Friday, August 14th @ 5:15pm celebrated my birthday. Lindsay was such a great server which made our first experience even better! She's respectful with a happy attitude and it was so much fun when she & a group of staff sang 'Happy B-day' giving me a slightly new name (an innocent error... but the situation was hilarious)! I love to 'flame-cook' meats so it worked out perfectly here. The food was so delicious, we enjoyed the selection of the banchan & the complementary side dishes too...especially the luau soup and crab potato salad. This is a great place for families and large groups too. We will definitely be back to 'support local'! read more

Located on the corner of N School Street and Houghtailing on the 2nd floor. There are a few stalls in that lot, but there's also another lot adjacent. Stairs or elevators on the parking lot side of the establishment will take you there. You can take your chances on the day of, though I've always made reservations online beforehand as I know how busy they can get. There are different tiers of all you can eat (AYCE) items, to which the base offering has always been enough for us. Especially love coming here for the marinated meats as they're different from the other AYCE places. The banchan selection is also very plentiful, with no charge for additional refills. When Chef is there, he'll come around the room, talk story with the customers, and bring specials of the day to the table. The servers have also been very accommodating each time we've come here. Ample seating for small or larger parties. And the air vents are built into the tabletop grills, so that you don't leave the place smelling of smoke. On a separate occasion, we've also partaken in the bento boxes that you can grill on your own at home. Lots of meat and rice, banchan always on point. Though my only commentary for this is that our boxes were missing matches, so we had to go to buy some. Also, it didn't feel like there were enough coals to get us through all the meat, so we also had to buy more charcoal. Lastly, there was no choice of sauce, but we had 6 different bento boxes, to which we shared our sauces with each other (ginger/shoyu, Korean BBQ, and some sort of green Peruvian sauce at the time). It was a very interesting experience which we had a lot of fun doing. All in all, I love the way that Chef is always keeping things fresh and interesting here! read more

Kale’s Hale - Banchan - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've been wanting to try this place since it opened up. Yesterday we finally did. Our family had a party of eight. Reservations is encouraged here. It gets busy. There was a lot of parking when we went at about 5pm. As we entered the restaurant, it was alot more spacious than it looks on the outside. The staff was very welcoming and the ambiance was perfect. Our server was excellent! Her name was Bree. She was very clear and detailed about the menu. We all got the one ounce wagyu ayce choice. There were so many choices to choose from as far as meat varieties. My favorite was the Wagyu of course, but in addition to that the tongue, kalbi, and the spicy pork. The spread of banchan was onolicious. My cousin ordered a Bumbucha bloody mary. When it came and we all saw what he ordered...3 of us immediately said we'll have one too (lmao). It was really good and what a great presentation. This is a super friendly place and the staff made us feel at home. I think that's the most I ate in a while. Everyone was happy and stuffed by the time we left. The lihing mui ice cake at the end hit the spot. I highly recommend this spot if you want the feeling of local atmosphere and ono food. Mahalo's to Chef Kale and his staff! The next time we come will be on a Wednesday so we can sample the sushi night. Cheee! read more

Look no further, Kale's Hale is a must try!! It's seriously the best yakiniku spot I've tried. And as I'm writing this review, I'm already thinking about when my bf and I could go again because it's that good- everything from the quality of the food to the staff's hospitality. I've been following Chef Kale on social media for a while and online, you can see he has such a passion for food and ensuring all his customers have the most enjoyable experience at his restaurant and it really is true in person. It seriously felt like you're being invited to his hale (home) to enjoy a meal that he's carefully prepared. We absolutely loved everything but my absolute favorite (and for sure the sleeper pick of the day): the charsiu chicken paired with the fresh cilantro lime aioli!!! I usually never ever order chicken when I'm eating at yakiniku or KBBQ spots because it just takes forever to cook and by the time it's done, it's dry or just doesn't taste good. I decided to order chicken because come on, we're at Kale's Hale and we just know we weren't going to be disappointed. And my goodness, it was an absolute flavor bomb and the chicken was incredibly tender! I immediately ordered another one and ate till I was stuffed and had zero room for dessert. My bf's favorite was the brisket paired with that wasabi sauce. That wasabi sauce needs to be bottled and sold if it's not already. Thank you to all the staff at Kale's Hale! We had the best experience and service will definitely be back soon! P.S. they use smokeless grills so it was just a nice bonus we didn't leave smelling like BBQ! Amazing! read more

