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We had an outstanding experience at Olili during our time in Honolulu. Yoon was our server and he was excellent in every way. The food stood out but the service was the highlight of our experience. I would say that Yoon would shine as a server in a fine dining establishment, Olili is lucky to have him here. He was attentive, gracious, he described every dish with enthusiasm, he anticipated our needs and requests and elevated our experience to make it one to remember. The food was wonderful, especially the bone marrow, and the 3x cooked fries that came with our steak. Our steak came overcooked the first time but Yoon quickly took care of it. Everything was delicious and we will definitely come back. Had the service aspect been different, that may not have been the case. Thanks again, Yoon! The restaurant itself has a lovely ambiance, spacious, and with a nice view of Honolulu. (It's on the second floor, in case you have trouble finding it.)
A great happy hour with delicious apps and even better drinks! Greats service and just a dreamy spot to be during golden hour.
Dessert run... There's noting like treating yourself and here at Olili you can certainly have that here as this unexpected visit worked perfectly. You can find Olili up inside Waikiki Market a grocery store in the Lilia Waikiki you just need to take the elevator up to the second floor and look for the "Restaurant" entrance and what a lovely decor as you feel like you're transported away form the city vibe. They were quite busy so we decided to take a seat at the bar and watching the bartender make drinks was quite impressive but the show was my Kilauea Chocolate Lava Cake that I ordered and they pour the rum fire on it that was a fun and cool experience and though it might have been brief it did make me smile enough to enjoy and am grateful that Nadine had brought me here as I was hesitant to do so. The service was very nice and prompt even though they were obviously busy they all kept it together and we enjoyed our night out and treats which is what is the most important of it all. Thank you!
On my first night in Honolulu, I went straight to Olili, based on other reviews. I'm glad I did! Yes, it is a restaurant located inside an upscale supermarket on the second floor. However, when you're seated, you feel like you're in a nice restaurant, particularly if you have your back to the groceries. I started with the Herbs and Tonic cocktail. (I don't care for overly sweet cocktails, and this had a wonderful blend of herbaceous and tart flavors.) Basil, mint, shiso, lemon, tonic, and Tenjaku Gin. Surprising and refreshing. I chose to have a couple of starters and no main (something I often prefer when dining out). I got the Kanpachi Crudo, which was accompanied by lomi tomato relish, Thai basil, and Wai'anae citrus. So good. Light and packed with bright flavors. Contrasted with... Bone Marrow -- Honolulu beef bone, braised oxtail ragu, fermented chili crunch, Viet herbs, and grilled sourdough. A phenomenal overload of rich decadent flavors. For dessert, it was the amazing Okinawan Haupia "Mud" Bar -- layers of ube custard, macadamia nut crust, haupia sorbet, and shaved roasted sweet potato. Cold, sweet, and savory, with great textures. Excellent service from Crystal. And Jonathan at the bar became a friend of mine. A phenomenal meal and a wonderful experience. Pricy, but totally worth it.
Dessert in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii... After dinner, we used our Yelp apps to find a place that was still open and discovered Olili. We parked at International Marketplace, made a purchase for over $25 and got a $10 validation. We paid $2 upon exiting (instead of paying $12). I had made a reservation online via the Open Table app. We arrived before our timeslot and were told that all tables were filled. I pointed to the bar and asked to sit there. Yes! Bryan, the hard-working bartender, was very busy. He took orders, cleared used plates & utensils, and made drinks while being polite and friendly! He really hustled! We actually wanted the Rainbow Cake that we saw, but it was probably just a special at the time since it wasn't on the Dessert Menu. We ordered the Kilauea Chocolate Lava Cake and the Pineapple Upside-down Cake. We enjoyed the pouring of the rum fire on the Lava Cake! Both desserts were delicious and had beautiful presentation! This was a fun excursion - located on the second level of the Lilia Waikiki apartment building - alongside the Waikiki Market. It's a beautiful space... check out the lights above! Note: we forgot to ask for the 10% off Kama'aina discount
Olili is located inside of a grocery store, but it's very clean and inviting. I tried the bone marrow from the happy hour menu which was delicious. I also got the Pulehu Half Chicken which was so yum! An easy go-to dish if you don't know what to get. The Chili Crab Noodles were more on the wet side, and I had to request for the chili to be on the side as I'm not great with spice. The service was also great. I'd come back!
The food here is high quality, with a nice range of flavors and combinations. The seafood stands out, and the style is a sort of Asian fusion. Serve was friendly and smooth. Note that the restaurant is in a supermarket which doesn't really have any impact, but some of the tables have a pretty good view of people shopping.
