Glad you liked it! Here's a shorter Naomi-style version that still feels authentic and reads like a real Yelp review. Chef Chai has been one of our family's go-to restaurants for celebrations over the years, so hearing they brought back some favorites and added new menu items was the perfect excuse to return. We started with the tiki whiskey cocktail and took advantage of the happy hour menu. The Oxtail Ramen was just as comforting as I remembered, the Hurricane Fries disappeared almost immediately, and the Spicy 1-800 Hotline Wings definitely lived up to their name. For dinner, the Hamachi Crudo was incredibly fresh, and the Scallop Pot Pie was rich, flaky, and one of my favorite dishes of the night. I also loved the crispy fish prepared Thai style, while the wok-fried jumbo black shrimp had great flavor and were perfectly cooked. The Green Thai Curry was a pleasant surprise--it's the kind of dish I'd happily order again or even take home. The service was warm and attentive, and the atmosphere still makes Chef Chai feel like the perfect place for a date night or special occasion. It's always nice to try new restaurants, but coming back here reminded me why Chef Chai has remained one of Honolulu's classics for so many years. read more

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OVERALL: 10/10 FOOD: They have updated their menu, really good pupu and dinner menu. Garlic noodles are fantastic (we added prawns)! The cioppino is delicious, broth is coconut and a tad sweet. SERVICE: Everyone is kind and attentive! PARKING: Free on the street after 6:30pm or valet parking in the parking garage (driveway just before the restaurant) VIBE: Date night or just a fun night out with friends. Soft upbeat music playing, full bar available. Pay a visit soon, it's great! read more

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For a sophisticated epicurean experience, Chef Chai is a mainstay on our list. Good Thai food is hard to find on the island, so anytime we're craving modern flavor combinations to dazzle our palates with the complexities of Southeast Asian cuisine, we come here. The restaurant is classy from start to finish. They greet you with valet parking to make everything easier for you and the staff are friendly and helpful. If you're in the business of judging a restaurant by its bathroom, you'll find a mindful oasis replete with custom tile finishing, foliage, even a golden statue. Zen. Everyone agreed it was the best Mother's Day experience and buffet we've had on this island. So delicious that we had to book Father's Day immediately! As a mama, I felt so lucky to be taken here and thoroughly enjoyed the fun fruity cocktail and mocktails they whipped up. Everyone loved the skewered tiger prawns wrapped with delicate fried tuille, like an elevated corn dog. Their oysters were always iced, sweet and fresh, with delicious Thai herbs and peppers in their mignonette and we loved having a fresh papaya salad as a healthy palate cleanser to offset other heavier foods. The different types of lobster were all excellent and while I prefer grilled, some in our group were over the moon for the salt and pepper fried lobster. The servers and staff at Chai made it welcoming and fun for all of us, especially my son. The delicious flavors of curry made him gobble up veggies and tofu with no problem. The hubby loved their espresso martinis and they were even skilled enough to make a b-52 cocktail for uncle(this request is often met with blank stares). Everyone left satisfied and very happy. Not sure who enjoyed Mother's Day more! When we came back for Father's Day, the food might have been even better, as the dessert selection was expanded and given its own section at the bar. They have a grand piano and famous local legends like Robert Cazimero come play here! We can't wait to see what is in store for us on our next visit to Chai's. read more

Now that digestion is working and effects of the food coma have dissipated I can get to writing my review of Chef Chai's Thai Food Week menu...it was crazy filling and fully fantastic! We started off with a cocktail, Joe had the Flight to TYO and I had the Aloha Caliente. Our server Yurie did warn me that my drink was heat forward from the Thai chilis and she was right, the kick from the chilis was up there but went so perfectly with the tart/sweet fruitiness of the drink, definitely recommend this one. The 6 course meal began with 3 starters, Chicken satay, Duck spring rolls, and a NY steak salad. All of these were great offering a different flavor profile in each. No one dish overtook the other and all went well together. The next 2 dishes were the main courses, a Whole crispy fish topped with a medley of chilis and a Chicken curry with noodles. Once again both of these were amazing. The fish had a nice heat to it from the medley of chilis and the coconut milk in the chicken curry seemed to cool down the heat from the fish. Both dishes just complimented each other so well. The menu was served family style and they definitely didn't skimp on portions, I haven't been so full in a very long time but the food was so good we just couldn't leave a drop behind. We were so full we had to take the Mango rice pudding dessert home with us which we haven't eaten yet so can't comment on it but I have no doubt it's great. Chef Chai's Thai Food week happens every year and we'll be sure to keep an eye out for the next one. read more

