This is a wonderful destination for a memorable family dinner while on vacation. From the moment we arrived, the lively atmosphere and live music created an inviting and relaxed island dining experience. The standout dish of the evening was undoubtedly the lobster deviled eggs -- a creative and indulgent twist on a classic appetizer. The richness of the lobster paired beautifully with the creamy filling, and it completely convinced me that lobster absolutely belongs atop deviled eggs. What truly elevated the experience, however, was the thoughtful and attentive service. The staff went above and beyond in making our table feel welcomed, especially by checking in on our little one and kindly offering complimentary buttery noodles, which was such a warm and appreciated gesture. Between the flavorful cocktails, well-executed dishes, and exceptional hospitality, the entire evening was a delight from start to finish. I would gladly return on my next visit to the island. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Staff was super friendly and nice. Was happy to come by and check this place out. It was close to the resort that we were staying at. I know that they are a local chain I believe and there are a couple of locations but definitely didn't disappoint. We had a 14 month old and the minute we got seated, they let us know that they had complementary pasta and cheese coming out for the boy which I really appreciated. Didn't even know that this was a thing I wish that we had this everywhere. Food was delicious and the live music that we came into towards the end was great. Wish that we would showed up a little earlier to hear more of it. read more

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What a cool place in Ko Olina. It was just a 20min walk from the last lagoon we were chilling at so we decided to walk there. We relished the burgers and fish and chips. Everything was delicious and grateful to have tried it out. The place is very expensive but they serve good food with local ingredients hence we came here for lunch. We thought it would be special so opted to spend a " fancy" meal here instead of the other choices nearby. We went for the above options since those were on the affordable side. The ambiance was lovely with live music, greenery and good food. Service was relatively fast and bathrooms were clean. However, we did not enjoy the fact that our waitress brought us tiny sips of beer we wanted to try before ordering. It felt really cheap/ stingy for them to do that and they only allowed 2 to try. Also when the burgers came they had put very little portions of mustard and ketchup. We had to kindly ask for more and then she brought us bigger portions. We enjoyed the choco cream pie, the lemon crunch and chocolate ice creams. Delicious all of them. Just left feeling they were a bit stingy with certain things. And when ur paying so much for lunch and we ordered nicely for all, it feels it was not needed to make customers feel that way. read more

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We were so excited to try this place, as it came recommended by several people. We were planning to have lunch and drinks and come back every day, like recommended. We ordered the ahi tacos, they were very good, but also very small. Truffle fries were soggy, but tasted ok. The famous Mai tai did not impress this group of visitors. In our opinion the foam makes the drink bitter, although it looks nice. We left after having appetizers and a round of drinks and went elsewhere for lunch. We wanted so much to love it, but it fell short. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Mai Thais and pink pinky - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

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Very reasonable place to eat the food was good homemade food at a reasonable price. The customer service was fantastic. Go to the counter and make your order and then bring it out to you. Very easy steps to do. The ambience was basic but well recommended to check it out if you in Hawaii. read more

5 star drinks place! I went here with the family primarily for celebratory drinks. I love that you are able to sit outside and there are umbrellas everywhere for shade. Drinks-wise we were not disappointed. The Mai Tai was especially good on a hot day, but there was something for everyone. The food had some shining moments. The lobster deviled eggs and all the salads we tried were fantastic. We found the pizzas and wings to be only ok. I would still recommend this place any day, but make sure you go during happy hour! read more

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Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman's. Beautifully designed with a great bar area. Great selection of specialty drinks, draft beers, and appetizers. Entree's are very good. Celebrated my retirement with my colleagues. We tried Merriman's Seafood Special, Roasted Chicken, Fish Tacos, Hamburgers, and the Crusted Fresh Fish. For appetizers we ordered the Lobster Deviled Eggs, Chicken Wings, and Truffle Fries. Our server did a great job She was friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Definitely recommended read more

