau, beef stew. I LOVE THEIR CHICKEN LONG RICE. You can phone order ahead of time for easy pick up, and for the holidays, plenty people were picking up bulk orders of lau lau ($4.25/lau lau). I usually get the #3 which has lau lau, lomi salmon, poke, mac salad, haupia for just under $11. They also have daily specials that you should check out. I'm intrigued by the "ahi poke patty." Their adobo also looks pretty bombskies but I haven't tried it yet. I love that they are also a "market" so they have some to-go ready made bentos and salads, and a wide variety of candy, cookies, and other sweets. The mini bentos are a steal. Just the other day I popped in and saw an ahi wasabi masago bento for $5.95! Good deal. I can also vouch for their haupia and apple crumble. I was eyeing the sweet potato mochi... They have guri guri too! I can literally list more and more, but you should just check it out for yourself. Prices are reasonable for good quality local food. I do have some not so favs here: I used to get the kalua pig and cabbage bowl but it was much too dry the last time I got it. Also, not a big fan of the mochiko chicken because it is more like chicken katsu in my opinion. Was craving katsu curry so I got mochiko chicken with curry lol. However, I would stick to their other stuff. But other than that, I love Yama's and it's one of my go-to take out places for local food. The only junk thing is parking. Their lot is incredibly small and has about 5 stalls. You can park along the opposite wall if you're in a pinch. Just cross your fingers and hope that the odds will be in your favor. The earlier you go, the better.

    (5)

  • Alyssa P.

    This place was just eh. The poke was really good and fresh. The garlic chicken was really good, crispy, and juicy on the inside. Everything else was just ok. There was barely any meat in my kalua pork, 90% cabbage so I was able to eat my whole plate and then some (which should be challenging with how big their plates are). No real seating so plan to take your food to-go

    (3)

  • Cin T.

    Yama's Fish Market is my go-to place for good lau lau and kalua pork. Known for their friendly service and most importantly, mouth-watering local favorites that's consistently delicious every time. While you're there, don't forget to check out their delicious fresh pokes and 8oz sashimi platters, made fresh daily! Their fresh poke varieties are sold at market price, but I've never had anything that costs more than $16/lb. Their grab&go bentos (helloooo garlic chicken!!) and musubis are also winners. LAU LAU (Avail in pork w/chicken and chicken-only, both $4.25 each): Traditionally lau lau is a Hawaiian dish consisting of fatty cubes of pork and butterfish, wrapped and steamed in taro leaves. - What separates Yama's from others is that they don't put butterfish in theirs. Great news for people like me who don't care for that fishy taste in my lau lau (I'm a fan of butterfish, just not in my lau laus). - The piece of pork shoulder is seasoned just right with a nice amount of salt. Not a lot of fat, but yet quite tender that it just falls apart as you press into it ever so slightly with your fork. - They even put a whole chicken thigh inside too! Trust me when i say that one lau lau is mighty satisfying for a plate lunch. KALUA PORK (1 lb for $6.60): - Delicious pork shoulder seasoned with Hawaiian salt and cooked for hours until fork tender. Yama's well-seasoned kalua pork is spot on with just the right amount of smokiness. This mouthwatering favorite is so juicy and tender, perfect w/just a bowl of rice. Menu items #1 (lau lau plate, $6.45) and #7 (lau Lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, $10.35) are the 2 most popular plates amongst my friends and family. - Each plate comes with 2 scoops of rice and a scoop of mac salad. Since I like to order an extra pound of kalua pork on the side, I tend to go with just the #1 plate consisting of one lau lau, with rice and mac salad. yelp.com/biz_photos/yama… MOCHIKO CHICKEN (item #16, $7.25): - Served w/2 scoops rice, 1 scoop mac salad (or choice of tossed salad w/dressing). - Mochiko Chicken is a local favorite in most restaurants and home, looks just like chicken karaage but with a sweeter taste due to the mochiko flour (Japanese rice flour used in mochi). - Yama's version is quite different, they cover theirs in panko crumbs prior to frying, so it looks exactly like chicken katsu. I was quite surprised when I opened up my take-out at home. I had to call them because I thought they mistakenly gave me another customer's chicken katsu. The server assured me and said that it's indeed my mochiko chicken (they don't serve chicken katsu). It tasted like sweet chicken katsu.....I'll stick to my lau lau and kalua pork, lol. They're open daily, 9am - 7pm Monday thru Saturday and 9am - 5pm on Sunday. Parking is limited, there's about 4-5 stalls in their small lot. It's a small obstacle to pay for good eats!

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    I wish they would make all pork Lau Lau! I don't like the chic/pork combo lau Lau! I usually get one of the daily specials as its good!

    (2)

  • Irene G.

    Food here is alright. Parking is limited. 2 outside tables to dine out. Desserts are on point. Note to self. Stick with what you usually order. Yesterday I tried their special: panko crusted mahi and I didn't think I would get mahi nuggets. Sister got the #17 baked seafood and there was no flavor (even after pouring shoyu on it). Needed a little more mayo, salt, and pepper.

    (3)

  • Nelson Q.

    Wow, just the name Yama's bring back tons of memories! Yup, Yama's was my first place of employment WAAAAY back when they had a location in the Westgate Shopping Center in Waipahu. That shop had your typical fish market atmosphere(like Tanioka's and Tamashiro's)...Crack seed jars, Icee machine, and a huge tank out front full of Kahuku Prawns. Ahhhh...those were the days! These days at the present shop, The crack seed jars and the Icee machine has been replaced locally made cookies and chips, and the HUGE variety of Yama's homemade sweets! The Prawn tank has been replaced by an aquarium up front. The workers up front are very nice and helpful, and I also noticed they were rockin' cool Yama's T-Shirts and caps(and we got to work in surfah shorts, tank top and rubbah slippahs!?!? WOW LAU LAU!?!? Nah, j/k...:P One thing that has never changed though, is Yama's killer selection of poke and plate lunches! We were on our way to KILL IT at Sweet Home Cafe, so we decided to peek in for some pupu action and also to see if my poke sensei Brian Yamamoto was there, and sure enough, he was! We "talked story" for a bit, and that was so cool, because its been 25 YEARS since we last saw each other! I decided to get the two first items Brian taught me, his Ahi Shoyu, and Ahi Limu Poke, and let me tell you, you can't get fresher than this! How do I know? I even remember dragging in the containers FULL of fish straight from the fish auction! To this day, Yama's will not serve frozen fish. They rather not sell any fish at all for that matter, and that's good to know, because its all about quality, not quantity. Yama's Fish Market will forever have a special place in my heart....ALOHA!!!

    (5)

  • Mel T.

    I really really wanted to like this place, especially because the guy helping us was so friendly. Too bad the food wasn't as good as the service. We ordered a fourth pound each of the spicy ahi poke and the garlic pepper dried ahi poke as well as a beef stew plate. The spicy ahi was fine, but didn't come close to my fav Ono's Seafood. I wasn't much a fan of the dried poke. I don't know what I had expected, but super tough jerky was not it. I should have asked for a sample beforehand or requested an even smaller portion, since we ended up tossing the bulk of it. I could not eat more than two pieces in a sitting, my jaw tired from chewing so much. The beef stew wasn't much better. The flavoring was reminiscent of Chef Boyardee, and I am not a Chef Boyardee fan. Despite Yama's aloha spirit, it certainly won't be on my list for my next Oahu visit.

    (2)

  • Jia-Wen H.

    I honestly wish they had Yama's in Los Angeles. I made it a point to try this place while on my vacation in Hawaii. I ordered the 22oz chicken long rice, taro coconut pie, and pumpkin coconut pie. The chicken long rice was available in different sized containers. The 22 oz was the biggest size. It really didn't look that big. But I was so wrong. Chicken long rice is very heavy. It tastes like chicken noodle soup with mung bean noodles. But I was not able to finish it. The pies also look very small, but it was perfect in every way! You can actually taste the taro and pumpkin. You can tell they use fresh ingredients. This was, in my opinion, the best place we ate at during our entire trip. That's saying a lot since we ate about 5 meals a day. We tried a good number of 4 to 5 star restaurants on the island.

    (5)

  • Jackie C.

    Looks like a fish market but it doesn't smell like one! Girls working here are super nice. First time trying poke so we got both common flavors! Lomi, shoyu and one special one cause I just wanted to try it, wasabi!! Shoyu is very normal tasting. Its fresh and delicious but it didnt wow me. Lomi was kind weird. Maybe I didn't like the texture of the green grass looking thing. Its crunchy and possibly seasoned with sea salt?! Cause I had some crystalized crunchiness as well...not my cup of tea.. But boy was I surprised about the wasabi flavor!! Its a little spicy and the hint of wasabi comes after! SUPER YUM! Its i dont usually like rice but I seem to like all Hawaiian rice. A little mushy, sticky, and chewy! Its perfect plain or with pretty much anything! This is the first time having laulau! For a fish market/ togo place like this, I think its amazing! Cannot wait to try the real deal!!

    (4)

  • Alfred Y.

    It's hot, and muggy in Hawaii. There isn't a sidewalk on Young street, so you're busy diving around parked cars to avoid the ones passing you on the street. The store sits in its own parking lot near a corner, and you pass by a smell that reminds you that this is a seafood-based market. There isn't a lot of space to sit down and eat, as this place is geared toward take-out orders as many locals appeared to be doing. They have everything Hawaiin in here, but we mainly came for the poke since we love chewing on raw, dead, fresh fish. Everything tasted fresh and we ordered a 1/4 lb of most of the poke variations. There were a few notable ones, but I've had much better seasoned poke variations from other areas, including the mainland. Some were over seasoned (too salty) and others under-seasoned (not salty enough). Would I come here again? Maybe, to try their other non-poke hawaiin food to do this place better justice!

    (3)

  • Helen H.

    First time trying Hawaiian Food and I was quite pleased. Came here for lunch and it was pretty crowded. Parking is limited, but there is parking on the street. There isn't any seating available inside so I think it might just be for take-out. I noticed there were a lot of people that called their orders in, that would probably be smart since they do get pretty busy. They have a bunch of different haupia desserts that I will definitely try the next time I stop by. A showcase of poke selections. I got the #3 that came with laulau, poke, lomi salmon, a scoop of rice, and haupia, I got a side of kalua pig and a side of the chicken long rice. I was not disappointed. I could probably do without the chicken long rice, but everything else was a thumbs up! I think I might even stop by for some haupia later on today. Service was okay, not bad nor was it over the top. They were attentive and quick to get my order ready, so that's always a plus. I will definitely be back to try the other things on the menu.

    (4)

  • Dianna D.

    I would highly recommend this place if you wanted a bite of classic Hawaiian food. If you are a tourist, I would highly recommend for you to stop by this place and have a bite to eat, preferably the plates that have many choices on them. Some favorites of mine include their kalua pork, lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, and haupia pie. They also have quite the selection of ahi and tako poke at a reasonable price, which can be purchased in 1/4 pound increments. Service is good. The only not so great part about this place is that they only have seating for a few people outside on their 2 tables. Otherwise everything is to go.

    (4)

  • Jozlyn H.

    Cheap, quick, delicious local plate lunch. Not much parking but most people are in and out so I always find a parking spot whenever I go during lunch time. Cheap... All their plates are under $10... Most around $6-$7 and their portions are pretty big. This place is my favorite lunch place when I'm on a budget

    (4)

  • Erika E.

    best place for poke! all of the employees are happy and helpful love this little hidden gem and love that they offer you samples before you buy a lb or 1/2 lb of poke. I wanted the shoyu poke and it was almost gone, so they made me a fresh batch

    (5)

  • Josh K.

    Decided to try Yama's for the first time while visiting back on Oahu and I was impressed. The lau lau was on par with other great Hawaiian food places on the island. The squid luau was also very good. The staff was friendly and parking was adequate. My particular favorite was the brownie haupia. Will come back again once back in Oahu.

    (5)

  • Emmi N.

    Delicious pokes! Can't go wrong with the Shoyu Ahi! Asked the girl helping us what her favorite is, and she said Shoyu. But we already got that, so we asked her for her 2nd favorite - Wasabi Mayo Ahi Poke. Got that, and also delicious! Other items we got were the Octopus Poke (refreshing), spicy and mild Pasteles, and macaroni salad. Why do Hawaiian macaroni salad taste so good?! Pasteles was a first for me - I liked it but mom didn't. I forget the reason - too greasy or salty? Anyway, I loved everything we got from this place, and the only regret is that we didn't get more :) They have other hot food items you can get like a bento combo. Would love to try those out next time :)

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    One of the Hawaiian joints that I can finally cross off my list. I hoped I could buy a plate with just the lau lau and poke but they only serve in the combinations they list. The food was alright - lau lau was moist and tender, lomi lomi good, very small serving of poke. $11 for my combination plate and it came with haupia. Overall if you need Hawaiian food and dont want to wait at other places Yama's isn't a bad choice.

    (3)

  • CHRIS M.

    Good, as long as you don't get the Squid Luau! We ordered take out last Friday, and when I grabbed my squid luau from the bag I noticed its BRIGHT GREEN color illuminating through the take out container cover. It looked similar to Mexican avocado salsa that was watered down. Even though it looked inedible I tasted it because I had been craving this dish for a few weeks. To no surprise it was horrible! It was basically green colored coconut milk with chewy bits of frozen squid. I'm thinking that they ran out of luau leaves, decided to sell it anyway, and hoped that no one would notice how bad it looked and tasted. If you are craving squid luau, Highway Inn is the place to go! Luckily, I ordered a beef stew bowl too which was good. Tasted my boyfriend's lau lau (pork & chicken mix) and it was good as well.i

    (3)

  • Cat C.

    I'm so glad we asked our Enterprise rep on a nearby recommendation for poke. He recommended Yama's & I can see why locals come to this tucked away fish market. The woman helping us was so friendly & told me that we could sample any of their variety of poke after we asked her about a couple. We got a 1/4lb each of the shoyu and the spicy poke, alongside with a Kahlua pork lunch plate. We got all this delish food for $14 & change. Most of their customers park in the small parking lot and get their food to go. There's only two tables outside to eat at, so while we were waiting for one table to clear up we were eating in the car. The poke was so fresh. The spicy one was coated in Sriracha like sauce and had a bite to it for sure. The shoyu is more traditional. We enjoyed both, but I think I prefer the shoyu. The pork was plentiful and very juicy. The mac salad was one of the best I had too as it was a little lighter on the mayo. Their menu has a lot of enticing food options..including desserts! Come to Yama's for fresh and delicious poke and lunch plates that won't hurt your wallet.

    (5)

  • Kent I.

    I've been coming here for about 20 years now! Thank goodness that Yama's is only a block away from where I work! I LOVE the food here! It's my favorite place for Hawaiian take out. They have lots of different kinds of entrees, poke, salads, and desserts to choose from. My favorite feast for two consists of: combo plate with laulau, kalua pig, rice, lomi salmon, and haupia. Then add a shoyu chicken plate (either regular or shredded) with mac salad - ask for extra sauce over the rice! Then add a side order of namasu and poke (we like the spicy masago ahi or limu poke the best). I like to use a lot of sriracha over the laulau, kalua pig, and shoyu chicken. For dessert, my favorite is the sweet potato haupia dessert, but they're all good. So much to choose from. Damn I think I'm gonna eat there tomorrow!

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    This was my first time at their new location and yes, I know that they've been there for years! I'll admit that it has been a while! They carry a variety of items - snacks (seeds, chips, boiled peanuts), dessert (ice cakes, haupia desserts), candies, drinks, assorted poke and of course their ono plate lunches. I ordered their plate (I think it was #7). This plate had a substantial helping of rice, kalua pig, a small container of lomi salmon and a laulau (pork & chicken). Definitely a good amount of food for the price you pay. Check it out! I'm going back again to try some of their other plates (soon..hopefully).

    (4)

  • Smash S.

    This place is a must eat while you're in hawaii. I just moved here and found this gem right down the street from my house. HUGEEEEE plates, hella generous. And the food is delicious and so inexpensive! I got shoyu chicken and it came with 4-5 chicken thighs with 2 big scoops of rice yumm. And I tried their Haupia pumpkin dessert . Seriously try this place when you get a chance, you won't regret it! Ohh and their poke looks so good, they have a huge selection.

    (5)

  • John A.

    #7 for $10.37 is what I ordered@ Yama's Fish Market. lau lau, kalua pig, big scoop of rice and lomi lomi salmon. Great friendly service. #3 lau lau plate for $ 10.25

    (3)

  • Aryan O.

    Poke was good, Garlic Chicken was really good, Katsu was alright. Just be prepared to either eat in your car or at home because there are no seating at this place. There were 2 tables with 2 chairs each to that table but I'm pretty sure those tables would be taken on any given day.

    (4)

  • Helen Z.

    I wandered farther downtown than most tourists do to visit this wonderful fish market frequented by locals. In the short twenty minutes I spent sitting outside, at least ten cars stopped in the small parking lot to pick up some fresh food for lunch. The market itself is modest in size, with only two small tables out front for seating. The food is outstanding though. Never have I seen such a variety of poke! They offer spicy, regular, shoyu, wasabi, and more with tako (squid), ahi (tuna), and other seafoods. I ended up ordering a quarter pound of spicy tako, a quarter pound of ahi limu poke, and a side of lomi salmon, all for a little over $10 (the minimum to use a credit card). The limu turned out to be my favorite - I highly recommend it. Because they never freeze their tuna, it tastes very fresh and doesn't have the weird aftertaste that I've experienced with some other pokes. I only wish I had also added a side of rice or poi - all that poke by itself was salty!

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    I absolutely adore this place! The prices are good and the food is delicious. I got a #9. Kalua, beef stew, rice, and Mac salad. So yummy. Will definitely be back many more times.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    I've been going to Yama's almost 20, maybe over 20 years. From the old location down the street to the one there are at now. I've recommended them to many friends and family. I guess when you've been successful for so long, you forget your customers helped make you what you are today. I haven't been there in awhile - But I do stop by whenever i'm in the area. The food is still good. But whoever helped me today was a total (rhymes with PRICK). So it started with the $10 CC minimum. I guess my math was bad, and I was short - NO PROBLEM, I just grabbed something to make it over $10. He was so annoyed in telling me my total was $9 something. It was a hot day, and my dog was with me. I just asked for 2 pieces of ice. I didnt say it was for my dog. I was going to buy a drink, but figured if they'd let me get a couple pieces I could skip the drink I didn't want. Figure the store that's known for 1 price - ANY SIZE drink would let me. Even if not, the drink is a good deal so didn't hurt to ask. WELL NO. I got the snippiest remarks with such BS attitude. Honestly, a simple No would be fine. So by giving me 2 pieces of ice, the entire island will want it for free. Ok whatevers - I can see your point, but wow /THANKS for that message. Ya know, you could've always just bought a cup or a bag of ice. WOW - I was planning to, but the way you said to me. F!U! Yama's you will never have my business again. I will not recommend you to anyone new who visits. Any friends who wants to eat there, is welcomed to go, but I will definitely take my money elsewhere. My recommendations will be honest to them. The food and price is great. Though if you wanted to be treated like dirt, you're welcomed to go. Out of principal I didn't even buy the drink I would've gotten. I just went to longs to get my dog a water.

    (1)

  • Nicole C.

    Onolicious da kalua pig plate!!! Evrything tasted amazing and the prices are fantastic. Portions are generous and the staff is very nice.

    (4)

  • Kayla L.

    I really like it here. They have very convenient hours and the prices are decent. I love their Kalua pig. It's not super dry like other places. Their deserts are pretty good too. I have yet to try their poke, but it looks delicious. They're super fast too. No long waits like other places we've been to.

    (4)

  • Randy L.

    My new addiction is the wasabi masago ahi poke. Right level of spicyness, buttery soft tuna chunks, and the crunch of the fish eggs popping in your mouth. Boiled peanuts are the best that I've found on the island. Everything else is pretty solid. I think they have the best price for taro chips--better than Safeway. Pork or chicken laulau are great. Interesting variety of innovative haupia desserts.

    (5)

  • Julie N.

    Yamas is my go to take out place. Been coming here for years now & I'm always satisfied with their food. They have fresh, good quality, hawaiian plate lunches, pupus, poke, amazing desserts, easy grab & go bentos & the portions are pretty big!!!

    (5)

  • Walter C.

    Excellent selection of food. Variety of Poke is the best. I wish this place was here when I was living across the street on South Beretania. I definitely would have wasted huge quantities of cash to eat here. Location is not bad, out of the way enough to makes it easy to get to and a parking lot to fit most cars.

    (5)

  • Annie W.

    Their lau lau and poke is the best here. The taro leaves with chunks of meat and just a tiny of bit of fat to bring out the flavors. I miss Hawaii so much because we only get frozen lau lau flown into the Mainland and it's not the same. Their poke, not too salty at all and the added masago gives it slight break in texture. This is lunch plate done right, with sides like ocean salad and lomi lomi salmon to make it all better. If you're not feeling these dishes, they even have tako or beef and chicken adobo. This is a tiny joint with two tables outside. After a 5 hour flight, local grindz like this hits the spot. They carry my absolute favorite Hawaiian Co. taro chips, not the best prices in town, but it'll do. Funny thing is they're like a small convenient store that carry gummies, candies sprinkles with island favorites of li hing too. If not, maybe an individual cup of haupia? The customer service is quick, friendly and they even stayed a few minutes extra just to make sure we had our fill before closing shop and bringing in their tables and chairs.

    (5)

  • Laura S.

    Shoyu & Limu Poke were so, so fresh and tasty. Kalua pig was flavorful and tender. Love the feel of this place. Small market that is just all about the fresh food. Wish they had more tables though! It was hard having to wait to drive back to the hotel to eat everything!

    (5)

  • Bobby S.

    The Kalua Pig is the best! Service was great in and out so quick. Also had the Lau Lau and chicken long rice both were very good too.

    (5)

  • Mary Anne Q.

    All my friends and family rant and rave about how the food here is "Soo Ono!", but I don't venture out into Kalihi too often unless I have business there or I happen to be travelling with friends and family, which in this case, I was with my family shopping at "Chinatown Market Place" - It's not exactly Chinatown, but that's what the place is called. Anyway, as I'm waiting for my folks to finish up their shopping, my son and I decide to walk around and see what other shops there are. We came across Yama's Fish Market and I decide to pick up lunch to go. I order 3 combo plates to go with poi in place of rice. Combo plate includes: Lau Lau pork with butterfish, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Rice or Poi, Sweet Potato, Kalua pork and Pipikaula. I think the lady who took my order was in training or something because she only made 2 plates instead of 3 and got all flustered when I reminded her of this. She looked at her co-worker for help, who told her to ring me up for 3 plates and then make the 3rd plate. There was no line when I ordered my food, but by now there was and I'm thinking she doesn't do well under pressure because she was moving rather SLOW! I really should have checked the food before I went home because I realized that our food was short 1 Lomi Lomi Salmon and she gave us RICE instead of POI. That was the FIRST thing she asked me too - if I wanted Rice or Poi!! Why ask me what I want if you're not going to give it to me anyway?!? I had never tried Pipikaula before, but the pieces that were given to me were all ROCK HARD! Is it supposed to be like that? We could barely sink our teeth into it. It tasted like Bar-B-Que, but none of us could bite into it. If it wasn't for the Pipikaula and the poor customer service, I would've given this place 5 stars. I might visit this place again because I did enjoy the rest of my plate lunch, but I'll make sure not to have my order taken by that Chinese Lady again. I'm really disappointed. I was really looking forward to eating Poi too. =(

    (4)

  • Lee L.

    This is a "locals" place to go... It's take out place... If you are looking for good Poke- this place has it, also the kalua pig dish is good too. We go here every time we are in Honolulu- then we take it to the beach and chow down. Line can be long but it goes fast... Parking sometimes hard... Don't park across the street in the apartment lot, they'll tell you to leave. They have good hawaiian snacks too, the spam musubi are yummy for a quick bite.

    (5)

  • Ruby R.

    This review is just for select items. Poi, squid luau, shoyu ahi poke, and spicy ahi poke. It's all delicious! And it's the BEST spicy ahi poke. My favorite. Flavor is good, it's spicy, and the texture of crunchy limu and onions with the ahi makes it amazing. I can't wait to try other things.

    (5)

  • Mega G.

    Love the Grilled Ahi and Haupia. The ahi was fresh and delicious. Hard to come by inexpensive, delish and non-frozen fish like this on the mainland, so do stop by here and try the fresh fish. Poke is saltier than Ono Seafood, but still good. There are a couple small tables outside to sit, but otherwise really just a grab-and-go. Parking is in a small private lot. Minus one star because the gal at the counter could be a bit nicer. There was no greeting or smile and she made us feel like she wanted to hurry us up although there was no one behind us. She seemed impatient...or maybe just unhappy? Other than that, we loved this place.

