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    Kukui Cafe

    4.2 (63 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Kukui Cafe Photos

    KUKUI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Kukui Cafe

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    Menu (1/2022)
    Andy F.

    You know you're in the right place when there's people queueing outside and a majority of people eating are speaking Cantonese! It's been a very long time since I last dined in at Kukui Cafe, and wow, the food is even more amazing compared to takeout and everything is ultra efficient. Classic Hong Kong Style Cafe. Inside was clean and bright. It's a small place with about 8 tables, but can accommodate a table of 10 as I witnessed. Servers don't really understand Mandarin that well, so I told my wife, "I got this!" Ngau Laam Hor Funn, Fu Gwaa Ngau Yuk Faan, Yeet Naai Cha. Beef Stew with Lok Funn in Soup was excellent. The broth was spot on--clean, savory, clear broth with Shanghai Bok Choy and a scoop of tender and flavorful braised beef brisket and tendon. The meat and sauce were just right. Hearty and tasty with the familiar hints of star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, etc. The Funn was very good. Thin cut with the right amount of chew. Beef with Bittermelon was very good. Solid wok heat. Spot on flavors of black bean and oyster sauce. Tender beef slices and well prepared and well handled Bittermelon that was cooked just enough to maintain its freshness and remove some of the bitterness. Hot Milk Tea was good! Definitely the best one I've had recently. Perfect tea to milk ratio that was overly steeped in tea and not sweet. The Crystal Sugar with White Fungus was really good. I recommend it, especially for this hot and sticky weather. White fungus supposed help your body cool down too! The drink was cool, flavorful, and perfectly sweetened. It maintained its taste even with the ice melting. Overall, I'm a fan of Kukui Cafe. I wish I came here more often when I was growing up instead of every dim sum restaurant in Chinatown lol. Food was spot on. Excellent service. The food came out quite fast, but cooked thoroughly, properly handled, and had wok heat. I like the fact everything is served in disposable containers, so if you need to take it home, just ask for the lid! If you're finished, just throw it in the trash can outside! Easy and effici

    Bitter-melon Chicken with Black Bean Sauce: 5/5
    Huiya Z.

    Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Kukui cafe has been a stable location throughout my childhood. I've grown up eating at Kukui cafe at least once a week. A chill sit down cafe and hidden gem. Beef Brisket Noodles: 5/5 Beef Brisket is slow cooked and very flavorful. Broth is perfect! Bittermelon Chicken with Black Bean Sauce: 5/5 Might be an acquired taste. I love this dish. It hits the spot every time. Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings: 5/5 I order the salt & pepper chicken wings every time I go to Kukui cafe. DELICIOUS. Honey Lemon: 3/5 Little too sweet to my liking

    Facing Kukui St. right next to the Nuuanu River
    Gerald P.

    Hole in the wall, Cafe next to the Nuuanu River on Kukui St, behind the Chinese Cultural Center. Went to visit , based on their good reviews, on their Hong Kong style noodles & dishes.Had to wait for a table, as the dining room is very small. Maybe 6 tables seating 12 -15 people. They serve breakfast from 8am from the pics on the wall. American fare. Have a good variety of Hong Kong style noodles, soups & drinks. Friendly female server, male behind the counter& well trained Chinese chefs in the Kitchen.The won ton noodle soap was very tasty with a lot of homemade won tons, Bok choy & noodles. Their salt & pepper chicken wing had a unique taste, well seasoned ,3 scoops of rice & shredded cabbage to make a bed for the wings. All food served in disposable bowls & containers & plastic containers. Ice water served in paper cups. Condiments stored on a self service station. No frills, delicious food! Total came to : Cash only $ 35.00 We'll go back again when in the Chinatown area.

    Singapore Rice Noodle (co-worker's lunch)
    Donna O.

