Lynn’s Saimin & Cookie Shop

One of the best mama shops on the island. Good home cooking for a great price. Dont forget to try the cookies!!!

A place to go when you want a cheap but delicious breakfast on the go. They also have lunch plates that are pretty tasty and those cookies that are so scrumptious. It’s busy in the mornings and only street parking.

We were looking for a good saimin place in Honolulu, and decided to try this place for lunch, as the Unilocal info showed they were open for breakfast/​lunch only, not dinner.
We found the place, correctly located on the address. Just a small place on the corner of the block. Parking was a little challenging, as only street parking was available, yet that was mostly full nearby.
We went inside, and the place was very small, and didn’t look that clean. We were OK and willing to try the fried rice breakfast specials mentioned in the Unilocal reviews for $ 4. The current menu listed that as $ 5.25.
Saimin wasn’t on the menu, so we asked the staff there, how much is the Saimin, as the shop was called Lynn’s Saimin and Cookie Shop. The man said they don’t serve Saimin, but go to the Chinese restaurant across the street which serves it. Weird. Then I asked for the cookies which were also greatly mentioned in the Unilocal reviews, but he said they were all out of containers. So no more cookies.
Then we noticed the sign in the window. The Lynn’s Saimin and Cookie Shop sign was still there, but below that was a larger, newer sign saying Luynn’s Okazuya & Hono Ono Cookies. So I guess no more Saimin.
We decided to leave and never ate here (so no official Unilocal review of their food), and disappointed with no Saimin here. We looked at the other Saimin places in our Unilocal search and went to Palace Saimin instead next, only 10 min away. Great place there and I posted a Unilocal review for Palace Saimin.

Just had the Pastele and Laulau plate… soooo ono! Had to buy a bucket of mixed cookies too. Say hi to Lynn and. Tom when you go there. For those older peeps, Lynn is the same establishment that ran the food concession at the race track long long time ago.

COOKIES! COOKIES! COOKIES!
Melt in your mouth cookies!
NOM! NOM! NOM!
Need I say more?
«Me just met you and this is crazy, but you got cookie, so share it maybe?» — Cookie Monster to Carly Rae Jepson
I’ve been coming to Lynn’s Saimin & Cookie Shop for years! Of course, mainly for the cookies, but this place, that is awkwardly located, on a busy tiny road in Pauoa Valley… Also serves one of the best deals on Breakfast and your standard Okazuya finger foods! At lunchtime you can choose local plate lunches like Tripe Stew, Chicken Long Rice, to a Hawaiian Plate! Interesting enough not known for the Saimin!
«Me lost me cookie at the disco.» — Cookie Monster to Diva
I’ve had the Hawaiian Plate before, and it’s not on par with Helena’s or Highway Inn, but for a neighborhood eatery it’s pretty good. My Dad swears by the Tripe Stew! Of course, every local eatery I MUST try the Hamburger Steak and trust me on this one… DO NOT get the Hamburger Steak from here! Unless you’re into the pre-​frozen May’s (?) version. Hence why I had to drop a star! It was so bad I couldn’t finish it! That feeling it might be stuck in you fo dayz if you ate it all?! Ugh! No way! Sorry Lynn! If you really want a winning combo go with the cheap $ 5 breakfasts which is served only in the mornings, and take some cookies to go! That’s a winnahs combo!
And you know what? The cookies here are maybe the BEST ON THE ISLAND!
Mmm the COOKIES is where’s it at! Move over Mrs. Fields! I’ve had every type of cookie here and my favorite is the Chocolate Chip w/​Nuts and the Peanut Butter! IT SERIOUSLY MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH! THAT ONO KINE!
So yes, get down here and do my winning combo. Can’t go wrong! Or, just pickup a bucket of cookies and share it with ME, MYSELF, & Irene! Over the years the prices have gone up some, but you can still get a Fried Rice Breakfast Plate for $ 5, and a bucket of cookies for $ 11 — each bucket contains 50 – 60! I mentioned earlier that I’ve been coming here for years, but only decided to write a review because curious Traci R. encouraged me to do so…
«Ooooh please do write a review!!! And I will DEFINITELY have to visit if it’s melt in your mouth cookies!» — Traci R.
So, in a way, this is dedicated to Shelley, Shal, Emi, Traci and all the secret Cookie Monsters out there…
«Sometimes me think what is love, and then me think love is what last cookie is for. Me give up the last cookie for you.» — Cookie Monster in Love
Almost. Maybe I’ll save the 2^nd to the last one for you!
OVERALL GRADE: 4.0-STARS! (Just avoid the hamburger steak, but overall very solid!)
Unilocal REVIEW #488/​500

Parking is horrendous !!! We had to drive around for about 10 minutes before someone left from the front few road spots.
Finally after getting a parking spot we heading inside! Very tiny little place with about 5 tables. We ordered the breakfast plate. It was good but the eggs were not cooked all the way. We said over medium and the whites were completely raw. My boyfriend ate the eggs. The fried rice was amazing! I’m sure it’s not the healthiest thing because it tasted so good! We even got some food to-​go.
The total was only around $ 8 ! Did I just hear that correctly? Yes! If you’re low on cash you can get a great tasting meal here!
I wish they had an actual parking lot:(

