Service is great, food was phenomenal whoever is running the show behind the scenes need credit for a job well done.

What a gem!!! Top 4 steak-houses I've ever been to. Steak was seasoned perfectly and my salmon was perfection. Cocktails were great and live piano was nice. Views and good service is there, I was a happy camper! Room to improve: lemon pasta wasn't super flavorful but I didn't mind given how terrific everything else was. Thank you for a lovely night. read more

Empire Steak House - Catch of the day salmon. Fries in the back. - Steakhouses Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The weirdest experience that we've ever had!! Reservations for 2 at 6pm / got there early. Elevator takes forever to get to top floor where restaurant is. Hostess sits us on the backside of the restaurant floor next to bar. I literally had to plead, fight, forcibly insist to get a table with an ocean view. She said that all of the tables were reserved yet there was 4 tables occupied in the entire restaurant. I told her that we wouldn't be long and eat as fast as possibly and leave SHE STILL WOULDN'T ACCOMMODATE US I still insisted and wouldn't budge until we got a table NOT over looking a roof with air conditioners - omg. I finally told her / fuck it we are leaving AND THEN all of a sudden she found a table to our liking!!!!!! There was a family that had the best table in the entire restaurant and had already finished their dinner and yet they wouldn't leave. They were there for 2 + hours as they were still there after we left. They were Asians with small kids. Our first waitress ( Asain) didn't speak any English. Couldn't understand what blue cheese / olives / martinis were = Bad sign. Our second waitress helped us out and the other wait staff still had challenges. It took 3 times asking for lemons for our water. I asked if they had stuffed blue cheese olives w their martinis. HARD NO I asked for crumbled blue cheese and I would stuff my own olives for my martinis. I did - I stuffed 7 olives for my 2 happy hour martinis. I knew this was a huge mistake when we asked the white couple exiting out of the elevator if their meal was good and their response was "it's a great view" We are white. This restaurant caters to Asians / Japanese. I've never ever have written a review biased on race and this is sad that the language barrier was so great that we couldn't communicate ?!?!?! Not accommodating at all and I won't stand for this. So I'm gonna order eat n leave. Onion soup = pretty solid and good Lobster bisque = small portion, warm, and just ok Barratta = no bueno / horrible!!! Made them take it off the bill. We got the check and left a 10% tip and bailed. Sad sad place to spend money for dinner. Again, really weird. read more

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Really nice rooftop restaurant. Love the ambiance and decor, and piano player. Definitely date night place. All of the staff we encountered was warm and welcoming. Michael was our server and he was so friendly and attentive. Happy hour is a great deal. We ordered so many pupus, which were all great. We all ordered the prix fixe menu NYsteak, which was a great deal, but the steak was not good. It arrived drenched in some type of gray sauce, that if it were listed on the menu as coming with sauce I would have ordered the sauce on the side or chosen a different entree. I would definitely not order that steak again. I would be down to come back and give this place another try based on the ambiance and the service. read more

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Been many times, and seems like each time the service declines...Very nice, but everyone green. This time even some of the food wasn't as good Brought hubs for his bday... the porte cochere is always a nightmare. Not the restaurants fault, but be prepared for it. We were sitting there waiting to get in and 9 minutes after our reservation the restaurant called asking us if we were still coming. Seemed little soon to be calling. Got to the elevator and hostess stand downstairs. That's new. The nice thing was, the elevator is fixed! It's no longer scorching hot in there. Only took several decades (for Ilikai) to fix. Got in and quickly escorted to our table. The host did wish the hubs a happy birthday. Got a waitress who was very sweet but husband thought she looked very uncomfortable. Not sure if they realized we were there to spend money or what, but she got yanked and we got someone a little better. Not top notch, but not terrible. Oddly they had only 2 table settings. "Baby" is 2... yes, we stick her in a high chair because she can barely see over the table on a normal chair... but she does eat and can use utensils. We had to request a fork, and just fed her off our of bread plates and shared our water with her b/c nobody thought to bring a whole place setting. Bread. Now this was really surprising. They had junk bread when they first opened, completely improved the bread, and now it's a Sweet bread roll. Dry and underwhelming. Very disappointing since I believe that sets the tone of the meal. Ordered a bottle of wine and pupus... - Tako - cooked well. I'm just not a fan of all the olives. But hubs likes the olives. - Crab cakes - crabby. Tasty. - Mozz and tomato - always get this since Baby loves it. Food came fairly fast but we had to ask to put in our dinner order. - Shared a NY Strip - this was cooked well but needed a tad more salt, - Shared Special Sashimi platter - uni was good. Baby grinded the maguro. Hamachi good. Chutoro had too much tsuji. Not the best quality for a $100 platter...granted they are a steakhouse. - Garlic Rice - not good. No taste. Oily. Crunchy. Not purposefully crunchy , but crunchy like old rice stuck to the side of the pot. - Asparagus - Hubs said this had the best flavor. But it was soooo overcooked! It almost was as soft as canned. Terrible execution. - Creamed spinach - this I liked. I liked even more the next day. Hubs wanted cheesecake, so got that for dessert. They brought him a slice of chocolate cake and lit a candle, then walked away without saying anything. Was very strange. Not even a "happy birthday this is on us" or anything. I did like the chocolate more than the cheesecake. Bottle had finished, but no offer for additional drinks/wine list. So I just asked for the check. They used to have good service but didn't see our favorite waiter (who we told was "on leave" last time) and the young boy manager who was pretty helpful and always stopped by to see how we were doing. I may just give it 1 more chance since it is my favorite dry-aged steak on island...but really hope they step it up. read more

