Tried Istanbul Hawaii for the first time and it did not disappoint. The food was absolutely…read moreterrific--everything we ordered was packed with flavor, fresh, and clearly made with care. You can really tell there's authenticity behind the menu. What stood out just as much as the food was the service. Since it was our first time, we weren't super familiar with Turkish dishes, but our server was amazing at walking us through the menu. They explained everything in a way that made it easy to understand and gave great recommendations, which made the whole experience feel comfortable and fun instead of overwhelming. Overall, such a great dining experience--delicious food, welcoming atmosphere, and top-notch service. Definitely a place I'd come back to and recommend to anyone looking to try something an out of their comfort zone.

Great food and great service! Everything tasted and looked great!…read more The fish and meze platter were very tasty. I would get again!

As usual this casual Mediterranean restaurant did not disappoint us when we ordered got the family…read moretonight. Food. We really like the supergyro. The lemon-eggdrop (avogolemono) soup was good and spinach pie (spanikopita) excellent tonight. We are glad to have this restaurant near us. Service : Carry out order was correct and on time. Staff are pleasant. Location : conveniently located in enchanted lake area of Kailua. Big parking lot.

Gotta say this is becoming one of my favs in Kailua. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Looks…read morelike a family run business. Atmosphere is nice. A few stucco columns and beams and a fountain in the center of the informal dining area. There's no table service - go to the cashier and order. The gyro can't be beat. Compliment this with a greek salad, add hummus and pita and you got yourself one heck of a meal. Tried the balaclava for the first time and I have to admit that it's the best I've ever eaten. So tasty... a hint of cinnamon which I love. I love that they serve it with a small yet ample serving of honey. There's no alcohol served here but BYOB is accepted. Price is great for the quality of food prepared and served here. Best thing is don't just believe me... I'm someone you don't know, but try out yourself. By the way Yamas isn't a Japanese word or a shot cut to the owners Japanese name. It's a Greek like saying "cheers," or " to our health!" So my reviews aren't only my opinion on cuisine but it's also educational.

I've been a long time fan of Doner Shack and eat here multiple times a month. Doner Shack has been…read morea go to for me, but I've been noticing that there has been a noticeable drop in both quality and quantity over the past couple of months. Half the time the lamb is dry/overcooked with a lot of small crumb size pieces (like the meat has been sitting for a while). I mostly order the spartan lamb plate and there usually is enough meat that I almost can't finish it. But, today when I opened up my spartan plate up at home I could immediately see there wasn't as much meat as usual. The spartan plate is advertised as "Extra Meat", but my plate only had 7.5 oz (including the yogurt sauce). Is 1 to 2oz considered "Extra Meat" now? I haven't weighed my plates in the past, but if I had to guess those were about 10oz. (Note: Haven't had issues with their Downtown location, just the one on Keeaumoku) I'll probably still eat here, since it hits the spot often enough. But I can see that changing in the future if the downward trend continues.

Went back! The portion size day was a fluke. The owner assured me that they didn't change a thing!…read more What a relief. Have been back twice since!

The food was amazing. Like one of the best things I ever put near my face. The lady was so nice…read more Get the Mama Smash Gyro. Do it. I would show a picture but we crushed it and almost at the box it came in.

We checked out the food trucks at Village Market @pearlridge and stumbled on a gem: @kababamama. I…read moreordered the #Mamasmashburger and it seriously hit! It was like the perfect mashup of a smash burger and shawarma. Super juicy meat with that nice tang from the tzatziki-yogurt sauce. Service was solid: made-to-order but still quick. I grabbed it as a combo with garlic fries. Everything about the vibe was casual and friendly. I'll definitely be back--keep an eye out for this #foodtruck!

We found this shop at the Blaisedell Center Farmers Market. We ordered the chicken kebab with pita…read more They served roasted vegetables, plenty of chicken kebab, four pieces of pita, and sour cream. We put the vegetables, chicken, and sour cream on the pita and enjoyed it. The flavor was excellent. We even used the leftover chicken to make a chicken salad at home, and that was great too. I'd love to try their other menu items as well. Thank you very much for the delicious dinner!

