Honestly just very mediocre, and certainly not worth the price. Service was on/off attentive then missing for long stretches of time. Drinks were disappointing - nothing impressive and not very strong. Very expensive for portion size and quality of the food. Nothing was BAD, but our party left feeling disappointed by the food itself, although everything was beautifully plated. Probably wouldn't return and unfortunately wouldn't recommend. Parking was also very difficult and there was no designated lot for the restaurant. I keep seeing people recommend this place on Instagram and I can only assume it's because they are sponsored posts. Also.... We were sat OUTSIDE next to a vent belonging to a nearby building. It was loud and muggy, and the entire entrance seating area was empty. When we inquired about seating inside, they said the front section / bar was reserved for walk ins. That made no sense to me. Upon arrival, the restaurant looked completely dead as there was NO ONE in the front area or bar. Everyone was seated in the back room / patio. Seems like it would make way more sense to seat the walk ins in the outdoor area and the reservations in the AC / preferred seating. We asked to move inside, into the empty front room, and were told that NEXT TIME we could leave a note in the reservation requesting to be seated in the front room. Why not just move us at that time when the room was empty? Very odd. All in all, for the price I think your money is better spent elsewhere. Nothing was bad. But nothing was great. It was just okay. read more

We had a great time and the food was awesome! The staff was really accommodating about our special request for a surprise for my partner so we'll definitely be back read more

You can't do better. Food is amazing. Bar, mixologist rock star. The Chief Rocks. Go eat and enjoy.

The service was exceptional and the food incredible. Every dish was so well thought out and balanced, a legitimate perfect meal. The portions were proper and the exact amount needed for each course, the cocktail was very fresh. Top to bottom our experience was very positive, and appreciated the service. We didn't want squid in our seafood paella and subbed with crab instead and all the seafood components were clearly well sourced. I will return to have more dishes! read more

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Deserved five stars for "El Cielo" by Chef Masa without a doubt. I am Spanish, specifically from San Sebastian in the Basque Country, and was really excited to try out this restaurant. It exceeded my expectations; Authentic flavors, pleasant vibes, and excellent service. We had an unforgettable dinner in the patio and ordered: Sangría: A must. It was strong and you could feel the citrus touch in it, exactly as it should be. Would have ordered a full jar of it. Croquetas de jamón: The taste of the jamón was on point. I like them more liquid but would have eaten 10 at least. Pan con tomate y jamón ibérico: Just incredible. Devoured it. My fault I ate it so quickly but there wouldn't have been another way. It was perfect, seriously. Nailed the flavor. Gambas al ajillo: Another wow. Much better than any garlic shrimp in the island. The garlic was so well cooked. Paella negra: Beautiful presentation and exquisite taste! It had an ingredient that I wasn't able to decipher but it tasted even better than the ones in Spain. I was really surprised. Would make the alioli flavor even stronger. Super yummy, won't disappoint! Ube Basque Burnt Cheesecake: Oh my god. Delicious! What a risky but great combination as a result. The taste and texture in your mouth is a gastronomic delight. Congratulations for the implementation of a local ingredient in such a renowned dessert from the original cheesecake of "La Viña". I lacked of room in my stomach to order Octopus a la gallega, but the look of it in other plates confirmed the for sure splendid dish I missed. A real pleasure to have treated myself so well here. I can't describe how much I enjoyed this dinner and how satisfied I left this restaurant. I want to express my admiration for the excellent job of the whole team who not only portrayed all the dishes to perfection but they served us with the most genuine smiles and welcome to El Cielo. If you are thinking about delighting yourself at this place, don't even doubt about it. Outstanding! read more

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I made the trip over from Maui to celebrate my birthday. I chose wisely with this gem! The restaurant is very cute inside. We sat at the bar, which gave us a view of the awesome chefs at work. The hostess & bartender were so pleasant and helpful. The whole staff really worked well together. The drinks were delicious, nice wine list and AMAZING food. We enjoyed the empanadas, shrimp ajillo, beet salad, bacon wrapped dates and chicken paella. Everything was on point! Mahalo El Cielo for a truly wonderful birthday!! read more

Decided on giving this place a shot since Paella is so hard to find. We tried the Paella negra & Loco Pollo and although it looked incredible it was so below mediocre. The service was alright, however the wait time for a drink and even water was pretty ridiculous as it wasn't very busy. Definitely wouldn't return for the food however the sangria was great! read more

