Kapa Hale
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We've been wanting to check out Kapa Hale for a while now and they have really good reviews, but unfortunately we weren't sarisfied with the dishes. When we first walked in no one was to be seen in the kitchen or at the host stand, we thought it was closed but then saw a couple sitting in the dining room to the left. Took a few minutes to be greeted and seated. We ordered what the waitress suggested. Appetizer - $8 for 2 pieces of corn bread, corny bread , one came out overly grills so tasted burnt and pretty much overpowered any flavors of the butter/ honey. And the larger piece was the burnt one. Entrees- Keakas Fried chicken , comes with rice and very little pickles, $20. The chicken had a good crisp to it and was nice and juicy but the sauce was disappointing. Sauce on the menu says soy, honey, garlic. The soy sauce tasted really dark, didn't taste any garlic or honey and pretty much ruined the taste of the dish. KH burger- $20 burger was odd shaped and bigger than the bun, which was impressive at first but it was ordered medium and when cut open it was more like a rare to medium rare. Very red inside and due to the size of it seemed even more rare. It would also look way better with green or butter lettuce. Maybe it was just an off day or we ordered the wrong items...
Kapa Hale is an award winning restaurant nestled in the Kahala neighborhood of Honolulu, HI. Chef-owner Keaka Lee has an extensive culinary experience. To name a few: 3660 on the Rise, Alan Wong's Restaurant, and Gramercy Tavern (New York). Today, he and his wife, Heather Smith Lee are the backbones of KH. The menu options are in constant updates. Today, we settled on three KH favorites. The Okonomiyaki Omelette, Da Weekender Burger and KFC Chicken and Waffle. Our awesome server Ethan explained each dish and what dishes were the most popular. Chef Lee was so kind to visit our table to check on us! Really great personality and he even took a picture with us! Now onto the dishes: The Okonomiyaki (Japanese translation is "grilled to your liking") omelette was filled with tasty and chewy noodles, cheddar cheese, lomi lomi ( Hawaiian word meaning "to knead or rub") tomatoes, shredded cabbage, aioli and bonito flakes (paper-thin shavings of dried, fermented, and smoked skipjack tuna ). This dish is savory and sweet, filled with chewy noodles. 4/5 stars. Da Weekender Burger is a local grass fed beef patty, teriyaki glaze, cheddar omelette, bacon, tomato, garlic aioli and chips combo! Local teriyaki flavor with unique cheddar omelette is a a foodie's delight. You will not leave hungry. 5/5 stars The KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) and Waffle is a bestseller here at Kapa Hale. Crispy on the outside and moist tender meat on the inside. Waffles were delicious. This combination of savory and sweet will fill your happy tummy. No wonder it's a favorite here. 5/5 stars Bathrooms are available inside the restaurant. Handicap toilet is also available here. A small free parking lot with handicap parking is also available at Kahala Korner. I used a credit card and I did not observe any cc surcharges or kitchen fees. I provided cash for the tip. Thank you Ethan! Five star service here. Update: I visited here again on 04/12/26 with my daughter who was visiting us from California. We ordered the pancake of the month (Haupia/coconut sauce, toasted coconut flakes and whipped butter ). 4/5 stars. Although this item may look super sweet and decadent, the Haupia/coconut sauce was not overwhelmingly sweet! The toasted coconut flakes gave the pancakes a nice layer of crunchy texture. Pancakes are fluffy and soft. 4.5 stars. Arancini-3 pieces of fried risotto balls, Mozzarella, Basil, Parmesan cheese and spicy tomato. 3/5 stars. Not my favorite. Somewhat bland and I did not care for the texture and taste. Other family members enjoyed this dish. Green Eggs & Ham. Kole's Farm Green Garlic Verde, Soft scrambled eggs, Grilled pork belly & white rice. This was delicious! A five star dish. Pork belly was cooked to perfection. Crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. Not over seasoned and although the eggs looked runny and unusual, it was eggcellent! Can I give extra stars?! Enjoyed strong coffee and unsweetened Plantation Iced tea with our meals. Coffee is refilled. We lucked out with a repeat 5 star service from Ethan! Thanks again!