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We had such an enjoyable evening at Chef Chai's! Stepping into this establishment, we were warmly greeted at the host stand. We arrived a bit early for our reservation, but they were gracious in seating us. Their dining room is pristine and elegant with adequate space between tables. To start, we had the prawns and Kumamoto oysters. I appreciated the creativity with how the tasty prawns were wrapped and cooked. The oysters were fresh and perfectly chilled. He had the Lamb Chops and I had the Miso Cod. Both entrees were seasoned and prepared to our liking. We also enjoyed the bottle of cabernet from their wine list. For dessert, we shared Chef Chai's signature heart shaped white chocolate with Gelato center and guava glaze. This was a perfect way to finish a lovely meal. Great service, tasty food, and a wonderful dining experience. We will gladly return! read more

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Mark Y is on the Chef Chai mailing list and he mentioned the upcoming That Food Week special. Sounded like a great deal - $75 per person for 6 courses. We arrived a little early for our reservation and were seated immediately. Our server, Yurie, was immediately attentive and charming. The room is well appointed - modern and clean looking with enough Thai decor pieces to give it an exotic vibe. We started with cocktails. Mark Y had the Aloha Caliente and I got the Flight to TYO. Both were delicious but the Caliente was the better of the two. Obviously we ordered the special. But I also ordered the tiger prawns that are a signature appetizer. Not only are they tasty but the presentation is impressive. The special included: Chicken satay skewers with peanut sauce...seems sorta predictable but there was something about them that was elevated. Same with the duck spring rolls with hoisin sauce. Really yummy. The third appetizer was a steak salad which had a bit of a kick to it. Never had anything like that before. Need to have that again. A whole fish with chili sauce and noodles with curry and chicken drumsticks were the entrees. So much food and all so good. We completely over ate because we would hated to leave anything behind. There was a rice pudding with mango desert...we asked for our to go because we couldn't eat one more bite. I'm sure it's gonna make a delicious breakfast!! My verdict: The meal was so well planned that each dish had its own flavor profile and yet harmonized with the other dishes. Great value. Great service. read more

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The food was good..... but the service has lots of room for improvement. The lamb chops were comped because they almost walked off the table (raw). read more

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6/14/26 Early Bird Special $58 Appetizer(s) Sampler + choice of a Main Dish Smoked Duck Taco (1 bite) tiny but tasty Lobster Bisque Shooter (tiny) wish it was a cup size You get to choose a main dish... Chose Curry Shrimp Some of the veggies were undercooked; like fresh red bell peppers vs simmered to meld w curry Large Shrimps, though I like my curry w some heat, it was mild Prime Rib Special under flavored $7.00 Valet not including tip 4 Stars for the service! read more

Wow what a pleasant surprise. We have lived right upstairs for 4 years and never stopped by. Maayynnn were we missing out. Service was top notch, friendly, pleasant, and attentive. The ambiance is cool/urban with a nice hint of Hawaiian music in the background. We came early so mommy couldn't try the early bird special. Appetizer sampler, Kabayaki King Salmon, and Heart Shaped White Chocolate Gelato with Fresh Raspberry Guava Puree. Mommy said it was all delicious but the cream of the crop were the mac nut crusted tiger prawn, butternut squash and lobster bisque, the salmon but more so the pineapple relish, and of course that dessert. Happy momma. My high of the night the Sautéed Escargot & Prawns with Chili Garlic Cream & Fresh Shiitake Mushroom, Served with Crostinis. OMG flavor BOMB'ski. Give me more of that over an angel hair pasta and take me to heaven :-). I also enjoyed the Hokkaido Scallops and Risotto. Scallops cooked to perfection and the first place I have eaten risotto in my life and absolutely loved it. Thought I would never order a risotto prior to giving theirs one last try. A convert I am. Thank you Chef Chai, chefs who cooked, and staff! What a wonderful dinner. read more

