I was really disappointed with most of the food we ordered. The chicken liver mousse had a weird aftertaste everyone at the table was questioning (blue cheese tang? Or a weird floral essence) The aged steak I ordered wasn't cooked correctly, the sauce on the steak was so salty I scrapped most of it off. (Too much mustard) Also the potatoes it came with weren't fresh, they were old and hard like they'd been sitting under the heat lamp all day, also dumped with the same salty sauce all over them. It also took 40 minutes for our main dishes to come out which was bizarre considering the restaurant was mostly empty. My dining mate also noticed the chef grabbed some food and ate it off a plate waiting to get picked up, off putting to say the least. Overall for the price, the lacking atmosphere, the salty food and meh experience I won't be back. read more

Very disappointed. Maybe Saturday is just not a good day to go. The staff and kitchen seemed overwhelmed. I think we waited over 45 minutes for one appetizer. Two of three entrees were good. Our server never once stopped by our table to ask how we were doing after taking our order. With the lack of service and food taking much too long, it was overall not a good experience. read more

It's the middle of the night and I can't sleep until I write this review because I'm upset every time I think about it. Reservations for party of 9 for a really good friend's birthday. Made it early because we wanted a table outside. Called twice to reconfirm. I was assured we were all set. We arrive and are told that a group without reservations walked in and sat at our reserved table and they didn't want to move. I'm thinking "So...?" The hostess then explains it's the only table outside that can fit our group but the walk-in's took it. So they basically gave away the table I reserved and called twice to confirm to a group who just casually walked in. Not good but ok, so I ask where will they seat us then. They say we can sit at a table indoors that can fit our group. We begin to sit down and then another staff member tells us we can't sit there because it's "reserved" for another group that should be coming later. So... My reservation, that's earlier than this other group gets no table and a group without a reservation gets a table. So everyone gets a table except our group... We wait for awhile and then they say they can fit us outside but they have to split our group into two tables. Additionally, one of the tables is right next to the walk-in's that stole our reserved table. So dear reader... How wonderful do you think that felt to eat next to the table we had reserved a month ago that the restaurant gave away to random people? To have our group split in two and being told we couldn't sit together at the other table because it was "reserved". Reservations meant nothing for my table but how lucky for the other group with reservations they actually got to keep their table. I guess if you want to eat here don't bother with reservations, you have a 50/50 chance it will matter. I like to plan ahead to make sure things go well so this was super upsetting and nothing like this had ever happened at any restaurant before or after this incident. I'm usually forgiving but besides a "sorry" from the hostess, that was it. Nothing to try to make things right. My husband tried to hold out and hoped they'd comp even a lousy $4 app or something but no. Something to show they cared about what happened and felt at least a little bad about it. For me, it's the principle of the thing. Well... It turns out they didn't care they ruined a special occasion. Once they sat us at our separate tables they acted like nothing happened. Got the bill, tip already included since our group was technically larger than 6... Although we were split into two tables of 4 and 5 we got charged as if we had actually gotten the table I reserved. So this officially ends my first ever negative review on Yelp... So to be fair, food was good but how we were treated... Never had a negative experience like this before. read more

