I toured. I won't return. I expected a better experience here but it is a major tourist trap so what can I say. We wanted to try it out. First of all, make your reservations ahead of time. Peak times can be from 25-45min wait. We got there just before it got busy 4:25 and they said there was a 20min wait. So we waited. No open bar seating. Happy hour is usually 3:30-5pm. We waited about 25min and seated on the high top which were empty by the way when we got there. We waited about 10min before our magical waitress decided to welcome us. I was like more fed up by waiting that we just ordered what we wanted and skipped the drinks. There's like 50 people staffed probably with 6 people hosting in front. Not one of them could have serve us water and welcome us when we sat down. Really rubbed me the wrong way. Anyways our waitress purposely and more than likely came to us 5:10pm. We exactly got seated 5min before 5. There goes happy hour. We end up ordering the mushroom pizza, poke tacos, and broccoli salad. Poke tacos were decent but expensive. Pizza was okay but nothing amazing. The worse was this broccoli salad that a kid could put together. I was not impressed! It also had olives which was not written on the description. It literally looked like tomato sauce with broccoli and onions with olives put together. It said goat cheese was in there but it was like a rock. So disappointing. I had high hopes for this place. Will not be our go to places here again when we come back to Hawaii. Live music was cool though. That's it. read more

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This place is overrated we came because of the good reviews but it fell short Food was not great We ordered the pork pineapple pizza and the chicken wings For the price I think we could've found a better place to eat read more

Located inside the Outrigger Reef Waikiki hotel, walk to the back near the ocean. The drinks especially Mai tai was fantastic! The salad I had was yummy. You can't beat that we had a table overlooking the beautiful clear blue sea! Service was great. Only gripe is perhaps parking can be a challenge but I didn't have a car. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Salad cuz I wanted a light meal - Tacos Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We've been to Monkeypod before and had great food and wonderful views, but tonight was next level - our server Naomi made this visit a 5 star experience! We came to kick off a week of festivities surrounding my husband's retirement after 30 years of military service. She made him/us feel so special and took time to connect with us, ask us questions and celebrate his accomplishment's! Our meals were delish - which came as no surprise, we weren't rushed and were able to enjoy a beautiful view! Thank you, Naomi for a great dinner! read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Seated Ahi Tuna Steak - Tacos Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Don't expect a quiet dinner at this establishment. Very loud and poor food. Why are you even reading this? Go somewhere else or waste your money. Either way you have been warned. read more

Every time we visit Hawaii, we make it a point to stop by Monkeypod for happy hour, and it never disappoints! This time, we ordered two pizzas, along with a few appetizers, all at happy hour pricing. Of course, we couldn't pass up their famous Mai Tai, which was also on special. Our server was incredible--super attentive, checking in regularly, making great recommendations, and keeping the conversation going in a fun and engaging way. The service really made the experience even better. The restaurant's beachside location offers stunning views, making for the perfect setting to enjoy good food and drinks. Monkeypod continues to be one of our must-visit spots in Hawaii, and we'll definitely be back next time! read more

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Amazing!!! We had been here before and couldn't wait to go back. We had the wings, steak, Cajun chicken and seared ahi. Each dish was better than the last! To top it off the service exceeded the incredible food! This is a must visit for great food, service and view! read more

I came on a weekday night with some friends. The ambiance here was very nice. The tables have their own LED lamps. There was live music next to our table which added a lot to the atmosphere. I ordered the seared Ahi and the Macadamia Crusted fish of the day. The flavors were great, I loved the sauce. The vegetables were a little salty but other than that the food was tasty. I ordered a Mai Tai and it was pretty strong, I believe the waitress told us the limit was five per person. If there's a limit, you know it's strong. The entrees are pricey but the quality of the fish was worth it. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Macadamia crusted catch of the day - Tacos Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Opah fish was absolutely amazing, fresh caught, there was live music. They make their own signature Mai Tai read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Mai Tai - Tacos Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What an amazing place. It gives you views from your table and they have live music. Beet salad was tasty. Fish was delicious along with the corn bread. Banana cream pie was good, but not worth the calories. read more

