Gulick Delicatessen

Love the food. Just hard to find cause people keep steeling the street signs. LOL!

A great local deli that’s been in KALIHI for a long time! If you love Okazu style food, you must try this place! Parking sucks but is worth waiting for.

I just love okazuya places! Gulick Delicatessen located in Kalihi was our last stop to get food for our last work meeting of the year. It’s a neat little place but parking is limited and can be a pain.
They’re open 7 days a week, how convenient is that? 8 am to 3 pm on Sunday, Monday to Friday is 5 am to 3:30 pm and Saturdays are from 6:30 to 3:30 pm.
The aroma of stepping into an okazuya is just enticing for me haha. The flow of people was steady and the amount of food that was readily available were hot and fresh.
I got a big bento box of fried chicken, garlic chicken, Musubis and vegetable tempura. The fried chicken was good but the garlic chicken was too sweet. My colleague Anthony got a small pan chow fun which was really good! My other colleague Gail got a big bento box of Cone sushi, which was also delicious.
If I could I would’ve ordered everything there and would’ve ate it all too haha! The selection of food which is what the locals love, sits right at home for me. People see it as okazuya, I see it as my comfort food!

I ordered a piece of fried chicken ($ 1.85), string beans and pork ($ 2.95), and split a maki sushi ($ 3.95÷2 = $ 1.975) with my co-​worker. The food LOOKED good, and the price was OK. I had high hopes.
But for all the «if only’s», the food and Gulick Deli get only 3 stars from me.
«If only» there was more su in the shi of the maki sushi. And that disproportionately big piece of cucumber in every bite just washes away what little taste of su there is and the other flavors of the tuna, shiitake, kanpyo, and shrimp powder.
«If only» the fried chicken wasn’t so darned over-​cooked. A big enough thigh piece, but dry.
«If only» the pork in the string beans and pork was braised a lot longer so it was tender. Taste was good enough, but meat a little tough.
«If only» you’re looking to to fill your stomach, and do so agreeably enough, then food here a’ight.
Otherwise…

Ala carte style! I make a quick stop here and there before I start work in the morning.

Best plate lunch on Oahu. Forget the diet and enjoy everything they have to offer. You really cannot go wrong with anything you order at Gulick Deli.
Lots of street parking and parking along the side of the building. Strictly takeout but worth the drive. They also accept credit cards.
My personal favorites — sweet sour spare ribs, fried or shoyu chicken, maki sushi, cone sushi, furikake and ume rice balls, chow mein noodles, egg roll with kamaboku, karage chicken, gobo, konbu maki with chicken, really everything they serve is good. They also have some lower calorie selections if you are watching the weight with some vegetarian offerings.
Go there hungry and walk away with a huge plate of local favorites. They make plate lunches (styrofoam container) or if you plan on ordering more food ask for a box. The boxes make great omiyage gifts when visiting friends or taking to the neighbor islands for client visits or for a gift from Oahu.
Overall restaurant rating 4
Food quality 4
Food selection 4
Value for the price 3.5
Friendly staff 3.5
Go there often and enjoy.

This is my fave okazuya place… They have the best tasting gobo with just enough spice to it. So much different variety of food that I never know what to get but I always end up with the Mahi Mahi & hash. I like that they now have more parking available on the side of the restaurant! So convenient now! Service is fast & they are all polite over there. Coming back for sure!

I have been coming here since I was little. I remember my mom buying me bentos for lunch when we had field trips, and the best part… the food is exactly how I remember it! Every bite is like reliving my childhood and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. My absolute favorite is the sweet and sour spareribs and teri beef. The prices aren’t bad either, very affordable and you get a lot of food for what you pay for. The place is very clean, the staff is friendly… You have a variety to choose from as far as food is concerned and they accept credit card! Whenever I’m home i make sure to make it a point to come here and I can now share their ono food with my kids too!!!

With their ever expanding menu, there’s something for everyone here!
My personal favorites are cone sushi, kombu maki, and garlic furikake chicken. There are so many delicatessen staples like hash patties, long rice, nishime, various tempuras, sushis, etc., that will satisfy every craving! Enjoy! Woo hoo!