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We recently planned a family dinner for 24 people and chose to reserve the private dining room at Chef Chai. We arrived early enough to take advantage of their early bird menu, which turned out to be an incredible value--especially for a large group. For $68 per person, the meal began with an impressive spread of family-style appetizers: Chicken tenderloin saté Jumbo kataifi black tiger prawns Smoked duck taco with fresh mango salsa Gravlax salmon roulade with cream cheese and crab meat Roasted butternut squash and lobster bisque shooter And that was just the appetizer course. Everything was beautifully presented and generously portioned. For the main course, each guest could choose from six entrées. Many of us opted for the grilled filet mignon with mushroom foie gras puff or the grilled kabayaki salmon with Granny Smith apple-pineapple relish, both of which were well executed. Dessert options included tiramisu, shredded coconut cake, or halo halo shaved ice, and they were a nice, sweet way to end the meal. The pacing of the courses was comfortable, especially considering the size of our group, and the service throughout the evening was attentive and professional. They also allowed us to bring in our own birthday cake, which we really appreciated. There is a minimum spend required to reserve the private room (I'm not sure of the exact amount, as the dinner was hosted by a family member). Parking is available in the building, though self-parking can be tricky, so valet is likely the easiest option. Free street parking on Kapiʻolani Boulevard typically starts after 6 p.m. read more

Came here for date night during the prime rib special and it was definitely a good deal! Service was good and food came out in a timely manner. We even saw chef Chai himself out several time which was nice! Food wise I ordered the prime rib dinner which was super flavorful and tasty. The meat came out slightly more rare than I ordered but it was still good! Boyfriend ordered the whole fish Thai style and that was cooked to perfection. Sauce was pretty spicy but if you don't drench the fish in the sauce it was perfect. Dessert we had the tiramisu and crème brulee and both were yummy! Decent amount of parking in the garage but it is shared with other businesses so street parking might be necessary depending on the time. read more

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This was my first time to Chef Chai's right across Kapi'olani Blvd from the Blaisdell Arena. But Chai's has been around forever! I don't post a 5 star review often at all. But the overall experience here deserved it. Our server Brian was wonderful! His service was top notch and he was polite, friendly, and personable. He also made great suggestions on the menu. I ordered the scallops and it was so yummy! They were seared, good color, but soooo tender and definitely not a one overcooked. The risotto was good too, although couldn't really taste any lobster in it. I assume they used the lobster stock from the bisque. I shared the coffee creme brulee with my mom and it was delicious. So smooth and creamy and delicate. I don't even like coffee, but the flavor was just on point. I'd love to come back another time! Also the early pre fixe dinner special at $58 for the starter, choice of entree, and dessert is a great value! read more

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Chef Chai has been one of Honolulu's rock star chefs. He takes Thai food to the next higher level. My favorite is the fried whole snapper. Also amazing at this restaurant is Kumu Hula Robert Cazimero. He performs at the restaurant several times a month. Mesmerizing. read more

My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary tonight at Chef Chai's. My wife and I both ordered the Grilled Beef Tenderloin, with mashed potatoes and vegetables. OMG! The food was exceptional, prepared exactly the way we ordered. It gets better! Before our entree arrived we were given a series of appetizers that were part of the meal (Shrimp, duck tacos, this amazing peanut sauce with pita bread and for dessert we were served the best Tiramisu) Absolutely the best Tiramisu ever! The service was Five Star You never had to wait for anything and the owner Maikai and manager Dustin walked around all night making sure everyone and everything was okay. Best service ever. Worth mentioning! We ordered whiskey highballs and they were made perfectly as well. Thank you Chef Chai's for a memorable anniversary. Dan and Dar Sparks read more