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Such a lovely spot near the beach! The ambiance was perfect - relaxed, breezy, and a great place to unwind after a long day. We tried the grilled tacos, taro ravioli, and pizza. Everything was decent, but the taro ravioli was AMAZING! Service was friendly and efficient, making the experience even better. Definitely a place I'd come back to, especially for that ravioli! read more

We actually ended up going here twice in consecutive days right at sunset hoping for waterfront dining at sunset. The first night skies got cloudy so we didn't see much but the second night was absolutely gorgeous. You could say almost the same thing about the food and the service. My fish sandwich was good but my wife's fish tacos in mole sauce weren't so great. We didn't like the goat cheese taro raviolis though. The second night we shared an ahi tuna and a Kalua pork/pineapple pizza with macadamia nut pesto, both of which were way better. The local beer selection and cocktails are both good and we also liked the passion fruit/blueberry cream pie- ended up getting it both times! Likewise, service was a little better the second night than the first. Would recommend if you can get a reservation within an hour of sunset. read more

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The staff is friendly at this busy restaurant. Our server Evan was knowledgeable and offered suggestions. We were there for a special occasion and the table was in a good location near the windows. Cocktails and mocktails were good and, the lobster deviled eggs were a great appetizer. The salads were also good. It was the entree part that went wrong. My Mac nut covered fresh catch was tough, chewy, and inedible. Evan was very accommodating and switched out the fish. The baby bok choy and jalapeño mashed potatoes were very flavorful. The coconut cream pie was delicious, as I'm sure, were the other pie choices. Overall a good experience. read more

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Came here for a relaxing beachside restaurant after a long day surveying the native algae. Would have enjoyed if the ahi were tossed in more seasoning, maybe a mayo sauce or some acidic seasoning. Wonton shells were good. 3/5. Mai Tai was the highlight of my meal, the lilikoi foam was delicious and I appreciated the nuttiness from the macadamia orgeat! Drink was a 5/5. Overall, you pay for the view. Food was average with above average price. However, the drinks and view were amazing! read more

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Good service and food but ignore their happy hour bait n switch. We didn't realize -nor did our waiter inform us - that the advertised "1/2 off appetizers" did not apply to seafood dishes. So the 1/2 off only works for a few of the pupus. The shrimp potstickers were very good, but really, $24 for 4 of them?! The waiter stood his ground on the bill. We paid and left, unhappily. Ps. Ambiance very nice there! read more

We came in today for dinner and were initially welcomed by the reception staff, who were very pleasant and helpful. Unfortunately, our experience with the server was quite disappointing. He did not take time to answer our questions or explain the menu, and his responses were consistently brief and dismissive. When I asked a question about the kids' menu, he again responded in a short and somewhat rude manner. We ordered only a few items, but the food quality was also disappointing. The tacos were not good, and the kids' pasta was served with only a very small amount of marinara sauce--just a couple of spoonfuls. It made it difficult to eat the entire portion of pasta with such a minimal serving of sauce. I will be posting photos to illustrate this. Additionally, the water glass appeared to have a film on it--possibly oil or residue from not being washed properly. Overall, the experience was frustrating and ended up feeling like a waste of an hour of our time. Walked across the street to mekiko and excellent service! Food was really good too! read more

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This was the most recommended restaurant we had during our whole trip. Literally everyone raves about this place. We came in and ate at the bar. Still a great view and the bartenders are really friendly. I got the burger and it was soooo delicious and juicy! The view is insane! read more

We enjoyed a smattering of their appetizers and the tuna tacos were a big hit. Service was friendly and guided us through the menu. The fish special was seasoned well. The signature cocktails were good too! read more

I love this place so much. Every time I come to Hawaii I have to visit it. Food is exquisite. Servers are beyond friendly and the vibe is so chill. They also have a live singer/musician who is incredible. His voice is amazing, and it wasn't one of those annoying live singers that's too loud and you can't hear people at your table from. He was at a perfect volume for the vibe. You should definitely try this place if you haven't before read more

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This place is great in every level. Location is on the ocean, the vibe is cool, the Mai Tais are the best anywhere and the food is delicious as well. read more

