Kaimuki Superette

I had very high expectations for this restaurant upon walking in. It was decorated like an old fashioned diner and was very clean. The menu was simple and had a good variety to choose from. My experience went downhill quickly as the counter person (blonde girl with dregs) was very, very rude. She seemed irritated that I couldn’t make up my mind and was asking questions about the menu. I went to sit down and that same girl with the dregs delivered my meal. She plopped the try down without a word and walked away.
The melt of the day I ordered was ok — but the cheese was very bland. Definitely not worth the price. The only reason I’m not giving this place a one star is because the other employees were very pleasant and the place was very clean.

Decided to give this place a try today for the first time and OMG! I’m glad. Came here with my bf for lunch and we loved it.
Very cute, deli-​like eatery with a calm, relaxed environment. Parking is limited with street parking but that’s the norm for this area. There’s many food options to choose, from salads, antipastis, sandwiches and breakfasts (they’re open for breakfast as well).
We ordered two sandwiches to share. First, the shinsato sausage with choi sum and ricotta on foccaccio bread. It was a bit oily on the bottom but I didn’t mind because the flavors were delicious. Second, the Kuahiwi meatloaf with tomato jam, aioli on a telera roll.
It’s a bit pricey but everything else makes up for it. Oh! and I forgot to mention, the breads are baked fresh everyday. Ill definitely be back to try the other sandwich options and the breakfast menu. Come early as they do sellout quick ;)

He’e roll was good. $ 18 (including garlic beans side+ice tea) good? I don’t think I’ll be coming back. Just wanted to check it out, but that’s it. I couldn’t get away for a vacation so I decided to try new places to eat as a treat instead. In reality, living 808 does not allow me to live like this in no way, no how.

Rude counter/​register person. I simply asked if they could produce a simple egg white omelet due to my special diet. He rudely and quickly suggested I go to big city diner. The breakfast menu looks good, but Evidently very limited and inflexible. U would think a breakfast chef could easily separate yolk from white.
First impression not so good. I’ll return sometime in the future. Maybe someone twisted his Kale this morning.
Funny, Zippys had no issue with my simple egg white order. My star is simply for the brow beating I received by the gentleman at the register.

Took my grandbaby to lunch today, we had the pork and white bean soup, melt of the day and a wonderful side salad with a light dressing. The food was delicious! Definatly coming here again! My grandbaby loved the soup & mini side bread it came with. Service was friendly

Kaimuki Superette, located near the heart of Kaimuki, is an eatery specializing in fresh and local ingredients. They serve sandwiches, salads, and soups.
I ordered the Ahi Clubhouse Sandwich Combo w/​Antipasto (Kabocha and Quinoa). The ahi is perfectly seared with light flavoring as its toppings excite with flavor. It comes with bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and wasabi aioli, on multi-​grain bread. You can make any sandwich, salad, or soup a combo, for am additional $ 4. The combo includes antipasto, which is an order of two sides of vegetables. They have a plethora of vegetables of about seven choices.
With a friendly staff, a cute, mellow ambiance, and delicious food, Kaimuki Superette is a must for anyone in Kaimuki looking for a healthier option. If you are hungry definitely opt for a combo — you won’t be disappointed!

I love this healthy and fast food joint in Kaimuki– melt of the day is good, all of their salads are amazing and the atmosphere and staff is pleasant and lovely. Slightly expensive for lunch but definitely healthy and tasty.

Cute swanky cafeteria like diner/​shop on Waialae Ave. Parking is limited, so you might have to roam the neighborhood for street parking. I went during lunch and found a meter, but then I had to watch my time.
I love the concept of using local ingredients. Everything made fresh. A counter of anti-​pastos. And an ever updating menu of sandwich and soup of the day based on what’s in season, and there’s their staple menu items. Food is good, but it’s nothing that’s special to only them, if you buy all fresh local ingredients and make it yourself at home, it’s the same. You can add on anything from the counter deli to your order, but it’ll add up. It’s pretty pricey to begin with. I feel like this is the kind of place like a Vietnamese nail salon. Going in for a simple manicure, got side tracked with all the add ons, next thing you know you come out with drag nails and a hefty bill. Bottom line, don’t eat with your eyes.
It’s cute, casual, clean establishment. Staff is friendly and service is fast. My friend raved about how she loves this place so I had to check it out, but I wasn’t excited about this place as she is.

