Castro’s

I didn't think one of my favorite breakfasts of all time would be Cuban food, especially in Honolulu. I shared this recommendation with friends afterwards and they doubted as well. But trust me, Castro's delivers.The dishes are beautifully plated and they all came with a side of fruit. The Cuban sandwich here was the best I've ever had, better than any I've had in Miami. The crab and shrimp toast and the watermelon and beet salad were also great. This is a must-try.

(Last visited 12/10/2022.) While vacationing in Hawaii we were told to check out Castro's for their incredible Cuban food! Well, their hours are so where they're open from 7:00am to 2:00pm each day (when I went, Google says different now). Like, that's SLIM fam. Truly a breakfast and lunch place, but I'm here to tell you why it's worth waking up early to check this place out!Atmosphere/Appearance: Located as a part of a multi-business building right on Kalakaua Avenue is this gem. There really isn't much for parking, but there is some space on various streets in the area. Just be careful. Inside is quaint and cozy. It's beautifully decorated, maybe a couple of tables, but on the left side is where you can order, see into the kitchen and check out the menu. It's Hawaii, so you naturally will want to sit outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.Service: There isn't much service. You just walk up to the counter, take a look at the menu and tell them what you want. You pay then the food is brought right out to your table. Nothing too crazy.Food: First up we started with the Meal Tamal. Let me tell you, the presentation of the food is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. It came out on this beautiful blue plate covered by smoke and then the glass dome gets removed revealing the incredible dish. So in the Meat Tamal is grass fed brisket, roasted seasonal vegetables, sofrito, organic corn, chimichurri that's all wrapped in a banana leaf. This is a heartier dish than an actual Mexican tamale. They are very different. The filling was like a red beans and rice kinda consistency. Flavored very well. The brisket was so crazy-tender. Really floored me and left me speechless. The flavors were so powerful and went so deep into my taste buds. It's just cooked so perfectly and is even better with the chimichurri or even the hot sauce. Next up was the Croque Señorita which is local ham, truffle mornay sauce, egg, guava jam, lilikoi yuzu gel, Gruyere cheese, not all between brioche bread. Again, another looker of a dish that you don't even want to touch because you're afraid of destroying art. Lol. It was light, airy, fluffy, the cheese was perfect and the egg added some extra texture to it. The guava jam was phenomenal. This was a plate that as you checked out different things on the plate, it was like exploring parts of a city or country, experiencing something new. On our 2nd visit we checked out 2 sandwiches... that left a bit to be desired so I won't get to into them. The Cordero was like a brisket beef kinda sandwich that lacked in a flavor a bit. Same for the Cubano. Good sandwiches, but we just weren't blown away by them like we were with the dishes from our first visit.Value: It's Hawaii. It's not going to be cheap, but you won't spend more than $20.00 or $30.00 here per person.In conclusion, I loved it here at Castro's and it's totally worth getting up early to come check this place out! It's family-owned with everything made in-house with such an amazing reputation! Make this a place you check out when you're in Hawaii!

The food was a solid 4 stars!Our order this morning:Ropa Vieja ($16): Brisket, white cheddar, sofrito, green goddess aioliCubano ($15): Ham, pork roast, cheddar, pickles, garlic aioli, Dijon mustardMediterranean Potato ($12): Okinawan sweet potato, mushrooms, olives, sea salt, almondsCafe con Leche ($4, 8oz): Espresso beans, milk, house sugar.Both ciabatta sandwiches were grilled to perfection.My boyfriend enjoyed the brisket in the Ropa Vieja, but felt the sandwich overall lacked a bit of flavor. As for the Cubano, the combination of pork roast and ham just didn't hit the mark, leaving something to be desired. Sadly, this was my least favorite experience with a Cubano to date. If you like sweet potatoes and olives, get the salad! It's sweet, savory and light.The real star of the show was the Cafe con Leche. It was incredibly smooth, slightly sweet and absolutely delicious. I highly recommend it.

Castro is a staple brunch spot for me. They close at 1 PM, and at 12:30 they only do to go. If you manage to get in there before 1 PM, I promise you will not be disappointed. It is a very unassuming place packed with culture and vibrant and authenticity. The Cubanos are on point, the yerba mate is very authentic, and you can't go wrong with any dishes on the menu. This time around, I got the breakfast brisket sandwich, which was so juicy on a local egg. The bread was perfectly crunchy, and the side, fruit salad, and pickled vegetables were great mix. The Ropa Vieja was also another grass fed brisket but a little bit leaner.Overall, the service is always very attentive and they pay attention to detail when it comes to presenting you with an upscale Cuban experience on the streets of Waikiki. Don't sleep on the spot if you're looking for something a little more diverse .

Overall 4 stars: The Traditional Cuban Breakfast hit the spot in the morning! Great food with friendly staff!Food 4 stars: We got the Traditional Cuban Breakfast as takeout. Our favorite part of the breakfast was the beans. It was flavorful and filling! It also came with a sausage, eggs, potatoes, and pickled vegetables. I would recommend trying this dish if you've never tried a Cuban breakfast. This was my first one and I will be going back for another.Service 5 stars: The staff is very friendly and offered us water as we waiting for our food at one of the dine in tables. She also came over to ask if we needed anything else while we waited for our food.Ambiance 4 stars: this is a cute little shop at the beginning of Waikiki that has outside seating. The shop looks clean and has a Cuban theme.

Very cute little cafe in Waikiki. We went on a Monday morning around 745 and it was pretty quiet. We ordered the tres leches French toast and the brisket breakfast sandwich to go. They both came with really fresh seasonal fruit. Both were tasty. I had my baby with me and the barista was very considerate and brought our coffee out to us at a table while we waited for the food so I wouldn't have to walk with a hot espresso and the little one. It's a great place to stop in for breakfast that isn't crazy busy.

The lady taking orders was super rude to me They have a weird system about sitting and and waiting

The service and meal at Castro's was remarkable! We were treated by H and she was so helpful in our ordering process and so very kind. The other counter woman was gracious enough to offer a recipe for their Green dipping sauce! When We get home to Pittaburgh, I plan on recreating!!! This might have been our favorite meal of the trip to Hawaii!!!

I am still dreaming about the wonderful breakfast I had here during vacation last week. I had the Croque Senorita and is seriously one of the best things I've ever eaten. The guava jam and rich Gruyere cheese really rounds out the flavors and I can't wait to go back. The service was quick and attentive, and the patio was lovely to sit out on in the morning.

Best breakfast in Waikīkī! My daughter and I ate here twice the five days we were in town. The Tres Leches French Toast is AMAZING! This is a must when you visit Oahu! -fresh ingredients -presentation looks beautiful and the food exceeds your expectation!