Food: really good! A friend and I ordered the falafel wrap,…read morewhich I chose to add sumac onions to, and the shawarma brisket wrap. The shawarma brisket wrap was really good - tender meat with lots of rich flavor. It tasted different from other shawarma I've had before - almost like it had a sort of barbecue flavor? It was really good! The markook lavash is perfectly crispy on the outside and all the sauces and toppings go really well together. The falafel wrap was good in terms of taste, but I wish that the falafel had more of a crunchy crust, and was more fluffy on the inside. It was just a bit dense and dry but tasted good anyway! I also wish the sumac onions had more sumac. As a disclaimer, we didn't realize that we were supposed to call when we were outside the building ready to pick up our food (oops... they even say to do so on the order page! but I just glossed over that by accident). So we got our food a bit later, and maybe the falafel would've been crispier and less dense if we had eaten it right away. I'm guessing the sauces soaked into it and that contributed to it being a bit dense. I'll need to come back to try it again! What to know: Middle Eats is a satellite kitchen, meaning that you don't go to a physical shop to pick up your order. The kitchen is in a building that you can't actually enter - so you place your order online or by phone, and then go to the pick up location (55 Merchant St) to get your order. However, you need to call them to let them know you're there, and only then will they come down with your food. This makes complete sense to me and I even see the instruction on the order website now, but I guess I just missed that detail - so that's on me! There is some space to pull over in front of the building when you pick up your order, and once they know you're there, they come downstairs in just a few minutes. If you can't find nearby street parking, the nearest municipal lot is the Chinatown gateway one. I will definitely come back to try more of their food!

I held my birthday party here and it was a wonderful experience. Mohammed was kind and…read moreaccommodating and the Moroccan food was exquisite. The ambiance felt like we were transported to Morocco. Highly recommend!!

Finally made it here and wasn't disappointed. You walk into a decorated "tent" with fabric and…read morecarpets surrounding you, low tables with bench seats and tufted ottomans. Do bring a sweater or coat as it's a bit frosty inside. The server was so kind as to gave me a dress to use as a shaw. There's a set menu...a standard and a house special (with rack of lamb) you can choose from. We had 4 people so tried 4 different mains. Their menu included a delicious lentil soup, a 6 sample salad/ olive selection, a sweet/savory puff pastry filled chicken dish, mains and finally a sweet fennel cake and biscotti dessert. The mains we tried were the rack of lamb(our favorite!), calamari mogador, Cornish chicken with lemon and olives, and lamb tagine with eggplant. The rack of lamb was the clear standout, perfectly cooked and seasoned that melted in your mouth. The calamari was served in a delicious tomato sauce with still firm calamari slices. The cornish chicken was good as well. The only disappointing dish was the lamb tagine, it was a bit dry and tough...not an expected "tagine ". But the meal was overall good and tasty. Service was fun and friendly.

Located just off of Fort Street Mall, this establishment has been one of my favorites for years…read more The helpful and friendly staff is always eager to provided you with the best service. The small dinning area is prefect for an relaxing afternoon meal. To top off the service and ambiance is the fantastic food. I've had almost everything they have to offer and have not been disappointed. On my way to work at 7am, you will find who I think is the mother, toiling away in the kitchen. Prepping fresh items for the day. She can be found working long into the day. Making sure you get the best food Donner can offer. I highly recommend taking the time to check this place out.

I didn't know what to expect. Doner Shack in located near Fort Street Mall by Chinatown. The…read moreemployee who was at the register is the sweetest tutu lady!! She's what made the place nice and inviting. I got the small Downtown Doner wrap with chicken and feta and hummus. I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the taste alot and it was fresh. Chicken was dry but I would get it again. There's seating indoors and the tables and seats were clean. I was happy about that. I wish there were photos of food in the restaurant so I knew what to get. There was a lady working in the kitchen, with a cast. Not sure if that's acceptable for food service for sanitation.

Da Spot always hits The Spot for us. It's comfort food when we're in the mood for take out. But…read morethis is not your average take out. Every dish is exceptional! And they offer lots of different options. I love that they always have vegetarian and pescatarian dishes. Our go-to are the veggie curry and coconut fish plates. You order at the counter and get to pick an entree and a starch. The saffron rice is spot on! And the plate comes with a generous side of greens with your choice of their house-made dressings. You can also upgrade with salads from their cold bar. Speaking of cold bar, I usually grab a couple containers of salads for home lunches later in the week. I don't have to cook, and I like looking forward to what's in lunch bag. Plus it's all healthy eats so bonus that it's good for my body. Seriously you can't go wrong! Grab a couple sides while you're there. Prices are very reasonable and servings are generous. You always feel like you get your money's worth. And if you want something lighter, they make fresh and delicious smoothies. You can also eat there. They have a spacious area with abundant seating, so it's a great place for groups too. They do fabulous catering! We've enjoyed their food at several parties. Their catering menus are very extensive, so you can definitely find something for everyone in your Ohana. Vegan and gluten free options are available. They have set menus but can customize for your tastes and budget. Da Spot is a great neighborhood joint. Family-run and operated, so you're supporting small business. I'd highly recommend them for both take-out and catering. Try them out. You won't be disappointed!

