I have come here for lunch for many years and I have to say their Pho is great! Their Tomato Lobster Bisque is as addicting as well. I like when you first enter the restaurant - the doorway does not give away how large the space really is. You can go there for lunch or an early dinner and here is usually someone playing the baby grand piano. It is set up to be similar to a french restaurant and you get that feel unless you are seated toward the back - then you see the Chinese Dragon and sense the Thai influence. The service is always great and there is an open air parking lot right across the street. You get a little bit if French infused cuisine right in the heart of Chinatown! read more

Personal service at its best. Incredible food. Absolutely will go again. We had a wonderful anniversary dinner!

Been here three times. Loved it each time, though it's been a while... It's this hidden place that you wouldn't know was there if you weren't literally walking by. And it seemed like it was closed each time I did pass by, but I finally made an effort to get there one night and boy.... wow. It opens up to this really... nice place inside. It's super warm, inviting, and yet kind of old-school plantation kind (if you can picture a 21st Century Asian chick's imagination of what plantation dining was like lol). Anyhow, onto the service. It's the owners, so yeah, you're gonna get great service. Attentive, chatty, knowledgeable guy typical of a bartender. He made us his own concoction with sugarcane and it was sweet but strong so made for some good drinking. The food was EXCELLENT. I can't tell you everything we had (we only really tried maybe half the stuff they have), but you need to try the place. It's a fusion type of flavor... and they offer three different types of rice and I like them all. If you're the adventurous type and are willing to eat un-ordinary foods, then you'll at least have a pleasurable, palate-pleasing experience. You can get away with spending under $30 a person and be satisfied. read more

Went on a Monday night, free validated parking across from the restaurant. Didn't realize the restaurant was that big. Nice decor. Since it was slow, the owner came out to talk to us which was nice. But since it was slow, service seamed a little slow. We were seated in the front part of the restaurant, we got our drinks but when it came time to order, we finished a glass of wine, waiting, waiting, ok, I had to flag someone down from the backside to take our order. On the Yelp section for waiter service, I had to put "not sure." Food was ok, 3 stars and I would have raised it to 3.5 stars but when we were asked if we wanted more bread, we didn't realize we would be charged for it. Owner mentioned that they will be moving from current location to a place DH of current location, since the new place he bought and will not have to pay rent like the current location, maybe then we can get free bread, lol. read more

The best service!! All the "new" restaurants that are opening with literally the most mediocre staff need to come here for a lesson in service. The food was so delicious, my favorite dishes were the escargot and the Vietnamese fried fish with a side of saffron rice. I need to remember to keep this gem in my rotation. read more

This place is a diamond in the rough. In the unrefined streets of Chinatown is this cozy, delightfully enchanting getaway. It's beautiful inside with jazzy music, beautifully framed b/w shots of Vietnam, and colorful hangings on the ceiling. It's a place to have a nice quiet conversation with friends, to bring a date, to order a refreshing drink after a long hot day and unwind with laughter, stories, and good music. When I walk inside, there's a feeling of coming home, of warmth -- like falling in love. The food is a little pricey (mostly because the dishes are pretty small), but it is all very good. I felt as if I got what I paid for. I ordered green beans, which were very tender and sweet. The crab cakes were slightly salty (I happen to have an aversion to oversalted foods), but it didn't ruin the dish at all. The prawns and lemongrass chicken had me craving for more. I think the only criticism I have is that I want the dishes to be at least a little more -- mostly because it was so good, I just wanted to have one more bite. I did NOT want to share, but the whole menu is meant to be shared family style. Part of me wants to keep this place my little secret, but another part of me feels that this place -- this kind of joy -- is meant to be shared. read more

I cannot believe this is my first time eating at this restaurant. Every dish was so flavorful. The crab cakes, their version of spring rolls, beef tartar were some of the appetizers we had. It was a private party so all the food was ordered for us. The beef cubes were perfectly cooked medium rare and so tender. The shrimp were large. The sauteed spinach had just the right amount of garlic. The lamb curry waz flavorful as was the sauteed fish. Sadly i had no room to try the chicken dish. We finishes the meal with green tea ice cream that actually tastes like green tea. I have to come back. read more

My son suggested we try Duc's Bistro centrally located on Maunakea Street, just makai of Beretania Street. Both of us haven't been there. I would call this place a hidden gem, w/ awesomely delicious menu items. We tried some of the dishes recommended by our very knowledgeable as well as very patient server. My son did all the ordering. We ended up trying 4 appetizers, 3 entrees, & 3 deserts. To say the least, we consumed it all. No doggie bag this time. Essentially, all the items on their Vietnamese / French menu are exquisitely prepared & the flavors we're totally outstanding. Please mark Duc's Bistro as a must try, you'll be glad you did. I look forward to taking my wife there on our next outing. read more

