Kapa Hale is a local gem, offering creative dishes in the HRC (Hawaiian Regional Cuisine) tradition. Every single dish we recently sampled turned out to be exceptional. We ordered: Appetizers: Naan Ya Business (A) - very soft and pillowy, accompanied by a superb tikka masala curry Vegetables: Eggplant (A) - very creative eggplant tempura Happy Hour Specials: Garlic Noodle (A) - great flavor Dumplings (A+) - incredibly flavorful and creative Soy Short Rib (A+) - exquisitely tender and juicy. Our favorite dish! Mains: Pork Chop (A) - loved these tamarind pork chops served on a bed of orzo Our server, Ethan, provided us with top-notch service. Before tipping, we paid $130 for a two-person meal (no alcohol, no dessert, only water, 6 dishes). Kapa Hale dazzled us with their culinary inventiveness and bold flavors. We can't wait to try some of their other delicacies! read more

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We were really excited to try this given the really great reviews but I'm starting to lose some confidence on yelp Naan was too salty Chips were too oily Grass fed beef is good. Nice and tender But overall burger was nothing great. Lacked some sauce Kfc chicken and waffles were okay Chicken wasn't crispy fried. Soggy. Service is good tho read more

My family of 5 made 7:00 PM reservations for Fathers Day dinner. We arrived on time, and had to wait 30 minutes for our table. As someone who used to work in the industry, I know its very difficult to get the first turn out by 7 so I was surprised they had the time option open in the first place. No big deal, it was a really busy night and the chef sent out croquettes as an apology for the wait. Our server was really nice and went over all the menus, there were three, fathers day specials, prefix tasting menu and normal everyday menu. My mom chose the prefix because it came with a calamansi key lime pie option for desert and she absolutely needed it. My dad and brothers ordered off the main menu, and I order off the specials. So we really did get quiet the variety. Overall the food was very creative. But the espresso martini stole the show for me. and the mud pie desert tasted exactly like my martini! SO YUM! I would note that the space could use better airflow since the kitchen is open, or request to sit away on the opposite side of the restaurant if you are sensitive. read more

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We've been wanting to check out Kapa Hale for a while now and they have really good reviews, but unfortunately we weren't sarisfied with the dishes. When we first walked in no one was to be seen in the kitchen or at the host stand, we thought it was closed but then saw a couple sitting in the dining room to the left. Took a few minutes to be greeted and seated. We ordered what the waitress suggested. Appetizer - $8 for 2 pieces of corn bread, corny bread , one came out overly grills so tasted burnt and pretty much overpowered any flavors of the butter/ honey. And the larger piece was the burnt one. Entrees- Keakas Fried chicken , comes with rice and very little pickles, $20. The chicken had a good crisp to it and was nice and juicy but the sauce was disappointing. Sauce on the menu says soy, honey, garlic. The soy sauce tasted really dark, didn't taste any garlic or honey and pretty much ruined the taste of the dish. KH burger- $20 burger was odd shaped and bigger than the bun, which was impressive at first but it was ordered medium and when cut open it was more like a rare to medium rare. Very red inside and due to the size of it seemed even more rare. It would also look way better with green or butter lettuce. Maybe it was just an off day or we ordered the wrong items... read more

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Excellent restaurant with fresh ingredients, unique and delicious menu, and awesome service. We started off with appetizers of the Arancini, which was delicious topped with Parmesan stuffed with butternut squash delicious. we also had the pumpkin loaf with guava butter, and the cornbread with delicious lilikoi honey butter. I had the avocado toast, which was delicious, husband had the burger which he loved, sisters got the Hawaiian Cubano, which they absolutely loved because it was stuffed with lau lau Kalua pork, cheese topped with an egg. Green salad was also delicious and fresh with organic ingredients. They have an absolute wide range of drink wine menu. Service was off the charts. read more

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Ambiance here is very nice came for the first time during lunch and I will say I do prefer their lunch menu over the dinner. This will be the freshest tikka masala you will taste every aspect is amazing love the acidity, taste and texture! The fried risotto balls were very fun as I've never tried it that way before but I was missing the spicy aspect they listed on the menu but still delicious, their beef tartare was VERY mushroom forward, didn't taste much acidity and the cut of meat was a little fatty but I still enjoyed. Not pictured: kalua pork eggs Benedict was very good wish there was a little more pork though. I love this place everything tastes very homemade with love and fresh! read more