Came here for a nicer dinner in Waikiki and couldn't be more happy with my experience here. The atmosphere was casual but had a nice vibe with dim lighting and music. The service was super helpful and friendly! He was able to describe and recommend drinks that were tasty and perfect for us. He was even able to modify my cocktail so that it wasn't too strong. We ordered the roasted chicken wings, the kalua pork and pineapple pizza, and the ribeye steak. Everything was delicious! I highly recommend this place, and would love to return for dinner during sunset, because this restaurant is located right on the beach. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Kalua pork pizza and ribeye steak - Tacos Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The hostess with the frizzy hair on Sunday, May 10, 2026, was rude. We had reservations. We asked for a table fronting the ocean. The hostess responded brusquely, "All of the ocean tables will be a long wait." Two minutes later, she seated a family - clearly walk-ins - at one of the two ocean tables. Another three minutes later, she seated another family of walk-ins at the last remaining ocean table. So our family of three (3) was stuck at a high top near the bar. The broccoli salad was too salty. The fish tacos were even saltier. The waitress was very sweet but could not make up for the poor service from the hostess and the overly seasoned food. This place is crowded, noisy, and overpriced. Do not recommend. Monkeypod at Ko Olina is far superior. read more

Monkeypod Waikiki delivers admirably in the kitchen, but falters in execution elsewhere. The food was excellent, showcasing the quality and creativity the restaurant is known for. Unfortunately, the dining experience did not match the caliber of the cuisine. Despite having a reservation, we waited several minutes before being seated at a high-top in the back of the bar--an odd choice for a restaurant celebrated for its sunset views. When we inquired about moving closer to the windows, we were told the only option was to forfeit our table and wait an additional 45 minutes. We accepted our seats, but throughout the duration of our meal, multiple prime tables with unobstructed views remained empty. This disconnect between promise and delivery undermined the experience. A restaurant of Monkeypod's reputation should demonstrate more care in aligning reservations with guest expectations, particularly when its setting is as integral to its allure as its menu. To underscore the point, as the sun went down our server cheerfully asked how we enjoyed the sunset--fully aware that from our seats, we couldn't see it at all. read more

The food was good and served quickly. My wife loved the ambiance being close to the shore and a good view of Diamond Head. The fish was excellent local mahi mahi. The fries were addicting. Best of all was the ambiance. read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Fish sandwich (mahi mahi) Romaine salad Garlic fries - Tacos Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We celebrated our anniversary here tonight. Great atmosphere with amazing live music. Our server was so sweet and welcoming. I had the fish tacos and the side of broccoli. The broccoli was a favorite. Hubby had the chicken wings and a pizza. Everything was delicious! Would definitely come again next time! read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Fish tacos and delicious side of broccoli! - Tacos Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Had a great dinner at Monkeypod, we had no reservation and were seated within ten minutes. Coconut corn chowder was out of this world and my partner got the saimen and enjoyed it. Service was close to perfect and it was clean compared to other restaurants in Honolulu. Will go back. Prices are high but that's to be expected. read more

Visited MonkeyPod on our last day in Oahu and wish we had visited earlier so we could have gone more times. Everything was exceptional. Foam top Pina Colada original or virgin can both get you in trouble. Ahi plate was perfectly cooked. Burger was bomb (fries too). And the dessert at the end was a fabulously creamy pie suggested by our great waiter. Plus the afternoon we were there - they had a woman singing with guitar, waves crashing on the background, it was the perfect Hawaiian ambiance. read more

The ambiance, food and service at monkeypod kitchen are Amazing! The fish and chips were to die for. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and top notch. Don't pass up going to Monkeypod. read more

We strolled into Monkeypod mid morning and got a lovely table looking at the ocean. Our server Kody was so attentive and gave us recommendations that were delish! Our experience was top notch from start to finish. All of the staff were so friendly and you could tell they genuinely enjoyed their job. We will definitely be returning and hope to have Kody serve us again in the future! read more

Great service! Our server Evan E made sure we were well taken care of. I came for my birthday so I was extremely relieved to have a great server who gave in depth recommendations, it was my first time so I was extremely grateful. read more

The service and food was great. It was our anniversary and they gave us a beautiful table right next to the ocean. The food was amazing.

