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    Assaggio Bistro

    3.4 (428 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Salad, Seafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM

    Assaggio Bistro Photos

    Business Info

    ASSAGGIO BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Assaggio Bistro

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    Milton K.

    Assaggio Bistro (Kahala) *** OK *** (3 of 5) Food: *** (3/5) Value: *** (3/5) Menu: **** (4/5) large selection Ambiance: **** (4/5) Service: **** (4/5) Parking: ***** (5/5) if available Prior to eating Italian food in Italy, New York, & Boston, I thought the food at Assaggio Bistro was very good. However, after eating at restaurants in these cities & Italy, I now consider their Italian food just OK. You'll never see an Italian from Italy eating there. You can find more authentic Italian food at La Cucina, Cino and Arancino. Also, they do not make their own fresh pasta or ravioli, there are no crab or lobster dishes and they don't serve any dishes with truffles. They do have a large selection of entrees and their dishes are local style (with pasta, rice or veggies). My nephews like Assaggio because their portion size is larger. I find most of the dishes lacks taste. In addition, they do not put enough salt. RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Fried Calamari Legs = A Crispy, fried perfectly and tasty aïoli sauce. Fresh Clams Casino = A Tasty & the broth is good. Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo add Mushrooms and Spinach = B The Alfredo sauce is just ok, but good with the shrimp, mushroom and spinach it enhances the taste. Chicken Anchovy Olio = B They use chicken thighs, which I prefer, and it comes with lots of garlic and anchovies. Shrimp Creamy Pesto = C Looks good but lacks taste Calamari or Shrimp Scampi = C It lacked taste. They do not fry the garlic till golden, where the flavor becomes more enhanced. Veal Alla Marsala = C The veal is tender, but the dish lacks taste. The dish is pricey for portion. Chicken Alla Saltimbocca Romana = C The ingredients are fine, but the sauce lacks taste. Osso Bucco = C The meat is tender, but the sauce is just ok. The portion was a good size. New York Steak = C Sometimes the steak is chewy, the mushroom onion sauce is just ok, but it is pricey. My brother-in-law says you are better off buying a ribeye steak from Costco and grilling it at home. Shrimp Picante = C This preparation of shrimp is different (breaded) and I am not sure if it is Italian. Lol! Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/assaggio-bistro-honolulu Website: https://assaggiobistro.com/ If you would like to see the complete video, find me at: OahuRestaurantReviews Yelp only allows a 30 second video and they limit the number of pictures. DISH RATINGS KEY: A = Really Good - one of the best B = Good - would order again C = ok - similar, nothing special D = Not very good - wouldn't order F = Terrible - avoid

    Chicken saltimbocca
    Marilyn B.

    Free parking and awesome staff! They were super friendly and took care of us, We had a party of 3. Forgot to take a picture of the veal :( Delicious food - we got the Caesar salad and a couple of entrees and desserts. Great atmosphere for a big group or smaller gathering. Enjoy!!

    Yhenne M.

    Great service food is great and very accessible to my parents who are in their wchairs and its not loud too.

    Michelle D.

    My coworker's been craving Italian lately and offered to treat me to lunch, so I didn't want to pick anything that'd break her bank. When she asked where I wanted to go, I said Assaggio sounded good--and she made a reservation at the Kahala location. We were both running late because of meetings, but I called ahead and they were super chill about it. Told us, "Just come when you can." Love this place already. Tbh, I thought it might be a little bougie (Kahala vibes), but the service was great--friendly, not pretentious at all. We started with calamari and shrimp cocktail--solid choices. Couldn't have drinks since we were still working (unfortunately). She ordered the scallop pasta, and the second I saw veal on the menu, I was locked in. Had to go for it. Cleaned the whole plate--either it was amazing, or I was just really hungry. Probably both.

    Dessert menu
    Lyn L.

    Another excellent dinner! Really! The scallop salad is now $31 but still really good. Most pasta dishes are around $26 and desserts are under $10. It's a busy night and they did their best taking care of us. Tonight we had the tartufo for dessert. It's ice cream enrobed with a chocolate skin. Very good. I really think you still get good value here. We will be back!

    Francis A.

    Food and service were good as always! The ambience is great and look forward to going back soon!

    Lasagna
    Cynthia I.

