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Pagoda Floating Restaurant

3.4 (390 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 11:00 AM

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PAGODA FLOATING RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Quiet
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Pagoda Floating Restaurant

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The $7.50 special- scrambled eggs, toast and a port. sausage. Coffee $3 extra.
Ric C.

"The best kept secret" Pagoda restaurant has gone through a lot of changes since the pandemic. Gone is the floating restaurant replaced by a Korean dining option. They primarily now do catering type offerings except that for breakfast, they offer dining service where the International ball room on the ground floor is located. They have been offering a great breakfast special to diners and appears to be on a month to month basis. Nothing fancy, but if you are in the area, the price can't be beat. $7.50 for 2eggs, rice or toast and port. Sausage. Served in a clean and friendly environment, this is a great deal. Limited offerings for the special but enough variety to satisfy most.

Irene M.

You know there is a first time for everything... When you're from Hawai'i everyone knows the Pagoda Floating Restaurant and Hotel. Stayed here during fumigations and has been a key roll in entertaining us and who hasn't taken visiting friends here at the buffet and celebrate that yakudoshi with photo ops back at the koi pond...but I've never attended a function at the banquet hall. That buffet space is now Sorabol Korean Restaurant though the layout is all still the same they found a home here from being displaced at their former location and I'm happy for both restaurant and hotel. All this reshuffling I was confused of where to park and apparently you still can park in the parking structure shared with Ross the sign has Pagoda crossed off so I thought the agreement was no longer valid and finding street parking here is next to impossible...or was it? It took a bit of touring the neighborhood but I got free parking woohoo!! I was given an extra ticket to the "Taste of Okinawa" event which was held at the East International Ballroom by WUB Hawai'i and with a bunch of vendors from Pagoda Hotel, Asato, Aloha Tofu, Kona Abalone, Highway Inn, Sun Noodle, Sunrise Restaurant, Potama serving up some amazing dishes! Everything from the classic Goya Champuru and Okinawa Soba to our beloved nishime and okara to current finds of Jimami Tofu which is an Okinawan Peanut Tofu served with a sweet soy sauce...omg yummy! We were given 10 tickets to redeem at any vendor for bites and gosh it went really fast! Many sold out Highway Inn and Potama thankfully I know the perfection they serve but what a night of celebration and I'm so blessed and thankful for the experience! Thank you!

$30 platter of snow crabs
Crystal R.

This place seen better days for sure. Back in the day, this place to go for crabs and amazing food. I called the restaurant the day of to make a reservation around 7:00pm and was told it was set. Arrived at the reservation time to find out that there was no reservation listed. The restaurant was barely half full of patrons which set a really bad tone for the night. The food was just below average; at that time, staff would be the ones serving you on what you would like from the buffet lines. There wasn't much of a selection but given the pandemic situation, it was understandable that the restaurant was operating on a limited menu. It was so limited infact, that they don't offer snow crab; if you want snow crab, it is an additional cost to the buffet. For $30.00, you can get a "platter" of snow crab. Unfortunately, the platter was not worth the price (2-3 clusters). Service wasn't the greatest either. It took a while for us to get served for drinks and to flag them to order crab. Overall, this place definitely needs a makeover. The location is perfect but it definitely needs some TLC on everything.

4 of each plus clam bake
Gail U.

10-17-2020 Hubs found the Pagoda ad in the newspaper. He asked if I was interested in having it for my birthday. Secretly I had another place in mind but consented so he called in the order yesterday for tonight's birthday meal. Our daughter helped him input the order on line for a 4 p.m. pick up and she also generously footed the bill. Big thanks!!! So generous. We ordered for 4 people and based on the choices we selected prime rib, garlic mashed and sautéed vegetables. There were 4 styrofoam containers each for the tossed salad, entree, and dessert. There were tiny containers for the horse radish and au jus. One smaller container had crab legs. A foiled pan contained the clam bake with corn on the cobb, clams, mussels, sausage and crab legs. The prime rib was SO yummingly tender and the mashed potatoes flavorful. The portion was just right. The crab claw meat was sweet and juicy. We didn't cut the Punaluu loaf and 2 of us need to take a breather before we try the bread pudding. Hubs already downed his and asked when are we having the cake. The one missing star was only based on whoever packed our feast. We were not given our crab legs. We also didn't get The deal advertised: for spending $100 you get additional Kalua pig and 2 pounds of additional prime rib. The employee had to go back inside. They also gave us stew although the receipt listed what was pre- ordered . Hubs decided to settle for the stew instead of another switch by the employee. Just have to reiterate the prime rib was super delicious in every way! You will be in for a treat. What a wonderful birthday dinner. Keep safe everyone. Take care.

