We went here for happy hour and it was fantastic. We called in to reserve a table and got seated in their back patio area. Service was so friendly, ambiance was a quiet crowd, and the food was fantastic! My first time having loco moco and it was fantastic. Portions were perfect for two people to share, there's limited parking in the back for $1.50 an hour. We're already planning to come back with our family to catch the next happy hour! read more

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Fantastic flavors and interesting mix of Japanese and Americans tastes. Quick service and decent prices.

With all the reviews I expected more. This was the greatest disappointment I've had. The locco mocco meat was the worst I've ever eaten and I'm very forgiving when it comes to food. This is the first bad experience review I'm doing as well because it was that bad. Presentation wise it was great but taste wise I can do better and I'm not a very great cook. Sorry service was ok. read more

Genius Lounge - I forget what it's called but pic for reference - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Was looking for a nice bar area to have food and drinks with my significant other and found the Genius Lounge. Great selection of drinks from tropical to various whiskeys and sake for great prices. Also has a tasty food menu for apps and entries to go with your drinks. Very relaxed vibe to take it easy after a long day of sightseeing. read more

The food was delicious! The ribeye was tender, perfectly cooked, tasty sauce, with delish creamy mashed potatoes. Went well together. The Ahi with Furikake and crispy tofu did not disappoint. Sauces are curated perfectly. Extensive drink menu was excellent and took some time to review. Service was excellent- attentive and friendly. Almost forgot the pickled vegetables with just right sharpness. read more

Talk about a hidden little gem! We were blown away by how busy this place was literally minutes after they open but instantly found out why!! It's such a cute spot, located on the second floor you could easily miss it if you weren't looking for it. The decor and unique style ensure there is always something to admire while you dine. The food was excellent and we easily found items to graze on during their popular happy hour. I recommend trying the nachos, garlic shrimp, karaage chicken, and poke. I was the only person that didn't care for the curly fries so it was probably just me because there wasn't any left in the basket. Lots of drinks to choose from as they have a full bar but we went with Kiran on draft and the house sake and we were pleased with our choice. The staff was friendly and you can tell everyone was working hard to get food and drinks out, clear plates and glassware when needed and mage sure all the customers were taken care of. *Shout out to the guy working at one of the shops we visited who told us about his favorite spot! read more

Genius Lounge - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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It's our first night in Oahu & decided to try out Genius Lounge. From the moment we arrived, the service felt genuine & warm. The food was amazing! Especially the moco loco! Definitely returning once more before we return home. read more

Genius Lounge - Avocado Roll Shrimp Tempura Dynamite Roll - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Very quick service, drinks were made in less than 3 mins of ordering, loco moco pizza will blow your mind! food presentation was spectacular, the fried kulolo was the perfect dessert to end off the night. Tried the pickled green mango soda, not my favorite but it lives up to the name. Very pickled mango-ey read more

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The service was impeccable. Our server, Evelyn, offered wonderfully delicious suggestions that were on point. The food was a party in mouth with some delightful flavors (Kalua Nachos, Shoyu Ahi Poke, and Waianae Shaka Moa Egg over rice *raw egg w/white soy sauce). This was by far a superb place to eat. The ambiance is chill and the decorations eclectic, and the prices are good. Happy hour is from 5-6:30 which gives you the opportunity to sample various menu options at very affordable prices. I'll definitely come back again on my next visit. read more

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Hidden gem! I recommend everything! Kalua pork nachos (delicate wonton chips that won't cut up your mouth like tortilla chips do), mochiko chicken (delicious sauce), green salad (delicious Maui onion dressing), ahi garlic steak (creamy sauce that my husband really enjoyed), flaming ribeye steak (also comes with a delicious pineapple sauce and smooth mashed potatoes), beef tongue (my son loved this), and the ube dessert was a perfect finish. My critique would be to offer more vegetables other than salad. Outdoor seating was comfortable. Not too busy on a Friday night. I got Kirin on tap and my husband got two mojitos; mango and Lilikoi, not strong but he enjoyed them. We only live two blocks away so we will definitely be back! read more