    (4)

  • Lynne H.

    It's always a good day when I get go to Yama's because I know I'm going home with all sorts of goodies. We actually started going there to pick up poke and some snacks, and figured we might as well try out their plate lunches. You can't miss the sky blue building on Young Street (closer to Isenberg): yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… There are a lot of choices on their plate lunch menu and their daily specials, and I'm slowly working my way through them. So far my favorites are the laulau plates. I love their laulau. It's a chicken/meat combo without a lot of fat. It could use more laulau leaves, but the flavor is perfect. I like the way the plate the adobo in a separate container so the rice doesn't get mushy. The adobo itself is delicately flavored, not too salty and not too vinegary, and the grilled ahi plate is a winner: yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… You can't beat the price of a fresh ahi salad @ $5.55 and the pateles are a whopping size that comes in mild and spicy (though the mild can be spicy): yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… As the other reviews point out, the poke is the freshest. And it is. Which is why it's funny that my favorite poke is the Garlic Pepper Dry Ahi Poke (dried salted ahi, black pepper, chili pepper and sesame oil). It's a great pupu to take to parties: yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… The Garlic Pepper Dried Ahi (without sesame oil and chili pepper) also makes a great pupu or snack: yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… Sad to say, but I haven't tried out their desserts YET. That's my next *goal*. There's lots to chose from: yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… You can go online to their website and check out the regular plate lunch menu. The parking lot is small and can get crowded so plan on going early. 31 Yelps Challenge: #3/31

    (5)

  • Shane S.

    Used to go here often when I worked a block away and the Kalua Pig plate at the time was cheap...obviously prices have gone up the past 15 years...

    (4)

  • RONALD W.

    Great bang for the buck. Great meal for under $10. The Kahlua pork plate was more than enough for dinner for me and oh so tasty. They also have an assortment of poke. I had the samlle ahi masago poke which is made with fish eggs and it was really good. Get there early as I think they close at 7p on most nights.

    (4)

  • Calily B.

    Legit Hawaiian lunch plates away from all the touristy noise. If you go during lunchtime, you will see workers waiting for their orders and tons of to-go orders being put together as well. The various pokes are fresh and flavorful. The laulau needed a bit more salt but still tasty! There's no seating so be prepared to take it with you or keep an eye out for the two tables that are out front. My boyf had one of the fish specials of the day when we came and it was cooked perfectly but it was lacking in a sauce or topping -- but still good. I highly recommend this place if you want to get the real deal when it comes to where the locals eat.

    (4)

  • Edwin S.

    Generous portions for a good price. Lau lau was moist and juicy. Kalua pork was a huge portion and.I had to really roll up my sleeves to polish it off. Poke selection was fresh and delicious. Parking is pretty challenging, but that is to be expected with this part of town. Great service though. I felt very much at home and would love to visit again.

    (5)

  • Courtney C.

    I could honestly condense this review to one sentence: GET THE WASABI AHI POKE. But that wouldn't be too helpful, would it? Yama's is my go-to place for poke. It's fresh and I prefer their spicy ahi over Foodland's because of the taste. I also don't think they put masago in it like Yama's. My family buys all our Hawaiian food here in bulk for parties, which is one the best places to order from in town. They also have plate lunches such as mochiko chicken and panko crusted ahi (I'm starting to consider going back to pick something up for dinner now), as well as all kinds of snacks and goodies like taro chips, li hing mui seeds, and rock candy. This place is popular, but not in the way that you can never find parking and you have to wait for a while to be helped. Whenever I come, I never have trouble finding parking or have to wait for more than five minutes for my order--and I've come at all hours of the day. Everything I have eaten here has been amazing, but I think their best dishes would be the Wasabi Ahi Poke (there is also a spicy wasabi ahi poke, which is exactly that: SPICY. I enjoy spicy food but this poke is too spicy for me. Try the two before you decide which one you want!) and don't forget to try their Haupia!

    (5)

  • Jess I.

    As far as Hawaiian food goes, it's good. The combo plates are huge and a pretty decent deal, although don't expect it to come with much more than a few pieces of ahi if you order a combo w/ poke. The poke here is great though. Also the Kahlua pork wasn't dry and had a lot of flavor.

    (4)

  • jazzy l.

    $16.75 limu poke. Love the sweet potato haupia pie. Love the Pastele.

    (4)

  • Timothy B.

    Price isn't bad, you can get a plate lunch for under ten dollars. The kalua pig is top notch. Foods solid, prices are solid, service is solid. Overall I would definitely recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Thomas P.

    Local favorite plate lunches (lau lau and pork adobo are my favorites) with a great selection of poke, some of them signature favorites of Yama's. Good sized portions in their plate lunches, with great fish selections and specials (I am not a fish eater, but I choose this selection often from here). Their desserts are a little pricey, but oh so with it. Quite ono. The parking lot is small and hard to maneuver, but worth the effort. There is a small area in front of the building with a few tables and chairs, but it's dusty and reeks of car exhaust, not to mention the heat on a hot day. Best taken home or to your favorite beach park to enjoy.

    (5)

  • Karissa K.

    Large menu with a larger variety of different foods. They sell dried ahi, dried poke, etc. fresh ahi poke, fresh tako poke, poi, chicken long rice, laulau, lomi lomi, adobo, and kalua pigs of all kinds of flavor! Spicy, mild, normal- this place has it! Not super large and only two cashier but super friendly service! Only wish it was longer since this place is so popular!

    (4)

  • Amara E.

    I come by here for two things: poke and their haupia pie. I usually order the wasabi ahi masago poke. Their poke is always fresh and well-seasoned. I love how it's never too salty and always has a good amount of punch to it! The place is also convenient because it is close to my work and their is a parking lot just in front. It's a great place for grab-n-go food. Surprisingly, Yama's carries a lot of baked goods and desserts. Most, if not all, of the baked goods are locally made and I absolutely LOVE their chocolate biscottis. I usually buy a bag and munch on them for breakfast with coffee. My favorite, though, is their Okinawan sweet potato with haupia pie. SO good! They have haupie pie that comes in other flavors, but the sweet potato-haupia combo is my absolute favorite. Yama's also serves plate lunch here. They have a whole menu of different plates they can make and a daily special, too. The food is genuine local food and it's a great place to grab a bite for lunch.

    (5)

  • Alyson Y.

    I've eaten at Yama's at least 10 times, since discovering it last year and it's my favorite plate lunch spot in town (though, there are a couple of my list I've been meaning to try). The parking is tight, but if you can't find parking in the front lot - I'd hang around because one is bound to open up soon. They don't have seating, so you're just grabbing your food and taking it to go. When you walk in you have dry goods (mostly snacks) to the left and the full case of their fresh entrees in front. I always order the Kalua Pig Plate with Mac Salad and am always impressed how much food they give you for the price. They do sell out, so if you're going there later in the day - they may not have what you're looking for. Even if you order the plates, the food comes out quickly. Fountain sodas and canned drinks available. Supposedly delicious poke, but I don't eat sea creatures (having been born on the mainland and all). 5 stars because they couldn't do better by me.

    (5)

  • Kahala H.

    The poke is always ono. It's creative, fresh and tasty. Hawaiian plates are great. My favorite is the grilled ahi with ginger sauce one word: incredible! They cook 2 generous pieces to order and serve it with rice and mac. I always opt for poi and namasu. It's good food at a reasonable price. The desserts...OMG! Can you tell I like this place?

    (5)

  • Ashlie C.

    This place was absolutely wonderful! I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Hawaii. 1. Ambiance - The restaurant is half indoors and half outdoors. There are tables with bar stools and lawn chairs, but setting is all very tasteful. They have tiki torches and live music which adds a little Hawaiian theme. 2. Service - Our waiter was very friendly and quick with our orders. One of the nicest service we received in Hawaii. 3. Food - The food is absolutely delicious and the seafood tastes very fresh! We couldn't get enough of it! I highly recommend the pasta dish. Definitely our fav place to eat in Hawaii. You must check it out because it's delicious, affordable, comfortable, and friendly!

    (5)

  • Patrick S.

    A great choice for Hawaiian food and local plates. Prices are reasonable and food is fresh. I usually get their #6 with an upgrade to poi. That's Kalua Pig, Lomi, Haupia, and poke. I ALWAYS get their Wasabi Masago Ahi Poke. It's just has an AWESOME flavor to it and the wasabi isn't overwhelming. They do offer a similar plate with Lau Lau, but they don't make pork laulau. They do chicken/fish laulaus which to me just isn't as good. They do have some great homemade desserts and all soda sizes are the same price. I'm also not aware of many poke shops serving hawaiian food during dinner time (till 7pm). Overall a GREAT place in town to get mean local grinds at reasonable prices.

    (4)

  • Lan N.

    I've been preferring my poke pretty strongly flavored lately. So a lot of poke, even if it has great cuts of fish and is super fresh, just seems to lack that bit of "bang" to send it over the top. Yama's spicy wasabi ahi definitely hits the mark. I bought half a lb and almost ate the entire thing myself. I enjoyed that extra kick from the wasabi. Probably one of my top favorite pokes now.

    (4)

  • Annelise C.

    I used them to cater my wedding of 200 people. Excellent food, and and excellent prices. The Kalua pig is the best I have ever had.

    (5)

  • kristine f.

    Yama's is on my mental post-it board that I love to frequent and tend to crave at random times a day. Folks there are very nice and attentive. I always call my order in ahead of time. I typically get Lau Lau and I love their Kalua Pig (juicy shredded pieces of pork) and Garlic Chicken. The Pipikaula is also another tasty dish that I cannot go without. I also appreciate how all the sides i.e. Lomi Salmon, Mac Salad are all in separate containers. I really hate when things get all slopped together. They have quite an array of cookies along the wall that are all very ono. Chocolate chip and Cornflake are my two favorites. The Haupia is creamy and oh so good. Mmmm...I may just need to stop there for a huge take out order. :)

    (5)

  • Jonathan D.

    Take out place, they only two small outdoor tables with two chairs each. But the food is good. We tried several of the different kinds of Poke, the Kalua Pig, and the Lau Lau. It was all tasty and the Poke was at least on par with the other places we tried on the island. Fountain drinks were very cheap, a much better deal that buying bottled anything.

    (4)

  • Shantel V.

    So I came back to try the grilled ahi.... It came with a huge slab of ahi, 2 scoops rice and they let me sub the Mac salad for Haupia. They did have other options to sub the Mac salad with, but really... you have to get the Haupia. Every. Time. To me what made the dish was that little green sauce that came with the ahi... It was a gingery sauce that when put together with the fish it was just a match made in heaven. And this time I got the brownie Haupia... sooo good. Next time I think I'll try the pastele.

    (4)

  • Gov. B.

    One old flip lady gave old poke!! I came back, and she said no refund! No trust time place no more!!

    (1)

  • Mark M.

    I came here during a long layover on my way to New Zealand on the recommendation of a friend who was giving me a ride. I lived in Honolulu for nearly five years and had never gotten around to going here. On first glance it seemed like any other plate lunch place; all the usual Hawaiian staples are there, plus some baked goods and assorted Asian foods. One of my favorite things from plate lunch places is garlic chicken, and I will usually get that if nothing else jumps out at me, and it seemed like a good idea here. I was also intrigued by the kalua chicken... never heard of that before. My wife got kalua pig and cabbage and some poke. The food was good, but not incredible. Good garlic chicken, but I wasn't overly impressed by the kalua chicken: interesting concept, but kalua pork is better and the chicken is still super greasy so it's no healthier. My wife's food was about the same, good but not earth shattering. The problem was the service. I lived in Hawaii long enough to know that no one is ever in a rush, so I don't expect prompt service anywhere, least of all a plate lunch place. But this was ridiculous. At least 5 people who came in after us got their food before we did. Also, our friends, who ordered right before us, got their food quickly. Neither of us ordered anything that should have taken especially long to make, so I was at a loss to explain why it took so much extra time. Factoring in the fact that I hadn't eaten during my 6 hour flight, I was not happy. The fact that I have learned to expect slower service from these kind of places is the only reason I gave 3 stars instead of two. Whenever I come back to visit Hawaii, this is not a place I will be returning to.

    (3)

  • Tracey M.

    VERY disappointed with the new hours. It's 5:30 and wanted to pick up dinner but they now close at 5:00pm??!!

    (1)

  • Al D.

    Good little Hawaiian food shop on Young Street. I like the smoked fish here and the tofu patties. I also get the poi, lomi salmon, haupia/okinawan sweet potato or haupia/chocolate or haupia/pumpkin desserts, and like their boiled peanuts.

    (4)

  • J G.

    I am a fan, especially on Wednesday when their special is gandule rice! BBBUUUTTTT, their new Monday to Friday hours of 9am - 5pm is not convenient :(

    (3)

  • Ryan G.

    They have a lot of variety. As far as Hawaiian food I'm going to say that they are just ok. The squid luau is bland and barely put enough squid in it to enjoy. The lau lau is good. The Kailua pig is a little on the salty side but it goes hand in hand with poi. I enjoy their spicy ahi masago poke and their lomi salmon is pretty good. The grilled ahi players also another favorite because they give a ginger green onion sauce on the side. They are fast and convenient, but if your looking for the best Hawaiian food I would venture to other places.

    (3)

  • Asako I.

    If you want to eat local this is definitely the place to be. We were staying along Waikiki resort area and this place was probably 8-10 minute drive. We were there just around closing time so their full selection was not available. I would recommend for you to be there well before closing time. The staff is very friendly and helpful if you don't know terms like 'poke' 'lau lau' and 'kalua'. We made a great selection for dinner!

    (5)

  • Crystal R.

    The food is excellent here. I always order the lau lau plate and that always seems to put me sleep right after (also known as a kanak attack). I have been eating Hawaiian local food ever since I was born and when I moved here to Oahu, I was glad to run into this place. The lau lau is delicious and the chicken meat inside it just melts in your mouth and falls off the bone. There is also a wide selection of FRESH poke which is also delicious. Everything they make is fresh, ono (delicious), and down right awesome. One downfall is there small parking lot and gets pretty chaotic during lunch hour, car pooling or patience to find parking is suggested.

    (5)

  • Angelica Z.

    Good, reliable Hawaiian food for a very decent price and in close proximity to UH (yes!). I usually order the laulau/lomi salmon combo with two scoops of white rice for about $8! I also get the squid luau side for $3.25. This feeds me three meals, no joke! Squid luau is very good-not too sweet. Laulau is also pretty good, though I think it's chicken and not pork; this might not be as attractive of a choice to some. I've never ordered the poke but I've tasted the shoyu ahi poke and it's pretty tasty! This place is a regular on my cheap/delicious lunch options list!

    (4)

  • Vic S.

    my friend had recommended this place when I came a few years ago and I've been making this a stop ever since. lunch plates, poki and dried ahi are delicious at Yama's Fish Market! this was our first stop after landing in Oahu, killing time while we were waiting to check into our hotel back in July. this is more of a walk-up/to-go type place with only 2 small tables outside. we took our food to a nearby park and enjoyed the food and weather.

    (5)

  • Diandra M.

    Took some friends here from California. They wouldn't know any difference, so they loved it. + it's Hawaiian food! + they're open on Sundays +friendly customer service + okay size portions + flat rate for any size beverage -very, very little seating -not the most affordable -parking was a headache

    (3)

  • Nadine L.

    I never liked poke until this place: The spicy ahi poke The spicy wasabi ahi poke Were sooooo good I could've just eaten the spicy wasabi ahi poke all day and I don't even like wasabi. That's how good it was. We had the lau lau and spam fried rice and the pudding brownie too... But really all you need is the spicy wasabi ahi poke.

    (5)

  • Ella G.

    Absolutely amazing food. Decently priced on all of their items, the workers are friendly and helpful. These guys have a great selection of menu items and they allow substitutions. I got the grilled ahi (pictured) and my bf got the kalua pork. I also got a pastelle for later. The ahi came with this weird looking green sauce that was really good! All around these guys are great. I will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Kelly M.

    I second what several of the reviews have said, disappointing and I'll stick to Maile's, Ono's, or Helena's. This is mainly a take-out place, with a couple of tables outside. Both were taken by one family, so we had to take our food home. Had the garlic chicken. This would probably been better if eaten there, but did not travel well. Overall, good but not great.

    (3)

  • Alissa T.

    This place is a stand in line then order for take out type of place. There is plenty kinds of poke...I Love it (and Im not just saying that because my aunty has worked there for many years!) I love their lau lau and their poke, which I usually go for. While in line you can't help but eye the treats in the refrigerated area...especially the HAUPIA, so I end up getting a few of those too. Only thing is parking... a lot of times the lot is full, but people are in and out pretty fast, so if you sit and wait a few then you will eventually find someone coming out. Say hi to Aunty Jackie!

    (5)

  • Sheri M.

    Never disappoints. Usually get a #7-kalua pig, lau lau, lomi salmon and rice or the ahi poke patties. Or one of the salads if I'm feeling healthy. Sweet potato haupia pie and chocolate haupia is a must. Recently discovered the layered ice cream desserts too. And the cookies.

    (5)

  • marian z.

    One of my favorite places in hawaii. They have a variety of poke and other dishes and they are pretty cheap. It's a small hole in the wall place. I tried many poke here and my favorite was the spicy one with masago =)

    (5)

  • Millicents F.

    The poke was really tasty, but the customer service threw a few stars off my review. I really liked the spicy masago ahi I think it was called.

    (3)

  • A W.

    Come to Yama's if you are looking for some bomb ass poke. Poke is made fresh everyday. The Hawaiian food is pretty traditional and delicious. My offices love #2 and #7.

    (5)

  • Lei D.

    This is the only place I go for Hawaiian food! I don't eat pork, so I love that they have a chicken laulau, and it's moist and tastes great. I usually get the chicken long rice too and love it. It reminds me of how my mom used to make it... Service is always great and staff is friendly. Parking can get crazy when it's busy, but they only have 2 tables outside and they're often in the sun, so people don't usually stay long.

    (5)

  • Val D.

    Everytime I buy from Yama's, it's never a disappointment. This time, I decided to try their pastele, and it was very flavorful, and I'm glad I bought it: Laulau - 5 stars - consistently big and fresh. Our usual that we buy each time we visit. Squid Luau - 5 stars - today they made it just right. It wasn't sour like the last time we ate it. Pastele - 5 stars - the best I've tried so far. Chicken long rice - 4 stars - better than most places, and my kids love it. Hawaiian style poke - 4 stars - it's usually fresh but today it was a little fishy. Haupia - 5 stars - We can never leave without buying at least a small size haupia. So fresh and delicious! We like the chocolate, taro and just haupia by itself the best. Service - 5 stars - the cashiers are always friendly, happy and personable even if they are busy. Best place to buy fresh hawaiian food and poke, and I'm glad I found it last year through Yelp. However, because it's football season, their specials always run out by the time I get there.

    (5)

  • Rebecca F.

    No need for Long stories. This place is a must go. It's delicious,fresh,healthy and not expensive at all. Love the Tuna, Lau Lau and the Ahi Poke

    (5)

  • Ticha B.

    Tight parking, no parking, no seating, take out only, a line. Not typically good for an establishment. But good local Hawaiian food makes up for all of the above mention cons. We were lucky to find parking right away when another car pulled out when we pulled in. The line wasn't bad either, it just got pretty bad after us. We also took our lunch togo and ate it at Pearl Harbor, so we didn't have a problem with the no tables. The food was really cheap too considering what a plate had it in: pork, rice, lomi lomi salmon, ahi poke and haupia for like $7-8 bucks. Yama's (not related to Reid Y.) also has a big display of the different Ahi Tuna poke they serve...Hawaiian style, shoyu, etc. They have fresh fish! We also had the special menu fried rice which was tasty also. Worth the wait for a big togo plate. I wished they'd put out more tables in the front so the customers could actually enjoy their food right away.

    (4)

  • Helen C.

    Hits close to home - in location and in memories. I didn't learn of this place until after I graduated from high school years back, but I'll always remember the summers when my friends and I would grab a plate lunch and drive to a park to eat. The laulau is awesome x10. I wish we could substitute the macaroni salad or lomi salmon with long rice...I'd be such a sucker for that. But alas, my go-to order would have to be the laulau, poke, lomi salmon plate, and maybe a small side of long rice. I'd strongly recommend the shoyu chicken too. Generous servings. I can never finish my plate, but I can't stop. I can't because it's too good to stop, so I keep eating until I hate myself. Ugh. Thanks, Yama's. Thanks.

    (5)

  • David M.

    Great Poke!

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    Went there for #7 (kalua pig and laulau combo), mochiko chicken, chicken long rice, and poke. The Hawaiian food never disappoints, although sometimes the kalua pig is a little salty for me but nothing to complain about or to stop eating. Today was my first time trying the poke. I was skeptical at first but so far its my favorite. Granted, in the past two weeks ive had poke from safeway, foodland, fresh catch, taniokas, ono hawaiian seafood, and costco. But yamas is the front runner. The mochiko chicken is good but nothing to rave about. It's like a mochiko chicken batter but cooked and cut like katsu. Overall yamas is still my go to place for Hawaiian food. Good food, decent parking, short wait, good prices.

    (4)

  • Jason Y.

    Always good food but never an open place to eat. They have 2 tables outside but are never open. Prices are reasonable and food is always fresh and delicious. Usually get the baked seafood mahi and some pulehu tako on the side.

    (4)

  • w t.

    Super fresh poke. Spicy ahi is one of best. Kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon and edamame very good too.

    (5)

  • June W.

    We went there for the first time to take out our family dinner, and we were so pleased with their food quality and services.(cashier helped me so much, cause I wanted order everything-they looked so good including the dessert section-dangerous!) We tried... Lau Lau chicken: the BEST with enough flavored chicken and vegetables Pokes: so many various seasoned pokes, u can pick and choose! Very FRESH & TASTE! (We tried 3 different pokes) Poi: Very GOOD! Lomi Lomi Salmon: So fresh & well flavored, PERFECT! Strawberry Haupia: Light & not too Sweet and has REAL Strawberries inside, Excellent! Parking in front of the store, easy to find!!! Easy to order, and fast. Love Hawaiian Food? Must Stop by! U will be Happy!! :")

    (5)

  • Kobe O.

    Had to order bentos for my daughters cheer team. They have a great and wide selection of bentos that are reasonably priced. The mini bentos are pretty filling and cost about $5. They blow away the super cheap AKYTH mini-bentos...... I could do the order over the phone and pay over the phone too. Pick up was easy and they had everything in a box with utensils. Only complaint would be that the Teri-beef in the mini-bento was a little salty. Otherwise good and plentiful food. I like supporting these local operations that have been around for ages. Yamas, Youngs. Taniokas, Tamashiro,. Ks, AKYTH.....sounds like I'm taking roll call at Japanese school.

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    Read all the excellent reviews and decided to pick up some dinner for a night in. When we walked in, we were a bit at a loss for what to order and the cashier person was very helpful. We ordered: -chicken & pork lau lau: super duper melt in your mouth soft -grilled ahi: my fave by far! and my toddler son loved it, too. also, liked the green sauce they give you with it. -tako poke: salty, chewy goodness -kalua pig with cabbage: always a Hawaiian fave of mine So after this trip my hubby and I agreed that maybe we aren't the biggest fans of Hawaiian flavors. But despite our lack of love for Hawaiian food, we both had to agree that the food here is QUALITY. We are happy that we got to try it.

    (4)

  • Josh P.

    I usually recommend Yama's fresh selection of poke, but today I was very disappointed to find out that the half-pound Limu Tako I had ordered @ $13.95/lb was mostly limu and onions with very few pieces of actual tako. I took a few pictures of the Limu Tako order to better illustrate my concern: i.imgur.com/ZJkNF8b.jpg i.imgur.com/O1CBvdo.jpg

    (1)

  • Iris J.

    This is always the go-to-place to get my Hawaiian food fix... prices has increased since my last visit a few months ago... somen salad & the haupia desserts are always consistent in quality flavor and higher cost of these items are worth it!!!

    (3)

  • Jay P.