The food was amazing!!! We got there around 5:30 pm and sat at the bar. The bartenders, Tony and Tevita Tended to us as we needed. The ambiance was exactly as expected. Rooftop with beautiful Waikiki views and live piano. I would absolutely recommend the oysters if you have a lil craving like we did. Only 4, but worth the price. The Mini Loco Moco was NOT MINI. For only $19, we would've ate this every day of our trip. This will be something I will CRAVE back on the mainland. The standard martinis on happy hour, extra dirty vodka and espresso, and beer and cab on draft were absolutely delicious. I can't imagine what the dinner is like, the happy hour was EPIC!!! Definitely recommend! read more

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What a spot! I've never found a better combination of fine dining, quality food, reasonable prices, and extraordinarily friendly staff. I came through the Ilikai with some coworkers, and we found this place to be our regular stomping ground in the evenings. The happy hour prices are easily the best in the city, and the quality/portion sizes were surprising. Oh, and you really cannot beat the views! They put up with us and made us feel at home. Empire Steakhouse is going to be on a list of "must take people when I come back" now. read more

The staff and management handled today's situation perfectly!! My wife and I visited Empire while on a date night without our son. Drinks, food and music were great! Pianist was on point and we loved his classic childhood music throw ins! We had an awkward situation with another customer and we were comforted by the staffs support and care for us. read more

The Empire Steak house is on the 30th floor of the Ilikai Hotel in Honolulu. We had a table at the expansive window with a beautiful view. The restaurant has a wonderful vibe, with a piano player near the bar. We shared the Tuna Tartare --- amazing. The steak, too, perfectly cooked and sliced. It was enough to take home, including the bone full of meat. The Empire potatoes went perfectly with the steak.This is fine dining at its best with impeccable service. Dessert was watching the fireworks from the marina on the ground level. A lovely evening. 27 read more

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We had an early reservation at Empire Steak House, and from the moment we arrived, the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Being seated promptly set the tone for a relaxed and enjoyable evening, but what truly made the night stand out was the outstanding service. Mark went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. He was attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about the menu, and genuinely warm and welcoming. His recommendations were spot-on, and he made us feel like valued guests rather than just another table. The food was phenomenal--perfectly cooked steaks, excellent sides (get the spinach and mushrooms!!), and a refined atmosphere that lives up to Empire's reputation. Combined with Mark's exceptional service, it made for a memorable dining experience. Highly recommend for anyone looking for top-tier service and an unforgettable steakhouse experience. read more

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Went here for a private company Christmas party in the marble room. Arrived right before 6pm just in time to see the sunset from the elevator that takes you directly to the restaurant. Parking validation only good for 3 hours anything after that is $14+. The marble room was beautiful, view was gorgeous. Service was great and food was delicious. The seafood platter had all my favorites and the porterhouse for 2 was more than enough to eat. read more

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We went there during Happy hour. Super nice view sitting up on 30th floor of Ilikai Hotel overlooking the beautiful ocean view! Recommended by Guy Hagi - saw it on YouTube, looked fabulous. We ordered from the Happy hour menu: waghu beef slider, colossal shrimp cocktail, fresh oyster, steak kabob, calamari, 2 cocktails and crème bulee. definitely recommend reservation, happy hour ends later than other restaurant (7pm). This is fine dining priced restaurant, an alternative for a new steak place for those who love steak. A tom mohawk is $210 for 2 people. check it out! read more

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We came here without a reservation and everything went smoothly. Upon entering the hotel, we walked towards the lobby where there was a huge sign saying empire steak house. They have their own elevator with just two buttons which is pretty simple and the elevator has a beautiful view of the marina! We got seated immediately and received free bread and butter. After we ordered it took a while for the food to come out but the portions were large and it was so delicious! My favorite was the grilled Branzino which was so flavorful and soft The live music was a great touch as well read more

