Carte Blanche

Locally owned & operated

Fine dining

This place was phenomenal!!!…read more I have a fish allergy & Anthony was able to substitute the fish on the 7-course meal & it DID NOT disappoint!! We ate so much that I thought I was going to pop at the end. The dining area is nice & elegant with a home-style feel while being elevated. Service was a 10/10. We were one of 3 tables because the weather was supposed to be bad so Anthony said "locals don't come out to much during weather warnings, or on a Wednesday" I feel like we lucked out on getting in due to the weather but all in all we enjoyed it just the same.

The 7 course meal was disappointing. How does bacon baked potatoes and sour cream belong on a…read morecourse meal dinner?! The entire menu was so basic, pork buns? Fried chicken? The meal was heavy salty and greasy. We gave it a chance but soon realize we should've just done ala carte. Maybe ala carte would have been less disappointing. The yellowtail crudo was very good, other than that, I do not recommend. We even added a foie gras to elevate but it was just not it. Service and ambiance was great. This was suppose to be our anniversary dinner! We should've known when it was so empty!

See all

Mud Hen Water

4.1(691 reviews)

0.2 mi

One of the absolute BEST restaurants!…read more Mud Hen Water is easily at the top of my list whenever someone asks for an amazing dinner recommendation. I recently went to celebrate my birthday, and everything was just as delicious as I remembered. This time, I tried the peanut tofu. I wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary, but I was pleasantly surprised by the creamy tofu, sweet soy sauce, pickled veggies, and pickled mushrooms--I thoroughly enjoyed every bite and will definitely order it again. In the past, I've had the meatballs and beet poke, which were both fantastic as well. The true star of the show, though, has to be the kiawe bean brownie. It is hands-down the most perfect dessert to end your night. Between the warm, rich brownie, the black sesame gelato (which isn't overly sweet), and the crunchy mac nut toffee that ties it all together, it keeps me coming back every single time. Excellent ambiance, top-tier service, and consistently delicious food. Mud Hen Water is a total MUST!

Why Mud Hen Water? - James Beard semi-finalist 2025-2026…read more - Local ingredients and solid drinks Would I come back? - Negative, great ambience but the food just doesn't hit the mark it just feels like it's trying to be fusion but it's just not there. Hahah 3.5/5 food and 4/5 for drinks Drinks - Keep It Chaimuki - Pepe & The Witch - Mocktail - Harmless Hugo Food - Lotus Root = pass - Chicken Long Rice Croquettes = original but pass - He'e Lu'au = not bad - Mapo Rice Cakes = hard PASS, trying to hard to make it good - Fried 'Ulu w/chili pepper water - pretty tasty 4/5 Service and Ambience Love the open ambience near the bar and outside seating. Service was attentive and lacked a lil aloha but was good enough 4/5 Parking Tiny lot in back and street parking on 9th ave

Nice ambiance

(fs) 1/2 J. Ludovico Fried Chicken - lime salsa verde, tsukemono. Doesn't taste overly fried, almost like baked chicken.

See all

Peanut Tofu ($13) - pickled mushroom, ginger, sesame, sweet shoyu. This was my fav dish.

Ka Ikena Laua'e Restaurant

4.5(130 reviews)

0.8 mi•Kaimuki

Back in Summer 2016 I use to be a part of the Ka Ikena Laua'e Restaurant's Dining Services class,…read morenow I'm finally back here Fall 2025 as a customer! Seeing all the students on standby feeling nervous but eager to serve was very nostalgic because that was once me. I booked the reservation online for my bf's belated birthday dinner, the site will send you a courtesy email of your booking. I think if you need to change your reservation, you may have to call them. *Location* We went on September 18, 2025 at 6pm for our dinner reservation. Parking is located in Parking lot C, you can also see the location on google maps, but just letting you know there's some stairs to walk up to the building. The dining location temporarily moved to the dining room that's in the cafeteria location, I'm going to assume once renovations are done, its back where it's pinned on google maps. If you're not familiar with KCC please plan ahead so you won't be late. So the ambience is a lot more brighter compared to the original location. The student host greeted us and asked us for our name and we checked in, then the student server assigned to our table escorted us and gave our menus. We had the Mediterranean dinner menu for September 2025 and here's what we ordered: Includes complimentary bread and butter *unlimited refills* Drinks *unlimited refills* -Passion berry iced tea (comes unsweetened) $3 -Butterfly pea iced tea (comes sweetened) $5 Ask for 'simple syrup' to sweeten your teas Appetizer -2x Brie Stuffed Arancini Entree -Beef Wellington $48 -Duck Confit $42 Dessert -Hojicha chocolate miso caramel black sesame bar -Pistachio white chocolate custard Bill total= $98 (no tipping allowed since it's a school) The entree price covers all of the appetizer and dessert prices, the drinks are a separate charge. The passion berry iced tea was refreshing, it's unsweetened so I added some simple syrup to have some sweetness. The Butterfly pea iced tea comes in the color blue but it will turn purple when you squeeze the lemon. The drink tastes good but it was way too sweet like i was drinking a whole glass of simple syrup. I had to add water and squeeze a lot of lemons to dilute the sweetness so I feel like they should've left the Butterfly pea iced tea unsweetened so we can control the sweetness. We both got the Brie Stuffed Arancini for our appetizer. When you bite into the Brie Stuffed Arancini it was crunchy on the outside and super cheesy in the inside. As for our entree, my boyfriend didn't really like the Duck Confict, he said it was very oily and buttery but I enjoyed my Beef Wellington though! Loved the crisp breading around the beef and had delicious onion filled stuffing inside the Beef Wellington. I forgot to take a picture of the dessert menu but the Hojicha chocolate miso caramel black sesame bar was super delicious, all the flavors really complimented with each other well. The Pistachio white chocolate custard was okay, the white chocolate wasn't too sweet but it didn't really standout to me but it's great for those who want a dessert that's not too sweet. FYI, just be aware that reservations might be booked out since food influencers are starting to advertise this place so try your best to get your reservation in. But I do recommend this place if you're looking to experience fine dining but on a budget.

