Palace Saimin

Honolulu, United States

4.3

Closed now

32 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 808-841-9983
Website:
www.palacesaimin.com
Address:
1256 N King St, Honolulu, HI, 96817
Kalihi
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.5 miBus Stop
1.4 miS Hotel St + Bishop St
1.4 miBishop St + S Hotel St‎
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking
No
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
No
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
No
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
No
Accepts Apple Pay
No
Bike Parking
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Honolulu) 3:25 AM Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Simple old fashion saimin and BBQ sticks.

History

Established in 1946.

Palace Saimin was the vision of Kame Ige who immigrated to Hawaii from Okinawa. It opened next to and was named after the old Palace Theater on Beretania Street. Mrs. Ige’s legacy was upheld by her trusted waitress, Setsuko Arakaki from 1975 — 2010. In 2010 Setsuko’s sold the business to her daughter, Susan, and son-​in-​law, Scott who pledged to perpetuate the recipes and relaxed atmosphere. As a fellow Yelpers they truly value the voice of the loyal Palace Saimin Ohana and check this site regularly, responding to suggestions and are dedicated to ensuring that you have the best customer experience the team can provide. Mahalo for allowing us to serve you!

Meet the Business Owner

Scott N.

Business Owner

No restaurant experience but instead a process engineer who designed this business to be self-​sustaining for as long at the customers want it around. I’m presently working for Applied Research Works concentrating on supporting Hawaii’s population health management. My wife, Susan, has taken over the management duties and enjoys engaging with the customers and sharing time with her mother, who still works all positions in the shop.

My goal was to capture, through careful measurements and process development, the recipes as taught by my mother-​in-​law, Setsuko Arakaki, that the generations of Palace Saimin customers have been enjoying for years. The atmosphere is intentionally ‘old school’ to respect the wishes of our customers. We hope that the saimin remains familiar to all who return for years after we are long gone. Susan and I have learned a lot from our customers and will always appreciate the humble, friendly and rich content you have added to our lives. Aloha