El Cielo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Actually an interesting setting bc doesn't seem like much from the outside and then way in the back is opens up with big tall ceiling and becomes really bright with an outdoor seating area. Seemed like a different place definitely European or maybe even Cuban. The food was good and thoughtful. The one things is that bc the sizes of the dishes differ it was hard to order for a larger party of us - actually just six people. Something like buneulos there's a lot of but the anchovies it really is just a pincho. Not much tapas on the island and I think this place's dishes are more composed than Rigo. But not sure I'd trek into Waikiki for it. Definitely if you're staying in Waikiki or meeting out of town guests in Waikiki it's worth it. read more

This restaurant is an EXPERIENCE! The ambiance, the food, the service, all 10/10! My husband and I had the most delicious meal! Matteo was the best server! So personable and engaging. Everything we ate was amazing! read more

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Delicious plates and eloquent decor. You're in the heart of Waikiki but transported to another place once you step foot inside. You're greeted at the front of what looks like a cottage and the chef's say hello as you're escorted to the table in the back of a bright lit room. The food came out really fast, perfect timing, and the server continuously refilled low water and wine glasses. Impressive spot for a date, associates, friends, or family. #truffleeggcustard #empanada #croquetas #baconwrappeddates #spanishfries #octopus #unicrabpasta #washugyusteak read more

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A few of my friends kept telling me about this place. Our anniversary was coming up so I told my husband I wanted to go here. Spoiler alert: they were right! It was amazing! We had way too many things but all the tapas sounded delicious. We had the empanadas (we got two, it only comes with 1), lobster, calamari, beet and arugula salad, Spanish fries, seafood paella, and crème brûlée. The empanadas had really good flavor. It was filled with ground beef. Super meaty! The shrimp was good. It is served piping hot so we almost burned our hands on the baguette. I thought the sauce would be delicious and good to soak with the bread but it didn't have much flavor. The beet and arugula salad was delicious. The arugula was very fresh but the only thing was that it wasn't the normal peppery bite arugula. It wasn't "spicy" for lack of better words. It was very mild. I like the kick arugula provides. Anyway moving on. The Spanish fries were good but I wouldn't get it again. They had great flavor with the egg yolk (you're supposed to break it) all over it but it wasn't anything to write home about. The octopus was so tender. It was on potato and you dip it in the chimichurri (sp?) sauce. I'd definitely order that again. At this point, we're like let's also do calamari while we wait for seafood paella. Big mistake. The calamari was just okay but when the paella came, we had no room left. The paella was super delicious. The seafood was cooked perfectly. By this point our legs are kicked out and we are breathing super heavy. A new paragraph for the crème brûlée. I'm a sucker for crème brûlée. This was not it. It was a lemon saffron flavor. All you could taste was the burnt sugar on top. There was just not enough custard. Maybe some people like that but this was the only miss of the evening. Well, since it was our anniversary, they gave us some chestnut thing? Was it hazelnut? Either way, it was super nice but it was also a miss. I liked neither dessert. At this point, my one friend finally texted me with suggestions of bacon wrapped dates. I would have skipped dessert and got one of those instead. Other things to note, we both got sangria. My husband loved it. I thought it was too strong. He ended up drinking three of them. The service was excellent! Our server was amazing and the other wait staff was constantly refilling our waters. Make reservations. It's packed. We parked at Hyatt centric and shopped at Nordstrom for validation. I'd definitely go back! read more

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Great experience...each dish was fresh and full of flavor. Their pasta dish (uni and crab) was well prepared perfectly al dente with flavor that was well balanced. Paella was bursting with flavor. Will definitely come back again. read more

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I love tapas and there's not too many places that does tapas so well here in hawaii. Each dish is so unique and flavorful. I especially enjoyed the smaller portions because you're able to try many different menu items without getting too full or overwhelmed. Out of all the dishes we've ordered, the soft boiled egg, the bacon wrapped fig, and the empanada stood out the most to me. The empanada was unexpectedly soft, flakey and flavorful, the perfect appetizer to share. Our server was friendly and constantly checked up on us throughout our meal, he even moved a table to ours to add more space since we had so much food. The ambiance is quite lovely, there's a bar area, dining area and also outdoor seatings which is perfect for multiple different occasions such as date nights or large gatherings. read more

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First of all, the ambiance is incredible. It's so beautifully designed. Second, the service was amazing and attentive. They knew exactly what wine to pair with our dishes. We got the salmon toast and empanadas with a glass of wine before our dinner reservation and I was in heaven. They had a lovely menu that I can't wait to come back for and try more! read more

El Cielo - Salmon toast - Tapas Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The food was fkn amazing!!! But the service was meh, not sure what was going on that night I went. It didn't seem busy at all, but service terrible. I think maybe the workers don't like it there. I have no clue but the vibe was so off!! read more

