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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.
2 years ago
I've been wanting to try this place for a loooonnnggg time, maybe 6 months now? So finally, I've tried the dish that I came here for - chili crab noodles, plus some pupus they had since we're here at 4:30pm for their happy hour! Selected pupus from their regular menu were also on the happy hour menu but for a few bucks less. Came here with a friend, and we started the meal with the bone marrow and the kanpachi crudo. Both yummy! They topped the bone marrow with chunks of meat too, which is a little different from how regular restaurants serve bone marrow which I like! The toasted sourdough that came with it was delicious as well! As for the kanpachi, it was so delicious that we ordered two haha. The sauce was amazing, and the fish was so fresh. And of course the chili crab noodles. Loved how we could see 2 pieces of crab meat in there, but yes, only 2 pieces... wish there's more. The noodles had a good texture and was very flavorful. There might be some crab inside the noodles because the noodles got crab flavored but I couldn't really tell. But at least that was delicious too. To wrap it up, we got the Okinawan Ube haupia bar. Great flavors but a bit too sweet. We didn't get any of the syrup because the crust and the purple part was already too sweet. The haupia part was not as sweet which was more of our preference. Kamaaina show your id to get 10% off dinner menu items. Also parking is $2 per hour for the first 3 hours, then it becomes $8 per hour, in the Lilia condo garage, which can fill up pretty quickly so good luck. Our server was very friendly and helpful. Not very attentive, but the guy after her was a bit more attentive and filled up our water. We both loved the ambiance. Floor to ceiling large windows at a corner spot so you could see a lot of action! Very well lit. Modern light fixtures and furniture. Great for small gatherings and date nights too. Everything was great, but the reason why I didn't rate it a 5 because other items on the menu weren't very exciting. if I were to come back, I'd likely order the same things. Maybe I can try the crispy kanpachi? But the price seems a bit high for what it is too, and for other dishes as well. I don't know. Maybe I'll return, maybe not. read more
2 months ago
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2 years ago
Enjoyed the ambiance of this beautiful little restaurant hidden away in the Waikiki Market. Interior is beautiful, menu is creative, food presentation is aesthetically appealing, and service is excellent- but the food itself (and the prices) fell a bit flat in comparison to all of the other things 'Olili has going for it. I was really excited to try their Garlic Shrimp Forbidden Rice, but found the flavors to be muted despite the delicious ingredients listed on the menu. Otherwise, the cocktail menu is where they shine: my bf really enjoyed what I think was their Black Sesame Old Fashioned and I went for their Herbs & Tonic since I didn't want anything too high in alcohol at the time. 'Olili is definitely worth a try, but I would personally come again just for the drinks and general atmosphere and find food elsewhere. - Ambiance: 5/5 - Food: 3/5 - Service: 5/5 read more
2 years ago
Their parking entrance is on Walina Street, with about 3 levels of parking stalls, may the parking gods be in your favor. Located inside of Waikiki Market, the restaurant is a total vibe! I was pleasantly surprised by this place! Going in, didn't have very high expectations as I had assumed it would've been like a restaurant at a Foodland Farms type of deal, but the ambiance was real cute and clean when you got in there. The only thing I noticed is that the hanging rattan light fixtures above the 4-top tables were on the lower side. Servers and patrons kept bumping their heads on it, so just be mindful of that when moving around. The service from Angelina was on point. There were 3 other tables while we dined there, so her supervisor Kalen ran food out to us, while she took care of the other tables, also very pleasant service from him. Food was on point. Everything that we ate was a winner. Though their menu may seem short and sweet, I believe it's to keep costs down by pulling from products in their storefront and stick to a well-executed menu to keep on brand, without getting lost with too many choices. My only comment is that I noticed that they have a $75 3-course pre-fixe menu containing Hawaiian food (Kalua pig, chicken long rice, etc), which that seemed a little on the high side to me. Marketing towards tourists? I personally didn't go for it, but all of the ala carte menu items did not disappoint! Definitely a great space for any occasion! read more
