Is there parking at Chris' Ono Grinds in North Park?

Street parking on 30th St is your best bet—it's North Park, so spots turn over pretty regularly during lunch and dinner. The lot fills up, especially on weekends, so arrive early or grab takeout if you're in a rush.

Do I need a reservation or can I just walk in?

Walk-ins are welcome and the spot runs casual, but it can get slammed during peak lunch and dinner hours. No reservations system in place, so timing matters—hit it on a weekday morning for brunch if you want to avoid the wait.

What should I order first?

Start with the Huli Huli chicken—people consistently praise it as juicy and well-seasoned. The spam musubi is solid too. Fair warning: portion sizes vary, so if you're coming for a full meal, order accordingly or ask about their largest plates.

Is this place good for kids?

Yeah, it's a neighborhood staple with a casual, laid-back vibe that works fine for families. Nothing fancy, no loud noise issues—just straightforward Hawaiian food in a relaxed setting.

They have outdoor seating, so dogs are welcome on the patio—perfect for North Park's year-round weather. Just check in with staff when you arrive to confirm they're cool with it that day.

Do you have vegan or gluten-free options?

The menu leans heavily on chicken, pork, and fish, so vegan options are limited. Gluten-free choices exist but are sparse—your best bet is to call ahead or ask staff about modifications when you arrive.

What's the best time to visit to avoid a wait?

Weekday mornings for breakfast or mid-afternoon (2–4 PM) hit the sweet spot. Weekends and typical lunch/dinner rushes get packed. Also, check ahead—some reviews mention they're occasionally closed or out of certain items like sweet potato.

Are the portions actually worth the price?

That's where opinions split: some people rave about generous portions, others say they've shrunk and prices climbed. Expect to pay around $25 for an entree—go in with realistic expectations about what you're getting, and if you're uncertain, order conservatively.

Chris' Ono Grinds Island Grill - North Park — Restaurants i…

“Chris' Ono Grinds brings Hawaiian plate lunch to 30th Street without the beachfront markup or the tiki bar theatrics.”

Where Tribute Pizza leans into Naples and craft beer culture, Chris' Ono Grinds plants its flag in Honolulu—spam musubi, huli huli chicken, poke bowls built for lunch breaks, not Instagram. This is the kind of place North Park needed once the neighborhood got too serious about its sourdough: unpretentious island cooking that pairs as well with a beer run to Tiger!Tiger! as it does with takeout on your apartment stoop.

The huli huli chicken is the reliable anchor—char-grilled, soy-ginger glazed, generous enough to justify the price when portions cooperate. Spam musubi makes a solid breakfast-on-the-go move for Observatory shifts or Morley Field picnics. The poke bowls are the gamble: when the fish is fresh and cold, they work; when it's not, you'll wish you'd stuck with the cooked stuff. Mac salad leans creamy, rice can run dry depending on the day. It's plate lunch, not fine dining, and the vibe commits to that—casual counter service, a few outdoor tables, the kind of spot where you order at the register and don't expect tableside anything.

Fair warning: consistency wobbles. Portions have shrunk according to long-timers, and they're frequently out of sweet potato fries by dinner. The staff remains genuinely kind even when the kitchen's struggling, which counts for something on 30th Street's increasingly transactional restaurant row. Come for the huli huli, order extra musubi for later, and keep expectations calibrated to "solid weeknight carryout" rather than "destination Hawaiian." Park on the side streets unless you enjoy circling the block.