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    MW Restaurant

    4.2 (1.5k reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    MW Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    MW RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - MW Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos

    Elaine L.

    Of the 8 dishes my party and I ordered, there was only one that tasted absolutely scrumptious. The others were not as memorable, unfortunately. The service itself was impeccable though!

    Candy bar
    Steve A.

    Have wanted to try MW Restaurant for a minute and was able to get a reservation for 7:30 on a Saturday. Location: as everyone has said, MW is in a bit of an odd location as it shares the space with several high end car dealerships. Parking: Do valet. It's $6 and VERY easy, although the space can be a bit cramped because of all the vehicles. But there is also street parking around if you choose to go that route. Protip: to avoid confusion on how to get to the valet, enter from the Kapiolani side. There is a driveway between the Audi and Mercedes dealership that you turn into then follow the signs in the back which will lead you up a ramp to the second floor and the valet. From the valet, you just enter through the glass doors and the restaurant is to the left. Very easy to get to. The space is actually kind of small for such a good restaurant but it works. They were busy, so while we were brought water (and refills) very quickly our server was tied up for a couple of minutes. But that gave us time to look over the menu and decide what to order. For a starter we had some ceviche that was on special. I can't remember what sauce the fish was coated in but it was AMAZING. Like, truly. I could have had a vat of that and been satisfied. They came with some fresh chips that were salted to perfection. I knew the meal was going to be good based of that dish alone. I had the Ossobuco terrine special which was basically very tender meat in a square mold along with vegetables. I don't know what sauce they used to top it off but it was DELICIOUS. Just a solid, hearty dish. The potatoes were cooked well. 10/10 no notes. My date had the salmon over a bed of quinoa and peas. It was also very tasty. But I think she had a bit of food envy. The ossobuco was that good. Then for dessert we ordered the MW candy bar. Our server did a fantastic job of explaining that it was basically a fancy twix candy bar but I guess I was expecting something a bit more decadent. To be fair to the chef, they hit it out of the park by making a fancy twix bar. The one thing that didn't work for me was there was also a quenelle of ice cream (which was delicious) on top of this chocolate disk. I didn't like the chocolate disk at all--essentially two big chunks of that bitter chocolate that was discordant with the rest of the dish? I dunno. Otherwise, just a fine dessert but when I return to MW, I'm going to get something a bit more decadent. Service: our server Alyssa was fantastic. Not only was she super knowledgeable and friendly and all of that, her expressions the way she described each dish made you want to try ANYTHING she recommended. So, if it were to compare this to another Oahu staple like Roy's, I'd say they were basically even with Roy's winning out on the dessert and MW winning on food creativity and taste. To me Roy's feels a bit dated at times while MW feels more food forward in terms of what they offer and in presentation. Would recommend MW to anyone celebrating a birthday, a date night, or visiting from out of town. I'm not sure how well they'd accommodate larger groups though.

    Rose H.

    This place was phenomenal! The food was soooo delicious, every course and every bite. Our drinks were also very artfully done. Our server was also very friendly and helpful. The restaurant itself is also nice, and I loved that it felt like a little hidden gem in Velocity (the car showroom). It was definitely upscale pricing, but you get what you pay for. It was beautiful creative masterpieces one after another. The most incredible dish was actually the dessert-- the crème brulee dessert. My, oh my, that was one of the most amazing desserts I've ever had in my life! I would go back for just the dessert! All in all, it was s beautiful meal and I now always want to go back when we visit Honolulu.

    Complimentary cookie
    Krystal K.

    Great restaurant. The staff was very attentive and friendly. The food was amazing. Every dish was flavorful and beautifully presented. Great place to celebrate a special occasion. I will definitely be coming back.

    Front entrance
    Michael F.

    Nice meal for special occasion (like one of my buddies' birthday) or just to treat yourself. Interesting location as you need to enter through 2nd floor of luxury auto showroom or parking lot! Enjoyed the classy yet casual ambiance and great service with my buddies. Worth checking out if looking for nice Asian Fusion meal.

