Ethel’s Grill, the cash-only Kalihi lunch counter at 232 Kalihi St., closed on November 27, 2024, the day before Thanksgiving, after roughly 45 years. Its final Instagram post drew more than 2,300 reactions from regulars mourning one of Honolulu’s most loved local-Japanese plate-lunch spots (NewsBreak).
Okinawa-born Ryoko Ishii and Tokyo-born Yoichi Ishii bought the restaurant decades ago. Ryoko cooked and ran the room, and customers called her “Ethel” so often that she got used to it. When Yoichi, a fishmonger’s son who had worked at Furusato and Kyo-Ya, came home to cook full-time, the menu shifted toward its signature dishes (Yelp). Diners lined up for ahi tataki, sashimi, taco rice, garlic chicken, loco moco, and especially the mochiko chicken (Aloalo Travel). These were cheap, generous plates served in a cramped room with no frills.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Ethel’s is currently closed, so do not plan a visit around it. Co-owner Minaka Urquidi has said several pressures together led to the closure, and those pressures mirror problems at many Honolulu eateries (Honolulu Magazine). Some outlets keep their listings live in case the restaurant reopens. Check its official social channels before heading to Kalihi. If it does return, expect the same habits regulars knew: bring cash and arrive before the weekday lunch rush.