Omg I had no idea this place even existed. Tucked away, hidden by the Kahala post office this hidden gem should be on your short list. I will admit that what grabbed me the most was some of the whimsical names for the meals, but the description of the dishes sounded delicious so we took a chance... And we are glad we did. I'm embarrassed to say we dug so quickly into the food that there was no time for pictures. We started with "When I dip you dip" which is a smoked fish dip... Today's offering was Ahi... Served with freshly toasted bread. It was delicious as expected, but what I enjoyed was the use of pickled onions and capers which added a nice acidity to keep the dish from being too heavy. We also got "Naan Ya Business" which is Naan served with Indian curry... In this case a Tikka masala. Nice curry flavor. We had 3 different mains. My wife opted for the Shroom melt, a portabello and Swiss with garlic aioli topped with a egg. My son got the 'I've benedicted to you", their take on a classic eggs benedict. My son inhaled the dish so I assume it was... Okay... Lol. I got the "KFC (Keaka's Fried Chicken) chicken and waffles". The chicken was nice and light and very crispy. The waffles were done perfectly. Sweetness came from a more honey based sauce rather than the classic maple syrup. It was the perfect sweetness allowing the savory chicken to still shine through. In terms of service, our server was very attentive and explained the menu very well. The restaurant itself is very comfortable. It reminds me of being in a nice friendly neighborhood bistro. Very approachable ambience. Overall, we enjoyed everything we had. The food was top notch (no wonder the chef/owner was a James Beard semifinalist) without making you feel you're underdressed. I was actually reluctant about writing this review. I didn't want this place to get too popular so I could have it all to myself. Lol. But I couldn't keep myself from sharing my experiences. This place deserved it. We will definitely be back, hopefully for dinner next time to enjoy more whimsically named dishes that will, no doubt, be as good as it is witty. read more

We came for dinner. Relatively new spot, the latest of many that has occupied this spot (probably because of the microscopically small parking lot shared with Olive Tree Cafe). Don't let this deter you because you'll miss out on a broke-ur-mout meal. Inside is minimalist with a open kitchen (behind window) and an awesome mural on the wall. There is also outside dining. The menu is simple- just one page but everything looked so yum! We shared 2 starters- chicken liver mousse ($12)and the beef tartare ($15). Both were excellent- really liked the pickles with the chicken liver mousse and the pickle taste in the beef tartare which made them light and refreshing. The beef tartare was served on its own, without toast points. I guess to focus on the flavor but we were used to eating this with toast points. Our server willingly humored us and brought us focaccia bread ($3) -burnt on the ends unfortunately but didn't stop us. Both of us had the 12 oz koji aged cote de beouf ($35) with peppercorn sauce. I suppose we could have shared but nope, this was too good. We demolished each of our plate. The beef was so flavorful! Only thing I found it a bit overly salty for my taste, especially when it had accompanying sauce. Would have liked it without the heavy handed salt. would've like to try dessert but having made pigs of ourselves, couldn't manage another bite. Service was excellent! Friendly, kept coming around with water. And chef Keaka came by to see how things were. Nice touch. We certainly will be back to sample the other dishes and to try the brunch. read more

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I'm often hesitant to post about my favorite spots for fear they'll get too busy, I'll lose my seat, and they'll lose their specialness. Kapa Hale is worth the risk. Every time we visit it's fabulous! They put a modern spin on Hawaiian fare that always impresses. The standard menu is updated often and is always great. But the seasonal tasting menus are always a standout. The drink combinations never fail to disappoint. And the staff puts the cherry on the local flair cake and makes everyone feel welcome. Kapa Hale is the place to try everything - even if it wasn't your favorite elsewhere, they're sure to do a better take on it. We've never been anything short of impressed with Kapa Hale. If you haven't tried it, jump in with both feet. If you've been before, it's time to revisit for new dishes or old favorites. Kapa Hale deserves all the praise. read more

This place is amazing. The food is all great, the atmosphere is perfect and it's an open kitchen so you get to watch the masters make the beautiful meal you're getting! We got the Naan and curry starter which had perfectly flaky Naan and a great tasting curry. The octopus starter was very good and I don't know if I have ever had tako that tender. I got the corn pasta as my main. The yellow curry flavor on it gave it a very unique flavor and very delicious. Full of corn and tasty pasta too. There are many more things we want to try so I will be going back for dinner soon! read more

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Went with my cousin. She always surprises me with a new restaurant.. Well.....I was impressed how delicious everything was...Naan bread..corn bread..octopus...risotto.. Fabulous....we're coming BACK!!! we could see the kitchen...it felt like a positive energy coming from there! It was very relaxing to have super duper onolicious food!!!! read more

