Blast from the past! Have not been to Duc's Bistro in maybe... 10 years? maybe more!!!! I remember 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. read more

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I walked in at 7 and they said they were closing early because they took all of their reservations. Pretty bad because I was looking forward to trying this place read more

Yelp poses the question "What went well?" Everything. Ambience, service, food , drinks, all perfectly executed. Duc and family most gracious hosts to an evening of elevated dining Favorite dishes? We have yet to finish sampling the menu so everything we tried is our new favorite. read more

This was literally the best meal I've had in 6 yrs in Honolulu... It's that sublime combination of simple dishes cooked perfectly, a warm atmosphere with perfect service that's makes you happy. A place to be able to talk without all the din and decent value for the quality. Escargot, lobster bisque, the best rack of lamb ever, shrimp done with perfection, wines were well selected.. My new fav place. Go you will be happy. read more

We hadn't been back to Duc's Bistro in a long time. We visited every now and then when we worked in town. We enjoyed a very lovely evening with good food, great service, and a wonderful ambiance. We'll be back! The house made duck pate was awesome! read more

I was looking for a restaurant that served French food then saw Duc's Bistro on Yelp. A 4.4 rating and in business for over 30 years convinced me to give it a try. I'm glad I did since we all had such a nice dinner! The restaurant is very cozy, comfortable and you feel like you're having dinner at someone's house. We ordered and ate everything family-style so it made it seem more homey. The food was delicious! For appetizers we had escargot, spring rolls, and banana blossom salad. The salad was the most unique as we've never heard of it. It turned out to be delicious; refreshing, tasty, and complemented the escargots and spring rolls well. For entrees we had the pork belly, prawns, rack of lamb, and mahimahi. All were so good. My favorite being the rack of lamb. The chops were a good size and pleasantly seasoned. The pork belly was a close second. Very tasty and a good cut as there was not too much fat on it but enough to make it tender and yummy. The service was excellent and can see it being open for many more years! read more

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Duc's Bistro is tucked just outside of Chinatown and was easier to get to than I expected. Parking is across the street, and the restaurant provides a code for free parking, which I really appreciated. Just a heads up, the stalls are on the smaller side. The food was excellent. I couldn't decide on a main, so I ordered two appetizers and that ended up being the perfect amount. I started with the lobster bisque, which is always a favorite of mine, and it did not disappoint. I also ordered the crab cakes. They were very good, though just a touch salty for my personal taste. My friends ordered a few other appetizers, including escargot, which was my first time trying it. I was half-expecting a Pretty Woman moment, but they were already shelled. Pro tip from my friends: put the escargot on the house bread. Absolutely delicious. I also snagged a couple of spring rolls, which were great as well. What really stood out was the hospitality. The owner and his wife were incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. I'd definitely come back. read more

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There's nothing you can wrong with here! A multigenerational owned business, and you can tell they just love their clientele. I love here, but my parents come from Australia and this is their top request to visit every time. Faves are the pâté, tartare, butter leaf greens to start with. Then anything else! read more

Duc's Bistro - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Surprisingly, I have never heard of Duc's bistro despite them being around for 30 years. They're located conveniently in Chinatown, and there's paid parking right across the street. They serve French and Vietnamese cuisine. I was invited to a group dinner, so I was excited to try out this restaurant! Since I was a guest, the menu was chosen for us, so there were a few items that I typically would not order. Everything here is served family style. We started out with French bread, which was homemade and really good! For appetizers, we had the Vietnamese crispy spring rolls, which were really good. I enjoyed these. The chicken salad (Goi ga) was really tasty and had a good ginger dressing. Honestly, these two things were probably the best of the bunch. We also had the escargot which comes with button mushrooms in herb butter, and the beef tartar, both of which were OK, but nothing exciting. I don't particularly care for foie gras, and I don't like lamb so I didn't try the lamb chops. The pork belly was good, Rich tasting and tender. We also had the local fish nonpareil (Mahi-mahi) which was supposed to be in a lemon caper dill sauce, but instead was bland and on the mushy side. Dessert was the classic crème brûlée, which was OK. Service was good. Food was OK, nothing really outstanding. read more

