The mini set meals have incredible value for food that is actually very good for what it is. Compared to other Hong Kong style cafes, the food is very flavorful and the portion size is much larger. Another perk is the fact that there is no additional charge for cold drinks.

However, the service is downright rude at times. The waitresses (consisting of 40-50 year old chinese ladies) will congregate in a group, stare at you, and talk about you in chinese. If the food wasn't so good, I would never patronize this restaurant due to the rude servers.

The silver lining is that the service is incredible when the big boss (older lady with glasses) is in the restaurant. The servers turn into very friendly and hard working employees!

In conclusion, come here for the valued HK food but cross your fingers and hope that the boss happens to be in at the time!

A couple of friends and I dropped by for dinner tonight looking for value conscious grub. There wasn't the usual dinner rush so we were able to be seated promptly.

We went with the dinner combos which choices of meats, namely the rib eye, panko breaded sole filet and chicken cordon bleu sans the breadcrumbs. Uninspiringly flavourless for the most part, especially the steak, which was not finished by any of us, a rarity for us thrifty folk who do not like wasted food. The other items were decent at best. Portions are ample; Honolulu is the only HK cafe I know that includes french fries alongside the usual array of soup, bread and drink. Prices are actually a couple bucks more than a carbon-copy assembled meal elsewhere.

Service is mostly absent but they are friendly enough, just don't expect checkups.

Space is bright but feels dingy. Our sightline from our booth to the little opening from the kitchen is a little unsettling; mostly for sanitary concerns but I digress.

Not exactly rock bottom prices for a meal, but it should fill one up nicely is this is their go.

im an expert of hong kong style cafes. Ive literally been to every single one in vancouver and richmond. Honolulu or "honos" as i like to call it is definately the best of them all.

Food:
try the curry beef brisket on rice mini set meal (12-6pm) you will 100% chance fall in love. Their chicken steaks and stuff are also pretty good. You can basically look at their menu and randomly point at something and it will be between 60-75% good.
Breakfasts are also good for value 5 bucks for eggs, meat and noodle soup plus drink. All this talk of honos is making me hungry.

Service:
they are quite nice once the servers get to know you. Just wave them down if you need anything dont be shy. This restaurant is not for the shy.

I love to force my girlfriend to come with me to this restaurant. She claims its "dirty" but i have yet to witness any filthiness.

Bon appetit!!

i hear about this place all the time still, it's so popular with youngsters, i never understand why! why are cantonese hk style cafes constantly serving gross food. This place is particularly unappealing, the baked rice/spaghetti dishes are bland and nothing special. The chow mein is too starchy and soggy. Ate here for dinner, wasted $60 for party of 5. Hate the atmosphere too. (btw cantonese reviewer)

I've always gone to Honolulu but since moving out of the neighbourhood, I realize what a good deal it is. Typical Chinese cafe eatery so don't expect ambience. But I had the Christmas special (yeah I know it's Feb but it's my first review!) and it didn't disappoint. Soup and small salad, lobster and choice of meat combo, dessert and coffee for under $20. I love Dine Out but you can't beat this meal!

Went with a friend on a Sunday afternoon, just after the lunch rush. We got our menus and had to wait about 25 minutes for our order to be taken. We were the only Causasians in the restaurant and felt ignored. They give you a large portion but it is not very good quality. The Malaysian fried rice just tasted like your standard fried rice; no evidence of any spice. The sauce for the black bean chicken was very bland and heavy and the fried noodles were quite oily. The chicken in this dish was not very pleasant; not a nice cut of chicken and barely cooked. Maybe if you are in the know there are probably some better dishes to order.

People have been telling me that the food is great. Big portions, cheap price. There's a reason for that.
I live pretty close to the restaurant so decided to try it one day. The service is absolutely atrocious, as is expected of most Chinese restaurants, unfortunately. The menu looked decent, but when the food came with the (I'm sure powered "just add water") sauces, I almost puked. I barely made it through my meal. Ate mostly the vegetables that tasted like it was microwaved in a bowl of water.
It's cheap, yes. The portions are big, yes. But so is Wendy's. I'd choose fast food over this crap ANY DAY.

Of all the Chinese cafe-styled restaurants that serve breakfast, Honolulu Cafe has the most selection at a superb price. I go there with my mother for breakfast quite often, and was never disappointed. Your choice of a bowl of noodles in soup, a sandwich or omlette, and an HK styled coffee or milk tea comes out to $4.75 before tax. The food is excellent for that value. =)

Since Hawker's Delight was closed (because it was Sunday) I nipped across the street and headed over to Honolulu. The place didn’t look like much. Also, the restaurant was crowded and there was a gigantic lineup. I was lucky to get in just before the rush really got started. After my meal, I know why people were willing to wait.

They had a sizzling plate for 10 bucks with 2 meat or seafood items, and I went for the steak and eel. My wife had the chicken steak (not sizzling), and my 3 friends had various sizzling plates. Each sizzling plate meal came with soup, garlic bread, veggies, baked potato and a choice of spaghetti or rice. Also included was a piece of strawberry mousse cake. That is a lot of food for the money!

We started with a snack sized (i.e. 6 pieces) chicken wings. They were breaded and deep fried, and not oily. A first-rate appetizer.

The steak was a good size and cooked to a proper medium. It was not over-marinated as is often the case in HK Chinese restaurants. The BBQ eel was juicy and tender. I was disappointed that the borscht was sold out, so I got the seafood cream soup. It was okay, but nothing to write home about. My friends had the prawns which were big and tasty, and salmon which was seared, not dry. As for the chicken steak, it was pan-fried and lightly breaded. The baked potatoes and side veggies were fresh and full of flavor.

We tried the various sauces that come with the sizzling plates, from gravy sauce to garlic to pepper, and all were good. No MSG that I could detect.

The dessert cake was fresh and delicious, and had a mango sauce drizzled on and a dollop of whipped cream. Good presentation! I was so full at that point I had to force myself to eat the dessert.

HK is full of little neighbourhood cafes that serve set dinners, and there are lots of clones here in Vancouver, but this one stands out. I left with a satisfied belly and money in my wallet. How good is that?

Ho Mei! Ho Peng!

Since I'm from Hong Kong, I favour this type of fusion from Hong Kong. But those who are adventurous and don't mind chinese-style service will find good food for bargain prices. 3-course sets for $14. $6 afternoon and late night mini-sets, which is enough for asian appetites. HK-fusion is one of Vancouver's unique offerings