Don Quijote

Don’t let the fish dept clean your fish. This is the 2^nd time I tell them to clean, scale, and cut the tail off my Akule. After cooking it I find it’s not scaled. Terrible!!! Poor customer service. When I complain the just say sorry! They don’t care. Train the people Last time I buy fish from You!

I love Don Quijote, although for me it will always be Daiei for me since that’s what it was called when I was a kid, and it’ll always be Holiday mart for my mom. :)
It always has EVERY Japanese thing I could ever need (and some other Asian goodies) plus the food court outside is amazing!
The little car accessory/​plush store inside Daiei at checkout used to be a Sanrio store when I was younger and I spent SO much time there. I miss it but Don Quijote is still pretty much the same as always and never disappoints! :)

I’m giving them 5 stars based on the amount of unique merchandise that they carry.
For us oldies we remember this store as Holiday Mart or Daiei. It’s always been a unique store.
It’s kind of like a Japanese Walmart but better. If you’ve been wondering where to buy toilet drops (the drops that you use right before you go number 2) You can find the drops here, they are located near the toilet paper section.
There are too many unique items to list but I’ll name a few. All kinds of Japanese candies and treats, rice cookers, clothes, tourist stuff, groceries, bakery items, fresh fish, wine, beer and a lot more!
The lines are long and the cashiers seem over worked. Be nice to the cashiers, I feel bad for them. They have a lot of lanes open but they are always busy.
It’s a cool store. Even if you don’t buy anything you’ll have a good time roaming around and checking everything out!

Whether you call it Don Quijote, Daiei, or Holiday Mart, it’ll always be the best Japanese Supermarket in the Islands (ok, Marukai is awesome too).
Don Quijote is your typical supermarket, with one twist, there are a ton of (obviously) Japanese products — from different foods, sauces, meats and fish, household goods, electronics, and even some Japanese clothing — you’ll find almost anything you want/​need here.
Price wise, you can find some really amazing deals as well, for instance, they have (IMO) one of the better meat departments compared to other supermarkets; one of the few places you can get a really nice tray of teri-​style beef, sliced to the right thickness, and then even thinner shabu shabu style beef… both for about $ 4-​$ 5 a tray. Not bad at all.
Their fish department is top notch; frozen saba for super cheap, all kinds of salmon, ahi, tako, and other sashimi all trayed and ready, and their poke department is leaps and bounds better than Foodland.
The best selection however goes to their liquor department… not only do they carry all Asian beers (Japanese, Korean, Chinese, etc.), but they have a killer assortment of sake, sochu, umeshu, and all the standard American hards liquors and a wide array of wine. Their beer prices are second to NO ONE where one of the big three Japanese brands (Kirin, Sapporo, and Asahi) are ALWAYS on sale at $ 7.99 for a 12-​pack cans… tell me that’s not awesome.
So if you crave all things Japanese… you’ve found your Shangrila. Oh, and there are a bunch of nice restaurants and food stands lining the outside of the market… perfect for lunch or an early dinner.

Chinese restaurant of food court outdoors closer to Walmart. Roast duck soup «thin» noodle. Veggies from head cabbage only but not bad for $ 8.01 total. Very large