Gina C.

This is regards to their Thanksgiving $300 takeout meal. Some places had just a turkey for around $100-$120. After deciding, I thought this was the best option for their 9 items. It was so disappointing when we saw the portion sizes of the stuffing and mashed potatoes. It was unbelievable. The stuffing and mashed wasn't even a small size pan! Lucky I had 3 boxes of Stove Top Stuffing. Thinking back basically, we paid about $180 for Stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams (not sure where the marshmallows were), a Costco pumpkin pie, 12 buns, cranberry relish (size of a 1/2 pd poke container), 8 half size corn-on-the-cobb and 2 tall size containers (which was way more then needed because didn't have enough stuffing to use it). We basically paid $180, see photo of the size portions. The stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams was in a low size container slightly larger than my small regular size iphone (it's not even a pro max). I was shocked to realize the small size for stuffing and mashed potatoes, which is in the inexpensive side to receive that portion that was NOT even for 6-8 ppl, maybe stretching it at 3 ppl. It really ruined the main traditional dishes. I had to apologize and announce after prayer to the family, saying sorry I didn't realize this meal was this small, so if we can be considerate and take a small portion so everyone can get a piece of the tradition and after that, they can go back and get more. Lucky in Hawaii, we have a lot of local main dishes...I will never do this again and be lazy and cook everything next year. I'm sure others felt the same when they opened the close box to see the sizes of the stuffing and mashed potatoes. Omg. This is so sad. Never again. Sad, sad, sad. So deceiving. I bet next year, they won't have returned customers. If the stuffing and mashed potatoes was at least un a small pan, I could see this being a better deal for it's price because no ways was this worth $300. Sorry rambling, but I needed to let ppl know.

Perhaps the most interesting thing, an appetizer, but tiny.
Ryan O.

This review is of the new location inside the International Ballroom of the Pagoda Hotel. It pains me to write this, given the many golden memories I have of the Pagoda Floating Restaurant in its long-time historic and picturesque location next door. But I am soundly disappointed in the greatly diminished new operation. Maybe if they'd just called it "Fish Neighbor Cafe," they'd get a star back. It doesn't feel like a restaurant, because it's not -- it's tables in a former hotel ballroom supported with a catering kitchen. But that would be fine if the food was good. But it's not. You know how an attentive server comes by to ask how things are going, and you just nod and make affirmative noises because no one really cares? This time, my family regretfully shared its litany of complaints with the poor employee. The rice was dry and hard. How do you get white rice wrong in Hawaii? The mahi was tasteless and dry. The oxtail soup was not "fall off the bone," it was "gnaw off the bone." The basic breakfast plate was just okay. Nobody in our party of four finished what they were served, and nobody wanted to bring anything home. I greatly miss the Pagoda restaurant. The name probably should have died with the venue. Maybe the food wasn't that great in the old location, but the location made up for a lot.

Bryan W.

Beautiful surroundings and excellent service. We had the lunch buffet which included a build your own pho station, although I didn't get to try it. I would rate the quality of the food as three stars but there was a good variety. I liked the Chinese-style steamed fish the best. Dessert included a variety of cakes and pies and ice cream in wrappers, such as drumsticks and ice cream sandwiches. Good place for small parties and get-togethers.

View from the exterior waterfall lookout
Elizabeth N.

Wow, yet another long standing place I've been frequenting for years that I've never left a review! Reopened and refreshed from a Covid-break, they've had time to take the stickiness off of everything coz the last time I came here- back in 2017,- tables, floors and windows had a nice film of time and grease on it. So everything is really clean feeling now which is a big thumbs up. What hasn't changed is the kitschy cuteness, old school vibe attentive service and tasty, affordable AYCE buffet that local families and senior citizens love. It's really a fabulous place to get your prime rib on for a great price. Food portions are served to you through a plexiglass barrier but it's no problem really and I actually prefer this than open air but it does limit the offerings....but the modest offerings are still very good. Although not changed but maybe because it's been over 3 years since I've been here is that it seems they either added more koi to the pond or those buggahs grew! It was unreal how many they had! Tip: if can- do not sit in the same room as the buffet food as that prime rib line can get long and snake around your table. So not cool. Also the outside gazebos are open for reservation as well. Social distancing at its finest!

