Hermz BBQ

This place is simply a cafeteria in the Board of Education. They have 3 – 5 specials a day. Today was taco salad and a couple of others. I don’t know where this name came from because no one we talked to in the building had any idea it was called anything but the cafeteria. This is a cafeteria, like a big one with several different vendors. This is like school lunch, but smaller and fewer options. We did not eat because we were craving Filipino food and that isn’t even a part of their regular offerings. Boooo!

Hermz BBQ, Permanently closed effective 7÷31÷2014. Express Café replaced it effective 8÷1÷2014.

best baked ribs!!! why spend a lot o $ at a place that gives you dried ribs when you can go to hermz and get it for $ 7!!! awesome food!!!

I ordered food for my son’s birthday party. Food was great! Pancit malabon, ribs and cassava cake were awesome! I would definitely order food again!
Thanks Blanca!

It’s funny that this place is actually it’s own restaurant because when I was trying to check in i was looking for «Cafeteria,» but never-​mind the interior décor of Hermz Café. Of all the hole-​in-​the-​wall places that I’ve ever been to, this place has got to take the cake. This restaurant/​cafeteria is located on the 4^th floor of the queen liluokalani building (across the street from the queen’s medical center on Punchbowl st), which is also known as the building that houses the board of education. Being that I work in this area and only have a 30 minute lunch break which pretty much limits my ability for food options, I was ever so grateful to find this place!
TIP: ORDER AHEAD!
We came here to eat the ribs, and unfortunately they only had ONE order of ribs left by the time we arrived (it was only about 12pm). I guess you’ve got to order ahead of time if you really want to make sure you get a plate! I split the order with my co-​worker by opting for a half order fo ribs over salad. I had also been debating over their fried chicken which, which I had never eaten before. I think the owner must have over heard me because right before she handed me over my order of ribs, she put a piece of fried chicken on it for me to sample!
VERDICT?
The ribs were so moist, and tender! They fell right off of the bone. The barbeque was on the sweeter side, prepared with more of a local flair to it. I really enjoyed the ribs, but what I enjoyed even more-​so, was that one piece of fried chicken on my plate! I almost wish that I had ordered it instead! If you are a «chicken-​skin» lover, I reccommend that you get the fried chicken here. It is so flavorful, and crispy. YUMMMM. She also gave us a teriyaki sauce to pour over the fried chicken, but i chose not too because the chicken was already so good without it!
The owners of this place are so nice! They really go out of their way to make you feel like you are a special customer. Today the carfeteria was pretty hot and humid because the electricity/​AC was broken. Just as we were finishing our meals, she brought over delicious smoothie treats for the 5 of us, on the house.
I will definitely be back here when I need a break from the dreary cafeteria of my work place.

My brothers and I were spoiled by grand parents and a mom that cooked excellent
Filipino food. We had given up trying to find a restaurant to go to that would be a tasty experience. We recently planned a party for our mom and so wanted a Filipino caterer! Wow… we found Herm’z through Unilocal!My sister-​in-​law and I went three times in one week to try all of their daily specials. Everything was authentic and cooked in the old style… fresh, great seasoning, not greasy or oily. Herm’z did the catering and the food was such a hit we had to send out a note giving everyone their website. The basics… pancit, both malabon and bihon. We grew up with bihon but fell in love with the savoriness of the malabon sauce. And it had the garnishees on top that made the whole thing special. The lechon is out of this world… with a chopped tomato dark sauce, tender and succulent. The fried chicken is as our grandfather made it. Not greasy but with crispy, crispy skin, nicely seasoned. Even when the chicken cooled down, it wasn’t oily. We had a pumpkin, green beans and tofu dish — the veggies were fresh tasting and not cooked to mush, not overly garlicky to complement the adobo and other rich dishes. The pork guisantes was a hit and went first. We also ordered their salad which has avocado making it a level above the ordinary. For dessert, we really like bibingka bico and when I heard they put latik (coconut milk crumb) on top, we were sold. I haven’t seen that for years because of the large quantity of coconut milk it takes to make. Blanca is extraordinarily pleasant to work with and she and Joseph work so very hard! I know Filipino food and really appreciate that they take the time and cook authentically. If you want lunch, better get there before 11:30 or order take out because everything runs out. We did try the ribs and they are great — but more of an American style. We went for the Filipino and consider Herm’z a diamond in the rough! Many locals don’t know about Filipino food because you just can’t get it unless you do family cooking. Herm’z was a big hit and won over everyone at our gathering. No complaints… only bravos!

The best fried chicken, BBQ ribs and lechon! I crave their food :). Their warm peanut butter cookies are to die for!

