Sam&#x27;s Kitchen

621

768

1489

5 years ago

Got the ahi tuna poke and it was really good. It came with rice, salad and a potato Mac salad and those were really good too. It's a very casual takeout spot, so it's not a sit down restaurant. Overall, I'm happy with my experience! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Tuna - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Rosetta S.

2 years ago

Negative. The service sucks and the food is aight! If you're visiting, take your money elsewhere.

Business owner information

Sam M.

Whoa! I am sorry you feel the service was poor. We are a counter…

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Sachelle H.

262

174

316

4 years ago

Someone recommended the spicy garlic shrimp and steak to us. Very flavorful but mediocre especially for the price. It's a very small place and although the aesthetics were ok. We couldn't escape the flies and bugs but overall, I would recommend to atleast try it. read more

Business owner information

Sam M.

Thank you for the 3 stars,…

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Joanne C.

302

192

443

5 years ago

every time i visited waikiki pre-COVID there was a line here... and for good reason!! it's so bomb i love it! and sam is SO kind he walked us through the menu and hand delivered the food to us :") i will definitely be back next time i'm visiting waikiki! --- spicy garlic shrimp - 5/5 omg this is soooo good! the sauce is so flavorful and the shrimp is PEELED for you which i loved! i definitely recommend getting this dish! it comes with rice, salad, and mac salad! --- spicy garlic steak - 5/5 my bf got this and it was also super yummy! the steak wasn't dry or tough at all and the sauce made it taste so good! portion size was really good --- pineapple iced tea - 5/5 this tasted so good and refreshing! i got this with yelp check-in but i'd get it again anyway because it was delicious --- tl;dr this place is so good and sam is so so kind! i recommend the spicy garlic shrimp! SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES! read more

Sam's Kitchen - spicy garlic shrimp and steak! SOOO GOOD! and sam is SO KIND!! -- @foodiejocho - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Jacob D.

172

2 years ago

This place fell off. Big time. Don't know if it was change of ownership or what. But I came here 2 years ago, and came 5 times during my trip to Waikiki. Unfortunately due to massive price increase and decrease in food quality I will not be coming back. read more

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Gwen S.

3 years ago

So thankful we found this hole in the wall restaurant! Employees were great and food was outstanding. I wish we'd found it sooner! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Outside ambiance - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic shrimp - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Arous T.

3 years ago

Sam's kitchen is probably the best place I've ever had. When we landed in Hawaii and we situated at our hotel, our first stop was Sam's kitchen. It's a little hut type place with seating inside and outside. You could tell the food was made with care. Although we were being obnoxious tourists, the person taking our order was very helpful and gave great recommendations. We didn't even have to wait for long because the food was ready within 15 minutes and it lived up to the hype of it all. Highly recommend for everyone to try read more

Sam's Kitchen - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Business owner information

Sam M.

Aloha Mr. T!…

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Alexis V.

Elite 24

4 years ago

Sam's Kitchen was conveniently located across the street from our hotel and had HUGE foot traffic on a Friday night that peaked our interest so we had to try it out! This location is very good, but there are a few small tweaks I would've like to see. Food Quality/Taste - Hubby and I ordered spicy garlic shrimp and garlic steak to share with a side of the ahi poke. Our garlic shrimp/steak plate came with rice, greens, and potato salad. I'm not a huge fan of potato salad so I didn't really touch that portion but from what I did try, is very good. The greens could've used a little bit more sauce as it was drizzled only on top. I would've like to see an option to replace the potato salad with extra greens, but I didn't ask so I'm not sure if it's possible. The spicy level is perfect and has a nice kick to it. I love some garlic but it's definitely a taste you can get over within a few bites if you're not a huge fan of garlic. The meat was cooked to perfection (the only acceptable option is medium rare btw) and the shrimp were JUMBO. The ahi poke is ok, it's not really spectacular. It doesn't have much of the shoyu flavor, so I would recommend to skip on this as it's a little pricey for a small portion but large cuts. The owner and staff are really nice! I believe the owner is an older gentleman but he was very nice! He interacted with everyone and made sure everyone was taken care of, understood the menu, and really was just super kind. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Ahi Poke - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic Shrimp and Garlic Steak - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Peter C.

1 year ago

I felt like a fun and inexpensive dinner one evening and stumbled on this place. I had the spicy shrimp plate and boy was it delicious! The pineapple iced tea was so good and refreshing and I loved sitting outside by the pool. read more

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Eric M.

1 year ago

The food, service & ambiance at Sam's Kitchen were all outstanding. We all had the original garlic shrimp, and it was excellent. The folks that took care of us were absolutely delightful. Highly recommended and on my list for definite return visits. read more

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Tami N.

