Dillingham Saimin

Back when it was Boulevard Saimin the quality of the food was great. Now that it’s Dillingham Saimin, it’s sad to say that the quality has declined.

Came here for Mother’s Day breakfast. We were actually the first people there, yet somehow it took over 20 minutes to get our food. Besides the wait, the food was great, prices were cheap and we had good service so I’ll give it 4 stars. Would definitely come back.

Never disappointed with this place. The menu offers good local comfort food but my favorite that I cant get away from is the Wun Tun Min with a cheeseburger and fries on the side. Prices are very reasonable and the restaurant is air-​conditioned. Parking is tight but there’s reasonably good parking. This place is definitely on my list of stops if I’m in the Dillingham area. So if traffic is bad on Nimitz and Dillingham and your stressing pull in and have a bite to eat it’ll change your attitude. All right!

Food was very good, price is reasonable, and service was very good. Our waitress was very polite, respectful and always apologized if she was passing our table. Also she always asked if we were ok, and if we needed anything. Very nice waitress indeed.

This was my first time eating here. I gave this place 2 stars because when my boyfriend and I was given our water I noticed a red lipstick stain on the rim of my cup, that’s pretty disgusting if u ask me. Good thing I looked before I was about to drink. I ordered the Saimin special, which was a large wun tun min and side shrimp tempura. The shrimp tempura had too much batter and was super oily. Other than that the Saimin was okay.

The old Boulevard Saimin is located in Kalihi on Dillingham and Ewa of Waikamilo. Unlike Tanaka Saimin or Palace Saimin, it’s a bit more obscure from the road front so make sure you pay attention when you are driving by.
Dillingham Saimin is one of those places that make you feel like you’ve stepped back into time every time you enter the establishment. There are things there like the booths and some of the pictures that haven’t changed in over 20 years, or at least it feels that way. I’ve been coming here ever since the 80’s when it was Boulevard Saimin.
The broth still tastes the same with the right balance of saltiness and depth in flavor. I do feel that the noodles aren’t as firm, thick or have that curly saimin texture to it like they did before. If there is anything I could change about their saimin it’s that.
I also prefer the BBQ meat on a stick but now it comes like Korean Bulgogi. If you’re okay with that, then no problem. The Won Tons are huge but I think they can cut back on the thick wrapping a bit for a thinner version or more meat. Overall the Saimin was worth stepping back into time for when you’re in the area.

I used to love this place as kid. Today we came with my kids it was horrible. Had one waitress the place was kinda full. It literally took one hour just to get our food people started to walk out. The only reason why I stayed was because my mom really wanted to eat here. When i got my food my pancake was raw and my fried rice was mushy. I won’t be coming back

The worst service ever. The hostess did all her greeting by yelling out from behind somewhere and not at the door.
The waitress that took our order wasn’t paying attention to our order with NO GREEN ONIONS, brought the food with green onions and we had to send it back.
No water refilled, no checking on how the food is.
I never leave without giving the server a tip but there’s always a first time for everything.

I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid when it used to be Boulevard Saimin. The prices are really cheap and the portions are good for the price. My favorite is the hot soba. Their BBQ beef sticks are also delicious!

I’ve been livin in hawaii for 8 years and it was my first time to eat here, their foods looks great but not satisfied with the taste of their bbq and saimin too salty

The prices here are so high. I wouldn’t come back. They do not give enough food to make you full. We needed to go to McDonald’s after since we were still hungry.
Party of 2 about $ 26 which was a teriyaki saimim & a mixed plate. Way to expensive.

Service was fine and timely, albeit the food came in bunches and not together for the table.
Saimin was pretty good, though ive had better (shiro saimin for example). Get the loco moco, i thoroughly enjoyed the gravy on that dish.
Overall, it was worth the try, but doubt ill be coming back again.

Ordered hamburger steak, kind of salty but tasty, looking out the window and what do I see on the ledge? A dead bug… parking is crap but food is great

This is my grandparents favorite place to eat ever & they have been taking me & our family there ever since. They were called Boulevard Saimin before & due to new management now its called Dillingham Saimin.
It’s a really small hole in a wall kinda place & very small tight parking spaces. It does get really busy so be prepare for that.
I always get the Cheeseburger Deluxe (lol) with fries. I just love the way how they make their sandwiches.
The customer service over there is amazing, they make you feel like they are part of your family & they love to joke around with us too. I always try to make it out there when I come home to spend sometime with family. That is our favorite place.

