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    Red Cafe

    4.1 (35 reviews)

    Red Cafe Photos

    RED CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Red Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    The door opened! There's a broken statue in the corner!
    Nadine C.

    Happy National Dumpling Day! I really wanted won ton min, but Red Cafe ran out of dumplings. They had just opened at 7pm. Shucks. That means they hadn't replenished their supply from yesterday or before? Backtracking... We parked in the free designated stalls in front of the restaurant and waited for 7pm. A man casually walked up to the locked entrance a few minutes after 7pm and opened the door. No greeting. No welcoming words. No menu. No glass of water. Nothing. We let ourselves in and sat ourselves down. I needed to use the restroom, so I wandered around. The first room was a bar. I asked the bartender if I could use the restroom... Okay... I passed by a set of stairs that looked spooky. I hurried along the hallway and used the restroom that had no air conditioning. It was stuffy and a bit yucky - like basic, but the wash basins were beautiful ceramic! One had fish painted on it, and the other one had a bird painting. I should have taken photos. When I got back to our table, glasses of water and menus were there. The bartender came to take our order. He returned to our table and suggested that I get Braised beef noodle soup after I had ordered wonton min. Alright. When the Braised beef noodle soup arrived, I was disappointed that there was so much chewy tendon and not much beef. I ate all of the thin noodles and some of the dark chicken broth. Oh, well... I was afraid to order the clay pot items because they sounded spicy. I don't think I will return. I had called numerous times, but the answering machine was full. I called later one night, and a woman answered. She said they open at 7pm even though the street sign advertises a 6pm opening time. She said that I wouldn't need a reservation to dine there. Hmm...

    Irene M.

    Late night cravings... Red Cafe is an alternative spot to conquer that as they open quite late at 7pm versus what's apparently being advertised at 6pm is wrong though they do have some designated parking spot right out front. As we waited for them to open we noticed a man causally walked up and unlocked the door to our confusion followed in and wondered if it was okay to enter. Yes though broken statue right at the front was quite concerning inside though is nice and clean with a simple decor besides a couple of games not sure if they karaoke as well with a couple of large tv screens it was kinda interesting. Wanting to keep it simple I got the ribeye steak which comes with black bean or garlic sauce both sounds great but got it plain and med rare which was a good sized steak cooked more medium in my opinion but was seasoned just right. Nice and simple ended the night with a happy belly. Thank you!

    Front of restaurant
    Craig T.

    What can I say I'm very disappointed I was looking forward checking out this restaurant Red Cafe located on Kapiolani Blvd. One website shows hour of operation 7pm-4am and on Yelp hours show 6pm -4am . I was there at 5:40pm and waited until 6:05pm and the front door was still locked . I also tried calling their phone number and no answer . Oh well maybe they open @ 7pm but they should change at least their signage .

    Lup Cheong & spare rib clay pot rice
    Dub C.

    A hidden gym ! One of the last late night Chinese eateries left on the island. Hands down best clay pot rice on island . Grab some fried dumplings, French fries, chicken wings , large intestines, some beers ...good to go !!!

    Shredded chicken with sesame oil. 手撕鸡
    Xuan Z.

    We passed by this restaurant many many time and finally decided to visit last night. We were the only customers that dined in. Originally, we wanted to order the signature 香辣蟹. But alter we figured out you had to order ahead for that. So we ended up ordering 手撕鸡 牛杂煲 as recommended by the owner. They both turned out really delicious!

    Jesse D.

    They had customers in the bar but told me the bar was not open. Not sure if its discrimination or what But i was stone cold sober. Lady said let me see who your friend is and well see about serving you in the bar. Very strange. They obviously dont need business and tailor their service to a select few.

    can't park in the back
    Danielle M.