    My mouth is still on fire from the spicy ahi poke I ordered... Since Yama's Fish Market is so conveniently close to school, I decided to make a trip and buy myself an early lunch. Parking is found directly in front, but because there are only five spots available, parking could become a problem during peak hours. There is also street parking and the parking lot across the street. I didn't know exactly what to order in both quantity and poke choice, so I decided to get a second opinion from one of the workers. She was very informative and helpful in my decision to get the half pound of spicy ahi poke. The prices can be a little on the expensive side since it is set at market price (I paid about $8.00 for a half pound of poke), but I feel like the price is totally worth the quality and freshness! The spicy ahi poke is SPICY! I usually handle my own when it comes to spicy foods, but I was sweating and begging for a bottle of water! The flavor of the ahi was still there though despite the relatively overwhelming spiciness. I will definitely come back and order another poke option in the future!

    (5)

  • Alysha K.

    Although the workers are nice, Yama's is definitely a disappointment, and unfortunately, I am going to be brutally honest in this review... Went here cuz all the other Hawaiian restaurants are closed on Sundays and my outta town guest wanted to eat Hawaiian food. This time I tried a bunch of sides - chicken long rice (super soupy & bland), squid luau (way too sweet & thick), pastele (okay but only cuz I don't have too much experience eating this), and beef stew (mostly veggies). 4 sides for $19! On top of that, they don't offer Hawaiian salt, and the chili pepper water, you have to purchase! It also sucks cuz there is no place to eat. There are only two 2-seater tables outside. Sorry Yamas, but I'm sticking to Youngs & Helenas. And if it's a Sunday again, I will take my guests to Zippys...

    (2)

  • Dang P.

    The garlic chicken was very tasty. Not too garlicky and right down the middle of sweet and salty. Could have been crispier, but a solid dish that I would order again. The squid luau was so bland. I think maybe they forgot to add salt altogether. Otherwise the flavor and consistency were good, but it was so bland I had to eat it with the rice soaked in the garlic chicken juice.

    (3)

  • jonathan s.

    Freaking ridiculous lunch in the middle of the day. On a business trip from CA and felt the need for some local grindz. Jumped on Yelp looking for good Poke and this place was a few minutes away and I'm glad it was. Loved the spicy wasabi ahi poke and had the spicy tako salad also. I wish there was something half this good in OC, id' be there a lot. This place will definitely be a must have on my next trip to HNL. Awesome Awesome!

    (5)

  • Miranda S.

    I felt super cool to get to come to this place. My bf who is a hawaii native wanted to take me to all his favorite eats around town and this is the first place he took me to. He was dying for me to come visit him in Hawaii and he kept saying how I'd love all the food here because I am pescatarian, love Japanese food(I just spent 1 year living in Tokyo) I also love raw fish, in sushi, and sashimi and all that.(BTW, I'm home now but I LOVED ALL THE FOOD I ATE IN HAWAII) It was my first actual day in Hawaii and we had just gone to the beach so we were pretty hungry. So we came here and he ordered like three different kinds of poke and garlic ahi jerky. I was so excited because I love fish and haven't really had authentic poke in Hawaii ever(we shared "poke" at a place in LA but he didn't like it) so I was really amped for it. We were going to sit outside, but I had to pee(of course I did) and we had to find a bathroom. We ended up going to Foodland to use the bathroom and were gonna go back to Yama's to eat, but we were too impatient and just ate it in the car. Who cares we were so hungry and I just couldn't resist trying them. We had little cups of each different one: spicy ahi poke, wasabi masago poke and shoyu poke. The first one was REALLY good. I want to say favorite, but I liked them all it would be unfair to choose. My bf actually thought it was really hot; I didn't think so but maybe that's because he actually like swallowed the pepper wrong or something and started coughing like profusely, tears and sweat and everything!! But he was ok, he pushed through it and continued to eat with me. The wasabi poke was good it had masago in it and it added a little crunch and the wasabi flavour was there but not like overwhelming. It was creamy though. The shoyu one was really good! I like shoyu flavor so I was really pleased. I felt this one you could really taste the fish and I liked that. Last was the ahi garlic jerky and I actually didn't try it until a couple days later when we took it to the beach but it was good even then! I should have took some home keeps very nicely! Man, I wish I could go back now and get some. It's probably best because poke it quite pricy and I'd be even more broke!!! :P

    (5)

  • David M.

    This review was some time ago but I haven't been back since. I used to like this place when it first opened and the food and service was good. Last time I came, I ordered the lau lau plate for takeout. Got my plate and when I got home, the lau lau was FROZEN solid. Funny thing is the rice was warm (i'm sure it was hot when I got the plate) and everything else was good. Would you not notice that you are putting a frozen lau lau into my take out plate? geez.......... I now go to Young's for my Hawaiian food craving.

    (3)

  • Ivan S.

    Great Hawaiian and local food! Desserts are modest in size but big on taste, ie. pumpkin/haupia...the Wasabi Masago Ahi bowl (more like tray), is good with a little of Namasu, better than on the side ginger. (Would've been a better pic if I took the time to open the tray)...Parking is not the greatest as other Yelpers noted, but worth it. Friendly service, and I like that they accept AMEX charge cards.

    (4)

  • Melissa T.

    My eyes grew bigger than my stomach when I saw so many delicious poke varieties in the fridge area. The lady helping us was incredibly kind and patient when I asked for multiple samples and stood there saying outloud "I think I need more. 1/2 lb isn't enough. I need more. What should I get?!?!" In the end, there are definite favorites for me: I like the miso octopus and ... the ahi poke all the way to the left side that I can't remember the exact name of. At first compared to the other ahi poke it seems less flavorful, but in the end you'll be able to eat more of the first because the other one is just too salty. Even the rice is delicious and fluffy. My brother got a laulau and was in love with it. I bought a bunch of cookies here and sweet potato and taro chips, which are a must and make for great snacks while road tripping around the island. We also got the tapioca pudding which was really good and a sweet potato pie that I didn't expect to like but it wasn't as sweet as I feared so I enjoyed it. I can easily see myself coming here multiple times in a week for a healthy breakfast. Too bad I live thousands of miles away... The place has its own parking lot which makes it convenient. The employees here were super nice and friendly and the menu is quite extensive

    (5)

  • Anna K.

    Poke? Delicious. Long rice? Delicious. Kalua pig with cabbage? Delicious. Furikake salmon? Semi-delicious, since the fish scales are still on the skin! =[ Why Yamas??? No one likes to eat fish scales!!!! Other than that, everything is pretty delicious as I have mentioned above. My brother and I go here every time I'm back in town. Yamas also sells snacks and desserts so if you're extra hungry, you can pick something else up. The parking is terrible so you'll either have to find street parking or wait around for someone to leave. There is one table outside if you want to stay there to eat. Luckily, I live 5 minutes away and have a table outside my house so I can replicate the feeling of eating at Yamas without the headache.

    (4)

  • Keely C.

    Amazing poke! Their limu poke is to die for! Their laulau is so yummy. Their haupia desserts are lovely.

    (5)

  • Lou D.

    Super friendly staff. We ordered 3 different poke and two combination plates (one lau lau and one with shredded pork). More than enough to feed a family of five. Our server was super helpful and answered all of our questions. Really fresh and really good!

    (5)

  • Jessie K.

    Honestly if your craving Hawaiian food and Kapahulu Poi Factory is closed this is the next best thing! A couple things that I'm not a big fan of is definitely their parking situation, It's to cluttered and the amount of people they get coming in and out you would think there would be a solution. The second thing is that their Kalua Pork is dry and their rice is mushhhy.

    (3)

  • Esther S.

    By far they have the best laulau. My bf and I used to be regulars when we lived in town. But now that we live in Kapolei it's too far. However, we do make an effort to stop by when we are in town running errands. They also have an amazing strawberry jello haupia dessert.

    (5)

  • Alan S.

    First time here based on a tip from a local. No complaints other then there was no where to eat my food but I knew that going in cause I read all the yelp reviews. I came here over Youngs because Youngs does not sell Poke based on a yelp review I read. I didn't even know what Poke was but I knew they had what I wanted plus Poke so it was a plus to come here. Not to mention great Yelp reviews. Wife liked the poke and I loved the kalua pig. I had great customer service. Everything else has been said. I will say I know nothing about Poke but they had a lot of variety to choose from and a sign that read they only sell fresh Poke or no Poke at all. My wife loved it. She got a spicy one. We were in town for a few days and she kept asking me to drive back to Yama's to get her some more. 4 stars I am taking away a star for not having a sit down area and that's the only reason. I will be back next time I am in town.

    (4)

  • Daryl I.

    Good homemade food and Poke... Staff was very knowledgeable and knew where all their products came from down to the ophi lady from Hilo. Very impressed except for the parking and seating area. But who will notice when you are craving this food... Great job gang!!!

    (4)

  • Justino C.

    Oh yes indeed. That Japanese/Filipino/Chinese Hawaiian style. Found this joint on an early morning jog and yes, I'm heading back here again and you should too! I think this Is my favorite joint so far just on authentic style...maybe. If I'm wrong, somebody please tell me where I should go.

    (5)

  • Yummy P.

    Born and Raised in Hawaii, please don't hate me for saying that I am not a huge fan of Hawaiian! I would always find my kalua too dry, mushy long rice or my lau lau over cooked at almost every establishment on the Island! BUT...Not at Yama's!!! My Fiance ordered the Kalua Chicken Plate and I had the Chicken Lau Lau with Masago Poke. It was such a nice day, we ordered it to go and drove to Diamond Head Lookout. He put the tailgate down and opened up our plates of deliciousness! First bite of the Chicken Lau Lau, my eyes were like a "deer in headlights"! The chicken was so soft and juicy, I knew his Kalua Chicken must have been just as good. so I stole a bite and guess what!? Even better! As we were gobbling up the Kalua and Lau Lau, we did not forget about our sides! The Lomi Lomi was yummy yummy, Masago Poke, one of the best on the Island and the Haupia, like butter! To all you visitors and locals who have not had the pleasure, here is a little FYI...this place is a must try! TIPS: Yama's is a "Fish Market" - Best for Take Out, Bento's and Snacks. They do have a few tables outside but I'd recommend taking it to the beach or park. Don't forget to buy a water or fountain drink! Parking is limited but because most people are ordering take out, you are likely to find a spot where someone is leaving just as you arrive.

    (5)

  • Courtney Y.

    Yama's has been my family's go-to place for Hawaiian food for a while now, and it has been for good reason! First things first, a helpful hint, do NOT go on a completely empty stomach, the refrigerated section will lure you in with all the completely delicious desserts it has: haupia brownies, chocolate and haupia tapioca (my favorite), or if you want to go with the classic haupia (that's fine too!), and so much more. But, if you do, no one will blame or judge you for loading up on these delectable goodies. But, usually, we go to Yama's for the food. I always ALWAYS get the Kalua Pig plate (complete with mac salad, and two heft scoops of rice)! So GOOD. Also, on a completely random side note, we still had a menu from them from '09, that's THREE years ago, yet all the prices are all relatively the same, nothing has gone up too much, just 30 cents more, really minor. Yama's is really there just to serve good food, and not to overcharge. I can respect that.

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    I love poke so when I decided to try this place I was expecting to be thrown into a proverbial oasis of delicious poke. I ordered the spicy ahi poke while my boyfriend ordered the hawaiian style poke. I did not like my spicy ahi poke!! It was waaaay too salty and was in desperate need for rice which I hadnt ordered with the poke. I mean damn I couldn't eat it because they just pour the salt on there. The hawaiian poke was actually really really yummy. It was not salty at all and literally tasted like the ocean. I would give the hawaiian poke a 5 out of 5. Being a salt junkie, my boyfriend loved the over salted spicy ahi poke but disliked the mildly salted hawaiian poke. I also tried their chocolate chip cookies which were some of the best cookies I have ever had. They were thin and crispy with just the right amount of chocolate chips...man strange coming from a poke place. So in conclusion if you love spicy ahi poke dont come here and order it unless you have a large order of rice to eat it with. The hawaiian poke is to die for though :)

    (4)

  • Darcy K.

    Wow, Laulau! Good deal on a hawaiian plate lunch...about $9 for a big laulau, two big scoops rice, lomi salmon (not lomi tomato), POKE :), and haupia. The laulau was my favorite part, big size and lots of juicy meat...droooool... Hawaiian style poke was pretty good too. My bf had beef stew with laulau plate...He even said it was the best meal he had in a while, so that makes me even happier!

    (4)

  • Claudia M.

    Haven't been to Yamas in awhile. Tonight I had the combo plate, kalua pig, chic/pork laulau, lomi salmon and rice. The kalua pig and chicken/pork laulau was salty, salty, salty. The rice was super dry...maybe it was old. The chicken long rice was okay. I was very disappointed as Yama's was one of our favorite places to go for hawaiian food.

    (1)

  • David K.

    Had the Kalua pig, poi, and lomi salmon, they were all good, but nothing spectacular - I could have made pig just as good at home and bought the salmon @ costco. For the cost I thought the portions would have been a bit bigger, but on this particular day it was enough for me. I'll say that under a buck more for the poi is worth it, if you have the acquired taste for it....

    (3)

  • Erin N.

    Man oh man this place is ridic delish!! I don't have other hawaiian food joints to compare to bc my parents usually just make it at home. I was jones'n for some laulau, kalua pig and cabbage and poke real bad one day and decided to try here bc of my fellow yelpers reviews. Let me tell you I was NOT disappointed! My bf and I shared a laulau kalua pig plate, side poke and opihi and we were stuffed!! The leaf is my favorite part of the laulau...weird right? But it was so juicy and flavorful, the chicken and pork were both so moist! $20 for one plate, 2 sides and 1 drink to share but sooooo good! I wanna go back everyday! Their desserts took good too but that'll have to be another visit.

    (5)

  • Anissa F.

    I came here everyday when I was in Hawaii && it's my favorite poke spot in Hawaii! Decent prices and a good portion of food served. This spot doesn't have a lot of seating arrangements, so plan to eat in the car or get the food to go. But other than that they are really friendly local people who know their poke and serve a wide variety of flavors. Fresh and delicious! Wish there was one like this back home. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Zalen E.

    Pulehu Tako. Beef Stew. Pork Adobo. Ahi Poke. AND any size drink for one price? Geez, the only reason I don't get the extra large bambucha soda is because it won't fit into the cup holder! Yama's is a treasure. I'm always surprised when someone says they never heard of it, because in my noggin, their Pulehu tako should be world wide news. If you love their plate lunches, keep your eye open for their chili plate. It reminds you of the chili dad used to make. Looking for a fast bento? The somen salad. BIG and thrifty. Parking can be sparce, and the line can be a bit confusing (mostly because there is kinda a line, but kinda...not?) But overall, fast and worth it service.

    (4)

  • Wesley W.

    Poke me, I'm in heaven..well Poke heaven. they got lots of different pokes and although we only got 3 types, all were delicious. If you want poke, this is a must visit location. Just make sure to check if they're open.

    (5)

  • Connie L.

    Oh, how do I love my local places. I have a love/hate relationship with Hawaii in that I love the food but hate coming here (don't ask). Yama's Fish market makes me forget all of that. Yama's is literally a market with a take out counter. We tried the wasabi poke and ordered some plate lunches to go. The chicken lau lau is sooooo good. The beef stew is too sweet for my taste. There isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said. Do yourself a favor and check it out. There is only one table out front so you have to take your food to go. Find a nice spot on the beach or in the park and have a picnic. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Eduardo S.

    First review, dried ahi was awesome firm outside and soft center with the right amount of salt to go with my beer, taegu was awesome, peanuts a little on the soft and mushy side but edible. Pipikaula lacked flavor to me, but looking forward to trying their hot food items.

    (3)

  • Grace C.

    Solid Hawaiian food. Was here the other day, picked up plate lunch with kalua pork (generous portion), 2 scoops rice, mac salad, lomi salmon and AHI poke~ yum! Also haupia chocolate brownie was awesome~ and li hing pineapples. Good prices, and yummy!

    (4)

  • Lexi L.

    Thank you so much Yelpers! I'm so glad I found this place! Parking was terrible, you gotta find else where on the street. I got #3 laulau, lomi salmon, lumi Tako poke. My bf got #17 grilled mahimahi with side order 1/2lbs shoyu ahi poke. And the original potato haupia dessert. Everything we had was amazing... especially the laulau it was so tasty! I also loved the poke. They have so many different kinds of poke that it's so hard to decide which one to get. I'm definitely going back!!!

    (5)

  • Corey B.

    Ordered the number 7 laulau kalua pig lomi salmon rice with a half pound of ahi masago poke. Broke da mout!

    (5)

  • Ela M.

    Final stop before boarding the plane back to Cali. I found this place on Yelp and skimmed through great reviews.....mainly on their poke, but I thought I would give it a try. Friday during Lent, I ordered the Grilled Ahi and a side of Hijiki Rice. The tuna was perfectly grilled with a hint of rawness. It came with a green dipping sauce ... hmm so good. I wasn't sure what Hijiki Rice was about, but it was pretty good. It's rice with seaweed, shrimp, and carrots. Different in a good way and went great with my tuna. My BF was sold when I told him Pasteles and Arroz were on the menu. Sadly, rice was not on the menu so he ordered 2 Pasteles to go and did the usual run to Teddy's. I'm giving this place 3 Stars for so-so food, but I plan on returning on my quest to find the best Okinawan Sweet Potato Pie. A good amount of local food to choose from and different types of Haupia pie that makes you just want to sample all of them. I'll add this to "The List..."for my next visit. Location is convenient to Hawaii Kai and Kahala so yeah....perfect for a second time experience. I find myself discouraged by the traffic when it comes to trying out places outside of Honolulu.

    (3)

  • Cindy W.

    This place is great if you want to try a variety of delicious Hawaiian food! The only negative I would give is that it's more of a to-go place so it's lacking in seating (there's only two tables w/ two chairs in the parking lot for eating). I love how they have a wide selection of combination plates that allows you to try a little bit of everything. Did I also mention that they have a HUGE poke selection?? I was able to sample their dried poke which was really interesting. Kind of tasted like beef jerky but with poke. I got the combo plate #6 which included kalua pork, poke, lomi lomi, and haupia. Everything was delicious! If I'm ever back in the area, I definitely will hit up this place again and try their other plates :)

    (5)

  • James B.

    While Yama's has good local food, to me it's not the best, but I still enjoy eating there from time to time. Most of the staff is friendly and courteous, though there are a couple of them that are down right rude. And that is a shame, and also the reason I'm giving only 3 stars. I would consider this a type of local mom & pop business and what usually makes them stand out is the food and the great local service, the type that makes you feel like family, my last visit didn't give the warm fuzzy I usually get. I'm not going to use names, because trust me, you know who you are, and you really need to drop the attitude, it's bad for business. I like to support local businesses, but when the staff are rude and not courteous, that makes me long to drive the extra 25 minutes and hit up Taniokas, where they're always in a hustle and bustle, but they always have smiles on their faces and they're polite. With many local businesses going under, the management at Yama's really need to take a look at their staff and let the ones that are bad for business go. While I know the most recent visit won't be my last, I may consider other options if I encounter the same rude individual, which I should at least point out was female.

    (3)

  • Shayna K.

    Yama's catered my baby's first bday luau. They were reliable, servers were pleasant, portions were fine. Hawaiian food was mediocre. I can't complain, because I chose the menu, but it was just so average. Nothing to rave about. We ordered the Poke. Maki sushi platters, Chicken long rice, kalua pig, lomi salmon, poi, chinese chicken salad, squid luau, haupia, rice What I did appreciate was that the guy in charge of their catering, Brian, was extremely efficient, experienced (he knew how much of what dishes to order, that the chicken long rice goes fast if there are a lot of kids, that you only order poi for 75% of the guests, down to the grams per person), and pleasant. My complaints with him, however, were that: 1) it seemed he only wanted to correspond via email, never on the phone, 2) he seemed in a rush to get my menu done than really willing to work it through with me (which would have been easier on the phone). They gave me a good deal, though, and totally pulled through with great service and prompt arrival of the food. That's the main thing at these luaus anyway, right?

    (3)

  • Sarah T.

    This is where my local friend took me for dinner to give me a literal taste of real Honolulu. I was not disappointed. Excellent poke of all kinds and the lau lau plate with a side of Kalua pig (# 7) is a sure way to go to bed happy and sated. Seating is very limited so take it to go.

    (5)

  • Mark F.

    Been coming here for years since they opened, I'm usually in honolulu 1-2 times a year because of family here, but the place i always come to is Yama's for poke. Wish they had a sit down area, but it's convenient. I pretty much like everything here, lunch plates, poke and all the snacks they have on the shelves there, including deserts, purple potato deserts and haupia. They usually have boiled peanuts too. To me, the poke here is always fresh and seasoned perfectly, always a hit with family get togethers. My usual is a lau lau plate lunch, or kalua, but everything is good here. Ahi poke, tako poke, man really good and fresh, the chicken long rice and the adobo are good as well. And they usually have some musubi on the counter and poi on the shelves, so it's a one stop food feast for the family. Great place!

    (5)

  • Beth I.

    I've been here dozens of times, usually for poke or a Hawaiian plate, but I've recently been fixated on the salads. You wouldn't think to go to Yama's for a salad, but the Fresh Ahi salad or Somen salad are REALLY good. It's pretty busy during lunch especially if you are trying to order a plate so if you want to grab something and go a salad and some cone sushi really hits the spot. I also grab some of their really yummy cookies or desserts to fatten the guys up at the office. They love the biscotti and "Everything" cookies. They'll make you the favorite coworker! So try something new at Yama's....you'll be pleasantly surprised.

    (4)

  • Santi T.

    Attention: Lau Lau Lovers!! Come and rejoice here at Yama's Fish Market! For people who haven't had the pleasure of having fresh lau lau, you must come here as I do when I crave this stuff. Traditionally, it's a local dish where you take pieces of meat or fish (pork, chicken or butterfish or a combination), sprinkle some Hawaiian salt, wrap it up in luau leafs (which is edible) and wrapped again in the ti leafs. They steam it to perfection where you can eat it without a knife. yelp.com/biz_photos/vBMQ… Recently, I ordered the pork/chicken lau lau ($3.65) which had the right amount of salt in each bite. There was a chicken thigh bone inside which added more flavor. I also picked up my frozen 1lb kalua pig ($6.25) which I purchased at a fundraising event. I plan to use this to make quesadillas or fried rice at home. I've also ordered the combination plates and other entrees including: chicken long rice, poke, kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon, okinawa sweet potato and the beef stew (my fave too!). Everything is top notch and not overly priced. Besides the local foods, they offer tons of homemade desserts and snacks. There are two tables outside but majority of the folks have their meals to go. They accept credit cards too! The next time you're craving unbeatable, onolicious (local for delicious) lau lau in Hawaii, try this place out. Sorry to my mainland friends who are salivating right now!

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    A-OK lau lau (a bit bland), A-OK haupia, A-OK and not-so-fresh poke All at a not-so-A-OK price ($10 for a plate lunch?) What may have been a more satisfying lunch: Keoki's lau lau, Homemade haupia, Poke from Foodland (Fresh, 99% of the time) All at probably a better price than what you get at Yama's. Bleh. =/

    (3)

  • Masato I.

    Great local-style market for good-priced plate lunches and poke. Limited parking, but if you wait a few minutes, someone's sure to leave. I like the Poke here. The limu (seaweed) Poke was good, and the Spicy Poke is super-spicy and good with a big bowl of rice. They have some shelf items too from around the islands, but they're mostly pricey, so I haven't strayed from the main menu much. Good food, good price, good people, bad parking...

    (5)

  • Lezli L.

    Omg the mushroom chicken is so good! Love this place. It has all kinds of goodies besides fresh poke & Hawaiian food: ice cake, cookies, haupia, local snacks. Workers are professional & friendly too. I wish I lived close by, but I'll definitely come back when I'm in the neighborhood!

    (5)

  • Jennifer K.

    I only recently found out about Yama's Fish Market but I've already been there a few times and tried a number of things there. Poke: I tried the spicy ahi and shoyu pokes. I liked both but the spicy ahi is a little too spicy for me. It's not the type that has mayonnaise in it so that's good (less fattening) and has a bit of a sweetness to it. But it was very spicy. The shoyu poke was also really good. The poke is a little pricey (about $16 a pound) but it's fresh fish, not frozen. (or so they claim) Kalua Pig with Cabbage bowl is worth the price and has a lot of pig in it. The kalua pig is salty but not too salty and the cabbage is moist and very flavorful. I got this and added a side of lomi lomi salmon which was delicious. Often times I'll buy lomi lomi salmon and you can barely taste the salmon. This was not the case. They are generous with their salmon bits and it was overall super ono. Oh and yes! HAUPIA! They have one of the best haupia I've ever had. The texture was perfect and you can really taste the coconut in it.I also tried the brownie with haupia on top. I don't think it was the best combination ever but the brownie had bits of chocolate chip in it and was delicious on its own. xD They have a small parking lot in front of the store but I've never problem with parking. As for service, it's iffy at times. If you go when they're busy then you might have to wait a while. There's no one stationed at the cashier so if you come in and grab something from the shelf or fridge you still have to wait until someone finishes with another customer. It would be better if they had someone to ring people up on quick purchases. But they are really nice. I bought a ohana sized haupia once and asked how long it could last without refrigeration because I wasn't going straight home. And she offered me an ice-pack. 31 Yelps Challenge: #7/31

    (5)

  • Angelie D.

