Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Threadfin Bistro

    4.7 (77 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSeafood, Chicken Wings, Desserts
    Closed 5:30 pm - 10:00 PM

    Threadfin Bistro Photos

    THREADFIN BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Threadfin Bistro

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cabernet Braised Short Ribs
    Daniel C.

    We came to Threadfin Bistro to celebrate a friend's birthday. It's located in Kilohana Square where Mr. Ojisan was previously located. They recently also took over the Feng Shui store spot next door. It's a clean and modern dining area with a full bar in the second room. It seems that their menu changes which is nice and customer service was aggressively friendly. They kept wanting to take away dishes. It was a little odd when there was still some food like lobster meat or clams in the dish. They offer a preset menu or you can order a la carte. We ordered a la carte and shared family style. It was all our first time dining there so it gave us all a taste of the menu. Everything was good and portions were enough to share for our group. Stand out dishes were the Abalone Escargot Style, Manila Clams, Crab Curry Noodles and Cabernet Braised Short Ribs. The Lobster Noodles were pretty good too. Instead of ordering alcohol there, we brought our own wine and paid the corkage fee. This is a great addition to the Kapahulu area!

    Phily H.

    Threadfin Bistro has a great selection of wines, though I wasn't drinking that evening. The staff was kind enough to modify one of their entrees to be completely dairy free, and it really hit the spot. I was in the mood for something light, healthy, and savory, and they delivered exactly that. The salmon was cooked beautifully with a crisp sear and tender center, paired with roasted vegetables and a flavorful sauce that tied everything together without feeling heavy. Presentation was simple but elegant, and service throughout the meal was attentive and warm. Overall, a thoughtful kitchen and a team that clearly cares about the dining experience. Verdict: A relaxed bistro that accommodates well and serves food that feels both refined and satisfying.

    Fresh Catch. Lot of perfect bite possibilities on this plate.
    Dawn K.

    One of my besties has been hyping this place for a long time. Since I'm a pescatarian, I was a little hesitant when they only offered the pre fixe menu. But since they added a selection of a dozen or so shared-plate options, it was hard to say no to a night at this sophisticated neighborhood joint. Here's what went down... Kona Abalone Escargot - what can be wrong with that? Nothing! Everything is right about it!! Buttery and luxurious yet deceivingly light. A perfect paring with the baked bread but glad my friend suggested the side of bread shop bread, so we could sop up ALL the beautiful butter sauce. Order this!! Do this! The flavored butter that came with our side of fluffy 'The Bread Shop' bread made me stop mid-sentence and say, "Wow, what was that?!?" My face at that moment could probably replace the 'yummy' emoji! Glazed Carrots - a decadent vegetable dish, simply sublime. All kids would eat veggies if they tasted like this. But I don't want to share with the Keiki. Hehe... Hokkaido Scallops - resting on a bed of risotto. Both perfectly prepared, a magnificent marriage. The dish was rich but bright. Creamy comfort in every spoonful. It was actually on the pre-fixe menu. Our waiter Greg mentioned it was a customer favorite and if we wanted it he could make it happen. LOVE an establishment that operates with an 'As you wish' attitude. Crab Curry Noodles - An explosion of exotic and familiar flavors, a brilliant blend of heat, spice, and herb. My mouth is still trying to figure out what I treated it to, and it thanks me! Catching of the Day Kanpachi - on whipped potatoes (light as clouds). I have to be honest I don't remember the rest because by this time, I was delirious by all the deliciousness and so full we had ask for a doggie bag. (Hubby was grateful to get samplings) Skipping dessert is not a wise life choice, so we finished off the foodie adventure with a panna cotta. I think it had a lilikoi topping but again, seconds away from a food coma...it was silky and a touch tart which balanced the richness of our meal. Because it's not just about the food... I especially like to support owner operated restaurants. Chef Jason is humble and hardworking. He came out of the kitchen to greet us and say good night. Quiet guy who lets his talents speak for itself and they tell your taste buds this guy is legit! I'll put money down he's a James Beard nominee soon. His time-tested European techniques combined with a fusion of Asian-inspired flavors creates dishes that leave you wondering what you just ate but wanting more. Our waiter Greg gave us fine-dining attention to detail service with a warm, welcome-to-my-house vibe. He was intuitive, knowledgeable, and proud of his product. Changed our share plates and silverware so my risotto-soaked silverware didn't interfere with the crab curry pasta and fresh catch. Even crumbed our table! He showed he cared about our experience. Small corkage fee so you can BYOB or make a selection from their inspiring wine list. Live music was a blanket of gentle and soothing sound that didn't overpower our conversation but filled the cozy space with a melodic and nostalgic playlist that made us hum with every song. I highly recommend trying Threadfin Bistro. It lived up to ALL my friend's hype and I feel I should introduce another friend just to pay it forward.

    Froe gras with fig jam
    Dan T.

    This gem is hidden in a strip mall on Kapahulu with no store front or curb appeal whatsoever. You enter through a single door to a bar, open kitchen and a few tables. Ambiance is Cozy and unpretentious. Server was very friendly and professional. Explained the menu, so we decided on the pre-fix dinner 4 courses for $78. Extra $15 for my steak. Started off with the Vichyssoise which was chilled, smooth and creamy. Beet salad with cream cheese was tarp, crunchy and savory with the cream cheese. Steak was perfectly cooked to med rare topped with a blend of vegetables and mashed potatoes. The flourless cake was warm topped with vanilla ice cream was a perfect ending to a scrumptious meal. Will be back to try everything on menu.

    Tam T.

    Definitely recommend this place. Amazing food. Low key and chill vibes. Good service. Small restaurant that's kinda hidden in the Kilohana Square. You would easily miss it when driving by Kapahulu.

    Fire roasted octopus
    Amy A.

    Do yourself a favor, keep track of the menu and come check it out when your heart tells you it can't live without that particular meal because it'll change with the seasonality. The new (not so new now, meant to post at least a year ago) location is in Kilohana Square and it's beautifully redone! Modern but still warm and cozy. Fancy food without overly fancy vibe. Two parts to the restaurant included one area with usually smaller parties and another area for larger parties. Parking is easy to find in the lot so you don't have to go far. The food here is so so so good!!! Service is always amazing and attentive without being overdone and stuffy. Never have to wait long for water refills or removal of empty dishes. Food is timely too! Comes out hot (or cold) and fresh. The consistency is impressive! We've been eating Chef Jason's food for many years ever since his Kailua Food Company days. My in laws go so often that they became regulars and friends. My favorite appetizers are the foie gras terrine, abalone escargot style with crusty bread, and uni croquette (new fave). You cannot go wrong with the lobster noodles, short rib penne, and the steak frites for entrees! Some other family favorites are the scallops, risotto, duck, and the crab curry noodle. Love the warm flourless chocolate cake! He also has many seasonal items and the menu changes so keep an eye out! Never had anything we didn't love here.

    October 2024 menu
    Jaymi U.

    Loved the overall experience here! Threadfin is a cute, cozy restaurant. Service was friendly and helpful. There's parking in the back of the restaurant (and the entrance is on that side) or street parking. Check out their IG to find out about the menu since it changes every month. We ordered the pre-fixe menu and I really enjoyed everything. The onion tart was very flavorful. The steak was so good and it was a larger portion than what I was expecting. The dessert that day was a pistachio cake and I was also surprised by how much I liked it! We also added on the lobster noodles - I would definitely recommend getting it. It looks like such a simple dish but it was more delicious than it looked. Good amount of lobster pieces in there and the veggies paired nicely.

    COGNAC BUTTER, BREADSHOP
    Mie D.

    I looked for something new and nice restaurant when my friends come from Japan. We always have dinner 3couples when they come to HI. I made reservation from their website. They are located in Kilohana Square former "Mr. Ojisan". Some parking stalls inside the Kilihana Square. For us no problem to park but I think depends on your reservation time. They have only prix Fixe 3course menu and you can add some their specials too. July 2024's menu,,,(sorry I post late) First(choose one) *SALMON PASTRAMI, POTATO, TROUT CAVIAR *ROOTED FARMS TOMATO SALAD, LONG BEAN, PEPITAS, DRIED PRAWNS, BONITO Second(choose one) *FRESH DAY BOAT CATCH, WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO, BEET, CORN, REMOULADE *WASHUGYU STEAK DIANE, PORCINI GLACE DI VIANDE, BBQ CARROTS(+$8 SUPPLEMENT) Dessert *CHEFS CHOICE(,,, was mango something, was so good but forgot the detail) Food was all excellent and delicious and we all did enjoy our dinner. Service was also good. We asked our server separate check each couple and he said "no problem" but he mistook the check (charged different one to others) but that's ok. Still our dinner experience was good!

    Snap pea soup
    Peter C.

    Threadfin is located in Kapahulu Kilohana Square. They offer a prefixed three course menu that changes frequently. For $68 you get an appetizer, main, and a dessert. They are only opened from Thursday to Saturday for dinner. The ambiance feels like a charming small bistro with service being attentive. Reservations are recommended and can be made on their site.

    The back door... entrance from the parking lot
    Nadine C.

    Dinner in Kapahulu, Honolulu, Hawaii... I tried to go to Threadfin Bistro a couple of months ago, but I didn't make a reservation in advance. My bad... This time, I booked a dinner for 2 online! BINGO! Located at Kilohana Square, the shared parking lot for Threadfin Bistro is free of charge and is sometimes challenging at peak hours. We had no issues. We got the three-course Pre-fixe menu for $68. I chose the Rooted Farms Tomato Salad with bonito flakes, dried prawns, and pepitas. I didn't see any long beans, but it was tasty! The second course was the Fresh Day Boat Catch (mahimahi) with beets, corn, and remoulade on wild mushroom risotto. Delicious and intriguing! Mackenzie is the amazing, young pastry chef here. We really enjoyed her Tropical Mousse, which was creative, light, and fun to eat! We were thrilled when she came out of the kitchen to chat with us for a bit. We were able to tell her in person how much we enjoyed her dessert: The toasted coconut was a nice texture contrast to the smooth whipped cream. The chewy passion fruit gel cubes were colorful and tart, compared with the slightly sweet, pastel-toned lilikoi-mango puree base. Wow! We had a wonderful experience! It's a cozy space that seems like you're sitting elbow to elbow with strangers, but this is a classy joint. Everyone is well-behaved! Thank you, Jesse, for being a competent, polite server!

    This is the unassuming entrance
    Joe W.

    Perfect Date Night Spot... IYKYK @threadfinbistro . This intimate dining restaurant serves up amazing set course meals... a true affordable luxury dinning experience by Chef Jason Kiyota . You can park in the rear of Kilohana square... where you walk through an unassuming door, and are welcomed into a beautiful intimate bistro. They are known for their affordable set menus, that often change frequently to offer you the freshest unique experience. Each plate we had was an edible piece of art. And if you are big eater, like me, they have delightful add on's like the Kona Abalone, (which is a must try) and also pasta dishes to share. For our experience we had the following: *KONA ABALONE COGNAC BUTTER, BREADSHOP * (Highly Recommend) THREE-COURSE PRE-FIXE MENU First HOKKAIDO SCALLOP CUCUMBER, FENNEL, CITRUS, CHORIZO BURRATA NECTARINE, TOMATO, BOTTARGA, CINNAMON Second SPICED CRUSTED SALMON CAULIFLOWER, CORN, ROOTED FARMS TOMATO JIDORI CHICKEN FRESH SUMMER TRUFFLES, WILD MUSHROC VELOUTE, SWEET POTATO Dessert Chef Choice Local peach oat crumble with honey and whipped ricotta Located in Kilohana Square on Kapahulu. Call for reservations. Ample parking in the rear parking lot. Mahalo @melissa808 for the recommendation

    Scallop and melon appetizer with puffed rice
    Jolene L.

    My friend flew in from out of town and wanted to try this place. It was easy to make a reservation online. Luckily we found parking in the small lot. Based on someone else's photo of the hidden "front" door, we entered from the parking lot. Immediately I noticed the seating is extremely tight. There's a very narrow space to get in and out from the table. I was not that comfortable being less than an arms length to the tables on our left and right. With all the seats crammed in to a small dining area, it seemed overwhelming loud with conversation, even for an early dinner. I shouldn't have to yell over the small table nor do I like asking my guest to repeat what they said because I can't hear over the noise. When I saw the price point on their Yelp page, I was expecting a lot more. However, the food was just average in my humble opinion. There wasn't anything fancy or memorable. There wasn't any table-side preparation or presentation. There wasn't anyone telling us about where they sourced the ingredients from or how the dish was prepared. I guess I was expecting more and left a little disappointed. Honestly, I'm struggling to understand the 5 star reviews, especially from Yelp accounts that have zero friends and no pictures. As I write this, I'm struggling to give it 4 stars. So as another reviewer politely said he'd round up his 3.5 average experience....I agree with that assessment. While I certainly appreciated the meal and my dinner guest, I probably won't return. It's just too loud and the noise really is distracting. If they removed one or two tables to create more space in between the seating, maybe it wouldn't feel so cramped. And to my dinner guest, just know this isn't a reflection on your picking the restaurant LOL

    Thai curry crab pasta and hokkaido scallops
    Rand E.

    Small bistro in an unassuming spot. Friendly staff. And until they get their liquor license, it's BYOB with no corkage fee. We had 4 people so took advantage of 2-3 course pre-fixe menu to try all selections and added 3share plates. The server paced the selections nicely. Started with the local greens, smoked hamachi rillettes and burrata. Greens were great, especially with the roasted grapes, the rillettes seemed more like canned tuna but the burrata was good (didn't need honey in my opinion). Then had the thai curry crab pasta and hokkido scallops. The thai pasta was the highlight of the meal...very flavorful and balanced. The scallops were ok, a bit dry. Next we had the lobster noodles and short rib. The lobster noodles were ok, with bits of tough, dry lobster. The short rib was so tender and delicious. For dessert they served a ginger cake with apple compote. Consensus was it was good. Overall good meal, great service and interesting food. Another plus is there's private parking!

    Black pepper Alamo Tataki

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Alisa L.
    312
    63
    87

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Malia J.
    70
    10
    36

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan T.
    1
    52
    233

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Awesome food, superb staff. Loved it. Will be going back again soon for more deliciousness

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A Y.
    0
    31
    3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kea A.
    60
    26
    1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J I.
    0
    19
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Pammy F.
    507
    111
    148

    2 years ago

    Chef Jason, Alicia, front & back of house excellent!! Chefs combination of fine, fresh seafood and complimentary ingredients are unkcious!!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great food and service. The restaurant was small and quaint. Bring your own wine. It's perfect

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy H.
    0
    14
    3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The food was amazing , refreshing and plated so well. Excellent service and ambience.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Excellent service (with a smile)! Delicious prix fix dinner with many options for extra dishes to share as appetizers or with dinner.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Food was very different and delicious. Ambiance was nice, though wooden seats along the wall needs padding or cushions.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Threadfin Bistro

    Wait. It's BYOB with a corking fee?

    Until they get their license, no corking fee.

    Is it still byob?

    Still BYOB but i would ask them when you make your reservations. They appear to be getting close to obtaining their liquor license.

    View All 3 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Seafood 12,372 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    MOSA

    MOSA

    4.8
    (395 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    MOSA! was a complete sleeper. I walked in skeptical. The menu looked a little rough, the area…read moreoutside isn't exactly charming and when the bill came out to around $34 for three minis, I had that immediate tourist price reaction of, "Come on." Then we ate it. And honestly, it was worth every penny. The ice cream was excellent. Kona coffee, ube, vanilla, chocolate chip cookie dough, strawberry, everything we tried worked. But the thing that made it special was the texture. The shaved/crushed peanuts, the macadamia, the way it all came together with the ice cream and crepe. Simple idea, but done right. Rich, crunchy, cold, soft, sweet and somehow not heavy. The service was the other surprise. The girls working that night were incredible. Warm, patient and genuinely sweet with my kids. They walked us through flavors, helped us figure out what to order and made the whole thing feel fun instead of transactional. My son loved watching the peanuts get shaved and the Super Smash Bros. setup was such a random, perfect touch. It gave the place personality. I came in thinking this was going to be overpriced dessert. I left thinking it was one of the best things we ate on the trip. Five stars. No notes. I'll absolutely be back.

    Husband got this and said it's a 10/10 and to write a review for them! I'm not a fan of peanut…read morebutter or nuts but I trust that if he saying it's good, then it's good! If you look at the right side of the building you can see a tv, they let you play ninetendo gaming that you can play

    Photos
    Mosa wrap with 3 flavors and strawberries on top
    Mosa wrap with 3 flavors and strawberries on top
    Mosa Wrap $12.95
    Mosa Wrap $12.95
    Matcha strawberry and coconut ice cream wrap

    See all

    Matcha strawberry and coconut ice cream wrap
    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery

    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery

    4.4
    (895 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I love Pipeline Bakeshops Malasadas! I have been to several Malasada places in Hawaii but | love…read morethere's the best for the following reasons: 1. the size of the malasadas: some restaurants tend to make their Malasadas smaller and when places do this it ruins the overall texture and quality of it. The bigger the malasadas size the more airy and fluffy and more bread layers that will be inside. 2. their malasadas always taste fresh and the same quality each time. 3. their malasadas don't feel oily or heavy at all Overall I would highly recommend this place for their Malasadas! I'm so happy to have found them. I can back multiple times on my trip. They also have other desserts too that I have yet to try. They have ice cream, cakes, and other desserts Also tip: if you are ordering a malasada also order a coffee or a matcha drink to go with it. The cinnamon sugar from the malasada just matches so perfectly with a drink this restaurant is also a nice place for walking! There's lot of stores and restaurants to walk around! I'm trying to remember but I think there was a book off that was not too far from here! If you either drive or maybe walk. Service: staff was super helpful and friendly while I was there. I was having an issue with my online order because my phone was being glitchy and they were so nice in helping :) Also wanted to note their branding is so cute!! They even sell merch items too

    Everyone knows to go to Leonard's for freshly made malasadas, and the constant crowds there attest…read moreto their quality and variety (review: https://yelp.to/jaduiZfQRq). However, there are many alternative malasada purveyors throughout Honolulu, so I depended on local vloggers to find the best ones. This one popped up often on YouTube, and as luck would have it, we were dining at The Pig & The Lady on the next block. How calorifically convenient. We took the opportunity to stop by for a pre-dinner snack since they closed at 6PM. It's a cute shop with multiple sweets including quite a selection of housemade ice cream and delectable mouthfuls called Cake Bombs (Photo 10). We decided we would be good and ordered one unfilled Malasada each. Dusted with various sugar flavors, they were just $2.65 a piece. I went for the Coffee, while Jamie chose the daily special, Cinnamon (Photo 6). They were soft and tasty, quite comparable to Leonard's albeit a tad smaller. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing since we had dinner ahead of us. However, we let temptation get the best of us and shared a $5.50 slice of the Ube Haupia Mac Nut Bar, a yummy combination of sweet potato and ube topped with haupia (coconut milk pudding) on a macadamia nut crust (Photo 9). Truth be told, it stole the show from the malasadas. FOOD - 4 stars... the malasadas were good, but that ube dessert was next level AMBIANCE - 4 stars...really a takeout operation with a lot of temptations SERVICE - 4 stars...very calm and orderly TOTAL - 4 stars...yet another spot for sweet Hawaiian decadence RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/U7YPblfoMP

    Photos
    Interior during Malasada Day / Fat Tuesday, 2/17/2026
    Interior during Malasada Day / Fat Tuesday, 2/17/2026
    1/2 dozen malasada
    1/2 dozen malasada
    Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery

    See all

    Jejubing Dessert Cafe

    Jejubing Dessert Cafe

    4.4
    (706 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Situated right off the parking lot before entering the Ala Moana food court. We skipped it at first…read morethen decided to try it after everyone was done eating inside. On the way back to the car we saw it again and decided to try the Strawberry Bingsu. Our party shared the bowl and loved it so much we decided to also try the Mango Bingsu. It was the perfect amount of fruits and sweetness to cool us down in the muggy afternoon weather. Good service. Clean dining area. Cute decor. Wish we had more time to try other desserts but we will definitely visit again when we're back in town!

    Good: Ordering is easy using a kiosk which provided clear instructions to the user. Quick service,…read moreeven near closing. At 8:30 pm, the place was packed, which is a great sign. Standard generous portion for a bingsu location, notably generous for an Ala Moana location. The location itself was free of insects despite being on a ground floor location with sugary desserts everywhere. Meh: The $14 (including 15% tip) dessert tasted too light and ice-like and appeared more translucent (rather than opaque white) than expected, leading me to think the milk was watered down, which may be how the establishment can make up the cost for the portion size while maintaining a spot in Ala Moana, especially given milk prices in Hawai'i, even if you're buying from Costco or direct from farmers. Also, tables were not cleaned after each party departed; that transparent puddle on your table might not be condensation and may instead be drool drops from the toddler who sat there before you. Overall: Good (not outstanding) experience. Knocked off 2 stars for combination of suspected diluted milk + unclean tables.

    Photos
    Injeolmi Bingsu
    Injeolmi Bingsu
    Mango sans the almonds
    Mango sans the almonds
    Strawberry Bingsu

    See all

    Strawberry Bingsu
    Cha To Gelato Zen

    Cha To Gelato Zen

    4.6
    (173 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Love this cute classy cafe with its authentic Japanese dessert and tea selection unlike anywhere…read moreelse I've been to in Hawaii. They have an interesting selection of Japanese flavored gelato including miso, black sesame, Kinako, azuki and green tea of course. There was a Yuzu ginger gelato which is more of a sorbet too. You can get traditional accompaniments like shiratama (mochi) and azuki (beans) . I only wish they had more non dairy options for us lactose intolerants. My friend got a Matcha latte which she really liked. Another friend got Kinako gelato with mochi topped with chocolate sauce that paired perfectly! I would take Lactaid to eat this! Teas: -Kabusecha kara which had a bitter umami profile . It started out nice and mellow and turned bitter at the end. Love how they give you the percentage of caffeine. -The Kansaku was a nice mild tea that our server Nana explained must be served at a lower temperature to allow the hand rolled leaves to steep properly . So if you like piping hot tea, don't choose this. -They also have traditional whisked matcha if you want an extra boost of caffeine and antioxidants! Potent! Everything is beautifully served in hand crafted ceramic dishes and presented on wooden boards with a simple flower. You feel like you're in a cozy cafe in Japan. They are open till 10:00 on weekdays and till midnight on weekends Thursday - Saturday . Love that you can find a late night place to drink good quality tea, but they can add alcohol if you want too! Nana and Kai were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful servers. The owner was next door at his other business, the very popular Andria Ibushi so we did not get to meet him. Next time!

    4 stars only because parking is kinda terrible, especially on busy weekends…read more love the diagrams about the different teas and flavors. really helps you choose the best tea for what youre feeling. fun gelato flavors, but i was boring and picked a normie one (azuki) lol combo is totally worth it, tea + monaka with gelato mochi balls & azuki def a relaxing spot, though not many seats on some nights they have a bartender so you can get match cocktails. unfortunately the night we went, they didnt have that worker =( will have to try again

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Tea leaves with some shoyu topping
    Tea leaves with some shoyu topping
    New friends

    See all

    New friends

    Threadfin Bistro - seafood - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...