Absolutely delicious!! I haven't had the desire to eat here, but I have no idea why because everything was amazing!! Park on the street in the neighborhood and walk to the restaurant is the best bet because the tiny lot behind is difficult. My friends and I ordered basically half the menu: pohole, peanut tofu, long rice croquette, mapo tofu with teokbokki, veal meatball with polenta, lemongrass sausage with clams, and hand cut pasta. I loved literally every dish. The 2 that were not as good were the sausage and clams only because it's a broth with bread. It was still good but the other dishes were phenomenal. Also the polenta and meatballs were ok. The sauce was tasty with the meatballs though. My absolute repeats are the pohole salad, mapo tofu, hand cut pasta, and the croquette. The dessert was a kiawe bean brownie with black sesame gelato! I that the brownie had some salt in it and the black sesame was rich. We sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and service was quick. The food came out fairly quickly and they paced the main dishes to come later. I can't wait to come back and eat here again!! read more

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Food: Hawaiian/Asian/modern fusion cuisine--a little bit of everything, and it was delightful! Palate didn't know what to expect, and every dish we ordered was an adventure. We opted to order 3 apps, 3 mains, 2 side orders of bread, and 2 desserts for a delicious family-style meal to remember for our family of 4. We got-- peanut tofu--smooth, hearty tofu in tasty Asian marinade (highly recommend) roasted carrots--flavorful carrots with hint of Indian spice of some kind (highly recommend) chicken long rice croquettes--crispy on outside soft filled dipped in Japanese curry (highly recommend) Hawaiian veal meatballs--soft and flavorful with Italian style tomato sauce (highly recommend) Handcut pasta--Chinese style handcut noodles in savory venison ragu (star of main dishes!) Fried chicken--crispy, like Hainanese chicken (good, but passable) Sides of country bread--buttery and younger son asked for more! Brownie w sesame gelato--unique and delicious! Miso-butterscotch rice pudding--another unique dessert that was salty from the miso but with butterscotch sweet notes that was a great end to the meal. Nothing conventional here, and loved the imagination with each flavor profile for each dish! Service: true Hawaiian aloha with attentive waitress and servers, wonderful experience with anticipated needs of sharing spoons/tongs prepared, water refills and second glass of wine offered as soon as I neared the end of my first. What a delight! Ambiance: upscale bistro-like atmosphere with no stuffiness and casual vibes and nice open-air patio option. Dim lights make it a great date spot but wonderful warm atmosphere for a family dinner as well. What a neighborhood gem off the Waikiki path. Would love to revisit when visiting again. Prices are reasonable for this upscale dining experience. Parking can be challenging with tiny lot in back and only street parking available. read more

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Really enjoyed this. Our server was sooo friendly and helpful. The small plate format allowed us to try multiple things and was still filling. The chicken long rice croquettes come with a tasty Japanese curry sauce. And the fried ulu was to die for! Definitely would come again. read more

Great service. Great food. Felt like a "real" restaurant and not just another touristy spot. Locally inspired. Asian influence. Very yum. read more

Mud Hen Water - Fried ulu - bread fruit. Loved it! - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came here for a quiet dinner date and loved it. The restaurant was calm and uncrowded, making it feel intimate. Standouts were the lotus root, mapo rice cakes, and pickled vegetables--each bursting with rich, balanced flavors. The bread was fresh, warm, and absolutely fantastic. Portions were filling without being too heavy. Great spot if you're looking for creative dishes and a relaxed atmosphere. read more

Been to Mud Hen Water a few times over the years but this was the first time since Kaimuki Superette closed and they combined the menus. Loved the Superette and was disappointed it was closed but happy to see some of our favorites move to the Mud Hen Water location (Like the he'e sandwich). My wife had the he'e sandwich, I had the catch of the day BALT and we split a side of the beet poke. Everything was excellent as it always is at Mud Hen Water but I do have to say that the fresh catch BALT was incredible. Two days later and I am still thinking about that sandwich. Every time we come here, we love the ambiance, the incredibly friendly staff and the super delicous food. Had to update my review just to remind how great this place is. read more