Everything was so good - from the raw kampachi, to the crispy kampachi, to the garlic chili crab noodles - and I don't even like crab. Ha - don't ask why I ordered. The happy hour menu was only a few dollars off for food, but the cocktails and wine ($9 Malbec) were much cheaper - I think available 4-6pm, highly recommend. The Keiki burger was $15 and a portion large enough for an adult. We ended with the chocolate raspberry lava cake. It was not as molten as I'd like but decadent and still delicious. Overall, will make this one of the requisite stops next time I visit! read more
1 year ago
The food at Olili's is top of the line. I have visited this location three times in the last three days. This is the best food I have tasted in Hawaii hands-down the ambience is outdoor. The service is great but the chef and the cooks they make the best food in Hawaii hands-down these guys know their stuff !!! I recommend this location and I will be returning to this location. read more
2 years ago
Wow! If I could give 10 stars, I would!! This place is upstairs in the market, so don't be fooled and eat downstairs with the live musician. Upstairs is where you want to be. We sat at the bar and our bartender was so knowledgeable of the menu, the area, and cocktails in general. The drink I had was called "Shine On", and the coconut sphere was a nice touch. We shared a Caesar salad, which wasn't really your trademark Caesar. My husband does not like Caesar dressing but raved about this salad. We also shared the shrimp and root vegetables, all delicious. We weren't planning on dessert but the bartender talked us into the "mud bar". It had the consistency of ice-cream cake. I'm still thinking about it, a month later. If it wasn't our last night, we'd have gone back to that restaurant for dinner again. The restaurant itself wasn't too busy, and we were able to make reservations the same night. Definitely try this place if you're in town!! read more
Arrived about 5:30 on a Saturday night. Thankful we made reservations via Open Table. When we got there only three tables were occupied. By the time our party of 3 left, just about every table was full. Service was amiable and efficient, friendly and casual. Perfect for the informal atmosphere in this space located inside of Waikiki Market. When asked for suggestions our waiter and second waiter were happy to suggest with descriptions of the different dishes. Started of with festive happy hour cocktails. Two of us going with the recommended Lilikoi Mule. It was light and refreshing. Friend tried the Island Paloma. I don't mind trying that one next time. Described as tequila, lime, agave, hibiscus, and grapefruit... sounding refreshing also. Highlites on the food for us were the roasted bone marrow, guava smoked kanpachi dip, and the chef inspired lemongrass meatballs. Also had the duck confit croquettes which were tasty but a bit rich for us. The Garlic Shrimp Forbidden was tasty but a bit too greasy. The Chili Crab Noodles rather underwhelming. Points made back for the tasty desserts. We had the molten lava cake which was flamed at the table so we could sing happy birthday to our dinner companion. And the haupia ice okinawan sweet potato bar was so delicious, we all said we would return for that alone! Parking lot in the Lilia fronting Walina Street. Travel from Ala Wai Blvd and turn onto Walina. Parking lot on the left side of street BEFORE you get to Kuhio. read more
We came in with a group of ten. We made two reservations for groups of five since that was the limit. Luckily they were very accommodating so we got a long table that seated us all. Our server was Bryan. He was great! He had many suggestions of which foods to order such as the salad or how to layer certain dishes. We came at the tail end of happy hour. The drinks were good! I had the lilikoi mule. A couple of my friends had the mojito and the liquid huapia (which was delicious but strong.) Happy hour cocktails are $10 each but the selection is not the full menu. We ordered multiples of several of the dishes to share family style. That included the bone marrow, meatballs, salad, some sort of crudo, and the chili crab noodles. My personal favorites were the crab noodles and the bone marrow. The bone marrow tasted like pho! After we finished the bone marrow one of the bartenders asked if we wanted to do a shot of whiskey using the bone marrow as the shooter! You pour the shot in and let it soak in the flavor a bit for a minute or so. It can be a bit messy but my friend that did the shot said it was tasty. Great experience here and I'd love to come back! Service was stellar. For a group of ten people (averaging 2 drinks each) it came out to about $60 per person ($600ish total after tax/tip etc). read more