I know I know, I'm probably going to get hated for saying this but... Duc's Bistro was just not for me. I don't know, maybe I just got a really bad service night. I had the foie gras and it was still defrosting when they had it served to my table. Mehh! Crab cakes were undesirable, was just a lot of fillers. The duck breast was overcooked and chewy. Ordered the lamb and it was flavorless and overcooked. So I decided to just eat one piece and save the rest to be salvaged at home with some more seasoning. When they wrapped up all our leftovers, they actually placed them in a clear tiny plastic bag and had it spread out on the table for our own taking. We weren't even sure if we were grabbing who's leftovers. I wished I had taken a photo of what they put our leftovers in, it really was a doggy bag. Maybe they ran out of containers... maybe it was just a bad night.. maybe.. But unfortunately I won't be going back. But for the rest of you yelpers, give it a try at least once since I'm just one of the few who didn't enjoy it. read more

With a bright neon lighted sign in the middle of a dark alley in chinatown, this place looks like a massage parlor. However, inside gives a whole different vibe with dimmed candle lights & jazz piano music in the background. This place has amazing fois groie. It's so juicy & so full of flavor. As an appetizer, one order is definitely not enough for 2 people. Each order just has 3 pieces. Duc, the owner, is a friendly & pleasant person. However, I felt like he is a bit pushy & tries to recommend things intentionally to increase the bill. Also, this place is quite pricey. For what you pay, I rather go to Le Guignol. read more

I really enjoyed this restaurant. The decor is very nice and I give the service an A+. Their escargot is my 3rd favorite on the island (out of 8) and enjoyed all the dishes we ordered. Their new menu IS mainly vietnamese with a french flair, which makes me miss the old menu. I do love vietnamese food (my bf is vietnamese), but there were some things on the old menu i will miss. Great place for ambiance, service and great Vietnamese food (instead of the typical pho restaurants). read more

So took the girlfriend for V-day dinner, figured we'd try someplace different. It's a nicely decorated, clean and inconspicuous place, which I appreciate. Best thing we ate was the peppercorn shrimp. 5 good-sized shrimp in a savory glaze, but it wasn't too heavy or oily. Highly recommend. Everything else was alright. Ginger duck: Was a little overcooked, and pretty bland. The sauce on the side helped a little. Lemongrass chicken: Good, but not unlike any you can't get at any decent pho place Lamb chop: Good, not great. Pissed me off that it lacked seasoning, yet none of the tables have salt or pepper. Also, it was overdone (medium-well). I found it weird that they didn't even ask what temperature we wanted it done, I don't recall the last time I wasn't asked that when I ordered lamb. Saffron rice: Tasted like regular rice. It was slightly yellow/orange in color, but other than that I wouldn't have known there was supposed to be saffron in it. The main problem we had at Duc's was the service. They're slow and unorganized. I was thinking about it, and I feel like Duc himself is to blame. While he is a pleasant, gracious host, he tries to do it all on his own. He likes to talk to every table, which is fine in the respect that I appreciate the personal touch. However, this screws up his staff in that they don't know which table has placed orders, or even which table has seen a waiter. I think they'd be better served if he let his waiters actually wait on tables (and be primarily responsible for them), and he just go around at his leisure. read more

Why isn't this place bompin'? Duc is one of the friendliest owners I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. The space is fantastic, lit with low lights and mellow music to calm the senses. I've had the pleasure of having lunch as well as dinner here with guests and having some of the best times. At lunch they finished service at 2. instead of asking us to leave, duc came over made sure we had enough beverage, went along his day and let us sit back and relax into the afternoon as if it was our own private living room! Duc is awesomeness personified! Food is an intermingle of Vietnamese and French. The surprise hit is the tofu and tomato and dill. can't get enough! Staff is curteous and professional without being stuffy. Said it before, love mom and pops esp when they're doing it right. Oh and it's pronounced like "BOOK" but with a D ya' herd read more

When you try to find this place, you'll think to yourself more than once "hey, is that person I just passed a hooker or a meth addict or both?" It's in probably the seediest part of downtown, so try not to look too fancy when you visit. The restaurant itself is the very best that burgeoning gentrification has to offer. Whimsical decor includes seasonally changing trinkets like garlands of children's toys or folded paper cranes and more permanent fixtures like well-shot black and white photos of scenes in Vietnam and warm pink and purple neon lighting. Listed that way, it sounds bizarre, but it comes together like something an eccentric genius planned. My favorite thing about this place is Duc himself. He always greets me personally and tells me that it's been too long and says as I leave "see you tomorrow." He's such a ham. Like French food, the portions here are small. I can't resist the Grand Marnier duck, the lemongrass chicken, the saffron rice or the lamb dishes. Always let Duc convince you to try one of his homemade sodas (ginger is my favorite) or at least dessert. read more

