Candi’s Cafe

Is canids still open for business!!! Tried to go twice this week and it was closed and the phone number is no longer in service.

Soooo… I’m trying to figure out what’s going on at Candi’s Café! On vacation back in February I had breakfast here… OMG, it was OH SO DELICIOUS!!! I bragged to my husband how he missed out on authentic local food. Fastforward 6 months, they’re not open ! We are here now, 8÷24÷15 12:08 pm and the sign says closed

is this place open? I’ve been calling since 6am and it’s now 7am to place a large take out order. Ringing… no answer and no voicemail… maybe I’ll drive by later, darn I was order to order about 20 breakfast plates for the office. Sad face.

Awesome authentic food in a hole in a wall type place. Got the breakfast plate (Kimchee fried rice with egg and Portuguese sausage) for $ 5.25. It was super delicious and inexpensive. It wasn’t too busy and food came out pretty fast. There were some empty tables so we ate in the restaurant. No AC but there is a fan blowing so it was alright.
Owner was super friendly and when he found out we were visiting he came out to talk to us about recommendations of what we should visit during our trip here. He said Candi was the name of the original owner and they had recently moved to this new place. He was super cool and overall we loved the vibe and taste of this cool local restaurant.

A hidden gem in Kalihi, Candi’s is not your usual breakfast joint. It has those breakfast/​brunch hours of 6am til 2pm, but it feels much more local than any other place that I usually grab brunch at.
I came here with my boyfriend and a friend on a random Wednesday for brunch because we were all starving, wanted to ball on a budget, and were looking at well-​rated Unilocal places — Candi’s came up and did not disappoint!
Parking can be tricky, as it’s all street parking and the street it’s located on isn’t the slowest, but we found a good spot and made our way in. The inside is decorated in children’s drawings and cool wave photos, with a few tables and a window to order your food. The guys behind the counter were super friendly, and even though they were out of fries (sad face because I do love me some fries) they were super accommodating in getting us replacement sides.
And that food, man — it was crazy! I ordered the loco moco burger, which was bottom bun + mac salad + burger + egg + gravy + top bun. What even?! I had to use a fork and knife, but it was delicious and super cheap compared to what a loco moco would cost at a lot of other places. My boyfriend and friend enjoyed their food as well, and we all left with happy tummies and wallets.
I’m definitely gonna have to make my way back for another loco moco burger, but maybe a little earlier to get in on those fries.

Overall a pretty solid place for breakfast. Food is good, hot and cheap.
They bring the food to you and open the styrofoam container to make sure you get what you want.
I have some thoughts on how to move this place to a 5-​star.
Pretty hot. Please turn on the AC. No Tabasco on the condiment tray. Water cooler to low for old people and folks with bad backs. Parking can be a nightmare unless you live near or are a bus-​catching tourist. Have a kick ass steak and eggs. Palama Meat market is just around the corner.

VALUE BREAKFAST. Large portions. Wonderful service. Kid friendly. Sucky parking.
FOOD
Fried rice, bacon, and over easy eggs. Filling and decent. Not the best I’ve tasted, but it was perfect for the price! Next time I’ll try the famous Kim Chee fried rice. I also ordered the french toast and breakfast plate for the kids. They thoroughly enjoyed it and there still was left over! Ho, kanak attack! They also have some wonderful crepes and omeletes. They also have lunch and a catering menu.
ENVIRONMENT
Located in Kalihi near Tamashiro market. Drive slowly, there is a small little sign. Cute, small space. Clean. Wooden tables & chairs. Cool pictures. Parking is scarce. Street parking only. Car pool, phone order, or tag team with someone.
SERVICE
Candi is friendly and personable. She stops by the tables and asks if you are doing okay or need anything. Food came out fairly quick.
CONCLUSION
Coming back again for more breakfast and to also try their lunch menu! If I can find parking…

Overall impression:
I liked the place. Not incredibly impressed, but very solid.
Average price (breakfast): $ 5
(Lunch): $ 7 – 8
Positives:
–reasonably cheap
–Nice ambience
–the server presents your food to you professionally
–good eats
–great customer service
Negatives:
–parking can be tough (metered street parking)
Was really looking forward to trying this place because of all the great reviews. Also, I really like cheap eats.
Came here on a Tuesday morning about 9am. Had to park a block or so away at the meters. Sort of expected it, though.
I really liked the ambience of the place. I know that outside the place is a bit sketch at night but in the day it’s not so bad and the inside had some nice tables set up and it seemed pretty clean.
I ordered the breakfast special. My friend got the crepes. It was a bit more expensive than I thought (~$ 10 total for both meals) but I understand that the place needs to make some money.
I was very impressed when the server came out and opened up the styrofoam container to show us the food. It added to the experience, I thought. The food was good, although the crepes were really sweet and there was less of it than I had expected.
Overall, I liked this place. It was very good, solid. I would come here again, but not necessarily dying to come back.