Located at Waikiki market on the second floor. Went for happy hour but it ended at 5:30pm so got our first round of drinks and pupus and then ordered other dishes. The restaurant was pretty empty when we sat down, but started getting busier after happy hour. The smoked fish dip and kampachi crudo was a great way to start our meal. We did family style so had the chili crab noodles which was my fav, garlic shrimp forbidden rice, bone marrow which is more meaty than rich (which in my opinion made it taste so much better). Everything was super delicious and service was very friendly and attentive.
An elegant corner carved into the Waikiki Market, this upscale restaurant has beautiful decor and top notch service. The happy hour drew us in and I opted for their version of a Moscow mule, a bargain at $10. The local draft beers were also cheap and cheerful at $7. The duck croquettes $16 were extremely rich and filling and the presentation was very artistic, modeled after a pretty little nest. The kanpachi crudo $20 was exquisite with tasty cherry tomato chutney. The space was empty when we arrived but gradually folks started to stream in. We were satisfied with our happy hour haul but would come back to try the crab garlic noodles and other main dishes. Bonus points: took care of a little shopping at the Waikiki Market which is adjacent and easily accessible.
Came here for happy hour and it was great! There is Kamaaina discount for the regular menu but not happy hour. We just came to try their condensed milk mojito and the bone marrow. That was probably the best bone marrow ever! It had garlic, onion, and lemon grass. It was a Thai take on bone marrow. Delicious. Only part was that it was too small. It was one bone marrow with one piece of sourdough cut in 3 pieces for $17. It was on the pricey end. I definitely want to come back to try the other dishes. They do have parking in the building across but only 4 stalls. They said they are working on getting international market place a parking validated place. Service was friendly and the bartender was knowledgeable. The restaurant was very nice and modern. The natural sunlight comes in throughout the restaurant. I will be back
When in Oahu, I spend time looking for locally owned spots or ones that serve Hawaiian raised/grown food. I was excited to try Olili as it boasts serving a fresh farm-to-table menu. LOCAL ROOTS: We were just a party of two and didn't want to over order so we started with the Local Roots (although I wanted to order nearly everything on the small plates menu). I'd rate the Local Roots plate a solid 9/10. The root veggies, served with burrata atop a pesto base, were cooked to perfection. The root veggies were al dente and seasoned well. Small tweaks would have made this small plate a 5 star dish IMHO. I don't think the pesto was necessary and became slightly over powering - I think a splash of lemon or lime for some acidity would have been just enough. I also would have liked the dish to be served with bread to compliment the burrata and pesto which definitely ends up as some kind of delicious dip. GARLIC SHRIMP FORBIDDEN RICE: My first was to order the fresh catch as the way the fish was prepared sounded delectable. I was bummed to learn the fish of the day was Marlin, as I'm not a marlin fan. I ended up choosing the shrimp and rice dish. This was more like a 6/10. The flavors were good and the food was definitely fresh but there was something missing pulling it all together and justifying it being more than an overpriced ($29) rice bowl. It kept feeling like I was eating a bowl of Thai curry minus the coconut curry broth. There is sausage in the rice and it's a filling dish; I took half the rice home. NEW YORK STRIP: 6/10 - good steak, heavily seasoned with pepper and served over what tasted like a spicy bbq sauce which was a bit too sweet and spicy overpowering the steak itself. We ask for the steak sauce on the side and we're told "it is on the side" when in all actuality it is served under the steak. Since the person who ordered this doesn't easy spicy food, they had to scrape the sauce off the meat slice by slice. Again though, the root veggies were cooked to perfection and very enjoyable. If I returned, I'd probably order four or five small plates and a dessert to share and skip the entrees all together. Service was good; the server was friendly and staff checked in regularly. The location is inside a market but it's nestled away that the market is not a distraction. The lighting is well done in terms of low lamps for ambiance and decor. I would suggest moving the floor tables if possible away from being directly under any of the grocery store overhead spotlights.
easy reservation online, inside Waikiki market Came for date night :) good ambiance in side at night good décor Bone marrow - yes please - rich goodness that is cut with the greens - fish sauce based with some acidic, pairs perfectly with the sourdough bread. 100% recommend half chicken with - homemade red/siracha sauce - chicken was cooked just right, still juicy, flavorful skin, red sauce tasted more tomato based, not spicy at all, adds to the chicken. Combine with salad was same dressing from the bone marrow greens. Love the sauce works. chili crab noodles - noodles cooked right quantity of crab - very little ** but what was there was fresh sauce mixture pulls everything together. drinks: matcha sour - less sour more matcha and maybe slightly bitter as the drink sits - 1/5 coconut sphere - felt more citrusy with sour, quite good, recommend this one Reamend trying this place. Would come back again.