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5 stars. Great food, cozy and romantic ambiance inside. Friendly and personable service. Wide selection of traditional French and Asian dishes with an elevated touch. What's not to like? There were 4 of us and we tried a lot of things: foie gras, escargot, spring rolls, duck breast, pan fried fish, lamb chops, chicken curry, saffron rice, and tapioca banana pudding, crème brûlée and affogato for dessert! Honestly, I enjoyed everything and I can't wait to go back to try the rest of the menu lol. The star dishes for me were the pan fried fish and the chicken curry with saffron rice actually! I mean the traditional French fare was solid too, but you know there isn't much surprise to it. The pan fried fish however was a shocker in that it's done so well with the texture and the taste. I was hesitant about getting the chicken curry, but the sweet lady (who's also a cook) recommended the chicken curry so I was like, OK let's give it a shot. Hmmmm that might be one of my favorite curries that I tried. The chicken was tender, and the curry had depth without being sweet or salty; it's hard to describe. The portions were not big. They're all "exquisite" but I thought the prices were not ridiculous. They're higher than average, but the quality was delivered, so it's worth it imo. Parking lot is across the street with discount code provided by the restaurant, make sure you don't pay yet until you get the code from them, or free street parking after 6pm. I can't wait to go back. Thank you for the delicious food and friendly service! read more

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What an absolute gem of a restaurant! They don't advertise. No social media. Duc's isn't some trendy hot spot. It's a quaint hidden gem that relies on a solid reputation of serving up some of Honolulu's best food for the last 30 years. A true family affair, with Duc in the kitchen and his affable son Ian running the front of the house. Service here embodies the ideas of aloha and ohana. Warm, genuine, generous. The food is spectacular. French-Vietnamese cuisine executed with elegance and perfection. Highlights include: Rack of Lamb with veal demi-glace, beef tartare, green papaya salad and do NOT miss the escargot! Literally everything we ate was a home-run. The restaurant is small...best to call ahead to ensure you get a table, especially for a larger group. This is an amazing local restaurant that deserves your support. It has won my heart and dare I say...one of my favorite restaurants in Honolulu. read more

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We went there for a Christmas dinner, arriving at 4, when the restaurant opened. Because we were the only customers until others started arriving around 5, we got lots of attention. The spring rolls were the best I've ever had, and the dessert was very good. read more

Duc's Bistro - festive interior of Duc's Bistro plus a Christmas plant in the bottom left corner that I put on our table - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I still think this place is a diamond in the rough. Unfortunately, I realize most people don't want to dine in the evening in Chinatown. That's why we dined at 4:30pm so we could be done and out by 6:30pm. The food is very good! The best Duck Pate I've ever had and it's served on crusty but soft French bread! I loved the Lamb Chops! It consisted of 8 chops! The escargot my wife had was good but she claims having a better version at another restaurant. The only appetizer that wasn't that great was the Crab Cake. It was the typical shredded crab meat(not lump) and the cake was made up of typical mash consistency. Love this family run business! read more

the owners was very welcoming and sweet. the foie gras was cooked perfect, i like when its is cooked all the way through!!! for $6 more we had extra bread to accompany it. the papaya salad was light and refreshing. read more

Duc's Bistro - inside. - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Been wanting to try this place for years and just had the chance to do some take out tonight. I was craving foie gras and wow this really hit the spot! I ordered the pan fried fish and foie gras. They also gave me some saffron rice on the house - so kind of them!! The foie gras came on toast with a side of papaya and pomegranate (?). The flavors together were amazing. I'm super glad they gave me some saffron rice because it really paired well with the pan fried fish. Amazing food! Can't wait to be able to dine in one day. read more

Amazing Food! Amazing Service! Amazing Hospitality! What a great experience my husband and I had. We were referred by a waitress at a famous restaurant. This hidden gem did not disappoint! read more

A small and ever present restaurant that has a modest and nondescript exterior, Duc's Bistro is everything other than average. The service is personal - As a family run business, pride is apparent, but more - there is sheer enjoyment of their restaurant and service that is unlike anything you will experience on the island. They interact with all customers as if they have been friends for a long time. The food - An experience in its own - while I loved everything, and we ordered quite a bit, my personal fav is the Beef Tatare. I could eat that all day with a bottle of wine. We enjoyed our experience for my bday dinner so much, that we returned three weeks later (the family had gone on a trip, so they were closed during that time), and relived our favorite dishes. Mahalo for everything and see you again soon. read more

My mother heard about this place and people were raving about it. So I decided to take her there for her 89th birthday. There were many items that looked tantalizing so we settled on escargot, the mahi-mahi special, duck pate, and orange duck. We ended the night with crème brûlée and it was also terrific. Highly recommend recommended! read more