This is my «go-​to» for breakfast. Couldn’t ask for anything more. A true mom and pop, hole-​in-​the-​wall shop! Just love it!!! I always order their breakfast special, ONLY $ 4.00 if you get it with fried rice. It comes with 2 eggs and choice of meat. Of course you can always add on. Oh and did I mention their cookies??? Super «Hono Ono»!!! They’re some of the best cookies on the island, hands down!!!
Untie Lynn, never stop making cookies or your Okazuya. Will always be a fan!!!

I’ve always gone there for breakfast or just to eat chow fun but today I went there for lunch with my family. I got the pastele and beef stew. Lets just say I was not disappointed I was delicious. Its a little hole in the wall kind of place with awesome food and cookies. I highly recommend this place.

Best tripe stew in town! Pastele was amazing! Highly recommended. A total dive hole in the wall place with excellent food!

Ok deli in Pauoa. I heard the roast pork was really good. I had the breakfast special which was a little greasy.

This is the place that people who live around the area knows & comes to often. A true mom & pop shop that has been around since I can remember. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid.
Can’t go wrong with the breakfast plates ! I have forever gotten the fried rice with Portuguese sausage. Yummy, fast & cheap !

Dearest Linda Brown,
Please do not stop making these cookies! I might get pregnant again just to get another tub from my BFF.
Sincerely,
Angela R.
I was gifted a tub of cookie goodness from my BFF. The tag on the cookie bucket read, «To my BFF Happy Belated push gift :)».
Inside this bucket were the legendary cookies. The cookies were simple, no frills but I liked that about them because it was everything you would expect. The tub contained cornflake, chocolate chip, and peanut butter. The chocolate chip and cornflake were more one the crunchy, thinner side while the peanut butter was a thicker cookie. It was nostalgic to see the fork stripes on the peanut butter cookie. Reminded me of «small kid time» when I baked with my big sister.
This review is only for the cookies. I sure hope my BFF and I can grab some food here for some girl time over some yummy food!

Classic mom and pop restaurant which is actually 5 minutes from where I live and this is the first time ordering food here! Thanks to my Unilocal friend Paul C. for pointing this place out.
The cookies live up to the positive reviews given by other Unilocalers. The tube of these cookies ($ 11) is a lot and will last you for a while. A good idea to drop off in your office or a small gift for someone special. It’s thin and crispy, not burnt or overly sweet, not too oily. Suggest that you try the mix you get an idea which is your favorite. It’s a bargain and the quality is comparable to other fancy cookies which will cost you double for the amount you get.
The breakfast is dirt cheap, you get a good and filling meal for less than $ 4 (check out my picture of the posted menu).
Parking is challenging, as it’s in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Cash only! The place doesn’t look like much but like Ray’s Café, don’t let the looks fool you.

My five stars is for the cookies!
love love love the cookies!
I was so happy to pick up a tub of cookies, when I stopped by Lynn’s
& also got me a bkfast plate. (they usually run out of cookies)
(got to kill 2 birds with one stone)
I got the mix tub–
so I could not eat just one! I ate 4
I had to hide the tub of cookies from my son. (he loves sweet!)
I shared them with the family this morning & everyone asked for some more
I regret not buying 2 tubs!
Out of the 3 flavors (chocolate, peanut butter, and cornflake)
I love them all but my favorish one is cornflake!
Its so crispy! crunchy! just to die for cookies.
As Im writing this review, Im wanting to eat more cookies!
The price for the cookies has gone up a dollar, but its worth it,
& they do fill the tub with lots of cookies!
Im going to enjoy every moment of those cookies, before its gone
I also picked up a breakfast plate, which is fried rice, egg and choice of breakfast meat, for 4.00, this is a great deal!
I enjoyed my breakfast!
I’ve been here many times, with the family, & with just the hubby.
My hubs doesn’t like it because there is no bathrm & no parking.
I don’t mind at all!
Im going to have to give him an ultimatum, the nexts time I plan to visit
Who stole the cookie from the cookie tub?
no one! because I hid it!
Its in a secret spot!
Whenever I hear that song from Kolohe Kai, «The Right Thing»
I can’t do the right thing, need to eat that cookie from Lynn’s Saimin & Cookie Shop. :0) :0)

***UPDATE***
The price for Lynn’s tub of cookies has gone up from $ 10 to $ 11.
And they’re still yummy!!!

From the outside, you’d never figure that this place sells some of the best homestyle cookies on the island. Props to Unilocal for once again letting me in on another one of Hawaii’s best kept secrets.
Cookies are made very Saturday, and only on Saturdays, so don’t bother coming late in the week because you are mostly likely going to be disappointed because they’ll be sold out.
I’ve personally tried the coconut, peanut butter, almond, and chocolate chip, and I like the coconut the best, peanut butter second. The best deal is to buy the tub for $ 10. You can’t find a better deal anywhere else.
Sorry, but I can’t tell you how their food is — I’ve never tried it! I just come here for the cookies. :)
Closed on Sundays.

