Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cafe Maharani

    3.8 (2k reviews)
    ModerateIndian, Seafood, Desserts
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Cafe Maharani Photos

    CAFE MAHARANI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Maharani

    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

    Assorted Tandoori Platter
    Emerald Zenelle P.

    Maharani never disappoints. We went two hours before closing and we were seated immediately (group of five). The ambiance is the same as always, it is well lit inside with the amazing variety of chandeliers and lamps and nicely decorated. The food is amazing, as usual. The chefs are always on top of it! The flavors, the plating (which has changed!), quantity, quality. It's a flavor that you expect and keep going back to!

    Jasmine G.

    I am pleased to share that this restaurant has made it to my Yelp folder of restaurants I can't shut up about. It is rare when you go to a place and immediately get that wow factor that you're dreaming of your next bite or your next visit or you can't wait to go again. Better yet you just want to tell a friend about it! I have been wanting to come here for about a year now, and I'm so happy we finally made it happen. Since they're only open after 5 PM, I was lucky enough to visit on my day off. I drove about 40 minutes just to try this place, and it was absolutely worth it. In fact, I'm already planning to come back next week! The samosa was DELICIOUS! I could honestly eat it every day. It was served with three sauces that paired perfectly together: a spicy sauce, a creamy avocado chutney, and a sweet mango chutney. Every bite was amazing. I almost ordered a second one but convinced myself that I didn't need it. Good thing I didn't because I was so full! Also, the rice was HUGE portion. This was definitely shareable for more than 2 people. When we arrived, we walked straight to the back to put our name on the waitlist. There wasn't really a place to sit and wait, but luckily there's a Down to Earth and a Subway nearby. We spent our time browsing aisle by aisle through Down to Earth while waiting. After about an hour, we came back and were told we were next. They probably forgot to call us after seating a couple of people waiting at the door, but honestly, it wasn't a big deal. The restaurant itself is small, but the ambiance makes up for it. The first thing that caught my attention was the beautiful ceiling. It immediately transported me somewhere else and added to the overall experience. We were seated about 30 minutes before closing, and our server was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. She gave me her personal recommendation, and although I originally wanted the butter chicken, I decided to order her favorite instead. I'm glad I did! One of the biggest reasons I wanted to visit was because of their famous giant naan. When they brought it out, I was amazed. Everyone in the restaurant was commenting on how incredible it looked. It definitely lived up to the hype. My friend and I shared the dinner for two along with the giant naan, and it was so much food that I couldn't finish it all. I brought half of my meal home for my partner, and he loved it too. Because the space is small, everyone feels close together, and it created a surprisingly welcoming atmosphere. The tables around us were chatting about the food, complimenting the service, and talking about coming back. It felt like everyone was sharing in the experience together. The service was fantastic from start to finish. The server answered all of our questions, made great recommendations, and helped make the meal memorable. I also asked if they take reservations, and they told me it's first come, first served. Parking was easy. I parked at Longs Drugs right in front, and there is a convenient pedestrian walkway that connects the surrounding businesses, making the wait much more bearable. From the amazing samosas and giant naan to the warm service and unique atmosphere, this place absolutely lived up to the hype. After waiting a year to try it, I can confidently say it was worth every minute of the drive and every minute of the wait.

    Palak paneer and samosa
    Sydni K.

    I had my parents pick up an online order for me from here, and they said the workers were slow and unprofessional. They could see my order on the counter but did not grab it for them or acknowledge them. I order the palak paneer and samosa. Palak paneer has become one of my favorite Indian dishes, but this one was extremely salty. I am usually able to eat it plain, but this definitely needed rice or naan. The samosa was crispy, but the seasonings were different than what I am used to. A lot of people have said this is their favorite place for Indian food in Hawaii, but that was not the case for me. I would definitely like to give it a second try another day.

    Naan, butter chicken, and palak paneer
    Stephanie V.