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We had a wonderful lunch! Comfortably busy, this restaurant supports the local community while serving great food with great service. Everything has a creative flair with familiar dishes. All at a great value. Every dish we had was so reasonably priced. Lots of good food to choose from. Variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to choose from. Kapa Hale never disappoints. read more

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Kapa Hale is an award winning restaurant nestled in the Kahala neighborhood of Honolulu, HI. Chef-owner Keaka Lee has an extensive culinary experience. To name a few: 3660 on the Rise, Alan Wong's Restaurant, and Gramercy Tavern (New York). Today, he and his wife, Heather Smith Lee are the backbones of KH. The menu options are in constant updates. Today, we settled on three KH favorites. The Okonomiyaki Omelette, Da Weekender Burger and KFC Chicken and Waffle. Our awesome server Ethan explained each dish and what dishes were the most popular. Chef Lee was so kind to visit our table to check on us! Really great personality and he even took a picture with us! Now onto the dishes: The Okonomiyaki (Japanese translation is "grilled to your liking") omelette was filled with tasty and chewy noodles, cheddar cheese, lomi lomi ( Hawaiian word meaning "to knead or rub") tomatoes, shredded cabbage, aioli and bonito flakes (paper-thin shavings of dried, fermented, and smoked skipjack tuna ). This dish is savory and sweet, filled with chewy noodles. 4/5 stars. Da Weekender Burger is a local grass fed beef patty, teriyaki glaze, cheddar omelette, bacon, tomato, garlic aioli and chips combo! Local teriyaki flavor with unique cheddar omelette is a a foodie's delight. You will not leave hungry. 5/5 stars The KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) and Waffle is a bestseller here at Kapa Hale. Crispy on the outside and moist tender meat on the inside. Waffles were delicious. This combination of savory and sweet will fill your happy tummy. No wonder it's a favorite here. 5/5 stars Bathrooms are available inside the restaurant. Handicap toilet is also available here. A small free parking lot with handicap parking is also available at Kahala Korner. I used a credit card and I did not observe any cc surcharges or kitchen fees. I provided cash for the tip. Thank you Ethan! Five star service here. Update: I visited here again on 04/12/26 with my daughter who was visiting us from California. We ordered the pancake of the month (Haupia/coconut sauce, toasted coconut flakes and whipped butter ). 4/5 stars. Although this item may look super sweet and decadent, the Haupia/coconut sauce was not overwhelmingly sweet! The toasted coconut flakes gave the pancakes a nice layer of crunchy texture. Pancakes are fluffy and soft. 4.5 stars. Arancini-3 pieces of fried risotto balls, Mozzarella, Basil, Parmesan cheese and spicy tomato. 3/5 stars. Not my favorite. Somewhat bland and I did not care for the texture and taste. Other family members enjoyed this dish. Green Eggs & Ham. Kole's Farm Green Garlic Verde, Soft scrambled eggs, Grilled pork belly & white rice. This was delicious! A five star dish. Pork belly was cooked to perfection. Crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. Not over seasoned and although the eggs looked runny and unusual, it was eggcellent! Can I give extra stars?! Enjoyed strong coffee and unsweetened Plantation Iced tea with our meals. Coffee is refilled. We lucked out with a repeat 5 star service from Ethan! Thanks again! read more

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One of our favorites for their Happy Hour! We love that the chef comes to your table to check on you . . The menu items are fun and the happy hour choices are so Ono!!! Our favorite is the KH Burger and KFC . . Everyone there is so nice! read more