We went to Olili located on the second floor of the Waikiki Market. I was shocked to find such a beautiful dinning room in a market... We went there for the New Modern Luau. It a modern twist on traditional luau with a fresh innovative prix fixe menu that reinterprets classic luau fare. Think of the best upscale Hawaiian Food minus the fake hula dresses and coconut bras. A Classy yet Casual place to enjoy a really nice Hawaiian meal and it's right in Waikiki. One of the best parts is, you don't have to deal with the crowds or waiting in buffet lines. And just FYI: do yourself a favor and get the wine pairing.. it's just $25 more per person and so worth it. Prix Fixe Menu: $75 per person, $25 beverage pairing (highly recommend) PUPUS - Choice Of: Lomi Salmon house-cured salmon, ikura, heart of palm, Olakai sea asparagus, anykine crunch Or Beef Lu'au stewed taro leaves & short ribs, Ho Farms lomi tomato Main: Choice Of: Chicken Long Rice ginger simmered chicken breast, glass noodles, scallion-ginger pesto Kalua Pig & Cabbage braised pork belly, charred cabbage, Okinawan sweet potato, smoky broth Fish & Poi crispy skin Kona kanpachi, taro mash, lomi tomato, citrus-shoyu vinaigrette Beef Stew & Rice braised beef short ribs, MA'O Organic Farms baby carrots, potato salad, crispy garlic fried rice, fancy gravy Dessert: Piña Colada Upside Down Cake (v) roasted Hawaiian pineapple, brown sugar crunch, rum caramel, coconut ice cream Dinner from 4-10pm They also offer 10% Kamaaina discount along with 2 hours for $4 parking validation! The garage is located in the Lilia Walkiki parking garage on Walina Street read more
2 years ago
How AMAZING was this little gem! We were able to score a last-minute reservation for a party at six. We were seated in the corner overlooking the street. The bartender walked over and asked what we wanted to drink. One of the margaritas sounded delicious. But it Sounded like it would be too sweet for my liking. I explained that to him that I don't like sweet drinks and he made me a specialty cocktail...That was DABOMB!!! Now to the food. EVERYTHING was soooooo delicious. Every dish was unique and savory. The smoked fish was delectable. The salad was cool, crisp and yummy. The kanaapachi was succulent. I am so happy! You need to RUN yourself to this hidden gem! Don't be Leary when you walk through the market to get here either! Highlights: Wait staff = AWESOME Bartender = knowledgeable and kind and fast read more
Been here a couple of times. Each time has been great. They are essentially a foodland/restaurant Waikiki version - a bit more upscale and more $. They are owned by Food Pantry (same owners of Foodland). Food - 5/5 Drinks - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Ambiance - 5/5 We've had a few of their menus. Smoked fish dip is one of my fav. Seasoned well and very tasty. Wagyu burger was tender and delicious. Fries were ok but the Burger makes up for it. I'd substitute it with tater tots. Pulehu Half chicken with the chicken fat rice go so well together. Drinks were great. Happy hour is a nice plus. Ambiance is chill. Good people watching from the restaurant as well. Last but not least, service is awesome! Definitely must try if you're visiting Waikiki. read more
Wow what a find! Find your way into the Waikīkī marketplace (a gourmet market) and this restaurant is tucked away on the side by the windows (good for people watching if you like that. The food and drinks we ordered were all really delicious including their braised pork belly and cabbage, which is part of their interesting "modern luau" menu. The real highlight was actually our server Bethanie, who couldn't have been more helpful with recommendations. Highly recommended. read more
2 years ago
This was an unexpected treasure. We wanted to try someplace new and stumbled upon Olili. It's hidden upstairs within a market. You check in with the host up the stairs then taken inside the market to the back where this lovely spot exists. The service is friendly and great. Everything we ordered was delish. The baby gem lettuce was expertly stacked with peeled tomatoes! The kids both ordered the crab noodles and we both ordered the forbidden rice. Flavorful and beautifully presented. I loved the bone marrow. It had asian Thai flavors and was buttery goodness in my mouth. The bar dessert was also a top fav. The layers were good on their own but put together was so yummy. Definitely try this place when you are here. A bit pricey for a family of 4 though. read more
2 years ago
This is in the back of a market. It's small. We sat at the bar and the bartender was great. The food was okay. We got the tartare and the duck croquette. Then the crab noodles and the special which was a short rib and risotto. The tartare was the best thing. The croquettes are crisp on the outside but the texture in the inside is mushy. The noodles are good flavor but gummy texture. The short rib was good but the risotto was a little over. Overall it's not necessarily worth it but if you are there and it's available might be okay for other items. read more
This restaurant is a hidden gem in Waikiki. Ordered the garlic crab noodles, keiki cheeseburgers, kanpachi crudo, bone marrow, crispy kona kanpachi, gem lettuce, and lilikoi mule. Nothing disappointed! Service was so nice and friendly. Interior was beautiful and we got to sit by the floor to ceiling window. Kanpachi anything on the menu tasted so good! Good balance of acid, salt and fat in each dish. Loved the fusion of Asian flavor in the kanpachi crudo. The crispy kona kanpachi was a great Portuguese inspired dish. We came during happy hour and got to get the bone marrow and kanpachi crudo at hh prices. If you're in Waikiki I would definitely recommend this place. Afterwards we went grocery shopping as it is located inside the market. Happy eating. read more