It was so nice to secure a reservation at Ka Ikena. Haven't been here since Covid. The students so…read morean excellent job from front of the house to back. Our future looks good with these up and coming Chef's. The room is smaller than I remembered, but still spacious enough between tables. The food was exquisite, beautifully placed and ver delicious!!! Parking is much further away than before, which isn't bad, except, it was raining the day we went. High recommended, it's a must try.

Temporary restaurant

See all

Uncle Bo's Pupu Bar & Grill

4.2(2.2k reviews)

0.9 mi•Kaimuki

This place has amazing food, service and atmosphere!!! Wish I went here sooner! Street parking is…read moreacross the street and their drinks and prime rib was to die for. Will be back end of September!

Great food. Comfortable atmosphere. Wonderful service…read more Drinks are great .... always room for dessert. No need to dress up to get awesome food.

Locally sourced ingredients

Inside bar

CALAMARI

See all

Bruschetta

Deck.

My husband and me, we would like to thank our server JOEL who made our recent early October dining…read moreexperience great. He is a young man willing to listen and please you giving you all the possible options. JOEL gave me dressing for my salad which was delicious, so delicious that i had another serving. We happened to be there a couple of times and the first time was just it was a closely convenient place for us. And the second time it was our choice to go back because JOEL made it a very experience. My husband didn't feel well and JOEL went out of his way to make him feel better. Very polite and friendly and attentive to all our requests all the time we were there. Of course a great view, very nice set up. Reasonable prices, good menu and very good food. Would highly recommend to dine there and ask for JOEL. Brian & Lena

I come here once a month. Great view, great service, both of servers I have gotten are excellent!!…read morePaka and Josh. They both always remember what I like/order, and cater to my needs. Food is great and reasonably priced and served in good portions too. Because many other Waikiki restaurants would jack the prices up simply because they could, the fact Deck's price points are lower than the most and the quality is better than the most is awesome. Highly recommend it.

See all

Basalt

4.3(2.1k reviews)

1.7 mi•Waikiki

I was spending my birthday week in Hawaii, and was wondering what I should have for dinner on my…read moreactual birthday. I wasn't even sure what I wanted to eat. Was just walking around and happened to walk inside of Duke's Lane. And there I see it... A sign that says Prime Rib. Well.. That sounds bomb! Looks like I have my restaurant and what I'm going to eat. So once dinner time hit, I head over to Basalt! The Prime Rib was delicious. Perfectly cooked and tender. It comes with mashed potatoes, vegetable medley, and creamy horseradish and au jus sauce. Ah everything was delicious! I finished it all! Washed it down with a Basalt Mai Tai! For dessert - I got the Mochi Brownie. Mmm.. Mmm.. So good! Also got hooked up with a scoop of vanilla gelato! (Make this a thing! Lol). I was stuffed and had to get some steps in before heading back to the hotel. Lol. Service - Really good and friendly. I sat at the bar and Mykah (sorry if I spelled your name wrong) was awesome and gave some good recommendations. Price $45 for the prime rib. Can't beat that! Will I be back? Oh heck yes! See you when I see you Basalt!

my partner and i found ourselves visiting basalt almost every day of our weeklong trip on oahu…read morebecause every item we ordered off their menu was spectacular! they balanced flavors beautifully with super fresh ingredients and focused on the texture as much as the taste. we honestly never would have expected some of our favorite meals on the island to come from a restaurant tucked away in the back of an unassuming food court on kuhio ave! PICTURED 01. citrus-cured salmon toast: country bread, lemon-cream cheese, scrambled eggs, capers, red onions, chives, waipoli mixed greens ($22) if i could eat this for breakfast every day, i could envision becoming a morning person. i loved how the citrus and capers brightened every savory bite. the bread was perfectly toasted and the vegetables were wonderfully crisp. 02. crab cake benedict: english muffin, kale, two poached waialua eggs, hollandaise, yuzu kosho honey mustard, sidewinder potatoes ($28) this was a refreshing take on a classic breakfast item. the crab cake and potatoes were salted just right! 03. charcoal buttermilk pancakes: guava strawberry sauce, ash whipped cream, berries ($20) these pancakes were a DREAM: fluffy and accompanied by sauce that was not too sweet!