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I heard great things about Kapa Hale from my friend, so the boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. The experience had some high points, but the food was a hit-or-miss for me. FOOD: I ordered the Spring Tasting Menu curated by chef. The first course, "V is for Vegetable Trio" consisted of gazpacho (a bit tart but somewhat expected from the mango, though I couldn't detect jalapeno), falafel made from edamame (crispy on the outside and moist/dense on the inside but the tzatziki lean more tart than what I personally enjoy), and croquette (nice and crispy, which ended the course on a high note). The second course was "Alfredo Pasta La Vista, Baby". After a few bites, the dish was a little too salty for my taste. I was hoping the mushrooms, broccolini, and pasta would help balance things out, but the saltiness remained dominant flavor throughout. Even the recommended wine pairing didn't seem to complement the dish. The third course (dessert), "Let's Get Nutz" was probably my favorite as it had a great balance of sweetness and texture. My boyfriend ordered "Naan Ya Business" for his appetizer and enjoyed it. Though the naan was thinner than what I'm used to, the tikka masala was bold, colorful, and packed with flavor. The entree he selected was "You Chick'n Me Out." The chicken itself could have benefitted from a few more minutes of roasting. As for the calamansi malunggay salsa verde, it didn't quite work out for either of us. Having grown up with both calamansi and malunggay, I'm familiar with their flavors, but the interpretation felt a bit overly tart and didn't quite hit the mark. SERVICE: Service was excellent. Our server was attentive, friendly, and helpful in guiding us through the menu since it was our first visit. They checked in regularly and geniuinely seemed to care about our experience. When I informed the server that I wasn't thrilled about my entree, he offered a complimentary dessert, which I didn't expect and was a thoughtful gesture. One of the owners stopped by our table to discuss our feedback. I appreciated and respected that they took the time to engage with us directly. AMBIANCE: Kapa Hale does a nice job in creating a cozy setting. The lighting is dim enough for a date night while still feeling welcoming for small family gatherings. I also enjoyed the open kitchen concept and watching the team work behind the scenes. PARKING: It's a small lot shared with other neighboring businesses. One small tip: avoid parking under the trees unless you don't mind unexpected surprises from the birds. Overall, I can see the creativity and ambition behind the menu and the staff clearly cares about the guest experience. While a few dishes missed the mark for me personally, there are enough positives that I'd be open to give this place another try in the future. read more

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Kapa Hale is located down the road from Kahala Mall, but fair warning: the entrance to the parking lot is very easy to miss if you're not paying attention. Learn from my mistake! If you turn the corner on Pahoa Avenue like most people do and head into the lot, you're actually going the wrong way. Parking is also limited and shared with other businesses, so please plan accordingly. I made reservations for 12:00 pm and was seated right away. My friend and I chose to sit outside since the weather wasn't too hot, which ended up being a great choice. And better yet, we had the area all to ourselves! We were served water promptly and took our time looking over the brunch menu. Honestly, everything sounded so good that we couldn't decide, so we asked our server for recommendations. We were told the pancake of the day (blueberry), chicken & waffles, and the Kapa-Kahi salad were popular choices especially the salad if we wanted something lighter. We ended up sharing the pancakes and the salad, and wow the salad completely stole the show. It was absolutely delicious, made with fresh (and crunchy!) local greens, pickled turnips, roasted beets, and tossed in a cider vinaigrette. Every bite was so good that I honestly wished I had ordered my own plate. The pancakes were just okay in comparison. They were nice and fluffy, topped with blueberries, crumble, whipped butter, and maple syrup, but if I had to choose, I'd pick the salad every time. This was my fourth time eating here, and service and food wait times have always been on point. Would I come back and support this company? Absolutely! read more

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2024, 2025 Open Table Diners' Choice for a reason Parking: small lot in front, can opt for street parking or nearby kahala mall if full Service: table service. Chef-Owner Keaka Lee made rounds to each table which really elevated and personalized the experience Ambiance: family dinners, date night, dinner with friends Food: all are excellent. would recommend the Where's Da Beef pasta and their signature Lei Po'o salad read more

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Met my girlfriend here for lunch. She always recommends places to go I haven't tried before and when I read the reviews, it looked interesting. Surprising I haven't seen it before since its near Kahala Mall but its a few streets back from the mall, on the same street as the Kahala Post Office. There is parking in front of the restaurant. We shared three dishes. We thought we might order more dishes later or have dessert but we had more than enough to eat and some to take home too! Appetizer was Naan Ya Business, fresh garlic nann and tikka masala curry. The naan bread was crispy, almost like a cracker and both the naan and the curry were delicious. We also had the Kapa-Kahi salad, a colorful mix of local greens, with pickled turnips, and roasted beets, and a side of garlic shrimp. The salad was refreshing. The shrimp was tasty but a little messy since it had the shell on. After reading other reviews jI wanted to try KFC Keaka's Fried Chicken with soy honey garlic and rice. The chicken was kind of like karaage chicken but the sauce was a bit salty for my taste. Our waitress was friendly and gave us good service. I liked the ambiance, the place had a cozy feel to it. The menu had lots of interesting dishes I want to try when I come back. read more

