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It's always a blur when I'm at Blind Ox. I don't think I came here sober once lol. This had to change that so I came here for dinner sober. Blind Ox is on Kapahulu Ave across Sushi Ginza Onodera and Running Room. They offer valet parking or you can search for street parking in the residential area. Safeway does occasionally tow so if you plan to park there, do it at your own risk. They offer seating inside and outside. Both are good options but it's slightly cooler inside. This past experience I dined inside and stayed sober so I could finally review them. We arrived and the hostess greeted us immediately. Our table was ready as we had reservations. It was honestly odd to come and not drink but I sucked it up and focused on the food. We ordered a bunch of items to share. The items we ordered were Bone Marrow, King Crab Tempura, 24 K Gold Popcorn Chicken, U-10 Scallops, Bourbon Crème Brûlée, Tokyo Nights (I had to and it came with a gold crane on top of the ice) & a custom mock tail from the bartender. The kitchen didn't take long to get our orders out and the bartender was quick as a whistle. The food was good and I particularly liked the King Crab Tempura because the sauce reminds me of the Chinese soy based sauce with sizzling oil drizzled on steamed fish. U-10 Scallops we're my next favorite as the scallops were seared perfectly. The Bone Marrow was good but it was quite rich since I was tasked to eat most of it. Their 24 K Gold Popcorn Chicken was better than expected and they were tender. Keep in mind it's quite dim inside so it's not the easier to get amazing photos of the food or of people. Overall, it was a good meal with a memorable ending at the valet stand. Poor guy must have ran to Kahuku to get my car because we were there a long time. During the long wait, a homeless guy who was clearly not in his right mind approached us and cussed at me out of the blue. He also asked offered us weed lol. At least we weren't attacked and he didn't throw anything at my car when it finally arrived. The valet did leave my car unlocked the entire time it was parked wherever it was parked though (my app notified me). I'm so glad nothing was stolen. Valet needs to fix this issue going forward for other customers. But...I finally have a night I recall at the Blind Ox ;p
A bartender in Waikiki tipped me off that Blind Ox was worth the hike, and I absolutely loved everything I had! The Love Potion #829 and Tokyo Nights were both interesting, complex, and beautiful to boot! My only note would be that the floral rim on the former is a little much; maybe mix the flower petals with sugar to make it a bit less aggressive. The drinks were great, but the food may have been even better. The octopus and French onion soup were both perfectly executed, but my favorite had to be the blue cheese mac and cheese balls. So so so delicious! I could have eaten about 20 more.
Everything about Blind Ox met our expectations. We had the private room, that also came with our own bathroom. Lighting was great, not too bright & not too dim. It was adjustable which was nice for when we took our pics. Our waiter was really awesome! He conversed with us, and even laughed at our jokes. He did videos with us, & even took our photos. The food was all delicious. Not all the dishes we had is pictured, but we definitely was full. It was all shareable for us girls. We even had oyster shooters which was delicious. The presentation of all the dishes was beautiful, and I like how our waiter explained all the dishes. He was very knowledgeable about each dish. He also made great drink recommendations for us ladies. Everything about Blind Ox was perfect for my sister's birthday. We definitely plan on coming here again!
Came here for a surprise dinner for myself and a few friends. There are two dining areas. One where the check in is and on the right side after some stairs is a fancier dining area which will make you say wow! Parking may be a little tough especially during peak hours but they do offer valet service if you prefer not to find street parking. Staff are friendly and actually very engaging which is nice when you're out drinking with friends. Food here is actually really good. Here's the breakdown of what we ordered. We got the blind ox blue balls ($16) which is crispy mac cheese balls, bone marrow ($28) which comes with bread that you can put the bone marrow on. Defiently recommend! The blind ox french fries ($16) which is great to share. The truffle oil and garlic taste made the fries so tasty! Their special dipping sauce was also a plus!. The blind ox steak ($38) is an 8oz NY strip, very tender, juicy and flavorful steak which I also recommend! Lastly, we got the the A-5 Wagyu Katsu Sando ($52). Probably my favorite of all the foods. The wagyu is so rich and literally just melts in your mouth. A must try! Overall, a very good experience. Little on the pricey side but for the quality of the food, i'd say it's worth it. We did order a few drinks/shots but the food is the main event here at Blind Ox.