Located on the second floor, near the market. Reminds me of the Asian version of Eatly restaurant in LA/ Las Vegas you can practically see the grocery market right across. I would recommend grabbing a table sitting at the far right end of the restaurant cause it tends to gets noisy towards the host stand. Garlic Shrimp Forbidden Rice: Get this dish if you love juicy shrimp and fried rice. Dish is made with black grain so it's tougher to chew compared to white rice. I loved how the fried rice had sliced Chinese sausage and sliced beef bits. Kinda worked because there's a playful texture difference between the shrimp and rice. Fresh Catch (D): Made with fresh fish of the day. This time chef cooked up swordfish paired with many sliced bits of macadamia nuts and sliced of Chinese broccoli and fresh roe. Swordfish was soft, but didn't have much flavor as I would hoped. I'm not a big fan of 45% of the dish being really nutty, kinda overpowered the flavor of the dish. Liquid Haupia: Great coconut fruity and sweet drink. Rimmed with some flamed Li Hing Mui powder (sweet and sour plum). Black Sesame, Old Fashioned: Paired with a slice of lemon for scent. Heavy whisky flavor and bit more smokey side. Didn't notice much of the black sesame flavor.
1 month ago
Really enjoyed our dinner here! Everything was great, but the Wagyu burger was definitely the highlight for me. The mocktails were great too, and the atmosphere and service were both excellent. Looking forward to coming back! read more
2 months ago
First, never trust yelp reviews. Second, especially never trust Hawai'i yelp reviews -- I've had horrible food at some of these "4.5 star restaurants" and I really have no idea who is reviewing these places. For what it's worth -- from one foodie to another, Olili is worth your time and well earned money. Most of the other franchised restaurants along the street all feature dishes you've probably had hundreds of times in different variations and other places. For our very special vacation and limited time on the island, the last thing we wanted was another over sauced teriyaki entree. Olili's dishes were all quite unique using locally coursed ingredients. Aside from some of the authentic food trucks, this was the only place we enjoyed eating at. Even the Kanpachi Crudo, a very simple and straight forward dish -- left me picking at the plate because the pickled tomatoes had such a beautiful vibrant flavor. I don't even like tomatoes. Crab noodles were more hearty yet every single bite kept you lingering for more until the end. There was a great balance to its complexity, with slight acidity to keep your palate refreshed. Smoked Ono spread was a Winner as well. Least favorite was the Ikura with smoked salmon over taro. It was unique but felt like it was missing something, but not sure what. Highly recommended if you have a more refined palate. If you are looking for basic just go to Dukes or Cheesecake Factory or Rainforest Cafe. read more
2 months ago
We had an outstanding experience at Olili during our time in Honolulu. Yoon was our server and he was excellent in every way. The food stood out but the service was the highlight of our experience. I would say that Yoon would shine as a server in a fine dining establishment, Olili is lucky to have him here. He was attentive, gracious, he described every dish with enthusiasm, he anticipated our needs and requests and elevated our experience to make it one to remember. The food was wonderful, especially the bone marrow, and the 3x cooked fries that came with our steak. Our steak came overcooked the first time but Yoon quickly took care of it. Everything was delicious and we will definitely come back. Had the service aspect been different, that may not have been the case. Thanks again, Yoon! The restaurant itself has a lovely ambiance, spacious, and with a nice view of Honolulu. (It's on the second floor, in case you have trouble finding it.) read more
21 days ago
Dessert run... There's noting like treating yourself and here at Olili you can certainly have that here as this unexpected visit worked perfectly. You can find Olili up inside Waikiki Market a grocery store in the Lilia Waikiki you just need to take the elevator up to the second floor and look for the "Restaurant" entrance and what a lovely decor as you feel like you're transported away form the city vibe. They were quite busy so we decided to take a seat at the bar and watching the bartender make drinks was quite impressive but the show was my Kilauea Chocolate Lava Cake that I ordered and they pour the rum fire on it that was a fun and cool experience and though it might have been brief it did make me smile enough to enjoy and am grateful that Nadine had brought me here as I was hesitant to do so. The service was very nice and prompt even though they were obviously busy they all kept it together and we enjoyed our night out and treats which is what is the most important of it all. Thank you! read more