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Got some HH and drinks on a Monday night. Made reservations, but it wasn't that busy so I think we could've done without. We had: 1) garlic noodles - 3/5. Good flavor, but too salty! 2) grilled tako - 4/5. Tender and I liked the pico degallo take on it. 3) poke - 3/5. Still trying to decide if I liked the curry base. I'm gonna go with not. 4) fried chicken - 4/5. Probably the best dish of the night. Crunchy, but not dry. 5) haku lei po'o - 4/5. salad looked like a lei, thus the name of this dish, and it was both pretty and good to eat. 6) sunchoke - 3/5. Interesting and decent flavor, but I wouldn't get it again. 7) fried cauliflower - 3/5. I'd rather that it was battered and fried. Wasn't crunchy, just greasy. Overall, a 3.5 experience, but our server Malia was a delight so I rounded up. read more

Kapa Hale - Take - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I went here for a work lunch a while back and again for 2025 Restaurant Week. I was surprised to find out they only serve brunch menu for Restaurant Week on the weekends. But they also serve the regular lunch menu if you don't do the restaurant week special. This wasn't clear online and for the record, I HATE brunch. I know it goes against my demographics but why would I overpay for some gussied up eggs when my hubby makes them better at home? But anyways... The food was really good so I'm glad we went. The hostess/ server has a weird vibe. Kind of stand-offish and definitely not welcoming but she made a good mango mezcal margarita. I got the restaurant week menu and LOVED the pumpkin muffin with guava butter and the cranberry scone. Their corn bread is greasy but it must be popular because it's on the regular menu. I also had it during my working lunch and it triggered heartburn. Their brunch burger was delicious. The gravy was a game changer. I don't like eggs on my burger but the rest of the components were great so it worked flavor-wise. It's definitely a fork and knife burger. The salad and chicken were mediocre at best for a $20 salad. The dressing had too much vinegar and the portion size was skimpy. The haupia sorbet with crunchy toasted coconut shavings was delicious. I loved their naan and curry and the cauliflower the other time I went there. The avocado toast was mid. Overall this is a great local eatery with some hits and misses but their menu is definitely interesting! read more

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This is our first time trying the Noodle Bar event and it was delicious!! We started with the Brussel Sprouts with pickled cranberries and it was so ono!! Who knew Brussel sprouts could be this good!?!? For our lunch my son and I had the Duck Ramen and it was delicious! The broth was so tasty with the fresh ginger scallions that really stood out and added so much flavor and depth to whole dish! Definitely a good choice! We also tried the Pork Bulgogi Tagliatelle which was so yummy and did not disappoint. The table next to us had the Oxtail Pho (my second choice) and it looked really really good so I will have to try that next time. As always service was good, pleasant and everything ordered was delicious! I can't wait for the next Noodle Bar Event. read more

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FOOD: -I was really excited to try the naan and recommend asking for extra naan as it was only a few dollars more and they were generous with the amount given. However, the tikka masala was a little salty. -We also ordered the Corny Bread but found it dry and lacking of flavor. It was also burnt/over-toasted, which seems to be a common complaint based on past reviews. SERVICE: Service was very good and our table was watered frequently. Servers are friendly and helpful. Mid-way through our dinner, the chef came around to talk to the tables. AMBIANCE: The area we were seated was perfect for watching the chefs in the kitchen and we enjoyed having a good view of the mural on the wall. Vibes were good and I had a nice time. read more

To celebrate my departed mother's 102nd birthday, my sister and I, with a friend, decided in Kapa Hale because of its vegan options for me but because my mother liked Kahala. Looking at the menu, though, I was a bit disappointed that many of the dishes I could not eat due to my allergies. The server came and got our drinks order. Once we got our drinks, she asked if anyone had any allergies. I raised my hand and proceeded to list what I could not ingest. I was looking at the beautiful salad which looked like a haku lei and asked about it and she said it included a lot of the things I was allergic to but would speak to the chef. She came back and, to my surprise, said the chef will make it work. So my sister and I decided to split it, she also ordered a smoked ahi dip, and my friend ordered the seafood risotto. The presentations were awesome which made every thing taste that much better. We finished it off with haupia ice cream which was actually very good because it wad not too sweet. All in all this was a success. Highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

