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We walked into Buzz's on a Sunday around noon during Mother's Day weekend. The place was absolutely packed -- buzzy in every sense of the word. Families hovered around the hostess stand hoping for a table, conversations floated through the air like music, and somewhere beneath it all you could feel the pulse of a place that had been feeding people and creating memories for generations. "There was a guy, his name was Buzz, a greater guy there never was..." Two haole boys and a haole girl from Oxnard, California stood in the middle of it all -- directly across the Pacific from our own modest beach town known as the Strawberry Capital of the World. Farming communities understand something important: the sacred relationship between people, food, and land. Buzz's felt like it understood that too. The sun-kissed, freckled-faced hostess greeted us warmly. The wait? About an hour. Not surprising. Places with soul usually require patience. Knowing my way around restaurants, I told her the best seat in the house is almost always the bar. That's where the stories live. That's where you meet the people making the magic happen. To my surprise, she smiled and welcomed us in. And there it was -- the perfect bar. Open, timeless, alive with character. Across from us sat an elegant woman in traditional Hawaiian attire, facing the ocean, staring through the front windows like she had done it a hundred Sundays before. She had it right - positioned on the best side of the bar. You don't turn your back to the view of the ocean, so we sat next to her. The room hummed with warmth and familiarity. It didn't feel transactional. It felt communal. "Seat da people, spock da chicks, Buzzy always got his pick." Then came the bartender -- commanding the room with charisma, warmth, and effortless aloha. Her energy moved through the restaurant like a tide. Every server who approached her bar carried away drinks and a little piece of her spirit. You could feel it. The laughter became contagious. The hospitality felt genuine. I wasn't drinking that day, but she kept the non-alcoholic daiquiris flowing with the same care and enthusiasm as every cocktail she served. Somewhere between the ocean breeze, the company, and the aloha spirit, I started questioning whether my drink secretly had alcohol in it. Maybe that's just what happens when people make you feel welcome. And then there was the food. The Teriyaki Steak was exceptional -- tender enough to cut like butter, rich with flavor, perfectly balanced alongside rice and vegetables. My cousin ordered the Fish Burrito and couldn't stop talking about it. By the end of the meal he declared it the best thing he'd eaten on the island. "Steak & lobster, salad bar, with a place like this he could go far." As we walked out and continued our adventure through Oahu, Buzz's kept circling back into the conversation. The people. The food. The laughter. The feeling. A little part of me wants to protect this place like a local secret. But that wouldn't be in the spirit of aloha. So much love and respect to everyone at Buzz's. Mahalo.
My family has been coming here for years. Something I recently noticed for the first time, was a photo hanging at the bar of someone posing with to a dead Mano (Tiger Shark). Not cool. Please take this photo down! It's disrespectful. In Hawaiian culture, Manō are revered as 'aumākua (ancestral guardians/protectors).
I was back at Buzz's for an impromptu lunch and ordered their version of a Caesar but with added chicken. I just wanted to note, for anyone who cares about such things, that the chicken they used is thigh meat. I am not necessarily a fan of non-white meat on salads. And I never even think to ask. The meat was freshly cooked though, and was certainly acceptable. The salad itself (Romain lettuce) was also fresh and delicious and not from a bag. So high marks for that. I had dressing on the side. It was also tasty and garlicky. I just thought I would point out that if you're expecting white meat (anywhere in Hawaii) you might want to ask first.
We loved Buzz's on our trip to Hawaii!! The calamari steak is hands down our favorite bite of the trip! I am just dreaming I can find something similar back at home. Our service was amazing, I wish I could remember her name but she was dealing with a very difficult table and maintained the upmost positive attitude and helpfulness the entire meal! We sat outside both times and it was perfect! Food 10/10! Service 10/10! It's a must try restaurant!
Enjoyed a low-key business dinner here with friends. Not a fancy place but has a great vibe and great food! Located directly across from Kailua Beach Park, you can't go wrong and have a beautiful landscape to walk off dinner after. Their steamed artichoke appetizer was amazing! Service was excellent too with multiple servers regularly checking up on us.
