PAI... We wanted to love you. We really do. The outside dining area in the protected breezeway was perfect, covid-era, ambiance for us. The service was also exactly what you'd expect from a restaurant like this. But even though you could tell the chef was really going for it, we just didn't think the food was special. If looks counted for taste (you eat with your eyes, be damned) I think this place would get 4-stars. But our entrees (pork belly and scallops) were just too pedestrian for those prices. Both were good, but not fine dining in our opinion. if you were to ask me today if anything stood out, I wouldn't be able to give you a great answer. And so that, in itself, is our answer. But hey opinions vary. Maybe you should try this one yourself and render your own opinion. read more

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What a fun experience! PAI is a perfect place to visit if you're looking for a tasting menu that delivers. They have options for this; the chefs tasting menu with 8 courses which is $185pp or the monthly prix fixe, which is customizable and $95pp. We opted for the $95pp option and did not regret it. Location is weird, to be blunt. You would never just stumble across this place. It's located in a tucked corner inside a city building, which keeps it a bit stuffy, but the decor is gorgeous. We sat outside, which is completely covered and semi-indoors. I would sit inside next time. Our server, Leah, deserves 5 stars and beyond. She was fabulous. Funny, knowledgeable, and provided excellent service. She was always there when we needed her, but never overbearing. As a plus, she took fabulous photos! We basically ended up trying just about everything on the menu. Some items were fantastic and others were a bit lackluster. We were not blown away by the cocktails, even after trying quite a few, but the first course (the cornbread) was kicka**. Best cornbread I've ever had. The salads; both the candy cane beet salad and the crab and avocado salad were delicious. One of my favorite courses. Even more delicious was the pasta course. The curry bolognese was FANTASTIC. Such an unexpected and perfect combo of flavors. The mushroom lasagna with blue cheese creme was also really tasty. Sadly, the main entree course was our least favorite. Two of us ordered the short rib entree, which was disappointingly bland and average. Especially for an up-charge, it wasn't worth it. The short ribs weren't as tender as we had hoped and there was close to no sauce on the plate, leaving the whole dish dry. The hamachi redeemed this course, which was flavorful and perfectly cooked. Luckily, we were sharing so we did get quite a few delicious bites each. Desserts were all great. No complaints there. Overall, we had a nice night and an enjoyable experience. Huge thanks to Leah for taking such good care of us! read more

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We were able to get reservations for Saturday date night and so happy we gave it a try. Parking was a breeze and with the indoor and outdoor seating everyone was spaced and socially distanced. Service was impeccable from our prompt greeting, seating and throughout the meal. Our server was excellent and everything came out perfectly timed. We had the Prix Fixe Menu with wine pairings. Why bother having to choose when Chef Kevin makes it easy for you to taste some of his specialties. We were not disappointed in any of the dishes. Beet & Lentil salad, Smoked Salmon Crudo and my fave Agedashi Turnip Cake (Smokey flavors with thin sliced turnips slightly crisp). We shared the pasta main courses and the deserts so we got a taste of everything offered. I loved the Pumpkin Agnolotti, a perfect vegan option. Oh, and the complimentary cornbread was heavenly. I had to share mine with hubby as he insisted it was the best cornbread ever. The wine pairings were special with some really great selections. They even refilled our glasses which we don't see done at many other Restaurants. Chefs wife Justine checked in and chatted with us and made us feel welcome and special. We are looking forward to our next visit! read more

PAI Honolulu - Ragu - New American Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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An all-around amazing experience. Excellent staff and amazing taste! The time we arrived when we left, we felt like valued customers and special guest. From the bartender to the chef, everybody was friendly and very accommodating. We look forward to going again and tasting more collectible treats on the super menu. read more

Unassuming yet totally OTT in a good way when it comes to service, menu and food. Located in the lobby of an apartment building, you would never think that this place would knock your socks off, but it definitely does knock it out of the ballpark. This was our anniversary dinner that my husband surprised me with and I couldn't have been happier. He arranged the 8 course (yes 8!!!) tasting menu for us with wine pairing. My favourite courses were the Chilled Lobster with cauliflower ajo blanco, and the Agadashi Turnip Cake. Our server was one of the best storytellers, both with his knowledge of the food prep and ingredients, and the wine pairings and background of where they came from, and why they were selected. I would come back here in a heartbeat, but as listed, it is $$$, so this will be one option for special occasions for us. Will definitely return sooner for a la carte dine in. read more