    Kukui Cafe is one of my Coworker's go to spot when she doesn't have any home lunch. She goes there often and can speak Cantonese so she able to help me with my order when I request for no bean sprouts, eggs or add ons. She said their food reminded her of back home in Hong Kong. This little place is busy with local Chinese regulars. There may be a wait to get a table. One time with Yelp friends, we did get a table right away as a family left. It was the first time having the shredded pork with Szechuan pickled noodles in soup (no bean sprouts) and it was so delicious and it always better having it right there at the restaurant! The noodles came out piping hot and the pork was so tender! Really tender that some places don't compare. Another favorite of mines was the shredded pork over crispy noodles. There's a lot of pork and shiitake mushrooms! I love crispy noodles and it's kept separate when doing a take out! I used to love Singapore noodles until I couldn't have shrimps but recently I was craving for it and my coworker was able to request no shrimp but sub for chicken and no egg . It had ham inside too and it was delicious with onions! Theirs was a bit spicier than others places, but it was spicy good although I couldn't bring home to share with mom since she can't have spicy foods. I ordered the Hong Kong style French toast for a friend and that looked good. Crispy chicken with salt and pepper is not bad and tasty. The pork sandwich was good and you can get a combo with a drink. I love their hot or iced Honey lemon tea. The cup was filled with lemon slices! Refreshing and I love lemons in my drink! So this restaurant is on River St in the back of the Chinatown Cultural Plaza. If you know where Royal kitchen is, it's two doors away and next to Kevin's drive inn! I wouldn't have tried this place if it wasn't for my coworker! Whenever she offered to pick up, I always jumped in to order from here especially now I have some favorites!

    Rebecca T.

    Very popular spot among the local Chinese here! It serves some decent Hong Kong café style (Cantonese) food in this small shop. Got to try the preserved veggie shredded pork rice noodle soup. It's got some good flavors and aroma albeit its small size. As this is a popular spot and small space, there's a little wait even on a weekday morning! Lots of noodles dishes to choose from in the menu. Great spot to come to if you like Hong Kong café style food (a lot of noodle dishes with a mixed of Asianized western items).

    Menu
    Nadine C.

    Lunch in Honolulu, Hawaii... Because metered street parking is free on Sundays, my friends and I went to Kukui Cafe in Chinatown this past Sunday. Located at the end of Cultural Plaza, on the corner of Kukui Street and the Waolani Stream (also known as "the canal"), I've passed by Kukui Cafe so many times, but have never gone inside. Donna said her friend really likes the Hong Kong Style cuisine at this cozy hole-in-the-wall. Angel said her parents dine here a lot. Must be good, right? When we got there, every table was taken. We waited for a family to leave and took their spot. Service was quick and Angel helped by speaking Cantonese to our server. She asked for the Red Vinegar condiment for all of us. I ordered #40: Sze Chuan Pickle with pork Rice Noodles in soup. It was perfect for an overcast, drizzly day. The pork was tender and the pickles added a nice flavored texture. Red vinegar was a plus on the noodles! I kept looking at Angel's wonton min. That's one of my favorite dishes. So - I went back a few days later to get it! Yum! There was a shrimp in each dumpling! The noodles were nice and chewy! The broth was still steaming when I finished my meal! Bonus: I was able to ask for the Red vinegar in English. I failed when they told me my check amount in Cantonese. I should have known that number! Anyway, I sure would return for more Hong Kong cuisine!

    cafe sign
    Angel H.

    My parents used to frequent this place before the pandemic. My dad loves the milk tea. I personally have never been here until this past week. Auntie Nadine suggested we come here after stopping by Lemon Supply. Irene and Donna also came along. Thanks Auntie for taking us here. It's a hole in the wall take out place. They do have a few tables, but it's small. Mostly everyone that came in spoke Cantonese. If you're looking for authentic Chinese food this place is it. They're known for their drinks, especially the milk tea. Since we just came from Lemon Supply, we didn't get any. I ended up getting the wonton mein. The wontons were really good. They were big and filled with pork and a piece of shrimp. I was a little disappointed that they didn't use the HK type of skinny noodles. It was the regular Sun noodles that everyone serves. I ate it with red vinegar and it was perfect. They serve it with bok choy, but I prefer choy sum. They only accept cash, so bring money!