See all

100 Sails Restaurant & Bar

4.0(1.3k reviews)

2.6 mi•Waikiki

We made a reservation for 2 on a Saturday at 5 PM about 2-3 weeks in advance, and there were still…read moreplenty of openings for the dinner buffet. Although reservations are for 2 hours, we were seated quickly and started eating right away, so we personally didn't need more than an hour. Just keep in mind that your entire party needs to be present before they'll seat you! The website lists the dress code as resort casual, but most guests were dressed in aloha attire. The buffet is located toward the back of the restaurant. Our server explained that the buffet lines are meant to flow from right to left, but since many people didn't follow that, it did feel a little chaotic. The highlights: Carving station: The porchetta was our absolute favorite! It reminded us of a fancy version of lechon. There are several self-serve sauces available, and we highly recommend the calamansi garlic sauce. The prime rib was also delicious and cooked to a nice medium rare. Hand roll station: There are four flavors to choose from: unagi, spicy ahi, California, and scallop masago. We tried all four, although you can only order two rolls at a time. The scallop masago was a standout with its combination of spice, umami, and sweetness. Seafood, poke & sashimi were some of the most popular items, along with the carving station and snow crab. If these are what you're most excited about, be prepared to wait in line! Unexpected favorites: We were pleasantly surprised by the guava BBQ chicken and futomaki. Everything tasted fresh and high quality, and the buffet items were consistently replenished. For the snow crab, our table came equipped with a shell cracker and bowls for the shells. We noticed another table had scissors, too, so you may need to ask your server if you'd like a pair. Items that were just okay: The prepared salads, kimchi, and some fried foods were our least favorites. The delicate greens were soggy from all the dressing and toppings, the kimchi wasn't anything particularly special, and the fried squid and karaage were lightly fried but lacked that crispy texture we were hoping for. Service was excellent! Our server and the staff were attentive about clearing away empty plates and keeping our water glasses filled. They also brought us a fresh set of utensils. Parking tip: Self-parking is very limited, and the spaces can be pretty tight. If possible, bring a compact car! They provide parking validation for 2.5 hours. You can pay at the machine before heading to the parking structure or when exiting. Overall, we had a great experience at 100 Sails. The fresh, high-quality food, especially the porchetta, prime rib, and hand rolls, made the buffet worthwhile. The excellent service was the cherry on top. Just arrive with your whole party, expect some lines for the popular items, and be prepared for tight parking. We'd definitely consider coming back!

The view is a view. Boats and sunset! The food would be…read moreideal if you were trying to resolve an inability to experience sadness. Out of respect for decapodas I have decided not to speak on behalf of what occurred with the crab . Ahi Poke Nachos. There are all kinds of potato chips on the plate, all the ones you see at the grocery store, if you've been wanting to sample a lot of different kinds of potato chips this would be a way to do it without over committing to a whole bag. If you have siblings you will not like the freshness of the chips because you will just inherently think your sibling left the bag open. If you were to order a chicken sandwich at Subway and they were to add three different sauces from the squirty bottles and you liked it then you should definitely order this dish. Like a 6 inch yard bird Sammy from Subway with extra hit of low fat BBQ and a drizzle of the honey mustard also hit me with the zero fat ranch. Wait can I also get a dose of that ballsamic. That's what's on the chips. If you have never in your life had fish, like you come from a place on earth with no bodies of water and zero import infrastructure yet you've enjoyed nibbling the end of your pencil, you would gravitate towards this dish. The chips and sauce do come with eraser morsels. The staff isn't pretentious or condescending or anyone that would give you snobby vibes they're very relatable super normal folks. Like you would want to be friends with them if they were friendly. They are genuinely bewildered. No other way to explain each staff member other than bewildered. All of them. Not rude. Each person employed is confused and just reallllllllly confused about a lot of things. Before we could warn our friends who were also in town, they went to 100 Sails for one of their birthdays, a work trip but trying to celebrate, ugh so sad. They made note of the birthday while making reservations and the husband mentioned it in person and ZERO mention by any staff. Zero acknowledgement. So if you really want to have a sad birthday, this would ALSO be the place.

Locally sourced ingredients

Entrance

MISO EGGPLANT HH

See all

Fried CHICKEN KARAAGE

Arden Waikiki

4.6(130 reviews)

1.9 mi

Vegetarian friendly

Chris was our waiter at dinner tonight and he did a top notch job: he went through the menu…read morethoroughly and the food and wine service was superb. He is an excellent asset and representative of Arden's, and he will continue to do so! We also loved the ambience of the restaurant: chic but not pompous, comfortable and inviting!

