Restaurant is where the old BOH used to be. The interior is pretty small. We went during lunch it wasn't too busy. I got the kalbi bao which was good but pretty pricey for 2 tiny baos. My husband got the mixed tempura teishoku it wasn't a lot of food he was still hungry after. The menu is pretty limited and pricey. Don't know if we will be back. read more

Little Plum - Mixed tempura Teishoku - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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A cozy upscale place that reminds me of another place...NamiKaze. The fusion food leans heavily towards the Japanese variety, with occasional nods to Chinese and other flavors (bao, curry, steak, etc.). Speaking of bao, the short rib bao are delicious (2 to an order) and have very tender meat with kim chee and sesame mayo. We also had the ume tomato salad which was quite a conundrum. Perfectly poached (skinless) cherry tomatoes are nestled in what looks like mascarpone (actually whipped silken tofu) and topped with an ume dressing and a chiffonade of shiso leaves. The visuals contrast with the taste in a wonderful way. I'd buy their ume dressing! Our lunch entrees were the spicy miso eggplant teishoku and the menchi katsu. The spicy miso eggplant was fried in a very light batter and topped with spicy powder (togarashi?). Very nicely prepared and not oily at all. The teishoku comes with rice, miso soup, tsukemono and namul. All of the sides were great, but the namul could use a little more salt or shoyu. The menchi katsu is a play on loco moco, or so it seems. a crispy deep-fried hamburger patty sits atop a bed of rice covered in mushroom gravy. The patty is topped with a perfectly cooked 3-minute egg. The perfect bite of egg, hamburger, gravy and rice! Service is very good and our server explained the menu very well. If you imbibe, this is a good place to come. If you don't, they also have spirit-free libations, but alas, no non-alcoholic beers. Definitely a place for a nice lunch, special occasion, or if you want to unwind after a long day. Conveniently located in the Manoa Marketplace. Can;t wait to try their other offerings! read more

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From the moment they gave us baskets for our bags to the complimentary birthday mocktails, the experience at Little Plum was extraordinary. Service was of the caliber one would expect from a Michelin-starred establishment yet it felt like we were being welcomed into someone's home. Cool, casual, warm, sophisticated, welcoming comes to mind... The service was stellar and the food was fantastic. Every detail well thought out and executed with finesse! Our server Sarah was professional, pleasant, and precise. She changed the napkins under our drinks twice. The attention to detail did NOT go unnoticed or unappreciated. But what about the food, you ask? We started with the ume tomatoes. Get this! The soft decadence of tofu (who knew tofu could be decadent), the sweet tomatoes, and the vibrant ume dressing topped with the subtle crunch of the bubu arare were divine! Luxurious starter!! I'm pescatarian so chose the ginger scallion noodles which was simple yet sophisticated. Comforting with its familiar flavors but with a refined execution. My husband and MIL opted for the menchi katsu. Think high-end loco moco. A katsu-styled hamburger patty on fluffy rice topped with savory gravy and a perfectly-done egg. Why haven't I thought of this, seriously?! It was my MIL's bday. I noted it on the reservations and they served us a delightful mocktail adorned with edible flowers (which she decided to save to press--so sweet!) to recognize our special occasion. Portion sizes were 'spot on' allowing us room for dessert. Missed taking photos of the mochi churros and lilikoi pudding. But I highly recommend them. I'm not a huge churros fan but these might change a girl's mind! We dipped them in the lilikoi pudding and it was in a word--mind-blowing. They don't offer many desserts but they don't need to. These two will satisfy any sweet tooth and are the delicious end to well-enjoyed meal. Finished our lunch with a visit to Uncle Paul's corner store. It's right next door and is owner-connected to Little Plum. I'm working on a five-star review for this little epicurean gem. What a wonderful addition to the Manoa neighborhood, truly a food and wine lovers oasis!! My MIL expressed how much she enjoyed her birthday lunch and adventure, and on the way out, we ran into Dusty Grable which gave me a chance to say BRAVO in person. Will definitely visit Little Plum again and already have reservations to their sister restaurant Lady Elaine in a couple weeks. If it's anything like Little Plum, I'll be writing another five-star review very soon!! read more

