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    Kapa Hale

    4.3 (656 reviews)
    Special Hours Closed
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Kapa Hale Photos

    Business Info

    KAPA HALE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy

    Recommended Reviews - Kapa Hale

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    Reviews With Photos

    V is for Vegetable Trio: Gazpacho, Falafel, Croquette
    Crystal R.

    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.

    Desserts
    Dee T.

    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!

    Okonomiyaki and Chicken & Waffles.
    Jackie K.

    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!

    Kapa-Kahi Salad
    Connie S.

    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!

    Josh O.

    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

    Julie U.

    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.

    Take
    Kelly S.

    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.

    Kapa Hale kitchen

    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?

    Haupia sorbet was yummy!
    Carrie G.

    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!

    Claire H.

    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.

    Haku Lei Po'o
    Janette F.

    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.

    Beef Tarare
    Brooke C.

    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.

    Justin H.

    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.

    KFC with soy sauce

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    29 days ago

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

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    Mahalo for the support!

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    Page 1 of 17

    Kapa Hale Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kapa Hale

    Is there any Outdoor seating available?

    Aloha! We have a small lanai that allows for outdoor seating. Please call our team, 808-888-2060, if you have any questions.… Read more

    Attire for lunch?

    Hi I rr9e

    Do you have live music?

    I didn't see any live music in the restaurant when i was there.

    Y'all got happy hour?

    Yes they do! Call them for the exact time!

    Is there an outside area where dogs are allowed?

    We allow dogs in our outside patio area.

    Is it $12 for plantation ice tea? If so, does it have alcohol in it?

    Aloha, Our plantation iced tea is $6 & our regular iced tea is $5.… Read more

    Are there any gluten free options?

    We have many gluten free options. Chef does a really great job at tailoring to any type of restrictions.… Read more

    Is Kapa Hale still byob (August 2021)?

    Aloha Carley, We received our alcohol license in April 2021 and are building our drink menu with… Read more

    Is there a full bar?

    Yes, there is a full bar

    If we bring more than 1 bottle of wine do we get charged for each bottle per person? Ex. 6 people 3 bottles $180?

    Aloha Brian Yes I believe there is a corkage fee . Probably on each bottle of wine .… Read more

    Can we bring our own wine?

    Aloha Shawn , I believe yes you may bring your own wine . There is a… Read more

    No happy hour?

    Aloha! Thank you for reaching out. We currently do not have a happy hour. We are in the process of applying for our alcohol license and hope to launch a pau hana or happy… Read more

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    Livestock Tavern

    Livestock Tavern

    4.2
    (1.2k reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$$

    Didn't realize I never reviewed them. It's been a hot minute since I've been. They used to be…read moreopen lunch time, so was easy to go. Now only dinner. Baby and I had date night. Had a glass of wine and baby had watered down lemonade. Her drinks were put in plastic cups with covers and those horrible paper straws. Eyes always bigger than my stomach, we ordered: - Cornbread - when i grabbed it I thought would be super dense but really wasn't. I thought it was very corny and tasty. Lightly toasted. Honey drizzle which wasn't too sweet...or maybe I just ate the parts that didn't have. Baby ate almost 1.5 pieces and even liked the Jalapeno Butter that I just dabbed on her bread. She said wasn't spicy but think she just didn't have enough. - Bone Marrow - lit it on fire to burn off the alcohol. Pretty sure it ddin't get it all so I cut baby off once I realized it. Other than needing some salt, really good. Choke mushrooms on top. One half was scrawny, but hubs had the other half for leftovers and choke marrow. YUM. - Sunchoke and Brussels - YUM. Baby ate some but was not really thrilled about it. I loved it. - Scallop and Mushroom Risotto - YUM. Delish. Baby liked it too. So much leftovers of everything. Realized when we ate it for leftovers it was all pretty oily and needed a pinch of salt. But otherwise great. Staff really nice and helpful. Love that the place is spread out and open. Bathrooms are not assigned which I'm sure can get gross, but is great to not have to wait for just the women's. There is a big stall which was perf since baby is potty training and had to go #1 and #2! Only thing missing was a hook to hang my purse and her bag. Great dinner...but if anyone is listening...bring back the shrimp and grits!!!