    Recommendation: get here before 6:30. It's far busier at 7. Chicken anchovy olio: my son loved this dish. Chicken was crispy. Anchovy garlic sauté was addictive. Highly recommend! Fresh clam scampi: I get this every time. Clams are definitely fresh, fat and juicy. In NY Italian pizza places leave Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and parm on the table to add flavor to pizza or pasta dishes. I bring my own shakers to add to my clam pasta dishes when I get Italian here because they don't do that here. I bring my own pecorino romano too. My son said he's going to order my dish next time we eat here. Lasagna: my husband's favorite Italian dish. Assaggio's lasagna is not his favorite but he considers their's to be above average. His favorite was at Taormina but they stopped making it. Lychee sorbet: made with fresh lychee fruit! Only $5. Not too sweet. I only had a bite of my son's. I would recommend this dessert and will order my own next time.

    Veal parm with piccata sauce
    Kanani C.

    I love pasta! But I may love Assagio's house salad with their delish pickled veges even more. Just don't inhale while taking a bite. Or perhaps their fresh bread with butter, dipped in some parm while waiting for my food. Yummy! This time, we did take out right before they closed. Ordered 2 entrees and an extra bread with extra cheese. Picked up exactly when order was promised. The manager was so kind and provided great service. Other staff even stopped to ask if we've been helped, which was so refreshing, as we've been to so many restaurants where staff walk right past without any acknowledgment. Food was tasty as expected. If i had to make any constructive feedback: -- price seems to be a little steep (which is only my opinion) . $100 for pasta dinner for 2. Won't stop me from enjoying, just can't go as often as I'd like. -- pasta was little too oily/buttery (I love sauce, but perhaps there's a way to have sauce without it tasting "greasy")

    Pesto something pasta I think. I forgot.
    Calvin B.

    Food was delicious. Service was ok. Place almost seemed like I was having dinner at a 5 star restaurant. Nice dim lights and some basic paintings on the walls. For the free ice cream when you scan the QR code, you will only get one per table. Imagine coming in a group of 10, and telling the host to separate us just for the sake of a free scoop of ice cream? Lol

    Chicken & Shrimp Pesto 7/10
    Meleana L.

    Dinned in the private room to celebrate our graduate! Room was perfect to accommodate our small 'Ohana get together. Service started off great, but we had to ask for water refills a lot. Food was flavorful. Calamari was good, cooked with the right crunch and tenderness. Got the NY steak and Chicken/shrimp pesto. Presentation could be better. The NY should also offer at least some type of green vegetable like broccoli or zucchini.

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    5 months ago

    Pasta does not have much taste. Items are way overpriced for what you get. Not the same assaggios as before.

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    Lasagna was awesome. A bit pricy, but a solid dish. Staff is always friendly and helpful.

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    Page 1 of 11

    Assaggio Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Assaggio Bistro

    Any vegan choice on the menu?

    Is this location same ownership as other locations?

    Each location has a different owner but the owners are all related to each other. It's a family kind of thing. 😇

    Does Assagio Bistro have the same menu as all the Assasgio restaurants?

    I've been to them all, and I believe they have the same menu, or almost the same. Nevertheless, the quality of food, and the excellent service at the Waialae Kahala Bistro is the best. In my opinion.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Ali’i Fish Market - Yuzu Shisho fresh ahi poke (one of my fave's) *11/22/25

    Ali’i Fish Market

    4.8(274 reviews)
    2.9 miMo'ili'ili
    $$

    Ali'i Fish Market is my absolute favorite poke place, which is high praise coming from anyone born…read moreand raised in Hawai'i. What stands out to me is their variety of unique flavors - even your basic shoyu or spicy ahi poke has a more creative and/or elevated version here! The Yuzu Shiso Ahi poke is my single favorite poke I've ever tried from anywhere; this combination is absolutely genius and feels tailor-made for me, as someone who loves these two flavors! They've also recently added a Kaffir Lemongrass Ahi poke that I love as well - you get exactly what the name suggests, which is bright, fresh, and full of flavor. The fish itself is always great quality; the flavor is always fresh despite the texture sometimes (rarely) having some tough parts. The prices are reasonable too, though I usually prefer ordering 1/2 or 1/4 pound of poke along with another side dish instead of a poke bowl. They have great sides like the Fish Patty Musubi or Inari Sushi, but I really hope they bring back the Grilled Musubi soon!!! Although the shop itself is very small and can get crowded quickly, the staff are always super friendly and efficient. As you can probably tell, I have nothing but love for Ali'i and would recommend them for any fan of poke!

    These little shops always have the best poke. Lots of good…read moreand fresh flavors. We also added the smoked kalbi. I was underwhelmed with the service. Felt unwelcoming and like we were annoying her by being there. The poke was good, the kalbi was disappointing. It was small and flavor was kind of bland. There is a little bit of indoor seating if you can get it.