I had been looking forward to coming to the Blind Ox. It's advertised as a speakeasy type restaurant with a hidden entrance and a focus on unique cocktails and intentional bites. Overall, I'd say it was a fine experience. Not quite what I was expecting and I don't feel a need to go back, but it was still good. Food: The food was overall good. No jaw dropping stand outs. It was all relatively tasty. We enjoyed the salad, fries, uni pasta, bone marrow, fries and steak. Drinks: I did enjoy my matcha cocktail. It was unique and the whipped foam at the top was thick and interesting. Ambiance: We were seated inside. The interior area is small with small booths and a bar area. The seats were small and tight so prepare to get cozy with your party. There is also outdoor seating but it seems if you're going to spring for this experience, you should request inside.
In the grand scheme of Honolulu spots, this gets a solid "mediocre" from me (which is my definition of a middle of the road venue...50% of things I enjoyed and 50% need some work). It definitely attracts a crowd in search of a cool, hipster, unique setting. I do like the secretive, darkened ambiance that this place has. It is a bit hidden, the windows are curtained off and the faux front door has a phone box to look like you need to speak to an operator for entry. The entry is actually on the side street with a valet parking stand which brings me to the first subpar issue: On the night I had a reservation, the valet told me he was full so there was no customer dedicated parking left. I circled the neighborhood x 5 and could not find any street parking. I told the hostess that we were just going to cancel and go somewhere else due to lack of parking and they told me to park in the Safeway lot across Kapahulu. The signage there warns of towing for non-customers so I was not really cool with parking there but the restaurant staff assured me that their own employees do it all the time. For a somewhat haughty spot, I was unimpressed with this recommendation but had no choice. If this is their solution, The Blind Ox should really negotiate something with the lot managers so that customers know they will really turn a Blind Eye to using their lot in this manner. I did not like spending my evening in a hidden, sequestered speak-easy without windows not knowing if my car was going to be there when I got done. The ambiance works by having a cool bar, lots of premium booze available, and a life-sized bull in the middle of the room with fully unadorned gonads on display. There are some nice custom house-made cocktails available with great menu descriptions of expensive ingredients and pricing to match (most of the cocktails on the menu are at least $20!). The service was about what you would expect from a bar setting (friendly if a little understated, but perfectly adequate. The 2nd issue that did not impress was the food. The menu descriptors sounded great but the deliverables were pretty average. The most notable items for my party were the Scotch Eggs which were tasty and on par with many I've had in Europe. But, the Oyster Shots and Gold Popcorn Chicken, were both less tasty than anything I've had anywhere (ingredients seemed of good quality but both screaming for salt). Overall, I'm glad I got to check this place out despite leaving with testicle envy. But after this visit, my recommendation would be: Take an Uber and leave your car at home, come for a cocktail or 2 and then go elsewhere for dinner.