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This review is solely based on a takeout order, I have not had the chance to dine in at this restaurant yet. Empire Steak House is one of the few resy restaurants on Oahu in which you can use your AMEX credit. This is pretty much the only reason why I placed a takeout order here. Location is weird - it's located inside a very 70's looking hotel Staff is really nice Food was honestly just OK Steak was good but I've definitely had better Baked potato was very plain... like no toppings at all, which I thought was odd but whatever it was essentially free due to the AMEX credit. I'll have to rate it a pretty mediocre 3stars for now, hopefully it's better if I actually dine in read more

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Disappointment was the feeling of the night. Noise level: At first, I thought it was a nice touch to have a live pianist, but it was so loud we couldn't even hold a normal conversation. I ended up moving my chair next to my boyfriend instead of across from him just to hear each other. Service: Our waiter was all over the place. While taking our order, I turned to ask my boyfriend which fish he wanted, and the waiter literally bolted mid-order saying, "Oh, I have to take care of something." He did come back later and admit he wasn't his usual self since it was busy, but still, it felt chaotic. Pacing: Slow, slow, slow. It took forever to get our food. When it finally arrived, the salmon was overcooked, and the baked potato was cold. At that point, I wasn't about to send it back and wait another 45 minutes. Value: For the price, Empire is one of the highest I've seen compared to other steakhouses we've been to, and with much less charm. Cocktails & Class: We enjoy cocktails and started with prosecco and one of their signature drinks. The prosecco was overly sweet with peach undertones (not for me), so I asked to swap it for another cocktail. The drinks we ended up with were good. But when the check came, they left the untouched prosecco on the bill. I understand paying for something I order and don't like, but after such a long wait, which even the waiter acknowledged, it would've shown some class to remove it. Overall, the evening felt overpriced, slow, and lacking the "special" touch you expect from a high-end Waikiki steakhouse. Unfortunately, we left more frustrated than impressed. read more

Came here for my birthday dinner with my fiancé. Overall a pretty good experience. I deducted one star solely because where we were sat, where it felt like for peasants. There were empty seats and tables in the middle of the restaurant (nicer side of the restaurant), but were told those tables are reserved for those who pay. Didnt know paying extra, gets you better tables. Well either way, we sat at the very end of the restaurants near one of the kitchen entrances, which also made it a little difficult to see the Hilton fireworks show. We both had to get out of our seats to view it. But besides that, I thought the service and food were pretty good for this fancy-type restaurant. The food was as expected for the amount we paid. Very beautiful setting while being on the top floor of the Ilikai. Didnt even know this restaurant was there. Hosts and server were very nice, polite, and helpful. May try this place again, maybe for happy hour. read more

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Valet parking was available right at the main entrance, and we took the Empire Steak House elevator straight to the 30th floor. The ride was smooth, opening up to a breathtaking view of the ocean and Waikiki Harbor. We were warmly greeted by the hostess and seated at a lovely table with a spectacular view. Our server introduced herself and quickly explained the menu options and took our order. Sparkling water and fresh bread were served to start. I ordered the calamari while my daughter had the clam chowder--both beautifully presented and delicious. Our medium-rare steak arrived shortly after, perfectly seasoned and cooked just right. The sides were equally impressive: broccoli with a touch of garlic, tender yet crisp, and fluffy mashed potatoes full of flavor. We finished with apple pie à la mode and coffee--served hot on a chilled plate, an excellent touch to a perfect dessert. The entire experience was exceptional, made even better by the stunning view. Easily one of the best value lunch spots on the island. I'll definitely be bringing friends here! read more

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Empire Steak House is located on the 30th floor in the Ilikai Hotel. We came here to celebrate a friend's birthday over lunch. They have their own private elevator and you can see the beautiful Pacific Ocean while riding the elevator. Valet was only $6 with validation but there were some issues for most of us when using the valet service downstairs. You can also park in the metered stalls in the back of the hotel if you don't want to valet. The place is nicely done with a beautiful wine cellar along with spectacular views of Honolulu. It seemed that we were the only people there but apparently there was a wedding party on the other side of the restaurant. The news was also there to film a segment about tariffs. We all decided to order the Power Lunch. It comes with a starter, entree and a drink (Decaffeinated & Regular Coffee or Tea). I ordered the Fresh Mozzarella & Beefsteak Tomato, Beef Short Rib and Iced Coffee. Customer service wasn't consistent but overall it was good. We all found it odd that the time between starter and entree was a noticeably long. We did get free drink refills but timing from the kitchen could have been better. The Fresh Mozzarella & Beefsteak Tomato was a decent starter. Paul C was kind enough to share some of his Fried Calamari with me so I could taste another starter. Their Beef Short Rib had a good flavor and you could taste the essence of the rosemary they used as a garnish. I personally would have liked the meat to be more tender and less chewy. It was hard to cut through, even with a steak knife. Presentation was nice though. The birthday girl received a complimentary dessert so that was nice. Overall, amazing lunch to celebrate our friend turning 21 ;p read more

