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    Ilima Cafe

    3.8 (44 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Open 6:00 am - 10:30 AM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Ilima Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    ILIMA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ilima Cafe

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    Evelyn E.

    Delicious breakfast and great service 10 out of 10 would recommend this place if you're staying in Waikiki the beach is just a few feet away

    Entrance inside of the hotel.
    Victoria M.

    An amazing spot for breakfast! Ilima Café is inside the Waikiki Resort Hotel. You enter the hotel in order to get to the restaurant. Inside the restaurant is light, bright, and airy. The staff were attentive. You receive a discount if you are staying at the hotel. If you need a restroom you need to ask the hotel front desk for a key and use the hotel lobby's restrooms. Menu wise is small but mighty with lots of comfort breakfast foods. I got a side of bacon with French toast and hashbrowns. My husband ordered the omelet which came with hashbrowns and rice. Everything was amazing! Came out hot and filled us up. They are only open a few hours in the morning, so be sure to wake up in time and order some delicious breakfast!

    Michelle R.

    Our second breakfast since were disappointed with the hotels complimentary breakfast. We opted to try this place out. Breakfast here is only offered from 6:30am - 9:30am and they have limited breakfast meals. We opted for the following: Hawaii Loco Moco - 1/2 lb hamburger patty topped with a bed of rice covered in brown gravy and topped with 2 fried eggs. My boyfriend chose this. He said the loco moco tasted way better. Portuguese Sausage & Eggs - 2 eggs any style with either toast, rice or hash brown. This was my pick. I chose to get this dish with rice and have it with scrambled eggs. Ube Pandesal Toast - the bread was soft and fluffy and tasted really yummy! Overall, food was delicious and service was great!

    Tsunami bagel
    Nelly L.

    I do not recommend. Delusional service. Tricky coffee price. Day #1 :Breakfast was nice. Toast was not great though but everything else was nice. Sausage, eggs and coffee. Service was good and waiter came to refill and propose coffee. Ambiance ok. Would recommend adding some chill music and the place would be better Day#2 : I guess either I was too hungry on the first day and was under a delusion- got happy with the service. I went back and am very disappointed by the service See pic. Bagel was served cold and not really toasted- It look like it went through a tsunami on it and it got torn . The waiter did not find it inappropriate to serve this. As well, be careful as there is a trick of inserting coffee with an additional price $5 on menu on the back side. It showed a smaller price but coffee is not included. I asked to switch the fresh fruits for another side and waiter did not agree on some choices. I do not recommend

    Ilima Cafe Breakfast: 3 banana pancakes (or French Toast), 3 eggs, Portuguese Sausage (or Bacon)
    K L.

    Only reason why I'm giving only 4 stars is because of the limited menu and limited service hours...however, FIVE stars to the service here! So friendly and welcoming. Their aloha definitely shines through! The menu is typical breakfast menu items but the star of this place I would have to say would be their pancakes!! Ughhhh soooo fluffy and soft and hits the right spot!! Menu items as mention is limited to mostly eggs, breakfast meat, French toast, and/or pancakes. They have a couple healthier options too like fruit and yogurt but that's it. Also, right now they only operate from 6:30am-9:30am, so just an FYI. Overall though, 4 warm and happy stars to this cafe in the heart of Waikiki.

    Ilima breakfast. One with French toast, one with pancakes.
    Vina E.

    We came here on our last day and had Erna as our server. She was the sweetest and a pleasure. Limited menu but covered the basics. I tried the lilikoi syrup. We had pancakes French toast, bacon , eggs, Portuguese sausages. Everything was good. Nice little place!

    Overall wonderful experience, great breakfast and service! The atmosphere is vibrant and comfortable. Couldn't have asked for a better way to start my day with this place.

    Terry S.

    It is very rare that I post a negative review. But, this was one of the worst meals I have had in a long time. The service was also lacking. When I came into the restaurant I was immediately seated. But, after a glass of water was given, I was forgotten for about 15-20 minutes. (Note, I was the only guest there.) Finally a worker sitting at a table close to me called over my waiter. He took my order and I ordered the blackened Mahi Mahi. The fish was dry and had no flavor. The sweet chili sauce was mixed with mayonnaise! The waiter never asked me if I wanted something to drink. Even the rice need soy sauce to have any flavor. I left most of my meal. Don't waste your time or money.

    Pancakes
    Hans K.

    Great tasting breakfast with great service. Erna and park were awesome servers and made our mornings bright. Pancakes were very good as were the eggs and bacon !

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    5 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food great service not packed a gem in the heart of Waikiki. Would be 5 stars but over priced for what you get

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    5 years ago

    Fluffiest Omelet on the Island! Buen apetito! Kudos to the chef! Buen Apetito. Recommended for excellent service and great food.

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    9 years ago

    Hidden gem across from the Alohilani Resort. Convenient, quick, and delicious breakfast in Waikiki. Great way to start the day!