I was walking by when I noticed this place and decided to give it a try. I walked in and the woman at the register was very nice and friendly and told me about the shop and what pretty much is good. So I had the Downtown Ahi Club house and it was absolutely amazing! The Ahi was seared just perfect. No words can explain how delicious this clubhouse was! I should’ve bought another one to take home and savor again.
It was a bit pricey, but hey; what do you expect, it’s this side of town & you’re definitely gonna get what you paid for.
I’ll be back!

I have eaten here twice, and both times I went for the porchetta sandwich. It’s pricey at $ 12.50, but holy smokes — take my money! I savor each and every bite of this amazing conglomeration of pig skin, meat, and bread. I’m hooked.

I would usually recommend this place whole-​heartedly, and I really love it for lunch. But I went in for breakfast this morning and was disappointed. I ordered fried rice and poached eggs, which came with some avacado and greens. I ordered it with bacon ($ 3 add-​on) and coffee. Total price was $ 15. I gave them a tip of $ 2 — it is counter service, so tipped a bit under my usual 20%.
When breakfast came, I was underwhelmed. It tasted fine, but was basically a pile of rice, two eggs, and really just garnishes of the other items. Eggs and rice seem like pretty inexpensive items, so paying over $ 17 for that is too much. They would do well to make that particular dish more exciting, with larger servings of the side items; lowering the price would also help — if that whole thing, with coffee, cost around $ 13 or so after tip, that would be more reasonable. I know it’s not a huge thing, but no one likes feeling they’ve paid too much.

A great spot for breakfast (bet it’s even better for lunch by the looks of the menu.) Nice vibe and feel to this place, not too «shiny.» The door gets jammed (adds to the charm.)
The staff is very friendly. I sat at the counter on a cool barstool. There’s also a shared outdoor seating area with Mud Hen Water.
Had the Hapa Fried Rice, and it was awesome. The eggs were cooked perfectly (sous-​vide.) The side of bacon was crisp, and not overdone. Discovered a nice level of spiciness near the bottom, telling me that I should’ve mixed it up (didn’t want to mess up the presentation.)
After finishing it all (nice portion,) I was pleasantly surprised by the wheat germ design on the dishware. It’s what my family had while growing up (think it came from the Gold Bond Stamps catalog.)
A really nice experience.

Love this place. I’ve been here a few times for breakfast, and the food is great and the coffee is heavenly. My only critique would be that the portions are a bit on the small side for the price. They have free wifi so if you’re cofficing, it’s a great place to nosh and work! They also have yummy goodies like homemade pickles to take home or to share with a friend as a hostess gift. Kaimuki Superette is a great addition to Waialae!

Kaimuki Superette still feels really pricey for a deli-​counter lunch to me, but on my visit today (take-​out, because I was dying for a Kaimuki lunch option that offered veggies other than just an iceberg salad), I was pleasantly surprised by the improvement in flavors that their deli/​side salads offered.
I opted for the shinsato pork sausage sandwich, as a combo (total $ 16 and change, plus tip, no drink). For my sides, I chose their kabucha (pumpkin, cinnamon, golden raisins, almonds, and onion… I may be missing some ingredients) and grilled veggies (artichoke hearts, cute little carrots, and yummy charred onions in a really tasty chermoula sauce).
The focaccia on the sandwich was grilled and perfectly soft, but was a little oily on the bottom. The flavor was almost there, but was missing the choi sum, which wasn’t coming through at all (my sandwich had a sparse sprinkle of ~5−6 small pieces of coarsely chopped stem, but not enough to actually be identifiable or to add any kind of flavor/​texture). The sausage was flavorful without being a mouthful of salt (props!), and the ricotta really complemented the sausage well, but I really missed the briny deliciousness and texture of the choi sum. It needed a little bit of «oomph».
The vegetable sides were the real winners for me, though, which is a huge change from my last visit. They were both excellent. I am still not sure that their sandwich-​and-​sides combo is worth the cost (full disclosure: I do have half of the sandwich and sides left for tomorrow’s lunch… But $ 16+tip still seems a little bit heavy). I may just pop in for a container of the sides next time, for a more cost-​efficient (and satisfying) experience.

