When my car makes its way to the north side of the island, it's always a guess as to what I would find..... Well---- in Laie! Papa Ole's
BBQ Kalbi ribs, Pulehu style ribs, chicken, garlic grilled shrimp were my selections. I ordered the mini plate for each which was about $6 less per plate than the full sized plate. Worked out well as each order came with a scoop of rice (they have brown rice too) and a scoop of macaroni salad.
The ribs were grilled to perfection and the texture of the meat was absolutely wonder. I was impressed with the simple fact that Kalbi ribs were not OVER marinated....
Price? Â Mini $7 to $7.50 each mini plate. Oh, the meats are made to order and not sitting under some warmer. Unless you order in advance be prepared to wait at least 15 minutes for your order to be prepared.
Definitely worth the wait (and the drive)
Holy freaking moly! I will never again order Pulehu ribs anywhere else (I honestly can't think of where to get them anywhere else though). I might swear off kalbi too though, they're that good.
So these Pulehu ribs are thick cut beef ribs, seasoned with salt and who knows what (crack maybe). It really reminds me of kalbi...but better (and I love kalbi). The meat is tender enough to cut with a plastic knife and they pile on the ribs to a point where you can probably share a plate between two or three people. The Pulehu rib plate comes with rice (white or brown) and either mac or tossed salad. The garlic fries are also really good, if you have room.
Now Papa Ole's is kinda out of the way for us townies, but I'm sure I will always make it a point to stop by when I go North Shore. I might even skip garlic shrimp and Ted's in anticipation for Papa Ole's.
We live at Sunset Beach with limited food options so last night we decided to drive to Papa Ole's and we were very happy campers. Â My wife had the Pulehu and I had the Garlic Chicken which I loved. Â We both ordered mini plates which left us very full so I probably wouldn't order a full plate unless sharing with someone - but that's me.
My only disappointment was that they were all out of dessert. Â After reading the different Yelp reviews I was really looking forward to sharing a treat with my wife at the end but went away a little sad. Â Oh well, we drive by here every weekend so we'll be back. Â Thanks Papa Ole's for giving us a new option!
P.S. Service at the counter was excellent!
I had heard great things about this place from many of my friends, so the last time we were out at the North Shore we skipped the tradirional Shrimp Truck to try Papa Oles.  I tried the  roast pork with gravy and the garlic chicken.  This place is great and  should be a "must eat" on the north shore.
Review Source:Sorry, but this place is over rated. This place is small. The tables were dirty while I was waiting for my order. Im mean, I couldn't put my arm on the table without having to peel my arm off because it was so  frickin sticky. The wait was at least 15 minutes long or more and I was the only one of two people there. I ordered the salmon plate for 13.00 and a mini beef stew for 6.00 so with tax an all I think I got a nickel back. While I was waiting I was thinking, sheesh all they have to do is warm up the stew and salmon dont take 15 minutes to cook. Well, the stew was not fully warmed up and had that curdling look. Meat was like it was boiled to make it tender with no flavor. The salmon was burnt. For waiting all that time I was thinking this too. How the hell do you burn salmon? It was on a bed of rice with a scoop of mac salad which was just mayo and macaroni. 13.00 does not justify this plate. Nor does the 6.00 for the stew. I wont be coming here again and I wouldn't recommend this place either unless your really hard up to eat somewhere.
Review Source:Holy cow that was fantastic!  We almost made the mistake of going to L&Ls again - so grateful for a local's recommendation to go to Papa Ole's instead!!  We had Kalbi ribs, Palehu ribs, garlic chicken, sautéed shrimp, teriyaki beef, and more!  Don't forget the peach cobbler too!  Fed the eight of like kings!  BROKE DA MOUTH!!!!!  And very reasonable prices too!
Review Source:I stopped by here for lunch with my mom when we were driving around the island. I hate to be lone downer here but I wasn't very impressed with the food. I could literally feel my arteries getting clogged up with all the grease and oil from the food here. Pelehu ribs were alright, but to me, it was nothing to really write home about.. Â Basically overcooked & burnt pieces of meat.. I like my meat well done but not torched... I also had the pastele stew.. again, nothing exciting.
The tables were super sticky, and that grossed me out.
Just not my kind of place.
I'm giving 3 stars because everyone was nice there.
We only ate here once and only tried one dish, but it was very good.