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

The staff here are so nice. The food is great. We usually order every other week so it's something to look forward to.

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6 years ago

Clean, fresh and friendly staff. Section was good, great location and easy to find. Can't wait to head back in April.

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Page 4 of 10

Pagoda Floating Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Pagoda Floating Restaurant

Do they still have a buffet?

My understanding is their buffet service will be moved to their former Cest Si Bon space when Yogurstory takes over their former buffet space, but I'm unsure if the new buffet space is open yet.

What are the prices for the month of august 2021? Where can I find a list of current food offerings?

as ac a W was a asAeseSea as s

How much is for lunch buffet per person?

$19.95 and 17.00 for seniors.

How much are lunch and dinner buffet? Is there poke and crabs during dinner buffet?

I haven't gone yet but based on the pictures, it looks like for weekday dinner buffet it's $20 excluding crab legs. If you want to have that included the price is $31. On weekends, the price is $36 for everything on weekday dinner buffet menu… 

What type of credit cards do they take?

I used my Costco Visa card so I could get extra restaurant points.

Did you have a problem findind parking?

Never had a problem. You just use street parking or a small paid parking lot associated with the hotel/restaurant.

Is it hard to find parking on a Friday night?

It's hit or miss depending on the time. The structure for the restaurant on the restaurant side usually has stalls available. If not, the Ross structure always has open stalls.

Can we reserve one of the pods that extend in the pond, how many people are able to sit in them?

You sure can. Im not sure about the number of people that can fit, but Ive personally been in there with 10 (total) and it was fine. To note, there is only a ceiling fan in there so if its a warm day, inside the restaurant might be more comfortable.

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I was taking Debs to the airport and since I was her personal Uber driver, she took me out to…read morebreakfast. We decided to go here since parking is easy and it's on the way. We were the first ones in. The woman at the front was so sweet and welcoming! I always loved their tables and the vibe is always relaxing. Our server was so nice! We pretty much ordered the same thing but with different meats. I was in the mood for Spam. The coffee was really good! I wonder who they get it from. Overall, another great meal! Mahalo Highway Inn!

The internet told me if I wanted authentic Hawaiian food, this was the place to go, so of course I…read morehad to try it. Since it was our last meal before leaving Hawaii and there were still a few Hawaiian dishes I hadn't gotten around to trying, this felt like the perfect spot. What I really liked is that they have a sampler plate with a bunch of classic Hawaiian dishes, and the menu actually breaks down what everything is. Clearly this is something people come here for, because it makes trying a little bit of everything way less intimidating. I split the sampler with someone, and overall I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the items didn't look the most appetizing at first glance -- one especially because of the color -- but flavor-wise, everything was actually really good. One of the dishes reminded me of a comforting chicken soup situation, the clear noodles were good, some of the other items were more savory, and it all balanced together well. The lomi salmon was one of my favorites -- kind of like a light, fresh tomato salsa or pico de gallo situation that paired really well with the pork and everything else on the plate. I didn't finish it all because I was already full, but I genuinely liked the variety and thought the flavors were rich and comforting. So if you're curious about Hawaiian food but don't know where to start, this sampler is a great move. Don't let the appearance of some of the dishes scare you off. Service was quick and everyone was nice. At first I kind of wished someone had walked us through the food a little more, but honestly, the menu already does that for you pretty clearly. Overall, I'm glad we came. It was a fun way to try the Hawaiian dishes we hadn't gotten to yet, and I'd come back to try more.

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KALUA PIG NACHOS,FRIED RICE & SOUR CREAM
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Side Street Inn

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4.1
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OMG! This was a dining experience! So, the restaurant was closing so my friend said we should eat…read morethere! I didn't know that the servings were group sized!! I found so many things that looked great on the menu, to include fried gizzards, boneless Kal Bi ribs, fully loaded fried rice, Mac salad and other stuff I can't recall! So the TWO of us ordered way too much! We tried to eat as much as we could and ended up taking the rest home! Everything we ordered was delicious, so we knew we were going to eat good leftovers! The restaurant was a great place to go with a group to eat and watch sports! Our Waitress (I have to remember to get names) was a track star, she was running to and from several tables of groups to deliver food! I will go again if they reopen!