Another hidden gem in Kalihi. I always like when I can find good eats in the area that I live in. I hardly go here because of the parking situation and location of this small hole in the wall place is on a busy road where parking would have to be found on the street. But for those lucky times I found parking in the front, it was all good experiences.
It’s pretty much a take out type of restaurant where you line up to a buffet of Japanese american variety of entrees. It’s a la carte service with prices shown for each food items. It can be pricey when you start to add those individual items together in your plate. Their portions are quite generous and filling but its affordable. Service was quick and food hasn’t disappointed me here. So for quick quality take out food, this is one recommendable place if you’re in the area.

Let me just say, I really like this place. I may be biased because of how close it is to my office, but even if it weren’t, I’d still come here to pick up a quick cheap lunch.
Price-​wise, it’s definitely affordable. One dollar sign at most. Items can be purchased a la carte (with prices clearly marked!) or in bento form with rice and the works. My favorite thing to order here is their garlic chicken which is sold as a side order for $ 2.95. Where else can you order a small take out box of delicious garlic fried chicken for under three dollars! They also sell spam musubi, cone sushi, mac salad, you name it, if it’s a local thing they’ll probably have it.
The only thing I didn’t like is one time I ordered the chow-​fun and it came out a little dry and not salty enough, but that may just be a me-​thing considering I really like my foods savory.
Parking is a little tricky. They seem to have taken over the front of the house right next door (there’ll be a sign that says it’s parking for Gulick!) A few uncovered stalls and some spots along the curb in the front. Come during a busy lunch hour, and be prepared to have to park a little down the street or wait! No tables as far as I saw though, so it’s more of a pick-​up-​and-​go kind of place. Stop by during your lunch hour or if you’re bringing foods to a company pot luck. You won’t be disappointed!

You-​lick, I-​lick, we all like… Gu-​lick! Love, love, love this place. It’s a good thing that I live far away from this place; otherwise, I would be in big trouble! Everything from this okazu is DE-​licious! This is my go-​to place before I head out to the zoo or Bishop Museum. Great for a picnic lunch.
The offer:
a variety of rice– fried, musubis, maki and cone sushi
a variety of noodles-​chow fun, chow mein, long rice
a variety of tempura-​shrimp, potato, vegetable
a variety of fried food-​chicken, mahi, corned beef hash, garlic chicken
a variety of other dishes-​nishime, gobo, hot dog, teri beef, shoyu chicken,
spare ribs, shoyu pork, char siu, egg omelette, macaroni salad, hamburger and many more dishes.
So, before you head out to the beach, park, hike or any outdoor adventure, pick up okazu food from Gulick. You will not be disappointed! It’s my favorite okazu… It can be yours, too!

Gulick is another Kalihi gem. There are so many choices for meats, starches, musubi, tempura etc. I had some crispy tofu with string beans plus a tuna fish musubi. It was super filling for breakfast for under $ 5 and deliciously made. Lucky we live Hawaii. Lucky I live close to Kalihi.

Gulick Delicatessen is another one of those places that I’ve been hesitant to try because of the parking situation. And I had the King St location nearby that took care of my okazu cravings for a long time. After being sad-​hearted with the news of Gulick Deli on King St closing, I decided to try the original location on the way to my next Hanauma Bay excursion. On a Saturday morning, nearby parking was easy to find. The interior was open and clean, although compact. All my favorites such as the furikake spam musubi, giant fried chicken thigh, vegetable tempura, corned beef hash, and namasu were there. Same great taste! I would like to try some of their bento boxes next time. Definitely going onto my rotation, someplace to recommend and especially repeat!

Been going to Gulick Delicatessen from small kid time when they would wrap the plates in butcher paper. A lot has changed. There are no longer any tables for dine in, only carry out. Some of the flavors of the food have also changed but at least they don’t mess with my favorites like the hash and the mix potato mac salad. As long as those stay the same I will definitely keep coming back.

Gulick Delicatessen. Why you so delicious?! Serious business here, the food here is legitimate… Legitimately awesome.
The first time I came here since work brought me nearby, I was amazed at the variety tempura of all shapes/​sizes/​kinds, fish, chicken, sushi galore (hand rolls that are also sold on the side for like $ 3.75). I ordered the noodles, cone sushi, garlic/​furikake chicken, and shoyu chicken. I was all set, and my credit card was being swiped, when I noticed ZOMG, there’s more selection! But sadly, I had already paid, and swore that the next time I came back, the food on the other side I had ignored will be mine (and devoured).
The next time, I kept my promise. The things that they had in that other section ranged from namasu (pickled cucumbers) to mac salad, to mac salad with potato, to just potato salad, and I’m sure I’m forgetting other things.
The food here is winning and very affordable. I managed to get myself a huge plate all the times I’ve come here (with the ladies looking at me like, «WHOA, SHE’S ORDERING A LOT»). My all time favorite that I swear by is the garlic/​furikake chicken. That paired with the cone sushi and namasu and mac salad is the best combination ever. My only complaint? I look like a piggy whenever I come here PLUS, my plate lunch is always so darn heavy!
Is it bad that I’m craving this right now?