I heard great things about Kapa Hale from my friend, so the boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. The experience had some high points, but the food was a hit-or-miss for me. FOOD: I ordered the Spring Tasting Menu curated by chef. The first course, "V is for Vegetable Trio" consisted of gazpacho (a bit tart but somewhat expected from the mango, though I couldn't detect jalapeno), falafel made from edamame (crispy on the outside and moist/dense on the inside but the tzatziki lean more tart than what I personally enjoy), and croquette (nice and crispy, which ended the course on a high note). The second course was "Alfredo Pasta La Vista, Baby". After a few bites, the dish was a little too salty for my taste. I was hoping the mushrooms, broccolini, and pasta would help balance things out, but the saltiness remained dominant flavor throughout. Even the recommended wine pairing didn't seem to complement the dish. The third course (dessert), "Let's Get Nutz" was probably my favorite as it had a great balance of sweetness and texture. My boyfriend ordered "Naan Ya Business" for his appetizer and enjoyed it. Though the naan was thinner than what I'm used to, the tikka masala was bold, colorful, and packed with flavor. The entree he selected was "You Chick'n Me Out." The chicken itself could have benefitted from a few more minutes of roasting. As for the calamansi malunggay salsa verde, it didn't quite work out for either of us. Having grown up with both calamansi and malunggay, I'm familiar with their flavors, but the interpretation felt a bit overly tart and didn't quite hit the mark. SERVICE: Service was excellent. Our server was attentive, friendly, and helpful in guiding us through the menu since it was our first visit. They checked in regularly and geniuinely seemed to care about our experience. When I informed the server that I wasn't thrilled about my entree, he offered a complimentary dessert, which I didn't expect and was a thoughtful gesture. One of the owners stopped by our table to discuss our feedback. I appreciated and respected that they took the time to engage with us directly. AMBIANCE: Kapa Hale does a nice job in creating a cozy setting. The lighting is dim enough for a date night while still feeling welcoming for small family gatherings. I also enjoyed the open kitchen concept and watching the team work behind the scenes. PARKING: It's a small lot shared with other neighboring businesses. One small tip: avoid parking under the trees unless you don't mind unexpected surprises from the birds. Overall, I can see the creativity and ambition behind the menu and the staff clearly cares about the guest experience. While a few dishes missed the mark for me personally, there are enough positives that I'd be open to give this place another try in the future.
Kapa Hale is located down the road from Kahala Mall, but fair warning: the entrance to the parking lot is very easy to miss if you're not paying attention. Learn from my mistake! If you turn the corner on Pahoa Avenue like most people do and head into the lot, you're actually going the wrong way. Parking is also limited and shared with other businesses, so please plan accordingly. I made reservations for 12:00 pm and was seated right away. My friend and I chose to sit outside since the weather wasn't too hot, which ended up being a great choice. And better yet, we had the area all to ourselves! We were served water promptly and took our time looking over the brunch menu. Honestly, everything sounded so good that we couldn't decide, so we asked our server for recommendations. We were told the pancake of the day (blueberry), chicken & waffles, and the Kapa-Kahi salad were popular choices especially the salad if we wanted something lighter. We ended up sharing the pancakes and the salad, and wow the salad completely stole the show. It was absolutely delicious, made with fresh (and crunchy!) local greens, pickled turnips, roasted beets, and tossed in a cider vinaigrette. Every bite was so good that I honestly wished I had ordered my own plate. The pancakes were just okay in comparison. They were nice and fluffy, topped with blueberries, crumble, whipped butter, and maple syrup, but if I had to choose, I'd pick the salad every time. This was my fourth time eating here, and service and food wait times have always been on point. Would I come back and support this company? Absolutely!
2024, 2025 Open Table Diners' Choice for a reason Parking: small lot in front, can opt for street parking or nearby kahala mall if full Service: table service. Chef-Owner Keaka Lee made rounds to each table which really elevated and personalized the experience Ambiance: family dinners, date night, dinner with friends Food: all are excellent. would recommend the Where's Da Beef pasta and their signature Lei Po'o salad
Met my girlfriend here for lunch. She always recommends places to go I haven't tried before and when I read the reviews, it looked interesting. Surprising I haven't seen it before since its near Kahala Mall but its a few streets back from the mall, on the same street as the Kahala Post Office. There is parking in front of the restaurant. We shared three dishes. We thought we might order more dishes later or have dessert but we had more than enough to eat and some to take home too! Appetizer was Naan Ya Business, fresh garlic nann and tikka masala curry. The naan bread was crispy, almost like a cracker and both the naan and the curry were delicious. We also had the Kapa-Kahi salad, a colorful mix of local greens, with pickled turnips, and roasted beets, and a side of garlic shrimp. The salad was refreshing. The shrimp was tasty but a little messy since it had the shell on. After reading other reviews jI wanted to try KFC Keaka's Fried Chicken with soy honey garlic and rice. The chicken was kind of like karaage chicken but the sauce was a bit salty for my taste. Our waitress was friendly and gave us good service. I liked the ambiance, the place had a cozy feel to it. The menu had lots of interesting dishes I want to try when I come back.
Got some HH and drinks on a Monday night. Made reservations, but it wasn't that busy so I think we could've done without. We had: 1) garlic noodles - 3/5. Good flavor, but too salty! 2) grilled tako - 4/5. Tender and I liked the pico degallo take on it. 3) poke - 3/5. Still trying to decide if I liked the curry base. I'm gonna go with not. 4) fried chicken - 4/5. Probably the best dish of the night. Crunchy, but not dry. 5) haku lei po'o - 4/5. salad looked like a lei, thus the name of this dish, and it was both pretty and good to eat. 6) sunchoke - 3/5. Interesting and decent flavor, but I wouldn't get it again. 7) fried cauliflower - 3/5. I'd rather that it was battered and fried. Wasn't crunchy, just greasy. Overall, a 3.5 experience, but our server Malia was a delight so I rounded up.