OKAY! I’ve been here way more then enough times to write a review and I haven’t until today lol.
Here are some of the reasons why I LOVE Don Quijote aka Daiei or Holiday mart (if your old school you already know!)
Produce– Fresh and great deals, this is my go too place for fresh watercress or some fresh veggies! Especially the eggplant! I find that DQ has pretty much the cheapest eggplant around (unless your buying from a farmers market).
Meat– All I can say is you can’t beat the prices for meat! Well all depends on the sale. The meat quality that they have is great though, If your looking to purchase more shabushabu thinly sliced meat this is a good place to come. Frozen section for meats as well good stuff!
Bakery– DONKI BREAD (cornbread) is DELISH! That’s mainly one of my favorite things to get from the bakery section! They do sell pies and cakes and all those other goodies as well.
Nihon snacks– I also must say I am a big junk food eater, especially when it comes to Japanese candy! You can find choke Meiji candy here and tons more goodies! I am totally obsessed and well words aren’t enough you’ll just have to come in and see for yourself!
Noodles– If your looking for a certain kind of noodle DQ must have it! They sell my favorite Sapporo Ichiban Chow fun noodles in packs for only $ 3 they also sell single pack noodles as well. My new love is the tonkatsu ramen noodle: D $ 4 for a pack of 6.
Electronics– The guys who work the electronic department are very un-​friendly, but I won’t knock it a star. I always know what I’m looking for so I don’t need to ask them questions, they do have a bit of a selection especially if your looking for phone accessories.
Beauty– Now this is my favorite part of this store! Yesssuh! Lashes are a must! I always stock up on them usually they cost around less then $ 2. Red cherry brand is the best! They also have a Nihon section of makeup and body care, everything that I’ve purchased was awesome, the hair care, hair color and lashes, especially facial cleansing items from Japan cosmetic lines were super efficient and I still purchase them till this day! As far as I’m concerned DQ and Marukai sometimes even Nijiya will carry a few of the items but DQ has way more of a selection as far as Nihon cosmetics.
Auto section– They have selection from Nanoskin to Malco, prices are okay, but I’ll stick to where I buy my supplies from. The car air fresheners however are
we usually get the ones from Japan «white peach» smells divine! They also have some cute little accessories for your car as well. Not to mention car seat covers and matts and also tint as well!
Plastic bag ban! Make sure you bring your re-​usable bags! DQ does CHARGE for BAGS!!!
So all in all, I love Don Quijote for everything that it is! I know it’s a little ghetto inside but hey for the price and for the products I get I could care less! As long as people Are safe I’ll continue to shop here till the day I die lol! (Maybe that’s a tad bit dramatic but I will always be a customer here lol)

Each store that has been here, Holiday Mart, Daiei, and now Don Quijote, has always been the place to go to if you need anything from straw mats to fresh fish for dinner. Seriously, Don Quijote has almost anything you can think of… and then more.
Whenever I go here I like to have a flexible list of what I need. It’s pretty crowded/​cluttered in here so it’s best to know what you’re getting into before you dive in. In the past I’ve shopped here for produce, groceries, household items, organizational items, and treats. My most recent visit I was home with my boyfriend and we stopped by here to look for Green tea kit kats, as recommended by a store associate at Longs. They have a ton of Japanese candies here so if you are looking for something a little unique and are unable to find it at your normal grocery store, definitely check here. They also have almost every flavor of tim tams too! Oh and I’ll also like to add that their papayas are on point! My good friend Melissa got me a few cuz they were on special and they were gorgeous and delicious!
What’s also really nice about this store that they’ve kept from Holiday mart and daiei, is that in the back towards the frozen items in the corner they’ve kept the area a sort of grab and go food area. They have a bunch of bentos you can take with you that are really great if you need a fast lunch that’s not fast food. They even have hot items you can order too.
You could pretty much spend the whole day here if you wanted and probably end up walking out with a bunch of items you didn’t need or realized that you needed and you convinced yourself that you do. Also, remember to bring your own bag here, it’ll cost you for that plastic bag! What we did is we bought one of those printed reusable cooler bags they had a bunch of at the front and I brought a reusable bag with me. Save the environment and a few coins while you’re at it!

It’s big, it got a lot of stuff, just way to crowded and I wish they have their pathway a bit wider. Things a pretty pricy here, but they got various selection of goods if you are really picky.

Cool place with Japanese items. Obviously the electronics have a huge mark-​up but there are some good random finds, especially with Japanese food which I love, especially the candy.
But… what… in… the hell is going on with the ceilings? Instead of replacing tiles, they string plastic under them? These are all over the store but here are some pix of what I mean…

In Japan, this is like their dollar store. Here in HI, that is not the case! I’ve never seen such crazy expensive rice cookers. So the reason I come here is that it’s close to my house and is open 24h. Plus, the bento boxes are discounted late at night and are legit! Wish they’d open one in KS:)