Duc's Bistro - A toast to mom on her 89th birthday! - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Huber's Whisker-Twitching Review: Duc's Bistro, Honolulu If you ever find yourself wandering Honolulu's Chinatown on a rainy night, shoes squeaking, fur a little damp, and heart hungry for adventure, let me, Huber, point your paws (or feet) toward a place that feels straight out of an old Humphrey Bogart film: Duc's Bistro. Ambience: Movie Magic & Chinatown Charm The moment we stepped inside, I half expected to see Humphrey himself, lounging in a shadowy corner, plotting his next adventure. Instead, we were greeted by a gentleman who could have been a movie star in his own right--older, but with a twinkle of youth, dressed to the nines, and carrying himself with the grace of someone who's seen a thousand stories unfold behind these walls. That was Duc Nguyen, the owner, host, and as it turns out, the evening's culinary magician. The room was a scene set for romance and nostalgia: white linen-draped tables, gleaming glassware, and a single delicate flower at the center of each. The rain pattered softly against the windows, making the city lights outside shimmer. Even though we were the last guests to arrive, the bistro held a gentle buzz, as if the walls themselves were whispering secrets of dinners past. There's something about Chinatown in any city--especially on a wet, chilly night--that makes every neon sign and hidden doorway glow with promise. Duc Bistro was no exception The Hospitality: Old-Soul Kindness Just as we settled in, the dapper Duc approached, his presence as warm as a wool coat on a cold night. "No menu tonight," he said with a knowing smile, "you tell me what you want, and I'll make it happen." Cap and I exchanged a look--when in Casablanca (or Chinatown), right? We asked for steak and duck, maybe some rice and veggies. Duc nodded, as if we'd just made the perfect choice. The Feast: A Table for the Imagination First up: A plate of Escargots à la Chablisienne. The snails arrived bubbling in garlicky, herby butter, their aroma so rich I nearly swooned right out of my chair. Each bite was a little, buttery hug--warm, savory, and just daring enough for a mouse who likes his adventures edible. Main event: Steak Saigon, for me: Slices of beef, tender as a secret, bathed in a sauce with just the right kick of spice and sweetness. Each forkful was a little journey--part Paris, part Saigon, all delicious Breast of Duck, for Cap: Glazed and golden, perched atop a mound of bright saffron rice, with veggies that still had a snap of garden freshness. Cap's eyes sparkled--always a good sign. The flavors were deep and comforting, the portions generous, and the presentation elegant, but never fussy. Every plate felt like a love letter to classic bistro fare, with a dash of Vietnamese soul. The Experience: Warmth on a Rainy Night As the evening wound down, Duc drifted by our table, sharing stories, checking that everything was perfect, and making us feel like the most important guests in the world. The rain outside faded into the background, replaced by the soft clink of glasses and the gentle hum of laughter. By the time we left, bellies full and spirits lifted, I was convinced: Duc Bistro is the kind of place that turns a cold, rainy night into a memory you'll revisit again and again--like your favorite old movie, but tastier. Huber's Final Nibble So, next time you're wandering Chinatown, chasing neon reflections in the rain, duck into Duc Bistro. Let Duc Nguyen take care of you, let the linen and glassware transport you, and let the food warm you inside and out. You never know what adventure is waiting--especially when there's no menu, just a promise of something wonderful. Huber's Tip: Trust the house, order with your heart, and always save room for a little surprise. If you spot a mouse scribbling in a tiny notebook, come say hi--I'll share my duck (maybe). --- Verdict: A five-star night for the soul, the senses, and the spirit of adventure. Thank you, Duc Bistro, for reminding us that the best meals are sometimes the ones you never planned. read more

Duc's Bistro - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We have been going to this Bistro for a long time. They never disappoint us. Service and quality of food is amazing. The owner is the sweetest family and very customer focused. Love their food and atmosphere. read more

Amazing amazing amazing!!! Did I say that multiple times?! Went for date night before a show at Hawaii Theatre and everything we ordered was so good! First, the place is so quaint and clean and cosy! Doesn't look like anything from the street but when you walk in, it's like being transported back in time to a little French bistro in the 1940s, love the aesthetic! Anyways, the food, the mushroom "escargot" is a great choice for those who aren't adventurous enough to eat snails, that garlic butter sauce is soooo good when dipped with their warm fluffy french loaf slices, divine! I wanted to get more bread just so I could have more butter haha! We also ordered the pork belly which was melt in your mouth with so much flavor, the fish dish Chien Xoai was so light and delicious! Definitely a delightful meal, will be back with more people so we can try more things! Thank you Duc and fam!! read more