I went here for a work lunch a while back and again for 2025 Restaurant Week. I was surprised to find out they only serve brunch menu for Restaurant Week on the weekends. But they also serve the regular lunch menu if you don't do the restaurant week special. This wasn't clear online and for the record, I HATE brunch. I know it goes against my demographics but why would I overpay for some gussied up eggs when my hubby makes them better at home? But anyways... The food was really good so I'm glad we went. The hostess/ server has a weird vibe. Kind of stand-offish and definitely not welcoming but she made a good mango mezcal margarita. I got the restaurant week menu and LOVED the pumpkin muffin with guava butter and the cranberry scone. Their corn bread is greasy but it must be popular because it's on the regular menu. I also had it during my working lunch and it triggered heartburn. Their brunch burger was delicious. The gravy was a game changer. I don't like eggs on my burger but the rest of the components were great so it worked flavor-wise. It's definitely a fork and knife burger. The salad and chicken were mediocre at best for a $20 salad. The dressing had too much vinegar and the portion size was skimpy. The haupia sorbet with crunchy toasted coconut shavings was delicious. I loved their naan and curry and the cauliflower the other time I went there. The avocado toast was mid. Overall this is a great local eatery with some hits and misses but their menu is definitely interesting!
This is our first time trying the Noodle Bar event and it was delicious!! We started with the Brussel Sprouts with pickled cranberries and it was so ono!! Who knew Brussel sprouts could be this good!?!? For our lunch my son and I had the Duck Ramen and it was delicious! The broth was so tasty with the fresh ginger scallions that really stood out and added so much flavor and depth to whole dish! Definitely a good choice! We also tried the Pork Bulgogi Tagliatelle which was so yummy and did not disappoint. The table next to us had the Oxtail Pho (my second choice) and it looked really really good so I will have to try that next time. As always service was good, pleasant and everything ordered was delicious! I can't wait for the next Noodle Bar Event.
To celebrate my departed mother's 102nd birthday, my sister and I, with a friend, decided in Kapa Hale because of its vegan options for me but because my mother liked Kahala. Looking at the menu, though, I was a bit disappointed that many of the dishes I could not eat due to my allergies. The server came and got our drinks order. Once we got our drinks, she asked if anyone had any allergies. I raised my hand and proceeded to list what I could not ingest. I was looking at the beautiful salad which looked like a haku lei and asked about it and she said it included a lot of the things I was allergic to but would speak to the chef. She came back and, to my surprise, said the chef will make it work. So my sister and I decided to split it, she also ordered a smoked ahi dip, and my friend ordered the seafood risotto. The presentations were awesome which made every thing taste that much better. We finished it off with haupia ice cream which was actually very good because it wad not too sweet. All in all this was a success. Highly recommend giving this place a try.
Kapa Hale is a must must try. Local fusion food, I must say it's the perfect and best food I've had. It's so good here , gotta make reservations, down side parking is very limited. Sometimes gotta park inside kahala mall by longs or street parking. Services are excellent, always coming by our table to see how was everything and everyone is doing. Clean restaurant. When a restaurant is clean, you know the foods are clean as well. Would definitely recommend it. We will be back for sure.
First-time experience dining at Kapa Hale for lunch on Wednesday. PARKING: One-way parking entrance from Kilauea Ave., and took only parking spot available at Kahala Korner's lot when our party of 2 arrived for 11 am reservation. Guess others find parking at nearby Post Office or McDonald's? STAFFING/SERVICE: Observed 2 chefs in open kitchen, 2 servers who also worked bar. With only 3 other couples seated at tables, we were immediately seated and provided menus. Server did not volunteer information, but answered our questions about fresh catch of day and recommendations. Then as more diners were seated, service was spotty. Noticed other tables received appetizers, then main dishes. We waited and waited, then our appetizer and main dishes arrived at same time. Server never checked in; instead, I had to get up and find server to ask for water refill. Then we informed server that we needed to leave by 1 pm, so we ordered Da Kahala Shuffle dessert. Server dropped off our check, which showed Lemon Dream? Again, I got up to find server to correct dessert order. NOISE: Loud music more conducive to fast food restaurants that try to rush patrons out to boost table turnover. Not for calm, relaxing dining experience. FOOD: Attractive plating worthy of Instagram but taste did not measure up. Naan Ya Business ($12, extra charge for more naan) - torn pieces of thin garlic naan triangles (not detect any garlic flavor?), Sumida watercress namul sprinkled over tikka masala curry (very mild). Prefer naan with more fluffy, chewy texture. Great starter. Fresh Catch Marlin ($25) - overcooked to dryness, paired with bok choy for moisture. Holy Shiitake Risotto ($20) - salty, undercooked so more crunchy than chewy texture, also paired with bok choy but not enough moisture. Drank glasses of water to dilute saltiness. Da Kahala Shuffle ($13) - chocolate & Kahlua mud pie, Kona coffee syrup, Oreo crust was rich so recommend splitting this dessert. (note: Oreo cookies contain bioengineered ingredient) WOMEN'S RESTROOM: 2 stalls, functional and similar to public school or community park. OVERALL: Underwhelming experience. Be prepared to be proactive finding server to get what you need like water. Suggest Kapa Hale provide pitcher of water on table for self-service, especially for salty dishes like Holy Shiitake Risotto. Indeed site shows Kapa Hale looking to hire line cook ($18-$28/hour); perhaps dining experience will improve with increased staffing?
