Very nice lunch spot that is spacious and quiet to have lunch and conversations. Food and service was excellent. Had the spring rolls, brisket bahn mi and the coconut flan. The best bahn mi I have ever tasted. Go try them out and you'll know what I mean. read more

Chao - Coconut flan. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The foods are very rich and on the smaller portions side. Excellent service. They are very busy, so be patient and enjoy your conversation with your dining partner(s). The octopus appetizer was delicious and pleasant surprise. It was tender and cooked perfectly. The sear and smoke on it was outstanding. The spring roll appetizer came with 4. It was your average spring roll with meat and veggies served on top of lettuce and some pickled daikon and carrots on the side. The crab pasta was hearty, with thick noodles. The blue crab is deep fried. The crab and roe on the of the noodles were very fresh. The oxtail stew had a lot of flavor. I just wished it wasn't so salty. I ate all the carrots in it to help with the high salt content. The oxtail was tender. Our stew came with two big pieces of oxtail. I also ordered the matcha cloud. The thick matcha on top of the coconut water made a very nice visual. Very tasty when it's mixed. The ambience was bustling and loud. It's a fun environment. Great service. Thanks Kainoa for serving us and answering all our questions! read more

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Stylish joint with absolutely banging soft shell pasta. I am still thinking about how umami and rich that sauce was. Hamachi was also amazing, just melt in your mouth goodness. Everything we tried was great and we felt very taken care of. Plenty parking outside and the restaurant is so nicely decorated, great place for an upscale dinner- make sure to bring friends so you can try more of their menu! :) read more

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What an amazing dining experience we just had. Met some friends for lunch and boy was not disappointed. Very modern aesthetic and the service was top notch. Now the food was on another level. This is not your ordinary Thai food but Thai food elevated to new heights! Ordered a couple of appetizers. The beef carpaccio with thinly sliced raw beef with raw onions Kaffir lime leaves and basil with crispy, roasted garlic, and chilies. And the calamari, which is the best calamari I have ever eaten, super tender and flavorful with some tempura, battered peppers 10/10 . The broth for the pho was very complex and so delicious with a huge piece of brisket just waiting to melt in your mouth. I ordered an onsen egg and that took it over the top! The Vietnamese coffee was another stand out, especially with salt, added to a sweet cream. Parking here can be very tight as it is a small lot shared by other businesses. If you come with a large group, I highly recommend carpooling. Another pro tip would be go after lunch service around 1:30pm the restaurant crowd thins out a bit and parking becomes more abundant. read more

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Highly recommend Chao for elevated Vietnamese comfort food. It shares the same parking lot as Nuuanu Starbucks and O'Reilys. The interior is modern with deep blue hues with accent walls and gold fixtures. I loved everything we tried. Started off with a cloud matcha drink which used coconut water as a base. Very refreshing. The calamari appetizer was light, crisp, and deliciously paired with a slightly sweet dipping sauce. The soft shell crab pasta had chewy noodles tossed in a creamy sauce. I ate the whole soft shell crab, legs and all, it was that tender. But the high light and truly unforgettable dish was the roast pork bahn mi. Large pieces of pork with the crispiest skin and juicy meat contrasted perfectly with pickled veg and cilantro. The housemade pate was unlike anything I've tried before. Savory, a bit chunkier than the usual smooth spread but so so flavorful. Our server was helpful with recommendations. Highly recommend for some delicious food. read more

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Great restaurant , easy parking. Nuuanu shopping center I remember this used to be an old toy store! Now an amazing Vietnamese spot. Fusion at its best! Try the beef pho with oxtail and bone marrow. I tried all the appetizers but really like the beef carpaccio and deep fried mushrooms! Pho had good broth with amazing noodles... Large drink menu... read more

Chao - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Always great service here. Parking is in the lot right out front. Sometimes it gets quite busy, but you'll find a stall eventually! I would recommend a reservation, however we have been super lucky on walking in (for two). I highly recommend the crab pasta , the pho, and the marrow. All very good! The chef is super creative and you can tell that everything is made with love. I can feel great energy in the staff and they all seem to be fully vested in the restaurant. I don't like panna cotta usually but their seasonal dessert was amazing with the scoop of ice cream. Yum!!! Hope they keep it on the menu! Need to come back! Highly recommend! read more