On my first night in Honolulu, I went straight to Olili, based on other reviews. I'm glad I did! Yes, it is a restaurant located inside an upscale supermarket on the second floor. However, when you're seated, you feel like you're in a nice restaurant, particularly if you have your back to the groceries. I started with the Herbs and Tonic cocktail. (I don't care for overly sweet cocktails, and this had a wonderful blend of herbaceous and tart flavors.) Basil, mint, shiso, lemon, tonic, and Tenjaku Gin. Surprising and refreshing. I chose to have a couple of starters and no main (something I often prefer when dining out). I got the Kanpachi Crudo, which was accompanied by lomi tomato relish, Thai basil, and Wai'anae citrus. So good. Light and packed with bright flavors. Contrasted with... Bone Marrow -- Honolulu beef bone, braised oxtail ragu, fermented chili crunch, Viet herbs, and grilled sourdough. A phenomenal overload of rich decadent flavors. For dessert, it was the amazing Okinawan Haupia "Mud" Bar -- layers of ube custard, macadamia nut crust, haupia sorbet, and shaved roasted sweet potato. Cold, sweet, and savory, with great textures. Excellent service from Crystal. And Jonathan at the bar became a friend of mine. A phenomenal meal and a wonderful experience. Pricy, but totally worth it. read more
Dessert in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii... After dinner, we used our Yelp apps to find a place that was still open and discovered Olili. We parked at International Marketplace, made a purchase for over $25 and got a $10 validation. We paid $2 upon exiting (instead of paying $12). I had made a reservation online via the Open Table app. We arrived before our timeslot and were told that all tables were filled. I pointed to the bar and asked to sit there. Yes! Bryan, the hard-working bartender, was very busy. He took orders, cleared used plates & utensils, and made drinks while being polite and friendly! He really hustled! We actually wanted the Rainbow Cake that we saw, but it was probably just a special at the time since it wasn't on the Dessert Menu. We ordered the Kilauea Chocolate Lava Cake and the Pineapple Upside-down Cake. We enjoyed the pouring of the rum fire on the Lava Cake! Both desserts were delicious and had beautiful presentation! This was a fun excursion - located on the second level of the Lilia Waikiki apartment building - alongside the Waikiki Market. It's a beautiful space... check out the lights above! Note: we forgot to ask for the 10% off Kama'aina discount read more
Olili is located inside of a grocery store, but it's very clean and inviting. I tried the bone marrow from the happy hour menu which was delicious. I also got the Pulehu Half Chicken which was so yum! An easy go-to dish if you don't know what to get. The Chili Crab Noodles were more on the wet side, and I had to request for the chili to be on the side as I'm not great with spice. The service was also great. I'd come back! read more
The food here is high quality, with a nice range of flavors and combinations. The seafood stands out, and the style is a sort of Asian fusion. Serve was friendly and smooth. Note that the restaurant is in a supermarket which doesn't really have any impact, but some of the tables have a pretty good view of people shopping. read more
2 years ago
Located at Waikiki market on the second floor. Went for happy hour but it ended at 5:30pm so got our first round of drinks and pupus and then ordered other dishes. The restaurant was pretty empty when we sat down, but started getting busier after happy hour. The smoked fish dip and kampachi crudo was a great way to start our meal. We did family style so had the chili crab noodles which was my fav, garlic shrimp forbidden rice, bone marrow which is more meaty than rich (which in my opinion made it taste so much better). Everything was super delicious and service was very friendly and attentive. read more
An elegant corner carved into the Waikiki Market, this upscale restaurant has beautiful decor and top notch service. The happy hour drew us in and I opted for their version of a Moscow mule, a bargain at $10. The local draft beers were also cheap and cheerful at $7. The duck croquettes $16 were extremely rich and filling and the presentation was very artistic, modeled after a pretty little nest. The kanpachi crudo $20 was exquisite with tasty cherry tomato chutney. The space was empty when we arrived but gradually folks started to stream in. We were satisfied with our happy hour haul but would come back to try the crab garlic noodles and other main dishes. Bonus points: took care of a little shopping at the Waikiki Market which is adjacent and easily accessible. read more
2 years ago
Came here for happy hour and it was great! There is Kamaaina discount for the regular menu but not happy hour. We just came to try their condensed milk mojito and the bone marrow. That was probably the best bone marrow ever! It had garlic, onion, and lemon grass. It was a Thai take on bone marrow. Delicious. Only part was that it was too small. It was one bone marrow with one piece of sourdough cut in 3 pieces for $17. It was on the pricey end. I definitely want to come back to try the other dishes. They do have parking in the building across but only 4 stalls. They said they are working on getting international market place a parking validated place. Service was friendly and the bartender was knowledgeable. The restaurant was very nice and modern. The natural sunlight comes in throughout the restaurant. I will be back read more