398

337

981

7 years ago

I could not leave Honolulu without a serving of garlic shrimp and I'm glad I went to Sam's to get my fix. But be warned that portions here are SMALL. I tried the garlic shrimp and garlic beef with the potato salad as a side dish. Both were 5/5! My family ravenously finished both dishes only in a few minutes. They don't skimp on flavor here which I highly appreciate. Prices are decent for a tourist area. The owner was very friendly and told us a bit about his background and how he came to settle in Hawaii. If you want a friendly and tasty experience, check out Sam's when in Honolulu. The garlic shrimp is a staple! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic beef - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - Pineapple tea - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - Menu - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Vivian L.

120

4 years ago

My first food ever in Hawaii! The garlic shrimp was huge and super flavorful. There were tons of shrimp too! The seasoning was perfect; it wasn't too salty or lacking in flavor. The macaroni salad was bomb. I managed to finish 90% of this before I felt superrr full haha. I also got their pineapple iced tea and it was SO GOOD. Highly recommend getting these two items. What's a plus is that they open until super late, so perfect for traveler who arrives to Honolulu late into the night. Plenty of outdoor seating. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Extra jumbo shrimp, original garlic sauce, da plate. + Pineapple iced tea - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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amanda o.

100

118

5 years ago

I got the spicy garlic shrimp platter yesterday and it was delicious! Shrimp was very fresh and plump! Came with a scoop of potato salad and rice and a side salad. I wish it was spicier.... So next time I'm going to order it extra spicy! The pineapple tea hit the spot! Refreshing! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy garlic shrimp platter - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Wilson L.

138

1841

3077

3 years ago

I had an amazing time dining here at Sam's. The food is quick, the food is delicious and the staff are incredible. I highly recommend checking this place out. The steak and rice was so good. read more

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De'Lissa R.

Elite 23

119

127

5 years ago

My friend and I were hungry at 12am and there was not much spots open & we stumbled upon this little restaurant. There isn't much parking nearby, so i recommend either having one person wait in the car while you order or walk there. We were staying couple minutes down the street from Beachcomber so it was an easy find. Definitely great customer service. Whoever took our order was so friendly. He took time to make small talk with us and helped to give us recommendations. The owner was even there and greeted us as well. Very chill vibes. We ended up with the garlic shrimp and steak. The only downside was the price. It's pretty pricey for but they do give you a good amount in your plate. This is definitely a good spot after going to the bar and when you need a late night bite in Waikiki! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Steak plate - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic Shrimp comes with rice, tossed salad & mac salad. - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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David P.

100

3 years ago

If you want a tiny plate of shrimp. This is the spot. 5 shrimp and tablespoon of potato salad

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Kai P.

195

107

4 years ago

Sam's kitchen was great. This was my first meal when I landed to Oahu. The food was great and service was wonderful. Originally ordered the tuna poke mix with shrimp but with miscommunication it came out was cooked tuna. Either way order was fixed promptly with no issues. The food is kind of pricey for the mix plate in Waikiki but pretty standard since it's in a touristy location. read more

Business owner information

Sam M.

Thank you for the glowing 5 stars!! We know its not the cheapest food…

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Lindsay C.

160

211

188

5 years ago

Currently devouring and it's so good that I have to write while I eat. Got pineapple teriyaki steak (medium rare -- and they actually HIT IT!), spicy garlic shrimp (recommended to me by my cousin and hello- she was so, so right). I'd give the shrimp a solid 3/5 on spice level. I walked 40 minutes roundtrip for this and will be doing it once more again before I leave. Amazing takeout. *I had to go in-person to order. Their website domain has expired and the phone is automated. I waited less than 10 min for my food. Top notch staff too. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Combo - steak and shrimp ($23 total) with rice ($1) - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Crystal N.

277

153

327

5 years ago

My boyfriend and I were walking around to grab lunch and we found this place near our hotel. The auntie there recommended the garlic shrimp and the teri-garlic sauce which is what we got. I should've gotten the spicy garlic since it probably adds a kick (I loveee spicy food). There's outdoor seating after you order at the little stand. There's probably 4 tables. Their decor is very stylish! There was surfboards hanging on top, greenery, and some cool art on the side wall. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic shrimp plate - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - Teri garlic sauce with sirloin plane - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Sam M.

Aloha…

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Gerald D.

Elite 24

202

153

3 years ago

We Love Sam's Kitchen! One of our favorite hole in the wall spots in Oahu. If you don't have the stamina for the long wait times, come out to Sam's. I normally order the Garlic Shrimp w/ original garlic sauce on Da Plate. Sometimes I add extra protein to my order and get the NY Strip Steak w/ pineapple teriyaki sauce! They give you really good size portions here and IMO it's one of the best bang for your buck out in Waikiki! They also expanded their outdoor seating. They open pretty late too for those that party and wanna get some good grub after! Don't sleep on Sam's and come out and support whats good! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Pineapple teriyaki steak and garlic shrimp on Da Plate! - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - In front of Sam's w/ Akebono! - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Kora T.