    I always enjoy taking out-of-town visitors who like Indian food to this restaurant. Everything on the menu is good. I haven't tried a single thing that I haven't liked. Honestly, though, I most often get butter chicken because it's my favorite. I think the sauce is on the sweeter side and has lots of butter and cream. It's definitely restaurant-style butter chicken and really not spicy at all. It has so much sauce and you can put your naan bread in the sauce and get it all. It's so good. Palak paneer is also delicious, as is the chicken coconut korma and the chicken vindaloo. The fresh hot naan is excellent for sopping up sauce and you can get buttered naan as well as garlic or stuffed for an upcharge. If you are dining with multiple people, I highly recommend the set dinners where you get an appetizer platter, a choice of entrees, rice, and naan for a set price. For three people, our meal was a base price of $109.99 and you get a huge appetizer platter along with plenty of rice, giant naan, and the entrees, which are a great size portion. Plenty left over for lunch the next day! Service can be a little slow, as this place gets busy and there's not that many servers, but honestly, I've hardly ever been in a good Indian restaurant that wasn't a bit slow. If you're in a hurry, try to go as early as possible as there can be lines later on in the night. Excellent if you are looking for good restaurant-style, not too spicy Indian food with a variety of choices at a reasonable price.

    Huge Garlic Naan
    Lauree T.

    When I first entered, it was like a whole new world! This place was beautifully decorated and the vibe was comforting. The food was amazing too, the garlic naan was my favorite. Standing up at 17, me and my friend devoured this. We got the garlic naan and it was amazing, highly recommend. The butter chicken was also flavorful and he sauce was rich. I personally don't like chicken as much but this was very nice.

    Environment, inside dining
    Cynthia J.

    This was such a great! experience. This location is a first come, first serve, "once all ingredients are used we close" location. Seating is limited but they do accept reservations. The portions are very large and each entree is enough to share. In my personal opinion, two entree choices are enough for a family of 4! The service was fantastic and extremely pleasant to be around. They were very helpful when trying to decide on dishes and drinks. They were kind and it seemed that everyone who was available was helping out! The dining space is very fun, with a colorful interior and lively atmosphere. Everyone is close together due to the small space, but that just makes it feel like a community' or family event.

    Fish Korma, Butter Chicken, & Saffron Rice.
    Crystal K.

    Oh man! I can't believe it's taken my husband and I so long to come here! In only a couple short months, we've come twice! We've heard sooo many amazing things about Cafe Maharani, and I'm so glad we finally got here. We came once for our anniversary, ordered the dinner for 2, and left with so much leftovers. The next time, we cane for dinner with our 2 kids and my mother in law after a UH Baseball game. That time, we ordered the dinner for 3, and still left with lots of leftovers. The prices are great for the amount of food, and thebservice is friendly and quick. My favorite dish we've tried is the coconut fish karma! Yuuuummm! It's a dated, but still beautiful restaurant. The beautiful lights hanging from ceiling are definitely a highlight! It's a small spot, so come early if you want to be sat quickly.

    Saffron rice, Chicken Tikka Masala, two other ones I don't remember (photo taken last year)
    Leilei L.

    My family always comes here for special occasions. Very delicious, fresh food that you wont be disappointed by. I love ordering the mango lassi, which is yogurty and can fill you up pretty quickly, or the chai drinks too. The service is also good and the beautiful decorations and lights definitely enhance the experience. The humongous naan you see in a photo posted on the restaurant's front door is a good option for larger groups though can be quite crispy which is good depending on your preference. I will always recommend this to my friends, we love coming here. Also if you're thinking about going which you should by now.. definitely get the veggie samosas and garlic naan... mm mm mm

    Chantal C.