When in Oahu, I spend time looking for locally owned spots or ones that serve Hawaiian raised/grown food. I was excited to try Olili as it boasts serving a fresh farm-to-table menu. LOCAL ROOTS: We were just a party of two and didn't want to over order so we started with the Local Roots (although I wanted to order nearly everything on the small plates menu). I'd rate the Local Roots plate a solid 9/10. The root veggies, served with burrata atop a pesto base, were cooked to perfection. The root veggies were al dente and seasoned well. Small tweaks would have made this small plate a 5 star dish IMHO. I don't think the pesto was necessary and became slightly over powering - I think a splash of lemon or lime for some acidity would have been just enough. I also would have liked the dish to be served with bread to compliment the burrata and pesto which definitely ends up as some kind of delicious dip. GARLIC SHRIMP FORBIDDEN RICE: My first was to order the fresh catch as the way the fish was prepared sounded delectable. I was bummed to learn the fish of the day was Marlin, as I'm not a marlin fan. I ended up choosing the shrimp and rice dish. This was more like a 6/10. The flavors were good and the food was definitely fresh but there was something missing pulling it all together and justifying it being more than an overpriced ($29) rice bowl. It kept feeling like I was eating a bowl of Thai curry minus the coconut curry broth. There is sausage in the rice and it's a filling dish; I took half the rice home. NEW YORK STRIP: 6/10 - good steak, heavily seasoned with pepper and served over what tasted like a spicy bbq sauce which was a bit too sweet and spicy overpowering the steak itself. We ask for the steak sauce on the side and we're told "it is on the side" when in all actuality it is served under the steak. Since the person who ordered this doesn't easy spicy food, they had to scrape the sauce off the meat slice by slice. Again though, the root veggies were cooked to perfection and very enjoyable. If I returned, I'd probably order four or five small plates and a dessert to share and skip the entrees all together. Service was good; the server was friendly and staff checked in regularly. The location is inside a market but it's nestled away that the market is not a distraction. The lighting is well done in terms of low lamps for ambiance and decor. I would suggest moving the floor tables if possible away from being directly under any of the grocery store overhead spotlights. read more
easy reservation online, inside Waikiki market Came for date night :) good ambiance in side at night good décor Bone marrow - yes please - rich goodness that is cut with the greens - fish sauce based with some acidic, pairs perfectly with the sourdough bread. 100% recommend half chicken with - homemade red/siracha sauce - chicken was cooked just right, still juicy, flavorful skin, red sauce tasted more tomato based, not spicy at all, adds to the chicken. Combine with salad was same dressing from the bone marrow greens. Love the sauce works. chili crab noodles - noodles cooked right quantity of crab - very little ** but what was there was fresh sauce mixture pulls everything together. drinks: matcha sour - less sour more matcha and maybe slightly bitter as the drink sits - 1/5 coconut sphere - felt more citrusy with sour, quite good, recommend this one Reamend trying this place. Would come back again. read more
Located on the second floor, near the market. Reminds me of the Asian version of Eatly restaurant in LA/ Las Vegas you can practically see the grocery market right across. I would recommend grabbing a table sitting at the far right end of the restaurant cause it tends to gets noisy towards the host stand. Garlic Shrimp Forbidden Rice: Get this dish if you love juicy shrimp and fried rice. Dish is made with black grain so it's tougher to chew compared to white rice. I loved how the fried rice had sliced Chinese sausage and sliced beef bits. Kinda worked because there's a playful texture difference between the shrimp and rice. Fresh Catch (D): Made with fresh fish of the day. This time chef cooked up swordfish paired with many sliced bits of macadamia nuts and sliced of Chinese broccoli and fresh roe. Swordfish was soft, but didn't have much flavor as I would hoped. I'm not a big fan of 45% of the dish being really nutty, kinda overpowered the flavor of the dish. Liquid Haupia: Great coconut fruity and sweet drink. Rimmed with some flamed Li Hing Mui powder (sweet and sour plum). Black Sesame, Old Fashioned: Paired with a slice of lemon for scent. Heavy whisky flavor and bit more smokey side. Didn't notice much of the black sesame flavor. read more
We walked in on a Monday night at 6 and were surprised to see no other customers. The place is really cute and the food is good so I dunno why there aren't more people. We got: Crispy kanpachi with bean soup - 5/5. So good! How do they get the skin so crispy? Like the soup, bean, fish combo. Root vegetables with burrata - my friend enjoyed it Crab noodles - my friend said it was good and the few noodles I tried was tasty, but I didn't see much crab in it. More people came later, but I think this is a hidden jewel. read more
The yelp page caught my eye with "creative dishes" and really great reviews, had to give it a try after a long day of my conference. It did not disappoint! Interestingly placed right next to, connected to the market, the restaurant has a sleek, modern, well lit interior with beautiful hanging lamps, lights and subtle island decor. The service was impeccable! Our hostess who seated us was so charming. Our amazing waitress Bethany, I felt like more than just a patron, but more like I embarked on a culinary journey and she was our tour guide- not only was she knowledgable about every dish, but she knew how to sell it and was one of the sweetest servers I've had in a while - we really felt appreciated. I shared the smoked fish dip, and then I ordered the crab noodles. Everything was savory, well seasoned and very delicious. I also ordered the Hawaiian cup which is possibly one of the best cocktails I've ever had. You can tell the staff had passion for food and was so happy to serve their customers! read more
