Enjoyed a fantastic Mother's Day prefixe dinner tonight at Goen, with my two favorite girls; my daughter and granddaughter. I always make it a point to try their special dinner offerings, and so far, I haven't been disappointed. Tonight was a 3 course offering, with an Amuse to start. We also ordered the Korean short rib stuffed ravioli as an additional appetizer. My 2 year old granddaughter absolutely loved it, and ate almost a third of the dish herself. The dinner offered a choice of one of 2 appetizers, and 3 entrees; of which we all chose the Scallop apps, with my daughter and I selecting the Surf and Turf, and my SIL, the Prime rib. The only hiccup was that my daughter's filet mignon initially came out 'blue' rare, rather than mid-rare, so we sent it back to be refired. Everything else was excellent. Service was great, as always, with all hands on deck for the busiest restaurant day of the year. I'm always looking forward to their next special dining event. read more

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We came here for a family birthday dinner, and having a personalized menu added a nice touch! We started with a variety of appetizers, including the farm house salad and ahi tataki, and also tried a few items from their happy hour menu like the burrata and garlic fries. Everything was great--very fresh and light, especially the salad and burrata. For my entrée, I ordered the misoyaki butterfish, and it was fantastic! The portion was generous, served with soba noodles and plenty of fresh veggies, making it a a refreshing dish. I also tried some of my boyfriend's braised beef short rib, which was delicious--super tender, and the creamy polenta was cheesy and full of flavor. For dessert, we had halo halo, which was such a fun and tasty treat! It was a strawberry mango shave ice with a variety of toppings and textures. We had a large party, and the service was very accommodating. They checked on us often and made sure everything was running smoothly. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves and had a wonderful dinner here! read more

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Dinner on Valentines Day. We arrived early and had to wait a few minutes for our table to be readied. (Guests on the table were not quite finished with their dessert and table had to be cleaned.) Not much seating outside to wait. It's a large restaurant with an outdoor bar area, dining area, even an upstairs dining area. Service is very good. Hostess was very polite and friendly. Server Jason (?) was very polite and efficient. Goen serves chilled water, which is what I prefer over water with ice. They leave a flask on the table so you can refill your glass at your convenience. A complimentary seasoned edamame appetizer is provided. Drinks are great. I had a lychee martini, vodka, lychee sake, and a lychee presented in a nice martini glass. Hubby had Jamison's and they ask if you want a big ice or regular. We had eaten a Valentine's lunch so we weren't hungry enough to have anything but a main course, but besides the regular menu they had a fixe prix special valentines menu. (Sorry forgot to take a photo). Except for the Amuse Bouche you could order the other items Ala carte, something new for me and I thought it was a great idea. Food came out quickly - Hubby had the braised short rib, so so tender and flavorful served atop polenta and kale. The polenta was delicious and the kale was cooked enough to be reasonably tender. I had the Gnocchi with garlic shrimp, covered with fontina cheese and sprinkled with bacon. There were three large shrimp cooked to perfection smothered in fontina. Shrimp had just enough flavor that the fontina complimented it. The plentiful gnocchi was tender and tasty with garlic, fontina, bacon. Only complaint, platters the food was served in weren't heated so the food cooled off quickly. We were too full for dessert but I ordered a basque cheesecake to go, I never pass up on a basque and I knew it would hold up well. Ate it after a walk and it was one of the best I've had. Not too burnt but just enough to give that distinctive flavor. Texture of the cheesecake was perfect, fruit / whipped whipped cream garnish complimented the cheesecake well. Worth visiting this Roy Yamaguchi restaurant. read more

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Chef Roy Yamahuchi has a winner with this pan-Asian/American restaurant. Its amazing, especially for a nice date in the downtown Kailua area of Oahu, though a little pricey (but worth it). From the spicy edamame appetizer to their filet minon steak, sushi, pasta, or fresh fish main courses like the butterfish and sea bass to name a few things I tried. The presentation is beautiful and the cocktails are creative and fun!! This is a hip place to go. They even have live music certain days of the week. I love going back to where I was born and the Kailua neighborhood where I grew up and visit this restaurant, which I just did for a second time cause it was so special the first time I visited Goen back in 2021. read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

