Jack’s Restaurant in Aina Haina is the kind of local establishment that you just kind of have to know about to find it. Tucked into a strip mall in East Honolulu, the humble and beloved diner is not exactly a visitor hotspot.
But Jack’s is a favorite and well-known eatery among Oahu residents. Famous for its breakfast menu, Jack’s also offers a full lunch menu of local favorites. For savvy visitors, Jack’s is the perfect spot to grab a wholesome breakfast before heading out to explore East Oahu. Or, come by for lunch – the restaurant’s open until about 2 PM each day.
Wondering if you should check out this tasty local restaurant? The short answer is YES! But if you need more convincing, read on to learn about Jack’s Restaurant and its endearing Aina Haina location.
Honolulu Breakfast Restaurant
If there is any one menu item that keeps people coming back, it’s “Jack’s Special Omelet.” It’s packed with Portuguese sausage, green onions, mushrooms, and Jack cheese (of course). Simple and delicious, it comes with crispy hash browns and another favorite: Jack’s signature biscuit, served with sinfully rich honey butter.
Jack’s makes 11 different varieties of omelets, including a Denver Omelet and “Jack’s Ono-Licious Fish Omelet.”
Visit Jack’s in Aina Haina for Lunch, Too!
While Jack’s is most widely recognized as a great breakfast joint, the restaurant’s lunch menu features many items any local (and most hungry visitors) will know and love. The smoky aroma of Kalua pig and cabbage and Kalua roast turkey comes wafting to your table with memories of backyard luaus. Jack’s Special Fried Rice has the perfect amount of spice (or, as we say, “action”).
Jack’s simple, traditional plate lunches and tasty sandwiches are all very reasonably priced. The most expensive menu item is the Fish Fillet Lunch at $18.95. But most lunch items run between $10 – $12. Plus, there are some smaller sandwiches in the $6 – $8 range.
Certainly, this is a big part of Jack’s appeal.
A Local Gathering Place
More than just a small, family-owned and operated diner, Jack’s Restaurant is an island institution. Generations have grown up in the 500-square-foot Jack’s Aina Haina space. It remains a spot for new parents to begin a family tradition of weekend breakfasts, or for old friends to meet over a truly local lunch.
Jack’s is the kind of place where local families bring visiting friends and family members. It’s safe to say that most East Honolulu residents have a favorite menu item at Jack’s, and it’s probably an omelet (although I have a friend who has never had anything but “Grandma’s Homemade Meatloaf” in the nearly 30 years she’s been a customer).
About Aina Haina: The Home of Jack’s Restaurant
Aina Haina Shopping Center is certainly not a priority for visiting shopaholics. There’s a barber, liquor store, sewing supply, key-maker, and post office. You might hardly notice it on the drive from Waikiki to Hanauma Bay, From Here to Eternity Beach (Halona Blowhole), and the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail and Lookout.
You go there not because you want to browse, but because you know exactly what you want. And during breakfast and lunch, that something is often on the menu at Jack’s Restaurant.
Jack’s Restaurant – in Aina Haina
820 West Hind Drive #119
808.373.4034
Open for Breakfast & Lunch