1 year ago
We went in with no expectations since it was right next to a food market but glad we made the decision to try this place. Been here few times now and every item we order hits . Our favorites are bone marrow, chili crab noodles and the desserts. Their cocktails are also creative . We will be back read more
We're scouting spots to bring friends visiting and this is a nice spot for happy hour. We were provided great service and kama'aina on items outside the happy hour menu. Trendy ambiance and they provide validated parking for their garage with entrance on Walina St. It's a small park area so may things be in your favor. Park discount was 50% off. read more
A friend and I were going for happy hour and for a new place to try, I chose Olili. We love trying new places in Waikiki within walking distance and Olili was pretty perfect because it's just a couple blocks from our condos and that night we were venturing out during a storm. We arrived dripping wet and our waitress let us sit in a nice booth by the window where we could watch the storm go by and roomy enough so we could hang our wet stuff without bothering anyone. The table was big and the bench seats were quite comfy. We lingered for a couple hours, had a couple drinks, and enjoyed a couple dishes each. During that time, we received tons of service and in addition to our main server and runner, 2 additional staff came by to greet us and offer to help. Afterwards, outside the shop, we ran into one server and he said hi to us. My friend had the liliko martini, duck croquette, and bone marrow. She loved the drink, thought the croquette had too much potato and not enough duck, and she loved the bone marrow dish. I had a draft beer, kanpachi crudo, and bowl of mushroom soup. The beer was nice and cold and served in an interestingly shaped glass, the crudo was beautiful and delicious, but there was not very much actual food. The soup with baguette was a good serving size, tasty and well prepared. The chunks of breadfruit and mushrooms added extra texture. I would've liked at least a few slices of a higher-end mushroom like shitake or oyster to make the dish feel more luxurious, rather than just the standard grocery store variety white and cremini. We'll be back. Tip. It's easy to make reservations online and it seems like they don't block-out preferred time slots. read more
We're looking for a great place for dinner to celebrate my birthday. Read the reviews and decided to check it out. Restaurant is inside a grocery store but don't let that stop you. The food is great! We tried lots of things in the menu. Prices were reasonable for the area. Kaffir butter broiled shrimp was my favorite. I should have ordered two of those! The duck was as okay, just a little dry for my liking. My husband had the half chicken and it was tasty. It was a good portion size. Service was great. He came around to check in but not too much to interrupt our dinner. The view is great, able to see the street below and all those passing by. Will go back the next time we are in town. read more
'Olili is the restaurant located in the back of the Waikīkī market. It's pretty small, and the menu is small as well. The dishes are Hawaiian inspired, but the portions were kinda small. We ordered several dishes to share family style. + garlic shrimp forbidden rice - this was one of our favorite dishes of the night. The shrimps were seasoned well but slightly overcooked. The rice was kinda crunchy and mixed with Chinese sausage. + chili crab noodles - the noodles were like ramen noodle. It was not too spicy. Good flavor but noodles were a bit clumpy. + stuffed won bok - this was rice and veggies stuffed in cabbage leaves. + fresh catch - fresh white fish served with gai lan, and macadamia nut tabbouleh. This was another favorite. Overall, there's nothing really special about this place, like no great view nor music, and I'm not really sure how Hawaiian the food was. But the staff was accommodating, and I enjoyed the dishes. read more
OMG this was one of my favorite places to eat during our trip! Appetizers: Bone Marrow - I finally got to try it! Flavorful with the fresh herbs to match the meat - so good!! Kanpachi Crudo - I love my fresh fish and Kanpachi is soooooo good Mains: Chili Crab Noodles - The crab wasn't too much and I was expecting more of the Singaporean style so it wasn't that but still yummy!! Garlic Shrimp Forbidden Rice - this was our fav main dish!! The shrimp was so plump and the forbidden rice a bit crispy and delish!! Desserts: Kilauea Chocolate Lava Cake - they make it burn for a show but it's so rich and delish! Okinawan Haupia "Mud" Bar - I was not expecting to love it this much but it is so frickin good!! I liked it even more than the lava cake believe it or not! If you love purple sweet potato you will absolutely love this and the coconut gelato was lighter than I expected and highly recommend even if you're doubtful! Drinks: Hawaiian Cup - this was my favorite refreshing EVER!! 10000% recommend! Matcha Sour - it was dang strong so it wasn't my fav but it was really pretty and unique! Super friendly staff and BEAUTIFUL eating space overlooking the streets of Waikiki. Right next to the Waikiki market which has tons of goodies to take home. This is part of my must try places to eat in Waikiki Youtube video! read more