This restaurant was established a long time ago. We recently returned for a wonderful meal and to our surprise, the owner Duc was still serving! We enjoyed our entire meal with joy! At the end of our meal (waiting for check) Duc brought both of us a shot of grand Monnier. What a sweet man! God bless you Duc! read more

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Wow what an experience!! I love how classy and old school the feel is. If you want a beautiful private place to have a date where you can actually hear your date, this is it. Romantic music paired with an absolutely exquisite French/Vietnamese fusion cuisine. Had escargot, spring rolls, local fish nonpareil, tom rang muối, and braised pork belly (kinda like thit kho but so much better). So. Damn. Good. Service was attentive, on point, personable, and very down to earth. The owner Đức is hella cool and so charming. Classic spot has been around for almost 40 years. Local secret for sure. Legit probably one of my favorite places I've visited since I've moved here. All the newer spots feel rushed and menus feel not fully put together. If you want something where the menu is dialed in and the owner fully puts his weight behind every dish without hesitation, this is it. Thanks for a great experience!! read more

Haven't been to this well established restaurant in a very long time so I was thrilled to be invited to a birthday celebration. The interior has obviously been renovated because it was nice and light and tastefully decorated. The staff (including the owners) served the various dishes, bused the tables, ran the bar (keeping individual's credit cards so they could easily cash us out individually), while doing the same for the other party at the back of the restaurant!! We all made sure to let the owners know how much we enjoyed each dish and how much we appreciated how much they enjoyed interacting with us. We had a sampling from each food group, including desert (choice of crème brûlée or strawberry sorbet). I will be back for sure. read more

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FOOD: 4 SERVICE: 3 AMBIANCE: 4 VALUE: 3 We wanted to try a restaurant outside of Waikiki. After browsing through Yelp, we came upon Duc's Bistro, a Vietnamese French bistro. They are located in Chinatown and they are by reservation only. We called around 4PM to get a reservation. We arrived on time and were seated promptly. A server greeted us with water and menus. Since we had researched on Yelp, we knew what we wanted to order. Here is what we had: Foie Gras - seared Foie Gras on a toast, with slices of Papaya and a fruit jelly. Perfectly seared and tasty. Beware that the jelly has a slight kick. I could not taste the splash of Cognac. Green Papaya salad - slivers of green papaya and shrimp marinated in herbs and piquant dressing. Fresh, crunchy and very tasty. Spring rolls - traditional fried Vietnamese rolls made with ground pork and shiitake mushrooms. Spot on taste and crispiness. Served with lettuce, rice noodles and jicama. Lobster bisque - tomato lobster bisque was spot on in terms of flavor and it had good amount of lobster meat. Breast of Duck Grand Manier - this was one huge disappointment. The duck was overcooked and had no taste. The Grand Manier sauce could not save this dish. Service throughout the night was very slow. Maybe because there were a few big holiday parties. The meal was very expensive, $200+ with one drink, desserts, tax and tips. From this visit, I can only really justify 3.5 stars. read more

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Duc's is amazing place. The service was outstanding and food was memorable. They also have a great wine menu. The moment we walked in we were graciously treated and through out the dinner service Ian and team didn't miss a beat. I went with some locals and they too raved about the experience. Thank you to Duc and family for the amazing hospitality and wonderful evening. read more

We love Duc's! It's cozy and quiet and can be counted on to serve vs mostly healthy, always delicious French/Vietnamese cuisine. We've been going there since Duc first opened many decades ago and are happy to see that his sons are now taking over for him. His son Ian is equally friendly and always on the job! We highly recommend the food, service, and ambience! They also have an excellent bar and wine selection. read more

Wow, wow, and wow!! This restaurant is amazing! The food and the service as off the charts! Some of the dishes felt like my own mother had prepared them! Played a prank on one of the staff and my wife (maybe they remember?). Definitely will be back!! read more

Had dinner here. Food and service was great. Their bread alone was perfectly baked. Definitely gonna check them out for lunch and will be coming back for dinner as well. Parking right across the street. Scan their QR code in the restaurant. read more

One of the finest restaurants in Honolulu. This place is a hidden gem. Duc and his family are the finest hosts. The food is prepared fresh. And beautifully plated and presented. There is an extensive wine cellar. The service is impeccable. Highly recommend this place. Now you know. read more