Love this kitschy place with personality and lovely, friendly service! I finally got to go here for dinner with some friends last night as I've been hearing about it for quite some time. They have a variety of cuts of beef, pork, chicken, plus a couple fish choices that can be cooked any way you like - Chinese steamed, blackened, fried, etc. Since it's a steakhouse, I wanted the Top Sirloin of course (6 oz was just right for me - tasty and cooked to perfection!) with Spinach Salad (love this refreshing salad with bacon bits and egg), plus a side order of garlic mashed potatoes (fluffy and ono!) - perfect meal and completely happy and satisfied! My friends ordered dessert: Key Lime pie, lava cake and haupia ice cream - I got tastes of each - all were yummy!! I'm a fan and hope to be back really soon! Happy Holidays, everyone!
Family lunch with cousins. The ambience is one of "fine beach dining". Nautical decor. Has a local lore of the "best steak house in town". I ordered an Arnold Palmer that was very good along with the fresh fish Burrito. The party shared the steamed artichoke. It was served with course sea salt sprinkles and a mayonnaise based dip sauce. In my opinion the artichoke was under cooked as the petals were difficult to detach from the heart. The device was very attentive as the staff checked multiple times on drink refills and other requests. The fish burrito was wonderful with mostly fish filling and nicely omitted the typical beans and rice fillers.
Buzz's is a nice place to visit to get lunch in Kailua! It's right next to the beach so you don't have to walk very far if you're at the beach! They have delicious cocktails and a very chill vibe! We really enjoyed everything that we ordered! I got the chicken teriyaki which was flavorful and came with deliciously crunchy fries! Our table split a salad which we ordered with chicken, and it was very refreshing and tasty!! We also ordered their baby top sirloin which was perfectly cooked and a fantastic steak option! you can't go wrong with anything here! our server was very friendly and recommended that I try their Kailua Passion cocktail which was a rum and lilikoi flavored drink (passion fruit) it was very good and refreshing!!
My uncle found this cute spot while we were sightseeing the island. The cutest and cutest little restaurant. We stopped by for lunch and I feel like we got there just on time because shortly after they got really busy! I ordered a lychee martini that was a tad strong but still tasty. I also ordered the kai fruit salad with chicken which was perfectly refreshing. There is patio seating but we sat inside in what felt like a private nunk of the restaurant. Our service was super nice and tentative. We had a greatly experience overall.
We really enjoyed our visit to Buzz's, a nice afternoon spot for a couple of beers and some appetizers. The poke was absolutely delicious and the calamari steak was out of this world! We were treated wonderfully by the hostess and the bartender and couldn't have asked for a better afternoon! Would definitely go back!
夏威夷同事出发前强烈给我推荐的店 路过去旁边的beach时候就吃了 有点难评价 后来发现这家店有几任美国总统来过 也是当地老店 首先迎宾的服务员不让我们选座位说外面deck树下都有预定直到我们吃完也没有人来 给白人就说你可以挑这几个座位坐 但是有一个老奶奶和我们餐桌服务员特别好 所以服务这里就抵消了 点了一份传统牛排和一份鱼排汉堡 牛排一面完全焦了 可能因为我们要求说medium rare因为这段时间不能吃生 但是太老了肉也没有汁水； 汉堡确实不错 鱼肉是catch of the day 感觉很新鲜也没有腥味 油煎非常香，所以味道上也相互抵消了一下
What a lovely, breezy, dining experience right across the street from Kailua beach. Sit outside if you can . The food was beautifully plated and delicious. Portion sizes are good for the prices as well. Staff is friendly and efficient. Food took a little while to come out but everything tasted like it was from scratch so it was worth it.