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This restaurant deserves a Michelin star!!! We had been to PAI a few years ago and loved it! Decided to go again and try their prix fix 4 course menu. To celebrate my nieces high school graduation. The atmosphere is lovely with an open kitchen for us to see where all "the action" takes place. We started with with shrimp chips that brought back childhood memories of growing up in SF and their amazing buttermilk cornbread with miso honey butter. The citrus cured Kampachi was great and my favorite dish Ginger chicken risotto was divine! The subtle flavors infused were delicate and bursting w flavor. Honestly I will dream about this this dish for many years!! The vanilla custard French toast was out of this world. If you want to go on a culinary experience that will permeate your senses you must go to Pai. read more

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PAI is genuinely one of the best restaurants in Honolulu. We had reservations for a Thursday evening and chose the chef's tasting menu. Every single dish was crafted perfectly; the flavors were elevated and very thoughtful. We didn't want the dining experience to end! We were able to observe Chef Kevin Lee curate each plate meticulously and the open concept was lovely! You can definitely feel his passion in the kitchen. Also, the staff were awesome and quite knowledgable (Khristian is a sommelier so he had the best recommendations and he's super knowledgeable on the wine pairings). We enjoyed every dish and my favorites were the Lamb Look Fun, Sisig Lasagna, Chilled Lobster, and the Turnip Cake! In terms of drinks, I highly recommend Lehua and Smoked-out Cortes. I can't say enough good things about PAI - will definitely come back again! read more

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I tried really hard to like this place, though the understaffing, slow service... is not the best way to get patrons to like them. The pricing alone suggests for the dollar ding. Food is great tasting. Though, it took 3.5hs to get the 3rd snd 4th course. read more

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Very very very disappointed experience dining here. On February 2nd my girlfriends & I came to dine here, our reservations were at 5pm. We were looking forward to trying this place for a while & unfortunately our excitement quickly turned into disappointment. In the beginning of our dining experience we told our server that our friend has a very serious pistachio, hazelnut, & cashew allergy & can go into anaphylactic shock. We purposely ordered accordingly since they weren't able to accommodate for the premixed pesto in the ginger chicken risotto & ginger maitake arancini dishes. We asked for the kampachi without pistachios, the server brought us the kampachi dish WITH pistachios. So the dish had to get sent back. Then we ordered the roasted parsnip & fennel salad, we only ordered that because the description on the menu did not have any nuts in it; which is a huge red flag for anyone who had a nut allergy. When the salad was brought to our table, my friend with the nut allergy put salad on her plate & as she was about to eat it, luckily, she noticed there were nuts in the salad. We asked the server what those nuts were, she had to ask the chef, & come to find out they were hazelnut. Thank God we noticed the nuts before our friend started to eat the salad. The item was sent back. What was supposed to be fun & relaxing dinner after a very long work week for the 3 of us, turned into a very displeased experience. We kept having to be extra vigilant by checking our food because our server did not take the situation seriously. She looked annoyed every time we had to send dishes back that contained nuts, & gave us half ass apologies each time. She did not seem genuinely sorry at all. At the end of the dinner, we left feeling upset & saddened by the experience, especially by the lack of urgency to the situation. I will be calling management when they are open on Thursday to discuss this matter. We are very blessed that our dining experience did not turn into a traumatic one had our friend ingested nuts because of carelessness on the restaurants end if she went into anaphylactic shock, had to get rushed to the ER, & possibly died. This is the first time my girlfriends & I have dined at an establishment that lacked empathy, understanding, & urgency to this serious matter. We understand mistakes happen but we had to remind our server 3 TIMES about the nut allergy, at that point, it was carelessness. We still tipped 20% on over a $350 bill, I'd say we were more than generous. To make up for the server's constant mistakes, all she did was bought us a round of drinks & took the salad off of our bill. That is not enough at all to make up for the frustrating experience we had. read more

