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    Roy's Hawaii Kai

    4.3 (1.6k reviews)
    Closed 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM

    Roy's Hawaii Kai Photos

    Business Info

    ROY'S HAWAII KAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise

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    Infamous Melting Dark Chocolate Souffle
    Jillian T.

    Always enjoyed coming to this location over the years. Though this particular time had 2 misses that would've made this a 5-star experience. It was mom's birthday, and they had a little birthday hat in the middle of the table to signify this occasion. The server and food runner/busser attending our table were both very polite and efficient. The first mishap was with the tasting menu. The great part is that, not everyone on the table needs to partake in this menu, though 2 out of the 6 people in our party wanted to try it. About 5 minutes after taking our table's order, the server comes back to mention that the chef is not making that tonight, so that they would need to try something else. Perhaps flipping over that menu in the book, or mention of it not being available in pre-shift to communicate down to the rest of the staff, to then advise the customer before ordering would prevent a little bit of disappointment. Nevertheless, the food for the table came out in a timely manner. As the years have gone by, I've noticed that the dishes are all very brown in color. Brown protein, brown rice, brown sauce. There's a pop of color here and there but I personally would like my food to be a little more colorful in presentation. Dessert course came around and our table ordered pretty much 1 of each on the menu. Know that the hot items on the dessert menu take about 30 minutes, so you may want to order that when your dinner entree course is dropped on the table. The same 2 people who had ordered the tasting menu in the beginning, then decided to order the Halo-Halo because they wanted something cold and refreshing. To their disappointment, the server brought the items, mentioned that they ran out of ube ice cream and proceeded to drop the check at the same time so its like there was no opportunity to rebuttal or complain. Again, a little bit of communication beforehand would've set the expectations up a little better. All in all, a great location, with great views of the sunset. This experience just needed a little bit of fine-tuning to be a 5-star.

    Halo Halo $16 * On the menu, it says Ube Ice Cream, but ours was Vanilla Ice Cream without informing us

    The Slow Braised Honey Mustard Grilled Beef Short Ribs were soft, and I liked the flavor of the honey mustard sauce on top, but the meat was a bit on the dry side. Yama's Mama's Beef Meatloaf & Surf was a bit gamey for me, and sadly, the shrimp didn't have good seasoning. I liked Roy's Signature Chocolate Soufflé because it was crunchy on the outside but soft inside, and the chocolate was melting from the center! I was very disappointed with their Halo Halo. On the menu, it says it comes with "Ube Ice Cream, Key Lime Panna Cotta, and Leche Flan", but our Halo Halo came with Vanilla Ice Cream without informing us. We ordered it because it was supposed to have Ube Ice Cream, which is a very important ingredient in Halo Halo, but they didn't even tell us it would be replaced with Vanilla Ice Cream that night. This was very unacceptable. The Halo Halo was not traditional style, and the base was strawberry shaved ice. The only thing I liked was the leche flan. We wanted to see the sunset, but all the curtains stayed closed until after the sun had already gone down. I asked if they could open them so we could enjoy the sunset, but they told me they only open the curtains after sunset. Since Roy's Hawaii Kai is famous for its beautiful ocean view, I did not understand why we could not enjoy the sunset. Slow Braised Honey Mustard Grilled Beef Short Ribs $59 Yama's Mama's Beef Meatloaf & Surf $51 Roy's Signature Chocolate Souffle $17 Halo Halo $16 April 6, 2026

    Menu
    Mike Y.

    Last night celebrating our daughter's birthday we haven't been here in a while but place was Busy as usual and had early Set menu dinner was very delicious and rewarding Everyone of the staff was very cordial and friendly atmosphere was lovely as always thank you so much we'll be back again soon

    Appetizer sampler
    Maile K.

    So late w the review, so sorry! I haven't been here in many years as I only come here for special occasions. This time, I came for my cousin's wedding reception. Very small, intimate gathering of family & close friends. Everything tasted so good. My favorite has to be the crabcake in the appetizer sampler. So flavorful inside and crispy outside. Not fishy at all. Sister had the lamb chops while nephew had the surf & turf. Mom & I had the tiger shrimp w grits. Fabulous. The waitstaff were very attentive and quite funny at times. It made for a very enjoyable evening. Congrats to David & Sayaka! Lots of parking in private lot. Same lot as Hawaii Kai Satellite City Hall. Private room upstairs. Restrooms located upstairs and down. Elevator and stairs.

    Julie C.