Broke da mouth, not da wallet at Da Spot! A mini plate with…read moregenerous portions for $9! A steal!! A mini plate comes with two scoops of rice, salad and an entree. Probably had about 5 pieces of chicken thighs. Definitely filling, feels like a regular sized plate anywhere else. Affordable, helps out the university students in the area. Many entrees with proteins choosing from chicken, tofu, fish and lamb. The mango salad dressing is good. You could also ask for hot sauce. The plates, açaí bowls and smoothies are also good! Friendly staff, many table seating areas and live music every Wednesday. I always leave satisfied!

The pop up tent was on the lawn to the right of the entrance to Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center this…read morepast Monday. I got a container each of multigrain, crackers, hummus, chickpea salad, and mint tabouleh. I was able to eat half of each container. My meal was light, refreshing with delightful flavor combinations, and of course, healthy. Yonatan, the surfer, explains every dish well He is friendly and very personable. If he is there eye will stop by again, next time I go to work at Kaiser.

Authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. I first saw the Surfer's Wife booth at the Kailua Farmer's Market one Sunday morning. I was in a rush, so I didn't stop by. However, I did take a photo because the word, "Fawaffle" - on the banner - caught my interest! Plus, the name of the business, Surfer's Wife, is catchy! This past Saturday morning at the Kaka'ako Farmer's Market (enter from Auahi Street, near Ward Avenue), I was so happy to see the Fawaffle sign again! I took some time to ask a few questions... Yonatan, the enthusiastic, patient, and knowledgeable owner, is from Israel. The beautiful, tasty dishes are prepared in a commercial kitchen and brought to Honolulu and kept in coolers until purchased. The displays are very educational and easy to understand. I got the 8-pack of green (traditional flavor) Fawaffles. They're frozen, packed in ziplock bags, and are easy to heat up at home in a toaster oven for a slight crisp. They are healthier than falafel because Fawaffles aren't deep fried. I also got the 3 for $15 deal - Israeli Picked Slaw, Fresh Hummus, and Dolmas. The slaw was crunchy and nicely tart... I couldn't stop eating it! The fresh Hummus paired well with some multigrain chips that i had at home. The dolmas are like dimsum dumplings - wrapped in grape leaves and stuffed with tasty herbed rice! Overall, this meal was excellent! It was better than the food i ate when I went to The Holy Land in 2011! Haha! Come get some delicious Middle Eastern cuisine at a reasonable price!

Overall it was quite good. Cute little dine in restaurant that only has five tables. The…read morehost/server was very sweet. The prices are very affordable and good value with the amount of food that you get. We ordered a combination, beef and chicken skewer, which comes with salad and rice. The second main dish was the beef and eggplant stew which also comes with salad and rice. The salad came out first in a bowl, which was a nice touch and allowed us to eat something prior to our meal, the dressing was a tart yogurt, citrus dressing, which was nice and Bright and the vegetables were leafy greens that were fresh. The main dishes came out, not too long after the salads the Meat mixture was pretty standard, and the chicken was nicely seasoned and juicy. The eggplant and beef stew was delicious and had large chunks of eggplant along with a few cubes of tender meat. Overall, the portion size the flavor, and the quality of the food was very good, especially when compared to the price point. Our only critique was that the water given for drinking and in the rice pudding did not taste good. That might be an infrastructure or a city and county thing, but it was nearly undrinkable.

We finally tried Bar Koko! We always see this whenever we're heading to the freeway. We came on a…read moreSaturday night and parking was easy since there's a pay parking lot right behind the restaurant which was super convenient. The place itself isn't very big, but it feels cozy, and they do have a bathroom, which is always nice for a smaller spot. The menu had good options without feeling overwhelming, so ordering was pretty easy. We both got the beef and chicken combo kebab and it was so good. The meat was really flavourful and the chicken was surprisingly juicy. not dry at all. It came with rice and a side salad. This meal will fill you up! I didn't finish my rice but I had to finish the meat! 10/10!!!! I wish they had toum, though! And you gotta eat the grilled tomato! That would just make everything even better! Our friend ordered the beef and lamb shawarma and he said he loved it. We also tried the cucumber dip with pita and that was also 10/0! The pita came out warm and it paired perfectly with the dip. It wasn't busy at all when we went, just us and one other table even though it was a Saturday night. It honestly felt like a hidden gem. We'd definitely come back!