Decided to try Kale Hale since I saw an IG post advertising $5 a pound Wagyu for local residents through the end of August. If you haven't tried Wagyu meat, it really is amazing! We weren't sure what to expect and we were pleasantly surprised. This was a Korean Hawaiian fusion restaurant and they have AYCE options with reasonable pricing for the quality of food. We ordered the Gold which had great options and we added the Wagyu to the ordered. The food was amazing. For dessert, the strawberry Lihui mui ice cake was included and it totally hit the spot. Our service was great, friendly and attentive. The restaurant was clean. Our only negative was it seemed a little messy, better organized storage in the eating area would help. We will definitely be back because everything else was great. Very down to earth, local vibe for sure with great food and a friendly staff! Win-win for everyone! read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The food selection is bomb.com It doesn't look like it from school street but there's lots of parking around the corner from the building. The selection of sides was unique. Seating was comfortable and the restaurant was a cute vibe. We dined with a big group and the service was amazing even with three young children read more

Four and a 1/2 stars for excellent service, especially loved the table being set with banchan prior to seating. The smokeless grills are great, no smelly grilled meat car ride afterwards. Party of 7 we had the gold menu and it's a good value that's thoughtfully crafted for an awesome dining experience. Can't wait for our next visit and to try the other menus!!! read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is amazing! First off, they have parking, HUGE win for me. We were greeted immediately and only waited a couple of minutes to be seated in spite of our lack of reservations (Make reservations people). It's a nice space, bugger than I thought it was from the outside. We ordered the basic tier of meats and it was delicious, if I had been more hungry, we might have upgraded but it wasn't necessary. I definitely recommend going ASAP, service was excellent and the food was Ono! read more

First time here and so glad we made an OpenTable reservation. The wait was about an hour otherwise! Food and service were amazing. Rice was perfect. The banchan was a good assortment. Also came with delicious luau stew. Our waitress checked on us often, so we always had meat on the grill. Along with AYCE, the specials were pho and crab hand rolls. We also scored the $20 pre-order he'e blade! Definitely a great first experience! For sure we'll be back soon. read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I've only been to a few KBBQ spots on the island so far but this place is my favorite! Meats were seasoned well, sides were tasty, and service was attentive. My favorite meats were the guava pork and salmon special. read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Went on a Wednesday to try the AYCE korean bbq and sushi! We did a walk in during lunch and it was basically empty. The restaurant was clean and seemed like a great night spot. We were seated right away and service was very fast. Everyone is very patient and attentive. You can order as much as you want at one time, but seriously pace yourseld because they offer so many sides and samples! When I went they gave us salmon belly and birria rice bomb to sample. Not to mention, they give free ice cake for dessert. The ice cake tasted exactly like the strawberry one I would get after school in the cafeteria while I wait for my parents to pick me up. The best part is that they top it with this addictive lihing sauce. This was definitely worth the price if you're get the basic package. I got the middle tier and found that getting the basic tier was enough. The only issue is that parking is limited. You either get lucky and park in the small lot in the back of the building or park on the street. read more

Excellent customer service and great price for the food selection! My team and I were there for a farewell luncheon for one of my employees and the food selection was awesome! Everything from the side dishes and soup to the meats were amazing and fresh. Our waitress was super friendly and checked on us frequently through our time there. She made sure our drinks were full and asked we wanted more meat or side dishes.. she was absolutely attentive the whole time. At the end of our meal we were offered a living Mui shaved ice, but I opted for the burnt cheesecake because it looked amazing. read more