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    Ask the Community - Ilima Cafe

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    We had the best birthday dinner at Basalt in Waikiki. The food was delicious (Salmon Ochazuke)…read more Candace provided excellent service. The true highlight of the evening was getting to know Lee who chose the perfect wine to compliment our meal. We will definitely come back. A hui hou.

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    Fete

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    It was our first time dining here last night (7/11) and what a gem of a restaurant! Chris was our…read moreserver and let us know the specials of the day. He described everything with such care that it was hard not to order everything! I'd highly recommend a reservation as there was not an empty table the entire two hours we were there. The restaurant is on the smaller side so it can get quite loud but our table had great conversations and a overall lovely time. Appetizer: We ordered the konpachi hush puppies (apologies, they had a nicer name but this is how they were described to us) and they were delicious! I'm not a lover of fish, but these were so flavorful and the sauce paired perfectly with it. Drinks: I had the meringue di cedri to drink and it was akin to a lemon drop (10/10) it was sippable and lasted my whole meal. Husband had the Hana Koa Rice Breaker, which is one of his favorites as its smooth and pairs well with honestly anything. Entree: You will be missing out if you don't get the lemon risotto. I ordered it with the prosciutto and it may be one of the best meals I've had in Hawaii. The zucchini is done two ways in it: diced to be mixed in with the risotto and thinly sliced and grilled on top of the risotto. The panko crumbs on top really solidified the plate for me as top tier as risotto can get to be boring to eat after a few bites as they can lack texture, but not this risotto! Every bite was a journey and it was a very filling meal. My husband ordered the Korean steak and said it was better than some of the local steakhouses we had gone to. Our friend ordered the spaghetti carbonara and enjoyed it as well. Dessert: We were encouraged to try the Rocky Road ice cream and decided it was a must have when you visit. It was creamy, rich and delectable. We also opted to try the dessert special of the evening which was a Lilikoi cheesecake with a chocolate mousse. The cheesecake had a sour tang to it and the chocolate mousse partner with it to balance it out so it wasn't overly sweet. We loved it and I know in a few days we'll be craving this meal all over again!

    The GOUGERES with smoked ahi spread were otherworldly delicious! Tender, moist parmesan cheese…read morepuffs with an egg custardy core. Perfectly paired with the smoked ahi dip. France meets Italy - meets Hawaii. I'm still dreaming of this. The burger features a thick, juicy, 8-ounce grass-fed patty made from a custom house-selected blend of short rib, chuck roast, and brisket. Get it with the crispy potatoes. You will thank me. Risotto on point. Luxuriously rich, creamy texture. The rice retains a slight al dente bite in the center, giving it structure rather than letting it become mushy. Prosciutto adds a perfect salty, savory crunch to break up the rich risotto. The only misstep was the fries served with the quinoa burger. They were chalky, served at room temperature, limp, and underseasoned. Excellent friendly informal service. Park at the municipal parking on Bethel St just 1/2 block away. Happy Eating!!

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    MĀZE

    4.7
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    3.0 mi
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    MĀZE exceeded my expectations from start to finish. Every course was beautifully presented,…read moreincredibly creative, and packed with flavor. The progression of the tasting menu kept getting better, from the dry-aged Kona kampachi and Hokkaido scallop to the outstanding Washugyu flat iron galbi. The snacks were also a great introduction to the meal, especially the bourbon barrel smoked salmon toast and the oyster with yuzu kosho. Those may have been my favorite bites of the night, and that's saying something because I'm usually not a big fan of salmon. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly. A special shout-out to Jordan, who patiently answered all of our questions and helped make the evening even more enjoyable. The cocktail pairing was one of the highlights of the experience. Every drink was thoughtfully crafted and complemented the dishes perfectly. It didn't feel like an afterthought--it was an integral part of the meal and among the best cocktail pairings I've had. My only minor criticism was the beef and daikon broth served alongside the Washugyu. The flavors were excellent, but I wish the broth had been served a little hotter, as it would have made an already fantastic dish even better. Dessert was equally memorable, especially the seasonal sweet corn shave ice with black sesame orgeat. The lilikoi custard pie with whipped kinako cream was a nice finishing touch. Overall, MĀZE delivers one of the most creative and memorable dining experiences in Honolulu. The quality of the ingredients, attention to detail, and flawless execution make it well worth the visit. If you're looking for an innovative tasting menu with exceptional cocktails, MĀZE is a restaurant I would happily recommend, and I can't wait to return

