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The food here is really good. I've been twice, and both times I got the bolognese, which I really enjoyed. I also tried the TKG risotto, which was so yummy, and the bascaiola was delicious as well. There are both indoor and outdoor seating options, and while the restaurant is on the smaller side, it has a cozy atmosphere. Unfortunately, the service was not great either time I visited. The staff didn't come across as very friendly or welcoming, and they were often on their phones or talking amongst themselves rather than paying attention to customers. We asked a couple of questions about the menu, and the server seemed like they didn't really want to answer or be there. It made the experience feel a little uncomfortable. Overall, I really like the food and would come back for it, but I hope the service improves because it would make the experience much better.
Came back here again. There's 20 ft of bar seating, a two top open, and plenty of seating. Was told reservation only. Really? So went to Mana+Pua instead. I expected to pay between $30-60 for a dinner here for 1... quick, in and out. Instead I was abruptly told there was no opportunity to eat there. Seemed pretty petty to me being that there is like no one there.
A great casual restaurant located in SALT Kaka'ako. This is my first time trying Vein. They have a parking garage next-door, which is paid parking. The restaurant does validate. We came early to try some of the happy hour specials. Happy hour is 4:30 PM to 6 PM and includes pasta and appetizers which are 18% off. We tried several of the pastas, including the Uni carbonara, and the mushroom pasta. Appetizers included artichoke karrage and the Spanish grilled tako and entree steak and Frites. Food was good. I especially enjoyed the appetizers. Pasta is tasty, but not too exciting. The steak and fries were also good. Food came out pretty quickly and service was prompt and friendly. We did not stay for dessert, but had gelato next-door. Great place for dinner. Would definitely like to come back and try some of the other options.
Kitchen Appreciation Fee? WTH? Reminds me of Vegas resort fees. I hate those as well. Tipping culture is broken. Tipping is for service above and beyond, not to supplement poor labor practices, to attract new talent, or to provide educational opportunities to the staff. Pay your kitchen staff a decent living wage and roll your costs into the menu prices. Stop misleading your customers with "lower" menu prices. Will not be back. Policy is deceptive and tacky. Food was decent but not "appreciation" worthy. Service was good (that was worth a tip).
Vein is the perfect restaurant to have a nice meal with your family or friends with great deals and delicious cocktails. We just so happened to have dinner on Tuesday, which had half-off cocktails for ladies. They also have a happy hour deal on their pastas, so I'll definitely have to come back for that. The Bolognese was delicious -- not too rich, but very flavorful. The TKG risotto was SO yummy and I would highly recommend that dish to anyone. Their cocktails were also really good (and tasted even better half-off!). It was also my birthday and they gave me a delicious birthday dessert! Vibe: They have warm, cozy indoor seating and outdoor seating with a nice breeze for those who want to bring their pets. The servers were attentive, funny, and friendly. Parking: Salt Kaka'ako offers validated parking, just be sure to scan the QR code at Vein before you leave to get the validation.
Parking: Located at SALT with complimentary one hour parking and discounted rates with restaurant validation Service: table service Ambiance: cozy and intimate Food: went for their lunch offering an entree with house salad and foccacia or koshihikari rice. If you're an uni lover, would recommend the Uni pasta that comes with an ume stock, yuzu, and chili. Pastas only come with spaghetti noodle choice (its not my favorite noodle), but the toppings are delish
VEIN at Kaka'ako is a great place for a nice dinner. Tried the Artichoke Karaage, Uni Carbonara, Miso Salmon with Risotto. Artichoke Karaage: the hearts were meaty yet not too chewy, and the leaves were light and crispy. The mayo was goooooood. Gave me fried calamari vibes. 8.5/10 Miso Salmon and Risotto: you think it's just miso-flavored salmon, but there's a something else there (and not just the risotto). This was the fresh catch option so not sure how often it's on the menu but recommend. 8.5/10. Uni Carbonara: normally skeptical of uni dishes, but this dish was tight. There were some magnificent bites. If you like the taste of uni and carbonara, or think you might, I think it's worth it to try, 9/10
Came here around late lunchtime and absolutely loved it. Not sure what took me so long to try this local neighborhood gem but better late than never! Service was great, our server was very attentive. Compliments to the chef as all the lunch pasta dishes were light and didn't feel heavy but yet so rich in flavor. Each pasta dish had its own unique taste. It's hard to choose which I loved most because I loved them all. I tried the Uni pasta, Shoyu butter pasta, and Italian sausage Neapolitan. Safe to say I'll be back for Pau Hana next time to see what dishes they have in store for dinner!
The uni carbonara was very decadent and rich with a generous portion. The uni complimented the sauce of the dish. Service was extremely friendly providing recommendations and consistently checking on our table. The restaurant itself has a unique garage style entrance but creates a high end feel inside to match their menu items and typical prices. Definitely more of an upscale fancy restaurant over your everyday takeout location. But the pasta happy hour is definitely a plus and will definitely have me returning to try the other pasta dishes.
I've never been disappointed with this place. The menu since the first time I visited to my most recent visit has changed quite a bit but it still leaves a lasting impression every time. I recommend making a reservation as I saw people turned away as the night went on. Service was incredibly friendly and welcoming! I even got to chat with the bartender about his drink creative creations and it was so fun to hear the passion in his descriptions. These people really seem to like what they do and I love that. Between my date and I, we ordered two types of pasta (because if you can't decide, order both, right?!) and two sides as well as a fish dish. That lemon pasta haunts me to this day. I need to go back for more. Thursday was ladies night and all the drinks were massively discounted! I may have taken advantage of the discount and tried quite a few more cocktails than I typically would. We sat near the outside where we could people watch shoppers throughout Salt. Ambience was low light chill and elegant. If you're debating if this is a good place to take a date, do it. FYI If you have amex plat, you can use your $100 quarterly resy credit here as they are in the Resy system. Cheers
Food was okay I guess, service was very slow. Pricing was confusing; we thought it was the price above the menu item when we ordered. When we paid we found out it were actually the price listed below the menu item. One appetizer, one pasta, two entrees, and two drinks totaled to $250. For the quality, this price is way too steep for us to ever come back or recommend to others.
PRE-FIX MENU (8.5/10) Price: $65 per person PETITE HOUSE SALAD (3.5/5) - A simple salad with leafy greens. grilled ewa corn, fennel, lotus root, and topped with bruschetta. The dressing was a citrussy soy sauce. WAGYU BOLOGNESE (5/5) - A delicious and hearty pasta that had wagyu beef, roasted eggplant, pancetta, cremini mushrooms, porcini cream, and mirepoix. BASCAIOLA (5/5) - The creamiest linguine pasta with Italian sweet sausage, Aurora, and mushrooms. An absolute must-try! STEAK & FRITES (4/5) -Rib Eye steak pre-cut, petite salad, and frittes all with melted café de vein butter. MISO COD - CATCH OF THE DAY (3/5) -Miso marinated black cod, orzo, and cabbage salad with kabocha curry sauce. This tasted good, but the skin of the cod was very chewy, BREAD PUDDING (3.5/5) - it had this delicious crumble on top and was served with some berries. In the other reviews, it seems to come with ice cream, but ours did not. LIMONCELLO MERINGUE COCKTAIL (5/5) - Loved how soft this drink felt with the egg white foam and not too sour limoncello base. Service (5/5) The server that took care of our table provided excellent service. They were attentive, welcoming, and accommodating when we asked to switch seats because the sun was directly in our eyes. Parking (5/5) Great parking structure and street parking; you do not have to stress about finding a spot. Ambiance (5/5) There was plenty of seating, good lighting, and no loud music.
Salt at Kaka'ako has a few amazing restaurants, and this is one of the OGs. Vein is a trendy, Japanese-Italian influenced restaurant that is perfect for a nice date night or meal out. If you don't want to break the bank and give them a try, I highly recommend their Pasta Hour from 4:30 to 6 pm everyday for 18% off pastas and appetizers. While it's best to get reservations, I've always found that the staff will do their best to squeeze you in and find you a table. And even if they are slammed, you don't feel like they are rushing you through the meal service. The food is just as excellent combining flavors that are traditional Italian with bits of Japanese and local flair and ingredients. While some restaurants may have great food and okay service, Vein, and its staff, seem to go through great lengths to provide every customer with amazing food, drinks, and service.
The food and customer service at Vein have consistently been excellent every time I come. Last night, my family and I came to celebrate my MIL's birthday, and we had a great experience. Our server, Andrew, was fun, friendly, and professional. Everyone at our table got a prefix dinner menu ($65/pp). Everything was delicious and nicely presented and portioned appropriately (from appetizers to desserts). I tried both the lamb meat and the miso butterfish, and liked both of them. I want to highlight the lamb because usually there's a smell with it but there was no smell with ours. It was tender and juicy (good job chefs!). Would I come here and recommend this restaurant to others? P.S don't forget to get your parking validation after your meal. read more
8 days ago
We ordered three appetizers: the artichoke karaage, arancini, and Sumida Farm watercress romaine salad, and two entrées--the uni carbonara and miso-marinated black cod. The artichoke karaage was pretty good and definitely something different. The arancini was my favorite dish of the meal--flavorful and well executed. The Sumida Farm watercress and romaine salad was essentially a Caesar salad. Unfortunately, the watercress was very bitter rather than having the peppery kick I was expecting. For the entrées, we ordered the uni carbonara and miso-marinated black cod. The black cod was too salty for my taste, and the skin was not crispy at all--it was quite soft and sticky. There was also a noticeable bitter flavor in the dish. The uni carbonara is apparently one of their more popular dishes, so I was particularly looking forward to it. Unfortunately, the uni tasted quite fishy, and the microgreens were also very bitter. At that point, the bitterness had become a recurring theme throughout the meal. Three of the five dishes we ordered had a noticeable bitter element, which really affected the overall experience. Our server seemed rushed. We were still working on our appetizers when our two entrées were brought out, and while we were still eating our entrées, he brought over the dessert menu. The overall service felt a bit sloppy and unrefined rather than attentive and well paced. There were some good dishes, particularly the arancini, but overall the meal was inconsistent, and the repeated bitter flavors and rushed service made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. I would not come back nor would I recommend this place. read more
This place had been on my list for over a year, and I finally made it in. It's right in the middle of Salt Kaka'ako with open space and partially outdoor seating, though we sat inside. The atmosphere was casual and laid‑back, and the staff was attentive and friendly. We started with the Mai Tai and Yuzu Margarita. The Mai Tai wasn't very strong and the pour felt small, but the Margarita was nice and strong. For food, we had the Wagyu Hamburg Steak and the Shoyu Butter Pasta with cremini and porcini mushrooms. Both were delicious, but the pasta especially stood out -- I haven't had pasta like this, the kind that reminds me of Japan, in decades. The pasta also came with a focaccia, and that was very good as well. I recommend this spot if you're looking for the Japanese version of Italian dishes and other Yoshoku‑style comfort food. read more
1 month ago
The food here is really good. I've been twice, and both times I got the bolognese, which I really enjoyed. I also tried the TKG risotto, which was so yummy, and the bascaiola was delicious as well. There are both indoor and outdoor seating options, and while the restaurant is on the smaller side, it has a cozy atmosphere. Unfortunately, the service was not great either time I visited. The staff didn't come across as very friendly or welcoming, and they were often on their phones or talking amongst themselves rather than paying attention to customers. We asked a couple of questions about the menu, and the server seemed like they didn't really want to answer or be there. It made the experience feel a little uncomfortable. Overall, I really like the food and would come back for it, but I hope the service improves because it would make the experience much better. read more
Came back here again. There's 20 ft of bar seating, a two top open, and plenty of seating. Was told reservation only. Really? So went to Mana+Pua instead. I expected to pay between $30-60 for a dinner here for 1... quick, in and out. Instead I was abruptly told there was no opportunity to eat there. Seemed pretty petty to me being that there is like no one there. read more
A great casual restaurant located in SALT Kaka'ako. This is my first time trying Vein. They have a parking garage next-door, which is paid parking. The restaurant does validate. We came early to try some of the happy hour specials. Happy hour is 4:30 PM to 6 PM and includes pasta and appetizers which are 18% off. We tried several of the pastas, including the Uni carbonara, and the mushroom pasta. Appetizers included artichoke karrage and the Spanish grilled tako and entree steak and Frites. Food was good. I especially enjoyed the appetizers. Pasta is tasty, but not too exciting. The steak and fries were also good. Food came out pretty quickly and service was prompt and friendly. We did not stay for dessert, but had gelato next-door. Great place for dinner. Would definitely like to come back and try some of the other options. read more
8 days ago
Kitchen Appreciation Fee? WTH? Reminds me of Vegas resort fees. I hate those as well. Tipping culture is broken. Tipping is for service above and beyond, not to supplement poor labor practices, to attract new talent, or to provide educational opportunities to the staff. Pay your kitchen staff a decent living wage and roll your costs into the menu prices. Stop misleading your customers with "lower" menu prices. Will not be back. Policy is deceptive and tacky. Food was decent but not "appreciation" worthy. Service was good (that was worth a tip). read more
Vein is the perfect restaurant to have a nice meal with your family or friends with great deals and delicious cocktails. We just so happened to have dinner on Tuesday, which had half-off cocktails for ladies. They also have a happy hour deal on their pastas, so I'll definitely have to come back for that. The Bolognese was delicious -- not too rich, but very flavorful. The TKG risotto was SO yummy and I would highly recommend that dish to anyone. Their cocktails were also really good (and tasted even better half-off!). It was also my birthday and they gave me a delicious birthday dessert! Vibe: They have warm, cozy indoor seating and outdoor seating with a nice breeze for those who want to bring their pets. The servers were attentive, funny, and friendly. Parking: Salt Kaka'ako offers validated parking, just be sure to scan the QR code at Vein before you leave to get the validation. read more
Parking: Located at SALT with complimentary one hour parking and discounted rates with restaurant validation Service: table service Ambiance: cozy and intimate Food: went for their lunch offering an entree with house salad and foccacia or koshihikari rice. If you're an uni lover, would recommend the Uni pasta that comes with an ume stock, yuzu, and chili. Pastas only come with spaghetti noodle choice (its not my favorite noodle), but the toppings are delish read more
VEIN at Kaka'ako is a great place for a nice dinner. Tried the Artichoke Karaage, Uni Carbonara, Miso Salmon with Risotto. Artichoke Karaage: the hearts were meaty yet not too chewy, and the leaves were light and crispy. The mayo was goooooood. Gave me fried calamari vibes. 8.5/10 Miso Salmon and Risotto: you think it's just miso-flavored salmon, but there's a something else there (and not just the risotto). This was the fresh catch option so not sure how often it's on the menu but recommend. 8.5/10. Uni Carbonara: normally skeptical of uni dishes, but this dish was tight. There were some magnificent bites. If you like the taste of uni and carbonara, or think you might, I think it's worth it to try, 9/10 read more
7 days ago
Came here around late lunchtime and absolutely loved it. Not sure what took me so long to try this local neighborhood gem but better late than never! Service was great, our server was very attentive. Compliments to the chef as all the lunch pasta dishes were light and didn't feel heavy but yet so rich in flavor. Each pasta dish had its own unique taste. It's hard to choose which I loved most because I loved them all. I tried the Uni pasta, Shoyu butter pasta, and Italian sausage Neapolitan. Safe to say I'll be back for Pau Hana next time to see what dishes they have in store for dinner! read more
The uni carbonara was very decadent and rich with a generous portion. The uni complimented the sauce of the dish. Service was extremely friendly providing recommendations and consistently checking on our table. The restaurant itself has a unique garage style entrance but creates a high end feel inside to match their menu items and typical prices. Definitely more of an upscale fancy restaurant over your everyday takeout location. But the pasta happy hour is definitely a plus and will definitely have me returning to try the other pasta dishes. read more
I've never been disappointed with this place. The menu since the first time I visited to my most recent visit has changed quite a bit but it still leaves a lasting impression every time. I recommend making a reservation as I saw people turned away as the night went on. Service was incredibly friendly and welcoming! I even got to chat with the bartender about his drink creative creations and it was so fun to hear the passion in his descriptions. These people really seem to like what they do and I love that. Between my date and I, we ordered two types of pasta (because if you can't decide, order both, right?!) and two sides as well as a fish dish. That lemon pasta haunts me to this day. I need to go back for more. Thursday was ladies night and all the drinks were massively discounted! I may have taken advantage of the discount and tried quite a few more cocktails than I typically would. We sat near the outside where we could people watch shoppers throughout Salt. Ambience was low light chill and elegant. If you're debating if this is a good place to take a date, do it. FYI If you have amex plat, you can use your $100 quarterly resy credit here as they are in the Resy system. Cheers read more
1 month ago
Food was okay I guess, service was very slow. Pricing was confusing; we thought it was the price above the menu item when we ordered. When we paid we found out it were actually the price listed below the menu item. One appetizer, one pasta, two entrees, and two drinks totaled to $250. For the quality, this price is way too steep for us to ever come back or recommend to others. read more
3 months ago
PRE-FIX MENU (8.5/10) Price: $65 per person PETITE HOUSE SALAD (3.5/5) - A simple salad with leafy greens. grilled ewa corn, fennel, lotus root, and topped with bruschetta. The dressing was a citrussy soy sauce. WAGYU BOLOGNESE (5/5) - A delicious and hearty pasta that had wagyu beef, roasted eggplant, pancetta, cremini mushrooms, porcini cream, and mirepoix. BASCAIOLA (5/5) - The creamiest linguine pasta with Italian sweet sausage, Aurora, and mushrooms. An absolute must-try! STEAK & FRITES (4/5) -Rib Eye steak pre-cut, petite salad, and frittes all with melted café de vein butter. MISO COD - CATCH OF THE DAY (3/5) -Miso marinated black cod, orzo, and cabbage salad with kabocha curry sauce. This tasted good, but the skin of the cod was very chewy, BREAD PUDDING (3.5/5) - it had this delicious crumble on top and was served with some berries. In the other reviews, it seems to come with ice cream, but ours did not. LIMONCELLO MERINGUE COCKTAIL (5/5) - Loved how soft this drink felt with the egg white foam and not too sour limoncello base. Service (5/5) The server that took care of our table provided excellent service. They were attentive, welcoming, and accommodating when we asked to switch seats because the sun was directly in our eyes. Parking (5/5) Great parking structure and street parking; you do not have to stress about finding a spot. Ambiance (5/5) There was plenty of seating, good lighting, and no loud music. read more
Salt at Kaka'ako has a few amazing restaurants, and this is one of the OGs. Vein is a trendy, Japanese-Italian influenced restaurant that is perfect for a nice date night or meal out. If you don't want to break the bank and give them a try, I highly recommend their Pasta Hour from 4:30 to 6 pm everyday for 18% off pastas and appetizers. While it's best to get reservations, I've always found that the staff will do their best to squeeze you in and find you a table. And even if they are slammed, you don't feel like they are rushing you through the meal service. The food is just as excellent combining flavors that are traditional Italian with bits of Japanese and local flair and ingredients. While some restaurants may have great food and okay service, Vein, and its staff, seem to go through great lengths to provide every customer with amazing food, drinks, and service. read more
Dinner in Kaka'ako, Honolulu, Hawaii... My calabash nephew wanted to take me to dinner and asked where I wanted to go. I told him that I hadn't been to Vein at SALT yet, so I made a reservation. Parking was free for an hour and a half in the structure - enter from Keawe Street. It's a paperless system. Scan the QR code, enter your license plate number, and pay online. Located on the ground level, Vein had an open-air, dimly lit, quiet atmosphere. Our server, Andrew, was so efficient that we made it back to the parking structure in time! Our water glasses were refilled promptly and we didn't have to ask for the bill. He made great suggestions and explained menu items competently! We ordered the Pre-Fix menu which included a green salad starter, pasta, entrée, and dessert of Bread Pudding! Both types of pasta were delicious because of the wagyu and sausage sauces. Both entrées (tender lamb and catch of the day) were tasty and had beautiful presentation! I wouldn't mind returning! Thank you, nephew Benny and server Andrew! read more
Vein is a great lunch spot in the Kakaʻako area, offering a nice variety of lunch specials. The food was delicious, the service was friendly and timely, and the overall vibe was good. Since it's an open-air restaurant, it can feel a little warm for those who prefer air-conditioned dining. A nice bonus is that they offer validated parking, making it a convenient option for lunch. read more
Went here for lunch and found that they have some great lunch specials. It's an open air restaurant so it can get a little warm during the day but the lunch specials are a great deal for around $20.00. The hamburger steak and shout pasta were probably the best. read more
Located in SALT on the ground level, our party of 4 came here for lunch. With 6 items to choose from, Vein made it simple and easy for people who are indecisive to choose. The prices are very reasonable for what you choose - starting at $17 for salad, bread or rice (depending on what you order) and entree. I decided to order the shoyu butter pasta and WOW!!! Umami screams from the dish. It comes with an egg yolk for you to mix into the pasta dish. With pancetta and shredded nori added into the mix, the flavor profile is rich, creamy, a little sweet, perfect amount of salt and totally stretch pants worthy ;). For $17.50, this is so worth it. read more
10 days ago
We had a nice meal with attentive and friendly service. Like the indoor/outdoor vibes of the restaurant in a lively location. Free street parking after 6 pm or reduced rate at their garage so long as you scan QR code. Good cocktails. The octopus appetizer had good flavors, but the greens to octopus ratio was off. Not enough octopus. The greens we also slighted welted and the octopus was slightly overcooked. As for our main entrees, they were both tasty and well cooked. The lamb was a nice portion for the price, but the black cod was quite undersized. Should've got it from Pioneer Saloon, lol. Crème brûlée was not good. It had a nice crust and texture, but it wasn't crème brûlée. It tasted like it was all cream and they forgot egg yolks. That's all I can think of right now and bon appetite. read more
5 months ago
This is my new favorite pasta! The spaghetti noodles are covered in a delicious brown butter shoyu sauce with pancetta and mushrooms spread throughout. Then topped with a cured egg yolk and furikake. Soooo good! Great service as well and a great spot for lunch with family and friends. read more
Nice casual dining with good food and great service. Pleasant (quieter) outside tables as well as inside tables. Appetizers were good choice to start the meal, especially the the Brussels spr Food :We tried their special and it was very tasty. Also enjoyed dessert. It was a special occasion and they offered a free dessert to help us celebrate. Thank you ! Service : This was their outstanding feature!! Our two servers, Ty and Jamie were EXCELLENT! They made our dinner experience special--so friendly and also efficient. We had a reservation, but were running a few minutes late because of a traffic jam, they were so understanding. Facility- read more
Recently went for dinner walked in with no reservations. They are Dog friendly on the outdoor tables and brought our pups water. We shared a bottle of red wine and had the prix fix dinner for $65. *note all people on the table must order it if you get it. It comes with salad, choice of pasta and choice of main dish and dessert. Food was delicious and the service was really good. Relaxing delicious dinner in Kakaako. read more
We've walked by this place many times and finally had a chance to try it!!! My bascaiola was REALLY tasty!!! It has small chunks of Italian sausage! I also highly recommend the artichoke karaage! It was really good with the sauce . . They have a pasta happy hour too!!! Bread would have made it a 5 read more
1 year ago
I came here with a friend because we've always wanted to try this place. It is located in salt kakaako right below pitch's sports bar. Remember to call for rsvp because we walked in and got lucky to get a table for an hour haha the workers were super nice to fit us in. The food looked good. I wanted to try their popular item which was the uni pasta carbonara, BUT it was being prepped and would take an hour so I switched over to their Cacio é Pepe & tomato bruschetta. It was super yummy. We also got their brussel sprouts which was amazing! Best ones I've tasted. Super airy and they add Parmesan cheese on it. We got their vein house salad which was also good. Everything came out fresh and hot. Note: they do open at 4:30 pm and they have ladies night which is half off all drinks! Fun! We also went on pasta hour so we got a little discount on our meal read more
1 year ago
Compliments to the CHEF Make sure you make a reservation That's a must !! Waiter recommended the UNI Carbonara and OMG this was soo delicious never have I ever tasted anything like this . All the flavors were there and the service was amazing . You won't be disappointed. Oh and don't forget about desert they have the best bread pudding . read more
10 months ago
Dinner at Vein Kaka'ako for the first time! We had a reservation at 5PM (reservations made through Resy) and they have indoor and outdoor seating. All pasta and appetizers 18% off happy hour from 4:30PM to 6PM everyday. We first got there around 4:45PM and were a bit confused and had to double check our reservation because the doors were closed considering the HH starts at 4:30PM. Restaurant didn't open till 5PM but maybe the opening hours changed. But no problem at all, we were there early. As soon as we sat, service was great and servers were friendly. We started off by ordering drinks, they had a deal on two wines one red wine (Barossa Valley) and one white wine (not sure the name). We tried both! Appetizers: we got the Artichoke Karaage and the Burrata and Mochi Artichoke karaage- I don't care for artichoke much but it did pair well with the dipping sauce Burrata and mochi- interesting! It's kind of like an airy, chewy but crunchy on the outside mochi with burrata on top of tomatoes and avocado. A little sweet but it was good Entrees: Uni Carbonara and TKG Risotto Uni Carbonara- delicious! I loveee uni and have tried uni pasta at many other places but this has to be one of my top choices. They mentioned the pasta is cooked inside of uni butter and with the uni toppings, it is not shy with the uni flavor. Mixing it all with the egg yolk and the bacon was chefs kiss. By far my favorite uni pasta! TKG risotto- flavorful and creamy! The soy cured egg yolk really put it all together and the risotto was perfectly cooked. Definitely will be coming back. Noted to come on a Tuesday for ladies night! Ladies receive 50% off all cocktails and glass wines all night. Men are Wednesday night. Parking: Kaka'ako Salt lot recently changed their parking system so it is a automatic scan and go upon entry and exit. Be sure to get a validation by scanning the QR code from the restaurant to receive discounted parking! read more
8 months ago
My wife and I stopped by Vein for a simple glass of wine to cap off the night... but one glass quickly turned into a bottle and a couple of spectacular appetizers we couldn't resist. The artichoke karaage arrived perfectly crisp and addictive, while the grilled Spanish tako with chimichurri was tender, vibrant, and beautifully balanced. Paired with a refreshing Alverdi Pinot Grigio, every bite and sip felt thoughtful and effortlessly elegant - exactly the kind of flavors that make you slow down and savor the moment. The service and ambience were spectacular, transforming an impromptu nightcap into one of the most memorable parts of our evening. Safe to say, we'll absolutely be back. read more
Came here for an early dinner and was able to take advantage of their happy pasta hour where all apps and pastas are 18% off between 4:30pm to 6pm! We had the artichoke karaage and the watercress salad. The salad was especially yummy with the smoked salmon. We also had the bolognese, risotto funghi, and the caccio e peppe. The first two were especially flavorful and delicious that I think they overshadowed the caccio e peppe for me. Service was stellar and just a great place for dinner. Restaurant is open air with relaxed vibes but also would make a great place for a dinner date. read more
Enjoy Pasta Hour... Seriously from 4:30pm to 6pm it's 18% off all pastas and day drink specials as me and my bestie came for an unplanned visit it was like a deal too good to be true as these couple of pasta lover did a small cheer of joy for this discovery. Vein is located in Kaka'ako...obviously on the ground floor right below Pitch and parking is either in the SALT garage or right out front of Highway Inn and yes they do validate as street metered parking is available though are much more elusive than the deals found here. Walking in we were immediately greeted and was nervous as we didn't have any reservations into this cozy spot but was thrilled that there was a couple of tables open right at the semi outdoor section of the restaurant. Ordering is easy as we had very similar likings as we started on the "Kawamata" Tomato Bruschetta and absolutely loved the massive Japanese twist it had starting with the edamame mixed into the ricotta spread on the toast which was topped with the marinated tomatoes soooooo flavorful as we kept analyzing each bite it's topped with shio kombu which is salted seaweed normal found in musubi and chiffonade shiso leaves all items I love but never imagined in this format that we both absolutely loved. Now to the pasta we each picked as she chose "Bolognese" the classic though the base with wagyu beef tossed all over rigatoni and topped with cheese and a dollop of porcini cream was so heavenly delicate bite, as for my choice it's "Bascaiola" Italian sweet sausage and mushroom is tossed in creamy aurora sauce all tossed in linguine we both enjoyed very much...before our any of our choices we already knew that "Risotto Funghi" was the choice and it was the winner winner fungi for dinner and this mushroom truffle and as we both dove in as this was a moment of silence and just a wide eyed stare down of bliss as the truffle overtook my palate and just was so impressed how wonderful it really was. Nothing was left on our plates though I did struggle with the last few bites...here comes dessert that we didn't expect "Bread Pudding" that was the perfect ending as it wasn't too sweet and the cake wasn't heavy or dense but light and the sauce accents it perfectly along with fresh fruits just sweetened our dinner to a sweet end. Thank you! read more
I tried shoyu butter pasta and that was pretty good! Pretty unique flavor and haven't tried something like that yet. The butter is not too heavy. The nori added it to the flavor. Usually I feel tired after eating pasta but I felt great after eating. I went during lunch time around the time it opens. There was barely any customers yet but the service was a little slower than I imagined. Clean and modern ambiance. Would go again to try other dishes. read more
10 months ago
10/10 for food, drink, service and ambiance. This uni w/scallion aglio y olio is so delicious. This chewy pasta luxuriates in a light delicious olive oil garlic herb sauce you can sop up with the soft focaccia. Pair it with a nice white wine and you're set. Perfect balance of richness and brightness. We will definitely be back! read more
We finally got this try this place out and I have nothing but great things to say. Drinks, foods, service -- EVERYTHING was fantastic! We made a reservation because most of the times, walk-ins will be hard to accommodate as they're very popular. Considering this place is located in Salt - Kakaako, so there's a small parking fee. Our server's name was Ryan and he was attentive and friendly. He was able to make great recommendations for us too. DRINKS: Yuzu margarita and Jala-coloda. Both AMAZING, especially the Jala-colada. I would be willing to go back just for this drink. FOODS: Artichoke karaage as the appetizer. This, I wasn't too impressed with and wouldn't order again. It's light and crispy, but I tasted more of the fried skin rather than the artichoke itself. Uni carbonara and Bascaiola were excellent. I'd recommend both of those pastas. 10/10 would recommend. I am looking forward to coming back and trying out their other dishes and drinks! read more
Been wanting to try this place for a LONG time. Perhaps i hyped it too much in my head. Food was mid I like my bruschetta on crunchy bread. This one was toasted french bread, so slightly crisp top but otherwise soft bread. Tomatoes were over ripe and sooo mushy too. Looked good though. So nice presentation. Risotto was also over cooked. Was like eating jook or congee. Bread for the bone marrow was much better. Carbonara was the best dish. Uni was barely there and offered nothing to the dish. My friends liked the bolognese but i thought it was also slightly overcooked. Wide open restaurant so not very cool (ac). Plus little flies kept bothering us all through the meal. Glad i got to experience it. Wouldnt ever choose to go again unless someone im with really wants to go. Only plus side was the staff. Super nice and hospitable. Glad they at least got something right. read more
Decided to give this another try for an anniversary dinner. They have several deals going on - one being a prefix menu for $60. I only gave it two stars last time due to the parking issue I experienced but the food was really good so I was still excited to come back to try other menu items. The prefix comes with a salad, choice of pasta, choice of protein, and bread pudding. If you decide to do the prefix the whole party must order! I would say its worth it as you get pretty good portion sizes of each course for a steal! Salad: I thought it would be a simple house salad but this was served with radishes and prosciutto. To my surprise it was really really good and I wished we got more! A great start to the meal. Pasta: We decided to try the wagyu bolognese and the bascaiola. We were both really impressed by the bascaiola which is a creamy sausage pasta. The flavor was delicious! It looked like a small portion when brought out but I think once we started to eat more it seemed a bit more filling that what it appeared to be. I would order the bascaiola if we came back! Proteins: We both ended up ordering the lamb which is served with a ume olive tapenade. We were intrigued by the steak frites but got convinced to both try the lamb. I think we should have tried both but we were both happy with our selection. I appreciated that we each got three bones each - so it was not a small portion! The flavor was delicious and tapenade was really refreshing and a good flavor combo. The food came out a little lukewarm so if anything I wished it was hotter but still super yummy! Dessert: Bread pudding was good but probably not the best part of the meal for us. It would be nice if you could pick from a few options - but it was still great. Overall we loved the meal and this time no parking issues! read more
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More info about Vein At Kaka'ako
685 Auahi St
Bldg 2, Ste 121
Honolulu, HI 96813
Downtown
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(808) 376-4800
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http://veinatkakaako.com
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Ask the Community - Vein At Kaka'ako
Are the prefix menus only for big groups or can a party of 2 enjoy it as well?
Small parties can order as well
Do they sell gift cards/certificates?
Aloha, your profile here has masks are still required, is that true? Please let us know, mahalo.
No, they're not. We had dinner there last week without masks. Get the scallops! Enjoy!
Hello. I am trying to find a restaurant to host my partners surprise 40th birthday dinner. We are visiting from California. The party would be a total of 19 people. Would you be able to accommodate us? I'd like to make a reservation for 5/24.
Check out the Barefoot experience at The Beach Tree Restaurant at the Four Seasons. It's a private table right at the ocean and you have your own chef. Its a beautiful setting right at the ocean.…
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