Visited Goen to meet a friend and had a great experience. The space is open, big, and really inviting. A nice place to hang out and catch up. We ordered the beef with mashed potatoes, some sushi, and the fish and chips. Everything tasted good and came out nicely prepared. We also had a few drinks, and the overall vibe was relaxed and comfortable. There's parking available, and we didn't have to wait for a table, which made it even better. Solid spot for a casual meal, drinks, and good conversation. Would return. read more

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I don't even know what to write, the food was so bad--we did the French Pre-Fixed Course. Was not good like their regular menu. Very sad, especially coming from Goen. Presentation could've also used some work. read more

Service was 5, food 5 music 5 We just made it in time for happy hour . Had the brussel sprouts, fries, California roll, and a delicious cheese with pesto and focaccia. The dessert was awesome also! read more

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one word service service service !!! they are constantly filling our water , asking how the food is, very attentive and it makes you feel like you're their priority. we went during happy hour on friday 15 minutes before it was done (happy hour ends at 5:30) we like to sit inside its next to the nice staircase. the food was good, cali bites had good flavor but not too much filling. i would have liked a little more especially for $10/plate when there's only 4 pieces per plate, but none the less it was good. we'll return. especially for the ambiance of the staircase read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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Our go to spot for happy hour and quick date nights. Spicy tuna roll is ammmmazing and the lychee martini! Expect to be hooked!

Usually, this restaurant is so good and consistent. But my last visit a few months ago was a little disappointing. Service was great as usual. But the food wasn't as good as it used to be. The burrata was pretty hard all the way through. The stracciatella wasn't as creamy or prominent as it used to be. It was also kind of tasteless. The Brussels and cauliflower were a little over done and kind of salty. The fry basket was good as usual, though. And the drinks were fine. we also enjoyed our beet salad. hopefully next visit, everything will be back to its usual amazing quality read more

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Convenient nice-casual spot in the town center in Kailua. I came with one other person at the tail end of happy hour. The happy hour menu is limited but we got the capture and garlic parm fries to share. Both were good. For our mains we got the mushroom Japanese spaghetti and the miso butter fish. The spaghetti was rich and flavorful. The miso butter fish was cooked perfectly but honestly everything the dish came with was distracting and didn't pair well with the fish. Service was attentive and friendly, and they even had live music. read more

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I finally made it to Goen after all these years! I don't make it out to Kailua very often, but we were in the neighborhood just in time for Goen's weekend lunch offered from 12pm to 3pm Fridays through Sundays. Goen is an open air neighborhood restaurant in Kauila by Roy Yamaguchi so you will be sure to find Roy's classics like the misoyaki butterfish on the menu. For lunch, we opted for the Avocado Toast that is served on focaccia with arugula, sunnyside egg and bacon; and the Goen Burger with onion ring, lettuce, and secret sauce. Kudos to Executive Chef Yoichi Saito because my son said they were the best french fries he had in his entire life. We completed our delicious meal with the much talked about halo halo. The strawberry, mango, and coconut flavors were refreshing and I especially loved the flan! Really enjoyed our dining experience at Goen! read more

Dined here on Christmas Day with a reservation, and despite the restaurant being completely packed (understandable for the holiday), everything went smoothly and felt genuinely festive. The ambiance was spot-on for the holiday--soft Christmas music playing in the background created that warm, joyful vibe without being overpowering. The open floor plan is really inviting: spacious, bright, and easy to move around, which made the full house feel lively rather than cramped. It's a great layout that lets you feel the energy of the room while still having an intimate table experience. We arrived right on time, were warmly greeted at the hostess stand, and only waited about 5 minutes to be seated--apparently the previous party was still finishing up at our table. No big deal at all. Every single staff member we encountered was friendly, upbeat, and made a point to wish us a Merry Christmas. It really added to the holiday spirit. Service was well-paced: our appetizers arrived together, and the mains came about 15 minutes later--perfect timing. Food highlights: - **Caesar salad**: Fresh, crisp romaine and a delicious, well-balanced dressing. Exactly what you want in a Caesar. - **Brussels sprouts & cauliflower appetizer**: Outstanding. Perfectly roasted, great seasoning, and super tasty--easily one of the best veggie apps I've had. - **Braised short rib**: Tender doesn't even begin to describe it--the meat literally fell apart with a fork. I ordered it over mashed potatoes (instead of the polenta option) and highly recommend that swap; the creamy potatoes were the ideal pairing. - **Mango sorbet** for dessert: Light, refreshing, and exactly as advertised--bright mango flavor. Paired it with a black coffee, and I was pleasantly surprised by how excellent the coffee was. Rich, smooth, no bitterness--some of the best restaurant coffee I've had in a while. Overall, a wonderful Christmas dinner experience. The team clearly put in extra effort on a busy holiday, and it showed. Highly recommend this spot, especially if you're looking for a place that's open and delivers on Christmas Day. We'll definitely be back! read more