    MĀZE was the standout highlight meal of my trip to Hawaii this year. The chef's menu with drink…read morepairing was easily Michelin-star worthy. Taste, presentation, service, ambiance -- MĀZE really had it all nailed down. If there's one meal you should book for your trip, make it MĀZE. Although the menu looks short, it is deceptively filling. You start off your meal with a few amuse bouche bites. It's really a wonderful start, because the salmon toast was one of the best bites I had all night. The smoked salmon was melt in your mouth tender and the toast was fried to perfection. Another bite I really enjoyed early on was their "Fat bastard" oyster. I've never had this type of oyster before, but this one was especially plump, sweet, and had just the right amount of brininess to it. There's honestly not a single straightforward bite across the courses: everything has layers upon layers of flavor and a complexity that really accentuates the talent of the head chef. After the first course, there's an option to add a supplemental course for $34 -- a "Wagyu musubi". I cannot emphasize enough that this addition is a must. If you're coming as a couple, it's large enough that you're able to share a single one so that each person gets two bites. This bite is as delicious as it looks. The Wagyu is rich and fatty, and the crispy nori is the textural element that breaks up the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the beef. The tare delicately brushed on top adds a bit of saltiness to the dish and doesn't take away from the enjoyment and appreciation of the Wagyu itself. Another bite that I'll forever remember is the Jeju abalone dish. Served over a bed of finely minced edamame and served in a chicken jus, the dish had sweet, savory, umami, and all the right textures. I ate this dish especially slowly because I wanted to savor each and every bite for as long as possible. The abalone is tender and cooked perfectly -- not rubbery whatsoever. I overheard a chef saying that the tasting menu changes every month, and we had visited when they were mid-cycle. I believe some of the permanent menu items include the bourbon barrel smoked salmon toast and the wagyu musubi, but I really hope to see the Jeju abalone dish again someday when I visit in the future. Since MĀZE is from the the duo behind the famous cocktail bar -- Bar Leather Apron, just down the street, you would expect nothing less than extraordinary cocktails for the cocktail pairing. I can confidently say that there was not a single drink pairing that I was disappointed with -- both on the alcoholic and non-alcoholic side. My favorite cocktail of the night was their take on an Old Fashioned that was served with the Washugyu flat iron galbi course. I simply cannot say enough good things about MĀZE. Do yourself a favor and book a reservation right after you book your plan tickets to Oahu -- you won't regret it.

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    Solera

    Solera

    4.4
    (311 reviews)
    0.7 mi
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    The world food tour reconvened at Solera, in the Ritz-Carlton. The last time we dined here it was…read moreLa Vie. There were wine specials and I took advantage of this offering, choosing a 2023 Beaune Boucherottes from Louis Jadot. Our server (Malama) brought a 2021, which was great from my perspective. This wine sells for $180 and was listed at $177; what a deal! We chose Bone Marrow ($32), Beets and Strawberry Salad ($28) as our starters. Entrees were the Butchers Cut, which offered Filet, Ribeye or NY Strip ($70). I chose the NY strip and ordered Foie Gras ($32) to accompany it. Our other entrée was the Huli Hainan Chicken Plate ($42). Malama told us the Foie Gras was a mousse, so I asked her to bring it out with the other two appetizers. The Bone Marrow plate came with two halves of bone and four pieces of toasted ciabatta. The Foie Gras dish was interesting ... Three piped dollops of foie gras mousse, with three quenelles of a pineapple mostarda and a plate of Madeleines. The Beets & Strawberry Salad was a visual and taste treat ... It was my favorite of the three starters. The foie gras atop the Madeleine was too sweet for our palates; it was much more successful on the toasted ciabatta that accompanied the bone marrow. The NY Strip came sliced, with another bone marrow and mashed potatoes. The Hainan Chicken came with ginger scallion rice, lomi tomato chile, dark soy (which was very watery), slices of cucumber and cilantro. The chicken was the least successful dish we've had here. I give the executive chef kudos to add variety to the menu. The steak came with a container of miso bordelaise ... I thought it was okay, my tablemate didn't like it. I tried the foie gras mousse on pieces of steak ... It was okay. We had the steak and chicken dishes boxed and perused the dessert menu. I don't usually eat dessert so the decision on what to order is left to my fellow foodie. She chose the Flourless Chocolate Cake ($16); I asked for a cup of coffee ($11). The cake was rich and dense, almost like fudge. We boxed that up ... My fellow foodie has enough food for next week. What did we think? The décor is pretty much the same as when it operated as La Vie, except for the addition of black tablecloths. There was a pianist playing near the bar ... That added a nice touch to the ambience of the place. Service was fine but not what we were looking for. We gave Solera a rating of 4 (perhaps a touch under). We expect a bit more when the bill is $427.22 (plus tip).

    Solera is located right across the lobby on the 7th floor of the The Ritz-Carlton Residences…read moreWaikiki Beach. My husband and I stayed here for our honeymoon and decided to try Solera since we had a breakfast credit each morning. WOW is all I have to say. The food was absolutely incredible. We each got a drink--I ordered a matcha and he got a latte, and both were so good. For food, we shared the Hawaiian omelette, and they did not hold back on the meat. The service was top-notch. Our servers were attentive without being overbearing and checked in just the right amount, which always makes a difference. I would highly recommend Solera for both drinks and food--definitely worth a visit.

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    Ilima Cafe - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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