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Found this place during our last trip to Honolulu. We were looking to support a local restaurant away from the craziness of downtown Waikiki. We enjoyed our experience so much the first time that we returned a couple of years later. The atmosphere is cozy, casual, and friendly.
There is a small parking lot, but you might miss the entrance like we did the first time while driving and like our Uber driver did the second time. Tip: Look at the Google map to know the landmarks and avoid having to go around again (Sharp Right right after McDonald's if you are on Kilauea Ave).
The staff was friendly, and the chef even came by to say hi and check on us.
Regarding the food, the cornbread with lilikoi & honey butter is super tasty. The octopus is delicious and beautifully presented. I usually only like about 10% of the octopus that I try, but this one was perfectly grilled and seasoned. The Brussels sprouts were crispy and had pickled cranberries and brown butter. The fried eggplant was okay. Our favorite main was the Koji Aged Beef - creamy mushroom sauce with long beans. Our favorite dessert was the lemon meringue.
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Excellent service at Kapa Hale! Our host was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and patient with all of our questions. He was also able to recommend drinks after asking about taste pallet.
The four of us hadn't eaten here before so we basically wanted to try everything. (And it was fun ordering the punny named dishes!) We ordered several starters: corn bread, naan/curry, octopus, and the special. Of these the "corny bread" was preferred. The naan in "naan ya business" was delish but the curry sauce didn't impress. We didn't taste the special, I can't remember what it was supposed to be now, because zucchini jun came out.
The entrées were so filling because they're so rich. So, though you might see small plates in the guests' pictures, keep that in mind.
We ordered the special (a porridge with shredded hamhock), two pastas (one comes with pork, the order does not, but noodles are housemade), and the steak.
The porridge was tasty and super rich, especially with that salty hock and after eating all those apps. The "pappardelle alla pork guisantes" was okay. My entrée was the "agnolotti alla funghi" and it was de-licious. The "Koji aged boeuf" a 12oz steak was hands down melt in your mouth wonderful. It was enough to share and, fortunately, take home extra.
We were stuffed but why not try dessert? We swooned over the oreo/coffee/chocolate pie (middle of the three menu options).
(I had water so can't comment on non/alcoholic drinks, but my friends enjoyed them!)
Overall, yes! Visit this place, try the rotating specials and definitely the steak. The service is top-notch and chef definitely creative.
First off - this place is absolutely worth the visit. GO!!!
For a bit more detail - the food and the people are outstanding. The food is (and I'm not exaggerating here) some of the best that I've had anywhere. I would repeat any day for any reason. The octopus, salad, pork belly, risotto - all 10/10. The bartender and drinks were also world class.
Minor improvement needed though - the restrooms badly need a remodel / cleaning. The hall also is cluttered with spare furniture etc. The entrance is also confusing - the main entrance is through the side, rather than under the sign (confusing). Finally, the service was great and people support friendly, but odd - three different people took orders, delivered food, etc - was almost unsure who to ask for something when needed.
Short version - sure the front of house needs some work. But the food - OMG someone please give this chef the Michelin star that he deserves!
We had dinner here during our last few days in Oahu, and we're so glad we decided to try it out. We ordered family style and shared the koji-aged steak, roasted chicken, and seafood risotto. Each dish was so thoughtfully prepared, and the chef even came out to greet us and ask how everything was. Loved the food, atmosphere, and service. Hope to be back soon!
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, look no further, come here for breakfast and enjoy a smooth calm atmosphere.
I was asked about reservation, but seated immediately. So if you want make reservations, trust me, the food is worth it.
I recommend the I got you Bae Burger. Fresh avocado, over easy eggs stole the show. Ask for Stacy.
Not gonna lie, we made brunch reservations ahead of time and almost bailed when we pulled up to the building. Good thing we stuck to the plan because this place was so so good!! And super friendly staff. We had to park a few buildings over because the lot was very full.
We came here for dinner at the last night in Oahu. Wonderful choice! We opted to order a variety of small dishes and they were all wonderful! The chef also stopped by and chatted with a few diners. The place has great art work too. This is a hidden gem in a less touristy area and more people should come visit!
AMAZING experience! One of the best restaurants on the island. Phenomenal food- very creatively crafted using local ingredients and pairing flavors from all over the world! Service was great too. For being a locally owned business starting in the middle of Covid, I hope they stay for good! Come support- you won’t be disappointed I promise :)
By far our favorite meal on our trip! We made reservations and were excited to be seated near the beautiful mural inside the restaurant. Husband and I each ordered a drink (him a NYC Fashioned and myself a Lychee Ginger Chu-hai). For appetizers, we got the corny bread, Hawaiian beef tartare, and the Everyday I'm Brusselin' - all good but the brussel sprouts were by far our favorite appetizer (we were tempted to get another order). For our main entrees, I got the signature tagliatelle alla shrimp & bulgogi pork bolognese and it was SO good! Husband got the miso schnitzel de lechon and the pork belly and sauce was out of this world good. We couldn't help ourselves and indulged in dessert. The Lemon Dream was amazing and the Miso Soy was very much tasty and I wish I knew the recipe. Staff was friendly and helpful. We loved our dinner so much, we strongly considered coming back the following day but will have to visit again in the future. Love, love, LOVED our meal!
This was our second visit, and both experiences are truly amazing. We tried the summer tasting menu, and everything was spot on from the appetizer to desserts. My boyfriend also enjoyed their chocolate old fashioned from our first visit.
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