If you're visiting Hawaii with a big group, 100% recommend taking them here…read more We initially were a party of 16, and showed up without a reservation at 6pm on a Saturday. The staff was super nice about it and was able to accommodate us, with only a small request that we be out by 8pm since there was another big party with a reservation coming in. Absolutely reasonable. They sat us right away at three large tables, which gave us plenty of space for food and didn't force us to sit super close together. Menus, waters, plates, napkins, and forks were all brought out immediately, and our waiter was quick to take our order. We started with the prix fixe menu for 8-10 guests and were going to add other items à la carte, but a handful of our group accidentally went to the other Side Street location (make sure your group is all on the same page), so what we ordered ended up being more than enough. We left stuffed and with 5 boxes of food still. Edamame was nice and steamy, and large enough to easily pop the beans out with your mouth. Wish there was a bit more salt though. The farmer's salad had everything going on from citrusy to salty to crispy. Avocado had a little bit of oxidation but the capers, dressing and potato curls provided plenty of reasons to overlook it. The fried rice came in a hefty portion, with sizable pieces of bacon and sausage. The chicken I didn't realize was boneless based on the shape of the deep fry, but it was nice to freely bite into it without worrying about hitting anything with my teeth. Probably a bit too much on fried bits but still good. Pork chops had a better meat to crisp ratio in my opinion, as well as juiciness. They even came with ketchup on the side, which I love as a pairing but don't see much of at restaurants. My favorite meat item was definitely the sizzling boneless kalbi. The presentation on the sizzling plate with a side of kimchi was spectacular, and the meat was full of flavor. We also ordered yakisoba, which wasn't part of the prix fixe. Tasted good but nothing past standard expectations. We let the waiter know we had a 30th birthday at the table, and they brought a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream with a candle, and did a decent job getting the whole room to participate in the singing. It could also be the type of crowd this place attracts, since it seemed that everyone was so friendly and approachable. Thanks to the quick and consistent service, we were out in a little over an hour with no complaints.

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Our Chef Colin's Classics Menu feeds 3-4 guests for $105.00!
Our Chef Colin's Classics Menu feeds 3-4 guests for $105.00!
Oodles of Noodles! Try our Yakisoba! You can also add Kim Chee for extra flavor.
Oodles of Noodles! Try our Yakisoba! You can also add Kim Chee for extra flavor.
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Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

3.9
(295 reviews)
2.0 mi
$$

3.5 stars We wanted…read moreto try authentic Hawaiian food and came across this spot. The owner was very friendly and took the time to recommend dishes for us, including the laulau and lechon kawali. We also ordered the BBQ short ribs. Overall, it was a good experience trying Hawaiian food, but it's just not really our type of cuisine. The laulau was quite dry, and the preparation felt more like meat that had been boiled or cooked in liquid, which isn't something I usually enjoy. The lechon kawali had a crispy pork belly texture, topped with something similar to a salsa, but it didn't suit our taste either. Unfortunately, the cabbage served with it also had some black spots, which was off-putting. The BBQ short ribs were the highlight of the meal and the dish we enjoyed the most. We appreciate the experience and the hospitality, but the flavors just didn't quite match our personal preferences.

1. The hours posted on Yelp was incorrect. They open from 12:00 pm…read more A group of us ordered food the night before for pickup at 12:30pm, on Thursday. Then someone wanted to change from rice to poi. I tried many times and no one answered. Their voice mailbox was full. We e ended going there to make the change. He gentleman looked like he was working be himself. We bads to wait almost a half hour for him to finish the order. 2. Price - the prices were higher than expected. All the plates were $26.00 and up. 3. Food - The poi was very tasty and fresh, although a bit watery. The lau lau had a lot of lean pork filling, not a lot of leaves. The long rice didn't have much chicken and was a bit watery too. We enjoyed the sweet potato. There was also lomi salmon, haupia onion and chili pepper water. 4. As mentioned before there isn't much parking. The restaurant wasn't busy when we got there. Overall the food and service was OK. The price was a bit high.

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Menu
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Short Ribs Plate
Short Ribs Plate
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Menu

Pagoda Floating Restaurant - hawaiian - Updated July 2026

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