I came here on two occasions with my family. The menu is Vietnamese and French inspired. I would recommend asking the waitstaff about the specials of the day if it's your first time here. The flavors and overall quality of the food are some of the best and very well balanced. I ordered a chicken salad, pan fried fish with mango glaze, jidori chicken curry, fresh oysters, and a dish featuring duck breast. The service I received was impeccable and prices weren't too high. I will definitely be coming back to this place in the future. read more

Duc recently revamped his menu in 2008 to reflect his Vietnamese heritage. He has kept a few French-inspired offerings for long-time fans. As for fine Vietnamese cuisine, I think this is as good as it gets in Honolulu. I'm a big fan and very happy about the changes. Not to miss on the menu is the "La Lot" appetizer, my new favorite thing. The mellow, genteel ambience married with a good selection of fine wine and apertifs has not changed. That is also welcome news. read more

Duc's Bistro??? What sort of fowl name is that??? This place is probably just some intimate little jazzy hideaway serving great Vietnamese French food, who'd want to go there? I'm definitely with Christa W. on this one http://www.yelp.com/biz/ducs-bistro-honolulu#hrid:iTdMfHzGedmzqVAYHEJ8Tg read more

Family style eatting works here because you can order many items and everyone can try. We had 4 adults in our party. The staff is super friendly. They let you know what others have order and they also recommend items for the party size. They know every detail of each item on the menu. If you ask how its cooked and with what ingredients, im pretty sure they could explain that to you. There was also live music that came in and played lovely music. Its a hole in the wall but very nice place to eat with family amd friends. read more

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Duc, Christine and family are great. I don't even order anymore - just go with their recommendations, enjoy and smile:)

Excellent food, wonderful service - overall a big win. Can't believe I haven't been here sooner! Tucked away in a teensy pocket of Chinatown, this sweet little restaurant offers up a very intimate atmosphere with delicious French Vietnamese cuisine and very reasonable prices. The portions aren't huge so you can try a number of different plates and share. My absolute favorite dish of the evening was the crab cakes. The sauce they are served with is HEAVENLY! They have a pretty solid wine list too - overall, a very enjoyable experience! read more

I only went here once a couple of years back, but I'd definitely come back here again. Duc's Bistro, to me, was a Euro-Asian experience. I didn't really see that many elements of Vietnamese cooking in their dishes, but nevertheless, it was all very tasty. I remember we had rice, choy sum and shrimp. Everything here is ala carte, so it does get a bit pricey. Everything I ate was superb and the presentation was great. The ambience is romantic, even though I wasn't on a date, but taking a date here would be nice. The manager/owner always came by to see how we were doing, and he and the other wait staff were very friendly. The establishment looked clean. The only down side is it is located in Chinatown, which means parking can be crappy. I was lucky and scored a metered stall about 3 car lengths away from the restaurant. You either have to be lucky with the metered stalls or walk a bit after parking in the municipal parking lot. read more

I found out that I didn't know a damn thing about the Honolulu food scene when this amazing lady I met took me here on our way to the airport. The food's great, the service is great, the ambience is great - it's quiet upscale personal delicious. They do some kind of parking deal I don't really understand with the tiny lot across the way. She's pretty great. I can't want to find out what else she knows about great food in Honolulu. read more

This is a tough one, because the food really was tasty, well seasoned, and seemed to be made with the highest quality ingredients. Also, the service could not have been much better. Not only were all of our requests done immediately, but with a smile. Their product is exceptional. The issue is price. The chicken curry ($18) basically contained 1 chicken thigh. And it was a delicious chicken thigh, with a generous amount of curry, and a different assortment of vegetables than one would expect. But still, for that much, I would like to see more protein. Regardless, we will be back. I would rather overpay for a product like this, thanks get crap at at a discount. read more

After 8 days in gastronomic hell on North shore we went to Ducs before leaving for home on the mainland. Having a great desire to visit to Vietnam Nam we did the next best thing. This little family run restaurant is very pretty, makes a great martini and puts out excellent food. Not cheap and it shouldn't be. Quality ingredients with quality recipes and techniques. We had 5 different dishes and all exception. We also met mo the, bartender, dad the overseeing and the son the manager. Total pride. read more