    I am disappointed that I can't write the reviews of my fellow yelpers. We decided to go here for their poke, since they have a huge variety of it. This lady that was also buying something told us that we couldn't go wrong with anything. That was re-assuring at the beginning. Since we are not experts at poke, we decided to not go TOO out of the box and stick with what we knew "might" be good. We ordered the regular ahi poke with seaweed and sea salt. I couldn't get over the sea salt flavor. It was way to big but it did provide a different texture. For me it was waaaay too salty. I couldn't even taste the ahi because my tongue was numb from the salt. Then we ordered the spicy ahi poke. This dish was too spicy that again, I could not taste the fish. Now we did taste the ahi poke in Chinatown which I enjoyed. It was simply marinated in a soy sauce dish and I was able to taste the fish. Overall, it wasn't that bad.. but I wasn't impressed. It sucked the Ono Seafood was closed!! UGH!

    (3)

  • Jarrett W.

    Small little place... Great tasty laulau with combination pork and chicken. I believe this is one of the few places that dont have fish in their laulau's. I had the #3, laulau, lomi salmon, poke, and haupia. I love my poke.... unfortunately they only give a very small portion of poke with their laulau plate... 2 bites and it was gone!

    (3)

  • Samantha L.

    My friends and I had just finished a long hike and boy, were we hungry. It was a Sunday afternoon, around 3:00 p.m. and unfortunately, the first two restaurants we tried to visit were closed! Thankfully, Yama's fish market was open. We walked in and took a look at their menu, they have some pictures on menu (on the wall), which makes it easy. They have quite a variety of items, but my boyfriend and I decided on the garlic chicken and some poke. The pricing is pretty standard and our total was about $11.50. The garlic chicken was fried chicken nuggets with a honey-garlic sauce. Pretty tasty and it came out freshly made. There was nothing particularly special about this dish, but it was good still. They give you two scoops of rice and your choice of a side too. We chose the spicy pickled cucumbers. They were not really spicy at all, but still tasty. The poke came in a rather small container. I could tell that the fish was very fresh; it had an excellent texture to it. The flavor of the marinade was not my favorite though. It was alright, just not as good as some of the other poke I have had. Overall, the hot food comes out hot and the cold foods are nice and cool. Everything was fresh and pretty tasty. As for the customer service, it's a very casual place (like most of Hawaii) and the staff is friendly. A couple people in our group had to use the restroom and the staff member let them walk through their kitchen area to use it. Notes: -They have two small tables in front. -They also sell cookies, snacks, and desserts (pre-made and on the shelves).

    (3)

  • Kong T.

    POKE!!! Nuff said. Some of the best poke I've had. The quality of the fish to the different kinds of poke they made is just to die for. Wish I could just eat the stuff everyday. However, they just don't have fish, their plate lunches were really good as well. One big favorite we the mochico chicken, it wasn't over bearing and sweet. It had the right amount of batter and taste. Lastly, LAU LAU!!! Holy crap, this is a can't miss. If you come here, make sure you order some.

    (5)

  • Sajili B.

    I'm on a Poke kick right now. Sunday was Fresh Catch, now Yama's Fish Market. OOOOOOOoooooooHHHHHHHhhhh. I think I don't need to write anymore, right? I got the 1/4 lb each of Grilled Ika and the Spicy Wasabi Masago Ahi with two scoops of rice. I should have got three. There isn't much seating, just two tables and 4 chairs total. I shared with another local who was on his lunch break. You gotta get here early or just go in-and-out because parking is bad (~5 spots total). This was Kyle H. recommendation, so shout out to 'Bossy'!!! I will return again and again.

    (5)

  • Justin W.

    On a mission to find good eats close to where I live. We had some friends suggest it, so we decided to try it. Finding this place was great. Don't let the size of this place fool you though. It's a small place that serves fresh local food with big taste. The prices are great as well. If you are in the mood for some laulau, kalua pork, rice, mac salad & long rice then this is the place. It was all delicious. They do have some awesome looking desserts as well. If the desserts taste as good as they look then they are probably awesome. With extremely friendly staff this place is definitely worth checking out! I honestly think this is the best place to get local style food in Honolulu. They have a very small parking lot which probably has about 5 stalls and this place gets extremely busy.

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    Sometimes being "good" can be boring. By good I mean I've been eating my leftover pasta for lunch all this week and enough is enough! Luckily, Yamas is literally door steps from the office and doubly lucky for me today that I am second in line to place my order! Sure, the display of mini bentos are tempting but I'm here for plate #1 (Lau Lau, Mac Salad with Poi substitute, extra 50 cents). Is the poi substitute worth it? Of course! Nothing better than dunking that fall-off-the-bone chicken morsel into a poi bath! Ten minutes later, all that remains is a very clean chicken bone in its blanket of ti leaf. Sometimes being good has its rewards!

    (4)

  • Maru The Cat T.

    Best Hawaiian Food on the island. I love the grilled ahi and kalua pig. The only thing is that this place can get extremely busy and don't try calling in around lunch time or else the phone will keep ringing. Oh, and that special green sauce that comes with the grilled ahi is delicious! UPDATE: Boy I really love this place. I wish they were open on Sundays. I'm now a huge fan of their poke selection, the Hawaiian Poke, Shoyu, Wasabi Masago, and more. Also, the Pulehu Tako is sooooo good. You gotta try it!

    (5)

  • Chad Y.

    When someone asks me where should they go get Hawaiian food, only one place comes to mind, Yama's Fish Market. They offer some of the best Hawaiian food in Honolulu consistently and some of the best value. As a primarily grab and go spot, its location is convenient for the townies and did I mention they offer some of the best Hawaiian food in town? The menu features all of the Hawaiian foods you would come to expect, but let's be honest. You come here for three things. 1) Laualau, 2) Kalua Pig, and 3) Haupia. Theirs are among my favorites in town and at pretty reasonable prices. The laulau is cooked well and the meat is moist and tender while the kalua pig is perfectly salty with the smoky flavors. The haupia is rich in flavors and perfectly gelatinous (is that a word?). Don't get me wrong, the other menu items are stellar as well, but this is what I come here for. Service is good, although can be a bit slow at times. They are very personable and very helpful. They certainly know their menu and can help you out if you happen to be torn between choices...however, I pose the question "Why not get both?" Parking can fill up, however there generally is a steady turnover of stalls so just pull over on the side of the street and wait.

    (4)

  • Katrina V.

    If you're looking for inexpensive local kine Hawaiian food this is the place to go. Parking is fairly limited as there's only about 10 spots so if you're lucky you can snag one right in front of the store. Otherwise you will need to look elsewhere parking. It was pretty busy with people when I went to try out items on the menu. The notables were: Chicken Lau Lau Haupia dessert They have a good selection of poke but for the price it's ok. It still doesn't top my all time Poke spot, Ono Seafood on Kapahulu, but if you are doing one stop shopping for a quick meal or picnic this would be convenient. Aside from the menu they also have some store front items and other packaged food. Service was decent considering the crowd of people they were servicing. This place is kind of tucked away and hidden as surrounded by other stores. There's only one table to eat at so it's really only good for take out.

    (4)

  • Mari S.

    Whether its kalua pig, lau lau, chicken long rice or poke you're craving, Yama's has all the ono Hawaiian dishes! This place really knows how to prepare Hawaiian food. If you don't leave Yama's satisfied, something is seriously wrong... and it's probably not them.. =P My two favorite items on the menu are the kalua pig and lau lau. So fresh and soooo delicious. My BF loves the poke here, specifically the shoyu. Its pretty tasty too, though I prefer limu poke. =) Yama's also carries a bunch of cookies and snacks which are locally made in Hawaii. Good as a gift to someone on the mainland. The only downside is that there are only two small tables outside. Basically, this is a take-out place but I do think having a few more tables would be convenient (under shade would be helpful, too). I once was soo hungry that I ate immediately after purchasing my food on the table outside. Yama's is awesome. Great for the locals or the visitor who wants to try Hawaiian food for the first time.

    (4)

  • Kasey T.

    Best bang for your buck! Healthy portions and good quality. I love their lomi salmon and the mushy white rice. $18 got us two plates, two haupias, and any size drink. The only thing that tripped me out was their system. The cashiers were pulling orders and ringing up customers individually. It was almost if as they were working on commission. People kept saying to move while we tried to figure out what was going on. They need a ticket system or something, but other than that they got my vote.

    (5)

  • Lindbergh B.

    This place by far, has the best laulau on the island. I tried the #2, which comes with laulau, 2 scoops rice and lomi salmon. The laulau is a mix of chicken and pork which was so moist, melt in your mouth, fresh- a true taste of aloha. This will guarantee satisfy your appetite, leave you with a "Kanak attack", and make any "haole" feel local, even for a bit. Con: Parking is limited, only 2 tables are available, and when its busy, its busy, so expect to wait. (However, this should not stop you, its worth it)

    (5)

  • Chloe M.

    Is everyone's taste buds broken? I love Hawaiian food, but not Yama's. Their laulau just doesn't have that yummy taste it's supposed to have, as well as the rest of the food. I would've given them three stars, if it weren't for the awful service I got from one of the cashiers. To this day it makes me upset thinking about it. My bf and I went to Yama's to get a laulau plate lunch and beef stew. We ordered our food and the cashier tells us that there is no more beef stew left. That's cool with me, except another cashier tells me "Oh no, we have one more order left!" My cashier then tells her to shush and says I'll need to order something else. I'm confused by this, but we patiently wait for our food, and while we were waiting I overheard the other cashier telling my cashier that she's going to need to sell the beef stew she was saving to take home. WTF! Aside from their tako poke being tough, and their laulau being dry and gross, I refuse to return because of the awful service. Eff you Yama's cashier, your beef stew probably sucks anyways.

    (2)

  • Jess O.

    Good variety of poke and lunch plates to go. This is a good place to get some take out for a picnic.

    (3)

  • Twinkle S.

    Yama's is hit and miss. Sometimes the food is terrific, other times its terrible. If I'm running errands in Moili'ili, I will stop in for a quick lunch. I really like their squid luau and beef stew. The laulau is sometimes delicious, sometimes. bland and dry. My kids like the cornflake cookies.

    (3)

  • Melody W.

    I admit, when I first tried Hawaiian Food (yah yah I'm a visiting Mainlander, get over it), I was not used to the taste in some of the cooking. I went to a different restaurant in my first visit (I wish I remembered the name), and it was a letdown for me (cooking was not that good there). When my family friend brought me here (she's a Local), I was willing to give Hawaiian food a try again. Since this place had some more seafood dishes than most Hawaiian restaurants I checked out, I got the Ahi Poke Patties with Poi. It was not bad at all. The haupia and sweet potato dessert were delicious! I definitely enjoyed the lomi salmon as well. Parking lot is available, but very limited and small. There is outdoor seating, but not a lot of them. Definitely a take-out only place. I'm surprised at some of the low ratings, but I guess I don't have enough Hawaiian food (and/or live on Oahu long enough) to know what's considered good and what isn't in that category. Otherwise, I like Yama's Fish Market & I'll definitely come back again in my next visit!

    (4)

  • Pete S.

    They are known for their Poke here and though it was fresh and tasty, it wasn't mind blowing. I do have to say their lau lau here rocks! I got the #3, lau lau, lomi, poke, haupia with 2 scoops of rice. static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ($9.30) We also got the #18 grilled ahi over rice static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ($7.45). Like I said, the lau lau wasn't salty, tasted fresh, though I wish it could've been bigger. The ahi was spectacular! It has this green chili oil sauce that came with it and tasted something like out of the nice restaurants. My biggest gripe here was the rice tasted awful! What kind of asian place serves hard rice? This place almost earned 5 stars but the rice was so bad that I didn't even finish half. The wait here can be quite long and I did notice a lot of people from the surrounding businesses come here to get food to go. There really isn't a place you can eat at here. I also got a container of Pineapple to go ($1.10). This is really healthy fast food eating at its best here, just make sure they don't overcook the rice.

    (4)

  • Hana J.

    My first taste of Hawaii after we got off the plane, and it was interesting, although I don't know if I'd come back if I were a regular. Each bite was incredibly salty, although the salsa salmon thing was delish. Definitely only a to-go only place; my family huddled around one of the small tables trying to shoe away birds and bugs alike.

    (3)

  • Severin G.

    Off the beaten path, and well worth the trip! The freshest fish, excellent creations, and reasonable prices. Bring cash! Don't expect a table - save the one table outside, it's a take-away place. Go for the fresh ahi poke and the lau lau!! You won't be disappointed!!

    (5)

  • John M.

    Pros - Order the laulau (chicken wrapped in taro leaf). - Poke is fresh and tastes good. - Staff is friendly. Cons - Limited parking. Remember, they only have like two small tables with two seats each so this is a place where you pick the food up and go home.

    (5)

  • Michael P.

    Three stars for their laulau. Probably the best laulau I've had on the island because it is made fresh. This is their standout dish. The laulau comes tied in string and some extra banana leaves to hold the moist interior. The grilled ahi was mediocre and only saved by their ginger sauce. The haupia was delicious as they used real coconut milk instead of just the water-based jello haupia. There is no seating in this place and the location is a bit tucked away. Good spot to grab and go.

    (3)

  • Denise K.

    Standard local grindz, but nothing to write home about. The lau lau could be a bit more salty, the lomi salmon didn't have enough salmon and the squid luau lacked the squid.

    (2)

  • Alison W.

    This was recommended to us for good lau lau since we went to another well-known place and they had run out. This is def more of a market with a takeout counter and literally 2 tables outside. You're better taking it to go and enjoying it elsewhere. I ended up getting the combo with rice, lomi salmon, kalua pork and lau lau. And since I love long rice, I decided on a small side order of the chicken long rice. The long rice wasn't my favorite - it tasted a little herbal-y or off somehow. The lau lau, I really enjoyed. But then again it was my first time having it so I have nothing to compare it to. But it's really tender pork and the mushy leaves really broke up the meat texture and tasted pretty good too. Thought the kalua pork was a bit salty but also again moist and tender. Big portions so it took me two meals to finish it. I also got to try my friend's masago poke. Really good. I wish I had more stomachs to try everything. What I got was a little pricey. But again it lasted over 2 meals.

    (4)

  • Ka'ili H.

    This is my favorite Hawaiian plate lunch places. I've been coming here for a few years and they have always been consistent in quality and taste. Stopped by after work, it was just across the street, and was feeling in the mood for my favorite homemade dessert from here: the brownie topped with haupia. I'm so thrilled my best friend opened my eyes to this amazing dessert because I get so giddy just thinking about it. He knows me too well =o) Today I got my usual, Kalua pig with lomi salmon and ahi poke with limu. The line was getting long with people getting food for the UH game so I forgot to substitute the rice for poi (it's an extra 45 cents). I was pretty disappointed, but was still happy with my meal. The Kalua pig is always cooked just right, not too salty, not to bland. Lomi salmon was a fair amount of lomi salmon and tomato (there's always some places where it's more like, tomato with lomi salmon!! aaah!) Whenever I'm in the mood for some Hawaiian food to go, Yamas is the place to get it. They're close by, reasonably priced, and have a bunch of other snacks and poke available. They also have handy take out menus for you to have, which is helpful when you wanna call in your order. *they don't have brown rice =o( *

    (4)

  • Tina C.

    Yummy poke. They have many variety, ahi, clams, tako, ika. I couldn't decide, so I got a little of each. They were all delish! This place is take out only. There's no sitting area.

    (4)

  • elena j.

    Came here for poke. I tried their shoyu. It was ok and a bit overpriced.

    (3)

  • Christine Y.

    So I'm staying near the beach in Waikiki and all around me is touristy stuff. No complaints other than the lack of Hawaiian food! So handy dandy yelp comes in here and I find yamas. Well well I need to switch up how I pick places to eat on yelp. First I need to look at the rating and then I need to see if it's a sit down or take out only. Haha this way I won't be surprised upon getting there that it's not a good place for dinner! oops...if only I had thought of this sooner I wouldn't have trekked it out to Yamas and found out upon getting there that sit down options only consisted of 2 seats and one table. But the food was great nonetheless. It's really a hole in the wall. Yamas is in a residential area where it's one of the only businesses. Small parking lot, counter filled with different types of poke and a counter to order. Snacks on shelves for perusing and fridges with dessert items and drinks. That's about it, oh and the high number of people ordering and getting food from there. Popular place! We eventually ordered combo 2 (Lau Lau with rice and lomi salmon) and combo 6 (kahlua pork and rice and spicy ahi and lomi salmon and coconut dessert. Grabbed our takeout food, made it back to our hotel and dug in. Loved the ahi poke and the Lau lau! The poke was indeed spicy as promised but wasn't just a one note dish. Still lotsa other flavors going on. Their Lau Lau comes in a pretty big portion size for 6 dollars. They put a chicken drum and a piece if pork belly in there. It had the right amt of salt and the flavor of it was pretty addicting. Add to that the tenderness of it and I just wanted more! The dessert was delic but came in such a tiny container that in a way I wish I hadn't been able to try it at all cause it ran out so quickly. The kahlua pork had a great mix of flavors and was flavorful and subtle all the same. They gave us a lot of this one too! Just packed it in. Lomi salmon was oki. Not a lot of salmon and mostly tomatoes. Im so glad that I actually didn't kno that if was basically take out only or else I would never have even come here and had all this great food. One small adventure for my trip. Hehe . And after we were done eating...we made our second mistake...we decided to rest and thus our first night ended. I was way too hungry to even think of taking pics! Oops.

    (4)

  • Brian J.

    If you are in the mood for a Hawaiian plate lunch with delicious poke at a decent price, Yama's is a must! I've been going here for years and the food is always great. The LauLau and Kalua pig plates are generous in size and super ono, the poke is always fresh, and the haupia is the best I've ever had. Yama's is a little hard to find, and serves take out only, but is one of my favorite spots for great local food on Oahu.

    (5)

  • Sage T.

    Ono food! Pastele plate is the bomb! Nothing but good grinds and pupus. Only down side is a little slow in getting people out the door quickly. Other than that great place to eat.

    (4)

  • Joshua C.

    [3.5 Stars] Good memories are so hard to compete with. It's rare that things are ever as good or better than we remember. The more time that passes, the less of the details we remember, often we're left with unattainable warm fuzzies. Palate development and new life experiences during this period only complicate matters. Yama's is good, just not as great as I remember. It's been at least five years, if not longer since I'd eaten there, and it made for a fun first stop after landing. When you grow up in Hawaii, but live on the mainland you can't help but want everything when you show up at a place like this. I walked in needing a post flight snack and walked out with lunch for 3 (even though just 2 of us were eating). Beef stew and Laulau combo plate, side of long rice, side of squid luau, two kinds of poke, and you really can't/shouldn't leave Yama's without the Haupia (which was the one item that lived up to our collective memories). The beef stew (especially when eaten with the mac salad) and the Laulau satiated. The long rice was sadly lacking in texture and flavor. The Poke, decent. I was really craving squid luau, correction I'm always craving squid luau. Unfortunately, what I've come to realize is that I was craving the rare sort of backyard baby luau flavor rich creamy goodness with perfect seafood morsels that only the uncles (in this case my wife's calabash ones) can make. The Yama's and I'm guessing any other store bought edition was or would be underwhelming. I'd still go back, the people are nice, the food's good, and now that I've returned more recently my expectations will be more realistic. There's nothing wrong with 3 stars, as time passes and I experience new things, I just tend to reserve giving 4 or 5 stars for things that are great or amazing.

    (3)

  • Casey O.

    Oh, how to begin. First, their kalua pig is good for sure...not overly salty, a reasonable amount of fat cooked in to preserve the taste, perfectly moist and pairs well with their good lomi lomi salmon. Second, their chicken long rice was a little lacking. The soup base it's cooked in was lacking flavor and didn't have that strong chicken taste, was more like a salt water. Plus, the noodles were a bit under cooked. Last, the laulau was not very tasty at all. The taro leaves were lacking in flavor, so I'm assuming they didn't absorb enough from the meat. Which makes sense, because the chicken was a little dry and lacking in flavor as well. Most places season with sea salt, but I couldn't tell if they used any salt at all. I can understand it if they want to preserve the natural flavor of the chicken and taro leaves, but both were seriously lacking in taste. Maybe just came on a bad day, but I won't be going back anytime soon. Still though, the kalua pig was pretty good. Just won't be getting the laulau again.

    (2)

  • Christina B.

    It's been about three months since I stepped foot in this place... man, do I miss it. They've got a ton of different types of poke here and they've even got cooked foods here. I would definitely get a combination lunch since the prices are decent and it is kind of a hidden gem. I hit up The Sushi Company while visiting this place and I wish I hadn't! I wasted precious stomach room for what could've been delicious food from Yamas'!

    (5)

  • Kimberly L.

    Since I before deigned to try it I know I'd be in love. As exactly the "type" lusted after by Yelpians, Yama's Fish Market succors me back again and again with their illustrious and cheap local food. The combination of low prices and lipsmacking proteins have me in the Yama-crave-zone. All the time now I crave Kalua Pig & Cabbage, the yummy different kinds of poke, lomilomi salmon (although mushy in texture, it still tastes good?), and the sweet creamy haupia, which is not gelatinous/hard at all. Um I also created a squid luau fandom for myself. All these foods are things I obviously don't make at home, and when I do buy them pre-made from Costco/Times/Foodland/Safeway, they taste crummy compared to Yama's. The only thing Yama's could work on is their rice... I'm spoiled by fat chewy morsels of high-quality rice grains (I could never tell the difference before living in Japan), and my beloved lady at Harbor Snack Shop always serves the best in rices. Oh, and watch out for sometimes stale cubes of haupia dessert. The flavors become flavorless and the crust becomes bogged by sludge if it sits too long in the fridge. Their portions of lomi salmon, mac salad (yes this marks the first year in a twenty-something year life that I have ever eaten more than 1 noodle out of mac salad before grossing out), and everything else that comes in the little round lidded spoon-sized containers. All in all, hurrah for Yama's. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Suchandra T.

    Great plate lunches and a nice selection of tasty poke. Totally worth going out of your way to grab lunch here.

    (5)

  • Ohh S.

    Visited here from California and wanted to try a local spot and our friends brought us to yamas. And they did not disappoint! Bomb poke, pork, and service. Def recommend for a quick stop, away from the Hus n bus of Waikiki.

    (5)

  • Kari C.

    We ate here twice during our recent trip to Oahu. They have awesome poke, lau lau, and kalua pig! Combos contain relatively large portions. Keep this in mind when you're ordering! I got the lau lau, which is bone-in chicken thigh wrapped in a leaf and boiled. Conceptually similar to Chinese loh mai gai (lotus leaf wrapped chicken served at dim sum), but without the sticky rice. Flavors are also more subtle, but still savory. It was appropriately salted and came with greens inside. My plate also included sides of rice & macaroni salad. The macaroni was a bit bland, but I think that's actually authentic, so I won't ding them for that. You can get brown rice for 25 cents or poi for 50 cents extra. For dessert, try the haupia. This is like the Hawaiian version of the lemon bar. It's a mildly sweet coconut cream over chunky purple yam (like taro). The crust is a dense shortbread. Individual servings are a deal at $1.45. My guy got the kalua pig and once again, it was entirely too much food! Fortunately, we packed it for our Hanauma Bay snorkeling trip and made kalua pig sandwiches the next day. The pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender and quite flavorful. One of the best places to get kalua pig. The poke was very good, but I think Ono's is slightly better. The first time we tried the masago poke, it was a bit over-salted. But we still ate it all! Fish was super fresh. Excellent with rice. We also tried some of their baked goods. The lemon cookies were crisp and tasted like real lemon zest. Try them out!

    (5)

  • Anon Y.

