Prime Roast Cafe

212 Merchant St R-2, Honolulu, HI 96813, United States
+1 808-521-7777
$$$ Cafe
(34 Reviews)
Price Range $20–30

Prime Roast Cafe sits quietly on a corner of Merchant Street in Honolulu, offering a blend of casual cafe comfort and elevated dining that feels right at home in this bustling city hub. Though it carries the cozy vibe of a local coffee spot, its menu points to a serious commitment to refined flavors — a crossover between cafe and full-service dining that invites both a quick lunch break and an unhurried evening meal.

The space itself is modest and clean, lending a quaint atmosphere that both locals and visitors appreciate as a break from the typical busy downtown spots. Service tends to be warm and attentive without feeling rushed, a detail that draws people looking for a calm pause whether waiting for a hotel room to open or wrapping up work nearby.

Prime Roast’s menu reveals a strong leaning toward prime rib as its centerpiece, with options like the Sterling Silver Prime Rib of Beef in both 10oz and 16oz sizes standing out. The dishes show a measured, classic approach – think port wine bone marrow au jus paired with creamy horseradish and seasonal sides. Complementing the hearty mains are refined small touches like escargot bourguignon and a French-style apple tarte tatin, delivering a slight nod to bistro-style European inspiration amid Hawaiian city life.

For daytime visitors, the Prime Rib Panini seems to be a popular choice, paired with fresh salads and small desserts that hint at that patissier’s classical training reported by regulars. This combination leans into a more casual meal that locals might grab for lunch or a light bite, especially given the option to add drinks and sides in a combo.

The evening experience, however, seems geared toward those with a taste for steadier, composed dining. Dessert choices like the Grand Marnier Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé are only offered during dinner, suggesting a slightly elevated, slower dining ritual that suits relaxing after a busy day.

Prime Roast Cafe fits well for people seeking a relaxed yet sophisticated meal in downtown Honolulu without the fanfare or bustle of larger restaurants. Those who appreciate carefully prepared food with a European twist — especially lovers of prime rib and rich desserts — will find a satisfying spot here. It’s a good pick for a calm weekday lunch or a quiet dinner, particularly when you want a place that feels both approachable and a step above the everyday.

Highlights
Fast service
Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining
What they serve
Coffee
Comfort food
Happy-hour food
Organic dishes
Prepared foods
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Best for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Dessert
Accessibility
Assistive hearing loop
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Paid parking lot
Paid street parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

07:30 AM - 04:00 PM

Tuesday

07:30 AM - 04:00 PM

Wednesday

07:30 AM - 04:00 PM

Thursday

07:30 AM - 04:00 PM

Friday

07:30 AM - 06:00 PM

Saturday

08:30 AM - 07:00 PM

Sunday

Closed

34 Reviews
thomas boyd

29 Dec 2025

Great little restaurant. Clean and quaint. Surprisingly great food and the desserts are equally awesome. Owners are also very friendly and have shown me the utmost hospitality while I waited for my hotel room to be available. Higley recommended Definitely will come back in the future

Andrew

23 Dec 2025

The chef and patissier are classically trained, and it shows in the quality. We ordered the prime rib panini set; the beef was perfect, and the salad was fresh and delicious. The set includes a drink + mini dessert (we chose crème brûlée, and they gave us an extra!). They even split the meal for easy sharing and offered candied orange peels. Regarding price: I can see how it can be considered expensive but it is absolutely worth the price. Service was excellent; we enjoyed a lovely conversation with the staff. The head chef greeted us and wished us well as we left. A wonderful lunch experience!

Mana Caceres

14 Dec 2025

Best French Dip Sandwich I've ever had. I really can't wait to go back and try more of the menu. The quality of the food and service reminds me of some of the café I've been to in Ireland, Scotland, and Germany. Best lunch I've had in years.

Jerome Clark

12 Oct 2025

Cute little place tucked into the corner. Service was very prompt, and attentive. Meals were all delicious, I had the prime rib french dip, full on slices of real prime cooked perfectly. Combo came with a nice little salad and the desert was the matcha with strawberry, very tasty. Would 100% come back.

David Minshall

29 Sep 2025

Absolutely hands down the best food I have had in Honolulu

Fabian Rios

23 Sep 2025

On behalf of my family, I want to highlight this restaurant. We’re tourists visiting from California, and we were absolutely blown away by the food. Every dish was top quality, with flavors that were truly unique. We were not only impressed by the cuisine, but also by the warmth of the owners—an exceptional couple. They took the time to show our young kids around the kitchen, shared stories about their culinary roots, and even revealed a few of their secrets. Such wonderful people! If you get the chance, don’t think twice—go. We tried the French onion soup and the prime rib cut (yes, it’s truly prime quality!). And whatever you do, please save room for the apple tart tatin—it’s incredible!

Peter Z

21 Sep 2025

Prime rib panini was amazing! Meat is super tender and juicy. Bread was perfectly crisp. House made potato salad paired perfectly. Will definitely return!

Jarret Yoshida

15 Sep 2025

We just had a private party there for 25 of our closest friends over the holidays. I’m also eating there before during their normal restaurant hours. Either way, it’s an amazing deal for the quality of food that you get. But beyond the value, they really treat you like they are family bending over backwards to make a terrific meal. Cannot recommend having a private event there enough. Some of our friends are serious foodies who supply restaurants in the city and also members of an international eating club. They all know the restaurant and were happy to come.

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