A night at Blind Ox is like transporting to a NY/LA style bar. I came here with friends from the mainland and for a moment, I forgot that I was in Hawaii. For locals, this can be a fun experience that mimics a night out at a bougie bar on the mainland. Here's the 4-1-1: Valet parking is available for $5 or there is limited neighborhood street parking. You enter through the outdoor space. We made the mistake of walking past that area and trying to get in using the main doors that face the street. Since it's a "speakeasy" we thought we needed to use the phone that's on the wall to get in... but no, you just walk up to the host stand in the outdoor area. Drinks are $17-$27. Definitely on the pricier side but delicious nevertheless! Here's what we ordered: Viva La Matcha ($22) with Jasmine Infused Tequila, matcha, honey, elderflower, lemon, coconut foam and a green tea pocky on top! Mr. Crack Seed ($17) with Li Hing Mui Infused Bourbon, honey, lemon. These two drinks were my favorite!! I've had a few matcha and li hing mui drinks before but these two were my favorite of these pairings. The Jasmine infused tequila was one for the books. I've had a few infused tequilas in my day, but this one was floral and perfectly paired with the matcha. The plum flavor of the Li Hing Mui brought out the best flavors in the bourbon- simply a great pairing. The Madrid ($19) with Vanilla Infused Rye Whiskey, pickled chili pepper, elderflower, honey, lime, tamarind rim. I had just a sip of this from my friend, but he really enjoyed it- especially the tamarind rim. Tokyo Nights ($19) with Japanese Whisky, orange cognac liqueur, italian bitter, rhubarb bitter, yuzu, black lava salt. I've always been a fan of Japanese whiskey but I would say that this drink caters to someone with a different palette to mine. For food we ordered the: Blue balls (mac & cheese balls) Nori Shrimp Truffle fries. The Nori shrimp and truffle fries were the most notable. If I was to come again, I would probably just order the fries! Overall, it was a really great experience but the price point of $17-$22 for a cocktail is too high.
So far so good. LOVE the ambiance!! There's several entrances. The outside seating was closed due to the weather. Love love love it. Let's see how the food is...! Service was great! Very attentive and knowledge on the menu! Definitely coming back! Loved what we ate but I want to try EVERYTHING!!!
We stopped by for a drink and I tried the El Chapo, which they set on fire before serving! It was interesting, and they had a lot of other cocktails that I wanted to try. However, for $20 per cocktail, we would rather eat. I would have given 4 stars but the service was pretty bad. A server introduced herself to us then disappeared to go chat behind the bar for the rest of the night. Someone else finally took our order after like 30 minutes. I guess the $20 paid for the cool, imprinted ice cube.
If you want a very intimate spot for some drinks I recommend coming here! They have a really nice outdoor seating area and a very interesting setup inside their establishment. ***What I ordered **Viva La Matcha (7.5/10) I wasn't too impressed by the drink, but it was definitely different. I liked the floral notes in the drink, but I thought it would be a little more earthy. Although, I did love matcha stick garnish! That was a cute touch to the drink. Overall, I wouldn't mind coming back, although it is a little pricey. The staff was really professional and nice! The parking situation isn't too bad too. You can park on the street or do valet!
We arrived and were sat in a tiny cramped table. I'm 5'9" and about 165lbs, I was struggling to sit comfortably and was sitting upright the whole time. Not sure how plus sized guests are supposed to sit at these tables unless they get a booth? Waitress was nice! The two drinks we got were the tequila machata one (ok) and the miso shitake drink (ok). Overpriced craft place what do you expect. I am not much of a drinker so I can't elaborate on cocktails. The lobster roll. Don't get it. Smells super old and fishy. The buns were your store bought Hawaiian rolls not toasted or buttered or anything. They take this limp frozen lobster and place it on top and give you with a side of this special clear sauce which tasted like tap water. How about butter and garlic ?! Pretty gross, you're in Hawaii go to a local poke place instead or how about they fish for local lobster? Hm.. there's an idea! The tacos with the raw fish. It was so bland. Needs a sauce or marinade, maybe a citrus marinade? The avocado smash was that of Albertsons guac. Unseasoned and no flavor throughout these overpriced tacos. Bland at best. At least the shell was crispy. The chicken nuggets with gold flakes. Go to Carl's Jr and get their chicken stars. Seriously, tough chicken and unseasoned. A complex looking dish only to be disappointed. I dipped them in my Mac and cheese ball sauce dip (very good). They give you honey and corn flakes on the size. Maybe the chef and owner were stoned when they came up with it? The bull balls (Mac n cheese)... best part. I mean you get Mac n cheese and you deep fry them and put a good sauce on them. Of course it'll taste good. But not $20 good for 5 balls. The real hero tonight....! Overall this was a recommendation from a guide so shame on us haha. Save yourself the $150+ meal and go get a poke bowl, shrimp plate, or anything else. Don't try and impress your date with this place. Looks cool, but the chef needs to step it up with the basics.