We were spending time in Oahu with our friends and they wanted to treat us to dinner to celebrate our son's birthday. We had heard great things about this place, but never got the chance to go here. So happy we were able to make it here and enjoy their delicious food! We started out with the Black Sesame Old Fashioned which consist of toasted black sesame infused Four Roses bourbon, Japanese black sugar, and lemon bitters. Wowzers! I think this might be my new favorite drink! I ordered the Beef Stew with Rice and at first I was like, wait... is this right? I was expecting for a bowl of stew, but it came out on a plate all fancy. This taught me never to judge at first glance. It was so packed full of flavor and really felt like I ate beef stew, Yum yum yum! read more
My wife and I stayed a week in Waikiki recently and Olili was hands-down our favorite meal of the trip. Our service was provided by the bartender, Bryan, and it was excellent. Great recommendations, personable conversation. He was constantly busy building drink orders or doing prep work but was always there if we needed anything. Everything we ordered was outstanding. Just a ton of flavor. The Baby Gem salad is a riff on a Caesar and I (whom does not generally like Caesar salads) loved it. Adding the fish for protein makes it a great entree. The Grilled Shrimp Forbidden Rice was also great, though the shrimp may be a bit warm if spice isn't your thing. Don't pass on dessert - the Haupia "Mud" bar, specifically! The restaurant is upstairs at the Waikiki Market. There's another restaurant downstairs and signage isn't great, so keep looking until you're sure you're in the right place! read more
Olili is clearly the best dinner experience that my wife and I experienced in Honolulu! We visited on Saturday night. It is now Wednesday and the glow from our Olili experience has not worn off. Angelina was our server. She was a superb guide for our drink, appetizer, dinner and dessert adventure. The rest of the team was very charming and helpful. Each of the team members were highly professional and showed enthusiasm for their work. Olili offers a unique drink menu. It was hard to choose. The two of us had two different drinks each. Superb! The hand cut Angus beef tartare appetizer served with puffy beef tendons was incredible. I never tried it before, but not likely to be matched in the future. The shrimp with forbidden rice has a blend of unique flavors and textures. We both enjoyed it. My wife ordered the Chili Crab noodles which was fantastic! At the end of dinner we usually push away from dessert. That would be a big mistake at Olili. We shared a generous slice Okinawan Haupia "Mud" Bar. We never experienced a dessert so flavorful! Take small forkfuls, it is loaded with flavor - make it last as long as you can! Olili is a must visit gem In Honolulu! Mahalo to the team at Olili! read more
Ambiance- We sat at the bar and it was the perfect place to sit As the bartender was busy but kind and so attentive, Really nice service.. by waiters and bartender! Kanpachi crudités . So fresh, light, tasty, a perfect starter. Garlic shrimp. 4plus. Very tasty ... loved the rice Crispy Kanpachi soup 4 plus... tasty... what a great mixture Both servings of above were quite ample and Filling Mud pie... this was Yuuuumyyyyy!!!... get it!!! 5plys read more
3 years ago
4.5 stars rounding to 5. Excellent (but pricey) food, friendly service but a bit slow. Swanky /new location on the 2nd floor of the Waikiki market, with large floor to ceiling windows. Highlights: - duck ravioli $17: a winter special, perfectly cooked duck filling in a perfectly cooked fresh ravioli, served in a. Slightly spicy puddle of pho broth - crispy kanpachi $42: SO good, I don't normally eat pork but made an exception here. Flavorful smokey charred cabbage, crispy but tender Wasn't a huge fan of the braised beef rib risotto but the other 2 items were absolutely stellar. Service was a bit slow, but worth the wait all in all. Would come back for sure. read more