Kale’s Hale - Burnt cheesecake with Ohelo berry cream - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If your looking for an all you can eat place with high quality meat & sides this is your place! This place is not like your typical cook your own meat place it's a whole vibe! Love that i didn't leave smelling like bbq lol Our server was absolutely amazing I can't remember his name but round of applause for handling our party of 12 like a champ! This in my books is a MUST try place & I'll guarantee you'll be back! Shoutout to kale hale for the kamaaina discount read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We loved the specials again!! They always rotate, so we do miss the lau lau and jook, but we were so happy with the other surprise specials, especially the crispy fried fish with spicy Asian sauce. Loved the flavors and textures of that one, asked for it again and again, even had it as my dessert! We were also super into the pipikaula, so tasty and tender! Plus the new kupuna special for only $20 makes this an extra awesome place to visit with my mom, who still cooks my bbq food (so I can focus on eating!!). We loved the refreshing mango ice cream after, too! We always know it's gonna be a great time at this place with the very friendly and cheerful service and the owner always coming by to make sure we're all happy and well fed - happy first year anniversary!! read more

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First time here! Waitress, Obi, explained the menu to us, made suggestions to help us decide and provided outstanding service throughout our meal. Chef Kale was in the house! He greeted us and even let us sample some of today's specials. Super cool guy! Honestly we thoroughly enjoyed our food! I wish I brought a container to put my luau soup to take home for later hahaha but for real, we highly recommend visiting here. We'll definitely be back with our family. read more

My partner has been cooking all week, and I also recently lost a bet on a TV show... so I decided it was only right to take him out for his favorite type of food: meat. I've had Kale Hale on my "places to try" list for a while, and since they have a lot of meat options, it felt like the perfect choice. I made a same-day reservation and we went for it. First off, the ambiance is super chill and the service was great. Our server was really friendly; I think her name was Rylan (sorry if I spelled it wrong!). She had the prettiest Sakura nails and definitely made the experience even better. They offer three different tiers: * Gold - $32.99 * Value - $59.99 * Popular - $149.99 And listen... I'm a Taurus, so you can probably guess which one I picked. I went with the Popular tier because I wanted the best option. It includes all-you-can-eat Wagyu, and that night they even had specials like lobster.Everything was perfect. We went a couple rounds with the Wagyu and tried some of the regular meats too. Everything was on point. I'd definitely come back to try the other tiers in the future. Most importantly, my partner was happy, which made the money well spent. read more

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The online standby system isn't active yet. I found out when we arrived and were asked if we had a reservation. We waited about 5-10 mins at the front & we're seated past the kitchen towards the left at a booth. My husband, being a tall and muscular guy, had difficulty fitting as the distance between table and bench was minimal on both sides. Our server was friendly & helpful, answered all our questions, provided us with samples of dishes. While some of the things we ordered very super tasty, others lacked flavor. Portions were decent. I'd be willing to try them again & take our time next round as they had some interesting selections! read more

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Went here with my co workers and we had a whole section to ourselves. It was a nice experience. The parking lot area was a bit small but we managed to find a stall. The food was tasty. The service was super good, it did take a while to get our food/refills at one point but it was because a lot of walk ins came in during lunch time. Definitely would come back again especially since it's so close to our workplace read more

Not sure why this place is rated so high. The meat is ok, idk why some of the meats come in a giant ball and it's so hard to undo it to get it on the grill. The meat choices are ok. They ran out of Kim chee which was disappointing because it was actually good. They gave us this weird bulgogi ball appetizer, that was the equivalent to a giant scoop of rice. I get it, you want us to get full fast to eat less meat. The staff is nice, but I guess because they were super busy, we had to keep asking people for more water. We would run out, and a good 5 minutes would go by and we'd have to ask again. The parking here is absolutely diabolical. If you can't find parking in the lot, which is limited, good luck finding street parking. We ended up parking in the grass behind the stream. If I'm being completely honest, you're better off going to Gyu-Kaku. To clarify, we were only given the bulgogi ball and salmon belly appetizer. No mention of the other appetizer specials. The salmon was good, but the bulgogi ball seemed under fried so when you cut it open it seemed soggy not crispy. read more