Our server, Chris was fabulous! He gave us so many suggestions, for we had never tried Hawaiian…read morefood. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious! it was quite a memorable dining experienc.

Oxtail Noodles

Fries with Mentaiko Dip

See all

Cabbage, Fries with Mentaiko Dip and Blistered Shishitos

Mariposa

3.8(1.2k reviews)

2.9 mi•Ala Moana

We'd like to say thank you for all the wonderful memories. We stopped by Mariposa one last time and…read moreenjoyed their chicken broth and popovers with all of my children. Everyone will truly miss this restaurant. Mahalo.

It's a shame that they're closing soon, and it's also a shame that I didn't decide to come check…read moreout this place until when I found out about their closing! At least, I got to try their famous complimentary soufflé bread and their whipped guava butter. Also got to try their chilled crab salad which was super delicious! I ate the whole thing quick. Got to try my friend's laksa and the taste was good too! Our server was very friendly and answered a lot of our questions. The ambiance was amazing too. We were seated outside with the beautiful ocean view. I hope to try a few more dishes here before they're gone for good.

Lobster spaghettini

Pork chop with risotto

See all

Tiger prawns

Aloha Steak House

4.2(678 reviews)

1.7 mi•Waikiki

I will preface this by saying I'm not a review type of person but felt compelled to share some…read morethoughts for others. Our experience was 10/10. Start to finish the service was excellent. Isaac was our server who was fantastic and additive to our experience. The owner/manager was very much present and had a great demeanor and was checking on all the guests. We started with a lilikoi mojito and lilikoi colada mocktails. The mojito was incredibly fresh and balanced and the colada was as delicious as it sounds. We ordered the crab cakes and Caesar salad for an appetizer and the while the crab cakes were great the accoutrements took it to the next level. The caesar dressing was perfect. My wife ordered the Mac crusted salmon and it was cooked just right and full of flavor. I ordered the wagyu pichana and it was incredible. Cooked exactly as ordered . It's rare to find a good pichana on many menus. I can honestly say this was one of my favorite cuts I've had anywhere . In an area where many of us are visiting there's more choices for dinner than there is time to try them all, I'd recommend aloha steakhouse to anyone. The restaurant is very comfortable and slightly removed from the hustle and bustle but very much an easy walk from most of Waikiki and in the heart of it all.

Aloha Steak House delivered on most fronts. The hamachi crudo was a standout, incredibly fresh and…read morewell balanced. Garlic shrimp was another highlight, flavorful without being too savory or oily like some versions can be. Ribeye steak was above average, solid but not the main event. Truffle fries were the one miss, mine came out with a burnt taste and looked more brown than the photos I'd seen on Yelp. Might have just been an overcooked batch, but worth mentioning. Our server made up for it though, outgoing, friendly, and quick without feeling rushed. Ambience is casual with a chill vibe, and the outdoor seating with street views was a nice touch.

Mashed Potatoes

See all

Asparagus and twice baked potato

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

5 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Melvin D.

221

652

1012

3 years ago

Having dined at Carte Blanche in Honolulu, I am compelled to award it a meritorious five-star rating due to my profound admiration. This establishment provides a unique dining experience that surpasses the mere enjoyment of delicious food, making it a culinary marvel. The chef's proficiency and ingenuity are immediately apparent in each course. The culinary selection combines indigenous Hawaiian components with global gastronomic methods and is inventive and irresistibly delicious. Every course is meticulously crafted, featuring harmoniously balanced and robust flavors, resulting in a lasting sensory experience. Carte Blanche exhibits exceptional skills in the presentation of its dishes as well. The meticulousness is exemplary, as evidenced by the artistic arrangement of each plate, which elevates each course to a visual delight. This promotes the dining experience to the level of an artistic creation rather than merely a repast. Furthermore, the atmosphere of Carte Blanche significantly enhances its allure. The intimate and sophisticated ambiance provides the ideal setting for a momentous evening. The ambiance is perfect, whether it be a special occasion, a romantic dinner, a celebration, or a night out for fine dining. Additionally, the service at Carte Blanche is noteworthy. The staff is well-informed, cordial, and vigilant while avoiding any sense of intrusion. They create a warm and inviting atmosphere, guaranteeing that each patron feels esteemed and attended to. In conclusion, Carte Blanche is an exceptional dining destination in Honolulu. It provides a memorable culinary experience, including inventive and delectable fare, exquisite presentation, beautiful ambiance, and outstanding service. It is a dining establishment I would enthusiastically endorse to any individual in Honolulu seeking a beyond-ordinary dining experience. read more

Chase N.