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Don't be a fool! Head over to Genius Lounge for awesome food and drink! You'll be smarter after! How foolish of me to have never been here. I had to go twice within a week! And another time just last night! I've passed by Genius Lounge so many times along the left side of Lewers Street right before Kuhio Ave. It's a small three-level building. You take the stairs on the side all the way up. They don't have parking, so you gotta find it elsewhere. Inside has a charm. It's not a big place, but there's outdoor, indoor, and bar seating. All spacious and comfortable. A quick note is Happy Hour is only from 6-7PM. I didn't see anyone share this updated time. It's not 6-8PM! We missed it the first time around. Garlic Shrimp was amazing! Plump, tender, juicy, tasty, and flavorful shrimp Garlicky and buttery with a touch of lemon on top of mashed potatoes that soaked up all those delicious flavors. It came with 8 pieces. Second time around was not as good. Too much lemon was added which made it more sour and changed the texture to mushy. Happy Hour only had 5 pieces of shrimp. The Hot Stone Bowl Loco Moco was really good. Instead of brown gravy, it came with a Demi glacé sauce, which definitely enhanced the meaty flavor. The hamburger patty was tasty, tender, and well cooked. The TKG OK eggs were nicely cooked as well with a runny yolk, and all the whites cooked. Rice was well prepared with a nice crispy bottom. The mushrooms and onions are always the best (and needed!) in a Loco Moco. The main reason we came here was for the Grilled Beef Tongue. This was thick cut, so it was like a tongue steak. Wow, this was awesome!! It was unevenly cooked with one side less cooked, but it affected just a few pieces. The undercooked pieces were more tough. Good thing it was just a few pieces because the rest of it was so tender. Grilled very well with that char taste I'm always looking for. Very simply prepared with just salt and pepper. The scallion sauce was very good. It was more of seasoned scallions than a sauce, but it went very well with the tongue. HH Calamari: 1st time had calamari rings. 2nd were baby squids. Both times were good! Squids were well seasoned, well prepared, and very tender. The accompanying spicy mayo and tartar sauce were delicious as well. HH Small Kalua Pork Nachos: Get this! It's made with fried wonton skins instead of tortilla chips. It's much better! You can get a generous amount of tasty and tender kalua pork with cheese, pico de gallo, salsa, and scallions piled on top. HH Karaage: 5 pieces. But 5 big pieces of tender and juicy chicken. It comes with 3 sauces--all of which are good--tartar, habanero, and a sweet soy. If the chicken was bathed in that sweet soy, it would've been amazing! HH Garlic Fries: Ooo, so garlicky, so crispy! Didn't expect to have the tasty sweet soy mixed in! It was good, but the bottom was soaked with the sauce and the fries became too strong in flavor. HH Edamame: Soft and well seasoned. Pipikaula: This wasn't quite right. The meat wasn't tender, not seasoned enough, and there was a little funky sour taste. Dry-aged over 2-3+ months? Loco Moco Pizza with OK TKG Egg: This "pizza" was more like a flatbread. I like the idea, but it didn't quite work. It was just cheese, scoops of beef, and an egg in the middle with the demi glacé on the side. I feel if onions and mushrooms were added on the pizza with maybe the beef spread around than small Pattie's and base it with the demi, it'd be better? Red Mochiko Chicken Nanban: This was gooood! Big pieces of tender and juicy mochiko chicken. Fried to a nice crisp mixed with a tasty habanero garlic Nanban sauce. Overall, I really enjoyed all my visits to Genius Lounge. I definitely feel smarter! Happy Hour is great. Food is awesome. Good drinks. Atmosphere is nice. Servers are all very friendly, courteous, and attentive. Will come again!! read more

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Looking for a good location with ok food. This place has some great pictures and prices looked good. Very disappointed in the food. The service was good, but the food lacked luster. Very disappointed in the ribeye that was over 50 bucks and really should've been under 20. read more

Came here for after-dinner drinks! It's on the second floor of the building with stairs to the left. They have some signs, so you can't miss it. We were seated at the bar right away, but it took a while before we were asked what we wanted to order and no one checked in on us while we were there. There weren't many customers since it was raining that day. I got the fuji apple cocktail and it was great! Not too strong or sweet. My sister got the hello kitty tea and it tasted as sweet as it sounds. It had a slightly artificial taste to me too. Would come back to try the food + more drinks! The menu was honestly a bit overwhelming--so many options. read more

Genius Lounge - Back: Hello Kitty Tea; Front: Fuji Apple - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

OMG! What an amazing gem hidden in Waikiki! The service was phenomenal! Atmosphere so cute. The karage chicken and hot pot loco moco. DAMN!!! Sooooo good! Will definitely come back again and I live on the west side! read more

Genius Lounge - My son at the entrance of Genius Lounge. LOVE that they don't mind kids there! - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

we sat on the outside deck which was nice, the service was good as well with the server letting is order some happy hour items with just 5 min left! we were really excited about the creative menu but unfortunately felt the execution was a bit lacking. things were a bit over-flavored and texture was off. the shrimp was inedible. not sure if it was an off-night for the kitchen but we expected a bit more. read more

My girlfriend and I came here on a Friday night during our Waikiki trip for my birthday, and this place was awesome. 10/10 for food and vibes. We ordered a few dishes and honestly loved everything--especially the nanban chicken, which was crispy, flavorful, and unforgettable. Their drink selection is huge and well-priced--perfect for happy hour or a casual night out. The location is super convenient, right near the beach and in a fun, walkable area, but it didn't feel overly touristy or crowded. Great place to relax, enjoy food and drinks, and spend time with good company. Highly recommend! read more

Genius Lounge - Locomoco - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Genius Lounge is located within a block away from one of the more bustling streets of Waikiki. It's located on the rooftop of a small building and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The place gave more of a bar vibe if anything. We ordered various dishes and overall the food was pretty good. My favorite was the red mochiko chicken nanban, chicken glazed in a sweet sauce with a liiiitle kick. The spicy poke was also super yummy. The tuna melted in my mouth and the toppings complemented it well. I recommend the furikake ahi steak too. Overall, yummy food but seems more like a spot to grab drinks. read more

Genius Lounge - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Furikake tuna steak was amazing. Shrimp tuna was bland. Beef tongue was impossible to chew (and $40), although the waitress recommended it. Mai Tai had barely any rum, had to pay an extra $9 to add some rum. read more

Great service, food was amazing. Variety of food. very welcoming. Definitely come here read more

Service was great, super fast, cause the staff just all worked together to get us in and out. Oh and the food was awesome! Not pricey at all which is a plussssss. Yahhh you! read more

Genius Lounge - Ube macapuno ice cream - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Well what can I say? I am back here 3 years later and still a satisfied customer. Service was 100/100. The servers here make you feel like your home. They definitely have that Aloha spirit we all need. Food Quality was top notch. The Lilikoi margarita is on my top ten best drinks in town. Please go visit the Genius Lounge. I mean they are literally Genius. read more

Genius Lounge - Garlic Shrimp! - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We were seated quickly for a Saturday night, the ambiance was interesting, small bar spot on the top floor of a small building, the lanai seating was nice, not much to look at but the street below, but it was quiet enough to have a conversation. Ordered the loco moco which got a lot of good reviews on yelp. I did not like the demi glacé, it was really sweet (not in a good teriyaki way) and overall the dish was gross, that was not a loco moco. I wouldnt eat here again, just not my thing, I'm not interested in trying other dishes here. read more

Genius Lounge - Loco Moco - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The food was great. The pizza, kalua pork macaroni and cheese and Hawaiian ribeye steak was good but the Furikake ahi steak was not good. It tasted not fresh and has a fishy after taste which was weird because every tuna that I have eaten in Hawaii was fresh and incredible. The cocktails here were also not good and very light. Couldn't taste any alcohol so it's a pass. read more

Just had dinner at this restaurant and we really enjoyed it. The Ahi was very fresh and the vegetables as well. Oysters from Seattle were very good, service friendly and informal which we really enjoyed. Interesting mix of Hawaiian, Japanese and other cuisines with very good results. We recommend it. Ambiance is intimate with outdoor and indoor areas on the top floor. Judy and Stephen (Australia) read more

My friend and I came here looking for late night dessert. Super convenient to find,super close to the old Moose's. The service was good, very attentive and nice. Super cute decorations on the outside but not sure how it is inside since we decided to sit outside because it was cooler. She ordered the brownie which was okay but super sweet for me. Also got a pina colada which was good. The menu looked really good so will be back to actually eat lol read more

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I was surprised to learn this place was still around. First time was 12 years ago. It's been 12 years since we've been to this lounge bar and both times the service and vibe was great! Nothing changed except the food and I was told by our server the owner was different from back then? Not sure. Definitely recommend for a chill night out for good food and drinks. My favorite was the Hawaiian steak with the dipping sauce and the garlic Ahi dish. We will be back to try the loco moco, furikake ahi and that poi noodle dish oh and also the ube dessert. read more

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Amazing food, highly recommend!! Fresh, high quality, and leaves you feeling satisfied. The service was amazing as well. We had Lisia, I believe is her name, and she had excellent recommendations, very kind, and only elevated our experience. Cute little ambiance on the third floor with a view of the sunset outside. read more

This place was pretty good :)) It had good food, nice ambience, and really kind staff. It was one of the nicer restaurants my group and I went to during our trip and we all came out of it really happy and full. I would definitely recommend it(especially the appetizers) read more

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A neat bar that closes relatively late everyday. When I first came here, my bartender G had the best service. A year later I started coming here bringing my other friends from the island, they all agreed G was so fun and awesome to talk to. She remembers you even if it's been a year or a month. Great service is hard to find, but I'm glad every time I'm on the island, G's got me! read more

They have a pretty good selection for happy hour food items, such as their poki, kimchi tako and karaage. Their cocktails however, tasted mostly sweeter than the standard level of sweetness. read more

Genius Lounge is located in Waikiki on Lewers St. in a small complex upstairs. There is a small metered parking lot next to the place, but your next best bet is street parking or finding the best deal for parking in a safe public parking structure nearby. Genius Lounge has an extensive drink menu. They have a wide variety of mixed drinks, beers, soju, sake, and more. They have happy hour from 5-6 pm. In terms of food, the menu is also long with a lot to choose from. They have pupus, salads, pizzas, pastas, and other main dishes. We tried the fried tofu poke, omelette rice, Kalua pig nachos, Mochiko chicken nanban, and avocado shrimp dynamite sushi. Everything tasted okay, but I think out of everything we ordered my favorite was the nachos. If you've ever been to Chez Kenzo on King St., this place is very similar IMO. The big differences are the parking situation and the comfort of AC! (If those things matter to you.) I do also think the food at Kenzo is slightly better as well. read more

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Flew from California to have their Loco Moco again! This was my second visit, and their Loco Moco is hands down the best in Waikiki. I absolutely love their rich onion sauce and the high-quality patty. A must-try! read more

Genius Lounge - Loco Moco - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I'm a generous tipper. I think having "waitressing" experience in one's youth has that kind of effect on a person. Builds character. So imagine my absolute horror when I woke up the next morning and I happened upon my receipt to discover that I did not even come close to leaving a proper tip that acknowledged the wonderful local hospitality and aloha that I received that night. I confess that I might have overindulged that evening and in my state did not have my full wits about me when I signed my credit card slip. To my credit, I did accurately calculate 20% despite my state. But I lament that I did not properly acknowledge the "above and beyond" hospitality on this Christmas night. So to the dear staff that I spent last Christmas with, thank you! I had a real lovely...amusing...kickback time! A heartfelt mahalo to you! Mele kalikimaka and stay safe! read more

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Save time and money by not coming here . Plenty of other places nearby that can provide better serve and food . Wouldn't even give this place 1 star. First off . It took about 10 minutes before we were even greeted and give menus . They didn't look busy and we made reservations . When we were finally greeted, our waiter was incoherent , inattentive, and basically ignored us the entire time. He didn't ask us how we're doing , didn't ask us for refills on our drinks , and he forgot my order . I waited for half an hour before I had to ask where my order was . Our waiter made some lame ass excuse , didn't apologize for his incompetence, nor did he attempt to fix the problem . We were so upset we paid and left . The food . We ordered the kahlua pork nachos , edamame, and chicken nam ban. Edamame is edamame... can't really go wrong . Kahlua pork nachos sounded promising . The pork itself was good ... that was it . Too much salsa that was plopped on top of the pork . There was nothing amazing or memorable about this dish . The chicken nam ban was too salty and saucy .... Again nothing memorable about this dish . Now to my forgotten order . I ordered the loco moco because I saw on social media how this was the best loco moco around . Too bad I couldn't test the validity of this claim . Also we were charged $5 for our soda refills . Refills . Note sure if this is normal ( we are not from Hawaii) but we found that $10 each for our coke and Diet Coke is a little ridiculous. ( btw , we had to ask for our refill, because once again our waiter didn't even know we existed ) Overall this place was a huge disappointment and i unfortunately got duped by the TikTok and IG post about this place . Would never come back nor would never recommend this place to anyone . Ever . read more

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!! Made a last minute reservation and was seated outside. The server was super friendly and had such an amazing energy to him. He was quick to bring us out our drinks and food. The food is insane!! Fusion mix of local, Japanese, Italian, Korean!! It is definitely some of THE BEST food on the island, and trust me I like to eat!!! The carbonara pizza and garlic chicken were our favs! Even their salad with their dressing was amazing! But what made our night so special was that our server, with out me knowing went out of his was to write on a plate happy birthday with my name on it!!! And brought out a desert with a candle and they sang to me!!! This was so special and sweet and truly made me so happy. Thank you for an amazing time!! read more

Genius Lounge - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It was sorta last minute reservation made after meeting our new puppy. We came here for dinner and it's in the complex on the 3rd floor. We started with lilikoi mojitos, calamari and curly fries since we had the kiddos. They loved the curly fries but calamari could be better. We were getting full so my husband and I decided to order the furikake ahi which was good. I would definitely come back and try some of their other dishes. We had outdoor seating which was nice. read more

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Stumbled across this gem late one night and glad we came in. I honestly can't remember the names of the items we got but they were all delicious. Nothing to complain about. Between the 3 of us we polished off about 4 dishes along with a few cocktails. No item was spared. The sushi and the ribs had to have been my favorites out of the options we got. But I'm sure what ever you order, you won't be disappointed. This place is definitely receiving a 2 thumbs up on my book. read more

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It is tucked upstairs on the 3rd floor of the building, above 2 other restaurants. There is a back lanai, dining room & bar & a front lanai. We chose the lanai facing over the street view, wasn't much to look at, but it was nice to be outside. Exteriors had a little bit disconnect as it looked like a Mexican restaurant, but the interior was super cute and looked like someone's home with a Holiday tree. Drinks were only Ok, didn't really enjoy them as much as the food. Tried the house made noodles with the pork & Parmesan Alfredo dipping sauce, very tasty. The noodles had a great chew & even tasted good the next day. The Black sauce chicken appetizer was delicious. Just get it, lol, as were the pork gyoza. Wait staff was nice, and gave some good recommendations. read more

I'm super surprised that there isn't a line for this place. The drinks here are awesome. We got the guava mojito and it was amazing. The food here is incredible. We got grilled beef tongue and loco moco pizza. Both are super delicious. Highly recommend this place. read more

Genius Lounge - Loco moco pizza - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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First meal in Oahu after landing pretty late!!! Thank goodness this place closes at midnight and there was absolutely no wait!! We were all starving so we got: -Kalua Pork Nachos!!!!! THE STAR OF THE SHOW BEST nachos EVERRRRR they use wonton chips and they're literally perfectly light and crispy (kept breaking when I'd try to scoop the toppings tho) we ended up just eating it with chopsticks BUT SO FREAKIN GOOD I'd just get this next time hahah -Kauai Garlic Shrimp: superrrrr flavorful and lots of garlic all on a bed of mashed potatoes!! Paired very well if ya ask me -Garlic Ahi Steak!!! Yum came with a garlic cream sauce and it was sooo goooood. The ahi was so fre$h, soft and just melts in your mouth!!!! -Kalua Pork and TKG Island Egg Carbonara: so rich and creamyyyyy, def a good dish to share!! I felt like it was enough and there was 4 of us -Loco Moco: I never order loco mocos anywhere so I'm not sure what's considered good or not but overall, loco mocos are ok LOL def on the heavier side 11/10 SERVICE!!! read more

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