«What have you done for me lately»
The clichéd phrase heard by many a harried worker bee. So what does this have to do with Candi’s? I have been there a couple of times and have never been disappointed. This is one of my go-​to breakfast places and you always get great food, service and portions, always consistent.
Yes, the many positive postings about Candi’s are true. Candi herself is genuinely a very nice person and you could only wish that all dining establishments could have owners, greeters, servers and cashiers that were as friendly and attentive as Candi.
As has been mentioned, they cook the orders from scratch so sometimes it may take longer than may be the case at other places. So does this translate to ono grinds? Yep! Have ordered the Kim Chee fried rice with two over medium eggs. More often than not when I order over medium eggs they usually never quite come out right. Here at Candi’s they were spot on. The Kim Chee fried rice was great as well. Spam, green onions and rice mixed with a helping of Kim Chee fried up in sesame seed oil made for just the right amount of heat and a very enjoyable meal. Have the fried rice plate with Portuguese Sausage and you have the perfect breakfast combination with over medium eggs. Mmmmm…
Yeah, the parking can be challenging as is the case with other great hole-​in-​the walls like Rays, Local Boys Café, etc. but like the others, persistence, patience and a little bit of luck will pay off. Candi’s is da real deal and should be considered a «go to» grinds destination.

There are Unilocal bias for the really unfriendly/​friendly restaurant owners. For example, Chinese restaurants, you have really look to see the reviews to see if the food is good and if the bad ratings are for the haughty attitude (which is sad to say the norm).
Then we have the other side of the spectrum, like Opal Thai Food with a 4.5 star average rating with a super friendly owner. Sorry to say the food is ok and not really reflective of the rating.
This is also the case with Candi’s Café, very friendly owner who goes the extra mile to make you feel welcomed. This review is only a reflection of the food and bring back some realistic expectations.
We ordered the kim chee fried rice ($ 6.75) and it was ok. They used the kim chee juice and don’t really have pieces of kim chee and a lot of spam. Before their prices increases, it was a great bargain, now it’s priced about right.
The fried noodles with teriyaki chicken ($ 6.75) was ok also. The teriyaki sauce was way too sweet. Noodles were a bit broken but the taste was good, not too greasy.
Note: this more of a take out place as there are very few chairs. You would have to find street parking and could be difficult at times.

Small Place, but the food is just Great. Came here with my GF for breakfast/​brunch. Everything on the menu is reasonably cheap. I had the KimChee Fried Rice & Eggs (over medium), they cooked the eggs perfectly, just how I like it. Meaning they didnt break the yoke. Kim Chee Fried rice was good, it was a new taste for me, but I found it to be very enjoyable for breakfast.
My GF got the Breakfast plate, which came with Rice, 2 eggs, and a choice of meat (She choose spam) Both of our meals + Drinks came to less than $ 15.
Candi was very welcoming, she greeted us as we were ordering, and while we were dining, she came around and asked each customers how everything was. A very personal Owner. Would most likely make a visit back if I was ever to go back to Oahu.
#Mahalo Candi.

Winnas Winnas, breakfast for dinnaz? Haha I wish!
This place is extremely the best, cheap, hole-​some hole in the wall place you can get for a great breakfast!
Thanks to my fellow Unilocalers, a friend and I shared the kimchee fried rice, over medium eggs, and bacon. The portion size is huge! Who would of thought splitting the cost would make it priceless… no literally, this place will not empty out your wallet, but it does make you extremely full.
Aside from the not so spicy, tasteful, kimchee fried rice… the service is all around sweet, caring, and local :)
There are seating available, a couple of 4 seaters and 2 seaters. However, the place is a bit small but people are always coming and going, taking out, or eating in. Trust me, you’ll find a spot to eat! The only thing I’d be worried about is parking.
Candi’s is located on a busy roadway in Kalihi, yes there is street parking available, but it may require you to walk or cross the busy street.
It’s well worth it!
I can’t speak for their lunch menu, but brah… breakfast is killaz and you’ll have enough for dinner :)