Amazing place owned and operated by the sweetest older couple. They were so kind and service focused. The food was phenomenal, we had curry and ahi. Summer rolls to start were delicious too! Everything came with saffron rice. Favorite part of the meal was the crazy lady next to us explaining to the owner that until he marks his menu with "sustainability scores" she won't be able to return. LOL! read more

ha ha ha. Christa's review was confusing at first - and then I just had to laugh. Duc's is a little restaurant in the Chinatown area. It's a quaint little place, and when you walk from the street into the restaurant you are transported into a completely different environment. Once in the restaurant you are enveloped in soft, romantic lighting and the sweet, smooth sounds of a beautiful grand piano. And, the food is to die for! This is a wonderful little restaurant to share with your significant other. The ambiance alone will put you in the mood for love. read more

I don't know how much French influence this place has, but the Vietnamese flavors are great! The staff was very Friendly, the food was delish, and the ambience was wonderful for dinner out. Great date night place in the downtown area. We tried the prawns, green beans, the Saigon beef, the veggie curry, and the fish of the day. All came out family style, and were perfectly portioned. I will definitely come back when I'm in the area and want a good moderately priced meal. read more

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

Ambiance: So in love with this French-Vietnamese fusion restaurant. My cousins came here last night to for a (very) late Christmas dinner. Most of the staff, and even the owner, welcomed us into the restaurant. There was about 14 of us. We were seating in the back room, which could easily fit about 25-30 people. There was a woman singing live music and she was absolutely delightful. Service: Five stars for service. Our servers came by at the right times to give menus, take our orders, deliver food, etc. Our waters were always full. No issues with the service. Food: (In summary, all the food we had that night was flavorful and pleasing to taste) I love how the entrees were family style because we got to taste a lot of different dishes. Family style in a traditional Chinese restaurant means you get HUGE plates with lots of food. However, family style at this restaurant means you get a smaller portion, and share that with others. We had no problem with this, since the whole purpose was to try different foods and really savor the flavors. For the appetizers we had Foie Gras, Escargots, Beef Tartar, Crab Cakes. Loved the Beef Tartar. I've never tasted wagu-beef before and this dish was delicious. I I tried the Escargot and didn't care for it much, but my sister enjoyed them! I tried the long beans and asparagus. Not necessary with the meal, but it was a nice side dish. They had a special opakapaka with capers that night. Very flavorful. I also tried the New Zealand Lamb Chops. Never had lamb before and it was an interesting taste and texture. Oh and the saffron rice! Never had that before either, and it was yummy. Oh and the desserts! Creme brulee, tapioca, chocolate cake - try them all! Basically this place is a MUST TRY. It isn't a restaurant for all, but if you are looking for a dining experience, go for it! read more

Moneyball: went there for a private event but what an experience...Duc and Christine did an amazing job! Makes: service was excellent. The staff were friendly and very attentive. Their attention to the customer stood out the most. Food was great - they used to be a French restaurant but now it's a Thai approach showcasing the French influence of Thai food. Very good. Ambiance also presented for a memorable experience, from the lighting to the decor. Apparently it's a popular bar spot after work, there was live music but I don't know if that was just for the event. Ample seating in the front and back past the bar. They also validate - park across the street in the self pay lot but Do Not Pay, just give them your stall number. Misses: it is just unfortunate that all these nice new places are located in Chinatown. Hopefully Chinatown is cleaned up some day. Again, went there for a private event so I don't know the prices or if the portions were normal, but it was family style in portions for 4 and it seemed kind of small. Food tried: we had at least 12 dishes over 4 courses, and everything was good. I personally did not care for the papaya salad - not a papaya fan. The pad Thai was ok, I think I'm just used to the spicy over flavored fast food type pad Thai though. The Bo la lot also left a weird after taste. I would say the basa, steak (very soft and tender, just great texture), eggplant (gotta like the firetoasted taste tho) and creme brûlée are must haves. Lamb (flavorful!) and spring rolls were also excellent though. read more

Is there a McDonalds on the way home? If you're into Tapas-sized plates for $20-30, then this is the place for you. Duck was tasty but two small pieces per person (there were three of us), left us wanting. Special fish? Yes please. For $30 and didn't even have enough for one small piece per person: never again. When they say they 'validate' parking, that means you don't pay but come in and tell them which stall you're in and they somehow make sure your car doesn't get towed. Would have been good to know what that definition meant before paying. Aha, but the rice was free. All in all, quite flavorful but very small, over-priced portions, served by friendly staff. read more