Came back one last time before flying back to Texas. Met up with an old friend who wanted to eat somewhere so I recommended this restaurant again. We ordered the Value again and food was so good that my friend said he'll be back with friends or family. Finally got a chance to meet Chef Kale and he is literally like his videos. Very cool and super friendly braddah. I didn't see him originally and had to leave, but he literally came out to call out to me in the parking lot to let me sample an amazing Japanese A5 cut. Definitely a big marbleized difference between the cuts. Please go support this braddahs restaurant if you're in my hometown, Kaliheeeeee! read more

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My first time dining at Kale's Hale after it was recommended to me, and I'm so glad I finally went. The service was friendly, quick, and attentive. The atmosphere is welcoming and spacious enough where you don't feel cramped to the table next to you. Food is KBBQ with Hawaiian fusion menu items. They have different tiers that come with different meat choices. We went with the gold experience to get a starter experience but we'll definitely be back to try their premium tiers. You get some banchan that's typical KBBQ plus some Hawaii local favorites like Mac salad and lomi salmon. You also start off with some appetizers that rotate daily. Highlights of the meal was the luau soup and guava pork. I loved how the guava pork was first of all thin sliced, and the taste was just subtle enough where you got a nice guava sweetness without it being overpowering. Highly recommend Kale's Hale! read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Late Valentine's Day celebration. Went on a Thursday.....$1 beers and 1/2 off the price of cocktails! What a deal!!!! We thought it was $1 off the price of a beer but noooo.......the beers were $1. Service and food were predictably and consistently great as usual! read more

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First timer at Kale's Hale and wowww i'm impressed! The layout, food and service were great during lunch. This restaurant is a mix of Hawaiian, Japanese and Chinese flavors and it's the best of all worlds. I love how there's a huge variety of sides! Everything tasted ono. Usually i would down two rice bowls but didn't even finish my rice because the sides is where it's at! Ordered all sorts of meat forgot what was what but my favorite meat was the boneless kalbi and spicy pork(which is my all time fave at other kbbq restaurants). What most stands out to me is how flavorful and tender the meats are even without the sauces. The 4 sauces are flavorful but I liked the green colored sauce and the one with sesame seeds in it, tastes kinda like sweet chili but I forgot what it was. We got malasadas and the strawberry ice cup as our dessert. Both were good, the ice cup reminded me back in elementary days eating it as a kid, nostalgic. Service was great. It was during lunch time so it wasn't that busy but it's nice to not have to flag down our waitress unlike other places. I usually go to Sikdorak for kbbq but this is by far my favorite! So sad it has to be so far though. They need to open one on the west side. It should've been Kale's Hale that opened up in Kamaz not Gens. Will be back again. read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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By far the best kbbq place on island! The quality of the meat and the unique local side dishes really set this place apart from every other all you can eat places. I've been here 3 times and each time there were different sides that were all delicious and made with super fresh local ingredients. All the meat we've tried have all been so flavorful and high quality. The chef also came out to personally talk to our table and thank us for coming all 3 times i've been here which was so personal and nice. On wednesdays they also have ayce sushi for the same price which is an insane deal. read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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AYCE yakiniku plus a big variety of banchan? I'm there! Today we chose the basic "gold" package for $32.99. Such a good value! The banchan was all delicious, I loved the luau soup, and the Chinese style fish as a chef special appetizer. MEATS: For the meats, we tried: boneless short rib (cut really thin and served rolled up), brisket, hanging tender, boneless kalbi, and the guava pork My fav was definitely the hanging tender, boneless short rib, and the guava pork! The guava pork tasted like bacon cooked with brown sugar.. so good! My husband loved this as well. SAUCES: they give you 4 different sauces: a red chili house sauce, some kind of teriyaki wasabi sauce, a green sauce (that was closer to an aioli and had cilantro in it) , and a simple sesame and salt one. Surprisingly, the red chili one was our favorite! I was worried it would be spicy, but it wasn't at all! SERVICE: our waitress was friendly and I appreciated how she recommended the most popular meats without me having to even ask AMBIANCE: this restaurant is clean, and it wasn't too smokey or loud. It's a good place to come with friends, or in my case, with your kids, but in all honesty, I would recommend coming as a date night without the kids because it was difficult to eat and enjoy within the 90 minute time limit while also tending to your kids lol Speaking of kids, kids 4 and under are free! The only thing I wish I got to have was that lihing ice cake I read about, but it wasn't offered to us so I'm not sure if that's for a higher tier of their menu? Overall though, I definitely recommend coming here! I'll be back on Wednesday to try some sushi and to try their wagyu options too :) read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This is where Kale's Hale separates itself from other Yakiniku spots. Yes, you're grilling meats and loading your plate like you're on a mission... but what makes it special is the Hawaiian fusion twist. It's local flavor, comfort, and creativity mixed into the AYCE experience -- the kind of menu that makes you stop mid-bite like, "Wait... why is this so good?" ‍ The Chef & The Heart Behind It and the servers treat you like family. You can tell there's real intention behind the food here. It doesn't feel mass-produced or cookie-cutter. It feels like a local spot where the chef is truly at the heart of the restaurant, and that matters. With so many places feeling the same lately, I love supporting a restaurant that's actually doing something different -- and doing it well. Final Thoughts Kale's Hale is unique, local, and straight-up satisfying. With the new lower price, it's one of the best reasons to pull up, eat good, and support a Hawai'i-only concept you won't find anywhere else. If you've been meaning to try it... this is your sign. Note: plenty free parking in the lot below read more