Blind ox was on my bookmarks for a long time as i've never gone to a speakeasy before. Reservations are easy on Open Table - You can reserve up to 10 guests online, but you'd have to sit outside. Smaller parties can be indoors. 20% gratuity is also added to your bill for parties 6 or more. I was excited to go but upon arrival - the entrance with the phone was broken. You had to go around the building and towards the back to enter. Kind of a bummer cause we had to sit outside too so we didnt get the full experience. It was also a hot summer night so if you do dine outside then you should also dress accordingly. There are fans but there isnt enough to keep you cool through the night. Blind ox is really great for larger parties only because everyone can order something and you can try different things on the menu. I enjoyed the food, but most importantly the company made the difference as well. We had two different occasions that night. We had 2 birthdays and 1 celebration of life. They do provide a cake for your celebration too. Service was super friendly and attentive. There was apparently a sign that no phones are allowed inside the bar area. I would definitely go back again to try other things.
3 years ago
The oyster shooters were amazing and the drinks were good too. Would definitely go back for them. A little expensive for the portions, but the decor was nice and the food was great. Very good service with good suggestions and opened my eyes to different cocktails. There are so many different ones there is a cocktail there for you. Bring cash for Valet parking because it is hard to find parking on your own. If you're looking for a nice date place that's a little fancy and impress this is the place for you. read more
3 years ago
Wow.....I'm reading all of the reviews here, and I'm wondering if I'm severely missing something or am I just focused on investing for my retirement? Lol. I'm on vacation and never hesitate to spend money on a great meal experience but holy hell.....$36 for two tiny pieces of duck prosciutto? I literally had to laugh. I LOVE tapas and I LOVE a speakeasy. This didn't fit either description for me. I made reservations over a month ago (just about) for our honeymoon yet we were still seated outside, so I have no clue what the inside was like, I certainly hope better than the outside. I couldn't convince myself to buy a $17 cocktail which was the cheapest I saw, so I got a cider instead after being told my first two choices of beer/seltzer were unavailable. We ordered a Caesar salad which was ok, truffle fries which I agree with a prior reviewer who said they were almost over-fried, duck prosciutto and creme brûlée. They comped the creme brûlée for our honeymoon which was the reason they got two stars in all honesty. Super disappointed as this was one of our only eat in reservations our whole trip. Prices are just not worth the food. Again, super disappointed. No experience was had. read more
5 years ago
I've attached a photo of the $32 gold chicken nuggets. This place was so ridiculous in their attempt to be fancy it was comical. The foods just not there yet. $450 dinner and not one dish to write home about. read more
Don't let price deter you! 100% worth every penny. The combination of atmosphere, service (servers attentive but not rushing you so enjoy your conversation) and food quality is outstanding! Our favorite? The charcuterie tray and Boca del Toro cocktail! So ono! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
I wanted to find a cute place where I can dress up. Seen lots of friends trying this place so wanted to try for myself. The ambience was nice. Cute decors. I wanted to sit inside but they were booked. There was k my reservations for outside seating which I took. I was told there were only 8 tables inside. They do have a private room that can hold up to 10 people. The food was pretty good and some of the drinks were ok. Tastes different but it was ok. I gave a 3 stat cuz the service was really slow. They only had 1 bartender so we waited awhile for our drinks. The prices were okay kinda pricey. But overall a 3 for me. read more
