I can only rate this on the drinks and bar service. The kitchen staff was not working the night we stopped in and we were the only two at the bar. The bartender was very sweet and we talked to her the whole time. We ended up leaving after two drinks as it was dead and there was nothing left to do. I'll try to come by again for food - if I should be so lucky. read more

Straits - Honolulu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Nasi lemak, kaya toast, laksa, food that I was eating almost every day when I was living in Singapore and I really miss them! So I was excited to try this restaurant but also a little disappointed to find out this is more like an Asian fusion restaurant. Tried a few dishes and they're alright but I would not recommend it if you are looking for authentic Singaporean/Malaysian food. Nasi Lemak: the rice didn't have much coconut flavor. The curry chicken and anchovies were replaced by Portuguese sausages and bacons. It was written on the menu though I just didn't pay attention lol Roti prata: not bad but the portion was quite small for the price Laksa: the broth was spicy and not much flavor profile. Noodles were overcooked and a little mushy. Food was definitely pricey but it was expected. It was at Ward and the decor was really nice. The restaurant is just beautiful. Service was also excellent. I still think it is a fun place for gathering given the great ambiance and the excellent service. read more

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I had a work happy hour here on a Friday night, and I was surprised at how empty it was. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share. I got the Jillian, which was a lychee cocktail. This was really good and didn't taste like alcohol. The eggplant was super spicy and killed me. I must've ate a pepper or something, but it kinda ruined the next half hour of my night. The chicken skewers were seasoned well and helped get rid of the spicy taste in my mouth. My favorite dish was definitely the roti. The bread had the perfect amount of butter and flakiness. The waitresses were really good and attentive with our group, even though we were constantly ordering food and drinks. read more

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This is a new review, an update of my latest experience at what used to be one of the places I always wanted to frequent ... I went to Kaka'ako after work to see IU's The Winning Concert at Ward Theater and made a reservation at Strait so I could have dinner before the 7pm showing. I ordered a Hendricks gin & tonic ($16) and perused the two-page menu. I don't think there have been any changes since I was last here (June 2024). I ordered my favorite Crispy Chicken Lollipops ($21) and something I hadn't tried before, Kaya Toast ($14). While waiting for my food, I sensed something off with my drink, so I asked my server if it was really Hendricks gin. This is one of my favorite gins and I know its flavor intimately. He said that's what he ordered from the bar but would check. I asked for a second ... Alas, it was no better. I suspect it was the tonic water. Some bars use tonic water from a soda gun ... I don't know if Straits did or not, but this was not the Hendricks gin and tonic that I'm accustomed to. The chicken lollipops came, and I was surprised at the change in presentation. There were now just three lollipops (versus four) and they were laid flat on a round plate atop micro greens. They no longer looked like lollipops; to me, the Frenching of the drumettes was poorly done. At least they tasted like the lollipops of old. The Kaya Toast arrived much later ... This was an interesting dish. There were three slender finger sandwiches made with toasted bread, kaya and butter and a dish containing what was supposed to be a mixture of Pandan Coconut Jam, Sous Vide Egg, Dark Soya, and White Pepper; essentially a coconut cream custard. Perhaps the butter was too soft or unsalted because I got the sweet but not the savory. I think the dish sat too long before it got to me ... I asked my server for coffee but never got it (but was not charged for it) ... I eventually got the check and paid online after reading the QR code. All in all, a very disappointing visit to what used to be one of my favorite places in Kaka'ako. I don't know what happened ... the restaurant wasn't busy, service was leisurely ... I walked out feeling unsatisfied. I'm sorry to say, I can't recommend Straits based upon this visit and I canceled a reservation I had for the 26th. There are better places to spend $83.55 for two drinks and two appetizers. read more

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Came here for dinner to celebrate the holidays with my girlfriends. Didn't have any expectations. It was half empty when we came around 530pm. Though the place was slowly getting filled with people. We all ordered our drinks first but my beer, it took quite a long time and the last to come. The server was very friendly and gave me periodic status of my beer. But by then our food had came. We had to ask for utensils several times since there were none set at the table. It's a nice place to hang out with friends. read more

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First time here... located at the bottom floor of the Ward Theaters. You can make reservations on Yelp. We walked in. Food took awhile - tasty. Been open for a year Nov 2023 was their opening. Wok Fried rice noodles "chow kway teow" prawns, lup cheong , sambal.... Soooo good Banana bread pancakes Haupia Sauce, cured egg yolks... hubby liked it. He likes coconut flavor nasi lemak Anchovies, Kim chee, peanuts, wok fried egg with Kalbi... sooo good- the rice has a hint of coconut flavor in The jasmine rice Caramel French toast. Cornflakes. The ratio compound butter. Fresh fruit - it's a whole different twist on French toast Restaurant is Casual, quiet, lights dim... one server for the entire restaurant- Mike deserves a raise - service with a smile. Not rushed read more