UPDATE: While sitting at the bar waiting until 4:30p, the time we were told we could put our names on the waitlist, the bartender asked us if we wanted any pupus before we got seated for dinner. I told him we hadnt put our names on the list yet, but he said the hosts were going to set us up with a table on the inside (FYI-it was way too hot outside). I was surprised, since the dude host made such a spectacle of himself by dictating where we could and could not sit for dinner. But I'm glad the head hostess spoke to him to rectify the debacle and accomodated us with a table at a lovely hideaway location near the entrance. Although, after all that, I did feel a bit awkward and it felt like a hostile environment, since NO ONE, not even the dude host or head hostess, even bothered to come by to apologize AT ALL the entire time!! I mean, who wouldn't feel that way after being treated like 3rd class customers from the get go?! Honestly, I don't even know why we stayed, but my husband was craving their food. Although, our waitress was awesome, kind, and patient, as we had a bunch of questions, especially since we were confused when she gave us an entire menu consisting of fish selections, only to find out the only fish available that day were the 2 specials mentioned (ahi & branzino). Suggestion: maybe dont even bother providing that fish menu at all, as I'm sure we're not the only ones who felt deceived after viewing the entire thing to finally decide on a fish, then to be told the menu was only examples of the fish types they offer WHEN they actually have them (SMH). After all that, we decided to share a branzino special (no option as a side; only as a meal, but it was oh so ono!). Plus, we each had our own NY steak and prime rib meals, along with soup, salad, bread basket, escargot, their famous teri sticks, and a few drinks. Ohh yah, i know..thats a lot of food for 2 people! But when it comes to steakhouses and good food, we tend to order up and spent btwn $300-$600 for just 2 of us. We love ono food! We're not like the couple across from us who only shared ONE plate (yah, I spied them! Lol) Mind you, at this point, more and more people started arriving and the wait outside was long. But, as for inside...practically EMPTY, even by the time we left, which was 2 hours later! I mean, if a reservation was made a year in advance, chances are there's going to be a lot of cancellations. It took years before Buzz's even accepted credit cards (IYKYK), so maybe they need to look at doing something different, rather than save those empty seats that could've been filled right away. Perhaps model after Haleiwa Joe's (the only other long-standing steakhouse on the Windward side) and their no reservations policy of 1st come-1st served, so guarantee no empty seats waiting on no shows. But until that happens, again Buzz's needs to update their website with correct times, and disclose the fact that 1) they DO take reservations a year in advance, but NOT same day reservations, and 2) if you don't have reservations, beware of the dictator dude host that will give you a choice of ONLY outside seating OR if there's room, at the Bar (literally at the bar counter, because they use the seating in that area for dinner, too), and if you do choose to sit in the bar that is where you will sit for dinner, too; no exceptions!
1 year ago
2 years ago
5 for service, Joshua was a stellar waiter. He was attentive and even assisted with a birthday ice cream for my daughter. The hype for this place maybe was why I feel let down by our food. For our large family with children; there's no kids menu, which was a total let down that I didn't see anywhere in any other review. However, the adult servings were child size and my 10 year old crushed his burger and my 14 year old was still hungry. The items aren't over priced and are decent for the area.. but when do you ever go out to eat and receive so little fries, there's none to take home and the kids are even asking for more from their adult plate? There's a first for everything. For the other good things; the teriyaki steak was well flavored and cooked medium rare as requested. The boys said their burgers were good. The fish was good, the coating was not too thick. The tartar sauce was really good. The pieces were just too small and the serving lacked. The coleslaw was trash, sorry for those that like it but this was terrible. I did ask if it could be substituted and it could not be so I gave it try and no one at the table liked it either. Also, the BFRD Mai tai was great, I told my husband it's top 5 of the places I've had a Mai tai on island. read more
8 months ago
We love Buzz's! Every year we have a family dinner when my sister comes to visit from the mainland. Food is always excellent! And, the mai tais!!! The service was great! It's a perfect place for our yearly family get together. This place never disappoints! read more
4 months ago
1 month ago
Always a good place to eat after visiting Lanikai. Service was fun and fast. Cool vibe to the place although the bathroom situation could be better. People always have to wait quite a bit for that. Food was good and the bread pudding was super delicious!!!! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Delicious. The calamari steak is a must, the sauce is amazing. Also, the artichoke surprise will melt in your mouth. Mash potatoes were a hit too! Our waitress was incredibly sweet and attentive. read more
2 months ago