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My husband and I came here for dinner on Friday night. We both love yakiniku and wanted to give this place a try! The restaurant was decorated with Christmas and holiday decorations. Once we were seated, our server, Natasha, brought us some beef stew to taste. We ordered the meats and then started to try all the banchans. I love that there were Hawaiian-inspired banchan dishes such as lomi lomi salmon, tuna mac/potato salad, and an imitation crab meat potato salad. Everything was very tasty! Natasha also brought us some luau-style soup and a chicken jook. The side dishes were all good, but my favorite was the beef stew! I ordered quite a few bowls of it. All of the meats were good, and I especially liked the guava pork and kalbi. For dessert, we were served banana lumpia with coconut sauce and mini malasadas, also with coconut sauce on top. I liked the malasadas the best! Overall, I loved the concept of a Hawaiian-inspired yakiniku restaurant that uses locally sourced produce. I'm not sure if the side dishes are on a rotation of whatever is in season, since they are not listed on the menu. I thought it was fun for us to be served different side dishes without knowing what they were! Happy Eating! read more

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First time here. Came for lunch - 32.99 AYCE? Yes please. Bonus - Sushi Wednesday's! I came around 11am and parked in the small lot out back. Prob 6-8 spots. Should have taken some pics and I didn't pay attention to the parking situation off School St. Walked in solo as I had some time to burn for a lunch break. Was greeted with a friendly smile and got my table set up and seated right away. My server Natasha was awesome. Helpful and perfectly attentive w/o being overbearing or anything. I grabbed a couple rolls (the surf and turf was interesting but reallly good!) along with a bunch of different meats as expected. It was on the quieter side but probably bc I came earlier before any lunch rush. Overall, everything was great. I'll definitely come back again. Much aloha! read more