Hmm… I am extremely surprised that Don Quijote on Kaheka has 4 stars.
First off, I would rate the staff here 5 stars. I don’t know how they do it, but the management here must be pretty dang good or really know how to pick em. And, employees are everywhere. Need help finding something or checking if something is in stock? You’re bound to find an employee in one of the MANY aisles here, so don’t fret.
BUT (yes, all caps) minus 2 stars because, really?! Their produce quality is horrendous. In the last 2 years or so, I’ve noticed that it’s hard to find «good looking» fruits and vegetables… they’re always bruised and gross looking. Today I went grocery shopping and needed garlic, a simple ingredient. Almost all of the cloves had mold on them. Ew?! I have also struck out on tomatoes for the past 3 weeks… always gross looking… so no tomatoes for me… I’d pay more a pound for produce that’ll actually last me a couple of days.
I agree that DQ has all the amazing Hawaii and Asian stuff. Stuff you didn’t know you needed until you found it at DQ. But honestly, if there was another grocery store within the same walking distance, I would never come back to DQ UNLESS I was craving some Japanese snacks or needed to send Hawaii Care packages to my relatives on the mainland.

A awesome place to shop and be amused
DQ has it all; groceries, bakery, clothing, appliances, electronics, bank, dry cleaner, wide selection of Poke and even a post office. I stay here for hours when I shop at DQ.
I love this place as it reminds me a Asian style Target Super Center

The Do’s and Dont’s of Don Quijote in Kaheka
DO’S
1. DO look at all the cute Japanese tourists that come here
2. DO look at the expiration date on items that are on sale
3. DO look out for the old asian lady who cuts in front of you at the register
4. DO watch where you park your car here. Lot’s of old asian men and women come here
5. DO not buy Japanese sweets here unless you want to pay a 300 percent markup
6 DO come here to buy omiyage for your out of town guest
7. DO try the half chicken here. Pretty good
8. DO look closely at the fresh seafood here. Sketchy sometimes
9. DO look for great deals on Japanese Sake and Soju
10. DO I love Don Quijote? Yes i do
DONT’S
1. DON’T know how long food items have been on display here
2. DON’T think the Poke is all that great here even if it’s cheap
3. DON’T know why this place is named after a spanish person
4. DON’T like the meat selection here
5. DON’T come here during Senior Citizen’s discount day
6. DON’T park your car too far away from here. A lot of car break in’s
7. DON’T ever wear a red polo shirt here
8. DON’T think i’ve seen more than ten haole’s in all my visits here
9. DON’T think this place is as organized as the one in Osaka
10.DON’T come here during peak hours… So Hectic

There’s something about Don Qui that’s quite appealing: good selection of produce, wide variety of goods, availability of Asian items, many great food vendors, open 24 hours, and convenient location. Many remember this store by its former names: Daiei and Holiday Mart.
It can be a bit chaotic to navigate: first, the parking lot can be a scream (parking stalls are pretty close together); and second, it can be hard to figure out where things are if you’re not familiar with the store’s layout. Souvenirs are conveniently located at the front of the store for tourists. It does feel like you’re on a treasure hunt of sorts, since the aisle leads customers from the only store entrance straight toward the produce section. This works great if you’re looking for produce.
Lines at checkout can be long but there are many registers open. The express lanes (10 items or less) on the left side are usually open. The cashiers and stock personnel are pretty helpful, which makes the trip worthwhile.
There used to be a store in Kailua, which I miss dearly (it’s a Target now).

I love wandering around this store. (I prefer Waipahu location, but this is almost as good) i always find goodies I really don’t need, but are good to have on hand.
Parking can be a pain, but I’m usually not in any hurry, so I wait.
The restrooms are located on the mauka wall past Central Pacific Bank. Women’s room has several stalls and is very clean.
I really like the meat department as they stock the freshest, tastiest cuts of meat at very reasonable prices. (However, the meat cutters are not the brightest. I rang the buzzer and waited. A guy came out, helped an employee and walked back in. «Uh, hello, that was my service call, not yours, you irritating little insect!)
The produce department is quite large, filled with all sorts of exotic items such as Dragonfruit, purple cauliflower, and several types of mushrooms.
Sale signs are clearly displayed at the product, so no guessing. There is always staff around to ask for help.