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Kapa Hale is a must must try. Local fusion food, I must say it's the perfect and best food I've had. It's so good here , gotta make reservations, down side parking is very limited. Sometimes gotta park inside kahala mall by longs or street parking. Services are excellent, always coming by our table to see how was everything and everyone is doing. Clean restaurant. When a restaurant is clean, you know the foods are clean as well. Would definitely recommend it. We will be back for sure. read more

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This restaurant is beautiful and just a great spot for brunch. My wife and I went with another couple and we really enjoyed the setting. However we were disappointed by the entrees. The dishes all look beautiful and you can tell they have a good eye for that. So it was surprising for me to bite into my chicken and waffle and feel like the batter was slimy and a bit off. My wife had green eggs and ham and she felt the sauce was bitter. The pork belly it came out overcooked. I hope that its just an off day for them since i think they do really well in a lot of other aspects but just need to figure out how to fix the quality of their dishes. read more

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First-time experience dining at Kapa Hale for lunch on Wednesday. PARKING: One-way parking entrance from Kilauea Ave., and took only parking spot available at Kahala Korner's lot when our party of 2 arrived for 11 am reservation. Guess others find parking at nearby Post Office or McDonald's? STAFFING/SERVICE: Observed 2 chefs in open kitchen, 2 servers who also worked bar. With only 3 other couples seated at tables, we were immediately seated and provided menus. Server did not volunteer information, but answered our questions about fresh catch of day and recommendations. Then as more diners were seated, service was spotty. Noticed other tables received appetizers, then main dishes. We waited and waited, then our appetizer and main dishes arrived at same time. Server never checked in; instead, I had to get up and find server to ask for water refill. Then we informed server that we needed to leave by 1 pm, so we ordered Da Kahala Shuffle dessert. Server dropped off our check, which showed Lemon Dream? Again, I got up to find server to correct dessert order. NOISE: Loud music more conducive to fast food restaurants that try to rush patrons out to boost table turnover. Not for calm, relaxing dining experience. FOOD: Attractive plating worthy of Instagram but taste did not measure up. Naan Ya Business ($12, extra charge for more naan) - torn pieces of thin garlic naan triangles (not detect any garlic flavor?), Sumida watercress namul sprinkled over tikka masala curry (very mild). Prefer naan with more fluffy, chewy texture. Great starter. Fresh Catch Marlin ($25) - overcooked to dryness, paired with bok choy for moisture. Holy Shiitake Risotto ($20) - salty, undercooked so more crunchy than chewy texture, also paired with bok choy but not enough moisture. Drank glasses of water to dilute saltiness. Da Kahala Shuffle ($13) - chocolate & Kahlua mud pie, Kona coffee syrup, Oreo crust was rich so recommend splitting this dessert. (note: Oreo cookies contain bioengineered ingredient) WOMEN'S RESTROOM: 2 stalls, functional and similar to public school or community park. OVERALL: Underwhelming experience. Be prepared to be proactive finding server to get what you need like water. Suggest Kapa Hale provide pitcher of water on table for self-service, especially for salty dishes like Holy Shiitake Risotto. Indeed site shows Kapa Hale looking to hire line cook ($18-$28/hour); perhaps dining experience will improve with increased staffing? read more

Kapa Hale - Kapa Hale kitchen - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Took the family here for Xmas eve dinner. Got the pre fixe for $120 a pop. It was definitely worth it. Tried all four entree selections. Short rib, cioppino, fried and grilled chicken and pork chop. While everything was delicious, the short rib was absolutely outstanding. What made every dish memorable were the sides that came with it. Locally sourced fresh vegetables including sticky mashed potato, purple potato, pickled okra. Can't wait to return and try their regular menu. read more

