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    Mud Hen Water

    4.1 (678 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Mud Hen Water Photos

    Business Info

    MUD HEN WATER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Mud Hen Water

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    Reviews With Photos

    Menu at the entrance
    Nadine C.

    Outdoor dining for Sunday Brunch... After doing some volunteer work in the Kaimuki area, my friends and I were looking for a restaurant with outdoor dining because of the pandemic. We called several places and took a chance on Mud Hen Water. I've seen this bar/restaurant at the corner of Waialae Avenue and 9th Avenue... and had passed by too many times. I was looking forward to finally try it! Bailey, the manager, was very friendly and welcoming. She was so gregarious that I wanted to return and finish this review... several years later... Sadly, Bailey moved back to Texas, where she's originally from... Anyway, having dinner here with an old friend was still a wonderful experience. We parked for free in the small lot right next to the building. About six cars can be accommodated. There's also street parking. We made reservations online with the Open Table app. A slot for 7:15pm was available and we took it! I received a text at 7pm, stating that our table was ready. I checked in and waited for my friend at the entrance to the parking lot. Our server was satisfactory. She said that the two best sellers were the Hand Cut Pasta with venison (my favorite) and the Chicken Long Rice Croquettes with Japanese curry and scallions. Both dishes were so good that we ordered the Peanut Tofu and Roasted 'n Raw Carrots. My friend liked the Peanut Tofu more than the carrot dish, so I finished the carrots. The entire menu was creative and unique! We had a nice experience!

    Country bread
    Caroline T.

    Interesting menu that has some highs and also some lows. The highs: * Peanut tofu has surprisingly nice texture and pairs well with its sauce * Chicken long rice croquette has excellent crisp and is served on a delicious Japanese curry. Wish they served that curry over some rice. * black sesame ice cream (or was it gelato?) captured the flavor of black sesame paste in such a refreshing way. Lows: * pork belly was a nice cut but the main flavor was pork belly. Wish there was a more interesting sauce or rub. The cabbage served in the side was better than the pork. * venison ragu was fine but tasted like a well stewed beef with pasta. A little too rich. * kahala was well cooked but a little bland. The sunchokes might have been the highlight of the dish. The service was kind but timing and attention to detail can be improved. They brought serving utensils for the food but sometimes not the right utensils for what we were eating. And when we were still eating our meal, we were asked if we were ready to order dessert.

    Black sesame gelato
    Rachel S.

    The vibe here is very interesting, I think it's kind of supposed to give a traditional island eatery vibe while still being a bit upscale. The food was amazing!! I had the kamuki cruiser which was excellent -- could really taste the grapefruit or citron in it. I ordered the ono melt and it was great. I loved the pickled spear they provided (pickled papaya?) which gave an awesome tart flavor to the food. The ono melt was pretty greasy and heavy but it comes as a closed face sandwich so it's pretty easy to eat. The bread is crusty and delicious. I loved the black sesame gelato!! And last but not least-- fried ulu!!!! Loved it and would go back just for fried ulu.

    Brownie
    Poi P.

    Favorite place visited this trip! Interesting food, well balanced drinks, and plenty of gluten free options. Service was great. Cozy neighborhood feel. 5/5 fried ulu (fan favorite for a reason) 5/5 okra dish (fresh veggies) 5/5 fried chicken (reminded me of peking duck) 5/5 octopus (coconut greens were a nice touch) 5/5 brownie with sesame ice cream (gluten free yum, warm and cold) Drinks - 5/5 shrub a dub dub (refreshing) 5/5 tumeric drink (interesting)

    Veal Meatballs
    Averie H.

    This place is so nice I visited twice within two days and then came back again the following month. Have I eaten enough fried ulu to feed a small family? NO. It's a trick question, because you can never get enough of Mud Hen's fried ulu. Not to mention the Chili Pepper Water Aioli will inspire you to lick the dish clean. I mean, obviously, don't do that, cause people will look at you weird, but that's how good it is. At this point, I've had brunch, lunch, and dinner here and every meal is a hit on a hit. Brunch: Sisig, better than my Lola's; Lunch: A'u Crudo, better than my dad's; Dinner: Sautéed Lotus Roots, no family dish to compare it to, but spectacular. And duh, fried ulu at every meal. Seriously. I'm back home on the mainland and dreaming about this fried ulu. It's like a pull-apart fried potato, but with a heartier texture and bonus nutritional value. If I wasn't already married I would marry this fried ulu. Ed and his staff are the consummate hosts. His food has so much love and culture in it and you can see that in where he sources everything from to how it's been prepared. The servers are lovely and earnest and eager to share their favorite dishes with you. The vibe is neighborhood and local and warm. I can hardly wait to go back.