We tried the Pulehu Ribs - very thickly sliced beef short ribs rubbed with sea salt and cooked to order - we got medium rare.
Very tasty.
Everything else looked great too, and some locals recommended to place to us and it was packed on a Thursday night - so they must be doing something right.
It is in a shopping center mall - and not very well marked. Â If you are in a large shopping center parking lot in Hau'ula - you are in the right place - it's on the right hand end of the mall as you face the front. Â They do not have a sign on the building that we could find, although we did see a folding sign standing at the driveway once.
It is closed on Wednesdays (which we discovered after searching in vain for it on a Wednesday night. Â We found their website that lists their schedule - but only after driving home and not knowing whether we had actually found it or not - it turns out that we had been about ten feet away from their front door and had no idea that they were there.
Five stars.
Ono, country grinds!
I admit, even with the numerous positive reviews of Papa Ole's I was still a bit skeptical when I arrived. I was expecting this place to be a typical, plate-lunch styled establishment with no "WOW" factor. Boy was I wrong.
Their hamburger steak plate was definitely one of the best I have ever tasted! In addition, their brown gravy was no joke either. On a second occasion I tried the same thing except with the mushroom gravy this time, and damn, that was delicious too!
The only blemishes I see here is the long waits and restaurant design. The cashier area is really narrow so when there are a lot of people, it feels extremely cramped. Also, the doors are always open so whether you eat indoors or out their will be harassing flies present.
*parking is not a problem; big open lot
*service is genuine
*self-serve water is located to the left of cashier area
My husband wanted to take our new car out for a drive. So, we decided to drive out to Hauula to have lunch at Papa Ole's. My husband says they make the best loco moco on the island.
It's a small spot. It was raining so we had to wait for our order outside on the picnic benches. Luckily someone left & we swooped in for the table. It took a long time to get our order, but they were pretty busy.
-loco moco: it taste just like any other loco moco i've ever tasted.
-garlic chicken: pretty good, but after awhile it all taste the same.
-peanut butter rolls: now this is what made the drive worth it! It's basically dinner rolls with peanut butter smothered all over it. Its not you're typical peanut butter though. Its lighter, silkier, & smoother. Delicious!
I would probably eat here again if i'm in the area.
LEGIT! Â Today was my fourth trip to Papa Ole's and as expected they did not disappoint. Â I brought my father whom is visiting me from the mainland and I ordered Kalbi Ribs for him and Garlic Chicken for myself. Â Apparently the Kalbi order was not heard and when my number was called I "complained" about my father's ribs not being ready and they corrected the mistake (which I was at least partly culpable for) by cooking his Kalbi before the group of tour bus people that arrived directly after us. Â And on top of that great service the food was ono as expected. Â I will definitely make this a regular stop for me and my friends every time we go to north shore.
Review Source:My first visit here and I'm Yelping out loud! After all these years coming out to the North Shore I never knew this place existed. It took a friend from the neighborhood to bring me here for lunch after golf and boy am I thrilled about this place ! Â Papa Ole's is truly a place that will satisfy the Local hard to please crowd and tourists too.
When we got here at about 11:00am the place had already drawn a crowd which got bigger as time passed, but not to worry because there is lots of parking and seating inside and outside. The general consensus seem to be the Pulehu ribs as most of the patrons here were enjoying, so I took it to the next level and ordered the special with Pulehu ribs and Kahuku shrimp. The dishes we ordered weren't just better than good,
but there was lots of it and at better than reasonable prices. The service very friendly with lots of Aloha! Oh yeah...the soda is bottomless!
So all you Townies and Tourists alike step away from Waikiki and see what you're missing up on the North Shore and enjoy a meal at Papa Ole's in Hauula! It's sure not to disappoint .
Stopped by here to have dinner with some family and friends... the girl working behind the counter was extremely helpful and friendly. Recommended some different options for us and here's what we ordered (if I could remember).
Wife and I shared the Big "J" Special... definitely split it with another person. Had ribs, garlic shrimp, rice, macaroni... Flavors were good, but I found it to be a little too greasy and the ribs had a lot of fat on them. Even though they were seasoned and cooked perfectly, it just felt like I was chewing on fat 75% of the time. Also tried their peanut butter roll - tastes like a sweet roll with a peanut butter cream frosting lathered all over the top. My daughter LOVED this!