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Just OK. Nice vibes and good service. Small private lot in front for parking. Made a reservation via OpenTable. Menu was typical local fusion. Came for a weekend lunch/brunch, at 1230p they only had the brunch menu available which I found odd. Tried the smoked fish dip of the day ($16), the croque monsieur ($17), and the smoked salmon hollandaise (after upcharge, $21, which I thought was a bit much considering the tiny pieces of smoked salmon given). Overall the food was OK. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't anything special. The portions were small for the prices paid. The small entrees didn't come with any sides and we were still hungry. The hollandaise was watery, not as rich as I would expect. The bread that came with the dip was toasted white bread, was hoping for something more special for the price. The croque monsieur came with BBQ pork that was fairly one dimensional in flavor, a fried egg sat on top of the sandwich without the typical bechamel which made it rather dry. I tried my friends okonomiyaki omelette and it was much better than the 3 dishes I had ordered with my dining partner, so perhaps I just ordered the wrong thing (kind of a miss with such a small menu...). Don't think I'll return but glad to try it once. Post- COVID, it's been hard for restaurants to keep up with rising costs while maintaining quality, unfortunately as a customer, exciting and exceptional dining experiences have been very hard to find... 3 stars. read more

The food was so delicious! Everything was delightful and unique. The big winner for my husband and me was the beef tartare. Also great service and kind staff. read more

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Been a few times since my initial review...still enjoy it. Pretty empty for 6pm-ish on a Saturday, so it was odd that they sat a party right behind us...low back of the bench so no privacy. I can tell you all about the girl's sister and what she likes to eat. They probs loved hearing all the noise baby was making. Not that she was loud, but we are working on our "indoor voice." Another weird thing...the legs of the table pressed up to the bench. So you either move the table away to get in and then move it back, or you climb over. I had to do a little of both since other side seated before we realized that. Other than that, food great. - Pate ... baby loooooved it. Probably not the healthiest for anyone, but it was soooo gooood. Take on a banh mi (bahn?). Pickled veg a little to vinegary for me...baby too. They took that away before we were done so that was disappointing...I didn't even see it go away since they were bringing the meals. - Keiki Chicken Meal - Huge but good for older keiki. Baby ate some of the chicken, some rice. Bok choy was burnt so baby didn't like and even I didn't care for it. - Hubs got the Jerk Pig - he demolished it. - I got the Risotto - very tasty. Little soupy and some of the rice crunchy. But otherwise ono. Nice little kick. Baby liked the clams. That lasted me 3 meals. - Brussels - YUM. I thought baby would like the crans, but she didn't care for it...too sour I think. I flung my on the side...hubs ate them all. - Wine pours small. Baby liked her different color cups for water and juice. Hubs had some cocktails...they were okay. The non-meat pasta sounds good...but I need meat. Cauli just doesn't cut it for me. Some misses, but I would totes go back and just eat plates of pate and cran-less brussels. My love for the pate outweighs the weird stuff. read more

Nice place to go for brunch, lunch with the girls. Great atmosphere and location. Parking in front. We started our lunch with grilled cornbread and Lilikoi butter. Hamburger with chips, KFC chicken and risottos with shiitake and mushrooms. For dessert haupia gelato and guri-guri! Great service. read more

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My friend comes here regularly and told me about their corned beef pho, but when we got there we found out it was not available. The service was great! We were greeted immediately as we walked in and since we had reservations we were seated right after we arrived. Everything on the menu looked and sounded good. But I ended up choosing the okonomiyaki omelette. My friend chose the avocado toast, pancake of the day, and eggs Benedict. Everything we ordered was great. The okonomiyaki omelette was tasty and very filling. We also tried their pumpkin bread with guava butter. It was so good. And for dessert, we got a scoop of matcha ice cream, it was so creamy. It's a small place but very trendy looking with the mural and the bar area is very pretty. It looks like they change their menu depending on the season, so different items may be on the menu than when I went. But I'd definitely come back to try more things. read more

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Friendly staff. We were first seated next to a boisterous group there for a birthday and asked to be moved. They did so though the vibe I got was a little off putting. I don't think a lot of people ask their tables to be switched, but I could feel a migraine coming on. If they hadn't accommodated us, I probably would have just left. Food was good. I don't know if it's a thing with some of the more hipster restaurants here where they do too much sometimes with the flavors. It was restaurant week so we got to choose an entree and dessert. Appetizers were all the same, corn bread with honey butter, a pumpkin spice muffin with lilikoi butter, and a cranberry scone. The scone and corn bread were yummy. The lilikoi though did nothing for the pumpkin muffin and I ended up scraping it off as the two flavors did not mix well. My entree was the kfc with waffles. Waffle was good with the chicken, but there seemed to be some kind of glaze/butter(?) in the middle and that just overpowered all the flavors. I still don't know what that flavor is. My dad had the breakfast burger. Meat was good he said though he didn't feel like the teriyaki sauce brought anything to the table since the egg and cheese overpowered the flavoring. He said the homemade chips were bland. All in all not a bad experience. Don't know if I would ever come back though. I encourage others to at least try it. read more