This is honestly really good food & service. Full bar. Highly recommend the seafood risotto... perfectly cooked Al dente, creamy & nice dish we came back for twice. Salad with pickled vegetables & quinoa perfect acidic counter balance. We'll be back for a 3rd time... minimum! read more

DEEEEELICIOUS! Recommended by our friends, we decided to stop by for lunch. Tucked away on the 1st floor, there's a parking lot available in front. The place had floor to ceiling sliding windows which provided plenty of fresh air (COVID-19 safe!). The food was delicious and full of flavors! Started with a Naan Ya Business (Garlic Nan w/ Curry) and Corny Bread to share and then 2 Tagliatelle alla Bulgolgi Pork Bolognese and 2 KFC (Fried Chicken of the Month) as the mains. Portions were perfect for our party of 4 as we left with full bellies and a new friend (Chef Keaka Lee)! Shared a few stories about NYC as he lived there for a few years so make sure to show him some love when you're there! read more

Kapa Hale - Tagliatelle alla Bulgolgi Pork Bolognese and KFC (fried chicken of the month) - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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When fellow yelper Jaylyn R. posted some pics of her recent visit the Kapa Hale and hubs offered to go out for a random lunch date, we found ourselves at Kapa Hale. Current COVID sitch: temperature taking, contact tracing, touchless menu, touchless payment options and physical distancing. Whenever it's our first time someplace, this yelper does a little homework before trying anything new. Well the pictures shared definitely painted a good picture of the foods served here. We started with the lemon-poppy with whipped guava butter, it was really yummy, so I actually put it on the side to have as dessert. Moving on to the Naan Ya Business, which could've been a meal in itself great flavor and what appears to be homemade Naan. I also ordered the pate, listed on the menu as Chicken Liver Mousse. I don't see pate listed on many menus, so I had to try it and it was fabulous! It was creamy and savory, and if you add the pickles on top of the pate, it is a winner! I actually mopped the plate to get the bits of pate for the last piece of toast. Hubs wanted the eggplant, and the sauce was like a shakshuka sauce with a bit of a kick and so not tomato sauce. Hubs ordered the Hawaiian Cubano, which is topped with an over easy egg, which he quickly added to the eggplant sauce. I ordered the Tagliatelle Alla bulgogi bolognese. What a pleasant fusion very unexpected, but perfectly married. The unexpected heat from the random pickled peppers just made it a fun dish. So, yes, we ordered a ton of food, and for just the two of us, well let's just say Mama doesn't have to cook dinner tonight! We will definitely try the weekend brunch and evening dinner menus in the future. Local chef Keaka puts a spin on food that is so ono (yummy). read more

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I was really impressed with Kapa Hale! The special attention to plating, Hawaiian touches and personable service were key! The table ordered the naan ya business, kapa-ccio, and let's tako bout it as starters. I had the tagliatelle with shrimp and bulgogi pork as my main and I'm still thinking about this dish- it was so unique and satisfying. If you are worried about the spice level, the kitchen can simply leave off the pickled jalapeños. The chef stopped by our table to thank us for dining in and he seemed very appreciative for the support. The whole table agreed that we would definitely be back. I want to try the brunch next! read more

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Yum - everything was Yum- the Mocktails were delicious- Presentation of food - taste - smell- all there - staff was pleasant and Chef said Hello to us and gave us a complimentary desert- everything was amazing! read more

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Stopped by here on our last day visiting home (for this trip at least). Was busy but we managed to get some seats. Restaurant was clean and atmosphere was relaxing. Our group of three all ordered Loco Moco's because we're boring and hungry. You know how it is. We also got some naan, which had some addicting sauce. Beef for the loco moco was spot on: juicy and thick. Easily filled that loco moco void. Very enjoyable meal and vibes. Thanks Chef Keaka and team, we'll be back! And hopefully with a more diverse appetite. read more