We had high expectations, given that Olili bills itself as "contemporary cuisine rooted in the traditions of Hawaii." Unfortunately, it does not deliver. It oddly shares a space with a supermarket. We had the smoked fish dip, Kanpachi crudo, local roots, and fresh catch. Nothing really stood out or was memorable. They have decent cocktails, but the wine list is weak. read more
Olili is a little tumor restaurant attached to a grocery store. It's upstairs overlooking the relatively rough Kuhio Avenue. We were seated quickly in a mostly empty restaurant (glad I had a reservation). The table was devoid of anything resembling plates, napkins, utensils or glasses. Clearly they weren't expecting us in spite of the OpenTable reservation. Anyway, our server (Angelina) was friendly enough when she was around but was basically MIA until 20 minutes after the food showed up. The guy (I assume the boss) was rude and condescending especially when problems arose. I'll talk about the good. The bone marrow was amazing though it was served with sliced sourdough that was tough as a quilt. The rice and salad mix that came with the chicken was actually good. Everything else was downhill. The rest of the food took a while. The half chicken was dry and pretty tasteless without the gobs of bright red pseudo-siracha sauce. I'm glad they gave us sharp steak knives for the chicken; nothing else would cut through that jerky. The crab noodle dish was nasty. Noodles were globbed together with this weird soupy sauce that had tasted like a toxic blend of fishy lighter fluid. The 1/2 oz of crab (literally one bite) was chewy and fishy. We looked at this plate for 20 minutes until Angelina came by and we sent it back. She had to ask if we knew about the garlic. We live 20 miles from Gilroy, the garlic capital or the world. We know what garlic is supposed to taste like. Do they know in Oahu? Nobody came by to refill water. For 20 minutes nobody asked about the food. We had to flag the boss down to get extra plates. Anyway, boss man had to give us grief for gnawing on the 1 square inch of crab before sending the food back. They took it off the bill, but really service here is trash. They get 2 stars for the bone marrow. Never going back. I'd recommend the same for my readers. read more
2 years ago
There aren't enough great things to say about this location. This was an amazing find, and it was near a hotel and it was the first night of our vacation. The bartender was perfect. He was insightful. He was helpful when we entered the restaurant. There was no one there so we sat at the bar with the bartender. He said we could order and eat there as well. We didn't have to eat in the dining room so we said of course we'll do that. There were menus to choose from with so many great options we started with appetizers we had the Bone Marrow which is the Honolulu meat Company bone and it had oxtail Ragu in it and some chili it was full of flavor. The presentation was beautiful. I had to drink the Hibachi Rita it was refreshing and spicy with the sea salt rim For dinner, I had the fresh catch with Ikura and Gai lan which is the Chinese, broccoli, delicious, and full of nutrients. Everything was flavorful and just delicious. The Ikura on top of the fish was great every bite into the fish with the Ikura was like pops of savory with touches of salt. We we dined our first night and went back our last night for drinks read more
3.5 stars.. This place was on second story and shares space in a market. A nice market, like a Whole Foods type but still a marketplace? So you can see ppl shopping while you eat. They try to make it really fancy. It fell flat for me a bit. We decided to get the 3 set course meal and split and then order the haupia dessert they have in addition. The food was beautiful but it was small.. and the pulled pork came out as a soup. The drinks were good except for the haupia drink? That neither of us cared for. It tasted nothing like it says it does... so you can skip that one. Your welcome. The most dissatisfying thing was the dessert! The haupia one to be exact! It's the most beautiful dessert! It even photographs well! I was so excited! It was frozen solid to begin with.. so that wasn't great.. and to make matters worse. I love haupia! This tasted like soap! Very floral? After a bite or two to confirm neither of us wanted it:( Also our service was painfully slow? We did both like the pineapple upside down desert:) read more
'Olili in Hawaiian means sparkling and shining . It is located on the second floor of Wakiki market overlooking the busy streets of Wakiki . Happy hour is the best time to go as both food and drinks are shaved a couple dollars . Menu items includes the bone marrow , kenpachi crudo , duck confit. I mostly got the appetizer and could have added the entree and fill myself up . Instead I chugged down bone marrow luge with whisky and added the Okinawa Hau pi's mud bar to add in some calories after the drinks . Food was good but not filling . If you are at hh , order one entree if you are hungry . HH Portion sizes are small . Dishes : Bone Marrow Honolulu Meat Co. beef bone, braised oxtail ragu, fermented chili crunch, Viet herbs, grilled sourdough Diamond Bakery soda crackers Kanpachi Crudo (GF) 23 lightly cured, lomi cherry tomato relish, crispy Thai basil, Wai'anae citrus Okinawan Haupia "Mud" Bar (V) ube custard, macadamia nut crust, haupia sorbet, shaved Okinawan potato Dessert was the best imo. Perfectly balanced flavor . Ube not overpowering .Not much other meat that goes with the bike marrow . read more