    It was a late Tuesday night my husband and I, along with our friends were very, very hungry and we found this Yelp and because of the good reviews we decided to eat here. First, parking sucks. It's very limited, so you have to find a street parking. Fortunately for us, it was a Tuesday night we found a street parking. Before you enter their restaurant your greeted by this strong scent of cigarette smoke. Our server Joe mentioned that there were a couple of things on the menu that they didn't have which is fine. He took our order and repeated everything back to us. We ordered at 10:33pm, I know because I was taking pictures and our first food arrived at 11:05pm, and then 11:23pm and then 11:47pm, and our fried rice past midnight already. Our group couldn't even eat together at the same time as they were bringing out the food one by one. I was so annoyed already at this point. And had no energy to talk to them about this horrible service. And to top it all off, my friend never received her food!!! AFTER JOE REPEATED OUR ORDERS BACK TO US!! We kept offering our friend food but she wanted to save her appetite for the food she ordered but she never received it! And Joe's reaction was "oh let me check in the kitchen" as he proceeds to grab a menu and ask her what she ordered again. The food is okay, really not worth this crazy wait! Our orders came and for that super long wait I thought it'd be out of this world, but it's not. It's just above average.

    Mouthwatering Chicken
    Sara T.

    Local small business, Very tasty food, good service and opened late for dine in and take out

    Nicole S.

    Still my favorite Chinese bar for late night food and drinks. Friendly and prompt staff and amazing food! Favorites from the old locations and still at new location: curry samosas fried chicken wings (little bit of spice, but I'm a big baby when it comes to spice lol). Salt pepper fried chicken gizzards, turnip cake. Menu has expended a little more and I have yet to try it all! But I know I won't be disappointed. Lucky people moving into kapiolani residence! Last little thing, I really like the sinks in the bathroom. Had to snap a pic

    Full order of pork chops

    First time I've been here. I ordered 3-4 things off the menu and my total came out to around $60. The food was great but I didn't think it was worth $60 due to the small portions they provided. Was really excited for the deep fried wontons which were good but much smaller in size in person compared to pictures online. The area to pick up food is in a small room with a STRONG aroma of cigarettes

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

    This spot is great for late night eats. They were beef ramen was delicious so much so we came back two days later.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Very awkward interior. We went to get late night food but we left without ordering because no one greeted us.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    This place is a hidden gem. Service is excellent, friendly, and the menu looks amazing. The food is authentic Chinese food!

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    8 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Red Cafe

    Can you smoke cigarettes in there?

    I don't not know if you can

    Is there a late night happy hour?

    no happy hour.

    Is this more bar or eatery? Are kids welcomed?

    I guess you can say that it's a bit of both. In the front near the entrance it has the set up of a small restaurant-like dining area. That area has a few tables set up. If you go further into the place, going into the next room, it's more of a… 

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    Fun Station

    Fun Station

    4.5
    (701 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    All I can say about eating at the - "Fun Station" is that it's more fun when eating with a friend,…read more& getting a 20% discount.........well, that's just an extra bonus! So the thing about coming to Fun Station is the "suspended flying noodle thingy" which I didn't go for, but if you like Instagramable stuffs, then I supposed you would probably go for that flying-noodle dish. As for me, I mainly came to try their Minute Chicken Cake Noodles, and as a bonus......... I actually got a 20% discount thanks to my friend - Jennifer C. who let a Bruddah know about da DEALAGES in da Sunday food section newspaper, as they had a coupon! The Sunday morning when I came with my friend, I can clearly see that this restaurant was thriving, as every table in the restaurant was taken. Fun Station specializes in noodles, but if you're not into that, they do serve other items like - soups, vegetable dishes, rice plates, & porridge (jook). Upon looking over the menu, we ordered the following items - 1. Frrrrrrried Chicken Wings ($9.95) for an appetizer 2. Minute Chicken Cake Noodles ($17.95 - minus da 20% coupon DEALAGES) 3. Beef Brisket Tendon & Won Ton in soup ($18.95) What can I say about da grub??? Da chicken wings came out hot & crispy. Although they featured only "flats" vs. drums (I like drums), I must say da wings was nicely executed. As for the Minute Chicken Cake Noodles.........nicely plated on a fancy smanshy panda plate. The cake noodles weren't drowning in gravy, so the noodles stayed crispy on the dish. I really liked how they did this dish, and would easily come back here to eat it again. My friend had the Beef Brisket Tendon & Won Ton soup. The dish looked good, and there weren't any complaints, so I take it that it was pretty ono! Overall, a very satisfying meal and the service here was on point, as the staff was friendly & very efficient. Easy 5 stars for the Minute Chicken Cake Noodles! Chance 'em!