Very spacious, good for families and couples
Grilled lemonade is pretty good, though don’t really taste a difference between ordinary lemonade.
Friendly staff that’ll greet you with smiles.
Quite a good variety of healthy choices and really happy they have ahi poke!
Took a while for food to come out. (We ordered 3 friend rice) We ordered (Waited about 20 minutes)
Food tasted amazing.

When people ask me where I want to go to eat, I have a long list of answers. I actually was here last year in August for lunch with Lien V. She wrote her review right away and got ROTD. She’s the one who «discovered» this place. It’s really, really cool.. thanks why I have always wanted to return. .
This time I had lunch with Ku’uipo. I was lucky enough to find free street parking in the residential area. As I was walking towards the building, I saw a sign saying that the stalls behind the building are for customers. There are 7 free stalls. The driveway entrance is on 9^th Avenue. I stood where Ku’uipo could see me so she could know where to turn in.
When you walk in to Kaimuki Superette, you feel so comfortable. Everything is clean and neat. The colors are natural like the sky, sand and sea. Walk right up to the cash register and place your order. You’ll get a number and the food will be delivered to your table.
I had the He’e Roll. This is like a lobster roll, but instead of lobster, octopus is used. Very clever! The tako chunks were soft and just the right size! The roll was light and buttery! Yum! For $ 4 more, I added on 2 sides. I chose the Frittata and the long beans. Both were scrumptious and I cleaned my platter!
Kuuipo and I decided to split the Banini dessert. This is a panini filled with Nutella and bananas. It was okay… I was just curious as to what it would taste like.
Overall, it is a great place. You get what you pay for. Quality, local ingredients served with Aloha! Enjoy!