My sister ordered their garlic chicken. I wasn't a big fan of this since it almost tasted like the garlic chicken you would get at Panda Express :/ I was hoping it was going to be a garlic fried chicken with chunks of fried garlic, but it was drenched in some honey sweet and sour sauce.
Overall, this place is a solid place to stop and eat at...portions are large and you get a lot of food for your money.
I love love love this place I just can't stay away. The food is divine, Even though it might be a little pricey it's worth it. They give you really big portions and it's worth the money. My wife and I always get the ribs and share it, Yum Yum! They can get busy at times and when you go be sure to have extra time. It's always best if you call in and place your order before you head down over there. The food and service are great I'll definitely be going in eating there again soon.
Review Source:Bomb food!
Wife and I both got loco moco. Â It was HUGE. Â You think I can eat all this? Â No way! Â 2 giant beef patties, tasty gravy, a mountain of rice and perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs. Â THIS is loco moco. Â GIMME GIMME GIMME! Â I NEED SOME MORE! Â
Only problem was the wait... Sunday around 11am we waited for 45 minutes to get our food. Â Bummer....
looking for eats that was anything but mcdonald's after a day at the PCC with 2 7 year olds, we came upon local joint papa ole's.
excited to try some local fare, we ordered the garlic chicken plate that comes with a supa dupa huge mound of macaroni salad and rice, and a burger for the boy.
food took a little longer to arrive than we'd hoped (and when you have 2 very hungry 7 year olds, one who is not particularly patient, a long wait becomes an exceptionally extremely long wait with much complaining and moaning) but food is prepared upon order so it's fresh made for you and not been sitting around forever under some heat lamp.
garlic chicken not as garlicky as i thought it would be but chicken was still tender, exceptionally juicy, deliciously flavorful, with a nice crispy-ness on the skin that yielded a satisfying crunch when bit into.
rice was fresh and nicely sticky and the macaroni salad (probably laden with calories but whatevs, i am on vacation) was delish and addictive after a single bite.
the burger was a bit of a struggle as boy had been waiting an inordinately long time to eat and after many reassurances from us that it was a regular, plain hamburger, the papa ole burger was not quite what he was expecting. *i must also note he is not the most open minded child so any variance in a burger is greatly exaggerated and met with much consternation on his part*. the meat was seasoned with a bit of teriyaki, you know, local style but boy was not having it. so rice it was for him and the hubs finished off the burg. which he said was tasty despite boy turning up his nose at it.
wish we had ordered the fries and the pancakes as both sounded so yummy, even for dinner.
fun, casual indoor dining area as well as an outdoor patio with 6 or so table- benches. noisy enough to disguise the noisy stylings of my 3 keikes but not so loud you have to shout over the din.
I read a lot of reviews on this place before deciding to go here for a takeout dinner before the walking dead.
What we ordered: Kalbi Ribs & Garlic Chicken
Kalbi Ribs were good, and the flavor was great but we like the flavor of Helenas better.
Garlic Chicken: When I see garlic chicken, I want it to be garlicky like there is no tomorrow. So bad that my husband thinks twice before kissing me. This chicken is not that chicken. HOWEVER, it was GOOD chicken. It is sweet with a light garlic flavor and if I were to go back, i'd get this again.
The portions are huge, the flavor of all the food was good and the service was friendly. The only con is that its a pricey!
I guess when a place is 4 stars, expectations are set high. Meat was way chewy and bloody. Totally totally disappointed. I felt sick afterwards. Almost threw up. I cant believe the cook would serve that meat. The fish was soooo good though. But Overall expensive. Sadly, we won't be back. Can't :( sorry papa.
Review Source:While on one hand I really like Papa Ole's, on the other I don't. I think it's because I've watched the prices double through the years as well as had some bad experiences with the food. With that much said, when the food is prepared on point, and I'm also in the mood for it, then the place truly rings a bell with me.
For those that enjoy large portions, Papa Ole's is a great local food spot. Of course, you pay for large portions at Papa Ole's because they're a bit pricey. In terms of quality, they have a reputation for high quality as well. Only thing is I find them a bit inconsistent in how well they prepare their plates. In other words, they're hit and miss. That has just been my experience over the years.
We had breakfast. Great, authentic local place.
The short stack of macadamia nut pancakes where smothered in butter, fluffy, and delicious.
The veggie omelet comes with piles of hash browns and white bread toast. Charming.
It's not fancy fare, but you shouldn't expect it when your kicking around the northshore.