Chao - Dessert - limited - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Chao is an upscale Vietnamese fusion spot that somehow manages to be sleek, modern, and surprisingly fun at the same time. Service was top-notch, easily one of the best I've had in a long while. Came for lunch and immediately fell for the beef carpaccio which was perfectly balanced shallots and fish sauce, yum! Then came the soft shell crab pasta, which pleasantly shocked me since it was so creamy, flavorful, and packed with not one but two portions of crab. I just wish it had a bit more crunch to match all that indulgence. The Vietnamese coffee deserves its own shout-out, so rich, strong, and topped with salted foam so perfect it deserves a chef's kiss. Now for the less stellar bits...the banh mi didn't live up to the rest of the menu, and the duck salad could've used more punch (though the duck was cooked perfectly and the crispy rice paper was fun, just needed extra dressing). Walked in with no reservations with plenty of parking, perfect for a casual lunch that feels elevated. Overall, bold flavors, creative dishes, and a dining experience that makes me want to come back... though I might skip the banh mi next time. I dined here came back in August, but I see they have expanded their menu so I'm looking forward to trying their new dishes. read more

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If Gen Z were a Honolulu restaurant, this would be them! On my first visit here, it was immediately apparent that I was in for some style, flavor and reasonable prices. I ordered the chicken banh mi (asked for no pate). The melding of spices, cucumbers and cilantro on the brioche was pure heaven. They have a full service bar and cafe that made delicious Vietnamese coffee too. I went for lunch, so it was too early for a cocktail. The pumpkin flan is seasonal (visited in November), and it surpassed all expectations. Perfect texture, pumpkin spices were perfect and not overwhelming. What really shined was the white chocolate crumble and house-made vanilla ice cream. The space is stylish with some cool wallpaper with tigers and chrysanthemums, awesome pendant lighting and a gorgeous Christmas tree. I hope this place sticks around! It's an asset to the Nu'uanu area. read more

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Pretty surprised to find good Vietnamese food at this chic restaurant! We came on a weekend and had their brunch menu. The chicken pho is excellent, so get that. The chicken wings were delicious as well as the calamari. The short rib braised with chicken fat rice is worth the hype, so get that too. read more

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Great service as usual. Servers were all friendly and attentive! Second time around, I got to try other dishes, and it just gotten better! Still love their beef carpaccio with the tender slice of beef, thinly sliced onions, crispy pieces of fried garlic, and an unforgiving and unforgettable dressing/sauce to bring everything together to make an enjoyable dish. Chao is one of the few places where they do a good job with Asian fusion food at not-too-ridiculous prices. This time I got to try the salt and pepper calamari, the beef pho and their duck salad. The calamari was one of the best I've had. The calamari was crispy on the outside and soft inside. The sauce was sweet and lemongrassy. Yum! The duck salad was yummy too. The duck was seared perfectly, and with the crispy noodles, delicious dressing and fresh greens, it made a yummy salad. The beef pho was decent but I've had better in other pho places. However I did enjoy the big pieces of tender meat inside. We were seated at a 2-person table right outside of the kitchen. It wasn't very comfortable sitting right outside a doorway, and the tables were placed quite closely to each other. They didn't open up the back area so they're just cramming everyone in the front area. I hope next time we won't be seated at that table. I would skip the banh mi and the chicken pho as I found those underwhelming. However, my list of must-order food is getting longer... first soft shell crab noodles, beef carpaccio, and now salt and pepper calamari... I had to give up the soft shell crab noodles to try something new lol. That just means I need to keep coming back until I try everything! read more

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PARKING: Free in lot shared by businesses in shopping center VIBE: Fun but really loud if it is crowded, not good for a date night. My friends and I were semi hollering across a small table for four. FOOD: Highly reco the soft shell crab pasta!! read more

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My friends and I love exploring new restaurants, and this spot absolutely delivered! We started with drinks--I ordered the espresso martini, which was uniquely made with Hennessy. It had a great balance of flavors, though I personally would've liked a bit more espresso intensity. Still, it was a well-crafted cocktail. For appetizers, we went all out and ordered a variety: Hamachi Crudo, Beef Carpaccio, Seafood Ceviche, Bone Marrow, Salt & Pepper Calamari, Vietnamese Chicken Wings, Spanish Octopus, and Gai Lan Stir-Fry (which was made with bok choy instead of Chinese broccoli during our visit). Every dish was cooked perfectly and had its own distinct flavor profile. It was hard to pick favorites, but the Hamachi Crudo, Beef Carpaccio, and Bok Choy stood out to most of us. For our mains, we shared several entrees: Soft Shell Crab Pasta, Seafood Fried Rice, King Salmon with a lettuce wrap set, and Washyugu Picanha with chimichurri. The Soft Shell Crab Pasta was the clear winner--it was everyone's favorite. The staff were warm and welcoming. We did have to follow up a couple of times on a few forgotten items, but overall the service was good. The restaurant is located in the Nuuanu Shopping Plaza, easy to find with plenty of parking available. Overall, this was one of the best meals I've had in a while--I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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ROAST PORK RICE 3 crispy roast pork, fatty; chicken fat rice, house pickles, not very flavorful, needed to add hoisin sauce SOFT SHELL CRAB PASTA 5 two whole soft shell crabs, super juicy and creamy inside; fresh noodles, lemongrass & garlic beurre monte, creamy, super flavorful read more