    Dec. 6 - Tropical Fruit Crème Brulée
    Gerry L.

    HSO - Lunar New Year 2026: Year of the Horse / MW This is the first half of a two-part review, first our experience at MW before the concert. We arrived at the Blaisdell at 4:30pm and found the parking lot to be coned off because it was full. However, the attendant felt sorry for us, so he let us in and the gate manager directed us to park in the section designated for HSO members. I am a regular contributor but not a member, perhaps something to consider. When I got home, I saw the email from the HSO informing us of limited parking. In any case, we were very fortunate to get a space right across from the concert hall. First off, MW. The better half of the world food tour duo couldn't make it due to a family dinner, so I invited my SIL. She is turning out to be the designated stand-in. We were early, so we had a cocktail at Artizen. MW was empty at 5pm and we were seated at the first table for two along the windows facing Ward Avenue. We opted for the Chef's 5-course tasting menu ($160) with wine pairing ($45) as the menu compelled us to do so. We started with a glass of NV Maison Roche de Bellene sparkling wine from Cremant de Bourgogne. It was low in acidity, with notes of apple and pear ... crisp and refreshing. It accompanied five small bites ... visual and taste treats. Next came one of MW's signature dishes, Mochi-crusted Hawaiian Kanpachi, served with somen noodles, banchan, and a soy/yuzu vinaigrette. It was paired with a 2023 Fritz Haag Spatlese from Braunberger Juffer. The spicy sweetness of the Riesling paired perfectly with the delicate fish. The third course was Hokkaido Scallops with a brown gravy of dried scallops and corn. I don't care for cooked scallops but this dish was delectable. It came with a 2023 Chardonnay from Santa Lucia Highlands. The scallop was so memorable that I didn't remember anything about the wine. The "main" course was Truffle Wagyu Sukiyaki with a bowl of rice on the side. The wine was a 2022 Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. This was by far the best wine of the evening, bold, with notes of oak, chocolate and dark fruit. I don't care for sukiyaki, but this petite bowl was so flavorful, with thin slices of Wagyu, yuba and mushrooms, topped by an almost raw egg. The scent of truffle was intoxicating! Dessert was a Tropical Fruit Creamsicle Brulee ... lilikoi sorbet custard, atop haupia tapioca and pieces of fruit. It looked fabulous but I do not like tapioca so I just had the top half. It was served with a cordial glass of 2022 Michele Chiarlo Moscato d'Asti Nivole, a very fruity dessert wine. It paired well with the chocolate bar from the dish of petit fours. That was my dessert! This was a fabulous meal, well worth the price. I find wine pairings to be great value because I get to taste wines I wouldn't normally order and save money too. $90 wouldn't cover half a bottle of a good red from France, which is what I usually order.

    Oxtail Oxtail, Corned Beef, Pork Belly Soup
    Julie C.

    Love, love, love, MW restaurant. We came here for my dad's 90th birthday. Reservations are definitely recommended. We were seated promptly, service with our waiter was amazing and attentive. My dad just loves oxtail soup. It's not something that's on the menu, but my brother was able to talk to Chef Wade in advance, so he got to enjoy this specialty! My dad loved it so much, he slurped up every last drop. This oxtail soup is unique and that it also has corned beef and pork belly along with oxtail. Definitely a winner! For appetizers, we tried the Wagyu beef sliders, crabcakes, and pork hash dumplings. For entrées, we ordered the butterfish, mochi crusted Kona Kampachi, and seafood paella. Everything was expertly prepared, fish was very moist and super flavorful. We all enjoyed our entrées. Most of us ordered the shave ice, which is a very unique dessert they have here. Definitely not the typical shave ice that you're thinking! I ended up ordering the strawberries and cream, which was a meringue, so I can't comment on the shave ice but it seemed like everybody else enjoyed it! MW is a small restaurant with a cozy feel. Definitely want to come back and try some of the other options.

    Simon Z.