This old school seafood and steak house has stood the test of time Many presidents and dignitaries have eaten here. I never tire of dining here at this always busy restaurant across from Kailua beach. There is indoor and outdoor dining. Inside is a Warren of rooms and there is a small bar. Service is always excellent We go the calamari steak dinner (my favorite. Full of flavor and also served as an appetizer), ribeye steak (tender, juicy, flavorful and cooked perfectly). The soup ( chicken and spinach with mushrooms) was soooo good. Dinner salads are good, as are the garlic mashed potatoes. We had bread pudding for dessert. I love this dessert when done right and they do it very right! There's a reason so many locals love Buzz's--you leave feeling happy and satisfied Oh, the bar drinks are great. We sampled lychee cocktail. (Perfect!), vodka and tonic and Da balls ( superb!). They also have a creative mocktails menu read more
4 months ago
This is such a cute place. I've heard of it from a friend. More known as a steakhouse. But we came here for lunch and I didn't want anything heavy. We sat outside and it was nice to enjoy the fresh breeze, cars driving by, the birds, and of course roosters. The teriyaki burger that I got was nice, big and juicy. Cooked to a perfect medium rare. Fries were hot and crunchy too. My only take away is for the price and the portion, it was okay. Could've definitely use more fries haha. Customer service didn't really stand out, but they're weren't bad either! If I'm in the area, maybe I'll stop by again for familiarity. read more
2 months ago
11 months ago
Came here for a drink after being at the beach and ordered the surprise artichoke and calamari. It was very busy when we arrived but we were able to order drinks while we waited which was nice. We enjoyed our food and our drink was strong which was nice. read more
2 months ago
6 months ago
Enjoyed a local lunch at Buzz's. The calamari was outstanding. We also ordered the artichoke surprise. I wouldn't recommend it. We both had the ahi special which was delicious. There was an abundance of flies which were annoying. Service was good. Would go back for the calamari for sure. read more
1 year ago
2 months ago
I want to give a huge shout out to Nicole, our server! I have some interesting food allergies and she was super attentive and ensured my safety throughout my meal. My family is in town and we stopped here for lunch to refuel from our adventures. Our drinks were so delicious as well as our meals. All of us left happy and full. I totally recommend Buzz's for locals and visitors! read more
I saw ok reviews on Yelp but heard great things from a local. I have this place a try and was surprised by the food and the friendly service. There was a wait to get in but while we waited, we ordered a coconut mojito (called 'deez nuts'). The drink was light and tasty! When we sat down at the bar 15 mins later, we were warmly greeted. We order the fish of the day cooked hibachi style and the calamari dinner. The fish was not dry and pleasantly seasoned. The calamari here is cooked different than most other places. You're served a calamari steak, it is a thick slab of calamari that's been well fried. I thought it would be tough, but it was surprisingly tender and juicy. The calamari is served with a lemon based sauce and I would come back for this dish! Overall, the restaurant has a comfy vibe and the food is well made. I didn't see any of the problems other people had here. I would come back! read more
2 years ago
Had dinner here with my in laws & husband on a Monday night. We arrived at around 4 to put our name in but they do not start seating for dinner until 4:30. A server went around to get drink orders to enjoy while you waited which I thought was nice. We were seated on the outdoor patio & got to enjoy the nice weather. I can't remember our servers name but she was great & was very attentive. The food was just okay. My husband ordered his steak medium but received it very well done. She offered to have the kitchen recook it but we were starving so declined. But she mentioned it to her manager anyway who was kind enough to have it taken off our bill. This is definitely more of a spot for tourists. The food was not anything noteworthy but I enjoyed the customer service. read more
Loved the food. Never in my life had a better sea food dish like this one: the calamari steak. It was lightly breaded and nicely presented on a green leaf with a lemon and all by itself will make a trip worth it! The nice bartender mixed a "old fashioned" cocktail for me which was also great. Even the chicken rice soup which was meant to be had before anything was delicious, but it was overshadowed by the calamari which (again) was exceptional. The cake for desert had a special flavor and it went great with a coffee. Not needed to mention the friendly ambiance which makes you feel you belong in there and not at the beach which is across the street... read more
2 years ago
Buzz's was awesome. One of the best dinning experiences on the island. The servers were all on point and attentive. The food all was very fresh and well prepared. I highly recommend. We went for the dinner service. Seated outside and the restaurant was very busy which is a good sign! The vibe is fun and relaxed but overall they aim to please! True Steakhouse. read more
Updated picture of BBQ Beef Ribs: I assume it's more by weight than by number of ribs, but last night I got 4 plump meaty pieces, and there was no room for dessert hahaha! and idk if I said it before but a wet cloth is thoughtfully included after ur done. Halfway thru, my wife was pointing out sauce all over my face and asking if if needed to wipe any off, and I said why bother till I'm done? Alas we were seated in front of the old salad bar, and we all missed and reminisced about the all-u-can-eat salad bar w/ fresh avocados, seaweed salad and so much more. Service still outstanding!! Ambiance very neighbor-y feels read more
