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Kailua House

3.2 (31 reviews)

Kailua House Photos

KAILUA HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Steamed sea base
Jayn' W.

Mind you this is Kailua not town. For Chinese I never would consider eating in Kailua. Kailua House has me eating my words. Finally a restaurant that will not make me want to drive to town to eat chinese. It's not your typical local Cantonese or Hong Kong style. It's somewhere in between but the flavors are from what I've experienced on point. It's new ownership and the staff is attentive. The ambiance is old school, nothing fancy and who cannot love that old exterior. It's the food however that will keep me coming back. Thus far there is nothing I've tried that I didn't like. FYI: read other yelpers & it makes me wonder did we even eat at same restaurant. I'm as picky as they come. As for the needed interior facelift as realtors say needs tlc.

Beware of cracked plates!
Sylvia D.

Sadly disappointing. My husband saw this place on Cheap Eats soon after it opened so I was excited to give it a try. I ordered the lunch plate to sample a variety: crispy fried chicken, beef & broccoli chow mein, kau yuk, crispy gau gee, white rice. Plus mango smoothie to drink. The service was slow and inattentive. In fact, I overheard the servers apologizing to a few people in the restaurant for delays and such since the place is under new ownership and working out a few issues. By the time my lunch arrived, it was cold. Our server hadn't provided utensils, napkins or asked if we needed anything else (like mustard). The gau gee was extra crispy (almost burned) but at least that was still warm and the meat inside flavorful. Sadly, the gau gee and the rice were the tastiest things on my plate. The beef was rubbery, the pork too sweet, noodles dry even though floating in sauce, and the broccoli tips soggy. Worst of all, after I tasted everything I realized there was a crack in my plate! Cracks in dishes are breeding grounds for bacteria that can contaminate food. Glad I didn't eat most of it. Even my mango smoothie was bland and didn't taste much like mango. I only drank half of it. The floor was dirty and the whole place looked like it could use a good scrubbing. And hey Cheap Eats, this place wasn't cheap either at $44 for two lunch plates with beverages. My friend didn't think the food was that bad and said she liked the noodles. She felt the place rated two stars instead of the one star I would give, maybe because she arrived much hungrier than me. My friend also took home my mostly uneaten meat for her dog. Maybe he won't be as disappointed as I was.

Amazing, Customer Service Amazing, Food Amazing!
K D.

Can't say enough wonderful things, dim sum, gau ghee, shrimp canton, bake manapua is awesome!

Second time here.... loved the egg tart and shrimp har gow.

Food is fresh and made to order. The friendly owner informed us that he will be opening early (8:30) in August for dim sum. Egg tarts for breakfast!

Robert H.

After being opened for a week I thought the food might be tasty. Boy, was I disappointed. First of all, there was not a single soul in there, and the phone didn't ring once while I was there. I decided to order a few different kinds of foods just to get an idea of what this place would be all about. The first thing I noticed is that the items are about $1-2 dollars more than the average restaurant. I ordered Won Ton Soup, Salt and Pepper Pork Chop, and Cold Ginger Chicken. The pork chop was overcooked and thrown in the container in a sloppy way (I guess presentation doesn't matter). The Ginger Chicken was sitting in oil with the ginger, and the onion was dry sitting atop the chicken. They did not grate the Ginger good as there were tons of that hairy stringy part everywhere. The soup was bland along with the vegetables, and I could literally drink the mustard straight out of the container because it was so watery. The floor was dull and dirty, and the chairs looked like it had loose fitting cloth. You would think that new owners might make things look clean and new. Well, I will stick to the Enchanted Lake Chinese Restaurant.

Shrimp dimsum and steamed char siu bao

Staff is super friendly and warm. Dining room is average but clean and tidy. Shrimp dimsum and steamed char siu bao are my favorites from here. I just tried their egg tarts today too and they are one of the best I've had!

Jiandui baked char siu bao

Now open 10am to 830pm. All baos and dim sum are available .for the lunar new year Gau and Jai are available for sale

Spring roll bag

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2 years ago

Food is overcooked and lacks flavor. Place feels dirty too. I will not come back. It's very disappointing.