Empire Steak House - Fresh Mozzarella & Beefsteak Tomato - Steakhouses Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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***4.5 STARS*** Trust. Go with the flow. Trust your foodie friends. Thank you Auntie (Nadine C.) and Donna O. The girls came to Empire Steak House (ESH) back in February 2025, just about a month after their grand opening that was on January 10, 2025. ESH boasts USDA prime dry aged steaks and seafood where the restaurant is located on the 30th floor at Ilikai Hotel that overlooks Waikiki and the yacht harbor. ESH hails from New York which started in 2010 and now has 3 New York locations and a restaurant in Tokyo (Roppongi). Our group recently came here for a birthday lunch on Good Friday. Shout out to Craig T. for organizing and providing us with their Power Lunch menu. I was one of the last two to arrive. After catching the exclusive elevator to ESH, I was greeted at the hostess stand and immediately saw my group that sat on a long table next to the window. We all took part on the Power Lunch where you select your starter and main course. We were served complimentary focaccia bread and our meal came with coffee or tea (hot or iced). After ordering there was a bit of a wait time but that was utilized by catching up with my friends. After the food came, we snapped away with our phones and it was then time to dig in. THE VERDICT: To be honest I didn't really expect much for a lunch experience but the food quality and quantity exceeded my expectations. For my starter I chose the fried calamari and it was served piping hot. There was a spicy dipping sauce and it paired well together. For my entree I selected the Empire Burger and it was also served to me piping hot. The 100% beef patty had a beautiful exterior crust where the meat temperature was nailed perfectly medium rare but was disappointed that the chef forgot to season the patty. I added salt and now my burger was delicious Burger came with thick, home cut fries that were also served hot and crispy with a ramekin of ketchup. My friends seemed to enjoy their meals, especially the salmon that was moist. The ambiance and scenery are just absolutely breathtaking here. It was a clear, sunny day where we enjoyed the views during our stay. Customer service was above average. There were multiple servers on the floor. In addition to delivering our meal and refilling our drinks, we were checked upon throughout the meal to see how we were doing. For $39.95 this meal was a great deal in my opinion. Our group was also given a tour of the restaurant and were introduced to private dining rooms if we wanted an intimate dining experience in the future. Overall, I had a great first experience at ESH where I'd be game for another visit. Next time I'd like to return for dinner and get a nice steak. NOTE: ESH only validates valet parking and not self parking. read more

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Located at the Top of the Ilikai hotel, your journey to the 30th floor will be one of the highlights of the experience with the glass elevator overlooking the harbor. This has restaurant has all the makings of an amazing steakhouse... it's just not there yet. (But I do hear they have a great happy hour from 4-7pm) Pros: - Ooo this 360 view at the top of the ilikai is incredible!! The lighting is nice and dim so it's got a great vibe with an actual live pianist. - The food tastes GREAT. Steaks were cooked very well and seasoned nicely! I could actually taste lavender (which is usually just aromatic) in the Lavender Crème Brûlée. - The seating layout was so nice and spacious. It was so nice to not hear the party nearby and has ample space to traverse the restaurant. Compared to other steakhouses, this ambiance of Empire is one of the best in Waikiki. Cons: - Our reservation was at 6PM, three parties came up in the elevator, we were all greeted by an empty host stand and stares from the staff working hard at the bar who watched us look confused. - The Wine list/ drink menu could use some improvement... although a HUGE selection of wine, I'm more of a Whiskey guy and other than their touristy cocktail list, there were no options listed (and staff wasn't familiar enough with the bar selection) so I just went with a basic Jameson on the rocks... also related to the drink menu, they ran out of caffeinated coffee and espresso - but you could get the decaf versions? - There were other minor things that could be improved... like though my water glass was always full, but my bread plate stayed on the table until after the steak arrived. The table itself felt very cheap, for a party of 6, it was (2) two-top square tables put together with one end that flipped out (where I sat) and it wasn't sturdy. We did valet parking, which was $6 after validation, run by Elite Parking. (This was not a great valet experience but totally unrelated to the restaurant). read more

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A few of us Yelpers decided to have lunch because not only it was Good Friday it was my sister Debbie Birthday . Empire is located on the 30th floor in the Ilikai hotel . With validation you can have your car valet for $6 up to 4 hours . Scenery of the restaurant is breathtaking the food was ok the service could have been a little better . Our food took awhile to come out but that's ok we had good conversation going on plus several news crew was filming regarding the Tariffs. The best part we all were on the news LOL how exciting of course in the background . We all ordered their Power lunch menu for $39.95 you cannot go wrong . A choice of appetizers and your entree along with either coffee or tea. Just the ambience is 5 stars lucky we live in beautiful Hawaii . Overall rating : Ambience: 5 stars Service: 4 stars Food : 4 stars Prices : 4 stars They also have private rooms for any special occasion. Support local read more