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Little Plum restaurant in the Manoa Marketplace. Opened just about a year and a half ago. Japanese Fusion cuisine. It's an awesome place, relaxed atmosphere, owner has a great staff. It starts at the top and it shows that they take care of their staff and take great pride in their restaurant. They are very proud of their restaurant and the food they serve. We tried the Duck Fried Rice, Menchi Katsu Bowl, Ribeye skewers, Miso Eggplant, Pineapple Orange pudding, and Mochi Churos. The Duck Fried rice is served with a perfectly prepared duck breast and accompanied with Namasu. The Menchi Katsu bowl is their take on Loco Moco. Except that the Hamburger patty is breaded and deep fried served over white rice that was topped off with a wonderful mushroom gravy with an Onsen egg . The Ribeye skewers are marinated in gochujan sauce and perfectly cooked very tasty and tender. Loved the Spicy Miso Eggplant gently deep fried eggplants tossed in a togarashi sauce accompanied with charred leaks. For dessert we ordered the Pineapple Orange pudding topped with whipped Haupia and toasted coconut. It was surprisingly light and very tasty. The Mochi Churos are tossed in Kinako and served with anglaise. One of our servers taught us a different way to eat the desserts. Top the Churos with some of the pudding and top it off with anglaise. It was awesome . read more

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Loved the food, everything was very flavorful. Definitely for people who like food on the saltier selection of food. The service is great here, the servers take the time to explain each part of the menu and help you understand what is put into each dish. read more

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Wonderful lunch experience! Staff is exceptional, attending to and anticipating your needs without being intrusive. Food is delicious, Izakaya style so it's best to order a lot and share family style. The baos are so light and fluffy, one of the best regardless of the filling you choose. Lots of veg options, so our vegetarian friend was happy. Favorites were the tomato two-ways, steak skewers, grilled eggplant, short rib bao. Thank you Little Plum for making our lunch experience so special! read more

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After hearing so many great things about Little Plum, a restaurant in Manoa, I was happy to check it out for dinner. Little Plum is owned by 2024 Hale 'Aina Restauranter of the Year, Dusty Grable, who opened well-known spots like Lucky Belly, Livestock Tavern, and Tchin Tchin Bar. His new restaurant group has opened Wild Orange, Uncle Paul's Corner Store, and the upcoming Lady Elaine - a Mediterranean restaurant. Best restaurants near me Little Plum is a lovely space with both table and booth seating and colorful kimono hanging on the wall. The ambience is lively and casual and on that night, busy with diners of all ages. The drink menu is filled with mouthwatering choices so it took us awhile to select our cocktails. The dinner menu includes options of teishoku, plates, and bowls. The teishoku items can be ordered a la carte so they can be shared as an appetizer. I had the spicy eggplant teishoku which I really enjoyed and we ended the meal with the mochi churros which was another excellent choice. Little Plum is a wonderful addition to Manoa Marketplace! read more

Tucked away in the back of Mānoa Marketplace close to the jungle gym for the children is where Little plum is located. Our party of four came here to eat for lunch. As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were greeted with such a warm smile by the host. I have to say, this staff has exceptional customer service - it's a combination of fine dining with a homey local vibe. We decided to order different things and share. I ordered the spicy eggplant which came with a teishoku set. For $6 extra, you can add on a teishoku set for the bowls. I have to say, every entree had its own special umami taste that we all appreciated. My favorite was the mushroom jook with chicken confit - the jammy egg really complimented this dish. For dessert, we tried both the pudding and the churros. I love how all the proceeds go to the cooking staff so they can get tips that way. This is definitely a place I would come and eat again. read more

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This is a really nice, quaint restaurant tucked in a corner of Manoa Marketplace. Little Plum's menu is a good variety of different entrees; combination plates, appetizer portions, and bowls. They also have quite an extensive selection of cocktails and other beverages. I tried the beef cheek stew, something I've never had before but really glad I did. It was very tender, flavorful and delightfully served with a bowl of white rice, miso soup and two sides (tsukemono). Everything complemented each other well and this is something I would definitely order again. I also tried some of the fresh catch, which on this day was a'u. It was excellent. Very tender, seasoned nicely, served over choi sum, and topped with crispy, fried shallots. For dessert, we had the mochi churros and lilikoi orange pudding. Both were delicious. The mochi churros were both crispy and chewy with the right amount of sweetness. The lilikoi orange pudding had a light, mousse like texture with a fruity taste. Service was excellent and I look forward to coming back again. read more