PAI Honolulu - Hazelnuts in salad that was not in menu description - New American Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We had the opportunity to dine twice at Pai, once on Valentine's Day and the second time more recently at Chef's Table. The ingredients are fresh, the dishes innovative, and the plating beautiful. However, we were not "wowed" by the taste of the majority of the dishes. PARKING: Parking available in the structure. Validation provided. INTERIOR/AMBIANCE: Large interior. Bar seating, counter seating (for Chef's Table), and dining room seating available. There are even some tables and chairs outside of the restaurant for overflow. The first time we dined at Pai on Valentine's Day, the tables were basically as close together as possible with minimal privacy. Of note, bathroom is located in a separate structure a short distance away; must ask staff for key. FOOD: The food on Valentine's Day was diverse, but not amazing. The cocktails, too, were ok. The same can be said about the food on the March 2020 Chef's table menu. We did have some favorites, however; our favorite being the dish titled "Opihi", which featured truffle potato mousse, wakame, celery root, matcha, seaweed powder. Personally, I also enjoyed the lobster katsu curry, which was avial curry, tamarind katsu, puffed rice, fingerling potato and root vegetables. The desserts on this occasion were pickled mango gelato (with li hing, cherry miso semifreddo) and dark chocolate haupia (with blood orange, cacao nibs). Although the li hing was slightly overpowering in the first dish, it did add a unique flavor to the gelato. Overall, both desserts were tasty. SERVICE: We were one of the few patrons in the restaurant on the second occasion, so service was quite good. The primary server was friendly. Similarly, the staff was also very friendly on the first occasion, but we were not seated until about 30 minutes after our reservation (it was Valentine's Day, so understandable), but service was noticeably slow. OVERALL: Food is decent, and we were definitely full after we completed our meal at Chef's table. May return for the lunch specials or to try items off of the regular menu. read more

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This is my new favorite go to date night spot. I consider this place to be fine dining but aloha style. What I mean is, you can dress casual but enjoy a five star preset meal. The ambiance is chill. Service is very attentive and they answer every question while also explaining in detail where the ingredients come from and how the food is prepared. Book your reservations now and enjoy some ono grindz! read more

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A hidden gem. Stumbled on this small restaurant by accident and I can't stop thinking about it. I've never had such welcoming service and out of the dozen or so items I had, none of them missed. Cocktails were wonderful, and I had to stop and think after every bite I had. I have worked in restaurants my entire life and words cannot describe how perfect my experience was. Me and my friends were lucky enough to meet the Chef/Owner and hear his story, and I cannot wait to go back and experience more. The best restaurant on the islands. read more

PAI Honolulu - Chilled crab & corn soup, Kona Kanpachi - New American Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Haven't been here in a long while. It was nice to be back. New menu, great service and good food. They still have the Chefs tasting menu and now you can choose three or four Course menu options or just small plates if you choose. read more

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Came for restaurant week and PAI Honolulu and it was awesome!! Making a reservation was really easy. There are only A handful of tables, so reservations are highly recommended. They even text you to confirm your reservation and make sure you're on your way. The service was soooo exceptional. The waitstaff is knowledgeable and friendly. They bring the right dishes to the right table setting and refill the right glasses with still or carbonated water. Everyone is smiling and responding so politely, it's just lovely. Since it was restaurant week, we ordered the set dinner menu. I liked that they offered options for the restaurant week courses. There was a choice of beet salad or salmon Crudo to start, then Tako or soup, then pork or risotto and lastly lilikoi tart or chocolate brownie. I got the salmon, the taco, the pork and the lilikoi tart. The salmon was delicious, and a little spicy. The injury tasted like yuzu and the fennel salad on top was something I've never had before. The Tako was great. It came with some mussels and baby scallops in a curry sauce. The pork schnitzel was good. The breading was flavorful and crisp and I liked the red cabbage it came with. Lastly, the lilikoi tart was great. It wasn't too sweet or sour, it had some matcha powder sprinkled on top and baby shiso leaves that made it look very fancy. There were also wine pairings for an extra $25. Yessss my entire bill for just me came out to $115 including tax and tip. It was pricey, but it was honestly one of the best service experiences I've had at a restaurant and the food was delicious. read more

Hidden Gem! Pai Honolulu's atmosphere was terrific, the local live music by Taz Vegas was awesome, he played and sang some of the classic Hawaiian songs from the 80s and some new stuff, fitting the music with the audience. The volume of music and conversation was just right, perfect setting to enjoy pupus, cocktails, and talking story. We had the pizza, bread sampler, cornbread, cookies, and shrimp chips and all were so ono, I loved their fancy cocktails mixed up by Torie (sp?) with the Calamansi Drop being my favorite followed by the Lehua. Service by Lauren and Kate was excellent too! This is a great place to enjoy with friends and family or to impress that special someone. read more

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Thank you, to the chefs and members of PAI. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with smiles and we were walked to our seats. Khristian was our server and for the 8course taste menu. He opened up with suggestions of the unique Hawaiian spin on cocktails. My wife got the Ominous Pleasure, which is like a light Mai Thai. For me, I got the Hi'iakainamakalehua. Fragrant, delightful and not too sweet. My wife and I had very little experience drinking wine. As Khristian introduced us to each of the pairing wines before another dish, it made it enjoyable and fun. He also helped us not to feel intimidated with wine. Each of the dish are seasonal and prepared perfectly. The chef, Kevin Lee is of Chinese descent and grew up in SoCal. I told him how lots of the dish remind me of dishes my grandma would make for me back in Taiwan. We had a time where the chef would come and ask how we like the food. He explained the foods are to represent a blend of his Chinese background with Ingredients from the island of Hawaii. It was both and me and my wife's first time at a restaurant like this. We felt intimidated at first, but honestly, it was extremely fun and whether you're a local or visiting, it is worth scheduling a time at PAI. We felt cared for and after our meal, felt like good friends with everyone there. What an experience! read more