Food was superb, service needs a little work. Maybe because the servers were new? Should of sat outside as inside a little noisy. read more

It's no wonder El Cielo has won Editor's Pick for Best New Restaurant of 2024 for the Honolulu Hale 'Aina Awards! We had the most incredible dining experience here because of the amazing cuisine, exceptional service, and beautiful ambiance. Each pinchos and tapas dish was jam packed with flavor and absolutely delicious. The paella and pork shoulder was the perfect way to end the meal. Their attentive team members curated a wonderful night for us and recommended three pinchos, two tapas, a paella and entree per couple which was just the right amount of food and allowed our group to try as much of the menu as possible. The wine list is divine and they have monthly specials for you to enjoy a flight or try seasonal bottles or by the glass. This is truly a special place and I'm so happy to experience such a wonderful Spanish inspired restaurant in Honolulu. Chef Masa and his team are so talented and are creating magic here with their delightful cuisine and hospitality! read more

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Next on my list to of restaurants to try was El Cielo. We made a reservation for a Friday night really not knowing what to expect. Tapas? Wine? Waikiki? We've never tried anything like this in Waikiki so we were eager to check it out. The website listed a couple parking options however, when we arrived, the parking lot was valet only and did not accommodate El Cielo. We ended up parking at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza and walking down which ended up being exorbitantly expensive. Besides the parking, our night was fantastic. We started with glasses of wine; we both ordered a different wine and we both loved each of our glasses! Because both wines were great, we can't help but feel that wherever wine we ordered we probably would've loved. The pours were generous, too which didn't hurt! Next, we ordered about 4 tapas and then the seafood paella. The first thing we ate were the bacon wrapped dates. I wasn't sure about these but oh. My. Gosh. They stuff the dates with blue cheese and then they wrap them in bacon and serve them hot. They were absolutely incredible. Every dish that we received was just as delicious as the last and the paella rice was perfectly crisp and chewy with amazing flavor and a generous portion of seafood. To top it off, we had an gorgeous view of the Friday night fireworks! It was a fabulous evening and we can't wait to come back. read more

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Service was great, the drinks were great, ambiance was great, but the food was just so-so. The price would have been worth it for delicious food, and we really wanted to love it, but we just couldn't. Croquetas, empanada, and bunuelos were all just fine. Nothing special to the flavor, nothing terrible. The saffron aoli did not have any saffron or any other distinguishable flavor. The romesco did not have any punch, char, acidity. The pan con tomato was the most disappointing. The tomato lacked any natural delicious flavor, salt, or acidity. The calamari on the other hand was salty to the point of almost being inedible. The shrimp was fine, but the oil it was in really just tasted like oil, missing spice, missing garlic. The bread served with the shrimp was delicious and fresh, though! We also got the chicken liver pate and the marinated mushrooms. The pate had a thick layer of truffle oil on top that was all you could taste, and the pate itself didn't really have anything special going on. The marinated mushrooms tasted only like vinegar, no balance with any other profiles, and felt like an incomplete dish with just vinegary mushrooms on the plate. We got 8 small plates, and nothing wowed us, and there were a couple of big misses. 8 small plates plus 2 cocktails for $140 before tip isn't terrible, but since the food wasn't fantastic, it didn't feel worth it. We feel like we tried enough food to know we won't be returning to try again. read more

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What an AWESOME dinner experience we just had! I can't say enough about this place: First of all, this is LEGIT Spanish food. It's one of our favorite cuisines and El Cielo is right up at the top we've had anywhere. From the room and decor; Flamenco music; the service and ambience they have clearly thought it out and done it right. But it all comes down to the food.... and they nailed that too! The pintxos were authentic and well prepared and presented; The fried foods were delightfully hot, fresh and light; and the paella nicely al dente. The service and timing of our dishes was outstanding and Manager Bong made sure our evening was perfect. 5 stars all around and we can't wait to return and try other menu items. Mouth is literally watering at this very moment just thinking about it! read more

First, the service was excellent We tipped accordingly. Unfortunately, the food was SUCH a disappointment. The rice for the paella was undercooked and very underwhelming. The tapas were super disappointing. I can barely remember what we ordered. Having lived in Spain, we were hoping to feel like we were there again with the tapas. Never again. read more

I am a Spaniard and this is nothing like Spanish food... It's not bad, but definitely an Asian-American interpretation of some Spanish cuisine items, and the presentation and ambiance is nice, but don't take this as a representation of what Spanish food tastes like (unfortunately). read more