288

330

4 years ago

My favorite place to get garlic shrimp in Waikiki! Sam's uses peeled shrimp so that makes it way easier for me to eat! This place is a staple whenever I'm in Hawaii. Great location with plenty of seating. Food is served quickly after you order at the cashier. Most restaurants close pretty early in Hawaii, but Sam's open till 1AM! So if you're hungry late at night, this is the place to go! read more

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Sean B.

125

1185

5 years ago

Wife and I went to Sam's twice on our trip to Waikiki. First time we both had the spicy garlic shrimp and loved it. Second time, wife ordered shrimp again along with side of tofu. I had the steak. The steak quality was surprisingly good, but I don't think I'd get it again with the spicy garlic sauce. The tofu was really good thing too. Also recommend the plantation iced tea. Overall, Sam's is a great place to get a reasonably priced meal in Waikiki. read more

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Cynthia S.

307

3 years ago

4 Stars for the Garlic Shrimp. It literally just needed to be a little more garlic, a little more butter to be perfect. 4 Stars for the Spicy Shrimp better than Giovanni's (which I thought it was gross actually). However Jenny's shrimp truck spicy shrimp is still my favorite. Beef - avoid at all cost. I ordered medium rare , it came out well done and super tough. Poke - 3 stars. Decent taste but considering there are lots of competition out there, this was just good as a side. I would come back again for the shrimp. read more

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Michael T.

5 years ago

I am literally writing this right after finishing a garlic shrimp and teri-garlic steak plate and washing it down with their delicious plantation (pineapple) ice tea while sitting on the patio on this amazing restaurant! Their garlic shrimp rivals Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. What makes Sam's Kitchen a notch higher (in my opinion) is that they remove the shell from the shrimp which allows the meat of the shrimp to be full of the garlic flavor (and not just coated on the shell like Giovanni's). If you're staying in Waikiki, this place may save you the drive for some garlic shrimp. The steak was tender, juicy and full of flavor as well. You definitely need to drop by for a plate and taste for yourself!! read more

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Liliana R.

Elite 23

120

137

3 years ago

Honestly, this one tastes better than the Giovanni's in North Shore. Much more flavor and bigger shrimp. Small spot hidden around the corner from ice cream. Well worth trying read more

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Lyly R.

2 years ago

Not really sure what the hype is about this place. The sauce was flavorful but the meat was poor quality.

Business owner information

Sam M.

Aloha Lyly,…

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Ricky E.

297

476

5 years ago

I thought it was a good meal for the price and it was around the corner from my hotel. I ordered the spicy chicken plate which came with mixed greens, potato salad, bed of rice, and chicken. The chicken was spicy which I enjoyed and had a crisp to it. Not super breaded and oily so that's a plus. I think I'll try the steak next time though. Staff wasn't the friendliest and seemed bothered so I think they had a bad day so I wont fault them. The tea is great! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy chicken plate with tea - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Christian B.

126

521

8 years ago

Ciao! Stumbled into this place by accident. A casual hang loose type of restaurant. I had the Ahí Poke, shrimps and pineapple tea. Excellent choice. The wild caught Ahí was very tasteful. Definitely a place to have a casual lay back meal. Two thumbs up! Buon Appetito! read more

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Trang N.

685

3 years ago

Food was not that great, it's decent - definitely not 4.1 stars. We got the garlic shrimp plate and the poke plate, nothing special about it. The shrimp plate seemed like it was just a quick water boil with the their sauce, it wasn't marinated into the meat. As for the poke, it was good but nothing special aside from what you find from other poke spots. Service was horrible. We ordered our food at 9:02 pm, #64 was our ticket number. After twenty minutes, they called for #54 and I was thinking maybe they're all coming out now. Nope. Another 10min passed and my son was really hungry so I walked him to McDonald's to get him food while my husband waited for the food. I came back about 20 min later and they barely called for #57!? I told my husband to check on the order and they said you just have to wait. How rude. I told him to go back and cancel it because it's been about an hour and nothing is moving, who knows when we'll get ours? Finally when he did that, they whipped up our plates really fast leaving the ones before us still waiting. We didn't mean for them to do that, they just didn't want to lose $50 for something so simple and easy that should've only costed about $30. It was 9:55 when we got our food. I would've gave this place a 3-star for the food, but because of the the service and pricing, I knocked down two stars. If you want good tasting garlic shrimp, you're better off at the shrimp trucks. Definitely not coming back read more

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Nina L.

Elite 20

473

3 years ago

Great food, vibes and excellent service. Plenty of seating. The flavors were explosive, and the spice was on point! We didn't leave one drop of rice. Check them out! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy garlic jumbo shrimp & Pineapple teri garlic sirloin - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Jailene L.

4 years ago

Listen, so I know flavors and textures were going to be different than the mainland but this was ultimately terrible. The service and the food. Everyone I've met on the Island has been nice and with manners. The food no flavor at all. The meat taste like it's been sitting in the freezer for to longg. It was late and we were starving so we walked 2 blocks for McDonald's lol we said we weren't but nothing else was open. My stomach hurt immediately after. Save time and money, go somewhere else! read more

Sam's Kitchen - The chicken plate. - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - The steak plate - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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ruby c.

3 years ago

Yummy take out food. Lots of seating indoor and outdoor. The shrimp was really good. About 15 dollars for a shrimp rice bowl read more

Sam's Kitchen - Shrimp rice bowl - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Hong U.

109

4 years ago

I order the garlic shrimp combo plate. The food was delicious. The shrimp and rice was fresh. The garlic wasn't too overwhelming. Will definitely come again. The parking isn't the best but it's worth the walking. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic shrimp combo - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Maily L.

204

4 years ago

I agree with everyone that's it's great that they're open late Customer service: 5/5. Lovely people! Spicy garlic chicken: 5/5. I liked the taste and texture. The chicken wasn't overdone. Taste was very garlicky and had a nice depth from the spice. Steak original flavor: 2.5/5. I ordered medium rare and it definitely came out well done. I couldn't ignore that it was just overdone. I'm also having it leftover (you know... the morning after where you add protein to instant noodles), and I still can't say it's hitting the spot. I want to love it though Fries: 6/5. Loved the texture of it. It's crispy all around and the flavor is ace. May come back for just the fries read more

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Nathanial T.

2 years ago

After eating a bunch of nigiri we decided to get cooked food. Staff is friendly, food was delicious. Vibes were chill. We had the spicy garlic shrimp and spicy garlic steak, with all 3 side combo ( salad, rice, potato salad). read more

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Alvin C.

345

1773

8 years ago

While on our family vacation in Oahu, I was craving for Garlic Shrimp and didn't feel like driving to North Shore. This place was recommended to us by a family member so I decided to make a stop on a Thursday evening. When we got there, there was no line but there were customers waiting for their orders. When I approached the counter, I was greeted nicely and took my order. After 5 minutes, my order was ready. I had the Spicy Garlic Shrimp and rice with the sauce on the side. I wasn't sure how spicy it was going to be. The order came with 8 pieces of shrimp and it's not your typical Giovanni's Garlic Shrimp. These seems to be deep fried or just fried and sauce poured over it. The shrimp has a crunch to it and they were still good. It would have been nice to have a dozen for the price. Parking in Waikiki is bad. You would need to use a parking garage. There's street parking but good luck finding an open spot. Location is right off Royal Hawaiian Ave. You should see it from the side walk. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy Garlic Shrimp (8 pieces) - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - Front of the Restaurant - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy Garlic Shrimp with Sauce on the side (8 pieces) - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Meairra G.

2 years ago

I did not want to leave a bad review for this place but feel I need to warn others amidst the good reviews Firstly, the steak plate contained quite honestly the worst steak I have ever tasted (think rubbery, no flavor at all, and as you can see in the photo, no garlic sauce whatsoever) and the fries had no salt or seasoning. I asked for mac salad but was given potato salad. The rice tasted a day old and was literally stuck together. The shrimp was okay but definitely did not taste fresh at all. We did not finish our food and were ready to just take the L, pay and leave, but our server could not be bothered to notice us waving at him several times as he was looking in our direction, so we just got up and walked to the counter to pay. I ended up getting a pretty gnarly stomachache afterwards, and my hubby got food poisoning. For almost $50, I would definitely avoid if you don't want that a part of your vacation! read more

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Ryan T.

140

3 years ago

I could not say better things. The food is pretty good but wow the (I think?) owner is phenomenal. Kindest and most personable guy. He really cares for ever customer as If they are personal friends and so respectful. I love this guy! He brought us a complimentary pineapple tea as well. Such a great experience thanks to Mohammad read more

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic steak - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Jessica V.

3 years ago

Bad experience! The cashier was extremely rude! I asked for spicy shrimp and she said to me, "there is nothing with spice!" So I then asked for the garlic shrimp. I ordered fries and she then says, "no fries!" I then got really upset because she had a poor attitude about it. I finalized the damn order and asked for lemon and she literally said to me, "no lemon!" There is hundreds of places you can go eat in Waikiki, don't waste your time eating there over this rude lady. The lady who brought our food was super sweet and kind. I've heard the owners are nice too! I hope they address this older woman's behavior before they lose more business! I personally would never go back! The food was good but I honestly do not pay to be treated that way. read more

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Man M.

