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    Genius Lounge

    4.1 (656 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

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    GENIUS LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Genius Lounge

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    Drink menu
    Rhondi S.

    Great cocktail menu, from Hawaiian Mai Tai's to numerous delicious cocktails. Pupu Menus is delicious. We had the Kalua pork empanadas, which was delicious, local fair, and fresh Hawaiian menu items are varied and delicious. Service was fun and ambience is very casual, but excellent service. We had various foods from the Ramen, which was delicious, appetizers, or pupu's were authentic, flavorful, and delicious, salads are fresh, sushi and sashimi were fresh and delicious!! They do have a happy hour, which we miss, but we will be back

    Michelle M.

    Don't let the dumpy looks of this hidden gem fool you... I heard so much chatter about Genius Lounge that I knew we had to try it. When we walked up for our reservation, I told my husband, this place looks kind of sketchy. His immediate response: "the best places are always the ones that look like a dump." So, up the dirty staircase up to the 3rd floor we went. Upon entering, we were warmly greeted and brought to our table on the street side facing lanai. There were several other parties already seated enjoying their yummy smelling good. By the time we left around 8:15ish, the place was packed. We started off with cocktails (lemon drop for me and The Duke signature cocktail for my husband). Both delish! Going in though, we already knew we wanted to try a few different items from the menu (pickled veggies, spam katsu, Caesar salad, and the ribeye skewer). Everything was SO YUMMY! We of course ended our night with the Hawaiian brownie. I honestly could have eaten my own. It was SO GOOD! The prices are reasonable, and the service is outstanding. Genius Lounge from the outside looks very deceiving, but you will not be disappointed.

    Ahi Steak Lightly Seared
    Scott L.

    Genius Lounge is a hidden restaurant and bar located up two flights of external stairs to a not really identifiable doorway. No external awning or sign to tell you that a restaurant was located way at the top of the stairs. There is a beautiful mural to entertain you as you walk up the stairs though. The place is also one of the few restaurants that opens late for food but is on a not very well traveled Waikiki side-street. So you could easily miss the establishment by thinking....dark and not busy side street - sketch, two flights of stairs with no elevator in sight - how am I going to drink and navigate the stairs?, do I walk up two flights, look around, and turn around and walk back down if I don't like the looks of the place? What to do? What to do? Well, it's late and they have decent drink prices and serve food til 11pm. Thus, walking up and up and up and in. Greeted, walked past the nice looking bar, and seated on the external patio. Big menu, so it took some time to peruse in the dark. Finally selected edamame, drinks, ahi steak lightly seared, and a poki bowl. The fish was fresh but a bit pricey, but hey, you're in pricy Waikiki and not paying more for a RT Lyft or rental car & hotel parking to get you out of the area for less expensive food. At least not late tonight. So overall, food was decent, not mind blowing but you are getting fresh fish. Service was attentive and people were super nice, but it's just those external stairs.... Can't drink a lot and make it down those steps....

    Kahlúa pork nachos (Happy Hour)
    Ethan T.

    Solid place to visit and the staff is wonderful. Side street from the main road and up a flight of stairs above an oyster restaurant. Came in during happy hour and the dishes were excellent. Clearly smaller than their normal sizes, but ordering a couple of dishes to try new things. They will let you know happy hour is ending and once 6:30 will grab the menu. The Poke was very refreshing, nice amount of heat for the spicy. The Karaage was tasty, just a little over cooked for me. The sauces added a different level of flavor to include heat. It did not come with rice, ordered a side for the chicken. Kahlúa pork nachos were ok, the best part was the fried chips. The negatives was the bland pork and the fake cheese The facility places music but it does not drown out the ppl walking by that are loud or large vehicles. There is bar sitting with a TV on playing a local sport. Overall, highly recommend and if you come during happy hour, the prices seem to save you $2-3 per item.

    Poke
    Darryl M.

    Suoer nice cozy place to have dinner and cocktails in Waikiki off the beat Nice people great service food is really good too !

    Yuzu chicken
    Sarah S.

    Finally made it up the stairs to this cute cozy Japanese Hawaiian fusion bar in Waikiki. Got there in time for their Happy Hour from 5-6:30 which includes various drink options, appetizers, and a few protein dishes offered at about $2 off. We started with draft beers.My Japanese friend got the Kirin ($5) and I got the Coco Weizen which I preferred to the P-ssy Grabs Back both from the Honolulu Beer Company ($7). Taught the friend a new slang word when she wondered why our server was blushing and laughing when she delivered my drink. The tomodachi liked the kalua pork nachos which came with crispy fried wonton type chips and a cheese that resembled Velveeta. I prefer corn chips and shredded cheese but the flavor of the the pork was good. She also liked the curly fries with garlic ($1 more) which came with a glaze that made it look oily. Again the taste was good but I prefer my fries dry. My favorite dish was the yuzu chicken which tasted "sappari" (fresh) and flavorful with the citrus sauce which complemented the chicken while still allowing the flavor of the meat to come through. I was impressed that it was a whole chicken cut up into pieces bones in. We also got a green salad for a healthful element. Simple and served its purpose. All in all pretty good but I would have had a better dining experience if the AC worked better. A bit difficult since the doors are open and it was a hot day. A number of couples sat outside on the lanai which could be cute and romantic in cooler weather and later in the evening. If I return I want to try the poi noodles.

    Flaming ribeye
    Rachel C.

    A friend brought me here for the flaming ribeye, he said it was good! He was so right!!! From the moment we walked in, service was great, the menu was extensive, and the drinks are reasonably priced. We ordered the flaming ribeye and garlic shrimp. It was such a good meal, with a great vibe.

    Nancy L.

    The food here was decent -- if I were rating based on that alone, it might've been a 3 out of 5. Unfortunately, the service left a lot to be desired. When we were asked about drinks, we opted for water for the whole family since we had elders and kids with us, and it was very hot seating outside. In response, the two Asian women serving us exchanged glances and rolled their eyes -- completely unnecessary and unprofessional. When we asked for recommendations, one of them dismissively replied, "I don't know what you like, so..." which felt rude and unhelpful. Thankfully, we later had a much better experience with a different server -- the one with the beautiful flower tattoos (a fellow Jersey girl!) -- who was friendly, attentive, and made the rest of our visit more pleasant. I left a 25% tip just because of her. Still, the initial treatment soured the experience enough that I wouldn't return or recommend this place to others.

    Menu - more specials
    Simon K.

    Hawaiian Japanese fusion! What a splendid change from all the touristy restaurants in Honolulu. Our server Lisia was so friendly and helpful with many great suggestions from the huge menu that was also reasonably priced. The red mochiko chicken nanban was great and reminded me of a quality General Tso Chicken. If you like Orange Chicken then try this, it has a more refined flavor profile. We yearned for some rice to go with it so Lisia suggested we try their special Waianae Shaka Moa Egg Over Rice. First let me tell you that they pride themselves on using island eggs, apparently safer to consume raw than than mainland eggs. The dish is a mix it yourself bowl of rice with a side of raw egg and white soy sauce. We were a bit scared and only used the yolk, but overall it was wonderful. The tan-tan poi pasta tsukemen with island egg (soft poached) was awesome with homemade noodles, and mix it yourself soup broth of white sesame flavor and ground pork. Next time I'd like to try their Pasta Carbonara with Kalua pork soup broth. The original jumbo garlic shrimp came in a hot skillet with garlic butter. However we didn't like that we had to peel the shrimp. Also it was a rather muted flavor profile. Perhaps they should have added a splash of white wine while cooking. Anyway it's tough to beat the garlic shrimp that you can find all over the island. I wouldn't get this dish again. The Poke Nachos were wonderful and came with homemade wonton crisps as the chips. It was served in a large bowl with that island egg again. They told us to break the egg and toss the nachos around. It was great! I love it that they have Honolulu Brewery beers. The Coco Weizen beer was awesome! Unfortunately they don't have Sauvignon Blanc wine. Be sure to arrive between 5pm to 6:30pm to do Happy Hour! Overall adorable ambience on the 3rd floor of a small building. Like a residential premises. It feels like somebody has warmly invited you into their home.

    Poi noodle tsukemen
    Joe W.

    This hidden Gem is located on the third floor, with two cozy balconies or an inside Izakaya bar feel inside. They have friendly staff, like you would expect from a neighborhood bar, but you really go here for the food and drinks Genius Lounge is where Japanese-Hawaiian fusion comes together. You're getting crispy mochiko chicken, Kalua pork nachos, garlic shrimp, and drinks that hit just right -- all in a chill third-floor hideaway perfect for date night or drinks with the crew.

    Sangria
    Krysta W.

    Cute upstairs place with an awesome atmosphere. Very friendly people and food was really fantastic. Must get the Caesar salad. A little too much onions on the sushi roll but still very good

    Lovina A.

    I don't know why there's not more hype on this place! This restaurant is located on the 3rd floor and is pretty hidden, but they serve amazing food and drinks! Service was also really good and fast and they helped give us suggestions on what to order. We ordered a bunch of food and they were all delicious, but the poi noodles with poke was the highlight of our meal. It was so unique and different, but it was also really tasty. I ended up finishing up the whole meal to myself!! The steak were really juicy and tasty too. They also had a salmon and tuna carpaccio with tofu suace and that was amazing too! There's so many drink options so be ready to have a good time! Definitely check them out when you're in Waikiki!

    Sushi with Ahi
    Ben C.

    This restaurant is amazing. Every dish is absolutely amazing! The nigiri, sushi, short rib, gyozo, and more! Definitely tru this out if visiting or if you are a local!

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    Great upstairs location. The warm friendly staff and the plants and decor make for an inviting space.

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    Page 1 of 17

    Genius Lounge Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Genius Lounge

    Is happy hour every day?

    Yes it is. Mahalo

    Where's the best place to park?

    We walked there, but there is a hotel with a garage across the street. I'd avoid driving unless coming for a great distance. Downtown Waikiki parking is miserable.

    What're your current hours? I swung by at 10pm on a Thursday to a closed Genius Lounge :(

    View All 4 Questions

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    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    4.4(4.5k reviews)
    4.2 miKalihi
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    @fortunefoodfinds: "This deserves a ROUND of applause! Whether you're visiting or simply wanting…read morelocal grindz, HELENA'S HAWAIIAN FOOD is sure to make your trip and/or meal feel complete. Ordered our must-haves: Short Ribs Pipikaula Style, Fried Butterfish Collar, Luau Squid, Long Rice Chicken, Lomi Salmon, Lau Lau, Poi, Mac Salad, Rice, n' their complimentary Haupia, Onions, n' Salt. Food so Ono I highly recommend, this very well-known local Hawaiian eatery again n' again!" SERVICE: fast n' fully staffed INTERIOR: spacious with limited seating EXTERIOR: gets hot, have water n' benches available WAIT TIME: came on a Thursday afternoon n' surprisingly wasn't too busy. After joining the waitlist that you sign in through the provided iPad, I would say 30 mins before getting seated. PARKING: very small free lot in front, limited spaces OVERALL COMMENTS: haven't had Helena's in a while so I've been craving it. Each visit is satisfying n' the food is always so good. I can't remember the amount of pieces they used to give for a large order of Short Ribs Pipikaula Style, it seemed smaller this time, but either way you gotta order it along with the Fried Butterfish Collar. Their Luau Squid is so creamy n' delicious just like everything else, all Ono. You can't go wrong bc this is truly local Hawaiian food at its finest!

    I visited Helena's Hawaiian Food while vacationing in Oahu. I haven't been to Hawaii in years and…read moreall my friends raved about Helena's. I had to try it for myself. I expected the restaurant to have a long wait time, but we got lucky. There was no wait and my family and I were seated right away. As soon as we sat down, we were served with cups of ice cold water perfect for the hot humid day. We ordered Menu B which came with Kalua Pig and Pipikaula Short ribs with your choice of sides which we chose rice. We also ordered another plate of the short ribs and added haupia and mac salad. I wish I got the server's name, she was so cool but she explained all the food and how to eat the side dishes. They served sliced onions with pink salt and that was delicious. The short ribs were thick, tender, savory and had the perfect amount of fat. The flavor was addicting. The kalua pig was really good, perfect amount of salt and smoke flavor. The mac salad really well with all the food we ordered and that alone was already good. The haupia for dessert was the best way to end the meal. Everything was just heaven. Parking was easy since it was during the week and early in the afternoon, but there is street parking. The restaurant was clean, all the workers were really nice, and very attentive from start to finish. My sister and I split the bill, so I paid my portion and added a tip. The person processing my payment told me they had refunded my tip because gratuity was already included. How awesome is that?! I'm sure many other restaurants wouldn't have mentioned it and would have just accepted the extra tip. That level of honesty and service is what keeps people coming back, and it's one of the many reasons I would highly recommend Helena's to my friends and family who haven't been there yet. I plan to visit Hawaii again before the holidays and I'm definitely going to be eating here again. Mahalo to everyone at Helena's!

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    Highway Inn Kaka'ako - Mochiko Chicken

    Highway Inn Kaka'ako

    4.1(2k reviews)
    2.4 mi
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    So much aloha in this place. The hostess was friendly and cleared a table as our friends waited for…read moreus to arrive. Our server was informative and helpful. The restaurant is quite busy during weekday lunch, but the tables cleared pretty quickly. Two of us shared the sampler ($33.99 for pork lau lau, compared to $31.99 for chicken lau lau), although our server said that some individuals order it for themselves. The sampler came with lomi lomi salmon, squid lu'au, chicken long rice, poi, lau lau (pork or chicken), sweet potato and poi. It was filling for the two of us. We thought we might add something else à la cart, but we didn't need anything more. So good. We were surprised by the sweetness of the coconut milk in the squid lu'au. Everything was yummy! We were happy to have had such tasty Hawaiian food. Yay! There's a smaller paid parking lot in front of the restaurant. It was full, so we went to the parking structure behind. The restaurant validated for 90 minutes. Remember to scan the QR code in the parking lot after you park and to ask the hostess at the restaurant to validate online before you leave the restaurant.

    Highway Inn is a family-owned, third-generation Hawaiian restaurant featured on Food Network's…read moreDiners, Drive-Ins and Dives, serving traditional island comfort food since 1947. What better way for the first dinner on Oahu to be with some friends at Highway Inn. Two of us shared a pork laulau combo and a regular side of beef stew at the insistence of our friend. I also tried the kalua pork nachos and lau lau lumpia. Every bite was flavorful and delicious and had I not been eating throughout the whole entire day, I would have finished off the plate. It was that good. Comfort food since 1947? I can see it. Great eats.

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    Rainbow Drive-In - Solid little place for some local food

    Rainbow Drive-In

    3.8(6.1k reviews)
    1.0 miKaimuki
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    62 years in business

    Son wanted to go here. He saw it on TikTok. I got the. BBq pork meal. The pork was great. A…read moregazillion pounds of rice. I only at about 1/4 of it. The macaroni salad was macaroni with what seemed like just mayo. (Not my jam). He had the loco moco. He loved it. Again a billion pounds of rice. Kid had a hot dog. Didn't finish it. Quality was really low. Maybe we are used to dodger dog snap style flavorful ones. Anyway was a nice little meal and took a walk at the park a couple blocks away to walk off the massive amounts of rice.

    My family, across multiple generations, has been going here for decades, close to back when they…read morefirst opened. We have homes in the neighborhood. And we just can't go here anymore unless changes are made! We used to prefer them over Zippy's, but now they are less than 7-Eleven quality, while charging higher-end prices for the neighborhood. We have given them many chances, hoping it was just a fluke, but we have repeatedly been disappointed. Their chicken has become chewy and fatty, their rice is mediocre, and condiments such as mayonnaise are stripped down to the bare minimum quantity. Chile is poured so lightly that it is practically a minuscule amount. And their prices have continued to rise. I don't know if greedy people took over the restaurant who just don't care anymore, or what is going on. I remember when I used to take people here, and they would be impressed with the quality and quantity--plates just heaping with good cuts of meat, noodles, and rice. Those days are no more. As they say in Japan, the price performance is poor. Furthermore, their staff is rude. I can only imagine it was an owner working this day because it was a face I haven't seen that often. An older gentleman who appeared to be of Okinawan descent, working the cashier register, accosted us because I was privately discussing with my family about splitting different items with them. We were all ordering something, so he wasn't losing any money, but he told us about how prices are double in Waikīkī. First of all, it is rude to interrupt your customers that way. Secondly, we don't go to Waikīkī or care about Waikīkī. What happened to serving the locals? Third, Waikīkī has an assortment of restaurants, prices, and qualities, and they shouldn't be how you base your services. Lastly, I guarantee I could find a better deal in Waikīkī if I wanted to. Next time you're in the area, just go get a $6 bento or a $5 burrito from 7-Eleven next door. I assure you, the price performance and experience will be better. If Rainbow Drive-In is in the business of comparing themselves to other things, let's compare them to 7-Eleven and at least try to be better than them, right? I can get mochiko chicken from 7-Eleven for $6.99 that is similar in portion size and better quality. Meanwhile, they are serving their fatty, dry chicken for $16.75. Highway robbery! And they are not fancy, with their dirty picnic tables and plastic cutlery. They are just a step above a food truck, if that. Save yourself from the hype. They have gone downhill like a landslide. Go elsewhere.

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    Waiahole Poi Factory - Fresh, hand pounded poi, traditional staple of the Hawaiian people

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    4.5(1.6k reviews)
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    A legit 5 star hole in the wall along the highway. Absolutely worth the stop…read more The food is authentic and flavorful. Try the beef lau lau. I was so pleasantly surprised by it. Although everything was so good. Service was insanely fast and super friendly. Lots of outdoor tables with umbrellas, the place was pretty busy but we were able to get seating and we got our food in seconds.

    I can't even count how many times we've driven by this place en route to the North Shore. Finally…read moredecided to stop by for lunch. While they do have a parking, I suggest just parking on the street and walking up to the place. Signs clearly direct you to which window you can order food from and another for food pickup/dessert only ordering. We opted for combo plate (kalua pork and chicken long rice) w/ a side of poi. Both the kalua pork and chicken long rice were tasty but wished we had ordered rice instead so that i could mop up the delicious fat from the kalua pork! Loved the haupia pudding but wished they would give you a bit more. For dessert we ordered the tahitian sweet lady which was delicious! Wasn't a fan of the salmon lomi as it was pretty fishy for me. As we waited for our food, we noticed a dessert chilling on the ledge and joked with my wife that it was likely ours. Sure enough after 10 mins, the ice cream guy asked the cashier whose it was and at that time was our number called. Sadly, the ice cream had already started to melt. Wished they wouldn't have prepared the dessert until after our food was ready. Would definitely head back for their plate lunches and to try the sweet lady of waiahole dessert.

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    Waiahole Poi Factory - Amazing food. Ho'io salad is a must. Fresh poi is tops. You can't go wrong at Waiahole Poi Factory.

    Amazing food. Ho'io salad is a must. Fresh poi is tops. You can't go wrong at Waiahole Poi Factory.

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    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

    3.9(297 reviews)
    0.9 miKaimuki
    $$

    3.5 stars We wanted…read moreto try authentic Hawaiian food and came across this spot. The owner was very friendly and took the time to recommend dishes for us, including the laulau and lechon kawali. We also ordered the BBQ short ribs. Overall, it was a good experience trying Hawaiian food, but it's just not really our type of cuisine. The laulau was quite dry, and the preparation felt more like meat that had been boiled or cooked in liquid, which isn't something I usually enjoy. The lechon kawali had a crispy pork belly texture, topped with something similar to a salsa, but it didn't suit our taste either. Unfortunately, the cabbage served with it also had some black spots, which was off-putting. The BBQ short ribs were the highlight of the meal and the dish we enjoyed the most. We appreciate the experience and the hospitality, but the flavors just didn't quite match our personal preferences.

    Good local Hawaiian food restaurant. Street parking only. Small restaurant I believe it was Ono…read moreHawaii on Kapahulu before. Now it is named the Da Ono Hawaiian Foods. Either the owner or the manager seemed like a one man show. He was the server, bus boy, and chef. Husband got the pipikalua short ribs/he enjoyed. Sisters got the pork lau lau which came with sweet potato, rice or poi, lomi lomi salmon (more onion and tomato than salmon). i got the chicken lau lau, again stuffed with chicken, not enough taro leaves. The Haupia was smoky, so either burnt or something- inedible! Only six tables in the entire restaurant. The gentleman that was serving us I believe was also the bus boy, cook, server and cashier! Place is a hole in the wall with missing ceiling tiles and exposed panels above our table (gross!!). Sis loves this dive so we keep coming back!

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    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods - Menu

    Menu

    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods - Short Ribs Plate

    Short Ribs Plate

    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods - Menu

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    Menu

    Genius Lounge - japanese - Updated August 2026

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