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I had high hopes for this restaurant, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the expectations. The ambiance wasn't anything special and the service was okay -- nothing special, but not terrible either. However, the real letdown was the food. The portions were noticeably small, especially considering the high prices. I wouldn't mind paying more for great quality and good service, but sadly that wasn't the case here. My dish arrived cold, and while the waiter did replace it, there was no apology or offer to make up for the inconvenience -- not even a complimentary dessert or discount. I still ended up paying full price for a subpar experience. Overall, it felt like the restaurant is more focused on appearances than on genuinely satisfying its customers. ONE and DONE. read more

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Wow fresh so fresh. I don't eat fish but I enjoy sushi. And normally I don't eat sashimi but I went for it! We also had the California Dragon Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll. This is my friend's favorite spot so of course they took me. I loved it all! The s'more was next level good so save room for dessert! Service was excellent- super nice servers. Food 5 stars! We ate outside & it was such a great night for it. 5 stars & I want to come back! My 1st trip & it won't be my last. read more

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I have mixed emotions about this place. We were looking for a new place and it had live music that created a peaceful atmosphere. Food: I had the Crispy Skin Smoked Salmon, my partner had Braised Beef Short Ribs. We paired it with a bottle (30% off) of a French Bordeaux. When the food arrived, I noted that the Salmon was raw in the center and I found it un-eatable. It was returned to the kitchen and I received a new plate ( guessing from the manager?). My partner experienced some swallowing issues and it seems her food was stuck in her esophagus that she described as it felt like a stone in her stomach. She ended up going to the bathroom and vomiting. The wine was excellent, the music really made the atmosphere. But the overall experience left us with not wanting to return. I'm a big fan of Roy Yamaguchi, and this is his place. I've never had issues with his establishment in Waikiki and unfortunately our first and last visit to this establishment. The service itself was excellent, our food issues were addressed quickly. This is why I have mixed feelings. When you have the perception of a negative/stressful experience it's hard to want to come back. I'm just being honest and you should go and have your own opinion about the food and atmosphere. At the end of the day, it was a series of events that made us not want to return. I don't blame the food, staff, etc. read more

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We had a 5 star experience for happy hour yesterday! Amazing service, wonderful lychee martini, complimentary edamame, great sushi and yummy garlic fries! read more

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Food was good, but experience was overall awful. My husband and I came to eat lunch here, while we were running errands in town. Both of us were dressed in casual, comfy clothes (especially since I'm 5 months pregnant). It started normal where they sat us, asked if we wanted drinks and then left. Once we received our food is when it started to become uncomfortable. Our waitress checked in on our table to make sure our food was tasting well, but about 3-5 minutes later another person came and checked on us too. We started to noticed a pattern of about three different people "checking" on our table every 5 minutes. Not only did we notice the pattern, but we recognized they were only doing this with our table. It overall ruined our meal being constantly interrupted. It was verified that they were targeting our table once we asked for the check. We handed the waitress our card and as she was closing our bill, the manager walker over, looked at our table, then her, and began to nod his head. Almost as if he was verifying we were paying. While we did think the food was good, don't go here if you're in your 20's and wanting to have a casual lunch. read more