Delicious flavors, reasonable prices and good service. Vegetarian friendly! Super original combinations of flavors breathing new life to beloved traditional dishes. It's family style, small dish tapas so you can try many different options. My favorite were the beets and tofu dish - loved the mix of flavors on first bite and as they situated in my mouth. A lot great attention to the different textures as well (ie toffee with the sesame ice cream on top of the brownie) Decor is super cute, with old restaurant menus from other greats like Zuni Cafe dotting the restroom walls. Hawaii is expensive but this restaurant is very reasonable priced for the high quality, thoughtful flavors. Looking forward to returning again! read more

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We had a delicious lunch on the patio, between 2 you could share this fish sandwich, fried ulu and pickled veggies tapas. All of it was a perfect convo of flavors. Their cocktails looked creative and delicious but didn't have a chance to try this time around. We sat on the patio with my dog (dog friendly!) with was a relaxed ambiance and had good service. Can't wait to come back. read more

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This was our 2nd time here and it never disappoints. I've honestly have not had so many different types of flavors awaken my taste buds. My favorite dish was the beet poke, what a creative twist. Curry croquette was not far behind. Bonus points for being attentive to the kids needs too! We were given drawing activities to keep them busy. read more

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Mud hen water is a fabulous, farm to table restaurant/bar that provides such a cool upscale experience with local flare. Cocktails are well balanced and delicious, and the menu highlights include ulu fries, mussels, and a sesame ice cream brownie sundae. We're right in the valley and love to crawl down to waialae on a whim to treat ourselves every now and then! read more

Mud Hen Water - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Rhonda is so sweet! She's very kind and helpful when choosing dishes enough for our hunger. And when Chef Kenny saw us eating the Preserved Opelu (Mackerel Scad), he came over to give us more insight into the dish. With such a rich history, this dish is worth so much more than the time and price. There's a very human connection the dishes have with us. The Chicken Long Rice Croquettes were SUCH a delight and the curry was so on point too! We rounded off our meal with the hand cut pasta, Molokai Venison Raghu had meat that melted in your mouth! What a pure delight this spot truly is! The open air seating is intimate, friendly, and highlight of this area! Truly a cozy spot for a nice meal, and new drinks. We had the Kiawe Bean Brownie with Sesame Gelato and we were in bliss! What a way to end the night! Absolutely no regrets! Only happy vibes here!! read more

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We met our friends here for dinner. It was interesting food but very tasty. I'd recommend it if you're willing to explore food and tastes not served in traditional restaurants. We ordered the family style meal at $65 per person, there was plenty to eat. It included multiple entrees in smaller portions and 3 of the desserts. The restaurant picks the dishes for you. It was my first time to try breadfruit, a firm, starchy, potato-texture dish. I really liked it. The chicken serving was small, a tad on the drier side. The veggies were good. Of the desserts, the brownie was our fav. I personally don't care for rice pudding, the other dish. And the sorbet like dish was tart. The entrees are better than the desserts we had. read more

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I came here with a couple of friends. First, finding parking was difficult. We were all coming separately so that caused a bit of a delay. Second, the cocktails we ordered were terrible. Mine had apple cider vinegar in it and I almost gagged. My friend told the server how to fix her drink so she could actually drink it. Third, most of the food items we ordered were not good at all. All of us kept saying, "This is interesting." The peanut tofu was like pudding with sweet sauce on it. The chicken was dry and bland. The beet poke was interesting. The only thing good were the clams. The service was okay. Part of the restaurant was indoors and part was outdoor. We saw many younger adults there and it seemed like a good place to hang out. However, my friends and I won't be going back again. read more