Kapa Hale has everything I look for in a dining establishment - accepts reservations (bonus points for being on Open Table!), online ordering available (via toasttab), open air dining area, open kitchen, friendly staff, parking, not super crowded, friendly and down to earth owners, and ONOLICIOUS food! Came here for a weekday lunch with some BFFs and we all had a great time. We split the lemon poppyseed loaf appetizer - a great way to start our meals. We each ordered a different entree, allowing us all to get a taste of different dishes. I ordered the housemade tagliatele which was amazing. My friend's fresh catch of the day (ahi belly) was very moist. The eggplant is a great non-meat option. The food came out quick and we were too full for dessert. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Keaka L.
We appreciate the feedback and will share this with our team. We will…
4 years ago
Great first impression as the food was tasty, restaurant was inviting and service was great. I had the fried chicken and it was adobo flavored. Not too sweet, not too sour but just right. Garlic flavor was on point. Up charge for the salad as it typically comes with rice. Pickled radish was a delicious addition to the salad, nice change in texture. I'm excited to try the rest of the menu. read more
4 years ago
This one is a tough review, and I am torn here. First the good - the food was great. We started with the Oma'oma'o garlic - basically a cream cheese rangoon. Very good, crispy and tasty. Someone else in our party had the chicken and waffles which was delicious, and the shroom melt and loco moco were also well received. I had the green eggs and ham, which I really enjoyed - the pork belly was crispy on the edges and the eggs were PERFECTLY soft scrambled. The food was outstanding, especially for the price point. Now the bad. From the time we ordered our food, it was WELL OVER an hour before the first person got their food, and it was near an hour and a half by the time the last person in our party got his food. There were 7 of us, so it's not like it was an unreasonably large group, and in fact there were a couple of groups larger than ours in there that I could see. Overall, the restaurant wasn't full and there were empty tables, so I don't understand why it took so long. I understand that food with this kind of quality and presentation takes time, however, MULTIPLE parties had come in after us and had ordered, eaten and left in the time it took for us to just get our food, which seems wrong to me. What's more, the staff did not seem concerned at all that our order was taking so long. As good as the food was, and it was very good, it's hard for me to recommend this place, and I don't think I'll be coming back. read more
3 years ago
It's a hidden gem but definitely worth the challenge to find. We had lunch and loved our picks. Portions are very generous and everything was so flavorful. I love trying new places for lunch it's a great way to try new places and less expensive read more
3 years ago
Food was tasty and very fresh. Watching the kitchen was nice, it was a dance of culinary skill. The menu was a little limited but executed beautifully. Service was good and attentive. I came in with my nephew and his girlfriend and maybe that was off putting for the staff because they were so young, so I don't feel we got the same service we saw executed at the tables adjacent but overall it was a great experience. We ordered several appetizers, each got entrees and had few desserts. We left full and happy. read more
4 years ago
This time I came for dinner with some gfs and this place is amazing! I love how their menu changes up every few months and that they use local ingredients from Hawaii. I ordered their Koji aged bouef steak which was delish. I loved their sauce on mustard seeds on it which complimented the steak well. My friends also enjoyed their dishes mushrooms with lemon filled ricotta pasta and another friend had the braised beef over mashed cauliflower, collard greens and carrots. For starters we we had the tempura eggplant with marinara sauce and herbs (off menu) and naan bread with Tikka masala curry. We also had their chicken liver mousse with grilled bread and house pickles. Their desserts are also amazing! Loved their creme brule with diced pears and their lemon merengue with lilikoi! Everything was innovative and delicious! read more
Business owner information
Keaka L.