    The scallops, kampachi, and tenderloin were all standouts--every dish was on point and you could tell they're serious about sourcing quality, local ingredients. The desserts were no exception, and honestly the value for what you get is hard to beat. Service was top notch from start to finish, and the location is a fun bonus--parking is easy and you can check out the exotic cars downstairs after. Definitely a place we'll be coming back to! The restaurant is quiet and not too loud so it's a good spot to have a conversation - love the interior decor.

    Mochi crusted Kanpachi
    Kristen D.

    I've been wanting to try this place for a while, you need to make a reservation in advance if you want to dine here. I came with a party of 6 and they seated us right when we checked in, servers were kind and gave us good suggestions. We ordered multiple apps- my favorite was the crab cakes. For the main entree I got the Kanpachi with soba noodles which was cooked perfectly. Overall its a little expensive, but I would definitely come back for a special occasion. again

    Pork dumplings
    Tab Y.

    We really enjoyed our visit to MW. It was a reasonably priced meal for the amazing tastes and fusion dishes we tried. With two drinks, two appetizers, two entrees, and 1 dessert, the total came out to about $208 without tip. Our MW favorites were probably the miso honey butterfish and the short rib. The tomato salad was also great if you enjoy tart salads and dressings. The tropical brûlée was also an interesting and tasty dessert. The pork dumplings were probably the least favorite of the four food options we got, so I'd recommend a different appetizer for your table. All in all, service was incredibly attentive, despite the busy-ness of the restaurant. The ambiance was lively and modern, especially if you're able to get over the fact that the restaurant is nestled in a car dealership. Highly recommend for tourists and locals alike!

    Rand E.

    Wow, so full after the tasting menu ! A delicious experience in a spacious setting by the luxury car dealerships. Came to try the tasting menu at $150, a 5 course meal. Started with a perfect egg with caviar...soft boiled egg with a crispy topping and caviar on a bed of horseradish infused mayonnaise. The crispy Kanpachi was so so yummy ...light, moist and crispy crunchy. Next the scallops were good, with a wasabi sauce. And the steak was perfectly cooked but was too full to indulge totally. It was a good thing they gave me a takeaway box. The tropical fruit brulee was a fitting end to a great meal. Plus as an added treat, they gave us some macadamia nut cookies to go. I'm more than happy to return, only ordering and entree.

    Kristian T.

    When last visiting Honolulu, I wanted to try a special meal and decided to give MW restaurant a shot after reading other reviews. Was not disappointed! Totally planned to order something else but our server described the mochi crusted kampachi as a favorite and I was convinced. Was so glad I opted for that because it was such a unique fish dish and for that alone I would come back. The restaurant feels very upscale (it's in a Mercedes dealership) and to make things easy I would opt to pay for valet parking ($4). Recommend this place for a special meal!

    Kula Strawberry "Shave Ice"
    Mark L.

    When picked up the menu, you glanced thru everything and you think you know what to expect and you would be surprised. I did. I thought it's just fried fish and I was surprised. I thought I ordered shaved ice and I was surprised. I thought I ordered crab cakes and expected like what crab cakes like out there and once again, I was surprised. Crab cakes - I ordered the crab cakes, and it was excellent. It's not like those usual crab cakes where it filled with battered and have more starch than crab meat. This one is all crab meat inside. My wife ended up ate 2/3 of them. Mochi salad with crispy chicken skin - I don't like salad but I thought I tried. The end result was I finished 70% of the salad because it was delectable. The dressing was spicy, but the persimmon sliced and the tomatoes with the greens were just perfect. I never thought I could like a salad that much. Short ribs - The meat fell off the bone... Well, there was no bone but it's definitely tender. Potatoes were nicely crisp and the foie gras was nicely seared. Mochi crusted kampachi - Surprisingly crunchy fish. Very fresh. This is one fine dine dish. Impressive. Strawberry shaved ice - It's not really shaved ice, it's more like shaved strawberries and the coconut tapioca was very good. So coconut-y. This is one satisfied fine dine experience. Very impressed that you find something with this quality in Hawai'i.