    Naan nomnom . Street parking or I highly rec the Down to Earth parking garage next door. Follow the signs (: My first time dining in -- there's a reason you always see a line of ppl waiting outside! Delicious, richly seasoned Indian cuisine, surrounded by a cozy but vibrant interior, and massive fresh naan made for a wonderful evening. What we shared btwn 3 ppl: - Garlic cheese naan - Tandoori party platter - Chicken masala curry - Saag (i forget what meat) Doesn't look or sound like much but we ate till full n had plenty of left overs to split amongst us and take home. Also, you probably need to request for food to be spicy if you're looking for that extra kick. Removed a star bc we became very skeptical of the seating process ....ppl who arrived AFTER us were called and seated BEFORE us despite our party name clearly next on the waitlist... we waited over an hour for a table...also, use the bathroom next door if you can. Despite all That and the rainy weather - it gave my visiting friend and I the chance to talk story and catch up outside. Plus, enjoying the good food - Finally - rlly lifted our spirits. I'll forever be a huge fan of their colorful light fixtures but will stick to take out from now on. cheers

    Samosa and Lassi
    Junko W.

    I visited for the first time in six years. The interior and decor haven't changed and are still very lovely. We arrived around 7:00 p.m. and were seated within about 10 minutes. The customer service was excellent. The lassi, which I hadn't had in a long time, was not overly sweet and was absolutely delicious. The food was just as good as I remembered, and the prices were reasonable for the quality. This time, I'm giving it 5 stars.

    Vegetarian samosas
    Vivian L.

    I haven't visited Maharani since my previous review. My friends wanted to try this place and I wanted to give this place another try. We arrived when they opened and were able to get a table immediately. We got the dinner for 2. Eggplant pakora: The eggplant was crispy with a light crispy batter. It came with 3 sauces to dip in. I like the one with the yogurt. It has a mild and tartness taste. Yellow rice: The rice was very salty. We couldn't finish the rice since it was pretty much salt after salt taste. Chicken Masala: The chicken masala was good. It was pretty much only chicken with curry sauce. No additional ingredients like vegetables. Fish Masala: This curry has a stronger tomato taste. It has some vegetables in it which helps balance out the meal. The fish were good. It was basa fish which was soft and flaky with no bone. Plain Naan: The naan was huge. It was fluffy, light and goes great with the curry sauce. Super good. Garlic cheese naan: The naan was stuffed with cheese. It has the ultimate cheese pull. The whole naan itself was like a cheese pizza. Still very good and goes great with the curry. Sweet lassi: Absolutely love this drink. Good thick milky yogurt with a good tart flavor. It wasn't overly sweet. The drink was huge and it was quite filling. Would definitely love to order this drink as a to-go once in a while. Overall, well better than my first experience. Service was good. Our waitress was sweet and patient. The foods were good but the flavor wasn't in depth as authentic Indian flavors and spices. The portion was very generation. There were 3 of us and the dinner for 2 was very filling for all of us. There were quite a few leftovers that the 3 of us were able to split and share.

    Mango lassi
    Ashwet K.

    The restaurant space is very limited, which isn't an issue. But however big or small, just keep it clean. The glass on the table was sticky. They had windows open and AC turned off. Which might be ok on a good weather day, But it was hot and humid, with none to less breezy. We ordered veg jalfrezi, which we very well know how it's made, but this one was no where near to being authentic. Lots of assorted vegetables and no gravy. Very dry. Chicken Masala curry was alright, not the best. Be careful with ordering garlic naan. They are a good size. We had a lot of naan left. It's a good size naan. They don't cut it for you. So be ready to carve out quarters or halves as you prefer. Mango lassi had a ton of ice, which is atypical of lassi recipes. It got diluted and watery real quick I will not recommend this place. Spice Up and Tadka are by far the best Indian restaurants in Waikiki

    Vegetarian Samosa
    Lyle S.

    We picked up dinner from Café Maharani and our meal was great. We got the Vegetable Samosa, Saffron Rice, Lamb Saag, Butter Chicken, Garlic Naan, and Butter naan. Everything tasted great and the food held up well for takeout. We ordered through Uber Eats, but there wasn't a way to order the Naan by itself, so we just called and they were able to just add it to our order, and we paid for it there. Accessibility There is a small parking lot behind the restaurant, but that seems to get filled up quickly. There is also street parking available in the front. Food Vegetable Naan - It had great flavor and the outside stayed crispy after bringing it home. It came with two sauces that both tasted great. Saffron Rice - Fluffy and aromatic. It went well with both dishes we got. Butter Chicken - Very flavorful and a nice amount of spice. Lamb Saag - The lamb was nice and tender and went well in this sauce. Garlic Naan and Regular Naan - Both as were expected and went well with the sauces from both dishes. Overall, we love the food here and will definitely go back!