8 months ago
I watched sunset on the beach and then just walked across the road, instead of trying to find parking. Waited to get a seat for a very long time - even though I was by myself and willing to set at the bar - which is where I ultimately wound up. The bar tender, who was also my waitress, was phenomenal. It was impressive just to watch her work! I do understand what others have written, about having to pay for everything. The first basket of bread is free - but I had three pieces which was plenty for me, alone. Extra bread is $2/basket. I ordered the 6 oz sirloin with a house salad. It was cooked perfectly, tender, and seasoned well. I saw a few of the deserts - they also looked delicious but I was full and didn't partake. It's a beautiful spot. It IS definitely very popular and busy. Don't think you're going to rush in and out. I had nothing but time so, again, it worked for me. read more
1 year ago
We tried the most popular drink-Deez Nuts and Calamari steak... Wow!!! Both were AMAZING! We also got the ribs- tender and very tasty! Two things we didn't like- the mojito (Deez Nuts) had almost no alcohol in it and all the soda we got(Coke and Sprite) were diluted with water and tasted like chlorine. Other than that- we loved everything! The ambiance is amazing as well! read more
1 year ago
Really good service. Food for as ok but nothing special my ahi wrap had a lot of salad but I would appreciate more ahi :) read more
8 months ago
Not only were the steaks amazing , but when we forgot our left overs, the waitress actually came out to the car to look for us. Amazing service ,forgive me for forgetting your name :) read more
2 years ago
We were looking for a nearby restaurant for dinner as we were visiting the beaches nearby. We unfortunately didn't have a reservation but we called ahead and they said they'd be able to accommodate us. We were seated in the back behind the bar and honestly we weren't impressed with the inside or at least our room because it seemed dark and dingy. Our waitress was a little cold and pushy at first, but eventually she warmed up after we ordered. The food was pretty good as we both ordered steaks. We also had a Mai Thai, which was very strong. I'm sure the experience would've been different if we had a reservation and were able to request where we sat. The outdoor seating looked great. read more
3 years ago
Stopped in based on a recommendation from a local and was not dissapointed. They dont serve dinner until 4:30 but was quite happy with the appetizer menu. The calamari steak is nothing like I had before and is worth a trip here just for that. Also had the escargot, which was a treat since I havent had it in years. The best part was the staff, super friendly and the bartender was top notch. Finally, after dinner I recommend taking a walk around the beach area for some incredable views before you head out. read more
Location is perfect, across the street from our favorite beach, Kailua. We arrived and there was a 30 minute wait. No problem, I went for a quick swim on the beach and came back. Ambiance is perfect for a casual beach restaurant. Service was great. The Calamari Steak app is Epic (1000/5)! Order it every single time you visit. My favorite dish from our vacay!! We also ordered: Beef Spring Rolls (5/5) great flavor, comes with plenty of fresh lettuce and a fish sauce which pairs perfectly Fresh Fish Burrito (3/5) good but not great. Very filling if you're hungry Tuna Sashimi (4/5) really fresh and delicious but I've had better elsewhere Jack Daniel's Burger (3/5) good but not great. read more
4 months ago
8 months ago
We love Buzz's - best calamari for sure... all the drinks are great. And Mahina is the best bartender! Don't miss this local favorite... Penny, Dolly and Michele read more
Oh my goodness the outdoor reseating is so magical!! Had super cute little lights and is just adorable! The service was incredible, super friendly and quick. Only reason for the 4 is the food could have had a bit more taste. Got the shrimp with pasta as well as one of the fish specials and felt they were both a little bland. Someone else in our party got a steak which they loved. The atmosphere is so incredible that it is totally worth it though! read more
1 year ago
9 months ago
More info about Buzz's
413 Kawailoa Rd
Kailua, HI 96734
Directions
(808) 261-4661
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http://www.buzzsoriginalsteakhouse.com
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Ask the Community - Buzz's
Tried to call to make a reservation the number isn't working could there number have changed?
Power was out today!
Do they have a salad bar for lunch and dinner?
No salad bar that I have ever seen. Just salads in the menu.
Is it less crowded on weekday tha weekend?
They take reservations. I would suggest reservations any time you'll like to go. Seems consistently busy.
Is it still open for lunch?
It was when we ate there on vacation in February. My suggestion would be to call them on the phone old skool and ask.
How busy is it on a week night? Are reservations recommended?
Yes it's busy what ever time you go, definitely recommend reservations.
Do they open on Thanksgiving day?
No, closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Do they have a salad bar like the one they had in Pearl City?
Yes, they do it's really good!
Do they have any vegan options on their dinner menu?
You could probably have a green salad, would not expect vegan here. They are such a small operation that's very well attended and probably don't feel the need to venture too far beyond steak.
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