This place was amazing. Did exceed my expectations. My boyfriend and I got wings and truffle fries as an appetizer. The wings were perfectly seasoned and I loved the way there were made. Perfectly juicy and seasoned. Also, the yogurt sauce that came with them was SO GOOD. The truffle fries of course were delicious and so crispy, pairing perfectly with the wings. For our main courses, he got the fish and chips, while I got the prime rib. His fish and chips were delicious, perfectly battered and the sauce to dip them in was incredible. I loved my prime rib. It was cooked to an exact medium rare, with delicious compound butter. The jalapeño mashed potatoes were SO GOOD! I spent a lot of time dipping the steak into the mashed potatoes. Also, the bok choy was incredible too. There wasn't a single thing I ordered that I didn't like. Him and I split a side of corn bread and oh my god... it was some of the best corn bread I've ever had (and I live in Atlanta). I also had 2 glasses of their prosecco and it was SO GOOD! I plan on buying a bottle of it next time. Erica was our server and she was so sweet! She took really great care of us and made sure we had everything we needed. The restaurant itself was beautiful, very dimly lit and right on the water. Perfect for a date night. We celebrated an anniversary last night and I'm so glad we spent it at monkeypod. Price-wise, this place is on the more expensive side but it was well worth it. Everything was fresh and tasty. Our bill, including tip, came out to $220 which was honestly perfect for everything we got and the quality of the food. I can't wait to come back here. read more

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4 stars! Even though it's a Hawaiian chain, still love their signature Mai Tais! My friend did their White Walker with rum, and it was fantastic GO FOR THEIR HH (3:30-5pm)!! ....as do many ppl; the bar gets full so you got a better shot going in right when happy hour starts. I had to take off 1 star to a visit prior at the same location due to horrible service and beverage- granted we were there the last stretch of the day, paying early $40 for 2 cocktails (ofc the Mai Tais i had to show off to my 1st-time-to-Hawaii-friend), the drinks were terrible.... I could barely drink mine since it was poured STRAIGHT so made me take even longer trying to dilute it to make it palatable . Other than that, great time. And recommend the Cast Iron Shrimp with the cornbread despite not being HH items! It's super tasty and great with cocktails read more

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I went for lunch, and the 2nd row of tables had a perfect view of the ocean from the shade. Margherita pizza was excellent - lots of fresh local tomatoes and basil. Ka'u coffee was also excellent, but should have ordered the large French press because the small wasn't quite enough. Happy hour is a better deal, but $21 for a good margherita pizza while staring at the ocean is a fair price. Service was great, quick but not rushed. Next time I would come a bit later to catch the music. read more

The food and ambiance was amazing. Loved the creative cocktails. If you want a great view & nice dinner go here.

The ocean view is astonishing and breathtaking. But we did not opt to sit by the ocean side due to wind and sun. Still it was pleasant and beautiful. We came specifically for the "Happy Hour". However the half off pupu does not include anything with seafood which was half of the menu. Pizzas were all $13 except for one. There're still ample salad and other selections in the other sections of the menu. With validation valet is $15 for four hours. Worth the trouble to feed meter and risk getting a ticket! read more

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Food was good, ambience was nice...ocean view. Server was great! Coconut cream pie was delicious. Crust was a little thick and could have had more coconut cream filling and less whipped cream but granddaughter love the whipped cream. read more

Monkeypod is always on our list of spots whenever in Hawaii. Don't leave without getting the lobster deviled eggs and the mai tai. Always a highlight! read more

Monkeypod Kitchen - Tacos Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Best pie I've tested on the island. We lucked out and got seated by the ocean view. All the food was delicious and our server was amazing. Don't drink so didn't try their famous fancy drinks everybody raves about. read more

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Stopped by just for drinks and yet again had a great time at Monkeypod. We sat at the bar, which is open seating, and we luckily found 2 spots. Service is super friendly and welcoming despite how busy they are - Monkeypod was popping when we went. There was a 45 minute wait for tables, and the restaurant was packed. Ambiance was awesome, lively, and fun, and they had a fantastic live artist playing. And, of course, they have phenomenal views. Because we sat at the bar, we had a front row seat to their drinks operation, and these staff members were killing it! Despite how efficiently they were moving and working nonstop, they were still friendly - to both customers and each other - and having a good time. I got the classic lilikoi foam mai tai which was delicious as usual. We didn't order any food but watched people around us get things. I stand by my original review that their food is mediocre only, but I'd definitely come back again for their drinks, vibes, and service. read more

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