Chow Mein Express

Our verdict

Airport food courts rarely reward close attention, but Chow Mein Express at Honolulu's Interisland Terminal occupies a specific and practical niche: a quick-service Chinese-American counter positioned for travelers moving between islands rather than arriving from the mainland with hours to spare. The format is counter service, the price point sits at the inexpensive-to-moderate end of the spectrum, and the menu reads as a reliable roster of Chinese-American standards rather than any attempt at regional authenticity. The menu centers on the dish the name promises. Chow mein anchors the offering, alongside chow fun, orange chicken, broccoli beef, Mongolian beef, egg rolls, and kung pao chicken, a lineup that covers the familiar range of Chinese-American fast food without significant deviation. Breakfast items also appear on the menu, which makes the counter functional across more of the airport day than a single-daypart operation would be. The setting is casual and family-friendly, with table service available in addition to takeout, a minor but useful distinction from a pure grab-and-go stand. For travelers with a connection at HNL who want something hot, filling, and direct rather than a packaged sandwich from a retail kiosk, the counter serves that purpose directly. Expectations should be calibrated accordingly: this is airport food operating within airport constraints, and it performs that role without pretension.

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