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When my friend texted that we should go here for dinner, I dreaded figuring out the downtown parking, assuming it was in chinatown - but was so relieved that it was in the large Nuuanu shopping center with tons of free parking! And that was just the start of the delicious dinner! We chose a bunch of yummy apps to share - large spring rolls with lettuce wraps, super tender calamari with a creamy coconut sauce, and chicken sings. We added on a spicy chicken chicken salad, which was light and refreshing. For the entrees, we had the king salmon, which was perfectly cooked - moist with a super crispy skin, and huge veggies and mushrooms on the side. The steak was super tender (easier to share than the ox tail, which I wanted to try and will hopefully get next time!), and it went well with the chicken fat rice. The service was incredible. I dropped my chopstick, and it was about a second later that our waiter gave me a new one. I also had a ton of water refills and they were super nice about it! The next day another friend randomly shared that she went there and would highly recommend it, and we shared our fave menu items. So glad to have this fancy place in our neighborhood! read more

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Chao is definitely worth the hype! We came here for dinner and first off the interior is pretty spacious and welcoming. We ordered the salt + pepper calamari and crispy spring rolls as starters. Both were so delicious! Perfectly fried without being too oily or soggy. I really liked the sauce that came with the calamari and the spring rolls had a lot of filling so they were nice and plump. I ordered the soft shell crab pasta as my entree and it was fantastic! I love how it came with two crabs which made the portion generous. The pasta had great flavor and was cooked perfectly. I also got to try my boyfriend's beef pho and that was pretty good as well with a nice broth and tender meat. I also ordered the Vietnamese iced coffee with sea salt cold foam and it was so yummy! The sea salt cold foam made it more decadent. Our server was great and attentive. The place was busy but also wasn't too packed when we went on a Friday night. Parking can be kinda tough since it's a small lot but I'm sure stalls open up here and there! Overall, I really enjoyed Chao and would come here again! read more

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Ate in the restaurant this time. In the past, I only did take out. Got the soft shell crab pasta with the blue crab add on. It was worth it. Lots of crab and tobiko. Definitely better having it in the restaurant. Also ordered the pumpkin flan. It was more of a crustless pumpkin pie. It tasted great. The creme fraiche ice cream on the peanut crumble was slightly sour. Great contrast to the sweetness of the honey glaze on the flan. Lots of parking but it is very busy. The staff was wonderful. Only downside is that it can be noisy when full. read more

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Our first happy hour of the trip was at Chao, located at the Nuuanu Shopping Center, a local strip mall. Arriving at 4pm, we had no problems with finding a parking space. The four of us met up with Li Y. who had made reservations for our party. It is a modern Vietnamese eatery and we were looking forward to some HH. Their happy hour runs from 2-5pm Mon - Sat. Checking out the menu, Li mentioned some of her favorites. After ordering our drinks, we placed an order for a bunch of shared plates, which were happy hour priced at $12 or $14. Fried Maitake Mushrooms with garlic aioli and cajun salt Fried golden brown. Who doesn't like mushrooms. Good enough that we had seconds. Chargrilled Chicken Skewers - 3 skewers of chicken thigh meat with scallion oil and chili salt Vietnamese Chicken Wings - 6 crispy wings with a caramelized fish sauce. Salt & Pepper Calamari - crispy calamari with garlic, jalapeno and green chili lime sauce. Different than typical calamari in that they were calamari strips instead of rings and tentacles. Seafood Ceviche - a mix of Hokkaido scallop, shrimp and calamari in lime coconut, Thai chili with shrimp chips Charred Bok Choy - with MKQ sauce, kombu and scallion oil Gai Lan Stir-fry - charred Chinese broccoli with garlic, crispy shallots and MKQ sauce Soft Shell Crab Pasta - with fresh noodles in a lemongrass and garlic beurre. This was an entrée item and was probably my favorite dish. The beurre was so tasty and went well with the crispy crab. Ube Dream - for a little palate cleanser, we each had a taste of this ube, lime, and coconut in soda water. We had a good sampling of the happy hour shared dishes and the soft-shell crab pasta. Overall, the food was tasty and glad we were able to take advantage of the happy hour pricing. Service was efficient and friendly. A good choice for happy hour and will need to check out for dinner on our next trip. read more