    You could drive past this place a hundred times without giving it a second thought. It's tucked…read moreinto a small strip mall, the dining room is no frills and if someone told me it was just another average neighborhood Chinese restaurant, I'd probably believe them. Then the food starts arriving. We ordered way more than we needed and almost everything impressed me. The chow fun was cooked exactly the way I like it. Chewy, smoky and never overcooked. My only complaint was that it leaned a little saltier than I prefer, but it was still very good. The Hainan chicken was the surprise of the meal. Perfectly tender with an incredible ginger sauce that I'd happily put on just about anything. Even the dishes I normally avoid won me over. I've never been much of a lotus root person, but theirs was crisp, savory and honestly delicious. The wontons were another highlight. Since we skipped the noodles, they generously gave us extra wontons instead, which was a really thoughtful touch. What really pushed this place from good to memorable, though, was the staff. We were there with our two and four year old and they couldn't have been kinder. They brought over little toys to keep the kids occupied, checked on us throughout the meal and made us feel genuinely welcome. None of it felt forced. It was just warm, thoughtful hospitality and that's something I always remember long after I've forgotten exactly what I ate. The bathroom situation isn't ideal, you have to use the one outside the restaurant, but that's really my only complaint beyond the slightly salty chow fun. This isn't the place I'd recommend for date night or a long evening out. It's the kind of neighborhood restaurant you walk into expecting very little, then leave thinking, that was a lot better than it had any right to be. We'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Inside the restaurant.....
    Inside the restaurant.....
    Choi Sum & Beef Cake Noodle
    Choi Sum & Beef Cake Noodle
    Wonton close-up

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    Wonton close-up
    Marugame Udon

    Marugame Udon

    4.5
    (14.1k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Absolutely amazing noodle spot! There was a long line when we arrived, but it moved incredibly…read morefast. As soon as we got inside, we knew this place was going to be something special. Being able to watch them make the noodles in the back, combined with the incredible smell throughout the restaurant, made the whole experience even better. I ordered the curry udon, while my wife got the creamy broth, and we also shared the tempura shrimp. Everything was absolutely delicious. Honestly, this was probably our best food stop on the island. I'll be thinking about this restaurant for a long time. Where we're from, there's nothing even close to a place like this. If you're visiting the island, this is definitely a spot you need to try!

    Where do I even begin?!?! This place is an absolute gem!!! Marugame Udon offers some of the…read morefreshest and finest- handmade Sanuki udon on the island! Their noodles are made in-house (following authentic Sanuki traditions from Japan) and cooked daily. Customers order their noodles at the counter, pick their tempura from a self-serve station, and pay at the end. What's even more impressive- patrons can watch the chefs make the food right in front of them (making for a cool dining experience). Highly recommend getting there early- lines are insane! But for the most part, the line moves fast because meals are dished out quickly and guests eat and leave in a timely manner. And prices are relatively low compared to other places. I ordered the #2 Creamy Broth- creamy chicken broth topped with juicy pork chashu and a flavorful seasoned egg 10/10! This was absolute fire!!! My wife ordered the Chicken Katsu- lightly battered, well seasoned and packed with flavor. We also ordered a side of Shrimp Tempura and Potato Croquettes. Both were equally delicious, but the potato croquettes hit the spot with a well seasoned potato mash, encased in a golden deep fried breadcrumb 10/10! It's an absolute must!

    Photos
    You can watch as they make your food!
    You can watch as they make your food!
    Kake Udon
    Kake Udon
    Dining Room!