    Seabream with local vegetation

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    Food was salty. Concept was great and service was excellent! Wine selection was good.

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    MW Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - MW Restaurant

    Open for lunch?

    No unfortunately, however, there are other restaurant Artizen is located on the first floor and I believe they're open for lunch with a similar menu

    Where do you enter the parking for MW? Is there a sign that indicates parking? Is it self parking or valet parking

    Drive around the building on Kapiolani and at the end of the building turn right on Chapin St, and then turn right again and up the ramp to the 2nd floor of the garage for valet. It's definitely not easy to find. But the food is AMAZING, so enjoy!

    Do you taje walk ins?

    Yes MW takes walk ins. Try having a lunch downstairs in the informal dining area to try out their food.

    When do they have afternoon tea?

    Every Fourth Sunday of the Month, but sells so call to make a reservation.

    Will you be honoring medical and/or religious exemptions?

    Yes as long as you have your approved negative test result from within the last 48 hours. No negative test, no dine in. It doesn't matter why you are not vaccinated, but you cannot dine in without that recent negative test.

    Does the restaurant have high chair?

    Yes, high chairs are available.

    Is there a kids menu?

    No. But you can share whatever you decide to order. That's what we did. My Kids enjoyed it!

    Do they have dessert for lunch as well as dinner?

    Definitely. The mango shaved ice with tapioca is refreshing

    What time is happy hour? What are the happy hour specials?

    M - F | 2 - 5 pm / 2 - 6 pm @ Bar Sat and Sun. | 4- 5 pm / 4 - 6 pm @ Bar. $5 drinks, various pupus $5-7.00

    Are infants/kids allowed? Thanks

    Yes!

    Can a silent service animal be able to sit quietly by the owner in the restaurant?

    Legitimate service animals are always legally allowed with their owners in establishments.

    Are there vegan options?

    Yes, lots of veggie sides, and a tofu entree

    Is there a private room for lunch?

    Yes, it seats approximately 34-40 people at round tables.

    Where is the parking lot?

    the parking lot is on the Makaloa side; directly in front of the MW Restaurant; it is valet parking OR you will have to find street parking

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    Chao - Crab Pasta

    Chao

    4.4(425 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Food and service were so good here! We came on a Friday night and it was packed, with such a lively…read moreatmosphere. Side note, it could be a little hard to hear each other since tables are placed pretty close to each other. We started with the roasted eggplant and grilled sweet corn, and both were great appetizers. I feel like you can't go wrong with anything that's grilled/roasted haha. We got the soft shell crab pasta, which had lots of crab flavor and meat mixed in--perfect for seafood/crab lovers. The pasta portion is definitely generous for one person and can be quite filling. The fried whole moi was spectacular, fried perfectly and the fish itself was delicious. The house fried rice was also perfect, with lots of seafood flavor. The beef carpaccio came a little later than expected, which was a bit of a miss for me. The beef was sliced so thin that you could barely get any texture from it, and with the Thai chili/herb mix, I think the American/Italian-style preparation is more for me. The beef was also uncut, so we had to slice each piece ourselves, which was a bit unusual, but it was fine. We shared everything between the two of us and were very full and satisfied with the food and flavors! Service was friendly, attentive, and just overall very pleasant to interact with. Lastly, we'd say the price point is a good value for what you're getting in terms of taste, portions, and quality. If you're thinking of trying here, just do it! We will be back for sure!

    So glad I finally got to eat here. The ambience was modern and cozy. The service was phenomenal…read morerecommendations by the waiter excellent. So glad that we chose to get the spicy beef. I think it was but most happy about the Moi. Wow. I could eat that every time. Both of them. But the beef is only available on Sunday so glad we went on that day. The four of us agreed that on our own, we would be coming back again real soon. There were so many other items on the menu that still needed to be tasted. I recommend reservations because they are pretty trendy.