A friend had recommended this spot and we were eager to try it. We liked the setting and were fortunate to get a comfortable booth. The waitstaff was friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes. Our meal started so well with the beef tartare, duck croquette, and baby lettuce salad and two drinks (the haupia cocktail was fantastic). Service was so prompt and we were excited with what was going to come next. This is where it all started to go sideways unfortunately. It was almost thirty-five minutes before our entrees appeared and when ordering there were three of us sharing with a young child so had made sure to ask to have less spicy dishes if possible while our eldest had a meal herself. We had ordered two orders of the burgers and never anticipated that the burger itself was going to be spicy.., making our youngest not wanting to eat it and our eldest complaining as she ate it (not anticipating a spicy burger). The chicken dish had a spicy sauce (that our waiter had warned us) but hadn't anticipated really spicy salads to accompany it. The noodles were good but not stellar. I wish the entrees had worked for us but they didn't. Ironically when writing this review tonight I see another reviewer who had the same experience unfortunately. read more
2 years ago
No wait to dine in at the bar at 6:15pm on Sunday night. The chili crab noodles and ube mud bar were both delicious! Service was quick and staff is friendly. read more
Wow. This place honestly exceeded my expectations significantly. Ended up getting 3 apps and a dessert between 2 people and left perfectly satisfied. Location is on the 2nd floor in the back of a casual food market, a little confusing to get there but cute little corner. First off Bryan is an amazing waiter. He was the perfect balance of sweet, talkative, great recommendations but not pushy and attentive but not hovering. What we ordered: Drinks: Liquid haupia - (10/10) OMG must order this. Definitely sweet forward but not in an overwhelming way but also alcohol forward, great drink highly recommend. Pauwela water kefir (non-alcoholic) - (7/10) nice and light but maybe a little light in flavor. Food: Bone Marrow - (11/10) - this one blew my mind with the flavor combo, but you really have to have all the ingredients together (the herbs on toast before the marrow is key) best bone marrow I have ever had. Missing out if you don't get this. Cream of mushroom - (10/10) this was also amazing, they actually split this into 2 bowls for us since we were sharing. Great flavors the truffle really comes through. I don't even know what "crispy 'ulu" is but it went perfectly with the flavors. (Tasted like yucca) Local Roots - (9/10) pesto with the burrata and the roots (esp the lotus roots) were well balanced. The only thing that would make this better would be a little salty crunch on top or even just a sprinkle of coarse sea salt, but that might just be me. Dessert: Lava cake - (10/10) presentation was amazing and was perfectly rich, great ending to the meal. Definitely want to come back and try the chili crab noodles Bryan said they were amazing. read more
3 years ago
Loved this place for dinner. It's in kind of a strange location inside the supermarket on the second floor. We had the beef tartare to start and the chili crab noodles and burger as the mains. Beef tartare was fresh and interesting. The chips were fried beef tendon. The seasoning in the beef made me not taste the mustard as much which was great because I usually don't like mustard. Chili crab noodles were good and very well-balanced. I wished there was more of the crab for the price, and it felt a bit too saucy by the end. Burger was great with the bacon jam situation and all of the pickled things they offered on the side. Cooked to perfection at medium rare which was what we requested. Would come back! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
It was a bit confusing to where the restaurant was because it is in another store on the upper floor. We overall got sat pretty fast, I set a reservation online. The food came out rather quickly however, they do not list any allergies and do not specify ingredients on the menu. It will just say "Viet herbs." The bone marrow does have nuts. I had an allergic reaction. Staff just asked if I wanted to order something else instead during my reaction. It was hard to enjoy my food to it. I had hives the rest of the night. read more
We decided to go here for a night out while we're vacationing and it was pretty good! - The shoyu duck was a special and it tasted pretty good, I loved the lechon style okinawan potato. The prime rib was pretty good. The appetizer we got was the bone marrow, I wish there was more of it because it was SO GOOD. For dessert we got the okinawan Ube mud bar, and I wish it was colder LOL. They were super nice and gave us a complimentary cinnamon icecream scoop for our anniversary, and it was very tasty! - Upon walking in, we had reservations, got in a little earlier but was sat right away. The host was super friendly and the server was quick, friendly and professional. -parking was $20 and I wish they let us know that we could validate parking through them... but it's okay, well worth it. - It's located in the Waikiki market, so the restaurant gave a very farm to table feel, casual experience as well. I would recommend and I would go back! read more
3 years ago