The selections at Olili was interesting and wonderful. I chose the popular bone marrow and shrimp with forbidden rice. Ended with the flaming chocolate dessert. The ambiance was pleasant and open with the many glass windows. The restaurant is in the market. Service was prompt and courteous. I enjoyed all aspects of the experience read more
Amazing! We are so glad we decided to go here for our last meal in Oahu. The food was fantastic! We wished we were more hungry because there were so many other dishes I wanted to try. After looking at the menu, we ordered the hand-cut beef tartare, crispy kona kanpachi and the burger. Everything was flavorful and tasty but my favorite was the burger. The patty was perfectly charred and juicy paired with the best pickled onions and cucumbers. The Kona kanpachi was very crispy and I enjoyed the beans in the dish. The beef tartare was served with deep fried tendons and that was also very tasty. The only thing that didn't wow me was the sesame old fashion. I had a few sesame old fashions before and this was just too subtle for my liking. The ambience was very chill yet modern. The decor makes this restaurant look very upscale so you forget it's located in a market. Service was personable and attentive. We would totally recommend this spots to friends who visit the island. read more
Very delicious food here! Easy to make a reservation online through OpenTable. The restaurant is located next and technically inside the Waikiki market upstairs. The space is still very cute, fitting for both date night and family dinner. Our server was very sweet and patient with our table but the overall service was a tad slow. Had the parents with us and they're a bit picky so she kindly put in the first order for us and came back around to get the rest of the order. I did have to ask about a cocktail that took way longer than normal to come out. The butternut squash bisque and the shoyu short rib are on their seasonal fall menu. The short rib was a bit too salty for me but I loved the entire texture of the dish. The tteokbokki had the perfect amount of chew and was mixed in with a floral rosemary. I tried a bit of the forbidden rice and shrimp and it was so good too! The rice was cooked perfectly and has a different aroma than regular jasmine rice. The molten mango pie was the perfect recommendation as well! It's just slightly tart and was so gooey and warm inside. Not an artificial flavor. I'd definitely come back here for another dinner when they have a new seasonal menu! read more
Olili is located on 2nd floor of Waikiki market. The restaurant is small but cute and fits the aesthetics of the market. All the food we ate so spot on. Our server recommended the Shoyu Braised Short Rib dish and we're so happy we ordered it. It had tteokoboki and enoki mushrooms, a perfect balance of flavors with the short ribs read more
Was craving a fresh Caesar salad so found this place! It's in the shopping center on the 2nd floor. We got the French fries, baby Gem lettuce & the chili crab noodles. The chili crab noodles had the flavors of a paella with lots of spice. There was an okay of amount of crab in it. It was bursting with flavors! I really enjoyed this. It is very spicy though. We also got the baby gem lettuce which was crunchy & refreshing. The Caesar dressing was just right and it tasted great with some lemon on it. I love the sprinkled bread crumbs and the amount of cheese. The fries were pretty standard but good overall! Definitely ask for the miso aioli with it. It's divine. read more
2 years ago
Olili is located on the second floor of the Waikiki market. It is a modern Hawaiian restaurant with heavy Asian cultural influences throughout the menu in particular Vietnamese flavours. Some comments have mentioned small portions but I have found the portions to be appropriately sized. We had the bone marrow, baby gem salad, kanpachi, crab noodles, and the shrimp fried black rice. I enjoyed everything here and even the kids menu items were also quite good. I found myself sneaking a bites of my kids tater tots. The bone marrow is topped with crispy oxtail bits and served with bread. This was really delicious. I also particularly enjoyed the fish. The skin was crispy and the fish was moist. Paired well with the beans and sausage it was served over. read more
2 months ago
Located in the Waikiki Market on the 2nd floor, this is centrally located right in the heart of Waikiki right on Kuhio. If you're in this part of town and want a slightly fancier spot that still feels relaxed, this is the perfect option. From the cocktails to the apps and entrees, Olili does not disappoint. Coupled with really friendly waitstaff, it's just a really nice place to have a meal when you're in Waikiki. We love it and will definitely be back! read more
2 years ago
Such a wonderful restaurant in such a surprising place! We came here on our last night in Oahu and got seated quickly with no reservation- we even got to move tables when a window-view table opened up! We ordered the duck croquette, garlic shrimp forbidden rice, and chili crab noodles. Everything was SO yummy, especially the forbidden rice, which uses purple rice (fun texture!). We were also celebrating a birthday and the staff were kind enough to give us a cinnamon gelato scoop- super creamy and not too sweet!! This restaurant is located on the second floor of the Waikiki market, tucked away on the side. It's intimate and classy and, best of all, not incredibly crowded. We walked there but I would caution parking as it's basically on the Waikiki strip. Would definitely come back for another meal! read more
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