3 years ago

We came here to celebrate a milestone in my career as well as treat my girlfriend to a well needed experience. We bought pretty much the entire menu and similar to XO and AV - we were not disappointed. The wine menu takes an interesting approach. Instead of just the set 2-5x mark up on bottles, they allow you to buy a one time membership(only for this meal) to their CB wine "club". It is $30 per person, but after that - all wines are basically at cost value. So there is a CB wine price of $30 for a cab and then there is the non member price of $80 as an example. We bought the CB membership which allowed us to buy 6 bottles to enjoy throughout dinner. Highly recommend since we likely would of just bought one bottle for the whole meal at normal mark up prices. Food. Amazing. The prices for the starters were so reasonable we just got them all. Which is recommend. Each one is so different and crafted beautifully. I suck at food reviews so just go look at their menu and expect them all to be IG beautiful with the taste to follow. Atmosphere. Gold. Trump meets Martha Stewart meets Top Chef. My only complaint is the bathrooms are very much exposed to the eating environment which makes it feel both homely (not a bad thing) but exposed. Staff. They believe in not hiring wait staff so you will be interacting with the owner, gm, and everyone who is involved in making your food. This resulted in great discussions, laughter, and sharing of wine. Great intimate feel. Cost. You could totally do this for $150 for two but i recommend going in with $300-400 budget if you want to experience a lot and $800 if you want to experience it all. Overall, great new addition to the area and highly recommend read more

Jackie G.

1 year ago

We had the pleasure of dining at Carte Blanche for our anniversary, and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere felt exclusive and upscale, and our waiter was friendly, attentive, and provided excellent service throughout the evening. The Prix Fixe menu was thoughtfully curated, with each dish beautifully presented and well balanced in flavor. 1. Crispy Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin with Trout Roe - An elevated take on salt and vinegar chips, with the rich crunch of chicken skin and a touch of briny saltiness from the roe. 2. Soupe de Poisson with Grilled City Bread - Deep, well-rounded flavors that paired perfectly with the smoky grilled bread. 3. Piña Colada Granita - A refreshing and playful palate cleanser between courses. 4. Pan-Seared Scallops with Corn Béchamel, Polenta, and Fresh Relish - My favorite dish of the night. The scallops were perfectly cooked, and every component complemented each other beautifully. 5. Rack of Lamb with Charred Cabbage & Miso Red Wine Sauce - I'm usually not a fan of lamb, but this preparation completely changed my mind. The meat was tender, and the combination of the cabbage and sauce was simply delicious. 6. Lemon Crème Brûlée Tart with Berry Jam - A lovely finish to the meal, perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sweetness and tartness. Overall, it was an amazing dining experience-- elegant, flavorful, and memorable. I would absolutely recommend Carte Blanche to friends and family for any special occasion. read more

Michelle N.

2 years ago

My husband, grandma and I had a fantastic time at Carte Blanche! The food was delicious, and the service was outstanding. Our friendly server even knew how to use my grandma's digital camera and helped us take great photos-such a fun and memorable touch. Highly recommend! read more

Curtis L.

309

4 months ago

what a great meal and experience. I made a reservation a week ahead of time and got the duck wellington. Great communication as this dinner was my wife's birthday. all dishes were new to us and it was nothing be spectacular read more

Carte Blanche - asianfusion - Updated November 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Restaurants near Carte Blanche

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Coffee near Carte Blanche

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Desserts near Carte Blanche

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Things to Do near Carte Blanche

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Sushi near Carte Blanche

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Parking near Carte Blanche

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Pho near Carte Blanche

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Ramen near Carte Blanche

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Shopping near Carte Blanche

BEST of Honolulu, Hawaii Mall near Carte Blanche

Best of Honolulu

Things to do in Honolulu

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Carte Blanche also viewed

Giovedi

4.3

(210 reviews)

Giovedi delivered an exceptional dinner for our group, seamlessly blending interesting flavours…read morewith flawless execution. We started with pillowy soft HOKKAIDO MILK ROLLS alongside the refreshing SCALLOP CARPACCIO. The pasta courses each stood out on its own right. DAN MIEN VIETNAM-ATRICIANA, deep and rich savoury sauce on egg noodles was so comforting and delicious we ordered a second one. CAPELLINI GRANCHIO was another crowd favourite. The thin capellini were perfect strands for this dish. It could use more crabmeat though. GNOCCHI MABOLOGNESE, this was a clever fusion of mapo tofu with gnocchi mimicking tofu in a hot sauce. I'm not a fan of gnocchi much more tender gnocchi in this dish. Two Donburi dishes - Veal and Mushroom - stood out with the addition of pop rice. Grated truffle was very generous. We ended with both desserts on the menu. Every single dish hit the mark, and sharing everything family-style across six people was the perfect way to experience the menu. Fantastic cooking, great atmosphere, and an absolute must-visit.

Three Visits and Still Impressed…read more I've been to Giovedi three times now and have been impressed every time. The small plates are meant to be shared, which is perfect because it means you get to try more bites. Their cuisine is creative, with interesting flavors and combinations that make the meal fun to explore. I loved their Crystal Tiger cocktail. Lychee goodness. The foie gras spread with toasted bread was divine, but my favorite bite was the scallop carpaccio. Fresh, delicate, and delicious. And all their pastas are fire. Seriously. Service has always been great. The tables are close together and it can get a little noisy, but honestly, that is part of the ambiance and vibe. Three visits in, and Giovedi continues to impress.