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Good food? Yes AYCE? Yes Great service? Yes Affordable prices? Yes It's hard to find a place that has me, my husband, and my son all in agreement, but Kale's Hale did just that. It's all AYCE Hawaiian Fusion Yakiniku. You can order from 3 different options, Gold, Value, or Premium. We ordered the Gold Option which comes with all meat on the menu except wagyu, AYCE banchan, rice, luau soup and banana lumpia for dessert. AND since we went on a Wendesday it also included AYCE sushi rolls!!!! Yes! You can bet my son ate his fill of California rolls, and my husband had 4 shrimp tempura rolls. I had the spicy ahi roll, and the heat kind creeps up in you. Banchan, the have a good variety of it. My husband who doesn't like spicy heat actually ate some of the kim chee because the spice level was mild. Just FYI though the servings are small so you will order a lot. But I prefer smaller servings and having to end up ordering more rather than the other way. There is a lot less waste. Also, I love the food is locally sourced. Food is really good. I was very surprised with the luau soup. It's a spin on the Korean seaweed soup, but it works and it was so good. My husband and son love the teriyaki chicken. It is perfectly marinated. It does come on a bamboo skewer, but we ended up taking it off the skewer and cooking it on the grill. I prefer the non marinated meats to dip in the sauces. Service is also great. Our server was attentive and very welcoming. She always checked on us, made sure our food and drinks were never empty. She was very kind to my son who can be a little loud. Overall Kale's Hale is a must. I think we found our favorite yakiniku place. read more

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I just had an amazing feast at Kale's Hale. The table greets you with an incredible spread of small bites and sauces to try, I ordered the mango sticky rice cocktail that was fantastic. Our server was so sweet and introduced us to what the restaurant was about and took the time to answer all of our questions. My spouse and I got the all you can eat which comes with a luau soup, a tomato bisque, and another Hawaiian classic soup. All tasted so good, my favorite was the luau soup. It's perfectly earthy and garlicky. They had an amazing deal on wagyu that we had to try. Wow! Every bite just got better and better. I was also a big fan of the spicy beef and brisket. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful and delicious. The vibe of the place is pretty cool and comfortable, you can tell the people that work here enjoy their jobs and customers. read more

Kale's Hale is one of those places that makes you forget you're eating AYCE because the quality is that good. I ordered the Gold set (no Wagyu) and honestly didn't feel like I missed anything -- every cut was fresh, well-marbled, and super flavorful once it hit the grill. The pork belly, kalbi, and brisket were the standouts for me. Everything cooked evenly, the marinades weren't overly sweet, and the meat actually tasted clean -- which is rare for AYCE. The sides were also a huge win: fresh kimchi, crisp salad, and those little fusion touches that make the meal feel more Hawai'i than standard yakiniku. Service was fast, friendly, and super helpful without being overbearing. They checked in just enough to keep things moving, and the vibe of the restaurant is relaxed but still feels nice enough for a dinner date or a night out with friends. If you want a spot in Honolulu that gives you great quality without the Wagyu upcharge, the Gold set at Kale's Hale is a 10/10. I'd absolutely come back! read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Tired of the same old yakiniku spots? Try Kale's Hale for a little local twist! * Parking: A few stalls available in the first parking lot, but there's another parking lot just behind it with a good amount of stalls! Just drive by slowly as you might miss the entrances to either lot. * Ambiance: Such a fun atmosphere! Very clean and not smoky unlike many other yakiniku restaurants. * Service: The staff was very accommodating to our party of 11. Our waitress did a fantastic job of running our orders back and forth, re-upping banchan, & refilling drinks. I also admire the strong team work of the staff here--even the chef/owner was bussing tables & seating guests! * Food/Drink: Loved how unique this yakiniku spot was! Our party thoroughly enjoyed the variety of both traditional and non-traditional banchan & side dishes, such as the lau lau & lomi salmon, as well as the different dipping sauces. Definitely coming back!! read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ain't no way I just saw a review on here complaining about portions LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOO SON Although, this is a testament to how far reaching Kale's Hale is. Kale does a great job keeping the social media up and it definitely attracts people to restaurant, even if some guests are...strange. The service is laid back, please don't expect a 5 Star waiting experience, they seat you, take your order, give you options and inform you, nothing extravagant and it's just comfortable. They run specials every now and then, I miss when they gave free lau lau with AYCE but I was told they don't have it anymore, it's definitely a best seller so I understand why it's now an ala-carte item. The meats are all great, tender and go well with the sauces that are given to you. I will point out that the grill is definitely not the hottest, takes a while to cook the meats and get a nice char on meats but I'm sure its a safety measure so that inexperienced BBQ-goers don't burn down the place lol. Parking is plentiful, if you get state ID you get a discount too. This is located above the now closed rainbow drive in and where gyu-kaku/katsuriki used to be. read more