    See all

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ben S.
    0
    11
    3

    3 months ago

    Food is So Good! Made to Order so do Be Kind and Patience tho. Best to Order ahead but if they're slammed then still need your Patience.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Grey M.
    6
    104
    59

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark C.
    51
    33
    11

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tei L.
    35
    31
    37

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ken M.
    1
    22
    5

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Judy M.
    159
    61
    35

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Naiele B.
    96
    37
    56

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lina C.
    215
    585
    4866

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B B.
    0
    11
    17

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lolo A.
    16
    284
    10894

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Selena V.
    145
    26
    41

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jackie L.
    81
    116
    1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 51

    Cafe Maharani Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe Maharani

    Do they accept take out orders?

    Yes, you can call in an order

    Does this restaurant take reservations?

    No - Cafe Maharani does not take reservations- best to get there when it opens - usually many people are waiting outside

    Can the curries be made vegan (e.g., with tofu instead of paneer... and using coconut milk instead of cow milk)?

    Yes

    When will the full menu be avaliable again? Unfortunately, my favorite dishes are not on the Covid-19 menu :(

    Full menu is available

    Long shot, but are there takeout options during the stay-at-home orders?

    Yes! We've always ordered take-out or delivery (through GrubHub, Door Dash or Bite Squad) because the place is so small it can be hard to get a table! We just got some last week! Yum!

    If someone in my family has nut allergies, can that be accommodated?

    Some of the sauces have nuts in them, so be sure to ask about it if you go.

    Do they take reservations?

    No.

    Do you have parking space?

    Yea, but it's not big. I wanna say 6 cars at most.

    Do they do catering? Thanks Jocya for answering. But it wont deter me from trying your food :) the…

    We are not cartering at this moment

    Is this place BYOB?

    Yes, they charge $1.50/pp.

    Are there any vegan options here?

    Yes, it's very easy to be vegan when it comes to Indian food. Just avoid all of the vegetarian options that have cream in them. The rice and naan are without animal products and then foods like the cauliflower dish, garbanzo beans, etcetera are all… 

    To the cook: Do you use pre-made spice packets for any dishes? Maybe the vindaloo? Or the Kashmiri chicken?

    All of our dishes are freshly made everyday and we use fresh spices. Indian spices like chili powder, tumaric powder, cumin and coriander powder are pre made and we use those spices like everybody else.

    Is there ANY MSG in their food?

    Steve, Indian cuisine doesn't use MSG in any of their cooking. The taste you get is purely due to spices.

    View All 14 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Indian 5,160 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Herringbone Waikiki - Washington's Barron Point (HH Three buck shuck)

    Herringbone Waikiki

    4.1(1.4k reviews)
    1.0 miWaikiki
    $$$

    Herringbone Waikiki easily became one of our new favorite restaurants in Waikiki! We were promptly…read moreseated right at our reservation time, which was such a great start to the experience. Our server was incredibly sweet, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, making it easy to choose what to order. Everything we had was absolutely delicious, and every dish was cooked to perfection. We genuinely had zero complaints from start to finish! The food, service, and overall atmosphere made for such a great dining experience. What I love most is that it feels like a more elevated restaurant without being overly priced. Everything was completely worth it, and we'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend giving Herringbone Waikiki a try!

    I always love to pop into Herringbone for Happy Hour. I'm a sucker for oysters and martinis - who…read morecould blame me?! Plus this place is always a nice respite from the rest of Waikiki. And a really pretty room. This visit I was accompanied by my oyster loving friend Uli so 2 dozen oyster got us going. They were plump and creamy if not super big and of course fresh and briny! YUM! We also ordered the Brussels sprouts (delish), the ahi tacos (subtle and sublime) and we each had a baha taco (meaty and cones with a little peppery kick). The bar tender was sweet and attentive. Of course I shall return.