    We had an excellent anniversary dinner at the original Roy's in Hawaii Kai! It's been a little while since we came out to this Roys, the location in Waikiki is actually closer to us, but I just hate dealing with a parking situation in Waikiki. Dinner reservations were made for four (the kids tagged along). We had to wait a few minutes after we checked in, but we enjoyed looking at the Koi at the bottom of the stairs. The host then took us upstairs to our table. Our server was Brandon who was excellent and very knowledgeable. We ordered the crabcake appetizer to start out, tasty but slightly under seasoned. Both my husband and I ordered the butterfish with the forbidden black rice, my daughter ordered the blackened Ahi and my son ordered from the kids menu the teriyaki chicken. The food was well prepared, the butterfish was excellent, moist and very tasty. I always enjoy the black forbidden rice, which you actually cannot get at the Waikiki location. The blackened ahi is also an excellent choice as well. Lightly seared, sashimi style inside with a butter sauce. The kids entrée was teriyaki chicken with rice, celery, stick, and carrot stick with a square cheese quesadilla to start. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate lava cake x2 which does take 30 minutes to prepare so it needs to be ordered in advance. We got a Matcha Panna cotta complementary for our anniversary. My son had a vanilla ice cream sandwich. Exquisite dinner with the family with amazing food and service!

    dim sum style canoe for two
    Angel H.

    My hubby made reservations for our anniversary dinner here on 7/7. We arrived promptly at 6:30 and were seated right away on the second floor. The view was spectacular, especially at sunset. On one side of the room is the open kitchen. On the other side are views of the ocean. Things didn't start out smoothly. He ordered a Local Kine Mule $17 (vodka, mango syrup, ginger beer, lime juice, mint), but they brought him a Lychee Sake-Tini instead. We notified our waiter and he brought us the correct drink. They started us off with complimentary seasoned soy beans. We ordered the Dim Sum Style Canoe for Two $42 (Szechuan pork ribs, chicken spring rolls, seared shrimp sticks, tempura spicy ahi maki). For our entrees we got the Crispy New Zealand Tai Snapper $55 (crown noodle yakisoba, tomato sambal) and Yama's Mama's Beef Meatloaf $37 (tempura onion rings, dashi mushroom gravy). For dessert we got the Banana Sweet Bread Pudding "Panipopo" $15 (haupia sauce, caramel). It takes half an hour to make the Panipopo, so put in the order ahead of time. They also gave us a free anniversary dessert, strawberry flan. Dessert was the best part of dinner. Both desserts were exceptional. The meatloaf was good and the tai snapper was ok. The fish was firm and flaky, a little dry. The sauce was a little vinegary for my liking. Service was on par for fine dining. They kept the water glasses full and the floor manager stopped by a few times to see how everything was going. They gave us an anniversary card and a $25 gift card to use the next time we're there. A very nice touch.

    Rebecca T.

    Came to this OG Roy's for my birthday celebration. What a nice treat! Food was amazing, service was attentive, and the ambiance was nice and relaxing. Although it's not right by the ocean, you can still see the water on the other side of the road. Miso butterfish can't be beat. It's their signature dish of the restaurant. It's cooked to perfection. Definitely worth it to get the larger portion because you'll be wanting more if you get the smaller size. The Mac nut crusted fish was equally delectable! The portion size was pretty good considering the price and the quality of the food as well. Try their rolls too. Fresh fish with yummy fixings. And don't forget to get their chocolate lava cake! Wonderful dinner and evening at Hawaii Kai. It's a great spot to celebrate a special occasion. They always have a happy hour menu that I'm very curious about!

    Lava cake
    Emile T.

    Food was absolutely delicious. The lamb roast was cooked perfectly and the seafood trio tasted fresh and vibrant. The famous lava cake was very tasty. Service was excellent. We were checked on regularly and always had whatever we needed. We had reservations and were seated immediately with the ocean view. Having dinner by the beach with the sun setting was maybe one of the happiest delights of our entire stay in Oahu. Along with great food, drinks and a view, this experience was incredible. Thanks!

    The view from the restaurant is incredible!
    Garret O.

    My wife and I enjoyed our experience at Roy's to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Everything went well, from our waiter, who provided great tips on the menu and was very polite and patient, to the young ladies who refilled our water and took our plates, to the fellow who brought the food to the table, the fantastic ocean view and, of course, the food...five stars all the way. You can tell this is a place where people take pride in their work because everything runs like a well oiled machine and everyone has a smile on their face and is so accommodating. If you want a fine dining experience where all your expectations are met, look no further. We will definitely be back again!