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Awesome! Their lobster buffet has got to the best in the island. This year there was also live music courtesy of Ben Vegas who was also awesome. And I don't remember it last year, but this year I didn't miss out on the prime rib craving station. Our server, Yurie, was outstanding! read more

12/12/2025- We decided to come here before the HI Finest concert to eat some dinner before the show. We had reservations at 5:30PM and were promptly seated. Upon getting seated, there was lots of smoke inside the building, not too sure why but there were some workers trying to open the all the doors to let out the smoke. It lasted about 15 minutes or so. We ordered the prime rib special that was offered. It came with some appetizer and a desert. I don't remember exactly off hand what it was, I forgot to take a picture of the menu but did get pictures of the food. Everything up to getting the appetizer was fine, including the side of ahi katsu. After that is where everything went down hill. After we finished the appetizers, we waited and waited for the prime rib to come out. It took about 15 minutes for it to initially come out. We requested the prime rib to be medium rare, but it seems like it was more medium. We didn't want to wait any longer so we just decided to eat it. During the course of the meal, we had to wait for our waters to be refilled. It seems like our waitress was changed shift of tables as she never came around after that. Never asked to refill the waters or ask how everything was. We had to ask another server for water. After we finally finished our main course, we waited an additional 15 minutes or so for the desert. It took so long for it come out, we asked "another" server to just box it up so we could take it home. For the most part, the food was great except for the prime rib, which was a little over cooked. Service on the other hand, wasn't great at all. We have been here before and service was on par but it seems like everything that night was not. I am disappointed, especially spending that much $$$ here. read more

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Aloha, we enjoy MS Patrick Okubo's wine dinners at Chef Chai. Another wonderful evening. It's become our monthly go-to to meet up with friends. Delicious food by chef Chai. Generous portions and best duck I've had in a long time. And yes the lamb was fabulous as well as the refreshing melon with Prosciutto and walnuts. Enjoy! read more

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I've been to Chef Chai's a couple of times now, each time on the recommendation of friends, and it's consistently been a great experience. My most recent visit was no exception. The food was delicious, and our waitress Kristi went above and beyond, making the evening even more enjoyable. Chef Chai's remains a solid choice for a special dinner in Honolulu! read more

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Great place! We went to a catered lunch and liked it so much we went to dinner. Ordered a bunch of items. Everything was excellent in terms of taste and presentation. Great full bar with some of the best whiskys and tequilas read more

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Honolulu Restaurant Week Meal #5 Glad I saved this one for last because it ended up being my favorite meal of all 5 I tried this week! Upscale modern elegance. White tablecloths, beautiful Thai decorations. Chef Chai is half Thai, half Chinese. Naturally, Asian fusion is his speciality. I genuinely enjoyed every single course Chef Chai presented us. I was impressed by his creativity, beauty in presentation, and skillset in making each dish memorable. Restaurant Week Special $69 per person, $20 wine supplement Starter: Chicken Tenderloin Sate' with Thai Peanut Sauce, Asian Flat Bread and Cucumber Salad Appetizer Sampler: -Fresh Ahi Tartar with Avocado Mousse in Mini Waffle Cones -Kataifi and Macnut Crusted Jumbo Black Tiger Prawns -Gravlax Salmon Roulade with Cream Cheese & Crab Meat -Smoked Duck Taco with Spicy Mango Salsa Entrée Mongolian Style Lamb Chops with Brandy Demi Mashed Potato & Stir-fried Sugar Snap peas Desserts: -Waialua Chocolate Lava Cake with Fresh Berries -Heart Shaped White Chocolate Amore Truffle with Fresh Raspberry Guava Puree Unlike most tasting menus, I left really full here since they were so generous with the lamb chops entree! The dessert was the perfect ending for people with sweet tooths. Service was exceptional! Tim took great care of us, providing good company and attentiveness throughout the meal. All staff were welcoming. Easy to make reservations via OpenTable. Street parking free after 6pm or Valet parking inside building for $7 flat rate. Highly recommend! read more