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The K-pop trio went to see The Rose: Come Back to Me at the Kahala Theater (part of HIFF) so I made a reservation at Kapa Hale, a place I love, save for the limited parking. One of us started with a Cranberry Mule while we perused the menu. The Fall tasting menu looked great, but we thought it might be too much food for us on this evening. We ended up ordering the Chicken Liver Mousse, Everyday I'm Brussel'N and the Naan Ya Business as our appetizers and the Hawaiian Beef Tartare and Eggplant, Where's Da Beef (Tagliatelle) Pasta and the Chop It Like It's Hot (pork chop) as our mains. The liver mousse was served on a plate with pickled vegetables and nice slices of toasted bread. I ordered a glass of Steorra Brut (Russian River Valley, CA) sparkling wine to have with the liver mousse. The Brussels sprouts were perfectly charred ... Often times they're charred too much, and we receive a dish of blackened vegetables ... Not so at Kapa Hale. The naan bread with Tikka Masala curry (with pieces of Sumida watercress Namul) arrived much later than the other appetizers ... The naan was just right and the curry was mild (to me). Each of us liked our entrees ... Hah, this time the better half of the world food tour duo didn't get any of my pork chop. It was Jamaican Jerk seasoned with slices of lime and served with Cannellini (white beans) ... I loved it! I ordered a glass of Intrinsic cab (Columbia Valley, WA) to accompany my dish. The tagliatelle looked amazing as did the beef tartare and eggplant. This time, only one of us asked for a container (for the tagliatelle). We shared a Da Kahala Shuffle (chocolate and Kahlua mud pie), and I ended my meal with a French Press coffee. The prices were reasonable and service from AJ was fine, even though he was the only server working on a Saturday evening. I like their food and would like to visit more but I don't like the parking situation. However, I found a nice stall in the mall parking garage, so future visits are in order. Recommended! read more

Kapa Hale - Naan Ya Business (with Tikka Masala curry) - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Food was delicious! Very tasty without overdoing it- I'm not a fan of lots of salt- so it was just right! Service was excellent. We were sharing space and deep in conversation and waiter was super respectful but checked in on us. It's a cute modern yet comfy cafe! Prices are reasonable and with it! I highly recommend. read more

Nice spot to have brunch with friends and family. Staff were nice. Parking lot out front. Creative menu with different twists. I ordered Okonomiyaki omelette, this was packed with flavors from the lomi lomi tomato and the sauces. I would definitely recommend this. Others in our party ordered I GOT U BAE SANDO, it was good but small. Kalo moco was also ordered, simple and not overwhelming flavors. read more

Kapa Hale - Okonomiyaki omelette, cut into it before I remembered to take a picture. Great portion size. - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The food is really good and wonderful flavor pairings which were thoughtful and you can taste this in every bite. The pumpkin loaf was absolutely delicious and perfect. Not sure how they created the perfect bite and texture for a bread loaf but it tasted like "fall" is supposed to taste like. The Guava butter was lacking tho. I think it needed a little more salt in it and a touch more guava. The loaf is able to stand on its own. The loco moco was delicious. We try and eat and try as many loco moco on this island since we live here. This was doesn't disappoint. Kapā actually seasons their meat thankfully. So that super great. Cooked rare. The gravy was great! Wish we could have had a little more of it on the plate. The rice was cooked to perfection. The risotto mushroom balls. Holy moly. Could have eaten our weight in these suckers! So we came to eat at opening and I do believe service was lacking there for a bit. We had a table of 4 to be seated in front. There were only two waitstaff in the entire place. The waiter took the family to their table. We were a two top. We were sat a few minutes later. The trainee poured water and gave us menus. For 8 minutes not one person spoke to us. Never checked on us. The table of 4 was offered coffee options and had the menu gone over. Not once did the waiter look at us or give us reassurance he will back to get our order or anything. He was on the phone, and walking past us. So the trainee came over to say hello and tell Us he will be with us shortly. So we Asked for recommendations and she isn't familiar with the menu and hasn't tried any food just yet. So she leaves to get the waiter. Another few minutes pass. He finally gets to us . He is Nice and has a few recommendations which we took and ordered. Foodservice was fast. Plating was nice and simple and clean. Restaurant was clean and decorated nice. I get being short staffed, I have worked in restaurants my entire life. Just a little reassurance from Anyone to Let us know they are coming and will get with us shortly would be wonderful. Thats my only hit on this place. I get off days and things happening and life being crazy. We will totally come back and eat more! Food was delicious!! Service was getting better by the end of our meal. read more

