3565 Waialae Avenue


Average Overall Rating:

(4 out of 5)

Average Coffee Refill Rating:

(4 out of 5)

(3 out of 5)

Review by: Alan-P on 12/27/2012

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This is my favorite place for Loco Moco - it's huge! They also have many breakfast specials and great French toast. My wife liked their crab frittata. Prices are just a little high, but the food is great.

Review #23989Review by: Brianbutters on 1/18/2009

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Big portions at Big City, for sure. Hit and miss with the staff, sometimes they are nice, sometimes they are very preoccupied with what they are doing after their shift is pau. As you can tell from my reviews, staff is as important as food.

Review #15968Review by: luvoatmeal on 10/31/2006

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Stopped in here... didn't seem like a locals hang out as its in the middle of Ward Center next to all the chain places, reminded us of a Mel's but we kept an open mind. The coffee was FANTASTIC and we got off to a rousing start, but it was a challenge from there. Our waiter was nice, if not a bit odd. It seems the GM was on vacation and the place was falling apart at the seams service and order wise, we waited over half hour for food..... I ordered the grilled oatmeal not once, but twice and still it was served ice cold. It was tasty, but oatmeal in any form at least has to be lukewarm. I finally cancelled the order and ate toast as the rest of the party had finished their breakfast. We waited forever for a coffee refill....BUT, the french toast was amazing as were the potatoes!!! YUM, YUM, YUM. Service was uneven and being seated in front of the prep/pick up counters just reiterated the chaos.
We'd try the place again and would hope order would be restored and a little more stable in terms of food wait time, coffee refill and serving time so food would not get cold. Good eats for the most part and the portions are HUGE!


Review #8828Review by: bren808 on 9/8/2006

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Man, I miss the Big City Diner. For the five years I lived in Honolulu I ate there at least once a week, and often 2-3 times. Long waits on weekends if you hit the post-church/surf times (10 - 1), but otherwise it's immediate seating. Staff is awesome, attentive and genuine, and the food - oh, wow. The food is great! The portions are obscene, so be warned, but it all tastes so good. Second best loco-moco on O`ahu.

Award Nomination: Most Comfortable

Review #8446Review by: Napkins Nation on 6/12/2006

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Don't be misled by the East Coast deli ethos, BCD is as authentic an example of local diner culture as any you can find in Honolulu. From the moment the doors open families begin shuffling in to enjoy the Kaimuki neighborhood's take on hearty breakfasts, which include such staples as Kimchee Fried Rice and the Really Loco Loco Moco, an egg over easy served with gravy on top of two scoops of rice and a half-pound hamburger patty.

Coffee refills are prompt, the good service is almost painfully sincere, and there's even a small bar where you can drink beer on tap while watching the World Cup, which at 7 am has the feel of a distant newsreel from Zanzibar.

Big City Diner is a great place to escape the health police and taste some of the island's savory local dishes. Indulge the local spirit, and remember that adding soy sauce to a dish is never the wrong move.

Award Nomination: Most Comfortable

Review #7736


Connect With Mr Breakfast:




Reviews submitted here are meant to pertain to breakfast only. While Mr Breakfast cannot vouch for the validity of each restaurant review, he feels pretty good vouching for the excellent character of the residents of Honolulu, Hawaii - who are primarily responsible for the review(s) you see above for Big City Diner.