This place has a wonderful ambiance. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of parking but valet is only $5. The food portions are all kinda pupu style. When they first brought the servings I was disappointed because of how small they were however they were priced accordingly so we were able to get a ton of things to try! The lobster rolls were soooo good. The sweet bread was so soft and the lobster was a large piece cooked to perfection. My husband really liked the scallops it was on polenta (?) and the textures just blended so well. My husband also loved the wagyu, and that thing melted in your mouth. Served as little sandwiches and I would never think to eat wagyu that way lol but it worked well. We went to celebrate our anniversary and got a key lime pie on the house, that was light and very yummy as well. Our service was mediocre. The staff are still wearing masks but the patrons do not have to. I'm not sure if it was because of her mask but we could barely understand what she was saying. She was very "quick" with our table, didn't really talk much with us but she wasn't "bad". All in all it was a great date night for the hubby and I and we would definitely recommend. Oh, the blind ox steak ... a must have!! read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
I was excited to go to this place but unfortunately it did not live up to the hype. We ordered about half of the menu and nothing was satisfying. About 3 of the drinks my husband wanted to drink was not unavailable and although the server Mike was good at first, he was not attending during the rest of the dinner service. He even forgot to put in 2 orders for us in which we had to remind him. We took about 3 dishes: the bone marrow because the bread was cold and not crispy, the steak was warm and did not ha w the foei gras requested for and the creme brûlée was not cook. So much mistakes for very expensive tapas! Definitely a shame. The scallop dish was alright but if was over good. The 24kt friend chicken is nothing special and the blind ox fries seems burned but luckily we like fries that way. Drinks were okay and really nothing special. So this was a disappointing experience for an expensive place. read more
4 years ago
I loved this bar. Came here on a solo date on my birthday eve. The bartender Boo is the sweetest! The wine was amazing and so were the fries read more
4 years ago
I love speakeasies so I was excited to learn they reopened & I was able to give it a try. Overall, we had a good time. I gave it 4 starts because I believe there's always room for improvement. Our reservation was for 745 on a Tuesday so it wasn't too busy. Michael was our server, and he was fantastic. We connected well and he treated us like people rather than a robot serving patrons. We ordered the escargot, bone marrow, scallops, oyster shooter, & NY steak. Im a newbie to escargot & oyster shooters, but they both were surprisingly good. If you like mushrooms & cheese, you gotta try the escargot. My husband doesn't even like mushrooms but was satisfied with the escargot. It had a great mix of flavors. The oyster shooter was different but not bad. I'm originally from FL so I love raw oysters. They are the small WA oysters so it makes it easier, however the ponzu was a bit overpowering. The scallops were very tasty. A great combination of crisp from the polenta cake, tender scallop, and the sweet crunch of the pickled cucumber. Then you have the little apples to cleanse the palate. YUM! Bone marrow was good but nothing spectacular. The steak was our least favorite. We might've gotten a bad cut but we got a chewy tendon & it was under cooked. I do however appreciate it being undercooked rather than over cooked and understand cooks would rather make that mistake also. Overall, great time, amazing food, and wonderful service. Prices aren't cheap so it's not a regular spot but we'll be back again. read more
3 years ago
My uncle and I have heard so much about the Blind Ox that we had to stop by and experience it for ourselves! I was honestly surprised that this place had valet available. My uncle's model X was parked nicely in front due to minimal parking options. The atmosphere is very elegant and trendy. The waiter we had was excellent! Although he was new, he gave fantastic service and recommended us really good food and drinks. The Blind Ox is known for their Whisky's so be sure to try them out. If your not a fan of whisky, ask for a variety of cocktails like I did. I apologize but I can't tell you which ones I've had because they were all recommended by our waiter. I have added pictures for reference. One of the cocktails I received had a lit cinnamon stick on it replicating a burning cigar. It made the drink super fun and cool! I really admired a particular whisky my uncle received too. It had a golden origami crane floating in it. Hands down the dishes that stood out to me was the A-5 Wagyu Tartare & the A-5 Wagyu Katsu Sando. They are definitely my absolute favorite here! The tartare literally melted in my mouth with just one bite. I felt it melting on the roof of my tongue against the crispy nori that it was nesting on. If I could repeat that moment again I totally would. As for the sando, my Japanese Wagyu fantasies have been achieved in Hawaii. This sandwich was a perfect balance of softness in the inside and a bit of crunch from the bread. The only disappointments I had here was that they didn't have the 24 K Gold Popcorn Chicken available and the croutons in their cesar salad were extremely stale. To wrap it up, I would totally come back! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Been wanting to try this place! Finally, got a chance tonight. First, got here and had to valet my car. This place is sort of like a hidden gem among all the other eateries on Kapahulu Ave. You can't see inside from the outside, and when you walk into the outside entrance area, you feel like it's a mystery until you get to walk inside. I love the interesting vibes with all the old fashioned interior decor and wall hangings, lol. Glad there was a table for me and my bestie to sit and enjoy our food & drinks, because I don't care to sit at the bar on tall bar chairs (I have short legs, lol). Service was good, and our waitress was friendly. The whole "experience" was cool and different from what I'm usually used to. I love the branded items, from beautiful black napkins with gold lettering to the wooden menu, and the huge blind ox statue, lol! They have a huge selection of all kinds of whiskey from average price to super pricy! I tried one of their mixed drinks, the Kapahulu Sunrise, which has rum and citrus flavors with fresh mint leaves, and to my surprise, a lit cinnamon stick! Very cool presentation! I wasn't very hungry, so we just shared 2 dishes, the Uni Carbonara pasta and the Blind Ox Steak. Both were amazing in flavor, texture, and presentation! I loved the egg on top and the fact that we could break the yolk after it was served to us! It was so creamy, rich and delish! The steak was amazingly grilled perfectly and super tender! We will have to go back to try some of the other menu items! I recommend this place if you don't mind spending some and like to drink whiskey, wine, bourbon, rum, and mixed drinks, etc. The food we tried were really tasty and high quality, and worth the ! read more
5 years ago
5 years ago
Amazing service and recommendations front bedroom server Kepa. I always enjoy food no matter the price and I love when things that are recommended are actually amazing. Loved everything. read more
5 years ago
This review is long overdue! Three of us were able to get a last minute reservation for 3 people. They originally sat us outside but we asked to sit inside because we wanted to see the bar. The inside was so cool and different than anything I've been to in the island. The inside was dark with dim lighting, we loved it. We sat at the bar and our bartenders were Jess and I think Justin. Both were excellent! They were the friendliest bartenders a d gave great recommendations. Their service was top notch. When all was said and done we each had about 4 cocktails. Every single cocktail was EXCELLENT. The liquor selection was carefully curated by the bar manager and her name is Boo. She really knows her stuff and gave great recommendations. I asked Jess to make a boulevardier and told her to make it however she thinks is best, she did not disappoint! Now let's talk about the food. Everything was really good. It is pricey but you get what you pay for. You can tell when everything is made from scratch. It was very obvious that the kitchen staff really cared about the food they were putting out. And can we talk about their fries?! Aye yay yay they were insanely good. Hot, crispy, seasoned perfectly and served with a Serrano sauce that was just the right amount of spicy. The pork belly buns were the best we had on our trip, and we had many. The bone marrow dish was our favorite. We could have easily all ordered our own to eat. We drank and ate for almost three hours and we rarely ever dine that long. Yes this place is bougie but it's comfortable and welcoming. The food, drink and customer service are all worth the price. read more
3 years ago
The ambiance always a vibe. The service from the check in to waiters/waitresses have always been pleasant, and wonderful. I absolutely love the food, for me it's just enough. My favorite is the bone marrow, oyster shooters. And the crème brûlée all are so delicious. I highly recommend this place. read more
5 years ago