    Outside
    Irene M.

    Brunch with my besties is always a fun adventure! Here we go to Kukui Cafe...!? It's at the farthest corner end of Chinatown Cultural Plaza as it doesn't even seem it's part of that building which I've probably passed before but haven't noticed it as the signage is quite small and faded but those who know knows it's the place to go. I believe it was Donna who had suggested here so along with Angel and Nadine I happily tagged along for the adventure as I've never been here before but was so excited to see what they have to offer. This is quite small because as we got there we were lucky enough that some folks were leaving but had to wait outside in order for them to have room to leave, and this cozy place has about five tables that aren't socially distanced for those that may hope for but we all sat and didn't mind that at all. Let me tell you it's definitely different in an interesting way...first of all they do offer the traditional local breakfast of rice, eggs and meat..."Sandwiches" like Butter Toast, BLT, Deep Fried French Toast along with traditional dishes using Rice Noodles, Funn, Macaroni, Mein or Spaghetti. Hong Kong style dishes is very new to me and was just fascinated with the familiar items with a slight twist is fun. Ladies ordered the Sze churn Pickle with Pork Rice Noodles in Soup which look like a stir fry noodle soup, loaded with veggies this hearty dish looked so yummy! Also Won Ton Mein in Soup was in my radar but thanks to Angel my translator savior asked an sadly has shrimp in them so here I go to plan B. I really wanted to try something different but kept it familiar so I got the Beef with Vegetable Chow Funn which usually comes with Choi Sum which they were out of and offered Bok Choy instead...not a problem as it was still perfectly yummy! The gravy was not salty just the right amount of flavor though food coma was approaching me fast! This adorable little nook keeps this corner of Chinatown Cultural Plaza quite busy but I'm so impressed with the friendliest staff food came out hot and fast and we enjoyed our Sunday among besties is the something I look forward to as we do have "Brunches" of fun! Thank you!

    Spam & Egg Sandwich
    Scott H.

    Best HK style cafe in the US! This place has some of the most authentic food you can find outside of Hong Kong for casual fare. The go to dish for me is the Szechuan Pickle with Pork Rice Noodles in Soup. Add some chili sauce and some white pepper and it's perfect; this dish transports me back to being a kid visiting HK. If you're dining in, there is table service. It's friendly, quick, and efficient!

    Szechuan Pickle with Pork Rice Noodles in Soup ($9.25): authentic and delightful!
    Jack W.

    === 1. VERDICT/VALUE A mini Hong Kong-style cafe located on the edge of Chinatown: it's not quite a full-fledged HK-style cafe (the breadth of the menu is smaller and there are no combos with soup and buns accompanying the dishes), but it's got some of the right bones dish-wise. The authentic tastes are worth checking out! === 2. FOOD Szechuan Pickle with Pork Rice Noodles in Soup ($9.25): those looking for authenticity (e.g. if you grew up in Hong Kong or another Asian locale) will enjoy this dish: the flavors are spot on and the ingredients right for pork, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and pickles on noodles. Pork Chop with Tomato Sauce on Rice ($9.50): normally served with spaghetti, like many Chinese places, it's readily subituted with anything else, in my case: rice. The thin pork chop was served tender covered in a non-salty tomato sauce with chopped peppers, onions, and the occaisional pineapple chunk. Lemon Tea with Grape ($4): I think it's Ribena acting as the drink; regardless, it's a refreshing drink overall unless you're a lemon tea purist! Milk Tea with Grass Jelly ($5): Not quite the sock tea some would recall from the alleys of Hong Kong, but pretty good! === 3. SERVICE & ATMOSPHERE Close your eyes, pretend you're at a small HK-style cafe in Hong Kong and when you reopen your eyes, you'll be right at home, ordering in Cantonese (though English works too), seeing the single cook quickly prep your dish, and having your dish served relatively quickly with minimal interaction. Like many other places during this pandemic, there is no dine-in option; however, it looks like there is typically a number of tables that would accommodate small groups. Wheelchairs and strollers may struggle initially given the stairs nearby and close quarters, but they could get in here. A number of folks stop illeagally on the street, but you're best served parking is one of the Chinese Cultural Center lots.