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Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Smaller room by kitchen and bar with high top tables.

Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge

4.1(138 reviews)
0.2 mi

Banyan Crafts Kitchen and Lounge was a beautiful restaurant with life-like banyan trees in the…read moremiddle of the two dinning areas. Beautiful decor of imitation plants that even the bathrooms were beautiful especially the women's bathroom by the kitchen. Even the Men's bathrooms were decorated. It's something you should see! You wouldn't even think there's a place like this in Kailua. There were a few steps to the door of the restaurant but as we exit the waitress let my mom through the back which had no stairs but a ramp leading to the side parking along the restaurant right side, since she was using a walker. I first came with my friend for dinner and I came with my mom for brunch after her dentist appointment, because I wanted to show her what became of the beloved Four Star Chop Suey decades ago. Brunch menu was not the usual breakfast items that we were used to, but I ordered what I thought she would like best. We had Breakfast Hash with potatoes, sausage, cheese, eggs, bell peppers but the sauce was a little spicy for mom. There were ingredients in the sauce which maybe was too much for mom. Citrus mint fruit salad, and Southern Chicken Biscuit and Gravy. The gravy was different.fitness good but, I preferred the dinner selection when I came with a friend who traveled all the way from Kapolei for some shared dishes and appetizers. She really liked it and it was flavorful and unique. We had the following dishes: Local Braised Oxtail Patatas Bravas Seared Poke nachos Seasonal Hummus Deconstructed Baklava Cheesecake Hiusemade breads Citrus mint fruit salad I would order everything again! The Oxtail was flavorful and delicious, The homemade breads were so warm and fresh. The breads were served with the seasonal hummus, and I love the citrus mint dressing on the fruits! So refreshing! Night time was busy and we didn't have reservations, so we were lucky we didn't have those high top table and chairs . Best to have reservations for dinner. Weekends have night entertainment in the bigger dining area. We came earlier, but as the night went on, it got busier and our waitress was also assisting other customers in the other room, so we were missed . Service could have been better. Not too many of my townie friends had made it to this side but it's a nice place to dine at to experience their food and beautiful ambiance! There were a few side parking stalls along the right wall of the restaurant, otherwise you would need to find street parking. There's a nearby 24 hour municipal parking lot and it's still a quarter of 20 minutes. This restaurant is not in the main Kailua town area. If you haven't been to Kailua, Kailua is a nice town to try all these different restaurants. You be surprised and pleased. They are closed on Monday & Tuesday. Brunch is on weekends from 9 am to 1 pm. Otherwise they open from Wednesday thru Sunday from 4pm to closing at 9pm and on Friday & Saturday nights they are opened til 11pm.

We decided to try this place out for valentines dinner. This was our first time and I was excited…read moreas I heard good things. The setting: I really like the vibe they went with for valentines and the decor, I like the lowlight setting as well. The banyan tree decor in the middle of the restaurant was a nice touch. Service: our host and our waiter were awesome, very pleasant and helpful. The food: it was a fixed menu due to Valentine's Day, I guess I did not see that when I booked the reservations or it was listen on the open table app. I wish I had known because I wanted to try other dishes. Anyways.. we got to each choose an appetizer so we got the coconut shrimp which omgggg really good, that sauce was a perfect touch, the shrimp was nicely crispy. We also got the beef tataki which was another fav I must say. The main entrees was ok, I only say this because we got the lamb and fish. The lamb came with 4 pieces but 2 were cooked good and the other 2 seemed like it could have been cooked a little longer. The fish to me was also over done and a little touch and hard. I will go back because I do wanna try other things on their menu. Overall we still made it a great night and will come back again.

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Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Larger room

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Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Ox tail pot pie.  Definitely can't call this a pie. But was good.  Consider the bones are big but the meat is delicious and tender

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Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens - Prime Rib ($52.95) - Medium Rare!

Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens

4.1(3.2k reviews)
4.7 mi
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We chose Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens for our last dinner in Hawaii, and it could not have been a…read moremore magical sending-off. The setting is breathtaking--nestled in lush greenery, it feels completely authentic and welcoming. They started us off with warm complimentary bread and butter, which was such a sweet touch. For an appetizer, we shared a daily special: the Ahi Tuna spread paired with cream cheese and crispy crostini--it was a huge, generous portion that was absolute perfection for sharing. For mains, my husband had the Grilled Salmon (featuring a savory Togarashi rub, miso cream sauce, sea asparagus salad, and garlic mashed potatoes). I went with the Grilled Fish served with Macadamia nut pesto, lobster cream sauce, and those insanely good garlic mashed potatoes. You can tell real care and artistry go into every plate! We couldn't resist dessert. We got the Lilikoi Crème Brûlée (one of my all-time favorites, and they nailed it) and the 'Baby Cake'--which is ANYTHING but baby-sized! It was rich, deeply chocolatey without being overly sugary, and paired flawlessly with cold ice cream. Our server took fantastic care of us all evening. Highly, highly recommended!

So the food and service deserves 5 stars. Colin our waiter was great, super informative, attentive…read moreand friendly. The view is gorgeous and we luckily got some of the best seats in the house. We went 2 weeks ago. I got their award winning poke and I can see how it got its name. It's my favorite poke I've ever had in Hawaii. The flavor was phenomenal and the texture excellent. I only wish I got a bigger portion! Their famous prime rib was incredibly tender and gigantic. The reason for the mediocre rating is this. As others have mentioned there's a horrible mildew smell throughout the whole restaurant! That has to be a health code violation. Reviews have mentioned this issue for years. I think the whole place needs to be renovated to better stand up to the rain and humidity. Because half the restaurant is open to the elements. An expensive fix, but with how famous they are, and the higher menu prices, it should be doable. I worry for their employees being exposed to mildew every shift. That causes health issues, and the restaurant is responsible for their staff getting sick because they're working in an unsafe environment. I really hate that this ongoing issue hasn't been fixed and their staff and customers are exposed to a health hazard. Smacks of mismanagement and/or greed and lack of concern. To their employees, you are owed compensation if this mildew gets you sick! Contact lawyers that work pro bono (free as a community service and tax write off) if the restaurant won't take responsibility.

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Kalapawai Café & Deli - Furikake Fish Burger with Tossed Greens

Kalapawai Café & Deli

4.2(1.4k reviews)
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This location has a very different layout compared to the kapolei location and both being good…read more I Have always drove past the Kailua one this one is a lot smaller and has a more casual island vibe. The ordering counter and cashier is right as you enter along with thr pastry counter. Same deals with thr kapolei location you order and find your own table and put number so they can find you when your order is up. Inside is airconditioned with around maybe 10 tables and chairs some seat 2 others eat 4 and they also have outside patio seating back and front. The parking can be challenging having maybe 10 -12 spots in their lot and some street parking . Their Menu is a bit more limited than their other location. Sandwiches.. pizza and other stuff oh and coffee. The only thing that wasmt as good as their kapolei location was they didnt have the thin crispy salty cravable fries they only had small bags of chips available The food is always good and the service was real good. The staff gave you an impression where they really valued their customers with greetings with a smile and happy goodbyes. As always a great experience with a great casual setting..fair pricing (nothing is considered "cheap" nowdays) ..good food and friendly staff.

I've been here several times now, and it's consistently been a solid 4 out of 5 stars…read more If you're expecting full table service or "princess treatment," this probably isn't the place for you. Water is self-serve, and the setup feels more like a cafeteria than a traditional sit-down restaurant. That said, the staff has always been friendly and welcoming, which makes for a pleasant experience. I usually order the chicken pesto sandwich, which is always a great choice, but today I decided to branch out and try the Beach Burger and the Margherita Pizza. Both were absolutely delicious and definitely worth ordering again. The atmosphere is one of my favorite parts. It has a relaxed, coastal vibe that makes you feel like you're dining at a beachfront café, even if you're not right on the sand. Overall, it's a great spot for good food, a laid-back environment, and friendly service. I'll definitely keep coming back.