I LOVE eating here. I grew up eating at Boulevard Saimin, which is now renamed Dillingham Saimin. Although Tanaka Saimin is also owned by the same family, it will never have the same atmosphere and comfort one gets from eating at Boulevard (Dillingham).
Whenever I eat here, I always order the Saimin Combo. This is… saimin (you can add wun tun), teri beef slices, a shrimp tempura, and a choice of macaroni/​potato salad or toss salad on the side.
Flavors are always good! Definitely still reminds me of the saimin I’d eat as a kid growing up.
I’ll admit, the service at times can be slow because this place can get very busy during the afternoons, but this will not hinder my overall review. Call me biased but I’m glad this place is still open after all these years.
I’d definitely recommend trying this place out if you haven’t yet, especially if you’re looking to grab some good saimin! I would definitely call this my comfort food of sorts.

This past Saturday, November 28, 2015 we experienced the worst service we ever encountered there. This was supposed to be our fav spot for years and years when driving into town from the leeward side of Oahu.
Our waitress was reminded by us twice for water. The food was brought to our table via pony express. The fries and teri-​burger was pathetically warm and the fries stuck to each other. My saimin broth lacked the BOOM (watered down) they’re known for and the noodles were over cooked or stale. The hamburger steak was disappointingly chewy.
Hopefully they will step up and improve the service and food quality or this place will close down soon. Too bad… smh

Dillingham Saimin is famous for their noodles, but the Spam Musubi is killer! The best I ever had.
JKJ ~

I don’t know why it took me all my life to finally try this place! Thanks to my wonderful boyfriend and my starving tummy we finally smartened up and went! One of the BEST teri hamburgers with cheese I’ve ever eaten! And they have by far THE best orange bang! I don’t think I will ever be able to order an orange bang from zippys again! The boyfriend ordered the saimin with wuntun. He loved it! The noodles are skinny and delicious, the broth was the perfect blend of flavors to make it umami.
We’ll definitely be back… @ the bf :)

Finally got to try this place for lunch today.
What caught my eye right away was the «Won ton min combo.» At $ 9.25, the small size was very filling… it came w/​teri beef, shrimp tempura & potato/​mac salad. (you can opt for tossed instead if you want)
The won tons skins were a little too starchy for me — I prefer it thinner, but the meat filling was generous. Everything else was great, including service!
Parking lot is pretty small & stalls are marked. Also, enter from Colburn St. (back side) as Dillingham Blvd side is exit only.

Boulevard Saimin, Since 1956!
Aka Dillingham Saimin!
Gossip swirls every-​time I’m here with my Uncle Gene, Aunty Mariko and Dad! They love talking story of how at one time Tanaka Saimin and Dillingham Saimin were one and the same… Something to do with sisters or granddaughters that had a fallout some years ago. Or, so that’s what the story was like when I finally heard it… Yes, I’m confused. Anyways…
Dillingham Saimin on Dillingham Blvd. in semi-​posh Kalihiville was once called Boulevard Saimin! It’s simply an old school Saimin diner with parking attendant older than a keawe tree and the waitresses here since the good old days of Don Ho singing Tiny Bubbles! Christmas decoration year-​round and the standard brightly colored vinyl booths & chairs. How old school is this? Well «since 1956», so they must be doing something right, right?!
Of course, everyone comes in for the Saimin. Of course, eccentric me, will mostly stray from the known and delve into the other stuff…
I’ve had:
Loco moco bowl (generous amounts of hamburger & eggs over rice w/​delish high calorie gravy all ovah!) — mmmmmm, and on other visits I’ve had the Pork Cutlet and Fried Chicken. The Soda Ice Cream Float is the BOMBLICIOUS too, but have the older aunties make it, seems like the younger waitress had no clue on the secret formula. Duh. Of course, the signature here is the Saimin…
The Saimin!
The Boulevard Saimin!
The Dillingham Saimin!
You can get it fried or regular, w/​teriyaki beef or pork slice, yakitori chicken, w/​tempura, wunton min, kimchee, Portuguese sausage, etc.
You can get the Dillingham special of large wunton min w/​shrimp tempura (2 pc). Not in a Saimin mood? Soba & Udon is on the menu too!
The combos are very popular with the locals and the ono greasy breakfast grinds a deal!
So, yes I definitely recommend Dillingham Saimin, since 1956! Not as yummy as my favorite Shiro’s, but if I’m in Kalihiville and jonesing for some noodles, this is a place on my list. Oh, it’s also a popular stop for local celebs like Paula Akana, Jason Scott Lee, and my ex-​girlfriend, Kelly Hu!
Plus, it’s always exciting to know more on the Tanaka gossip… Meow, meow.
BIG KAHUNA TIPS:
Located at 1425 Dillingham Boulevard.
Open daily.
OVERALL GRADE: 4.1-STARS!
LIVE ALOHA…
Unilocal REVIEW #363