It's been decadeds since I last ate at this "hole in dah wall" lucheon located in the Sand Island area. Mrs and I originally was looking forward to eating at Penny's, but was closed until Jun ... ooops, I forget! "Getting old is not for pussies!" No worries, I always have a Plan B and it was Ethel's. I didnt have the address and Mrs was not a good navigator so it took a while to finally get there. I know the parking is limited but luckily there were several stalls right next. Ordered Japanese style hamburger steak for dah Mrs and garlic ahi. Oh I was so hungry and had lunch hour traffic all dah way to Pearl City. Got home, open the plates and oh did I grinz. You know I no need say anything more about their food, right. Next week Tuesday it's Penny's.

Finally made it to Ethel's Grill, a local spot steeped in decades of history, known for its loyal lunch crowd and signature dishes. With its early closing time at 2 PM and being open only five days a week, planning a visit here requires a bit of scheduling acrobatics. Today, I managed to squeeze in a visit right before closing at 1:45 PM. Walking in, I was greeted by the quaint ambiance of the place, decked out with memorabilia from notable visitors like Anthony Bourdain, which added a unique charm. The personable staff behind the counter was incredibly helpful, guiding me through the menu and pointing out favorites like the sashimi plate, hamburger steak, mochiko chicken, and grilled island fresh ahi. I decided to go for the mochiko chicken, opting for the sumo size to see what all the fuss was about. The staff were fantastic, not only taking our order but also advising on parking spots nearby. Within 15 minutes, our food was ready, and it was piping hot--so much so that the plate was almost too hot to handle. We parked nearby to dive into our meal, and the mochiko absently did not disappoint. The chicken was perfectly cooked; the oil tasted fresh, and the chicken itself was juicy and flavorful. The breading was satisfyingly crunchy, and the sauce--a delightful blend of ginger and ponzu--was spot on, enhancing every bite. Ethel's Grill is definitely one of those under-the-radar places that only locals might know about, but it's worth seeking out. The experience was so memorable that I'm already planning to return to try the grilled ahi. For anyone in the area or looking to try something authentically local, Ethel's Grill is a must-visit.

Our favorite meal during our trip to Oahu was at Ethel's - we got the mochiko fried chicken, loco moco, oyako donburi, and the tataki tuna salad. Everything - every single item - was delicious. The mochiko fried chicken was my personal favorite and star of the show. So juicy and flavorful - accompanied with that sauce that complements the chicken so well with the bed of white rice. The service was also the kindest on the entire island. Food was delivered out directly to our car in Ethel's parking lot. By far my favorite meal memory on the island!

The food is good home cooking, large servings and tastes good. This is take out only and parking is almost non-existent so may have to park illegally for a few minutes while you pickup order. Also should order online or on phone, otherwise you have to come back later to pick up food. It takes ~45 minutes to prepare. The food is good local cuisine, a worthy stop when in the area.

April 2024. Aloha! Ok so I finally tried something besides the Hamburger steak w extra gravy. Had the special "ginger beef" and it was so damn good. Flavorful and so damn satisfying. Have no idea how long they will keep on the menu so get it while you can. To be honest I had the hamburger steak as well and it was so frickin good. Same as always. The gold standard for hamburger steak. Service is 5 stars as always compliments of the sassy and spectacular Minakasan! Chef Robert is his usual self, a quiet assassin excelling at his craft in the back of the house. Ambiance is a perfect hole in the wall 4 stars. I would give them 5 stars if parking was better. Just keeping it real. But overall my favorite overall go to spot for lunch on the entire island. Hands down.

Been a while since I stoped by here for lunch, but it's just as I rememeber! Call ahead so your order is ready when you get there! Parking sucks, they have a single stall for customers, and everytime you can count on your car getting blocked in. Street parking is hit or miss, so helps if you got 2 people with you. They take card! But they do charge the 4% service fee. One of the specials was the chicken katsu donburi 10/10 fry that.

Ethel's Grill Kalihi has been a long-time establishment providing Oahu with delicious food since 1978. Their Japanese style menu with local influence has customers coming back for more. Crispy, juicy, flavorful, fulfilling, good-sized portions, and worth the price. These are a few words to describe the food. Service is quick and attentive, and the interior shows its age but has been maintained quite well. NOTE: The parking for Ethels is a 1 stall, tight, and narrow area within the building. If their stall is occupied, you can use the stall next to it, and they can deliver your food to you. From experience working in the area. It's an industrial area with big and wide vehicles and sketchy people walking around. It's possible for damages or break-ins to occur. Also, photos and videos are not allowed unless given permission from owners. Update to date menus are on their Instagram. See the link below. https://www.instagram.com/ethelsgrill_kalihi?igsh=Mm5icjNpbTQ3Mmdw Payment Cash or credit cards Restrooms Customers only and located in the back

I'm an ass, I have been selfishly stalling on this review because I don't want it to be so crowded they turn me away. I really enjoy the homey feels of their food. Even when the man grouchy you cannot taste it in his food it still tastes good. I maybe tried only like 3 things because it's hard to change when you ono for something and that something is so good you scared the next thing going make you wish you had the other thing. Hamburger steak is that thing. I don't know how they make the mochiko chicken so lightly fried almost like tempura. I like that there is a sauce for it. I want to tell you what the worst thing is but I cannot get past the first few things to try everything on the menu ..I want to, but chances are everything is great. This is a take out only -you can blame the pandemic on that. There are a few parking stalls in the building. Follow them on instagram @ethelsgrill_kalihi because they tell you when the hours are. Which is not open Sunday Mondays and when they need a break from a holes like me and sometimes they have tsukemonos, natto thingies, & special made desserts on the days I cannot go. So let me tell you the coolest thing is the actual people of bobs burgers (the show) made a cartoon of Ethel's and it looks just like them as if they stepped out of that cartoon. Freakin awesome but so is the girl who runs this place.

This place is probably 1 of my top 5 places to eat in Oahu! Maybe even top 3! My only gripe is the location and parking situation. It is kind of in a little sketchy of an area, but don't worry it is totally worth it! Pro tip: call and order your food before you go so you don't have to wait in the parking area. Trust me, you'll thank me for this tip. The employees are super nice and sweet. We didn't order beforehand, and they recommended for us to come park closer than they even brought our food out to our car. Super sweet! Now to the Main event, the food! Many years ago, Anthony Bourdain came here and named it. One of his favorite restaurants, he was not like this place is incredible! Whenever we go, we always make sure to order the Mochiko chicken and the Oyako Donburi. Mochiko chicken is perfectly crispy, full flavor, and so freaking juicy! The donburi is just as delicious! It has a ton of veggies delicious sauce, all on top of a bed of rice! Amazing! Next time we go we want to try the spare ribs and the garlic chicken! I know its going to be delicious!

I'm a firm believer that the best food doesn't have to come from the most lavish restaurants. I also believe you will get further as a tourist if you don't act disrespectful. Ethel's Grill makes delicious food, period. My friend and I are from the mainland and we had an early morning scheduled. We stopped in and ordered two Original Morning Specials. For the unfamiliar, it's made from vegetables, tofu, and egg simmered in a large bowl of miso soup served with a bowl of rice. Delicious!! Ethel says "start your day the healthy way!"