Honolulu has no shortage of breakfast joints. Guieb Cafe is the place locals whisper about when they’re craving big portions, homestyle flavors, and that “auntie’s kitchen” kind of warmth in the middle of Kalihi. 🥞
This family-owned spot grew from a local catering company into a small empire of cafes serving prime rib, loco mocos, and over-the-top pancakes. It hits every comfort-food craving without emptying your wallet. 🍛✨
How Guieb Cafe won Honolulu’s hearts
Guieb Cafe didn’t open in some glossy tourist district. It launched in June 2020 in Kalihi as a family-owned and operated cafe determined to serve the community during a tough time, expanding later to Wahiawa and Aiea once word spread. 🌺
Locals loved that the team behind Guieb Cafe took their proven catering chops—built on generous portions and island-style comfort—and turned them into a full-time breakfast and lunch spot where plate lunches, prime rib, and waffles share the same table.
Part of the charm is how approachable the menu feels while still going big on fun: you can grab a classic mix plate, or you can lean into a Fruity Pebbles French Toast that looks like something straight out of your Saturday-morning-cartoon childhood. 🌈
Honolulu Magazine’s write-up raved about the fried chicken’s old-school seasoning and tender meat, and called the prime rib “the thing to get,” noting that it frequently sells out—exactly the kind of word-of-mouth that turns a neighborhood cafe into a weekend destination. 🐔🥩
Guests gush about the Loco Moco Fried Rice, the overflowing Benedicts, and those Ube Mascarpone Pancakes, praising both the flavor and the value for portions that often stretch into leftovers.
Add consistently friendly, fast service—coffee topped up before you even think to ask, staff treating customers like extended ‘ohana—and Guieb Cafe quickly became that spot where people bring visiting family, celebrate small wins, and flex “this is where locals eat” pride. 🤙
By staying true to homestyle plates, fair pricing, and a welcoming vibe, Guieb Cafe built loyalty the old-fashioned way: satisfying, feel-good food that makes you want to linger at the table just a little longer. 🍳
Food Highlights
- Loco Moco Fried Rice: A loaded twist on the classic loco moco, pairing Hawaiian-style fried rice with rich gravy and protein; frequent mentions in reviews and delivery menus show it’s one of the cafe’s most-loved comfort dishes and a go-to for big appetites. 🍛
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10 oz. Prime Rib: Thick, juicy slices of prime rib offered as a plate, with eggs, or as a loco moco, praised in local coverage for being tender and a legit breakfast treat; it often sells out, making it a must-order for meat lovers who arrive early. 🥩
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Ube Mascarpone Pancakes: Vibrant purple sweet potato pancakes layered with creamy mascarpone, highlighted repeatedly on review platforms and social posts as a signature menu star; guests rave about the flavor, texture, and photogenic color that makes brunch feel like a special occasion. 🥞💜
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Fruity Pebbles French Toast: Portuguese sweet bread crusted in Fruity Pebbles cereal, called out in local magazine coverage as a fun option for kids and sweets fans; the nostalgic cereal crunch and fluffy bread turn this into a playful, sugar-kissed treat you order “for the table” and secretly eat half of. 🍬
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Crab Cake Benedict: One of several Benedict options, featuring crab cakes under silky hollandaise; magazine and review mentions note this line-up of Benedicts as a highlight of the menu, with the crab version earning repeat praise from brunch regulars who want something richer than the usual breakfast fare. 🦀
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Golden Fried Chicken and Waffles: Crispy fried chicken served with waffles, with Honolulu Magazine specifically praising the chicken’s light, crispy skin and moist meat; even when reviewers quibble about waffle texture, they agree the chicken itself is so good it could easily be a main dish on its own. 🍗🧇
Atmosphere
Guieb Cafe’s vibe is casual, busy, and warmly chaotic in the best way, the kind of spot where there’s often a line, but everyone waiting already knows it will be worth it.
The Kalihi location sits in Kapalama Shopping Plaza, feeling very much like a local’s hangout rather than a tourist trap, with a cozy, compact dining room buzzing from open to close. 🌺
Overall, it’s that classic Hawaii cafe energy: plenty of chatter, plates clanking, kids digging into pancakes, and an easygoing aloha spirit that makes lingering over another cup of coffee feel completely natural. ☕
Bottom Line
Guieb Cafe is a family-run Hawaii favorite serving huge portions, craveable local comfort food, and playful brunch desserts at fair prices.
Visit for prime rib, loco moco, and ube pancakes, stay for the friendly ‘ohana vibe and all-day breakfast that keeps Honolulu coming back. 🤙
Address:
Guieb Cafe
1311 North King Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
📞 (808) 913-2131
🕔 Open 7 days a week, 7 AM–3 PM