Another fabulous 5 star experience! Chef Kevin out did himself again! We will be back and we can't wait! First class all the way! read more

So due to concerns from COVID, my friends and I were unable to keep our appointment at PAI (I was very very sad). HOWEVER... PAI was able to do a take out menu for their Prix Fix Course and my friends and I couldn't be happier! Presentation (5/5) - Wow...literally the first words to come out of all our mouths! Because our dinner was for a birthday dinner, they kindly boxed up our meals in individual boxes. With it personalized, we were able to know who's meal was who's without any confusion. Due to their nicely packaged plates (or I guess containers in this situation) no food was disturbed and we were able to enjoy the beauty of the chef's presentation. Taste (5/5) - each plate was filled with flavor, good portion sizes, and tasted wonderful. From the appetizers to dessert, every bite was mouthwatering and made our taste buds dance. I probably will try to request for more bread next time if it's possible...it was soooo good, I really wanted more! If you want the fine dining experience with your friends or loved ones at the privacy of your home, consider ordering from PAI! Although the experience would have been grander at the restaurant, we were not disappointed by the quality of the food and time the chef and the staff put into making our birthday celebration a wonderful one! **DISCLAIMER - I forgot to take a pic of the Hamachi dish because we were so busy talking and eating that by the time I realized, it was too late read more

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Starting off, the wait staff was incredible during our dinner experience here. Everyone was super polite and friendly; we were even fortunate enough to sit at the counter where the head chef personally served us our tasting menu. We were also given a special menu that said Happy Birthday and a small treat at the end. The food was an interesting mix of all types of Asian food ranging from Thai curries to Chinese inspired meats. Each dish was carefully plated and presented - and each ingredient meticulously sourced and picked. Some dishes though felt a little overly seasoned and complicated, the flavor profiles felt like they were clashing too much personally for me. One example was paring the steak with pears - a little too sweet with my savory. Though the courses were fantastic, the time spend there was quite long even if you eat fast. We had reservations at 7 pm and I believe we didn't finish until 9:30 pm! You will definitely get quite full towards the end. One thing that seems nitpicky, but I feel like I should bring up is parking. The parking structure is in the same building and only costs a flat $3. However parking validation from PAI resulted in only $1 off. When spending more than $200 per person at a restaurant, it would be nice if at least parking is fully covered! Overall, the restaurant's head chef has great ideas and fantastic presentation. Some courses were a bit hit or miss and a few nitpicky details knock this down a star for me - with a restaurant in this price range, no detail is too small! read more

Pai is a spectacular fine dining restaurant in downtown Honolulu. A must try for anyone visiting the island. Unique creative dishes from the innovative mind of Chef Kevin Lee. You really won't find anything else like this on the island - this is the type of quality, service, and gastronomy that you'll find in big cities like San Francisco, New York, and Hong Kong, but with the local island flavor and Asian influence. Amazing foodie experience! I always find time to make it over to Pai when I am back in the islands, so I've been here 5-6 times over the years when I'm in town. As for the experience, you really need to do the chef's counter or prix fixe to get the full experience. They have an amazing selection of wines and champagnes to pair up with the meals and also to celebrate your big event. Unsurprisingly, they've won a ton of awards over the past 5 years and I look forward to seeing more amazing accomplishments come from the team in the coming years. read more

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The food here was amazing! I tried the 8 course chef's tasting and absolutely loved every dish. It was local meets hybrid tastings and I really can't categorize it in any category. My favorites out of the list is chilled lobster, inaniwa udon, and the bbq brisket gnocchi. Also the buttermilk cornbread is out of this world! Also they validate as well so you can feel free to park in the parking garage. read more