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Service and servers were hospitable beyond expectations. We then were an ear shot of a disgruntled "regular" over the differences of happy hour and dinner menus prices. Because he left without paying, please remember this man's face and understand he is nothing near the Aloha spirit. #idareyoutocomeforme read more

Empire Steak House - Manager Kastir displayed the utmost professionalism of class and patience you could ever find on a human man. Mahalo, Kastir. - Steakhouses Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Everything was top notch from the service to the delicious food. We had a booth overlooking the city, and the view was amazing! Hubby's lobster bisque, served with a huge chunk of lobster in the middle, was the best he's ever had. My hearts of lettuce salad was excellent. His salmon and my paparadelle bolognese were wonderful. To top off the meal, we ordered lava cake, which left us speechless. read more

Empire Steak House - Pappardelle bolognese. Absolutely delicious! - Steakhouses Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Very disappointing. Very nice servers who performed poorly. Why? It was readily apparent they were undertrained, if they were ever even trained. How can management send out a server in an expensive steakhouse who doesn't know how to open a bottle of wine? We spent $300 on a dinner for two with a $110 bottle of wine and we even shared an entree. It was a waste of our time and money. read more

The ambiance was beautiful. The food was ok with an exception that the seared ahi tasted like it was previous frozen. Not worth the price. I feel like you're pretty much paying for the view. As for the service our waitress was amazing. She was attentive & that's why I gave this place a few more stars. read more

We visited Waikiki for our anniversary and received a local recommendation to try Empire Steak House for its beautiful view. Although the restaurant had only been open for two months, we decided to give it a chance despite our initial skepticism. Before our reservation, we sat at the bar to enjoy a couple of happy hour drink specials. We had a great conversation with the bartender, James, who was delightful and clearly skilled at his job. The atmosphere was enhanced by a piano player, adding a nice touch with the music. When we sat down at our table, a lady greeted us and mentioned she would be our waitress. We ordered an appetizer and salad from her. Shortly after, the manager introduced himself, which was a nice gesture. We requested a sommelier from another waiter, and the manager came over to give us wine suggestions. We ended up ordering our food from the manager since the waitress only stopped by our table once. We received more attention from the manager and another server named Alfred, who provided exceptional service throughout the evening. We made sure Alfred was well taken care of at the end of the night. Now, let's talk about the food! It was probably one of the best meals we've ever had, and we were pleasantly surprised. A week later, we're still talking about it. We started with the grilled octopus and Caesar salad. The octopus was cooked to perfection, not rubbery at all, and absolutely delicious. For our main course, we ordered the beef short ribs and prime NY strip steak. We were advised to try the risotto, which paired wonderfully with the steak and ribs. Although the risotto was great, it was a lot of food since the ribs came with rice, which wasn't mentioned on the menu. The short ribs literally melted in our mouths, and the NY steak had the best flavor, cooked exactly as we wanted--perfectly seasoned. We ate a lot, from the start of the meal to the end! To celebrate our anniversary, they brought us a piece of cheesecake that we didn't need but still devoured. It was a great ending to the night. Thank you all for making it so special. I highly recommend trying Empire Steak House for its ambiance, service, drinks, wine, and especially the food. The views didn't disappoint either! read more

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Steak house with a view and comfortable elegance! The Caesar salad was refreshing and yummy, with just the right amount of dressing and crispy croutons. Really enjoyed the dry-aged bone-in ribeye steak, cooked medium. They offered to slice up the steak and it was helpful because the server checks if the doneness is ok with you right before serving. The ribeye was not overly fatty and oily, hardly any gristle. It was more on the leaner side for a ribeye and with a slight meaty chew. Overall, great flavor. For the sides, the creamed spinach and mashed potatoes were not excessively creamy, which was appreciated. The downfall of the meal was dessert. Ordered the vanilla panna cotta and it was somewhat tangy, had a thicker texture almost like yogurt, and a bit too gelatinous - basically not smooth and silky. The complimentary celebratory cheesecake dessert was pretty but not good for eating - dense and crumbly. The wine selection was robust. They also offer happy hour (only at the bar) until 7pm. I ordered a standard HH cocktail (cosmo) and was disappointed. Would recommend sticking to wines. They had a live piano player and a photographer that came around to the tables to take your picture. The tables were nicely spaced apart and you can't beat the city/coastal views of Waikiki. Valet parking was $6 with validation. Make sure to find and take the elevator with a view because it is fun and also that it takes you directly to the restaurant! read more