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32 reviews of Palace Saimin

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Aiea, HI
Their broth is «ono» love their BBQ sticks! Been going there since I was kid & now my kids loves it too!
Place rating: 5
Glendale, CA
First meal when we arrived from L.A., dad-​in-​law took us there for good old Hawaiian style noodles. We had wonton min, udon, and bbq sticks. Light clear soup base with some charchiu and green onion. The udon doesn’t have fish cake or nori in it. Just simple and delicious, hit the spot. The sizes of bowls are offered in small (it’s like keiki size but plenty for me), large, and extra large. Wontons isn’t bad, but the fillings were inconsistent in my bowl. I had about 5 in my, but the last one had ½ of filling compares to the other 4. BBQ stick is marinaded beef skewered on grill; light, but tasty.
Parking might be an issue, just be patient because you are living in Hawaiian time.
Although the small flaws, I still would rate 5 stars base on its taste.
Place rating: 4
Waipahu, HI
This is one place I would never forget being taken to as a child all the time. Came here for dinner tonight and I felt as if I was re-​visiting my childhood. It was and STILL is a family favorite!
Keeping this review short, because there really is not much to say but just the fact they’re 1) delicious and 2) inexpensive. Bowls come in small, large, then extra large. Ordered the large won ton min for $ 6.50 and we had bbq sticks on the side. Prime example of comfort food.
I really wish they’d open a bigger location with a bigger lot. This place can get really busy sometimes which is why I haven’t been here since I was a kid! I avoid places with such tight spaces with no parking stalls but if you really liked this place, I’m sure you’d be willing to wait. We came for dinner and surprisingly, it wasn’t busy.
After coming back after so many years, I think I’ll stop by more often. I forgot how tasty their food was even for something so simple. :-)
Place rating: 2
Honolulu, HI
Growing up in Kalihi we always used to visit when I was a child. That was something I really looked forward too. Onolicious food with the Ohana.
I decided to visit again so I can have that onolicious food as I remembered as a child. However, that wasn’t the case. Customer service was so so from the waitress and the food wasn’t even close to what I remembered. The broth was flavorless and the bbq sticks was very dry but very good flavor.
I know things can change but this was disappointing to say.
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
I have mixed feelings about this place. It’s a clean whole in the wall which I appreciate as well as the fact that it has been around since 1946. Total family establishment it seems. I like that a lot. The noodles and wonton were fresh tasting and the broth was good. I probably liked the bbq sticks more than the soup. Nothing wrong with anything but I like ramen (Japanese style) vs Saimin which is a Hawaiian style of ramen essentially. Perhaps if there was some grated ginger and broth was heartier similar to Tonkatsu style I would have preferred. Unsure if I would go back but I am glad that I went and was lucky to find parking after circling several times.
Perhaps it deserves 3 ½ stars vs 3. Service was efficient. Wouldn’t consider the young server warm and that inviting. I still have a good tip though probably more than a local.
Place rating: 4
Kaneohe, HI
I’d give this 4.5 stars if that were an option.
This is a noodle soup spot, plain and simple. You can get saimin, udon, or a combo of the two. You can add wonton. Your soup is garnished with char-​siu and green onions. Pick a size that fits your appetite.
The big selling points;
— Flavor is good.
— Pricing is low and portions are fair, making this an excellent value.
— Open late, which is huge. In Kaneohe, almost everything closes by 9p, so it’s nice to have an option (even one that’s a bit of a drive) for a late night snack.
The bbq stick was good, but priced a bit high for what you get. Next time, I’ll use the extra $ 2.25 to get a larger bowl of soup/​noodles/​dumplings instead.
Service was simple and friendly. Parking was tough, but we did get a space.
Definitely coming back here.
Place rating: 4
Waipahu, HI
My brother’s friend wanted to eat saimin and suggested this place. Palace saimin has been around since 1946! It must be good if it has been here for 70 years!
This place has a very simple menu of less than 10 items. I ordered a large won ton min and a bbq stick. The serving was pretty decent and the taste was good. The broth was simple and light not too salty. It has a shrimp flavor but not too strong. The noodles were nice and thick and there was about 4 – 5 won ton. The beef stick was good but I thought it was a little $$ at $ 2.25.
Overall if you are in the Kalihi area and want an old fashion home cooked saimin, Palace is the place to go. Simple old fashion and good. They open late too until 11pm. Parking and seating may be an issue as it is a small hole in the wall place.
Place rating: 5
Kapolei, HI
My family and I have been coming to this restaurant since before I can remember. I have tried MANY saimin houses on the island, but Palace Saimin is my favorite.
Whenever we go I always order the BBQ Stick and the Won Ton Min. Their pricing is great considering the portions you get, and every part of the meal is tasty! The BBQ Stick is always cooked to perfection, with the right amount of tenderness/​charcoal flavor, perfect for snack sized bites. Their saimin noodles are the perfect amount of chewiness, and the broth is great for when you are sick/​cold nights. The garnishings with green onions and char siu are a great simple addition as well, and add to the texture and flavorings of the simple meal. The won ton is AWESOME, noodle is perfect, the filling is great. I can’t rave about this place enough.