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This was likely one of the most enjoyable meals I've had in recent memory. I opted for the four course prix fixe tasting menu and was very pleased with the execution, food quality and service. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and fully explained all of the options on the menu. We began the meal with the shrimp chips and salmon mousse with yuzu ikuru (fish roe) with house-made sourdough. The shrimp chips were almost addictive and the sourdough with the mousse was incredible. I didn't want to stop eating but the meal had not yet even begun. All items tasted were very pleasing but I only have time to discuss my favorites. The beets were excellent and I don't even really like beets. The Maitake mushrooms were outstanding and like nothing I have ever eaten. As an omnivore, this was a really stand out dish I could have eaten all day. But the absolute piece de resistance was certainly the vanilla French toast with shaved foie gras. After the initial bite, I felt so elated I considered fainting. I opted to remain conscious and continued to eat every morsel. This was paired with a few sips of Madeira and was the perfect conclusion to an outstanding meal. The service matched the meal and it was a special treat to sit at the counter and watch the open kitchen. Everyone was very coordinated for a high quality delivery. Excellent job. Strong recommend. read more

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Delicious! We came here for my sister in law's birthday! Will definitely be coming back. The food is excellent as well as the service. The kiawe smoked old fashioned was awesome. We ordered multiple appetizers, pasta and seafood special. read more

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PAI is one of those places where presentation and quality take the place of quantity. My partner and I ordered the crudo and salmon to split. The server told us we need to add another down because it wouldn't be enough for two people. He was right. We added the curried cauliflower. I also choose a cocktail called Two Peas in a Pod. It was super sweet, but I liked the flavor complexity a lot. The couple we went with ordered the oysters, a scallop fettuccini and this insanely expensive aged beef. The restaurant had a lot of gluten free options, they don't like to alter their menu at all because it changes the presentation, but most of the menu is pretty safe. We started with oysters for the table. I'm not into oysters because they're kind of... Oceany. Bad descriptor. Umm they're cold, salty, and chewy. Better. I picked the tiniest one and was surprised at how good the flavor was with the hot sauce. I'm not a convert, but it's no longer a hard no. The cauliflower in Madras curry was by far my favorite dish. It was really delicious, flavorful and perfectly cooked. I am going to try to figure out how to make it at home because it was literally that good. The crudo was very small and not my favorite. Flavor wise, it was decent enough, just small and I would've liked more vegetables. I did appreciate the Thai flavor of the chilis and peanuts. Again, it was beautiful presented, just tiny. The salmon was not as spectacular. It was plated nicely, but lacked the complex flavor of the other dishes. It was cooked well, with some sort of sauce, tasty kale, and crunchy chickpeas. I loved the kale and chickpea combo, but the salmon needed something. Salt? Citrus? Dunno. The portion was also small for $38. I had a single small and more well done bite of the fancy aged beef. It was delicious! The portion on that dish was more reasonable. I didn't eat the pasta, for obvious gluten issues. There was nothing left in the table at the end of the meal. Service was very good. Our server was attentive and extremely knowledgeable. The restaurant is small and nice. I think there were more people working than being fed, which seems strange on a Saturday night. This place makes a great date night when you want to celebrate something. Or if you are just tired of the same old standard flavors everywhere else. Oh shoot... The whiskey. My friend wanted a measure of Buffalo Trace on a rock. There was this whole discussion of how nice this rock was. If you're not a whisky snob, you probably won't care. The drink came out with this gorgeous, perfectly clear block of ice in it. He actually asked for a to go container to take it home so he could have another drink with it. The woman who he asked was so confused. But when she figured it out, she was delighted because her cousin owns the company that makes these special ice cubes. I thought the whole interaction was pretty amusing and uplifting. read more

Review is based on dine-in, table seating. We made reservations to have dinner at PAI Honolulu on Christmas Eve. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the gracious manager. He made us feel right at home and gave us a table right in front of the kitchen where we had an up-close view of all the action. The staff was excellent in walking us through the menu and what to expect throughout service. My wife and I decided to go with the 8-course chef's tasting menu. Food - 4 stars - Everything was good with a few courses being exceptional. The one that really stood out was the fennel panna cotta dressed with oscietra caviar. I highly recommend ordering this, if available. Another star was the escargot accompanied with delicious basmati congee and pickled grapes. The combination of all three flavors and textures were excellent. I wouldn't say any dishes fell flat. Although they were good, I would have preferred switching out the seared scallops and foie gras french toast for something else. Service - 5 stars - Elegant. Refined. Graceful. Just a few words to describe the service we received. The staff truly made us feel special and it was evident they cared deeply about our experience. They have a great lineup of specialty cocktails and an impressive wine list. Verdict: An excellent place to celebrate an special occasion. read more

