Big City Diner (Honolulu)

The Big City Diner in Hawaii looked like the perfect diner to cross off Hawaii on the diner list. Living in California, diner are now much harder to come by than those living in New Jersey or the Northeast. I am shifting my goals to going to a diner in every state! The Big City Diner has several locations in Waikiki, Pearlridge, and more.

Big City Diner Atmosphere:

The first Big City Diner we went to was in Honolulu/Waikiki area. It’s located a few miles off the Waikiki main area, so you don’t have to worry about being crowded. There is a back and front entrance, and when I came through the back, I was concerned about going the wrong way. But there is a host table in the back too!

Inside the Big City Diner is plenty of fun diner things. There are plenty of books, tables, and a full-length bar. There are also a bunch of old photos on the wall. It’s definitely a picture-perfect diner with a Hawaiian twist.

We also ended up at the Pearlridge location later. It’s a standalone building near the hospitals. If I worked in the hospital, I would probably be there often.

Coffee: X

I didn’t order any coffee this time around.

Big City Diner Food:

I was excited to try some things on the Big City Diner menu. They have a bunch of fantastic food with almost a Japanese twist. Several fun items include Korean steak, Kimchee, and the Big City Diner even has a keto menu.

Some of the Big City Diner menu items that interested me included: 

• The Ultimate Three Egg Omelette: Fresh mushrooms, diced tomatoes, sweet onions, green onions, bell peppers, fresh spinach, shredded real jack & cheddar cheese, Bacon, link sausage, country-style ham, or Portuguese sausage.
• Roasted Macadamia Nut Pancakes with Haupia Crème Sauce: old-fashioned pancakes with roasted Mauna Loa macadamia nuts topped off with haupia crème sauce.
• Boneless Korean Kalbi Steak: Boneless Sterling Silver kalbi steak marinated in secret Korean sauce.
• Guava-BBQ Chicken Breast: Served with skin-on fries, sand teamed white or brown rice.

You can see the entire Big City Diner menu here.

I decided on the Kimchee Fried Min Noodles, which came with Kimchee and fried noodles. as the name suggested, It was one of the best diner dishes I’ve had in a long time. It was super flavorful, and the Kimchee was not too overpowering.

When we went again (this time to the Big City Diner location in Pearlridge), I ordered the Kolbi steak. I had no idea what Kolbi steak was, but I was excited to try it. It was perfect, and I was pleased with my selection.

Service: A

Our waiter was friendly, and our food came out fast. What more do you need in a diner? Plus, unlike many restaurants in downtown Waikiki, there is really no wait to go to this spot.

Big City Diner Cost: $

My meal cost $21, which is cheaper than most Hawaii meals. If you want more affordable and tasty meals in the greater Waikiki area, consider the Big City Diner.

Big City Diner Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back?

I am a fan of the Big City Diner. It tasted good, the service was fast, and it was inexpensive. The only downside is if you’re staying in Waikiki, you’ll probably have to drive there. There are several locations on the island, and if you find yourself in the Pearl City area, the Pearlridge location is easy to get to, with plenty of parking.

Atmosphere: A

Food: A

Service: A

Cost: $10-$22

Overall: A

You can see all 400+ diner reviews here.

Questions for you:

Have you tried the Big City Diner?

Where is your favorite place to eat in Oahu?