Oh! Oh! Oh! Kaimuki Superette has just joined the growing number of places that I’m in love with! Good thing my heart and stomach is large enough for that love!
I happen to visit Kaimuki Superette by a lunch date with the lovely Aunty Nadine. I wasn’t sure where to go, but Aunty Nadine called me at the right time and told me there was a parking lot in back of the restaurant that still had available stalls. Yay!
Kaimuki Superette is located on the corner of Waialae and 9^th Ave. As you turn onto 9^th Ave, the parking lot is on your right. It’s a small we lot. There are 7 stalls. The stalls are normal sized, so no having to squeeze out of my car!
We walked around to the front, and there are benches for outdoor seating. You can also get to the parking lot from the outdoor seating area.
We go into Kaimuki Superette and it is so homey! There is window counter seating. There are tables to the right (as you walk in). There are counters with local items for sale, such as coffee, EVOO, shirts, hats, pickled veggies. The antipasti and porchetta are displayed behind glass as you see the kitchen staff working hard behind it. The register is straight ahead. The menu is on the wall behind the cashier. There are also menus on the counter by the register, so you can grab one to inspect on the side. (Like I did so I could get out of the way of the people who already knew what they wanted.)
There were so many choices, that I needed help. I approached the cashier and she was so nice. I told her it was my 1^st time and I really wanted the porchetta, but not in a sandwich. She suggested getting a salad and adding the porchetta as a side. I opted for the 5 choice of antipasti with a side of porchetta. It was about $ 20, but seriously, that porchetta was calling my name. The choice of antipasti included a large slice of frittata, so that to me, was a deal! I paid and received a number to put on my table, so my food knew who it belonged to!
I only drink water, so it is self service for it. There is a table that has all the clean glassware. The water is in a cute dispenser with a turn spout. Grabbed a table and waited for my food. I didn’t wait too long, thank goodness, because looking around at everyone else’s food was making me impatient!
The presentation of my food was beautiful. My order comes out on a metal tray, similar to the one that fits in your toaster oven. (See my pictures.) Time to dig in! The long beans were tasty! I don’t know what it was tossed in, but who cares! The frittata could have been an entrée by itself! So, so, so yummy! I was sad when it was all gone. The eggplant had huge chunks of eggplant in it, so thanks for that. The roasted roots were ok. Now, to the crowning jewel of my plate, the porchetta. It was FAB-​U-​LOUS. Not only did it look delectable, it was! The skin was crispy and crunchy. The inside was so juicy and moist. The taste was PERFECT. I started thinking if they sold just the whole porchetta roll and if I could substitute it for Thanksgiving turkey. I’m not kidding folks, it is that good!
Now, even though I was full, I was still wondering about dessert. Aunty Nadine & I decided to split a Banini. It is a toasted sandwich with bananas & Nutella (I think) and a side of fresh whipped cream. The dessert was ok. Not on the level of the food that I just ate, so that was kind of surprising. But, that didn’t get me down because the porchetta was still on my mind.
Kaimuki Superette is an amazing place to eat! The service on par, the food delectable! I will definitely be coming back for more!

1 star deduct because 1) parking is problematic and 2) pricey for the value BUT
The ambiance is great. You get the open kitchen feeling as you watch the chefs prepare your meal. Each meal is prepared when ordered. The quiche menu changes daily. The sweets and decadents are made fresh and its menu changes daily.
Gluten free bread if that’s what you’re in to. Gluten or Gluten free doesn’t make a difference to me, but that’s me.
One of their retail items was a $ 40 bottle of Olive Oil. Costs more than a nice bottle of wine or champagne…
Expect to spend $ 15-​$ 20 for your meal with a beverage. If you want a salad or a cup of soup, the price goes up. I’m not one to grumble on prices as I believe we get what we pay for. In this particular case; I think it’s a bit pricey for what we get…
Upshot is everything is 1) gluten free, 2) organic and 3) eco friendly

Dear Kaimuki Superette,
I just want to let you know I have a not-​so-​secret crush on you. At first I thought you were a little weird and didn’t see long term potential but after giving you a chance and trying new things… I realize I want to be with you every day. Your soups, your sandwiches… those cookies. Mmmmmm… mmmmmmm…mmmmm. I can’t get enough.
I vow today to never love another sandwich shop as much as I love you.
Sincerely,
Not-​so-​secret admirer

Having tried both their breakfast and lunch items, I see myself returning in the future. For a healthier alternative, this is a must-​try if you’re trying to explore different ingredients into your palate.
While their breakfasts are worth trying, their lunch items are where they shine the most. I wasn’t fan of Kale or pumpkin, but somehow they make it work to convince me otherwise. The friendly staff is always happy to explain further what’s in their dishes for those who may be allergic to certain ingredients.
Their chia seed pudding is surprisingly yummy — much so that I’d even eat it without the fruit topping. Their cookies are also delectable — I mean they’re right there on the counter practically inviting you to pick them up as a dessert to finish off your salad or sandwich.
Couple tips:
— Soup of the Day is usually not known until 10:30am or so
— The prices aren’t super cheap, but considering you’re getting fresh local ingredients made well it’s not bad.
Don’t forget to scope out their logo merchandise on some of their home made seasonings/​oils. I would hope this supercute place stays around for a while as it’s a much healthier option I’d prefer over dim sum.