Seriously, I love okazuya food. There’s something about the home cooking taste of okazuya that really hits the spot. Gulick Delicatessen is great for take-​out in the Kalihi area!
Few Tips:
— know what you want. (If its your first time, feel free to look thru the glass, but just don’t take too long and hold up the line.)
— starches are first, followed by sides and then me meats.
— I recommend taking out, because it’s really not a place to sit and eat.
— come early or things may run out
You never know how much your plate is going to be after choosing your food since there aren’t any prices written, but honestly I have always been pleasantly surprised at the prices. Reasonable and fair for what you’re getting.

I have an interesting relationship with Gulick’s. It’s a funny relationship where I’m not head over heels in love nor do I dislike their food. Yes, there’s an abundance of color and options for lunch. But I have to admit that after a lunch at Gulick’s, I have no desire to really eat there for at least a month or more.
I admit, for any tourist or peeps who aren’t in the Kalihi area often, Gulick’s is a great choice. It’s like a bento-​place, but on steroids. There is an array of choices of musubi, chicken dishes, vegetables, and other artery clogging dishes. So guarantee you will leave with way too much food — #eyeswaaaybiggerthantummy #dontgowhenyouarehungry
In any case, my review is not to prevent you from trying one of Hawaii’s best choices for lunch. For me, though, once every so often is all I really desire. Parking is hit or miss, the help is also hit or miss (from very grumpy to sweet old lady), and prices are also hit or miss. Like I said, it’s possible you leave with way too much food and the lady tells you your total and it’s too late to ask her to put something back. (Sorry guys, once that entrée is on your plate, it’s yours to pay for.) It’s tricky so plan what you are going to get and stick to it! Don’t let your eyes wander — that’s all I’m saying.

Gulick Delicatessen is a great Okazuya in Kalihi with mostly Japanese, but also some Chinese and Local options. When you walk in the daily selections will be ready for you to build your custom bento which you can make as big or small as you’re hungry for.
You can’t go wrong with the Garlic or Furukaki Chicken, both are deep fried and tasty. Also good are the Fried Fish, Nishime, Tempura, and Musubi. Each selection is going to run you between approximately $ 2 – 4, and with so many options, you can make a different combination for everyone.
If you do check Gulick out, parking can be a challenge so you may want to bring a friend, one to stay with the car and one to run in. Make a Gulick run for your next brown bag lunch or after school sports event.

If you have a big appetite, this is where you go to satisfy your hunger. I love Gulick Delicatessen because they have such a HUGE selection of food. The food is premade in large pans and you can choose from the warm bar they have on display.
PROS:
+Wide variety of food items
+Large portions
CONS:
–Pricey
–Limited amount of parking stalls
–Slow service
FAVORITES:
+Crispy Tofu, Pork and String Beans
+Garlic Furikake Chicken
+Vegetable Tempura
+Sweet Potato Tempura
+Garlic Shrimp Musubi
Like I mentioned, they have a huge selection of food including maki and cone sushi (the cone sushi is gigantic) and a pretty good selection of musubi. They have more than just Spam musubi, my favorite is the garlic shrimp musubi. From the fountain, they serve Pepsi products.
My only major complaint about Gulick is the service. The employees are kind of slow, they don’t do things with a sense of urgency. A couple of times (I come here A LOT, it’s actually embarrassing to say how many times per week I come here), the service was really confusing-​for them! They were confusing themselves because multiple employees were helping just one person (me) so placing my order and waiting for them to fill my plates took much longer than necessary. Someone helped me, then someone else asked me something, then a different employee tried to do something that someone else was helping me with. It was a big mess; talk about too many cooks in the kitchen. Besides that, this is one of my favorite delis. The food’s great, you can’t beat the variety and the portions are pretty large.