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Went there for Mother's Day and brought a friend to treat. The wait staff sucked* 1st the waiter never told us his name and random ppl if I could catch them would help* $165 for a buffett and I couldn't take what was left over on my plate!!!! They treated me like I was stealing!!! Waited long time for 1st drinks, grilled lobster tasted burnt* They walked around with coconut shrimp, but I was finished with 1st plate before they came by* I seriously felt like I was at Cracker Barrel with the treatment by racist staff, when the ppl that came in after me, gets clearly quicker, better service, something stinks* Spent over $300 for 2 ppl with shitfly service* read more

Heard good things about Chef Chai's for years. FINALLY had the opportunity to dine there for a prix fixe special: Starter Chicken tenderloin sate skewers with Thai peanut sauce, cucumber salad, and flat bread Soup or Salad Roasted butternut squash and lobster bisque with crab dumpling and creme fraiche and chives OR Organically grown Big Island baby greens with tangerine vinaigrette, poached pear, tear drop tomatoes, cucumber, beet and candied pecans Entree (Choice of:) Herb roasted prime rib with natural beef jus and creamy horse radish, mashed potatoes, and vegetables du jour OR Crispy whole fish with chili ginger sauce, steamed Thai jasmine rice Dessert (Choice of:) Thai coffee tiramisu OR Tahitian vanilla creme brulee I chose the prime rib, which was a generous cut and perfectly medium rare with mashed potatoes, and tender asparagus spears. The au just was so tasty, and the creamy horse radish was perfectly spicy! Woo hoo! The chicken sate was good, and the roasted butternut squash and lobster bisque with crab dumpling was deliciously hearty! The creme brulee was garnished with fresh raspberries and a rolled cookie, an amazing end to a wonderful meal! Presentation was beautiful and servers were attentive, but not cloyingly so. Will be back to enjoy more of Chef Chai's offerings! NOTE: Sorry! No photos! I get so excited as the food is served, I completely forget to take photos... read more

Food was good but not worth to come back Bathroom was scary. The service was disappointing they forgot drinks and food orders. how can you forget both food and drink order?!?! And say theyre still working on it ? Even though other people in my party got THE EXACT SAME THING AND GOT IT????? and say they took it to the wrong table after?? , honesty would have been more appreciated than excuses. Come back? Nope we can def get the same flavor somewhere else where I can get all food and drinks come AT THE SAME TIME. Manager never stop by to apologize or nothing was comp; crazy! read more

Chef Chai's is located directly in the back of the Blaisdell parking structure on Kapiolani Blvd. Parking is easy as there is a garage with valet literally next door to the restaurant. We went for a company holiday party so we had a set menu with appetizers and we could choose our entrée from several different items. let me tell you, I know I should've memorize what was what, but honestly things were coming to our table to fast and I was trying to take pictures and next thing u know it another round of appetizers would come out, LOL. I tried my best, LOL... For my main dish, I ordered the filet mignon, with some kind of stuff mushroom, mashed potatoes and some green beans and carrots. the filet mignon was cooked to perfection and I devoured it. My husband got the rack of lambs and it was cooked and flavored great. Service was on point and out standing for as much as we had in our party. Chef Chai came out to great us and that was nice. This isnt your every weekend dining, but definitely a place to go :)) read more