Love this cheap, local, all-​in-​one, 24-​hour super grocery store, with many eateries around it.
You can get anything from make-​up, small kitchen appliances, to groceries & ready to eat loco moco, and miso fish.
Prices are more than reasonable. $ 100 dollars can buy enough food for two for one week. Staffs here are friendly and helpful. There are many fun foreign products from Asia to check out.
Just outside attached to Don Quijote, there are KFC, coffee and juice shops, an Indian curry shop, Japanese Raman and Chinese BBQs.
Very local, cheap and convenient supermarket.

This is where I come to stock up on my favourite Japanese cosmetics. They stock lashes and makeup from Dolly Wink, Diamond Lash, Rose of Versailles and many other popular brands. The best part is, the prices are pretty close to the Japanese retail price; so I can get my old favourites without mark-​up or paying for shipping. They also stock Japanese shower and bath items such as shampoos, body wash, and popular hair dye such as Palty.
Aside from that, the affectionately called «Donki» is a mecca for ex-​pats from Japan and those who just miss the creature comforts of living in Nippon. They stock asian home goods, electronics, and they have a sprawling selection of Japanese groceries and asian produce.
Donki has been likened to «An Asian Wal-​Mart» and that’s pretty much exactly what it is. No matter what you are looking for, Donki probably has it.

Updated (didn’t realize this wasn’t posted and was in my draft section. Oops!):
The name is a bit deceiving. You would think that you would be shopping at a Spanish store, but this place is everything Asian, especially, Japanese! I love shopping here! And not just for Asian groceries, but all kinds of groceries or house items! The prices are sometimes WAY cheaper than your typical named grocery stores. It reminds me of some of the old school stores in Asia. :)
The ONLY con is a super rude employee named, Daniel. Everyone else is nice, but this guy was super sarcastic and a bit of a jerk that belittles you if you ask ANY question about the store. I was shocked on what I heard! When reporting this to the management, they just brushed it off. Maybe they get daily complaints about this guy and are just use to it. I was so irate, because this place is amazing otherwise — except for this very unpleasant incident.
I will continue to shop here, but just hope that this guy gets some kind of repremend for the horribly offensive customer service he provides. Because that should NOT represent such a great store like this!

This place is awesome. A must visit!
I was able to get a bulk of my gifts for family and friends from here. Their prices are much more reasonable than some of the other stores I visited in Hawaii. Don Quijote is basically an Asian Walmart, it’s got everything under the sun. Take a look at some of my pics to get a better idea. Employees are friendly and I love that you can take pics at this location. This place is huge. It’s aisles and aisles of snacks, kitchenware, produce, house items, car stuff, seafood, ready made meals, clothes, luggage, bath products, souvenirs, etc. We found a lot of cool stuff that I don’t usually come across back home.
There is an outdoor food court at this location, everything looked delicious. Once you’ve purchased your items, hold on to your receipt. You will have to show it to an employee before leaving the store.
Mind Blown.

Ahh, Don Quijote, where do I begin?
I have loved this store throughout the years, through its changes. As a kid, Holiday Mart was the bomb, Daiei followed. Now Don Quijote is here, and it may possibly be the best of the three.
It’s almost as if they plucked one of the stores straight from Japan (Don Quijote is a Japanese chain store), and dropped it right onto Kaheka St.
I would have to say it’s actually a little LESS busy (on the eyes) than their Japanese counterpart. There is still enough fluorescent, shiny, sparkly, eye popping, completely random stuff to stick out though and keep you interested.
There is a great mix of all things Japanese, mixed in with American stuff, and local Hawaiian. If you can’t find it at Don Q, you probably won’t find it. It’s a store that probably stocks more individual items than Walmart. Soooo many random things you have probably never seen before, and you’re guaranteed to see something you have not only never heard of, but you absolutely need in your life– it’s kinda like a walk-​in Skymall magazine in that sense.
Prices are small kine steep on Japanese products, but that’s the way it goes. If you want Pocky, you will of course pay more than you would in Japan, and if you buy the knockoff Korean brand, you will pay much less. I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for though.
Don Q is a great place of you are in the Ala Moana area, if you are looking for something Japanese, and if you don’t want to make the trip to Nijiya or Marukai.
I always go there when visiting Honolulu, not only to just peruse, but also for the nostalgia, as I have been shopping here since small kid time.