    Photos
    Herringbone Waikiki - Dining area behind host podium

    Dining area behind host podium

    Herringbone Waikiki - Steak & Eggs

    Steak & Eggs

    Herringbone Waikiki - 2025.03.17. Herringbone Waikiki, Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii

    See all

    2025.03.17. Herringbone Waikiki, Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii

    Royal Lobster

    Royal Lobster

    4.7(998 reviews)
    0.9 miWaikiki
    $$$
    Free parking
    Locally owned & operated

    This restaurant is located inside the mall, where maguro brothers and nana greens are. Excellent…read morelocation and highly recommend walking there if you are staying close by the Kalākaua Ave. There are very limited dining area so we decided to order to go. We were also able to order online and the process was seamless. We have ordered the most expensive lobster roll, which I believe has 1/2 pounds of lobster. The lobster itself was super fresh and the texture is great. You can taste the freshness from the food and you know that the lobster is not previously frozen. Although the price is close to $80 for one lobster roll, the portion is huge. It can easily feed 2 adults. We enjoyed our experience overall but will opt for the smaller option next time haha

    Note: The prices listed are from May 23, 2026. The prices appear to fluctuate based on market…read moreprice. All rolls are served with following sides: crinkle cut potato chips, melted butter, house coleslaw, garlic mayo, lemon wedge, and Old Bay seasoning. The meat is served chilled in the bun. They have 4 "sizes" that they serve on a toasted brioche bun (~6 inch bun): - The Regular (3.5 oz)**: $36.99 - The Popular (5 oz)**: $49.99 - The Big One (7 oz)**: $62.99 - The Maine Event (1/2 lb (8 oz)): $74.99 **You can also ask for extra 1.5 oz lobster meat to this size for $13.99. You can also buy just the cooked lobster meat: 1/2 lb (8 oz) for $75.00 They have can drinks such as sodas (including Hawaiian sodas) and beer. The roll was actually quite tasty! I was able to experiment with different flavors with the Old Bay seasoning, garlic mayo, lemon, and butter. The garlic mayo was surprisingly good with the lobster. You can also throw the Old Bay seasoning on the chips if you're in the mood. The price is pretty steep which was my mistake. I don't know what I was expecting when ordering lobster in Waikiki. The lady at the cash register was less than pleasant and helpful so it makes spending that money feel a little more painful. If you can afford it and are really craving a lobster roll, this should satiate you. I didn't feel like I needed more to eat after finishing my meal. Location: The store is located in the Royal Hawaiian shopping center. You have to take a staircase from the first floor to a lower floor to get to it. You may need to ask around for directions. The restaurant is super small. Maybe two or 3 small tables that can fit no more than 6-8 people.

    Photos
    Royal Lobster - 7oz Full of 100% Fresh Lobster Meat!

    7oz Full of 100% Fresh Lobster Meat!

    Royal Lobster - Winter 2026 Limited Ordering

    Winter 2026 Limited Ordering

    Royal Lobster - New Market Price November 2025

    See all

    New Market Price November 2025

    Sato Seafood - Yuzu miso ahi tuna

    Sato Seafood

    4.6(524 reviews)
    0.9 miWaikiki
    $$

    Wow! Run, not walk, to this poke place!!! Don't let the look fool you, the food is amazing. Order…read moremacadamia aburi salmon it's so good! Things to know: no place to sit (one outside table with 3 chairs is all they have); no cash, card only; the fish is flown fresh from Japan. Now I don't know if all fish is actually from Japan and how true it is, but I did see some styrofoam shipping containers with US agriculture and US customs tape so I believe it. We ordered the macadamia aburi salmon which was a top tier combination of torched salmon, macadamia and a delicious sauce, and yuzu miso poke with ahi which had tuna so fresh it was just melting in your mouth. I also thought it was priced pretty reasonably compared to other poke places I tried in Waikiki, and portions were not huge but decent with lots of fish. I wish I had discovered this place a bit earlier in my trip because I would 100% come back for more.