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Let's get straight to it. Every dish feels cherry-picked and methodically well put-together. **Fresh oysters with lilikoi mignonette. Refreshing flavor with spin to it. It's like almost like they are showcasing a Hawaiian flavor paired with the freshest and sweetest oysters. Loveeeed it. **Cornbread with honey miso butter. YES YES YES. Yes, I know. I have a peasant tongue due to my attraction to bread. Have you ever tried bread that's lightly toasted but warm and moist on the inside with a strong aroma of sweet corn then dipped with honey-flavored miso-y butter? The savory concoction is literally like angels dancing in your mouth. Salivating as I write this review. The cornbread carried this review so hard as it was going to be a 4 star review due to the entrees being a miss. **Citrus flavored kanpachi. The dish had an salty avocado mousse with almonds and what I believe to be cabbage. Gosh, just blew my mind away! Unfortunately the main dishes were both a miss for us. The ginger steamed snapper made me reminiscent of homemade fish dishes however it was incredibly light in flavor... which I completely understand due to the mala oil so the flavor slowly builds up... but still not there. Braised pork shoulder was obv sweet and not for my palette. Had Great conversations with the waiter. Loved the ambiance as it was remote and intimate. It felt like we were the only ones in the restaurant. Complimentary wine to celebrate our 4 year Anniversary! Definitely will be back to try their next seasonal menu. Ambiance: 10/10 Customer service: 10/10 Food: 9/10 Price: $$$ Parking: Street read more

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Such an awesome experience here for my birthday dinner. They even wrote happy birthday on the menu card, the personal touch was so nice. All of the courses were amazing and had a variety of different flavors and techniques used. We enjoyed our meal here very much, it was the highlight of our trip. The service was also amazing, the wait staff was very attentive and we were very well taken care of. I would definitely recommend this restaurant! read more

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Pai Restaurant!!! Omg where do I begin! Celebrating my mom's birthday, from appetizers to dessert of course had to order it with wine pairing definitely a must! Such a wonderful dinner experience!!!!! My mom was super super happy, 5 stars all the way food, ambiance and service top notch! We all enjoyed ourselves, thank you to Chef Kevin and Justine. Cheers to U We will definitely be back! read more

The food here was a bit disappointing especially for the price point. A lot of the dishes were overly salted - especially the beef short ribs - all you could taste was the saltiness from the salt. None of the dishes wowed me. The only dish that was good was the soft boiled egg katsu curry - mainly the egg as the highlight as it was cooked perfectly and the crunch on the outside gave the dish a different texture. Aside from the food, the service was really great! Just wished that we could've enjoyed the food a bit more. read more

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Our experience at Pai was a great disappointment. We had hoped for a nice last meal in Honolulu, but the food ranged from mediocre to poor in quality and was extremely slow. Service: Our servers were polite but lacked the polish and professionalism we would expect from a restaurant at this price point ($210 per person). Our server, though well-intentioned, spoke very softly and mumbled the dish explanations so we had difficulty understanding him, and he generally appeared nervous, avoiding eye contact. Ambiance: The restaurant, which seats only ~12 parties to begin with, was no more than half full. The bluetooth speaker kept disconnecting, so every 10 minutes the music stopped and we heard an automated notification that the bluetooth speaker was disconnected. When the fire alarm went off in the middle of the meal, none of the servers stopped by to explain what was happening. We had a view into the open kitchen which only had 3-4 kitchen staff in it, including the head chef-- this may have contributed to the painstakingly slow pacing of the meal. Food: We had the Chef's Tasting Menu. The dishes, each of which drew from a different global influence (Southern, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, French, etc.) lacked cohesion as an overall menu. The food itself was the biggest letdown. * Chef's buttermilk cornbread - 5/10. The cornbread was good/ordinary though the honey-miso butter was tasty. * Kona kanpachi - 5/10. Three small pieces of kanpachi and two tiny pieces of scallop. The dish was nice but could have used a more generous portion of seafood as most of it was cucumber, tomato, and puree. * Samoan crab purse - 6/10. Though slightly one dimensional, there was good amount of crab and filling and as dim sum lovers, we appreciated the take on siu mai. * Lobster Cioppino - 6/10. The cioppino was flavorful and the half lobster tail was well cooked. However, the pieces of fennel on the side were confusing as they were not really integrated into the dish. * Escargot toppogi - 6/10. One of the better dishes, a combination of escargot and small pieces of tteobboki in a pesto sauce that worked well but didn't wow us. The two carrots on top, which might have been meant to provide freshness, were raw and out of place. * Duck confit taro puff - 3/10. This is where the meal went rapidly downhill. According to the menu, the taro puff contained duck confit and foie gras rags with cabbage, shoyu mustard, and micro shiso. All of this was overpowered by the taste of cumin. The texture inside was oily and gooey with nothing to relieve the heaviness. Moreover, part of the filling was cold inside. * 90 Day Dry-Aged Ribeye - 2/10. Two very rare, small blocks of meat were gummy in texture and lukewarm in temperature. The cauliflower was ok and so was the XO sauce but the steak itself can only be described as terrible. * Mai Tai Sherbet - skipped. At this point, we explained to the waiter that the meal had been taking a long time and we were not enjoying the food and asked if we could skip to dessert. * Dark Chocolate Haupia - 5/10. The chocolate haupia itself was neat and tasted fine but the crumble was gritty. Our final bill came out to $470, which is frankly outrageous for what we got. It is difficult to fathom how such a meal could be priced at a Michelin level. Our waiter apologized to us at the end for the slow and disappointing experience and we overheard him apologizing to at least two other tables as well, which suggests that our experience was unfortunately not unique. read more