Great hole in the wall place for some cheap and delicious food.
First of all I must say the lady that works there (I believe she’s the owner) is the sweetest person you will ever meet. I’ve never received such great service in my life!
Now moving on to the food. We ordered the Kimchee fried rice with over easy eggs and their banana crepes. The Kimchee fried rice was awesome. Kimchee taste wasn’t too strong which I liked because the others I’ve tasted were pretty much drenched in Kimchee soup. Candi’s fried rice had pieces of Portuguese sausage and spam which was another plus. We didn’t even have to order any other sides with that. Now on to the banana crepes. I’m supposedly on a diet but I couldn’t resist. It was so delicious. Simple yet so good! It tasted a lot like banana foster which I love. Can’t wait to try what else is on the menu as well as their specials.

Best hidden breakfast spot!!! Go!
Stop looking… And Go!
Ps you’re welcome!

118 five star reviews? Something’s going on here…
Turns out, a lot is going on. The best customer Service, best value, and damn good (yup, it’s that good) food.
Went to sleep with my mind set someplace else. Woke up feeling like trying something new for breakfast and Candi’s turned up on Unilocal.Decided to make the trip into town and I’m glad I did. Not only was the food good, but it proves service isn’t dead.
My wife ordered a crêpe (sweet, soft, and thick, she says) and a kimchee fried rice with eggs. Everything was fresh and the taste reflected it — don’t mind the little wait, it’s worth it. Candi’s brought our food out and even remembered my name (first time here, came up in passing), and opened our plates to show us the food. I think this is the first time someone has done this?!
Candi was always smiling and incredibly friendly. At the end of our meal, I was curious — was our waitress Candi (there were many pictures on wall thanking Aunty Candi and Uncle Eddie)? She said yes, and pointed out her entire staff. It’s on my list for next weekend, and will have to try lunch too.
Candi’s Café isn’t just great, but it’s a sound reminder that good people and good service is out there.

* I WANT CANDI’S* (My Unilocal Lyrics)
I know a woman who’s caring and sweet
She’s so nice, she can’t be beat
She’s got everything on the menu i desire
Set’s my hungry stomach on fire
I WANT CANDI’S
I WANT CANDI’S
I WANT CANDI’S
I WANT CANDI’S
Go to see her when the sun comes up
Ain’t no finer café in town
You’re my choice, what the doctor ordered
So sweet, you make my mouth water
I WANT CANDI’S
I WANT CANDI’S
I WANT CANDI’S
I WANT CANDI’S
Candi’s Café in kalihi, there’s nothing better
But i love Candi’s because the food is super stellar
Some day soon i’ll make you mine
Then i’ll eat at Candi’s all the time
I WANT CANDI’S
I WANT CANDI’S
I WANT CANDI’S
I WANT CANDI’S
Candi’s in the morning time
Candi’s in the hot sunshine
Candi baby can’t you see
All i want to do is eat at Candi’s
Candi’s in the morning time
Candi’s in the hot sunshine
Candi baby can’t you see
All i want to do is eat at Candi’s
(Hey, Hey, Hey)
All i want to do is eat at Candi’s
(Hey, Hey, Hey)
All i want to do is eat at Candi’s
What can i say about Candi’s? Another hole in the wall gem in Kalihi and run by one of the sweetest if not the sweetest owner ever Candi. That name sure suits her right because i have never seen someone who is as passionate as she is and someone who has a smile on her face no matter how busy she gets. And all i have to say now is that she is going to have quite a following now with all this exposure she is getting but you know what? She deserves it because if you look at her prices for food here, it’s like something out of a time warp because the prices here at Candi’s are super affordable and her food all though it takes a little time is well worth the wait because it’s that good.
I love owners who are genuine and Candi is all that and a bag of chips. I asked her why the prices here at Candi’s Café are so reasonable and she told me she has four children and she understands how expensive it can be to have kids and go out to eat so that is her reasoning for her unbelievably cheap prices for food here and that right there is the reason why i tell my hotel guests and fellow co workers to try this place. I have even told one of my fellow Unilocalers Darrell and Sophie P to eat here and they have been here more than once and that makes me a very happy person.
I have only been here for breakfast and i have to say you have to try the French Toast and Banana Crepes which are stuffed with Nutella. It’s a calorie buster but it taste oh so good. Also the Fried Rice is delicious as well. I order it with a side of Bacon and Spam.
In ending, all i can say is i support local businesses that truly think about their customers well being and with an owner like Candi, their family business is gonna thrive because it all starts with a friendly smile when you first walk into this hole in the wall gem in Kalihi and you will leave this place with a full stomach and money to fill up your gas tank as well. Thanks again Candi for keeping your prices so low and i hope you stay in business for a long, long, time…

