ALOHA MELT - Waikiki - — Restaurant in Honolulu

(Last visited December 4, 2022.) FRESH off the plane from New York City we landed in Honolulu, HI and went straight to the hotel. I was so exhausted and sleepy that we just needed to find something quick to eat so that we can get to bed to start get adjusted to a time zone 5 hours different from ours. Lol. When I came here they had 320 reviews and a PERFECT Yelp rating. Unheard of. Since then they've dropped to a 4.7 with 615, but that's still exceptional.

Atmosphere/Appearance: So I did some Yelp'ing and found Aloha Melt. Who doesn't love a good panini?! This place is located right in Waikiki on a busier well-lit street so I felt decently safe. If you're driving then you'll have to find some place to park. Inside was small, bright and very welcoming. There were like 3 small tables inside if you wanted to chill and eat, but we took ours to go.

Service: We ordered at the counter and didn't have to wait too long for our food. The staff were friendly and welcoming.

Food: So first up is the A.P. - The Aloha Patty Melt. Beef patty, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, provolone cheese, American cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, pickled jalapeno and a sriracha aioli sauce. My goodness that is A LOT on one sandwich. At first touch, the sandwich was a bit greasy and very heavy. Lol. I knew this was gonna be an artery clogging, sleep-inducing kind of meal. If you're lactose intolerant, beware. The sandwich was fantastic. Heavy, majorly cheese, savory, salty, smooth, creamy, the toasted bread added great texture, the jalapenos kick in late, the burger was cooked well even though it didn't have much seasoning on its own. The sriracha added a tangy, Asian twang that almost was too much for this sandwich, but I really enjoyed this. Next up is The Patty. Beef patty, mozzarella cheese, provolone cheese, cheddar cheese, American cheese, bacon, caramelized onions but instead of the jalapenos and sriracha sauce, we have an aioli. Another very heavy sandwich. I liked this one better than the other one. I got more bacon taste and it wasn't disrupted by the jalapenos. The finish just felt more rounded and cleaner compared to the last sandwich. It had a good base, good salt and good flavors. The aioli reminded me of Red Robin's Campfire BBQ sauce. It was hard to describe, but added another layer of creaminess to the sandwich. I loved these, but I know it's something nobody should be eating everyday.

Value: $14.00 for most of the sandwiches here, but you're in Hawaii. You already know everything is going to be more expensive, so it is what it is and besides, $14.00 for basically an entire dinner is totally worth it. Support this local business!

In conclusion... have you been convinced to check this place out yet? Make your way here whenever you make it...

My friends and I are in town for a couple of ultimate frisbee tournaments. We had finished up drinking and dancing at a couple venues and felt that food would improve our night and next morning. We were moderately impaired at this point and we're having trouble finding somewhere open besides McDonald's. Then we found aloha melts. And boy we're we happy our friend kaya had the wherewithal to choose this place ("I only eat at places 4.3 stars and above"). We showed up and ordered 2 aloha melts, a patty melt and 2 tomato soups. They gave us our number and we waited in the street. It was pretty popular, but not sloppy or crowded. While we were waiting, I scouted out a bathroom next door that the proprietors were friendly enough to let another friend use. We got our food and chowed down. It was hot but we couldn't stop eating. The cheeses, jalapenos and ground beef melted together into something that could be described as manna from heaven. the depth of flavor and meltiness of the cheese was sublime. We had to bite and pull away from our faces because of the consistent cheese pulls. The tomato bisque was creamy and cheesy. It had cheese and bread chunks for texture. I didn't really want to put either down. We all agreed this would deliver us from the crushing hangovers our drinking should have merited tomorrow. I'm writing this the next morning with a clear and sound mind. If you are hungry or out late, this is...

ALOHA MELT in Waikiki is a hidden gem that knows how to deliver comfort food with style. Located in a compact, no-frills setting, this place is perfect for anyone craving a satisfying, hearty meal without the need for fancy surroundings. The restaurant might be small, but it more than makes up for it with the quality of the food and the warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels authentically Hawaiian.

I ordered the Classic Melt, which was an absolute flavor explosion. The blend of Cheddar, Mozzarella, Provolone, and American cheeses melted perfectly together, creating a rich, creamy layer that was gooey yet satisfying with each bite. The texture was just right, with a beautiful contrast between the crispy, golden bread and the soft, melting cheeses. The caramelized onions brought a delicate sweetness that paired wonderfully with the smoky, savory bacon, adding layers of flavor that kept every bite interesting.

The aioli sauce was the perfect finishing touch, adding a creamy, tangy note that tied everything together and kept the flavors balanced. This melt was the ultimate comfort food, making me feel both indulged and content. I would definitely come back to ALOHA MELT – it's the kind of spot that makes you crave more the...