    Chicken Long Rice Croquettes (YUM)
    Julianna H.

    What a wonderful restaurant! It had a dim and homey feeling, plus the staff were so kind. They treated us well and provided great recommendations. Our food was delicious, and it was brought out in courses which was nice! Highly recommend.

    Sweet Land Goat Cheesecake
    Morris A.

    Mud Hen Water is a wonderful Asian-Island inspired fusion cuisine in a Tapas style bistro on Waialae Ave. it's a gastronomical playland of inspired combinations of spices & ingredients which the zest up traditional Asian & Island flavors. We celebrated a birthday with Handcut Pasta, Sausage & Clams, Mapo Rice Cakes, & Kahala with toasted bread as mains, Roasted 'n Raw Carrots, Local I'a Fresh Catch Crudo, Chicken Long Rice Croquettes, & complementary seasoned eggplant slices for appetizers, & Sweet Land Goat Cheesecake & Miso-Butterscotch Rice Pudding for dessert. All accompanied by a nice Barbera. Everything was amazing & are must try's! The Croquettes, which are balls of Island favorite chicken long rice deep fried into Asian style croquettes & served on a bed of curry were mind blowing delicious. The Mapo was a savory fusion of Chinese style mapo tofu & Korean theokbokki, with a unique blend of chilis & spices that brought umami accents to the palate. The combination of the clams with mild sausages in a rich buttery soup base was a stroke of culinary genius that teased your taste buds relentlessly. The Kampachi was well seasoned & perfectly seared. The Handcut Pasta was one of the best pasta dishes I've had in a while. It was so fresh, perfectly cooked, with the most moist & tender venison ever that wasn't gamey & tasted more like brisket. Mud Water Hen is a casual but upscale bistro with staff who are very friendly & attentive. It was a reasonably priced gastronomical experience for incredible food, ambiance, & great service.

    Danan F.

    Food is super fresh, ambience is everything and the service was superb. The crudo was killer!!! The Crocquettes were so good, we had to order another order! Mapo Rice cakes were amazing! The hand cut pasta was our favorite Also had order two orders. The porchetta wasn't our favorite. Lacked flavor and it was tough to eat. Not terrible, but not the fav. We fed five people. $250 with tip. A little expensive for the portion sizes as in "family style" but not terrible. We will be back, but wanting to come back for date night!

    Hannah W.

    Came here for a friend's birthday and we all got the multi-course option. Food was delicious and I was genuinely surprised by how much food they gave us. My favorites were the clams with dipping bread, blue marlin, and the brownie :) The staff were super friendly as well and there's a tiny lot in the back that we parked in. Overall would recommend doing the multi-course option if you want to try a bunch of different dishes!

    Vanitha S.

    Had a fabulous delicious meal here!!! My colleague suggested this place and I loved it, had the vibe of a slightly upscale but chill island inspired restaurant. We came for brunch and I was impressed by the fusion menu. We chose to split the fresh fish and luau, and the mapo tofu and gravy. Both were huge hits and delicious! Our waiter was nice and helpful and service was great. I can't wait to come back!! A new favorite in Honolulu.

    We ate it ALL!
    Agnes O.

    What an awesome brunch space! Everything we ordered was delicious (roasted carrots, banana pancakes, ahi melt (usually ono is used but today it was ahi), and my iced Chai latte! Super extra brownie points for being dog friendly since we like to take Panda with us when we go out. He also made a few dog friends while there (Winnie and Rosie). Service was prompt and friendly. There are indoor and outdoor seating options. We will absolutely be back..but until then, I know I'll be dreaming about those scrumptious ulu fries!

    Angela P.

    I would go and keep going just for their fried ulu! It's family style so I like that you can share with others and you can taste everything! Their dessert is what got me so don't forget to order dessert when you're there.

    Mapo tofu
    Rachael H.

    Second time coming to mud hen water and it was delicious as always!!! Service is impeccable and quick, the cocktails are delicious and strong, the ambiance is really cute and warm, and the food is uniquely Hawaiian/asian inspired and packed with flavor. Perfect for a date night or nicer dinner with friends. Best to share dishes family style here, waiters can help inform on the number of dishes to order by party size. The price for the quality is really reasonable! Decent amount of vegan/vegetarian options too. The fried ulu appetizer is seriously amazing--lightly airy and crunchy with amazing texture. The mapo tofu rice cake was full with flavor too.

    Okra dish: delicious

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    Page 1 of 17

    Mud Hen Water Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mud Hen Water

    Is it noisy?

    No, When it's crowded it can feel lively but it never feels noisy.

    Where do you park?

    There is a small parking lot in the back off of 9th Avenue with 5 stalls. Other than that, it's street parking.

    View All 3 Questions

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    Vintage Books

    4.4(178 reviews)
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    Vintage Books at in Kaimukī was such a beautiful experience. Listening to live blues music while…read moreenjoying fabulous small dishes made the evening feel very special and unique. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and inviting -- I felt like I was relaxing in someone's living room at home. The service was fast, and all of the waiters were very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend going there if you want to experience something special in Honolulu. Don't forget to make a reservation ahead of time because it can get busy. The live music is usually on Wednesdays, and it truly adds to the magic of the place.

    Pau hana at Vintage Books with my friends! My friend chose this spot for us to hang out, and it…read moredefinitely felt like we were in a different era. She made reservations for us, which is recommended. You check in on the first floor and are then escorted into the speakeasy. I won't share much more, as one should experience it themselves. But the ambiance is dim, semi-private, on-theme, and cozy yet lively. There's a bar area as well as the dining area where we sat. Service was fine. We were checked on periodically, but the food did take quite some time to come out. We shared some pupus, off their happy hour menu. We got the Smashed Cucumbers, House Karaage, and Sinigang Fries. The cucumbers weren't spicy, even though they were listed as spicy. It was more oily, but still crisp and refreshing. The fries were perfect for snacking on, with a nice sour-savory flavor from the sinigang. The karaage was extremely big! Not too crispy like usual, but still meaty. We also asked for six, but only received five pieces. My friend got the Lamb Ribs as well, which fell off the bone, and she seemed to enjoy them. My other friend and I shared the Ulu Taco Flight. We chose Suadero, Pork Belly, and Seafood as our protein. I enjoyed the seafood; it was lobster. It was sweet and mild but nicely cooked. The aioli was a nice addition. The pork belly was fine; it was quite spicy, which was a bit overpowering. My friend who had the beef taco said the wagyu was great but also quite spicy. The tacos themselves were quite small for the price. Overall, if you're into speakeasies or curious, Vintage Books is worth a visit at least once. The food is creative, and the drinks are good. Glad I could come and hang out with my friends. Find them on the ground floor. Parking is validated in the building; give your ticket to the host.

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    The Surfing Pig Hawaii - The Smoking Pig

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    4.3(1.4k reviews)
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    Excellent service, even better food! the chef made it a very comfortable experience, I felt right…read moreat home at the surfing pig! the sweetest hostess and the vibes were immaculate. will definitely be returning soon

    This place has AWESOME customer service, food, and ambiance, I would give it 6 stars if I could…read more Customer service was EXCELLENT, starting with my phone call to fix my reservations. Ray was extremely helpful in helping me correct an error I had made using the website to make our reservations and we were able to not only get reservations in the restaurant but in the speakeasy as well. Then there was Callie our waitress, she was bubbly, friendly, and very attentive. She created a warm and welcoming expereince for us and just that would make us come back. The food was SUPER ONO, at IYKYK we had the Midnight Musubi Arancini. I was hesitant to order it as I have had choke musubis over my lifetime and was thinking how different could these musubis be...? But, WOW, it was soooo good. The combination of ingredients filled each mouthful with a mixture of flavors that complimented each other. I would definitely order this again and encourage everyone to try it. We also had the Pork medallions and a kalua pig sampler, they too were delicious and our cocktails were very unique, delicious, and strong. We then moved from the speakeasy to the restaurant and we had the Pele's Pit Ribs and the Tsunami Burger for dinner. The ribs were very delicous, it was a dry rub so very clean and easy to eat with the fingers and the fried rice was tasty. My wife loved her burger and if you look at the pictures you can see why. The ambiance was VERY COOL. The deliberate and cohesive mix of dim red lighting, and comfortable lounging chairs totally created that speakeasy atmosphere. The restaurant portion was quaint, warm, and not too loud creating a good atmosphere for conversing. Overall we were very pleased to have come here, we will definitely come back and bring friends along too. As far as parking...its good. There is a metered parking lot behind the restaurant, no roof so your big 2500 4x4 boat hauler will easily park in it and there are clean male and female bathrooms in the restauant so you can drink and eat up.

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    430 Pkwy Cocktail Lounge

    430 Pkwy Cocktail Lounge

    4.5(48 reviews)
    3.0 miAla Moana

    Some places you find, others you have to earn, and 430 Parkway is one you'd miss if you weren't…read morelooking for it. Tucked on the second floor of a Piikoi Parkway building, it feels like stepping back in time, a true bespoke bar with vintage art, moody lighting, and comfy couches that make it perfect for couples or a night out with friends. We sat at the bar, which was a highlight, Michael and Tony were welcoming, easy to talk story with, and clearly know their craft. I went with the Barreled Old Man, a smooth, layered mix of bourbon, rye, and brandy that just worked, while my wife's Sesame Veil brought a nutty, balanced flavor that stood out. For round two, the Espressing My Love was a great take on an espresso martini, and Michael built my wife a custom drink off her favorite flavors and nailed it again. We paired it with the smoked mozzarella and salami grilled cheese and Ho Farms tomato soup, and this is where it really hit. The sandwich came out hot and crisp, and when you took a bite the cheese pulled away just right, that perfect melt, with the salami adding a savory kick. The tomato soup was fresh, bright, and made for dipping you didn't want to stop. We were welcomed with a table that had our name on it, a small touch that goes a long way. Prices are on point for the quality and experience you're getting. It's a bit of a hidden, hip spot, not for a quick drink but for when you want to sit, relax, and enjoy it. Parking is tight, but you can park at Ala Moana and walk over, and it's worth it. Next time we're coming back for Grandma's Old Fashioned and the pork belly bao buns. This isn't a bar you stumble into, it's one you come back to.

    I went here for my birthday and didn't realize I should've made a reservation for a larger group,…read moreespecially since it was my first time. Thankfully, Michael and his team were able to accommodate us, which I really appreciated. From the moment we walked in, the place had a great vibe, the interior is beautiful. Throughout the night, the staff and Michael (the owner) were incredibly welcoming, funny and attentive. The cocktails were amazing. I had the expressing my love all night and even though the place was busy and there was a bit of a wait for food, it was honestly worth it. We had the crab dynamite, the ahi brioche, and the prosciutto and burrata. SO GOOD! My friends and I had such a great time and will definitely be back.

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    4.1(195 reviews)
    2.9 miAla Moana

    Elevated brunch that will have you intrigued. This place was…read moregiving speakeasy vibes while being very creative with the regular buffet style food and adding subtle flavors for taste. That restaurant is a little in the smaller side, but definitely a great place for brunch dates or a quick bite for a small group. All your fave food and more. The prime rib was excellent with delicious condiments - personal fave was the chimichurri. All the cocktails are great as well. Fave was the Bean Buzz martini (espresso martini but with cold brew). The staff there was so helpful and with choosing cocktails and being able to make some changes to drinks. When I originally made my res, I accidentally made it for 10:30pm rather than am. The waitress called to double check. I've never had someone call for my mistake. (Thank you so much Cynthia!) great bartender, and a man who kept egging me on to eat more (I'm not complaining). Great vibes, great food, and great drinks! I will be back!

    Went here on a Wednesday after work, and made a reservation via OpenTable beforehand just in case…read morethey were crazy busy. From the outside of the restaurant, it looks closed, but you just need to slide the door open and they are fully operating. Abe greeted us and gave us a choice of where to sit. We opted for a small bench/cocktail seating on the right hand side of the establishment. We jokingly told Abe that the table maybe too small for all the food that we were about to order and he assured us that he would time the service so that the table wouldn't be overcrowded, to which he and the team executed well. The house fried potato chips were my favorite of the evening, as they were crispy and the aioli complimented it well. I personally would've liked more salmon on the pumpernickel dish. The beef and brioche dish was missing something as the flavors fell flat for me. And the brioche was a little too dry for my liking. Throughout our time there, Abe stopped by to check on us, and fully explained their libations, with great enthusiasm on the Whiskey Business portion. We'll be back to try these on another day. It's always a cute vibe here, on the darker moodier side in the evenings, perfect for a date night or get together to catch up with friends.

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    Mud Hen Water - hawaiian - Updated June 2026

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