Aloha Rissa!…
2 years ago
I've always had the mushroom melt at brunch and was hesitant but opted instead for haupia pancakes. Omg they were so light and fluffy and delicious. Not overly sweet but just right! read more
Kapa Hale is a newer addition to Kahala slow growing food scene. Chef Keaka uses fresh local products in variety of ethnics dishes to perfection in a "smart casual" dining setting. His dishes are creative, unique and full of amazing flavors. Kapa Hale offers lunch, dinner and weekend brunch menu. Chef Keaka takes his vegetable seriously as his menu consists of a nice selection of vegetarian section named " V is for Vegetable ". Who would have thought vegetable can taste this great!!! Cauliflower and Brussels Sprout are couple of stand out dishes in this section: CAULIFLOWER : Roasted Cauliflower , garlic anchovy, capers and grapefruit. Simple delicious and full of flavor. Must order item! EVERYDAY I'M BRUSSELIN' : Fried brussels sprout with pickled cranberry and brown butter. This is the best brussels sprout dish I have ever tasted. Another favorite and must order item! Now onto the rest of Kapa Hale menu. Here are some of my favorites: TAGLIATELLE ALLA BULGOGI PORK BOLOGNESE : Korean Style pork bulgogi Bolognese with fried garlic and pickled peppers. Creative and absolutely delicious!!! KFC : Fried chicken with Chef Keaka's twist served with white rice. It is a really well balanced fried chicken with lots of flavors. The only thing I don't like about this dish is the white rice serving. I think white rice is just too plain and boring for this dish. (I rather see some kind of fried rice served with this dish). Ohhh and don't forget about the desert. Kapa Hale usually serves 2-3 different kind of freshly made deserts that can definitely satisfy your sweet tooth! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Just amazing again. Chef Is so talented. You can't go wrong with anything here. Grilled octopus, steak Diane, salad lei, pork chop and more... Michelin chef level food read more
5 years ago
Tucked away in a corner behind Olive Tree Cafe in Kahala, I've seen many restaurants and food establishments come and go in this spot, but I think this one is here to stay! Their food, service and ambiance is 5 stars all the way and I will be back again for sure! Here's what we tried: *Nan Ya Business - Garlic naan, Sumida Farm watercress namul, tikka masala. This was good to try once and while it was tasty, I would want to try other items next time. *Kappa- Ccio - Ahi, Kahuku Sea Asparagus, Arugula, preserved lemon, nori purée. I loved this and would absolutely order it again. I. Fact, I would order this as my main meal and not share with anyone, lol! *Everyday I'm Brusselin' - Fried brussels, pickled cranberries, brown butter. Yummy! *Tagliatelle Alla Shrimp & Bulgogi Pork Bolognese - House made pasta, Korean style Kauai shrimp, fried garlic, pickled peppers. I hear the type of pasta changes, but I love that their pasta is made in house. Definitely worth ordering! *Soy sauce cake with miso caramel, Kolea Farm gooseberry gel, blood orange sorbet, soy crumble. Interesting! Nice to try once. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Business owner information
Keaka L.
Mahalo! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed many of our happy…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Keaka L.
Mahalo, Laureen! We appreciate your kind words.
5 years ago
This restaurant that opened up near the Kahala mall is a great spot. I would describe it as a fusion restaurant with lots of different flavors and cuisines incorporated (Italian, Thai, Indian, American, etc.). When we arrived our table was ready right away and we had a table near the kitchen. Some people may not like this, but Kapa Hale had an open kitchen concept and we loved watching each chef create dishes throughout the evening. For drinks we each ordered a different kind of old fashioned. They have a few different ones ranging from Smokey to classic to sweet. The drinks came quickly and we're good. We proceeded to order a few different dishes. We ordered the Naan ya business which was delicious. The naan was definitely freshly baked and the tikka masala that accompanied it had good flavor. It wasn't too spicy. Then we ordered the octopus which was beautifully presented, tender, and flavorful. Lastly we ordered two pasta dishes; a creamy corn curry dish and a tagliatelle with prawns and a pork bugolgi bolognese. Both had really good flavor and we would order again. The tagliatelle was so unique I couldn't stop eating it! Their menu changes seasonally and there are so many different things to try we are looking forward to coming back and trying more items. read more
5 years ago
Me and my boyfriend had great experience here. Food is amazing, vibe is cool and service is on point. At the end of the meal, chef even came out to ask how the food was. You can tell he cares about customer's experience and feedback. We got so many dishes cause we truly wanted to try everything. His fave was the Marlin carpaccio - very tasty and fresh, pairs well with asparagus and sea asparagus. We finished it before I took my phone out It is a great place for dinner date. Would definitely come back again. read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
this place is a hidden gem tucked away from busy waikiki area, but we are so glad we decided to take a tour and gave it a try! First, I have been really impressed by their customer service. Made a 4 ppl reservation at 7pm tonight weeks ago, I called the restaurant this afternoon to check if they can do six people instead of 4 since two friends want to join us, the lady was so accommodating and ensured they will try their best to do that but might have us wait a little bit. Upon arrival, they offered us to seat at the bar while waiting for the table, we got the drink and then our table was ready. Now comes the amazing food. You know what, we ordered everything twice!! since it is just so good and not enough to share! Corn bread is yum (warm and buttery), uni corn is even better with only 7 dollar extra Octopus is also cooked just right, tender and juicy, Beef tartare is my favorite appetizer! they have the right texture with some chopped macadamia and seeds, best beef tartare I have ever had in a while, including some fine dining places Ahi Carpaccio is also pretty good, the ahi is fresh and thin, my friend thinks the lemon source is little bit overpowered (which I like !) We got eggplants and cauliflower as well, I am a cauliflower lover, and their cauliflower is very good! Entry, entry, entry, everyone likes their own main, doesn't that say a lot? Pork chop dish is so me ! I didn't expect this entry cooked just the way I would imagine! It is more like pork belly with very crispy skin, right amount fat, everything is perfect. I finished the whole dish without sharing! Highlight is the their signature koji aged steak with peppercorn source which is to die for! The meat has the right amount of fat, loaded with flavor, works very well with the puree. Too full to order dessert this time, but def would return and try them all! Chef came over to greet us, and we got to know he used to work for Benu, Eleven Madison Park! No wonder he cooked such a wonderful meal! Thank you again for having us tonight, chef, we would recommend this restaurant to anyone read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Keaka L.