Been hearing so much about this new speakeasy joint that we had to check it out for my friend's birthday. I really wanted to try the Tokyo Nights drink (Japanese whisky, yuzu, cocoa, rhubarb) which was highly recommended by our server, Jay. It was really refreshing and delicious. Kinda pricey but worth trying it once ... maybe twice. Jay was awesome and very informative with his recommendations. We ordered the French fries w/truffle oil, Spanish octopus, Kampachi tartare taco, Nori shrimp, U-10 scallops, bone marrow and steak. For dessert, we ordered the bourbon crème brulee which was delicious and they gave the birthday girl a complimentary key lime pie. The parking is very limited on the street located at the end of a busy neighborhood so needed to use the valet service. The dress description says"classy" but they allowed people in jeans and shorts and t-shirts with slippers to dine inside which did not match the classy ambience. There is both outside and inside seating and we were lucky enough to be seated inside by the bar. All in all, would come back again. read more
I am hands down the messiest escargot eater! They had some cheesy and tasty escargot, a pretty good New York steak, and delicious scallops. Libations were pretty good all around but not super "knock your socks off amazing". Some items were a bit pricey but overall a good experience. I recommend getting seated inside as it can get super hot and sweaty outside depending on the weather. Will return read more
5 years ago
My friends and I had to check out this new whiskey joint which boasted an extensive variety of whiskey and fun tapas on their menu. We had 24k gold on our chicken! We loved the decor and the ambience of this place... Definitely a super cool spot to have a fun night with friends and family! read more
Had the fried shrimp and Moscow mule. My fiends had great drinks and everyone was happy with what they ordered very cool unassuming outside. It's very hip and trendy inside. A lot of people on dates. But the booths are big so you can bring groups too! read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
In the space that used to be the short-lived Hapa, is now the swanky bar/speakeasy, The Blind Ox. Making a reservation was easy using OpenTable. We arrived and made full use of the valet for $5 as the area can be limited on parking. We were seated inside and it was a stark contrast to the outdoor decor. Inside was gaudy - in a good way, in a grand and over the top way that highlights the experience. . . . First the food: We ordered Blind Ox French Fries, Kampachi Tartare, and the Blind Ox Steak. Fries, were fairly standard with a light flavoring of truffle and garlic. The tartare was nice - well seasoned, and the shell was deliciously crispy. The steak it self came with some potato gems, well cooked to our liking. . . . The Drinks: these were elegantly made and well balanced. I started with the Sol Y Paz (Gin, Strawberry, and Basil - couldn't miss the basil). Refreshing and harmonious. My second drink was the Mr. Crack Seed (bourbon, dried and salted plum, lemon, and honey). This was the flavors of my childhood that grew up, got a degree, and is now a high maka-maka big shot boss. LOVELY! . . . Dessert: The meal itself lacked any substantial acidic elements that it felt heavy after a while. We had hope that the bourbon crepe brûlée and key lime pie would help that - while the preparation and presentation was beautiful, the flavors itself lacked any oomph. Save the money and get another drink. . . . Overall, it was a nice experience. The service was attentive and complementary. I recommend going for drinks and maybe appetizers - but stick to that. Get your dinner and dessert elsewhere. Is it worth getting dressed up for. Yes, the drinks are worth going for. read more
A good one time experience :') honest review is that food and bev is a lil overpriced..everything was really yummy and the atmosphere was trendy but other than that I can't justify spending ~$45-50 a head (after the bill was split) for one drink, a shared plate and a shared dessert. The night we went, the only reservation my friend and I could get was 9:15. A couple hours before, the hostess called and told us there were some cancellations! We were stoked to be able to move our time up and that was really nice of them to let us know! Knowing this, we were hoping to be able to get seated inside at a table or the bar, but after checking, the only tabke they could offer us was outdoor seating. If you don't have a reservation indoors, they won't let you peek inside..I feel like if you get inside seating, maybe the atmosphere would make the experience more worth it, but outdoors was pretty hot since there's only fans and no AC! My drink tasted really good ngl, and I really wasn't expecting it to. My friend and I also really enjoyed the nori shrimp and affogato for dessert..deffs reccomend them! read more