    Photos
    Ali’i Fish Market - Ordering  Counter

    Ordering Counter

    Ali’i Fish Market - Ahi patties

    Ahi patties

    Ali’i Fish Market - Inari bombs

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    Inari bombs

    Kapa Hale - Join us for Brunch for a staple here in the islands: Loco Moco, Parker Ranch Beef, Fried Egg, Brown Gravy, Rice

    Kapa Hale

    4.3(661 reviews)
    0.3 miKahala
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Locally sourced ingredients

    Kapa Hale is a local gem, offering creative dishes in the HRC (Hawaiian Regional Cuisine)…read moretradition. Every single dish we recently sampled turned out to be exceptional. We ordered: Appetizers: Naan Ya Business (A) - very soft and pillowy, accompanied by a superb tikka masala curry Vegetables: Eggplant (A) - very creative eggplant tempura Happy Hour Specials: Garlic Noodle (A) - great flavor Dumplings (A+) - incredibly flavorful and creative Soy Short Rib (A+) - exquisitely tender and juicy. Our favorite dish! Mains: Pork Chop (A) - loved these tamarind pork chops served on a bed of orzo Our server, Ethan, provided us with top-notch service. Before tipping, we paid $130 for a two-person meal (no alcohol, no dessert, only water, 6 dishes). Kapa Hale dazzled us with their culinary inventiveness and bold flavors. We can't wait to try some of their other delicacies!

    We were really excited to try this given the really great reviews but I'm starting to lose some…read moreconfidence on yelp Naan was too salty Chips were too oily Grass fed beef is good. Nice and tender But overall burger was nothing great. Lacked some sauce Kfc chicken and waffles were okay Chicken wasn't crispy fried. Soggy. Service is good tho

    Photos
    Kapa Hale - You Make My Heart Beet

    You Make My Heart Beet

    Kapa Hale - This exquisite dish is titled Let's Tako 'Bout It. It's grilled Spanish octopus, black garlic Char Siu, Lomilomi, and pickled turnip

    This exquisite dish is titled Let's Tako 'Bout It. It's grilled Spanish octopus, black garlic Char Siu, Lomilomi, and pickled turnip

    Kapa Hale - Carpaccio

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    Carpaccio

    et al. - Crispy Soft-Shell Crab Benedict, avocado, Kamuela tomato, arugula, béarnaise, taro muffin, 'ulu rosti | 22

    et al.

    4.1(810 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Review 44 ( 2026 )…read more My birthday week. We celebrated at et al. Watermelon and beets with goat cheese, this appetizer was delicious, very rich and creamy goat cheese and a little sourness beets own natural flavor and juicy watermelon, mixed all flavors together. Very talented very interesting menu. Hamakua mushroom risotto was my favorite. Lots of mushrooms, served very hot, freshly made. Server brought me " Chocolate gelato " for my birthday desert We were rushing today, didn't have plenty time to stay. We just rushed eat-and-go, but their service and atmosphere were wonderful. Thank you so much. We will be back again.