We celebrated Mother's Day! Dinner was fabulous. The menu has a selection of Vietnamese and French cuisine. We ordered escargot and crab cakes as starters and it was delicious. For entrees we ordered the pan fried fish, braised pork belly, and the local fish nonpareil which was mahi mahi. We all had the chance to sample each other's entrees. Each dish was very tasty. Also for dessert we had crème brûlée. Very nice. The service was excellent. This is a family owned restaurant and the family members are so personable and very friendly. The ambiance is nice. This is a small restaurant on Maunakea Street. We parked in a nearby public parking structure however they do have parking across the street from their restaurant and they will validate the parking. They are open for dinner from 4pm to 9pm. We are definitely looking to return. read more

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Very quaint family owned business serving exceptional family style dining experience with personable service. We ordered the Foie gras, escargots a la chablisienne, banana blossom salad for our starters and everything was well prepared. For the main course we ordered the cari chicken, breast of duck marnier and steak aux poivres. For foodies we were very pleased of how well everything was prepared. Every dish was cooked just right where it wasn't over or undercooked with enough seasoning to give flavor without overpowering the main attraction. On to dessert. The chocolate pecan tart was a little hard, but it had good flavor. The tapioca and affogato however stood out. If you like tapioca I'd recommend ordering their rendition For our cocktails we ordered the ginger and lychee martinis and Madame Vu with gin. They weren't bad, but we felt it was the one area that could use improvement. They have a full bar, but a limited offering of cocktails. read more

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A gem nestled in the middle of downtown. Nothing better than a family business treating your family like family. Delicious food, superb service and classy ambiance. A must visit. read more

Service was very good. Ambiance was perfect. Beautiful hidden gem. Perfect for date night. Appetizers were good. My duck with orange sauce was just ok. Guess my search for a good duck l'range continues. Forgot what gf got. read more

Still amazing, call a head for gratis parking. Let Duc pick your dinner, you won't be disappointed. The pork belly is velvet in a bowl. We always love the eggplant, it's a must. Don't forget the creme brûlée! read more

Duc's Bistro - Pork belly is velvet in a bowl, delicious - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is legitimately our favorite. We order everything on the menu and cannot recommend it enough. They play live music on Fridays. Definitely give this place a try for Bar as well! Whether it's for a date night, celebration, we just wanna grab a bite in a cool restaurant. This is the place. read more

What an amazing dining experience! The atmosphere, the food and the staff made this an evening to remember.

Disappointed, but it's Hawaii. Nice Ambiance and ok service. Food not up to expectations. read more

A co-worker and I resumed our quarterly splurge lunches ... we returned to Duc's Bistro for a quiet and peaceful lunch. Duc's hasn't changed and that's welcome to us. It remains an oasis of quiet in busy Chinatown. I started with a Hendricks gin & tonic and ordered Foie Gras, Escargot and Wagyu Beef Tartare. The foie gras came with slices of papaya and a berry compote. The escargot was served with mini loaves of warm bread and the tartare came with slices of toasted baguette. The tartare needed a touch more seasoning to me; I would have liked whole grain mustard and olive oil and/or a raw egg. The foie gras was perfectly cooked; I do not care for ripe papaya but my co-worker scarfed it up. The escargot was very good. We ordered the duck two ways, Duck Saigon and Duck Grand Marnier. In retrospect, we should have ordered another entrée as it was too one note for me. The duck could have been slightly rarer (is that a word?); the sauces were fine but I had expected more of a difference, based upon the ingredients. The duck was served with a bowl of saffron rice; a nice counterpoint to the slices of duck. I had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon with my duck; perhaps a Merlot would have been a better choice. I ended with a cup of coffee ... delicious! Final thoughts ... Duc's Bistro hasn't changed and to me that's good. The food is very good, the prices reasonable (for what you get) and I have no issues with the service. Recommended! read more

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Aloha, Duc's Bistro has been around since 1992! Duc set the pace for fine dining In Chinatown and truly is still a wonderful find. If you love Vietnamese and French food, you'll love this restaurant as it's classic on both. As well as their wonderful cocktail bar. Duc or nowadays Ian greet you like a old friend. So fun to walk in and feel like you're home. Very neat clean white table cloth classic restaurant. We stopped by prior to a show at the Hawaii Theatre. We really should make a point to just come. Make it a point to revisit Duc's Bistro. You'll be happy you did. Thanks! read more

Duc's Bistro - Chicken salad - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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