El Cielo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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One word: delicious. Ambiance was LOVELY, staff was kind and knowledgeable, and amazing service. The food was SO delicious. We essentially tried whatever our server recommended and I regret nothing. I'd like to come back here soon and try more! Now, I ordered the pepper and anchovy pincho and personally was not into it, but my friend really enjoyed it. Chicken liver pâté was my favorite small dish, partly because the bread was so perfect. We also tried the buñuelos (not pictured) and those were also delicious! Paella was SO yum (try and order that sooner, or first-- takes about 40 minutes). For dessert we went with the mont blanc and it was a perfect ending. Soft and not too sweet, very glad we listened to our server. Worth it. 10/10 recommend, well done!!! read more

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The service was insane old school on point!!!! They got this right. No reservations and we got lucky!!! Great large spacious room (tables are not on top of each other). The place reminds me of an old Spanish finca...the decor, setting, everything! The food!!!! Dear lord baby Jesus! The empanadas, the paella, and everything was so flavorful. Wow! You will not be disappointed. Portions are healthy sized and very fulfilling. If you're old school and service makes or breaks any dinning experience plus the food is exquisitely freshly prepared......THIS IS YOUR RESTAURANT!!!! read more

GREAT ATMOSPHERE GREAT SERVICE TASTY FOOD! Chef Masa and the team goes above and beyond food presentation and taste! Everything on the menu is worth trying!! The Turon is freshly made to order and is a delightful threat! WELL DONE !! Prompts to our food server David for taking care of our party. read more

Food are excellent!!! Uni pasta is the best in town !! Very nice environment God service read more

A friend recommended El Cielo to us so we booked a reservation for five. Parking is a challenge since there is not a designated parking lot, just street parking. The restaurant is very spacious so you are not sitting so close to other parties which is nice. Our server was excellent. The food was tasty (Pan Con Tomate with Jamon Serrano, Smoked Salmon, Calamari, Washugyu Steak, Seafood and Loco Pollo Paella). Some of the dishes were much too salty (Calamari, pickled vegetables that came with steak). Overall we had a nice evening though we may not return due to difficulty finding parking. It's great if you are in Waikiki and can walk to the restaurant. read more

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Great patio! We got there at 6pm and the sun was jussssst behind the building next door, so it was the perfect temperature. I loved the Pan con tomate with jamon, and the croquetas were phenom. I lived in Spain for a while, and can report that the paella was very authentic tasting, but the wagyu steak was the real winner of the evening. Amazing service and friendly staff! read more

Finally found a place for great tapas! I love the ambiance especially the Spanish music in the background! Loved the CROQUETATAS DE JAMON, BUÑUELOS, SHRIMP AJILLO and CHICKEN PATE! Their in house baguette was amazing too. Cheers to their SANGRIA I will be going back soon with more friends. read more

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Food 5 star Service 4.5 Ambiance 3 Only gave ambiance 3 stars only because of this large group of at least 10 that they seated in the main dining room that was super loud. To the point where you couldn't have a conversation with the person across from you. It's not the restaurant's fault but it is Waikiki so expect crazy loud ass tourists from time to time. Overall I'll give 4.5 Food was excellent! Best I've tasted in Hawaii Parking shitty. Expect to pay at least $12 at the nearest parking garage. Service was pretty good and food came quick I highly recommended. Hopefully you get lucky and come here on a quiet peaceful night read more

The menu "is inspired from [Chef Masa's] personal journey of his career bringing in traditional Spanish dishes with his own personal touches." Everything is aesthetically pleasing - the doors upon entering, the interior, outside patio, and the dishes. Tried a variety items from the menu. The dishes were diverse, special, and beautifully plated. You can tell how much love and pride goes into each dish. The garlic shrimp paella was our highlight of the night. If there's one thing you order at El Cielo, you must try the garlic shrimp paella. The caviar fideos was another great dish! The caviar and noodles complemented each other well. The buñuelos are cute little fish balls. So tender. We also enjoyed the pan con tomate with jamom serrano. In addition, the gallega style octopus dipped in the chimichurri sauce was delicious! Boyfriend's top 3 1. Paella 2. Caviar Fideos 3. Buñuelos My top 3 1. Paella 2. Caviar Fideos 3. Pan con Tomate with Jamon Serrano My boyfriend's fave dessert is the Crema Catalana (choco crème brûlée), and my fave is the Ube Basque Cheesecake. We had amazing service. Thanks to our personable and attentive server Lawrence. El Cielo exceeds in quality and service. We highly recommend everyone to go and support! read more

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Excellent experience! Everything was delicious and creatively interesting. Wonderful and I highly recommend it. We enjoyed the dates wrapped in bacon, seafood paella, and the Turin for dessert! We started with the Coco Saffron drink and The Mule! Both were exceptional! Go!!!! read more

Strolling down Kalakaua Avenue turn on Lewers Street in Waikiki one comes along a white Mediterranean Villa with a beautiful black wrought iron gate . Green and lush pathway entrance into EL Cielo Tapas & Wine by Chef Masa. Greeted by 2 lovely young Host Ladies as they welcome me into this stunning and brand New El Cielo Tapas and Wine by Chef Masa. Currently in their Soft Opening this week . Stunning , modern decor with indoor and beautiful outdoor dining that features a Mediterranean fountain feature . One feels as if they are transported into a dining experience in Spain or Portugal . Chef Masa has created many innovative dishes featuring Spanish and Portuguese influences . The Open Concept kitchen allows one to view as Chef Masa creates each of his dishes with precision and accuracy. Pedro is the mixologist very personable as well as knowledgeable in the wines and creative aperitif . Pedro recommended several dishes on Chef Masa Menu . I started with the Casa Monte Albariño which was paired with the most delicious empanada accompanied by Chef Masa chimichurri. The empanada was so flavorful with many delicious spices . Truly my favorite dish . For my entree I decided on the Gallega Style Octopus from the Region of Gallega. Accompanied by grilled roasted potatoes and the octopus was very flavorful and tender . The sous chef created the most impressive chocolate Crème brûlée called Crème Catalina . Highly recommend this dessert . Amazing wine selections from all over the world . Highly recommend dining at El Cielo Tapas and Wine by Chef Masa for the most innovative creations , knowledgeable and Chef Masa well trained team . I will definitely return to try the other delicious dishes . El Cielo is open daily from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm and May stay open later in the near future . El Cielo is great for special celebration, birthday , anniversary, date nights and business dinner meetings . Thank you Chef Masa for your excellent and innovative creations . Congratulations on the opening of El Cielo Tapas and Wine by Chef Masa . Aloha and mahalo read more

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Every dish was great and the service was also excellent. We had no room for dessert... read more

Have been three times. Enjoyed it every time. Lovely atmosphere, excellent service, and food. Fellow at the bar took pride in preparing me a special cocktail. read more

El Cielo - Cocktail, Bacon wrapped dates with blue cheese, Croquetas De Jamon - Tapas Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Wow, I came here because rigo was packed and it's run by the same chef. And, it's so much better than Rigo. Maybe because the parking is terrible and the location isn't good, so it was pretty slow, but the food was so perfect. My husband got the smoked salmon, and it was so delicious he ordered seconds! It's tapas so portions are small, but the paella he ordered was huge! The loco paella was good with an excellent socarrat. It could easily be shared if you're a smaller eater. I've had the seafood paella at Rigos and this tasted better. The restaurant isn't as busy, and the service was much quicker and attentive. Our server made excellent suggestions and explained everything on the menu well. As a note the Frozen Turron is to die for. Our server suggested it, and I'd had never hear of it. It's so light, like a frozen whipped cream, but less creamy, with bits of roasted almond and meringue. It was heavenly, and even though my husband said he was stuffed, he ate more than half. I didn't mind, as it was a large serving. The meringue gives this amazing texture, and such an amazing complexity with all flavors combined. It was slightly salty, fatty, and sweet, with some ripe orange bits breaking through with a dash of tart. There is no parking as a note, so we sucked it up and paid for the parking behind GS studios. It's like $5/hr, so be prepared to pay $10 for parking during the meal. I suppose we could've parked at the royal Hawaiian and bought something from the stores to get free validation, but we didn't mind paying for the convenience. If you're worried about it being too similar to rigo, don't be. The menu focuses much more on Spanish cuisine and it's the better for it. We can't wait to go again and try more of the menu! read more

Let's start by saying the service was on point. Our server was very versed on his menu and understood clearly how to sell it and recommend. Second, anyone could dine on just their pinchos and tapas. Everything on that menu, which we pretty much tried, was good to excellent, so if you feel like trying many different things, skipping entrees would be simply in order. A Japanese chef, that grew up in Argentina, and trained in Spain, has a great recipe here. Give this place a chance!!! read more

Amazing service and delicious food, would definitely recommend. We had the calamari to start followed by a beef empanada. Main course was the Wagyu steak and lamb chops. Topped off with an Ube cheecake. read more

El Cielo - Wagyu steak - Tapas Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Spanish Tapas on Waikiki! Overall everything was really good. And then we got a special of sautéed baby squid in olive oil and chili. I had never had it, never seen it, and never tasted it. It was the most surprising food I've eaten in years. I would go back again and again just for that. read more

Food and People are amazing. Repeat customer! I'm so looking forward to enjoying another visit.