5 years ago
A neat experience with great cocktails! A little on the pricey side so I wouldn't recommend it for a night out on a budget. The staff is friendly and helpful. Great place to try something new. read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
Been wanting to try Blind Ox for a while and finally got around to visiting them. I was impressed by the interior decor and royal chair with wearable crowns for a fun photo opportunity. My friends and I ordered a round of drinks and fries. We arrived late for our reservation so we quickly looked over the menu and chose to try the drink called thyme out. I should've known by the title that the drink would taste like thyme, but I didn't expect the flavor to be as strong as it was. Poor selection on my end. Overall the service was speedy and a fun drinking experience. read more
4 years ago
First time at the Blind Ox for date night with my husband. Just Chose Blind Ox when I Googled "restaurants in Waikiki". Reservation was for Friday at 8:15pm. Decided to valet the car so not sure about self parking. Residential area surrounding the restaurant. Entrance was a bit obscured. The valet attendant actually directed us to it. Server was pleasant and knowledgeable about the food, cocktails and other libations. Also very attentive and provided recommendations based on what we liked. Petite lobster rolls and escargot were rich, buttery, and delicious. Blind Ox steak was tender, seasoned, and cooked perfectly. Tapa portions so we ordered more as needed. 3 cocktails that were recommended in following order made sense- 1. Thyme Out - easy to drink and refreshing 2. Playa Del Sangre - kept the party going for sure! Stronger but nice hints of the hibiscus infused Mezcal and other fruity liqueurs. 3. Viva La Matcha- I considered my dessert cocktail. If you love matcha like me, then I highly recommend this drink as the combo with honey and coconut foam works! Finished off with Bourbon crème brûlée and the key lime pies. Both tasty. The only thing we really didn't care for was the outdoor seating , which was the only option available for our reservation time. Thankfully, it didn't rain so the lack of complete roofing (fancy tarps?) was not a problem that night. However, it was a bit humid and muggy. I don't think a breeze would've been able to come through due to the location. With summer around the corner and Hurricane season, it may be a problem. It looks like the outdoor seating/tables is the alleyway of 2 buildings. I did ask if I can see the inside seating. Much better but it does look different from pictures on line. Overall, I would recommend. Pricey but food is delicious and drinks were amazing. read more
5 years ago
Blind Ox is amazing!! I fell in love with this place during my last visit to Oahu and already booked reservations for my next visit. The craft cocktails are unique and rich in flavor and pair really well with all the tapas. My friends and I liked the oyster shooters so much, that we ended up ordering two rounds of them! Price is definitely worth the quality of food! read more
More info about Blind Ox
829 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
Kaimuki
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Ask the Community - Blind Ox
Bar seat Reservations?
I loved the bar seating! If you book a 'bar' reservation, you will literally be seated at the bar. Great opportunity to chat with the bartender about their cocktails.
Im trying to book a resevation but dont understand what "standard" seating means. What is "standard" seating?
It means seated at a table and not the bar or outside patio
Is there some good music playing in the outdoor area?
Yes we have speakers in our outdoor area.
Since the safe access has been lifted, does anyone know if they still required vaccinated cards/covid tests?
Is this place appropriate for kids? I'll be traveling with my 13 and 10 years old. Would love to try this place if it is.
This place is very laid back. When I dined there, I sat inside and no one bothered. Everyone minded their own business and went about their day. The only thing that wouldn't make this place kid-friendly would be the fact that it's a speakeasy… Read more
Is this place only 21+?
No it is not, but they will card for alcoholic beverages.
Do they accept discover credit cards?
Yes. Blind Ox takes Visa,Mastercard,Amex and Discover.
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15 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Blind Ox - tapasmallplates - Updated May 2026
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