443

2 years ago

Good but nothing crazy special. A little spice and a lot of garlic. Simple prep. BYOB!! read more

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Page 8 of 36

2425 Kuhio Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
Waikiki
Directions
(808) 444-3636
Call Now
Visit Website
https://sams-royal-kitchen.square.site

Full menu

Hours

What time does Sam's Kitchen open?

Sam's Kitchen opens at 10:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Sam's Kitchen close?

Sam's Kitchen closes at 1:00 AM (Next day) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 10:00 AM - 1:00 AM (Next day)

Payment methods

Does Sam's Kitchen take Bitcoin?

No, Sam's Kitchen does not take Bitcoin.

Does Sam's Kitchen take credit cards?

Yes, Sam's Kitchen takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Sam's Kitchen have catering options?

No, Sam's Kitchen does not have catering options.

Does Sam's Kitchen have a drive thru?

No, Sam's Kitchen does not have a drive thru.

Does Sam's Kitchen serve alcohol?

Yes, Sam's Kitchen serves alcohol. Full Bar

Indoor Amenities

Does Sam's Kitchen allow dogs?

Yes, Sam's Kitchen allows dogs.

Does Sam's Kitchen have TVs?

No, Sam's Kitchen does not have TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Sam's Kitchen have bike parking?

Yes, Sam's Kitchen has bike parking.

Does Sam's Kitchen have outdoor seating?

Yes, Sam's Kitchen has outdoor seating options.

Does Sam's Kitchen have parking?

Yes, Sam's Kitchen has parking options. Street Parking

Other Amenities

Is Sam's Kitchen wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Sam's Kitchen is wheelchair accessible.

Does Sam's Kitchen have free WiFi?

Yes, Sam's Kitchen has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

We are open from 10am until 11pm EVERY DAY! Last takeout order is at 11pm. New Location at poolside terrace of The Bamboo Hotel on 2425 Kuhio Avenue. We are open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day!! Welcome to Sam's Kitchen! We have fresh island dishes with a focus on locally sourced fish and we bring the unique taste of Hawaii to every dish. Our food stand has been going strong with good eats and great service for 18 years, and according to your reviews we will continue to do so for many many more! Sam's Kitchen "Super Secret Sauce" is made every other day and each batch takes over 5 hours to make. Every sauce we use is made from scratch and is unique. We differentiate ourselves from the competition by offering an extra jumbo sized shrimp that is peeled and cleaned before cooking! Our rice is California grown Japanese varietal and we pride ourselves on the delicate process of cooking the rice to perfection. We are known for our garlic shrimp, top sirloin steaks, fresh fish and fresh poke bowls, and of course our sweet delicious pineapple plantation iced tea. And, we add extra aloha to every dish through our great customer service. We are “Shrimply the Best”!

History

Established in 2009.

We started as a small take-out food establishment (a.k.a. plate-lunch) in Waikiki to accommodate visitors and kama'aina alike. For the local or kama'aina employed in the vicinity of Waikiki we wanted to offer a meal that could be brought to work or purchased quickly and conveniently during the brief time allocated for their lunch or dinner break. We also set up a simple outdoor seating area which functions wonderfully during clear weather! For the visitor we thought that very few restaurants can rival the view from their own room and of course the dress code is quite null when dining in room. We wanted to offer a good meal that could be enjoyed away from the busy streets of Waikiki or in the comfort of one's own room. Our meals can be taken to the beach and enjoyed in the warm sun or the shade of a tree at a park. Our food design concept is designed to allow for the meals to be enjoyed without a table, and thus our plates are made to be held with one hand while eaten with the other!

Meet the Business Owner: Sam M.

Born in the Caribbean. Traveled the Seven Seas. Visited and lived in over fifty countries. Enjoyed each country's cuisine immensely, as proved by his bulging belly. Hosted a travel show for twenty years which is aired in Japan, where he really is huge! Literally. Loves to burn off the excess garlic rice at the beach while taking mean photos from inside frothy spitting barrels. He had the revelation to make food that could be eaten without a table while he was at sea for 26 days in a 36 foot sailboat. During this same crossing all the spoons were swept off the deck into the sea and he had another revelation of a new way to eat food not involving traditional utensils. It is ultra-secret and will be revealed soon, changing the jaw muscles of humanity for the remainder of time! "Curious" may be the one word to describe him, by which he would likely reply "quite".

Ask the Community - Sam's Kitchen

Is this place truly open till 1am everday? I am getting back home late next week (11pm) and want to confirm I can grab something here!

Sam's Kitchen is a great place to grab delicious garlic shrimp. Walking distance from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The hours of operations change based on local GOV restrictions but they do update the website and Yelp information often. However during… Read more

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How is the parking situation around the area? Can someone please recommend where to park? Also, is it walkable from the Hyatt Regency? Thanks so much!

Parking definitely isn't great as it's located in the touristy area, highly recommend Uber and the bus as we didn't see any parking nearby here

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4.0(164 reviews)

2.8 mi•Downtown

Came here when it was less crowded the seating area is big wide open with chairs, tables, and a…read moregreen luscious outdoor view. There were only a few vendors like maybe 4 trucks at the time we got a plate from a vendor called "Wasabi Express by Tiger" the white woman who most likely also works with the main chef randomly approached us recommends it for my partner and I says it's going to taste great it's made fresh daily,, said why not we came for a trip but honestly it was mid and this is why I don't listen to people but realistically I should've just dogged it in my opinion; understand it's Hawaii we are in a touristy spot, but too overpriced for something that tastes like yoshinoya meat and rice that tastes just like fried rice from a regular Chinese takeout

Went here with friends! The food selection and trucks they have is alright! I thought it would be…read morebigger and lots of trucks like OC night market in LA but i cant complain, the food is amazing! And love the drink i got from the truck strawberry pineapple flavor from tropics truck

6-3-23 My Credit Union!

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Tables

Kahuku Shrimp Go-Rae

4.4(42 reviews)

2.5 mi•Kaka'ako

I wasn't expecting to find a good shrimp spot inside a liquor store, but I was pleasantly…read moresurprised. After leaving a doctor's appointment, I had a craving for shrimp and Google Maps led me here and they did not disappoint. This is definitely one of my favorite shrimp plate places. Aloha Shrimp on the North Shore is still my #1 pick, but this spot is easily in my top 5. The service was good, and my food came out in about six minutes. There isn't much ambiance since it's located inside a liquor store with no seating, so it's definitely more of a takeout place.

Flavor is good. Comparable to famous kahuku shrimp. But somewhat on the sweeter side. Like they…read moreadded sugar. Would go again if craving garlic shrimp and don't wanna drive to north shore.

Kahuku garlic shrimp regular

Spicy shrimp

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Outside the store

Waikiki Garlic Shack

4.5(143 reviews)

0.1 mi•Waikiki

I was looking for a quick hot lunch (3 days of eating poke will do that to ya) and this popped up…read moreon Yelp so I wandered over. It's in an area with a few other food stalls and I didn't know what to expect but I'm so glad I tried it. I ordered the angry shrimp plate and the 6pc coconut shrimp a la carte ($13.95). The coconut shrimp is outta this world. Coated with breading with flakes of coconut, the crispy, crunchy exterior is so satisfying to bite into and unveils the juicy shrimp underneath. I loved the sauces it came with too -- it paired so well with the shrimp. The angry shrimp plate comes with two scoops of furikake rice and a small side salad. Whatever is in the salad dressing is seriously addictive and the angry shrimp is wonderful when paired with the rice. The sauce made me want two more scoops of white rice. I preferred my beloved coconut shrimp more but all in all these were excellent dishes. I might need to get this again and that's high praise considering the abundance of good food in Oahu.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!! Disrespectful service & completely unacceptable behavior!!…read more My boyfriend and I placed two separate orders for a total of 4 platters and 2 drinks. During my boyfriend's transaction, he didn't realize it was cashless, and the employee, Mitchel T, repeatedly pressured him to put his cash in the tip jar - mentioning things like a ski trip and family to convince him to hand the cash over as tip. It quickly became uncomfortable. When picking up our first order (2 platters, 2 drinks), the same employee asked if I could carry everything. I said I'd try, but instead of giving me the drinks, he handed me only the 2 platters and angrily sighed before setting the drinks back down. As I went back for the drinks, he instead handed me the remaining two platters. I turn to set those down and while doing so I guess he thought now I would be able to handle carrying 2 platters and 2 drinks. Because I didn't grab the drinks this second go around, the worker called me a "F***ING IDIOT." When I said, "that's rude," he doubled down - telling another customer I was an idiot because he was "busy" (there was only one person in line). My boyfriend calmly tried to address it, but the employee refused, completely ignored him, and continued glaring at us as we left. Other customers also expressed how rudely treated they were at this location. We spent nearly $100 to be treated with hostility. Completely unacceptable.

Food truck "court" including the angry shrimp!

#1 Angry Shrimp

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Miso butterfish with braised mushroom and onion sauce, arugula, and rice

Dimsum Village

3.9(57 reviews)

3.5 mi•Chinatown

The porridge was piping hot and the pork was very finely shredded, which I prefer over tough/chewy…read moreand sometimes fatty slices of meat, as is common at most places. The rice was smooth and thick. I wish there were more century egg bits. The broth flavor could have been a bit stronger, so I asked for shoyu. One order is good for two people. I also ordered shrimp dumplings. They were plump pieces of shrimp and a good size. The skin wasn't thick either. They weren't hot like the porridge was but it was fine coz then I could eat them right away. The hubs got some pork mochi. They were quite generously filled as well. The mochi was crispy and chewy. Everything was decently priced. It's a little stall in the Maunakea Marketplace food court, so mostly self-service over the counter. The uncle was kind and pleasant. Auntie was busy cooking/prepping in the back. We were there around lunchtime on a Sunday so they were probably getting ready to pack up as well. I'd try the fried donut and other dim sum items next time!

Went to Mei Mei Chinese BBQ for a quick pick up & a couple stalls away heading…read more mauka ( mountain side) saw these good looking round sesame seed doughnuts in their display area. Jin Dui in Chinese ! Had to try some . They comes in three's .Got 2 coconut& one red bean filled. $ 5.00 for 3 They were soft once you bite into them& the fillings were the highlight.They are a dim sum shop so you can get all your goodies there. In the Maunakea Food court. Lot of stalls to pickup all kinds of different cultural foods! Service was fast & you can dine in the court or take out! Cash only!

Savory ip chai filling includes chopped water chestnut and other vegetarian ingredients

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Pork Bao

Thai Tacos

4.6(103 reviews)

0.1 mi•Waikiki

Locally owned & operated

Outdoor seating

The Thai Taco stand was one of my favorite spots I tried in Waikiki last year, so I was super…read moreexcited to come back. The pork katsu and beef plate are incredible and different in the best way. If you have a chance to check them out, I definitely wouldn't miss the opportunity. Great people producing a great product. Thank you again for the hospitality!! - Joey Food 10/10 Service 10/10

A permanent food truck located in the Waikiki area. A fusion…read moremix of thai and mexican...all I know is they had vegan tacos.... I got an order of Spring Rolls and the Tofu Tacos.... Overall nothing special about either one.... The Tofu tacos were basically standard tofu wedges put inside tortillas with some peanut sauce....nothing special about it but i guess it just gives an option for those who don't eat meat....but wouldn't get that again was pretty plain overall....

Menu options

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Thai beef over rice

John's World Famous Hawaii

4.4(84 reviews)

1.2 mi

•$

Great hotdogs, and it's a great place/views to have one by the lagoon. This is one of the…read morebetter/best food options unless you are willing to walk a long ways. The guy that runs this is very nice, and fun to talk to.

I've lived here for seven years and walked past this hot dog stand countless times. Every time I…read morewalk by the owner Jon smile and say hello, every time. And on one of my last walk in Waikiki, I got on of his hotdogs. John and his staff were incredibly welcoming. He's originally from Philly, and as someone from the East Coast, I immediately felt that warm hospitality. John is so sweet, he even offered me the hot dog on the house... completely unexpected, but a true reflection of John's demeanor. I went with the chicken hot dog "John style" (well that is everything but the sauerkraut). I wasn't hesitate about the mustard because I'm usually not a fan but the staff insisted it was more like Dijon mustard anyways. The hotdog was loaded, flavorful, and way better than I expected for someone who usually keeps it simple with the toppings. The bun broke down a bit from all the toppings, but that was to be expected with all the toppings loaded on there. You can't beat the location, it's right outside the Ilikai by the lagoon though the service alone makes this an easy five stars. I'm really happy this ended up being one of my last food experiences living in Hawaii. I'd be eager to see John and his staff again if I return.

A hot dog is $13 now...

Jumbo beef dog with everything!

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Hula Dog

4.3(497 reviews)

1.3 mi

The lemonade was a 12 out of 10 and the hotdog was an 11 out of 10 for two hotdog and a lemonade it…read morecame out to around $20, which is a really good deal. Consider considered me and my friends were very satisfied when we left. The lemonade is the most refreshing drink ever. It's not too sweet or bitter, but it's the perfect amount of lemon and sugar to not be too overbearing. The pineapple relish on the hotdog was the cherry on top and I'm so glad the owner suggested it. He was so kind and such a cool guy and my friends and I are already planning to come back before our trip is over.

I always by passed this place on Kapiolani Blvd and decided to finally try it out…read more My boyfriend and I approached the stand and I was looking over the menu. We knew we were only going to get one hotdog just to try it out. When we were ready to put in our order, I placed it in with the male worker. As I was saying my order to the worker, my boyfriend had walked away to the side to wait for me. When I finished putting in my order, the worker had asked me if it would have been just one or two hotdogs. I answered him by saying yes just one. Which he then responded by saying, "what, would he rather have a pho?" Clearly seeing my boyfriend was Asian, that was his question for us just getting one hotdog. He said it as if it was funny. I left it alone and waited for the order. I just don't get the point of him having to say that. He didn't even pronounce "pho" right either, he pronounced it as "foe." As for the hotdog itself, it is good. It is on the pricier side of $11 for one but for the price you get with the bun, polish sausage and toppings, it made it for it. Lower stars because of the overall impression.