    Butterfish dish.
    Jerry E.

    Still one of the top eateries close to home for enjoying fabulous dishes. I love their steaks and butterfish entrées. Their desserts (offered in multiple choices) are truly out of this world, though slightly on the sweeter side. We had a memorable birthday dinner there celebrating a loved one's special day. Roy's has several branches on the island, and this Hawaii Kai location is arguably the best of them all.

    3rd course: Melting Dark Chocolate Souffle
    Sara M.

    Roy's was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! I was very excited to try this restaurant and my expectations were exceeded. The restaurant is clean and well decorated with a simplistic design. We sat on the 2nd floor and I personally really enjoyed the open kitchen layout, as I was able to see the chefs prepping and plating meals. I was particularly excited for the 3 course meal that they offer. The amount of food that they give seems small but it is pretty filling. We first tried the shrimp and short rib as our first course. The short rib was tender and flavorful with the shrimp being light and refreshing. Next we tried the macadamia nut crusted fish with beef (I can't remember the name of the beef in particular) as our second dish. I wasn't a huge fan of the beef because it was pretty fatty, but that is a personal preference as the flavor was still tasty. The fish itself was the star of the dish and was extremely unique! The fish itself was tender and flavorful and the macadamia nut crust added extra flavor and crispiness. The dessert course was a matcha crème brûlée and our waiter was kind enough to bring us their chocolate soufflés as well to try since he mentioned that was one of their most popular desserts. The matcha crème brûlée was light and creamy, but the chocolate soufflé was rich and fluffy, making it obvious as to why it is their most popular dessert. All in all, Roy's is the perfect spot for date night or celebrating with friends and family! I highly recommend checking it out and trying their 3 course meal!

    Outside
    Kasey A.

    Roy's was more upscale than the restaurants I usually go to, but it ended up being such a great experience for my fiancé and I! From the moment we walked in, the service was excellent. I drink a lot of water and my glass was never empty once, which was amazing. I noted on our reservation that we were celebrating an anniversary, and every staff member who interacted with us wished us a happy anniversary, which made the night feel extra special! Our waiter was kind and took the time to walk us through the menu, which we really appreciated. We decided on the three-course tasting option and enjoyed every part of it--especially the entrée, which was the standout of the night. Overall, it was an amazing experience from start to finish, and we're already looking forward to coming back the next time we're home.

    Sashimi
    Erin W.

    Celebrated a birthday dinner here and it did not disappoint! Beautiful view and delicious food. The service was also exceptional. The sashimi was so fresh and tasty. We also had the fish trio, meatloaf, zucchini starter, and salad.

    Upstairs looking at open kitchen

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    Roy's Hawaii Kai Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Roy's Hawaii Kai

    Does Roy's have live music?

    Yes

    Is the restaurant accessible for wheelchairs?

    Yes! They have an elevator

    Senior menu Available for older patrons with small appetites?

    No they don't have a special menu for seniors or those with a smaller appetite! BUT- they have a great a expanded appetizer menu and they are great at special request. My suggestion is to call the restaurant to see what they might be able to… Read more

    Is there a kids' menu?

    Yes! It's great! I went in May 2022 and it was about $16ish dollars. Comes with an appetizer, entree and dessert. I can't remember all the details, but I believe it's something like the following:… Read more

    Is there a corkage fee? If so, how much?

    It is not BYOB! Are You asking for dinner or an event?

    Do you take reservations?

    Yes. Call the restaurant to make a reservation.

    Does anybody know when ROY's Hawaii Kai will re-open for business?

    Open

    View All 8 Questions

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    4.6(103 reviews)
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    Such a lovely experience!…read more My friend and I arrived at 6 pm on Saturday, with no reservation, but there were no other customers at the moment so it was all good. However, I noticed everyone else that arrived after us - 3 different groups, all had reservations, because it is in fact a very a small establishment, so I think in the future we would get a reservation! The servers/owners(?) were so nice, food came out relatively quickly, and it was so fresh and delicious, everything cooked to perfection! I ordered the cold soba (though this was kind of silly of me because I was already cold) and tempura plus salmon nigiri. Quite pricey (about $50 after tip) for a meal for one but I'm glad I tried it. My friend ordered the seared mackerel and honestly I was so shocked how delicious it was, just melts in your mouth! I would definitely go back :)

    A Cozy Spot for Japanese Brunch Cravings…read more We were craving a Japanese breakfast, and Koko Inaba was a great find. Tucked away in Koko Marina, it is a small, quaint space with a counter where you can watch the chef work and several tables for seating. Soba, udon, sashimi, tempura -- you pick what you are craving. I ordered the udon with assorted tempura, and everything was done well. The tempura had the perfect fry and crunch, and the udon had a satisfying bite to it. A quiet, welcoming spot for a comforting Japanese meal in East O'ahu.