SERA

3.9

(105 reviews)

Lovely setting for celebrations with a menu that offers something for every appetite and dietary…read morepreference. My companions chose pasta, pizza and burgers, while I selected the Mediterranean appetizer combo and marveled at the pretty colors and accompanying bread with a smattering of Zaatar spice blend. For dessert, the Greek yogurt and sorbet were the perfect light end to the meal. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. Free valet parking. I'd come back!

I love love love the food and ambience. Service is terrible for some reason. This is the second…read moretime I've dined here in the past two months and I honestly thought the first time was a fluke with the service and decided to try again. Surprise surprise it wasn't a fluke lol. On Monday I made reservations via phone call. Everything confirmed. I received two texts during the week my reservation for Friday at 7 was confirmed. Great! I called Friday to add three more guests to our dinner reservation of 6. Immediately she said I didn't have a reservation booked. I tried to clarify with a phone number but she said it was only by name. I spelt my name twice and no. I asked her if she had any reservations for a party of 6 at 7pm. Yes but for xxxxx. And I told her that was me!!! And she finally repeated my name back to me with my last name - I felt so gaslight/mindblown. Never mind I was driving so I said ok glad we have our reservation but she said we couldn't add anyone. Ok that's fine. We show up party of 6 to this enormous table clearly big enough for three more. Ok. Service is sloowwwww. Our drinks took at least 20mins. And our second round was beat by our entrees. Server said the bar was behind - got it. 20mins for a beer is wild! Anyhow, bill comes and mind you we've been begging for water all night (on top of our slow drinks) and it's ridiculous to expect an included 20% gratuity when there was not even toilet paper in the restrooms. I have no problem showing appreciation when it's earned but expecting it when it's not is shameful. Just saying. You've been warned. The food is but the service is questionable.

Mugen

(151 reviews)

10/10/26 We were invited for Birthday Dinner here tonight. I…read morehad no idea what to expect. As you come down Kalakaua Avenue just past Kaiulani. There will be a valet on the left side of Kalakaua that will take your car. Mugen is located inside the Espacio Hotel. The dinner tonight was very special. Each dish was artfully presented, and very carefully prepared. The restaurant is beautiful and although fully seated, nice and quiet. Service is impeccable. I apologize if I have this wrong, but I think our server was Sheri. She was so sweet, attentive and professional I highly recommend Mugen for that special night out

Mugen is an upscale fusion restaurant in the middle of Waikiki. As expected, the place is super…read moreclean and very well presented. The staff, especially our server (Eduardo), were exceptional. All were extremely attentive and efficient. They take very good pictures as well. The food is fantastic. My favorites are: 1) the A5 Wagyu just melts in your mouth. It's incredibly well prepared and has a great balance of flavor. 2) the amuse bouche (poke rice cake) was very fresh and flavorful. 3) the summer chill dessert was refreshing and delicious at the same time. Honorable mention goes to the lobster (I usually don't like lobster much) as it was tender and well presented. The risotto was amazing. The lamb was good but slightly chewy. The Kinmedai was probably just not my thing. It was probably the weakest dish we got. Overall I love the place and will definitely return. $150/pp is a good deal for this level of quality especially in Hawaii.

Miro Kaimuki - The Counter

(422 reviews)

Became a fan of Chef Kajioka after dining at Cafe Miro in January. As we were planning a trip back…read morein August for the wifey's bday, I definitely wanted to head back and made reservations for The Counter as I saw pics on IG of their meal here. We lucked out and found street parking nearby. As we walked into the restaurant, we were quickly greeted by the host/server who showed us to our seats along the U shaped counter. Loved the clean and modern decor inside the restaurant. As we sat down, our water cups were quickly filled and the only few questions they had for us was whether we wanted the wine pairing and we wanted to add the caviar toast and shaved truffles. We opted for the wine pairing, caviar toast and truffles. The meal was fantastic from start to finish. The most notable dishes for me were the ahi and caviar toast, cold corn soup, the lobster and the dessert. Sadly the portion of the toast here was about 1/2 the size of what we had at the cafe and unfortunately they didn't have uni for the night (maybe don't go on a Tuesday). Service was fantastic but they did have a few hiccups which were tolerable as the food was amazing. The wine pairing was also good and paired well with the dishes. As we are currently planning our trip back later this year, we will definitely head back to either the cafe (if the remodel is completed) or back to the counter for another meal. This is likely the best meal we've had in HNL in quite some time and highly recommend it.