It is a very simple meal, but everything on it is of excellent quality. I only wish they were open on Sundays and Mondays as those are my days off!
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
Like the name Palace Saimin is known for their saimin. It’s a hole in the wall kind of place fits about 20 people maximum. You gotta love their home made picnic table with cushy bench sits.
I hope when I say «hole in the wall» people understand that you don’t come here to chit chat with your friends as long as you like. Hungry people are waiting for sits.
Free parking is available right in front the restaurant. Stalls are small. This place is located across from the post office.
Menu is on the wall on both sides. You should already know what you want because you’re here to eat saimin. They have saimin or won ton min in small or large size and beef sticks.
I love their saimin. It comes with chopped up green onions and char siu and perfectly cooked saimin in yellowish broth that’s not overly salty. I like their juicy beef stick as well. This is such a local thing.
If you eat here, you’re gonna see many old timers and regulars. I noticed the server knows most of the diners while I was there.
2 bowls of saimin and 1 beef stick for $ 13. You can’t beat that low price and nostalgic saimin anywhere.
Place rating: 5
Pearl City, HI
Aloha Kakou! It’s TRISH Da Lish again, we are here at Palace Saimin in Kalihi. This is the first time for Erik my BF from Hilo, he gives Palace Saimin 4 stars.
I’ve been eating here since I was in Elementary with my Ohana… Same everything. Same home style Saimin.
Worth the time and effort into supporting small mom and pops eateries. If you want to eat simple Saimin and amazing BBQ Sticks. This is the place for you! They also have the Diamond Head Strawberry Soda!!’ It’s a must to have all three when eating here.
Don’t forget to tip your servers! Aloha!
TRISH Da Lish
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
Palace saimin is the best old style saimin around. The prices are so reasonable compared to the outrageous prices of ramen. ($ 10 – 13). The owner here is really friendly and inviting. The noodles are perfectly cooked to my liking and the broth is very tasty without being too salty.
The bar-​b-​que stick is a lot better than the past as they are using a easier to chew beef. I remember not being able to break down the meat of the old, but 100 times better!
The won tons are also plain but tasty. Typical of the old fashioned won ton min. This is the go to place for saimin!!!
Place rating: 4
Pearl City, HI
A living classic.
Saimin, found only in Hawaii. Originating from plantation times, probably a corruption of Chinese noodle dishes, then popularized along with «Hawaiian Food» by Japanese Americans post WWII. Cheap, filling.
It’s popularity now waning, being overshadowed by the trendier, foodie glorified ramen, it still good comfort food at a reasonable price. Sadly, only a few mom and pop guardians remain.
Founded in 1946, Palace Saimin does it right.
Saimin or udon, with or without wonton, or just wonton in soup. S, L, XL. A side beef teriyaki stick. That’s it.
The saimin is very toothsome with great chew. Slick, making it perfect to slurp. The broth, a light konbu and dried shrimp backbone and strong MSG salinity (you don’t drink the broth so a little MSG won’t hurt). Finely cut, sweetened charsiu (Chinese style) and green onions more for garnish than as a flavor component. The wonton, soft, almost over cooked skin around a small nib of well seasoned ground pork. The salinity of the broth, the only real seasoning for the entire dish. Austere but comforting.
Finally the BBQ stick, cubes of skewered beef made tender by a sake, soy and sugar, grilled so the coating is caramelized. Nothing fancy.
Friendly service. No AC. Be willing to buddy up and let strangers share your table. Limited parking. Inexpensive.
A nostalgic nod to the past worthy of a visit if only to experience a simpler time.
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
Palace saimin! Where have you been all my life! For someone who has lived on island their entire life, I can’t believe I’ve never tried Palace Saimin until today! I loved it! Home made won tons just as good as my moms won tons, simple menu, reasonable prices and an old saimin stand feel. I got the large combination won ton min which consists of udon and ramen noodles and a beef bbq stick. So Ono! My only complaint is the parking lot is tiny! And one stall is reserved for another business. The lot fits about 4 – 5 cars only and I saw a lot of tow trucks in the area around 6:30 pm on a Thursday night. Luckily as I got there, someone was pulling out. The stars are aligned and I was just meant to eat there. As I left, there was a crowd of people outside waiting for a seat. I’ll be back!
Place rating: 5
Aliamanu - Salt Lakes - Foster Village, HI
YUMMMY little hole in the wall, mom & pop kinda place. So simple, but really good. So cheap too! Love the bbq sticks there! Yumm. Hits the spot for a late night dinner, only bad thing is parking is limited… Only about 6 stalls, but worth the wait!
Place rating: 5
Kaneohe, HI
been to this place for years and still my favorite saimin joint! The prices are totally affordable and the bbq sticks are a total must-​have!
Place rating: 5
Pearl City, HI
The best saimin on this island. Noodles served up fast and piping hot, cooked but still hard, BBQ sticks not overdone and not heavily marinated, comfort food at its best