Been here a few times and they never disappoint. Fast and friendly service with delicious food. There's ample tables and a decent sized bar you can also be seated at. Every dish has been fresh and flavorful. Some standouts I'd recommend are the fry basket (portobello fries), beer battered fish & chips, braised beef short ribs, brussel sprouts & cauliflower, and all the desserts! It's an open air restaurant with a casual layout. Parking can get crazy on Thursdays when the parking lot becomes a farmers market. Also always a good idea to make a reservation as any good restaurant is consistently busy. read more

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Excellent customer service. Enjoyed previous happy hours here. Stopped in tonight for drinks and light snack. Unique cocktails were wonderful. (Great recommendations by server) Enjoyed the ravioli and rib appetizers. Small issue with one dish was corrected quickly and professionally. Mahalo! Delicious drinks and food. We will be back. read more

It is a bit pricey, but it's also really good. Staff was kind and attentive and gave great recommendations as to their favs on the menu which is always welcome. Dishes came out quick and in order. We started with the fry basket which comes with herb cream cheese dip. The mushrooms were crispy and flavorful (also quite filling) and the dip was fantastic, soft and creamy with bright herbs to tease the palate. We followed this up with a healthy beet salad. Huge chunks of delicious earthy beets, one small disc of toasted goat cheese and a nice vinaigrette (could have used more dressing and goat cheese), but overall a nice healthful edition to the meal. For the entrees we had the arrabbiata pasta with burrata; just a whisper of spice but a nice sauce covering all the noods and a giant ball of cool burrata. I'd order this again and even though I thought I was full after the fry basket and salad, I still ate all of the pasta. Truffle gnocchi with shrimp and crispy calamari was rich and cheesy with a good truffle flavor. Dinner concluded with a deconstructed smore which was so good. Again, I thought I was full until I started eating the chocolate, then I mixed in a bit of the toasted marshmallow and couldn't stop eating it. It could have used a bit more graham cracker crumble (looks like a nice amount in the pic, but taste was muted by the chocolate). The space is nice and bright and you don't feel crammed in as there is plenty of space between tables. read more

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On my Oahu bucket list, this was outstanding. We had appetizers, Fish & Chips, and the amazing Misoyaki Butterfish. The staff was friendly and the ambience was casual, laid-back Hawaii style. The food was first class. read more

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This place was absolutely delicious. Service was quick and very pleasant Ambience and seating was cozy and created a great vibe for our table We got a few different items and all of us were so happy with the outcome of everything. Highly recommend for a date night, family dinner, or any occasion. read more

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I didn't even realize this place existed until one night we ordered take out from here to celebrate my mother in laws birthday. I was the one to order it and pick it up. I placed an order for 6 entrees and was told the wait would be 30 mins. Showed up there shortly after then and paid and food still wasn't ready so it probably was more like 45 mins. I ordered the misoyaki butterfish. Whenever I go to roys, that's my go to so I decided to try it here too. It tasted the same but the portion seemed a little smaller than normal. I also had some of the braised beef short rib which was good as well but seemed pretty small. The restaurant itself seemed to be a nice place to eat it. Next time we will probably try to eat in. We would've eaten there this time but they were booked for larger parties already. read more

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The food was unique and delicious! I enjoyed the fry basket and the noodles that came with the crispy skin smoked salmon. The ambiance is cute as well. read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Crispy skin smoked salmon - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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I've gone to Goen's Happy Hour (in addition to their dinner service) and sat at the bar several times. Each time, I've received exceptional service. I should know her name by now (possibly Amy?), but the bartender is so welcoming and efficient. One day, when I came in, I let her know I wasn't in the mood to drink. She offered to make me a Lilikoi Spritzer (mocktail), and it was delicious. I also had several of their signature cocktails, and they are phenomenal. The food also comes out quickly and is surprisingly affordable, especially when factoring in the high quality. During my last visit (Sunday, June 8th during Happy Hour), I got the Aburi Salmon Carpaccio ($11), Crispy Brussels + Cauliflower ($9), and Parmesan Truffle Fries ($7). There was also live music! I highly recommend sitting at Goen's bar! read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Lilikoi Spritzer, Crispy Brussels+Cauliflower, Aburi Salmon Carpaccio - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