Mahalo for the feedback. As a note, we are continuously cleaning…
5 years ago
Disappointing food. So many different venues have occupied this spot over the years, the latest being Kapa Hale. The difference is that people are dying to dine out and experience normalcy/ pre-covid days that the place was full-with would be diners waiting outside to get in. Mediocre food....the tako dish was prettily presented, but was it literally dipped in bbq sauce? The chicken and rice....dry chicken on a cheesy risotto.....pricey for what it was. Byob for now with a $5 per glass corkage fee. Tiny menu....indoor and outdoor seating available. Hope the food improves...... read more
1 year ago
I had been wanting to try this place for a while and we finally gave in and came for dinner last night! We ordered a bunch of small dishes so we could try more items. Overall it was a good experience but I was a little surprised by the service. Service/Environment- we walked in and they were relatively empty but later in the night it got busier. The one thing that threw me off was that the food just kinda kept on coming. We wanted to enjoy our food and conversation and I felt a little overwhelmed because it felt like everything came out all at once. It almost felt like they were trying to turn tables quickly which I completely understand but when you're going to a nicer spot you expect a little understanding. But as a whole the staff were friendly and attentive. Guess you could say they were fast with their food prep! Food- food was very interesting but oh so tasty!!! We had the below foods: Naan ya business Let's tako bout it Chicken liver mousse Ahi kapa-cio (with marlin last night) Sunchoke Cauliflower Tagliatelle alla shrimp bulgogi bolognese The food was very good! We were a bit sad that the ahi kapa-cio was with marlin and not ahi but it was still good. The naan ya business was refreshing and so tasty! And the bolognese was so different but so good!!!! The tako was also very tender and flavorful! The sunchokes were hard to figure out but they def grew on me! I would def be back for food specifically. No complaints whatsoever! Worth the $$$- with a $60 bottle of wine and the food items above our bill came out to I think about $160??? Which is a bit steep for a Thursday night but for the amount of food we ordered not bad at all! Instagram worthy- yes! Everything was plated beautifully!!! Added to my go to list?- I will most likely be back. The food was delicious but we usually like to go to a restaurant end sit and enjoy the experience. I would give the food 4.5/5 stars but I think I was just a bit overwhelmed in how quickly everything came out to the point where we didn't have room on our table so it came out to 4 stars which is still very good. But hey fast service definitely works for some people so it is just a personal preference so I would take that with a grain of salt. read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
Inattentive wait staff. Lack of communication from wait staff. Long wait. Given water after being seated but no acknowledgement from any wait staff. The bartender came over to take our order after asking if we've been helped. My mom had a question about a menu item and was told they would find out and let us know. A wait staff finally came over to take our order and we indicated the bartender had done so but hadn't answered our menu question. About 30 minutes in another table was seated. Their order was taken promptly and they received their order within 10 min. At this point I tried to inquire with the wait staff but she walked off, apparently not hearing me. I went to the open kitchen to flag her down and she only turned to acknowledge me when a cook told her. She said sorry but our order is being made then walked deeper into the kitchen not giving me a chance to indicate that the adjacent table had already received their order despite arriving after us. In about 5 minutes I received my burger and waited almost 15 more minutes for my mother to receive her order. The burger I ordered was fine and so was my moms fried chicken. Hard to appreciate the food when you felt ignored and forgotten in a relatively small restaurant. I miss the previous tenants: Central Bakery. read more
3 years ago
Food is 10/10 100% recommend! The best Loco moco I've had in years!!! Chicken and waffles was good but not really for me. All the food was good, no disappointments. The only down side to my visit is that the underneath of some of the tables have metal bars going across and if you're tall, that is not very comfortable when your knees hit it. Service was awesome! read more
i think this place was ok, but nothing all that special. came here for lunch on a weekday (thursday); not too busy, but still made reservation since we are still in covid times. after being seated and given a menu, we were asked to place our order at the bar; must have been short staffed. the chicken liver mousse was pretty good, came with a melange of homemade pickles; beets, onions, cucumber, da-kwong, etc. and toast points. the pickles were a little too sweet for me. the kapa-kahi salad also had some of those pickles, but it was also quite sweet and not enough acid for me. the tagliatelle alla bulgogi pork bolognese was sort of interesting and didn't taste bad, kind of liked it actually, but the pasta was a bit clumped together. the garlic ahi belly dish came with rice and the same kapa-kahi salad, it was ok. the kalua pork cubano was actually pretty good but messy to eat. i was excited to try the lilkoi earl grey soda, but i couldn't taste any earl grey. i wouldn't rush to come back but the food was fine. i like the interior, it's minimalist and kind of trendy in a swedish way. service was very friendly. read more
2 years ago
I was excited to try this place for brunch with the fam to celebrate a summer birthday! Easy location and parking. Our party of 8 was seated quickly and orders placed just as fast. As other Yelpers have said, we did have to wait a while (~25 minutes) for our food once we ordered. First out was our double order of corny bread. One pair was perfect, crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. The other pair was a little... too dark. Which is why I think nobody ate it. Then again, our food came right on its heels so maybe that's why nobody ate it. I wanted to see where the loco moco would rank of my list of faves. IMHO it came in maybe third. The local beef patty was delish but it was the gravy that was the star. I only wish it had a little more gravy. It was a pretty generous-sized patty though so I (of course) couldn't finish. [Note to self: NEVER order the patty well-done if you're planning leftovers because then when you heat it up, it gets too dried out. Had to fix it with a freshly-fried egg and added homemade gravy.] Grams and Bro #2 also got the loco loco and had no complaints. Dot had the pancake of the month: Nutella! She loved it, but then again, how could she not? They had her at Nutella. Her only criticism was that it was two pancakes staked on top one another with Nutella slathered over the top. She said she wished it had a thinner layer on top and more between. But again, not a real complaint. There was a little bit of some kind of crumble on top but we couldn't tell if it was graham crackers or something else. Son had the KFC with waffles. He said the chicken was delish - crunchy but not overcooked or stringy. The waffles were nice and fluffy. His only gripe was that there was way too much of the special (lemon? honey?) butter. I mean, we love butter. But it was really way too much. Hubs got the Eggs Benedict and was probably the most disappointed of the group. He said the smoked pork seemed bland - how could that be with smoked pork, right?!? - and didn't have the salt that Canadian bacon usually adds to eggs bene. He also said the hollandaise lacked acid. (Hubs has been watching too much Top Chef. lol) Bro #1 got the okonomiyaki and said it was good, though not as good as in Japan. Hello, not everyone can make that comparison even though it seems like everybody in Hawaii except me is traveling to Japan these days. Anyhooo... I digress. Bro-in-law, our vegan of the group, got the kapa-kahi salad and said it was ok. There was one mystery veg in there that we couldn't figure out at the time but later determined that it was the pickled turnip. The chef did come out to say hi, which was nice. He looked a bit tired. At 11:15 a.m. Poor guy. Speaking of the time... we were glad we'd booked the earliest brunch time slot because by the time we left, there was a line out the door. All in all, a nice experience. Just not sure we'd pick it again with so many other choices out there. read more
4 years ago
The chef came and Métis he is very personable and creative with his meals. The menu is limited but it makes it easier to decide what to order. The beef tartare was very delicious but I wouldn't order it Again. The corn bread is made to look like toast and it is grilled with lilikoi butter. Eggplant Tempura was yummy yum yum. Grilled zucchini was with a soy chili oil sauce so yummy. Tagliatelle Alla Bulgolgi Pork Bolognese was so yummy the pork was so soft it melts in your mouth. The dessert was just as yummy. The lemon and merengue was left read more
Came here for our weekly Friday night date. Had high expectations going in because of the rave reviews. We were a little disappointed. The Naan Ya Business was not as good for us as other reviews expressed. Hubby chose it. I would've gone with the cornbread since I'm not that into Indian curry, so take that into consideration. That being said, hubby thought it was okay, not stellar. I LOVED my Kapa Kahi salad. Small portion but enough for me. Tasty and balanced. Hubby ordered the roasted chicken as a process of elimination. The chicken itself was well cooked, moist and tender. The thing is, in order for it to taste that way, it was lukewarm. I remember the deceased Town restaurant would serve half a roasted chicken but would give you fair warning that it would take 20 minutes or so to bake. That was a better way to go as it came piping hot and fresh. That being said, the chicken here was tasty but I wouldn't give it a "wow". On to ambience and service...the restaurant is light and clean. We sat outside but overall, really liked the decor. The best part of our dining experience was our server. Sorry, didn't get his name but he was attentive the whole time. Gave his suggestions, which I personally love. We never had to flag him down. At the same time, he wasn't hovering. He was the best part of our dining experience. Last but definitely not least was the surprise recipe shared by the chef, which accompanied our paid receipt. What a clever idea. If you love to cook like me, it creates a desire to return. read more
5 years ago
The food and drinks were so ono!! We ordered a couple of appetizers and everything on the menu for entree and dessert (didn't take pics of everything). Service was also outstanding. First of all drinks!! Although I didn't drink, my friends enjoyed the cocktails. My favorite one that I took a sip of was the "U blue my mind". Mixed well with the whipped cream, but dangerous as you can't really taste the alcohol in it. I heard that this one is only available for a limited time so try it before they take it off the menu!! Appetizers that stood out! Corny bread with Uni butter: The lilikoi and honey provided a sweet balance with the uni butter. The uni butter tasted very light and didn't overpower the whole dish. Naan ya business: Very generous with the amount of naan you get! Good ratio between curry and bread. Eggplant: The eggplant tempura batter was light and was not oily at all. The tomato sauce that came with it complimented it very well. Let's tako about it The octopus was so tender and beautifully decorated. I wish I took a close up picture but I was too busy stuffing my face. Entrees!! Came out all around the same time and beautifully executed!! Plates were still hot when arrived. Tagliatelle alla shrimp and pork bulgogi bolognese 10/10 recommend!! My favorite out of all the entrees it's a little spicy so beware! Koji aged bouef The beef was so tender and I didn't even need a knife to cut it. I also enjoyed the kalo croquette and side of the long string beans. Would def order again!! Chicken Madeira: Cooked perfectly and you get a lot of chicken too! Schnitzel Lechon kewali: This dish stood out the most! It was a fried pork belly that looked like lechon but wasn't lechon. The veloute also complimented the pork belly. It was light and savory. Honestly, dessert was my favorite part of the dining experience. We ordered one of each and my favorite was the guava roll log. I wish I knew the names of the dessert. But honestly, even if you're full like i was, you have to order the dessert. It's a must Will come back again and try out their new menu!! read more
I've hosted two film events here and all the dishes deliver. Hawaiian family-owned, locally sourced, often organic, beautiful, delicious, elevated yet affordable. Brunch on the weekends too. And they take reservations for brunch, so no more long waits! Great ambiance, not too big or too loud, plus a cute patio. Parking is convenient - look for olive tree/subway, next to Kahala Mall. Lunch is wed-sun and brunch is weekends til 2pm. I'm going back asap. read more
Went for a brunch with my gal pals and it was a good time! The food was pretty good at a decent price. Will I be craving this place again? Probably not. I got the shaka shuka. Not too heavy, which was my goal in choosing something. Pretty tasty, not spicy. Also had the lemon poppy seed slices to share and that was moist and a nice sweet treat. The area is actually pretty big and they do a good job of spreading people out. Really modern inside too. Parking is limited, but I have never had an issue. Tucked into the corner by Subway and a Greek restaurant. On outside skirt of Kahala mall. Easy to miss if you are a non-google map person hehe. read more
3 years ago
Chef Lee has clearly put together an amazing tasting menu. The blackened Marlin is exceptional, cut like a filet mignon with a seasoned char and deep medium rare. Wonderful tomato butter sauce. Every bite felt like the culmination of his time in NYC. I'd be remiss not to recommend the summer tasting menu, tagliatelle, and smoked catch of the day dip. Honolulu + has a rising star on its hands. read more
2 years ago
Food: Tako appetizer (9/10) Naan appetizer (9/10) Mushroom Pappardelle (10/10) Location: Right outside of Kahala Mall! Super convenient with a lot of parking options. Note: BYOB! $5 corkage fee. Kapa Hale is on Opentable so it is very easy to make reservations. We went around 6:30pm so the outdoor seating was perfect and breezy! read more
More info about Kapa Hale
4614 Kilauea Ave
Ste 102
Honolulu, HI 96816
Kahala
Directions
(808) 888-2060
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https://www.kapahale.com
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Ask the Community - Kapa Hale
Is there any Outdoor seating available?
Aloha! We have a small lanai that allows for outdoor seating. Please call our team, 808-888-2060, if you have any questions.…
Do you have live music?
I didn't see any live music in the restaurant when i was there.
Is there an outside area where dogs are allowed?
We allow dogs in our outside patio area.
Is it $12 for plantation ice tea? If so, does it have alcohol in it?
Aloha, Our plantation iced tea is $6 & our regular iced tea is $5.…
Are there any gluten free options?
We have many gluten free options. Chef does a really great job at tailoring to any type of restrictions.…
Is Kapa Hale still byob (August 2021)?
Aloha Carley, We received our alcohol license in April 2021 and are building our drink menu with…
If we bring more than 1 bottle of wine do we get charged for each bottle per person? Ex. 6 people 3 bottles $180?
Aloha Brian Yes I believe there is a corkage fee . Probably on each bottle of wine .…
Can we bring our own wine?
Aloha Shawn , I believe yes you may bring your own wine . There is a…
No happy hour?
Aloha! Thank you for reaching out. We currently do not have a happy hour. We are in the process of applying for our alcohol license and hope to launch a pau hana or happy…
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24 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Kapa Hale - hawaiian - Updated July 2026
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