    Ordered several different things and shared it with my husband. The blue crabcakes were tasty, the…read morescallop and mushroom risotto was just okay and a bit on the watery side and didn't have that much risotto. I am not accustomed to risotto being watery. The smoked octopus was sliced in pieces that were too thick and a little too chewy and the andouille sausage and black pepper overpowered the dish. Ordered the bourbon and bone marrow mostly for the presentation. It was WAAAY too rich and needed more bread to go with it. They should've served it with bread that wasn't buttered because the buttered bread even though tasty by itself was just too rich in combination with all of that bone marrow. The dish needed more balance. The ice cream sundae was unremarkable. Would have preferred it served with a choice of hot fudge or the caramel drizzle and since it was plain vanilla ice cream they could've drizzled a lot more caramel over it. The waitress did bring us more nuts when we asked, but they were busy at the time and she was the only server so it took her a while to get to us, and the ice cream was pretty melted by the time she delivered. We got there when they opened at 5 PM and they had two servers at that time. The place wasn't busy so it seemed like they had enough help for the amount of tables that were being seated. An hour and a half later, though, one server was missing (possibly taking a lunch break) and the only server remaining at several big parties to take care of which slowed down her responsiveness to the other smaller tables like ours. The music playing in the background seemed to fit the environment and was pleasant to listen to. It's a pretty casual atmosphere. The prices for what you get are a bit on the high end. Probably wouldn't go back unless someone else is paying. We didn't feel too bad this time because we had a gift certificate which covered most of our bill. Maybe we were choosing all the wrong items and should have just stuck to ordering meat dishes, which they might be better at making (with a name like Livestock). You'll have to check this place out yourself and see if they do a better job with meat and if the prices for those dishes are more reasonable. I gave this place four stars instead of three because the servers were friendly, the atmosphere was pleasant, and the food was mostly okay (tasty enough and filling).

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    Unclean bathrooms 0/5 stars
    Unclean bathrooms 0/5 stars
    Lobster moco
    Lobster moco
    Old fashion

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    Old fashion
    Local Joe

    Local Joe

    4.6
    (626 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    Did my research to find Kona coffee for my upcoming visit to Vancouver, so I walked from home and…read moretook shelter in Local Joe's to cool off and order some 100% Kona Mauna Kea Estate coffee and have it ground. Liv was so delightful and clearly the right person for the job so I knew I was in the right place. In the meantime I ordered an iced coffee (which was delicious!!!!) and sat down and watched folks come and go. This is clearly a popular local coffee and snack shop so I will keep this place in mind since it's locally owned and operated and their decaf is processed via osmosis, not chemicals. That's a big plus.

    I honestly don't understand the hype surrounding this place, the reality is completely misleading…read more I called 15 minutes ahead to place an order. The employee took it and immediately hung up on me--no name taken, no "thank you," no "goodbye." When I arrived, the parking was a mess, so I had to be dropped off. Inside, the food display looked sad, and the cashier looked completely miserable and unpresentable. While waiting patiently on the side for 15 minutes, I watched the kitchen staff preparing food. Red flag: they literally microwave their eggs instead of cooking them fresh. After 30 minutes of total waiting time, I finally went up to check on my order, only to find out the cashier hadn't even handed my ticket to the kitchen yet. She sent it back right in front of me without a single word of apology--just a blank stare. I cancelled my order on the spot. Horrible service, zero management, and low-quality food prep. Save your golden time & money and go somewhere else. Definitely not a place where I'd want my food prepared!

    Photos
    Counter
    Counter
    Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito
    Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito
    Thai latte

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    Thai latte
    Liliha Bakery

    Liliha Bakery

    3.7
    (2.4k reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    First impression, I thought the location was kinda hidden and small. But when you enter inside,…read moreit's actually huge! They have the bakery, sit down restaursnt area, and an open kitchen. We came around 4PM and were surprised it was almost empty (but slowly it did get busier). Our food came with complimentary bread with guava sauce. It was really good! The bread is toasted, crispy, and buttery. Everyone in my party enjoyed it. We did not expect our food items to come in really large portions. I loved the chicken karaage! The batter was light and crispy with great flavors and had a yummy sauce drizzled on top. It also came with a scoop of rice, buttered corn, and Mac salad. Mac salad was delicious! Prime rib sandwich came with salad and au jus sauce and a side of salad. It's good but also very filling. I didn't try the burger or teriyaki chicken but was told both were delicious. After dinner, we ordered a few items from the bakery to eat on the plane. You have to take a number and wait for them to call it. I got 2 kouign Amannn, 2 Dubai coco puff, and half dozen green tea puff. The kouign amann is a circular croissant. I liked that it was soft and flaky and had a sweet, crispy glaze over it. The Dubai coco puff had a strong pistachio crunchy flavor but I thought it was way too sweet for me personally. The Star of the show are the green tea cream puffs! I would come back to just order that! The top filling tasted like a thick creamy brown butter green tea-flavored icing. The filling inside doesn't taste like brown butter and less thick but still really good. Overall, they had really good food and items from the bakery. Highly recommend the infamous green tea cream and chicken karaage dish! Customer service was quick and professional though I felt like our server wasn't that friendly lol. The restaurant was very clean and had plenty of seating.

    Let me preface this by saying I don't make it a habit of going into restaurants 30 min before…read moreclosing. But I had to drop something off to their sister restaurant next door. We walk in at 9:30. Wait at the host stand and watch workers look at us and quickly turn to look the other way. This happened with four workers. I walk up to a server putting in and order and say 'table for two please' she looks around and back at another workers and says 'sorry we close at 9:30' to which I quickly say 'I thought you close at 10?' And she goes 'the bakery closes at 10' As we're talking every single worker hurriedly walks away avoiding eye contact. So I said again 'the time on the door says 10pm' her response was 'oh no that's wrong only the bakery is open till 10' Next day I go back at 9pm. First thing I ask the sever 'what time do you close?' Lo and behold '10pm' Again I never make it a habit but we would have been out of there before the other tabes were done eating. Long day at work and I just needed fuel.

    Photos
    Yummy cheat day
    Yummy cheat day
    Toasted roll with raspberry sweet spread
    Toasted roll with raspberry sweet spread
    That SMOKE PORK BELLY strips (so good and yummy) *2/15/23

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    That SMOKE PORK BELLY strips (so good and yummy) *2/15/23
    Scratch Kitchen

    Scratch Kitchen

    4.0
    (2.2k reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    I had the chance to dine at Scratch Kitchen in Kapolei back in 2024 for a special Mother's Day…read morelunch with my youngest daughter. I'd never been to their other locations, so this was my first experience -- and honestly, it left an impression. That spot in Kapolei has seen a few restaurants come and go over the years. Before Scratch Kitchen, there was Sugar Cane, and if I reach far enough back, I'm pretty sure a Mexican restaurant lived there too. It's one of those spaces where you hope the next place finally sticks. But the food at Scratch Kitchen? Absolutely delicious. The kind of meal where the pictures alone make your mouth water. If "smell‑a‑vision" or "lick‑your‑screen" technology existed, everyone would understand exactly what I mean. Every dish was full of flavor, beautifully done, and perfect for a Mother's Day treat. Which is why I can't help but wonder what happened -- like so many restaurants before them in that same location. With food that good, you'd hope they'd be the ones to break the cycle. All in all, I'm grateful I got to enjoy that meal with my daughter. It was memorable, delicious, and one of those small moments you hold onto. Marie

    Stopped by Scratch Kitchen in Honolulu for brunch, and honestly, I'm surprised it wasn't packed. We…read morewent mid-morning on a weekday and the place was nearly empty--not sure if it was just good timing or an underrated gem. Either way, it made for a super relaxed experience with no wait and plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the food. Loved: The street tacos with the tempura shrimp were easily the star of the meal. 100% worth it. Light, crispy shrimp with a flavorful slaw and just the right amount of heat--basically a flavor party in every bite. The burger was another quiet star. Juicy patties, nicely seasoned, and stacked just right. Nothing super flashy, but really satisfying. Definitely a good pick if you're not in the mood for brunchy stuff. The Miss: Tried the French toast and... meh. It looked great on the plate but tasted dry and definitely didn't live up to the level of the other dishes. Might've just been an off day or a matter of personal taste, but I'd skip it next time.

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    Scratch Kitchen
    Scratch Kitchen
    Scratch Kitchen

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    Liliha Bakery

    Liliha Bakery

    4.3
    (4.1k reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    Everything prepared with Love here You can tell that the bakers and cooks enjoy and take pride in…read moretheir work, deliciousness tastes like it Service is genuinely kind; consistently smiling whether from behind the dining counter or wonderful pastries and chantilly cakes or poi donuts Ohh how they are experts at making poi donuts : Liliha Bakery has the most moist tender flavorful POI DONUTS try the poi donut - do-nut eat just one! I dare you to try eat just one! Must have 2? (I confess, I've eaten 3!! Such a warm Ohana feeling when you dine in and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere whether Larger location Pearlcity or their original mostly take out location favorite counter/kitchen service It's like good therapy coming here!

    We have been coming here for years; food is always good, not great…read more We came on a Thursday morning around 9:30 am; and figured we wouldn't have to wait, oh, were we wrong, there were 10 people in front of us. The wait actually wasn't that bad, maybe 15 minutes. It is a typically diner, counter seatings only. The service wasn't great, but not rude; they take your order and they bring you the food; no pleasantries or small talks, I guess they need to turn the tables (counter seats) quickly. We had the loco moco with fried rice and hamburger steak with multi-grain rice and toss salad; they didn't offer a choice of dressing, but the default asian dressing was delicious. The food was good with very big portions; I had a hard time finishing my loco moco. They served it with lots of yummy brown gravy, the way it should be. My wife enjoyed her hamburger steak as well. Oh, don't forget to visit the bakery side after eating; they have many super yummy baked goodies!

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    My mom is paying for our treats!
    My mom is paying for our treats!
    Potato Mac salad (Dec 2025)
    Potato Mac salad (Dec 2025)
    Dinner@Liliha Bakery; 10/29/2024. I Ordered, *Country Style Omelet w/Bacon*, so Stuffed right now! Da Cook, is a Very good Cook & he's Cool!

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    Dinner@Liliha Bakery; 10/29/2024. I Ordered, *Country Style Omelet w/Bacon*, so Stuffed right now! Da Cook, is a Very good Cook & he's Cool!
    Nami Kaze

    Nami Kaze

    4.5
    (801 reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $$

    It was so sad this business is closing down by Oct 31st. With rising food costs, inflation and…read morestaffing, it's understandable but I wish best endeavors for Chef Jason Peel and his staff. My fiance won a gift card actually 2 of them (from his coworker whom could not get a reservation secured), we knew we had to make the trip over before they officially close. We had multiple dishes, but staff made Kauai prawns and tomato miso black cod dishes on the house since they ran out the Hokkaido scallops. We ordered the short ribs, lobster appetizer, hamachi crudo and lastly sashimi moriawase to finish food palate. Lukki lemon dessert was great way to end to night. Ordered the Milk tea bouquet cocktail while my better half had water ( either way the food coma knock him out cold the rest of the night lol). To be honest, it was difficult to determine which dish was the best because the staff kept quality there despite it being busy every night since they announce the closure. Sashimi moriawase, fish was so fresh, reminded me of my time spent in Hokkaido and Sapporo. Short ribs was soft and rich in flavor. Both me and my fiance liked the lukki lemon dessert, like lemon meringue pie but broken down version. If you have a chance to dine here before closing and got a reservation, definitely will have a lovely dining experience and your stomach will be full by end of the night.

    Husband and I tried Nami Kaze in our recent trip to Hawaii. This place is huge! I was so glad to be…read moreseated in the side room because I found it to be a lot calmer, less people and no TV. The staff were friendly and very helpful with giving us recommendations. We ordered 3 appetizers and 2 entrees, and honestly it was too much food for us. We had leftovers for breakfast the next day! - For appetizers we got: Ulu Tots, Japanese Eggplant, and Corn Beignets. The Corn Beignets was the best. - For entree we got: Tomato Miso Black Cod and the Short Rib. Both were delicious and worth a try. Sad to see that this restaurant appears to be closing.

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    Nami bento
    Nami bento
    Nami Kaze
    Nami Kaze

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    Kapa Hale - hawaiian - Updated July 2026

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