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    Dining Room!
    Seasons Taiwanese Eatery

    Seasons Taiwanese Eatery

    4.5
    (291 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    By far my favorite Taiwanese go to restaurant!…read more I highly recommend their popcorn chicken, so crispy, so juicy and the leaves not sure if they were basil or sobering else but the way they fry them and get them to also be super crispy is amazing. It's also seasoned perfectly, not too salty and you can add a level of spicy to your liking.

    The death knell is ringing for the Chinese (Taiwanese-Chinese, apparently) Cultural Plaza with the…read moreJune 2026 announcement of plans to can the place, so Seasons and all Plaza cohorts will meet their maker in a year! IRREGARDLESS I'd go back for the popcorn chicken (crispy, light fry, bite sized) and air conditioning. Sometimes Chinese food can get super saucy so the small plates - cucumbers, rolls, baos, and veg - work for me. It's serious 家常菜 or home-style cooking or quick food you'd find on the street: ong-choy, tomato-braised scrambled egg, garlic cabbage, essentially all the greats, shareable. Seasons also offers the beef soupy noodle sets, but when it's 85+ degrees out and sunny and 80% humidity, I do question ppl's judgement. I've always loved the Plaza, empty and partly abandoned, bec/ the design is conducive to good airflow and cooling, a much underappreciated architectural element in modern downtowns. But the bums and indigent love it more and sadly always leave some je ne sais quoi. Seasons finds itself across from the dim sum behemoth in Chinatown, Legends, but that's a different flavor profile. Still, quite nice to have variety.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    11. Classic Beef and Tendon Noodle
    11. Classic Beef and Tendon Noodle
    New location is around the corner, towards the canal.

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    New location is around the corner, towards the canal.
    Shima Dreams Of Noodles

    Shima Dreams Of Noodles

    4.6
    (7 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    About 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, there was already a line of people placing their order for fresh…read morepulled noodles. We were told that the first batch would be served about 11 a.m. so we quickly put our order in. The first thing that caught my attention, was the savory aroma of their 5-spice ground pork being cooked. You can add this as a topping to the noodle dish. The second thing that caught my attention, was the labor of love going in to each order of fresh pulled noodles. You can watch him stretch the dough ball and slap it on the counter before he boils each batch with careful preparation. The third thing that caught my attention, was their adorable mother, helping to slice the cucumbers and top each dish with crushed iso peanuts. Do not forget to order the side of pickled bittermelon....so good!! From beginning to end, this was an incredible experience of all my senses! To see and hear them at work and then to taste the delicious sesame sauce on the fresh pulled noodles....WOW! The soft noodles, the crisp bittermelon, and the savory sauce....super delish! Seriously, go early to place your order. The wait is totally worth it :) Will come back next time to try other menu items.

    Shima Dreams of Noodles is a pop-up, located at Fishcake -…read more This place supposedly has a huge following, and people anticipate for the changing menu of various noodle dishes. When we went, the menu focused on udon: +Hot Yamakake Udon with Quail Egg (a special) +Cold Yamakake Udon (a special) +Hot Udon +Cold Udon The special udon dishes are servied with tororo (grated mountain yam), housemade tsukudani (seaweed braised in a sweet Japanese sauce), crispy nori, green onions, and an option to add wasabi. We went for both the hot and cold udon specials - I think it was a consensus that we would have liked to have more noodles in the dish. This is definitely a sweeter dish, with the tororo and the tsukudani. The place already had a long line, and the best way to enjoy would be to dine-in. Note that if you do order a carry-out, the quail egg would not be included. +ordering online is available +changing menu of noodle dishes +popup at Fishcake

    Photos
    Making fresh udon noodles!
    Making fresh udon noodles!
    Fresh pulled noodles with sesame sauce, 5 spice ground pork, and side of pickled bittermelon, so yum!
    Fresh pulled noodles with sesame sauce, 5 spice ground pork, and side of pickled bittermelon, so yum!
    Shima Dreams Of Noodles

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    Red Cafe - chinese - Updated August 2026

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