    Had a nice gift card, so was delighted to try et al., conveniently located across the highway from…read moreKahala Mall. I really like the premise of this family-friendly restaurant, which spotlights fresh, local ingredients, at a mid-range price point. et al. has a lot of good things going for it, The good: 1. Well-lighted, warm-hued interior with a nice, contemporary vibe. The high ceilings, clean lines, and rounded storage vaults reminded me of Italy. Cute "local" Hawai`i touches: palaka-inspired banquette upholstery, Hawaiian-quilt design screening on the tiled floor. -More veggie-forward than a lot of places: always good to find places that don't mask their greens with heavy sauces and treat vegetable preparation with respect. Ovo-lacto vegetarians will not starve at this place. 2. Cheerful, friendly, attentive, and efficient service. Food came out quicky. Cold things were cold; hot things hot. Water was replenished frequently. 3. Overall, we enjoyed the food! It reminded me a little of the old Mariposa at Neiman Marcus Ala Moana, in terms of menu. I appreciated the simple, clean, bright flavors that highlighted the fresh, local ingredients - no heavy-handed demi-glaces or sauces detracting from dishes. While not exceptional or innovative, et al.'s middle-of-the-road, easygoing, familiar, "safe" flavors have broad appeal, making this restaurant a smart bet for parties with non-adventurous diners. I had the catch of the day: my opah came with an addictive, zesty mojo sauce (like a spicy chimichurri, bright with garlic, cilantro, and lime), Ho tomatoes, eggplant, and garlic rice: a winner! My fellow diner had the Kahuku Golden Tomato Malfaldine: tasty, though a bit one-note, but on the other hand, they had perfectly cooked pasta and crookneck squash. 4. While we didn't take advantage of this, the restaurant shows sensitivity to those with dietary needs/preferences. It openly states on its menu that they're willing to modify menu items, making things vegan, gluten-free, dairy free, etc. 5. Easy-peasy online reservation via Open Table. And areas for improvement: 1. Garlic Bread: can't ask for a better foundational base than Chris Sy's Breadshop City loaf: first-rate crusty bread; there was robust garlic flavor, and fresh chives to further amplify savoriness. Unfortunately, my dining partner and I both thought it was over-buttered (couldn't really discern the miso in the miso butter) and overly salty from the cheese. That being said, I'm certain there would be diners that might've thought the seasoning and buttering was perfect: this may be a matter of taste. But $6 for a halved slice of bread? Really?! Ouch. 2. Menu labeling issues: -Sumida Farms Watercress Salad: despite the name, the salad had barely any watercress and mostly kale. Not lacinato kale (Italian kale) either, as advertised on the description, but curly kale. If et al. listed this menu item as kale salad with watercress and didn't specify the type of kale (or hedged by saying "seasonal kale"), it would've been fine. Fortunately, we both like kale, and this was a delicious salad that was an absolute pleasure to eat, deftly dressed with housemade Green Goddess dressing, as good as it comes, fresh kale, watercress sprigs, watermelon radish slices, diced Asian pear, and Marcona almonds: savory, sweet, crunchy. The misleading advertising is problematic. -You should let diners know via the menu description if an item is spicy. The mojo sauce on the fish was dynamite, but I'm a spice-addict, and I'd rank the heat level as medium, maybe medium-hot for most people. Diners with no/low tolerance for chiles should be warned ahead of time. 3. Might want to clean the banquette upholstery: some visible stainage. With a few refinements, I could see et al. becoming a go-to East Honolulu destination for date night, or lunch out with the girls, or a nice but not break-the-bank special dinner out with the family.

    Photos
    et al. - Bar scene is bright. Recommend high table seating next time.

    Bar scene is bright. Recommend high table seating next time.

    et al. - Summer Berry Mascarpone Bar

    Summer Berry Mascarpone Bar

    et al. - Mochi waffles were cooked perfectly.  I let my kids have my share and I only took 1 bite... I regret that for sure

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    Mochi waffles were cooked perfectly. I let my kids have my share and I only took 1 bite... I regret that for sure

    Keeaumoku Seafood - Sashimi Platter 1 lb. (Hamachi & Salmon)

    Keeaumoku Seafood

    4.4(535 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I can't tell you how much I love this place. If I can't decide where to get dinner, this is where I…read morealways end up. They have the best poke/sashimi hands down. Their fish is always fresh. They also sell Hawaiian food such as kalua pork and laulau. Their salmon belly plate was my favorite. Now, I have a new favorite. It's the hamachi kama plate $15.95. It comes with your choice of poke, kim chee, taegu and rice sprinkled with furikaki. I get the ahi wasabi with soy sauce. I didn't realize that they sold jelly fish until my friend bought me some. It's around $17 a pound. I get a quarter pound and it comes out to a little over $4. I love the crunchy texture and how they season it. It goes perfectly with the white rice. Looking from the outside, I know this place looks like a hole in the wall. Trust me, it's one of the best poke that you'll ever have.

    Real mom-and-pop hole-in-the-wall. Couldn't even tell if it was open from the outside as it's so…read morenon-descript and worn down. But the locals know, and they've been coming here for years as it has a dedicated following. Inside, two nice Filipina ladies were working the kitchen and the register. This is strictly a takeout place as there is no seating inside at all. When you walk in, there's a big refrigerated window of fresh fish assortment, poke style. Lots to choose from so I had to sample a few. Menu is large, so I won't go through all of it. But they do serve local food here to go with the fish. Ordered a sort of plate lunch with lau lau, rice and Hamachi fish. Portions a large and priced well for what you're getting. The fish was great, but I thought the lau lau was a bit dry. Kind of disappointing. What I would suggest is just sticking to the poke if you're ordering here. At any rate, a good time was had by all.

    Photos
    Keeaumoku Seafood - Lunch full of fish

    Lunch full of fish

    Keeaumoku Seafood - Salmon Belly with spicy ahi Poke Plate

    Salmon Belly with spicy ahi Poke Plate

    Keeaumoku Seafood - Salmon Belly with Double Poke Plate

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    Salmon Belly with Double Poke Plate

    Assaggio Bistro - italian - Updated August 2026

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