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This is our second Monkeypod location. We went to the Maui location a couple months ago. This experience was far better. We made reservations ahead of time for 6:30pm Monday. We walked across the street from Aulani and browsed the cute shops before checking in around 6:15pm. We were given a buzzer and were told our table will be ready around 6:30pm which it was. We were told to go upstairs and we were seated indoors in a cute booth. Our waitress Olivia was very sweet and was very nice to our 4 year old toddler. I got a cocktail - it's not on their website menu. It was very good. My husband got a beer. Both came out very quickly. Monkey Business Saimin - 13 locally made sun noodles, broccoli, chicken broth- Same last the maui location. Comes with quite a bit of noodles. They are thick and filling. Soup was light. Fresh Caught Fish Tacos - 31 chipotle mole (contains peanuts), salsa fresca, sour cream, cilantro, cabbage, corn tortillas - My husband also got a side of broccoli. It was very spicy for cooked well. Broccoli Salad - 19 house-made romesco (contains nuts), point reyes blue cheese, cranberry - I added chicken. Comes with two slices of flat bread. This was surprisingly good. Would totally get this again and not your routine salad. Chocolate Cream Pie valrhona dark chocolate pastry cream, laie vanilla whipped cream, homemade pie crust - This time we opted for the chocolate cream pie over the strawberry. This was insanely delicious. read more

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Monkeypod Kitchen lived up to the expectations, especially since we were looking for options that were walking distance. The drinks were the highlight. They were strong, while tasting wonderful: - Mai Tai: The tartness of the honey-lilikoi foam (passion fruit) balanced out the sweetness perfectly - After Midnight: The grapefruit really came through, without being bitter/sour or acidic - Bartenders Special: Ube that tasted fresh and not artificial! - Manfuego: Requesting it without the chili pepper was a mistake; get it with the heat or skip it The food was hit-or-miss. The fish tacos were the favorite, which were mahi-mahi. The fish was fresh, and very well seasoned with a great citrus finish. Even the folks at the table who "do not like fish" were surprised by how good it was after a bite. We will likely order more seafood dishes next time. When it came to the service, Daniela was stellar! She ensured that we were taken care of throughout the evening, especially the kids, and her recommendations were spot on. Not to mention her patience; it was not our best showing, haha. There was live music, which we enjoyed while also being able to have conversations. We were at a bar height table, which was plenty big for the 6 of us. We will likely be back, since we were eying the happy hour options and the second floor was intriguing. read more

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For those wondering about dinning at Monkeypod Kitchen with over 5,000 Yelp reviews I'm here to tell you this...the food and service is amazing!!! More than the 5 star food, the service my wife and I received from Jennifer was unparalleled to any service I've had in a half decade. Could be one of the best tasting happy hours out there with bomb tasting food. We got hand cut fries, roasted chicken wings, and Kahlúa pork pineapple pizza. Unreal tasty flavors that can't be replicated. Jennifer is an all-star server. She was spot on with every detail and recommendation of our dining experience down to the last plate, which was strawberry cream pie! To die for tasty. Highly recommend Monkeypods happy hour and service from their all star server Jennifer. 5 stars. I'll be back. read more

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Excellent service and great food. We had the fresh fish sandwiches, truffle fries and delicious Haupia sorbet for dessert. Go during lunch and make a reservation. This place fills up quickly before 12:00 pm. You can request outdoor or indoor seating. During this time of the year it gets very hot outside. A great place to go. The parking situation is very interesting. Make sure you pay for parking. read more

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When I'm in Oahu, I usually stay at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Right across the street is Monkeypod Kitchen, which makes it such an easy and perfect spot for a family dinner and fun evening out. Monkeypod is especially well known for their pies, and they are a must to try, but the rest of the food is just as good. It's a fun place to hang out, especially on weekends and weeknights and most evenings when there's a lively crowd and great music with live bands. My favorite dishes are the poke tacos and the burgers, and the pizzas are also really good. I recently tried the fish and chips, and it was excellent . The fish flaked apart perfectly and was lightly battered, just the way I like it. I also love their homemade fries, which have that perfect crisp with slightly browned edges that give them amazing flavor. And don't forget they make their own ketchup, which is absolutely delicious and pairs perfectly with the fries. It's always a great vibe, great food, and a must visit spot when staying in the KoLina area. read more

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Returned with friends and enjoyed the fun atmosphere and cocktails. Their mai tai is delicious! The menu hasn't changed much since our last visit. The broccoli is good but a bit soupy. They were out of their delicious gnocchi so we asked if we could have the fish and lobster pasta with the gnocchi sauce. Not sure it came that way and our waitress was a bit elusive. It was okay, not sure if order it again. The kalua pork and pineapple pizza was good and I was surprised to see it covered in jalapenos . It was tasty and not too spicy. It was convenient (and recommended) to make a reservation online and we had a nice table on the 2nd floor overlooking the front entrance. The casual ambiance is lovely. What surprises me the most and I remembered this from last time, their service is just ok. I'm surprised it's not better. The hostesses are bland, not welcoming and almost seem annoyed upon checking in. Our server was nice but a bit elusive and walked away a few times when we were about to ask a question or place an order. So strange! I remember this from our last visit, their staff is not into small talk or approachable. Must not be in their business culture. ‍ read more

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Still a solid convenient option in Kapolei, but prices have gone up and there's a bit of shrinkflation. Happy hour is still daily 3:30-5pm. HH pizzas are now $16 and seem smaller than a couple years ago, 50% off non-seafood appetizers. $2 off draft beers. 50% off glass of wines, and $4 off cocktails. The wings appetizer was 8-wings, spicy and not very good. I guess I expected fried wings, but they were just baked. Truffle and kahlua pork pizzas were good, but small. The fish and chips was good but a bit overpriced at $31. Service is always excellent here and I enjoy the live music too. Always worth a visit when we meet up with friends on vacation read more

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Came here for lunch after we landed in oahu and had a great time. Our server was extremely friendly. Food was good and drinks were excellent. They had a philly cheese steak lunch special which was tasty. Garlic truffle fries probably could have used a little bit more salt but it was good nonetheless. The mushroom truffle pizza was a little disappointing as it was too bland and needed more flavor. Poke taco appetizer was good! Ambiance was great with live music. Their mai tai packs a punch. Consider yourself warned. read more

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Monkeypod Kitchen was one of our most favorite places to eat in Hawaii. The Jawaiian Jerked Chicken was the most loved by our group. Our server was good and the restaurant had a cool vibe. This restaurant is a must to check out. read more

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Nice restaurant and staff! We walked across the street from our hotel. I was able to make a reservation earlier in the day for 6 people later that night. They had 5:45 available only on the website but we went early and they seated us right away. I got the "famous" Mai tai and it was good. Small glass but the foam and fresh pineapple was good. I got the lamb pizza. I didn't care for the lamb very much as it was " spiced" and they left it in huge chinks. Might have been better if it was crumbled more. The goat cheese was good and I also picked off some of the mint because there was a lot of it and still in whole leaf form. Not a huge menu but everyone was able to find something. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable. I hey gave us free noodles with parm for our boy who was under three. Very nice of them! He didn't really eat much of it and it was a big portion. I've never seen free kids food that wasn't a "kids eat free on select days" sort of thing. We sat outside and the flies attacked us when we got our food. They brought us a fly fan so it's a problem there for some reason. Overall it was good. Might be better for happy hour. And we somehow missed the live music. read more

Food was delicious! I had their potstickers for appetizers and corn chowder for my entree. I also had hot tea and a Mai Tai - it was delicious! My husband had a fish sandwich (Mahi Mahi)...he said it was good. The entire environment was nice with live entertainment and even tho we were outside we did not see any bugs so two thumbs up! I enjoyed the service and quick help with extra napkins when we had an accidental spill. Thank you Samuel for taking care of us and being a friendly waiter. read more

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Nice spot out on Ko Olina for a casual dinner. We picked the place as it was close to the lagoons for a post-dinner sunset. The fish tacos, kalua pork and pineapple pizza, and the fish sandwich were all tasty. As was their spicy chicken wings, garlic truffle fries and taro ravioli. read more

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We went to monkeypod with our doodle and sat outside. There was live music playing but not loud to where you can't have a conversation. The service was great. Our waitress was super helpful and gave us recommendations that's we tried (tacos). She even was accommodating and made my margarita a little sweeter how I like it. The fries were great and I loved having both a ketchup and aioli. The ravioli was probably our favorite. Order it fried! The pork tacos were just okay. They were like warm I think if they were hot that would have made them great. They had good flavor. We then tried the coconut cream pie and while it was very good. We didn't get much of the coconut taste. Overall recommend and would come back. read more

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I really enjoyed this place. Wish I'd known about happy hour! We had wings, pizza ( try the lamb sausage), noodles and shrimp. The mead was delicious and so were the cocktails. Service was great and they were very helpful with my food allergy. It's a very pretty place and the band was great - so the ambiance is very beach chic. I am sure there are better deals around but this place is very nice and close to the Marriott. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen is just a short walk from Aulani Resort. We made dinner reservations for our large party, and our table was ready once we checked in. We sat inside, but the patio area looked inviting as well. Overall, most of the food was good, and the drinks were great. The atmosphere and vibe were chill and pleasant with live music and open-air windows. The weather was perfect for the evening. We started with some drinks; the Monkeypod Mai Tai was a big hit, and I enjoyed the Virgin Mai Tai. There were some interesting house cocktails, non-alcoholic options, and a big wine list. We ordered some appetizers to share, and I enjoyed the Wings, Taro Ravioli, and Kalua Pork Pizza. My main entree was Pete's Fish & Chips. It was ok. The tempura-style fish had a nice crunch, but the coating was very salty. The hand-cut fries were tasty, though. Some of my family felt the saimin and fish sandwich was delicious as well. Our server and the staff were excellent, attentive, and kind. They checked on us regularly. The prices are on the premium side, but given the location across from the resorts and the quality and portions, it was fair. I'd be back to enjoy the cocktails and try other items on the menu. read more

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Got takeout - and the food here is pretty good! Worth it to walk from Aulani. Tried the jerk chicken, broccoli, beet salad, and cornbread. Chicken portion size was huge. Would come back to try others since the menu is pretty extensive read more

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We had dinner at Monkeypod for my birthday and retirement. I've been here several times and always had great food. We started with poke tacos appetizer which was delicious. For the main courses, we ordered gnocchi for the little one, lobster and fish fettuccine for my wife, Mahi Mahi for my mother in law and I got a Jamaican jerk chicken with garlic rice and fried banana fritters. We noted that the lobster and fish dish had chili popper flakes in it even though it's not mentioned in the menu so it had a little unexpected heat, and my her chicken was extremely salty. Not sure if it was marinated too long or why it was so salty. I couldn't eat the chicken and I'm not afraid of salt but I could feel a nose bleed coming on, so I stopped. Our server took the chicken off the check and offered us a free pie. The server was quite attentive of drink refills and always checked in with our dining experience. There's plenty of tables on the first and second floors but open to the outside. Unfortunately we were eating at night and I had a mosquito bite my legs without realizing it. Overall, we enjoyed the experience despite a few food faux pas. The meal was moderately priced but consistent with a nicer meal in Ko'Olina. Mahalo to Monkeypod Kitchen. read more

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Such a great time here! The food was delicious and our server was phenomenal. We tried their popular drinks and strawberry cream dessert. Our entrees were from burgers, to fish and chips to steaks. Everything was delicious. Worth the 30min wait. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

I always have to stop by here whenever I'm in Ko Olina. I love the food and atmosphere here. The happy hour is worth! Appetizers are half off and pizza is discounted. Happy hour is from 3:30 pm - 5 pm and includes weekends! Recommend making reservations if you can. The first time I came here was during prime dinner time and had to wait 45 minutes. The next time I came, I was seated right away. It depends on the day but it can get busy at times. They do have a keiki (kids) menu. My son got the Monkey Business Saimin which tasted not quite like ramen but similar to it. Keiki under 3 get free noodles and cheese. I got the taro ravioli. It's two of my favorite things-- taro and ravioli so I really enjoyed it. The ravioli is filled with taro and water cress and drizzled with chili garlic oil. It's conveniently located by a few hotels so it's a nice option if you want to try something else than hotel food. Parking is not free. I stayed at Aulani and thought it'd be easier with kids to drive over-- which was a mistake on my part. I parked at the parking lot that was across the street which would have been the same distance from the parking garage from my hotel and in addition, I had to pay for parking. If you're staying at nearby hotels, I recommend walking over. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Menu - appetizer and pizza - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

We had a great experience tonight at our first ever dinner at the famous Monkeypod restaurant in Kapolei! The food was excellent: I had the Cheeseburger and a pretty awesome dessert as well. Wanted to give a special shout out to Courtney who gave us amazing service. Would highly recommend the vibe here and this location if you're in the area. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Chocolate Cream Pie - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Monkeypod was basically our first stop on Oahu. It came recommended by a trusted friend and located close to our resort. The service was excellent. The menu has many interesting choices to differentiate it from other bar and grill places. My love went with the burger and I tried the pho We dined while listening to a great guitarist who gave the place a nice vibe. Overall, a nice start to our Hawaiian vacation! read more

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Ashton is awesome. The restaurant I frequent most. Always the best. Thanks again Monkeypod!