Super friendly staff and outdoor picnic table seating.
Thanks Papa Ole's for a solid way to start the day.
We were up in Laie and need something quick to eat before visiting PCC. This place is a great local food option for not vegs. Unfortunately, they don't have much to offer for vegs.
I did order a salad and it was filled with water at the bottom. The salad was almost $5 and it was shredded lettuce and tomatoes. I thought this was a little poor in ingredients for the amount I paid for the salad.
If you are looking for some great local food like pork or steak and rice - this is a good joint for you. Skip the salad ;). But get the fries! They are delicious. Also the price isn't bad at this place. However, be prepared to wait a long time for your meal :(
I came here at around 8pm right after going to the Haunted Lagoon on the opening night. Â I was extremely hungry and didn't feel like eating any McDonald's, which is an absolute last resort. Â A quick glance over the menu, you will see a variety of regular and mini sized plate lunches varying from $8-$12. Â After some deliberation and some input from a woman in a muumuu, I decided on a combination plate with pulehu and kalbi ribs. Â This came out to a mere $12 and was well worth it. Â I shared a couple pieces with my sister and was satisfactorily satiated. Â Definitely a better deal than a typical $13 plate of Kahuku shrimp down the road. Â The ribs were thick and juicy. Â I'm not sure why, but the pulehu tasted better than the kalbi. Â Maybe the kalbi was slightly dry and charred?
The food here is definitely 5-star. Â I'm subtracting one star for the 30 minute wait for my ribs. Â It's understandable, since the ribs are THAT thick. Â If you have ADD and don't have signal on your cell phone, they have a TV and free wireless. Â You can pass the time checking Facebook or playing Scramble With Friends.
The next time I'm in Laie I will definitely stop by again and be more mentally prepared for the wait for my food.
If I were on Death Row, and I was allowed my one last meal ... I think I'd have someone fly out to pick me up some breakfast from Papa Oles.
The food's delicious, no question. Â But it's like Sinai S. said on here: it's "served with love" -- truly! Â It reminds me of going home after a long absence and my Mom serving up a feast, all made with love. Â It's got a "stick to your ribs" quality that makes you want it most when you're sick, or having a bad week, or just need a bit of extra comfort, Mom-style. Â
The portions, too, remind me of Mom: you'd better have just finished a marathon or a hike before getting the "mini" loco moco and the "short" stack of banana pancakes ... :D
This place is a gem.
I give this place is a good 4.5 stars, but not quite a full Five.
After doing the La'ie Falls hike (a couple of reviews ago) we came here for lunch because one of our group had already decided that we'll be eating here ahead of time. Â She apparently read reviews, and blogs about this awesome place all the way out here. Â I'm glad we all went along with the idea!
PROS:
+ HUGE portions
+ Broke da mouth flavor
+ Friendly service
+ Lots of seating
CONS:
- A bit pricey
- So far from home!
After a quick Yelp check on this place I was impressed with the 4.5 star rating with over 100 reviews. Â I knew I was in for a treat, and I noticed that the Garlic chicken, short ribs and pancakes were all the rave in the Yelpisphere. Â When we got to the little strip mall that houses Papa Ole's (and Tamura's on the other end) there was a lot of parking in the lot. Â The restaurant was pretty sparsely populated since it was post lunch rush time. Â Breakfast wasn't being served anymore (It was just after 2pm), so I knew I couldn't try the pancakes this time. Â Now I was torn between the short ribs and the garlic chicken. Â There were two types of short ribs to try from. Â Kalbi, and pulehu. Â They were out of kalbi, so that further narrowed my decison. Â But it was still a dilemma!
Short ribs, or chicken? -- That is the question. Â
Whether 'tis tastier in the mouth to eat
Deep-fried chunks of chicken in garlicky sauce
Or to partake in pulehu grilled goodness
And by deciding, choose one. Â Hold on a sec, --
I'll just ask the cashier for a recommendation! Â So that's just what I did. Â She said those two are the most popular items on their menu, and that she prefers the chicken because she doesn't really care for beef too much. Â Alas, I love beef... Â My dilemma remained unsolved. Â She then told me I could do a mix plate of the two! Â SOLD!!! Â That's exactly what I did! Â I added on a fountain drink (with free refills), paid for my order, got my number, made my drink, and joined my friends on one of the long picnic tables out front. Â After a short wait the food started coming out. Â Everyone was impressed with the size of the plates. Â Even the mini's!