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Went back over the weekend and ordered the soft-shell crab pasta with blue crab. OMG was it delicious! At first sight, you would expect it to be really rich. However, the sauce was light, still creamy, and savory. And those soft-shell crabs -- cooked to perfection! They had a pleasant crunch and flavor that complimented the noodles perfectly. I decided to add blue crab because why not? It came with a generous portion and did not disappoint! Tobiko and thin slices of chili topped off this beautiful dish. I made sure to enjoy every single bite and will definitely be going back. read more

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Went to Chao with a few girlfriends. Everything we tried was really good, but I'd have to say that the softshell craft with noodles and steak were definitely winners! We also had the chicken salad, chicken wings and calamari - all very tasty. Although the portions are "smaller" and meant to be family style, we did think they were generous for the price. We went on a Friday, which they close at 10pm, and we were still gabbing away right near 10. Although they were doing their duties to clean up, we never felt rushed out - thank you for allowing these Mamas to catch up! Ample parking in the free lot - near Starbucks and Paradise Poke. read more

It was my first time dining at Chao and I'm glad I decided to try it. Great ambience, attentive service, ono food. Would return! read more

Chao - Soft shell crab pasta - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I REALLY wanted to give this place 5 stars. BEST BEEF CARPACCIO I'VE EVER HAD. Loved the flavor of the corn ( let's be real, I got it because of the pork floss ), but the corn tasted like it's been sitting for a long time. Incredible flavor, but texture was giving " I've been sitting for 48 hours then I got microwaved." It was still amazing, tho. Ginger chicken was PHENOMENAL. It seemed deconstructed so I just poured the broth in the bowl with the other stuff. Otherwise, the flavors didn't really make sense. Minus one star for the oldish corn and some service issues. Still one of the best meals I've had on the island. read more

Chao is interesting. My friend told me about this place and he was raving about it. Of course I needed to check this place out. Before I went there I checked out the Yelp reviews and most/all were very positive. There is adequate parking and in fact I found parking right in front of the restaurant. While I was driving there I had calls from them - basically telling me to come later? I didn't understand told them I was on my way. When I got there I learned that they were going to close in an hour and a half for a party, more than enough time for us to eat and leave. I ordered the soft shell crab pasta with the upgrade to blue crab. My wife ordered pho. Both looked really good. I have to say the service was really good and the place looked great. We also ordered calamari and rolls. The calamari was really good. The spring rolls were fine. The pho was missing the usual bean sprouts and basil and everything else you usually get. We asked and they said they don't have that and don't include it. To me, this is a big omission. I mean part of enjoying pho is that component and this dish really did miss that. The crab pasta was ok. The soft shell crab was not really crispy and the addition of the blue crab didn't seem to add all that much to the dish. It looked really great but had a monotonous taste; it was rich and the first few bites were nice but after a while it was tiring. All that being said, it seems like they are doing well and I wish them all the best. read more

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We came here on a Sunday and the interesting thing was they have an all day brunch menu. We had the Soft Shell Crab and Pasta, and Duck Confit n' Waffles. The crab and pasta was excellent. Crab prepared nicely; very tasty, fried deliciously and pasta complemented it well. The duck confit was also excellent; crispy and tender, cooked perfectly. The only disappointment was the waffle and egg was cold. Hopefully, they'll get the timing right so all three components of this dish can be served properly. The service was excellent; very helpful and friendly. The interior is decorated nicely and it's a very comfortable place to enjoy your meal. read more

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Night on the town! Dinner at Chao feels like a party with your fancy friends! As you enter you notice the music getting you in the mood...not sure if you feel like dancing or eating! The decor is very hip and welcoming...complete with painted lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Not to worry...if you are like me and don't have fancy besties...there is a nice bar area that looks very inviting. Having dinner with friends literally makes the world a better place...and also much easier to order. We tried about two thirds of the menu so we had a lot of food. We tried... Kaluga Caviar Hamachi crudo Gai Lan stir fry Crispy spring rolls Vietnamese chicken wings Salt and pepper calamari Spanish Octopus Duck salad Soft shell crab pasta Chicken pho Everything was good, but when I go back I will definitely be ordering the Gai Lan, Chicken pho, Hamachi crudo, and the chicken wings. Note: If you come at peak dinner hours, it does get loud in the restaurant..but that's what a good party sounds like. Best thing I learned: They do a Happy Hour menu most days from 2pm-5pm The food is the same price, but the drinks are discounted...and I am a fan of day drinking! The great part about this restaurant is that there is nothing really similar to this in concept. It's a fun, upscale place with good vibes and good food. Go check it out! read more