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Been wanting to try PAI for some time now, but they were only open for dinner. Now, they're open for lunch, so I did not hesitate to round up a friend for lunch! The restaurant is located in Harbor Court on the first floor. There is public parking available in the building (enter off of Bethel) and they have municipal rates, so it's very affordable. You just have to drive in circles to get to floor 5 which is where the public parking area starts. Take the elevator to the 1st floor (don't be like me and get off on level 3 since it says "restaurant" lol). I love the modern decor and spacious floor plan. There's lots of room to move about and the open kitchen allows you to watch the chefs carefully prepare your meals. The smoked brisket sandwich is hearty and filling, thanks to the house-made ciabatta bread! We tried both desserts, the vanilla biscotti and sticky cake, and between the two, my dining partner and I both agreed that the vanilla biscotti was BOMB! And we both don't normally care for biscotti either! Next time I'm trying the burger! read more

Decided to check out PAI Honolulu for my weekend pick. From start to finish, it was a great experience and chef Kevin Lee really put together some delectable and eye appeasing plates. Of note, prior to opening PAI, chef Lee has a breadth of experience; he worked at Tabla, Oceana, Dovetail (Michelin rated) and Bo innovation (Hong Kong). His dishes reflect his style of minimalism but packs a punch in regards to flavor! The prefix menu included: 1. Buttermilk cornbread - miso honey butter, sea salt 2. Samoan crab - calamansi trout roe, celery root, Granny Smith apple, schezuan peppercorn 3. Chilled lobster - pickled grapes, Marcona almond, sourdough crisp, cauliflower ajo blanco 4. Agedashi xo turnip cake - smoked akule, miso cured Alii mushroom, daikon oroshi, ti leaf consommé 5. Grilled Tako - curry laksa, fried vermicelli 6. Pork belly gnocchi - spice chicharron, potato gnocchi, arugula, mustard shoyu 7. Molokai Venison - kai coffee and juniper crust, Brussels sprout, black vinegar, parsnip, pear 8. Sorbet - watermelon dragonfruit 9. Mango panna cotta - black sesame brittle, Kia we smoked honey, pickled mango gelato Will be be back! Great setting with clean and modern feel. Good service and bartender was a great conversationalist. read more

If I had the words to explain tonight's dinner it still wouldn't be enough to explain Chef Kevin Lee's brilliance. Truly he is the next level of extraordinary taste and flavors. We are so blessed to have not only tasted his genius dishes but we were lucky enough to meet the sommelier Khristian who excellently paired wines from across the world to make one of the most memmorable meals of my life. I truly feel like I got to see the world in one night. Beautiful flavors from the Philippines matched with an overwhelming sensation of Italian and French styles. Chef Kevin and sommelier Khristian are truly the next best thing to Hawaii's culinary tapestry. read more

PAI Honolulu - Slow Roasted Adobo Pork Belly - New American Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Fancy food...beautiful and tasty! Located on the ground floor of Harbor Court in Downtown, PAI Honolulu is a contemporary restaurant with a very creative menu! For example, the Furikake Tater Tots is a fusion of a Western snack with an Asian condiment...I liked the crunchy savoriness of this starter! I also enjoyed the light crispness of the Confit Oyster Mushroom Tempura although it was a bit bland. My friend had a great idea to maybe serve it with some sort of a dipping sauce...hmmm! The Crab Risotto was a disappointment...maybe I was full by that time. We had started out sitting at the bar (it's fun to watch the action, but the chairs are so high), then moved to a more comfortable table and ordered more food. I liked the Bacon and Crab Carbonara even though it was on the dry side. I liked the small bits of crunchy which contrasted with the al dente pasta. My favorite was the Beef Tartare. I enjoyed the toasted, buttery baguette and the tender topping with delicious seasoning. It matched well with my "Beets Me" drink that had a kick of ginger and lime! Note: for women, take a friend with you (if and when the need arises) and make your way down the office corridor to the restroom after securing a key from the receptionist. Overall, we had a great time because the service was very attentive and Justine, the Manager, is so warm and friendly! We probably will return and park in the building for a flat rate of $3. No problem! read more