Miro Kaimuki - The Counter: An elegant, intimate experience that, sadly, left a lot to be desired…read more The service was great but I had a few qualms which influenced my decision of probably not returning. A couple things about Miro: - You have to pre-pay via OpenTable (unsure how it works if you call ahead), but just be aware you will be fronting the cost. Also, there are two seatings, one at 5pm, and one at 7:30pm. The 5pm seating is $165 per person and the 7:30pm seating is $195. I'm not sure if there is a menu difference but just know there is a difference in price depending on the time you choose. - Upon arrival you have to wait outside before being let inside. The restaurant locks the doors while they are in service, so if you are the 2nd seating (which is what we were) at 7:30pm, you will have to wait outside. Honestly my girlfriend and I were pretty confused as we've never had this experience before. We even tried to message/call the restaurant but didn't hear from them so we were close to leaving, but luckily some people were leaving from the earlier seating and let us know to wait outside and that the servers would let us in when the time comes. Now onto the most important part- the food. The menu was 6 courses (not including the bread). We got all of the add-ons and I also did the wine pairing. There wasn't any menu available but here's what I got based on photos: - First Course: 4 starters which reminded me of Bar Maze. This was probably the best course for me. I really wish I knew the names of each dish but it was an oyster, salmon tart, another tart (I think this was tomato or something), and ikura toast. All of it was super tasty. - Second Course: Ahi, Caviar, and Uni all on top of their special toasted bread. Now I am a big proponent of all three toppings, but the bread was so rich and dense, it overpowered all of the toppings. I felt the uni went best with the toast, but definitely not my favorite to start a meal so heavy. - Third Course: Almost like a bacon carbonara but without any pasta? It was kind of like a custard texture. It was good but felt a little out of place in the whole grand scheme of the tasting menu. - Bread: I don't count this as a course but we were served this beautiful baked bread with honey butter. Super yummy. - Fourth Course: Lobster - which, of course was tasty but not memorable for me. - Fifth Course: I can't remember if this was wagyu but this was also pretty good. Pretty small for an entree but the meat was cooked well and the presentation was very nice. - 6th Course: There were two desserts and one complimentary dessert for my birthday. The orange creamsicle dessert was the best one. My girlfriend and I didn't like the gummies as they were a bit too sour/savory for our taste (it was li hing flavored which isn't my favorite so I could be biased). The birthday dessert which was a dark chocolate cake thing- it was OK. The cocoa was a bit bitter and was a little too unsweet for our taste. Overall, I think Miro was just okay. For the cost of $195 per person + the wine pairing (which I believe was another $95), and the add-on's for both of us (~$60-70?) plus my girlfriends mocktail, this came out to a very steep $550+ dinner. I feel for 6 courses this is pretty overpriced, especially because the portions are super small and I don't feel the tasting menu was very cohesive. I would definitely rather go to NatuRe, Mugen, or Senia as they are relatively close (or at times cheaper) in price to Miro. Don't get me wrong, the ambiance was beautiful and intimate, and I think it's worth trying at least once if you want to splurge, but sadly this won't be a restaurant I return to regularly, if at all in the future.

Duc's Bistro

(437 reviews)

Great atmosphere here. Family owned and ran, they took their time explaining the menu and giving…read morerecommendations. We got a handful of items off the menu. Standouts were the scallop in curry (special) and eggplant. Will be back!

Blast from the past! Have not been to Duc's Bistro in maybe... 10 years? maybe more!!!! I…read moreremember well the food being outstanding and the service was more than what I had then expected.... Here is my story: Located in the same place for 35 years plus. Duc opened his restaurant in the 1980's. Duc's Bistro is one of the original ethnic Vietnamese restaurants who opened in the 1980's and still continues to serve our community. Do not leave without bidding aloha to Duc who today is in the kitchen with his wife who both prepares all the food. His son now runs the front of the house along with staffers who have been there for years on end. The food is French Vietnamese. Of their slim clear concise menu, my favorite is their Roast Pork and Duck Pate. While all the dishes are good, those two stand out for me. And be sure you save room for their desserts. Their dishes are prepared and served such that if you choose to dine "family style" you have definitely sat at the right Establishment. The location remains the same. First Establishment on the westside of MaunaKea and Beretania Streets. Validated parking if you can get a staff in the lot across the street from Duc's. Bright Pink and Green Neon Sign for Duc's Bistro. You cannot miss it! Full bar or $25 corkage if you bring your own wine. Soft drinks and Vietnamese Hot or Cold coffee available also. Price point is approximately $50 per head from start to finish. Plan to have a meal there! You will not be disappointed.

Rigo

4.3

(1.2k reviews)

I'm an executive chef and this is a amazing place to eat, the food is phenomenal, our server was…read moreFuzuki, we've eaten here several times and the atmosphere is amazing the service is impeccable! Tapas, pasta, and pizza! Everything is fine dining worthy but at cheaper prices

Rigo's is one of my favorites! I've come here for birthdays, anniversaries, and girls' nights out,…read moreand it's always such a fun spot for food and drinks with the girls. The Paella and Clams are my favorites, but honestly, EVERYTHING here is delicious. There's always something good on the table, and I love coming here when we want to order a bunch of things and share. I also love the atmosphere here! You can see the kitchen and watch them make the pizzas in the brick oven, which is such a cool touch. The bar is super cute too, and they have this huge Red Bull display in the back that I thought was so fun! The staff is always so good and attentive too. Always love celebrating at Rigo's!