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Chao Hawaii ***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ***** Food: ***** Value: **** Menu: *** Ambiance: **** Service: **** Parking: ***** Chao Hawaii is a new Asian fusion restaurant with a strong Vietnamese influence. After a friend introduced me to the restaurant for lunch, I went back that evening with my wife to enjoy more dishes. I've since been there a third time with two friends and everyone agreed it was good. If you're looking for somewhere to eat or meet up in Nuuanu area, this is definitely worth a try! I'll be back for sure. RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Soft show crab pasta = A Roast pork on rice = A Duck salad = A Beef carpaccio = B Hamachi carpaccio = B Salt & pepper calamari = C Yelp: https://yelp.to/D8JcBJ-XMw Website: https://chaohawaii.com/ YELP: Milton K Sorry! They allow only one 30 second video & the remaining to 5 seconds. The full video and pictures of the entire menu can be found on other platforms/apps: MiltonIn808 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 read more

Chao - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Good Vietnamese food, but was expecting it to be more mind blowing after all the hype this place has been getting. We came for happy hour and ordered a bunch of different things to share. Everything was good, but it was all quite heavily seasoned and salty. Individually, nothing was too heavy or salty, but between all the dishes I could've used more bright, fresh flavors. The best things were the cerviche, gai lan, and desserts. I would come back here if others wanted to try it, but I don't think it's any better than the Vietnamese places I usually frequent. read more

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My family and I went to their soft opening. It was really nice and spacious on the inside. It was a modern design inside and there is a decent amount of space. The parking can get a little hectic since there's a lot of other places in the plaza but if you're picking up they have a spot for that for an easy pickup. I would definitely reccomend coming here but make sure to make a reservation cause they get really busy. All of the drinks we tried were really good, the tea flavor was really concentrated. Staff: Nice (5/5) Sanitation status: Really clean (5/5) Beef Carpaccio (5/5) The beef was really good with the sauce as well as the onions on top and crispy onions. The flavors were really well rounded on this dish. My mom who doesn't like raw anything even went back for seconds. Hamachi Crudo (4.5/5) This had a similar sauce to the beef carpaccio with a strong lime forward flavor, it was good as well. Vienamese Chicken Wings (5/5) The chicken wings were fried fresh. It was still piping hot and juicy on the inside when we got our order. There was 6 chicken wings so enough for our party. The fish sauce on the outside was more of a thinner sauce but it went well with the chicken, there were some pieces with spicy chili on them so beware if you're not good with heat. Fried Spring Rolls (Cha Gio) (3.5/5) The Fried spring rolls were okay to me, I've definitely had better but it wasn't bad by any means just nothing special. Lemongrass Chicken Rice (4/5) The rice that came with this was with chicken fat and was really good and different compared to other rice dishes you might find in othere restaurants. The chicken was good as well, well seasoned and a lot of lemongrass flavor. The chicken was a little drier than I would've liked but it was good. Soft Shell Crab Pasta (5/5) A STAR of this restaurant. The lemongrass butter sauce complimented the pasta so well and it almost tasted like it was a bun rieu sauce. I added the 3oz of blue crab that's optional and I would highly reccomend. It came with 2 soft shell crabs which is a really good deal to me. Definitely getting this again if I have the chance. Duck Salad (4.5/5) The duck salad was good. It had a nice dressing and the crispy noodles on top added to the texture. The duck was cooked nicely and the meat was really tender. If I wanted more greens and protein then I would order this. read more

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5 stars all around at Chao Hawaii! I'd been wanting to dine here after reading about their opening from Paul C. and seeing the positive Yelp reviews. Rounded up brunch buddies and made a reservation via Open Table for Sunday brunch via to celebrate a birthday. We all loved the chicken wings and calamari as appetizers. As entrees, we ordered softshell crab pasta, beef pho, duck salad, chicken pho, and seafood fried rice, all great choices. You must order the Vietnamese iced coffee! You'll be smiling all day long lol. Our server Kier was hospitality personified. Free parking is available, though surprisingly the Nuuanu Shopping Center parking lot was quite busy on this occasion. We all vowed to return to Chao, perhaps to try their Happy Hour. read more