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Had a wonderful brunch at the Empire Steakhouse. Parked for $1 and hour at the parking stalls alongside the boats by the ilikai hotel. The elevator ride on this clear day was wonderful as I approached the 30th floor. Got seated by the window to see much of the Hilton Hawaiian Village property and the very blue ocean & sky. I posted pics of my sights. I ordered oysters, the steak and the vanilla lavender creme brulee. There is a lunch set that includes an appetizer, main and coffee or tea starting at 11:45 am. I was very hungry so I got there at 11:15am and ordered ala carte. Everything was well cooked to order and I loved my beautiful brunch. Service was polite and courteous. I would return again. read more

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Wait until you see this... JETRO is teaming up with 15 top Hawaii restaurants to bring you Epic Japan Seafood with a local twist--Come with me and check out Empire Steak House. Chef Kaiewa donayri , create these exclusive limit time specials. Empire Steak House is Honolulu's newest dining option. Located on the top of the @ilikaihotel (former Sarentos, Pesca space). The views are absolutely amazing from the restaurant. And the service to match the view. Pro tip : go there before sunset so you can really soak up that amazing view. One of their exclusive limit items is the Hokkaido Scallop & Shrimp Pasta--tossed in a luxurious creamy lobster sauce that's pure indulgence. Then, there's the Mentaiko & Ika Pasta with Yuzu kosho with Hokkaido Ikura caviar straight from Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture. Both are exclusive, mouthwatering, and here for a limited time only! Hokkaido Scallop & Shrimp Pasta Indulge in succulent scallops and shrimp tossed in a luxurious creamy lobster sauce. Mentaiko & Ika Pasta with Ikura A decadent creation featuring mentaiko caviar from Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, paired with tender squid. But you know me, when coming to a steak house we just had to try the steak... and Yes it is expensive but don't confuse expensive with quality... because this was so worth it! I probably can't afford to eat here all the time but for a special occasion I think it is well worth it... you only live once, treat yourself we also enjoyed their lobster bisque and amazing cocktails. But hurry--these specials are only available until March 16th 2025. All in all, an amazing experience and worth the price for special occasion read more

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Lunch at Empire Steak House... in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii was a fantastic experience! Donna O. did the research: The Power Lunch (special) starts at 11:45am and ends at 3pm. It's a great deal for $39.95 because of the stellar view, quality meals, and great service! Located on the 30th Floor of the Ilikai Hotel, Empire Steak House is part of a chain which has three locations in New York and one in Japan. This Honolulu location used to house Pesca Restaurant. PARKING: we used the valet service. It totaled just $6 with validation. Julia was our efficient, competent, professional server. She was very helpful, friendly, and patient! She made excellent suggestions and gave us a delicious complimentary Tiramisu birthday dessert! Thank you so much! I ordered the moist, tender Grilled Salmon. It was preceded by complimentary fresh focaccia bread. We used the bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar that was on our table (after we finished off the butter) - yummy! My meal came with Sautéed broccoli and mashed potatoes... everything was cooked to perfection! Power Lunch comes with coffee or tea and a starter - I got the Fresh Mozzarella with Beefsteak Tomatoes... very fresh and healthy! I highly recommend the Power Lunch! I'd go again and get the Beef Short Rib and Calamari that Donna ordered! Thank you for letting me taste your lunch, Donna... and thank you for a wonderful lunch! Note: there's a private room with a better view at the other end of the glass wall... I'm going to inquire and reserve it for our next gathering! read more

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This place has changed names a couple of times more than a couple like maybe five times it was recently Pesca and now it's Empire steakhouse it is located on the top of the Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki. The views are absolutely stunning. They're happy our menu is delicious and the vibe is really relaxing. The servers and service is professional and if you need any recommendations, they are there to help you. I have not gone to dinner there as yet, but I have gone there for happy hour a few times and it has always been good with no complaints here. Please note that it is a really pricey steakhouse. read more

It hadn't even been a week, but went back there for lunch this time. We both had the Power Lunch and shared. Complimentary Breads - They were kind of dry and okay. Meatballs - They were a little hard yet tasty. Calamari - Nice portion and delicious. Beef Short Ribs - The meat was big but a half of that was fat. Also there was too much rice. I'd have liked to have more gravy/sauce. NY Strip - Requested medium but it was almost well. This happened to the happy hour steak sliders as well. Disappointed. Mai Tai - It was as good as the last time. Margarita - Since I didn't like this last time, I asked to use the Cointreau instead of Triple Sec. It came out perfectly and yay without the crushed ice! I just can't believe how they cook the steak and this is a steak house. However, I might still come back here for the happy hour or even lunch, because it's at a convenient location for me, definitely not dinner. read more