Oh, Monkeypod! You hold a special place in my heart! Besides your beautiful location, friendly ambiance, 'ono food, tasty cocktails, and hefty selection of beer - this is where my wife and I would come every Sunday for Happy Hour! Thank you for continuing to offer your Happy Hour. It allows us to frequently come and enjoy your offerings. This time around, we decided to come celebrate our 11-year wedding anniversary. As always, it did not disappoint. I hope you never go anywhere because nothing else on-island compares. As always, we shared some tasty Garlic Truffle Fries, their delicious mushrooms pizza, choke beer, and of course their unique Mai Tai. I have never had a more delicious Mai Tai (or any cocktail) as delicious as their concoction. Our waiter was extremely friendly and shared his thoughts on the various beers for us to try. This time around, we tried their "mead" which was quite interesting. Literally tasted like a seltzer. Who would have thought people hundreds of years have seltzers before we did. Thank you for the most delicious strawberry pie to honor our anniversary. read more

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I am working through my backlog of Yelp reviews from my vacation but this one was HIGH on the priority list to post. Monkeypod consistently has great food and we have been to other locations before so we were familiar. What made this stand out was their bartenders special: They had a mixologist who had made a "cinnamon role old fashion." As someone who loves old fashions I had to try it. This was without question one of the best cocktails I've ever had. Our server told us how he had made butter croissant infused Elijah Craig bourbon and a home made cinnamon simple syrup. It was so phenomenal that I came back the next day specifically for happy hour to get more of this. Our server was amazing and food was outstanding as well... but I will dream about that cocktail read more

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We visited Monkeypod Kitchen mainly for their happy hour, and of course for the famous lilikoi Mai Tais--which absolutely lived up to our expectations (yes, we've had them many times before). They were fresh, well-balanced, and exactly what you want in a signature island cocktail. The happy hour scene had that classic Monkeypod energy: lively bar crowd, great island vibe, and plenty of fresh air with the open, outdoor feel. It's a fun spot to settle in and enjoy a drink or two. We didn't dive too deep into the food menu this time, but we did try the truffle fries. While they were cooked well, they were a bit light on the truffle flavor for our taste. Service was excellent throughout--friendly, attentive, and engaging without being overbearing. All in all, a solid happy hour stop with fantastic cocktails and great island atmosphere. We'll definitely be back for the drinks--and next time, maybe more of the food. read more

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Service was excellent. Appetizers were yummy. Happy hour was popping. We had reservations but they accept walk ins . Will probably go back read more

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Great service. Awesome ambiance. Food tends to the local food with a fancy twist. Some advice: make reservations!!! The saimin is bomb. Bar selection is good. Pizzas, good. Dessert, good. Recommend Monkeypod for date nights, night "out of town" for the locals. Thank you for a great experience. read more

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We stopped into Monkeypod for drinks and were not disappointed. The atmosphere was lively with live music, the drinks were well crafted, and it was the perfect spot to unwind. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Mai Thai - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Last visit, we stopped by for a quick bite before hitting up the lagoons. The gnocchi is one of my go-tos with a virgin mai tai. Consistent quality everytime. Service was decent, and the live music is always nice. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Virgin mai tai - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

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Best visit here to date. Came here for drinks only, and in a very small time frame. Sat/ ordered at the bar and our drinks arrived quickly. All were delicious, and $4 off each with Happy Hour going on. Sounded like a live singer but didn't see anyone. Beautiful setting. In and out in 20 minutes to go back on the Hawai'i Railway ( give them some love !!) read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Our drinks: an old fashioned and 2 Na Ka 'Oi - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Monkeypod is always a stop we make when we are in Oahu! They have great food, drinks, ambiance, and service. The white walker drink is always my go to. Very well balanced and refreshing. All of the flatbreads are good, as are the truffle fries, and both are on the happy hour menu! The potstickers were kind of disappointing in flavor and portion for the price. The fresh caught fish tacos were very flavorful and a big hit for our group. They have multiple locations but this was across from our hotel which made it an easy choice. Don't miss monkeypod, especially for happy hour! read more

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Monkeypod Kitchen in Kapolei is a wonderful farm to table restaurant with chill vibes and great food! My husband and I visited and was sat quickly. We heard so many great things about this spot and many YouTubers who visit Aulani recommend this spot. The most memorable thing of the restaurant happens to be the most random thing... the Le Creuset Salt + Pepper Shakers! IM OBSSEESSSSEDDDDD with Le Creuset and seeing this was so awesome, especially since there are no locations of this company on island. I ordered the Kailua Pork Pizza and it was delicious! I loved the crust and Neapolitan style pizza. My husband got fish and chips and we ordered the Banana Cream Pie for dessert. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Le Creuset Salt + Pepper - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

I really like Monkeypod Kitchen. I've come here many times. It's so beautiful inside. It totally feels like you're on vacation. The best deal might be lunch or happy hour but dinner is great too, just more expensive. Our server was really nice and gave us great suggestions. He was really surprised when none of us ordered the Mai Tai as that is one of their specialties. But the food was really good. Very fresh, and not overly filling. We had a fun time with friends and I would recommend coming here. read more

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