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We went here to celebrate Lunar New Year. It was our first time here and we really enjoyed it! We tried items off the new year menu and regular menu. My mom loves bitter melon so definitely had to try the stuffed bitter melon soup. It was delicious! We also tried the fried bahn tet in honor of tet and for good luck. It was perfectly fried and the rice cakes had a tasty outer shell. The marmalade and pork mixed together created a great sweet-savory combo. It is pretty loud in there and the service was a little slow but maybe because of the new year busyness. But overall so delicious! read more

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Greetings to Chao... Thank you Terry K for the experience as the suggestion of this amazing new restaurant in Nuuanu for dinner as I couldn't imagine going there by myself. Chao is located in Nuuanu Shopping Plaza so parking really isn't much of an issue but what can be an issue is if you don't make reservations in advance as I was surprised how fast it gets filled up. Inside the decor is basic but the lighting features is nice many tables are for two and four tops majority of the menu items are shared plates which is a fun way to experience the variety and started with "Crispy Spring Rolls" was cooked perfectly the crunch and so flavorful, "Salt + Pepper Calamari" not my usual, "Vietnamese Chicken Wings" love the twist of it being tossed in caramelized fish sauce I really enjoyed the crispy and juicy pieces. I almost passed on drink until I caught "Coconut Matcha Cloud" amongst the coffee and teas section and it consists of young coconut water topped with matcha foam and this stunning drink had it's own photo shoot and a sweet toast to a lovely evening. We sure wasn't done as I needed to make another choice and our server was just a delight (forgot his name!) but would absolutely return because of him and I decided on "Hamachi Crudo" which I really loved as slices of yellowtail is topped with cilantro, Fresno chili and tobiko dressed with calamansi ponzu...I don't like cilantro but I really loved this. Finishing with dessert "Coconut Flan" and this flan is much firmer and isn't as sweet as I thought it would be garnished with coconut flakes and some dragonfruit it was a nice finishing treat though enjoying it with friends does make it much more special. Thank you! read more

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Located at Nuuanu Shopping Plaza. I made reservations for lunch and this place was already fairly busy at opening time. Almost all table were full. The interior was nice. Has a modern, contemporary vibe. The tables were spread out neatly with enough space for walking. Their lunch menu was mainly Vietnamese/Asian fusion dishes. Salt and pepper calamari: The calamari was good. My favorite appetizer here. The calamari was soft and wasn't overly chewy. It was lightly crispy. The lime cream sauce was amazing. It has some familiar Thai flavors. Very delicious. Spring rolls: The spring rolls were good. Pretty much like any other meat based spring rolls. The fish sauce for dipping is very light. It's too light that that there's hardly any flavor. Vietnamese chicken wings: The chicken wings were good. The sauce was tangy and savory. The wings were fresh and hot. It does get little soggy if left alone for too long because of the sauce. Ginger chicken rice: The chicken was dish was good. The rice was savory but not overwhelming. It complements well with the light ginger chicken flavor. The chicken was good. The skin and meat ratio was good. The sauce on the side was also very light. Doesn't add much flavor to the overall dish unless you want it to be saltier. This dish also comes with a bowl of broth that was flavorful. Lemon grass chicken banh mi: The lemon grass chicken was good. The bread was soft which we preferred. The banh mi has a good amount of chicken, vegetable, and pickled vegetable. The mayo sauce helps cools down the lemongrass flavor. Very good. Soft shell crab pasta: My favorite entree dish. Amazing Asian fusion dish. The pasta noodles were thick and chewy and cooked perfectly. There's perfect amount of sauce on the noodles that doesn't make it overwhelming with each bite. The soft shell crab was very good. Good crisp and size. I like how the crab has a good amount of meat in the center not just fried breading and shell. Vietnamese ice coffee: The coffee was good. Good coffee flavor with a good amount of sweetness. You can also add on flavor foam like matcha or sea salt for an extra $1.50. Coconut matcha cloud: The coconut water was very good. Very refreshing and doesn't taste artificial. The matcha cloud mixed in was good especially if you are a fan of matcha flavor. Overall, I really enjoyed dining here. I visited once or twice a week for the past month. The dishes remained consistent for very visit. The service was also friendly and quick. Everyone was nice on very visit. The only issue I had was regarding the receipt. They would just tell you the total amount on their machine without showing what you ordered. I have to request for a paper receipt every time. I prefer a paper copy receipt to review my orders before paying. Other than that, everything else was fine. The foods and drinks were delicious. Definitely a place I recommend to friends and family. read more