First time! Got a last minute dinner reservation, great service and great food! For appetizers we had the fresh smoked fish dip, haku lei poʻo salad, and the octopus which were all pretty light and delicious & for entrées we got the steak, pork chop, and tagliatelle which all had really good flavor and everything was perfectly prepared. Didn't have room for dessert :( next time, excited to try their lunch menu sometime and happy to support local chefs! read more

Great restaurant Real food using local ingredient. Very tasty using traditional good cooking skill and twist of fresh flavor But most importantly his food is real not trying too hard Asian fusion ( which I hate ) Price is reasonable We were able to bring fantastic wine to go with his food this was our first time but not disappointing at all We will be back again read more

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We had midweek lunch reservations for Restaurant Week; the prix fixe menu has good value. The restaurant has a pleasant appearance. For appetizers there were a tangy marinated vegetables on a kapakahi salad & potato samosas; mains: 'shroom melt (like a patty melt) & KH burger with chips; and desserts of strawberry guri guri (more like a shaved ice) and a peach ice cream like a peach melba, a unannounced substitute from the lilikoi ice cream that was originally offered. I also tried the corny bread appetizer, a course ground grilled corn bread topped with honey butter. While there have been raves about this, I found it just ok (and I come from a family of bakers). Food was overall good and we did really enjoy both desserts. I have to mark this restaurant down for service, though, demonstrating staffing difficulties in the industry and everywhere. Staffing was professional but definitely inadequate. Chef personally served us our mains. We had a 3 hour lunch which is ridiculous for a moderately full restaurant on a weekday and I lost an afternoon. The parking lot also serves a mixed use building with maybe 12 stalls available, and it was full when I came through. Found street parking nearby and the mall is around the block, JIC. I could be persuaded come back for their regular menu, but would really have to clear my calendar. read more

Heartbroken! I've been wanting to eat here for a while and finally checked it out this morning for breakfast. I was incredibly disappointed - ordered the Kalo Moco and it was inedible. The rice was old and cold and the gravy was awful. I didn't say anything because I had brought guests and didn't want them to feel uncomfortable, but I'm really hoping their food was better than mine. On a positive note-the coffee was great. But I can make that at home. read more

Excellent food & service. Duck Ramen was delicious. Chicken Pate was excellent .Brussels Sprouts was the best we had. We went for brunch today with our granddaughter and she gave this place a "thumbs up"! The poi pancakes we awesome. The pipikaula Shortribs she had a double serving with Lomi tomato was to die for. The "Shaka-Shuka" was so ono that we ate the whole thing! Not to forget the KH Avocado Toast was the best we ever had! You got to check this place out! Prices are VERY REASONABLE! Support Local! read more

Food is awesome! Everything was so tasty. The fish appetizer was incredible, very refreshing. I got the steak. The steak was very tender and cooked perfectly. My friend got the risotto. The Asian fusion in it was incredible. We were too full for dessert but the table next to us kept saying how incredible the dessert was. Overall, a great experience. read more

I apologize for this tough review. Nice brunch/lunch a while ago - - restaurant wasn't full, service was attentive and food was good. Dinner the other night was another story. Our server Eric, bumps this review up to 3 stars b/c he was fantastic despite a (seemingly) inefficient kitchen. Pros: - local chef offering creative & attractive dishes - Eric our server, was fantastic - nice wine selection of bottles & single pours - generously sized happy hour & appetizer plates Cons: - reservation made over a month ago for an early seating but given a horrible table next to the kitchen & bathroom hallway - happy hour ends at 6:00 and kitchen won't hold off firing till later. Most restaurants will take your order w/in HH hours but hold firing the orders till later if you want items with or as a main course. Not here. A friend ordered the HH burger as her entree and it was brought out a half hour before our entrees. She had to eat alone or let her burger sit and get cold while waiting for our entrees to be served. This also meant that she'd finished her dinner by the time the rest of us were eating ours. - Service started great, but once the restaurant got busy, kitchen & staff got overwhelmed. Our server Eric, was great the entire evening, but he was stressed and rushed. He wasn't standing idle, so the slow service was not for lack of effort. The kitchen seemed inefficient, not coordinated and perhaps understaffed. You could tell that one entree had been ready and sitting while another was being fired b/c while they brought out the risotto and the lechon entrees at the same time, the risotto was piping hot and the lechon was cold. We knew that asking them to reheat it wouldn't do it justice and we definitely didn't want to have to wait any longer for them to fire up a new portion. - Ordered coffee and green tea w/dessert. Coffee was lukewarm and green tea (loose leaf in individual pots) was warm and super bitter. Must've sat in kitchen to sit and over-steep because they were too busy to bring it out right away. - Tasting menu came with a dessert. Also ordered the guri-guri. We waited close to 45min for these. Thought they forgot. We were actually going to flag down our waiter to ask him to cancel the orders when we saw him bringing them to our table. All that wait and the guri-guri was so disappointing - - grainy, icy, chunky like shaved ice. The matcha cake was dry and the bits of brittle that came with it was the best part. Neither were worth waiting for. Best: Seafood curry risotto Worst: Octopus app (tough & dry), cold lechon (probably would have been better if it was served hot), guri-guri dessert Overall, food was ok, but not great. Creative & pretty, but at the expense of taste. When the plates were served, the reaction was "oooh, wow". When you took that first bite, the reaction was "meh". Nothing was horrible, but when I think about Kapa Hale, I'll think of how pretty the haku salad was plated, but I can't think of anything I'd ever want to eat again. read more

Wow! Words cannot describe this outstanding new restaurant. So innovative & creative in the mix of different cuisine you would not think to pair, that creates this explosion and depth of flavors in your mouth! Clever naming of dishes like, "Naan of your Business" peaks your curiosity and hints at the possible mixture of tastes. to come. Your eyes are treated with culinary heaven as well at the presentation of dishes especially the desserts so save some room! Keaka Lee, a bright and up coming chef to the Honolulu scene surprises guests by greeting them after dinner. He graciously spends time chatting with guests making it feel as though you were having dinner in his home. The menu changes with the season and the availability of local products. Ambiance is minimalist/modern tuck away in a small building next to Kahala Mall. Wait service was young,attentive and helpful with menu selections. You cannot go wrong with anything you may choose from appetizers to desserts... come with a group so you can taste as many dishes as you can in one sitting because you will definately A epicurean delight at such reasonable prices makes this place a hidden gem! read more

Food was delicious and innovative. Service was great. Chef was out in the restaurant making sure everyone was enjoying the food and having fun. read more

Tonight was my first time at Kapa Hale even though I have told people about the octopus dish and always wanted to try it. I was treated for my upcoming retirement from our company partner from Seattle. We had a fabulous time and the food was awesome, but what made it "over the top" was our wait staff Trina! A great server will make any great meal extraordinary! Her friendliness, helpfulness, passion for the job and employer shone through and made this special dinner for me memorable! It is always about the experience! Please everyone support the local chef/owner, his wife and employees!!!!!!! read more

Dishes & Ratings: Corny Bread / 2 pc - ($7) - Grilled corn bread, lilikoi and honey RATING: 9.5/10 Zucchini Jun - ($13) - soy chili, you produce, scallions, radish RATING: 10/10 Kalo - 3 pc - ($12) - Kolea farm kalo (taro) & potato croquette ; poi veloute RATING: 10/10 Choke Thyme - ($13) - Kolea Farm Roasted Sunchoke, Lemon, Thyme, Brown Butter RATING: 9.5/10 Oma'oma'o - 3 pc - ($12) - Kolea Farm green garlic, spinach, house cream cheese RATING: 10/10 Aloun Farms Watermelon Gazpacho RATING: 9/10 Curried Ho Farms Eggplant RATING: 8/10 Blackened Fresh Catch - ($23) - Tomato butter, bok choy, capers RATING: 9/10 Koji Aged Boeuf 16 oz - ($56) - NY Strip Steak, Small kine farm keiki portabella 'shroom, long bean RATING: 10/10 I love you a Laksa Risotto - ($40) - kauai shrimp, scallop, clams, lime, coconut arborio rice, basil, chili RATING: 9.5/10 Tagliatelle Alla Pork Guisantes - ($33) - Pork and english pea ragu, fried garlic, pickled ho farms sweet peppers RATING: 10/10 Lemon Dream - ($12) - Lemon semifreddo, lilikoi curd, kapa meringue RATING: 9/10 Coconutz' Bout You - ($12) - Coconut, ginger, lemongrass creme brulee, pear, mint, whipped cream RATING: 8/10 Da Kahala Shuffle - ($11) - Chocolate & Kahlua Mud Pie, Kona Coffee Syrup, Oreo Crust RATING: 10/10 read more

We came here for brunch a while ago. This review is long over due. But my memory of our experiences, has not faded. Service was attentive and informative. I ordered the kalo loco moco, my husband ordered the shaka shuka. My friends who accompanied us, ordered the KFC chicken waffle and the quiche luau. Our food came out quickly and hot. All conversations came to a halt, forks and knives took over. And our faces were filled with full satisfaction. I can only speak about the kalo loco moco. It was incredible! The kalo was filing and the silken tofu was like melted cheese. Highly recommend it. I have a feeling Kapa Hale is here to stay. I'll be making dinner reservations soon. It's nice to support a local business. read more

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Ok, this place is bomb. Everything was so ono, I'm not one to be blown away but I honestly loved every bite! We got just a few veggie plates to share- the zucchini jun, samosas, and the naan with dip and it was not only tasty but filling. Normally when I dine with my vegetarian friends and cater to their restrictions I'm left wanting more but I was totally satisfied. We also shared a lemon dessert that was so thoughtful and worked so well. I haven't been this impressed with the quality of food in forever. Service was also professional and personable. Chef here is a genius. Staff is top notch. Price point is reasonable. The attention and care is apparent in the product. I can't say enough. Wish every restaurant was this good. read more

Delicious place. Would recommend indoor dining since outdoor is a parking area. Lots of locals. Positives: The shrimp pasta is their most famous and best one IMO and the sake and service was great . Pricing is decent for food and drinks. Negatives: we had miso pork belly which had a bit too strong pork taste (hard to describe) and I didn't tolerate. Naan was not that great and tikka masala had too much tomato taste. Overall we had a pleasant experience so overall 4 stars! read more

Kapa Hale - Sake - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a great place for a relaxing dinner. Kapa Hale is situated in a corner in the Kahala Mall. The chef makes magic with each dish. Because of the pandemic the restaurant was short staff. The staff tried their best to serve each table. The dishes were delicious. read more

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Went for my birthday brunch and was treated like an absolute queen! Chicken and waffles were great, burger was transcendent. Service is top notch and love that that use so much local produce. read more

first of all i like supporting a local boy local family.. The place is nice and simple and most of all clean. The supporting staff is very friendly and try their best. The food is excellent, starting with the many different options and rich taste that embodies our cultures.. I love the desserts and their french toast.. funny reading the * reviews, fast food peeps that managed to save 5 years of paychecks all for the one big day expecting to be treated like they are the only guest in the house.. lol.. go get your pizza pizza or have it your way. read more

Chef Keaka Lee DA WEEKENDER BURGER and his KH BURGER are both Ono!!! A really tough choice which tastes better. Your only option is try both! read more

Kapa Hale - Gingerbread Crème Brûlée!!! - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This is a lovely place with delicious food and great service. It's upscale without feeling pretentious. I love walking by the kitchen and seeing Chef working his magic and his wife is often there, she's very gracious. My husband and I came for Valentine's pre-fix menu and savored Every. Single. Amazing. Bite! The servers are attentive without hovering. read more