Came to Mud Hen Water for an anniversary dinner after finally remembering to make reservations! I had heard so many good things about this restaurant and was really excited! It has a casual laid back, farm-to-table rustic vibe inside. We were welcomed warmly and the server gave us suggestions of her menu favorites. Meant to be enjoyed as shared small plates, we decided on the beet poke, handcut pasta Ragu, sausage and clams, and the Chocolate-Kiawe Bean Brownie with black sesame ice cream to finish! The meal started with a small complimentary cucumber amuse-bouche which was a nice touch. The beet poke came out next, and it was stunning how it was able to achieve the poke flavor and texture (mostly)! It was delicious, but because it came out so much earlier than the other dishes, we had to take a break on the beets. The hand-cut pasta was savory and meaty with a pleasant chew. The sausage and clams was served in a rich comforting lemongrass broth and crusty dipping bread on the side. But my favorite dish of the night may have been dessert! The chocolate Kiawe bean brownie was dense and chewy but not too sweet. It paired so well with the smooth black sesame ice cream scoop! On the menu, it also mentions a family-style menu for 4, which sounds intriguing! Will be back to try! read more

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Fun restaurant with great cocktails and a great atmosphere. Highly recommend anything on the menu

Local ingredients right at the forefront, don't miss the Buttered Uala, Szechuan Lotus Roots, Peanut Tofu, Long Rice Croquettes with Curry, and the Ma Po Tofu. For dessert, the Keawe Bean Brownie with Black Sesame Ice Cream with that brittle I couldn't get enough of. Service is great. It's not too loud to have a conversation, and the vibe is chill. Nothing is bad in this menu, try everything, even if you don't know what it is. read more

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Came here for brunch and was seated right away. Ordered the pork sisig and sourdough banana pancake. The pork sisig was a bit on the fatty and greasy side. There wasn't too much of the actual pork meat in the dish. It seemed like this dish was just a hodgepodge of ingredients put together. I would give it an A for creativity attempt however. The sourdough banana pancakes were good but were too thin for my liking. It was honestly more of a crepe than a pancake. Both outdoor and indoor seating are available at this establishment. Atmosphere is good for families or dates. read more

Mud Hen Water - Pork sisig - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Mud hen water was delish! I went with my family for my mom's birthday and we got the family style menu so we could try a lot of different items. The staff was friendly and attentive, and it was an upscale but casual vibe. Great for my mom's bday! The only thing I didn't love about the restaurant was that parking was tough. There's a small lot but mostly it's street parking. If you go, I'd be sure to go a little early so you're able to find parking. read more

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note the item was not bad, just not my liking the Sisig which is bits of pig from different unusual cuts but i think is acquired taste read more

Super meal at Mud Hen Water, super delicious dishes, lots to try and would definitely recommend. Cocktails are good to start, but I'd suggest to go back to basics and stick with some local brews for the food. Would definitely return read more

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Banana pancake is good, smash burger is really small though. Iced coffee was solid. We were the only other table in there read more

Mud Hen Water - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I so love bringing friends and family to Mud Hen Water! Their mixologist are phenomenal. I've sat at the bar, inside and outside and honestly each offers a different experience. My absolute favorite meal is the clams and sausage. Love the venison and noodles too. And the bread dipped in the clam sauce is amazing. And always very friendly service - love it every time! Best to make reservations as it does tend to be a popular place. read more