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Simply blown away! We came across this spot while running errands in the area and needed to grab lunch with our parents but so glad we decided to pop in for a bite! I was a little skeptical at first based on pricing and was worried this was one of those fusion spots that just grab tourists. We ordered Vietnamese iced coffee (always a must for an energy boost), roasted pork banh mi, beef brisket banh mi, pho ha, regular beef pho & a duck salad. All the dishes tasted very authentic. Absolutely loved the sauce for the duck salad & the duck was cooked perfectly. The pate in the banh mis left me wanting more & the baguette used was fresh and soft. Our parents said the broth tasted authentic, flavorful and not overly salty. Overall, we were so impressed with this restaurant and will definitely be recommending it to our family & friends that visit Hawaii next. We spoke with who we presumed is the owner & he told us that everything is made in house & the menu changes weekly. The banh mi sandwiches are only sold during lunch time so make sure to stop by if that's what you're looking for. Highly recommend! read more

Chao - Roast Pork Bnh M & duck salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This spot strikes a wonderful balance between traditional Vietnamese roots and modern global influences. The chef, with fine dining experience at Senia and Miro Kaimuki, brings that pedigree here, and it shows in both technique and presentation. You'll find flavors that nod to France, Japan, Hawaii, and even South America, but what anchors it all are the unmistakable Vietnamese essentials like fresh herbs, pickles, fish sauce, and lime. The Chicken Pho was a standout and easily the tastiest I've ever had. Instead of the classic heavy-handed star anise, cinnamon, and clove, the broth leaned toward a refined chicken soup with subtle pho nuances. Balanced, not too salty, sweet, or oily, and clearly made with care. The chicken portion was small, but the meat was super tender and flavorful. I'd return for this dish alone. Like many diners, we couldn't resist ordering the Soft Shell Crab Pasta. The noodles with beurre monté (a French-style emulsified butter sauce) were decadent and a touch too rich for my taste. Also while the crab was a generous size, I wished it had been crisper. We ate half and took the rest home to enjoy later. The Roasted Bone Marrow (Mishima wagyu with caramelized onions, herbs, Fresno chili, garlic chips, and crostini) came with plenty of marrow and beautiful presentation. That said, the caramelized onions tipped the dish toward sweetness that clashed with the other flavors. On my second visit, bone marrow appeared as a Pho add-on instead, but this version was underseasoned and fell flat. Service was excellent both times. The young staff is warm, enthusiastic, and genuinely eager to please. Overall, this is an exciting restaurant and a much needed addition to the Vietnamese culinary landscape in Honolulu. We'll definitely come back ! Happy Eating!! read more

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Located in Nuuanu Shopping Center, We wanted to try.. saw these ppl in Aloha shirts, and dressed casual, hardly anyone is shorts & T-shirt, slippahz, but it was ok.. whoooooo no reservation, but the kind hostess managed to seat us, and we had a time limit! My mom & I got great service, food was good, SOUP was REALLY DELISH! The only thing is "ITS LOUD", and ppl are talking over one another. My mom took home the rest... The lunch menu and dinner menu are different.. but we'll be back and we'll make reservations next time. Thanks for coming into the "hood". read more

Chao - Chicken Pho, crispy spring roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Yummy food, great service and beautiful presentation make this a hidden neighborhood gem! The restaurant was busy on a Tuesday but it's surprisingly large inside so we were able to be seated right away. Service is very attentive with servers covering each others tables and our water was never empty. The food comes out fast and hot! We tried a bunch of shared plates. Hamachi crudo was fresh and the flowers worked well. It's a bit small for the price. 3/5 Bone marrow has lots of carmelized onions so it's got a sweet and savory flavor profile with lime. The toasted bread was perfectly crisp. Our server even told us to make sure to rinse it off when she found out we were taking it for our dog. So sweet and knowledgeable of her (onions are bad for dogs)! 4/5 Chicken wings were perfectly seasoned and juicy. It reminds me of the wings at Pig and Lady (savory and sweet with lots of crisp). 5/5 Beef carpaccio was another hit. The beef is so fresh and tender and covered in lots of fresh basil, cilantro and sweet onions with a tangy lime sauce and hot chilis. 5/5 Salt and pepper calamari was very tender and had the most amazing dipping sauce. Lots of fresh garlic and a few pieces of tempura fried jalapeños. 5/5 The cocktail I tried was a mango margarita and it was good but not strong enough. I'd skip this next time and just order a glass of beer or wine. If you don't want a buzz they also have mocktails. I already want to go back and try more things! The staff are so professional and elevated the dining experience overall. read more