As others have mentioned… their ribs are awesome.
This is a great little unknown spot for folks working along the upper Punchbowl St area.
They also have a good deal on a breakfast bowl. For $ 3 or $ 3.50…(I forget the exact price), you get fried rice, an egg, and choice of meat. It’s filling and the taste is not bad.

I highly recommend the BBQ pork ribs and the fried chicken. The ribs are very soft and tasty and the chicken is moist with a good crust.

Love Hermz café! They serve Filipino and Chamorro food and the prices and quantity are awesome. They have fenedene in separate sauce containers so that you can douse your rice or pancit with it ^_^
Their ribs are served on Thursdays and I usually call in my order because they sell out by 12pm. It’s $ 6 for a mini plate and $ 7 for a regular. Everything I’ve tried is excellent and in the morning they serve longanisa! I’m so happy I only work right across from them (Hermz café is located in the DOE building on the 4^th floor).
Tried the roast pork (lechon) today and the skin was crunchy without the meat being greasy. Manong Blanca poured a tomato, onion, soy sauce over the meat and it complimented the pork perfectly! My mini plate was $ 6 and was heavy and very filling.
They also cater if you’d like to call in to order food for your event!

I love Hermz Café!
I’m glad we have them in our building. For Filipinos who are reading this and you’re craving for Pancit Malabon, here it is… it tastes just like what we have back home. I always order this when I have potluck and as expected, my friends love it too. Don’t forget to try their BBQ ribs too, its the best in town and their fried chicken is soooo cruncy and very tasty.
The owner, Blanca and Joseph are very nice couple! I give you guys thumbs up!

Hermz Café has consistently excellent food cooked and served by the nicest and most generous couple: Blanca and Joseph.
They have a lot of very good weekly lunch specials but standouts for me are the Baked BBQ Ribs (always available on Tuesdays and Thursdays and very popular), Pancit Malabon (8 hours to make the sauce!), Panko Chicken (good with or without curry sauce), Calamari Adobo (we can never duplicate this dish), and Chicken Long Rice Soup (the best). There are always 3 — 4 daily lunch specials but in addition to regular items on their menu, you’ll see other entrees like Beef with Bitter Melon, Tuna Casserole, Cuban Sandwich, Choi Sum with Tofu, Chicken Alfredo, Ground Beef Stew, Eggplant Adobo, Fried Chicken, Pork Lau Lau, Lechon, Thai Style Long Beans and Pumpkin, Pork Wrap with Ceviche Salad, Meatloaf, Kalbi Short Ribs, Home Style Cheeseburger, and other new items they add to the menu. Regular plate lunches range from $ 6.00 — $ 7.00, mini plates cost $ 5.00 — $ 5.75 and the price for a large soup is $ 3.00. Portions are large — sometimes their mini plates look like regular plates at other restaurants. Blanca is also very flexible — just tell her substitutions or combinations you’d like to make and she will accommodate your request. I have also ordered entrees a la carte to take home for dinner. At Hermz, the prices are always reasonable, the food is always good, and the portions are huge.
When it’s not busy, Blanca and sometimes even Joseph (when he’s not busy in the kitchen) goes around, chats with customers and gets feedback about the food. This is definitely not your ordinary cafeteria. I enjoy eating at Hermz and have even taken out-​of-​town guests here! Best value in Honolulu!

This café is located in the Queen Liliuokalani Building on Miller Street. It’s a State of Hawaii Building that houses both the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services. I do my business with the Department of Human Services from time to time in this building, so I hang out at this café to kill time. Located on the 4^th floor, they cater to the staff that works in the building. They have a weekly menu that offers a pretty good range of food entrees and items that are reasonably priced and good portions too.
The set up of the café is basically 4 tables with a TV. Like a simple version of a Vietnamese restaurant, but much more simpler. Picture a McDonald’s, but minus the fast food aspect. This basic café is pretty cool and is good for what they have to offer. I did not know they catered until I asked. The owners of the café are really nice and I got to talk to them once when they had a lull in the crowds. They also offer a variety of snacks too, if you are not into ordering actual food. Almost like a mini 7 – 11 in a way and they do have soda also. A definite hole in the wall for sure.
Support local!
B+

You have to try their Pancit Malabon, it is as authentic as you can get here in Honolulu!!! If you are from Manila then this dish is a MUST try, it tastes just like what they make back home :). I ordered a pan for New Year’s Eve and my family loved it!
Their ribs is a fall-​off-​the-​bone deliciousnesss on a plate!!! I am drooling just thinking about it. Moist and tender. YUMMY!
Can’t wait to try other dishes on my next visit!
The owners Blanca and her husband are very nice and helpful. I am planning to order some pans for our next company gathering.