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Nico's Kailua - Evening Special Ribeye with chimichurri

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3.6(608 reviews)
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First time here! The parking lot was easy to navigate and felt plentiful. There wasn't a wait for…read morearound 6pm but felt it filled up quickly after we sat down. We got a table right next to the windows overlooking the canal or whatever it was. Cool! Ambiance I suppose. The service was attentive and accurate. She gave plenty of recommendations which we took. The server was friendly and sweet. We got the fish bites based on the reviews here, and glad we did, because they were so good! Totally recommend. I decided on the Kalbi - loooove Kalbi--- it was excellent and plentiful. It's going to be tough not getting this each time. Tony partner got the catch of the day special and he said it was very good, but not enough food, so if you're extra hungry perhaps get something more hearty. But, it was very tasty with a very light panko crust over garlic polenta I believe. The desert, as stated in the reviews, was so good. We got the guava cheesecake. Delicious.

Ok after eating at Koa Pancake House fo breakfast I wasn't too hungry. I shared the poke nachos…read morewith wifey. Our friend got the furikake ahi with salad. Of course as soon as I started scarfing the poke... ohh brahhh!! I no can stop when I got goin. Had too much teri sauce fo my taste... too sweet fo me. Don't get me wrong, I love sweets. I jus wasn't wanting it with my poke. We also got the cheescake & da buggah was ono!! I totally killed it! Also had block ahi in the fridge if you like take home. This is all the way out by K-Bay & near Aikahi Shopping Center. Cute lil place by the canal/stream in Kailua. The parking lot is shared with the business building next door. The waitress was pretty good. A hui hou

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Gaslamp  - Wagyu tamahawk

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4.1(523 reviews)
0.1 mi
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Gaslamp absolutely deserves 5 stars! It is a hidden speakeasy steakhouse with reservations only. My…read moreboyfriend and I were here for dinner to celebrate his birthday back in July. Dress code is enforced, but it really makes for an intimate night out especially for a special occasion. Be prepared to spend a lot! My boyfriend and I were seated in a cozy 2 top table close to the bar. We had a good view of the bar and the live jazz music entertainment just above. It adds to the atmosphere really well. The speakeasy is two floors. For our drinks, we both ordered wine, his was red and mine was white. I honestly don't remember which kind it was, since I am writing this review two months later. However, for our main entrees my boyfriend ordered the "French Laundry" which comes with table side presentation and performance. I ordered the black truffle risotto with lobster tail (an up charge $$). My boyfriend loved the French Laundry main, he devoured the tomahawk and sides. The lobster tail really made the risotto so much tastier, it was a whole flavor bomb. Usually I'm not one to eat truffle, but this was amazing! To finish off our meal, we ended with a tiramisu dessert. It was presented so nicely sealing my boyfriend's birthday celebration to a wonderful close. The bartender also provided a dessert pairing with a high end whiskey from what I recall. Overall, this speakeasy restaurant was outstanding, service was spectacular, and this experience exceeded our expectations.

If I could rate this place no stars I would. The lady at the door WAS SO AWFUL. Dark hair, braids,…read moreglasses. So cold, so rude, extremely unwelcoming with the worst attitude ever and for absolutely no reason. We were so excited to try this place. I honestly wished we walked out right then and there with that kind of greeting. After we finished my boyfriend went to tell her about our experience and her response topped it all. "TELL THAT TO MY MANAGER" with even more of an attitude. If I was the owner of this place she would have been fired on the spot, so I really hope you're reading this for how pricey it is to eat at your restaurant because the atmosphere inside is really cool. The food was really good I will say. Service for drinks extremely slow. We won't ever be back after spending $500+ for my girlfriend's birthday dinner that we were so looking forward to. I am so disappointed and will never recommend this place to anyone because of the girl at the door.

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Kailua House - chinese - Updated October 2026

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