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    El Chino Loco

    4.6 (14 reviews)

    El Chino Loco Barbeque Restaurant Photos

    EL CHINO LOCO ATMOSPHERE

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    Taylor H.

    First time hearing about and trying this. The taste was amazing. Had the brisket and the ribs. The ribs was soft and fell off the bone. Both items had a tasty Asian fusion taste.

    a person holding a plate of food
    GREG S.

    Found El Chino Loco food truck at the Honolulu "Eat the Street" April 2018 and hands down was some of the best BBQ ribs and brisket I've eaten ... they handed out a small tasting sample of the brisket and I was sold. The BBQ meats had a sweet salt Asian bent on traditional southern BBQ, but was smoked so tender that I didn't need a knife. Their $14.99 Super combo included a pulled pork taco, two big ribs, big portion of brisket, rice, potato salad and their unique take on cole slaw. Ate every bit!

    a tortilla with meat and onions
    Michael W.

    The owner of this truck is super cool and friendly. Comes from SF, so it's nice to see someone from the bay. The place has some ups and downs. He just started this food truck so go give it a try. Here is my breakdown/suggestions: Pulled pork taco: My favorite thing on the menu! This was the best taco I've had since moving from California. The pork was really flavorful, the tortilla was thin and crispy, and the pickled veggies was a nice balance to the rich pork. Some salsa would definitely elevate this further. Brisket: Not sure how he prepared it, but some parts were a bit chewy (possibly the tendon/fatty areas?). The flavor from the marinade (bourbon misoyaki) didn't really get through all the way, but the idea is definitely novel. Smoking it in a smoker would be fantastic! It'll be worth the investment. Ribs: The flavor was definitely there. It was a bit too salty at times. The plum sauce or whatever was the base was overpowering. Ribs were tender though. Potato salad: It was good, especially on a hot day. However, it could use more seasoning. Coleslaw: Great flavor, but too much dressing. Literally swimming in it. Lost in the sauce. Overall, I feel like it is a promising food truck. Just hearing the names of the food sounds super appealing. It just needs to make some adjustments, execute, and it'll be great!

    Bourbon miso brisket

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    Carte Blanche

    Carte Blanche

    4.5(80 reviews)
    2.3 kmKaimuki
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Luxury

    Took our friend here for her birthday and what a hidden gem this place was. Tucked away in the…read moreheart of Kaimuki, Carte Blanche was definitely a delightful surprise! When our party first walked in, we were a tiny bit skeptical because of the empty room (which was beautifully decorated). However as each course came out, we were blown away and didn't know how the restaurant was not way busier for a Saturday night! Each dish/course was well thought out and prepared to perfection. We were all taken by surprise in a great way. The head chef Anthony was very passionate and excited about his work and that was very refreshing! Overall a wonderful experience and we will be back!

    If you're looking for Kaimuki's most romantic date night spot, look no further than Carte Blanche…read more We recently experienced their summer prix fixe menu (which changes twice a year), and it was one of those meals you remember long after the plates are cleared. The progression of dishes felt thoughtful and creative-- * Crispy Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin (the perfect starter crunch) * Soupe de Poisson (deep, comforting flavors) * Pina Colada Granita (a refreshing palate cleanser) * Pan Seared Scallops (my personal favorite--perfectly caramelized and tender) * Double Cut Rack of Lamb (succulent and cooked to perfection) * Lemon Crème Brûlée Tart (a sweet, bright finish) Every plate was elegant, well-executed, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere strikes a balance between sophisticated and welcoming. Dim lighting, intimate tables, and quiet elegance make you feel like you've stepped into a hidden gem in the middle of Kaimuki. Honestly, I felt like a celebrity dining here. Service was polished but never pretentious--our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the courses, and kept the pacing of the meal just right. For the level of creativity and execution, Carte Blanche feels like an affordable luxury in Honolulu's dining scene. Perfect for anniversaries, date nights, or anytime you want an elevated experience without flying to the mainland. Highly recommend booking a reservation--you'll want to savor every moment here.

    Photos
    Carte Blanche
    Carte Blanche
    Carte Blanche

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    Miro Kaimuki - MIRO Sourdough. Furikake butter.

    Miro Kaimuki

    4.5(415 reviews)
    2.3 km
    $$$$

    The sourdough alone is worth the trip--easily one of the best I've had, and the brioche bites with…read moretuna, uni, and caviar were a standout across the board. Service was really good, the wine pairing was a nice touch, and the location is easy to get to with parking. We'll definitely be back. Not a pretentious spot, the inside of the restaurant was nice and chill - easy to have a conversation.

    Being a fan of this restaurants prix fixe, we were excited to try the à la carte menu. That way you…read moreget exactly what you want. We were seated right away, but it was kind of loud. I think it's where we were sitting, but still a surprise given the cozy vibe. Food was solid, but we were slightly disappointed with the caviar as it was explained that it was going to be like an egg salad Sammie. But it was just the caviar on a toast. Perhaps the server wasn't really sure how to explain it, but since caviar are essentially eggs, I guess it was a non traditional egg salad. We had finished almost finished our starters by the time I got my wine so that was disappointing. It was packed and it didn't seem like there was enough servers, but certain tables got extra attention. Like they didn't wait long for food or drinks. We ordered everything all at once but had to reorder the dessert because the server forgot to put in it. I wanted to end with some tea, but the server forgot. Overall, the food is solid, but the service leaves something to be desired.

    Photos
    Miro Kaimuki
    Miro Kaimuki - WESTHOLME RIBEYE (16 oz).