Kayla was my server! She was great although she was busy she definitely made time to send drinks and food immediately, food was great and all the servers, bussers and bartenders made sure to connect and talk with our table. Cyrus was a great hand roll chef thank you! Thank you kales hales! want to come back for all occasions! A bunch of seating and very nice and clean inside as well! read more

Kale’s Hale - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Kale's Hale is different. It's quality. We came in for the 2nd time last night after seeing that the menu had changed slightly. Had a great experience the first time for my mom's birthday, so we were excited to return. You'll find it upstairs, there is an elevator. Parking is free - 2 adjacent lots. Restaurant is spacious, well ventilated. Very important for yakiniku-style. Restrooms are clean and right by the entrance. Kitchen looks open and clean as well. And as you've probably read in a lot of other reviews, chef Kale is on site a lot. He was working away in the kitchen and making contact w/ the guests as well. Was not disappointed the second time around. You can taste the quality. Don't sleep on that luau soup. I could have like 6 of those bowls. Banchan is good - different - don't expect Korean-style. It's Hawaiian fusion. Meats are good quality. Flavors of the sauces/marinades are tasty. 4 sauces - sesame + salt, green sauce, wasabi ginger, and house special. The service is great. Everyone is super friendly and helpful. The only thing is they are being slammed. I hope there are some tweaks happening efficiency wise. I wouldn't go as far as to say service is slow, but there were a couple of times the grill was empty and we were waiting on meats or a grill change. They did apologize and mention the kitchen was busy. But the taste of the food makes up for the kinks in a new restaurant. My favorite for the night was the boneless short ribs. Super tender, high quality meat. Not-marinated, so nothing to hide behind. But the kalbi and pipikaula are great too! I'll definitely be back! read more

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Kale's Hale is good value for KBBQ on the island. They have a wide selection of meats with good quality cuts, and a variety of side dishes to pair with. There's plenty of parking, and they utilize the nice grills that have the ventilation alongside the fire area, so it soaks up most of the smell. Our server was attentive and friendly, so we felt well taken care of! Personal favorites: - Meats: brisket and jowl - Cooked Foods: agedashi tofu and luau soup - Side dishes: I love the inclusion of seaweed salad and taegu, big fan read more

Purchased various $10 Bento's and it was all delicious! Salmon Belly, Miso Swai & Fried Chicken. Service was exceptional! So friendly! Will be back for dine-in in the future Additional parking available. Wasn't aware of the additional parking spots. read more

Kale's Hale in Kalihi offers an unusually strong value: $33 for the entry-level all-you-can-eat option, which was more than enough for us. The regular meat selection was good but unremarkable. The better surprise was the handful of off-menu specials, which added some needed range and were among the best things we ate The salmon was our clear favorite. Their version of miso soup was also exceptional and showed more attention to detail than the basic meat selection. Food quality overall was good rather than great, but the price makes that tradeoff easy to accept Service was the strongest part of the meal. It was consistently attentive and made the experience feel much more polished than the price suggests. The interior is modern, spacious, new, and well maintained. The exhaust system is also thoughtfully designed, with vents built into the grills that pull smoke downward. We left without smelling like the meal, which is a small detail that matters Kale's Hale works best as an affordable, comfortable all-you-can-eat option with excellent service. The food alone would not make it exceptional, but the price, specials, and well-run dining room make it worth returning to read more

Food was great. I went on a Thursday so they had the table side handmade rolls. The spicy ahi and lobster roll was fiyah!!! And the luau roll is a must try. Staff was courteous and polite. 100% recommend... read more

5 star service! Obi was very friendly and attentive. Good value for the food. Nice selection of meats. Our favorite was the pipkaula. The pork jowl and pork belly were thick & generous pieces. The sushi was a bonus! & ending the meal with old school lihing ice cake was very nostalgic. IYKYK... you won't be disappointed & you definitely won't leave hungry! read more

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