    Photos
    Chao - Interior dining room with bamboo-like lighting

    Interior dining room with bamboo-like lighting

    Chao - Fried Spring Rolls - Ch Gi

    Fried Spring Rolls - Ch Gi

    Chao - Ube Dream

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    Ube Dream

    XO Restaurant

    XO Restaurant

    4.6(2.5k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Fine dining

    Service was amazing. We brought our 8 year son to celebrate mom's birthday. Although he would have…read moreeaten his on entree, they offered to cook him a plain buttermilk chicken and rice which he loved! We enjoyed ourselves and savored every dish. We had the prie fixed menu. The scallop dish was my favorite, and the "baked potato" was my wife's. The dessert brought a smile to all of us and they were nice enough to include a serving for our son. Definitely would recommend eating here!

    Came here for my birthday, and unfortunately, the experience was pretty disappointing. The…read morerestaurant was extremely empty. We were there for about two hours and only saw around three other parties, so the whole place just felt really quiet and empty. The one bright spot was the service. There was only one server working, and he was incredibly nice, friendly and attentive throughout the meal. We got the set menu. We started with the hamachi crudo, which was good. The beet dish was really pretty, but I thought it was a little bland and didn't have much flavor. They also had their own take on a baked potato with sour cream and chives, which was actually really yummy. The shrimp/prawn dish with the butter sauce was probably my favorite dish of the night. The bao was okay, and unfortunately, the chicken adobo was extremely salty. It was also basically a huge piece of chicken with adobo sauce, so it wasn't really my favorite. We were really excited to try the rabbit butter mochi because we'd heard so much about it. It was super cute and definitely one of the most unique presentations, but unfortunately, it tasted like soap. We wondered if maybe the mold had been washed right before serving because there was a very strong dish soap-like taste to it. LOL. Obviously, things happen, but it was especially disappointing because I really wanted to enjoy the butter mochi. Also, the tap water was honestly some of the worst restaurant water I've ever had. It tasted very strongly like a pipe or metal. I even asked for lemon wedges, but it still tasted the same. I never complain about water, but this was genuinely difficult to drink.

    Photos
    XO Restaurant
    XO Restaurant
    XO Restaurant

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    Little Plum - Onsen egg! On mushroom jook

    Little Plum

    4.5(288 reviews)
    2.8 miManoa

    Food was excellent, very tasty!!! Portion sizes were small but definitely worth going back to try…read moremore dishes! Corn, rib eye sticks, Kalbi bao buns!!!!

    Little Plum is always an enjoyable experience. First of all, the restaurant is quaint and…read morecomfortable. The dining area is one open area, the table setting is cozy with its crochet coaster and wooden chopsticks rest. There's an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs put love into each dish. My server even pointed out who will be making my crispy pork belly. The wait staff is so helpful and welcoming. They made sure our vegan friend was well-taken care of. She suggested the mushroom jook where they would put the chicken on the side. They even added more mushroom to elevate his dining experience! Today we ordered family style, which they happily accommodated for us. They served the rice on the side. Our menu included short rib bao and shiitake bao (vegan), ume tomato, namul, spicy miso eggplant, crispy pork belly, menchi katsu, and mushroom jook. The standouts were the crispy pork belly with its watercress tomato onion salad, the ume tomato on whipped tofu, and spicy miso eggplant. The mushroom jook is so comforting, hearty and full of flavor served with chicken confit and a soy egg. The two desserts offered are both winners. The mochi churro with kinako and anglaise is crispy, light and creamy. The pineapple orange pudding is so cool and refreshing. And, 100% of dessert sales go to the culinary team! What?! Love this place. Plus, with you check are some fun asian candies -white rabbit and haw flakes! I haven't been there for dinner yet. That'll be next.

    Photos
    Little Plum - Inside da restaurant......

    Inside da restaurant......

    Little Plum - Catch of the day

    Catch of the day

    Little Plum - Rock Salt Plum $16 - highly recommend

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    Rock Salt Plum $16 - highly recommend

    Ki Club - Huacatay Spiced Ahi - Seared Ahi in Dashi

    Ki Club

    4.5(137 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    Went here for my birthday dinner. Thoroughly surprised at how good the food was and the service…read more Beautiful, modern interior and the atmosphere was chic. The menu has changed to a more tapa style. We went with our two young children & they were very accommodating. We ordered a bunch of stuff but most notable was the Ensalada Salad, Croquette Cordero, Taco Raisu, Karaage Pollo, and for dessert, the Piña Borracha. We ordered some pork and steak skewers. These were ok, I would skip these next time. A little burnt. My favorite was the Ensalada Salad. The crab was sweet and the salsa opaca was so refreshing with the apple foam. Was told to smash the crisp on top and combine it with everything and that took it to another level! So good that we ordered another one. The price of this was so affordable too! The Croquette Cordero was like a mini curry ball with chimuchirri sauce. A little heavy but if you love curry, this is for you! The Taco Raisu surprised us. The taco meat was so flavorful!! Even though we were stuffed, we kept going back for more. It's like a deconstructed taco & you use the lettuce as a wrap. The Karaage Pollo came with a Cucumber Escabeche. It was so tangy and refreshing, which perfectly cuts through the rich, savory oiliness of the fried chicken. We got the Piña Borracha for dessert and that had a coconut cake, coconut lime mousse, banana lilikoi curd, and pasted pineapple on top. Amazing!! Great way to end the night. Everything was top notch. You can tell they put a lot of effort into each dish. Can't wait to go back!

    I go here on occasions. I've made to brunch a couple times but typically I make it to the…read moreevenings. The restaurant hours are relatively calm, but switches gears when it becomes a nightclub. Restaurant-wise, I believe the menu had a recent change-up to further explore fusion possibilities. I've been going down the list and the dishes have been pretty good so far; I haven't made it to the taco raisu yet, but I do need me some desserts. The picarones is like a peruvian andagi, which was pretty cool. The miso cream brûlée was from the prior menu, but also a Yes. The bar is knowledgeable and innovative their mixology- I've had the shizuku garden and that was amazing.

    Photos
    Ki Club - Lomo Saltado with Wagyu

    Lomo Saltado with Wagyu

    Ki Club - Feature Cocktails

    Feature Cocktails

    Ki Club - Kakuni Croquettes

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    Kakuni Croquettes

    Lucky Belly - Shrimp Kim Chee Bowl

    Lucky Belly

    4.2(2.2k reviews)
    1.1 miDowntown
    $$

    So glad we ate here! Looks like there are lots of hip options in Chinatown, and we would have…read morewalked around and tried even more if we had had more time. We had a 4 hour layover in Honolulu and it was a quick 15 minute Lyft ride here to Lucky Belly. We were the only party here right at 5:30 pm. Loved the art and clean simple elegance of the exposed brick wall and wood tables. We were greeted and served by a very friendly host. We had the duck tacos, plus the special dim sum appetizer combo of pork belly bao, lobster dumplings and oxtail dumplings. We could not pick a favorite. The variety of textures was fantastic and each of the meat fillings were perfectly seasoned and tender, delicious! Each had a different sauce- just enough, not too much. Nothing was spicy but there was chili oil on the table if you wanted to add more heat. We got 2 nonalcoholic spritzers, one lilikoi and one hibiscus, which were each refreshing and complimented the meal. Since the service was so efficient, after eating, we still had time to zip over to Magic Island to stroll around, take in the scene and enjoy the sunset before heading back to the airport. Our last evening in Hawaii was really special thanks to this delightful restaurant!

    Horrifying experience. We arrived to a nearly empty restaurant. The hostess asked if we had a…read morereservation. We arrived an hour or so before they were about to close. All of the window seats were empty. In fact the restaurant was nearly empty. We were told the only option for us was the inconspicuous booth at the back of the restaurant. Not a good start. The food was okay. There was more than we were expecting, however the short ribs were a little tough. The ambiance, it was nice and empty by the time we left. Overall, what had been something we'd been looking forward to for years turned out to be a dismal disappointment. The experience left us feeling unwelcome, particularly because it seemed the staff were uncomfortable with two men simply going out for lunch. Being a Black and Asian couple shouldn't have any bearing on how paying customers are treated, but unfortunately, that's how the experience felt to us. We can overlook mediocre food or service, but feeling judged or unwelcome is something we won't overlook. We were there as paying customers and deserved to be treated with the same courtesy and respect as anyone else. Unfortunately, this is a place we won't be returning to, and based on our experience, we would not recommend it to others.

    Photos
    Lucky Belly - Interior bar and dining room.

    Interior bar and dining room.

    Lucky Belly - Lobster Moco (Dec 2025 update)

    Lobster Moco (Dec 2025 update)

    Lucky Belly - Exterior front.

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    Exterior front.

    Miro Kaimuki - The Counter - WESTHOLME RIBEYE (16 oz).

    Miro Kaimuki - The Counter

    4.5(421 reviews)
    3.6 miKaimuki
    $$$$

    Became a fan of Chef Kajioka after dining at Cafe Miro in January. As we were planning a trip back…read morein August for the wifey's bday, I definitely wanted to head back and made reservations for The Counter as I saw pics on IG of their meal here. We lucked out and found street parking nearby. As we walked into the restaurant, we were quickly greeted by the host/server who showed us to our seats along the U shaped counter. Loved the clean and modern decor inside the restaurant. As we sat down, our water cups were quickly filled and the only few questions they had for us was whether we wanted the wine pairing and we wanted to add the caviar toast and shaved truffles. We opted for the wine pairing, caviar toast and truffles. The meal was fantastic from start to finish. The most notable dishes for me were the ahi and caviar toast, cold corn soup, the lobster and the dessert. Sadly the portion of the toast here was about 1/2 the size of what we had at the cafe and unfortunately they didn't have uni for the night (maybe don't go on a Tuesday). Service was fantastic but they did have a few hiccups which were tolerable as the food was amazing. The wine pairing was also good and paired well with the dishes. As we are currently planning our trip back later this year, we will definitely head back to either the cafe (if the remodel is completed) or back to the counter for another meal. This is likely the best meal we've had in HNL in quite some time and highly recommend it.

    Beautiful food, prix fixe menu that delivers texture, creativity and luscious flavor…read more Unexpected gem in a cute Honolulu neighborhood.

    Photos
    Miro Kaimuki - The Counter
    Miro Kaimuki - The Counter - MIRO Sourdough. Furikake butter.

    MIRO Sourdough. Furikake butter.

    Miro Kaimuki - The Counter - Hamachi. Sun-Dried Tomato. Cucumber.

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    Hamachi. Sun-Dried Tomato. Cucumber.

    Giovedi

    Giovedi

    4.3(202 reviews)
    1.0 miDowntown

    My friends and I came here for dinner because of the Passport collaboration with Kohana Distillery…read more I'm really happy for this collaboration or else I may have never eaten at this wonderful restaurant. Located in China town, you have the normal issues of finding parking. The location is not large and is split into indoor and outdoor seating areas. We got seated right away and the staff was very friendly. The food is an Italian - Asian fusion. We started with the Hokkaido milk rolls and prosciutto san daniele. The bread was good but that black garlic butter made it even better. But for me the prosciutto was the highlight and should not be skipped. Mixed with the pickles in that sesame shell, it was so delicious. For mains we got the gnocchi and capellini. The beef cheek in the gnocchi was so flavorful and soft. And we finished up with the carrot cake. Everything we ate was good. I definitely want to come back again.

    Atmosphere: I really liked the interior of the restaurant I thought that it was very modern while…read morealso feeling homey. It was loud in there but not too distracting, more so like friends gathering together and having a great time. (4/5) Food: Was really excited to try this asian fusion menu as the Dan Mien Vietnam-Atriciana with lap xuong caught my eye but truthfully - it was underwhelming. The Hokkaido milk rolls were also disappointing which was a bummer since everyone seemed to rave about them. They weren't warm at all and didn't seem fresh, which seemed to be the trend for the other dishes as well since they weren't served hot and pretty much room temperature at best. (2/5) Service: This is where I would give it a 0/5 stars if I could. I've never been to a restaurant where customers aren't greeted as soon as they walk in or at least within 5 minutes of walking into the restaurant. We arrived 15mins early to our reservation and upon stepping in immediately noticed no host stand/designated area to check-in (granted the restaurant itself was pretty small inside so understandable) we therefore waited off to the side. Countless waitresses walked by and even the bartenders noticed us waiting off to the side yet we weren't acknowledged. Not even a quick "we'll be right with you or welcome in". After standing there huddled off to the side we decided to maybe walk further into the restaurant to see if we had to check-in somewhere else and ran into someone that seemed to be the host. She asked if she could help us and we said we hadn't been checked-in yet for our reservation. After getting our info she quickly told us to go back to the front of the restaurant. No indication of how much longer we had to wait, no okay you're all checked-in we'll get your table set up now...just "okay go back and wait in the front". Over the next 10 minutes of waiting in the front of the restaurant we were met with whispers and stares from the employees giving us the feeling of being the new student on the first day of school which left us uncomfortable to the point where we decided to wait outside. Eventually she took us to our table but you could tell she was standoffish the whole time as if we had done something wrong. Our waiter was nice but not that personable and throughout the meal we were probably checked on once or twice at most. Overall: A restaurant is only as good as its service. To me, great food brings customers in but great service brings them back and unfortunately I will not be back.

    Photos
    Giovedi - Outside

    Outside

    Giovedi - Capellini granchio.

    Capellini granchio.

    Giovedi - Dan mien vietnam amatriciana

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    Dan mien vietnam amatriciana

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - grilled miso black cod

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki

    4.1(1.2k reviews)
    2.6 miWaikiki
    $$$

    This place has amazing food, great views, excellent service, and delicious drinks but it has been…read moreCLOSED for months due to a pipe burst (?) or something.

    My bad review is entirely based on how terrible the food was. For context, we ordered Tonkatsu…read moreramen and Tsukemen dipping ramen. Ramen, according to the server, was the most popular thing on the menu, so how likely could it get messed up? Tonkatsu: Rich, but lacked any salt or had very little. We requested some salt and that instantly made the ramen better. The noodles had enough salt to carry it, but the broth was not great. It tasted like the broth was watered down or reconstituted, however no seasoning was added to re-adjust the broth. Broth: Had little salt and lacked punch, umami, and was brown instead of white. Noodles: Had enough salt to taste good, but was slightly overcooked Pork: Extremely bland. Tasted like zero salt was added during cooking. Toppings: Greatly lacking in toppings Tsukemen: The Tsukemen had a lot of the same issues. Now being a dipping ramen, the broth should be even richer and more flavorful than any normal ramen. Tsukemen -- no matter where you have it in Japan, should be richer and saltier than most broths, but the broth here was severely lacking. For $26 a bowl this was worse than your DIY frozen ramen packs. Now I'm not asking for Japan-level of ramen mastery here, this is after all, just a tourist spot -- but if your Tonkatsu is the best selling item, you have to step it up. Our server did mention that some people complained about the amount of salt in ramen, so they adjusted it. But dare I say, instead of diluting the normal salt/seasoning amount for everyone, couldn't you just add a separate, flavor-light version for people inexperienced with ramen, instead of diluting the original for everyone else? If you're reading this Mr. Morimoto, I would highly encourage you to fly here and order the ramen. I think you and I would share the same opinions. P.S. I've also been to your other Morimoto spots and it was not this bad.

    Photos
    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Interior

    Interior

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Black pepper beef

    Black pepper beef

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining

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    Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining

    MW Restaurant - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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