    WESTHOLME RIBEYE (16 oz).

    Miro Kaimuki - Hamachi. Sun-Dried Tomato. Cucumber.

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    Hamachi. Sun-Dried Tomato. Cucumber.

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - grilled miso black cod

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    0.7 kmWaikiki
    $$$

    I WISH I COULD GIVE MORE STARS!!!! WORTH THE PRICE! FOOD AND SERVICE IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!…read more Okay seriously, I've been to a ton of expensive high end restaurants and none have impressed me like this Morimoto's. When I tell you everything that came out was amazing.... Holy moly it was SO TASTY. EVERYTHING! I was even impressed with the fried rice with how much they served and how much was in it. I personally loved the fish carpaccio, rib eye, hamachi kama, wok vegetables and malasadas for dessert. The orange chicken was my least favorite but it was still good. Oh and the STICKY RIBS...... you HAVE to get them. So crispy yet tender.... I loved how everything we had bursted in my mouth with flavor and was something I couldn't make to that level at home. Service was amazing like any other fine dining restaurant, but for the first time, I felt like this one was worth the money for how good the food was. I will definitely be back!

    My bad review is entirely based on how terrible the food was. For context, we ordered Tonkatsu…read moreramen and Tsukemen dipping ramen. Ramen, according to the server, was the most popular thing on the menu, so how likely could it get messed up? Tonkatsu: Rich, but lacked any salt or had very little. We requested some salt and that instantly made the ramen better. The noodles had enough salt to carry it, but the broth was not great. It tasted like the broth was watered down or reconstituted, however no seasoning was added to re-adjust the broth. Broth: Had little salt and lacked punch, umami, and was brown instead of white. Noodles: Had enough salt to taste good, but was slightly overcooked Pork: Extremely bland. Tasted like zero salt was added during cooking. Toppings: Greatly lacking in toppings Tsukemen: The Tsukemen had a lot of the same issues. Now being a dipping ramen, the broth should be even richer and more flavorful than any normal ramen. Tsukemen -- no matter where you have it in Japan, should be richer and saltier than most broths, but the broth here was severely lacking. For $26 a bowl this was worse than your DIY frozen ramen packs. Now I'm not asking for Japan-level of ramen mastery here, this is after all, just a tourist spot -- but if your Tonkatsu is the best selling item, you have to step it up. Our server did mention that some people complained about the amount of salt in ramen, so they adjusted it. But dare I say, instead of diluting the normal salt/seasoning amount for everyone, couldn't you just add a separate, flavor-light version for people inexperienced with ramen, instead of diluting the original for everyone else? If you're reading this Mr. Morimoto, I would highly encourage you to fly here and order the ramen. I think you and I would share the same opinions. P.S. I've also been to your other Morimoto spots and it was not this bad.

    Photos
    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Interior

    Interior

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Black pepper beef

    Black pepper beef

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining

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    Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining

    Lucky Belly - Shrimp Kim Chee Bowl

    Lucky Belly

    4.2(2.1k reviews)
    6.5 kmDowntown
    $$

    Chinatown is know for its great food and nightlife. Lucky Belly definitely earns its keep and holds…read moreits own amongst the best of them. On this particular visit, it was a Wednesday night, 9:35 when we walked in just before their closing time. We had just come from enjoying a night of good vibes, good drinks and good vinyl tunes at EP Bar. Upon entering we were greeted kindly and offered any seat in the dining room. Place was extremely clean and comfortable. Service came around with water and gave us a minute to look over the menus. He returned shortly and orders were placed. 15 to 20 minutes tops, the food came out. What we Order? - Crispy Duck Taco. 5/5 stars. Outstanding. For context I knowing that he's not much of a duck fan, had my son try them, but he LOVED them. "I'd totally order that again..." - Oxtail Dumpling. 5/5 stars. Savory - Lumpia 5/5 stars. Perfect fry. Wrap is crisp and light, fill is flavorful and delicious. - Bi Bim Bap 5/5. Overall, service is tops, prices are fair, every bit and bite of each plate was excellent. Such a gem in Chinatown. I always wonder why about the name of a restaurant. After dining at Lucky Belly, what a lucky belly indeed.

    Look, I know I'm probably a spoiled white Bay Area weirdo. But I seriously do not see the appeal of…read morethis place or why it has the reviews that it had. We paid $12 for two gyozas which I'm fairly certain are sending us on our way to food poisoning. I cannot even describe the taste, but it was fishy and extremely bad way. Again, maybe it's not my taste. I can totally understand that but seriously we ordered a brisket sandwich as well as a Bento box on top of the appetizers none of which were particularly satisfying flavor bowl or tasty in anyway in fact quite a bit of it tasted by old. That's just the food. The service was just fine. Now we were waited on in a timely manner, and the waitress was quite friendly. The place seemed funky in a cool way but its aesthetic was sorted rounded out by a certain level of dust and filth that was across the entire restaurant on our visit. Don't even bother using the restroom which was coated and I am not even sure what. Seriously, I've not been moved to make a review of many places in my travels. This was one I felt I should give a heads up on because my experience differed so greatly from the popular opinion on yelp.

    Photos
    Lucky Belly - Inside

    Inside

    Lucky Belly - Lobster Moco (Dec 2025 update)

    Lobster Moco (Dec 2025 update)

    Lucky Belly - Crispy Duck Taco (Dec 2025 update)

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    Crispy Duck Taco (Dec 2025 update)

    El Chino Loco - bbq - Updated June 2026

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