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I have been itching to try this place since my coworker mentioned a new restaurant took over the BOH space in the Manoa Marketplace. Two canceled lunch meetings further fueled my intrigue. Where does the excitement stem from? For my entire life, Manoa Marketplace has never been a beacon of cuisine worthy enough to make the drive into the Valley. Until now. Since their inception, Little Plum has elevated the once antiquated Manoa Marketplace into a living, breathing stage of flavorful and balanced Asian comfort dishes. It also helps that Manoa Marketplace underwent a comprehensive, multi-phase renovation last year to attract families and foodies to the space. Future plans of Movie on the Lawn and community events are part of the Marketplace vision. Location is in the USPS corner of the Marketplace where Paesano and Bank of Hawaii used to be. Noon was unusually busy in the parking lot, so plan your time accordingly. Ambience is earth-toned with hanging kimonos and Japanese artwork adding to its Asian flair. Windows flanking the Mauka entrance brings natural light into the center with a sidebar inviting guests deeper into the space. Noise level can be reduced with insulation and would be a welcomed improvement, but not a deal breaker. Individual unisex bathrooms circles behind the bar. Start with the Ume Tomato. The acidity of the vinaigrette with the whipped tofu and shiso clears the palate to appreciate your next dish- the savory Kalbi Shortrib Bao. Both provide two different, yet complimentary, flavor profiles. For your mains, I recommend the Ahi Tataki teishoku. Close runner-ups were the togarashi-seasoned Spicy Eggplant and Menchi Katsu with the onsen egg and brown gravy. You cannot go wrong with any of these and if you bring a group, try it all. The greatest closure to any meal for me is dessert. Both the Mochi Churro and Lilikoi Orange Pudding did not disappoint. It's impossible to say which one is better. Get both- you'll be thankful you did. Best wishes and a hearty congratulations to the Grable group and staff. Looking forward to future lunch and dinner dates at this up and coming space. read more

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i wish there were more places like this; it's like having an extremely well executed/cooked homey meal. i mean that in the best way. the food is so fresh and feels light and not fussy. i got the fish special bento dinner and it was the perfect portion size for me (maybe a little small for folks with large appetites). the staff was very friendly and prompt, the food didn't take long to come out, and plenty of space in the restaurant. since it's in a shopping center, parking can get a little busy, but we didn't have too much trouble finding a spot during peak dinner time. read more

Want to try something delicious in Manoa? Little Plum might have what you're looking for. Located in the Manoa Shopping Center behind Safeway and close to the Post Office. The joint is a little shop with a very well versed bar and well kept open kitchen. The decor is chic and matches their menu with some unique names. Made reservation through Resy, and was greeted prompted at the door and seated soon after. Our friendly server introduced herself and asked if we wanted something else besides water and we opted with Plantation Ice Tea. This was bottomless, refreshing and well mixed. For eats, we ordered the Kalibi Bao and Menchi Katsu. The bao were 2 pieces of bao with hearty pieces of kalibi stuffed inside. My mother said was kinda dry but still tasty. The Menchi Katsu was a unique spin of a Loco Moco. A deep fried breaded hamburger patty on top a bed of rice topped with a mushroom gravy and sealed with an onsen egg was visually appealing. The gravy was seasoned perfectly and egg was running after I broke into that, but the patty was over cooked a tad. Otherwise, this could be an awesome dish! We ended our meal with their Mochi Churros. Looked like mini churros and came with a side of vanilla dipping sauce. After the first bite, had to get use to the fact that this was mochi and wasn't going to be crunchy all the way through and that was fine. The next bite was much more appealing and became a habit till the bowl was empty. The only downside was the price. Wouldn't be able to dine here often at those prices, but would come here for special occasions. Till our next occasion, Grind On, Pau! read more

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"Little Plum" is described as the personality of Manoa Valley, as a group of 10 friends, led by local restaurateur Dusty Grable, who make up the owners of the newly formed Little Plum Restaurant located at Manoa Marketplace. Dusty Grable has pioneered various success stories for local restaurants such as Lucky Belly, Livestock Tavern, Tchin Tichin! Bar, La Vie, & Quiora; & recently opened 3 businesses at Manoa Marketplace: Little Plum, Lady Elaine, & Uncle Paul's Corner Store. W/ his restaurants, Dusty Grable manages a group to 10 people who have ownership of the businesses, called Lovers & Fighters. 10 owners?! How do they get along? Lovers & Fighters is a hospitality education & leadership collective that helps build industry leading innovative hospitality venues that are dedicated to a new product for excellence & developing leaders in the hospitality industry by building self-sufficiency, growth & creativity. It also supports local farmers & sustainable practices. W/ a number of the owners who live or grew up in Manoa, Little Plum takes on the personality of Manoa Valley. Opened in June 2024 in the former BOH space near the post office, the casual restaurant serves local Asian-style fusion favorites, w/ items to share, teishoku sets, desserts & handcrafted cocktails. It offers 6 teishoku sets, a keiki teishoku set, 7 appetizers, & 2 desserts, w/ the same items for both lunch & dinner. My daughter's family from Maui was visiting over the weekend, so I thought it would be a nice celebration for a birthday. We ordered the following: * Spicy miso eggplant. The eggplant included charred leeks, togarashi & a sesame vinaigrette. The spicy eggplant was lightly fried in a light batter & topped w/ spicy seasoning. It was soft, tangy, spicy, & had a charred flavor. The miso flavor was not overpowering. It was tasty & flavorful, with interesting ingredients complementing the eggplant! * Ume tomato. This included shiso, ume vinaigrette & whipped tofu. Yes, each of the dozen cherry tomatoes were peeled! The whipped tofu & ume vinaigrette complemented each well, with whipped silky tofu being very innovative! This dish was flavorful, delish, & the ingredients highlighted its different textures! Loved the tangy ume vinaigrette! * Beef cheek stew set. It also had blistered tomato, kalo (taro) & market veggies that included green beans, carrots, squash, mushrooms, kabocha & potatoes. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tenderness! The stew was very flavorful w/ the rice! * Curry min. It had an onsen egg, sliced cucumbers, bok choy & a beef skewer. Noodles were evenly coated with the curry & even had a slight tang to it like an addition of a plum reduction. Egg was delicate & added a richness to the curry. Loved the different textures! Delish! * Mixed tempura set. There were kalo, shrimp, ulu (breadfruit), potato & large long pieces of eggplant. They were fried in a light batter that highlighted the tasty flavor of the veggies! * Mochi churro w/ anglaise sauce. The mochi churro was served piping hot & very lightly drizzled w/ cinnamon sugar & mild kinako; it was delicious when dipped into the creamy anglaise sauce! It was lightly crunchy on the outside & chewy on the inside. The restaurant brought it w/ a flaming candle for the birthday celebration. This was a nice ending of an enjoyable dinner! * Teishoku sides. The miso soup had shiitake mushrooms, which you don't normally see, & was served piping hot & delicious. The tsukemono was perfectly executed w/ thin sliced cucumbers & takuwan in a balanced vinegary-sugar marinade. The bean sprouts were good but could use a little more seasoning. The rice was fresh & fluffy! Customer service was excellent! Servers kept our water glasses full at all times, brought our dishes in a timely manner, removed dishes as needed, & handled the payment in an efficient manner. My daughter saw her high school classmate, one of the Lovers & Fighters from Lucky Belly days, who was working hard between Little Plum & Lady Elaine. It was a nice touch to have a basket on the floor to place your purse! The restaurant interior has been nicely renovated to reflect an open kitchen w/ Executive Chef Casey Kusaka displaying his talents & a food counter to watch the chefs at work. In addition, there are neutral gray tones, & colorful Japanese kimonos & Japanese paintings as part of the interior décor. Hours of operation are Mon to Sat from 11a to 2p for lunch, & 5p to 9p for dinner; closed Sunday. There is ample free parking in the Manoa Marketplace that is shared w/ other businesses. Little Plum is conveniently located next to Uncle Paul's Corner Store & Lady M, which allows employees to work multiple places as needed. We thoroughly enjoyed Little Plum for a family celebration & look forward to returning! And it's a perfect fit for the Manoa Community! Wishing much success for this business venture! Support local! read more

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First timer here and was recommended this place since we were going to be in the area. Reservation not required which was great for us. I ordered the haku drink and my friend got the like cracks. We shared the kalbi short rib bao (came with 2 pieces) and menchi katsu and tried the mochi churro for dessert. Everything was very good. We had to get used to the texture of the mochi churro as it got stuck to our teeth easily. Not sure what kind of batter it was. Either way, we still ate it. The menchi katsu was different, too. Never had a hamburger katsu before and mushroom gravy. I would recommend this. Overall, great customer service, friendly workers and the place is clean and open. Thank you Little Plum read more

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Solid level of service this afternoon. From Hostess greeting us upon arrival. Server Julia, exceptional service with suggesting starter & lunch bowl. Bao starter amazing flavor. Our fav go to for over the top version of "LOCO MOCO". Best on O'ahu. Thank you, K. read more

Little Plum - Best version of "LOCO MOCO". - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This was everyone's first time at this restaurant. The waitress suggested family style as an option to try more dishes, so that's what we did. We had a lot of different items but the ones that stood out were the Menchi Katsu, duck fried rice and miso eggplant. The restaurant had a good vibe, nice and homey. Service was great, and the waitress did a really good job going over the menu. Three of us got mocktails that we also really enjoyed. To finish we got both dessert offerings the churros and mango pudding both were a good way to end a dinner. We all agreed that this restaurant was a good pick. read more