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    Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Kani, salmon and ikura bowl comes with choice of soba or udon

    Kani, salmon and ikura bowl comes with choice of soba or udon

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    Carte Blanche

    Carte Blanche

    4.5(80 reviews)
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    Locally owned & operated
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    Took our friend here for her birthday and what a hidden gem this place was. Tucked away in the…read moreheart of Kaimuki, Carte Blanche was definitely a delightful surprise! When our party first walked in, we were a tiny bit skeptical because of the empty room (which was beautifully decorated). However as each course came out, we were blown away and didn't know how the restaurant was not way busier for a Saturday night! Each dish/course was well thought out and prepared to perfection. We were all taken by surprise in a great way. The head chef Anthony was very passionate and excited about his work and that was very refreshing! Overall a wonderful experience and we will be back!

    If you're looking for Kaimuki's most romantic date night spot, look no further than Carte Blanche…read more We recently experienced their summer prix fixe menu (which changes twice a year), and it was one of those meals you remember long after the plates are cleared. The progression of dishes felt thoughtful and creative-- * Crispy Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin (the perfect starter crunch) * Soupe de Poisson (deep, comforting flavors) * Pina Colada Granita (a refreshing palate cleanser) * Pan Seared Scallops (my personal favorite--perfectly caramelized and tender) * Double Cut Rack of Lamb (succulent and cooked to perfection) * Lemon Crème Brûlée Tart (a sweet, bright finish) Every plate was elegant, well-executed, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere strikes a balance between sophisticated and welcoming. Dim lighting, intimate tables, and quiet elegance make you feel like you've stepped into a hidden gem in the middle of Kaimuki. Honestly, I felt like a celebrity dining here. Service was polished but never pretentious--our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the courses, and kept the pacing of the meal just right. For the level of creativity and execution, Carte Blanche feels like an affordable luxury in Honolulu's dining scene. Perfect for anniversaries, date nights, or anytime you want an elevated experience without flying to the mainland. Highly recommend booking a reservation--you'll want to savor every moment here.

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    Excellent service, even better food! the chef made it a very comfortable experience, I felt right…read moreat home at the surfing pig! the sweetest hostess and the vibes were immaculate. will definitely be returning soon

    This place has AWESOME customer service, food, and ambiance, I would give it 6 stars if I could…read more Customer service was EXCELLENT, starting with my phone call to fix my reservations. Ray was extremely helpful in helping me correct an error I had made using the website to make our reservations and we were able to not only get reservations in the restaurant but in the speakeasy as well. Then there was Callie our waitress, she was bubbly, friendly, and very attentive. She created a warm and welcoming expereince for us and just that would make us come back. The food was SUPER ONO, at IYKYK we had the Midnight Musubi Arancini. I was hesitant to order it as I have had choke musubis over my lifetime and was thinking how different could these musubis be...? But, WOW, it was soooo good. The combination of ingredients filled each mouthful with a mixture of flavors that complimented each other. I would definitely order this again and encourage everyone to try it. We also had the Pork medallions and a kalua pig sampler, they too were delicious and our cocktails were very unique, delicious, and strong. We then moved from the speakeasy to the restaurant and we had the Pele's Pit Ribs and the Tsunami Burger for dinner. The ribs were very delicous, it was a dry rub so very clean and easy to eat with the fingers and the fried rice was tasty. My wife loved her burger and if you look at the pictures you can see why. The ambiance was VERY COOL. The deliberate and cohesive mix of dim red lighting, and comfortable lounging chairs totally created that speakeasy atmosphere. The restaurant portion was quaint, warm, and not too loud creating a good atmosphere for conversing. Overall we were very pleased to have come here, we will definitely come back and bring friends along too. As far as parking...its good. There is a metered parking lot behind the restaurant, no roof so your big 2500 4x4 boat hauler will easily park in it and there are clean male and female bathrooms in the restauant so you can drink and eat up.

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    Roy's Hawaii Kai - hawaiian - Updated May 2026

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