Mud Hen Water - Delicious Specialty drink of the day! - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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In my eyes, Kaimuki's food scene is a continuous up-and-coming area. It seems that every time I walk or drive by there's a new restaurant or shop. Knowing this, there are so many restaurants I still have yet to discover on Waialae. Thanks to my sweet auntie, Terry K., Mud Hen Water was brought to my radar. To me, it was an unassuming restaurant on the outside that I've passed by numerous times but never batted an eye towards. Now that I've dined here, I'd recommend it to others for a casual yet creative drink or bite! Mud Hen Water prides itself on being farm-to-table with all of its ingredients being sourced locally. From the clear and clean quality taste, you can tell that the ingredients used are fresh, well seasoned, and carefully crafted. She made reservations for us through OpenTable in advance (which I recommend but not necessarily needed). We sat at the bar due to the rain (which closed their patio) and I loved every second of it! Our bartender and server, Sunny, was friendly, personable, and so much fun to talk to. He also went off-menu to craft his own beverages for us which were delicious and palate-pleasing! To eat, we both shared two items: Pohole and Sausage & Clams. The pohole was a new concept to me--fern shoots, okra, yam, onion, and other Japanese spices and seasonings. The texture and taste were interesting--crunchy, crispy, juicy, and a tad sweet. Yet, I couldn't get enough of it! The clam dish was good--a nice rich, creamy, and savory broth, plentiful clams and sausages, and a hefty piece of bread perfect to dip in the broth! I recommend sharing various items family style which allows you to sample ample Hawaiian and Asian-inspired dishes! The fact I'm in Kaimuki daily inspires me to want to come back and try their breakfast, lunch, and brunch menu--which also looks delicious. The interior is spacious with an open-air concept. They offer indoor and outdoor seating as well as their full bar! Service was fast and efficient from our bartender--the other runners were quick to deliver our food and an earshot away for any requests we had. When on Waialae, give Mud Hen Water a try if you're looking for a casual, innovative, and down-to-earth hip local-style restaurant. The restaurant can be found on the corner of Waialae and 9th Avenue. My only gripe is the parking which is street only. Luckily I scored a spot a block away, but the surrounding neighborhood is a good option as well. Thank you so much Terry K. for treating me to a delicious meal full of pure bliss from my stomach to my smile! read more

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A bit far from Waikiki, more of a local hip spot but overall food and service are really good. We enjoyed every dish we ordered and my favorite is the Pohole (fern Roots), where you normally can't get this dish elsewhere, it's the right balance of flavor and crunchiness of the roots that makes this dish specially memorable. Highly recommended for local and tourist foodies! read more

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Wow this place used to be so good but todays experience 10/2024 was bad. We ordered our usual favorites sour dough banana pancakes and a side of scrambled eggs. The eggs were fine but who can't cook scrambled eggs right. The pancakes were terrible! First they served them flat, burnt on the outside and uncooked inside. We used to get these several years ago and they were fluffy, tasty and absolutely full of local apple banana. We asked if they should be so wet inside even know we knew they shouldn't and the server said yes but we can remake them for you, so we accepted a remake. The second batch were less burnt outside but still uncooked inside. We tasted them and there was no point in asking for them to be redone again because they were bland and we had to hunt for the two slices of banana. These pancakes are huge and only two slices of banana is ridiculous. The servers must know the food is bad now because they brought the check without even asking and took away the pancakes that remained without asking if there was an issue. We got the check, tipped the servers well because the bad food isn't their fault and left probably never to return. Sorry I forgot to take photos of the uncooked pancakes but I am sure you can imagine what they looked like. Too bad we used to love this place and we were planning on bringing family that is planning to visit soon but now we need to find a better spot. The place was empty on Saturday morning which should have been our first clue. Recommend you stay away. read more

I love this place! Love how they use local produce from local farms here and how their menu changes up. Their food is creative and delicious! We ordered some appetizers and larger plates to share. We ordered their Molokai Venison handcut pasta, Sausage and Clams with ong choy in a yummy sauce, and their Beet poke. For dessert we ordered their Ume Guava sorbet and their Miso-Butterscotch rice pudding with their ginger laced cookie. Good quality yummy creative dishes here. Loved it and will be back again! read more

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High-quality, fresh produced, all locally sourced. Great ambiance and a go-to place for me. Top tier service and they make the best Last Word cocktails. Highly recommend! read more

Mud Hen Water - Persimmon salad it was a special on the menu. Not on their usual menu but very delicious! - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Wonderful food and fast service over lunch. Pork sisig (sizzling pig head) was our favorite but all of the food was excellent. Highly recommended. read more

Mud Hen Water - Sizzling pig head, fresh fish & lū'au, kahala crisp. - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

cute and comfortable place to be for brunch/dinner. enjoyed their variety of fusion menu and the ambiance was nice and the server seems to be knowledgeable in food choices. Slightly over priced for this area and parking is almost impossible read more

