The Pastele Shop

I recently stopped by The Pastele Shop, and it turned out to be a great place to experience traditional Puerto Rican flavors in Honolulu. Located along North School Street, the shop has a small, casual setup that focuses almost entirely on serving authentic dishes rather than creating a formal dining environment. The space feels very much like a neighborhood food spot where the emphasis is on cultural authenticity and comfort food. The menu highlights Puerto Rican specialties, with pasteles naturally taking center stage. These traditional dishes, made with seasoned meat wrapped in a masa mixture and steamed in banana leaves, carry deep savory flavors and a comforting texture. The pasteles I tried were well prepared, with a balanced filling that delivered the rich seasoning typical of the dish. The masa had a smooth consistency and absorbed the flavors of the filling nicely, creating a satisfying bite. Other items on the menu reflect classic Caribbean influences, offering dishes that combine slow-cooked meats, rice, and traditional sides. The flavors leaned toward bold seasoning with garlic, herbs, and spices that give Puerto Rican cuisine its distinctive character. While the presentation is simple, the focus is clearly on delivering authentic taste and hearty portions. Service during the visit was friendly and welcoming. The staff appeared passionate about the food they serve and were happy to explain different dishes for customers who might not be familiar with Puerto Rican cuisine. That personal touch helps make the experience feel more like visiting a family-run kitchen than a commercial restaurant. The atmosphere reflects the nature of a small specialty shop. Seating may be limited, and many customers opt for takeout, but that format works well for the style of food being served. Places like this often succeed because of their authenticity and dedication to cultural cuisine, and The Pastele Shop captures that spirit effectively. Overall, The Pastele Shop offers a flavorful and authentic introduction to Puerto Rican comfort food in Honolulu. The focus on traditional preparation, bold seasoning, and welcoming service makes it a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in exploring Caribbean cuisine on Oahu.

A small French style pastry shop. The pastries are exactly how they are supposed to be made. Real butter, quality ingredients and made with care, you can taste it in every bite. This hidden gem is on the second floor on the back side(mountain side) of Ala Moana mall just down from the Asian food court And that's the hack. There's is so seating in Pastele's so order you coffee, tea and snacks (it's hard to pick one thing) then head around the corner to the food court, have a seat and enjoy. The staff was warm and friendly. They allowed me to linger, ask questions and take pictures. As always be pleasant, respectful and help support a local business. If you see an old guy with a beard staring into the window, drooling on himself. Just ignore him, it's probably me.

This place is fairly decent, food here is a solid 4.5 stars as far as taste and freshness goes. My only complaint is the gondule rice. It could be better. Please don’t hate me for saying that you’re still my number one. The bacalao salad is great and the always fresh. The girl at the counter is very nice and friendly and gives off family vibes. The pasteles here are the best I’ve had on the island spicy is my go to. This place is a hole in the wall establishment almost quite literally. Their menu is very limited which is what makes everything so good. They have a pastele stew that is great when mixed with rice and the pastele lumpia which was new to me is a delicious fusion. The price here is amazing and you can get a whole hot meal for less than $20. The portions are very generous. And the taste is very very close to authentic.

Really good food. La ensalada de bacalao was more simple than expected but really brightened up the plate. Tasted like a warm hug.

The food is amazing! This is the best pastele stew, gandules, and pasteles I’ve ever had. The portions are large. So delicious ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Omg! They make the best pestele you ever had! It brings back so many memories from my childhood. I've been looking for a pestele that taste just like how I remember and I finally found it and it is sooooooo yummy! You must try it if you like pesteles!

This place never disappoint. Location and parking is a bit difficult, but we'll worth it. Service is great, they treat you like family, talk to you like family member, and the food is to die for. The best Pastele on the whole island, in my opinion. The Pastele Shop is the only place I buy Pastele from, hands down to all their hardworking they put into making the best foods..Highly recommend it..

Awesome hole in the wall take out restaurant in Kalihi that specializes in pastele. Limited parking, call in the order and have someone with you to jump out and grab the order since you need a bit of luck to find parking Cheap eats, worth the hassle since these are one of the best pasteles on island5 stars