    I'm about a week late on this review. We visited this poke takeout spot in Honolulu, with high…read morehopes from a friend's recommendation. Here's how it went. Food (3.5 stars) + The poke was undeniably fresh--tuna and salmon. My daughter likes salmon and she liked it although I know ahi is the way to go. ~ Spicy Sato had a nice kick but didn't match the photo that looked more creamy and flavorful. - However, the shoyu sauce seasoning was overpowering, masking the fish's natural flavor. - Salmon hand roll was scarfed down by my 11yo daughter in like 2 bites for $8 - Portion was on the smaller side for the price (around $17). I expected more value. Service/Ambiance (3 stars) + Food came out quickly, but don't forget to bring your own water--they only sell drinks. ~ It's a takeout place with only outdoor seating. - Seating was tight, no indoor option, and we had to rearrange seats to accommodate our group of four. Overall, Sato has fresh poke, but the seasoning needs balance. I hate to say this but Don Quixote poke from their cold aisle was better.

    Photos
    Sato Seafood
    Sato Seafood - Macadamia Aburi Salmon

    Macadamia Aburi Salmon

    Sato Seafood - Macadamia Aburi Salmon

    See all

    Macadamia Aburi Salmon

    Kirin Restaurant - Black Bean Sauce Dungeness Crab

    Kirin Restaurant

    4.2(1k reviews)
    1.1 miWaikiki
    $$$
    Fine dining
    Takes reservations

    The moment I stepped in, Kirin Chinese Restaurant felt like a celebration of Chinese cuisine in…read moreHawaii. It's easily the best Chinese food I've had on the islands, and the experience left me impressed from start to finish. The dishes were consistently delicious, with vibrant flavors, quality ingredients, and thoughtful preparation. Each bite showcased balance and artistry typical of standout Chinese dining. Star dishes stood out for their aromatic profiles and generous portions. A few favorites offered comfort with a refined touch, elevating familiar favorites to something memorable. The menu seems well-curated to deliver both classic staples and chef-driven specials. Attentive, friendly, and efficient without hovering. The staff anticipated needs, explained menu options with enthusiasm. The timing between courses was spot-on, keeping the meal flowing smoothly. The staff's knowledge about each dish enhanced the overall dining experience. The dining room was inviting, comfortable, and suitable for both casual dinners and special occasions. Given the quality and portion sizes, the value felt very fair for Hawaii's dining scene. Kirin stands out as a top-tier Chinese restaurant in Hawaii, delivering extraordinary food and warm, professional service. If you're craving authentic flavors executed with care and flair, this is a must-visit.

    My husband and I came to Waikīkī and made the cardinal mistake of not making dinner reservations…read moreanywhere. We went out to have dinner and realized everywhere had an incredibly long wait time. We remembered passing Kirin and the menu looked good so I called to ask if they had a long wait. I was happy to hear there was no wait so we walked over and were immediately sat at a table. We eat Chinese food a lot and was happy to be back in a familiar environment. Our waitress was very kind and funny and the food was very tasty! The only issue we had is we felt there could have been a bit more chicken in the sweet and sour chicken. We ordered the 6-piece dim sum plate, hot tea, BBQ fried rice, and the sweet and sour chicken. Had we had known about the chicken we would have ordered a bit more food because we left a tad hungry still. We would still recommend this place!

    Photos
    Kirin Restaurant - Ginger/Green Onion Lobster

    Ginger/Green Onion Lobster

    Kirin Restaurant - Honey Walnut Shrimp

    Honey Walnut Shrimp

    Kirin Restaurant - (Photo/Video by Ins@foodie.skye)

    See all

    (Photo/Video by Ins@foodie.skye)

    Cafe Maharani - indpak - Updated September 2026

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