This spot was so great! It was a lucky find, and it's just in the back of a bougie grocery store, but by the windows. We started with drinks, mine was lime oil & coconut over shave ice, so good. Then we got beef tartare with tendon puffs, and wow!!! So good!!! Main course I got prawns with forbidden rice, my husband got crab chili noodles, we both really liked them. Desserts were outstanding - my husband got the rainbow cake and he said it was the best dessert he'd ever had! I got molten mango pie, and it was so good. For the price this place is an outstanding experience. Our bill was a lot less than I expected it to be. Definitely check them out! read more
FOOD: 4 SERVICE: 4 AMBIANCE: 4 VALUE: 4 The first thing that hit us when we entered their area, was the wonderful smell. Wholly unexpected in a market, but then it makes Olili a true farm to market restaurant. We had the following dishes: Local Roots - a selection of root vegetables, fresh burrata served on a bed of nut pesto. A texture smorgasbord for your mouth, crunchy roasted root vegetables, soft burrata cheese and a nutty sauce to wrap it up. Chili Crab noodles - Pacific Dungeness crab served on egg noodles with saffron-tamale sauce with Shishito peppers. Delicious crab noodles. Garlic Shrimp Forbidden rice - black Chinese rice fried with Chinese cured sausage, pork hash, pea sprouts and roasted garlic and jumbo grilled shrimp. Perfect blend of taste. This was our first time back in Waikiki since the pandemic and I must say the quality of food has improved. Olili is a new wave of restaurants opening up in Waikiki. read more
Olili was one of our best dining experiences while visiting Oahu. The food was great and the service was impeccable. We didn't think to make a reservation until the day of, and the only remaining spot was for 9pm; so I highly advise making your reservation at least a few days in advance. The restaurant is located inside the Waikiki Market which is a grocery store. Our reservation was too late in the evening to poke around inside, but if I could do it again I'd make an earlier reservation so we'd have time to look around before leaving. It looked like they had some interesting stuff in there. The food: phenomenal. My partner got the Chili Crab Noodles and I got the Crispy Kona Kanpachi. Per him, the noodles were an excellent balance of flavors. There was enough crab to satisfy without wanting for more. Overall he said he'd 100% recommend. For me, the Kanpachi was more of an experience than a meal. Every bite felt orchestrated, like the chef had personally crafted every aspect of the dish to ensure the perfect ratio of flavors and textures. Again, 100% recommend. The service: top notch. Our waitress and the other team members were impeccable in their hospitality and attention to detail. They presented every dish as it arrived at the table, explaining the ingredients and techniques used in its creation. It was unlike any other dining experience I've had before. If you are staying in the Honolulu area you do not want to miss out on this absolute gem. read more
1 year ago
Really nice all the way around. Great food, prompt service, friendly staff, delicious drinks. We would go back for sure. read more
Amazing service, tasty food, stunning presentation. It's an interesting setting eating a nice meal inside a market but Olili really blew me away! Our server, Bethany was so sweet. She was on top of things with us having 2 kids in our 11 person party. Between us all we had chili crab noodles, NY steak, shrimp, half chicken, tartare, marrow, duck croquette, and fish dip. Everything was excellent but I would absolutely order the marrow and the shrimp again. read more
I have a personal rule and that is not to review establishments less than 90 days young. Olili is one of them. I also do not review because I give the establishment the benefit of doubt as they grow and iron out issues. That said and note: The 5th star is awarded to the management and staff's constant effort to provide good food and service. About the food- I usually order as much as I can as a sampler to a new place but this was not the case during my recent visit. We had - Kampachi Crude= I should discount a star because there were strings in the fish sashimi slices. But the counter was the flavor to the crude was spot on and the clean and beautiful presentation of this dish. Therefore 5 stars Bone Marrow= nice presentation and served with some braised oxtail topping the marrow along with pepper and cilantro garnish. Taste and temperature of dish served PERFECT. Therefore 5 stars Pulehu Chicken= Cooked to perfection and served near to room temperature and very very MOIST. Greens and chicken sat on a siracha tasting sauce. Fried rice with garlic chips served on the side ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Therefore 5 stars About the beverages- they have quite the selection of mix and you can convert the cocktail to a mocktail if you wanted to try the mixin's. Small selection of wine' bubbles, rose, white and red... some bottle only the rest have single glass pricing. My drink was the Shine On substituted the Run with Vodka. Drink served over a coconut water sphere....taste 5 stars, presentation 5 stars. Therefore 5 stars. Dessert was Chocolate lava cake. The lava was a raspberry mix and it was nicely plated. They fire up the rum and pour it over your dessert.... loved it. and therefore 5 stars Pricing? It's Waikiki what do you think? But they offer a 10% kamaaina discount with proof of residency. Parking? The fist time is always the scariest. But the skinny is. 10 Ala Wai Blvd, turn left on Walina, parking lot 2nd ramp up in the Lilia Property. Their pricing as offered on the website is incorrect. We paid $6 with validation for 2.25 hours. Go figure. Open Table Reservations available. We dined early. I recommend reservations because their dinner hour can get busy. read more