This place was unexpected. It was cozy and the food was farm to table. We ordered the garden sample and were surprised by how delicious the non-meat dish was. The breadfruit tasted like air-fried yucca and was soooo good. The service is friendly and efficient. Would love to go back for dinner and try their cocktails. The desserts were so good, I felt guilty for shoveling it down my throat, I didn't leave my husband a bite to try read more

Mud Hen Water - Dessert, chocolate and black sesame ice cream - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The menu is very creative making me want to try everything on the menu. I ordered the cured kahala which was a very delicious appetizer but the portion was a bit smaller than I expected. The biscuit with mapo gravy( aka mapo tofu) was good, but I thought the mapo was a bit too salty for my liking. The service was very slow... It was very difficult to get the staff's attention to take our order and ask for a check. While my friend and I were there, the staff didn't stop by once at our table to refill our water as we sat in the hot sun. They are very busy, and I understand but it would have been nice with better service. Parking: street parking read more

Mud Hen Water - Cured Kahala - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Saturday 5:15pm Girlfriend and I made reservations but it really wasn't needed at this time. What was ideal was the parking: we nabbed the last stall behind the restaurant, otherwise we would have had to trek all over the neighborhood for residential parking. The restaurant is open air, with a portion covered from the elements. We ordered: - Koena hummus and naan: a wonderful blended hummus dish, a bit mild for my salty palate - Chicken long rice croquettes: 2 fried balls of long rice dipped in Japanese curry. I am a huge fan of Japanese curry and this hit the spot. - Fish tempura sandwich: the olive-ume tartare sauce was the star of this dish. Delicious! - Smoke meat carbonara: My partner's favorite dish. I was really distracted by the bucatini. It felt like I kept sucking in air. The service is relaxed after the food is served: we were trying to catch the attention of anybody to order dessert for the longest time. But that is okay. I really liked the setup of the restroom: there are four unisex stalls that are connected by two sinks. Overall, neat restaurant. Looking forward to the next time! read more

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Yeah, I'm diggin' it- 4.5, rounding up. We really enjoyed the ambiance of their outside dining area- very Bohemian. It really put us in the mood for some great tasting food. And luckily they delivered. I'll say you can't fault them for creativity, at all. I mean the food really took our tongues to places they had never been- all while playing off of local food themes. Sure, the fish sandwich was sorta conventional, but buttered 'ulu?! Come on guys. Now you're just playing with our emotions... In all seriousness, the food we had here and the overall experience (if not the service itself) was excellent. Congratulations on that guys! Well done... read more

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Loved the vibes here! We sat outside and had cute group picnic table setting. The food had such good flavors with mixes of different cuisines. Drinks were unique mixes especially the chai one. The workers were extremely friendly and wanted to help make our experience perfect for my friend's birthday. read more

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First time here and parking is very limited and tight. Cute little restaurant and very chill vibe to it. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is very delicious. First time trying black sesame gelato but was very yummy. It was very different but went very well with the brownie. read more

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This restaurant is considered elevated Hawaiian food but the only thing I can consider elevated is the prices. The food was a miss for 3 out of the 3 dishes we ordered. While the names of the dishes sounded great on paper, the actual taste did not follow through. Beet Poke $11 - while anyone can make Beets, we thought the concept of Poke was intriguing, but we were only met with a small bowl of beets, red onions, macadamia nuts, very salty sauce at the bottom and a swab of avocado on the side. 3/5 for being too salty on the bottom Szechuan Lotus Root $14 - This was the worst dish of them all. Extremely salty, over used amounts of bean sauce absolutely demolished this dish (not in a good way). We practically had to "dry" our vegetables on our plate before consuming them. And we felt obligated to finish the vegetables given the price we paid. But $14 for Lotus Roots is an incredible rip off. I'm not sure if the restaurant was trying to make this a vegetarian friendly dish and overcompensating with the salt/bean sauce, but this clearly back fired and the $14 price isn't justified in anyway. Smoked Meat Carbonara $16 - At this point we had lost faith that the next dish coming out would be any better then the two we already had. The Smoked Meat Carbonara lacked seasoning in the salt, had hints of citrus and combined with snow peas and sugar snaps which was a really weird combination for Carbonara Pasta We were charged $3 when asked if we wanted a piece of Sourdough to go with the pasta when it was served which was something we would've appreciated being communicated up front. Overall the sourdough was the best part of this dinner but mind you it's soaked in butter/oil. The vibes here are nice and the service is good. The bathroom is actually really interesting as the walls have food menus from all over the world posted on them. But I don't just go to restaurants for nice vibes, I go primarily for the food and this is where the restaurant fell short. Really short. Wouldn't recommend and wouldn't return. Not sure how it has such high ratings. read more