Straits - Honolulu - Caramel French toast. Cornflakes. The ratio compound butter. Fresh fruit - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This would be a good place for food and cocktails with your girlfriends. But for a date night where you're trying to hear the other person talk? Not so much. It's half restaurant, half bar, which makes for a noisy experience. Their take on Singaporean food is probably best for those who have not been to Singapore. We had the braised beef with pandan underneath - we did not understand why this sweet pandan was there and it didn't add to the dish at all; it need more gravy/sauce for sure. I think it needed actual vegetables rather than green pandan. The seafood laksa was a thick gravy, not a traditional soup. I wish they would just add some water! The mee fun and egg were overcooked, there were no greens except sprouts, and the 3 shrimp and a few chicken pieces were also overcooked. The best thing was probably the curry roti. But it was quite overpriced. read more

Food quality: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Don't skip on: The Beef Rendang Straits was a surprisingly delicious meal and such a fun and trendy restaurant! In the heart of the Waikiki shopping center, this restaurant offers pan Asian cuisine with great flavors! The staff was very nice and welcoming and the restaurant was clean from what saw. We ordered the Beef Rendang, garlic noodles, dry fried eggplant, Hainanese chicken, coconut pandan soda, and the milk and honey cocktail. Everything was delicious! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Review continuation. ...another containing a spicy and tangy Hainan ginger-garlic chili and tart sauce. $26 We'd happily return but will consider making a reservation for an earlier dinner and request to be seated furthest from the bar lounge. Sorry, but we prefer eating in a restaurant and not a nightclub. read more

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I visited the restaurant on a Sunday, having made a reservation for brunch at 10:30 am. Multiple friends had recommended their Kaya toast, and I was excited to try it. Upon arrival, we found the restaurant empty except for a few staff members preparing near the bar and kitchen. This was odd, as Google Maps had indicated they opened at 9 am. As we entered, a man from the bar area yelled across the restaurant to inform us that they couldn't serve us food since they technically didn't open until 11 am -- but if we wanted to order drinks or just wait in general, he could still seat us early. Confused, I explained that I had a reservation for 10:30 am, and he suggested it must have been a "glitch" and that they weren't open. We decided to walk around and return later. While waiting outside, we thought we might as well figure out what we wanted to order, since we were starving. However, upon browsing their website, we noticed that the brunch menu was nowhere to be found. Around 10:50 am, we returned to the restaurant, and the same man greeted us. He reiterated that they weren't open until 11 am. I politely reminded him that we had been there just 20 minutes earlier and that he had offered to seat us early. He suddenly remembered and reluctantly seated us. He handed us the menu, which looked completely different from what I had seen online in other reviews. There were no brunch items listed. It appeared as if someone had hastily typed up a menu using Microsoft Word in Times New Roman font. I asked if they were serving brunch, and said no -- he explained that they only had items on the current menu and that they were in a transition period, revamping the entire menu and the bar program. This information would have been great to know before deciding to come specifically for brunch. I asked if there was any chance they could still make the Kaya toast, and he promptly said no. A party member attempted to order calamari (on the menu) but the server informed us that the kitchen hadn't prepared it. Instead of the expected brunch food, we were now ordering an extremely heavy breakfast, including short ribs, curry, and some extremely salty garlic noodles. When the check arrived, I mistakenly tapped my credit card on the bottom of the reader instead of the top. The server rudely corrected me, saying, "Um, it's because you tapped it on the bottom. You have to tap it on the top." The tip page was preselected at 20%, the server kept holding the payment system for me and said "just sign at the bottom" - instead of allowing me a moment or some privacy to choose my own tip. Only a few automatic tip percentages were available: 22%, 20%, and 18%. I didn't want to cause a scene, so I reluctantly chose 18% and signed. This entire experience was a complete fiasco. Brunch wasn't even being served even though the website indicated it was, Yelp allowed me to make a reservation when they weren't even open and the hours were not updated on both the website and Google Maps. The server's attitude was exceptionally rude, and needless to say I won't be returning. I've shared my experience with my local friends as well who will no longer be dining here. To make matters worse, there's no way to contact this restaurant via email. The website lacks an email address or contact form, which clearly indicates that they disregard feedback and customer experience. So alas, a Yelp review it is. read more

Straits - Honolulu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We like going to Straits before the cinema. Great tasting food, good atmosphere and interior and always kind attentive service. Cocktails are STRONG. Love the roti and chicken lollipops. Deducting a star as it's quite pricey for small plates. read more

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This was recommended to me by my friend who lives on the island. I was excited to try because of the Malay and Indonesian influences. We went on a Saturday night at 8pm, and this place was poppin. Didn't expect it to be loungey and loud, Kind of like a club. Definitely a vibe if that's what you are going for. We had a reservation at 8pm, and unfortunately the hostess came back to us and told us they overbooked for the night. How do you overbook when there's an online reservation system? We hung out at the bar until about 8:25, and finally got seated. We had sat down, and it took 10 minutes until our waiter acknowledged us and then another 5 minutes until we even got waters. We ordered - chicken lollipops: crispy, loved the glaze on it - Kaya toast: strong pandan flavor (which I love) and more of a sweet bite to me - beef Rendang: the star dish in my opinion, the meat reminds me of authentic Rendang and loved the added pandan polenta twist - - -spicy street noodles: pretty spicy! The mee goreng I'm used to is a little drier, this was more saucy - hainan chicken: pretty good, I liked how there was no bone, and the ginger garlic sauce was great. Just note this isn't a hot dish, it's served room temp. Overall, food was decent, but subtracted a star due to service. If you go on a Saturday night, expect it to be packed! read more

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Food here is amazing! Everything was cooked well and had so much flavor. We ordered family style so we got to try several dishes. My absolute favorite was the butter chicken katsu - I would come back just for this. But everything we ordered was amazing. The noodles are so great and the hainan chicken was so good. Also loved the dessert. At first I laughed that there was milk and cookies because it sounds so simple for this place, but it's anything but. It was amazing and I would also come back just for that. Service was a little slow at times but overall friendly and helpful. We went early on a weekday so we were able to walk in. And there's a lot of parking nearby since it's in the Ward complex. read more

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I came here for a birthday dinner on a Friday at 6:45. We made reservations which was perfect since the restaurant started to fill up. We were quickly seated and given our waters and menus. I appreciated how attentive the staff was throughout the night. They were frequently checking in with us to fill our water and ask how we were doing. We got a variety of different dishes and shared it family style. Every dish impressed me as the spices stood out. My favorite dishes were the wok fried rice noodles and butter chicken katsu. If you don't like spicy foods, I wouldn't recommend this place. The staff had to keep refilling our cups because we were drinking so much water. The restaurant has a chill ambiance with beautiful decor and furniture. This is a great spot to grab drinks with your friends or take your family for a nice dinner. I'm excited to try their other dishes! read more

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Good! I had doubts after reading reviews and seeing that they were renovating the menu but the experience was great. The server was nice and very friendly. At my time of visit, they had a limited menu due to renovating which will be complete next week. The menu looked great. I got to try the calamari, appetizer wings, and the wok fried noodles. The calamari was what you'd expect it to be. The wings were okay. The glaze was good but the flavor didn't penetrate. I wish they were marinated. The wok fried noodles were great. Nothing I'd pay $24 for, but they were objectively delicious. I asked for no peppers and though the server doubted the kitchen staff would understand, my request was granted. We sat outside and the seating was very comfortable. It was very quiet on a Sunday afternoon. read more

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3.5 star overall review. Celebrating Father's Day here. I read the enthusiastic Yelp reviews on the Hainan Chicken dish and the menu appeared tasty and savory. According to its website, Straits Restaurant, is a Singaporean dining experience since 1987. The restaurant brings the flavors of Southeast Asia to Hawaii. This is a large restaurant that took over the Big City Diner Ward location. Well decorated interior. However, the tables are a bit too close to each other. It can be quite noisy with the amount of people in your immediate vicinity. The acoustics in this restaurant echos people's voices. A dropped dish resonated loudly in the entire restaurant. Ambiance: 3/5 stars Our server was also the bartender? So we had to get his attention several times. He was busy tending to multiple tables and the bar. We ordered the Hainan chicken ( STRAITS SIGNATURE DISH, Poached Chicken, Aromatic Chicken Rice & Broth with Sweet Soy Sauce, Ginger Garlic Sauce Tangy Hainan Chili sauce, served at room temperature) and Nasi Lemak (Includes, Pandan Coconut Rice, Wok Fried Egg, Spicy Pickled Vegetables, Fried Anchovies and Peanuts, served with Aromatic Chicken Broth and my choice of Miso Glazed Salmon) for our brunch. The Hainan Chicken dish was delicious and savory. The broth was light and complimented the spicy and savory sauces. This dish rates 5/5 stars. I will order this again. The Nasi Lemak was an unfortunate choice. The spicy pickled vegetables were killer spicy : 0. The broth and rice did not quench the heat and your taste buds are muted by the heat factor. If you enjoy spicy, you may enjoy this part of the dish. I ate a large bite of rice after my first taste and stopped eating it lol. Now, onto the miso salmon. Well, you can't taste the miso. It was extremely salty ( think burnt teriyaki sauce) and raw. My first cut and bite of the salmon revealed a gelatinous raw interior of the salmon. I looked closely and confirmed the salmon was not cooked sufficiently. I was able to get the attention of our server and showed him the raw salmon. He immediately took the plate and said he would have the chef make another plate for me. In the meantime, I snuck a few bites of the Hainan chicken plate lol. The second attempt at the Nasi Lemak proved to be just as unfortunate. This time the salmon was overcooked and dry, with the same salty sauce as the first one. I couldn't eat it. My sweet husband tried to eat some of it. He enjoyed the spicy vegetables. I cannot recommend ordering the miso salmon as your entree choice for the Nasi Lemak. This dish rates 2/5 stars. After note: Our server must have informed the manager of the situation, because when i received the bill, I was only charged for the Hainan chicken dish. That was an unexpected surprise. Bathrooms are available inside the restaurant. read more

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A new restaurant that took over Big City Diner. The place is newly renovated with a very unique atmosphere. There's a regular dining area, a lounge, and a bar area. Inside was very cool! Love it! We got seated at the lounge. So many interesting options with a Asian Fusion twist on the menu. We ordered an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert to share. - Nasi Lemak $22 - comes with veggies, egg, and chicken wing. A variety of flavors in this dish. Chicken wing was so crispy. - Roti Parata $12 - different from the crispy Thai version I had. This roti is more softer and the sauce was spicy. But very yummy appetizer. - Teh Tarik French Toast $19 - this was a filling dessert. The toast was crispy and very sweet. It was good! I'll be back to try other food options. It's a nice place to hang out with friends! read more

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If you're a guy who likes the smell of his own farts, then you will love Straits. And I'm not talking durian. Cmon, don't look at me like I wrote the Codex Seraphinianus, I'm just living in it part-time. The food here at Straits is very tasty and flavorful. So much so that it can turn the ordinary into something other-worldly like as depicted in the Codex. Our party of four - three woman and me - was at Straits at 5:00 on a Tuesday. Did you know they offer tacos for $4? We didn't order any. But on Wednesday, my dental hygienist said we should have. Service and ambiance here are excellent. My dental hygienist said that after 9:00, the restaurant becomes a night club. Now this is a transformation unwanted by geriatrics like me. We ordered the Crispy Calamari, Garlic Noodles, Nuoc Cham Pork, Hainan Chicken, Roti Prata, and Lemongrass Beef. All of the dishes were tasty although the calamari wasn't that crispy and the Garlic Noodles were not as great as I remember having at Crustacean in San Francisco twenty-two years ago. Even though, I would order those dishes again. My only caution is that some of the menu dishes we didn't order are on the expensive side. But the sauces accompanying most of the dishes were truly drinkable. I will need to come back with the guys, so doing something that might seem close to a faux pas would be overlooked as just a little rowdy. Thanks to Nadine C. for picking up the tab, to Jolene L. for returning home and giving us a reason for getting together, and to Irene M. for joining us so we could try so many new dishes. Recommended for adventurous eaters. read more

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This restaurant has been on my list for a while and I'm so happy that I was finally able to eat here! Straits serves Singaporean cuisine with a twist. Reservations are recommended, especially if you have a large party. The restaurants decor is vibrant and I love that the restaurant has a bar and lounge area. After being warmly greeted by our waitress we were given great drink recommendations. After some contemplation and lots of girl talk, we ordered and enjoyed: Drinks: Purple rain Sunday afternoon The Jillian - loved the presentation of this drink ! Have your phone handy as when you pop the bubble on your drink, smoke comes out. Food: Otah-otah Roasted bone marrow Hainan chicken Crab garlic noodle- this is a must when dining here! Dish is served with a whole crab on a bed of garlic noodles. The crab and noodles are so flavorful and is perfect for sharing! Dessert: Milk and cookies Ube cake bomb The food was truly a culinary experience for the senses. Every dish was beautifully plated and utterly flavorful! I cannot wait to return to try more items from their menu! Great service and amazing food.. I'm a fan! read more

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Dinner in Honolulu, Hawaii... All four of us wanted to try Straits, the new restaurant at Ward Entertainment Center. It took the place of Big City Diner. It's located on the ground level, near the elevator, that leads up to Ward Consolidated Theater. Straits features "Singaporean" cuisine. We had a discussion about the many cultures that are fused in Singapore: Chinese, Indian, Malay, etc. We started with appetizers: Calamari and Roti Prata (like pita bread?). I did try the different dipping sauces and avoided the very spicy ones. We got the signature dish: Hainan Chicken (not my favorite), Nuoc Cham Pork belly (spicy for me), Garlic Noodles (peppercorn bits, won bok, mushrooms, bean sprouts, and more), and Lemongrass Beef (my favorite). I liked the chewy Garlic Noodles, even though it had a kick to it. The different ingredients made it a fun dish! The Lemongrass Beef was tender and tasty! Our server, Mikey, was exceptional! He was attentive and engaging! He gave us spot-on suggestions - like which dishes were popular and which ones were his personal favorites! We had a great time! The decor was like a tropical, Miami Vice, 80's vibe! We appreciated the convenient restroom and free parking! The staff let us chat until closing time! Thank you! We should return for Happy Hour one day... read more

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Singaporean with a bit of twist to Hawai'i... Welcome home Jolene! Always love and and excited to meet my fellow Yelpers and tonight we gathered and cheers and took a little tour to Singapore through Straits. Located in the Ward Entertainment Center which does have a decent parking structure though it's never enough which I came late to the party had to park a couple buildings away. Along with Nadine and Peter we were ready for the tasting tour and saw upon arrival it got started couple items from their small plates..."Roti Prata" which describes as a traditional Indian flatbread was a great start a simple chewy bite with yellow coconut curry dip that did have a great kick and the other item was "Crispy Calamari" which is fried with jalapeños and lime leaves (I think!?) my favorite was the Laffir lime aioli which gave it a nice gentle kick to the whole dish. As for the entree we got the "Hainan Chicken" which is Straits Signature Dish, Lemongrass Beef, Nuoc Cham Pork, and Garlic Noodle. Not really a picky eater though having a shellfish allergy everything was ordered thoughtfully though learning how everything is prepared with spices it literally all was flavor explosion even with items that didn't have the chili icon it still was quite spicy for ones that are sensitive it can get heated. Their Hainan Chicken is a twist to the classic ginger chicken with three different sauce my favorite was the ginger sauce and as it's plated with the rice cooked in chicken broth it all went so well together though we didn't know what to do with the chicken soup. Lemongrass Beef was cooked a bit well to my liking but the skirt steak was nice and tender and that chimichurri sauce I couldn't get enough of along with straits fries and sauce we all were trying to analyze was probably the table favorite. Nuoc Cham Pork the classic crispy pork belly sitting in the nuoc cham sauce topped with chimicurri sauce is a luxurious bite that I enjoyed and is the moment I wished I saved my some of the flatbread to enjoy it with though it's a pork belly it was a nice gentle bite. Garlic Noodle...gosh I love my noods and this one was didn't do that well with me as the noodle was quite harder than hoped and didn't really taste the garlic much though it was seasoned well with oyster sauce along with bok choy, mushrooms and bean sprouts. Service here is nice and friendly always made sure we had enough water and lighting as I played wondering why ours weren't lit it was a nice a interesting gathering place as the lounge gave it the 80's vibe is quite plushy and cozy which has something to Taco'bout it...from 4pm to 11pm $4 tacos, $7 Quesadilla and $14 Birria Ramen twisting the Singaporean lounge to another level. Cheers to friends and welcome back Jolene as having more is definitely merrier. Thank you! read more

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This place is a vibe! Perfect for a date night or GNO. My friends and I love taking mirror pics in the cute bathroom too heh. For drinks, I got The Jillian which is like a lychee martini. It even arrives to you with a bubble on top! It was pretty strong but it helps make up for the price haha. For appetizers we shared the crispy calamari and the crispy chicken lollipops. I love fried calamari and this one did not disappoint! I like how it came with peppers. The chicken lollipops were crispy and had a nice flavor. It was sweet and savory and almost reminded me of Korean fried chicken! Then for my entree I got the garlic noodles with shrimp. It was tasty and hit the spot! The shrimp were a good size too. Straits is definitely on the expensive side but it is reasonable for the presentation and ambience you're getting. This was my second time here and service was ok but I remember it being really good my first visit. Guess it depends on the night and server but still worth it to check out! read more

Straits - Honolulu - Garlic noodle with shrimp - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Swung by for a couple drinks after Christmas lunch. First time there...were told the wait would be 30+ minutes although tables open the entire time we were there. But we just wanted to do cocktails and maybe pupu so we go to the "lounge" area. Nice and comfy. Good vibe. Christmas movies on the TVs was a nice touch. A ton of things were out which seemed odd since they were open from 7am. No biggie though...we could make do. Plus $10 well Belvedere. That's unheard of...he said it was the Christmas present to diners. Sold! We had some drinks...the fancy ones were too sweet for me. Straits Frites...delish. Some kinda lime leafy aioli. Yum. Also got the ube brulee...I didn't eat it, but everyone liked it. Workers suuuuuper nice and helpful, although I asked for an extra lemon for my drink and never saw it. We asked for napkins and got paper towels...which works, but didn't see to match the restaurant. Pretty cool place...but be prepared for $20 draaanks. read more

Service was great from Jeff last night. We had the Laksa Noodles and the Hainan Chicken. It was Taco Tuesday's and as an appetizer we had one each of a lechon taco. It was delicious and the perfect size for an appetizer. My niece and I shared the two main dishes and it was delicious. She is finishing up PT school in Australia and she said the Laska at Straits was very good. She said it's usually more soupy than a thicker broth. However, she said the flavor was very good. The chicken as a cold steamed or boiled chicken with three sauces the only we liked was the ginger and scallion sauce. We didn't really for the other sauces. For cocktails we had the lychee ginger margarita!! So good! Who knew the combo of lychee and ginger would be delicious. read more

Straits - Honolulu - Hainan Chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This place is great for friends and family. Atmosphere is fun and hip, the service was great, very attentive. Now the food.... AMAZING!! I would definitely recommend the lemon grass steak.. flavor bombs in yo mouth!! Every dish had so much flavor, it was incredible!! read more

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When Straits first opened, my friends and I tried to stop by for drinks but the new restaurant was packed so we were politely turned away. I could instantly tell from the dark lighting and the loud music that Straits at night was fun and had a great vibe, but not for me. Straits during the day, however, is definitely more to my liking. The restaurant is spacious and quite pretty with beautiful natural daylight and the menu is kept simpler with lunch plates and specialty offerings. It's the perfect place to have lunch with the girls, but also suitable for a business lunch. Straits features Singaporean cuisine with a modern twist. We enjoyed the Hainan Chicken, a signature dish, as well as the Nasi Lemak plate and Laksa Noodle Soup. The food great and the service was excellent. Straits is also offering a brunch menu on the weekends. read more

Unfortunately I was expecting so much more but was just average. I really liked the vibe in the restaurant but although the food was very flavorful I wasn't wow'd by any of the dishes. The lollipop chicken was probably the best of the dishes. It's super messy but very flavorful with a kick. The garlic and spicy garlic noodles were also good. Hainan chicken was good although one of our dishes was undercooked. When it was brought to the waiters attention they did try to replace it to make up for it. The service was really good, our server were very attentive and provided some recommendations for both food and cocktails. Both are a bit pricey but you do expect it in Hawaii. Downside is parking. There is parking garage but very hard to find parking and spaces are super tight. read more

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Straits - Honolulu Overall: ***** Highly Recommended ***** Food: ***** Different & Tasty! Value: *** (pricey for portion size) Menu: **** Ambiance: ***** Hip & cool vibe Service: ***** excellent 3 out of 3x Parking: ***** free parking behind restaurant I've been to Straits Honolulu for happy hour, lunch and dinner. Each time they have not disappointed. Their dishes are tasty, different (Singaporean) and some are spicy! I just returned from eating for a week in Singapore at both upscale restaurants and Hawker stations (food courts), and from my experience Straight's dishes are as good as the ones I've eaten in Singapore. Their happy hour runs from 4 to 6 PM in the bar area. If you go after 6 PM, the dishes on the happy hour menu are no longer available. However, you are able to order from their dinner menu from the beginning of happy hour. All three times I've had excellent service. The first time we went there, our waitress shared with us her favorite dishes. When I went for lunch with two foodie friends, we all thought that the food was good and we would return. While the dishes are pricey for the portion size, where else can you get tasty Singaporean food in Hawaii. The interior is very nicely designed with a cool & hip vibe. The bar and lounge area are as large as the dining room area. So, whether you want to go with a group of friends for drinks and food, or to sit down and dine, Straights - Honolulu should be next on your list. On weekends, they crank up the volume of the music after 10 pm and stay open till 2 am. RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Happy Hour Menu (4-6 pm): Ahi Flatbread = A Delicious! Curry Crab Dip = B Lunch/Dinner: Lemongrass Beef = A Garlic Noodle = A Origami Butterfish = A Hainan Chicken = A Wok Fried Rice Noodles = A Chicken Lolipops = A Roti Prata (Nan bread) = A Samba Ong Choy = B Nuoc Cham Pork = C (too hard/crispy) Nasi Lemak w Indonesia Wings = C Butter Chicken Katsu = C Yelp: https://yelp.to/cqjIebZjc_ Website: https://www.straitshawaii.com/ YELP: Sorry! They allow only one 12 second video & the remaining to 3 seconds, with maximum of 10 pictures/videos. The full video can be found elsewhere at MiltonIn808 RATINGS KEY: A = Really Good - one of the best B = Good - would order again C = ok - similar, nothing special D = Not very good - wouldn't order F = Terrible - avoid read more

Straits - Honolulu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

While the food was decent, the service was bordering terrible. They said they were undergoing a change in owners and trying to figure out new systems with new staff, which is reasonable for being sat down with no menus for ten minutes, being served food with no utensils, food coming out with 20-min in between me and my partners meals, and the manager not seeming to care when we asked for help seemingly throwing all the responsibility at their staff instead of doing anything about it (maybe they were forced out in the transition of owners). Regardless we still had a very unpleasant experience. May decide to give this place a try in the future, but it's a no go for us for at least a few years. Au-weh. read more

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In the mid 1800s, the Straits Settlements were Britain's former prized crown colonies in Southeast Asia. Consisting primarily of Penang, Malacca, and Singapore. Presently, as the link between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, the Straits of Malacca is the shortest sea route between India and China and hence is one of the most heavily traveled shipping channels in the world. The cuisine at Straits - Honolulu is an ambitious attempt to reflect the flavors of those cultures while appending the local flavors of Hawaii. As with any ambition, the concept and the execution ought to fuse. However, here it was a mixture of hits and misses. Hits: ROTI PRATA 12 Traditional Indian Flatbread, Scallions, In-house Yellow Coconut Curry Dip. Unlike its cousin the Naan bread, Roti is an unleavened bread that doesn't use yeast which results in a flatter, flakier bread. Here the execution was flawless. The bread had a wonderful soft flaky chewiness that hit all the comforting locale of the tastebuds. By itself the Roti was a hit but add a drizzle of the velvety, mildly sweet Coconut Curry Dip and the dish is elevated into the stratosphere of deliciousness. HAMACHI CURRY CRUDO* 27 Hamachi Sashimi, Shaved Onions, Mar's Garden Micro Cilantro, Fried Shallots, Cilantro Coullis, Yellow Curry. Wow why hasn't anyone thought of pairing fresh sashimi with curry. A chilled dish with a wonderful intermingling of South East Asian flavors and Hawaii's fresh fish. A perfect pairing with sparkling wine. CRISPY CALAMARI 18: Breaded Calamari, Kaffir Lime Aioli, Galangal Cocktail. Perfectly fried calamari but the Kaffir Lime Aioli is the wind that lifts this dish from an ordinary fried dish to the delish stratosphere. Misses: CRISPY CHICKEN "LOLLIPOPS" 20- Frenched Chicken Drumettes, Honey Chili-Sambal Glaze with Sesame Seed. On the verge of over fried. The crust was dense and hard with a burnt sesame flavor. WHOLE FISH 55 Whole crispy snapper with Thai basil, baby bok choi, and black bean chili garlic sauce. Dramatic presentation of the whole fish with head, tail, eyes and all. We all looked at each other and agreed the sauce made it way too salty. The manager graciously brought us another fish with the sauce on the side. The service was on the uneven side. Our server was terrific and the food arrived quickly but the wine service took literally 35 minutes to arrive after we had finished 2 dishes. Then the manager who brought the wine apologized saying he was waiting for clean glasses. I looked around and didn't see that many people drinking wine. But nevertheless , that is not a good reason especially since we would've ordered a 2nd bottle if it had arrived within a reasonable time. We'll come back to try some of the interesting dishes on the menu. Happy Eating!! read more

Straits - Honolulu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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If you need a taste of South East Asia, this is definitely the place to go! Food was amazing, although it can be a little pricey. We ordered their famous Chicken Hainan and I love all the sauces they gave us! It is a little pricey though, compared to all the Chicken Hainan I actually got in Singapore. We also got their Laksa and dang it was so good! The soup tasted authentic and I love the spices too! I requested extra chilis in my laksa and they definitely delivered! We also got the oysters for our appetizers and they were so fresh! Definitely worth to try as well! Definitely order their cocktails, because they served one of the best cocktails in my opinion. I love how they blended cocktails with a taste of South East Asia! I would have ordered all their cocktails if the prices weren't so high. Coming from South East Asia, this restaurant definitely reminded me of home! The vibes definitely gave me a chill Singapore night club/bar and I love it! Service was also amazing! I popped the bubbles on my drink before I could get a picture and they actually came back to make me another drink for the picture lol My boyfriend also requested flowers for our date night for fun and they actually gave us a huge flower bouquet and a note for free, which we definitely didn't expect! If you want a good time with your friends or a fun date night, definitely check out Straits! Get a reservation in, because they do get pretty crowded, especially on the weekend! read more

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Vegas Like Atmosphere , with a Classy Lounge and Dinning Area, Serving South Eat Asian Food... Located at Ward Entertainment Center, below the theaters. *the old big city dinner spot, and trust me , you are not going to recognize this place... the change is amazing Everyday Theme Menu for the Lounge Area Monday -Satay club $3 meat and shrimp skewers $2 vegetables skewers Tuesday-Taco Tuesday 4-11 Birria Ramen $16 Taco Quesadilla Themed drinks like Michelada, Bonita shot, Singaporean margarita and more Wednesday-Wine and Dine Live music Wine Pairing Charcuterie board -$19 50% off select wine bottles and wines by the glass Thursday-Girls Night Out $2 Oyster (3 order min) Friday-Sat- Happiest hour 3-9pm Big Selection of bottles , "Baby Bundle" even smaller bottles (12 shots) Sunday- Sushi Sunday 3-11pm Brunch 10am-3pm Jillian Jazz Brunch- momosa read more

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Straight Through . Happy hour, 4-6pm. HH menu only available at lounge/bar seating. Regular menu items can be ordered at any table. Online resies. Lounge tables are low so think about your outfit! . Straight through is exactly how we did happy hour. Ordered allll the hh foods w/ a refreshing Tequila mango spritz - except wings, kitchen was out. Service was not bad, venue got pretty full around 6:30pm. - All hh plates are full size portions - All very shareable between 2 ppl. The Crab Dip and Straits Burger - both deliciously rich! I wana try the noodles and full crab at the next visit! (: . cheers! read more

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A very aesthetic bar/restaurant with good vibes! This place is located in the same building as Ward theater and Buca di Beppo so there's ample parking. But if it's too busy, then you could also park at the Whole Foods lot and walk over. I had the Hainan chicken and the Jillian (if you love lychee, then this is the drink for you). I also shared the crispy chicken lollipops (totally recommend this!) and strait frites with friends. The food was flavorful and both chicken dishes were cooked perfectly! Our server was also attentive throughout the night and she always made sure our water cups were filled. This place is pricey, but it had me leaving with a happy, stuffed stomach :) Btw, you can make reservations through Yelp. Very convenient! read more

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Came back for dinner last night with a group of 12 and was able to try more varieties. There are definitely more menu selections for dinner. There are some hits and misses. *This time the Beef Rendang was a bit chewy, stringy and dry. *Crispy Chicken "Lollipops" were overly fried and super super sweet *Whole Fish is very good - sweet and spicy flavours were done right if you enjoy spicy food. It can be too spicy for some *Origami Butterfish: loved the presentation of this dish and fish is tender almost like a sablefish *Hainan Chicken is a crowd favourite, simple and delicious with a bowl of chicken soup. Such a comfort food. *Garlic Noodle had layers of texture in a simple dish. Love this read more

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Interior - Beautiful! Nice, clean and comfortable - It was definitely not lively on a Wednesday night. Our server was slow and was always hard to find him. I can only imagine it was because it was a slow day anyway so there was so sense of urgency. A lot of things changed on the menu or were not available. We decided to come here because we wanted to try the Whole Fish, Bone Marrow, Calamari, Chicken Satay and more but all of those that we wanted to try was unavailable.. So we decided to get the Garlic Noodles which was great btw, Chicken Lollipops which was just sweet spicy chicken drums- that was Okay. We also got the lemon grass steak which was so chewy and unappetizing. Maybe not a good slab of steak? Overall it was a great experience, We would love to come back again once they have still available on the menu? The desserts were good as well but nothing too memorable. Definitely not a place to celebrate a birthday as they don't have any special for birthday celebrants. We hope to try more of their Singaporean dishes again soon. read more

I came on a Friday night with friends. It's located in the same building as Ward Theaters and Bucca so parking isn't too difficult. You can either parking in that building or across the street at Whole Foods. It was pretty busy and even though my group had a reservation, we still needed to wait. Ambiance is modern, with low lighting which matches the bar vibe. All the staff wore black and the waitresses wore tiny black dresses. It's definitely crowded because the tables are all spaced near each other and the bar side isn't that big so you have people waiting for tables in that area which can block you when you're trying to get to the actual table. The tables aren't that big either and my party was right in front of the entrance to the bathrooms and where the wait staff would go in an out. Also, the tables next to us were so close you could hear their conversations. So yes - crowded. We ordered Lychee martinis which were definitely dangerous because it tasted like juice. We also ordered a bunch of appetizers and entrees. You can't go wrong with the taste of the food, it was absolutely delicious. However, the portion size compared to the price is pretty crazy. We had to order five different entrees to make sure we were somewhat satisfied. Maybe we just have big appetites, but I was hoping for the portions to be a little bit bigger considering the price. The dessert menu isn't extensive or impressive and we were so done with the slow service and crowd that we just wanted to leave. I'd go back and try the brunch because I hear it's really good, but not in a rush to do it. read more

Been wanting to try this place since it opened. It's a cute spot at Ward (old big city diner). Staff was nice and informative. Menu had variety. Pricier Asian food, you really are paying for the ambience. The garlic noodles were really tasty. Had a little kick to it which I really liked. The curry roti was delicious but it only came with two roti pieces so not good for parties bigger than two people. Scalloped were really good, came with three scallops. I think it was like $34. I thought it would be an entree but it was more like an appetizer. I wish it came more like an entree. Blackened Ahi, the sauce that came on the bottom went well with the fish. A sweet white sauce. Parking is easy in the parking structure at Ward (the one with the theater). read more

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We were so excited to pop into Straits for a quick app and drinks. We've heard only great things about this place so far, so it was a must on my birthday. Long story short, we ended up canceling our dinner reservations at another restaurant and stayed at Straits. No regrets! First, the decor and ambiance of the restaurant is stylish, modern, and intimate. It's the perfect location for the bloggers to take pictures and the perfect location for a date night. The service was great! Everyone was so attentive and ensured that we received our drinks and food in a timely manner. Our waitress checked in on us and explained the food very well. It was a first time, and we appreciated the guidance! Most importantly, the food was delicious! I'm not a huge spicy person, but the flavor of each dish that we tried was just so so good that I didn't mind the spiciness. My favorite dish hands down was the wok fried rice noodle on the regular menu and the crab curry dip on happy hour. The noodles were soft and the oyster sauce wasn't over powering. Warning -- it does have a kick to it! But it's so worth it. The curry crab dip was surprisingly good. I'm not a huge seafood person, and curry mixed with crab didn't immediately catch my attention but my husband wanted to try it and it was the best. Curry wasn't overpowering and it had a good amount of crab. The only thing, it needs 1-2 more of the toasted bread that it comes with but that's just because the dip is so good, we didn't want anything to go to waste. Straits will for sure be in our restaurant go-to places! read more

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Food: Lollipop Chicken is a must get. Chicken is nicely fried with a tasty sauce. The Hainan chicken rice is also a solid choice and the broth really ties the dish together. The last thing we got was the lemongrass beef and it was delicious. Tender beef with an amazing sauce. Service: The waitress was very nice and helpful with answering all our questions about the unique menu. Ambiance: I really like the look and feel of this restaurant. It's like a trendy bar/restaurant with neon light accents and tropical wallpaper. read more

Straits - Honolulu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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