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TL;DR Underrated gem in the heart of Kahala. 'Shroom Melt = ONO Corny Bread = ONO Croque Wahine = ONO ----- My family and I have dined at Kapa Hale several times for both brunch and dinner, but I've never gotten around to writing a Yelp review. After another enjoyable visit, I decided to log in and support this local business. There is a small parking lot in front of the restaurant. If there's no parking available, I'd recommend looking for street parking or snagging a stall at Kahala Mall. Over the course of several visits, I've ordered (and/or shared) the following brunch dishes: Naan Ya Business, When I Dip You Dip, Corny Bread, 'Shroom Melt, Green Eggs and Ham, Okonomiyaki Omelette, and the Croque Wahine. My personal favorites are the 'Shroom Melt, Corny Bread, and Croque Wahine. The 'Shroom Melt has been my go-to dish for a while now. The mushrooms are perfectly sautéed, the bread is nice and toasty, and the garlic aioli is a perfect compliment. I've also had dinner at Kapa Hale twice, and both times were wonderful experiences. read more

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Had the LocoMoco which was excellent. Large delicious Parker beef patty and fantastic brown gravy. Service was very good and food came out hot with good presentation. Highly recommend read more

The food was amazing, service was excellent and the food was very creative and everything tasted sooo goood! Loved it all!

Great place to enjoy a delicious lunch with island foods presented in a new yummy way. The Chef / Owner learned from the very best Chefs serving at 5 star restaurants on the mainland, including NY city. He along with his supportive family are home now to share his cooking talents with us local folks. Check it out, it's quality comfort food, beautifully prepared & served with aloha!... read more

Delicious food, tasty drinks, comfy environment, and friendly service. The Haku Lei salad is quite the unique presentation and was very tasty! Parking outside restaurant can be an issue but there is parking in the mall. Just a short walk away. Had dinner here and plan to return one day. Next time for brunch! read more

Kapa Hale - Haku lei salad - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We had a spectacular meal here with our friends. We were so lucky to have four people because we decided to order a bunch of dishes and share everything and everything was fantastic. The cornbread with lilikoi butter cannot be missed, although I would say it would be even better as a dessert. The kale had a spongy egg on top of it and a sauce that was fantastic. We also loved the fish dip with bread. The risotto with clams and shrimp was divine with a subtle taste of coconut. The only dish that didn't completely wow us was the chicken which, though tender and juicy, did not have enough flavor. Service was excellent! read more

Kapa Hale - Kale Me Maybe - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

First of all, our waiter was excellent and was able to switch our my water before I even realized there was something floating in it. He knew we were going to share some dishes so immediately got sharing plates with utensils, and remembered to give a small complimentary dessert for my dad's bday but other than that I did not enjoy the food at all. The corny bread tasted burnt and was drenched in sauce. The naan was stuffed into one bowl with the sauce which makes it seem as if they put it in one bowl to have less dishes to wash, and was reminiscent of a heated Lunchables pack lunch that you give to a kindergartener for their school lunch, The pork chop was tough and I could probably walk to Zippy's and get the same quality for a cheaper price. The chicken tasted like I could get a rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods and cook it myself. The dessert was good. But I still don't think it constitutes me coming back here, especially for the price they put on most of these items. read more

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Solid 5 stars. Great quality of food, service, ambiance and prices too! Thoroughly enjoyed everything during the meal. Highly recommend their seasonal pumpkin bread with whipped guava butter, so good ! And they served it warm too! Also their okonomiyaki was delicious! Loved the pickled mustard seeds that pop in my mouth! Combined with the cabbage, sauce and egg, it's just perfection. The fried chicken also was done well. Crispy and juicy! What a gem to the neighborhood of kahala. We will be back to try more food! Thanks chef! read more

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