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The world food tour duo joined the 35th anniversary dinner at Chef Chai. The menu featured a five-course menu with four wines from the Wagner family, two from Caymus, one from Emmelo and a Caymus-Suisun, all for $135pp. The starter was a baby green salad and Chai's signature Kataifi Prawn with a tangerine vinaigrette. The better half of the food duo was served just the greens due to her shellfish allergy. The wine was a Emmelo #5 sparkling wine ($40btl), very fruity and crisp. Hmmm, I might have to purchase a few bottles. The second course was braised pork belly and Thai sticky rice with shrimp and chestnuts. It was served wrapped in a ti leaf. The pork was tender and the rice very tasty. The alternative dish were three lamb tacos ... I tried one, wow, so flavorful! The wine was a 2022 Caymus-Suisun The Walking Fool, red blend ($38btl). Course three was pistachio crusted beef tenderloin with a medley of vegetables. The wine was a 2022 Caymus California cabernet sauvignon ($55btl). The beef was tender and the roasted vegetables provided a good counterpoint. The main course was Mongolian style lamb chops with a brandy demi sauce. It was served with a 2022 Caymus 50th anniversary cab ($72btl). This was a great wine, by far the best of the three reds. I liked this wine more than the "standard" Caymus cab, at a slight price premium. Dessert was a 35-layer chocolate crepe cake with raspberry guava puree. I'm not a dessert person so I took a single spoonful ... It reminded me of tiramisu. I had a wonderful cup of coffee instead. What did we think? It was a great meal at a reasonable price. Service was fine, even with the restaurant being at capacity. We're happy to see these wine-focused dinners ... the next one is on January 8th, featuring wines from Freemark Abbey. Thanks, Chef Chai! read more

Chef Chai - C4: Mongolian style lamb chops - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I was really hoping this was going to be an amazing dining experience but it was not. The food here was beautifully presented and genuinely delicious, each dish was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. That said, the portions were a little small for the price, so just be aware if you come hungry. The ambiance was nice, but the overall experience was impacted by the service. Our server wasn't super attentive. But what really stood out (in a bad way) was the hostess. She was surprisingly rude and dismissive, which set a sour tone from the start. This place has a lot of potential and clearly puts care into the food, but for the price point, I expected a higher level of hospitality and warmth from the staff. Though I'm leaving 4 stars, it was a 3 star experience for us. read more

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I didn't write a review when I came here a while ago! Really wish I had, but thats a good reason to go back, right? We came during restaurant week for an early bday, and though it has been half a year I still think about it. Its pretty upscale but isn't too pretentious or overpriced, and most importantly the food was soooo good, and we were full by the end of it. The appetizers were both pretty and tasty, but the mains were the most memorable parts. I absolutely loved the lemongrass oxtail soup. The bright, fresh taste of lemongrass and cilantro paired with the rich, savory oxtail perfectly. And though the lamb didn't have any particularly unique flavorings, it was probably the best cook I've tasted on a lamb chop. Looking forward to eating here again. read more

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Amazing food, the flavors in each dish were perfectly balanced, and the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh. The steak was cooked to perfection!" "The miso Seabass fish was melt-in-your-mouth and lamb chops with brandy Demi cooked perfectly. Mahalo Chef Chai for creating special set menu for us. read more

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We enjoyed our special prime rib dinner last night. It was cooked to perfection. Our server was Randy but everyone who assisted from the time we walked in till the time we left were great. I even got to celebrate my milestone birthday Thank you. read more

What an amazing restaurant! I got to try an array of appetizers: macadamia nut-crusted jumbo black tiger prawns, Fresh Ahi Tartar w/ avocado mousse in mini waffle cones. Chi I was elated to find the chef is the same one who used to own my favorite restaurant, Singha. Every dish is carefully prepared and beautifully presented... eating here is not just for eating but for the whole dining experience. Highly recommended!! read more

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The food was amazing--everything from the samplers to the main course and dessert. They also offered a special complimentary appetizer that day, which was excellent as well. I ordered the tasting course. I was a little disappointed with the sampler portion, only because most of the items were just one bite each. However, the flavors were absolutely marvelous. I had the tenderloin (filet) and finished with the white chocolate truffle gelato for dessert. My date had the sea bass, and I can honestly say it was the best I've ever had. Ambiance was nice. Classy upscale but down to earth vibes. read more