Friend made reservations for 4 on an early Saturday night. We got there early enough for a spot in the lot behind the restaurant but man is that a tight squeeze. We decided to so the family meal since there was 4 of us.There was so much food, what a great deal. By the time we got to the last dish we tried a couple bites of it but had to pack it up. The family meal is a total of 7 dishes plus 3 desserts. You basically get to try almost the entire menu! Favorites were: long rice croquettes (consensus was more curry sauce please!), beet poke, ulu, pohole, and Brownie for me. My 2 drinks I got were good. The first one (a drink special that I can't remember what was in it or called) was the better one. Loved it all and can't wait to come back here to try the remaining items such as the laulau and fish sandwich. Service was also excellent ! Also loved the bathroom wall was decorated with other well known restaurant menus (like momofuku, girl and the goat). read more

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TL;DR: just found my newest must-eat on the island Came to celebrate an anniversary and were pleasantly surprised by a crisp glass of Prosecco upon seating :) Very cute spot with warm lighting - perfect for both group gatherings and intimate meals The music selection was on-point as well Drinks: - Vishnu's vice: fresh but a little on the sweet side - Mr Vecchio: strong and smoky - Inflation Libations: classic shot and a beer Food: - Amuse-bouche: cantaloupe(?) with bacon bits and mint - what a surprising flavor and texture combo to start off the meal - Pohole (4/5): savory veggie plate with added umami from the strips of nori - Peanut Tofu (3/5): sounded better on paper. Unfortunately the peanut flavor was not very prominent and the overall balance felt a little underwhelming. Perhaps needed a little more shoyu? Skipping for now - He'e Roll (4.5/5): a better version of a po'boy - chunky bites of tako with a mayo dressing that was perfectly cut with a squeeze of lime - 1/2 J. Ludovico Fried Chicken (MVP 5/5): easily one of the juiciest chicken dishes I've ever eaten. Add on the stunningly fresh limu salsa verde (!) and this dish is a no-brainer. Wow. - Handcut pasta (4.5/5): the ragu coated the hand-cut pasta perfectly - salty parm grated on and mixed into the plate added just the right amount of salt to keep us taking bite after bite - Dessert: Chocolate-Kiawe Bean Brownie (5/5): didn't think we had enough space for dessert so we originally ordered this to-go. Finished it at the table. Get this. Service was attentive and helpful - we mentioned that we were really hungry and the server helped guide us perfectly through the menu - Her "musts" (chicken and pasta) were spot-on along with the dessert recommendation - our drinks were never empty and stopped by the table multiple times to check, which was very much appreciated Mahalo Mud Hen Water for making this such a memorable anniversary meal! :) read more

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So good to finally get here after driving by for years. We live in the neighborhood but have never been till last night. We will definitely have to try breakfast and lunch here as well. Local fresh ingredients and creative menus makes Mud Hen Water so original. Not to mention the service is perfect! read more

Mud Hen Water - Ta'ape - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The day we went there was a lady learning. She made our drinks. I ordered a mock-tail and my parents ordered some drinks off the menu. We ordered some food which was well made and thoughtfully put together. The environment looked classy and made you feel like you were in a fancy restaurant. read more

Mud Hen Water - Bar at Mud Hen Water - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii