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    Alan Wongs Kahala

    4.8 (25 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndHawaiian
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Alan Wongs Kahala Photos

    Business Info

    ALAN WONGS KAHALA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Alan Wongs Kahala

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    Da bag
    Dan T.

    We celebrated my lady's birthday at the highly anticipated new Alan Wong restaurant at the Kahala Resort, and it exceeded our expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by a friendly hostess and promptly seated at a beautiful window table. Service throughout the evening was attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming. We started with cocktails, sparkling water, and warm dinner rolls served with an incredible aioli. For appetizers, we enjoyed Da Bag and the crab-shrimp cake. The presentation of Da Bag was impressive, and the flavors were even better. The crab-shrimp cake was delicate, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. For our entrées, we chose the Kalbi short ribs, which were incredibly tender, and the ginger-crusted kampachi, which was simply outstanding. The light, creamy sauce complemented the fish beautifully. Dessert was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. The coconut sorbet served in a chocolate shell with tart fruit was heavenly, while the Waialua chocolate cake was rich, moist, and absolutely delicious. The ambiance was elegant yet comfortable, and every member of the staff was accommodating and gracious. Best of all, the pricing felt very reasonable for such a memorable dining experience.

    Fresh local beet salad
    Holly B.

    I've been anxiously awaiting our reservation at Alan Wong's. Missed this restaurant since they closed! We arrived a 1/2 hour early for our dinner reservation, but were promptly seated! Nice! Unfortunately, our experience was unusual. Our server, Jared, was more than friendly, but he started by explaining all the things they were out of: Lilikoi Mojito Opakapaka, could be served with a substitute fish Onaga, could be served with a substitute fish Those fish dishes are signature Alan Wong dishes that my significant other was looking forward yo enjoying OK, so we pivot and order what IS available on the menu... Oh no! They only have one beet salad! OK, pivot again, we'll share the salad. The ahi poke appetizer was melt-in-the mouth delicious! My significant other thought it was great, and he doesn't like avocado! The locally sourced (yay! support local!) beet salad was also delicious and generous, so we didn't really need two salads as originally thought...The tarragon dressing on the side was light and clean on the palate, not overly vinegary. I enjoyed the duck, while my significant other enjoyed the twice cooked braised short ribs. Both entrees were amazing l, though my duck was a little salty. The chili pepper water at the table was "broke da mouth" ono! Yum! Yum! Complimented the meal perfectly! And no dinner is complete without DESSERT!!! Of course, we had to have Alan Wong's signature Coconut ice cream dessert. No sharing, thank you! The presentation and taste is as I remembered, beautiful and colorful and spot on delicious! Everything we ordered was ono, enjoyable, and pleasing! The disappointment of not having the lilikoi mojito or the fresh fish entrees paled. We'll just have to return to enjoy what we missed this time! Woo hoo!

    Menu 1
    Mike K.

    Went to Alan Wong's since the whole family was together for the week. We had an incredible dinner. Full disclosure, I met Chef in person and ran into him a few times over the past couple years. He is very personable and brings everything dining down to a layman's level when asked any questions. Very comfortable. First question always asked was when are you going to open a new place? Well, the opportunity happened and he took on the challenge. As you should be able to tell from my label, I'm not a foodie type. In fact when my pops used to take us out to "ya gotta wear pants" places, 99% of the time I would have been just as satisfied with a Rainbows plate. But after we went to AW's on King St., a while ago, that was the first time I told him that THAT was a experience. Blown away by the Giant Scallops over risoto. Well, last night Scallops weren't on the menu. In fact, the Onaga, which I had spied on the menu in Yelp prior to going, was out too, as was the Opakapaka. They did have a Kampachi replacement for the fish dishes, as well as a seafood stew, and a steak. If there was any disappointment at all when ordering, it all went poof when the first appetizers appeared. Oh geez. There is no way to describe the euphoria we experienced when the Poke/Guac/Wonton, Tomato "salad" w/li hing, Crab/shrimp cake, and Da Bag showed up. There were 6 of us and we were each treated to a portion of all four. All I can say is wow. To top it off we were treated to the Kalua Fois Gras "sandwich" on a parmesan wafer served over a serving of cold tomato soup. One of the best things we agreed that any of us had even eaten. Should you go, do not skip one of those. After a break to catch our breath and compare notes and how good things were, little french rolls came out and they are perfect to sop up the sauces and juice from the bag and other dishes. Now came the Entrees. Oh geez, said that a lot, I was served up a 1lb rib steak with what seemed like a couple handfuls of mushrooms and veal reduction "gravy" all over. 2 of us had the seafood stew, a kin to a Bouillabaisse served over mashed potatoes, which melted into the stew and made the broth that much better. A trio of the fish completes the table. They were all terrific. Even after sharing a bunch of the steak, with everyone, I still managed to drag some home. Sorry no room for dessert... Service? Great. Parking validated... Had a late res (8:30), but checked when we arrived and got called a half hour early. Pretty easy to pass time at Kahala watching the dolphins and walking the paths. A great value if going out for a special occasion. I think a decent sized party is the way to go so you can sample a little of each appetizer. You know I hardly ever give 5 stars... I'd do 6 if could.

    Duck Salad
    Jolene L.

    Such a lovely new location in Kahala! As luck should have it, Chef's grand opening coincided with my birthday and what a way to celebrate. We were told that only 50 people were able to dine in that night. We each received a lei for being at their Opening. Talk about Classy! The former location didn't have much of a view so we were very pleased being seated at the window for a breathtaking view of Kahala Beach. Our Server was delightful and she remembered her "regulars" which I am happy to see the loyalty between Chef Wong and his employees. We started off with appetizers. Can't go wrong with steamed clams in "Da Bag." We were encouraged to dip the bread into the sauce if we wanted something in lieu of butter. We also shared the duck Salad which was incredibly crisp and tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed the beef tenderloin. They have an amazing lemongrass with goat cheese sauce that paired well with the tender beef. My guests enjoyed their entrees as well, one had snapper and the other had onaga. When it was time for dessert, we ordered the banana cream and the 5 spoons of creme brulee. All of these treats were perfect in size and taste. Thank you for the slice of strawberry birthday cake and signing my birthday menu. We had a wonderful dining experience for for my birthday! Looking forward to coming back because we know the food and service will be superb :)

    The Coconut Haupia Sorbet - work of artistry & taste
    Leonard L.

    Superb Food and Excellent Service! Our Daughter took my wife and I to Alan Wong's to celebrate our 41st Wedding Anniversary. We were married at the Kahala Hotel 41 years ago by the waterfall. It was one of the best dinners we experienced and we have been around the world. Mike and Rodel provided excellent service. The food was superb. It started with terrific freshly baked piping hot French Dinner rolls with the chili garlic aioli sauce. That was an impressive start with a lot more to follow. The Mojito Mocktail is a must try. It is mixed brilliantly. We followed with the "Soup and Sandwich" which is a nice combination of chilled tomato soup with a sandwich of kalua pork, cheese, and foie gras. The Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Cake was next which was moist, tender, and full of flavor. It's a nice rich combination. My wife and daughter thoroughly enjoyed the Ahi Poke, Avocado Salsa Won Ton Pi Stack with the Sambal. Then we had fresh oysters on the half shell which provided an authentic refreshing taste from the sea. We followed that with "DA BAG". The presentation was done expertly with the steamed clams and kalua pig that blended well together. My wife enjoyed the well known Ginger Crusted Onaga which was moist and tender in a nice vinaigrette sauce. My Daughter enjoyed the Kalbi short ribs which was moist, tender, and packed with kochujang flavor. I had the Shellfish Bowl (Bouillabaisse) special which was a great combination of seafood in a rich broth. We all enjoyed the garlic parmesan mashed potatoes. For dessert, we all enjoyed the Wailua Chocolate Crunch bar (combined chocolate flavors), The Coconut Haupia Sorbet was a stunning work of artistry and taste refinement. The Pineapple Shaved Ice was a good fresh match with the Panna Cotta. The Banana Caramel Kinako Cream Pie was good. A nice touch was the Anniversary dessert which was personalized. Overall, a terrific evening with superb food and excellent service. The ambience and sunset view were great. Thanks Alan for opening at the Kahala!

    Lyn L.

    Well we were finally abject return to Alan Wong's for the ever popular ginger crusted onaga and the opakapaka. It was very nostalgic to one again have the "Soup and sandwich" as a starter and yes! It's the exact same tomato soup with the Parmesan crisp and the Kalua pig, foie gras and mozzarella cheese sandwich. The French dinner rolls were so good with the chew crust and warm soft center. I wasn't sure it would be as good since Michelle is no longer there. Appetizers were the same, although I thought the crab cake could have been lighter. The fish dishes were as I remembered and always good. They had some familiar desserts on the menu but we just had the creme brûlée samplers. It was ok. I do miss the wider assortment of coffees. Will and grace Kai coffee is no longer only 2 choices, Wailua and Kauai. I thought $28 for the small pot of coffee was kind of high. All in all, it was good.. great memories. Our server, Jared was fantastic! Knowledgeable, cordial and attentive. He was perfect and so welcoming.

    The Coconut - honestly one of the most beautiful and creative desserts I've seen.
    Kimberly B.

    It's back! And we couldn't be happier. Alan Wong's belonged to pretty much every local child's highlight reel as that one very special place where core memories are made. Special occasions and big moments deserved an Alan Wong's dinner to celebrate. And it was devastating when they decided to close. But, they're back, and dare I say, better than ever. Their new home at the Kahala is much more spacious with sweeping views of the pacific. The fine-dining, elevated, yet warm and local ambiance is still there, and he has all of the favorites on the menu. Needless to say, between the nostalgia and the curiosity, it is THE hottest ticket in town. Service remains to be excellent, with warm and attentive servers who exude passion for the food and the place. There is almost a reverence to their explanations of each dish, and a sincerity that is uniquely Alan Wong's. They were amazing to our two kids too, and treated them as valued as they treated us. It was refreshing. Of course, the food. With every bite, my husband and his mom were wracked with pure bliss as the waves of nostalgia washed over them. Every dish was every bit as good as they remembered, and the memories came flooding back. We had a blast reminiscing all the wonderful moments and it was as if Alan's never closed after all. First, we got the soup and sandwich, which was a cold yellow and red tomato soup with a Parmesan crisp, and a "grilled cheese sandwich" with kalua pig and foie gras. One of my personal favorites. I also had the uni, ahi, and shrimp on soy milk panna cotta, which was extremely fresh and light. We of course also had "Da Bag" which was kalua pig and clams with greens in a hearty broth. Definite must-have classic. For our mains, we got the ginger-crusted Onaga (red snapper) which was the runaway favorite. I also got the steamed opakapaka (pink snapper), and short ribs with gochujang for the table. They had a keiki (kids') menu too, and my daughter devoured the pan-seared salmon, while the other one got chicken tenders. Everything was excellent and everything was cooked to perfection. The meat melted away and the fish was flaky, with all the flavors just exploding in my mouth. It was heavenly. And of course, the desserts. I got "The Coconut" which was the first thing that popped into my head when I heard they were opening back up. It's haupia (coconut) sorbet shaped like an actual coconut, with a "shell" of dark chocolate and coconut shavings, and an abundance of fresh fruits (bananas, pineapple, green apple, strawberries, blueberries, a blackberry, and a raspberry) drizzled with lilikoi (passion fruit) sauce. It's definitely my favorite and I always make sure I leave room for it when we go. We also got the pineapple shaved ice with some tapioca and I think panna cotta in the bottom, and the banana caramel kinako cream pie, which hubby could only describe as like bananas foster with kinako. Because it was my MIL's birthday, they also gave her a strawberry shortcake slice, which rivals those you can only get from Japan. All in all, we left extremely satisfied and happy, with our tummies and hearts full, and armed with brand new core memories to cherish. Would I recommend it? 1000%. I can promise that you won't be disappointed. Pro Tip: definitely get the soup and sandwich and Da Bag for appetizers, then the ginger-crusted onaga and short ribs for mains to share. Then finish with The Coconut. Those are definitely the best of the best and the ultimate classics Alan is know for. And although we didn't have to use them, I've always appreciated the fact that instead of salt and pepper on the table, he has shoyu (soy sauce) and chili pepper water instead. It's definitely the little touches that does it for me.

    Lorie C.

    Thank you Chef Alan, Mark Shishido & Leigh Ito for wonderful hospitality, service & amazing food. Chef you really outdone yourself with so many delicious dishes. The li hing tomato was unbelievable amazing-just like we remembered 5 years ago. The Kalbi was fork tender & wonderful. The arroz de Marisco was "Broke da mouth" along with the curry. We will be back!

    Braised Duck
    Janice U.

    We went here for our anniversary. The atmosphere was great and the service was amazing! They started off with the crunchy warm and soft bread with a spicy aioli.We then had the lychee martini with sake and passion fruit mojito to start with which was delicious! We then shared the kalua pig Caesar salad which was to die for!!! I had the ginger crusted onaga and my husband had the braised duck. They were both very good! We were too full to tackle dessert but maybe next time. Overall an excellent meal

    Nat N.

    The OG of Pacific Rim Cuisine is back! You'll find most of your favorites on the menu, including the ginger crusted onaga, Da Bag, Soup and Sandwich, and The Coconut Dessert. But now with an ocean view, the overall experience is even better than ever!!

    Onaga
    Rob B.

    What a happy flashback! Services a little slow and Da Bag was served a little under cooked but immediately remedied. But otherwise everything was spectacular and true to memory. This will certainly be the hot ticket this year. Limited seating until the kinks are worked out but it's already tasting pretty smooth!

    Opening menu
    Royce A.

    MENU IS AVAILABLE AT THE BAR!!! Possibly the best dining experience on the island. Staff remembered me from two months ago. This is now a part of my top 10 restaurant list. Fight me if you don't think so.

    Joe W.

    Absolutely can't miss and if you love when they were at king st.... You will love the new location. Service was superb and good quality was top notch. We saw chef Wong as we walked in so you know he is serving up all of favorites!

    Shrimp & crab cake

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    Ask the Community - Alan Wongs Kahala

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    We came here to try some more traditional Hawaiian food. Particular favorites was the squid luau…read morewhich was sweet and a little salty with a unique flavor coming from the taro leaves. If you're not a fan of seafood, don't let the squid deter you as it is a minimal part of the dish and added more of a crunchy textural component rather than actual flavor. This was my wife and my favorite dish. The luau pork was also very good though I liked the version we had at Toa Luau better. We also liked the haupia which was a very refreshing coconut pudding though for some reason our boys didn't like it. We also tried pipikaula which are thinly sliced dry-aged beef short ribs marinated in soy sauce and something else that made it sweet. If you know Korean barbeque, you'll instantly get the sensation that these are close cousins to galbi, though the pipikaula are much less sweet in comparison. The dry aging process also makes them a bit more dryer than galbi. On to more difficult stuff. I was enthusiastic about the fried butterfish collar but once I got a waft of the dish, I knew I was in trouble. I'm very sensitive when it comes to fish so the smell (more than the taste) was off putting. My wife was fine with it and enjoyed the dish, but if you aren't a fan of fishy fish, then I would skip it. The lomi salmon looked very much like pico de gallo with the addition of salt-cured salmon. My boys loved this dish because they love salmon but again I would steer clear if you are a seafood weakling like me. Alas, we come to poi. Had my hopes up since I love taro but the texture and a bit of sourness from fermentation deterred me from trying too much of it. I'm glad we tried it but not sure that we would get it again.

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    If you think 5,400 reviews are lying, let this one be the reason you make sure to visit this local…read morebusiness when you're in Honolulu. It was love at first bite for me with musubi and onigiri, so when I saw a spot dedicated to this deliciousness you better believe I made a point to go there! I ran even faster when StaciLei, Yelp Hawaii's amazing Community Manager, told me it's a must and gave me her list of greatest hits and must not miss items as a guide! Now I've had a lot of these in my life, and I must say, Iyasume are easily the best. See musubi and onigiri have humble origins as a quickly made homespun snack or on the go lunch, and when you spot them in the convenience environment they're often a giant ball of rice with a tinge of protein or seasoning for flavor. At Iyasume, these are culinary adventures, stacked with ingredients, all in handheld form, and the variety they offer is IMPRESSIVE! Of course musubi starts with the classic, SPAM. I had to order the kimchi + spam, shiso + spam, and unagi + tamago + spam, all of which were awesome (even the next day!). Onigiri here are actually layered with ingredients, so you get them in every bite, unlike the convenience store versions! They have a HUGE menu, and I went with spicy mentaiko and salmon, spicy mentaiko and ikura, ikura and salmon, and tuna mayo curry, all of which were great. I LOVE that they make these to order. You can see the line in the back hard at work, and they're very fast. You're sure to encounter a line when you arrive, but don't be scared, it moves quickly. I only had to wait about 5 minutes for mine to come up! Well worth it. Reasonably priced. Very filling. A taste of Hawaii and Japan in one place that'll have everyone smiling!

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    $$

    I loved it here. Truly a hole in the wall. Parking is really tough so street parking is usually…read moregonna be the norm unless you get lucky in their tiny shared parking lot. The guava bar was delicious and flavorful and just crumbles in your mouth! Definitely one of the better guava bars I've tried. Love how crumbly it is. The salmon belly was delicious OMFG. It looks so simple and straightforward but that sht is so flavorful. It is crispy and yet soft on the inside. The salmon belly is cut into bite-sized pieces so I didn't have to worry about using a knife to cut it. I usually try salmon belly where it is usually seasoned lightly to bring out the natural flavor of the salmon, but Guava Smoked's salmon belly is just grilled in a way that makes the salmon sweet/crispy and still get traces of the salmon taste as well. It's definitely not your traditional Japanese-style way of cooking salmon belly but really just their own. I'd go back and get this again. Another thing too. I'd get this with beer. This would hit very hard with alcohol but because I don't drink I need a kombucha. The grilled salmon belly would go perfect with it. Cheers! Uncle was very helpful and kind when serving and if you dine-in he brings it to your table.

    Ordered the loco moco spicy and my husband ordered the mixed plate both with kimchi. Gravy wasn't…read morewhat I expected... country gravy as a loco moco just isn't my style. The patty its self was okay. Nothing super special. Unfortunately no spiciness in this dish. And the kimchi was more on the sweet side rather than the fermented spicy. Tried to add their chili pepper water but again I was left without the fiery kick in my mouth. Definitely has a strong garlicky taste though. Service is quick. But came on a Monday before dinner time so it was slow. Lots of seating and open air flow. Direct parking is limited but street parking is available.

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    Guava Smoked
    Smoked Pork Smoked Loco Moco
    Smoked Pork Smoked Loco Moco
    Kalbi and Spicy Pork Combo

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    Kalbi and Spicy Pork Combo
    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

    3.9
    (294 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    3.5 stars We wanted…read moreto try authentic Hawaiian food and came across this spot. The owner was very friendly and took the time to recommend dishes for us, including the laulau and lechon kawali. We also ordered the BBQ short ribs. Overall, it was a good experience trying Hawaiian food, but it's just not really our type of cuisine. The laulau was quite dry, and the preparation felt more like meat that had been boiled or cooked in liquid, which isn't something I usually enjoy. The lechon kawali had a crispy pork belly texture, topped with something similar to a salsa, but it didn't suit our taste either. Unfortunately, the cabbage served with it also had some black spots, which was off-putting. The BBQ short ribs were the highlight of the meal and the dish we enjoyed the most. We appreciate the experience and the hospitality, but the flavors just didn't quite match our personal preferences.

    1. The hours posted on Yelp was incorrect. They open from 12:00 pm…read more A group of us ordered food the night before for pickup at 12:30pm, on Thursday. Then someone wanted to change from rice to poi. I tried many times and no one answered. Their voice mailbox was full. We e ended going there to make the change. He gentleman looked like he was working be himself. We bads to wait almost a half hour for him to finish the order. 2. Price - the prices were higher than expected. All the plates were $26.00 and up. 3. Food - The poi was very tasty and fresh, although a bit watery. The lau lau had a lot of lean pork filling, not a lot of leaves. The long rice didn't have much chicken and was a bit watery too. We enjoyed the sweet potato. There was also lomi salmon, haupia onion and chili pepper water. 4. As mentioned before there isn't much parking. The restaurant wasn't busy when we got there. Overall the food and service was OK. The price was a bit high.

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    Menu
    Short Ribs Plate
    Short Ribs Plate
    Menu

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    Menu

    Alan Wongs Kahala - hawaiian - Updated July 2026

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