    How does Yamas not have 5 starts yet? Crazy! Yamas is some gooooooood grinds, and pretty cheap considering how much food you get. I love the low pressure, casual feel of the place, and the people who work there are super chill, fast, and good at what they do. The grilled ahi is really tasty, comes with some kind of green sauce that is radically delicious. Im seeing a lot of reviews from tourists - those should be disregarded because what do they know about local food?? I love that someone wrote in their review about the Kahlua pig and salmon Lomi, hahaha! Classic. I do wish you would get a bigger parking lot, Yamas. But I still come all the way from Palolo to grind your delicious grindables.

    (5)

  • Zar A.

    One of the BEST places to get Hawaiian food in Honolulu. The menu offers anything from poi, (pork & chicken) lau lau, kalua pig, chicken long rice, haupia, various poke... All good choices! The price is reasonable and the food is awesome! I always end up buying too much food here because I can never decide whether I want the laulau, kalua pig, long rice, haupia, poke, or all of the above! They also have plate lunches, which I have never tried yet. But I have heard that it is pretty good too. I've pretty much been memorized by their Hawaiian food menu and can't take my eyes off of it each time I visit the place!

    (5)

  • Felicia F.

    Mmm... soo happy. Today is a good day. I found parking at Yama's (without having to Austin Powers my vehicle into the parking stall), didn't have to wait in line while ordering my food and had a *moment* with me, myself and my kalua pig. Mm... As most know, Yama's Fish Market is more than meets the name. Although their specialty may be their delish poke items in their refrigerated display case, Yama's is known for much more than that-- from various local-Hawaiian plate lunches to their scrumptious pre-made desserts. Today, I went for what my tummy desired... #4-- Kalua pig, 2 scoops rice, sub haupia for mac salad and a side order of chicken long rice. Total: $8.85. Ouch, but mm. I finished my chicken long rice before I even got out of the parking lot. The haupia was gone while at the stop light in front of First Hawaiian. ...And all but half of scoop of white rice was devoured in my car while sitting in my work parking lot...before I even got back to the office. ...So... happy.

    (4)

  • Amanda D.

    I absolutely love this place. There isn't even anywhere to sit.... but I don't care! I've never had a bad meal here, and the prices are reasonable. Huge selections of poke, kalua pork, lau lau, etc. They've got a fridge on the side filled with goodies like boiled peanuts. Yum yum. I judge a Hawaiian restaurant by how good its haupia is, and Yama's gets an A+!!!

    (5)

  • Alen N.

    This is a great place for Hawaiian food and poke! Food: I normally come here for their Kailua pig & Cabbage and their different types of poke! Come early to get the poke you want! For the price, it's pretty good. Service: They are super nice and chill! They are understanding and will let you know if your food will take awhile to make. Parking: Small, but there is street parking around the area. Tips: If you love poke or Hawaiian food in general? This is definitely the place to be. It's fresh, local and very delicious! Also, try their lau lau if you have room for more.

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    This is where I fell in love with haupia. They really do have the best haupia but their little 4 oz portion sized cups are not big enough for the price they charge! But still, I love *makes a heart with my hand* Went down today to get my laulau, poi, and haupia fix. They don't have squid luau with their combo plates so I had to order a small which was pretty massive for one person. Their laulau was really good, not too salty, not too bland but juuuust right. The poi was perfectly portioned for me because I was able to finish it all. Squid luau had great consistency but I wanted it to be a wee bit sweeter. The laulau comes full wrapped with the string still tied to it. It was annoying because I was famished and the laulau was still too hott to handle! Great service and great prices. I lost my "real" Hawaiian food virginity with them about four years ago so Yama's will always have a special place in my heart. *hand heart*

    (5)

  • Mitch N.

    I've been coming here for about 10yrs. This is my go to place for poke, kalua pig, lau lau, and some really yummy desserts. The poke, so many choices. So fresh. And they dont make a huge batch that just sits in the pan all day. There have been many occasions where they've made a new batch for my order, or even asked if I wanted a fresh batch of spicy poke. On top of a hot bed of rice, this stuff is fantastic. The plate lunch choices are awesome. So many to choose from, and HUGE. You'll be in a food coma in no time. Whether it's a for a party, a lunch, or after beach food... Yama's has you covered!.

    (4)

  • Steve Y.

    I had their #6 here that consisted of rice, a large portion of Kalua Pig, Haupia, Lomi Salmon, and a poke of my choice. I believe the total cost of my plate came out to around $10.00. Everything was of good quality. There are several people on here who are raving about the Kalua Pig. It's good, but not the greatest. The greatest can be found at Kailua High School football games (I'm serious here) The service at Yama's is top notch. They are curious, fast, and treat your place with a lot of care. One thing that really surprised me with this place is the cleanliness. Usually, when you head into a fish market, it smells of fish, it's messy, hot, with flies everywhere. This place is sterile clean. This is probably the best Hawaiian food restaurant on Oahu. It's nothing like home cooking, but it's good. I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Kevin C.

    I came here at least once a week when I was taking classes at UH over the summer. The poke is a must-try, especially the wasabi masago poke! Nom nom. Soooo good. I've tried most of their poke and I've enjoyed all of them. The poke is pretty reasonably priced. (~$11/lb) Poke + rice will always be a great meal in my book. The garlic chicken is GREAT! They sometimes sell out quick, so get on it! Enough said. Seriously, go get it. I've also enjoyed their Strawberry Sensation Dessert which is strawberry jello on top of haupia. It's a nice, light and sweet dessert to compliment your meal. I definitely want to try more of their haupia desserts the next time I go back!

    (4)

  • Dani D.

    Oh how I love your awesome chicken lau lau! In a ten day trip, or 28 meals, three of those meals consisted of chicken lau lau from Yamas and some assortment of side dishes including chicken long rice, lomi lomi salmon, and haupia. The beef stew my mom bought for my brother was also pretty tasty. Oh and the cornflake cookies are the best!

    (5)

  • Cely H.

    Went here because I was in town and had a coupon I needed to use up in the Entertainment book. What a great surprise! I had kalua pig, lau lau, mac salad, lomi salmon, ahi limu poke, and dried ahi poke. Man, was everything good! The place was SUPER clean and I totally love that. Even dining al fresco was nice and clean and the fresh air was perfect. I love it that it's like half store so when you're waiting for your food you can browse the shelves of som good salad dressings, bento, candies, and desserts. With the coupon for two plate lunches, 2 kinds of poke and drink it came out to a little bit over $20. Sweet deal!

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    I've lived about half a mile from this place for years and years and never knew about it! One day, my friend, who used to work at Longs, said she went there a lot with her coworkers and so off we went. At first, I was a little unsure since the name sounds like they only sell fish or seafood-related stuff. (I'm not a fan of seafood.) However, I valiantly decided to suck it up and see what Yama's has to offer! Kalua Pork is AMAZING. I used to dream of their kalua pork after I moved to California for a couple of years and tried to imitate how they did it (or how it ended up tasting, anyway). So good and nice portions. I've had better but I definitely won't be complaining about the kalua pork here. Friends who have gotten the poke (I'm not a huge fan of poke and haven't tried theirs yet) love it and say it's mouthwateringly fabulous. The laulau I enjoy though I wouldn't rate this item 5 stars. Pretty darn good, though. Their chicken long rice is great and something I'd get over and over again. I'm not loving their macaroni salad (comes as a side) too much but that's just personal preference. Nothing's wrong with it or anything. My favorite item is their garlic chicken. SO GOOD. Just thinking about it makes me salivate and drool. Now I want some...damnit. I hate how sometimes they sell out so fast. Make more!!! Make more! And no review is complete without a conclusion - HAUPIA. Nom. A little too expensive for something I'm sure I can fairly decently at home so I usually refrain but it's so good!!!! :)

    (4)

  • Doris D.

    I recently had the pork and chicken lau lau and it was alright. I found the meat to be on the dry side! It was a little disappointing but I'd still go back for the other menu items because it's such a good place for Hawaiian food.

    (3)

  • Jon A.

    The first time I visited Hawaii, I had Yamas! Wow I'm forever hooked. The POKE is to die for. They let you sample it if you ask them. I'm a fish guy and I love the ahi with the special green sauce. The Lau Lau is very good. I recommend Yamas to all visitors and friends. This place is great for LUNCH! Prices are great and they have parking. The only thing is you have to take it to go since they have only 2 tables with 2 chairs each table.I only go there for the food brahh.. Shoots!!

    (5)

  • Ajie P.

    You can never go wrong with local Hawaiian grindz any day of the week!! I ordered the number #8 combo.. comes with lau lau - Beef stew mix with rice and mac salad. I took the first bite of the lau lau, and...WHOA!! a mixture of both pork and chicken nicely SALTED. U heard me, Salted. You dont need salt or soyu!!! Thats when you KNOW it's ONO. The beef stew...Just mixed it will the rice..and yea, broke da mouth goodness! If you want AWESOME Hawaiian food under $10, then come here. The Poke is a reasonable price too! Nice and friendly staff too. Awlays smiling :)

    (4)

  • Shannon A.

    Unfortunately, I only had the pleasure of going here on a full stomach. Stupid, stupid, stupid. But I had two days on Oahu and you know, being human and all, there's only so much I can eat. I stopped here for dessert after having some amazing sushi and I am STILL craving some of their haupia desserts. I had the sweet potato haupia, pumpkin pie haupia, and the reg haupia. Bomb, bomb, bomb. Totally going back there on my next trip to Oahu. The menu looks way too good. Definitely on my top 5 list of Oahu.

    (4)

  • Lina O.

    out of the two weeks in hawaii, we went to a different place everyday to eat. yamas was the one place i picked to go to twice. unfortunately it was closed already and i didnt get to have a last savory taste of yamas before the flight back home to the mainland. yamas is located down a small residential street with its own parking lot, that fits probably 4 or 5 cars only. when you walk in, there are some random snacks like taro chips to the left and then the fish display case to the right with different kinds of poke and other seafood. behind the counter on the wall is the menu and all across the top are pictures of their various plates. its a place to order your plate or side of poke and take it to-go. there is one small table outside with two chairs, but why not take it to-go to the beach?? we ordered a plate with kalua pork with rice and mac salad. we also got side of poke. oh em gee. i love kalua pork when its moist and juicy. yama's kalua was sooo juicy, and the parts that was still in its juices was even more tasty. my mouth just watered just thinking about it. it was just enough salty and oh so delicious. their poke was really good too. i wish i had a bigger stomach so i could have kept eating :) next trip im going to make sure yama's gets at least two visits :)

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    My trip to Hawaii wouldn't have been complete without a full array of Hawaiian eats: poke up the wazoo, kalua pork, lomi lomi salmon, lau lau and more! After hearing many reviews on how great the traditional Hawaiian food is at Yama's - I had to try it! Unfortunately, I think I have come to the conclusion that I don't really love Hawaiian food. The kalua pork and lau lau was fork tender, like literally, it just fell apart upon impact with the fork. I enjoyed the kalua but the lau lau was a bit too salty for me. Although, I must say though, I love poke!! I chose to try their Shoyu poke which was fresh, and perfectly velvety!

    (3)

  • Esther Y.

    Not really a sit-down place, although there are a couple tables and chairs outside. I got the #3 lau lau and shoyu poke, both of which were delicious. I'm pretty new to Hawaiian food, but I already know I LOVE poke, and apparently Yamas has some of the best poke here. I had my first haupia here too. You can get this large tray of haupia with sweet yam (I think?) and a crust, kinda like a haupia pie? It was pretty good, I'd definitely recommend sharing with more than a few people though!

    (5)

  • Lee H.

    The Lau Lau is good and the prices here are reasonable. It's worth a try to come here and see if you would like this place. This is a to-go place for the most part, but there are two tables outside.

    (3)

  • Raina S.

    Yamas has the biggest poke selection I have ever seen. Seeing all those choices, I figured I was about to have a memorable meal. There were four of us, and we all ordered plate lunches. My daughter ordered ahi, but she wanted it well-done, so it took a lot longer than the other dishes. Our server plated up the three other lunches, but we had to wait about 10 minutes on the ahi. Meanwhile, the rest of our food was cooling on the countertop. By the time we got our food to the beach (there's very little seating at Yamas), the hot stuff had become cold and the cold stuff had become warm. I see that some other Yelpers (below) have suggested Helena's or Ono's in place of Yamas. This is good advice. You'll find similar dishes at those places, but with much better execution.

    (2)

  • Chelle S.

    Yama's has some pretty good Hawaiian food. Their laulau here is spot on and kalua pig is just right, not dry and not too oily. The squid luau isn't the best I've had (too much on the cooconut milk for my taste and not as thick) and the pipikaula is average. They do have a big variety of poke so that's something to keep in mind. Yama's is more of a take-out place. They do have 2 small tables outside but they'll probably be taken by the time you get there. Parking is also very limited so it's a good idea to have a food runner and while someone waits in the car. Other than that, I like the place. The portions are big and the prices are right.

    (4)

  • Lucy M.

    The spicy wasabi ahi poke and the shoyu poke was amazing! The texture and flavor of the two balanced out well. Super fresh you almost don't need to use any teeth to eat! The Lau Lau was a mix of pork and chicken, I wish it was pork and fish instead but it was still delicious. They have a variety of other lunch items and just a couple of tables outside the market with a nice big shady awning. It's about a mile walk from the Waikiki hotels. Make room for dessert and walk over to Waiola shave ice which is only a few blocks away!

    (5)

  • Jay T.

    If you're looking for Hawaiian food on a budget, this is the place to go. I feel their kalua pig ranks within the top 10 in Hawaii. Juicy, succulent and with just the right amount of salt, with a hint of smoke flavor. Their laulau is also one of my favorites. You can specify either pork or chicken. Their Poke selection is very good as well! My favorites are: Ahi masago, Wasabi-ahi, and a recent addition to their extensive line of fine poke.... Smoked Salmon! The only poke that I didn't care for was their Shoyu Tako Poke. The shoyu was sweet, with an aftertaste of what I thought might be Mirin. I would rather get the tako onion or limu, take it home and add my mixture of grated ginger, garlic, shoyu (Kikkoman, Yamasa or a special Kaki-shoyu from Japan) la-yu & sesame oil. My favorite off of their regular menu is the "Ahi poke patties". Warning: IT'S ADDICTIVE!! Chopped up ahi-limu poke is made into a patty, panko-crusted, fried to a golden-brown, then drizzled with a sweet & spicy Pineapple-chili sauce. It's a little on the salty side, but the pineapple-chili sauce and white rice helps neutralize it. Some other notables sometimes appear on their 'Daily Specials' menu. Like the "Sauteed Mahi filet with butter garlic & shoyu sauce". This took awesomeness to the next level!!! But like the Ahi poke patties, these specials tend to go fast.... So if you go at Pau-hana time, it may have already been sold out. I always end up going there because it's convenient & inexpensive. The only negative thing I would bring up, is their service time. While the staff is very courteous & friendly, it takes a long time to get your order in when it gets busy. One person works the register, then goes into the kitchen to make your plate and poke order. All the while, people are lined up and unable to place their orders until one of their staff returns. I would give them the 5 stars they deserve, if they change their current system and delegate their duties and service the customers quicker. Despite this, if you have the 'onos' for Hawaiian food, I recommend Yama's.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth N.

    Being the 90th reviewer of this establishment with a high marking tells you that this place is what it seems. I'll keep it short and sweet as to not repeat what everyone else is already saying: Pros: -SUPER FRESH and tasty poke and sashimi -Great quality food -Even better prices! Surprisingly cheap for what they give you. -Wasabi Poke (YUM) -Smoked Dried Ahi (Double yum!, never had it before until here and it's really good. Can't even tell that it's fish but way cleaner tasting than beef jerky) -Deep Fried Spicy Ahi Belly -Great customer service Cons: -Lines can get long (but service is fast) -Grilled Ahi (was waaay too salty and over spiced) -Small parking lot, not the easiest place to find parking if the lot is full and street parking is kind of at your own risk it seems....

    (4)

  • Joseph N.

    I don't think twice when someone suggests Yama's for lunch. The poke is amazing, the plates are cheap and heaping, and the menu choices can be overwhelming. They offer the best lomi salmon and squid luau I have had. The traditional Hawaiian plates are amazingly good. Lots of variety, so if your with a group, there is bound to be something for everyone. Don't forget about dessert, they have a few unique sweets that will bring you to your knees.

    (5)

  • Darin H.

    Masago ahi poke was delicious! Excellent food as usual.

    (4)

  • No Ram E.

    Oh Yama's how my opinion of you has changed due to the lack of good customer service when catering! I had Yama's cater a 45 person party for us and we ordered Hawaiian Food. Lomi salmon, poke, chicken long rice, poi, okinawan sweet potato, squid luau, shoyu chicken, and kalua pig and cabbage. Everything tasted okay but they pretty much forgot the PIG in the kalua pig and cabbage. I'm pretty sure, cabbage and pepper aren't the only two ingredients in that dish. Many of my guests noted that there was hardly ANY pig, someone even took a photo of the tray because they couldn't believe that Yama's would serve such a disgrace( they took the photo right after Yama's delivered the food). I emailed Brian Yamamoto the catering manager my compliant and maybe I should have sent him the photo too. It's been 5 days now and NOTHING! Not even an apology! So disappointing! NEVER again Yama's. I'd suggest you don't order catering from Yama's try Tanioka's or Young's or Highway Inn?

    (1)

  • Herbert A.

    When I need my Hawaiian food fix I always come here. Very good food, fresh fish

    (5)

  • Diane K.

    One of da most favorite lunch places in Moiliili. Pro - Ono Hawaiian food, fresh pokes, fresh opihi, consistent plate lunch quality, reasonably priced menu Con - s~l~o~w moving line at the counter. I really like this place for daily lunch and all my party needs, except for the booze.

    (4)

  • Nathan N.

    When it comes to a Hawaiian Plate with all the good stuff, Yama's is hard to beat. Everyone likes Ono's, which I think is overpriced and portions are skimpy. The other suggested locale is Young's Fish Market. Nope. Not for this foodie fat guy. Yama's Hawaiian plate is huge, a good price and they also have a kick ass spicy ahi poke. I first discovered Yama's years ago when it was on the small one way lane adjacent to McCully Bike Shop. I was only going there for ahi poke and boiled peanuts. Since then, it has moved to a larger location on Young St. and to my delight, expanded their menu. When I'm in need of a Hawaiian gut buster, I only go to Yama's Fish Market. Polynesian Paralysis soon follows. ZZZzzzzzzzzzzz........

    (4)

  • Tara O.

    Went here a lot to pick up lunch while living in Hawaii. I now occasionally come whenever I'm home (too many places to grind, can't fit them all in at each visit!) and the service and quality of Hawaiian food has not changed. In one word, Yama's is AWESOME! I'm grateful that some good things don't change, and I hope Yama's never does...they are great the way they are!

    (5)

  • NIKKI F.

    This hidden gem doesn't have much curb appeal but I tell you, it's big on taste, wide on variety, smart on service and small on price. Isn't that just a great combination? With Hawaiian ono classics like Kalua Pork and twists on classics like Kalua chicken (great for this non-pork eater) I was impressed with the variety of the menu. The fish (Lomi Salmon) is fresh and tasty! And they have lots of non-fishy things too...

    (4)

  • Randall F.

    Pure Hole in the Wall - way off the beaten path in an alley. More like a Poke shop with over the counter poke of many styles. Two outdoor table overlooking the parking lot. Perfect for grabbing your plate lunch combo and heading to the beach.

    (4)

  • Vincent Q.

    Near the old Stadium Park, between two roads--Beretania and King--if you look, you'll see the sign. Definitely an easy place to miss. Most of the lot is open parking, once inside, you move into a well air-conditioned, modern looking poke bar and kitchen. Mochiko Chicken- 3-stars- I asked if they had a side-order, she looked and yes they do! I ordered this. For me, this was more like basic fried chicken, than the style of Mochiko I've been used to. The flavor wasn't exciting, it didn't stand out. My friend liked it, I think it was the simplest thing I ordered. The sauce reminds me of a sweet Thai gel sauce, mild chili flavor. Together they're good, not great. Kalua Chicken Cabbage Bowl- 3 1/2-stars- This is an interesting adaptation of the traditional Kalua pork recipe. As per my usual, I seem to be used to this being saltier, but the shredded chicken was still a good play on kalua. I don't know if you can bake a chicken the same way as pork, since their structure is different, but the end product isn't too bad. In the bowl, you have cabbage and rice. The rice seems to get soggy and brown from the juices, which is interesting. Chicken Lau Lau- 4-stars- This was my favorite of these chicken dishes, and least favorite for my friend. I think the taro leaves, being soft and squishy was something unfamiliar. It comes in a plastic bag, tied and wrapped in ti leaves. The flavor is ono. A little oily, but packed with deliciousness. As long as you can get passed the plastic bag display, it's something you can't miss. Poi- 3-stars- Poi is poi, expensive though it can be, you can't have a truly local meal without some of this stuff. Haupia and Sweet Potato- 3-stars- This was an interesting mix of haupia and sweet potato, which I thought would create a unique taste, but it was a little dry and cracked easily. If you love both haupia and sweet potato, you're in luck. Otherwise, it was a dessert where we wondered who would eat the last piece. Atmosphere- Well, there are seats outside. Inside, it's like a lunch-wagon, poke bar, and take-out window. They do offer a huge cooler of water with Styrofoam cups in case you're thirsty. There is even a snack area and fridge space to pick up some of their favorites to take home and eat whenever you want. Service- The service here is really good. They're helpful and patient, especially considering there are so many choices to pick from. I was pleased with how fast the food was prepared, but I imagine they must have a lot of it back there, right? And I came on a Sunday, a couple hours before they closed. Conclusion- I was really excited to come, here. I've planned on stopping here for lunch for nearly two months. The service, even the look of the place was great, it made me feel comfortable and at home. The food wasn't as exciting as I had hoped. I need to go back and try different things, since I like variety. Still, it's a good stop to get some quick bites, and food that doesn't disappoint!

    (3)

  • Selena H.

    best poke i've ever had!! thank you to chef friends for referring us here. ahi limu poke - ahi tuna poke with a type of seaweed with light sauce. very refreshing. wasabi masago poke - a bit of spice, downplayed by the egg.. recommended by the staff so thankfully we ordered some. lau lau - the pork had a bit of chicken in it too which was very tasty. kind of hidden on a small side street, but well worth the drive. you can buy the poke in a variety of sizes, or you can simply order lunch plates. small parking lot but it shouldnt be too bad during off hours.

    (5)

  • Christine A.

    Get the grilled ahi it's super good! ...my sister loved the poke too!

    (4)

  • Rae X.

    was lucky enough to be staying within walking distance of this place on my first trip to hawaii, and it became a go-to. it's not the prettiest walk, though, for hawaii -- drove there after the first time. first kalua pig i've ever had...and then second, and third, because the helping was large enough for many meals' leftovers. just amazing. salty, porky deliciousness. oh, and the squid luau was amazing. (also a first for me.) i don't know if this is what you're supposed to do with it, but i mixed in rice and ate it straight, with chopsticks. then i googled it, to see what the heck i was eating. sampled all of the pokes except octopus -- favorite was the wasabi/roe. and i wish i'd been there long enough to go back and try the dried ahi/garlic poke, which looked really cool and different. oh, and first haupia, too! delicious little see-thru vat of white coconut creamy thing that i thought was like mayo or tartar sauce or something, and was about to toss in the garbage, but i'm SO glad i tried it. ate the whole thing. ate in a park nearby, ate in the car with the windows down.... ran into our waiter from "eggs'n'things," waiting in line to order, and he greeted us warmly and confirmed that we were in a genuine locals-eat-here sort of place. i wish i could get their stuff in california!

    (5)

  • C Y.

    Stuff is friendly. Parking and tables are limited. I had Shoyu Ahi Poke and Shoyu Tako Poke. The Ahi was good but the Tako was a little salty to me. I will try their Limu Poke next time.

    (3)

  • Jeremy K.

    Very nice indeed. The poke is on the salty side, but hey it matches my salty tastes... The spicy poke is pretty spicy and it has a sort of korean raw crab banchan taste to it. I love it personally. They also had one which had big thick limu and also lots of roe so, that with fresh soy sauce and sesame oil, was great as well. Properly salted of course. The mochiko chicken was very crunchy (not the best I've had), but passable. My daughter enjoyed it. The mac salad needs improvement though. Needs more texture and seasoning. Odd that they heavily salt everything else. I also had the lau lau - very nice (though which it had butterfish in it), and kalua pig which was smokey and salty as it should be. The lomi lomi was pretty good too. The rice proportion was small. 1 scoop for all the food. The dried ahi is great as well and salty. O well. I had to drink a gallon of water afterwards to satiate my thirst, but I'm coming back to this place for more salt (via poke and dried ahi)! The price is pretty good as well. Not cheap, but good for fresh poke.