«Me wish I knew how to quit you.» — The Cookie Monster
After reading what was probably one of the most slightly traumatizing and oddly popular Unilocal Talk threads of the year, I decided to grab myself a tub of Lynn’s cookies. Funny enough, I’m pretty sure Lynn’s had a spike in sales because of that thread. I’ve been thinking a lot about my long term health and have decided that processed foods need to be banished from my family’s life. Then I returned back to planet Earth where things taste so delicious and decided that it’s still important for me to enjoy certain things in moderation… even moderation.
On the short list of things I can’t quit:
1) Red wine (Let’s face it, I’d honestly rather die than not be able to drink wine every night. Yes, I said EVERY night. Don’t judge, I have three children!)
2) Any Shonda Rhimes show (ex:“Grey’s Anatomy” and «Scandal”/ Because I must have ridiculous shows where everyone sleeps together and someone dies every three episodes yet no one ever talks about them or misses them in later episodes. Reality must be suspended and good looking characters must always be present!)
3) Cookies (What am I suppose to while I’m drinking my glass of red wine and watching my overly dramatic good looking people have fake sex? I can’t eat chips, that would be so gross.)
So to Lynn’s I went for cookies one afternoon and I walked away with a VERY important life changing lesson. You don’t EVER go to Lynn’s on a Thursday or a Friday because almost all the cookies will be gone!!! Why you ask? Because they do the bulk baking of these cookies on Saturday and if you wait until the end of the week you’ll be #SOL. I ended up walking away with a bucket of coconut oatmeal, but let’s face it, they’re no cornflake cookies! I can barely watch a CW show while eating those things, let alone an ABC drama. So I just drank my red wine and watched the last season of «Mad Men» in silent sorrow. Waiting until Saturday to grab my next fix of $ 10 tubs of cookies.

Another ol’ school eatery that I have been visiting since childhood days.
The first time I came here after so many years ago I noticed that the place hasn’t changed much. As I sat at the tables waiting to be helped. I noticed that they still have their shrines of classic cars and racing photos on the walls from the 50’s & 60’s. That’s one era of American history I wouldn’t mind living in.
On some weekends I would make my way here for breakfast.
Thier breakfast deal is a steal at $ 3.75 for eggs, rice and a choice of meat or… for just a quarter more at $ 4.00 you can have yourself the same plate but w/​fried rice. They have options for the breakfast plates too. You can order more than just one choice of meat for an extra cost though. I believe it’s $ 1.50 for the extra choices.
Now that I made this place one of my go-​to breakfast stops for the weekend. I always order the breakfast plate w/​fried rice. Da buggah ono!
Whenever you’re in the area, or just searching around for a new place to eat, you should give this place a try.

Let’s face it. Cookies are serious business. Countries have fought over cookies for centuries. Anti-​cookie people have long tried to silence poor ol’ Cookie Monster with great success. The great Unilocal Talk War of 2014 were over a $ 8 bag of cookies. Even back in the 13^th century, if a baker short changed someone a cooker when they bought a dozen, their hand would be amputated. Hence the term a «Baker’s Dozen». Therefore, this review is solely based on this wonderful, albeit violent flat piece of dough that has had a rather, tumultuous past.
Lynn’s Saimin Shop could be a bit hard to find if you are not familiar with the area. If you see an overpass and a gas station, you’ll know you’re really close to it. Park someone safe and walk over since parking outside there is a pain.
These cookies aren’t just ordinary cookies. Linda Brown’s Hono Ono Cookies are legendary even amongst our family. Whenever we have a family party, someone is going to ask you to bring some. You may think that isn’t so bad since you don’t need to bring other types of food. Wrong. Being in a family with a few famous Chinese chef’s, good luck with that.
My favorite has got to be their chocolate chip. Cornflake is a close second and oatmeal with coconut a distant third. Being lactose intolerant, cornflakes always gave me shivers, so mentally I’m not totally there when it came to cornflake cookies. Chocolate chip however, I can eat a tub in a sitting or two. Cash only, go help yourself to a tub. Enjoy.

Lynn’s is one of the few remaining hole –in-​the-​wall joints serving up local comfort food. We tried their popular Tripe Stew, Fried Rice Special, a Pastele and a few Okazuya stuff.
I enjoyed the Tripe Stew and wifey loved the Pastele. Everything else was just A-​Ok…
Lynn’s is also known for their cookies, and we also tried the Chocolate Chip, Cornflake, and Peanut Butter. Of all three, I liked the Cornflake the best with the Peanut Butter a close second.
This is a mom and pop shop that I hope beats the odds and is still in business when I return. Delicious food, great service. reasonable prices, and ADDICTING cookies! ALOHA!!!