Ray’s Cafe: Local People, Local Food, Local Prices

Ray’s Cafe’s famous prime rib special! (HonoluluVibes.com photo/Ronen Zilberman)

When I’m looking for a new restaurant to try I pull out my secret weapon, my phone. Not for a google search but to call my friend Cory Lum. His years as photographer for the Honolulu Advertiser and the Civil Beat hungrily combing the streets of Honolulu on assignments honed his skills in finding the best things to order in the best places to eat. A foodie at heart and ever knowledgeable about his discoveries, from fine dining to hole in the walls, he’s never let me down on a food recommendation. Everyone needs a friend like this!

Clockwise from top left: Ahi Plate, Fried Shrimp & Ono, Prime Rib. (HonoluluVibes.com photo/Ronen Zilberman)

On our most recent excursion Cory introduced me to a well-established local favorite – Ray’s Cafe in Kalihi. This place is a meat lover’s paradise known for serving up heavy portions of breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week, at prices you haven’t seen in 20 years. A quote from one of their patrons says it all, “local people, local food, local prices.”  The owner Felix, is as beloved as the dishes he serves up always taking the time to talk story with his patrons.  His warm personality makes up for what the place lacks in ambiance and even though modest in size with limited seating, this casual hole-in-th-wall has folks lined up daily for lunch. A word to the wise that I learned from my foodie sensei – make your visit on off-hours. We came for lunch at 10:30am in-between the morning and mid-day rushes.

Seating at Ray’s Cafe is limited to about 6 tables that seat 2-4 people at a time. (HonoluluVibes.com photo/Ronen Zilberman)

Like a good book don’t judge this place by the cover because what comes out of the kitchen will amaze you!  When my order of prime rib was set before me people from the surrounding tables got up to take photos of my plate. It was impressive beyond its size, the tender medium rare chuncks melted in my mouth with a quick dip in the perfectly salty aujous sauce.  I made a small dent in the massive slab of meat and brought the rest home where 3 of my family members made a meal of it as well. My friends went with seafood plates ordering ahi, ono, and shrimp their silence and happy faces said it all and again, hearty servings all around.  With a family of six I know where we’ll be spending our next big meal out.

People are always impressed with the massive portions of the plates served at Ray’s Cafe like their famous Prime Rib. (HonoluluVibes.com photo/Sakura)

If you’re thinking of giving Ray’s Cafe a try – which you should!  I have a couple more tips to share that will help make your visit smooth.

• It’s cash only so make sure you have some on hand before you go!
• Parking is very limited, mainly street parking IF you can find it. During their busiest moments you can see people waiting in their cars while they send a runner to go order/pick-up the food to go. Your best option may be to just call your order in ahead of time and pick it up as take-out.
• The menu hosts some regular items on a daily basis, such as the fried chicken, but many specialties, like the popular prime rib, aren’t available every day.  Again, call ahead to find out if what your looking for will be on the menu and…
• Don’t wait till the end of the day to show up. They often run out of favorites and close up early before posted closing times. As the sign on the door says: “If door is open open, if door closed – closed.”  So get there early and come hungry!

Ray’s Cafe is located at:

by Honolulu Vibes