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Don’t be discouraged by the hole in the wall, hard to park at location, the food here is soooooooo good! I actually heard about this place from one of those food network shows, so my expectations were half and half. You never know with those shows.
It’s pretty basic soup, flavor reminds me of a won ton noodle soup from a Cantonese food place, but better. Not loaded with MSG, but simple flavors that compliment the noodles well. I got the Wonton Min which has the thin soba like noodles with wonton. There’s green onion and char siu sprinkled on the top. My boyfriend got the combination which is wontons, thin noodles and udon noodles with the green onions and char siu on top. I was being conservative and got a small, my boyfriend got a large bowl and it was pretty good portion without being too too much.
THE WINNER is the BBQ Sticks! We ordered four thinking we’d be satisfied with two each, but after one bite we both knew we needed two more each. The sticks are grilled fresh, and are medium (but overheard someone order them well done) if you’re Filipino, it’s lightly reminiscent of a BBQ Stick from a family party, but flavors aren’t as bold. Soy Sauce, garlic, vinegar and some sugar we’re the flavors we picked up. I was trying to pay attention so I could make my own at home, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be the same.
This place shows that you don’t need much to please the masses. The waitress serving us seemed to know most of the people coming in to eat. You could tell this is where kama’aina come to just have a great meal. When the food is fantastic, you don’t need a flashy dining room or location.
Place rating: 2
University, Cleveland, OH
I was surprised with this place considering the great reviews. The ramen and udon were not great and the meat in the wonton tasted old and dry. The soup lacked any flavor. The bbq sticks had no seasoning and I could probably make better bbq sticks. I would not come here again.
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
There prices are very cheap. I wish they had a medium size bowl but it’s just size: S, L & XL. I love there barbecue sticks and the sauce they put on it. I also like that there open late which is good especially since I work late and am always looking forward to eating after work. Fountain drinks are self serve as well. Fast and friendly service. Look forward to eating here again.
Place rating: 5
Palo Alto, CA
We found Palace Saimin on Unilocal,looking for an authentic Saimin place in Honolulu. Very small place and lucky to get a parking space in their parking lot in front.
Place is small with several tables, but we came early at 11:30am on a Tuesday and still had room. Staff was incredibly friendly, coming up to us and asking if this was our first time here. They’re very used to new visitors due to their great Unilocal reviews.
She explained all the menu items, and besides the saimin, wonton min, and udon, the BBQ sticks were also very popular so we got a couple of those. A littlle pricey for each stick, but very tasty and worth it!
As we took pictures of our bows and ourselves, she came up to us and offered to take a family photo for us, so great proactive service the whole time we were there!
Wonderful place, and a great place to come back on every visit back to Honolulu!
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
Amazing value, great little hole in the wall ramen/​udon place. I ordered the large udon and my boyfriend got the ramen.
The food is great and the prices were even better! My large udon was only $ 6.25 and my bowl was humungous! I finished it all and I was so full! The broth is yummy and the wontons are pretty big! The food came out within minutes of ordering it! Yay!
Hours of operation closed Sunday and Monday’s and the other days open from 11am– 11pm
We will be coming back for sure!
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
Simple and to the point. I like that you don’t need to browse through a menu. It’s straight forward. The saimin and bbq sticks are amazing. Fast and friendly service. Love love love this place.
Place rating: 5
Kapolei, HI
Since we moved from Kalihi it had been a while since we’ve been back. Boy I was glad I stopped in last week Saturday. They were gracious enough to allow us to sit in at 10:55p…they close at 11:00p. OMG the saimin broth was BETTER than how I remembered it. My husband and I was so happy we tipped them 40%.
It was that good! We couldn’t stop thinking about it so we and back tonight. They were full and when I stood in line the gentleman in front said he was the last person they were going to take for the night… I was bummed so I went in to ask if I can take out and they obliged! Thank you Palace Saimin! let us know if you open on the West side!
Place rating: 3
Honolulu, HI
The best thing about the menu is the Combination: saimin, udon and won ton in soup. The taste and quality are ok. Parking not so good. Overall, it’s a decent meal at a very reasonable price.
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
This place has been around for years, but I can’t believe I’m only getting to the review now. I guess it’s because this weekend was the first time I’ve been to Palace in over 20 years. Crazy right? It mostly has to do with the fact that the parking lot is small and the dining room is just as small so it’s always crowded and whenever I pass by thinking to go there’s a line outside.
As luck would have it, after a HIFF movie I was nearby the area so I headed down and there was no line! So my Dad and I went to check it out since he hadn’t been there since he was in his teens. So you can imagine how old this place is and the years of experience they have at perfecting a bowl of saimin.