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My husband and I dined here for a nice date night dinner. They sat us near the window that gave us a beautiful view of the city. We ordered the following: Octopus ,Calamari, American tomahawk steak, Steak fries, Mac and cheese ,Garlic rice Food: 4/5 I thought that everything was well seasoned and prepared. I enjoyed the octopus as it was nice and tender and was well complimented with spinach, olives and fried garlic and topped with a nice balsamic glaze. The calamari was well seasoned and came with a nice and spiced marinara sauce. The tomahawk was good, but could have honestly come with less butter. I wasn't too much of a fan of the fact that they had to tip the plate to keep the butter and fat oils being pooled on the bottom of the steak. However, the steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare. Steak fries and garlic rice were also well cooked. Unfortunately the mac and cheese was a huge flop. The macaroni was too over cooked and I hated that they cheaped out on the cheese and topped the dish with a literal slice of American plastic square cheese. Not fancy, and really ruined the dish for me. Service: 3/5 Was okay, our server Yuri was good but seemed to be a bit overwhelmed. I think the restaurant is still in an adjustment period when it comes to having enough staff. Our poor server was running around so much trying to help all of her tables, but really could have benefitted had there been more staff working. This led to slower serving times for putting our order in, getting water refills, the bill, etc. They also seem to have an issue with their HVAC system because the ceiling was leaking condensation and dropping water on my shoulder. It was so bad that we ended up requesting to change tables, and even after we changed tables, we could see the water pooling on the floor. (they only moved us over one table over). I was quite disappointed with this part of our experience and was not even offered any type of apology or compensation. Probably won't be back. read more

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A friend of mine asked if I would like to check out Empire Steakhouse. He saw somewhere that it recently opened, January 11th. I said yes, and I found us driving there ;) You can reserve on the website, OpenTable or by calling them directly at (808) 777-3100. We reserved our spot on their website. They are located at The Top of The Ilikai Hotel. Parking is valet only so make sure to get your ticket validated. We paid $6. If it's not validated, it's $29. As you enter The Ilikai Hotel, you'll find the elevator to your left. I promise you, you and miss it! This elevator is strictly for the restaurant only so it'll take you at the very top and then back down to lobby, when you're done. The view from the bottom is beautiful but once you get up to the 30th floor, it's even more spectacular! I went to wash my hands and came across an open door. I decided to check it out and found out they had a wedding hall. It's beautiful and so majestically simple! It's meant for 20 people. As soon as we exited the elevator, we were greeted with 3 ladies beaming with their friendly smiles. One of them took us to our table. As we sat, our friendly waiter came and said hello. He shared the specials of the day. He is Paul B. Super friendly and attentive. In fact, we were confused because it felt like we had more than 1 waiter. They were constantly checking in on us. He started his meal with the Lobster Bisque. It's creamy and delicious! I tried their French Onion soup. It's one of my favorite soup! They didn't disappoint me! For our main meal, he ordered the Bone-in Ribeye Steak. It was cooked to perfection and seasoned with simple flavors but so divinely crafted and so delicious! It melts in your mouth. He has sautéed asparagus for his sides. I got the Seafood Platter with lobster, crab, 2 oysters, and 2 jumbo shrimp. We ended our tastebuds with their New York Cheesecake with Fresh Berries for him. I had their Vanilla Lavender Crème Brûlée. Both are good except mine is so much more flavorful and creamy! We enjoyed our time dining with Empire Steakhouse. They delivered with spectacular service! I hope you get to experience it too! Thank you, Paul, Alfred & your t Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Have a great ALOHA Friday. read more

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Overall feeling of dining at this restaurant was disappointing. I would not recommend anyone coming here. TLDR: Service was good, food was mediocre and overpriced, ambiance was meh. If you're coming here to watch the fireworks, don't. Good views are not guaranteed, even with prior request. Get take out and find a spot nearby the beach. Your wallet will thank you. Service: Was speedy and attentive. Food came out quick. Food: Ordered tomahawk steak. Almost half of it was fat. However, the parts that were edible, were cooked exactly how we wanted. Meat was underseasoned in some spots, so we asked for more salt. For more than $250, I'd expect better. Ambiance: Bright, overhead lighting was giving off a hospital-like atmosphere. Not very romantic. It was also pretty hot and humid, even with the loud AC units running. Lights weren't dimmed down until the fireworks started. Fireworks: We specifically asked for a table with good view of the fireworks on the reservation but were seated on the right side of the restaurant, at a table with opposite direction view. We were told that we can walk over and watch the fireworks in an adjacent small room. Not the dinner we were expecting. Later we realized that there is a whole other left section of the restaurant (side with bar and live music) that would have had good views. Good views are not guaranteed, so if that's the only reason you're coming here for, make sure ahead that that's what you're getting. read more

