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    Nico's Pier 38

    3.9 (4.8k reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, American, Bars
    Open 6:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Nico's Pier 38 Photos

    Business Info

    NICO'S PIER 38 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Live music
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Nico's Pier 38

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    Bbq chicken
    Alex M.

    This is such a cute little spot! My uncle took us here on a Tuesday and it was nice and chill. I believe we were here around 12-12:30 PM and it wasn't too packed. My family ordered Loco Moco, BBQ Chicken, Hamburger Steak and Chicken Cutlet. Everything tasted really good! I love how filling the dishes are. I got the Loco Moco and it came on a bed of rice with a side of chow mein and macaroni salad. Definitely a filling meal lol. Water is free, the staff is kind and parking is convenient in a big lot. My family were happy with their dishes and it's safe to say everyone left super full and ready for a food coma lol. The prices are fair for the amount of food. There is live music which gives the place such a nice charm. Outdoor seating by the water on a beautiful day added to the experience and I would totally come back :)

    Ono with Lob sauce
    Paul R.

    We were very excited to visit Nico's as we had recently seen Nico on an episode of Guy's DDD. Nico's sits right on an active working fish pier, so if you sit outside, you can see all the activity as the fishermen prep for their next trip. There is also a chance to see the sunset. , We did secure a table on the covered patio and thoroughly enjoyed the early evening breeze and pre-dinner cocktails. Our dinner was OK. I ordered their catch of the day, and my ono with lobster sauce was a tad overcooked and dry. It was not dry to the point of returning it, but definitely overcooked. Plus 1 ordered the shrimp scampi pasta. The shrimp were sautéed perfectly, however the Parmesan garlic crème sauce was lacking flavor. , Based on all the 4 and 5-star reviews, our experience was probably a one-off, so if you are visiting, you should give Nico's a try. If you are seeking a more upscale dining experience, Nico has another restaurant next door, Nico's Upstars, which has a more French cuisine influence reflecting Nico's French roots.

    During
    Roya J.

    Last time I came here I was less than impressed. My fish smelled funny, and it was overcooked. This time was, however, a completely different experience. The photo cocky he was cooked to how I asked, the salad was fresh. The brown rice was a little on the dry side, but not too bad. Order service is friendly, but not sure what tip is for since you order a counter, pick up food, and bus your own table, lol. Has nice ambience with dark views, an amazingly very little to no flies. Parking can be a little tricky close by, but plenty closer to the street.

    Grilled Ahi Sandwich*
    Janet C.

    Great spot with easy parking and nice views. We had the Ahi Sandwich - and while this picture doesn't make it look great... it was absolutely delicious!! A must try! The bread was soft and I think it had a wasabi aioli??? The ahi tho - WOW, perfectly prepared and full of flavor. The wine menu was not that great.... so if you are ok with just drinking beer, you'll be fine. Would I go back? maybe.... the menu was limited, so not sure what else I would want to try.

    View
    Tommy M.

    I'm in town for business and my coworker said to me hey you wanna go to lunch at a really nice place that has great food. I'm like yes, let's do it. It's in the harbor or the port rather where all the shipping containers are at and some fishing boats. Kind of an odd location but at the same time if you want to get fish, then no better places one that's located directly on the water. You do have a scenic view as you see in my picture and the facilities is really nice inside really set up for a lot of people inside there. They have live music, which is outstanding. A little pricey when it comes to food, but at the same time, I will say that the food was delicious. It is kind of oddly set up where you pay for your food first and then they give you a buzzer and then when it goes off and you go pick up your food in a cardboard, kind of box with plastic silverware so it kind of misses a little bit of the ambience that I was looking for which is you know if you're gonna pay $30 for a plate of food you would kind of expected maybe get silverware but I'm not gonna knock them for that I mean it is a nice place and with great food.

    Fish n chips
    Joanne J.

    Walk-in, grab a menu and pick your table, then head to the register to order your food. This place has a great vibe. There's a gift shop and a full bar....sounds risky. I got the poke bowl, hubby got fish n chips. Food came out quick. The salad dressing was fresh and zippy, even quite umami. Quite delish - wait, not really... it's fricken awesome! The fish n chips came with one large filet of fish and chips. Not sure what kind of fish but it's dense and meaty. I took a bite and 'oh wow" escaped my full mouth. Great place, great food, definitely a place to come back to.

    Menu
    Jackie W.

    The waitress recommended the pulehu kabli ribs, that's what I got and it didn't disappoint. The Kabli came with rice, Kimchi, green beans and carrots.

    CATCH OF THE DAY **
    Hayli C.

    The food was amazing! The atmosphere was soo neat! You have to order at a counter and self serve your drinks. We were told no matter what the catch of the day was an amazing so we got it and the chicken katsu! Both were amazing! Fun restaurant.

    Night time view
    Tin Lung C.

    Located at Lier 38, a lot of free parking. They do not take reservations, so just walk in and wait. We went on a Wednesday around 6pm, a group of 10 people. This placed was packed with people. Open air set up, they have inside and outside seating areas. They also have life music, the guy sing for two hours non stop. Menu is simple, seafood, burger, salad, etc. plenty of drink options. The service was good, we had a great time dinning there, enjoying the music with light breeze come from the ocean. Recommended.

    Literally the smallest bread bowl I've seen and inside of it is half bread . 17$ not worth. Fisherman's stew. 0/10
    Sarah V.

    Ahi Tuna plate with mashed potatoes was the only solid thing on the menu. Not amazing but not terrible. 7/10 Fish bites 3/10. They were soggy and no crunch on the outside Fisherman's stew - 0/10 so small and not even tasty. Worse than clam chowder in a can French fries 4/10- similar to the ones at a diner. Thick and bleh. I prefer shoe string fries Overall the vibes and the live music , service was all good but just food was mid and underwhelming...

    Live music on a Friday happy hour.
    Paul H.

    Nice casual place locals like to go for good food, casual atmosphere, and good service. Live music is a pleasent bonus.

    Poke and sushi from market next door.
    Steve S.

    This place was awesome! A little bit for everyone. If you're a poke lover then walk into the fish market next door and choose from their 6 selection of poke. The Mai tai was awesome, but so was the chicken katsu, margarita pizza and burger. I will definitely return. Wanted to try the boat captain's fav the fish/clam chowder but I'll do that next time. You won't be disappointed. FYI. Order at the register then pick up at the pick up place when your order is ready.

    Garlic shrimp pesto
    Dan A.

    Been here a few times. Food - 4/5 Ambiance 4/5 Service 4/5 Can get busy at different times. And if it is sunny out, you maybe stuck at a table under direct sunlight. Service is good but when busy, expect slower service. Food is good. I've tried a few items on the menu Ahi steak is highly recommended. Seasoned well and cooked perfectly - medium or medium rare. Salad or salad go well with it along with your rice Garlic shrimp is also very good. Very buttery and garlicky so for those of you that may be a deal breaker. But if you like garlic shrimp, go for it. Dessert is good as well. Plenty of variety. Peanut butter bar is good but very rich. Recommend sharing this with 2 or 3 ppl. Haven't had a bad dessert here either. Love music on certain times are a plus.

    The view

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    Nico's Pier 38 Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Nico's Pier 38

    How's parking at Nico's?

    Lots of parking options. Some stalls along the side of the building, a small dirt lot has stalls, and a bunch of stalls closer to Nimitz.

    What time is happy hour?

    Aloha Andrew, Although we don't offer a traditional happy hour, we'll be serving Pupus (Appetizers)… Read more

    Do they have Happy Hour? If so, what time and what kind of specials?

    Yes they do

    Is there capability to seat/serve a table of 9 to 10? Mahalo

    Yes.

    Do they have a kids menu?

    Aloha! We do have keiki friendly items but it's just not listed on the menu. Please ask any cashier/server and they'd be happy to tell you the selections! Mahalo.

    Is there still a time limit when dining in?

    The restaurant appears to operating at pre-covid capacity. It is open seating. If you need to host a party, I would recommend calling restaurant.

    I have a party of 6 and would like to know if we arrived at 6pm on a Saturday. How long a wait time can we expect?

    with a party of 6 I suggest you get reservations at Nico's Upstairs. That's prime time on a Saturday and I've waited an hour for table for 4.

    This there still road construction going on at night?

    Yes there is. It stare at 7:30 pm every night. It's still pretty easy to get in and out of.

    Are you open outdoor dining?

    Yes they have outdoor dining available

    When is happy hour? What does it include?

    4-6. Pupu's available

    Do we need a reservation?

    No reservation needed. Just line up and place your order. Then they will hand you a transponder and thats when you find your seat. I'd suggest getting the seat first though because the line to order can be crowded.

    Do you take reservations?

    Aloha Yvonne and Mahalo for your question! We do not take reservations as we are a first come first… Read more

    I wonder if you'll ever serve Michelob Ultra? Talking to different bar tenders there, they said a lot of people ask the same question. It's now very popular with locals & tourists alike. Hoping it happens. Would consider coming more often if so.

    Please don't serve Michelob Ultra. Water has more flavor. 🤪

    Is it possible to replace the hamburger bun with lettuce for "lettuce buns"?

    Totally! We do it all the time. Just let your server or cashier know and they'll be more than happy to accommodate you.

    How is the parking?

    We have a huge free parking lot, including the dirt lot located in front of the restaurant as well as parallel parking located on the side.

    Gluten free options?

    Although all fish are gluten free be aware of the sauces used for that fish. The sauce may not be gluten free. They are wonderful over there so just ask.

    Do they serve butterfish?

    So on the regular menu the answer is no but I have to imagine that it would be on their specials rotation. We had a great dinner when we were here

    When are you open at Thanksgiving day?

    We will not be open Thanksgiving day but will be open regular hours the following day (6:30am till 9:00pm)

    I saw in on a google search that dogs are allowed in the patio seating area, is this true?

    Yes! Dogs are allowed outside in the patio area. We like to take our pups here after a hike & keep them on their leash.

    Is there a private room for meetings or gatherings?

    Yes, there is none.

    View All 27 Questions

    The Social Honolulu

    The Social Honolulu

    4.0
    (425 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    I swear I remember drinking and eating here and everything just slapped. Maybe it's because I'm…read moresober now? The food isn't the same as it used to be. Took a while to get seated even though the restaurant was lowkey kinda empty. Oysters weren't fresh and had a weird after taste to them. The pasta is their speciality I must say. Probably the only thing worth coming back for (and their drinks if you drink). But the ribeye wasn't that flavorful or tender. Just felt like any other ol meat. Vibes are there on weekend nights though if you for the right group!

    My sister-in-law (SIL) invited me to attend the Earth, Wind and Fire concert at the Blaisdell…read morearena. She was meeting up with her girlfriend and five others for drinks and pupus at The Social, on the second floor of the Ward Village Northeast parking garage. She found a parking space on the second floor (how lucky is that?) and we went to Nordstrom Rack and TJ MAXX as we were early. This was my first visit to The Social. You enter via a single door and walk left down a hall past two sliding entry doors (on your left) that aren't used (strange), and find yourself in a long, relatively narrow space with three rows of tables ending at the kitchen. There must be more to the place than I saw because I didn't see the bar nor a large room that I saw in pics on Yelp. My SIL and I ordered Monkey 47 gin & tonics ($10ea) while her friends ordered a house red ($8), a JPOP Chu-Hi ($8) and food. We ended up with Garlic Chicken ($21.95, more like popcorn chicken), Truffle Parmesan Fries (16.95), and Shrimp Spring Rolls ($18.95). The latter looked like crispy cones and was served with a sweet, chili sauce. The (relatively small order of) Fries came with small containers of Ketchup and Aioli; the Chicken came in a bowl. The others at our table ordered tofu salad and sliced steak, which they shared with us. The food was tasty and well presented. My sole quibble was with the fries ... It was way too small an order for the price charged. I liked the place but the hard surfaces (floor, walls, and ceiling) made it pretty noisy. The highlight for me ... $10 for a Monkey 47 gin & tonic ... A steal!

    Photos
    The Social Honolulu
    POV: Brussels sprouts and oyster shooters. So good I forgot to take a before pic
    POV: Brussels sprouts and oyster shooters. So good I forgot to take a before pic
    Truffle Bacon Penne Pasta ($24) - bacon, black truffle pate, beurre blanc, penne, shredded parmesan

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    Truffle Bacon Penne Pasta ($24) - bacon, black truffle pate, beurre blanc, penne, shredded parmesan
    Nonna’s

    Nonna’s

    5.0
    (14 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    While the menu doesn't offer a large selection of food options, the items on the menu are all very…read moredelicious. We ordered the charcuterie board, 2- ballconi, and caprese. I sincerely thought it wouldn't be enough food to fill me up. I was wrong. My husband and I are usually big eaters and we were both full. He ordered a bucket of beers - 5 for $25 which was a nice deal. The Nonna's Special Drink - "Lost In Rome" was both pretty and delicious! The service was excellent! It's a family owned business and family operated. They are very friendly, down to earth, and it's easy to kind of feel like family, even as a customer because of how easily they chat and talk to you as if you've known them a long time. Upon first walking in to the main entrance, it felt a little strange since this used to be a Foodland. But when we were sitting at the bar talking story, we kind of forgot that we were sitting in one small eatery that is a part of a larger food court type environment. It was a Friday night, which apparently is salsa night. There was an open area kind of in the middle of all the eateries where there was a couple teaching salsa to people who are interested in learning. From what it looked like it seemed that these were all individual people that showed up separately but partnered up to learn the dance. Overall, I would definitely recommend you check this place out. We liked it so much that we're going back again tomorrow night.

    Locally owned and family curated, to say we enjoy Nonna's is an understatement. My brother and I…read morewere coming here once a week at least. Friendly and personable, we were immediately remembered after our first visit. The soup is ono, the meatballs are awesome, and my fav is the Caprese salad. Enjoy your food at the bar where you can talk story all you like with the bartenders. Thursdays are line-dancing nights and Friday is salsa nights - both are very popular and everyone is friendly. Drink at Nonna's and enjoy the events.

    Photos
    Well organized liquors and they keep everything clean
    Well organized liquors and they keep everything clean
    Caprese
    Caprese
    Meatball dish

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    Meatball dish
    Eleven

    Eleven

    4.1
    (198 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Tim, the bartender, makes me feel welcome and also disappears into the background when I'm…read morechatting with my husband or guest. That's an art right there! Love his helpful suggestions, his pineapple shaved ice drink is not only an art piece but delicious! Tart, lightly sweet, icy, the scent, texture, the beauty! I'm a horrible photographer so I can't capture it to show you but just get it! You're welcome! I love their bourbon, candied bacon... the best! The Sunday brunch is simple, easy, and reasonable. Don't bring more than a table of 4. Also, not for kids. This is a magical, quiet place for adults, an oasis in the midst of the Ala Moana noise and craziness. My new favorite spot especially when I'm alone.

    The service here is awful. The food and cocktails are okay…read more Hidden within the Foodland Ala Moana Center is a bar behind a wooden door on the makai/ewa side of the store. It has bar seating, cocktail lounge seating and a few "dining tables." The food is pretty good, I would give it a 4/5 because the portions are rather moderately small. But overall tasty and the bacon is outstanding. We had to order 6 items for 2 people to feel slightly full. But the menu is also fairly small with just tasting style apps meant for sharing and enjoying, they are not hearty and not meant to be entree sized. The cocktails are great, they do a wonderful presentation complete with smoke and etc. They have an extensive whiskey list and the options are are all diverse (mules, daiquiri, mescal, champs) yet standard. Now the service is pretty bad, greeted and asked repeatedly if we had a reservation which we did, we almost felt unwelcomed. Then the older skinny bartender perhaps in his 60's was very unfriendly and tried not to talk to us, take our order or even acknowledge us even though he was standing in front of us drinking water from his water bottle. This guy needs to work at a gas station or something where he can just sit in a corner and not speak to people. I wouldn't come here again, but if I were in the area and craving bacon I suppose I would. =) Bad service is just so off-putting.

    Photos
    Lup Chong, Ginger Chinese Persillade and Roasted lemon chicken
    Lup Chong, Ginger Chinese Persillade and Roasted lemon chicken
    Chocolate Decadence Jubilee
    Chocolate Decadence Jubilee
    Haupia Chia Seed Parfait

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    Haupia Chia Seed Parfait
    Chao

    Chao

    4.4
    (405 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    After two visits, Chao has officially earned a spot on our regular restaurant rotation. My wife and…read moreI came back because our first experience was so good, and somehow the second visit was even better. What really stands out is how well they balance quality, value, presentation, and service. It's not often you find a restaurant that checks every box, but Chao has been consistently impressive each time we've dined there. The staff is warm, attentive, and genuinely makes you feel welcome without being overbearing. Our must-order every time is the soft shell crab pasta with blue and topped with a perfectly crispy soft-shell crab. It's rich, flavorful, and one of those dishes you find yourself thinking about long after you've left. We're also huge fans of the homemade shrimp chips served with the ceviche. The fresh seafood paired with the light, crispy chips is a combination that works incredibly well and makes for a fantastic starter. Consistency is what keeps us coming back, and Chao has delivered on every visit. Great food, beautiful presentation, excellent service, and prices that feel fair for the overall experience. We'd absolutely recommend giving this place a try, and we'll definitely be back to work our way through more of the menu.

    I've been dying to go here & we finally made it for date night!…read more My Ranking so far: #1 - The beef carpaccio was a highlight of my visit, this is a must! #2/3 - My bf got the Whole Moi + chicken fat rice & he was a big fan! #2/3 - I personally preferred the Chicken wings w/ caramalized fish sauce. It was good but also on the smaller side in terms of portions. #4 - The Soft Shell Crab Pasta was very buttery & garlicky, nothing super crazy. I highly recommend adding spicy sauce (on the table) in there, it was much better after! Next time I really want to try the duck breast salad!!

    Photos
    Interior dining room with bamboo-like lighting
    Interior dining room with bamboo-like lighting
    Fried Spring Rolls - Ch Gi
    Fried Spring Rolls - Ch Gi
    Ube Dream

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    Ube Dream

    Nico's Pier 38 - seafood - Updated July 2026

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