The Garlic Chicken was big meaty chunks of chicken with the skin still on, deep fried, and covered in a garlic sauce kind of like a lighter more garlicky version of the Zippy's Korean sauce. Â The Pulehu Short Ribs were thick meaty cuts simply seasoned with salt and pepper, and grilled to perfection. Â The mac salad was alright nothing too special, but it went well with the garlic sauce.
Pulehu Short Ribs and Garlic Chicken Mix Plate: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/QtytPWDQMFgZVwX4G-QGDw?select=Ad8g39MF8Y-ebc5TKf4kwA#VUrBExjDoBpNURe_tfXEXw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
The down side to all of this wondrous food is that my mix plate along with a fountain drink had set me back $15. Â This is quite a hefty price to pay for a plate lunch, but on the flip side it was a pretty hefty plate lunch! Â It totally filled me up after hours of hiking on a nearly empty stomach!
It was definitely worth the stop here, and I'm debating whether or not visiting Papa Ole's again would warrant a trip all the way out there. Â I think it just might be. Â It's also, without a doubt, worth the stop in if you're anywhere near the area. Â Give those Kahuku shrimp trucks a break for once, and check out Papa Ole's! Â I'll definitely be back, and hopefully I'll be back early enough to try the pancakes!
Way out in the little town of Hauula you will find this gem of an eatery. Very friendly service. Lots of seating outside. If you don't mind sharing a table with the biker crew that's cruising the island and stopped off for lunch there. And the food... Oh. My. Fricken. Gawd. For reals, guys this place is unbelievable.
Best kalbi I have had ever - I kid you not. Big thick pieces. Glazed and charred to perfection. A vegetarian's worst nightmare. I gladly welcome the oil into my bloodstream. There are pills to fix that kind of stuff now, right? Teri chicken is also OMGreat. This is how plate lunches SHOULD be.
They are also known for their peanut butter rolls. Doesn't sound too fancy but I swear they must lace it with crack or something because minutes after eating your last one you're already jonesing for more. I think they make their own rolls which just adds to the completely insane levels of yumminess of this sweet calorie bomb. Taste is not always consistent but even on an average day they make peanut butter desserts an artform.
Just call ahead as they are probably going to run out if you don't get there in time.
If you're taking a circle island cruise you have to stop here to eat. It should be required by law.
Stopped by for a breakfast with 4 people on the way to the southern side from where we were staying in Laie.
Ordered up the meat omelette , reguler plate of eggs, and the macadamia nut short stack of pancakes.
RIDICULOUS PORTION SIZE ALERT. The meat omelette, filled with vienna sausage, spam, and bacon, had probably 6 eggs, as it filled an entire takeout box. The hashbrowns? 3 hashbrown patties. 2 pieces of buttered toast. Enough to feed an army. The pancakes? 3 pancakes the size of a basketball, then TOPPED with macadamia nut ICE CREAM. Yeah, ridiculous. Everything was delicious, huge, hot, made to order. Prices were decent, we ordered most of our food for about $25.
The only complaint I had was the coffee. First off, they ran out when I ordered and didnt finish a new pot until after I had finished eating. And when the new pot came out, it was burnt black coffee.....
LEGIT
Plate lunches, boys and girls. Â But, they are good and the portions are HUGE!! Â
Papa Ole's was a planned stop on the way home from Kokololio Beach Park (a great beach if you've never been). Â It was an awesome local crowd, warm and entertaining. Â I had the sauteed mahi and my companion had the pork roast. Â Salad and rice were included. Â Both entrees were very flavorful with robust sauces. Â The roast was succulent and tender. Â The fish was perfectly cooked. Â It's nice to have a great little restaurant in that neck of the woods. Â I'll definitely go back!
I got the special which was a chicken fried steak and my gf got the garlic chicken because everyone on yelp raves about it. Â Anyway, my chicken fried steak was really good. Â The gravy was REALLY good. Â I bet their hamburger steak is good too. Â I tried a couple pieces of my gf's garlic chicken and it was just ok. Â Yes everyone, just ok. Â I would not drive all the down here just to eat here. Â No way. Â To me the food is nothing special.
What makes it special is the workers. Â The lady there was very nice and outgoing. Â Very outspoken and very local. Â The kind of lady that you just want to call "Aunty." Â LOL! Â Will I ever come here again? Â Probably not...because it's hella far.
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