The absolute best service and delicious, well-executed food and drinks. Been loving Duc's and the family atmosphere for over two decades! They are operating very safely, call the restaurant when you arrive to enter. read more

Hands down, the best restaurant in Honolulu, and maybe in Hawai'i. Understated decor and a friendly, knowledgeable staff (Duc's family) greet you; you start with a cocktail perfectly crafted (Duc describes himself as @an old-school bartender"), then you peruse the menu. The fire-roasted eggplant is a standout; also recommended are the duck breast Saigon and the steak au poivre. Every dish is prepared and served impeccably. I'm getting hungry just writing this... read more

My husband and I happened upon this restaurant in Chinatown. What a find! The staff was very helpful, the service very good and the food excellent! For appetizers ww has the duck pate and spring rolls; for entrees we enjoyed duck and the mahi-mahi with lemon burre blanc; and for dessert the tapioca. read more

Ironically, one of the most memorable meals in my trip to Hawaii, was Duc's. A real hidden gem in Chinatown that our gracious host Roy introduced us too otherwise I had maybe never found. A witty bar, with great house bread with balsamic, and garlic butter escargot that finally got me to give it a try. Finally their dessert, was excellent. The creme brulee was on of the best I have had, anywhere. I didn't get to try everything I wanted, but I guess that gives me a good reason to take a trip back. read more

One of my favorite restaurants with great food and probably one the best bars on the Island. Everything in the menu is good, their bar is one of my favorite places to hang out. Love Duc, Minya and family and the staff. If you have never been to Duc's then what are you waiting for ? read more

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Really disappointed after reading mostly positive reviews. We had the Duck with Grand Marnier and the sauce was like soup. The duck was moist but lacked any flavor. We also ordered the Prawns which other than being large, was tasteless. The appetizer of Orange Blossom with Shrimp was pretty in its presentation but I've had better shrimp at Costco! Duc, the owner, was nice and greeted us, but it doesn't make up for the overpriced, small portion, tasteless meal. But, I guess that was the French portion of the French-Vietnamese cuisine. The only thing that was good was the Ginger Martini. read more

This place is the epitome of wonderful service, superb dishes, and aesthetic ambience. We were welcomed and served by Duc himself, and treated to sumptuous fare that was melt-in-your mouth deliciousness, tenderly braised crispness, ice-cold sweetness, and warm soothing drinkableness. Yes, words can be invented for his bistro. The bottom line: he cares deeply about great food (he helped cook and served us our meal) and creating a memorable experience. An absolutely special treat... read more

The food is great, but it's the owner, Duc, that makes this a truly lovely dining experience. He personally visits your table to take drink orders, make recommendations, & chat. Stop by next time you're downtown...you'll be very happy you did. read more

One of the best experiences of customer service, cuisine and overall just service we've ever had. Being that I've been to many different restaurants ranging from expensive to affordable, this restaurant stands on top. Not only were they super friendly, they gave us free samples of some expensive liquor, payed for our parking (because we didn't have cash) and celebrated my girlfriend and I's anniversary. We thought this would be just a hole in the wall restaurant because of its location. But oh we're we wrong. This place is forever gonna have our business and I hope anyone that takes time to try it out will also feel the same. read more

French dishes seemed lacking, but maybe Vietnamese next time. Maybe it was an off night, I see the potential talent of the place; or maybe we mostly picked the weakest dishes. I'm not sure, but maybe a second visit will change my mind. This French-Vietnamese themed restaurant is very intimate, and a good place to check out downtown. We eye-balled the menu for appetizers to get the show going. We started with a Wagyu Beef Tartar. There were too many onions, capers, and unripe tomatoes in the tartar. Their acidity overpower flavor of any meat in the tartar. To add insult to injury, they provide side servings of onion, capers, and tomatoes. We moved on to the Foie Gras with Cognac. I felt that the foie was overcooked and surprisingly lacking flavor. We moved on to the entrees. We first sampled the Duck with Grand Mariner. The duck was surprisingly dry, and not moist as I was expecting. The subtle sauce did little to add to the drier duck. We then sampled the Lamb Curry: definitely the best of the evening. there was a great emulsion of flavors in the curry sauce. The lamb was cooked perfectly in the curry. This is probably one of the best curries I've had in Hawaii. Overall, it seemed that the french themed dishes were problematic. It would seem that their technique using cognac needs more work, and needs to really pop more with the dishes they are served. Going on the basis of their Lamb Curry alone, I'm thinking that I may want to try their Vietnamese offerings with great anticipation. There is no doubt that you can't beat the value of the place. The prices are very reasonable. Good food, great atmosphere, but has some problems. read more