I’d go with the won ton min. The noodles are nice and tender and the size of the won ton, not huge, but still bigger than what you’d normally get at any other Saimin stand. To tie it off the broth is very tasty. There’s a lot of depth in it. You have to wonder what they do or simmer to make such a light be flavorful broth. And of course you need to get the side order of the BBQ sticks right?!
I’d recommend Palace over most other Saimin stands that are left. Actually it’s probably one of my favorites for the old school Mom and Pop shops. Make sure you hit it. I came around 8:30 which seemed like a perfect time because it was after the dinner crowd and before the late night crowd. See you there!
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
Looking for delicious comfort food that is cheap yet filling? This place is a great choice!
My bf gets off late from work and I was starving and wanted phở or ramen so I looked at what was in the area using Unilocal.Since we are on a budget, I chose this place.
First off, the reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the parking… Parking is horrendous! We went on a Wednesday night at 9pm and luckily we got 1 parking, but we saw the parking lot completely filled the whole time. Plus, there’s no AC in the restaurant (but there are fans)
WONTON MIN: we got the L for $ 6.25 and the portions were big. I was starving, but yet I could barely finish it haha. I love the spicy mustard on the side and mixing it with shoyu to add some extra flavor to my meal :)
BBQ STICKS: these were $ 2.75 (or 2.25, I can’t remember), which in proportion, is more expensive than the ramen dishes itself, but the meat was tender and very flavorful coated in a light Teri sauce… So good!
SERVICE: the waitress was very friendly and the service was good overall :)
For 2 large wonton min, 2 bbq sticks, and 1 fountain drink, total cost was $ 18.75
Place rating: 3
Hilo, HI
Parking still is terrible but worth the wait! I had the won ton min and BBQ stick! Ohhhh the simple things! Yummy! Maybe I gotta do take out because it’s HOT in here!
So serve yourself fountain drinks and serve yourself water :) gotta keep them prices low low low!
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
There’s nothing like a good olé bowl of saimin that really hits the spot on a rainy day. And Palace Saimin serves up just that!
Well actually it was a sweltering day in summer, and despite Palace Saimin being void of of air conditioning and having two unoperative fans, I was still very pleased with my meal!
The saimin gives island competitors a run for their money, with perfectly cooked, chewy saimin noodles, a light broth customizable with the given hot mustard sauce, and delicious, soft won tons in the won ton min! Add a teriyaki stick or two and you’ve got yourself the real deal!
And guess what?! A small bowl of won ton min will only set you back $ 5.25, with dollar increases for each size up!
So affordable, so delicious, and open til late (11pm Tuesdays through Saturdays), this is one comfort food joint I’ll definitely be revisiting!
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
We were out Kalihi side checking out the Bishop Museum and it was time for dinner. Found Palace Saimin and off we went. A toal hole-​in-​the wall joint that serves inexpensive saimin, won ton mein and best of all BBQ sticks.
All 3 of us ordered the won ton mein. I had a a large and it was full of saimin, onions, char siu and won ton. Totally hit the spot. I’ve had better won tons, but these very good. The hit of the meal is the BBQ sticks. 4 pieces of marinated beef on a stick. We ordered 5 of them to gow ith out meal.
They’re open late (until 11) and definitely worth the drive.
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
If you have not had Saimin before, this is where you need to come understand what it is. Their saimin is simply noodles, char siu, and green onions. The noodles were cooked perfectly to have a firm texture and the char siu and green onions perfectly complemented the noodles. I took a friend from Japan here so he could experience the divergence of Japanese ramen and Hawaii Japanese saimin. He enjoyed eating something with a Japanese flavor profile that was not Japanese.
The whole place is older and worn but clean. Some of these places think a layer of greasy dust in a badge of honor.
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
If you’re looking for a high end Ramen place to get your slurp on then… you’ve got the wrong place.
But if you enjoy that Cheap Old School Mom and Pops places then this is for you! Since 1946 Palace has been serving up a simple menu of Saimin, Wonton Min, Udon and BBQ Sticks to generations of hungry people in Kalihi. Nothing fancy shmancy just Good Ol Basic Saimin in a tasty broth that will take you back to your childhood days.
There seven tables with cushioned bench type seats in this small Saimin house, along with seven or eight parking stall in front.
Ordered a Large Wonton Min ($ 6) and BBQ Sticks ($ 2.25ea), I loved the simplicity of the broth and enjoyed the chew of the thicker noodle. The BBQ stick meat was a little tough, but the teriyaki sauce was Ono.
*This Hole-​In-​The-​Wall is Open Tuesday — Saturday 11am — 11pm… Sun, Mon Closed
Place rating: 2
Honolulu, HI
The food was good, the service was lacking.
The food was good so I gave that two stars. The service on the other hand was lacking. The guy took our order and brought us our food when it was ready other than we didn’t see him again the rest of the night or any other worker until we went up to pay our bill.