I love the Ahi takata, i could live on that appetizer every day. I also go just for the Bee sting cocktail, it it the bomb. Parking easy, service depends on who you get. I have had excellent service most of the time but once in a while I get this one server who clearly hates people and her job and it shows. I cringe every time I get placed in her station and one time I just asked to sit in another servers area. I work hard and I come here to relax and enjoy what little free time I have, I do not need attitude from the person serving me. read more

Liked what I ordered. But my husband is plant based/vegan so it was very limited on what he could have. I would think they'd have more variety or options on how to make the entrees plant based, but sadly, this isn't their forte. Others in our party really loved their dishes. read more

Goen is one of my absolute favorites in Kailua! Delicious food, great drinks, and such a beautiful vibe. I love it here so much that I booked their private space for my birthday dinner, and the staff made it truly memorable. So grateful for their kindness and attention to every detail. Can't wait to come back! read more

We were all very disappointed when we were assured that we would get this short rib special for the night and then came back and they told us that none of us could get it because they were all out if that was the special for the night you would think that they would have had enough deceit and feed the entire table. What a disappointment that was read more

We didn't have reservations but we were able to get seated easily. Luckily it wasn't busy at all. We came at around 4:30 pm on a Sunday, which was happy hour. Our waitress was super kind and helpful. I ordered the spicy Cali roll on the happy hour menu and it was amazing. Epically for the price, only $13. They had great drink options too. I got a seltzer as well as a lychee martini and it was great. The crispy Brussel sprouts were so good. Overall the service was outstanding and food were amazing, will be returning again! read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Spicy cali roll, Brussel sprouts (happy hour menu) - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

It was really good. The ribs were tasty. The creamy polenta was enjoyable. Basically, I got an appetizer in a side dish. And I had the tiramisu the service was great. The ambience is really nice. I went when they had a live music. read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Creamy polenta, ribs - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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First time here and i know it won't be our last. This Roy Yamaguchi restaurant is located in the Lau Hala Shopping Mall. They offer comfortable outdoor table and bar seating with loads of parking. We ordered the Goen Burger, Beer Battered Fish and Chips, and the Japanese Style Mushroom Spaghetti. So delicious! Let's start with the Goen Burger: juicy and cooked to perfection with a soft brioche bun. They use fontina cheese, bacon, and a tasty secret sauce to round up their burger game. A big basket of thick fries completes this dish. I love fish so I had to try their Dover Sole Filet Beer Battered Fish and Chips. Fried but not oily and so light but filling! The Yuzu Kosho tarter sauce not only went well with the delectable fish but with my thick fries as well! They also serve an interesting tomato side that really delights the taste buds. Last but definitely not least, the Japanese Style Mushroom Spaghetti truly stood out. This Japanese inspired spaghetti dish included four different types of mushrooms, bacon, and shishito peppers (for that little kick). The sauce is an interesting soy/garlic dashi that really surprised us all (you know we all had to take a bite). All I can say is YUMMY! We finished with the Basque Cheesecake. The perfect ending to our wonderful lunch. We came here for lunch and I can only imaging how busy this place can get so make sure to get your reservations in. Thanks to Dani for the attentive and awesome service! We will be back read more

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Good food in a great location. Their lunch burger is so ono. We love getting gelato after dinner. Nice atmosphere with local musicians.

Reservations for dinner. Loved the appetizers Mushrooms Burrata with an extra order of bread please Restaurant was outdoor and open. Friday night busy during dinner hours Would definitely drive to Kailua again to enjoy the food read more

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This is definitely one of the more higher-end restaurants in Kailua and my girlfriend and I went here on a Saturday evening during the holiday season. We shared some of the different menu items we ordered, and they were absolutely delicious and filling! Service is great and the seating is comfortable and excellent! read more