I came to Chef Chai on Valentine's day for a late dinner, not knowing they were offering a special three course menu. The food was outstanding, and I will definitely be back to try their unique dishes. We started with the peanut sauce and pita with chick satay. The pita was super fresh and warm, and I loved eating it with the peanut sauce. I ordered the beet and tomato salad with vinaigrette. It was very light and refreshing. For my main course, I ordered the grilled pork tenderloin with crispy rice. I really liked the Thai style crispy rice. The piece of pork was very generous and seasoned well. For dessert, I ordered the white chocolate amore truffle with guava puree. I loved the guava flavor! Everything that we were served was so delicious, and the service was excellent. read more

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AhhhhhMazing!!! I don't want to say we were surprised, but that's what we were! Such an incredible selection on the menu here, great service, amazing food! We came for my birthday, and couldn't decide what to order, there were so many options and things we wanted to try, so I guess we'll have to be back soon! We were able to try the chicken satay, goat cheese won tons, and the smokes duck breast tacos for our appetizers. They were all so good, I can't decide which was my fave. So I recommend just trying it all! My husband had the Miso Chilean Sea Bass, he loved it. It came with pickled vegetables, and a ginger coconut rice, such amazing flavors. I had the Thai Style Oxtail with spicy Lemongrass Broth, and jasmine rice. I can't even find the words to describe it. The flavors were exquisite. I'm not normally an Oxtail eating person because I don't like things that could get messy, but I went out of my comfort zone since it was my birthday, and I'm so glad I did! I absolutely recommend this dish! We'll totally be back again. I haven't had such a great experience at a restaurant in a while, to be honest! read more

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Celebrated my friend's surprise 60th birthday this past Saturday. With about 60 people in attendance, the restaurant was closed for this private lunch affair. Have dined here once a very long time ago, can't remember exactly what I ate, but this was a nice refresher of how good Chef Chai is and what he offers with his excellent dining experience. The staff were friendly and quick to attend to us. The dining room is large, clean, spacious and the cool room lighting provided the right amount of color and bling to set the mood. It was buffet style, but Chef Chai's signature appetizers were delivered to each table. Champagne was also served to each guest for a birthday toast. The party planner decided on a no-host bar. Chef Chai offers a variety of Thai dishes which everyone was able to try out. Desserts were also buffet style, although I did not have room for dessert this time, however everyone else did. Guests were treated to live music as a musician played piano of various genres of music. Overall, an exceptional experience. The only negative was that the table I sat at was four-legged and made it difficult to maneuver in and out of my seat. Other than that, having Chef Chai presence at my friend's private party made for a very special occasion. Because it was a surprise party, everyone had to park away from the restaurant's main parking. Allowing all the attendees to park next door complimentary. read more

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TL;DR Wonderful fine dining spot with a wide array of Asian-influenced dishes Hamakua Mushroom and Black Truffle Risotto Cakes = ONO Fresh Ahi Tartar with Avocado Mousse in Mini Waffle Cones = ONO Seafood Tortellini with Lobster Sauce, Sautéed Corn and Edamame = ONO Sun-dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Wontons = ONO Miso Chilean Sea Bass with Pickled Vegetables = ONO Grilled Filet Mignon with Mashed Potato, Mushroom Puff and Merlot Demi = ONO ----- I've dined at Chef Chai's a few times now, and I always leave impressed. The food here is very, very good. My wife, my mom, my stepdad, and I all dined here at 6pm on a Friday night before a concert at the Blaisdell. The place was absolutely packed. I'm not sure if it was because it was a Friday, or the tail end of happy hour, or the night of a concert, or the food is just that good, or all the above. But it was insanely crowded. As a result, I would say our service wasn't as attentive as I would have hoped. It was not bad at all. Just not absolutely top tier. We split a bunch of appetizers, including the risotto cakes, the ahi tartar, the wontons, and the escargot. Everything was delicious. My only complaint was the number of bread slices that accompanied the escargot. Only three... not nearly enough to sop up the delicious sauce. I also ordered the roasted butternut squad and lobster bisque, which was fantastic. Yummm, yummm, yummm. My wife enjoyed the seafood tortellini appetizer as her main course, and my mom and stepdad both raved about the sea bass. I had a few pieces of my mom's serving and can attest to its excellence. Very flavorful, buttery, and flaky. I had the filet mignon, which was cooked perfectly. The merlot demi was an excellent pairing with the meat, and I was thoroughly delighted by the mushroom puff. The overall dish felt like a deconstructed beef wellington a little bit. Super delicious and satisfying. I hope there's another concert soon so I can return for a meal with Chai! read more