Hy's Steak House

4.2

(2.1k reviews)

We celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary at Hy's, and once again, it did not disappoint. From…read morethe two young men at the valet stand to the welcoming hostess at the check-in desk, our evening got off to a wonderful start. Trevor and Mana along with a few other young men on the team, were amid the action. We were a table of two, yet we watched them seamlessly serve other tables including parties of 6, 9, and 10. It was amazing to see them move like a well-oiled machine while delivering such excellent service to everyone. Their teamwork, attentiveness, and professionalism truly stood out. And then there was the food! From the delicious cheese bread and French onion soup to the salad, Beef Wellington, and Delmonico steak, every course was a treat. Dessert was the perfect finale: chocolate flambe, along with a complimentary flourless chocolate cake. Hands down, it was a memorable dining experience from beginning to end. Thank you to the entire Hy's team for making our 36th anniversary so special. A special thank-you to Trevor for offering us a complimentary photo to commemorate our celebration. It was such a thoughtful gesture and a wonderful keepsake from our special evening. Your hospitality, outstanding service, and delicious food made this anniversary one to remember. We wish Hy's nothing but continued success and we look forward to returning!

Hy's steak house more like overHYped steakhouse. This place came highly recommended via social…read moremedia and yelp reviews so we were soOooOo excited to come here as we are always looking for a good steakhouse and a nice dinner while on vacation. This place hit neither. Dress code enforced posted on their website and they remind you when they call about your reservation. That's fine bc we like to dress up for dinner while on vacation anyways. We each ordered filet mignon and you would have to pay me to eat that again. It was AWFUL. I mean look at the pictures does that even look like a filet mignon to you ?! It was thick and the texture was terrible. It tasted like a steak from Dennys. The baked potato was amazing and our (not) server, helper packed it with butter balls and sour cream which was really appreciated. Our server sat us and took our order and then the cool helper dude is the one who checked on us, brought our food, etc. he was way better than the server. I don't really understand the dynamic between the two. Anyways we left this place severely disappointed after spending hundreds of dollars. We sought out to redeem ourselves the next night on Oahu and found Aloha steakhouse on yelp. It was a million x better and one of the best steaks I've ever had. Do yourselves a favor, skip Hys and just go to Aloha. You might think at Hys you're "paying for the experience" but it will only be a disappointing experience at best.

Paris Hawaii

(32 reviews)

It is a shame that Michelin doesn't rate restaurants in Hawaii because Paris Hawaii would certainly…read moremake the list. From the food to the staff, everything was perfect. The pre-fixe menu was excellent. Chef Yamanaka certainly has a great menu design. His aji is on point and he used a variety of protein and vegetables. Perfection. The staff were highly attentive, friendly and helpful. Chef changes the menu every two months and I look forward to trying another menu.

I will talk about the exquisite food a little later; but first, THE SERVICE. You will not find…read moreservice anywhere in Hawaii like the service you get at Paris Hawaii. We had recently returned from a trip to Japan, and the service at Paris Hawaii felt like the Michelin star restaurants we dined at in Kyoto. Every staff member was so polite, attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and most of all- welcoming! The feeling of walking into this restaurant is that they really want you there. So hospitable without an ounce of the stuffiness and stiffness you find at many restaurants of this caliber. The food: Every plate was so thoughtfully curated. Every ingredient served a purpose. Every component designed to add texture, flavor, and tiny unexpected surprises. My wife's favorite course was the chilled sweet corn soup with a milk foam. She said it reminded her of her childhood. Mine was the poached salmon with stone fruit in a mushroom consommé. But all were exquisite. The wine list was fantastic and the atmosphere clean and modern with an open kitchen concept. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!

Botanico Waikiki

3.8

(73 reviews)

We were looking for a nice Italian place to help celebrate a birthday and Botanico was it! We were…read moreunsure how it would be - always iffy about heading into Waikiki not knowing what might be a tourist trap. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and drinks! We enjoyed the sangria (white was better than red to us) and the kids loved their mocktails too. The caesar salad was perfect and I loved my clam pasta. Another diner had the osso buco, which was a special, and it was really good and he polished it off. Service was really friendly and the ambiance was nice. The restaurant validated our parking for that building -I believe it's the Waikiki Shopping Plaza (about Stix Waikiki).

This place is pretty new so everything is clean and shiny. Service was fast, friendly, and mostly…read moreefficient (the server took the remainder of a dish for boxing and never brought it back). Cocktails were well done and interesting. The charcuterie board had "issues". It had no fruit or olives, two small pieces of cheese, and 3 different kinds of liver pâté. I don't dislike pâté, but RL does, and if we had known it was that pâté heavy, we would have passed on it. The entrees were quite good. I especially enjoyed the variety of fungi in mine. Sadly, they were out of the wine RL wanted. Validated parking is available in the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, which was very convenient.

PAI Honolulu

4.4

(342 reviews)