Strawberry Lemonade and a Poi Dog!

Signature Poi Dog

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Picture of the parking and seating area

Eat the Street

4.3(7 reviews)

2.7 mi

Eat the street and getting continually better. The new location at kakaako waterfront park is way…read morebetter than the kewalo basin mainly because of the space. I did like the strung lights shaped like a big top tent at kewalo and some of the staging. But the variety of food, vendors and entertainment in kakaako is just exponentially larger. You have to recognize the progression of restaurant in Hawaii to appreciate it. This is where they start. Da spot for instance was a food truck, opened a restaurant near university after success and now is opening a second location at AMC. So support food stand and food trucks, they might be your next fine dining experience in the future. This is the place to do it. It has a very pincnic atmosphere, live music, drinking section, etc. you can appreciate it all. My latest fav is Istanbul Turkish cuisine. They have plans to open a brick and mortar place in Chinatown. The food they produce is really tasty. I'd love to see the stuff they make in a full restaurant. Come out, support, if you wish there were more of (fill in blank) types a restaurant, this is a good place to find a food truck and help them make it happen.

I honestly had no idea about Eat The Street, I was bored and checking events on Yelp as always and…read morewas trying to find something fun to do that obviously had something to do with eating. We decided to spend our "Black Friday" here, event started at 4:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m at Kakaako Park but we ended up showing up at 6:00 pm. We honestly didn't have that huge of an issue finding parking and the event wasn't that crowded, I'm sure it had a lot to do with everyone being at the parade or staying home the sl day after Thanksgiving. I highly recommend you show up early cause eating in the dark is kind of a pain so we had to shine the light on our phones to eat. I ordered my first food at "Mega Load Burger", they had choice of sliders and the infamous pineapple bowl with your choice of shrimp, pork, or kalbI. You can even choose fried rice or macaroni and cheese instead, even though it was dark and I couldn't see my food I really enjoyed the flavor of my garlic and rice, they had chunks of pineapple at bottom which made it a little difficult to eat with a plastic fork, but I appreciate they didn't waste it. My boyfriend ordered what we thought was an elote or Mexican corn from "The Corn Project" it was very good but the corn was so small, was a bit expensive for $6. We finally decided to get drinks at "ICE HNL" we saw they had bloodbath drinks on Instagram but were out so we ordered the smokin drink love potion instead, which was good made a instagrammable photo. I also checked "Eat The Streets" page and saw Postmate and Aokis shaved ice was giving away free shaved ice! I thought it was a awesome way to give everyone some nice free treats, make sure you tip! As we were leaving I of course saw a table of donuts laid out! Modo donuts was selling mochi donuts for $2 each and I had exactly $4 left so I asked for cookies and cream and my boyfriend got the matcha flavor. I've never had mochi donuts in my life and I'm so upset I didn't buy more! It was so chewy and delicious my boyfriend tried to steal mine and I had to swat him away! Most business accept card but they have an ATM in the park Incase.

Bao Boys!

Tryin

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Franky Fresh! Shakes only tho!

Oh’s Kitchen

3.8(6 reviews)

1.7 mi•Manoa

So ono! We saw them at Ka Makani Ali'i during an event and it smelled so good we had to try! My…read more'Ohana tried one of each skewer-lobster ball, teriyaki chicken, garlic pork, and grilled squid. So good!!! Excellent service and we'll have to try their main location sometime!

Tried Oh's Kitchen at the Waikiki Makers Market…read more Decent line but moved fast. BBQ skewers had a nice glaze and flavor--very similar to Filipino-style BBQ, which gave me a little taste of home. Ours weren't that hot since they had been sitting out for a bit, but still tasty. They have two sauces: Hawaiian BBQ and sweet & sour, both solid depending on your mood. The squid was just okay. They also had crispy spring rolls and fresh malasadas--nice options if you want something savory and sweet while walking around. Lowkey wish they had rice (that's just the Asian in me haha), but overall a good, quick bite while exploring the market.

(Top) garlic pepper pork / (Bottom) "huli huli chicken"

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You reach and get your own

Chao

4.4(368 reviews)

3.4 mi

The food and the server were both good. He was pleasant and his explanation on the menu was clear…read moreto understand.

Restaurants is not only good food but the service of the workers is one of the important is…read morecommunication and respect.. that is 100 percent.and that is my experience.