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PARKING - Free, in the shopping center lot SERVICE - Good, but it's hard to hear them when they being you the dishes and are describing it to you. AMBIANCE - Way too loud, some noise absorbing accessories would be good to install, definitely not good for a first dat, you won't be able to hear each other on a Friday night! FOOD - Tasty! read more

Low key and minimalist decor but the food and staff were excellent. My tataki ahi tasted like butter with a hint chili oil on top; it was delicious and light. Beautifully presented! read more

Little Plum - Tataki ahi lunch set - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Super fun, chill place with tasty food and refreshing cocktails. I love that there's lots of free parking and their decor is bright and welcoming. From the start, all of our servers were top notch and super friendly. We started with the tomato (skinless) salad which had the most amazing vinaigrette dressing, in my humble opinion. The pureed tofu on the first layer held everything in place. I love Ho Farms tomatoes and the dressing took this salad to a whole upper level! I am a sucker for anything with shiso leaves and tiny rice crakers :) Next we had a hearty bowl of beef jook and added the soft boiled seasoned egg. Super flavorful and nice touch with the greens. We also had a ginger scallion rice dish and added the soft egg. This had cubed tofu and steamed bok choy. Well seasoned and quite generous portion. For dessert, we enjoyed mochi churro. Hot and fresh out of the fryer, loved the cinnamon and sugar. This also came with a kinako glaze. Nice for dipping :) Overall a great experience and will certainly return! read more

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Aloha, Little Plum is the newest best addition to the newly renovated Manoa Marketplace. My 2nd time dining here and the food is great. Mixologist Kuu suggest rock-salt cocktail and it was the bomb, a perfect way to start the evening. My favorites beef check stew, steak, spicy miso eggplant, tempura, ume tomatoes, all really good. Service is impeccable, Julia took good care of us and owner Dusty stop by with a warm hello. So nice to have a fabulous restaurant in our home town. Will definitely return. Mahalo PS in mid November Dusty opening Lady Elaine, can't wait to visit here too read more

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This is a little hidden gem in Manoa, but what a great addition to the area. Very exquisite dishes - particularly the tomato appetizer. This was our favorite of the three things we ordered. Tart, acidic, but all balanced with the whipped tofu and shiso flavor. I could have easily eaten the entire appetizer myself. Anyway, our two main entrees were the spicy miso eggplant and the beef cheek stew. The spicy miso eggplant was melt in your mouth. You literally don't need to chew it. The texture was soft and the miso complemented it so well. It came with grilled leek underneath. These two dishes alone must have taken months to perfect. The only down side of the meal was the beef cheek stew - this one maybe needed a little more salt or longer stewing? Some of the veggies could use a little longer cooking. FYI - portions are pretty small. Service was really good. Ladies were attentive - brought out our dishes as we finished our appetizer and collected empty plates or bowls. Maybe a little too attentive though - checking in quite often which others might prefer. read more

Little Plum - Spicy miso eggplant - get this! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This restaurant was pretty good overall, but there was a little too much ginger in a lot of the meals, so unless you really like ginger maybe try some of the meals without them. The spicy miso eggplant was one of the best parts of the meal, and it had a lot of flavor although there some sour overload which might have just been me. They also have free refills on drinks! All of the waiters were really nice, I could see them helping out lots of people. Also they were pretty energetic. The look of the restaurant was very calm and chill, but it still popped next to the other restaurants nearby. read more

Finally, some decent classy food in the valley! I'm tired of having to leave the valley for food. Boy I sound old. Huh. When did that happen? Cringe. Anywho, this marks another date night at a delicious new spot. My better half and I got reservations for 6:30 PM at the hip new Little Plum on Resy. We got the daikon and pohole, fresh catch teishoku, mushroom jook, mochi churros, along with the Rock Salt Rum and Lucky You cocktails. The daikon and pohole was more daikon and less pohole as they ran out of pohole. They substituted spiraled seasoned daikon topped with plenty of bonito flakes. The crunchy dish was a bit spicy, but a good appetizer. The catch of the day, Marlin (kajiki) was perfectly cooked over a bed of Asian vegetables. As a teishoku dish, it came with miso soup, pickled vegetables, rice, and what looks like seasoned possibly fermented bean sprouts. Definitely was a good entrée for those looking to keep it light healthy, but tasty. You can order the dish without the teishoku side dishes for a small savings. The star of the show was the mushroom jook. This was more reminiscent of a fusion risotto than your Popo's jook and it was absolutely delicious. With confit chicken, mushrooms and umami flavor blasting every bite of creamy rice, my better half devoured this and we wiped the bowl clean. With a ramen style egg, it was rich, hearty, and would satisfy even those who aren't jook or congee fans. This was absolutely hands down a winner of a dish. The rock salt rum cocktail had strong li-hing citrus sour notes, which isn't my thing, but I was driving so just a sip for me which was just enough. The lucky you, which is made with a syrup made from crushed up Asian candy was way more my style, with a balanced citrus to sweet flavor. To finish the night, the mochi churros left the restaurant both in our bellies and stuck to our teeth. Crunchy, hollow, and golden brown, the sizable bowl of churros came with a kinako style dipping sugar for added flavor. Definitely share these as it's a lot of sugary crunch. There's lots of parking in the shared lot, with clean bathrooms, and attentive, possibly too attentive staff. I swear, my glass was constantly being refilled, it was glorious. It's a new restaurant, so they're working out their teething problems, but it seems to run relatively well with fast service. The one criticism I have is that the music is loud and the space itself can get pretty loud. But other than that, can't complain and we'll be back. read more

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Service and food were excellent. Very attentive and they gave great suggestions on what to try. Ribeye skewers were delicious. Great parking and spacious restaurant. read more

There is nothing small about little plum. After eating here, I wished I lived closer...but that would be bad for my waistline! We had such a great experience here...we were able to go for lunch and it was fantastic! Our waitress Julia really guided us on our journey. She was able to explain what the dishes tasted like, and what her favorites were. We tried two drinks... Kamaji This had a tremendous amount of shrub mixed in, but actually transformed as the ice melted. Haku Nice well balanced drink that we would order again Food was really well thought out... Daikon pohole dish We started with this, and it was a nice way to begin...quite tasty with furukake and katsuobushi. Ume tomato dish This was a great play on textures and flavors and a stand-out. It was light on ume, but the blistered tomatoes and creamy tofu made for an addictive combination. Chicken bao This dish was simple, but with twist. You probably have seen this a lot, but not with ginger and curry sauce. It made everything intense and rich tasting. This great combo of flavors has some spice to it, but was not overpowering. Dry min My wife ordered this because she was craving noodles... and it was so good I barely got a bite! The brilliant part was that the noodles were cooked perfect. They were the exact consistency for a chewy, soft, and flavorful mouthful. Nairagi teishoku I tried the Nairagi teishoku as well. It's not a gigantic portion, but it was plenty of food and was cooked perfectly. Sometimes, Nairagi can be dried out and tough. This was juicy, meaty, and full of flavor. The side dishes were delicious as well. Our waitress Julia wanted to make sure we had space for dessert, because she had a secret hack...we had... Lilikoi pudding Creamy and so satisfying...with haupia and toasted coconut...the coconut added the crunch to balance out the richness. Mochi churro Crunchy and with kinako anglaise...a nice twist on a favorite Julia's pro tip Order both desserts and dip the churros in the pudding... Your welcome. We will be back for dinner! read more

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Dinner in Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii... My friend and I wanted to try a Hot New Business: little plum It's located on the ground level of Manoa Marketplace, near to the US Post Office and Manoa Laundry. Maybe I'm not a trendy person because I thought that the atmosphere was really beautiful, but very noisy! The muted lighting didn't help the small print of the menu. I felt like I was yelling across the table while trying to have a conversation. I'm glad that we made a reservation for 5:15pm. It was relatively early before it got crowded. We were seated at a larger table with padded bench seats - very comfortable! We shared the chicken karaage bao. It was very tender, but could use some seasoning. I ordered the fresh catch, which was okay. Starters (miso soup, tsukemono, and namul) were alright - maybe more flavor would be better. I could have ordered the wrong thing. My friend liked her beef cheek stew a lot. I should have gotten that instead. I'd return for a special occasion, but not for catching up because conversation was challenging. Service was attentive and pleasant! read more

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Had an amazing dinner here with family. I do have to say that the service was amazing. The best dishes I tasted were the beef cheeks stew and the Menchi katsu. Appetizer for change but they were all great. read more

I first saw this new restaurant "Little Plum", just opened in the newly renovated part of the Manoa Marketplace posted on instagram. Curuous as I was, I mentioned to a friend to check it out first and put the first tip. She asked that we check it out together. We planned to go within the first week of their opening, near the start of their dinner hour so we can get a good table. We were able to secured a nice spacious booth for the two of us, since of prior reservations. Good thing since we needed room for our dishes and bags. Within half an hour, the place was packed. My friend was running late and I decided to place an order for an appetizer in the mean time, but our waitress suggested to order when my friend arrives, since it doesn't take as long to make and the appetizer would be nice and hot for my friend to enjoy. There were 3 booths, few tables, and the high bar seating along the bar and also facing the open kitchen. The restaurant was a nice average size but the tables were spread out. Nice and roomy but bit loud and noisy to hear your conversations when crowded. The place seemed popular with their extensive crafted special drink menu but limited food menu in my opinion. Recommended to make reservations if dining during their open reservations time at Dinner (5:00 pm-6:30 pm) since the rest of the hours were available by walk in. The place looked beautiful and modern with the wall displayed of pretty kimonos and Asian decor. The service was excellent and was asked if we have any food allergy and checked if anything that we ordered that we may be allergic to. Surprising my plantation-ice tea was refillable but it was priced at $7. It refreshing but the pineapple juice taste was on the lighter side from what I used to. Nice thing about it was lt was refillable! We shared the karaage bao bun and we ordered each a dish for our entree. Our Teishoku was priced the same and I got the beef cheek stew and she got the catch of a day. The fish appeared to be a bit small but I guess it was a thicker cut. The catch of the day was tender and good which I was able to sample a piece, but I guess I preferred my beef cheek stew better. It wasn't a huge portion, but It was really tasty! It was a nice surprised to have kabocha inside! Their dishes was a bit on the pricer side. It does come with miso soup and some sides like tsukemono. Their Lilikoi orange pudding with whipped haupia and toasted coconut was refreshing and different. The toasted coconut was a nice addition! There were only two desserts available. The other dessert was a mochi churros. There were two separate unisex bathrooms available toward the back of the bar to the left. It's nice to have a cool & upbeat new restaurant at the Manoa Marjetplace. They are also open for lunch, but Sunday they are closed. . The service was excellent and the waitresses were so nice! I still would like to try other dishes. read more

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I love this modern restaurant serving tasty Japanese food! I've been in a few times and enjoy the dark, modern interior, the ceramic wares, and the yummy mocktails and food! Great for a fancy but not too fancy night out. They are accommodating to vegetarians, so even tho there wasn't a bao bun option listed, the waitress said she could check with the chef. They made us a delicious mushroom bao bun! I always appreciate when there are great vegetarian options! Everything we ordered was tasty, and we pretty much ordered every vegetarian option available. This restaurant is on my go to list! read more

So happy to have this spot as an addition to our neighborhood! Service is EXCELLENT. The staff were so friendly and attentive. They came by several times to refill water and checked if my son wanted more rice. Food was cooked perfectly. It had the quality of a high end restaurant with the taste and attention of a home cooked meal made by your mother after you've been away for a long time. The level of hospitality felt like I was having dinner with close friends rather than at a restaurant. The manager asked us how we liked the curry min. I told him the skewers were so good we could eat a whole plate of them and he so kindly brought us another two. My son gobbled them down. My favorite is the tuna tataki but I'm also ordering the fresh catch again next time. I would recommend the Hefeweizen beer and the Haku for non-alcohol drinkers. The churro dessert was addicting. The price was reasonable considering we ordered appetizers, main dishes, dessert and drinks. I like that the portions were sized so that we could try several dishes in one meal. They even give tongs with many dishes to make them easier to share. I really appreciate that. The restaurant is spacious, clean and new. We'll be regulars here for sure. We are very grateful for our wonderful meal. read more

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We heard good things about Little Plum, so we decided to try it out for a birthday celebration dinner. Overall dining area was simple, clean, and moody. The service was great, very attentive, and our food came out in reasonable timing and perfect succession. For drinks we ordered the Cha-Zuke and Same Same But Different. Would recommend both, but as a whiskey drinker the Same Same But Different had a wonderful flavor profile and was well balanced. For food we ordered the Ahi Tataki, Beef Cheek Stew, Ribeye Skewers, Menchi Katsu, and Mochi Churro. All were of excellent quality and would highly recommend any of these dishes. My personal favorites were the Ribeye Skewers and the Menchi Katsu. The ribeye was so tender and tasty, and the menchi katsu had a great crispy flaky shell with really flavorful hamburger. We will definitely be returning to try the rest of the menu. read more

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We felt welcomed from the moment we stepped into Little Plum. Rylie's recommendations were excellent. We were celebrating a 70th birthday and the staff/chefs were outstanding in their thoughtfulness making our dinner truly memorable. The dishes were all so delicious and were beautifully presented. We enjoyed each one. Little Plum is wonderful. read more

The overall experience at Little Plum rates a solid five stars and I would recommend it, especially if you are going with a group. What stood out to me was the service. Polite, professional, and friendly. You can tell the staff was trained to uphold a standard of service. My water glass was never empty (my #1 indicator of service), soft drinks were freshened quickly, plates were delivered with care, and the staff over-communicated throughout. In today's world I thought service was dead. My old school expectations were met and the staff should be commended. Here's an example that I think represents Little Plum and their staff well. At the end of the night we were served little cups of "Chinatown" (I don't remember the name of the drink). The group loved it. I asked if I could buy a big cup for takeout and they worked it out. I talked with the server who was making it and she was friendly and happy to deliver it. She shared the ingredients and really delivered in a way that made my friend happy. Kudos to the Sophia! We went to celebrate a couple of birthdays and *literally* ordered the top half of the menu. "Get one of everything" was executed. We had over 20 of their dishes, plus some repeated. My favorite item was the chicken confit jook. I also really enjoyed the smoky spicy eggplant and the lemongrass lamb (I don't normally enjoy lamb). The buns were really nice (pork and mushroom) as was the ahi tataki, cucumber, and tomato+blended tofu. The fresh catch with ginger was nice and I liked the adobo kaaraage chicken. The chicken was cooked very well, meaty and moist, and generous pieces. The aunties and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I think you will too. read more

Delicious local Japanese fusion with a cute atmosphere. This place just opened and has been busy every night since! We finally got the chance to visit and were not disappointed. The flavors were great and service was excellent! It's a pricier restaurant for Manoa marketplace standards, but well worth it and a great addition to the marketplace. We started with the daikon and pohole plate and the cucumber plate. Both were delicious, but the cucumber was small and similar to other cucumber salads, so we would skip it and double on the daikon next time. We also had the short rib bao which was well seasoned and so tender. Three of us ordered teishoku sets, but they also brought an extra for our fourth person free of charge. The spicy miso eggplant was our favorite set, but the tempura and curry min were also hits. The ahi tataki was a little bland, but everything else was delicious. We tried both desserts. We all loved the pudding, and some of our party thought that the churros were a bit too greasy but some of us loved them. Overall little plum is a great new spot and we will definitely be back! read more

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Taste great and great service. The restaurant does have a great ambiance. Did want more appetizers to choose from but not a big deal

Incredible service and friendly, knowledgeable staff. We enjoyed the menu below with Teishoku including rice miso, namasu. -Daikon & Pohole -Fresh Catch -Tempura -Ahi Tataki -Rib eye skewers Favorites being the **ume tomato whipped tofu **Shortrib Bao Special must have. I always leave room for dessert and Mochi Churro was THE BEST Drool worthy . read more

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As long time supporters of MVT, we're always looking for new dining opportunities near the theater. Not sure why it's taken us this long to notice Little Plum, but we tried it out last Saturday and we're delighted. It is very accessible, with handicap parking right out front. The space is well laid out, if rather noisy. Reservations are a must, as it is quite popular -- for good reasons. The service was excellent. We were well attended to, without being hovered over, and the server was knowledgeable about both the food and wine list. We enjoyed the Kalbi bao, angus skewers (so tender!!) , tempura and corn ribs. It was all delicious, with flavorful sauces and beautifully seasoned. We will definitely be back! (I'll get photos next time.) read more

Get the ume tomatoes! Don't even like tomato's but it's the perfect app. Super refreshing. Cocktails are so unique and delicious. Favorites include cha-zuke and purple dragon. Miso eggplant and ahi tatami are a must. Service is awesome and love the atmosphere. read more

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Short rib bao was fantastic! The bao was pillowy soft and paired fantastic with the very tender short rib and kimchee. Must try! You won't be disappointed. Now on to the mushroom jook which did not live up to the hype for me. There was no depth of flavor and all I tasted was hints of peppercorns and salt. Dont be put off by the bowl size as I was pretty full after eating it. The service was fantastic and one of the best I've had in awhile. Enjoy! read more

Little Plum - Short rib bao. 10/10 - Asian Fusion Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Went here to try it out, it isn't a big spot and it looked like reservations were recommended so I used resy to make a reservation. They're tucked inside Manoa Market place by the USPS store and right behind the newly (?) redesigned playground. I really liked the atmosphere that they have going for them. We were greeted right away and sat promptly, it is a little bit on the noisier side but we could still have good conversations! They have a really interesting cocktail menu! I think the sides were where it's at, but we ordered some entrees, i got the Menchi Katsu which was nice and crispy! The service was good, they checked up on us regularly and was helpful with answering any questions we had about the dishes. We ended with dessert, the mochi churro. It was probably the best thing we had all night. One of our servers said getting the pudding and the mochi churro was a thing that she always recommends and that's one of the combos that they're known for, wish the other server said something! read more