    (4)

  • Jenny K.

    YAMMMMMAAAAAA'SSSSS!!!!!!!!! UHHH NA NA NA NAAAAAA!!! This place makes me want to smack my grandmama it is sooo good!! ( that means it's really effin good ya'll : ) Kalua Pork, Lau Lau, Grilled Ahi, Lomi Salmon, mac salad, and don't forget the strawberry haupia and okinawan haupia pie... all UHHMAZING! Best Plate Lunch I have had for sure. And convenient location with parking (not much, but at least they have some) Don't go there at lunch time though, I don't want you making the line long for me!! : )

    (5)

  • Tamara P.

    Definitely the best kalua pig plate that I've ever ate. Very juicy and tender pork with just right amount of seasoning along with sticky rice and haupia. YUM-O!! I didn't care too much for their laulau though. I love the lu'au leaves and pork, but can't stand the piece of butterfish that they put in there. And the sweet potato version just wasn't the same! I would much rather save my trips here for my kalua pig cravings and go to Ono Hawaiian Foods for their pork laulaus! Food: ***** Service: **** Ambiance: *** Value: *****

    (5)

  • Cameron B.

    Quality poke, decent prices and different flavors. They also have a small selection of desserts to choose from for those people with a sweet tooth. Priced at $1.95 how could you say no to a Haupia chocolate treat?

    (5)

  • Tai M.

    Always a great place for poke. I went the other day and they had just run out of Hawaiian Style Poke, but they made more right away. It was some of the best I have ever had. I think I said in a previous post that Ono Seafood was the best. Yama's has finally rivaled that. Fresh and delicious. Their pasteles are also very good, but I can't resist the poke!

    (5)

  • Jamie B.

    I'd forgotten how good Yama's really is... it's been so long since those UH pool tournament days and Yama's dinner runs... Oh. Back to reality. My good friend just had her baby's first birthday and it was catered by Yama's. I was pretty excited since I hadn't had Yama's in forevers and I was totally NOT disappointed!! There was a wonderful spread of shoyu ahi poke, tako onion poke, lomi salmon, pipikaula, shoyu chicken, chicken long rice, kalua pig, squid luau, haupia, pineapple, and sweet potato. I took a little bit of everything except the squid luau (i am just not that brave.) Everything was so good! The only thing that was a tad bit too salty for me was the shoyu ahi poke, but i think i may have just gotten a couple pieces that weren't mixed good. The kalua pig was really good and the pipikaula was peppery and delicious. I love Yama's haupia too... it's different from other haupias I've tasted. It's not real coconut-ty which to me is a good thing. Anyway, by the end of the party I was stuffed and felt like a sausage but I still wanted to eat more LOL!

    (4)

  • Jaynie K.

    Lau lau. Kalua pig. Ahi limu poke. Haupia. Sweet potato haupia. OMG!!! I think I peed a little. *SIGH*

    (5)

  • Gemma R.

    It maybe a few dollars more than Don Q's but you get your money's worth. The fish is fresh and they have a great selection to choose from. I also like their baked goods selection WHICH I know I shouldn't have looked at because now I always wanna get the haupia pumpkin thing. :(

    (5)

  • Angela K.

    So many great combo plate lunches here, perfect for taking to go and sitting on the beach and enjoying it! I got the #6 Combo: Kalua Pig, Lomi, Poke & Haupia for $10. So much food, would of been enough to share between two people. You have the choice of what kind of poke you want in your combo - they have about 5 different kinds. I opted for the Ahi Limu Poke and the flavor was delicious! In addition, to finish off the meal you get a sweet dessert - haupia!

    (5)

  • Radiant C.

    I love that this place is on the same street as my workplace. Can you say convenient! Despite that, I am having trouble acquiring a liking to the food served here. I just had the ahi salad today, and I must admit it was worth my $5.15, promise! However, I have had the hot meals here at Yama's before and wasn't as satisfied. I tried the shoyu chicken my first trip to Yama's, and again a second time to see if it was just a bad day. But, dang, I was still unsatisfied with the shoyu chicken. Boo. :( The macaroni salad isn't as good either. But, eh, surely it works. When this place is busy, the parking sucks, and the line to order food, pick-up food & pay is just random! The cashier just gets your orders then tell you to wait on the side, when your order is ready, they tell you to come up, pay for your food and pick-up your food. They need a different system that works quicker, because this current one sure as hell doesn't. I hope I can come back again and this time with a better perspective on Yama's.

    (3)

  • Kayla K.

    They sell a haupia strawberry pie sort of thing here that is off the hook. It's shortbread on the bottom and then a haupia layer on top then a strawberry gelatin layer on top along with real strawberry slices inside the gelatin layer. It's grindz for real. They also have a haupia pumpkin pie too that is super grindz. Their food I'm not too sure about because we only ordered chicken long rice and squid luau from there but judging from those dishes I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't really like it. Their chicken long rice was good but nothing special. Definitely not memorable. Oh and their squid luau should be renamed to be just luau. No squid. There was like nothing in there. And it was sweeter than expected. It was a little strange. Yama's desserts should definitely be tried but don't worry about their plate lunches. It'll probably just be mediocre.

    (3)

  • Jay S.

    Just ate here the other night. Yama's is our go-to place for Hawaiian food. Generous portions and delicious food. Their poke is the best: fresh, tasty, and quality pieces of fish. Laulau and poi, lomi salmon, pateles, kalua, long rice, they have it all! The workers are always friendly and efficient. I don't know how they remember the orders as they seldom write things down and always get things right. They also sell great desserts - cookies, jello, haupia, and other brownie / cake / pie type items. Yum! The only downside is the parking lot, which is tiny, and if you come late they may run out of some of the more popular things.

    (5)

  • Jennie E.

    One time there and I am hooked. It isn't your regular mixed plate joint. This place has quality food! From the wide variety of poke, to the scrumptious kailua pig, to the lomi lomi - This place is GREAT! It also has a little store with sundries in it, which is helpful. A little disorganized at the counter, but the staff was friendly, patient and helpful. Parking is rough and locating this place is more like a person stumbles on it. So savory, tasty and more than what you would expect! There are a few chairs outside but this is a take out joint. I wish they had a small dine in area!

    (4)

  • Vicky K.

    I've been a customer since the 90's & hands down, BEST Lau Lau on the island. My favorite part of the Lau Lau are the leaves. You know when you bite into the Lau Lau & the leaves are dry, slightly bitter & stingy with flavor....it's because those Lau Lau are made from the old leaves. Yama's sort out the bad leaves, using the good leaves, which leaves you with tender, never dry, or acidic leaves that soaks in all the flavor from the pork & chicken. ONO! I also buy a few of the frozen Lau Lau for my freezer; My version of a Hawaiian TV dinner. The service is always friendly & helpful....Love that! Buy Local. It Matters!

    (5)

  • Heidi L.

    i've been annoying the yamas employees since i was a wee bitty toddler growing up there up until now! all i gotta say is : POKE HEAVEN :) with some amazing pork/chicken lau lau, and chicken long rice to top it off. -AKA- this is why most people in hawai'i are fat. 143 yamas.

    (5)

  • S K.

    Returned to Yama's as soon as I could upon my return to Honolulu. Not surprised that the fresh pokes, dried seafoods and warm kitchen preparations are all as delicious as my memories. Super friendly folks both staff (Camea) and customers.

    (5)

  • Emily C.

    Their kalua pig and cabbage is amazing! Poke is pretty good as well. Their prices are good.

    (5)

  • Ming-Jou C.

    Sh!t! No spam musubi! And I didn't get any last time because of my friend's greedy and sneaky dog. That's what I get for going at night. I had only been there for lunch, but had to cram in a visit since a trip to Oahu is not complete without a trip to Yama's. So I called in and their nice automated answering service said they closed at 7 pm. So we hauled our asses over there from North Shore and decided to get our poke on, rather than get huge plates. So we got 1/2 lb. lomi lomi salmon (my fave), 1/2 lb. ahi poke and 1/4 lb. maui style tako poke. Then we got a chicken and pork lau lau side. Eating this in your hotel room after having spent the day at the beach is just all kinds of AWESOME. I guess I'll have to make another trip for the spam musubi. Sigh.

    (5)

  • Daniel B.

    Damn I almost don't want to tell you how good this place is!! Don't want it to get out cuz itll get busier. Hands down THE BEST local plates on the island!! So many choices then they add daily specials!! Lau lau is incredible with any combo or by itself. Kahlua pork awesome. Not for health food nerds. Desserts great! Just had chocolaty chocolate haupia. Wow. Small parking lot but fast service. Staff is awesome and right on it. Just do it! Won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Kevin T.

    One of the rare places I've seen in HI with a parking lot. The customer service was great, along with the food, plus the prices were extremely fair especially compared to restaurants around Waikiki. There are 2 tables outside with a total of 4 seats for customers to dine outside (only).

    (4)

  • Jillian P.

    I've eaten here a couple of times and I must say, I really like their food! The poi is reallllllllyyyyyyyy good! :) Definitely will be going back for that! The first time there, I had Kalua Cabbage, mmhmm. They know how to do it right! And I think I would know, because Kalua is my ULTIMATE favorite food - as in - number ONE on my list of favorite grinds! Haha. It's really good. :) I don't know what else there is to say about that?! Haha. The second time around, I had their Lau Lau plate . . . Ehhh, it was OKAY. I think I may have been expecting a lot, just because the Kalua Cabbage was really good. But I mean, to me, it really wasn't anything special. I did however, like the fact that the lau lau was so big! The plate I got was only 6 bucks and the lau lau is pretty big, so that's always a plus. :) I also think it's RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME that all drinks, no matter what size are only 1.25. That's a pretty sweet deal. :) Thus far, I haven't eaten any of their sweets, but am planning on eating a few of them the next time I go there. :) Which amy be soon! Writing this review is making me crave their food! LOL. Overall, definitely would go here again! Over and over and over again! ;)

    (5)

  • Shannon K.

    SO good! If I could choose one place that gives me local Hawaiian food, this place would be it! After trying places like Ono, Rainbows, Poke Stop, Zippy's, Helena's (but I have to say that Helena's has the BEST short ribs EVER), Side Street Inn, and different cafes, Yama's is FTW. This is kind of like a fast food joint (not as "ghetto" as Rainbows, but not sit down like Ono). You go in and see shelves to your left that function like a makeshift grocery store that sells packaged cookies, nuts and dried fruit. In front of you, you'll see a long glass case and counter where a nice local will take your order and serve you the food in a to go container ASAP. Kalua Pork (5/5): The kalua pork is moist, tender and infused with flavor. Forget going to a luau because this place has GREAT kalua pork. The meat is succulent and falls apart when you use your fork to grab a bite. The juices are delicious and I can't stop eating it! Lau lau (4/5): DELICIOUS! Again, it's all about the flavor-- this lau lau is infused with flavor and the leaves are soft and complement the pork wonderfully. I think they also mix in chicken, so watch out for a bone or two. Lomi Salmon (3/5): Tastes the same as Ono. You can't really go wrong with tomatoes and salmon pieces.

    (5)

  • Derek R.

    hawaiian plate for $10 bucks?! no wayz! I got the hawaiian plate combo, kalua pig, laulau (pork & shicken), shoyu shicken, haupia. they gave so much! I wasn't able to finish it all. how's that one?

    (4)

  • Daniel L.

    Good Food, Terrible Service. Had to wait 10 minutes before I was called by a worker. With only 2 other people in the store. The guy was terrible. Manager wasn't helping either. Won't go back unless they improve their service.

    (1)

  • Brent S.

    Great place for Hawaiian food! The poke is always fresh. The lau lau is not too salty, but still very flavorful. Prices are very reasonable. Try the dried pepper poke for something a little different and delicious.

    (4)

  • Rick B.

    Good authentic Hawaiian food. Just had lunch here today and noticed that the portions were kinda small, but that's ok 'cause I'm trying to loose some weight anyway. ;)

    (5)

  • Monica S.

    This place gets 5 stars from me because everything I tried was great: kalua pig shoyu ahi poki tako poki lomi lomi somen salad - salad must be the only green vegetable on the island chocolate haupia The kalua pig portion was especially generous so my daughter and I shared a Hawaiian plate. I would have loved to have returned to Yamas during my short stay, but there were so many other restaurants to try. Next time!

    (5)

  • Yoonah L.

    Omg. Hands down BEST ahi pokes!!!!!!!!!! On top of that, super inexpensive! Very local place. Was difficult to find this place (especially using only public transportation). It's NOT in a touristy area. BUt TOTALLY worth the 1 hour of wandering around in the scorching heat.

    (5)

  • Manda S.

    I Love Yama's. With a capital L. :( But unfortunately, the last 2 times I've been here, I've gotten sick after I've eaten their food! The first time, I had the ahi poke patties which kinda reminded me of a crab cake. It was ono but I got sick. :( The second time, I got the furikake salmon which was interesting. It was fried just like the ahi patties but with the skin on? I liked it too but I still got sick. :( My BF is in love with Yama's kalua so perhaps the next time we come, I'll stick to that. :(

    (2)

  • Megan T.

    My order (feeds two): -#3 plate: pork&chicken lau lau, lomi salmon, poke of your choice, brown rice, and a small cup of haupia. -small side order of pork adobo -small side order of poi and if I'm feeling indulgent.. a slice of their sweet potato haupia dessert! This meal is so HUGE and fills both me and my boyfriend when we share it.. and the best part is that the total comes out to about $16! I don't know how they keep their prices so low for such good quality local food. Their poke is always super fresh and the limu they use is always crunchy. Their lau lau is hot and juicy... and their pork adobo is so vinegary and delicious! The ONLY thing that I wish is that their poi was thicker. I love day old sour-ish poi and theirs is usually really thinned out (which I completely understand because poi is so freakin' expensive). In conclusion, this is the best hawaiian food with the best service you will get in this area of town. I usually go around 3pm and there is NEVER a line.

    (4)

  • Minah L.

    my local friend took me here! I tried the kalua pig, pork lau lau and lomi. i really liked the lau lau!! not so much the kalua pig. (my friends went to a restaurant called Ono and they said the kalua pig there was better than this kalua pig-- granted they tried my leftovers..) but anyways! I don't like shredded meat.. that's maybe why i didn't like the kalua pig. the lau lau was really good though!!!!!!!! with the lomi!! :))

    (3)

  • R C.

    Poke-poke-poke!!! Yay. Can't go wrong with pokes at Yamas. They have been doing a great job for yearssss. It's da mom/pop place, can't go wrong. It's hard to find parking at times, especially, lunch hours. I have had many bentos and lunch plates here. My personal favs are : pasteles, poi bowl, ahi limu poke, #6 plate , dried aku, kimchee ahi poke... spicy ahi ( da hawaiian one is ono too), boiled peanuts, chocolate haupia and pipikaula. The prices aren't as high as other spots.I would say affordable even on a college budget. Sometimes, when I didn't have $ I would only buy like1/4lb of poke or small poi and rice. Hey, that was more than a meal to me, it was super onolicious. They have other snacks but I stick to hot -fresh-homemade food. Sometimes, it's so freakin busy, other times...dead quiet. Best poke in town , no doubt. It's non touristy and local, can't beat that. Plenty take outs throughout the day... so be on time!!! You have been warned.

    (4)

  • Awa S.

    Sooooo good! I had the spicy ahi poke and, wow, that was yummy. It's small place with a small parking lot but it was always busy. All locals so I knew this place was good. I went there twice on my visit and took some plate lunches on the plane. I will definitely be back the Yama's when I visit again. So ono!

    (5)

  • Joson P.

    I like Yama's. Today I had the panko encrusted Mahi for lunch. I usually don't care for deep-fried batter + tartar sauce, but it was good. The outside was crispy/crunchy and the fish inside was tender and moist. I like that you have the option of getting tossed salad instead of Mac salad. It was good, but I'm kinda wishing I ordered a laulau. They have a parking lot, but it's kinda small since they can get busy during lunchtime. Luckily, it wasnt too busy today. They also only have two tables to eat at out front. It's more of a pick up and go place. The staff is always friendly. So grab your lunch and eat it at the beach!

    (4)

  • Greg T.

    Thank you Yamas! You completed my Oahu wedding trip. Usually I eat Hawaiian food as much as possible on my Oahu trips. But, with a busy wedding prep schedule, we did not have a chance to hit up a Hawaiian place until the last night. Sadly, we discovered that many Hawaiian food places are CLOSED on Sundays! AHHH!! It was 4:00 and I found out that Yamas was open until 5:00 so we busted out the hotel and went to Yamas. The line was long...made sense since all the other places were closed. No poi on Sundays...bummer. But, the food was outstanding as usual. This was my 2nd time there. Lau lau was hearty and moist, kahlua pork was moist, smoky, and good. I tried their poke for the first time and was very impressed - soft and good. Next day, I got on the airplane and was happy that Yamas saved the trip.

    (5)

  • Sang Yup K.

    Best local hawaiian food on the island. Really good staff and always fresh catch.

    (5)

  • dannydan d.

    good food!

    (4)

  • Sage S.

    Lau Lau is soooo delicious. Poke good too.

    (4)

  • R K.

    so effin good. price is reasonable for the flavor. poke was amazing.

    (5)

  • Sean H.

    Something I noticed about this island is that Hawaiian food tends to be expensive. Why is Hawaiian food so expensive in Hawaii?? Anyway, this place has AFFORDABLE Hawaiian food! Plates run from $6-9. And it is not poor quality fast-food stuff. It's very delicious! I had a plate that had kalua pig and poke, and both were very delicious! I like that the main entree type things (kalua pig, laulau) can be paired with a small cup of poke. A lot of these places do not offer such a deal. At other places, you need to actually buy a separate order of poke, which gets really expensive, not to mention they often have "minimums," which sucks if you only want a little bit of poke on the side!

    (5)

  • Yumi N.

    1st time at Yama's was a pleasant surprise! They have so many other munchies & things other than poke & plate lunches. I had an entertainment coupon so I tried it a couple of days ago...order mochiko chicken & lau lau plate. The mochiko chicken wasn't bad but I've never had one that looked more like katsu...the lau lau was totally awesome!!! & I'm really picky about lau lau since my mom brings the best one I've had from Kauai but Yama's was just as good with alot of meat & lau lau leaf plus 2 big scoops of rice, mac salad, & lomi lomi salmon on the side. Omg I was so full, I couldn't eat for the rest of the day! :) Very happy with a great take out restaurant & I'm itching to try the rest of the menu!

    (4)

  • Min K.

    Originally, I have been craving hotpot so I decided to fulfill that need last night. Wrong idea. at 6:30, a mob formed by the front door and I knew I had no chance to wait in line to eat hotpot and shave ice. As a second option, I went to Yama's. Next door and open until 7, I was craving Hawaiian food. So I went in, and first and foremost, it was dead. No one there except me, this couple, and this really loud guy. He wouldn't shut up about sports. So as it became my turn to order, I had already grabbed the tapioca/chocolate pudding and wanted to order the #7, which is the Kalua pig, Laulau and Lomi salmon bento. As I am about to order, the male worker says hold on, and then goes in the back, gets the loud guys meal, talks to him, takes his change, and then accompanies to go in the back once more before returning back out. Now I know I'm not a brute when it comes to fast food service, but WTF. Isn't it common practice to take that persons order, take their money, and then give them their food? Who goes backwards? I waited in line for 8 minutes before he is done and calls me to place my order. I have to say Yama's has always exceeded my standards on service; and this night was NOT an exception. I'm giving it four stars for the food but had to dock two for the unbelievable service I received. Not even an apology was rendered for the wait, and call me prude, I felt one was needed for that long of a wait.

    (2)

  • Kim S.

    Cheaper than Ono's but only take out. Kalua pig - great, not too fatty or too salty. Chicken lau lau - would prefer more lau lau leaves & a little overcooked (too squishy). Lomi salmon - good, yep you can see the salmon not just tomatoes. Poke - fresh & a bunch of choices.

    (3)

  • John S.

    Amazing! A welcome respite from the Spam and Moco Loco spots elsewhere in Honolulu. The pork, octopus, & poki are lovely and this neighborhood spot is worth fasting for ( you'll need the extra space in your stomach for all the amazing selections they have to offer). Not to be missed!

    (5)

  • Love A.

    Yama's fish market became my favorite place to go to whenever I'm craving for some hawaiian food. Actually I just came from this place yesterday when my bf and I couldn't decide where to eat for lunch. For the first time in so many months, I ate laulau. Man, I forgot how good their laulau is. I could eat the taro alone, even without the meat with it. I also just discovered that they sell chocolate covered gummy bears. I've never had these since I was working at a chocolate factory when I was in high school. The only negative part about this was that I think the gummy bears were priced too much. I mean for a small bag of gummy bears = $4. That's too much. But then, I thought about the fact that I never had them in years. I also just realize that they serve daily lunch special, which has reasonable prices and the food is a LOT! But i stick with the usual plates and haupia on the side. The fact that they're near UH...they'll definetely see my face there several more times.

    (4)

  • Misha T.

    Lordy this place rules, me and my friends all shared so we got to have a try of a variety of things so let me break it down by dish Ahi Limu Poke - good, the fish tastes super fresh and so does the seaweed, great texture, my only complaint is that the salt they use comes in really really big grains and it sorta crunches which is a bit too intense in my opinion. Ahi Wasabi Poke - awesome, thats all i can say, think spicy poke but with that special zing that only wasabi offers. Kalua Pork - some of the best i've had, it was super moist and not dry at all, i really sorta wished i ordered it for myself but i just mooched off people. Lau Lau - pretty bomb for the most part, they use chicken and pork and it rocks, got a little dry in the middle but still pretty rockin Masago Poke - good, way better than most i've had. I want to go back next week to get the tako poke If you want legit bomb food that will literally put a smile on your face do yourself a favor and hit up yama

    (5)

  • Reina B.

    I don't think I've sampled enough of their food to judge accurately. We got 2 kinds of poke and 2 different salads. The salads were okay... good for Hawaii I guess. The poke was all right, lacked "wow". I'm guessing their lunch plates are killer?

    (3)

  • Mel P.

    So much poke, I didn't know what to do with myself. After walking to Yama's from the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, I was ready to eat! I ordered the local poke, kalua pork and lomi lomi salmon plate...oh yeah, and a side of mini cookies. The poke was pretty good. It was fresh and not overly salted. The kalua pork was a bit too salty for my taste, but it was cooked well, and still very good. I would skip the lomi lomi salmon, because there was barely any salmon in it. It tasted like pico de gallo with a couple bits of salmon. The cookies were super tasty, get a bag!

    (4)

  • Sara T.

    I love that Yama's is right by UH! I'm definitely partial to Young's, but trekking to Kalihi is not fun at 3 pm when that kalua pig craving sets in. I have yet to try their luau, lau lau, and long rice, so I can't leave an adequate review, but for now, I'll review the kalua pig. It's delicious and juicy, but man, it is SALTY! The rice to pig proportion I need to eat to offset the salt is way higher than I'd usually like. The prices are decent and the portions are giant (but not as giant as Young's). This is my go-to place for Hawaiian food in the University area.

    (3)

  • Dean H.

    Do you like fresh ahi poke, kalua pig and lau lau? Well, you have come to the RIGHT place for all that goodness. You heard that right, FRESH, not pre frozen ahi poke. Come on now. Who makes that anymore, well Yama's does and they are proud of it. The prices are pretty reasonable at about 13 dollars a pound too! Lots of variety and lots of good combinations of flavors. The kalua pig is a winner, not too salty and the lau lau is actually not the best but it is very good. Lemon drops and other old school candies are also there. Haupia in different flavors line the reefer. Boiled peanuts, bag ice, taegu, and all kinds of stuff in the reefer to choose from. Taro chips of ALL kinds of flavors are there too! There are also plate lunches of all kinds of combos of their good foods.... The parking can be a little snug and sometimes you may have to park somewhere else and walk but it is seriously worth the walk. Go get some goodness here! 042/365 hawaiianfoodgoodnessyelptasticchallenge.....

    (5)

  • Arlene A.

    Their lau lau is super fresh and prices are good. I bought a lb of squid luau today and did not like it. Very bland, weird coconut flavor (kinda seemed like the coconut was a bit spoiled). Other than that, we love ordering take out from this place and will always come her for our Hawaiian food craving. We'll probably just not ever order the squid luau again.

    (4)

  • Emiko T.

    After eating here I got a major food coma. But boy if ever anything was worth getting put to sleep at 2:30 in the afternoon, the mochiko curry chicken combo is it. This review will be pretty short and to the point, which also is appropriate for the kind of place Yama's is: no fuss, no frills, just good food and nice service. The service is fast and only ideal for to-go service. There are a couple of tables outside but it's close to the parking lot so you could either walk over to one of the nearby parks or just take your onolicious food home. Very affordable and they're definitely not stingy with the portions. I had such a hard time choosing between the kalua pig and the mochiko chicken but i figured either one I went with was going to be completely satisfying. The mochiko curry chicken was SO good. The curry was really thick and a little sweet and the chicken was juicy and tender. They give you a little cup of mac salad to go along with it. I was admiring the array of haupia desserts like brownies, jello and cakes but (un)fortunately I resisted and didn't buy any this time. For the number 24 combo and a water my total came to 8 bucks flat. They have their own private parking lot so hopefully you can get lucky and snag a spot. Can't wait to go back and try all the other hawaiian foods, especially the ones other yelpers are raving about! Yelp challenge: #10/365

    (4)

  • Lisa L.

    Loved finding Yamas while on vacation here in Honolulu, not a tourist trap, great local food, rock bottom prices. We had: -the ahi lunch plate, the green sauce that came with it was so good I used every last drop of it. -the ahi belly lunch plate, very good -the zebra haupia dessert, YUM This deli is off the beaten path, the parking lot is small, there are two tiny tables outside, the tiny interior is lined with shelves of snacks and refrigerator cases full of delicious looking food. Our lunch plates were cooked to order. We were ecstatic over getting almost a pound of delicious ahi in our $6 lunch plate, you just can't beat that.

    (5)

  • Lisa N.

    solid kahlua pork and lomi salad. :) and i love that they have a fridge with fresh fruits and other goodies.

    (4)

  • Benjamin A.

    I go here 2-3 times a week. The garlic chicken was my favorite for a long time but I just tried the deep fried spicy ahi belly. Kalua pig is so good. Miso butterfish bento on Thur and Fri. I love their chocolate tapioca desert too. Their customer service is top notch as well. They are all super courteous and helpful.

    (5)

  • Phung C.

    Yamas Fish Market is my top spot for Hawaiian food in town. My favorite is their Kalua Pig. It's never dry.....always moist, just the way I like it. Some chili peper water is perfect with it. I also like their Limu Poke. It has just the right about of sesame oil. I go back to them often as I find them very consistant. I will always get it fresh and not be disappointed. I also love the snacks and other delectables they have display in their refridgerated display.

    (4)

  • Stephanie L.

    Love this place and everyone has already said how amazing the food is. However, if you now live on the mainland like me, I not only get food for lunch that day, I also head to the freezer! Their frozen Kalua Pig is SO GOOD! It's in concentrated form is whenever you want to defrost, just put it in a pot with a cup of water. My friends love it when I bring this stuff back and make Kalua Pig and Cabbage or Kalua Pig Quesadillas!

    (5)

  • Brent K.

    One of my regular places I go to. Poke is good. Plate lunches are three to four stars. The secret is in the freg waiting for you! Desert, of all sorts, houpia. pudding,jello, salads are very good. And they have brown rice. Most of the time. They also have ready made food, and snacks. These guys are good! You go for the plate lunch. But leave with poke and desert. LOL I always save some for later.

    (5)

  • AsianRunningDiva S.

    I had Yamas cater my wedding celebration over the weekend and it was FANTASTIC! They delivered the food and rented catering supplies in the time designated, and had signs for each food item so that our guests would know what everything was. I ordered shoyu poke, hapa rice, steamed mixed veggies, kalua pig, chicken long rice, shoyu chicken, okinawan sweet potato, panko crusted mahi. It was such a hit! Brian worked with me via email so that I had the right amount for our guests...and we only have a little leftover! Everyone was very happy with the food and I was very happy that I didn't have to stress about it! I was able to rent their catering dishes so that it looked really professional (and they gave sternos to keep the food warm). I've had their laulaus there and they are amazing as well! THANK YOU BRIAN for your help!!! A $250 deposit is required to set the date. Definitely recommend for parties as well as for lunch! :)

    (5)

  • Evelyn T.

    i DON'T like POKE. I mean I love sashimi and seaweed salad, but for some reason poke makes me gag. Before coming here, I kept trying it at different places thinking I was just getting bad fish, but now I know. If I had the best, and the best isn't good enough, then it's just not my thing.The nice lady gave me samples of several flavors of poke that had available, and I realized it was just..me. Several locals came in to buy poke here before I could decide what I wanted, so I know it's quality stuff. I finally decided on poi and kalua pig. Kalua pig was full of flavor, moisture, and hearty. The portions are generous--pleasing my eyes-bigger-than-stomach complex as well as my inside-fat-lady complex. The poi was even better than the kalua pig! Super moist, super tender, super flavorful. The boyfriend watched me with a raised eyebrow as I dug in and ate a mouthful of the taro leaves. Haha. It's gooooooood. MMm now I have to find me some authentic hawaiian food in California...

    (4)

  • Gary F.

    Haven't been here in ages. I don't think I even came the new store, just the old one down the street. Anyways, good impression of a clean store front. Lots of choices and good looking Poke. I came here to pick up the Kalua Pig from a fund raiser. It wasn't too crowded but the way the store is shaped, there was a bit of a confusion in where to line up. I got 10 one pound containers. After getting to taste the Kalua pig, it was on the saltier side. But not too bad. Love the smokey flavor. Thumbs up! G

    (4)

  • Jan M.

    Great food, we had the pork/chicken laulau, kalua pig, squid luau and haupia. Everything was good. The haupia and squid luau are extra good here. Haupia is nice and creamy, texture is just right. Not too soft and not too firm. Squid luau is creamy and smooth. Doesn't have a bite to it like some places. Shoyu poke was yummy too. Parking a little small, but at least they have one. Will be back again!

    (4)

  • Nina B.

    [[ Drool ]] I loved this place!! Grab some food and enjoy it at the park. Be sure to watch your back because I'm sure if someone knew you're carrying food from here they just might attack :) Lau lau - Not dry and totally flavorful. I liked that they combo-ed the meat, score! Chicken Musubi - Another please! Other chicken musubis have been a little tasteless but this one wasn't. Too bad I had to share. Spam Musubi - It is what it is, simple and delicious. Rice had a good consistency... again, too bad I had to share. Ahi Wasabe Poke - Awesomeness! Ahi Limu Poke - Double Awesomeness!! Kailua Pork - Triple Awesomeness!!!

    (5)

  • Morose G.

    lau lau, poi, and lomi salmon. perfect. this is what it's all supposed to taste like. the lau lau's moist and a good portion. lomi salmon is just salty enough with lots of juice and tomatoes and onion and some salmon. and the poi. oh that poi. just trust. just trust. and with masu's gone, this is the place to go for your lau lau. what'd i say? just trust. onolicious :)

    (5)

  • Bora K.

    Since we were in Hawaii, a plate lunch was definitely in order so we decided to reward ourselves after our hike up Diamond Head at the highly recommended Yamas Fish Market. Like a lot of other places in Oahu, Yamas' is take-out only so keep that in mind when deciding where to eat once you get your food. The parking is really cramped and the wait can be long... We were waiting for a car to pull out in the parking lot for quite awhile until we realized the people hadn't gotten in their car to leave, they had gotten in so they could sit in their car and eat. *shaking head* The menu is large and they have daily specials which many of looked interesting. We ended up getting the Hamburger Steak (w/ brown rice and macaroni salad) and a Kalua Pork and Lau Lau Chicken Combination Platter (w/ white rice and Lomi Lomi Salmon). We also threw in a Spam Musubi and a slice each of Sweet Potato and Chocolate Haupia Pie. We hauled our loot to the beach in front of our hotel and spread out our food onto our towels. If we looked ghetto with our take-out boxes amidst the other hotel guests with drinks in hand and eating food ordered from the beachfront bar, it didn't matter. The food was filling and delicious- the Kalua Pork was moist and smoky, the Lau Lau fall off the bone tender and melt in your mouth (I was a little disappointed they didn't have Lau Lau made with fish but the chicken was so good it didn't really matter once I tasted it). The Hamburger Steak was decent for what it was (maybe a tad too much breadcrumbs in the ground beef mix) but I'd have to say that white rice always trumps brown. Sweet Potato and Chocolate Haupia Pies were just the right amount of sweet and size to cap off our lunch. The most memorable Plate Lunch in Oahu for me.

    (4)

  • Sapna P.

    Probably the best poke in the island. It is a little hole in the wall but everything is so fresh. The kalua pig was very tender and delish. Must stop if visiting the island. There really isnt a place to sit down and eat but worth taking it to go.

    (5)

  • Jull Y.

    Authentic local Hawaiian can be found here. All the seafood are fresh, and cheap! Don't get stuck in touristy areas for Hawaiian food... drive out of the city a little and it'll be worth it. The lau lau they have here isn't too oily and fatty, I strongly urge you to try the poi here. The poi they have here super fresh. A must have! Will change your mind about them forever.

    (5)

  • marko i.

    Bought a couple pounds of poke here to satisfy my craving and introduce a friend to real Hawaiian poke. The food was great! I would definitely go again. Line was short and staff were friendly. I am glad the folks at Da Kitchen recommended an out of the way place.

    (4)

  • Erika K.

    Loved it! Seriously good poke at very reasonable prices. They are so fresh and seasoned just right. Loved the Ahi Limu Poke. Only got to try a couple from the wide variety of poke that they offered; I guess I have to go back there for more! Spam musubi was yummy, too. Good rice to spam ratio. Note: Consider this place take out only. There are only a few seating facing the parking lot.

    (4)

  • Gina H.

    A must stop for lunch every time I vacation in Honolulu. I love everything they have especially the macaroni salad. Spicy poke was delicious as well. Fast service & great food!

    (5)

  • Jill Y.

    Okay, I'm a from the Big Island. What does this mean? I eat a lot of good home cooked Hawaiian and local food from all my aunties and uncles. I really feel like I know what good kalua and good lau lau is especially when we make imu for all the grad parties. Okay, here's the thing, Yama's is clean and convenient. They actually have a decent parking lot. Yama's looks nice inside. AND every time I go there, I want to like the food. I've tried a bunch of different things: kalua and poi, beef stew, chicken long rice, etc. But it's just OK. People's Cafe is so much better, Helena's is better and Ono's is a little better. Why go to Yama's then? Okay, honestly, I just keep thinking it's going to be better. I keep forgetting it's mediocre. I'm sorry Yama's...I want to date you, but I don't think it's going to work out...I won't be seeing you for a while.

    (3)

  • Kalei F.

    Yum!! If you want good, reasonably priced, authentic Hawaiian food, come here!!! Their kalua pig and cabbage is ok, a bit under cooked, but you just have to get their Hawaiian plate with the kalua pig, rice, mac salad, and chicken long rice!!!! Kanak Attack right after!! And they have a lot of local snacks and desserts, my ABSOLUTE favorite being their Sweet Potato Haupia Pie!!! You MUST try this!!! It's the best ever!! Even better than Ted's Bakery or Sunny's Bakery!!!

    (5)

  • Kevin A.

    DEAR YAMAS... We've only met a few times, but I think I'm in love with you. Specifically your Hawaiian plate lunches, your buttery melt-in-your-mouth lau lau, your perfectly salted kalua pig, and your amazing haupia. Will you consider moving to the mainland so we can live happily ever after? Please check yes or no. Yes ___ No ___ -Kevin A.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    Very good selection of well prepared Hawaiian foods. Yama's has several spectacular items, including a squid luau that is heavy on the coconut milk, which I like. The laulau is unique in that it uses chicken and pork (complete with chicken bone) and no butterfish. For someone with a fish allergy, this is great! The taste was average though. This trend continues through most of the menu, where many items could be great, but don't quite make it. What I come back often for though, is their selection of local snacks. Their pipikaula and smoked squid at about $10/lb is too good. I could eat that all day.

    (3)

  • Kawelo D.

    green sauce for the grilled ahi is the best thing i tried anywhere....

    (4)

  • Love S.

    I come in for 3 things, I end up leaving with 10. Person behind me in line, "You ready?" Me, "NO, you can go." Person behind the person that was behind me, "You ready?" Me, "NO, you can go too." EVERY FREAKING TIME!!! It takes me forever to make up my mind here. I go in thinking, "I'm gonna get a hawaiian plate". Then I see what others are ordering and I think, "Oh, that looks good too". So, I end up ordering some stew, some lau lau, poi, a musubi, some wasabi and masago poke, shoyu poke, tako poke, sweet potato haupia, and whatever other goodies I can get my hands on. They offer over 20 different variety's of poke (rotating) and lot's of different plate lunch choices. Be careful it tends to add up. Don't forget the sweets, selection varies and they sell out fast. 4.75 stars for selection of goodies

    (5)

  • Dan F.

    I ate here awhile ago but can't remember much about it because it wasn't memorable. Anyway, I had the Kailua Pork, Chicken Long Rice, Haupia, Poi, and Lomi Salmon. I kind of spent more on that day with my order since I wanted to try one of everything. Nearly cost me $15 just for lunch. Overall the food didn't impress me compared to Ono's or Helena's. ATM, I can't described how it taste. But if the taste was memorable then I would've explained more. The food there reminds me of typical Hawaiian food, there's just nothing special about it. I would probably give this place 3 1/2 stars. But I wouldn't give it 4 stars because after what I ate, I don't feel like coming back to Yama's again.

    (3)

  • Maile F.

    If you got the munchies or not, Yama's is a great place to stop when you ono for just a little bit of everything. Hawaiian food, local plate lunch, sushi, poke, ogo, namasu, candy, crack seed, taro chips, and my favorite the haupia sweet potato dessert. Fast service and friendly staff. Check it out soon.

    (4)

  • Drew W.

    Great grinds. Faves: Poke, Lau Lau, Spicy Pasteles. I only wish they had place to sit and eat.

    (4)

  • Hannah K.

    Dropped by here recently, and ordered the spicy ahi poke with rice! OMGGGG. LIFE is PERFECT!

    (5)

  • LANCE C.

    At my suggestion, my partner and I stopped by Yama's on our way to the beach. We've never been to this place before and wanted to give it a try. Gosh, where have we been? Their Hawaiian plate lunches are surprisingly affordable. For just about $6, I got me a kalua pork cabbage, two "bumbucha" (gigantic) scoops of rice, and some mac salad (Zippy's would have charged me about a whopping $9--ouch to my wallet!). You can also order a fountain soda for just $1.25, and you can choose whatever size you want! Once we got to the beach, we dived right into our lunch. The kalua pork cabbage was "onolicious" (Hawaiian slang for "very yummy"). Yama's size portions are just right! Their mac salad tasted even better than Zippy's. For dessert, we each got a cup of the Chocolate Haupia Tapioca. Gosh, I was in dessert heaven! I consumed half of it at the beach and finished the rest at home. Yama's also offers a variety of fresh poke (Ahi, Tako, Kim Chee, etc). I plan to order some on my next visit! They even have a large selection of island snacks and cookie products. So if you want some cheap and ono "grindz" (good food), head on over to Yama's Fish Market in McCully--you won't regret it!

    (4)

  • Brad N.

    This place is way better and way cheaper than Ono Hawaiian Food. Also, I didn't get any MSG headaches from this place, compared to Ono. They have a vegetarian Lau Lau that's actually very good. You can also get a coupon from an Entertainment coupon book. Check them out!

    (4)

  • david l.

    I will never visit Honolulu without visiting Yama's. The food is great and WELL PRICED. and, hands down, everybody.... Yama's has got the best Poke you could ask for.

    (5)

  • Erika A.

    I only ever have one thing. Kalua pig and cabbage. YUM! Ok, I also have some of that yummy green sauce that comes with boyfy's fish plate. Me likey: )

    (4)

  • papaya s.

    Believe it or not, we catered through Yama's Fish Market for our outdoor, beach side wedding. It was one of the tastiest local buffets I've ever tasted and we got rave reviews! We plated the food on some snazzy dishware, and you would have never guessed it originated in this little gem... or cost a mere $13 per person! Although Yama's won't impress you with their packaging -- it's plate lunch style, after all -- you won't be wanting more after eating your meal. Some of my favorites are the fresh poke, garlic ahi with ginger/onion pesto, kalua pig, and shoyu chicken. All the Hawaiian plates are awesome and the zebra haupia (chocolate/coconut) is to die for! I love this place! Best value for your money!

    (5)

  • Tracy M.

    What on earth did people do before Yelp (besides roll the dice or simply never set foot inside a non-chain restaurant)? Well, thanks to Yelp places like Yama's can be enjoyed by even a couple mopes from Phoenix!! Just to be clear (because I wasn't just by the reviews) this is not a fish market per se in that they only have prepared dishes. There are several choices along with take away stuff, and it was super busy this Tuesday afternoon-I'll assume it always is. The Kalua pig is outstanding, my buddy had the garlic chicken special and the flavor was really good. The prices simply can't be beat and a 50% off coupon from the Entertainment book makes it a downright steal. Minus one star for some mystery/gristly/fatty pieces in both dishes and they need to have a couple more tables set up outside.

    (4)

  • Vera W.

    Great Service. Great poke. Depending on the day the lau lau is a hit or miss but the poke is great and they carry a lot of local favorite snacks. Love their ahi patties.

    (4)

  • kate r.

    The man and I are going the cheap-o route for the wedding and decided not to go with "fancy" full-service caterers. Not to say that the food quality of Yama's is cheap at all, and compared to any caterer I've been in contact with--their prices are definitely cheap and budget friendly. We figure our guests will enjoy what the locals eat, and since we enjoyed trying the food in styrofoam containers--eating it on some "fine china" would be even better! Side note: While sampling the food outside we witnessed a worker transporting a super fresh tuna carcass to the back. I can appreciate the fact that Yama's is going to serve food that fresh.

    (5)

  • Aaron I.

    Okinawan sweet potato mochi cake, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only get once a week though. This review is to be continued due to the amount and quality of ono foods at Yama's.......

    (5)

  • Yuko K.

    This place is great. I had a combo plate that came with lau lau, lomi salmon, tako poke and haupia. Also added a side order of kalua pig, 2 spam musubi, a half pound of shoyu ahi poke. These plus drink were about $23 that were more than enough to feed 2 big eaters. We loved lau lau and kalua pig, both of which were succulent and just right amount of saltiness. I did not get too excited about lomi salmon. It's like pico de gallo with bits of salmon. Also, tako poke had a cucumber taste and I really hate cucumbers. The ahi poke was good but the one from Ono Seafood is much much better. I'd definitely come back for more lau lau and kalua pig.

    (4)

  • Mary P.

    My husband would have eaten here everyday if he could. We loved the laulau (chicken & pork), the haupia desserts, kalua pig, and although I didn't care for the poi (this taro porride-like thing that you can substitute for rice for 50 cents more), T liked it. Oh and the poke was very fresh and light.

    (5)

  • Leimalani F.

    Still good, but they changed their spicy limu poke recipe. Their spicy poke used to be the only variety of spicy poke made without mayo in town. And the limu is what held all the spice. Now it has korean hot sauce. SAD!

    (4)

  • Bongiorno M.

    Good Hawaiian food at a fast paced, no seating, reasonable price.

    (3)

  • Grace L.

    BEST haupia pies....sweet potato and strawberry jello are our favorites here. The haupia is so smooth and the tantalizing macadamia crust just massage your mouth and tummy...happily. Service with a smile, always, and we will be back for a full meal...but we keep getting distracted for just desserts. ;-)

    (5)

  • Ryan Y.

    This review is just for finding 1 lb poi bags. Was last minute and lazy to drive all around town to look for poi, found here to be the cheapest at $4.95/bg vs. Times and Foodland which was about a dollar more. By the way found that the recommended instructions of 1 cup water per bag makes the poi to thin.

    (4)

  • Leila K.

    I love the food here. It is a hidden little gem. BACKKKKK in the day, I used to come here often during my lunch breaks. The kalua pig and poke are divine. They used to make the poke on the spot!

    (5)

  • Antonio A.

    First time I came here was with my boy Paul Umholtz, and of course Cindy and Carrie, two super hot Japanese-Hawaiian sisters I met while on my trip to Hawaii. This is what we love to order here: Ahi Limu Poke! Lau Lau! Kalua Pork! Hawaiian fruit punch Hawaiian iced tea! There were soooo many other food items that looked super good, but I was too full to try them! I can't wait to come back to Hawaii so I can get down with some of the other grindz here! Had a Kanak Attack afterwards for sure! There isn't much in terms of seating here. I believe it was plastic chairs and seats from a van or something. But who cares, the food is soooooo f*cking good!!! Come to Yama's and see for yourself! Shoots!

    (5)

  • Andrew U.

    Instructions for people visting from out of town..... 1) get off plane 2) head to Yamas! Im off to Hawaii a few times a year to visit family and make a beeline to Yama's for some the best local food on the island. My favorites are the Kalua Pig and the Ahi Limu Poke (soooooo fresh!!). But if you are a fan of local food everything is great including the haupia, lomi salmon and lau lau. Of course there is mac salad on the side and generous scoops of rice! This place is off the beaten path so you need to know your way around Honolulu. It is take out only so stake out somewhere to go to enjoy. Also

    (4)

  • Joe V.

    Wow. I feel like a fool for not finding this place sooner. I've been driving by for years but thought it was only large cuts of fish. Stupid I know since I go to helenas too. This is gonna be a loooong review. Sorry but its worth it. My better half sent me to Kozo sushi and they were closed. I know I know.. Kozo isnt great, but its ok and its SO close to me house. So I went over to Yamas just to see if they had ahi bowls. This is at about 7:30 They were closed too but I didnt notice until l was right in the doorway. I asked if they were closed and the girl said yeah, but come on in, what would you like. That was a good sign right there. Happy employees cheerily welcoming you 30 minutes after closing time is rare. So I ordered a spicy ahi bowl and some wasabi ahi. I felt so good and confident that I knew this would be a new favorite take out place. I got home and shared my excitement with the boss and she was skeptical. This is now one of her new favorite places to eat too. The wasabi ahi was amazing and is her favorite now and the spicy ahi was damn good too. We shared both and were really happy. I'll never go to Kozo again thats for sure. And they have plenty local food too. I tried a sample of the Kalua pork at the counter persons suggestion and it was as good if not better than Ono's. When I went to pay I figured the girl was being so nice to me because they accepted tips but there was no line on the receipt to add a tip. I would have thrown $5 down just based on the experience BEFORE I even ate. Margie's cookies are killer too. This morning I texted my 3 of friends about it and they already knew and have their own favorites there. Like someone else said you can't go wrong here. It's really really good served by happy employees. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Ashley G.

    oh yamas, i wanted soo badly to love you. your customer service was amazing but the food was lack luster. the lau lau was extremely bland. no taste what so ever!! what a disappointment. the kalua was decent and so was the garlic chicken. but id much rather go to another place to eat.

    (2)

  • jesus c.

    i used to like this place a lot. but now, im my ripe age of 26, i find that i only really like their squid luau. mostly because you can't really get it anywhere else, and it's a good way to beat the line cause it's already cooked. sure the parkiing sucks, but im a master and random parking spots, so never a problem for me. tip to yamas: a fresh coat of paint wouldn't hurt. tip to diners: get a moped?

    (4)

  • Mike C.

    Fantastic poke, both the shoyu and spicy variety. Kalua pig with mac salad is always a great call as well. Helpful staff and great for picnics and road trips.

    (4)

  • Kimo U.

    My family wanted to try a lot of menu choices, so I called early Sunday morning (before they opened) & ordered enough for nine members. Everything from the plate lunches to the various haupia dessert to the masago pokes to the beef stew and pasta salad turned out delicious. Sadly, no butterfish or furikake salmon are made on Sundays. To be safe, call ahead; you had to know that they only make miso-butterfish on Thursdays and Fridays. Their pickled mango, though, was a bit too tough for me. Wish they hadn't left the pit on.

    (5)

  • Epicurious M.

    My first review as a new transplant! This place sorta fell into my lap while I was perusing Craigslist for work. They were hiring for dessert makers to make haupia...and my curiosity was piqued. For the job opportunity and cuz I love haupia. I checked out their menu online and was pleasantly surprised by the prices. I finally got to check them out and I had to abandon my choice of getting one of the cheaper items. Instead I decided to go big or go home...I chose #6 cuz it had a variety of stuff I could sample. For $9.30 + tax I got Kalua Pig, Salmon Lomi, Poke (I chose spicy ahi from a number of options) & Haupia. I got lucky as there's only 2 tables to eat at and I got one of them. I arrived after 1pm so I just missed when it was hella croweded and I saw everyone leaving. Even though my meal was very filling, I still went back in to get some different haupia concoctions. I was obsessing. Anyway, I got the brownie with the haupia on top for 85¢; haupia on a crust with a piece of strawberry in strawberry jello; and haupia on crust with sweet potato on top both for $1.45. There were other haupia options there but I was already feeling guilty for breaking my diet and for splurging on myself, so I bounced. Mos def though I will return and sample the cheaper priced lunches...so I can get more haupia in return. Or maybe I'll apply, get lucky and work there!

    (5)

  • Koko M.

    I returned to Yama's again and it is still just as good. Highly recommend it! Just don't order the fried rice bowl, it's not that good. Stick to the plate lunches!

    (4)

  • REBEKAH H.

    Whenever I come to visit Honolulu this is an easy stop and has great food!

    (4)

  • Dave L.

    Poke! Best on the islands in my opinion. Freshly caught ahi that just melts in your mouth. I have been craving this for the last 7 months being on the mainland. Oh yea, the lau lau and stuff is good here too, but of course is even better with a tub of poke on the side!

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    LOVED IT! it was delicious! the ahi tuna was fresh and the lau lau was so tender and moist! the best lau lau i had in HI

    (5)

  • Baby T.

    Great food. A bit pricey though. The haupia is really good and the selection of poke is wonderful. Nice and fresh. Parking is pretty tight though. Very good food though, it is worth it.

    (5)

  • Kendall H.

    MAD good quality fish for the price. Good selection of local food on the menu. Only problem is i get annoyed when i want a poke bowl and have to buy poke and rice seperately, and an extra bowl to mix it together myself outside. Also MAD tasty, and worthy of writing a review for while working in my office in boston, ma craving good local food.

    (4)

  • Rob C.

    takeout place. ~$14/lb poke, this is the fresh stuff. various preps too, have the hawaiian but try wasabi masage (sesame). difference from the store versions like foodland is the pieces are very smooth (not include those sometimes stringy between areas). can order by the quarter lb to try several.

    (5)

  • Kristen C.

    I came here cause I had a BOGO free coupon. it was 1130 and not crowded and I was lucky to get a parking in their lot. There was only a few other people ordering/taking out. As for myself, I got the #1 lau lau plate, with 2 scoops rice and mac salad ($5.85)and I got my mom the #4 kalua pig with 2 scoops rice and mac sal'. For dessert I got the okinawan sweet potato haupia pie ($1.45) and the haupia brownie (.85). They have a lot of other desserts and cookies that looked really good too! Before ordering I gave the lady my coupon and she said to hold on to it. Then, after a 3 min wait or so my food was ready and so I gave the lady my coupon but she never ringed it up after checking my receipt, so then i gave it to her again...3rd times the charm i guess...and everything was clear and she apologized so that was nice. It was no problem but I just didnt get why she missed it after showing here for several times...o well. As for the price its as good as it gets! its really cheap for what you get compared to other shops that sell they same for way more. My laulau was pretty good, I've had better but still good. I wish it came with more luau leaves but I like that it came with chicken and pork although it was a bit dry it still had good flavor. As for their mac salad it was eh, not really to my liking, although my mom liked. She also thought her kalua was not bad, she had better and claimed that it was too salty, which it was after having a sample. And not to forget about dessert, she loved the sweet potato haupia pie and I really enjoyed my haupia brownie that was really moist and filled with choco chips and complimented well with the creamy haupia...mmmMMM gooood! The desserts were pretty pricey for their size but Overall its more like a 4.5 and i'll definitely be coming back.

    (4)

  • Albert L.

    As a previous reviewer (who oh-so-kindly introduced me to this place when I first moved here) mentioned, they have GREAT fresh/Hawaiian food! Even though there are not many tables, and it's mainly a take-out place, lots of locals know about it and they have a fresh selection of food AND are set up to do large quantity catering. Especially if you are one of those people who host visitors a lot and they keep screaming about wanting Hawaiian food, this is an excellent place to grab food on the way home. They are a LOT cheaper than a place like Ono Hawaiian Food (which although it's very good, is overpriced and more of a sit-down place). I think Yama is a good introduction to Hawaiian food, especially if you just want Hawaiian food and don't want to have to spring to go to a luau or something. So save yourselves some money, skip Ono or any of the luaus, and hit Yama's Fish Market. On top of that, I think they have one of the MOST extensive/fresh/tasty selections of poke, everything from Ahi Shoyu and Ahi Limu Poke to Tako Poke and Ahi Masago/Wasabi Masago Poke. It's so fresh and delicious!

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    A good stand with a wide variety of local dishes. But it is a market so primarily good for take out. But if you want one of the amazing looking lunch plates, you have to order in advance.

    (4)

  • Joy M.

    A luau in your plate!! The BEST kalua pig and laulau ever.

    (5)

  • Lndn O.

    What can I say. Hawaiian food is my soulfood. The food is grub and what I found interesting is when buying a drink, you pay one price but you get to pick what size you want. That's rare.

    (4)

  • Mathew K.

    you know the sign of a great restaurant/chef is when they can take a food you aren't really a fan of and make it so you really like it? you know what i mean? no? so i'm not the biggest fan of lau lau. it's always too dry and i'd rather just have kalua pig over a side of rice. by yama's does a RIDICULOUS job with it. it's super juicy and flavorful and there may be some crack in there because it just makes you want to lick the styrofoam box clean. man....writing about makes me want some of that tea leaf delight. just fyi, i wouldn't get the salmon poke. i love poke and don't really ever see salmon poke, but it was just kinda below average salmon sashimi with a hint of flavor. i would've rather just got tuna poke, which there is RIDICULOUS AGAIN!!!! funny thing again, is that, it's called yama's fish market, but i'm in love with a pork dish more than their fish. haha

    (5)

  • David E.

    A review in four parts. Review the first: Teriyaki beef lunch plate. "Awesome. Satisfying. It had much more flavor than any other beef I've ever had. The teriyaki sauce was the best I've ever had." Review the second: Mochiko Chicken. "Crispy deliciousness. I was lovin' that chicken, it hit the spot. I like teriyaki beef better though. If I could get a combo plate of beef and chicken, I'd be a happy Cali girl." Review the third: Kalua pig with shoyo ahi poke. "It was yummers! The beef teriyaki is awesome!" Review the fourth: Kalua pork and lau lau. "Porky Pig never captured my imagination so much as when he was cooked Kalua style. I had never had lau lau before and it was totally worth the risk. But man, that teriyaki beef? THAT'S where it's at! I would totally have that next time." Group consensus: "Broke da mouth"

    (5)

  • Ahjeck K.

    The garlic ahi plate (#18) here is my all time favorite. The fish is as fresh as it gets. It comes with an oily garlic sauce, but I just eat it w/o that as the fish is well seasoned. They offer many other food including Hawaiian food (lau lau, kalua pig, poi, haupia, lomi salmon, etc) variety of poke, and other snacks; I haven't tried them all yet but I'm sold on the Ahi plate! I would go here just to pick up some Ahi plates, just as you would go all the way to North shore to get some garlic shrimp! It's just that good! The parking is very-very limited (7 stalls) and very-very limited seating space (2 non-AC tables) so I would not recommend eating there. If you're looking for a quick stop-by-pickup food area, this works. Despite the cons, the food and service outweighs it completely. After all, the food quality and service are the main things for a food joint. Best of all, the prices are very reasonable! Pros: - Ono Ahi Plate! - Friendly people - Clean place. - Reasonable prices. - Free ice water to drink. - Did I mention delicious (and FRESH) food? Cons: - Limited parking space - Limited seating areas w/o AC! (Don't come here if you want to sit down to eat. Buy and then go somewhere else to eat.) - Not exactly that easy to find if you've never been there before. - Can get busy esp. during lunch hour. (which translate to 0 parking stalls; but people come and go relatively fast)

    (5)

  • Mark B.

    You gotta swing by this place while you're in town. Very Hawaiian and very friendly. NOT at all a tourist destination. Grab a couple tubs of grub and take it all back to the room for a great meal. Friends/Family will be VERY impressed. I love it!

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    I would def go here again! Ordered the kalua pork plate and hawaiian stew. The kalua was so tender and flavorful! The poke was good...a little too much shoyu/sauce for my liking but the flavor was nice! The lomi salmon was delicious! The stew was pretty good. Looking forward to eating here again!

    (4)

  • Lisa J.

    I'm a fan of their kalua pig, chicken long rice, and haupia squares. The haupia squares I'd recommend are the strawberry jello and okinawan potato ones. Eat as quickly as you can or put them in the fridge when you get home because the creamy haupia layer will start to lose its shape if it gets too warm. And if you're at Yama's with someone else, do yourselves a favor and get a piece (or two or three...) for each of you. Once you take a bite, you won't want to share it with anyone else.

    (5)

  • Ivan L.

    Nice bright blue paint on the exterior. Easy to find though parking is sparse. The service was awesome, offering us several samples of the various types of poke. The prices are average but the food is fabulous. The poke was the best; fresh and tasty, well seasoned. We ordered half a pound each of the spicy ahi and the shoyu poke. We also had lau lau and kalua pig as a combo plate, both were excellent and tasty. We had two haupia desserts; regular and strawberry cream. Both were good but the regular was better. Their haupia was thick, creamy, and smooth. Really good though we ate too much of it. All this food for about $30 split between 4 people. I would definitely visit Yama's again if I get the opportunity.

    (5)

  • Vicky B.

    This is why I moved back from the mainland, the plate lunches are awesome. They give two huge scoops of rice and so much food it typically lasts for two to three days. My boyfriend can finish it in one sitting, but even for him its a struggle. Their poke is so fresh and has really good seasoning. All of their local plates are great too. Their mochiko chiken is super good, but not your typical mochiko chicken. Its more like chicken katsu with a sweet and sour sauce to pour over. If you go during lunch take someone with you so they can grab the food. Parking is tough, we always call in our orders.

    (5)

  • Khai L.

    Chicken lau lau and sweet potato dessert was on point.

    (4)

  • Tez L.

    Yama's Fishmarket has the BEST LAU LAU I'VE EVER, EVER HAD. And I love Lau Lau. The traditional pork/chicken mix is the only way to go, my mouth waters thinking about it. Choice of mac salad or salmon. They have a good selection of poke which is really good, too, but my fave Poke place is still Tamura's (but it's pricey). The poi here is really good too. Gosh I miss Hawaii!

    (5)

  • Ron B.

    By far, the best lau lau I have ever had. Nuff said.

    (5)

  • Alan T.

    used to eat here regularly when i lived in mccully. good poke, plate lunches, snack items, and my favorite pie on the island.... yama's okinawan sweet potato haupia pie.

    (4)

  • Whitney Y.

    great kalua pig and haupia :) and great price!

    (4)

  • Ruth D.

    I loooved this place. Now that we've moved to the mainland I feel like a part of me is missing hahaha. Seriously, this was my joint when I was cravin some local kine grindz. I always ordered the #7 the one with Lau Lau, Kalua Pig & Lomi Salmon gotta sub rice with poi. Oh and a pound of fresh ahi limu poke. And for dessert Sweet Potato Haupia. Mmmh so onolicious! I asked my haole husband what would be the first thing he would do when he got off the plane on Oahu and he said he would go straight to Yama's and order one plate lunch! LOL! Damn. I wish I could go home to have some... I guess that gives me an excuse to come home to visit

    (5)

  • Janice O.

    Hungry for Hawaiian food and decided to try Yama's. Got there before the pau Hana crowd. Whew! Love their lau lau, squid luau. Next time ill get there earlier for the ahi poke patties. it was pretty good. Desserts are good too! Staff was very nice and helpful! will definitely go back again when I get the cravings!!

    (5)

  • Christopher M.

    wasabi masago poke, Chili peppah water + Lomi salmon, Poi, and top it off with Haupia sweet potato pie... So fresh and so clean... you are what you eat.

    (5)

  • D N.

    B/f got #2 I got #6 and w/ an entertainment book, this came out to be like $11. It was crazy good and filling. A lil bit salty but I think most things in Hawaii are like that. The thing I remember most about this place was the Wasabi Poke. The cashier offered to let me sample other poke and while normally I would be all over that. I knew I couldnt leave this island w/out a full order of the wasabi poke. The laulau was also very good but the poke...again...soooooooo delightfully good.

    (5)

  • E S.

    POKEEEEE!!!! love the variety of poke that yama's offers. i think other food items are good, too. i was so lucky to have found this place while i was visiting oahu. well, my friend from hawaii took me there and of course, we went back multiple times. :) writing about it is making me salivate. getting hungry now....

    (4)

  • Kale O.

    food is mediocre, squid luau is tasty, garlic pepper dry ahi poke is great, maui style tako poke is spectacular, and i live near by is the best !! skebe

    (3)

  • Arnold G.

    Yama's has a great selection of plate lunches and poke and it's pretty cheap, too. I've had the Kalua Pig and Lau Lau and they were excellent. We almost had our wedding catered by them so you can order things for large groups there. I can't think of anything that's bad there, but it can be a little hard to find. They did recently paint their building blue which should help you find it easier.

    (4)

  • Ben F.

    Their beef stew, lau lau, and kalua pork is really ono! What i like most, besides being so close to where i live, is the fact that they still have food late in the day. And the taro growing out front is pretty cool too. Just wish i could a get bigger serving of the side of lomi salmon.

    (4)

  • Les Is More M.

    how it is that the current location has much more parking, but is harder to get into? the old location (closer to mccully bike) seemed a lot more accessible. call me crazy but when a place moves to a bigger location with much more parking, you'd expect it to be easier to get to. Nope!! not yama's. the quality seems to have gone down a bit, but the portions and selection are decent. the poke to me isn't as good as it used to be, can't hang with tanioka's and I'd give foodland and/or tamura's the nod before any of the options at yama's. the shoyu chicken is portioned well and they have enough other options available where you can find something you'll enjoy. price-wise, I'm starting to look elsewhere because you can still find good plate lunches for less (elsewhere). hawaiian food is what it is, you can't/won't find cheap hawaiian food anywhere. service means a lot to me and like I said earlier, it does seem like they aren't as much into "taking care" of you as much as they are trying to get to the next person behind you in line.

    (3)

  • Angel L.

    I thought this place was good but the only thing that I really like is their small bentos and the chicken musubi!

    (2)

  • J R.

    (Where every day is Aloha Friday)...this place is one of my all time hawaiian plate lunch favorites! I always order the #6: kalua pig or kalua chicken plate with their ahi limu poke (freshly prepared raw fish w/ sea weed & seasonings) which also includes 2 scoops rice, their lomi-lomi salmon & a serving of haupia! They also have a wide variety of poke & other ono plate lunches. I still frequent this place or if anything get unko G $$$ to get em for me +tipsy...thx unko!

    (5)

  • BIANCHA Y.

    I love this place. It's walking distance if you love in the Moili`ili area --which is a good thing because parking isn't all that. Basically this place is a guaranteed kanak attack!

    (5)

  • Darick M.

    overall not bad.. close to where i live... not a big fan of their lau lau.. it's a bit on the dry side and could use more flavor.. their lau lau is either chicken and pork or just chicken.. none with just pork.. but like i said, overall it isn't bad and i'll eat there again..

    (3)

  • Joy S.

    I go there mainly for the poke. We love all the selection of poke they have to offer. The laulau is pretty good too. I also love the chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies and my brother got me hooked on the haupia chocolate pudding desserts. Everytime I'm home from Cali I stop by to eat all stuff I just mentioned.

    (5)

  • omar b.

    the pasteles were much more grubbing than Young's- go with the spicy one and be sure to heat up for no more than a minute cause it will get a bit too mushy. the olives add a nice touch as they bring a different flavor from what iam used to eating in the big island. what sucks is they always sell out of their haupia platters before 1pm!!!! sure. there are haupia-potato and haupia-brownie offerings still around but come on!!! just make more so the rest of us purists can enjoy some too =( during a scorching hawt summer like this one, it is so smart for them to be serving what i think is the coldest water in town...ahhhhhhh..

    (4)

  • Lynn B.

    I have to say that if you ever need to find a caterer for your next party, you should definitely consider Yama's. We recently had our daughter's 1st birthday luau and had them cater our food. I was impressed by Petula who took the time to work with me with the menu and portions. She was patient, informative and overall very pleasant to work with. The portions are great for the price. Before going to Yama's, I checked out another reputable Hawaiian food restaurant. So glad I chose Yama's because I saved $250 for the exact same menu plus 2 more dishes and delivery. The delivery was on time and the presentation of the food was really nice too! Very pleased with Yama's for sure.

    (4)

  • David N.

    Yama's has all your popular local Hawaiian foods. Yama's has some of the best Kalua Pig I've ever tasted. It's dry, but it's still really delicious. The Beef Stew is really good too and they have a good deal on their sodas. They have a big selection of different kinds of Haupia deserts. Their Haupia is quite tasty. There are a couple tables outside, but often times there both taken so don't come here expecting to eat here.

    (5)

  • Gabrael A.

    The poke here is soooooooo good and the prices are very reasonable. Try to go there for lunch and kind of hungry because portions are very generous. I usually have difficulty finishing my order. It was one of my favorite places to eat in HI.

    (4)

  • X Y.

    Great poke and pipikaula. On recent trips back, we have always stopped by for our first day fill of poke and other local food that we can't get in the mainland. It's not a restaurant, but they also have plate lunches and side dishes like pork adobo and have a few tables out front that you can sit at to eat.

    (5)

  • Jasmine l.

    great poke, hot lau lau, fast service. my only gripe is that there seems to be a lot of chicken in the lau lau and hardly any pork. (or any at all? i'm not sure). it's still ono. there's like TWO tables outside so it's best to take it to go. their haupia is bomb. I think they close 7pm so gotta get there early, too.

    (4)

  • Philip H.

    Yama's has the best kalua chicken ever (I get the #21: kalua chicken bowl with rice and cabbage). My girlfriend raves about the lomilomi salmon, poi and kalua pig. I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it. The prices are low and the food is super tasty. They have great fresh poki, too. I used to live near Yama's in Moili'ili, but now live in California. Whenever I get a chance to go home, I always try and stop by Yama's. Ono grinds, brah! Note: they don't really have any tables, except two small outdoor tables. This is mostly take-out.

    (5)

  • Cat A.

    Eh. Okay. Had a nice picnic across the street at the park-- Chicken Long rice, Tako poke (Apparently it's the best my sous chef bf has had in awhile) and good ol' ahi poke. One thing I wasn't happy about was the fact they didn't have poke bowls. SHe made one for me, but she made it seem like it was hard to make-- Really...a poke bowl.. easy!! They also didn't have furikake. WTF? I'm just picky. Overall good but I'd rather save the drive and head to Fresh Catch! Do your recycling there too!!

    (3)

  • Jesse C.

    Good little local fisharkets to get Hawaiian food in the area. Also one of the cleanest fish markets I've ever seen. The ahi wasabi poke, garlic chicken, ahi belly nitsuke, and the squid luau are all mean. Wish there were more family owned businesses like this still around.

    (4)

  • Eva L.

    as a first timer to Hawaii....i was relectant to think that it is a big market. It's a small market with many goodies. pokeeeeee!!!!! TUNAAAAAA I ordered the chicken long rice because others said they are good excepting to see rice. haha! of course it's not rice. it's a soup noodle and very yummy. i had the poke with seaweed (duno the name). it was very good and it was quite reasonable. you know it's a great place when you see people go in and out nonstop. thanks yelp

    (5)

  • Brian V.

    You seriously cannot go wrong with the laulau/kalua pork with the mac salad (add Tabasco!!) or lomi lomi salmon with a quarter lb. of the ahi masago (add shoyu!!). Dude that poke is insane, definitely a must try. Also, this is also one of the few places I know that serves traditional squid luau (taro leaves, squid, coconut milk -- all mixed) one of my personal favorites. It gets kind of busy around lunch time and is better for take out since there are only two 2-seater tables outside...

    (4)

  • Siu L.

    A local Hawaiian saw me with a take out box from L&L's and quickly redirected me to Yama's for a real Hawaiian plate lunch. Despite my love for L&L's macaroni salad, Yama's was by far THE BEST hawaiian plate lunch I've ever had. Very authentic tasting, really generous portions and way too many good items to choose from. It's slightly pricey for a plate lunch, but the portions are so big that it could be for lunch & dinner. I've only been there twice, but I always make sure I order the LauLau and Poki Salad. The LauLau is very juicy and flavorful...way better than the stuff they serve at Luau's! I highly recommend this little joint!

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    I'll confess to never have been to Yamas Fish Market but they have catered our company events many times. The pipikaula is really great. The fried noodles are a disappointment. The katsu isn't that crisp. All in all a fairly ordinary experience. I wouldn't seek this place out although I wouldn't say no to it either.

    (3)

  • Laurel R.

    Our favorite find of a week-long trip in O'ahu. My favorite was the Hawaii style Ahi Poke. The Kaluha pig was also delicious. The staff was very friendly and gave an excellent recommendation for a sushi restaurant that we tired later. So good, would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • dan o.

    You want Hawaiian food or fresh poke? Yama's is a reliable take out option. Also has all of your other "beer" food (boiled peanuts, dried fish, etc.)....

    (5)

  • Craig I.

    my dad always orders up a bunch of lau lau for me to take back to mainland. we always stop here to pick up 12-18of them...ask them to freeze it for you when you order ahead of time. the parking area is really small, but once inside the service is very friendly and helpful.

    (4)

  • Ema C.

    Yamas used to be the old Iwase Bookstore (RIP). I still mourn Iwase because I was able to just walk right on over to get Japanese books and magazines..oh, not anymore though.

    (3)

  • Mallory M.

    my bf loves this place and its super close to where we live. the prices are pretty good and they give a pretty good amount of food. i always get the laulau and i can't really have laulau with out the lomi salmon. their lomi salmon isn't the greatest but something to settle for. their selection of poke is pretty good but its not the best i've had. i guess i rather just go to foodland and get poke there. it actually taste better and the prices are half the amount than yamas and its pretty had to find the traditional poke here on oahu. but i like their spam musubis :) those are perfect for the beach. overall 3 stars and the service is pretty good! :)

    (3)

  • B N.

    i go here at least once a year...to use one of the few usable coupons in the entertainment book, so im due again this year. :) (fyi i also use the peppers coupon)...the okinawan / haupia dessert is fricken killer. i go here when i am in the area and craving hawaiian food.

    (4)

  • Mary H.

    Went with husband on 12/21 expecting great dishes (had been here one before and had good lau lau pork). Got two dishes this time - mushroom chicken and fried ahi belly. Both appeared unappetizing when served but what really matters is the taste - unfortunately they both fell flat and neither had any sauce. The mushroom chicken had no mushrooms! Worst of all we got sick later on. Certain it was from the fried ahi belly. Very disappointed!

    (1)

  • ray c.

    stop by and pick up a plate here, take it to a beach or a park -- it's the best setting for hawaiian food! soooo ono!

    (5)

  • Sarah F.

    For local kine grinds, this is the place to go. It's more like a deli, most people take their food to go. There are a few tables to eat outside, however. I love their chicken long rice, kaluha pig, and lomi lomi salmon. Also, check out their cookies for sale! They are so thin and crisp. The cornflake ones are my fav. This place is a must for out of towners to go.

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    Two or three small outdoor tables signify this is mainly take-out. Just got back from there and the lau lau and lomi salmon were excellent. Not bad tae gu. Also picked up pasteles and some maui-style poke. They were out of the squid luau and were pretty low on most of the poke, but it was 6pm already (they close at 7pm on Saturday). Pretty quick service. A bunch of crack seed and other stuff there as well. Definitely worth a stop. Check their website for menu.

    (5)

  • Ange M.

    This place is the bomb diggity!!! Everything we had was just perfect. Had laulau (which was both chicken AND pork - what a concept!), Kalua pig, Ahi Limu, Pork Adobo and for dessert, sweet potato & haupia pie. Everything was spot on, perfectly seasoned. Sooooo good. And the price can't be beat.

    (5)

  • Ganj P.

    bring plenty $$$ food is average, i cook bettah!

    (3)

  • R H.

    Don't order the shoyu chicken here. It looked and tasted disgusting. There was more skin on the plate than anything I have ever seen. Plus, it still had feathers! I was extremely grossed out!!!

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :9:00 am - 5:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : Yes

Yama’s Fish Market

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