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Happy hour. Great happy at PAI Honolulu! PARKING You can park wither street parking or a municipal parking located on Smith Street. They do though, however, have their own parking located on Bethel. The parking is super tight and visitor parking starts on the 5th floor. So look forward on your winding journey. Validation is $3 and it's a flat rate! SERVICE Granted we only sat at the bar the Bartender, Joe, was awesome! He made my wife fill out this bartender form and made a specialty drink just for her. Never had that before. The food came out in waves. Our drinks were never hit the bottom and was filled constantly. FOOD Okay here we go! Majority of our food came in waves. Pretty much ordered the whole Happy Hour Menu which was about 5 dishes. The Oysters were really good. The Bao had a lot of flavor. Especially with that adobo creme fraiche. The cabbage salad was somewhat small but it had lots of flavor and refreshing. The clam dip in the bread bowl was the real winner for me. I ate most of the bread bowl. The dip was amazing. We also ordered a risotto which was kind of small but was also amazing. We want to come back and try the dinner menu. I really wanna try the steak. Don't forget validation before you leave the restaurant if you parked in the building. read more

PAI Honolulu - Old Fashioned to start the weekend off right !! - New American Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Where do I even begin, this was hands down the best meal(s) my wife and I have ever had in our lives. I've been to Michelin stars/guides locations before and other great places, but none of them even compare. Chef Kevin Lee and his staff were really friendly. Akea (the bartender that first day) and David (running the floor) were both really friendly and great people. They treated us like friends from the get go. The first night we did their tasting menu! The food that we got to eat was out of this world, the chef and his team turned a lot of humble ingredients into AMAZING tastes/things that you would never expect. At the end of the meal, the chef came over and we just talked for a while about cooking and his experiences. It was so good that we booked our last dinner in Hawaii for the following night (did their four course prixe, absolute bargain) and had another amazing experience there. They even let us try a few different dishes that we didn't even order! We will definitely be back the next time we are back in Hawaii! TLDR; you MUST go here and try, no questions asked! read more

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Upscale and tasty dining experience at PAI Honolulu with excellent service! Our meal started with some complimentary cornbread, which was outstanding (and I'm not normally a cornbread fan). For appetizers, we have the salmon crudo and the BBQ brisket boa buns. The boa buns were surprisingly dry and not as impressive as we had hoped. The entrees were much more impressive, especially the pan roasted hamachi... the tomato, coconut & lemongrass bouillabaisse really complimented the seafood in the dish. Also enjoyed the tagliatelle! All of the dishes had a nice presentation and offered a unique twist on American New. Cocktails were beautifully garnished and expertly crafted. Only problem is that we had to rush through out second round since Honolulu requires bars to close at 10PM. PAI is a great spot for foodies with a creative palate or those who want to celebrate a special occasion! read more

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It's always a pleasure to dine at Pai Honolulu. Chef Kevin and his team are extremely attentive to customers. There is an excellent wine and cocktail list, with something for everyone. The menu changes with the season, so be sure to continuously check back to see the changes. Chef uses high quality ingredients in all his dishes to ensure the best dinning experience. The 2021 Fall Chef's Tasting Menu hits all the points with wine pairings, being well balanced and filling. Highly recommended. read more

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We've been wanting to visit PAI for a few years now, and so glad we finally made it back to Honolulu from LA. What a superb meal with attentive service as we celebrated our anniversary! We had the incredible Chef's tasting menu, along with wine pairings, and this was by far the most exquisite meal we had in Honolulu. Our favorite items from the tasting menu: - oysters with lilikoi mignonette - samoan crab - squid luau agnolotti - lamb look fun - 90 day dry aged NY striploin - dark chocolate haupia (and amazing miso-butter cornbread) It's great to see Chef Kevin and his team preparing the dishes in the open kitchen, and Justine and staff are all super friendly and thoughtful. Highly recommend PAI for a very memorable meal in Honolulu. read more

The service here is stellar, 10 stars for service if I could! I've been to many fine dining establishments, and compared to the best ones from Vegas, San Francisco, to London and Lisbon, this was at the very top. Servers were friendly, polite, humble, available, but not over-bearing. The ambiance was beautiful, the kitchen is open, the decor is elegant, and the presentation is beautiful. The food (5-course) itself did not blow me away, especially because the day before I had an incredibly delicious meal at Senia (though this is a totally different style of food). Great place for a date night! read more

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