    Crispy noodles and lemon tea

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    10 months ago

    Why are they temporarily closed? I loved their fried rice and the owner is really friendly.

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    2 years ago

    Good delicious food, awesome service. Wonderful people, great energy food is delicious.

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    2 years ago

    Good food. Fair prices. And I enjoy the drinks too. It also helps that it's close by.

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    It was so good . Best wings and fried rice and I get the hot noodle soup with stew beef and choy sum! Friendly workers.

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    Kevin's Kitchen

    Kevin's Kitchen

    4.1
    (203 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Ordered bento lunch takeout 4 times this week! The first time I had 1/2 duck and 1/2 char siu and…read morethe char siu was succulent and tender. The duck was tasty, but both portions are very small with too much rice. The second time I ordered half char siu and half soy chicken and the char siu was dry and chewy and the chicken was so-so. Then we ordered 1 lunch portion of char kway teow and it was fantastic and generous and perfectly cooked with few broken noodles. 4th time we got Singapore Noodles and Beef Chow Fun!! Both were absolutely fantastic, noodles not overcooked or broken and the veggies were crisp and perfectly seasoned. These noodle dishes are some of the best that I have ever eaten and we used to live overseas and got to eat all kinds of locally prepared noods everywhere. Call ahead for the orders and it is usually ready in under 15 minutes and piping hot. We are going to get some party pans of these for the next family get together instead of going to Asian Mix for their Beef Chow Fun. Kevin's beef is tender and perfectly seasoned and cooked. So glad that we live so close and can get these dishes readily. Wish someone would do more Malaysian/ Singaporean dishes like Beef Rendang and Laksa as those are some of our favorites and cooking them is so time consuming for just the 2 of us now. The smiling guys at the counter are so personable and welcoming that we enjoy our brief interactions with them when we come in to pick up. Really nice and clean place with delicious food and super friendly staff. We will go and eat in next time and order some of their seafood dishes.

    Update 7/17/26 takeout lunch special . Better service from last time . The last time I was here it…read morewas almost the early stages when this place just opened. A group of us Yelpers came here and it wasn't a good experience it was noisy food was ok and the vibe was not good . I guess know Kevin's Kitchen been open for a while now they got all the wrinkles iron out I hope . Their lunch specials @ $11 can't go wrong choice of Char Siu, Roast Pork, Shoyu Chicken over rice with a stem of Choy Sum. The only thing I can see the Chinese man doing the cutting is inconsistent I can see him throwing couple pieces and weighing it than chopping than he puts in on the plate . I was watching the process and he gave different amounts of Char Siu or Roast pork Some plates looked more full than others . I guess no one notices these things because the prices are good . Support local

    Photos
    Inside da restaurant........
    Inside da restaurant........
    Pandamonium
    Pandamonium
    Whole roast duck (back)

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    Whole roast duck (back)
    Sandy's Cafe

    Sandy's Cafe

    4.4
    (185 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Sandy's Cafe in Chinese Cultural Plaza is the epitome of HK lunch cafes, with mouth watering,…read moretender char siu, and iconic crispy roast duck. Their roast duck is one of the best available in Oahu. I knocked off a star though because 2 years ago, I felt that the recipe was less oily and was much better, rivaling some places in Richmond/ Vancouver BC, Canada which is also known to have solid HK cafes outside of the home country. I miss how they've made it in the past, and wish they would revert back to how it was before... but regardless, a solid pick and a place I will probably still continue to frequent in the future.

    If you are looking for authentic Hong Kong food, this is a place you can put it the "to go" list…read more It's conveniently located in the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, so you don't have to worry about parking. This place is very clean, which is a very big plus. Food review: -wonton soup: 5/5 Very homey taste; in fact, this is what an authentic Hong Kong wonton taste like! The favor of the wonton is not salty and they are very generous in the meat portion. The wonton is pretty big compared to other places. This is my always go to dish to get. -beef chow fun: 5/5 I have to say this is one of the best beef chow fun in island. Each of the chow fun is coated evenly with the sauce. I usually don't like to order beef chow fun because it can taste very oily and heavy, but this one not at all. The chow fun is very tasty! Highly recommended! -beef spaghetti w/ tomato sauce: 3.5/5 This is not the usual spaghetti where you get at an Italian restaurant. It's an Asian/hong Kong style spaghetti that have a different flavor compared to the traditional Italian pasta. The portion it's actually pretty big. It's pretty average, nothing special. If you want to try a non-Italian version spaghetti, can give it a try.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Yeung Chow Fried Rice
    Yeung Chow Fried Rice
    Front entrance coming for Nuuanu Stream

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    Front entrance coming for Nuuanu Stream
    Yi Xin Cafe

    Yi Xin Cafe

    4.4
    (461 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$
    Takes reservations
    Catering service

    We've been coming here since they opened but now that bretman rock posted about eating there, it's…read moreso busy Parking at market city is always a challenge, you just have to wait for someone to leave. Hmm which aisle should I wait in? We always get the salted egg fried rice which is not salty and the sizzling beef platter or shrimp. I normally just drink water but this time we tried the lemon ice tea and milk tea which came with the cutest bear ice. I felt bad for smashing it when my drink was almost gone When you leave the restaurant the question is.. do I need anything from this shopping center (since it took forever to find parking)

    I had been looking forward to eating at Yi Xi Cafe my entire trip because I kept hearing about…read moretheir Singapore chili crab and salted egg yolk dishes. Unfortunately, it was one of the biggest disappointments of my vacation. The Singapore crab completely missed the mark. Instead of the rich, savory, slightly sweet and spicy flavor I was expecting, it tasted like it was covered in plain tomato sauce with very little seasoning. There was no depth or authentic flavor at all. The salted egg yolk wings were just as disappointing. They were incredibly bland and lacked the rich, buttery, savory salted egg flavor that makes this dish so popular. I honestly don't understand why these are recommended as signature dishes. I came in with high expectations based on the reviews, but left wondering why anyone would recommend such bland, overly saucy food. There are far better places to experience authentic Singapore-style flavors. Worst meal of our trip.

    Photos
    Yi Xin Cafe
    Szechun spicy JJ chicken pot
    Szechun spicy JJ chicken pot
    Impressive presentation that served with sizzling sound, but the beef was too well done & on the tough side.

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    Impressive presentation that served with sizzling sound, but the beef was too well done & on the tough side.
    HK Cafe

    HK Cafe

    4.1
    (119 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Found another gem in Chinatown like Lams kitchen. For the people that like spicy, this is an…read moreawesome bowl of goodness. I've never had laksa before and I have no idea if this authentic but I know good when I taste good! Tasty, spicy broth that will leave you asking for another napkin so you can wipe your face from the heat! Lots of beef - not so much tendon as tasty chunks of seasoned beef! Choice of noodle type; I got look funn. The coconut and curry infused broth was delicious!!!!! Service was really good and I found the place clean! Mostly Chinese in there in the morning drinking coffee and eating that ovaltine toast. I would say this place is excellent and tasty! One of my favorites now!!!!

    Been wanting to try HK Cafe for the longest time! It didn't disappoint, but it didn't exceed…read moreexpectations. Located along Maunakea St, in the previous Happy Garden dim sum spot. Inside is bright and surprisingly spacious. A big difference from before. Started with the Minced Beef Steamed Flour Roll, which was very good. Soft, tender beef, thin rice roll, and flavorful sauce. You won't find these "messy/not quite neatly rolled" style look funn at many places! I like it! The Preserved Chinese Sausage and Meat Clay Pot Rice was pretty good. Nicely prepared rice that was soft and fluffy that crisped up very nicely from the pot. The Lap cheong and lap yuk were good. Lap yuk was sliced on the thin side to be able to appreciate it. Sausage was the usual brand. The most important ingredient is the sauce, and it was excellent! Good balance of savory with enough sweet to balance out the meat and to flavor the rice. Note: these take 25-35 minutes to make. The Curry Laksa with Beef Tendon and Brisket Noodle Soup was good. Tasty and tender brisket and tendon. The laksa broth was flavorful with nice hints of lemongrass, ginger, and other spices. The coconut milk and the spice didn't quite come through leaving the broth not as creamy or silky, or spicy as I would have liked. Still good overall though. Noodles prepared well and the lemon added a nice acidity that goes well with everything. The Hong Kong Style Milk Tea and Coffee mix was all right. The tea was on the strong side which masked the coffee. Overall, a decent meal at HK Cafe. Food was good. Service was good. Reasonable prices. I'll come back to try more things!

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Very small amount of meat, 4 tiny pieces.
    Very small amount of meat, 4 tiny pieces.
    HK Cafe

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    Bo’s Kitchen

    Bo’s Kitchen

    4.4
    (408 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Bo's is one of those places you want to tell everybody and nobody about. A hidden gem whose food…read moredelights the senses and leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy after. Several visits later and we still haven't come across a dish we didn't like. Definitely recommend coming hungry- portions are the right size and they do not disappoint.

    Bo's kitchen offers Chinese comfort food at affordable prices and generous portions. I have been…read morehere a handful of times and have yet to be disappointed by their food. I ordered 5 items off their menu and they arranged for pick up time to be 30 minutes. Talk about fast! I got two beef brisket wonton noodle soups, a choi sum tofu noodle soup, their choi sum with oyster sauce, and the green beans with tofu. I also listed these in order of best to worst tasting, with the beans/tofu still being a satisfactory 8/10 (could be better with more sauce and if the garlic were more toasted.) The beef in the brisket soup was a bit lean (great if you're not looking for the fatty meat cuts), but I am one who loves pork belly, so just a tan bit lean. Overall, food was great and still hot by the time I got home with the take out order. Will definitely be back! FYI: there are limited parking stalls on the King street side, but if swing around back; there's a much bigger lot.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Mini Sesame balls- jindui
    Mini Sesame balls- jindui
    Dinner@Bo's Kitchen; 12/29/2024.Our long time Gf ordered Mapo Tofu* So nice of her she let me taste a lil of it, Cuz I thought it was Spicy?

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    Dinner@Bo's Kitchen; 12/29/2024.Our long time Gf ordered Mapo Tofu* So nice of her she let me taste a lil of it, Cuz I thought it was Spicy?
    Papa's Cafe

    Papa's Cafe

    4.2
    (151 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    This was a great meal and I can't wait to go back! The location is not in the best part of…read moreChinatown so there were some crazies walking in. The staff does well to deal with it but we preferred to do take out. Going home I was still happy with everything. We got won ton min, cake noodle, green sides, and some fried shrimp and crispy gau gee. Everything was delicious but I think the cake noodle was my favorite.

    A co-worker and I headed up to Maunakea Marketplace to pick up lunch from Mei Mei but it was…read moreunusually crowded so we ended up at Papa's on the outside of the Marketplace, on Hotel Street. It's a small space with four or five tables. We ordered Minute Chicken Cake Noodles and Seafood with Crispy Noodles. The restaurant was empty, so service was fast. My seafood plate contained a lot of seafood in a tasty sauce ... too much sauce, as it drowned the noodles and softened them. However, it was very good and powered through and finished off my plate. My friend couldn't finish his Minute Chicken ... It was too much food for him. We miss Canton House, just down the street, as it was our "go to" place for Chinese food. However, Papa's is an adequate substitute ... The menu is vast for such a tiny place, and we've always been able to find something to please our palate. The prices are reasonable and thus we can continue to give it a thumbs up recommendation.

    Photos
    Cold Beef Salad
    Cold Beef Salad
    Seafood laksa.  Added an egg on our own at home.
    Seafood laksa. Added an egg on our own at home.
    Spiced Duck Neck

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    Spiced Duck Neck
    Star Noodle

    Star Noodle

    4.1
    (8.6k reviews)
    81.3 mi
    $$

    We made an 8 PM reservation for two on a Thursday night and proceeded within minutes upon arrival…read more The food was excellent, and the atmosphere is relaxed. As a vegetarian, I asked the waiter what I could order and they said they could make pad Thai, Singapore noodles, garlic noodles, vegetarian. We ordered the green beans, appetizer and the Singapore noodles vegetarian both were excellent!! The Singapore noodles are a bean thread noodle with egg and tofu and bell peppers and tiny limes. I think were calamansi-- just delicious!! The green beans came with crispy, garlic, and spicy Fresno peppers on top and we're cooked to a chard perfection. Would definitely return. You can park in the Safeway/canner row parking lot and walk over.

    On our first dining experience at Star Noodle, we were initially impressed with our previous…read moretakeout order, particularly the Pad Thai. However, our recent visit on a date night was far from satisfactory. We made a reservation on OpenTable, but the only available time was 8:45 PM. We arrived promptly at 8:40 PM and waited for 25 minutes before being seated at 9:05 PM. Our table was located at the far end, closest to the old Lahaina luau. Unfortunately, our waiter's demeanor was unfriendly, and we felt rushed, especially considering it was nearing the end of the evening. Despite the initial disappointment, we were eager to try the diverse Asian fusion menu. One dish that caught our attention was "Hapa Ramen," which I ordered due to my hapa heritage. Unfortunately, I gave it a 2/5 rating. The broth lacked flavor, appearing bland and lacking in taste. The noodles were also hard and thicker than usual. The pork was flavorless, and I personally make better ramen. The garlic noodles, recommended by the server, were hard, dry, and salty. (Rating: 3/5) The adobo ribs were satisfactory (Rating: 4/5). The white butterfish was soft, flaky, and delicious (Rating: 4/5). The sweet sake was enjoyable (Rating: 4/5). Overall, our experience at Star Noodle was disappointing. The customer service was subpar, and the quality of the food did not justify the high price. In hindsight, I would have preferred to dine at Joey's Kitchen. In conclusion, Star Noodle is not a restaurant I would recommend. I regret our visit and hope to avoid it in the future. So sad to end our trip on a bad review :(

    Photos
    Interior seating
    Interior seating
    Tempura Shrimp - Faux'nagi Sauce, Garlic Aioli
    Tempura Shrimp - Faux'nagi Sauce, Garlic Aioli
    Our view from our table.

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    Our view from our table.
    Lam's Kitchen

    Lam's Kitchen

    4.4
    (654 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    As a Chinese, we love Chinese food. Lam's is one of my favorite which located on the center of…read moreChinatown. Service is great and efficient. After renovation, it's much cleaner and brighter inside. Their Cheung fun and Congee are always my favorite. Chinese donut was not as good as before. Tastes like pre-made. Wonton soup was tasty. If you pass by Chinatown, Lam's is one of the good places to go.

    Located in Chinatown, Lam's Kitchen is on a corner on Maunakea Street. The building is brick and…read morethe restaurant has red doors, which we read had been newly renovated. Inside, the space feels busy with tables and people moving around. There are benches inside for those waiting for a table. We had to wait a bit before we were seated but they seemed efficient in ushering people in and out of the restaurant. The middle had smaller tables, which seemed most suitable for two people. The sides had larger tables for larger parties. The tables felt pretty close together but we enjoyed the stool/bench chairs we sat on. They were different than what we are used to in restaurants. Our order was taken quickly. We decided to get the beef chow fun, yang chow fried rice, and cheong fun. The cheong fun was good, especially after adding hoisin sauce. The texture was soft and the portion was quite decent. The chow fun was also yummy. It was tasty without being overbearing. The fried rice was our favorite. It was flavorful and included a variety of ingredients. The prices were not bad either, considering the portion sizes. We hope to be back one day to try more of what they have!

    Photos
    So clean and spacious
    So clean and spacious
    Beef Chow Fun
    Beef Chow Fun
    Lam's Kitchen

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    Kukui Cafe - chinese - Updated August 2026

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