Amazing. That's the first word that comes to mind when I think of my experience here. The service was great - everyone was friendly and was great at explaining the different dishes and providing recommendations. The bone marrow was delicious. A lot of good flavors put together. I also tried the salad with the tomato bombs. I would highly recommend this. I don't even like tomatoes but that was the star of the salad. I ordered the forbidden rice with the shrimp as my main. It's like a fried rice and the rice itself is a bit more chewy, so I took a while to eat. But it was super tasty. I ordered the mango lilikoi dessert, which was like a tropical version of McDonald's apple pie. It was also amazing! The restaurant is located on the second floor inside of Waikiki Market. The host stand is right outside one of the entrances. Reservations can be made on Open Table. read more
The world food tour stopped in at Olili Waikiki, on the 2nd floor of the Waikiki Market (original location of the Food Pantry). We heard good things about this restaurant that focuses on locally sourced products and dishes that represent the best of Hawaii. Olili has a reasonably priced wine list; the prices ranged from $48 to $98. I chose a 2018 Grottafumata Terre Siciliane 'Lato Sud', made with Nerello Mascalese grapes. This was my first Sicilian wine; it was light in color, tinted with orange ... I tasted red fruit, mushrooms and some spice. A reasonably priced wine at $75. We started with Hand-Cut Beef Tartare and Bone Marrow; two of our favorite starters. The tartare was American Wagyu with pickled mustard seeds, shoyu egg yolk and ssamjang, served with puffs of tendon. The bone marrow was a mix of marrow, oxtail ragout and herbs served with grilled sourdough toast. The tartare was subtly flavored but moist; dry tartare is a no-no. The fried tendon was similar to shrimp chips ... Some were perfect, while others were too hard for my liking. The bone marrow was good but there wasn't enough marrow. I can see why the chef opted to add braised oxtail and herbs. The sourdough toast was perfect for the tartare. I loved the slightly pickled mint and cilantro. My partner chose the Pulehu Half Chicken and I opted for the Crispy Kona Kanpachi. The chicken was citrus marinated and served with a nice salad, "red rooster" sauce and chicken fat fried rice. The fish was served atop charred cabbage sitting in a Portuguese bean soup. We shared both entrées ... The chicken was excellent and a nice piece of crispy skin Kanpachi was flavorful. The Portuguese bean soup was very good ... It was an interesting and eclectic pairing. Dessert was Kilauea Chocolate Lava Cake and Affogato and an espresso for me. The cake was moist and chocolaty in the best way. My affogato was one of the best I've had; I didn't need the espresso. Most places that serve affogato don't give you enough coffee. This one was perfection! What did we think? I was pleasantly surprised by the bill; we received a 10% Kamaaina discount; thank you! I've spent more on wine than the bill with tip. To us, Olili is similar to Piko downstairs ... Olili is a place to get excellent food and service ... All at a very reasonable price. Highly recommended; 4.75 stars! read more
Okay, so when we came to the restaurant we were a bit hesitant because it is inside a market. But once inside, there is a separation from the market and the ambiance is actually quite nice. Our server was super helpful and the dishes we ordered were outstanding. For appetizers, we shared the bone marrow, which was absolutely superb, and the duck croquet (was good). For my main course I got the Chilli crab noodles , which had dungenness crab in a delicious noodle dish. I just wish it had a bit of a deeper flavor (perhaps the salt was a bit off but the lemon worked like a charm), but excellent nonetheless. My wife got the fresh catch, which was a swordfish -- perfectly prepared and the roe on the top was a perfect complement. My daughter got the shrimp forbidden rice, which came with chunks of pork, also excellent. Our server Bryan was super helpful. A definite 5 stars. read more
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Yes, there's restaurant parking in the building. Enter from Walina Street. Be sure to get validated!
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