I love goen - for the vibes, drinks, mushroom fries.... My husband and I love Kailua and making the trip for this restaurant and their happy hour. However, towards the end of our experience a different bartender began serving us. He was very acquainted with the party that arrived an hour after us - Getting to know them, etc. I am in the hospitality industry and while he was very hospitable to them, not so much with us. It was a turn off. We sat at the bar as we usually do and this is the first time we ran into this type of service here. I've never seen him before only this night. He basically threw the check to my husband. He knew it too since he double head checked the check but didn't apologize or say anything else while he continued to talk story with the two girls next to us. Braddah was mahu and didn't even apologize to my handsome Hawaiian husband. OK something must be wrong?!. If I ever get serviced by this bartender again and his service is not the bare minimum again - bet I will say something to his face. I hope this review reaches the right people. He pissed off the wrong person... if you are in the service industry, you should have basic customer service. We didn't come out to eat to be treated like shet. read more

Downtown Kailua Dinner Night While there are plenty of great options to choose from in downtown Kailua, Goen really had us raving! Cocktails are a must - lots of tropical flavors, but very balanced and nothing too sweet. Needed some veg in our lives, so spicy-sweet edamame and crispy brussels+cauli did the trick there. The Za'atar sauce was craveable! Star of the evening = Sushi Sampler ($63) - with 1/2 rolls of their signature rolls, each bite was better than the next. We were glad we didn't have to choose just one! Pork Belly Katsu was our final choice; the meat was super tender but not overly fatty, and the microgreens were super flavorful on top which was a first for us. The service was great the entire evening, but our server felt we waited too long for drinks/food, so we actually got dessert for free! Basque cheesecake ended the meal; we had it in Spain before, and this certainly rivaled the OG! An excellent meal in a beautiful setting that has you forgetting you're near a strip mall honestly! read more

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I've visited all of Roy's restaurants over the years and found them all outstanding. But never tried Goen's even though I live in Kailua. When my niece visited a couple weeks ago, I took her there. I made a reservation for 5 pm. on a Tuesday night and we were seated right away. I was pleasantly surprised to enter a spacious modern open air restaurant with a large welcoming bar. Plus live entertainment plus it was Happy Hour, drinks including bottles of wine, 30 % off! Service was swift and friendly. As we sat down, a carafe of ice water, cold glasses, and complimentary edamame was placed in front of us. We had read the reviews on Yelp and already knew to order the Brussel sprouts and roasted Japanese eggplant. (Did I mention Happy Hour prices?). Niece enjoyed the Lychee Martini so much, she ordered a second one. I was happy with a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. It was very pleasant, no rush, relaxed ambience. For our entrees, niece ordered the Crispy Skin Smoked Salmon and I had the Misoyaki Butterfish. Both dishes were beautifully plated, and delicious. Of course it's personal taste but we both liked the salmon the best. The carrots and potatoes were cooked (roasted I'd say) perfectly as was the salmon, moist, lightly smoked. The butterfish was also cooked perfectly, charred at the edges, very moist, not too sweet, sitting on a bed of udon noodles, garnished with minced tomatoes and shallots, a thin slice of radish, and salmon roe. In fact the butterfish was so delicious by itself that I found the dish a tad bit busy! Especially with the spicy bitter garnish on top both entrees -- is this mizuna? I'm not sure. I'm not a picky eater but I'm starting to sound like a food critic so enough of that! We were very satisfied with both entrees! And too full for dessert so next time. I do look forward to trying other dishes! read more

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I'm just gonna get straight into it - food was decent, service was ok, place is cool. Boyfriend and I decided to order a bunch of things to pick off of and one entree. The Pink Dragon roll was ok but size of the roll itself was great - looks like a small roll but when you take a bite it's actually a pretty big size. Smoked Salmon Brushetta was ok, just super creamy and couldn't really taste the smoked salmon as much. I wish it toasted a little bit more because was a little soggy. The cauliflower and brussels sprouts were really good - a little too roasted/fried... but good! We also shared the Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast and it was *CHEF KISS! Duck was cooked perfectly and the sauces complimented the breast and veggies very well. Despite the minor tweaks in the apps, the food was still good. Service was ok.. idk if they were understaffed that night but service was a little slow but the servers were all over the place being the food runner, bartender, server and even hostess for everyone's tables - like there wasn't just one specific person doing one job. Overall, place is good but the price for me is a little bit expensive for a pretty casual place. The duck however is worth it. read more

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