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We got the early bird menu, which I think is a pretty good deal. You get a sampler of 5 appetizers, an entree, and a dessert. The chicken satay with peanut sauce was hands down my favorite appetizer. And it came with warm bread, bonus. Dessert was gorgeous. Nice decor, and since we were there early, not very crowded. Service was good and they paced the meal well. read more

Chef Chai - White chocolate gelato with raspberry guava puree - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Last night we attended chef Chai's full moon dinner featuring Robert Cazamero. Total cost was over $300 with tax and tip. Robert Cazamero was excellent, the restaurant wasn't. The issues we ran into: Gluten Free: my wife is gluten free and we found few alternatives for her, not what you'd expect from a good restaurant. Granted it was a fixed price set menu but I'd expect some flexibility. Restaurant: we were there relatively early but when we were - finally - asked for our order we were told they had run out of the black cod with miso that we both wanted. V. Disappointing. Service (1): poor, the waitress did not understand food allergies, suggesting that my wife, who had to avoid all the listed desserts due to GF, could not opt for plain ice cream as she asked, because of her allergy. She did not seem to distinguish between gluten and dairy allergies! Service (2): when we were told that there was no black cod left, I opted for lamb, but my wife, who was very disappointed with the lack of black cod, was told by the waitress that she could have the same miso dish, with a different fish substituted. Not as good as black cod but my wife, when told it would be red snapper, reluctantly agreed. BUT, wait for it, it would cost $10 more!! You have got to be kidding!!! Sensing our mounting frustration, the waitress checked, and found that we could substitute salmon for no extra charge. My wife specifically confirmed with the waitress that it would be MISO salmon, the same dish as the black cod just substituting a different fish. And guess what, she was served teriyaki salmon with a dish of miso on the side. Another waiter later told us that all their salmon was pre-marinated in the teriyaki sauce. My wife did not eat the fish. And in the end basically struck out on the main course and dessert. She said the rice was decent. This was our wedding anniversary dinner. Overall an extreme disappointment. read more

I really enjoyed this restaurant ! It gives an upscale,quaint and welcoming feel as soon as you enter. Service was outstanding. They kept my water full and when I asked questions about menu items they were quite insightful. I forgot to take a picture but the Chilean seabass was my absolute favorite ! It had the right balance of fish flavor and just melted in my mouth. In my opinion this place is good for nice dates or it's someone's birthday. I'll be sure to bring friends here in the future ! read more

Chef Chai - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We sure miss the Chef! We have done the special dinners several times. This one sounded good--but it was horrible. The corn soup tasted like it had sugar in it. The prime rib was NOT prime beef. The vegetables we not cooked at all. All of that, and for a 'special dinner' with a couple of drinks it was over $200. Won't be going back. Sorry we certainly miss Chef Chai. read more

We celebrated our anniversary on Sat night at Chef Chai's with his special Thai Menu. Sooo tasty & innovative! Superb, unintrusive service, where all the waiters step in to make the dining experience enjoyable, & a special thanks to Tim our assigned waiter, for his impeccable attention. Thanks you, Chef Chai for your generosity in giving us the gorgeous complimentary guava centered-vanilla ice cream treat! read more