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It was funny - we were driving around and I happened to find this and had it bookmarked probably something I saw on Instagram. It wasn't even on my radar, but we just happened to be driving by and were hungry. There was literally one spot left in the parking lot and it was reserved for Chao, so we pulled up. We put our names down and had to wait about 10 minutes, but the place was packed. We ordered pretty much what was popular from the pictures and reviews - calamari and soft shell crab pasta. We weren't very hungry and didn't want to fill up before meeting friends for dinner. The soft shell crab pasta was really rich, so good to share - I can't imagine eating only that for my meal, but I'm sure some people could. The calamari was small and not what I normally consider calamari - it's got a different fry finish on it, it was good, but not my favorite, and the portion was tiny for what you pay. The food was good, the service was amazing, and they even bring a little treasure box for kids. read more

We had reservations for 11 am and were promptly seated. Staff is very polite and efficient. I love the decor... lanterns and everything so tastefully done. The calamari is nicely seasoned and crispy as were the chicken wings. The soft shell crab pasta has 2 crabs, cooked to perfection, pasta nicely prepared Al dente. I can't identify the flavor of the pasta though Chicken and rice very delicious. The mango tapioca was a nice finish to the meal. Very sure to order the Vietnamese coffee with the salt foam. It's the first time I've had it that way and the salt foam has a nice touch. Parking was easy read more

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Stopped by here for late lunch during the weekday and there were still handful of parking stalls available. We had to wait a bit to get seated even though there were lots of open tables available. Simple menu, I like that. Didn't take long to decide what to order: Beef Pho, Beef Carpaccio and Soft Shell Crab Pasta. After bringing out the pho, server asked if we wanted veggies and we had to wait a bit for the veggies. The veggie plates only has cilantros, culantros and basils; no bean sprouts. Definitely modern fusion Vietnamese food. I really enjoyed the Beef Carpaccio with the crispy fried garlic. I was expecting small portions like many of the reviews I've read but between the two of us, we were absolutely full and still had some crab pasta left. And unlike the other posts about attentive services, there were a lot of servers around with just a handful of tables with patrons but had to wave for attention several times to get our water refilled. read more

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My lunch visit to Chao was a mixed bag of delight and mild disappointment, but overall a memorable experience I'm eager to repeat. I was initially let down to find out they were out of the Hamachi Crudo and Hamachi Poke, which I'd been excited to try based on the menu's tempting descriptions, but though the staff handled it with warmth and professionalism, they could have quickly suggested alternatives that would have turned my mood around. That said, we ended up ordering the Lemongrass Chicken Rice ($17) and Ginger Chicken Rice ($19), and both were outstanding--the lemongrass-infused chicken with nuoc cham and house pickles was a perfect harmony of savory and tangy, while the chicken fat rice added a rich depth, and the Ginger Chicken Rice with its poached chicken, ginger scallion, and savory sipping broth was a comforting, flavorful delight that warmed me up. As I sat there enjoying my meal, I couldn't help but notice others around me savoring dishes I'm determined to try next time, like the Vietnamese Chicken Salad with its fresh lotus stems and lime vinaigrette, and the Crispy Spring Rolls that looked irresistibly crunchy with their pork and veggie filling. The Oxtail Pho caught my eye too, with its aromatic 24-hour beef bone broth and slow-cooked oxtail, and I overheard someone raving about the Soft Shell Crab Pasta, which I've already added to my future order list with its lemongrass and garlic beurre monte sauce! The ambiance was cozy and modern, with warm lighting that made the space feel inviting, and my Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Sea Salt Foam was a refreshing pairing, its depth and subtle sweetness enhancing the flavors, while I'm curious to sample the Ube Dream others were enjoying with its tropical vibe. The service was great--my server was attentive, and water was refilled appropriately. We opted to skip dessert, but next time we might try the Coconut Flan, which I imagine to be a creamy, caramel-kissed treat with seasonal fruit. There is an option to pair your food with a glass of Chardonnay from their wine list, adding a touch of elegance. But hey, I was technically on my lunch hour, and returning to work... Located in a convenient spot, Chao was easy to get to, but the parking can get busy as the restaurant shares Nu'uanu Shopping Center with Starbucks, Paradise Poke, and O'Reilly Auto Parts. If you're walking in for lunch like we did, I recommend arriving close to 11 AM when they first open to avoid a wait. Otherwise, Open Table accepts reservations for Chao. Despite the initial hiccup, the quality of the Lemongrass and Ginger Chicken Rice, the staff's care, and the promise of future dishes like the Oxtail Pho or Soft Shell Crab Pasta make Chao a place I'll definitely return to--I'd just suggest calling ahead to check on popular items! They also have a robust take-out business with a couple of 15-minute parking stalls right in front of the restaurant. They also have a clean and convenient restroom inside the space. read more

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