Second time here at this place and I’ve always said first impressions are the lasting impressions and this place is no exception.
The food here is great for a small hole in the wall diner. Kim chee fried rice is excellent. Not overly spicy and a good size portion too. Breakfast plate is great too. You cant go wrong with the prices either.
Banana and Strawberry Crepes are soft and sweet. Great desert after your breakfast. I think the banana is my favorite here. Nutella in the middle and the banana softened in brown sugar and poured over the top. Super ono!
It’s easy to see that customers service and satisfaction is a priority here. A greeting when you enter and a goodbye when you leave. In between you have the owner Candi, bringing your food to the table and stopping by to see how your meal is going and thanking you for coming by. last I remember, that was done in finer dining restaurants. But to find that here is a very pleasant surprise. Thank you Candi for the great hospitality.
Street parking only. You’ll luck out if you find parking right in front. Mahalo brudda Ramfis B. for recommending this place to try out.

Candi’s gets consistently high reviews so I felt obligated to see why. I stopped in today after voting to grab some takeout.
Candi’s is a little hole in the wall on King street at the edge of Kalihi. It has a pretty local feeling to it with screen swinging doors and a counter window to order through. The service was exceptionally friendly as well.
I ordered a teri cheeseburger and the sweet and spicy chicken. The portions given were very generous and the prices were really cheap. Both dishes were decent but not anything special in my opinion.
Overall, I liked Candi’s for their prices, serving size, and friendly service. Unfortunately, as far as the food goes, I have to say it is no more than average. Putting it all together I think Candi’s is «A-​OK.»

I love Candi’s Café! The owner Candi is the sweetest person, which makes this café so inviting! I believe her husband’s name is Eddie and he is one of the cooks.
The prices are more than reasonable and portions large. The food tastes like your Aunty made it for you and the service is like you’re family.
I believe parking is on the street only (metered, so bring coins).
I’ll definitely be back!

1. Verdict/​Value: Good food meets low prices. If only they could have met in a place with more parking! Highly recommended for those looking for good local food on the cheap.
2. Food: It’s pretty generous in size: the Breakfast Plate ($ 5.95) this morning featured two scoops of kimchee fried rice, sunny side up eggs, and pork sausage patties (think sausage mcmuffin without the mcmuffin!). Big enough for two to share, the kimchee fried rice is worth taking home if you’re eating for one.
The Strawberry Crepes ($ 4.25) were the (relative) low point of breakfast: the crêpe texture and whipped cream were really good, but one is left wondering exactly what was in the strawberry mix: frozen strawberries thawed out no doubt and fried perhaps to create the gooey sauce. Fresh strawberries would likely save the dish, even if it meant charging more.
The French Toast ($ 4.25) was a treat: three thick Texas toast slices of French toast goodness with warmed-​up butter and syrup. It’s hard to have a bad day at work when starting the morning with French toast that’s well done.
3. Service: Candi is your Mom. Your Aunt. Your older sister. Whatever she is to you, she’s friendly and patient. So placing your order (interestingly, on an iPad with fancy receipts… in a place that looks chaotic and dimly lit behind the counter) and getting your food delivered to your table is great. Thankfully, the food is worth waiting for, because with one chef (Candi’s husband /​son) working the constant busyness of this place, you’re going to be waiting. Our three dishes took a full 26 minutes (according to their clock on the wall). That’s kind of long by any restaurant standard. Those driving around famished looking for food had better look elsewhere or hope they aren’t cooking for anyone else here!
4. Atmosphere: It’s really hard to offer good food at low prices while having a stellar environment — and so Candi’s is not surprisingly basic: the lighting /​pictures /​catering containers used for decorations are different. You’ll be lucky to find meter parking on the street nearby. In the end, you’re really here for Candi’s friendly attitude and the good food — and that maybe all of the atmosphere that matters!