Empire Steak House - Uneaten fat parts of tomahawk steak. Which was basically half of the steak. - Steakhouses Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Good food. Incredible views. Service needed a lot of improvement. Located at the formerly Pesca in the Ilikai Apt Bldg. As with any new restaurant, I wanted to try their lunch before diving head first into dinner. My friend and I went on a Friday for lunch. We both opted for the "Power Lunch" option ($39.95) which included a choice of appetizer, main course and a coffee or tea. Let's start with the good. The Beef Short Rib served with sweet Barolo wine sauce, rice and green peas was amazing. The tastiest short rib I've ever had. Super tender and perfectly seasoned. The Barolo wine sauce was slurp to the last drop worthy. The New York Strip was quite pedestrian. Although well seasoned, I expected a better cut of meat from a "steakhouse". Also it was an additional $10 on top of the $39.95 for the NY strip. The Meatballs in tomato sauce topped with Ricotta was good not great. The meatballs were moist but lacked a depth of flavor. However the tomato sauce with ricotta was delicious and helped to carry this dish. Fried Calamari - well executed with a thin delicate crunchy crust. The marinara sauce was exceptional. Slightly creamy texture and not acidic. Seemed like they do tomato sauce very well here. The service was super uneven and needed a lot of improvement. Although the team of servers were very professional and polite, there were a lot of mistakes and missteps. They repeatedly brought the wrong appetizers then they brought one appetizer but forgot the other. Then the main courses appeared before the 2nd appetizer. When the check was delivered they gave us the wrong check that was vastly lower than what we ordered. Our check should've been $110 + tax but the check they gave us was $58 + tax. I told the waiter of the error. 10 minutes later the manager approached our table to verify our orders. I said "we had 2 Power Lunches at $39.95 + an additional $10 for the NY Strip". Geez what's so hard to understand??? When he came back with the revised check, he overcharged us by $10. Seemed like the kitchen had their act together but the front of the house needed a lot of work. We will wait a few months for them to hopefully work out the kinks and come back for dinner. The food was definitely worth another visit. Valet parking in front or metered parking the back. Happy Eating!! read more

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We had the most amazing experience at Empire Steak House in Oahu. The food was absolutely delicious, and the setting was unforgettable. My brother in laws wedding dinner overlooking the ocean felt magical -- topped off with fireworks that made the evening pure perfection. Truly a night to remember! The staff were very accommodating and the food was amazing. read more

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Amazing stake, great service and friendly and helpful staff. Will recommend this place read more

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Don't waste your Don't waste your time or money. Service was horrendous from start to finish. It took 30 minutes just to get a cocktail menu, and once we finally ordered, it was another 30 minutes before drinks came out (4 old fashioneds, 1 cosmopolitan, and 2 iced teas)--and this was with the bar completely empty. The details were sloppy all around: * Cherries had splinters sticking out of the bamboo skewers. * Only half our table received water. * Our mains didn't even come out together--we had to keep telling the server who wasn't our waiter what dishes were still missing. * Steak was unevenly seasoned (half properly salted, the other half with no seasoning at all). * My rack of lamb came with 3 double-bone chops--2 cooked correctly to medium rare, the third rare and cold in the middle--served with... brown gravy? * We ordered pappardelle Bolognese but were served rigatoni instead. The pasta was mushy, the sauce tasted like a frozen TV dinner, and when I questioned it the manager admitted the lamb was undercooked but then tried to tell me the rigatoni was "pappardelle." Meanwhile, our waiter was constantly "too busy." As we were leaving, he actually told us, "I was making coffees and desserts for other tables." At one point I even tried to help him by letting him know the table next to us was waving him down to pay their bill. Nothing was done to fix or even acknowledge the mistakes. We don't expect comps, but at the very least a simple apology would have gone a long way. Yes, we still tipped--but only out of principle, not satisfaction. Check the pictures. Don't go. read more

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Connor and James are da boooooooomb making drinks! Very personable and crack the great jokes! Had excellent cuisine! Calamari is so FIIIIRE! You cannot go wrong with this option! Maitre D brought us a plate Sizzling Canadian Bacon, talk about broke da mouth! Next thing I knew, same Maitre D is bringing over a white linen covered cart with a platter of a very thick choice selection of Ribeye Steak - cooked to perfection in my humble opinion - apparently the table ordering was noooot happy on how it was cooked (I reserve all judgement just to say - THANK YOU STEAK SNOBBY FOLKS FOR GIFTING ME A SLICE OF MELT IN MY MOUTH HEAVEN!!!!) Next thing I see a salad being brought before us..... Ok - I was just being treated like royalty and it could NOT have come at a more perfect time! I was very grateful to have such a wonderful experience w/ these folks! Hands down will be back! read more

Empire Steak House - Steaaaaak! - Steakhouses Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii