First time trying GOEN and I must say the food was good!!! We first started with some appetizers. The Burrata was really good!! The sourdough was nice and crispy, but I wish they offered a few more pieces of sourdough. We loved the fry basket!!! Deep fried portobello mushrooms, that didn't taste like mushrooms. I loved the braised beef short rib!! The short rib was moist, soft, flavorful and very filling. The other two main dishes were just ok and nothing to rave about. We will be back and will try their other dishes. read more

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I've been past this restaurant so many times and I could kick myself for not dining here sooner! My bestie and I stopped in for lunch and we were quite pleased with our dining experience. Goen is yet another wonderful restaurant by Roy Yamaguchi. This restaurant supports local farmers and truly showcases all of our delicious local flavors found here in Hawaii. We ordered and enjoyed: Crispy Brussels and cauliflower- I forgot I was eating vegetables as this dish was so amazing! Fresh cut tagliatelle and mushroom bolognese- this wasn't on the lunch menu but they kindly agreed to make this for us. I cannot describe how amazing this dish was! Fresh pasta, flavorful Bolognese.. I'd recommend this dish! Misoyaki butterfish- this is always my favorite dish when I dine at Roy's. I loved all of the veggies, tsukemono and lomi tomato's! Utterly delish! Great service, perfectly plated dishes and amazing food.. I'm a fan!! I'll be back soon to try their dinner menu and drinks!! read more

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I was hiking and browsing around in Kailua with a friend and we were in the mood for cocktails, so when we saw the specials board at GOEN, we went in, and we were so glad that we did! We visited on a Sunday afternoon and didn't have a reservation. They have a very cute outdoor seating area, but it was full when we arrived and we were seated inside. Our server brought us water and handed us a bowl of seasoned edamame. They were excellent, with a little kick to them and we requested a refill, which they brought out with our food. We are currently trying to figure out the seasonings so that we can make them at home! We started with Spiced Mai Tai's. They were great - not too sweet and a nice twist from the spice. I went to GOEN with my "sharing friend" so we ordered about half of the appetizer menu. The super creamy Burrata cheese is served with toast, pesto, arugula, and tomato slices. It is kind of a MYO bruschetta. We really enjoyed this and requested extra toast to finish our serving. We also had the Brussels sprouts and Cauliflower - well cooked with a nice creamy sauce. The eggplant was grilled with some wasabi sauce on top, which made it taste like a mild sushi roll, so was a fun change. Second round of drinks - an Whisky Sour for her and a Lychee Martini for me. The report on the sour is that it wasn't too sweet, but she liked the sour mix. I love lychee, and found the martini nicely sweetened and fruity from the lychee, but without the really harsh vodka taste. Both were greatly enjoyed. We also had yuzu cheesecake and a sushi roll. We were glad to have tried and might return when we're on that side of the island! read more

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We've always walked by this fine establishment and seen the outdoor seating area packed; with a day off sans kid and a reservation, we were able to snag lunch there for an early Valentines date! Parking was easy, as the lot was pretty empty. While the high prices might discourage, the food flavors and quality was superb. Our starter was the salmon bruschetta and it was tasty, albeit heavier than we'd anticipated full of cheese. The misoyaki butterfish was perfectly cooked and flavored, with the accoutrements on the plate had a precisely prefect ratio to the fish. The gnocchi was flavorful and decadent, delicious to the last bite! Of course the drinks were well balanced and I didn't taste excessive alcohol, but I can say I felt it! Lastly, the dessert was a dense cheesecake with the lilikoi sauce which made these flavors blend perfectly. I'd love to come back for dinner! read more

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Food was alright, service was better, lotsa parking. Duck breast was nice, short rib slightly wanting. read more

Made a special drive to Kailua to try this restaurant. The drive was worth the dinner we had. Server was nice and we had a cute table for two outside on the lanai. No views accept of strip mall‍. They were definitely short handed but our server took care of us. Food didn't disappoint, we loved all the items the server suggested. The appetizer could be enough for your dinner. Kampachi and Chicken wings were amazing! read more

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If you're lucky enough to get Amy (Aimee) as your server or bartender, you're in for the best experience you could ask for. She's the kind of person that makes you feel like a VIP from the second you sit down. Drinks? Always on point. Service? Lightning fast but never rushed. Personality? Off the charts--she's got the perfect mix of professional and fun that makes the whole vibe next level. read more

I dined at Goen the week of 11/15/2020. I was in a group of 3, and it was a first for all of us dining at Goen. The evening started off well; we showed up for our 6:00pm reservation on time and were seated immediately. NOTE: Reservation made via the open table app. FOOD: We shared 3 appetizers to start: the spicy tuna roll, the fry basket, and the charred Spanish octopus. Of the 3 choices, it seems the sushi was the winner that night. Dinner entrees/choices included the fall harvest gnocchi, the duck breast, the mahi mahi, and another order of the spicy tuna roll. SERVICE: The service was absolutely horrible. Our server that evening, it seems, was pulling double duty as bartender and server. From what we observed, she seemed to be the only person in our section responsible for taking food and drink orders. She did such a poor job of checking on us, and we had extremely long wait times for things such as a refill on our water. She constantly forgot about our table the entire evening. And the absolute worst part: She offered no apology for the long wait times and non-existent customer service. It was horrible. We were at the restaurant for almost 2 hours, and that was mainly because we waited so long for the appetizers, someone to check on us for our dinner order, and waiting an even longer period just to get the check. BOTTOM LINE: I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

OH MY this is a must if you're in Kailua! I went with a couple friends for dinner and it was a fan favorite by all. We started with the brussel spouts and burrata appetizer, which were both amazing. All the food was fantastic, and our waitress was perfect and the food was prepared so quickly. Overall, super cute outdoor space for dinner or happy hour! I'll definitely be back! read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Beets & Sweetland Farm's Roasted Feta Cheese with Chicken - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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Came here to celebrate our first girls night out since the pandemic. It was my first time and I was super excited to finally try this restaurant. We called to make reservations even though we were coming in early. Just in case. The place was pretty empty when we arrived. Just a couple of other patrons seated. We were taken to one of the tables along the parking lot. We didn't request outdoor seating but we were never asked either if we'd like to be inside or outside. It's ok, it was a breezy day, so we weren't uncomfortable. We were greeted by our server where she filled our glasses of water and dropped off a filled bottle of water for us to refill. We all ordered a round of their lychee martini. Nice, sweet and hit the right spot. We all ordered an app and main to try. Crispy Brussels w/cauliflower, fry basket, burrata, bruschetta, kochujang glazed ribs, truffled gnocchi and misoyaki butterfish. As we were sitting and waiting I noticed my feet were tingling. I finally realized there was a trail of ants! Luckily, only 2 found their way to my foot and by placing them on the raised table legs, they seemed safe there. However, there are a ton of chickens roaming around us. And they nest in the trees right along the tables. If you are not a fan of wild chickens, make sure to sit outside. Haha. Ok, back to the food. The apps came out one by one. Brussels I wouldn't recommend. They were just meh and missing some seasoning. Ribs were a little chewy but the kochujang sauce was good. Their version of the bruschetta was more like French bread pizza. Bread was nice and soft but nothing special. The stars of the apps... the burrata and fry basket. The burrata was nice and creamy. The fry basket are not fries. It's portabello mushrooms lightly battered and fried. Pretty much the same thing at Appetito. Still yummy. The mains were good as well. The gnocchi was nice and creamy with a slightly chewy consistency and came with a piece of burrata on top! Just made your tummy nice and warm. Hahha. The misoyaki butterfish was cooked perfectly. Marinated well and nice and flaky. Very different way to serve on top of somen noodles. I think I would've preferred it with plain white rice as the fish and noodles were competing with flavors with the ponzu sauce. And of course we had to end with dessert. We hand to hunt our server down to order them as she went MIA once apps were served.... Someone else delivered our mains. The yuzu cheesecake was nice and creamy. There was a layer of yuzu gelatin on top which was pretty sour. My other friends got the halo halo which came with a scoop of açaí sherbert. All in all the food tasted good. But portion size and pricing is quite high. I mean $45 for a small piece of butterfish and somen noodles? It's a nice change of the norm place, but definitely not a weekly thing. read more

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Fantastic! Dined w a vegetarian friend & and every thing was delicious, fresh & surprisingly filling. Lovely chill Al fresco vibe & great service. Absolutely love to come back & try more items! read more

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Excellent, wish the dinner menu was available for lunch you must try the french fries they are beyond compare. The black cod is outstanding and so is the avacado toast read more

Delicious food but kind of pricey for small plates. Only open for dinner and no signage outside so kind of hard to find.

Been wanting to go here for a while finally made it we live on the other side of the island so we decided to go do some shopping at whole foods and try the place out... The portobello mushrooms were incredible the ahi was delicious but they should double the portion it's way too small for the money the butterfish was kind of a disappointment even though it was good but it's not even too close to what Roy's is so I was a little disappointed cuz I was expecting a Roy vibe on the butterfish however the tiramisu was off the charts service was incredible our waiter was awesome and we're going to go back and try other things read more

We decided to give Goen a try and glad we did. We were seated outside which was nice. Our waitress was friendly and professional. A bowl of ono complimentary garlic spicy edamame arrived while we looked over the menu. Refer to the photos to see our delicious food! The manager, Christine, stopped by a couple of times to talk to us. Christine made sure we were well taken cared of. The rest of the staff did an excellent job as by removing our plates, checking if we needed anything else. A large pitcher of water is at each table. Very nice to have an upscale restaurant without going to Waikiki or town. We'll be back! read more

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So I haven't been recently but what I remember, the food is fantastic and the service was always so great . My Grandpa Bruce went to this place at least once a week for a long time, so much so that he was a regular . When we visited him I knew at least one place we were going to go to. He passed away last month and I'm thinking of all the fun memories with him and eating here is one of them. read more

Great spot in Kailua that offers indoor and outdoor dining during this pandemic. From the time we walked in, service was excellent! Better than the service at Roy's Hawaii Kai location. The staff aim to please their customers. Everything we ate was super delicious and pleasing to every taste bud. Selection of food is not huge, but this is a good thing. The brussel sprouts appetizer is a meal itself; ask for extra dressing. The fish and chips were the best I've tasted. The sweet potatoes had a flavorful caramelized taste to it that made for a nice surprise. Add the dressing from the brussel sprouts and you'll be pleased. The portobello mushrooms was awesome. Again, add the dip from the brussel sprouts and you'll love it even more. For dessert, we tried the halohalo. It's far from the traditional Filipino halohalo, but certainly with a nice creative flare in taste and presentation. Serving size is large so sharing this after a huge meal is perfect. Goen is definitely a place to go when you're in Kailua that offers a wonderful indoor experience with excellent food, service, and ambiance. Parking is free and you can walk it off visiting the quaint shops in the area. Plan to return for more! read more

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It has a nice cool vibe. It's contemporary setting with Asian-inspired small plates from lauded chef, Roy Yamaguchi. We ordered Roasted Branzino and Crispy skin smoked salmon with squid ink pasta. Roasted Branzino was buttery texture and Crispy skin smoked salmon with squid ink pasta was good. I enjoyed the foods and atmosphere. I don't know if I would return. Goen dining bar is more casual than Roy's or Eating House 1849 tho. read more

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The food and service was a refreshing blend of ambience, hospitality, and savory flavors

My wife's best friend took her to Goen's to celebration my wife's belated birthday. Im glad I was the third wheel. Our host/server Danny was pleasant and her service was excellent. To start we shared the chicken appetizer. Crispy chicken wings in an Asian sauce. Cooked to perfection with a light shoy sauce with a hint of chili pepper on the bottom. For our entree we all ordered the seafood combination. Tiger shrimps, scallops and a crab cake with corn on the cobb and potato bites. This was worth the $28.00. For dessert my wife and her girl friend had the bread pudding. Being a Roy Yamaguchi restaurant you expect something extraordinary. The bread pudding had bits of purple potato in it. I had the halo halo which too was a bit different. They have limited dine in hours and a abbreviated menu. Suggest you call. Be safe and support local. read more

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I made reservations through the OpenTable app for an early dinner on a Friday. Upon arrival we were seated promptly. Like most restaurants Goen has transitioned over to online menus using a QR code. Call me old school but I miss regular menus that I can hold, however I did appreciate the fact that the online menu featured pictures of the menu items. We ordered the Fry Basket, Ko Chu Jang Pork Ribs & the Sashimi Moriawase for appetizers. I would recommend them all! For dinner we ordered the Shrimp Scampi Tagliatelle and the Beer Battered Fish and Chips. The fish & chips came out piping hot, the batter looked super thick but it was actually light and crispy! The tagliatelle, fresh pasta, jumbo shrimp and the creamy garlic lemon butter sauce...mmm!!! We ordered the cheesecake for dessert. I wanted more crust, and I wanted it to be colder, but it was cheesecake...nothing too special about it. Overall we enjoyed GOEN. I'd return but ask to be seated inside or closer to the bar to avoid the chickens running around out there. :) read more

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Rating is primarily for the over priced $42 Chiraishi bowl that I got. While the fish was fresh enough and variety interesting, the amount of food was underwhelming (by comparison at nearby Kizuna in Kaneohe, I got a Chiraishi bowl with about twice the amount of fish, and fresher, for $24). My son really liked the Ko Chu Jang glazed pork rib appetizer but was not impressed by the Crispy Brussels sprouts and cauliflower appetizer, which was hardly crispy and lacked flavor. The service was very good, our food came out quickly, and a reservation was necessary (when we showed up for our reservation at 6:15 PM on a Monday night, walk-ins were told that the wait would be 55 minutes) read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Chirashi ( missing one pice of eel I ate before the photo) - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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A friend who frequently visits the island stopped here for a meal and recommended that I try this during this trip. After an interesting morning at two beaches, we drove back into town and walked in around 1 pm for lunch. After finding the right entrance to this shopping center, we found a parking space a few aisles from here. Our party of eight was led to a covered outdoor table off the street side of the restaurant. Our waitress was friendly, easy going, and helpful in guiding us through the menu selection in aiding us on decisions. Besides sharing the crispy brussels and cauliflower (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=fyZLMtRxNETG6xT6K7WBsA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), which were delicious, I order the unagi and pork belly donburi (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=-k8dbgU0-r4-nxhOBPFbaA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) for my main meal. Nice post beach meal as it wasn't very heavy though there was the rich fattiness of the pork belly. I wished the pork belly had a little more interesting flavor as it was on the plain side, but the sous vide egg more than made up for it... hard to beat a runny egg though I forgot to bust it and take another photo of it. The restaurant was relatively empty maybe three or four other tables of diners, likely since it was a Tuesday mid afternoon. Our drink glasses were refilled and empty plates and used silverware removed promptly. The menu varies from Roy's other restaurants likely since the chef for each restaurant crafts his or her own dishes. The chef draws from his Filipino roots so flavors lean towards that cuisine palate. Hope to stop in one of these evenings on a future trip to explore more dishes and it's probably a different menu and vibe here evenings. read more

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If you're looking for a place in Kailua with a chill atmosphere, this is the place to be. Away from the crowds in downtown Honolulu. The food is delish! My fave are The Fry and Crispy Brussels and Cauli that we're suggested by our nice server. The butterfish is perfectly seasoned and cooked. Drinks are all great! Nice ambiance, good food, good service. Highly recommended. Awesome job Goen! read more

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Didn't even realize this was another Roy's restaurant until we had sat down! They are operating during the Covid-19 crisis, requiring masks when not seated at the table. Servers also wore masks and we were seated very socially distanced from other tables. It's also nice since it is all outdoor seating. We ordered light because we came around 2:00pm. We ordered the Brussels Sprouts & Cauliflower appetizer, the Smoked Ahi Cobb Salad, and the Smoked Salmon appetizer. The Brussels & Cauliflower dish was the table favorite. Perfectly prepared, super flavorful, and overall delicious. I would definitely order again. The smoked salmon spread was also delicious and a great option to share with a few people as an appetizer! The fish eggs are a great, unique touch! The Smoked Ahi Cobb had so much potential, but the ranch was extremely fishy, which made it just a bit un-enjoyable. We also expected the ahi to be prepared medium-rare but that was a mistake on our part. It just wasn't tickling our fancy. When you check in on Yelp, you can redeem a free dessert which changes daily. On our visit, it was a butter & brownie mochi dessert which was INCREDIBLE! I would definitely like to come back and try entrees and enjoy the atmosphere again! read more

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I have lived in Kailua for more than 40 years and this was my first time going to Goen. I was so pleasantly surprised at the food, service and overall experience. We went for lunch. The buratta caprese appetizer is a MUST! We also tried the Brussels sprouts and they were exceptional. I was quite full just with the appetizers but still managed to dig in to my avocado toast. It was a large portions with fresh greens, perfectly crisp bacon and buttery avocado slices. The servers were attentive. They checked on us frequently and our water was always refilled without asking. The cook staff who brought out one dish even took the time to fill our glasses. They allowed us to sit a while to finish some work business. It wasn't busy at the time so we used this to work, enjoy our food and linger a bit in a comfortable setting. Thank you Goen staff for a wonderful time. I'll definitely be back again soon! read more

An update since my last visit. Don't miss this spot. The servers are very quick and attentive. Food is so good. Try the burrata for appetizer-you can order extra bread to have with your pasta. The gnocchi is heaven-so full of flavor and even more burrata with truffle-wow is all I can say. Fish and chips is always a winner. My friend loved the salmon with ink pasta. Easy parking, clean and perfect for lunch. read more

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Finally checked out the newest addition in Kailua, GoEn. My particular taste doesn't like not having an actual enclosed area to sit. Don't much like all the elements all the time. While I know the catering is towards the tourists this sits well. Staff is awesome, our waitress was super friendly and made all the right suggestions. While she did say that you could trick kids into eating the mushroom fries, when we got them, there was absolutely no way a kid would fall for that being normal fries haha nonetheless, they were delicious! Bao Buns were a little on the dry side for me, even with more sauce I think the meat might have been overcooked(slightly!) Spicy Ahi was great, I'd order another easily! Poke well flavored, true to Hawaiian poke with shoyu and limu. When entertaining visitors, I'd easily put this on my list of spots to hit up. Thank you for the hospitality!! read more

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We ventured to the other side of the island for dinner and it was an enjoyable surprise! Goen has a great menu, nice location and friendly service. The Howzit Goen salad was fantastic and next time I would have it as an appetizer. The portable fries are out of this world. Highly recommend taking a 30 minute drive to escape the busy Waikiki are for this wonderful escape! read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Howzit Goen? Lovely - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

This is truly the gem of kailua restaurants. The ambience is open air, fresh and clean.The wide variety of food is delicious with beautiful presentation and something for everyone! The staff is what makes this restaurant more inviting, professional, friendly, and courteous, always willing to please! We highly recommend this exquisite dining experience!, read more

Came here on a Wednesday night. We got the pork belly to start and it was definitely the star of the show! I also ordered the koolau sour (who doesn't love an egg white cocktail) and it was the best whiskey sour I've had in my life. The duck was delicious. Fell asleep little short on the Basque cheesecake (was bitter burnt, not caramel-y burnt) but we got the deconstructed smores and that was delicious. Service was great, vibes were amazing! Would absolutely return, lots of appealing menu items. read more

What a cute spot for anybody: friends, family, lovers. The decor & lighting was just so beautiful. One of my besties & I decided on a dinner in Kailua as neither of us usually frequent the area. Analyzed the menu & photos on Yelp and decided on GOEN Dining + Bar. I was so happy about our choice! We had reservations & were seated fairly quickly upon arriving a little before our reservation time. We ordered two appetizers: crispy brussel sprouts & cauliflower & the fry basket made with portabello mushroom strips. Love the crispy cruciferous veggies and the tangy, yet creamy flavor. The portabello mushrooms were also battered and fried very nicely. We couldn't finish it, so I took it home, popped it in the air fryer & it was still so crunchy & yummy! Our main dishes were so good too. I definitely recommend the short ribs. Get it. You won't be disappointed. Short ribs were flavorful and tender. I am a rice girl, but the creamy polenta was delicious. A great pair to both the salmon and short ribs. Lastly, the yuzu lemon bar cheesecake... essential. Order two! Amazing service, foods, & atmosphere. Make your reservations now :) read more

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GOEN not very big yet with room to expand into. Place is casual yet upscale. Very Kailua. Located in the space formerly occupied by Macy's. Goen has done a great job of bringing this space into the twenty first century. Very nice. Service was very friendly yet efficient. And the manager worked closely and insync with her wait staff. Great teamwork. Where this place falls short is the execution of the food. One appetizer, a salad two entrees, and a two desserts later this is the verdict: Fry basket of portobello fries - 5/5 Light and crispy, tasty and perfect portioned. Favorite part of the meal. Shrimp salad - 4/5 Refreshing flavor. Was planning to order the crab salad that I read about in other reviews unfortunately that salad changed into this shrimp salad. Amount of shrimp was a bit sparse. Opakapaka with soba - 3/5 Seasoning was nice, if anything a little underseasoned. Just the way I like it. Unfortunately the fish was grossly undercooked. The flesh was tough and undercooked. Fork test could not get any flake on the fish. Mushroom fettucine - 2/5 Was just the opposite. This dish had flavors that fought against each other. It was ohhh sooo salty making it inedible. The slice of chocolate cake - 4/5 Given with YELP checkin was delightful. Would consider ordering this again in future. Halo halo - 5/5 And wow, so refreshing it was. Would come back to GOEN for dessert only and for the halo halo. Based on the excellent service, can't wait to return to try other things on the menu. read more

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While traveling up the coast we came to downtown Kailua and found this excellent restaurant. We didn't have reservations but were sat right away. Our server had our drips and apps out quickly and they were very attentive. I ordered the fry basket and the Portobello mushrooms melted in my mouth. They were amazing! I also ordered the burrata caprese that was delicious! My buddy ordered the goen chirashi bowl and loved it. Great experience, wonderful service and beautiful area of the island. read more

Great food and service. I love coming here for an evening drink because it is so open to kailua town. Only thing is you can't order food at the bar which is a bummer to take a whole table if dining alone! Even pupus at the bar would be more acceptable. read more

Goen Dining + Bar - Shiso - Sparkly Drink - Pan Asian Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

I really enjoyed our cauliflower and brussel sprout appetizer, and the sushi roll we got was yummy too (smoked salmon?). My husband said his pork ribs were good, but not outstanding. My daughter loved her misoyaki butterfish, and I thought the arabiatta pasta with burrata was tasty. We had the bosque (?) cheesecake which was also devoured despite all of us insisting that we were full. It's nice to eat outside on the patio, but it is a little strange that there's just a line of trees separating us from the parking lot...Also, our service was fine, but not super friendly if that makes sense. Our waiter seemed like he was a little bored--he just lacked enthusiasm and charisma. read more

The wait time from seating to receiving the meal was particularly longer for a table of four. It was an hour for our food to come after ordering. The meal was subpar and lack flavor. The staff were kind but lack initiative in customer service. We waited most of the time for service until we took action to get someone to take our order. The environment was nothing special that separated it from other outdoor dining experiences, not a good place to eat if it's raining. The pros are complementary appetizers for kids and free yelp checkin dessert. My last thoughts, for the price and food and service I would have rather gone to Roy's. read more

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I come here for happy hour only so this review is on happy hour. Happy hour is only at the bar. I haven't found the bar particularly crowded, but it can be when I show up because I usually go with my siblings. Happy hour features some beers and food for 5$ and house wines for 6$. It appears that the food items may switch out as I recently had tried their pork belly sliders. The atmosphere is casual but not "da kine" casual with board shorts and tank top. It's more of the make and effort casual vibe. Our group is usually one of the larger groups going to happy hour here. Most of the others who go to happy hour are couples and the occasional singleton. Service is ok, you may have to get the attention of the bartender but they are quick to help. Food is decent and you can't go wrong with 5$ items. I like their fries but you really can't mess up fries. Drinks are standard. Parking is in the large shared lot and the only time I've had an issue with parking is during farmers market. You're welcome to join me for happy hour as I do like coming here. read more

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I saw this place featured on "Where Hawaii Eats" (maybe it was filmed awhile ago, not sure), so my friend was surprised I had already heard of this place when we walked by and she mentioned it was a place she'd been wanting to try. We ordered a few dishes to share: fish and chips (lightly fried without being too oily, nice flavor, a favorite), kale salad (healthy, loved the breadcrumbs sprinkled on top), and burrata (always love burrata, good balance to our meal with toasted bread and veggies). They have a variety of mixed drinks plus beer and wine. Service was good, and we enjoyed chatting over our lovely meal. Thank you, Goen! read more

GOEN has got it goen on! Another Chef Roy Yamaguchi restaurant on the island and I'm a fan. A casual bar and dining area in a lanai setting. Perfect for quaint Kailua town. Did you know that "Goen" is a Japanese five-yen coin? Its graphic elements (rice, water, and gear) represent agriculture, water, and industry. The Goen logo design and drink coaster is similar to the 5-yen coin with a Hawaii touch! On my first visit I thoroughly enjoyed the Garlic Shrimp over creamy polenta, served with brussel sprouts, tomato and basil. The prawns are from Kauai and the polenta, buttery and flavorful! It looked like a small portion, but I took home at least half and the leftovers were still delicious the next day. On my second visit, we decided to keep to the pupus side of the menu and ordered the Krispy Kalifornia Roll and Hawaii Kai Crab Cakes. OMG! Both were excellent! The spicy sesame beurre blanc sauce in the crab cake dish was out of this world! The touch of wakame and thinly sliced cucumber and carrot added a fresh vinegary crunch. The Kali Roll was unique and refined. Not your typical tempura breading on the outside, instead tobiko. Drizzled with pepper aioli sauce and topped off with scallions, this dish was a great companion for the chilled glass of sparkling wine. For dessert, I had the Halo-halo on both visits. Not your usual variety of toppings to mix up. Rather, Goen's take on the Filipino shave ice dessert. Layers include a hint of flavored ice, coconut ice cream, plain ice, freshly diced melons, fresh ube jam, and a bottom layer of buttermilk panacotta. All packed into a mason jar. I like it. I like it a lot!! Especially on a warm summer night in Kailua! Service was great. Casual and especially attentive, just like the other Roy's restaurants. GOEN reminds me of a more intimate version of Eating House 1849 with its own unique menu. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

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